Minister for Public Health, Michael Matheson, provided words of encouragement to staff and students in the University of Stirling’s Centre for Public Health and Population Health Research during a special visit on 25 July.
The visit – organised by the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health – enabled the Minister to meet students and staff from the Centre and tour the facilities. Additionally, it allowed him to observe how the Centre contributes to public health research.
The Centre has a number of research programmes which explore aspects of public and population health in a range of local, national and international contexts. Within these programmes, an array of innovative research projects are undertaken, all of which aim to improve public health policy and practice. Examples of current research which address real world problems include complex interventions on reducing smoking; promoting physical exercise and mental health; health problems in young drug users; and preventing exposure to occupational and environmental carcinogens.
After listening to informative presentations about pioneering research being carried out in the Centre and across all areas of health care at the University’s three campuses in Stirling, Inverness and Stornoway, Mr Matheson praised the work being done.
He commented: “The work undertaken at the Centre, and indeed across the whole School, is world-class. I was impressed with the research projects and welcome the contribution that such studies are making to the public health agenda.
“The Centre and wider School foster an interdisciplinary approach, which means that knowledge exchange opportunities are created continually. The talented staff and students are also genuinely motivated to make a positive difference, which helps to engender the best possible outcomes for people, communities and the healthcare industry.”
Professor Andrew Watterson, Director of the Centre, said: “The University is delighted to welcome Mr Matheson to show him around the Centre and enable him to find out more about our pioneering research activity. As Minister for Public Health, Mr Matheson makes a significant contribution to Scottish politics and is dedicated to improving public health. We hope his visit today gave him a glimpse of how we share this commitment to promoting improvements in health and healthcare - within Scotland, across the UK and internationally.”