Congratulations to..

David Paterson and Mark James on their NERC award for “Sustainable management of UK marine resources”, £1,080,362

UKRI have appointed Professor David M. Paterson and Dr Mark James of the Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, to be the Champions for the Strategic Priorities Fund research programme “Sustainable Management of UK Marine Resources (SMMR)”.

This £12 million programme will improve understanding of societal perspectives and behaviours concerning the marine environment, and integrate this into systems-based approaches that support the development and analysis of interventions and inform effective decision-making for marine management and policy development.

As thought leaders for the programme, the Champions play a number of roles on behalf of the programme: aid in the development of a strong interdisciplinary community of researchers and stakeholders; ensuring strong programme wide engagement with a diverse stakeholder community; lead on the communication and implementation strategy for the programme; and develop strategies for promoting effective dialogue and engagement with wider national and international communities and initiatives.

The Champions, together with Dr Emma C Defew (also of the Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews) will work alongside the UKRI delivery team to ensure the effective delivery of this research programme and the best possible outcomes. This UKRI programme is a collaboration led by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), with the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and will be delivered through an open call for proposals. Anyone interested in finding out more should consider attending the SMMR workshop at the end of March 2020.

Contact SMMR Champions team at: [email protected]

Congratulations to Ben Taylor for his successfully defended thesis entitled “Saltmarsh restoration and blue carbon dynamics in a Scottish estuary”

In February 2019, 5 members of the SERG lab completed three days of fieldwork on West Plain, Morecambe Bay for the NERC BLUE-coast project. This is the fourth of four field campaigns for the project.

Welcome to new staff member Dr Mel Chocholek. Mel joins us as a Research Technician supporting the work within SERG, in particular the John Templeton Foundation and NERC BLUEcoast funded projects.

NEW POST – Research Technician to support SERG and the John Templeton Foundation funded project – niche construction and evolutionary diversity in experimental communities

An exciting opportunity is available for a motivated candidate to support the work of the Sediment Ecology Research Group (SERG) as part of a major multinational, interdisciplinary research consortium.

We are seeking a versatile and computer literate candidate with good field and laboratory skills relevant to benthic ecology. We expect to attract a motivated worker with the initiative to handle fieldwork and accepting some travel and the unsociable hours (tidal cycles) that are occasionally required. The candidate will be based in the Sediment Ecology Research Group (SERG) at the University of St Andrews under the main supervision of Dr Adam Wyness and Prof. David M. Paterson. The main purpose of the role is to support the design and running of experiments using laboratory benthic mesocosms, flume system and fieldwork. Incubation of bacteria, diatoms and handling of benthic infauna will be required but training can be given.

One year position to start as soon as possible. Informal enquiries to: Prof David M. Paterson ([email protected])

In June 2018, 4 members of the SERG lab completed four days of fieldwork on West Plain, Morecambe Bay for the NERC BLUE-coast project. This is the third of four field campaigns for the project.

In November 2017, 5 members of the SERG lab completed four days of fieldwork in the Dengie National Nature Reserve, Essex for the NERC BLUE-coast project.