As part of Scotland’s continued efforts to become the world’s first Hydro Nation – one that manages its water environment to the best advantage and uses its expertise at home and internationally - the James Hutton Institute has announced, on World Water Day 2019, the establishment of the Hydro Nation International Centre at its Aberdeen site with ongoing support from the Macaulay Development Trust.
The Centre will bring together a critical mass of the Scottish water research community to focus on developing talent, promoting innovation and maximising impact both at home and abroad. It will link water research initiatives such as the Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW), the Hydro Nation Scholars and Fellows Programme, the recently-announced Water Test Network, and activities supported through the Scottish Government's Strategic Research Programme and international activities, among others.
Professor Bob Ferrier, Director of Research at the James Hutton Institute and Director of CREW, said: “The centre will ensure that policymakers and businesses have access to the right expertise for robust decision making, and will support innovation in the sector. In addition, developing the next generation of water leaders will bring fresh perspectives on cutting edge science and supports the wider ambition to enhance Scotland’s talent base.”
The Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham MSP, commented: “I very much welcome the James Hutton Institute’s committed engagement in our Hydro Nation agenda and I am therefore very pleased to welcome the establishment of the Hydro Nation International Centre at its Craigiebuckler campus in Aberdeen.
“This new Centre is aligned with ongoing support from the Macaulay Development Trust and will bring together all of the Institute’s Hydro Nation work in one place as the core of a broader offering to the sector.
“I strongly support the James Hutton Institute’s vision of state-of-the-art engagement and collaboration space for science to public, stakeholder and practitioner interactions which is so highly complementary to delivering our ambitions.”
Promoting Scotland as a Hydro Nation benefits Scotland through the economic development and good stewardship of Scotland’s water resources and share best practices with the world.
It is hoped that as a Hydro Nation, Scotland will develop the value of its naturally abundant water resources; build on and improve the productivity of its water industry; capitalise on the international market potential of water and respond to the immense water challenges that population growth and climate change bring.
Beyond this, the initiative seeks to ensure that the environment in Scotland is protected and enhanced through the good management of Scotland's water; also aiming to use greater water efficiency to make water an energy asset, and contributing to the global water debate.