The Scottish Government's push for regulatory alignment with the European Union reflects its aspirations for potential re-entry into the EU. Nevertheless, burgeoning regulatory disparities at both UK and Scottish levels pose significant hurdles, notably within sectors like the environment.

https://rse.org.uk/resources/resource/blog/brexit-and-the-brussels-effect/

The UK and Scotland face ongoing challenges from their departure from the EU. In the face of polling suggesting that a notable portion of UK voters would back rejoining the EU, mainstream UK parties have sidestepped serious consideration of this option. In Scotland, however, the discourse surrounding Brexit and the potential merits of rejoining the EU or pursuing independence within the EU framework is taken more seriously, as evidenced by the political stance of the Scottish government and the SNP.

https://rse.org.uk/resources/resource/blog/eu-scotland-relations-after-brexit-where-next/

Scotland's approach to immigration starkly contrasts with the rest of the UK, with political parties advocating for increased migration to address population decline and labour shortages despite lacking devolved powers over immigration. Unlike the UK, immigration isn’t a contentious issue in Scottish media or politics, and surveys reveal a more welcoming attitude towards migrants among the Scottish public.

https://rse.org.uk/resources/resource/blog/attitudes-and-narratives-on-immigration-is-scotland-really-different/

Citations and further reading:

Maneri, Marcello. 2023. “A comparative analysis of migration narratives in traditional and social media”. BRIDGES Working Papers 11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8192076

Smellie, Saskia. 2023a. “Migration narratives in media and social media. The case of the United Kingdom.” BRIDGES Working Papers 10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7937160

Smellie, Saskia. 2023b. “The impact of narratives on policy-making at the national level. The case of United Kingdom”. BRIDGES Working Papers 25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10259906

Smellie, Saskia, and Christina Boswell. 2024a. “Comparative analysis of migration narratives in political debate and policymaking: Cross-national report’.” BRIDGES Working Papers 26. Doi: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10590198

Smellie, Saskia and Christina Boswell. 2024b. “Policy brief on the impact of narratives on policymaking at the national level”. BRIDGES Policy Briefs 2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10591072

Professor Graeme Ackland highlights the debate around claims of room-temperature superconductivity breakthroughs.

https://rse.org.uk/resources/resource/blog/a-heated-debate-rises-over-high-pressure-superconductivity/

Alan Matthews explores the EU's recent reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, aligning it with the goals of the European Green Deal. While emphasising greater environmental ambition and performance-based approaches, Matthews notes pushback against certain legislative initiatives, offering valuable insights for Scotland's agricultural policy debate and transformation process, particularly concerning stakeholder engagement and managing conflicting priorities.

Professor Maggie Gill discusses the complexities of transitioning agricultural support in Scotland, emphasising the need for a just transition and outlining key challenges and questions in defining and promoting high-quality food production.

https://rse.org.uk/resources/resource/blog/agriculture-and-food-from-production-subsidies-to-balancing-support-for-farmers-livelihoods-with-promoting-the-green-transition-and-food-security/

Frank Moeschler MBE writes about the crucial role of EU funding, notably from Horizon, in Scottish research, highlighting the £900m received in structural funds and the impending loss of such support. Frank advocates for intensified efforts to bolster UK's association with Horizon Europe and Copernicus, stressing the need for coordinated engagement to maximise benefits from future EU research programmes like FP10.

https://rse.org.uk/resources/resource/blog/regaining-lost-ground-in-the-scottish-research-landscape/

Professor Andrew Manches, challenges the conventional debate on children's screen time, emphasising the need to understand how digital interfaces shape interactions. From the transformative impact of touchscreens to emerging technologies like augmented reality, ethical concerns about data privacy and the evolving meaning of childhood concepts come to the forefront. Manches advocates for a proactive approach, encouraging adults to be mindful role models, share concerns with children, and envision future designs that enrich their lives.

https://rse.org.uk/resources/resource/blog/children-and-technology-is-it-about-time/