SEPA has a strong science and evidence base, which we use to play a lead role – working collaboratively with others – to create a healthy environment for our future generations. Research, innovation and collaboration help us employ the best approaches in delivering towards the five priorities within our Corporate Plan 2024—2027:
Net zero, Climate resilience, Water environment, Resource efficiency, Business environmental performance. Research activities within SEPA can take many forms, for example:
- Research conducted by SEPA, which may be (part-) funded by external organisations/
- Collaboration on research with external partners where SEPA colleagues give their time and knowledge, or share information and data with customers.
- SEPA may fund research to be carried out by customers.
What are the plans?
Our high-level priorities for research within SEPA include:
- Future scenarios for climate change impacts in Scotland for land, water and air.
- Impacts of emerging chemicals, contaminants and other substances on the environment.
- Application of the latest tools, technologies and techniques in how the environment is monitored, modelled and regulated.
- Methods of influencing SEPA’s customers to adapt to the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss.
- The relationship between thriving, empowered communities and a healthy environment.
Examples of some of the research and innovative projects SEPA has supported:
Satellite Emergency Mapping Service (SEMS)
SEPA is helping to drive research and innovation in Scotland’s growing space industry through the groundbreaking application of satellite imagery in our Satellite Emergency Mapping Service (SEMS), delivering real-time, high-resolution data and insights directly to emergency responders during environmental emergencies.
SEMS provides a real-life example of the importance of collaboration between space technology, academia, and emergency management, offering a glimpse into the future of disaster response.
Environmental DNA (eDNA) Monitoring Methods
Within SEPA and in collaboration with other organisations, we have been building Scotland’s capacity around the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring methods.
This included a project, funded by Scottish Government's Rural and Environmental Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) division, to investigate and test the application of eDNA-based monitoring approaches for biodiversity assessment and reporting purposes across a broad range of habitat types in Scotland.
SEPA continues to accelerate eDNA application across our regulatory monitoring activities including testing for prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) pathogens in bathing waters and assessing compliance in marine fin fish farms.
Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Research Through Citizen Science
As part of the Leven Programme, SEPA provided grant funding and advice to enable our partner Forth Rivers Trust to deliver the Outfall Safari project along the River Leven in Fife.
This involved a citizen science approach, focussed on training up local volunteers in locating and assessing the impact of polluting outfalls in our rivers and reporting them if necessary.
With the increase of heavy rainfall periods due to our changing climate, combined sewer overflows (CSOs) will likely become more common due to Scotland’s surface water drainage network becoming overwhelmed.
Citizen science can play a critical role in monitoring these impacts while engaging local communities to become stewards for their environment.
Register your interest to collaborate
If you are interested in collaborating with SEPA on a research project, please complete our expression of interest online form