Students aim to unlock the secrets of Plymouth Sound

The beautiful and diverse creatures that inhabit Plymouth Sound are to be explored in an evening of entertainment organised by students at Plymouth University.

Five undergraduates from the School of Marine Science and Engineering are staging the public event to share their love and knowledge of what is lurking just a stone’s throw from the city centre.

They hope the free event will inspire people in the city to think in more detail about the marine wildlife which inhabits the water, rock pools, sea bed and beaches along Plymouth’s coastline.

Peter Bray, a third year Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology student, will be talking about the creatures living on the rocky shores.

He said: “Plymouth Sound is right on our doorstep and there is such a diverse range of wildlife that relies on it. If you go down to the rocky shore at Mountbatten, for example, the creatures who call it home are as different and varied as we are to them. It’s like an aquatic jungle. Our lecturers have inspired us and given us a real passion for the ocean and its wildlife, and it is fantastic to have the opportunity to convey that to the general public.”

Booking is now open for the event, Welcome to Plymouth Sound, which is taking place on Wednesday 17 December at 7pm in the University’s Portland Square Building.

Each student will speak on their particular subject of interest for around 15 minutes, with the five talks titled: The Estuaries of Plymouth Sound; Life on the Rocks – Surviving on the Rocky Shore; The Benthos – Living on the Sea Bed; The Sandy Shore – Creatures of the Beach; and The Pelagic Zone – from Microbes to Monsters.

The talks will all be illustrated with stunning images from above and below the water’s surface, and there will be opportunities for the audiences to pick the brains of the student speakers.

The event is being supported by Plymouth University’s Marine Institute, which represents more than 250 scientists and researchers, drawing world-class expertise from across the marine and maritime spectrum.

Professor Martin Attrill, Director of the Marine Institute, said: “With world-leading academics and access to some of the country’s top marine facilities and activities, Plymouth University students are in an unrivalled position when it comes to engaging with the marine environment. As inspired and educated individuals, we hope that through this event they can enthuse their peers and the wider community about the amazing and fascinating marine life to be found off Britain’s Ocean City.”

Booking for the event is essential, and to reserve seats contact marine.institute@plymouth.ac.uk or call 01752 584955. You can also follow the student speakers on Twitter at @stutalks.