Scottish STEM education hustings

With the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections soon to take place, the Learned Societies’ Group on Scottish STEM Education (LSG) invites you to a hustings event to hear representatives from Scotland's main parties outline the policies they will aim to put forward to support STEM education in Scotland.

STEM education equips learners at all ages with essential skills for their future and a strong science education sector is key to achieving Scotland’s national objectives. Against the backdrop of a prolonged major education reform, with a science Curriculum Improvement Cycle underway, much is at stake for STEM education in Scotland in the years ahead to ensure that Scotland has a STEM curriculum fit for the future. STEM uptake levels across the country continue to present challenges, and there are significant pressures on the education system to deliver better results at all education stages, while dealing with different types of challenges (e.g. teacher shortages, limited funds for materials).

The STEM Education and Training Strategy is now nine years old, and the sector has seen big changes in that space of time, especially more recently around the challenges and opportunities for integrating AI in teaching and evaluation, while models for learners’ use of AI and the ethical implications of such use are still nascent.

The event will offer an opportunity for participants to ask questions to understand the views of several political parties representatives.

At the time of publication, confirmed participants include:

• Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party: Miles Briggs MSP
• Scottish Green Party: Ross Greer MSP
• Alba Party: Caitlin Keeper
• Scottish National Party: Ben Macpherson MSP
• Scottish Liberal Democrats: Willie Rennie MSP

18:30-19:00 - Registration, refreshments and networking

19:00-20:00 - Panel presentations and Q&A with the public

Chair of the Learned Societies’ Group on Scottish STEM Education (LSG)

Professor in Computer Science Education at the School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh

Fiona McNeill is a Professor in Computer Science Education at the University of Edinburgh. She gained her PhD from the University of Edinburgh in 2006 and focused on dynamic data integration and ontology matching. Throughout her career, she has spent significant time on issues around CS and STEM education, in particular, access to education and inequalities within that. She took up a position as Reader of Computing Education at the University of Edinburgh in 2020 and focuses on transitions into university and access to CS and STEM in schools. She represents the British Computer Society (BCS) in the LSG and is the former chair of the BCS Scottish Computing Education Committee.

About the work of the Learned Societies Group on Scottish STEM Education (LSG)

The Learned Societies’ Group on Scottish STEM Education (LSG) identifies and promotes priorities for school STEM education in Scotland. This includes providing advice on school STEM education to decision-makers, including Ministers, MSPs, civil servants, and local authority representatives. Currently chaired by Professor Fiona McNeill, its membership includes the Association for Science Education (ASE), British Computer Society (BCS), Edinburgh Mathematical Society (EMS), Institute of Physics (IOP), Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), Royal Society of Biology (RSB), Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), and Scottish Mathematical Council (SMC).

More details are available here: https://rse.org.uk/about-us/governance/standing-committees/learned-societies-group/

Important points to note

• This event is suitable for age 16+
• Privacy policy: Please note that any personal data that is submitted to the RSE will be stored and processed in accordance with the RSE’s Privacy Policy. We will only use mobile numbers provided to contact you in the event of a cancellation.
• Filming: Livestreaming and photography may take place at this event. Please let a member of the RSE Public Engagement team know if you do not want to be photographed. Recorded events will be made available on the RSE YouTube channel.
• Covid-19: If you would like to wear a face mask, please feel comfortable to do so at our events. Please be mindful of other participants and stay at home if you have Covid symptoms or have tested positive for Covid-19.

Accessibility

We aim to make events as accessible as possible. If you have any accessibility requirements or have any questions related to how we can support this event, please contact [email protected]. Accessibility information for the RSE building can be found on our website: Accessibility - Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) : Royal Society of Edinburgh

Wheelchair spaces: If you would like to book a space as a wheelchair user, please select the ticket type 'wheelchair space ticket' during the booking process. If this is sold out, please contact the Public Engagement team on [email protected]

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