The Centre for Mind, Creativity, and Environment Research (CEDAR) hosted
its annual Awayday in September 2024 at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh, bringing together experts from diverse fields to discuss cutting-edge research and explore new ideas surrounding the built environment, cognition, and creativity.
Led by Dr Marina Wimmer and Dr Suha Jaradat, the event offered a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration across interdisciplinary topics.
Here are some key highlights from the event:
Opening and Research Themes
The day began with a warm welcome from Dr Marina Wimmer, followed by presentations structured around four main research themes: Cognition and 
Environment, Living in the Built Environment, Spatial Technology and Design, and Sustainable Spaces. These themes reflect the diverse range of interests within CEDAR, with a strong focus on how environments—both physical and virtual—impact human behaviour, well-being, and creativity.
Immersive Technology and Sustainable Spaces
One of the standout features of CEDAR’s infrastructure is its Immersive Environment Laboratory, equipped with state-of-the-art virtual reality (VR) technology, eye-tracking, and motion detection. This facility enables researchers to explore questions like: Where are we most creative? VR environments such as cafes, offices, nature, and labs were used to assess the influence of physical spaces on creativity and cognitive flexibility.
Knowledge Transfer and Future Directions
The Awayday also featured discussions on knowledge transfer, particularly in fields like forensic psychology, sensory analysis, and creativity training. The Creativity Matters! project and innovative approaches to sensory analysis, such as the development of novel methods for profiling whisky flavours, underscored CEDAR’s commitment to bridging research with real-world applications.
Short Talks and Research Presentations
Several researchers took the stage to present their findings across various topics:
- Living and Working in the Built Environment: PhD candidate Natalie Bain-Reguis, Dr Suha Jaradat, and PhD candidate Iyad Sawaftah shared insights into how the design of our environments impacts everyday life and creativity.
2. Wellbeing in Forensic Environments: Dr Adam Mahoney and PhD candidate Niall Buchanan delved into forensic psychology, focusing on the relationship between environmental conditions and mental health in forensic settings. Their research highlighted the importance of understanding trauma and resilience when designing interventions aimed at improving wellbeing in such environments.
3. Sensory Research in the Real World: Dr Nikos Gkekas, Dr Michael Wamposzyc, Dr Chris Gillespie, Dr Ian Cunningham and PhD candidate Sally McGarry, explored how sensory experiences in real-world environments influence cognition and decision-making. With advanced tools like eye-tracking and brain imaging, their work sheds light on how people learn from their environments and how these processes affect daily behaviours and choices.
4. Creativity in Education and the Workplace: Dr Rory MacLean, Dr Peter Buwert, and Dr Marina Wimmer explored the intersection between creativity, education, and professional environments. The session emphasised how fostering creativity can lead to higher academic achievement and more innovative workplaces, but also acknowledged the challenges of applying creativity in structured educational contexts.
As the day came to a close, Dr Wimmer and Dr Jaradat thanked attendees for their participation, encouraging continued collaboration across disciplines. The 2024 Awayday underscored CEDAR’s role as a hub for innovative research and its commitment to shaping how we understand the relationship between our environments and our minds.
CEDAR continues to push boundaries, and the insights shared at the Awayday highlight how interdisciplinary research can drive real-world change, whether through better school environments, improved well-being in challenging settings, or fostering creativity in everyday life.
For more information on CEDAR’s work, you can visit the website or reach out to:
Dr Marina Wimmer (m.wimmer@napier.ac.uk) and
Dr Suha Jaradat (s.Jaradat@napier.ac.uk).