Coevolvers in Scotland: Coevolving Towards Impact

The meeting began on 8th September at the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen. After coffee and introductions, the atmosphere quickly settled into one of collaboration and curiosity. The morning sessions set the stage: learning within living labs, advisory board reflections, and forward planning for the months ahead.

The afternoon brought creativity into focus with immersive digital tours and discussions on communication and exploitation. These parallel sessions gave everyone the chance to dive deeper and exchange perspectives in smaller, buzzing groups.

As the sun set, a group led by Tim and Leanne took to the streets for an informal walking tour of Aberdeen—wandering past historic pubs, landmark buildings, and the restored Union Terrace Gardens. The city’s granite glow in the evening light made a perfect backdrop for conversations that flowed easily between project tasks and personal stories.

Tuesday began with luggage packed and water bottles filled as the group set off west to Murray Park in Alford. Here, arts-based activities, from foraging to emotional mapping, brought a creative twist to exploring landscapes.

Lunch at the Men’s Shed was more than a meal—it was a moment of community connection, highlighting how local initiatives can enrich European-scale projects. The afternoon was a blend of reflection and knowledge sharing, moving from reconfiguration and surveys to the development of the COEVOLVERS toolkit and handbook.

By evening, the buses rolled into the pine-fringed lodges of the Badaguish Outdoor Centre in Aviemore. The night closed around smiles, shared pizza, and a sense of arrival in the Highlands.

Wednesday was dedicated to field trips around Rothiemurchus Estate and Loch Garten. Conservation, biodiversity, and community-based initiatives came alive in the landscape, showing how theory meets practice in Scotland’s living laboratories.

Over lunch at The Barn, there was time to sample local produce and wander through Rothiemurchus’ farm shop before returning to Badaguish for sessions on learning across living labs and collaborative writing.

The afternoon gave way to an optional walk to Loch Morlich, where participants strolled the sandy shores, visited The Pine Marten Pub, and watched the Cairngorms cast long shadows across the water. Evening brought a celebratory dinner at The Penny Bun restaurant: a three-course meal provided by the James Hutton Institute, complete with laughter, conversation, and the clinking of glasses.

On Thursday, the final day, participants turned towards synthesis. Sessions on policy evaluation, community resilience, and ethics provided thoughtful closure, while the advisory board offered its second reflection. After a last shared lunch, the group departed Badaguish for a scenic journey back towards Aberdeen—some choosing whisky at the Cairn Distillery, others circling Loch an Eilein, one of Scotland’s most beloved walks.

The COEVOLVERS meeting in Scotland was more than a project milestone. It was a gathering where research met community, where ideas were exchanged not only in conference rooms but also under pines, by lochs, and along city streets.

A heartfelt thank you goes to all participants for their energy, openness, and creativity. And a very special thanks to the James Hutton Institute team, whose thoughtful organisation, hospitality, and attention to detail made the meeting flow seamlessly. From buses and lodges to meals and field trips, their work created the conditions for collaboration to thrive.

As the buses rolled back into Aberdeen, the group carried with them not only notes and next steps but also the memory of Scotland’s landscapes, the warmth of its people, and the shared sense that coevolution towards impact is not only possible—it is already underway.

by Oriana Mosca