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As part of the reSEArch-EU activities, the (IUEM), Brest, France held its first Transformation Lab workshop at the end of April 2022. The goal of the workshop was to bring together a number of researchers and stakeholders from the SEA-EU member Universities for a transdisciplinary discussion on the development and improvement of resilience of coastal areas and coastal communities.

The meeting was intended to expose the participants to a variety of experiences, from different regions of Europe, involving problems and hazards of the marine coastal region, and in particular the relationships between science and stakeholders. The participants came from all institutions participating in the Sea-EU project, namely University of Brest (France), University of Kiel (Germany), University of Cadiz (Spain), University of Gdansk (Poland), University of Split (Croatia) and University of Malta. The University of Malta was represented by Prof Ruben P. Borg, from the Faculty of the Built Environment, and Prof Pauline Galea from the Faculty of Science.

The IUEM is an active contributor towards the Zone Atelier Brest Iroise, as explained by the workshop coordinator Pierre Stephan. The network of Zones Ateliers, distributed all over France and managed by INEE-CNRS, study the interactions between an environment and all those who occupy and exploit it. Understanding these interactions requires a multidisciplinary approach, including, in particular, physical sciences, life sciences, human sciences, and engineering sciences, in order to respond to specific issues concerning the area in question, that can be developed in cooperation with the managers involved. Presentations from the participants covered a range of topics, from coastal erosion and vulnerability, to aquaculture and sustainability, to social sciences and humanities. The presentations from Malta dealt with the Tsunami Last Mile project (PG) and the resilience of coastal infrastructure (RPB).

The next two days were dedicated to guided field trips. The field trip to the Crozon peninsula introduced the participants to the region’s spectacular geology and coastal processes, and ongoing cliff monitoring activities. Another visit was organized to a farm on the river Aulne watershed, where the efforts at sustainable farming and mitigation of river pollution were explained. A final visit was to a scallop hatchery and repopulation programme in Port Tinduff.

The third day was dedicated to the Iroise Sea marine park, with the participants being treated to an exhilarating boat ride for the close observation of dolphins, seals, sea birds and other flora and fauna of the Molene archipelago. All aspects of the marine biosphere were explained by Philippe Le Niloit, assistant director of the park. 

A final discussion was held on the island of Molene, during which the role of stakeholders, and associated problems were discussed from the different points of view of the participants, and conclusions were drawn. This brought the workshop to a close. The next Transformation Lab workshop will take place in Kiel, Germany, in 2023.