Steingrímur Jónsson, professor at the University of Akureyri and Mike Phillips, professor at Swansea Metropolitan University teach from this week onwards a three-week-course on oceanic and coastal environments focusing on processes and management strategies. The physical environment, e,g. waves, currents, sediment movement, beaches (various types), erosion/deposition mechanisms (e.g. cliffs, dunes, etc), and the potential consequences of sea-level rise and global warming, are main items in coastal management, due to interference with anthropogenic dimensions, i.e. usage, coastal defense, pollution and resource exploitation. The class will visit the free-moving dunes and large tidal flats in Holt, which are a kind of open air laboratory in the middle of Önundarfjord, some 20 km outside the classroom.

The instructors will be covering Icelandic and international aspects of these topics. Steingrímur Jónsson's research interests include general oceanography of Icelandic seas, the effect of oceanic conditions on biological resources, climate variability and its effects, ocean currents around Iceland and their variability and oceanography of Icelandic fjords. Mike Phillips holds a strong position internationally. He is a member of the Severn Estuary Research Advisory Group for future management in response to climate change, and sea-level rise vice-chairman of the Coastal and Marine Working Group of the Royal Geographical Society. Mike has published over 50 research papers and book chapters and has been appointed to the Editorial Board of the Journal of Coastal Research. He is currently Head of the School of Built and Natural Environment at Swansea Metropolitan University.