Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to Inaugurate Scotland’s Future Speaker Series at St Andrews

Former First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, will launch the University of St Andrews’ Scotland’s Future Speaker Series on Monday 27 May.

Ms Sturgeon, who was First Minister and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 2014 to 2022, will share her thoughts on Scotland’s future and how it could and should look. The former First Minister will reflect on her time leading the Scottish Government, including throughout the pandemic, and what changes she has seen in Scotland since the opening of the Scottish Parliament 25 years ago.

The event, open to University of St Andrews staff, students and guests, is the first in a series of talks by leading figures in politics, business, industry, health care and education, and will allow audience members to ask questions of the former First Minister.

Scotland’s Future Speaker series is the latest development in the University’s Scotland’s Future Series project, funded by the Principal’s Office to stimulate debate and discussion on shaping Scotland’s future. Over the past two years, funding has supported more than 20 projects that look at Scotland’s future from differing perspectives, such as landscape and sense of place, colonial identities, changes to controversial legislation, and the importance of widening access to Higher Education.

The initiative also includes a podcast series that allows students and staff involved in projects to discuss their work and share their expertise. It also provides a platform to discuss the burning issues that impact Scotland, including the war in Ukraine and the cost of living and energy crisis.

The Speaker Series launch event will take place in the Booth Lecture Theatre, School of Medicine, on Monday 27 May from 6pm to 7pm (doors open at 5.30pm).