Thomas Mansfield

Dr Tom Mansfield is the Data Systems Architect at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, specialising in scalable and interoperable data infrastructures for marine and environmental science. A background spanning industry, academia and research settings has resulted in a systems‑engineering approach to multi-community environmental data architecture development, helping teams create FAIR, machine‑readable datasets with long‑term value. His research focuses on federated data architectures, trustworthy metadata workflows and the design of interoperable systems that support modelling, digital twins, and environmental decision‑making. 

As a DAFNI Fellow, Tom will undertake a structured analysis of federated data‑architecture approaches emerging across UK offshore‑wind evidence programmes. These projects are beginning to trial aligned, FAIR‑focused workflows designed to reduce the time required to transform scientific outputs into actionable and interoperable datasets. Using the industry best practice Lessons Learned methodologies, this fellowship will identify best practices, gaps, and opportunities to strengthen the emerging environmental evidence infrastructures that underpin national‑scale modelling and decision support. 

This fellowship will promote DAFNI across the marine‑data community through demonstrations, workshops, and collaboration within the growing innovation ecosystem in Plymouth and across the UK. The Fellowship will produce practical guidance and exemplars that help UK researchers generate reliable, reusable datasets suited for future national‑infrastructure planning.