CIRCUS

Education opportunities (11/03)

The Marine Spatial Planning  MSP challenge  board game was organized with teachers and students of State University of Zanzibar (SUZA -  https://www.novia.fi/fui/vara-projekt/tfk-tanzania ) and Breda University of Applied Sciences in the context of Sustainable coastal management. It was mentioned that a similar platform was historically developed for Marine Scotland so this demo might trigger further interest for UHI:  https://youtu.be/N8huxu20CaM  and  https://www.nairobiconvention.org/wio-symphony/ 

Education meeting (11/03)

Fruitful discussions around education opportunities in terms of degree programmes and student mobility.

Degree programmes: a lot of similarities and potential synergies have been highlighted: forestry, game management, environment management/planner. A gap analysis should identify the skills needed in the region, from the industry and the schools, to reach excellence.

Student mobility: Many options have been discussed notably triggered by the  Greenovet  and  Digivio2030  presentation project by Nina Åckerback: micro-credit module, summer course, credit incentive by going abroad, etc.

Around the table from education at Novia: Johnny Sved, Lars Fridefors,  Stefan Heinänen ,  Patrik Byholm , Marianne Fred,  Fábio Balotari Chiebao ,  Aurélie Noel 

Field visits (12/03)

Bioeconomy in Raseborg is historically based on forestry and agriculture, and renewable energy such as hydro and biomass, and more recently solar power.

Impact assessment - Solar panels farm in Björknas: Visit hosted by Raseborgs Energi (RE) Maximilian Björkstam and Annika Kärr who explained to us the impact assessment conducted for this farm and how RE closes the energy circuit with that renewable energy addition, complementing the biomass plant.

Field visits (12/03)

Mitigation measure - Fish ladder in Billnäs: In the context of the dam on the Svartån watercourse, a fish ladder (pool stairs) allowing successful salmonoid migration was built in 2020.

Ice breaker (12/03)

Networking of our delegations around a good meal at Tvärminne Zoological station with BUAS and SUZA visitors:  Marie Louise Razafy Kjellman  (Novia in Vasa),  Igor Mayer ,  Jacopo Fabrini  and  Hillevi Boerboom  (BUAS) and  Marry Khatib  and  Abubakar Bakar  (SUZA).

Renewable energy seminar (13/03)

An entire day dedicated to renewable energy: water quality, impact assessment, wildlife monitoring, conservation, cumulative impact, Finland readiness and regulations; and less common technologies such as biogas and natural fibres.

Presenters:  Stefan Heinänen ,  Fábio Balotari Chiebao,   Patrik Byholm,   Aurélie Noel ,  Natalie Isaksson,   Elina Virtanen,   Ulrika Dahlberg,   Jonna Engström-Öst,   Joshua Finch,   Barbara Bremner,   Andreas Willfors 

Discussion (13/03)

Together, we discussed challenges linked to the energy transition "wicked problem" in Scotland and in Finland.

Facilities visit (19/03)

In Castle Street and Ormlie road UHI locations.

Chemistry and biology analysis labs - Senior Research Fellow  Mark Taggart  

Instrument deployment and field survey labs (ADCP, CTD, wave-buoy, bio-loggers) -  Jason McIlvenny , Post Doctoral Research Associate and Toby Izod.

Facilities visit (19/03)

Field sampling (soil and water contaminants) and rural studies centre in Halkirk for equine studies, veterinary nursing and game management

Research seminar (19/03)

Dedicated to animal behaviour response around human disturbance: plastics and renewable energy infrastructure linked with wind, tide and wave turbines (using remote sensing techniques such as ocean colour marine optics, sonar, LiDAR, X-band radar) and impact assessment.

Presenters:  Nicholas Petzinna ,  Amy Jones ,  Lonneke Goddijn-Murphy ,  Philippe Gleizon ,  Julie Salvetat 

Peatland conference - Flow Country (20/03)

An entire day was dedicated to research presentations on “The Flow Country”, a large expanse of peatland in northern Scotland that harbours considerable biodiversity, and which is nevertheless threatened by detrimental human activities (e.g., forestry and renewable energy). It gave the perspective on how complex it is to manage an entire landscape with a multitude of stakeholders.

Networking (20/03)

Brainstorming of several hours with Natalie and Elizabeth around cumulative effects, what it means, what is missing in terms of data, of methods, of framework - what are our synergies, and how do we complement each other in expertise.

Education meeting (21/03)

 Debbie Miller , Vice-principal (Operations):   Debbie pointed out that the UHI’s areas of expertise and teaching are very similar to those at Novia, and student exchange can take place in various fields. Their courses are “designed to align with industry demands and our emphasis on practical skills and real-life working environments, ensures you gain valuable hands-on experience to enhance your career prospects”.

Field visits (21/03)

Bioeconomy in Caithness is historically based on peat, flagstone, fisheries (notably Wick, Castehill and Scrabster) and more recently non-indigenous forestry and renewable energy such as wind, wave and tide power. The nuclear power plant in Dounreay also holds a considerable effect on the region.

Peat banks around Dunnet Head. Historical right to collect your peat for energy. To improve the grazing plants quality, the practise of setting peatland on fire is still active in the region and frowned upon for its carbon release.

Field visits (21/03)

 Tide turbines  in Mey.

Field visits (21/03)

Offshore the historic sheltered harbour of Whaligoe steps -  wind farm Beatrice . Discussion around cumulative effects since there are so many