Research

Currently, the world’s oceans provide 3 billion people with about 20% of their protein. Regionally, the Mediterranean Sea mainly due to its landlocked nature, highly industrialised coasts and intensive shipping activities is recognised as a sensitive ecosystem. Fishing, increasing sea temperatures, the introduction of alien species and the quest for energy sources considerably stresses the Eastern Mediterranean seawaters.

On the other hand, energy underpins modern life style. One of the most pressing matters of the 21st century will be to provide affordable, abundant and reliable energy supplies to a growing world population estimated to expand from 7.4 bn, in 2016, to 11.2 bn in 2100. Presently, fossil fuels power the world’s economy. Meanwhile renewable energy technologies promise to limit carbon emissions. Climate change demands a paradigm shift from the prevailing energy model with a view of substantially lowering carbon emissions.

Our primary research goals at the Marine & Carbon Lab focus on the marine environment and energy matters. Among others, we ask questions such as: how can we address the problem of marine debris at sea? What role does the sea play in regulating the world’s climate patterns? Can we partly decouple energy use from economic growth? To what degree does decarbonization of the energy chain constitute a feasible path towards sustainable development? To better understand these vexing matters we employ quantitative and analytical reasoning, such as modelling. Various projects we were involved in dealt with carbon footprint, energy efficiency and storage, marine pollution and biological organisms, LNG storage, and artificial intelligence.

Current projects include but are not limited to:

Completed projects: