About the Project
The A9 is a major transport corridor and the ‘gateway’ to the Highlands. It is currently being widened, to have two lanes from Perth to Inverness. This dualling project, due for completion by 2025, will considerably increase the number of people visiting sites important for recreation and tourism. Many of these sites are within the Cairngorms National Park (CNP) and of high conservation value, and sensitive to disturbance.
This project will investigate:
1) the benefits of the development for rural communities in terms of increased business opportunities
2) the potential impacts of a growing tourist economy on the valued ecosystems/biodiversity of the CNP.
Key research questions will include:
How will recreational uses of the CNP change and where (e.g. are visitors likely to be concentrated in specific accessible areas?) How will this impact on ecosystems, e.g., in terms of disturbance? How can such impacts be managed? Will other users, such as local residents, be displaced? How may conservation management practices and tourism infrastructure (e.g., path networks) need to be adapted, and where?
This interdisciplinary project will use:
1) participatory approaches to engage with a range of stakeholders, including local tourism businesses (based in communities and on estates) and conservation managers
2) scenario and GIS analysis to identify potential zones of increased visitor pressures and socio-economic and environmental changes.
Such pressures will derive from changes to visitor numbers in specific sites, increased numbers of second homes, expanded tourist infrastructure, and increases/diversification in activities of local tourism businesses. The student will develop skills in participatory approaches, economic modeling, environmental valuation, and GIS to analyse interactions between rural development and nature conservation. Potential zones of conflict (e.g. with species conservation, and traditional land management practices) will be identified; later stages of the project will focus on recommendations for addressing conflicts and achieving a balance between increased visitor numbers and conservation of sensitive sites.
Applicants must possess a minimum of an Honours degree at 2:1 and/or a Master’s Degree (or International equivalent) in a relevant subject.
Supervisory Team
The student will be supervised by Professor Martin Price and Dr Rosalind Bryce, Centre for Mountain Studies, Perth College, University of the Highlands and Islands and Dr Melanie Smith, Inverness College, University of the Highlands and Islands.
Research Facilities and Environment
The student will be based at the Centre for Mountain Studies (CMS), Perth College, University of the Highlands and Islands. CMS has expertise in a wide range of research related to mountain areas and environmental management, including protected areas management, sustainable development, biodiversity and ecosystem services. Research activities are frequently interdisciplinary, drawing on social and natural sciences. CMS collaborates with many partners both in Scotland and internationally, including other academic institutions, NGOs and public agencies, and has considerable experience in engaging a wide range of stakeholders.
CMS provides a stimulating research environment for postgraduate students, who share modern well-equipped offices with staff and fully participate in the centre’s activities. The student will take part in team meetings and seminars. A variety of training courses are offered by the University which allow students to develop their skills e.g. thesis writing, presentation skills. In addition, there will be opportunities to attend relevant national and international conferences.
Informal project specific enquiries can be made to: [Email Address Removed]
*Please note that interviews will be held in Perth on the 28th June 2017
Funding Notes
This studentship is funded by the European Social Fund and Scottish Funding Council as part of Developing Scotland’s Workforce in the Scotland 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Fund Programme.
The studentship covers fees at the Home/EU rate only, plus a stipend at the RCUK level, for a total of 42 months (including writing-up).
Funding is available for students worldwide, however non UK/EU students will be liable for the difference between home/EU and international fees.