Hutton Highlights, February 2020

Some dates for your diary Date Event Location Who should come and why? 11 March 2020 SSCR Potato Winter Meeting James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie Primarily SSCR members but also anyone in the potato industry 19 March 2020 SSCR Combinable and Energy Crops Winter Meeting James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie Primarily for SSCR members but also for anyone in the cereal industry 20 March 2020 World Water Day Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh Government officials/academics/MSPs/MPs 13 February 2020 SSCR/Bulrush Soft Fruit Open Day Dundee, venue TBC Anyone in the soft fruit industry 22-24 April 2020 9th ENFSI APST Meeting James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen The ENFSI Animal Plant and Soil Traces expert working group (APST) supports the aims and objectives of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) in the area of casework analysis of all kinds of biological traces of non-human origin and soil traces. For more information and details on how to submit an abstract or to register, please click here ENFSI-APST2020 28-30 April 2020 MonoGram 2020 Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee The MonoGram Network meeting is the annual get together for the small grain cereal and grass research community. For more information and details on how to submit an abstract or to register, please visit the conference website MONOGRAM20 10-12 June 2020 3rd Plant Microbiome Symposium Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee This international Symposium will welcome academics, professionals and stakeholders to discuss recent scientific achievements in the field and laid the foundations for future collaborative efforts. Presentations will encompass insights from cutting-edge discovery science, translational applications and national initiatives coordinating microbiome research. For more information and details on how to submit an abstract or to register, please visit the conference website 3rd Plant Microbiome Symposium 11-13 May 2019 Pint of Science 2020 Locations across the UK, TBA Join us in the pub to hear from some of our researchers about what they’re working on and why 2 July 2020 Arable Scotland James Hutton Institute, Balruddery Farm Highlights from this year’s event can be found here , click here t o look ahead at what can be expected in 2020. 16 July 2020 Fruit for the Future James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie Anyone in the soft fruit industry 13 August 2020 Potatoes in Practice James Hutton Institute, Balruddery Farm Anyone in the potato industry 4 November 2020 TB Macaulay Lecture Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh Political/policy/academics/stakeholders/general public - Designed to stimulate thinking and dialogue about contemporary environmental issues. 10 Hutton Highlights February 2020 19 Comments? Islands Revival Declaration points to evidence of population turnaround in Scottish islands The Islands Revival Declaration alludes to examples of population growth in Scottish islands which go against the undercurrent that identifies the islands as places where population is in decline. It was developed by social scientists and community representatives from the James Hutton Institute, Scotland’s Rural College, Community Development Lens (CoDeL) and Community Land Scotland, with input from over 20 island stakeholders from across Scotland and further afield and was funded by SEFARI’s Responsive Opportunities Fund. These examples point to instances where, on some islands at least, young people are increasingly choosing to stay, return or relocate to island homes. The declaration also identifies multiple factors facilitating positive population trends in some island areas and offers policy recommendations for the creation of sustainable populations. Hutton social scientist Dr Ruth Wilson says it is crucial that policy is informed by these ‘green shoots’ of recovery in order to respond effectively to opportunities and challenges for island renewal. “Our intention is to facilitate discussion between communities, local and Scottish Government, island businesses and international experts, to identify ways in which policy can best support positive population trends in the islands.” Theona Morrison and Thomas Fisher, from CoDeL, support this view, pointing out that the Islands Revival blog sources community knowledge about micro-trends at the island level, revealing examples of dynamic and entrepreneurial communities driving positive change and increasing their populations. “Islands have assets, including intangible ones of wellbeing and community, culture and identity, that are increasingly attractive to younger people. Island communities are investing in a holistic way, with interlocking and mutually supporting initiatives, to generate positive impacts and community resilience.” Community Land Scotland’s Policy Director, Dr Calum MacLeod, commented that the Islands Revival Declaration rightly highlighted local control of land and marine assets as a key driver of positive population change in some island areas:“The challenge now is to ensure that public policy maximises opportunities for more of that local control to be exercised through community ownership and other means to enable the continuing sustainability of all our islands communities”. Evidence of population turnaround in Scottish isles is characterised by… • a more positive discourse on population change in island communities. • changing perceptions of younger, economically active people, especially out-migrant islanders, who increasingly consider their birthplace as a place to return to, and at an earlier stage in their lives. Connectivity (especially social media) is playing an important role in popularising this attitude. • an increasing appreciation, particularly by younger people (whether they have stayed, returned or settled), of the cultural wealth, environmental assets, well-being, and community- related benefits of island life. • aspirations of sustainability, renewal, or restored viability, without risk to social, cultural and environmental assets. The full Islands Revival Declaration is available on th e Islands Revival website . A joint statement from research institutes, community groups and public sector organisations points to credible evidence of ‘green shoots’ of population turnaround in the Scottish islands not yet evident in official statistics. 8