The Structures in the Marine Environment (SIME) conference brings together researchers, industry professionals, policymakers, and other stakeholders to explore the role of marine artificial structures in our ocean ecosystems. Through talks, posters, panel discussions, and workshops, the conference provides a platform for sharing knowledge, fostering collaboration, and advancing understanding of how these structures interact with biodiversity, marine policy, and decommissioning practices.
Participants engage with leading experts to discuss the ecological, economic, and societal implications of artificial structures in the sea, and to explore sustainable approaches to their management — including the future of decommissioning in regions such as the North Sea.
The INSITE Programme is pleased to announce that the 2026 Structures in the Marine Environment (SIME) conference will be held at the Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle on 9th – 10th June 2026. Please register to secure your place and submit your abstracts by following the instructions below.
We were delighted to once again host the conference at the National Museum of Scotland, in the heart of Edinburgh. The magnificent Victorian building on Chambers Street was opened in 1866 as the Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art.
Originally inspired by London’s Crystal Palace, the building was designed by visionary engineer Captain Francis Fowke and local architect Robert Matheson to be both beautiful and technically innovative. By that time, the Museum had 12 million items in its care and was the largest multi-disciplinary museum in Scotland.
As part of the conference, we hosted a collaborative workshop focused on identifying decommissioning outcomes for Marine Artificial Structures that are beneficial for the environment, economy, and society. Attendees from different sectors—government, industry, academia, and NGOs—worked in groups to explore key priorities across these three themes.
The session concluded with a summary of each group’s discussions, resulting in a set of preferred outcomes. These insights will be used to inform future conversations around sustainable decommissioning and are available in the workshop report.
SIME 2024 took place at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, bringing together academics, industry professionals, NGOs, and government representatives for two days of discussion and cross-sector collaboration.
The conference showcased three years of research under INSITE Phase 2, featuring projects such as ATSEA, NS3D, FISHSPAMMS, and PLASTICS. Highlights included live virtual‑reality dives around offshore structures and insights into marine biodiversity, ecosystem interactions, and plastics legacy concerns.
Attendees heard from policy experts on regulatory and decommissioning challenges, including a panel with OPRED, DEFRA, NatureScot, and the INSITE Programme Director. The event concluded with a strong message: effective marine stewardship requires collaboration to translate science into actionable policy.
