environmental sciences research institute - University of Ulster

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In Freshwater Science, the EU-INTERREG Blackwater TRACE project revealed the sources and magnitudes of low flow phosphorus transfers using an integrated series of methods and, for the first time, characterised phosphorus transfers in rivers using unique, automated high resolution monitoring. As a visiting scholar, Professor Tom Sims of the University of Delaware participated in an important publication from the project in Science of the Total Environment. Further sponsored research on river and lake ecology has centred on species-environment relationships. The influence of the environment on species at scales from single species in one lake to largescale biotic patterns was investigated and a new bioassessment methodology for rivers and lakes proposed (Freshwater Biology). Dr Hans Jurgen Hahn (Koblenz Landau) spent four weeks working with us as a visiting scholar in 2006 on a pilot study of Irish groundwater ecology. The successful outcome eventually led to a substantial grant from the Irish Environmental Protection Agency to take the work further. In Coastal and Marine Research work has been carried out on ice-ocean atmosphere interactions, coastal and shelf dynamics, seabed environments, and coastal management to interpret environmental change and inform public policy. The research on seabed environments has taken a wholeecosystem approach and cuts across numerous marine research disciplines (i.e. ecology, geophysics and geology). Novel methods are currently being applied for predictive mapping of seabed habitat over large spatial areas for the assessment of potential anthropogenic impacts on seabed ecosystems. The group welcomed Professor Andrew Short from the University of Sydney as a visiting scholar. Andrew Cooper became Chair of the Northern Ireland Coastal and Marine Forum. In Quaternary Science a new NERC UK collaboration (Oxford, British Antarctic Survey, Sheffield and Durham) was initiated, developing theories of subglacial bedform generation. In the Centre for Maritime Archaeology, a special issue of the journal Historical Archaeology on ‘Maritime Archaeology in Ireland’ was published in 2007. This resulted from a session on Irish maritime archaeology at the SHA conference in Quebec in 2000, and includes seven full-length papers from the CMA. Also in 2007, the Journal of Archaeological Science released a series of three virtual issues which brought together articles from ‘hot topics’ in the area (DNA/Environmental History/Shipwrecks and Harbours). The special issues on ‘Shipwrecks and Harbours’ contains 24 feature articles from the mid-1980s to present, with three full length papers from the CMA. A team from the CMA were invited participants in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Washington DC, demonstrating the impact of Northern Irish archaeology to international heritage. The CMA highlighted pioneering studies on shipwrecks and coastal sites, including the discovery of the earliest known tidal mill in the world at Strangford, and Northern Ireland’s rich shipping legacy from the Girona to the Titanic. Over one million people visited the Smithsonian Festival over the Independence Day holiday on the 4th of July. In Landscape Ecology, work was started on the Northern Ireland Countryside Survey 2007 funded by more than £1M from DoENI-EHS. NICS 2007 is the third in a series of competitively commissioned research projects which are enabling EHS to set science-based targets for the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy and guide the development of agri-environment schemes. In Human Geography, this year saw the final phase of the AHRC Border/lands project, which has been one of the largest sustained investigations in Ireland of social, economic and political change in everyday lives. Two new lecturers, Sara McDowell and Frances Fahy, have been appointed to develop research on socio-environment interactions.
Recognition in various forms has been given to Research Institute staff during the course of the year. John McCloskey became Chair of the NERC Geophysics Equipment Pool while Sandy Steacy was invited to join the NERC Peer Review College. Brian Graham was nominated by the Royal Geographical Society to the AHRC Peer Review College. Colin Breen and Tom McErlean were admitted as Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries (FSA) of London, while Rory Quinn became Coracle Research Fellow 2007-09 at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada. Derek Jackson was Visiting Professor at Université du Littoral Côte d’Opale, France. Craig Brown used his Leverhulme Fellowship to collaborate further with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Canada. Little would be possible in our Institute without skilled technical support, and high performance facilities and infrastructure; for this we are very grateful. Six full-time Research Institute technical staff support research including terrestrial and hydrographic survey, water and sediment analysis, environmental monitoring, digital data processing and spatial mapping and manage the Institute’s fleet of vehicles and boats. The Faculty maintains dedicated electronics and mechanical engineering workshops with 8 full-time specialist staff. These facilities have allowed the development of customised experimental equipment for the research groups, combining purposely machined components with complex electronic circuitry. Exciting initiatives beyond the Research Institute are certain to stimulate much new work within it over the coming year. The all-Ireland Irish Seabed Survey has produced terabytes of marine acoustic data (multi-beam bathymetric, backscatter and seismic reflection data). When combined with high-resolution remote sensed data and digital terrain models, this will allow us for the first time to examine processes across the land-sea boundary at scales from tens of meters to hundreds of kilometres. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland and the Geological Survey of Ireland have undertaken a high-resolution geophysical and geochemical survey of the island. The first phase, TELLUS, was completed in 2006 and all the digital data are now available to our researchers. Our location offers enviable access to high-quality natural laboratories with late glacial sedimentary deposits, active coastal and shallow marine environments and extensive networks of rivers and lakes, presenting globally significant research opportunities. We were pleased that the International Ocean Drilling Program chose to host their “Large Igneous Provinces” Workshop here in 2007; easy access to our splendid coastline and the geological interest of the Giant’s Causeway was a clear “convincer” for a large, enthusiastic and truly international gathering. It has undoubtedly been a year of high achievement and significant international recognition. We are grateful for the support given by our research sponsors, whose take-up of our research results is a vital link in the application of knowledge. None of this is possible without high calibre staff, and it is a great pleasure to work with dedicated and talented colleagues whose focus on research underpins all those achievements. Director Environmental Sciences Research Institute
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environmental sciences research institute - University of Ulster

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