Observation and Research in Scotland

(1 Spot – Program Full)

Located in the town of Pitlochry in the Scottish Highlands is public garden that commemorates the Scots who travelled the world looking for new species of plants. The Garden is divided into different areas of the world over six acres of Woodland on the slope behind the famous Pitlochry Festival Theatre. Several improvements have been made and are still on-going to enhance the Garden for visitors. Housing is to be determined each year:  you will always have your own room and can be in a self catering apartment or in a shared guesthouse with participants in the Theatre Festival.

Pitlochry, in the Scottish Highlands, is where the Scottish Plant Hunters Garden and Explorers Garden commemorates the Scots who travelled the world looking for new species of plants. The Garden is divided into different areas of the world over six acres of Woodland on the slope behind the famous Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

Students will have the opportunity to assist the Garden team to learn about a variety of plants, their origins and garden uses, and work on specific garden projects and designs.

Pitlochry is the largest town in Highland Perthshire, with a population of just 3,000 inhabitants. On weekends, students can explore the many walking trails in the surrounding hills, stroll along the River Trummel, as well as visit the historic Pitlochry Dam and Fish Ladder, and watch the salmon swim upstream. The Pitlochry Festival Theatre, which is adjacent to the Explorers Garden, attracts over 100,000 people each year for its high-quality theatrical productions. The train ride through the countryside to Edinburgh is just under two hours.

(1 Spot – 1 Spot Available)

Research placements are now available with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which operates the Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park. This placement provides a unique opportunity for plant science and horticulture students as well as students in animal nutrition, zoology and habitat management.

RZSS is an international organization supporting a wide variety of research and conservation projects throughout the UK and around the world. Situated on 82 acres and located just three miles to the west of Edinburgh city center, students accepted will observe and assist the Head Gardner with a variety of projects focusing on animal nutrition, plants that animals eat, such as bamboo, and creating plant profiles.

There are many other on-going research projects related to the RZSS, but it’s important to note that candidates would not be directly handling animals for health and security reasons. RZSS also has a strong education component, including a “Wild about Scotland” traveling bus, that goes to schools and community events.  The Zoo’s Wild Genes Laboratory works on cutting-edge genomic research.

(4 Spots – Program Full)

Research placements at major universities in Scotland are available for psychology students interested in experimental psychology, social perception and cognition, memory retention, psychophysiology,  political psychology, and evolutionary psychology.

Activities relating to these areas of research may include but are not limited to assisting with data collection, coding data for on-going projects, research design, creation of study materials, and reviewing existing research.

In the area of experimental psychology, studies include the nature of cognitive adaptations and the role they play in memory, attention, and social and cultural phenomena. Other research projects may include philosophical issues in psychology, epistemology, adaptive memory, cognitive science of religion and factors affecting cohesion in groups. Students may also prepare short summaries of existing research methodologies.

(2 Spots – Program Full)

**New Observation & Research in Scotland** – Speech & Hearing Sciences at a prestigious university in their graduate lab.

Calling all Speech and Hearing Science students: Continue your interest in Speech and Hearing Sciences in Scotland. Five-week educational research visits are available on a competitive basis with faculty at a major university in Edinburgh. Studies include normal and disordered speech and hearing, including stuttering and stammering; memory and speech production; and hidden speech phenomena. 

Candidates will be involved in several ongoing research projects in the Clinical Audiology, Speech and Language Research Centre (CASL), many of which involve measurement of typical speech, language or hearing. Student also may participate in experimental data collection and analysis in English or any other language, collecting new speech data or learn aspects of speech production analysis using existing data. Active topics this year include bilingualism, dialectal variation, speech intelligibility in noisy environments, and a range of other topics. In CASL one of the main areas of research focus is in the use of ultrasound to study speech production, where you can learn about articulatory analysis. Other projects may include students running online experiments using the GORILLA experimental package, for example, to test listener attitudes to certain accents of English. There will be opportunities to mix with the research students at both the doctoral and masters level, and students are welcome at talks and seminars.

Candidates will enjoy visiting the city of Edinburgh and experiencing its rich architecture, history, and culture. The summer months offer many opportunities to explore other parts of Scotland even as short trips, including vibrant, romantic and beautiful location both urban and rural, from Glasgow to the Highlands, and mid-summer provides many hours of daylight in which to sight-see, with Edinburgh as a base.

Apply now, spots will go fast and are on a first-come, first-serve basis.

(1 Spot – Program Full)

New student research observation opportunities are available with one of the fastest-growing international producers of risk service for the food and drink supply chain. The business offers a complete range of compliance solutions for farms, fisheries, food processors, restaurants, and retailers. It operates in 40 countries across six continents and conducts over 35,000 audits and inspections each year, in addition to a range of tailored services aimed at protecting customers’ brands.

Students will have the opportunity to review and observe a variety of projects that provide quality assurance for farmers to implement. Students will observe current work to identify, market and deploy a business plan to expand their agriculture customer base within the UK and internationally. Students will learn about the company’s agricultural division, its research projects, case studies and various market development plans to increase food traceability and improve food assurance. Activities may change at the time of the student’s arrival, depending on summer priorities. Computing skills may be required for certain tasks.