The Royal Society of Chemistry and Royal Society of Edinburgh have appointed Bristow Muldoon as their first Scottish-based parliamentary liaison officer in a bid to improve access to science support and information for MSPs and researchers.
Mr Muldoon, who served in the Scottish Parliament for two terms, will take up the post in September. The former Labour MSP for Livingston will act as a bridge on scientific issues between Holyrood, West-minster and the European parliaments.
He has a BSc (Hons) in chemistry from Strathclyde University and a BA (Hons) from the Open University, and served for more than five years as convener of transport and the environment, and local government and transport.
Mr Muldoon served as a non-executive director of the Scottish Schools Equipment Research Centre, and has worked on projects for the Scottish Executive Education Department on CPD provision for science teachers and technicians.