Rate My Professor Callum Roberts

Professor Callum Roberts serves as Professor of Marine Conservation in the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at the University of Exeter's Cornwall Campus, part of the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy. He earned his PhD in coral reef ecology from the University of York in 1987. Earlier in his career, Roberts was affiliated with the University of York, where he advanced studies on coral reefs in the Red Sea, Maldives, and Great Barrier Reef. At Exeter, he has focused on marine ecosystems, becoming a leading voice in ocean conservation. His research examines historical and contemporary threats to marine life, including overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change impacts.

Roberts specializes in marine protected areas, fisheries management, marine historical ecology, sustainable aquaculture, bycatch mitigation, and renewable energy effects on oceans. He has documented long-term declines in marine populations through historical records, pioneering concepts like the shifting baselines syndrome and the Fish Event Horizon. As lead researcher for the Convex Seascape Survey, he advocates for expanded protections, having scientifically supported the design of 500,000 square kilometers of marine protected areas in the North Atlantic via OSPAR in 2010 and the global 30% by 2030 ocean protection target. His influential books include The Unnatural History of the Sea (2007), detailing 1,000 years of exploitation; Ocean of Life (2013), on broad human impacts; Reef Life (2019), exploring coral reefs' past and future; and Secrets of the Seas, co-authored with Alex Mustard. With over 33,000 citations across 245 publications, his work shapes policy and public awareness. Awards include the Pew Marine Fellowship (2000), Rachel Carson Award (2007), Mountbatten Award (2013), and election as International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2025). Roberts holds roles as Chief Scientific Advisor and Trustee of Blue Marine Foundation, UK Ambassador for WWF, Board Member of Nekton Deep Ocean Research Institute, and advisor to Maldives Coral Institute and Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy. He served on editorial boards of Conservation Biology (1999-2003) and Animal Conservation (1997-2000), and contributed to Blue Planet II, Seaspiracy, and The End of the Line.