Iain James McPherson Robertson

Iain James McPherson Robertson is an Associate Professor and Reader in History at the Centre for History, University of the Highlands and Islands. He holds a PhD from Bristol University (historical geography of Highland protests between the World Wars). His research focuses on heritage studies, cultural landscapes of Highland Scotland, and environmental ethics. Previously affiliated with the University of Gloucestershire and Curtin University (Australia), he has held research fellowships in 2008 and 2014. His work bridges history and geography, emphasizing landscape narratives and community agency.

Research interests include: heritage from below, social protest movements in 20th-century Highlands, and vernacular environmental ethics shaping crofting communities. His book Landscapes of Protest in the Scottish Highlands after 1914 was Saltire Awards shortlisted. Current projects address community landownership economics (2016), Highland improvement resistance (2025–2028), and rural health inequalities (2024–2027).

Key contributions include analyses of memorialisation practices, nature/culture dualism in Highland contexts, and collaborative rural development strategies. He actively supervises PhD students in related fields and engages in public outreach via lectures and media collaborations.