Scotland’s EIA Conference is a partnership event designed and coordinated between: Fothergill Training & Consulting, the Scottish Government, HES, NatureScot and SEPA with the aim of furthering the enhance of EIA practice across Scotland. This opening session of the conference focused on opportunities to advance EIA practice. The conference freely brings together delegates from across the professional EIA community from councils to consultants, developers to academics, Government and the statutory bodies. This opening session of the conference focused on opportunities to advance EIA practice from three different perspectives: - Lichfields summarised the findings of recent research studies they have conducted across the lessons learnt regarding consultation during the pandemic and exploring how to improve EIA scoping in Scotland. - SEPA discussed their shift in approach to EIA and project engagement, where they actively seek to generate a collaborative approach that is focussed on enabling enhanced outcomes for development, community and the environment. - Professor Thomas Fischer from University of Liverpool discussed the multifaceted relationship between EIA practice and universities – from research and capacity building through delivery of graduate recruits to partnership working - considering how better understanding on each side could further advance the delivery of effective EIA.
