Big Rock Pool Challenge: The Power of UK Marine Citizen Science

The Big Rock Pool Challenge is a nationwide citizen science initiative that invites people of all ages to explore their local coastlines and discover the remarkable wildlife hidden in rock pools. In this talk, Dr Ben Holt (CEO and co-founder of The Rock Pool Project) shares how the challenge blends hands-on marine exploration with digital tools to create a fun, accessible, and scientifically valuable experience for communities across the UK. From competitive BioBlitz battles to large-scale biodiversity recording, he reveals how the Challenge is transforming public engagement with the ocean and empowering thousands of volunteers to contribute meaningful data to marine conservation.

Dr Ben Holt is a marine biologist and the CEO and co-founder of The Rock Pool Project, a UK social enterprise that connects people with the incredible wildlife of the coast through community science, education, and digital innovation. With a background in marine ecology and biogeography, Ben has spent his career exploring how people interact with the natural world and how technology can inspire large-scale participation in environmental research. Under his leadership, The Rock Pool Project has grown into a nationwide movement empowering thousands of volunteers to record and protect marine life through initiatives such as the Big Rock Pool Challenge. Ben is a passionate communicator who blends scientific expertise with creative outreach, helping to build stronger connections between people, technology, and the sea.

This event is a one-off and will not be repeated. If you can't attend the live event, you don't need to miss out. Book a space and once we've processed the event content after the live event you will be sent a link to the content online.

The marineLIVE webinar programme is part-funded through an Outreach Grant from the British Ecological Society.