Professor Nick Owens

Vice-Principal for Research and Innovation

Professor Nicholas Owens is the Vice-Principal for Research and Innovation at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and holds the title of Professor of Marine Science. He is also the Executive Director and Principal of the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), based near Oban. In addition to his leadership at SAMS, Professor Owens acts as the Chief Executive of SAMS Enterprise Ltd, a commercial subsidiary fully owned by SAMS. Within UHI, he chairs the Research Ethics Committee and is set to become the Chair of the Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee.

As a marine biogeochemist, Professor Owens has over 40 years of research experience, including extensive work at the Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the University of Newcastle. His career includes numerous ship-based expeditions, encompassing several years at sea across the world’s oceans, including Antarctica.

With more than 25 years of leadership in research institutions, Professor Owens has held executive positions at several prestigious organisations, including the British Antarctic Survey, where he served as Director. He has contributed to numerous national and international committees, including those for the United Nations, NATO, and national academies. He currently serves as a member of the Scottish Government Science Advisory Council and has been with SAMS since 2015.