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Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone sponsors Sustainable Futures Award to support its Vision for Clean Growth.

Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone (EEDEZ) [Exeter & East Devon Enterprise Zone – Accelerating clean growth (eedez.com) ] is sponsoring the Sustainable Futures Award at the University of Exeter’s Knowledge Exchange Awards [Knowledge Exchange Awards 2024 | University of Exeter (exeterinnovation.com)], celebrating the best collaborations between the University of Exeter researchers and external partners regionally, nationally, and globally. The Sustainable Futures Award recognises excellence in sustainability, environment and life sciences. Potential innovations can include products, policies, services and community partnerships.

Cllr Paul Arnott, Chair of EEDEZ and Leader of East Devon District Council, said

"We’re proud of the innovation that takes place in the Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone, which couldn’t happen without collaboration. We are delighted to sponsor these important awards to celebrate innovation, fulfilling the clean growth vision of the EEDEZ.

"It fits perfectly with the goals in our newly-launched Economic Development Strategy (2024-2029) – East Devon which delivers on our Council Plan priority for a resilient economy.

"My congratulations go to the three shortlisted projects: Convex Seascape, ReefBudget and We are the possible."

The award ceremony takes place on Thursday 3 October 2024 at the Great Hall, Streatham Campus, where the winner will be presented with their award by Cllr Rufus Gilbert, EEDEZ Board member.

A spokesperson for The University of Exeter, said:

"The University of Exeter are delighted that Exeter & East Devon Enterprise Zone are kindly sponsoring the Knowledge Exchange Award for Sustainable Futures which will be presented at our Knowledge Exchange Awards Dinner on 3 October 2024.   The Knowledge Exchange Awards celebrate the best collaborations between University of Exeter researchers and external partners regionally, nationally, and globally."

The nominees have showcased remarkable knowledge exchange and innovative activity. Convex Seascape, ReefBudget and We are the possible: 

Convex Seascape Survey Education Programme

Nominated by Chloe Severn. Partnered with Encounter Edu, Blue Marine Foundation, Convex Group Ltd, Unseen Studios, and Naomi Hart. 

The Convex Seascape Survey is a large, interdisciplinary, international project led by the University of Exeter. Its research aims to investigate the ocean’s vital role as the world’s largest carbon sink. Over five years, the project will explore and quantify carbon locked in continental shelves, assess the role played by marine life in carbon storage, and determine risks from human activities.

Led by Professor Callum Roberts (PI) along with a team of academics, including Ceri Lewis and Adam Porter, they are co-producing an educational outreach programme with Encounter Edu and Blue Marine Foundation. They are creating a legacy of UK curriculum-aligned lesson packages while ensuring a global reach through live lessons, a free-to-access online repository of resources/activities, and an immersive digital experience. In the non-digital world, artist Naomi Hart is leading a series of informative art workshops and exhibitions.

ReefBudget: A Global Coral Reef Monitoring Tool To Support Reef Conservation And Management
Nominated by Chris Perry. Partnered with National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, USA).

ReefBudget is an online tool developed by Professor Chris Perry and his team that delivers data on coral reef growth potential. He has been working with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, USA), supporting them in adopting the ReefBudget coral reef monitoring protocol.

This is relevant to NOAA and other agencies because it predicts reef capacity to sustain critical ecosystem functions (e.g., coastal protection, biodiversity, fisheries). NOAA now uses ReefBudget across all its Atlantic and Pacific reef jurisdiction sites and recently funded an Exeter Research Fellow to develop an App-based version for managers. 

We Are The Possible

Nominated by Peter Stott. Partnered with Met Office, American University in Cairo, Emirates Literature Foundation, British Embassy, Khorfakkan University, The Theatre of Others and BIMM Institute.

We Are The Possible has pioneered a new way of communicating climate science that engages people intellectually and emotionally at major international negotiations and beyond, helping drive the call to action to safeguard and restore our planet. They help build bridges across cultures and generations, so as to move people from a place of eco-anxiety, anger and despair to a place of understanding, hope and agency. The We Are The Possible (COP28, Dubai 2023), We Still Have a Chance (COP27, Egypt 2022), and One Chance Left (COP26, UK 2021) projects have been delivered successfully at COP and other fora. Led by Peter Stott, Cecilia Manosa Nyblon and Sally Flint, this project has helped to place the University of Exeter, their partners, and the UK at the heart of the international conversation on confronting the climate crisis with determination and hope, reaching 28 million people worldwide.