Infrastructure for Port And Coastal cities and Towns network (iPACT)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Sch of Engineering
Abstract
Despite the potential benefits of a location on the coast, many port and coastal towns and cities are run-down and unattractive, and underperform in economic and social wellbeing terms. This is often a result of a poor built environment, derelict industrial and other legacy sites, and a lack of meaningful connectivity between the urban realm, green spaces and the waterfront. Rising sea levels and coastal erosion pose further, existential, threats. These issues are common to port and coastal cities and towns all around the UK, hence transcend simplistic north/south or east/west categorisation or division. Addressing them through effective, sustainable and resilient regeneration is essential to the UK Government's Net Zero and Levelling Up agenda.
Our Network+ will use concepts developed by UKCRIC on Flourishing Systems. We will take a systems-based, people-focussed view of infrastructure; keeping people at the centre of the vision, considering infrastructure as a way of connecting together interdependent systems, which must be designed to be sustainable, inclusive, secure and resilient. The complexity of the component systems, and the heterogeneity of drivers and foci, makes it difficult to optimise the infrastructure system of systems, even generally, towards a better future.
We will adopt the Line of Sight approach, which involves actively facilitating different communities (people, experts, authorities, government, investors) to understand their current and potential priorities and roles; then to explore and develop synergies focused on new, common objectives along aligned lines of sight.
The activities of the Network+ will be organised through five interdependent strands:
1. Celebrating the major asset: connecting the town/city with the waterfront, balancing the needs of a functional waterfront with ambience, public accessibility, leisure and heritage
2. Inclusive infrastructure: engaging with communities, policymakers, the public sector and business to ensure effective infrastructure development and use
3. Maintaining and enhancing resilience: making port and coastal city and town regeneration resilient to climate change, sea-level rise, coastal erosion and flooding
4. Coastal region transport: addressing issues associated with the particular challenges of transport to/from and within port and coastal cities and towns arising from linear development along the coast or estuary, a current or former working waterfront, and the absence of up to half the hinterland
5. Nature inspired, human scale engineering: including greening the grey infrastructure, to provide/enhance social value for the surrounding communities
Extensive use will be made of testbed sites, with three having been selected as typifying a range of UK port and coastal city and town regeneration needs and issues. These are the port city of Southampton, Lancaster and Morecambe, and North Norfolk seaside towns including Cromer and Sheringham.
Our Network+ will use concepts developed by UKCRIC on Flourishing Systems. We will take a systems-based, people-focussed view of infrastructure; keeping people at the centre of the vision, considering infrastructure as a way of connecting together interdependent systems, which must be designed to be sustainable, inclusive, secure and resilient. The complexity of the component systems, and the heterogeneity of drivers and foci, makes it difficult to optimise the infrastructure system of systems, even generally, towards a better future.
We will adopt the Line of Sight approach, which involves actively facilitating different communities (people, experts, authorities, government, investors) to understand their current and potential priorities and roles; then to explore and develop synergies focused on new, common objectives along aligned lines of sight.
The activities of the Network+ will be organised through five interdependent strands:
1. Celebrating the major asset: connecting the town/city with the waterfront, balancing the needs of a functional waterfront with ambience, public accessibility, leisure and heritage
2. Inclusive infrastructure: engaging with communities, policymakers, the public sector and business to ensure effective infrastructure development and use
3. Maintaining and enhancing resilience: making port and coastal city and town regeneration resilient to climate change, sea-level rise, coastal erosion and flooding
4. Coastal region transport: addressing issues associated with the particular challenges of transport to/from and within port and coastal cities and towns arising from linear development along the coast or estuary, a current or former working waterfront, and the absence of up to half the hinterland
5. Nature inspired, human scale engineering: including greening the grey infrastructure, to provide/enhance social value for the surrounding communities
Extensive use will be made of testbed sites, with three having been selected as typifying a range of UK port and coastal city and town regeneration needs and issues. These are the port city of Southampton, Lancaster and Morecambe, and North Norfolk seaside towns including Cromer and Sheringham.
Organisations
- University of Southampton (Lead Research Organisation)
- AHRC (Co-funder)
- Natural Environment Research Council (Co-funder)
- UK Coll for Res in Infra & Cities UKCRIC (Project Partner)
- Southampton City Council (Project Partner)
- Coastal Partnership East (Project Partner)
- Eden Trust (Project Partner)
- Lancaster City Council (Project Partner)
| Description | Key findings are being developed in partnership with local authorities and other partners in relation to how people interact with the coast including the benefits on societal and individual wellbeing, and how to live with the uncertainties of an eroding coastline. |
| Exploitation Route | Learning from case studies; use of nature inspired solutions for coastal and shoreline improvement and defense. |
| Sectors | Construction Creative Economy Environment |
| Description | Findings beng developed during the project are being used by local authorities in the east of England and Southampton in connection with assessment of coastal resilience and defence, connectedness with the coast and the repurposing of redundannt coastal fossil fuel energy infrastructure. Community engagement is developing understanding of how connectivity with the coast promotes wellbeing through the arts and liesure activities. |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Construction,Creative Economy,Energy,Environment,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | Coastal Communities Network meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | William Powrie introduced the iPACT project and opportunities in. a talk to the Coastal Communities Network at the University of Southampton. This was attended by academics, research staff and students from the university. This raised the profile of the network locally and encouraged people to join. This network has run further workshops and events that iPACT were involved with. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Coastal Communities Special Interest Group meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Jennifer Knight presented a lighting talk about the IPACT network to the Coastal Communities Special Interest Group organised by academics from SMMI (Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute) at the initial meeting on 26th February 2024 at the University of Southampton. She also participated in group discussions and networking to promote the iPACT project and expand the network to new audiences. The audience of 25 present was made up of academics and PGRs from all faculties of the University and they were very interested in the network, a number were already members. The pilot projects were highlighted as well as future opportunities to work together the apply for relevant research and impact funding. Following the meeting 5 people joined the iPACT LinkedIn group and asked to be added to the iPACT mailing list. A future public facing event is planned for July 2024. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Coastal Connections Workshop 1st Feb 2024 Southampton |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Coastal Connections Workshop organised by Dr Dawn-Marie Walker, University of Southampton 1st Feb 2024 Attended by 9 representatives from local community organisations. The workshop allowed the research team to develop networks within the community that will assist us in carrying out interviews for the project. The attendees of the workshop expressed interest in the project and many would like to participate in future activities (e.g. assisting with interviews). As a result of the workshop, we were able to co-design a poster to invite members of the community to interview. We also produced a summary of the workshop discussions in pdf format. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Coastal Nature Lab 02 November 2023. Willow weaving and wet felting workshop ran by Amy Gunawan and Shirley Torrance. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 02 November 2023. Willow weaving and wet felting workshop ran by Amy Gunawan and Shirley Torrance. 8 participants to both workshops. Willow weaving mounds to trap sediment and allow early colonising plants to survive in salt marshes. https://wp.lancs.ac.uk/cnl-patterns/2024/01/18/mini-willow-mounds/ Felted rock pools Designed by Keith and Shirley Torrance Prototypes were produced by participants to a wet felting workshop ran by Shirley in November 2023 at Lancaster University. The rockpools were then taken to the University of Strathclyde where they were treated with MiCP. In December, the calcified rockpools were then installed on a sea wall by Inellan beach. https://wp.lancs.ac.uk/cnl-patterns/2024/02/13/felted-rockpools/ Impact: broadened network, interest in future activities |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://wp.lancs.ac.uk/cnl-patterns/2024/01/18/mini-willow-mounds/ |
| Description | Coastal Nature Lab 17 October 2023. Presentation at Our Future Coast Design Committee |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 17 October 2023. Presentation at Our Future Coast Design Committee - Slyne-with-Hest village. Organised by Lancaster City Council as part of DEFRA funded Our Future Coast project. About 15 participants, mostly local residents and some MA Students (Geography). Impact: broadened network, future activities (further workshops with Slyne-with-hest parish council). Organised by Dr Serena Pollastri Lecturer in Urban Future ImaginationLancaster, Lancaster University & Lancaster School of Architecture |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/699d09ddcebf47028608aafcd87612cc |
| Description | Coastal Nature Lab 24 February 2024. Willow weaving workshop at Slyne with Hest Memorial Hall, |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 24 February 2024. Willow weaving workshop at Slyne with Hest Memorial Hall, organised in collaboration with Slyne-with-Hest Parish Council. 16 participants in total, all local residents and some people specifically interested in the craft. Impact: broadened network, interest in future activities ? LINK: https://wp.lancs.ac.uk/cnl-patterns/2024/01/18/mini-willow-mounds/ Organised by Dr Serena Pollastri as part of the Costal Nature Lab pilot project |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://wp.lancs.ac.uk/cnl-patterns/2024/01/18/mini-willow-mounds/ |
| Description | Coastal Nature Lab 28 February 2024. Presentation at Our Future Coast Design Committee - Silverdale. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 28 February 2024. Presentation at Our Future Coast Design Committee - Silverdale. Organised by Lancaster City Council as part of DEFRA funded Our Future Coast project. About 8-10 participants, mostly local residents, primarily with interest in coastal futures. Presented by Dr Serena Pollastri Impact: broadened network |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/699d09ddcebf47028608aafcd87612cc |
| Description | Coastal Nature Lab 6-8 June 2023 pilot workshop with students at Lancaster School of Architecture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | 6-8 June 2023 pilot workshop with students at Lancaster School of Architecture. 12 participants (students). Event hosted at Good Things Collective, community art organisation in Morecambe. Impact: educational (two students are now focussing on natural materials for their theses) and broadened network (GTC) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Coastal Nature Lab Deployment Workshop 23rd September 2024, Hest Bank Shore |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Deployment Workshop 23rd September 2024, Hest Bank Shore As the tides were against us during the workshop season, we headed out to deploy the structures at the end of September. Despite the weather, we had a great turnout and lots of enthusiasm! 14 participants podcast about this event Our Future Coast - protecting the Bay by The Morecambe Bay Podcast https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/morecambebaypodcast/episodes/Our-Future-Coast---protecting-the-Bay-e2ool2g/a-abhtahp Installation of Mini Buoys to understand whether CNL structures help to slow currents and waves sufficiently to trap sediment and allow pioneer saltmarsh plants to grow. So far, we've conducted a short-term deployment at Hest Bank. The Buoys captured the impact of Storm Ashley on the beach, indicating an increase in wave speeds close to the seabed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/morecambebaypodcast/episodes/Our-Future-Coast---protecting-the... |
| Description | Coastal Nature Lab Siskin Workshop 17th September 2024, Hest Bank Shore |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Siskin workshop 17th September 2024, Hest Bank Shore Siskin Asset Management for coming down to show us their techniques developed on the East Coast of Scotland. We took a variety of cheaply available, or waste, products, including Chestnut paling, untreated pallets, hessian cloth, wool fleeces and straw, to build different structures. We installed our structures on the day. 6 local participants |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Coastal Nature Lab Thatching Workshop 13th August 2024, Slyne With Hest Memorial Hall |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Thatching Workshop 13th August 2024, Slyne With Hest Memorial Hall Alan Jones, the last Master Thatcher in Wales, came to teach us traditional thatching knots and techniques which have been used for centuries. We learned the thatcher's knot and how to make ridge rolls, finishing them off with willow rose knots. 10 participants Participants were keen to be involved in placement of thatched bars on the mud flats. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Coastal Nature Lab Willow Weaving Workshop 6th August 2024, St. Luke's Parish Hall |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Willow Weaving Workshop 6th August 2024, St. Luke's Parish Hall Amy Gunawan, a local willow weaver from Lancaster, demonstrated how to weave willow and talked through soaking and different willow types. We used traditional basket making techniques to make 'turtle' structures, which will be pinned to the mudflat to help stabilise sediment. Importantly, the willow will biodegrade over time. We made 18 Turtles in total. 18 participants |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Coastal Nature Lab rope making workshop - Slyne-with-Hest Memorial Hall, 3rd August 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Rope Making and Willow Weaving Workshop 3rd August 2024, Slyne With Hest Memorial Hall Caroline Dear and Martha Orbach, artists specialising in natural fibres and rope making. Demonstration of traditional rope making using using different plants. Using purple moor grass as well as straw and nettle, all of which can be found locally. We then moved onto using manila rope and learned different knotting techniques to make shapes and patterns inspired by nature. We're hoping such shapes could help to slow seabed currents and allow saltmarsh plants to establish. 16 participants |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Creation of iPACT network in social Media |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Creation of the iPACT webpage and social media including LinkedIn and Twitter. Designed to communicate the aims of the project and create and online community of academics and industry practitioners interested in working collaboratively in this area of infrastructure for port and coastal towns and cities. A network of over 150 members including 87 members on the LinkedIn site. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12716795/ |
| Description | Effective Partnered Practice workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Jennifer Knight participated in the Effective Partnered Practice for Community Hubs workshops organised by Public Engagement with Research Unit at University of Southampton on 30.03.2023 and 20.04.2023 An initiative to explore effective partnership working that included UoS academics, PGRs, Third sector organisations and a local freelance journalist. Workshop 1 Training and ideas sharing session - To work with others in the community to achieve better outcomes for the benefit of people in Southampton. Co-design and co-delivery with communities in a positive collaborative manner. Cross-sector partnership work at Highfield Campus Workshop 2 Ideas lab & working up project proposals at SJM Southampton City centre |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Follow-up meeting with North Norfolk Coastal Engineers, East Suffolk Coastal Engineers and Sophie Day to discuss progressing forwards with field trial (06/11/2024) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Follow-up meeting with North Norfolk Coastal Engineers, East Suffolk Coastal Engineers and Sophie Day to discuss progressing forwards with field trial (06/11/2024) People: ~10 people (including Strathclyde, BGS and BAM Ritchies) Location: Online TEAMS Meeting to discuss possible field trial sites in the locations of in North Norfolk and East Suffolk. Plans to submit funding proposal to support field trials in North Norfolk. Field trials planned for Summer 2025. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Funding co-creation Sandpit (North Norfolk) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 20 resarchers from the iPACT network (UK academics) met for a research funding sandpit lead by William Powrie and Leon Cruikshank in West Run-on, North Norfolk on 10 & 11th January 2023. Challenges facing the local community were discussed with local stake holders and experts. Projects were discussed and co-created between the academics and partners. Funding applications were created after the event for competitive review. Networking connections were made and projects to invest in this area discussed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://ipact.org.uk/portal/events/?date=past |
| Description | Group Design Project seminar, University of Southampton 17th Feb 2025 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Group Design Project seminar, University of Southampton - Southampton: Reconnecting the city with the Waterfront - Itchen Barrier: Defending Southampton from Coastal Flooding Fourth year Engineering students presented the outcomes of their Group Design projects at Boldrewood Innovation Campus on Monday 17th February. Students presented to a room of 50 people plus an online audience of 14 academics and students. A local city Councillor was present and took part in the Q&A. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://ipact.org.uk/2025/02/19/group-design-project-seminar-university-of-southampton/ |
| Description | IPACT & PCMC Connect day at Portsmouth Dockyard 28th Nov 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 28 researchers from iPACT and the Centre for Port Cities and Maritime Cultures met at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on Thursday 28th November 2024. Introductions by the primary investigators for ipACT and PCMC started the event followed by 6 presentations given by academics from a variety of disciplines, all with a focus on ports, coastal communities and the waterside. After lunch and networking, a round table discussion was held to explore ways of working together. the event concluded with visits to the historic ships at the dockyard including the Mary Rose, HMS Victory and HMS Warrior. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://ipact.org.uk/2024/10/16/ipact-portsmouth-historic-dockyards/ |
| Description | MICP Project meeting with stakeholders/project partners (01/02/2023) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 6 people attended an online TEAMS meeting with the academic team leading the project MICP for repair of coastal infrastructure To give overview of project to relevant stakeholders (2 BAM Ritchies and 2 Environment Agency, 2 Strathclyde academics) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | MICP for repair Webinar to Coastal Partnership East and Coastwise (22/10/2024) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | People: ~20 people Location: Online TEAMS Webinar to present previous research on microbial precipitation conducted at Strathclyde and outcomes from IPACT project to coastal engineers in North Norfolk and East Suffolk and Great Yarmouth Borough councils and Coastwise. Significant interest in applying the MICP technology to address current challenges faced in these council areas in the coastal environment. Follow-on discussions planned. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Participation, Place and Data Interdisciplinary workshop with Web Science Institute |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Workshop on 31.03.2023 with 25 academics and staff of University of Southampton to discuss current projects, funding and future collaboration ideas |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Pipeline or Hub? 6th March 2024 NNDC host workshop dedicated to our iPACT pilot project and to explore 'Future Opportunities of the Bacton Energy Hub to support UK Energy Security and the Transition to Net Zero' (6th March 2024). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | 6th March 2024 NNDC host workshop dedicated to our iPACT pilot project and to explore 'Future Opportunities of the Bacton Energy Hub to support UK Energy Security and the Transition to Net Zero' (6th March 2024). Organised and presented by Prof Stuart Dawley, Newcastle University. Following a review of the evolving UK policy landscape for Carbon Capture and Storage and Hydrogen, the workshop then considered developments in Norway and Europe, before exploring potential development trajectories for Bacton along with emerging policy considerations. Of the event, Steve Blatch, Chief Executive of NNDC said "The workshop served to significantly increase people's levels of understanding of the existing operations at the Bacton site and its future potential role in the UK's energy transition amidst the rapidly evolving landscape of CCS developments in the UK and Europe." The workshop, jointly hosted by the Leader of the Council and the authority's Chief Executive, was attended by a range of policy and community stakeholders from across a range of levels, from national (DHLUC), county (Growth and Investment, Norfolk County Council), parliamentary constituency (Duncan Baker MP's team), district council directorates (Economic Growth; Sustainable Growth; Place and Climate Changer); and local councillors (e.g. Bacton). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Pipeline or Hub? July 7th 2023: iPACT Project briefing with North Norfolk District Council Directorates on Place and Climate Change; |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Hub or Pipeline project Prof Stuart Dawley, Economic Geography Newcastle University, July 7th 2023: iPACT Project briefing and workshop discussion with North Norfolk District Council Directorates on Place and Climate Change; Sustainable Growth; Economic Growth. Impact: knowledge exchange with NNDC and establishment of non-commercial research collaboration for the project |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Pipeline or Hub? project Bacton Summit North Norfolk District Council 15th January 2025 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | BACTON: North Norfolk District Council and National Gas were pleased to welcome over 80 delegates to a summit on the future of Bacton Gas Terminal. The successful event welcomed speakers and delegates from key stakeholders in the industry who shared ideas and discussed the options of transitioning the site, which currently produces up to a third of the UK's gas supply, to a site which produces alternative energy or carbon capture. Prof Stuart Dawley, Dr Gareth Powells and Dr Markus Steen were grateful of the opportunity to contribute to the discussions by drawing on their recent 'Pipeline or Hub? Harnessing Critical Energy Infrastructures on the North Norfolk Coast' pilot project from the iPACT network along with international insights from the CaptureX project led out of SINTEF. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://ipact.org.uk/2025/01/15/bacton-energy-summit/ |
| Description | Research Funding Co-creation Sandpit (Southampton) March 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 36 researchers and local council officers from the iPACT network (UK academics) met for a research funding sandpit lead by William Powrie and Leon Cruikshank in Southampton on 20th and 21st March 2023. Challenges facing the local community were discussed with local stake holders and experts. Projects were discussed and co-created between the academics and partners. Funding applications were created after the event for competitive review. Networking connections were made and projects to invest in this area discussed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://ipact.org.uk/portal/events/?date=past |
| Description | Sandpit workshop with network members in Morecambe |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 14 academics from the iPACT network (UK academics) met for a research funding sandpit lead by William Powrie and Leon Cruikshank in Morecambe on 12th and 13th December 2022. Challenges facing the local community were discussed with local stake holders and experts. Projects were discussed and co-created between the academics and partners. Funding applications were created after the event for competitive review. Networking connections were made and projects to invest in this area discussed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://futuretowns.soton.ac.uk/apply-to-take-part-in-our-funding-sandpits/ |
| Description | Sea grass for coastal protection exhibit, SMMI stand at Southampton Boat Show 13-22 Sept 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Bio-Physical interactions for managing coastal dynamics project created an activity for the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute SMMI stand at the Southampton International Boat show. This included a wave machine and lego beach properties, a 'seagrass' mat was deployed to show the diffusion of the wave energy to protect the beach area. The Southampton Boat show attracts thousands of visitors each day for two weeks. The SMMI team counted over 100 visitors to the stand each day including schools groups and show visitors. They talked about the various research projects on the stand and other work the University of Southampton conducts in maritime and coastal areas. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.southampton.ac.uk/smmi/news/2024/09/university-of-southampton-showcases-marine-and-marit... |
| Description | Southampton Port City Forum 2nd July 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | On 2nd July iPACT hosted the Southampton Port City forum at Bugle House with 26 delegates from key stakeholders in the city. The event started with a welcome from Prof William Powrie introducing the iPACT network aims. Then followed short presentations from Tom Dynes - Associated British Ports, Pete Boustred - Southampton City Council, Rebecca Kinge - Southampton Voluntary Services and Bakr Bahaj - University of Southampton. Southampton as a maritime gateway to the world offers opportunities as well as challenges for the city. Roundtable discussions produced possible projects to work collaboratively upon including student research and design and community outreach activities. Planned to host this event in future years to continue engagement with the city stakeholders and residents. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://ipact.org.uk/2024/07/25/southampton-port-city-forum-2/ |
| Description | Sustainable Infrastructure Systems CDT workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Talk and workshop with 9 CDT SIS PGRs on 28th March 2023 at University of Southampton. Discussing iPACT and Coastal Communities issues including case study location: port city, Southampton. Varied and lively discussion of the issues faced by the city including environmental issues, transport, health and use of green spaces. Considering possible research or impact projects that could be undertaken to engage with the issues. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | WeValue Workshops - Morecambe June & July 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 9 workshops held in Morecambe with local residents in small groups. Our approach centres on making more tangible those 'invisible' shared values which people already have - especially people who work together or on the same thing. Teams are often unclear about what is REALLY the most important to them. This approach provides a scaffolding process to make your shared values concrete. When they are written out in your own words, linked into a framework- which you can keep. Teams usually feel very ready to move forward together, and ready to take advantage of opportunities. We have different activities within 2.5 - 4.0 hours (depending on the group size 4-12): • Using photographs to communicate examples of important things to teams • Using lists of 'trigger statements' that trigger deeper ideas and examples for discussion • Gentle discussion of hypothetical and real examples • Cycles of learning about how to articulate what the team 'really wants' • Working out how those ideas actually link together, in 'local logic' Small groups of participants were taken through the We Value process to crystallise their shared values and things that matter to them. Once these shared values are better articulated participants were more easily able to give thoughts on wider questions about town needs and infrastructure issues. Data gathered from workshops was presented to academics during the Morecambe Sandpit to inform project ideas and allow the voices of these groups to be heard at this other event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | http://www.WeValue.org |
| Description | WeValue Workshops - North Norfolk June & July 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Workshops held in North Norfolk with local residents in small groups. Our approach centres on making more tangible those 'invisible' shared values which people already have - especially people who work together or on the same thing. Teams are often unclear about what is REALLY the most important to them. This approach provides a scaffolding process to make your shared values concrete. When they are written out in your own words, linked into a framework- which you can keep. Teams usually feel very ready to move forward together, and ready to take advantage of opportunities. We have different activities within 2.5 - 4.0 hours (depending on the group size 4-12): • Using photographs to communicate examples of important things to teams • Using lists of 'trigger statements' that trigger deeper ideas and examples for discussion • Gentle discussion of hypothetical and real examples • Cycles of learning about how to articulate what the team 'really wants' • Working out how those ideas actually link together, in 'local logic' Small groups of participants were taken through the We Value process to crystallise their shared values and things that matter to them. Once these shared values are better articulated participants were more easily able to give thoughts on wider questions about town needs and infrastructure issues. Data gathered from workshops was presented to academics during the Norfolk Sandpit (Jan 2023) to inform project ideas and allow the voices of these groups to be heard at this other event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | WeValue Workshops - Southampton June & July 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Workshops held in Southampton with local residents in small groups. Our approach centres on making more tangible those 'invisible' shared values which people already have - especially people who work together or on the same thing. Teams are often unclear about what is REALLY the most important to them. This approach provides a scaffolding process to make your shared values concrete. When they are written out in your own words, linked into a framework- which you can keep. Teams usually feel very ready to move forward together, and ready to take advantage of opportunities. We have different activities within 2.5 - 4.0 hours (depending on the group size 4-12): • Using photographs to communicate examples of important things to teams • Using lists of 'trigger statements' that trigger deeper ideas and examples for discussion • Gentle discussion of hypothetical and real examples • Cycles of learning about how to articulate what the team 'really wants' • Working out how those ideas actually link together, in 'local logic' Small groups of participants were taken through the We Value process to crystallise their shared values and things that matter to them. Once these shared values are better articulated participants were more easily able to give thoughts on wider questions about town needs and infrastructure issues. Data gathered from workshops was presented to academics during the Southampton Sandpit (March 2023) to inform project ideas and allow the voices of these groups to be heard at this other event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | WeValue workshops with Southampton Voluntary Services April 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 3 3-hour workshops each with 4 participants hosted by iPACT with SVS at their offices and October Books in Portswood, Southampton on 27th April 2023. Prof Marie Harder lead the sessions with Dr Annabel Chapman and Rebecca Kinge, SVS manager to investigate shared values held within a number of different groups: SVS team, Green action groups Staff from SVS took part in session 1 and this encouraged them to engage with groups in organising more workshops |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | iPACT Connect Day (Glasgow) on 27th November 2023. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 25 iPACT network members and the executive team gathered at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow to hear presentations about the six Pilot line of sight projects that have been funded with this Network Plus grant. The event happened at the Scottish Universities Insight Institute on 27th November 2023. The attendees also worked in breakout groups to consider engagement events and dissemination/ impact ideas. They also discussed how to work together to apply for further grants. Networking opportunities at lunch and dinner. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://ipact.org.uk/events/ipact-connect-day/ |
| Description | iPACT Connect Days North Norfolk 10th June 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Thirty network members and local stakeholders gathered in West Runton, North Norfolk on the 10th June for two and a half days together. The aim of this event was to hear from the six pilot projects as they reach the end of the research period and discuss how these projects could be used to develop future funding bids and inform new projects. In attendance with the researchers were local councillors from North Norfolk District Council, the NNDC chief Exec and representatives from the COASTWISE project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://ipact.org.uk/2024/08/01/north-norfolk-connect-day/ |
| Description | iPACT Showcase London 28th Jan 2025 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 108 people registered to attend the iPACT showcase in London on 28th January 2025 in Westminster. 67 attended including representatives from local councils in the iPACT case study areas, Environment Agency and EPSRC alongside researchers and industry stakeholders. iPACT investigators and pilot project teams presented the findings of their research to this varied audience. There was a lot of interest in the work and each session had a lively panel Q&A. This event launched the iPACT project brochure in print and digital form. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://ipact.org.uk/2024/11/20/registration-open-for-ipact-showcase-westminster-london-28-january-2... |
| Description | iPACT Webinar 3 - An introduction to Coastwise |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 57 iPACT network members attended a webinar on 5th December 2023 An introduction to Coastwise - one of two Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme projects in England by Sophie Day, North Norfolk District Council Coastwise is a new North Norfolk initiative to transition and prepare coastal communities where the coast is eroding. Coastwise is a nationally funded scheme, through the Coastal Transition Acceleration Programme, funded by DEFRA and the Environment Agency. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://ipact.org.uk/events/ipact-webinar-3-an-introduction-to-coastwise/ |
| Description | iPACT Webinar 7 - Climate change and its implications for coastal areas 9th July 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 42 researchers and other interested people attended a webinar with Prof Robert Nicholls, University of East Anglia "Climate change and its implications for coastal areas" on 9th July 2024. This discussed the importance of understanding climate change and how this will affect our coastal communities. The was of interest to the iPACT audience who engaged with a healthy discussion of the topic after the presentation. People were interested to find out more about Prof Nicholls work and the Tyndall centre at UEA. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://ipact.org.uk/2024/07/10/webinar-recording-climate-change-and-its-implications-for-coastal-ar... |
| Description | iPACT webinar 1 - Geodesign & Environmental Resilience |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 60 network members attended a webinar on 3rd October 2023 hosted by iPACT with Dr Paul Cureton, Imagination Lancaster This presentation presented a state of the art of Geodesign. It offers a new delivery mechanism for Geodesign using UX cards as a design tool for non-traditional audiences and an applied case study to demonstrate its relevance in complex coastal environments for resilience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://ipact.org.uk/events/ipact-webinar-1-geodesign-environmental-resilience/ |
| Description | iPACT webinar 2 - Mapping Port City Territories |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 30 iPACT network members attended a webinar organised by the network with Prof Carola Hein from TU Delft on 7th November 2023 Mapping Port City Territories for Smarter Governance, Planning, and Co-Creation. This lecture builds on the comprehensive, mapping based approach of the Port City Atlas to explore the role of port city territories in European futures. The Atlas visualizes 100 port city territories located on four seas and connected through shared waters. It provides a foundation for comparative analysis beyond case study approaches that are often locked into national contexts, select languages or disciplinary approaches. Conceived as a work of reference, the book makes the case for a sea-based approach to the understanding and design of Europe. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://ipact.org.uk/events/ipact-webinar-2-mapping-port-city-territories/ |
| Description | iPACT webinar 4 - Nature Based Solutions |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 60 iPACT Network members attended a webinar on 8th Feb 2024 - Exploring the use of microbially driven Nature Based Solutions to address challenges in coastal locations. Dr Grainne El Mountassir, University of Strathclyde, Reader in Geotechnical Engineering and Director for Research in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. This webinar presented recent research from University of Strathclyde showing how we can harness the power of bacteria and fungi in geotechnical engineering with the potential to be used to protect and repair infrastructure in coastal environments. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://ipact.org.uk/events/ipact-webinar-4-nature-based-solutions/ |
| Description | iPACT webinar 5 - 'The Rising Tide: monitoring sea levels change to guide adaptive flood management in one of the world's most important coastal cities - London, UK' on 5th March 2024. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 42 researchers attended a hybrid seminar 'The Rising Tide: monitoring sea levels change to guide adaptive flood management in one of the world's most important coastal cities - London, UK' given by Prof Ivan Haigh, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton on 5th March 2024. Flood management and sea level rise were discussed in relation to the Thames Estuary and the protection of London by the Thames Barrier. The challenges of commissioning, building and maintaining this critical infrastructure were highlighted. Prof Haigh introduced the FLOOD CDT research and training centre for PGRs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://ipact.org.uk/2024/03/08/the-rising-tide-webinar-recording/ |
| Description | iPACT webinar 6 - Engaging coastal communities: the WeValue approach 14th May 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 21 researchers and community workers attended an online talk by Prof Marie Harder, University of Brighton on her novel public engagement approach 'WeValue In situ'. This explored her mix methods approach to eliciting shared values from groups with common interests or working environments. There was interest in this approach and how it can be applied in a variety of studies. There was a time for questions and discussion of ideas and practice after the talk. 14th May 2024 12.30-1.30pm |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://ipact.org.uk/2024/05/15/webinar-recording-engaging-coastal-communities-the-wevalue-approach/ |
| Description | iPACT webinar 8 - Port City adaptation to climate change 9th Sept 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Webinar hosted by Dr Katie Jenkins Tyndall Centre and Dr Toby Roberts, University of Southampton on 9th Sept 2024 37 researchers from the iPACT network heard about 2 research projects with a focus on ports and their local communities. Ports need to consider their response to climate change and local pressures including environmental concern from residents and infrastructure development as ports grow. Discussion after the presentation explored some of these ideas in practice in UK and European contexts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://ipact.org.uk/2024/09/10/webinar-recording-port-city-adaptation-to-climate-change/ |
| Description | iPACT webinar 9 - Wave overtopping hazard - from observation to prediction 5th November 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 46 researchers and PGR students attended this webinar hosted by Dr Jenny Brown, National Oceanography Centre will present a webinar on Tuesday 5th November at 12.30-1.30pm on TEAMS. Exploring the damage done by wave overtopping sea defences and the increase of recorded occurrences due to climate change. Data and results from field trials and commuter modelling were presented to the audience and discussed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://ipact.org.uk/2024/11/07/webinar-recording-wave-overtopping-hazard-from-observation-to-predic... |