MESSAGE: Engaged research for marine protection and energy transitions
How do people who live in coastal regions feel about their environment? What are the potential impacts of offshore carbon storage and wind farms? And how can we ensure that the ecosystem people value is protected?
Coastal and marine regions are complex, and we need nuanced and engaged research to ensure a good balance that protects ecosystems, culture and the economy.
Last week saw the formal launch of a new research group hosted by the UCD Earth Institute with support from iCRAG, the SFI Research Centre in Applied Geosciences. MESSAGE, the Marine & Energy Social Sciences & Humanities Interdisciplinary Research Group, brings together experts across science, arts, humanities and social science to carry out fundamental research with a particular focus on coastal, marine and renewable energy challenges. MESSAGE will use a wide variety of research approaches, including engaged research, and hopes to work closely with coastal communities around Ireland. MESSAGE is jointly initiated and coordinated by Associate Professor Geertje Schuitema (UCD School of Business), Dr Mark Coughlan (UCD School of Earth Sciences), Dr Fergus McAuliffe (iCRAG & UCD School of Earth Sciences), and Dr Tomas Buitendijk (UCD School of Business), all of whom are members of UCD Earth Institute as well as ICRAG, Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre in Applied Geosciences.
At the launch event in May, iCRAG Director Prof. Murray Hitzman welcomed the establishment of the new research group: “MESSAGE creates an important space for many disciplines to meet to explore research questions on coastal environments and communities. Interdisciplinary approaches to societal challenges can be transformative in creating impact and a more sustainable society."
Community engagement in coastal areas
The launch event included a session on recent and ongoing research projects, chaired by Assoc. Prof. Geertje Schuitema from the UCD School of Business. Participants heard about the recently concluded ‘Taking Stock’ project, which was led by Dr Tomas Buitendijk together with Ms. Britta Thiemt, Dr Mark Coughlan, Prof. Tasman Crowe and Assoc. Prof. Schuitema. Taking Stock explored the public perception of marine sediments storing carbon in Dundalk Bay and priorities for the future management of the area. The geology of the bay means that local sediments effectively act as a carbon sink, and disruption of these sediments has the potential to impact carbon release. This has potential implications for local activity in the fisheries, recreation and tourism.
‘Taking Stock’ was supported by iCRAG and brought together UCD experts in marine geoscience, psychology, social science and environmental humanities to work with local communities and explore their connections to the environment. The project found that communities have a strong sense of place and local knowledge, and want to achieve a balance between the protection of nature and local economic activity. They also want to have a say in the future development of the bay. One of the outputs of the project was a policy brief.
A new, four-year Marine Institute-funded engaged research project called ENACT (Energy Narratives and Change in Coastal Communities in Ireland – 2024-2028) will look at the grassroots experience of communities in Co. Clare and Co. Cork who live close to designated energy hubs for proposed offshore wind farms, again using an engaged approach where researchers and communities work together. ENACT is co-led by a team of researchers at the UCD Earth Institute and iCRAG, including Assoc. Prof. Schuitema, Dr Coughlan, Dr Buitendijk and Dr McAuliffe.
“Our intention is to foster dialogue and create a pathway for community input into key decision-making processes related to the energy transition,” said Dr Buitendijk.
Ecosystem services
The MESSAGE research group traces its foundations to a collaboration between two UCD researchers, Professor John Brannigan, Head of UCD School of English, Drama and Film and Professor Tasman (Tas) Crowe, now Vice President for Sustainability at UCD, around literature and the environment and literature and the sea.
During the MESSAGE launch event, Dr Ashley Cahillane discussed her MARBEFES fieldwork around the socio-cultural valuation of the Irish Sea and understanding the non-monetary benefits of the coast and sea--such as sense of place, recreation, and local identity.
The next step
iCRAG and MESSAGE members will host a workshop at the upcoming Mary Robinson Climate Conference in June in Ballina Co. Mayo. The workshop will feature an engaging and interactive discussion exploring what Ireland’s offshore wind energy future may look like, addressing the challenge of how to ensure that everyone enjoys the benefits of the clean energy transition and that no one is left behind.
The MESSAGE team are keen to work with partners across Ireland and internationally, both on existing and new projects. Any UCD colleagues who are interested in collaborating can contact the team at geertje.schuitema@ucd.ie or tomas.buitendijk@ucd.ie, or see https://www.ucd.ie/earth/message/ for further information.