Background Information
- Applications sent by email or post are acceptable, and should arrive by 5pm on 30 November 2007. If you are e-mailing your application form, it is acceptable to type your name in the signature box of the application form at this stage. If you are selected for interview you will be required to bring a signed hard copy of your application with you.
- Incomplete applications will not be accepted and will be returned. Late applications will not be accepted without evidence of posting by first class mail or electronic transmission on or before 5pm on 30 November 2007.
- Please make sure that you read the role and person specification and list of essential and desirable qualities required before completing your application. When completing the application form, candidates should seek to demonstrate how their experience matches the person specification. Applications will be assessed on the strength of the information provided, including the supporting statement (Section 3 of the application form), and candidates who appear to match the criteria for appointment most closely, will be invited to interview. It is therefore essential for your application form to give full but concise information relevant to the appointment.
- CVs will only be accepted as supporting documentation.
- In addition to the application form, applicants should also complete and return a Public Appointments Monitoring Form. This will be kept separate from your application and will not be seen by the appointments panel.
- All application forms will be acknowledged on receipt. If you have not received an acknowledgement within 5 working days, please contact the SSAC Secretariat at scottishscience@scotland.gsi.gov.uk. If at any stage you think you should have been contacted and have not been, please contact the SSAC Secretariat.
- The appointment process will be overseen and evaluated by a selection panel chaired by Professor Anne Glover, the Scottish Government's Chief Scientific Adviser. Other members of the panel will be, Dr Stuart Monro - Independent Co-Chair of the SSAC, Professor Geoffrey Boulton - General Secretary of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Mr Melfort Campbell - past Chair of CBI Scotland.
- Once the closing date for applications has passed, applications will be sifted according to the person specification. Short listed applicants will then be invited for a short interview, or notified if they have been unsuccessful. This is expected to be by 4 January 2008.
- Interviews are expected to be held in Edinburgh on 24 & 25 January 2008.
- Candidates invited to interview can claim reasonable travel and subsistence expenses incurred within the UK, travelling to and from the interview.
- All interviewees will be advised of the outcome of the interview after a decision has been reached.
- The appointed candidates will take up the appointment on a date to be agreed between the successful candidate and the Chair of SSAC.
- A press notice may be issued to announce the appointment of the successful candidates. It would include a brief biography and details of any political activity undertaken during the past five years.
1. The Scottish Government's Chief Scientific Adviser is seeking to appoint up to 8 new members to the Scottish Science Advisory Committee (SSAC). The new members will replace existing members who have reached the end of their tenure on the Committee and a number who are stepping down. Committee members will have a key role in providing advice on science strategy, policy and priorities to assist the Scottish Government develop and deliver science-based policies that will contribute to growing the Scottish economy, raising the quality of life of the people of Scotland and enhancing Scotland as a science nation.
Background
2. Following the publication of A Science Strategy for Scotland [1] the Scottish Science Advisory Committee (SSAC) was created as an independent advisory Committee in 2002. The Committee was established under the auspices of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, to provide advice to Scottish Ministers on science strategy, science policy and science priorities.
3. Following the appointment of Professor Anne Glover, FRSE, FAAM as the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA), the SSAC moved from the RSE to the Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser (OCSA) within the Scottish Government on 1 January 2007 when the CSA took up the position of Chair of the SSAC. The RSE no longer has any responsibilities for the Committee.
4. To address the breadth of the remit of the SSAC the membership of the Committee has been drawn from right across the science, business and academic communities and has a broad range of expertise and experience in science-related matters.
5. Over the past 9 months the SSAC has been in a transition phase while the Chief Scientific Adviser has reviewed the arrangements for the future of the Committee. Revised arrangements are being put in place to ensure that the Scottish Government continues to have effective engagement with the science community on strategic science issues. As part of these changes, Dr Stuart Monro has recently been elected, by fellow Committee members, as the independent Co-Chair of the SSAC.
6. The SSAC will principally advise and report, through the independent Co-Chair, to the Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland, who in conjunction with the Co-Chair, will then take forward any advice and recommendations in discussion with Scottish Ministers and Government officials.
Remit and Work Programme
Remit
7. The terms of reference for the Scottish Science Advisory Committee are to:
- Advise the Scottish Government's Chief Scientific Adviser on a broad range of scientific issues and science-related policies that will grow our economy and raise our quality of life and will further enhance Scotland as a science nation.
- The SSAC will provide advice to the CSA on science strategy, policy and priorities to allow the Scottish Government to make effective use of available scientific advice, knowledge and techniques in formulating and implementing policies to support the full range of its objectives.
- The SSAC will take a medium to long term, horizon scanning, strategic view in formulating its advice.
- The SSAC has a purely advisory role and does not direct any research expenditure.
8. The Scottish Government will continue to rely on a wide range of scientific advice from a number of sources, including a wide range of UK expert scientific advisory committees. The Committee's role will not be to provide expert advice to the Executive on specific scientific matters, e.g. BSE, foot and mouth disease, release of genetically modified organisms etc.
9. The Scottish Government could ask the SSAC to recommend sources of scientific advice on specific scientific matters, or for assistance in organising events or commissioning advice on such matters.
10. The SSAC may develop projects to address specific areas of science strategy or policy and may publish reports on the work.
Context
The Strategic Objectives of the Scottish Government
11. The Scottish Government believes that success lies with focusing on working consistently and in an integrated way to make Scotland wealthier and fairer; smarter; healthier; safer and stronger; and greener - its five strategic objectives:
WEALTHIER AND FAIRER - To enable businesses and people to increase their wealth and more people to share fairly in that wealth.
HEALTHIER - Help people to sustain and improve their health, especially in disadvantaged communities, ensuring better, local and faster access to health care.
SAFER AND STRONGER - Help local communities to flourish, becoming stronger, safer place to live, offering improved opportunities and a better quality of life.
SMARTER - Expand opportunities for Scots to succeed from nurture through to life long learning ensuring higher and more widely shared achievements.
GREENER - Improve Scotland's natural and built environment and the sustainable use and enjoyment of it.
12. Science underpins these five strategic objectives and the SSAC will continue to develop science issues that are important to the Government's forthcoming science strategy [2][3], including:
- Maintaining and developing the excellence of the science research base;
- Enhancing international connections and capturing overseas investment;
- Intensifying knowledge exchange between academia and business;
- Expanding business innovation;
- Modernising science education and promoting science careers;
- Increasing public engagement with science;
- Developing better use of science by government.
SSAC Work Programme
13. While the Committee will maintain broad interests around the themes highlighted above, it will focus its interests at any given time through its work programme. The Committee will therefore not always be active in all of these themes at any one time.
14. The SSAC is currently finalising a piece of work: Research and Development: Science Base to Business. This report will be published later this year.
15. In the past the SSAC has reviewed and provided advice on a full range of Scotland's science activities. Most recently the Committee examined specific opportunities for the science base in Scotland, including E-health, Medical Imaging, Energy and Animal Bioscience. Copies of the published reports are available at: www.scottishscience.org.uk
16. In these reports, the SSAC identified a number of key issues, identified action required and made specific recommendations. The underlying theme to many of the recommendations was excellence, collaboration and enhanced connectivity, where Scotland's scientific strengths can be nurtured in both fundamental and applicable areas of science to benefit the Scottish economy and Scottish society.
Reporting Lines
17. The SSAC will principally advise and report, through its independent Co-Chair, to the Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland, who in conjunction with the Co-Chair, would then take forward this advice in discussion with Ministers and Scottish Government officials.
18. The SSAC operates in an open and transparent manner. All advice and recommendations provided to the Scottish Government will be published.
ROLE, PERSON SPECIFICATION AND CRITERIA FOR APPOINTMENT
SSAC Members - Role Specification
19. The role of SSAC members is to bring a balance of perspectives and views to provide advice to the CSA and The Scottish Government on science policy, strategy and priorities to deliver science-based policies that will contribute to growing the Scottish economy, raising the quality of life of the people of Scotland and enhancing Scotland's position as a science nation.
20. To address its wide remit it will be required that the committee as a whole will have access to expertise and experience to ensure a broad coverage of scientific interests including, research, development and exploitation within science, engineering and technology, education, social science, business and ethical issues. The Committee will comprise up to 18 members, including the Chair and independent Co-Chair.
21. In developing advice members are required to take a medium to long term strategic view of issues which fall within the Committee's terms of reference.
22. Under the leadership of the Committee Chairs, members will be encouraged to contribute to SSAC activities, bringing specific knowledge and experience to identify issues for discussion and consideration by the SSAC and contribute to its overall work programme.
23. Members will be expected to attend SSAC meetings (up to 4 per year) usually held in Edinburgh or Glasgow, but occasionally at locations elsewhere in Scotland. Some work outside these meetings, for example, conducted through sub-groups/working groups, visits, occasional workshops and events on specific issues, can also be expected. The typical workload would not be expected to exceed on average one day per month in total for most members, and in many cases may be less than this.
24. The term of SSAC membership is 3 years, with the possibility of re-appointment up to a maximum term of service of 5 years. Membership is not remunerated, however reasonable travel and subsistence costs and any dependent carer expenses incurred whilst undertaking authorised SSAC business will be reimbursed, following the Scottish Government's Travel & Subsistence Guidelines.
25. Members will be expected to abide by an SSAC Code of Practice.
Person Specification
26. A balance of expertise and experience from academic, industrial and commercial backgrounds will be sought. Applications are therefore invited from individuals with broad scientific interests.
27. Members will be required to demonstrate the ability to provide an appreciation and understanding of the 'big picture' perspective on a range of science policy issues.
28. Members should be of sufficient stature to command the confidence of Ministers within the Scottish Government and individuals working at the highest levels within the science base, business and public services.
29. When appointing Committee members, the selection panel will seek to achieve a representative balance in terms of gender, age, disability and ethnic mix alongside the wider criteria for membership.
Experience and Background
30. Appointment of individuals will be based on merit. Candidates must meet all or most of the following criteria:
- hold, or have recently held, a position of responsibility in academia, a research organisation, education, commerce, industry, finance or public service;
- be widely respected and active in academia, education, a scientific research organisation, commerce, industry, finance or public service;
- through relevant experience be able to contribute to the SSAC's evolving work programme which moves across strategic themes;
- be willing to devote up to 12 working days to SSAC business each year;
- be committed to help shape future science policies in Scotland;
- be willing to act as an ambassador for the SSAC and more generally to be committed to developing Scotland as a science nation.
Key Qualities Sought
31. Candidates should be able to demonstrate how they meet these key qualities:
Essential:
- A good knowledge of science and science policy issues and the expertise to place this knowledge in a Scottish, UK, European and global framework;
- Sound judgement in dealing with scientific and technical matters;
- Ability to recognise technological potential arising from both fundamental and applied sciences;
- Ability to think creatively, with a strategic vision for science that extends to the longer term;
- Effective communication skills;
- Ability and confidence to deliver clear advice;
- Ability to work effectively within a committee framework;
- Willingness to challenge conventional 'received' wisdom in a co-operative and constructive way: and
- Reliability, integrity and an enthusiasm for team working.
Desirable:
- An appreciation of the range of factors having relevance to the SSAC agenda; including research, education and training, innovation and knowledge transfer;
- Ability to translate research concepts towards technological advances and related opportunities in commercialisation;
- Some experience of a policy-making environment;
- Some experience of board and/or committee work
Applications
32. Applications should be made on the SSAC application form,
Short listed applicants will be invited for interview. The majority of interviews will be held in Edinburgh on 24 & 25 January 2008.
Further information on the SSAC can be found at:
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/science/16607/21495
For information on the SSAC prior to 1 January 2007 please consult: www.scottishscience.org.uk
[1] A Science Strategy for Scotland, Scottish Executive, 2001
[2] Science and Innovation Strategy for Scotland: Consultation Paper, The Scottish Executive, 2006
[3] Science and Innovation Strategy for Scotland: Report on the Consultation, The Scottish Government, 2007