SSAC Quarterly Update – June 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 SSAC held its first hybrid meeting on 7 June 2022. The next SSAC meeting will be on 15 September 2022.
1. SSAC CURRENT WORKSTREAMS
The Quantum Technologies project is expected to be published in June 2022.
Work on the Circular Economy project is progressing with regular subgroup meetings scheduled and a roundtable event expected late summer/early autumn.
The Energy project has been taken forward with a roundtable event planned for 5 July 2022.
2. SSAC FUTURE WORKSTREAMS
There are a number of other projects currently being planned to look at Aquaculture, Adaptation and Food Security. Scoping Documents will be drafted for each of these for final approval by the SSAC.
3. Membership news
Professor Aziz Sheikh received a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for his work on Covid-19.
The new CS (Health) has been announced - Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak to take up post in July 2022.
4. Recruitment
The next recruitment campaign for SSAC members and associate members will be live late summer/early autumn with new members expected to take up post by 1 December 2022.
For further information, please contact the SSAC Secretariat team at: Scottishscience@gov.scot