Stirling Online Research Repository (RIOXX)
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Use of scenarios with multi-criteria evaluation to better inform the selection of aquaculture zones
Full text linkThe allocation of zones for aquaculture development is a strategic problem as it involves long-term outcomes and many stakeholders with competing interests. Resource planners require tools to support such complex allocation decisions, but these are either lacking or with serious limitations. This paper presents an approach that improves the traditional method of developing aquaculture zoning model. Four scenario narratives describing potential development pathways for aquaculture in Nigeria were used to guide the model development, from selection of suitability factors to evaluation of alternatives. The modelling objective was to identify a suitable location for zoning small-to-medium scale commercial pond catfish production in Nigeria. So, a GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) was used to produce a suitability map, from which five alternative zones were extracted. These zones were then compared using three sustainability criteria that were designed based on future uncertainties highlighted by the four scenarios. Results show that 4 of the 5 zones are concentrated in the north-eastern part of Nigeria, while the other one occurred in the north-west. Furthermore, this study found two top-ranking zones that can be selected in all the scenarios, meaning the two zones with the most potential to support the sustainable development of small-to-medium scale aquaculture in Nigeria. As these two were almost tied in ranking, sensitivity analyses across the scenarios revealed the most stable zone to changes in the criteria scores. These findings can be used to inform aquaculture expansion policy in Nigeria and integrate the activity into wider land use planning. Overall, the new approach advances the traditional method of developing GIS-based MCE models for aquaculture zoning, as it generates options and relevant information to facilitate strategic decision-making
Anchoring Museum Objects in the Cold War: The Hidden Meanings of a Transatlantic Telephone Cable
Full text linkThis chapter uses a piece of the first transatlantic telephone cable in the collection of National Museums Scotland to interrogate the ways in which museum objects attain significance as Cold War objects. It highlights the ways in which multiple meanings – and layers of meanings – adhere to objects at the same time. Objects not only connect these meanings, but they also exhibit elements of dissonance, noise and silence. Hence, this chapter explores the potential of the concept of anchoring, developed in the context of the history of science and technology by Christian Götter, for a Cold War museology. It offers a number of conclusions about the meaning of Cold War objects in museum collections, their collection, interpretation and display. By bringing history and museology into conversation with one another, this chapter also highlights the ways in which historians can learn through engaging with museum collections and how, in turn, museum and heritage professionals might benefit from interacting with historical scholarship
Challenges to multi-agency and multi-stakeholder collaboration in innovation and enterprise policy
Full text linkIn recent times, collaborative governance networks that encourage wider stakeholder policy engagement have gained traction. To support this shift, significant investment in several policies, such as City Region Deals, have been introduced to ensure regional development is steered by local policy actors. However, regardless of the benefits of such decentralised policymaking, several tensions in multi-agency and multi-stakeholder collaboration exist in innovation and enterprise policy. The ability of policy networks to manage coordinating tensions influences their capacity to generate effective delivery. These tensions include munificence versus coherence; input efficiency versus output efficacy; collaboration versus competition; specialist versus inclusive participation; and top-down versus bottom-up input. This chapter illustrates these tensions through the City Regional Deals in Scotland and seeks to advance a governance framework for overcoming these challenges, which can ultimately lead to effective regional collaboration amongst all network actors involved
Towards an understanding of care poverty
Full text linkThis chapter draws together the key lessons on care poverty from the theoretical, methodological and empirical contributions in the volume. It concludes that the theoretical idea of care poverty – distinct from unmet need – is a useful development in trying to make sense of the work of care, both from a structural and socioeconomic perspective, and from an individual relational and socio-emotional perspective. Care poverty is both a political and theoretical lens that can add nuance and a deeper understanding to the complexities of care in welfare states. The chapters of the book advance the measurement and understanding of care poverty forward, and the empirical findings show how the problem manifests itself in different population groups and in different cultural and societal contexts. In terms of policy lessons, the book shows that access to and navigation of complex care and support systems needs to be made easier. Existing support also needs to be better matched to existing needs, particularly where these needs are variable and change over time
Marine aquaculture sites have huge potential as data providers for climate change assessments
Full text linkIn-situ data is essential in understanding climate change in coastal and marine environments, especially in nearshore locations that are challenging for models to simulate and are often lacking in downscaled climate projections. Environmental parameters such as sea temperature and oxygen are often recorded at fish farms, and this information could be useful for observing coastal changes and climate change assessment. For aquaculture, Norway's BarentsWatch portal is one of the most advanced open-data platforms in the sector. The aim of this study was to inspect the weekly sea temperature data collected from salmon lice monitoring within the Fish Health dataset in BarentsWatch and consider if the recorded temperatures could have value for monitoring climate change due to the spatial and temporal coverage of the farm data. Initial inspection of the dataset found many inconsistencies and suspected errors. In total there were 667 sites where suspected errors were removed. Suspected errors amounted to 7797 data points. Following data cleaning there were 1129 sites and 303,792 data points in total, covering much of the Norwegian coastline. The positions offered good insight into the range of conditions, with data from sheltered inner fjords as well as more exposed locations. Analysis of the BarentsWatch temperatures revealed some sites in southern and western Norway that have already experienced temperatures above 20 °C, challenging conditions for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) aquaculture. The results showed differences between sites within the same production regions due to site-specific characteristics, illustrating the need for more local-scale data that represents the actual conditions the fish experience, rather than a reliance on regional averages. Although the BarentsWatch platform provided some insight into the temperatures experienced at Norwegian salmon farms, the lack of standardised reporting and uncertainties about data collection and aggregated values meant that detailed analysis was not possible at present. The BarentsWatch analysis was complemented by data from two farms that further demonstrated the need for better guidance and standardised data collection and reporting. Standardised data collection and reporting would ensure that data from different farms is directly comparable. When considered in context with other conditions and fish health parameters, more standardised and robust monitoring of water temperatures at farms would aid the identification of potential challenging conditions and allow for more targeted adaptation responses. Improved data collection and reporting in the present day would have huge value in the future by facilitating the creation of long-term datasets spanning multiple decades at hundreds of locations along the Norwegian coastline, offering exceptional insight into coastal climate change
Building agency in school–university partnerships: lessons from collaborative research during the pandemic
Full text linkPurpose-The literature highlights the disconnection between university-based teacher education and field experiences as a significant barrier to student teacher preparation. To address this gap, the Research Teams (RTs) programme promotes a Networked Learning System (NLS), focusing on boundary-crossing work, inquiry and critical reflection to generate knowledge. This paper examines the emergence of relational and collective agency within this collaboration, linking school and university knowledge to enhance professional learning and drive teaching innovation. Design/methodology/approach-Employing an exploratory qualitative design, data collection includes advising team notes, reflective session materials, interviews and focus groups. Qualitative content and discourse analysis were utilised. Findings-Findings reveal how RTs promote relational agency among university tutors, school staff and preservice teachers and collective agency in the context of collaborative research. The pandemic presents both social interaction opportunities and challenges. Originality/value-The relevance of this study lies in the necessity to advance knowledge regarding the development of collaborative learning systems that encourage cross-institutional relationships, allowing for the creation and flow of knowledge. It highlights the role and development of collective and relational agency in fostering the development of a NLS. It also raises questions about the challenges and investments needed to sustain and scale collaborative research models that cross professional and institutional values and beliefs within schools and universities
Look, over there! A streaker! – Qualitative study examining streaking as a behaviour change technique for habit formation in recreational runners
Full text linkBackground: Running as a form of physical activity is beneficial to overall health and wellbeing. The aim of the study is to examine ‘run streaking’ (i.e. running on consecutive days, for a minimum period of time or distance, typically at least one mile) as a technique for habit formation and behaviour change. Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews with 21 recreational adult runners (11 female and 10 male). Run streak length ranged from a minimum of 100 days to over 4,500 days. Transcripts were analysed using a hybrid deductive-inductive thematic analysis. Results: Run streaking was reported to lead to several benefits, health improvements, and a sense of accomplishment, although many run streakers reported running through injuries and lack of recovery. Accounts of run streaking showed features of automaticity indicative of habitual behaviour. Other behavioural processes identified included motivation, identity, self-regulation, and social support. Behavioural streaking has the potential to influence change in behaviours other than running. Conclusion: Accounts of run streaking demonstrate an interplay between automatic and deliberate processes in the maintenance of running behaviour. Behavioural streaking has the potential to be used in other behaviour change contexts beyond running
Updated distribution of spotted hyaenas in Gabon reveals resident populations
Full text linkSpotted hyaena distribution currently widely encompasses sub-Saharan Africa, apart from the Congo Basin. Formerly described as residents of Gabon but considered extinct, vagrant individuals have been recorded since 2003, but no systematic species presence assessment has been made. Based on records of killed individuals, tracks and camera-trap sightings, we show that not only vagrant individuals are roaming in Gabon, but a small resident population occurs in the North-East of the country. The records collated here formed the basis for spotted hyaenas to be listed as protected in Gabon, were included in the IUCN Red List species' range map update and showcased the importance of large-scale by-catch data analysis in updating species distributions
Historic land use modifies impacts of climate and isolation in rear edge European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) populations
Full text linkLegacies of human land use have the potential to impact demographic responses to climate. However, few studies have investigated the interactive effects of land use legacies and climate change on tree demography. The demographic performance of rear edge populations in particular is an important determinant of a species’ long-term persistence. In this study, we investigated whether human land use legacies affect demographic responses to climate and population isolation in rear edge European beech populations (Fagus sylvatica L.) at the temperate-Mediterranean transition zone in the NE Iberian Peninsula. We utilised data from the Spanish Forest Inventory and generalised linear mixed models to compare the potential interactions across four different demographic rates (tree growth, survival probability, new adult recruitment and sapling recruitment). We found that the demographic rates were affected by the combination of land use legacies, climate and population isolation in different ways, which could potentially lead to complex shifts in future population dynamics under climate change. We identified that intense historic management either magnified negative relationships between tree demography and climate or population isolation, or reduced demographic performance in favourable climates to levels observed in unfavourable climates. Through either form of interaction, we found that intense historic forest management had a negative impact on tree demography, which has the potential to compromise future carbon stocks and long-term population viability. Overall, we show that disentangling human and environmental factors can enable us to better understand heterogeneous demographic performance across the rear edge of species distributions
Exploring the Relations Among Knowledge, Contact, and Transgender Prejudice
Full text linkOver the last few years there has been an increase in anti-trans rhetoric and violence towards transgender individuals, the consequences of which continue to adversely affect transgender people’s lives. Given these societal ramifications, it is crucial to explore how transprejudice (prejudice against transgender people) might be ameliorated. Research within social psychology has repeatedly shown intergroup contact to reduce various forms of outgroup prejudice, but little extant research has tested this association for prejudice related to transgender identity. We conducted three cross-sectional studies which tested the relation between contact (quantity and quality) with transgender people, trans-related knowledge (i.e., participants’ self-reported level of knowledge about experiences of transgender people), and transprejudice (cognitive and affective). Across the three studies, we found that contact quantity and contact quality significantly mediated the negative relationship between knowledge and transprejudice (although contact quality was a more consistent mediator). Those with more trans-related knowledge had more frequent and better-quality contact with trans people, and in turn showed less prejudice towards transgender people. We found less consistent support for an alternative mediation model with prior knowledge mediating the contact to transprejudice link. These findings demonstrate the importance of the role of both knowledge about and contact with transgender people as a means of transprejudice reduction, with wide-reaching implications for creating environments that are diverse, equitable, and inclusive
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