SSAC Quarterly Update – September 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, Chief Social Policy Adviser Professor Linda Bauld and CSA (Marine), Professor Mark Inall.
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 online on 3 December 2024
1. SSAC CURRENT WORKSTREAMS
- The critical technology and engineering biology projects have been agreed and working groups have been created with regular meetings arranged to take forward the projects.
2. SSAC FUTURE WORKSTREAMS
- A further meeting is required around the biodiversity project with relevant SSAC members and SG officials and will be set prior to next SSAC meeting.
- A further meeting is required with SG policy officials around the potential project on energy demand aggregation and a meeting has been arranged for 12 December.
3. SSAC MEMBERSHIP NEWS
- A recruitment campaign is underway with a view to recruiting up to 8 new members and 2 associate members to join the SSAC in March 2025. Closing date for applications will be 1 December 2024 and the recruitment pack will be circulated to existing members to share within their respective networks.
For further information, please contact the SSAC Secretariat team at: Scottishscience@gov.scot