SSAC Quarterly Update – December 2021
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 Maggie Gill from 1 February 2020, the SSAC has 11 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 David Crossman, CSA Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Professor Andrew Millar and Interim 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 SSAC held its last meeting on 8 December 2021 by video conference. The next SSAC meeting is scheduled for 9 March 2022.
1. SSAC CURRENT WORKSTREAMS
Work on Quantum Technologies is ongoing with a roundtable scheduled for January and the final report expected by March 2022.
Work on the Science Legacy of Covid-19 for Scotland is ongoing, with a roundtable scheduled for January with the final report expected by March 2022
The Scoping Agreement with SG policy colleagues has been finalised to take forward the project on Circular Economy.
Work on an Early Career Researchers workshop is underway.
2. SSAC FUTURE WORKSTREAMS
There are a number of other projects, covering a variety of sectors, currently being planned with SSAC members being allocated to lead each. Scoping Documents will be drafted for each of these for final approval by the SSAC.
3. COP26 - Opportunities for SSAC
Joint activities by SSAC council members, RSE and SAGES were completed for the COP26 event in November 2021 – 24 videos were published on the RSE YouTube channel and SSAC website throughout the run up and during the event, to help highlight Scottish research and science and its contribution to understanding/tackling climate change and its effects. https://www.scottishscience.org.uk/article/cop26-face-facts
4. Membership news
The December 2021 SSAC meeting was the CSA Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Professor Andrew Millar’s last meeting. His replacement, Professor Mathew Williams, will take up post in January 2022.
For further information, please contact the SSAC Secretariat team at: Scottishscience@gov.scot