Macaulay Institute
Encyclopedia
The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute (also known as the Macaulay Institute and sometimes referred to simply as The Macaulay) is a research institute based at Aberdeen
in Scotland
. Its work covers aspects such as landscape
, soil
and water conservation
and climate change
.
Founded in 1930, the Macaulay Institute is an international centre for research and consultancy on the environmental and social consequences of rural land uses. Interdisciplinary research across the environmental and social sciences aims to support the protection of natural resources, the creation of integrated land use
systems, and the development of sustainable rural communities.
With an annual income from research and consultancy of over £11million, the Macaulay Institute is the largest interdisciplinary research organisation of its kind in Europe
.
It is one of the main research providers to the Scottish Government and currently about 75% of the Macaulay's income is related to commissioned research programmes, principally on "Land Use and Rural Stewardship". The 300 staff and postgraduate students are drawn from over 25 countries, and conduct research in Scotland, across Europe and internationally, with a wide range of partner organisations. Their goal is that the research they undertake provides evidence that will help shape future environmental and rural-development policy both in Scotland and internationally.
The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute is a registered charity
under Scottish law. Commercial services are delivered through Macaulay Scientific Consulting Ltd, its subsidiary consultancy company.
The mineral Macaulayite
is named after the Institute.
, of the Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada. His aim was to improve the productivity of Scottish agriculture. Thomas Bassett Macaulay was a descendant of Macaulay family of Lewis, who were centred on the Hebridean island of Lewis
. He was true to his Hebridean roots throughout his life, often giving large donations to Lewis, which funded various projects including a new library and a new wing at Lewis hospital.
It was established to carry out research in support of the agricultural industry, taking account of the interaction between the industry and other land users, and set in the context of the environmental objectives of the UK Government and the European Union
.
In April 2011, the Macaulay Institute merged with SCRI (Scottish Crop Research Institute)
in Dundee to form the James Hutton Institute
. The chief executive of the new institute is Professor Iain Gordon.
which also includes:
are examples of projects that are being undertaken at the Institute.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Its work covers aspects such as landscape
Landscape
Landscape comprises the visible features of an area of land, including the physical elements of landforms such as mountains, hills, water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds and the sea, living elements of land cover including indigenous vegetation, human elements including different forms of...
, soil
Soil conservation
Soil conservation is a set of management strategies for prevention of soil being eroded from the Earth’s surface or becoming chemically altered by overuse, acidification, salinization or other chemical soil contamination...
and water conservation
Water conservation
Water conservation refers to reducing the usage of water and recycling of waste water for different purposes such as cleaning, manufacturing, and agricultural irrigation.- Water conservation :Water conservation can be defined as:...
and climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
.
Founded in 1930, the Macaulay Institute is an international centre for research and consultancy on the environmental and social consequences of rural land uses. Interdisciplinary research across the environmental and social sciences aims to support the protection of natural resources, the creation of integrated land use
Land use
Land use is the human use of land. Land use involves the management and modification of natural environment or wilderness into built environment such as fields, pastures, and settlements. It has also been defined as "the arrangements, activities and inputs people undertake in a certain land cover...
systems, and the development of sustainable rural communities.
With an annual income from research and consultancy of over £11million, the Macaulay Institute is the largest interdisciplinary research organisation of its kind in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
It is one of the main research providers to the Scottish Government and currently about 75% of the Macaulay's income is related to commissioned research programmes, principally on "Land Use and Rural Stewardship". The 300 staff and postgraduate students are drawn from over 25 countries, and conduct research in Scotland, across Europe and internationally, with a wide range of partner organisations. Their goal is that the research they undertake provides evidence that will help shape future environmental and rural-development policy both in Scotland and internationally.
The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute is a registered charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
under Scottish law. Commercial services are delivered through Macaulay Scientific Consulting Ltd, its subsidiary consultancy company.
The mineral Macaulayite
Macaulayite
Macaulayite is a red, earthy, monoclinic mineral, with the chemical formula 24Si4O432. It was discovered in the 1970s by Dr Jeff Wilson and named after the Macaulay Institute in Aberdeen, Scotland...
is named after the Institute.
Origins
The Institute was founded in 1930 through a benefaction from one of Canada's Scottish sons, Thomas Bassett MacaulayThomas Bassett Macaulay
Thomas Bassett Macaulay, also known as T. B. Macaulay, was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He was a noted actuary of his era; a philanthropist; and was the founder of the Macaulay Institute, in 1930...
, of the Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada. His aim was to improve the productivity of Scottish agriculture. Thomas Bassett Macaulay was a descendant of Macaulay family of Lewis, who were centred on the Hebridean island of Lewis
Lewis
Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The total area of Lewis is ....
. He was true to his Hebridean roots throughout his life, often giving large donations to Lewis, which funded various projects including a new library and a new wing at Lewis hospital.
Recent history
The Macaulay Institute was founded in April 1987 by the merger of the Macaulay Institute for Soil Research and the Hill Farm Research Organisation.It was established to carry out research in support of the agricultural industry, taking account of the interaction between the industry and other land users, and set in the context of the environmental objectives of the UK Government and the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
In April 2011, the Macaulay Institute merged with SCRI (Scottish Crop Research Institute)
Scottish Crop Research Institute
The Scottish Crop Research Institute more commonly known as the SCRI was a scientific institute located in Invergowrie near Dundee, Scotland. As of April 2011, when SCRI merged with the Macaulay Land Use Institute it is now part of The James Hutton Institute.-History:The institute was opened in...
in Dundee to form the James Hutton Institute
James Hutton Institute
The James Hutton Institute is a new interdisciplinary scientific research institute in Scotland. The institute brings together the Scottish Crop Research Institute and the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute...
. The chief executive of the new institute is Professor Iain Gordon.
Affiliations
The Macaulay Institute is a member of the Aberdeen Research ConsortiumAberdeen Research Consortium
The Aberdeen Research Consortium is an alliance of Universities, Research Institutes and other institutions carrying out research-centred organisations in Aberdeen, Scotland.The fundamental role of ARC is:...
which also includes:
- University of AberdeenUniversity of AberdeenThe University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
- FRS Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen
- Rowett Research InstituteRowett Research InstituteThe Rowett Research Institute is a research centre for studies into food and nutrition located in Aberdeen, Scotland.-History:The institute was founded in 1913 when the University of Aberdeen and the North of Scotland College of Agriculture agreed that an "Institute for Research into Animal...
- Robert Gordon UniversityRobert Gordon UniversityRobert Gordon University is located in Aberdeen, Scotland. Building on over 250 years involvement in education, it was granted university status in 1992. Robert Gordon University currently has approximately 16,407 students at its two campuses at Garthdee and the City Centre, studying on over 145...
- Scottish Agricultural CollegeScottish Agricultural CollegeThe Scottish Agricultural College exists to support the development of land-based industries and communities through Higher Education and training, specialist research and development and advisory and consultancy services....
Current work
LADSS and AGRIGRIDAgriGrid
AGRIGRID is a research project commissioned by the EU which has the aim of developing methodological grids for the calculation of payments in rural development measures for the EU member states....
are examples of projects that are being undertaken at the Institute.