Diana Valero
Diana Valero is a social scientist working as MDT Fellow in Rural Water Security working in the Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences (SEGS) research group at the James Hutton Institute.
Her educational background is in political science, local development and rural policy.
Prior to joining The James Hutton Institute in 2021 she carried out postdoc research at the University of Stirling and in the Centre for Mountian Studies at the University of the Highlands and Islands. Diana earned her PhD from the University of Valencia in Spain.
Current research interests
With a strong focus on social justice, her research investigates social change and sustainable development in rural communities in order to inform theories of rurality and contribute to the development of a fairer society in the light of the pressing societal challenges. She focuses on understanding the drivers of cooperation, innovation, conflicts and inequalities in rural areas and their links with social cohesion and positive social change.
Her key research interests include:
- Social innovation
- Social justice and inequalities
- Narratives of rurality
- Socio-environmental conflicts
- Water security
Diana is experienced in qualitative and quantitative research methods, with a strong focus on participatory methods and working creatively with stakeholders. She is experienced in implementing a variety of research tools including: in-depth interviews and focus groups; participatory workshops; games-based research; and narrative analysis and qualitative comparative analysis (QCA).
Ongoing research projects:
- MDT Fellowship in Rural Water Security: As MDT Fellow, Diana's work is focused on the understanding water security challenges in Scotland and the potential for community action and social innovation for overcoming them.
- JHI D2-1 Emerging Water Futures: Diana is involved in A4.1 and A4.2, which explore the resilience of private water supplies and rural communities’ vulnerability and risk perceptions to water scarcity and variable water quality.
- Diana leads the project Increasing wastewater stewardship (WASTEWATERSHIP). This research, funded by the Hydro Nation Chair R & I Programme, explores what communities can do for wastewater governance in Scotland and how enhanced engagement could take place.
- DigiEthics: Navigating Digital Ethics for Rural Research. Project funded by the Scotland Hub of the British Academy Early Career Research Network that explores, from an ethics point of view, how researchers and administrators of rural community Facebook groups can agree on the conditions to utilise such networks for better research.
- The Horizon Europe RURACTIVE - Empowering rural communities to act for change. Along with the HUTTON team working on the project, Diana is particularly involved in the identification of community-led smart solutions in rural areas and the analysis of enablers and processes for rural innovation, with a focus on women-led innovation.
- CREW project "Understanding the relationship between water scarcity and land use in private water supply catchments". Diana is working to identify and review international protection and management practices of interest for Scotland.
- Diana also collaborates in the project "Using an integrated modelling framework for holistic modelling and stewardship of Scottish water systems", led by Dr Tijana Jovanovic at the British Geological Survey and funded by the Hydro Nation Chair R & I Programme.
Past research
Earlier in 2022 Diana collaborated in a CREW project led by Rowan Ellis, exploring barriers to engaging with private sewerage users and how to overcome them in support of sustainable rural water services.
Before joining Hutton she worked as a postdoc on several international projects exploring different aspects of sustainable rural development such as social innovation (Horizon 2020 SIMRA- ‘Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas’), ecotourism and stakeholder engagement (Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme SHAPE- ‘Sustainable Heritage Areas: Partnerships for Ecotourism’), production and provision of renewable energy (ESPON 2020 BRIDGES –‘Balanced Regional Development in Territories with Geographical Specificities’), and land management decisions in (Newton funded project ENDORSE ‘Enhancing Diversity to Overcome Resistance Evolution’).
Diana’s PhD and pre-doctoral research investigated social exclusion in rural areas in Spain and the local policies that were in place to address it.
Bibliography
- Valero Lopez, D.; Ellis, R.; Juarez Bourke, A.; Joyce, K. (2023) Rural water (in)security at the peripheries of Water Provision, 2023 RSA Annual Conference. Transforming Regions: Policies and Planning for People and Places, 14-17 June 2023, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Valero, D.; Ellis, R. (2023) How to go from “our water is wonderful” to addressing water security issues in rural supplies Insights from emerging narratives in Scotland, XXIXth European Society for Rural Sociology Congress: Crises and the futures of rural areas, 3-7 July 2023, Rennes, France, WG 25 "Rural narratives of water and hydrosocial dynamics in rural areas". 7 July 2023
- Valero, D. (2023) Unpacking discontent in rural councils in Spain during the Great Recession from socioterritorial features to socialjustice dimensions, XXIXth European Society for Rural Sociology Congress: Crises and the futures of rural areas, 3-7 July 2023, Rennes, France in WG 11: Social and political consequences of spatial inequalities - the rural gap, peripheralisation and left behind rural areas.
- Holstead, K.; Valero, D.; Pahl, O.; Helwig , K.; Helwig, K.; Henderson, F.; Gray, R. (2023) Creating an inclusive wastewater culture in Scotland and codesigning wastewater services for the future Wastewater legacy. Concept note for future research, Deliverable of the project WASTEWATERSHIP
- Valero, D.E.; Escribano Pizarro, J.; Pérez-Cosín, J.V. (2022) Perceptions of Social Exclusion in Rural Areas during the Great Recession: A Tale of Neoliberalism, Patriarchy, and Rural Idyll Frame, Revista Española de Investigaciones Sociológicas, 179, 125-144
- Miller, D.; Aitkenhead, M.; Artz, R.R.E.; Baggaley, N.; Black, H.; Iannetta, P.; Irvine, K.; Lilly, A.; Matthews, K.; Miller, D.; Nijnik, M.; ; Lopez, D.; Wardell-Johnson, D. (2022) Perth and Kinross Council Carbon Sequestration Study, Contract report to Perth and Kinross Council.
- Valero, D.E. (2021) From Brexit to VOX: Populist narrative policies about rurality in Europe and the populist challenges for the rural-urban divide., Rural Sociology, 87, 758-783
- Kluvánková, T.; Nijnik, M.; Miller, D.R.; Spacek, M.; Perlik, M.; Lukesch, R.; Valero, D.; Brnkalakova, S.; Bryce, R. (2020) SIMRA D2 3 Operationalization of stakeholder engagement: a guide., Deliverable D2.3, Report to the European Union, Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas (SIMRA), 53pp.
- López-Francos, A.; Aguinaco, M.; López Marco, L.; Cerezo, M.; Secco, L.; Da Re, R.; Miller, D.R.; Blackett, S.; Bryce, R.; Dijkshoorn-Dekker, M.; Górriz-Mifsud, E.; Ludvig, A.; Lukesch, R.; Marini Govigli, V.; Pisani, E.; Plana, S.; Rogelja, T.; Sfeir, P.; Slee, B.; Valero, D.; Vicentini, K. (2020) Deliverable 7.5: Report of the Training Course, Including the E-learning Version. Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas (SIMRA)., Report to the European Commission, H2020 SIMRA, Grant Agreement No. 677622, 56pp.
- Kluvánková, T.; Brnkal'áková. S.; Spacek, M.; Slee, R.; Nijnik, M.; Valero, D.; Miller, D.R.; Bryce, R.; Kozová, M.; Polman, N.; Szabo, T.; Gezik, V. (2018) Understanding social innovation for the well-being of forest-dependent communities: a preliminary theoretical framework., Forest Policy and Economics, 97, 163-174.
- Nijnik, M.; Miller, D.R.; Price, M.; Sarkki, S.; Bryce, R.; Valero, D.; Barlagne, C.; Melnykovych, M. (2018) Social innovation to link ecological sustainability with rural development objectives in marginalized mountain areas., Proceedings of International Conference on Natural Assets Use in Regional Settings, University of Lviv, Ukraine, 4-6 October 2018, pp260-264.
- Kluvánková, T.; Gezik, V.; Spacek, M.; Brnkaláková, S.; Valero, D.; Bryce, R.; Slee, W.; Alkhaled, D.; Secco, L.; Burlando, C.; Kozova, M.; Miller, D.R.; Nijnik, M.; Perlik, M.; Pisani, E.; Polman, N.; Price, M.; Sarkii, S.; Weiss, G. (2017) Transdisciplinary understanding of SI in MRAs., Deliverable 2.2, Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas (SIMRA), Report to the European Commission, James Hutton Institute, 58pp.
- Barlagne, C.; Bryce, R.; Valero, D.; Price, M.; Mosdale, L.; Clotteau, M.; Miller, D.R.; Nijnik, M. (2017) Ethical approvals for research with human participants in the SIMRA Project, Deliverable 9.5., Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas (SIMRA), Report to the European Commission, James Hutton Institute, 29pp.
- Valero, D.E.; Escribano Pizarro, J.; Pérez-Cosín, J.V. (2022) Perceptions of Social Exclusion in Rural Areas during the Great Recession: A Tale of Neoliberalism, Patriarchy, and Rural Idyll Frame, Revista Española de Investigaciones Sociológicas, 179, 125-144
- Valero, D.E. (2021) From Brexit to VOX: Populist narrative policies about rurality in Europe and the populist challenges for the rural-urban divide., Rural Sociology, 87, 758-783
- Kluvánková, T.; Brnkal'áková. S.; Spacek, M.; Slee, R.; Nijnik, M.; Valero, D.; Miller, D.R.; Bryce, R.; Kozová, M.; Polman, N.; Szabo, T.; Gezik, V. (2018) Understanding social innovation for the well-being of forest-dependent communities: a preliminary theoretical framework., Forest Policy and Economics, 97, 163-174.
- Valero, D.E. (2020) Innovación social y economía social frente a la despoblación., In: Fajardo García, G. & Escribano Pizarro, J. (coords.) Despoblamiento y desarrollo rural. Propuestas desde la economía social. 2nd edición. CIRIEC Espana, pp235-245.
- Ravazzoli E.; Valero D.E. (2020) Social innovation: an instrument to achieve the sustainable development of communities., In: Leal Filho, W., Marisa Azul, A., Brandli, L., Gökçin Özuyar, P. & Wall T. (eds.). Sustainable Cities and Communities. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer Nature, Cham.
- Escribano Pizarro, J.; Serrano Lara, J.J.; Valero, D.E. (2020) La territorialización de las políticas de inclusión social desde el punto de vista de los espacios rurales espanoles: comparativa autonómica., Revista de Estudios Andaluces, 39, 23-44.
- Vercher, N.; Escribano Pizarro, J.; Valero, D.E. (2020) Redes de apoyo al emprendimiento femenino en territorios rurales., OBETS Revista de Ciencias Sociales, 15, 317-356.
- Ravazzoli, E.; Dalla Torre, C.; Streifeneder, T.; Pisani, E.; Da Re, R.; Vicentini, K.; Secco, L.; Górriz-Mifsud, E.; Marini Govigli, V.; MeInykovych, M.; Valero, D.E.; Bryce, R.; Weiß, G.; Ludvig, A.; Zivojinovic, I.; Luckesch, R. (2019) Final report on cross-case studies assessment of social innovation., Deliverable 5.4, Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas (SIMRA), 119pp.
- Valero, D.E.; Price, M.; Forrest, E.; McNulty, M.; Hokkanen, T.; Silvennoinen, D.; Hamlet, L. (2019) Analysis of governance structures., Deliverable 3.3.1, Sustainable Heritage Areas: Partnerships for Ecotourism (SHAPE), 28pp.
- Valero, D.E. (2019) Local policies addressing poverty and social exclusion in rural Valencia (Spain) during the recession., In: Vittuari, M., Devlin, J., Pagani, M. & Johnson, T.G. (eds.). The Routledge Handbook of Comparative Rural Policy. Routledge, London, Chapter 42, pp526-531.
- Vercher, N.; Escribano Pizarro, J.; Valero, D. E. (2019) Models de vida femenins en el medi rural. Un cas d'estudi a la Sierra del Segura (Albacete)., Documents d'Anàlisi Geogràfica, 65 (1), 139-161
- Valero, D.E.; López Marco, L. (2019) Interdisciplinariedad en la innovación social frente a la despoblación rural., Economía Agraria y Recursos Naturales, 19, 17-37.
- Glass, J.; Valero, D.E.; Price, M.F. (2018) The centre for mountain studies: contributing to sustainable development in the mountains and beyond., Mountain Research and Development, 38, 404-406.
- Glass, J.; Bryce, R.; Combe, M.; Hutchison, N.; Price, M.F.; Schulz, L.; Valero, D.E. (2018) Research on interventions to manage land markets and limit the concentration of land ownership elsewhere in the world., Scottish Land Commission, Commisioned Report No. 001, 61pp.
- Valero, D.E.; Perez-Cosin, J.V. (2018) Los retos estratégicos de la política social local en tiempos de incertidumbre: Especial atención a los pequenos municipios., In: Herrera-Gutierrez, M.R. (ed.), Políticas Públicas en Tiempos de Incertidumbre: Aportes Para una Agenda de Investigación. Tirant lo Blanch, Valencia, 207-222.
- Escribano Pizarro, J.; Valero López, D.E.; Martínez Munoz, E. (2018) Procesos de exclusión social y (nueva) pobreza en el medio rural y estrategias de resiliencia en la Sierra de Alcaraz y Campo de Montiel (Albacete)., Al-Basit. Revista de Estudios Albacetenses, 63, 91-132.
- Valero, D.E.; Bryce, R.; Gorriz, E. (2017) Final Selection of Case Studies., Report 3.1 - Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas (SIMRA), 8pp.
- Valero, D.E.; Bryce, R.; Price, M. (2017) Selection of SI Case studies and policy processes., Deliverable 3.3, Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas (SIMRA), 27pp.
- Bryce, D.; Valero, D.E.; Price, M. (2017) Creation of interactive database of examples of social innovation., Deliverable 3.2, Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas (SIMRA). 24pp.
- Siguroardottir, R.; Bryce, R.; Valero, D.E.; Price, M. (2017) Common participatory processes to map assets and assess climate change impacts., Sustainable Heritage Areas: Partnerships for Ecotourism Deliverable DT 2.1.2, 9pp.
- Bryce, R.; Valero, D.E. (2017) Common methods to maintain engagement among regional stakeholder groups., Sustainable Heritage Areas: Partnerships for Ecotourism Deliverable DT 1.1.3, 4pp.
- Bryce, R.; Valero, D.E. (2017) Common methods for regional stakeholder meetings. Sustainable Heritage Areas: Partnerships for Ecotourism Deliverable DT1.1.2., Sustainable Heritage Areas: Partnerships for Ecotourism Deliverable DT1.1.2., 6pp.
- Escribano, J.; Valero, D.E.; Serrano, J.J.; Esparcia, J. (2017) Estrategias de resiliencia frente a los procesos de exclusión social y pobreza rural: ejemplos en la "Sierra de Alcaraz y Campo de Montiel"., In: Ruiz Pulpón, A.R., Serrano, M.A., & Plaza, J. (eds.). Agricultura y Nuevas Ruralidades en Castilla-La Mancha: Treinta Años de Política Agraria Común (1986-2016). Almud Ediciones, Ciudad Real, Spain, pp341-364.
- Pérez-Cosín, J.V.; Valero, D.E. (2017) Territorio y exclusión social. La lógica pública en el desarrollo de barrios frágiles o sensibles., In: Pitarch, M.D. (ed.). Estructura, Vida y Gobierno en Territorios Complejos. El área metropolitana de Valencia. Tirant Humanidades, Valencia, pp475-490.
- Escribano, J.; Valero, D.E. (2016) Plantear una investigación en desarrollo local., In: Noguera, J. (ed.), La Visión Territorial y Sostenible del Desarrollo Local. Una Perspectiva Multidisciplinar. Volume II: Sociedad, Gobierno, Métodos y Herramientas. Universidad de Valencia, Brasilia: Sebrae; Valencia pp167-188.
- Valero, D.E.; Escribano, J.; Vercher, N. (2016) Social policies addressing social exclusion in rural areas of Spain and Portugal: the main post-crisis transformational trends., Sociologia e Politiche Sociali, 19, 83-101.
- Holstead, K.; Valero, D.; Pahl, O.; Helwig , K.; Helwig, K.; Henderson, F.; Gray, R. (2023) Creating an inclusive wastewater culture in Scotland and codesigning wastewater services for the future Wastewater legacy. Concept note for future research, Deliverable of the project WASTEWATERSHIP
- Miller, D.; Aitkenhead, M.; Artz, R.R.E.; Baggaley, N.; Black, H.; Iannetta, P.; Irvine, K.; Lilly, A.; Matthews, K.; Miller, D.; Nijnik, M.; ; Lopez, D.; Wardell-Johnson, D. (2022) Perth and Kinross Council Carbon Sequestration Study, Contract report to Perth and Kinross Council.
- Kluvánková, T.; Nijnik, M.; Miller, D.R.; Spacek, M.; Perlik, M.; Lukesch, R.; Valero, D.; Brnkalakova, S.; Bryce, R. (2020) SIMRA D2 3 Operationalization of stakeholder engagement: a guide., Deliverable D2.3, Report to the European Union, Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas (SIMRA), 53pp.
- López-Francos, A.; Aguinaco, M.; López Marco, L.; Cerezo, M.; Secco, L.; Da Re, R.; Miller, D.R.; Blackett, S.; Bryce, R.; Dijkshoorn-Dekker, M.; Górriz-Mifsud, E.; Ludvig, A.; Lukesch, R.; Marini Govigli, V.; Pisani, E.; Plana, S.; Rogelja, T.; Sfeir, P.; Slee, B.; Valero, D.; Vicentini, K. (2020) Deliverable 7.5: Report of the Training Course, Including the E-learning Version. Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas (SIMRA)., Report to the European Commission, H2020 SIMRA, Grant Agreement No. 677622, 56pp.
- Kluvánková, T.; Gezik, V.; Spacek, M.; Brnkaláková, S.; Valero, D.; Bryce, R.; Slee, W.; Alkhaled, D.; Secco, L.; Burlando, C.; Kozova, M.; Miller, D.R.; Nijnik, M.; Perlik, M.; Pisani, E.; Polman, N.; Price, M.; Sarkii, S.; Weiss, G. (2017) Transdisciplinary understanding of SI in MRAs., Deliverable 2.2, Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas (SIMRA), Report to the European Commission, James Hutton Institute, 58pp.
- Barlagne, C.; Bryce, R.; Valero, D.; Price, M.; Mosdale, L.; Clotteau, M.; Miller, D.R.; Nijnik, M. (2017) Ethical approvals for research with human participants in the SIMRA Project, Deliverable 9.5., Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas (SIMRA), Report to the European Commission, James Hutton Institute, 29pp.
- Valero Lopez, D.; Ellis, R.; Juarez Bourke, A.; Joyce, K. (2023) Rural water (in)security at the peripheries of Water Provision, 2023 RSA Annual Conference. Transforming Regions: Policies and Planning for People and Places, 14-17 June 2023, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Valero, D.; Ellis, R. (2023) How to go from “our water is wonderful” to addressing water security issues in rural supplies Insights from emerging narratives in Scotland, XXIXth European Society for Rural Sociology Congress: Crises and the futures of rural areas, 3-7 July 2023, Rennes, France, WG 25 "Rural narratives of water and hydrosocial dynamics in rural areas". 7 July 2023
- Valero, D. (2023) Unpacking discontent in rural councils in Spain during the Great Recession from socioterritorial features to socialjustice dimensions, XXIXth European Society for Rural Sociology Congress: Crises and the futures of rural areas, 3-7 July 2023, Rennes, France in WG 11: Social and political consequences of spatial inequalities - the rural gap, peripheralisation and left behind rural areas.
- Nijnik, M.; Miller, D.R.; Price, M.; Sarkki, S.; Bryce, R.; Valero, D.; Barlagne, C.; Melnykovych, M. (2018) Social innovation to link ecological sustainability with rural development objectives in marginalized mountain areas., Proceedings of International Conference on Natural Assets Use in Regional Settings, University of Lviv, Ukraine, 4-6 October 2018, pp260-264.
- Nijnik, M.; Miller, D.R.; Price, M.; Sarkki, S.; Bryce, R.; Valero, D.; Barlagne, C.; Melnykovych, M. (2018) A role of social innovation in linking ecological sustainability with rural development objectives in marginalised mountain areas., International Conference on Natural Assets Use in Regional Settings. University of Lviv, Ukraine, 5-7 October 2018.
- Kluvánková, T.; Spacek, M.; Brnkalakova, S.; Nijnik, M.; Miller, D.R.; Valero, D.; Bryce, R.; Gezik, V. (2018) Understanding social innovation for the well-being of rural communities: a preliminary theoretical framework., 5th Conference of the Forum Carpaticum: Environmental and Social Risk and Adaptation in the Carpathian Mountain Region, Eger, Hungary, 15-18 October 2018. Book of Abstracts, p78.
