Climate change is putting coastal regions like Ireland and the Caribbean at risk through rising sea levels, stronger storms, and coastal erosion. The Reefs4Protect project, a 24-month MEngSc in Civil Engineering aims to create a decision-support framework to test how ecosystem-based solutions—such as artificial reefs—can protect coastlines under changing climate conditions.
By combining lab experiments, computer modelling, and local community input, the project will study reefs’ ability to reduce wave energy and prevent erosion in both Ireland and the Caribbean. The outcome will give decision-makers and coastal managers practical tools to design and test reef-based protection strategies.
Aligned with the EU Mission to Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030, Reefs4Protect seeks to strengthen coastal resilience, safeguard marine ecosystems, and support sustainable coastal management for island nations worldwide.
