Welcome to the Plant Science Scotland website

Plant Science Scotland is a network of researchers from different organisations who collectively form a Centre of Excellence in Plant Science in Scotland.

There are more than 70 plant science research groups in Scottish universities and research institutes. The research currently carried out is excellent, covering a wide range of areas with good complementarity and innovation. The partner organisations bring together a unique combination of expertise in model and crop plant biology, biodiversity and ecology. The plant science community in Scotland is active with many established internationally-recognised researchers and increasing numbers of outstanding younger scientists. The community is in a strong position to provide education in plant science at all levels and to maintain a unique and world-class scientific profile and capability.

The main objectives of PSS are:

• to attract the best plant scientists to Scotland
• to increase interactions among the organisations at the levels of research, teaching, seminars and meetings
• to increase opportunities to develop and deliver high-quality science and new areas of science through interaction and collaboration
• to contribute to and exploit the international scientific knowledge base
• to provide a framework of national and international relevance for plant science conducted in Scotland
• to promote awareness of plant science at all levels of society and to co-ordinate communication of the value and need for modern, high-quality plant science in society
• to act as a representative body at national and international level

PSS can achieve these by providing a strategic vision for plant science in Scotland, identifying new areas of research, co-ordinating seminar programmes and teaching capabilities and courses, advertising seminars and meetings, co-ordinating the planning of resource and facility acquisition and deployment, communicating plant science to society and informing Scottish, UK and European policy.


Plant Science Scotland Board

The Board currently consists of:

Members of the Board will serve for 3 years. The aim however is to replace 2-3 members each year to rotate membership. New members will be elected at the annual PI meeting (AGM).

The Board meets twice a year.