annual review - annual review april 2009 – march 2010

8/6/2019 Annual Review - Annual Review April 2009 March 2010

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Annual ReviewApril 2009 March 2010


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In fullling our Royal Charterfor the advancement of learning

and useful knowledge,the Society contributes to thesocial, cultural and economicwellbeing of Scotland.


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R O Y A L S O C I E T Y O F E D I NB U

R G H

A N N U A L R E V I E W 0 9 1 0

In fullling our RoyalCharter fortheadvancement of learning anduseful knowledge, the Societycontributes greatly to the social,cultural andeconomic well-being ofScotlandanditspeople. Thereportthat follows highlights activitiesduring the year which helpedus to

achievethese objectivesandhavehelped also tocreate addedvalue.

In delivering a varied programmeof public activities webenetenormously fromthetime andexpertise of a Fellowship whichcovers thewhole rangeofintellectualandpublic life inScotland. Our Fellows, whoarebased both in andoutwith Scotland,give their time andexpertiseona pro bonobasis.This provides

a publicbenet worthmore than0.6 million. Without this freecontribution, andthesupport ofourhard-working staff andothervolunteers, wecould not makethe impactwedo. I amextremelygrateful to themall for the parttheyhaveplayed inhelping usto continue to fulll successfullythe objectives set out in ourRoyalCharter.

During theyear wecontinued tosupport research, enterprise andinnovation through theawardofgrants. We supported, builtand

maintainedrelationshipswhichincreased Scotland's researchconnections internationally,including facilitating newjointprojects with China,now one ofthe world's biggest economies.Welaunched a Business InnovationForum, bringing togethersenior

business people andacademics toidentify andstimulate processesthat will increaseinvestment inbusiness innovation.Wesharedknowledgeandunderstanding withmorethan 3,000 school pupils thelength andbreadth of Scotland,andwith some 6,000 peoplewhoattended our wide ranging publicevents series. In addition toallofthis, weplayed our part in assistingpublic policy decisions by providingparliamentarians with timely adviceona wide range of subjects; wecontributed to the implementationof thenew Curriculum forExcellenceandwebegana majorinquiry on Facingup to ClimateChange, thereport of whichisexpected in early2011.

Our activities createadded value.The ScottishGovernment-supportedResearch Fellowship programme weoperatehasin recent years helpedproducefor Scotlandmore than40 millionof additional researchfunding;our Enterprise Fellowshipsprogramme has been thecatalyst for

63 new companies,51 ofwhich aregoing concerns which haveattracted92 million investment;ourcontributionto the Curriculum forExcellence hasproduced exemplarteachingresourcesforChemistry,which are beingdisseminated toschoolsacrossScotland; andouradvice to parliamentarianshasinuenced decisions taken and thewayforward in relation toa rangeof issues. We are proud ofwhatwehaveachieved.

Last, but not least, I would like toexpress my sincerethanks to ourfunding partners for their supportduringtheyear andin previousyears. The Society is very gratefulindeedfor this. As welook ahead,their continuing support is crucial in

enablingus to contributefurther tothe social, cultural and economicwell-being of Scotland. Without thissupport, our ability todosowouldbe much reduced.

Lord Wilsonof TillyornKTGCMG

We benetenormously fromhaving a Fellowshipwhich coversthe whole range of intellectual

and public life inScotland.

Presidents Foreword

LORD WILSON OF TILLYORN


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R O Y A L S O C I E T Y O F E D I N B U R G H A N N U A L R E V I E W 0 9 1 0

ScottishResearchBenetsOver theyear, with funding providedby theScottish Government,wesupported thework of a further nineresearchers and continued to support15 researchers whoreceivedtheirawards in previous years. Since2003, theResearch Fellowships

programme has helpedlevermorethan40mof additional researchfunding forScotland.

Since the programme began, italsohas contributed to Scotlandsresearchleadership and capacity.30%of those supported have beenpromoted to Professor and 95%remain in academia. Three PersonalResearch Fellows supported in2009 have relocated fromtheUSA,SwitzerlandandGermany andmorethan 84%of theresearcherssupported remain in Scotland andworking in research.

In additionto theScottishGovernment programme, weawarded a further 21 researchfellowships andscholarships andcontinued to support15 awardeeswhoreceivedtheir awards in previousyears. These fellowships and

scholarships would not havebeenpossible without thesupport of BP,Lloyds TSBFoundation forScotland,the CaledonianResearch Fund andanumber ofbequests andlegacieswhich we havereceived.

Recognition ofScottishResearchDuring 2009/10, the ScottishGovernment-supported ResearchFellows haveattended 93 overseasandUK conferences andseminarsand have published 126 articles inJournalswith high impact factors(a measureof thefrequency withwhichtheaverage article in a journalhas been cited in a particularyear).This hasraised theworld-widerecognition and standing ofScottish research.

Raising ScotlandsNational Identity Through anotherScottishGovernment-funded programmewesupported ve Arts & HumanitiesResearch Workshops; eight SmallResearch Grants; twoResearchNetworks; andcontinued to supporttwo Research Networks in theirsecond year of a two-year grant.

As a result of theprogramme,38 individuals working in artsandhumanities in Scotlandhavedeveloped collaborative links withindividuals andorganisations theywould not otherwise have beenable toworkwitheasily. It has setin motion long-term dialogue,bothinterdisciplinary and inter-institutional, acrossScotland and

beyond, involving artists,curators,art historians, librarians, archivists,scientists andresearch students.

A CelticCossack Connectionsproject resulted in publicperformances in Scotland andRussiaof Prokoev's originalopera War and Peace , attended by 7000 people.

A grant recipient is currentlypreparinga paper on internationallaw-making for theUN Security

Council,withparticular referenceto climatechange.

Increasing the numberof world-class scienceand culture researchersworking in Scotland


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This research fellowship has

been the single most importantgrant I have received in mycareer. It has enabled me tore-organise my group tobemore productive and tocontribute to the largestnumber of high qualityscientic papers in my career.MATT CLARKE, 2008 SUPPORT RESEARCH FELLOW

It (RSE personal fellowship) has enabledme to develop the skills needed to get apermanent lectureship position inenergy materials at Heriot-WattUniversity. I am 100% sure thatwithout

this opportunity I would nothave mycurrent lectureship position.JAN-WILLEM BOS, 2006 PERSONAL RESEARCH FELLOW

So what now? I meet with Boosey andHawkes the [music]publisherstodiscuss publicationpossibilities for adenitive scholarly edition of the wholeof the material for War and Peace This is what the Prokoevfamilywould like, and they would like meto supervise this. I couldnt have hopedfor a better outcome!RITA MCALLISTER, COMMENTING ON HERCELTICCOSSACK CONNECTIONS PROJECT


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Raising ScotlandsProle and IncreasingitsConnectionsSupportedby the ScottishGovernment, we awarded84 grants,which enabled researchers to traveltoand fromScotlandas partof theirresearch work, leading to longer-term international collaborations.Thegrants facilitated229.5 personweeks of researcher support andconnected Scotland toover20countries worldwide.

A newinternational deep-searesearchprogrammeTRACES(Trans-Atlantic CoralEcosystemStudy) developedfollowingRSE-funded international exchange visitsin 2005 and 2006, and Scotland isnow at thecentre of this researchprogramme.

A pastawardeereceivedfundingof 140,000 from theUKIndiaEducation and Research Initiative fora three-yearcollaborative project withthe Indian Institute of Technology,Madras; another receiveda one-yearSocial Sciences and HumanitiesResearch Council InternationalOpportunities Fund Award.

Fromawards made in 2009/10, 23publicationssubmitted are in press orpublished,eight furtherexchanges

are planned, ninefundingapplications are to be/havebeensubmitted, four papers havebeen

accepted forconferencepresentations, three awardees arediscussing thepotential forfutureMoUs, joint degrees andjoint PhDs,and a PhDgraduatefromSloveniahas receiveda post-doc fellowshipat theUniversityof Edinburgh.

Connecting with Oneof the Worlds Biggest

EconomiesAlso supported by theScottishGovernment, we, in partnershipwith theNational Natural ScienceFoundationof China, helped facilitatesix newjoint research projectsbetween ScottishandChineseinstitutes andcontinued to support11 ongoing joint projects, whichbegan in previous years. An outcomeof these projects is to create longer-termresearchcollaborationsbetween Scotland and China.A Chinese joint project collaboratorhasbeen offered a Leverhulme TrustFellowship to spend ninemonthsat theUniversityof Aberdeen. AUniversity of Strathclyde-based jointproject collaborator is exploring withthe Academy of Mathematics andSystems Science, theChineseAcademy of Sciences, thepossibilityofa new joint programme ofPhDstudiesand2+2programmes forundergraduatestudents betweenScotland andChina.

Building andMaintainingRelationshipsWeheld our rst annualMacCormick European Lecture,named in honour of the late ProfessorSirNeil MacCormick FBA FRSE.This was given byLord KerrofKinlochardGCMG HonFRSEon thetheme of todays European Union.Thisbrought together 90 participantsfrom Scotland andEurope.

In partnershipwith theJapaneseConsulate, we facilitateda publiclecture as partof the JapanUK150 celebrations. This involvedspeakers from Scotland andJapan,whogavepresentationson Scotlandsengineering links withJapan, past,present and future.

In partnershipwith theAmericanConsulate, wehostedan invitedaudience lecture given by thenewUS Ambassador to theUK.

Increasing Scotlandsresearch and developmentconnections internationally


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This new international

programme [TRACES]owes its start to the RSEexchange scheme andI would like to thank youvery much for this support.DR J. MURRAY ROBERTS, HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY,IEP OPEN PROGRAMME AWARDEE 2005 AND 2006

Sir Johns lecture wasrst class, and having

been so recently inpost in Brussels,there was no doubthis views were bothtopical and relevant.DANISH CONSULATE OFFICIAL ATTENDINGTHE MacCORMICK EUROPEAN LECTURE

I found the support fromthe International ExchangeProgramme very valuablefor developing my newresearch programme andmaintaining already

existing research projects.DR YULIA VELD-MERKOULOVA, UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING,IEP OPEN PROGRAMME AWARDEE 2009

THE US AMBASSADOR TO THE UK, LOUIS B. SUSMAN,PICTURED ON HIS VISIT TO THE RSE


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SupportingEnterpriseWith the support of ScottishEnterprise, theBiotechnology andBiological Sciences Research Council(BBSRC) andtheScienceandTechnology Facilities Council (STFC),we awarded18 EnterpriseFellowships to encourage thecommercialisation of technology-

based business ideas from academicinstitutions intospin-outcompanies.

TheScottish Enterprise Fellowshipprogramme has supported93Enterprise Fellows over thepast 13years. In that time 63 companieshave been started, with someEnterpriseFellowsnowon theirsecond or third company. 51 of thesecompanies arestill going concernswhichhave attracted at least92 million of investment (82 million

fromtheprivate sector). A survey ofall theRSE EnterpriseFellows wascarriedout in late 2009/early2010andthegures above have comefrom the datacollected.

SupportingBusiness InnovationOn28 January 2010 the RSE formallylaunched its Business InnovationForum with a reception in theGarden

Lobby of the Scottish Parliament.The guest list, numberingaround 100,

included leading gures frombusiness, academia, and thepublicsector, as well asmembers of theForumitself. TheReception washostedby DrElaineMurray MSP,whowelcomed theguests to theScottishParliament,and her introduction wasfollowedby speeches from LordWilson of Tillyorn, President of theRSE, JohnMcClelland, theRSEs

Vice-President forBusiness andChair of the Forum, and JohnSwinneyMSP, CabinetSecretary forFinanceand Sustainable Growth.They allhighlighted the importantrole the RSE canplay in the areaofinnovation.

The task of the Forum, whichcomprises tensenior businesspeopleandacademics, is todevelopstrategies thatwillhelp encouragebusiness innovation. TheForumwill

identify and stimulate processes thatwill increasebusiness innovationand investment andindicate howappropriate strategies shouldbedeveloped in Scotland. Membersof the group havemet and aremeeting Chief Executivesof leadingcompanies to discuss what is neededto createa supportive environmentfor businesses to growand innovate.

Rewarding InnovationWith thesupport of theGannochyTrust, we continued to administer anannual innovation award of 50,000whichseeks toencourageandrewardScotlands young innovators forworkwhichbenets thewellbeingofScotlandanditspeople. Since theawardbegan, sixpast winners have

beneted fromthis. Mr MarkWebster,Chairman,TheGannochyTrust recentlycommentedon theirsuccess. Gannochy Award winnerscontinue tomake progress in leapsandbounds, making a usefulcontribution to the innovative climatein Scotlandanda worthwhilecontribution to theeconomy.

TheRSErecentlycommissionedan independent evaluationof theinnovation award to analyse its

contribution and,wherepossible,strengthen its impact further.Theearly indications are that theawardhas, through its sixwinnersat various stages of their businessdevelopment,aided by an overallcontribution of 600,000fromTheGannochy Trust, generatedapproximately 4 million of addedvalue forthe Scottisheconomy.

Improving connectionsbetween businessand academia


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The Fellowship trained

me to think like anentrepreneur; taughtme to separate technologyfrom the market; introducedme to my peer group and toinuential and successfulentrepreneurs.PROFESSOR CHRIS HILLIER, CEO OF SISTEMIC SCOTLAND LTD

The Fellowship madeit happen. It helped

turn my dreaminto a businessSONIA SCHULENBURG, CEO, LEVEL E LTD

Theresources provided by theRoyal Societyof Edinburgh in terms of funding forfellowshipdevelopment,networkingopportunities, extensivebusiness training inparticularon IP rights, legal obligations,accounting and nance have been extremelyuseful. More importantly, the Fellowship hasfetched methe time tobring our technology astep closer to the commercial worldARFAN ALI, CONSULTANT AND OPERATIONS MANAGER,PETROC TECHNOLOGIES LTD

JOHN SWINNEY MSP, CABINET SECRETARY FOR FINANCEAND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH PICTURED AT THE LAUNCHOF THE RSE'S BUSINESS INNOVATION FORUM

DR BARBARA SPRUCE, 2003 GANNOCHYWINNER, PICTURED AT THE LAUNCH OF THERSE'S BUSINESS INNOVATION FORUM WITH

PAST AND PRESENT GANNOCHY TRUSTCHAIRMEN, DR RUSSELL LEATHER (LEFT)AND MR MARK WEBSTER


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More CondentandInformedSchoolPupilsDrawing on theexpertiseof ourFellowsandother experts, ourschools programmesharedknowledgeand understanding withpupils, with a particular focus onnurturing those already engaged inscienceandculture. In particular, theprogramme focused on children whoare not in close proximity toScottishUniversities and ScienceCentres, andwhothereforehavemore limitedopportunity to participateandmeetwith theexperts. More than 3,000pupils attended 69 differentevents.Included within the programmewas:> Two all-day discussion forums,

Darwin200 , for S5 and S6students,with 12 schools in EastKilbrideandEdinburgh taking part.The twospeakers were ProfessorSteve Jones andDr RichardHolloway, formerBishop ofEdinburgh,andthe talks werelmed andmade available ontheschools intranet GLOW andon the RSE website.The nalreport was posted to allschoolsin Scotland toallowteachers toreproduce the forum in class.Feedback showed that 100% ofthose attending felt they hada

betterunderstanding of Darwinsevolution theory from a religiousperspective followingthese events.

> A Christmas lecture Facing up toClimate Change , was given byProfessor PaulJowitt FRSE,Director of theScottishInstituteof Sustainable Technology,Heriot-WattUniversity; Presidentof theInstitution of Civil Engineers,at Lochaber High School, FortWilliam.On this occasion, 77%ofpupilsattending felt theirknowledge of how scienceand

engineeringare helpingSocietyadapt to climate change hadimproved.

> The RSE@Schools programmeconsisting of15 talks and oneworkshopfor S3, S5and S6pupilson appliedscienceand technology.One example, Who are you? ,a talk givenby eminent forensicanthropologist Professor SueBlack OBEFRSE at TobermoryHighSchool, examined the

security of our identity anddiscussedhow wecan prove whowereally are.95% of thoseattending thought their knowledgeof appliedsciencehad improved

> 32 interactiveStart-upScienceMaster classesfor S1& S2 pupilsin university venuesaroundScotland. With titles as diverseas Bagpipes and Electrons andHow to bea Rocket Scientist ,young peoplemet andworked

with real scientists in a universitysetting to inspire them to pursuescience further.

> A ScienceEngineering andTechnology (SET) Summer Schoolconsistingof 14 hands-onworkshops givenduringa two-dayand one-weekevent toS5and S6pupils in theLothians. Thisis a relaxedandfunintroductionto student life andincludes studyskills sessions toprepare theyoung people practically forHigher Education. 78%of those

attending said they weremorelikely to apply to universityand94%thought theircondence tohandleuniversity hadgrown.

Supporting theCurriculumforExcellenceThroughourEducation Committee,andin partnershipwith theRoyalSociety of Chemistry, wecommissioned a chemistry exemplarproject to support teachers in thepractical implementation of theCurriculum forExcellence.ShonaScheurl, a Chemistry teacheratDollar Academy, wasseconded ona part-timebasis to undertake theproject,which wasoverseen by theEducation Committee. Theprojectreports in late 2010 anditsoutputswill bedisseminated toschoolsacross Scotland.

Increasing the number ofpeople in Scotland whoadopt science as a career


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A fantastic insightinto an entirelynew experience.IAIN, PUPIL, PRESTON LODGE HIGH SCHOOL

I dont know all

the answers butits got me thinking.These talks werereally good,I enjoyed themPUPIL ATTENDING THE DARWIN 200DISCUSSION FORUM

Fantastic: an inspirationaltalk, pitched exactly right.

Content was intriguing,thought provoking and verywell judged to meet theneeds of a mixed audienceJENNY, TEACHER, TOBERMORY HIGH SCHOOL

Yesterday was a very successful dayall round and very worthwhile.Thanks very much for everythingHEAD TEACHER, LOCHABER HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDINGTHE RSE CHRISTMAS LECTURE


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A More Informed andKnowledgeable PublicOurwide-rangingpublic events

series of lectures, conferences anddiscussionsreached out to almost6,000 people. Theseries comprised37 events, includinga programme of12 lectures as part of theEdinburghInternational Festival. Amongst theotherhighlights of theseries were:

HRH PrinceElHassanbin TalalHonFRSEInching Towards Peace: A New International Humanitarian Order

In this Edinburgh Lecture, HRHPrince ElHassanbinTalal called fora humanitarianapproach to addresstheproblems facing theworld and, inparticular, theWest AsiaNorth Africa(WANA) region. Covering areasincluding climatechange, nuclearweapons, water andoil, HRH saidthat the human aspectmustnotbe ignored.

Violence anddisaster,natural andman-made,are daily news, butwhatcan we, as individuals, dotopreventthemorat least mitigate their effects?How can weget at the rootsofwhatgoeswrong and changewhat growsfrom them? These were thequestionsposed by HRH PrinceElHassanbinTalal inhisrst lecture asanHonoraryFellowof theRoyal SocietyofEdinburgh. His talkwas the RSEscontribution to the prestigiousEdinburgh Lectures series. It outlinedtheproblemsfacing theworld today,suggestedhowthese shouldbetackled, and ended with a plea to theRSE and toScotlandmore widelytowork together to address them.

Scottish Aquaculture A sustainable futureScotland is a leader in seeking tousescience-based policy, regulationandvoluntary industry codes to increasethesustainability of theaquaculturesector within thecontext ofincreasinglyfocused regulationandglobal environmentalandeconomic forces.

This international conferenceexplored sustainability underfourbroadthemesof theenvironment, shhealthandwelfare, theroleof sciencewithinregulation andpolicy, togetherwith thesocio-economicimpactofaquaculture. The conferencewasorganisedby theScottishAquacultureResearchForum(SARF)inconjunctionwith TheRoyalSocietyofEdinburgh andTheNorwegianAcademy of Science andLetters, andaimed toengage delegates fromawiderange ofbackgrounds withaninterest in aquaculture, bringingtogether theextensiveportfolioofSARF-sponsoredresearch,complemented by internationally-recognised keynotespeakers.

Science Politics andDramaCopenhagen debating the principles of uncertainty InApril 2009, aspartof thecelebrations for the80th Birthday offormer RSEPresident, SirMichaelAtiyah OMPPRSPPRSE, the RSEpresented a series ofevents torunconcurrentlywiththestaging, at theLyceumTheatre in Edinburgh, ofMichael Frayns intense, absorbing

andpowerful pieceof theatre,Copenhagen . The play recallsameeting that tookplace in German-occupiedCopenhagen in 1941between twophysicists, theDane

Niels Bohrand the GermanWernerHeisenberg. As friends, they hadcollaboratedon majordevelopmentsin quantum theory and were later

ensnaredin work toproduce anatomic bomb, but WorldWar IIplacedthem onopposite sides.

On23 April, the RSE presented thelm TheStrangestDream , which toldthe story of JosephRotblat, the historyofnuclear weapons and the efforts ofthePugwash Conferences onScienceandWorldAffairs an internationalmovement Rotblat co-founded tohalt nuclearproliferation.

On24April, the authorof Copenhagen ,MichaelFrayn, presented a talk atthe RSE on TheAfter-effects of Copenhagen . FollowingFrayns talk,Muriel Romanes (Artistic Director,StellarQuines) directed guests of theRSEas they read excerpts fromOperationEpsilon readingsfromTheFarm HallTranscripts which hadinspired Copenhagen . Afterwards,a panel discussionbrought togethereminent individuals to discuss theconversationsof Heisenberg and theother German scientists, followingtheir captureand internment at FarmHallnear the end of WorldWar II,whilst exploring the underlying scienceandthefull implications inmore detail.

Energy Scotlandhasan opportunity to realiseits great renewable energy potentialwhile developing other low carbontechnologies and the requiredinfrastructure. In thisECRRPeterWilson Lecture, Professor Jim

McDonaldFREng FRSE, Principal,University of Strathclyde, argued thatthe nationcould lead the world increating an energy industryfor the21st Century.

Enhancing the publicsappreciation andunderstanding of scienceand culture issues


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a number of Scottishcontacts for future workwere made, particularlyon the eld tripATTENDEE AT THE SCOTTISH AQUACULTURE CONFERENCE

Yes, I learnedso much from the lecture;

about the grid, the state of renewableenergy research in Scotland and itsimplicationfor Europe, potentialeconomic benets, new power owstrategies such as smart grids.ATTENDEE AT THEENERGY LECTURE

Many aspects of theproblem and the measurestaken in the ght againstmalaria were new to me, andthe clear and full explanationof all aspects certainlyextended my knowledge.ATTENDEE AT THEMALARIA, MOSQUITOES AND MODELS LECTURE

I found the information very useful forexpanding my knowledge for teachingAdvanced Higher Biology. Thank you!TEACHER ATTENDING THEHENSLOW'S LEGACY, DARWIN'S INHERITANCE LECTURE


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More InformedParliamentariansand PublicDuring theyear, theRSEs evidence& advice programmeintensiedunder theguidanceof the GeneralSecretary,ProfessorGeoffreyBoulton. Drawing on themulti-disciplinaryexpertise of ourFellowship andother experts, theprogramme contributed to mattersof public importance andhelpedfacilitateengagement with thegeneralpublic. Wedelivered:

> four brieng papers on ScottishParliament debates coveringclimatechange, energy, andinuenza.

> 19 consultation responses,11 to theScottishParliamentand/or theScottishGovernment,seven to Westminster andonetotheEU, ona rangeoftopicsincluding: the Marine (Scotland)Bill; theAlcohol (Scotland)Bill; theClimate Change (Scotland)Act; the

ScottishSentencing Council;andthePublicServices ReformAct.

> Oral evidence to ScottishParliamentary Committees wasprovided on a rangeof subjectsincluding: the Criminal JusticeandLicensing Bill; Future Reformof the EUBudget; the Treaty ofLisbon Inquiry; theAlcohol BillandtheEfcient Delivery ofPublicServices.

> Witnessevidence toUKParliamentary Committee onsetting ScienceandTechnologyResearch Funding Priorities.

> Meetings on theCopenhagensummit that involved oneof thelead UK negotiators; and on thefutureof Scotlands Constitutioninvolving the then Minister forCulture, External Affairsand theConstitution.

Inpartnershipwith the RoyalSocietyofChemistry, wesupported thedelivery of Science andtheParliament ,which attracted over 34 exhibitors,more than300 delegates includingMSPs, andamongst thekeynotespeakers, on thetopicof The ScienceBehind Health , were: theCabinetSecretaryforHealth andWellbeing;the Chief Scientic Adviser to theScottishGovernment; and theDirector of theBeatsonInstituteforCancer Research.

Weorganised and supported threemeetingsof theScottishParliamentsCross-Party Groupon Science&Technology on: the spreadof exoticdiseases; investment in scienceathigher education; and on theteachingof science in schools.

OurInuenceOursubmissionson climate changeencouraged MSPs to set thechallenging emissionreductiontargets in theClimateChange(Scotland)Act.MSPs were receivingmany recommendations over thisAct, but theintervention of theRSEfromthe workofanexpert team ofscientists was signicant in advisingthe ScottishParliament that anambitious programmeof emissionreductions was both achievableand recommended on thelatestscienticanalysis.

TheScottishGovernment has takenforward a number of recommendationswemadein our previous Inquiry TheFuture of Scotlands Hills &Islands , including the developmentof an overarching land usestrategy;streamlining of the Scotland RuralDevelopmentProgramme;reviewinghow theSingle Farm Payment shouldbe allocatedfollowing 2013, awarding15 million ofextra support to theagricultural payment rates in thefragileandvery fragileareas; andtheprovisionof higher support ratesfor forestry.

TheEuropean Commission hasfollowedrecommendationsmadeinour advice paper on the ControlofAnimal Diseases in Europe, includingthereviewingof regulations to allowvaccinationin advanceof infection,and reviewing the animal movementregulations connectedwithareasof infection.

Ourbriengs andadvice papers arereferred to in ScottishParliamentarybusiness and reports, withspecicexamples being on:climatechange;H1N1 inuenza; the Alcohol Bill; theEfcientDelivery of Public Services;and the future of the EUbudget.

Our evidence and advicecontributionswere covered by themediaon morethan 150occasions,on subjectsasdiverseas: climatechange; TheFuture of Scotlands Hills andIslandsInquiry;Curriculum for Excellence;STEM education;Creative Scotland;andthe Alcohol Bill.

Informing and inuencingpublic policy decisions


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The Royal Society of Edinburgh warned us

that, given thatweare ina recession, weshouldnot assume that any decrease inemissions has happened as a result ofthe goodthings that we are doing in theParliament; it might have happenedbecause of the recession. Secondly, as weclimb out of recession, there is a dangerthat the trends thatwe saw before therecessionwillpick upagain.There isa realwarningfor us to look at the detail andto work harder on emission reductions.SARAH BOYACK, MSP,CLIMATE CHANGE (S) BILL STAGE 1 DEBATE 7 MAY 2009

Many thanks for sendingme the information at rst reading it is thebest thought throughresponse to the CreativeScotland element ofthe Bill, so thank youand well done.KEN HAY, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SCOTTISH SCREEN

Thank youfor sending us a copy of the RSEs submissionofevidenceon the Alcohol etc (Scotland)Bill. Bruce (Ritson) was in the ofceyesterday and he asked me to letyou know that he thought the RSEresponse was excellent, asdid I.We recognise that the input of suchanaugust scientic bodyas the RSE to alcohol debate isveryvaluable, and wemuch appreciate it.PETRINA MACNAUGHTON, PROJECT OFFICER,SCOTTISH HEALTH ACTION ON ALCOHOL PROBLEMS


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Royal MedalsHisRoyalHighnessThe DukeofEdinburgh presentedRoyal Medalsto three individuals at a ceremonyheldat the RSE in August 2009.Themedals were recommended totheRSE Council in recognition ofintellectual endeavourwhich hasimpactedon thelives ofother people,

andwere approved by theRSEPatron, Her Majesty The Queen.The medallists wereSirJamesMirrlees FBA, HonFRSEfor hisoutstanding contribution to economictheory;Professor Wilson SibbettCBE FRS FRSE for hisoutstandingcontribution to physics and sciencein Scotland; andProfessor KarenVousden FRSFRSE FMedSci forheroutstanding contribution tocancer research.

The IEEE / RSEWolfson, James ClerkMaxwell AwardThe Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE)and theRSE, with fundingfromWolfsonMicroelectronics plc, createdthis award in 2006 to recognisegroundbreaking contributions thathave hadan exceptional impact on

thedevelopmentof electronics andelectrical engineeringor related

elds.Theannual award includesa US$20,000 honorariuma goldmedalandcerticate. In2009 theaward went to Professor AlbertoSangiovanni-Vincentelli FIEEEin recognition of his pioneeringinnovation and leadership inElectronic Design Innovation.Professor Sangiovanni-Vincentellireceived the gold medalfrom

His Royal Highness The DukeofEdinburgh in August 2009.

NewFellowsRecognisedby their peer groups ashaving achieved excellencewithintheir discipline or profession, weannounced, in March2010, theelection of 48 new Fellows threeHonorary Fellows, ve CorrespondingFellows and 40 Ordinary Fellows.The additionof these new Fellows

broughtour Fellowship up to 1,503.OurFellowsare encouragedtosupport our mission of advancinglearning and useful knowledgeandtocontribute to themany activitiesreported on in theprevious pages;for example, theprovisionof expertpolicy advice to Government andParliament, outreach educationprogrammes foryoung people, andpublicengagement events, includingconferencesand discussion forums.

Each year, new Fellows are invited toattend an InductionDay, at which theyare given an overview of theSocietyandfurnishedwith more details abouttherole of theFellowship. The dayalso provides an opportunity for thenew Fellows tomeet members ofCouncil, theExecutive Board andRSE staff, as well as being formallyadmitted to theSociety.

Recognisingexcellence


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THE JAMES CLERK MAXWELL MEDAL RSE PRESIDENT, LORD WILSON OF TILLYORN, PICTURED WITH DR

LYNN DRUMMOND AT THE NEW FELLOWS' INDUCTION DAY, MAY 2009

HRH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AND LORD WILSON OF TILLYORN PICTURED AT THE 2009 JAMES CLERK MAXWELL AWARDCEREMONY WITH THE WINNER, PROFESSOR ALBERTO SANGIOVANNI-VINCENTELLI AND MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY

HRH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH PICTURED AT THEPRESENTATION OF THE 2009 ROYAL MEDALS WITHONE OF THE AWARDEES, PROFESSOR WILSON SIBBETT

THE ROYAL MEDAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH


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SpreadingScienticKnowledge WorldwideWepublished ourhighly esteemedscientic journals: three issues of

Earthand Environmental ScienceTransactions of theRoyal Society of Edinburgh , distributedworldwideto 350 libraries andacademies andsix issues of Proceedingsof theRoyalSociety of Edinburgh,Section A:Mathematics , distributed worldwideto 500 libraries andacademies.

OurJournalshave a broadinternational spread in terms oftheir author and subscriber base,their distributionto theAmericas,Europe, Australasia andAsia, andthepeer-review process thatdrawson an international bank of refereesandeditors.

The ve-year impact factors for ourJournals (a measure of the frequencywithwhich the average article ina journal has been cited in a particularyear) showus that Transactions ranks18 in 35 related journalsworldwideinthesubject category Palaeontologyand 83 in125 related journals in thesubject category Geosciences,

Multidisciplinary whilst ProceedingsA ranks 52 in 189 relatedjournalsworldwide in the subject categoryMathematics. (Source: JournalCitation Reports , Thomson Reuters,Sep2009)

We also published our ScienceScotland magazineon thesubject ofLife Sciences; distributed across theUK andworldwideto more than 2,500peopleandavailable on the ScienceScotland website. The website is being

accessedby people in 70 countriesandhad8,000 unique visitorslast year.

CorporateFriendsIn2009 theRSE createda corporateengagement initiative entitled Friendsof the Society. Carefully selected,prominent organisations were invitedto join the scheme, which wasestablished to develop closerrelations withkey businessorganisations in Scotland. Theprojectwill providetheRSE anditscorporatepartners with a platform toexploreareasof potential mutual interest,and weanticipate that a numberofbenecial projects willbe developedover time. Throughmembership, theFriends of theSociety receiveanumberof benets, including access

toseveral annual Friends events atwhich the partnerorganisations canmeet with key members of the RSEand each other. During thereviewperiod, April2009 March 2010several organisations accepted theRSEs invitation to become Friends ofthe Society Aegon UK, BP, LloydsBankingGroup, RBS, ScottishEnterprise, ScottishPower, Shell andWood Group.They have been, andwillbe, joinedin the future by othersas

further invitations are extended.

Opening Our DoorsSince2007 wehave participated inEdinburghs Doors OpenDay,anevent held in September each year,whichenables thepublic to freelyenter places they may not otherwisevisit.Through this wehave beenabletoshare, with more than 300peopleeachyear, our history and what wedotoday. We havealsoat other times in

theyearwarmly welcomed visitinggroups, both from Scotland andoverseas,who have asked tovisit and

learn more about us.Openingourdoors in these ways enablesus tobroaden our reach andwearecontinually exploringhowwe canimprovethevisitor experience.

Listening to the PublicGathering public opinionand viewsis a pivotal partof the evidence-gatheringprocess associatedwithourmajor Inquiries. Wehavecontinuedwith this ethos as wehave progressedour most recent Inquiry Facing up toClimate Change . Since its launch inOctober2009, theInquiry team hasreceivedmore than30 submissionsfromthe public, aswell as taking oral

andwritten evidence fromover 100public andprivateorganisations.In the rsthalfof2010 the Inquiryteam heldsixpublic evidence-gatheringevents acrossScotland,from Dumfries to Inverness, attendedby some 400 people.

Views expressed at these meetingswill help toshape thenal report.Ourwillingness to engage with andlisten to the public doesnot endthere. After theInquiry report ispublished, wewill be holdinga seriesof public dissemination events acrossScotland, providing an opportunityfor discussionanddebate of theconclusionsreached andrecommendations made.

Reaching out


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RSE FRIENDS OF THE SOCIETY 2009/2010

WELLCOME ROOM EAST

THE SCOTT ROOM


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P A G E 1 8

I


Financial Review

Total incoming resourceswere 5.29 m (2009 6.76m).Excluding the 2.16mlegacy in2009, incomeincreased by 15%,mainly attributable to the increasein funding for the EnterpriseFellowships and the ScottishGovernment Research Fellowships.

Total resources expended alsoincreased by 15%. Grants insupport of research and innovationmadeup the major part of thisincrease, rising from 2.67m to3.64m. This reected the increasein Enterprise Fellowships andanincreased number of ScottishGovernment ResearchFellowsappointed. Expenditure oninternational research connectionsand inuencing public policy alsoincreased, the latter due to anincrease in staff.

Despite the increased activity,governance and managementcosts were reduced from last yearand now represent less than 3%of total income.

The outcome was a revenuedecit of 62,000. Thebudgetexpectation had been for a largerdecit, reecting the additionalrequirement for expenditurecommittedby the CRF trustees

before the RSEacquired CRF,and planned expenditure on

newcomputer systems. Theimprovement against budgetcame mainly from careful controlof costs and management of cashresources.

Offsetting the revenuedecitwere investment gains of 0.34mrealised in the year and 2.87munrealised at the year end.The net movement on funds forthe year after an FRS17 pensionschemeadjustment of 607,000was 2.54m.

In the prevailing external nancialconditions, the RSEs continuingstrategy of diversication of incomeand tight control of expenditure isessential. TheCouncils aim ofbuilding relationships with a viewto working in partnership isprogressing in respect of thecorporate sector through theFriends of the Society, and goodfoundations have been laid in theinitial year. To highlight theimportance of individual giving, alegacy brochure is being prepared not all can contribute as much asthe legacy from Dr Harold Thomasreceived in 2009, but even thesmallest amount is put to good use.

Thefuture of public sector fundingis uncertain, but our scenario

planning for the next spendingreview period is well advanced.

The delivery of the RSEs variedprogramme of activities withpublicbenet outcomes will be guidedby the priorities set by Council toensure continuing nancialstability. In challenging timesthe RSE continues to seek newopportunities and develop existingactivities, to help Scotland toourish and achieve sustainableeconomic growth, and to promoteScotlands national identity.

To support its programmes, theRSEdraws upon the considerablestrengths and variedexpertise ofits Fellows across a very widerange of disciplines. Whereopportunities arise, activities arealso delivered in partnership withor supported by others, a keypartner being the ScottishGovernment. Thevalue addedby Fellows and supporters in

enabling the achievement of thestrategic objectives is recognisedand much appreciated by theCouncil.


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Income and expenditureGeneral Designated Restricted Restricted 2010 2009

Fund funds income funds total total000 000 000 000 000 000

Grants, donations and legacies,rental and investment income 264 132 960 1,356 3,376

Incoming resourcesfrom charitable activities 61 3,562 314 3,937 3,387

Total incoming resources 325 132 3,562 1274 5,293 6,763

Cost of generating funds (188) (10) (70) (268) (252)Charitable activities (201) (105) (3,562) (1,065) (4,933) (4,246)

Governance (115) (39) (154) (157)

Total resources expended (504) (115) (3,562) (1,174) (5,355) (4,655)

Net incoming resources (179) 17 100 (62) 2,108

Group balance sheet2010 2009

000 000

Tangible xed assets 3,880 3,984Investments 16,083 12,884Current assets 771 463Deposits 2,232 1,951Cash 311 372Current liabilities (1,316) (553)Provisions for liabilities and charges (390) (630)Pension fund asset/ (liability) (415) 139

Total net assets 21,156 18,610

Represented by

General fund 348 924

Designated funds 7,487 6,911

Restricted funds 13,321 10,775

Total funds 21,156 18,610

The gures above have been extracted from the audited accounts for the period ended 31 March 2010 which carried an unqualied auditreport. The full Trustees Report and audited accounts are obtainable in hard copy from 22 26 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PQor onthe RSE website www.royalsoced.org.uk.

Financial Review


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1,235

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

P A G E 2 0

I


Financial Review

Resources expended (000)

50

17

207

Income by source (000)

Rental and investment income

Operating income from activities

Scottish Government Research funding

ScottishGovernment Other activities

Research Councilsand ScottishEnterprise

Charitable trusts

Companies

Individuals

Fellows

Costs of generating funds

Sustaining and utilisingFellowship

Supporting world-class researchers

Innovation and business

Public appreciationof science & culture

International connections

Informing & inuencing public decisions

ScottishBioinformatics Forum

Promoting science as career

Governance

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

172

190

78

2,410

309

582

220

121

56

154

1,578

680

922

299

1.368


23/24

Corporate Governanceand Management

Council Members and Trustees of the RSEPresident: Lord Wilson of Tillyorn KT GCMG PRSEVice-President: Professor Jean Beggs* CBEVice-President: Professor Tariq Durrani OBEVice-President Mr John McClelland* CBEVice-President: Professor Hector MacQueenGeneral Secretary: Professor Geoffrey Boulton OBETreasurer: Mr Ewan Brown CBEFellowship Secretary: Professor Peter Holmes OBE

Councillors: Sir John ArbuthnottProfessor Anna Dominiczak* OBEDr Ian Halliday CBEProfessor Susan Manning*Professor Cairns Craig* OBE

Executive Board

General Secretary: Professor Geoffrey Boulton OBETreasurer: Mr Ewan Brown CBECurator: Professor Duncan MacmillanResearch Awards Convener: Professor Alan MillerInternational Convener: Professor Sir David Edward PC KCMGProgramme Convener: Professor John Richardson*Young Peoples Programme Convener: Professor Mary Bownes OBEChair of RSE Scotland Foundation: Professor John Coggins* OBEEducation Committee: Professor Sally Brown* OBE

Senior ManagementChief Executive: Dr William DuncanDirector of Finance: Kate EllisDirector of Corporate Services: Graeme HerbertDirector of Business Development & Communications: Gordon Adam

*denotes Ofce-Bearers elected in October 2009

The Society is registered in Scotland as Scottish Charity No. SC000470The RSE Scotland Foundation is a connected charity, registered in Scotland as Scottish Charity No. SC024636Inland Revenue Claim Board Reference CR 18102


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The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotlands nationalacademy. Founded in 1783, its Fellowship includes someof the best intellectual talent in academia, the professionsand business. It facilitates public debate, researchprogrammes, educational projects and strategy formulation.Its strength is its diversity and impartiality. The Societysunique multi-disciplinary approach enables it to draw fromand link with a broad spectrum of expertise to advance theunderstanding of globally-important issues. In fulfilling its

Royal Charter for the advancement of learning and usefulknowledge, the RSE is seeking to contribute to the social,cultural and economic wellbeing of Scotland.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh22 26 George Street

EdinburghEH2 2PQ

T 0131 240 5000F 0131 240 5024E rse @ royalsoced.org.ukW www.royalsoced.org.uk

The Royal Society of Edinburgh is registered in Scotland as Scottish Charity No. SC000470The RSE Scotland Foundation is a connected charity, registered in Scotland as Scottish Charity No. SC024636ISSN 1742-1810

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annual review - annual review april 2009 – march 2010

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