Projects per year
Organisation profile
Organisation profile
Research and teaching go hand in hand and we are keen to demonstrate to students the breadth of our professional offering. Not only this, but original research is an integral part of taught degrees with students expected to undertake their own projects as part of their qualifications.
Research into archaeological landscapes
Undertaking research is also an important part of enhancing our researchers’ continuing professional development and is an important part of our college work. Dr Andrew Jennings, of the university's Centre for Nordic Studies is based at UHI Shetland, and college staff have been involved in archaeological landscape research.
Shetland has one of the best-preserved prehistoric landscapes in Britain.
In the North of mainland Shetland, at Islesburgh (near Mavis Grind) Dr Simon Clarke, Head of Heritage, has been investigating the relationship between the Neolithic tomb, settlement and enclosure, and the natural setting.
Research into Rurla Creativity
The Centre for Rural Creativity supports research and knowledge exchange in the creative industries in remote and rural areas, established in 2015 with the support of Shetland Islands Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Creative Scotland. Based at UHI Shetland the Centre undertakes interdisciplinary research and acts as a focal point for the university’s teaching, knowledge exchange and engagement with the creative industries.
Aquaculture and Fisheries Research
At the Marine Centre in Scalloway, applied research and development is conducted in collaboration with industry and other stakeholder partners. Such programmes provide answers to key questions, develop knowledge, technology or best practice to help drive the industries forward.
As part of our mission to support industry development and innovation in Shetland and wider Scotland, we offer a range of commercial services from consultancy to knowledge exchange/commercialisation of research outputs. Our current projects range across the following areas;
- Aquaculture Development
- Fisheries Science
- Marine Planning, Policy and Advice
UHI Shetland brings together staff and resources to offer tertiary education, commercial training and research in Shetland and beyond. All the services and expertise that were offered by Shetland College UHI, NAFC Marine Centre UHI and Train Shetland are now provided by UHI Shetland and there are ambitious plans for expanding provision into new areas in line with Shetland's economic development.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Our work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 14 Life Below Water -
SDG 15 Life on Land -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics where UHI Shetland is active. These topic labels come from the works of this organisation's members. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Collaborations from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
Profiles
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Gregg Arthur
- UHI Shetland - Aquaculture Manager, Project Director: Shell-volution
- Aquaculture Research Network
Person: Academic - Research and Teaching or Research only, Academic Support
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Tom Blasdale
- UHI Shetland - Fisheries Scientist - Ling project
Person: Academic - Research and Teaching or Research only
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Northern Connections - Engaging young people in rural Arctic societies in building sustainability across borders
Permar, R. (CoI), Sørmo, W. (PI), Gårdvik, M. (CoI), Stoll, K. (CoI), Manninen, A. (CoI) & Carden, S. (CoI)
1/09/25 → 31/08/27
Project: Research
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Restoring Shetland's Marlie Meadows
Giesler, R. (PI), Allan, K. (Researcher) & Harlow, L. (Researcher)
1/04/25 → 31/03/28
Project: Research
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Shell-volution
Arthur, G. (Project Owner) & Kerry, M. (Project Owner)
1/04/25 → 31/03/32
Project: Research
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Automatic enumeration of chains of marine diatoms using “You Only Look Once”: a machine learning approach
Groves, G. J. J., Arthur, G., Bresnan, E., Whyte, C., Arce, P., Davidson, K. & Campbell, L. (Editor), 1 Mar 2026, In: Journal of Plankton Research. 48, 2Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)6 Downloads (Pure) -
Beyond Digitalisation in Marine Spatial Planning: Integrating local and Indigenous knowledge in the North Atlantic
Eriksson, R., Shucksmith, R., Bly Joyce, K., Chilvers, M., Kvanneid, A. J., Fradera, K., Wilke, M., Ellefsen, H., Goldsborough, D., Grundvig, K., Kennelly, R. & Jacob, T., 26 May 2026, 519 ed. Nordic Council of Ministers. 10 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other report
Open Access -
Community-Led Fisheries Management: Local data delivering regional sustainability & nature conservation
Mouat, B., Harlow, L., Riley, T. & Shucksmith, R., 15 May 2026.Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster
Open AccessFile
Datasets
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Shetland Islands dominant marine biotope map 2023
Riley, T. (Creator), UHI Research Repository, 18 Apr 2024
Dataset
File -
Shetland Islands dominant marine biotope map (2024 update)
Riley, T. (Creator), UHI Research Repository, 21 Feb 2025
Dataset
File -
Shetland Islands dominant marine biotope map (2025 update)
Riley, T. (Creator), UHI Research Repository, 15 Jul 2026
Dataset
File
Activities
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Searching for Shetland’s lost seagrass: integrating historic records, community participation, and drone imagery to map change in seagrass distribution
Giesler, R. (Speaker)
28 May 2026Activity: Talk / Presentation / Podcast / Webinar › Oral presentation
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Small Pelagic Fish Symposium 2026
Brigden, K. (Speaker)
4 May 2026 → 8 May 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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Mapping the Invisible: How models can help
Riley, T. (Speaker)
4 Feb 2026Activity: Talk / Presentation / Podcast / Webinar › Oral presentation
Impacts
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Fisheries closed areas for scallop dredging
Shelmerdine, R. L. (Participant) & Mouat, B. (Participant)
Impact: Public policy Impacts, Other Impacts
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Marine Spatial Planning and the Preparation of Designated Maritime Area Plans (DMAPs)
Shucksmith, R. (Participant)
Impact: Public policy Impacts
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Shetland Islands' Marine Spatial Plan
Shucksmith, R. (Participant) & Slater, C. (Participant)
Impact: Public policy Impacts, Cultural Impacts, Economic or commercial Impacts, Other Impacts, Quality of life Impacts, Social Impacts, REF2021 case study development
Student theses
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Tales of Borders
Wood, H. (Author), Jennings, A. (Supervisor), 19 Nov 2024Student thesis: Master's Thesis › Master of Research (awarded by UHI)
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Womanhood & the Body: An investigation of experience, community, and reclamation, through Practice as Research.
Walker, L. (Author), Mickel, L. (Supervisor) & Jennings, A. (Supervisor), 5 Apr 2023Student thesis: Master's Thesis › Master of Research (awarded by UHI)
File -
Bog in a Box: Is Long Term Peat Storage for Future Restoration Viable?
Detrey, I. (Author), Andersen, R. (Supervisor), Mouat, B. (Supervisor) & Waldron, S. (Supervisor), 29 Jun 2022Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy (awarded by UHI)
File