Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water
The University is committed to ensuring its operational impacts on our water bodies are minimised, whilst research and engagement on Life Below Water continues to grow and strengthen.
Offer educational programmes on fresh-water ecosystems
The University provides a range of programmes that focus on fresh-water ecosystems.
As part of Reach'25 Art and Sustainability Festival a performance and panel discussion was hosted about Lough Neagh. The performance was an immersive audiovisual piece that documents HIVE Choir's site-specific performance at Lough Neagh, the largest fresh-water lake in the British Isles and a site of recent ecological controversy. The panel discussion focused on what we can do to address the algae blooms.
The School of Biological Sciences hosted a 'Queen's Biology Showcase' as part of the NI Science Festival during February 2025. The free, family-friendly event allowed visitors to explore the fascinating world of biology, witnessing first-hand the ground breaking research conducted at the School of Biological Sciences. Interactive exhibits included fascinating displays of flies, shells, and seaweed, offering a unique opportunity to learn about the natural world and how we can protect nature.
Offer educational programmes on sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture, tourism and destructive fishing practices
Launched in 2023, the ongoing 'The Future Island Island Project' aims to create a 'green economy' for Rathlin via community outreach on sustainable tourism and waste management. Queen's researchers have partnered with Ulster University to use co-design, applied design, knowledge exchange and worldbuilding using 3D immersive technology, to shape new design-led green economies on six challenge-based objectives. A key out come will be protecting Northern Ireland’s only offshore inhabited island, Rathlin, from any negative impacts of tourism by sustainably managing island resources.
The Portaferry Marine Lab welcomed kids from the STEAM Summer Scheme enabling them to understand why our marine environment is so important, and what they can do to protect it. The learnt about our local marine life, threats to marine life (pollution, overfishing, invasive species) and how they can play a role in protecting our marine environment.
The University also provides a range of educational options that focus on educating our community on sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and destructive fishing practices. This includes the BSc in Marine Biology with Professional Studies.
Events aimed at promoting conservation and sustainable utilisation of oceans, rivers and marine resources
As part of the Portaferry Sails and Sounds Festival, Queen's Marine Lab opens its doors annually to the local community. Queen's Marine Laboratory hosts an annual, free open day on the first Saturday of August every year, attracting over 400 visitors. It is a family-friendly event where you can meet staff and students to learn about what happens within the lab. The local community can see the wave tank in action and learn about how this is used to assist academics when researching renewable technologies. Individuals can also get close to local marine and freshwater life - this includes starfish, terrapins and lion fish. Visitors leave with an increased knowledge about our local marine life and how they can play a role in conserving this important habitat.
Food from aquatic ecosystems
The University is committed to ensuring that fish served on-campus is sustainably harvested from a healthy aquatic ecosystem. Within our Sustainable Food Policy we have committed to exclude fish species identified most at risk by the Marine Conservation Society, and only choose fish from sustainable sources, such as those accredited by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Work directly to maintain and extend existing ecosystems and their biodiversity
Academics are ensuring their work is maintaining threatened ecosystems and their biodiversity. Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the UK and Ireland, is facing a severe environmental crisis due to the proliferation of harmful algal blooms, driven primarily by nutrient pollution from agricultural and industrial activities. The contamination poses significant risks to public health, wildlife, and the local economy. Researchers at Queen’s are at the forefront of efforts to address these challenges through interdisciplinary research and collaborative approaches that aim to develop practical, sustainable solutions. Their work focuses on understanding the causes of the algal blooms, detecting harmful toxins, and identifying sustainable solutions to restore the lake's health.
Work directly on technologies or practices that enable the marine industry to minimise or prevent damage to aquatic ecosystems
Academics are focused on working with the marine sector to create technologies that minimise or prevent aquatic ecosystem damage. Queen’s University spin-out company, Fjordstrong, is developing innovative underwater surveying technology that will help conserve vulnerable marine species. Fjordstrong, which is based at Queen’s Marine Laboratory in Portaferry on the shores of Strangford Lough, has developed a patented zero-impact biodiversity underwater survey system called Auto-release Baited Underwater Video (ABUV), designed to survey high conservation value species and protected marine areas. The company continued to research new technologies to prevent the trawling of seabeds, which would have a high ecological impact, by replacing trawling with underwater surveying cameras.
Water Sensitive Waste Disposal Policies and Guidelines
The University is committed to protecting water courses within, and surrounding, Queen's campus. The Water Standard provides standards, guidelines and monitoring procedures that uphold water quality and therefore prevent marine pollution to important ecosystems from land-based activities.
Action plan to reduce plastic waste on campus
Single-use plastic within the university has been assessed, and is continuing to be addressed, via our Plastic Reduction Action Plan.
Watershed Management
Watershed management is embedded in policies and procedures across our operations. During building design, Civic and Structural Teams under take hydrological modeling and flood risk assessment. As a result of these, water interceptors and interventions are put in place to prevent pollution of local waterways (River Lagan) - petrol interceptors, building height, blue roofs and a range of other nature based solutions have been deployed within our campus.
Further, we incorporate a range of techniques to improve water efficiency. This includes low-flow sanitary wear/fittings and leak detection network.
The University has also invested in a blue roof for Weavers Hall Accommodation, alongside five green roofs and rainwater harvesting within our health science building.
Our Biodiversity Policy (2018+ and 2025+) commits us to enhancing and growing biodiversity on-campus, which will play a criterial role in improving water quality via water filtration whilst decreasing surface water and nutrient runoff.
Queen's Net Zero Design Guide will ensure continual integration of sustainable urban drainage strategies into design and construction, reducing runoff flow and safeguarding our aquatic ecosystems.
Programmes That Support Good Aquatic Stewardship Practices
The University also provides a range of educational options that focus on educating our community on good aquatic stewardship practices. This includes a BSc in Marine Biology with Professional Studies.
Queen's Portaferry Marine Lab work closely with 'Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership' to provide educational programmes for a range of individuals. Further, the Marine Lab also provides work experience placements for young people completing their A-Levels.
Collaboration for Shared Aquatic Ecosystems
The School of Biological Sciences hosts a rolling programme of events aimed at collaborating with our local community to protect, maintain and monitor a range of marine ecosystems - Lough Neagh, Irish Sea and Strangford Lough. This includes events such as the Marine Laboratory Open Day, Summer Schemes, Showcases as part of NI Science Festival, panel discussions within the annual Reach Art and Sustainability Festival.