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8/6/2019 ANNUAL REVIEW APRIL 2004 MARCH 2005
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RSEP R O V I D I N G P U B L I C B E N E F I T
A N N U A L R E V I E W A P R I L 2 0 0 4 M A R C H 2 0 0 5
T 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
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In fulfilling our Royal Charter for the Advancement
of Learning and Useful Knowledge, the RSE has
focused its energies and resources on providing a wide
range of public benefit activities throughout Scotland
and beyond. We have had another very successful
year and have continued to grow on several fronts,
through harnessing the willingness, experience and
expertise of our multidisciplinary Fellowship, perhaps
most notably in our developing International
Programme led by Professor Rona MacKie. By forgingstrategic links with National Academies, we have
entered into agreements with our counterparts in
China (both mainland and Taiwan), Denmark, Norway,
Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. These
links will strengthen our science base and enhance
Scotlands reputation as a leading country for research
excellence. Recognising the importance of partnership,
we have been working with others, such as the British
Council (Scotland) and Scottish Development
International on key projects like Science Scotland.
This publication showcases to the rest of the world the
many centres of excellence active in Scotland today.By working together, we can achieve more, so that
public and private funds are spent wisely.
The RSE continues to do its utmost to support
Scotlands research base and support the
commercialisation of research and innovation.
Our highly competitive Research Fellowships and
Enterprise Awards schemes have continued to support
some of the brightest home-grown talent, as well as
attracting top academics to develop their ideas here
in Scotland. Running these various schemes is a
significant responsibility and they have flourished
under the guidance of Professor David Saxon and DrIan Sword. It is pleasing that BBSRC was sufficiently
impressed with our Enterprise Fellowship schemes
funded by Scottish Enterprise and PPARC, that it
decided to create new Fellowships run through the
RSE. I am delighted that an independent Review of
our Research Awards programme has been chaired by
Sir John Enderby. This has confirmed the high quality
and usefulness to Scotland of our schemes, and made
helpful suggestions on how they can continue to
attract and retain the best. The welcome decision
by Government to recognise the need for University
research to be funded on a sustainable basis, covering
full economic costs, will, however, have major
implications for the funding of RSE Research Awards.
It is essential that the Government funded schemes
managed and delivered so successfully by the RSE,
continue to hold their place alongside those available
in Scotland from UK national academies and Research
Councils, which will be funded on a full economic
costs basis.
Another notable development was a major stream-
lining of the way the Society is governed and managed
to bring us in line with recognised best practice
and to provide a sound basis for continued growth.The changes are described in more detail at the end
of this Report, and allow the RSEs elected Council to
concentrate on governance and strategy policy, whilst
allowing delegation of operational delivery to the senior
staff and those Office-Bearers with specific functional
responsibilities. An Audit and Risk Committee
(operating on a joint basis with our connected
charitable Trust, the RSE Scotland Foundation)
has also been created to advise the Society and
Foundation Trustees on their financial and risk
management obligations.
Of course, it is not only suitable structures, but ableand dedicated people that make organisations
succeed. In that regard, I should wish to pay particular
tribute to Sir Laurence Hunter who served as Treasurer
for 5 years until October 2004; also to Professor
Andrew Miller as General Secretary, and Professor
Colin Bird as Fellowship Secretary, who demit office
at the Annual Statutory Meeting in 2005, both having
served the RSE most ably.
The format of this Review of the Societys activities from
April 2004 to March 2005, illustrates ways the Society
is providing public benefit, through the six core activities
defined by our Corporate Plan. This document offersonly a flavour of the range and high quality of activity
undertaken by the RSE in the past year. Full details are
available on our website and in the formal Trustees
Report & Accounts, available upon request.
Finally, I am delighted that Sir Michael Atiyah, a former
President of our sister Royal Society in London, has
been elected to succeed me. He has a wealth of
experience to offer and will be an outstanding leader,
as the Society further expands its international activities
and develops its range of public-benefit activities
in Scotland.
Lord Sutherland of Houndwood
KT, FBA, PRSE
Introduction fromthe President
t h e r o ya l s o c i e t y o f e d i n b u r g h
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t h e r o ya l s o c i e t y o f e d i n b u r g h
providing public benefit through
Independent inquiry
into Scotlands Energy
Instigated by the Council of the RSE, the
Society set in train a major independent
Inquiry into issues for Scotlands energy
supply. Chaired by Professor Maxwell Irvine,
the Committees remit is to review the issues
for Scotlands energy supply and demand
between the present and the year 2050;
review the options for providing forScotlands energy supply and demand
and provide an evidential base for energy
policy in Scotland within the framework
of strategies for transport, industrial,
commercial and domestic needs. This
broadly-based independent Inquiry began
taking evidence from a broad range of
individuals and organisations nationally
and overseas. The RSE expects to publish
the Inquiry report by Summer 2006.
Evidence Advice & Comment
The expertise of the RSEs multidisciplinary
Fellowship was harnessed to provide 27authoritative responses to a wide range ofpublic consultations, including: The RSEsfirst Position Paper: Climate Change and
the Management of Scotlands NaturalHeritage; The Committee on Radioactive
Waste Management consultation onLong-term radioactive waste management;
The Scottish Executive Enterprise andLifelong Learning Departments consultationon the Merger of the Scottish FurtherEducation Funding Council and the ScottishHigher Education Funding Council; TheHouse of Lords Constitutional Reform Bill
and The Medical Research Councils Codeof Practice for the Use of Human Stem
Cell Lines.
Young People Discuss
Scotlands Energy Crisis
In June 2004 senior school students fromthroughout Dumfries and Galloway gatheredat University of Glasgow, Crichton Campus,Dumfries to debate the economics, ethicsand environmental considerations ofScotlands energy policy in an RSEdiscussion forum entitled The Energy Crisis:what are the alternatives? Experts fromdifferent sectors of the energy industry,including traditional fuels, renewable energy
and energy efficiency, introduced the issuesand sparked some thoughtful discussionson Scotlands future energy needs. Fossilfuels are running out and have seriousenvironmental consequences. Our currentheating and transport fuel consumption is
making the situation worse. Therefore theScottish Executive has stated that by 202040% of Scotlands electricity should comefrom renewable resources. The studentsproposals have been compiled in a report,which was sent to decision-making bodies,including the Scottish Parliament, so thatthe views of the young people can be heard.
Scottish Parliament Science
Information SchemeThe RSEs successful pilot Scottish
Parliament Science Information Scheme,
became a fully endorsed activity of the RSE
during this period. The Scheme had been
set up by the RSE, the Royal Society of
Chemistry, and the Scottish Parliament
Information Centre (SPICe) to help inform
Parliamentary debates involving scientific
issues; raise the profile of science in the
Parliament and help ensure MSPs are
provided with information by appropriately
knowledgeable experts. Over the course
of the pilot, MSPs raised inquiries on topicsincluding: Broadband coverage in Scotland;
Renewable Energy; Biomass fuels; Smoking
in public places; Alternative feed for farmed
salmon; Mobile phone radiation, & wind
turbines.
THE RSES INDEPENDENT INQUIRIES IN THE
MEDIA SPOTLIGHT: PROFESSOR MAXWELL
IRVINE & BBCS LOUISE BATCHELOR
THE SOCIETYS 1400 PEER-ELECTED
FELLOWS ENABLE THE RSE TO PROVIDE
INDEPENDENT, AUTHORITATIVE RESPONSES
TO KEY DECISION-MAKERS
A NON-PARTY-POLITICAL, IMPARTIAL BODY,
THE RSE SUPPORTS PARLIAMENTARY
PROCESS
authoritative, independent adviceand making recommendationsto policy decision-takers
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t h e r o ya l s o c i e t y o f e d i n b u r g h
providing public benefit through
scottishscienceadvisorycommittee
THE RSE SUPPORTS LEADING
RESEARCHERS WORKING IN SCOTLAND
THE SCOTTISH SCIENCE ADVISORY
COMMITTEE IS HELPING IDENTIFY SCIENCE
PRIORITIES IN SCOTLAND
TEACHING FELLOW MS KAREN McNISH
AND THEN DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER JIM
WALLACE MSP
supporting and enhancing excellencein the Scottish research base
Research & Enterprise Awards
Each year, more than 1.7million is made
available to exceptionally talented
academics and potential entrepreneurs
through the Society. These awards enable
some of the brightest researchers from
home and around the world to develop
their ideas here in Scotland. The following
were awarded during 2004 2005: 1 BP
Personal Research Fellowship, 3 Scottish
Executive Personal Research Fellowships,
3 Scottish Executive Support Fellowships,
2 Lloyds TSB Personal Research
Fellowships, 2 Lloyds TSB Research
Studentships, 2 Wellcome Research
Workshops, 2 Cormack Undergraduate
prizes, 1 postgraduate prize and 6 vacation
research scholarships, 6 Lessells Travel
Scholarships & 3 Scottish Executive
Science Fellowships for Teachers.
Teaching Fellowships
Funding from the Scottish Executive
Transport, Enterprise and Lifelong Learning
Department (SETELLD) enables the Society
to award Science Fellowships for Teachers.
These awards make it possible for teachers,based in Scottish schools, to take time out
of the classroom to update and refresh their
knowledge and develop new connections
likely to be of benefit to schools. This
enables the teachers to bring an added
dimension to the course work they teach
in the hope of stimulating their pupils in
their chosen subject. It is also hoped that
the new material produced through this
Fellowship scheme will be of broad benefit
within the Scottish education system. At a
Science in the Parliament event held on 10
November, the three 2004 Teaching Fellows
received their awards from Jim Wallace
MSP, then Deputy First Minister.
New Appointments for SSAC
The Scottish Science Advisory Committee
(SSAC) is an entirely independent body,
chaired by Professor Wilson Sibbett, and
was set up in 2002 to provide strategic
advice on scientific issues to the Scottish
Executive. The RSE Council appoints the
members of SSAC, but does not control
the advice given by the SSAC. Having
completed its first phase, and with a more
focused remit from the Scottish Executive,
eleven new replacement members were
appointed in June 2004, following an open,
highly-competitive process which attracted
over 70 applicants, including several fromoverseas. The new appointees are:
Professor Steven Beaumont; Professor
Geoffrey Boulton; Professor Muffy Calder;
Professor Sir Kenneth Calman; Professor
John Coggins; Professor Julie Fitzpatrick;
Professor Peter Grant; Dr Stuart Monro;
Professor Peter Morgan; Professor Richard
Morris; Dr John Nicholls; Professor Stuart
Reid; Professor Jonathan Seckl; Dr Barbara
Spruce; Professor Joyce Tait; Professor
Chris van der Kuyl; Eur Ing Graham Wren.
In this period, the SSAC produced key
reports on: Investing in Scientific Talent,
November 2004; Knowledge Transfer:
Science to Scottish Businesses, November
2004. These can be found on its website:
www.scottishscience.org.uk
Strategic advice will
strengthen our science
base and enhance
Scotlands reputation
as a leading country
for research excellence
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Innovation & Enterprise
Innovative research in such areas as
healthcare, the ageing population,
communications, and the environment
is being supported through the RSE,
in partnership with key funders in the
public and private sectors. In the period
2004-2005, the Society awarded 14
Enterprise Fellowships, 12 funded by
Scottish Enterprise and 2 by PPARC.
The aim of these highly competitive schemes
is to increase the commercialisation of the
Scottish academic research base, raise
understanding of commercialisation
throughout Scottish universities and
research institutes, and to create sustainable
companies with high-value jobs. Enterprise
Fellows receive a years salary, business
training, support funds and access to
business advisers and mentors to assist
them form their spin-out companies.
Following the success of the Fellowships
funded by Scottish Enterprise and PPARC
and managed by the RSE, the BBSRCis also now working with the RSE to support
the commercialisation of research and
innovation.
Encouraging & RewardingInnovation in Scotland
Scotlands top award for innovation,
The Gannochy Trust Innovation Award
of The Royal Society of Edinburgh was
presented to Professor Ian Underwood, for
the contribution he has made throughout
his career to the development in Scotland
ofhighly innovative optoelectronic display
devices. Professor Underwood has created
a world record-breaking technology an
ultra-miniature television-quality display builton a silicon chip. The coveted title, which
also carries a cheque for fifty thousand
pounds and a specially-commissioned gold
medal, was bestowed upon Professor
Underwood by RSE President Lord
Sutherland of Houndwood, at an awards
ceremony held at The Royal Museum of
Scotland on 1 October 2004. Following an
open competition run by The Royal Society
of Edinburgh, Professor Underwood was
selected by a distinguished judging panel,
Chaired by Lord Ross, and including:
Sir Bruce Pattullo, Professor Andy Walker,
Dr Ian Sword and Dr Russell Leather.
Professor Underwood gave an update
on his work at a lecture given at the Society
on March 7 2005. The Panel also selected
the 2005 winner, Mr John Harrison of the
Surfactant Technologies Group whose
innovation, MicroEmulsions Technology,
has the potential to make a significant
environmental and economic contribution
in Scotland through its industrial cleaning
applications.
RSE Entrepreneurs Club
Past and present Enterprise Fellows,
commercialising their research with support
from the Society and key funding partners,
Scottish Enterprise, PPARC and BBSRC,
met at the RSE in January to share
their experiences at the inaugural meeting.
RSE Fellows with knowledge of spin-out
companies act as guest speakers at these
events and as mentors to Enterprise Fellows.
PROFESSOR IAN UNDERWOOD 2004 WINNER
OF THE GANNOCHY TRUST INNOVATION
AWARD OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF
EDINBURGH
THE SOCIETY CONTINUES TO DO
ITS UTMOST TO SUPPORT THE
COMMERCIALISATION OF RESEARCH
AND INNOVATION
MED'S ULTRA-MINIATURE DISPLAY DEVICE,
PIONEERED BY PROFESSOR IAN
UNDERWOOD & COLLEAGUES
supporting the commercialisationof research and innovation
By working together,
we can achieve more
so that public and
private funds are
spent wisely.
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THE RSE IS A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY FORUM
WHERE THE PUBLIC AND SPECIALISTS
DISCUSS ISSUES OF ENDURING IMPORTANCE
THE SOCIETYS HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES SEEK TO
INSPIRE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND STIMULATE
THEIR INTEREST IN SCIENCE AND SOCIETY
communicating knowledgeand understanding
Forums for Knowledge
A neutral forum providing events forthe public and the specialist, the Societydelivered 20 Lectures, 4 Discussion Forums,6 Conferences, 1 Workshop, and 3 AwardCeremonies. These included: The BrucePreller Prize Lecture, The Threat of Terrorism The Place of Science by Sir Keith ONions,
The Coming Century Ten Trends to Back,by Frances Cairncross, Fire and Structures
Implications of the World Trade CenterDisaster, and the CRF Prize Lecture, entitledPre-mRNA Splicing: the Tie that Binds byProfessor Joan Steitz, Yale University. Threemeetings a joint lecture with the ScottishCrop Research Institute, the CRF Prize
Lecture, and a joint conference with theRoyal Swedish Academy of Sciences were
held outwith Edinburgh. The four DiscussionForums, on Fingerprint Identification, SecularEurope and Religious Turbulence, HIV and
AIDS in Scotland and Neurosurgery forMental Disorder met with an encouragingresponse, audiences being over target inmost cases. Several full reports have beenpublished and are available in hard copyfrom the Society, or on the RSE website.
Bridging the gap between
Engineering & The Creative ArtsIn an event organised in association withThe Royal Academy of Engineering, entitled
Engineering and the Creative Arts A New
Frontier?, Dr Robert Hawley, Chairman,
Taylor Woodrow plc, explored whether
there is there a Two Cultures gap between
engineering and the creative arts and ifengineers understand the contribution they
make to the arts and do those in the arts
understand the contribution made by
engineering. He said the so-called creative
industries are the critical battlegrounds for
the wealth-creating society, that Engineering
has a key role to play and there is much
to be gained from strengthening the
communication bridge between the two
disciplines. Considering the relationship
between engineering and some areas of
the arts, Dr Hawley expressed the hope that
his lecture might start off a process leading
to a greater mutual understanding betweenthe two disciplines.
The Health and Psyche
of the Scottish Nation
The Health and Psyche of the ScottishNation was the topic considered at theSociety in association with the EdinburghLectures Partnership. The Society hostedProfessor Roland Jung, Chief Scientist,
Scottish Executive and Dr James Robson,National Team Medical Co-ordinator,Scottish Rugby Union on 21 January 2005.
Sport and exercise play an ever-increasingrole in the health of both the individual andthe population at large, whether activelyparticipating or simply observing theachievements of others. So, how has
obesity become the most importantnutritional problem of the new millennium?What impact does obesity have on health?How can we prevent this rising tide ofobesity which if not countered could reverse
the increased longevity achieved in the lastthree decades by improvements in health?
HIV and AIDS in Scotland:Beyond the 1980s
Dr Gordon Scott, Department ofGenito-Urinary Medicine, Royal Infirmary,Edinburgh and Mr Neil Gerrard MP, Chair,
All Parliamentary Group on AIDS werethe keynote speakers at the SocietysDiscussion Forum on 8 December 2004.Having once been dubbed the AIDS Capitalof Europe much has been achieved interms of infection control and patient carein Edinburgh, and Scotland generally.However, we are inevitably seeing theinternational dimensions of this epidemicand the knock on effects that this is havingon many countries as well as our own.
The meeting considered the future of thisepidemic and what can be done to control it.
Inspiring Young People
The Society's programme of educational
activities for Young People has expanded
the scale of its activities. Thirteen Talk
Science schools talks were given in this
period and Maths Masterclasses organised
by the RSE at Aberdeen City Council, The
University of Dundee, Kelvinside Academy,
and Queensferry Primary School. The week-long non-residential Summer School at
Heriot-Watt University gave S5 and S6
students from the City of Edinburgh, East
Lothian and Midlothian a taste of university
life and of the courses and careers they
might want to take up in the future.
The RSE Young Peoples Programme visited
Arbroath on 26 28 October for an RSE
Roadshow. Professor Sue Black gave a talk
to S2 students at Arbroath Academy entitled
Who am I? Professor Ian Wilmut delivered
the Societys 2004 Christmas lecture in
Pitlochry Festival Theatre to an audienceover 250 local Standard Grade students.
Entitled, Why Clone? Cloning in Biology and
Medicine, the schools talk was followed by
an illustrated public lecture in the evening.
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PROFESSOR RONA MACKIE & PROFESSOR
JAN PALOUS, SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING
SCIENCE SCOTLAND SEEKS TO SHOWCASE
TO AN INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE, CENTRES
OF EXCELLENCE IN SCOTLAND
promoting the international awarenessof Scottish research and innovation
International ExchangeProgrammes
The RSE's expanding International Exchange
Programmes enable top Scottish-based
researchers, in any field, to collaborate with
the best of their counterparts anywhere
in the world. They offer researchers from
Scotland the opportunity to travel on a
short visit of up to 4 weeks to further
research collaboration and also for Scottish
researchers to invite foreign colleagues
to visit Scotland. They have been well
subscribed, with a total of 45 exchanges
taking place 8 on the bilateral programmes
run with China, Poland and Taiwan and
37 on the open programme with visitsto/from various countries including Armenia,
Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil,
Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy,
Jordan, Lao PDR, Latvia, The Netherlands,
New Zealand, Nigeria, Russia, Slovakia,
South Africa, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, and
the USA.
Forging Strategic Links
with Overseas Academies
In this period, much work was put into
laying the foundations for Memoranda
of Understanding between the RSE andoverseas academies. The Societys
International Convener, Professor Rona
MacKie visited the Academy in Prague
in December 2004 and met the President
of the Academy, Professor Helena Illernov.
Professor MacKie visited the Institute of
Molecular Genetics where she met itsDirector, Professor Vclav Paces, now
President of the Academy. This visit led to
the joint signing of an agreement at the RSE
in May 2005 by Professor Jan Palous,
President of the Council for International
Affairs, Academy of Sciences of the Czech
Republic and Professor MacKie.
Brain Science
The Scottish Executive organised a season
of trade mission events in the Netherlands
in autumn 2004, promoting Scotland.
The RSE was invited to organise a one-day,scientific meeting similar to the event held
during the Scotland in Sweden season in
2002. An event on Brain Science was
organised jointly by the RSE and the Royal
Netherlands Academy for Arts and Sciences
and was held at the Academys 17th-century
headquarters in the centre of Amsterdam
on 1 October 2004. This top-level scientific
meeting brought together experts from
Scotland and the Netherlands to stimulate
discussion and identify possible research
collaboration in the future. The preceding
evening, Professor Richard Morris gave a
well attended public lecture on how BrainScience could transform our lives in the
21st Century.
Visit by the National NaturalScience Foundation of China
As part of a European tour, a delegation from
the National Natural Science Foundation
of China, led by Professor Zhu Zuoyan,
Vice-President, visited the RSE in September
2004 to meet Professor Stephen Blackmore
and RSE staff. While in Scotland,the group also visited the universities of
Aberdeen and Edinburgh. The NNSFC
is keen to develop more extensive links
with Scotland. Chinas science base is
developing fast both in scale and quality,
and 2005 has also been designated the
Year of UK Science in China. In this context,
opportunities for Sino-Scottish scientific
collaboration would seem to be opening up
at a rapid rate. The Society has responded
by setting up the RSE China Forum, chaired
by Professor Stephen Blackmore, which
met for the first time in January 2005.
RSE European Policy Forum
A small discussion dinner was held on the
eve of a conference, Scotlands Role in
the Enlarged Europe to allow conference
speakers and other invited guests to discuss
how the RSE may take forward the idea of
a European Policy Forum. This body was
created in Autumn 2004 and is chaired
by Sir David Edward.
Science Scotland
This is a publication which aims to
enhance the reputation of Scottish science
internationally. Three issues, two on
physics and one on Understanding the
Genome, were published in the past year.
The publication is distributed to a wide
international readership of scientists, science
managers, policy makers and government
staff around the world, using the networks
of the FCO science attachs, British Council
science staff, Scottish Development
International field offices and other networks.
The project is being run by the RSE, with
support from the Scottish Executive. As well
as the paper edition, Science Scotlandhas awebsite (www.sciencescotland.org) and
readers may register to receive an ezine. A
CD has been made of the first two issues.
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LORD SUTHERLAND CONGRATULATES
PRESIDENT ELECT SIR MICHAEL ATIYAH
ROYAL MEDALLISTS SIR PHILIP COHEN,
PROFESSOR ROBIN MILNER, SIR NEIL
MacCORMICK (l r)
sustaining and utilising the expertise of itsmultidisciplinary Fellowship, and recognisingoutstanding achievement and excellence
Alan Greenspan joins the ranks
of Honorary Fellows of the RSE
Honorary Fellowship of the Society was
conferred, in person, upon the Chairman
of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve, Dr Alan Greenspan Hon KBE.
He is internationally recognised as a leading
figure in United States' economic policy.
Lord Sutherland admitted Dr Greenspan
to Honorary Fellowship of the Society at
a ceremony in St. Bryce Kirk, Kirkcaldy,
following the Bank of Scotland Adam Smith
Lecture, held under the auspices of Fife
College on February 6 2005. Dr Greenspan
delivered the Adam Smith lecture at the
invitation of the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
Gordon Brown, MP.
President-elect
Described as one of the worlds greatest
living mathematicians, Sir Michael Atiyah is
to be the Societys next President. In 2003
he was presented with The Royal Medal byHRH The Duke of Edinburgh, in recognition
of intellectual endeavour which has had a
profound influence on people's lives, world-
wide. In 2004, he was joint recipient of the
Abel Prize, regarded as the Mathematicians'
Nobel Prize, presented by His Majesty King
Harald of Norway.
Sir Michael is only the second person to
have been sometime President of both The
Royal Society of Edinburgh and The Royal
Society in London, the first being Lord Kelvin.
Sir Michael was one of the pioneers in the
development of K-theory. Knighted in 1983,
he received the Order of Merit in 1992, was
Master of Trinity College Cambridge from1990 to 1997 and was President of The
Royal Society of London from 1990 to 1995
where he had been elected to Fellowship at
the notably young age of 32. Sir Michael was
until recently President of Pugwash and is
Chancellor of the University of Leicester.
Royal Medals for
Outstanding Achievement
The achievements of three individuals whose
work has brought about public benefits on
a global scale received Royal recognition
in September 2004. Royal Medals werepresented by Lord Sutherland to: Professor
Sir Philip Cohen for his outstanding
contribution to Life Sciences; to Professor
Sir Neil MacCormick for his outstanding
contribution to academic life in Scotland and
internationally and to Professor Robin Milner
for his outstanding contributions to software
engineering. The Medallists were selected by
the RSE in recognition of intellectualendeavour which has had a profound
influence on peoples lives worldwide.
Breadth of Expertise Increases
Fellows are greatly involved in helping the
Society to deliver public benefit activities in
partnership with its dedicated, professional
staff. The Society currently has 1299 Ordinary
Fellows, 30 Corresponding Fellows and 68
Honorary Fellows. In March 2005 the RSE
announced the election of 55 Ordinary,
7 Corresponding and 4 Honorary Fellows
including: Writer and Broadcaster, DavidAttenborough; Michael Porter, a global-
authority on competitive strategy; John
McCarthy, the Co-founder of Artificial
Intelligence; Michael Berry, one of the worlds
most famous Theoretical Physicists; and
Elizabeth Loftus, internationally renowned
expert on Eyewitness Recall. This election
was carried out by Postal Ballot for the
first time.
Bicentenary Medals
The outstanding service to the Society of
Professor John Beck, Professor John Laverand The Rt Hon Lord Ross was recognised
in Dundee during the Summer of 2004 when
each was awarded the RSEs Bicentenary
Medal. This prestigious award for
distinguished service was presented by
the President, Lord Sutherland during a
reception held at The University of Dundee.
Around 150 RSE Fellows and guests were
present at the Summer Reception held
during the University of Dundees graduation
celebrations. Professor John Beck, Professor
John Laver and Lord Ross have played key
roles in recent years as the RSE has
positioned itself to be of greater benefit
to the wider community in post-devolution
Scotland.
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Corporate Governance & Management
At a well-attended Extraordinary Meeting of Fellows
in September 2004, extensive changes to the
Societys Laws were unanimously approved, to
introduce improved governance and management
structures. These changes followed extensive
consultation with Fellows and deliberation by
Council, and took effect from the Annual Statutory
Meeting (ASM) on 25 October 2004. The main
purpose of the changes is to allow greater clarity
of roles between those responsible for governance
and management, and to allow more delegation to
those responsible for operational delivery. One of the
first consequences is that the Trustee membership
of Council was reduced from 25 to 12, with the 7
Office-Bearers and 5 Ordinary Members elected at
the ASM, as shown below. The Curator, International
Convener, Programme Convener, Research Awards
Convener and Young Peoples Convener continue
with largely unchanged roles, except they will not be
Trustees, and they will be elected members of a
newly created separate Executive Board which
replaces the Business Committee. It is chaired by
the General Secretary and also includes as voting
members, the Treasurer, the Convener of the RSE
Scotland Foundation, the Executive Secretary (who
has been retitled as Chief Executive) and the Director
of Finance. This Board will have substantial
delegated authority from Council and will meet
quarterly along with the other members of the senior
staff management group.
A new independent Audit and Risk Committee will
be created to replace the Treasurers Committee.
There will no longer be Secretaries to Meetings and
their duties will be reallocated to the Programme
Convener and Fellowship Secretary. The election
or re-election of Council members and other Office-
bearers will take place annually, normally at the
Annual Statutory Meeting, but will be by postal ballot
of all Ordinary Fellows so that the vote is no longer
restricted to those able to attend the ASM, which will
now be held earlier in October. It is intended the
ASM will allow much more detailed consideration
of the Trustees and Office-Bearers reports and
hence not followed by a public event. This format
was used for the ASM on 25 October 2004 and was
much appreciated by those present.
Most Trustees and Office-Bearers will continue to
serve up to 3 years but the terms of the General
Secretary, Treasurer and Programme Convener have
been reduced from 5 to 4 years.
t h e r o ya l s o c i e t y o f e d i n b u r g h
Council of The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE)
President: Lord Sutherland of Houndwood
Vice-President: Professor R G L McCrone
Vice-President: Professor J Coggins
Vice-President: Professor J Mavor (From October 2004)
General Secretary: Professor A Miller
Treasurer: Mr E Cunningham (From October 2004)
Councillors
Professor R Asher
Mr E Brown
Professor T Durrani
Professor R M MacKie
Dr I P Sword
Executive Board
General Secretary: Professor A Miller
Treasurer: Mr E Cunningham
Curator: Dr B E Moon
Research Awards Convener: Professor D H Saxon
International Committee Convener: Professor R M MacKie
Programme Convener: Professor I H Stevenson
Young Peoples Committee Convener: Professor C A Tickle
Chief Executive: Dr William Duncan
The Society is registered in Scotland
as Scottish Charity No. SC000470Inland Revenue Claim Board Reference CR 18102
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t h e r o ya l s o c i e t y o f e d i n b u r g h
financial review
Income for year ended 31 March 2005 000 000
2005 2004
Promotion of research and innovation
Research awards Scottish Executive 633 21% 564
Research awards Scottish Enterprise 616 20% 591
Research awards charitable trusts 554 18% 509
1,803 1,664
Science promotion and advice
Meetings 76 85
Education 10 6
Academic/industry links 3
International activities(including secondment of staff
from British Council) 182 160
268 9% 254Scottish Executive grant for activities(mainly allocated to science promotion and advice
and including staff secondment) 423 13% 406
Scottish Science Advisory Committee 149 5% 156
Own income
Fellows subscriptions 161 146
Other donations 67 59
Interest and dividends 168 155
396 13% 360
Appeal receipts 22 1% 57
Total income 3,061 100% 2,897
Income
Research Awards Scottish Executive 21%
Research Awards Scottish Enterprise 20%
Research Awards charitable trusts 18%
Science Promotion & Advice 9%
Scottish Executive grant for activities 13%
Scottish Science Advisory Committee 5%
Own Income 13%
Appeal Receipts 1%
Expenditure for year ended 31 March 2005 000 000
2005 2004
Cost of generating funds 7 1% 9
Promotion of research
Research awards 1,781 59% 1,626
Prizes and grants 131 4% 137
Science promotion and advice
Publications 36 21
Meetings 204 240
Educational activities 78 65
Academic/ industry links 7 10
International activities 212 186
Evidence, advice and comment 78 115
615 21% 637
Scottish Science Advisory Committee 149 5% 156
Fellowship Office 52 2% 49
Buildings management and administration 244 8% 223
Total expenditure 2,979 100% 2,837
Net incoming resources for the year 82 60
Expenditure
Research Awards 59%
Prizes and grants 4%
Science Promotion & Advice 21%
Scottish Science Advisory Committee 5%
Fellowship Office 2%
Buildings, management & administration 8%
Cost of generating funds 1%
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t h e r o ya l s o c i e t y o f e d i n b u r g h
financial reviewAs described earlier, the RSE continues to engage in a wide range of activities and thereby has been
successfully contributing to the Scottish community. The financial results for the year 2004/05 demonstrate,through the income and expenditure accounts, that these activities were carried out so as to generate a
modest surplus which nonetheless showed an increase on the year 2003/04. The principal source of
income continues to be the Scottish Executive which provides 45% of total income, mainly through grant
in aid. However, there was an encouraging increase in income from charitable trusts. Fellows also made
an increased contribution through their subscriptions and donations. This source is especially valuable as it
is not tied and therefore available for allocation to wherever there are uncovered needs. At the same time,
the balance sheet was strengthened in part through the performance of the RSE's investment portfolio
and in part through the effective management of our current assets. These improvements have contributed
towards the RSE's goal of achieving a stronger financial base from which it can offer an expanding service
to the community in the future.
Edward Cunningham CBE, FRSE, Treasurer September 2005
Balance Sheet 31 March 000 000
2005 2004
Tangible Fixed Assets 2,420 2,476
Fixed Asset Investments 2,180 1,989
Loan to RSE Scotland Foundation 1,985 2,031
6,585 6,496
Current Assets 1,249 961
Current Liabilities (554) (410)
Net Assets 7,280 7,047
Represented by
General Funds 173 69
Designated Funds 5,764 5,764
Restricted Funds 1,343 1,214
7,280 7,047
The figures above have been extracted from the audited accounts for the period ended 31 March 2005 whichcarried an unqualified audit report. The full Trustees' report and audited accounts are obtainable in hard copy
from 22-26 George Street , Edinburgh, EH2 2PQ or on the RSE website www.royalsoced.org.uk
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS STATEMENT
We have examined the summarised financial information which is prepared for the purpose
of inclusion in the Societys annual review.
The Council is responsible for the preparation of the financial information. We have agreed to report
on its consistency with annual accounts on which we reported on 5 September 2005.
Basis of opinion
We have carried out the procedures we consider necessary to ascertain whether the summarised review
is consistent with the annual accounts from which it has been prepared.
OpinionIn our opinion the financial review is consistent with the annual accounts for the year ended 31 March 2005.
HENDERSON LOGGIE, EDINBURGH, SEPTEMBER 2005
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The Royal Society of Edinburgh was founded in 1783. It is Scotlands national
academy. Its Fellowship includes some of the best intellectual talent in academia,
the professions and business. It facilitates public debate, research programmes,
educational projects and strategy formulation. Its strength is its diversity and
impartiality. The Societys unique multi-disciplinary approach enables it to draw
from and link with a broad spectrum of expertise to advance the understanding
of globally important issues. In fulfilling its Royal Charter for the advancement
of learning and useful knowledge, the RSE is seeking to contribute to the social,
cultural and economic wellbeing of Scotland.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh
22-26 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PQ
T 0131 240 5000
F 0131 240 5024
W www.royalsoced.org.uk
Scottish Charity No. SC000470ISSN 1742-1810
RSE