SSAC Quarterly Update – September 2022
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 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 13 December 2022.
1. SSAC CURRENT WORKSTREAMS
Work on the Circular Economy project is progressing with a roundtable planned for 20 October 2022.
The Energy roundtable took place on 5 July 2022 and the draft report is awaiting SSAC sign off and is expected to be published be end of October 2022.
The Aquaculture project has been agreed and the SSAC Chair is convening a Short Life Working Group to take this work forward.
The Food Security project has been agreed and a Short Life Working Group will be set to take this work forward.
The Adaptation project has been agreed – awaiting recruitment of an intern to start research in this area.
2. SSAC FUTURE WORKSTREAMS
No further workstreams planned for the near future while current projects are running but it is expected that further Adaptation work will follow the completion of the initial project in the new year.
3. Membership news
Professor Sir Aziz Sheikh and Professor Bob Ferrier will complete the end of their SSAC term on 30 November 2022.
4. Recruitment
The closing date for applications ended 30 September 2022. There was a good response and interviews are being arranged end October/early November 2022.
For further information, please contact the SSAC Secretariat team at: Scottishscience@gov.scot