A well-known researcher at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) has been named as the new scientific director of the Scottish Consortium for Rural Research (SCRR).
Prof. Sarah Skerratt, SRUC’s director of policy engagement as well as director of its Rural Policy Centre, will take up the part-time role on November 14.
It follows the retirement of the current scientific director, Prof. Stuart Monro, after 10 years in the post.
Track record
After completing a degree in Geography and Geology and a Master’s in Development Studies at the University of Manchester in 1987, Prof. Skerratt gained a PhD in Social Anthropology and Resource Management at the University of Edinburgh in 1995.
Following a number of research fellow and lecturer posts at different UK universities, she joined SRUC in 2006 as a team leader in Rural Society Research.
In 2012, she became head of the Land Economy, Environment and Society Research Group, and in 2018 became a member of SRUC’s Executive Leadership Team.
Prof. Skerratt is highly regarded in the industry and has been regularly invited to work both nationally and internationally at senior levels with governments and parliaments, universities, private, public and third sector and development agencies.
She sat on the Board of Directors for SRUC from 2015-2018, Rural Housing Scotland board from 2014-2018 and Scotland’s Regeneration Forum from 2015-2018.
Prof. Skerratt said: “It’s a great honour and privilege to be named the new scientific director of SCRR, following in the footsteps of Prof. Stuart Monro.
I have always been passionate about connecting people, their knowledge, experience, perspectives and methodologies, to generate an enhanced understanding of rural issues – across geographies and disciplines – and I can’t wait to begin working with colleagues across the breadth of Scotland.
Prof. Steven Yearley, Chair of the SCRR Executive Committee, said: “We are delighted to welcome Professor Sarah Skerratt, who will lead the professional orientation of the Consortium into the policy and social sciences. Stuart Monro has been a wonderful servant to the consortium and we wish him all the best for the future.”
Career highlights
Among the highlights of Prof. Skerratt’s career was being appointed as the principal investigator for the Scottish Government’s five-year research programme ‘Governance and Decision-Making for Rural Community Empowerment’ in 2011.
In April 2016, she was invited on secondment to Audit Scotland, to “rural-proof” its audit work, and is retained as its rural adviser.
In 2017, she was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) in recognition of her work on rural policy and poverty.
The SCRR is a consortium of Scottish organisations active in research relating to land, freshwater, coastal and marine resources, and their uses – including farming, forestry, aquaculture and recreation.
SCRR changed its name from the Edinburgh Consortium for Rural Research (ECRR) in 2012. Its members include research organisations from across Scotland.
It aims to improve mutual awareness between its members, facilitate communication, provoke discussion and promote collaboration.
