Strathclyde Business School's Fraser of Allander Institute (FAI) is to become a founder research partner in the Scottish Centre of Expertise in Climate Change. This is a multi-million pound initiative funded by the Rural and Environmental Research and Analysis Directorate (RERAD) as a source of world-class research into climate change.
Subject to periodic review, the award would be for more than 500k over five years and is by far the largest ever award to the Fraser of Allander Institute from the Scottish Government. The award is to undertake collaborative research with the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC), one of the Scottish Government's Main Research Providers. Core research into the risks and possible mitigation of climate change, especially those that relate to Scotland, is a crucial activity. However, another key function for the Centre is the provision of the evidence base to inform the Scottish Government's climate change policies so knowledge exchange will be a central element of the Centre's overall activities from the outset.
Professor Susan Hart, Dean of Strathclyde Business School commented, "This is further welcome recognition of FAI's substantial and growing reputation in energy and climate change-related research and knowledge exchange activity, and represents a significant diversification of their portfolio of externally funded research, currently dominated by research council and EU-funding."
"Strathclyde Business School as a whole is dedicated to forging reciprocal links with the corporate world, small businesses, policy organisations and government for the purposes of knowledge exchange, and this is an ideal example of our policy."
The research will be conducted by the FAI's energy research team, led by professors Peter McGregor (Director, FAI) and Kim Swales (Head of the Department of Economics).