On Tuesday 5th November 2024, Dr Lauren McWhinnie and Dr Kate Gormley hosted a special science session at the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology Scotland (MASTS) Annual Science meeting, at the Technology & Innovation Centre, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.
The session was the first time ScAN have been present at the MASTS ASM, and it was an opportunity to showcase some of the marine related Arctic research that is currently underway at Scottish institutions.
The session included 5 research talks:
- Håkon Sandven (University of Bergen) – Sea ice decline drives strong changes in Barents Sea light availability in the last four decades
- Kate Gormley (University of Aberdeen) – Spatial analysis of tourism vessels and marine mammals in the Arctic
- Marta Santos-García (University of Edinburgh) – Is the Arctic Ocean losing Nitro
- Anna Crawford (University of Stirling) – Research on Arctic Ice Islands Over the Last Century (pre-recorded talk)
- Charles Knapp (University of Strathclyde) – Food and water security risks in the receiving environments of Arctic communities from waste
And the perspectives of UKRI and Scottish government and their links to Arctic research:
- Henry Burgess (Head, NERC Arctic Office, British Antarctic) – ‘Arctic Partnerships and Opportunities, including the International Polar Year 2032-33’
- Craig Smith (Senior Policy Adviser – Arctic, Northern Europe and Arctic Team, Scottish Government) – ‘Scotland’s Arctic Connections’.
Dr McWhinnie states “It’s been fantastic to see the interest in Arctic research this year at the MASTS ASM. ScAN is similar to MASTS in that the network aims to brings together a diverse group of researchers, practitioners and policy makers. Events like this are a great opportunity for academics like myself and Kate to showcase our own research considering the impacts of Arctic vessel traffic, but also to learn about the work of others from other disciplines and identify opportunities for collaboration.”
Dr Gormley added, “Scotland’s rich history of maritime expertise and cutting-edge research at institutions like Heriot-Watt and the University of Aberdeen, makes it a pivotal player in Arctic marine science, and we wanted to highlight the range of Arctic marine research ongoing across Scottish universities to those attending the MASTS ASM, and to encourage more researchers to get involved; collaboration is key to advancing our understanding of the rapidly changing Arctic environment and its global impact.”
You can learn more about Lauren and Kate’s Arctic vessel research at https://www.wave-arcticwhales.com/
