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Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland

Coastal Forum

Welcome to the MASTS Coastal Forum

This Forum provides a platform for knowledge exchange, information, education and networking on Coastal Research. With coastal ecosystems providing many important services, adaption and resilience of  coastlines is vitally important.
This Forum brings together expertise in relevant areas such as coastal processes and dynamics, management, policy, social science and biodiversity.

Forum News & Resources
Background & Objectives

Coastal and estuarine waters are parts of the sea that dominate our everyday affairs. Our rapidly expanding use of and entry into the sea are mostly concerned with processes that take place in shallow water, and it is mostly within coastal waters that human acts, such as waste discharge, fishing/aquaculture, dredging, mining, drilling, and structures, have their greatest impact. The coastal zone is so important that it can often become embroiled in jurisdictional controversy. The coastal ecosystem also provides many important services including nursey grounds, coastal protection, biodiversity, carbon storage, tourism, and recreational benefits. The adaptation and resilience of the coastline is vitally important, and not just in Scotland.

The MASTS Coastal Forum brings together experts in areas such as coastal processes and dynamics, management, policy, social science, and biodiversity, ecology and conservation, thus providing a network for successful multidisciplinary marine and social science to address the management of the coastal zone and the ecosystem services it provides. 

Bird view of shoreline with rocks and sand

Cooperative research, together with interactions with key decision makers, local communities and experts can assist scientists to help solve often-complex issues and help generate leads for new projects, insights and potential contracts.

  • Interacting with the different communities which have an interest in the coastal research.
  • Engaging with new partners and promoting collaboration across disciplines to further coastal research both at a national and international level.
  • Discussing and helping to deliver the best scientific knowledge.
Forum Activities

2023: Co-organising of SBCF Workshop on “Measuring Marine Carbon”

Together with the Scottish Blue Carbon Forum (SBFC) a workshop was hosted by the Forum at the University of St Andrews to showcase method development and opportunities to collaborate and support blue carbon analytical work in Scotland.
The workshop was open to all and included talks from Dr Ryan Pereira (Heriot-Watt University), Dr Daniel Dawson & Professor Sharon Ashbrook (University of St Andrews), Dr Philippa Ascough (Director of the NERC Radiocarbon Laboratory), Dr Eva Stueeken, Dr Craig Smeaton & Mr Alex Houston (University of St Andrews), Dr Alasdair O’Dell & Professor Mike Burrows (SAMS).

Flatscreen with diagram of marine carbon measurements
Convenors

William Austin
– University of St Andrews

Professor at the School of Geography and Sustainable Development | Environmental Change Research Group

Interests: Palaeoceanography | Marine Geology | Climate Change | Foraminifera | Stable Isotopes

Vacancy!

Please contact [email protected] if you are interested in this position. 

Coastaline with sand dunes and mountains
Steering Group

Alistair Rennie (SNH), Catriona Jeorrett (Marine Directorate), David Green (University of Aberdeen), Hannah Grist (SAMS), Janet Khan (SEPA), Jim Hansom (University of Glasgow), Richard Bates (University of St Andrews), Stewart Angus (SNH) and Sue Dawson (Dundee University). Corresponding member: Tim Stojanovic (University of St Andrews, MASTS Marine Planning & Governance Forum).

Member Logos Coastal Forum
MASTS Resources

We’re working behind the scenes to bring you a suite of useful, and updateable, resources including: 

  • Find an expert
  • Find facilities & equipment
  • MASTS Publications

 

If you would like to be updated when the resources section is live please let us know.