Workshop Facilitator

I really enjoy getting groups of interested parties together to share knowledge, encourage new ideas and collaborations, whilst identifying common goals and challenges. In 2022 I put my passion for facilitated knowledge sharing and networking to practice, when I was funded via the Scottish Funding Council-MASTS SALTIRE Emerging Researcher Scheme to visit MaREI, University College Cork (both Ireland) and Aarhus University (Denmark). I was keen to visit these institutions as they host researchers working on the European Commission funded Saturn H2020 Project, seeking solutions to reduce underwater shipping noise. I was excited to meet fellow maritime researchers, hear about the work they do, whilst sharing my own research. During each visit I led full-day network building workshops, where marine impacts researchers were invited to openly discuss their research, so we could together identify common challenges and knowledge gaps, and identify new collaborative opportunities. The workshops led to a variety of new collaborations, including co-authorships on papers and funding proposals. You can read more about the visits on the SFC website and the Saturn H2020 website. 

As well as leading, I also have experience facilitating online workshops (for example a workshop focused on possibilities for the sustainable development of Arctic Ports, in collaboration with the WWF Arctic Programme).