Director Rural & Environment Research and Analysis
Maggie Gill
Rural and Environment Research and Analysis Directorate (RERAD) is headed by Maggie Gill and is about building a platform of knowledge to strengthen the way in which the policies developed in DG Environment's Environment, Rural and Marine Directorates, contribute to DG Environment's strategic outcomes. The Directorate is unique in the Government in the breadth of its skill base, including economists, social researchers, statisticians, animal, plant and environmental scientists as well as specialists in geographical information systems.
Specialists use their skills to frame relevant questions, commission research projects and programmes, and analyse data and knowledge to provide evidence and advice for policy use by Cabinet Secretaries, Ministers and policy-makers.
Changing behaviour of the people of Scotland is an important part of delivering Director-General Environment's outcomes. RERAD commissions and analyses research on the wishes of various sectors of the community and understanding how they take decisions in their everyday lives.Sponsorship of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), with its 700,000 visits per year, is an important feature of its outreach activities.Sponsorship of education, veterinary and advisory services at the Scottish Agricultural College also provides opportunities for the dissemination of research outcomes.
It also extends to networking with other research funders across the UK such as the Research Councils and Defra.It provides a 'joined-up' approach to research commissioning and knowledge exchange.
Topics
| Topics contain more information on the policies and initiatives undertaken by the Scottish Government. They act as a background to the work of directorates. |