REMOTE on the Aran Islands

The Aran Islands Energy Co-operative was established in 2012 with a remit to work towards energy independence by 2022.

They realised that eco-tours would help showcase to fellow communities, investors, renewable energy developers, researchers and students how it can be done. As well as helping provide a sustainable living for inhabitants on the island, the Co-op worked in partnership with REMOTE, a project linking institutions across the Northern periphery primarily aimed at renewable energy training to remote and rural communities.

Murray Porritt, a Research Assistant at Inverness College UHI, went on one of the tours, delivering REMOTE training materials to two groups, the first being community representatives and eco-interested parties and the second being transition year students.

The tour included a visit to an island house and the island's recycling centre. The house uses solar PV panels to harness the sun’s energy, and an air-to-water heat pump which supplies all the hot water.

The recycling plant also showcases the employment benefits of having renewable energy on the island. 

Because shipping is so expensive the islanders try to keep as much on the island as possible.  For example, glass is crushed and then re-used in concrete for footpaths and walls.

 

 

Paper is shredded, added to food waste, liquidised and heated to make compost for the island.

 

The tour was rounded off by a visit to one of the island’s heritage sites – a naturally formed pool known as the wormhole.

Murray said “It was a great opportunity to speak about the REMOTE project to people so committed to energy independence and conservation.  Inis Mor is a really beautiful place and the islanders’ goal of energy independence by 2022 is inspiring.”

See the Article in The Irish Times here and a response to that article here.

Territorial Cohesion in Rural Europe

Director of CRRS, Philomena de Lima, has co-edited Territorial Cohesion in Rural Europe with Andrew K Copus.  It was published recently by Routledge. 

The book reflects on how the economies, social characteristics, ways of life and global relationships of rural areas of Europe have changed in recent years, arguing that Europe has 'outgrown' many of the stereotypes usually associated with it, with substantial implications for European Rural Policy.

Click here for more information or to purchase.  There is a 20% discount for orders made online with code LRK69* until the 31st December 2014. 

(*cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer)

British Council's Science Communication Competitions

Are you a budding science journalist? Can you communicate science to a general audience? Gain experience, promote your work and win £100!

Hone your science communication skills and explore your creativity with these two new competitions from the British Council:

Think International: Science writing competition to explain internationally collaborative research projects

Share your science: Competition for creative and engaging images of research

Find out more at: www.britishcouncil.org/cubed @studyworkcreate, Study, Work, Create – British Council on Facebook.

New Project to Increase Rural and Urban Dialogue

Inverness College UHI Centre For Remote and Rural Studies is one of the partners in an exciting new project led by Brandon University.  The aim of the project is to increase rural and urban dialogue .

The Rural Policy Learning Commons will network scholars, politicians and citizens to ensure that policy-makers recognise the characterstics, unique benefits and challenges associated with rural and northern places.

It is a global network with more than 30 partners and 90 institutional and individual participants.  Brandon University President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr Gervan Fearon calls it an 'extraordinary partnership'.

Read more here on the Centre for Remote and Rural Studies webpages.

Research and Scholarship Scheme

Inverness College has reintroduced the Research and Scholarship Scheme, making a limited pot of funding available for Inverness College staff to undertake small-scale, relevant research and scholarship activity.

The application deadline is 31st October 2014 so if you've got an idea for research and scholarship to enhance your work or you want to develop and enhance the student experience; or perhaps you'd like to undertake a research project but don't know where to start or want to take your research to the next level, then please read over the Guidance Notes and Apply Here.

PhD Studentship opportunities in Forestry

Applications are invited for two, three year fully funded PhD studentships in the area of Forestry.  The studentships will be based with Inverness College, University of the Highlands and Islands and will be part of the developing research capability at the Scottish School of Forestry.

PhD Studentship:     Mapping and Repositioning Forestry Skills for the 21^st Century

The aim of this PhD is to explore the ways in which conceptual and theoretical frameworks such as multi- functionality and / or ecosystem services might be combined with a ‘Systems’ approach to enhance understanding of the educational and skills requirements of forestry in the 21^st Century.

The PhD will commence in October 2014 and the successful candidate will be based at the University of the Highlands and Islands- Inverness College (Centre for Remote and Rural Studies), Scotland.

The funding associated with this project covers the equivalent of three years, full-time UK/EU tuition fees, plus a stipend (at Research Council UK levels) for three years.

The project is a collaboration between Inverness College UHI and the University of Aberdeen and is funded by Scottish Forestry Commission (Scotland and GB) and the Scottish Forestry Trust.

Informal enquiries about this PhD may be made to Dr Philomena de Lima: philomena.deLima.ic@uhi.ac.uk

For further details and information about this studentship and how to apply go to http://www.inverness.uhi.ac.uk/research

PhD Studentship:     Factors controlling the abundance of pine-tree lappet moth (Dendrolimus pini) in north-east Scotland.

This studentship is offered jointly with Forest Research and builds upon research undertaken since 2009 to investigate population densities and distribution of the newly discovered and only known breeding population of the pine tree lappet moth in the UK, The project will determine what level of risk this species may pose to pinewoods, including Caledonian Pinewood Inventory forests, both now and  under future climate scenarios. 

In particular it will focus on the potential contribution of British native parasites, predators, and other natural control agents and climate in regulating populations of pine-tree lappet moth in north-east Scotland. The known distribution and potential spread of this moth, and incorporation of natural control measures through an integrated land management approach will also be explored

The project is jointly funded by Inverness College UHI and Forest Research.

Informal enquiries about this PhD may be made to Dr Melanie Smith: melanie.smith.ic@uhi.ac.uk

For further details and information about this studentship and how to apply go to http://www.inverness.uhi.ac.uk/research

Closing date for applications for both studentships: 30th August 2014

Please note that a further studentship opportunity in Forestry will be advertised in Autumn 2014.

New Research Project led by SEAM Centre

The SEAM Centre at Inverness College is developing new research activity in the fields of forest energy, sustainable construction, energy in rural society, and micro-renewable technologies.  Benedikt Breuer, a student from Rottenberg University in Germany, has recently started on a study of the future biomass boiler market potential in Scotland and the UK.  This project has been initiated by a specific demand from an industry partner and the results will be made widely available.  Benedikt will be presenting an update on his findings at a seminar at Inverness College on Wednesday 27th November.  Contact the SEAM Centre by email (info@seamcentre.org.uk) for more details.