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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260529T090000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260529T110000
DTSTAMP:20260523T115227
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SUMMARY:The changing world of potatoes
DESCRIPTION:Hosted by the National Potato Innovation Centre (NPIC) as part of the International Day of Potato.  \nPotatoes are the world’s third most important food crop and the UK’s second most valuable food sector\, contributing £4.5 billion annually. Although global uncertainty continues to present challenges for the potato industry\, innovation across both industry and research is creating new opportunities. \nThis programme will explore key developments across the GB potato sector over the past year\, presented by Alex Godfrey from GB Potatoes\, alongside an analysis of how recent global events and trade dynamics are shaping international potato markets from Cedric Porter of World Potato Markets. \nAs the Scottish Government-funded “PCN Action Scotland” project concludes\, Kerry Leslie from SRUC will discuss outcomes for the industry and outline priorities for future action on potato cyst nematodes. \nAdvances in precision breeding and their potential applications for future potato cultivars will be explored through an ongoing project coordinated by Sasha Eremina at The Sainsbury Laboratory. The importance of potato nutrition will also be highlighted through findings from a recent white paper presented by Rob Ward of Vitagri. \nCompleting the programme\, Gordon McDougall from James Hutton Institute will examine opportunities to revalorise potato waste into novel products and new economic opportunities. \nWebinar agenda\nChair: Ian Toth\, Director of the National Potato Innovation Centre at The James Hutton Institute. \nWelcome and Introductions – Ian Toth \nSpeaker sessions  \n\nGB potato industry update 2025-26 – Alex Godfrey (GB Potatoes)\nAn Upturned World Potato Market – Cedric Porter (World Potato Markets)\nOutcomes from the PCN Action Scotland project – Kerry Leslie (SRUC)\nPrecision breeding in potato – Sasha Eremina (The Sainsbury Laboratory)\nBeyond Yield: Soil Health and Nutrient Density in Potatoes – Rob Ward (Vitagri)\nNovel uses for potato: Solanesol and protein – Gordon McDougall (The James Hutton Institute)\n\n  \nSpeaker Biographies \nChair: Ian Toth\, Director of the National Potato Innovation Centre at The James Hutton Institute. \nIan Toth is Director of the National Potato Innovation Centre and Scotland’s Plant Health Centre\, is a Visiting Professor at the University of Glasgow\, and holds leadership roles in the potato sector\, including President of the European Association for Potato Research (EAPR) and Chair of Potatoes in Practice. He also contributes to national and international potato initiatives\, including on the Board of The Seed Potato Organisation\, and as a member of the GB Potatoes Virus Technical Working Group\, GB PCN Forum and International Potato Partnership. In 2020\, he chaired the Scottish Government’s PCN working group and received the British Potato Industry Award for lifetime contribution to the industry. He will host the 23rd EAPR Conference in Edinburgh in 2027. \n  \nAlex Godfrey\, GB Potatoes \nAlex Godfrey is a British potato grower and chair of GB Potatoes\, the organisation representing the UK potato industry. He is also a director of his family farming business in Lincolnshire\, which grows potatoes and other arable crops. \nPreviously chair of the NFU Potato Forum\, Godfrey has focused on industry representation\, sustainability\, and developing future talent within the British potato sector. \n  \nCedric Porter\, World Potato Markets \nCedric Porter is a UK agricultural journalist and market analyst\, best known as editor of World Potato Markets\, a global briefing on potato production\, trade and pricing. He has over 25 years’ experience covering agricultural markets and is a regular speaker at international farming and potato industry events. \nHe has also served on the UK Trade & Agriculture Commission\, worked as a non-executive director in the potato sector\, and supports sustainable farming initiatives through LEAF. \n  \nKerry Leslie\, SRUC \nKerry Leslie is a Scottish agricultural consultant and potato specialist with SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College). She advises growers on potato agronomy\, seed production\, soil health\, storage and crop management across Scotland and the wider UK. \nShe is a regular contributor to industry events\, research projects and technical discussions focused on improving potato productivity\, sustainability and resilience in commercial farming. \n  \nSasha Eremina\, The Sainsbury Laboratory \nSasha Eremina is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at The Sainsbury Laboratory\, specialising in commercialising research in potato diseases\, plant–pathogen interactions and precision breeding technologies. Her work focuses on improving disease resistance and crop resilience through advanced genetic approaches. \nShe works on collaborative projects aimed at developing more sustainable potato production systems and accelerating the use of precision breeding tools in agriculture. \n  \nRob Ward\, Vitagri \nRob Ward is CEO of Vitagri\, a UK organisation focused on the links between soil health\, farming practices\, crop nutrient density and human wellbeing. He comes from a long-established farming family and remains actively involved in regenerative farming alongside his work in AgTech and food systems innovation. \nHis work focuses on nutrient-dense food production and sustainable agriculture\, bringing together farmers\, researchers and the food industry. Through Vitagri’s “Growing Health” programme\, he promotes better understanding of how farming methods influence the nutritional quality of crops such as potatoes. \n  \nGordon McDougall\, The James Hutton Institute \nGordon McDougall is a plant scientist and researcher at The James Hutton Institute\, specialising in plant chemistry\, crop quality and the health benefits of potatoes and other crops. His work focuses on bioactive compounds\, nutrition\, and how breeding\, growing conditions and processing affect end-user quality. \nHe contributes to collaborative research projects aimed at extending the use of potato biomass through circular economy approaches\, including the valorisation of co-products for novel end-uses. \n  \nAbout National Potato Innovation Centre (NPIC) \nThis webinar is hosted by the Hutton through the National Potato Innovation Centre (NPIC). NPIC is based at The James Hutton Institute and works partnership with stakeholders\, academic\, industry and government in the UK and beyond to carry out scientific research to future proof the potato industry and support economic resilience and growth. We do this through innovation\, generating new findings and innovating products. We are currently planning a state-of-the-art innovation centre to support the work of NPIC.
URL:https://www.hutton.ac.uk/event/the-changing-world-of-potatoes/
LOCATION:Online
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260602T193000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260602T203000
DTSTAMP:20260523T115227
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SUMMARY:The Legacy of James Hutton (1726–1797): The Spirit of Enlightenment Science
DESCRIPTION:Join Professor Colin Campbell\, Chief Executive\, The James Hutton Institute while he traces James Hutton’s life and intellectual development.\n  \nJames Hutton\, physician\, chemist\, farmer and natural philosopher\, is best known as the founder of modern geology that is the basis of the “Deep Time” of our Earth. Yet his contribution reaches far beyond the rocks of Siccar Point. In his Theory of the Earth\, Theory of Rain\, Elements of Agriculture and the Principles of Knowledge and Reason\, Hutton articulated a profoundly modern vision of science: that nature operates through continuous\, observable processes; that knowledge progresses gradually through evidence and reason; that truth is constantly hampered by error and uncertainty and that human understanding is refined through disciplined inquiry. \nThis online lecture traces Hutton’s life and intellectual development within the Scottish Enlightenment\, examining how his ideas of systems and cyclical processes operated in diverse areas of human physiology\, agricultural experimentation and field observation of rocks and geological strata to a coherent philosophy of nature. It explores how his concept of uniformitarianism reshaped our thinking of a “Dynamic Earth”\, influenced Charles Lyell\, Charles Darwin\, and James Lovelock and helped establish a worldview grounded in process\, system\, and deep time. \n  \nSpeaker: Professor Colin D. Campbell\, Chief Executive\, The James Hutton Institute\nFacilitator: Professor Eric Blair\, Vice President\, Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society\n  \nThe Enlightenment unleashed remarkable advances in science\, industry and human endeavour. Yet it also laid the foundations for extractive economies\, environmental degradation and a separation of humanity from nature that now underpins many of our global challenges. What\, then\, have we learned? How might we recover the spirit of Enlightenment inquiry while avoiding further unintended consequences? \nDrawing on contemporary examples from The James Hutton Institute\, this lecture reflects on how science has evolved—from natural philosophy to system science\, from descriptive “…ologies” to predictive modelling\, and from disciplinary research to integrated sustainability science. It considers how Hutton’s commitment to observation\, systems thinking\, and intellectual humility continues to shape research agendas addressing climate change\, land use\, biodiversity\, soil health and food security. \nThree centuries on\, Hutton’s insights remain vital – not only for understanding the past\, but for guiding a more enlightened future. \n  \nSpeaker Biography \nProfessor Colin D. Campbell\, Chief Executive\, The James Hutton Institute \n  \nProfessor Colin D. Campbell is a soil and environmental scientist and Chief Executive of The James Hutton Institute\, where he has played a central role in advancing interdisciplinary research on land systems\, climate change\, and sustainable resource management. His work focuses on soil ecology\, biogeochemical cycling\, and the interactions between land use and ecosystem function\, contributing to national and international policy discussions on climate mitigation\, biodiversity and sustainable agriculture. \nThroughout his career\, Professor Campbell has championed systems-based approaches to environmental science\, integrating field observation\, experimental research and modelling to address complex challenges facing rural and natural environments. He has led major research programmes and collaborative initiatives linking science\, policy and practice\, and has contributed extensively to advisory panels and strategic development in the UK and internationally. \nAs a long-standing member of the Institute named after James Hutton\, Professor Campbell brings a deep appreciation of Hutton’s intellectual legacy. The institute reflects the enduring spirit of Enlightenment science: rigorous observation\, critical reasoning\, and a commitment to applying knowledge for the public good. \n  \nFacilitator \nProfessor Eric Blair\, Vice President\, Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society \nThis webinar is hosted by The James Hutton Institute and The Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society. \nThe James Hutton Institute is a world‑leading interdisciplinary scientific research organisation delivering excellent\, open and trusted science to help secure the future for people\, nature and the economy. Through multidisciplinary research spanning land\, crops\, water and natural resources\, the Hutton delivers measurable public good by supporting sustainable land use\, climate resilience\, food security and community wellbeing in Scotland and across the globe. Our work—from laboratories to landscape‑scale living labs—helps society respond to the climate and nature crises while strengthening rural communities and resilient economies. We undertake research for clients including the Scottish and UK Governments\, the EU and international partners. We employ just under 500 staff\, support around 100 PhD students\, and have campuses in Aberdeen and Invergowrie\, near Dundee. We are named after the pioneering 18th‑century Scottish Enlightenment scientist James Hutton\, whose ideas laid the foundations of earth systems science through his understanding of deep time\, cycles and the interconnectedness of natural processes. We continue his legacy of integrative\, evidence‑led thinking. More information at www.hutton.ac.uk. \nThe Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society\, founded in 1819\, is a charity that promotes interest in science\, literature and the arts – in the city of Leeds and beyond. The society has been offering a programme of events every year since 1821\, covering a wide range of scientific\, technical\, artistic and cultural topics. \nWe also make small grants to individuals and organisations to support cultural activities that aim to increase understanding\, innovation\, outreach and diversity in Leeds and its immediate area. \nThe Society is constantly looking for new ways to make progress with its aims\, including through collaborations with other scientific\, cultural and educational organisations – in Leeds and in the wider world. \n  \nEvent Registration – Privacy Notice \nBy registering for this event you understand we will use your personal data to process your registration and to communicate with you about the event. \nIf you have any questions contact events@hutton.ac.uk. \nFor more information about what we do with personal data and your rights under Data Protection legislation\, please see our privacy notice: http://www.hutton.ac.uk/privacy-notice. \nAccessibility note \nWe aim to make events as accessible as possible. If you have any accessibility requirements or questions about how we can support you in attending our events\, please contact The James Hutton Institute’s event team at events@hutton.ac.uk. \nPhotography\, filming and recording \nThis lecture will be recorded. \nPlease note that the event organiser and events partners will be taking photographs and filming during this event. The photographs/video recordings may be used for publicity\, promotional and business development purposes in print and digital media formats including publications\, reports\, tenders\, websites\, promotional material and social media. If you have any concerns\, please contact events@hutton.ac.uk.
URL:https://www.hutton.ac.uk/event/the-legacy-of-james-hutton-1726-1797-the-spirit-of-enlightenment-science/
LOCATION:Online
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260813T090000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260813T153000
DTSTAMP:20260523T115227
CREATED:20260501T091006Z
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SUMMARY:Potatoes in Practice 2026
DESCRIPTION:Potatoes in Practice will take place on Thursday 13th August 2026 at The James Hutton Institute\, Balruddery Farm in Invergowrie\, DD2 5LJ. \nHosted by The James Hutton Institute through the National Potato Innovation Centre (NPIC)\, in partnership with SRUC and Agrii. \nThe event will showcase a variety of demonstrations\, cutting-edge research\, trade exhibits\, and a wealth of knowledge from experts in the field – making it a must-visit for those in the potato industry. \nFrom commercial breeders introducing new varieties\, to agronomists demonstrating advancements in crop protection and researchers on hand to discuss their most recent findings; visitors will have access to a wealth of scientific knowledge and expertise. \nPotatoes in Practice is an annual initiative aimed at fostering learning and agricultural innovation. \nOur mission is to facilitate the adoption of practices that enhance sustainability and resilience in farming. \nKeep updated via the Potatoes in Practice website and on social media for updates on the event programme\, seminars\, speakers and much more. \nBASIS and NRoSO knowledge trail available.
URL:https://www.hutton.ac.uk/event/potatoes-in-practice-2026/
LOCATION:The James Hutton Institute\, Balruddery Farm\, Invergowrie\, Dundee DD2 5LJ\, Balruddery Farm\, Invergowrie\, DD2 5LJ\, United Kingdom
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260817T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260821T170000
DTSTAMP:20260523T115227
CREATED:20260209T143240Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260501T085157Z
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SUMMARY:ESSA Summer School 2026: Introduction to Agent-Based Modelling
DESCRIPTION:About the Summer School\n\nThe ESSA Summer School 2026 will take place from Monday 17 to Friday 21 August 2026 at The James Hutton Institute\, Aberdeen. Led by Gary Polhill\, this one-week intensive course offers an introduction to agent-based modelling (ABM)\, connecting theories of complex systems with practical model design\, programming\, and experimentation in NetLogo. \nParticipants will learn how agent-based models can represent heterogeneous actors\, dynamic environments\, and emergent socio-ecological patterns. The course combines conceptual theory\, coding exercises\, and group projects to help participants understand the purpose\, design\, and implementation of ABMs for socio-environmental systems. \n  \nKey themes include: \n\nComplex systems thinking and agent-based theory\nTranslating conceptual systems into computational models\nProgramming ABMs in NetLogo and developing clear model structures\nSetting up experiments\, analysing results\, and communicating model findings\n\nThe summer school is designed for PhD students\, researchers\, and practitioners interested in modelling socio-ecological systems\, environmental policy\, behavioural dynamics\, and other complex adaptive systems. \nGuest Lecturers\n\nThe summer school will include guest lectures from leading researchers in agent-based modelling\, providing participants with insights into cutting-edge applications and examples of what agent-based models can achieve in empirical and applied research contexts. \n  \nProfessor Alison Heppenstall (University of Glasgow)\nProfessor Alison Heppenstall is Professor of Geocomputation at the University of Glasgow\, where her research focuses on spatial agent-based modelling\, microsimulation\, and computational social science. Her work sits at the interface of geography\, social science\, and data science\, with particular emphasis on modelling complex urban\, social\, and environmental systems. She has contributed extensively to methodological developments in agent-based modelling\, including uncertainty analysis\, data assimilation\, and the integration of machine learning approaches\, and has led and participated in a wide range of interdisciplinary projects applying ABM to real-world policy-relevant questions. \n  \nDr Sarah Wise (University College London)\nDr Sarah Wise is Associate Professor at the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA)\, University College London\, specialising in agent-based modelling and computational approaches to understanding human behaviour in spatial systems. Her research applies ABM to empirical problems such as transport and freight dynamics\, evacuation modelling\, urban mobility\, and public health\, often integrating simulation models with spatial data and open datasets. She has a strong interest in the practical challenges of designing\, implementing\, and scaling agent-based models for applied and policy-relevant research whose work combines programming and agent-based modelling with spatial and urban analytics. Her research uses ABM to study real-world applied problems such as transport\, freight and evacuation dynamics\, and she has written on practical challenges of modelling at different scales.
URL:https://www.hutton.ac.uk/event/essa-summer-school-2026-introduction-to-agent-based-modelling/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20261021T193000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20261021T210000
DTSTAMP:20260523T115227
CREATED:20260430T141428Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260519T132933Z
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SUMMARY:47th TB Macaulay Lecture - with Professor Frank Biermann
DESCRIPTION:The 47th TB Macaulay lecture will be delivered by Professor Frank Biermann\, a leading scholar of global sustainability and the founder and first chair of the global Earth System Governance research alliance.\n  \nHosted by the Macaulay Development Trust in partnership with The James Hutton Institute\, the TB Macaulay Lecture aims to connect scientific evidence with civic society on the big issues affecting our land and people and specifically to reach those who influence and make decisions on policy. \nThis year’s speaker\, Professor Biermann\, is the founder and first chair of the global Earth System Governance research alliance – a network focused on advancing knowledge at the intersection of global environmental change and governance. Since its launch twenty years ago\, the initiative has grown to include more than 600 researchers from around the world. It hosts major annual conferences\, supports book series with MIT Press and Cambridge University Press\, publishes a high-ranking academic journal and coordinates influential international research initiatives. In 2024\, Professor Biermann became the first political scientist to receive the prestigious Volvo Environment Prize for his work “defining new pathways for international environmental governance in a period of global change”. \nThrough his lecture\, the scholar will explore how accelerating climate impacts\, geopolitical tensions\, democratic backsliding and persistent inequalities have rendered traditional approaches to environmental governance insufficient. \nHe will outline how planetary politics offers a fresh perspective for understanding and navigating the profound transformations shaping our future\, and how plurilateral coalitions of like-minded countries can succeed in a world where global consensus is out of reach. \nThe talk will also highlight Professor Biermann’s extensive research on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)\, with a specific focus on the critical period leading to 2030\, when the current framework expires and new global goals must be negotiated. \nAttendees can expect:\n\nA timely look at what’s at stake as the world approaches the 2030 SDG milestone\nA compelling introduction to the emerging concept of planetary politics\nBig‑picture insights combined with recent empirical research\nReflections on the future of global sustainability governance\n\nThe lecture will take place at the National Museum of Scotland\, Wednesday 21 October 2026.\nProgramme: \n\n1830: Pre-lecture exhibition\n1930: 47th TB Macaulay Lecture\n2100: Post-lecture reception\n\nThe event is free to attend. Tickets for the lecture can be booked through Eventbrite. Numbers are limited\, so book quickly to secure a space. \n  \n \nBackground to the TB Macaulay lecture \nThe annual TB Macaulay lecture is held to honour the vision of Dr Thomas Bassett Macaulay\, President and chairman of the Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada\, whose benefaction founded the original Macaulay Institute for Soil Research in 1930. He was a descendant of the Macaulays from the Island of Lewis and his aim was to improve the productivity of Scottish Agriculture. This vision continues today in its successor The James Hutton Institute\, a world-leader in land\, crop\, water\, environmental and socio-economics science. \n 
URL:https://www.hutton.ac.uk/event/47th-tb-macaulay-lecture-with-professor-frank-biermann/
LOCATION:National Museum of Scotland\, Edinburgh\, Chambers Street\, Edinburgh\, EH1 1JF\, United Kingdom
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