Scottish Government appoints new Chief Scientific Adviser
Professor Calum Semple, OBE, is appointed for an initial three year term. Professor Semple is a Consultant in Paediatric Respiratory Medicine at Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust and became Professor of Outbreak Medicine and Child Health at the University of Liverpool in 2018.
He has helped the UK Government through the Swine Flu pandemic in 2009, and was on the World Health Organisation Scientific Advisory Committee during the Ebola Emergency and as a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies during the Covid pandemic.
Business Minister Richard Lochhead said:
'Science is the bedrock of our society and economy and at the heart of government decision making. From health to the economy to the environment and everything in between, it is a fundamental part of our everyday lives.
'I am delighted to welcome Professor Semple to the role of Chief Scientific Adviser and look forward to his valuable insight and advice as the Scottish Government continues to work with our world leading science sector to highlight Scotland's strengths as a science nation and ensure it is front and centre of everything we do.'
Professor Semple said:
'I am thrilled to have this opportunity to work for the people and government of Scotland, providing evidence and scientific advice to support our policymakers. I particularly look forward to collaborating with Scotland's vibrant communities of scientists and engineers in our schools, universities and industries, who inspire and drive the innovation essential for future economic growth. I will ensure that science and evidence remain at the heart of how we shape a fairer, greener, and more prosperous Scotland.
'I would like to thank my wife, friends, and colleagues at the University of Liverpool and Alder Hey Children's Hospital who support my career and enabled this important appointment. Their encouragement and collaboration have been vital to my journey.'
Professor Semple will advise the government with independent scientific advice on 'issues of strategic importance'. He will also have a role in inspiring new scientists and championing the country's leading science and research base.
He qualified from Oxford with a PhD in Clinical Virology at University College London and a Bachelor's Tripos in Cell Pathology, immunology and virology at Middlesex Hospital Medical School.
He became Consultant in Paediatric Respiratory Medicine at the University of Liverpool and Alder Hey Children's Hospital in 2002. He is also Professor of Outbreak Medicine and Child Health at the University of Liverpool. He will retain these posts although his principal appointment will be with The Scottish Government.
He was appointed OBE in 2020 for his contributions to the COVID-19 response and was elected a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health by distinction in 2022.
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