A winter walk through the IES year
As the year winds towards its close and the evenings fully draw in, we wanted to invite you to wrap up and join us on a winter walk through the IES year. Consider it a frosted ramble through the topics, conversations and communities that shaped the past twelve months – a few familiar landmarks, a handful of gifts discovered along the way, and a final step back into our welcoming, refurbished “home”.
Our walk starts high on a ridge overlooking the year ahead. The landscape of 2025 was clear; it was sure to be another year of us speaking up for science. Just ahead lies Scotland, and below, the town, which has changed in this year; there's been a record number of cross-community collaborative events, with groups uniting over projects like BNG in practice. We can see a huddle of people zipped in warm coats with notebooks – it must be the IAQM early career network on a field trip. Tough weather for it, but sure to help with their professional competence.
The ridge is cold, and we’re glad to descend into early spring and stop paying for heating. The path winds down to the coast, and a bottle bobs to shore. Inside it, we find a Turning the Tide report, and we send out our own messages in bottles in return; this is how the IES does things now that we’ve gone fully remote.
Rockpools and spring rains bring puddles for us to see our reflections – and we’ve certainly become better looking this year. Step one of the glow-up was enjoyed by Essential Environment subscribers, and from there, our beauty addiction spiralled; environmental SCIENTIST got a facelift in June, ES Monthly became Field Notes in July, our first heritage RoCK got an update in December, and our website? Well...
But we’re getting distracted – we're still walking, though we’ve now left the beach. The trees are thickening, and whispering voices indicate we’re coming towards some kind of gathering. Of course, this glade is where we held Dialogue Between Disciplines. Might the voices be discussing the land use framework? Whispering first rumours of our collaboration with the ACCESS project? Speculating on the members of the first marine and coastal community steering group? Whichever it is, the voices are diverse, engaged, interdisciplinary.
As we walk through the forest, the leaves begin to crisp and brown into autumn. The light dims a little, but we’re guided by lanterns outside a row of buildings. Through the window of the first cottage, we can see the new land condition ECN steering group members gathering and planning next year’s Land Condition Symposium. The next cottage is surrounded by clean air and a gentle breeze; thanks to the IAQM publishing some new guidance. A little further along the ROAD is the town hall – the home of local policy guidance, delivery of change, and the defining of Our Shared Mission.
Autumn was busy. We’re back in December, and it’s time to go home for Xmas. Warm lights glowing in every window, we push open the door, shake off the cold, and take in the transformation. Our new space feels modern, professional, friendly, and ready for the years to come. With fresh rooms and clearer signposting, it’s designed to make finding what you need a lot easier. We put our feet up by the fire and think about all the gifts we’ve received over the last twelve months.
Thank you for walking with us this year. Here's to the next.
Header image credit: © Nature_Japan_NM via Adobe Stock
