Centre for Coastal and Ocean Processes and Engineering (C-COPE)

The UK's leading research centre focusing on the physical and chemical processes, and engineering adaptations in coastal, ocean and marine environments

Centre for Coastal and Ocean Processes and Engineering (C-COPE)

The UK's leading research centre focusing on the physical and chemical processes, and engineering adaptations in coastal, ocean and marine environments

C-COPE brings together strength areas from across the University's Faculty of Science and Engineering with a research focus on the physical and chemical processes in coastal, ocean and marine environments, and their human impacts.

Although not tightly constrained, C-COPE's primary sphere of interest stretches from the head of tidal estuaries to the bottom of the ocean, and includes the disciplines of physical oceanography, marine biogeochemistry, coastal engineering and marine geology.

The Centre's acitivities are also aimed at determining the effects of climate change in coastal, ocean and marine settings and associated ecosystems (e.g., coastal flooding and erosion, ocean warming, chemical cycles and marine pollution).

Furthermore, through working with third parties (government, as well as business), C-COPE applies researchers' knowledge to help address real-world problems and challenges.

The physical processes shaping our coasts and oceans are vital to human society and the rich ecosystems they support. Yet these dynamic systems are being rapidly transformed. Climate change is already altering sea levels, storm patterns, ocean temperatures, and chemistry, and these changes are compounded by human pressures, including coastal development, seabed exploitation and nutrient pollution.

By uniting leading researchers, we seek to deepen our understanding of these physical processes and translate that knowledge into smarter, more sustainable stewardship of our coastal and ocean environments for generations to come.

Professor Gerd Masselink
Director of C-COPE and Professor of Coastal Geomorphology

Mission statement
To generate transformative knowledge and engineering solutions for coastal and ocean environments through interdisciplinary research, innovation, and collaboration that address global environmental challenges and promote sustainable marine futures.

Vision statement
To be a globally recognised leader in coastal and ocean research, driving innovative science and engineering solutions that benefit society and inform policy to create resilient coasts and sustainable oceans.

Research themes

Adapting to extreme storms, tsunami and sea-level rise

Investigating beach morphodynamics and coastal processes

Birds eye view of a pristine lonely tropical Caribbean cay with white sand coral reef and coconut trees.

Linking physical oceanography to marine ecology

Connecting marine biogeochemical cycles to changing climate and biodiversity

Designing engineering solutions for coastal and ocean problems

Consultancy for the coastal and marine environment

C-COPE researchers contribute their knowledge and expertise to the Coastal Marine Applied Research (CMAR) consultancy, which aims to support the appropriate management of coastal, marine and estuarine resources and activities, focusing on coastal processes and marine physics to understand and predict the behaviour of these environment systems.

Find out more about CMAR's consultancy services

C-COPE academics from the COAST Engineering Research Group also undertake consultancy activities, particularly related to coastal design, with physical modelling in the COAST laboratory. COAST Engineering Research Group academics are members of both the civil and mechanical subject groups in the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics. As such they work closely with regional industrial advisory groups, connecting with local coastal and port engineering schemes.

Avon rivermouth, Bantham, South Devon, UK.

Research team

Professor Gerd Masselink

Professor of Coastal Geomorphology

Director of C-COPE
Professor Alison Raby

Professor in Environmental Fluid Mechanics

Co-Director of C-COPE
Professor Simon Ussher

Professor of Marine and Analytical Chemistry

Co-Director of C-COPE
Mr Aaron Barrett

Lecturer in Autonomy
Dr Aikaterini Konstantinou

Research Assistant in Coastal Processes
Dr Andrew Manning

Associate Professor in Coastal and Shelf Physical Oceanography
Dr Andrew Parsons

Lecturer in Structural Geology & Tectonics
Dr Angela Milne

Associate Professor in Marine Chemistry
Dr Arya Iwantoro

Senior Research Consultant
Dr Benjamin Ciotti

Associate Professor of Marine Biology
Dr David Simmonds

Associate Professor in Coastal Engineering
Dr Craig Dedman-Jones

Lecturer in Environmental Science
Professor Jamie Lead

Professor of Environmental Nanoscience
Dr Jenny Gales

Associate Professor in Hydrography and Ocean Exploration
Professor John Summerscales

Professor of Composites Engineering
Dr Jon Miles

Associate Professor in Coastal Engineering
Mr Joseff Saunders

Coastal Processes Researcher
Dr Keiron Fraser

Associate Professor (Education) in Marine Conservation
Professor Lars Johanning

Associate Head of School - Research
Dr Laurence Dyke

Lecturer in Hydrography and Marine Science
Dr Mark Davidson

Associate Professor in Coastal Processes
Professor Mark Fitzsimons

Professor of Environmental Chemistry
Dr Martyn Hann

Associate Head of School (PG Education)
Dr Thilde Lindhart

Coastal Processes Senior Research Fellow
Dr Michelle Harris

Associate Professor in Earth Sciences
Mr Munawir Pratama

Post Doctoral Research Associate
Dr Nieves Valiente

Lecturer in Marine Science (Coastal Processes)
Dr Philip Hosegood

Associate Professor in Physical Oceanography
Dr Sarah Bass

Lecturer in Marine Physical Science
Professor Sarah Boulton

Professor of Geohazards
Mr Sree Raveendran
Tim O'Hare

Deputy Head of School
Dr Tim Poate

Senior Research Consultant
Dr Tim Scott

Associate Professor of Ocean Exploration
Professor Tony Morris

Professor in Geophysics and Geodynamics
Yang Yang

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr Yeaw Chu Lee

Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering
Mr Peter Ganderton

Technical Specialist (Marine Science)
Dr Ted Robinson

Marine Instrumentation Technician