Meng Wu, postgraduate researcher, CDT SuMMeR: Cohort 1

Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Management of UK Marine Resources (CDT SuMMeR)

Meng Wu, postgraduate researcher, CDT Summer 

Background

I graduated with BSc Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence in the First Class from the University of Nottingham, and MSc Data Science for Cultural Heritage from University College London. I was the head platform developer for the Smarter-Travel Nottingham platform through the Opening Local Authority Transport Data funding. The Smarter-Travel Nottingham platform is a pilot project for “future mobility data platform”, one of the three main projects of Derby-Nottingham Future Mobility Zone. 

Research interests

  • Construction of data exchange systems and data observatory systems to develop transition engineering solutions to the local, sustainable fishing, decarbonise local fishing activities and housing crisis. 
  • Creation of digital applications and gamification systems that help address wicked problems around the declining of the fishing communities.
  • Application of modelling and simulation techniques to understand the complex system and the effect of different intervention methods on the complex system.
  • Development of regulatory sandbox for local fishing regulations, decarbonising fishing activities and local accommodation rules. 
  • Development of standardised Transition Engineering processes for fishing activities and housing. 

PhD Research: Energy, Technology, Behaviour, Culture and Regulation; The complex problems and transition engineering solutions for the future of local, sustainable fishing

The aim of the research is to navigate the pathways for change out of the complexity and pressures of unsustainable energy and resource use. The project aims to facilitate the transition to healthy, low carbon local fishing communities and economies strong enough to continue to support the local land activities (e.g. tourism, restaurants, processing). 
The objectives are to develop productive ways to capture the local knowledge about sustainable, efficient, and economical fishing practices, codify this knowledge using modern digital technology and develop prototype modern quota and regulation systems. Further objectives are to address the cultural values of local fishing and find new ways to understand and govern the commons of the marine ecosystem and the fishing culture and seaside villages. 
The methods of transition engineering, marine science, social science, fisheries management, data science and computer science will be converged in the research to establish the Fishery Transition Lab and Housing Transition Lab which bring together the stakeholders from different perspectives, and applies the Interdisciplinary Transition Innovation, Management and Engineering (InTIME) process to find new ways of achieving local, sustainable fishing, decarbonising fishing activities, preventing the declining of fishing communities, and addressing the housing stock problems, fuel poverty problems and deprivation often faced by island and coastal communities. 

Why I applied for the CDT SuMMeR

Marine management and transdisciplinary research are at the core of CDT SuMMeR, and the CDT provide a series of fabulous opportunities and trainings on marine management and transdisciplinary research. Moreover, the project supervision team consists of a Transition Engineering scientist, a social scientist, a fishery scientist and a marine scientist together with industrial partners. Therefore, with the support of the CDT and the supervision team, I am able to continue my path on transdisciplinary research and apply transition engineering approves to address the wicked problems around the fishing activities, which is the reason that I apply for the CDT SuMMeR.