In summer 2026, UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) Senior Geospatial Specialist, Lizzie Davis, joined an international survey through the International Hydrographic Organization's (IHO) Empowering Women in Hydrography (EWH) Project.
Delivered in partnership with France's hydrographic and oceanographic service, SHOM, the programme brought together four women from different hydrographic organisations for a two-week deployment aboard the Research Vessel RV Pourquoi Pas? The EWH Project funded the participants so that they could join the vessel to learn from leading researchers and contribute to ongoing survey and oceanographic operations.
Fresh from returning to the UKHO, Lizzie shared her experience.
Lizzie Davis, Senior Geospatial Specialist at the UKHO. Getting there How did you first hear about the opportunity?I was looking for opportunities to gain more practical survey experience when I came across the Empowering Women in Hydrography initiative on the IHO website.
The programme immediately caught my attention because gaining hands-on survey experience was one of my professional development goals. I discussed the opportunity with my line manager, who was very supportive, and we agreed it would be a valuable way to build my skills while bringing additional experience back to the UKHO.
As part of the application process, I outlined how the placement would support my development and benefit my work. I also submitted information about my role and experience to the IHO, explaining why I wanted to take part in the programme.
What made you apply?The opportunity appealed to me because it offered hands-on survey experience while giving me the chance to learn from other hydrographic organisations. I was interested in seeing how different teams operate, from the equipment they use to the procedures they follow.
I was also excited by the combination of hydrography and oceanography. While hydrography is my area of expertise, the placement offered an opportunity to develop my understanding of the wider science that supports survey work and gain experience in areas I would not normally encounter in my day-to-day role.
Life on board What was a typical day like on board?I worked mainly daytime hours, starting each day with a briefing on the vessel's planned operations and a review of the work completed overnight. The team also provided background on the scientific objectives behind each activity, helping us understand how our practical work contributed to the wider research programme.
Much of my time was spent supporting survey and oceanographic operations. This included assisting with the deployment of instruments which measure conductivity, temperature and pressure (CTDs) in the water column, and vertical microstructure profilers used to collect detailed oceanographic data.
The placement also provided an opportunity to work alongside scientists and observe data being collected and analysed in real time. Seeing how the survey and scientific teams worked together gave me a broader understanding of the research taking place and how different disciplines contribute to a successful survey campaign.
Was there a particular project or operation that stood out to you?One of the highlights was working with a CTD rosette system. I have typically used a much smaller CTD instrument to collect sound velocity data for hydrographic surveys, but this system was equipped with a wide range of additional sensors to support multiple areas of research.
The CTD was deployed to depths of several thousand metres and collected measurements on everything from conductivity, temperature and pressure to ocean currents, light levels and chlorophyll. It could also collect water samples at different depths for further analysis.
What stood out most was seeing how much information could be gathered from a single deployment and how the data was used to build a detailed picture of the marine environment.
CTD rosette being prepared for deployment. Seeing research in action How did your hydrographic experience help during the survey?My hydrographic experience allowed me to get involved in a range of activities throughout the two weeks. Having previously used CTD instruments during the UK Centre for Seabed Mapping’s joint survey back in May, I was already familiar with the equipment, the data it collects and how it can be used to support survey operations.
I also supported hydrographic data collection carried out by SHOM's team onboard to help identify suitable locations for scientific moorings to be positioned, ensuring monitoring equipment could be deployed safely and remain in place for long-term data collection.
The experience gave me valuable opportunities to contribute to discussions around survey planning and data collection. It was particularly interesting to see how hydrographic information and oceanographic research complemented each other, with different teams working together to support the scientific objectives.
Visualisation of data from the acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP) to identify a good position for the vessel to be station for a 24-hour research collection operation. How did working alongside both hydrographers and oceanographers broaden your understanding of the marine environment?Much of the oceanographic research focused on internal waves and how they affect the propagation of sound through the water column. I found that particularly interesting because hydrographic surveys also rely on acoustic sensors to collect bathymetric data.
The experience gave me a greater appreciation of how ocean conditions can influence sound velocity and potentially affect the data collected during a survey. It highlighted the close relationship between hydrography and oceanography and helped me better understand the environmental factors that can influence the interpretation of survey data.
Learning from others What made the experience such a valuable learning opportunity?One of the highlights for me was the learning element built into the programme. Each afternoon, a researcher would give a presentation about their work, explaining the questions they were trying to answer and the data they were collecting. Because there were researchers from several organisations onboard, these sessions helped us understand the variety of research taking place on the vessel.
The presentations often sparked discussions between researchers, with people sharing ideas and offering feedback on each other's work. It created a collaborative atmosphere and was a great opportunity to learn about a wide range of scientific disciplines beyond my own area of expertise.
What was it like working alongside scientists and hydrographers from different countries? Did you notice any similarities or differences in the way organisations approach hydrography?What surprised me most was how much we had in common. Although the participants came from Peru, Indonesia, Spain and the UK, we all work to the same IHO survey standards. That meant our approaches to data quality and validation were broadly aligned, even if our organisations deliver surveys in different ways.
The biggest differences were in how survey programmes are organised. It was fascinating to compare approaches and see how different organisations place emphasis on different parts of the process while still achieving the same high-quality outcome.
Hydrographic colleagues from Spain, Indonesia, the UK and Peru on board the Research Vessel Pourquois Pas? Image credit: SHOM Women in hydrography Why are initiatives like Empowering Women in Hydrography important?One of the things I valued about the experience was that we all came from different backgrounds, career stages and organisations, but we were all on board to learn and develop our skills.
For some participants, the placement offered exposure to survey equipment and techniques that were not readily available in their own organisations. For others, it was an opportunity to broaden their knowledge, gain practical experience and learn from experts in a variety of disciplines.
The programme also created space to discuss our experiences as women working in hydrography and to learn more about the opportunities and challenges faced by colleagues in different countries. Bringing together people who are genuinely passionate about developing their skills and advancing the profession helps strengthen the global hydrographic community and supports the next generation of hydrographers.
For me, that was what made the experience so valuable. It provided an opportunity to gain practical survey experience purely for development, learn from experts in a range of disciplines and build connections with colleagues from around the world. I'd recommend it to anyone looking to broaden their skills and experience.
seen at 11:40, 12 November in UK Hydrographic Office.