Definition
Nekton is an independent ocean exploration institute.
Founded in 2015 on a simple conviction: that the ocean – the springboard of all life on our planet was largely undiscovered, woefully unprotected, and disastrously undervalued; that our knowledge of Ocean life was being generated too slowly, shared too unequally, and that not being adequately communicated to the wider public or to governments. We considered that small, agile, organisation dedicated to building that knowledge and sharing it with others, could help change this.
Our mission:To advance the exploration of the ocean — fast, open, and at the scale the ocean demands for people and the planet.
Our vision: A world in which the ocean is deeply valued — understood, protected, and celebrated as the foundation of all life on Earth.
We work across three interconnected disciplines — expeditions, science, and culture. Each reinforces the other. Together they drive the change the ocean needs.
Nekton runs and operates a series of global programmes. We are headquartered in Oxford, UK, and are a registered UK charity.
These are the milestones that define Nekton — from a standing start in 2016 to a global programme uniting 190+ partners and scientists across 650 institutes and 85 nations. The first decade of ocean exploration, and the foundation for everything that follows.
The Nekton model is built on the power of collaboration. We work through a model that very few organisations have built: a permanent team of specialists who co-develop and run large-scale programmes, leveraging a global alliance of partners who contribute vessels, scientific expertise, media reach, and in-kind investment far beyond what any single institution could fund alone.
191 Alliance Partners
650+ Institutes in the Science Network
85 Nations in the Science Network
52 Culture & Communications Partners
£59m Partner Investments into Nekton Programmes
Nekton and our programmes are run by a core team combining world-class experience across scientific research, marine operations, ocean policy, knowledge exchange, multi-platform content creation and distribution, and strategic communications.
Since our first expedition in 2016, Nekton has undertaken a decade of ocean exploration: scientific research expeditions into unexplored depths in places that matter most; new species discovered that no scientist had ever seen; coverage reaching billions; and policy commitments that have protected hundreds of thousands of square kilometres of ocean.
All of it undertaken in partnership with the Nekton Network — a global alliance of 190+ partners and a science network spanning 650 institutes across 85 nations.
At Nekton, we draw on a wide range of expertise across diverse fields to support our programmes. Current opportunities are posted below.
Stay up to date with our latest roles via our newsletter and digital channels, or contact us directly at [email protected]
Voyages of Discovery
Nekton undertakes expeditions across the global ocean, from the surface to the deep, in the places that matter most. We discover species no scientist has ever seen, map seafloor no vessel has ever reached, and generate knowledge that changes how the ocean is understood and protected.
Every expedition is co-designed with host nation scientists and co-produced with a global network of national and philanthropic research fleets and technology partners.
What we find drives the science. The science drives the policy. The policy protects the ocean.
Open, Co-designed, Applied
Nekton advances the scientific exploration of the ocean, generating new knowledge that is open, co-designed, and built for real-world use. All research is co-created with host nations and international scientists, with data owned by the countries of origin and made openly accessible to all.
Every dataset is structured to inform conservation, management, and policy — from supporting the design of marine protected areas to strengthening national ocean strategies and global biodiversity commitments.
This is not just better science. It is science designed to sustain and protect the ocean.
The Ocean: Seen, Understood, Valued
Science changes what we know. Culture changes what we care about. Nekton brings ocean exploration and science into global culture, so it is seen, understood, and valued beyond the scientific community.
Through broadcast, storytelling, and programmes like Ocean Rising, we place the ocean at the centre of media, public conversation, and creative expression — from news and digital platforms to fashion, sport, art, and music.
When the ocean is part of culture, it becomes part of what we protect.
