Research Activities

Research lies at the heart of what we do as an organisation, and plays a vital role both in providing us with the evidence to inform decision-making, and in allowing others to engage with, and enjoy, Scotland’s historic environment.

Our research generally falls within five key areas:

Conservation

We want to help ourselves and others to better conserve and manage the historic environment. Through conducting technical research, we explore the conservation techniques we use to protect the properties, objects, and archives in our care.

Social and Economic Research

We want Scotland’s historic environment to make a strong contribution to the cultural, social, environmental, and economic wellbeing of Scotland and its people.  We conduct research into the contribution that the historic environment makes - or can make - to wider society, and to learn more about the benefits that Scotland’s heritage provides to society.

Climate Change

Research into climate change and the historic environment is one of our duties as a public body. We need to understand how climate change impacts our historic environment and how we can adapt Scotland’s heritage to withstand those impacts.

Technology and Innovation

Innovations in technology are at the heart of many of our key activities. We research to explore how best to conserve, sustain, and present our historic environment using the latest tools and technologies.

History and Archaeology

We always seek to improve our understanding of the significance and value of our historic environment, so that people can value, celebrate, and enjoy it.

You can learn more about our research priorities from our Research Strategy; and our latest research projects on our website.

Cover image © Historic Environment Scotland