NERC's Net Zero Oceanographic Capability scoping project
Lead Research Organisation:
National Oceanography Centre
Department Name: National Marine Facilities
Abstract
The Net Zero Oceanographic Capability scoping project will make recommendations to NERC on how it could support UKRI's objective of becoming a carbon neutral organisation by 2040 whilst maintaining or enhancing its ocean science capabilities. The Royal Research Ship James Cook is due to be decommissioned in 2035 and this provides the headmark for achieving a step-change in NERC's carbon footprint. However, it is likely that this change will require the development and implementation of new technologies and the associated changes to how oceanographic research undertaken: by technicians, mariners and, in particular, scientists. This change will have to take account of the rapid expansion of the digital era (as applied specifically to the oceans) and the changes to the blue economy and associated regulatory environment for autonomous platforms and research beyond national jurisdictions. The scoping project aims to engage the widest range of stakeholders including the research community, technology developers, data managers, policy makers and regulatory authorities.
The results of this scoping project will be used to enable NERC to:
1. Refine UKRI and NERC's options for future investment in marine autonomy, sensors and other cutting-edge technologies;
2. Refine its options on managing the capability of the UK's current fleet of research vessels and equipment pools;
3. Consider current and future collaboration with UK organisations and other nation's research programmes;
4. Start the road mapping process for enhancing the capacity and capability of the UK's research ship fleet in 2035;
5. Help realise the opportunities and minimise the constraints of moving towards a low carbon ocean capability;
6. Take evidence-based decisions for future business case development.
Outputs from the NZOC scoping project will include detailed reports on research drivers aligned to socio-economic benefits and regulatory considerations and the technology and data opportunities that will be available by 2035 to support NZOC's aim. A final report will consider the inter-dependencies and recommend strategies for managing the transition, including testing and risk mitigation, to enable NERC to make the case to direct future funding towards delivering a new low carbon oceanographic capability by 2035.
The results of this scoping project will be used to enable NERC to:
1. Refine UKRI and NERC's options for future investment in marine autonomy, sensors and other cutting-edge technologies;
2. Refine its options on managing the capability of the UK's current fleet of research vessels and equipment pools;
3. Consider current and future collaboration with UK organisations and other nation's research programmes;
4. Start the road mapping process for enhancing the capacity and capability of the UK's research ship fleet in 2035;
5. Help realise the opportunities and minimise the constraints of moving towards a low carbon ocean capability;
6. Take evidence-based decisions for future business case development.
Outputs from the NZOC scoping project will include detailed reports on research drivers aligned to socio-economic benefits and regulatory considerations and the technology and data opportunities that will be available by 2035 to support NZOC's aim. A final report will consider the inter-dependencies and recommend strategies for managing the transition, including testing and risk mitigation, to enable NERC to make the case to direct future funding towards delivering a new low carbon oceanographic capability by 2035.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Ceri Leigh Storey (Principal Investigator) |