Dr Kerry Waylen

Personal statement:

I am a senior social scientist with expertise in water governance, participatory natural resource management, science-policy interfaces for sustainability, building on literatures on topics ranging from environmental governance, to knowledge co-production and systems thinking.

I predominantly use qualitative interpretive methods but also use quantitative survey methods and collaborate with colleagues in ecology, hydrology and data scientist colleagues in interdisciplinary projects. I have extensive experience of studying and supporting science-policy interactions, especially with contacts in Scotland and Europe.

Key topic areas of research or interest:

• How to achieve more ‘joined up’ approaches to natural resource management – i.e. working holistically, inclusively and adaptively.
• The implementation of concepts intended to improve land and nature management, especially the ‘Ecosystem Approach’ and ‘Nature-Based Solutions’.
• How different knowledges are needed, produced and used – especially Natural capital and ecosystem services – and how we can improve processes of knowledge co-production.
• When and how to integrate policy implementation, to fairly involve local communities, businesses or other stakeholder groups for nature restoration and management.

Publications:

Example academic publications (for full list see ORCID or my staff page)

Waylen, K.A.; Wilkinson, M.; Blackstock, K.L.; Bourke, M. (2024) Nature-Based Solutions and Restoration are intertwined but not identical highlighting implications for societies and ecosystems, Nature-Based Solutions, 5, Art. 100116

Waylen, K.A.; Blackstock, K.L.; Marshall, K.; Juarez Bourke, A. (2023) Navigating or adding to complexity? Exploring the role of catchment partnerships in collaborative governance, Sustainability Science, 18, 2533-2548

Waylen, K.A.; Blackstock, K.L.; Matthews, K.B.; Juarez Bourke , A.; Hague, A.; Wardell-Johnson, D.; Miller, D.; Kovacic, Z.; Völker, T.; Guimarães Pereira, Â.; Giampietro, M. (2023) Post-normal science in practice: Reflections from scientific experts working on the European agri-food policy nexus; 2023, Environmental Science & Policy, 141, 158-167

Example of accessible contract report for Scottish Government in 2023 “Waylen, K.A.; Marshall, A. (2023) Defining Rewilding for Scotland’s Public Sector, Research and Analysis Report, the Scottish Government”. https://www.gov.scot/publications/defining-rewilding-scotlands-public-sector/

Example of a briefing produced for Scottish Government in 2024, exploring progress and future options for embedding natural capital into policy-making, based on learning from expert work to embed well-being approaches into policy-making, Available at https://www.hutton.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/24-05-31-Nat-Cap-x-Wellbeing-Final.pdf

Example of a podcast contribution in 2023 – Reversing nature loss in Scotland – a complex challenge with surprisingly global implications Available from https://www.buzzsprout.com/2205318/episodes/13842523-reversing-nature-loss-in-scotland-a-complex-challenge-with-surprisingly-global-implications