FCE programme final Annual Event 2023

Timings

Interreg FCE Annual Event 2023

Location: Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall, PL24 2SG, UK

Date: 16 March 2023.

Time: 10:00 – 16:30

10:00am

Registration

10:30-10:40

Conference launch

Introduced by Sallyann Stephen, Programme Manager, Interreg FCE

Sam Lucas, Head of ETC Delivery Team, Dep for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities

10:40-10:50

Welcome address

Cllr. Carol Mould, Portfolio Holder, Cornwall Council

10:50 – 11:10

Keynote

Professor Judith Petts CBE, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, University of Plymouth

11:10 – 11:55

Coffee / exhibition

Opportunity to visit project exhibition stands / network

Session 1

11:55 – 13:00

TIGER

Talk title: Tidal Industry Energiser Project (TIGER)

Speaker: Simon Cheeseman, Sector Lead, Wave & Tidal Energy, ORE Catapult

Summary: What is tidal energy, its contribution to Net Zero and how Interreg Channel Manche support and funding through the TIGER project has created impact and lasting benefits for FR and UK.

PACCo / Environment Agency

Talk title: Promoting Adaptation to Changing Coasts (PACCo) – The practical delivery of climate change adaptation projects in two estuaries

Speakers: Dr Lydia Burgess Gamble, Lead Project Manager & Mike Williams, Senior Project Manager, both Environment Agency

Summary: The PACCo project is piloting pre-emptive climate change adaptation in two estuaries - the lower Otter Valley (East Devon, England) and the Saâne Valley (Normandy, France).

PACCo has delivered a blend of research-based activities and construction work such as:

• Communicating about climate change and raising awareness
• Delivering natural capital assessments and socio-economic studies
• Protecting and restoring lost intertidal habitats
• Relocating businesses and amenities to areas at lower risk of flooding
• Developing resilient design for new infrastructure

PACCo has produced a guide to summarise all the different components of climate change adaptation projects. This guide is being shared to inspire others across similar estuaries in England and France. Lydia and Mike will provide a high-level summary of the project’s main achievements, challenges, lessons learnt and next steps.

FLOWER

Talk title: Flax based biocomposites: a viable solution for the environmentally friendly advanced materials

Speaker: Professor Hom Nath Dhakal, University of Portsmouth

Summary: FLOWER (Flax composites, LOW weight, End of life and Recycling) project aimed at developing novel, low-cost, lightweight, non-woven and woven flax fibre reinforcements. Biodegradable and biobased thermoplastics and thermosets composites are developed, fabricated, and investigated to ensure higher mechanical, thermal performances, and end-of-life sustainability. 

Led by the Université de Bretagne Sud (University of Southern Brittany), Flower project has successfully developed new bio composite materials reinforced with flax fibre for use in the automotive, advertising, and yachting industries among others. In this talk, key activities and accomplishments of the FLOWER project and use of sustainable biocomposites in key industry sectors will be shared/discussed.

13:00 – 13:10

Q&A

13:10 – 14:00

Lunch

Buffet lunch / opportunity to visit project exhibition stands

Session 2

14:00 -15:05

ReCon Soil

Producing new reconstructed soils from construction waste & agricultural by-products

Professor Mark Fitzsimons, Principal Investigator, University of Plymouth & Nick Willenbrock, Director, CL:AIRE

CobBauge

Talk title: CobBauge - Ultra-Low Carbon Natural Buildings

Speaker: Professor Steve Goodhew, Principal Investigator, University of Plymouth

Summary: An international research project led by the University of Plymouth is working to update a centuries-old construction technique for a new generation of energy efficient homes. Whilst it used to be common to build houses with subsoil mixed with straw from local fields, traditional “cob” buildings (or “bauge”, in French) now fall foul of strict thermal requirements. Here, the CobBauge team explain how, through their research, and the development of a unique composite wall, they have found a way to update the technique to satisfy French and UK building regulations whilst maintaining its low carbon credentials.

Early-stage results from the CobBauge building suggest that it is also likely to offer a healthier living environment due to reductions in internal air pollutants and moisture leading to less condensation and possibility for mould growth. It is a true collaboration between three French and three UK partners, and through the University’s own Sustainable Earth Institute, the project is enabling staff and students alike to be witness to an ongoing piece of low carbon research.

REVERT

Talk title: REVERT - Applying an inter-disciplinary approach for achieving clinical excellence in hydrocephalus management

Speaker: Dr Peter Smielewski, Senior Research Associate, Brain Physics Lab, University of Cambridge 

Summary: Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is increasingly recognised as a reversible form of dementia and can be treated effectively with surgical intervention. Despite this, the condition is underdiagnosed and undertreated; it has been shown to affect up to 3.7% of adults over 65 years, with only 20% of patients with the condition being correctly diagnosed and treated.

The aim of REVERT was to establish an exemplar standard of care for diagnosing and treating NPH. Innovative diagnostic tools developed by individual partners, including dynamic MRI and brain pressure analysis, have been integrated within the clinical pathway for accurate and cost-effective detection of the condition.

Together with outreach activities promoting wider awareness of NPH, this has enabled large numbers of patients to be assessed and treated in a timely manner. Through the project, a cross-border network of collaborating institutions has also been successfully established, together with a shared data infrastructure to drive future research and development work in this field beyond REVERT.

BLUEPRINT

Talk title: Achievements of the BLUEPRINT to a Circular Economy project

Speaker: Gabriela Asara, Senior Circular Economy Officer, Essex County Council

Summary: French and English local authorities, universities, a private company, and an environmental charity worked together and with external stakeholders to help local authorities, social enterprises, residents and schools adopt circularity. The legacy of the project beyond its closure includes increased skills and job opportunities, lasting behaviour change and a free tool to support local authorities on the journey to become more circular and achieve their net zero targets.

15:05 – 15:15

Q&A

15:15 -15:25

Closing speech

Carolyn Reid, Chief Executive Officer, Groundwork East

15:25 – 16:30

Networking drinks