We developed the Kick Start programme in 2011 to stimulate innovative projects between researchers in our two partner institutions. We made seedcorn funding of around 2k available to projects involving both Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt researchers, with a focus on early career or emerging talents. Some of these projects are listed here.

2017-18

• The role of green space to residential perception and wellbeing
  Wenjie Wu (EGIS) and Francisca Lima (ESALA)

2015-16

• The Art of Involvement in Planning: Opportunities to incorporate creative arts practice into participatory planning processes
  Team: Katherine Brookfield (ESALA) and Douglas Pritchard (EGIS)

Background:Land use planning is hugely important to communities but participation in planning decisions tends to be low, selective and marred by conflict. A growing body of evidence suggests that arts methods have the potential to generate greater cultural understanding and social cohesion, open up untapped knowledge, invite and validate people’s personal narratives and enable individuals to feel more confident and empowered to take part in collective decision-making. Against this background, and responding to an understudied area, our intention was to investigate if a wider variety of people might choose to participate in local planning decisions if the methods of engagement were altogether more fun, creative and artistic and if these methods could facilitate a less antagonistic and more empowering decision-making environment.

Our project comprised a series of activities – meetings, brainstorming sessions, a public workshop, telephone, skype and in-person conversations, and a review of relevant research and policy contexts – that were designed to scope out the parameters, and identify the focus, of a large scale funding application.

Activities:We planned and held a public workshop where three artists from different fields – street theatre, legislative theatre and illustration – explained to an invited audience how they used creative, arts-based methods in their interactions with communities. The audience was encouraged to ask questions to learn more about the demonstrated techniques. Invitations to the workshop were sent to interest groups, local government officers, community organisations and other interested parties. 14 people attended on the day. Individuals provided representation from the fields of local government, design, planning, property, business and the voluntary and community sectors. We planned two but ultimately held three team meetings where the applicants, colleagues from disparate disciplines from the Universities of Manchester, Glasgow and South Wales, an artist and a prospective community partner planned for the public workshop, reflected on the findings and began to scope out the large scale funding application. In between these meetings, discussion continued amongst these individuals. Following these various activities, a small underspend enabled Brookfield to attend the UK-Ireland International Planning Conference to raise the profile of the project and learn more about recent findings in participatory planning and the role of the arts in planning.

Current position:Over the course of the public workshop and team meetings, as a result of discussion and reflection, the project focus shifted. It moved from a concern with the role of arts-based methods in general, to the role of walking in particular. A focused interest in Jane’s Walks, and the role such walks could play in local land use decisions, emerged. Jane’s Walks began in 2007 when the then mayor of Toronto, David Miller, proclaimed Friday May 4th 2007 ‘Jane Jacobs Day’. To celebrate the event and reflect on Jacobs’ legacy, various walks were held around the city. These walks, known as Jane’s Walks, have since evolved as a global, annual event. A charitable foundation, Jane’s Walks, has been established to promote and support these citizen-led walks. The walks are presented as a way of developing urban literacy amongst people and communities.

• The opportunities and barriers in outdoor environments, for psychological restoration and improved wellbeing for parents with PND
  Team: Eva Silveirinha de Oliveira (ESALA) and Sarah R Payne (EGIS)

Post Natal Depression (PND) has a massive impact on individual women, their children and family, as well as a huge financial cost to society. Most maternal mental health studies are conducted in a clinical context. In contrast, this project takes an interdisciplinary approach (environmental psychology, health studies, and urban design) looking at the role of the environment on the mental health of women with PND. Natural environments in particular can positively influence wellbeing, however its role in helping women with PND has not been explored. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the opportunities for psychological restoration and improved wellbeing for women with PND in outdoor environments. This involved examining their experiences of outdoor environments including the barriers that may prevent them from accessing and using certain environments.

With the support of CrossReach (Glasgow) and Juno (Edinburgh) we conducted three focus groups which involved 10 participants (parents older than 16 years) who suffered or are suffering from PND. The focus groups took place in Glasgow, Edinburgh & virtually (via Skype & over the phone). The preliminary findings show:

• • When severely depressed, women tended not to go outdoors.
  • Getting out of the house is a major task
  • Blue and green spaces are among the favourite places for this group to engage with outdoors
  • Outdoor spaces seem to have the potential to help improve their mood.
  • Outdoor environments offer an opportunity to relax and feel calmer
  • Socialising in outdoor environments was not considered beneficial

• ‘Blethering on a Bus’: A novel engagement method to enhance/encourage community involvement in the planning process
  Team: Sara Tilley (ESALA), Ryan Woolrych (EGIS) and Chris McWilliams (EGIS)

The population of the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport’s (SPT) area is 2.14 million. The proportion of black and ethnic minority (BME) people in the area is 2.4%, which equates to 52% of Scotland’s ethnic minority population. This project arose as during SPT’s engagement process in developing their Equality Outcomes framework a higher proportion of ethnic minority passengers declined to participate.

Two workshops carried out on a double decker bus were designed to engage with BME groups more effectively. This project aimed to find out the travel behaviours of people belonging to BME groups and to evaluate the effectiveness of the bus consultation method in engaging with these communities in Glasgow. Ethical approval was obtained from ECA.

The first bus workshop was held on 10th June 2015 outside a local community centre used predominantly by BME groups. A range of methods were used to explore the travel behaviours and experiences of ethnic minority groups which included community mapping and a post-it exercise to gather comments. A total number of 20 participants attended the workshop.

The second workshop was held on 17th June on a public street (Great Western Road, close to Kelvinbridge subway station) and members of the public were invited on to find out their travel behaviours and experiences. This workshop was held in a public place to further understanding about which groups engaged with the research. A total number of 26 participants attended the workshop.

At both workshops, feedback forms were completed by some participants. Of the feedback received all participants said they enjoyed the workshop including the activities. People also commented that having the opportunity to give their opinion was what they liked best about the workshop.

Each workshop was also evaluated by the researchers. We concluded that in order to reach BME communities effectively, bus workshops held at a community location as this was a ‘captive audience’ and children were attracted to the bus, bringing their parents on board. When the bus workshop was held on a public road, people only stopped to speak briefly outside of the bus.

2011-2014

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN OF GREEN ROOFS
Project team: Dr Lynette Robertson (ESALA), Dr Gillian Menzies & Professor Phil Banfill (SBE)

The project aimed to develop research on the sustainable design of green roofs, with a focus on (i) energy performance and (ii) life cycle energy, carbon, and monetary analysis. Its principal aim was to explore the viability of securing industry funding (£25k over 3 years) to facilitate an application to the Scottish Energy Technology Partnership (ETP) PhD studentship fund. The proposed studentship would be based at the School of Built Environment at Heriot-Watt University and would make use of the University’s green roof test rig. It would be jointly supervised by Phil Banfill (Principal Supervisor) and Gillian Menzies and/or Lynette Robertson as second or co/assistant supervisors.

The seedcorn funding was used to research, write and develop a full ETP Studentship application to final draft stage and to communicate extensively with potential sponsors, including via attendance at green roof and construction conferences, with the help of Andy Liken and Natasha Madeira (Business Development Officers at Heriot-Watt). To date, it has not been possible to secure a firm studentship sponsorship, given the economic climate. The remaining ETP criteria have been met: good science, two supervisors from different universities, and 33% funding from the host university. In addition to the PhD proposal, MSc projects were also envisaged as an outcome and the research and knowledge developed may also form the basis of a larger grant proposal (e.g. EPSRC), possibly in collaboration with other researchers within ESALA and SBE.

CARBON PERFORMANCE STANDARDS IN BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING
Project team: Dr Ibrahim Motawa (SBE), Dr Kate Carter (ESALA)