Blogs
Farming and biodiversity: Why do we think of it as a zero-sum game?
Hutton researchers promote the use of experimental economic methods
Posted by Simone Piras on Monday 18 April 2022
By Peter Cock, James Gurd, Laure Kuhfuss and Simone Piras
From Noticing Nature to Becoming Embedded in Nature: a journey with colleagues at the Institute
Posted by Laura MacLean on Wednesday 30 March 2022
By Laura MacLean, Phoebe Somervail, Hannah Hasler, Anna Conniff and Kate Irvine
Was Alfred Nobel right?
It’s good to be out
Posted by Rob Brooker on Tuesday 14 September 2021
It’s been another busy summer in the Highlands. Recent drives through Glen Clunie and Glen Shee down to Perthshire have left me feeling conflicted. Glen Clunie in particular – with its easy road access and flat grassy patches next to the Clunie Water – has become a hotbed for wild camping, but in some cases not wild camping as I used to think of it. This is wild camping with a family size tent and accompanying barbecue gazebo, not sore feet, a tiny tent, a Trangia, and some Super Noodles.
What are the impacts of social innovation? Addressing the challenges of marginalised rural areas in Scotland and beyond
Posted by Carla Barlagne on Wednesday 19 May 2021
By Carla Barlagne and Richard J. Hewitt
Social innovation is a phenomenon that manifests itself in new social relationships and collaborations. It seeks to promote the development and uptake of new services and new fields of activity, such as social entrepreneurship and social enterprises that improve the quality of life of individuals and communities, particularly in rural areas. Yet the evidence base of the impacts on the sustainable development of rural communities remains scarce.
The Water Between Us - Scott Herrett on discovering deliberation
Posted by Scott Herrett on Thursday 1 April 2021
'Paying attention' from Eabhal - Uibhist a Tuath by Scott Herrett
Deliberation is the long and careful consideration of a subject. - In this house nothing is there by chance: it is always the result of great deliberation. Collins Dictionary
Have you heard of the 'deliberative wave' sweeping around the globe? This describes the increase interest and practice in forms of deliberative democracy to tackle politically difficult issues, such as abortion and the climate and ecological crisis.
Scotland’s Climate Citizen Assembly has just concluded and I’ve been observing the assembly sessions where over a hundred members of the public have been meeting to hear evidence, deliberate and make recommendations in response to the question ‘how should Scotland change to tackle the climate emergency in an effective and fair way?’. This blog is about why I believe we need more deliberative forums at every level in society because the traditional ways of making decisions on a local, national or global scale are no longer fit for purpose.