Transcript Slide 1
The perfect storm… Feeding growing population Diminished ecosystem goods and services A warmer & more urban world Energy scarcity Limitations of the economic system Disaster risks Day et al., 2011 Dynamic Planet Observing, explaining, understanding, and projecting earth, environmental, and societal system trends, drivers and processes and their interactions as well as anticipating global thresholds and risks. Conceptual framework for Future Earth Dynamic Planet Sustainability Science Projects Integration & synthesis Global Development and human security Transition to global sustainability Dynamic Coasts: Life support services on society’s edge • Coastal zones are the front-line of the struggle for global sustainability. • Arguably the most transformed and imperilled socialecological system on earth, coasts are characterised by pervasive unsustainable practices (Cummins et al., 2013) Dynamic Coasts: Research questions What is the nature and pace of change are taking place in vulnerable coastlines? Which are the most vulnerable coastal regions under global change? How will ocean acidification affect marine biodiversity and ecosystem function, and what measures could mitigate these effects? How will coastal aquifers and groundwater resources respond to sea level rise through effects such as saltwater intrusion, and how can freshwater quality be maintained under these conditions? How will coastal human communities be affected by sea-level rise and increasing levels of erosion? What are the effects of changes in human patterns of seafood consumption on biodiversity? How can we ensure the long-term survival of coral reefs in response to the combined impacts of climate change and other existing stressors? … Rudd , M. A. & Lawton R.N., (2013) Scientists ‘ Prioritisation of Global Coastal Research Questions Where (coastal) science is at: “We have oceans of data, rivers of information, puddles of knowledge and the odd drop of wisdom” Scientific knowledge Tacit knowledge Co-designed & co-produced knowledge Dynamic Planet: Ireland’s research opportunity The states & trends of global change in the ecosystem, including human drivers • Existing capacity (e.g. Biophysical - atmospheric physics, seabed, geosciences, sediment dynamics, oceanography, land use change, ecology, remote sensing; Human dimensions - rural economy & development, governance, sustainability science, social change; Food, water, energy, climate) • Geography • Unpolluted prevailing Atlantic conditions • The N. Atlantic & coupled Artic Seas (& associated Atmospheric systems) as a driver of weather systems • Scale / Importance of understanding regional to global thresholds • Test bed; Innovation Island Integrated observing systems and data infrastructures need to document and model the coupled Earth system • Convergence (e.g. big data and data analytics) • Observation systems (the area of marine research, with links to other environmental areas, represents an outstanding opportunity for Ireland to develop a large scale research infrastructure) Navigating the Future Challenges • • Rocking the boat Research prioritisation • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Future network/comms Data analytics, management, security Digital platforms Connected health 7 independent living Medical devices Diagnostics Therapeutics Food for health Sustainable food production & processing Marine renewable energy Smart grids & cities Manufacturing competitiveness Processing technology & novel materials Innovation in services & business process National capacity building already underway with Future Earth - Coasts