Hansard

My dad was an armature winder and engineer. He repaired the electric motors in generators and was a proud tradesman who had learned his trade on a very practical level. He eventually became self-employed, then employed people who came from more academic and scientific engineering backgrounds and was able to open up to other markets and compete in the sector by taking their advice. He tried to get his son to be an engineer, but that did not go quite so well because I found out that there was a connection with physics, which was never a strong subject of mine. I also managed to burn out one of the electric motors in his coil-winding machine when we were working an all-nighter during an emergency so—obviously—he gave me the keys to the van and I became a salesperson for him instead.

My dad might well be looking down and laughing at my attempt to debate science and engineering advice, but one thing that he told me was that Scotland’s record on scientific innovation is among the best in the world. A report that was compiled in 2009 confirms that Scotland’s research is cited by other researchers around the world more often than research from any other country, relative to gross domestic product. I mention that because Labour’s amendment states that it will make a difference if there is a constitutional question on independence, but I believe that Scotland’s record in science throughout the world would probably just continue nonetheless. That report found that Scotland was first in terms of citations relative to gross domestic product, second in terms of the impact of its research as measured by citations and fourth in terms of the impact of the most highly cited papers in the area.

New research by the Institute of Physics that was published in October shows that the contribution of physics-based business to the economy has gone up by £1 billion to £8.5 billion since 2005. The sector contributes 9.8 per cent gross value added to the economy, in comparison with the total UK average of 8.5 per cent. Professor Sir Peter Knight said:

“Physics drives the economy of Scotland, and Scotland leads the UK: physics-based businesses contribute a greater share of the economy of Scotland than their counterparts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Now is the time to build on this advantage.”

It just comes down Scotland’s endeavours in science and engineering being highly regarded throughout the world.

Labour also mentioned the potential for women to be employed in the sciences. The science and engineering education advisory group’s report was published in February this year, and following that, the Scottish Government launched the careerwise Scotland initiative at the first women’s employment summit, which was held in September this year. That initiative will encourage young women to consider careers in science and engineering.

There is also a three-year commitment to Government funding of Scottish science education research, with ring-fenced funding for new work with primary teachers; there is three-year funding for Scottish science centres and festivals, as the cabinet secretary said; and there is continued development of Education Scotland’s STEM support.

Although Scotland leads the world in the sector—we would like to continue to do so—I want to take members to the centre of the universe. Back in Paisley, the school of science at the University of the West of Scotland’s environmental initiatives research group is tackling waste and pollution management, climate change and human health. There is also mathematics and statistics research there. The university’s research covers all areas from pure mathematics to applied mathematics, and it has a molecular and health sciences research group and a sport, health and exercise research group. All that goes to prove that much is happening—even within one university in Scotland.

As Mr Findlay did, other members will, no doubt, talk about famous scientists. Although he was not a scientist, Mr David Stow created the science of teacher training. He was from Paisley and went to Paisley grammar school. He began in 1811 to work with the Port-Eglinton Spinning Company and he published his first book, “Teacher Training”, in 1828. He is remembered to this day through the name of Stow College in Glasgow, at Kelvingrove museum, and through Stow Street in Paisley—which, incidentally, is quite close to my parliamentary office.

John Witherspoon was not a scientist; he was a preacher who went to America. He signed the declaration of independence and became the president of Princeton University. At a time when things were difficult for the new American colonies, he set up one of the greatest places of learning in the world. That just goes to show that the Americans did not have a problem with the idea of independence, but were always looking outward to see what they could do. Scotland will be the same, come independence.

It is important to encourage all our young people to take up science subjects. I have mentioned some of the issues around that today. We need also to ensure that they retain their passion for it throughout their careers. Paisley and—yes; I admit it—the whole of Scotland have given the world so much in this field and we must ensure that we continue to provide the world with more Scottish scientific and engineering breakthroughs.

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