In its response to the Commission on School Reform the RSE is clear that there is a need to consider what it is that the Scottish education system is trying to achieve.Much more consideration will need to be given to the factors that influence the decisions which learners make so that future learners are in a position to consider and take-up more diverse educational pathways.
In order th...
EXECUTIVE OFFICER (£21,136-£26,421)
Your role as an Executive Officer will be to provide a secretariat service for the RSE President, Chief Executive and other Senior RSE Officers as well as an administrative support to the RSE Fellowship Office, The RSE Young Academy of Scotland, and the RSEFriends of the Society. You will be looking after diaries; organising travel arrang...
Although first to be published, this is intended as the third in a series of resources developed by the RSE and the BCS Academy of Computing that exemplify a subset of the Computing Science-related outcomes of Curriculum for Excellence at Levels 3 & 4 and beyond (specifically, in this case, National 4 Computing Science).
In addition to providing a course in programming for mobile devic...
The majority of women with qualifications in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects do not work in STEM areas. This is in contrast to men. The consequence is a serious loss to the economy. Scotland must address this issue.
On 4 April the Royal Society of Edinburgh will launch a Report on: ‘Tapping all our talents. Women in STEM: a Strategy for Scotla...
Professor Martin Hendry FRSE has now completed his tour of the Hebridean Islands, having delivered a series of public lectures, school talks and star gazing events to audiences throughout the Scottish Western Isles.During the tour, Martin visited schools on Lewis, Harris, North Uist, Benbecula, Barra, Skye, Tiree, Mull and Islay, as well as Oban. He also delivered public talks and presentations on...
In its response to the UK and Scottish Governments' proposals for a referendum on Scottish independence, the RSE believes that the UK and Scottish Governments should make every effort to arrive at an agreement as to the terms of an Order made under section 30 of the Scotland Act. Such an Order would require the approval of both Parliamentsand should remove doubt as to the power of the Scottis...
The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) has announced its new intake of Fellows for 2012.There are 46 new UK and International Fellows to add to its 1500-strong Fellowship. The Fellowship of the Society covers science, arts, humanities, the professions, industry and commerce. Fellows are elected following a rigorous examination of their achievement in the relevant field.In pursuit of its aim of the a...
In a response to the Scottish Parliament's Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, the RSE has welcomed the impetus being given to the development of renewable energy generation capacity, but doubts that targets set for 2020 will be achievable within the constraints of finance available and acceptable cost.
With Scotland poised to lose nearly one-half of its electricity generation capacity in t...
Professor RusselGriggs' Report of the Review of Further Education Governance in Scotland, which was commissioned by Michael Russell MSP,Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, has recently been submitted to the Scottish Government. As part of the process of considering the recommendations made in the report, the Cabinet Secretary has sought the views of the sector and other rel...
In response to the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee's inquiry into the commercialisation of research, the RSE has commented that:
A broad, systemic review of commercialisation, aimed at creating a culture of creativity and enterpreneurship in the UK, is urgently needed.
There is no one silver bullet: a package of incentives and actions must be combined with a c...
The RSE has welcomed the Scottish Government's 'Scotland's Digital Future - Infrastructure Action Plan' which sets ambitious goals to deliver world-class broadband infrastructure for Scotland by 2020.
The plan recognises the need for an open access core infrastructure in Scotland, as called for in the RSE's 2010 report Digital Scotland, that is crucial to delivering next generation broadband t...
The RSE and the National Science Council of Taiwan are pleased to be jointly-funding the ‘Scotland-Taiwan Bilateral Workshop on Electronic Materials and Nanomaterials’ to be held on 6th and 7th February at the University of Edinburgh. The RSE and NSC signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2001 to facilitate, encourage and support research collaboration in all areas between res...
Professor Tom Devine OBE Hon MRIA FBA FRSE, one of Scotland’s leading historians has ‎been awarded the RSE Beltane Senior Prize for Public Engagement 2012. Additionally, The ‎University of Dundee’s Dr Nicola Stanley-Wall has been announced as the winner of the RSE ‎Beltane Innovator’s Prize for Public Engagement 2012. ‎With these presti...
Commander (CBE)
Dr Robert William Black
Professor Alan Richard Bundy
Officer (OBE)
Professor Stuart Robert Haszeldine...
In its paper, Putting Learners at the Centre: Delivering Our Ambitions for Post-16 Education,the Scottish Government has set out proposals for wide-ranging reform of the full range of Government-funded post-16 education in Scotland - higher education, further education and skills. Through its Education Committee, which comprises individuals with expertise and experience in and across the scho...
As part of its consideration of the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill,the Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee issued a call for evidence on the generalprinciples of the Bill. The Bill contains a provision to introduce a minimum price of alcohol with the aim ofreducing alcohol consumption in Scotland and reducing alcohol related harm. Given the clear correlation between th...
Professor Glover will provide high-level and independent scientific advice throughout all stages of policy development and delivery. The Chief Scientific Advisor will provide advice directly to the President, and will give regular updates on major scientific and technological developments.President Barroso said: "I am delighted to appoint Professor Anne Glover to the post of Chief Scientific ...
The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Scotland’s National Academy, welcomed members of the new “RSE Young Academy of Scotland” to an event on Tuesday 29th November.The Young Academy brings together some of the most able and innovative young academics, entrepreneurs, artists and professionals in Scotland, with the aim of harnessing their creativity to develop a ...
Scotland’s broadband infrastructure will not only support the delivery of services, information ‎and entertainment to consumers in Scotland’s homes, but will also enable Scotland’s citizens, ‎communities, and businesses to become producers of value in the digital economy. It will ‎increase the efficiency of commerce, government, public services...
David Wright with Professor Anne Glover
The RSE is delighted to announce that Dr David Wright, who is based within the School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, has been awarded the first RSE/BP Hutton Prize in Energy Innovation, for his research entitled “The detection of oil and gas from surface-based electromagnetic measurements”.
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Sir John Enderby delivers report on RSE Arts & Humanities ProgrammeThe eminent physicist, Professor Sir John Enderby CBE FRS, has today delivered an independent evaluation which demonstrated the success of the RSE’s Arts & Humanities Grant Programme. The report shows the programme to be highly effective and contributing to many of the Scottish Government National Outcomes...
Read full briefing paper
The RSE believes that the Scottish Government's draft budget and spending review should be more explicit about how they will contribute to the Government's stated aim of sustainable economic growth. The RSE is concerned that the current budget does not meet certain criteria, namely: a strategic approach; the setting of priorities; evidence-based policy; cost-b...
The RSE newsletter, ReSourcE is published quarterly.
The latest edition, number 33, issued in October 2011, includes news of the RSE Young Academy of Scotland, details of the new President and General Secretary and a full list of Research Awards presented this year.
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Sir John Arbuthnott has succeeded Lord Wilson of Tillyorn as the next President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE). He formally took over the role at the Annual Statutory Meeting of the Society.
Professor Alice Brown has also followed Professor Geoffrey Boulton as the General Secretary of the Society. Alice is the first woman to b...
The RSE has responded to the independent review which has been commissioned by Scottish Ministers to examine higher education governance arrangements in Scotland.The RSE has responded to a review commissioned by Scottish Ministers on the governance of higher education in Scotland, commenting that the value of autonomy in supporting the institutional vitality that is necessary if an HEI is to maxim...
Role of Chief Scientific AdvisersThe RSE has responded to the House of Lords Select Committee’s call for evidence on the role of Chief Scientific Advisers in government department, emphasising the need for independence.Modern governments require scientific advice in order to be able to respond to the fast moving pace of scientific knowledge – knowledge that cannot routinely be ...
The RSE set out key findings of its recent inquiry into climate change in a briefing note for MSPs ahead of a Scottish Parliament debate on the low-carbon economy.The Royal Society of Edinburgh highlighted the key findings of its recent major inquiry “Facing up to Climate Change: breaking the barriers to a low-carbon Scotland” in a short briefing note sent to all MSPs ahead of ...
The RSE supports the overarching ambition of the strategy embedded in the Scottish Government’s paper "Reshaping the Medical Workforce" to ensure higher quality healthcare services for patients but is concerned by the failure to factor in the critical role of clinical academics.
The RSE supports the overarching ambition of the strategy embedded in the Scottish Government&am...
S4M-00798 Liz Smith: The Royal Society of Edinburgh Launches New Young Academy of Scotland—That the Parliament congratulates the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) on the launch of the new RSE Young Academy of Scotland; notes that the first members of the new young academy have been chosen not only from all parts of Scotland, but also people originally from elsewhere in the UK or othe...
Scotland currently faces an exceptionally difficult period for public expenditure, with marked real term declines in spending for the foreseeable future. Setting budgets within these decreasing limits will require the Scottish Government and Parliament to make tough decisions of a kind which have, over the last decade of increasing expenditure, not been required. Combine this with an electoral cyc...
The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Scotland’s National Academy, is delighted to announce that it has today chosen the first members of the new “RSE Young Academy of Scotland”.
The RSE has established this Young Academy as a unique opportunity to bring together some of the most able and innovative young academics, entrepreneurs, artists and professionals in Scot...
The Royal Society of Edinburgh has carried out a series of important studies in recent years on issues that are central to the concerns of the Committee, and that draw on the great depth and breadth of experience in its Fellowship, which includes representatives of all of Scotland’s major, relevant research bodies. The RSE’s strength is its ability to bring together experts fro...
Workshops
Awards designed to encourage collaborative investigation into a research proposition that is at an early stage of its development. A Workshop is regarded by the RSE as “the coming together of scholars at the early stage of planning and developing a collaborative research initiative.” Funding will encourage and support a range of seminars, colloquia, workshops and ...
Leading human rights lawyer, Baroness Helena Kennedy, and renowned physicist and founder of Edinburgh Instruments Ltd, Professor Desmond Smith, were honoured today when HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was in Scotland to present them with the prestigious Royal Medals.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Royal Medals were instituted by The Queen to mark the Millennium and recognise outstanding ...
A response to the Royal Society of London.
Whilst the principle of open data must be embraced, a clear policy and funding framework will need to be developed.
A priority should be to help all citizens understand, as much as possible, the meaning of scientific enterprise, so that they can engage with it. New media, such as the blogosphere, offer excellent opportunities for increased interac...
The Royal Society of Edinburgh, with the involvement of the Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland, is addressing the challenge of developing a cohesive and comprehensive strategy for Scotland to tackle the under-representation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The principal aims are to identify factors that appear to limit the proportion of women in the STEM work...
Book and hold an event in our Conference Centre during August and receive 50% discount on normal room hire rates....
If there is one thing we can be sure of, it is that the human population will continue to suffer from disease and that we will need new, smarter, more tailored drugs to treat them.
This issue of Science Scotland focuses on searching for new drugs to improve treatment of existing diseases, as well as to explore opportunities of addressing treatment of diseases which have suffered from lack...
The UK Government and Devolved Administrations are developing a UK-wide strategy for planning for and responding to an influenza pandemic, taking account of the experiences and lessons learned in the 2009 (H1N1) influenza pandemic.
In terms of maximising the utility and cost-effectiveness of the strategy, we recommend that it should have a broader focus and in addition to influenza pandemics i...
Following the publication of Digital Scotland, we've worked with the Scottish Documentary Institute and film-makers Pulkka to make a short film on some of the themes raised in the report, including why Scotland needs fibre backbone to connect all its communities.
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Young Academy of Scotland.
The economic, social and cultural vitality of any country relies heavily upon stimulating and attracting engagement of the talented and creative members of the rising generation to refresh and reinvigorate its technical excellence and cultural and political energy. They are crucial to a country’s capacity to take bold, imaginative and principled a...
The RSE newsletter, ReSourcE is published quarterly. The summer 2011 edition (issue 32) is now online.
This edition, issued on June 24, includes reports from some of the RSE's Enterprise Fellows (past and present), information on the Young Academy of Scotland, case studies from the International Exchange programme and the latest news from RSE@Dumfries and Galloway.
Download the Summer 2011...
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is pleased to announce and launch its new prizes in Life Sciences; Physical, Engineering and Informatics Science; Humanities and Creative Arts, and Social Sciences, Education, Business and Public Service. Available at Senior and Early Career Level.
Senior Prize-winners will receive a medal. They are required to deliver a lecture in Scotland and related travel a...
A short briefing paper for the Scottish Parliament's Education and Culture Committee on the development and implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence, and the arrangements for the new national qualifications in Scotland.
The RSE Education Committee, Convened by Lord Sutherland of Houndwood KT FBA PPRSE, was established in 2009 with a remit for identifying and promoting priorities for edu...
The draft National Marine Plan is a significant step forward for marine management in Scotland. However, there are three major issues that still need to be addressed as the Plan develops. The RSE calls for consideration of how the Plan will be implemented; more detail on how direct conflicts between objectives will be dealt with; and discussion of how the NMP will sit along side European and UK ma...
Birthday Honours 2011
Knights BachelorProfessor Harry BurnsOrder of the British EmpireDame (DBE)Professor Sarah Jane (Sally) MacIntyreCommander (CBE)Professor John Robert BrownProfessor Paul JowittProfessor Yasir Suleiman
Officer (OBE)
Dr Barbara Elizabeth Crawford
Professor William Alexander Campbell (Bill) McKelvey
Professor Mona Siddiqui
Carloway Review of the Law and Practice Relating to the Detention and Questioning of Suspects. Read full response
While the RSE is anxious to contribute to Lord Carloway’s review, there is concern that the review may not providethe opportunity required for a study in depth of the core principles of criminal law and procedure referred to.In general, the collective resources of the Sco...
Sir John Arbuthnott will succeed Lord Wilson of Tillyorn as RSE President in October 2011.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) has announced the election of Sir John Arbuthnottas the next President of the Society. He will succeed Lord Wilson of Tillyorn in October.Sir John Arbuthnott is a distinguished microbiologist and former Principal of the Universityof Strathclyde. He also chaired the Gr...
The Society has announced the election of 45 new UK and International Fellows to add to its 1500-strong Fellowship of experts in the sciences, arts, humanities, the professions, industry and commerce. View list
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