SSAC Quarterly Update – September 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 9 September 2021 by video conference. The next SSAC meeting is scheduled for 8 December 2021.
1. SSAC CURRENT WORKSTREAMS
Geospatial Knowledge – effective use of geospatial data in Scotland. The report was published on 30 September and is available here
https://scottishscience.org.uk/article/future-landscapes-report-geospatial-knowledge
Work on Quantum Technologies is ongoing with the final report expected by March 2022
2. SSAC FUTURE WORKSTREAMS
There are a number of projects, covering a variety of sectors, currently being planned with SSAC members being allocated to lead each. Commissioning notes 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 in the lead up to COP26 in November 2021 include producing two short interview videos per month, published on the RSE YouTube channel and SSAC website in the run up to 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 Chief Social Policy Adviser for Scotland, Professor Carol Tannahill, has stepped down and Professor Linda Bauld has been appointed interim Chief Social Policy Adviser by the Scottish Government.
For further information, please contact the SSAC Secretariat team at: Scottishscience@gov.scot