Vibrant Rural Communities

The Scottish Government Rural and Environmental Science and Analytical Services division (RESAS) has initiated a Strategic Research Programme to address major policy issues and deliver evidence based information vital to Scotland’s future prosperity and wellbeing. The Strategic Programme is being carried out through collaboration between leading teams of scientists across the range of Main Research Providers* and is being delivered through two interlinked, multidisciplinary programmes: Environmental Change (Local Responses to Global Change) and Food, Land and People (Optimising the Potential of Scotland’s Natural Assets). The Vibrant Rural Communities Theme is a component of the Food Land and People-Programme. The Theme’s key aims and objectives Research in this theme supports the Scottish Government’s aim of achieving sustainable and equitable economic growth across Scotland. The Theme consists of three workpackages (WPs). The first aims to enhance understanding of the reasons for differential economic performance across rural Scotland and linkages between social and economic outcomes. The second aims to show how greater empowerment, through new governance mechanisms, can enable rural stakeholders to contribute more effectively to the Government’s aim shared and sustainable growth. The third aims to increase understanding of the interdependencies between rural and urban areas in Scotland and how certain types of interactions (eg outdoor access, use of greenspace or local food systems) can enhance wellbeing as well as deliver improved prosperity to rural Scotland.