In Focus: Professor Andrew Brierley: The Man Whose Name is Etched in Antarctic Ice

At coordinates -45.407989; -60.661392, on the southern coast of Coronation Island in Antarctica’s South Orkney archipelago, lies a bay that now bears the name of a distinguished scientist. Brierley Bay, recently renamed in honour of the late Professor Andrew Brierley of the University of St Andrews, stands as a tribute to his remarkable contributions to marine science. This decision, made by the UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee as part of the British Antarctic Territory organisation, recognises Brierley’s exceptional impact on Antarctic research and his enduring legacy in the field of marine ecology.

As Antarctica has no indigenous populations to name landmarks, geographical features in Antarctica are named according to international principles and procedures. Elena Field, a Geographic Information System and Web Mapping Specialist at the British Antarctic Survey, underscores the importance of naming for navigation, safety, and scientific communication. “It allows for a feature to be unambiguously identified,” she explains. Official names ensure that locations are consistently referenced in research, operational documents, and conservation policies. This also permits better operational safety and environmental protection of the designated area.

To be considered for such an honour, individuals must have made exceptional contributions to Antarctic science, governance, or exploration. Brierley’s colleagues at the British Antarctic Survey — Professor Geraint Tarling, Dr Sally Thorpe, and Dr Nadine Johnston — submitted the proposal, recognising his profound influence on Southern Ocean ecosystem science.

Born in Rugby, England, in 1967, Andrew Stuart Brierley demonstrated an early passion for marine biology. As a dedicated student, he earned his undergraduate degree from Bangor University in 1987 before pursuing a PhD in squid genetics at the University of Liverpool’s Port Erin Marine Laboratory on the Isle of Man. His early research focused on the population genetics of squid species in the Atlantic and Southern Oceans, laying the foundation for his future work in marine ecology.

Despite suffering from asthma and being advised against diving, Brierley was undeterred. Driven by his insatiable curiosity and determination, he logged over 1,000 dives, exploring underwater ecosystems and co-authoring a local dive guide for the Calf of Man. He also played a role in salvaging parts from the wreck of the Dom Bosco fishing vessel, a vessel that began taking on water and sank due to poor weather conditions, further showcasing his adventurous spirit.

Brierley’s career took him to South America for fisheries surveys before he joined the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge in 1995. His research focused on krill, a keystone species in the Southern Ocean’s ecosystem. This interest led to his pioneering work in fisheries acoustics, using sound waves to study marine life distributions.

In 1990, alongside his longtime colleague Paul Fernandes, Brierley secured funding to launch the world’s first Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) in the Southern Ocean. Initially deployed in the North Sea to study how fish evade ships, the AUV was later sent beneath the ice of the Southern Ocean. This groundbreaking mission uncovered dense bands of krill thriving several kilometres beneath the sea ice, suggesting that these hidden depths provide a refuge from marine predators. Their findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Science, were the first to demonstrate the critical role of sea ice in the life cycle of Antarctic krill.

In 2001, Brierley joined the University of St Andrews as a lecturer in the School of Biology. He quickly established himself as a dynamic researcher and mentor, inspiring students and colleagues alike. His work extended beyond polar ecosystems, as he also explored marine acoustics in tropical waters, from Palau to Diego Garcia, and investigated the search behavior of marine predators.

In 2008, he was promoted to full-time professor. He led the Pelagic Ecology Research Group at the Scottish Oceans Institute and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in recognition of his research in the Galápagos. His academic output was prolific — Google Scholar lists over 200 articles to his name, accumulating more than 11,500 citations. He also played an active role in international environmental debates, publishing letters in the science journal Nature which criticised Japanese whaling activities that the country attributed to scientific research.

Beyond his fieldwork, Brierley co-founded the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research Krill Expert Group in 2017, fostering collaboration between scientists and policymakers at the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. His work directly influenced conservation efforts aimed at protecting krill populations, which form the foundation of the Antarctic food web. In 2021, he was appointed Director of Research for the University’s School of Biology, reflecting his growing influence in marine science.

While Brierley was deeply committed to science, he was also a devoted father, an endurance sports enthusiast, and a close friend to many. He was a triathlete and Ironman competitor, qualifying for and competing in five of Hawaii’s annual Ironman World Championships. He achieved a marathon personal best of two hours and 42 minutes in Florence. His adventurous side also saw him engage in deep-water diving, paragliding, skiing, hiking, and mountaineering. When an injury prevented him from competing on a standard bike, he took up the unusual sport of stand-up biking (ElliptiGO), competing at the 2022 World Championships where he placed eighth.

His colleague and friend Paul Fernandes remembers him as “an entertaining, good-humored friend to me and many.” His sudden passing in February 2024 was a profound loss to the scientific community, but his influence endures. “Andy would have been flabbergasted by the news but deeply honoured that there is a place in the world named after him,” said Kirsti Sharratt, Professor Brierley’s partner.

Brierley Bay not only commemorates a scientist whose work reshaped our understanding of Antarctic ecosystems but also symbolises the importance of continued research in a rapidly changing environment. With climate change driving unprecedented shifts in Antarctica — with melting ice, expanding vegetation, and record-breaking heat waves — such scientific exploration offers insights into the implications of such transformations, as well as providing potential strategies for their mitigation.

The renaming of this Antarctic bay ensures that Brierley’s name will live on, forever linked to the icy waters he dedicated his life to studying, while also cementing the legacy of the University of St Andrews in Antarctic research. His contributions will continue to inspire future generations of marine scientists, consolidating the University's impact on marine science and its place in history.

Image by Kip Evans