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Rachel Creaney

Staff picture: Rachel Creaney
Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences
Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences
Social Scientist
rachel.creaney@hutton.ac.uk
+44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)

The James Hutton Institute
Craigiebuckler
Aberdeen AB15 8QH
Scotland UK

 

Background

I am a qualitative social scientist who has recently completed a PhD within human geography and sustainable development. My PhD was ESRC funded and collaboratively supervised by University of St Andrews and James Hutton Institute. In it I explored older people's experiences of healthcare smart homes in rural areas of Scotland. I used a range of ethnographic methods to explore these experiences, including creation of a film and undertaking a networked approach to the research. Prior to this I have an MRes in Sustainable Development (University of St Andrews), an MSc in Sustainable Rural Development (University of Aberdeen, 2013) and a joint undergraduate degree (MA Hons) in Anthropology and International Relations (University of Aberdeen, 2011). I am an elected committee member of the Housing Studies Association and since from 2019-2021 I was their early-career researcher communications assistant.

I am interested in using a range of qualitative and more creative methods (i.e., visual methods, autoethnography, creative writing) to explore issues related to housing, healthcare, ageing, digitalisation and farming.

You can find me on Twitter @RachelCreaney1


Current research interests

I am currently working on two Horizon 2020 European projects: MOVING and NEWBIE. MOVING (2020-2023) explores mountain-related value chains across Europe to contribute to tehr esilience and sustainability of mountain areas to climate change. Specifically we will explore the Speyside whisky value chain.

NEWBIE (2017-2021) aims to facilitate the developemnt and dessimination of new business models, including new entry models, to the full range of new entrant - from successorss to complete newcomers - to the agricultural sector.

Beyond these projects I am interested in research that can better understand and improve rural living such as relating to housing, healthcare, ageing, sustainable living and digitalisation.

Past research

Previously, from 2013 and 2016, I worked in SEGS as a research assistant on a range of projects related to rural and community development, farmer decision-making and farm sustainability. I was also heavily involved in organisation of the ESRS conference, 2015.

Bibliography

  • Prager, K.; Creaney, R.; Lorenzo-Arribas, A. (2017) Criteria for a system level evaluation of farm advisory services., Land Use Policy, 61, 86-98.
  • Creaney, R. (2014) Eigg: The challenges of pursuing economic, environmental and socio-cultural sustainability simultaneously through in-bound tourism., RGS-IBG Royal Geographical Society Conference, London, 26-29 August 2014.


Printed from /staff/rachel-creaney on 07/12/21 11:22:15 AM

The James Hutton Research Institute is the result of the merger in April 2011 of MLURI and SCRI. This merger formed a new powerhouse for research into food, land use, and climate change.