What Faculty do you work in?
The Faculty of Science and Engineering, Biosciences

What is your main area of research?
Seagrass ecology and restoration

Why is your research important?
We are creating habitat suitability models to help inform where is best to restore seagrass. The models will indicate spatially where the conditions are most suitable for seagrass to be able to grow. The outputs of the project I currently work on (ReSOW) are going to be released in an open-source interactive platform called the CEEDS (Coastal ecosystem enhancement decision support) tool which will hopefully provide evidence to help practitioners decide and justify locations for restoration. Seagrass restoration is a nature-based solution for tackling climate change by way of carbon sequestration (blue carbon).

What SDG is your research most closely aligned with?
‘Climate Action’ as we are looking at seagrass restoration as a nature-based solution by way of carbon sequestration and storage, and biodiversity support.  Also ‘life below water’.

What do you hope to accomplish with your research?
To provide useful evidence that will help practitioners and to improve seagrass restoration success.

Is there a cross-disciplinary element to your research?  If so, who else at the University is involved?
Yes, but with social economists and scientists in NOC and Stirling University.

Are there any external collaborators involved?
Yes, the National Oceanographic Centre (NOC, Southampton).

What is next for your research?
Trialing HSMs for other coastal habitats that have been identified as nature-based solutions and/or important for enhancing marine biodiversity.

Dr Chiara Bertelli