Friday 26 August
Young Voices - How children can influence political decisions of policy and planning
11:00 - 12:00, Committee Room 1, FREE.
Chairing this discussion, BBC Scotland’s Special Correspondent, Ken Macdonald, will be joined by Cathy McCulloch, Director of the Children’s Parliament, John Carnochan, Head of Strathclyde Police Violence Reduction Unit and representatives from the world of planning, policy and young people’s issues to consider how children's voices can be heard in shaping policy and planning at national and local levels, with specific reference to the successful modelling of EcoCities.
In association with Carnegie Dunfermline Trust and the Children’s Parliament
Book Young Voices - How children can influence political decisions of policy and planning online 
Is the internet good for democracy?
11:00 - 12:00, Committee Room 3, FREE.
How well do social networking and other new consumer technologies help to engage those who are disengaged and empower citizens to participate in democratic debate and hold our representatives to account? Panellists will discuss how effectively our democratic institutions, including the Parliament, use new technologies to help citizens to participate, and how citizens use those technologies to speak to those who are in power. Attendees to this event can submit their questions in advance for the panel to consider or start an online debate. Please do so by emailing [email protected] or tweet using #digitalengage . Chaired by former MSP and honorary professor at the University of Edinburgh Susan Deacon and joined by panellists Ewan McIntosh, CEO at the digital business consultancy NoTosh.com, Charlie Jeffery, Director of the Academy of Government, University of Edinburgh, and Mark Ferrar, National Technology Officer, Microsoft UK.
In association with Microsoft and the Academy of Government, University of Edinburgh
Book Is the internet good for democracy? online
Brian Taylor’s Big Debate
12:15 - 13:00, Room P1.02, FREE.
What's got you shouting at the radio or screaming at the headline: spending cuts, school closures, pension plans or the independence referendum? You can have your say on Brian Taylor's Big Debate. Join BBC Scotland's Political Editor live from Holyrood, for your chance to question a panel of politicians on the news of the week. Please email your questions to [email protected] by 17:00 on Thursday 25 August to ensure they are considered for the show.
In association BBC Radio Scotland
Book Brian Taylor’s Big Debate online
The P Word by Israel Horovitz - A Rehearsed Reading
12:30 - 14:00, Members’ Restaurant, FREE.
The Byre Theatre of St Andrews will showcase their production featuring a modern-day cocktail of teenage dramas with a dash of social media, followed by a question and answer session. Based on a newspaper story of a teenage pregnancy pact on Facebook this compelling play explores the challenges and choices facing young people in the current times of social media exposure.
In association with Carnegie Dunfermline Trust
The P Word by Israel Horovitz - A Rehearsed Reading online
Is the far north safe in Nordic hands?
13:30 - 14:30, Committee Room 1, FREE.
The Arctic region contains a high proportion of the world’s fish stocks, includes important breeding grounds and has huge untapped supplies of oil and gas. The Norwegian government is pledged to exploit natural resources without harming this precious environment. On the 150th anniversary of the birth of explorer Fridtjof Nansen, the Chief Secretary of the Barents Secretariat, Rune Rafaelsen will outline Norway’s ambitious plans for human, natural and safe energy development in the High North, challenged by Anna Kireeva from the environmental group Bellona and chaired by Lesley Riddoch, Director of Nordic Horizons.
In association with Nordic Horizons
Book Is the far north safe in Nordic hands? online
Access to information? There's a website for that!
13:30 - 14:30, Committee Room 3, FREE.
Scotland’s freedom of information laws give everyone the right to receive information from Scotland’s public authorities, but how has the internet changed access to information? Are we getting more than before, and are we getting what we want, or just what public authorities want us to see? Find out how new media make it easier for people to ask for information and how they have led to the creation of new kinds of information using government data. Chaired by Kevin Dunion, Scottish Information Commissioner.
In association with The Scottish Information Commissioner
Book Access to information? There's a website for that! online
Intellectual Property and the Law in a Digital Age
16:00 - 17:00, Committee Room 1, FREE.
Intellectual property (IP) includes copyright, patents, trademarks, domain names and confidential information. Those are often viewed as legal or business issues, but IP can also aid in protection and development of the arts, music and photography. Future events such as the 2012 Olympics and 2014 Commonwealth Games present their own IP challenges and opportunities. The current UK IP system is no longer fit for its purpose and reform is needed to ensure small and medium-sized business enterprises are protected and the UK is recognised as a safe and attractive place for international business. Guest speaker, and former member of the group Runrig, Pete Wishart MP will explore the issues. Chaired by Michael Clancy, Director of Law Reform, The Law Society of Scotland.
In association with The Law Society of Scotland
Book Intellectual Property and the Law in a Digital Age online
Communicating Politics: UN Proven Techniques for Expressing Complex Ideas Effectively to Different Audiences
16:00 – 17:30, Committee Room 3, FREE.
Four UN agencies operating in Scotland are active in communicating UN international politics and trends to Scottish audiences across the areas of peace & security, development, education & training, children and human rights. Dr Gari Donn, Convenor of UNA Scotland, discusses this civil society promotion of the work of the UN on Human Rights, Nuclear Non-Proliferation, the Middle East and International Development. Joanne Orr, Chair of the UNESCO Scotland Committee talks about the UNESCO Convention safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage and an initiative to record ICH in Scotland using an online wiki style inventory. May East, Executive Director CIFAL UNITAR Associated Centre, outlines techniques on how to communicate frontline implications of climate change & sustainability effectively at policy and decision-making levels. Bruce Wilkinson, Education Officer for Scotland, shares UNICEF face-to-face approach to promoting the Right Respecting Schools Awards.
Book Communicating Politics: UN Proven Techniques for Expressing Complex Ideas Effectively to Different Audiences online
Is Scottish education inspiring our pupils to reach for the sporting challenges?
16:00 - 17:00, Main Chamber, £6.00 (Concessions £3.50). Book in advance
With the Olympic and Commonwealth games on the horizon, the issues of sport and wellbeing in our schools for young people are becoming more topical. Are schools playing their part in inspiring and developing pupils to engage with sport and reach for sporting challenges? Chaired by the Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick MSP with panellis tAnthony Finn, Chief Executive, General Teaching Council for Scotland; Stewart Harris Chief Executive Sport Scotland; Professor Peter Higgins, Professor of Outdoor Education, University of Edinburgh, a representative of the Scottish Sports Association and former Scottish international rugby player and BBC presenter, John Beattie.
In association with the General Teaching Council for Scotland
Book Is Scottish education inspiring our pupils to reach for the sporting challenges? online
Burnsong Political Songhouse
18:30 - 20:00, Members’ Restaurant, £6.00 (Concessions £3.50). Book in advance.
Burnsong provides time and space for some of Scotland’s most talented songwriters to collaborate and create new work. Tonight, Burnsong presents an evening of commissioned songs of conscience, protest and concern featuring Annie Grace, Patricia Panther, Aly Macrae, Stevie Palmer, Lisa Rigby and Tim London.
In association with Burnsong
Book Burnsong Political Songhouse online
