ReRIC and the Rural Exchange
In parallel to the NISRIE project, SRUC researchers have started a new project called "Reimagined Policy Futures: Shaping sustainable, inclusive and just rural and island communities in Scotland (ReRIC)", which will run from 2022 to 2027.
ReRIC is organised into seven work packages (or mini-projects). Work Package 1 focuses on reviewing the history and evolution of rural and island policy in Scotland since the 1960s.
Work Packages 2 to 4 revisit three persistent or wicked challenges which have been experienced by many rural and island communities for decades – affordable housing, demographic change and out-migration and social exclusion and marginalisation. ‘Lived experience’ data from our new Rural Exchange [link to Rural Exchange] will inform our understanding of these issues, alongside reviews of academic literature, interviews with key stakeholders, explorations of international examples, and analysis of secondary statistical data.
Work Package 5 will explore new challenges and opportunities that are emerging for rural and island communities, for example relating to climate change and biodiversity emergencies, net zero targets and post-Covid-19 and post-Brexit recovery, and look at the persistent challenges through these new ‘lenses’.
Work Package 6 focuses on looking forwards through a series of policy and practice recommendations, and Work Package 7 focuses on knowledge exchange and dissemination from the work.
We will be producing a range of different outputs from the work, including reports, briefings, and podcasts. Please check back regularly for more information on this work.
If you would like to know more, please contact Dr Jane Atterton (Tel: 0131 535 4256 or jane.atterton@sruc.ac.uk).
