Mads Anderson’s Placement Report

I had the wonderful opportunity to do a 3-month placement (May-July 2025) at the Marine Science Institute in Santa Barbara. I was based in the Cold, Dark Benthos lab, led by Dr Andrew Thurber, where I had the chance to explore the intersection of Antarctic benthic ecosystems, microbial ecology, and policy. My placement enabled me to get engaged in Antarctic governance and involved with the Ross Sea Region Marine Protected Area Research Coordination Network (RSrMPA RCN). I contributed, and continue to contribute, to the first 10 year RSrMPA review plan, and am leading a project proposing protections for methane seeps under the framework of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).

Placement work
My primary focus for this placement was on the policy dimension of Antarctic marine protection. I was involved with the Ross Sea Region Marine Protected Area Research Coordination Network (RSrMPA RCN), attending its inaugural meeting in Boulder, Colorado. This experience offered an insight into how scientific evidence feeds directly into international policy through the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). I contributed to discussions on MPA management, connected with scientists, policymakers, and industry representatives, and explored how early-career researchers can engage in Antarctic governance. My involvement and collaborations have continued beyond the placement; I have continued to attend international meetings for the RSrMPA 10-year review and co-authored policy documents for CCAMLR meetings. I am leading a report proposing that Antarctic methane seeps be classified as Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VME), meriting the same protections in the CCAMLR region as hydrothermal vents and seamounts. This has involved building a team of co-authors, adapting to policy-writing styles, and applying my knowledge in microbial ecology and methane seep ecosystems.

Knowledge sharing and collaboration
I was welcomed into a friendly and collaborative lab group, gaining training from other early career researchers. I was taught about the lab’s research in microbial ecology, learning the laboratory and analytical workflows that underpin benthic microbial research. Weekly metagenomics workshops covered topics from high-performance computing to processing large datasets. This technical training provided valuable context for the ecological processes that we would like to be used in the future to aid in informing management decisions and strengthened my ability to communicate the scientific basis for policy recommendations. I also attended the Marine Science Institute seminars, and specialist training sessions (including Antarctic underwater science photography). These broadened my marine science knowledge and fostered interdisciplinary discussions. I led a group session on Antarctic history, covering topics from early Polynesian sightings to the heroic age of exploration, the first women in Antarctica, and the discovery of the ozone hole. We reflected on how Antarctic history shapes our science today and considered the
legacies and impact we want to leave for the future. We had some very engaging discussions during this session, particularly as some members in the group shared their own experiences in Antarctica, whilst others were preparing for their first trip South.

Overall reflection
This placement was really valuable for both my professional and personal development. The combination of science and policy reshaped how I view the role of science in society and expanded my vision for future career paths. The experience has strengthened my confidence in leading projects from the ground up, initiating policy discussions, and working across diverse collaborations. I now have a deeper understanding of Antarctic governance, how it functions, and the need for adaptable policy frameworks. Meeting scientists who have contributed to CCAMLR throughout their careers (and witnessing the impact of their work in, for example, establishing the world’s largest MPA) was truly inspiring. A special thanks to the RSrMPA RCN organisers for welcoming me into these conversations and for the ECR grant to visit Boulder, Colorado and attend the conference in person. I am very grateful to the Cold, Dark Benthos lab for having me to visit and their openness to peer learning, mentorship, and collaborations, thanks to Dr Andrew Thurber, Jacob Wynne, Paola Santiago, Dexter Davis, and Sarai Alvarez – each independently fantastic researchers, and who together form a formidable lab. It was a pleasure and privilege to be part of the group for three months.