Dr Benjamin Williamson
Lead Scientist
Benjamin leads the ‘Energy’ research theme at the ERI based out of the Centre for Energy and the Environment (CfEE) and chairs UHI Energy Innovation. His research includes marine and terrestrial sensing, with a focus on environmental science, including sensor fusion, remote sensing above and under water, computer vision and machine learning, with applications from measuring the environmental and ecological effects of marine renewable energy devices to marine plastic litter. He has a background in smart grids (link), prior to hydroacoustics and developing subsea multi-sensor platforms to track the interactions of fish, seabirds and marine mammals with marine energy devices.
His PhD was in robotics and developed hybrid-ROV/AUVs for near-shore habitat mapping of kelp beds using multibeam sonar and video (link). He has a keen interest in developing novel sensor platforms to investigate biophysical interactions in the marine environment, such as using UAVs (link) to investigate behavioural associations of top predators with fine-scale hydrodynamic surface features at tidal energy sites.
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2017–present: Lead Scientist, Environmental Research Institute, UHI
2017–2020: Research Fellow, University of Aberdeen
2015–2017: KTP Associate, University of Aberdeen and MeyGen Ltd.
2014–2015: Visiting Researcher, University of Washington
2011–2014: Research Fellow, FLOWBEC-4D project, University of Bath and Aberdeen
2010–2011: Knowledge Transfer Fellow, Project Edison: SMART-DC, University of Bath (link)
2008–2009: Visiting Scientist, Biomimetic propulsor development, University of British Columbia
2008–2011: Field Engineer, AUV/ROV development, sonar surveys, CERF, British Columbia
2007–2010: Teaching Assistant, Sensing, data acquisition, marine robotics, University of Bath
Qualifications:
2017 IET Chartered Engineer (CEng)
2013 PhD Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Bath (link)
2011 Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (MIET)
2007 MSc (Distinction) Mechatronics, University of Bath
2006 BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Bath
External Responsibilities:
ETP Marine Theme Co-Champion
UHI Associate Professor of Energy
Chair UHI Energy Innovation
Member of the MASTS Technology, Platforms and Sensors Forum Steering Group
Chair-invited Member of the ICES Working Group on Fisheries Acoustics, Science and Technology (WGFAST)
Member of the DeepWind Steering Group
Member of the Rivers and Lochs Institute Advisory Group
Member of the MeyGen Monitoring Advisory Group
Awards:
Shortlisted for a Rising Star Award at the 2017 Scottish Renewables Green Energy Awards
Engineer Award at the 2017 Scottish Renewables Young Professionals Green Energy Awards
Best Presentation 2016 Marine Energy Technology Symposium (METS) Washington D.C.
Best Presentation 2014 Environmental Impacts of Marine Renewables (EIMR) Conference
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Current projects include PELAgIO investigating ecosystem effects of offshore wind (press release), PREDICT improving understanding of fish migration patterns and providing a vision for next-generation monitoring techniques (press release) and IFLOW investigating effects of floating offshore wind on fish and marine mammals. More widely, current projects include island energy systems (ROBINSON), sustainable aviation (SATE), wave energy for off-grid communities (INGINE), and two KTPs supporting knowledge and technology transfer with industry.
Previous projects range from using drones to map surface currents and seabirds at marine energy sites (V-SCORES) to mapping floating plastic litter (TISPLALI), and from marine renewable energy resource assessment (Gibraltar) to validating reliable environmental monitoring for ocean energy (OERA Pathway Program) or hydrogen utilisation and green energy (HUGE).
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Benjamin is currently Director of Studies for 4 PhD students, has supervised multiple PhD and MRes students to completion, as well as acting as an internal and external examiner for PhDs, including internationally.
