Research Hub

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The Flow Country Research Hub is a network of researchers and stakeholders interested by peatland research in the Flow Country, the vast expanse of blanket bog spreading across Caithness and Sutherland in the North of Scoland. It was launched during the first Flow Country Research Conference, held in Thurso in October 2012.

The Flow Country Research Hub aims to establish the Flow Country as a UK focal point of peatland science addressing contemporary environmental and societal issues such as climate change, biodiversity, resource management and sustainability.

The Environmental Research Institute acts as a coordinator and produces a quarterly newsletter circulated widely (>100 people) and has a twitter account, both of which are used to promote the communication between the different groups involved in the research projects in the Flow Country.

A wide range of peatland research projects are taking place in the Flow Country, most of which are collaborative in nature. This is in line with the long-term aspirations of the network, which are to:

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  • Provide and maintain infrastructures which promote international collaborations, student placements, visiting researchers and which enable sustainable, world-class research to take place in the Flow Country.
  • Improve the integration between scientists, landowners, practitioners, governance bodies and policy makers, to help deliver restoration objectives in Scotland.
  • Develop a better platform for the provision of outreach and knowledge exchange activities making research accessible.

 

For more information about the Flow Country Research Hub and its activities, please contact Dr. Roxane Andersen (roxane.andersen@uhi.ac.uk), network coordinator.