The University of Essex is committed to excellence in teaching and excellence in research. In 2014 the University of Essex was in the top 20 in the UK for research excellence (REF 2014). This strong research focus has helped to establish widely recognised research networks essential to address major scientific areas. The Environmental and Plant Biosciences group addresses global issues such as climate change, ocean acidification, food security and coastal ecosystems. Within this the marine biology group conducts world class research from the poles to tropical reef systems, through international partnerships with collaborators from universities, government bodies, NGOs and industry. The Coral Reef Research Unit is the most extensive of its kind in the UK, focusing on the community ecology of coral reef systems, tropical seagrass beds, mangroves and fisheries.