Join Professor Scott for a briefing session followed by questions and answers where he will explore how to create and deliver impact-led research initiatives in innovative ways.

Alister works at disciplinary and professional boundaries in dealing with interdisciplinary problems in his field of Geography. Bringing expertise from both policy and academic positions, his research model involves co-developing research projects with policy and practice communities who then become embedded as members of research teams to maximise impact and social learning.

Alister's research addresses “messy” problems in policy and decision making across both built and natural environments. He has published over 45 peer reviewed papers and secured grants in excess of £2 million. He has also produced over 100 popular articles, policy brief videos, web portals, plays and even game boards and has written regularly for national and regional newspapers as part of his knowledge exchange work.

At Northumbria, he provides leadership to the Bioeconomy multidisciplinary research theme with particular interest in realising the value(s) of nature and has just started a NERC knowledge exchange fellow post on mainstreaming green infrastructure.

Other current projects include:

• testing and assessing a natural capital planning tool in different planning contexts (NERC);
• developing citizen- led innovation as part of the Birmingham Urban Living pilot project (RCUK and Innovate UK);
• using game-based formats to help improve participatory processes and outcomes (ESRC);
• working with several planning authorities to help mainstream the ecosystem approach in local plans (Northumbria)