enlightening

ANNUAL REVIEW
April 2011 > March 2012

The Royal Society of Edinburgh contributes to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of Scotland in the 21st Century

The stunning image on the front cover is of the RSE building taken during the enLIGHTen project in March 2012. As part of the City of Literature celebrations, building-sized projections inspired by the Scottish Enlightenment were displayed on historic locations across Edinburghs city centre. The moving images were stimulated by and created around a quote by Adam Smith Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition
Image courtesy of the City of Literature Photograph by Chris Scott

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The RSE plays a key role in promoting excellence across the full range of human understanding and in using that knowledge in the betterment of the national and international society to which we all belong
PROFESSOR SIR JOHN ARBUTHNOTT

Presidents foreword
With its unique breadth of expertise which embraces the full range of disciplines, The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) plays a key role in promoting excellence across the full range of human understanding and in using that knowledge in the betterment of the national and international society to which we all belong. The RSE vision is to create A New Enlightenment through continuing to build a dynamic and relevant National Academy for Scotland through its Fellowship of proven excellence, and to serve as an independent source of inspiration, engagement and expertise in Scotland and beyond. Over the past year we have delivered a varied programme of public-benet activities which have contributed to that vision by supporting research, promoting the public awareness of current issues, promoting international connections, enhancing the scientic and cultural interests of school children, and by providing expert opinion on a full range of national policies, with an increasing emphasis on enterprise. These activities are summarised in this Review and were delivered with the full participation of the Fellows of the Society, who gave freely of their time, supported by the Societys hard-working staff. This year also saw the formation of the RSE Young Academy for Scotland. An initiative that brings together Scotlands brightest emerging talents that will be central to the future leadership and vitality of Scottish society. Strong leadership and vitality will be pivotal over the next decade, as Scotland faces up to major economic, social and environmental challenges that will require the country to maximise its resilience and to exploit its potential to the full. Furthermore, it is as important to look beyond Scotland and build on our many international links as well. The Review also demonstrates what our programme of activities has actually achieved or, put another way, the added value it has contributed. Many of our activities were and are delivered in partnership with other bodies, and by the generosity of individuals who wish to make their own personal contribution to Scottish society, and who are condent in the RSEs ability to deliver on their behalf. I would like to express my sincere thanks to all of our partners for their support during the past year and in previous years. This support helped and will continue to help us to achieve our vision and make a contribution to the well-being of Scotland and its people as it moves forward to A New Enlightenment.

Professor Sir John Arbuthnott

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Enhancing the capacity of world-class science and culture researchers working in Scotland
Enhancing Research Capacity and Leadership
With funding from the Scottish Government (SG) we continued to support 17 researchers who received their awards in previous years. The most-recently-appointed Research Fellows secured more than 780,000 of additional research grant from other sources during 2011/12 and, since 2003, 7.7m of government grant-supported fellowships in this programme have levered more than 47.6m of further research funding. Around 85% of Research Fellows supported by the SG programme since its inception have remained in Scotland, and around 35% have obtained Professorships. In other programmes supported by BP, Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland, the Caledonian Research Fund and bequests and legacies received, we awarded a further 24 research fellowships, and scholarships and continued to support ten researchers who received their awards in previous years. These researchers have levered an additional 9.4m of research funding, from other sources.

Raising Scotlands Research Prole

In 2011/12 our Research Fellows attended over 122 overseas and UK conferences and seminars and published over 166 articles in journals with high impact factors (a measure of frequency with which the average article in a journal has been cited in a particular year). This has, once again, helped to raise the world-wide recognition and standing of Scottish research.

academia and Scottish cultural institutions, with a view to developing and enhancing understanding of human culture both past and present. It supports investigations in Scotland that lead to advances in creativity, intellectual insights and knowledge that are of value to the research community, of use in wider social contexts, and supportive of Scotlands national identity. An independent review of the RSEs Arts & Humanities programme was carried out in 2011, chaired by Sir John Enderby FRS. The ndings of this very positive review showed that the relatively small amount of funding which supports the programme can and does have a signicant impact. For example, 125,000 of support for Workshops which took place between 2007 and 2010 was expected to raise additional funding from other sources of 2.75m. New, lasting connections have also been established with leading scholars, research groups and prominent institutions at home and around the world.

Enhancing the Understanding of Human Culture Past and Present

With the support of the Scottish Government, our highly successful Arts & Humanities Programme awarded 15 Small Research Grants and six Research Workshops. We also continued to support four Research Networks and two Major Research Grants awarded the previous year. This programme encourages collaborative projects between Arts and Humanities departments in

Without the excellent support from the RSE Research Fellowship we would never have been able to have such a successful start with setting up our own research groups here in Scotland. I am enormously grateful for the opportunity given by the RSE!
DR JORUNN BOS, (2010) SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT PERSONAL RESEARCH FELLOW

Yes, and I was with [Ken] Loach and his entourage as we all travelled with a cavalcade of limousines along La Croisette to arrive at the venue and walk up the red carpet to the Grand Thtre Lumire for the world premiere. Fascinating insight from a lm scholars perspective and also, it has to be said, very good fun! It would not have been possible without support from the RSE, so, once again, thank you!
DR DAVID ARCHIBALD, (2011) ARTS & HUMANITIES SMALL GRANT AWARDEE ATTENDING THE PREMIERE OF THE ANGELS SHARE AT THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

STARS OF "THE ANGELS' SHARE" ON THE BEACH AT CANNES. IMAGE COURTESY OF CREATIVE SCOTLAND. PHOTOGRAPH BY NICK WALL

The support from the RSE and Scottish Government fellowship scheme has been absolutely crucial in exploiting unique links from my original research the detection of gravitational waves to the control of mesenchymal stem cell differentiation for use in cost-effective regenerative therapies. It has also helped support public engagement, from contributing towards BBC documentaries, to providing educational resources for schools and teachers.
DR STUART REID, (2008) SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT PERSONAL RESEARCH FELLOW

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Increasing Scotlands research and development connections internationally

Facilitating Collaboration & Connection
With Scottish Government grant support, we funded the travel of 70 researchers to and from Scotland. This supported their research work, connected Scotland to more than 25 countries worldwide, and equated to over four years of research time. During 2011/12, almost 4m of additional research funding was secured by these researchers from within and outwith Scotland. In addition to raising more funding, the programme helped facilitate the publication of 42 research papers, a further 65 planned/submitted papers, and the publication of a book. projects which began in previous years. The new projects are in the area of Image Processing and Understanding. Those which started in previous years cover subjects such as Information Science, Animal Health, Biological Sciences, Life Sciences, Management Science, Engineering and Public Policy. These projects are facilitating longer-term collaboration between Scotland and China; for example, one of the Scottish-based collaborators has been made an honorary professor by Shandong Agricultural University, China, and several student projects, including one PhD student, student placements, under- and post-graduate research projects, are being supported as a result of the initial Joint Project. We collaborated with the UNESCO Scotland Committee, British Council, the University of Edinburgh and the RSA (the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) to deliver an event on social inclusion in Theatre, Film and the Media as part of the Festival of Politics in August 2011. We held a meeting of all the Scottish-based Consuls to engage further with the international community for future joint activities and, owing from that, we held a joint event with the Polish Consulate Nation, Town, Memory Krakow Experience.

Maintaining Connections with China

In partnership with the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and with funding support from the Scottish Government, we continued to administer our programme of joint research projects involving Scottish and Chinese institutions, which began in 2006. In 2011/12 the programme supported seven new projects and 19

Building and Maintaining Relationships

In partnership with the French Embassy, London, we delivered year two of a three-year programme of science events designed to explore and publicly present areas of science where both Scotland and France have a powerful presence and to stimulate FrancoScottish collaboration in science.

The funding from RSE has helped establish, what both sides hope, will be a career-long collaboration
PROFESSOR GARRY LOAKE, NATIONAL NATURAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION OF CHINA JOINT PROJECT

An excellent yet simple funding scheme which has helped initiate and support productive collaborations with international partners in a timely fashion. These ventures have so far produced two manuscripts and an externally funded PhD studentship investigating a potential new avenue for treating symptoms of motor neurone disease
DR GUY BEWICK, INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMME, NEW ZEALAND

I consider RSE and its International Exchange Programme to be of great value for scientists and academicians from developing countries to enhance their capabilities in their respective elds, since their output is restricted in their own countries due to lack of resources
DR TOQEER AHMED, INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMME, PAKISTAN

The exchange program is denitely very useful in promoting ideas for collaboration between the scientists from India and other international countries. The involvement of younger scientists is signicantly benecial to them as it can be a stepping stone and decisive factor for deciding the course of research work
PROFESSOR XIONG-WEI NI, INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMME, INDIA

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Improving connections between business and academia

Boosting the Scottish Economy

In partnership with Scottish Enterprise (SE) and, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council we awarded ten new Enterprise Fellowships. These promote and encourage the commercialisation of technology-based business ideas and help Scotland to realise its full economic potential with more and better employment opportunities. During the year, fourteen former SE Enterprise Fellows attracted public funding totalling 1.1m and recruited 22 new employees. They also won nine new contracts worth 6.2m, launched seven new products and secured private nance of 1.4m. The company TreeGreen was started by Brian OReilly following an SE Enterprise Fellowship awarded in 2009. Brian is now developing a range of products to supplement his EnergyEGG product to calculate the most energy-efcient and cost-effective energy control for a building. The EnergyEGG has been distributed online by Tesco and is shortly also to be launched onto the High Street by John Lewis.

The SE Enterprise Fellowship programme has: > created 66 companies which have employed more than 230 people > seen the 5.5m invested in the programme facilitate in excess of 53.5 million follow-on investment over the past six years 42.4m of that from the private sector.

the Forum has met with businesses to discuss the nancing of innovation in Scotland and an Advice Paper will be submitted to the Scottish Government during 2012.

Success from Innovation

Matt McGrath, who in 2010 received our Gannochy Trust Innovation Award, has secured a multi-million $US distribution deal for his video laryngoscope manufactured in Fife. During the year we launched the RSE/BP Hutton Prize in Energy Innovation, which carries a prize of 10,000 and is awarded on a biennial basis to an early-career researcher based in Scotland, who has shown a signicant individual contribution to energy innovation through research and knowledge exchange. Dr David Wright, the rst prize winner, intends to fund up to three student internships to enable promising students from anywhere in the world to come to Edinburgh and carry out original research within his group.

Stimulating Business Innovation

Our Entrepreneurs Club met twice during the year and was attended by more than 90 former and current Enterprise Fellows, Selection Committee members, Mentors and guests. These gatherings facilitate discussion on areas of common entrepreneurial interest and enable those participating to network and share experiences with others. In October 2011, our Business Innovation Forum met with John Swinney MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, to discuss how the Forum might make a meaningful input to business innovation in Scotland. Following that meeting,

I was jubilant about achieving a place on the RSE/SE Enterprise Fellowship Programme. It is a coveted award and it allowed me to openly explore and expand the opportunities for my business that otherwise would have been exceedingly difcult to nd the time and affordability to do.
JASON COOK, RSE/SE ENTERPRISE FELLOW 2011 AND CO-FOUNDER OF EAST LOTHIAN ENERGY LTD

The people involved in the Fellowship are unquestionably of the highest calibre and truly devoted to helping mould and develop successful business leaders for tomorrow. The Enterprise Fellowship has undoubtedly been the single most critical and inuential factor in my entrepreneurial venture, without which I would have been unable to begin my businesses. For this, I am eternally grateful.
SPYRIDON EDOUARD TSAKAS, RSE/SE ENTERPRISE FELLOW 2010 AND FOUNDER & PRESIDENT OF EULYSIS GROUP

We will be in a position to launch Scotlands rst fully virtual SQA qualication next year with our own content and software and I couldnt have achieved this without the Enterprise Fellowship.
ANN ATTRIDGE, RSE/SE ENTERPRISE FELLOW 2010 AND FOUNDER OF KLIK2LEARN LTD

The Enterprise Fellowship was a fantastic opportunity to focus on building our company, Carbomap. I can't think of a better opportunity to get the time and support to turn an idea into a real business.
DR IAIN WOODHOUSE, RSE/SE ENTERPRISE FELLOW 2011 AND CEO OF CARBOMAP

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Enhancing the capacity of school-age children to adopt science as a career

Supporting 21st- Century Education
Through our Education Committee we continued to make an important contribution to Scottish education policy. We did this through engaging with Parliamentarians, Civil Servants, Teachers and Educational experts. This involved regular discussions, producing brieng papers, and providing oral evidence to the Scottish Parliaments Education and Culture Committee. Following on from our Chemistry Exemplication Project, which supported the Curriculum for Excellence by producing exemplar chemistry teaching materials for use in the classroom, we began a similar project in relation to computing science. The rst set of exemplication materials from this has already been delivered to Education Scotland and further sets will be delivered during 2012/13. We have also broadened our ability to engage with and provide advice to education policy makers by establishing a Learned Societies Group on Scottish science education. As well as the RSE, the group comprises representatives from the Association of Science Education, the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Scottish Schools Education Research Centre and the Society of Biology. This Group will provide a strong collective voice with a common goal of making a contribution that helps to develop and improve Scottish science education. Programme highlights were: > A Christmas Lecture To the ends of the earth Scotlands Global Diaspora was delivered by Professor Tom Devine OBE, FRSE, FRSA, the distinguished historian, who explored the puzzles of Scottish migration in the Victorian era. Once again, this was web cast live by the BBC to a world-wide audience; > Thirty nine interactive Start-up Science Master-classes for S1 and S2 pupils were delivered in university venues around Scotland; > There were twenty four schools talks for S3, S5 and S6 pupils on applied science and technology; > The Twit-Test developed by the Informatics Department at the University of Edinburgh, and delivered jointly with the Royal Society of Edinburgh was a twitter-based competition derived from the Turing Test, to complement the RSEs Turing 100 conference and celebrations. Hundreds of pupils across Scotland took part in the week long competition which included 12,000 tweets, 150,000 votes, four chatbots and ve celebrities; > Two talks were given to support the Scottish Book Trust National Non-Fiction Day.

More Condent and Informed School Pupils

During the year 3,950 students from 117 individual schools across Scotland participated in our primary and secondary schools programme, which was made possible by the expertise and voluntary commitment of our Fellows and others. Many of the 69 events which were held were interdisciplinary, covering subject areas from both science and humanities, and events were linked to the Curriculum for Excellence. We worked in partnership with many different organisations across Scotland to deliver the programme; for example, The University of Aberdeen, The University of Edinburgh, The University of Dundee, The University of St Andrews, The University of Glasgow, Heriot-Watt University, Scottish Book Trust, Edinburgh Beltane, Glasgow Science Centre, Edinburgh International Science Festival, and BBC Scotland.

I thought it was very fun! It taught me a lot more about science and made me decide to take biology as a subject!
LYALL, STUDENT AT HERIOT-WATT MASTERCLASS

I spoke to the girls yesterday they were still buzzing after their experience. Thank you for giving them the opportunity to work with the RSE and the BBC. We are proud to know they were good ambassadors for our school
CHRISTINE SCHOFIELD, TEACHER, KIRKCUDBRIGHT ACADEMY

Ninian attended all the science Masterclasses at H-W and really got a lot out of it. I think it was not only that he enjoyed the science stuff, but also being around students, and other staff, (he thought they were cool) at a real university... it really red him up for science and scientic people. This is half the battle isnt it!
JULIET, PARENT OF MASTERCLASS PUPIL

We did have a very successful sharing of our learning it was pitched at a good level held our attention, demonstrated points [and was] interactive and at times funny. We have even had parents congratulating us on arranging the event as children couldnt stop talking about it when they went home
JOY MACLEAN, TEACHER, DUNNING PRIMARY SCHOOL

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Enhancing the publics appreciation and understanding of science and culture issues
A More Informed and Knowledgeable Public
More than 3000 people attended our programme of conferences, discussion forums and lectures. This inspiring and accessible programme comprised thirty seven events which were multidisciplinary in nature. The series covered sciences, engineering, economics, medicine, history, philosophy, and arts & culture subjects. Amongst which were: A Healthy Message? Understanding the History and exploring the Future of Public Health Campaigns in Scotland 25 May 2011 Despite improvements in life expectancy, Scotland retains an unenviable health record. Although progress has been made on smoking, alcohol and obesity remain among the main public health challenges. So what can be done about it? Scots still drink more, smoke more and have poorer diets than much of the rest of Western Europe, said Dr Magnus Linklater, who chaired the event. There has been much done to try to decipher the reasons for this and to nd the solutions, but the problems have still to be dismantled. There are two approaches top down (ie legislation) or bottom up, which aims to effect a change in culture. So what can the arts and humanities do? Experts in public health, social marketing, health history and public relations gathered to discuss the issues and trade a few blows at this RSE discussion, which was supported by the Arts & Humanities Research Council and Scottish Funding Council. The Signicance of David Hume: Scepticism, Science and Superstition 23 May 2011 David Humes notorious scepticism has seemed hard to reconcile with his enthusiastic advocacy of human science. But recent scholarship has revealed a strikingly modern and coherent thinker, increasingly honoured as arguably the most signicant philosopher of all time. Dr Peter Millican, Gilbert Ryle Fellow and Reader in Early Modern Philosophy at Hertford College, Oxford and Illumni David Hume Fellow at IASH, Edinburgh University, presented Hume in this light, as a scientic revolutionary and a crucial inuence on Adam Smith, Darwin, Einstein and a host of recent philosophers. He also exhibited for the rst time a new electronic edition of Humes posthumous masterpiece, the Dialogues concerning Natural Religion, whose handwritten pages cunningly encode his still-disputed attitude to religion (this can be found at www.davidhume.org). Dr Millican gave a tour de force of the history of philosophy all the way from Aristotle to quantum physics, via Darwin and Einstein. He gave a sense of the important issues that Hume engaged with and why those issues continue to matter today. Joint Lecture with The Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and supported by the Journal of Scottish Philosophy. 2011 (inaugural) Beltane Prize Lecture for Public Engagement Communicating Science as Culture 7 November 2011 Delivering the rst Beltane Prize Lecture for Public Engagement, renowned zoologist, author and broadcaster Professor Aubrey Manning OBE FRSE, Professor Emeritus of Natural History, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, spoke of the beauty and elegance of science, and said that it was very much part of culture like a poem, or a piece of music. Whats more, he said, science and scientists gain from engaging with the public and society benets too. Radiation and Reason: Straight and Open Thinking about Choosing Nuclear Professor Wade Allison, Emeritus Fellow, Keble College, Oxford 5 September 2011 Nuclear Enlightenment? Although radiation in a massive dose may kill us, its use in medicine shows that humans can tolerate much higher levels than ofcial safety regulations suggest. Professor Wade Allison explained how we have exaggerated the dangers of radiation and suggested that the challenge today is to educate, invest and legislate for a new prosperity that includes nuclear technology. Professor Allison began by quoting Adam Smith, who said that science was the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition, and suggested that popular attitudes to nuclear energy and radiation also need such treatment. In the 20th Century, Allison concluded, we were wrong to think of radiation as very dangerous. We should now take up the challenge to educate, invest and legislate for a new prosperity that includes nuclear technology.

What I intend to do with the new knowledge is ensure that I present that spin on Humes theory of causation to my Higher class next year. I thought it was great. And one last thing its really helpful for students to get the opportunity to speak to philosophers.
JULIE KELSO, ATTENDEE AT THE EVENT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DAVID HUME: SCEPTICISM, SCIENCE AND SUPERSTITION DAVID HUME

I have been further motivated to pursue a career in health promotion and will use the information from the lecture to help me do this. I will also use the information to make changes to my own lifestyle and encourage others to do the same.
LOUISE MUIR, ATTENDEE AT THE EVENT PREVENTING CANCERS OF THE BREAST AND COLON BY HOW WE CHOOSE TO LIVE EACH DAY

I teach MSc students at the University of Edinburgh about environmental issues. I may well introduce some of the points made in the talk into teaching on the nuclear power debate.
SIMON ALLEN, ATTENDEE AT THE EVENT RADIATION AND REASON: STRAIGHT AND OPEN THINKING ABOUT CHOOSING NUCLEAR

I will use some ideas (especially provoked by the discussion) in my own (lifelong) attempts to communicate science to non-scientists.
DR JOYCE HOLT, ATTENDEE AT THE EVENT COMMUNICATING SCIENCE AS CULTURE

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Informing and inuencing public policy decisions

Parliamentary and Public Engagement
We provided a range of advice and comment on matters of public importance, all of which is publicly available through our website. This included: > 16 Advice Papers to the Scottish & UK Governments, the Scottish & UK Parliaments, the European Commission, and the Royal Society London > Five brieng papers to the Scottish Parliament in relation to schools education; rural affairs, climate change and the environment; low-carbon economy; spending review and draft budget; and broadband infrastructure > A series of dissemination events on the key issues raised in our Climate Change Inquiry Report (published March 2011). These were held in Aberdeen, Carnoustie, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, and were attended by almost 500 people > Working with MSPs from all Parties, a Cross-Party Group on Science and Technology was re-established > A Science and the Parliament event in partnership with the Royal Society of Chemistry, which attracted 35 exhibitors, more than 320 delegates, including MSPs, on the topic of Science and the Economy. which was launched with extensive media coverage in April 2012, makes recommendations aimed at developing a cohesive and comprehensive strategy for Scotland to increase both the proportion of women qualied in STEM in the workplace, and the number of women who rise to senior positions in universities, research institutes, government, business and industry. The Report was produced by a Working Group, chaired by Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell FRS FRSE. The group heard oral evidence from twenty representatives and received written submission from more than 40 organisations and individuals. During 2012 we are disseminating the reports ndings and recommendations at events around Scotland. Members of the Digital Scotland Working Group had a number of meetings with Scottish Government ofcials to feed in to the development of digital strategy. Meetings were also held with Alex Neil MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, on 20 September 2011 and 8 March 2012. In light of this on-going engagement, the RSE welcomed the need identied in the Scottish Governments Next Generation Broadband Infrastructure Plan for an open access backbone infrastructure, as called for in the Digital Scotland Report. A brieng paper on school education issues was sent to the Scottish Parliaments Education and Culture Committee in June. This was subsequently referred to in the plenary debate Taking Scotland Forward: Education and Lifelong Learning. A brieng paper on the delivery of economic growth within the context of the Scottish Governments draft budget and spending review received extensive media coverage, including in The Times, The Herald, The Scotsman and The Press and Journal. During a House of Lords debate on the Scotland Bill in March, Lord Wallace of Tankerness referred to the RSE response on proposals for a referendum on Scottish independence. In a press statement, Linda Fabiani MSP welcomed the RSE contribution to the referendum debate.

Our Inuence
Our advice and comment has had an inuence. Some examples of this are: A brieng paper on the RSEs Facing up to Climate Change Inquiry Report was circulated to all MSPs ahead of a plenary debate on the Low-Carbon Economy on 22 September. This note, and the RSEs wider report, was referred to at several points throughout the debate, including by Lewis McDonald MSP and Liam McArthur MSP. In June, Professor Alan Werritty FRSE presented the ndings of the Facing up to Climate Change Inquiry at Adaptation Scotland, a conference organised by SCCIP that brought together 200 representatives of public, private and third sectors to discuss Scotlands response to climate change. There was vocal support from the audience, particularly around the Inquirys recommendations on engaging society in responding to climate change.

Tapping Our Talents

During the year we produced a major independent report on Women in STEM Tapping all our Talents. Women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics: a strategy for Scotland. The Report,

Often womens achievements in science, technology, engineering and maths can be overlooked and undervalued. For too long many womens potential in these areas has been cut short. In the modern Scotland we must ensure that the talents of all our people are recognised and used for the benet of all. That is why I welcome this reports contribution to this important issue, and why the Scottish Government will work with key partners to nd solutions that benet women and our wider economy.
DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER, NICOLA STURGEON MSP, COMMENTING ON THE RSES TAPPING ALL OUR TALENTS REPORT

Scotland is in the midst of a major revision of the school curriculum, called Curriculum for Excellence. Computing science is rmly in the new curriculum, and the RSE is now running an exemplication programme to develop teaching materials and training to support this strand, particularly at the pre-14 age level, at which all students will encounter computing
THE GUARDIAN, MARCH 31ST 2012

I recognise and welcome the contribution that has been made by the RSE not only to the debate but to the work of the Cross-Party Group. Through Professor Fourman, the RSE has been a steadfast supporter and driver of many of the issues under discussion, which are contained in the infrastructure action plan.
WILLIE COFFEY, MSP AND CONVENOR OF THE CPG ON DIGITAL PARTICIPATION, COMMENTING DURING A SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE

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Recognising excellence
Royal Medals
Three Royal Medals were awarded; to Lady Helena Kennedy of the Shaws, Professor Lady Noreen Murray and Professor S Desmond Smith. Professor Murray, who sadly died in May 2011, was presented with her medal by the then RSE President, Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, at a ceremony in March 2011 at the University of Edinburgh, at which she was also awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree by the University. Professor Murray was one of the UKs most distinguished molecular geneticists and the Royal Medal was awarded to her in recognition of her leading role in the development of gene cloning technology. His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh presented the Royal Medals to Baroness Kennedy and Professor Smith at a ceremony held at the RSE in August 2011. Baroness Kennedy received her Medal in recognition of her outstanding contribution to human rights and civil liberties, access to education, arts and ethics; Professor Smith received his Medal in recognition of his eminent work in physics research. Engineers (IEEE) and the RSE, with funding support provided by Wolfson Microelectronics plc, created the award in 2006. In 2011, the award of a US $20,000 honorarium, and a gold medal and certicate, went to Dr Marcian Ted Hoff, the inventor of the microprocessor that revolutionised the computer industry. The award was presented to Dr Hoff by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh at the ceremony held at the RSE in August 2011. > Makdougall Brisbane Medal (Early Career Prize) awarded to two equally worthy of the award: Dr Sharon Ashbrook, Reader in Physical Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, for her outstanding scientic quality and leadership record and for her commitment to excellence in all areas of academic life. Dr Rob Jenkins, Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, University of Glasgow, for his outstanding scientic creativity, the inter-disciplinary reach of his research and his passion for science communication.

RSE Prize Winners

In 2011/12 we introduced new prizes recognising both long-standing and early-career achievement and excellence. The inaugural prize winners were: > Sir Walter Scott Prize (Senior Prize) Professor Tom Devine OBE FRSE FBA, Senior Research Professor in History, University of Edinburgh, for his outstanding contribution to Scottish History. > Lord Kelvin Prize (Senior Prize) Professor Colin McInnes FRSE, Professor of Engineering Science, University of Strathclyde, for his outstanding contribution to space systems engineering. > Sir James Black Prize (Senior Prize) Professor Geoffrey Gadd FRSE, Boyd Baxter Chair of Biology, University of Dundee, for his outstanding contribution to the growing eld of geomicrobiology. > Patrick Neill Medal (Early-Career Prize) Dr Nicola Stanley-Wall, lecturer in the Division of Molecular Microbiology, University of Dundee, for her outstanding research work, leadership skills and public engagement activities. (Nicola is a member of the RSE Young Academy of Scotland.)

New Fellows
Recognised by their peer groups as having achieved excellence within their discipline or profession, two Honorary Fellows, four Corresponding Fellows and forty Fellows were newly elected to the RSE Fellowship. These new Fellows increased our Fellowship to a total of 1,563 Fellows, comprising 65 Honorary Fellows, 64 Corresponding Fellows and 1,434 Fellows. This year the proportion of female Fellows elected, at 35%, was the highest in the history of the RSE in a single year and indication that more women are reaching the highest levels of their discipline. We encourage all our Fellows to participate as much as possible in our activities, as their contribution is pivotal to us being able to do and achieve what we do. The time they spend in supporting and enabling the delivery of our activities is an exceptional free public resource, the annual value of which is in excess of 0.7m.

The IEEE / RSE / Wolfson, James Clerk Maxwell Award

This annual award recognises groundbreaking contributions that have had an exceptional impact on the development of electronics and electrical engineering or related elds. It is named in honour of the 19th-Century Scottish mathematician and physicist James Clerk Maxwell, who laid the foundations of electromagnetic wave theory, radio propagation, microwave techniques and radio communications. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics

HRH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH PICTURED AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE 2011 ROYAL MEDALS WITH AWARDEE, PROFESSOR S DESMOND SMITH OBE

DR MARCIAN (TED) HOFF IS PICTURED (LEFT) AFTER RECEIVING THE IEEE/RSE/WOLFSON, JAMES CLERK MAXWELL AWARD 2011 WITH MOSHE KAM (CENTRE), THEN PRESIDENT AND CEO OF IEEE AND PETER FRITH, CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER, WOLFSON MICROELECTRONICS

THEN RSE PRESIDENT, LORD WILSON OF TILLYORN, IS PICTURED PRESENTING PROFESSOR NOREEN MURRAY CBE WITH HER ROYAL MEDAL AT A CEREMONY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH IN MARCH 2011 AT WHICH THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF SCIENCE WAS ALSO CONFERRED ON HER

THEN RSE PRESIDENT, LORD WILSON OF TILLYORN, PICTURED WITH PROFESSOR DUNCAN DOWSON CBE, HONORARY FELLOW, AT THE NEW FELLOWS' INDUCTION DAY, MAY 2011

THEN RSE PRESIDENT, LORD WILSON OF TILLYORN, PICTURED WITH DR BARBARA RAE CBE, AT THE NEW FELLOWS' INDUCTION DAY, MAY 2011

HRH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH PICTURED AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE 2011 ROYAL MEDALS WITH AWARDEE, BARONESS HELENA KENNEDY OF THE SHAWS

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Reaching out

The Young Academy

Todays youth are tomorrows future. We recognised this during 2011/12 by launching the RSE Young Academy of Scotland. This exciting development is the rst of its kind in the UK and is part of a growing movement of Young Academies across the world. The Academy brings together some of the most able and innovative young academics, entrepreneurs, artists and professionals in Scotland and provides a platform for the best and most forward-looking people of their generation to develop for themselves a distinctive, coherent and inuential voice to address many of the challenging issues facing Scotland and to contribute to solving some of the global challenges of the 21st Century. It is also provides a forum for its members to engage with talented individuals beyond their own discipline or profession. A rigorous selection procedure resulted in 68 young academics, entrepreneurs and professionals being chosen as its rst members from over 300 applicants, and every year a new round of applications will be encouraged to bring in a new cohort of members. Its members come from all parts of Scotland and include individuals who are originally from elsewhere in the UK and other parts of the world.

distributed worldwide to 350 libraries and academies, and six issues of Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Section A: Mathematics, distributed worldwide to 500 libraries and academies. Our journals have a broad international spread in terms of their author and subscriber base, their distribution to the Americas, Europe, Australasia and Asia, and the peer-review process that draws on an international bank of referees and editors. In 2010 the RSE initiated the process of digitising the RSES journal archive Transactions (17832001), Proceedings (18321940), Proceedings A (19411999) and Proceedings B (19411996) and following the successful conclusion of that work by Cambridge University Press earlier this year, digital subscribers now have electronic access to RSE Journals dating back more than 200 years. We also published two editions of our Science Scotland magazine on the subjects of The Search for New Drugs and Knowledge Transfer. Science Scotland has an editorial board drawn from within the RSE Fellowship that is able to harness its knowledge and experience of scientic innovations taking place in Scotland today. The title is distributed across the UK and worldwide to more than 2,000 chosen recipients and it is also available to view freely on a stand-alone website. During the year the website had 8,285 unique hits and was viewed by people in over 60 countries. Science Scotland continues to help to increase awareness about cutting-edge science & technology activities in Scotland.

Friends of the Society

Over a number of years now, the RSE has been working to foster the organisations relations with Scotlands business sector. A key plank of that activity has been the corporate engagement initiative, Friends of the Society. Established in 2009, Friends of the Society provides an opportunity for companies to nd out more about the RSE and the important work it carries out, whilst at the same time providing a platform to explore areas of mutual interest. Many prominent organisations have become Friends and the members of the scheme receive a number of benets that include free room hire and access to regular events in return for a modest annual fee. The project continues to develop, and during this review period (March 2011 April 2012), the Friends of the Society membership grew from eight to thirteen, those members being Aberdeen Asset Management, Arup, BP, FES, The Herald, Lloyds Banking Group, RBS, SCDI, Scottish Resources Group, Shell, Standard Life, Toshiba and Wood Group. Since then, several others have joined and we expect membership to expand still further in the coming years.

Spreading Scientic Knowledge Worldwide

We continue to publish our highlyesteemed scientic journals, this year producing two issues of Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh,

THE FIRST MEMBERS OF THE RSE YOUNG ACADEMY OF SCOTLAND PICTURED AT THE LAUNCH

THE RSE FRIENDS OF THE SOCIETY 2011/2012 AS ILLUSTRATED ON THE FRIENDS PLAQUE DISPLAYED IN THE WOLFSON LECTURE THEATRE

PAGE 18 I ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH ANNUAL REVIEW 11>12

Financial review and future plans

Financial review
The consolidated result for the year of 1.77m includes several non-recurring items a major legacy from Dr David Shepherd FRSE of 1,280,281 and a further payment of a legacy from Dr Gethin Lewis FRSE of 350,000. There was a windfall receipt from sales of the digitised historical journals of 50,000 and an unplanned surplus of 106,000 in restricted funds arising from the early resignation of CRF research fellows. The underlying nancial result for the year was a decit of 21,000. The major reason for the fall in incoming resources for charitable activities was the 16% cut in Scottish Government grant to 2.455m. This resulted in decreases of 79,000 for science research fellowships and 353,000 for Arts & Humanities research awards, funded by Scottish Government. On a like-for-like basis excluding the exceptional pension credit in 2011, total expenditure decreased by 15% (0.88m). Reductions in grants payable in support of research and innovation gave rise to the major part of this decrease, falling from 4.01m to 3.18m. A new area of charitable expenditure was the development and support of the RSE Young Academy of Scotland. Governance costs continue to represent less than 3% of total recurring income. Total funds increased by 1.93m. In addition to the revenue surplus of 1,771,000, there were realised and unrealised investment gains of 232,000, and a negative movement of 75,000 on the actuarial pension fund liability. The RSEs updated Strategic Framework and its future priorities, will seek to mitigate the effects of public sector funding uncertainties. The focus will remain on the successful delivery of the RSEs varied programme of activities with public benet outcomes. The Council continues to develop partnerships with the corporate sector through the Friends of the Society, and seeks to increase its internal resources, to improve the level of income that the RSE receives from non-governmental sources. The aim of building the Development Fund as an internal resource continues, although this is of necessity a long-term plan. Nevertheless, the RSE is determined to strengthen and enhance its contribution to the wider society of which it is part.

000 Total net incoming resources Less: Legacy Dr Shepherd Legacy Dr Lewis Sales of digital archive Surplus of CRF income Appeal income Decit on recurring activities 1,771

(1,280) (350) (50) (106) (6) (21)

Total incoming resources were 6.75 m (2011 5.95m), the increase arising mainly from the legacy receipts. Other voluntary income, which includes Fellows subscriptions and continuing contributions from the corporate partners of the RSE, remained similar to previous years. Investment income of 0.8m increased by 17%, reecting the addition of income from legacies, but incoming resources from charitable activities decreased by 17% to 3.8m.

Future Plans
The Scottish Government has cut the RSEs grant for 201213 to 2.35m, with indicative levels of future grant being reduced by a further 250,000. These substantial cuts greatly reduce the scale of the research fellowships and grant activities that RSE runs on behalf of the Government, despite compelling evidence of the value to Scotland of the Science research fellowships and the Arts & Humanities research awards.

Financial review
Group income and expenditure
General Fund 000 Incoming resources from charitable activities Legacies Grants, donations, rental and investment income Total incoming resources Cost of generating funds Charitable activities Exceptional FRS17 pension credit Governance Total resources expended Net incoming resources 89 281 370 (163) (274) (109) (546) (176) Designated funds 000 1,630 208 1,838 (25) (69) (94) 1,744 Restricted income 000 3,392 3,392 (3,392) (3,392) Restricted funds 000 325 826 1,151 (67) (835) (46) (948) 203 2012 total 000 3,806 1,630 1,315 6,751 (255) (4,570) (155) (4,980) 1,771 2011 total 000 4,611 62 1,276 5,949 (282) (5,421) 240 (159) (5,622) 327

Group balance sheet

2012 000 Tangible xed assets Investments Current assets Deposits Cash Current liabilities Provisions for liabilities and charges Pension fund asset/(liability) Total net assets Represented by General fund Designated funds Restricted funds Total funds 624 9,406 14,080 24,110 758 7,699 13,725 22,182 3,653 19,100 911 1,654 295 (1,372) (131) 24,110 2011 000 3,772 17,088 1,217 1,763 130 (1,571) (217) 22,182

The gures above have been extracted from the audited accounts for the period ended 31 March 2012, which carried an unqualied audit report. The full Trustees Report and audited accounts are obtainable in hard copy from 2226 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PQ or on the RSE website www.royalsoced.org.uk.

PAGE 20 I ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH ANNUAL REVIEW 11>12

Financial review
Income by source (000)
Rental and investment income Operating income from activities Scottish Government research funding Scottish Government other Other Public Sector bodies Charitable trusts Companies Legacies Individuals Fellows
31 26 209 209 59 91 1,630 62 48 184 672 681 937 1,198 337 354 1,783 2,215 1,045 929

20112012 20102011

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Resources expended (000)

Costs of generating funds Sustaining and utilising Fellowship Supporting world-class researchers Innovation and business Public appreciation of science & culture International connections Informing & inuencing public decisions RSE Young Academy of Scotland Promoting science as career Governance
71 103 97 84 155 159 323 312 425 288 460 625 823 1,104 91 79 2,362 2,905 164 203

20112012 20102011

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Corporate governance and management

Council Members and Trustees of the RSE President: Vice-President: Vice-President: Vice-President: Vice-President: Vice-President: General Secretary: Treasurer: Fellowship Secretary: Councillors: Sir John Arbuthnott* Professor Jean Beggs CBE Professor Graham Caie* Mr Iain Ritchie CBE Mr John McClellandL CBE Professor Wilson Sibbett CBE Professor Alice Brown* CBE Mr Ewan Brown CBE Professor Alan Miller* Professor Cairns Craig OBE Professor Anna Dominiczak OBE Professor Sir David Edward* PC KCMG, QC Professor Susan Manning Professor Sheila Rowan MBE

Executive Board General Secretary: Treasurer: Curator: Research Awards Convener: International Convener: Programme Convener: Young Peoples Programme Convener: Chair of RSE Scotland Foundation: Education Committee Convenor:

Professor Alice Brown* CBE Mr Ewan Brown CBE Professor Duncan Macmillan Professor Steven Beaumont* OBE Professor Sir David Edward PC KCMG, QC Rev Canon Professor John Richardson Dr Christian Van Der Kuyl* Professor John Coggins OBE Professor Sally Brown OBE

Senior Management Chief Executive: Director of Finance: Director of Corporate Services: Director of Business Development & Communications: * denotes Ofce-Bearers elected in October 2011 denotes Ofce-Bearers appointed in January 2012 denotes Ofce-Bearers elected in February 2012 L denotes Ofce-Bearers demitting ofce in February 2012

Dr William Duncan Kate Ellis Graeme Herbert Gordon Adam

The Royal Society of Edinburgh is registered in Scotland as Scottish Charity No. SC000470 The RSE Scotland Foundation is a connected charity, registered in Scotland as Scottish Charity No. SC024636 Inland Revenue Claim Board Reference CR 18102

The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotlands national academy. Founded in 1783, its Fellowship includes some of the best intellectual talent in academia, the professions and business. It facilitates public debate, research programmes, educational projects and strategy formulation. Its strength is its diversity and impartiality. The Societys unique multi-disciplinary approach enables it to draw from and link with a broad spectrum of expertise to advance the understanding of globally-important issues. In fulfilling its Royal Charter for the advancement of learning and useful knowledge, the RSE is seeking to contribute to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of Scotland.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh 22 26 George Street Edinburgh EH2 2PQ T F E W 0131 240 5000 0131 240 5024 rse@royalsoced.org.uk www.royalsoced.org.uk

The Royal Society of Edinburgh is registered in Scotland as Scottish Charity No. SC000470 The RSE Scotland Foundation is a connected charity, registered in Scotland as Scottish Charity No. SC024636 ISSN 1742-1810 This document is printed on 100% recycled paper