Marine science business events here are set precisely where visitors can see for themselves the impact that their work can have.
Scotland is a country with a global reputation for discovery, invention, research and innovation. In Scotland we have a vibrant, international academic community, with research teams pioneering new ideas at the forefront of their subject areas. This makes Scotland an ideal place to hold international business events – international delegates can connect with passionate local experts, they can visit research facilities, project sites and innovation centres and see first-hand the world leading work being done in Scotland.
Our Sector Experts are here to introduce you to some of Scotland’s bright minds, to give you an insight into their work, to find out their motivations and to learn more about what makes Scotland the perfect destination for business events.
Meet Dr Raeanne Miller, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Marine Energy
Raeanne has been studying the impacts of marine renewable energy on the environment since 2009. Scotland boasts 25% of all of Europe’s offshore wind resources, and the worlds most developed tidal energy site in the Pentland Firth. As Scotland continues to invest in green energy, Raeannes’ work will become ever more important in shaping policy and awareness around the impacts that these huge off-shore installations can have.
"Marine renewable energy harvested from the wind, waves, and tides is one of Scotland’s greatest natural resources, and represents a low or no-carbon way to generate power in the future. While marine renewable energy projects can help to reduce global CO2 emissions, it is important that we understand the impacts these developments have on the local marine environment. I have been working in this field since 2009, and I am particularly interested in understanding how these developments might provide new habitat for plants and animals, and whether or not they can become man-made reefs".
"Within the Bryden Centre, my role is multi-faceted. First, I support and coordinate a team of 11 PhD students based across the Highlands and Islands region. In tandem, I pursue a programme of research exploring the effects of marine energy structures on the environment. Knowledge exchange activities are very important to me, and I work hard to develop connections between the Bryden Centre and to government policymakers and to the renewable energy industry itself, so that our research outcomes are taken up and put into practise as soon as they are available. At the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), I co-lead the Ocean Systems Research Area, encouraging collaboration and coordination".
Pasion and Drive
Raeanne is an expert in knowledge exchange, innovation, marine industrial impacts, & benthic ecology, Raeanne connects scientists, policymakers, businesses and communities to support sustainable industry, economic and social development with cutting-edge science, and was an Equate Scotland 'Inspirational Woman in STEM' in 2016.
"What motivates me most is the challenge of balancing marine conservation with economic growth, particularly in coastal regions. Marine science sits right at the centre of this challenge and is a crucial for informing decision-making. We need to understand more about marine ecosystems and their resilience, about how the ocean regulates global climate and weather, and about the cumulative impact that humans are already having on this environment. At the same time, we need creative new ways to support food provision, energy, transportation and human well-being from the marine environment. What inspires me most is working with people from different backgrounds to put marine science into practice".
"Scotland has been a leading marine science nation for over 100 years and has made many important discoveries that have shaped our understanding of the oceans. In 1872, the Scottish-led Challenger expedition catalogued over 4000 new species and revolutionised the field of oceanography, while in the 1970’s we helped establish a dedicated long-term ocean monitoring programme in the North East Atlantic Ocean. Today, we continue to regularly monitor the ocean using both research vessels and new technologies including autonomous underwater robots. Data from this programme has given us a new understanding of how the ocean modifies our climate and is helping us to predict climatic changes in the future".
Local relationships, local networks
"Scotland hosts a relatively tightly knit community of marine scientists who are extremely well networked locally and internationally. Within Scotland, we collaborate closely not only with other researchers, but also with government organisations and companies, which means that research very quickly has impact on policy and industry decision-making. This also means that as a community, we can progressively act on research ideas generated from policy or industry needs to develop innovative solutions to pressing challenges, whether they be in the UK or abroad".
Scotland as a destination for marine science business events
"As an island nation, Scotland is a great destination for marine science business events. With 6,160 miles of coastline and over 900 islands, you are never far from the sea. In the morning you could be discussing shellfish aquaculture or tidal energy, and in the afternoon you could be visiting a shellfish hatchery or tidal energy development site. The closeness we have to the marine environment in terms of physical geography, culture, and history means that marine science business events here are set precisely where visitors can see for themselves the impact that their work can have – and to me that’s an incredibly powerful thing".
"Scotland is an immersive place. With the coast so close to where we work, it is inevitable that our work as marine scientists becomes intertwined with the environment we live in. This feeling of connection between personal experience and work activity (whether science or business) is something that draws people from all over the world to Scotland. It gives us a voice on the global stage and provides a real platform that enables us to have a substantially greater international impact than a small nation would otherwise have".
