Post on 28-Jan-2016
Edinburgh Consortium for Rural ResearchEdinburgh Consortium for Rural Research
A consortium of biological, environmental and social A consortium of biological, environmental and social science organisations with a rural research focusscience organisations with a rural research focus
• ACTIVE INACTIVE INFarming, forestry, environment, aquaculture, landscape and the natural heritage
• BASEDBASEDAcross Scotland
• GEOGRAPHIC FOCUSGEOGRAPHIC FOCUSScotland, Europe, World-wide
• Instituted 1989Instituted 1989– Predecessor ‘Edinburgh Centre for Rural Economy’; instituted 1947Predecessor ‘Edinburgh Centre for Rural Economy’; instituted 1947
• A facilitating organisation A facilitating organisation
• Helps member organisations toHelps member organisations to
– work together for mutual benefitwork together for mutual benefit
– share specialised facilitiesshare specialised facilities
– promote inter-disciplinary research andpromote inter-disciplinary research and
– relate to the University of Edinburgh through its relate to the University of Edinburgh through its Colleges and SchoolsColleges and Schools
What ?What ?
Why ?Why ?
• Mutual benefitMutual benefit - through coordination of common interest areas - through coordination of common interest areas and building of trustand building of trust
• Opportunities for joint researchOpportunities for joint research - including between specialisms - including between specialisms
• Stronger voiceStronger voice - to influence funding and environmental policies - to influence funding and environmental policies
• Greater internal connectivityGreater internal connectivity - between members and entry into - between members and entry into each others’ external networkseach others’ external networks
• Broader and common focusBroader and common focus - on scientific issues and their - on scientific issues and their social relevancesocial relevance
• Promotion - Promotion - of science and education in the populationof science and education in the population
MembersMembers
• University of EdinburghUniversity of Edinburgh• Scottish Agricultural CollegeScottish Agricultural College• Heriot Watt University, School of Heriot Watt University, School of
Life SciencesLife Sciences• Napier University, School of Life Napier University, School of Life
SciencesSciences• University of Stirling, Institute of University of Stirling, Institute of
AquacultureAquaculture• UHI Millennium InstituteUHI Millennium Institute• Roslin InstituteRoslin Institute• Moredun Research InstituteMoredun Research Institute• Royal Botanic Garden Royal Botanic Garden
EdinburghEdinburgh• Scottish Agricultural Science Scottish Agricultural Science
AgencyAgency• Scottish Natural HeritageScottish Natural Heritage• Scottish Crop Research InstituteScottish Crop Research Institute
• Royal Society for the Protection Royal Society for the Protection Of Birds ScotlandOf Birds Scotland
• DEFRA Lasswade Veterinary DEFRA Lasswade Veterinary LaboratoryLaboratory
• British Geological SurveyBritish Geological Survey• Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology,
EdinburghEdinburgh• Forest Research, Northern Forest Research, Northern
Research StationResearch Station• National Museums of ScotlandNational Museums of Scotland• MRC Human Reproductive MRC Human Reproductive
Sciences UnitSciences Unit• Biomathematics & Statistics Biomathematics & Statistics
ScotlandScotland• University Marine Biological University Marine Biological
Station MillportStation Millport• Scottish & Northern Ireland Scottish & Northern Ireland
Forum for Environmental Forum for Environmental ResearchResearch
ECRR ECRR Centres and Centres and Field Field StationsStations
ECRR is not just for EdinburghECRR is not just for Edinburgh
OrganisationOrganisation
BoardBoard• ‘ ‘Director’ from each subscibing organisationDirector’ from each subscibing organisation• Meets twice per year; November AGMMeets twice per year; November AGM• Chaired by senior member of UoEChaired by senior member of UoE
ExecutiveExecutive• Sub-group of ‘Directors’Sub-group of ‘Directors’• Meets 5x per yearMeets 5x per year• Organises programme of eventsOrganises programme of events
Two Employees (Part-time)Two Employees (Part-time)• Scientific DirectorScientific Director
• Chris BrowittChris Browitt• Secretary/TreasurerSecretary/Treasurer
• Mike TalbotMike Talbot
How ?How ?
• ‘‘Light Touch’Light Touch’
– Monthly networking lunches Monthly networking lunches
with member organisation briefingwith member organisation briefing
– Low cost (annual budget ~£20k)Low cost (annual budget ~£20k)
– NewsletterNewsletter
ECRR PublicationsECRR Publications
How ?How ?
• Occasional ‘significant visitor’ lunchesOccasional ‘significant visitor’ lunches
• Evening Receptions (2 per year)Evening Receptions (2 per year)
– Targeted guests (eg MSPs)Targeted guests (eg MSPs)
– Postgraduate studentsPostgraduate students
• Annual Lecture (with RSE, IOB)Annual Lecture (with RSE, IOB)
– 2005 : Professor Ian Wilmut2005 : Professor Ian Wilmut
– 2004 : Lord Peter Melchett2004 : Lord Peter Melchett
How ?How ?
• Occasional focussed seminars:Occasional focussed seminars:
• International applicationsInternational applications
• Managing change in research organisationsManaging change in research organisations
• Public Fora on topics of current scientific interestPublic Fora on topics of current scientific interest
• 2005 - Earth observation in rural research2005 - Earth observation in rural research
• 2003 - What value Scotland’s landscape?2003 - What value Scotland’s landscape?
• 2001 - Perspectives on Foot & Mouth disease2001 - Perspectives on Foot & Mouth disease
LociLociBiologyBiology EnvironmentEnvironment
SocietySociety
Roslin InstituteRoslin Institute
Royal Botanic Garden EdinburghRoyal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
UoE GeosciencesUoE Geosciences
Subsurface GeoScienceSubsurface GeoScience • Disciplines: Geochemistry, Geophysics,Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geodynamics,Geodynamics, GeobiologyGeobiology • Themes: Earth materials, Fluid rock-interactions, SubsurfaceEarth materials, Fluid rock-interactions, Subsurface structure and dynamics, Natural hazards,structure and dynamics, Natural hazards, Planetary StudiesPlanetary Studies, , Complex Systems, Complex Systems, Earth HistoryEarth History
• Current Major Initiatives: EMMAC; CSEC; GEOMAG; NANIA• Planned : ‘ECOSSE’ JRI, ‘HIPRESS’ SRDG,
‘ASESI’ JRI, NERC - CO2
Enriching People’s LivesEnriching People’s Lives
Provide more opportunities for people to enjoy Scotland’s natural heritage.
Improve the quality of life for people in urban areas through better access to green open spaces.
Help people to care for their local environment
Atmospheric SciencesAtmospheric Sciences
CANOPY
ATMOSPHERE
SOIL
Plant physiology
Molecular diffusion
Turbulent exchange
Surface chemistry
Soil chemistry
Soil biology and physics
Gases & particles
Physics & Chemistry
Ecological effects
Plant Variety Testing
Seed Certification & Enforcement
Vertebrate Wildlife
Scottish Agricultural Science AgencyScottish Agricultural Science Agency
• GMO InspectorateGMO Inspectorate
• Rabies ControlRabies Control
• PesticidesPesticides
• Control of Notifiable Control of Notifiable Bee diseasesBee diseases
• AgricultureAgriculture
The RSPB in ScotlandThe RSPB in Scotland
What we DoWhat we Do
ResearchResearch solutions to conservation solutions to conservation problems faced by birds and their habitatsproblems faced by birds and their habitats
ImproveImprove habitats and create and manage habitats and create and manage reservesreserves
InfluenceInfluence legislation and policy-making legislation and policy-making
AdviseAdvise and assist and assist land managers land managers
EducateEducate and encourage young and encourage young peoplepeople
RSPB Nature Reserves in Scotland 2004RSPB Nature Reserves in Scotland 2004
UHI Millennium InstituteUHI Millennium Institute
BioSS offices BioSS offices around around ScotlandScotland
Major client organisationsMajor client organisations
Hannah Research Institute Moredun Research Institute
Macaulay Institute Rowett Research Institute
Scottish Crop Research Institute Scottish Agricultural College
Scottish Agricultural Science Agency Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Biomathematics and Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland Statistics Scotland
Mathematical and statistical research, Mathematical and statistical research, consultancy and training to agricultural, consultancy and training to agricultural, biological and environmental research biological and environmental research organisations in Scotland organisations in Scotland
An integrated approach to An integrated approach to Knowledge TransferKnowledge Transfer
• LinkingLinking
Research (£ 14m)Research (£ 14m)
Consultancy (£17m)Consultancy (£17m)
Education (£9m)Education (£9m)
• For the Land-based For the Land-based industriesindustries • Research in:Research in:
– Land EconomyLand Economy
– Crop & SoilCrop & Soil
– Animal HealthAnimal Health
– Sustainable Livestock SystemsSustainable Livestock Systems
KnowledgeKnowledgeCreationCreation
KnowledgeKnowledgeTransferTransfer
SAC & SAC & OthersOthers
Industry & Policy PullIndustry & Policy Pull
UniversitiesUniversities & Others& Others
Science PushScience Push
Complementarity in the Science SpectrumComplementarity in the Science Spectrum
Discipline areas covered by ECRR membersDiscipline areas covered by ECRR members
Animal ScienceAquaculture & Fisheries
AtmosphereBiodiversity & Conservation
Bioinformatics, Biomathematics & StatisticsCoastal & Marine ScienceCrops & Plants Science
EcologyEconomics & Social Sciences
Engineering Environment & Land Use
Food ScienceForestry & WoodlandFundamental Biology
Genetics, Genomics & ProteomicsGeography
Geology & SoilsNatural History
Renewable ResourcesTaxonomy
Veterinary Science & Medicine
Facilitating Centres of ExcellenceFacilitating Centres of Excellence
• Edinburgh Biosciences Research Centre (EBRC)Edinburgh Biosciences Research Centre (EBRC)– Roslin InstituteRoslin Institute
– Moredun InstituteMoredun Institute
– RDVS ResearchersRDVS Researchers
– SAC Animal ScientistsSAC Animal Scientists
– (IAH Neuropathogenesis Unit)(IAH Neuropathogenesis Unit)
• Plant Sciences ScotlandPlant Sciences Scotland– SCRISCRI
– RBGERBGE
– UoEUoE
– OthersOthers
• SAGES (Scottish Alliance for Geosciences, Environment & Society)SAGES (Scottish Alliance for Geosciences, Environment & Society)
– UoE, UHI, BGS and OthersUoE, UHI, BGS and Others
Raising awarenessRaising awareness
ECRRECRR promotes wider awareness of the range of its members scientific expertise and is accessible by the political, business and public sectors through:
• WebsiteWebsite - with links to member organisations (www.ecrr.org.uk)• ContactsContacts - with MSPs and other politicians• LinksLinks - e.g. with Aberdeen Research Consortium• SharingSharing - - information, contacts, expertise and ideas• ReceptionsReceptions - for members and targeted guests• Annual lectureAnnual lecture - with Roy Soc Ed and Inst Biology• Public foraPublic fora - biennially on topics of current scientific interest• Focused SeminarsFocused Seminars - eg International applications, managing change• SchoolSchool - - links• Newsletter – Newsletter – the Bush Telegraph
EducationEducation