Conference history

MARINE AND RIVER DUNES

Dunes form as a result of turbulent shear generated by the interaction of a fluid flow with underlying mobile sediment. This interaction is complex, with dunes having varying dimensions, geometries and degrees of mobility. The processes governing dune dynamics have still not been unravelled adequately, yet progress is being made across a wide number of disciplines, including hydrography, fluid dynamics, oceanography, earth sciences, sedimentology, laboratory experimentation, numerical modelling, and field quantification.

The MARID conference aims at bringing together researchers from this wide range of disciplines in order to discuss recent findings and discuss future research related to dune dynamics. A particular focus of the conference is to strengthen the dialogue between fundamental researchers and those involved with state-, business-, or client-driven purpose (e.g. water authorities, dredging companies, renewable energy developers, Navy).

MARID CONFERENCE SERIES

Under the aegis of the North Sea Hydrographic Commission, a workshop on marine sand wave dynamics was organised by the French Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Office (SHOM) and the University of Lille 1 (France) back in 2000. This workshop was succeeded by conferences covering marine and river dune dynamics:

- MARID II in 2004 at the University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands

- MARID III in 2008 at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom

- MARID IV in 2013 at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Belgium, and

- MARID V in 2016 at Bangor University, North Wales, United Kingdom

Now known by the acronym MARID, these conferences provide state-of-the-art overviews in fundamental and applied knowledge of marine and river dunes. The conference traditionally takes place over 3 days: 2 days are dedicated to plenary scientific sessions, including talks from keynote speakers and oral and poster presentations by delegates. A field excursion takes place on the third day to allow a convivial exchange between participants while discovering the geologically-interesting surroundings of the organising university.