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Dr Sophie Ward

Research Fellow

Dr Sophie Ward

View Dr Sophie Ward’s profile on the Bangor Research Portal

Qualifications

  • PhD: A new proxy for constraining palaeotidal simulations of the northwest European shelf seas
    Bangor University, 2010–2015
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCertHE)
    2013
  • MSc: Applied Physical Oceanography
    Bangor University, 2009–2011
  • BSc: Natural Sciences
    University of Bath, 2004–2007
  • Professional: ILM Level 7 Executive Coaching and Mentoring (ongoing)

Overview

I am a physical oceanographer with special interest in ocean modelling. I have experience of applying models to a broad range of research topics including marine renewable energy, past climate conditions, marine biosecurity and the aquaculture industry.

I have worked for several years as a physical oceanographer on a number projects, including:

  • Menai Offshore Subsurface Shellfish Systems
  • Shellfish Centre
  • ECOSTRUCTURE
  • Cockles
  • SEACAMS and SEACAMS 2

as well as contributing to external projects (e.g., Angle Shark Project: Wales and SIARC) as an hydrodynamic- and biophysical modeller. In early 2023 I will be joining a 'blue carbon' project, the Convex Seascape Survey.

Particular areas of research interest include: numerical modelling (physical, biophysical), sediment dynamics, marine renewable energy, sea-level rise and climate change. 

Postgraduate Project Opportunities

I have a range of research interests in which PhD projects could be developed. Please contact me by email in the first instance regarding any of the following areas:

  • Tidal modelling (past, present or future)
  • Marine renewable energy
  • Dispersal of marine organisms (including invasive species and aquaculture)

Publications

2023

  • E-pub ahead of printThe importance of resolving nearshore currents in coastal dispersal models
    Ward, S., Robins, P., Owen, A., Demmer, J. & Jenkins, S., 1 Jun 2023, In: Ocean Modelling. 183, 102181.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2022

  • PublishedPresent day: Tides in a changing climate
    Wilmes, S-B., Ward, S. & Uehara, K., 2022, A Journey Through Tides. Green, M. & Duarte, J. (eds.). Elsevier, p. 185-230
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
  • PublishedTidal Stream Energy
    Ward, S., 2022, Comprehensive Renewable Energy. 2 ed. Oxford: Elsevier, Vol. 8. p. 104-122 (Comprehensive Renewable Energy).
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
  • PublishedWhy is there a tide?
    Ward, S., Bowers, D., Green, M. & Wilmes, S-B., 7 Oct 2022, A Journey Through Tides. Green, M. & Duarte, J. (eds.). Elsevier, p. 81-113
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

2021

  • PublishedA new seabed mobility index for the Irish Sea: Modelling seabed shear stress and classifying sediment mobilisation to help predict erosion, deposition, and sediment distribution.
    Coughlan, M., Guerrini, M., Creane, S., O'Shea, M., Ward, S., Van Landeghem, K., Murphy, J. & Doherty, P., 1 Nov 2021, In: Continental Shelf Research. 229, 104574.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedTides
    Ward, S., 2021, 30-Second Oceans: 50 key ideas about the sea's importance to life on earth. Green, M. & Lenn, Y-D. (eds.). The Ivy Press
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

2020

  • PublishedNon-linear landscape and cultural response to sea-level rise
    Barnett, R., Charman, D. J., Johns, C., Ward, S., Bevan, A., Bradley, S. L., Cambridge, K., Fyfe, R. M., Gehrels, W. R., Hatton, J., Khan, N. S., Marshall, P., Maezumi, S. Y., Mills, S., Mulville, J., Perez, M., Roberts, H. M., Scourse, J. D., Shepherd, F. & Stevens, T., 4 Nov 2020, In: Science Advances. 6, 45, eabb6376.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedThe challenges of constraining shelf sea tidal models using seabed sediment grain size as a proxy for tidal currents
    Ward, S., Scourse, J., Yokoyama, Y. & Neill, S., Dec 2020, In: Continental Shelf Research. 205, 104165.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2019

  • PublishedAdvance and retreat of the marine-terminating Irish Sea Ice Stream into the Celtic Sea during the Last Glacial: Timing and maximum extent
    Scourse, J., Saher, M., Van Landeghem, K., Lockhart, E., Purcell, C., Callard, S. L., Roseby, Z., Allison, B., Pieńkowski, A., Ó Cofaigh, C., Praeg, D., Ward, S., Chiverrell, R. C., Moreton, S., Fabel, D. & Clark, C., 1 Jun 2019, In: Marine Geology. 412, p. 53-68
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedTracking Holocene palaeostratification and productivity changes in the Western Irish Sea: A multi-proxy record
    Woods, M. A., Wilkinson, I. P., Leng, M. J., Riding, J. B., Vane, C. H., Lopes dos Santos, R. A., Kender, S., De Schepperd, S., Hennissen, J. A. I., Ward, S. L., Gowing, C. J. B., Wilby, P. R., Nichols, M. D. & Rochelle, C. A., 15 Oct 2019, In: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 532
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2018

  • PublishedThe role of megatides and relative sea level in controlling the deglaciation of the British-Irish and Fennoscandinavian ice sheets
    Scourse, J., Ward, S., Wainwright, A., Bradley, S. L. & Uehara, K., Feb 2018, In: Quaternary Science. 33, 2, p. 139-149
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedTidal range energy resource and optimization – past perspectives and future challenges
    Neill, S., Angeloudis, A., Robins, P., Walkington, I., Ward, S., Masters, I., Lewis, M., Piano, M., Avdis, A., Piggott, M., Aggidis, G., Evans, P., Adcock, T., Zidonis, A., Ahmadian, R. & Falconer, R., Nov 2018, In: Renewable Energy. 127, November, p. 763-778
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedTidal stream resource characterisation in progressive versus standing wave systems
    Ward, S., Robins, P., Lewis, M., Iglesias, G., Hashemi, M. R. & Neill, S., 15 Jun 2018, In: Applied Energy. 220, p. 274-285
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2017

  • PublishedCharacteristics of the velocity profile at tidal-stream energy sites
    Lewis, M., Neill, S., Robins, P., Hashemi, M. R. & Ward, S., Dec 2017, In: Renewable Energy. 114, Part A, p. 258-272
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedComparison of 4- and 5-beam acoustic Doppler current profiler configurations for measurement of turbulent kinetic energy
    Togneri, M., Jones, D., Neill, S., Lewis, M., Ward, S., Piano, M. & Masters, I., 5 Sep 2017, In: Energy Procedia. 125, p. 260-267
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedTidal stream resource assessment uncertainty due to flow asymmetry and turbine yaw misalignment
    Piano, M., Neill, S., Lewis, M., Robins, P., Hashemi, R., Davies, A., Ward, S. & Roberts, M., Dec 2017, In: Renewable Energy. p. 1363-1375
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2016

  • PublishedResearch priorities for assessing potential impacts of emerging marine renewable energy technologies: Insights from developments in Wales (UK)
    Roche, RC., Walker-Springett, K., Robins, PE., Jones, J., Veneruso, G., Whitton, TA., Piano, M., Ward, SL., Duce, CE., Waggitt, JJ., Walker-Springett, G., Neill, S., Lewis, M. & King, J., 1 Dec 2016, In: Renewable Energy. 99, December, p. 1327-1341 15 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedSensitivity of palaeotidal models of the northwest European shelf seas to glacial isostatic adjustment since the Last Glacial Maximum
    Ward, S., Neill, S., Scourse, J., Bradley, S. L. & Uehara, K., 1 Nov 2016, In: Quaternary Science Reviews. 151, p. 198-211
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2015

  • PublishedCharacterising the spatial and temporal variability of the tidal-stream energy resource over the northwest European shelf seas
    Robins, P. E., Neill, S. P., Lewis, M. J. & Ward, S. L., 1 Jun 2015, In: Applied Energy. 147, p. 510-522
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedCharacterizing the tidal energy resource of the West Anglesey Demonstration Zone (UK), using TELEMAC-2D and field observations
    Piano, M., Ward, S. L., Robins, P. E., Neill, S. P., Lewis, M. J., Davies, A. G., Powell, B. I., Owen, A. W. & Hashemi, R. M., 15 Oct 2015.
    Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
  • PublishedClassifying seabed sediment type using simulated tidal-induced bed shear stress
    Ward, S. L., Neill, S. P., Van Landeghem, K. J. & Scourse, J. D., 30 May 2015, In: Marine Geology. 367, p. 94-104
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2013

  • PublishedBriefing: Young Coastal Scientists and Engineers Conference 2012
    Green, M., Davies, A. G., Bowers, D. G., Zhu, F., Ward, S. L. & Porter, K., Sep 2013, In: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Maritime Engineering. 166, 3, p. 101-108
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedModelling tides and sea-level rise: To flood or not to flood
    Pelling, H. E., Green, J. A. M. & Ward, S. L., Mar 2013, In: Ocean Modelling. 63, p. 21-29
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedSimulated Late-glacial and Holocene relative sea-level and palaeotidal changes on the Isles of Scilly: a new approach for assessing changes in the areal extent of the inter-tidal zone
    Mortimer, T. A., Scourse, J. D., Ward, S. L. & Uehara, K., 31 Dec 2013, In: Geoscience in South-West England. 13, 2, p. 152-158
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2012

  • PublishedTides, sea-level rise and tidal power extraction on the European shelf
    Ward, S. L., Green, J. A. M. & Pelling, H. E., Aug 2012, In: Ocean Dynamics. 62, 8, p. 1153-1167
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Projects

  • Convex Seascape Survey

    01/07/2022 – 30/04/2027 (Active)

  • NRN-LCEE Returning Fellowship

    01/02/2018 – 01/08/2019 (Finished)

    Description

    The NRN-LCEE was a bold, innovative pan-Wales initiative for Welsh research funded by Welsh Government and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) as part of Sêr Cymru 1; comprising of partners from Bangor, Aberystwyth, Cardiff, South Wales and Swansea Universities, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology at Bangor, British Geological Survey Wales, and UK MetOffice. The NRN-LCEE aimed to promote excellent collaborative and interdisciplinary research within Wales into the sustainable use of natural resources for the provision of energy, water, food, and other ecosystem services; and explicitly encouraged interdisciplinary research across departments, universities, research centres, industry and third sector parties. As such, the NRN-LCEE was the catalyst to bring a diverse set of talented researchers and partners into new collaborations, in order to conduct innovative research that was highly pertinent on an international research agenda.

    Links:

  • ADCP deployment

    01/04/2017 – 31/05/2017 (Finished)

Other Grants and Projects

British Council: Challenge Prize, Research Link Climate Change. Mapping marine litter pathways and sea-level rise in Indonesia (£9,795, PI, 2021)

Nature Networks Fund: SIARC (Sharks Inspiring Action and Research with Communities) (£18,617 to Bangor, Co-I, 2021).

Contract research: research project with Zoological Society of London (£6,259, Co-I, 2021).

PRIMaRE Early Career Researcher-Travel Grant (2019)

Bangor University Early Career Researcher Award (£1,500, 2018).

NRN-LCEE Returning Fellowship (£6,000, 2017)

Contract research (€76,000, 2017).

Contacts

Maps and Travel

My Bangor for Staff and Students

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Centre for Applied Marine Sciences
Marine Centre Wales, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5AB

Phone: 01248 382888

Email: enquiries@cams.bangor.ac.uk

Bangor University is a Registered Charity: No. 1141565