A PARLIAMENTARY reception has been held at Holyrood to celebrate the global impact of Scotland's "world-leading" research.
SNP MSP Clare Adamson hosted the event which recognised the country’s role in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The 17 goals set out how the world can achieve peace and prosperity, from ending extreme poverty to reducing gender inequality. The full list can be found here.
The MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw organised the event alongside the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) and The Physiological Society.
The Physiological Society is the largest network of physiologists in Europe which supports the advancement of the sector. The RSE is Scotland’s national academy, established in 1783, for “the advancement of learning and useful knowledge”.
The meeting highlighted Scotland’s position as a top country for research productivity and impact across the world.
Adamson (below) said she wants Scotland to be at the forefront of solving the world’s most important issues.
She said: “My background is in STEM. So, the notion of ‘Scotland at the heart of meeting global challenges’ is an enticing one.
“I firmly believe that Scotland, with world-class research institutions, an established international reputation in science and development, and a demonstrable political will, can be at the forefront of meeting our planet’s most pressing challenges."
To achieve these ambitions, Adamson said, women and girls must be encouraged and empowered to enter science, technology, engineering, and medicine (STEM) fields that have been “historically male-dominated”.
She continued: “In the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the key word is sustainable. We can use emerging technologies for the betterment of people and planet. But it requires a considered and consensual approach and buy-in from the international community.
“It was wonderful to host some of the brightest minds in the country in our national Parliament. The RSE and The Physiological Society are testament to Scotland’s continuing excellence in research.
"These are world-class institutions and it is right that we celebrate that and resolve to create a better and fairer world founded upon the spirit of collaboration and innovation.”
Professor Charles Withers, chair of the RSE's research committee, said: "We are very fortunate in Scotland to have many world-leading researchers and institutions that already contribute significantly to the country's international research reputation and who work tirelessly to seek solutions to the global challenges we face.
"This successful event not only showcased Scotland's role in tackling critical global challenges and in meeting sustainable development goals, but also illustrated the importance of collaboration and partnership in undertaking world-leading research and in promoting research excellence.”
A spokesperson for the Physiological Society said: “The Physiological Society was delighted to organise this joint event in Parliament to celebrate the global impact of Scotland’s research.
"It was fantastic to have such support from Clare Adamson MSP, Minister Jamie Hepburn MSP, and many MSPs from across Scotland.
“Over the last decade, a third of Scotland’s research was directly related to the ambitions set out in the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Physiology, as the science of how the body works, is key to improving health, treating disease, and tackling global challenges.
"Scotland is world leading in the physiological sciences, with a proud history of Nobel Prize winners continued today by cutting edge research and teaching.”
