Glimpse of the Future

Maggie Gill

DirectorRural and Environment Research and

AnalysisScottish Executive

Scottish Executive

Environment and Rural Research

Strategy

SEERRS

Format

Key trends in SEERRS Post election vision Working together – next steps Take home messages

Key trends in SEERRS

Programmes commissioned and cross-cutting themes aimed at fostering closer working between MRPs

New initiatives: e.g. Centres of Excellence and Environment and Health ‘programme’ aimed at strengthening closer working between MRPs and the university sector

Focus on policy relevant strategic/applied research

What does policy relevant mean?

…….particularly in relation to strategic research?

Impact of research on policy

Primary pathways by which decisions are shifted are often indirect, and involve improving general understanding of the context in which decisions are taken.

Leviton and Hughes, 1981 Evaluation review 4 525-548

Factors affecting uptake of evidence by policy-makers

whether research provides a solution to the problem;

relevance of the research; credibility of the researchers; use of participatory processes and pilot

schemes; communications strategy; advocacy

Court and Young, 2003 Bridging Research and policy: Insights from 50 Case Studies. ODI Working Paper 213.

Start and Hoveland, 2004 Tools for Policy Impact: A Handbook for researchers. ODI

Vision of the new government

… to create a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth.

5 Strategic Objectives to which all Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers

are committed:

Greener

Wealthier and Fairer Smarter

HealthierStronger and safer

Wealthier and Fairer – enablebusinesses and people

to increase their wealth and more people to share

fairly in that wealth.

WEALTHIER & FAIRERNew crop varietiesAnimal Vaccines

Environmental technologiesAppropriate regulation

Employment

5 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:5 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:

Contribution of SEERRS

Healthier - help people to sustain and improve their

health, especially in disadvantaged communities,

ensuring better, local and faster access to

health care.

HEALTHIEREnhanced understanding of

nutrition/health impactsHealthier Scottish foodEnvironment and health

Greenspace

5 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:Contribution of SEERRS

5 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:Contribution of SEERRS

Safer and Stronger – help local communities to

flourish, becoming stronger, safer places to live, offering improved

opportunities and a better quality of life.

5 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:Contribution of SEERRS

5 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES: Contribution of SEERRS and MRPs

SAFER AND STRONGERUnderstanding rural communities

Land management and flood prevention

Soils and forensics

Smarter -Expand opportunities for Scots to succeed from nurture

through to life long learningensuring higher and more

widely shared achievements.

5 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:Contribution of SEERRS

5 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:Contribution of SEERRS

SMARTERPhD students

Schools programmesPublic engagement

Enhanced understanding of natural processes

Greener - Improve Scotland'snatural and builtenvironment and

the sustainable use and enjoyment of it.

GREENERSustainable agriculture

Protecting carbon in soilsEnhanced water qualityBiodiversity conserved

Landscapes and communities

5 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:Contribution of SEERRS

5 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:5 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:

Contribution of SEERRS

Five themes from the “Greener” paper, presented to

Parliament on13 June 2007

Climate change - mitigation Sustainable places – clean air, green spaces People and nature - biodiversity Consumption and production – transport,

food, energy and buildings People and landscape – living and vibrant

communities

1850 1900 1950 2000

Difference from 1961-1990 long term average

IPCC, AR4, WGI (2007)

Increases in atmospheric GHG concentrations are leading to pronounced global warming

Working together – next steps

Between Main Research Providers

Between MRPs and university sector

Between MRP scientists and Scottish Executive policy-makers

RERAD strands of activity

Provision of policy evidence

•Shorter term•Policy customer leads demand•Projects procured through competition

Research

•Longer term•Horizon scanning leads demand•Programmes commissioned and peer -reviewed

Consultation on next Strategy

SE Environment, Rural and Marine Research Strategy

Will be ‘umbrella’ Strategy for SE and its environment, rural and marine Agencies and NDPBs

2 phases: Collect evidence on opportunities and requirements

under 4 themes Turn evidence into programmes

4 themes for consultation (phase 1)

Local response to global change

Sustainable communities

Sustainable environments

National Capability

RBGE Gateway

A glimpse of the future

Integrated communication strategies

Take home messages

Recognition of different time-scales and ‘language’ between communities of scientists, policy-makers etc

The potential benefits of planning and working together

Emerging issues and scientific opportunities need integrated science approach