text:
Soil research
Ecological Sciences (Research Page)
Ecological Sciences (ES) is a multi-disciplinary group of over 80 researchers with a unique breadth of scientific expertise, skills and knowledge in the ecology, physiology and systematics of microbes, lichens, fungi, plants, inve ... Read more
Perthshire has the Best Soil in Show 2016 (News)
An organic farm in Perthshire has been awarded the prize for Best Soil in Show at the Royal Highland Show 2016. Hugh and Sascha Grierson of Newmiln Farm were declared the Best Soil in Show winners by National Farmers Union of Scot ... Read more
Peat Surveys: Peat Deposits (Research Page)
Maps of the distribution of surveys of peat deposits by the Scottish Peat Committee and Macaulay Institute Peat Surveys (to 1984) ... Read more
Life in Soil: Does it matter? (Page)
A Royal Society of Edinburgh biodiversity discussion forum 'Life in soil: Does it matter?' took place on the 24th February 2016. It invited the audience to think about the critically important role that soil plays in h ... Read more
Safeguard our soils to sustain our way of life, Hutton scientists say (News)
Scientists at the James Hutton institute have welcomed the findings of a report published by the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee on the health of UK soils. Soil is of fundamental importance to society yet remains ... Read more
Dr Rupert Hough to lead Information and Computational Sciences group (News)
Risk modeller Dr Rupert Hough has been appointed to the leadership of the Information and Computational Sciences group at the James Hutton Institute, following the semi-retirement of Dr David Marshall. The James Hutton Institute ... Read more
Highlighted publications
- Devereux, G.; Tagiyeva, N.; Turner, S.; Ayres, J.G.; Seaton, A.; Hudson, G.; Hough, R.L.; Campbell, C.D.; Shand, C.A., (2014) Early-life residential exposure to soil components in rural areas and childhood respiratory health and allergy., Science of the Total Environment, 466-467, 338-344.
- Aitkenhead, M.J.; Coull, M.C.; Towers, W.; Hudson, G., (2013) Prediction of soil characteristics and colour using data from the National Soils Inventory of Scotland., Geoderma, 200-201, 99-107.
- Dawson, L.A.; Hillier, S.; Duff, B.; Robertson, J.; Ross, J.M.; Brewer, M.; Mayes, R.W.; Towers, W.; Hudson, G.; Campbell, C.D., (2010) Use of soil fingerprinting approaches for ascertaining change over time., ASA, CSSA and SSSA 2010 International Annual Meeting, Long Beach, California, 31 October - 4 November 2010.
Recent publications
- Lilly, A.; Bell, J.S.; Hudson, G.; Nolan, A.J.; Towers, W., (2015) Lilly, A., Bell, J.S., Hudson, G., Nolan, A.J. & Towers. W. 2011. National soil inventory of Scotland 2007-2009: profile description and soil sampling protocols. (NSIS_2). Technical Bulletin, James Hutton Institute., Scotland's Soils Website.
- Lilly, A.; Bell, J.S.; Hudson, G.; Nolan, A.J.; Towers, W. (Compilers), (2015) Lilly, A., Bell, J.S., Hudson, G., Nolan, A.J. & Towers. W. (Compilers) 2010. National soil inventory of Scotland (NSIS_1); site location, sampling and profile description protocols. (1978-1988)., Scotland's Soils Website.
- Thornton, B.; Martin, G.; Procee, M.; Miller, D.R.; Coull, M.C.; Yao, H.-Y.; Chapman, S.J.; Hudson, G.; Midwood, A.J., (2015) Distributions of carbon and nitrogen isotopes in Scotland's topsoil: a national-scale study., European Journal of Soil Science, 66, 1002-1011.
- Andersen, M.B.; Vance, D.; Keech, A.R.; Rickli, J.; Hudson, G., (2013) Estimating U fluxes in a high-latitude, boreal post-glacial setting using U-series isotopes in soils and rivers., Chemical Geology, 354, 22-32.
- Chapman, S.J.; Bell, J.S.; Campbell, C.D.; Hudson, G.; Lilly, A.; Nolan, A.J.; Robertson, A.H.J.; Potts, J.M.; Towers, W., (2013) Comparison of soil carbon stocks in Scottish soils between 1978 and 2009., European Journal of Soil Science, 64, 455-465.
- Rhind, S.M.; Kyle, C.E.; Kerr, C.; Osprey, M.; Zhang, Z.L.; Duff, E.I.; Lilly, A.; Nolan, A.; Hudson, G.; Towers, W.; Bell, J.; Coull, M.C.; McKenzie, C., (2013) Concentrations and geographic distribution of selected organic pollutants in Scottish surface soils, Environmental Pollution, 182, 15-27.
- Aitkenhead, M.J.; Coull, M.C.; Towers, W.; Hudson, G.; Black, H.I.J., (2012) Predicting soil chemical composition and other soil parameters from field observations using a neural network., Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 82, 108-116.
- Baritz, R.; Hudson, G.; Willer, J., (2012) D4.3 data harmonization best practice guidelines., ECP-2008-GEO-318004 GS SOIL. Assessment and Strategic development of INSPIRE compliant Geodata-Services for European Soil Data.
- Eberhardt, E.; Kozel, J.; Fitzner, D.; Templer, S.; Hudson, G., (2012) D4.2 Data exchange with the GS Soil Generic application schema for soil information - a soil data cookbook using ISO DIS 28258., ECP-2008-GEO-318004 GS SOIL. Assessment and Strategic development of INSPIRE compliant Geodata-Services for European Soil Data.
- Hudson, G.; Lilly, A.; Higgins, A.; Jordan, C.; Donnelly, D.; Baggaley, N.J.; Fealy, R., (2012) Harmonisation of 1:250 000 scale soil maps and soil profile data in the Celtic fringe of Europe: Scotland, Northern Ireland and Eire. Test case report., D4.3 Data Harmonization Best Practice Guidelines, GS Soil Final Report to the European Commission, ECP-2008-GEO-318004.
- Knapp, C.W.; McCluskey, S.M.; Singh, B.K.; Campbell, C.D.; Hudson, G.; Graham, D.W., (2011) Antibiotic resistance gene abundances correlate with metal and geochemical conditions in archived Scottish soils., PLoS ONE, 6(11), e27300.
- Lilly, A.; Hudson, G.; Hough, R.L.; NSIS Resampling Team, (2011) Scotland's soil resource., In: Marrs, S.J., Foster, S., Hendrie, C., Mackey, E.C. & Thompson, D.B.A. (eds.). The Changing Nature of Scotland. TSO Scotland, Edinburgh, Chapter 4, 45-52.
- Shand, C.A.; Balsam, M.; Hillier, S.J.; Hudson, G.; Newman, G.; Arthur, J.R.; Nicol, F., (2010) Aqua regia extractable selenium contents of some Scottish topsoils measured by ICP-MS and the relationship with mineral and organic components., Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 90, 972-980.
- Smith, J.U.; Chapman, S.J.; Bell, J.; Bellarby, J.; Gottschalk, P.; Hudson, G.; Lilly, A.; Smith, P.; Towers, W., (2009) Developing a methodology to improve soil C stock estimates for Scotland and use of initial results from a resampling of the National Soil Inventory of Scotland to improve the ecosse model., Report to Scottish Government on Project UAB-015-07, 112pp.
- Black, H.I.J.; Booth, P.; Bellamy, P.; Elston, D.A.; Frogbrook, Z.L.; Hudson, G.; Lark, M.; Potts, J.M.; Reynolds, B.; Lilly, A., (2008) Design and operation of a UK Soil Monitoring Network., Environment Agency, Science Report - 060072/SR.
- Emmett, B.; Black, H.I.J.; Bradley, R.I.; Elston, D.A.; Reynolds, B.; Creamer, R.; Frogbrook, Z.L.; Hudson, G.; Jordan, C.; Lilly, A.; Moffat, A.; Potts, J.; Vanguelova, E., (2007) National Soil Monitoring Network: Review and assessment study. Final report., SNIFFER, Project LQ09.
- Lilly, A.; Jones, M.; Hudson, G., (2007) ENVASSO final report WP 5: Pilot area report. Soil erosion risk threat., ENVASSO WP Final Report.
- Morvan, X.; Richer de Forges, A.; Arrouays, D.; Le Bas, C.; Saby, N.; Jones, R.J.A.; Verheijen, F.G.A.; Bellamy, P.; Kibblewhite, M.; Stephens, M.; Freudenschuss, A.; Strauss, P.; Spiegel, H.; Verdoodt, A.; Goidts, E.; Colinet, G.; Sishkov, T.; Kolev, N.; Penizek, V.; Kobza, J.; Balstrom, T.; Penu, P.; Koster, T.; Jolivet, C.; Baritz, R.; Kosmas, C.; Berenyi Uveges, J.; Becher, G.; Renaud, J.P.; Arnoldussen, A.H.; Pavlenda, P.; Neville, P.; Michopoulos, P.; Herzberger, E.; Simoncic, P.; fay, D.; Buivydaite, V.V.; Karklins, A.; Kobza, J.; Camilleri, S.; Sammut, S.; Higgins, A.; Jordan, C.; Rutgers, M.; Niedzwiecki, J.; Stuczynski, T.; Goncalves, M.C.; Dias Mano, R.; Simota, C.; Lilly, A.; Hudson, G.; Olsson, M.; Lilja, H.; Simo Josa, I.; Zupan, M.; Sleutel, S., (2007) Une analyse des strategies d'echantillonnage des resaux de surveillance de la qualite sols en Europe., Etude et gestion des sols; Journal of the French Soil Science Society, 14, 317-325.
- Towers, W.; Grieve, I.C.; Hudson, G.; Campbell, C.D.; Lilly, A.; Davidson, D.A.; Bacon, J.R.; Langan, S.J.; Hopkins, D.A., (2006) Scotland's soil resource - current state and threats., Report to SEERAD.
- Lilly, A.; Hudson, G.; Birnie, R.V.B.; Horne, P.L., (2002) The inherent geomorphological risk of soil erosion by overland flow in Scotland., Scottish Natural Heritage Research, Survey and Monitoring Report No 183.
Scientists investigate potential of plant traits and intercropping to reduce reliance on fertilisers (News)
Ongoing research by the James Hutton Institute, Rothamsted Research and Lancaster University is shedding light into the dark world of roots and soils, by focusing on the potential of plants to harness the phosphorus (P) already pr ... Read more
James Hutton Group awarded £22.8m for agriculture, food and environment research (News)
Scotland will remain at the forefront of ground-breaking advances in farming and food production as a result of continued Scottish Government funding for scientific research, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has said. Mo ... Read more
Hutton expertise contributes to parliamentary soil health inquiry (News)
UK soils are a non-renewable resource and they underpin our food security, water management, biodiversity and carbon storage. However, are the right policies and incentives in place to ensure their long-term health? The question i ... Read more
Best Soil in Show 2016: ready, steady, dig! (News)
Following on last year's extensive programme of activities to mark the International Year of Soils, the James Hutton Institute has a new partner this year for its quest to highlight the Best Soil in Show at the Royal Highlan ... Read more
Soil posters (Research Page)
This series of posters around Scottish soils was originally designed in collaboration with Geography teachers from Scottish schools. In light of the enlightened public interest in soils as a result of 2015 being the International ... Read more
Saudi academics visit to share ideas about crop, soil and land use research (News)
A group of academics from a leading Saudi Arabian university visited the James Hutton Institute in Dundee and Aberdeen to share ideas about crop, soil and land use research and specialist facilities. The visitors, from Qassi ... Read more
World Soil Day 2015: let's celebrate our most prized asset (News)
As dull as it may look to the untrained eye, soil is teeming with life and indeed underpins everything in our lives: our roads and homes, the food we eat and the water we drink. On World Soil Day, and at the end of the Internation ... Read more
Soils in the digital age (Page)
Dr Matt Aitkenhead, Information and Computational Sciences, James Hutton Institute ... Read more
Soil and some of its darker secrets (Page)
Professor Lorna Dawson, Environmental and Biochemical Sciences, James Hutton Institute ... Read more
A grounding in soil (Page)
Blair McKenzie, Environmental and Biochemical Sciences, James Hutton Institute ... Read more
Soil for politicians: how we can use soil data in evidence-based policy making (Page)
Willie Towers, Environmental and Biochemical Sciences; Dr Katrin Prager, Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences, James Hutton Institute ... Read more
Improving soils for human nutrition (Page)
Professor Philip J. White, Ecological Sciences, James Hutton Institute ... Read more
The vital role soil mapping plays in the sustainable management of the nation's forests (Page)
Dr Andrew Nolan, Environmental and Biochemical Sciences, James Hutton Institute, and Bill Rayner, Forest Research, Forestry Commission ... Read more
Plant roots for engineering soil properties (Page)
Dr A.G. Bengough, James Hutton Institute and University of Dundee ... Read more
Soil and roots are the foundations of our development (Page)
Dr Kenneth Loades, Environmental and Biochemical Sciences, James Hutton Institute; Dr Gráinne El Mountassir, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde ... Read more
Soils will lead the next green revolution – if we allow them (Page)
Dr Alison Bennett, Dr Tim Daniell, Dr Timothy George, Ecological Sciences, James Hutton Institute The "green revolution" led to an increase in crop yield at least three times greater than the previous century, a ... Read more
How soils keep us healthy (Page)
Dr Rupert Hough, Information and Computational Sciences, James Hutton Institute; Jon Stubberfield, Ph.D. student Soils are one of the most complex and dynamic natural systems studied by scientists. Although usually out of sight, ... Read more
Soil is the memory of the land (Page)
Dr Matt Aitkenhead, Information and Computational Sciences; Dr Helaina Black, Ecological Sciences; and Willie Towers, Environmental and Biochemical Sciences, James Hutton Institute ... Read more
New UK-China research collaboration on food security and agriculture (News)
Two UK research institutes have announced a Centre-Centre research collaboration on food security and agriculture with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The memorandum of agreement involve the UK's Centre for E ... Read more
James Hutton Institute and National Library offer access to Scotland's one-inch soil maps (News)
As part of activities planned to mark the International Year of Soils, the James Hutton Institute and the National Library of Scotland have teamed up to offer access to the Institute's historical one inch to 1 mile (1:63,360 ... Read more
Dinnet Constructed Wetland Open Day (Event)
The James Hutton Institute will host this one-day seminar on constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment. The morning session will consist of a series of short talks on various aspects of constructed wetlands including overall e ... Read more
Soil, the Earth's Tender Skin - Opening Lecture (Event)
Register now for the opening of Soil, the Earth's Tender Skin Exhibition at Summerhall to mark the UN International Year of Soil and to celebrate the health and diversity of Scotland's soils today and in the future. ... Read more
James Hutton Institute soil research featured in The Geographer magazine (News)
Reflections of James Hutton Institute scientists on the concept of soil, tools for digital soil monitoring and the implications of soil for policymaking, forensic science, engineering, health and nutrition, have been featured in t ... Read more
Finding out about the "hidden uses" of soil data (News)
A Macaulay Development Trust funded PhD student, based between the James Hutton Institute and Cranfield University, is seeking information from individuals and organisations about their utilisation of soils data, in a drive to imp ... Read more
Royal Highland Show 2015, time to celebrate our soils (News)
Although frequently out of sight, everything in our lives is underpinned by soil — our roads, our homes, the food we eat, and the water we drink. At the Royal Highland Show (18-21 June 2015), and as part of the International ... Read more
Managing agriculture in the face of phosphorus scarcity (Event)
In this seminar, hosted by Dr Tim George from our Ecological Sciences group, Dr Alan Richardson (CSIRO) will discuss ways of managing farming systems on phosphorus (P) deficient soils. Abstract ... Read more
Scientists launch Dundee Medal Lecture series in plant root research (News)
A group of researchers from the James Hutton Institute in Dundee held the first of a ten-year series of lectures at the cutting edge of science below our feet, to coincide with 2015 as the International Year of Soils. ... Read more
Professor Lorna Dawson profiled in Nature (News)
Prestigious scientific publication Nature has published a profile of Professor Lorna Dawson, Head of Soil Forensics at the James Hutton Institute. The story, titled Forensic science: The soil sleuth, describes Professor Dawson&r ... Read more
James Hutton Limited open for business (News)
The Director of Research Impact of the James Hutton Institute, Professor Bob Ferrier, is pleased to announce that James Hutton Limited, the new wholly owned subsidiary of the Institute, has begun trading. The new company brings ... Read more
2015 CLS/Hutton Distinguished Lecture: The Microbiome in Health and Agriculture (Event)
Dr Jack A Gilbert, leader of the Hospital Microbiome Project, Earth Microbiome Project, Home Microbiome Project, and co-founder of American Gut will be visiting Dundee to deliver the 2015 CLS/Hutton Distinguished Lecture on T ... Read more
Prestigious European grant for artificial soils research (News)
A James Hutton Institute scientist has been awarded a highly prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant to undertake research on a new generation of artificial soils; it is hoped that this would allow researche ... Read more
New light shed on microbial battleground between soil and roots (News)
The soil around roots of plants such as barley – one of our most important crops - is a battleground where only certain bacteria can survive, suggests evidence gathered by an international team including a scientist based at ... Read more
Best Soil in Show 2015: ready, steady, dig! (News)
As part of the International Year of the Soil 2015, the James Hutton Institute is again joining forces with the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) and new partner Soil Association Scotland in a quest to highlight ... Read more
Books and Book Chapters (Research Page)
Water Ecosystem Services - A Global Perspective ... Read more
Conference Presentations and Posters (Research Page)
The presentations and posters described on this page are either hosted on the conference websites, or are available for direct download (files are in pdf format). ... Read more
Journal Papers (Research Page)
Links to a selection of publications from SNC staff appear below. Clicking on any James Hutton Institute staff member's name will take you to their personal staff page where a more detailed listing of their publications can be ... Read more
Dr Helaina Black appointed Ecological Sciences group leader (News)
Senior soil ecologist Dr Helaina Black has been appointed to the leadership of the Ecological Sciences group at the James Hutton Institute, following the retirement of Dr Pete Goddard. ... Read more
Climate change will have far reaching effects on UK agriculture (News)
With 2014 reported as the warmest year since records began, continuing a strong trend in recent years, we ignore the implications for agriculture in the UK in the medium to long term at our peril. The issue is not just the rising ... Read more
Schoolchildren and scientists plant trees to mark World Soil Day (News)
Schoolchildren and university students joined forces with soil scientists in Aberdeen to plant 15 trees and mark the launch of the International Year of Soils (IYS) 2015 and World Soil Day. The trees were planted at schools acro ... Read more
Slovenian researchers visit to discuss CropSustaIn progress (News)
Researchers from the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia (AIS) visited the James Hutton Institute as part of the CropSustaIn project, which looks into alternatives for sustainable crop production in Slovenia in the face of global c ... Read more
UK Soils Observatory wins excellence award (News)
The UK Soils Observatory (UKSO), an initiative supported by the James Hutton Institute and other leading soil research institutions to provide a point of access to UK soils data and underpinning research, has been awarded the Exce ... Read more
Interdisciplinary dialogue key to valuing our life support systems (News)
Businesses that ignore nature could have a false impression of their viability and are missing out on long term business productivity, ecologists and economists have said at the Natural Capital Initiative summit – Valuing ou ... Read more
Diffuse pollution modelling (Research Page)
Data from spatial monitoring of water quality provided parameter sets for validation of catchment scale models. These have been used in a number of externally funded research projects including REFRESH. ... Read more
Phosphorus biogeochemistry in riparian buffer strips (Research Page)
Management to mitigate pollutant swapping Buffer strips are useful for mitigating diffuse pollution. As riparian buffers perform their role in sediment trapping, P accumulates with no loss mechanism (as in wetland denitrificatio ... Read more
Dundee Flower and Food Festival 2014 (Event)
The James Hutton Institute is once again supporting the Dundee Flower and Food Festival and will have a display and talks in the new Food Discovery Marquee. Our display will be looking at the past, present and future of plant and ... Read more
Best Young Mycologist in Europe accolade for researcher (News)
A scientist from the James Hutton Institute has been named the best young mycologist in Europe and joined an elite group of only six researchers around the world to be awarded a similar accolade for their continent. Dr Alison Be ... Read more
Young scientist nominated as Business Leader of Tomorrow (News)
A young horticultural scientist who has implemented changes to growing practices, which are already bringing financial benefits as part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership, has been nominated for the prestigious Business Leader of ... Read more
John Swinney MSP visits to find out more on research and innovation (News)
Mr John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, visited yesterday the James Hutton Institute in Invergowrie to learn about ongoing world leading scientific research in crops and climate change, as well as its commercial impact in local ... Read more
Developments on arable crops showcased at Cereals in Practice (News)
How to protect cereal crops from the increased disease pressure caused by the mild winter and spring and early drilling was a key point of interest at this year's Cereals in Practice event, co-hosted by the James Hutton Inst ... Read more
Whisky research from land to bottle at Royal Highland Show (News)
The future of Scotland's national drink is being boosted by scientists at the James Hutton Institute. Their work across many fronts aims to ensure the sustainability and continued success of Scotch whisky, one of the world&r ... Read more
State of Scotland's environment outlined in new report (News)
On the whole, Scotland's environment is of good quality and there have been many significant improvements in recent years. However, the 2014 State of the Environment Report clearly shows that some habitats and species are un ... Read more
Host Identity and Climate as Determinants of Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Distribution in Scotland (Research Page)
Background Over 85% of land plants are obligate associated with mycorrhizal fungi illustrating the importance of the symbiosis. Fungi provide water and essential nutrients to their host plants in exchange for carbohydrates deriv ... Read more
Next generation solutions for current generation problems: Enhancing mycorrhizal function in wheat (Event)
Dr Duncan Cameron of the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University of Sheffield will give this seminar entitled "Next generation solutions for current generation problems: Enhancing mycorrhizal function in wheat ... Read more
'Collaborative roots' could reduce reliance on phosphorus fertilisers (News)
Farmers could improve the efficiency of phosphorus in crop production by coupling plants with complementary traits, which would allow them to harness the 'phosphorus bank' already present in soils. ... Read more
New company to strengthen links with industry (News)
The James Hutton Institute is to create one new commercial subsidiary which will incorporate the activities of its current commercial subsidiaries, Mylnefield Research Services Ltd (MRS) and Macaulay Scientific Consulting Ltd (MSC ... Read more
Research underway to unravel causes of blackleg (News)
Researchers at the James Hutton Institute and partner organisations are working to understand how seed potato becomes infected with Pectobacterium atrosepticum, the pathogen that causes blackleg; a disease that has been one of the ... Read more
Young farmers compete for Best Soil at the Royal Highland Show (News)
Young farmers from all across Scotland will be pitching the soils beneath their feet against one another in a quest to find the Best Soil in Show at the 2014 Royal Highland Show. The event will see the James Hutton Institute and t ... Read more
Loss of biodiversity limits toxin degradation (News)
You might not think of microbes when you consider biodiversity, but it turns out that even a moderate loss of less than 5% of soil microbes may compromise some key ecosystem functions and could lead to lower degradation of toxins ... Read more
LandSFACTS (Research Page)
LANDscape Scale Functional Allocation of Crops Temporally and Spatially ... Read more
Scenarios and land use futures (Research Page)
Environmental, economic and social issues associated with agriculture are often fundamental for rural prosperity and sustainability, with consequent implications for any debate about future land use. A key to supporting the planni ... Read more
Realising Land's Potential stakeholder engagement events (Research Page)
Stakeholder engagement events relating to theme topics Health and wellbeing conferences and workshops Date Title Theme role Venue 25 November 2013 ... Read more
New website for Scotland's soils launched (News)
A new website, which brings together information on one of Scotland's most valuable natural assets, has gone live. The website is the result of a collaboration between the Scottish Government, the James Hutton Institute, SEP ... Read more
DNA fingerprinting for soils might soon help catch criminals (News)
In certain criminal cases, soil, mud or vegetation on, or from, a vehicle or foot, clothing or implements may provide the clue that could point to a particular search location. ... Read more
Dundee Flower and Food Festival 2013 (Event)
The James Hutton Institute will be joined by colleagues from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and the Wellcome Trust as they invite members of the public to 'Know your soil' at the annual Dundee Flower and Food Fes ... Read more
Consultation responses (Page)
The James Hutton Institute often submits formal responses to consultations being conducted by the European Union, UK Government, Scottish Government and other public bodies. You can find consultation responses we have submitted be ... Read more
Fyvie farm in Aberdeenshire has the Best Soil in Show (News)
After closely examining samples from different areas of the country, soil scientists from the James Hutton Institute have awarded the Best Soil in Show at the Royal Highland Show 2013. A sample from Fyvie in Aberdeenshire, submitt ... Read more
Have you got the Best Soil in Show? (News)
Farmers from across Scotland will be pitching the soil from beneath their feet against one another at this year's Royal Highland Show where the James Hutton Institute will be looking for the Best Soil in Show. ... Read more
A new soil carbon app for Scottish farmers (News)
A free, new soil carbon app has been launched to provide farmers with a quick, cost-effective source of information about the organic matter content of their soil. The app, known as SOCiT (Soil Organic Carbon information), provi ... Read more
Soil Capital (Research Page)
Soils underpin a multitude of ecosystem goods and services that are not only vital to peoples' livelihoods and Society in general, but also to Earth's regulating systems. ... Read more
James Hutton Institute to investigate links between soil degradation and poverty (News)
The James Hutton Institute has won a £1.9 million government-funded research project which will investigate the opportunities in tackling soil degradation to alleviate poverty in rural communities in Africa where millions of ... Read more
Best Soil in Show (Page)
Experts from the James Hutton Institute will be on hand throughout the Royal Highland Show examining the importance of soil health and quality to ensure you are getting the most from your land. Discussing the latest techniques a ... Read more
European Network on Soil Awareness (Event)
The European Network on Soil Awareness held its third meeting at the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen from 19-20 September 2013. ... Read more
Scotland's National Soils Data now at your fingertips (News)
Years of knowledge and research by the James Hutton Institute are now at everyone's fingertips thanks to the Institute's first iPhone application, introduced at the Winter Potato Meeting of the Scottish Society for Cro ... Read more
New environmental research links with China (News)
The James Hutton Institute and the Natural Environment Research Council's Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and China Agricultural University have jointly announced a new Centre-Centre researc ... Read more
Rhizosphere Interactions (Event)
The Rhizosphere Interactions symposium is a joint meeting of the Scottish Root Group and the Scottish Discussion Group of the British Society of Soil Science (BSSS). The keynote speaker is Alex Dumbrell, University of Essex who wi ... Read more
PhD Studentships 2013 opportunities (News)
Opportunities for PhD projects from the James Hutton Institute's annual competitive joint-studentship programme are now being advertised on FindAPhD.com. All these PhD projects are funded jointly between the Institute and par ... Read more
The Lewis Endowment Fund (Page)
Background The Lewis Endowment Fund (LEF) was set up in 1930 as part of an original benefaction from Dr T.B. Macaulay of the Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada. Whilst the major purpose of this benefaction was to create the Ma ... Read more
See-through soil reveals plant roots (News)
A new transparent soil is helping to reveal the dark, underground secrets of plant roots. A team of researchers from the James Hutton Institute and the University of Abertay Dundee have developed a see-through soil which will enab ... Read more
Compost Good Practice Meeting (Event)
This meeting aims to introduce delegates to the WRAP Good Practice Guide: Using PAS 100 compost in landscape and regeneration projects, and to provide a forum for scientists and stakeholders to discuss recent developments in compo ... Read more
Dr Cameron Grant and Emeritus Professor Pieter Groenevelt seminar (Event)
Dr Cameron Grant, University of Adelaide, South Australia and Emeritus Professor Pieter Groenevelt, University of Guelph, Canada will deliver this joint seminar entitled "Plant available water: What must happen to make its ac ... Read more
Recent publications
- Lin, H.; Jin, D.F.; Freitag, T.E.; Sun, W.C.; Yu, Q.G.; Fu, J.R.; Ma, J.W., (2016) A compositional shift in the soil microbiome induced by tetracycline, sulfamonomethoxine and ciprofloxacin entering a plant-soil system., Environmental Pollution, 212, 440-448.
- Lin, H.; Sun, W.; Zhang, Z.; Chapman, S.J.; Freitag, T.E.; Fu, J.; Zhang, X.; Ma, J., (2016) Effects of manure and mineral fertilization strategies on soil antibiotic resistance gene levels and microbial community in a paddy-upland rotation system., Environmental Pollution, 211, 332-337.
- Lin, H.; Sun, W.C.; Zhang, Z.L.; Chapman, S.J.; Freitag, T.E.; Fu, J.; Zhang, X.; Ma, J., (2016) Effects of manure and mineral fertilization strategies on soil antibiotic resistance gene levels and microbial community in a paddy-upland rotation system., Environmental Pollution, 211, 332-337.
- Reavy, B.; Swanson, M.M.; Cock, P.J.A.; Dawson, L.A.; Freitag, T.E.; Singh, B.K.; Torrance, L.; Mushegain, A.R.; Taliansky, M., (2015) Distinct circular single-stranded DNA viruses exist in different soil types., Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 81, 3934-3945.
- Dawson, L.A.; Miller, D.R.; Freitag, T.; Brewer, M.; Robinson, L.; Ross, J., (2014) MiSAFE project mid term review report., Mid-Term Report to the EU Review Panel for the MiSAFE Project. Uploaded to the EU website.
- Brooker, R.; Aalders, I.H.; Ballingall, K.; Begg, G.; Birch, A.N.E.; Elliott, G.; Ellis, C.; Freitag, T.; Hawes, C.; Holland, J.; Holmes, B.; Hough, R.L.; Karley, A.; McCracken, D.; Mitchell, R.; Stockan, J.; Zadoks, R.; Albon, S.A.; Hester, A.J.; Pakeman, R.J., (2013) Biotic and biophysical underpinning of ecosystem services in the Scottish context: a review., Published online as an outputs from WP 1.1 of the Ecosystem Services Theme of the SRP.
- Miller, D.R.; Dawson, L.A.; Morrice, J.; Ross, J.; Freitag, T.; Robinson, L., (2013) Knowledge exchange and dissemination strategy., Deliverable D7.1 (Knowledge Exchange Strategy), EU MiSAFE Project.
- Yao, H.Y.; Campbell, C.D.; Chapman, S.J.; Freitag, T.E.; Nicol G.W.; Singh, B.K., (2013) Multi-factorial drivers of ammonia oxidizer communities: evidence from a national soil survey., Environmental Microbiology, 15, 2545-2556.
Effects of controlled fire on the biodiversity of heath communities (Research Page)
Background and objectives ... Read more
Soil and plant analysis equipment (Research Page)
The soil section provides a range of analytical services dedicated to the analysis of soils, peats, sediments and related materials. Dedicated staff and equipment provide high quality, accredited (ISO 17025), analytical data. Supp ... Read more
Publications: MOORCO – Moorland colonisation (Research Page)
Mitchell, R.J., Hester, A.J., Campbell, C.D., Chapman, S.J., Cameron, C.M., Hewison, R.L. and Potts, J.M. 2012. Explaining the variation in the soil microbial community: do vegetation composition and soil chemistry explain the sam ... Read more
Chronosequence: MOORCO – Moorland colonisation (Research Page)
Background The MOORCO chronosequence plots use sites where birch (Betula sp.) has naturally colonised moorland to assess changes in biodiversity and ecosystem services following a change in land use from moorland to birch wood. ... Read more
MOORCO – Moorland colonisation (Research Page)
The MOORCO project studies how woodland expansion onto moorland affects biodiversity and ecosystem services. MOORCO stands for moorland colonisation and is an umbrella project encompassing four different experimental platfo ... Read more
Re-sampling the National Soil Inventory of Scotland (NSIS) (Page)
Plugging the evidence gap ... Read more
Recent publications
- Nazaries, L.; Tottey, W.; Robinson, L.J.; Khachane, A.; Al-Soud, W.A.; Sorensen, S.; Singh, B.K., (2015) Shifts in the microbial community structure explain the response of soil respiration to land-use but not to climate warming., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 89, 123-134.
- Powell, J.; Karunaratne, S.; Campbell, C.D.; Yao, H.Y.; Robinson, L.; Singh, B.K., (2015) Deterministic processes vary during community assembly for ecologically dissimilar taxa., Nature Communications, 6, Article No. 8444.
- Robertson, A.H.J.; Main, A.M.; Robinson, L.J.; Dawson, L.A., (2015) In situ FTIR analysis of soils for forensic applications., FT-IR Technology for Today's Spectroscopists, August 2015.
- Dawson, L.A.; Miller, D.R.; Freitag, T.; Brewer, M.; Robinson, L.; Ross, J., (2014) MiSAFE project mid term review report., Mid-Term Report to the EU Review Panel for the MiSAFE Project. Uploaded to the EU website.
- Macdonald, C.A.; Crawley, M.J.; Wright, D.J.; Kuczynski, J.; Robinson, L.; Knight, R.; Al-Soud, W.A.; Sorensen, S.J.; Deng, Y.; Zhou, J.; Singh, B.K., (2014) Identifying qualitative effects of different grazing types on below-ground communities and function in a long-term field experiment., Environmental Microbiology, 17, 841-854.
- Miller, D.R.; Dawson, L.A.; Morrice, J.; Ross, J.; Freitag, T.; Robinson, L., (2013) Knowledge exchange and dissemination strategy., Deliverable D7.1 (Knowledge Exchange Strategy), EU MiSAFE Project.
- Macdonald, C.A.; Thomas, N.; Robinson, L.; Tate, K.R.; Ross, D.J.; Dando, J.; Singh, B.K., (2009) Physiological, biochemical and molecular responses of soil microbial community after afforestation of pastures with Pinus radiata., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 41, 1642-1651.
Lucinda Robinson (Staff Member)
Lucinda graduated in 1998 from Wye College University of London with a BSc (Hons) in Plant Sciences, and has subsequently accumulated over twelve years of laboratory experience. She spent seven of these years at a commercial ... Read more
Scotland's soil resource (Page)
Our research is designed to help protect the nation's soil Scotland's soils are the foundation of our primary production industries An agricultural output of £1.75 billion (2005) World records for cer ... Read more
Soil formation (Page)
Soils are created by the weathering of rocks over hundreds to thousands of years. The speed and nature of soil formation is affected by various factors. ... Read more
National Soils Archive (Page)
The National Soils Archive is held at the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen and consists of the following. ... Read more
Soil treatments and field site (Research Page)
The LTSE field site at Hartwood is a dedicated site and is fenced off to prevent disturbance by grazing livestock. The topsoil, typical of that found in the agricultural land in Scotland is a medium textured sandy clay loam consis ... Read more
Biogeochemistry and hydrology (Research Page)
This group aims to improve knowledge of biogeochemical and hydrological cycles, and their role in ecosystem functions and services. To do this we study chemical, physical, and biological processes and reactions that govern the com ... Read more
Soil diversity (Research Page)
The complexity of the soil system with many large gradients including nutrients and gases such as oxygen drive a massive diversity below ground. It has been estimated that there are over 40,000 different organisms contained within ... Read more
Soils, water and catchments (Research Page)
Soil plays a vital role in controlling the flow of water and chemicals between the atmosphere and the earth. As water passes through the soil it is filtered by plants, bacteria, fungi and soil particles, which remove various miner ... Read more
Soils and climate change (Research Page)
The climate is changing in response to the increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. While the burning of fossil fuels has made a major contribution to the levels of carbon dioxide, soils have been respo ... Read more
Soils Database (Research Page)
What happens to the information recorded in the field by soil surveyors, and the results of all the analysis carried out on the samples they collect? Once it has been collated, it is stored securely so people from all over the wor ... Read more
Soil science (Research Page)
We conduct a wide range of soil-related research. Read more on the following pages. ... Read more
ESMART: web tools and apps for the Scottish environment (Research Page)
E-SMART: Environmental Sensing for Monitoring and Advising in Real-Time ... Read more
James Hutton Institute Open Day 2012 (Event)
The first James Hutton Institute Open Day will be held at our Dundee site this summer when we look forward to welcoming visitors of all ages to find out more about our work. There will be a wide range of exhibitions and hands-on ... Read more
Types of analysis done at the LTSE (Research Page)
Measurement type Property of characteristic measured Chemical Total Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb Extractable Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb Mineral N Total N Organic C and N Biological ... Read more
People and contacts of the LTSE (Research Page)
For further information about the project partners please contact: ... Read more
Acknowledgements for the LTSE (Research Page)
The LTSE project was undertaken by ADAS, Rothamsted Research and the Water Research Centre (WRc) in England and Wales and, by the James Hutton Institute and Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) (Auchincruive) in Scotland. The ... Read more
Aboveground belowground interactions: technologies and new approaches (Event)
This joint meeting of the Biochemical Society, the Society for Experimental Biology and the British Ecological Society is being organised in conjunction with the James Hutton Institute. This collaborative event is an exciting op ... Read more
Publications and further reading (Research Page)
Use the following links to navigate : reports relating to the project, scientific publications, PhD thesis, other reports relating to waste water sludge and external websites ... Read more
Benefits and problems of applying waste water sludge to land (Research Page)
Waste water sludge is a useful source of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter, and after further processing can be used as a liming material. However, there are limits to what can be applied. For example applications of waste w ... Read more
PhD Projects (Research Page)
Competition for PhD student is now closed. Please contact Lionel Dupuy for further information. ... Read more
Continuous deformable plant models (Research Page)
Currently, most plant root architectural models use computer simulations to mimic the developmental processes of root apical meristems and to construct virtual root architectures: single roots are assembled incrementally through t ... Read more
Multicellular models (Research Page)
Although plants are complex organisms, the position and shapes of cells, tissues, meristems and organs establish themselves through regular and repeated processes. The cell constitutes the elementary structural and functional unit ... Read more
Architectural models (Research Page)
It is essential for future models to provide predictive outputs that can be applied to agronomic, ecologic or environmental issues. In the future, models will be asked to address more diverse challenges such as; how can crops tole ... Read more
Meristematic waves (Research Page)
The root architecture is important for the acquisition of water and nutrients, their transport to above ground organs and the mechanical stabilisation of the stem. Characterising root developmental processes is, therefore, crucial ... Read more
PhD Studentships 2012 opportunities (News)
PhD projects from The James Hutton Institute's annual competitive Joint-Studentship programme are now being advertised on FindAPhD.com. ... Read more
Plant Soil Ecology (Research Page)
Increasing global demand for food, feed and energy crops requires sustainable intensification of agriculture, which must occur without impact on biodiversity or the environment. We have a strong research team that integrates kn ... Read more
Background to the Long Term Sludge Experiment (Research Page)
In 1994, three research Institutes along with two private companies set up a number of field experiments at nine field sites across the UK (pdf file). The sites were chosen to reflect the different soil types found in agricultural ... Read more
Soil surveying and monitoring (Research Page)
Soils are very slow to develop and are generally considered to be a non-renewable resource. At the same time, we demand a great deal from our soil; we use it to grow crops, timber, grow grass to feed our cattle and sheep, we build ... Read more
Soils and sustainable production (Research Page)
We face a huge challenge. More food, from less land, with fewer resources is essential right now and it will only get worse as the global population grows and finite resources like fuel and potash continue to diminish. Understandi ... Read more
Land capability (Research Page)
Soil is a fundamental part of land and is key in determining what activities can be undertaken and supported on different types of land; how capable is land is sustaining different farming systems, different woodland types, valued ... Read more
Soil as natural capital (Research Page)
Soil's most widely recognised function is supporting plant growth, whether for crops, trees or native habitats. But, sitting as it does at the interface between the atmosphere, biosphere and underlying rocks, soil is being i ... Read more
World Soil Day (Event)
In 2002 the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) made a resolution to propose 5 December as World Soil Day. This annual celebration of soil continues to be used as an opportunity to draw attention to the importance of soil ... Read more
Root-soil interactions (Research Page)
This interdisciplinary research examines below ground interactions between plants and soil, focusing on root growth and the rhizosphere. Research includes root growth processes in relation to environmental stresses, nutrient and w ... Read more
Improving the plant (Research Page)
Better use of water and nutrients, increased resistance to stresses and less wastage in production are major research challenges we address. A combination of genetics and agronomy provides an in-depth understanding of favourable p ... Read more
Introduction to Soils (Page)
Soils represent one of the most complex and dynamic natural systems studied by scientists. Knowledge of their chemical, physical and biological properties is a prerequisite both for sustaining the productivity of the land, for exa ... Read more
DNA testing of New Zealand flatworms (News)
An alien invader which threatens the ecological balance of Scotland's soils is being DNA profiled by scientists at The James Hutton Institute. Arthurdendyus triangulatus commonly known as the New Zealand flatworm is a predat ... Read more
Composting - how and what (Page)
Composting The material that is left behind from your kitchen can be put to good use by making your own garden composter! The creatures that live in your soil (i.e. the bacteria, fungi, insects etc), consume and process the plan ... Read more
Research Themes (Research Page)
Our research will deliver outcomes through the following Research Themes. ... Read more
Science Groups (Research Page)
Our research is conducted in the following Science Groups. ... Read more
SEGS research and equipment (Research Page)
Our areas of work Currently SEGS focus on five overarching areas for research, each with several key strands of work: ... Read more
Beechgrove Garden investigates the science of soil (News)
The science of soils will be investigated by the Beechgrove Garden tonight (Monday 1 August 2011). Many gardeners often wonder why their favourite plants don't grow, or their garden looks bare despite watering and adding f ... Read more
Pedologist's report – Soil characteristics for "Sandy" (Page)
Name: Regosol/Brown Calcareous Soil Age: Young by Scottish standards Address: Coastal locations Preferred soil functions: Often used for recreation (golf) in the east, but is the mainstay of many crofting communities ... Read more
Pedologist's report – Soil characteristics for "Rusty" (Page)
Name: Brown earth Age: Up to 10000 years but in many areas it has been modified by management Address: Primarily East Scotland, some limited areas in West Highlands Preferred soil functions: Primarily used in arable ... Read more
Pedologist's report – Soil characteristics for "Pete" (Page)
Name: Peat Age: up to 7500 years old ... Read more
Pedologist's report – Soil characteristics for "Heather" (Page)
Name: Humus-iron podzol Age: Up to 10000 years but in places modified from its original form Address: Eastern and Central Highlands, some in the eastern Southern Uplands Preferred soil functions: in its natural state ... Read more
Pedologist's report – Soil characteristics for "Claude" (Page)
Name: Noncalcareous gley Age: Up to 10000 years Address: Primarily in west Central Scotland Preferred soil functions: sustaining improved pasture swards Height/Weight: Usually quite deep. Very dense (heavy) at de ... Read more
The James Hutton Institute supports professional competency initiative for soil scientists (News)
A professional competency scheme for practising soil scientists has been launched today (Thursday 21 July) which aims to improve the quality of professional soils advice. Working with Soil, devised by the Institute of Profession ... Read more
Now make your own wormery (Page)
Take a look and see how you too can make your own mini composter and make a little difference in saving resources. This activity is in accordance with RGC's school eco-code, "Don't throw your world away". ... Read more
'Eco pets' wormeries go down a treat at RGC (Page)
A visit to Robert Gordon's College junior school eco group was made by three James Hutton Institute members of staff on 20 June, 2011. Lorna Dawson gave an overview of our different soils in Scotland and how they provide hea ... Read more
The mushroom with no name (News)
A rare species of mushroom discovered growing in Scotland by researchers at The James Hutton Institute has been chosen to feature in a nationwide competition to give it a name. ... Read more
Gardening Scotland (Event)
The James Hutton Institute will be taking part in the 2011 Gardening Scotland Event, where we will be displaying topical information on soil and crop research and informing our visitors all about The James Hutton Institute. Gard ... Read more
Recent publications
- Mitchell, R.; Hewison, R.; Britton, A.; Pakeman, R.J.; Hester, A., (2016) Long-term changes in Scottish grassland plant communities., In: Pakeman, R.J. (ed.). Grassland Biodiversity. The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, pp4-5.
- Mitchell, R.J.; Beesley, L.; Donald, C.; Green, G.; Hewison, R.L.; Owen, I.J.; Newman, G.; Sturgeon, F.; White, D.; Williams, E.; Black, H.I.J., (2016) Applying soil indicators at biomonitoring sites., Scottish Environment Protection Agency Commissioned Report No. TT1508, 51pp.
- Mitchell, R.J.; Pakeman, R.J.; Broome, A.; Beaton, J.K.; Bellamy, P.E.; Brooker, R.W.; Ellis, C.J.; Hester, A.J.; Hodgetts, N.G.; Iason, G.R.; Littlewood, N.A.; Pozsgai, G.; Ramsay, S.; Riach, D.; Stockan, J.A.; Taylor, A.F.S.; Woodward, S., (2016) How to replicate the functions and biodiversity of a threatened tree species? the case of Fraxinus excelsior in Britain., Ecosystems, 19, 573-586.
- Nilsson, C.; Aradottir, A.; Hagen, D.; Halldorsson, G.; Hoegh, K.; Mitchell, R.J.; Raulund-Rasmussen, K.; Svavarsdottir, K.; Tolvanen, A.; Wilson, S.D., (2016) Evaluating the process of ecological restoration., Restoration Ecology, 21, Article No. 41.
- Pakeman, R.J.; Alexander, J.; Brooker, R.; Cummins, R.; Fielding, D.; Gore, S.; Hewison, R.; Mitchell, R.; Moore, E.; Erford, K.; Pemberton, C.; Trinder, C.; Lewis, R., (2016) Long-term impacts of nitrogen deposition on coastal plant communities., Environmental Pollution, 221, 337-347.
- Calladine, J.; Gilbert, L.; Humphreys, E.M.; Fuller, R.J.; Robinson, R.A.; Littlewood, N.A.; Mitchell, R.J.; Pakeman, R.J.; Furness, R.W., (2015) Predation studies on breeding waders of the Uist machair: Final report covering fieldwork undertaken in 2012-2014., Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 811.
- Humphreys, E.M.; Gilbert, L.; Furness, R.W.; Littlewood, N.; Mitchell, R.J.; Pakeman, R.; Fuller, R.J.; Calladine, J., (2015) Scoping report to Uist Wader Research: Suggested research programme 2012-2014., Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 497.
- Jones, L.; Hall, J.; Strachan, I.; Field, C.; Rowe, E.; Stevens, C.J.; Capor, S.J.M.; Mitchell, R.; Britton, A.; Smith, R.; Bealey, B.; Masante, D.; Hewison, R.; Hicks, K., (2015) Developing a decision framework to attribute atmospheric nitrogen deposition as a threat to or cause of unfavourable habitat condition on protected sites 'AND-UP'. Final Report., JNCC Contract Report, February 2015
- Pakeman, R.J.; Alexander, J.; Beaton, J.; Brooker, R.; Cummins, R.; Eastwood, A.; Fielding, D.; Fisher, J.; Gore, S.; Hewison, R.; Hooper, R.; Lennon, J.; Mitchell, R.; Moore, E.; Nolan, A.; Orford, K.; Pemberton, C.; Riach, D.; Sim, D.; Stockan, J.; Trinder, C.; Lewis, R., (2015) Species composition of coastal dune vegetation in Scotland has proved resistant to climate change over a third of a century., Global Change Biology, 21, 3738-3747.
- Britton, A.J.; Mitchell, R.J.; Potts, J.M.; Genney, D.R., (2014) Developing monitoring protocols for cost-effective surveillance of lichens., The Lichenologist, 46, 471-482.
- Lisboa, F.J.G.; Peres-Neto, P.R.; Chaer, G.M.; Jesus, E.C.; Mitchell, R.J.; Chapman, S.J.; Berbara, R.L.L., (2014) Much beyond Mantel: Bringing Procrustes association metric to the plant and soil ecologist's toolbox., PLoS ONE, 9(6), e101238.
- Mitchell, R.J.; Beaton, J.K.; Bellamy, P.E.; Broome, A.; Chetcuti, J.; Eaton, S.; Ellis, C.J.; Gimona, A.; Harmer, R.; Hester, A.J.; Hewison, R.L.; Hodgetts, N.G.; Iason, G.R.; Kerr, G.; Littlewood, N.A.; Newey, S.; Potts, J.M.; Pozsgai, G.; Ray, D.A.; Stockan, J.A.; Taylor, A.F.S.; Woodward, S., (2014) Ash dieback in the UK: a review of the ecological and conservation implications and potential management options., Biological Conservation, 175, 95-109.
- Mitchell, R.J.; Broome, A.; Harmer, R.; Beaton, J.K.; Bellamy, P.E.; Brooker, R.W.; Duncan, R.; Ellis, C.J.; Hester, A.J.; Hodgetts, N.G.; Iason, G.R.; Littlewood, N.A.; Mackinnon, M.; Pakeman, R.J.; Pozsgai, G.; Ramsey S.; Riach, D.; Stockan, J. A.; Taylor, A.F.S.; Woodward, S., (2014) Assessing and addressing the impacts of ash dieback on UK woodlands and trees of conservation importance (Phase 2)., Natural England Report.
- Mitchell, R.J.; Lilly, A.; Bell, J.S.; Cameron, C.; Donald, C.; Fielding, D.; Green, G.; Hewison, R.H.; McIntyre, S.; Newman, G.: Nolan, A.; Owen, J.; Smith, D.; Sturgeon, F.; Thompson, C.; Towers, W.; Williams E., (2014) Ecosystem effects of long-term herbivore exclusion., SNH Contract Report.
- Britton, A.J.; Mitchell, R.J.; Potts, J.M.; Genney, D.R., (2013) Development of a surveillance scheme for priority lichens in Scotland., Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No.567, 177pp.
- Brooker, R.; Aalders, I.H.; Ballingall, K.; Begg, G.; Birch, A.N.E.; Elliott, G.; Ellis, C.; Freitag, T.; Hawes, C.; Holland, J.; Holmes, B.; Hough, R.L.; Karley, A.; McCracken, D.; Mitchell, R.; Stockan, J.; Zadoks, R.; Albon, S.A.; Hester, A.J.; Pakeman, R.J., (2013) Biotic and biophysical underpinning of ecosystem services in the Scottish context: a review., Published online as an outputs from WP 1.1 of the Ecosystem Services Theme of the SRP.
- Bryce, R.; van der Wal, R.; Mitchell, R.; Lambin, X., (2013) Metapopulation dynamics of a burrowing herbivore drive spatio-temporal dynamics of riparian plant communities, Ecosystems, 16, 1165-1177.
- Calladine, J.; Furness, B.; Gilbert, L.; Humphreys, L.; Fuller, R.; Littlewood, N.; Mitchell, R.J.; Pakeman, R.J., (2013) Predation studies on breeding waders of the Uists machair: second interim report describing fieldwork undertaken in 2012-2013., Interim Report to Scottish Natural Heritage, November 2013.
- Critchley, C.N.R.; Mitchell, R.J.; Rose, R.J.; Griffiths, J.B.; Jackson, E.; Scott, H.; Davies, O.D., (2013) Re-establishment of Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull in an eight-year grazing experiment on upland acid grassland., Journal of Nature Conservation, 21, 22-30.
- Mitchell, R.J.; Bailey, S.; Beaton, J.K.; Bellamy, P.E.; Brooker, R.W.; Broome, A.; Chetcuti, J.; Eaton, S.; Ellis, C.J.; Farren, J.; Gimona, A.; Goldberg, E.; Hall, J.; Harmer, R.; Hester, A.J.; Hewison, R.L.; Hodgetts, N.G.; Hooper, R.J.; Howe, L.; Iason, G.R.; Kerr, G.; Littlewood, N.A.; Morgan, V.; Newey, S.; Potts, J.M.; Pozsgai, G.; Ray, D.; Sim, D.A.; Stockan, J.A.; Taylor, A.F.S.; Woodward, S., (2013) Ash dieback: impacts on other species and understanding the ecology of ash., Report to JNCC.
Ruth Mitchell (Staff Member)
Ruth Mitchell is a plant/soil research scientist within the Ecology Sciences Group at the Institute with 15 years experience of working on a wide range of applied ecological research projects. Her research focuses on the impact of ... Read more
Murder, Mystery and Microscopes (Page)
The James Hutton Institute is running a series of events delving into the science behind fictional crime with Murder, Mystery and Microscopes. ... Read more
Meet the Dirt Doctor (Page)
Starting in 2007, the Institute has been highlighting how soils play a crucial role in almost every aspect of our lives. A series of public events are championing the importance of this under-rated resource for our food, fuel, wil ... Read more
Highlighted publications
- Carvalho, A.; Ribeiro, H.; Dawson, L.A.; Mayes, B.; Guedes, A.; Abreu, I., (2012) Independent techniques for the forensic characterisation of river beaches., 6th European Academy of Forensic Science Conference, (EAFS), Towards Forensic Science 2, The Hague, Netherlands, 20-24 August, 2012, p189.
- Dawson, L.A., (2012) Soil as intelligence and evidence: learning experiences from research and casework., 6th European Academy of Forensic Science Conference, (EAFS), Towards Forensic Science 2, The Hague, Netherlands, 20-24 August, 2012, p291. Keynote presentation, p137.
- Dawson, L.A., (2012) The James Hutton Institute research focussing on soils and the environment., CSIRO, Floreat, Perth, Australia, 3 October 2012.
- Dawson, L.A.; Bestwick, C., (2012) RESAS strategic programme of research., CSIRO, Floreat, Perth, Australia, 3 October 2012.
- von der Luhe, B.M.; Dawson, L.A.; Mayes, R.W.; Forbes, S.L.; Fielder, S., (2012) The preliminary investigation of animal sterols for the detection of decomposing bodies in soil., 6th European Academy of Forensic Science Conference, (EAFS), Towards Forensic Science 2, The Hague, Netherlands, 20-24 August, 2012, p291.
- Dawson, L.A.; Czerniakiewicz, M.; Handley, K.; Hillier, S.; Robertson, J.; Ross, J.M.; Towers, W.; Donnelly, D.; Mayes, R.W., (2010) A complementary approach to the forensic analysis of soil in case investigations., International Workshop on Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics, 3rd, Long Beach, California, 2-4 November 2010.
- Dawson, L.A.; Hillier, S., (2010) Measurement of soil characteristics for forensic applications., Surface and Interface Analysis, 42, 363-377.
- Dawson, L.A.; Hillier, S.; Duff, B.; Robertson, J.; Ross, J.M.; Brewer, M.; Mayes, R.W.; Towers, W.; Hudson, G.; Campbell, C.D., (2010) Use of soil fingerprinting approaches for ascertaining change over time., ASA, CSSA and SSSA 2010 International Annual Meeting, Long Beach, California, 31 October - 4 November 2010.
- Macdonald, L.M.; Dawson, L.A.; Singh, B.K.; Hillier, S.; Robertson, A.H.J.; Mayes, R.W.; Campbell, C.D.; Bellamy, P.A.; Ritz, K., (2010) Biomolecular analyses to complement mineral-based forensic geoscience approaches in distinguishing urban land-use types., International Workshop on Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics, 3rd, Long Beach, California, 2-4 November 2010.
- Neely, C.L.; Dawson, L.A.; Morrice, J.G.; Miller, D.R., (2010) Murder and mystery in the Sherriff Court., Orcadian, 2 September 2010.
- Ross, J.M.; Mayes, R.W.; Mauquoy, D.; Dawson, L.A., (2010) Development of plant wax biomarker analysis in soil for use in forensic investigation., International Workshop on Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics, 3rd, Long Beach, California, 2-4 November 2010.
- Barclay, A.D.; Dawson, L.A.; Donnelly, L.J.; Miller, D.R.; Ritz, K., (2009) Soils in forensic science: underground meets underworld., In: Ritz, K., Dawson, L.A. & Miller, D.R. (eds.). Criminal and Environmental Forensics. Springer, Dordrecht, Chapter 32, 501-514.ISBN: 978-1-4020-9203-9
- Britton, A.J.; Helliwell, R.C.; Lilly, A.; Dawson, L.A.; Armitage, H., (2009) Cold storage: climate change and carbon sequestration in the alpine zone., Towards integrated biodiversity policy: developing a shared understanding of the impacts of environmental and management change on biodiversity in upland ecosystems. Battleby, Perth, 24 November 2009
- Ritz, K.; Dawson, L.A.; Miller, D.R. (eds.), (2009) Criminal and environmental soil forensics., Springer, 519pp. ISBN: 978-1-4020-9203-9
- Ruffell, A.; Dawson, L.A., (2009) Forensic geology in environmental crime: Illegal waste movement and burial in Northern Ireland., Environmental Forensics, 1, 208-213.
- Macdonald, L.M.; Singh, B.K.; Thomas, N.; Brewer, M.; Campbell, C.D.; Dawson, L.A., (2008) Microbial DNA profiling by multiplex terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism for forensic examination of soil evidence and the influence of sample condition., Journal of Applied Microbiology, 105, 813-821.
- Picon-Cochard, C.; Pilon, R.; Revaillot, S.; Jestin, M.; Dawson, L., (2008) Use of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy to predict the percentage of dead versus living grass roots., Plant and Soil, 317, 309-320.
Recent publications
- Harrison, K.; Dawson, L.A.; Mackinnon G., (In press) Interdisciplinary approaches to the search and location of buried bodies: a United Kingdom context., In: Kars, H. (ed.) Soil Forensics. Springer.
- Dawson, L.A.; Pakeman, R.J.; Stutter, M.I.; Miller, D.R.; Matthews, K.B.; Stott, A., (2016) Strategic Research Programme, Programme 1 Environmental Change, Final Report 2011 to 2016, Report to RESAS.
- Dawson, L.A.; Rodway, P., (2016) Soils of the crofts., The James Hutton Institute Publication with Crofting Connections, Aberdeen, 2nd ed., 57pp.
- Eley, Y.; Dawson, L.A.; Pedentchouk, N., (2016) Investigating the carbon isotope composition and leaf wax n-alkane concentration of C-3 and C-4 plants in Stiffkey saltmarsh, Norfolk, UK., Organic Geochemistry, 96, 28-42.
- Kelloe, A.; Dawson, L.A.; Bestwick, C., (2016) Life in soil: does it matter?, Report on Royal Society of Edinburgh event, 24 February 2016.
- Waqar-un-Nisa, N.B.; Rukya Saleem, A.; Rashid, A.; Dawson, L.A., (2016) Effect of diesel contamination on the physico-chemical characteristics of soil and growth of vetiver grass., Soil and Environment, 35, 91-98.
- Reavy, B.; Swanson, M.M.; Cock, P.J.A.; Dawson, L.A.; Freitag, T.E.; Singh, B.K.; Torrance, L.; Mushegain, A.R.; Taliansky, M., (2015) Distinct circular single-stranded DNA viruses exist in different soil types., Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 81, 3934-3945.
- Robertson, A.H.J.; Main, A.M.; Robinson, L.J.; Dawson, L.A., (2015) In situ FTIR analysis of soils for forensic applications., FT-IR Technology for Today's Spectroscopists, August 2015.
- Aitkenhead, M.; Coull, M.C.; Dawson, L.A., (2014) Predicting sample source location from soil analysis using neural networks., Environmental Forensics, 15, 281-292.
- Dawson, L.A, (2014) International linkages within research institutes., Internal Report to RESAS.
- Dawson, L.A.; Mayes, R.W., (2014) Criminal and environmental soil forensics: soil as physical evidence in forensic investigations., In: Murphy, B.L. & Morrison, R.D. (eds.). Introduction to Environmental Forensics. 3rd edition, Academic Press, Oxford, Chapter 12, pp457-486.
- Dawson, L.A.; Miller, D.R.; Freitag, T.; Brewer, M.; Robinson, L.; Ross, J., (2014) MiSAFE project mid term review report., Mid-Term Report to the EU Review Panel for the MiSAFE Project. Uploaded to the EU website.
- Eley, Y.; Dawson, L.A.; Black, S.; Andrews, J.; Pedentchouk, N., (2014) Understanding H-2/H-1 systematics of leaf wax n-alkanes in coastal plants at Stiffkey saltmarsh, Norfolk, UK., Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 128, 13-28.
- Khan, M.A.; Qureshi, M.Z.; Dawson, L.A.; Rehman, M.; Hayat, A.; Maqbool, F.; Andleeb, F.; Haleem, K., (2014) Efficient desizing of fabrio using partially purified thermophillic amylase produced by T.sacchari by the utilization of agro-industrial wastes., In: Cong, H., Yu, B. & Lu, X. (eds.). Frontiers in Micro-Nano Science and Technology. Advanced Materials Research, Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland, 924, 349-353. Http://www.e-clicproject.eu/en/learning-resources/%E2%80%B4-library-of-ict-resources/
- Miller, D.R., Dawson, L.A., Morrice, J., Donnelly, D., (2014) Structure and specifications for geoforensics database: D5.2., EU MiSAFE Project "Structure and Specifications for Geoforensics Database", Deliverable D5.2.
- Miller, D.R.; Towers, W.; Ruffell, A.; Morrice, J.; Dawson, L.A.; Brooker, R., (2014) A land strategy for Northern Ireland., Report to Land Matters Task Force, Northern Ireland.
- Carvalho, A.; Ribeiro, H.; Mayes, R.; Guedes, A.; Abreu, I.; Noronha, F.; Dawson, L.A., (2013) Organic matter characterization of sediments in two river beaches from Northern Portugal for forensic application., Forensic Science International, 233, 403-415.
- Dawson, L.A.; Bestwick, C., (2013) The RESAS strategic programme of research., Scottish Government Development Programme, Hosted by the Chief Scientist.
- Dawson, L.A.; Morrice, J.; Miller, D.R.; Hester, A.J.; Stutter, M.I.; Matthews, K.B.; Stott, A., (2013) Strategic Research programme: programme 1 Environmental Change, Report for 2012/13., Report to RESAS, 3 May 2013.
- Drewitt, J.; Dawson, L.A.; Bestwick, C., (2013) KE for research impact in the Strategic Programme., KE for Research Impact Workshop, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, 25 March 2013.
Lorna Dawson (Staff Member)
Lorna Dawson is a Principal Soil Scientist in the Environmental and Biochemical Sciences group at the James Hutton Institute, and has over 25 years experience in managing and conducting research in soil and plant interactions. ... Read more
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter:


text:
Previously, we looked at the top five quarterbacks in the 2012 NFL draft class. Today, we'll tackle the top running backs.
The 2012 senior class of draft prospects at running back is thin, so much so that four of the top five backs are juniors I expect to enter the draft early to take advantage of the weak class ahead of them.
Who are the top five backs and what makes their game so exciting?
Trent Richardson, Alabama
5'11", 224 lbs, 263 carries, 1,583 yards, 20 TD
Film Study
What makes Trent Richardson great isn't the breakaway runs for 50 yards or blinding speed—he has those things, but what I like best and what convinces me most that Richardson will be an elite NFL running back are his vision and balance.
Watch as Richardson takes the ball and is patient enough for his blocks to develop. He finds an opening and then sees a better lane, so he bounces outside one more time. Richardson then has the speed to accelerate past defenders. This may look like a run-of-the-mill play, but it is evidence of Richardson's NFL ability.
Rarely do I rank running backs as high as I have Richardson, but rarely do running backs enter the NFL with a finished style such as Richardson's. He's ready to be an immediate impact as a runner, receiver and blocker—which makes him a lock for the early part of the first round.
Richardson's best assets are his agility and his vision. Watch as Richardson makes multiple defenders miss in the open field. From the handoff we see Richardson make a decisive cut to elude one tackler and then cut across field into the opening. Before taking the ball in for a score, Richardson executes a perfect stutter-step that causes what should have been a sure tackle to break down.
Whether in the backfield or in space, Richardson is able to make cuts and moves that few backs can make. That doesn't make him a shifty runner, though. Richardson is willing and able to lower his pads and run over defenders.
NFL teams searching for an answer at tailback will quickly fall in love with Richardson.
NFL Comparison: LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tomlinson set the NFL on fire when drafted, as he became a rare threat as a runner, receiver and blocker. Tomlinson and Marshall Faulk were, and are, a breed apart from the standard NFL back.
Trent Richardson is cut from the same cloth as the two. He has the strength to run through traffic, the vision to run to daylight and the hands to be a reliable option as a receiver out of the backfield.
No. 1 running back, No. 3 overall.
Lamar Miller, Miami (FL)
5'11", 212 lbs, 227 carries, 1,272 yards, 9 TD
Film Study
Miller played behind a subpar offensive line this year, making most of his plays self-made. This play is great evidence of that.
Miller takes the handoff going right but quickly sees multiple defenders. He has the agility to cut back across the field and then the speed to outrun the defense.
Miller gets a great block when reversing field, but watch his speed to hit the open field and then his balance and strength when running through would-be tacklers. This ability is one that transcends to the next level. Miller made this play on his own, without the benefit of All-American linemen opening holes for him to easily run through.
Lamar Miller represents the athlete in this draft class. He is a great runner, receiver and even a threat as a kick returner. Unlike other returners who double as a back, Miller's position in the NFL will be as a starting halfback.
NFL Comparison: LeSean McCoy
Watch LeSean McCoy for any period of time, and you are blown away by his agility in and out of his cuts and the open field. McCoy has the quickest hips of anyone in the NFL today.
That's what I see in Lamar Miller. His overall athleticism is elite, and his ability to make moves—large or small—to get open and clean of tacklers is very reminiscent of McCoy.
No. 2 running back, No. 9 overall.
Chris Polk, Washington
5'11", 222 lbs, 263 carries, 1,341 yards, 11 TD
Film Study
There is a lot to like about Chris Polk, and this cut-up shows the power and acceleration that will make him a dangerous man in the NFL.
Polk has the flexibility to make a cut in the hole that few college running backs would make. His vision to see this opening while running through traffic has me excited about what's to come.
Once Polk clears the initial line of defenders he turns on the jets, showing the deep speed and acceleration we look for from NFL running backs.
At 222 lbs, Polk outruns the defense. He may be listed as running a high 4.4 in the 40-yard dash, but Polk's game speed is much faster.
Polk is a player quickly moving up my board. If any running back from this second tier has a chance of becoming an elite runner in the NFL, Polk gets my vote.
His size, strength, vision and ability to accelerate once in the open field make him a dangerous player and a true three-down back. He has the hands to contribute on third down and is big enough and strong enough to be a factor as a blocker.
The only knock on Polk is his injury history. As long as he checks out medically, I see no reason for Polk to not be an early second-round selection.
NFL Comparison: Arian Foster
Like Foster, Polk is a thicker back who survives due to excellent agility and quickness in traffic. Both are also underrated receiving talents, with Foster's skills being a heavy contributor to his early playing time in Houston before he hit the national stage.
No. 3 running back, No. 38 overall.
Doug Martin, Boise State
5'9″, 210 lbs, 232 carries, 1,148 yards, 15 TD
Film Study
This clip shows Martin's overall athletic ability and skill set. He's used in a number of formations and positions to maximize his speed and get the best matchup. Here he comes across the formation in a jet sweep look.
Martin shows good lateral agility once he squares his shoulders to the line of scrimmage, making a cut to get free. What we see next is a great blend of balance and acceleration. Martin doesn't go down off a shoe-string tackle attempt, but regains his balance and quickly runs away from the defender.
As a smaller back, these are the skills that Martin needs to survive in the NFL.
His quick cutting ability and hard running once he squares his shoulders will give Martin a chance at a starting job in the NFL.
Doug Martin is a workhorse back with impressive all-around athletic ability. He's been a forgotten man too often due to the high-octane passing attack of Boise State, but he is undoubtedly their best offensive draft prospect.
NFL Comparison: Ray Rice
Ray Rice holds high praise in my book.
Making the comparison between Martin and Rice is a picture at what the highest-possible ceiling would be for Martin. There are similarities, though, in size, lower-body strength and overall ability.
Both Martin and Rice are good receivers, undersized runners who are tough between the tackles and players with good quickness that masks less-than-elite size.
No. 4 running back, No. 54 overall.
David Wilson, Virginia Tech
5'10", 205 lbs, 266 carries, 1,627 yards, 9 TD
Film Study
David Wilson can really be summed up on this play. If he gets to the outside, he's gone.
Wilson brings true 4.3 speed to the position and can be used on a number of plays to get his rare burst to the edge. Teams running a one-cut system will like that Wilson is a quick cutter who can put his foot in the ground and change direction without losing speed.
The balance that Wilson shows on the sideline, and the strength to keep himself going, is impressive. While these plays aren't made often in the NFL, Wilson is showing a skill set that is very unique among the 2012 draft class.
I am admittedly not as high on David Wilson as others, but there is a lot to like here. I will point out one negative that really jumped off the film at me.
Wilson's film that I have seen shows a back that too quickly goes down on first contact, especially if that contact is to his lower body. Wilson needs to work on his overall strength to enable him to run through tacklers at the next level. In the NFL, you simply cannot go down on first contact.
What I do like about Wilson is the speed and versatility he brings to the position. Wilson is arguably the fastest player in terms of speed and on-field quickness.
If he can reach the open field, he's nearly impossible to bring down from behind.
NFL Comparison: C.J. Spiller
Like Spiller, Wilson is an athlete first and a pure running back second.
A progressive NFL coach will find numerous ways to use Wilson to get the best matchups and exploit the defense.
Also like Spiller, Wilson doesn't possess traditional size for the running back position, but has great speed and top-notch receiving skills to make him an option as a third-down back and used in receiving packages.
No. 5 running back, No. 75 overall.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
What a wonderful world
Nov 20th, 2012 at 11:47 am by susie
Playing for Change:
Nov 20th, 2012 at 11:47 am by susie
Playing for Change:
If Israel's goal is to stop the rocket fire from Gaza why did Hillary delay the start of the cease-fire which was set to go into effect 24 hours ago? Why did Isreal bomb Gaza's only electrical power plant leaving much of Gaza without power? Why have Gaza's bridges been flattened by Israeli missiles? Why has Israel bombed Gaza's infrastructure like drinking water plants making it unusable? Why does the United States allow Israel to flagrantly violate Article 33 of the Geneva Convention prohibiting "collective punishment" by continuing to support Israel's decades old blockade of Gaza? Who are the real aggressors here?
The answer to all the "why's"???? Obama will never face the voters again, but Netanyahu and Marzi ain't stupid. They already know who they'll have to deal with in 4 years!


text:
Wedding season is almost upon us, and you know what that means – the newest crop of beautiful young brides will be seeing their dream day come to fruition. One trend we see is the reemergence of the bohemian wedding in which couples crave that "back to nature" feel for their special day.
If your nuptials are approaching, and the bohemian in you is calling, here are a few tips on how to do the big day in style.
The thing to remember about a bohemian wedding is to keep it simple and subtle. The bride should wear a natural airy fabric such as cotton and for her hair, choose loose curls free of stiff products. Feel free to add a flower to one side or even a full floral crown for a more authentic feel.
Bridesmaids should shed the look of uniformity and opt for shorter cotton dresses each of a different style or pattern. The girls can complete the look with their hair in waves, braids, even the occasional loose updo.
Seek out venues that have robust elements of nature to them – country gardens, serene lakes, or even rustic cabins and rural barn settings.
The setting should be adorned very basically as well with rustic touches from nature like wooden items, greenery, feathers, and bouquets of wild flowers on each table. Think in terms of a more muted color palette – peach, grey, off-white, pale pinks and light blues.
No matter what wedding theme you choose – cheers to you on your upcoming special day!


text:
|By PR Newswire
Article Rating:
|February 12, 2013 05:13 AM EST
MUMBAI, February 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Rolta India Limited, a leading provider of innovative IT solutions for many vertical segments, including Federal and State Governments, Defense and Homeland Security, Utilities, Process, Power, Banking and Insurance, today announced unaudited financial results for quarter ended December 31, 2012 (Q2 FY-13) which have undergone a limited review by statutory auditors of the company.
- Consolidated Revenue for Q2 FY-13 at Rs. 526.48 crores (Rs. 5.26 Billion) against Rs. 470.14 crores (Rs. 4.70 billion) in Q1 FY-13, registering a sequential growth of 12.0%.
- Consolidated Profit after Tax for Q2 FY-13 at Rs. 70.39 crores (Rs. 0.70 Billion) against Rs. 63.21 crores (Rs. 0.63 Billion) in Q1 FY-13, registering a sequential growth of 11.4%.
Commenting on the results, Mr. K. K. Singh, Chairman and Managing Director said, "Our strategy of transforming Rolta from a pure-play GIS/Engineering services company to an IP-led solutions provider is nearing completion. The Company now offers enterprise-wide integrated solutions that uniquely combine the benefits of Geospatial, Engineering, IT and Security domains. We are beginning to see strong evidence of the success of our strategy world-wide, as is reflected in our numbers for the quarter."
The Company made significant progress on many fronts during the quarter ended December 31, 2012. Rolta completed the acquisition of AdvizeX Technologies to widen its portfolio to include offerings in the areas of Cloud Computing, Big Data analytics, and IT Infrastructure design and security. The Company established strategic global partnerships with Oracle and SAP, taking the relationship with both to the next level.
On the business front, the Company has booked significant orders, including some for large innovative solutions with potential for follow-on business. The Order Book and the Pipeline are very healthy.
The Company appointed Preetha Pulusani as President, Rolta International, Inc. for Americas. She has also been inducted to the Board of Rolta India Limited as a Director. In the past, Preetha has served Rolta India as Joint Managing Director, and the Chief Strategy Officer. Prior to joining Rolta, Preetha had a twenty-five year career with Intergraph Corporation of USA that culminated with her appointment as the President of the Security, Government and Infrastructure (SG&I) Division with annual revenues of over $400 million. She replaces Ben Eazzetta, who wishes to pursue other interests but will continue to be a member of the Rolta International Board and an advisor.
The company also appointed Pankit Desai as President - Business Operations for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Prior to Rolta, Pankit has served in executive leadership positions for companies such as NTT DATA, Intelligroup, Wipro and IBM, and thus brings rich experience in enterprise IT solutions to Rolta, including 15 years in the US.
Rajesh Ramachandran was appointed as the President & CTO for Global Products & Technology Solutions. He comes with rich experience at executive leadership positions at eBay, Oracle and Siemens, where he held product development and global delivery responsibilities.
Enterprise Geospatial & Engineering Solutions (EGES)
Rolta continues to experience good traction for its solutions in various vertical segments that it addresses. The Company has been recently selected to design and build a sophisticated Soil Information Management system in UAE. The Bahrain Enterprise Asset management System was successfully commissioned and the customer is evaluating additional add-on applications. The Company has been awarded projects valued at about $10M in North Africa for creating a digital spatial database, consisting of base maps and elevation models, for the country for use by multiple agencies, such as the land-records department, railways, municipalities, and for eventual integration with "business" applications on the Geospatial Fusion platform. In Western Europe, Rolta has been engaged for creating a digital landbase for municipalities, again for exploitation by BI applications. Rolta has been contracted by USA's largest commercial satellite operator and data provider to build digital elevation models (DEMs) for international airports across the world. The DEMs are being deployed for safety and security of the airports.
The company has successfully delivered a 3D "as-built" model for a major refinery in Kuwait, using sophisticated laser-grammetry and modeling tools. In addition to engineering design and automation, the Company's solutions for procurement and construction management have also been well received by the process industry in India, with the country's premier oil & gas company selecting Rolta for its fast-tracked $18 B expansion project.
Enterprise IT & Security Solutions (EITS)
The Company's strategy to differentiate its offerings in the large main-stream IT solutions and services market through deep domain knowledge of select vertical segments, and its integration with geospatial technologies, is meeting with success. Rolta has recently won a $31M contract from the largest 3-utility municipality in the US, MLGW of Memphis, for a comprehensive IT deployment project that will integrate Oracle e-Business Suite applications, including Financials, eAM, Human Resources, Hyperion and Business Intelligence, with spatial data. The success of Rolta's strategy was again evidenced by the recent award of contracts valued at $11M by Northern Powergrid, UK to modernize their IT infrastructure and business processes while leveraging geospatial intelligence through integration with a mobile platform, and deliver improved utilization through life-cycle asset management.
The Company has established state-of-the-art Centers of Excellence in Mumbai and Chicago to showcase Rolta's expertise and offerings for business analytics and Big Data solutions based on Oracle Exalytics and SAP HANA. Rolta OneView™ is one of the first enterprise business intelligence (BI) and analytics suites to have been engineered for SAP HANA. Rolta now has a Centre for Cloud Assessment & Strategy in Cleveland, Ohio where clients can simulate different approaches to optimize their IT infrastructure strategy. Rolta completed the deployment of a highly secure private Cloud platform for a multi-agency security organization in the Middle-East, built around Rolta iPerspective™, a platform for integration, cloud-enablement and IT security.
Rolta OneView™ continues to be well received in the oil and petrochemical capitals of the world. Rolta OneView went live in a petro-chemical firm in Saudi Arabia. It has been selected by a major petrochemical company in Oman for its BI initiative for organizational excellence, spanning all business functions - operations, maintenance, cost control, HSE, assets, reliability, and finance.
In the Security segment, the Company is actively engaged with many agencies to present proofs-of-concept for very large procurement programs, solutions for which require a combination of skills in IT, communications, geospatial technologies, and domain-specific know-how. While large multi-billion dollar defense programs like Battlefield Management Systems, Digital Soldier Program, etc. continue to progress well, Rolta has also started seeing good success for its Homeland & Maritime Safety and Optronics solutions with several safety and security agencies at both central and state level choosing to award projects to the Company, including a recent selection by one of the largest state police forces for deploying optronics devices to enhance their night vision capabilities. Rolta has also been selected by a few more north-eastern states in India to implement their Crime & Criminal Tracking Network (CCTNS) projects.
About Rolta: Rolta is a leading provider of innovative IT solutions for many vertical segments, including Federal and State Governments, Defense/HLS, Utilities, Process, Power, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Retail, and Healthcare. By uniquely combining its expertise in the IT, Engineering and Geospatial domains, Rolta develops exceptional solutions for these segments. The Company leverages its industry-specific know-how, rich repository of intellectual property that spans photogrammetry, image processing, geospatial applications, business intelligence, analytics, field-proven solution frameworks, and deep expertise in cutting-edge technologies like Geo BI, Cloud computing, Software Defined Infrastructure and Big Data for providing sophisticated enterprise-level integrated solutions. Rolta is a multinational organization headquartered in India. The Company operates from 40 locations worldwide through its subsidiaries, and has executed projects in over 45 countries. The Company benchmarks its quality processes to the world's best standards, like successful assessment for Software Application Development and Maintenance at the highest Level 5 of SEI's CMMI® version 1.3. Rolta is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange & National Stock Exchange, and forms part of various indices on BSE/NSE in India. The Company's GDRs are listed on the Main Board of London Stock Exchange.
For additional information please visit http://www.rolta.com, or contact:
Disclaimer: This press release includes statements that are not historical in nature and that may be characterized as "forward-looking statements", including those related to future financial and operating results, benefits and synergies of the Company's brands and strategies, future opportunities and the growth of the market for open source solutions. You should be aware that Rolta's actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations of Rolta management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, Rolta's ability to integrate acquired operations and employees, Rolta's success in executing its strategies, Rolta's ability to take a competitive position in the industry, business conditions and the general economy, market opportunities, potential new business strategies, competitive factors, sales and marketing execution, shifts in technologies or market demand, and any other factors. We may make additional written and oral forward-looking statements but do not undertake, and disclaim any obligation, to update them.
Atul Tayal
Joint Managing Director &
COO -- Domestic Operations
Member of the Board
[email protected]
Telephone: +91-(22)2926-6666
Preetha Pulusani
President -- Americas
Member of the Board
[email protected]
Telephone: +1-678-942-5000
Pankit Desai
President - Business Operations:
Europe, Middle East and Africa
[email protected]
Telephone: +91(22)2926-6666
Hiranya Ashar
Director Finance &
Chief Financial Officer
[email protected]
Telephone: +91(22)2926-6666
Cloud computing is being adopted in one form or another by 94% of enterprises today. Tens of billions of new devices are being connected to The Internet of Things. And Big Data is driving this bus. An exponential increase is expected in the amount of information being processed, managed, analyzed, and acted upon by enterprise IT. This amazing is not part of some distant future - it is happening today. One report shows a 650% increase in enterprise data by 2020. Other estimates are even higher....
Jun. 26, 2016 05:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,298
SYS-CON Events announced today that Bsquare has been named "Silver Sponsor" of SYS-CON's @ThingsExpo, which will take place on November 1–3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. For more than two decades, Bsquare has helped its customers extract business value from a broad array of physical assets by making them intelligent, connecting them, and using the data they generate to optimize business processes.
Jun. 26, 2016 05:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,207
A strange thing is happening along the way to the Internet of Things, namely far too many devices to work with and manage. It has become clear that we'll need much higher efficiency user experiences that can allow us to more easily and scalably work with the thousands of devices that will soon be in each of our lives. Enter the conversational interface revolution, combining bots we can literally talk with, gesture to, and even direct with our thoughts, with embedded artificial intelligence, wh...
Jun. 26, 2016 04:30 PM EDT Reads: 946
Internet of @ThingsExpo, taking place November 1-3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA, is co-located with 19th Cloud Expo and will feature technical sessions from a rock star conference faculty and the leading industry players in the world. The Internet of Things (IoT) is the most profound change in personal and enterprise IT since the creation of the Worldwide Web more than 20 years ago. All major researchers estimate there will be tens of billions devices - comp...
Jun. 26, 2016 04:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,252
19th Cloud Expo, taking place November 1-3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA, will feature technical sessions from a rock star conference faculty and the leading industry players in the world. Cloud computing is now being embraced by a majority of enterprises of all sizes. Yesterday's debate about public vs. private has transformed into the reality of hybrid cloud: a recent survey shows that 74% of enterprises have a hybrid cloud strategy. Meanwhile, 94% of enterpri...
Jun. 26, 2016 04:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,311
Connected devices and the industrial internet are growing exponentially every year with Cisco expecting 50 billion devices to be in operation by 2020. In this period of growth, location-based insights are becoming invaluable to many businesses as they adopt new connected technologies. Knowing when and where these devices connect from is critical for a number of scenarios in supply chain management, disaster management, emergency response, M2M, location marketing and more. In his session at @Th...
Jun. 26, 2016 03:00 PM EDT Reads: 973
It is one thing to build single industrial IoT applications, but what will it take to build the Smart Cities and truly society changing applications of the future? The technology won't be the problem, it will be the number of parties that need to work together and be aligned in their motivation to succeed. In his Day 2 Keynote at @ThingsExpo, Henrik Kenani Dahlgren, Portfolio Marketing Manager at Ericsson, discussed how to plan to cooperate, partner, and form lasting all-star teams to change t...
Jun. 26, 2016 02:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,130
The cloud market growth today is largely in public clouds. While there is a lot of spend in IT departments in virtualization, these aren't yet translating into a true "cloud" experience within the enterprise. What is stopping the growth of the "private cloud" market? In his general session at 18th Cloud Expo, Nara Rajagopalan, CEO of Accelerite, explored the challenges in deploying, managing, and getting adoption for a private cloud within an enterprise. What are the key differences between wh...
Jun. 26, 2016 01:00 PM EDT Reads: 788
The 19th International Cloud Expo has announced that its Call for Papers is open. Cloud Expo, to be held November 1-3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA, brings together Cloud Computing, Big Data, Internet of Things, DevOps, Digital Transformation, Microservices and WebRTC to one location. With cloud computing driving a higher percentage of enterprise IT budgets every year, it becomes increasingly important to plant your flag in this fast-expanding business opportuni...
Jun. 26, 2016 12:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,286
Internet of @ThingsExpo, taking place November 1-3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA, is co-located with the 19th International Cloud Expo and will feature technical sessions from a rock star conference faculty and the leading industry players in the world and ThingsExpo Silicon Valley Call for Papers is now open.
Jun. 26, 2016 12:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,108
There is little doubt that Big Data solutions will have an increasing role in the Enterprise IT mainstream over time. Big Data at Cloud Expo - to be held November 1-3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA - has announced its Call for Papers is open. Cloud computing is being adopted in one form or another by 94% of enterprises today. Tens of billions of new devices are being connected to The Internet of Things. And Big Data is driving this bus. An exponential increase is...
Jun. 26, 2016 12:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,346
In his general session at 18th Cloud Expo, Lee Atchison, Principal Cloud Architect and Advocate at New Relic, discussed cloud as a 'better data center' and how it adds new capacity (faster) and improves application availability (redundancy). The cloud is a 'Dynamic Tool for Dynamic Apps' and resource allocation is an integral part of your application architecture, so use only the resources you need and allocate /de-allocate resources on the fly.
Jun. 26, 2016 12:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,085
In his keynote at 18th Cloud Expo, Andrew Keys, Co-Founder of ConsenSys Enterprise, provided an overview of the evolution of the Internet and the Database and the future of their combination – the Blockchain. Andrew Keys is Co-Founder of ConsenSys Enterprise. He comes to ConsenSys Enterprise with capital markets, technology and entrepreneurial experience. Previously, he worked for UBS investment bank in equities analysis. Later, he was responsible for the creation and distribution of life sett...
Jun. 26, 2016 11:00 AM EDT Reads: 1,109
Machine Learning helps make complex systems more efficient. By applying advanced Machine Learning techniques such as Cognitive Fingerprinting, wind project operators can utilize these tools to learn from collected data, detect regular patterns, and optimize their own operations. In his session at 18th Cloud Expo, Stuart Gillen, Director of Business Development at SparkCognition, discussed how research has demonstrated the value of Machine Learning in delivering next generation analytics to imp...
Jun. 26, 2016 09:45 AM EDT Reads: 622
There are several IoTs: the Industrial Internet, Consumer Wearables, Wearables and Healthcare, Supply Chains, and the movement toward Smart Grids, Cities, Regions, and Nations. There are competing communications standards every step of the way, a bewildering array of sensors and devices, and an entire world of competing data analytics platforms. To some this appears to be chaos. In this power panel at @ThingsExpo, moderated by Conference Chair Roger Strukhoff, Bradley Holt, Developer Advocate a...
Jun. 26, 2016 08:45 AM EDT Reads: 747
Cognitive Computing is becoming the foundation for a new generation of solutions that have the potential to transform business. Unlike traditional approaches to building solutions, a cognitive computing approach allows the data to help determine the way applications are designed. This contrasts with conventional software development that begins with defining logic based on the current way a business operates. In her session at 18th Cloud Expo, Judith S. Hurwitz, President and CEO of Hurwitz & ...
Jun. 25, 2016 03:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,611
SYS-CON Events announced today that ReadyTalk, a leading provider of online conferencing and webinar services, has been named Vendor Presentation Sponsor at the 19th International Cloud Expo, which will take place on November 1–3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. ReadyTalk delivers audio and web conferencing services that inspire collaboration and enable the Future of Work for today's increasingly digital and mobile workforce. By combining intuitive, innovative tec...
Jun. 24, 2016 01:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,359
Amazon has gradually rolled out parts of its IoT offerings, but these are just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to optimizing their backend AWS offerings, Amazon is laying the ground work to be a major force in IoT - especially in the connected home and office. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Chris Kocher, founder and managing director of Grey Heron, explained how Amazon is extending its reach to become a major force in IoT by building on its dominant cloud IoT platform, its Dash Button strat...
Jun. 24, 2016 12:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,650
industrial company for a multi-year contract initially valued at over $4.0 million. In addition to DataV software, Bsquare will also provide comprehensive systems integration, support and maintenance services. DataV leverages advanced data analytics, predictive reasoning, data-driven diagnostics, and automated orchestration of remediation actions in order to improve asset uptime while reducing service and warranty costs.
Jun. 22, 2016 11:00 AM EDT Reads: 1,370
Vidyo, Inc., has joined the Alliance for Open Media. The Alliance for Open Media is a non-profit organization working to define and develop media technologies that address the need for an open standard for video compression and delivery over the web. As a member of the Alliance, Vidyo will collaborate with industry leaders in pursuit of an open and royalty-free AOMedia Video codec, AV1. Vidyo's contributions to the organization will bring to bear its long history of expertise in codec technolo...
Jun. 19, 2016 12:45 PM EDT Reads: 1,276


text:
Bade Acche
4 Bade Acche Articles
Bade Acche Lagte Hain: Priya finally goes back to Mumbai!4 years ago 7
It has happened at last. Priya Kapoor (Sakshi Tanwar) left Mumbai five years earlier, running away from her love Ram Kapoor, and is now back... This… Read Article ▶
Bade Acche Lagte Hain: Ram and Priya will meet next week!4 years ago 43
Television's favourite lovers will come face to face very soon...next Thursday, in fact! Finally the moment we have all been waiting for with bated… Read Article ▶
Bade Acche Lagte Hain: What happened to Priya's feminism?4 years ago 10
The serial started out with a heroine who was strong and determined. And now she seems to have faded into a wimp. Sigh... All those months ago, when… Read Article ▶
Bade Acche Lagte Hain: Why are Vikram and Neha getting divorced?4 years ago 16
Ram Kapoor's best friends Vikram (Jai Kalra) and Neha (Tarana Raja) are heading towards splitsville, and we are dying of curiosity to know… Read Article ▶