Marine Bacteria as a Source of Novel Biocatalysts with Industrial Applications

Clodagh Carr, PhD student, School of Microbiology

Impact: International

Marine bacteria survive the often harsh, low-nutrient conditions of their environment by producing resilient enzymes that can degrade complex molecules for energy. Our research aims to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns (SDG12) by investigating the natural abilities of marine enzymes for use in bio-based processes that offer advantages over current industrial practices e.g., reduced energy consumption and waste). Our research aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development (SDG14) both by expanding our knowledge of marine life and by minimising the side effects of industrial processes, that can ultimately disrupt our marine ecosystems. This will be achieved by investigating marine bacteria and their enzymes for use in the biological catalysis of chemical reactions and the biological degradation of polyester plastic, with the overall aim of minimising the environmental and health implications associated with industrial processes and products. Our research highlights the untapped potential of marine bacteria and the enzymes they produce in the development of bio-based solutions to environmental problems, particularly those resulting from industrial activities.

“Everything is connected to everything else. Everything must go somewhere. Nature knows best.”

– Clodagh Carr

SDG 14 - Life Below Water

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

Ports, Past and Present

Professor Claire Connolly, Department of English, School of English and Digital Humanities

Impact: Local, National

Ports, Past and Present (funded by the European Regional Development Fund via the Ireland Wales Programme) explores the cultural history of the ports in the Irish Sea basin and contributes to economic well-being of the port communities via heritage activities. Ports, Past and Present promotes fuller engagement with a rich cultural heritage as a driver of economic growth.

Via its online heritage stories and Port Places app, the project encourages tourism within and around the port communities and reimagines ports as destinations rather than through places. In terms of ocean resilience, Ports, Past and Present produces new blue knowledge about the Irish sea basin, sharing stories that cross the water between Wales and Ireland while linking in to Europe and the world along coastal infrastructures. Ports, Past and Present advances new scholarly knowledge in blue humanities while adopting public humanities methods in order to achieve impact.

SDG 14 - Life Below Water

SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth

ECHOES (Effect of climate change on bird habitats around the Irish Sea)

Dr. Walther Cámaro, Department of Geography & MaREI SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine

Impact: National, International

The Irish Sea climate is changing, in line with global trends, presenting a threat to marine species whose conservation depends on the preservation of coastal habitats. As a response to those challenges, the ECHOES project, seeks to address how climate change will impact coastal bird habitats of the Irish Sea. The ECHOES project seeks to address how climate change will impact the behaviour and distribution of Greenland White-fronted goose and Eurasian Curlew over the Irish Sea, and what effect this could have on our society, economy, and shared ecosystems.

The outcomes of this project will promote climate change adaptation, associated risk prevention and management by providing tools for land users. This will stimulate and encourage environmental citizenship over the Irish Sea coastal areas. In addition, this project will increase the evidence-base needed for the protection of these coastal areas and the development of strategies required to manage them effectively for future generations. This project involved researchers from several fields, such as Earth Observation, ornithology, climate change, species distribution model and wetland habitats, integrating their knowledge in a novel approach aimed to increase the level of knowledge of adaptation to climate change amongst communities and stakeholders in the Irish Sea coastlines.

SDG 14 - Life Below Water

• Target 14.2 - Protect and restore ecosystems

SDG 13 - Climate Action

• Target 13.1 - Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate related disasters
• Target 13.2 - Integrate climate change measures into policies and planning
• Target 13.3 - Build knowledge and capacity to meet climate change

SDG 15 - Life on Land

• Target 15.5 - Protect biodiversity and natural habitats
• Target 15.9 - Integrate ecosytem and biodiversity in governmental planning