SSAC Quarterly Update – June 2024
The SSAC provides independent advice, through its Chair, to the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) for Scotland, to inform policy development and delivery across all areas of the Scottish Government’s (SG) work. It typically develops advice on a medium to long term basis, advising on developments in science and technology and their implications for policy and identifying potential future opportunities and threats.
Chaired by Professor Julian Jones from 1 December 2023, the SSAC has 10 other members, in addition to the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientific Advisers, all of whom are ex-officio members: Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) for Scotland Professor Julie Fitzpatrick, Chief Scientist (Health) Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak, CSA Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Professor Mat Williams and Chief Social Policy Adviser Professor Linda Bauld.
The SSAC issues a short report following each quarterly meeting to provide an update on its latest work streams and areas of interest. The next SSAC meeting will be in person on 10 September 2024 in Edinburgh.
1. SSAC CURRENT WORKSTREAMS
- A Space Teach-in Event for Scottish Government officials will take place on 25 June following the publication of the recent SSAC report: Scotland’s Space Sector; exploring potential future opportunities.
- A SSAC social media business page is being created on Linkedin and should be finalised in the next quarter.
- Discussions are continuing on future projects around critical technologies, engineering biology and biodiversity net gains with scoping documents expected to be in place by next SSAC meeting to take these forward.
- An enquiry from SG officials on the potential for another research project has been received and SSAC are awaiting the scoping document for consideration.
2. SSAC FUTURE WORKSTREAMS
A programme of work for future workstreams is expected to be agreed by the next SSAC meeting in September with the potential for up to four projects to begin in the Autumn.
3. SSAC MEMBERSHIP NEWS
- Dr Catherine Elliott resigned from the SSAC in April 2024.
- Professor Tahseen Jafry’s co-opted term on the council ended on 31 May 2024 following the completion of the Scottish National Adaptation Plan work.
- Following the announcement of a new CSA (Marine), Professor Mark Inall (a former SSAC member) will join the council as an ex-officio member.
For further information, please contact the SSAC Secretariat team at: Scottishscience@gov.scot