Richard Hewitt

Honorary Associate
E: Richard.Hewitt@hutton.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)

Richard Hewitt is an applied researcher in land use science and environmental sustainability. He has a strong interest in participatory planning and the role of communities in land and resources governance. For his PhD thesis (University of Alcalá , 2014) he focussed on participatory land-use modelling in a natural protected area in southern Spain. Before coming to the James Hutton Institute, he led a team of researchers investigating the implementation of renewable energy in Spain under the EU FP7 project “Knowledge-based climate mitigation for a low-carbon economy” (COMPLEX). 

Research

His current research lies in two principal directions; 1) the Clean Energy Transition, particularly the role of different actors in putting the goals of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement into practice; 2) managing environmental change through participatory mapping and modelling approaches.

His work is largely integrative and collaborative in nature, and he welcomes collaboration in any of his key areas of interest.  He is also keen to host visiting researchers and to undertake student supervision.

Past research

Hewitt, R. J., & Macleod, C. J. K. (2017). What Do Users Really Need? Participatory Development of Decision Support Tools for Environmental Management Based on Outcomes. Environments, 4(4), 88.

Hewitt, R.J., Hernandez-Jimenez, V., Zazo-Moratalla, A, Ocón-Martín, B., Román-Bermejo, L., Encinas-Escribano, M. (2017). Participatory Modelling for Resilient Futures: Action for Managing Our Environment from the Bottom-Up. Developments in Environmental Modelling, Volume 30, 1st Edition. Elsevier.

Hewitt, R. J., Winder, N. P., Jiménez, V. H., Alonso, P. M., & Bermejo, L. R. (2017). Innovation, pathways and barriers in Spain and beyond: an integrative research approach to the clean energy transition in Europe. Energy Research & Social Science, 34, 260-271.

Alonso, P. M., Hewitt, R., Pacheco, J. D., Bermejo, L. R., Jiménez, V. H., Guillén, J. V., … & de Boer, C. (2016). Losing the roadmap: Renewable energy paralysis in Spain and its implications for the EU low carbon economy. Renewable energy, 89, 680-694.

Hasselmann, K., Cremades, R., Filatova, T., Hewitt, R., Jaeger, C., Kovalevsky, D., … & Winder, N. (2015). Free-riders to forerunners. Nature Geoscience, 8(12), 895.

Publications

Journals

Books / chapters

  • Díaz-Pacheco, J.; van Delden, H.; Hewitt, R. (2018) The importance of scale in land use models: experiments in data conversion, data resampling, resolution and neighborhood extent, In: Camacho Olmedo, C., Paegelow, M., Mas, J.F. & Escobar, F. (eds.) Geomatic Approaches for Modeling Land Change Scenarios. (Lecture Notes in Geoinformation an Cartography). Springer International Publishing, Cham, Switzerland, 163-186
  • Hewitt, R. (2018) A short presentation of the actor, policy, and land use simulator (APoLUS), In: Camacho Olmedo, C., Paegelow, M., Mas, J.F. & Escobar, F. (eds.) Geomatic Approaches for Modeling Land Change Scenarios. (Lecture Notes in Geoinformation an Cartography). Springer International Publishing, Cham, Switzerland, 475-480
  • Escobar, F.; van Delden, H.; Hewitt, R. (2018) LUCC scenarios, In: Camacho Olmedo, C., Paegelow, M., Mas, J.F. & Escobar, F. (eds.) Geomatic Approaches for Modeling Land Change Scenarios. (Lecture Notes in Geoinformation an Cartography). Springer International Publishing, Cham, Switzerland, 81-97
  • Hewitt, R.J.; Hernández Jiménez, V.H.; Bermejo, L.R.; Escobar, F. (2018) Who knows best? The role of stakeholder knowledge in land use models – an example from Doñana, SW Spain, In: Camacho Olmedo, C., Paegelow, M., Mas, J.F. & Escobar, F. (eds.) Geomatic Approaches for Modeling Land Change Scenarios. (Lecture Notes in Geoinformation an Cartography). Springer International Publishing, Cham, Switzerland, 215-239
  • Hewitt, R.J.; Hernandez-Jimenez, V.; Moratalla, A.Z.; Ocon-Martin, B.; Roman-Bermejo, L.P.; Encinas-Escribano, M.A. (eds.) (2017) Participatory modelling for resilient futures: action for managing our environment from the bottom up., Developments in Environmental Modelling, Volume 30. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 236pp.

Technical / contract reports

  • Castellazzi, M.; Wilkins, B.; Gimona, A.; Hewitt, R. (2022) Preliminary comparison of the two land use scenarios NETZERO inspired & SSP3 inspired, Part of RESAS 1.4.2_WP4-Yr6-new14: Building back more sustainable landscapes.
  • Stutter, M.; Akoumianaki, I.; Coull, M.; Hewitt, R.; Nazli Koseoglu, M. (2021) Phosphorus recycling possibilities considering catchment and local agricultural system benefits: a review and regional Scottish case study, CREW website, 86pp
  • Castellazzi M.; Hewitt, R.; Gimona A. (2021) SSP1 & SSP5 land use scenarios (50 replicates, November 2020) to estimate 3 Habitats connectivity (Broadleaves, Moorland, Scot Pine) with the Lemmings tool., Part of RESAS O1.4.2ciiD29: Connectivity Analysis for Forests and Heather Habitats. (Powerpoint Summary).
  • Barlagne, C.; Melnykovych, M.; Hewitt, R.; Kerschbaum, D.; Miller, D.R.; Nijnik, M. (2019) Analytical case studies (Type A case study) Lochcarron Community Development Company – Strathcarron, Scotland, UK., Internal Project Report 5.4j – Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas (SIMRA), 59pp.
  • Secco, L.; Pisani, E.; Da Re, R.; Vicentini, K.; Rogelja, T.; Burlando, C.; Ludvig, A.; Weiss, G.; Zivojinovic, I.; Górriz-Mifsud, E.; Govigli, V.M.; Martínez de Arano, I.; Melnykovych, M.; Tuomasiukka, D.; Den Herde, M.; Lovric, M.; Ravazzoli, E.; Dalla Torre, C.; Streifeneder, T.; Vassilopoulus, A.; Akinsete, E.; Koundouri, P.; Lopolito, A.; Prosperi, M.; Baselice, A.; Polman, N.; Dijkshoorn, M.; Nijnik, M.; Miller, D.R.; Barlagne, C.; Hewitt, R.; Prokofieva, I.; Kuvlankova-Oravska, T.; Spacek, M.; Brnkalakova, S.; Gezik, V. (2019) Manual on innovative methods to assess social innovation and its impacts (D4.3)., Report to European Commission for Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas Project (SIMRA), Deliverable D4.3. pp176. In addition, Technical Annex and Spreadsheet Calculator.
  • Govigli, V.M.; Melnykovych, M.; Górriz-Mifsud, E.; Dalla Torre, C.; Ravazzoli, E.; Da Re, R.; Pisani, E.; Secco, L.; Vincentini, K.; Ludvig, A.; Weiss, G.; Zivojinovic, I.; Kluvánková, T.; Spacek, M.; Akinsete, E.; Barlagne, C.; Baselice, A.; Bengoumi, M.; Dijkshoorn-Dekker, M.; Egartner, S.; Gibson, H.; Gramm, V.; Herrmann, P., Hewitt, R.; Kozova, M.; Labidi, A.; Lolini M.; Lopolito, A.; Miller, D.R.; Niedermayr, J.; Nijnik M.; Perlik, M.; Polman, N.; Prokofieva, I.; Prosperi, M.; Fernández-Blanco, C.R.; Sarkki S.; Vassilopoulos A.; Wagner K. (2019) Deliverable D5.3. Report on social innovation assessment in each selected case study., H2020 SIMRA Project, Deliverable D5.3, Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas Project (SIMRA), Report to the European Commission, pp38.
  • Hewitt, R. J.; Castellazzi, M.; Baggio Compagnucci, A.; Gimona, A. (2019) Development of a land use model for scenarios of future land use and ecosystem services in Scotland: First interim report., Technical Report.
  • Gimona, A.; Baggio Compagnucci, A.; Castellazzi, M.; Hewitt, R. J. (2019) Modelling scenarios of land use change and assessing their consequences: the case of forest expansion., Interim technical report.
  • Msika, J.; Barlagne, C.; Hewitt, R.; Nijnik, M. (2018) Social innovation in rural areas in Scotland., Workshop Report, Social Innovation in Rural Areas in Scotland, James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, 31 May 2018, 13pp.
  • Hewitt, R.J.; Macleod, C.J.A.; Baggio Compagnucci, A.; Castellazzi, M.; Miller, D.G.; Gimona, A. (2018) Maps of land use data and ecosystem services for catchment level case studies in Scotland: examples applied to the National Parks and Aberdeenshire River Dee., Report to RESAS, 1.4.3 Objective D Deliverable D3.
  • Macleod, C.J.A.; Hewitt, R. (2018) Technical report D7: Overview of web mapping technologies and vector tile data for an outcome-based web application., Technical Report for RESAS deliverable, The James Hutton Institute, 20pp.
  • Macleod, C.J.A.; Hewitt, R. (2018) Technical report: progress with developing an outcome-based web application., RESAS Technical Report 1.2.4.3 (D3.6), 18pp.
  • Gimona, A.; Baggio Compagnucci, A.; Hewitt, R.; Castellazzi, M.; Poggio, L. (2018) Simulating the effect of linear features on nutrient and sediment export at the catchment scale., Report.
  • Macleod, C.J.A.; Hewitt, R. (2017) Summary of research on developing a more integrated approach to land and water management using incentives and regulations for the delivery of multiple benefits: exploring national and regional level stakeholder views and needs., RESAS Research Deliverable.

Conference papers

  • Barlagne, C.; Nijnik, M.; Hewitt, R.; Slee, B.; Miller, D.R. (2018) Re-inventing roles and rules, rethinking forest resources: community forestry as a social innovation in Scotland , 7th Conference of the Italian Association of Agricultural and Applied Economics (AIEAA), Evidence-Based Policies to Face New Challenges for Agri-food Systems,
    Conegliano(TV), Italy, 14-15 June 2018.
  • Hewitt, R.J.; Kovalevsky, D.V.; de Boer, C.; Hasselmann, K. (2017) Modelling actors’ influence on land use change: a dynamic systems approach., In: Bregt, A., Sarjakoski, T., Lammeren, R. & van, Rip, F. (eds.). Societal Geo-Innovation: Short papers, posters and poster abstracts of the 20th AGILE Conference on Geographic Information Science. Wageningen University & Research 9-12 May 2017, 5pp.
  • Nijnik, M.; Barlagne, C.; Miller, D.R.; McKeen, M.; Hewitt, R. (2017) Enhancing the resilience of European mountain regions through social innovation., Book of Proceedings, pp34-41.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Hewitt, R.J.; Bradley, N.; Baggio Compagnucci, A.; Barlagne, C.; Ceglarz, A; Cremades, R; McKeen, M.; Otto, I.M.; Slee, R.W. (2019) Social innovation and community energy: the European experience, 11th International Social innovation Research Conference, Social Innovation: Local Solutions to Global Challenges, Glasgow Caledonian University, 2-4 September 2019. Abstract No. 1328.
  • Hewitt, R.; Hasselmann K.; Kovalevsky, D.V.; Cremades, R. (2019) The transformative role of actor interactions new approaches to the climate policy narrative., 11th International Social innovation Research Conference, Social Innovation: Local Solutions to Global Challenges, Glasgow Caledonian University, 2-4 September 2019. Abstract No. 1329.
  • Nijnik, M.; Barlagne, C.; Hewitt, R.; Miller, D.R. (2018) Can social innovation help in the delivery of public goods from Scottish woodlands?, Land Use Conference: Rewarding the Delivery of Public Goods: How to Achieve this in Practice? Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, UK, 28-29 November 2018. (Poster).
  • Macleod, C.J.A.; Hewitt, R. (2018) Development of a progressive web application to aid land manager decisions: a tool to support environmental management based on outcomes., Scotland’s Biennial Land Use and Environment Conference XII. Rewarding the Delivery of Public Goods: How to achieve this in practice, Edinburgh, 28-29 November 2018. (Poster)
  • Barlagne, C.; Nijnik, M.; Hewitt, R.; Miller, D.R. (2018) Moving forward on Social Innovation in Marginalised Areas: updates from the SIMRA project ., ISIRC 2018, Bridging Social and Business Innovation, Heidelberg University, Germany, 3-5 September 2018.
  • Nijnik M.; Miller, D.R.; Barlagne, C.; Hewitt, R.; McKeen, M.; Msika, J. (2018) Social innovation – what it is, and why it matters for rural communities in Scotland and beyond., The James Hutton Annual Research Symposium, The Treetops Hotel, Aberdeen, 29 November 2018. Poster.
  • Hewitt, R.J.; Barlagne, C.; Hernández Jiménez, V.; Miller, D.R.; Nijnik, M. (2018) Who owns the wind and the mountains? A critical reflection on large scale renewable energy deployment in Europe., PECSRL 2018, European Landscapes for Quality of Life, Clermont-Ferrand and Mende, 3-9 September 2018. Book of Abstracts, pp163-164.
  • Nijnik, M.; Miller, D.R.; Barlagne, C.; Hewitt, R.; McKeen. M. (2018) How can natural assets based social innovation support rural Scotland?, ESCom 5th Annual Conference, Ecosystem Services in Practice, Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation, Edinburgh, 28 June 2018.
  • Nijnik, M.; Miller, D.R.; Barlagne, C.; Hewitt, R. (2018) Can social innovation make a change? Experiences from Scotland and the H2020 SIMRA project and ideas for the future of marginalised rural areas in Europe and beyond., XVI European Rural Development Network Conference CAP 2020+: Experiences and Ideas for Future Rural Areas and Development, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 17-19 September 2018.
  • Nijnik, M.; Miller, D.R.; Barlagne, C.; Hewitt, R. (2018) Can social innovation help in the delivery of public goods from Scottish woodlands? , Scotland’s Biennial Land Use and the Environment Conference XII – Rewarding the Delivery of Public Goods: How to Achieve this in Practice? Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, 28-29 November 2018. (Poster)
  • Macleod, C.J.A.; Hewitt, R. (2017) Developing and testing participatory results chain logic modelling (PaReCLM) for understanding the effectiveness of
    catchment interventions to provide multiple benefits.    , Resilience 2017, Resilience Frontiers for Global Sustainability, Stockholm, Sweden, 20-23 August 2017. Abstract and Talk
  • Barlagne, C.; Nijnik, M.; Miller, D.R.; Hewitt, R. (2017) Forest, food and livelihoods: achieving sustainable valorisation of the forest in Europe and in the Tropics., XXVII European Society for Rural Sociology Congress, Krakov, Poland, 24-27 July 2017. Abstract.
  • Hewitt, R.; Barlagne, C.; de Boer, C.; Doe, S.; Miller, D.R.; Nijnik, M.; Sundberg, C. (2017) Upscaling social innovation in energy for a sustainable low carbon economy., Resilience 2017, Resilience Frontiers for Global Sustainability, Conference, Stockholm, Sweden, 20-23 August 2017. Abstract and talk.
  • Nijnik, M.; Miller, D.R.; Slee, B.; Barlagne, C.; Donaldson-Selby, G.; Harnmeijer, J.; Currie, M.; McKeen, M.; Hewitt, R. (2017) Social innovation in marginalized rural areas: An overview of the H2020 SIMRA project., CECHR Symposium, West Park Conference Centre, Dundee, 22 February 2017.
  • Barlagne, C.; Nijnik, M.; Miller, D.R.; Hewitt, R. (2017) Social innovation, forest ecosystem services and sustainable agriculture: tensions and synergies around the valorisation of Guadeloupean forest., IUFRO, 125th Anniversary Congress 2017, Freiburg, Germany, 19-22 September 2017.