Adrian Shine Loch Ness Project Contact Information
Adrian Shine is the leader of the Loch Ness & Morar Project and has been engaged in fieldwork in the Highlands since 1973 when he constructed the manned underwater observation chamber "Machan". He subsequently led over 1000 students and lay volunteers on expeditions, training them to observe, sample and record data. In more recent collaborations, projects have involved workers from some 20 universities and academic institutions within the UK and overseas.
As a naturalist, he has used the Loch Ness controversy
as a vehicle for interpreting the dynamics and diversity of deep lakes.
For example in 1987, he organised "Operation Deepscan", a sonar
sweep of Loch Ness which became a world media event with over 23 international
TV crews in attendance. The media monster was slain and interest was directed
towards the loch's food chain and huge internal waves. Thus, the concept
of lake physics received a wider exposure than would be possible in any
other way.
In the course of hundreds of TV, radio and video appearances Adrian's stance has always been to use media interest in all things "Nessie" to question, challenge and stimulate serious enquiry but also to popularise subjects people may not immediately consider interesting. For example, during an"Encounters" interview he successfully managed to convey the idea that Loch Ness mud really is fascinating and important!
He has published over a dozen scientific papers and articles on Loch Ness and has initiated collaborations with researchers and students from over 20 universities, developing innovative new sampling equipment and techniques and supplying samples.
The inherent difficulties of working within a large and deep lake have required the design of special equipment.The Project has developed fixed and deep towed underwater television methods for the study of fish and invertebrates. Similarly, acoustics have opened visual overviews of large scale mechanisms. For example, the graphic capture of a 40m underwater surge wave in 1985 was only possible through the use of echosounders.
More recently the Loch Ness Project designed and constructed the "Swatch ROSETTA" coring system which has successfully recovered the entire Holocene sedimentary sequence from the lake bed at a depth of 200m. This sets a sampling record for the UK.
The promotion of Loch Ness as an important area for its excellent laminated sediments, its mysterious "scattering layer" and the discovery that the loch may be "bacteria driven" led to the growth of the Loch Ness Field Centre. Facilities include a lochside hut/base camp and harbour with laboratory areas at the Loch Ness Centre.
Adrian has collaborated on, and written, video scripts aimed at the popular market. He wrote and designed the millennial refurbishment to the Loch Ness Exhibition which was opened in 1999. This major undertaking helped achieve the Centre the prestigious "Dynamic Place" premier award 2001 and merited the endorsement of Scotish Natural Heritage. The exhibition integrates pulse-flow visitor management, audio-visuals and real artefacts.
In 2005 he designed and presented the stereoscopic production called "The 3D Loch Ness Experience" which may be found on Edinburgh's "Royal Mile" and in 2006 published his 32 page booklet "Loch Ness".