Peat bogs are the UK’s largest carbon store, keeping 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide locked safely away from the Earth’s atmosphere. [continue reading ... ]

The hunt has begun for a world-leading scientist to fill the role of Chief Executive Officer at the new scientific research institute to be formed from SCRI (Scottish Crop Research Institute) and the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute (Macaulay Institute). [continue reading ... ]

The Scottish Government’s International Development Fund has provided a further 3 years funding for a follow-on to the JANEEMO project in Malawi. Project co-ordinator Grant Davidson said, “The project will help to make current and new JANEEMO farmers more productive and better able to add value to their products, link them to prospective markets, assist them to engage effectively with national programmes and institutions which have a direct mandate to support small enterprises, improve their ability to influence terms of trade so their families and communities will benefit from increased and more secure incomes.” This new project will involved current JANEEMO partners Entech and Climate Futures and new partner Imani Development. [continue reading ... ]

Deer Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage will merge on 1st July 2010. The merger was ratified in Parliament on 25th March. The two organisations already have their headquarters in the same building in Inverness. You can find more information on the Scottish Government website. [continue reading ... ]

Big Cat Diary and Springwatch presenter, Simon King, and his family, reveal the magic and splendour of Shetland, its people and wildlife in Shetland Diaries, a book released to coincide with the BBC2 programme of the same name which aired in February and is due to be repeated in April. [continue reading ... ]

The Chairmen of Governing Boards of the Macaulay Land Use and the Scottish Crop Research Institutes today announced the appointment of Ray Perman as the Chair of the new scientific research institute, which will be created by bringing the Aberdeen and Invergowrie based institutes together in April 2011.

Michael Gibson CBE, ARAgS Chairman of the Macaulay Governing Board, said:”I am very proud that the Macaulay is going to be a founding partner in what will be one of Europe’s foremost scientific institutes that is based here in Scotland”.

Chairman of the SCRI Governing Board Peter Berry CMG, said: “I look forward greatly to working with Ray over the next year to establish the world class new institute which is our vision for this merger of two great Scottish scientific institutions”.

To help celebrate World Water Day on Monday 22nd March, Susan Cooksley and Simon Langan from the Institute’s Catchment Management Group will be participating in an interactive online event focused on Hydrology, Environment, Life and Policy (HELP) river basins in Scotland.

Citizens of Scotland have just a few days left to send their entries in to a photography competition for the chance to win Braemar Safari tickets for two plus £100. Participants have until Friday, 2nd April to enter the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute’s, “How is Rural Scotland Changing?” photography competition, which is designed to illustrate the public’s awareness of rural changes which are taking place. The institute has received numerous entries and the standard of photography from both age categories are to a very high standard. [continue reading ... ]

Congratulations to Heather Smith (Socio-Economics Research Programme) who was judged to have given the best presentation at the Student Seminar Day held at the Institute on 16 March. [continue reading ... ]

Glensaugh had a very heavy snowfall at the end of February which plunged us back into winter.