CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE & HUMAN RESILIENCE University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN T: 01382 388692 E: cechr@dundee.ac.uk
www.dundee.ac.uk/cechr
Research Initiative between the University of Dundee & the James Hutton Institute
Annual Review 2014/15
Quote from Tim Newman
Annual Review 2014/15 Contents Introduction 2 Tim Newman – Vice Principal for Research, Knowledge Exchange and Wider Impact
2
Team and CECHR Board
3
CECHR – Director’s Take - Professor Ioan Fazey
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James Hutton Institute
5
Dean of School – John Rowan
5
CECHR Academic Associates
6-7
Social Media
8-9
CECHR Postgraduate students – new and completed
10-11
CECHR Postgraduate events – change maker workshops and Facing the Future Conference
12-13
Diary of CECHR Events
14-15
Incubator fund
16
Research Grant Successes
17
Impact Case Studies
18-19
CECHR’s Artist in Residence - Jean Duncan
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MSc in Sustainability
22-23
Transformations 2017: Transformations in Practice
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Acknowledgements: We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the Review, notably Jackie Malcolm for the design and Tracey Dixon for the photography.
Annual Review 2014/15
Publications 20
1
Introduction - University of Dundee
The CECHR Story
The University of Dundee is a vibrant institution in the northeast
CECHR was established in 2009 as a strategic partnership
of Scotland, UK. Dundee was recently awarded the Scottish
between the University of Dundee and the James Hutton
University of the Year based on its commitment to teaching
Institute. The centre was founded to create an internationally
and real world impact arising from its research (Times/Sunday
significant academic community working together to tackle
Times Good University Guide 2016). The University has over
the major global challenges of food, water, energy and health
18,000 students from well over 100 countries, and is
security. The aim was to link the University’s broad range of
consistently ranked within the Top 200 global higher education
environmental research spanning geography, law, engineering,
institutions. For a remarkable 6th year in a row, Dundee
life sciences and health with the James Hutton Institute’s
University was voted number 1 for student experience in
expertise in plant sciences and ecosystems.
Scotland (Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2010-2015).
The multi-disciplinary nature of the centre is considered key society. CECHR strives to promote not only multi-disciplinary
expertise: Art and Design; Dentistry; Education and Social
working but also interdisciplinary thinking to tackle such
Work; Humanities; Life Sciences; Medicine; Nursing and Health
challenges and to help create a more sustainable future.
Science; Science and Engineering and Social Sciences.
CECHR’s core values are consistent with the University’s
The Centre for Environmental Change and Human Resilience (CECHR) works across all of these schools to capitalise on the diverse expertise in environmental and sustainability research.
Tim Newman Vice Principal Research, Knowledge Exchange and Wider Impact ‘Sustainability is one of three strategic themes at the University of Dundee, and CECHR plays a fundamental role within this theme of connecting disciplines, researchers and students within the University, and dynamically interfacing this network of activity to partners such as the James Hutton Institute and to
Annual Review 2014/15
the international community. The issues that CECHR addresses absolutely require an interdisciplinary approach, which combines research exchange and new modes of teaching. CECHR has been a vibrant and successful platform for the sustainability theme under the tremendous leadership of Prof John Rowan, and I wish his successor, Professor Ioan Fazey, every success taking CECHR to new heights in the coming years.’
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Transformation vision, placing a premium on valuing people by nourishing creativity and innovation; working together by blending multiple disciplines to tackle complex and seemingly intractable problems; promoting integrity and trustworthiness; making a difference by concentrating on problem-solving; and focussing on excellence to ensure our research and teaching are of the highest quality. The skilful and enthusiastic leadership of CECHR in its formative years has been led by Professor John Rowan. In 2015 this role was taken up by Professor Ioan Fazey, who has an interdisciplinary background in sustainability, resilience, adaptation and research on knowledge exchange.
CECHR Team Professor Ioan Fazey Louise Henderson Jean Duncan Tracey Dixon Tony Hodgson
Director Communications Resident Artist Social Media Transformative Facilitator in Residence
Associate Directors Mark Cutler Mike Brown Roy Neilson Christopher Connolly Matthias Klaes Husam Al Waer Jackie Malcolm Kate Irvine
Head of Geography, School of Social Sciences Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering Ecological Scientist, James Hutton Institute Reader in Neurobiology, School of Medicine Associate Dean of Research and Scholarship, School of Humanities Senior Lecturer, Architecture, School of Social Sciences Lecturer, DJCAD Senior Researcher, James Hutton Institute
CECHR Board Ioan Fazey Tim Newman Colin Campbell John Rowan
CECHR Director Vice-Principal (Research, Knowledge Exchange and Wider Impact) Acting Chief Executive, Director of Science Excellence Dean, School of Social Sciences
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to finding solutions to the complex challenges facing modern Dundee has nine schools encompassing world class research
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New CECHR Director - Professor Ioan Fazey
James Hutton Institute
‘I am honoured to be taking on the role of Director of CECHR to build on the acclaimed and enthusiastically driven work of the former Director, Professor John Rowan. Global sustainability challenges are intensifying, but so is recognition of the need for interdisciplinary work at the interface of science and practice and for fundamentally new ways of thinking. I therefore look forward to helping shape the future direction of CECHR and to building on the exciting opportunities that this interdisciplinary centre provides.’
The aspirations of CECHR and the James Hutton Institute continue to be highly complementary and build on the established collaboration arising from the co-location of the University’s Plant Science Division within the Institute’s Invergowrie estate and co-funding interdisciplinary CECHR PhD studentships. We are delighted to have Professor Colin Campbell, Interim CEO and Director of Science Excellence for the James Hutton Institute sit on our governing CECHR board.
Professor John Rowan, outgoing CECHR Director Dean of School of Social Science ‘It has been a pleasure to help steer CECHR from a good idea amongst a few like-minded individuals into
Colin Campbell Acting Chief Executive, Director of Science Excellence Reflecting on the value of the initiative to Hutton, Colin writes, ‘CECHR is an excellent initiative which extends our networks and capabilities to address areas of mutual interest around some of the global challenges. We have benefitted enormously from it through joint PhD students and learning new ways of combining our talents and promoting our science. Further
Annual Review 2014/15
highlights over the year were the annual symposium which goes from strength to strength and the workshops on the Transformation agenda and Developing and Interdisciplinary Culture of Excellence. These all work due to the energy and commitment of the participants and CECHR team.’ We are delighted to have Professor Colin Campbell, interim CEO and Director of Science Excellence for the James Hutton
a flourishing self-organising community within the University of Dundee and our partners in the James Hutton Institute. From the outset the emphasis has been towards interdisciplinary problem solving and tackling the grand challenges of water, food, energy and health security. Growth in the volume of collaborative projects has been accompanied by a strengthening in the research environment and an alignment to the University’s Transformation vision – aiming to help transform people’s lives locally and globally. Never more relevant, CECHR is set for further growth under new Director Professor Ioan Fazey, and I wish the team every success for the future.’
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© The James Hutton Institute and was taken by Bernardo Rodriguez-Salcedo
Institute sit on our governing CECHR Board and we welcome Dr Roy Neilson and Dr Kate Irvine on to our team of Associate Directors.
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practice
adapting rural biodiversityeconomy
health
international futures
CECHR Associates The CECHR Associate Programme was launched in June 2014 in conjunction with the website re-launch. The programme provides staff across James Hutton Institute and the University to engage and showcase their sustainability and environmental portfolio in a single space. We currently have over 70 registered associates. CECHR ASSOCIATES BY AFFILIATION
The benefits of joining the Associate Programme include membership of a progressive and dynamic interdisciplinary community of practice; a strong collaborative research culture; a supporting academic programme; horizon - scanning of future funding calls; and support from the CECHR Operations team in terms of marketing and communications. In return Associates have responsibilities to promote and share best research and teaching practices; mentor graduate students and early career researchers; and provide key reporting data (grant income, paper outputs, events and outreach activities) to evidence the trajectory and impact of the CECHR initiative.
For more information on becoming a CECHR Associate, please contact Louise Henderson cechr@dundee.ac.uk or l.henderson@dundee.ac.uk
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Academic Associates
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Name
Prof Adrian Newton Prof Chris Spray Prof Claire Halpin Prof Colin Campbell Prof Colin Reid Prof Deborah Peel Prof Frank Sargent Prof Geoff Gadd Prof Graeme Hutton Prof Graeme Morton Prof Ioan Fazey Prof John Rowan Prof Lorraine Van Blerk Prof Margaret Smith Prof Matthias Klaes Prof Niamh Nic Daeid Prof Nic Beech Prof Robin Matthews
Institution Division JHI UoD UoD JHI UoD UoD UoD UoD UoD UoD UoD UoD UoD UoD UoD UoD UoD JHI
Cell & Molecular Sci. CWLPS Plant Sciences Science Excellence Law TRP Molecular Microbiology Geomicrobiology Architecture Humanities Geography Dean of School, Social Science Geography Dean of School, Nursing Humanities CAHID Vice Principal Information and Computational Sciences
Expertise Plant Pathology Catchment science Plant Biology & Biotechnology Soil science Environmental Law Planning & Sustainability Microbiology & Biofuels Geomicrobiology Architecture Scottish History Resilience & Transformation Physical Geography Development Studies Nursing and Health Science Economic resilience Forensics Academic Planning and Performance Systems Modeller
Academic Associates
Name
Institution Division
Prof Sue Black UoD CAHID Prof Terry Dawson UoD Geography Prof Thilo Kroll UoD Nursing/SDHI Prof Tim Newman UoD Vice Principal Dr Alison Karley JHI Ecological Sci. Dr Alistair Rieu-Clarke UoD CWLPS Dr Andrea Ross UoD Law Dr Andrew Black UoD Geography Dr Andrew Brennan UoD Civil Engineering Dr Annie Tindley UoD Humanities Dr Anna Moss UoD Geography Dr Anthony Leung UoD Civil Engineering Dr Ariel Bergmann UoD CEPMLP Dr Beverley Searle UoD Geography Dr Blair McKenzie JHI Env. & Biochem. Sci. Dr Callum McGregor UoD ESWCE Dr Chris Connelly UoD Neuroscience Dr David McGloin UoD Electronic Engineering and Physics Dr Deepak Gopinath UoD TRP Dr Drew Hemment UoD DJCAD Dr Ed Hall UoD Geography Dr Eirini Politi UoD Geography Dr Fiona Smith UoD Geography Dr Fraser Milne UoD Geography Dr Geoffrey Wood UoD CEPMLP Dr Husam Alwaer UoD Architecture Dr Johnathan Knappett UoD Civil Engineering Dr Johnathan Mendel UoD Geography Dr Kerry Waylen JHI Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Dr Kit Macleod JHI Information and Computational Sciences Dr Lorens Holm UoD Architecture Dr Mark Cutler UoD Geography Dr Megan O’Neill UoD Geography Dr Mike Woolvin UoD Geography Dr Mohammad Radfar UoD TRP Dr Nick Taylor UoD DJCAD Dr Pete Ianetta JHI Ecological Sci. Dr Peter Moug UoD CECHR Dr Roy Neilson JHI Ecological Sci. Dr Sarah Hendry UoD CWLPS Dr Sue Dawson UoD Geography Dr Sue Morris JHI CREW Dr Thomas Dyer UoD Civil Engineering Andy Cobley UoD Computing, Engineering Ellie Harrison UoD DJCAD Esther Carmen UoD Geography Jackie Malcolm UoD DJCAD Joshua Msika JHI Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Kirsty Holstead JHI Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Trudy Cunningham UoD Estates and Buildings Mr Andrew Allan UoD CWLPS Ms Elizabeth Kirk UoD Law
Expertise Forensics Global Change Health Research, Knowledge Exchange and Wider Impact Ecology Water Law Environmental Law Hydrology Foundation Engineering Social History Climate Change Geo-energy and Geo Environment Energy Economics Wellbeing Soil Science Informal Education Environmental Chemical Risk Optical Physics Planning & Sustainability Design and Citizen Science Vulnerability Remote Sensing Human Geography Geoscience Low Carbon and Energy Transmissions Sustainability Indicators Offshore Engineering International Security Political Ecologist Catchment Science Urban Theory Earth Observation Methods Policing & Security Social Geography Urban Design and Planning Human-Computer Interactions Ecology Resilience Soil Ecology Water Law Coastal Hazards CREW Concrete Engineering Data Scientist Activism & Art Environmental Sociologist Transdisciplinary Communication Low-Carbon Communities Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Energy and Environment Water Law Environmental Law
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sustainability well-being management
change
food
city
policy
security carbon
energy law green
climate low
water environment
ecosystem
services
resilience governance
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CECHR – Social Media We use a variety of tools to communicate with our community
• In May 2015 @CECHR_UoD was number 45 in the
via social media:
CECHR has a fantastically successful twitter account
SustMeme.com Climate Change and Energy Top 500
CECHR’s facebook account (CECHRUOD) was launched just
http://sustmeme.com/top-500-leaderboards/
(@CECHR_UoD) which has an astounding 70,000 followers Website
(January 2016)! Followers include Matt McGrath (Environment
The CECHR website was re-launched in June 2014
Correspondent for BBC News), Climate Reality (founded by
climate-change-energy-top-500/. This list ranks the top
www.dundee.ac.uk/cechr and includes information on
Al Gore) and FAOknowledge (Food and Agriculture Organisa-
500 influencers and players active on Twitter in Climate
CECHR events, relevant news, CECHR Associates, the Post-
tion, part of the United Nations).
Science & Forecast, the Carbon Economy, Emissions
and Green 1.
graduate group, related courses and other research groups. The success of this account is down to our colleague Tracey Blog
Dixon who works tirelessly to keep the account updated and
The CECHR SPHERE blog encourages our postgraduate
relevant.
over a year ago and currently has 2100 followers. The aim of the account is to encourage communication and networking within the community and to promote relevant news and events.
• We have a Klout score of 71 (100 highest, 1 lowest) and
we are ranked number 5 (above WWF which is number
students to post details of their international research/fieldtrips/
7) on a list of top experts to follow on the topic of
conferences and can be found on the cechr website.
Biodiversity and number 8 on recommended experts to
follow in relation to Renewable Energy.
• The CECHR account was included in a case study of
examples of quality public engagement via social media
along with NASA and the Union of Concerned Scientists
in research about Social Media and Public engagement
by Dr Heather Doran - Winston Churchill Memorial Trust
Fellow 2015
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2015/07/30/
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She highlighted that:
‘@CECHR_UoD is an extremely interactive account that shares news from the centre and related communications. They have generated their own, large virtual audience as part of their everyday communications. This account doesn’t only disseminate information but also responds and engages with their audience.’
Annual Review 2014/15
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online-engagement-strategy-dont-go-it-alone/
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Oana Iacob
Congratulations to the following CECHR Postgrad
Research title: Natural flood management (NFM) –
students who completed their studies in 2014/15:
an Ecosystem based Adaptation response to climate change.
Graduate:
Manik Deepak Gopinath
Division/School:
Town and Regional Planning
Research title:
Wellbeing and place: exploring
perspectives of older people
in Scotland.
Where now:
Lectureship in Ageing at the Open
University, Milton Keynes.
CECHR Postgraduates
Graduate:
Amy Holden
Division/School:
Geography
The Graduate face of CECHR
Research title:
Landscape values, management and
CECHR has a vibrant postgraduate community who are
Currently, Nandan is affiliated as a PhD student at the
art in Highland Scotland: can cultural
working on a variety of interdisciplinary research projects on
School of the Social Sciences and also with the Centre for
Oana was one of the original CECHR funded PhD student
values be incorporated into
food and water security; biodiversity and landscape sensitivity;
Environmental Change and Human Resilience (CECHR).
and during her PhD she played an active role in many CECHR
landscape management practices?
He is on study leave from BRAC University where he was
related student initiates such as the Facing the Future
Research assistant/conference
involved in teaching and research as Director and Assistant
Where now:
Conference and Change Maker Workshops.
support. UHI Perth College.
focused on the assessment of NFM measures efficacy in
Graduate:
Elizabeth Young
reducing the flood risk for the current and future climate with a
Division/School:
Geography
consideration for the impact of these measures on the delivery
Research title:
Natural flood management (NFM) –
of ecosystem services. She applied a hydrological modelling
Soil and landform sensitivity to
approach and used Tarland Burn catchment, a tributary of
erosion in the machair landscape
the River Dee in north-east of Scotland as a platform to test
of the southern Outer Hebrides,
different NFM options. Oana has a new role as a water engineer
Scotland
for Arup (Bristol office), a widely recognized engineering
Where now:
Probationary year as a teacher
consultancy company.
in Perth.
resilience of health systems to climate change; natural flood management; renewable energy policy and social justice. These students are a valuable part of the CECHR community and are heavily involved in the ‘change-maker’ workshops and the annual student conference ‘Facing the Future’. More information can be found on our website www.dundee.ac.uk/ cechr/postgraduates/currentphdstudents or by contacting cechr@dundee.ac.uk The following postgraduate students are/were both closely associated with CECHR. Nandan Mukherjee from Bangladesh has just completed his first year of study and Dr Oana Iacob
Professor in the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER). Nandan’s research advocates the mainstreaming of climate change into Hydro Nation policy (cf. Sayan, 2013). Its main aim being to investigate how best deliver robust ‘climate ready’ evidence to ground trans-boundary water agreements. The research centres on one of the largest, most populated and geo-politically complex river basins in the world, the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) in South Asia (Figure 1). Particular attention is given to Bangladesh, recognised by the
(one of the original CECHR funded PhD students) has recently
UN as one of a group of least developed countries (LDCs) by
graduated.
virtue of low income, weak human assets and high economic
Oana was awarded her PhD in June this year, her project
vulnerability - and one of those most vulnerable to climate Nandan Mukherjee
change induced hydro-meteorological disasters. The research
Research title: Integrated river basin management
will explore the potential effectiveness of ecosystem-based
framework under the lens of loss and damage.
water management options to address climate change induced loss and damage – sustainably and equitably.
Change Maker Workshops These workshops are organised by CECHR for all postgraduate students across the University from all disciplines. The aim is to equip participants with practical skills in collaboration and leadership and to encourage them to become active players in facilitating change for sustainability.
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When
Title Facilitators
Oct 2014
Science and Art, Collaborating to Communicate Jean Duncan (CECHR Artist in Residence)
and Geoff Squire (JHI)
Nov 2014
Resilience in Biomimicry
David Sanchez (DJCAD)
Jan 2015
Bright Club – Finding Comedy in your Research Susan Morrison
Feb 2015
Three Horizons – How can we better understand
paradigm shifts in order to lead strategic
innovation and transformation
Tony Hodgson (International Futures Forum)
Facilitation Part 1 and Part 2
Ioan Fazey (CECHR)
Mar/April 2015
Annual Review 2014/15
Annual Review 2014/15
The following workshops took place during the 2014/15 academic year:
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Facing the Future 2015
31st May - 1st June
University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
The first Facing the Future was held in April 2013 at Dundee
Realising Resilience
University, organised by a group of CECHR Postgrad students. The aim of the conference series is to encourage interdisciplinary thinking around some of the worlds’ most
A conference for PhD students and early stage researchers
significant contemporary challenges and provide opportunities for early career researchers to network and develop their own
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
capacities to work with complexity and change.
Ralph Throp – Head of Community Resilience Policy – Scottish Government Tony Hodgson and Graham Leicester from the International Futures Forum (IFF) facilitated the remaining sessions on the ‘Three Horizons Approach’ and ‘The World Game’ which aim to enhance understanding of the integrated nature of contemporary challenges and involve role-plays of different interests and stakeholders (e.g. governance, biodiversity,
Mike Bonaventura – CEO Crichton Carbon Centre Facilitated by – International Futures Forum
CONTACT
water etc).
enthusiasm from the delegates to continue to build the network. Facing the Future 2015 took place over two days, 26th-27th
The conference series will now be held annually, with alternate
May at the University of Dundee. The conference was primarily
years in Dundee and at other venues. The next conference,
organised by two CECHR postgrad students, Emma Bryder
Facing the Future 2016, will be held on 31st May and 1st June
and Jennifer Williams with support from the CECHR office
2016 at Aberdeen University.
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and was attended by students from across the UK.
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Keynote speakers were Professor Sue Black (Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology) and Professor David Sigsworth (Chairman of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency) who delivered well received talks to kick off both days. Delegates delivered turbo talks (5 minute max) on their research in groups, followed by Q & A’s.
To buy tickets, go to: http://www.dundee.ac.uk/cechr/postgraduates/ftf16/ Join Facing the Future on Facebook and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/XCECHR @FTF21st Email: cechr@dundee.ac.uk Annual Review 2014/15
The highly interactive conference resulted in a buzz of
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Diary of Events A wide variety of CECHR events are organised throughout the academic year all of which underpin the ethos of the centre. Both UK based and international speakers have joined us this year to share their work with the CECHR community with working lunches, networking dinner, lectures, seminars and workshops. All of our events have been well attended and well received.
CECHR Events Annual Symposium
Present
Nov 2014 Lecture
Professor Allister McGregor, Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex. Resilience and the Three Dimensions of Human Wellbeing: A Study of Coastal Fishing Communities in Ghana, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Fiji.
50
Nov 2014 Lecture
John Pattison - Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich. Alleviating Poverty and Malnutrition in Agrobiodiversity Hotspots in India: Lessons from the Field.
25
Nov 2014 Symposium
Professions, Place-making and the Public: what next? Organised by Dr Husam Al Waer
60
CECHR Networking Dinner with Lesley Riddoch
60
Dec 2014 Lecture
Dr Marion Patrick - Stockholm International Water Institute. The Cycles and Spirals of Justice in Water Allocation Decision Making.
40
Pete Fox - Director of Strategy and Investment Flood and Coastal Risk Management, Environment Agency. Reflections on a testing winter and the importance of friend.
40
KNET – Knowledge Network Enabling Transformation – international workshop bringing together experts in ‘transformation’ held in Aberdour over 4 days.
20
Winds of Change: Rethinking the way we respond to a changing climate. Professor Karen O’Brien, Professor Laura Lindenfeld, Professor Ioan Fazey and Paul Ryan
300
Feb 2015 Symposium
Annual CECHR Symposium themed Impact, featuring research presentations by colleagues from University and the James Hutton Institute.
60
March 2015 Lunch
Professor Gabriele Bammer from the Australian National University. Addressing complex real-world problems: a new discipline, a repository and you. 20
April 2015 Workshop
Resilient Coasts and Flourishing Seas. Organised by Professor Alison Reeves and Professor Deborah Peel.
60
May 2015 Lunch
Dr Wendy Kenyon, Senior Research Specialist, Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe). Knowledge Exchange and Impact.
40
May 2015 Seminar
Dr Sonja Klinsky, an Assistant Professor at Arizona State University. Peace and Reconciliation in a Climate Context?
20
May 2015 Conference
Facing the Future 2015 – CECHR Postgraduate Conference. Learning the Power of Multiple Perspectives.
43
May 2015 Seminar
Thomas Hartmann (Utrecht Univesity) and Jirina Jilkova (J. E. Purkyne University) Flood Retention & Resilience. Organised by Professor Deborah Peel. 25
Sep 2015 Conference
Conference on Buildings, Cities & Climate Change. Event organised by Dr Husam Al Waer
50
Oct 2015 Lunch
Professor Mike Christie, Head of the School of Management and Business, Aberystwyth University. Valuing nature: ecosystems, ecosystem services, value and decision-making’ - a practical insight into managing biodiversity risks and delivering real business value.
30
The final session of the day took the form of an ‘impact
February 2015, the ‘Impact Agenda’ being the theme. The
workshop’ where the group explored options, lessons and
event was well attended and showcased the wide range of
opportunities for CECHR’s future development. The feedback
innovative and impactful research being undertaken by the
from this proved to be extremely useful as it provided an insight
CECHR community.
into the community’s expectation of the centre.
The day was structured around sessions which included
Overall the symposium was extremely well received with some
5 minute speed talks from researchers within the CECHR
positive and insightful comments noted on the evaluation forms.
Jan 2015 Lunch
CECHR postgraduate students showcasing their research
The 2016 Symposium will take place on Wednesday 24th
through a poster session and key note talks from the University
February at the West Park Conference Centre, Dundee.
Feb 2015 Workshop
management team.
Annual Review 2014/15
Description
CECHR’s 6th Annual Symposium was held on the 11th of
community providing an opportunity to share their work,
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Date Event
Nov 2014
Feb 2015
Dinner
Saturday Evening Lecture
Annual Review 2014/15
Recommendations for future visitors are gratefully received.
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CECHR Incubator Fund 2015
Research Grant Successes
The Incubator fund awards seed funding to projects aligned
Research at the University of Dundee has been ranked among the very best in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework 2014.
with CECHR’s mission and values of promoting more sustainable
CECHR Associates are currently collaborating on a number of externally funded research projects generating in excess of £3.5M
and equitable futures to all. Over the last 5 years approximately
income into the University from a variety of funders including BBSRC, Scottish Government, JRF, NERC, the Leverhulme Trust
£15,000 has been awarded to various research projects, some
and CREW.
of which have led to further funding. Selected Larger Grants to University-based CECHR Associates
School Pupils to digitally reimagine and Build Dundee’s Waterfront’, ‘Natural disaster mitigation for people with disabilities: identifying vulnerability, building resilience’ and ‘The Greening of Eigg – Carbon Abatement and Fuel Poverty
Flourishing Communities and Productive Seas
Reduction Through Adoption and Adaptation of Renewable
Over forty delegates attended a one day CECHR-funded
Energy Resources’.
symposium on marine spatial planning on 28 April, organised by Deborah Peel and Alison Reeves, and postgraduate
Award
2015-2016 Scottish Government
Centre for Expertise on Climate Change
£91K
Connections across the Tay catchment’s creative
expertise from Marine Scotland, the Highland Council, the
communities (CATC3H) by Dr Kit Macleod (James Hutton
Offshore Renewables Institute, Northumbria University, and
2015-2018 EC Horizon 2020 £114K 2020 - Societies (£3.3M)
Institute), Dimitrios Efstathiou (Computing), Dr Andy Cobley
the James Hutton Institute, together with colleagues from law,
(Computing), Dr Mel Wood (DJCAD) and Dr Susan Main
environment, DJCAD and planning. Participants also included
(Geography). This aimed to explore how diverse creative
central government, local authorities, Scottish Natural Heritage,
communities (artists and scientists) are influenced by their
the Crown Estate, and NGOs, such as Scottish Environment
physical and social environments using Twitter, machine learning
LINK and PAS. The event was chaired by Greg Lloyd, Emeritus
and graph databases. Dimitrios Efstathiou with Andy Cobley
Professor at Ulster University. The aim of the event was to find ways to ‘talk’ across marine science, social science and lay communities at different scales
content) could be visualised, a wider geographical spread than
– international, national, regional and local and to explore the
just Dundee could be seen, to be interactive and to provide
emerging concept of marine spatial planning. The purpose
functionality to track tweets about creativity over time to
was to exchange knowledge with respect to the marine and
measure spikes during and after events (Figure 1).
land/sea interface from different scientific and practice-based and to explore the practical implications of implementing Scotland’s first National Marine Plan. Topics addressed included the Scotland’s national marine plan, insights into the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters pilot marine spatial plan, wellbeing and coastal communities; marine protected areas and invasive species; ecosystem management in international law; aquaculture; offshore renewables and 3D visualisation of underwater environments. The event has led to a successful Scottish Universities Insight Institute award.
Figure 1. Screen shots of the CATC3H app that enables a user to visualise social media interactions (Tweets in this instance). Demonstrating the increase in Tweets from and to Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design from (a) 2012 to (b) 2015.
Prof John Rowan
2015-2017 CSO £161K Prof Thilo Kroll
Planning). The symposium brought together inter-disciplinary
net/). The app was developed so that connections (rather than
Project A Synthetic Approach to Bioconversion of Carbon Dioxide to Formic Acid (Joint with University of Nottingham)
were:
hosted on the Microsoft Azure Cloud (http://catc3h.cloudapp.
CECHR Lead
2015-2016 BBSRC £37K Prof Frank Sargent
students from the Masters in Spatial Planning (Marine Spatial
perspectives, raise awareness of different research projects,
Annual Review 2014/15
Funder
The two successful projects from this year’s competition
produced the CATC3H web app using a graph database
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Period
SUII
2015-2016 JRF
£100K
Community Pharmacy Services Used by Older People with Sensory Impairment and Polypharmacy Needs
Prof Deborah Peel (TRP) Home not Housing: Engaging with wellbeing outcomes Dr Megan O’Neill (Geography)
UNITY Project (Joint with 13 Other Partners)
Prof Ioan Fazey (CECHR) Resilient Communities Under Future Climates
2015-2018 Leverhulme Trust £168K Dr Jonathan Knappett The Incubator fund awards seed funding to projects aligned (Civil Engineering) with CECHR’s mission and values of promoting more sustain able2015-2017 EPSRC £99K Nickapprox. Taylor and equitable futures to all. Over the last 5 Dr years
Influence of Plant Roots on Soil Resistance to Earthquake-Induced Liquefaction
£15,000 has been awarded to various researchDr projects, 2015-2018 EPSRC £341K Andrewsome Brennan (£1M) (Civil Engineering) of which have led to further funding.
Supergen Wind Challenge 2015: Screw Piles for Wind Energy Foundation Systems (Joint with Universities of Durham and Southampton)
examples CARIAA of projects include £270K ‘Using Minecraft with Allan Some 2014-17 Mr Andrew (7.4M) (Water Law) School Pupils to digitally reimagine and Build Dundee’s Water-
Deltas, vulnerability and climate change: migration and adaptation. (15 Partner Institutions)
‘Natural disaster people with disabilities: front’, 2014-15 Univ ofmitigation Stanford for£129K Prof Claire Halpin (CLS) identifying vulnerability, building resilience’ and ‘The Greening of 2014-16 TSB £170K Dr Ed Hall (Geography)
Lignin Management Optimizing Yield in Lignin Modified
2014-15 CREW £140K Prof Chris Spray (Water Law)
Methods to assess the role of catchment management to protect and improve water quality in a cost effective way. (With collaborators CEH & Westcountry Rivers Trust)
Hacking for Situated Civic Engagement
Improving the response to energy disruption for vulnerable people in extreme weather events. (KTP with SSE)
2013-17 NERC/ESPA £500K Professor Terry Dawson Which ecosystem service models best capture the needs of the rural poor? (WISER). (Collaboration with CEH) 2013-17 BBSRC £448K Prof Frank Sargent Metal-hydrido intermediates in enzymes: atomic level (Molecular Microbiology) mechanistic insight and technological applications of hydrogenases 2013-15 EU FP7 £175K Ms Elizabeth Kirk (Law)
The European Union and the Law on the Protection of Marine Biodiversity in the Arctic. Marie Curie Fellowship
2012-17 NERC
Global Observatory of lake responses to environmental change (GloboLakes). (Consortium award, five partners)
£487K (£2.4M)
Dr Mark Cutler (Geography)
2012-16 NERC £228K Dr Sue Dawson (£2.1M) (Geography)
Annual Review 2014/15
Some examples of projects include ‘Using Minecraft with
Will climate change in the Arctic increase the landslide-tsunami risk to the UK? (Consortium award 8 partners)
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Examples of Research Impact • Matthias Klaes – CrowdFundRES
Improving the response to energy disruption for
• Irena Connon and Ed Hall – SSE Project ‘Improving
community members during extreme weather events.
the response to energy disruption for community
A Knowledge Transfer Partnership Project (KTP) between
members during extreme weather events’
the University of Dundee and Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution
CrowdFundRES
Project Researcher: Dr Irena L C Connon, Department of
The team at Dundee is led by Professor Matthias Klaes,
Geography, University of Dundee, i.l.c.connon@dundee.ac.uk
The overall objective of CrowdFundRES is to contribute to
This Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) is a 30 month
the acceleration of the renewable energy growth in Europe
project with the University of Dundee and Scottish and
by unleashing the potential of crowdfunding for financing
CrowdFundRES, a three-year EUR 1.9M project funded by
Southern Energy Power Distribution. The aim of the project is
renewable energy projects.
the European Union under the Horizon 2020 Framework
to identify, implement, evaluate and disseminate best practices
Programme for Research and Innovation, is run by a consortium
to support communities in their preparations and responses to
The project aims to deliver a number of benefits to academia,
We are currently seeing a deceleration of renewable energy
of 15 organisation from 8 different countries. Alongside the
electricity supply disruption caused by environmental hazards
to SSEPD, to other response organisations and to individuals
growth in Europe. This is partly attributed to the challenges
University of Dundee as the lead academic partner the
and to mitigate human vulnerability. In particular, the project
and to community members. Conducting academic research in
for financing renewable energy projects. Reduced access to
consortium includes crowdfunding platforms, renewable
is focusing on: a) how effective solutions can be developed
collaboration with a private sector organisation, with community
conventional financing options over the past few years has
energy project developers, media and legal specialists, industry
through developing a detailed understanding of how different
members and with members of other official and voluntary
triggered innovative financing schemes to emerge, with
associations and environmental groups across Europe.
communities responded to hazard events in the past and by
organisations that assist in emergency storm situations,
gaining a detailed insight into the specific needs of each
showcases the project as an applied-action and impact-based
In order to achieve its aims the project seeks to gain a deeper
different community, b) how proposed solutions to weaknesses
research project that aims to produce real world impacts, as
understanding of the public’s perception of crowdfunding
and vulnerabilities identified with current response procedures
part of the University of Dundee’s commitment to enhancing
as well as the issues faced by crowdfundign platforms and
can involve capitalising on the local knowledge of community
the real world impact of research pursuits as part of key
renewable energy developers. This together with a set of
residents and organisations through engagement processes
measures in the University’s Research Excellence Framework
longitudinal case studies will feed into the formulation of
that bring people together to design response strategies that
(REF) exercise.
guidelines to help inform the application of crowdfunding for
draw upon local expertise and enhance local empowerment,
renewable energy projects in Europe, and to improve market
and c) how the successful implementation of proposed
and regulatory frameworks.
solutions at the local level can be better achieved when
Annual Review 2014/15
crowdfunding attracting a lot of attention.
supplemented by proactive engagement with key personnel See more at: http://www.crowdfundres.eu/project
from official emergency response organisations at the regional and national levels to provide clarity over expectations and responsibilities, to develop effective communication processes, to ensure full consideration of local needs within response operations, and to assure that policies and strategies that are
Annual Review 2014/15
together with Professor Bruce Burton and Dr Ariel Bergmann.
developed within this field are responsive to the changing needs of a dynamic 21st century society.
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Publications
Stella Corsetti, Florian M. Zehentbauer, David McGloin, Johannes Kiefer. Characterization of gasoline/ethanol blends by infrared and excess infrared spectroscopy. Original Research Article Fuel, Volume 141, 1 February 2015, Pages 136-142. Fazey, I., Wise, R.M., Lyon, C., Câmpeanu, C., Moug, P., Davies, T.E. (2015) Past and future adaptation pathways. Climate and Development. Peel, D. and Lloyd, M.G. (2014) Aquaculture Development in Scotland: Regulation as a Moving Equilibrium. International Planning Studies [on-line] DOI:10.1080/13563475.2014.921417. Koen Arts, Antonio A.R. Ioris, Christopher J.A. MacLeod, Xiwu Han, Somayajulu, Sripada, João R.Z. Braga & René Van der Wal (2015): Supply of Online Environmental Information to Unknown Demand: The Importance of Interpretation and Liability Related to a National Network of River Level Data. Scottish Geographical Journal, 131.
Annual Review 2014/15
Burchill, W., James, E.K., Li, D., Lanigan, G.J., Williams, M., Iannetta, P.P.M., Humphreys, J. (2014) Comparisons of biological nitrogen fixation in association with white clover (Trifolium repens L.) under four fertiliser nitrogen inputs as measured using two 15N techniques. Plant and Soil 385, 287-302.
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Bongert and Spray C (2015) A comparison of ecosystem services mapping tools for their potential to support planning and decision-‐making on a local scale. Journal of Ecosystem Services (Elseveir).
2014-2015 Projects.
Montrose Basin
Bere Barley
Jean has also completed a series of etchings and paintings
Jean spent some time learning about the properties of Bere
relating to Montrose Basin and the landscape affected by the
Barley with Dr Tim George and his team at the James Hutton
same tsunami 8000 years ago. These are being exhibited in the
Politi, E., Rowan, J.S. and Cutler, M.E.J., (in press), Assessing the utility of geospatial technologies to investigate environmental change within lake systems. Science of the Total Environment (Special Issue). doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.09.136.
Institute. With help and images from Dr Kenneth Loades, Jean
DCA print gallery, the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh and
has produced a series of etchings of barley root sections. This
the Meffan Institute in Forfar.
of scientist from JHI, making drawings and drying specimens of
Jean is a valued member of the CECHR team and continues
Moffat C, Pacheco J G, Sharp S, Samson A J, Bollan K A, Huang J, Buckland S T, Connolly C N. Chronic exposure to neonicotinoids increases neuronal vulnerability to mitochondrial dysfunction in the bumblebee (Bombus terrestris). FASEB J. 2015 May; 29(5):2112-9. doi: 10.1096/fj.14-267179. Epub 2015 Jan 29.
barley from the Living Field Collection.
to make a valuable contribution through both her research
Jayasinghe, R.C., Premachandra, W.T.S.D, and Neilson, R. (2015). A study on Maruca vitrata infestation of Yard-long beans (Vigna unguiculata subspecies sesquipedalis). Heliyon, doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2015.e00014.
Rieu-Clarke A, Transboundary Hydropower Projects Seen Through the Lens of Three International Legal Regimes: Foreign Investment, Environmental Protection and Human Rights’, 3 (1) International Journal of Water Governance (2015).
collaborations and her exhibitions which engage the public in Empire
the varied research conducted by the CECHR community.
The Scottish Society of Artists invited Jean to respond to the theme of ‘Empire’ for a group exhibition in Montrose. Jean chose to explore the idea of Plant Collecting and the East India Company in particular in relation to John and Alexander Duncan from Brechin who collected plants for Sir Joseph Banks the director of Kew Gardens. The etchings and drawings completed
Soler, G., Edgar, G.J., Russell Thomson, R., Kininmonth, S., Stuart Campbell, Dawson, T.P., Barrett, N., Bernard, A., Galvan, D., Willis, T., Alexander, T.J. & Stuart-Smith, R., 2015, Reef fishes at all trophic levels respond positively to effective marine protected areas. PLOS One 10(10): e0140270.
for Empire are of a descendent of this plant growing in the
Holscher J, Klaes M. Keynes’s economic consequences of the peace: a reappraisal (2014) London: Pickering & Chatto.
and a team from BGS,the field work was a contribution to the
Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh. NERC Funded Consortium Project Jean also visited Shetland with Dr Sue Dawson, Dr Fraser Milne NERC funded consortium project, ‘Will climate change in the Arctic increase the landslide-tsunami risk to the UK?’ The team
Fazey, I., L. Bunse, J. Msika, M. Pinke, K. Preedy, A. C. Evely, E. Lambert, E. Hastings, S. Morris, and M. S. Reed. 2014. Evaluating knowledge exchange in interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder research. Global Environmental Change 25:204-220. Hendry S (2015), Improving the physical condition of Scotland’s water’ Environment. Scottish Planning and Environment Law 168:30 April 2015.
also involved attending a ‘Cereals in Practice Day’ with a group
were investigating the Tsunami deposits at Whale Firth and Mid Yell Voe on the Island of Yell.
Congratulations to Dr Husam Al Waer (CECHR Associate Director) who was awarded the Reed and Mallik Ltd journal prize (for the best paper in journal) for his paper ‘Improving contemporary approaches to the master planning process’ published in the journal Urban Design and Planning (Vol 167 issueDP1).
Annual Review 2014/15
A selection of the publications from CECHR Associates demonstrating the depth and breadth of expertise within the cohort.
CECHR’s Artist in Residence – Jean Duncan
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MSc Sustainability
Annual Review 2014/15
www.dundee.ac.uk/cechr
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Professor Ioan Fazey, CECHR
Global challenges are becoming more acute as the world enters a new era of rapid social, environmental, and technology change. Humanity needs to learn to work better with change and across different disciplines. This will define the 21st century.
TRANSFORMATIONS 2017: TRANSFORMATIONS IN PRACTICE Wednesday 30th August to Friday 1st September 2017 Centre for Environmental Change and Human Resilience (CECHR), University of Dundee, Scotland Aim of Transformations 2017 is to develop a better understanding of the practices that facilitate social and environmental transformations at local and large scales in both developed and developing country contexts.
Annual Review 2014/15
www.transformations2017.org
Centre for Environmental Change and Human Resilience An initiative between the University of Dundee & The James Hutton Institute
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