ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE STRATEGIC PLAN 2012–2016 · ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE STRATEGIC PLAN 2012–2016 Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork,

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTESTRATEGIC PLAN 2012–2016

Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Lee Road, Cork, Ireland.Phone: +353 (0)21 4901931. Email: [email protected] Website: http://eri.ucc.ie

This publication is printed on paper derived from sustainably managed forests

MISSION

To generate new research knowledge for the understanding and protection of our natural environment and develop technologies, tools and services to facilitate a transformation to a low carbon, resource efficient society.

VISION

To position UCC at the forefront of environmental, marine and energy research within Ireland and enhance its international reputation for excellence in key thematic research areas.

GOALS– to foster collaborative, multidisciplinary environmental based research

– to facilitate the development of a number of key research thematic areas

– to provide knowledge-based options addressing major societal challenges and opportunities in the marine, environment and energy area

– to train post-graduate research students for careers in environmental sciences and engineering

– to enhance innovation and commercialisation of research outputs.

CONTENTS

EXECUTIVESUMMARY 2

1. OVERVIEW 4

2. INSTITUTEREVIEWANDANALYSIS(2006-2010) 6

3. EXTERNALCONTEXT 8

4. STRATEGICPRIORITIESANDACTIONS(2012-2016) 10

5. ERIRESEARCHPILLARSANDTHEMATICAREAS 17

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ENVIRONMENTALRESEARCHINSTITUTE|STRATEGICPLAN2012–2016

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The Environmental Research Institute (ERI) is one of three flagship Institutes in UCC (along with the Tyndall and the Biosciences Institute) and is an integral part of UCC’s strategy to develop inter-disciplinary research institutes that have a critical mass of world-class researchers in prioritised research areas. The Institute draws on expertise from across the entire University in the fields of Marine, Environment and Energy research. The integration of environmental research at the ERI has enabled UCC to adopt a more strategic approach to environmental research, develop an interdisciplinary research environment, create economies of scale and improve research funding acquisition. The Institute currently has over 200 researchers, publishes ap-proximately 130 peer-reviewed publications annually and has secured €37 M in recurrent income between 2006-2010. In 2009, the UCC Research Quality Review highlighted the excellent research performance and high level of inter-disciplinary research at the ERI whilst a 2011 Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions (PRTLI) report on Irish research investment found that research at the Institute had a high impact in all six evaluation categories (commercial, human capital, capability, reputation, national policy and wider impacts).

The 2012-2016 ERI Strategic Plan is set against a backdrop of on-going economic turbulence in Europe, a tightening of research budgets in Ireland and a more commercially focused national and European re-search agenda. In this context the ERI has re-aligned its research into three research pillars (Marine, Envi-ronment and Energy) and has developed new thematic research areas that are consistent with national and international research funding priorities and which better reflect the interdisciplinary nature of research at the Institute. The Institute’s research strategy is focused on providing knowledge-based options to address major societal challenges and opportunities in the marine, environment and energy areas and in develop-ing and strengthening Ireland’s leadership in eco-innovation and the green economy. The strategy, which builds on the Institute’s existing research strengths, aims to sustain critical mass within interdisciplinary thematic areas and is focused on continued excellence in research, postgraduate training and innovation leading to job creation and economic growth.

EXECUTIVESUMMARY

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The Institute has identified six strategic priorities for the 2012-2016 period:

RETAINANDBUILDRESEARCHCAPACITY(PEOPLEANDINFRASTRUCTURE) The Institute aims to build on the existing strong cohort of active ERI researchers by attracting exceptional new researchers who can contribute to achieving the strategic targets of ERI thematic research areas. Specific infrastructure needs which will enable Principal Investigators to realise the full potential of their research have been identified and prioritised. The Beaufort Laboratory on the IMERC campus at Ringaskiddy will provide new space for an expanding ERI research community and will become the world’s largest marine renewable energy facility upon completion in 2014.

GROWANDDIVERSIFYRESEARCHFUNDINGBASEDespite a very competitive funding environment, many opportunities still remain for ERI researchers within the new Horizon 2020 programme and from national research funding linked to priorities within the Forfas Prioritisation Review. The Institute will in particular help researchers to proactively target key programmes within Horizon 2020 where 60% of the total budget is compatible with ERI research thematic areas.

ENHANCEPOSTGRADUATEANDPOSTDOCTORALTRAININGThe Institute will continue to maintain and develop a supportive research environment and culture for all ERI researchers. It will also further enhance the researcher training experience by putting in place ad-ditional supports for training in areas that facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and complementary generic skills development that will assist the researcher’s career trajectory.

STRENGTHENEXTERNALENGAGEMENTThe ERI will increase efforts to give internal and external visibility to the Institute and its thematic research areas. It will endeavour to raise further awareness of the relevancy of ERI research in helping to contribute to national economic recovery and sustainable development in Ireland. This will include strengthening links with other Irish third level institutes and international research institutes.

BUILDSUSTAINABLEINTERDISCIPLINARYRESEARCHTHEMATICAREASThe Institute will continue to foster a supportive environment for interdisciplinary research, explore col-laborative opportunities within and across its thematic areas and will leverage its interdisciplinary expertise to attract research funding and address environmental challenges.

LINKSTOINDUSTRYANDINNOVATIONA key priority for the institute will be to increase interactions with industry in areas where there is mutual benefit. The Institute will develop improved structures and systems to interface with industry thereby ensuring a “sustained interactivity” between ERI researchers and industry. The Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster (IMERC) and Energy@Cork initiatives will provide a focus for enhanced industry inter-action in the marine renewables and energy research areas.

The Environmental Research Institute (ERI) constitutes an important part of UCC’s strategy to develop inter-disciplinary research institutes that have a critical mass of world-class researchers in prioritised re-search areas. The ERI was established in 2000 under the Higher Education Authority PRTLI programme to bring together expertise in the biological, chemical and environmental sciences as well as environmental engineering, energy and environmental law. The Institute is the focal point for research excellence in the environmental, marine and energy fields in UCC and makes a significant contribution to the inter-disciplinary research goals of University College Cork through the expertise of its Principal Investigators drawn from 10 schools/faculties/departments and four research centres (see Figure 1).

The integration of environmental research at the ERI has enabled UCC to adopt a more strategic approach to environmental research, create an interdisciplinary research environment, develop economies of scale, and improve funding opportunities and grant application success.

Research at the Institute is focused on providing knowledge-based options to address major societal chal-lenges and in developing and strengthening Ireland’s leadership in eco-innovation and innovation in policy and governance. Since its inception the ERI has been acutely aware of the need to bridge the gap between research, innovation and commercialisation. To help achieve this the Institute continues to foster a broad approach to environmental research that ranges from “blue skies” research aimed at new knowledge crea-tion, to applied research designed to generate solutions to specific environmental challenges through to contract-based work for industry and Government bodies.

1.OVERVIEW

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UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE BIOSCIENCES INSTITUTE

UCC RESEARCH CENTRESe.g. ABCRF, APC, Biomerit

TYNDALL INSTITUTE

SCHOOLS/FACULTIES/DEPARTMENTS ERI RESEARCH CENTRES

Department of Civil andEnvironmental Engineering

School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Department of PhysicsDepartment of Microbiology

Faculty of LawDepartment of Chemistry

Department of Biochemistry

Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences

Coastal and Marine Research Centre

Hydraulics and MaritimeResearch Centre#

Aquaculture and FisheriesResearch Centre

Aquatic Services UnitSchool of Geographyand Archaeology: The Human Environment

Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Beau

fort

Lab

orat

ory*

FIGURE 1: Schematic showing ERI Research Centres and associated Schools/Faculties/Departments

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*The Beaufort Laboratory brings together the CMRC, HMRC and SERG in a state-of-the-art facility located on the IMERC campus.#The Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre is an Associated Centre of the ERI.

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• The ERI currently has over 200 researchers (64 Principal Investigators, 72 non-tenured researchers and 65 post-graduate students). From 2006-2010 ERI researchers published 699 peer-reviewed research papers and a total of 138 PhD and MSc students have graduated under the supervision of ERI PIs. In this same time period recurrent research income from both national and international funding agencies has totalled €37 M.

• An independent assessment of research quality at University College Cork in 2009 awarded the Institute a top research rating (Level 5) finding that “the Institute had overall excellent performance with evidence of world-class contri-butions” and “a high level of inter-disciplinary research within and across the groups”. In 2011 an independent report into the commercial and economic impact of research investment in Ireland (PRTLI1-3 programmes) found that the ERI had a high impact in all six evaluation categories (commercial, human capital, capability, reputation, national policy and wider impacts). The ERI was also the only Institute/Centre which had received funding in the environment and marine area in Ireland that demonstrated impacts across all six categories and was one of the top ten funded Irish research institutes for generating income from non-exchequer and industry sources.

• The 2006-2010 period saw a continued strong national investment in research and development and a commitment from the Irish Government to double the number of PhD graduates by 2013.1 The ERI and its associated centres have benefited from this commitment and have had particular success in a number of national research funding programmes such as the Beaufort Awards, the Griffiths Awards, an SRC in the area of Energy-efficient Buildings, PRTLI4/5 funding and the EPA STRIVE programme. Participation rates on EU funding programmes increased markedly in the 2009-2010 period as national funding became scarcer; UCC is currently the top Irish performer in the marine research area winning 23% of all Irish FP7 funding in this area. The Coastal and Marine Research Centre (CMRC) and the Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre (HMRC) have been highlighted as performing particularly well in this area.2

• There has been a phased occupation of the ERI building by each of the Institute’s thematic areas since 2006 and the building now contains over €4 M worth of dedicated analytical equipment and instrumentation to support research in the facility. The building also continues to serves as a full-scale test bed for green building performance as part of the SFI- ITOBO research cluster.

• ERI activities are not solely located within the ERI building with many constituent researchers also based in their primary departments or schools on the UCC campus and/or research centres located off the main campus. In 2010, €14 M was secured from PRTLI5, DCENR and Bord Gais to extend the Institute and create a new research build-ing dedicated to marine and energy research. The Beaufort Laboratory on the IMERC campus (which involves a strategic alliance with the Irish Naval Service and Cork Institute of Technology3) will integrate the Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre, the Coastal and Marine Research Centre together with members of the Sustainable Energy Research Group which, when completed, will provide space for 135 additional researchers.

• In 2010, as part of its strategic planning process, the Institute engaged in an internal SWOT assessment with its Principal Investigators and researchers (an online SWOT followed by a strategic planning workshop). The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats identified in this process have been carefully considered in the development of the ERI Strategic Plan (2012-2016). One outcome of this process has been the re-alignment of ERI research into three research pillars (Marine, Environment and Energy). Each pillar has between 3 to 6 main research thematic areas and a number of cross-cutting thematic areas (see Figure 2). The new pillars and thematic areas better reflect the inter-disciplinary nature of research at the Institute and are more closely aligned with the research priorities of national and international funding streams. The pillars represent the three key areas of research strength within the Institute (particularly to external stakeholders). Research activity is primarily located within the thematic areas which are clustered around sets of research expertise and national/international priority research areas. Each thematic area has a lead PI and its own set of strategic objectives for developing and growing the research area for this strategic plan period (see Section 5). The thematic area research groups will be the focal point for enhancing and leveraging interdisciplinary research and for responding effectively to emerging issues and funding opportunities.

2. INSTITUTEREVIEWANDANALYSIS(2006-2010)

1 Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006–20132 O’Sullivan, G., McDonough, N. & D. Pedreschi, Marine Institute, Irish participation in EU FP7 funded competitive

marine research projects during the period 2007–2008 (June 2009)3 IMERC Strategy 2012–2016, Irish Maritime and Energy Research Cluster, http://www.imerc.ie/pages/IMERC_Strategy_2011–2016.pdf

PRIMARY THEMATIC AREA

CROSS-CUTTING THEMATIC AREA

MARINE PILLAR

ENVIRONMENT PILLAR

ENERGY PILLAR

GOVERNANCE AND LAW

GEOMATICS AND REMOTE SENSING

AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES

GEOSCIENCES AND COASTAL PROCESSES

BIODIVERSITY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

SUSTAINABLE BIORESOURCES AND GREEN TECHNOLOGIES

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND FORESTRY

ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES AND AIR QUALITY

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND PROTECTION

MARINE RENEWABLE ENERGY

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SUPPLY TECHNOLOGIES

ENERGY POLICY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY END USE

FIGURE 2: Schematic representation of ERI research pillars and thematic areas

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The ERI Strategic Plan (2012-2016) is set against a backdrop of on-going economic turbulence in Europe and a fiscal tightening of budgets in Ireland. The key factors influencing the national and international research agenda which shape the strategic priorities for the ERI in the 2012-2016 period are outlined below.

• In response to economic recession in Europe and increased global competition, the EU has developed Europe 20204 as the Union’s growth strategy for the coming decade. The strategy places a priority on smart (developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation) and sustainable (promoting a more resource efficient, greener and more competitive economy) growth. A flagship initiative within the Europe 2020 strategy is the Innovation Union5 which places research and innovation as key drivers of competi-tiveness, jobs, sustainable growth and social progress.

• Horizon 2020,6 the EU’s new programme for research and innovation, is the financial instrument imple-menting the Innovation Union. With an €80 billion budget, Horizon 2020 will focus resources on three reinforcing priorities: Excellent Science (€24.5 M), Industrial Leadership (€17.9) and Societal Challenges (€34.7). Sustainable development is an overarching objective of Horizon 2020 with at least 60% of the total Horizon 2020 budget to be spent on this area. It is expected that around 35% of the Horizon 2020 budget will focus on climate related expenditure.

• Alongside its economic difficulties, the World also faces unprecedented environmental challenges. The Earth system is confronted with unsustainable exploitation of its natural resources, significant and po-tentially irreversible changes to its climate, combined with a continued loss in biodiversity that threatens the stability of the living systems on which it depends. These challenges will be exacerbated by a world population which is expected to increase by more than 30% in the coming years. The EU response to these environmental challenges is the flagship initiative for a Resource-Efficient Europe7 which supports a shift towards a resource-efficient and low-carbon economy. The Resource-Efficient Europe initiative provides a long-term framework for actions in many policy areas, supporting policy agendas for climate change, energy, transport, industry, raw materials, agriculture, fisheries, biodiversity and regional development.

3.EXTERNALCONTEXT

“�Research�is�required�to�understand�better�how�Ireland�will�enable�a�transition�to�a�low�emissions,�sustainable�and�climate�resilient�economy�and�society”

Report of the Research Prioritisation Steering Group (2012)

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• The green economy and sustainable development agendas are also a key element of Ireland’s economic recovery strategy and the Irish Government has designated the green economy as one of Ireland’s target sectors for investment and job creation.8 Ireland’s 2012 Framework for Sustainable Development high-lights the ongoing need for interdisciplinary research to provide an evidence base to inform and meet policy commitments at national level.9

• Funding for R&D in Ireland grew strongly during 2001 to 2008 but has declined by 8% in recent years (up to 2010).10 While investment in research is likely to remain under severe pressure in the years ahead the Irish Government continues to recognise that high-quality research in higher education has a crucial role to play in Ireland’s economic recovery, knowledge economy, and in social development. The Hunt Report11 and Innovation Taskforce Report strongly recommend that investment in R&D should be increased to 3 per cent of GDP (to be achieved within an updated SSTI for the 2014-2020 period).

• The Forfas Research Prioritisation Review,12 carried out in 2011, is likely to lead to an increased focus on the delivery of economic outcomes from investment in public research. Up to 80% of the Irish Gov-ernment’s core €500 million research budget funding is set to be targeted in 14 areas of opportunity. Key areas of opportunity for the ERI include: Sustainable Food Production and Processing, Marine Renew-able Energy, Smart Grids and Smart Cities & Manufacturing Competitiveness (resource efficiency). The report also recognises that climate change and a sustainable environment are key drivers within all of the priority areas.

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4 EUROPE 2020: A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth [COM (2010) 2020] 5 Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative Innovation Union [COM (2010) 546 final]6 Horizon 2020 – The Framework Programme for Research and Innovation [COM (2011) 808 final]7 A resource-efficient Europe – Flagship initiative under the Europe 2020 Strategy [COM (2011) 21]8 Developing the Green Economy in Ireland, Report of the High Level Group on Green Enterprise, November 20099 Our Sustainable Future: A Framework for Sustainable Development in Ireland (2012)10 Forfas, R&D Funding and Performance in the State sector 2009–2010 (August, 2011)11 National Strategy for Higher Education, Report of the Strategy Group (August 2010)12 Forfas, Report of the Research Prioritisation Steering Group (2012)

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4.STRATEGICPRIORITIESANDACTIONS

The ERI Strategic Plan (2012-2016) is focused on continued excellence in three key areas:

– Research– Postgraduate Training– Innovation

The delivery of excellence in the areas of research, postgraduate training and innovation (broadly known as the “knowledge triangle”) are key requirements for the Institute’s principal external “stakeholders” e.g. excel-lence in research to secure funding from national and international funding bodies, excellence in postgraduate training to attract high-quality graduate students and excellence in innovation to meet Irish and EU goals for a knowledge economy. The interaction between these three elements are recognised as the key drivers of a knowledge-based society and underlie the key concepts within the Lisbon Strategy, the modernisation of Europe’s higher education systems agenda13 and the European Institute of Technology. The ERI has identified 6 strategic priorities to support these three elements as follows (also see Figure 3):

1. Retain and build Research Capacity (People and Infrastructure)2. Grow and diversify the Research Funding Base 3. Enhance Postgraduate and Postdoctoral Training 4. Strengthen External Engagement 5. Build Sustainable Interdisciplinary Research Thematic Areas6. Linking to Industry and Innovation

FIGURE 3: Key strategic priorities for the ERI for the period 2012-2016

13 Supporting growth and jobs – an agenda for the modernisation of Europe’s higher education systems [COM (2011) 567 final]

Each of these strategic priorities support the other to facilitate the delivery of “excellence”, “value-for-money” and “sustainability” in the Institute’s thematic research areas. The priorities are based on the outputs from strategic planning workshops with Institute PIs and strategic priorities for its 12 thematic areas. Considera-tion has also been given to the outputs from the ERI Research Quality Review (and subsequent Quality Im-provement Plan) and the priorities are consistent with the strategic objectives of the College of Science, Engi-neering and Food Science and the Institute’s research centres and associated Schools and Departments. The strategic priorities, and actions supporting them, are described in detail on the following pages.

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STRATEGICPRIORITY1:

RETAINANDBUILDRESEARCHCAPACITY(PEOPLEANDINFRASTRUCTURE)

The ERI aims to build upon the existing strong cohort of active researchers at the Institute by attract-ing and retaining new exceptional researchers who can contribute to the existing capacity within ERI research pillars and thematic areas. Attracting the best students, academics and researchers both from within and outside the EU and developing new forms of cross-border cooperation will be a key driver for growing research capacity and quality. The recruitment of researchers who possess niche expertise, via new permanent appointments and through transfer of knowledge/training programmes such as Marie Curie IEF, IIF and SFI Walton programmes, represents an excellent way to build increased ex-pertise and critical mass within the Institute’s thematic research areas. Researchers who are recruited on EU mobility programmes can also constitute a nucleus for future projects and collaborations with EU and International Institutes. It is equally important that these researchers have adequate space, facilities and the requisite state-of-the-art equipment in order to fulfil the potential of their research. The ERI also needs to ensure that it will have sufficient infrastructure and facilities to capitalise on opportunities in the environment, marine and energy area when they arise. The following actions have been designated for this strategic priority.

1.1 Strategically recruit and appoint “new blood” senior researchers to build capacity in the Institute’s thematic research areas. This will be done on a joint hiring basis with the Institute’s associated Schools/Departments.

1.2 Form links with non-ERI researchers in UCC who are engaged in related research areas to establish if they could contribute to strategic ERI research themes e.g. researchers at the Tyndall Institute.

1.3 Target funding streams within the Marie Curie (People) programme and SFI Walton programme to attract high quality postdoctoral researchers to the ERI and its associated research centres. Principal Investigators will be encouraged to proactively identify high-potential candidates for this programme via their networks, conferences attended, etc.

1.4 Establish the Beaufort Laboratory on the IMERC campus in Ringaskiddy, Cork to promote Ireland as a world class maritime and energy research and development location.

1.5 Increase the usable footprint of the ERI Building through renovation and installation of new labs and offices and possible extension of the ERI Building. Specific infrastructure needs have been identified for the Atmospheric Processes and Air Quality group as a new atmospheric chamber equipped with PTR-TOF-MS, and additional field trial facilities and laboratory space are needed for agricultural, agroecological and bioenergy studies.

1.6 Use the FP7 Infrastructures programme to promote and service the Institute’s unique research infra-structure.

KEYACTIONS

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STRATEGICPRIORITY2:

GROWANDDIVERSIFYRESEARCHFUNDINGBASE

Researchers at the ERI and its associated centres have been very successful in acquiring grant income over the last strategic planning period, winning a total of €37 M from 2006-2010. However national economic difficulties necessitate that Institute researchers must diversify their funding base and reduce dependency on exchequer sources. Whilst ERI research is relevant to a host of national fund-ing programmes, it is Horizon 2020 (with an €80 billion budget) that represents a real opportunity for Institute researchers to diversify and grow their funding as at least 60% of the total Horizon 2020 budget will be related to research topics in the area of sustainable development. While the ERI has always strongly encouraged its researchers to apply for funding at EU level the Institute will put in place structures to facilitate researchers to acquire funding from EU programmes and from other sources in a more systematic manner.

2.1 Increase the number of Horizon 2020 applications by (i) influencing text of early draft calls and dis-seminating call drafts (ii) targeting calls that are a good match for the expertise of Institute PIs (iii) assisting PIs in identifying key partners/networks for potential consortia in their research area (vi) presenting ERI PI research expertise at EU brokerage events.

2.2 Improve the quality and success rate of funding applications from the Institute by (i) holding training workshops (in conjunction with the VP of Research and Innovation Office) (ii) engaging strategically with consultant proposal writers (iii) promote mentoring by experienced PIs to younger researchers.

2.3 Increase the level of EU funding applied for per application by encouraging and assisting researchers to take on coordinator roles more frequently.

2.4 Recruit a projects officer to assist Institute PIs to find/form consortia, write applications and manage funded proposals.

2.5 The Institute will increase efforts to identify and target undersubscribed and less well-known funding programmes and funding sources e.g. COST, Eurocores, UN, World Bank, DG tenders and endow-ments.

KEYACTIONS

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STRATEGICPRIORITY3:

ENHANCEPOSTGRADUATEANDPOSTDOCTORALTRAINING

Postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers represent the cornerstones of research at the ERI. While the 2009 ERI Research Quality Review found that the Institute had an “impressive collegiate and dynamic postgraduate community in spite of wide diversity of research areas” a key recommenda-tion from the Review was that “it would be beneficial to incorporate a more regulated framework for certain aspects of the postgraduate training environment, such as the instigation of a journal club and postgraduate discussion forums.” The Institute aims to continue to develop and maintain a supportive research environment and culture where postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers are valued, encouraged and provided with the necessary infrastructure and intangible support to enable them to fulfil their training and career objectives. The Institute will endeavour to further enhance the postgraduate training experience and put in place additional supports for postgraduate training particularly in those areas that facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and generic skills develop-ment in line with the EU Principles on Doctoral Training.14

3.1 Continue to host the ERI Postgraduate and Postdoctoral Researcher of the Year competition.

3.2 Continue to promote researcher training in an open research environment and proactively encourage cross-fertilisation between disciplines fostering a broader interdisciplinary approach to environment, marine and energy research.

3.3 Engage strongly with the UCC Graduate Studies Office and the Human Resources Office to ensure that ERI researchers undertake, and benefit from, the many transferable skills modules on offer e.g. teaching and learning, project management, research commercialisation, entrepreneurship, career planning, science communication, etc.

3.4 Re-establish the ERI lunch-time research seminar series.

KEYACTIONS

14 Principles for Innovative Doctoral Training [Brussels, 27/06/2011]

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STRATEGICPRIORITY4:

STRENGTHENEXTERNALENGAGEMENT

The ERI vision is “to position UCC at the forefront of environmental, marine and energy research within Ireland and develop an international reputation for excellence in key research thematic areas”. The effective management of the ERI brand through media communication and key partnerships is a crucial part of delivering this vision. In conjunction with the Office of the Vice President for External Relations, the Institute plans to increase its efforts at raising awareness at local, national and interna-tional level of the breadth, quality and relevance of the research being carried out at the Institute and how this research can contribute to national economic recovery and sustainable development.

4.1 Increase efforts to promote and enhance the visibility of the Institute at national and international level by ensuring that the ERI is recognised on research publications, encouraging ERI representa-tion on national boards and ensuring increased interaction between Institute researchers and EU policy-making bodies and agencies.

4.2 Form strategic partnerships with similar international research organisations (in marine, environment and energy areas) who can complement and facilitate the strengthening of the Institute’s thematic research areas. Funding for transfer of researchers between these research organisations will be sought from the Marie Curie IRSES programme.

4.3 Build stronger alliances with the relevant research Institutes/Centres in other Irish Higher Education Institutes. The ERI will work closely with other UCC Institutes in keys areas of interest e.g. with the Tyndall Institute in the development of environmental sensors.

4.4 Host more conferences/colloquia/workshops around key environmental/marine/energy issues that facilitate engagement between researchers, government and industry. Ensure that Institute research is fully utilised to assist policy development at both national and international level. Facilitate coor-dinated ERI responses to national consultation policy documents in areas of research expertise.

4.5 Adopt a more targeted approach to external communication locally, nationally and internationally by strengthening marketing, brand recognition and media presence.

KEYACTIONS

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STRATEGICPRIORITY5:

BUILDSUSTAINABLEINTERDISCIPLINARYRESEARCHTHEMATICAREAS

The promotion of interdisciplinary research, and the development of strong and sustainable cross-disciplinary research thematic areas that have a critical mass, are key objectives for the ERI. The Institute has researchers from 10 different Schools/Departments and four research centres and has the potential to bring together teams of researchers to work collectively to produce solutions to the complex environmental challenges currently facing society. The Institute’s research pillars and the-matic areas enable Institute PIs to align their specialist research topics under research areas that are aligned with the priorities of national and EU funding bodies, and to use the critical mass of exper-tise within the research theme to support research funding applications. In addition post-graduate students trained in the Institute’s inter-disciplinary environment will have a greater breadth as well as depth of knowledge and will be conversant in the ideas and languages of other fields. While there are some excellent examples of cross-disciplinary projects within the Institute there is still scope to further enhance inter-disciplinary collaboration.

5.1 Continue to foster a supportive environment for interdisciplinary research at the Institute though more frequent interactions (formal and informal) between PIs within thematic areas thereby enabling knowledge sharing (in terms of new research, policy and funding). PIs will be encouraged to share their contacts and networks as a means of assisting and exploring new collaborative opportunities for the area.

5.2 Consolidate and grow Institute thematic areas through the recruitment of new researchers possess-ing expertise in key priority areas.

5.3 Promote the capacity and expertise in the Institute’s research thematic areas both nationally and internationally and use the research expertise of Institute PIs to influence policy development and future research funding priorities.

5.4 Leverage the combined interdisciplinary expertise within given thematic research areas as part of a collective “package” when applying for research funding and develop approaches whereby flexible, responsive interdisciplinary research teams can be rapidly formed to produce cross-disciplinary re-search proposals on announcement of grant calls or to address imminent environmental issues.

5.5 The Institute will highlight and give special recognition to interdisciplinary research work/projects (such as a prize for PhD/MSc students with the most interdisciplinary project).

KEYACTIONS

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STRATEGICPRIORITY6:

INDUSTRYANDINNOVATION

As centres of knowledge, expertise and learning, HEIs are key drivers of economic development. Irish University research has a key role to play in developing new areas of competitive advantage for the Irish economy and in economic recovery. Researchers applying for funding support at national and EU level increasingly have to convince funders that their research has commercial and societal impact together with demonstrating excellence in science. The ERI is well-positioned to support the development of the green enterprise sector by providing post-graduates with the appropriate skills for emerging green industries, by working with industry to develop novel commercial products and by providing “support” research that informs decision-making for a transition to a low-carbon economy. A key priority for the Institute for 2012-2016 is to sharpen the focus on how the Institute interacts with industry in areas of potential national strategic and economic advantage. The Institute intends to develop better structures and systems for interfacing with industry that will ensure a “sustained interactivity” between researchers and industry.

6.1 The Institute will work with the UCC Technology Transfer Office to align research outputs in areas such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, water, waste management with an effective entrepre-neurship system that raises awareness among researchers of the commercial potential of their ideas and encourages them to commercialise their research.

6.2 The Institute will make it easier for industry to access ERI research and its outputs by developing be-spoke, customised literature on Institute projects in a non-specialist language, and on the potential commercial application of Institute research.

6.3 The Institute will have Industry Open Days where local and national companies can visit the In-stitute, receive presentations on research in their particular areas of interest and interact with ERI researchers.

6.4 The ERI will play a lead role in the regional innovation agenda through its links with IMERC and Energy@Cork and will contribute to the nascent Cork’s Science Innovation and Technology Park initiative.

6.5 Consideration will be given to the establishment of an Eco-innovation centre whereby industrial partners of the centre would be given access to advanced research facilities and expertise and would work on jointly-defined projects of industrial relevance with Institute researchers. This would open up access to national and international eco-innovation funding schemes (Competiveness and Innovation Framework Programme) for both participating companies and Institute researchers.

KEYACTIONS

• The marine environment constitutes two-thirds of our plan-et, contains 90% of the biosphere and is essential to life on earth. Along with being an important factor in social well-being it plays a key role in economic prosperity; the EU’s maritime regions account for around 40% of its GDP and population.15 However human activities are exerting increas-ing environmental pressure on the oceans; in particular, the growing demand for maritime transport, offshore energy, coastal development, fisheries and aquaculture pose a major threat to this environment. Ensuring that the use of the ma-rine environment is genuinely sustainable is a prerequisite for our marine based industries to be competitive.

• The Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union15 recognises that the solutions to these challenges “must be based on excellence in marine research, technology and in-novation”. The European Strategy for Marine and Maritime research16 highlights the importance of marine research to reconcile the growth of sea-based activities with environ-mental sustainability. The implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive,17 which requires the achieve-ment of good environmental status of the EU’s marine wa-ters by 2020, will require further extensive research on the impact of human activities on marine waters and will be a strong influence on Horizon 2020 funding in marine re-search. The 2011 EU Atlantic Strategy18 which addresses the challenges and opportunities facing the Atlantic Ocean has set the agenda for the development of a low carbon “blue” economy for the Atlantic region.

• Ireland’s marine area is ten times that of the land area of the country; the country’s location and extensive marine re-sources represent a unique asset. The Irish marine sector has a turnover of €3 billion annually and supports over 44,000 jobs.19 The Marine Institute’s Sea Change strategy has iden-tified future economic opportunities for Ireland in seafood

products, marine environmental technologies and marine biotechnology. The Forfas Research Prioritisation13 high-lights the opportunities for economic growth through re-search in the areas of aquaculture and wild fisheries, marine renewable energy and marine food for health. The 2012 “Our Ocean Wealth” strategic plan indicates that marine research funding will be focused on a number of ‘priority areas’ that are likely to include marine bio-resources, marine functional foods, marine materials for medical applications and renew-able ocean energy.20

• Marine research will also be strongly represented under the Horizon 2020 programme. Almost €4.7 billion has been pro-posed for the Challenge “Food security, sustainable agri-culture, marine and maritime research, and the bioecon-omy”.21 Proposed funding topics include environmentally friendly fishing, offshore aquaculture, marine biotechnology, renewable ocean energy, and marine spatial planning. The Europe 2020 Strategy call for a bioeconomy as a key element for smart and green growth in Europe will support further research investments in marine food and bio-based products. The recent Joint Programming Initiative on “Healthy and Pro-ductive Seas and Oceans” will provide additional opportuni-ties for marine research.

• The ERI has three priority thematic areas (and a number of cross-cutting themes) within the Marine Pillar that are framed in the context of current EU and national policy objectives and that address the challenges facing the marine environ-ment and opportunities presented by the sector: Governance and Law, Geomatics & Remote Sensing and Aquaculture & Fisheries. The Coastal & Marine Research Centre (as part of the Beaufort Laboratory) and the Aquaculture & Fisheries Development Centre strongly contribute to the Marine Pillar thematic areas and are both internationally recognised cen-tres of excellence in their areas of research.

5.ERIRESEARCHPILLARSANDTHEMATICAREAS

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MARINEPILLARGOVERNANCE AND LAW





SUSTAINABLE BIORESOURCES AND GREEN TECHNOLOGY






“A�Europe�with�a�dynamic�maritime�economy,�in�harmony�with�the�environment,�sup-ported�by�excellence�in�marine�science�and�technology”�

Towards a future maritime policy for the Union: a European vision for the oceans and the seas (2006)

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MARINEPILLAR

GEOMATICSANDREMOTESENSING

DESCRIPTION The Geomatics and Remote Sensing thematic area includes expertise available in the Coastal and Marine Research Centre and in Geography and Archaeology: School of the Human Environment. Expertise covers applications of optical and radar remote sensing in the terrestrial, marine and coastal domain, image processing, end user requirements analysis, standards-based spatial data management and exchange, database design, data visualisation, web-GIS implementation and metadata management.

PRINCIPALINVESTIGATORS

Dr Ned Dwyer (Lead PI), Dr Fiona Cawkwell (Lead PI), Mr Anthony Patterson, Mr Declan Dunne, Dr Yassine Lassoued and Ms Vicki O’Donnell.

EXPERTISEANDCAPACITY

The thematic area has been successful in developing a number of spatial data management, analysis and visualisation systems (e.g. Marine Irish Digital Atlas) as well as thematic maps demonstrating the potential of remote sensing. The group fosters national and international collaboration with bodies such as the EPA, Teagasc, OSI, National Space Centre, the Technical University of Vienna, the National Oceanographic Centre UK, the Nansen Centre, Norway and with IFREMER in France. The groups also play a key role in developing teaching activities e.g. MSc in Geographical Infor-mation Systems and Remote Sensing (RS). At present the Remote Sensing strand represents the largest concentration of RS researchers within Ireland, and the Geomatics strand is recognised internationally as a leader in providing solutions for marine geospatial data management.

STRATEGICRELEVANCE

The activities of this thematic area are aligned with international and national initiatives. In the remote sensing field, activities are in harmony with the developments of the EU’s and European Space Agency’s Global Monitoring for the Environment and Security (GMES) programme and with national policies for land cover mapping and monitoring, carbon budget calculation and maritime safety. From a geomatics perspective, the focus is on enhancing data management, exchange and visualisation underpinning initiatives for improved coastal governance and marine spatial planning and contributing to the implementation of the INSPIRE and other EU Directives. At the national level, the work contributes to policies including the Marine Institute’s Sea Change Initiative as well as being coherent with IMERC strategic directions including maritime security and maritime energy related activities.

STRATEGICOBJECTIVES2012-2016

Enhance the use of spatial data and information to improve our understanding and hence management of marine and terrestrial environments in the face of various pressures, includ-ing climate change to be accomplished by building a critical mass of expertise in UCC, with the aim of becoming the centre of excellence in Ireland for applied remote sensing, GIS and geomatics.

15 An integrated maritime policy for the European Union [COM (2007) 574 final]16 A European strategy for marine and maritime research: A coherent European research area framework in support of a sustainable use of oceans and seas [COM (2008) 534 final]17 Establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) [Directive 2008/56/EC]18 Developing a Maritime Strategy for the Atlantic Ocean Area [COM (2011) 782 final]19 Sea Change – A marine knowledge, research & innovation strategy for Ireland 2007–201320 Our Ocean Wealth: Towards an integrated marine plan for Ireland; seeking your views on new ways, new approaches, new thinking. Background briefing documents; Part III:

‘Enablers’ – Getting the Conditions Right for Growth (2012)21 Innovating for Sustainable Growth: A Bioeconomy for Europe [COM (2012) 11 final]

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MARINEPILLAR

AQUACULTUREANDFISHERIES

DESCRIPTION Current research in this theme is undertaken at the Aquaculture and Fisheries Development Centre (AFDC) and the Coastal and Marine Research Centre (CMRC). The majority of this research is applied, underpinning the ethos of sustainable development, management and conservation of the marine environment, and involves collaborations with a range of UCC disciplines, includ-ing Geography, Geology, Food and Nutritional Sciences, Civil Engineering, Law and associate researchers within.


Dr Sarah Culloty (Lead PI), Professor Gavin Burnell, Professor Tom Cross, Dr Emer Rogan, Professor Peter Jones, Dr Joe Kerry, Professor John Benzie, Dr Phil McGinnity, Mr Jeremy Gault, Dr Michelle Cronin, Mr Ger Morgan, and Dr Ray Alcorn


The AFDC and CMRC have extensive research and industry collaborations both nationally and internationally and have been able to exploit funding schemes that require industry/RTD col-laborations which are pivotal to the applied research focus of the theme. Strategic partnerships within this theme are funded by MI, BIM, EU FP7 and INTERREG funding programmes and in-clude projects such as the Beaufort Marine Research Awards for Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management and Fish Population Genetics, OYSTERECOVER, COEXIST, BEADS, BIVALIFE, SALSEA-MERGE, and AARC. The breadth of research themes at the AFDC and CMRC ensures a multidisciplinary approach to research under the Aquaculture & Fisheries theme.

STRATEGICRELEVANCE

Seafood constitutes 20% of the global requirement for animal protein for human consumption and in recent years the global per-capita supply of fish as human food has reached record levels (FAO, 2010). Whilst the catch per unit effort has declined for several major commercial fisheries in the past 10 years, global aquaculture production has increased and remains the fastest-growing animal food producing sector accounting for almost half of the food fish supply in 2009. The critical role of holistic fisheries management is apparent, as important European fish and shellfish stocks decline and aquaculture will play an increasing role in offsetting the market gap for economically important species. In Ireland, the aquaculture and fisheries industries have an important socio-economic role particularly in peripheral regions. The SSTI1 aims to “strengthen the competitiveness of tra-ditional marine industries and their progression to higher value-added activities” and to stimulate greater involvement by Irish seafood industry in marine related research. The BIM strategy for the seafood industry reinforces the need to explore a range of new marketing opportunities for Irish seafood. Food Harvest 202021 aims to increase profitability and sustainability, whilst provisioning for biodiversity priorities, within the sector. Research and technological innovation will provide critical support to maximise food production within the seafood production sector. The Research Prioritisation Report10 included aquaculture and fisheries in the priority area “Sustainable Food Production and Processing” highlighting that areas such as processed seafood and sustainable management of inshore stocks require more research investment.


The vision for this thematic area is to develop sufficient critical mass to participate in national and international strategic alliances, and to leverage research funding accordingly, with the overarching objective of addressing the multi-disciplinary needs of the sector. Thematic area researchers will explore new research opportunities such as investigation of waste mitigation in aquaculture, develop new aquaculture and fisheries species and investigate the potential to integrate aquaculture with offshore energy activities.

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MARINEPILLAR

GOVERNANCEANDLAW

DESCRIPTION The Governance & Law thematic area spans the Coastal and Marine Research Centre, the Hydrau-lics and Maritime Research Centre, the Faculty of Law, the School of the Human Environment and the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences. It has links with the National Maritime College of Ireland and Cork Institute of Technology as well as the Irish Naval Service (INS) through IMERC. The thematic area conducts leading-edge research at the national, European and international levels on a range of issues including Environmental Law, Regulation and Policy, Maritime Spatial Planning, Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Climate Change Adaptation and Public participation.


Jeremy Gault (Lead PI), Darius Bartlett, Gavin Burnell, Robert Devoy, Margaret Desmond, Maria Falaleeva, Jimmy Murphy, Barry O’Dwyer, Anne Marie O’Hagan, Cathal O’Mahony, Colin Sage and Valerie Cummins (UCC / CIT), Mark Mellett (INS), Dr Owen McIntyre, Dr Aine Ryall, Dr Benedicte Sage.


Researchers in this area have been at the forefront of coastal management research for nearly twenty years and the CMRC is an internationally recognised centre of excellence gained through participation in key national and EU funding initiatives. Environmental Law PIs have an estab-lished record of research in Environmental Governance and Regulation, Implementation of EU Environmental Law, Environmental Enforcement, International Water Resources Law, Environ-mental Assessment and Environmental Rights, and several PIs sit on the editorial boards of leading Environmental Law research journals. The group has numerous national and international col-laborations. European links have been established with EU agencies, research centres and NGOs such as CEFAS, DELTARESEEA, GKSS, IFREMER, NERC, SAMS and WWF. Internationally links have been forged with the Brazilian Space Agency, Memorial University, Virginia Institute of Marine Science and the University of Rhode Island. PIs sit on a number of Irish, European and international advisory bodies, including the EPA Review Group, the Scientific Committee of the EEA, the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law, and the International Academy for Comparative Law.

STRATEGICRELEVANCE

The Governance and Law thematic area strengths are closely aligned to current national and international research priorities particularly with respect to the support of the maritime industry through implementation of Maritime Spatial Planning, the development of national and local ad-aptation strategies and raising public awareness of environmental issues and public participation in addressing these issues. The focus of the current EU Framework and the planned Horizon 2020 funding programmes on science in society and societal benefit from research strongly reflects the applied nature of research fostered in the group. The group is well positioned to continue to conduct research in support of key EU policy and legislation such as the Integrated Maritime Policy, the Water Framework Directive, the Habitats Directive and the more recent Maritime Spatial Framework Directive.


The strategic objectives of the thematic area are to (a) promote an integrated approach to coastal and ocean management and planning in order to fully realise the economic potential of key European sectors including aquaculture, fisheries, tourism and renewable energy and (b) improve understanding of Environmental Law, Regulation and Policy, and thus access to environmental justice, among all stakeholders in Ireland and beyond.

• The earth’s natural resources and the man-made environment are under intense pressure from a growing population, urbani-sation and transport, continuous expansion of the agriculture, fisheries and energy sectors, along with climatic variability at a local, regional and global scale. These natural resources (such as food, soil, water, air, biomass and ecosystems but also fuels, minerals and metals) underpin the functioning of the global economy and our quality of life. If we carry on us-ing resources at the current rate, it is estimated that by 2050 we will need, on aggregate, the equivalent of more than two planets to sustain us.

• The EU is responding to these challenges by focusing on re-source efficiency; a resource-efficient Europe7 is one of seven flagship initiatives within the Europe 2020 strategy which aims to deliver smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.4 Resource ef-ficiency allows the economy to create more with less, delivering greater value with less input, using resources in a sustainable way and minimising impacts on the environment.

• Environmental protection in Ireland presents both opportuni-ties and challenges. The Irish Government views the potential of the green enterprise sector as central to the development of the smart economy and has designated it as one of Ireland’s target sectors for economic recovery.8,9,22 Within the Food Harvest 2020 vision23 the Irish Government aims to increase the export value of the agri-food sector to €12 billion by 2020 (a 50% increase); however this must be achieved within the context of an obligation to lower greenhouse gases by at least 20% by 202024, achieve “good ecological status” in all waters by 201525 and halt the loss of species and habitats.26

• There continues to be a need for high-quality research to in-form policy at both national and EU level. The EU has adopted the EU 2020 biodiversity strategy24 which aims to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2020 in the recognition that, in addition to

its intrinsic value, biodiversity and the ecosystem services it provides have significant economic value.27 Research is also needed at EU level for the implementation of international commitments such as the Kyoto protocol, the European Envi-ronment & Health Action Plan,28 the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Water Framework Directive and the 6th Environmental Action Plan.

• There will be significant research funding opportunities under the Environment Pillar in the 2012-2016 period. Sustainable development will be an overarching objective of Horizon 2020 with at least 60% of the total Horizon 2020 budget being allocated to research areas supporting sustainable develop-ment. A number of the priority areas within the Report of the Research Prioritisation Steering Group can also be targeted for research funding e.g. Food for Health, Sustainable Food Production and Processing and Manufacturing Competitive-ness through the elimination of waste and greater resource efficiency. The next Environmental Protection Agency fund-ing programme (starting in 2014) will focus on the themes of climate change, water and sustainable development. In addition the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine have identi-fied climate change, resource sustainability, energy security and biodiversity as key challenges to guide public investment in agricultural research (Food Harvest 2020).21,29

• The 6 thematic areas within the Environment Pillar (Biodi-versity & Resource Management; Sustainable Bioresources & Green Technologies; Sustainable Agriculture, Food & For-estry; Environmental Health and Protection; Atmospheric Processes & Air Pollution, and Geosciences and Coastal Processes) along with a number of cross-cutting thematic areas are strategically positioned to provide solutions to key environmental challenges in the next 5 years and to attract significant research funding which will be directed to ad-dress these issues.

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Biodiversity�—�the�extraordinary�variety�of�ecosystems,�species�and�genes�that�surround�us�—�is�our�life�insurance,�giving�us�food,�fresh�water�and�clean�air,�shelter�and�medicine,�mitigating�natural�disasters,�pests�and�diseases�and�contributes�to�regulating�the�climate.�

[EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy]

ENVIRONMENTPILLARGOVERNANCE AND LAW





SUSTAINABLE BIORESOURCES AND GREEN TECHNOLOGY


ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES AND AIR QUALITY







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ENVIRONMENTPILLAR

22 Building Ireland’s Smart Economy A Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal (2008)23 Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, Food Harvest 2020 - A vision for Irish agri-food and fisheries24 20:20 by 2020: Europe’s climate change opportunity [COM (2008) 30 final]25 Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy26 Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020 [COM (2011) 244 final]27 The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (www.teebweb.org)28 European Environment & Health Action Plan 2004-2010 [COM (2004) 416]29 Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, Stimulating Sustainable Agricultural Production through Research & Innovation (SSAPRI), December 2012

ATMOSPHERICPROCESSESANDAIRQUALITY

DESCRIPTION The focus of this thematic area is atmospheric composition and processes and their effects on climate and air quality.


Dr John Wenger (Lead PI), Dr Dara Fitzpatrick, Dr Robert Healy, Dr Andy Ruth, Professor John Sodeau, Dr Dean Venables


Researchers with expertise in the areas of atmospheric chemistry and physics, spectroscopy and analytical chemistry are involved in a range of integrated research programmes covering laboratory, field and modelling studies. A wide range of specialist instruments and facilities have been developed to provide the researchers with unique capabilities in atmospheric science research. Custom-built reactors exist for studying processes such as smog formation, particle generation, plankton emis-sions and atmospheric ice chemistry. The group is also equipped with state-of-the-art tools for analysis of the chemical, physical and biological properties of atmospheric aerosols, including the only instrument in Ireland for remote sensing of aerosols by Raman light detection and ranging (LIDAR). The principal investigators are well established in the world-wide atmospheric science research community and have published over 150 papers in the field. Numerous international col-laborations exist with partners, not only in Europe, through EC funded projects and networks, but also in Japan, Canada and the USA.

STRATEGICRELEVANCE

The research work covers both fundamental and applied aspects of atmospheric chemistry. The more applied aspects of this work inform national and International policy in the areas of air quality, environment and health and climate change. The group are also well placed to respond to particular research needs arising from EC initiatives such as the Environment Action Programme and Horizon 2020.


The key objective is to increase multi-disciplinary research capacity in the strategically im-portant area of atmospheric science and air quality, through recruitment of personnel and enhancement of the research infrastructure. In addition to pursuing current areas of exper-tise, the thematic area researchers will also explore new research opportunities in emerging areas such as indoor air quality and combustion aerosols.

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ENVIRONMENTPILLAR

DESCRIPTION Work is focused on developing environmental/green technologies and processes to help conserve our natural resources and environment and where possible to sustainably exploit these resources for commercial purposes.


Professor Alan Dobson (Lead PI), Professor Mark Achtman, Dr Dara Fitzpatrick, Dr John Han-rahan, Dr Marcel Jansen, Professor Peter Jones, Professor Michael Morris, Dr John Morrissey, Dr Jerry Murphy, Dr Niall O’Leary, Professor Fergal O’Gara, Dr Andy Ruth, Dr Dean Venables.


Current research includes work on novel approaches to waste management, including the biodegra-dation of toxic environmental pollutants; phytoremediation of chlorinated wastestreams; developing nano-materials for environmental abatement; and bioconversion of waste streams to biodegradable polymers. Research also focuses on sensor based technologies to monitor trace atmospheric gases in the environment. Genomic/metagenomic based approaches are also being employed to exploit the metabolic versatility of terrestrial and marine ecosystems; as sources of new antimicrobial bioactive compounds; new cytotoxic agents with pharmacological potential and novel biocatalysts with industrial applications. Finally work is also focused on the molecular epidemiology of different pathogens with a view to developing effective methods to combat bacterial infections.

STRATEGICRELEVANCE

Environmentally sound technologies are required to protect the environment, and to be less pol-luting than existing technologies. They are needed to facilitate the utilisation of many of our terrestrial and marine natural resources in a more sustainable manner. These technologies/ap-proaches will help ensure that we can recycle more of our wastes and products, and treat residual waste streams in a more environmentally acceptable/friendly fashion, thereby ultimately helping to prevent pollution. The Research Prioritisation report12 has highlighted the need for a “green economy” which is not only competitive but which also has “lower environmental impacts”. The report emphasises the need to “promote sustainable economic development through ensuring that our natural capital is protected and that binding environmental requirements for greenhouse gas emissions, water and wastewater management and resource efficiency are achieved”. The Europe 2020 strategy states that “natural resources underpin our economy and our quality of life” and that “increasing our resource efficiency is the key to securing growth and jobs for Europe.” In the marine bioresources area the recent background briefing documents to the “Our Ocean Wealth”16 has highlighted the area as possessing the capacity to “create novel products based on marine origin materials for use in health, advanced materials, functional foods, food processing and in environmental remediation.”


The vision is to further develop and strengthen this area through the formation of strategic collaborative interactions particularly specifically through FP7 and Europe 2020 funding programmes.

SUSTAINABLEBIORESOURCESANDGREENTECHNOLOGIES

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ENVIRONMENTPILLAR

BIODIVERSITYANDRESOURCEMANAGEMENT

DESCRIPTION There is an urgent need, and legal obligation, to ensure that our valuable but limited natural re-sources are managed sustainably. Resource depletion, loss of biodiversity, climate change and the control of invasive species are just some of the factors that make environmental management a major challenge, and one that can only be met with the aid of targeted and applied research.


Professor John O’Halloran (Lead PI), Professor Pete Jones, Professor Gavin Burnell, Professor Tom Cross, Professor Paul Giller, Dr Marcel Jansen, Dr Paddy Sleeman, Dr Pádraig Whelan, Dr John Quinn, Dr Debbie Chapman, Dr Sarah Culloty, Dr Emer Rogan, Dr Rob McAllen, Dr Simon Harrison, Dr Ruth Ramsay O’Riordan, Professor John Gamble, Dr Andy Wheeler, Dr Barbara Doyle, Dr Tom Kelly, Mr Ger Morgan, Dr Michelle Cronin, Dr Ned Dwyer, Dr Max Kozachenko, Dr Yas-sine Lassoued, Dr Tom Doyle, Dr Declan Dunne, Ms Vicki O’Donnell, Mr Jeremy Gault, Mr Gerry Sutton, Professor John Benzie.


Current research in this area includes a range of general topics in Environmental Science, Ecology and Evolution, and spans all major taxa from algae, plants and shellfish, to invertebrates, birds and mammals. Research encompasses all major habitats, including freshwater habitats, estuarine, coastal and oceanic marine environment, forests, uplands and the general agricultural landscape. There is expertise in a range of modern analytical, molecular and experimental techniques. Strategic part-nerships have been developed with international centres of excellence in biodiversity and resource management, and with government and industry partners (e.g NPWS, EPA, National Biodiversity Data Centre) providing the synergy necessary to foster the expertise in this thematic area.

STRATEGICRELEVANCE

40% of the world’s economy is based directly or indirectly on biological resources. The pressures driving biodiversity loss are either constant or increasing in intensity and biodiversity loss in Ireland remains a critical issue. Ireland’s international obligations to conserve biodiversity are governed by several EU directives; in addition to the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy24, the implementation of the EU Birds Directive, Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the EU Habitats Directive, and the establishment of Natura 2000 sites, will drive biodiversity conservation in Ireland. The sustain-able development of new economic sectors such as rural tourism will be beneficially informed by research into biodiversity and natural heritage. The goals outlined in Food Harvest 202021 and the Forfas Report are consistent with the current National Biodiversity Strategy in provisioning for biodiversity priorities for the sustainable development of the Irish agri-food and fisheries sectors. The Dept of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has highlighted biodiversity as an important research area for the development of a sustainable agriculture sector.27 The multidisciplinary research of this group focusing on biodiversity and resource management issues will form the cornerstone of a sustainable-use policy with the capacity to drive future economic and environmental agendas.


The overall objective of the theme is to conduct cohesive research in diverse areas of terrestrial, marine and freshwater biodiversity and resource management. The vision is to further develop this multi-disciplinary area with the ability to form strategic collaborations to respond ef-fectively to emerging issues and funding opportunities relating to biodiversity and resource management.

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ENVIRONMENTPILLAR

ENVIRONMENTALHEALTHANDPROTECTION

DESCRIPTION Research in this thematic area is concerned with the impacts of pollutants, extreme climatic conditions, parasites, diseases, and pests on target organisms, their food/feed quality, and human health.


Dr Marcel Jansen (Lead PI), Dr Sarah Culloty, Professor Kevin James, Professor Nora O’Brien, Professor John O’Halloran, Dr Frank van Pelt, Professor Dave Sheehan, Professor John Sodeau and Dr John Wenger.


Studies of environmental impacts require interdisciplinary approaches: this theme integrates mo-lecular, chemical, biochemical, organismal and ecosystem expertise with knowledge of marine, freshwater and terrestrial organisms and ecosystems. Specific underpinning areas of expertise in-clude redox proteomics of sentinel species, biology of pests of shellfish, mammals and plants, (eco-) toxicology of wood ash, metals, chlorinated phenols, algal toxins, and nano-materials on marine, freshwater and terrestrial organisms, impacts of climate change (UV-B) on plants, bioavailability of (phyto-) chemicals in food, real-time monitoring of airborne chemical and biological aerosols and assessment of human health and plant impacts. Current activities are well integrated in the international research community, with collaborations extending to virtually all European countries, New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, as well as international organisations such as UNEP. Research activities are funded by SFI, EPA, HRB, COFORD, EU-FP7, INTEREG, and ESF-COST.

STRATEGICRELEVANCE

The provision of a safe clean environment has been identified as a key national policy objective by the Research Prioritisation Steering Group (Forfas 2012) which recognises that there “is a need to fund research to understand the environmental and health impacts of novel materials to ensure their public acceptance.” Ireland also has specific obligations in terms of water quality under the EU Water framework directive and understanding environmental risk is an obligation to producers (REACH). There are particular opportunities for this theme in the areas of nano-toxicology, air pollution and food safety. Nanoparticles and airborne particulate matter are recognised as emerg-ing environmental threats and the development of monitoring technology, as well as elucidation of chemical behaviour and biological consequences of their release are priorities. Environmental impacts on food quality (pest/pathogen attack, phytochemicals, algal toxins) are prioritised for research funding under Food Harvest 2020. In addition “Health, demographic change and wellbe-ing” is identified as a key societal challenge in Europe 2020 strategy and Horizon 2020. This theme, through a critical mass of interdisciplinary expertise, and through strategic collaborations with the Tyndall institute, is in a strong position for international leadership in this field.


The vision is to develop the Environment Health and Protection theme into a leading inter-disciplinary centre for environmental health research that has critical mass and an ability to form strategic internal and external collaborations in order to respond rapidly and effectively to emerging issues and funding opportunities.

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ENVIRONMENTPILLAR

SUSTAINABLEAGRICULTURE,FOODANDFORESTRY

DESCRIPTION Sustainable agriculture takes an integrated view of agricultural systems and addresses issues of environmental sustainability, food security, human health, and economic and social well-being. The theme brings together UCC Principal Investigators from the natural and social sciences and from a number of engineering disciplines.


Professor Peter Jones (Lead PI), Dr Marcel Jansen, Dr Colin Sage, Dr Padraig Whelan, Dr Bar-bara Doyle, Dr Eoin Lettice, Professor Ger Kiely, Professor Nora O’Brien, Dr Jerry Murphy, Pro-fessor John O’Halloran, Professor Fergal O’Gara and Professor Alan Dobson.


The group has research expertise in the following areas: Natural Biological Control, New & Im-proved Crops, Energy Crops & Carbon Sequestration, Food & Society, Plant Adaptation Responses, and Plant-Bacterial Interactions. The group has research collaborations with numerous national & international Universities/Institutes throughout the EU and national projects such as FOODLINKS, VALORAM & SYMBIOSIS. They have published widely in journals and books and hold a number of patents on technologies related to sustainable agriculture. The theme’s PIs are editors of key journals in the area of sustainable agriculture and are involved in teaching activities in this area in UCC (e.g. a new MSc programme in Organic Horticulture).

STRATEGICRELEVANCE

The theme is of national and international strategic importance. By 2050, more than 1 billion hec-tares of extra wild land will need to be converted to farmland to feed the projected global popula-tion. In Ireland agriculture and forestry occupy over 70% of the total land area. Economically, the agri-food sector is Ireland’s largest indigenous industry with exports worth over €8bn p.a. with an aim to increase this to €12 billion (Food Harvest 2020). The overarching environmental challenge is how to reconcile the need to meet the rising demand for food without negatively impacting on the environment and meeting national environment commitments e.g. Kyoto Protocol, Water Framework Directive, 2020 EU Biodiversity Strategy, etc. Food security and sustainable agriculture are recognised as key societal challenges within Horizon 2020. The Forfas Review has also identi-fied Sustainable Food Production and Processing as a key area for future research investment. The Dept of Agriculture, Food and Marine have identified climate change, resource sustainability, energy security and biodiversity as key challenges which will guide public investment in research in agriculture.27 Additionally food chain sustainability has been identified as a key investment area under Food Research Ireland. Researchers in this group are well positioned to provide solutions to these environmental challenges and respond to research funding opportunities in this area.


The vision of the Sustainable Agriculture, Food & Forestry group is to use the multidisciplinary expertise in the theme to offer more rounded solutions to the challenges facing the Irish and global agricultural system. The key objectives are to further strengthen this critical mass of multi-disciplinary research expertise, to leverage this combined expertise as part of a holistic “package” when applying for research funding, and to secure additional field trial & laboratory facilities for agricultural, agroecological and bioenergy studies.

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ENVIRONMENTPILLAR

GEOSCIENCESANDCOASTALPROCESSES

DESCRIPTION This thematic area encompasses expertise available in the School of Biological, Earth & Envi-ronmental Sciences, the Coastal and Marine Research Centre and Geography and Archaeology: School of the Human Environment. Expertise covers bedrock mapping and stratigraphy, seabed mapping, marine geology, petroleum geology, mineral resources, economic geology, sedimentol-ogy, coastal processes, sea-level studies, Quaternary geology, igneous and metamorphic geology, structural geology and geohazards, micro- and macro palaeontology, environmental geology, geotechnics and geophysics.


Dr Andy Wheeler (Lead PI), Professor Robert Devoy, Professor John Gamble, Professor Ken Higgs, Professor Brian Williams, Dr Alistair Allen, Dr Bettie Higgs, Dr Ed Jarvis, Dr Max Kozachenko, Dr Pat Meere, Dr John Reavy, Mr Gerry Sutton.


Researchers are involved in a diversity of research programmes involving laboratory and field based study, on land, underground and offshore. They comprise renowned experts with peer-review publications in leading journals, such as Science, and books including some landmark papers. They also have strong collaborative links throughout the world, a track record in grant capture and close ties with industry. They have facilities with technical support for rock prepara-tion (cutting, thin-section and powders), sediment analysis, palynology and microfossil sample preparation and extensive field equipment e.g. boats, and coring and levelling equipment as well as access to national marine research vessels.

STRATEGICRELEVANCE

Both nationally and internationally, the Geoscience industrial sector is booming with peak oil funding hydrocarbon exploration, peak metal prices fuelling mining of base, rare earth and pre-cious metals and peak energy demands funding coal mining. These industries demand applied research in diverse areas of fundamental and specialist geology. Understanding environmental functioning and dealing with natural response to climate and sea-level change requires research in the Earth Sciences. Marine geology applications are constraining foundation solutions for off-shore windfarms and exploring the natural resource potential of Ireland’s vast offshore territory. Geological research underpins pertinent national issues of groundwater supply and pollution. In many ways, the research in this thematic area underpins activities in other themes across the pillars.


To build on existing interdisciplinary strengths and expertise, and to expand our research capacity and infrastructure to meet future research opportunities. At a time of a boom in geological exploration, we plan to increasingly apply our integrative expertise to meet in-dustrial challenges thereby underpinning national and international economic needs as well as addressing emerging research imperatives.

• The well-being of society, industry and the economy depends on a secure, sustainable and affordable supply of energy. However energy related emissions in Europe account for al-most 80% of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change which the IPCC projects will cause the Earth to warm by a further 1.8° to 4° C this century (in the worst case by as much as 6.4° C).30 To prevent the most severe im-pacts of climate change the EU’s objective is to limit global average temperature increase to less than 2° C. To achieve this, the EU has committed itself by 2020 to reducing GHG emissions by 20%, increasing the share of renewable energies to 20%, and improving energy efficiency by 20%31 while there is a long term commitment to decarbonisation of 80-95% by 2050.32 These actions would increase national & EU energy security and competitiveness which are key objectives of the EU climate and energy policy.33 In addition the EU has com-mitted to putting in place a comprehensive climate change adaptation strategy by 2013.

• Ireland faces similar energy challenges to those being con-fronted worldwide but the situation is made more acute due to a small energy market, its peripherality and limited indige-nous fuel resources.34 Under the Renewable Energy Directive (Directive 2009/28/EC) Ireland has to achieve 16% of energy from renewable sources by 202035 and there are targets of 40% renewable electricity, 12% renewable heat and 10% re-newable energy in transport (by 2020).36 To help achieve this, the Irish Government intends to make Ireland a world leader for research in ocean energy technologies (through the Na-tional Ocean Energy Strategy). The BioEnergy Action Plan for Ireland37 recognises that Ireland has significant potential to develop its bioenergy resources for energy generation. Biofuel has a significant role in the 10% renewable energy supply in transport (RES-T) target for 2020.

• Achieving Irish and EU renewable energy and GHG reduction targets will require major breakthroughs in the research and development of new technologies and in energy efficiency. The EU has developed a Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan)38 for the development and market up-take of low carbon technologies that includes seven Industrial Initiatives (Solar Energy, Bioenergy, Wind Energy, CCS, Smartgrids, Smart cities and Sustainable Nuclear Fission). The proposed funding for the “Secure, clean and efficient energy” challenge in Horizon 2020 is €5.7 billion and there are also opportunities for energy research under the “Smart, green and integrated transport” challenge (€6.8 billion) and “Climate action, re-source efficiency and raw materials” challenge (€3.1 billion). It is expected that around 35% of the Horizon 2020 budget will be for climate related expenditure. In Ireland the Report of the Research Prioritisation Steering Group identifies Marine Renewable Energy and Smart Grids and Smart Cities as prior-ity research areas for Ireland, and recognises the contribution of bioenergy to the achievement of renewable energy targets. The Environmental Protection Agency has identified Climate Change as a priority research area.

• The Energy Pillar in the Environmental Research Institute has four thematic areas (Marine Renewable Energy, Sustain-able Energy Supply Technologies, Energy Policy and Climate Change, and Sustainable Energy End Use) that reflect expertise within the Institute and its constituent centres and national and international priorities in the energy and climate change policy. The Pillar also has a number of cross-cutting thematic areas.

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Energy 2020: A strategy for competitive, sustainable and secure energy

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ENERGYPILLARGOVERNANCE AND LAW








SUSTAINABLE ENERGY END USE



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ENERGYPILLAR

SUSTAINABLEENERGYSUPPLYTECHNOLOGIES

DESCRIPTION This thematic area carries out research in two distinct areas: (i) wind energy and (ii) bioenergy and biofuels. Contributing PIs are based at the Dept of Civil and Environmental Engineering, ERI (Sustainable Energy Research Group) and the School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences. The new Beaufort Laboratory will be a key part of delivering the strategy for the wind energy research.


Dr Jerry Murphy (Lead PI), Dr Eamon McKeogh, Dr Paul Leahy, Professor Alan Dobson, Pro-fessor John O’Halloran, Dr Andy Wheeler.


The group’s wind energy expertise is based on facilitating energy storage to allow high penetration of intermittent wind energy and developing new pumping hydropower schemes drawing together expertise in wind resource assessment, wind energy forecasting, wind turbine control and wind energy storage technology. Current collaborators include Airtricity, Enerco, Voith-Siemens Gmbh, Va-Tech and Mott McDonald (Glasgow). In addition research in identifying suitable ground con-ditions for cost-effective offshore wind turbine foundations both in Ireland and the North sea is supported through academic and industrial collaborations and funds. The bioenergy and biofuels research group has gained international recognition in life cycle analysis of bioenergy systems and in basic research into bioreactor design for utilizing high solid content feedstocks such as grass silage, food waste and algae. Funding of over €1.3 million has been secured since 2007 generating over 40 peer review journal papers. The group has a number of bespoke systems for digestion of organic feed stocks and was awarded €250,000 to extend the biomethane laboratory in 2011.

STRATEGICRELEVANCE

Energy supply on a worldwide basis has doubled from 1973 to 2008. Ireland has a target of 40% renewable energy supply in electricity (RES-E) which will be mainly met through wind energy. Thematic area research is focused on addressing the challenges of variable electricity production from wind and limited integration to other grids. Biomethane can also play a significant role in transport, heat and energy storage (biomethane from hydrogen) in Ireland due to the extensive natural gas grid and the large bioresource (91% of agricultural land under grass). Coupling of nat-ural gas vehicles, the gas grid, 2.5% of grass land and residues such as food and agri-food residues can lead to 20% renewable energy supply in transport (RES-T). This research is also relevant to the priority area “Smart Grids and Smart Cities” in the Forfas report e.g. smart transport for the “development of… systems which have a low impact on the environment” and sustainable waste management (e.g. waste to energy).


The strategic objectives of this group are to (a) establish a wind resource modelling and forecast-ing centre of expertise and increase focus on offshore wind in collaboration with industrial partners and (b) to build a demonstration two phase digestion system with biomethane injection to the gas grid and associated use of gas in a bus fleet in Cork.

30 IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change (2007)31 Limiting Global Climate Change to 2 degrees Celsius The way ahead for 2020 and beyond [COM (2007) 2 final]32 Energy Roadmap 2050 [COM (2011) 885/2]33 Energy 2020: A strategy for competitive, sustainable and secure energy [SEC (2010) 1346]34 Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources, Delivering a sustainable energy future for Ireland – The Energy Policy Framework 2007–2020 (2007)35 DIRECTIVE 2009/28/EC of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources36 Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources, National Renewable Energy Action Plan for Ireland (2010)37 Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources, BioEnergy Action Plan for Ireland – Report of the Ministerial Task Force on BioEnergy (2007)38 A European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-PLAN) – Towards a low carbon future [COM (2007) 723 final]

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ENERGYPILLAR

SUSTAINABLEENERGYENDUSE

DESCRIPTION This research theme has two priority research areas: “Sustainable Systems Operation and Energy Demand Management” and “IT supported Energy Efficiency in Industry and Buildings”. PIs from the Western Gateway Building and School of Engineering contribute to this thematic area.


Professor Karsten Menzel (Lead PI), Dr Dominic O’Sullivan (Lead PI).


Research expertise is in the area of energy efficiency and demand side management in industry and buildings and in the use of IT to support these tasks. The research incorporates building energy performance simulation, advanced HVAC systems and the development of a software platform for intelligent monitoring, advanced control, and holistic diagnosis of building services systems. Professor Karsten Menzel’s group has led the SFI Strategic Research Cluster “Information Tech-nologies for Optimised Building Operation”; a joint University-Industry collaboration between UCC, Tyndall, CIT, NUI Galway, and 5 multi-national companies. The group has participated in 3 EU-FP7 projects and has established a network of 25 European research partners from indus-try, research institutes and academia. Collaborations with industry include Intel, De Puy, Xerox, Analog and Hewlett Packard and through the IERC (International Energy Research Centre) which includes Bell Labs and UTRC (United Technology Research Centre).

STRATEGICRELEVANCE

Energy management is an important international challenge. As targets are set for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the criticality of demand side management is now emerging and it is argued that over half of the greenhouse gas reductions needed, should come from energy efficiency measures. Smart grids, energy efficiency in buildings and smart cities are all elements in the strategic energy technologies identified by the EU Commission in the 2009 EC Technology Roadmap to 2020; altogether the EC has identified a >€10bn research requirement in these technologies by 2020 (private & public funds). Research in this priority area is funded through two FP7 themes: Energy (€2.3bn) and ICT (€9.1bn). The strategic relevance of the thematic area in Ireland is related to the Priority Area “Smart Grids and Smart Cities” in the Forfas review e.g. “deploying ICT technologies to exchange information and monitor and control various building systems.”


The group will continue to develop its “Experiment Driven” research approach such as the “Living Laboratories” (ERI-Building) and “off Campus Demonstrators”. Collaboration with industry will be expanded through the International Energy Research Centre (IERC) and the IDA. The development of commercialisable software for energy efficiency remains a key objective of the thematic area.

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ENERGYPILLAR

ENERGYPOLICYANDCLIMATECHANGE

DESCRIPTION Research in this thematic area is focused on (a) energy policy and modelling and (b) climate change (GHG flux modelling and climate change adaptation). Principal Investigators are drawn from the School of Engineering, the Coastal & Marine Research Centre and the Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre.


Dr Brian O’Gallachoir (Lead PI), Professor Ger Kiely, Mr Jeremy Gault, Dr Ray Alcorn, Dr Dean Venables.


The thematic area has substantial expertise in energy policy and modelling. Dr Brian O’Gallachoir’s research group is focused on building a range of energy models to inform policy decisions, such as the Irish TIMES energy systems model (in collaboration with the ESRI, Teagasc and E4sma-Italy) which provides optimised least cost future energy system pathways for the future. The group has secured over €1.5 million in research funding over the past five years from EPA, SEAI, IRCSET, Bord Gais and Eirgrid & outputs have been published in over 200 publications. The HYDROMET research group (led by Professor Ger Kiely) focuses on monitoring and modelling greenhouse gas fluxes in peat and grasslands and the coupling of water, energy and carbon cycles. The group has collaborated with Duke University, National Centre for Atmospheric Research, the National University of Taiwan and is part of CarboEurope, NitroEurope and ICOS Greenhouse Gas Fluxes projects. The CMRC carry out research on assessing the information required for climate change adaptation to facilitate regional and sectoral planners in building adaptive capacity and integrating climate change adaptation into their decision making processes.

STRATEGICRELEVANCE

Political leaders have agreed at a global level to limit temperature rise associated with human induced climate change to 2oC above pre-industrial levels. This is hugely ambitious and requires a significant shift in policy towards a low carbon energy system. The focus of this thematic area has been to significantly increase the evidence base for informed policy choices in Ireland by de-veloping robust energy models and building a range of future scenarios. The engineering focus of this research group uniquely complements existing economics modelling capacity and answers key policy questions that economic models cannot readily address. This group has been engaged in energy policy and energy modelling research for over 12 years and the results have directly informed the development of national energy policy. The results from research on the impacts of climate change on greenhouse gas fluxes from terrestrial ecosystems and on the hydrological (e.g. precipitation, floods and droughts) and biogeochemical (e.g. carbon) cycles will continue to find their way into national and international policies regarding climate change. The importance of climate change research is acknowledged in the Forfas review i.e. “research …to enable this transition to a low emissions, sustainable and climate resilient economy and society.”


The strategic objectives of the thematic area are to (a) expand the focus of climate change miti-gation research to include agriculture and extend energy modelling research to EU level and (b) to maintain HYDROMET as a key national research group for modeling and monitoring greenhouse gas fluxes.

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ENERGYPILLAR

DESCRIPTION Expertise for the Marine Renewable Energy thematic area resides in the Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre (HMRC). The HMRC is centre of excellence within Ireland for Ocean Renewa-bles and Coastal Engineering providing support to the maritime industry as well as fundamental R&D. It currently has a staff of 35 and comprises postdoctoral researchers, engineers and PhDs across a range of engineering and other disciplines, from hydrodynamics, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering to marine law and economics.


Professor Tony Lewis (Lead PI), Dr Ray Alcorn (Lead PI), Professor Alistair Borthwick (Lead PI), Dr Jimmy Murphy, Mr Brian Holmes, Dr Gordon Dalton, Dr Dara O’Sullivan, Dr Wanan Sheng, Dr Anne Marie O’Hagan.


The HMRC houses the only facilities for wave simulation in Ireland with a Wave Flume and an Ocean Wave Basin and was designated as the National Ocean Test Facility in 2009. There are also several electrical and mechanical test rigs for linear actuation, turbine test and pneumatic emulation. These facilities have recently undergone a €2.5m upgrade, giving them state-of-the-art capabilities. The Centre also has its own supercomputing facilities as well as a suite of numerical modelling packages, both industry standard and bespoke. Electrical grid research involves the production of commercial, dynamic, grid-connect models for ocean wave and tidal systems. The Centre has provided research services to device developers in this area from all over the world. Over 25 different concepts have been tested with developers from Ireland, U.K., Denmark, Por-tugal, Netherlands, U.S.A., Japan and Australia. Device testing at prototype scale (connection of 1MW prototypes at sea) is also underway, investigating the electrical issues, environmental impact and economics. Research income to this group since 2006 has amounted to €11.9 million in current funding and €13.7 million in capital funding from SFI, E.U., PRTLI, Enterprise Ireland and industry sources.

STRATEGICRELEVANCE

It is estimated that the enormous power in the oceans that surround our coast could supply a large percentage of the electricity requirements of the island of Ireland. However, the engineering problems of harnessing this power are extremely challenging. The prize for Ireland in overcom-ing these difficulties is the provision of an indigenous energy supply as well as the creation of a new industry. “Marine Renewable Energy” is one of the 14 priority areas for Irish research in the Forfas Prioritisation Review with the aim of positioning “Ireland as a research, development and innovation hub for the deployment of marine renewable energy technologies and services.”


The HMRC / National Ocean Test Facility will transfer to the new UCC Beaufort Research Laboratory within the IMERC campus at Ringaskiddy in 2013.

MARINERENEWABLEENERGY

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTESTRATEGIC PLAN 2012–2016

Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Lee Road, Cork, Ireland.Phone: +353 (0)21 4901931. Email: [email protected] Website: http://eri.ucc.ie

This publication is printed on paper derived from sustainably managed forests

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE STRATEGIC PLAN 2012–2016 · ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE STRATEGIC PLAN 2012–2016 Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork,

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