News & Past Events

VALMAS at SIME 2026
VALMAS had a strong presence at the SIME 2026 – Structures in the Marine Environment - conference in Newcastle, contributing to key discussions on the future of marine artificial structures in a changing offshore energy landscape.

The project was represented across the programme, with Nicky Beaumont presenting an overview of progress and next steps, and Emma McKinley leading a session on Ocean Literacy. Posters from Steve Watson and Gennadi Lessin showcased work on modelling and decision support tools, while Paul Causon’s poster on nature-inclusive design provided further relevant insights that complement the project’s research. 



Thomas Fabian attended the conference and shares his thoughts below:

From my perspective, one of the most valuable aspects of the conference was the diversity of viewpoints represented. Hearing from speakers across different sectors encouraged me to think about familiar challenges in new ways and better appreciate how priorities and perspectives can vary between stakeholders. A particular takeaway came from Andrew Gill’s keynote, which described the sector as being ‘data rich but information poor’. This really emphasised the need to move beyond simply collecting data, towards processing and translating it into meaningful insights - something that strongly aligns with the development of decision support tools within VALMAS.

The second day’s focus on policy also reinforced the importance of designing research with real-world application in mind. It highlighted the need to frame research questions around clear evidence gaps and to engage with stakeholders throughout, ensuring outputs are useful and relevant. Discussion also reinforced the crucial role of NGOs and advisory organisations in translating scientific evidence into formats that policymakers can meaningfully use. At the same time, there was a clear recognition that the pace at which research informs policy still needs to improve, something that initiatives like VALMAS aim to address by making evidence more accessible and actionable.

Overall, SIME 2026 provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on how science, policy and practice can better connect to support sustainable offshore development in the North Sea, and it was great to see how the outputs of VALMAS will support bridging this gap.

View the posters from SIME 2026

 

VALMAS Workshop 2: Driving Collaboration for Sustainable Marine Futures
On 6–7 May 2026, the VALMAS consortium came together at Cardiff University and online for a two-day workshop to bring together ‘Critical Friends’ and project partners to review progress and shape key outputs.

Updates highlighted strong momentum across research themes, including stakeholder mapping of over 400 organisations, evidence reviews on carbon and fisheries, and ongoing review of biodiversity research. Participants also discussed fieldwork plans and the development of ecosystem models, which will underpin future analysis.

Interactive sessions played a central role, enabling participants to refine the project’s Natural Capital Framework (Research Theme 2) and explore future management scenarios (Research Theme 1). These scenarios, built using a flexible “Lego brick” approach, combined climate, policy and industry factors into five narrative futures, helping identify uncertainties and priorities.

Participants also tested emerging decision support tools - ORIES, ASPACE and StrathE2E - designed to translate complex evidence into practical insights. Feedback emphasised the need for a user-friendly design, clear guidance and strong integration between tools.

Day 2 focused on internal coordination and technical discussions. Key themes included the complexity of governance frameworks, particularly around marine net gain, and the importance of aligning policy, environmental and energy systems. Plans were also developed to expand stakeholder engagement through a growing community of practice, supported by webinars, workshops and outreach activities.

Further sessions explored data management, modelling integration and economic valuation, highlighting the importance of combining scientific evidence with social values, fairness and stakeholder perspectives.

Overall, the workshop reinforced the importance of integration, stakeholder engagement and iterative development. With clear next steps agreed, VALMAS is well positioned to deliver impactful insights to support sustainable marine management in the North Sea and beyond.

 

VALMAS Kick-Off Meeting and Workshop 1: 5-7 November 2025

VALMAS team dinner

Scientists, political advisors and industry leaders from across the globe came together to mark the official launch of a multi-million-pound research project, exploring ways to transform how offshore structures are managed. The three-day series of workshops, led by National Oceanography Centre’s Professor Nicola Beaumont and held at Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), officially launched the VALMAS project and sought to shape the direction of the research and foster cross-sector partnership.

The meeting minutes, reports and presentations from this session are available below:

Minutes:

Reports:

Presentations:

 

 

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