RESOURCET H E N E W S L E T T E R O F S C O T L A N D ’ S N A T I O N A L A C A D E M Y

newsT H E R O Y A L S O C I E T Y O F E D I N B U R G H

ISSUE 32 SUMMER 2011

Reconstructing the past Looking to the futureCurrent developments

NEW FELLOWS WELCOMED TO THE SOCIETY

New Fellow, Barbara Rae CBE (pictured) is an artist whose work is included in many private collectionsin Britain, Europe and the USA, as well as in many public and corporatecollections. Dr Rae was born in Falkirk and educated in Edinburghwhere she now lives and works.

Forty-five new Fellows were electedto the Fellowship in March 2011, most of whom attended an Induction Day at the Society in May.

Full details of all the new Fellows can be found on our website at www.royalsoced.org.uk and somephotographs from the event are reproduced on the back page.

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Evidence and AdviceA COMMON STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR EU RESEARCH AND INNOVATION FUNDING

In May, the RSE responded to a European Commission consultation on future EU fundingfor research and innovation. This consultation is part of a process through which the EUaims to bring together and simplify current funding programmes, make participation easier and increase scientific and economic value.

An RSE Working Group was set up to prepare the response. Key points emphasised include:

• EU research and innovation funding must be carefully targeted on where it can add value, and be seen to add value, to national efforts. There are three characteristics of EU-levelfunding and activity that are of significant value: mobility; coordination; and solidarity.

• Mobility is a natural driver of collaboration, bringing together European research groups involving the highest levels of talent. Coordinating activity through such collaboration and through avoiding duplication is one of the most valuable rolesthe EU fulfils.

• Cohesion policy must be designed to support less competitive regions in building research capacity and driving entrepreneurship and innovation to ensure solidarity.

• It is imperative that research in the social sciences and humanities be given equal status to that of other sciences and engineering. In order to address key challenges in areas such as health and climate change we need a deeper understanding of how to influence attitudes and behaviours.

CARLOWAY REVIEW OF THE LAW AND PRACTICE RELATINGTO THE DETENTION AND QUESTIONING OF SUSPECTS

In June an RSE working group responded to Lord Carloway’s review of the law and practice relating to the detention and questioning of suspects in light of the decision in the recent case of Cadder. This decision held that the right to a fair trial, enshrined in Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, would generally be breached if the prosecutor made use of evidence obtained from questioning a ‘suspect’ detained in police custody before the individual had had the opportunity to receive legal advice.

The working group is concerned that the Carloway Review may not provide the opportunity required for a study in depth of the core principles of criminallaw and procedure.

Key recommendations set out in the paper are that:

• The issues should be considered on a much broader basis, and with the depth that theScottish Law Commission, or some larger body led by them, could bring to such a study.

• More particularly, the decision in Cadder was limited in scope, and the Supreme Court must be expected to develop its own jurisprudence as the cases already referred by the Lord Advocate, and appeals already in hand, are considered and disposed of.

• It is impossible at this stage to anticipate the outcome of this process, or to predict thesuccess or otherwise of the emergency legislation already in force in the context of that developing jurisprudence.

• A critical question is the point at which the status of ‘suspect’ arises, by requiring the provision of legal advice on his rights in responding to police questioning. The resolution of that issue is by no means clear.

• Until one knows the direction likely to be taken by the Supreme Court, and the European Court, the development of a legislative solution is in a real sense premature since it comes before the problem has been fully defined.

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events@royalsoced.org.ukFORTHCOMING EVENTS

Monday 5 September 2011 at 6 pm

LECTURE

Radiation and Reason: Straight and Open Thinking About Choosing Nuclear

Professor Wade Allison, Emeritus Fellow, Keble College, Oxford

For more than 60 years, it has been accepted that radiation, that is nuclear radiation, is quite exceptionally dangerous. In this lecture, this question is re-examined and the answer is shown to be rather unexpected. This will beexplained in simple terms using incontrovertible evidence. In the light of such fresh understanding, nuclear technology may be welcomed and used carefully to benefit the environment for the future without fear or excessive cost.

This lecture forms part of an Ordinary Meeting and so shall be preceded by Society business such as Fellows signing the Roll.

SEPTEMBER 2011

TICKETS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL RSE EVENTS – RSE Lectures and Discussion Forums are open to all and normally free to attend*but registration is required. To register please contact the Events Team. Please note that many RSE events run to full capacity. If you book a place at any event but are unable to attend, please inform the RSE Events Department so that your place can be reallocated. To book tickets go online at: www.royalsoced.org.uk or phone the events ticket line: 0131 240 2780 For further information on all RSE events, visit www.royalsoced.org.uk or contact: events@royalsoced.org.uk *some events may carry a charge to attend; please see individual events for registration details

The Rt Hon Lord Adair Turner HonFRSE, Chairman of the Financial Services Authority

Monday 26 September 2011at 6 pm

DISCUSSION FORUM

Facing up to Climate Change

Professor David Sugden FRSE, Professorof Geography, University of Edinburghand Chair, RSE Climate Change Inquiry

Climate change will affect us all, for example in energy, food security, population migration and competition for resources. Scotland, given its long history as a major contributor to rising greenhouse gas levels and access to renewable energy resources,has a role to play. The RSE Inquiry Facing up to Climate Change sought evidence froma wide variety of people and organisations to highlight the opportunities of a transitionto a low-carbon future and the barriers to change. Lord Turner and Professor Sugden will discuss what the challenges are and what the future may hold.

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The RSE’s Entrepreneurs’ Club met on the evening ofThursday 7 April, following a full day of presentations by current Enterprise Fellows, some of whom were mid-year in their Fellowships and others who were completing theirs.

The theme of the evening was The challenges of seeking competitive funding. This was attended by 35 people including three past Enterprise Fellows who recounted their experiences of being part of a competitive process in which they had varying degrees of success.

RSE ENTREPRENEURS’ CLUB – INNOVATORS, SPIRITS AND DRAGONS!

Innovation rewarded

The public voted on their favourite individual in different categories: Writing;Art; Music; Screen; Environment; Business; Sport and Food. The selectionpanel shortlisted four finalists in each category and The Scotsman Magazineprofiled those shortlisted in each of the Awards categories over the next fewweeks to allow the public to cast their votes. This was a powerful awareness-raising opportunity for the finalists and John appreciated the press attentionhis company received as a result.

John admitted he was surprised to win (and delighted with the bottle ofwhisky he received from the sponsors). At the awards ceremony he was in the company of Paolo Nutini, who won the music award, and ‘Dr Who’ actress Karen Gillan, who was nominated in the screen category. It was a glittering occasion and a night when science fact met science fiction!

DR JOHN MARCH

John is a former Scottish Enterprise EnterpriseFellow and now CEO of BigDNA Ltd, Roslin.BigDNA is a vaccine development company which commercialises vaccine products to combat human diseases – www.bigdna.com

Dr March is pictured (left) with John Swinney MSP, who opened the facilities at Roslin in May 2009.

John was nominated for the GlenfiddichSpirit of Scotland Awards® in the businesscategory. The awards were established bythe independent family-owned single malt whisky brand to recognise individuals who lead the way in various aspects of Scottish culture.

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Ralf is a former Scottish Enterprise, Enterprise Fellow and now Managing Director of Funky Moves Ltd, Livingston.Funky Moves is an energetic start-up company with a novel approach to, and passion for, physical activity and sportwww.funky-moves.co.uk

Ralf was recently head hunted to take partin the BBC programme Dragons’ Den. Outof the blue he received a telephone call fromBBC Manchester inviting him to take part.This was an opportunity Ralf seized, thinkinghe had nothing to lose but not expecting toget past the first round.

Following a telephone interview and then an audition with BBC representatives in Manchester, Ralf was told he had reachedthe final selection. He was invited to makehis pitch to the Dragons and began to prepare for his fifteen minutes of fame. Ralf confessed that it wasn’t until he was climbing the famous stairs into the Den thatwhat he was doing suddenly struck him!

Ralf gave a very professional pitch which was initially followed by quite negative comments.However, as the interview continued it improved and Ralf regained his confidence. He didwhat many have failed to do before him and managed to turn a very negative responseinto a very positive one. After almost two hours of cross examination he emerged a veryhappy man. Apart from Duncan Bannatyne, all the Dragons liked Ralf’s pitch and the facthe had been able to provide all the information and figures they had requested. His ‘Funky Cones’ had gone down well with Theo Paphitas and Peter Jones, who both agreed to invest in Ralf’s company, Funky Moves Ltd. When they were interviewed laterboth dragons admitted to feeling like ‘kids let loose in a sweet shop’ and were very excited about the prospect of working with Ralf and his product, and could see huge potential in it.

However, following Ralf’s appearance on television, the ‘due diligence’ began. This was avery lengthy process and, eventually, almost a year after appearing on the show, Ralf wastold that it had thrown up a reason why the dragons would not, after all, be investing inhis company. Apparently this happens regularly and very few of the people who subjectthemselves to the dragons’ torment ever receive any investment. Ralf concluded that this is aprogramme about entertaining the public, not about business investment.

Ralf has no regrets about taking part in the programme: he gained good publicity andlearned from the character-building experience. Ralf is renowned for his cheerful characterand his mauling in the Dragons’ Den briefly wiped the smile from his face – but not for long!

DR ANDREW ALMOND

Andrew, a former BBSRC Enterprise Fellow, is now CEO of Conformetrix Ltd,Manchester. Conformetrix has a vision to lead the ligand-based design revolution in pharmaceutical drug discovery – www.conformetrix.com

Andrew was nominated for the BBSRC Innovator of the Year award in 2009 andgot through the preliminary rounds, reaching the final where he found himselfup against another former BBSRC Enterprise Fellow, Martin Wickham, fromthe Institute of Food Research in Norwich.

Andrew was very honoured to be in thecompetition and to reach the final was anoutstanding achievement. This was particularly so when this was the first yearof the award and the competition includedsenior, very experienced academics whohad formed spin-outs previously. There was only one winner, Professor StephenJackson from the University of Cambridge,who had achieved business success withhis anti-cancer drugs and had sold his company to AstraZeneca four years previously for a multi-million-pound sum.

The rigorous selection of the winner tookplace on the day of the award presentation,so the excitement was heightened withnone of the finalists or audience knowingin advance who had won. The followingyear the competition was changed to allowfor different levels of experience and successwith the creation of the BBSRC YoungInnovator of the Year award. Andrew, although disappointed not to win, foundhis success as a finalist gained him excellentpublicity and added kudos when speakingto potential customers and investors. Hehas no hesitation in praising the whole experience and the BBSRC for creating theawards and he commends the recognitionthey bring to early stage companies and individual innovators across the UK.

RALF KLINNERT

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InternationalINTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMMEOne of the main purposes of the RSE International Programme is to awardshort-term travel grants to enable Scottish researchers to establish linkswith colleagues in other countries with a view to a long-lasting collaboration,through joint publications and joint applications for longer-term funds.

The RSE also supports longer-term collaborations through the Joint ProjectScheme with the National Natural Science Foundation of China, which facilitates longer-term international collaboration between researchersbased in Scotland and China by providing two years’-worth of funding.

Following are excerpts from reports of International Exchange visitssupported by the RSE International Programme.

Dr Stefan Hoppler, School of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen

Visited: Dr Caroline Beck, University of Otago, New Zealand

The adult human body has generally only a limited ability to regenerate damaged tissuesand organs. Amphibians have a much greater capacity for regenerating damaged tissuesand organs and are therefore a perfect experimental model to investigate how to increase the healing potential for ultimately-therapeutic use in human patients. The host,Dr Caroline Beck has studied lens regeneration in an amphibian biomedical model system and found that successful lens regeneration is associated with activation of theWnt signalling pathway and in particular enhanced expression of the Wnt6 signal. Theycarried out pilot experiments to test whether experimentally activating Wnt signalling or inhibiting endogenous Wnt6 function would influence lens development and regeneration. They also started to establish technology to interfere with gene functionduring later stages of embryonic development and during regeneration. While the results of the pilot experiments were not conclusive, the potential for a successful collaboration has been confirmed.

Scottish-based Host: Professor ChrisEilbeck FRSE, Department of Mathematics, Heriot-Watt University

Visitor: Professor Bishwajyoti Dey, University of Pune, India

The visit was devoted to a study of energytransport and energy storage on one-dimensional discrete structures. These structures could be, for example, biologicalmolecules such as proteins, or chemical chainmolecules such as polyethylene. Mathematicalmodels of these structures may use a classicaltreatment or a quantum-mechanical treatment,and Professors Eilbeck and Dey considered examples of both types. In addition, consideration was given to cases where thelength of each link of the chain and the anglethat each link makes with its neighbours canvary depending on the local energy density.Professors Eilbeck and Dey also consideredexamples where the forces between linksdepend not just on neighbouring links buton more distant links. Such studies have applications in various areas of physics, biology and engineering.

Professor Dey enjoys his first experience of snow in the Heriot-Watt garden at Riccarton

Froglet with regenerated lens seen in green fluorescence. Transgenic frog line with GreenFluorescent Protein expression in lens tissue(under the control of the crystalline gene promotor). Lens was removed at late tadpolestages, absence of any remaining lens tissue was confirmed by absence of any green fluorescing tissue in the eye. Five days after lens removal, regeneration of lens tissue was monitored by reappearance of green fluorescing tissue in the eye.

Scottish-based Host: Professor Andrew Waters FRSE, Division of Infection & Immunity, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Glasgow

Visitor: Dr Stephan Hegge, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Germany

Dr Hegge spent a highly productive time at Glasgow. His aim was to implement software that he had developed to image a specific life-cycle form of malaria parasites(Plasmodium spp) that exits the mosquitovector and adapt it to image a different lifecycle form of the same parasite that entersand infects the mosquito. The technical

challenge was that the speed and type ofmotility of the two parasite forms are different, so that sampling frequency anddepth of field analysis are quite different.The work has been successful and Stephanhas collaborated with different members ofthe group in Glasgow (and of other groups)to both train personnel and to effect the

implementation and adaptation processes.In addition, he helped optimise the microscopy techniques pertaining to imagecapture of motile cells. He interfaced withmembers of the Brewer group providingtraining in ‘Toast’ and discussions over optimal use of tracking software for 4D imaging of lymphocytes in vivo.

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Scottish-based collaborators: Dr Richard Fu, University of the West of Scotland (formerly from Heriot-Watt University) and Professor Gerard Markx, Heriot-Watt University

Overseas collaborators: Professor Jyh-Shiarn Cherng, Mingchi University of Technology, and Professor Chang, Chengkung University, Taiwan

The exchange visits have been successful and fruitful. Dr Fu and Professor Markx visited five Universities in Taipei and surrounding counties, giving seven invited talks, including two invited presentations in an international symposium on Environment and Energy.

Professors Cherng and Chang visited Heriot-Watt University and gave research seminars. The visits have contributed to the research career development of bothsides, building the multidisciplinary research links, broadening their research interest and ideas, and learning practicaltraining in specific skills and techniques.

The visits also resulted in a Royal Society Research Grant of £15,000 and a Carnegie Trust Grant of £40,000, as well as joint publications and discussions on student exchanges and further academic visits.

Dr Iain Mackie, School of Biological Sciences, Department of Zoology, Universityof Aberdeen

Visited: Dr Kumthorn Thirakhupt, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

This international exchange sought to build the foundations of a network of researchersinvestigating bat-related emerging infectious diseases in South East Asia. These foundations were cemented through a series of visits to labs and field sites in SE Asiawhere skills in molecular and ecological techniques were exchanged, discussed and refinedin order to build a future programme of hypothesis-driven research into emerging infectious diseases.

Eligibility and DeadlinesThe International Exchange

Programme is open to Scottish-based researchers of at

least postdoctoral status for visits of up to four weeks – either to

Scotland or to the collaborator’s overseas institution.

Through the Bilateral Exchange Programme, costs are shared by the RSE and its bilateral partners (sister academies with which we have established agreements).

Applications are alsoinvited for the Open Exchange

Programme, which is for exchanges between Scotland and countries not covered by

the RSE’s bilateral agreements. Both Exchange Programmes

are open to Fellows and non-Fellows of the Society.

Please check the RSE website for confirmation of the deadlines for the Exchange Programme.

www.royalsoced.org.uk

INTERNATIONALEXCHANGE

PROGRAMME

Red meat intake is strongly correlated with increased risk to develop colorectal cancer (CRC) and a maximum intake of500g/week is recommended by the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition(2011). The research conducted by Dr Gratzat the Rowett Institute of Nutrition andHealth, University of Aberdeen, exploresthis link between diet and intestinal cancermarkers in human intervention studies.

She established a collaborative link withProfessor Graeme Young, Head of Gastroenterology at The Flinders Centre forCancer Prevention and Control in Adelaide,Australia. The group conducts world-leadingresearch on dietary components that

increase or decrease CRC risk. In both humans and rodents, the protective effects of resistant starch against damage in the intestinal epithelium caused by red meat and heme are studied. Among other methods, Dr Gratz received training in a specific andnew technique to measure DNA adducts in intestinal epithelial tissue, to directlystudy the effect of diet on DNA damagein the gut. The combined expertise of Professor Young’s group in intestinal epithelial biology and Dr Gratz’s background in nutrition and colonic fermentation will be further utilised in future projects and funding applications.

Lunch with colleagues. Professor Young (first right),Dr Gratz (second left)]

Dr Fu (left) and Professor Markx (right) are pictured above with Professor Lu at the National Taipei University of Technology

Dr Silvia Gratz, Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen

Visited: Dr Richard K Le Leu, Flinders Medical Centre, Australia

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RSE Young Academy of Scotland

The RSE launched an exciting new initiative in early May – The RSE YoungAcademy of Scotland, the first Young Academy in the UK. The RSE YoungAcademy of Scotland will be part of a growing movement of Young Academies across the world. These organisations have evolved to fill a gap between the influential national academies and their distinguished fellows, and the young, rising stars who represent the future of each nation, providing a platform for the young academy members to have effectiveinteractions with society and politicians. The multidisciplinary Fellowship of the RSE, encompassing excellence in the Sciences, Arts, Humanities, the Professions, Industry and Commerce, makes it unique amongst learned Societies in the UK. We aim to reflect these diverse interests in the membership of the Young Academy.

The world’s first Young Academy was established in Germany in 2000. Recognising that nurturing young researchers and scholars was key to rebuilding a strong and competitive scientific environment, the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Berlin Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities established Die Junge Akademie(The Young Academy). Their vision was that the Young Academy would harness the creativity of younger academics in ways that would fertilise research areas with new ideas, support career paths as well as invigorate older academies by involving the younger community in their work. The German Young Academy has enabled young scientists to work together across boundaries and to tackle some of the world’s big issues,including climate change, environmental degradation, food and energy security, and has established itself as an increasingly effective voice of the scientific community exchanging ideas between business, researchers and policy-makers.

Over the past decade, the concept of the Young Academy has spread around the globe,with a number of other countries, including The Netherlands, Egypt, Pakistan, Austria and more recently Sweden, following Germany’s lead. The Global Young Academy wasestablished in 2010.

Members of the German Young Academy

THE RSE YOUNG ACADEMY OF SCOTLAND

The future vitality of Scotland will dependin large part on how we support and engage with the most talented and cre-ative members of the rising generation.Through the Young Academy, the inten-tion is that the best and most forward-looking young scientists, scholars andprofessionals will be able to develop a distinctive, coherent and influential “voice”to address many of the challenging issues facing their own particular areas of activityand also society more widely. It will providea means of reaching beyond the individualdomains in which its members work andprovide an opportunity to interact acrossdisciplines and professions. As part of thegrowing movement of Young Academies,it will also provide the opportunity for itsmembers to interact with their oppositenumbers around the world.

Further information on The RSE YoungAcademy of Scotland can be obtained from Dr Avril Davidson, adavidson@royalsoced.org.uk 0131 240 5027

The RSE is inviting applications for The RSE Young Academy of Scotland from outstanding young academics and professionals who wish to join this newgroup. We expect that members will normally be in the age range from late 20sto early 40s. The first cohort will be chosenby the RSE Council from what is hoped tobe a very strong field of applicants. Theclosing date for applications is Friday 1 July2011. Full details and the application formcan be downloaded from the RSE websitewww.rse.org.uk/794_YoungAcademy.html

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The RSE was delighted recently to work with the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) in celebratingthe achievements of an early joint Fellow, Alexander Nimmo. His Inverness Survey andJournal of 1806, has just been edited by Professor Noel Wilkins, the leading authority onNimmo, and published by the Royal Irish Academy. This fascinating account of Highland

Towns and Villages was launched in Inverness on Wednesday 8 June, at the University of Highlands and Islands, at a ceremonyinvolving Lord Wilson, Professor Wilkins and the Senior Vice-President of the RIA, Professor Attracta Ingram (pictured right).

For those unable to travel to Inverness, the launch was relayedlive to the RSE in Edinburgh via the UHI’s excellent videoconferencing facilities.

This year is the 200th anniversary ofAlexander Nimmo's election to the Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburghand of his appointment as engineer to theCommission for the Bogs of Ireland.

In his subsequent engineering career in Ireland, he became the most important and influential person undertaking faminerelief works and engineering developmentin the western part of the country. Hisphysical legacy to Ireland includes over 500 miles of roads, 30 documentedbridges, in excess of 53 piers and harboursand numerous public and private surveys.

This contribution arose in an attempt to address the problem of poverty in Irelandusing the example of the Scottish Commission for the Highland Roads andBridges carried out by Thomas Telford.What Telford, his mentor, was to the Highlands, Nimmo would strive to be to the highland parts of Ireland.

Nimmo was the most active of a group of Scottish, or Scottish-trained engineers, including William Bald, Telford, the Rennies, and the the Stevensons, who contributed to bringing the industrial revolution to Ireland after the Act of Unionin 1801. While the 'high history' of thattime focuses almost exclusively on attemptsto repeal the Union and achieve Catholicemancipation, these engineers on theground engaged in public works aimed atimproving the real lives of ordinary people.

IIn addition, between 1815 and 1831, the Irish Ordnance Survey, the Irish Fisheries Commission and the Office ofPublic Works were important features of the administrative infrastructure ofthe country that emerged as a result mainly of their evidence to Select Committees of the House of Commons.Many of them were Fellows of the RoyalSociety of Edinburgh and Members of the Royal Irish Academy, joint recognition of their eminence and influence throughout the United Kingdom at the time. Nimmo, in particular,was held in very high esteem by his contemporaries in England and Scotland.

The momentum of their efforts in the1820s was cruelly extinguished by the great famine in the 1840s and only later in the century was active contact re-established between Scottish and Irish tenant interests, when Michael Davittbrought the spirit of the Irish Land Leagueto the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

Today, a new spirit of cooperation suffusesthe relations between Ireland and the UK,as represented by the North–South and theEast–West inter-parliamentary bodies, set up under the Good Friday agreement and graced by the recent visit of HerMajesty The Queen to Ireland.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh and theRoyal Irish Academy have stepped wellalong the way to re-energising their long-established cooperative approachin the areas of science and technology.

The future of Ireland and Scotland, for example in the field of sustainable windand tidal energy, bodes well for both countries, representing an area in whichthey can revitalise and continue the engineering vision of those earlier days.

Alexander Nimmo stands today as a model for such cooperation.

From text by Professor Noel P. Wilkins

Nimmo’s Pier, Galway City Ireland

Recognising excellence

ALEXANDER NIMMO FRSE MRIA

Professor Noel Wilkins is the leading authority on Nimmo and has published several books on the man and his work

WORKING WITH THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY

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The RSE @ Dumfries & Galloway

A beautiful spring morning, accompanied by glorious birdsong, was the setting for the recent ‘My Great Adventure’ primary workshop at Caerlaverock Wildfowl and WetlandsTrust, Dumfries and Galloway. Twenty-three excited and enthusiastic pupils from LochsidePrimary, eager to learn about the amazing journey taken by the Svalbard Barnacle Geesethat fly 2,000 miles to winter on the Solway at Caerlaverock every year, were met by BrianMorrell, Learning Manager at the reserve.

The morning started with a guided walk around the ‘Peter Scott Centenary Walk’ duringwhich Brian encouraged the children to close their eyes and listen to the many differentbirdsongs, specifically pointing out the call of the Chiffchaff that had recently made thelong journey from Africa and explaining that the main reason for bird migration is thesearch for food. The children were able to experience bird watching from a hide and were also delighted to be shown the badger sets. Primary Teacher, Miss Baxter commented,“this term we had focused mainly on animals – so hearing all about the barnacle goosemigration, whooper and mute swans was very beneficial. We had learned about badgers,so seeing real live badger sets was a big bonus too!”

The Reserve has a wide variety of annually resident ducks and swans, including mute;whooper; mallard; widgeon and tufted, which are fed daily by Brian and other staff members. The children enjoyed identifying the different species and hearing about therecord-breaking feats of these magnificent birds; the fastest time for a bird to fly back to Iceland (800 miles) is 11 hours 36 minutes; Laetitia at 27 years old is the oldest swan;and one family have raised 46 cygnets!

The RSE @ Dumfries and Galloway was ayear-long programme of events across theregion, which came to an end in June 2011.The project was part-financed by the Scottish Government and the EuropeanCommunity, LEADER 2007–2013. Othersupporters included: The Buccleuch Charitable Foundation, The Holywood Trust,Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland and theJames Weir Foundation.

MY GREAT ADVENTURE

Brian explained to the children that many of the birds at Caerlaverock are tagged, andrecords relating to their weight, condition etc. are kept throughout their lifetime. Additionally, a number of the barnacle geese have been tagged with GPS devices whichallows their progress to be tracked on their flight back to Spitsbergen, enabling WWT staffto record their speed, height and distance travelled. Indeed, the tagged geese can betracked to a five-metre radius anywhere in the world. The geese at Caerlaverock are a conservation success. At one point only 3,000 remained; now, thanks to the researchwork in which the WWT is involved, the population is in the region of 30,000.

The pupils had the opportunity to use the biggest binoculars in Scotland to view a flock ofaround 2,000 barnacle geese and enjoyed taking part in an interactive session, where theygot a ‘goose’s eye view’ and were ‘caught’, ringed and had their head and wing spansrecorded!

The obligatory visit to the Reserve shop rounded off a fantastic day which was enjoyed byall – the local sparrow population were particularly delighted with the picnic lunch!

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IDENTITY: FACIAL RECONSTRUCTIONAs part of the RSE @ Dumfries & Galloway programme, senior students at Kirkcudbright Academy recently experienced a ‘hands-on’ facial reconstruction workshop. The session was lead by Caroline Erolin, lecturer in medical and forensic art at the University of Dundee. Twenty five students, studying either the sciences or art, were enthralled by the replica (plastic!) skulls that awaited them on the tables of the science room. Caroline explained that the skulls were constructed using computed tomography (CT) data from a living man and that at the end of the day their reconstructions would be compared against of photo of him.

The students worked in groups and, using worksheets and focused instruction from Caroline, spent the morning creating the facial muscle structure from modelling clay and applying these to the replica skulls. A number of the participants, who were studying science, commented that the workshop had given them a better understanding of elements of human anatomy. During the afternoon session the students added skin, eyes, lips and ears to their skulls. Finally, with much anticipation, the skulls were ‘lined-up’ for comparison with the photograph.

Tales of fairy folk and mythical creaturesbrought the wild landscapes of Galloway tolife recently when, as part of the Dumfriesand Galloway Wildlife Festival, visitors toScottish Natural Heritage’s Cairnsmore ofFleet National Nature Reserve experiencedthe magic of storytelling. The family eventfeatured renowned storyteller Anne Errington (pictured top right) who enthralledadults and children alike with her tales offolklore and supernatural beings, includingwater horses (kelpies) and seals that can become humans (selkies). Highlights included; Andrew and Bertha’s Broomstick;The Dragonfly and the Earthworm and theforeboding tale of The Banshees.

There were also plenty of opportunities toexplore the wonderful setting of the reserveas Spring unfolded in the hills. Participantswere able to follow the ‘Cairnsmore In-byeNature Walk’ which was linked to the storytelling event through panels detailingexcerpts of the stories located at appropriate places along the walk.

Alan Steel, the SNH reserve Manager said:“With wild heather moorland stretching upto the Clints of Dromore and the backdropof the dramatic summit of Cairnsmore ofFleet, it’s a superb place to get away from itall and really experience the wildness of nature. Anne’s tales of mythical andimagined characters inspired by the peopleand the landscape are a wonderful way toget to know the reserve”.

SELKIES, KELPIES AND WATERY TALES

When Caroline revealed the image of the living man, it was agreed that whilst the reconstructions were not perfect, there were elements of each that had similarities to the man. Caroline reassured that it takesmany years of practice before a forensic artist can expect to achieve a successful likeness.

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RSE BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

In June, Stranraer Academy played host to a ‘Business Experience’ run by theRSE in conjunction with the Bright Business Partnership.

During two days of workshops, 81 students from S3 to S6 were encouraged to use examples of industry in Dumfries and Galloway, from the past to the present, to come up with business ideas that would regenerate the economy of the area.“Dumfries and Galloway is an area rich in natural resources, from renewable energy, to land, culture, community and more,” commented Maggie Twomey, Events Officer at the RSE, “and therefore is ideally placed to inspire students and to generate some interesting ideas for the future industry”. The students then presented their ideas to a panel of judges and their peers. Please visit the RSE website for details on the presentations and to find out who the winners were – www.royalsoced.org.uk

LECTURE BY PROFESSOR TOM DEVINE

Professor Tom Devine, OBE FBA FRSE, from the University of Edinburgh, delivered a lecturetitled The Lowland Clearances and the Transformation of Southwest Scotland on the 26 May.

The Clearances are always associated in Scottish traditional song and story with the Highlands. Modern research has challenged that assumption by demonstrating the extent of removals elsewhere in Scotland. The lecture demonstrated the scale of the dispossession of people in one Lowland region, explaining how it transformed the way of life in the southwest forever and suggested why the Highland Clearances are remembered, yet the Lowland Clearances are forgotten.

Professor Devine delivered this public lecture at Maxwelltown High School in Dumfries. The RSE Events and Schools Programmes have always been fortunate to have the support of Fellows who give their time so generously, contributing to the successful series of events each year.

The RSE Start-Up Science Masterclasses have been taking placeover the last few months. In conjunction with Universities acrossScotland, these Masterclasses aim to encourage and inspire students by showing the practical side of science, along with the fun and the downright crazy! Each University runs a series of classes over three or four Saturdays twice a year.

The University of Dundee and the University of St Andrewsgot the Spring series underway on 30 April. Dr Nick Brewer led the class in Dundee, where students explored the Magical and Mysterious World of Chemistry which included how to make coins scream and how to grow your own inorganic crystals! Over at St Andrews, Biology was the order of the day with a fascinating Masterclass delivered by Dr Rebecca Aspden of theScottish Oceans Institute at the University.

The University of Aberdeen kicked off its series of Saturday classes on 14 May with the intriguing Fish that Glow in the Dark

Masterclass. Led by Professor Monty Priede, students explored how staff at the Oceanlab study deep-sea animals and how these animals adapt to their environment.

One of the most interesting classes was held at Heriot-Watt University, where Colin Rickman showed students how to extract DNA from fruit and vegetables using materials and apparatus from the supermarket and the kitchen.

At the University of Glasgow, over four weeks, students learned How to be an Aeroplane Designer; a Bridge Builder;and an Astrophysicist with the final class of the Spring Series looking at How to be a Rocket Scientist.

The Masterclasses take place twice a year, in Spring and Autumn,and S1 and S2 students can now register their interest for the Autumn 2011 series.

To find out more about these events or other events in the RSE Schools’ Programme,or to discuss ways in which you can get involved, please contact: Maggie Twomey, RSE Events Officer, mtwomey@royalsoced.org.uk or 0131 240 5035

The RSE @ Dumfries & Galloway

OTHER SCHOOLS’ EVENTS AROUND SCOTLAND

RSE START-UP SCIENCE MASTERCLASSES

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Friends of the Society

FRIENDS OF THE SOCIETY

CORPORATE PARTNERS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH

In 2009 the RSE created a corporate-engagement initiative – Friends of the Society. A number of prominent organisationswere selected to be invited to join the scheme, established withthe purpose of developing the RSE’s relationship with Scotland’sbusiness sector.

Since then several more companies have accepted the invitationto become ‘Friends’ and the logos of the current partners arehighlighted below. At present, the RSE is extending invitations to several other companies and we are looking forward to the expansion of the member group over the coming year.

The project provides an opportunity for the Friends of the Societyto find out more about the RSE and the important work it carriesout. It also furnishes the RSE and its corporate partners with aplatform to explore areas of potential mutual interest and it is anticipated that a number of beneficial projects will be developedover time.

The partners also receive a number of tangible benefits in returnfor a modest annual fee. These include the free single hire of aSociety function room and access to a number of ‘Friends’ eventsat which the member organisations can meet with Senior RSE Office-bearers, members of the RSE’s Business Innovation Forumas well as other ‘Friends’, to discuss current business issues.

If you would like to know more about the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Friends of the Society initiative, or if yourorganisation may be interested in joining the scheme, please contact:Gordon Adam Director of Business Development and Communications0131 240 2781 or email gadam@royalsoced.org.uk

CORPORATE PARTNERS OF THE RSE

Standing in front of the Friends of the Society plaque in the Society’sWolfson Theatre, Professor John Simmons reads the citation for Professor Duncan Dowson CBE HonFRSE at the New Fellows Induction in May 2011.

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New @ the RSE

The new RSE website went live on 1 June and we hope you will find it easier to navigateand use. Please bear with us while we estabish the new and improved site. The websiteaddress remains as www.royalsoced.org.uk

Although some new features have not yet been implemented, the new site is the firststage of our plan to provide online services, whereby registered users will be able to log in to: amend their personal details; sign up to receive our newsletters and bulletins; manage events they are attending; and pay subscriptions, as well as accessing other new features.

In addition to developing a new website, we have recently started using Twitter and Facebook.

Find us /follow us at www.twitter.com/royalsoced and www.facebook.com/royalsoced.

We'd love to hear from you.

To recognise achievements across the career spectrum the RSE Prizes Fund will supporteight prizes each year: a Senior Prize and Medal and an Early-career Researcher Medal, ineach of the following four disciplines:-

Life Sciences• Senior Prize – the RSE/Sir James Black Prize• Early Career Prize – the RSE/Patrick Neill Medal

Physical, Engineering and Informatics Sciences• Senior Prize – the RSE/Lord Kelvin Prize• Early Career Prize – the RSE/Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane Medal

Humanities and Creative Arts• Senior Prize – the RSE/Sir Walter Scott Prize• Early Career Prize – the RSE/Thomas Reid Medal

Social Sciences, Education, Business and Public Service• Senior Prize – the RSE/Adam Smith Prize• Early Career Prize – the RSE/Henry Duncan Medal

The Senior Prize winners should have aScottish connection but can be based anywhere in the world, and do not need tobe Fellows of the RSE. Senior Prize winnerswill receive a medal and are required to deliver a lecture here in Scotland. Thismeets with the Society’s strategic objectiveof increasing public understanding of science and arts.

Early-career Researcher Prize winners willreceive a medal and this will be presentedwhen the Senior Prize winner delivershis/her lecture. The early-career researcherwill normally be resident in Scotland.

Nominations can only be made by RSE Fellows. Nomination forms are now available from the RSE website and the closing date for completed nominations is: Wednesday 30 November 2011.

New RSE Prizes – Prizes in 2011

SCHOOLS’ WEBPAGE

We are keen to encourage school students to follow academic careers and, to that end, would like to ask Fellows to contribute to the schools’ section of the new website by answering a few questions on what they do and how they got into their line of work. We are looking to profile different Fellows each month.

If you would be willing to get involved, please contact: Maggie Twomey – mtwomey@royalsoced.org.uk

RSE WEBSITE

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Fellows’ Notice BoardFELLOWS DECEASEDIt is with much regret that we record the deaths of the following Fellows:

Dr Michael Richmond DROOPProfessor Gordon William KIRBYProfessor Noreen Elizabeth MURRAY CBE Dr Harry Callender SUTTON

STAFF NEWS

We are pleased to welcome Dr Avril Davidson back to the RSE where she previously held the post of Head of Secretariat of the SSAC. Avril has been seconded, on a full-cost recovery basis, by the Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland for up to one year to help to establish the RSE Young Academy of Scotland. She will be working part-time.

FELLOWS HONOURED

The RSE offers its congratulations to the following Fellows:

GRANTS FOR FELLOWS

The next closing date for Fellows’ Grant applications is 31 August 2011. Fellows are asked to apply well in advance: applications must now be made fourmonths in advance of any travel or meetings taking place and retrospectiveapplications cannot be considered.

Grants are available in the following areas:Travel Assistance; Support for Meetings; Research Visitors to Scotland; VisitingLecturer; Research Liaison within Scotland; Publications; and University/Industry Liaison.

For full details and application forms contact Anne Fraser – 0131 240 5013 –afraser@royalsoced.org.uk or visit: www.royalsoced.org.uk

Professor Philip SCHLESINGER, Director of the Centre for Cultural Policy Research at the University of Glasgow, has been re-appointed as Chairman of UK communications regulator Ofcom’s Advisory Committee for Scotland (2011–2014). He has also been appointed to a visiting professorship at LUISS Guido Carli University in Rome (Autumn 2011).

Professor Sir David EDWARD KCMG QC PC(left) RSE International convener, receivedThe Scotsman Lifetime AchievementAward at this year’s Scottish Legal Awards.The awards aim to promote and award excellence in the Scottish legal profession.The panel of judges features prominentindividuals from the fields of law, businessand politics and is chaired by Margo MacDonald MSP. Sir David was honouredwith the award for his career as a lawyer,academic and former Judge of the Courtof Justice of the European Communities.

Professor Robin ALLSHIRE, Professor Doreen CANTRELL, Professor Alun DAVIES and Professor (Arthur) David MILNER OBE have been elected Fellows of the Royal Society.

FELLOWS’ SUMMER RECEPTION 2011

This highlight of the RSE's social calendarwill be held at National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street Edinburgh, on Friday 23 September from 6 pm. Admission tickets will be available at £50 per head for Fellows and their guests; this covers the actual cost of providing a buffet supper with wine. Fellows will receive further details and a booking form shortly, but may wish to note thedate meanwhile. We are grateful to the Trustees and Director of the NMS for allowing us to hold this event at the newly refurbished Museum.

This will be Lord Wilson's final event beforethe ASM (Monday 3 October 2011) when he will hand over to Sir John Arbuthnott.

The following Fellows were honoured in Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday Honours Lists:

Knights Bachelor –Professor Harry BURNS; (pictured right)

Order of the British Empire: Dame (DBE) –Professor Sally MACINTYRE OBE CBE;

Commander (CBE) –Professor John Robert BROWN; Professor Paul JOWITT; Professor Yasir SULEIMAN;

Officer (OBE) –Dr Barbara CRAWFORD; Professor Bill MCKELVEY; Professor Mona SIDDIQUI;

Member (MBE) –Professor Sheila ROWAN. (pictured right)

FELLOWS’ GOLF

The Fellows' golf outing for the StewartCup will be at the Carrick, Loch Lomondon 26 August. Please inform Dr LesleyCampbell (lcampbell@royalsoced.org.uk) in the Fellowship Office if you would like to take part.

COPY Please send any copy to Jenny Liddell at the Society – newsletter@royalsoced.org.ukReSourcE: ISSN No 1473-7841

INFORMATIONwebsite: www.royalsoced.org.ukwww.rsescotlandfoundation.org.uke-mail: rse@royalsoced.org.ukTel: 0131 240 5000Fax: 0131 240 5024Events ticketline: 0131 240 2780

ADDRESS22–26 GEORGE STREET EDINBURGH, SCOTLANDEH2 2PQ

The Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland’s National Academy, is Scottish Charity No. SC000470The RSE Scotland Foundation is a connected charity, registered in Scotland as Scottish Charity No. SC024636

Any opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of all RSE Fellows

New Fellows’ Induction Day 2011

Corresponding Fellow, Alastair Campbell (centre),Chen Su Lan Centennial Professor in Medical Ethics at the National University of Singapore, with his wifeand Larry Hurtado FRSE, Professor of New Testament Language at the University of Edinburgh,who read the citation

RSE Vice-President, Professor Jean Beggs CBE with Dr Javier Caceres (left), Senior Scientist, MRC Human Genetics Unit,and Seth Grant, Senior Scientist, Wellcome Trust SangerInstitute and Professor of Molecular Neuroscience, University of Edinburgh

Neil Bulleid (left),Professor of CellBiology, andDouglas Paul,Professor of SemiconductorDevices, both atthe University ofGlasgow

Frank Sargent, Professor of Bacterial Physiology joins hiswife, Tracy Palmer, Professor of Molecular Microbiologywho was welcomed to the Fellowship in 2009. Both are at the University of Dundee

Alexandra Slawin, Professor of Chemical Crystallography, with her husband Derek Woollins, Professor of Synthetic Chemistry, both of the University of St Andrews. Professor Woollins became a Fellow in 2002but took this opportunity to sign the roll

Maggie Cusack,Professor of Biomineralisation at the University ofGlasgow, with herhusband, Peter and children, Martin and Hilary

Professer Duncan DowsonCBE was welcomed as an Honorary Fellow. Professor Dowson is Emeritus/Part-time Research Professor in Mechanical Engineering,University of Leeds. He isconsidered to be the father of the science of tribology (friction, wearand lubrication) in the UK.