Biodegradable materials for the sea

A German university aims at re-establishing natural sea grass meadows by installing an artificial one that creates suitable hydrodynamic conditions for sea grass settlement.

The artificial sea grass should biodegrade after a given time as the long term aim is to have a purely natural sea grass meadow. The project will be a joint effort of ecologists, hydro-dynamicists and material developers. The sought partner should be interested to develop the required material and/or explore new business avenues.

The project requires an ecologist that addresses the habitat requirements of seagrass and has expertise in seagrass transplantation. Further, it needs a hydrodynamicist that quantifies existing hydrodynamic conditions and investigates the effect of natural and artificial seagrass on waves, flow and sediment. And it requires a material scientist, ideally from a commercial enterprise, that develops a biodegradable material which can be installed in a seagrass like fashion.

Closing date: 19/02/2015

Ref: TRDE20140129001