What I teach
I have taught marine biology and oceanography for more than 25 years, becoming a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), and receiving Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Teaching and for Postgraduate Supervision & Training at the University of Southampton.
I lead a course in Deep-Sea Ecology for final-year undergraduates and postgraduate Masters students, and I'm writing a new textbook about the subject for Routledge's Ecology Essentials series. I also teach a marine biology field course using the University's coastal research vessel, and I'm a lecturer for first-year undergraduate courses including Marine Invertebrates and Introduction to Marine Ecology & Evolution.
I'm currently Director of Programmes for the School of Ocean & Earth Science, helping to ensure its degrees evolve to meet the needs of a changing world, and I'm a mentor and assessor for AdvanceHE fellowship qualifications, supporting colleagues across the University to develop their educational practice.
Exceptional standard of lecturing
Your teaching methods and clarity in your explanations I thought were excellent
In 2006 I co-founded SciConnect Ltd with science journalist colleagues, creating a capacity-building company that has trained more than 15 000 scientists in communication skills to share their work more widely. I've worked as a Director of the company to develop and deliver training programmes in areas such as science writing, public engagement, presentation and media skills, for clients including research institutions, government agencies, NGOs and companies across the UK and in Europe.
It has been the best and most useful personal training course that I have attended to date
I got a presentation award in a national meeting and I strongly believe that the skills that I gained from this workshop helped a lot for this result
I thought I was a good communicator, however, this course has opened my eyes to new techniques
In digital and online education, I published early research on how students use recordings of lectures, and I led the development of a free Massive Open Online Course (a 'MOOC') about 'Exploring Our Ocean' subsequently taken up by more than 60 000 people from 180+ countries and 'Highly Commended' in The Ocean Awards.
I have learnt so much and been challenged to take the future of our oceans far more seriously than I ever did before
Dr Copley is so enthusiastic and it is contagious. Such a great course. Thank you so much for opening not only my eyes but my mind as well
Promo for Exploring Our Oceans Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)
Teaching at the University of Southampton
For academic year 2025/26:
Director of Programmes for the School of Ocean & Earth Science
Module Lead, Deep-Sea Ecology (Postgraduate Masters & 3rd+4th Year undergraduate students)
By far the most well-organised module I've taken this year, and all-round the most interesting and engaging
Inspiring lecturer with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the topic
Best module I've ever taken
Module Co-Lead, Shallow-Water Survey Techniques (field course for 3rd Year students)
Field course teaching aboard coastal research vessel Callista
Lecturer, MSc Key Skills (postgraduate Masters students)
Lecturer, Marine Invertebrates (1st Year students)
Lecturer, Introduction to Marine Ecology & Evolution (1st Year students)
Lecturer, Introduction to Functional Marine Biology (1st Year students)
Really interesting to talk to and made the lectures seem effortless, his passion really shone through
Extremely engaging and well explained
Genuinely inspired me
Word cloud of all student feedback, 1st Year lectures 2018/19;
size of word represents its frequency in teaching evaluation comments
(from WordClouds.com)
Previous experience at University of Southampton:
Director of Postgraduate Taught programmes in Ocean & Earth Science
Programme Leader, MSc Oceanography degree
Programme Leader, MSc Marine Resource Management degree
Creator & Module Lead, Structure & Dynamics of Marine Communities
Creator & Module Lead, MSc Key Skills
Module Lead, MSc Research Projects
Module Lead, Marine Biology Fieldwork Skills
Module Lead, IT, Communication, Field & Lab Skills
Module Lead, Coastal & Estuarine Oceanography
MicroROV survey during an undergraduate practical class
Tutor, Contempory Topics in Oceanography & Marine Biology
Fieldwork tutor, Applied Oceanography & Fieldwork
Lecturer, Advanced Independent Research Projects
Lecturer, Earth & Ocean System
Lecturer, Formation & Evolution of the Ocean Crust
