About the Scottish Association for Marine Science
The Research Institute
SAMS is one of the UK's leading marine science research organisations, and one of the oldest oceanographic institutions in the world, committed to increasing our knowledge and stewardship of the marine environment through research, education, maintenance of research infrastructure, and knowledge transfer. SAMS currently employs ca 150 staff and is based at the Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory near Oban on the west coast of Scotland.
Our research activities encompass the entire breadth of marine science. While much of our research is highly multidisciplinary in nature, we are organised in four departments: Physics, sea ice and technology; biogeochemisty & earth sciences; ecology; and microbial and molecular biology. Our core strategic research programme is Oceans 2025 in which we collaborate with six other UK marine science organisations.
SAMS is a Collaborative Centre of the Natural Environment Research Council, and hosts the National Facility for Scientific Diving and the Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa. SAMS is also an academic partner in UHI Millennium Institute (the future University of the Highlands and Islands) under whose auspices we deliver a BSc (Hons) Marine Science and train ca 15 PhD students.
We were founded in 1884 by Sir John Murray and, with a complex history, a wide mission, and a range of activities and relationships, we are one of the oldest oceanographic organisations in the world.
Our capabilities
SAMS research infrastructure includes two research vessels, new aquarium facilities, a deep-sea lander development centre, a dive unit, modern and well-equipped research and teaching laboratories, conference and meeting rooms, a diverse range of sampling and analytical equipment, an on-site hostel, workshops, and a well stocked research library.
SAMS operates two wholly owned subsidiary companies: SAMS Research Services Ltd (SRSL) delivers our commercial activities, while the European Centre for Marine Biotechnology (ECMB) is a business incubator facility that supports the growth of marine biotechnology companies.
The Learned Society
SAMS is further a learned society with approximately 500 members for whom we organise a number of activities. As a Scottish charity (No 009206) and a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in Scotland (SC009292), SAMS is ruled by Articles of Association and a Memorandum of Association agreed and amended at the Annual General Meeting.
Our activities are directed by an independent Council, and decisions are implemented under the leadership of the Director, who is accountable to Council. Council is supported by a board with a number of committees.
find more information at the official institute's website
