Wednesday, 27 May 2009

NAFC MARINE CENTRE APPOINTS NEW HEAD OF MARINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The NAFC Marine Centre has announced the appointment of Dr Martin Robinson to the new position of head of marine science and technology.  Currently employed as research development manager at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Martin will take up his new post in Shetland on 1 August.

Since completing a PhD at Trinity College, Dublin in 1999, his main research focus has been the sustainable management and development of Irish inshore fisheries and aquaculture.  He has secured high levels of external support from various agencies and industry in the last five years, and almost all of the projects he has managed have involved collaborations with industry partners. 

Martin currently acts as scientific advisor to two Irish National Species Advisory groups for Inshore Management and the Irish Technical Advisory Committee for Marine Stewardship.  He is also a nominated Irish representative to the ICES Working Group for Crab.  He has spoken to both industrial and scientific audiences at national and international conferences and workshops, and has also published peer-review papers relevant to inshore and offshore fisheries.

When asked why he applied for the post, Martin Robinson said: “In all of these activities, the socio-economic sustainability and growth of maritime communities has always been the principal goal.  I’ve come from a town with a strong fishing tradition and have spent much time at sea and this has enabled me to interact with a wide cross section of industry partners from the catching to the processing sector.  I’ve always had a fascination with marine science and, from an early age, was keen to explore how I could translate this into a career.

“I’m experienced in co-ordinating industry-focused research and development initiatives and have long held an interest in building synergistic working relationships between academia and industry, particularly with marine fisheries and aquaculture sectors.

“In the context of regional and national development during times of recession, I believe it is now more necessary than ever to achieve clear value for money from research and development income, and this has been my main role for some time in Ireland.

“In 2005, I moved from Dublin to Galway to set up the first industry commercialisation support centre for fisheries and aquaculture industries.  This was a new type of centre where the academic staff were engaged in projects where development and innovation were placed before the need for individual academic achievement, clearly demonstrating that academic excellence and regional development could complement one another.

“The staff and students benefited greatly from a close relationship with industry and, as their outputs could be measured in terms of real success – job creation and increased productivity – they also enjoyed high levels of state funding.  These innovative outputs were more often than not suitable for peer reviewed dissemination to the research community.  When industry saw the commercial benefits that could come from highly applied, professionally managed projects many began to invest financially in research and development programmes.

“I’m enthusiastic about the potential of the NAFC Marine Centre and believe that its recently approved strategy very much supports academia, industry and business working together to deliver both training and research and development programmes in the context of sustaining coastal communities and achieving value for money from research and development investment.  I see great potential in forging stronger and novel alliances between the functions of the Centre, industry, the wider Shetland community and beyond and I can’t wait to start. 

“As I have spent a good deal of time on inshore and offshore vessels and with the processing sector during my career to date, I am hoping that I can soon start to meet some of the Shetland industry in their environment as well as at the NAFC Marine Centre.  I am eager to hear the views of all stakeholders so that I can best determine how to provide value for money and satisfaction from interactions with the excellent staff within the Marine Science and Technology team.”

Commenting on why Martin was selected for the position, director of the NAFC Marine Centre, Professor David Gray said: “Martin was the best candidate from the point of view of both the interview panel and the presentation he made to staff on the vision for the department.  He came out on top in both areas.

“Martin is a very experienced manager, business-focused and has a strong track record for successfully bringing in external income and project funding.  He has a clear vision for developing the partnership between academia and industry and his ethos and views fitted in very well with the vision of the NAFC Marine Centre.”

Martin will move to Shetland in July with his wife and two young children.

Further information:

For further information, please contact: Professor David Gray, NAFC Marine Centre, tel 01595 772000, email david.gray@nafc.uhi.ac.uk or visit www.nafc.ac.uk

Or, Louise Rosie, Shaw Marketing and Design, tel 01595 692465, email louise.rosie@shaw-online.com or visit www.shaw-online.com