Research
Mags contributes a geographical perspective to addressing place-based challenges and spatial injustices faced by rural communities and investigating innovative ways in which these challenges can be met to promote resilience, health and wellbeing to rural communities. From 2017 – 2022 she has led the Communities and Wellbeing Work Package of the Scottish Government’s 2016-2022 Strategic Research Programme, which included an interdisciplinary mixed-methods project on the Impacts of Covid-19 in rural areas of Scotland. She is also a co-investigator on the EUH2020 DESIRA (Digitalisation: Economic and Social Impacts in Rural Areas (2019-23) project. In investigating how processes of engagement, empowerment and reslience occur and change over time in different rural spaces and places Mags is driven by research involving interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary teams and working to exchange knowledge and create impact with policy makers, public bodies, the third sector and local (rural) communities.
PhD Supervision
Kirsten Gow (due to submit 2025)
Marcus Craigie (due to submit 2025)
Past research
- Co-investigator on National Islands Plan Survey for the Scottish Government (2020-2021).
- Hutton lead and co-investiagtor for the EUH2020 RELOCAL project leading Work Package 8 on scenarios for spatial justice.
- Co-led the Long-term impacts of flooding project funded by Centre of Expertise for Water (CREW).
- Co-led the Community Engagement around Private Water Supplies Project funded by CREW
- Theme 8: Understanding the linkages and interdependencies between rural and urban areas (RESAS Strategic Research Programme 2011-2016)
- WP8.3.1 Models and resource flows between rural and urban areas (RESAS Strategic Research Programme 2011-2016)
- WP8.3.3 Understanding how urban and rural greenspace shapes wellbeing (RESAS Strategic Research Programme 2011-2016)
- DICE – “Developing an Interdisciplinary Culture of Excellence” – James Hutton Institute Seedcorn funding
- TOPS – Technologies to Support Older People at home: maximising personal and social interaction (through University of Aberdeen’s RCUK dot.rural research hub)
- Evaluation of Community Nurse Consultant Role (QNIS)
Supervision of completed PhD Studentships:
Dr Rachel Creaney (ESRC) 2021
Dr Rod Lovey (Transport Scotland) 2021
Dr Andrew Maclaren (Joint Studentship Scheme) 2018
Dr Gillian Dowds (UKRI) 2016
Dr Amy Nimegeer (KTP) 2013
Publications
The following Publications have not yet been migrated to the James Hutton Institute's Pure service and relate to the research outputs from the two legacy organisations: The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute and The Scottish Crop Research Institute.
Journals
Prior to appointment
- Elliott, L.; Kennedy, C.; Rome, A.; Cameron, S.; Currie, M.; Pow, J.; Mackenzie-Baker, M. (2011) Study of the implementation of a new community health nurse role in Scotland., The Scottish Government. ISBN: 9781780457260
- Nimegeer, A.; Farmer, J.; West, C.; Currie, M. (2011) Towards best practice in co-designing health services with remote and rural communities: an example from Scotland., Health and Place, 17, 1004-1006.
