Skip to navigation Skip to content

learning

January 1, 2023
Researchers working on an ancient form of barley grown only on Unst, Shetland’s northernmost island, have returned from a knowledge exchange trip to Germany that will help them and others better understand its specific traits. By learning...
November 11, 2022
MERLIN, a project committed to transformative ecosystem restoration through Nature-based Solutions, co-led by the James Hutton Institute, is offering companies a unique opportunity to showcase their cutting-edge work to develop products and...
October 10, 2022
Scientists at James Hutton Institute, the independent research organisation, have been awarded over £13million from the Scottish Government’s Just Transition fund to establish two pioneering action-based research science projects in...
August 8, 2022
James Hutton is often regarded as the founder of modern geology, his research reset the world view on the Earth's processes and made possible other major theories such as continental drift and the theory of evolution. However, many people...
July 7, 2022
Imagine crops that can be used to help secure enough food for a growing global population while benefiting the environment. Well, there are such crops: legumes. Legume plants, like pea, broad bean, soya bean, clover and cowpea, can team up with...
April 4, 2022
Intensification and the separation of crops, livestock and forestry production systems in agriculture contributes greatly to climate change and biodiversity loss. A new 1.33 million European funded project, co-ordinated by researchers at the...
November 11, 2021
What do the next generation think should happen in Scottish agriculture to overcome the challenges of climate change and halt carbon emissions? This will be the topic for discussion during a tour and workshop at the James Hutton Institute’s...
February 2, 2021
​The Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR), Combinable and Energy Crops sub-committee would like to invite you to join their Winter meeting "Making the Most of Your Soils". This is a biennial meeting held by the Society to talk...
February 2, 2021
The Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) is holding their 2021 Potato Winter Meeting as an online event. The meeting is open to anyone in the potato industry and other interested parties, but registration is essential. Two BASIS points are...
January 1, 2021
Recognition of the North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership’s (NESBiP) 2020 Biodiversity Champion Awards has this year gone virtual. The awards acknowledge the efforts of local individuals and projects that have had positive impacts in...
December 12, 2020
June 6, 2020
Introduction Chalara dieback of ash is a disease of ash trees caused by the fungus Chalara fraxinea. The disease causes leaf loss and crown dieback, usually leading to tree death. First found in the UK February 2012, local spread is by wind and...
February 2, 2020
The Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) is holding their Potato Winter Meeting at the James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie. The event is open to anyone in the potato industry and other interested parties. CPD Points BASIS and NRoSO...
October 10, 2019
Social scientists based at the James Hutton Institute have pioneered the use of video as a participatory research technique in Scotland, in the context of a project aiming to understand the way the people of Cumbernauld connect with the green...
August 8, 2019
Our PhD students are registered at universities throughout the UK With more than 500 staff and 124 registered PhD students, the James Hutton Institute is one of the biggest research centres in the UK and the first of its type in Europe. Our...
August 8, 2019
Rewilding in the Scottish uplands could take decades without the intervention of land managers, a new long-term grazing experiment at Glen Finglas has shown. The experiment, the first of its kind in Scotland, was set up in 2002 to explore how...
July 7, 2019
Honorary Associates Photo Gallery
July 7, 2019
Previous Research Fellowes Photo Gallery photos.
July 7, 2019
Current Research Fellows Photo Gallery photos.
April 4, 2019
Come and spend a fun family day at Mylnefield Farm! The Institute will be taking part in Open Farm Sunday 2019 on 9 June.
March 3, 2019
Professor Lorna Dawson, head of Forensic Soil Science at the James Hutton Institute and advisor to the SEFARI Strategic Research Programme, has been made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE),...
February 2, 2019
The Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) is holding their Potato Winter Meeting at the James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie. The event is open to anyone in the potato industry and other interested parties. CPD Points A total of 4 BASIS...
December 12, 2018
  What is the story with woodlands in the Cairngorms National Park? Or should we say, what are the stories, as there are many threads of stories of actual, former or speculative woodlands weaving in and out that make this area what it...
March 3, 2018
Come and spend a fun family day at Glensaugh Farm! The Institute will be taking part in Open Farm Sunday 2018 on 10 June.
March 3, 2018
We are pleased to invite you to a screening of “10 Billion What’s on your plate?”, on Thursday 22 March 2018. Doors will be open at 6:30 pm with the event starting at 7:00. The film follows the director,...
March 3, 2018
What makes a good scientist? What qualities are assets for success in the highly competitive and challenging environment of science? An outdated stereotype often paints a picture that all scientists are cold, hard, unemotional... and male. This...
March 3, 2018
The Business Sector Leads are here to support the development of income within the James Hutton Institute which involves working with funding partners, horizon scanning, helping staff to draft proposals, providing advice and guidance to staff and...
March 3, 2018
Please note that this event is now fully booked and no more registrations are being taken. Turning up without having registered first is not recommended as you may be turned away. Please accept our apologies. The Scottish Society for Crop...
January 1, 2018
The Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) Combinable and Energy Crops Sub-committee will hold its Winter Meeting at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee. The event is open to anyone in the cereals industry and other interested parties. BASIS...
November 11, 2017
Alumni photos.
November 11, 2017
Researchers from the James Hutton Institute and partners have produced an evidence review on river and floodplain management, as part of an Evidence Directory recently launched by the Environment Agency. The Directory aims to provide better...
October 10, 2017
Researchers at the James Hutton Institute have become important partners in a project which aims to improve green spaces in a Lanarkshire town. Cumbernauld Living Landscape, a partnership between the Scottish Wildlife Trust, North Lanarkshire...
June 6, 2017
The GROW Observatory (GROW) is a European-wide project engaging thousands of growers, scientists and others passionate about the land. We will discover together, using simple tools to better manage soil and grow food, while contributing to vital...
May 5, 2017
  Come and spend a fun family day on the farm!
April 4, 2017
Plant Power - a fascinating day for all the family!
February 2, 2017
The James Hutton Institute will be holding Open Farm Sunday on 11 June 2017, Dundee site. Find us at Directions to the Dundee site. Open farm Sunday - latest 
January 1, 2017
The Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) Combinable and Energy Crops Sub-committee will hold its Winter Meeting at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee. The event is open to anyone in the cereals industry and other interested parties. BASIS...
December 12, 2016
The Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) is holding their Potato Winter Meeting at the James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie. The event is open to anyone in the potato industry and other interested parties. BASIS points have been applied for...
October 10, 2016

Potatosize (Research Page)

The PotatoSize app provides potato growers with information on the proportion of their crop that lies within each size range of interest. It uses image analysis to interpret a photo of potatoes sampled in the field. Development was in partnership...
July 7, 2016
July 7, 2016
Browse through our Postgraduate student photos.
June 6, 2016
A Royal Society of Edinburgh biodiversity discussion forum ‘Life in soil: Does it matter?’ took place on the 24th February 2016. It invited the audience to think about the critically important role that soil plays in human life and...
February 2, 2016
Edinburgh-based statisticians from Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS), part of the James Hutton Group, are helping shape the potential future of crop production in space by supporting the Rocket Science educational project, organised...
February 2, 2016
The Institute and LEAF will hold a Technical Day for farmers on 9 June 2016 at Balruddery Farm near Dundee. See below for flyer, invite and contacts. Latest ... See LEAF's blog on the event ..... featuring Euan Caldwell's Magic...
February 2, 2016
During National Science Week 2016 the Carse of Gowrie Sustainability Group are delighted to host an evening lecture with Dr Mike Sutton from Trent Nottingham University, the leading expert and published author on Matthew’s scientific legacy...
February 2, 2016

Soil posters (Research Page)

This series of posters around Scottish soils was originally designed in collaboration with Geography teachers from Scottish schools. In light of the enlightened public interest in soils as a result of 2015 being the International Year of Soils,...
January 1, 2016
The Combinable and Energy Crops Committee regret to advise that this meeting has been postponed. A new date will be announced later in the year. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience or disappointment this might cause to our members....
January 1, 2016
A group of academics from a leading Saudi Arabian university visited the James Hutton Institute in Dundee and Aberdeen to share ideas about crop, soil and land use research and specialist facilities. The visitors, from Qassim University, had...
January 1, 2016
The Winter 2016 meeting of the Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) Potato Sub-committee will be held at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee on 24 March 2016. Programme Programme can be found by clicking the link below:
December 12, 2015
The Aberdeen-based Slopefield Allotment Association have achieved the top award of 'Outstanding' once again in the It's Your Neighbourhood 2015 assessment. This is the third year in a row that the Association has been awarded an '...
February 2, 2015

Sam Poskitt (Member of Staff)

Sam is an Environmental Social Scientist with a background in Geography, Environmental Anthropology and International Development. He specialises in participatory approaches for research, learning, and decision-making in relation to tackling...
November 11, 2014
The James Hutton Institute will be holding Open Farm Sunday on 7 June 2015, 10 am to 4 pm, Dundee site. Find us at Directions to the Dundee site. An emphasis this year will be on soil as part of the International Year of the Soil.
October 10, 2014
The British Council and the Mexican National Council of Science and Technology (CONACyT)  have launched the  programme 'Researcher Links' to encourage international research collaboration between young researchers from the UK...
August 8, 2014
Tarland modelling                         Hydraulic models help to predict where flooding might occur, how severe it might...
July 7, 2014
Despite many decades of research within protected area landscapes, many protected area management organisations struggle to use scientific expertise in their management and decision making processes. The project has been funded by the Macaulay...
June 6, 2014
The Institute and LEAF held a Technical Day for farmers on 3 June at Balruddery Farm near Dundee. Here we report on the day's events - the demonstrations, the talks, the discussions.
May 5, 2014
A new EU training-partnership including the James Hutton Institute aims to promote wild plant conservation underpinned by the use of native plant seeds. The programme will train a new generation of higher level researchers, improve the...
March 3, 2014
The James Hutton Institute was not open for Open Farm Sunday on 8 June 2014. This year we held a LEAF Technical Day for Farmers on Tuesday 3 June. See the exhibits at Farmers' Technical Day.
January 1, 2014
A workshop was held at Birnam Arts and Conference Centre on 20 November 2013 to provide an update on research being conducted as part of the Vibrant Rural Communities theme of the Food, Land and People Strategic Research programme, funded by...
January 1, 2014
Stakeholder engagement events relating to theme topics Health and wellbeing conferences and workshops Date Title Theme role Venue 25 November 2013
June 6, 2013

Scottish Rivers Handbook (Research Page)

The Scottish Rivers Handbook has been produced by the James Hutton Institute and the University of Stirling for CREW, the Centre of Expertise for Waters. It is an accessible, fully illustrated 36 page book providing an overview of the physical...
May 5, 2013
"Food Security - whose problem is it?" is a workshop aimed at young people aged 11-19 during Big Bang Scotland 2013. It will explore the issues around producing enough to feed a growing world population; ask why it matters and what we...
April 4, 2013
The James Hutton Institute site at Invergowrie, near Dundee took part in Open Farm Sunday on 9 June 2013. 
April 4, 2013
Latest ...
February 2, 2013
Register online now to take part in our farmer led phosphorus sampling project Why is phosphorus important? Phosphorus is an essential plant fertiliser. However, phosphorus is an increasingly expensive commodity, which is mined from a few...
October 10, 2012
Background The Lewis Endowment Fund (LEF) was set up in 1930 as part of an original benefaction from Dr T.B. Macaulay of the Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada. Whilst the major purpose of this benefaction was to create the Macaulay Land Use...
October 10, 2012
May 5, 2012
Insect ecologist Jenni Stockan, of the James Hutton Institute, will join Aberdeen City Council's Countryside Rangers for a public talk and walk all about bumblebees, which are important pollinators for many plants including agricultural crops...
May 5, 2012
The Virtual Landscape Theatre (VLT) is a mobile curved screen projection facility, in which people can be 'immersed' in computer models of their environment to explore landscapes and seascapes of the past, present and future. This event...
February 2, 2012
E-SMART: Environmental Sensing for Monitoring and Advising in Real-Time
December 12, 2011

PhD Projects (Research Page)

Competition for PhD student is now closed. Please contact Lionel Dupuy for further information.
November 11, 2011

Soil forensics (Research Page)
November 11, 2011
Soil erosion and landslides are caused by weak soil, with significant impacts on the economy. It affects food production and can influence areas liable to flooding. Could we use green engineering techniques to improve soil stability? Listen to Dr Ken...
November 11, 2011
'Feeding the world - appliance of science or reliance on nature?' is the topic for Dr Tim George of The James Hutton Institute at this Cafe Science Extra event. Cafe Science Extra is held at Dundee Science Centre's Infusion Coffee Shop...
October 10, 2011
Soils represent one of the most complex and dynamic natural systems studied by scientists. Knowledge of their chemical, physical and biological properties is a prerequisite both for sustaining the productivity of the land, for example agriculture...
October 10, 2011
Composting The material that is left behind from your kitchen can be put to good use by making your own garden composter! The creatures that live in your soil (i.e. the bacteria, fungi, insects etc), consume and process the plant and animal...
September 9, 2011
Cell and Molecular Sciences (CMS) is based at the Dundee site and comprises more than 90 plant scientists with research specialisms in cell and molecular biology, genomics, genetics, pathology and physiology. Crop improvement A major research...
September 9, 2011
A joint meeting between the BSSS Scottish Soils Discussion Group and the Scottish Root Group will be held at SAC (Edinburgh) on 2 November 2011. It has been organised to forum for review, discussion and learning about recent developments in root...
July 7, 2011
Name: Regosol/Brown Calcareous Soil Age: Young by Scottish standards Address: Coastal locations Preferred soil functions: Often used for recreation (golf) in the east, but is the mainstay of many crofting communities in the west (...
July 7, 2011
Name: Brown earth Age: Up to 10000 years but in many areas it has been modified by management Address: Primarily East Scotland, some limited areas in West Highlands Preferred soil functions: Primarily used in arable and mixed...
July 7, 2011
Name: Peat Age: up to 7500 years old
July 7, 2011
Name: Humus-iron podzol Age: Up to 10000 years but in places modified from its original form Address: Eastern and Central Highlands, some in the eastern Southern Uplands Preferred soil functions: in its natural state, as part of a...
July 7, 2011
Name: Noncalcareous gley Age: Up to 10000 years Address: Primarily in west Central Scotland Preferred soil functions: sustaining improved pasture swards Height/Weight: Usually quite deep. Very dense (heavy) at depth Colour...
July 7, 2011
Take a look and see how you too can make your own mini composter and make a little difference in saving resources. This activity is in accordance with RGC’s school eco-code, “Don’t throw your world away”. Watch the video...
June 6, 2011
A visit to Robert Gordon’s College junior school eco group was made by three James Hutton Institute members of staff on 20 June, 2011. Lorna Dawson gave an overview of our different soils in Scotland and how they provide healthy food, as...
June 6, 2011
Scotland excels in growing and breeding berries. Come and taste some berries and find out why berries are good for you at the Berry Festival. Discover what's new in the world of berries with some family-friendly interactive activities....
April 4, 2011
Lichens are good indicators of air quality as many of them are sensitive to atmospheric pollution. Play the Colonise game to find out what influences lichen survival and assess air quality for yourself using lichens as your guide. With RBGE and...
April 4, 2011
Publications in which the VLT is presented or discussed Wang, C., Miller, D., Brown, I. and Jiang, Y. 2016. Public Participation to Support Wind Energy Development: The Role of 3D GIS and Virtual Reality. In: Proceedings of 24th...
April 4, 2011
The Virtual Landscape Theatre has often featured in the media or referenced in papers, reports and social media:
April 4, 2011
The Virtual Landscape Theatre is operated by a team at the Aberdeen offices of the James Hutton Institute. They have been responsible for designing, developing and implementing the theatre, 3D models, and programmes of surveys and community and...
March 3, 2011
Balruddery Research Farm is an 170 ha arable farm located seven miles west of Dundee and between 70 and 124m above sea level on the lower slopes of the Sidlaw Hills. There are 23 fields varying in size from 2.0 ha to 11 ha. The soil is a sandy...
March 3, 2011

Contact Us (Page)

Library address Library & Information Services The James Hutton Institute Craigiebuckler Aberdeen AB15 8QH Tel:  +44 (0)344 928 5428 library@hutton.ac.uk
March 3, 2011
Search the library catalogue (when offsite staff should use their allocated computer usernames to login or to view their loans) Aberdeen library extranet– with links and information to databases including GIS spatial data resources,...
March 3, 2011
March 3, 2011
Resources for Schools Barley and Me
March 3, 2011
A development and demonstration virtual reality theatre has been constructed to compliment the mobile Virtual Landscape Theatre. The dimensions and capabilities of the development theatre are the same as the VLT enabling the preparation and...
March 3, 2011
What is it? The Virtual Landscape Theatre (VLT) is a mobile curved screen projection facility, in which people can be 'immersed' in computer models of their environment to explore landscapes of the past, present and future. It is used...
March 3, 2011
Our exciting interactive exhibit (installation) is centred around the challenge of climate change but specifically addressing the idea that we have choices in the ways that we individually and collectively respond to this challenge.
March 3, 2011

Exhibits (Page)

Virtual Landscape Theatre The Virtual Landscape Theatre (VLT) is a mobile curved screen projection facility, in which people can be 'immersed' in computer models of their environment to explore landscapes of the past, present and future...
March 3, 2011
With more than 500 staff and 116 registered PhD students, the James Hutton Institute is one of the biggest research centres in the UK and the first of its type in Europe. Our thriving Postgraduate School is testament to our commitment to...
March 3, 2011

Sandy (Page)

Follow Sandy on Twitter Age: Younger than most Scottish soils Address: By the sea Preferred Occupation: Golfer/crofter Height/Weight: Usually healthy, but height can suddenly change Colour: Yellow
March 3, 2011

Rusty (Page)

Age: Very old but cosmetic surgery has changed his appearance over the years Address: East Scotland Preferred Occupation: Arable farmer Height/Weight: Weight increases with depth. Height depends on his parents, but usually over a...
March 3, 2011

Rocky (Page)

Age: Similar to his deeper characters Address: Anywhere it is rocky, many locations in the West Highlands Preferred Occupation: Almost unemployable, particularly lazy in pasture land Height/Weight: Stunted growth but has a rock...
March 3, 2011

Pete (Page)

Age: A young head on old shoulders Address: Northern Scotland and the Islands Preferred Occupation: Water supplier/whisky distiller/ornithologist Height/Weight: Height varies from 0.5-8 metres; Weight normal but reduces by 90% when...
March 3, 2011

Monty (Page)

Age: Average for Scottish soils, less than 10,000 years Address: On the mountain tops Preferred Occupation: Conservationalist/bird watcher, skier, hill walker Height/Weight: Surprisingly tall despite stony faced exterior. Heavy due...
March 3, 2011

Heather (Page)

Age: Very old, but extremely interesting Address: Eastern and Central Highlands Preferred Occupation: Gamekeeper/forester/ecologist/farmer Height/weight: Very light on top, much heavier below. Usually over a metre tall Colour:...
March 3, 2011

Claude (Page)

Age: Very old but has changed in appearance over the years Address: West Central Scotland   Preferred Occupation:   
March 3, 2011

Ally (Page)

Age:   Younger than most Scottish soils   Address: Along most of our major river courses
March 3, 2011
[jwplayer|config=jhi|file=http://www.hutton.ac.uk/sites/default/files/files/Video/soilcharacters-intro.mp4|image=/sites/default/files/files/Video/screengrabs/soilcharacters-intro.jpg] Starting in 2007, the Institute has been highlighting how...
March 3, 2011
SCRI LEAF Innovation Centre PDF file: The SCRI LEAF Innovation Centre (869 KB)
March 3, 2011
Integrated Farm Management (IFM) involves:
March 3, 2011
To help visitors appreciate farmland
March 3, 2011
A series of commentaries and opinions on current topics in food security, sustainable agriculture and environment. A fuller version of some articles will be available as a downloadable file.   Mapping pesticide loading in Scotland's...
March 3, 2011
Open Farm Sunday 9 June 2019 This year the farm and science exhibits return to our Dundee site for Open Farm Sunday. Location: Mylnefield Farm, James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA. Date: Sunday 9 June 2019, time from 10.00 am to...
March 3, 2011
The Arable Seed Identification System (ASIS) was developed as a joint project between the Institute and students from the University of Abertay Dundee. The database aims to help users identify unknown seeds.
March 3, 2011
The Library and Information Services vision is to support the Institute’s scientists in gathering high quality information effectively so that the Institute may deliver excellent research outputs. We aim to achieve this through the delivery...
March 3, 2011
The Living Field projects aim to enhance public knowledge and awareness of the importance of agriculture and the environment in our daily lives using a wide range of materials, methods and technologies. It includes a community garden, a study...
February 2, 2011
Browse through our staff photos.
January 1, 2011
The James Hutton Institute is committed to raising awareness and understanding of science, and crop-based science in particular, to colleges, universities and the general public. The Living Field is an outreach project that consists of a...

Printed from /category/tags/learning on 25/09/23 04:54:55 AM

The James Hutton Research Institute is the result of the merger in April 2011 of MLURI and SCRI. This merger formed a new powerhouse for research into food, land use, and climate change.