Scottish Freshwater Group

Promoting expertise and collaboration on a wide range of issues related to the freshwater environment – one of Scotland’s most precious natural resources

Why we exist

Scotland's freshwaters are of national importance and their sustainability is vital. Our SFG community is passionate about making a difference to the freshwater environment. We aspire to give our best efforts and lead a legacy impact in the world. Our purpose is to shape meaningful outcomes for Scotland’s freshwaters and beyond. We also encourage others to grow and continue the invaluable work we do in future.

How we get things done

The SFG plays a key role in bringing together many people connected with freshwaters. We adopt a future-focused, independent and comprehensive approach to this major natural resource. We support the sharing of knowledge, experience and best practice among our members. We create the conditions for learning, experimenting and influencing collaborative outcomes across disciplines. It is a place where we can all have conversations and do work related to the freshwater environment. This inspires projects on issues of local, national and global importance (eg climate change). The SFG Team helps our members by coordinating contributions, goings-on and engagement strategies.

What we do

We gather together twice yearly (in spring and autumn) at SFG meetings. These events are informal and usually hosted by life partner Stirling University. Our SFG agendas focus on a common theme of interest or open topic discussion in a supportive setting. They comprise a blend of talks, bite-size presentations and lunchtime poster session. Sometimes we explore different approaches to SFG meetings (eg workshops, Bio-blitz activities). This promotes interaction between our members and adds value to the bigger picture.

What else we do

Our Action Team (ATs) help SFG members to collaborate on fundamental issues and drive our ambition for Scotland's freshwaters. We have designed these ATs for everyone in the SFG to take part in small and big ways. They provide opportunities to infuse our expertise, enthusiasm, aspirations and people connections. We are building relationships, surfacing talent and integrating membership strengths for maximal impact. This will enhance the SFG's collective potential to influence environmental and people outcomes.

We also need to develop the SFG's adaptive capabilities and position in the 21st century. The sustainability challenges facing freshwater resources and shifting conditions necessitate considerable community-level response. This means greater situational collaboration and upskilling competencies for creating a better future. Our ATs will enable us to serve this larger purpose and improve how the SFG works.

SFG membership and making contributions

Our evolving membership has supported the SFG's existence and influence on freshwaters for more than 50 years. Everyone will be integral to sustaining our community's longevity and vitality for decades to come.

We have an extensive and increasing network of ~500 listed SFG members. We connect people from broad-ranging backgrounds (eg universities, research institutes, government and non-government agencies, industry) and diverse career profiles (eg students, academics, practitioners, resource managers, policy makers, civil servants, consultants, citizen scientists and professional retirees).

Joining the SFG community is free and simple by completing the SFG membership form. It is open to anyone who is enthusiastic about freshwaters and our collective purpose. All SFG members can expect frequent updates about SFG events, news and activities.

If you would like to offer a talk, poster or workshop for future SFG meetings, contribute to our Action Teams or get involved with other development opportunities – please contact us via the SFG mailbox or social media on Facebook and Twitter.

SFG meetings

SFG meetings are often held in the Logie Lecture Theatre and Foyer at Stirling University (see campus map). Due to circumstances of COVID-19 we have temporarily transitioned to online meetings hosted by Laurence Carvalho at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. We offer a safe and supportive environment to promote the work of our SFG community. We provide friendly feedback, ways for road-testing ideas and opportunities for growth.

These events are open (pre-registration not required), welcoming and free for SFG members to attend – except for lunch/beverages (usually served in the neighbouring Cottrell Building) and campus parking fees, incurred at own cost. 

It is possible to access previous SFG meeting agendas, approved copies of presentations and summary reports by navigating our website.

Our SFG Local Liaison at the University of Stirling is Dr Colin Bull.

SFG Action Teams (ATs)

These ambitious SFG projects are facilitating conversations between our members on fundamental issues. This is leading to community-level aspirations for driving much needed 21st century change. These inspiring efforts will shape meaningful outcomes for Scotland's freshwaters and beyond.

We always need motivated SFG members to engage with our Action Teams (ATs). These projects will run as short-lived (eg 6 to 24-months) collaborations and develop our future capabilities. Each AT has a dedicated lead and cluster of SFG members evolving a shared vision. They are action-oriented and responsible for transforming ideas into practical products. We trust our ATs will involve the wider SFG community along their cultural journeys. This means opportunities for everyone to contribute to environmental and people outcomes.

Our current AT projects and their lead contacts:

• AT #1 Sustainable minds for tackling 21^st century environmental challenges (Kerr Adams)
• AT #2 Enabling the future of citizen science in and around freshwaters (Roger Owen)
• AT #3 Shaping SFG’s Innovation Hub (Claire Neil)
• AT #4 SFG's Climate Change Group (Heather Anderson)

Our future ATs (coming soon):

• More AT projects are being planned and announcements will follow via SFG communication channels
• Call for SFG membership suggestions on freshwater and people-related goals for future AT projects

Other SFG Development Opportunities

Our SFG membership is our greatest asset and we want to help it flourish. SFG meetings provide the ideal place for everyone to grow from experience. Many of us have started out this way and developed through time. The SFG has had a positive influence on careers and enriched lives across our membership.

We enjoy practising our skills (eg presenting, chairing, networking, etc.) and helping others develop. The SFG caters for students eager to communicate their work in a welcoming and supportive environment. We also offer a plethora of development opportunities for interested SFG members. Here's a flavour of them – please contact the SFG Team if you would like to get more involved or seek mentoring.

SFG Guest Coordinator Roles & Session Chairing

The SFG is a fantastic incubator of people talent and capabilities at any career stage. It can be an intellectually stimulating and personally challenging environment for everyone.

It is now possible to put yourself forward for a chance to guest coordinate SFG meetings – from inspiring the agenda, to enhancing our professional network and having a go at session chairing. Regardless of whether it’s your first or thousandth time. Prior know-how is not essential. We provide leadership and tailored support for all SFG roles, as required.

Several SFG members have led by example and delivered quality events. We’re always looking for people with a desire to shape future SFG meetings and learn with others. Does this seem like the kind of opportunity you (or someone else) would thrive on or could use to improve a CV? If so, please express interest with the SFG Team.

• SFG 101 – Jennifer Dodd (Edinburgh Napier University)
• SFG 102 – Charlie Perfect (Scottish Environment Protection Agency)
• SFG 103 – Faye Jackson (Marine Scotland Science)

SFG Bio-blitz Activities

The first ever SFG community ‘Bio-blitz’ took place in spring 2016 at SCENE. We are preparing a manuscript for publishing our findings in a scientific journal. Further communication will follow.

We plan more field visits to help our SFG membership combine expertise and get to know each other better. Please let us know your suggestions about freshwater sites for future Bio-blitz activities.

SFG Social Side

The SFG is an informal and inclusive community. People with passionate connections to the freshwater environment lie at its heart.

We always like to see lifelong friends, our collaborators and welcome newcomers. We offer small gestures (eg badges) to help put faces to names and encourage mixing at SFG meetings.

There is an option for all SFG members to keep conversations going in a social setting. We usually do this by catching up at The Meadowpark, situated on the edge of campus, after SFG meetings.

It is also characteristic for our SFG members to stay in touch (eg ATs, research projects, day jobs, social media, etc.) between SFG events. You can find us enjoying the freshwater environment – whether for work or wellbeing!

March 2021: 

We hope this update finds you safe and well in 2021. You may have noted a delay in our communications and that we are now communicating from a new SFG mailbox. We will explain why we have transitioned to a new system and what it means for the SFG community moving forward. There is vital membership information included in this message. Please read through it so that you are clear on the next steps and how everyone can help with SFG transition work. Read our March 2021 update [PDF]