The St Andrews Centre for Critical Sustainabilities (StACCS)
The St Andrews Centre for Critical Sustainabilities (StACCS) delivered a programme of events and collaborations that demonstrate the value of interdisciplinary research and engagement in advancing sustainability. Activities over the past year have connected technology, culture, policy and education.
AI and Sustainability Panel
A high-profile panel, chaired by Dr Louise Reid during Sustainability Week, explored the environmental costs of artificial intelligence, its potential contributions to climate science, and risks of deepening social inequalities. The discussion highlighted the importance of universities in shaping critical debate and policy.
UN SDGs: 9, 12, 13, 16
Arts, Storytelling, and Activism
Photographer and filmmaker Adrian Fisk screened JUSTNORTH, a documentary on climate change in Arctic communities, and launched Until the Last Oak Falls, a photographic record of environmental activism in the 1990s. These events demonstrated the power of arts and storytelling in shaping public understanding of sustainability.
UN SDGs: 4, 11, 13
Rewilding and Uplands
StACCS hosted Pete Cairns of Northwoods Rewilding, a finalist in the St Andrews Prize for the Environment, for discussions on sustainable upland management. Collaboration with Corrour Estate has led to the development of interdisciplinary PhD projects on peatlands and environmental monitoring.
UN SDGs: 13, 15, 17
James Hutton Institute Collaboration
A workshop at the Botanic Gardens with colleagues from the James Hutton Institute focused on the science and logistics of long-term ecological monitoring, opening pathways for future collaborative research.
UN SDGs: 15, 17
Critical Sustainability Research Spring School
Delivered in partnership with the University of Bonn’s Centre for Development Research, this programme trained doctoral students and early career researchers in participatory, ethical, and creative methods. Practical sessions at the Botanic Gardens and Eden Campus connected theory with practice. The next school will take place in Bonn in June 2026.
UN SDGs: 4, 10, 17
Rewrite the Future Exhibition
StACCS collaborated with the Wardlaw Museum to launch Rewrite the Future (May–September 2025), an exhibition showcasing sustainability research at St Andrews with a focus on social justice, technology, and economic systems. The exhibition was designed with sustainability in mind, using recycled and recyclable materials, and was supported by an inclusive events programme for diverse audiences.
UN SDGs: 4, 12, 13