Hansard

Sandra White might not understand how the Parliamentary Bureau works—I do not know—but she might want to talk to her business manager about in-built majorities and how the Parliament’s business is determined.

I am trying to suggest that we could find better ways of having a specific focus and coming back to a debate in which there is something relevant and pertinent that could move the debate and agenda forward. I have no doubt that Sandra White will have a lot of interesting things to say, and I am sure that other members will have interesting things to say, but I suspect that they will all stand up and agree with one another on the significance and importance of science and ponder how we can encourage more people to engage in it. We are missing an opportunity to take things another step forward from the debate that we had just a few months ago.

I cannot disagree that we need to encourage more young people into science. I accept that that is partly about looking at how science is taught in schools, and I think that some of the initiatives that will no doubt flow from the curriculum for excellence will make a significant contribution to that, but there is also a challenge for us all in making young people see the relevance of science in academic study and as a career path to follow.

We have said that in previous debates, and that accounts for part of my frustration. We are still not doing enough. That is despite the sterling work that is being done in our universities, many of which are thriving despite problems at an earlier stage. We have a problem that starts from the early years and goes through our whole education system. Young people do not see the necessity and value of science and, worse, they do not see the opportunities that it can bring. It requires investment, focus and a change of emphasis to address that situation.

My colleague Neil Findlay asked about women and why the motion does not pay more attention to the need to engage women in science. That is a glaring weakness in everything that we do and say. When we look at the number of women who come out with suitable qualifications but do not follow them through in academic or career pursuits, we must ask ourselves why that is and what it means in respect of wasted opportunity for our country.

We can have all the debates in the world about inward investment, call centres and our financial services, all of which make a significant contribution to our economy, but there is no doubt that, if we are to thrive as a successful country in the 21st century, we need to do more to improve engagement in science, technology and engineering. Coming up with cutting-edge ideas, being able to develop them here, and selling them abroad will make this country successful. When it comes to engagement in science and technology, we cannot afford to ignore women in the way that we continue to do. There is a fundamental, structural problem in our country that we are not addressing properly.

The first Prime Minister of India, Nehru, stated:

“Who indeed could afford to ignore science today? At every turn we have to seek its aid ... The future belongs to science and those who make friends with science.”

That is true for 21st century Scotland, and the people who are engaged in science in our universities know the significance of that.

The minister has mentioned a number of innovative projects in our universities. A whole list of what is going on right across the country could be reeled out, and it needs to be given significant and added status. I would much prefer it if we could do that not only by holding a two hours and 50 minute debate but by embedding that into the work of the Parliament’s committees, so that parliamentarians have the opportunity to go out and engage. That work could happen across party lines because I agree fundamentally with the minister on the matter and, as I said, there is nothing that I would disagree with in his motion.

It is in the interests of everyone in the country that we do things better than we are doing right now. The significant worries about funding science festivals and centres and ensuring that science has a future must be addressed. That future comes not only from investment but from access to research council funding for our universities. We cannot ignore the worries that many academics have about access to research council funding. It is not good enough simply to say to them that it will be okay or to tell them not to worry about the constitution because the money and the access will still be there. Those worries need to be answered soon because they know the significance of research council funding.

The debate is about the value of something that should be fundamental to our education system but which in some cases is unfortunately not. That means that we need to invest in, resource and empower our teachers. As I have said, curriculum for excellence will give us opportunities in that direction. However, we cannot ignore the damage that has been done by the cuts in continuing professional development funding and access to CPD courses that many teachers face. Teachers need to ensure that they are up to date with developments so that they are confident and empowered to teach their pupils. If they do not have the enthusiasm, knowledge and wherewithal, they will not enthuse and motivate the next generation of scientists that we so badly need.

Perhaps we should take the debate as a wake-up call that science is important and that we should not devalue and underestimate it. Let us see whether we can—perhaps in private and not within the confines of the chamber—sit down and discuss how we can move the agenda forward, and then come back with debates that will engage people and maybe even fill the gallery with people desperate to know what we want to do in the advancement of science.

Without that commitment or understanding of the significance of science, we will face a bleak future. However, when I look at the enthusiasm, techniques, knowledge and skills that are available in our colleges and universities, I am confident that we can do something that will make a difference.