Sharon Flanigan

Qualitative Social Scientist
Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences
T: +44 (0)1224 395301
I am a qualitative social scientist with a background in topics involving interactions between people and the places they work, visit, and live. I have an Undergraduate degree in Tourism (Abertay University Dundee), MSc in Sustainable Rural Development (University of Aberdeen), and PhD in Geography and Environment (University of Aberdeen).  I have worked and studied at the James Hutton (and formerly Macaulay) Institute since 2006 and am part of the Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Group (SEGS).

Over the years my research has included topics such as deer management, agricultural diversification, on-farm demonstration and social learning, agricultural cooperatives, mountain value chains, and agritourism – including my PhD thesis (2011) which developed and applied a typology of agritourism. More recently, my work has focussed on elements of green health and community nature-based solutions. I am particularly interested in exploring individual and societal behaviours and interventions that support well-being through interaction with nature and the outdoors that acknowledge limitations associated with time and accessibility – including work-life balance, discretionary time, lifecycles, seasons, and other natural rhythms.

Journals

Books / chapters

Technical / contract reports

Conference papers

  • Creaney, R.; Blackstock, K.; Flanigan, S.; Miller, D.; Matthews, K. (2022) Engaging young people in mountain areas and value chains, ODT Forum 2022, 19-21 October 2022, Jura, Switzerland.
  • Creaney, R.; Blackstock, K.; Flanigan, S.; Hopkins, J.; Miller, D.; Matthews, K. (2022) Idealising the Rural: The Role of Scottish Mountains in Promoting the Scottish Whisky Brand, Rural Imaginations Conference, 24-26 August 2022, Amsterdam.
  • Flanigan, S.; Blackstock, K.; Creaney, R.; Hopkins, J.; Matthews, K.; Miller, D. (2022) Assembling whisky production and consumption for rural resilinece A value chains case study in Speyside, Scotland, ODT Forum, 19-21 October 2022, Jura, Switzerland
  • Flanigan, S.; Blackstock, K.; Creaney, R.; Hopkins, J.; Matthews, K.; Miller, D. (2022) Assembling whisky production and consumption for rural resilience A value chains case study in Speyside, Scotland, ESRS Scottish Satellite Event, 20-23 June 2022, Birnam
  • Flanigan, S. (2021) Working together towards good farming, RGS-IBG International Conference (Beyond the Borderlands – exploring sustainable rural futures session)
  • Kuhfuss, L.; Piras, S.; Flanigan, S.; Hawes, C.; Begg, G. (2021) How to promote the collective uptake of agri-environmental schemes by farmers? A literature review., Landscape 2021 Conference: Diversity for Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture, 20-22 September 2021, online presentation.
  • Flanigan, S.; Whitfield, C. (2021) Co-operation and co-operatives in Scottish agriculture: Research overview and interim observations., SAOS Conference 2021, “SAOS’s A-Z for a Bright Future”, 28 January 2021. (Online).
  • Flanigan, S. (2020) Adding value to climate-positive farming through interaction with consumers, tourists and other visitors., James Hutton Institute Annual Research Symposium, 25-27 November 2020. (Online).
  • Flanigan, S; Matthews, K.B. (2015) Reciprocity in an agritourism community of practice., Trans-Atlantic Rural Research Network (TARRN) Annual Meeting, Penn State University, USA, 18-19 May 2015.
  • Sutherland, L.A.; Flanigan, S.; McKee, A.; Holstead, K.L. (2013) FarmPath Consortium Meeting., Evora, Portugal, 13-16 March 2013.
  • Sutherland, L.A.; Flanigan, S. (2011) Transdisciplinarity in practice: experiences in the FarmPath project., The XXIV European Society for Rural Sociology Congress, “Inequality and Diversity in European Rural Areas”, Chania, Greece, 22-25 August 2011.
  • Flanigan, S.; Blackstock, K.L.; Hunter, C. (2011) Exploring private and public benefits associated with different types of agritourism., The XXIV European Society for Rural Sociology Congress, “Inequality and Diversity in European Rural Areas”, Chania, Greece, 22-25 August 2011.
  • Phillip, S.; Blackstock, K.L.; Hunter, C.J. (2009) What is agritourism? Perspectives from five types of agritourism provider., ESRS Congress, WG 1.6: Tourism in a Rural Setting: Opportunities and Challenges, Vaasa, 17-21 August 2009.
  • Phillip, S.; Blackstock, K.L.; Hunter, C.J. (2008) Developing a conceptual framework for sustainable agritourism in Scotland., Royal Geographical Society Annual Conference, London, 26-29 August 2008.

Conference posters / abstracts