Postgraduate Course: Marine Renewables and the Environment (IDCORE) (PGEE11096)
Course Outline
| School | School of Engineering |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | Students will gain an understanding of the key elements (living and non-living) of coastal and offshore marine environments from an ecological perspective, focusing on how they impinge on ORE developments and their consenting requirements. They will be introduced to background biology of key species groups and habitats along with likely sensitivity to impacts (negative or positive) by ORE construction and operation. Standard survey and data processing techniques will be introduced along with practical demonstrations, including multiple field trips to sites of ORE significance to observe these dynamic environments and wildlife first-hand. Particular attention is paid to the complexities and resource requirements of collecting data relevant to consenting decisions in high energy environments. |
| Course description |
The course seeks to introduce students to a wide range of environmental topics relevant to engineers seeking to operate in the MRE sector. These topics are each covered within 1- 2 lectures and/or practical sessions, often involving hands-on exercises or boat trips.
Lecture topic list:
Introduction to the Marine Environment. Explores fundamental concepts of oceanography, salinity, seawater chemistry, circulation and tides, marine geology/sedimentology, and marine ecology.
Physical Oceanography. A more in-depth look at physical processes occurring in the sea, with a particular focus on tidal channels.
Life in the Sea / Seabed Communities. Introduces the main groups of organisms (seaweeds & invertebrates) found associated with the seabed or other solid surfaces.
Rocky Shore Ecology. A focused lecture describing rocky shore communities in intertidal environments, including artificial structures.
Larval Dispersal & Connectivity. Highlights the importance of larval dispersal in many invertebrate species found growing on artificial structures such as MRE devices.
Artificial Reefs. Explores the concept of artificial reefs and links this to MRE device/array placement.
Biofouling and Invasive Species. Focuses on organisms (including introduced/invasive species) growing on artificial surfaces such as MRE devices and associated infrastructure.
Marine Fish. Introduces the main groups of fish, investigates their ecology, and explores the various interactions between fish and MRE developments. Includes a laboratory exercise on fish anatomy.
Marine Birds. Introduces the main groups of marine birds, investigates their ecology, and explores the various interactions between birds and MRE developments.
Marine Mammals. Introduces the main groups of marine mammals, investigates their ecology, and explores the various interactions between marine mammals and MRE developments.
Regulation, Protected Species and Consenting. Introduces relevant environmental legislation and the
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, with particular relation to legally protected species.
Experimental Design. Considers appropriate sampling methods and statistical concepts to ensure environmental data collection is appropriate for the questions asked in EIA.
Marine Robotics as Samplers. Considers state-of-the-art autonomous technologies used to sample the marine environment.
Ecosystem modelling. A full-day introduction to the use of models as a tool to help understand marine ecosystems and the effects of human activities such as MRE development.
Field trip list:
Rocky shore field trip (on shore by SAMS lab)
Biofouling field trip (in Dunstaffnage Marina)
Soft sediment/plankton sampling trip (in inshore waters of the Firth of Lorn), followed by analysis of collected samples
Tidal race field trip (in the Gulf of Corryvreckan, within the Firth of Lorn)
Marine mammal survey (aboard the CalMac ferry to Mull, crossing the Firth of Lorn)
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Flexible |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 25,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 10,
Fieldwork Hours 18,
Summative Assessment Hours 3,
Revision Session Hours 7,
Other Study Hours 35,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
0 )
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| Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) |
Self-Study
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Coursework (100%)
Syndicate projects carried out during the week and presented to the class and teaching staff at the end (with a pass/fail criteria). |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
| An understanding of how offshore renewables interact with the marine environment.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Offshore Renewable Energy,Marine,Environment,ecosystem,interactions,impacts,megafauna |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof David Ingram
Tel: (0131 6)51 9022
Email: David.Ingram@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Dr Katrina Tait
Tel: (0131 6)51 9023
Email: k.tait@ed.ac.uk |
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