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22 July 2026

Two years ago, we launched the Strathclyde Institute for Sustainable Communities (SISC) with a simple but important ambition: to explore pathways towards fair and sustainable futures, where communities are represented, empowered and enriched. 

Since then, SISC has grown from a new research institute with a bold vision into a recognised hub for research, knowledge exchange and stakeholder engagement on people- and place-centred sustainability transitions. 

Whilst our first year was largely focused on establishing SISC’s foundations, our second year has been about delivery. By working in creative and flexible ways, we've secured new partnerships, expanded our research community, launched major projects, published impactful research and contributed to ‘real world’ policy and practice across a range of sustainability challenges. From local communities and charities to government and industry, our work is increasingly helping shape conversations about how sustainability transitions can be both effective and equitable. 

So, before we embark on our third year, here's a snapshot of what we've been up to over the past twelve months.

Headline activities from SISC’s second year

• Team: Four PhD students actively engaged in SISC research, with 3 more students expected to join in October 2026. One Research Associate appointed on a 3-year term to support delivery of our flagship projects, with another Research Fellow to join in Autumn 2026.  

• Projects and funding: Two major UKRI-funded flagship projects worth a combined £10.5m are now actively underway. Another £50,000 of external funding secured from Scottish Power Energy Networks to examine trends in community energy.  

• Seminar series: We launched our university-wide seminar series, which has recently been expanded, in response to demand, to include external attendees alongside University staff and students. To date, we have hosted 11 seminars and welcomed more than 240 registered attendees.  

• :  We established a new operating model for our award winning Local Zero Podcast, with nine new episodes published this year and many more in production. The podcast has now reached more than 35,000 unique listeners across 150 countries, featuring 250 guests across 115 episodes. 

• Blog: We launched our blog, publishing eight thought leadership articles exploring community benefit, water justice, active mobility, climate adaptation, net-zero strategy and sustainability transitions. To date our blogs have attracted over 560 views from almost 300 users, with strong engagement on topics relating to climate policy, community governance and just transitions. 

• Policy and practitioner engagement: We provided oral evidence to the Scottish Parliament on its Climate Change Plan and published our substantive report evaluating Foundation Scotland's approach to Community Benefit Funds. SISC members have also played leading roles in shaping policy and professional practice, including being appointed to Scottish Government’s Onshore Renewable Energy Advisory Group and contributing to the development of  Code of Practice on Community Engagement and Benefits. Our think piece Stick or twist? Why the UK's net-zero strategy is faltering and may need to change was subsequently picked up by a number of media outlets. Finally, we submitted two consultation responses to Scottish Government, and one to Glasgow City Council’s proposed Climate Action Plan.  

• Awards and celebrations: Just last month we were awarded the Outstanding Contribution award to Knowledge Exchange by Strathclyde Business School. In August 2025 Jen was awarded a Strathclyde Medal for Cultivating Collaboration to Solve Complex Challenges, where she was described as “a truly inspirational inter-disciplinary academic”. We managed a few SISC socials, too, including our Christmas dinner!

Our expanding team 

A research institute is nothing without its people and 2026 was when SISC really started to grow.  

One of our proudest moments came when Dr Finlay Kerr joined SISC as our first Research Associate on a three-year appointment. Finlay has been part of the wider SISC community since 2022, researching how former mining communities can benefit from minewater geothermal energy. After successfully defending his PhD in early 2026, he became the first early-career researcher to progress from doctoral researcher to postdoctoral researcher within SISC's growing community.

Finlay after the graduation ceremony. Credit: Finlay Kerr

For us, Finlay's journey embodies one of SISC's core ambitions: creating opportunities for talented researchers to develop their expertise, build rewarding careers, and help tackle real-world sustainability challenges. We couldn't be more pleased to see that ambition becoming reality. 

SISC’s growth isn't stopping there though. We're currently recruiting a second researcher to join our People-Led Net Zero flagship project. Once appointed, SISC will have a team of five staff members, including two post-doctoral researchers. 

It's also been a landmark year for our PhD community, which is set to almost double in size by the end of the year. SISC currently supports four PhD researchers, with a further three students expected to join us in October. This sizeable community of PhD researchers will together explore a range of topics linked to sustainable communities and the transition to net zero, helping develop the next generation of researchers, policymakers and sustainability leaders. 

Another member of our PhD community approaching an exciting milestone is Becca Gowens, who is nearing completion of her PhD. Her research has explored the role of intermediary organisations in supporting the design, delivery and evaluation of renewable energy Community Benefit Funds, using our long-standing partner Foundation Scotland as a case study. 

We're especially delighted that Becca has already begun the next chapter of her career, joining Statkraft, one of Europe's largest renewable energy generators, as a Community Liaison Officer. It's fantastic to see the expertise she developed through her research being applied directly in practice, helping to strengthen relationships between renewable energy developments and the communities they affect. 

For SISC, Becca's journey is another example of what we're striving to achieve: developing talented researchers whose work not only advances knowledge but also delivers real-world impact. 

Jan Jasinski continues to make great progress with his National Energy Action-sponsored PhD. His research asks an important question: are the benefits of smart low-carbon technologies being shared fairly? By examining the distribution of technologies such as heat pumps, solar panels and electric vehicles across Scotland, Jan is helping to identify who is benefiting from the low-carbon technology transition and who may be at risk of being left behind. This summer, he will present his work at a major international conference hosted by the . Meanwhile, Jan’s teaching has also been recognised this year, being shortlisted by the Strathclyde Students Union for Best Teaching Assistant or Tutor.  

We were also delighted to welcome Rachel Bray more formally into the SISC PhD community. Rachel has been one of Jen Roberts' PhD students since January 2023, so in many ways she has been part of the wider SISC family long before the Institute formally launched. Her PhD explores power dynamics between different actors in local energy systems and what these mean for delivering a truly just transition to net zero – all themes that are very aligned with SISC!  

Rachel recently played a key role in a Scottish Power Energy Networks-funded project, where she undertook a major review of the drivers and barriers affecting the growth of community energy across Scotland. Having already worked closely with us on this activity, it felt like a natural next step to strengthen her connection with SISC more formally and we are thrilled to have her on board. 

Finally, we're delighted to report that SISC welcomed its very first baby this year! Our PhD student Alexa Green began maternity leave in summer 2025 and recently returned to the team. It's been wonderful to welcome her back to the office and see her picking up her research on participatory approaches to delivering sustainability transitions. 

Alexa's return also marks another important milestone in SISC's development. As our research community grows, we're committed to creating an environment where people can thrive both professionally and personally. While research outputs, grants and publications are important, it's the people behind them who make SISC what it is. We're therefore especially pleased to celebrate this addition to the wider SISC family. 

We were also delighted to celebrate the achievements of our team. Last August, SISC Deputy Director Jen Roberts received a Strathclyde Medal for Cultivating Collaboration to Solve Complex Challenges, recognising her leadership in interdisciplinary research and partnership working!

Jen receiving her Strathclyde Medal from Strathclyde’s former Principal Sir Jim MacDonald. Credit: Guy Hinks

Flagship research projects 

A major focus this year has been getting our two flagship UKRI projects up and running. Together, these projects are helping us explore a central question at the heart of SISC's mission: how can community aspirations, governance arrangements and national sustainability goals be better aligned? 

Our first flagship project, , is applying systems thinking to identify place-based pathways towards a just transition. SISC’s Research Associate Finlay Kerr is been leading our data collection in East Ayrshire. He is currently conducting research with residents of Rankinston; a former coal-mining village that has experienced decades of economic decline but could potentially benefit from opportunities associated with the transition to net zero. 

As part of the project, we published a report titled . The report argues that the next phase of decarbonisation will look very different from the last. Whilst much of the UK's emission reductions to date have been achieved through changes largely invisible to the public, future progress will increasingly depend on people, communities and organisations playing a more active role in the transition. The report attracted national media coverage, including features in The Scotsman, Forbes and The Express. 

Our second flagship project, , will work with partners around real-world challenges including sustainable transport, the low-carbon retrofit of heritage buildings in Bath, and nuclear decommissioning at Dounreay. Through these case studies, the project aims to develop new approaches that make systems modelling more accessible, inclusive and useful for decision-makers. Our research will focus on understanding how different stakeholders experience these transitions and how they can be effectively involved in shaping solutions. 

Alongside these major research projects, SISC was commissioned by Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) to investigate trends in community energy development across Scotland and identify the factors helping or hindering its growth. Working with the UK's three national community energy organisations, we analysed extensive  data to better understand when, where and how community energy projects have emerged across SPEN's licence areas. The work is ongoing, and the findings will be published later this year.  

Beyond our flagship projects, SISC researchers have continued to explore a diverse range of topics, including community participation in water governance, natural capital markets, housing retrofit, climate adaptation and community benefit funds (see our Projects page). What connects all of this work is a shared commitment to ensuring that sustainability transitions are not only environmentally effective, but also fair, democratic and beneficial to the communities they affect. 

Informing policy and practice 

One of SISC's core objectives is to ensure that our research helps inform real-world decisions. A recurring theme across much of our work is participation: how communities can influence decisions that affect their places, livelihoods and futures. 

A good example is our work on community benefits from renewable energy and net-zero infrastructure. Our collaboration with Foundation Scotland led to the publication of a , while our wider research continues to explore how benefits are distributed and how communities can secure greater long-term value from sustainability transitions. Building on this work,  to the Scottish Government's Refreshing the Good Practice Principles (GPPs) for Community Benefits from Onshore Renewable Energy consultation. Matt was subsequently asked to join Scottish Government’s the Onshore Renewables Advisory Group (OnRAG) to help inform the revision of their guidance, due to be released shortly. 

This year also saw the publication of , with Matt acting as Lead Technical Author. The standard provides practical guidance for developers on how communities should be engaged, and how benefits should be shared, as part of natural capital projects. Following a major public consultation, Matt will now lead the development of Version 2, which we hope will be released later this year.

Images of three major SISC reports published in Year 2. 

We have also continued to contribute to wider policy and public issues, for example: 

• Matt provided oral evidence Scottish Parliament’s Net-Zero Energy and Transport Committee in its draft Climate Change Plan. The evidence was . 

• Matt delivered a  address at the inaugural 9CCG Annual Assembly, exploring the role that Community Benefit Funds can play in supporting local and regional development. 

• Jen featured in a Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s  video alongside international figures such as Ban Ki-Moon, Mark Carney, Jacinda Ardern and Mary Robinson. 

•  has continued to work with  to develop two new energy retrofit toolkits to be launched in 2026. The first is a straightforward guide for flat owners, covering the key steps involved in delivering retrofit projects in tenement buildings. The second is the Democratic Skills Toolkit that helps flat owners build the soft skills needed for effective decision-making and collaboration on retrofit.

Left: Matt delivering keynote address at 9CCG conference. Credit: 9CC Group. Right: frame of Jen speaking on Call for Action on Climate video. Credit: Royal Geographic Society.

Together, these activities reflect SISC's commitment to ensuring that high-quality research not only advances knowledge, but also helps shape policy, practice and wider public conversation. 

Finally, in recognition of our efforts to inform policy and practice, we were delighted that SISC received the Outstanding Contribution to Knowledge Exchange award from Strathclyde Business School.

SISC team members proudly celebrating their Knowledge Exchange award (L-R: Jan, Finlay, Matt, Jen, Becca). Credit: Grant Allan.

Expanding our wider engagement 

Research only creates impact when it reaches beyond academia. Over the past year, we have continued to expand SISC's communications and engagement activities through our website, blog, seminar series and Local Zero podcast. 

 SISC's in-house podcast, remains an important platform for sharing insights from researchers, communities, policymakers and practitioners. During the past year we published nine new episodes, following a short hiatus while we developed a new operating model for the podcast. Topics have included ,  and . To date, Local Zero has hosted more than 250 guests across 115 episodes, reaching over 35,000 unique listeners in 150 countries. 

We've also invested significant time in strengthening our online presence. Our website now includes dedicated project pages, expanded information about our team, a growing events section and a dedicated blog repository. Over the past year, we have published a series of thought leadership pieces covering topics including community benefit, water justice, active mobility, climate adaptation and net-zero policy. Among the most popular articles were explorations of how different people understand the concept of "community" and why Scotland's apparent abundance of water does not necessarily translate into equitable access. 

Our social media reach has continued to grow too. The number of followers on  account has doubled over the past year to more than 1,550, while a further 650 people follow . 

We've fostered conversations across disciplines, and between academia and practice, through the SISC Seminar Series. The series hosted nine seminars during the past year, bringing together perspectives from politics, economics, law, psychology, health studies, social policy and beyond. The talks reflected the complex and interconnected challenges facing communities as they navigate climate change and the just transition, covering topics such as data collaboration for place-based solutions, physical activity and health, transport, equality and protected characteristics, the relationship between charities and state provision in the NHS, climate change and ageing populations, and community right-to-buy in Scotland. 

Together, these activities are helping SISC build a growing community of researchers, practitioners, policymakers and citizens – a core objective of the institute.

Image: Photo from SISC seminar, with Sharada Davidson speaking on place-based data solutions. Credit: Matt Hannon

Staying grounded as we grow 

While our first year was focused on establishing SISC and laying its foundations, we have always recognised that building a successful institute is an ongoing process. As SISC grows, so too must its structures, ways of working and ambitions. 

Over the past year, we have continued to refine our strategy and strengthen the principles that underpin our work. This has included further developing our vision, values and impact strategy, helping to ensure that our activities remain focused on what matters most: generating high-quality research, real-world impact and strong partnerships. We particularly valued the work we’ve undertaken with the  in fine-tuning our approach to generating research impact. 

A crucial part of this journey has been the support of our Advisory Group. From the very beginning, they have provided constructive challenge, encouragement, expertise and connections. Importantly, they have embraced the fact that SISC is still a young institute, recognising that our needs, priorities and ways of working will continue to evolve as we learn and grow.

Image: Photo from SISC’s April 2026 Advisory Group meeting. Credit: Matt Hannon

This year marks the end of the initial two-year term for many Advisory Group members. Whilst several will continue in their roles, we will also see some changes as members move on to new opportunities and challenges in their careers. 

At the time of writing, we are saying farewell to our Chair, , who is moving on to an exciting new role. Sam has been an exceptional advocate, critical friend and source of guidance throughout SISC's formative years. We are immensely grateful for the time, energy and expertise he has given to the Institute, and we wish him every success in his new position. Fortunately for us, we expect our paths will continue to cross and look forward to finding new ways to work together in the future. 

Looking back over the past two years, it is rewarding to see how much we have achieved together. Equally important, however, is ensuring that we continue to learn, adapt and improve. Building sustainable communities requires reflective practice, collaboration and a willingness to evolve. As an institute, we are committed to applying those same principles to ourselves. 

Looking forward 

As we enter our third year, our focus is simple: build on what we've created and continue delivering high-quality research, knowledge exchange and stakeholder engagement that makes a difference. 

We want to deepen the partnerships we've developed over the past two years, support our growing team, and continue creating opportunities for collaboration between researchers, communities, policymakers and practitioners. Alongside this, we'll be diversifying SISC's activities through initiatives, such as the development of training courses and diversifying our external engagement. We also hope to attract new fellowships, research funding and talented researchers who can help grow the SISC community and broaden our impact. 

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported SISC so far, and we look forward to continuing to work together to help communities create a fairer, greener and more prosperous future.