About the lecture
Professor Lepper’s Inaugural Lecture will explore the challenge of offshore renewable energy developments in areas that still contain unexploded ordnance (UXO) from the First and Second World Wars – examining why these munitions remain a concern, more than 80 years on, particularly during offshore construction.
He will highlight the significance of underwater sound and vibration as well as their potential impacts on marine life, particularly protected species, as well as environmental regulations.
Supported by trial results and case studies, he will discuss traditional high-order bomb disposal techniques and the environmental problems they can cause. He will also introduce newer low-order disposal methods that could potentially reduce underwater noise and ecological disturbance while maintaining safety.
In addition, he will discuss recent legislative changes and current research into seabed vibration and particle velocity.
He will conclude his lecture by considering how industry, regulators and researchers can balance the expansion of net-zero renewable energy infrastructure with the need to protect marine ecosystems, ensuring sustainable development and a healthier future for our oceans.