Type of project: Call Down Project
Overview: The project will provide a concise overview of available faecal indicator organism (FIO) models for E. coli and explore opportunities for integration to support catchment-scale source apportionment in Scotland.
Status: Call for proposals now closed
Welcome to the autumn edition of our quarterly newsletter, CREW NEWS! In this edition we are shining a spotlight on how we embed impact in our work, highlighting recent events, seminars and publications, and hearing from our Project Manager, Rebekah Burman.
We'd love to hear what you'd be interested in reading in future issues of CREW NEWS.
Scotland is taking steps to understand and address the risks posed by emerging contaminants in its water environment. Three research projects, commissioned by the Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW), have provided critical insights into the presence, sources, and potential impacts of contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and antimicrobial-resistant genes.
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) was successfully used to monitor infectious disease markers at population level, exemplified by SARS-CoV-2, obtaining near real-time population level data. To merit further investment, policy teams need assurance that improved surveillance benefits health protection in Scotland.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi or other microbes change in ways that stop medicines, like antibiotics, from working properly. This makes infections harder to treat and increases the risk of them spreading, lasting longer, or becoming more serious. The Scottish One Health AMR Register (SOHAR) brings together AMR-related research involving Scottish researchers and organisations. It shows how Scotland is contributing to national efforts and helps identify where more work is needed.
Welcome to the summer edition of our quarterly newsletter, CREW NEWS! In this edition we are shining a spotlight on some of our recently published projects, highlighting a successful project workshop and hearing from our Director, Rachel Helliwell.
We'd love to hear what you'd be interested in reading in future issues of CREW NEWS.
A recent CREW stakeholder workshop brought together researchers, policymakers, industry experts, regulators and other environmental professionals to explore how Scotland is contributing to the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Type of project: Capacity Building
Project status: Project in progress
Commercial forestry operations potentially exert various influences on water quality, with impacts varying depending on the type of forestry operations and their interactions with local environmental conditions.
Scotland faces a critical public health crisis with one of the highest drug-related death rates in the developed world. Polysubstance use further complicates this issue, creating unpredictable health risks for users. Efforts to address this crisis include the National Drugs Mission Plan (2022–2026), which emphasizes reducing drug-related deaths through improved data collection and harm reduction strategies.