2021-2025

Just transition: sustainable citizen decision-making in a time of economic crises - rural

Dr Bobby Macaulay - Principal Investigator

January 2023 – August 2023

This project, funded by Zero Waste Scotland, seeks to understand how times of economic crisis (such as the period we are currently living through) affects environmental attitudes, behaviour and decision-making in rural communities. In addition, it will investigate the extent to which key environmental concepts (such as the ‘Just Transition’, ‘Circular Economy’ and ‘Community Wealth Building’) are understood, and to what extent they factor in decision-making. The project will work with researchers focusing on urban and business environments to develop a broad understanding and contextual factors affecting environmental decision making.

Developing a Digital Woodland in Lochcarron, Wester Ross Biosphere

Dr Zoe Russell, Project Manager and Lead Researcher

January 2023 – March 2023

Lochcarron Community Development Company has been funded by the Inspiring Scotland fund to explore the possibility of a digital woodland experience at Kirkton. This community owned woodland has potential to offer a new educational experience for locals, students and visitors alike and will use augmented reality to showcase change over time. A key theme of the work to develop the woodland is responding to climate change. CMS has been brought into this project to work with the community and Wester Ross Biosphere to develop content for the experience based on research evidence, and to support the production of a blueprint for implementing the digital woodland in the future.

SEFARI Fellowship with Cairngorms National Park Authority: Cairngorms 2030

Dr Zoe Russell, Fellow

January 2023 - June 2023

SEFARI Fellowships are bespoke, responsive opportunities aiming to develop a shared understanding between researchers and stakeholders, and to prioritise areas for common effort that can be supported by research knowledge and expertise. SEFARI Gateway have funded a Fellowship with the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) as part of Cairngorms 2030. The vision of Cairngorms 2030 is for the CNP to be an exemplar of people and nature thriving together in a rapidly changing world.

The aim of the fellowship is to recommend a set of indicators, and associated data collection/analysis methodologies, to demonstrate progress towards achieving the outcomes of the Cairngorms 2030 programme, and the outcomes of the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF).