Spotlight on a Researcher: Dr Brendan Lanham

How ecological engineering can improve biodiversity outcomes for offshore wind infrastructure.

As humans continue to modify our coastlines, incorporating species interaction into new infrastructure, such as offshore wind farms, offers an opportunity to restore lost habitats and species interactions. Research from the University of Melbourne’s, Dr Brendan Lanham, explores how some lost marine ecosystems might be recreated through innovative infrastructure that encourages biodiversity, rather than supplanting natural habitats.

In simple terms, can you tell us what your research is about?

Human impacts on the marine environment vary widely in their location and scale. Historically, habitat removal for building materials, land reclamation or consumption has resulted in extensive losses of important marine ecosystems.

My research focuses on restoring these lost ecosystems and understanding how we can reduce our impact through innovative infrastructure that encourages biodiversity rather than replacing natural habitats.

OK, now give us the technical terms!

Ecological engineering is the process of incorporating ecological features that promote biodiversity into marine infrastructure. Rather than relying on traditional engineering approaches, for example, a featureless seawall that reduces erosion but replaces natural habitats, ecological engineering incorporates the complexity of natural habitats into built structures to achieve both engineering and ecological outcomes.

These structures can be designed to replicate the hydrodynamic conditions created by natural habitats and provide the protective spaces marine species need to survive.

Why did you choose this area of research? What interests you about it?

My previous research examined how species interact within different habitats and how human impacts alter these interactions, which led me to restoration ecology.

As much of our coastline has been, or will be, modified to create more usable space for humans, incorporating species interaction into this infrastructure offers an opportunity to restore some, though not all, of the lost habitat and associated species interactions.

Using modern techniques to improve our relationship with the marine environment allows us to make positive changes as demands on the planet continue to grow.

What’s the bigger picture? How will your work contribute to the transition to a clean energy system?

All human infrastructure has environmental impacts, though these vary in scale. For the transition to clean energy to truly be successful, we need to design infrastructure that also delivers positive outcomes for nature.

Ecological engineering can reduce environmental impacts and support nature-positive outcomes. Our current research focuses on how ecological engineering can improve biodiversity outcomes for offshore wind infrastructure.

Wind turbines require rock armour, or scour protection, around their bases to reduce sediment erosion. While this protects the structure, it provides limited habitat or biodiversity value. We are investigating whether we can create habitat for important marine species by incorporating eco-engineering concepts into scour protection.

What did you study to get here?

I completed a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology and a PhD in Marine Ecology at the University of New South Wales.

Tell us about a current research project you’re working on. What is its goal and when do you expect to share findings?

The goal of our research is to ensure offshore wind infrastructure delivers positive outcomes for the marine environment. Many species in south-east Australia have suffered significant habitat declines.

We are working to design suitable habitat features within offshore wind infrastructure that replicate elements of lost habitat and encourage biodiversity, while meeting engineering requirements.

We expect to share findings later this year or in early 2027. The next step will be scaling this work in partnership with industry , prior to work commencing on Australia’s proposed offshore wind farms.

Can readers contact you for further information by email or LinkedIn?

You can contact Dr Brendan Lanham by email, LinkedIn or Bluesky for more information about his research.