Dr Steve Widdicombe is theme leader of PML’s core strategic science area “Coastal and Shelf Processes”. He is a marine ecologist with 18 years experience and expertise in benthic ecology, biodiversity and ecosystem function. He has published 37 peer reviewed articles and in the past 2 years he has published 13 peer reviewed papers specifically on the impacts of high CO2 on the health and function of benthic organisms, communities and ecosystem processes. He was responsible for designing, developing, building and using the first large scale mesocosm acidification facility in Europe. In spring 2009, he will lead a multinational team that will assess the impact of high CO2 levels on arctic organisms and biogeochemical processes during a number of coordinated benthic mesocosm studies. He has provided expertise to the London Convention on the environmental considerations associated with geological storage of CO2. In addition, he regularly provides advice to UK government departments (e.g. Defra and BERR), environmental NGOs (e.g. Natural England) and International policy organisations (e.g. ICES).