More than half the world's population lives within 100km of the sea. And 13 of the 15 largest cities are on or near the coast. Due to this population density, we see an increase in water innovation occurring in coastal regions. This innovation is also affected by the expansion of human activities using oceans and water bodies as vital resources. These include transport, tourism and ecological habitats (from fishing grounds to mangrove habitats, and nutrient filtering through algal beds).

Climate change is affecting many coastal areas. We're seeing increases in erosion and storm activity, and issues with water quality. Decarbonising the economy and adopting more sustainable energy sources relies a lot on marine renewable energy (wind, wave, tidal). We're developing new research collaborations to tackle the effects of climate change in coastal regions. And find more sustainable energy solutions for the future.