Knowledge hub

Professor Mark Turner on why healthcare systems rely on voluntary blood donors rather than paying for donations.

Professor Nicole Busby proposes that a legal duty of candour could help rebuild trust in public institutions by requiring them to be open, honest and transparent.

Barbara Kelly writes about importance of trust, honest communication and effective policymaking in addressing deprivation.

Medical mistrust is fuelling vaccine hesitancy. Can we overcome the trust paradox to rebuilt trust and improve public health?

Should we trust AI? Mona Simion argues explainability isn’t the key – trustworthiness is what truly matters for responsible AI use.

Europe faces a trust crisis with the USA. Can strategic autonomy and deeper cooperation redefine its future in a shifting global order?

Cervical cancer is preventabe. Yet, every year in Scotland around 100 women die from cervical cancer. This should not happen.

Sandy Begbie puts a case forward for why competitive taxes are key to growing Scotland’s economy and funding public services.

While cutting spending or raising taxes remain options, long-term prosperity depends on economic growth. Delivering this will require investment, skills development, and support for high-value industries to ensure more inclusive and sustainable living standards.

Scotland faces a growing nature crisis. Why urgent political leadership and public action are needed to restore biodiversity.

Bridie Ashrowan writes that Scotland can deliver meaningful change, and increased wealth, by investing in those leading community-based organisations and social enterprises.

As agricultural land is lost to development and competing demands, there is an urgent need for coordinated action. Roger Crofts argues why Scotland must prioritise food security in land use decisions amid rising pressures from development, forestry, and climate change.

Despite long-standing recognition of the social, economic, and cognitive benefits of language learning, modern languages in Scotland continue to face serious challenges. Jeremy Smith FRSE examines the perceived-relevance of language learning in an English-dominated world.

Scotland’s housing system faces a deepening polycrisis, driven by rising costs, weak income growth, and fragmented policy. Despite political recognition of the emergency, current responses remain limited.

As Scotland approaches the 2026 election, pressure is mounting on a health and social care system under strain. Lasting reform will require more than funding, it demands a shift towards community-based care, fair work for the workforce, and cross-party commitment to a national, once-for-Scotland approach.

When people think of rural education, their first thoughts often focus on challenges like distance, limited transport, and historical underinvestment. Yet, these factors need not define educational possibility, writes Douglas Dickson.

Immigration remains a prominent but often misunderstood issue in public debate ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections. Despite not ranking among voters’ top concerns, the conversation is increasingly shaped by misinformation, political pressure, and hostile rhetoric, raising important questions about how evidence, humanity, and truth can be restored to democratic discussion.

Angela Cox highlights that Scotland’s future prosperity depends on giving regions the freedom and flexibility to shape skills around their own economic priorities. She calls for a system that is nationally aligned but locally empowered. to help communities thrive.