Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone (EEDEZ) is sponsoring the Sustainable Futures Award at the University of Exeter’s Knowledge Exchange Awards to support its vision for clean growth.

The awards are celebrating the best collaborations between the University of Exeter researchers and external partners regionally, nationally and globally.

Councillor Paul Arnott, chair of EEDEZ and leader of East Devon district council (EEDC), said: “We're proud of the innovation that takes place in the EEDEZ, which couldn’t happen without collaboration.”

He also said the awards align with their Economic Development Strategy goals.

The three shortlisted projects are: Convex Seascape, ReefBudget and We Are The Possible.

The award ceremony will take place on October 3 at the the university's Great Hall (Streatham campus).

The award will be presented by Councillor Rufus Gilbert, EEDEZ Board Member.

A spokesperson for the University of Exeter said: “The Knowledge Exchange Awards celebrate the best collaborations between University of Exeter researchers and external partners regionally, nationally, and globally.”

Details on the shortlisted projects

Convex Seascape Survey Education Programme: a large, interdisciplinary, international  project led by the University of Exeter. It aims to investigate the oceans vital role as the worlds largest carbon sink. In the next five years it will explore and quantify the carbon locked in continental shelves and then assess the role marine life plays in carbon storage. Therefore, determining the risks from human activity.

It is led by Professor Callum Roberts and a team of academics, including Ceri Lewis and Adam porter who are co-producing an educational outreach programme with Encounter Edu and Blue Marine Foundation.  Among many things, they are creating a legacy of UK curriculum-aligned lesson packages. Naomi Hart is leading a series of informative art workshops and exhibitions non-digitally.

Nominated by Chloe Severn. Partnered with Encounter Edu, Blue Marine Foundation, Convex Group Ltd, Unseen Studios, and Naomi Hart. 

ReefBudget: A Global Coral Reef Monitoring Tool To Support Reef Conservation And Management: an online tool developed by Professor Chris Perry and his team, delivering data on coral reef potential. He has been working with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to support them in adopting ReefBudget coral reel monitoring protocol.

It predicts reef capacity to sustain critical ecosystem functions. NOAA now uses ReefBudget across all its Atlantic and Pacific reef jurisdiction sites and recently refunded an Exeter Research Fellow to develop an app-based version for managers.

Nominated by Chris Perry. Partnered with National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, USA).

We Are The Possible: pioneering a new way of communicating climate science that engages people both intellectually and emotionally at major international negotiations and beyond, helping drive the call to action to safeguard and restore our planet. They continue to build connections across cultures and generations in order to educate and inform people to a place of understanding, hope and agency. Led by Peter Stott, Cecilia Manosa Nyblon and Sally Flint, We Are The Possible has helped to place the University of Exeter and more at the heart of the international conversation of confronting the climate crisis with determination and hope.

Nominated by Peter Stott. Partnered with Met Office, American University in Cairo, Emirates Literature Foundation, British Embassy, Khorfakkan University, The Theatre of Others and BIMM Institute.