Marine Ecological Enhancement Project Archives

Young Coastal Scientists and Engineers Conference

08/01/202008/01/2020Katie Thompson

About YCSEC 2020

Bournemouth University is pleased to host the 16th Young Coastal Scientists and Engineers Conference (YCSEC) on the 6th-7th April 2020. This annual conference brings together early career researchers and practitioners (such as PhD students, Post-Doc researchers and recently qualified professionals) from a variety of different disciplines, all concerned with the physical and biological processes within the coastal environment. In the past, this has included presentations on a diverse selection of topics, such as, but not limited to: marine renewables, impact of flooding and climate change, coastal erosion and morphological modelling, and effects of pollution.

YCSEC provides a unique opportunity for leading young coastal scientists and engineers working in academia and industry, to present their work and network with their peers in an informal setting. The conference incorporates presentations, along with opportunities to network and socialise, with an optional field trip.

Who Should Attend?

This conference welcomes post-graduate researchers (MSc and PhD Students), post-doctoral researchers, and those who consider themselves to be early career researchers. Junior practitioners working in both the public or private sector are also encouraged to attend. The interdisciplinary audience and subject area is designed to promote integration and research connections between scientists and engineers associated with coastal research and practice.

We are keen to highlight that not all of us are ‘young’ and that there is no age restriction for attendance at this conference.

Why Attend?

YCSEC is renowned for providing a welcoming and supporting environment to present and discuss research. It is a great opportunity to interact with a small community of researchers, allowing you to expand your knowledge and network.

Extended Abstract Deadline

The call for abstracts has been extended to the 13th January so there is still time to apply.

For more information, visit their website:
http://ycsec2020.com/index.html

Marineff Workshop

01/11/201901/11/2019Katie Thompson

MARINEFF is a cross-channel EU funded project focusing on eco-engineering coastal infrastructure to increase marine biodiversity and enhance net gain. The project’s biannual workshops are aimed at a stakeholder audience of coastal managers, coastal engineers, maritime professionals, policy makers, local councils and port authorities to educate them about the project’s aims and goals and receive feedback from those in industry.

The MARINEFF project’s second biannual workshop will be held in the Education Room at Dinosaur Isle, Isle of Wight this autumn. It will introduce the MARINEFF project and all its work packages, and focus on ‘Vertipools’ in work package T2. Vertipools are a type of artificial rockpool created by Isle of Wight based subcontractor Artecology, which are retrofitted onto vertical coastal frontage, such as quays, pilings and sea walls. As a MARINEFF partner, Bournemouth University plan to deploy 150 Vertipools across three sites in an experimental array designed to determine the optimum spacing for maximising marine species colonisation.

The Workshop will include refreshments and a buffet lunch, several presentations in the morning and a field trip to Vertipools deployed along a wooden groyne on Sandown beach. The field site is a 2 minute walk from the Workshop venue.

Agenda

10.30 – Arrival at Education Room, Dinosaur Isle. Tea and coffee
11.00 – Introduction to MARINEFF – Jess Bone (15mins + 5 min questions)
11.20 – Background on Vertipools and current site locations – Artecology (25mins + 5 min questions)
11.50 – Existing data collected on Vertipools – Dr Alice Hall (15mins + 5 min questions)
12.10 – The next steps – Vertipools & upscaling – Jess Bone/ Roger Herbert (15mins + 5 min questions)
12.30 – Lunch
13.30 – Walk to field site on Sandown beach – Artecology workshop tour
15.30 – Return to Dinosaur Isle to collect belongings, end

Travel and Accommodation

We recommend attendees travel to Ryde via Wightlink ferry from Portsmouth as foot passengers, though cars can be driven over at a higher cost. Parking is limited to 16 spaces at the venue which is free. There are larger car parks local to the venue but standard Isle of Wight parking charges apply. There is a train service from Ryde to Sandown, the venue location. There are hotels in Sandown to suit a range of budgets. Regrettably we cannot reimburse travel and accommodation expenses or offer grants to cover associated costs.

Hengistbury Head Ecological Enhancement Project

12/02/201823/02/2018Katie Thompson

Bournemouth University PhD researcher Alice Hall from the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences (SciTech) launched a ‘Hengistbury Head Ecological Enhancement project’ last month (January 2018). In order to improve the marine life on the groynes at Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth University in connection with Hengistbury Head Visitors centre are creating artificial rockpools on the rock groynes at Hengistbury Head. The year 4 school children from St. Katharine’s Primary School, Southbourne have helped design the features which will be used to create the artificial rock pools. Once the rockpools are installed the general public and school children will have the opportunity to monitor the pools and help us monitor the marine life which comes to live in the pools.

The aims of this project are:

To engage people with marine life associated with artificial structures and to increase the frequency of visitor interactions.
To educate primary school children on the marine life associated with artificial structures and ways to enhance the ecology on the structures

Artificial rockpool construction at Hengistbury Head:

3D model designs created by students from St. Katharine’s Primary School:

For more information contact Alice Hall on: ahall@bournemouth.ac.uk