Skip to main content

INTERREG IVA – IBIS

IBIS was a partnership between the Loughs Agency, Queen’s University Belfast, and the University of Glasgow, supported by the EU’s INTERREG IVA Programme, managed by the SEUPB.

IBIS operated until June 2015 and delivered across four outcome areas

  • research,
  • training,
  • knowledge transfer,
  • capacity building

to enhance aquatic resources management across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Funded from August 2011, IBIS delivered 70 years of applied research in doctoral and masters projects, leaving a legacy of expertise in sustainable aquatic resources management in the three jurisdictions.

Research, education and training were provided at SCENE (the Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment, University of Glasgow) on Loch Lomond and at the Marine Laboratory in Portaferry (Queen’s University Belfast), as well as at the Loughs Agency bases.

An IBIS Advisory Group was drawn from the main governmental and non-governmental environmental agencies in Ireland, N.Ireland and Scotland, to help IBIS address the needs of stakeholders, and to complement ongoing and planned work by other organisations.

The ethos of IBIS was to assist environmentally sustainable economic development across the INTERREG IVA area through evidence-based management of aquatic resources. The data generated entered the public domain through the statutory agencies, Knowledge Transfer workshops, and newsletters.

The funders of the IBIS project were the European Regional Development Fund, the governments of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the University of Glasgow. A total of over £8m was made available, of which £6m is channelled through the SEUPB and a further £2m being invested directly by the University of Glasgow on behalf of donors in the development of the SCENE Phase II teaching and training building.

IBIS delivered 70 years of applied research in doctoral and masters projects.

A consensus on the most pressing aquatic research needs was drawn from an inclusive Project Advisory Group from government, NGOs, charities, academic institutions. IBIS met these needs by a programme of PhD, MPhil, MRes and Masters by Research studies.

We delivered high level, quality training for future aquatic resource management practitioners through PhD & Masters studentships supervised by leading experts from the three jurisdictions, and Continuing Professional Development for current practitioners.

We built world class research and training facilities on Loch Lomond in Scotland to complement the project facilities in Ireland and N. Ireland. These will support the delivery of aquatic resource management in the future.

Knowledge Transfer workshops raised awareness and skills, channelling info to stakeholders. Research was published in science literature.

As outputs from its research programme, IBIS created practical management tools for use by current and future practitioners in the management of aquatic resources.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

21 April 1926 to 8 September 2022