Edinburgh Consortium for Rural ResearchEdinburgh Consortium for Rural Research

A consortium of biological, environmental and social A consortium of biological, environmental and social science organisations with a rural research focusscience organisations with a rural research focus

• ACTIVE INACTIVE INFarming, forestry, environment, aquaculture, landscape and the natural heritage

• BASEDBASEDAcross Scotland

• GEOGRAPHIC FOCUSGEOGRAPHIC FOCUSScotland, Europe, World-wide

• Instituted 1989Instituted 1989– Predecessor ‘Edinburgh Centre for Rural Economy’; instituted 1947Predecessor ‘Edinburgh Centre for Rural Economy’; instituted 1947

• A facilitating organisation A facilitating organisation

• Helps member organisations toHelps member organisations to

– work together for mutual benefitwork together for mutual benefit

– share specialised facilitiesshare specialised facilities

– promote inter-disciplinary research andpromote inter-disciplinary research and

– relate to the University of Edinburgh through its relate to the University of Edinburgh through its Colleges and SchoolsColleges and Schools

What ?What ?

Why ?Why ?

• Mutual benefitMutual benefit - through coordination of common interest areas - through coordination of common interest areas and building of trustand building of trust

• Opportunities for joint researchOpportunities for joint research - including between specialisms - including between specialisms

• Stronger voiceStronger voice - to influence funding and environmental policies - to influence funding and environmental policies

• Greater internal connectivityGreater internal connectivity - between members and entry into - between members and entry into each others’ external networkseach others’ external networks

• Broader and common focusBroader and common focus - on scientific issues and their - on scientific issues and their social relevancesocial relevance

• Promotion - Promotion - of science and education in the populationof science and education in the population

MembersMembers

• University of EdinburghUniversity of Edinburgh• Scottish Agricultural CollegeScottish Agricultural College• Heriot Watt University, School of Heriot Watt University, School of

Life SciencesLife Sciences• Napier University, School of Life Napier University, School of Life

SciencesSciences• University of Stirling, Institute of University of Stirling, Institute of

AquacultureAquaculture• UHI Millennium InstituteUHI Millennium Institute• Roslin InstituteRoslin Institute• Moredun Research InstituteMoredun Research Institute• Royal Botanic Garden Royal Botanic Garden

EdinburghEdinburgh• Scottish Agricultural Science Scottish Agricultural Science

AgencyAgency• Scottish Natural HeritageScottish Natural Heritage• Scottish Crop Research InstituteScottish Crop Research Institute

• Royal Society for the Protection Royal Society for the Protection Of Birds ScotlandOf Birds Scotland

• DEFRA Lasswade Veterinary DEFRA Lasswade Veterinary LaboratoryLaboratory

• British Geological SurveyBritish Geological Survey• Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology,

EdinburghEdinburgh• Forest Research, Northern Forest Research, Northern

Research StationResearch Station• National Museums of ScotlandNational Museums of Scotland• MRC Human Reproductive MRC Human Reproductive

Sciences UnitSciences Unit• Biomathematics & Statistics Biomathematics & Statistics

ScotlandScotland• University Marine Biological University Marine Biological

Station MillportStation Millport• Scottish & Northern Ireland Scottish & Northern Ireland

Forum for Environmental Forum for Environmental ResearchResearch

ECRR ECRR Centres and Centres and Field Field StationsStations

ECRR is not just for EdinburghECRR is not just for Edinburgh

OrganisationOrganisation

BoardBoard• ‘ ‘Director’ from each subscibing organisationDirector’ from each subscibing organisation• Meets twice per year; November AGMMeets twice per year; November AGM• Chaired by senior member of UoEChaired by senior member of UoE

ExecutiveExecutive• Sub-group of ‘Directors’Sub-group of ‘Directors’• Meets 5x per yearMeets 5x per year• Organises programme of eventsOrganises programme of events

Two Employees (Part-time)Two Employees (Part-time)• Scientific DirectorScientific Director

• Chris BrowittChris Browitt• Secretary/TreasurerSecretary/Treasurer

• Mike TalbotMike Talbot

How ?How ?

• ‘‘Light Touch’Light Touch’

– Monthly networking lunches Monthly networking lunches

with member organisation briefingwith member organisation briefing

– Low cost (annual budget ~£20k)Low cost (annual budget ~£20k)

– NewsletterNewsletter

ECRR PublicationsECRR Publications

How ?How ?

• Occasional ‘significant visitor’ lunchesOccasional ‘significant visitor’ lunches

• Evening Receptions (2 per year)Evening Receptions (2 per year)

– Targeted guests (eg MSPs)Targeted guests (eg MSPs)

– Postgraduate studentsPostgraduate students

• Annual Lecture (with RSE, IOB)Annual Lecture (with RSE, IOB)

– 2005 : Professor Ian Wilmut2005 : Professor Ian Wilmut

– 2004 : Lord Peter Melchett2004 : Lord Peter Melchett

How ?How ?

• Occasional focussed seminars:Occasional focussed seminars:

• International applicationsInternational applications

• Managing change in research organisationsManaging change in research organisations

• Public Fora on topics of current scientific interestPublic Fora on topics of current scientific interest

• 2005 - Earth observation in rural research2005 - Earth observation in rural research

• 2003 - What value Scotland’s landscape?2003 - What value Scotland’s landscape?

• 2001 - Perspectives on Foot & Mouth disease2001 - Perspectives on Foot & Mouth disease

LociLociBiologyBiology EnvironmentEnvironment

SocietySociety

Roslin InstituteRoslin Institute

Royal Botanic Garden EdinburghRoyal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

UoE GeosciencesUoE Geosciences

Subsurface GeoScienceSubsurface GeoScience • Disciplines: Geochemistry, Geophysics,Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geodynamics,Geodynamics, GeobiologyGeobiology • Themes: Earth materials, Fluid rock-interactions, SubsurfaceEarth materials, Fluid rock-interactions, Subsurface structure and dynamics, Natural hazards,structure and dynamics, Natural hazards, Planetary StudiesPlanetary Studies, , Complex Systems, Complex Systems, Earth HistoryEarth History

• Current Major Initiatives: EMMAC; CSEC; GEOMAG; NANIA• Planned : ‘ECOSSE’ JRI, ‘HIPRESS’ SRDG,

‘ASESI’ JRI, NERC - CO2

Enriching People’s LivesEnriching People’s Lives

Provide more opportunities for people to enjoy Scotland’s natural heritage.

Improve the quality of life for people in urban areas through better access to green open spaces.

Help people to care for their local environment

http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/fr/HCOU-5QJMBB

Atmospheric SciencesAtmospheric Sciences

CANOPY

ATMOSPHERE

SOIL

Plant physiology

Molecular diffusion

Turbulent exchange

Surface chemistry

Soil chemistry

Soil biology and physics

Gases & particles

Physics & Chemistry

Ecological effects

Plant Variety Testing

Seed Certification & Enforcement

Vertebrate Wildlife

Scottish Agricultural Science AgencyScottish Agricultural Science Agency

• GMO InspectorateGMO Inspectorate

• Rabies ControlRabies Control

• PesticidesPesticides

• Control of Notifiable Control of Notifiable Bee diseasesBee diseases

• AgricultureAgriculture

The RSPB in ScotlandThe RSPB in Scotland

What we DoWhat we Do

ResearchResearch solutions to conservation solutions to conservation problems faced by birds and their habitatsproblems faced by birds and their habitats

ImproveImprove habitats and create and manage habitats and create and manage reservesreserves

InfluenceInfluence legislation and policy-making legislation and policy-making

AdviseAdvise and assist and assist land managers land managers

EducateEducate and encourage young and encourage young peoplepeople

RSPB Nature Reserves in Scotland 2004RSPB Nature Reserves in Scotland 2004

UHI Millennium InstituteUHI Millennium Institute

BioSS offices BioSS offices around around ScotlandScotland

Major client organisationsMajor client organisations

Hannah Research Institute Moredun Research Institute

Macaulay Institute Rowett Research Institute

Scottish Crop Research Institute Scottish Agricultural College

Scottish Agricultural Science Agency Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Biomathematics and Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland Statistics Scotland

Mathematical and statistical research, Mathematical and statistical research, consultancy and training to agricultural, consultancy and training to agricultural, biological and environmental research biological and environmental research organisations in Scotland organisations in Scotland

An integrated approach to An integrated approach to Knowledge TransferKnowledge Transfer

• LinkingLinking

Research (£ 14m)Research (£ 14m)

Consultancy (£17m)Consultancy (£17m)

Education (£9m)Education (£9m)

• For the Land-based For the Land-based industriesindustries • Research in:Research in:

– Land EconomyLand Economy

– Crop & SoilCrop & Soil

– Animal HealthAnimal Health

– Sustainable Livestock SystemsSustainable Livestock Systems

KnowledgeKnowledgeCreationCreation

KnowledgeKnowledgeTransferTransfer

SAC & SAC & OthersOthers

Industry & Policy PullIndustry & Policy Pull

UniversitiesUniversities & Others& Others

Science PushScience Push

Complementarity in the Science SpectrumComplementarity in the Science Spectrum

Discipline areas covered by ECRR membersDiscipline areas covered by ECRR members

Animal ScienceAquaculture & Fisheries

AtmosphereBiodiversity & Conservation

Bioinformatics, Biomathematics & StatisticsCoastal & Marine ScienceCrops & Plants Science

EcologyEconomics & Social Sciences

Engineering Environment & Land Use

Food ScienceForestry & WoodlandFundamental Biology

Genetics, Genomics & ProteomicsGeography

Geology & SoilsNatural History

Renewable ResourcesTaxonomy

Veterinary Science & Medicine

Facilitating Centres of ExcellenceFacilitating Centres of Excellence

• Edinburgh Biosciences Research Centre (EBRC)Edinburgh Biosciences Research Centre (EBRC)– Roslin InstituteRoslin Institute

– Moredun InstituteMoredun Institute

– RDVS ResearchersRDVS Researchers

– SAC Animal ScientistsSAC Animal Scientists

– (IAH Neuropathogenesis Unit)(IAH Neuropathogenesis Unit)

• Plant Sciences ScotlandPlant Sciences Scotland– SCRISCRI

– RBGERBGE

– UoEUoE

– OthersOthers

• SAGES (Scottish Alliance for Geosciences, Environment & Society)SAGES (Scottish Alliance for Geosciences, Environment & Society)

– UoE, UHI, BGS and OthersUoE, UHI, BGS and Others

Raising awarenessRaising awareness

ECRRECRR promotes wider awareness of the range of its members scientific expertise and is accessible by the political, business and public sectors through:

• WebsiteWebsite - with links to member organisations (www.ecrr.org.uk)• ContactsContacts - with MSPs and other politicians• LinksLinks - e.g. with Aberdeen Research Consortium• SharingSharing - - information, contacts, expertise and ideas• ReceptionsReceptions - for members and targeted guests• Annual lectureAnnual lecture - with Roy Soc Ed and Inst Biology• Public foraPublic fora - biennially on topics of current scientific interest• Focused SeminarsFocused Seminars - eg International applications, managing change• SchoolSchool - - links• Newsletter – Newsletter – the Bush Telegraph

EducationEducation