Tuesday 1st July - Thursday 3rd July
The Liner Hotel, Lord Nelson Street, Liverpool, L3 5QB
Coastal zones are of high ecological and societal value, but as the dynamic interface between land, sea, and air, they are heavily impacted by a combination of climate-driven environmental change and human interventions. Approaches to sustainably manage the coastal zone increasingly seek to provide co-benefits such as risk mitigation, climate regulation, biodiversity gain, and supporting coastal community resilience. These require working across sectors and disciplines to better manage the UK coast in a changing climate.
The second UK Coastal Research Conference will be held in Liverpool 1st - 3rd July 2025 and welcomes all those with an interest in UK coastal science, including academia, policy makers, practitioners and industry professionals. Our aim is for the conference to promote conversations around national coastal research strategies and coastal knowledge, connecting researchers with those involved in managing our coasts, and thereby inform sustainable future management of our coast.
Themes:
- Coastal geophysical processes – coastal and estuarine processes and behaviour; coastal hazards, risk and impacts; predicting future change
- Coastal ecology – habitat restoration and creation; biodiversity enhancement; management and monitoring
- Coastal water quality and stress – pollution; biogeochemistry; source-to-sea approaches
- Coastal community resilience – adaptation; engagement; achieving equity
- Digital coasts from sensors to datasets – innovation in sensors; instrumentation, monitoring; UK coastal datasets
- Applied research and coastal management – application of science to support present day and future management of coastal erosion and flood risk.
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Keynote Speakers
Graham Underwood (University of Essex)
Graham is Professor of Marine and Freshwater Biology in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Essex. He has worked on estuarine ecology, biogeochemistry and microbial ecology for over 35 years. His research interests range from microbial diversity and function, primary production and organic carbon fluxes, through to whole catchment functioning, ecosystem services, natural capital and approaches to coastal seascape restoration Graham currently Chairs the U.K. Blue Carbon Evidence Partnership, is a co-Chair of the Estuarine Coastal Shelf Association – Environment Agency Special Interest Group on coastal connectivity (ConnECTOR), and is a NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellow (2022-2025), on a project called “Delivering Multifunctional Natural Capital Approaches for Future Coasts”.
Dafni Sifnioti (EDF Energy)
I am the Senior Manager of Natural Hazards & Environment EDF R&D UK. With a background in geology, coastal oceanography and marine climatology, I focus on understanding the complex dynamics of coastal processes (e.g. erosion, flooding), waves, and other natural disasters and how these are impacted by climate change. My role involves managing the team and conducting research, analysing data, and developing strategies to minimize the risks associated with such events. I collaborate with interdisciplinary teams across the business (EDF UK and Group) for Nuclear and Renewables, academics, and other institutes to ensure we do the research required for the resilience of our fleet against natural hazards. I have 13+ years of experience in my technical field, and I am always interested in discussing best practices and building cross collaborations so we can mitigate risks and adapt in a changing climate.
Rachael Hill (Environment Agency)
Outline Conference Programme
Activities - Tuesday 1st July 2025 (the day before the main conference)
Co-Opt project workshop - The Liner Hotel
9:00am - 4:30pm. Agenda TBC
How can working across disciplines and sectors improve decision making in coastal management? Lessons learned from role play and the Co-Opt project.
Coasts are a dynamic interface between land, sea, and air under the combined influence of climate-driven environmental change and human interventions. The resulting complexity implies that effective and sustainable management of the coastal zone requires approaches that bridge across disciplines and across sectors. However, interdisciplinary working is also significantly more difficult, takes additional time, and can be unpredictable. There is a need to better communicate on the benefits of working across disciplines and sectors so that these approaches become integral to decision making.
This one-day workshop will combine role play around coastal management scenarios with lessons learned from the interdisciplinary Co-Opt project to provide a better understanding of the benefits of interdisciplinary and/or cross-sectorial approaches. Participants will explore the role of interdisciplinary/cross-sectorial approaches in:
- Generating a common understanding of coastal systems
- Assessing coastal management/schemes under future climate
- Appraising co-benefits of schemes.
The workshop will act as a capacity building exercise towards increased implementation of interdisciplinary and/or cross-sectorial approaches. While this will be primarily addressed to coastal practitioners across public bodies and industry, academics seeking to better engage with the wider coastal community to increase the impact of their work may also be interested.
This full day workshop will be free to attend and will include refreshments and lunch. Spaces are limited to a maximum of 50 offered on a first come first served basis.
A member of the team will contact you nearer the time with joining instructions and to confirm your place.
Field Trip - Hilbre Island, Dee Estuary
Join us for a field trip to world renowned Hilbre Island on the Dee Estuary. Starting from West Kirby, we will walk for approximately 1 hour on intertidal flats, spend an hour or so on the Island then walk back. Click HERE for full itinerary.
Please note the field trip will involve walking on varying terrains, rock pools and slippery rocks good walking boots or wellingtons required.
Additional charge applies of £35. Included in the charge: transport, refreshments and fish and chip lunch. Transport will leave promptly from The Liner Hotel at 8:45am returning at approximately 2:30pm.
Further joining instructions to follow nearer the time.
Ice Breaker Reception (included in the main conference registration fee)
Taking place at the historic Philharmonic Dining Rooms.
Activities - Wednesday 2nd July - Thursday 3rd July 2025
Two full days of conference including keynote, oral and poster presentations and Gala Conference Dinner at the iconic Liver Building one of the famous three Graces.
For the draft conference programme click HERE
Registration information
Registration rates:
Full Delegate Package - £315
Student Delegate Package - £185 (use this coupon code at check out: UKCRC Student Ticket)
Included in package:
- Two full day conference with refreshments and lunches on both days
- Icebreaker Reception to be held at the world renowned Philharmonic Dining Rooms
- Conference Dinner at the iconic Royal Liver Building (one of the three Graces)
To register please click HERE
Accommodation information
The Liner Hotel
A mixture of double and twin rooms available for £90 per night B&B.
To book please call 0151 709 7050 and speak to the sales office Mon – Fri quoting 0625NATI or email reservations@theliner.co.uk quoting 0625NATI
For alternative accommodation options click HERE
Organising Committee
Scientific Committee:
Jennifer Brown, National Oceanography Centre
Suzanna Ilic, Lancaster University
Tim Poate, University of Plymouth
Helen Jay, National Trust
Lee Swift, Environment Agency
Charlie Thompson, Channel Coastal Observatory & University of Southampton
Local Organising committee:
Chair - Laurent Amoudry, National Oceanography Centre
Charlotte Lyddon, University of Liverpool
Jason Kirby, Liverpool John Moores University
Alice Banet, National Oceanography Centre