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The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)/Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) Guidance on "Psychosocial Care for People Affected by Disasters and Major Incidents: a Model for Designing, Delivering and Managing Psychosocial Services for People Involved in Major Incidents, Conflict, Disasters and Terrorism" is a conceptual and practical resource for: developing government policy; planning services, and providing training for health and social care staff. It was informed by underpinning research conducted in Aberdeen following the 1988 Piper Alpha oil platform disaster and evidence briefings generated from a comprehensive review of the world literature. Adopted as best practice guidance by all 28 NATO Members and Partner Nations, it has had regional, national and international impact by: enabling authorities to deliver integrated psychosocial care and mental health services; enhance training; raise awareness, and facilitate the effective utilisation of resources in responding to psychosocial/mental health needs post- incident.
The Counterweight Programme (CW) is a structured model for obesity management in primary care settings. CW has made substantial changes to clinical and public health guidelines and to practice nationally and internationally: the Programme has since been adopted in Primary Care Galway, Ireland and for a government funded trial in Ontario, Canada. The creation of a spin out company, Counterweight Ltd, in 2011 resulted in concomitant job creation and significant commercial activity, with CW now being used in private healthcare, pharmacies, fitness clubs, and by freelance healthcare professionals. Moreover, the programme has significantly benefited the health and welfare of obese patients and improved care practice by increasing quality, accessibility and cost effectiveness of weight management services in the UK.
This work, summarised in published form, has reshaped the history, musicology and sociology of the bagpipe as a high profile, popular and international musical instrument, enlarging understanding of a misunderstood and stereotyped phenomenon of the nation's culture. Outcomes of the work are changing the intellectual environment for research, teaching and the performer communities. Based on a collection held in the public domain and forensic evidence in database and CD form, `cultural capital' has been created for the nation and the knowledge is safeguarded for future generations and effectively propagated for research. Impact is also evident in international recognition of the work.
Deep sea tailings placement (DSTP) techniques have been pioneered in Papua New Guinea (PNG): a mining reliant economy in a seismically active region, facing major environmental challenges in the safe handling and storage of mine tailings on land. Dr Shimmield's team researched impacts of DSTP on the marine environment specifically to inform and develop guidelines for the use of DSTP to reduce environmental impact, thereby lowering risk and increasing private sector investment. Guidelines have been established as regulation by the PNG Government providing reassurance to private investors, facilitating an increase in mining exports to 60% of total export (2010).
DEPOMOD, and AutoDEPOMOD, are models, developed by Prof. Black's research team, which predict the impact of fish-farm discharges on the seabed in order to optimise the operation of aquaculture sites to match the environmental capacity. Since being adopted by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, AutoDEPOMOD now forms a compulsory stage in the aquaculture planning consent process in Scotland, and has been used in the development of all presently operational salmon sites in Scotland. DEPOMOD and AutoDEPOMOD software have 122 licences in 25 countries worldwide.
Archaeological survey and excavation focussed on the `Heart of Neolithic Orkney' World Heritage Site (WHS) have had beneficial impacts on the historic environment. The landscape approach of the research has had a local impact on planning policy, contributing to preservation and interpretation of the historic environment, and a global impact in application of the research approaches to other World Heritage Sites. Extensive public engagement in the research has enhanced cultural understandings of the past/Neolithic and of archaeological heritage management issues and made a significant contribution to sustainable economic development in Orkney, increasing tourism around archaeology and supporting local businesses.
Tourism is a major industry, worth £32 million annually to the Orkney economy. Cruise ships are a crucial component of Orkney's tourism industry (source: Orkney Harbours; VisitScotland Orkney Office). An average of 70 ships call at Kirkwall each year. In 2009 Orkney was in danger of losing its status as the UK's premier port of call and bookings were down for 2010, not least, as our research indicated, because there was a great shortage of language speaking guides. As a result of our research publications and expertise, CNS was approached by Orkney Harbours and other stakeholders in December 2009 to create a new Scottish Tourist Guide Association (STGA) Orkney Green Badge programme with language training. The Scottish Tourist Guides Association is the only provider of professional training for guides in Scotland, with both national (Blue Badge Guides) and regional (Green Badge Guides) qualifications. The course was highly successful due to its immersive approach to cultural heritage, which was a direct result of the interdisciplinary focus of the underpinning research, and its use of educational technology. It resulted in a multidisciplinary qualification with a highly marketable language component which allowed 28 people to set up their own businesses.
Scotch whisky is now Scotland's largest international export (£4.23bn) ahead of refined petroleum (£3bn) and business services (£2.5bn). In early 2012 CNS entered discussions with Gerry Tosh, Global Development Manager with the Edrington Group, owners of Highland Park Distillery, on providing research to inform product and sub-brand development of a new range of whisky products drawing on the Viking heritage of the Orkney Islands, whose Mainland has been home to the Highland Park Distillery since 1798.
The project, which draws upon research by staff in CNS, has achieved three key impacts:
Cuairt Mhic'IlleMhìcheil is a BBC radio series tracing the life and works of the major folklore collector Alexander Carmichael, researched, scripted, and presented by Dr Stiùbhart, and recorded on location throughout the Gàidhealtachd. Restoring valuable, newly discovered cultural capital to marginalised communities, making crucial connections between the past and living Gaelic tradition, Cuairt proved a striking success with listeners and the BBC itself. The series enabled Dr Stiùbhart to develop a mutually beneficial relationship with Highland communities, enabling his research to support local cultural activities and to enhance public awareness of, and engagement with, a rich, complex, and endangered heritage.
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are a serious risk to human health and the sustainability of the aquaculture industry. Research by Prof. Davidson has improved understanding of temporal and spatial trends in marine HABs and detection of toxins in farmed shellfish. Knowledge gleaned from this research has been adopted by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in the design of the HAB Monitoring Programme for Scotland. Prof. Davidson leads the FSA HAB Monitoring Programme. The research findings also underpin the Crown Estate's finfish monitoring programmes and are used to advise aquaculture businesses on ways to reduce economic impact of HAB events.