Cameron, George and Anas are all PGs at IES. Cameron will be giving us an update on INORE, while George and Anas will both be presenting work on their PhDs.

Speaker: Anas Rahman
Title: Introduction to Dellft3D

The availability of several open source platforms has enabled researchers to investigate and get a better understanding of the waves, current, tidal and sediments conditions at a particular location. Nowadays, numerical modeling has become an essential tool in validating theoretical approach for marine energy. However, the use of numerical modeling so far mostly limited to separate application to wave, tidal and sediment transport. In this presentation, a few features of Delft3D software will be highlighted.

Bio: I received my bachelor degree in Mechanical Engand my MSc from University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 2010. I then worked as a tutor/lecturer for 3 years before starting my PhD here in October 2013 under the supervision of Dr Venki. My PhD title is "Combined Wave and Tidal Resource Assessment for Marine Energy Sites using Delft3Dineering" from Iowa State University, USA, published in 2008.

Speaker: George Lavidas
Title: The Temporal Correlation of Wind and Wave Resource.

Currently wave energy is one of the options in many countries worldwide for renewable energy generations. During the past years significant leaps in the design and pilot projects have been made, although the importance of the available wave resource is an important factor that is has to be taken into account. Wind is closely related to wave generation and propagation, and the physical properties of waves often change in regards with the corresponding resource of the surroundings and the local characteristics of the area. I am using SWAN (Simulating Waves Nearshore), a third generation numerical model to simulate wind generated seas and afterwards will be trying to correlate the temporal connection of the local generated wave resource to wind.

Bio: My name is George Lavidas and I currently I am into the second year of my PhD at the Institute of Energy Systems. I am investigating the temporal correlation of wind and wave resource.

My undergraduate degree was in Environmental engineering with a specialization in renewable energy, mostly focused on Photovoltaic, Wind and Biomass energies. I followed this with a MSc in Renewable Energy Systems at Heriot-Watt University.

Before entering the PhD program I was working for a German renewable energy company as an Energy Engineer with responsibility of assessing potential renewable energy investments, compiling Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and technical designs for the projects.

Speaker: Cameron McNatt
Title: INORE - The International Network on Offshore Renewable Energy

The International Network on Offshore Renewable Energy (INORE) is an association of early-stage researchers (postgraduates, postdocs, and others starters) working in offshore wind, wave, tidal, and ocean thermal energy conversion. Members are known as INOREans. Our mission is to bring together INOREans from around the world and with a variety of backgrounds to share what they know, and learn from others working in offshore renewable energy. We do this by running activities that are for INOREans, designed by INOREAns, in a fun, welcoming, and casual environment where your peers become your friends. Our main event is the INORE Symposium, which is probably the best conference you could ever go to. At symposia, we do the normal academic activities - inspirational speakers, presentations, poster sessions, collaborative tasks, and technical tours. But what really makes it unique is its cost (it is free!), its intimate size (50-70 people), its fun and casual atmosphere, the recreational and social activities, and the friendships that are formed - all of which serve to build the bonds needed for real collaboration between INOREans. This year we will have two Symposia - one in Cantabria, Spain in May and one in Halifax, Canada in November. If you are an early-stage researcher, we hope that you will sign up to be an INOREan on our website: www.inore.org and consider attending one of this year's symposia.

Bio: Cameron McNatt is a second year PhD student working on wave energy converter hydrodynamics as they relate to wave field impact, array effects, and device performance. His supervisors are Venki Venugopal and David Forehand. Prior to his PhD studies, he completed a Masters in Ocean Engineering at Oregon State University in the US. He has experience developing software for ship simulations, and he did his undergraduate at Yale University where he studied Electrical Engineering.