The Centre for Human Ecology is an independent educational charity and co-operative committed to transformative education and action based in Scotland. It seeks to advance radical and transdisciplinary human ecology as a field, and as a practice to tackle the root causes of the social, cultural and ecological metacrisis of our times.
Since 1972, CHE has achieved its purpose through educating and equipping people to carry out meaningful change- in campaigns, in organisations and communities both in Scotland and internationally.. It is best known for the pioneering world first Human Ecology MSc programme which ran from 1992 until 2010 delivered through through its partnership with the University of Edinburgh, the Open University and the University of Strathclyde, producing over 300 postgraduate qualified human ecologists from around the world.
CHE’s influence has included direct authorship and co-authorship of numerous books, reports and papers on radical human ecology, as well as hosting and co-hosting talks, lectures, workshops, webinars and conferences about the field. Other work has included consultancy and research projects, influencing policy and working in collaboration with third sector and community partner organisations. Read more in our history section[hyperlink] about CHE’s work over the past 50 years.
Much of CHE’s influence has been indirect through its international community of alumni, who have gone on to practice human ecology through leadership for change in their areas of influence – including academic research, education, activism, policy making and the arts. CHE seeks to collate and re-invigorate its national and global community during its 50th year in 2022.
People
As a co-operative operating in a traditional business and charity legal framework, our organisation is a blend of legal entities. In practice, we have Fellows, who are our distinguished ‘elders’ and life-long contributers, a Board of Directors, who satisfy statutory oversight and reporting requirements for the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, a leadership team and 80 general and supporting co-operative members and associates.
