A new lunchtime CPD seminar series dedicated to one of the most enduring yet ever evolving materials in our built environment: Stone

Across the autumn and winter, Scotland East Region, Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA) and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) are excited to launch a new lunchtime CPD seminar series dedicated to one of the most enduring yet ever evolving materials in our built environment: Stone

SEDA’s green careers fair will run from 10am to 4pm on Wednesday 24th September 2025, during

the week of the University of Glasgow’s Careers and Internship.

The fair will showcase small and medium sized enterprises, as well as large corporations, in order

to highlight the full range of green jobs available. Only people or companies run along ecological

principles have been invited.

It is SEDA’s wide network of connections in ecological and sustainable sectors that will make this

event different from normal careers fairs. We have invited many people not normally represented

such as community renewable energy practitioners, hemp insulation manufacturers and green

health prescribers.

Only students who have signed up in advance on Eventbrite will be allowed entry.

Good ventilation is essential for healthy, comfortable, and resilient buildings—but as mechanical systems become more dominant, it's critical to ask: are we designing for long-term wellbeing, or creating new dependencies?

This event explores why ventilation matters—not just for compliance or technical performance, but for occupant health, comfort, and the psychological benefits of environmental control. As buildings increasingly rely on mechanical systems, understanding building physics, material choices, and passive design strategies becomes more important than ever.

Through case studies and discussion, we’ll demonstrate how to design for indoor air quality while considering flexibility as well as ethics. We’ll look at how passive and natural ventilation, and low-impact construction materials can support both regulatory standards and 'passive survivability'—the ability for buildings to remain safe and comfortable during power outages or emergencies.

The session will highlight practical examples from engineering and architectural practice, with a focus on avoiding 'eco-bling' and prioritising real, long-term benefits for occupants. Participants are invited to bring project-specific questions for open discussion.

With Jonathan Watts, the Global environmental correspondent for The Guardian and author of “The Many Lives of James Lovelock: Science, Secrets and Gaia Theory”

Saturday 9 th August 2025

12noon – 2pm

EVENT INFORMATION

James Lovelock is best known for his association with the Gaia Hypothesis - which proposed that living organisms interact with their surroundings to create a self-regulating system and thereby maintain conditions suitable for life on Earth. This event will look at his life and legacy and whether Lovelock’s pioneering environmental work offers us guidance now.

As with the previous eco-pioneers investigated in this series (Rachel Carson, Barry Commoner, Ian McHarg, Sherry Arnstein and Fritz Schumacher) Lovelock influenced a generation. Lovelock perhaps uniquely also spawned a vast array of Gaia related businesses from coffee shops, to research institutes and even big pharma. Amongst the earliest were Gaia Architects in Scotland and Norway.

The Eco Max series is dedicated to Howard Liddell who was the founder and principal of Gaia Architects from 1990 until his death at the age of 67 in 2013. Howard book Eco-minimalism: the Antidote to Eco-Bling (2008, 2013 was always intended to be the first half of the story. He was aiming to write a further book Eco-Max based on the legacy of his eco-heroes. His widow, Sandy Liddell Halliday, founded and sponsors this series of talks, in collaboration with the Scottish Ecological Design Association, of which Howard was a founder member.

Lovelock remains a controversial figure, a uniquely gifted independent scientist, inventor and thinker who, amongst other things, invented the electron capture detector that allowed him to detect the widespread presence of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the atmosphere. He infuriated many of his Gaia-fan followers by his abiding techno-optimistic approach, including his support for nuclear power and space travel.

Jon Watts, the global environmental correspondent for the Guardian, was given unique access to author Lovelock’s official biography. He will present an overview and there will be a structured interview ollowed by an open Q& A session and a book signing.

Please book early so that we can get a clear idea of numbers.

Join us for an exploration of what it takes to create thriving intergenerational communities at the Radical Housing Conference Scotland Part 3: The Zoomers & Boomers Soirée!

Part 3 of the Radical Housing Conference Scotland 2025 will be an informal soirée with food and drink, poetry and music, being held at the Augustine United Church, on George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, on 11 June, as part of the Architecture Fringe. 

Learn from experts in the field and connect with like-minded individuals. Whether you're a housing advocate, community representative or policymaker – or simply interested in learning more about the pros and cons of intergenerational living, this is the event for you.

We will discuss the benefits of intergenerational living – how it strengthens the broader community and helps tackle loneliness. We will also look at the obstacles to more intergenerational living. Why do we have a culture that doesn't promote this and what can be done to change the culture?

“I believe that integration across traditional silos - such as age groups - must be a vital focus for a country burdened by an obsession with the ‘nuclear family ’” – Savannah Fishel, Churchill Fellow, and speaker at the conference.

The evening will be filled with insightful discussions and networking opportunities – a must-attend for anyone passionate about intergenerational housing in Scotland.

Introduction:
The important questions of the future cannot be answered with construction technology alone. Rather, this technology and a positive view of the future require a correspondingly new architecture.
Architect Reinberg shows his idea of this new architecture using projects from his office and thus puts this type of building up for discussion.

This is the second part of the 2025 Radical Housing Conference Scotland – an all-day event that will include a series of engaging discussions and presentations led by people who are helping to fix the housing crisis. Whether you're a housing advocate, policymaker, a community-led housing activist, or simply interested in learning more about housing in Scotland, this is the conference for you.

 Part 2 will be an all day hybrid event at Birnam Arts in Dunkeld, Perthshire.

The conference is organised by SEDA Land and Agile Homes.

This online event will explore where the money to finance nature recovery should come from, and how rural communities can thrive as Scotland’s natural environment is improved.

Should we rely on the public sector to step up to the challenge of reaching Net Zero and bring socio-economic benefits? If so, how do we raise the taxes to pay for that in a fair and equitable way, for example on the "polluter pays" principle, through a carbon land tax or through other property taxes? Which specific tax reforms are most likely to hasten nature recovery in Scotland?

Without finance, achieving these goals is nigh on impossible, so it comes down to the age- old question: Where does the money come from?

Join us in January for this free online event exploring innovative, affordable and low-carbon solutions to Scotland's rural and urban housing crises. 

This all-day event will include a series of engaging discussions and presentations led by people who are helping to fix the housing crisis. Whether you're a housing advocate, policymaker, a community-led housing activist, or simply interested in learning more about housing in Scotland, this is the conference for you.

The conference is organised by SEDA Land, part of the Scottish Ecological Design Association, and Agile Homes. Part 2 of Radical Housing Conference Scotland will be an all-day, in person event on 2 May at Birnam Arts in Dunkeld and Part 3 is an evening in-person event held in Edinburgh in June, which will form part of the Architecture Fringe (exact date to be confirmed).

It’s time for our annual ‘Show & Tell’ social night! Everyone is welcome at this friendly and informal event where SEDA Members show off their work, research and interests, whilst catching up over food & drinks. 
We’ll be at Glasgow School of Art on Thursday 12th December and everyone is welcome to join us. Work is presented Pecha Kucha style, so we have plenty time to include lots of SEDA members slide presentations.  We’ll be online too so you can join as a viewer or submit work even if you are not in Glasgow.

For those joining us in person, you are to arrive at 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start of the event! There will be a hot & cold vegetarian/vegan buffet plus drinks, and we just ask for a donation on the night (typically this has been no more than £10, plus drinks at your discretion). 

Anyone buying a virtual place will be sent a Zoom link in the confirmation email on reserving a place and will have this sent as a reminder in the run up to the event.

So, save your place, get in touch if you are a Member who wants to present, and we look forward to seeing you on December 12th! 

Running order of the evening

6:30pm: Food and Drinks for non-profit donation to cover at cost price.

7.00pm: Quick fire 5 minute each talks start promptly with a long "members gathering" break in the middle.

8:30pm/8.45pm: Continue our chat at the local pub!

Other useful information for participants:

This is effectively a members' Christmas event - feel free to dress for the occasion and come prepared for relaxed conversation with a sense of fun.

The venue is strictly no nuts, and no nuts will be served during the event. Please notify of any other allergies and intolerances when booking to chair@seda.uk.net  

Accessibility: There is a ramp to front of building to enter. Lift throughout the building The lecture theatre we have booked is on the first floor and the accessible toilet is on the floor above which will need to use lift to get to.

Travel: We hope most will be able to travel on public transport being that the venue is relatively centrally located. However if you need to drive there are limited on-street parking and Cambridge Street multistorey car part relatively close by, but be aware that the location is within the LEZ, so please ensure you have the correct vehicle to enter.

Location: City of Glasgow College

Enabling environments – a human rights approach, spotlight on learning disability

SEDA Health and Wellbeing group in collaboration with SCLD are delighted to present you with the opportunity for discussion around importance of creating supportive environments for people with learning disabilities.

Join us at City of Glasgow College for insightful talks and practical strategies to promote inclusivity and empowerment.

We will hear from:

Kelly Kolatowicz, Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities

Lindsay Kinloch, lived experience advocate

Felicity Steers, Erz Landscape Architects

Caroline Dearden, Anderson Bell Christie

Karri Gillespie-Smith and Kyleigh Melville, University of Edinburgh, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology

with musical interlude from Grace Stewart-Skinner, Clàrsach player.

This event is in person but will be recorded. Please ensure to arrive at least 15min before the start of the event.

Tea/ coffee and tray bake will be provided at a small donation. Please let us know your dietry requirements.

The venue is fully accessible. Please report to the main reception on your arrival.

SEDA Land Event at Go Falkland. Time TBC.

This SEDA Land event on integrated land use could help shape the Scottish Government's delivery plan for  its Third Land Use Strategy 2021-2026.

Join our expert panel representing different sectors and regions. As always we will be led by the science  with two scientists talking about a new tool for assessing land uses in terms of a matrix of measurements and an approach to landscape planning that integrates social and ecological elements.  

This event forms part of GO Falkland, the two day regenerative farming festival, following the successful introduction of a Groundswell Outreach last July.

Chair:  Lucy Filby, Head of Agriculture & Forestry Transition, SOSE 
Speakers: Graham Begg, Head of Agroecology, The James Hutton Institute  Alison Smith, Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University Catherine Payne, Senior Climate Resilience Manager, Sniffer Marian Bruce, Bioregioning Tayside, 7,500 km² Grant Moir, CEO Cairngorms National Park, 4,528 km² Denise Walton, chair, Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) Andrew Heald, Forestry consultant 

Artistic pieces: newly commissioned work will be performed by poets Sophie Cooke and Chris Powici and cellist Jessica Kerr who will be joined by violinists Kirsty Orton and Aaron McGregor.

A SEDA Solar Event

In this Webinar, Prof Gokay Deveci will share his works in solar architecture and Passive House, their performance in relation to occupant health, an area not commonly reported in solar-integrated and energy efficient buildings. Prof Deveci’s unique experience both as a researcher, national and international award-winning chartered architect provides invaluable insights to architectures both from a research and practical perspective. The moderator Dr Filbert Musau, an expert in energy efficient building will also share his commentary and perspective to Prof Deveci’s work in this webinar.

Access to quality green spaces and wildlife rich environments can support health and wellbeing of individuals and communities, prevent social isolation and illness. People thrive in nature and reciprocal relationship between human health and nature protection is one that is not sufficiently acknowledged but crucial:  the importance of a collaborative not a competing approach. 

Our speakers will share their experiences on how living in nature can enhance lives, improving health and wellbeing of people and the planet.

Nature walks in Astley Ainslie hospital grounds with forester Willie McGhee, ecologist Prof Jonathan Silvertown and Green Health Programme Manager for NHS Lothian Ian Mackenzie including opportunity for befriending a tree.

Wellbeing talks and Green Drinks in Columcille Centre.

Speakers will include:

Keynote Speaker: Ian Mackenzie - Green Health Programme in NHS Lothian
Dr Michele Hipwell - Mindfulness, forest bathing and nature
Dr Sara Stevenson - The history of the Astley Ainslie Hospital, with a focus on health and wellbeing

Rachel Codd- Surviving in space... Thriving in Place - Designing with Biophilia
Dr Scott Olgetree- Relationship between society and the natural environment - Woods In and Around Town
Sophie Cooke - Novelist, poet, short story writer and travel writer

Music from Karine Polwart and Pippa Murphy with Dave Milligan on piano. Poetry from Sophie Cooke.

Swathes of Scotland are being bought up with the intention of marketing their carbon locking potential to companies which want to “offset” their CO2 emissions.  The World Economic Forum describes carbon trading thus, “..planting trees or investing in a reforestation project….can buy carbon credits to establish an ongoing programme of carbon offsetting, so that for every action – a new division or building, a new fleet of vehicles, or a flight and so on – you simply buy more credits to cancel out your emissions.” The Scottish Government see carbon finance as a money spinner. But there is real concern carbon trading and offsetting simply allows CO2 emitters to carry on emitting while trading escalates land prices.

SEDA Land recently held two very popular webinars; one looking at the potential community benefits and problems with such “ecosystem markets”, and the other considering the options for private investment in them, while avoiding the potential disbenefits. 

Carbon Trading: Shifting Responsibility? takes a step back to ask some more fundamental questions, including, should SEDA support these markets?

A SEDA Solar Event

Venue: Online

Ticket Price: £6 – Non-member | £3 – Member/Student/Concession

Sustainable architecture has been focused, over these last 40 years, on performance and efficiency: Architects aim to deliver a recognizable product, albeit with a more efficient mode of operation. A sustainable building performs better, marginally or only under optimal conditions. Yet, carbon emissions continue to rise. Sustainable architecture based on efficiency measures and metrics has not worked.

The challenge to architecture is to move away from efficiency towards sufficiency, which consumes less energy and resources in absolute terms. In this lecture, Professor Daniel Barber will share his deep insight on historical precedents to sufficiency issues in architecture, as opposed to the efficiency imperative of sustainability.

The session will be moderated by Prof Colin Porteous.

The bioeconomy – obstacles and how to overcome them

1-3:30pm roundtable discussion organised by SEDA Land. (Online tickets only)

This event is free.

This is the third event SEDA Land has held about bioproducts  following our introductory events "Imagining Bioproducts" and “Reimagining Food” both of which were held in June 2022. 

“Imagining a Fossil-Fuel-Free Future” is a roundtable discussion with the aim of identifying the obstacles facing bioeconomy start-ups in Scotland and how these might be overcome, with particular reference to Scottish Government policy and incentives. We will hear from successful bioeconomy players as – in areas including fuels, plastics, textiles, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals – well as new start-ups (even ones that are considering relocating to the EU), and learn how the Republic of Ireland and Scandinavia are leading the way in terms of policy. We will also be covering the value chains a bioeconomy can bring including well paid jobs in rural areas, 

Location: Square Deal, Huntly, 22-23 The Square Huntly AB54 8BR.

SEDA Land are delighted to announce a screening of the eagerly anticipated documentary film, Six Inches of Soil. The film tells the inspiring story of young British farmers standing up against the industrial food system and transforming the way they produce food - to heal the soil, our health and provide for local communities. The screening will take place at the Square Deal, on 28 March at 5.30pm and will include a discussion led by David Miller, Knowledge Exchange Coordinator at James Hutton Institute. We will also aim to provide a summary of the roundtable discussion from the event funded by the Scottish Government and hosted by SEDA Land at Knock Farm near Huntly titled “You Are What Your Food Eats”. The participants are collectively investigating the long-term effects of land-use decisions on climate change and the food chain.

This event is now Sold Out, however there is an alternative screening on the same day at MacLaren Stuart Room in Old College, University of Edinburgh, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL.

To learn more about this event, follow the link above. Tickets for this alternative screening will become available shortly.

Film Screening in the MacLaren Stuart Room in Old College, University of Edinburgh, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL.

Six Inches of Soil is a British independent full feature documentary shining a spotlight on soil health and regenerative farming. It tells the inspiring story of young British farmers standing up against the industrial food system and transforming the way they produce food - to heal the soil, our health and provide for local communities. The aims of the film are to sound the alarm on a broken system, but to also give hope that there is a way to fix it; to inspire farmers to adopt agro-ecological and regenerative farming practices; and to encourage consumers, food corporations and policymakers to support their efforts.

The 96 minute film, with its original music score and beautiful animation, was completed at the end of 2023, and was launched at the Oxford Real Farming Conference on 4th January 2024. It was also shown at COP 28 in December 2023 through EIT Food Systems.

There is a 5:30pm start and finished at 9:30pm. This includes the showing of film and discussion with Soil and Climate Scientists from University of Edinburgh, James Hutton Institute and SRUC.

Are regional climate change Hubs a key route to channelling change, with increasing capacity and resilience, how can we feed that?

On this last day we will invite participants to self-organise into clusters of interest to discuss new delivery strategies, which they will present to the whole group for comment. 

We are delighted to be joined in the afternoon by Patrick Harvie, Scottish Government Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights.

To give us your input, ask to participate, or just for more information, please email BigConversation@seda.net

Find out more about this event!

TREES, LANDSCAPE AND AFFORDABLE HOMES

In “Which Trees For Homes?” we will investigate the long-term effects of land-use decisions on climate  change and the timber chain, particularly in relation to affordable homes. This event will involve scientists,  landowners, foresters, distributors and housebuilders. 

A one-day event organised by SEDA  Land in collaboration with the James Hutton Institute  and Scotland's Rural College.

10am – 12pm: Tour of Crofthead, Moffat – Award winning forest by manager Andrew Macqueen.

12:30 – 1:30pm: Lunch, Kirkmichael conference room at the SRUC Barony campus, Dumfries.

1:30– 4pm: Roundtable discussion. Details of panel below.

Let’s talk about the emerging Heat in Buildings Strategy as a way not this. Thinking in Government is advanced, there’s a consultation ongoing, so it’s coming soon. Let’s talk about those plans and see give them a 360 degree sanity check. We really need to avoid repeating the well-meaning delivery disasters of ferries and bottle recycling. 

Given it’s scale, poorly designed delivery in the built environment would be a disaster for the Just Transition. But a good alignment of funding with effective delivery for the Heat in Buildings strategy could be a strong model for successful implementation in Retrofit and Circular Economy. Let’s dig into that.

To give us your input, ask to participate, or just for more information, please email BigConversation@seda.net

Find Out more about this event!

As part of a Scottish Government’s Climate Change Engagement Programme, SEDA Land is holding a one day event near Huntly, Aberdeenshire including a farm tour and roundtable discussion about nutritional food chains.

In “You Are What Your Food Eats” we aim to investigate the long-term effects of land-use decisions on climate change and the food chain. This is part of a long-term project SEDA Land is running with Huntly. The event forms part a collaboration between the community, scientists, landowners, farmers, food processors, distributors and retailers.

We want to help the community, landowners and managers understand and visualise alternative ways of producing food in a productive ecological landscape that serves the climate and the community. This could lead to innovative new forms of employment in the area.

10:00 - 12:00 am: Tour of Knock Farm, Huntly – a 1400 acre organic mixed farm by owner Roger Polson. There are limited spaces for this event allocated on a first come first served basis.

12:30 - 1:30 pm: Lunch at, Knock Farm, Huntly.

1:30 - 4:00 pm: Roundtable discussion, Knock Farm, Huntly. Attendance in person by invitation only. Unlimited online attendance.

Macdonald Hotel, Aviemore

The aim of SEDA Land’s Building Futures series is to stimulate more sustainable placemaking in rural Scotland in order to reverse depopulation – through a focus on housing, communal spaces, workplaces, economic development and infrastructure, including good broadband connections.

In the fourth Conversation, we will look at what the Scottish Government can do to speed up the creation of more sustainable communities, referring back to obstacles identified in the previous discussions:

• How can communities access more land to build new homes?

• Can social value be clearly defined as a legally-binding benchmark, attracting recognition of the wider and multiple benefits that sustainable placemaking brings including better health? Could this justify the redirection of funds from other government departments such as NHS Scotland?

• Can funds be better distributed between communities and intermediary organisations such as the Communities Housing Trust?

How big an impediment to a Just Transition is gender inequality? Would promoting women to positions of power accelerate change because they are less vested in the status quo as well as being better-informed decision-makers? 

Is social and technological change coming inevitably, so we shouldn’t worry about it and we really need just to focus on cutting carbon emissions because that is the species level threat, or is social justice a prerequisite to a successful change process? 

To give us your input, ask to participate, or just for more information, please email BigConversation@seda.net

Find out more about this event!

Which bodies have a key role in leading this change through procurement, faster than regulation and tax, and able to change the market through their scale of the market – if targeted and resourced?

And let’s not forget landscape – how do we wean ourself off concrete? Will Dunbar Cement Works still be there in 2045? What does a circular material landscape look like and how do we get there?

To give us your input, ask to participate, or just for more information, please email BigConversation@seda.net

Find out more about this event!

We are all on that journey. Some people and organisations are already there, acting & thinking as we all will in 21 years. Others still live like we did in the 19th century, the era of extraction and empire that created the wealth that made us the 6th richest country in the world, but also the emissions from coal, gas and oil that makes us responsible for 10 times more cumulated emission than average, our unpaid debt to the planet. What can we learn from past change processes?

A public consultation on a draft Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-29 will be published early-2024 and we will use a discussion on Adaptation to frame our Conversation on how we approach the Future from a systems change perspective.

To give us your input, ask to participate, or just for more information, please email BigConversation@seda.net

Find out more about this event!