Fiona Williams

My background is in the social sciences with an emphasis on rural geography. I generally favour qualitative methods although the multi-disciplinary nature of my work invariably involves mixed-method approaches. I have a particular interest in the socio-economic dimensions of rural change and the policy-practice interface. I have studied this from Digital Economy, farm household adjustment, and rural health and wellbeing perspectives and have led and/or contributed to associated policy-relevant engagement and evaluation activities and reports.

Current Research:
I am currently working on an inter-disciplinary research project funded through the University of Aberdeen's RCUK dot.rural research hub - Rural Public Access WiFi Service (PAWS). The study explores satellite broadband solutions for the digitally excluded in commercially hard to reach remote rural areas. I remain involved in dissemination activity for another dot.rural project -Technology to support Older people at home: maximising Personal and Social interactions (TOPS).

The PAWS research programme comprises a partnership between the University of Cambridge's Centre for Science and Policy, the Horizon Digital Economy hub based at Nottingham University and the University of Aberdeen (dot.rural).