It’s your blue planet too!

It’s been 16 years since the BBC debuted its award-winning television series Blue Planet and now it’s back with even more spectacular footage and fascinating insights into the world’s oceans and the wildlife that inhabit the ocean waves and shores.

Blue Planet II also provides a deeper understanding of the environmental and climatological changes affecting our oceans and underscores the importance of developing the best possible knowledge and skills required to plan for a challenging future.

Sir David Attenborough, recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from the University, and presenter of Blue Planet II, is mesmerised by the many new discoveries to emerge during the series.

“The world of the underwater is just amazing and infinitely more complex than anything we’ve discovered out in the universe as far as I know,” said Sir David.

“We are at a unique stage in our history. Never before have we had such an awareness of what we are doing to the planet, and never before have we had the power to do something about it. Surely we have a responsibility to care for our blue planet. The future of humanity, and, indeed, all who live on Earth, now depends on us.”

Southampton graduates turned academics, Dr Jon Copley (MSc Oceanography, 1994; PhD Oceanography, 1998), Associate Professor in Ocean Exploration & Public Engagement, and Dr Cathy Lucas, (PhD Marine Biology, 1993) Associate Professor in Marine Biology, are amongst the many experts from around the world to directly contribute to the series.

Dr Copley will also share his expertise across a range of media in the coming weeks including a weekly podcast on the BBC Earth website and a new radio series on the world’s oceans due for broadcast on the BBC World Service from November.

“Blue Planet II immerses us in the wonder of the ocean more than ever before,” he said. “The previous Blue Planet inspired many students to study marine biology, so it’s been great to contribute to this series, and I hope that it will move us to think deep for our future.”

During each episode, please join us in conversation via the University (@unisouthampton) and Ocean and Earth Science (@OceanEarthUoS) Twitter accounts using the hashtag #BluePlanet2 and #UoSAlumni.

And if Blue Planet II inspires you, there’s an opportunity to join the University’s highly successful free four-week course online and begin ‘Exploring the Oceans’ yourself.

Featured image photographer: Screengrab/Lisa Labinjoh/Joe Platko – (C) BBC/Lisa Labinjoh/Joe Platko
Banner image photographer: Steve Benjamin – (C) Steve Benjamin