ADR Scotland's mission (as part of ADR UK) is to harness the potential of administrative data for research in the public interest. Administrative data is data generated from public interactions: we therefore believe we have a duty to engage the public in how and why their data is used at every stage of our work.
The ADR UK review of public attitudes (2020) on the use of administrative data in research found the public is supportive, but only when:
Our public engagement activities
These principles guide everything we do and ensure we drive forward meaningful ongoing public engagement. Our activites are focused on enabling people to shape research priorities and contribute to conversations about how administrative data is used in public good research. Our activites include:
- Attending a range of public events throughout the year such as Pint of Science, Dundee Science Festival, Edinburgh Science Festival and Doors Open Days
- Resources for children and young people on administrative data
- Public engagement support for researchers on building engagement into all stages of their research
- Running our Scotland Talks Data Public Panel.
Please read our post event blogs from 2026:
- Blog on "Data for a Fairer Future”, part of this year’s Pint of Science festival in Edinburgh
- Blog on Making Data Make Sense part of this year's Edinburgh Science Festival in Edinburgh
Stay up to date with our work
We regularly post on our social media channels to share updates on our progress, highlight research findings, promote training and funding opportunities, and feature blog posts from ADR Scotland researchers and the team.
This helps ensure our work remains open and transparent.
