{"id":8129,"date":"2019-02-27T10:42:40","date_gmt":"2019-02-27T10:42:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/?p=8129"},"modified":"2022-08-16T14:19:06","modified_gmt":"2022-08-16T14:19:06","slug":"lyell-centre-hosts-parliamentarian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/lyell-centre-hosts-parliamentarian\/","title":{"rendered":"Lyell Centre Hosts Parliamentarian"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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BGS and Heriot-Watt University (HWU) welcomed Liam McArthur MSP to the Lyell Centre today (27 February 2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Liberal Democrat politician for Orkney Islands, who is also a member of the Scottish Parliament\u2019s Cross-Party Group for Science and Technology, and Convenor of the Cross-Party Group on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, was greeted by Dr Tracy Shimmield, Director of the Lyell Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lyell Centre is a strategic partnership between HWU and BGS that enables them to work together combining their expertise in geoscience. Exploring themes ranging from geology and geophysics to marine ecosystems, the centre\u2019s combination of pure and applied expertise employs innovative methods and technologies to society\u2019s most important environmental science and energy challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of his visit, Mr McArthur met with scientists to discuss a raft of issues including offshore renewables, marine geoscience, aquaculture and energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was also given a tour of HWU laboratoriess as well as the BGS Marine Operations base at the \u00a321 million, purpose-built facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t

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I am grateful to Dr Shimmield and her colleagues at the Lyell Centre for hosting my visit earlier today. It was fascinating to learn more about the collaboration between Heriot-Watt University and BGS and the cutting edge research being undertaken.<\/p>\n

Improving our understanding of marine geoscience will help enormously in tackling the environmental challenges we face as well as in the development of a wide range of different sectors, where Scotland is well-placed to play a world-leading role.<\/p>\n

It was encouraging also to hear about the ambitions Heriot-Watt has for its ICIT campus in Orkney, which is already carrying out excellent work supporting sectors such as fisheries and renewable energy. Plans to expand this expertise in the years ahead has the potential to further enhance Orkney\u2019s reputation as a world class \u2018living laboratory\u2019.<\/p>\n

Liam McArthur MSP.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t

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We\u2019ve welcomed the opportunity to discuss with Liam the possibilities for utilising applied science generated by the Lyell Centre to help Scotland manage its environment as well as supporting economic growth. We have scientists who are experts in their fields, who are producing award-winning work, and our science aims to find solutions to local, and global, environmental challenges.<\/p>\n

Dr Tracy Shimmield, Director of the Lyell Centre.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t

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Our research in areas such as energy and marine science continues to have a positive impact on communities around the world. I was delighted to meet with Mr McArthur to discuss these and other important issues.<\/p>\n

Here at Heriot-Watt, we have always had a reputation for innovative science, which seeks to push boundaries for public good and our collaboration with the British Geological Survey allows us both to develop that even further through the Lyell Centre.<\/p>\n

Prof Malcolm Chrisp, Head of School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society at HWU.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t

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