Kick-off for the “CoastAdapt Science Space”

With the aim of developing innovative solutions and strategies for sustainable coastal protection, the ‘CoastAdapt Science Space’ was launched with a kick-off meeting in Braunschweig on 30 September. Under the leadership of the Leichtweiß Institute for Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources at Technische Universität Braunschweig, scientists from various disciplines from all over Lower Saxony are working together with the relevant authorities to carefully and responsibly adapt coastal areas to climate change. Rising sea levels pose a major challenge to Lower Saxony’s 750 kilometres of coastline.

Kick-off for the “CoastAdapt Science Space” in Braunschweig. Picture credits: Kristina Rottig/TU Braunschweig

The project, funded by the Volkswagen Foundation and the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture, brings together experts in coastal engineering and coastal research, and combines academic knowledge with the practical experience of specialist authorities and associations in Lower Saxony. The project partners are analysing natural protection mechanisms such as dunes and salt marshes and integrating historical knowledge into new strategies. The long-term goal is to create an international coastal competence centre.

In addition to the scientific work, a central element of the project is the development of an interdisciplinary Master’s programme with the provisional title ‘Sustainable Coastal Engineering and Science’, which will be offered at the participating universities after the project has been completed in order to train future coastal protection specialists.