iPACT Showcase in Westminster, London
Event
People-focused, infrastructure-based solutions to the complex problem of improving social well-being and prosperity in coastal communities.
On 28th January 2025 infrastructure for Port cities And Coastal Towns (iPACT) hosted a successful showcase and networking event at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, One Birdcage Walk, Westminster, highlighting our engagement with coastal communities through research projects and workshops. The event attracted an engaged audience of network members and invited guests included representatives from local government, city and district councils, the Environment Agency, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, port authorities and universities from across the UK.
The event kicked-off with a networking lunch, bringing together colleagues and guests to talk informally before the project presentations.
IPACT has hosted several in-person events that have established and encouraged the development of new working relationships between network members. This has led to the formation of our pilot project working teams and allowed researchers to meet others from outside of their own field. It is our desire that these working relationships will continue for future projects and funding applications. Network members had the opportunity to view posters of data from the ‘We Value Insitu’ workshops held in North Norfolk and add ideas for future network events to the collaboration board.
The afternoon programme started with a welcome from iPACT’s Primary Investigator Prof William Powrie. He introduced the aims of the network and celebrated the activities and projects completed since 2022.
This vibrant network has over 250 active members who have relished the opportunity to engage with each other. Since 2022 iPACT has held numerous WeValue Insitu workshops with local communities and hosted three project scoping sandpits in the case study locations. We have awarded pilot funding to six multidisciplinary feasibility studies, hosted two Connect Days, nine webinars featuring network members’ research, the Southampton Port City Forum and a workshop with the Centre for Port Cities and Maritime Cultures at Portsmouth Historic Dockyards.
Prof Powrie outlined the importance of researchers working closely and collaboratively with local government and communities for mutual benefit – an approach that has been key to the success of iPACT.
Crystallizing shared values to understand local perspectives
Prof Marie Harder, University of Brighton, presented the findings from her engagement project with local communities in the case study areas of Morecambe, North Norfolk and Southampton.
How can we obtain a reasonably ‘authentic’ understanding of what infrastructure investment would be valued by local people?
1. ‘Crystallize’ local latent shared values, so we understand the local context of ‘what is valued’
2. Explore the specific topic with focus groups:
“What do you think are infrastructure needs requiring improvements around where you live?”
Project presentations
The first session of the pilot project presentations was chaired by Prof Rebecca Lunn, University of Strathclyde, and included projects with a theme of Nature-Based Solutions.
Repair and protection of coastal assets using native bacteria – Dr Grainne El Mountassir, University of Strathclyde
Coastal Nature Lab – Dr Suzi Ilic, Lancaster University and Dr Gloria Castro, University of Strathclyde
A panel of experts took questions from the audience about their research findings, methodologies and collaboration with project partners. The Coastal Nature Lab had worked in partnership with Lancaster City Council and join the Our Future Coast initiative. Their community engagement craft workshops were very well attended by interested and creative residents. The British Geological Survey had collaborated with Dr El Mountassir to gather and analyse samples from North Norfolk beaches. They hope to run further field trials in the same location.
Pilot projects session 2 was chaired by Dr Jasna Mariotti, Queen’s University Belfast, the theme was Working with Communities
Connecting Coastal Concerns Engaging the local communities in long-term coastal challenges – Prof Paurav Shukla & Vanessa Marr
Coastal Connections: systems & synergy – Dr Dawn-Marie Walker & Dr Edilson Arruda, University of Southampton,
Pipeline or Hub? Harnessing critical energy infrastructure on the North Norfolk Coast – Prof Stuart Dawley, Newcastle University
These three projects had all successfully engaged with local communities and businesses to gather data and co-create possible solutions. The research that they have conducted in these studies will be used as the basis of future research projects and has been used to secure funding for related projects. The academics have developed new working relationships with people from other disciplines that complement their own expertise.
Coastal Communities
Local council officers shared their experiences of working with iPACT projects – Chaired by Prof Leon Cruikshank
Steve Blatch the Chief Executive of North Norfolk District Council set the scene for this area including an overview of challenges and opportunities including: tourism, local economy, transport, housing, post-16 education and environmental issues.
Challenges from climate change include more extreme weather events leading to coastal erosion, flooding and damage to local infrastructure assets. The COASTWISE project is address coastal adaptation through a number of projects in the county.
Steve was impressed with how iPACT have worked closely with the COASTWISE project and Bacton Energy Hub understanding how strategic location and adaptation of existing infrastructure could benefit the local area now and in the future. The research has added value and insight to ongoing discussions for the area.
Suzanna Dart, Principal Climate Policy Officer, Lancaster City Council discussed Co-creation of Coastal Futures through public engagement projects including the iPACT Coastal Nature Lab. She covered the benefits of local communities and councils working with academic researchers, who are trusted communicators, including innovation and testing new ideas, synergistic funding and extra resourcing. Highlighting that relationship building is crucial to enable successful projects as co-creation takes time and space to develop.
The iPACT pilot Coastal Nature Lab was part of a wider project, Our Future Coast, and it added value to other activities by allowing ideas to cross-pollinate and encouraged the local community to take ownership of the outcomes. The researchers will continue to work with Our Future Coast team and local volunteers in future workshops and monitoring of the structures created.
Images from the day
Feedback from delegates
“Just wanted to say thanks for the invite to the showcase event this week – it was great to hear about the pilot projects and to meet/catch up with lots of people too!” Environment Agency
“Thank you for organising the wonderful event held at iMechE building on Tuesday to showcase the network plus impact. It was good to meet the researchers from multiple disciplines coming together to understand the concerns of coastal communities and focusing on infrastructure based solutions to complex problem of improving social wellbeing and prosperity in coastal areas. The local authorities involvement was very impressive.” EPSRC
“I think the event on Tuesday was a big success – lots of follow on interest! Thanks for all your efforts pulling it together.” University academic
“I have spoken to colleagues from the Environment Agency and Coastal SIG and they found the meeting informing, helpful and enjoyable.” Project partner
iPACT brochure
You can download the iPACT brochure to read more about each of the projects and their conclusions