Hutton helping communities “Coevolve” with nature Hutton’s graduate research assistants - bridging the gap in social sciences Hutton researchers are working with a community-owned woodland in Aberdeenshire to explore how people can take a greater role in deciding what form solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises take in their local environments. Murray Park Community Woodland in Alford is one of seven sites across Europe and Scandinavia taking part in the £4.6 million “COEVOLVERS” programme, being run by a consortium including the Hutton in Aberdeen. Hutton researchers will work with the trustees of Murray Park Community Woodland, alongside other community groups and stakeholders, on ways to jointly manage the woodland over a period of four years. A strong focus will be on what are called nature-based solutions, that benefit nature and people while tackling issues like climate change and biodiversity loss, as well as digital technologies, like virtual reality tours, to help people visualise potential solutions, while making sure everyone can take part. “Nature-based solutions are often carried out at quite a high level and don’t always offer opportunities for the whole community to be involved,” says Leanne Townsend, senior social scientist, at the Hutton. “This can lead to a lack of inclusivity in the management of local natural resources such as community woodlands or parks. “Through this project, we’re looking to see how that can be changed. We’re looking at how we can involve a wider range of local views and look at how people view and value the nature around them. Then how that can feed into decision making and governance, so that both nature and local people benefit.” Murray Park is a community owned woodland, having been gifted by poet Charles Murray to the people of Alford in 1936. All the other sites in the COEVOLVERS project are either publicly or privately owned, which means it offers a unique opportunity to involve people in the process. The park, an area of mature mixed woodland with paths and walks, is open to the public and welcomes all who want to enjoy nature. Bridging the gap between university study and the world of work can be a big leap. It’s maybe not clear what you want to do – or you know what you want to do but are missing that vital gap in experience. That’s why the Hutton’s social, economic and geographic sciences department has taken in its latest graduate research assistants as part of an annual programme to help recent graduates take their first steps into the world of work. The scheme, set up in 2020, recognises that bridging the gap between university study and the world of work can be a big leap. Through the programme, four graduate research assistant positions are created to give recent graduates valuable experience. This includes working on interdisciplinary projects and supporting the delivery of a range of projects through data collection, analysis and presentation of research findings in an applied research setting. The Hutton’s graduate research assistants also have the opportunity to participate in and contribute to wider initiatives across the department. This year, we have welcomed Michael Bartram, Isabel Williams, Fiona Bender and Ellie Paterson, who have backgrounds in psychology, and come to the Aberdeen campus from studies in London, Dublin, Dundee and Aberdeen. We asked this year’s new cohort what attracted them to applying for one of the graduate research assistant positions, what they hope to learn and what the experience has been like so far. Find out what they said here. 18 Hutton Highlights
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