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Top 50 Emerging Research Topics in Marine Engineering

Research topics in marine engineering.

Marine engineering, a dynamic and interdisciplinary field, encompasses a wide array of studies focused on the design, development, and maintenance of structures and systems that operate in the marine environment. The ever-evolving nature of this field presents numerous avenues for ground-breaking research. iLovePhD listed the Top 50 emerging research topics in marine engineering, each offering five innovative research ideas, paving the way for advancements in this critical field.

Autonomous Vessels and Robotics

1. Development of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for efficient underwater surveys.

2. Implementing artificial intelligence (AI) for autonomous navigation and collision avoidance in marine vessels.

3. Designing swarming techniques for multiple autonomous marine vehicles to collaborate effectively.

4. Enhancing communication systems for remote operation and control of unmanned marine vehicles.

5. Investigating the ecological impact of autonomous vessels on marine life and habitats.

Renewable Energy Sources in the Marine Environment

6. Optimizing wave energy converters for maximum power generation in varying sea conditions.

7. Designing floating offshore wind turbines for deep-sea energy production.

8. Investigating the environmental impact of tidal energy systems on marine ecosystems.

9. Integration of solar power technologies on maritime vessels for sustainable power supply.

10. Exploring the potential of osmotic power generation in estuaries and coastal regions.

Marine Biotechnology

11. Bio-prospecting for novel compounds from deep-sea extremophiles for pharmaceutical applications.

12. Developing bio-inspired antifouling coatings for ship hulls to reduce biofouling.

13. Studying the use of marine organisms for bioremediation of oil spills and marine pollutants.

14. Engineering biomimetic materials for underwater applications based on marine organisms.

15. Exploring the use of marine-derived enzymes in industrial processes.

Sustainable Marine Infrastructure

16. Evaluating the use of eco-friendly construction materials in marine infrastructure.

17. Implementing nature-based solutions for coastal protection and erosion control.

18. Studying the long-term effects of climate change on port and harbor infrastructure.

19. Developing smart and resilient offshore structures capable of withstanding extreme conditions.

20. Investigating the potential of 3D printing technology for rapid construction of marine structures.

Marine Data Analytics and Predictive Modelling

21. Utilizing big data for predictive maintenance of marine machinery and systems.

22. Developing predictive models for climate-induced changes in marine environments.

23. Studying the use of machine learning algorithms for optimizing ship routing and fuel efficiency.

24. Analyzing historical marine data to understand the impact of human activity on oceans.

25. Implementing predictive models for early detection and mitigation of marine disasters.

Underwater Acoustics and Communication

26. Developing high-resolution imaging techniques for underwater exploration and mapping.

27. Studying the impact of anthropogenic noise on marine life and ecosystems.

28. Designing efficient communication systems for underwater data transmission.

29. Investigating the use of acoustics for underwater object detection and tracking.

30. Exploring the use of acoustic signals for marine life behavioral studies.

Marine Cybersecurity and Digitalization

31. Evaluating the vulnerabilities of maritime cyber systems and infrastructure.

32. Developing secure communication protocols for connected vessels and offshore platforms.

33. Implementing blockchain technology for secure and transparent maritime transactions.

34. Studying the potential threats of malware and cyber-physical attacks on marine systems.

35. Designing robust Cybersecurity frameworks for autonomous marine vehicles.

Ocean Mining and Resource Management

36. Studying the environmental impact of deep-sea mining on ocean ecosystems.

37. Developing sustainable extraction techniques for rare earth metals from the seabed.

38. Evaluating the economic feasibility of extracting minerals from oceanic sources.

39. Implementing regulations and policies for responsible ocean resource management.

40. Investigating the potential of utilizing microorganisms for deep-sea mining applications.

Climate Change Adaptation in Marine Engineering

41. Designing adaptive strategies for ports and harbors to cope with rising sea levels.

42. Studying the impact of climate change on marine biodiversity and ecosystems.

43. Developing innovative solutions for mitigating ocean acidification effects on marine structures.

44. Implementing resilient design strategies for vessels to navigate changing weather patterns.

45. Evaluating the impact of climate change on maritime trade routes and navigation.

Emerging Materials and Coating Technologies

46. Exploring nanotechnology for developing advanced coatings to resist corrosion in marine environments.

47. Studying self-healing materials for ship hulls to prevent structural damage.

48. Investigating the application of graphene-based materials in marine engineering.

49. Designing bio-based polymers for sustainable marine packaging and products.

50. Developing eco-friendly anti-corrosion coatings derived from natural marine compounds.

The realm of marine engineering holds immense promise for ground-breaking research and innovation. The evolving challenges and opportunities in this field offer a wide spectrum of potential research topics, each holding the key to advancing marine technology, sustainability, and our understanding of the complex marine ecosystem.

As researchers investigate the above 50 emerging research areas, they pave the way for transformative solutions that will shape the future of marine engineering, leading to an era of sustainable, efficient, and technologically advanced marine systems.

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Recent Advances in Marine Engineering Geology

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section " Sustainability in Geographic Science ".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 September 2023) | Viewed by 11605

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Dear Colleagues,

The ocean is rich in oil resources, biological resources, space resources and renewable energy resources, and is an important strategic space for human survival and economic development. In the process of the human development and utilization of marine resources, the complexity of marine geological conditions and marine dynamic conditions has caused a series of marine engineering, geological and environmental problems.

There are many types of marine engineering; the corresponding engineering geological conditions vary from place to place, and the problems involved in marine engineering geology are extensive and complex. On the one hand, marine dynamic conditions such as waves, ocean currents, and meteorology mean that the marine engineering is carried out in a very turbulent environment from installation to operation, and engineering construction sites must meet the requirements of structural stability and environmental safety. On the other hand, the high sensitivity, high thixotropy, high compressibility and low intensity of seabed sediments, combined with the influence of ocean dynamics, mean that marine engineering foundations bear a larger load than similar buildings on land. The environmental impact of marine engineering needs to be assessed.

The abundant space resources of the seabed to accommodate the storage of carbon dioxide have become a current focus of attention, but it is necessary to carry out research on topics such as the effect and safety of carbon dioxide storage, the potential of marine carbon sequestration, assessment techniques as well as the environmental and ecological after-effects of marine carbon sequestration.

Therefore, we have organized this Special Issue to discuss the latest research progress in marine engineering geology, including but not limited to various geological problems faced in the progress of various marine engineering projects, environmental problems, and how to evaluate the sustainable development of marine living resources and space resources.

The main topics include, but are not limited to:

• Coastal engineering geology;
• Engineering geological problems in the construction of marine ranching;
• Carbon dioxide storage under the sea;
• Subsea tunnels;
• Marine geological survey;
• Offshore wind power construction and related geological problems;
• Marine environmental geological problems.

Prof. Dr. Chao Jia Prof. Dr. Kai Yao Dr. Shuai Shao Guest Editors

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website . Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form . Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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• Published: 07 July 2022

A global horizon scan of issues impacting marine and coastal biodiversity conservation

• James E. Herbert-Read   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-0243-4518 1   na1 ,
• Ann Thornton   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-7448-8497 2   na1 ,
• Diva J. Amon   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-3044-107X 3 , 4 ,
• Silvana N. R. Birchenough   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-5321-8108 5 ,
• Isabelle M. Côté   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-5368-4061 6 ,
• Maria P. Dias   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-7281-4391 7 , 8 ,
• Brendan J. Godley 9 ,
• Sally A. Keith   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-9634-2763 10 ,
• Emma McKinley   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-8250-2842 11 ,
• Lloyd S. Peck   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-3479-6791 12 ,
• Ricardo Calado 13 ,
• Omar Defeo   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-8318-528X 14 ,
• Steven Degraer   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3159-5751 15 ,
• Emma L. Johnston   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-2117-366X 16 ,
• Hermanni Kaartokallio 17 ,
• Peter I. Macreadie   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-7362-0882 18 ,
• Anna Metaxas   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-1935-6213 19 ,
• Agnes W. N. Muthumbi 20 ,
• David O. Obura   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-2256-6649 21 , 22 ,
• David M. Paterson 23 ,
• Alberto R. Piola   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-5003-8926 24 , 25 ,
• Anthony J. Richardson   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-9289-7366 26 , 27 ,
• Irene R. Schloss   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-5917-8925 28 , 29 , 30 ,
• Paul V. R. Snelgrove   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-6725-0472 31 ,
• Bryce D. Stewart 32 ,
• Paul M. Thompson   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-6195-3284 33 ,
• Gordon J. Watson   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-8274-7658 34 ,
• Thomas A. Worthington   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-8138-9075 2 ,
• Moriaki Yasuhara   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-0990-1764 35 &
• William J. Sutherland 2 , 36  

Nature Ecology & Evolution volume  6 ,  pages 1262–1270 ( 2022 ) Cite this article

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• Ocean sciences
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The biodiversity of marine and coastal habitats is experiencing unprecedented change. While there are well-known drivers of these changes, such as overexploitation, climate change and pollution, there are also relatively unknown emerging issues that are poorly understood or recognized that have potentially positive or negative impacts on marine and coastal ecosystems. In this inaugural Marine and Coastal Horizon Scan, we brought together 30 scientists, policymakers and practitioners with transdisciplinary expertise in marine and coastal systems to identify new issues that are likely to have a significant impact on the functioning and conservation of marine and coastal biodiversity over the next 5–10 years. Based on a modified Delphi voting process, the final 15 issues presented were distilled from a list of 75 submitted by participants at the start of the process. These issues are grouped into three categories: ecosystem impacts, for example the impact of wildfires and the effect of poleward migration on equatorial biodiversity; resource exploitation, including an increase in the trade of fish swim bladders and increased exploitation of marine collagens; and new technologies, such as soft robotics and new biodegradable products. Our early identification of these issues and their potential impacts on marine and coastal biodiversity will support scientists, conservationists, resource managers and policymakers to address the challenges facing marine ecosystems.

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The fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity will conclude negotiations on a global biodiversity framework in late-2022 that will aim to slow and reverse the loss of biodiversity and establish goals for positive outcomes by 2050 1 . Currently recognized drivers of declines in marine and coastal ecosystems include overexploitation of resources (for example, fishes, oil and gas), expansion of anthropogenic activities leading to cumulative impacts on the marine and coastal environment (for example, habitat loss, introduction of contaminants and pollution) and effects of climate change (for example, ocean warming, freshening and acidification). Within these broad categories, marine and coastal ecosystems face a wide range of emerging issues that are poorly recognized or understood, each having the potential to impact biodiversity. Researchers, conservation practitioners and marine resource managers must identify, understand and raise awareness of these relatively ‘unknown’ issues to catalyse further research into their underlying processes and impacts. Moreover, informing the public and policymakers of these issues can mitigate potentially negative impacts through precautionary principles before those effects become realized: horizon scans provide a platform to do this.

Horizon scans bring together experts from diverse disciplines to discuss issues that are (1) likely to have a positive or negative impact on biodiversity and conservation within the coming years and (2) not well known to the public or wider scientific community or face a substantial ‘step-change’ in their importance or application 2 . Horizon scans are an effective approach for pre-emptively identifying issues facing global conservation 3 . Indeed, marine issues previously identified through this approach include microplastics 4 , invasive lionfish 4 and electric pulse trawling 5 . To date, however, no horizon scan of this type has focused solely on issues related to marine and coastal biodiversity, although a scan on coastal shorebirds in 2012 identified potential threats to coastal ecosystems 6 . This horizon scan aims to benefit our ocean and human society by stimulating research and policy development that will underpin appropriate scientific advice on prevention, mitigation, management and conservation approaches in marine and coastal ecosystems.

We present the final 15 issues below in thematic groups identified post-scoring, rather than rank order (Fig. 1 ).

Numbers refer to the order presented in this article, rather than final ranking. Image of brine pool courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Gulf of Mexico 2014. Image of biodegradable bag courtesy of Katie Dunkley.

Ecosystem impacts

Wildfire impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems.

The frequency and severity of wildfires are increasing with climate change 7 . Since 2017, there have been fires of unprecedented scale and duration in Australia, Brazil, Portugal, Russia and along the Pacific coast of North America. In addition to threatening human life and releasing stored carbon, wildfires release aerosols, particles and large volumes of materials containing soluble forms of nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus and trace metals such as copper, lead and iron. Winds and rains can transport these materials over long distances to reach coastal and marine ecosystems. Australian wildfires, for example, triggered widespread phytoplankton blooms in the Southern Ocean 8 along with fish and invertebrate kills in estuaries 9 . Predicting the magnitude and effects of these acute inputs is difficult because they vary with the size and duration of wildfires, the burning vegetation type, rainfall patterns, riparian vegetation buffers, dispersal by aerosols and currents, seasonal timing and nutrient limitation in the recipient ecosystem. Wildfires might therefore lead to beneficial, albeit temporary, increases in primary productivity, produce no effect or have deleterious consequences, such as the mortality of benthic invertebrates, including corals, from sedimentation, coastal darkening (see below), eutrophication or algal blooms 10 .

Coastal darkening

Coastal ecosystems depend on the penetration of light for primary production by planktonic and attached algae and seagrass. However, climate change and human activities increase light attenuation through changes in dissolved materials modifying water colour and suspended particles. Increased precipitation, storms, permafrost thawing and coastal erosion have led to the ‘browning’ of freshwater ecosystems by elevated organic carbon, iron and particles, all of which are eventually discharged into the ocean 11 . Coastal eutrophication leading to algal blooms compounds this darkening by further blocking light penetration. Additionally, land-use change, dredging and bottom fishing can increase seafloor disturbance, resuspending sediments and increasing turbidity. Such changes could affect ocean chemistry, including photochemical degradation of dissolved organic carbon and generation of toxic chemicals. At moderate intensities, limited spatial scales and during heatwaves, coastal darkening may have some positive impacts such as limiting coral bleaching on shallow reefs 12 but, at high intensities and prolonged spatial and temporal extents, lower light-regimes can contribute to cumulative stressor effects thereby profoundly altering ecosystems. This darkening may result in shifts in species composition, distribution, behaviour and phenology, as well as declines in coastal habitats and their functions (for example, carbon sequestration) 13 .

Increased toxicity of metal pollution due to ocean acidification

Concerns about metal toxicity in the marine environment are increasing as we learn more about the complex interactions between metals and global climate change 14 . Despite tight regulation of polluters and remediation efforts in some countries, the high persistence of metals in contaminated sediments results in the ongoing remobilization of existing metal pollutants by storms, trawling and coastal development, augmented by continuing release of additional contaminants into coastal waters, particularly in urban and industrial areas across the globe 14 . Ocean acidification increases the bioavailability, uptake and toxicity of metals in seawater and sediments, with direct toxicity effects on some marine organisms 15 . Not all biogeochemical changes will result in increased toxicity; in pelagic and deep-sea ecosystems, where trace metals are often deficient, increasing acidity may increase bioavailability and, in shallow waters, stimulate productivity for non-calcifying phytoplankton 16 . However, increased uptake of metals in wild-caught and farmed bivalves linked to ocean acidification could also affect human health, especially given that these species provide 25% of the world’s seafood. The combined effects of ocean acidification and metals could not only increase the levels of contamination in these organisms but could also impact their populations in the future 14 .

Equatorial marine communities are becoming depauperate due to climate migration

Climate change is causing ocean warming, resulting in a poleward shift of existing thermal zones. In response, species are tracking the changing ocean environmental conditions globally, with range shifts moving five times faster than on land 17 . In mid-latitudes and higher latitudes, as some species move away from current distribution ranges, other species from warmer regions can replace them 18 . However, the hottest climatic zones already host the most thermally tolerant species, which cannot be replaced due to their geographical position. Thus, climate change reduces equatorial species richness and has caused the formerly unimodal latitudinal diversity gradient in many communities to now become bimodal. This bimodality (dip in equatorial diversity) is projected to increase within the next 100 years if carbon dioxide emissions are not reduced 19 . The ecological consequences of this decline in equatorial zones are unclear, especially when combined with impacts of increasing human extraction and pollution 20 . Nevertheless, emerging ecological communities in equatorial systems are likely to have reduced resilience and capacity to support ecosystem services and human livelihoods.

Effects of altered nutritional content of fish due to climate change

Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are critical to maintaining human and animal health and fish consumption provides the primary source of EFAs for billions of people. In aquatic ecosystems, phytoplankton synthesize EFAs, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 21 , with pelagic fishes then consuming phytoplankton. However, concentrations of EFAs in fishes vary, with generally higher concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids in slower-growing species from colder waters 22 . Ongoing effects of climate change are impacting the production of EFAs by phytoplankton, with warming waters predicted to reduce the availability of DHA by about 10–58% by 2100 23 ; a 27.8% reduction in available DHA is associated with a 2.5 °C rise in water temperature 21 . Combined with geographical range shifts in response to environmental change affecting the abundance and distribution of fishes, this could lead to a reduction in sufficient quantities of EFAs for fishes, particularly in the tropics 24 . Changes to EFA production by phytoplankton in response to climate change, as shown for Antarctic waters 25 , could have cascading effects on the nutrient content of species further up the food web, with consequences for marine predators and human health 26 .

Resource exploitation

The untapped potential of marine collagens and their impacts on marine ecosystems.

Collagens are structural proteins increasingly used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and biomedical applications. Growing demand for collagen has fuelled recent efforts to find new sources that avoid religious constraints and alleviate risks associated with disease transmission from conventional bovine and porcine sources 27 . The search for alternative sources has revealed an untapped opportunity in marine organisms, such as from fisheries bycatch 28 . However, this new source may discourage efforts to reduce the capture of non-target species. Sponges and jellyfish offer a premium source of marine collagens. While the commercial-scale harvesting of sponges is unlikely to be widely sustainable, there may be some opportunity in sponge aquaculture and jellyfish harvesting, especially in areas where nuisance jellyfish species bloom regularly (for example, Mediterranean and Japan Seas). The use of sharks and other cartilaginous fish to supply marine collagens is of concern given the unprecedented pressure on these species. However, the use of coproducts derived from the fish-processing industry (for example, skin, bones and trims) offers a more sustainable approach to marine collagen production and could actively contribute to the blue bio-economy agenda and foster circularity 29 .

Impacts of expanding trade for fish swim bladders on target and non-target species

In addition to better-known luxury dried seafoods, such as shark fins, abalone and sea cucumbers, there is an increasing demand for fish swim bladders, also known as fish maw 30 . This demand may trigger an expansion of unsustainable harvests of target fish populations, with additional impacts on marine biodiversity through bycatch 30 , 31 . The fish swim-bladder trade has gained a high profile because the overexploitation of totoaba ( Totoaba macdonaldi) has driven both the target population and the vaquita ( Phocoena sinus) (which is bycaught in the Gulf of Mexico fishery) to near extinction 32 . By 2018, totoaba swim bladders were being sold for US$46,000 kg −1 . This extremely lucrative trade disrupts efforts to encourage sustainable fisheries. However, increased demand on the totoaba was itself caused by overexploitation over the last century of the closely related traditional species of choice, the Chinese bahaba ( Bahaba taipingensis) . We now risk both repeating this pattern and increasing its scale of impact, where depletion of a target species causes markets to switch to species across broader taxonomic and biogeographical ranges 31 . Not only does this cascading effect threaten other croakers and target species, such as catfish and pufferfish but maw nets set in more diverse marine habitats are likely to create bycatch of sharks, rays, turtles and other species of conservation concern.

Impacts of fishing for mesopelagic species on the biological ocean carbon pump

Growing concerns about food security have generated interest in harvesting largely unexploited mesopelagic fishes that live at depths of 200–1,000 m (ref. 33 ). Small lanternfishes (Myctophidae) dominate this potentially 10 billion ton community, exceeding the mass of all other marine fishes combined 34 and spanning millions of square kilometres of the open ocean. Mesopelagic fish are generally unsuitable for human consumption but could potentially provide fishmeal for aquaculture 34 or be used for fertilizers. Although we know little of their biology, their diel vertical migration transfers carbon, obtained by feeding in surface waters at night, to deeper waters during the day across many hundreds and even thousands of metres depth where it is released by excretion, egestion and death. This globally important carbon transport pathway contributes to the biological pump 35 and sequesters carbon to the deep sea 36 . Recent estimates put the contribution of all fishes to the biological ocean pump at 16.1% (± s.d. 13%) (ref. 37 ). The potential large-scale removal of mesopelagic fishes could disrupt a major pathway of carbon transport into the ocean depths.

Extraction of lithium from deep-sea brine pools

Global groups, such as the Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative, emphasize increasing concern about the ecosystem impacts from deep-sea resource extraction 38 . The demand for batteries, including for electric vehicles, will probably lead to a demand for lithium that is more than five times its current level by 2030 39 . While concentrations are relatively low in seawater, some deep-sea brines and cold seeps offer higher concentrations of lithium. Furthermore, new technologies, such as solid-state electrolyte membranes, can enrich the concentration of lithium from seawater sources by 43,000 times, increasing the energy efficiency and profitability of lithium extraction from the sea 39 . These factors could divert extraction of lithium resources away from terrestrial to marine mining, with the potential for significant impacts to localized deep-sea brine ecosystems. These brine pools probably host many endemic and genetically distinct species that are largely undiscovered or awaiting formal description. Moreover, the extremophilic species in these environments offer potential sources of marine genetic resources that could be used in new biomedical applications including pharmaceuticals, industrial agents and biomaterials 40 . These concerns point to the need to better quantify and monitor biodiversity in these extreme environments to establish baselines and aid management.

New technologies

Colocation of marine activities.

Climate change, energy needs and food security have moved to the top of global policy agendas 41 . Increasing energy needs, alongside the demands of fisheries and transport infrastructure, have led to the proposal of colocated and multifunctional structures to deliver economic benefits, optimize spatial planning and minimize the environmental impacts of marine activities 42 . These designs often bring technical, social, economic and environmental challenges. Some studies have begun to explore these multipurpose projects (for example, offshore windfarms colocated with aquaculture developments and/or Marine Protected Areas) and how to adapt these concepts to ensure they are ‘fit for purpose’, economically viable and reliable. However, environmental and ecosystem assessment, management and regulatory frameworks for colocated and multi-use structures need to be established to prevent these activities from compounding rather than mitigating the environmental impacts from climate change 43 .

Floating marine cities

In April 2019, the UN-HABITAT programme convened a meeting of scientists, architects, designers and entrepreneurs to discuss how floating cities might be a solution to urban challenges such as climate change and lack of housing associated with a rising human population ( https://unhabitat.org/roundtable-on-floating-cities-at-unhq-calls-for-innovation-to-benefit-all ). The concept of floating marine cities—hubs of floating structures placed at sea—was born in the middle of the twentieth century and updated designs now aim to translate this vision into reality 44 . Oceanic locations provide benefits from wave and tidal renewable energy and food production supported by hydroponic agriculture 45 . Modular designs also offer greater flexibility than traditional static terrestrial cities, whereby accommodation and facilities could be incorporated or removed in response to changes in population or specific events. The cost of construction in harsh offshore environments, rather than technology, currently limits the development of marine cities and potential designs will need to consider the consequences of more frequent and extreme climate events. Although the artificial hard substrates created for these floating cities could act as stepping stones, facilitating species movement in response to climate change 46 , this could also increase the spread of invasive species. Finally, the development of offshore living will raise issues in relation to governance and land ownership that must be addressed for marine cities to be viable 47 .

Trace-element contamination compounded by the global transition to green technologies

The persistent environmental impacts of metal and metalloid trace-element contamination in coastal sediments are now increasing after a long decline 48 . However, the complex sources of contamination challenge their management. The acceleration of the global transition to green technologies, including electric vehicles, will increase demand for batteries by over 10% annually in the coming years 49 . Electric vehicle batteries currently depend almost exclusively on lithium-ion chemistries, with potential trace-element emissions across their life cycle from raw material extraction to recycling or end-of-life disposal. Few jurisdictions treat lithium-ion batteries as harmful waste, enabling landfill disposal with minimal recycling 49 . Cobalt and nickel are the primary ecotoxic elements in next-generation lithium-ion batteries 50 , although there is a drive to develop a cobalt-free alternative likely to contain higher nickel content 50 . Some battery binder and electrolyte chemicals are toxic to aquatic life or form persistent organic pollutants during incomplete burning. Increasing pollution from battery production, recycling and disposal in the next decade could substantially increase the potentially toxic trace-element contamination in marine and coastal systems worldwide.

New underwater tracking systems to study non-surfacing marine animals

The use of tracking data in science and conservation has grown exponentially in recent decades. Most trajectory data collected on marine species to date, however, has been restricted to large and near-surface species, limited by the size of the devices and reliance on radio signals that do not propagate well underwater. New battery-free technology based on acoustic telemetry, named ‘underwater backscatter localization’ (UBL), may allow high-accuracy (<1 m) tracking of animals travelling at any depth and over large distances 51 . Still in the early stages of development, UBL technology has significant potential to help fill knowledge gaps in the distribution and spatial ecology of small, non-surfacing marine species, as well as the early life-history stages of many species 52 , over the next decades. However, the potential negative impacts of this methodology on the behaviour of animals are still to be determined. Ultimately, UBL may inform spatial management both in coastal and offshore regions, as well as in the high seas and address a currently biased perspective of how marine animals use ocean space, which is largely based on near-surface or aerial marine megafauna (for example, ref. 53 ).

Soft robotics for marine research

The application and utility of soft robotics in marine environments is expected to accelerate in the next decade. Soft robotics, using compliant materials inspired by living organisms, could eventually offer increased flexibility at depth because they do not face the same constraints as rigid robots that need pressurized systems to function 54 . This technology could increase our ability to monitor and map the deep sea, with both positive and negative consequences for deep-sea fauna. Soft-grab robots could facilitate collection of delicate samples for biodiversity monitoring but, without careful management, could also add pollutants and waste to these previously unexplored and poorly understood environments 55 . With advancing technology, potential deployment of swarms of small robots could collect basic environmental data to facilitate mapping of the seabed. Currently limited by power supply, energy-harvesting modules are in development that enable soft robots to ‘swallow’ organic material and convert it into power 56 , although this could result in inadvertently harvesting rare deep-sea organisms. Soft robots themselves may also be ingested by predatory species mistaking them for prey. Deployment of soft robotics will require careful monitoring of both its benefits and risks to marine biodiversity.

The effects of new biodegradable materials in the marine environment

Mounting public pressure to address marine plastic pollution has prompted the replacement of some fossil fuel-based plastics with bio-based biodegradable polymers. This consumer pressure is creating an economic incentive to adopt such products rapidly and some companies are promoting their environmental benefits without rigorous toxicity testing and/or life-cycle assessments. Materials such as polybutylene succinate (PBS), polylactic acid (PLA) or cellulose and starch-based materials may become marine litter and cause harmful effects akin to conventional plastics 57 . The long-term and large-scale effect of the use of biodegradable polymers in products (for example, clothing) and the unintended release of byproducts, such as microfibres, into the environment remain unknown. However, some natural microfibres have greater toxicity than plastic microfibres when consumed by aquatic invertebrates 58 . Jurisdictions should enact and enforce suitable regulations to require the individual assessment of all new materials intended to biodegrade in a full range of marine environmental conditions. In addition, testing should include studies on the toxicity of major transition chemicals created during the breakdown process 59 , ideally considering the different trophic levels of marine food webs.

This scan identified three categories of horizon issues: impacts on, and alterations to, ecosystems; changes to resource use and extraction; and the emergence of technologies. While some of the issues discussed, such as improved monitoring of species (underwater tracking and soft robotics) and more sustainable resource use (marine collagens), may have some positive outcomes for marine and coastal biodiversity, most identified issues are expected to have substantial negative impacts if not managed or mitigated appropriately. This imbalance highlights the considerable emerging pressures facing marine ecosystems that are often a byproduct of human activities.

Four issues identified in this scan related to ongoing large-scale (hundreds to many thousands of square kilometres) alterations to marine ecosystems (wildfires, coastal darkening, depauperate equatorial communities and altered nutritional fish content), either through the impacts of global climate change or other human activities. There are already clear impacts of climate change, for example, on stores of blue carbon (for example, ref. 60 ) and small-scale fisheries (for example, ref. 61 ) but the identification of these issues highlights the need for global action that reverses such trends. The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) is now underway, aligning with other decadal policy priorities, including the Sustainable Development Goals ( https://sdgs.un.org/ ), the 2030 targets for biodiversity to be agreed in 2022, the conclusion of the ongoing negotiations on biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions (BBNJ) ( https://www.un.org/bbnj/ ), the UN Conference on Biodiversity (COP15) ( https://www.unep.org/events/conference/un-biodiversity-conference-cop-15 ) and the UN Climate Change Conference 2021 (COP26) ( https://ukcop26.org/ ). While some campaigns to allocate 30% of the ocean to Marine Protected Areas by 2030 are prominently aired 62 , the unintended future consequences of such protection and how to monitor and manage these areas, remain unclear 63 , 64 , 65 .

Another set of issues related to anticipated increases in marine resource use and extraction (swim bladders, marine collagens, lithium extraction and mesopelagic fisheries). The complex issue of mitigating the impacts on marine conservation and biodiversity of exploiting and using newly discovered resources must consider public perceptions of the ocean 66 , 67 , market forces and the sustainable blue economy 68 , 69 .

The final set of issues related to new technological advancements, with many offering more sustainable opportunities, albeit some having potentially unintended negative consequences on marine and coastal biodiversity. For example, trace-element contamination from green technologies and harmful effects of biodegradable products highlights the need to assess the step-changes in impacts from their increased use and avoid the paradox of technologies designed to mitigate the damaging effects of climate change on biodiversity themselves damaging biodiversity. Indeed, the impacts on marine and coastal biodiversity from emerging technologies currently in development (such as underwater tracking or soft robotics) need to be assessed before deployment at scale.

There are limitations to any horizon scanning process that aims to identify global issues and a different group of experts may have identified a different set of issues. By inviting participants from a range of subject backgrounds and global regions and asking them to canvass their network of colleagues and collaborators, we aimed to identify as broad a set of issues as possible. We acknowledge, however, that only about one-quarter of the participants were from non-academic organizations, which may have skewed the submitted issues and how they were voted on. However, others 3 reported no significant correlation between participants’ areas of research expertise and the top issues selected in the horizon scan conducted in 2009. Therefore, horizon scans do not necessarily simply represent issues that reflect the expertise of participants. We also sought to achieve diversity by inviting participants from 22 countries and actively seeking representatives from the global south. However, the final panel of 30 participants spanned only 11 countries, most in the global north. We were forced by the COVID-19 pandemic to hold the scan online and while we hoped that this would enable participants to engage from around the world alleviating broader global inequalities in science 63 , digital inequality was in fact enhanced during the pandemic 70 . Our experience highlights the need for other mechanisms that can promote global representation in these scans.

This Marine and Coastal Horizon Scan seeks to raise awareness of issues that may impact marine and coastal biodiversity conservation in the next 5–10 years. Our aim is to bring these issues to the attention of scientists, policymakers, practitioners and the wider community, either directly, through social networks or the mainstream media. Whilst it is almost impossible to determine whether issues gained prominence as a direct result of a horizon scan, some issues featured in previous scans have seen growth in reporting and awareness. Others 3 found that 71% of topics identified in the Horizon Scan in 2009 had seen an increase in their importance over the next 10 years. Issues such as microplastics and invasive lionfish had received increased research and investment from scientists, funders, managers and policymakers to understand their impacts and the horizon scans may have helped motivate this increase. Horizon scans, therefore, should primarily act as signposts, putting focus onto particular issues and providing support for researchers and practitioners to seek investment in these areas.

Whilst recognizing that marine and coastal environments are complex social-ecological systems, the role of governance, policy and litigation on all areas of marine science needs to be developed, as it is yet to be established to the same extent as in terrestrial ecosystems 71 . Indeed, tackling many of the issues presented in this scan will require an understanding of the human dimensions relating to these issues, through fields of research including but not limited to ocean literacy 72 , 73 , social justice, equity 74 and human health 75 . Importantly, however, horizon scanning has proved an efficient tool in identifying issues that have subsequently come to the forefront of public knowledge and policy decisions, while also helping to focus future research. The scale of the issues facing marine and coastal areas emphasizes the need to identify and prioritize, at an early stage, those issues specifically facing marine ecosystems, especially within this UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

Identification of issues

In March 2021, we brought together a core team of 11 participants from a broad range of marine and coastal disciplines. The core team suggested names of individuals outside their subject area who were also invited to participate in the horizon scan. To ensure we included as many different subject areas as possible within marine and coastal conservation, we selected one individual from each discipline. Our panel of experts comprised 30 (37% female) marine and coastal scientists, policymakers and practitioners (27% from non-academic institutions), with cross-disciplinary expertise in ecology (including tropical, temperate, polar and deep-sea ecosystems), palaeoecology, conservation, oceanography, climate change, ecotoxicology, technology, engineering and marine social sciences (including governance, blue economy and ocean literacy). Participants were invited from 22 countries across six continents, resulting in a final panel of 30 experts from 11 countries (Europe n  = 17 (including the three organizers); North America and Caribbean n  = 4; South America n  = 3; Australasia n  = 3; Asia n  = 1; Africa n  = 2). All experts co-authored this paper.

To reduce the potential for bias in the identification of suitable issues, each participant was invited to consult their own network and required to submit two to five issues that they considered new and likely to have a positive or negative impact on marine and coastal biodiversity conservation in the next 5–10 years ( Supplementary Information text describes instructions given to participants). Each issue was described in paragraphs of ~200 words (plus references). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, participants relied mainly on virtual meetings and online communication using email, social-media platforms, online conferences and networking events. Through these channels ~680 people were canvassed by the participants, counting all direct in-person or online discussions as individual contacts but treating social-media posts or generic emails as a single contact. This process resulted in a long list of 75 issues that were considered in the first round of scoring (see Supplementary Table 1 for the full list of initially submitted issues).

Round 1 scoring

The initial list of proposed issues was then shortened through a scoring process. We used a modified Delphi-style 76 voting process, which has been consistently applied in horizon scans since 2009 (refs. 4 , 77 ) (see Fig. 2 for the stepwise process). This process ensured that consideration and selection of issues remained repeatable, transparent and inclusive. Panel members were asked to confidentially and independently score the long list of 75 issues from 1 (low) to 1,000 (high) on the basis of the following criteria:

Whether the issue is new (with ‘new’ issues scoring higher) or is a well-known issue likely to exhibit a significant step-change in impact

Whether the issue is likely to be important and impactful over the next 5–10 years

Whether the issue specifically impacts marine and coastal biodiversity

Left and right columns show the process for the first and second rounds of scoring, respectively.

Participants were also asked whether they had heard of the issue or not.

‘Voter fatigue’ can result in issues at the end of a lengthy list not receiving the same consideration as those at the beginning 76 . We counteracted this potential bias by randomly assigning participants to one of three differently ordered long-lists of issues. Participants’ scores were converted to ranks (1–75). We had aimed to retain the top 30 issues with the highest median ranks for the second round of assessment at the workshop but kept 31 issues because two issues achieved equal median ranks. In addition, we identified one issue that had been incorrectly grouped with three others and presented this as a separate issue. The subsequent online workshop to discuss this shortlist, therefore, considered the top-ranked 32 issues (Fig. 3a ) (see Supplementary Table 2 for the full list).

a , Round 1. Each point represents an individual issue. For all issue titles, see Supplementary Table 1 . Issues in dark blue were retained for the second round. Issues that were ranked higher were generally those that participants had not heard of (Spearman rank correlation = 0.38, P  < 0.001). b , Round 2. Scores as in round 1. For titles of the second round of 32 issues, see Supplementary Table 2 . The 15 final issues (marked in red) achieved the top ranks (horizontal dashed line) and had only been heard of by 50% of participants (vertical dashed line). Red circles, squares and triangles denote issues relating to ecosystem impacts, resource exploitation and new technologies, respectively. The two grey issues marked with crosses were discounted during final discussions because participants could not identify the horizon component of these issues.

Source data

Workshop and round 2 scoring.

Before the workshop, each participant was assigned up to four of the 32 issues to research in more detail and contribute further information to the discussion. We convened a one-day workshop online in September 2021. The geographic spread of participants meant that time zones spanned 17 h. Despite these constraints, discussions remained detailed, focused, varied and lively. In addition, participants made use of the chat function on the platform to add notes, links to articles and comments to the discussion. After discussing each issue, participants re-scored the topic (1–1,000, low to high) based on novelty and the issue’s importance for, and probable impact on, marine and coastal biodiversity (3 participants out of 30 did not score all issues and therefore their scores were discounted). At the end of the selection process, scores were again converted to ranks and collated. Highest-ranked issues were then discussed by correspondence focusing on the same three criteria as outlined above, after which the top 15 horizon issues were selected (Fig. 3b ).

Reporting summary

Further information on research design is available in the Nature Research Reporting Summary linked to this article.

Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from figshare https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.19703485.v1 . Source data are provided with this paper.

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Acknowledgements

This Marine and Coastal Horizon Scan was funded by Oceankind. S.N.R.B. is supported by EcoStar (DM048) and Cefas (My time). R.C. acknowledges FCT/MCTES for the financial support to CESAM (UIDP/50017/2020, UIDB/50017/2020, LA/P/0094/2020) through national funds. O.D. is supported by CSIC Uruguay and Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. J.E.H.-R. is supported by the Whitten Lectureship in Marine Biology. S.A.K. is supported by a Natural Environment Research Council grant (NE/S00050X/1). P.I.M. is supported by an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant (DP200100575). D.M.P. is supported by the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS). A.R.P. is supported by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. W.J.S. is funded by Arcadia. A.T. is supported by Oceankind. M.Y. is supported by the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative and bioDISCOVERY. We are grateful to everyone who submitted ideas to the exercise and the following who are not authors but who suggested a topic that made the final list: R. Brown (colocation of marine activities), N. Graham and C. Hicks (altered nutritional content of fish), A. Thornton (soft robotics), A. Vincent (fish swim bladders) and T. Webb (mesopelagic fisheries).

Author information

These authors contributed equally: James E. Herbert-Read, Ann Thornton.

Authors and Affiliations

Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

James E. Herbert-Read

Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK

Ann Thornton, Thomas A. Worthington & William J. Sutherland

SpeSeas, D’Abadie, Trinidad and Tobago

Diva J. Amon

Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA

The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, UK

Silvana N. R. Birchenough

Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

Isabelle M. Côté

Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Department of Animal Biology, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

Maria P. Dias

BirdLife International, The David Attenborough Building, Cambridge, UK

Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK

Brendan J. Godley

Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK

Sally A. Keith

School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

Emma McKinley

British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, UK

Lloyd S. Peck

ECOMARE, CESAM—Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Santiago University Campus, Aveiro, Portugal

Ricardo Calado

Laboratory of Marine Sciences (UNDECIMAR), Faculty of Sciences, University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay

Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Operational Directorate Natural Environment, Marine Ecology and Management, Brussels, Belgium

Steven Degraer

School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Emma L. Johnston

Finnish Environment Institute, Helsinki, Finland

Hermanni Kaartokallio

Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood Campus, Burwood, Victoria, Australia

Peter I. Macreadie

Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Anna Metaxas

Department of Biology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

Agnes W. N. Muthumbi

Coastal Oceans Research and Development in the Indian Ocean, Mombasa, Kenya

David O. Obura

School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK

David M. Paterson

Servício de Hidrografía Naval, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Alberto R. Piola

Instituto Franco-Argentino sobre Estudios de Clima y sus Impactos, CONICET/CNRS, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Anthony J. Richardson

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Oceans and Atmosphere, Queensland Biosciences Precinct, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Instituto Antártico Argentino, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Irene R. Schloss

Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC-CONICET), Ushuaia, Argentina

Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur, Ushuaia, Argentina

Department of Ocean Sciences and Biology Department, Memorial University, St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Paul V. R. Snelgrove

Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York, UK

Bryce D. Stewart

Lighthouse Field Station, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cromarty, UK

Paul M. Thompson

Institute of Marine Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK

Gordon J. Watson

School of Biological Sciences, Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, Swire Institute of Marine Science, Institute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality, Musketeers Foundation Institute of Data Science, and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, The University of Hong Kong, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, Hong Kong, China

Moriaki Yasuhara

Biosecurity Research Initiative at St Catharine’s (BioRISC), St Catharine’s College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

William J. Sutherland

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Contributions

J.E.H.-R. and A.T. contributed equally to the manuscript. J.E.H.-R., A.T. and W.J.S. devised, organized and led the Marine and Coastal Horizon Scan. D.J.A., S.N.R.B., I.M.C., M.P.D., B.J.G., S.A.K., E.M. and L.S.P. formed the core team and are listed alphabetically in the author list. All other authors, R.C., O.D., S.D., E.L.J., H.K., P.I.M., A.M., A.W.N.M., D.O.O., D.M.P., A.R.P., A.J.R., I.R.S., P.V.R.S., B.D.S., P.M.T., G.J.W., T.A.W. and M.Y. are listed alphabetically. All authors contributed to and participated in the process and all were involved in writing and editing the manuscript.

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Correspondence to James E. Herbert-Read or Ann Thornton .

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Herbert-Read, J.E., Thornton, A., Amon, D.J. et al. A global horizon scan of issues impacting marine and coastal biodiversity conservation. Nat Ecol Evol 6 , 1262–1270 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-022-01812-0

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Five ocean research topics to inspire your next paper [guide for students]

Beth Dempsey

Senior Manager, Content Marketing, Academia

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Digital Commons @ USF > College of Marine Science > Theses and Dissertations

Marine Science Theses and Dissertations

Theses/dissertations from 2023 2023.

Environmental chemical analysis method optimization and application to northwest Cuban marine sediment , Thea R. Bartlett

Exploring the Impact of Eddies on Southern Ocean Biogeochemical Structure using BGC-Argo Float Observations , Nicola J. Guisewhite

Meta-Analysis of United States Seabird Populations Based on Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) Records (1965–2018) , Savannah Hartman

Stable Isotopic Investigation of the Hydrological Cycle of West-Central Florida , Toedsit Netratanawong

Examining paleoshorelines in the eastern Gulf of Mexico: Insights on sea level history and potential areas of interest for habitat management , Catalina Rubiano

Stable Isotope Analysis on Yellowfin and Blackfin Tuna Eye Lenses Reveals Life History Patterns in the Gulf of Mexico , Kylee M. Rullo

Stable Isotope Analysis of Doryteuthis (Amerigo) pealeii Eye Lenses to Determine Migratory Patterns in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Using Statoliths for Age Determination , Hannah M. Schwaiger

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

The effects of temperature and oxygen availability on aerobic performance in three coastal shark species; Squalus acanthias, Carcharhinus limbatus, and Carcharhinus leucas , Alyssa M. Andres

Continuous Effort Required to Maintain Populations of Outplanted Acropora cervicornis in the Florida Reef Tract, USA , Tiffany S. Boisvert

Elucidating the Sources Supplying Aerosol Iron, Zinc, and Cadmium to the Surface of the North Pacific Ocean with Stable Isotopes , Zach B. Bunnell

Quantifying Environmental Sensitivity of Marine Resources to Oil Well Blowouts in the Gulf of Mexico , Emily Chancellor

Zooplankton Biodiversity in the Northeast Gulf of Mexico and on the West Florida Shelf from 2005 - 2014 , Megan Ferguson

Coupling 210 Pb and 14 C to constrain carbon burial efficiency of blue carbon ecosystems , Tynisha R. Martin

Empirical and Modeled δ13C and δ15N Isoscapes in the Gulf of Mexico and their Application to Fish Eye Lens Migration Studies , Brianna Michaud

Interactions between juvenile estuary-dependent fishes and microalgal dynamics , Ian C. Williams

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Metabolic Rate, Critical Oxygen Partial Pressure, and Oxygen Supply Capacity of Farfantepenaeus duorarum at their Lower Thermal Limit , Alexandra L. Burns

From River to Sea: Improving Carbon System Measurement Methods for use in Rivers, Estuaries, and Oceans , Ellie Hudson-Heck

Riverine and Estuarine CO2-System Studies on the West Coast of Florida , Christopher S. Moore

Past Ice-Ocean Interactions on the Sabrina Coast shelf, East Antarctica: Deglacial to Recent Paleoenvironmental Insights from Marine Sediments , Kara J. Vadman

Investigating the Recent History of a Changing Planet with Innovative Isotopic Techniques and New Geologic Archives , Ryan A. Venturelli

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Testing the Efficacy of Recompression Tools to Reduce the Discard Mortality of Reef Fishes in the Gulf of Mexico , Oscar E. Ayala

Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Organochlorine Pesticides, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Snapper (Family Lutjanidae) from Cuba and the Wider Gulf of Mexico , Brigid E. Carr

A Health Evaluation of Gulf of Mexico Golden Tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) and Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) Following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill , Kristina Leigh Deak

A Process-based Approach to Evaluating the Role of Organic Ligands in Trace Metal Cycling in the Marine Environment , Travis Mellett

Investigation of Retention Versus Export of Planktonic Fish Eggs in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico , Bich Vi Viviane Nguyen

Development of a Benthic Foraminifera Based Marine Biotic Index (Foram-AMBI) for the Gulf of Mexico: a Decision Support Tool , Bryan O'Malley

Plio-Pleistocene Antarctic Ice-Ocean Interactions in the Ross Sea , Catherine Prunella

Mechanisms of Carbon Movement and Stabilization in Mangrove Wetlands , Carey Schafer

Hepatobiliary Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Pelagic Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico , Madison R. Schwaab

Analytical Methods and Critical Analyses Supporting Thermodynamically Consistent Characterizations of the Marine CO 2 System , Jonathan D. Sharp

Large Thecosome Pteropods of the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Species Abundance, Spatial and Vertical Distribution With a Temporal Comparison of Shell Thickness , Sarah M. Shedler

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure, Hepatic Accumulation, and Associated Health Impacts in Gulf of Mexico Tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) , Susan M. Snyder

Investigating the Isotope Signatures of Dissolved Iron in the Southern Atlantic Ocean , Brent A. Summers

Modeling Early Life: Ontogenetic Growth and Behavior Affect Population Connectivity in Gulf of Mexico Marine Fish , Kelly Vasbinder

Isotope-Based Methods for Evaluating Fish Trophic Geographies , Julie L. Vecchio

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Use of Spectrofluorometry to Detect Petroleum Hydrocarbons in the Marine Environment , Mary Iris Abercrombie

Can Florida's Springs Coast provide a Potential Refuge for Calcifying Organisms? Evidence from Benthic Foraminifera , Kyle E. Amergian

Iron-Virus Interactions: Development and Testing of the Ferrojan Horse Hypothesis , Chelsea Bonnain

DNA Barcoding of Fish Eggs in the Gulf of Mexico , Makenzie Burrows

Ecological Responses of Seascape Heterogeneity , Dinorah H. Chacin

Species Abundance, Spatial and Vertical Distributionsof Large Heteropods (Pterotracheidae and Carinariidae)in the Northern Gulf of Mexico , Kristine A. Clark

Zooplankton Community Structure in the NE Gulf of Mexico: Impacts of Environmental Variability and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill , Kate M. Dubickas

Life History Through the Eyes of a Hogfish: Evidence of Trophic Growth and Differential Juvenile Habitat Use , Meaghan E. Faletti

Population Demographics of Golden Tilefish Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps in the Gulf of Mexico , Greta J. Helmueller

Regeneration of Trace Metals During Phytoplankton Decay: An Experimental Study , Adrienne P. Hollister

Estimating Coastal Water Turbidity Using VIIRS Nighttime Measurement , Chih-Wei Huang

Untapped Potential of Gorgonian Octocorals for Detecting Environmental Change in Biscayne National Park, Florida, USA , Selena A. Kupfner Johnson

High-Resolution Investigation of Event Driven Sedimentation: Response and Evolution of the Deepwater Horizon Blowout in the Sedimentary System , Rebekka A. Larson

Variations of Sedimentary Biogenic silica in the Gulf of Mexico during the Deepwater Horizon and IXTOC-I Oil Spill. , Jong Jin Lee

Variations of Global Ocean Salinity from Multiple Gridded Argo Products , Chao Liu

Fish Communities on Natural and Artificial Reefs in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico , Elizabeth C. Viau

Reconstructing Geographic and Trophic Histories of Fish Using Bulk and Compound-Specific Stable Isotopes from Eye Lenses , Amy A. Wallace

Studies of the Long-term Change of Global Mean and Regional Sea Surface Height , Yingli Zhu

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Ecophysiology of Oxygen Supply in Cephalopods , Matthew A. Birk

Remote Estimation of Surface Water p CO 2 in the Gulf of Mexico , Shuangling Chen

Spatial Dynamics and Productivity of a Gulf of Mexico Commercial Reef Fish Fishery Following Large Scale Disturbance and Management Change , Marcy Lynn Cockrell

Quantifying the Probability of Lethal Injury to Florida Manatees Given Characteristics of Collision Events. , B. Lynn Combs

Diversity of ssDNA Phages Related to the Family Microviridae within the Ciona robusta Gut , Alexandria Creasy

Use of a Towed Camera System along the west Florida shelf: A Case Study of the Florida Middle Grounds Benthic Marine Communities , Katie S. Davis

Using Ecosystem-Based Modeling to Describe an Oil Spill and Assess the Long-Term Effects , Lindsey N. Dornberger

Extending Spectrophotometric pHT Measurements in Coastal and Estuarine Environments , Nora Katherine Douglas

Evaluating the use of larval connectivity information in fisheries models and management in the Gulf of Mexico , Michael Drexler

An Interdisciplinary Approach to Understanding Predator-Prey Relationships in a Changing Ocean: From System Design to Education , Ileana M. Freytes-Ortiz

Application of Image Recognition Technology to Foraminiferal Assemblage Analyses , Christian Helmut Gfatter

Evaluation of trace-metal and isotopic records as techniques for tracking lifetime movement patterns in fishes , Jennifer E. Granneman

The Stability of Sand Waves in a Tidally-Influenced Shipping Channel, Tampa Bay, Florida , John Willis Gray

Application of Modern Foraminiferal Assemblages to Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction: Case Studies from Coastal and Shelf Environments , Christian Haller

Integrating Towed Underwater Video with Multibeam Acoustics for Mapping Benthic Habitat and Assessing Reef Fish Communities on the West Florida Shelf , Alexander Ross Ilich

Evaluating Beach Water Quality and Dengue Fever Risk Factors by Satellite Remote Sensing and Artificial Neural Networks , Abdiel Elias Laureano-Rosario

Microbial Associations of Four Species of Algal Symbiont-Bearing Foraminifera from the Florida Reef Tract, USA , Makenna May Martin

Environmental controls on the geochemistry of Globorotalia truncatulinoides in the Gulf of Mexico: Implications for paleoceanographic reconstructions , Caitlin Elizabeth Reynolds

Dormancy in the Amphistegina gibbosa Holobiont: Ecological and Evolutionary Implications for the Foraminifera , Benjamin J. Ross

Optical Remote Sensing of Oil Spills in the Gulf of Mexico , Shaojie Sun

Spatial and Temporal Distributions of Pelagic Sargassum in the Intra-Americas Sea and Atlantic Ocean , Mengqiu Wang

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

Packaging of Genetic Material by Gene Transfer Agents (GTAs) Produced by Marine Roseobacter Species and Their Effect on Stimulating Bacterial Growth , Shahd Bader Aljandal

Spatio-temporal Dynamics of Soil Composition and Accumulation Rates in Mangrove Wetlands , Joshua L. Breithaupt

Characterizing Benthic Habitats Using Multibeam Sonar and Towed Underwater Video in Two Marine Protected Areas on the West Florida Shelf, USA , Jennifer L. Brizzolara

Latitudinal Position and Trends of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and its Relationship with Upwelling in the Southern Caribbean Sea and Global Climate Indices , Kaitlyn E. Colna

Calibration-free Spectrophotometric Measurements of Carbonate Saturation States in Seawater , Erin E. Cuyler

Viruses in marine animals: Discovery, detection, and characterizarion , Elizabeth Fahsbender

Quantity Trumps Quality: Bayesian Statistical Accumulation Modeling Guides Radiocarbon Measurements to Construct a Chronology in Real-time , Devon Robert Firesinger

Characterizing Gross Lesions in Corals on Fringing Reefs of Taiwan and Hainan Island, China , Adrienne George

Reef Fish Biodiversity in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary , Megan E. Hepner

Investigating Marine Resources in the Gulf of Mexico at Multiple Spatial and Temporal Scales of Inquiry , Joshua Paul Kilborn

Southern Ocean Transport by Combining Satellite Altimetry and Temperature/Salinity Profile Data , Michael Kosempa

Role of viruses within metaorganisms: Ciona intestinalis as a model system , Brittany A. Leigh

Evaluating satellite and supercomputing technologies for improved coastal ecosystem assessments , Matthew James Mccarthy

Stable Isotopes in the Eye Lenses of Doryteuthis plei: Exploring Natal Origins and Migratory Patterns in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico , Brenna A. Meath

Genetic Identification and Population Characteristics of Deep-Sea Cephalopod Species in the Gulf of Mexico and Northwestern Atlantic Ocean , Amanda Sosnowski

Investigation of Sediment Ridges Using Bathymetry and Backscatter near Clearwater, Florida , Lewis Stewart

Resolving chronological and temperature constraints on Antarctic deglacial evolution through improved dating methodology , Cristina Subt

Subtropical benthos vary with reef type, depth, and grazing intensity , Kara R. Wall

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Diversity and Distribution of Diatom Endosymbionts in Amphistegina spp. (Foraminifera) Based on Molecular and Morphological Techniques , Kwasi H. Barnes

Abundance of Archaias angulatus on the West Florida Coast Indicates the Influence of Carbonate Alkalinity over Salinity , Sean Thomas Beckwith

Resource Use Overlap in a Native Grouper and Invasive Lionfish , Joseph Schmidt Curtis

Miocene Contourite Deposition (along-slope) near DeSoto Canyon, Gulf of Mexico: A Product of an Enhanced Paleo-Loop Current , Shane Christopher Dunn

Trophic Ecology and Habitat Use of Atlantic Tarpon ( Megalops atlanticus ) , Benjamin Neal Kurth

Characterization of Bacterial Diversity in Cold-Water Anthothelidae Corals , Stephanie Nichole Lawler

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· Wave Hydrodynamics: Basic problems related to wave motion, wave forces, wave-structure interference.

· Wind Waves: Studies on wave climate, wave forecasting, wave statistics, wave spectrum, wave measurements.

· Coastal Hydraulics: Measuring and mathematical modeling of sea currents, tide, wind drifted currents and wave hydrodynamics, water level variations, layered flow.

· Coastal Sedimentation: Longshore Transport of bed material, variations in sea bed and shoreline, preventing sedimentation at harbor entrances and river outlets, dredging.

· Coastal Pollution: Diffusion and dispersion of pollutants in seas, mathematical modelling and planning of ocean outfall structures for polluted water, water intake structures.

· Coastal and Harbor Structures: Rubble-mound breakwater, floating breakwaters, quays and wharves, structures on piles, off-shore structures, underwater pipelines, seismic design of coastal and ocean structures.

· Harbor Engineering: Harbor planning, economic studies, simulation, feasibility studies, operational planning of harbors, oscillations and currents within harbors, harbor pollution, ship berthing loads.

· Field Measurements: Wave, wind, current, tidal wave, beach topography measurements.

· Dive Inspection: Investigation by diving and documentation by underwater video camera and camera of the coastal and harbor structures and submarine pipelines.

· Assessment of marine hazards: Resilience against hazards, sea level rise, storm and storm surge, cost-effective solutions, warning systems.

· Coastal Zone Management: sustainable resource development and ecocoastal engineering; carrying capacity assessment; beach management; marine and coastal protected area management; vulnerability and risk assessment

· Marine Renewable Energy: offshore wind energy potential, wave energy potential, current energy, osmotic energy, site selection

· Tsunamis and tropical cyclones: modeling of tsunamis and tropical cyclones, hazard assessment, risk assessment, mitigation strategies

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Top 150 Mechanical Engineering Research Topics [Updated]

Mechanical engineering is an intriguing discipline that holds significant sway in shaping our world. With a focus on crafting inventive machinery and fostering sustainable energy initiatives, mechanical engineers stand as pioneers in driving technological progress. However, to make meaningful contributions to the field, researchers must carefully choose their topics of study. In this blog, we’ll delve into various mechanical engineering research topics, ranging from fundamental principles to emerging trends and interdisciplinary applications.

How to Select Mechanical Engineering Research Topics?

Table of Contents

Selecting the right mechanical engineering research topics is crucial for driving impactful innovation and addressing pressing challenges. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you choose the best research topics:

• Identify Your Interests: Start by considering your passions and areas of expertise within mechanical engineering. What topics excite you the most? Choosing a subject that aligns with your interests will keep you motivated throughout the research process.
• Assess Current Trends: Stay updated on the latest developments and trends in mechanical engineering. Look for emerging technologies, pressing industry challenges, and areas with significant research gaps. These trends can guide you towards relevant and timely research topics.
• Conduct Literature Review: Dive into existing literature and research papers within your field of interest. Identify gaps in knowledge, unanswered questions, or areas that warrant further investigation. Building upon existing research can lead to more impactful contributions to the field.
• Consider Practical Applications: Evaluate the practical implications of potential research topics. How will your research address real-world problems or benefit society? Choosing topics with tangible applications can increase the relevance and impact of your research outcomes.
• Consult with Advisors and Peers: Seek guidance from experienced mentors, advisors, or peers in the field of mechanical engineering. Discuss your research interests and potential topics with them to gain valuable insights and feedback. Their expertise can help you refine your ideas and select the most promising topics.
• Define Research Objectives: Clearly define the objectives and scope of your research. What specific questions do you aim to answer or problems do you intend to solve? Establishing clear research goals will guide your topic selection process and keep your project focused.
• Consider Resources and Constraints: Take into account the resources, expertise, and time available for your research. Choose topics that are feasible within your constraints and align with your available resources. Balancing ambition with practicality is essential for successful research endeavors.
• Brainstorm and Narrow Down Options: Generate a list of potential research topics through brainstorming and exploration. Narrow down your options based on criteria such as relevance, feasibility, and alignment with your interests and goals. Choose the most promising topics that offer ample opportunities for exploration and discovery.
• Seek Feedback and Refinement: Once you’ve identified potential research topics, seek feedback from colleagues, advisors, or experts in the field. Refine your ideas based on their input and suggestions. Iteratively refining your topic selection process will lead to a more robust and well-defined research proposal.
• Stay Flexible and Open-Minded: Remain open to new ideas and opportunities as you progress through the research process. Be willing to adjust your research topic or direction based on new insights, challenges, or discoveries. Flexibility and adaptability are key qualities for successful research endeavors in mechanical engineering.

By following these steps and considering various factors, you can effectively select mechanical engineering research topics that align with your interests, goals, and the needs of the field.

Top 50 Mechanical Engineering Research Topics For Beginners

• Analysis of the efficiency of different heat exchanger designs.
• Optimization of airfoil shapes for enhanced aerodynamic performance.
• Investigation of renewable energy harvesting using piezoelectric materials.
• Development of smart materials for adaptive structures in aerospace applications.
• Study of vibration damping techniques for improving vehicle ride comfort.
• Design and optimization of suspension systems for off-road vehicles.
• Analysis of fluid flow characteristics in microchannels for cooling electronics.
• Evaluation of the performance of different brake systems in automotive vehicles.
• Development of lightweight materials for automotive and aerospace industries.
• Investigation of the effects of friction stir welding parameters on joint properties.
• Design and testing of a small-scale wind turbine for rural electrification.
• Study of the dynamics of flexible multibody systems in robotics.
• Development of a low-cost prosthetic limb using 3D printing technology.
• Analysis of heat transfer in electronic packaging for thermal management.
• Investigation of energy harvesting from vehicle suspension systems.
• Design and optimization of heat sinks for electronic cooling applications.
• Study of material degradation in composite structures under various loading conditions.
• Development of bio-inspired robotic mechanisms for locomotion.
• Investigation of the performance of regenerative braking systems in electric vehicles.
• Design and analysis of an autonomous agricultural robot for crop monitoring.
• Optimization of gas turbine blade profiles for improved efficiency.
• Study of the aerodynamics of animal-inspired flying robots (bio-drones).
• Development of advanced control algorithms for robotic manipulators.
• Analysis of wear mechanisms in mechanical components under different operating conditions.
• Investigation of the efficiency of solar water heating systems.
• Design and optimization of microfluidic devices for biomedical applications.
• Study of the effects of additive manufacturing parameters on part quality.
• Development of assistive devices for individuals with disabilities.
• Analysis of the performance of different types of bearings in rotating machinery.
• Investigation of the feasibility of using shape memory alloys in actuator systems.
• Design and optimization of a compact heat exchanger for space applications.
• Study of the effects of surface roughness on friction and wear in sliding contacts.
• Development of energy-efficient HVAC systems for buildings.
• Analysis of the performance of different types of fuel cells for power generation.
• Investigation of the feasibility of using biofuels in internal combustion engines.
• Design and testing of a micro-scale combustion engine for portable power generation.
• Study of the mechanics of soft materials for biomedical applications.
• Development of exoskeletons for rehabilitation and assistance in mobility.
• Analysis of the effects of vehicle aerodynamics on fuel consumption.
• Investigation of the potential of ocean wave energy harvesting technologies.
• Design and optimization of energy-efficient refrigeration systems.
• Study of the dynamics of flexible structures subjected to dynamic loads.
• Development of sensors and actuators for structural health monitoring.
• Analysis of the performance of different cooling techniques in electronics.
• Investigation of the potential of hydrogen fuel cells for automotive applications.
• Design and testing of a small-scale hydroelectric power generator.
• Study of the mechanics of cellular materials for impact absorption.
• Development of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for environmental monitoring.
• Analysis of the efficiency of different propulsion systems in space exploration.
• Investigation of the potential of micro-scale energy harvesting technologies for powering wireless sensors.

Top 50 Mechanical Engineering Research Topics For Intermediate

• Optimization of heat exchanger designs for enhanced energy efficiency.
• Investigating the effects of surface roughness on fluid flow in microchannels.
• Development of lightweight materials for automotive applications.
• Modeling and simulation of combustion processes in internal combustion engines.
• Design and analysis of novel wind turbine blade configurations.
• Study of advanced control strategies for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
• Analysis of wear and friction in mechanical components under varying operating conditions.
• Investigation of thermal management techniques for high-power electronic devices.
• Development of smart materials for shape memory alloys in actuator applications.
• Design and fabrication of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for biomedical applications.
• Optimization of additive manufacturing processes for metal 3D printing.
• Study of fluid-structure interaction in flexible marine structures.
• Analysis of fatigue behavior in composite materials for aerospace applications.
• Development of energy harvesting technologies for sustainable power generation.
• Investigation of bio-inspired robotics for locomotion in challenging environments.
• Study of human factors in the design of ergonomic workstations.
• Design and control of soft robots for delicate manipulation tasks.
• Development of advanced sensor technologies for condition monitoring in rotating machinery.
• Analysis of aerodynamic performance in hypersonic flight vehicles.
• Study of regenerative braking systems for electric vehicles.
• Optimization of cooling systems for high-performance computing (HPC) applications.
• Investigation of fluid dynamics in microfluidic devices for lab-on-a-chip applications.
• Design and optimization of passive and active vibration control systems.
• Analysis of heat transfer mechanisms in nanofluids for thermal management.
• Development of energy-efficient HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems.
• Study of biomimetic design principles for robotic grippers and manipulators.
• Investigation of hydrodynamic performance in marine propeller designs.
• Development of autonomous agricultural robots for precision farming.
• Analysis of wind-induced vibrations in tall buildings and bridges.
• Optimization of material properties for additive manufacturing of aerospace components.
• Study of renewable energy integration in smart grid systems.
• Investigation of fracture mechanics in brittle materials for structural integrity assessment.
• Development of wearable sensors for human motion tracking and biomechanical analysis.
• Analysis of combustion instability in gas turbine engines.
• Optimization of thermal insulation materials for building energy efficiency.
• Study of fluid-structure interaction in flexible wing designs for unmanned aerial vehicles.
• Investigation of heat transfer enhancement techniques in heat exchanger surfaces.
• Development of microscale actuators for micro-robotic systems.
• Analysis of energy storage technologies for grid-scale applications.
• Optimization of manufacturing processes for lightweight automotive structures.
• Study of tribological behavior in lubricated mechanical systems.
• Investigation of fault detection and diagnosis techniques for industrial machinery.
• Development of biodegradable materials for sustainable packaging applications.
• Analysis of heat transfer in porous media for thermal energy storage.
• Optimization of control strategies for robotic manipulation tasks in uncertain environments.
• Study of fluid dynamics in fuel cell systems for renewable energy conversion.
• Investigation of fatigue crack propagation in metallic alloys.
• Development of energy-efficient propulsion systems for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs).
• Analysis of airflow patterns in natural ventilation systems for buildings.
• Optimization of material selection for additive manufacturing of biomedical implants.

Top 50 Mechanical Engineering Research Topics For Advanced

• Development of advanced materials for high-temperature applications
• Optimization of heat exchanger design using computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
• Control strategies for enhancing the performance of micro-scale heat transfer devices
• Multi-physics modeling and simulation of thermoelastic damping in MEMS/NEMS devices
• Design and analysis of next-generation turbofan engines for aircraft propulsion
• Investigation of advanced cooling techniques for electronic devices in harsh environments
• Development of novel nanomaterials for efficient energy conversion and storage
• Optimization of piezoelectric energy harvesting systems for powering wireless sensor networks
• Investigation of microscale heat transfer phenomena in advanced cooling technologies
• Design and optimization of advanced composite materials for aerospace applications
• Development of bio-inspired materials for impact-resistant structures
• Exploration of advanced manufacturing techniques for producing complex geometries in aerospace components
• Integration of artificial intelligence algorithms for predictive maintenance in rotating machinery
• Design and optimization of advanced robotics systems for industrial automation
• Investigation of friction and wear behavior in advanced lubricants for high-speed applications
• Development of smart materials for adaptive structures and morphing aircraft wings
• Exploration of advanced control strategies for active vibration damping in mechanical systems
• Design and analysis of advanced wind turbine blade designs for improved energy capture
• Investigation of thermal management solutions for electric vehicle batteries
• Development of advanced sensors for real-time monitoring of structural health in civil infrastructure
• Optimization of additive manufacturing processes for producing high-performance metallic components
• Investigation of advanced corrosion-resistant coatings for marine applications
• Design and analysis of advanced hydraulic systems for heavy-duty machinery
• Exploration of advanced filtration technologies for water purification and wastewater treatment
• Development of advanced prosthetic limbs with biomimetic functionalities
• Investigation of microscale fluid flow phenomena in lab-on-a-chip devices for medical diagnostics
• Optimization of heat transfer in microscale heat exchangers for cooling electronics
• Development of advanced energy-efficient HVAC systems for buildings
• Exploration of advanced propulsion systems for space exploration missions
• Investigation of advanced control algorithms for autonomous vehicles in complex environments
• Development of advanced surgical robots for minimally invasive procedures
• Optimization of advanced suspension systems for improving vehicle ride comfort and handling
• Investigation of advanced materials for 3D printing in aerospace manufacturing
• Development of advanced thermal barrier coatings for gas turbine engines
• Exploration of advanced wear-resistant coatings for cutting tools in machining applications
• Investigation of advanced nanofluids for enhanced heat transfer in cooling applications
• Development of advanced biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
• Exploration of advanced actuators for soft robotics applications
• Investigation of advanced energy storage systems for grid-scale applications
• Development of advanced rehabilitation devices for individuals with mobility impairments
• Exploration of advanced materials for earthquake-resistant building structures
• Investigation of advanced aerodynamic concepts for reducing drag and improving fuel efficiency in vehicles
• Development of advanced microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for biomedical applications
• Exploration of advanced control strategies for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
• Investigation of advanced materials for lightweight armor systems
• Development of advanced prosthetic interfaces for improving user comfort and functionality
• Exploration of advanced algorithms for autonomous navigation of underwater vehicles
• Investigation of advanced sensors for detecting and monitoring air pollution
• Development of advanced energy harvesting systems for powering wireless sensor networks
• Exploration of advanced concepts for next-generation space propulsion systems.

Mechanical engineering research encompasses a wide range of topics, from fundamental principles to cutting-edge technologies and interdisciplinary applications. By choosing the right mechanical engineering research topics and addressing key challenges, researchers can contribute to advancements in various industries and address pressing global issues. As we look to the future, the possibilities for innovation and discovery in mechanical engineering are endless, offering exciting opportunities to shape a better world for generations to come.

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