In February 2023, we collaborated with the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) to bring together our collective Fellows, emerging research leaders, and partners to discuss how to address health challenges in Scotland through evidence-based decision making and working across disciplines.
We worked closely with our Regional Champion for Scotland Professor Tim Aitman FRSE FMedSci, Professor of Molecular Pathology and Genetics, University of Edinburgh in developing the programme. We are grateful to all our Regional Champions for helping us deliver the commitment in our 10-year strategy, to establish networks across the English regions and devolved nations of the UK.
Connecting with journalists to diversify expert voices
We kicked off the Edinburgh events programme with a media showcase session introducing 7 Scotland-based women Fellows and programme participants with a group of Scotland-based journalists. Our experts had the opportunity to present their work directly to journalists from outlets including the BBC, the Daily Mail, STV, the Scotsman and Health & Care Scotland.
The session was part of our programme to improve the gender diversity of experts commenting in the media. It provided a fantastic opportunity for Scottish journalists to connect with experts from across medical and health sciences. Media follow-up is already in the pipeline, and we look forward to seeing more of our experts in Scottish news media soon.
Susie Forrest, Assistant News Editor at BBC Scotland News, who attended the showcase said:
“This event was fantastic with a format that was structured but not too formal. Each of the women experts brought their research to life, making it far more useful than any press release. I could have chatted to the contributors all day!”
Dr Jacqueline Maybin, participant in our FLIER programme, was one of the experts attending, she said:
“The support that the Academy's press office provided ahead of the event meant I was well equipped to get my key messages across about our research into problematic periods. I felt comfortable with the journalists and really enjoyed the sense of comradery between my peers.”
Supporting researchers to work across disciplines and sectors
We are committed to supporting the next generation of researchers to reach their full potential. The afternoon saw participants from across career stages engaging in panel sessions, rich discussions and networking opportunities jointly organised with The Royal Society of Edinburgh.The ‘Health of the public approach: Working across disciplines & sectors’ panel focussed on careers provided thought-provoking discussions on transdisciplinary work, digital health and influencing policy effectively.
A facilitated networking session followed the panel.
Linking scientists into government decision making
The day concluded with a highly informative Fellows’ Spotlight session on "Supporting evidence-based decisions in the Scottish Government".We heard from Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak FMedSci FRSE, Chief Scientist (Health) for Scotland and Professor Mathew Williams, Scotland's Chief Scientific Adviser for Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, on the importance of scientists’ involvement in policy work.
Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak FMedSci FRSE, Chief Scientist (Health) for Scotland, said:
“I think Academies such as the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Royal Society of Edinburgh have a great role to play in science policy, for example putting on events such as today that explain to Fellows that science is an important part of formulating policy in Government, and that policy work is an important role for scientists. It is fun and extremely satisfying, but one has to learn how to do it as it is not something that we intuitively learn in medical school or university, and events like today’s help tremendously.”
The Spotlight session was part of our continuing 25th anniversary programme '25 and up: the Academy for the next generation' which will highlight the needs and priorities of emerging research leaders and the role we play in helping them realise their potential.We are piloting these Spotlight sessions for Fellows to share their experiences and advice. The next session on evidence-based decision making in Westminster and Whitehall is happening on 28 March 2023.
An Academy working across the UK
Professor Dame Anne Johnson PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said:“We are a national Academy and we want to ensure our work will benefit all of the communities that we represent. It is therefore essential that we engage with the next generation of researchers across the whole of the UK. It was a pleasure to connect with Fellows, emerging research leaders and partners in Scotland, to work together to address the most significant health challenges in our society.”
We are thankful to the Royal Society of Edinburgh for their partnership in facilitating a brilliant day of collaboration and conversation.
Clinical Academics in Training Conference (CATAC) is next up in our regional events programme. The conference will take place at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge on Wednesday 7 June 2023. You can read about our previous regional event in Liverpool in October 2022 and we hope to be visiting Newcastle and Birmingham later in 2023.
