International industry and academic appeal of Marine Renewables conference

Experts from around the world are gathering in Orkney this week for a conference focussing on the impact which the production of marine renewable energy technology may have on the marine environment.

The International Conference on the Environmental Interactions of Marine Renewable Energy Technologies (EIMR) 2012, is bringing together leading international specialists, hosted by scientists from the University of the Highlands and Islands, Heriot-Watt University’s International Centre for Island Technology (ICIT), the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and The University of Aberdeen.

The aim of the sell-out conference is to review leading research from around the world and come to an understanding on whether and how emerging technologies might affect coastlines and the seabed, as well as marine animals and seabirds and the human communities living in the areas where development is expected to take place.

Conference organiser Jim Brown said that the level of international interest in the conference reflects the importance of the emerging marine renewables industry as well as the challenges it faces.

“The conference is organised by universities and organisations with leading interests in the field of marine renewable energy, and its varied programme of presentations and networking opportunities has attracted a range of participants from academia and industry. We also have a range of fringe events and field trips around the main programme, with businesses interested in finding out about university-led research and many inter-university meetings which will ensure that research here stays at the forefront of the world stage, and underpin the role of research as an important economic driver for Scotland.”

For further information, please contact:
Jim Brown
Tel:  07974 804037