Science and the Parliament 2015 is a success for the SCI Scotland Group

22 Jan 2016

Science and the Parliament is the biggest annual gathering of the scientific and policy-making communities in Scotland and in 2015, it was held on 11 November at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh. It was attended by around 180 participants from universities and companies across Scotland, industry trade-bodies and politicians. Presentations were given by Professor Dominic Tildesley, the President of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Professor Neva Haites, The Vice President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Professor Andrew Morris, the Chief Scientific Officer for Scotland. Professor Garry Taylor, the Deputy Principal of the University of St Andrews spoke of the importance of Scottish research which is cited around the world. Professor July Fitzpatrick of the Moredun Research Institute spoke of Scotland’s leading role in bioscience research.

The second session brought in addresses from politicians. Kezia Dugdale, the leader of the Scottish Labour party announced that Scotland will need 147,000 extra engineers by the year 2022 and discussed the need for the Skills Strategy to be led by industrial needs. Liz Smith of the Scottish Conservative Party spoke of the need to improve the delivery of science teaching within the Curriculum for Excellence. The programme also covered communication of science with the general public and business innovation through knowledge transfer.

Societies, including SCI, were represented at the exhibition space of the event. The SCI stand attracted a good level of interest from the audience and several people requested more information on the Society following the event. The SCI representatives at this event would recommend that the SCI Scotland Group continue to maintain a presence at these events and will endeavour to do so in the future.

Meet the Scotland Group at their upcoming events, Day of Science and Careers Scotland 2016 (online soon), and the Lister Memorial Lecture 2016: Antimicrobial Resistance - The Global Problem presented by Prof Dame Sally Davies on 8 June 2016.

Tiffany Wood, Chair, SCI Scotland Group and Stuart Reid, Treasurer, SCI Scotland Group

Related Links:

• Lister Memorial Lecture 2016: Antimicrobial Resistance - The Global Problem presented by Prof Dame Sally Davies, RSE, Edinburgh, Scotland, 8 June 2016
• SCI Scotland Group