Royal HaskoningDHV has strengthened its ties with one of the UK’s leading marine science educational and research institutions, Heriot-Watt University.

As part of the company’s commitment to the University, it has recently become the commercial sponsor of a PhD student studying the topic of habitat restoration and enhancement in the marine environment around Europe, supporting the student’s studies for the next four years.

Three of the company’s top experts have also been invited to lecture to students in the Institute of Life and Environmental Sciences (ILES) at the University. Alistair Davison, Frank Fortune and Paolo Pizzolla will bring their industry knowledge to the educational institution including onshore and offshore wind, wave and tidal, as well as the science behind the consenting process in the UK particularly for environmental port projects.

Dr. William G Sanderson, Associate Professor in ILES, Heriot-Watt University commented: “We’re always keen for industry leaders to guest lecture at the University. It’s vitally important for our students to gain an insight into life after education and this is a fantastic opportunity to do so. Ultimately, our goal is to cultivate our students’ development and ensure that our industry will be sustainable for years to come.”

Frank Fortune and Paolo Pizzolla are both ex-students of Heriot-Watt. Frank is now a Technical Director at Royal HaskoningDHV, and has enjoyed sharing his industry experience with the next generation of students: “Our relationship with Heriot-Watt is all about inspiring the students who will shape the future of our industry. It’s a privilege to be able to share a snapshot of how the industry works with the next generation and our PhD sponsorship is a great example of just how vital this sort of relationship is to ensuring the future of our industry.”

The relationship is part of Royal HaskoningDHV’s commitment to developing the next generation of scientists and engineers. The company has worked with the University in the past, most recently partnering to deliver strategic research for the Crown Estate, as well as running the ‘Marine Touch Tank’ at the Dunbar SciFest 2016, all with the aim of encouraging children to get involved with marine science from an early age.