Open KE Fellowship: Translation of a Miniature CT-DO Sensor from the Laboratory to Real World Applications

The proposed Knowledge Exchange (KE) Fellowship will boost the impact of the NERC funded conductivity, temperature and dissolved oxygen (CT-DO) technology. The Fellowship will support 40% of the Fellow's time over three years.

The Fellowship will accomplish its aims through three pathways.

The first pathway has the aim of demonstrating the CT-DO technology to UK industry and agencies influencing government policy. Novel applications and new markets will be explored. Two potential partners with suitable applications have been identified and contacted (Planet Ocean Ltd - who provide miniature submersibles and Cefas Technology Ltd.- who develop and manufacture electronic sensor loaded fish tags), others have also expressed interest. The existing CT-DO prototype unit may require modification to undertake feasibility studies for the new applications. KE activity and materials will be provided by the Fellowship whilst cost of development and integration will be supported externally to the Fellowship (i.e. through partner support, and existing project / institutional funding). The bulk of KE activity will be to initiate and support feasibility studies that will demonstrate the CT-DO technology in novel applications. This will further extend the utility of the NERC funded technology, providing UK users in government and industry the first opportunity to exploit the CT-DO technology and establishing a presence in new and emerging markets. Planet Ocean Ltd and Cefas Technology Ltd. have both been involved in defining the program of work and are likely to provide support (including financial and in kind e.g. site access).

The second pathway aims to place CT-DO evaluation units within studies undertaken by the developing world. The CT-DO evaluation unit (prototype) not only represents a system that delivers high quality measurements for ocean health but it does this as a compact, easily operated and relatively inexpensive system. As a consequence, the technology is attractive to those in the developing world and those looking to deliver international aims, such as the UN's Sustainable Development Goals 14: Life Below Water. The National Oceanography Centre (NOC), including the Ocean Technology and Engineering Group (OTEG), hosting the Fellowship have experience of working with and undertaking deployments with the developing world (completed Commonwealth Marines Economies Programme which included training and sensors for studies in the Seychelles, Fiji and Dominica). This Fellowship will draw on this experience and work with ongoing effort in the host institution to undertake deployments of the CT-DO technology with the developing world. The specific program of work will be defined with stakeholders through KE and will deliver on NERC and NOC vision statements by enhancing quality of life for those that rely heavily on the marine environment for food, livelihoods and their health.

The final pathway focusses on strengthening an existing partnership with commercial partner Teledyne RD Instruments (TRDI). The fellowship will support TRDIs evaluation of the technology and the finalisation of a license agreement. The result of this work will be a CT and then a CT-DO product that will be commercially available. This will ensure the NERC supported CT-DO technology reaches a global audience in a manner that is sustainable beyond the duration of the Fellowship. TRDI will provide gateway payments and royalties after separate stages of the license agreement.