Marine Scotland Science today announced the formation of a new Science Advisory Board which has been established to assure the independence, impartiality and quality of science delivered by Marine Scotland Science.

The Board has been set up following the formation of Marine Scotland in April 2009 which brought together the functions of the Scottish Government Marine Directorate, Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency and Fisheries Research Services.

Marine Scotland’s role is to manage Scotland’s seas for prosperity and environmental sustainability.

The Science Advisory Board will serve three principal functions:

• Ensure that the science undertaken by Marine Science Scotland is objective and impartial
• Oversee the quality of Marine Scotland Science
• Provide independent advice to Marine Scotland on science priorities.

Prof Robin Cook, Head of Science in Marine Scotland said “Establishment of the Science Advisory Board is a key stepforward in the formation of Marine Scotland. It will ensure that the evidence we provide to decision makers meets the best standards of quality and objectivity.”

The new chair of the Board, Dr George Paterson, CBE said “The new approach to managing our seas in Scotland is an exciting opportunity for science. My colleagues on the Board and I are looking forward to working with Marine Scotland to assure the highest reputation for its science.”

The members of the Science Advisory Board are:

• Chairman Dr. George M Paterson. In 2000 George set up the Scottish arm of the Food Standards Agency where he was responsible for the development and delivery of the Agency?s programmes in Scotland and was awarded the CBE for his services to the food sector in the New Year Honours in 2008.
• Prof Paul Thompson has a Personal Chair in Zoology in the University of Aberdeen’s School of Biological Sciences, and is Director of the University’s Lighthouse Field Station in Cromarty. His main research and teaching interests are in the ecology and conservation of marine systems, with a particular focus on marine top predators.
• Prof Paul J B Hart of the University of Leicester has an extensive background in Ocean Science and has submitted over 70 peer-reviewed papers.
• Prof William Ritchie Presently founding Director of Aberdeen Institute for Coastal Science and Management (University of Aberdeen).  He is currently involved with research interests in coastal geomorphology, especially dune systems and machair, oil spill response and planning, Coastal Zone Management and various aspects of monitoring impacts of developments at the coast e.g. oil and gas pipeline landfalls.
• Dr Selina Stead from Newcastle University has 18 years experience in research, education and consultancy in marine resource management, specialising in coastal governance, socio-economics and scientific support for policy. Selina?s work in aquaculture and fisheries led to her current senior
  appointments as President of the European Aquaculture Society (2008-2010) and a UK Ministerial Appointed Scientific Fisheries Officer (2005-2010).
• Prof Felicity A Huntingford  works at the University of Glasgow.  She has extensive experience of research into behaviour and life history patterns in fish and other aquatic organisms.  Her research focuses on individual variation in resource acquisition in fish, on behaviour and production in farmed fish and, more recently, on welfare in farmed fish.
• Prof George Gettinby is a statistician and mathematical modeller at the University of Strathclyde.  His specialist marine interests have been in the control of sea lice infestations. In  collaboration with fellow researchers he has published findings on the epidemiology of sea lice, sampling approaches for monitoring infections, risk factors for sea lice infestations and the use of mathematical models for the evaluation of how best to control lice on salmon farms using veterinary medicines.
• Prof Maggie Gill has been Chief Scientific Advisor for Rural Affairs and Environment to the Scottish Government since February 2006.  She is also Professor of Integrated Land Use in the College of Physical Sciences in the University of Aberdeen. Her last post prior to joining the Scottish Executive was as Chief Executive and Director of Research at the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute in Aberdeen.

Related posts:

1. Marine Protected Areas around Scotland
2. The Future of Scotland’s Seas
3. UK Science Strategy
4. Marine Scotland Bill: Stage 1