Dominic Duckett

Honorary Associate
T: +44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)

Dominic is a Honorary Associate researcher of our Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Department (SEGS), working with social theories of risk. He was the Science Challenge 3 Leader charged with the delivery of technical and social innovations that support sustainable and resilient communities. He currently applies social theories of risk to diverse areas of socio-technical risk around agricultural production and environmental hazards, which are core concerns to the James Hutton Institute. He works extensively with issues relating to rural sociology and food systems. These include Food and Nutrition Security (FNS), Spatial Justice, Digitisation in rural areas, surveillance of livestock through electronic tagging (as part of The Scottish Government's Centre of Expertise, EPIC), and agricultural knowledge and information systems (AKIS).

Work also includes developing Scotland’s strategic resource management by leading a project looking at water reuse for Scotland’s Centre of Expertise on Waters (CREW) and developing visual research methods around participatory mapping using touch table technology. He is currently CO-I in a UKRI project making an assessment of the UK’s food system supply chains post Covid-19. All of these research activities are related by an overarching interest in developing social theories of risk, for example Becks’ Risk Society and Douglas’ Cultural Theory of Risk, to understand socio-technical phenomena. Technology as a driver of change is an important component of his critical approach leading him into collaborative work around digitalisation, and theories of technological change. He is an expert in participatory scenario planning methodology and has pioneered virtual and blended scenario workshops during the pandemic.

Dominic joined the institute in 2012 after gaining a PhD in Management Science from Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) where he studied ‘the social amplification of risk’ in the context of zoonotic disease in collaboration with Defra. Previously he gained a distinguished Masters degree in Information Technology and the Management of Organisational Change from the Department of Organisation Work and Technology also at LUMS. His first degree was in Philosophy from Exeter University, lending a strong interest in the theoretical foundations of knowledge.Prior to his academic career Dominic had a successful and varied career in information technology. He worked in different sectors including the civil service, financial services and the technology sector, latterly as a self-employed consultant. As an information systems specialist, he became involved in risk management, risk audit and business continuity, gaining professional certification through the Information Systems Audit and Control Association. This technology background is reflected in an ongoing interest in the role of modern technology in the shaping of risk in society.

Dominic’s first PhD candidate, Dr. Irma Arts sucessfully defended her thesis ‘Mediating nature: mobile media technology and our (dis)connection with the outdoors’ in October 2021.

Dominic’s interests are in the socio-technical aspects of risk with a particular, current emphasis on food and the environment. Work has featured an interdisciplinary approach teaming psychologists, sociologists, nutritionists, modellers and statisticians to better understand food cultures in which poor dietary outcomes combined with concerns over sustainability constitute an entrenched problem within Scotland and more widely. Engagement methods include concept mapping and scenario planning. Stakeholders are central to his investigations and a range of qualitative methods are being deployed including interviews and focus groups.

Past research

Dominic has worked on public and institutional perceptions of zoonotic risk through the lens of the social amplification of risk framework (SARF) for a PhD. At Masters level he investigated social understandings of disaster and the relationship between disaster recovery plans as artefacts and the actual practices evident in the wake of a disaster. He investigated the Oklahoma City bombing (1995) as a site where disaster recovery was socially constructed. His post doctoral research includes working on agricultural production, strategic resource management, knowledge systems and visual research methods.

Journals

Books / chapters

Technical / contract reports

Conference papers

  • Duckett, D.; Lorenzo-Arribas, A.; Horgan, G.; Conniff, A. (2021) Amplification without the event the rise of the reducetarian, Oral presentation to the Society for Risk Analysis 2021 ANNUAL MEETING,Session: M8 – Advancing Risk Science, Theme: Foundational Issues in Risk Analysis -Virtual Room.
  • Ortiz-Miranda, D.; Arnalte-Mur, L.; Cerrada-Serra, P.; Martinez-Gómez, V.; Moreno-Pérez, O.; Adamsone-Fiskovica, A.; Brunori, G.; Czekaj, M.; Duckett, D.; Ferreira, V.S.; Fortes, A.; Galli, F.; Godinho, C.; Hernández, P.A.; Prosperi, P.; Sumane, S.; Tyran, E.; Yeboah, R. (2020) Assessing stakeholder interaction in small-farming focused regional foresight analyses., Farming Systems Facing Climate Change and Resource Challenge, IFSA 2020 Conference, 20-26 March 2020, Évora, Portugal
  • Duckett, D. (2018) Community impacts of land application, 23rd European Biosolids & Organic Resources Conference, November 2018, Leeds
  • Duckett, D. (2018) Varietal diversity of potatoes in the risk society., 27th Annual Conference of the Society for Risk Analysis Europe in Östersund, Sweden, 18-20 June 2018. (Powerpoint presentation)
  • Duckett, D.; Barlagne, C. (2017) Potato risk society., Seventh International Conference on Food Studies, RomaTre University, Rome, Italy, 26-27 October 2017, Cultural Intersections, p60.
  • Sutherland, L.A.; Madureira, L.; Dirimanova, V.; Bogusz, M.; Kania, J.; Vinohradnik, K.; Creaney, R.; Duckett, D.; Koehnen, T.; Knierim, A. (2016) New knowledge networks of small-scale farmers in Europe’s periphery., 12th European IFSA Symposium, Workshop: Generating spaces for innovation in agricultural and rural development, Harper Adams University, 12-15 July 2016.
  • Duckett, D. (2016) The social attribution of risk amplification (SARA)., Conference Presentation, Society for Risk Analysis Europe, Bath University, 22 June 2016.
  • Duckett, D.; Christley, W.R.M.; Heathwaite, M.; Mort, Z.; Austin, J.M.; Wastling, S.M.; Latham, R.; Alcock, R.; Haygarth, P. (2015) Can policy be risk based? The cultural theory of risk and the case of livestock disease containment., XXVI European Society for Rural sociology Congress, Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, Aberdeen, 18-21 August 2015.
  • Duckett, D.; McKee, A.; Sutherland, L.A.; Kyle, C. (2015) Scenario planning as a communicative action., Policy and Politics Annual Conference, University of Bristol, 15-16 September 2015.
  • Duckett, D.; Kinder-Kurlanda, K. (2013) And lo the cattle: changing biopower relations through electronic identification of farm animals., XXV ESRS Congress – Rural Resilience and Vulnerability: The rural as the locus of solidarity and conflict in times of crisis, Florence, Italy, 29 July – 1 August 2013.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Barlagne, C.; Kyle, C.; Hornyik, C.; McKenzie, G.; Duckett, D. (2019) How do you like your potatoes? A Scottish consumer survey exploring habits, preferences and perception relating to potatoes., Potatoes in Practice, James Hutton Institute’s Balruddery Farm, Dundee, 8 August 2019. (Poster)
  • Barlagne, C.; Duckett, D.; Kyle, C.; McKenzie, G.; Hornyik, C. (2019) How do you like your potatoes? A Scottish consumer survey exploring habits, preferences and perceptions relating to potatoes., 168th Seminar of the European Association of Agricultural Economists, Behavioural Perspectives in Agricultural Economics and Management, Uppsala, Sweden, 6-7 February 2019.
  • Barlagne, C.; Kyle, C.; Hornyik, C.; McKenzie, G.; Duckett, D. (2018) How do you like your potatoes? – A Scottish consumer survey exploring habits, preferences and perceptions relating to potatoes., The James Hutton Institute Annual Research Symposium, Treetops Hotel, Aberdeen, 29 November 2018. (Poster.
  • Duckett, D.; Barlagne, C.; Kyle, C. (2018) PiP 2018 scenario planning., Potatoes in Practice 2018, Balruddery Farm, Dundee, 9 August 2018. (Poster)
  • Duckett, D.; Lorenzo-Arribas, A. (2017) Media representations of risks relating to meat consumption., Seventh International Conference on Food Studies Conference, Food Systems: Design and Innovation, Roma, Italy, 26-27 October 2017. (Poster Abstract)
  • Duckett, D.; Barlagne, C. (2017) Too many or too few? Is conserving potato varieties important?, Potatoes in Practice, James Hutton Institute, Dundee, 10 August 2017. (Poster)
  • Barlagne, C.; Duckett, D.; Kyle, C.; Sutherland, L-A. (2017) Managing genetic resources for increased sustainability of food sectors: an application to the potato sector in Scotland., Seventh International Conference on Food Studies Conference, Food Systems: Design and Innovation, Roma, Italy, 26-27 October 2017. (Poster)
  • Barlagne, C.; Bonar, N.; Duckett, D.; Hornyik, C.; Kyle, C.; McKenzie, G.; Stirton, G. (2017) One potato, two potatoes, three potatoes, four… Conserving and enhancing potato varieties in Scotland. , The Royal Highland Show, Ingliston, Edinburgh, 22-25 June 2017. (Poster)
  • Barlagne, C.; Bonar, N.; Duckett, D.; Hornyik, C.; Kyle, C.; McKenzie, G.; Stirton, G. (2017) One potato, two potatoes, three potatoes, four… Conserving and enhancing potato varieties in Scotland., Fascination of Plants Day 2017. The University of Dundee Botanic Gardens, 21 May 2017. Poster.
  • Duckett, D.G.; Boden, L.; Auty, H.; Bessell, P. (2013) How will the Scotland of 2040 be equipped to deal with livestock disease., EPIC Annual General Meeting, Pollock Halls, Edinburgh, September 2013.
  • Duckett, D.G. (2013) The future of the Scottish sheep industry: exploring threats and opportunities through scenario planning., Poster, October 2013.