There is growing interest in the use of blue space for recreation in the UK, which has potential to improve physical, mental and social health through inclusive community recreation (1, 2, 3). However, there is little research regarding potential risks to health from recreational activities involving direct contact with water. Water quality is variable and influenced by legacy pollutants; contaminated water is associated with a variety of health problems (2, 4). Climate change related extreme weather events (EWEs) increase the likelihood of inorganic/organic contaminants in water from land run-off and sedimentary remobilisation (5). Pathogens which cause gastro-intestinal, ear and skin infections, commonly enter surface waters via surface run-off and point source discharges such as waste water treatment overflows (2).
This project will take a whole systems approach to understanding the risks and benefits of accessing urban/industrial blue spaces for water-based sports and recreation. Through codesign of mitigation measures with local stakeholders, we aim to aid in the design of inclusive, accessible blue spaces to promote health, wellbeing and environmental sustainability in coastal communities. A mixed methods approach will be used to integrate environmental quality assessment with mapping of the physical and social landscape of blue space, allowing a more rounded view of the potential of blue space to impact public health. Viewing blue space use through a climate change lens will add a novel element and broaden the applicability of the study to a wider range of contexts. Additionally an ‘inequalities perspective’ will be a driving factor in the qualitative element of the study, in recognition of the fact that blue space is not utilised equally by marginalised groups (6).
The project will focus on the Scottish coastal town, Irvine. An ongoing council-led regeneration of the harbour area (7) has potential to address some of the socioeconomic and health challenges typical of coastal communities. There is interest in developing a water sports hub, with a view to increasing tourism and offering healthy leisure facilities for the local community. Whilst the problem identified in this case study will be local, the solutions identified are likely to have wider-reaching implications. Social Return on Investment (SROI) is suggested as a method of understanding the financial viability of blue space development (8), which will assist in the transferability of this methodology to other locations.
This proposed pilot study, and subsequent larger scale study are aligned with UN SDGs 3, 6, 10, 11, 13 and 17. Sustainable impact will be achieved through our multi-disciplinary team working in partnership with the local council, community and stakeholders to understand environmental and social processes that affect the health implications of blue space usage. The team will strive to develop interventions which will support community resilience to climate change
Aim:
To determine whether use of the water for recreation is a sustainable option for a healthy lifestyle, in light of the environmental risks which may be heightened by climate change (EWEs).
Provisional Objectives:
1. To understand and map water contamination (inorganic and organic) over a range of seasons/weather systems, to better understand climate effects, and identify risks to health from blue space usage (including the impact of the regeneration process itself).
2. To understand the motivations and barriers of communities to the use of blue space for water sports, to facilitate understanding of the benefits to health.
3. To co-design interventions to mitigate the effects of increasingly frequent extreme weather events (EWEs) on contamination of blue space and on the health of those using the water for recreation.
4. To conduct a Social Return On Investment (SROI) of the regeneration activities to examine investment in blue space and use of community assets.
Person specification:
The applicant should have a minimum of a 2:1 or 1st class honours degree, and ideally a masters level qualification.
The ideal candidate will be someone with a strong interest in problem-based, mixed methods research, and a desire to tackle complex societal issues. They will have a background in environmental or biological science, with an interest in public health and wellbeing. It will be advantageous to have qualifications or experience in public health, geography, sociology, health economics, or another relevant discipline.
The candidate will be required to collect and analyse chemical and biological properties of environmental samples, as well as carrying out qualitative data collection and analysis. Therefore, mixed methods analysis experience is preferred, though not essential. There may also be a requirement to learn GIS software. The candidate will therefore require enthusiasm and willingness to learn previously unfamiliar methodologies and skills.
Application Deadline - 30/11/2023
Start Date - 01/02/2024
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