Call to researchers working on environmental themes
As part of one of NERC’s discipline hopping grants the SMMI and the Southampton Institute for the Arts & Humanities (SIAH) are looking to hold two workshops to explore how researchers across the University (and particularly those outside of NERCs traditional areas of funding) carry out research into the environment. A core thread of NERC’s delivery plan focuses on how we identify environmental problems and create solutions. Within this it also recognises that researchers in other fields approach these topics in different ways, that their research may be fundamental to achieving the goals laid out by NERC, but that crucial interdisciplinary conversations might not be happening.
To help start these conversations we will be holding two interdisciplinary workshops this March. The aim of the workshops will be to build a better understanding of the types, extent and depth of research being undertaken in the University, as well as gain an insight into topics and opportunities for the future. To help create a baseline for these sessions, and to act as an expression of interest for attendance, we have created a short questionnaire. This has been designed for both researchers currently working on environmental topics, and those who would like to move into this area. The more responses we get, the better the picture we’ll be able to create, and from this a network to be drawn on in future.
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Evaluating the risks and safety of future clean maritime power options
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Some of the CMDC Zero-carbon base load power for large ships team enjoying late winter sunshine on the top-deck of the current LR building on the Boldrewood Innovation Campus.
Liam Blackmore, Tim Kent, Alex Pedgrift and other colleagues from Lloyds Register recently welcomed partners in the Department For Transport Clean Maritime Demonstrator Competition “Zero-carbon base load power for large ships” to their current offices on the Boldrewood Innovation Campus. This was for a 2 day face-to-face and online hybrid meeting to evaluate the risks and safety of new proposed technologies to substantially reduce the CO2 and other pollutants from large cruise ships whilst they are in port as well as at sea. This project, led by Carnival plc, brings together a partnership involving Ceres Power, Shell Shipping, LR and researchers from the University of Southampton which included SMMI Director Damon Teagle. Read more here.
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City of Culture bid submitted
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The City’s application to be UK City of Culture in 2025 was submitted on the 2nd of February. The bid looks to address social and economic challenges within the city through a lens of cultural activity. In reflecting the City and University’s strengths a broad definition was given to culture incorporating science, engineering, technology and maths as well as the arts and humanities. The University is a key partner in the bid, with a range of opportunities apparent within the programme and associated activities. SMMI researchers have been heavily involved in supporting thebid, both with regard to its underpinning evidence base and also elements of the proposed programme. Rather than marking the finalisation of the bid, this stage reflects one step, with further opportunities for engagement opening up if the City is shortlisted. Details of shortlisted cities will be released on the 21st March, with judges visiting cities after this date. More information on upcoming activities and how to get involved can be found on the bids website. You can also watch below the online event, Celebrating Southampton: UK City of Culture Bid 2025 where you can hear from panelists including SMMI Deputy Director Fraser Sturt who is the Research and Evaluation Lead for the University of Southampton.
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SMMI Research Fellow Sam Robinson gives seminar on national security, geopolitics and the geosciences during the Cold War
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Dr Sam Robinson is a historian of Cold War science and technology with a particular focus on oceans history and was invited to give an Oceans and Earth Science seminar earlier this month. The seminar was entitled ‘The Earth Under Surveillance: national security, geopolitics and the geosciences during the Cold War'. Sam’s paper discussed the use of the earth sciences by military authorities during the Cold War. Showing how funding for earth science during the 1950s and 1960s shaped the research agenda and was closely related to complex geopolitical realities. Regardless of this context the geosciences grew and amassed vast new data sets about the world during this period of unprecedent growth for science. The paper concludes by arguing that without this expansion of earth sciences we would not be so aware today of the human impacts on climate change, environmental pollution, and biodiversity loss. Placing the earth under surveillance helped the world avoid nuclear catastrophe and raised global environmental consciousness. Read the full abstract and watch the seminar here.
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SMMI member Helen Farr (Archaeology) takes part in Science Museum event
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On Friday 18th February, SMMI member, Dr Helen Farr (Archaeology) battled Storm Eunice to take part in a live event hosted by the Science Museum in London that had been organised to launch the new Ancient Greek Science and Wisdom exhibition. The evening event “Where worlds collide: how modern technology reveals the ancient past” took place with a good attendance against the stormy odds. Prof. Alice Roberts (broadcaster and archaeologist) and Maxime Durand (World Design Director of Ubisoft) joined the event virtually, whilst Prof. Michael Scott (broadcaster and ancient historian), Dr Helen Farr and Ortis Deley (broadcaster and comedian) performed live on stage. Discussion ranged from the science and technology used to discover and reconstruct the past, to digital developments and education through gaming.
The evening was hosted in the Science Museum IMAX cinema, allowing Helen to showcase a new short film based on the University of Southampton Black Sea Maritime Archaeological Project findings, produced and directed by Michael Grant (OES) and Felix Pedrotti (Archaeology). The film, set to music by the Penguin Café, brought together incredible footage of subsea exploration, remote operated vehicles and ancient shipwrecks to take the audience on an immersive dive to the depths of the Black Sea. Recorded highlights of the event will shortly be available here through the Science Museum website for those that could not make it.
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African Heritage Sites threatened by coastal flooding and erosion as sea-level rise accelerates
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Photo: Cardo Maximus, part of World Heritage Site Tipasa, Algeria projected to be at risk. Credit: Dr Jane Chick
Heritage of Outstanding and Universal Value located along the African coast is at risk from climate change. Salma Sabour, SMMI LTDS PhD student in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, contributed to a global team of climate risk and heritage experts coordinated by Dr Nicholas Simpson from the University of Cape Town’s (UCT), African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI), and have provided the first comprehensive assessment of exposure of African cultural and natural Heritage Sites to extreme sea levels and erosion associated with accelerating Sea Level Rise.
The team invested a year identifying and painstakingly mapping the physical boundary of 284 African coastal heritage sites. They then modelled the exposure of each site at future global warming scenarios and found that 56 sites (20%) are at risk from a one-in-100 year extreme sea-level event including the iconic ruins of Tipasa (Algeria) and the North Sinai archaeological Sites Zone (Egypt). Read more here.
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SMMI raises capacity to highlight the policy implications of the UKRI-funded COMPFLOOD project
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As part of the NERC Discipline Hopping for Environmental Solutions scheme, SMMI Marine & Maritime Policy Research Fellow Dr Wassim Dbouk has been working closely with Dr Melissa Wood, Research Fellow within the School of Ocean and Earth Science to familiarise her with the space of research-to-policy interface and build-up her policy engagement capacity. In line with the University of Southampton Strategy’s Triple Helix Approach focusing on People, Education, Research and Knowledge Exchange, the scheme will equip Melissa with skillsets to engage in several knowledge transfer activities around the UKRI-funded COMPFLOOD project (PI: Associate Professor Ivan Haigh; Co-Is: Professor Stephen Darby; Professor Robert Marsh and Professor Robert Nicholls). The project brings together UK and Vietnamese expertise to map and characterise present and predict future flood risk, from coastal and fluvial sources and, uniquely, to assess the risk of compound flooding across the Mekong delta. Read more about it here.
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Introducing the University of Southampton’s world-class analytical facilities
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Earlier this month, SMMI Research Fellow Thomas Belgrano organised a Facilities Showcase for the Geochemistry group, School of Ocean and Earth Science. The Showcase involved a series of virtual tours of the world-class sample preparation, ICP–MS, laser ablation, stable isotope, and radioanalytical labs. Between tours, a series of flash talks by scientists from across the University of Southampton described recent non-geological applications of the facilities. The Showcase is still available for viewing here and anyone interested in using the labs can contact Thomas for more details here.
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Wolfson Unit, SMMI and Public Policy|Southampton visit the Brixham and Dartmouth harbours as part of a project looking at the implementation of the code of practice for the safety of small fishing vessels of less than 15m
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In September of last year, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's new code of practice for the safety of small fishing vessels of less than 15m came into effect. Responding to recommendations from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), the code aims to improve safety in the sector and to raise the safety awareness of all those involved with the construction, operation and maintenance of such vessels. The code imposes new safety requirements for under 15m boats, which present compliance challenges. In order to prepare the industry for the change, a two-year transitional period will apply until September 2023. Conscious of this, Dr Matteo Scarponi (Wolfson Unit), Dr Wassim Dbouk (SMMI Policy Research Fellow) and Alice Booth (PhD candidate within the School of Ocean and Earth Science, and Policy Associate within Public Policy|Southampton) are working with policy and industry stakeholders to identify key challenges and ambiguities which the code presents for both the industry and its regulator, to recommend action to address them, and to play an active role in improving safety at sea. As part of this continuous engagement, the team recently visited the harbours of Brixham and Dartmouth to run live tests on fishing boats and discuss the industry's concerns about the change. Learn more here.
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Materials testing helps conserve icon of British maritime history
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HMS Victory in Portsmouth. Credit: NMRN
Engineers at the University of Southampton are working with the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) to help find the best materials to ensure Nelson’s flagship, HMS Victory, is weatherproof and watertight for the next half century.
The University’s nC2 engineering consultancy has specially designed and is running a series of tests to assess the long-term performance of a range of paints, caulking and glues (plank sealants) and metal fastenings. The research forms part of a NMRN project to conserve the 18th Century warship for the next 50 years – replacing rotting planks from the hull, repairing the structural framework and renewing the rigging. Read more here.
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Enhanced forensic test confirms Neolithic fisherman died by drowning
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The Neolithic fisherman in burial site (Image: Pedro Andrade)
A new study has confirmed saltwater drowning as the cause of death for a Neolithic man whose remains were found in a mass grave on the coast of Northern Chile. The method developed to solve the 5000 year-old cold case opens up new possibilities for assessing the remains of our prehistoric ancestors. The scientists believe it will help archaeologists understand more about past civilisations in coastal regions and the human stories behind the remains they discover.
Modern forensics can confirm drowning as the cause of death in recent victims by testing for diatoms inside the bones of the victims. Diatoms are a group of algae found in oceans, freshwater and soils. If they are found inside the bones of victims’ bodies, it is likely that they drowned. This is because if they had died before entering the water, they would not have swallowed any saltwater. The test has never been successfully tried to determine drowning in saltwater on prehistoric human remains, until now. Read more here.
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NOTE: CALLS COMING SOON AND WITH NO DEADLINE, TOWARDS THE END OF THIS SECTION.
ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize Opens for 2022 - DEADLINE: 17 MARCH 2022
The Celebrating Impact Prize recognises outstanding ESRC research and success in interdisciplinary, collaborative working, partnerships, engagement and knowledge exchange activities that have led to significant impact. Read more here.
NERC Strategic Capital Call - Improve Environmental Science Research Through New Equipment - DEADLINE 5 APRIL 2022
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) runs the Strategic Capital Call to invest in UK capital infrastructure that will deliver significant enhancements to research capacity in the environmental sciences. Through the scheme, eligible research organisations are able to use funding to create new or build upon existing equipment. The scheme has been set up to support world-class environmental science, generate exciting scientific discovery and build on effective and efficient capability to sustain high-quality research. Read more here.
NO DEADLINE CALLS:
Innovate UK - Fisheries and Seafood Scheme - NO DEADLINE
This supports projects based in England that secure sustainable growth across the catching, processing and aquaculture sectors and that protect and enhance the marine environment. Further details here.
EPSRC Postdoctoral Fellowship - NO DEADLINE
Apply for a fellowship focusing on either: Energy or Mathematical Sciences. You must have either a PhD or at least four years’ experience in a relevant field by the start of your fellowship. An eligible UK research organisation must host and support you during your fellowship. Your fellowship can be up to three years long. This is prorated for part-time fellows, at a minimum of 50% FTE. The project can use one or a combination of discovery science, innovation, instrumentation and technique development or software engineering. Further details here.
NERC - International ocean discovery programme – workshop funding support scheme - NO DEADLINE
This supports UK scientists in the organisation of, or participation in, IODP-related workshops, sandpits, training, outreach or other events. Eligible workshops must make use of IODP samples, data or results, or involve planning for the collection of such materials. Further details here.
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8-9 March 2022 - Society of Maritime Industries Annual Conference - The UK Maritime Enterprise: Time For Action – Decarbonising Maritime and Offshore Renewable Energy - Newcastle
The conference will take place over two days, with a packed roster of speakers from Government, regulators and industry to explore the opportunities for collaboration in decarbonising maritime and offshore renewable energy. With the refreshed National Shipbuilding Strategy expected early in the new year, this will be one of the first (if not the first) major industry events following its publication, where we can also debate the broadening of the strategy to encompass the commercial, workboats and leisure sectors. Read more here.
9 March 2022 - Championing the Solent's Creative Industries - Solent University
The Solent Local Enterprise Partnership and Southampton UK City of Culture 2025 bid are inviting you to an hybrid event to help local creative industries achieve their full creative and commercial potential by being part of the story to become UK City of Culture in 2025. Read more here.
9 March 2022 - University of Bath Institute for Policy Research Lecture: Arctic Indigenous Seas: Selected highlights from the unknown region - on-line
As part of the series ‘Our oceans: A deep dive’ – an ongoing public event series seeking to explore the world’s oceans and what climate change, maritime trade and strategic conflict mean for their future. The lecture will be given by the head of the village of Selkie in North Karelia, Finland, and President of Snowchange Cooperative, Dr Tero Mustonen and will discuss the Arctic Seas, indigenous communities, and climate change. Register here.
15-17 March 2022 - Oceanology International - Excel, London
This event brings together 500+ exhibitors in the only event that links the three key players in the industry: businesses, academics and government. Visit us in 2022 for innovative live on-water demonstrations and interactive seminars looking into the future of our industry. With over 8,000 attendees targeted for 2022, it is a must-attend event for those involved in exploring, monitoring, developing or protecting the world’s oceans, from seabed to surface and beyond. Read more here.
22 March 2022 - Aberdeen Harbour: A Blueprint for Green Ports in the UK - online event
This event is a unique opportunity to understand more about Aberdeen Harbour’s steps to become a net zero port. Since being awarded more than £400,000 from the Department for Transport’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, Aberdeen Harbour, in conjunction with Connected Places Catapult, Buro Happold and the Tyndall Centre, is completing a feasibility study on the introduction of green shore power at its berths. Read more here.
31 March - 1 April 2022 - Autonomous Ships 2022 Conference - London
The rapid technological development in the field of Maritime Autonomy is creating an opportunity for the marine industry as well as a challenge for the regulatory framework. In recent years we have seen surface to underwater vehicles being deployed for patrol, oceanographic and maintenance among other purposes. Furthermore, cargo ships projects involving coastal and ocean-going routes with different degrees of autonomy are being tested. Those will have great implications for shipping companies, shipbuilders and maritime systems providers. Read more here.
13-14 April 2022 - Our Ocean Palau 2022 - Republic of Palau
The Republic of Palau is the first small island developing state (SIDS) to host the Our Ocean Conference. The conference’s theme is “Our Ocean, Our People, Our Prosperity,” which draws on Palau’s rich tradition as an ocean society and focuses on islander perspectives and approaches to ensuring the health of our ocean. The 7th Our Ocean Conference will be a key moment for countries, civil society, and industry to commit to concrete and significant actions to protect the ocean. Read more here.
10-11 May 2022 - Lloyd's Register Foundation - Safer World Conference 2022
Bringing together thought leaders from research, business, government, and other sectors to discuss the biggest safety challenges facing the world and develop new approaches to create a safer world. This year, the conference will cover a wide range of topics including safer oceans, the role of safety in accelerating progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals, well-being in the workplace, understanding risk, and resilience. Read more here.
18 June 2022 - TEDx Southampton University
The first confirmed speaker is alumnus Owen Gaffney. Owen’s talk, ‘The planetary emergency: this decade critical’, will reveal the science that shows the planetary emergency we face, and how the necessary changes are within our power through ‘positive tipping points’. Owen’s recent co-authored book ‘Breaking Boundaries’ features a foreword by Greta Thunberg, and the documentary of the book on Netflix is narrated by Sir David Attenborough. Read more here.
30 June - 1 July 2022 - Waterjet Propulsion 2022 - online
The Royal Institution of Naval Architects and MARIC are providing a platform to discuss the latest developments on water-jet related technology, and to promote the exchange of novel ideas, technological progress, and possible cooperation among interested parties. Read more here.
26-30 September 2022 - Sea Tech Week® 2022: Maritime transport - Brest, France
Sea Tech Week® is a week-long international event focusing on marine science and technology. It brings together every two years more than 1,000 leading international experts in various marine-related disciplines to the city of Brest, France. Sea Tech Week® includes a scientific and technology conference, a professional exhibition, B2B meetings and social events. Registration for the event is likely to be in March. Read more and check the link here.
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