Facilities

Polytunnels in Dundee

The James Hutton Institute supports offices, laboratories, glasshouses as well as farms and research stations

Aberdeen

We have extensive organic and inorganic chemistry laboratories, and a range of analytical equipment and capabilities. We operate several environmentally controlled rooms to support our work, including cold rooms, freezers, constant temperature and growth rooms. We also have electronic, machine and carpentry workshops, able to manufacture and repair equipment to order. Field researchers can make use of our fleet of off-road vehicles.

Dundee

There are around 10,000 m² of glasshouse facilities available, divided into 140 individual compartments, ranging from cold glasshouses to sophisticated containment glasshouses with associated laboratories. There are 15 growth rooms, 34 growth cabinets, 14 cold stores and 28 small tunnel structures. The newest block of glasshouses was opened in spring 2010. It contains 30 computer controlled glasshouse compartments, including eight that are air conditioned. The compartments range in size from 25m² to 77m². The associated laboratories include the National Seed Store, insectaries, a quarantine plant growth room and a soft-fruit handling laboratory.

The James Hutton Institute has around 215 ha available to conduct a wide range of agricultural, horticultural and environmental trials in Dundee and nearby Balruddery Farm. An expert service is provided for land preparation, sowing, drilling, harvest and clearance of residues. As well as annual crops such as potatoes, brassicas and cereals, field staff also maintain 10 ha of perennial soft fruit trials. As part of ongoing maintenance of the Institute estate improvements to biodiversity have been made in line with the objectives of Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF).

There is also an engineering and maintenance service responsible for maintaining the extensive laboratory, glasshouse, administration and ancillary facilities.

Research stations and farms

• Balruddery Farm in Angus
• Glensaugh Research Station  in Aberdeenshire
• Hartwood Research Station in Lanarkshire

Arboretum

The Aberdeen offices of The James Hutton Institute benefit from beautiful grounds dating back to the 1800s. These are the former gardens of the Manor House, the remains of which form part of the Institute’s administration offices and we now call Craigiebuckler House.

• PDF file: Arboretum guide (1 MB)

Hostel

We have a hostel located in Aberdeen which provides short term, low cost accommodation for visiting scientists and visiting students - read more information on our hostel.

Library

There are libraries in Aberdeen and Dundee that reflect the Institute's research interests with access to electronic resources and comprehensive collections of books and journals in agriculture, botany, chemistry, geology, mineralogy, environment, plant genetics, plant pathology, plant products and soil sciences. The library provides staff with access to key electronic resources. In addition back copies of about 2,000 journal titles are held, of which approximately 150 are current subscriptions.

Visitors are welcome to use the Library by prior arrangement - find more information on the library.

Room Hire

The James Hutton Institute has a number of rooms available for hire in Aberdeen - read more information on room hire.