Download MI-News Issue 16 - Plymouth University

RESEARCH
ISSUE
16 | 2015
BLUE TECHNOLOGY
MINEWS
IN THIS ISSUE
UAEOcean
– Major
collaborations
with UAE
government
underway
PIONEER
WITH
PLYMOUTH
UNIVERSITY
MARINE INSTITUTE
The Maritime
Cyber Treat
Discovery
learning with
a Virtual
Experimental
Engine
IN THIS ISSUE
RESEARCH
UAEOcean – Major collaborations
with UAE government underway
3D subsea Camera System Innovation Beach surveys in the lee of Wave Hub
inform predictive numerical models
The Maritime Cyber Threat Research Group
New state of the art equipment to be used
on two new EU Horizon 2020 Projects
IMO Secretary-General experiences maritime
innovation at Plymouth University
New Technology to Remotely Detect Subsea Cables
03
06
08
08
11
16
21
22
SUCCESS
Internationally acclaimed Artist, Sue Austin, work
displayed in a three day interactive exhibition
04
EU Horizon 2020 funding success07
04
UK company to fund marine science PHDs17
MI Exhibit at NAVDEX an International
Defence Exhibition in the Middle East20
Grant success28
INNOVATION
Discovery learning with a
Virtual Experimental Engine
10
10
VOLTA, Polygen Ltd Wave Energy Converter
is Tested at COAST Lab
13
SEARASER wave energy device13
NautiBoy Marine work with COAST Lab14
Ensign Boats Broaden links15
13
CASE STUDIES
REPORTING BACK
From a Post Doc’s poster presentation to an
invitation to participate in the PEGASO Cruise
18
18
NEWS
Announcements
24
Climate change conference29
New E-learning Metocean course launched
30
29
UPDATES
Marine Institute’s Exhibition calandar
26
Pluto webcam28
2
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MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
RESEARCH
www.plymouth.ac.uk/marine
UAEOcean – Major collaborations
with UAE government underway
The University of Plymouth’s multi-million pound
Oceanography project with the United Arab Emirates
(UAEOcean) has now moved into its critical second
phase.
– the aim being for the UAEOcean centre to be selfsufficient at the end of the project. The overall project
will take 66 months to complete and is split into a series
of defined milestone deliverable packages.
Earlier this year (September) the project team
successfully deployed an Aqualog moored-profiling
system in the Arabian Gulf to sample a range of
essential environmental parameters as part of the
Gulf Reconnaissance and Selective Profiling (GRASP1)
mission. GRASP1 is the first of a series of seasonal
deployments in the Arabian Gulf to gather an accurate
profile of the Arabian Gulf to assist with validation of
software modelling.
The first of these milestone deliverables was completed
at the end of April this year.
UAEOcean is a £4m contract research project with the
UAE Government, which commenced in November 2014
and is contracted through the University’s commercial
trading arm – University of Plymouth Enterprise Limited
(UoPEL) – with Naval Advanced Solutions LLC (NAS)
in Abu Dhabi. The project is led by Professor Georgy
Shapiro in the University’s School of Marine Science
and Engineering, who heads-up the Plymouth Ocean
Forecasting Centre, and forms part of the Plymouth
University Marine Institute’s global offering.
NAVDEX 2015
UAEOcean is a 5.5 year project submitted via the Centre
of Excellence in Naval Oceanographic Research and
Education (CENORE) in the UK. CENORE is a consortium
composed of representatives from:
• Royal Navy Command HQ
• University of Plymouth
• UK Met Office
• Britannia Royal Naval College
• UK Hydrographic Office
• Flag Officer Sea Training Hydrographic,
Meteorological and Oceanographic School
UoPEL has key sub-contractors in the project including
the National Oceanographic Centre (Liverpool).
The contract offers a fully integrated solution in
operational ocean forecasting and use of ocean
data in Naval and Civil environments, supported by a
structured package of staff training and development
MI NEWS Issue 15 | 2014
This commercial supply arrangement between the
University and the UAE follows the formal cooperation
agreement between the UK and UAE announced by
the Prime Minister David Cameron and President
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan on the 6th
November 2012 and has high-level ministerial support.
In recognition of the importance to the UAE of this
relationship, which has been carefully fostered
over the last 3 years, the University was invited
to present the modelling capability developed
within the Plymouth Ocean Forecasting Centre, as
well as general research capability of the Marine
Institute, at NAVDEX (22-26 February 2015). NAVDEX
forms part of the landmark International Defence
Exhibition, which takes place every second year
in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and attracts more than 1,000
exhibiting companies and more than 80,000 visitors
from all over the world. The University delegation,
which also included Professor Martin Attrill (Director
of Marine Institute) and Ian McFadzen (University’s
Marine Commercial Director), accompanied by
David Wilson from the UK Met Office, were invited
to share a stand with NAS. The delegation was also
invited to the reception at the UK Embassy in UAE.
Commenting on the University’s success with the
UAEOcean project, Project Manager Paul Tiltman adds:
“The last three years have been all about relationship
building with colleagues in the UAE and gaining their
trust – this has been very important, and these things
take time to establish. The University now has a very
important and strategic foot-hold in the middle-east,
and we have already seen requests for further work
coming our way”.
3
SUCCESS
Marine Institute Artist in
Residence, Sue Austin,
work displayed in a three
day interactive exhibition
4
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
www.plymouth.ac.uk/marine
A showcase of striking
works by Plymouth
University graduate Sue
Austin went on display
for three days of
interactive activities.
The internationally acclaimed artist
– whose work has been seen by an
estimated global television audience of
around 150 million – invited audiences to
become ‘Immersed in 360’.
Designed as a research exhibition – the
event took place in the University’s
Roland Levinsky Building from July 15-17
– it featured video footage of dance and
performance by Sue and Kevin Clifford,
using Oculus VR headsets and projection
onto stunning, ethereal 360 degree
installations to create a fully immersive
audience experience.
The activities are part of 360 Degrees –
A New Angle on Access, a project launched
in October last year thanks to a grant from
the Digital R&D Fund for the Arts.
It is being pursued in partnership with
Plymouth University, Eye Mirror and
Living Options Devon and will use digital
technology to take art into community
venues, and even people’s homes.
Sue, who initially came to Plymouth
University to study on the BA (Hons)
Fine Art course, said:
“I’m completely passionate about 360
imagery because it’s a new aesthetic, it’s
very powerful. But I also realise that the
costs make it inaccessible to most, so this
project is specifically about developing
360 in a way that’s usable and affordable
for the arts sector and beyond.”
‘Immersed in 360’ was an exhibition of
prototypes which also researched the
experiences of home and communitybased audiences currently excluded from
accessing arts venues due to disabling
physical, psychological and financial
barriers.
After her undergraduate studies,
Sue completed a masters degree in
contemporary art practice in 2014, having
earned widespread international acclaim
for her inspirational project ‘Creating the
Spectacle’!
Premiered as part of the 2012 Cultural
Olympiad, and supported by an Unlimited
Commission, the project saw her working
with the University and Arts Council
England to develop a powered wheelchair
which she then used in eye-catching
underwater performances.
Since then, Sue has travelled the globe
to talk about her work, with invitations to
address a TEDx conference in Washington
DC and a conference for NASA scientists
in Houston, Texas.
She has also become one of the artists in
residence at Plymouth University’s Marine
Institute, using her creativity in conjunction
with world-leading scientists and students
to enhance understanding of the marine
environment
5
RESEARCH
3D subsea Camera
System Innovation
In September 2012 the Business Secretary
set out the government’s approach to
industrial strategy defining ‘eight great
technologies’ that the government would
promote with capital investment and
technology support. One of the eight
great technologies was identified as
‘robotics and autonomous systems’ in
which the UK has a strong research and
technology base.
Staff represented by Plymouth University’s
Marine Institute we also have a strong
research and technology base in robotics
and autonomous systems, through
the work of research centres including
Autonomous Marine Systems (AMS) group
and the Centre for Robotics and Neural
Systems, who are concerned with the
development of autonomous vehicles, and
the Marine Physics Research Group and
the Marine Biology and Ecology Research
Centre (MBERC) who are concerned with
the development of sensors to use with
autonomous and robotic systems.
Offshore and deep-sea research within
MBERC is intimately connected to the
development of new technology that
allows the progression of our science,
opening up new research pathways,
and we have a history of investing in
and developing new marine robotic
technology. In 2008 Dr Kerry Howell in
collaboration with other MBERC members
Martin Attrill and Emma Sheehan, was
awarded funding from the South West
Regional Development Agency – Capital
items (£379 680), to purchase a Seaeye
Falcon Deep Rated Remotely Operated
Vehicle, as well as funds to develop a new
towed video sledge system. The Falcon
DR ROV is one of only 2 Falcon DRs in the
country and is the most advanced small
research ROV in the UK. In 2014 Dr Howell,
working with an external small business
(SME), developed a new deep-sea video
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system (1000m rated) that does not require expensive fibre-optic
cabling to receive video signal at the surface. Later that year a
further development to the pilot project was funded by a NERC
Capital Equipment Bid (£143,060) awarded to Dr Howell, and
working with the local SME we are in the process of building a
new 3000m rated towed video system that will allow HD video at
the surface with no fibre-optic cabling. In addition this funding
enhanced the capabilities of the Falcon DR ROV, by enabling it to
work at its maximum depth of 1000m.
Building on the success of these developments we are now
working to fill technology gaps within the subsea market both
in seabed image acquisition and processing, and in physical
sampling through developing scientific payloads for commercial
AUVs. One of these developments is based around 3D modelling
of seabed imagery (photogrammetry). Photogrammetric
modelling offers important gains to those working in the subsea
environment. It allows an all-round view of an object as well as
accurate measurement of sizes. This has potential application to
scientific research for example in assessing population structure
of sensitive sessile marine species. Individuals can be measured
without need for physical retrieval from the seabed. However, the
system has more far reaching applications than this, for example
in subsea engineering and construction. The ability to measure
the size of cracks in a subsea structure, or how one structure is
positioned with respect to another, is potentially very useful. We
are currently in the early stages of prototype development and
hope to have a fully working system by November 2015.
For more details contact:
[email protected]
Subsea Camera System
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
SUCCESS
www.plymouth.ac.uk/marine
EU Horizon 2020
funding success
Scientists within Plymouth University’s Marine Institute
are to be part of a new €17 million EU Horizon 2020
funded research project that will test a new energy
converter at Wave Hub, off the north coast of Cornwall.
The five-year Clean Energy From Ocean Waves (CEFOW)
project is being coordinated by Nordic company
Fortum and will involve a new design of convertor
called ‘The Penguin’ – designed by Finnish firm Wello.
Dr Emma Sheehan, a Research Fellow in the
Marine Institute, will lead a team of Plymouth
scientists, in conjunction with academics from
the University of Exeter, to assess how this
device interacts with the marine ecosystem.
Heli Antila, Chief Technology Officer at Fortum, said:
“Wave power may play an important role in the future
as an emissions-free energy production form, and
that is why Fortum is participating in the research
and development efforts. By this project we are
expecting to increase our capabilities and skills in
the field of wave power. We believe that the funding
from the European Commission and the experienced
collaboration partners create excellent conditions
for making great strides forward in commercialising
Wello’s wave power technology. On a global scale, this
project is at the vanguard of wave power research.”
The partnership also includes Mojo Maritime
Ltd, Wave Hub Limited, Green Marine
(UK) Ltd, and Uppsala University.
Dr Sheehan said:
“This is a hugely exciting research and development
project, and it’s tremendous recognition once
again of the expertise that we have, not just here
in Plymouth, but across the South West, that we’re
an integral part of the impact study. We will be
working with local fishermen during the course of
the research, using our flying array to assess how
the device interacts with the marine ecosystem.”
Fortum signed a leasing agreement in February 2014
with the Wave Hub test facility to test wave power
solutions off the coast of Cornwall in Great Britain. The
agreement offers Fortum a new opportunity to trial run
full-scale wave power devices in ocean conditions.
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
Dr Emma Sheehan holds a scale
model of the Wello device
7
RESEARCH
Beach surveys in the lee of
Wave Hub inform predictive
numerical models
Figure 1. Kit Stokes at Perranporth beach on the
All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) used for the beach surveys.
The Real-Time-Kinematic Global Positioning System
(RTK-GPS) receiver that provides the topographic
measurements can be seen mounted at the front of
the ATV. Photography by Erwin Begsma.
8
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
RESEARCH
www.plymouth.ac.uk/marine
The Wave Hub facility off the coast of Hayle in
West Cornwall (www.wavehub.co.uk) is a marine
renewables test site, predominantly designed
for trialling wave energy converters prior to
commercialisation. When Wave Hub was first
proposed in 2006, concerns over the potential effects
of extracting wave energy on coastal waves and beach
morphology sparked an ongoing monitoring effort
by Plymouth University’s Coastal Processes Research
Group (www.coastalprocesses.org). Since 2008
this monitoring has included monthly topographic
surveys of the popular tourist and surfing beaches
of Perranporth and Porthtowan directly in the lee of
Wave Hub, to monitor patterns of beach erosion and
accretion (Figure 1). Survey data are collected using
a real-time kinematic global positioning (RTK GPS)
system mounted on an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) which
allows the full intertidal region of the beaches to be
surveyed rapidly at spring low tides. Support from the
Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) through the
University’s Marine Institute has provided vital funding
to keep these monthly beach surveys going between
funding from other external projects. The resulting
multi-year dataset showing how the beaches change
under natural wave conditions will be invaluable for
comparison with surveys when wave energy devices
are deployed at Wave Hub over the coming years.
flattening again during the following autumn and
winter. Using a predictive model he explored the
potential effect of Wave Hub on this pattern of 3D
sandbar growth and decay at Perranporth beach.
Only an extreme and unrealistic level of wave energy
extraction (100% energy capture at Wave Hub) was
predicted to have a significant effect on the scale of
sandbars and rip channels, and under more realistic
scenarios (≤30% energy capture) Wave Hub was
predicted to have an insignificant effect on beach
morphology of relevance to coastal water-users.
Thanks goes to all the Coastal Processes Research
Group members who have helped out with the surveys
over the years, and thanks to the ongoing support
from HEIF and the Marine Institute our monitoring can
continue to examine the dynamics of these beaches,
providing the world’s longest running dataset of beach
morphology in the lee of a wave energy site.
Additional information:
Stokes, C. ‘Coastal Impacts in the Lee of a Wave Energy Site: Waves,
Beach Morphology and Water-Users (Wave Hub, Cornwall, UK)’ PhD
thesis, Plymouth University, submitted June 2015. PhD supervisors:
Dr Emily Beaumont, Professor Paul Russell and Professor Deborah
Greaves.
Stokes, C., Davidson, M., & Russell, P. (2015). Observation and Prediction
of Three-Dimensional Morphology at a High-Energy Macrotidal Beach.
Geomorphology, 243, 1-13.
The beach surveys to date show that Perranporth
and Porthtowan, along with other high energy oceanfacing beaches in Cornwall and Devon, sit at a
classification boundary where they alternate between
being flat and featureless or highly three-dimensional
(3D) with pronounced sandbars and rip channels.
Such 3D features have profound implications for
coastal water-users as they enhance surf-zone hazard,
in terms of the potential for rip-related drownings,
whilst also improving the quality of surfing waves by
increasing length of ride as the breaking waves ‘peel’
round the sandbars. As part of Kit Stokes’ recently
completed PhD, the monthly beach survey data were
used to show how changes in these 3D features can
be predicted from changes in wave steepness; the
resulting paper was recently published in the journal
Geomorphology (http://bit.ly/1IQJS9T).
Kit found that the change from erosive winter
conditions with high steepness waves to accretive
summer conditions with low steepness waves drives
the growth of the 3D sandbar features during spring
each year. These 3D features persist over the summer,
enhancing both rip hazard and surfing quality, before
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
Perranporth Beach
9
INNOVATION
Discovery learning with a
Virtual Experimental Engine
Simon Rundle, Oliver Tills and John Spicer
Marine Biology researchers are working with
Thinkology, an Exeter based creative design company,
to develop digital ‘discovery learning’ resources.
These resources embed high quality video within
an experimental framework that enables the user to
perform a Virtual Experiment in which they design,
perform and interpret the data from their own
experiment. This project, which was jointly funded
via Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) from
the Marine Institute and the University’s Research
and Innovation directorate, began with the creation
of a pilot resource – www.discoverosmosis.com.
This resource is based around discovering the effect
of osmosis on the single celled organism Vorticella,
via experimental manipulation of salinity. This
resource has been used in local schools (KS4 and
KS5) and in undergraduate teaching on the Marine
Biology programmes. Furthermore this resource was
presented during an interactive workshop session at
the European Marine Science Educators Association
(EMSEA) conference in 2013 and was well received.
Simon Rundle and Oliver Tills
John Spicer
10
The researchers have, in collaboration with colleagues
in Engineering, recently received a Teaching and
Learning award from the School of Marine Science and
Engineering to continue working with Thinkology on
the further development of educational resources. This
next phase of development will lead to the creation
of a central portal containing both Engineering and
Marine Biology themed Virtual Experiments, for use in
undergraduate teaching. Furthermore, it will develop
the ability for both users and educators to customise
the design of experiments, thereby increasing their
relevance and applicability to different users and
subjects.
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
RESEARCH
www.plymouth.ac.uk/marine
The Maritime
Cyber Threat
Research Group
Professor Kevin D Jones & Professor Steven Furnell
Computers are everywhere. They are in our banks, our
cars and even our pockets. On a daily basis, we hear
about hacks, breaches, leaks and exploits that result
in our systems being compromised or our data stolen.
Some of these are highly technical (SQL injection, buffer
overflow) and some are based on people being fooled
into doing the wrong thing (phishing, misinformation).
There are huge amounts of effort and money put into
combating these threats.
So what about in the Maritime sector? Our ship and port
systems are also increasingly dependent on computers
and digital systems. From the inventory systems in
docks, through the communication and navigation
systems on bridges, to the control systems of the
ship’s systems, we see more and more application of
computer technology. There have even been studies
to show that bridge crews are becoming so used to
the convenience and accuracy of such systems that
traditional skills are becoming atrophied.
Are these systems vulnerable or are we safe since we
are out at sea and not connected to the Internet? Some
recent incidents give a clear answer to that question:
• A group of students from Texas showed, that with
a suitcase-sized device constructed from common
components, they could spoof civilian GPS and
directed a superyacht far off course.
• A study of systems used by large shipping
companies exposed significant vulnerabilities in
most of them. see: http://bit.ly/1NyYHkL
• Communications: Compromised or disabled
• Bridge crew: Compromised by misinformation,
or insider threats.w
To consider this in the context of a worst case scenario,
imagine a full oil tanker entering San Francisco, with
bad weather reducing visibility (e.g. in the heavy fog
to which the area is prone). Now imagine a series of
deliberate actions, designed to compromise the ship:
• Compromised navigation data: achieved
via GPS spoofing from a van on the shore or
from compromised software; Bridge radar
compromised by malware introduced by
last upgrade, and then monitoring the ship’s
position as the trigger for payload activation.
• Compromised communication: via jamming
or impersonation of ship to shore radio;
• Compromised crew: Knowledge of
bridge operations and protocol is used
to ensure that deviation stays withwin
bounds of normal operation.
As a result of these interventions, the tanker hits the
Golden Gate bridge. While this is clearly a simplified
description and still an unlikely scenario, each of the
individual components of the attack is not infeasible.
• Data display: Compromised or disabled (e.g. via
malware or other vulnerability exploitation)
There is a need for research dedicated to the specific
issues of the Maritime sector. While it shares some
aspects of the terrestrial and airborne infrastructure,
the sector is unique. At Plymouth University we have
a dedicated group of multidisciplinary specialists
studying the threats and mitigations specific to
the sector, using our long-standing research and
operational expertise in areas such as maritime
operations, cyber security and psychology, in an
environment of sophisticated simulation technology.
• Ship control systems (e.g. from power and
machinery management through to ballast and
propulsion): Compromised or disabled
The Maritime Cyber Threat is real and growing and we
need to take concerted action to ensure the safety of
our shipping infrastructure.
There are a number of areas in which systems may be
vulnerable, and thus routes by which exploitation could
be achieved. This would include:
• Sensor data: Spoofed to present misinformation or
blocked so that data cannot be received
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
11
CASE STUDIES
COAST is a teaching, research and commercial
laboratory located within the Marine Building on
Plymouth University’s main campus. The large-scale
physical modelling capabilities are backed by worldleading research staff, and the laboratory itself has
staff dedicated to its operation. Clients include central
and local UK Government, the European Commission
and international funding agencies, as well as
consultants, contractors and developers.
The COAST laboratory maintains an advanced suite of
instruments that allows detailed and comprehensive
acquisition of data, and facilities include:
Ocean Basin
• A wave basin, 35m long x 15.5m
wide, with a raisable floor operable
at different depths up to 3m
• 24 flap multidirectional wave makers
of 2.0m hinge depth, able to produce
monochromatic waves of up to 0.9m in height
Coastal Basin
• A coastal basin, 15.5 m long x 10 m wide x 0.5 m
deep, incorporating 20 moveable modular piston
wave makers and recirculating current
• Recirculating current generation
• Option for use with sediments
Sediment Wave Flumes
Flumes of differing dimensions and capabilities,
including a sediment wave flume, 35 m long x 0.6
m wide x 0.8 m deep, which can all be used with or
without sediments, and a 20 m flume as above but with
the additional feature of tilting.
Contact
telephone: 0800 052 5600
email: [email protected]
web: www.plymouth.ac.uk/coast
• Multi-directional, recirculating current generation,
both inline and across the path of the waves
12
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
CASE STUDIES
www.plymouth.ac.uk/marine
Dartmouth Wave Energy Ltd, SeaRaser Device
Volta, Polygen Ltd
wave energy converter
is tested at Plymouth
University’s COAST
laboratory
Dartmouth Wave
Energy Ltd returns to
Plymouth University’s
COAST Laboratory for
further trials of the
SEARASER wave energy
converter device
Plymouth University’s COAST laboratory was
commissioned by Polygen Ltd to carry out tests on
its Volta wave energy converter technology in the
35m Flume and Coastal Basin. Polygen Ltd returned
to the Ocean Basin under the MaRINET transnational
access program. As a result, the moored floating flappaddle device has been incrementally tested under
operational and extreme forcing conditions at a range
of scales in COAST’s Sediment Flume, Coastal and
Ocean Basins. Being modular, and with an assembly
time of less than 5 hours, part of Volta was deployed in
Loch Creran, Argyll.
In 2014 and 2015 Plymouth University’s COAST
laboratory was commissioned by Dartmouth Wave
Energy Ltd to carry out tests on its SEARASER wave
energy converter technology. The bed-mounted
point-absorbing device was tested under operational
and extreme forcing conditions at a scale of 1:14 in
COAST’s Ocean Basin. Survivability of the device was
also examined. COAST engineering staff analysed the
performance of SEARASER, and reported the findings
to Dartmouth Wave Energy Ltd.
Polygen Ltd
The complete full-scale model has since been
deployed at the FabTest site in Falmouth Bay, Cornwall,
where a licenced offshore mooring facility provides
moderate open sea conditions to further tests.
Rob Eavis, the inventor of Volta, said: “Plymouth’s
Ocean Basin was ideal, both due to the large waves
that can be created, and the top level specification of
the analysis and recording technology.”
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
SEARASER inventor Alvin Smith said: “Testing of the
1:14 scale model at Plymouth Coast Laboratory was
an essential part of the development of SEARASER.
Greater performance was achieved after the first
week with fine tuning achieved through the third
week of the test programme.”
For further information please contact
telephone: 0800 052 5600
email: [email protected]
web: www.plymouth.ac.uk/coast
13
CASE STUDIES
Marine Innovation Centre
CASE STUDIES
NautiBouy Marine Work with expertise
and facilities within Plymouth
University’s COASTLab
Totnes-based NautiBuoy Marine have designed and
developed an innovative floating platform solution
that meets leisure and maintenance needs both
aboard vessels and in port.
Available in four different sizes, the NautiBuoy Marine
Platform is stable, simple to manoeuvre and easy to
lift from the water. Using an innovative ballast and air
toggle system, these platforms are set to become
essential assets on any yacht.
The company has pulled out all the stops in terms of
development, working with expertise and facilities
within Plymouth University’s COAST Lab to fully realise
an expansive product offering based on elegant
innovation. From stainless steel D-rings to soft
handles that don’t scratch the boat or mark the deck,
every detail has been specifically designed and then
rigorously tested using Plymouth University’s powerful
Ocean Basin research facility within the Coastal Ocean
and Sediment Transport Laboratory. The University’s
Marine Innovation Centre has worked closely with
NautiBuoy to help them access University expertise,
facilities and business support.
14
IMAGES From Nautibuoy Marine
After 100s of wash downs using guest ready tenders
and even more hours repairing jet skis and damaged
transoms, Founders and Directors Nina Anderson and
Clay Builder realised the need for a multi-functional
inflatable platform that yachts could always have
access to and easily stow on board – no more
frustrating days spent looking for marina rafts!
Nina and Clay saw the need for a stable leisure
platform where guests could relax, close to the water
on a floating island of comfort, or dock their jet-skis
safely whilst enjoying the water sports on the yacht.
Their aim was to produce a premium quality platform
of superior durability and multi-functionality.
To learn more please visit: www.nautibuoymarine.com
or contact the team via [email protected] /
+44(0)1803 863233
MARINE
INNOVATION
CENTRE
WITH
PLYMOUTH
UNIVERSITY
EUROPEAN REGIONAL
DEVELOPMENT FUND
The Marine Innovation Centre (MARIC) is supported
by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
CASE STUDIES
www.plymouth.ac.uk/marine
Ensign Boats Broaden links
with the local marine leisure
and manufacturing sector
Ensign hand-build versatile powerboats that are
uniquely tough and very easy to maintain. The boats
are each designed and built from a workshop in South
Devon, combining the strength and resilience of
aluminium with superb handling and styling. The craft
are designed to be highly-robust and dependable,
offering customers an alternative to often delicate
and costly boats and giving the confidence to explore
without limits.
Working with Plymouth University’s Marine Innovation
Centre, the company broadened links with the local
marine leisure and the manufacturing sector, attended
innovation workshops and even accessed student
talent – all to move the Ensign vision forward.
Chris Starkey, who designs and builds the craft:
“We want to give owners greater freedom to enjoy
being out on the water, and greater confidence to
use the boats to their full without the concerns about
damaging them.
So often I’ve seen boats bought, but then never used to
their full potential. I wanted to build a boat that makes
it easier for people to get out and enjoy being on the
water without worrying about the limitations.”
“Aluminium isn’t really used that widely for leisure boats
here in Britain, but for me, it’s the perfect material. It’s
very strong and adaptable, and you can create some
lovely lines and finishes with it. It’s also very light for its
strength when compared with fibreglass or wood, so it
creates a more efficient craft too.”
Chris added: “Working with MARIC has opened up
lots of new opportunities for us both within Plymouth
University, and through their contacts in the industry
generally. They’ve introduced us to people, and ideas,
that can really help us move the business forward
– which is especially valuable for small businesses
like ourselves. For example, it was through a MARIC
event that we were introduced to a local marine
consultancy, Safeguard Nautica, who helped us ensure
CE compliance for the leisure market, and who we are
now working with to explore new routes into the light
commercial market too.“
To learn more please visit: www.ensignboats.co.uk or
contact the team via [email protected]
Building the boats from aluminium is key to their
design. The boats are fully-welded from marine-grade
aluminium to create a super-tough shell that can cope
with more than your average wear and tear.
MARINE
INNOVATION
CENTRE
WITH
PLYMOUTH
UNIVERSITY
EUROPEAN REGIONAL
DEVELOPMENT FUND
The Marine Innovation Centre (MARIC) is supported
by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
15
RESEARCH
New state of the art equipment
to be used on two new EU
Horizon 2020 Projects
The School of Geography, Earth and Environmental
Sciences (SoGEES) has recently purchased and
installed a state-of-the-art PANalytical wavelengthdispersive X-Ray Fluorescence instrument (WD-XRF),
together with a new permanent technical post, in the
ISO9001 accredited Plymouth University Consolidated
Radioisotope Facility (CoRiF). The facility allows
direct determination of elemental concentrations
in geological materials and riverine, estuarine and
marine sediments contaminated with wastes from,
for example, mining. Linked to this SoGEES strategic
investment, HEIF V funds through the Marine Institute
were used to facilitate integration of the WD-XRF
facility into the established ISO9001 framework
through purchase of equipment to maintain integrity of
samples and analytical standards during manipulation
for analysis and storage.
The analytical facility will be central to two new
EU Horizon 2020 projects led by Prof. Will Blake of
the Catchment and River Science Research group
(CaRiS). The SEDiLINK project, with Dr Andra Iurian,
a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellow, will
explore sediment linkage between land, river and sea
to evaluate impacts of historic mining on sediment
quality in the coastal zone. The IMIXSED project
16
concerns food, water and energy security linked to
soil erosion and reservoir siltation in East Africa. In
collaboration with groups in Belgium, Spain and UK,
the project will involve knowledge exchange with
scientists from Jimma University, Ethiopia, and the
Nelson Mandela African Institute for Science and
Technology, Tanzania, in advanced analytical and
sediment tracing techniques.
PANalytical wavelength-dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence instrument
(WD-XRF) in the ISO9001 accredited Plymouth University Consolidated
Radioisotope Facility (CoRiF)
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
SUCCESS
www.plymouth.ac.uk/marine
UK company
to fund marine
science PhDs
at Plymouth
University
A UK company that is leading the way in the field
of seabed harvesting is to fund two PhD posts at
Plymouth University.
Seabed Resources Development Limited is funding
two students to undertake doctorates in marine
ecology and earth science at Plymouth University over
the next four years.
The partnership between the University and the
company, which is a subsidiary of technology and
engineering firm Lockheed Martin UK, will give two
graduate students from developing countries the
opportunity to become experts in a field critical to the
emerging deep seabed economy.
One of the PhD posts funded under this programme
will focus on seabed mapping, working alongside the
University’s acclaimed scientist Associate Professor
Kerry Howell. The other course will focus
on geochemistry, and the extraction of minerals,
working with academics in the school of Geography,
Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Electron
Microscopy Centre.
Seabed Resources Development Ltd secured a
licence in 2013 to explore a claim site in the Pacific
Ocean for polymetallic nodules containing nickel,
copper, cobalt, manganese, as well as rare earth
elements. This resource is likely to assume increasing
importance as land-based deposits of these metals
become depleted. As authorised by the International
Seabed Authority and the British Government, the
company has begun the preparatory environmental
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
and technical efforts to explore the Clarion Clipperton
Zone, located in international waters between Mexico
and Hawaii. In an environmentally and technologically
sound manner, the company plans to collect these
polymetallic nodules that contain metals used in the
construction, aerospace, electronics, and alternative
energy industries.
“The worldwide demand for these minerals
continues to grow, for use in modern technologies
such as electric cars, mobile phones and satellite
communication,” said Professor Martin Attrill, Director
of the Marine Institute at Plymouth University. “The
deep ocean remains a major source of these metals,
with estimates running into the trillions of dollars’
worth. But the process of locating, mining and
extracting them as sustainably as possible remains a
major logistical hurdle.”
The PhD focused upon seabed mapping will tap into
Dr Howell’s extensive experience of predicting the
location of sensitive habitats, such as cold water coral
reefs in the Atlantic and has been awarded to South
African Kirsty McQuaid.
The second PhD, led by Dr Arjan Dijkstra, will
concentrate on innovative extraction techniques,
using electron microscopes at the University to peer
inside the structure of deposits similar to the golf
ball-sized manganese nodules found on the seabed.
The successful applicant for this post was Wycliff Tupiti
from the Solomon Islands.
Stephen Ball, Chief Executive of Seabed Resources
Development Ltd and Lockheed Martin UK said:
“Harvesting minerals from the seabed will have far
reaching benefits and this is an exciting opportunity
for two students to help us develop our knowledge
and expertise and ensure we remain at the forefront
of this emerging industry. We are firmly committed to
the environmentally friendly extraction of nodules
and look forward to partnering with Plymouth
University, which has an excellent reputation for
research in this area.”
Both students will start by January 2016 and include a
guaranteed place on a research trip to the Pacific as
part of the arrangement.
Professor Attrill added: “This is recognition of the wide
range of expertise that we have here at Plymouth
University, and the reputation of our Marine Institute
and Graduate School. And in addressing themes of
sustainability on a world stage, we are delighted to be
playing our part.”
17
REPORTING BACK
From a Post Doc’s
poster presentation
to an invitation
to participate in
the PEGASO Cruise
Charlotte Cree reports back
Neumayer Channel
(Plankton-derived Emissions of trace Gases and
Aerosols in the Southern Ocean)
Nitrogen is a dynamic element in marine systems.
It is primarily used as a nutrient but may also have a
climatic role. For example, glycine betaine (GBT), a
nitrogen-containing organic chemical produced by
phytoplankton, degrades to produce methylamines.
These volatile compounds can cross the air-sea
interface where they affect atmospheric chemistry and
influence cloud formation. This characteristic makes
the methylamines potentially significant for climate
regulation which, in turn, will affect algal productivity.
However, although predicted changes in climate make
an understanding of their role in marine systems a
key research goal, the cycling of the methylamines
on a global scale is poorly understood as they are
very challenging to measure, due to their physical
properties and low environmental concentrations.
Previous reported methods for analysis of
methylamines (MAs) have involved specialist
equipment, and this seems to have limited the
scope for studies of these compounds within the
oceanographic community, despite evident interest
in their occurrence. As a result, Charlotte developed
a sensitive method for their quantification in seawater
during her PhD research; this approach utilises
readily-available equipment and consumables with
the hope that it could be more widely adopted
by the oceanographic community. In the last few
months of her project she secured a place at the
18
bi-annual DMSP (dimethylsulphoniopropionate)
Symposium in May 2014 where she presented
a poster on the analytical method.
With considerable interest in her research on both
GBT and the MAs she was invited to participate in
the Spanish-led PEGASO cruise (Plankton-derived
Emissions of trace Gases and Aerosols in the
Southern Ocean) in the Southern and Antarctic
Oceans. This was an exciting project that aimed
to study biological controls on the production and
emission of aerosols and aerosol-forming trace
gases. This was a large and challenging project
that brought together a variety of specialists to
try and investigate the affect that the microbial
community and trace gases in the ocean have on
aerosol formation and, ultimately, cloud formation.
Charlotte continues her story “We left the port of
Ushuaia in early January and after a scenic trip down
the Beagle Channel, crossed a stormy Drakes Passage
and arrived at the South Shetland Islands for the
logistics phase of the trip. We were lucky enough to
visit the Spanish Base on Deception Island where there
was snow and ice up to your shoulders and even a few
penguins to see. Once the logistics were completed
we moved on to the science part of the cruise.
The planned route for this trip involved visits to three
phytoplankton blooms: one near the South Georgia
Islands, one near the South Orkney Islands and one
in the Weddell Sea. However, the weather conspired
against us: our attempted trip into the Weddell Sea
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
www.plymouth.ac.uk/marine
was unsuccessful due to the region still being icelocked, while 9 m high waves prevented us from
heading straight to South Georgia. Instead, we started
sampling at the South Orkney Islands where we were
lucky enough to visit two spatially distinct blooms. We
waited out a storm in the relative safety of the Orkney
Islands before sailing through the somewhat calmer
storm (waves only 4-5 m high) to South Georgia. The
10 days we spent sampling and travelling to and from
South Georgia were truly the most miserable of the
cruise. The storms and bad weather surrounding
them meant that I suffered terribly from seasickness,
culminating in a trip to the ship’s doctor. When we,
finally, escaped the waters around South Georgia
they had time to fit in an unexpected trip to Anvers
Island to sample another bloom. At 64° south, Anvers
Island was the furthest south we travelled.”
This was the first trip to sea for Charlotte and her new
analytical method. Her methods proved to be robust
even in the most challenging of marine environments,
which was very satisfying, she was also able to
discuss progress and get advice from her supervisor
in Plymouth using WhatsApp. The data collected
will contribute significantly to a very limited field of
information and includes spatial and temporal analysis
of methylamine concentrations in the Southern and
Antarctic Oceans.
completing further logistics work at the South
Shetland Islands the team then crossed Drakes
Passage again, through the biggest storm they had
thus far encountered, and after six weeks at sea they
warrived back in Ushuaia.
Of the experience Charlotte says:
“Dry land beneath my feet had never felt so good. It
was a truly memorable experience and I would like
to thank both Professor Rafel Simo (CSIC Barcelona)
for the invitation to participate on the cruise, and the
Marine Institute for their support.”
Charlotte Cree
The return trip included passing through the truly
stunning Neumayer Channel and a trip to Livingstone
Island where they visited the Johnson Glacier. After
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
19
SUCCESS
The University / Marine Institute / Met Office delegation in Abu Dhabi. (Left to
right) Ian McFadzen, David Wilson (Met Office), Martin Attrill, Georgy Shapiro
MI Exhibit at NAVDEX
an International Defence
Exhibition in the Middle East
More than 1,000 exhibiting companies and 80,000
visitors attended the NAVDEX /IDEX (International
Naval Defence and Maritime Security / International
Defence Exhibition in Abu Dhabi in February 2015.
in the University’s School of Marine Science and
Engineering, who heads-up the Plymouth Ocean
Forecasting Centre, and forms part of the University’s
prestigious Marine Institute’s global offering.
This visit helped cement the relationship with the
United Arab Emirates government and enhance
reputation of Plymouth University and Met Office in
the Middle East, which included invitations to the
reception at the UK embassy in UAE and discussions
with high level UAE dignitaries.
The UAEOcean team (Prof Georgy Shapiro, Prof Martin
Attrill, Ian McFadzen, and David Wilson from the
Met Office) exhibited jointly on the Naval Advanced
Solutions (NAS) stand in a premium location, just a few
meters away from the official stand of the United Arab
Emirates armed forces.
UAEOcean: is a £4m contract research project with the
UAE Government, which commenced in November
2014. The project is led by Professor Georgy Shapiro
For further information see:
www.navdex.ae/Content/About-NAVDEX/1_3/
20
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
TEACHING & RESEARCH
www.plymouth.ac.uk/marine
IMO Secretary-General
experiences maritime innovation
at Plymouth University
The Secretary-General of the International Maritime
Organisation (IMO), Mr Koji Sekimizu, visited Plymouth
University as part of the preparations for World
Maritime Day 2015.
He met with students and academics from the
university and talked to senior university management,
including Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor David
Coslett, and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business
Professor Nikolaos Tzokas.
“It was a pleasure to visit Plymouth University, not
least because of the significant maritime heritage
the University builds on to continue to provide well
qualified professionals to the maritime industries.
This year, IMO is ensuring added focus to maritime
and training, which are indispensable if the industry
is to continue facilitating world trade and ensuring
sustainability”.
The Secretary-General was also given a tour by
Professor Martin Attrill, Director of the Marine Institute,
of the state-of-the-art facilities housed within the
Marine Building which includes a cutting edge
navigation simulator.
Professor Jingjing Xu, Associate Dean (Research) in
the Faculty of Business and Professor of Maritime Law
and Economy at Plymouth University, said
“It was a great honour to welcome Mr Sekimizu to
Plymouth, as the IMO plays a significant role in an
industry responsible for carrying around 90 per cent
of the world trade. Plymouth University has helped in
training the leaders of that industry over many years,
and our world-leading facilities and researchers will
ensure we continue to be at the forefront of global
shipping education”.
Pictured left to right: Professor Nikolaos Tzokas, Professor Jingjing Xu, Koji
Sekimizu and Professor David Coslett during the Secretary-General’s visit to
Plymouth University
Plymouth University has a rich and prestigious
heritage in maritime education, being able to trace
its roots back to the Plymouth School of Navigation,
which was founded in 1862. It has thousands of
graduates working in the commercial shipping
industry while, through a partnership with the Britannia
Royal College in Dartmouth, the University helps to
educate the naval officers of the future.
Mr Sekimizu, who is the seventh elected SecretaryGeneral of the IMO, said:
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Koji Sekimizu
21
TEACHING & RESEARCH
New Technology to Remotely
Detect Subsea Cables
In 2013 researchers from Plymouth University led
a landmark review of technological approaches to
tackling a persistent problem in marine engineering:
how to detect underwater cables buried in the
seabed.
The two review papers have generated a flurry of
interest and are now the most highly cited articles
in the journal Underwater Technology. The papers
were based on the PhD work undertaken by Tomasz
Szyrowski in the University’s Autonomous Marine
Systems (AMS) Research Group, working with Dr
Sanjay Sharma and Prof Robert Sutton.
The group has continued to work in partnership with a
local SME, SCT Subsea Cable Tracking Ltd, to develop
instrumentation for detecting buried submarine cables
using the electromagnetic effect. In the next phase of
the project the researchers developed the technology
to work in combination with their unmanned surface
vehicle. This fully autonomous system successfully
tracked an underwater cable. Future applications will
look at hunting for other metallic objects underwater.
The latest paper describing this work can be found in
the Journal of Underwater Technology: Szyrowski, T.
et al. (2015) Subsea cable tracking by an unmanned
surface vehicle. Underwater Technology 32(4): 217-229.
Tomasz Szyrowski
22
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
SUCCESS
www.plymouth.ac.uk/marine
Dr. Sarah Tuck
Professor John Dinwoodie
Sustainable environmental
management in smaller ports
Through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership funded
project, Falmouth Harbour Commissioners (FHC)
were able to facilitate the appointment of a Marine
Sustainable Developments Officer (MSDO) who
developed a Port Sustainability Management System
(PSMS) and stakeholder management framework
to ensure systematic collation and analysis of
fragmented data.
Research in marine sustainability has typically featured
particular scientific processes and environmental
sustainability initiatives focused on larger ports.
However this research, led by Professor John
Dinwoodie, Dr. Sarah Tuck and Dr. James Benhin of
Plymouth University’s Faculty of Business, initially
deployed a case study strategy to investigate the
processes of environmental management.
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
This research prompted wider dissemination of more
information spanning corporate social responsibilities
and sustainability doubling the value of editorial
coverage, creation of a stakeholder management
system, and inter-port meetings to discuss best
practice. The MSDO role, now commercially funded
and embedded within FHC, provides specialist advice
and information which reduces external consultancy
fees, increases publicity, reduces advertising
costs, enhances stakeholder contact, constructive
relationships with environmental interest groups,
disseminates specialist environmental awareness
training and materials for harbour users and guide
students.
23
NEWS
Announcements
MI Welcomes
new staff:
Dr Richard Pemberton as a
lecturer in Mechanical and Marine
Engineering Design. Richard
worked as a consultant Naval
Architect both in a self-employed
capacity and at the University of
Southampton’s Wolfson Unit for
Marine Technology and Industrial
Aerodynamics. In these roles
Richard achieved Chartered
Engineer status with RINA, and
gained a wide range of experience
in sailing and motor yacht design,
model and full scale experimental
testing, yacht structural analysis
and has won TSB grant funding for
collaborative research projects
with industrial partners.
24
Dr. Abigail McQuatters-Gallop will
be joining the School of Marine
Science and Engineering as
Lecturer in Marine Conservation.
After completing her PhD at
Plymouth University, Abigail
has spent the last seven years
working as a Science and Policy
Research Fellow at the Sir Alister
Hardy Foundation for Ocean
Science in Plymouth. She is an
active participant in sciencepolicy knowledge exchange,
and leads the UK’s and OSPAR’s
implementation of the Marine
Strategy Framework Directive for
pelagic habitats.
The School of Marine Science and
Engineering also welcomes Dr
Jian Wan, who completed his PhD
at the University of Girona, Spain,
2007, commenced as a Lecturer
in Control Systems Engineering.
Dr Wan is also member of the
Autonomous Marine Systems
(AMS) Research Group
Dr Steve Fletcher takes up post
– Head of Marine Programme,
United Nations Environment
Programme World Conservation
Monitoring Centre in Cambridge
The WCMC is UNEP’s specialist
biodiversity arm which conducts
applied research to support UNEP
and other global conservation
agreements and policies. In
his new role, Dr Steve Fletcher
will lead a team of researchers
undertaking applied marine and
coastal research focused on
marine conservation policy. Steve
will retain links with the University
and continue to supervise PhD
students, and develop new funding
opportunities for the university,
including partnerships with UNEPWCMC. We wish him all the best in
this new role.
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
NEWS
www.plymouth.ac.uk/marine
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
25
UPDATES
Marine Institute’s
Exhibition calendar
2nd Annual PRIMaRE
Conference 16th June 2015
Members of the Partnership for
Research in Marine Renewable
Energy (PRIMaRE) a consortium
of marine renewable energy
experts across higher education,
research and industry have joined
together to establish a ‘network
of excellence’ the south of the
country held their 2nd annual
PRIMaRE conference back in
June 2015.
Smart Sound Plymouth
Workshop 26th June 2015
Hosted and run by Plymouth
Marine Laboratory and supported
by Plymouth University and
Plymouth City Council, the Smart
Sound Plymouth workshop shared
the latest science and technology
for Plymouth Sound and the
western English Channel. With
the aim to establish a strategic
coastal partnership to improve
the coordination of current
technologies, monitoring and
facilities, the workshop aimed
to promote and develop this
marine environment for testing
and development of marine
technologies of the future.
11th EWTEC (European Wave
and Tidal Energy Conference)
September 2015
This international scientific
conference, which is held every
two years in Europe since
26
1993, provided a forum where
researchers, engineers and those
involved in the development
of Marine Renewable Energies
to meet and exchange ideas,
experience and much more.
Shallow Survey
September 2015
The United Kingdom Hydrographic
Office and the Maritime and
Coastguard Agency hosted
‘Shallow Survey 2015’ in
conjunction with Plymouth
University. This the 7th International
conference on High-Resolution
Surveys in Shallow Water was held
at Plymouth University’s world
class facilities.
Global Wave Conference
(Surfers Against Sewage)
12th – 14th October 2015
The Marine Institute sponsored
the Global wave conference in
association with the Plymouth
Sustainability and Surfing Research
Group. The conference brought
together leading campaigners,
coastal planners, scientists,
oceanographers and international
experts in wave physics, coastal
morphology, wave-energy
generation, coastal law and
economics to discuss legislation
and compare the best ways of
protecting global surf spots. The
conference was held in Cornwall
with a final reception at the Houses
of Parliament in London.
Natural Environment Research
Council (NERC) London
October 2015
The Marine Institute is
showcased Plymouth University’s
environmental research at a
special event in London. The
Natural Environment Research
Council (NERC) had their research
ship Discovery berthed in
London with a range of research
presentations and activities
on display for the public and
government officials.
2nd Away-day for
Early Career Researchers
10th November 2015
The Marine Institute will be holding
it’s second away-day for early
career researchers. This is an
opportunity for junior researchers
to meet people from across the
marine research disciplines at
Plymouth University. The day
will be focussed on researcher
development and building
multidisclipinary collaborations.
Innovate UK –
6th – 9th November 2015
Marine Institute staff will be
attending the Innovate 2015 global
spotlight on innovation, providing
access to inventive and creative
companies, exploring innovative
ideas, discovering new export
opportunities and be able to hear
from original thinkers. Innovate
2015 provides second-to-none
networking opportunities, a whole
host of fresh thinking and expert
advice to help accelerate your
company’s global growth. It’s the
one event that brings together
the research base, business,
UK and international investors,
international buyers from
overseas markets and government
organisations, to help fund and
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
www.plymouth.ac.uk/marine
support your innovative ideas
and make a real difference to
your company.
Marine Institute’s Public
Lecture “How Clean is
Plymouth’s Water?”
12th November 2015
The next Marine Institute public
lecture will be on November 12th.
A range of experts from industry
and academia will try and answer
the question “How Clean is
MARINE
STATION
WITH
PLYMOUTH
UNIVERSITY
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
Plymouth’s Water?” with lots of
time for discussion with
members of the audience so
come along and find out about
the health of rivers and seas
surrounding Plymouth.
ICOE 2016
23rd – 25th February 2016
The ICOE is a global marine
energy event focused on the
industrial development of
renewable marine energy.
Devon Maritime Forum Event
8th December 2015
Theme will be “Understanding,
Managing and Coping with Coastal
Change” at the Langstone Cliff
Hotel, Dawlish.
The Coxside Marine Station, our new waterfront £5 million building that
features classrooms, laboratory, sea water aquarium, diving facilities
and home to our fleet of University vessels has launched a new YouTube
video see:
www.plymouth.ac.uk/schools/school-of-marine-science-andengineering/marine-station
27
UPDATES
SUCCESS
Pluto webcam
Plymouth Underwater Teaching Observatory (PLUTO)
streams live underwater video from Plymouth Sound.
This recently installed webcam facility provides a
unique view into the underwater habitat of Plymouth
Sound in real time. The PLUTO project, developed by
Dr Nicholas Higgs, aims to engage people with marine
life in Plymouth Sound special area of conservation by
providing an ‘eye in the sea’, accessible to anyone on
our website.
Schools will be able to join in with live experiments
and work with scientists to learn about the local
marine environment. In the current age of ‘citizen
science’ the PLUTO platform will give members of the
public the chance to help generate useful scientific
data.
A series of online events and lectures will harness this
engagement to raise awareness about the state of the
marine environment and the research being done at
Plymouth University. For more details see:
www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/institutes/marineinstitute/pluto
Grant success
Dr Mark Briffa has been awarded a grant of
£250K from the Biotechnology and Biological
Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) for a
three-year project which will look at the
interactions between genes and experiences of
fighting on the ‘personality’ of sea anemones.
Sea anemones are related to jellyfish and coral
that lack a central nervous system but are still
capable of showing complex behaviours.
Mark gave a keynote lecture on aggression
and personality in animals at the International
Ethological Conference this August at Cairns,
Australia and closer to home you can see
anemones in action, when Mark gave a
demonstration of their behaviour for the
One Show on BBC1 this summer.
28
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
NEWS
www.plymouth.ac.uk/marine
Professor Camille Parmesan
Climate change
conference
Professor Camille Parmesan is one of a number of
scientists who spoke at a climate change conference
in France. The climate scientists gathered in Paris five
months ahead of the deadline for a historic carboncurbing pact to show that a radical shift to sustainable
energy can still limit disastrous planet warming. Read
more in the Times Live.
www.timeslive.co.za/scitech/2015/07/07/Scientistspoint-to-narrowing-gap-for-averting-climate-disaster
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
29
NEWS
New E-learning Metocean
course launched
Plymouth University academic partner Marine
Learning Alliance has just launched an innovative
e-learning course in Meteorology, Oceanography
and Operational Planning. Delivered via an easy-touse web app, it makes the course available wherever,
whenever on any Apple or Android tablet, phone
or laptop. Any marine professional can study in their
own way at their own speed and achieve the same
learning outcomes as a week’s residential course.
30
The course is accredited by the IMarEST for CPD and
content covers the fundamentals of weather, waves
and their effects on maritime operations. It is ideal for
those working in or with any part of the marine world
whose activities are potentially affected by the seas
and their weather. More info at www.mla-uk.com or
contact Adam Corney at [email protected]
or 07803 831038.
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
www.plymouth.ac.uk/marine
FROM THE EDITOR
Thank you to all who have contributed to Issue 16.
Please provide all your news articles, success stories and innovative collaborations to the following email
address: [email protected] titled ‘MINEWS’. Our next issue will go to print around February 2016.
We also welcome details of your future Events for 2016.
Thank you.
Jo Thompson-Byrne, Senior Project Officer, Marine Institute – Newsletter Editor
MI NEWS Issue 16 | 2015
31
Marine Institute
Plymouth University
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Drake Circus
Plymouth PL4 8AA
United Kingdom
T: +44 (0) 1752 584953
F: +44 (0) 1752 584950
E:[email protected]
www.plymouth.ac.uk/marine
@PlymUniMI
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