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UHI Researcher Awarded Prestigious Leverhulme Trust Research Leadership Award
Prestigious award supports major five‑year project exploring community landownership across Europe.
Dr Bobby Macaulay, a Research Fellow at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) Centre for Mountain Studies, has been awarded a prestigious Leverhulme Trust Research Leadership Award, securing approximately £700,000 in funding to lead a major new international research project.
The award, one of the most competitive and respected in the UK research landscape, will support Dr Macaulay over the next five years as he builds a dedicated research team to explore community landownership and sustainable development across Europe. His project, “Community Landownership and Sustainable Development in Europe”, will examine how different models of communal ownership of private land assets contribute to sustainable development, particularly in rural and mountain regions.
The Leverhulme Trust Research Leadership Awards are designed to support talented early‑career scholars who are ready to take on ambitious, field‑shaping research. Winning this award places Dr Macaulay among a select group of researchers recognised for their potential to drive major academic and societal impact.
Dr Macaulay described the award as an “amazing opportunity” to position Scotland’s approach to community landownership within a wider European context, highlighting the global relevance of the country’s experience in community‑led land reform.
The project will investigate the extent, impacts and variations of community ownership models across multiple European countries. By comparing different approaches, the research aims to deepen understanding of how community‑led land management can support:
- Sustainable rural development
- Stronger local governance
- Environmental stewardship
- Community resilience and empowerment
The findings are expected to inform policy discussions and contribute to international debates on land reform and sustainable development.
This award represents a significant milestone for UHI’s Centre for Mountain Studies, reinforcing its reputation as a leader in research on rural development, land use and community empowerment. The funding will enable the creation of new research roles and expand the university’s international collaborations.
Find out more here: Media – News – UHI researcher awarded prestigious Leverhulme Trust Research Leadership Award
