The Royal Society of Edinburgh

Review 2008 (Session 2006-2007) The Royal Society of Edinburgh Review 2008

The Royal Society of Edinburgh Printed in Great Britain by Henry Ling Limited, Dorchester, DT1 1HD ISSN 1476-4342 CONTENTS

Proceedings of the Ordinary Meetings ...... 3 Proceedings of the Statutory General Meeting ...... 5 Trustees’ Report to 31 March 2007 ...... 29 Auditors’ Report and Accounts ...... 49 Schedule of Investments ...... 51 Activities Prize Lectures ...... 79 Lectures...... 127 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums ...... 169 Publications ...... 211 The Scottish Science Advisory Committee ...... 213 Evidence, Advice and Comment ...... 215 Inquiries ...... 217 Parliamentary Liaison ...... 219 Events for Young People ...... 221 Research and Enterprise Awards ...... 225 Medals, Prizes and Prize Lectureships ...... 229 Grants Committee ...... 231 International Programme ...... 233 Fellows’ Social Events ...... 241 Grants, Sponsorship and Donations ...... 243 Changes in Fellowship During the Session ...... 245 Staff ...... 247 Obituary Notices...... 249 Index ...... 311 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ORDINARY MEETINGS 4 December 2006 Scrutineers for the Ballot for the Chair election of new Fellows, reported Professor John Richardson FRSE that 44% of the Fellowship had returned Ballot papers and that The President, Sir Michael Atiyah those on the list (page 245) had OM FRS HonFREng HonFMedSci been elected. HonFRSE PRSE preceded the lecture with the announcement of Lecture some Society business. Philology in a New Key: Humane Studies in a Digital Space. Profes- Formal Admission to Fellowship sor Jerome McGann, The John Professor Ian Beith McLaren Stewart Bryan Professor of Ralston English, University of Virginia, US Announcement of Scrutineers 3 September 2007 for 2007 Ballot Professor Hector McQueen and Chair Professor Charles Withers Sir Michael Atiyah OM FRS HonFREng HonFMedSci HonFRSE Lecture PRSE Visual Theology in Pictish Art. Professor George Henderson, Announcement of Scrutineers Emeritus Professor of Medieval for Council Ballot Art, University of Cambridge and Professor David Fergusson and Dr Isabel Henderson OBE, former Professor Iain Boyd Whyte. Fellow of Newnham College, Formal Admission to Fellowship Cambridge Professor James Hunter CBE 8 March 2007 Lecture Chair Henry Duncan Prize Lecture - The Professor Janet McDonald FRSE, Highlands: Scotland’s Great Vice-President. Success Story. Professor James Hunter CBE FRSE, Director, UHI Election of Fellows Centre for History Professors Hector MacQueen and Charles Withers, who had acted as

3 PROCEEDINGS OF THE STATUTORY GENERAL MEETING Minutes of the Statutory General Meeting held on 1 October 2007, ending the 224th Session

The Annual Statutory Meeting modern communications technol- took place in the Society’s Wolf- ogy. The funding for this Award son Theatre on Monday 1 October comes from the Edinburgh-based 2007 at 5.30 pm. Sir Michael electronics company, Wolfson Atiyah OM, President, took the Microelectronics, created by a Chair. Sir Michael reported that it former RSE Vice-President, had been intended that the Professor David Milne. meeting would again be webcast Following an open call for live so that absent Fellows could nominations in late 2006, the IEEE access proceedings via a and The RSE decided to make the password-controlled section of first award jointly to Dr Irwin the RSE site, but this would now Jacobs and Dr Andrew Viterbi. not be possible due to unforeseen They co-founded QUALCOMM in technical difficulties. A video 1985 and this has set global recording of the proceedings benchmarks in digital wireless would, however, be available on communication systems and the RSE website following the products, based on Code Division meeting. Multiple Access (CDMA) technolo- IEEE/RSE Wolfson, James Clerk gies they pioneered. Under their Maxwell Award 2007 leadership, QUALCOMM has Prior to the start of the formal grown into a Fortune 500 compa- business, Sir Michael warmly ny, now with annual revenues in welcomed Dr Irwin M Jacobs and excess of $7.5 billion. Mrs Joan Jacobs. Dr Jacobs was The Award consists of a specially present to receive the inaugural designed gold medal, a bronze IEEE/RSE/Wolfson, James Clerk replica, and a cheque for $20,000 Maxwell Award. Sir Michael (shared between the winners). explained that this major new international award was created Professor John Mavor read the jointly between the IEEE (The citation for Dr Jacobs and after Institution of Electrical and receiving his award from the Electronic Engineers) and the President, Dr Jacobs gave an Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) illustrated talk entitled Reflections in summer 2006. It is named after on the amazing and Ubiquitous the outstanding Scottish scientist Cellphone, a summary report of James Clerk Maxwell whose which is available on the RSE discoveries in electromagnetism website. underpin almost all aspects of

5 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Sir Michael thanked Dr Jacobs for Report on Activities for Session a stimulating presentation and 2006/07 also announced that the City of Sir Michael commented that, in Edinburgh Council had now given addition to producing the formal permission for the erection of a Trustees’ Report and Accounts for statue of James Clerk Maxwell, to 2006/2007 in accordance with be commissioned from Alexander Charity Regulations, an illustrated Stoddart, at the east end of Annual Review of highlights of George Street, near to the the year (with a summary financial Society’s rooms. The aim is for review) was again produced, and this to be erected by Autumn this had been widely circulated to 2008. Sir Michael reported that a all Fellows, as well as to many number of donations had already others interested in the Society’s been received and that work to activities. The Trustees’ Report secure further funding was was available to any Fellow who progressing, and would shortly would like a copy. include a letter from him to all Fellows. He added that should The meeting noted the Report on the funds raised exceed that Activities for Session 2006/07 required for the statue and its prepared by the General Secretary, upkeep, the balance would be which had been distributed to placed into a new Clerk Maxwell Fellows in advance (Appendix 1). Fund, which would be used to Office Bearers’ Reports for support the Society’s public Session 2006/07 activities in relation to science and Sir Michael conveyed apologies the humanities. from Professor Andrew Miller, Dr and Mrs Jacobs left at this General Secretary, who was point and Sir Michael proceeded unwell, and from Professor Andy to the formal business of the Walker, Fellowship Secretary. meeting. General Secretary’s Report Minutes During the Session, Professor The Minutes of the Annual Gavin McCrone was the General Statutory Meeting held on Secretary until 1 March 2007, Monday 9 October 2006 were when he demitted office to enable taken as read, approved by those him to Chair the Society’s current Fellows present and signed by the major Inquiry into the Future of President as a correct record. Scotland’s Hill and Islands Areas. Matters arising From then until 1 October 2007, Professor Miller occupied the role There were no matters arising. on an interim basis.

6 Proceedings of the Annual Statutory Meeting

On behalf of Professor Miller, Sir indirect costs. Noteworthy is the Michael drew particular attention modest percentage margin we to the Energy Inquiry work, which have been obtaining from our had included an appearance work on behalf of the private before a Scottish Parliament sector. Our overheads have been Committee, amongst the many controlled within a cumulative activities for the 2006/07 session increase of 4% over the past two as reported in Appendix 1. He years, while the deficit on our thanked all the Society’s staff for operational activities has varied, their work in relation to these and reached £285k last year. many activities, and specifically in For the current year, income will supporting Professor Miller in his be lower because of the delay in a role as General Secretary. commitment by a sponsor for the Treasurer’s Report continuation of a large pro- Mr Edward Cunningham delivered gramme. This in turn will have the following report: knock-on effect on the deficit, so although the decision has now “I am pleased to report a surplus been made, the benefits will slip for the third year running, albeit into 2008. at a lower level than last year, and an improvement in overall assets For the future, the key objective of just over £600k. However, must be to achieve a surplus at there is rather more to these this point so that the Society has figures than meets the eye. Those the flexibility to promote its own who attended last year’s meeting initiatives with its own income, as will recall that I presented a series well as to have the resources to of figures which enabled me to invest in the future. Our own explain what was going on. I am income shows some small going to do the same this increases, but the aggregate more evening. After that, I want to than covers the deficit on our make some observations on the operational activities and will do challenge of revenue growth; on so in the current year. the management of our assets; Last year I explained that the new and finally a word on legacies. accounting regulations intro- I want to start with our income. duced in 2006 require a number This has oscillated around £3m of adjustments to be made before for the past three years. Indeed it arriving at the bottom line shown was at this level in 2004 as well. as the net incoming resource line The continuation of much the in the published accounts. These same level of income is reflected, relate to movements on our by and large, in its contribution to various funds which have to be

7 Review of the Session 2006-2007

shown in the income and expend- I should now like to turn to the iture account, as do windfalls, three sets of observations which I which include legacies. The want to share with you. impact of these adjustments in The first concerns the challenge of 2006 was substantial and it is this revenue growth. The plateau which gives rise to the contrast experienced over recent years is between the surplus in 2006 not a sustainable position; the compared with that achieved in direction we must go in must be 2007. Consequently, the result upwards. Our operating income for 2007 should be seen as is derived from the management encouraging and as an indicator of programmes for sponsors in of sound performance by the the public and private sectors and, Society’s management. It is the in both instances we have a record longer term future, that is the next of excellent performance. The three to five years, which presents dominance of the former a particular challenge. demonstrates the extent to which Finally, our own long term assets we are making a contribution to showed a substantial increase of the community in collaboration £500k in 2007, primarily through with the government and its the gains on our investments agencies. This is good news. combined with the surplus from However, a feature of the public the previous year. sector is that it goes through I want to draw your attention to periods of spending sprees the fact that these assets, which followed by squeezes and are at the discretion of the Society, occasional slippages. Whilst I do comprise our property here – an not expect any significant changes illiquid asset – and £1.6m of in the immediate term beyond the investments which, if you like, slippage occurring this year, it is represents our endowment. This nonetheless essential that we seek latter amount will provide only a to diversify our sources of income very narrow base upon which to across the spectrum of relevant fulfil our aspirations for growth. departments and agencies. In In these circumstances, our parallel, we must increase the strategy must be to build up our proportion of income from the endowment at the same time as private sector sponsors through investing in expanding the the expansion of their Society’s capabilities to secure and programmes which we can manage an increase in our manage on their behalf. Against activities. this background, a revenue growth team has been formed comprising our three senior

8 Proceedings of the Annual Statutory Meeting

executives plus myself. In being. This means there is no addition, it is the intention to way in which the wider Fellowship create a new senior executive can express their appreciation. position to manage the successful The only other way I know of realisation of these strategies. doing so is just to say publicly My second observation concerns here on your behalf ‘thank you’. I the management of our assets should like to add these inten- and I want to focus in particular tions have been fostered through on our property. I commented last their confidence that the Society year that I did not think this will use its standing and unique property was generating the range of capabilities to extend its return it should be; that it pre- distinctive contribution to our sented an inefficient use of space; community. This is an assurance and that it did not portray a that the officers and management readiness for the 21st century. I are very much committed to undertook to assess how these fulfilling, now and in the future.” aspects might be improved. To Fellowship Secretary’s Report start with, an evaluation has been The meeting noted a report made of the potential of the prepared by the Fellowship building with minimal investment. Secretary, Professor Walker, which This concluded that there was had been distributed to Fellows in little up side with the building as advance (Appendix 2). On behalf it is. We are now in the process of of Professor Walker, Sir Michael examining the technical and drew particular attention to the conservation parameters within review of the Fellowship election which more substantial changes process which had been undertak- might be feasible. By the early en during the year, pointing out part of next year, I expect to be in that the recommendations had a position to outline a range of still to be finalised by the Review options for Council to consider. Working Group. Finally, I wanted to say a word Discussion of Reports about legacies. Several Fellows Sir Michael invited questions in have mentioned to me their respect of the Office Bearers’ intention to make bequests to the reports. Society. In some cases, we have provided legal advice on the most Professor Malcolm Fluendy asked effective way in which to meet if the Treasurer could elaborate on their wishes. We are pleased to the plans for developing the RSE offer this help. For understanda- property at 22 -26 George Street. ble reasons, these Fellows wish to The Treasurer replied that he was remain anonymous for the time not in a position to say more at

9 Review of the Session 2006-2007

this stage as the matter was still A-frame poster board now placed under discussion. However, he every day outside 22 George stressed that any plans would Street, which he considered to be have to be technically viable; an ugly excrescence. Dr Duncan comply with conservation require- responded that it served a useful ments; meet with the Societies purpose in advertising the requirements in terms of, for Society’s presence in George example, office space and confer- Street to the public. He cited the ence facilities; and be able to be Society’s recent participation in financed in a credible manner. Edinburgh’s ‘Doors Open Day’ and Professor David Finney asked if reported that more than 400 Fellows could be kept more fully people visited the Society, largely informed about the hiring-out of as a result of the board at the the Society’s rooms and suggested door. The board is updated that dates of rentals and details of regularly, gives up-to-date hiring bodies could be listed in information on the Society’s the monthly Fellows e.bulletin. In activities and is effective in the absence of the General generating interest in the Society Secretary, Dr William Duncan, RSE and its public activities. Chief Executive, replied that it Professor Joseph Lamb asked if it would not be practical to provide would be possible to arrange a such a list, especially since some facility whereby journalists could rentals were last-minute and to be contact the Society to get authori- accurate the list would have to be tative comment and advice, updated on a weekly basis. He particularly on issues of a scientific added that the new plasma screen nature. Dr Duncan informed the situated in the Society’s reception meeting that the Society has hall provides a daily diary and recently appointed a Parliamentary shows details of events taking Liaison Officer, Bristow Muldoon. place on the day. The Society has The Society is already involved in strict guidelines about the type of providing advice to the Parlia- event that can be held on its ment, for instance through SPICE, premises;, for instance, they must and it was hoped that the new not serve any commercial purpose appointment would enhance the and must be consistent with the existing relationship. It would Society’s charitable purpose. He always be stressed however, that reassured that all applicants are an individual Fellow’s comments carefully screened before a room would not necessarily reflect the hire is approved. Society’s view as a whole. Professor Finney sought an Professor John Francis pointed out explanation of the purpose of the that the International Division of

10 Proceedings of the Annual Statutory Meeting

the Scottish Government had been given the opportunity to announced the establishment of a provide evidence to the Commit- UNESCO Committee in Scotland. tee, although few had responded. He felt it was important to have The report had been compiled working links with this Commit- after extensive consultation with a tee, which would give further number of experts. The remit had opportunities for debate on been to assess the threat of Avian Science and Society issues. Sir Flu to Scotland, analyse potential Michael replied that Professor Sir results to the land and people and David Edward, the Society’s newly- to survey the preparedness of elected International Convener, Scotland to cope. One of the could explore this further with the problems faced by the Committee International Committee. was that most of the research Dr James Irvine welcomed the being conducted was in respect of indication in the Treasurer’s the UK as a whole, rather than Report of seeking more funding specifically for Scotland. The from independent sources. At last report had concluded that year’s meeting he had expressed surveillance for the disease was his concern about the Society’s not yet well established. Professor independence and felt there was Coggins said he would be happy still too much influence by to speak to Dr Irvine separately, to Government agencies and discuss the nature of his concerns. quangos. He also expressed his Election of Officers and Council disappointment at the Society’s for the 225th Session recently published Avian Flu Sir Michael reported that all report. Sir Michael replied that Fellows entitled to vote had been the Society receives money from sent a ballot paper by the General the Government for a variety of Secretary on 30 August. Profes- purposes, but refuted any sugges- sors David Fergusson and Iain tion that it takes instructions from Boyd Whyte were confirmed as the Government and stressed that Scrutineers at the meeting on 3 the Society is wholly independent. September and examined all the The Society would continue to returned ballot papers on 27 work hard at maintaining a September. There were 610 balanced and independent returned ballot forms of which relationship across the political 601 were clean papers. All of spectrum. those proposed for election had Professor John Coggins, who had been elected by an overwhelming chaired the Committee responsi- majority. Sir Michael thanked the ble for the Avian Flu report, said Scrutineers and congratulated that the whole Fellowship had those elected for the first time and

11 Review of the Session 2006-2007

those re-elected. He also thanked International Convener the retiring Office-Bearers and Professor Sir David Edward KCMG, Councillors, specifically Professors QC, PC Andrew Miller, John Mavor and Programme Convener Rona Mackie, and Professor Sir Professor David Ingram OBE Neil McCormick. Research Awards Convener The meeting noted that member- Professor Peter Holmes CB ship of Council and the Executive Board for the next Session would Young People’s Convener be: Professor Miles Padgett Council Any Other Business President There being no further business, Sir Michael Atiyah OM the President thanked all those who had attended the meeting Vice-Presidents and those who had contributed to Professor Jan McDonald the discussions and declared the Lord Patel of Dunkeld meeting closed. Professor Tariq Durrani OBE Appendix I General Secretary General Secretary’s Report Professor Geoffrey Boulton OBE A full and varied programme of Treasurer activities was delivered by the Mr Edward Cunningham CBE Fellowship, supported by staff of Fellowship Secretary the Society. This: Professor Andrew Walker - helped Scotland to continue to Ordinary Members attract and retain world-class Sir John Arbuthnott research talent; Professor Sue Black OBE - promoted awareness of Professor April McMahon Scotland as a world-class Ms Shonaig Macpherson CBE location for research and Professor Christopher Whatley development; Executive Board - maintained a culture that General Secretary fosters knowledge transfer from Professor Geoffrey Boulton OBE a science and cultural base; Treasurer - encouraged public appreciation Mr Edward Cunningham CBE and understanding of science Curator and culture; Professor John Howie CBE - inspired young people, primarily in the field of science, but also

12 Proceedings of the Annual Statutory Meeting

in other areas covered by the In April, an event was held to wider school curriculum; and celebrate what has been achieved - informed decisions taken by by the BP Research Fellowships Parliaments and policy makers scheme since it was established in 1988. This event served to raise The activities also continued to awareness of this excellent sustain and utilise our multi- initiative, to thank BP for its disciplinary Fellowship and generous support for the scheme recognise outstanding achieve- and to identify what might be ment and excellence. done in the future to enhance and Attracting and retaining world- improve it. Lord Browne, then class research talent Group Chief Executive of BP attended the event and two The Society continued to adminis- former holders of BP Fellowships, ter various Research Fellowship Professor Roger Watt and Profes- schemes operated through expert sor Miles Padgett, both now Selection Committees and Fellows of the Society, made awarded grants, which amounted presentations demonstrating the to £1.7m. These programmes lasting benefit they have gained help Scotland retain researchers from holding these Fellowships. and attract others from elsewhere Discussions with BP about the in the UK and overseas. At the future shape of the scheme are annual research awards an- continuing. nouncement held at the end of September, 47 researchers The year also saw the start of a representing some of the most new programme of research outstanding young scientists and awards in Arts and Humanities, to innovators working in Scotland enable academics to collaborate today were recognised. Awards with Scottish Cultural Institutions. range from summer vacation As the first stage of a three-year scholarships for undergraduates ‘development phase’ for this in Astronomy, to three-year programme, the Society, with the postdoctoral research Fellowships. financial support of the Scottish These awards would not be Government, is funding three possible without the continuing Research Workshops. financial support of organisations Awareness of Scotland as a such as BP, the Caledonian world-class location for re- Research Foundation, Lloyds TSB search and development Foundation for Scotland, the Scottish Government, and other Since Devolution and the publica- specific purpose legacies be- tion of the Scottish Science queathed to the Society. Strategy, a key aim has been to

13 Review of the Session 2006-2007

ensure Scotland works even more a significant increase from last closely with the international year, in which the RSE awarded community. Scotland is now exchanges on the Open Pro- clearly regarded as a distinct entity gramme totalling 124 within Britain and there is consid- person-weeks. erable overseas interest in The newly-elected President of developing relationships with it in ALLEA (All European Academies), ways that complement existing UK Professor Jüri Engelbrecht, visited links. As a result of this, the the Society in October 2006 and Society increased and strength- gave an excellent lecture entitled ened its international role. “European Science Policy and The growth and compass of the Academia”. ALLEA is a self- International Programme went governing association of the from strength to strength. New leading national academies in Agreements were signed with the Europe and the Society was Slovak Academy of Sciences in admitted to membership in 2002. November 2006 and the National It was a great honour that Natural Science Foundation of Professor Engelbrecht chose to China (NNSFC) in July. Good visit so soon after his election, and progress was also made in this reflects the Society’s place relation to Agreements with the amongst its sister European Indian Academy of Sciences and academies. the Pakistan Academy of Sciences, The Society’s European Policy which will be signed when their Forum arranged several high- Presidents come here later this profile events. Jan Figel’, year. European Commissioner for Exchange visits totalling 65 Education, Training, Culture and person-weeks took place through Youth, gave the Annual European the Bilateral Programme, run with Lecture at the Society in June sister academies in China, Poland, 2007 on “Reforming Europe’s Taiwan, Slovenia, and Hungary. Universities: Why and How?” Visits totalling 152.5 person- Commissioner Figel’ welcomed weeks took place through the the opportunity to engage Open Programme, with visits to Scottish universities in dialogue and from Argentina, Australia, about ways in which the university Botswana, Canada, France, sector throughout the European Germany, Iceland, India, Japan, Union can better contribute to Lithuania, the Netherlands, New economic and social policy. In Zealand, Norway, Russia, South keeping with his desire for Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, dialogue, Commissioner Figel’s the USA and Venezuela. This was lecture was followed by lively

14 Proceedings of the Annual Statutory Meeting

discussion, particularly about the Biotechnology and Biological proposed European Institute for Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Enterprise. Enterprise Fellowships are de- A culture that fosters knowl- signed to enable an individual to edge transfer from a science advance the commercialisation of and cultural base existing research results or technological developments. The Enterprise Fellowships scheme Following a rigorous selection increases the commercialisation of process, two BBSRC Enterprise academic research through Fellows were awarded this year knowledge transfer and leads to from an encouraging number of the creation of new companies. high quality applicants. The This scheme has lead to over 50 Society also continued to adminis- new sustainable companies with ter similar Enterprise Fellowships many high-value jobs being funded by the Science and created. This year, only three Technology Facilities Council Enterprise Fellowships were (STFC), formerly PPARC, although awarded with funding from no new awards were made this Scottish Enterprise, two in the year. fields of Electronic Markets and one in Life Sciences. This reduc- Created in 2003 and supported tion in the number of Enterprise by the leading Scottish charity, The Fellowships arose because of Gannochy Trust, The Gannochy financial constraints. Trust Innovation Award of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, aims A review of the Scottish to encourage and reward Scot- Enterprise-funded scheme was land’s innovators for work which undertaken during the year by benefits Scotland’s wellbeing and Ernst & Young. This clearly to recognise outstanding individ- demonstrated the outstanding ual achievement. value of the scheme to the Scottish economy. With an The fourth Gannochy Award was investment of £4 million from presented to Dr Marie Claire public funds over 10 years, the Parker at a ceremony held in the companies created have attracted Royal Museum of Scotland in over £70 million from other October 2006. Dr Parker is CEO of sources. The review findings will XstalBio Ltd, a University of be published shortly and it is Glasgow and University of hoped that Scottish Enterprise will Strathclyde spin-out company, renew its support for the scheme. which developed as a result of an RSE/Scottish Enterprise Fellowship Similar to the Scottish held by Dr Parker in 2001. Dr Enterprise-funded scheme, the Parker is developing a new

15 Review of the Session 2006-2007

technology which could transform Lectures included: the treatment of many diseases by · The BP Prize Lecture – Protecting enabling protein medicines, that Human Dignity at the Beginning currently need to be injected, to and End of Life, by Professor be taken with an inhaler. Graeme Laurie, Chair of Medical Again, following rigorous open Jurisprudence, School of Law, competition, the fifth winner in University of Edinburgh; the current scheme was chosen · The ECRR Peter Wilson Lecture – and the Award will be presented Does Science Matter? – Profes- at the annual ceremony, again sor Anne Glover, Chief Scientific being held at the National Adviser for Scotland; Museum of Scotland, on 26 October 2007. · The Unpredictability of Science and Its Consequences by Sir A report evaluating the scheme John Meurig Thomas, Honorary was recently presented to The Professor, Department of Gannochy Trust. This demonstrat- Materials Science, University of ed its value and the success Cambridge and former Director, already achieved by previous Royal Institution of Great winners. The Trustees recognised Britain; this and decided, in principle, to continue to support the scheme · The Caledonian Research for a further three years. The Foundation Prize Lectures – support of The Gannochy Trust for Autonomy in Medical and this highly prestigious and Research Ethics and Can successful scheme is much Information be Private, by appreciated. Baroness Onora O’Neill of Bengarve, President, The British Public appreciation and under- Academy; standing of science and culture · A Brush with Foxes and other Public events Carnivore Tales by Professor The Public Events Programme David Macdonald, Director, delivered 30 Lectures, Discussion Wildlife Conservation Research Forums and Conferences which Unit, Oxford University; were attended by almost 3000 · Architecture in Nano-Space by people. These events addressed Professor Sir Harry Kroto, Royal many interesting and topical Society Research Professor, issues and featured some of the School of Chemistry, Physics and most erudite authorities in the Environmental Science, Universi- country, including many Fellows of ty of Sussex; the Society.

16 Proceedings of the Annual Statutory Meeting

· The Henry Duncan Prize Lecture · In February Cultural Policy and – The Highlands: Scotland’s National Identity in Post Great Success Story by Professor Devolution Scotland explored James Hunter, Director, UHI the new engagement with Centre for History; and cultural development and policy. · Tall Tales of the Mind and Brain · A Family Event was held to by Professor Michael C Corbal- celebrate ten years of Dolly the lis, Department of Psychology, Sheep. This day of activities for University of Auckland, and all ages was held at the Royal Professor James Alcock, Univer- Museum, Edinburgh and was sity of York, Toronto. followed by a Discussion Forum Once again, the RSE also partici- in the evening with panellists, pated in the Edinburgh Lecture Dr Donald Bruce, Professor Ian series, with a lecture on Forensic Wilmut, Keith Campbell and Anthropology – The Journey from Professor Grahame Bulfield. Culloden to Iraq given by Profes- Conferences: sor Sue Black, Head of Unit, · Glasgow’s People: Transcending Anatomy and Forensic Anthropol- Poverties. This one-day event ogy, University of Dundee, in was initiated by RSE Fellows, December 2006. Archbishop Mario Conti, Sir The association with the Edin- John Arbuthnott and Professor burgh Lectures partnership Tom Devine, and held in continued in September 2007 Glasgow City Chambers. It with the opening lecture for the investigated the continuing season on Changing Landscapes: social, spiritual and cultural Changing Planet, which provided needs of Glasgow’s an opportunity for the public to communities. With input from engage with astronauts and academics and social work cosmonauts who have flown at practitioners, and support from different stages in the 50 years of Glasgow City Council and The space flight. Herald newspaper, it proved Discussion Forums thought-provoking and challenging for all who · The final Discussion Forum in attended. the natural disasters series Earth, Wind, Fire and Water on · Union of 1707. On the tercen- Floods was held in November tenary of one of the most featuring, Professor Gareth important moments in Scottish Pender, Heriot-Watt University history, this conference show- and Professor Edmund Penning- cased the work of a new Roswell. generation of Scottish histori-

17 Review of the Session 2006-2007

ans, examining afresh the similar journals in their fields. As traditional agenda of the from the 2007 volume, the debate on the Union. Transactions journal has been re- · The 250th Anniversary confer- named Earth and Environmental ence of the birth of Thomas Science Transactions of the Royal Telford was held as part of Society of Edinburgh, and the first national celebrations being co- issue, subtitled Holocene Environ- ordinated across the UK by the mental Change: Lessons from Institution of Civil Engineers, Small Oceanic Islands, was marking the 250th anniversary published in September. This of his birth. Special Issue was intentionally chosen to reflect the broader · Tall Tales of the Mind and Brain remit of the re-launched journal. followed a lecture at the Society on the same topic and was held The subscription fulfilment, at Our Dynamic Earth in distribution and marketing for Edinburgh. It addressed the Proceedings A and Transactions issue of what we really know are now handled by Cambridge about the functioning of the University Press. mind and was attended by Communicating Generally pupils and teachers from Four issues of ReSourcE, the schools and colleges from all Society’s newsletter, were pub- over Scotland. A Continuing lished and distributed to the Professional Development Fellowship and around 2,000 Workshop was also held in other decision-makers and advance of the Conference for interested members of the public. Higher Human Biology and Fellows also received the monthly Higher Psychology teachers. e-bulletin, which enables them to Publishing Journals keep up to date with and, if Six issues of the Proceedings A appropriate, further disseminate journal and five issues of Transac- information on the Society and its tions were published on behalf of work. Feedback from Fellows the Society by the RSE Scotland suggests this continues to be a Foundation. Copies of the welcome means of communica- journals were also sent to over tion. 300 exchange partners world- The sixth issue of Science Scotland wide. Both journals continue to (on Imaging), which aims to be highly regarded by academics promote the excellence of Scottish as publication vehicles, and both research, particularly to an maintain a respectably high overseas audience, was published impact factor in comparison to in September 2007.

18 Proceedings of the Annual Statutory Meeting

The RSE’s website was and is Inspiring young people, primari- updated regularly and provides ly in the field of science, but information for Fellows and the also other areas covered by the public. wider school curriculum There has also been appreciable The Young People’s Programme media coverage of many of the continued to thrive and this is in Society’s activities during the year, no small measure due to the notably in relation to the launch contributions of the many of the Hills & Islands Inquiry in Lecturers, some but not all May. Fellows, who participate in the Starting in 2006, the ASM has programme on a voluntary basis. been web-cast live to Fellows over An excellent Christmas Lecture the internet, and after the event was presented by Heather Reid in can be viewed by Fellows, in their December 2006, Weather Fore- own time, on the Society web- casting in the 21st Century. This page. Many Fellows who are was delivered to local school unable to attend the ASM have students at Stirling University in expressed their appreciation at the afternoon, followed by an being able to participate in this evening lecture for the general way. public. In total over 345 teachers During the year, three other events and pupils and 65 members of - Cultural Policy and National the general public attended. Identity in Post Devolution The Young People’s Scotland Discussion Forum, the programme ran 13 schools’ RSE afternoon workshop at the lectures throughout Scotland, Lloyds TSB Foundation for covering such diverse topics as Scotland Annual Forum and the genetics and astronomy. Other launch of the RSE Inquiry into the activities included: Future of Scotland’s Hill & Island - Startup Science Masterclasses Areas - were also web-cast live for S1 and S2 students in and made available on demand Dundee, St Andrews, Aberdeen, thereafter, to the public as well as Glasgow and Heriot-Watt to the Fellowship. Universities. Encouraged by the success of the - Maths Masterclasses in Aber- live web-casts, the RSE Events deen, Dundee, West Lothian and front-of-house teams began and Glasgow for Primary 6 and to experiment with audio-visual 7 students. material taken from RSE lectures, and this is now available to hear - A Spring Roadshow in Ullapool. and see on the website soon after This two-day event involved the event. interactive maths, science and

19 Review of the Session 2006-2007

technology workshops for previous annual schools’ discus- primary and secondary school sion forums. This was distributed students and an evening lecture to all Scottish secondary schools for secondary students and on CD, as well as being available members of the general public. on the web as a learning re- - Two Science, Engineering and source. It enables schools unable Technology Summer to participate in the live forums to Schools during the summer hear the views of experts in the break, in partnership with fields covered, and encourages Heriot-Watt University, provided debate among senior students. an introduction to university Informing decisions taken by life for students from schools in Parliaments and policy makers Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Following the launch of the and West Lothian. Society’s Report into Energy Issues - The Education Team produced for Scotland in June 2006 and two teaching resources. The with the aim of facilitating public first was a Supporting Resource engagement and enhancing Pack for Teachers, to be used understanding of energy issues, both in conjunction with, and the Society embarked upon a independently of, the Tall Tales series of country-wide public and of the Mind and Brain Confer- school discussion forums under ence. It provides background the banner, Debating Scotland’s information and relevant Energy Choices. This dissemina- websites as well as student tion exercise was a first for the evaluation sheets and links to Society. Public and school discus- the Higher Psychology and sion forums were held in Human Biology curricula. Aberdeen, Inverness, Perth, · The second resource pack Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dumfries related to the year-long celebra- and the total audience numbers tion of the 250th anniversary of were over 435 for the public Thomas Telford. Materials were events and over 375 for the created mainly for P6 and P7, S1 school discussions. The series and S2 pupils, but some concluded with a conference at teachers were also able to adapt the Society in April 2007 which the contents for use by pupils attracted over 80 delegates. An outwith this age range, for Inquiry update report, Energy for example with S3 and S4 Scotland: A Call for Action, was technology students. produced, reflecting on recent decisions and summarising the The Education team also public debates and school visits made available the full content of and concluding conference. It

20 Proceedings of the Annual Statutory Meeting

identified the action required to - Reform of Higher Education ensure achievement of the Research Assessment and Committee’s strategic aim – a Funding secure, competitive, socially - Science and Innovation Strategy equitable and low carbon emis- for Scotland sions supply of energy for Scotland. - Draft Culture (Scotland) Bill A new Inquiry into the Future of - The European Research Area: Scotland’s Hill and Island Areas New Perspectives was initiated under the - Hybrids and Chimeras: A Chairmanship of Professor Gavin consultation on the ethical and McCrone. Recognising that social implications of creating changes to policy affecting the human/animal embryos in countryside will have a major research impact on distinctive communities - International Policies and in Scotland, this Inquiry is seeking Activities of the Research to find ways to help secure a Councils prosperous and environmentally- sustainable future for the rural - The Environmental Effects of areas, especially the more Novel Materials and Applica- economically-fragile communities. tions The Inquiry aims to report in June - Renewable Energy-Generation 2008. Its remit is to address not Technologies only the threats posed by changes in agricultural support as a result - Funding of Science and Discov- of present and anticipated reform ery Centres to the Common Agricultural - Wider Implications of Science Policy, but also the opportunities and Technology for expansion in other parts of the - The Economic Impact of economy, such as tourism and Immigration forestry, and measures to safeguard the environment. The Society’s Avian Influenza Fellows are welcome to submit Working Group, under the any views they may have on these chairmanship of Professor John issues to the Society. Coggins, completed its work examining the implications of this The Society produced 11 authori- disease threat for Scotland, and its tative responses to a wide range report has recently been pub- of public consultations. The lished. responses were on:

21 Review of the Session 2006-2007

A contract with the Scottish The Fellowship Funding Council to provide the The Society continued to sustain Council with expert opinion on and utilise its multi-disciplinary strategic research opportunities Fellowship and to recognise was also successfully operated, outstanding achievement and with the provision of advice on excellence. the strategic importance to Scotland of research in bio- The now annual New Fellows nanotechnology. Induction Day took place in April 2007, when 51 of the 55 new The RSE recently appointed Mr Ordinary Fellows and five of the Bristow Muldoon as Parliamentary ten new Corresponding Fellows Liaison Officer, in collaboration were given an introduction to the with the Royal Society of Chemis- Society, introduced to the staff try (RSC). His role is to help raise and welcomed into the Fellowship the profile of the RSE and the RSC by the President. The addition of within the Scottish Parliament. these new Fellows brought the This includes the annual Science & numbers in the Fellowship up to the Parliament Meeting, and 1,467, comprising 67 Honorary promoting the Scottish Parliament Fellows, 43 Corresponding Science Information Scheme. Fellows and 1,357 Ordinary With the creation of the new post Fellows. of Chief Scientific Advisor for Fellows are pivotal to the Society’s Scotland within the then Scottish delivery of public benefit activities, Executive, the Scottish Science participating in its wide-ranging Advisory Committee (SSAC) activities in various capacities. The stopped operating under the many Committees which oversaw auspices of the Society on 31 these activities comprised, December 2006 and is now doing although not exclusively, Fellows so within the Scottish Govern- of the Society. These Committees ment. The Society is extremely covered both Operational and grateful to Professor Wilson Management matters. Amongst Sibbett for the leadership and other activities, Fellows freely gave direction he gave the SSAC during of their time and lent their his five-year period as Chair, and expertise in the selection of likewise to Committee members Research and Enterprise Fellow- and Secretariat staff for their ship awardees, the awarding of pivotal roles and contributions. International Exchange visits and Some members of the Committee various medals, grants and prizes, have continued to assist the Chief as well as participating in the Scientific Advisor, Professor Anne planning and execution of the Glover, during the transition period. 22 Proceedings of the Annual Statutory Meeting

lectures, conferences and discus- Andrew Viterbi, who was co- sion forums, contributing to the winner of the award with Dr Irwin Young People’s programme, Jacobs. This recognised their serving on Inquiry Committees, fundamental contributions, and providing evidence and advice innovation and leadership which to inform responses to policy and enabled the growth of wireless decision makers. communications. Dr Jacobs will A major highlight this year was receive his Medal when he visits the Summer Soirée held at the RSE on 1 October 2007. Edinburgh’s Telford College. The Finally, the following prizes were Soirée followed the international awarded: conference marking the 250th - The Keith Medal to: Professor anniversary of the birth of Thomas Felix Otto, Institut für Ange- Telford. HRH The Duke of Edin- wandte Mathematik, Bonn, burgh honoured the Society by Germany; Professor Stefan attending the Soirée and unveil- Müller, Director, Max-Plank ing a plaque in memory of Telford. Institute for Mathematics in the Professor Quentin Leiper, Presi- Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; dent of the Institute of Civil Professor Robert Kohn, Profes- Engineers gave a short presenta- sor of Mathematics, Courant tion about Telford; the evening Institute of Mathematical also featured an exhibition Sciences, New York University, showcasing cutting-edge engi- USA; and Professor Antonio neering in Scotland today. DeSimone, Professor of Scienza At the Soirée, His Royal Highness delle Costruzioni, Scuola presented Royal Medals to Internazionale Superiore di Professor Sir David Carter, Profes- Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, sor John Laver and Sir Tom Italy, for their paper A compact- McKillop for their contributions ness result in the gradient to Life Sciences, the Humanities theory of phase transitions and Social Sciences, and to which was published in Pro- Business and Public Service ceedings A, Volume 131, respectively. This recognises their Number 4, 17 August 2001 pp. outstanding achievements in 833-844. these fields and which have had a - The Alexander Ninian Bruce profound beneficial influence on Prize to Professor Christopher people’s lives, world -wide. Secombe FRSE, Head of School His Royal Highness also presented of Biological Sciences, University the inaugural IEEE/RSE/Wolfson, of Aberdeen, for his outstand- James Clerk Maxwell Award to Dr ing contributions to our

23 Review of the Session 2006-2007

understanding of the immune the Fellowship used the opportu- system of fish, particularly nity to register their votes. The salmonids. Scrutineers delivered the results of - The James Scott Prize Lecture- the ballot to Council on 5 Febru- ship to Professor Stephen ary 2007. At the subsequent Barnett FRS, FRSE, Department Ordinary Meeting on 8 March, the of Physics, University of Strath- Society was able to announce the clyde, for his outstanding election of 55 Ordinary Fellows contribution to the field of and ten Corresponding Fellows. Quantum Optics. Our new Ordinary Fellows are Appendix II spread across the four discipline Fellowship Secretary’s Report sectors as follows: Life Sciences 2007 31%, Physical Sciences & Engi- neering 29%, Arts and The following is a brief report on Humanities 25.5%, and Business aspects of the current processes and Industry 14.5%. This repre- by which we elect Ordinary, sents a further step towards Corresponding and Honorary re-balancing some of the under- Fellows and the outcomes of the represented subject areas within 2006/07 cycle. Also provided is the Fellowship. In particular, the an update on the Review of these Society is keen to increase its processes that is currently being representation in the Arts and carried out. Humanities and in the Business Report on the 2006/07 Election and Industry sectors, as these Cycle currently represent only 19% and 8% respectively of the Ordinary Following the usual sequence of Fellowship. The current quotas Sectional, Sector Group and for Fellowship provide for relative- Fellowship Committee meetings, ly more places for these Council agreed a list of proposed candidates whilst keeping the new Fellows for election. The strong Life Science and Physical introduction of a new, much Sciences & Engineering sectors earlier, opportunity for Fellows to evenly balanced. We would comment on the list once again encourage Fellows to nominate provided useful additional more candidates from within the information that contributed under-represented subject areas. further to the deliberations of the committees. As is now becoming Nine women were elected as well established, the final list went Ordinary Fellows (16.4%); bring- out for approval by the full ing the average percentage of Fellowship as a Postal Ballot (early women for the most recent five December 2006). Almost half of election cycles up to 18%. This

24 Proceedings of the Annual Statutory Meeting

compares favourably with 15% of This was followed in the early Professors/HoDs in the Scottish evening by a ceremony at which Higher Education Institutes being they were formally admitted as women (2005/06 data) – suggest- Fellows, signed the Roll Book and ing we are redressing the past received certificates acknowledg- imbalance, albeit rather slowly. ing their Fellowship of the RSE. The overall proportion of women Review of the Election in the Society now stands at Processes 8.4%. Noting the prominent role that women play in academic, A Review Working Group, chaired professional and business circles, by the Fellowship Secretary, was Fellows may wish to bear these established by the Council and statistics in mind when consider- started its work on 12 March ing future candidates for election. 2007. The average age of this latest The Review has the following two cohort of Ordinary Fellows is 52 – major objectives. matching the steady average for 1.To ensure (a) that the current Fellows elected across the last 25 nomination and selection years. processes represent a sufficient- Introduction of New Fellows ly robust, fair and transparent system to satisfy the needs and On the 30th April, all new Fellows expectations of the Society in were, once again, invited to these respects and (b) that these attend an induction event held in processes are fully consistent the Society Rooms. We were with relevant legislation. delighted by the excellent attend- ance, which included 51 of the 2.To maintain a nomination and new Ordinary Fellows, one selection process that creates Honorary Fellow and five new and sustains a Fellowship (a) of Corresponding Fellows. The day the quality expected for a commenced with the Fellowship National Academy and (b) which Secretary giving an overview of the represents fully the balance of Society’s activities and a summary activity within the major of the contributions that Fellows disciplinary sectors acknowl- can make. A sociable lunch was edged as within the Society’s then hosted by the President, after domain and reflects the relevant which the new Fellows were all age, sex, ethnicity, and geo- given the opportunity to meet the graphical distributions. Society’s staff and to tour the The Group submitted an initial Rooms. draft report to the Council for its meeting on 3 September 2007. A

25 Review of the Session 2006-2007

final report is to be completed come from the same Institution as shortly. In the meantime Fellows the nominee. NB: This would may be interested in some of the require a minor amendment to recommendations currently being the Society’s Laws. considered. Sectional & Group Structures Size of the Fellowship The Working Group is looking The number of Ordinary Fellows into the possibility of creating a has more than doubled over the second Sectional Committee last 25 years – from 638 to 1357. within Sector Group D (which is This has accelerated over recent currently in the anomalous years as a consequence of the position of only having one larger quota introduced to assist Committee). This would be some rebalancing between accompanied by some restructur- disciplines. At the current rate, by ing of certain Sectional the year 2030 the Fellowship Committees within Sector Group would increase by a further 640 to C. over 2,000. The Working Group Any comments Fellows may have was concerned that this increase on the above points, or any other in numbers could undermine the issues, should be addressed to the reputation of the Society. A Fellowship Office and they will be comparison with equivalent forwarded to the Working Group. Societies suggests the RSE Fellowship could already be seen Obituaries and Fellows De- as relatively large, in proportion to ceased the size of the population from Deaths – Session 2006-2007 which it is drawn. As a conse- Since the ASM in October 2006, quence, the Group is considering the Society has been informed of recommending a lower annual the deaths of 26 Fellows. quota. Obituary status for these is: Supporters Four have been published. Four To provide additional, and more are awaiting publication. Two are independent information on with authors. Authors have been Candidates, the Group is suggest- invited for a further two and ing the Proposer should complete writers have not been agreed for the nomination form, as at the remaining 14. (Professor K W present, but two Seconders Bentley, Professor A G Brown, should each complete a further Professor F A Cotton, Dr G E (new) form, structured to identify Davie, Professor P R Halmos, Dr A their own views of the candidate’s L McLaren, Professor D Michie, achievement. In addition, of these Professor J A Roper, Professor A I three Fellows, only one should Scott, Professor T L S Sprigge, Dr C

26 Proceedings of the Annual Statutory Meeting

E Taylor, Dr H J Thomas, Professor Total Obituaries Dr C F von Weizsäcker, Professor G Session 2006-2007 Webb). TOTAL 49 The Fellowship Office is indebted Author needed 14 to Fellows who have provided Author invited 2 obituaries and have helped with sourcing writers, and would be With Author 4 grateful for offers of writers for Published 22 obituaries of the14 Fellows above. Submitted by Author 5 Abandoned 2

Deaths and Obituaries since 2000 Year No of Published No early final Deceased Fellows Progress stages stages

2000 22 12 9 0 1 2001 37 14 17 1 5 2002 43 12 27 0 4 2003 19 2 17 0 0 2004 31 8 15 4 4 2005 35 11 20 3 1 2006 31 13 13 3 2 2007 20 2 12 3 3 238 74 130 14 20

Acknowledgements The Society is extremely grateful to considerable gratitude to Lesley those Fellows who take the time Campbell and her very modest to nominate candidates for team in the RSE office for all the Fellowship. We particularly thank work they carry out in the course the many Fellows who give of of each annual Fellowship election their time and expertise to serve cycle and the support they provide on the sectional committees and me throughout the year. sector groups, helping with the Professor Andy Walker difficult task of assessing candi- dates for Fellowship. And thirdly, Fellowship Secretary on a personal note, I express my

27 TRUSTEES’ REPORT TO 31 MARCH 2007 The Council of the Society present are given an extensive briefing their report for the financial year pack and an introduction to the ended 31 March 2007. operations of the RSE through Structure, governance and discussions with the Chief management Executive and senior staff. The RSE Council, chaired by the Reporting to the Council through President, comprises twelve the Executive Board are several Trustees, including three Vice- operational committees, including Presidents, the General Secretary, the International Committee, the Treasurer, the Fellowship various Research Awards Commit- Secretary and five ordinary tees, the Meetings Committee members. Subject to annual re- and the Young People’s Commit- election, Council members serve tee. These Committees largely, but for three years, except the General not exclusively, comprise Fellows Secretary and Treasurer, who may of the RSE and are concerned with serve for up to four years. All of the operational delivery of the the Trustees are unpaid. RSE’s varied activities. All Fellows are actively encouraged to The Council is responsible for the participate in the RSE’s activities. strategic direction and policies of the RSE, and normally meets Two other charitable trusts quarterly. founded by and closely connected to the RSE, the BP Research An Executive Board has delegated Fellowships Trust (the BP Trust) responsibility from the Council for and the RSE Scotland Foundation the delivery of the RSE’s activities. (the Foundation), are included in It is chaired by the General the consolidated accounts. The Secretary, and also has as its Foundation plays a leading role in members, the Treasurer, the the continued development of the Convenors of the main operation- RSE’s public outreach activities al committees and the Curator, as and manages the premises in well as the Chair of the RSE George Street. Its Trustees are Scotland Foundation and senior appointed for three years by the executive staff. The Board meets RSE Council. quarterly and reports to the Council. The BP Trust was created follow- ing a donation of £2m in 1988 The Council members and the from BP to support a scheme of office-bearers serving on the three-year post-doctoral research Executive Board are all elected fellowships in specified subjects annually by the Fellowship in a and which are awarded at the sole postal ballot. New members of discretion of the RSE. The RSE Council and the Executive Board

29 Review of the Session 2006-2007

President, General Secretary and of its financial activities during the Treasurer are the BP Trustees, ex year then ended. officiis. In preparing these accounts, the The Scottish Science Advisory Council Committee (SSAC), whose - selects suitable accounting members were appointed follow- policies and apply them ing open competition by the consistently Council of the RSE, provided independent strategic advice on - makes judgements and esti- scientific issues to the Scottish mates that are reasonable and Executive. Its funding, received as prudent a separate grant from the Scottish - ensures that the recommenda- Executive, was administered tions of the Statement of through the RSE. From January Recommended Practice (Ac- 2007, following the appointment counting by Charities) have of Professor Anne Glover as Chief been followed Scientific Adviser for Scotland - prepares the accounts on a (CSA) at the Scottish Executive, the going concern basis unless it is RSE no longer has any responsibil- inappropriate to assume the ities for the SSAC. The RSE RSE will continue its activities. remains ready to offer support in any matters relevant to the CSA’s The Council is responsible for office. keeping proper accounting records which disclose with Statement of Council’s responsi- reasonable accuracy at any time bilities the financial position of the RSE Under the Laws of the RSE, the and the Group and which enable Council is responsible for all it to comply with the Charities and matters concerning the affairs of Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act the RSE and sets the overall 2005 and the Charities Accounts strategy and policy. (Scotland) Regulations 2006. It The Treasurer of the RSE has a has general responsibility for duty to present to the Fellows at taking such steps as are reasona- the Statutory Meeting the ac- bly open to it to safeguard the counts for the preceding financial assets of the charity and to year to 31 March. prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities. Under charities legislation, the Council is required to prepare Risk management accounts for each financial year The Audit and Risk Committee, which give a true and fair view of operating on a joint basis with the the state of affairs of the RSE and Foundation, reports directly to

30 Trustees’ Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007

Council and the Foundation. Its covered by existing arrange- Chair, if not an ordinary member ments with funders and of RSE Council, is invited to attend partners Council meetings as an observer. - within these activities, to Its remit includes keeping under prioritise selected action areas review the effectiveness of internal and, where necessary, seek the control and risk management resources needed for develop- systems in the RSE and its con- ment nected charities. The Council believes that the existing systems - to encourage wider Fellowship and the structure of decision- and public participation and taking and reporting through the better integration in the delivery staff management group, Execu- of the RSE’s programmes tive Board and Council continues The RSE seeks to achieve these to provide assurance that risks are objectives through the delivery of assessed and carefully managed. Core Public Benefits, Fellowship, Objectives and activities and Management Administration Programmes. The RSE’s mission is ‘the Advance- ment of Learning and Useful Overview of the year Knowledge’. To fulfil this, it This section describes the main promotes learning and puts the achievements of RSE, the Founda- multidisciplinary expertise of its tion and the BP Trust, reflecting Fellows to work for the good of the fact that the Financial State- Scotland and its people. Its role is ments are presented on a to: consolidated basis for this Group - promote and recognise excel- of connected charities. lence in and the application of Their core public benefit pro- all areas of learning gramme activities are described in - be a source of independent and more detail below, according to expert advice on matters the outcomes to which they affecting the wellbeing of contribute. Scotland and its people Highlights in what was a success- - advance public discussion on ful year include: matters of national and interna- - The publishing of the RSE tional importance Energy Report in June 2006 The RSE’s 2004–2007 Corporate with follow-on public events Plan set three strategic objectives: throughout Scotland between October 2006 and March 2007. - to continue to deliver a range of This culminated in the Energy core activities, including those

31 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Conference held in April at the Marie Claire Parker in October RSE, and a summary report at the Royal Museum of issued in June 2007. Scotland. - The creation of the new James The financial result for the year Clerk Maxwell Award in was also positive, with net partnership with the Institute of incoming resources ahead of Electrical and Electronics budget at £246,000. This includ- Engineers and funded by ed expenditure in relation to Wolfson Microelectronics plc. £150,000 received and recog- The first award was presented in nised as restricted income in July 2007. 2005–06, where costs were - The initiation of a new pro- incurred in 2006–07. This was gramme of research awards in offset by a further income recog- Arts & Humanities, starting with nised in advance of expenditure of the funding of three Research £53,000. The result also included Workshops to be held during a legacy of £132,000 and a 2007/2008. surplus of £202,700 in various Restricted Funds not available for - The production of a CD-Rom the general running of the RSE. sent to all schools in Scotland The net incoming resource (before during February 2007, covering transfers or investment gains) the Stem Cell Research Discus- arising in the General Fund is sion Forum which took place £128,700. during the year and including resources for teachers and a There were a few low points in the student debate pack. year. Professor John Swanson Beck, who served as Secretary to - Live and ‘on-demand’ web- Meetings and then Programme casting of some major events Convenor from 1997 to 2004 and plans to make on-demand died in January 2007. A few viewing/web-casting a regular conferences were cancelled or feature of RSE’s future dissemi- postponed, mainly because of nation. difficulties in raising the necessary - Significant growth in the RSE’s external funds. Advertising of the international activities including Enterprise Fellowship scheme, new agreements signed with funded by Scottish Enterprise, was National Academies, and an put ‘on hold’ while an independ- increase in numbers of interna- ent review of the programme was tional exchanges. carried out by Ernst & Young. - The fourth Gannochy Innova- This reported very favourably on tion Award presented to Dr the success of the scheme and it is hoped that Scottish Enterprise will

32 Trustees’ Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007

fund a further phase of the during 2007–08 to enable the scheme to enable new appoint- measurement of short, medium ments to be begin in 2008–09. and long-term outcomes to No appointments were made to become an integral part of the the Science & Technology Facilities Society’s performance monitoring Council (formerly PPARC) scheme, systems. but a good number of BBSRC Achievements in the year appointments were made and the quality of the successful appli- Attracting and retaining world- cants remained encouragingly class research talent high. The RSE’s Research Awards Following the appointment of the support some of Scotland’s most Chief Scientific Adviser to the outstanding young scientists and Scottish Executive, the independ- innovators. The benefits of their ent Scottish Science Advisory research are far-reaching, with Committee was discontinued. The work in areas such as healthcare, members of the Committee IT, electronics, engineering, arts continue to meet to provide and humanities, and improving advice directly to the Office of the the quality of life of our ageing Chief Scientific Adviser. population, all advancing the social and economic well-being of Performance monitoring Scotland. It is through valuable The performance of the Group, partnerships with key bodies such relative to the detailed output as BP, the Caledonian Research targets set in the Management Foundation, the Lloyds TSB Plan approved by Council, was Foundation for Scotland and the reported quarterly to the Executive Scottish Executive that we are able Board, and thereafter to RSE to provide these awards. We are Council and to the Trustees of grateful for the continuing other connected bodies. The support of each of these partners. overwhelming majority (> 95%) of Each year an award ceremony is the targets were reached or held to announce the awards to exceeded; those that were not an invited audience, including arose either through external funders and policy-makers. In factors or not being able to secure 2006 it was held at the RSE and or apply the resources necessary. combined the announcement of Progress was made in relation to the 2006 awards with the oppor- establishing processes to evaluate tunity for Fellows and researchers the public benefit outcomes to meet and discuss the research flowing from the output targets. currently being funded over This is being further developed poster presentations.

33 Review of the Session 2006-2007

The following awards were made theme and discussions for each during the year: workshop focus on research • one BP Personal Research which aims to improve the quality Fellowship of life of the ageing population. Evaluation training and communi- • three Scottish Executive Personal cation skills training are also now Research Fellowships being provided for the Lloyds TSB • three Scottish Executive Support Foundation for Scotland Research Fellowships Fellows and students. • two Scottish Executive Science The RSE has initiated a new Fellowships for Teachers awards scheme in Arts and Humanities. A pilot programme • one Lloyds TSB Foundation for was developed offering research Scotland PhD Studentship workshops to encourage collabo- • one Lloyds TSB Foundation for ration between academic Scotland Personal Research institutions and the Scottish Fellowship cultural institutions. The scheme • one Lloyds TSB Foundation for was very well received by the arts Scotland Support Research and humanities community and Fellowship twenty nine applications were submitted for the pilot scheme. • two Lloyds TSB Foundation for The Scottish Executive agreed to Scotland Research Workshops fund the first three Arts & Human- • eight CRF European Visiting ities Research Workshops in 2007 Research Fellowships in Arts, and the RSE plans to develop this Humanities & Social Sciences award scheme into research networks as well as workshops. • three Arts & Humanities Research Workshops The Royal Medals of the RSE are its most prestigious award • Cormack Prizes: one Undergrad- recognising research excellence uate Prize, one Postgraduate and scholarship. The 2006 prize and seven Vacation medals were awarded to Sir David Research Scholarships, plus one Jack CBE FRS FRSE, for his out- Piazzi Smyth Vacation Scholar- standing contribution to the ship pharmaceutical industry and his • two Lessells Travel Scholarships contributions to scientific organi- Increased funding from the Lloyds sations concerned with drug TSB Foundation for Scotland design and development; and to meant the RSE could award new Professor Sir John Ball FRS FRSE, Research Workshops, where the for his outstanding contributions to applied mathematics and his

34 Trustees’ Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007

public service to the international the RSE awarded exchanges on mathematics community. the open programme totalling 83 Awareness of Scotland as a weeks. world-class location for re- We also launched our Joint Project search and development scheme with the National Natural The RSE’s International Pro- Science Foundation of China gramme made considerable (NNSFC). The RSE–NNSFC Joint further progress this year. New Project scheme is designed to agreements have been signed facilitate international collabora- with a number of academies, and tion between researchers based in arrangements have been made for Scotland and China over a two- further agreements to be signed year period. Two awards were in the coming year. An informal made this year, to researchers agreement was signed with the based at the University of Aber- Royal Swedish Academy of deen and the University of Stirling. Sciences, and bilateral agreements The RSE International Programme were signed with the Slovenian also offered support to the Academy of Sciences and Arts and Knowledge and Learning Network the Slovak Academy of Sciences. for International Development, The international exchange run by Professor Paul Jowitt FRSE. programme has also been very The Network aims to increase successful this year. Visits totalling awareness of and promote sixty-nine weeks took place ‘technological learning for through our bilateral programme infrastructure’ in Africa as a means run with our sister academies in of increasing capacity (especially China, Poland, Taiwan, Slovenia, skills) to maintain essential Slovakia and Hungary (an increase infrastructure such as water and from 55 weeks in the previous sanitation and contribute to the year). Visits totalling 180 weeks delivery of the UN Millennium took place through our open Development Goals. A workshop programme, with visits to and took place in Tanzania, sponsored from Argentina, Australia, by the RSE and facilitated by the Botswana, Canada, Finland, Scottish Institute of Sustainable France, Germany, Iceland, India, Technology and Engineers Against Japan, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poverty. The workshop formed New Zealand, Norway, Russia, part of a conference on Engineer- South Africa, South Korea, Spain, ing and Poverty Reduction Sweden, Thailand, the USA and organised by the Institution of Venezuela. This is a significant Engineers Tanzania. increase from last year, in which

35 Review of the Session 2006-2007

The RSE has also been involved in separately by Scottish Enterprise, several other high-profile and Science and Technology Facilities international events this year, Council (formerly PPARC) and including: BBSRC. Both the Research Council - A joint event with the National schemes operate on a UK-wide Science Council of Taiwan, held basis. in Taipei, on Developmental The BBSRC scheme has attracted Biology. an encouraging number of - The RSE Annual European applications. Following a rigorous Lecture, this year given by Mr selection process, two BBSRC Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, Vice- Enterprise Fellows took up post in President of the European October 2006. During the year, Parliament on Solidarity in the three Scottish Enterprise Fellow- Enlarged European Union. ships were awarded, commencing in October 2006, in addition to - A lecture by Professor Jüri the three previously awarded who Engelbrecht, President of ALLEA took up posts in April 2006. No (All European Academies) on Science and Technology Facilities European Science Policy and Council (PPARC) Enterprise Academia. Fellowships were awarded this - A Joint conference with the year, as there were no suitable Norwegian Academy of Sciences applicants. on Vikings in Scotland held at The Gannochy Trust Innovation the Royal Museum, Edinburgh. Award of the RSE is Scotland’s A culture that fosters knowl- highest accolade for individual edge transfer from a science achievement in innovation. It was and cultural base created in 2003, in partnership with the Gannochy Trust, to The Enterprise Fellowships encourage and reward Scotland’s schemes run by the RSE are young innovators for work which designed to increase the commer- benefits Scotland’s well-being. cialisation of academic research The purpose of the award is to through technology transfer from encourage younger people to academic institutions into spin- pursue careers in fields of research out companies. This activity helps and development which promote create sustainable businesses with Scotland’s inventiveness interna- high-value jobs and contributes to tionally, and to recognise the Scottish economy in the long outstanding individual achieve- term. ment, which contributes to the The RSE runs three Enterprise common good of Scotland. In Fellowship Schemes, funded 2006 this award was presented to

36 Trustees’ Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007

Dr Marie Claire Parker in recogni- keep up to date with and, if tion of the contribution she has appropriate, further disseminate made to the development of information on the RSE and its protein-coated microcrystals for work. The fifth issue of Science drug delivery. Scotland (on Energy) was pub- Public appreciation and under- lished in May 2006. Science standing of science and culture Scotland aims to promote the excellence of Scottish research, Communications particularly to an overseas audi- The RSE website is updated ence and the sixth edition on regularly and provides informa- ‘Imaging’ was produced after the tion for both Fellows and the year end. public. Details of all the activities Journals supported by the RSE are posted on the site, as are reports from The RSE continues its long events and press releases. The tradition of scholarly publishing majority of application forms for with its two journals, Transactions: Research Awards and Exchange Earth Sciences and Proceedings A: Fellowships submitted are Mathematics, which are published downloaded from the site and on behalf of the RSE by the RSE lecture tickets are available online. Scotland Foundation. Six issues of Media briefings and press releases Proceedings A were published are provided for all major events during the 2006/07 Financial Year and launches and there has been on a regular bi-monthly schedule appreciable media coverage of – issues 136.2 to 137.1 inclusive. most of the significant activities in Six issues of Transactions were the RSE programme. Several published – Parts 2, 3 and 4 of events were web-cast during the volume 96 and parts 1, 2 and 3 of year and were available to view volume 97. Copies of the journals live and/or on demand. The RSE are also sent to over 300 Universi- plans increasingly to make this a ty Libraries, Academies and feature of reporting on all events. Institutions world wide, as part of the RSE’s long-standing exchange Four issues of ReSourcE, the RSE programme. The journals are newsletter, were published and highly regarded by academics as distributed to the Fellowship and publication vehicles for their around 2,000 others, including research, and they both maintain business leaders, journalists, a respectably high impact factor in research institutes, schools, MPs, comparison to similar journals in MSPs and interested individuals. their fields. As from 2007 (volume Fellows also receive a monthly e- 98), Transactions has been re- bulletin, which enables them to titled Earth and Environmental

37 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Science Transactions of the Royal Beginning and End of Life by Society of Edinburgh and will be Professor Graeme Laurie; re-launched, with a new full- - Vikings and Scotland: The colour cover design, with a Special Northern World and its Signifi- Issue entitled Holocene Environ- cance for Scotland by Magnus mental Change – Lessons from Magnusson Hon KBE FRSE; and Small Oceanic Islands to reflect the environmental theme. Cam- - The Robert Cormack Bequest bridge University Press now workshop held at the RSE, handles the subscription fulfil- including a lecture entitled the ment, distribution and marketing Cassini-Huygens mission at for both journals. Titan by Dr Athéna Coustenis, Astronomer, Paris-Meudon Events Observatory. There were twenty RSE lectures Several full reports have been open to the public including: published and are available in - The Raymond and Beverley hard copy from the RSE, or on the Sackler Distinguished Lecture on RSE website. Calcium Signalling in Health As part of the fifteenth series of and Disease by Sir Michael J The Edinburgh Lectures, on the Berridge; theme of Inspiring People, - The Festival of Politics RSE Professor Sue Black FRSE spoke on Lecture, Picture it if yous will: Forensic anthropology – the the Ambitions of Scottish journey from Culloden to Iraq. Political Theatre by Professor There were also five RSE Discus- Adrienne Scullion with students sion Forums (including three as of the Department of Theatre, part of the Natural Disasters – Film and Television Studies, Earth, Wind, Fire, Water series) on: University of Glasgow and of the School of Drama, Royal - Floods by Professor Edmund Scottish Academy of Music and Penning-Roswell OBE and Drama; Professor Gareth Pender; - Biodiversity, Poverty and - Earthquakes by Professor Robin Sustainability for the 21st Spence and Mr Pete Sweetnam; Century by Professor Peter H - Tropical Storms by Professor Raven; Brian Lee and Dr Julian Heming; - How We Treat Young Offenders - Cultural Policy and National by Camila Batmanghelidjh; Identity in Post Devolution - The BP Prize Lecture on Protect- Scotland by Professor Philip R ing Human Dignity at the Schlesinger FRSE, Professor

38 Trustees’ Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007

David McCrone FBA FRSE, the Scotland, Historic Scotland, The Right Reverend Richard Hollo- Royal Norwegian Consulate way FRSE and Vicky General and The Strathmartine Featherstone; and Trust; - The Ten Years of Dolly: Past, - Glasgow’s People: Transcending Present and Future by Dr Donald Poverties, supported by Glas- Bruce, Professor Ian Wilmut, gow City Council, The Herald Professor Keith Campbell, Newspaper, Archdiocese Professor Grahame Bulfield and of Glasgow, Mr Willie Haughey, Professor Harry Griffin. The City Charitable Trust, Mr These all met with an encouraging Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group, response, with numbers attending Mr John McGuire, Phoenix Car being over target in most cases. Company Ltd. Five conferences organised by the In addition there were events RSE were: primarily for Fellows. These included the New Fellows’ - Islam and Democracy, supported admission ceremony and induc- by HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin tion in May; the Fellows’ Summer Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, The Reception in July and the Annual Foreign and Commonwealth Statutory Meeting in October. Office and The Edinburgh Institute for the Study of The Inspiring young people, primarily Arab World and Islam; in the field of science, but also other areas covered by the wider - Beyond the Human genome: school curriculum Deciphering Biology and Disease, supported by the The RSE’s Young People’s pro- Caledonian Research Founda- gramme covered the length and tion; breadth of Scotland with: - Alternatives to Prison in - Ten RSE@Schools talks. partnership with encounter, Lecturers visited schools supported by Scottish Executive, throughout Scotland, from The Robertson Trust, The Dumfries to the Highlands, and Airborne Initiative and the covered diverse topics, including Consulate General of Ireland in forensic science, astronomy, Edinburgh; genetics and the chemistry used in common medicines. - The Vikings and Scotland – Impact and Influence in partner- - RSE Discussion Forum. In June ship with Norwegian Academy 2006 a Stem Cell Research of Science and Letters, support- Discussion Forum took place in ed by The National Museums of Inverness. A CD-Rom, including

39 Review of the Session 2006-2007

video material of all the presen- on Saturday mornings in the tations, resources for teachers form of workshops for S1/S2 and a student debate pack was students and emphasise the then produced and sent to all role of science, engineering and schools in Scotland. This technology in society. resource is also available on the These workshops ran in RSE Website. partnership with Dundee, St - Two Science, Engineering and Andrews, Aberdeen, Glasgow Technology Summer Schools. and Heriot-Watt Universities in These took place in July and both the Autumn 2006 and August 2006 in partnership Spring 2007 terms. with Heriot-Watt University and • A Road Show took place in aimed to introduce Highers Ullapool from 26th February to students to university life. 1st March this year. The two-day • Twenty RSE Maths Master- event included science classes. Maths Masterclasses workshops for primary and involve Saturday morning secondary school students, talks games and puzzles for P6/7 for secondary students and a students to encourage an talk for the wider community. interest in mathematics. This • Energy Talks in Schools. year the classes were held in the Following the Autumn autumn term in partnership Discussion Forum which took with Jack and Teresa Carr, place In October 2006 at The Aberdeen City Council and the University of Aberdeen entitled University of Dundee. Debating Scotland's Energy • Ten Computer Science Choices, talks have been Workshops in Glasgow. delivered in schools in particular • The 2006 RSE Christmas regions throughout Scotland Lecture, given by Heather Reid, from January to April 2007. The BBC Broadcast Meteorologist, first took place in Perth and was took place at the University of lead by Dr. Malcolm Kennedy, Stirling on Tuesday 12th Professor Maxwell Irvine and December. The lecture was Professor Roger Crofts. entitled Weather Forecasting in • Arbroath Project. The proposal the 21st Century and was given to create a programme of separately to local school Sustained Activity for Arbroath students and the general public. gathered momentum with an • Thirty-six RSE Startup Science initial meeting in January 2007. Masterclasses. The Startup It is envisaged that the Science Masterclasses take place programme will run for one

40 Trustees’ Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007

academic year, in 2008, and will summarise the public debates and involve a wide range of activities school visits and concluding for young people and the wider conference. It identifies the public, including specialist actions required to ensure lectures, popular talks and achievement of the Committee’s discussions, classes and strategic aim – a secure, competi- workshops for schools at tive, socially equitable and low secondary and primary levels, as carbon emissions supply of energy well as exhibitions and social for Scotland. events. We are grateful to Scottish Informing decisions taken by Enterprise for contributing Parliaments and policy-makers towards the cost of the public and Following the launch of the RSE’s school discussion events. Also, Report into Energy Issues for without the dedication and Scotland in June 2006 and with expertise of Committee Members, an aim to facilitate public engage- particularly Professor Roger Crofts ment and enhance understanding as Secretary, it would not have of energy issues, the RSE em- been possible to undertake the barked upon a series of event series. countrywide public and school The RSE has also begun develop- discussion forums under the ing ideas for a new inquiry into banner of Debating Scotland’s the Future for Scotland’s Hill and Energy Choices. Such a dissemina- Island Areas – to help secure a tion exercise following the prosperous and environmentally publication of its Report was a sustainable future for these first for the RSE. Public and school important areas of Scotland. This discussion forums were held in is in recognition of the major Aberdeen, Inverness, Perth, changes taking place in agricultur- Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dumfries al support and the proposed and the total audience numbers expansion of both forestry and were over 435 for the public tourism in these areas. events and over 375 for the Using the expertise of its c.1400 school discussions. The event Fellows, the RSE responded to series on energy concluded with a various consultations and submit- conference at the RSE in April ted evidence and advice to nine 2007 attended by over 80 parties, including the Scottish delegates. An Inquiry Update Executive’s Science and Innovation Report, Energy for Scotland: a call Strategy and the draft Culture for action, targeted at decision- (Scotland) Bill. These submissions makers, has been produced to are available on the RSE website. reflect on recent decisions, and to

41 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Some of these responses were This followed the scrutiny in 2006 carried out using small working of 175 candidates through a four- groups of Fellows. stage committee process, A small working party on Avian culminating in the postal ballot in Influenza was set up to consider December to the entire Fellow- the possible implications of an ship. The addition of our new outbreak of this disease in Fellows in 2007 brought the Scotland. As part of their investi- numbers in the Fellowship up to gation, evidence was taken from 1,465 - 67 Honorary Fellows; 43 some of the key decision-makers Corresponding Fellows and 1,355 who would be involved if an Ordinary Fellows. outbreak occurred. The group The discipline balance of the concluded its research during the Fellowship is broadly represented year and reported after the year by four cognate sectors. In the end. Ordinary Fellowship the current Discussions were held with the balance of these sectors is 36.1% Scottish Parliament Information (Life Sciences), 37.3% (Physical Centre and with MSPs to improve Sciences, Maths and Informatic awareness of the Scottish Parlia- Sciences), 18.9% (Social Sciences, ment Science Information Scheme. Arts and Humanities) and 7.7% The Science in Parliament event in (Economics, Business and Indus- November again provided an try). This represents a slight opportunity to provide examples increase from 2006 in the repre- of the types of briefing that can sentation of those from the latter be made available to inform MSPs two groups. on important topical subjects. The nomination and selection The Fellowship Programme process for Fellowship is devel- oped every year and the The RSE’s Fellowship includes men procedures are under review and women from all parts of during 2007/08. The review does Scotland, the UK and overseas, not seek to make major changes and encompasses the full range of to what currently exists, but is disciplines, including science, examining the efficacy of the engineering, social sciences, arts, current system. The working party humanities, law, business and carrying out the Review is chaired industry. by Professor Andrew Walker (the In March 2007, the Society Fellowship Secretary), and includes announced the election of 55 new Lord Cullen, Dr Ewan Brown and Ordinary Fellows and ten new Professors Colin Bird, John Laver, Corresponding Fellows. April McMahon and John Spence.

42 Trustees’ Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007

RSE Scotland Foundation in post during the year. The In addition to the publication of research fellowships are adminis- journals detailed above, the tered by the RSE. During the year, Foundation has continued to discussions took place with BP facilitate the dissemination of about the most effective use of useful knowledge through letting the Trust’s funds and possibilities the conference facilities in George for enhancing them. This culmi- Street. Gross income from this nated in an evening reception in activity was slightly up from the April 2007, to which all former previous year; and although the research fellows supported by the numbers of lettings remained Trust were invited, to showcase steady, the recovery of costs their work and the outcomes incurred improved due to new resulting from their tenure of the pricing structures. The Foundation research fellowships. is also responsible for letting Future plans surplus space to tenants and this Plans for 2007-08 have been has continued successfully, with a developed in the context of a new five-year renewal of the lease to Strategic Framework covering Universities Scotland agreed with 2007-2012. The Society aims to effect from July 2007. make a difference and all of its In pursuit of its scientific and activities are planned with a view cultural heritage objectives, the to contributing to the following Foundation, in conjunction with public benefit outcomes: the RSE, is working to promote - Increasing the number of world- awareness of the achievements of class science and culture James Clerk Maxwell. The Founda- researchers working in Scotland tion and the RSE are also facilitating a proposal to erect a - Increasing Scotland’s research statue of him in central Edin- and development connections burgh. internationally BP Research Fellowships Trust - Improving connections between business and academia The income from the BP Trust’s investments, which are managed - Increasing the number of separately from the RSE’s own people in Scotland who adopt funds, continued to be sufficient science as a career to support the appointment of - Enhancing the public’s apprecia- one new three-year postdoctoral tion and understanding of research fellow in 2006-07; there science and culture issues were three such research fellows

43 Review of the Session 2006-2007

- Informing and influencing ed the detailed monitoring of public policy decisions performance to the Investment The planning of activities will be Committee, which includes at guided by the strategic priorities, least one ordinary member of and these will also be the main Council, and which makes focus of the activities. The strate- comparisons against a composite gic priorities over the next five benchmark reflecting the mix of years are: assets held and the WM Charities Income Constrained Index. - Developing partnerships and connections with others The income targets for both portfolios were exceeded and the - Providing independent advice total return values for each part of on major issues affecting public the portfolio exceeded the policy benchmark by 0.3% (RSE) and - Developing arts and humanities 1.1% (BP Research Fellowships activities and their interface with Trust). science Representatives of the Investment - Broadening public engagement Committee meet twice annually with the investment managers to - Diversifying funding sources discuss their compliance with the The RSE has three Operational constraints set by the Committee Programmes for 2007/08. These and risk environment. In the year are: Core Public Benefits; the under review no compliance Fellowship; and Support Services; issues arose which required to be all of the activities of which will reported to the Committee. contribute directly or indirectly to Operating policies – grant the public benefit outcomes listed making above. The RSE makes grants to individu- Investment powers and policy als in higher education The management of the invest- institutions in support of research ment funds of the RSE and the BP activities in the categories of Research Fellowships Trust is postdoctoral research Fellowships, carried out by Speirs & Jeffrey & support research Fellowships, post Co on a discretionary basis. The graduate studentships, under- objectives set by the Council are graduate vacation scholarships, first to ensure a sufficient level of Enterprise fellowships and income to meet the target set international exchange grants. annually by the Council and Each of these categories is thereafter to invest for capital specifically funded from various growth. The Council has delegat- sources, including the RSE's restricted funds.

44 Trustees’ Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007

The basis of eligibility and also set out in note 2 to the selection varies according to the financial statements. detailed scheme regulations, The General Fund represents the which are published on the RSE’s balance of unrestricted funds website (www.royalsoced.org.uk). arising from past operations, Grants are also made in support which are not invested in fixed of research activities of Fellows of assets or designated for a specific the RSE, including support for purpose. travel connected with research or The Council has examined the scholarship, small scale specialist requirement to hold unrestricted meetings, to assist research funds, and concluded that, whilst visitors to Scotland to undertake the present level of reserves gives collaborative research work with a adequate working capital for core Fellow, to assist a visiting lecturer costs, it would be desirable to to come to Scotland, to assist have a General Fund reserve in the research collaboration between range of three to six months’ two institutions in Scotland or expenditure on central costs. They between universities and industry have also reviewed the purposes and to assist in the publication of and amounts of each of the books written by Fellows. These designated funds and are satisfied grants are funded by the RSE’s that it is appropriate to continue designated Grants Fund. The to allocate the unrestricted funds Grants Committee is responsible for the purposes described in note for making awards in accordance 2 to the financial statements. In with the detailed rules set out by particular, the RSE should contin- the Council of the RSE for the ue to maintain a Development disbursement of the Grants Fund. Fund to give flexibility to respond Details of grant-making commit- to new initiatives on a timely basis tee membership are to be found without the need for specific in the RSE’s annual Directory and fundraising. on its website. Result for the year Reserves policy and funds The overall result at the net The RSE holds a number of incoming resources, or revenue, restricted funds resulting from level was a surplus of £246,000, bequests for particular purposes, with the General Fund result details of which are set out in contributing £128,800 of this note 2 to the financial statements. sum. As well as non-recurring The Council has created designat- items, this result included ed funds, from its unrestricted £53,000 (2006–£150,000) of funds, the purposes of which are restricted purpose income

45 Review of the Session 2006-2007

received in advance of carrying out Voluntary income (note 4), which the activities for which the income includes grants, increased as a has been provided. SORP 2005 result of a legacy of £132,000 requires that such income be from Mrs S M Heggie in memory recognised as received and placed of her husband, Dr James Heggie. in a fund against which the future Pending further discussion by the costs are set. Council, this amount has been The costs in relation to the 2006 transferred to the Development income were incurred in the year Appeal Fund. to 31 March 2007 resulting in a Subscription income from Fellows, £97,000 net deficit on the included generous support from restricted income fund. voluntary contributions and The net movement in funds for associated Gift Aid tax recovery the year after including gains on increased by £8,000 (4.5%). investments and FRS 17 pension Investment income (note 4) movements, rose to £312,000 in comprised dividend income and the General Fund and £603,000 interest received on cash; the overall. This reflected the positive majority of these assets are held in FRS 17 adjustment and the the designated and restricted continuing recovery of the equity income funds. markets. Incoming resources from charita- Income and Expenditure ble activities (note 5) were reduced Total incoming resources by 5.5% or £131,000. This reflected a net fall in research Total incoming resources of awards income of £47,000 due to £3.6m decreased by 2.23% or the completion of phase 2 of the £0.083m from last year. This Enterprise Fellowships scheme, comprised increases in voluntary which led to a reduction in the income and investment income number of appointments in the offset by a decrease in income for year and hence the income charitable activities. This reflected received, offset by the new level of the accounting treatment adopted grant from Lloyds TSB Foundation in 2005–06 on implementation of and increases in BBSRC Enterprise SORP 2005 where income is Fellowship income. In other recognised on entitlement rather activities the fall in income was than in the period in which mainly due to the conclusion of activities take place. £150,000 of the Energy Inquiry income for income was recognised in 2005– which was collected in the 06 in relation to activities taking previous year. Meetings Income place in 2006–07. was restored to a more normal

46 Trustees’ Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007

level reflecting a full conference Governance costs remained at a programme. Income in relation to similar level to 2005–06 and evidence and advice includes a represent 4% of total income. grant from the Scottish Funding The transfers between funds Council for provision of advice on shown in the Statement of specified topics. The income in Financial Activities represented the support of the SSAC declined due release from the Capital Asset to the cessation of its activities Reserve of a total of £101,000 to administered by the RSE in match the writedown of buildings December 2006. and the capital repayment of the Resources expended loan to the Foundation; there was Total resources expended in- also a transfer on consolidation creased by 7% (£0.2m) from last from the RSE Scotland Foundation year. This included the unmatched Restricted Fund balance to the expenditure of £150,000 in General Fund equivalent to the relation to restricted income net inter-entity income received in brought forward. the RSE. Cost of generating funds (note 6) Balance sheet included the cost of the Fellow- Consolidated net assets increased ship Office, the costs of building by 5.4% overall to a total of management in respect of income £11.8m; the major reasons being from letting of surplus space as a 4% increase in the investment well as fundraising costs, both portfolio, before the additional direct and management time in investment of cash of £600,000, securing funding. and £169,000 increase in the FRS Overall, expenditure on charitable 17 pensions adjustment, turning activities increased by £142,000 the previously reported deficit to (5%). Grants payable of £1.84m an asset of £49,000. increased by 1.2% (£0.02m). This Net current assets decreased by results from increases in the 11.8% to £1,468,000. The numbers of postholders for decrease resulted mainly from the awards funded by Lloyds TSB transfer of £600,000 cash from Foundation for Scotland and the restricted and designated BBSRC, offsetting the fall in funds to the investment portfolio. Enterprise Fellows funded by Of the total cash balance, Scottish Enterprise. Increased £280,000 (2006 – £714,000) was expenditure on meetings, evi- allocated to designated funds, the dence and international activities major part of which related to the reflected the level of activity Development Appeal Fund and undertaken in the year. the Building Maintenance Fund; a

47 Review of the Session 2006-2007

further £663,000 (2006 – Achieving an increase in revenues £860,000) related to restricted will be a long haul process, but funds. the organisational arrangements Conclusion and future prospects for doing so have now been put in place. The outlook for 2007/08 The RSE has continued to is for the present level of activity strengthen its financial base. to be sustained and to generate a Further progress will come from further contribution to the RSE’s increasing revenue growth and financial base. margins. This will be achieved Signed on behalf of the Council through the development of innovative programmes which will Edward Cunningham CBE fit within the RSE’s priorities and Treasurer which will, at the same time, 3 September 2007 attract funding from both public and private sector sources.

48 AUDITORS’ REPORT AND ACCOUNTS Independent Auditors’ report to Respective responsibilities of the Council of the Royal Society Trustees and Auditors of Edinburgh As described in the statement of This report is issued in respect of Trustees’ responsibilities, the an audit carried out under Section Council is responsible for the 44 (1) (c) of the Charities and preparation of the financial Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act statements in accordance with 2005. applicable law and United We have audited the financial Kingdom Generally Accepted statements of Royal Society of Accounting Practice. Edinburgh (RSE) for the year Our responsibility is to audit the ended 31 March 2007 which financial statements in accordance comprise the statement of with relevant legal and regulatory financial activities, the group requirements and International balance sheet, the charity balance Standards on Auditing (UK and sheet, the cash flow statement Ireland). and the related notes. These We report to you our opinion as financial statements have been to whether the financial state- prepared in accordance with the ments give a true and fair view accounting policies set out and are properly prepared in therein. accordance with the Laws of the This report is made solely to the RSE, the Charities & Trustee RSE Trustees, as a body, in accord- Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 ance with Section 44 (1) (c) of the and Charities Accounts (Scotland) Charities and Trustee Investment Regulations 2006. We also report (Scotland) Act 2005 and regula- to you if, in our opinion, the tion 10 of the Charities Accounts Trustees’ Annual Report is (Scotland) Regulations 2006. Our consistent with the financial audit work has been undertaken statements, if the RSE has not so that we might state to the RSE kept proper accounting records, if Trustees those matters we are we have not received all the required to state to them in an information and explanations we auditors’ report and for no other require for our audit. purpose. To the fullest extent We read other information permitted by law, we do not contained in the Trustees’ Annual accept or assume responsibility to Report and consider whether it is anyone other than the RSE and consistent with the audited the RSE Trustees as a body, for our financial statements. We consider audit work, for this report, or for the implications for our report if the opinions we have formed. we become aware of any apparent

49 ACCOUNTS

Group statement of financial activities (incorporating the income & expenditure account) for year ended 31 March 2007

Note General Fund Designated Funds Restricted income Restricted funds 2007 Total 2006 Total ££££££

Income Voluntary income 4 814,468 11,492 – 19,506 845,466 841,887 Activities for generating income 4– – –208,329 208,329 203,257 Investment income 4 48,678 69,916 – 214,534 333,128 293,795

Incoming resources from generated funds 863,146 81,408 – 442,369 1,386,923 1,338,939 Incoming resources from charitable activities 5 122,230 – 1,891,454 238,393 2,252,077 2,383,183

Total incoming resources 985,376 81,408 1,891,454 680,762 3,639,000 3,722,122

Expenditure Cost of generating funds 6 (121,976) (8,606) – (76,458) (207,040) (181,955) Charitable activities 6 (615,658) (43,300) (1,988,353) (377,045) (3,024,356) (2,845,533) Governance 6 (118,956) (18,032) – (24,559) (161,547) (143,604)

Total resources expended (856,590) (69,938) (1,988,353) (478,062) (3,392,943) (3,171,092)

Net incoming resources before transfers 128,786 11,470 (96,899) 202,700 246,057551,030

Transfers between funds 20, 21 35,930 30,394 (66,324) ––

Other recognised gains/(losses) Gains/(losses) on investment assets Realised gains 1,537 8,891 – 88,020 98,44859,797 Unrealised gains 3,741 21,630 – 91,507 116,878 685,437

Actuarial gains /(losses) on Lothian Pension Fund 142,000 –––142,000 (58,000)

Net movement in funds 311,994 72,385 (96,899) 315,903 603,383 1,238,264

Balance brought forward at 1 April 2006 295,125 5,839,955 150,000 4,926,075 11,211,155 9,972,891

Balance carried forward at 31 March 2007 607,119 5,912,340 53,101 5,241,978 11,814,53811,211,155

51 Review of the Session 2006-2007

ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007

Group balance sheet at 31 March 2007 Note 2007 2007 2006 2006 ££££

Fixed assets Tangible fixed assets 14 4,161,613 4,278,484

Fixed asset investments Investments at market value 15 6,439,309 5,624,323

10,600,922 9,902,807

Current assets

Debtors 16 177,465 176,516 Cash at bank and in hand 445,409 303,379 Money Market deposits – Designated funds 262,236 714,060 Money Market deposits – Restricted funds 663,850 860,288 Money Market deposits – General funds 273,914 188,252

1,822,874 2,242,495

Current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 17 (354,345) (576,796)

Net current assets 1,468,529 1,665,699

Total assets less current liabilities 12,069,451 11,568,506

Provision for liabilities and charges 18 (303,913) (237,351)

Net assets excluding pension fund 11,765,538 11,331,155

Lothian Pension Fund Defined Benefit Scheme asset / (liability) 23 49,000 (120,000)

Net assets after pension fund liability 11,814,538 11,211,155

Funds General Fund 19 558,119 415,125 Less: Pension reserve 49,000 (120,000)

607,119 295,125 Designated Funds 20 5,912,340 5,839,955 Restricted Funds 21 5,295,079 5,076,075

Total funds 11,814,538 11,211,155

The accounts were approved by the Council on 3 September 2007 and signed on its behalf by:

Edward Cunningham, CBE Treasurer

52 ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007 Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007

RSE balance sheet at 31 March 2007 Note 2007 2007 2006 2006 ££££

Fixed assets Tangible fixed assets 14 2,311,210 2,365,581

Fixed asset investments Investments at market value 15(a) 3,233,323 2,539,320 Historical cost: 2006 £2,006,102 2005 £1,921,750 Loan to RSE Scotland Foundation 15(b) 1,891,136 1,937,944

7,435,669 6,842,845

Current assets Debtors 16 60,541 95,435 Cash at bank and in hand 380,941 222,502 Money Market deposits – Designated funds 262,236 714,060 Money Market deposits – Restricted funds 663,850 779,411 Money Market deposits – General funds 273,914 269,129

1,641,482 2,080,537

Current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 17 (438,097) (582,371)

Net current assets 1,203,385 1,498,166

Total assets less current liabilities 8,639,054 8,341,011

Provision for liabilities and charges 18 (303,913) (237,351)

Net assets excluding pension fund 8,335,141 8,103,660

Lothian Pension Fund defined benefit scheme asset / (liability) 49,000 (120,000)

Net assets after pension fund liability 8,384,141 7,983,660

Funds General Fund 558,119 415,125 Less: Pension reserve 19 49,000 (120,000)

607,119 295,125

Designated Funds 20 5,912,340 5,839,955 Restricted Funds 21 1,864,682 1,848,580

Total funds 8,384,141 7,983,660

The accounts were approved by the Council on 3 September 2007 and signed on its behalf by:

Edward Cunningham, CBE Treasurer 53 Review of the Session 2006-2007

ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007

Group cash flow statement for the year ended 31 March 2007

2007 2007 2006 2006 ££ £ £

Cash flow statement Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities (169,778) 349,343

Returns on investments and servicing of finance: Interest received 84,824 69,048 Dividends received 249,345 225,422

334,169 294,470 Capital expenditure and financial investment: Purchase of tangible fixed assets (7,050) (19,343) Proceeds from sale of investments 1,125,478 429,971 Purchases of investments (1,725,138) (429,893) Capital receipt 10,257 124,015

(596,453) 104,750

Net cash flow before financing: (432,062) 748,563 Appeal receipts 11,492 13,361

(Decrease) / Increase in cash in the year (420,570) 761,924

Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds

(Decrease) / Increase in cash in the year (420,570) 761,924 Net funds at beginning of year 2,065,979 1,304,055

Net funds at end of year (note 28) 1,645,409 2,065,979

Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash outflow from operating activities

Net incoming resources before transfers 246,057 551,030 Retirement benefit scheme current service cost 111,000 81,000 Retirement benefit scheme past service cost (21,000) – Retirement benefit scheme contributions (95,000) (89,000) Retirement benefit scheme finance cost (22,000) (6,000) Appeal receipts (11,492) (13,361) Dividends receivable (248,304) (224,827) Interest receivable (84,824) (69,048) Depreciation 123,921 122,773 Capital receipt from Mrs Silitto (10,257) – Capital distribution from Edinburgh Drug Absorption Foundation – (124,015) (Increase)/decrease in debtors (1,989) (41,872) Increase / (decrease) in creditors (222,451) 213,085 Movement on provision for liabilities 66,562 (50,422)

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities (169,778) 349,343

54 ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007 Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007 notes to the financial statements

1 Accounting basis Designated Funds The accounts have been drawn up to Capital Asset Reserve Fund – representing comply with the provisions of the Charities & the book cost of the rooms at 22-24 George Fleck Bequest Fund – to promote interest, Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and Street and 26 George Street together with knowledge and appreciation of science and its the Charity Accounts (Scotland) Regulations the building project loan to the RSE Scotland applications throughout Scotland. 2006, and follow the recommendations of Foundation. the Statement of Recommended Practice for Piazzi Smyth Legacy Fund – to fund high Building Maintenance Fund – a reserve to charities (SORP) approved by the Accounting altitude astronomical research. support the future maintenance of the fabric Standards Board in February 2005 and of the rooms. Sillitto Fund – to promote interest in physics applicable accounting standards. The among young people. accounts have been prepared under the Staff Restructuring Fund – to provide flexiblity historical cost accounting rules as modified in staffing arrangements CASS Fund – to fund academic / industrial liaison to include the revaluation of investments. Development Appeal Fund – to provide The accounts comprise four primary financial development finance to implement the Retailing Seminar Fund – to fund a statements: the statement of financial RSE’s Corporate Plan. programme of seminars on retailing activities incorporating the income and expenditure account, the Group and RSE Programme Fund – a fund created to act as Edinburgh Drug Absorption Foundation Fund balance sheet and the cash flow statement. a source of funding for meetings activities. – to fund a series of conferences on the broad theme of ‘Drugs Futures’. The consolidated financial statements include C H Kemball Fund – income from this fund is the financial statements of the RSE and used to provide hospitality for distinguished RSE Scotland Foundation – a trust to advance of entities which are under its control: RSE visitors from other learned societies and the education of the public in Scotland in Scotland Foundation and BP Research Academies. science, engineering and technology. Fellowship Trust. As the objectives of each of Dr James Heggie Fund – income from this BP Research Fellowships Trust – a trust these entities are narrower than the Society, fund supports the RSE’s activities with to fund postdoctoral research fellowships they have been treated as restricted funds. young people. in Scotland. No SOFA or income and expenditure for the Society has been presented as permitted Grants Fund – a fund created by contributions by SORP. and legacies from Fellows and used to provide 3 Accounting policies grants to support research activities Incoming resources to Fellows. 2 Funds Voluntary income Restricted Income Fund – income funds Subscriptions are accounted for on the basis of The RSE’s funds are classified in accordance received for expenditure on current projects. the subscription year to October 2007 with the definitions in SORP into Restricted and include income tax recoverable on the Funds, where there are restrictions placed by Restricted Funds subscriptions paid under Gift Aid. a donor as to the use of income or capital, Robert Cormack Bequest – to promote Designated Funds where the Society has set astronomical knowledge and research Revenue grants are credited to income in aside sums from its unrestricted funds for a in Scotland the period in which the RSE becomes entitled particular purpose and the General to the resources. (unrestricted) Fund. The classifications made Lessells Trust – to fund scholarships abroad for Donations of a recurring nature from other are as follows: engineers charitable foundations and one-off gifts and General Fund Auber Bequest – to fund research in Scotland legacies included in other income are taken A discretionary Fund available to Council to and England by naturalised British citizens over to revenue in the period to which they relate. meet the ordinary activities of the Society. 60 years of age Investment income Prizes Fund – to fund various prizes Interest and dividends are accounted for Dryerre Fund – to fund postgraduate in the year in which they are receivable. scholarships in medical or veterinary Incoming resources for charitable activities physiology Incoming resources for activities are accounted for on an accruals basis.

55 Review of the Session 2006-2007

ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007

notes to the financial statements

Publication income receivable in foreign Charitable activities Minor equipment is charged against revenue currencies is converted into sterling at rates Grants payable are recognised as a liability in the year of purchase. Computer and of exchange ruling at the date of receipt. when the RSE is under an actual or audio-visual is depreciated on a straight line constructive obligation to make a transfer to basis over 3–20 years. Incoming resources for research fellowships a third party. Where grants are time related are accounted for in the period in which the to future periods and are to be financed by Investments RSE becomes entitled to the resources. specific grants receivable in those future Investments are stated at their market value Income received for specific projects, and periods they are treated as liabilities of those at the balance sheet date. Gains and losses on received in advance of the commencement periods and not as liabilities at balance sheet disposal and revaluation of investments of the project, is deferred. If the project were date. Such grants are disclosed as future are charged or credited in the statement of not to proceed as planned the RSE would commitments. financial activities and allocated to funds in not be entitled to retain the funds. For accordance with their proportionate share performance related grants, where entitlement Governance costs of the investment portfolio. to the incoming resource only arises with the Governance costs are those incurred in performance of the specific outputs agreed connection with the management of RSE Pensions under the contracts, income is deferred. assets, organisational administration and The RSE participates in defined benefit compliance with constitutional and statutory pension schemes which are externally funded. Resources expended requirements. The cost of providing pensions is allocated Expenditure and support costs over employees working lives with the Society Tangible fixed assets, depreciation All resources expended are included on and is included in staff costs. an accruals basis, having regard to any and repairs constructive obligations created by The RSE’s principal assets are its buildings in multi-year grant commitments. George Street, Edinburgh. Under FRS15 the Society depreciates the buildings assuming Where directly attributable, resources a 50-year life. It is the policy of the Council to expended are allocated to the relevant maintain the buildings to a high standard. functional category. Overhead and support Provision is made to provide for upkeep of the costs are allocated to functional category buildings as required through a designation on the basis of direct staff costs in each from General Fund. Any permanent area of activity. diminutions in value are reflected in the statement of financial activities. Costs of repairs Cost of generating funds and maintenance are charged against revenue. The cost of generating funds includes expenditure incurred in supporting the Expenditure incurred in the improvements to Fellowship and incurred on fundraising 26 George Street is being depreciated over initiatives. the period of the lease to the RSE Scotland Foundation from the date of completion of the refurbishment to 30 June 2047.

56 ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007 Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007 notes to the financial statements 4 Incoming resources Current year 2007 Voluntary income Activities for Investment Promotion of Other charitable Total 2007 generating income research activities ££££££

Fellows 183,932 –– – –183,932 Individuals and legacies 153,961 –– –26,197 180,158 Companies ––––12,200 12,200 Charitable trusts 9,250 ––330,784 181,813 521,847 Scottish Executive 496,832 ––617,281 317,780 1,431,893 Public sector bodies –––473,884 53,744 527,628 Bank interest ––78,652 ––78,652 Other interest –––––– Dividends ––119,603 ––119,603 Other 1,491 –– – –1,491

845,466 – 198,255 1,421,949 591,734 3,057,404 RSE Scotland Foundation – Rental income – 208,329 –– –208,329 RSE Scotland Foundation – Charitable activities ––––238,394 238,394 RSE Scotland Foundation – Interest ––869 ––869 BP Research Fellowships Trust – Interest ––5,302 ––5,302 BP Research Fellowships Trust – Dividends ––128,702 ––128,702

845,466 208,329 333,128 1,421,949 830,128 3,639,000

Prior year 2006 Voluntary income Activities for Investment Promotion of Other charitable Total 2006 generating income research activities ££££££

Fellows 176,022 –– – –176,022 Individuals and legacies 41,361 –– –13,572 54,933 Companies ––––35,000 35,000 Charitable trusts 143,942 ––258,210 181,889 584,041 Scottish Executive 479,000 651,000 412,060 1,542,060 Public sector bodies –––560,305 38,611 598,916 Bank interest ––63,999 ––63,999 Other interest –––––– Dividends ––101,806 ––101,806 Other 1,562 –– – –1,562

841,887 – 165,805 1,469,515 681,132 3,158,339 RSE Scotland Foundation – Rental income – 203,257 –– –203,257 RSE Scotland Foundation – Charitable activities ––––232,536 232,536 RSE Scotland Foundation – Interest ––838 ––838 BP Research Fellowships Trust – Interest ––4,211 ––4,211 BP Research Fellowships Trust – Dividends ––122,941 ––122,941

841,887 203,257 293,795 1,469,515 913,668 3,722,122

57 Review of the Session 2006-2007

ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 20 notes to the financial statements 4 Incoming resources (continued) 4a Voluntary income 2007 2006 ££ Contributions from Fellows Admission fees 15,400 15,400 Annual subscriptions 145,416 138,971 Income tax recoverable under Gift Aid 23,116 21,651 183,932 176,022 Lessells Trust additional receipt 9,250 19,917 Appeal receipts 11,492 13,361 Legacies 132,212 28,000 Scottish Executive Grant – General activities 496,832 479,000 Edinburgh Drug Absorption Foundation – 124,025 Sillitto Fund 10,257 – Other income 1,491 1,562 845,466 841,887

In addition to the donations set out above, the RSE receives donations made specifically in support of activities which are included in activities income (see note 26d).

5 Incoming resources from charitable activities 2007 2006 ££

Scottish Executive Grant – Research Fellowships 617,281 651,000 Franco-Scottish PhD scholarships 24,000 12,000 Caledonian Research Foundation 30,784 21,410 Scottish Enterprise 316,859 426,550 BBSRC Enterprise Fellowships 133,025 83,932 PPARC Enterprise Fellowships – 37,823 Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland 300,000 236,800

1,421,949 1,469,515

Scottish Executive Grant re Scottish Science Advisory Committee 131,893 170,626 Scottish Executive Grant – International activities 185,887 170,001 Scottish Executive Grant – Science & Society – 72,060 Gannochy Trust 105,000 96,277 Scottish Funding Council 24,402 – Meetings 115,977 40,906 Inquiry income 5,183 105,000 Gifts in kind (secondments of staff) – 8,750 International activities –– Educational activities 22,724 15,102 Sale of sundry publications 669 2,410

591,735 681,132

RSE Scotland Foundation – Journal publications 115,153 110,038 RSE Scotland Foundation – Conference facilities letting 123,240 122,498

238,393 232,536

2,252,077 2,383,183 Further information relating to grants, donations and receipts and their application is set out in note 27.

58 Trustees’ Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007 ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007 notes to the financial statements

6 Resources expended

2007 2006

Direct costs Support costs Total 2007 Direct costs Support costs Total 2006 (Note 11) (Note 11) ££££££ Costs of generating funds Fundraising 198 33,703 33,901 – 26,282 26,282 Fellows’ subscriptions – 88,075 88,075 – 83,471 83,471 Appeal donations – 8,606 8,606 – 2,944 2,944

198 130,384 130,582 – 112,697 112,697 RSE Scotland Foundation Building management – 76,091 76,091 – 68,933 68,933 BP Research Fellowship Trust Investment fees 367 – 367 325 – 325

Total costs of generating funds 565 206,475 207,040 325 181,630 181,955

Charitable activities Prizes and grants 103,469 29,902 133,371 97,886 29,912 127,798 Promotion of research & innovation (note 8) 1,423,559 285,327 1,708,886 1,417,593 274,117 1,691,710 Meetings 104,968 191,151 296,119 38,163 167,903 206,066 International 149,999 76,115 226,114 109,275 97,175 206,450 Science & Society and Education 67,435 53,655 121,090 32,524 64,184 96,708 Evidence 45,325 102,351 147,676 31,438 98,735 130,173 Publications and library 19,322 15,193 34,515 20,413 12,424 32,837 Academic industry links – 12,866 12,866 – 7,678 7,678 SSAC 131,844 – 131,844 170,627 – 170,627

2,045,921 766,560 2,812,481 1,917,919 752,128 2,670,047

RSE Scotland Foundation Journal Publications 85,290 31,038 116,328 70,653 27,664 98,317 Science & Society 3,000 – 3,000 ––– Conference facilities letting – 92,547 92,547 – 77,169 77,169

88,290 123,585 211,875 70,653 104,833 175,486

Total cost of charitable activities 2,134,211 890,145 3,024,356 1,988,572 856,961 2,845,533

Governance (note 10) RSE 24,406 112,582 136,988 14,538 106,286 120,824 RSE Scotland Foundation 1,800 21,643 23,443 1,785 19,938 21,723 BP Research Fellowships Trust 1,116 – 1,116 1,057 – 1,057

Total governance costs 27,322 134,225 161,547 17,380 126,224 143,604

Resources expended 2,162,098 1,230,845 3,392,943 2,006,277 1,164,815 3,171,092

Central support costs as set out in note 11 have been allocated to activities in proportion to the employment cost in each area of activity.

59 Review of the Session 2006-2007

ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007

notes to the financial statements

7 Grants payable

2007 2006 ££

Promotion of research (note 8) 1,708,886 1,691,710 Prizes and grants 133,371 127,799

1,842,257 1,819,509

8 Promotion of research and innovation 2007 2006 ££

Scottish Executive Fellowships 538,064 513,322 Arts & Humanities Workshop Grants 33,139 – Franco-Scottish PhD scholarships 24,000 12,010 CRF European Fellowships 26,941 17,332 Scottish Enterprise Fellowships 278,640 373,331 Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland Fellowships 280,962 221,772 PPARC Enterprise Fellowships 127 35,521 BRSRC Enterprise Fellowships 115,512 71,607 Robert Cormack Bequest 4,262 5,314 John Moyes Lessells Scholarship 9,370 19,060 Auber Bequest Awards 276 5,600 Henry Dryerre Scholarship 4,250 16,484 Designated funds DS McLagan Travel Grant – 1,802

1,315,543 1,293,155 Direct costs: General Funds Library – 1,789

RSE 1,315,543 1,294,944 BP Research Fellowships Trust 108,016 122,649

1,423,559 1,417,593 Support costs (note 6) 285,327 274,117

1,708,886 1,691,710

An analysis of institutions and individual awards made under this expenditure heading is included in the Society’s Review 2006,obtainable from the address on the back cover.

60 Trustees’ Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007 ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007 notes to the financial statements

9 Publications

2007 2006 ££

Income Journals 115,153 110,038

Expenditure Journals RSE – Editorial and management costs 19,322 16,877 RSE Scotland Foundation – Publishing costs 72,954 59,070 Support costs – Editorial 15,193 12,424 Support costs – Publishing 31,038 27,664

138,507 116,035 Year book and directory 12,336 11,583 Other publications 2,135 3,536

152,978 131,154

The RSE Scotland Foundation became publisher of the RSE’s journals and year book with effect from the 1997 volumes. The RSE retains copyright and incurs editorial costs in respect of these publications. The RSE has made a donation to the RSE Scotland Foundation equivalent to its net deficit on publications.

10 Governance 2007 2006 ££

Management and secretariat 132,679 109,356 Audit fee 7,225 9,005 Other professional advice from auditors – 5,305

139,904 123,666 RSE Scotland Foundation – Management and secretariat 21,643 19,938

161,547 143,604

61 Review of the Session 2006-2007 ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007 notes to the financial statements

11 Support costs ££ 2007 2006 Total payroll 869,003 842,023 Less: Paid by SSAC (59,163) (71,510)

Salaries (note 12) 809,840 770,513 Value of secondments – 8,750 Staff training, agency and recruitment costs 23,979 25,205 Non- cash pension cost adjustments (27,000) (14,000)

806,819 790,468 Other costs Establishment expenses 150,866 129,120 Computer and equipment costs 23,949 16,751 Communication, stationery and printing costs 56,767 53,378 Travel and subsistence, hospitality 15,183 19,506 Publicity 22,969 19,196 Miscellaneous 2,959 1,796 Professional fees 27,413 11,827 Depreciation 123,921 122,773

424,027 374,347

Total central costs 1,230,846 1,164,815

Support costs have been allocated to activities in proportion to the employment cost in each area of activity as set out in note 6.

12 Employees Total 2007 Funded Funded by SSAC Funded by RSE Total by Foundation 2007 2006 £££££

Wages and salaries 707,125 (81,054) (46,017) 580,054 545,934 Social security costs 47,099 (5,401) (3,741) 37,957 40,137 Other pension costs 114,779 (15,782) (9,405) 89,592 88,359

869,003 (102,237) (59,163) 707,603 674,430

The average number of employees of the RSE including those employed under joint contracts with the RSE Scotland Foundation was 28 (2006: 27). Of these 2 were employed in respect of The Scottish Science Advisory Committee. One member of staff earned over £60,000 per year and is a member of a defined benefit pension scheme.

13 RSE income and result for the year

General fund Designated Funds Restricted funds RSE Total 2007 RSE Total 2006 £££££

Total incoming resources 1,214,180 81,408 1,990,621 3,286,209 3,378,892

Surplus / (deficit) for the year 195,111 11,470 (42,324) 164,257 477,874 Transfers (30,394) 30,394 ––– Gains / (losses) on investments 5,277 30,521 58,426 94,224 359,794 Actuarial loss on Lothian Pension Fund 142,000 ––142,000 (58,000)

Net movement in funds 311,994 72,385 16,102 400,481 779,668

62 ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007 Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007 notes to the financial statements

14 Tangible fixed assets Group 22 – 24 George Street 26 George Street Improvements Computer Total Purchase cost Purchase cost and equipment £££££

Cost At 1 April 2006 1,103,038 1,647,468 2,136,070 324,813 5,211,389 Additions –––7,050 7,050 Disposals –––––

At 31 March 2007 1,103,038 1,647,468 2,136,070 331,863 5,218,439

Depreciation At 1 April 2006 154,425 230,645 304,837 242,998 932,905 Disposals ––––– Charge for the year 22,060 32,950 44,467 24,444 123,921

At 31 March 2007 176,485 263,595 349,304 267,442 1,056,826

Net book value At 31 March 2007 926,553 1,383,873 1,786,766 64,421 4,161,613

At 31 March 2006 948,613 1,416,823 1,831,233 81,815 4,278,484

RSE Net book value At 31 March 2007 926,553 1,383,873 – 784 2,311,210

At 31 March 2006 948,613 1,416,823 – 145 2,365,581

15 Fixed asset investments Value at Investments Proceeds on sale Gain / loss Revaluation Market value at 1 April 2006 made at cost of investments 31 March 2007 ££ ££££

(a) Fixed asset investments Managed Funds 594,643 222,998 ––43,613 861,254 Fixed interest 706,969 168,462 (7,716) (336) (31,883) 835,496 UK equities 1,194,139 588,179 (426,334) 27,782 55,048 1,438,814 Cash deposits 43,569 (379,860) 434,050 ––97,759

RSE 2,539,320 599,779 – 27,446 66,778 3,233,323 Managed Funds 642,259 129,357 (83,139) 7,651 73,591 769,719 Fixed interest 935,146 30,041 (90,042) (6,555) (31,770) 836,820 UK equities 1,428,344 512,061 (518,246) 69,906 8,279 1,500,344 Cash deposits 79,254 (671,578) 691,427 ––99,103

BP Research Fellowships Trust 3,085,003 (119) – 71,002 50,100 3,205,986

5,624,323 599,660 – 98,448 116,878 6,439,309

The gain on sale of investments measured against their historical cost was £372,620 (2006: Surplus (£181,526). The historical cost of investments was £5,257,470 (2006: £-4,423,314).

63 Review of the Session 2006-2007 ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007 notes to the financial statements

15 Fixed asset investments (continued)

(b) Loan by RSE to RSE Scotland Foundation 2007 2006 ££

Due within one year 46,808 46,808 Due after one year 1,844,328 1,891,136

1,891,136 1,937,944

The loan bears interest at 4% per annum, capped at the amount of rent received by the Foundation and is repayable over the period to 30 June 2047, the expiration of the lease of 26 George Street.

16 Debtors 2007 2006 ££

General debtors 23,963 65,361 Prepayments and accrued income 9,056 5,827 Income tax recoverable 27,522 24,247

RSE 60,541 95,435 RSE Scotland Foundation - Debtors 95,525 63,734 RSE Scotland Foundation - Prepayments 11,796 6,492 BP Research Fellowships Trust 9,603 10,855

Group 177,465 176,516

17 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year Group 2007 2006 ££

General creditors 159,205 244,301 Accruals 37,111 10,364 VAT payable 9,001 6,098 University of Glasgow (note 22) 4,290 3,263 Deferred income 46,000 176,698 Symposia income deferred 31,282 44,550 Advance receipts – Publications 67,456 91,522

354,345 576,796

Deferred income and advance receipts analysis At 1 April 2006 Received in year Recognised in year At 31 March 2007 Gannochy Trust award 105,000 – (105,000) – SSAC income 11,698 120,195 (131,893) – French PhD scholarships 60,000 – (24,000) 36,000 Hills & Island Inquiry – 10,000 – 10,000

176,698 130,195 (260,893) 46,000

Journal receipts 91,522 91,087 (115,153) 67,456

Symposia income 44,350 24,237 (37,305) 31,282

64 Trustees’ Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007

ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007 notes to the financial statements

17 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year (continued) RSE 2007 2006 ££

General creditors 151,505 209,284 RSE Scotland Foundation current account 205,020 148,576 Deferred income 46,000 176,698 University of Glasgow (note 22) 4,290 3,263 Symposia income deferred 31,282 44,550

438,097 582,371

18 Provision for liabilities and charges £ Commitments for research fellowships 237,351 At 1 April 2006 – Group & RSE New commitments: Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland Research Fellowships 300,886 Grants paid in the year (234,324) At 31 March 2007 303,913

The provision represents amounts payable under a constructive obligation in respect of research fellowships due as follows: 2007–08: £167,045; 2008–09: £120,082; 2009–10: £16,786

19 General Fund £

At 1 April 2006 295,125

Net movement in funds for the year from statement of financial activities 311,994

At 31 March 2007 607,119

65 Review of the Session 2006-2007 ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007

notes to the financial statements

20 Designated Funds

At 1 April 2006 Investment Other income Expenditure Gains / (losses) Transfers At 31 March 2007 income

££ ££ ££ £

Capital Asset Reserve 4,303,380 ––––(101,818) 4,201,562 Building Maintenance Fund 209,517 9,079 – (18,032) ––200,564 Staff Restructuring Fund 45,914 1,990 –– ––47,904 Development Appeal Fund 360,782 15,802 11,492 (8,607) – 132,212 511,681 Programme Fund 97,847 4,240 –– ––102,087 CH Kemball Fund 22,816 1,076 –– 847 – 24,739 Grants Fund 570,351 26,909 – (22,498) 21,165 – 595,927 Dr James Heggie Fund 229,348 10,820 – (20,802) 8,510 – 227,876

5,839,955 69,916 11,492 (69,939) 30,522 30,394 5,912,340

The transfers represent the release from the Capital Asset Reserve of a total of £101,000 to match the depreciation of buildings and the amount of capital repayment of the loan to the Foundation.

21 Restricted Funds

At 1 April 2006 Investment Other income Expenditure Gains / (losses) Transfers At 31 March 2007 income

££ ££ ££ £

Robert Cormack Bequest 113,763 5,367 – (5,893) 4,221 – 117,458 Lessells Trust 423,903 19,999 9,250 (15,446) 15,729 – 453,435 Auber Bequest 382,604 18,051 – (5,761) 14,197 – 409,091 Prizes Fund 78,625 3,709 – (4,990) 2,917 – 80,261 Dryerre Fund 488,623 23,053 – (11,255) 18,131 – 518,552 Fleck 50,633 2,389 – (726) 1,879 – 54,175 Piazzi Smyth 13,637 643 – (195) 506 – 14,591 Sillitto ––10,256 –––10,256 Others 22,767 1,075 – (327) 847 – 24,362 Edinburgh Drug Absorption Foundation 124,025 5,375 –– ––129,400 Restricted Income Fund 150,000 – 1,891,454 (1,988,353) –– 53,101

RSE 1,848,580 79,661 1,910,960 (2,032,946) 58,427 – 1,864,682 RSE Scotland Foundation 101,881 869 446,722 (311,408) – (66,324) 171,740 BP Research Fellowships Trust 3,125,614 134,004 – (122,061) 121,100 – 3,258,657

Total 5,076,075 214,534 2,357,682 (2,466,415) 179,527 (66,324) 5,295,079

66 Trustees’ Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007 ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007 notes to the financial statements

21 Restricted funds (continued) “Prizes Fund” comprises The Keith Fund, The Neill Fund, The Makdougall-Brisbane Fund, The Gunning-Victoria Fund, The James Scott Prize Fund, the Bruce-Preller Lecture Fund, The WS Bruce Memorial Fund, The Dr DA Berry Fund, The Henry Duncan Prize Lecture Fund and The BP Prize Lecture in the Humanities Fund. “Others” comprise the Retailing Seminars Fund and The CASS Fund. The Restricted Income Fund represents restricted income received and expended in the year. Under the terms of the Lessells Trust the University of Glasgow is entitled to 10% of additional amounts received by the RSE from the Trust. The balance included in creditors at 31 March 2007 represents the total sum apportioned but not yet paid over to the University (note 17).

22 Analysis of assets between funds

Group General Designated Funds Restricted Funds 2007 2006 £££££

Fund balances at 31 March 2007 are represented by: Tangible fixed assets 784 2,310,426 1,850,403 4,161,613 4,278,484 Investments 112,855 1,448,542 4,877,912 6,439,309 5,624,323 Loan to RSE Scotland Foundation – 1,891,136 (1,891,136) –– Current assets 60,541 – 116,924 177,465 176,516 RSE Scotland Foundation current account (205,020) – 205,020 –– Deposits 273,914 262,236 663,850 1,200,000 1,762,600 Cash 380,941 – 64,468 445,409 303,379 Current liabilities (65,896) – (288,449) (354,345) (576,796) Provisions for liabilities and charges ––(303,913) (303,913) (237,351) Pension fund liability 49,000 ––49,000 (120,000)

607,119 5,912,340 5,295,079 11,814,538 11,211,155

RSE General Designated Funds Restricted Funds 2007 2006 £££££

Fund balances at 31 March 2007 are represented by: Tangible fixed assets 784 2,310,426 – 2,311,210 2,365,581 Investments 112,855 1,448,542 1,671,926 3,233,323 2,539,320 Loan to RSE Scotland Foundation – 1,891,136 – 1,891,136 1,937,944 Current assets 60,541 ––60,541 95,435 RSE Scotland Foundation current account (205,020) ––(205,020) (148,576) Deposits 273,914 262,236 663,850 1,200,000 1,762,600 Cash 380,941 ––380,941 222,502 Current liabilities (65,896) – (167,181) (233,077) (433,795) Provisions for liabilities and charges ––(303,913) (303,913) (237,351) Pension fund liability 49,000 ––49,000 (120,000)

607,119 5,912,340 1,864,682 8,384,141 7,983,660

67 Review of the Session 2006-2007 ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007

notes to the financial statements

23 Pension costs (a) Universities Superannuation Scheme The RSE participates in the Universities Superannuation Scheme, a defined benefit pension scheme which is externally funded and contracted out of the State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme. The assets of the scheme are held in a separate trustee-administered fund. The fund is valued every three years by a professionally qualified independent actuary using the projected unit method, the rates of contribution payable being determined by the trustee on the advice of the actuaries. In the intervening years the actuaries review the progress of the scheme. It is not possible to identify each Institution’s share of the underlying asset and liabilities of the scheme and hence contributions to the scheme are accounted for as if it were a defined contributions scheme. The cost recognised within the result for the year is equal to the contributions payable to the scheme for the year. The latest actuarial valuation of the scheme was at 31 March 2005. The most significant assumptions, those relating to the rate of return on investments and the rates of increase in salary and pensions are as follows:

Past service Future service liabilities liabilities Investment return 4.50% 6.20% Salary increase 3.90% 3.90% Pension increase 2.90% 2.90% At the valuation date the market value of the scheme’s assets was £21,739.7 million and the value of past service liabilities was £28,308.1 million. The value of the assets represented 77% of the benefits that had accrued to members, after allowing for expected future increases in earnings. The contribution rate payable by the RSE was 14.0% of pensionable salaries. The actuary has confirmed that it is appropriate to take the pension charge to be equal to the actual contribution paid during the year.

(b) Lothian Pension Fund The RSE also participates in the Lothian Pension Fund, a defined benefit pension scheme established under Local Government Pension Fund Regulations. This scheme has determined that it is possible to ascertain the shares of assets and liabilities relating to individual admitted bodies. The assets of the scheme are held in a separate trustee-administered fund. The fund is valued every three years by a professionally qualified independent actuary using the projected unit method, the rates of contribution payable being determined by the trustee on the advice of the actuaries. In the intervening years the actuaries review the progress of the scheme. The latest actuarial valuation of the scheme was at 31 March 2005. The major assumptions used by the actuary were that, over the long term, the return on the scheme’s assets would be 6.2% per annum, salary increases would average 4.4% per annum and present the future pensions would increase at a rate of 2.9% per annum. At the valuation date the market value of the scheme’s assets was £2,089 million and the value of past service liabilities was £2,445 million. The value of the assets represented 86% of the benefits that had accrued to members, after allowing for expected future increases in earnings. The contribution rate payable by the RSE was 315% of employees contributions of 6% of pensionable salaries, amounting to 18.9%. The actuary has confirmed that it is appropriate to take the pension charge to be equal to the actual contribution paid during the year.

68 Trustees’ Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007 ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007 notes to the financial statements

23 Pension costs (continued)

(b) Lothian Pension Fund (continued) The valuation at 31 March 2005 has been updated by the actuary on an FRS17 basis as at 4 May 2006. The major assumptions used in this valuation were:

2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 %% % % %

Rate of increase in salaries 4.7 4.6 4.4 4.4 4.0 Rate of increase in pensions in payment 3.2 3.1 2.9 2.9 2.5 Discount rate 5.4 4.9 5.4 5.5 5.4 Inflation assumption 3.2 3.1 2.9 2.9 2.5

The assumptions used by the actuary are the best estimates chosen from a range of possible actuarial assumptions which, due to the timescale covered, may not necessarily be borne out in practice.

Scheme assets The fair value of the scheme assets, which are not intended to be realised in the short term and may be subject to significant change before they are realised, and the present value of the scheme’s liabilities, which are derived from cash flow projections over long periods and thus inherently uncertain, were: Value at Value at Value at 31 March 2007 31 March 2006 31 March 2005 £000 £000 £000

Equities 2,238,000 2,170,000 1,616,000 Bonds 158,000 156,000 134,000 Other Property 359,000 283,000 193,000 Cash 163,000 40,000 146,000

Whole scheme assets 2,918,000 2,649,000 2,089,000

£000 £000 £000 of which RSE share 1,347 1,130 485 Present value of scheme liabilities (1,298) (1,250) (561)

Surplus/(deficit) in the scheme – Pension liabilities 49 (120) (76)

69 Review of the Session 2006-2007

ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007

notes to the financial statements

23 Pension costs (continued)

(b) Lothian Pension Fund (continued) The movement in the net pension liability during the year comprised: Value at 31 March 2007 Value at 31 March 2006 Value at31 March 2005 £000 £000 £000

Deficit at beginning of the year (120) (76) (84) Current service cost (111) (81) (68) Past service cost, settlements and curtailment 21 –– Employer contributions 95 89 74 Net return on assets Expected return on employer assets 86 39 29 Interest on pension scheme liabilities (64) (33) (26)

22 63 Actuarial gains Actual return less expected return on pension 8 171 13 Experience losses on Scheme liabilities (1) (30) - Changes in assumptions underlying present 135 (199) (14)

Actuarial gains/(losses) 142 (58) (1)

Surplus / (Deficit) at end of the year 49 (120) (76)

History of experience gains and losses 2007 2006 2005 2004 Difference between the expected and actual return on scheme assets: Amounts (£,000) 8 171 13 48 Percentage of year end scheme assets 0.6% 15.2% 2.7% 13.9%

Experience gains and losses on scheme liabilities: Amounts (£,000) (1) (30) – (1) Percentage of year end present value of scheme liabilities (0,1%) (2.4)% – (0.2%)

Total amount recognised in statement of financial activities: Amounts (£,000) 142 (58) (1) 15 Percentage of year end scheme assets 10.9% (4.6)% (0.2)% 3.5%

(c) Pension charge The total pension charge for the year, including FRS17 adjustments, was £87,779 (2006: £94,593).

24 Transactions with Council members No member of Council received any payments other than reimbursements of expenditure on travel and subsistence costs actually and necessarily incurred in carrying out their duties as Councillors and Officers. The aggregate of such reimbursements to those Council members who charged expenses amounted to £1,738 (2006: £5,022).

25 Connected charitable trusts (a) RSE Scotland Foundation The RSE Scotland Foundation is a charitable trust, recognised in Scotland as Scottish charity number SCO24636. It was created in March 1996 with the object of advancing the education of the public in Scotland in science and engineering and in so doing to conserve the scientific and cultural heritage of Scotland. The President, General Secretary, Treasurer, Curator and a Vice-President of the RSE are ex officiis Trustees of the Foundation, which draws on the resources of the RSE in carrying out its objects. The Foundation also has five nominated Trustees. The Foundation became publisher of the RSE’s journals under a Publications Rights License effective from 1 January 1997. 70 Trustees’ Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007 ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007 notes to the financial statements

25 Connected charitable trusts (continued)

(a) RSE Scotland Foundation (continued) On 1 July 1997 the RSE granted to the Foundation a 50-year lease over 26 George Street carrying an obligation to refurbish the building within a three-year period. The Council of the RSE agreed to make funding of up to £2.3 million available to the Foundation in support of the refurbishment. The agreed terms of the loan are as described in note 13. (b) BP Research Fellowships Trust The BP Research Fellowships Trust funds a scheme of three-year post doctoral fellowships administered by the RSE.

26 Supplementary information: grants, donations and receipts

(a) Scottish Executive Grants Income 2007 2006 ££

Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong learning Department Promotion of research 617,281 651,000 Scottish Science Advisory Committee 131,893 170,000 Activities grant 496,832 479,000 International activities 185,887 170,000 Science and Society – 72,060 Other departments 12,000 – Meetings – Floods Discussion Forum; Alternatives to Prison 1,443,893 1,542,060

Direct costs Staff and other costs 2007 Total 2006 Total ££££

Scottish Science Advisory Committee 131,893 – 131,893 170,000 Meetings 12,000 159,144 171,144 182,553 Science & Society and Education 15,080 53,655 68,735 96,647 Publications 19,322 15,193 34,515 35,642 Promotion of research 538,064 79,217 617,281 651,000 Joint Scottish French PhD studentships 12,000 – 12,000 12,000 Evidence – 60,952 60,952 74,081 International activities 149,999 35,888 185,887 170,000 Management and secretariat – 112,582 112,582 106,286 Buildings –––– Establishment expenses – 30,872 30,872 30,565 Maintenance – 18,032 18,032 13,286

878,358 565,535 1,443,893 1,542,060

The Scottish Executive provides grant-in-aid under the powers of S.23 National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985 to meet the costs of Scottish Executive-funded Research Fellows, the cost of maintaining the RSE’s premises and a share of the RSE’s staff and other costs.

71 Review of the Session 2006-2007

ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007

notes to the financial statements

26 Supplementary information: grants, donations and receipts (continued)

(a) Scottish Executive Grants Income (continued)

At 31 March 2007 the financial commitment in respect of Personal and Support Fellowships awarded subject to Scottish Executive funding in the years 2007– 08, 2008–09 and 2009–10 amounted to £348,000, £255,000 and £89,000 respectively. These amounts are treated as obligation of future years to be financed by specific funding expected to be made available from the Scottish Executive.

(b) Scottish Science Advisory Committee

Expenditure in relation to the Scottish Science Advisory Committee comprised: 2007 2006 ££

Balance brought forward (11,698) (12,324) Chairman’s fee, salaries and other staff costs 86,808 93,995 Establishment 12,083 14,528 Office costs 545 2,154 Travel and subsistence 3,863 5,452 Committee and working groups 3,426 7,624 R&D in Business (2,202) – COSE 12,103 39,447 E-Health Initiative 1,907 2,444 PR and publicity 2,585 – Printing 6,561 – Professional services 4,214 4,982

Income for the year 131,893 170,626 Balance carried forward – 11,698

Grant received 120,195 170,000

(c) Recurring donations in support of activities Expenditure in relation to the Scottish Science Advisory Committee comprised: Caledonian Research Foundation Scottish Enterprise Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland £££

Income Promotion of research & innovation – Receipts 30,784 316,859 300,000 Meetings – income 35,162 ––

65,946 316,859 300,000

Costs Promotion of research 26,941 278,640 280,962 Lectures 6,283 –– Conferences 20,380 –– RSE administration and staff costs recovery 12,342 38,219 19,038

65,946 316,859 300,000

72 Trustees’ Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007

ROYALSOCIETYOFEDINBURGH Trustees’ Report & Accounts 2006 – 2007 notes to the financial statements

26 Supplementary information: grants, donations and receipts (continued)

(c) Recurring donations in support of activities (continued)

The Caledonian Research Foundation supports postdoctoral fellowships in biomedical sciences and European visiting fellowships; a prize lecture and an international conference.

The Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland supports postdoctoral fellowships, postgraduate studentships and lectures and conferences to fund and disseminate research aimed at improving the quality of life for an ageing population.

(d) Other donations in support of activities

The RSE gratefully acknowledges all those who make donations in support of activities. The companies, trusts and other bodies which made donations of £1,000 or more in support of activities in the year ended 31 March 2007 were as follows:

Airborne Initiative Ltd Kingdom Holding Anglo Irish Encounter Royal Norwegian Academy British Academy Esmee Fairbairn Foundation Strathmartine Trust Foreign & Commonwealth Office The Robertson Trust Historic Scotland

27 Analysis of net funds/(debt)

At 31 March 2007 Cash flows At 1 April 2006 £££

Cash at bank 445,409 142,030 303,379 Deposits – general 273,914 85,662 188,252 Deposits – designated funds 262,236 (451,824) 714,060 Deposits – restricted funds 663,850 (196,438) 860,288

1,645,409 (420,570) 2,065,979

73 SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

£0 £4,788 £35,760 £39,250 £78,400 £54,225 £99,200 £97,845 £73,112 £85,251

£129,197 £107,819 £129,743 £130,080 £130,064 £128,020 £108,120 £132,753 £152,190 £177,192 £152,913 £155,400 Value Market Closing

0 0 0 (156) (382) 4,920 2,492 1,237 5,825 8,694 7,517 1,330 4,509 5,616 (5,030) (3,545) (5,933) 18,810 11,560 (3,074) (5,619) (5,268) (7,375) (3,258)

(336) 53,654 (6,399) 7,716 Cost Proceeds on Sale for Year 0 133,288 0 153,295 4,944 8,052 33,268 69,301 22,382 52,988 33,425 77,070 60,053 72,37596,560 32,845 81,188 69,703 79,635 76,370 125,160 133,380 168,498 Market movements at valuation. Year Ended 31 March 2007 000 0 0 No. 4,984 4,632 5,000 24,000 14,000 11,000 27,600 11,824 Closing Opening Purchase Sales Gain/(Loss) Revaluation 105,000130,000 111,364 134,227 130,000 135,676 135,000 103,198 35,174 130,000 130,000 133,138 140, ust 57,000 p 5,000 49 70,000 5p 68,000 Value ££££ £ £

Investment Current Holdings 7.5% Treasury 2006 Gilts Royal Society of Edinburgh Schedule Investments-

Prudential 7.25% Treasury 2007 Treasury 5.75% 2009 Treasury 5% 2012

Royal Bank of Scotland Ord 25 Provident Financial Treasury 5% 2014 Treasury 5.5% 2008/12 Lloyds TSB Group Legal & General Group Ord 2. Dunedin Income Growth Inv Tr Henderson Far East Income TrustMurray International Trust Scottish Mortgage & Trust 65,000 Treasury 4.75% 2015 Financials Barclays Investment & Unit Trusts HSBC Holdings Ord US$ 0.50 Other Fixed Interest R B of Scotland 7.387% 2010/ European Inv't Bank 4.75% 2018 Aberdeen Asian Income Fund Aberforth Geared Cap & Int TrustAberforth Smaller Co Trust plc 45,000

75 Review of the Session 2006-2007 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £82,360 £24,817 £59,382 £37,203 £20,883 £49,191 £24,223 £52,845 £97,790 £25,583 £60,750 Value Market Closing

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9,840 9,146 7,125 9,230 2,249 8,308 16,754 (1,288) (1,471) (1,533) (11,138)

11 159 (25) 5,778 7,856 3,654 6,048 (16,455) 11 4,891 23,180 50,967 44,775 51,204 29,348 143,556 27,156 28,057 Cost Proceeds on Sale for Year 0 50,596 0 18,700 24,748 0 0 52,442 4,732 72,520 42,628 23,205 45,189 30,395 30,835 16,353 26,105 42,066 49,394 49,929 32,021 43,348 51,388 116,400 Market movements at valuation. Year Ended 31 March 2007 000 0 0 0 0 0 0 No. 886 7,446 8,000 3,850 2,300 3,213 7 ,000 6,354 10,224 20,000 39, Closing Opening Purchase Sales Gain/(Loss) Revaluation Value ££££ £ £ Investment Current Holdings BOC Group Unilever Ord 1.4p Scottish Power Industrials Royal Society of Edinburgh Schedule Investments- Consumer Burberry Group Diageo

Pharmaceuticals Astrazenica Firstgroup GUS Rank Group Sainsbury (J) Ord 25p unilever Teleommunications BT Group Ord £0.50 Vodofone Group Ord $

Utilities National Grid Transco

Glaxo Smith Kline Ord 25p Services BAA Home Retail Experian Group Ord $0.10 Northgate Ord 5p

76

Review of the Session 2006-2007 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £24,817 £59,382 £82,360 £37,203 £20,883 £49,191 £24,223 £52,845 £97,790 £25,583 £60,750 Value Market Closing

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9,840 9,146 9,230 2,249 7,125 8,308 16,754 (1,288) (1,471) (1,533) (11,138)

11 159 (25) 7,856 5,778 3,654 6,048 (16,455) 11 4,891 23,180 50,967 44,775 51,204 29,348 143,556 27,156 28,057 Cost Proceeds on Sale for Year 0 50,596 00 18,700 24,748 0 52,442 4,732 42,628 23,205 72,520 45,189 30,395 30,835 16,353 26,105 43,348 49,394 49,929 32,021 42,066 51,388 116,400 Market movements at valuation. Year Ended 31 March 2007 000 0 0 0 0 0 0 No. 886 7,446 8,000 3,850 2,300 7 ,000 6,354 3,213 10,224 20,000 39, Closing Opening Purchase Sales Gain/(Loss) Revaluation Value ££££ £ £ Investment Current Holdings BOC Group Scottish Power Industrials Unilever Ord 1.4p Firstgroup Sainsbury (J) Ord 25p unilever Pharmaceuticals Astrazenica GUS Teleommunications BT Group Ord £0.50 Vodofone Group Ord $ Utilities National Grid Transco Rank Group Royal Society of Edinburgh Schedule Investments- Consumer Burberry Group Diageo Services BAA Glaxo Smith Kline Ord 25p Home Retail Experian Group Ord $0.10 Northgate Ord 5p

76 Schedule of Investments

£58,040 £92,605 £29,944 £110,400 £108,224 Value £3,135,562 Market Closing

0 2,799 3,480 4,377 £66,778 (12,547) (11,424)

£27,446

1 89,125 25,567 Cost Proceeds on Sale for Year £979,639 £434,050

0 55,241 58,61751,517 64,330 68,13 Market £2,495,748 movements at valuation. Year Ended 31 March 2007 No. 2,000 2,600 1,900 20,000 Closing Opening Purchase Sales Gain/(Loss) Revaluation 1,454,213 t) 6,400 ££££ £ £ Value Investment Current Holdings Johnson Matthey Ord £1 Royal Society of Edinburgh Schedule Investments-

Rio Tinto Resources BP Amoco Ord US$0.25 Royal Dutch Shell 'B' 0.07 (UK lis Total SA TOTALS

77 PRIZE LECTURES BP Prize Lecture Professor Graeme Laurie, FRSE Chair of Medical Jurisprudence, School of Law, University of Edinburgh Protecting Human Dignity at the Beginning and End of Life 15 January 2007

Graeme Laurie is Professor of Medical Jurisprudence and Co-Director of the AHRC Research Centre for Studies in Intellectual Property and Technology Law, both at the University of Edinburgh. His work lies in the areas of medical law and the law of intellectual property, with a particular emphasis on the medico-legal aspects of human genetics. Among his numerous publications is a ground-breaking book, Generic Privacy: A Challenge to Medico-Legal Norms. In addition to his academic work, Professor Laurie serves on a number of governmental committees, and has convened a working group for the World Health Organisation on the legal protection of genetic databases. In 1990, British Petroleum provided an endowment to create a Prize Lectureship in the Humanities. The first Prize Lectureship was awarded in 1991. It is awarded biennially to a person working in a Scottish Higher Education Institution. It is awarded sequentially in the following subject areas: Language, Literature and the Arts; Archaeological and Historical Studies; Social Studies; Philosophy, Theology and Law.

It is one of the deep ironies of medical care be withheld or advances in medical technologies withdrawn when to do so will that while they often make it lead to the cessation of life? More possible to extend life, they may particularly, what is the role of do nothing or little to improve the human dignity in this process? quality of life in the interim. New There has been a significant medical technologies can thereby increase in appeals to this concept give rise to new dilemmas about in recent years as a means to assist whether such advances should be medico-legal decision-making. deployed at all, or whether they This lecture assesses how useful should ever be removed once such appeals are. deployed. These dilemmas are the We now live in a human rights focus of this lecture. When should culture whereby we are able to

79 Review of the Session 2006-2007

make direct appeal in our courts perspectives abut dignity as a for the protection of the rights state of worth for all persons. The contained in the European French court adopted an objective Convention on Human Rights position, upholding a view of since the passing of the Human dignity as aspiration for all of us Rights Act 1998. It is often said and not as choice for a few of us. that respect for dignity underpins In the medico-legal context the all of these rights, but it has not issue is one of how far patient held any sway to date in the rights choices should be respected, enjoyed by UK citizens. For our especially in the face of futile purposes, I would define dignity treatment, and the added compli- as “the state or quality of being cation of how to deal with worthy of respect.” But one of the patients who cannot consent or problems with dignity is its elusive refuse care because of incapacity, nature. The rhetoric of dignity is such as the newborn or the immediately appealing to most mentally incapacitated adult. audiences largely because it is Trends in judicial decision-making possible to read many different in recent years have placed meanings into the term. Indeed, increasing emphasis on the need dignity is a concept which is to respect patient autonomy and capable of embodying opposite choice, but this must not be ideals, making it potentially allowed to become a crude dangerous in the hands of law- equation of “what the patient makers who might say one thing wants the patient should get”. and intend another. Appeals to subjective dignity as A famous French case illustrates choice should not lead to a the point: Is it acceptable to ban situation where health care the practice of dwarf-throwing for professionals are required to entertainment even when the administer care which they dwarves themselves agree to the consider to be futile and against practice as a means to earn a their better judgment. living? Is it undignified behaviour When appeals to autonomy from which individuals should be cannot be made, as with the protected, or is it an affront to newborn or the mentally incapaci- dignity to prevent this class of tated adult, then the law falls back persons from exercising individual on a paternalistic assessment of choices about how they use their patient best interests. Although bodies? The tension is between this was once the exclusive (subjective) autonomy perspectives domain of the medical profession, about dignity as self-determina- recent trends in the case-law make tion and (objective) paternalistic it clear that medical best interests

80 Prize and Bequest Lectures

are but one part of the assess- away from that reality. An intolera- ment, and that a patient’s best bility test sets a high hurdle in interests can encompass a very favour of life, but this is usually wide range of social, ethical, judged in terms of pain or harm physical, mental and welfare and it may not admit the full considerations. Notwithstanding, range of considerations. In there remains a lack of clarity particular, if life with dignity is not about the basis upon which a achievable, perhaps our focus final decision to withhold or should shift to death with dignity withdraw care should be taken. Is – which is now common rhetoric. it when the provision of care But what would be the legal would be futile? Is it when the reality? To admit the possibility of continuation of life would be arguments based on dignity intolerable? Or, might it be when opens up considerably the scope the decision to keep someone of considerations when we may alive but in a severely reduced remain very unclear on what we state of quality of life would be mean by the term. It was once uindignified? It has been accepted famously said of dignity by Justice by the courts, for example, that Brennan of the United States over-intervention with medical Supreme Court: “I recognise it technology can put someone in a when I see it.” And this probably state which, it is judged, is not of sums up the position for most of sufficient value. But this raises a us. We can recognise an undigni- question which is at the crux of fied state of being. The question this debate: what are the limits of is whether we have the courage of our authority to speak or act on our convictions to act on it and behalf of someone else? whether sufficiently robust legal The best interests test makes it provisions could be framed to clear that our prima facie respect prevent against abuses when should go to the patient – but dealing with such a vague and nontreatment leading to death is potentially malleable concept. an option and we should not shy

81 Review of the Session 2006-2007

The Gannochy Trust Innovation Award Prize Lecture Dr Marie Claire Parker XstalBio Ltd, University of Glasgow 12 March 2007 Protein-Coated Microcrystals and Drug Delivery of Biologics

The Gannochy Trust Innovation Award of the Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland’s highest accolade for individual achievement in innovation. Carrying a prize of £50,000, it was first awarded in 2003. Established in partnership between The Gannochy Trust and The Royal Society of Edin- burgh, the purpose of the award is to encourage younger people to pursue careers in fields of research which promote Scotland’s inventiveness internationally, and to recognise outstanding individual achievement which contributes to the common good of Scotland. The prestigious award also seeks to promote Scotland’s research and development capability in new technologies and areas of social importance. Dr Parker began the work on protein-coated microcrystals in collaboration with Dr Barry D. Moore from University of Strathclyde leading to an initial patent filing in 1999. A Scottish Enterprise Proof of Concept Award was obtained to develop the technology and this was followed by the award of an RSE/Scottish Enterprise Enterprise Fellowship to Dr Parker to commer- cialise the innovation. A spin-out company, XstalBio Ltd, was incorporated in 2002 and patents put in place to cover the pharmaceutical applications of PCMC. The company obtained an exclusive license to the technology from the Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow in 2004. Dr Parker is currently full-time CEO of XstalBio (www.xstalbio.com) and is aiming to develop it into an internationally leading company in the formulation and delivery of biopharmaceuticals.. XstalBio received a SMART Award in 2005 to support development of a novel continuous manufacturing process.

I hope that this lecture will be essentially a commercial product. somewhat of a journey for you, a Innovation, which is what the journey that we have been on for Gannochy Trust is all about. the last eight years essentially. What I want to do is give you a Hopefully the journey for you will flavour of what is involved in be without the headaches and the delivering biologics. By biologics I stress and the anxiety and the mean proteins essentially. What pain sometimes of taking some- are the main issues with delivering thing through from the lab to

82 Prize and Bequest Lectures

biologics? Where did the technol- you’re taking a dry powder ogy come from that we’ve been inhaler, something like an asthma developing over the last few inhaler, and that’s being absorbed years? How has that progressed through your lungs and into your and where are we at the moment? systemic system to get to the site And then to end, I’ll let you know of action. You could take drugs via how the funds that the GT have the nose and again that’s some- given to me will be used, and are thing that we’re looking at, being used at the moment. potentially to deliver biologics to the brain. Administering protein-based medicines. All protein-based Needle-less injection, sustained medicines are delivered by release, where the drug will injection. For anyone taking circulate in your body for longer medicine, the preferred option periods of time and often simple always is to pop a pill. That isn’t things that pharmaceutical possible with biologics because companies have real difficulty your body just treats it as any with, for example making high other piece of meat essentially concentration suspensions. One and will degrade it in your GI tract of these problems – high concen- and so it won’t reach the site of tration suspensions – is often action. associated with antibodies because antibodies have to be For patients who have chronic delivered at such a high dose that conditions, generally you find that when the patient goes to the there is poor patient compliance. doctor you’re looking at an This is generally associated with injection so viscous, that the the stress and anxiety that doctor can’t actually physically get accompanies having to take the plunger down in the needle, medicine three or four times per because there is so much in the day. Often they are in hospital for solution to be injected. 2-3 hours being infused with the drug, so there’s a big drive to look So if you can make a suspension – at other ways that you can deliver a nice milky fluid that’s easily biologics, that are much more injected – then that obviously patient friendly, and that obvious- overcomes that barrier. ly has a large number of benefits The technical hurdles in actually for everybody. One of the things making that are actually quite that we’re looking at - and I’ll talk significant, although its quite a a little bit more about this later - is simple problem – or sounds a using your lungs as a way into the simple problem. body, a gateway into the body, so

83 Review of the Session 2006-2007

So all of these routes of adminis- So what’s out there in terms of tration rely on being able to treating diseases with protein- formulate your biological mole- based drugs? cule into a particle, and protein Insulin. Everyone has heard of coated microcrystals which I’m insulin, developed in 1923 by obviously speaking about today, is Bantine and Best for the treat- essentially a particle engineering ment of diabetes and I’ll talk some technology. about that towards the end Another problem that the industry because there have been some faces is the cold-chain and very interesting developments vaccines. with inhaled insulin. The cold-chain - which is taking Human growth hormone – the biologic from the point of hormone replacement therapy. production to the point of delivery Erythropoietin – for treatment of - is often quite a long journey. It’s anaemia. a problem in the western world and a significant problem in the Interferon for hepatitis C. developing world. DNAse (often called Dornase) for You can imagine the tortuous trip the treatment of cystic fibrosis. that a lot of vaccines take from the This breaks downs proteins in the point of production. The costs sputum of patients with cystic associated with maintaining the fibrosis so that it’s reducing the cold-chain are not insignificant. viscosity of the sputum, which can 200m dollars per annum in often cause coughing and distress maintaining the cold-chain – in patients with Cystic Fibrosis. keeping the vaccines refrigerated. Calcitonin for osteoporosis. 100m dollars wasted in vaccines Herceptin. Again a molecule that’s and the WHO estimates between been in the news for a variety of 17% and 37% of providers reasons. This is an antibody – actually don’t store their vaccines herceptin – used to treat breast under proper conditions. So again cancer. It has to be infused for 2-3 something that we’re looking at is hours in hospital, so again if there making stabilised vaccines are other ways that you can avoid whereby you can eliminate the distressing patients, and time, etc, cold-chain. These are stable at then all to the better. room temperature, stable at higher temperatures and also There are over 350 biotech stable under conditions of stress, medicines, targeting over 200 such as high humidity and high diseases, in late stage temperature. development.

84 Prize and Bequest Lectures

It is estimated that by 2010, 60% the enzyme active and function- of the revenue created by large ing. pharmaceutical companies will be There are three things you have to as a result of biologics. It’s think about in keeping the growing at roughly 13% per enzyme active. annum which is 13 times greater than the small molecule business, The dynamics of the molecule - which is the traditional mainstay here we’re talking about how of pharmaceutical companies. much water is associated with the Antibodies are growing at a protein. Its conformation - how phenomenal rate of around about has that protein been treated in 26% - so it is an exciting time to the past, and what’s called the be working in biologics, and an protonation state, - what ions are exciting time to be working in associated with the protein under drug delivery. those low water conditions and how do these factors all interplay I want to tell you a little bit about to control the activity of that where the technology came from. molecule. My background is not in drug So we did some experiments and delivery, my background is in we took a protein that was biocatalysis, which is more like immobilised in a common industrial chemistry. What we material that you find chemists were doing about seven or eight use all the time, called silica gel. years ago was looking at ways in So the protein was immobilised in which you could stabilise enzymes the silica gel and we found that if - which are proteins - under you dried it either in the air or conditions in which they’re not freeze-dried it, then the activity of normally found, so in organic the resultant molecule was very solvents for example. very low, very inactive. If instead Most enzymes are quite happy in we took this immobilised enzyme water, but if you can get an in the silica gel which is in water enzyme into an organic solvent, and instead employed a different you can use that enzyme to dehydration step, - we used a produce lots of interesting solvent to rinse it - we found that reactions. the activity was extremely high. Because it is in an environment in Often 1000-fold increase in which its not, I won’t say not activity over this route of drying. comfortable with, but it’s a So that was telling us something different environment, so you about the way that you treat have to think about how you keep proteins. How you dry them can

85 Review of the Session 2006-2007

affect their conformation and crystals. So this was a bit of a resultant activity. strange moment. But we didn’t know whether it Not only did we see crystals, but was this support material that was we thought we could see some- having an effect on the activity thing on the surface which didn’t because when you dry it shrinks. look as if it should be there. Does that affect the conformation What was it? Where was the of the protein? Is there an protein? We saw what were hints interplay there? How can we work of protein on the surface of the out what is actually happening? particles. This technique can’t tell So we did a quick experiment you where the protein is, because where we took particles – we took it’s an electron beam and soft a simple salt, which we thought biological materials are degraded would be quite a good support under an electron beam so we material - and we took the protein decided to employ a different and we added it to an organic technique - atomic force microsco- solvent. py - to work out where our So we had an aqueous solution of protein was. a co-precipitant - the salt, the Atomic Force Microscopy works in protein, we added it dropwise a similar way to a record player. stirring into a water-miscible The protein sits on a hard surface organic solvent. And immediately and you take a tip made of silicon we got a nice white fine precipi- nitride and you scan that tip tate forming. We looked at the across the surface. And as you activity and found it was over scan the tip across the surface you 1000 times more active than the fire a laser which measures the air or freeze dried particles. So we topography of your surface, so thought everything was working. you can look for very very small And then what we did, which I features on the surface of differ- guess was probably not some- ent materials, often down to thing we intuitively thought atomic scale. It’s a technique that’s would be useful to do, but just very useful for biologics, especially out of interest and curiosity, on surfaces. So we took our salt because actually what we thought and dropped it down onto a was, we had an agglomerated surface and we imaged the particle. So we took the particles particles by AFM. We looked for a and we looked at them under an crystal which was lying flat on the electron microscope and we didn’t surface, brought the Atomic Force expect to find what we found, i.e. Microscope down and imaged

86 Prize and Bequest Lectures

across that particle to see what Force Microscope, bring it down was there. hard on the surface and actually We then did the control experi- use it to scrape away the protein. ment - imaging without any You can use a technique like that protein present. And this con- to determine how thick your firmed our expectations, exactly protein layer is on the surface. what you would expect from a So moving on a couple of years, a clean crystal surface. couple of research grants later, What happens in the lab is no- proof of concept later, we found one says eureka, You might say, that we could not only form salts that’s a bit strange, that’s funny, but we can use sugars and amino that’s weird and everyone in the acids to form the core crystalline lab will turn round and look at material. you. and then you talk through it The protein can be any protein – a and nine times out of ten you’ve small peptide, like insulin or forgotten to add something in, or smaller, a large protein, as large as you’ve made a mistake, so that plants and DNA. So what we were was a bit of a moment when we starting to find was a generic looked at our particles and we method of immobilising proteins found that indeed the protein on micron-sized surfaces; micron- weight was there on the surface. sized particles. I guess the key So these particles that we were thing here when you’re looking to forming were water-soluble commercialise, is that obviously particles with protein on the your looking for novel intellectual surface. We looked at the litera- property, so novel composition of ture and we couldn’t find the matter is key if you want to anything in the literature. We did license it out to pharmaceutical an experiment with Paul Chap- companies. It is highly differenti- man, we demonstrated the ated, not like the other methods process, because we couldn’t that are around for drying actually believe that it was such a proteins, like freeze- or spray- simple process and it hadn’t drying and everything you put in actually been done before and at there is what’s called “grass”, that point we decided there was which is generally regarded as probably something here and we safe. All the reagents, the amino filed the first patent in 1999 on acids, the sugars, any other this system. compounds that might be in there, the solvent that you use to Just to prove that it is actually dehydrate, which is often ethanol, protein, what you can do is you they’re all generally regarded as can use your stylus of your Atomic safe. So the process ticks all the

87 Review of the Session 2006-2007

boxes in terms of technology that only when you have put all these a pharmaceutical company would in a row do you end up with be interested in using. innovation - none can work Our key focus is formulation and without the other, but the journey drug delivery. So when we filed from new idea to exploitation to the first patent there were lots of success, to innovation is a long applications in that patent - that journey. spanned from industrial biocataly- So the new idea was the protein- sis to using the particles in coated micro crystals. Exploitation detergents, foodstuffs and for us, was continuing to develop screening, using the particles in the technology through a combi- cosmetics, latterly chromatogra- nation of research grants, through phy, nanotechnology and others, the university, proof of concept but obviously there are only so through Scottish Enterprise. many hours in a day and you I obtained a Royal Society of can’t, in the early days, think Edinburgh/Scottish Enterprise about commercialising these Enterprise Fellowship in biotech- areas. You had to stay focused on nology and a key driver in all of something that was high value, this was that we actually had early would deliver at the end of the commercial interest from a day and so this was formulation in pharmaceutical company. So that drug delivery, so only now are we really was absolutely key in the starting to look at these other early days of moving the company areas in terms of revenue genera- along and moving the technology. tion. Success comes with licensing and The Gannochy Trust awarded us developing of product and then for innovation. I googled “innova- ultimately you’ve innovated. So tion” and came out with about 10 how does the company work? million hits. What do we do? But the best definition that I We have a formulation technolo- found is actually from the Depart- gy. Our customer is the ment of Trade and Industry : pharmaceutical industry, vaccine “innovation is the successful companies, so the Pfizer’s and the exploitation of new ideas”. Glaxos of this world, together with large biotech. It’s amazing how such a small sentence can really compact so The two go together to make a many different concepts into it. product and, depending on what Starting first of all with new ideas, is required, it can be delivered by a then leading on to exploitation, number of different routes. The then leading on to success, and way that we generate income and

88 Prize and Bequest Lectures

develop the technology further is One of the first molecules that we initially through feasibility income, looked at was insulin. A small followed on by development hormone, insulin is quite a phase R and D, where we obtain difficult molecule to test the licence fees, development fees, bioactivity of – one of the ways milestone payments. that you can do this is to use an And then commercialisation, you effect that is seen in insulin and would class as you’ve made a that is dilation. Insulation dilates product and you are starting to blood vessels, so what we do in generate revenue in terms of this experiment, is take smooth royalties and potentially cost of muscle arterial tissue from a rat. goods depending on what it is We put it between two wires of you’re trying to do. 40microns wide so it is held between these two wires. These So we’ve looked at a whole range wires are attached to a micrometer of molecules for our Protein- and we flow a constrictor across Coated Micro Crystals, peptides, the blood vessel, which makes the proteins, DNA, vaccines. Again blood vessel constrict, and then a materials that are compatible with dilator across the blood vessel pharmaceutical processes and which makes it dilate. So that’s mainly here we’re looking at measuring the potency of the sugars and amino acids. So insulin. If the insulin is active lactose is a material that’s com- you’ll see a change in the force monly found in pharmaceutical that’s required to keep the wires products, as is glycine, histidine, apart. That force can then be fed etc. Simple amino acids which into the data that you collect to form the core, and using solvents measure the potency. So as you that are regarded as safe, that we flow a certain concentration of can dehydrate our particles with. insulin over the surface of the This is a list of the types of constricted smooth muscle arterial proteins that we’ve used simply to tissue, you can see it dilating and demonstrate that it’s a generic the degree of dilation is related to method because we’re spanning the activity of the insulin. from very small molecules such as The control. We measured insulin peptides with a small molecular straight from the bottle. We made weight, up to DNA which is very our insulin Protein-Coated Micro large. Plasma DNA through to Crystals, and our Protein-Coated vaccines, tetanus and diphtheria Micro Crystals mapped on pretty and a whole range of molecules well to the insulin straight from that we’ve worked with with a the bottle, which you’d expect to range of clients. be 100% active, so our Protein-

89 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Coated Micro Crystals of insulin your trying to mimic – nature’s we can say are active and func- efficiency in making aerosols. If tioning. The interesting thing you’ve ever tapped on a puffball about our Protein-Coated Micro mushroom, you’ll know that when Crystals is that they had actually you do tap it the spores come out been stored on the bench for a very readily and form a nice fine year and remained fully function- powder. If the wind is blowing al. So we haven’t made any then they’re carried off to go forth attempt to control the humidity or and multiply. the temperature, we just simply So when you look at spores from left them on the bench. mushrooms under a microscope I wanted to talk a little bit about this is really what we’re trying to inhalation now. Ether anaesthetics replicate when we’re making our has obviously been around for a particles. We’re trying to make very long time. It was first report- particles that have the same ed in 1846 and it was used in a characteristics as spores and that number of patients for teeth can be readily inhaled. These types extraction and removal of various of particles are ideal for inhala- tumours. It is one of the first tion. examples of inhalation of a drug. So what do you do for inhalation Other examples - the Mad Hatter of dry powders? from Alice in Wonderland also experienced the effects of inhala- If you want to use your lungs as a tion, but obviously not in the way into your body, there are a beneficial way that you observe number of things that you have to with ether. Beaver hat makers in think about. Particle size is England round about the 1840s, absolutely crucial here, because if used a kettle to soften up the you’re inhaling a dry power of leather and the material that they particles, if the particles are too used in the kettle was mercury. large then they impact at the back Mercury creates a very fine mist your throat. and aerosol of mercury vapour. If you get them past the back of That was inhaled by the mad your throat and they’re still too hatters and obviously affected the large, they lodge in your upper central nervous system. airways. If your particles are round So inhalation of different types of about 3 microns, they can travel molecules has been around for a through your bronchiae to the large number of years. alveoli, which are the small sacs at the bottom of your lung. These Nature is very good at producing small sacs have a surface area of aerosols and that’s always what 145sq metres, which is equivalent

90 Prize and Bequest Lectures

to about the size of a tennis court. Artificial lung – a pharmaceutical So they provide a very very large standard, used to measure how surface area for getting these well particles are performing for molecules through this membrane inhalation. Essentially it is like a which is about 0.2 microns in size giant sieve. You attach the device, and into your bloodstream. So if loaded with the protein, to a you can make particles of the right gelatin capsule. You activate the size they can travel efficiently to device and then you mimic how the alveoli, and then into your you would take a breath, roughly bloodstream so using your lungs about 60 litres per minute and as a gateway into your body. And you measure the amount of using a device which is not powder that’s taken from the dissimilar to an asthma inhaler to gelatin capsule that flows through do this. all the stages. So you’re looking to Insulin for injection vs insulin for maximise the amount of protein inhalation. that you measure in the bottom stages, as that’s where it would go Exubera is a product which has to if it was in your deep lung, and just been approved in the US and to minimise the amount of EU. It is not on the market in the protein or particles that are left in UK because NICE hasn’t approved the device, in the neck or the it yet but I guess it’s the first upper stages, so again particles in product that’s out there for the three micron range. Our core inhalation so its really setting the material in this case is valine and it standard in terms of delivering is coated with insulin on the proteins to the lung. surface. The particles are about It has not been without its issues. five microns in size. I’ve been People who take exubera - Type I saying three, so five microns diabetics, people that are born sounds quite large. But what we with diabetes, and Type II diabet- find is that these particles are ics who develop diabetes later on actually very thin plates, so when in life - are approved for this. they’re in a turbulent air stream, There are issues with people who i.e. being respired, they actually smoke as their lung function is break up into smaller particles. different, as well as children and They’re actually very effective in people with asthma. But the data terms of inhalation. 40% 50% of so far really suggests that people the particle that you actually that are taking insulin via the lung inhale will reach the bottom of are really seeing the benefits of it. the lung. It is used as a top-up in conjunc- One of the key things here as well, tion with injection. is that if you have a drug and it is

91 Review of the Session 2006-2007

in someone’s bathroom, it has to for inhalation. Here we have again survive daily stresses – your child plates, and here we’ve made getting hold of it and throwing it particles that are actually quite in the bath, the dog getting hold dense, and here some nice of it, being in your bathroom propellors. cabinet, being exposed to high We can control the process very temperature and high humidity. carefully, very accurately, to form So the particles have to retain the particles that we want to be in the same characteristics after six right size range. months or a year as they do on day one. And one of the things Needles are not good for inhala- that can happen with dry pow- tion, by altering the process, ders, when they start off as dry perhaps changing the solvent, or powders, is that after time they some characteristic, we can make can agglomerate. Like you see rod or brick-like particles which sugar agglomerating in your have the right particle size and kitchen if it is left for too long. It would be suitable for inhalation. becomes a sort of sticky mass. So One of the things that I wanted to what we’ve found with our do with the funds that were particles is that they’re very awarded from the Gannochy Trust effective in terms of resisting that was to improve on our process for stress. We were able to make our producing these particles. If you particles, put them through that remember back to the very artificial lung then take our beginning, I showed a pipette particles, hydrate them up to dropping in solution to make the about 80% humidity, which is a Protein-Coated Micro Crystals. pretty high level of humidity, dry This is a very inefficient way of them back down, and check if producing particles because it’s they showed the same characteris- not something that you can scale tics as they did at the very up. You can’t get a 500 litre glass beginning. They did. flask with a large magnetic stirrer. Obviously it has to maintain So you have to think about how activity as well. to translate what you do on the bench when making mgs, into We can make a rich variety of making kgs. So there are obvious- structures, not unlike the things ly a lot of modifications you have that you see in biomineralisation, to do to make things on a large i.e. shell formation, where the scale. protein can affect the type of structure that you get. These are And the process that we came up the valine particles that I talked with is fairly straightforward. about earlier which are very good What we do is we take a stream of

92 Prize and Bequest Lectures

our aqueous solution – the and that’s going into a larger fund solution that contains our amino of about £0.5M to develop this acid and our protein. We take a process here for vaccines. The rest stream of our solvent - dehydrat- of the money I’m using for ing agent - which is removing the marketing the Protein Coated water from the system. We can Micro Crystal technology, mainly sterile-filter these solutions, so in North America and Asia, so the maintaining sterility in the two money goes towards us present- solutions. You flow these into a ing the technology at conferences. dynamic mixer. This all happens in That can either be poster presen- a matter of microseconds, and tation or it can be oral your particles flow out straighta- presentations. We generally find way. So the whole process is over that’s the most efficient way of really in a matter of minutes and accessing scientists in large we can produce round about pharmaceutical companies and 0.5kg of particles per hour, which getting “hook-in” to further is a million-fold scale-up from develop. what we were doing on the bench Finally there are quite a few in terms of mgs. people I’d like to thank. This process is fairly well devel- First and foremost, Barry Moore, oped and is something that we’re who’s co-inventor and co-founder working on in conjunction with of the company. Boehringer Ingelheim. One of our first clients is the actual scale-up Some of my colleagues in the of this process, but to produce company JanVoss, Joanne Par- vaccines. What you often have tridge, Clair Lyle, and the rest of with vaccines is an adjuvant, the team who work very hard. The something that increases the University of Strathclyde, The potency of the vaccine. Typically University of Glasgow, The Royal that’s something called al- Society of Edinburgh who’ve given hydrogel. So we have to look to great support to me over the last introducing a third line here, five years, and Scottish Enterprise, which obviously will complicate who funded lots of small projects, this process here. as well as the initial proof of concept. So I’m using some of the money from the Gannochy Trust to look And of course - the reason I’m at how we can do that. here this evening - the Gannochy Trust who very kindly entrusted The way that I’ve split the funds is £50k to continue the innovation. round about 60% of the money, I’m directing towards the scale-up

93 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Caledonian Research Foundation Prize Lecture Baroness Onora O’Neill of Bengarve President, The British Academy 28 May 2007 The Royal Museum Can Information be Personal1?

In 1990, as part of an agreement with the Caledonian Research Founda- tion, the Society created an annual Prize Lectureship in Biomedical Science. In 1994 it was agreed that the Prize Lectureship would alternate annually between Biomedical Sciences and Arts & Letters subjects. Prize Lecturers are expected to be of the highest international repute and this years’ recipient is certainly no exception to that rule. Onora O’Neill writes on ethics and political philosophy. She has particular interests in international justice, in the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, questions of bioethics and conceptions of accountability and trust in public life. From 1992 until 2006 she was Principal of Newnham College, Cambridge, and is a Professor of Philosophy at Cambridge. She sits in the House of Lords as a cross-bencher, is President of the British Academy and chairs the Nuffield Foundation.

“The title of this talk is deliberate- saddles us with a cumbersome, ly provocative, and my claim to dysfunctional and sometimes expertise is slender. I am not a incoherent approach to informa- lawyer but a philosopher, I have tional privacy, sketch an no special insight into UK data explanation of why the legislation protection legislation, which is fails to achieve its aims, and meant to protect personal suggest some reasons why information, and thereby aspects alternative approaches might do of personal privacy.2 My practical better. experience of the legislation has Data protection legislation, in the led to no more than average UK as elsewhere, is based on the frustration – that is to say, to idea that we can protect informa- considerable frustration but little tional privacy by establishing clarity. However, I have chosen special systems for handling data this topic because I think it is too or information that are personal, important to be left solely to which we do not need to handle those with legal expertise. I shall data and information that are not argue that current legislation personal. I shall argue that this

94 Prize and Bequest Lectures

distinction cannot be well drawn, reasons for setting aside demands and that by making it the basis of for prior consent (such reasons legislation we have saddled might include audit, or criminal ourselves with a deeply frustrating investigations). The notion of and in many respects impossible ‘processing’ used in data protec- task. In effect, the legislation tion legislation is something of a seeks to base informational term of art, since it covers activity privacy on an inept, if not impossi- such as acquiring, organizing, ble, classification of informational altering, retrieving, consulting or content. In arguing against this using data. Indeed, the accompa- approach to data protection, I do nying Legal Guidance to the Act not challenge the thought that states that “The definition [of privacy, including informational ‘processing’] in the Act is a privacy, is important and should compendious definition and it is be secured. Rather I shall argue difficult to envisage any action that it might be better secured not involving data which does not by regulating speech content, but amount to processing within this by regulating speech acts. definition”.4 Informational Privacy and Data Given that almost any use of data Protection is to count as ‘processing’, it is Data protection legislation aims to important to have a clear way of secure informational privacy by picking out which information is regulating the ‘processing’ of to count as personal, or as specific types of information that personal and sensitive, and so is are seen as intrinsically personal, to be regulated. Yet the Act is not or in some cases as both personal helpful in explaining what and sensitive. It does so by personal data are. It states that imposing obligations on those they are data which relate to a who hold the relevant type of living individual who can be information (‘data controllers’) identified (a) from those data, or and assigning rights to those to (b) from those data and other whom the relevant type of information which is in the information pertains (‘data possession of, or is likely to come subjects’).3 In effect, the UK Data into the possession of, the data 5 Protection Act 1998 construes controller. informational privacy as a matter What are ‘data that relate to a of individuals having rights to living individual’? And when do control their ‘personal’ informa- data and other information make tion by prohibiting its ‘processing’ an individual identifiable? Neither for purposes to which they do not idea is particularly clear. consent, unless there are special

95 Review of the Session 2006-2007

“Relating to a Living Individual construed as privacy for those who can be Identified” matters in which we are unique. What is meant by the phrase ‘data So the crucial element in the relating to a living individual who legislative definition of personal can be identified’? At least one information must lie in the idea point is clear here: data protection that certain information makes an does not extend to the dead, to individual identifiable. Yet it is whom it affords no protection. not clear how we are to determine But everything else is far from when an individual “can be clear. identified (a) from those data, or Clearly, not all information that is (b) from those data and other true of a living individual counts information which is in the as personal. A lot that is true of possession of, or is likely to come each of us is general information into the possession of, the data that is equally true of all or of controller”. The ‘other informa- many others. Each person has red tion’ held by, or likely to be held blood cells, and each was born at by, somebody holding (supposed- some time in the past. Personal ly) personal information will vary, information does not cover this and the inferences that can be sort of general information that is drawn and the identifications that true of all individuals. On the will be possible will vary corre- other hand, personal information spondingly. Even the most cannot be confined to informa- commonplace piece of informa- tion that is uniquely true of a tion about an individual may be person to whom it pertains. For the crucial bit of evidence that example, I was the first person makes him identifiable to those born in the Townland of Augha- who hold other information fatten for over a century – but that which allows them to make an fact isn’t personal, and could be identifying inference. If the police ascertained from the public record are holding blond and brown- in the (Northern) Irish Register of haired suspects, reliable evidence Births, Deaths and Marriages. that the perpetrator had brown Clearly a lot of the information hair may make him identifiable that we think ought to be private and enable investigators to infer is not unique to the individuals to whom to release and whom to whom it pertains: everyone with detain. cancer might well reasonably hold The emphasis on data that render that this fact about their health is individuals ‘identifiable’ by data personal and ought to be treated controllers in the Data Protection as private. So informational Act 1998 has led to great contro- privacy cannot plausibly be versy, particularly in the area of

96 Prize and Bequest Lectures

medical research. On one view, if informational privacy. However, medical data are anonymised – or the Data Protection Act 1998 ‘pseudonymised’ i.e. reversibly applies to all uses of data in which anonymised – they will not count the data subjects are ‘identifiable’ as identifiable, and so will not even by indirect means,6 and some count as personal. The individuals interpreters of the legislation to whom the data pertain cannot conclude that research may be be identified by those without done without consent only if access to the code or key, since ‘personal’ data are subjected to a they will be unable to reverse the stronger form of anonymisation, anonymisation. However, those which removes links that could be with the key will be able to used to identify data subjects. In identify the individuals to whom that case the data must be de- the information pertains, and this linked or irreversibly anonymised, fact leads others to conclude that nobody can reverse the anonymi- reversible anonymisation is too sation and the data subject will be little to satisfy data protection unidentifiable not only by the requirements. researcher but by others. Irreversi- This unclarity about what makes ble anonymisation or de-linking data identifiable and so personal, of data makes many sorts of or personal and sensitive, can play research on human subjects in havoc with medical research, biomedicine and the social where data are often used for sciences impossible. impersonal ends. Epidemiolo- Moreover the burden of these gists, and those who do requirements not only affects secondary data analyses, typically complex research, for which have no specific interest in elaborate processes of consent particular individuals, or in finding might perhaps be devised and out to whom the data that they implemented. Exactly parallel use applies. However, the data problems can arise when a doctor must be indexed to identifiers in wishes to revisit information order to link different bits of about the treatment of a past information about the same patient in order to inform treat- individual. Without linked data, ment of a current patient. Such many lines of inquiry in epidemi- valuable and routine activity will ology and many secondary data apparently breach data protection analyses would be impossible. requirements, unless consent is Reversible anonymisation, which obtained from all the past does not destroy the possibility of patients. Of course, sometimes linking information, was tradition- consent can be obtained, but it is ally thought to provide adequate unclear why data about medical

97 Review of the Session 2006-2007

treatment used for impersonal is it not? Note that in this case purposes should be regarded as the information that was dis- personal data. Each of us is closed was not medical always treated on the basis of information, but simply personal information obtained by treating information that happened to be earlier patients, so why should any held in a medical setting. of us be thought to have a right Conclusion: Data cannot be to refuse to allow reversibly reliably classified as personal or anonymised information about non personal. his or her own case to be used to The second story recounts an inform treatment of future episode that happened at the GP’s patients? My suspicion is that surgery where I am registered, compliance is – fortunately – which installed an electronic poor! indicator board on which a notice Interlude: Some Stories flashed up the words ‘Mr Smith – The problems that I have sketched Wart Clinic’. The notice did not may seem arcane. In fact they are read ‘Mr Smith has a Wart’. everyday affairs, as can be illustrat- Arguably it disclosed no personal ed by few short stories that information pertaining to Mr highlight some problems generat- Smith. Arguably it could have ed by data protection approaches been interpreted as a request to to informational privacy. Mr Smith to go to the Wart Clinic – possibly to take a message or to Suppose that you are waiting at deliver supplies. Yet anyone your GP’s surgery and the recep- reading it would probably infer on tionist calls out your home the basis of a routine understand- address in front of other patients. ing of the way things are done In doing so she discloses personal that the said Mr Smith had a wart, information, which the surgery and was about to have it looked legitimately hold for purposes at, or perhaps removed. There connected with your medical care, was a certain amount of fuss but which they should not have about this notice, despite the fact communicated to others or used that it did not strictly speaking for other purposes without your state anything about Mr Smith’s prior consent. Yet on the other warts, or disclose personal side of town there is an electoral information – but it did make Mr register containing your name and Smith identifiable as a patient address, which is there for the with a wart. Since that fuss the public to consult without needing indicator board carries more your consent. So is your home guarded notices such as: ‘Mr address personal information? Or Smith – Room 3’. What people

98 Prize and Bequest Lectures

come to know from a given piece Finally consider the case of a of information depends on what doctor who treats a series of else they can infer using available patients with an unusual disorder information and assumptions – and wants to write a case note. which vary for different persons. Strictly speaking, the information Conclusion: we cannot define contained in each patient’s file personal information as informa- was provided only for the use in tion that makes someone that patient’s treatment so should identifiable. not be used for further purposes Thirdly, consider that time- without prior consent. Of course, honoured medical practice, the the identity of the patients taking of a family history. Imagine referred to in a case note would that you are talking to your GP, be duly (reversibly) anonymised in who asks you whether any the published case-note, and the member of your family has heart patients would probably be trouble. Without any hesitation pleased that information about you start telling her some medical the treatment of their disease is details about your relatives – being made more available. Yet, without seeking their prior strictly speaking, such publication consent; and your GP then writes will meet data protection stand- some notes containing (unverified ards only if each patient provides and possibly inaccurate) medical explicit consent to publication. information about living persons Conclusion: Clinicians and who have not consented to its researchers routinely reuse and disclosure or to its being record- publish information that was ed, and who do not even know collected in order to treat a given that their health problems are patient, thereby violating the now known to your GP, listed in requirement to use information your medical records, and may only for the purposes for which it become known to others. Medi- was originally collected unless cal practice routinely uses there is specific consent to a information that is personal to A further use. in treating B, thereby violating the Each of these everyday stories is requirement to use information about a use of information that is only for the purposes for which it taken to be personal for purposes was originally provided. other than those for which it was Conclusion: it is normal to use originally collected and held. If information for purposes for we are to decide how to handle which it was not originally these and many other cases, we obtained, and hard to prevent need to be sure that we can this. distinguish personal from non-

99 Review of the Session 2006-2007

personal information, and that (’processing’) that use supposed, demands for consent to any yet ill-defined types of informa- further uses of information are tional content. Speech acts are workable. Yet this is surprisingly more readily regulated than hard. What could be done? speech content. Rethinking informational An alternative approach could privacy focus on the communicative It is important to bear in mind the actions and transactions by which reasons why Data Protection information is obtained and legislation was enacted. Both the communicated, and the norms European Directive and the UK and obligations relevant to such Data Protection Act 1998 re- communicative transactions. sponded to changes in the way Obligations of confidentiality that we acquire, store and use provide a good example of knowledge. The acquisition, communicative obligations that processing and linking of infor- bear on what is done with mation have become amazingly information, rather than on the fast and cheap, with significant ‘processing’ of all information of practical implications for informa- some putative type. We generally tional privacy. It was no doubt think that communicative transac- tempting to try to deal with this tions must meet a range of problem by restricting and standards. For example, they must regulating the use of specific be intelligible and relevant to their types of ‘personal’ information, intended audiences, accurate and thereby securing a better standard honest; the commitments entered of informational responsibility into by means of communicative than prudence and economic transactions must be observed. competitiveness alone were likely Ethical, professional and legal to secure. So there were good requirements for confidentiality reasons for enacting new protec- provide good examples of tion for informational privacy. obligations to use information of any sort only as agreed. Confi- However, looked at with hind- dentiality may provide a more sight, this objective might have coherent and robust basis for been secured by other approach- securing informational privacy es. In particular, it might have than can approaches that rely been more coherent to focus on upon putative privacy rights over regulating what is done – above ill-specified types of informational all on regulating communicative content and their correlative transactions – rather than regulat- obligations. ing all types of activity

100 Prize and Bequest Lectures

Obligations of confidentiality are without obtaining consent”.7 generally said to hold where there Although the law of confidentiali- is a well-defined – not necessarily ty traditionally governed legally defined – relation between confidential disclosure in profes- two or more parties. They may sional and commercial contexts, hold between friends and rela- recent court judgments extend its tions; between business partners; scope beyond formally constituted between doctors and patients; or legally recognized relationships between lawyers and clients; to relationships of other sorts.8 between bankers and account Confidential relations and holders; between employers and confidential communication – employees; and so on. In a whether protected by law or not, confidential relation, the confider can be of value to confider and discloses, or permits the confidant confidant, as well as to third to acquire, information not taken parties. For example, patients to be a matter of public knowl- might be reluctant to seek medical edge. The information acquired treatment, and clients reluctant to may or may not count as personal seek legal advice, without confi- information, in various meanings dential relations between client of that obscure term. In return, and professional. Businesses the confidant assumes obligations would be at risk unless employees not to use that knowledge to could be told facts in confidence, harm the confider, and not to which it would be damaging for communicate that knowledge to competitors to know. Confidenti- third parties without the consent ality and the laws that define it of the confider. arose in well-defined relation- The basic aim of the law of ships, but are now being confidentiality was classically set interpreted more broadly by the out by Lord Denning, in discuss- courts as applicable in contexts ing whether legal action could be where there is no formal relation- brought for breach of confidence ship, but there is a reasonable in cases where no explicit contract presumption that certain informa- exists between confider and tion is not for wider consumption confidant. He took the view that and will be not be made available the legal notion of confidentiality to others or used for other “depends upon the broad purposes without the agreement principle of equity that he who of the confider. Informational receives information in confidence privacy may be better protected by shall not take unfair advantage of requirements of confidentiality it. He must not make use of it to than by ill-defined requirements the prejudice of him who gave it for data protection.9

101 Review of the Session 2006-2007

This protection reflects the fact individual identifiable to one or that relations of confidentiality another party. Rather than impose substantial obligations. A defining and protecting intrinsi- confidant may not tell others cally ‘personal’ content, certain things that he has come to confidentiality is a way of protect- know, and in particular may not ing content of many types that the use that information to the parties to a communicative disadvantage of the confider, transaction seek to protect, have unless the confider consents. If agreed to protect, or are required this obligation is met, confiders to protect. It can be invoked for will have reason to trust confi- specific aspects of professional, dants not to publicise or commercial or other relationships, communicate information that and can be waived by seeking was imparted in confidence consent from the confider. without their consent. Like other Confidentiality also standardly trust relationships, confidential receives second-order professional relationships may be supported by and legal backing. systems of accountability which Some Conclusions add legal and regulatory force to obligations of confidentiality – Data protection legislation creates provided that these systems of substantial difficulties for medical accountability are well designed and social research, and especially for this purpose (and some are for research that re-uses legiti- not). mately acquired, lawfully held data (so-called ‘secondary use’). The basic principles that underlie Such re-use is held to breach confidentiality are quite different informational privacy rights, from those that underlie data unless informed consent is given protection. Confidentiality to the relevant further uses of the focuses on regulating types of information. Given the breadth of action – specifically – types of the conception of ‘processing’ in speech act – rather than on all the Data Protection Act 1998, ‘processing’ of types of informa- clinicians and researchers are tion. An approach to apparently required to seek informational privacy based on specific consent even where the extending the law of confidentiali- purpose of an investigation is not ty does not require anyone to to find out anything about, or to determine which information is or do anything to, the individuals to is not personal, or which is whom the data refer. It is hardly personal and sensitive, and does consoling that the legislation not require anyone to determine permits such investigation when just what it takes to make an all source subjects consent to

102 Prize and Bequest Lectures

them, and (in the case of medical transactions, rather than upon research) exceptionally if permis- supposedly distinctive types of sion can be obtained from the information content. If we focus Patient Information Advisory on communicative action and Group. Obtaining further consent transactions, and so on speech from all source subjects is often acts rather than speech content, impractical, while selective re- we can make use of a robust consenting is likely to damage framework for thinking about research findings by skewing their epistemic and ethical norms for statistical basis. Moreover, even informational, and in particular where it is in principle possible to for communicative action. Norms re-contact and to seek renewed of epistemic responsibility, ethical consent for some range of further norms, and second-order legal work, doing so may not be and institutional requirements feasible given the gaps between that reinforce norms of both sorts, the informational complexity of constitute obligations; they define the consent required and the real and clarify rights. Action in capacities and limitations – of accordance with such norms can human individuals to understand protect the informational privacy complex information. that data protection legislation is I conclude that there are good meant to protect, without invok- reasons to rethink informational ing the flawed and ill-defined privacy and its enforcement. We assumption that some types of could best do so by focusing on information have intrinsic ethical the epistemic and ethical require- significance while others do not. ments on communicative Baroness O’Neill also spoke at the University of Stirling on 24 May 2007, on the subject of Autonomy in Clinical and Research Ethics. Abstract: The rise and rise of autonomy has been one of the most striking ethical developments of the last 50 years. It represents a surprising change in the fortunes of what had previously been a rather specialised notion. Nowhere has this rise been more evident than in medical and research ethics, where the ethical treatment of patients and of research subject is often equated with respecting their autonomy. Yet a sober look at what is proposed suggests that autonomy in medical and research practice is often equated with using informed consent procedures. Moreover these procedures have been developed in ways that often make impossible demands, that are not ethically required. A sober look at informed consent requirements suggests that their importance has more to do with avoiding come classical sorts of wrong doing such as coercion and deception, than with any robust conception of autonomy.

103 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Notes

1 This text formed the basis of a lecture given on 28th May 2007 at The Royal Museum, Edinburgh. I am grateful to the Caledonian Research Foundation for sponsoring this and other lectures given that week, and to the Royal Society of Edinburgh for organising them. The work draws on one strand of the argument of Neil C. Manson and Onora O’Neill, Rethinking Informed Consent in Bioethics, Cambridge University Press, 2007. The work that underlies this book and a range of related papers was supported by the Wellcome Trust. 2 For the full text of the Data Protection Act 1998 see http:// www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/ 19980029.htm ; see also Data Protec- tion Act 1998: Legal Guidance at: www.ico.gov.uk/documentUploads/ data%20Protection%20Act%201998%20Legal%20Guidance.pdf 3 Schedules 2, 3 and 4 of the Data Protection Act 98 confer on data subjects rights of access to data held that pertains to them; rights apply to a Court to order a data controller to rectify, block, erase or destroy personal details if they are inaccurate or contain expressions of opinion based on inaccurate data; rights to ask data controllers not to process their data if doing so will lead to damage or distress; rights to prevent use of their data for direct marketing purposes (here the SNP recently faced some problems); and rights to compensation for damage or distress caused by breaches of the duties of data controllers. 4 See Data Protection Act 1998: Legal Guidance., p. 15 Data%20Protection%20Act%201998%20Legal%20Guidance.pdf 5 Data Protection Act 1998, Part I, Section 1. This formulation is closely based on that of the European Directive 95/46/EC which states that “personal data’ shall mean any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (‘data subject’)” (Chapter 1, Article 2 (a)). 6 For definitions of identifiable data and of reasonably identifiable data see Department of Health, Confidentiality: NHS Code of Practice, 2003, p 9; http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/06/92/54/ 04069254.pdf; the Code has been endorsed by the Data Protection Commissioner. 7 Lord Denning, Seager v Copydex Ltd (No. 1) [1967] RPC 349 8 Gavin Phillipson, Transforming Breach of Confidence? Towards a Common Law Right of Privacy under the Human Rights Act’. Modern Law Review: 66, 5 (2003) 726-758. 9 See note 8, and also Mr. Justice Scott, who notes that “the law of confidentiality can, in conjunction with the law of trespass and the law of nuisance, go a long way to remedy the

104 Prize and Bequest Lectures

alleged absence of a right to privacy under English law” in his introduc- tion to Confidentiality and the Law, p. xxiii; Gavin Phillipson and Helen Fenwick, who argue that the legal ‘doctrine of confidence is able to offer far more protection [of privacy] than is generally recognised’ and explore how the legal notion of confidence can do work in protecting the Article 8 ‘right to respect for private life’ in their ‘Breach of confidence as a Privacy Remedy in the Human Rights Act Era’. Modern Law Review, 63,5 (2000), 660-693 (p. 662).

105 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Henry Duncan Prize Lecture The Highlands: Scotland’s Great Success Story Professor James Hunter Director, UHI Centre for History Monday 3 September 2007 Professor Hunter is Professor of the History of the Highlands and Islands, UHI Millennium Institute. For three decades he has had a scholarly interest in the economy and culture of the Highlands and Islands. His path-breaking study in 1976 of the emergence of the crofting communities onto the Scottish and British political and economic stages in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries remains one of the key reference points for subsequent research on the modern development of the region. This scholarship led him on to an interest in the waves of emigration that were partly caused by economic failure and partly by the erosion of Gaelic culture. One of the conclusions he has drawn from his ethnographic studies of the descendants of these migrants is that a story told in Scotland as one of lament often appears in a North American context as one of striking success. Hunter’s policy work – most notably as Chair of Highlands and Islands Enterprise between 1998 and 2005 – has drawn on this scholarship, turning it into persuasive advocacy on behalf of the Highlands and Islands. The fruits of this strategy have become evident in the reversal of centuries of population loss and in the remarkable transformation of the region’s economy.

In 1979, just prior to that year’s asked. “Well,” he said, “in unsuccessful devolution referen- London they might not give a dum, the paper I worked for damn about Highlanders. But in despatched me to Sutherland. Edinburgh they hate us.” There There, one evening, I was in are good historical explanations, conversation with a crofter, an some of which I’ll touch on later, elderly man, a bodach as is said in as to why that crofter thought the Gaelic. He was, this man, devoted way he did. to the Gaelic language, to much Once Highlanders were hated else that’s distinctively Highland. here in Edinburgh. At other times, Which is why I assumed that, like they’ve been feared, thought me, he’d be voting for Scottish inferior, romanticised, pitied. Now, home rule. But no, not at all. He or so I’m going to argue, it’s time was unalterably against it. Why, I

106 Prize and Bequest Lectures

that Edinburgh, that all of But as that 1844 Commission Scotland, began to think of the discovered, it used to be character- Highlands, and of people who live istic of much of the Highlands and there, in a new, a different way. Islands. There, on the tiny plots Today’s Highlands and Islands are left to them after clearance and a place of great achievement; a eviction, people like Murdo place of enterprise, initiative and MacLeod grew just one crop – growth; a place in which the rest potatoes. Potatoes are of high of Scotland can take pride. nutritional value, tolerant of poor Suppose I were to ask you, on soils, high rainfall. Throughout your leaving here this evening, to the Highlands and Islands, whole make an inventory of everything populations had become reliant you own. A comprehensive on them. Then, in the summer of inventory. Each book, each cup, 1846, and in several summers each plate, each piece of cutlery; following, the potato crop in all of each picture, rug, chair, pillowslip this large region was almost and duvet. Your car, your clothes, totally destroyed by blight. your CDs and the like. An item-by- Conditions of the kind the Royal item inventory of all of your Commission had found two years possessions. The task would take before – conditions that had then you a long time. But back in 1844, seemed little short of desperate – when members of a Royal Com- were now recalled as a longed-for mission then visiting the Isle of age of plenty. In August 1847 a Skye, made just such inventories Lowland clergman on a fact- of what they found in island finding trip to the Hebrides homes, the job took minutes. crossed the ford between North Here are the Commission’s notes Uist and Benbecula – encounter- of their meeting with Murdo ing there a crowd of people MacLeod, a crofter at Colbost, not scavenging, at low tide, for the far from Dunvegan: ‘Has one half shellfish that were just about their of a croft. Four children. No stock only source of sustenance. The of any kind … One bedstead with visiting clergyman wrote this: straw and very poor bedding … A “The scene of wretchedness little bit of something like an old which we witnessed was … heart- horserug … One course earthen- rending. On the beach the whole ware dish, one half of a plate. No population of the country seemed furniture to be mentioned. Two of to be met, gathering the precious the children nearly naked.’ cockles … I never witnessed such Today absolute poverty of this countenances – starvation on kind is nowhere found outside many faces – the children with the most afflicted parts of Africa. their melancholy looks, big-

107 Review of the Session 2006-2007

looking knees, shrivelled legs, All ages ago, you might think; hollow eyes, swollen bellies – God another world. And yet this world, help them, I never did witness if approached by way of family such wretchedness!” Children background, can look suddenly with melancholy looks, big- quite close. I come from the North looking knees, shrivelled legs, Argyll locality of Duror, where I hollow eyes, swollen-like bellies: was born in 1948. Sharing our we know them from a thousand home for my first fourteen years Oxfam posters; from media was my late mother’s father, John coverage of faraway disasters. But Cameron. He’d been born in 1872 in the 1840s, a pre-camera era, and his father, Allan Cameron, my the Lowland minister I’ve quoted great-grandfather, was born in had no inkling of what hunger 1815 in a community towards the does to kids until, in the High- foot of Gleann na h-Iubraich near lands and Islands, he saw its Strontian – a community which, impact at first hand. not long after, would cease to In those years in this city, sums exist when Gleann na h-Iubraich, worth millions at present-day all of it, went under sheep. Allan values were forthcoming for Cameron’s photograph hangs on famine relief – for famine relief in my wall. Stories of Allan Cameron the Highlands and Islands. This reached me from his son, my money was spent on oatmeal. grandfather. And so there’s just Adult males got one-and-a-half one other person in the three- pounds daily, women three- man chain that has myself at one quarters of a pound, children end and, at the other, a nine- below twelve rather less. From teenth-century Highlander for Skye, this account of how those whom hunger, clearance and the rations were doled out: “At the like were everyday matters of fact. appointed time and place the Sometimes, travelling through the poor creatures troop down in Highlands and Islands, observing hundreds, wretched and thin, indications of our area’s new- starved and wan. Some have found success, reflecting clothing, some almost none, and simultaneously on all that’s gone some are a mass of rags. Old and before, I find it almost miraculous young, feeble and infirm, they that prosperity is at last arriving in take their stations and await their places of the sort where, just a turn. Not a murmur, not a cla- couple of lifetimes back, Allan mour, not a word – but they wept Cameron and his wife raised my aloud as they told of their miser- grandfather and his several ies.” siblings in a home – only its walls now standing – with a total floor

108 Prize and Bequest Lectures

space smaller than the floor space collapsing, as family after family of my sitting room. In part, quit 1950s Shetland for New perhaps, my amazement at what’s Zealand, the island group’s happening now in the Highlands unemployment rate remained one has to do with history being my of Britain’s highest. In the Hebri- business – a circumstance, I guess, des and on the Highland that makes me more than usually mainland, a similar mix of jobless- aware of how far we have come, ness and out-migration had and how quickly. hollowed out entire communities. But if you’re a Highlander of my In north-west Sutherland, where age, it’s not necessary to know total population had fallen by a much history in order to grasp the quarter in just twenty years, a extent of the change that’s crofter named Kenneth MacKen- occurred. After all, much of what’s zie, giving evidence in 1952 to yet altered so dramatically in the another Royal Commission, Highlands has altered in my pointed to the Assynt township of lifetime. As I said, I was born in Clashnessie as an instance of a North Argyll in 1948. I grew up wider, and grim, trend. “In 1910,” there in the ’50s and the ’60s. In MacKenzie said, “there were 138 much of Britain, Western Europe, people in Clashnessie; now there North America, those were what are only twenty. The youngest Eric Hobsbawm, my favourite ‘boy’ is 28 and the youngest ‘girl’ historian, has called capitalism’s will not see 45 again.” ‘golden years’; a period of Given facts like these, it’s not at all unprecedented plenty; a period surprising that those of us then when a British prime minister starting school in the Highlands could truthfully tell his electorate and Islands were everywhere that they’d never had it so good. encouraged to believe that, if our But from this boom the Highlands aim was to get on in life, we had stood apart. best begin by getting out. So it To be sure, the horrors of the had been for generations. previous century had faded. 1773: Stornoway. On a single day, Highlanders no longer starved; between seven and eight hundred neither were they forcibly deprived Lewis folk, some ten per cent of of homes and homesteads. the island’s population, take ship Relative to the rest of the UK, for Britain’s colonies in America. however, the Highlands and 1923: Stornoway again. On a Islands in the twenty or so years further single day, exactly 150 following the Second World War years later, 260 people leave for were doing very badly. Although Canada on a liner called the Shetland’s population was

109 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Metagama. Their average age is of date. Today’s Highlands and 22. Islands are no longer a disaster During the 1980s, when working area. They’re Scotland’s great for the Scottish Crofters Union, I’d success story. find myself in houses that were And so to Gigha. home to ageing couples. Often, Much of what’s happened on the mantlepiece or on the historically on Gigha conforms to dresser, were framed photos of a wider pattern. Like the rest of the couple’s sons and daughters.. Argyll, this little island, between “This is Donald,” I’d be told. Kintyre and Islay, was colonised “He’s a doctor in Vancouver.” some fifteen hundred years ago “This one’s Margaret. She’s by Gaelic-speaking immigrants teaching now in Glasgow.” from Ireland. Next came the “Here’s Neil. He’s in Brisbane, Vikings; then the Lordship of the doing well out there with the Isles; then, following the Lord- police.” Advancement, in the ship’s fall, various chiefs and lairds Highlands and Islands, had of Hebridean background until, become synonymous with being starting in the 1860s, Gigha, like elsewhere. To be still in your own much of the rest of the Highlands locality in your mid-twenties was, and Islands, began to be bought, almost by definition, to have sold, bought and sold again by failed. mostly new-made men from And externally of course – from England. Of these, say Gigha folk, the perspective, for example, of the best and most benevolent was policy-makers or opinion-formers James Horlick, who arrived in here in Edinburgh – Highland 1944 and who spent heavily on prospects looked no better than the place. But paternal ownership they did from the inside. We of this sort, however beneficial in might have scenery; but we had the short run, is invariably unsta- no worthwhile economy. We ble. And so it was on Gigha. might have had a stirring past; we Between 1972 and 1992, the certainly had no future. ownership of Gigha changed Such was the almost universal three times. One laird, Malcolm perception of Scotland’s High- Potier, lasted just three years lands and Islands. It’s a perception before first going bankrupt and so well founded on so much that then being jailed in Australia went so badly wrong that it’s where he’d hired a hitman to kill proving hard to change. But it’s his ex-lover and her boyfriend. also a perception, I suggest this Potier’s successor, Derek Holt, was evening, that’s now seriously out a nine-year proprietor, placing the

110 Prize and Bequest Lectures

island once more on the market in ties, pessimism is more prevalent August 2001. Gigha’s community, than its opposite. by that point, seemed headed for Gigha’s asking price was just extinction. The island’s popula- below £4 million. At a meeting in tion, 400-plus a century before, August 2001, fourteen of Gigha’s had dipped below one hundred. residents voted for the proposi- Reasons for this exodus are clear. tion that they should make an On Gigha almost everything, not offer for their island. Many more just the land but virtually all the than fourteen were either hostile housing stock as well, belonged to community ownership or to a single, privately-owned thought it wouldn’t work. But in estate. This estate, after the ensuing weeks, following much Horlick era, became increasingly exploration of the possibilities, run down – its proprietors lacking opinion shifted. At the beginning the capital, the inclination or, of October, a postal ballot of the because ownership changed so 89 people on Gigha’s electoral roll often, the time to engage in was organised by Argyll and Bute meaningful development. Council. 82 of 89 voting papers When, in 2002, the 42 estate- were returned. And 58 of the 82, owed homes on Gigha were a 71 per cent majority, now professionally surveyed, three- wanted a community bid to go quarters were found to be below ahead. With financial backing the officially tolerable standard. from the Scottish Land Fund, and Of the remainder, all – bar a single from Highlands and Islands dwelling – were “in serious Enterprise, which as it happens I disrepair”. It’s understandable, then chaired, the necessary funds then, that Gigha’s people were were raised. The bid was made; it one by one quitting an island proved successful; and, in March where economic activity was 2002, Gigha came under the minimal and opportunity next ownership of a locally-elected best to non-existent. It’s also grouping, the Isle of Gigha understandable that, on Gigha Heritage Trust. Shortly afterwards, being put up for sale by Derek at a Scottish Land Fund meeting, Holt, and on the notion of its Kenny Robison, a Gigha farmer, people bidding for it first being reflected on what had occurred. floated, this notion failed initially “As a community,” Kenny said, to find much backing. In contract- “we had lost the feeling that we ing and demoralised could control anything … Our communities, risk-taking’s hard to population was declining … Our contemplate. In such communi- tenanted farms were being abandoned. When I came to the

111 Review of the Session 2006-2007

island … twenty years ago … with five new owner-occupied there were 28 children in the homes resulting. Among the primary school and now there Trust’s own business ventures [are] only six. We had reached a were Britain’s only community- point … when we were faced with owned hotel and Britain’s first collapsing completely as a community-owned and grid- community or taking our destiny connected wind farm. into our own hands.” The latter consists of three But as Kenny Robison well knew, turbines, known in Gaelic as Faith, buying Gigha, as Heritage Trust Hope and Charity and in English chairman Willie McSporran put it, as the Dancing Ladies. In its first had been “the easy part”. As full year of operation, this wind Willie said on the day that Gigha farm made a profit for the Trust of became the property of its people, more than £100,000 – all of it “We are … at the outset of an destined for local reinvestment. enormous challenge.” One After five years of community immediately challenging task was ownership, moreover, ten new the requirement that, within two privately-owned businesses were years of taking charge, the Trust up and running. Farmland had had to repay a Land Fund loan of been reorganised. Sixteen jobs £1 million. This was done. Much had been created. And a two- else has been accomplished since. centuries-long decline in Earlier this year, the Heritage Trust population had been spectacularly reported on its first five years, reversed. Gigha’s primary school starting with Gigha’s previously roll, previously down to six, was disastrous housing situation. At over twenty. Total population, was that point, six months ago, nine up by more than 50 per cent. And houses had been refurbished; on an island formerly bereft of nine were being – or were about anyone in their twenties or their to be – refurbished; twelve more thirties, there was a growing refurbishments were in the number in this economically most pipeline. On an island where, active age-group. prior to community ownership, Even if Gigha was a one-off, it just one new home had been built would deserve attention. But in thirty years, eighteen new hearteningly, intriguingly, Gigha’s houses for rent had been com- transformation – though excep- pleted – or were well on their way tional in its rapidity – is by no to completion. And in an island means unique. In a manner, I where previous lairds had refused repeat, that sometimes seems to to sell sites for houses, a number me miraculous, and to an extent of such sales had gone ahead – that Scotland as a whole’s been

112 Prize and Bequest Lectures

slow to cotton on to, the High- awarded by the relevant assess- lands and Islands are today on the ment body. way back, on the way up. Some Some famous brands. Walkers – successes: Orkney. A homegrown shortbread. Baxters – soups. Plus jewellery industry – think Ortak – Talisker, Glenmorangie, Bruichlad- that’s trading internationally. Food dich, Highland Park, Laphroaig. products that are doing really Viking Energy. A Shetland Council well. A container mega-hub partnership with Scottish and potentially in Scapa Flow. Plus Southern Energy, SSE. Looking to EMEC, the European Marine build one of the world’s largest Energy Centre – at the forefront of wind farms – and to provide the trying out tidal and wave energy council with development funds devices. akin to those derived from Inverness. Lifescan Scotland. offshore oil. Glendoe. The site of Integral to a Highlands and Scotland’s first big hydro scheme Islands health science sector in forty years. Inverness Airport. involving twenty separate compa- Passenger numbers double those nies and institutions. Lifescan of 1999. Soon to have a major employs about eighteen hundred business park. The Highlands and people – 150 of them in cutting- Islands Community Energy edge R&D. Inverness. Near Company. Investing widely in Lifescan. The Centre for Life community-controlled renewa- Sciences. A £22 million project bles. Eden Court Theatre. with world-class facilities for Reopening shortly – after a healthcare training and for rebuild that’s Scotland’s biggest biotechnology research. North arts sector project of this decade. Harris, Assynt, the Isle of Eigg, Taigh Chearsabhagh, Lochmaddy. Abriachan, Galson, South Uist, An Lanntair in Stornoway. Two of Knoydart. Some more of the numerous arts centres and localities – accounting for performance venues of tremen- 370,000 acres – where, as in dously high quality. Fèis an Eilein; Gigha, land’s gone into communi- InvernessFest; Blàs; Tartan Heart at ty ownership. Kintyre. Where Belladrum; Ceòlas; Touchwood; Vestas, a wind turbine manufac- Celtic Media Festival; The Outsid- turer, employ 200 people. Great er; Rock Ness; Mountain Bike Glen House. New base of Scottish World Championships; Fort Natural Heritage. Completed George Military Tattoo: all helping under budget and an exemplar of make up Scotland’s Year of sustainable design – attracting the Highland Culture. UHI. The highest environmental rating ever prospective University of the Highlands and Islands. A region-

113 Review of the Session 2006-2007

wide partnership. Now providing Sleat, but the whole island, is 7,000 students with university- awash with new-built homes. level education. Already a UK What’s true of Skye is true of research leader in marine and much of the Highlands and environmental science. Develop- Islands. During the last forty years, ing research capacity in fields like a period when Scotland’s total health, renewable energy, fisheries population has mostly been static, and – dare I say it – history or even in decline, the population And finally Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in of the Highlands and Islands has Skye. A UHI partner. Thirty years risen by around a fifth. During the ago a derelict farm steading. last five years, to be sure, Scot- Today a still expanding set of land’s overall population has splendid buildings. Where more started to edge upwards. But in than a hundred full-time students the Highlands and Islands, the take degrees taught through the rate of increase has been three medium of Gaelic. Where hun- times faster than that of the dreds more come for short nation at large. In Skye and courses. Home to several spin-off neighbouring Wester Ross, the businesses. Accounting altogether rate has been seven times greater. for 85 full-time, and as many part- Of course, the star performer time, jobs. Sabhal Mòr is in the demographically is Gigha – doing Sleat penisula, once the most nearly a hundred times better depopulated corner of a desper- than Scotland. But then, as you’ll ately depopulated island. This have gathered, Gigha’s very from a study published in 1955: special. “[Population] decline has contin- A few more facts and figures. In ued without a break [in Skye] since recent years, Inverness has been 1841 … In Sleat the population is one of Britain’s fastest growing down to a fifth of its maximum … cities. In the Highlands and Further decline in population is Islands, proportionate to our inevitable.” In the mid-nineteenth population, we have more century, Skye’s population was business start-ups than does the 24,000. By the 1960s, it was rest of Scotland. Our regional nearer 6,000 – and this down- unemployment rate, once a ward trend, as that 1950s study multiple of the all-Scotland figure, emphasised, seemed set to last has for several years been well indefinitely. In fact, the opposite below it. The Highlands and has happened. Thanks partly to Islands are the UK’s only region Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Skye’s popula- where more than 80 per cent of tion, just like Gigha’s, is up by the potential workforce is em- some 50 per cent – and not just ployed. This compares with less

114 Prize and Bequest Lectures

than 70 per cent in London. Total required a lot of re-examining. Highlands and Islands population The outcome of any excursion into is approaching 450,000. It’s one history, then, depends on where of HIE’s aspirations, as the you start from. In a Highlands and agency’s chairman Willy Roe states Islands context, for reasons that strongly, to have this figure reach I’ve touched on, new starting half-a-million by 2020. Can this points, I think, are overdue. And it happen? Absolutely. For the first isn’t just historians, incidentally, time in centuries, after all, many who could benefit from fresh more people are moving into the perspectives on the Highlands. Highlands and Islands than are Social scientists, policymakers, leaving. Some from the rest of media commentators could Scotland; more from other parts benefit as well. When the High- of the UK; large numbers from lands and Islands looked to be further afield. Among kids now in heading for hell in a basket, as Highland Council primary schools, they did in the nineteenth century, first languages other than English and for much of the twentieth as now total more than fifty. And last well, it was reasonable to focus year in the Highlands and Islands, both on failure and its causes. over a six-month period, national There are no end of published insurance registrations involving explorations, then, of clearance, immigrants from overseas were famine, population loss and other averaging eleven or twelve each calamities of that kind. But look working day. for comparable analyses of why As I’ve said, my trade is history. the Highlands have of late been And it’s in history’s nature, it’s doing better, and you’ll find little what keeps historians in business, of real substance. That’s why I that our perspective on the past is welcome the Royal Society of constantly in flux. Someone I Edinburgh’s decision that, over know is an authority on Russia. the next year or two, current Back in the 1980s, he tells me, he developments in the Highlands could produce a dozen explana- and Islands will constitute one of tions as to why, whatever the society’s key themes. Quite happened in Eastern Europe, the what this will mean in practice has Soviet Union would endure. Now, still to be nailed down. But in he says, he’s equally convincing on broad terms the Royal Society is why Soviet disintegration was looking to:- inevitable. Which isn’t to accuse - Engage with people central to this man of intellectual dishones- the transformation that’s been ty. When Soviet power gave way to happening in the north; Soviet collapse, prior events

115 Review of the Session 2006-2007

- Celebrate this transformation; - The establishment in the 1890s - Account for it, and from it learn of our first development agency lessons relevant to other parts – by a Conservative administra- of Scotland. tion which also embarked on large-scale public investment in Taking forward this agenda will railways and other infrastruc- necessitate debate. ture; By way of an initial contribution, I - Early twentieth-century land now move on from the fact of reform – much of it Conserva- Highlands and Islands renewal to tive in inspiration – which led to a tentative identification of some thousands of new crofts; factors that have made renewal possible. One of the most basic of - The setting up in 1943 of the these, I believe, has been the North of Scotland Hydro Electric longstanding willingness of Board – brainchild of Tom successive governements – Johnston, a Labour minister in whether British or Scottish and Winston Churchill’s wartime irrespective of party – to involve coalition; the state in the cause of Highland - The creation in 1965 – by betterment. This, I know, is an Labour – of the Highlands and unfashionable thing to say. To Islands Development Board. attribute Highland success, even Many of those measures, to be in part, to state intervention in our sure, were anything but instantly regional economy is to be at odds effective. Making further clearance with much of the recent thrust of impossible, as happened in 1886, economic theory, and economic or creating new crofts on land policy, across the the western bought for this purpose by the world and beyond. state, as happened in the 1920s, Nevertheless, it’s my conviction was all very well. But only with the that, had governments not done more recent growth of the wider what they did in northen Scotland economy of which crofters are over the last 120 or so years, the part has it begun to be apparent – upturn I’ve described could not as we see today in Skye – that a have happened. smallholding system of the The actions that I have in mind crofting sort can be the basis of a include: countryside that’s simultaneously prosperous and, in comparison - The granting in 1886 of security with places like the Borders or of tenure to crofters – by a Dumfries-shire, thickly peopled. Liberal government; Similarly with Johnston’s Hydro Board. Its determination to take

116 Prize and Bequest Lectures

mains electricity to every home in introduction of Road Equivalent the Highlands and Islands didn’t, Tariffs on island ferries. And so to of itself, stop out-migration. But an intriguing question. Bearing in in the absence of what’s now a mind that a lot of expert opinion, basic service, more people would including civil service opinion, was have left – and all sorts of later hostile – often very hostile – to developments just couldn’t have several of the measures and occurred. Of course, the Hydro initiatives I’ve mentioned, from Board, and the still more critically William Gladstone’s Crofters Act, important Highland Board, were by way of Michael Forsyth’s products of an era of big govern- support for UHI, to jobs dispersal ment. But even when that era of the SNH variety, why have such ended, even when government policies so frequently prevailed? elsewhere was in retreat, politi- Obviously, reasons varied over cians – some of them otherwise time. But of these reasons, one committed to the market – were has been remarkably consistent. as interventionist as ever when It’s most explicit in a comment dealing with the area beyond the made by the late Willie Ross when Highland Line. Thus Margaret introducing to the House of Thatcher’s ministers ensured that Commons the Bill that ushered in the HIDB’s sweeping powers, to the Highland Board. “For two which I’ll return in a moment, hundred years,” Ross said, “the were inherited by Highlands and Highlander has been the man on Islands Enterprise – subsequent Scotland’s conscience.” Read Tory governments going on, in the Gladstone, read Tom Johnston, person of the devotedly Thatcher- read the Scottish Parliament’s ite Michael Forsyth, to launch the debates on land reform – always, Convention of the Highlands and in one guise or another, that Islands, to endorse the begin- sentiment is present. nings of community land At its core there lies a still- ownership, and to back the push enduring sense that, irrespective for UHI. More recently, post- of the writings of revisionist devolution governments of historians, the Highlands and Scotland have behaved in much Islands, in the past, were dealt the the same pro-Highland fashion. rawest of raw deals. Moreover, That’s why SNH is based in this raw deal, it’s widely thought, Inverness, why there’s been was such, as Willie Ross implied, additional land reform, why we to have imposed on the wider have a Year of Highland Culture – nation of which the Highlands why, last month, our new govern- and Islands are part, whether that ment committed itself to the nation is Britain or Scotland, a

117 Review of the Session 2006-2007

continuing need to attone for by so doing can they argue, as previous neglect – or worse. empire-builders always do, that Personally, I’m suspicious of the their mission is to bring enlight- notion that today’s rulers are enment, civility and progress to responsible for actions taken by places where such qualities were long ago predecessors. Many formerly unknown. things are arguably the fault of From the middle ages forward, Tony Blair. But the Irish Famine, for then, first Scotland’s ruling orders, which Mr Blair apologised in then those of the UK, whether 1997, isn’t one of them. King James VI or Patrick Sellar, That said, I can see where Willie endeavoured to devalue and Ross was coming from. For when dehumanise the clans that James you take account not just of the was out to crush, the communities nineteenth-century horrors Sellar cleared. Sellar and James mentioned earlier, but of the were separated by three hundred Highlands and Islands experience years. But both thought Highland- over a thousand or more years, it’s ers barbaric – people whose hard to avoid the conclusion – as Gaelic culture merited nothing expressed, you’ll recall, by my but contempt. Imperialist success, crofter friend in Sutherland – that of course, is followed by romanc- Highlanders, from the middle ing the now safely neutered ages onward, suffered more than enemy. Once, in the US, the only somewhat from anti-Highland good Indian was a dead one; thinking here in Edinburgh. Once today that self-same Indian is a the Highlands and Islands had sort of pioneer ecologist. Likewise their own self-governing princi- in Lowland Scotland – where palities – the Kingdom of Moray, tartan, formerly detested, has the Earldom of Orkney, the become the national dress. But as Lordship of the Isles to name but with Native Americans, so with three. And by contemporary Highlanders – what began, in the standards, these performed most nineteenth century, to be romanti- successfully. Read the Orkneyinga cised was a supposedly heroic Saga, or go look at Castle Tioram, tribal past, not life as it was lived if you doubt this. The earldom, on Indian reservations or in the lordship and the rest were postclearance crofting townships. swallowed up by an aggressive, an In Victorian times and later, expansionist, an imperial Scottish Highland misfortune, Highland state. And it’s inherent in imperial- poverty, were frequently put down ism, Scotland’s brand included, to Highland failings – failings that imperialists disparage the rooted, it was said, in the Gaelic societies they take over – for only culture that King James and

118 Prize and Bequest Lectures

Patrick Sellar so confidently And it shows that the Highlands dismissed. Which brings me back and Islands, so long and so to Willie Ross and to the Highland habitually dismissed as backward Board. When people are told, as and benighted, are actually rich in Highlanders were told for genera- music, literature, archaeology and tions, that everything about them, much else. Equally critical in this starting with their Gaelic lan- regard has been an overturning of guage, is second-rate, of no the previously prevalent – and account, those people can’t but deeply cynical – notion that end up lacking self-esteem. And nobody can live on scenery. where there isn’t self-esteem, Instead, it’s widely realised that, in there can’t be enterprise, initiative, our landscapes, our environment, advancement. That’s why a key we Highlanders have assets of contributor to renewal in the great value – some part of this north has been the realisation, on value deriving, of course, from the part both of the Highland surroundings of the Highland sort Board and HIE, that, in a High- having elsewhere been despoiled. lands and Islands context, Across the Highlands and Islands, developmental measures then, a growing appreciation of shouldn’t be confined to building the many merits of our heritage – factories, aiding business and the both cultural and natural – is like. Because of what’s gone helping people to once more feel before in the Highlands, policies good about themselves. That’s of that sort have had to be making for enhanced self- accompanied by a commitment to confidence – as evidenced by restoring our formerly demoral- phenomena as varied as our ised population’s sense of worth. business startup rate, our flourish- And so it’s mattered greatly that ing music scene and what’s been the HIDB and HIE were equipped, going on in Gigha. both by Ross and his Tory succes- At the same time, and just as sors, with the capacity to engage crucially, the advent of new in ventures well outside the strictly communications and new infor- economic sphere to which most mation technologies has made it development agencies are limited. easier than formerly to be in Hence HIE investment in Sabhal northern Scotland – with its Mòr Ostaig, Gaelic playgroups, increasingly attractive lifestyle – folk festivals, book festivals, the and, from the same locality, do Year of Highland Culture, commu- business in a global market. It’s in nity facilities of every type. Such this sense that today’s Highlands investment encourages folk to and Islands need to be seen, take pride in their background. whether inside the region or

119 Review of the Session 2006-2007

beyond, as a place of tremendous thing from much further back – opportunity. Internationally, after something that, like Brian’s story, all, the most advanced, the most subverts the way that most of us exciting, enterprises are more and have thought about the world. more located in areas where This something is the Book of people can both earn a good Kells – the wonderfully illuminat- living and have access to environ- ed manuscript that’s perhaps the ments of the very highest quality. most significant surviving artefact Hence the success of American from Europe’s early middle ages. regions like the Pacific North West The Book of Kells, now on display or Colorado. Hence my belief that at Trinity College, Dublin, was where those areas have led, the created in the Abbey of Iona. This Highlands and Islands can follow. matters. If, nearly fifteen hundred Indeed are following already. years ago, a Hebridean monastery could be – as Iona then was – an The former Labour minister, Brian internationally significant centre Wilson, tells how he once accom- of learning and of creativity, then panied the late Donald Dewar on it’s demonstrably not the case that a visit to Lewis. After the political the supposed peripherality of the formalities, it was decided that the Highlands and Islands is an party should call on Brian’s unalterable fact of geography. mother-in-law at her home in Uig What marginalised the Highlands – on the island’s west coast and at – what made the area prone to the end of many, many miles of famine, clearance and the rest – single-track road. On Mr Dewar was not where the region is being shown into the house – located on the map. What truly which, as Brian puts it, is the last marginalised the Highlands and home this side of Newfoundland Islands was the way they were – he stood for a while by the governed in the centuries follow- window, looking at the Atlantic; ing the destruction of Iona’s then, turning to Brian’s mother-in- abbey, the demise of Orkney’s law, he said, with all the feeling of earldom, the overthrow of the a man as urban as he was urbane, lordship – centuries when power, “You’re very remote here.” The decision-making and, ultimately, old lady, not trying to be cheeky or people were drained away and smart, something no island concentrated elsewhere. woman of her generation would think of for a moment, replied, in Now all of this has begun to be genuine puzzlement, “Remote reversible – is beginning, indeed, from what?” Earlier I touched on to be reversed. Where that process the Lordship of the Isles, the will end, I don’t know. But it has Earldom of Orkney. Now some- the potential, I believe, to go very,

120 Prize and Bequest Lectures

very far. It could make of Inverness don’t say that another New a Scottish, a UK, Seattle. It could Zealander, en route for some turn Scotland, almost literally, metropolis in the Highlands, will upside down. One of the greatest pause on a deserted Mound to of English historians, Thomas sketch the broken-down remains Babington Macaulay, the grand- of Princes Street. But this I do say. son as it happens of a Highlander, There’s no reason why, in the famously imagined a future century just starting, Scotland “traveller from New Zealand [who] shouldn’t have new centres – shall, in the midst of a vast economic, cultural and otherwise solitude, take his stand on a – to rival Edinburgh and Glasgow. broken arch of London Bridge to New centres in the north. sketch the ruins of St Paul’s.” I

121 Review of the Session 2006-2007

IEEE/RSE/Wolfson Microelectronics James Clerk Maxwell Award Lecture Dr Irwin Jacobs Chairman, Qualcomm 1 October 2007 Reflections on the Amazing Ubiquitous Cellphone

The IEEE and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland, with funding from Wolfson Microelectronics plc, created a joint award in November 2006 to recognise groundbreaking contributions that have had an exceptional impact on the development of electronics and electrical engineering or related fields. The annual IEEE/RSE Wolfson James Clerk Maxwell Award includes a US $20 000 (or British pound sterling equivalent) honorarium, a gold medal, and a certificate. The award is named in honour of the 19th century Scottish mathematician and physicist James Clerk Maxwell who laid the foundations of electromagnetic wave theory, radio propagation, microwave techniques, and radio communications. Wolfson Microelectronics plc is a leading global provider of high perform- ance, mixed-signal semiconductors to the consumer electronics market, with headquarters in Edinburgh. Dr Irwin M Jacobs and Dr Andrew J Viterbi, co-founders of Qualcomm Incorporated, were jointly awarded the first IEEE/RSE/Wolfson James Clerk Maxwell Award in 2007, for fundamental contributions, innovation and leadership that enabled the growth of wireless communications. QUAL- COMM, founded in 1985, has set global benchmarks in digital wireless communication systems and products, based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technologies they pioneered. Under their leadership QUALCOMM grew into a Fortune 500 company, now with annual revenues in excess of $7.5 billion. Dr Jacobs received his award at the IEEE Annual Honors Ceremony held in Pennsylvania, USA on 16 June 2007. Dr Viterbi was presented with his medal by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at the 2007 Fellows’ Summer Soirée held at Edinburgh’s Telford College on 2 July 2007 to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the birth of Thomas Telford.

122 Prize and Bequest Lectures

Wireless telecoms pioneer Dr Irwin branches of the Linkabit family Jacobs was in Edinburgh in early tree. October to receive the IEEE/RSE Linkabit was a hard act to follow, Wolfson James Clerk Maxwell but Dr Jacobs and his partners Award. And as he shared his soon put Qualcomm on the map thoughts on the “amazing and in wireless telecoms by developing ubiquitous cellphone,” no-one a product called OmniTRACS, a switched off - with the speaker’s satellite-based mobile system for blessing… the transportation industry. While For a man who retired 22 years the rest of the industry was ago, Dr Irwin Jacobs has been focusing on TDMA, Qualcomm keeping fairly busy, with a range emerged as the leader in another of impressive endeavours, includ- new technology called CDMA ing the creation of a company (Code Division Multiple Access) - a called Qualcomm which had way of maximising available revenues of US$7.5 billion last bandwidth for data and voice by year. using different codes for different Before he and six other industry channels, instead of different veterans set up Qualcomm in frequencies or time slots. With 1985, chairman Dr Jacobs worked CDMA, the bottom line was high- for Linkabit Corp., but when he quality, high-capacity bandwidth sold his interest in the company for cellular phones, and Qual- and sat down to enjoy a life of comm was the company that leisure, the call of the wireless proved it was a practical commer- world was simply too loud to cial solution by solving the resist… technical problems involved. Founded in 1969 by Dr Jacobs Two years after demonstrating and his long-time business CDMA in action, Qualcomm put partner Dr Andrew Viterbi, the complex electronics onto Linkabit was one of the stars of silicon, and two years later the the American telecoms industry. It technology became a new grew from a few dedicated part- industry standard. Then, follow- timers to more than 1,400 ing successful trials in Hong Kong employees by the time it merged and Korea, CDMA debuted in the with MA-COM and achieved US in November 1995 - a total of several industry firsts, including seven years from proof of concept the introduction of commercial to commercially viable product. TDMA (Time Division Multiple According to Dr Jacobs, in the Access) wireless phones. In fact, course of such projects, the pace many leading telecoms compa- of technological progress is often nies, including Qualcomm, are “amazing.” For example, he said,

123 Review of the Session 2006-2007

you can double how much you third-generation solutions, Dr can put on a chip, roughly every Jacobs took his audience on a two years. And by the time whirlwind tour of some of the Qualcomm’s new product was landmarks along the way, remind- launched, the communications ing everyone how far we have component used only 20 per cent come since the launch of the first of the chip, enabling the company mobile ‘brick’ in the late 1980s. to add a range of innovative “Technology is moving ahead very appliances, including powerful fast,” said Dr Jacobs, “but now it’s computers and digital signal time to focus on the best uses for processors, as well as GPS (Global the technology.” Positioning System) and video coding/decoding devices - on a The new generation of cellphones single chip using one very small packs in much more power and battery. many more features than ever before, including 10-megapixel “At this point,” Dr Jacobs said, cameras and the ability to ‘broad- “we were able to incorporate the cast’ 30-frame-per-second video same computing power as a signals. They are also more super-computer from 10 years intelligent, enabling us to down- before.” load new applications, including For Dr Jacobs and his industry games, financial software, partners, the explosive growth of educational programs and the mobile phone market has medical data. been nothing less than amazing, Dr Jacobs described how consum- and today there are three billion ers can be tracked to specific wireless subscribers worldwide, locations and receive a message including 500 million using third- telling them about special offers generation technology. Annual in nearby shops or restaurants, shipments total roughly one thanks to GPS systems on chips billion cellphones, many of them which ‘know’ where they are. featuring Qualcomm technology. Other applications include using Qualcomm’s product portfolio sensors attached to a cellphone to now includes over 6,000 US monitor heart rate or blood sugar patents and patent applications levels, combined with GPS to for CDMA and related technolo- automatically alert the emergency gies, and its solutions are services when there’s a critical currently licensed to more than problem. Integrated with robot- 130 telecoms equipment manu- ics, doctors can use mobile facturers worldwide. And as well networks to carry out remote as describing the move to new diagnosis and interact with

124 Prize and Bequest Lectures

patients on the opposite side of said, is committed to numerous the world, including help with projects worldwide using ‘Wire- surgery. Dr Jacobs revealed that less Reach’ in countries such as such techniques have already India, Thailand, Peru and Brazil, so been used by doctors in America people can “transcend the social to deal with brain injuries in and economic challenges they military hospitals in Germany. face” in their communities. Television is the next frontier for Closer to home, it is also involved cellphones, said Dr Jacobs, with in educational projects, including current networks capable of using wireless to improve the carrying 25 channels broadcasting maths skills of students in North multimedia programmes in real Carolina. time, and up to 100 channels in In the last 22 years, Dr Jacobs has total. not only witnessed a revolution in Wireless technology is also having wireless technology - he is one of an increasing impact on life in the people who started it rolling developing countries, “empower- two decades ago and continues to ing citizens” in remote areas by drive it today. Retirement has providing information on demand become a distant memory… such as healthcare advice, finan- “There are lots of possibilities,” cial news so fishermen and concluded Dr Jacobs, “and more farmers can get the best prices for fun to come in the decades produce, and educational pro- ahead.” grammes. Qualcomm, Dr Jacobs

125

LECTURES Professor Jüri Engelbrecht President, ALLEA 25 October 2006 European Science Policy and Academia

Professor Jüri Engelbrecht, the The concept of the European President of ALLEA (All European Research Area and its targets is Academies) visited the RSE on 25 widely discussed, but progress October 2006 to give a public needs to be faster. From the view lecture on European science policy of academia, the cornerstones are: as part of a series of high profile - quality of research events arranged by our Interna- tional Committee’s European - a solid system of information Policy Forum. leading to innovation ALLEA is a self governing associa- - good education systems tion of the leading national There are many instruments and academies in Europe and the RSE stakeholders – this raises the was admitted to membership in question of coherence between 2002. The RSE is greatly hon- them. There are also issues to oured that Professor Engelbrecht resolve about how funding should visit the RSE so soon after should be channelled, and how to his election at the General combine national and internation- Assembly this year. He is a al interests. distinguished physicist and In the EU, launching the European mathematician and former Research Council to support basic President of the Estonian Acade- research is a very important step. my of Sciences. He is a member of The European Science Foundation the European Research Advisory has a role in generating new ideas Board and the Governing Council and various grass-root initiatives of the European Science Founda- show the willingness of academia tion, and was a member of the to respond. European Research Council Identification Committee. To build a coherent European Amongst numerous books and Science Policy requires an under- articles, he was editor of the standing of how member states ALLEA Report on National Re- have formulated their own search Strategies in Smaller strategies. Professor Engelbrecht European Countries. described several examples, including from Estonia, his home country.

127 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Prasanta K. Pattanaik Carnegie Centenary Professor 2006 6 November 2006 Rights, Freedom, and Welfare in Economics

Welfare economics is the area of firmly believed that the only economics that is concerned with information required for judge- judgements about social welfare ments regarding social welfare and criteria for public policy. Since and the assessment of public these issues are clearly ethical, policies was the information welfare economics studies about people’s utilities (Professor alternative ethical criteria for John Hicks called this belief making such welfare judgements ‘welfarism’). and taking decisions about public Indeed, a considerable amount of policies. The purpose of this welfare economics relied almost lecture is to outline how the exclusively on the Pareto principle, ethical criteria used by economists which constitutes a particularly have evolved over time, and how, weak implication of most forms of starting with utilitarianism, welfarism and which stipulates welfare economists have extended that, given a set of feasible social the ethical foundations of their states, a feasible social state, say x, subject to include considerations must never be chosen if there is of individual rights, freedom, etc., another feasible social state y which traditionally did not figure which gives no less utility to in welfare economics. anybody in the society as com- More than two centuries ago, in pared to x, and gives strictly more his Fragment on Government utility to some people in the Bentham (1976) described how he society as compared to x. Even “learnt to see that utility was the when welfare economists tried to test and measure of all virtue … go beyond the Pareto principle, and that the obligation to they still remained within the minister to general happiness, confines of welfarism. was an obligation paramount to Thanks mainly to the path- and inclusive of every other.” This breaking contributions of principle of utility, or utilitarianism Professor Amartya Sen, welfare as it was to be called, about which economics has slowly emerged Bentham wrote with such fervour, from this self-imposed restriction. influenced economics deeply. For Over the last four decades or so, a long time welfare economists

128 Lectures

welfare economists have: (i) Nor have these changes in welfare formulated models of individual economics been confined to rights; (ii) studied possible abstract theory. They have tensions between the respect for influenced the formulation of individual rights and the Pareto economic policies, especially in principle, which constitutes one of developing countries, in a signifi- the weakest criteria in the wel- cant fashion. The lecture outlined faristic tradition; (iii) explored some of these developments in non-utilitarian conceptions of an welfare economics and indicated a individual’s well-being; and (iv) few of the tensions that arise in introduced freedom as an impor- this richer but more complex tant dimension of the well-being ethical framework. of an individual and studied the problem of measuring freedom.

129 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Professor Norman Hammond FSA FBA Department of Archaeology, Boston University, USA 14 November 2006 Recovering Maya Civilisation British Academy Albert Reckitt Archaeology Lecture

The Maya created one of the most permanent rivers such as the notable and surprising civilisa- Usumacinta, and a tropical rain tions of the ancient world, in what forest vegetation with a canopy are now the Yucatan Pensinsula of up to 40m high. southern Mexico and the adjacent Initial human penetration oc- countries of Guatemala, Belize, curred around 10,000 years ago, Honduras and El Salvador. Best but the first forest clearance by known from great cities such as maize farmers occurred around Tikal, Copan, Palenque and 3500 BC on the Pacific coast and Chichén Itzá,the Maya reached 2500 BC in Belize, documented by their apogee in the Classic Period pollen cores. The oldest villages of AD 250-900, when many small on the Pacific side date from polities flourished and fought around 1700 BC and in the across this part of Central Ameri- central zone are present by 1200 ca. The Classic is bracketed by a BC, where Cuello (excavated Postclassic, ending with the 1975-2002) documents the Spanish conquest of the mid- development of domestic architec- sixteenth century, and a Preclassic ture, pottery and stone-tool (or Formative) period extending technology, and subsistence back to the beginnings of settled based on maize, root crops, deer agriculture in the second Millenni- hunting and the domesticated um BC. dog. Long-distance procurement The Maya Area has three major of jade and obsidian, and their regions: the volcanic and meta- presence in some burials, attest morphic highlands of Chiapas the emergence of interdependent and southern Guatemala; the flat, communities ruled by élites who arid limestone platform of the commissioned the first public northern Yucatan Pensinsula, buildings at sites such as Cival: where annual rainfall rarely the foundations of Maya civilisa- exceeds 500mm; and the central tion were laid between 650 and region of Belize, the Petén of 400 BC. northern Guatemala, and north- Early in the Late Preclassic (400 ern Chiapas with abundant BC-AD 250) the existence of Maya rainfall (up to 4000mm), large

130 Lectures

hieroglyphic script as a tool of dynasty portrayed on Altar Q had governance is found at San been an historical reality. Bartolo, where murals dating, Decipherment of hieroglyphic from the second century BC in texts on royal monuments in many naturalistic style, document cities has also shown that in the complex myths and rituals period between AD 562 and 695, including royal accession. The the states of Tikal and Calakmul existence of such monarchies prior had fought a long series of wars. to the Late Classic, where the The initial success of the Calakmul evidence of major royal construc- alliance in encircling Tikal was tions including palaces and eventually negated by the latter's funerary temples had long been victory under Hasaw Chan K'awil. evident and formed the bulk of Such internecine warfare between the visible remains of Classic Maya Maya polities persisted through civilisation, had been doubted. the ninth century, and is seen as a The San Bartolo murals with their major factor in the collapse of accompanying short texts, the Classic civilisation. coeval development of much Natural, rather than cultural, larger communities such as factors have long been suggested Nakbe, El Mirador and Edzna with as operative in the collapse massive public works, and the process, the most recent being the discovery of proto-palaces at impact of severe drought during Uaxactun Groups E and H, as well the period AD 800-1000. A recent as at San Bartolo's Tigrillo com- core from the Cariaco Basin plex, demonstrated an early Late refines this argument, in demon- Preclassic origin for kingship. At strating four multi-year (<6) Copan, a series of tunnels, episodes of exceptionally severe totalling more than 3 km in drought at roughly half-century length into the Acropolis, uncov- intervals between AD 760 and ered a nested sequence of Early 910. The Maya collapse remains Classic dynastic temples and royal mysterious in its finality, but the tombs, providing concrete multiplicity of causes underlying it evidence that the sixteen-ruler are becoming much clearer.

131 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Michael J Berridge Laboratory of Molecular Signalling, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge 27 November 2006 Calcium Signalling in Health and Disease

Calcium (Ca2+) is a highly versatile where temporal properties of intracellular signal capable of signalling become increasingly regulating many different process- important, with signalling es. To achieve this versatility, the represented as repetitive Ca2+ signalling system operates in transients and waves. many different spatial and Such Ca2+ signalling systems are temporal modes thus enabling it not fixed in stone, but are con- to function over a wide dynamic stantly being remodelled to adapt range. At any moment in time, the to changing circumstances to level of intracellular Ca2+ is ensure that each specific cell type determined by a balance between continues to deliver the Ca2+ the ON reactions that introduce signals that characterises its Ca2+ into the cytoplasm and the unique function. It seems that OFF reactions during which this Ca2+ itself plays a critical role in signal is removed through the this internal assessment mecha- combined action of buffers, nism by remodelling its own pumps and exchangers. signalling pathway. A number of Cells have access to a very exten- important disease states (hyper- sive Ca2+ signalling toolkit from tension, congestive heart failure, which each cell type expresses a manic depressive illness, Alzheim- unique set of components to er’s disease) may result from create Ca2+ signalling systems abnormal remodelling of Ca2+ with widely different spatial and signalling systems. A good temporal properties. Spatial example is congestive heart properties are particularly relevant failure, a major cause of human for fast responses where compo- morbidity and mortality, which is nents of the ON reactions and controlled by a number of their downstream effectors are signalling pathways of which closely associated. This spatial Ca2+ seems to play a prominent contiguity is less apparent for the role. slower responses such as gene One of the characteristics of transcription, fertilisation and cell cardiac hypertrophy is that there proliferation, where Ca2+ signals appears to be a process of de- tend to operate more globally and

132 Lectures

differentiation in that the hyper- Ca2+ transients (e.g. increases in trophic stimuli activate a amplitude or width) induced by programme of foetal cardiac gene hypertrophic stimuli may be transcription. It is proposed that sufficient to activate the novel phenotypic stability is maintained transcriptional events responsible by the normal cardiac cell Ca2+ for the phenotypic remodelling transients. However, a change in that leads to hypertrophy. the properties of these transients While the initial hypertrophy is may alter transcription to bring driven primarily by extrinsic about the phenotypic remodelling factors, the transition to conges- that occurs during hypertrophy. A tive heart failure may depend major problem with trying to upon intrinsic control mechanisms understand cardiac hypertrophy is designed to maintain phenotypic the fact that the heart is not stability. This more speculative quiescent, but continues to aspect of the working hypothesis contract regularly, driven by proposes that the increase in periodic Ca2+ signals that flood Ca2+ signalling that occurs through the cytoplasm and during the initial hypertrophy nucleus every few seconds. The phase triggers a progressive down extrinsic factors that drive this regulation of the cardiac signal- hypertrophic response (e.g. some such that it fails to deliver mechanical load, loss of myocytes the strong Ca2+ pulses necessary and endocrine factors) act against to maintain the cardiac pump this background of repetitive cycle. It is this failure of the Ca2+ Ca2+ pulses. How do normal signaling system that is responsi- cardiac cells avoid triggering a ble for the failing heart. hypertrophic response? It seems that subtle changes in the characteristics of the individual

133 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Professor George Henderson Emeritus Professor of Mediaeval Art, University of Cambridge Dr Isabel Henderson OBE Former Fellow of Newnham College, Cambridge 4 December 2006 Visual Theology in Pictish Art

Early commentators on Pictish that by conflation or combination sculpture tended to misconstrue of imagery the stone sculptures the figurative subjects, applying themselves comprise homilies, inappropriate cultural contexts explorations of and meditations and interpretations, being on theological themes. ignorant of the exegetical tech- The great cross-slab at Nigg does niques practised by early not only respond accurately to a mediaeval scholars and artists. close reading of St Jerome’s Reiterating and extending narrative account of the life of the arguments put forward jointly by Desert Fathers, the founders of George and Isabel Henderson in western monasticism, but is their book The Art of the Picts unique in its mystical representa- (Thames & Hudson, 2004), this tion of the moment of the lecture put the case for recognis- consecration of the sacred ing the presence of learned and elements in the Mass, while sensitive Christian imagery in another portion of the cross-slab many of the principal visual investigates in a wholly original monuments surviving from the way the scriptural theme of God’s Pictish period, c.600 AD–c.850 judgements, dashing down and AD. At its clearest and most direct, raising up. Pictish sculptors were in the cross-slab No 7 at St obviously familiar with basic Early Vigeans, the pediment of the Nigg Christian motifs, such as Jonah cross-slab, and the fragmentary and the whale and Daniel in the cross-slab at Meigle, No 27, lions’ den, symbolising Christ’s Pictish sculptors literally visualised death and resurrection, but there canonical scriptural and hagio- is a boldness and freedom in how graphical texts written by the these motifs are employed, Apostles Paul and James and by supporting the thesis that Pictish the Church Father St Jerome. art carries us into the core of What is even more striking is the Pictish intellectual life and makes way in which Pictish artists went up for the loss of other forms of beyond their immediate literary evidence, Pictish poetry and sources, to gloss and underline scriptural commentaries. A moral one pictorial image by others, so pastoral dimension is apparent in

134 Lectures

Pictish sculpture, for example in symbols of the Evangelists, which the sculpture at Meigle anticipat- were thereafter followed by the ing the later mediaeval illuminators of the famous early illustrations of the Gospel story of Insular Gospel Books, of Durrow, Dives and Lazarus, and in the Durham, Cambridge, and Echter- emphasis on the redemption of nach. Pictish artists were the sinner, grandly conveyed by recogniseably at the receiving end the huge cross -slab, Meigle No 2. of exotic visual material, from far The high intellectual level of the off in Europe and beyond, which visual programmes planned and has left few or no traces in the executed by Pictish sculptors helps contemporary arts elsewhere in to explain what has in recent years Britain. The eighth century,the age become generally accepted, of the Iconoclastic controversy, namely that Pictish designers set saw Pictish artists at the forefront standards for the representation of the orthodox cause, unprece- of sacred subjects, notably the dentedly inventive in the use of visual imagery in the service of the Christian faith.

135 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Professor Sue Black OBE FRSE Head of Unit, Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology, University of Dundee 11 December 2006 Forensic Anthropology – The Journey from Culloden to Iraq Forensic Anthropology – In the real world. The Edinburgh Lectures

Few disciplines have suffered as ‘pertaining to the court’ and much from the intrusion of anthropology literally means the popular media culture as forensic study of man. Therefore by anthropology. From the smiling definition, forensic anthropology skull uncovered for Taggart or is the study of man for the reconstructed for Morse to the purposes of informing the court. heroines of Kathy Reichs and Whilst the discipline operates to Patricia Cornwell. Every now and assist the investigative forces, its again we have to even stand up to ultimate lord and master is the Amanda Burton and good old courts of justice. The practitioners Quincy. The cameras have been of this subject are expert witness- admitted into our isolated es whose testimony in court academic world and sometimes it carries considerable weight and is difficult to live up to the public’s therefore their training must be expectations. intensive and lengthy. So what is forensic anthropology? Within the UK, forensic anthropol- One curmudgeonly Sergeant was ogists assist the investigative overheard to comment in words forces in the identification of the similar to – “What the heck do we deceased. The victim may have want an anthropologist for – passed from this world recently or we’re not looking for the Ama- it may show significant decompo- zon?” It is the frequent sition or indeed be skeletal or misconception by the public that fragmented in its presentation. forensic anthropology must deal The forensic anthropologist must with long lost peoples from be able to carry out their work unknown civilisations, isolated regardless of the manner in which somewhere up an equatorial rain the body is presented. Our prime forest. The other misconception is function is not to determine the that it is a subject that just deals cause or manner of the death with dry old bones but both are (that is the remit of the forensic far from the truth. pathologist) but rather it is to The word forensic is derived from assist in the identity of the the Latin ‘forensis’ meaning deceased. The remit of the job has expanded in the last 10–15

136 Lectures

years as we are more frequently But it may equally find you in the asked to assist the international depths of Sierra Leone being community in the investigation of surrounded by armed guards war crimes, abuses of human whose sole aim is to prevent the rights and humanitarian repatria- rebels from capturing you as a tion. The mass graves of Rwanda, hostage. Yugoslavia and Iraq require our Glamorous? Oh dear me no! assistance as much as the disas- Nobody looks good in a scene-of- ters of the World Trade Centre, crime paper suit. the Asian Tsunami or the London bombings. Wherever the de- Demanding? Unquestionably. 12 ceased require to be identified, hour shifts for six weeks without a there is work for the forensic break. anthropologist. Interesting? Absolutely no doubt. This is not a profession for the No two cases or two days are ever weak or the mildly interested. the same. There is no such thing as a typical Addictive? Without question. day and there is no such thing as Each and every case is the chal- an easy job. One case may find lenge that demands to be you in the wilds of Scotland conquered. excavating an abandoned quarry Would I encourage my daughters for the skeletal remains of a to follow in my footsteps? Don’t mother and child who have been be silly! missing for 27 years with no more to worry you than the midges.

137 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Heather Reid BBC Broadcast Meteorologist 12 December 2006 RSE Christmas Lecture (University of Stirling) Weather Forecasting in the 21st Century

The Sun’s energy warms the Earth long gone! Forecasters can access and causes air to rise. This simple computer models, satellite and process, coupled with the Earth’s radar, and real-time observations. Rotation leads to complex global However, our climate appears to weather systems. Predicting the be changing and global warming weather has challenged meteorol- may provide the greatest chal- ogists for centuries. Modern lenge yet. This presentation forecasts rely on the latest explored weather forecasting in technology, world-wide observa- the 21st Century, and took a tions and a network of satellites. behind-the-scenes look at the The days of damp seaweed are preparation of TV forecasts.

138 Lectures

Dr Fiona Watson, Director, AHRC Research Centre for Environmental History, University of Stirling 16 January 2007 Environmental Choices Regional Lecture (Perth Concert Hall) Using History and Science to Understand Scotland’s Changing Biodiversity, 1600-2000

Environmental scientists are well at the University of Stirling seeks aware of the importance of the to unravel the highly complex past in understanding the relationship between nature and present, but historians are rarely human activity in the Scottish involved in analysing landscape uplands over the last four hun- change, despite their discipline’s dred years. ability to help establish not only The results provide a fascinating what happened but why. insight into the shaping of the Dr Watson’s own work with an landscape and the attitudes of interdisciplinary team in the those who inhabited the ‘wildern- Centre for Environmental History esses’ we love today.

This lecture was organised jointly with the Royal Scottish Geographical Society (RSGS) and Society of Antiquaries of Scotland

139 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Professor Anne Glover Chief Scientific Advisor for Scotland 13 February 2007 The 2007 ECRR Peter Wilson Lecture Does Science Matter?

At the 2007 ECRR Peter Wilson self-cleaning glass), and the lecture in February, Scotland’s first popular notion that scientists are Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor not just “boring” but bad for the Anne Glover, posed the question: planet. “Does science matter?” Her For Professor Glover, science is not conclusion? In a word: “Yes!” just a cure for the ills caused by But her argument was, of course, humans, it’s one of the “symp- slightly more complex… toms” of the human condition. It started with the Big Bang and Her argument is that because we ended with a plea for Scotland’s are good at reproduction and live scientists to stop being silent on in large communities and interact the issues affecting us all, but with our environment, we cause Anne Glover’s lecture on “Does lots of damage – including global science matter?” was sound warming. To counter this, as we advice for everyone concerned have well developed brains, we about the image – and the future also have a drive to solve prob- – of science. lems (whether they’re our fault or Professor Glover explained how not) and need constant stimula- science helps us understand the tion, which is why we need both world we live in, from the birth of the arts and the sciences. the cosmos to the ongoing search What concerns Professor Glover is for dark matter. Along the way, that we are “more removed from she also covered microbiology, science” today than we have been climate change, cancer, renewable for decades. We may be on the energy and nanotechnology verge of catapulting spacecraft (including glass that cleans itself), out of the solar system, but can concluding that even though we cure cancer or reverse climate science may cause many problems, change? it also provides good solutions. Professor Glover remains optimis- Controversy was never far away in tic, however. For example, in the the course of the lecture, includ- study of microbes, she not only ing the worry that water may be sees healthy progress in pure the new oil (thus the need for the understanding but also important

140 Lectures

technological spin-offs. While Professor Glover said commercial trying to make microbes glow in pressures can stimulate develop- the dark, so they can observe ment, while ethical pressures can them better, microbiologists have also have a positive impact. in the process developed a The role of the Chief Scientific number of new applications, Advisor herself also came under including biosensors which may the spotlight, including the help us measure toxicity or even comment that good scientific prevent germ warfare attacks and advice will often produce contra- develop new drugs without dictory views – while bad advice animal testing. can lead to even greater complica- Industrialisation may have caused tions. global warming, but Professor Professor Glover then turned her Glover also sees hope in new attention to government and technologies such as carbon education, saying it is hard for capture and renewable energy. those without a solid scientific “Science has identified the background to embrace scientific problem,” she said, “and enables advice, stressing how she saw the us to do something about it.” need to “strengthen the science According to Professor Glover, the base in the Executive” and role of science, and her own communicate science much better. position as the Chief Scientific “Government is not very smart at Advisor, is likely to grow in the procuring advice,” she comment- future, as the issues we face ed, adding that part of her job become increasingly complex. was to filter conflicting advice and “Science is the past and the draw on the support of other present, and it will certainly be the specialists. future,” she said. “In Scotland, we produce some of the best Do too many scientists “over- science in the world, and we have claim” achievements in the a legacy to build on, developing scramble for funding? In defence new policies pinned on solid of her colleagues, Professor scientific evidence.” Glover said the media were sometimes to blame, more The questions raised after the interested in squeezing out lecture reflected this broad sensational headlines than philosophical tone, touching on difficult and complex things like everything from ethics to bad scientific “truth”. And education education. lies at the root of the problem, Asked about the profit-driven she added. nature of much scientific research,

141 Review of the Session 2006-2007

“The way science is taught in our and express their views and stop schools is not very exciting,” she being so frightened of being said. “We must declutter the misinterpreted, so that what really curriculum and place more matters in science (including dark emphasis on hands-on experi- matter) is better understood – not ments.” just by politicians but by everyone. Finally, Professor Glover called on Scotland’s scientists to speak up

142 Lectures

Professor Alan Heavens Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Edinburgh 27 February 2007 RSE Roadshow Public Lecture (Ullapool High School) Black Holes and Small Bangs

What happens to a star? Big stars explosion. Others may collapse are in delicate balance, kept alive dramatically into a Black Hole. by a big nuclear reactor in the Here we explore the strange middle. But what happens when properties of curved space around the fuel runs out? Some stars Black Holes and dip our toes into don’t take it very well, and wormholes, time travel and the explode violently in a supernova physics in the movies.

143 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Professor Jerome McGann The John Stewart Bryan Professor of English, University of Virginia 8 March 2007 Philology in a New Key: Humane Studies in Digital Space

Professor Janet McDonald evolution are, how they should be introduced Professor McGann used and what they will look like. with a brief biography of his The library, especially the research writings on Byron and his editing library, is the cornerstone, if not of the poet’s seven volume the very foundation, of modern definitive standard writings. She humanities. It is undergoing right outlined Professor McGann’s now a complete digital transfor- central role in the digitisation of mation. In the coming decades – texts and promotion of online the process has already begun – open source material for scholars. the entirety of our cultural His development of a digital inheritance will be transformed project on Dante Gabriel Rossetti and re-edited in digital forms. Do has led to the launching of the we understand what that means, NINES (Networked Infrastructure what problems it brings, how they for Nineteenth-century Electronic might be addressed?’ The ‘largely Scholarship (www.nines.org)) digitally illiterate academic world’ online programme for digital puts many scholars on the interpretation and peer-review. margins. The digital transformation of our Across several prestigious Ameri- museums and archives and its can universities, including impact upon traditional paper- Harvard, Princeton and Cornell, based publication has come to the there is not a single faculty attention of scholars in recent member engaged in any digital times. The rise of digital technolo- research in spite of exponential gy is already impacting upon development of the web. There scholarship and education and a are vast repositories of informa- practical, accessible way of tion, yet there remains a lack of maximising its usage and accessi- strong infrastructure to digitise bility must be put in place. written material and create an Professor McGann has been accessible forum for 19th century seeking to find out more about romantic literature scholars in what the instruments in this particular.

144 Lectures

To learn a foreign language, one new publishing and peer-review. must do more than study books. The learning curve is steep and One must immerse oneself in the the upfront costs are substantial language and culture and use it in a medium which, unlike paper- effectively. Understanding and based publishing, is not yet recognising the importance of the strongly established. Instead, digital revolution demands hands- “digital publishing, even the best on collaboration and real of it, is all more or less atomised, participation. growing like so many Topsies. There is, argues Professor Mc- Worse, these creatures are Gann, a deeply imbedded idiosyncratically designed and so ideological conflict that frames can’t easily talk to each other.” the crisis in humanities scholar- The lack of funding resources also ship. Critical theory is in “a dismal contributes to the challenge of state”, according to Bruno Latour, ensuring their maintenance, which points up the need “to development and survival. The retrieve a realist attitude.” work regularly passes without much practical institutional notice. While general book publishing Accepted professional standards moves forward and responds to do not control the work in steady demand, the academic objective ways. Most of it comes marketplace has drastically shrunk into being without oversight or as consumer demand has de- peer-review. creased. While American scholarly publishers of the 1990s produced Among universities, humanities print runs of around 1000 to and education faculties will not 1500 copies, the number has now take digitisation seriously until plummeted to around 100 to procedures for initiating it are 150. This trend will not be expanded. During the last decade reversed. As scholars produce or so, the needs of research more and more work, they pass it scholars have developed and to a delivery system with a extended so that they need more diminishing capacity to sustain its than basic software. What is publication. required now is a full online publishing structure with the Many now realise that online facility to connect paper-based publication is the natural and material to digital format. inevitable response to this general problem of scholarly and educa- With this need clearly identified, tional communication, not only Professor McGann began working for accessing existing academic on two projects that would test publications but as a medium for and develop his understanding of how digital technology might

145 Review of the Session 2006-2007

work. First, he digitally edited and is a model and working example keyed-in published material at the for scholarship that takes advan- Californian Institute of Technolo- tage of digital resources and gy. Then he began work on the internet connectivity. It provides Dante Gabriel Rossetti archive. scholars with access to a uniformly “I learned a lot more when the coded textual environment and a Rossetti archive got underway. I suite of computerised analytic and could see that digital devices in all interpretive schools.” their complexity are required and Crucially, NINES is more than an that we should put published academic exercise. It has a very books online. The IVANHOE, practical purpose that includes JUXTA and COLLEX systems grew modelling a technical and institu- out of the Rossetti project, the tional framework that integrates premise for which was to create our inherited archive of paper- an integrated an open-source based materials, both primary and social space and system. There is a secondary, with emerging forms tension – a collision – between of digital scholarship and criti- paper-based books and digital cism. It also begins to provide a material and that can be very suite of user-friendly procedures enlightening. I could see the and accessible digital tools to help benefits of digital tools in push- scholars and students to produce ing us to better understand interesting work in digital form. books.” ‘Digital technology offers remark- The NINES initiative establishes an able new possibilities for online environment for publishing studying, analysing and interpret- peer-reviewed research in nine- ing our cultural inheritance in teenth-century British and ways – both individual and American studies. Primarily an collaborative – that have not been institutional mechanism for possible previously.’ digitally-organised research and NINES includes a markup schema scholarship, NINES also includes designed specifically for literary pedagogical and classroom and cultural studies materials. components. Digital tools to provide complex NINES acts as a professional interpretive operations help facilitator and as an advocacy scholars to transpose paper-based group to protect the interests of functions into a digital environ- scholars and educators. Its ment. A text comparison tool purpose includes liaison with called JUXTA allows comparison interested publishing venues and and collation of textual similarities a coordinated group of editorial and differences in a given set of boards oversees the work. “NINES equivalent documents. IVANHOE

146 Lectures

offers online collaborative space inevitable, whether or not we for organisaing interpretive chose to take it: “we should all be investigations of traditional clear about the slow train that’s humanities of any kind. COLLEX coming and that won’t be develops tools to allow users to sidetracked” in terms of digital assemble and share virtual transformation of research collections and to present anno- archives. tated exhibits. A range of questions featured Professor McGann describes issues on IP and copyright control; himself as “a book scholar, about how internet content could be as traditional as you get” and effectively supervised; the risk of points to Swinburne’s line on individual universities demanding humanism: “Glory to man in the their own unique systems; how highest, for man is the master of the quality of submissions might things” which, he says, is very be overseen and the ontological much to his taste. He is convinced, differences between a paper- however, that the road ahead is based publication and its online equivalent.

147 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Professor Sir John Meurig Thomas FRS Hon FREng Hon FRSE Honorary Professor, Department of Materials Science, University of Cam- bridge and former Director, Royal Institution of Great Britain 30 April 2007 The Unpredictability of Science and its Consequences

Tales of the unexpected… identify the major developments No-one knew what to expect in science and technology over the when they arrived for the RSE next 30 years. Roosevelt wanted lecture in April by Professor Sir to plan for the future and opti- John Meurig Thomas on “The mise deployment of his national unpredictability of science and its resources, but the commission consequences.” But as the failed to notice many imminent evening unfolded, his insights breakthroughs, such as radar and into scientific discovery proved lasers, fax machines, biotechnolo- that happy accidents drive human gy, antibiotics and jet planes, progress just as much as clever despite the fact that all of them calculations… already existed, at least in the text books – some of them, like fax The clue didn’t come till the end machines, for more than a century. of the lecture. Sir John then revealed his secret – he had spent Some members of the US Com- four years advising the cabinet mission had probably spent too office on the future of technology much time reading Scientific and science, and almost none of American, the academic publica- his predictions had come true. tion which had confidently predicted in 1920 that “steam Thomas and his fellow committee planes” were the way to fly in members had managed to identify future. the enormous potential of MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) This echoed the remarks of the and confocal light microscopy, but eminent Scottish scientist Lord most of their other predictions Kelvin, who once declared that ended up in the shredder, while “heavier-than-air flying machines many other key developments were impossible.” Another of Sir (including the spectacular rise of John’s heroes, the physicist Sir the shredder) didn’t even appear Ernest Rutherford, had also been on the radar. guilty of getting it terribly wrong. In 1934, he predicted that anyone Speaking of radar, this was one of who expected to generate power the technologies missed by a from the transformation of atoms similar US Commission appointed was “talking moonshine.” by President Roosevelt in 1937 to

148 Lectures

Was this the same Rutherford many major scientific break- who turned the world of science throughs, together with the upside down, and in the process interplay of political, societal, disproved Kelvin’s theory that the commercial and military influenc- Earth was only 100 million years es. “Sometimes,” he said, “it is a old? case of being in the right place at The history of science, said the right time, and making the Professor Thomas, is littered with right decision.” Sometimes, he inaccurate predictions and “blind- added, it is the “fanatically keen spots,” dating back to Emperor experimentalist” and an all- Vespasian’s chief military advisor consuming passion “approaching Frontinus, who thought invention madness” – a blend of scientific, had already “reached its limits” artistic and neurotic qualities – with the catapult and other high- which drives the inventor. Some- tech weapons. times, it is money… According to Professor Thomas, War also drives technology and unpredictability is actually one of science – like the Internet, devel- the engines of science – while oped by the military in the US to proving the prophets wrong it defend its data systems from a may actually encourage innova- nuclear attack. Without the tion. When the inventor of the jet existence of a Soviet threat, the engine, Sir Frank Whittle, read in scientists may not have even tried 1940 that according to the latest to invent it. And who could have scientific wisdom, jet turbines predicted the increase in the would never take off, despite the number of nodes on the network, fact he had already built a proto- from only four in 1969 to 23 type eight years before, he said it nodes two years later and billions was a good thing he “was too today? “Exponential is not good stupid to know this” at the time. enough to describe this incredible growth,” Professor Thomas “Even the experts can’t see more commented. than three years ahead,” said Professor Thomas. “But rather Paranoia can also lead to exciting than discuss how experts get it discoveries. In 1969, for example, wrong so often, let’s ask how when US officials suspected that science and technology progress – the Soviets were exploding the internal and external factors nuclear bombs on the dark side of which drive science forward.” the moon, American military scientists investigated further and Professor Thomas then described discovered the existence of how it is chance (and sometimes gamma ray bursts – events which more than chance) that leads to happen once or twice a day and

149 Review of the Session 2006-2007

last 1/100th of a second, emitting as a substitute for uric acid, which energy equivalent to all the fuel is insoluble, in an experiment to burned by the sun in the course of test a speculative theory. Radio its lifetime, signalling the birth of astronomy developed from a black hole. Without the Cold research into something a lot War, it is possible this cosmic more mundane – interference – phenomenon would not have when Janski discovered that radio been detected for many more waves, coming from deep outer years. space, were the source of the The lecture then covered a few crackling, rather than the circuitry hundred years of inventions, from inside the wireless. The platins the microscope and telescope used to treat testicular cancer which let us see bacteria and resulted from an error in the lab, faraway stars, to the much under- when researchers discovered that rated charged coupled device platinum – not the electrical field (CCD) which enables us to see the they were using – was responsible tiny organisms living in the ocean for the effects they observed. and expands our view of the The “best accident” in physics, cosmos by a factor of over 1,000, according to Professor Thomas, to observe the “birth, growth and happened in 1895, when Wilhelm death of galaxies” – as well as to von Roentgen discovered the see what’s going on inside the existence of x-rays during an human body, via endoscopy. experiment involving electricity Other breakthroughs touched and phosphors, when something upon during the lecture included “unpredictable” happened. genetic fingerprinting, helico- Being in the right place at the bacter pylori (the bacteria which right time has also been responsi- causes ulcers), radio astronomy ble for some of the most and lithium, as well as more sensational discoveries – e.g. domestic inventions like double when Rutherford and Soddy glazing and pressure cookers – all “departed from all of the dogma” of which owe a debt to the times with their theory of atomic and the places they came from, as transmutation (including isotopes well as serendipity plus profit and and radioactive half-life), which political ambition. depended on having the funding For example, lithium is now widely and all the resources in place at used to treat manic depression, their lab in Montreal in the early but its discovery was more or less 1900s; or when Crick and Watson an accident – the lithium salt of heard a scientist talking at dinner uric acid, being soluble, was used in 1953 and “discovered” the

150 Lectures

missing piece in the DNA jigsaw, when different scientific fields saving them years of research. collide and lead to unexpected If Michael Faraday had not consequences for them all. attended Sir Humphrey Davy’s Human chemistry and educated lecture, and gone on to study guesses may therefore be more electromagnetism, asked Profes- critical to scientific progress than sor Thomas, thus inspiring the all the noblest efforts of political theories of Maxwell and Einstein, and academic planners. Even what would life be like today? making too many plans for the However, if we focus too much on future may be a mistake, Professor esoteric scientific theory and not Thomas concluded, since the enough on practical applications, future is full of surprises. As one we may fail to develop things of the audience said at the end of which impact our everyday life – the lecture, “You can’t predict the e.g. many useful electronic unpredictable – predictable is devices. Sir John also suggested boring.” And based on the that all the “great moments” in evidence of his lecture, “boring” science result from an almost is not a word in Professor Tho- alchemical meeting of minds, mas’s vocabulary.

151 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Professor Paul Jowitt FRSE Professor of Civil Engineering Systems and Executive Director, Scottish Institute of Sustainable Technology (SISTech), Heriot-Watt University, Vice-President, Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) 31 May 2007 (The Teacher Building, Glasgow) Engineering Civilisation from the Shadows The Brunel International Lecture

The Institution of Civil Engineers the 21st century: climate change (ICE) established the Brunel and world poverty. International Lecture in 1999 in How can engineers help to memory of Isambard Kingdom alleviate worldwide poverty? What Brunel. role can they play in addressing The sixth Brunel International the impacts felt by climate Lecture, was launched in London change? How can they create a on June 6 2006, and was repeat- more sustainable future for ed across the globe to influential civilisation? engineers, parliamentarians and Poverty: business leaders, to raise the profile of civil engineering’s Engineering the poor out of the capabilities and responsibilities in dark shadows cast by world tackling poverty and climate poverty and the misery it gener- change. ates. Lectures were held in Auckland, Climate change: Wellington, Christchurch, Sydney, Engineering the world away from Brisbane, Melbourne, Singapore, the equally long shadows thrown Belfast, Cardiff and Glasgow. by an energy and environmental The Brunel International Lectures crisis and with global climate at a have covered topics ranging from tipping point. Infrastructure, Technology for the The resolutions for these two Third Millennium, Sustainable issues are not unrelated. It was no Development, Poverty Alleviation, coincidence they were the central and Water for the World. The issues at the G8 summit in 2006 Brunel International Lecture Gleneagles in July 2005. – Engineering Civilisation from the Further information about the Shadows – draws on elements of Brunel Lecture can be found on all of them. Its focus is on the role the ICE website, www.ice.org.uk/ of engineering in addressing the brunel twin spectres facing the world in

152 Lectures

Professor David W Macdonald Director, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Oxford University 18 June 2007 A Brush with Foxes and other Carnivore Tales

From the intimate to the epic – It is an article of faith that each these were tales that swept from animal and its interaction with life among a single family of foxes human society must be researched to the fates of whole species. in depth and over time, in order to Professor David W Macdonald’s be properly understood. In some RSE lecture provided a close cases the results have offered encounter with wildlife from hope for creatures on the verge of Britain to Africa. In each case he extinction. highlighted how long-term By the early 1990s the elegant scientific study is the most Ethiopian wolf was rarer than the effective way to understand the giant panda and its future looked problems animals face and bleak. Contact with domestic provide effective solutions. dogs brought successive rabies Conservation projects have seen epidemics, with one in 1992 the Professor and his colleagues wiping out 77% of the popula- carry out detailed studies of the tion. lives and habits of many carnivore Sophisticated modelling of the species from love-cheat wolves’ behaviour meant that she-wolves in Ethiopia to sheep- when the disease struck again, the stealing cheetahs in Namibia. scientists were ready. By using a One factor tends to remain carefully targeted vaccination constant: when humans and programme they created a cordon animals come into conflict it is the sanitaire which prevented latter which lose out. This is true widespread destruction. whether it is through direct action Behind the emergency measures by farmers to protect livestock or lay a new appreciation of the as a side-effect of global warming. complexity of life among the As a pioneer of pure and applied wolves. While the female in the techniques for the study of animal Alpha pair - the breeding couple behaviour, Professor Macdonald’s in each pack - appeared the model work has helped to redress the of fidelity on her home ground, balance by finding ways of she would regularly stray and tackling the problems, which will mate with many of the males she protect the interests of animals encountered in neighbouring and people.

153 Review of the Session 2006-2007

territories. Despite this, because by turns endearing and alarming. reproduction was limited to one They revealed a society where pair per pack, wolf numbers were more than half the young are slow to recover after epidemics. sired by outsiders, where males By working with local people and outdo each other by digging the founding the EWCP (Ethiopian biggest holes, and where mutual Wolf Conservation Programme) grooming may be of immense the Professor and his colleagues importance but sometimes the have attempted to transform the temptation to bite the other animals’ prospects. This has been badger’s backside is simply done by changing the perception irresistible. of them from a threat to livestock According to Professor Macdon- into an economic asset. The EWCP ald there is also evidence that is now the area’s biggest employer global warming is affecting and public education means numbers in the study area at tourists are keen to take wolf- Wytham Woods. There was an watching holidays. initial doubling in the population The challenge of rabies, and other as the badgers could continue diseases, has become a familiar catching their staple diet of theme in the work of Oxford’s earthworms for longer due to Wildlife Conservation Research wetter, warmer winters. Unit (WildCRU). Investigations However, this was followed by a into British badgers (which dramatic decline as the death toll involved some of the earliest use from road accidents outstripped of infra-red technology to study their ability to breed. them at night) have profound Namibia, home to a third of the implications for arguments about world’s remaining cheetahs, whether culls help stop the spread provided a superb example of of bovine TB. The results suggest- how research combined with ed that such culls were imagination can help overcome counter-productive. While TB major challenges. Herdsmen had dropped on farms in the immedi- killed thousands of the predators ate area, it increased among their in retaliation for the loss of a neighbours as survivors moved couple of hundred sheep a year. elsewhere. Once the problem was under- Again, the years of study of the stood, an initiative was launched badgers, involving the monitoring to introduce powerful Anatolian of 1,000 individuals including a Shepherd dogs to guard flocks. veteran 16-year-old named No These helped remove the per- Ears, brought insights that were ceived need to kill cheetahs as

154 Lectures

annual sheep losses plummeted and in the east they were actively from a reported 29 to three per encouraged as something for farmer. trappers to catch. Further east in Zimbabwe, the However, WildCRU findings vividly Professor and his colleagues have illustrated that even where there is been involved in efforts to stop a seemingly simple case of cause the decline of the lion. While and effect, the reality is often Lions enjoyed total protection in rather different. According to the Hwange National Park, the Professor Macdonald, the use of authorities took the controversial agricultural chemicals had severely step of allowing limited hunting undermined the UK’s water voles outside the area. The aim was to before the mink turned up. “They discourage indiscriminate killing were already on a tightrope. Mink by making them economically may have pulled the trigger but valuable as an attraction for agriculture had cocked the wealthy foreign big game hunters. pistol.” Research showed that the lions More optimistically, research is tended to wander beyond the ongoing to discover the most limits of the park, meaning that effective strategies for reviving the almost the entire population was water vole population. Part of the vulnerable to hunters. Most of the answer may be in allowing nature animals were killed within 1km of to take its course. The spread of the park boundary. Even more the mink followed the sharp concerning was that as time went decline of the native otter popula- on, the older males were disap- tion. Now however cleaner rivers pearing, so younger males and mean the otters are returning and, females were being shot. Firm as the larger predator, wherever evidence for what was happening they appear the American mink go to the lion population resulted in into retreat. a moratorium on licensed hunting in the region. Similarly, a breeding programme on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa Back in Europe, WildCRU has could restore the fortunes of the been involved in research into the European mink and there are effect of the spread of the indications that nature is respond- American mink. Beautiful to look ing simultaneously. In what the at, these highly efficient predators Professor said may be “evolution have had a devastating effect on in action” there is evidence from the British water vole population the team’s study area in Belarus and on the smaller European mink that remaining wild European in places like Russia. In the UK mink are getting bigger - perhaps they bred after escaping fur farms,

155 Review of the Session 2006-2007

better able to fend off the Professor Macdonald’s native invaders. Scotland, where it is involved in There are instances where projects the problematic issue of protect- have brought widespread benefits ing the last remaining wildcats. to human health and society. The Despite being legally protected, Professor founded WildCRU - the there has been little consensus on first research unit of its kind - in how gamekeepers should distin- 1986 at a point when there was guish them from feral or domestic growing worry about rabies in cats that are regarded as vermin Europe. By developing a close on grouse moors. The issue is understanding of fox behaviour, now critical as advanced genetic the unit gained insights into one testing and related evidence of the key avenues through which suggests their numbers could be the disease could spread, poten- precariously low – one estimate tially infecting domestic animals being as low as 400. The Profes- and people. The results played an sor’s team, including collaborators important role in the introduction in the museum in Edinburgh, have of the oral vaccination programme identified a straightforward list of that proved such an effective pelt characteristics that should response. At the same time it help make sure the law is worka- allowed the researchers to ble. appreciate the sophistication of Yet, as ever, nature refuses to fox family behaviour. This included allow matters to be quite that witnessing how a vixen, known as simple. Of all the animals studied, Big Ears, climbed the social order the one with the most powerful to replace another called White genetic wildcat characteristics Paws as top female. In a remarka- looked like an everyday moggy. ble scene the scientists witnessed “The cat which was furthest from White Paws submit to her rival domestic actually wore a domestic and then become wet nurse to her coat. So the issue is, should it be cubs. cherished for its genes or eradicat- Nowadays WildCRU is firmly ed because of its coat?” established north of the border in

156 Lectures

Professor Sir Harry Kroto FRS HonFRSE Royal Society Research Professor, School of Chemistry, Physics and Environ- mental Science, University of Sussex 20 June 2007 Architecture in Nano-Space

Sir Harry Kroto was a co-winner of as the football compared to the the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in Earth – or, if you prefer, 100 1996 for his role in the discovery million times smaller than a of the Buckyball – the molecule football. that has become the icon of what The Buckyball’s official name is we now call nanotechnology. Buckminsterfullerene, because of Refusing to rest on his laurels, its resemblance to the geodesic however, Sir Harry has been dome, designed by the American heavily involved for more than a architect Buckminster Fuller. It is a decade in creating platforms for molecule composed of 60 carbon scientists to communicate on TV atoms, elegantly clustered into a and the Internet. Some years ago network with the same pattern as he set up the Vega Science Trust that of a modern-day football. which makes science programmes This symmetrical structure makes for TV and the Internet and now it the most robust molecule of all. he is focusing on Global Educa- Its elongated cousins, the tional Outreach (GEO) – an Zeppelin-shaped nanotubes, are Internet-based education initiative equally exciting, according to Sir to persuade the world that Harry, because they offer the knowledge of science engineering potential to create a material and maths is vital for our survival about six times lighter and 100 through the 21st century… times stronger than steel. If we Being told that Scotland is “the can solve the technical problem of greatest wee country on earth” mass-producing this material, it should have made Sir Harry Kroto would revolutionise engineering, feel very welcome. After all, Sir because it would be ideal as a Harry has done more than most to building material, for everything explore the “small, small world” from super-light aircraft and cars of nanotechnology. to ultra-strong bridges and In fact, to give his audience an skyscrapers. In addition, these idea of the scale of his discovery, materials promise major he explained that a Buckyball is so applications in nanoscale small that when you compare it to electronics and could revolution- the size of a football, it’s as small ise computing by enabling the creation of highly intelligent,

157 Review of the Session 2006-2007

incredibly compact devices. The and it was hailed in 1991 as molecules also appear to have “Molecule of the Year” by Science enormous potential as delivery magazine. Five years later, Sir vehicles for therapeutic drugs, Harry, Robert Curl and Richard travelling essentially non- Smalley were jointly awarded the invasively into the body to release ultimate prize. their cargo only when they arrive Sir Harry in his lecture explained at their target, rather than the how his journey had started – scatter-gun approach of most playing with Meccano as a boy, medical treatments. learning how to manipulate So, where did the Buckyball come different components. He also from? How many are out there? described his search for beautiful And how do you make one? patterns in nature, and how he The simple answer is that they are and his colleagues scanned the everywhere, created by explosions heavens by radioastronomy and in the atmosphere – for example, became fascinated by the radio when lightning strikes carbon, or waves emitted by carbon even in the flames of Bunsen molecules that were subsequently burners. And scientists can found to be present in the rapidly simulate this natural process to expanding envelopes of red giant create them in the lab, to self- stars. Then, as if he turned a assemble into sheets, wires and telescope the other way round, he tubular forms. embarked on his quest for the atomic-scale constituents of In 1985, Sir Harry and his carbon plasmas in the laboratory – colleagues were the first people a quest that would eventually lead ever to see C60 when they zapped to the discovery of C60. a small piece of graphite with a laser. When they analysed the The Buckyball has since become ablated material using a mass an icon of the new field of spectrometer, they discovered – to nanotechnology. After the their (and everyone else’s) excitement of the initial discovery, complete surprise – that a highly other scientists began to think up stable special species consisting of wacky applications as well as 60 carbon atoms had formed equally wacky but also very scary spontaneously. At first, many military uses, leading to what Sir scientists didn’t believe them and Harry describes as “irrational and several papers were published ignorant attacks” on all aspects of disputing their contention. In nanotechnology. According to 1990, however, the Buckyball our own Prince Charles and other structure was confirmed as correct public figures, self-replicating nanobots would turn the world

158 Lectures

into “grey goo”. However, as time you saw half-way through, a evolves, more mundane defect in one nanotube does not applications of nanotechnology pass on any fracture to are appearing, such as suntan neighbouring tubes. Nanowires lotions, tennis racquets, bowling would also make it possible to balls and self-cleaning toilets, and create new types of zero-loss these now tend to grab the conductors, while other nano- headlines rather than nebulous materials would act as super doomsday scenarios. shock absorbers, helping According to Sir Harry, who buildings survive during helped to kick off the debate, earthquakes or storms. At the nanotechnology could actually opposite end of the scale, play a key role in saving the nanotechnology could also be planet, thanks to the development used in genetic engineering. of new materials such as Yet despite these science-fiction- molecular motors running on like predictions, Sir Harry protons rather than electrons, as explained, nanotechnology is as well as more efficient solar cells old as life itself – for example, using C60 as a dopant or doping haemoglobin, the “molecular agent. “The big issue is motors” which travel around in sustainability,” said Sir Harry, “and our bodies, delivering oxygen to we will need much more muscles, etc. “We haven’t even sustainable technologies in started thinking about the future, with nanotechnology dynamics of nanotechnology,” he making a big contribution.” declared. “Nanotechnology is According to Sir Harry, this may 21st-century chemistry, and we mean having the nanotechnologi- need a fundamental understand- cal equivalent of dung beetles, to ing of chemistry, because the most recycle our discarded technolo- exciting areas of physics, gies. engineering and biology are those As well as saving energy and which overlap with chemistry.” helping to save the planet, As he switched the focus onto nanotechnology would have many education, Sir Harry discussed one other practical uses, said Sir Harry. of the great contradictions of Bundles of nanotubes would be modern life. On the one hand, he stronger than any material ever said, one of the greatest barriers created, partly because they would to the development of young not have the same kind of defects scientists is high technology – that limit the tensile strengths of unlike the young Sir Harry, taking all other materials – e.g. unlike things apart to find out how they wood that easily splits in two after worked, young people today have

159 Review of the Session 2006-2007

electronic devices which hide all students, like self-replicating their secrets. Despite being nano-tutors. “We are all experts in alienated from science, however, our own fields,” he said, and the today’s students now have much sum of our knowledge is greater easier access to teaching than any individual business or resources, via the Internet – and political force, no matter how this is where Sir Harry now strong it may seem. devotes much of his time, “Children need universally promoting the Vega Science Trust accepted truths,” said Sir Harry, (www.vega.org.uk), a non-profit- and science is the international making organisation which language which provides it, to broadcasts science programmes counter the culture which holds free-of-charge over the Internet. up Scientologist Tom Cruise as an Another of his new Internet icon and pokes fun at the scien- projects is GEO (Global tist, Young Einstein. “We have 10 Educational Outreach) at times too many psychologists and www.geoset.info, providing media studies graduates,” he downloadable educational added, “and not enough in material to help science teachers, chemistry and physics.” including recipes for hands-on projects. Perhaps, he suggested, we should talk a lot more about the humani- “Television is finished,” Sir Harry ty of science – like anaesthetics declared, “as a medium of and penicillin – to inspire our cultural, educational or intellectu- young students. ”Science is al value.” Websites, he believes, different from any other subject,” will become the new digital he said, “and what makes it classrooms. When asked about special is that it can only thrive if the problem of misinformation question and doubt are actively (particularly in medicine) and the encouraged.” bias towards modern, digitised sources in Google-biased re- But as he talked about “the search, Sir Harry said that he global outrage which worked believed elite sites would emerge, against Apartheid,” the humanity accredited by leading scientific of science and the wonders of institutions (like the Royal Society nanotechnology, Sir Harry brought of Edinburgh) to ensure the his audience back down to earth sources met high and reliable when he said that a quarter of the standards. world’s population still do not have electricity. Nanotechnology Sir Harry is also confident that the may be “the next big thing” but Internet will facilitate learning by was Sir Harry asking us to be pooling universal resources, with “grateful for small mercies”? students teaching younger 160 Lectures

Jan Figel' European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth 28 June 2007 Reforming Europe’s Universities – Why and How? Royal Society of Edinburgh Annual European Lecture

Jan Figel', a European Commis- In discussing the reasons why sioner since 2004, sees his remit reform is necessary, Commissioner as central to the future success of Figel' avoided criticising European the European Union. The Union’s universities directly, couching his goal, as set down in the 2000 comments in terms of how Lisbon Strategy, “to become the universities might be assisted to most competitive and dynamic fulfil their potential in terms of knowledge-based economy in the the benefits they can bring to world” can only be achieved society. In particular, he identified through education and training. the opportunity for more effective European universities have a interaction between education, potentially vital role but are research and business interests. In currently failing to deliver all that doing so he acknowledged the is required of them. record of the RSE in promoting Commissioner Figel' opened by such interaction within Scotland. thanking the Royal Society of He also exempted Scottish Edinburgh (RSE) for the invitation universities, and British universi- to present the 2007 Annual ties in general, from many of his European Lecture. He welcomed comments, both because of their the opportunity provided by his historical autonomy and because visit to start to engage Scottish of the changes they have under- universities in dialogue about gone over the past 15 years. ways in which the university sector Before expanding on his theme, throughout the European Union Commissioner Figel' made a point (EU) can better contribute to of reassuring his audience that economic and social policy. For the the European Commission is not first time since the establishment seeking powers to regulate of the EU, the strategic impor- universities, and that the principle tance of education to its future of subsidiarity applies in the success is now properly recog- sector. However, he suggested nised. At the European level, that the Commission’s responsi- political interest in higher educa- bilities as a whole afford it a tion has never been greater. perspective different from that of national authorities, and that

161 Review of the Session 2006-2007

thinking at the European level can The Commissioner argued that usefully contribute to the develop- the key to meeting these challeng- ment of national policies. es is “quite simply, knowledge”, In 2000, in what is referred to as reinforcing the need to reform the Lisbon Strategy, the EU set higher education. itself a new strategic goal for the The Commission sees universities next decade of creating a knowl- within the EU as being too edge-based, socially-inclusive fragmented into small national Europe. A review of progress in systems; too uniform compared 2005 identified areas in which the with the US; generally disconnect- EU is under-performing, and ed from the business sector and Commissioner Figel' translated the needs of the labour market; these into a number of challeng- over-regulated; and under-funded. es: Whilst progress is being made - Securing energy supplies while towards the creation of a Europe- addressing climate change an Higher Education Area (the Bologna Process) Commissioner - Ensuring the economy is geared Figel' argued that, while curricular for globalisation reforms are important, reform of - Providing a skilled workforce. university governance and Today 30% in Europe are low- funding is also required. Member skilled; by 2010 half of jobs will States elsewhere need to move require high-level skills towards the situation in Britain with universities being afforded - Coping with demographic trend greater autonomy in return for – a smaller workforce; increased increased accountability for their burdens on healthcare performances. Funding for - Overcoming the innovation gap. universities throughout Europe, Europe as a whole lags the US including the UK, must increase. and Japan; if US continues to In 2004 the EU spent 1.18% of expand at recent rates, US GDP on higher education com- citizens will be three times richer pared with 2.95% in the US, than Europeans by 2050 equivalent to a difference of - Overcoming the research gap. 10,000 Euros per student. In 2003 EU spent 1.9% of GDP In return for less interference by on research compared with government and more money, 2.7% in US and 3.2% in Japan; universities will be expected to EU had 5.4 researchers per interact more with other sectors of 1000 labour force and US had 9 society, in particular with business. per 1000 Although accepting that many universities in northern Europe,

162 Lectures

including in Scotland, have creased funding is essential if developed effective interfaces with universities are to develop their business, elsewhere the academic potential along the lines he had mindset is such that working with described. In doing so he accept- business is sometimes considered ed that not all of America’s to conflict with the prime purpose comparative success in innovation of universities. In an attempt to can be ascribed to higher levels of tackle this situation, the Commis- university funding and that sion is planning a European cultural differences also play an Forum to explore stronger important part. university-business partnerships The Commissioner defended what and formulate proposals for some consider to be a very modest action and new areas of proposed budget for the EIT of co-operation. 309 million Euros for the period On a more positive note, Commis- to 2013, making the point that sioner Figel' welcomed the this was only the direct EU endorsement by Member States a contribution and support for few days earlier of the proposal specific areas of work is expected for a European Institute of from elsewhere, including Technology (EIT). Although final structural funds, the 7th Frame- approval is subject to the views of work Programme and, the European Parliament, there is importantly, from the business confidence in Brussels that the EIT sector. He also defended the EU will go ahead and will “act as a from the charge that it should not pathfinder in reforming European be creating a new institution but higher education”. seeking to encourage European In keeping with his desire for universities to reconsider their dialogue, Commissioner Figel’s priorities and ways of working, lecture was followed by a lively arguing that the EIT will provide Q&A session in which he acknowl- the model of the way in which edged that university funding is a higher education and business political question but argued that, should work in partnership in addition to demanding better throughout the EU. value from current spend, in-

163 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Professor Michael C Corballis Department of Psychology, University of Auckland Professor James E Alcock Department of Psychology, University of York, Toronto 5 September 2007 Tall Tales about the Mind and Brain

There are lots of things that we including “Do we really use only think we know about how the 10% of our brain?”; “Can we brain works. Sources of everyday stimulate the creativity of the right information such as magazines, hemisphere?”; “Can we believe newspapers, popular press and TV our memories?”; “How can we often inform us of these process- improve our learning skills?”; es. “Does the size of the brain This lecture introduced the matter?”; “Does the moon concepts discussed at the subse- influence our behaviour?”; “Is quent two-day conference, held bilingualism good or bad?”; “Can on 6-7 September 2007 where we trust our intuitions?”; “Can speakers addressed questions we detect a liar?”. See page 206.

164 Lectures

Viktor Petrovich Savinykh Dr Jay Apt Sergei Vasilyevic Avdeev 19 September 2007 (The Sheraton Grand Hotel) The View from Space: Changing Planet 2007 Edinburgh Lectures series Under the banner Changing Landscapes, the sixteenth series of The Edinburgh Lectures explores issues about our universe, our heritage, our society and how it is changing. Nine of Edinburgh’s key organisations worked in partnership to bring together the series, which took place in the Capital from September through to March. From astronauts to zoologists, each speaker shared their unique perspective on Planet Earth. Around 100 astronauts and cosmonauts (fliers) spent a week in Scotland in September 2007 for the XX Planetary Congress of Association of Space Explorers (ASE) hosted by Careers Scotland. It was the first time this major event has been held in the UK and was a result of Careers Scotland’s relationship with NASA and the international space community. During the week, two of the cosmonauts and one astronaut present in Edinburgh for the Congress were invited to deliver the first 2007/08 Edinburgh Lecture, which was presented by The Royal Society of Edinburgh in association with the Edinburgh Lectures Partnership.

Ever wondered what it would be their workplace. For them, Space like looking down on the Planet may be an almost routine experi- Earth from more than 200km ence of detailed experiments and above the planet surface? Those complex technological and who attended this year's talk on engineering tasks aimed at Changing Planets at the Edin- expanding Man's scientific burgh Lectures were fortunate knowledge. Even they, however, enough to gain first-hand never tire of their "God's eye" knowledge from those who have view of the wonderful planet that actually been there. we inhabit. Viktor Savinykh, Jay Apt and It was comforting that even hard- Sergei Avdeev, all members of the bitten spacefarers never lose that Association of Space Explorers, are sense of magic about where they among the exalted band of actually are. We thank Avdeev - astronauts and cosmonauts the only man in history credited privileged enough to call Space with travelling into the future: 20

165 Review of the Session 2006-2007

milliseconds - for this insight into changes that have changed the a cosmonaut's life. When new planet forever. cosmonauts on their first trip are Unless precautions are taken, asked what they would change Savinykh made clear, the effects in about life aboard a Space Station, future may be greater, as larger the answer, Avdeev revealed, was numbers of people than ever almost universal. "More win- before are living in places vulnera- dows!" ble to natural catastrophes such They are not just gazing out of the as earthquakes, volcanic erup- spacecraft, however, in rapt tions, floods and forest fires. admiration of the view. Their Man, however, is adding to planet watching has an important nature's destructive forces with purpose. Ever since the begin- new phenomena such as pollu- nings of the space race that tion and deforestation. Over the pitched the technological might last 30 years there have been of the Soviet USSR against the immense changes, with 30% of United States, astronauts and land now under cultivation, a cosmonauts have been monitor- 20% reduction in coral reefs and ing changes in the Earth that can 4–6 times more water in reservoirs only be observed from their than in lakes and rivers. vantage point high above. No-one is more qualified in this field than Many of the changes wrought can Savinykh, who was selected for be seen from Space, Savinykh said, the space programme in 1978, adding he and his colleagues now has been decorated twice as a had vast experience of photo- Hero of the Soviet Union, and graphing the evidence and of clocked up 269 days in space putting the findings to good use before his retirement 11 years to chart what is happening to the later. planet's landscape and climate. Further, evidence of change can be He began his talk by injecting gleaned from geographical some perspective. October 4, locations that would otherwise be 2007 is the 50th anniversary of difficult to access. Data gathered the launch of the first Soviet is “real time” and relatively satellite, Sputnik, into orbit. What inexpensive. we have learned since then, thanks to the efforts of the space One area where the expertise pioneers who made their observa- hasbeen put to work is in tracking tions over the intervening period, tropical cyclones, such as Hurri- is that there have been huge cane Katrina, which in 2005 natural disasters and man-made recorded windspeeds of 175mph, causing widespread devastation in

166 Lectures

the Caribbean and the southern spacecraft. US astronauts have US and killing 1,350 people. This monitored how Lake Chad in happened even though warning Africa has been shrinking, how systems are already in place, natural mud flows down the River Savinykh said, so clearly there Nile have reduced after the isroom for improvement. building of the Aswan High Dam To demonstrate the effects of and how the coast of Madagascar global warming, as seen from has been stripped of its forests. Space, Savinykh used startling They have observed the Saudis illustrations taken by his col- ‘mining" for water in the Arabian leagues of ice retreat from a desert and the destruction of the glacier in the Caucasus mountain Amazon rainforest, where tell-tale, range in central Russia. He also multiple plumes of smoke are illustrated how harmful desertifi- proof of deforestation on a grand cation caused by excessive water scale. abstraction could clearly be seen Apt concluded by showing NASA by the shrinking of the Aral Sea in pictures of the effects of forest Kazakhstan. A picture from 1962 fires in Greece in September, many shows an extensive area under of them believed to have been water, with depths of around 69 started by arsonists. It was a vision metres. Pictures taken in August of a smoky apocalypse that could 2007 show the Sea, by then one- not have been seen from any- seventh of its acreage just 45 where else. years earlier. As a result, dust Avdeev's perspective came from storms in the area have increased three flights aboard Mir, the by 50%. Soviet space station in orbit for 15 Space farers have also had front- years before being abandoned in row seats for volcanic eruptions, March 2001. Cosmonauts were Savinykh said, and of the plumes able to monitor volcanoes and of smoke that are swept around work on perfecting earthquake the world. Airlines, among others, prediction techniques by making need to know what conditions observations from above. So their pilots are going to have to glorious were the views, it was the deal with. one job that every cosmonaut The theme was developed by Jay wanted, Avdeev confided. All Apt, a Nasa astronaut with four spacefarers really desired was a Space Shuttle missions and two "fish tank" with windows. That's space walks under his belt, who the dream, and it remains a dream also deployed stunning images he added. His more serious point taken by colleagues from US was that he and colleagues were witnesses to harmful changes

167 Review of the Session 2006-2007

brought about by human activi- inspired by Yuri Gagarin; Apt, ties. It was their job to bring the because as a young boy he saw proof back to Earth. two satellites passing overhead; Apt had a practical example. NASA and Avdeev, because it was a took pictures of streams of raw natural progression from his work sewage flowing out from the as a telescope engineer. In island of Sicily into the blue response to an audience question waters of the Mediterranean. about whether their findings had When the Italian government was turned them into optimists or alerted to the problem, it was pessimists about the future of the embarrassed into taking preventa- planet, it was left to Savinykh to tive action. speak for them all. Avdeev said that variations in Confirming it was optimism that cosmic rays, which can be ob- took them up into space in the served from Space, can be used to first place - "otherwise we warn of impending disaster, wouldn't have gone there," he allowing a vital few hours for admitted to laughter - they would ground-based action. It was now all remain optimists as long as up to a new generation of their observations were acted on. scientists to work out the informa- He ended with a warning: "We tion that can be used more quickly need to do more to solve the to help avert catastrophe. problems that we see happening today. That's the main task that Savinykh disclosed that he went faces our association." into Space because he was

168 CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, SYMPOSIA, SEMINARS AND DISCUSSION FORUMS Discussion Forum Earth, Wind, Fire and Water: Floods 29 November 2006

Floods was the last of four - Wave-induced flooding occurs meetings in the Society’s Natural when wind-driven waves add to Disaster Series – Earth, Wind, Fire high coastal water levels to and Water. overtop coastal defences. Professor Garry Pender, Profes- It is possible for coincident sor of Environmental flooding to occur from two or Engineering, Heriot-Watt more of these sources acting University simultaneously. Professor Pender provided an Professor Pender also pointed out overview of the sources of that highly topical flooding in the flooding, including: UK is not a new phenomenon. - Rainfall which acts as a driver The worst flood on record was a for fluvial, pluvial and ground- result of the storm surge that water flooding. Fluvial flooding occurred on the 31st December occurs when excess water in 1953. This event increased tide river channels causes overtop- levels along the south east coast ping of banks or breaching of of Britain by 3.36 m and resulted linear flood defences; pluvial in 307 deaths in the UK and 1835 flooding arises from surcharg- deaths in the Netherlands. ing of sewer pipes due to lack The recent increased frequency of of capacity to convey runoff; flooding is attributed to climate and groundwater flooding can change arising from global be seen when the water table warming. Current climate change level rises above the natural predictions for the UK suggest an ground level. increase in high intensity rainfall - Storm surge is the result of low events and storm surges. In pressure weather systems recognition of this, government moving across the oceans policy has shifted from one of resulting in both a pressure defence to integrated flood risk surge and wind-driven increase management. in water levels at the coast.

169 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Professor Edmund Penning- greater percentage approaching Rowsell, Director of the Flood this threshold. Hazard Research Centre, - Loss of life – floods are danger- Middlesex University ous. Data for Europe indicate Edmund Penning-Rowsell empha- that the number of deaths as a sised that floods are about result of floods has increased people, “a flood is only significant over the past decade; however, when people suffer; a flood that the number of deaths per flood doesn’t impact on people is really is coming down. This suggests not very important”. He presented that warning systems are more the findings from four recent efficient and people are more research projects undertaken by aware of the risks posed by the FHRC, focusing on Health, floods and are taking action to Loss of Life, Fairness and Risk protect themselves. Communication. - Social justice – The present - Health – using questionnaire method of basing flood defence and interview techniques, the decisions on economic criteria health of a group of people results in different standards of whose homes suffered flooding protection for different commu- in 1989 was investigated. Both nities. Why should this be? physical health, in terms of Social justice is better served if shock and respiratory effects, resources are targeted on the and mental health, in terms of most vulnerable rather on stress, anxiety, depression, where the most damage occurs. sleeping problems, flash-backs A new approach is required to and mood swings, have been determine policies based on investigated. Fifty eight percent equality that account for the of the population reported needs of the old and vulnerable. significant physical effects on - Risk communication – recent their health, with 38% showing research has investigated the some mental health impairment impact of flood warnings on and 17% showing significant reducing the financial damage impairment of their mental during flooding. Using ques- health. Additionally, a standard tionnaire surveys it has been medical health questionnaire discovered that the receipt of a was used to determine if any of warning is not critical to the population were suffering reducing damage to personal post-traumatic stress disorder. property. People who were Eight percent of the population unaware that a warning had showed clear evidence that this been issued received indirect was the case, with a much

170 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums

information and took action to several hours, 100 other roads limit damage. This raises were impassable and the low level interesting research questions railway line was closed for several on effective risk communication. days. Total clean up costs were Professor David Wilson, Visiting estimated at £100m. Professor, Heriot-Watt Univer- A technical review of the causes of sity. the flood, plus experience gained David Wilson presented a case from previous floods in the study of the flood that occurred in location, indicated that loss of the East End of Glasgow on 30 natural water courses and their July, 2002. The storm has been associated floodplains had assessed as a one-in-a-hundred resulted in a lack of capacity in year event. The maximum rainfall trunk sewers. Essentially, there intensity was 95 mm/hr, with a was a lack of understanding of total of 75 mm (typical total for what the sewers should be one month) falling in 10 hours. A required to do. The problem is total of 500 properties were now being addressed by the flooded, with pockets of severe Glasgow Surface Water Manage- flooding in the Greenfield and ment Plan, with Glasgow City Shettleston areas. In addition, Council, Scottish Water and the transport was badly disrupted, the Scottish Environment Protection M8 motorway was closed for Agency taking joint responsiblity.

171 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Conference Alternatives to Prison 7-9 December 2006 Organised by encounter and the Royal Society of Edinburgh

A full report of this conference was published by the RSE in February 2007 (ISBN: 978 0 902198 25 8 - available on the RSE website). The concluding remarks by Baroness Vivien Stern, International Centre for Prison Studies, are reprinted below.

I want to set the scene with some piece of luck that you and she stories, the first one from Eng- survived unscathed.” A psychia- land. I found this in The Daily trist said she was suffering from a Telegraph on 25 November: ‘A “depressive disorder” as a result depressed mother who tried to of her lack of contact with the murder her daughter by jumping child.’ from the Humber bridge with the Here is another one, also from two-year-old in her arms was England, from BBC News. ‘Rosina jailed for 18 months yesterday. Connor, 37, of Lumbertubs, Angela Schumann, 28, a business Northants, was jailed on Friday graduate, and Lorraine, are because her son only went to among only five people to have school 28 times in one five-month survived the 100ft plunge. Judge period. She was heavily pregnant Michael Mettyear, the Recorder of at the time. The mother of seven Hull, said he could not accept that served half of her two-week her actions were not premeditated sentence at Peterborough jail. and that only a custodial sentence Outside the prison, where she was could be justified. “This is one of met by her partner Darrell Os- the most difficult cases I have ever borne, she said she only managed had to deal with,” he said. “It is to get through the days by difficult because on the one hand confining herself to her cell. “The you are an intelligent woman, you majority of the people on the have no previous convictions and wing I was on were heroin you pleaded guilty at the very first addicts, which is not really where I opportunity. On the other hand want to be.” A county council your conduct was very likely to kill spokesman said: “The council is your child. Of the 85 people who completely committed to tackling jumped off the bridge I was told this issue, and to giving pupils that 80 died. It was a remarkable and parents a clear message that

172 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums parentally condoned absences complex set of discussions. simply will not be tolerated.” Mr According to the programme we Osborne said: “I was shocked by have been discussing ‘Alternatives the decision of a woman judge to to Prison’, but actually, reasonably send her to prison.” This put me enough, we have been discussing in the situation of having to look crime and punishment. I cite after all the kids.”’ these cases in order to ask how Here’s another, this time from these four acts can have enough Scotland: ‘A disgraced Labour in common to send the perpetra- peer was sentenced to 16 months tor to the same place? How can in prison yesterday for deliberately these four acts be responded to starting a fire at an exclusive with the same punishment? How Edinburgh hotel. Describing Lord can all four of these people be Watson of Invergowrie’s actions as given the severest punishment without explanation, Sheriff available to the state, a punish- Kathrine Mackie told the court ment that is varied in length but that the former minister in the brings with it the stigma of a Scottish Executive presented a prison sentence for many years? “significant risk of re-offending”. Does this increase public confi- She added: “I have to say that dence in the system? This is someone in public office ought to important, as Lord Phillips know how to conduct himself on reminded us this morning. The all occasions.” ’ range of behaviour covered by Finally another Scottish case. Last those four cases – all of which got month Imran Shahid was sen- the severest penalty available – tenced to life imprisonment with a suggests that we are talking here minimum of 25 years for murder- of something strange, something ing Kriss Donald, aged 15 in hard to understand at first glance. 2004. Imran Shahid and two So I will now try and pull together others abducted Kriss Donald, what understandings have stabbed him 13 times, doused emerged from our discussions of him with petrol and set him this strange phenomenon. Let me alight. The judge said Shahid was start by saying what a relief it was “a thug, and bully with a sadistic that we were all – more or less – nature not fit to be free in civilised the converted. What a relief it was society.” that we did not need to cover the well-trodden ground that has to I am citing these cases in order to be covered for instance when start off my attempt to pull broadcasters think they have to together the threads of this have ‘balance’ on their pro- extraordinarily rich, dense and gramme. This is an absurd idea

173 Review of the Session 2006-2007

because it is they who decide wrong. We have been able to where the mid-point is between explore in some detail with such a the one view and the other. If distinguished group of people the they have on a moderately rational difficult questions. We have been person who says, perhaps, able to push a bit at the bounda- “alternatives are good some- ries of what is usually talked times”, the balance has to be a about in criminal justice meetings. more extreme person who says “Is punishment ethical?” The Lord “that’s an affront to victims; this Chief Justice of England and softness on crime is leaving old Wales asked. “Do people deserve people living in fear; why should to be punished?” Bishop Hollo- muggers and burglars get a slap way suggested punishment is “a on the wrist?” The broadcasters dubious moral transaction” and could as well achieve their regretted, I suspect, that it had ‘balance’ by inviting someone been decided to abandon the who thinks prison is not a good earlier version of the programme idea at all and the prison popula- which was called ‘alternatives to tion should be halved at least. But punishment’. He pointed out that they never do. So what a relief it other cultures do not punish as was and what a privilege to be we do. Some societies use able to leave the tedious, over- processes that bring the perpetra- worked territory we often have to tor of a crime to understanding stay in; explaining there is no and repentance. We were able to relationship between changes in think about how, as Malachi crime rates and changes in prison O’Doherty said “we find ourselves rates; trying to defend what is in a cultural climate in which right, what is just and what is punishment is relished.” Sheriff effective by fake figures about re- Sheehan suggested that the offending rates which of course criminal justice system was a very can never be known or counted. crude way of modulating people’s So instead we count reconviction behaviour. We wondered what rates and, as Lesley McAra told us, the political and sociological facts they measure the activities of are behind the thirst for punish- criminal justice organisations and ment. Has terrorism had an effect? do not tell us what people claim Paddy Hillyard brought to our they tell us. But we are trapped attention research showing how into using them. countries that run down spending How much more interesting it has on their welfare system see a large been than that. We here all know increase in imprisonment. We that much of what we are doing also had a range of contributors currently in criminal justice is who were able to show us by a

174 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums simple word picture the real away, they too go dead. We had meaning of a system often an opportunity to hear about clothed in pseudo-scientific, human rights erosions too. Claire optimistic fabrications. There is Hamilton told us about the Andrew McLellan’s story of the erosion of the presumption of mentally ill man – he couldn’t be innocence, and Kathleen Marshall, with society outside – he was so ill the Children’s Commissioner of that he couldn’t even mix with the Scotland, told us of another sort prison society. He was held alone of erosion. Adults feel that the in solitary confinement. Erwin presumption of innocence has James was invited to become a been removed because of possible Guardian columnist. He ap- allegations of child abuse, and proached the Governor of the children feel that the presumption prison where he was being of innocence has been removed rehabilitated for permission. The from them whenever they gather Governor says “do you want 50 in a crowd. small Noes or one big No?” John And of course, there is one more Lonergan told us about the boy in problem that looms over all these the juvenile prison who got a discussions. Put in the inimitable certificate for nothing really, just style of John McCluskey, who for attendance. He gives the concluded his after-dinner speech certificate to the priest and asks by suggesting that the main him ‘Father, mind that for me till I themes of the Conference might come out.’ be summed up in a few verses There was the probation officer that owed more to William from England who told us that all McGonagall than to Robert the documents have been printed Burns:- to use the word ‘offender’ and Let’s hug a hoodie, love a lout, when he has to get his ex- offenders to sign them he We’ll show them what we care apologises to them. And of about: course there was Camila, telling Let thoughtful polices prevail, us of hundreds of teenagers who For keeping people out of jail, . . . have lost their capacity to feel, and so have the social workers who But ministers turn deathly pale. enter the profession with high .ask…….’’What about the Daily aspirations because, she said, Mail?’’ “there is a kind of joy in helping; the helper is as enriched as the Our policies are in a mess, helped one.” But they suffer such Ministers - and judges - can only shame at turning so many people guess

175 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Where they will lock up increasing contributors made us see what we numbers are doing in all our countries in a From a criminal class that never new light. I said we basically slumbers . . . agreed. On what did we agree? We had little difficulty in agreeing Release them early? Punish them that prison is not a solution to less? society’s ills and should have, as ‘‘But what about the Daily Ex- Richard Sparks suggested, a place press?’’ as a specialised institution at the apex of a criminal justice system. When all is said, and all is done, We did not forget – and they are Jailing the sick is not much fun; often forgotten – women in But if we think we can act with prison. Satvinder Juss reminded impunity, us of their particularly disadvan- taged status. Andrew McLellan And let them out into the commu- told us that 100% of women nity, coming into Cornton Vale prison The reports of their misdeeds will tested positive for illegal sub- run and run…. stances. Andrew Coyle touched on the marketisation of criminal On all – but page 3 - of our justice, the dangers that come Rupert’s ‘’Sun.’’ with the buying and selling of Should we despair or should we punishment, the concept of be bold? prison as a business that will Should we just tell it… as it ought continually expand. One implica- to be told? tion of that was well illustrated by two interventions on Thursday. But if we release them… imprison Colin Moses, Chairman of the them less, Prison Officers’ Association for the Can we sensibly look for support United Kingdom, asked a ques- from the Press? tion that was to become a key question in our discussion. ‘What That Mr Chairman is rather a hard are prisons being used for?’ And yin, he answered his question – For I can’t find a rhyme for ‘unwanted black people and drug ‘’Manchester Guardian’’. using people that the health The chance to move out of the system does not want.’ usual sterile debate and push Another contributor, a staff back the boundaries made our member from a private prison in event here very different and very Wales, said there are problems, worthwhile. The depth of but of course that doesn’t mean thoughtful experience of all of our that prison doesn’t work – of

176 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums course it can work, he said. This is how we should answer the rather like people at the Estee question, which is often asked – Lauder cosmetic counter telling us do alternatives to prison work? that anti-ageing creams at £50 for ‘Do they work’ means do those a small jar work. Scepticism is who are undergoing them turn called for when the one making up? Do they do the work? Do they the profit claims the product take it seriously? Are they properly works. And we saw, in these two supervised? That is such a useful short interventions, what happens answer to the ‘do alternatives when public sector employees work then?’ question. Lord who can speak in public about Coulsfield also set out for us two their work from the perspective of other requirements that are the public interest – society’s needed if alternatives are to be interest – are replaced by those used to make a dent in the use of who must, if they are any good as prison. The judges must be employees, put the interests of involved and when they are it the business first. does the trick. He told us that We did not have much disagree- “even a most ferocious judge is ment about alternative sentences, now prepared to give a communi- non-prison disposals either. ty service order.” The other Cathy Jamieson, the Minister for requirement is community Justice from Scotland – and I note involvement. Ordinary people in passing that Scotland has a from local community organisa- Justice Minister, as has Ireland. tions must get alongside the England and Wales has no Justice professionals. Minister but England does have a The subject of young people is Home Secretary who is MP for a particularly interesting because constituency in Scotland, Shotts our jurisdictions are so different. and Airdrie, which is subject not We have the Scottish system to his policies but to the policies which is widely admired as one of of the Justice Minister Cathy the most advanced in Europe, and Jamieson. Cathy Jamieson told us we have the English system - that Scotland had the widest where the age of criminal respon- range of non-prison penalties in sibility is ten – which is in crisis Western Europe. She reminded us and has been heavily criticised by of the well-known fact that having the UN Committee on the Rights a lot of non-prison sentences of the Child, the Council of does not ensure their use instead Europe Human Rights Commis- of prison. sioner and the Joint Committee Lord Coulsfield did us a great on Human Rights of the UK service by giving us a definition of Parliament.

177 Review of the Session 2006-2007

And today we heard something to had been required to deliver cheer up any bored and jaded targets of reduced recidivism, as if reformer – the story from Ireland. it were within its power to do so. Justice Murray told us that As we cleared away the fallacies, custody in Ireland is waning. the shape of a different way of There is a Garda diversion pro- looking at things began to gramme, a strong restorative emerge. Tony Bottoms helped us justice flavour, the convening of to see a different way through his family conferences, an emphasis discussion of studies of small not on punishment but on taking areas. People will be less punitive responsibility. The primary and more accepting of non-prison purpose is to divert children from punishments if they feel their area the criminal justice system is safer, they are listened to, the altogether. When charged, the area is under control, there is a Court can divert the child to the collective action and there are health service, which is then local figures whose job it is to required to take the necessary keep the area under control. The steps. The bedrock principles of implication of this research is the system are based on the clear. The approach that matters Convention on the Rights of the is the local approach. Research in Child and require that actions Scotland, and also in Dublin, taken should be in the best shows that the home addresses of interests of the child. prisoners are dramatically heavily We discussed the great fallacy that concentrated. A new way of now besets the jurisdictions in looking at crime and punishment these islands. The idea has taken is to think first of place, to build root that putting people into the up a system that is related to criminal justice system is a very where people live and what they good way of giving social help experience. Such a system in and that this is how the perform- England and Wales would look ance of the institutions should be very different from the system in measured. The participant from place now. For example, proba- Ireland who used to work in tion officers in England and Wales prison education drew our would have to return to their attention to an important change. community role. So we should Official documents no longer reflect on the possibilities of a make it clear, as they once did, shift to a much more local that prison is a damaging experi- approach. John Rowe’s mention ence and its use should be kept to of the role of local authorities is a a minimum. Lesley McAra pointed pointer to the direction we should out that the system in Scotland take. The model being followed

178 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums in Scotland of the Community es that led to the crime. Chief Justice Authorities, which will Justice Murray told us about a bring the prisons in to statutory court-run reparation project. We local arrangements, also has the could expand that approach too. potential through a new form of What about prisons? Erwin James, governance to give us a new I think, said prisons have basically outcome. not changed for the past 100 This leads to another set of years. They may have televisions insights. George Irving suggested now but in their essence the idea we have much to learn from is the same. Andrew Coyle asked seeing crime as a public health ‘is it time to reconceptualise issue – with much more preven- prisons?’ tion and putting more priority Beyond all this, there was a strong into problem solving, dealing with feeling that we must stop talking the symptoms in the places where to ourselves; we must become they occur. The experience of more vocal and more energetic. Glasgow’s Violence Reduction We have some very important programme suggests this is a very things to say, as Lord Phillips fruitful approach. reminded us. Veronica Linklater It was argued that we need to told us how strongly she felt have another look at sentencing. about the system in England of David Casement very wisely imprisoning children as young as pointed out the uselessness of 12 in prison-like regimes totally having a statute in England and unsuited to their age. This is very Wales setting out five purposes of different from the system in sentencing and no indication of Scotland of children needing priority. One of these purposes is compulsory ‘care’. I know she rehabilitation. How could such a feels very strongly – and so do purpose be other than a sham many others – because she does when there is no housing for not rest. She raises it at every homeless defendants, no educa- opportunity she visits these tion and training for prisoners? children’s prisons. She protests. Tony Bottoms noted that judges Clive Palmer from Manchester have become more punitive and made a very good proposal. we need to revisit the custody “What are we doing?” He asked. threshold. Andrew Normand “Why aren’t all the organisations reminded us of the problem- coming together to protest and solving courts, the drug court and say it has to change?” Indeed, the domestic violence court where why aren’t they? the judiciary plays a big role in We have heard some terrible trying to change the circumstanc- things in this conference. Camila

179 Review of the Session 2006-2007

reminded us how huge now the justice without social justice leads, gulf is – “we have forgotten social as this conference has shown, to kindness” she said. In our society great injustice, against the poor, each individual is a commodity the sick, the addicted and the and has to sell that product. One inadequate. People who, in the section of society can do this and words of Lord Phillips, have lost are doing well. Others cannot. We their way. see the destruction of the public Let me end by returning to the sphere. We are not responsible for four cases with which I began. others. We pay our taxes to buy What then is an alternative to our freedom from these people. It prison? In the case of Imran was 25 years ago that one of Lord Shahid it is a prison - but a prison Hope’s distinguished predeces- very different from the one where sors, Lord Scarman, reported on Erwin James struggled to remake the causes of riots in Brixton himself. For the Labour Peer it is prison, mainly aimed against the alcohol treatment and some form police. He analysed what hap- of substantial retribution to the pened. He found poverty, terrible community. For Rosina Connor’s living conditions, and poor son it is a school place that fits his education. He concluded we needs. And for the woman that cannot have criminal justice tried to commit suicide it is just a without social justice. Criminal big dose of humanity.

180 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums encounter Supported by both the British and Irish Governments, encounter is an independent organisation under its own Executive Board. To carry out its task, it organises periodic conferences and seminars, with a wide range of representation, on economic, social, cultural and other matters of common concern with a view to promoting mutual understanding, useful co- operation and good relations. IDEAS The ideas generated at encounter events are submitted to both the British and Irish governments, together with the Parliament of Scotland, and the Assemblies of Wales and Northern Ireland, for their consideration. ACTIVITIES encounter’s activities are directed by an Executive Board with members drawn from England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. At the centre of encounter’s activities are conferences that bring together, often for the first time, people from the two islands with shared interests in particular subjects. By the end of 2003, over 4000 people from all walks of life, some of them leading practitioners in their fields, had attended more than 60 such events since they were launched in 1984. Amongst those who have participated in encounter’s meetings are leading figures such as Mary Robinson, Garret Fitzgerald, Bertie Ahern, Dick Spring, John Bruton, Douglas Hurd, Geoffrey Howe, Ivor Richard, Mo Mowlam, Cardinal Cathal Daly, Archbishops, EU Commissioners, Ambassadors and leading figures from business, industry, trade unions, the arts, media, culture and the environment. The meetings have helped to forge new contacts, increased exchanges between, for instance, the five Arts Councils, and contributed to the establishment of new youth and cultural organisations. encounter pays special attention to promoting understanding between young people in Britain and Ireland and has organised conferences on topical issues specifically for them.

181 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Discussion Forum Cultural Policy and National Identity in Post-devolution Scotland 5 February 2007 Jointly sponsored by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Centre for Cultural Policy Research at the University of Glasgow.

Professor Sir Michael Atiyah, others; the split personality, the President of the RSE, welcomed pessimism, the cringe, the the speakers and audience to the “national cultural pathology”, the event, and introduced the Chair, inferiorism, and - most recently - Philip Schlesinger. Professor the “Scots crisis of confidence”, Schesinger noted that the subject so persuasively proposed that the of national identity and cultural Scottish Executive decided to policy was an extremely topical invest a great deal of taxpayers’ one, given the intensity of the money in combatting it. current debate on Britishness and McCrone asked why such “mythic its meanings, on the future of structures” have such force; what, multiculturalism, and - in Scotland he wondered, if Scotland is not - on the Draft Culture Bill recently deviant, but actually remarkably published by the Scottish Execu- well adjusted to its role as a small tive. north European nation, nested for Professor David McCrone of the the moment in a Union not only Institute of Governance at the with the rest of the European University of Edinburgh. Union, but with its closest neighbours in these islands? Professor McCrone titled his talk “Wilful Fragments - Imagining McCrone quoted Donald Dewar’s Scottish Culture”, and explained view that culture is defined as that the phrase “wilful frag- “who we are, and how we carry ments” is a quote from the ourselves” - a phrase which novelist William McIlvanney. He understands the nature of culture said that it referred to a set of as a series of symbols related to familiar tropes about Scotland social practices. Yet we still seem which McIlvanney had observed: tempted by a “mythopoeic search the idea of the nation as some- for authentic Scottish culture”, how fragmented, divided, rather than accepting that a living incomplete and lacking in conti- culture is a site of dialogue and nuity. There was also the idea of dialectic - even dialect. Scotland the famous antisyzygy, as concep- naturally includes a great diversity tualised by MacDiarmid and of culture of experience; it cannot

182 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums be boiled down to one Scottish quoting Cairns Craig, who argues culture, and when the attempt is that “the condition of being made to boil it down to one 'between' is not the degeneration thing, that process leads to of a culture, but the essential assumptions about ‘cultural means of its generation.” inferiorism’. Richard Holloway, Chair, Scot- McCrone believes this process to tish Arts Council, said that his be a legacy of 19th century contribution would consist of ten romantic nationalist thought, the points, one postscript, and a thin idea that “a people”, clearly line of commentary. His points defined, should have the right to were: express their essential “national 1 That good art will continue to identity”, also self-evident and be produced in Scotland, clearly defined, through inde- regardless of whatever cultural pendent statehood. This idea, he policy is implemented; policy is argued, no longer has much important, but thankfully not validity, if it ever had; nations are that important. not so easily defined, and nor are their different cultural identities. 2 That subsidy is nonetheless Cultural traits are not absolutes, needed, above all to sustain but strategies and weapons used elaborate and complex art- in the competition for resources, forms like opera and ballet, as and when they are effective. and - even more importantly - to liberate artists, who, as In this respect, said McCrone, the Virginia Woolf put it, desper- story of the creation of the ately need the equivalent of a National Theatre of Scotland is room of their own and £500 a interesting, since the idea of an year in order to be able to NTS was associated, for almost a create. century, with fears of a monolithic central institution which would 3 That enthusiastic consumers seek to express a single idea of of the arts can over-hype their Scottish identity. This has been impact in transforming human brilliantly avoided in the model behaviour. Neither art nor adopted for the new NTS, which religion redeems, but both has diversity written into its very provide a colourful backdrop structure. to the human condition. We can, in other words, assemble 4 That next to love and compas- our “wilful fragments” of Scottish sion, art is nonetheless the identity in any way we want; and area that show us, human- Professor McCrone finished by kind, at our best, striving towards truth and beauty.

183 Review of the Session 2006-2007

5 That art can transform lives, words”, into spending more despite (3) above. on the arts. 6 That politicians can be put off 10 That the adversarial relation- by the attitudes and style of ship between cultural pundits members of the arts communi- and politicians does not help, ty. Their funding of the arts and only drives all parties into therefore tends to be motivat- more entrenched positions. ed not by whole-hearted Postscript: The new category of enthusiasm, but by a wish “national companies” has been (a) to keep the chatterati from created, and they have been taken open mutiny, as opposed to into direct funding from the routine grumbling Executive. Some may have and reservations about this, but it is what the Boards and Chief (b) to support their own social Executives of the national compa- inclusion agenda. Arts nies wanted; Holloway hopes they organisations therefore tend will like it, now they have got it. to become bogged down in The new Creative Scotland has this terrible language of social been created, out of the Scottish policies and targets, what Arts Council and Scottish Screen. Holloway calls a “toxic The latter is apprehensive, semantic loop.” because, as Holloway says, the 7 That art can certainly have marriage of “a wee man and a big good social outcomes; but it wummin” can be problematic; but needs to exist first, in and of Holloway is hopeful, nonetheless. itself. Vicky Featherstone, Director, 8 That as with all other forms of National Theatre of Scotland. public spending, the middle pointed out the many complex classes benefit disproportion- strands that go to make up a ately from arts spending; sense of national identity or therefore outreach and belonging; the rich nexus of inclusion matter. people, landscape, symbols, history, and relation to the self as 9 That the slippery language of an individual, that helps generate “cultural entitlements” has a sense of belonging - including entered the game of arts national pride, national shame, funding, probably in an and varying individual attach- attempt by the Executive to ments to the idea of nationality. lure local authorities, with The acquisition of such a sense of what Holloway calls “honeyed identity takes many years. Feather-

184 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums stone believes, though, that production during the Edinburgh theatre is partly a search for Festival of 2006. The idea was identity; and that the more simple, but the structures of the complex and sophisticated that NTS supported its development in identity is, the harder and better terms of scale and energy. It drew the search will be, and the more on the “golden thread” of Black rewarding. Watch history mentioned in the Artists in Scotland produce terrific play, and on the wider history of work in the course of that search Scotland, but also on the “golden for identity, capable of generating thread” of Scottish theatre history truly thrilling events that grip the - 7:84, the Cheviot - and on the audience’s imagination; cultural wider Scottish cultural tradition, policy has to been as a stepping on the marriage of modern and stone towards that process, and traditional music that recalls the Featherstone is conscious that late Martyn Bennett, on the there have been some imaginative Edinburgh Tattoo. And so it steps made in cultural policy since draws deeply on Scottish culture devolution, not least the First to create an “epic, universal, Minister’s St. Andrews Day speech world-class story”, generating a of 2003, and the setting up of the national and international National Theatre itself, which she response so great that the NTS described as a result of devolu- simply cannot meet it. The idea of tion. This kind of step represents the NTS, in other words, is not to a huge opportunity, and it has define national identity, or indeed been taken; the NTS has already to “define” anything, but to worked with more than 400 throw open the doors of possibili- people, and played to audiences ty, and enable artists to create. totalling 160,000, in 60 places Summing up, Professor Jan across Scotland. But the role of McDonald congratulated Profes- cultural policy can act as a diver- sor Schlesinger and all the sion; Vicky is Artistic Director and speakers, and compared the Chief Executive of the NTS, but evening’s proceedings with Sir these days has to use the Chief David Lindsay’s great 16th century Executive title more often. Scottish drama, the Satyre Of The Ms Featherstone then went on to Thrie Estaites, which, she said, had describe the development of the also included “moral teaching, Black Watch project, from its political and religious satire, music inception on a quiet day in her and poetry, as well as slapstick office in 2004, through the and stand-up comedy.” She said involvement of writer Gregory that the multi-faceted spirit of Burke, to its triumphant final that great drama clearly lived on,

185 Review of the Session 2006-2007

as did the presence of the “com- preceded its political manifesta- mon weal” – the wider public - as tion. She then gave a masterful major players in the debate. She summing-up of the contributions reflected on Scotland’s history as a of the three speakers, and “disputatious nation”, and finished by invoking the new welcomed the fact that so many National Theatre of Scotland as an people wanted to engage in this expression of quintessentially debate, which had been particu- Scottish values in the arts, demo- larly well attended. She observed cratic in terms of geography, style that periods of high cultural and social reach, and above all activity mapped fairly neatly onto non-monolithic, in its opposition historic surges in nationalistic to every kind of over-centralisa- feeling, but that the affirmation of tion, and imposed uniformity. national identity in art usually

186 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums

Discussion Forum The Ten Years of Dolly: Past, Present and Future 14 February 2007 The Royal Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh In association with the National Museums of Scotland

Ten years ago, in February 1997, Dolly the sheep was unveiled to the world. Created by scientists at the Roslin Institute near Edinburgh, she was the world’s first cloned mammal. Since then the same nuclear transfer technol- ogy has been used to clone a host of other creatures, including cows, pigs, cats, dogs and, possibly most recently, ferrets in 2006. To say that Dolly caused a sensation is no exaggeration. She attracted worldwide media attention and even the then President of the United States demanded that an expert group be convened forthwith to report to him personally on the implications. As well as being a wonder in her own right, Dolly was exciting for the possibilities she heralded. Would nuclear transfer technology revolutionise agriculture, helping to breed better, stronger livestock? Could cloning techniques be used to find treatments for human disease? And, most dramatically, could it be that Dolly was the first stage of a process which would lead to the cloning of man? The RSE (Royal Society of Edinburgh) and NMS (National Museums of Scotland) brought together a panel to discuss these issues and others. Science and ethics were represented by the speakers, Dolly ‘inventors’ Professors Ian Wilmut and Keith Campbell, and Dr Donald Bruce, Director of the Church of Scotland’s Society, Religion and Technology Project and Professor Alan Holland, a philosopher. The event was chaired by Professor Grahame Bulfield CBE FRSE, Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Edinburgh. It was introduced by Jane Carmichael, NMS Head of Collections.

Key Points clone other animals, but most - The birth of Dolly heralded a research is now taking place in step change in science the Far East - Dolly became a symbol for the - Some scientists fear that public potential benefits and threats of attitudes, media hype and biotechnology misplaced fears about human cloning have clouded the - Since Dolly, nuclear transfer potential benefits of this technology has been used to technology

187 Review of the Session 2006-2007

- Human reproductive cloning is against the norms or habits of unlikely, is scientifically probably nature. not possible at the moment and Nature operates by trial and error, would raise huge ethical he said, so her habits or norms are questions a good indicator of what works. - Embryonic stem cells created Cloning works against the norms using cloning techniques have of nature, he said. But he added potential in finding therapies that while cloning might have for a range of human diseases some useful applications in, for - The ethical questions are not example, animal husbandry, it is straightforward and there needs not an end in itself. to be more public debate He said the lasting legacy is likely Professor Alan Holland, Emeri- to come from the nuclear transfer tus Professor of Applied technology that produced Dolly. In Philosophy, University of his view using this technology to Lancaster help people with inherited Dolly – Cracking Nature’s diseases should not be judged Mould? ‘unnatural’. Using a quotation from King Lear, He concluded that it was unwar- Professor Holland raised ques- ranted to assume that what is tions around what is natural and unnatural is therefore wrong and what is unnatural or against said that even if there was nature. Specifically he asked if agreement on what unnatural Dolly had ‘cracked nature’s meant, there was still hard ethical moulds’. thinking to be done. Asking how ‘one little lamb could Professor Keith Campbell, cause such a furore’ he concluded Professor of Animal Develop- that the short answer was that ment, University of Dolly raised the spectre of human Nottingham cloning – and this bothers people. Dolly – Did she open a gateway Ordinary folk who express unease to the future? about some applications of Professor Campbell gave a brief genetics, saying it is ‘against history of the uses to which nature’ are often condemned by nuclear transfer technology have scientific experts, he said. But he been put since the birth of Dolly, tended to side with ordinary folk, discussed its potential and asked on the assumption that they are whether the debates on possible protesting about what goes misuses of it had obscured the potential benefits.

188 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums

Since Dolly, many other mammals Professor Campbell is against have been cloned using nuclear reproductive human cloning but transfer technology – that is, believes that there is real potential using the DNA of an adult in therapeutic cloning. He believes mammal to create another that science is doing what man mammal. These include farm has been doing for generations animals, such as cattle in 1998 [in terms of improving genetic and pigs in 2000, rare breeds stock] but that stem cell technolo- such as the banteng in 2003 and gy has the potential to speed the companion animals, including a process up and opens the door to dog in 2005. a range of therapeutic possibili- ties. There are various reasons for doing this. For example, rebreed- Dr Donald Bruce, Director, ing good genes into cattle can Society, Religion and Tech- improve the dairy industry. nology Project, Church of Similarly animals can be bred to Scotland be free from certain viruses and Dolly – Icon or Iconoclast? rare breeds can be maintained. Dolly became an overnight icon, Other uses and potential uses said Dr Bruce. She signalled a step include creating drugs, disease change in science and genetics research, creating produces such and became a symbol of the as clotting factors for people with promise and threat of biotechnol- diseases such as haemophilia and ogy. potentially creating organs for xenotransplantation. Although the Roslin Institute saw cloning as an agricultural tool, the Professor Campbell said that the media and policy focus was on the birth of Dolly has also opened potential of human cloning. This debate about the use of technolo- focus, Dr Bruce believes, clouded gy and particularly potential for the debate over the ethics of use in human reproduction or in animal cloning. production of embryos to obtain embryonic stem cells. The fear that Although perhaps not inherently humans could be cloned and the wrong, there are welfare issues anti-GM lobby have, he believes, around animal cloning, including meant that hardly any research in the risk of developmental abnor- this area is now taking place in malities, but it could be justified if Europe or America. In his view, the there was a reasonable balance UK has not made the most of the between potential benefit and discovery. risk, he said.

189 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Questions remain over turning He also outlined different views animals into widgets on produc- on the moral status of the human tion lines, however. embryo, saying that while some He believes that human reproduc- saw it as a ball of cells, others tive cloning is immoral because of accorded it the same moral status the physical risks but also because as a baby, while others gave it a of ethical questions. These include gradual moral status. whether each person should have He raised other ethical issues, his or her own genetic identity. including the moral status of But he warned that pressure for human-animal ‘hybrid’ embryos, medical discoveries had already saying they had a degree of moral led to fraudulent research claims status. in Korea, which he said was He concluded that neither straight perhaps a warning not to push science nor religious groups had too far on speculative applica- all the answers and that there was tions. a need for proper public dialogue. Dr Bruce discussed the findings of Novel science should work within the Church of Scotland 2006 public values, he said. Stem Cell Study, which convened a Professor Ian Wilmut OBE FRS group of experts to review the FRSE, Professor of Reproductive science and the theology and to Science, University of Edin- assess particular applications, burgh Centre for Reproductive including embryo stem cells and Biology cloned embryos. Cells from Cloned Human The Church of Scotland General Embryos for Drug Discovery Assembly has taken a view on Professor Wilmut outlined the aspects of stem cell technology, possibilities of using the nuclear concluding, for example, that it is transfer technology developed at acceptable to make limited use of Roslin to study genetic conditions. surplus embryos created for IVF as In particular, he referred to his they would be discarded other- own current research into MND wise. (Motor Neurone Disease), a But it is less in favour of creating relentlessly progressive condition embryos for research, although for which there is no cure or there might be exceptional effective treatment. situations where it is acceptable, To develop new therapies it is for example to produce diseased essential to understand the cause cells for research which could not of human genetic disease, he said. be created in any other way. In MND around two per cent of

190 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums cases have a mutated gene (SOD1) human eggs, including limited and a further eight per cent of supplies, ethical concerns and the cases are inherited, although the problem that the likely efficiency specific genetic cause has not of cloning would be very low. been identified. He pointed out that there were no If cloning techniques can be used, lines from cloned human embryos then knowledge of the mutations so far, nor from non-human are not necessary. primates. The research involves transferring Using more freely available rabbit a cell from a patient with inherited eggs was a possibility, however, MND into an unfertilised human which could help us understand egg which has had its genetic better how to use human eggs. information removed, and There is also the possibility that creating an embryo from which rabbit eggs are so similar to stem cells can be derived. human eggs that they could be The cells could be compared to used to study human disease. those from healthy embryos to see Professor Wilmut acknowledged what happens when they begin to ethical concerns but pointed out develop the abnormalities that the embryos were not associated with MND. implanted, not conscious and This could improve understanding were a very small bundle of 200 of the disease and be used to cells. screen potential drug treatments. He concluded that ambitious Professor Wilmut said there were research should be continued, but practical difficulties in using that application of it should be cautious.

191 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Conference Glasgow’s People : Transcending Poverties 20 February 2007 Glasgow City Chambers, George Square, Glasgow

A full report of this conference was published in May 2007 ISBN: 978 0 902198 30 2. Extracts are reproduced below.

Foreword to mount the conference of which Glasgow is not only special; it is this is the report. unique in its history and the On the initiative of Archbishop combination of factors which have Mario Conti, a Fellow of the made it what it is today. Over the Society, an organising committee past quarter of a century, it has was set up, which identified three transformed itself from being the elements to be addressed in an industrial heartland of an empire attempt to identify the underlying which no longer exists, a monu- problems: ment to a past period of - the context, both historical and ‘carboniferous capitalism’, into a geographical vibrant and economically success- ful city of the twenty-first century. - the work currently being Yet despite the vigour and undertaken affluence which can be seen on - ways forward, with particular every hand, the conditions of life attention to social, cultural and for the poorest Glaswegians, spiritual needs especially in the big housing The three sections of the confer- schemes, remain obstinately bad, ence followed the pattern of these and in some ways have become three elements, with academics, worse. Much excellent and practitioners and policy makers important work is being done, but from within Glasgow and beyond there remains much evidence of contributing their expertise and deprivation, especially social, insights at each stage. We were cultural and spiritual. It was this fortunate in having a wide and situation, and the conviction that, varied range of speakers, and it is although economically based, its hardly surprising, given the extent solution was not susceptible to to which they represented people purely economic remedies, that who had not only studied but in led the Royal Society of Edinburgh many cases lived with the depriva-

192 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums tion that they were describing, society, to education and health, that we heard throughout the day to the ways in which people not only description and analysis valued themselves and the others of the situation but also an array and the communities in which of suggestions for improving it, they lived. In the more radical many of which were taken up by contributions of our last three the speakers in the third part of speakers it was clear that the our conference. Such variety is economic structures of the city inevitable when addressing such a were very important, especially in multifaceted question, and was terms of reducing unemployment, indeed anticipated in the title of but that what was needed above the conference, with its reference all were ways of changing the to poverties in the plural. More ideas of all of us about the values surprising is the extent to which of our culture and society. The our speakers agreed that, al- challenge is immense but cannot though economic deprivation was be ignored, and it is to be hoped a major cause, the poverties which that the questions which this still plague so many in Glasgow meeting raised, not just for could only be transcended by Glasgow, will be revisited in the paying attention to the family and months and years ahead.

Summation and instead is a world-wide Alf Young provided a summary of problem, which raises questions the day’s proceedings and began regarding the forum in which by drawing attention to a point such matters should be discussed. made in the previous question He highlighted how the morning’s and answer session. As such, he analyses had led to a personal suggested that the conference feeling of depression as he seemed to be comprised of a considered that few new ideas conversation among academics had emerged, albeit that absolute and practitioners, but that this poverty seemed to have been does not seem to deal with the addressed. Furthermore, he issues in the language of the considered that questions people in the community who are remained to be asked about the most directly affected. Drawing people who had moved on from upon an earlier theme, he stated communities such as Castlemilk, that the problem of poverty is not how their lives had changed and solely the problem of Glasgow what mechanisms might have made their lives different.

193 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Discussing efforts to abolish improvements for citizens in relative poverty, Mr Young stated wellbeing, or improvements in that working to address those on inner spiritual life. the disadvantaged side of the Continuing, he stated that economic distribution would ‘Tipping points’, accelerated by necessitate that efforts also be climate change, were where applied to those at the more changes were most likely to take affluent end of the scale. In place, not through taxing the rich drawing attention to what he until the pips squeak. Suggesting considered a sub-theme of the that the rich within society might conference regarding arguments seek to emulate the philanthropy for change in fiscal policies and of previous generations’ entrepre- overthrowing the current neo- neurs, Mr Young proposed that liberal capitalist system, Mr Young those in receipt of large city stated that while he might bonuses might consider doing harbour such dreams, the reality something worthwhile with their he perceived was that: ‘It ain’t money, by putting some of it back going to happen’. Bringing to the into communities. He concluded fore examples such as the con- by arguing that such change sumerist models of Hong Kong would not occur by overly focus- and China, which might be ing on de-industrialisation, where considered the new beneficiaries this has left society and the of the neo-liberal system, he tragedy of people left behind. argued that no government which attempted to promulgate such Acknowledging that ‘economic ideas would get elected. apartheid’ might well be a term that could be applied, he consid- Instead, Mr Young suggested that ered that more focus needs to be the future might more closely given to what works and to what resemble that which was de- is deliverable, rather than simply scribed by Phil Hanlon. He focus on raising taxes, reiterating reiterated that the push to once again that this wasn’t going increase GDP and material growth to happen. among major political parties in western countries had not led to

194 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums

Conference Energy for Scotland: is there a consensus? 13 April 2007

This conference brought to a close the RSE’s facilitation of the energy debate in Scotland, which began with the launch of the Inquiry into Energy Issues for Scotland in May 2005, the subsequent follow-up report in June 2006 and country-wide series of public discussion forums. (Dumfries, March 2007; Edinburgh, March 2007; Glasgow, March 2007; Perth, February 2007; Inverness, February 2007; Aberdeen October 2006) In the run-up to the Scottish Parliament elections in May, this timely conference sought to set out Scotland’s energy options and to stimulate informed debate and decision making.

The RSE convened this conference sumption; projected increases in to bring together Scottish and overall consumption as a result of international experts on energy and increasing global populations; the to conclude its debates on energy. gradual rise in the standard of It was deliberately aimed at living resulting in higher per identifying whether there was any capita energy consumption; and consensus on energy issues from the geopolitical issues surround- both the Scottish and the wider ing national interest controls on geographical perspectives. energy exploitation and on energy Global perspective prices from the key resource areas of the world, notably the Middle There was a clear consensus of the East, Russia and West Africa. It is global energy situation: the current likely that technological advances position is unsustainable. This is will allow new energy sources to not a result of the technical be exploited and that greater use availability of energy resources, as of locally-available resources will the global reserves of coal will last become more significant. Howev- for at least two centuries, there are er, if the link between fossil fuels higher extraction rates of oil and and global climate change is to be gas, and new sources of hydrocar- broken, then a price for carbon bons are being discovered all the has to be set to stimulate the time. Rather, the unsustainability is development of clean fuels and caused by a combination of factors: clean technologies for fossil fuels; global climate change triggered by alternatively, but less favoured by emissions from fossil fuel con- industry, would be a carbon tax.

195 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Scottish perspective sources. Fundamentally, the There was a fair degree of consen- consensus broke down on the sus at the Scottish level, with one issue of whether new nuclear- notable exception: the need for, or powered generating capacity ethics of, further nuclear-powered should be installed in Scotland. electricity-generating capacity. There was no meeting of minds There was a strong preference for on this issue and no apparent carbon reduction targets in likelihood of compromises preference to renewable energy between the main protagonists. targets, as these were considered Therefore, there was also, inevita- to be more effective and also bly, no consensus on the energy avoided trying to ‘pick technical hierarchy proposed by environ- winners’. Both grid-networked mental groups, which has and the greater use of locally- renewables as top priority, distributed systems were followed by clean fossil fuel favoured, as were more effective technologies and with nuclear as efforts to increase energy efficien- the unfavoured last resort. cy and especially to reduce, or use Short-term necessity more effectively, waste from urban There was a consensus that there areas and waste heat from power is no ‘silver bullet’ to provide the generation and other sources. solution in the short term. However, the consensus broke Solutions will vary in space and in down on issues such as whether time. These required active there would be energy shortages encouragement by the global and, for example, whether energy and political community. biofuels were a viable energy An Alternative Policy Scenario was source option, given the weak described and achieved a broad economic case at present and the consensus. This comprises a environmental effects of their use. diversity of supply of energy There was recognition of the sources and recognises that the importance of renewables in the global price of oil sets the new electricity supply equation, but baseline for alternative energy disagreement on whether renewa- sources. In addition, clean bles could supply all the likely technologies for fossil fuels, new needs. The distinction was drawn nuclear powered generation and between the ‘ever present’, such renewables should be part of the as renewable energy from waste, mix. There would also need to be and the ‘intermittent’, such as greater use of local energy sources wind and water sources, and the to reduce costs, reduce environ- consequent need for flexible back- mental effects and increase up capacity from non-renewable security of supply. Most impor-

196 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums tant, it was recognised that development of alternative fuels. efficiency should take top priority Renewable energy sources have everywhere: efficiency at the user downsides as well as benefits and end and at the power stations they should be assessed from all where currently too much heat is perspectives rather than making dissipated. To prepare for the ill-considered judgements on their longer term, investment in environmental benefits. Biofuels development of alternative have prospects with the second- sources and cleaner technologies generation technologies, is essential. Alongside this is the especially the further development need to increase the skills availa- of fuel cells, but the prospects for ble through education and alternatives for aviation fuel training, stimulated by the job remain poor. Nuclear fusion opportunities which would technology was progressing, undoubtedly become available. albeit very slowly, and hydrogen as Long-term vision and prospect a fuel vector holds out a good prospect in the longer term, For the longer term of a few provided that the source of energy decades’ time to the middle of the is low carbon. And energy storage century, a clearer vision is required remains an important goal. if the prospect of resolving the Investment requirements are very current unsustainable position is high, but achievable, providing to be achieved. It has to be governments send the right remembered that not everything is market signals and give support currently possible, because of for scaling-up, and incentives for technological constraints and the higher extraction rates. There are lack of markets and the level of also a good many equity issues, prices; but this may not always be especially when comparing the the case. There was a consensus industrialised world with the on the ingredients for the future. emerging economies and the First and foremost, is the need for lesser developed countries. continuing increase in the Improvements in the operation of efficiency of energy use. Secondly, the UN’s Clean Carbon Mecha- carbon sequestration technolo- nism would be helpful in this gies are vital and could achieve regard. three benefits simultaneously: reduction in carbon emissions, Conclusions more effective use of the large Scotland is no different from reserves of fossil fuels available; other countries and should think and the opportunities afforded in a global context as well as act for enhanced oil recovery. Thirdly, locally, as articulated in the RSE there is no simple solution for the Energy Report. It should not go

197 Review of the Session 2006-2007

alone, given the reserved/devolved many old issues on efficiency have powers mix on energy and related been around for decades and still matters, but more importantly, it have not been resolved). There could provide a model for the rest was a clear consensus that some of the UK. Claims that there are very difficult decisions are re- choices to be made between, for quired by government and by example, central and decentralised industry. There are many opportu- systems of electricity supply, nities for technical expertise and between specific technologies or a also for jobs in the energy mix, between supply-led ap- industries. It was noted that proaches or demandmanagement, progress had been slow on the or concentration on Scotland as a key issues raised in the RSE Report net energy exporter or importer, and there was encouragement to were not accepted. The general press for speedier action. Debates consensus emerging was that a could be never-ending on polar- mix of solutions, rather than ised issues. To prepare the ground selecting specific winners, is the for timely and effective decisions, most sensible course of action. it is necessary for more objective The mix should comprise old information to be provided, and technologies with improved for consensus-building, especially carbon sequestration, new after the elections to the Scottish technologies, energy efficiency Parliament in May 2007, as much and energy savings (noting that action is required in the short term.

198 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums

Lloyds TSB Discussion Forum The Ageing Population 1 May 2007 (EICC)

The RSE took part in the Lloyds disabilities is on-going. The title TSB Foundation for Scotland of his talk was Supporting people annual forum held at the Edin- with dementia using advanced burgh International Conference technology and engaging design. Centre in May 2007, and ran one Dr Irina Erchova, holder of a of the afternoon workshops on three-year Personal Research offer at the forum. Both of the Fellowship at the Institutute for organisations are committed to Adaptive and Neural Computation disseminating knowledge about at the University of Edinburgh, the real benefits of their research spoke about her research project partnership which started in entititled ‘Learning to Forget’: 1999, when Lloyds TSB Founda- Aberrant Plasticity in the Aged tion for Scotland began funding Hippocampus and examined research into the ageing popula- whether some of the age-related tion through the RSE. Since then, deficits in memory might be twenty-six academic researchers explained by the very same brain have been funded for research processes that control learning into various aspects of the and memory. medical, psychological, sociologi- cal or economic consequences of Dr Lesley Jessiman held a three- ageing. At the forum, one current year PhD Studentship from 2000 and two past awardees gave to 2003, also at the University of presentations about their work Dundee. She is currently working and a poster display by past and as a psychology lecturer at Paisley current researchers also ran University but continues her throughout the day. Parkinson’s disease research at Dundee University in the Cogni- Dr Norman Alm held a one-year tive Neuropsychology Research Support Research Fellowship in Laboratory, working with Profes- 1999. He is a Senior Lecturer in sor Trevor Harley. Her talk was the School of Computing at the entitled Language & Communica- University of Dundee, where his tion in the Ageing Population: research into systems to assist Past & Present Research. people with physical and cognitive

199 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Cormack Bequest Meeting 2007 Multi-wavelength Astronomy - The Observable Universe from Radio to Gamma Rays 11 May 2007 Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde

The annual Royal Society of current interests in LOFAR (Low Edinburgh’s Cormack Bequest Frequency Array). The importance Meeting is a showcase of Scottish of LOFAR was highlighted by Dr Astronomy, as well as the oppor- Philip Best (a Royal Society tunity for the community to see Research Fellow and Lecturer at the RSE Undergraduate and Royal Observatory Edinburgh) Postgraduate Prize winners receive who spoke about AGN Feedback their awards, and present their (Active Galactic Nucleus) and gave work in a short lecture. Over 70 some excellent arguments as to astronomers from across Scotland why key Scottish investment has attended, from ‘traditional’ been made in LOFAR, supported astronomy research institutes, and encouraged by interdiscipli- such as Glasgow, St.Andrews and nary working between the Edinburgh, to groups more Scottish Universities, through the recently re-housed or initiated in SUPA (Scottish Universities Physics Scotland, such as Heriot-Watt and Alliance) Astronomy theme, and Strathclyde. contact made at meetings such as To cover as broad a spectrum of this one. Astronomy as possible, and retain In addition, an excellent talk was everyone’s attention is no easy given by Rita Tojeiro (Edinburgh) task, but the meeting was ar- winner of the RSE Postgraduate ranged such that the talks jumped Cormack Bequest Prize, who from high energy to low, radio to spoke about Discovering the early gamma rays – fitting well in the Universe using the Cosmic theme Multi-wavelength Astrono- Microwave Background. Her talk my – the Observable Universe was not only very understandable, from Radio to Gamma Rays. The but her enthusiasm for her subject day was started by keynote infectious, illustrating that she speaker, Professor Steve Rawlings, was a very worthy recipient of this University of Oxford, who deliv- year’s award. Jenny Noble, the ered an excellent and entertaining winner of the RSE Undergraduate address on SKA, (Square Kilometre Cormack Bequest Prize, was Array) and the future of radio unable to attend due to a final astronomy even beyond our exam clashing with the meeting.

200 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums

Jenny has just graduated from After explaining that the long- Edinburgh University but under- term aim of Clyde Space is to took her prize-winning work in build cheap launching systems for Strathclyde where she will start a space-based missions and PhD in October 2007, as a SUPA satellites, and to one day fully Prize Student. A further ten fund a ‘Scottish’ mission, Craig contributed talks were made, with Clark from Clyde Space presented demonstrations of how Astrogrid Victoria Frankland (Heriot-Watt) will work, and an update on the with the student poster prize. Dark Skies Scotland project, as With the wine and cheese con- well as detailed tours of high- sumed, and the time for cheap energy physics in solar flares, ice day return tickets to be valid once and dust in interstellar space and again on the trains returning, 60 the outlook for sub-mm imaging tired astronomers made their way with SCUBA II. home to contemplate the day’s Attendees were left in no doubt events. that Scottish Astronomy spans the The meeting was generously full electromagnetic spectrum! supported by SUPA (the Scottish Of the 70 attendees, 60% were Universities Physics Alliance), The young scientists in non-academic University of Strathclyde, Depart- positions; five of these students ments of Physics and Mechanical presented their current research in Engineering, the Royal Society of talks during the programme and a Edinburgh and Clyde Space. A further 14 students showed their short report of the meeting was work in posters during breaks, also featured in the Glasgow and at the wine reception at the Evening Times on the day of the end of the evening. event.

201 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Conference The Union of 1707: New Dimensions 18 May 2007

The aim of this one-day Professor Christopher Smout, conference was to mark the three- FRSE, Historiographer Royal in hundredth anniversary of the Act Scotland. Professor Smout then of Union with a wide-ranging chaired the morning session, at conference that would invite fresh which four papers were thinking and showcase scholars presented. The first of these, a who were at early stages of their broad and provocative exploration careers, as well as some more of The Issues facing Scotland in established scholars. The target 1707’, was delivered by the audience for the conference eminent historian of the Union, included not only Fellows of the Professor Christopher Whatley, Royal Society of Edinburgh and FRSE, Professor of Scottish History, interested members of the public, Head of the College of Arts and but also academics from the Social Sciences and Vice-Principal, Scottish universities and, in University of Dundee. particular, postgraduate students This was followed by Politics, and others who might not be Parties and Patronage: familiar with the Royal Society and Parliamentary Management and its activities. Generous financial the Ratification of the Anglo- support for the conference was Scottish Union, by Dr Karin Bowie, provided by the Faculty of Lecturer in Scottish History at the Advocates, the Scottish Church University of Glasgow. History Society, and the University of Glasgow’s Department of Dr Richard Saville, a former History. The conference, which lecturer in Economic and Social attracted an audience of over a History and now with Coutts and hundred, occurred just two weeks Company, London, considered the after a momentous general cultural background of the Union election in Scotland, the result of with a paper on Intellectual which was a minority SNP Capital in Pre-1707 Scotland. administration. A presentation on the economic The day’s proceedings were dimension of the Union, opened with an overview of the Scotland’s Trade and Political history of the Union provided by Relations with Northern Germany,

202 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums by Ms Kathrin Zickermann, a Dr Christopher Storrs, Reader in Postgraduate student at the History at the University of University of St Andrews, Dundee, considered the European completed the morning session. military and diplomatic context, in The afternoon session of four The Union of 1707 and the War papers was chaired by Professor of Spanish Succession. Stewart Brown, FRSE, Professor of Finally, Professor Colin Kidd, FRSE, Ecclesiastical History at the Professor of Modern History at the University of Edinburgh. The University of Glasgow, provided a afternoon began with an set of concluding remarks on the exploration of the religious Legacy of the Union, reflecting on aspects of the Union, The Kirk, the meaning of the Union for Parliament and the Union, 1706- Scottish history, summing up the 07’, by Dr Derek Patrick, Lecturer day’s proceedings, and identifying in Scottish History at the University the emerging themes for future of Dundee. research. Professor Brown Dr Clare Jackson, Lecturer in brought the conference to a close History at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, with the final vote of thanks. then discussed the intellectual The papers inspired lively framework of the Union debates discussions among the audience, with a paper on Conceptions of which included a number of Nationhood in the Anglo-Scottish leading scholars of Scottish Union Debates of 1707. history and culture. The This was followed by A Union for conference proceedings are being Empire? Scotland, the East India published under the title, The Company and the British Union, Union of 1707: New Dimensions, by Dr Andrew Mackillop, Lecturer by the Scottish Historical Review in History at the University of Trust and the University of Aberdeen. Edinburgh Press, and the volume is scheduled to appear in late 2008.

203 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Conference The 250th Anniversary of the Birth of Thomas Telford 2 July 2007

Thomas Telford was a pioneering would have been truly impressed civil engineer, whose enormous with his ability to turn then- legacy of roads, bridges, canals unimaginable feats of and harbours, has stood the test engineering into awe-inspiring of time and is still in widespread realities, through his vision and use by the travelling public today. practical skills. Born the son of a shepherd in The RSE decided to celebrate the Eskdale, Dumfriesshire, in 1757 250th anniversary of the birth of and honoured by being buried in one of its most famous Fellows in Westminster Abbey in 1834, he a Conference, having broad led a productive life constructing appeal to experts and the public impressive structures across alike, and devoted to his achieve- Britain – from the Caledonian ments. Canal in Scotland to the Menai Suspension Bridge in Wales – to A small group, under my direc- projects further afield, in Sweden, tion, helped to plan the Poland, Panama, Canada and Conference – within the context India. Telford was a key figure in of UK-wide Telford celebrations, the establishment of the Institu- coordinated by Michael Chrimes, tion of Civil Engineers (ICE) in Head of Knowledge Transfer at 1818; he became its first President the ICE – once the Meetings in 1820. Committee of the RSE, chaired by Professor David Ingram, had given In recognition of his prolific the go-ahead. The technical genius, Telford became a Fellow of programme was under the The Royal Society of Edinburgh direction of Professor Roland (RSE) in 1803, having been Paxton, FRSE, FICE, Honorary nominated by three Fellows – Professor at the School of the Professors John Playfair and Built Environment, Heriot-Watt Dugald Stewart, and Dr. James University, and Vice-Chairman of Gregory – all associated with the the ICE’s Panel for Historical Scottish Enlightenment, and the Engineering Works. founding of the Society in 1783 for the “advancement of learning and useful knowledge”. They

204 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums

Others who contributed to my Scotland; David Lockwood, organising group included: Museums Manager, Dumfries & Professor Quentin Leiper, then Galloway Council; and Lia Bren- Senior Vice-President of the ICE; nan, former Events Officer at the Graeme Munro, Former Director RSE. and CEO, Historic Scotland; Alan Professor John Mavor FRSE FREng Muirden, RCAHMS; Michael Vice-President, RSE (Physical & Chrimes, ICE; Nat Edwards, Engineering Sciences) Education & Interpretive Services Manager, National Library of

Papers presented to this conference were published by the Society in July 2007. ISBN: 978 0 902198 40 1

205 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Conference Tall Tales about the Mind and Brain 6-7 September 2007 Our Dynamic Earth

Scientists from different disci- These questions included: plines, including psychologists, Do we really use only 10% of our neuropsychologists, neuroscien- brain? Can we stimulate the tists, philosophers, social creativity of the right hemisphere? scientists and neurologists, Can we believe our memories? discussed topics which are How can we improve our learning popular for everyday press skills? Can one become more coverage but rarely addressed intelligent listening to Mozart’s from a purely scientific perspec- music? Does the size of the brain tive. In particular, the conference matter? Does the moon influence aimed to present experts’ views on our behaviour? Is bilingualism popular misconceptions about the good or bad? Can we trust our functioning of the mind and the intuitions? Can we detect a liar? brain and about human behav- iour. The conference was unique in that rather than sharing scientific As is the case for other sciences issues with ‘peers’, it was intend- (for example physics and chemis- ed to disseminate knowledge and try) the questions that interest the aimed mainly at high-school general public are different (often teachers and their upper-year more general) from most of the pupils, along with a few science questions that the neuroscientists journalists and other interested deal with in their research. lay-people. Sources of everyday information such as magazines, newspapers, In a recent survey of teachers, popular press and TV often report almost 90 per cent thought that on how the mind works. This in the design of educational conference aimed at discussing programmes, knowledge of the what we really know about the brain was important, or very functioning of the mind. Using a important. However, this recogni- scientific approach, the speakers tion is not necessarily always contributing to Tall Tales ad- beneficial. Some enthusiastic dressed questions that they are educationalists have over-simpli- likely to be asked ‘at cocktail fied findings from neuroscience parties’. and over-interpreted the out-

206 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums comes. This has given rise to a We live in a credulous world: number of tall tales on how the “factual” information provided by brain works which are influencing the media is comforting while the teaching and educational pro- doubtful scientific approach is grammes based on the misuse of perceived as distant and some- neuroscience discoveries. what dull. Tall Tales showed that science can be fun and creative.

Tall Tales on Memory and Tall Tales on Intelligence Learning Chair - Professor V G Bruce OBE Chair - Professor Sergio Della Sala FBA FRSE, Vice-Principal and Head FRSE, Professor of Human Cogni- of College, College of Humanities tive Neuroscience, Department of & Social Science, University of Psychology, University of Edin- Edinburgh burgh. Chairman of the Professor Michael Anderson, Conference Organising Commit- Department of Psychology, The tee University of Western Australia, Professor Alan Baddeley CBE FRS, Perth Professor of Psychology, University Dr David Carey, School of Psychol- of York ogy, University of Aberdeen Dr Peter Lamont, School of Professor Ian J Deary FBA FRSE, Philosophy, Psychology and Professor of Differential Psycholo- Language Sciences, The University gy, Department of Psychology, of Edinburgh University of Edinburgh Professor David G Myers, Profes- Professor Barry Beyerstein, sor of Psychology, Hope College, Associate Professor, Department Holland of Psychology, Simon Fraser Professor Tim Valentine, Professor University, British Columbia and of Psychology, Goldsmiths, Chair, British Columbia Skeptics University of London Society (Chair Session 4)

207 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Tall Tales on Language and Tall Tales on Brain and Behav- Communication iour Chair - Dr Jack Jackson, formerly Chair - Professor Barry Beyerstein, HM Assistant Chief Inspector of Associate Professor, Department Education, Scottish Executive of Psychology, Simon Fraser Professor Michael C Corballis, University, British Columbia and Department of Psychology, Chair, British Columbia Skeptics University of Auckland Society Professor Antonella Sorace, Professor James E Alcock, Depart- Professor of Developmental ment of Psychology, University of Linguistics, Linguistics and English York, Toronto Language, Professor Eric H Chudler, Director Professor Aldert Vrij, Professor of of Education and Outreach and Social Psychology, Department of Research Associate Professor, Psychology, University of Port- Department of Bioengineering, smouth University of Washington Professor Chris French, Professor of Psychology, Psychology Depart- ment, Goldsmiths College, University of London

208 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums

Public Event Doors Open Day 29 September 2007

After a gap of several years, the history, its mission and role, and Society took part in Doors Open the many public benefit activities Day 2007 on 29 September. it provides through its Fellows. Almost 400 members of the Doors Open Day is a celebration public were able to view the of Edinburgh’s architecture and building by joining free tours, heritage and has been organised which were provided by RSE staff by the Cockburn Association on a voluntary basis. (Edinburgh's Civic Trust) since These tours also provided an 1991. opportunity for the general public to learn about the Society’s

209 PUBLICATIONS

Proceedings A: Mathematics Other Publications: Six issues were published: Parts RSE Annual Review 2007 (April 135.5 & 135.6 (2005) and 136.1, 2006–March 2007). 136.2, 136.3 and 136.4 (2006) Strategic Framework 2007–2012 – Transactions: Earth Sciences Setting the Society’s strategic Three issues were published: 97.1, direction for the next five years. 97.2 and 97.3 (2006). ISBN: 978 0 902198 15 9 Earth and Environmental The Vikings and Scotland – Impact Science Transactions and Influence – Report of an RSE Conference (held September One issue was published: 98.1 2006) ISBN: 978 0 902198 20 3 (2007). This was the first issue of the newly-titled journal – a Special Alternatives to Prison – Report of Issue of nine invited papers to an RSE/encounter Conference reflect the broader environmental (held December 2006) ISBN: 978 0 remit, entitled Holocene Environ- 902198 25 8 mental Change: Lessons from Glasgow’s People: Transcending Small Oceanic Islands. Poverties – Report of an RSE ReSourcE - Conference (held February 2007) the RSE’s Newsletter: ISBN: 978 0 902198 30 2 Issues 15, 16, 17 and 18. Energy for Scotland: A Call for Action – Follow-on activities from Royal Society of Edinburgh the RSE’s Inquiry Report Inquiry Directory 2007 into Energy Issues for Scotland (Session 2006–2007) (June 2006). Published May 2007. ISBN: 978 0 902198 35 7 The 250th Anniversary of the Birth of Thomas Telford – Collected papers from a commemorative conference held on 2 July 2007. ISBN: 978 0 902198 40 1 Science Scotland – Issue 6 (Au- tumn 2007)

211 THE SCOTTISH SCIENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE The Scottish Science Advisory Professor Sir Kenneth Calman Committee (SSAC) was estab- KCB, FRCS, FRCP, FMedSci, FRSE lished in May 2002 to provide Professor John Coggins FRSE independent advice to Scottish Professor Julie Fitzpatrick MRCVS Executive Ministers on strategic Professor Peter Grant FREng, FRSE, scientific issues. FIEE, FIEEE Chief Scientific Advisor Dr Stuart Monro, CGeol., FGS, The work of the SSAC helped lay a ILTM, FRSSA secure foundation in building the Professor Peter Morgan FRSE profile of science within the then Professor Richard Morris FMedSci, Scottish Executive. Reflecting this FRS, FRSE increased profile, a new post of Dr John Nicholls Chief Scientific Advisor for Professor Stuart Reid MRCVS, Scotland was created within the FRSE Permanent Secretary’s Office of Professor Jonathan Seckl FRCPE, the Scottish Executive in August FMedSci, FRSE 2006. This post, and its office Dr Barbara Spruce MRCP took over the functions of the SSAC from January 2007, after Professor Joyce Tait CBE which the Society ceased to have Professor Chris van der Kuyl FRSE any formal responsibility relating Eur Ing Graham Wren to it. The final report of the RSE’s SSAC - Staff work with SSAC appears in the Dr Avril Davidson, Head of Review 2007 (Session 2005-2006) Secretariat. Avril moved to the SSAC - Members (as at 31/12/ Office of the Chief Scientific 06) Adviser in January 2007. Professor Wilson Sibbett CBE, Dr Marc Rands, Acting Head of FRSE (Chair) Secretariat (May 06 to February Professor Steven Beaumont OBE, 07). Marc supported the transition CEng, MIEE, FRSE to the Scottish Executive. Professor Geoffrey Boulton, OBE, Ms Tracy Rickard, PA/Administrator FGS, FRS, FRSE (to June 06) Professor Muffy Calder FRSE, FIEEE Ms Ekua Hayford, PA/Administra- tor (June to December 06)

213 EVIDENCE, ADVICE AND COMMENT The Society submitted evidence, advice and comment on the following reports during the Session:

October 2006 research; Human Fertilisation & Reform of Higher Education Embryology Authority Research Assessment and Fund- August 2007 ing; Department for Education The Wider Implications of Science and Skills and Technology; Office of Science December 2006 and Innovation Science and Innovation Strategy The European Research Area: New for Scotland; Scottish Executive Perspectives; European Commis- March 2007 sion Draft Culture (Scotland) Bill; September 2007 Scottish Executive The Economic Impact of Immigra- April 2007 tion; House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee International Policies and Activi- ties of the Research Councils; Strategic Research Opportuni- House of Commons Science and ties for Scotland Technology Committee Under contract to the Scottish June 2007 Funding Council (SFC) to provide expert opinion on strategic Funding of Science and Discovery research opportunities for Centres; House of Commons Scotland, the RSE provided advice Science and Technology Commit- on the strategic importance to tee Scotland of research in bionano- July 2007 technology. The advice included the extent and nature of Scot- Renewable Energy-Generation land’s capability; current world Technologies; House of Commons leaders; the potential for collabo- Science and Technology Commit- ration; and how the SFC could tee add value to ongoing work. The Environmental Effects of Cooksey Working Group Novel Materials and Applications; Royal Commission on Environ- In response to Sir David Cooksey’s mental Pollution Review of UK health research funding, a working group was set Hybrids and Chimeras: The ethical up under the Chair of Lord Patel, and social implications of creating to seek to influence the imple- human/animal embryos in mentation of the Cooksey

215 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Report’s recommendations, and Office for Strategic Co-ordination ensure Scottish interests were not of Health Research, the National undermined, given the separate Institute for Health Research and arrangements for health research the Scottish Executive Health funding in the Devolved Adminis- Department, to highlight the trations of the UK. A range of implications for Scotland. discussions were held with the

216 INQUIRIES Energy Issues for Scotland The Future of Scotland’s Hill and Following the launch of the Island Areas Society’s Report into Energy Issues In May 2007 the RSE Council for Scotland in June 2006 and instigated an independent Inquiry with the aim of facilitating public into the Future of Scotland’s Hill & engagement and enhancing Island Areas. The aim of this wide- understanding of energy issues, ranging investigation was to find the Society embarked upon a ways to help secure a prosperous series of countrywide public and and environmentally-sustainable school discussion forums under future for rural areas, especially the banner Debating Scotland’s the more economically-fragile Energy Choices. This dissemina- communities. The Inquiry was tion exercise was a first for the Chaired by Professor Gavin Society. Public and school discus- McCrone, and looked to make sion forums were held in recommendations that responded Aberdeen, Inverness, Perth, not only to threats posed by Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dumfries changes in agricultural support as and the total audience numbers a result of present and anticipated were over 435 for the public reform to the Common Agricultur- events and over 375 for the al Policy, but also to the school discussions. The series opportunities for expansion in concluded with a conference at other parts of the economy, such the Society in April 2007 which as tourism and forestry, and attracted over 80 delegates. An measures to safeguard the Inquiry update report, Energy for environment. Scotland: A Call for Action, was During this Session, the Commit- published in May 2007, reflecting tee received over 80 written on recent decisions and summa- evidence submissions, and visited rising the public debates and the island community on Mull, as school visits and concluding well as meeting with, and hearing conference. It identified the action oral evidence from, 16 organisa- required to ensure achievement of tions at the RSE. the Committee’s strategic aim – a secure, competitive, socially equitable and low carbon emis- sions supply of energy for Scotland.

217 PARLIAMENTARY LIAISON Parliamentary Liaison Officer, Parliament Science Information Bristow Muldoon, was appointed Service. in August 2007. He is employed Bristow’s appointment will also jointly with the Royal Society of enable to Society to develop Chemistry. stronger links with Europe and This appointment will strengthen Westminster. the Society’s engagement with Scottish Government and contin- ue to support the Scottish

219 EVENTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE RSE@Schools presented at Stirling University on October 2006. One Small Step; 12 December 2006, for local Many Giant Myths. Dr Martin school students and this was Hendry. Wick and Thurso High followed by an evening lecture for Schools the general public. In total over 345 teachers and pupils and 65 8 November 2006. Chemistry is members of the general public Magic. Dr Christine Davidson. were in attendance. Lochgelly High School, Fife RSE Roadshows 6 December 2006 Who are You? Professor Sue Black, St John's Two Roadshows, one in the High School Autumn term and one in the Spring term, were held in Ullapool 19 & 20 December 2006. and Falkirk respectively. Road- Throwing Light on the Human shows are two-day events, which Genome. Professor Wendy include interactive maths, science Bickmore. DNA Profiling: its use in and technology workshops for famous cases. Dr Adrian Linacre. primary and secondary school James Watt College students. In addition there are 8 March 2007. Capturing Colour lectures for secondary students with Chemistry. Dr Greig and members of the general Chisholm. Elgin Academy public held in the evening. 15 March 2007. Serpents and Ullapool - Spring 2007 Synthesisers. Professor Murray In the Spring term the RSE Campbell. St Thomas Primary Roadshow visited the High School School in Ullapool. During this visit maths 12 June 2007. Tour of the workshops were delivered by Universe. Professor Ellington. Teresa Carr to P6/7 pupils from Balerno High School Ullapool’s six feeder Primary schools. The workshops explored 13 September 2007. Lazing down how a board for rolling marbles the internet. Professor Thomas can produce a magical triangle Krauss. Keith Grammar School and how hidden patterns, as 14 September 2007. Lazing down simple as 1, 2, 3 and as complicat- the internet. Professor Thomas ed as a famous fractal called Krauss. Ellon Academy Sierpinski's, are found in this Christmas Lectures triangle. Then a completely unrelated game, called "Chinese The 2006 Christmas Lecture, Nim", was played to determine yet Weather Forecasting in the 21 more mathematical magic! Century by Heather Reid was

221 Review of the Session 2006-2007

All the Primary schools were also violently into a supernova explo- involved, on both days, in a sion while others may collapse ‘Chimp Challenge’, presented by dramatically into a Black Hole. Annie Graham, the Education Professor Heavens also explored Officer from Edinburgh Zoo. The the strange properties of curved pupils took part in an exciting, space around Black Holes and large scale board game which dipped the students’ toes into linked into the 5-14 Environmen- wormholes, time travel and the tal Guidelines and Global physics in the movies. Citizenship. They experienced a selection of tastes, smells, music, Diversity/Conservation and costumes and problem solving Breeding Programmes. S4-S6 from real-life situations that the An interactive talk provided by animals and people of the Annie Graham, for S4-S6 stu- Budongo Forest, Uganda face. dents, which offered the chance This challenge not only provided for them to explore the role of observation skills and conserva- modern zoos and learn about tion awareness of Ugandan life how studbook keepers use but also an insight into some computer dating to maintain chimp behaviour, and all this genetic diversity within a captive resulted in a highly interactive population. Annie also introduced lesson. the important research and in situ Black Holes and Small Bangs. projects that zoos support around Afternoon Lecture for S5/6 the world, to help in the conserva- tion of wild animals. Professor Alan Heavens, Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics at the Public Lecture University of Edinburgh, gave an Professor Heaven’s talk from the astronomy talk to S5/6 students afternoon was then adapted for from Ullapool High School. an evening lecture. The lecture Professor Heavens' research was extremely popular and the interests include exploring the theatre was filled with a total of properties of the Universe using 56 members of the public who light bending, the fireball radia- took up the opportunity to ask an tion of the Big Bang, and the expert specific questions which formation of the galaxies. His talk resulted in an enthusiastic crowd covered What happens to stars? staying for an additional half an He explained how big stars are in hour to hear Professor Heaven’s a delicate balance and are kept answers. alive by a big nuclear reactor in the middle but that when the fuel runs out some stars explode

222 Young People

Falkirk - Autumn 2007 The SET summer week of activities This year’s Autumn Roadshow includes workshops and talks on took place at Wallacestone science, technology and maths Primary School, Falkirk. subjects, but also on transferable skills and advice for those not sure In addition to Wallacestone about continuing into higher Primary which hosted the Road- education. show, the following schools also took part: Maddiston Primary; Startup Science Masterclasses Whitecross Primary; Avonbridge The Startup Science Masterclasses Primary; California Primary; take place on Saturday mornings Drumbowie Primary; Limerigg in the form of workshops for S1/ Primary; Shield Hill Primary; S2 students and emphasise the Slamannan Primary. role of science, engineering and Workshops provided included: technology in society. These workshops are run in partnership Hands-on Maths Workshop for with organisations throughout P6/7 pupils delivered by Professor Scotland. Jack and Mrs Teresa Carr; Startup Science Masterclasses A Hands-on Bridge Building took place in both the Spring and Workshop for P6/P7 pupils by Autumn terms at Dundee, St Professor Miles Padgett; Andrews, Aberdeen, Glasgow and An Evening Interactive Talk for the Heriot-Watt Universities. general public, parents and carers, The 250th anniversary of teachers and sixth-form students Thomas Telford from the local High Schools. Does God Play Dice? by Professor Miles A resource pack was produced in Padgett. relation to the year long celebra- tion for the 250th Anniversary of SET Summer Week the birth of Thomas Telford, Two Science, Engineering and Scotland's greatest engineer. Technology Summer Schools, in The materials were created for P6 partnership with Heriot-Watt and P7, S1 and S2 pupils. Howev- University, were held again during er, some teachers of classes the summer break, introducing outwith this age range can use Higher-grade students to universi- the contents, for example with S3 ty life. This year sixth-form pupils and S4 technology students. from East and West Lothian, Mid- lothian and Edinburgh schools The pack provides four activities were in attendance. which have been produced for use in classrooms:

223 Review of the Session 2006-2007

- The Incomplete Sketchbook gence; Language and Communi- - Telford and Co., Kitchen cation and Brain and Behaviour. Designers 17 schools and Colleges attended the Conference from all over - The Telford Property Sale Scotland and as far afield as the - The Bridge-span Challenge Isle of Skye, resulting in 486 pupils and teachers in total. A The pack also contains: Continuing Professional Develop- - Background notes for teachers ment Workshop was also held in - Activity notes explaining the advance of the Conference for four activities Higher Human Biology and Higher Psychology teachers and 21 - Thomas Telford brief biography teachers attended this from a total notes of 12 schools. - Student activity sheets Annual Inspiration Awards - Suggested links to the Scottish Contributors to RSE Young Curriculum for Excellence People’s activities are inspirational Tall Tales about the Mind and role models for young scientists in Brain Conference schools form the Borders to the Highlands. The 2007 awardees A Supporting Resource Pack for were: Dr Susan Armstrong; Teachers was created to be used in Professor Anthony Busuttil; Dr conjunction with and/ or inde- Bruce Davies; Mr Bob Kibble; pendently of, the conference. It Professor Thomas Krauss and Dr provides background information Val Mann. and relevant websites as well as student evaluation sheets and The awards were presented by links to the Higher Psychology and Professor Miles Padgett, who Human Biology curricula. The Tall provided a ‘review of the year’, Tales Conference took place in Professor Jan MacDonald, Vice- September and aimed to unravel President of the RSE talked about psychology and neuroscience the new RSE@Arbroath pro- topics that are seen in the popular gramme to begin in January 2008, press but are often misrepresent- and Mr. Bob Kibble provided an ed: the so-called tall tales. The over view of the Telford Primary themes covered included: Memory school resource pack. and Learning including Intelli-

224 RESEARCH AND ENTERPRISE AWARDS The following awards were made in Session 2006/2007

RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS Professor Carla Sassi. Caribbean- BP Personal Scottish Passages: representations of colonial relations in Scottish Dr David Krasa. Geology’s record literature. collection - Studying the reliabiity of palaeomagnetic data by means Dr Josefa Toribio-Mateas. Concep- of nanofabricated magnetic tualism vs. Nonconceptualism. mineral samples. School of Department of Philosophy, GeoSciences, University of University of Edinburgh Edinburgh Dr Arnoud Visser. Confessionalis- Dr Alexander Morozov. Viscoelas- ing Augustine: The Impact of tic instabilities in flows of polymer Erasmus on the Collected Works solutions. School of Physics, of Augustine. School of Classics, University of Edinburgh University of St Andrews CRF European Visiting Professor Chris Warhurst. The international comparative analysis Dr Maurizio Campanelli. Explore of newly completed research into chapters on foreign history in the low wage work in the UK and Cronica of the Anonimo romano; German hotel industries and the use of Livy in the Cronica; the publication from that research. author’s ideas about history Department of Human Resource writing compared with other Management, University of theories on history in 14th Strathclyde Century Europe; and the city of Rome portrayed in Cronica. Professor Deniz Zeyrek. Range of discourse relations (such as Dr Emilio Jose Luque Azcona. addition, adversative, temporal, Issues involved in dealing with causal, conditional etc) that can be historic quarters within cities. encoded in Turkish by discourse Dr Andrew Newby. The philosoph- connectives. Department of ical and political links between the Foreign Language Education & Victorian land reform movement, Cognitive Science Program, Irish nationalism, and labour, Middle East Technical University particularly in relation to the CRF Personal Highland ‘Crofters’ War. Depart- ment of Scottish History, University Dr Pleasantine Mill. Phenotypic of Edinburgh and Molecular Characterization of Novem ENU Mouse Mutants Affecting Hedgehog Signalling

225 Review of the Session 2006-2007

During Development and Disease. Scottish Government Support MRC Human Genetics Unit, Dr Peter J Bussey. Research on the Western General Hospital. ZEUS, CDF and FP420 Projects in Dr Alan Parker. Developing Experimental Particle Physics. optimised adenoviral vectors for Department of Physics and in-vivo gene delivery and therapy. Astronomy, University of Glasgow BHF Cardiovascular Research Dr Graeme Cooke. Towards Centre, University of Glasgow. Synthetic Flavoenzymes. Depart- Lloyds TSB Personal ment of Chemistry, University of Dr Linda Ferrington. The effects of Glasgow cerebrovascular dysfunction on Professor Richard Ribchester. the development of Alzheimer’s Translational Biology of Motor pathology. Centre for Cognitive & Neurone Disease. Department of Neural Systems, University of Neuroscience, University of Edinburgh Edinburgh Lloyds TSB Support RESEARCH WORKSHOPS Dr Mark Mon-Williams. Under- Arts & Humanities Workshops standing and alleviating Dr Gail Low. Investigating the movement problems in the elderly archive: An interdisciplinary with and without stroke. School enquiry into the concept and role of Psychology, University of of archives. School of Humanities, Aberdeen University of Dundee Scottish Government Personal Mrs Diana Murray. Identifying Dr Timothy George. Phosphour- Scotland - Context and Collabora- ous-use efficiency mechanisms in tion. Royal Commission on the plants as affectedby water Ancient & Historical Monuments availability. Scottish Crop Research of Scotland Institute Dr John Scally. Darwin’s Scotland. Dr Brian Gerardot. Quantum University of Edinburgh Optics of Single Spins in a Lloyds TSB Workshops Quantum Dot. School of Engineer- ing and Physical Sciences, Wendy Loretto.School of Manage- Heriot-Watt University ment and Economics, University of Edinburgh Dr Christopher Tuttle. The Ration- al Design of Hybrid Catalysts with Dr Marilyn McGee-Lennon. Computational Methods. Depart- Including Stakeholders in the ment of Pure and Applied Design of Homecare Systems. Chemistry, University of Strath- clyde

226 Research and Enterprise Awards

Department of Computing Cormack Vacation Scholarship Science, University of Glasgow Mr Euan Bennet. A wave mechani- Dr Kathleen Riach. The changing cal approach to large scale working lives of the over-50s: structure in the universe. Depart- control, choice and flexibility. ment of Physics and Astronomy, Department of Management, University of Glasgow University of Glasgow Mr Ewan Dickson. High energy RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS emission from solar flares. AND PRIZES Department of Physics and Auber Bequest Award Astronomy, University of Glasgow Professor Francesco De Matteis. Ms Judith Ferguson. The Seismol- Bilirubin and Heme as Targets of ogy of Solar Coronal Magnetic Cytochrome P450 Activity. School Fields. School of Mathematics and of Biological and Chemical Statistics, University of St Andrews Sciences, University of London Mr Jonathan Higgins. Cosmologi- Professor Michael Hattaway. cal Monte Carlo Simulations of Language and Discovery in English Lyman-Alpha Photons. Institute Renaissance Theatre. for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh Cormack Postgraduate Prize Mr Martin McDonald. Automated Mr Garry W. Angus. On the Proof Feature Tracking in TRACE Solar of Dark Matter, the Law of Gravity, UV Data. Department of Physics and the Mass of Neutrinos. School and Astronomy, University of of Physics and Astronomy, Glasgow University of St Andrews Ms Laura J Porter. Physics of sun- Ms Rita Tojeiro. Non-Gaussianity comet impacts. Department of in the Wilkinson Microwave Physics and Astronomy, University Anisotropy Probe data using the of Glasgow peak-peak correlation function. Royal Observatory Edinburgh Mr John Rostron. Angular Momentum Evolution of Low- Cormack Undergraduate Prize Mass Stars on the Main Sequence. Ms Jennifer A Noble. University of School of Physics and Astronomy, Glasgow University of St Andrews Ms Laura J Porter. University of Henry Dryerre Scholarship Glasgow Ms Lucinda Low. Do glucocorti- coids inhibit cardiovascular lesion formation by reducing inflamma- tion in the vascular wall? Centre

227 Review of the Session 2006-2007

for Cardiovascular Science, Univer- ENTERPRISE FELLOWSHIPS sity of Edinburgh BBSRC Lessells Travel Scholarship Dr Andrew Almond. Expediting Mr Daniel Edward Clark. Multi- drug discovery by determining the Sensor Multi-Target Tracking with 3D-structure of small key mole- Random Sets. Department of cules. Faculty of Life Sciences, Electrical and Electronic Engineer- University of Manchester ing, University of Melbourne Dr Michael McArthur. DNA-based Mr Kim de Mora. Engineering a therapies to combat antibiotic glucose control system in yeast. resistance in pathogenic bacteria. Department of Systems Biology, Department of Molecular Microbi- Harvard University ology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Ms Susan Deeny. Predicting Fire Mr Sridhar Vasudevan. Virtual Performance of Concrete Struc- screening: an innovative method tures. Department of Civil for drug discovery and develop- Engineering, University of Canter- ment. Department of bury, New Zealand Pharmacology, University of Mr David G M Mitchell. A Polyno- Oxford mial approach to Low-Densiy Dr Christopher Ward. Commercial Parity-Check Convolutional Codes. exploitation of a novel embryonic Coding Research Group / Depart- stem cell technology. Centre for ment for Electrical Engineering, Molecular Medicine, University of University of Notre Dame Manchester Lloyds TSB Studentships TEACHING FELLOWSHIPS Mr Robin Coltman. Is the wiring of Mr Colin Guthrie. Fishing. Biology the brain faulty in ageing and in Department, Kelso High School Alzheimer’s Disease?. Centre for Mr Stuart Robertson. ICT Materials Neuroscience Research, University for SSERC. James Gillespie’s High of Edinburgh School

228 MEDALS, PRIZES AND PRIZE LECTURESHIPS Royal Medal 8th Award 2007 Professor Sir David Carter Professor John D M H Laver Sir Thomas F W McKillop Gannochy Trust Innovation Award 5th Award 2007 Dr Andrew Mearns Spragg IEEE/RSE/Wolfson/James Clerk Maxwell Award 1st Award 2006 Dr Irwin M Jacobs Dr Andrew J Viterbi Alexander Ninian Bruce Prize 3rd Award 2007 Professor C J Secombes Bruce Preller Prize Lectureship no award made CRF Prize Lectureship 18th Award 2006-2007 Professor Steven Shoelson Henry Dryerre Prize Lectureship no award made

229 GRANTS COMMITTEE The Grants Committee considered 30 applications and a sum of £11,600 was awarded to 24 applicants. Approximately 67% of this sum was awarded as travel assistance.

Travel Assistance Support for Meetings Professor W Banks. For travel to Professor S Campo. For 12th Japan. £600 Glasgow Virology Workshop. Professor L D Barron. For travel to £300 USA. £700 Professor D Lee. For Functional Professor J C Brown. For travel to Brain Imaging of Movement in China. £600 Music: A Challenge to Cognitive Neuroscience? £500 Professor A Carbery. For travel to Canada. £600 Professor J F McMillan. For Rewriting the History of History. Professor J D Connolly. For travel £150 to Uganda. £700 Professor R Morris. For Festschrift Professor P Corbet. For travel to for Professor Charles Warlow. Namibia. £300 £500 Professor G B Donaldson. For Professor R Morris. For the Annual travel to India. £600 Scottish Neuroscience Group Professor C Eilbeck. For travel to Meeting. £600 Uzbekistan. £600 Professor J Simmons and Profes- Professor T Goodman. For travel sor V Bruce. For the Third to Norway. £300 International Postgraduate Conference in Translation and Professor P Monaghan. For travel Interpreting. £200 to Canada. £600 Professor J Speakman. For The Professor A Ranicki. For travel to Second Integrative Physiology Canada. £400 Post-Graduate students Confer- Professor A H F Robertson. For ence. £200 travel to Jordan. £500 Professor I B Whyte. For The RIAH Professor C Trevarthen. For travel General Assembly. £750 to Poland. £300 Professor J Speakman. For travel to Canada. £950

231 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Research Visitor to Scotland Professor T M Devine. To enable Professor I Gyongy. To enable Professor Elizabeth L Ewan to give Professor Nicolai Krylov, University two lectures at the University of of Minnesota, to visit Edinburgh. Edinburgh. £350 £300

232 INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME Exchanges Awarded during the Session

China - Outgoing Dr Renata Riha. Edinburgh Royal Professor James Anderson. Infirmary. University of Aberdeen - Dr Jitka Buskova. Charles - Professor Can Li. Dalian Institute University of Chemical Physics, CAS Czech Republic - Outgoing Professor Peter Clift. University of Dr Elisabetta Girelli. University of Aberdeen. St Andrews. - Professor Zhen Sun. South - Professor Jan Bernard. FAMU China Sea Institute of Oceanol- Film School ogy. - Dr Ptra Hanakova & Professor Professor Christopher Jefferies. Stanislava Pradna. Charles University of Abertay, Dundee. University - Professor Yin. Research Center Hungary - Incoming for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Dr Kathryn E Arnold. University of CAS Glasgow. - Professor Zhang. Huazhong - Dr Rita Hargitai. Eotvos Lorand University of Science and University Technology. Professor S L Manning FRSE. Dr David Logan. University of St University of Edinburgh Andrews. - Dr Zoltan Imre. Institute for - Professor Jinxing Lin. Institute of Hungarian Literature Botany, Chinese Academy of Hungary - Outgoing Sciences. Professor A Carbery FRSE. Univer- Mr Neil McLean. Scottish Environ- sity of Edinburgh mental Protection Agency. - Professor Szilard Revesz. Renyi - Professor Chengqing Yin. Institute Research Center for Eco- Environmental Science, CAS Dr Andrew Davison. MRC. Czech Republic - Incoming - Dr Balazs Harrach. Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Professor Judith Green. University Hungarian Academy of Sciences of Edinburgh. Poland - Incoming - Dr Klara Benesovska. Institute of Art History, Academy of Sciences Dr David Dryden. University of of the Czech Republic Edinbrugh. - Dr Janusz Bujnicki. IIMCB

233 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Professor Hamlyn Jones. University Professor Francesca Bray. Universi- of Dundee at SCRI. ty of Edinburgh. - Dr Piotr Baranowski. Institute of - Dr Jo-Lan Yi. National Taiwan Agrophysics, Polish Academy of University Sciences (PAN) Professor M J Grimble FRSE. - Dr Wojciech Mazurek. Institute University of Strathclyde of Agrophysics, PAN - Professor Kuo-Ming Chang. Dr Frithjof Kuepper. Scottish National Kaohsiung University Association for Marine Science. of Applied Sciences - Dr Malgorzata Szymczak-Zyla. Professor Andrew Jarman. Institute of Oceanology, PAN University of Edinburgh. Dr Gernot Riedel. University of - Professor Angela Chen. Nation- Aberdeen. al Sun Yet San University - Dr Wiktor Niewiadomski. Professor Pamela Munn. University Medical Research Centre, PAN of Edinburgh. Slovenia - Incoming - Professor Hsiao-Lan Sharon Dr Vivian Blok. Scottish Crop Chen. National Taiwan Normal Research Institute. University - Dr Barbara Geric Stare. Agricul- Taiwan - Outgoing tural Institute of Slovenia Dr Jessica Chen-Burger and Slovenia - Outgoing Professor Robert Fisher. University Dr Emily Lyle. University of Edin- of Edinburgh. burgh. - Dr Yen. Tatung University - Dr Marjetka Golez Kaucic. - Dr Lin. National Centre for High Institute of Ethnomusicology, Performance Computing Slovenian Academy of Sciences Dr Pei-Jung Chung. University of and Arts Edinburgh. Professor Jo Shaw. University of - Dr Yu Ted Su. National Chiao Edinburgh. Tung University - Professor Mirjam Skrk and Dr Margery McMahon and Jean Professor Danilo Turk. University Kane. University of Glasgow. of Ljubljana - Taipei Municipal University of Taiwan - Incoming Education Professor Alan Boyle. University of Ediburgh. - Professor Kuei-Jung Ni. National Chiao Tung University

234 International

Open Programme - Incoming Professor C A Greated FRSE. Professor Colin Aitken. University University of Edinburgh of Edinburgh. - Professor Nikita Fomin. Heat - Dr Grzegorz Zadora. Institute of and Mass Transfer Institute, Forensic Research, Poland Belarus Academy of Sciences Dr Crispin Bates. University of Dr Chris Hodgson. Moredun Edinburgh. Research Institute. - Dr Jan-Peter Hartung. Rhein- - Dr Satish Srivastava. Indian ische Friedrich-Wilhelms Veterinary Research Institute University, Germany Professor Russell Howe. University Dr Timothy Bates. University of of Aberdeen. Edinburgh. - Assoc Professor Hicham Idriss. - Dr Michelle Luciano. Queens- University of Auckland, New land Institute of Medical Zealand Research, Australia Dr Ajoy Kar. Heriot-Watt University. Dr James Brockmole. University of - Professor Umesh Govindarao. Edinburgh. National Institute of Technology - Dr Walter Boot. University of Karnataka, India Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Dr Frank Keller. University of USA Edinburgh. Dr Glenn Bryan. Scottish Crop - Professor Roger Levy. University Research Institute. of California at San Diego, USA - Dr Rita Ulloa. Institute of Dr Christophe Lacomme. Scottish Genetic Engineering & Molecu- Crop Research Institute. lar Biology, Argentina - Dr Carola Wagner. Institute of Professor Nick Christofi. Napier Crop Science and Plant Breed- University. ing, Germany - Dr Galina Matafonova. Baikal Dr David Middleton. Royal Botanic Institute of Natural Manage- Garden Edinburgh. ment, Russia - Dr Pramote Triboun. Bangkok Professor Peter Clift. University of Herbarium, Thailand Aberdeen. Dr Mark Mon-Williams. University - Dr Liviu Giosan. Woods Hole of Aberdeen. Oceanographic Institution, USA - Professor Geoffrey Bingham. Professor J Grace FRSE. University Indiana University, USA of Edinburgh. - Nina Nikonova. Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research

235 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Dr Maria Nijnik. The Macaulay Dr Peter Taylor. University of Institute. Dundee. - Professor Petro Lakyda. National - Dr Katarzyna Ruckemann- Agriculture University of Ukraine Dziurdzinska. Medical University - Dr Ihor Soloviy. Ukrainian of Gdansk, Poland National Forestry University Open Programme - Outgoing Dr Patrik Ohberg. University of Dr Rebekka Artz. The Macaulay Strathclyde. Institute. - Dr Gediminas Juzeliunas. Vilnius - Dr Markus Thormann. Canadian University, Lithuania Forestry Service Dr Rachael Powell. University of - Professor Line Rocheford. Aberdeen. University of Laval, Canada - Dr Marie-Carmen Neipp. Miguel Dr Colin Berry. University of Hernandez University of Elche, Glasgow. Spain - Professor Tardif & Dr Eric Professor Julia Preece. University Theaume. Laboratory of of Glasgow. Atherosclerosis, Canada - Dr Vaiva Zuzeviciute. Vytautas - Dr Sylvie Levesque. Montreal Magnus University, Lithuania Heart Institute Co-ordinating Dr Zoe Shipton. University of Centre, Canada Glasgow. Dr Marcelo Cintra. University of - Dr Steven Micklethwaite. Edinburgh. Australian National University - Dr Calin Cascaval. IBM T J Professor M J Steedman FRSE. Watson Research Center, USA - Professor Sumru Ozsoy. Bospho- Dr Peter Doerner. University of rus University, Turkey Edinburgh. Dr Finlay Stuart. Isotope Geo- - Anne Britt. University of sciences Unit, University of California at Davis, USA Edinburgh - Philip Benfey. Duke University, - Dr Joaquim Juez-Larre. Vrije USA Universiteit Amsterdam, Dr Mark A Freeman. University of Netherlands Stirling. Professor G L Taylor FRSE. - Professor Matthias Eydal. - Dr Jennifer Wilson. Griffith University of Iceland University, Australia Professor Colin Fyfe. University of Paisley. - Schloss Dagstuhl, Germany

236 International

Professor Anne Griffiths. Universi- Professor Grant Jordan. University ty of Edinburgh of Aberdeen. - Professors Tom Bennett & - Professor Ken Endo and Chuma Himonga. University of Professor Mikine Yamasaki. Cape Town, South Africa Hokkaido University, Japan - Dr Onkemetse Tshosa. University - Professor Toshi Aiuchi. Otaru of Botswana University of Commerce, Japan - Henk Smith & Dr Aninka - Professor Toshimitsu Shinkawa. Claasens. Legal Resources Kyoto University, Japan Centre, South Africa - Professor Kunihiro Wakamatsu - Professor Ben Cousins. Universi- and Professor Kensuke Taka- ty of the Western Cape, South yasu, Tokyo, Japan Africa Dr Catriona Kennedy. Napier Dr Hazel Hall. Napier University. University. - Dr Pierrette Bergeron. Universite - Denise Spencer and Professor de Montreal, Canada Sanchia Aranda. Peter MacCal- Dr Andrea Hamilton. University of lum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Edinburgh. Australia - Professor Bruce Balcom. Dr Raya Khanin. University of University of New Brunswick, Glasgow. Canada - Kavli Institute for Theoretical Professor James Hurford. Universi- Physics, Santa Barbara, USA ty of Edinburgh. Professor Chim Lang. Ninewells - Linguistic Society of America Hospital and Medical School, annual meeting Dundee. - Professor Robert Boyd. Universi- - Dr Paolo Colombo & Professor ty of California at Los Angeles Donna Mancini. Columbia (UCLA), USA University Medical Center, USA Dr Glenn Iason. Macaulay Insti- Dr Stephen Moggach. University tute. of Edinburgh. - Dr Clare McArthur. University of - Professor Carl Henrik Gorbitz. Sydney, Australia University of Oslo, Norway - Professor Brad Potts and Dr Dr John Moore. Napier University. Julianne O’Reilly-Wapstra. - Professors McFarlane, Saddler, University of Tasmania, Australia Lam, Drs Mansfield, Mitchell. University of British Columbia, Canada

237 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Dr Arindam Mukherjee. The profile events arranged by our University of Edinburgh. International Committee’s - Dr Anne Mason. University of European Policy Forum. Vermont, USA 7 December 2006: David Graddol, Professor Vladimir Nikora. Univer- author of the British Council sity of Aberdeen. publication English Next visited - Dr Nicolas Lamouroux. Cema- the RSE to give his views on gref - Agricultural & language learning and to discuss Environmental Engineering the RSE’s event and report Research, France Languages in Scotland: What’s the Professor J I Prosser FRSE. Universi- Problem? ty of Aberdeen. 28 June 2007: The RSE was - Professor Lars Baken. Agricultur- pleased to welcome Jan Figel’, al University of Norway European Commissioner for - Professor Janet Jansson. Education, Training, Culture and Swedish University of Agricultur- Youth, to give this year’s European al Sciences Lecture, on the subject of Reform- ing Europe’s Universities – Why Dr Neil Stuart. University of and How? He welcomed the Edinburgh. opportunity to engage Scottish - Keizo Nonomura. Ministry of universities in dialogue about Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries, ways in which the university sector Chiyoda-ku, Japan throughout the EU can better Dr Carol Trager-Cowan. University contribute to economic and social of Strathclyde. policy. - Professor David Joy. Oak Ridge Visits National Laboratory, USA 23 January 2007: The RSE hosted Dr Stephen Woodward. University a visit by Professor Maciej Zylicz of of Aberdeen. the Foundation for Polish Science - Dr Caroline Mohammed. and was interested to hear of the University of Tasmania, Australia work undertaken by the Founda- tion. The Foundation for Polish Science is an independent, self- Events financing non-profit-making 25 October 2006: Professor Jüri organisation established in 1991. Engelbrecht, the President of The Foundation’s mission is to ALLEA (All European Academies) provide assistance and support to visited the RSE to give a public the scientific community in Poland lecture on European science through individual prizes, grants policy, as part of a series of high and scholarships.

238 International

16 March 2007: The RSE hosted a Bureau of International Coopera- visit of two representatives of the tion, of The National Natural Russian Academy of Sciences, who Science Foundation of China were visiting the UK on a British visited the RSE to sign a Memo- Council organised visit. The visit randum of Understanding was an opportunity for the between our two organisations. Academy representatives to 28-30 August 2007: The RSE familiarise themselves with the UK hosted a visit to Edinburgh by science scene, universities, and the representatives of a number of principles on which the science our European Sister Academies. system in the UK is based. Academies represented were The 13 April 2007: Chinese science Academy of Sciences of the Czech and technology journalists visited Republic, The Hungarian Academy the RSE as part of a British Council of Sciences, The Polish Academy organised visit to Scotland. The of Sciences, The Slovak Academy journalists met with representa- of Sciences and The Slovenian tives of the RSE to discuss our Academy of Sciences and Arts. ongoing links with China and to The visit was an opportunity to discuss science and technology, discuss future collaborations and and science communication, in specifically an application to Scotland Framework Programme 7. Relations with Sister Academies Other Activities 23 November 2006: Professor Ján Other activities this year include a Slezák, First Vice-President and Dr number of promotional work- L’ubomír Falt’an, Scientific Secre- shops throughout Scotland, tary, of The Slovak Academy of providing information on the Sciences visited the RSE to sign a RSE’s international funding Memorandum of Understanding schemes. The RSE also continues between our two organisations. to be an active member of 1 July 2007: Professor Zhu Scotland Europa and ALLEA . Zuoyan, Vice-President and Ms Yingjie Fan, Program Officer,

239 FELLOWS’ SOCIAL EVENTS Summer Soirée - 2 July 2007 10 October 2006. The Interface between science and art. Profes- New Fellows’ Induction Day 30 sor Roy H Burdon. April 2007 7 November 2006. The Crusades from the Muslim side. Professor Discussion Dinners and Suppers Carole Hillenbrand 18 May 2007 - Discussion 5 December 2006. Nuclear Waste Supper. The Union of 1707 – Personal Experience. Professor John R Greening The Misrepresentation of the Union by Mr Paul Henderson Scott 9 January 2007. The Economics of Climate Change. Sir Alan and Peacock Two to Tango - The Myth of an 6 February 2007. The Unicorn – a English Takeover by Mr Paul curious evolution. Professor John Riddell, Senior Assistant Editor, E Dale The Scotsman. 6 March 2007. Prematurity and 15 February 2007- Discussion Postmaturity in Scientific Research. Supper. What is a National Professor Alastair C Wardlaw Academy? Chaired by Professor John Richardson FRSE. The Royal Society Dining Club This Club was established on 3rd Speakers: Mr Peter Brown, Former January 1820, with the view of Secretary of the British Academy, promoting the objectives of the Professor Seona Reid, Director of Royal Society of Edinburgh. In Glasgow School of Art and Sir Session 2006/2007 meetings Michael Atiyah PRSE. were held as follows : Monday 6 November 2006. 839th dinner - 4 December 2006 Discussion Dinner. Rights, Praeses: Professor Carol Duffus Freedom and Welfare in Croupier: Professor John Coggins Economics. 840th dinner - 2 April 2007 This dinner followed the lecture Praeses: Dr Douglas Lloyd by Professor Praqsanta Kumar Croupier: Professor David Ingram Pattanaik. 841st dinner - 4 June 2007 Fellows’ Coffee Meetings Praeses: The Rt Hon Lord Ross Weekly Coffee Meetings were Croupier: Professor Andy Walker held throughout the winter and 842nd dinner - 8 October 2007 spring months. Speakers at the Praeses: Rev Richard Holloway monthly lecture meetings were: Croupier: Professor Bruce Proud- foot

241 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Fellows’ Golf Challenge The 2007 Fellows' Golf Challenge was held at Buchanan Castle Golf Club on Friday 24 August 2007. The winner of the Stewart Cup 2007 was Professor Roy Burdon.

242 GRANTS, SPONSORSHIP AND DONATIONS The society is grateful to the following organisations for their continuing support during the Session:

BBSRC GM Morrison Charitable Trust BP Research Fellowship Trust Gannochy Trust British Council Science and Technology Facilities Caledonian Research Foundation Council Lord Fleck Will Trust Scottish Enterprise Lessells Trust Scottish Executive Lloyds TSB Foundation for The Wellcome Trust Scotland and also to the following for their support for specific events and activities:

Anglo Irish Encounter Kingdom Holdings Airborne Initiative Ltd London Mathematics Society Argyll & Bute Council G M Morrison Charitable Trust Arup Mott MacDonald Barr Ltd Orkney Islands Council British Academy PPLS University of Edinburgh Darwin Trust The Robertson Trust Esme Fairbairn Foundation Royal Bank of Scotland Trust for Expedition Engineering the RSE Faculty of Advocates Royal Norwegian Consul General Foreign & Commonwealth Office Scottish Church History Society Glasgow Maths Journal Trust Scottish History Review Mrs S M W Heggie Shetland Islands Council Heriot-Watt University Strathmartine Trust Institute Of Civil Engineers Mrs S L Tremlett Institution of Engineering and UPM Tilhill Technology James Weir Foundation

243 CHANGES IN FELLOWSHIP DURING THE SESSION DEATHS REPORTED TO THE SOCIETY Fellows John Swanson BECK Sir Ian (Alexander) McGREGOR Kenneth Walter BENTLEY Anne Laura McLAREN Alan Geoffrey BROWN Magnus MAGNUSSON Sir John (Harrison) BURNETT Donald MICHIE George Elder DAVIE Henry Gemmell MORGAN Heather May DICK Joseph Alan ROPER Henry John EVANS Raymond John SCOTHORNE Sir (James) Campbell FRASER Alastair Ian SCOTT Sir Abraham GOLDBERG James Boyd SMITH Dr Alexander Reid HILL Timothy Lauro Squire SPRIGGE Richard Milne HOGG Charles Edwin TAYLOR Ralston Andrew LAWRIE Harold James THOMAS Geoffrey WEBB Honorary Fellows

Frank Albert COTTON Sir James (Woodham) MENTER Paul HALMOS Carl-Friedrich VON WEIZSÄCKER Martin David KRUSKAL ELECTIONS Fellows

Graeme John ACKLAND Stewart Jay BROWN John Arnott BEATH John Robert BROWN Simon Geoffrey BEST Stephen Terrence BUCKLAND Michael Ian BIRD John William CAIRNS Christopher M BISHOP Donald Murray CAMPBELL Douglas Herbert Rowland BLACK- Richard CARTER WOOD Andy CLARK Nuala Ann BOOTH John Wilson CRAWFORD Peter James BROPHY

245 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Richard Walter John Montagu- Charles Adrian JEFFERY Douglas-Scott DALKEITH John KAY Martin David DAWSON Graeme Thomas LAURIE Kishan DHOLAKIA Kennedy Richardson LEES James Scott DUNLOP Brian LOASBY Emad Munir Abdel-Gabbar EL- Colin Darnley McCAIG OMAR Kenneth Edward Louis McCOLL Julie Lydia FITZPATRICK James Loy MacMILLAN Duncan Baillie FORRESTER Gordon Grier Thomson MASTER- Sergey FOSS TON Geoffrey Michael GADD William Branks MOTHERWELL James Daniel (Jim) GALLAGHER Gareth PENDER David Alexander Forsyth GILLESPIE Martin John PICKERING Duncan GRAHAM Adrienne Clare SCULLION Susan Adele GREENFIELD Christopher John SECOMBES William John HARDCASTLE Martin John SIEGERT Jane Elizabeth HILLSTON Antonella SORACE Tessa Laurie HOLYOAKE Peter Michael SULLIVAN Robert Malcolm W HORNER Michael WEISS James Robert HUNTER Hugh John WILLISON Ruth Frances JARRETT Jennifer Grant WISHART

Corresponding Fellows

Gavin BROWN Ian McALLISTER Ian DUNCAN Ronald D G McKAY Ilkka Aulis HANSKI Jan PALOUS Nicolai Vladimirovich KRYLOV Angus William THOMSON Ole Didrik LAERUM Iain Richard TORRANCE

246 STAFF CHANGES DURING THE SESSION Arrivals Departures Ms Koren Calder, Education Ms Lia Brennan, Events Officer Outreach Officer Mr Ian Melville, Policy Officer Mrs Jean Geoghegan, Accounts Ms Kate Piper, Records Manage- Officer ment Officer Mr Bristow Muldoon, Parliamen- Mrs Margaret Tait, Receptionist/ tary Liaison Officer Telephonist Ms Laura Turnbull, Admin/ Receptionist Other Staff in post throughout the Session Ms Christel Baudere, HR Assistant Ms Lyndsey Hume, Conference Mr Stuart Brown, PR and Commu- Centre Co-ordinator nications Manager Mr Robert Hunter, Evening Mrs Roísín Calvert-Elliott, Events Caretaker Manager Mr Robert Lachlan, Accounts Ms Jennifer Cameron, Office Officer Services and IT Support Manager Mrs Jenny Liddell, Communica- Dr Lesley Campbell, Fellowship, tions Officer Policy, and Journals Manager Mr George Pendleton, Facilities Ms Morven Chisholm, Interna- Assistant tional Relations Officer Dr Marc Rands, Policy Officer Mr Andy Curran, Property Services Ms Tracy Rickard, Research Awards Officer Co-ordinator Dr William Duncan, Chief Execu- Mr Brian Scott, Technical Support tive Assistant Miss Kate Ellis, Director of Finance Mrs Sheila Stuart, Administration Mrs Anne Fraser, Research Awards Assistant and International Manager Ms Claire Swatton, Events/ Mrs Vicki Hammond, Journals and Education Assistant Archive Officer Ms Susan Walker, Events Officer Mr William Hardie, Energy Enquiry Mrs Doreen Waterland, PA to Administrative Assistant President and Chief Executive Mrs Isabel Hastie, Receptionist/ Mr Duncan Welsh, Events Officer Telephonist Mr Graeme Herbert, Director of Corporate Services and Deputy Chief Executive

247 OBITUARY NOTICES John Stuart ARCHER ...... 250

John Swanson BECK ...... 253

Sir John BURNETT ...... 258

Henry John EVANS ...... 261

Sir Campbell FRASER ...... 264

Professor Sir Abraham GOLDBERG ...... 268

Anders Hjorth HALD ...... 273

Henry HEANEY...... 275

Douglas Mackay HENDERSON ...... 279

Richard Milne HOGG ...... 287

Martin David KRUSKAL ...... 289

Peter Nielsen LADEFOGED ...... 293

John McINTYRE ...... 295

Andrew Ronald MITCHELL ...... 298

Wallace Spencer PITCHER ...... 302

Professor Geoffrey WEBB ...... 307

249 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

John Stuart Archer 15 June 1943 – 9 December 2007

John Archer was Principal and 1980, was appointed Professor in Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt 1986 and Head of the Depart- University from January 1997 until ment of Mineral Resources his retirement in July 2006. Engineering. He went on to play During Principal Archer’s tenure an increasingly senior role in the the University grew substantially, management of Imperial College, with overall student numbers first as Dean, then Pro-Rector and increasing by a third, including a finally Deputy Rector. doubling of the number of As Principal of Heriot-Watt from postgraduate students. During 1997, Professor Archer empha- the same period, Heriot-Watt sised the importance of growth in made considerable advances in terms of research and in the research, became recognised as numbers of international and Scotland’s most international postgraduate students. He university with around thirty per encouraged investment by the cent of on-campus students from University in the appointment of outside the UK, and achieved leading research staff in anticipa- unparalleled numbers of off- tion of the UK’s Research campus students studying Assessment Exercise of 2001. The Heriot-Watt programmes in well outcome was significant growth over 100 countries. both in research standing and John Archer was brought up in income to the University. Never- London, attending Chiswick theless the University, like many Grammar School and gaining a others, faced severe budgetary BSc degree in Industrial Chemistry pressures around the beginning from City University in 1965. He of the present decade and went on to obtain a PhD at financial deficits were incurred for Imperial College in London before several years. Principal Archer commencing his career as a oversaw a major and successful Petroleum Engineer, spending restructuring of the University four years in Canada with Esso, from a number of independent, and then, back in the UK, working single-discipline departments to a as a consultant and founding his smaller number of larger, multi- own company in 1977. He took disciplinary schools. The result up a Readership in Petroleum was a stronger academic structure Engineering at Imperial College in and a return to financial health from 2002 onwards.

250 Obituary Notices

Principal Archer oversaw the generous industrial support, of a merger in 1997 with the Scottish Musician in Residence who College of Textiles to create the created a University orchestra and University’s Scottish Borders choir. Now, the orchestra and Campus in Galashiels; the transfer choir regularly perform to sell out of the School of Planning and audiences in an activity that brings Housing from Edinburgh College together all members of the of Art to Heriot-Watt in 2002; and University from the newest the formation of the University’s undergraduates to its most senior new campus in Dubai in 2005. officers and covering virtually Towards the end of his time as every academic and support Principal, he took a leading part in function. It was fitting that on the promoting Heriot-Watt’s participa- occasion of John’s retirement tion in a series of multi-university dinner in 2006, the University research collaborative partner- Choir should perform the ships across Scotland to create première of a setting of the poem, what has become known as Teach me to learn by George ‘Research Pooling’, a uniquely Mackay Brown specially commis- Scottish approach to university sioned for the occasion. research within the UK. John Archer made a major John Archer was a man of consid- contribution to life in Scotland erable personal charm and good and the UK, not only through his humour. Together with his wife leadership of Heriot-Watt Univer- Lesley, he was tireless in his sity but also through his many promotion of Heriot-Watt Univer- external appointments, including sity within Scotland, often as a member of the Engineering attending events of one sort and and Physical Sciences Research another every night of week. They Council, as Chairman of Scottish made many visits to the Universi- Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian, ty’s learning partners in different as Convenor of the Research and parts of the world. John’s own Commercialisation Committee of interests included the growing of the Committee of Scottish Higher fruit and vegetables: he was Education Principals, as Chair of particularly proud of his plot in the Research Policy Committee of the walled garden of the Princi- Universities UK, as Convenor of pal’s residence, Hermiston House. Universities Scotland and as He was also a great enthusiast for President of the Institution of and supporter of the performing Chemical Engineers. He was a arts. One of his most enduring considerable enthusiast for contributions at Heriot-Watt was academic links within Europe and the appointment, initially with active within the European

251 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

Universities Association. John appointed CBE for services to Archer received many honours, Higher Education in 2002. including honorary degrees from John Archer died in December the University of Edinburgh, 2007 after a long and courageous Imperial College, City University battle against cancer. He is and Heriot-Watt University. He survived by his wife, Lesley, and was a Fellow of the Royal Society their son and daughter, Adam and of Edinburgh and of the Royal Louise. Academy of Engineering, and was J.E.L. Simmons

John Stuart Archer CBE. BSc, DSc (City University, London), PhD, DIC (Imperial College London), HonDSc (Edinburgh, Imperial, City), HonDUniv (Heriot-Watt). FREng, FChemE, FCGI, FIC, FInstE. Born 15 June 1943; Elected FRSE 2 March 1998; Died 9 December 2007.

252 Obituary Notices

John Swanson Beck 22 August 1928 – 29 January 2007

Professor John Beck who died on His initial postgraduate training 29 January 2007, was a distin- took place in Glasgow, where he guished academic pathologist decided early on to pursue a who contributed much to the career in laboratory medicine so clinical practice of diagnostic that he could combine experimen- pathology, to medical education tal studies on human disease with both at the under- and post- clinical diagnostic work. Between graduate level and to medical 1953 and 1958 he held junior research throughout a long career posts in various Glasgow spanning more than 50 years. He hospitals before being appointed was part of a small group of in 1958 to a lectureship in medical scientists in Scotland in pathology in Glasgow University, the second half of the last century based at the Western Infirmary. whose influence on the develop- Here his lifelong research interests ment of their specialty was far in clinical problems, centred at the reaching and spread worldwide. interface between tissue His passion and enthusiasm for pathology and immune reactivity, his many interests and his were initiated. boundless energy were truly After an MRC Clinical Research infectious for those who knew Fellowship held at Mill Hill in him and worked with him, and London, he moved in 1963 to remained undiminished until the Aberdeen University as Senior end of his life. Lecturer in Pathology based in Born into a medical family in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, joining Glasgow, Beck was educated first the department headed by the at Glasgow Academy and then distinguished Scottish patholo- Glasgow University, where he gist, Sir Alastair Currie, a former excelled in his medical studies. President of this Society. Somewhat unusually for the time, Working with Sir Alastair and he graduated first with an other colleagues, his career honours degree in physiology in flourished and in 1971 he was 1950 and then with honours MB appointed to the Chair of ChB in 1953. Perhaps not Pathology at Dundee University surprisingly, he was the recipient and as Clinical Director of also of the Brunton Medal Pathology at Ninewells Hospital in awarded to the most outstanding Dundee. medical graduate of the year.

253 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

He remained in this position until Universities needed for students his retirement in 1993, during to complete their clinical and which time he established a pharmaceutical training and to department that became one of graduate from these centres. It the leading academic centres in was to his great credit and a pathology in the country. lasting tribute to his achievements Unwilling to accept the normal that by the time of his retiral in pattern of activity on retirement, 1997, the College was recruiting he took up an appointment nearly 500 students each year and shortly afterwards as Foundation has since been granted full Dean and Chief Executive Officer independent University status by of the International Medical the Malaysian authorities. College in Kuala Lumpur. This In recognition of these contribu- involved establishing from scratch tions, he was given a a new medical college independ- Distinguished Scholar award by ent of any financial support from the International Medical the Malaysian Government, so as University, Malaysia, the highest to avoid any discrimination on accolade it can bestow. non-academic grounds of His second retirement however, students who might not true to character, was short-lived, otherwise enjoy such opportuni- and soon after returning to his ties. His principal objective was to home in Kirriemuir he became provide an affordable education heavily involved in the affairs of in preclinical medical sciences and this Society, serving on the pharmaceutical subjects for Council (for the second time) from Malaysian students to the 1997 to 2003 as Secretary to standards that were expected in Meetings and subsequently leading European, North Programme Convener.. American, and Australasian In recognition of his many Universities. He approached this contributions since election as a somewhat daunting task with his Fellow in 1984, he was awarded usual enthusiasm and energy, the Society’s Bicentenary Medal in recruiting the teaching and 2004. Despite these commit- administrative staff required, ments, it is remarkable that during developing new curricula in this period of service to the preclinical medical sciences and Society he found time also to pharmaceutical subjects, fitting pursue his long standing interest out new teaching spaces and in mathematics, enrolling for a establishing the necessary degree course at St Andrews collaborations with the 20 other University from which he Western Medical Schools and

254 Obituary Notices

graduated successfully with Graves’ disease, the commonest honours shortly before his death. form of hyperthyroidism, and the Beck’s research work took many changes that followed treatment forms during his life, although by chemical and surgical means in largely focused on the pathogenic these organs. significance of immune tissue These were important studies in reactions in connective tissue and understanding the pathogenesis autoimmune diseases, and in of this condition. He pioneered chronic debilitating infections studies on lymphocyte stimulation such as tuberculosis and leprosy. tests and conducted novel The techniques he developed investigations that demonstrated were widely used for many years the pathophysiological basis of in clinical laboratories for the tuberculin test widely used diagnostic purposes and for throughout the world to monitoring patients suffering determine whether humans and from such conditions. He was cattle have been exposed to among the first to recognise that tuberculous infection. In other selected human sera containing studies of immune responses in well-characterised autoantibodies infections with tuberculosis and could be used as discriminating leprosy he was able, with other reagents in cytochemical colleagues, to demonstrate that localisation studies. certain genetic factors played an A by-product of this work was the important part in determining the use of these reagents to study susceptibility to these infections. aspects of nuclear division in In further studies, just prior to his mammalian cells, and in the retirement from Dundee, he nuclear structure of trypano- developed a novel and simple somes. He was first also to method for detecting the demonstrate immunocytochemical peripheral neuropathy that causes localisation of human growth loss of limb function and the hormone in the pituitary greatest disability in leprosy at an acidophils, and the foetal early stage when it might be adenohyophysis and the treatable. These important studies localisation of human placental resulted in over 300 publications lactogen in the syncytiotrophob- in scientific and medical journals last of the human placenta. In his during his research career. work on autoimmune forms of thyroid disease, he was first to describe the hyperplastic changes in the thymus that accompany

255 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

Throughout his professional life, Despite such heavy clinical service Beck contributed significantly to and academic commitments, Beck diagnostic clinical service work was always willing to play his part wherever he was based. in providing advice and support to Increasingly this took on a more government departments and managerial and administrative other organisations relevant to his form, culminating in his interests. In Scotland, he served appointment as Clinical Director the Chief Scientist’s Office on for Pathological Services at many research and technology Dundee Teaching Hospitals. committees dealing with medical In this capacity he took a special research issues. For many years he interest in the accuracy of the was a member of Tayside Health subjective morphological Board, and served on various assessments made by consultant Scottish Home and Health pathologists of tissue biopsy Department advisory bodies. At material, and the laboratories in the national level, he was a Dundee were one of the first to member of several key advisory introduce robust methods for the and grant-awarding committees quality control of such proce- of the Medical Research Council dures. These methods have since and of the Department of Health been widely adopted and form and Social Services. He was part of the accreditation process appointed to and chaired in pathology for NHS laboratories. committees for the National His interest in new approaches to Biological Standards Board and teaching medical undergraduates for the Royal Colleges of led him also to develop new Physicians and of Pathology. On curricula that concentrated more two separate occasions he served on the pathophysiological aspects on the Council of this Society and of disease and its clinical apart from service for six years as relevance, as compared with more Meetings and Programme traditional courses in vogue Convenor, he was also a member elsewhere. He was an ardent of various committees assessing exponent too of problem-solving suitability of candidates for methods of teaching and their use Fellowship and for awarding for examination purposes, long research grants administered by before these became more widely the Society. applied.

256 Obituary Notices

John Beck led a very full life, trained with him. He was held in during which he achieved a great the highest regard by these deal medically and scientifically, individuals, who were inspired by and he received many academic the energy and enthusiasm he awards in recognition of his displayed in all that he did and by contributions. the standards he set in the course He was intensely loyal to his of his professional life. He was colleagues and friends and took devoted to his wife Marion, now great pride and interest in sadly deceased, and to his son students and young doctors who and his daughter, who survive him. Colin Bird

John Swanson Beck, BSc Hons, MB ChB Hons, MD Hons (Glasgow), DSc (Dundee), FRCPath, FRCPSG, FRCPE, FIBiol, FRSA, FRCPI, FRACP, Dr Hon Causa (Strathclyde), Distinguished Scholar (IMU). Born 22 August 1928; Elected FRSE 5 March 1984; Died 29 January 2007

257 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

Sir John Burnett 21 January 1922 – 22 July 2007

John Burnett was a person of Research Scholarship which unusually broad experience and enabled him to begin studying for interests. These included: active his DPhil. A year later he also took service in the Second World War, on teaching duties as a lecturer at important fundamental research Lincoln College, and then gained into fungi and their genetics, further distinction in 1949 when Professorships in four different he became a Fellow by Examina- universities, a Vice-Chancellorship tion at Magdalen College. At the in a fifth, and a key national role same time he was appointed to a in an important aspect of the University Lectureship at the conservation of biodiversity. Botany Department in Oxford. He was born on January 21 1922; Unsurprisingly, his DPhil was not a ‘son of the manse’, since his completed until 1953! father was the Reverend T Harri- It was as a botany student in son Burnett, the incumbent of Oxford in 1949 that I first met Paisley Abbey. He was educated at John. He gave us lucid, inspira- Kingswood School, Bath, and tional lectures on genetics. He then went up to Oxford in 1940 also taught field classes where, for to study Botany at Merton someone researching fungi, he College. He interrupted his revealed a remarkably broad and student career in 1942 by volun- detailed knowledge of flowering teering for the Royal Naval plant ecology; it was only years Volunteer Reserve, achieving the later that I realised the signifi- rank of Lieutenant. He served in cance of this. He was my tutor for destroyers protecting Arctic a term, where I experienced at first convoys and in the Mediterranean hand that his wicked sense of during the siege of Malta, and humour overlaid real kindness. I was mentioned in despatches. He still have an undergraduate essay was also briefly holed up in a cave marked by him: an initial grade of with Marshal Tito in Yugoslavia ‘A+’ crossed out and replaced during the secret partisan war of with ‘A - - -’ and the comment “a the liberation of that country. dull answer to an even duller He was demobilised in 1946, question!” returning to Oxford where he His promising career at Oxford graduated with First Class Hon- was abruptly changed in the early ours in Botany in 1947. He was 1950s by the appointment of a awarded the Christopher Welch famous cytologist/geneticist as the

258 Obituary Notices

new head of the Botany Depart- of an exceptionally happy and ment. This person proved so close-knit department. He also difficult and unpopular that one played a vital role in the two major third of the staff soon moved to central university committees at other universities or departments. Oxford during a period of signifi- John left a lectureship and cant change in that institution. prestigious college fellowship at In 1980, he reached the highest Oxford for a lectureship at point of his academic career, Liverpool University in 1954. A becoming Principal and Vice- year later (and only two years after Chancellor of the University of gaining his DPhil), he was ap- Edinburgh. His wide experience pointed Professor of Botany at St. and leadership skills proved of Andrews at the surprisingly young great benefit to the university at a age of 33. It was here that his difficult time, when the Higher talents for academic leadership Education system was suffering began to emerge: only three years under the Thatcher regime. after his appointment, he became Fittingly, he supervised the 400th Dean of the Faculty of Science. In anniversary of the University 1961 he moved to a Professorship during his term of office, and led of Botany at the larger University the unique ‘Edinburgh Conversa- of Newcastle, becoming the Dean tions’ which brought together of Science in 1963 and the Public Russian and UK scientists during Orator in 1966. After eight years the Cold War. at Newcastle, he was appointed to Despite the wide variety of the Regius Chair of Botany at administrative distractions, he Glasgow University. Thus, within remained very active academically. 16 years he had held academic Over the space of 40 years he positions of increasing promi- wrote, or edited and contributed nence in five different British to, no fewer than ten books. The universities. titles of some of them reveal the The circle was complete in 1970 breadth of his interests, e.g. The when he returned to Oxford - not Vegetation of Scotland (1964), to Botany, but to the Department Fundamentals of Mycology (1968 of Agriculture, where his title was - 3rd edition 1994!), Mycogenet- ‘Sibthorpian Professor of Rural ics (1975), The Maintenance of Economy’ (and in a building with the Biosphere (1989), Biological the name ‘Scholae Rusticae Recording in the UK: present Oeconomicae’ engraved over its practice and future developments entrance). I was a member of staff (1996), and Fungal populations at the time and witnessed at first and species (2003). hand his modernising leadership

259 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

Throughout his career he had a the Biosphere (1987–93) and deep interest in conservation. Chairman of the International Already in his Editor’s preface and Organisation for Plant Informa- opening chapter of The Vegeta- tion (1991–96). But certainly the tion of Scotland, he recognised most significant was his becoming that more needed to be done to Chairman, and actively leading the collect, collate and analyse new work, of the newly formed Co- information about biodiversity. ordinating Commission for He had been a member of both Biological Recording (1989– the Scottish and English commit- 2003). As a result of the UK tees of the Nature Conservancy at response to the Rio Convention various times, but it was after his on Biodiversity (1992), this led to retirement from Edinburgh the creation of the National University in 1987 that this aspect Biodiversity Network, of which of his activities began to burgeon. John was Chair from 2000 to He was a member of the Nature 2005. It was his perspicacious Conservancy Council (1987–1989) and skilful leadership which serving as Deputy Chairman and helped it to become a world Acting Chairman during an leader in its field, and today it unhappy period when it was holds data on over 27 million life being broken up into Country forms. Agencies. He was bitterly op- John was essentially a very private posed to this, and played a major person, but outwardly kind, role in ensuring that despite the humorous, friendly, calm and break-up, a UK-wide body was even-tempered, clear-thinking and established - the Joint Nature unpompous. He never boasted of Conservation Committee - to his achievements. In 1945 he advise the newly established married Margaret, the eldest Country Agencies. It was probably daughter of the Reverend Dr E. W. because of this that Margaret Bishop, and they had two sons Thatcher greeted him at a social who subsequently pursued occasion with “Ah, Burnett, my successful careers. Their 62-year favourite dissident scientist”. marriage was a great comfort to His other projects at this time them both. included serving as the Executive David Smith Secretary of the World Council for

John Harrison Burnett Kt., M.A., D.Phil (Oxon), Commendatore OM (Italy), Hon. Ll.D. (Glasgow, Dundee, Strathclyde), Dr. Honoris Causa (Edinburgh), Hon. D.Sc. (Buckingham, Pennsylvania USA), Hon. FRCSE, F.I.Biol., Hon. Fellow (Green and Merton Colleges, Oxford), Hon. Research Professor Open University. Born 21 January 1922; Elected FRSE 4 March 1957, died 22 July 2007. 260 Obituary Notices

Henry John Evans 24 December 1930 – 1 July 2007

John Evans was a distinguished Research Unit at Harwell where he biological scientist, whose remained for the next ten years, research on how potentially apart from two years sabbatical hazardous substances can alter leave at the prestigious the genetic structure and function Brookhaven National Laboratory of cells has done much to set in New York. standards to protect humans from Scientifically this was a highly the harmful effects of these productive period of his life substances occurring in the during which he made seminal environment and in the work- contributions to understanding place. During the 25 years of his how radiations, and other inspired leadership, the MRC mutagenic substances, could Human Genetics Unit in Edin- cause damage to chromosomes burgh expanded to become one and perturb the normal cell cycle of the world’s leading centres for within human and other mamma- genetics research. lian cells. His important findings John Evans was born and raised in contributed significantly to the Llanelli in Wales where his mother setting of standards that are now and his father, a tin plate worker, employed throughout the world instilled in him from an early age to protect humans from the the value of education and effects of such potentially harmful learning. They provided him with agents, both in our environment the opportunity to attend the and in industry. Llanelli Boys Grammar School In 1964 he was appointed at the where he excelled not only in very early age of 34 to the Chair academic subjects but also in and Headship of the Department sports and especially rugby. He of Genetics in the University of progressed from there with the Aberdeen, remaining there until aid of a state scholarship to the 1969, when he was persuaded by University College of Wales, from the Head of the MRC, and the which he graduated in 1952 first Principal of Edinburgh University, with a science degree and subse- to take up the Directorship of the quently in 1955 with a PhD. His then-named MRC Clinical and first appointment on leaving Population Cytogenetics Unit at university was as a research the Western General Hospital in scientist in the internationally Edinburgh. Over the next 25 years renowned MRC Radiobiological under his inspirational leadership

261 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

the Unit quadrupled in size, within the laboratories of the recruiting many outstanding Unit. Moreover, he provided scientists from other places to opportunities for young clinicians become one of the world’s to train in the Unit’s world class leading centres for genetics research laboratories, enabling research. many of them to obtain higher Together with his colleagues, degrees and promote their careers ground breaking research was substantially. undertaken on various aspects of He assisted the Medical School to chromosome structure and obtain funding to establish new function, on new ways to identify research centres at the Western and map human genes, in General Hospital, paving the way addition to continuing research for further research developments on the cellular effects of mutagen- on that site in later years. Within ic substances. New lines of the Unit, he took a great interest investigation were instigated also in nurturing the careers of his concerned with the mechanisms junior staff, in so doing enabling of human genetic disease and of many promising young women developmental genetics which, researchers to juggle the demands together with the work on of family life with a successful chromosomal biology, still career in research. Some of the constitute the Unit’s principal present world leaders in genetic research themes 13 years after his research remain deeply indebted retirement. To reflect the expand- to him for the support he gave to ed and new research interests, the them during the early parts of Unit was renamed during this their careers. Despite the many period as the MRC Human demands made on his time as Genetics Unit and constitutes now Director of such a large and the largest of the UK Research flourishing Research Unit, John Units directly supported by the Evans still found it possible to play MRC. a wider role on the national and His enlightened views on how international scene. Over the years such a Unit should interact more he sat on many committees, both widely within the local clinical in this country and abroad, research community greatly charged with the responsibility for benefited both the NHS in Lothian shaping research policy and and the Edinburgh Medical optimal use of funds to support School. He encouraged his staff to medical and biological research. establish joint research pro- These included the US National grammes with relevant clinical Academy of Science Committee colleagues, and the research itself on Biological Effects of Ionising was often conducted principally Radiations, the International

262 Obituary Notices

Committee for the Protection of when playing Wales in which the Environment from Mutagens circumstances it was only to be and Chemicals, the United expected that he should revert to Nations Scientific Committee on his native allegiance. He had a the Effects of Radiations, the fondness also for Scotland’s most Scientific Council of the Alberta famous product – malt whisky – Heritage Foundation for Medical albeit in modest quantities, and Research, the Medical Research an evening spent having dinner in Council, the predecessors of his Edinburgh home was never Cancer Research UK and various quite complete without sampling UK Government and Charitable his latest acquisition. Organisations. In many instances In his life John Evans had to deal he was asked to chair these with more than his fair share of committees, where his consum- personal adversities. His first wife mate skills in decision making died from cancer at a very early with disparate groups of individu- age and he was left for a time to als were much admired. A gifted bring up four teenage boys on his speaker and communicator, he own whilst holding down a most was invited to give many prestig- challenging and demanding job. ious lectures in various parts of As with later family problems he the world and he was awarded a buckled down to deal with these number of international prizes for without complaint or rancour. His his research contributions. subsequent marriage to Ros, a Like many of his predecessors he distinguished scientist in her own had a deep love of music, espe- right, brought him great joy and cially its traditional and classical happiness and a shared interest in forms and of opera. Although scientific and other matters. He proud of his Welsh origins, he was a most kind and generous was also very devoted to Scotland man to friends and colleagues and to things Scottish, having alike and he remained entirely lived there for the greater part of humble and unassuming despite his life. His holiday home on the his many important achievements island of Barra brought great joy and scientific contributions. He both to him and to his wife Ros will be remembered with great which they loved to share with fondness, gratitude and admira- friends fortunate enough to make tion by everyone with whom he the journey there. And he was an came into contact. enthusiastic supporter of Scotland He is survived by his wife, Ros and at football and rugby, except his four sons. Colin Bird Henry John Evans CBE. BSc, PhD (University College of Wales), FIBiol, FRCP Edinburgh, FRCS Edinburgh, Hon DSc (Edinburgh). Born 24th December, 1930; Elected FRSE 3 March 1969; Died 1st July 2007. 263 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

Sir Campbell Fraser 2 May 1923 – 27 April 2007

Sir Campbell Fraser, who died on operationally with the RAF as a 27 April 2007, shortly before his navigator until 1945, an experi- 84th birthday, was one of the ence he always considered himself leading industrialists of his gener- fortunate to have survived. His ation. As Chairman of one of the RAF training had been in Canada UK’s largest manufacturing com- and he studied there at McMaster panies from 1977 until 1983, he University before returning to helped to navigate British industry Scotland, attending Dundee through a period when conditions School of Economics, then under were particularly hostile. As Presi- the wing of St Andrews University, dent of the Confederation of where he graduated BCom in British Industry during the early 1950. The same year he married years of the Thatcher Government, Myar McLaren, whom he had first he provided a quality of national met (and been much taken with) leadership which, although con- in his teens. They were to remain troversial, was much needed. He together for 52 years. It was a very was also Chairman of Scottish happy marriage, and he was Television, a non-executive direc- devoted to his two daughters. tor of several other companies, the author of numerous articles, and the founder of a professional society which now enjoys an influ- ential role in British economic affairs. Although his work was international in scope and London-centred, he was commit- ted to the interest of his native Scotland throughout his life. James Campbell Fraser was born in Dunblane, in 1923. He was the son of the local postmaster, and attended the local school before proceeding to McLaren High School in Callander, and thence to Glasgow University. His studies there however were interrupted in 1941 by war service, and he flew

264 Obituary Notices

His career started modestly as an and intrude on a good night’s economist with the Raw Cotton sleep. He also believed in the Council in Liverpool. After two creative function of companies, years he moved to London and a that they should serve all those similar position with the Econo- within them and the community mist Intelligence Unit. The use of as well as their customers, and economists in business was at was a strong believer in employee that time rare, and they worked in involvement whenever this was isolation. Campbell felt this legally possible. He disliked greed, keenly. He organised a meeting and could become quite passion- for the few he knew, and any that ate in private about company they in turn might know, so that directors whose priority was they might establish some personal gain. On the two rapport. At that meeting it was occasions when he was unjustly agreed to establish a discussion accused by the media of pursuing forum under the title “Business this himself, he was noticeably Economists Group”. It met upset. formally for the first time shortly This approach became evident afterwards in a local pub, and early in his career. Having moved elected Campbell its first Chair- from the Economist Intelligence man. The Group grew very rapidly, Unit to Dunlop Rubber Company was incorporated with legal status Ltd as a public relations officer in in 1960, and became the Society 1957, he was sent to New Zealand of Business Economists nine years a few years later to close down the later. The growth in size and company’s local subsidiary. He stature of the Society, which is ignored his brief and turned the now a body of some influence operation around, restoring it to and standing, became a source of viability. On his return to the UK much satisfaction to him. He was he was made an Executive Direc- President from 1973 to 1985, and tor. He became a joint Managing remained associated with its Director in 1971, sole Managing affairs until shortly before his Director the following year, and death. Chairman six years later, a position Campbell’s approach to his he held until 1983. As Chairman, professional life reflected the he steered Dunlop through a ethics and disciplines of his period of exceptional difficulty for upbringing. He believed in hard UK manufacturing. He was also work and a simple lifestyle, responsible for one of the first becoming known as “Ten o’ Clock attempts by a UK manufacturing Fraser” for his insistence that company to effect a trans- events should not go on too late European merger, with Pirelli of

265 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

Italy. Such mergers are normal an aficionado of Westerns, he today, but the idea at that time found the latter involvement was radical and broke new particularly agreeable. He was also ground. In the event it proved too a most successful and active difficult to consummate effective- Chairman of Scottish Television, a ly, and was abandoned. post he held for 16 years, from Nevertheless, it was an imagina- 1975 until 1991. He was instru- tive attempt to meet the extreme mental in enabling Scottish domestic and competitive pres- Television to retain its franchise at sures which British industry was an economic cost, earning much then facing. respect from the financial institu- Towards the end of his Chairman- tions for so doing. ship he was elected President of Although still centred on London, the CBI. He was outspokenly the Chairmanship of Scottish effective, if controversial for his Television took him back to view (based on hard experience Scotland regularly, and reintegrat- and in no way ideological) that ed him with Scottish life. He and continuing with the Thatcher Myar had a house built in Dun- Government’s economic and blane, incorporating stone from labour policies was essential if the the old local cinema where they UK economy was to reverse its had once courted. He resumed his long term decline. During his relationship with Dundee Football Presidency, he led a mission to Club, and became (but not as a Japan which began the opening consequence) a visiting professor of the hitherto closed Japanese at Strathclyde and Stirling Univer- market to British imports, and the sities. He was an early Chairman process of redressing the imbal- of Strathclyde Business School ance in trade flows between the and a member of the Court of St two countries. Andrews University. He received Outside Dunlop, he became a honorary degrees from both non-executive director of a wide Strathclyde and Stirling, and from spread of manufacturing and Bishop’s University in Canada. He financial organisations, giving up was elected to Fellowship of the the last (as a Trustee of The Royal Society of Edinburgh in Economist) only last year. 1978, and knighted the same Amongst these were British year. Petroleum, where he remained on Tall and distinguished, with an the Scottish Advisory Board until engaging personality, twinkling 1997, and Wells Fargo Bank, charm and an entertaining where he was a member of the manner, Campbell Fraser was international advisory board. As widely liked, not least for his

266 Obituary Notices

complete lack of pomposity. warmly and was as at ease with Collecting a scratch lunch at the the staff as he was with his fellow very modest sandwich bar oppo- members. He will be remembered site his London flat in a side street by all those who encountered in Victoria, he would be welcomed him, knew him or worked with by the proprietors with genuine him, however, not primarily for Italianate affection. In the distin- this absence of affectation, but for guished surroundings of London’s his depth of judgement, for his Caledonian Club, of which he had ready willingness to share his once been Chairman and was in profound professionalism, for his later years the most senior determination and integrity, and member, he was invariably greeted for his deep feeling for Scotland. Donald Anderson

(James) Campbell Fraser, Kt, BCom(Dundee), DUniv(Stirling), HonLLD(Strathclyde), HonDCL(Bishop’s University, Canada), CBIM, FPRI. Born 2 May 1923; Elected FRSE 6 March 1978; Died 27 April 2007.

267 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

Professor Sir Abraham Goldberg 7 December 1923 – 1 September 2007

Physician, scientist and academic, Despite his outstanding academic Professor Sir Abraham Goldberg, record he had difficulty securing who has died aged 83, was one of his first medical training job the most outstanding physician locally. After six months at scientists of his generation. Withington Hospital Manchester Known to all as Abe, Abraham and a period as house physician in Goldberg was born to immigrant Halifax, Yorkshire, he completed parents from Lithuania and the his pre-registration training back Ukraine. He excelled throughout in Edinburgh at the Royal Hospital his life as a doctor, scientist, for Sick Children, a post which he teacher, mentor, supporter of later described as a “baptism of good causes and as a dedicated fire” and the hardest job he had family man. ever had to do. Speaking in 1986, he told how he was left to cope It was as a young boy at primary alone – newly qualified and school in Edinburgh that he fell inexperienced – since the hospi- seriously ill with rheumatic fever, a tal’s registrars were on Army duty. disease whose late effects 70 years later were to lead to the Wishing to pursue an academic stroke which so disabled him in career, he was awarded a Nuffield the final year of his life. Research Fellowship in 1952 in the Department of Chemical A distinguished pupil at George Pathology at University College Heriot’s, Goldberg won the Hospital Medical School in Crichton scholarship to Edinburgh London, working with the University medical school, where renowned biochemist Professor he was taught and influenced by a Claude Rimington FRS. It was number of luminaries, including there – often working in the Sir Sydney Smith, the forensic laboratory until the early hours of science pioneer and Jamieson, the the morning – that he acquired renowned anatomist. He graduat- the laboratory research skills and ed in 1946 and a few months scientific rigour that underpinned later, in 1946, was conscripted his future research into abnormal- into the Royal Army Medical ities of the blood pigment, haem, Corps and served two years in which cause the various debilitat- Egypt as Senior Medical Officer, ing manifestations of porphyria. rising to the rank of Major.

268 Obituary Notices

This post led to an Eli Lilly Fellow- then, in 1967, a Personal Chair in ship at the University of Utah in the Department of Medicine at Salt Lake City to work in Salt Lake Glasgow University, when he also City with Professor Max Wintrobe, became the Director of the one of the outstanding haematol- Medical Research Council’s group ogists of that era: Abe there on iron and porphyrin metabolism performed the research that at the Western Infirmary. would help establish him as an His interests in clinical pharmacol- authority in his field. He enjoyed ogy and toxicology strengthened his time in America, but his with the growing awareness, to egalitarian spirit was not at ease which he contributed, that many with the inequities of its health- prescription and even herbal care system and, in 1957, he was medicines could cause porphyria. recruited by Professor Edward In 1970 he succeeded Stanley Wayne, later Sir Edward, as Alstead as Regius Professor of lecturer in the Department of Materia Medica at Glasgow Medicine of Glasgow University at University, based at Stobhill the Western Infirmary. A year Hospital, which gave him the earlier, Edinburgh University had opportunity to build up his awarded Abe the gold medal for department with young academ- his MD thesis on porphyria. ics. In 1971 he was made a Fellow In 1956 he also met Clarice, a of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. woman of great charm who was Among his young academics at to be his partner and supporter Stobhill was Brian Whiting, later for the rest of his life. After a two- to become Dean of the Faculty of week romance they got engaged Medicine, with whom he worked and were married nine months to produce the so-called “drug later on September 3, 1957. interaction disc”, which was Goldberg’s academic career distributed to all practising prospered in Glasgow. Publishing doctors in the UK. It was also more than 250 papers, he became during his tenure of the Chair of not only a world authority on Materia Medica that his leader- porphyria, but also on lead ship and expertise as a clinician poisoning, and was influential in scientist was recognised by his achieving a safer water supply for chairmanship of the Biomedical Glasgow. He also conducted Research Committee of the Chief important studies into the Scientists Office, Scottish Home mechanisms of the noxious effects and Health Department, and his of alcohol. This sustained academ- membership and in 1973 his ic output was rewarded with a Chairmanship of the Clinical Senior Lectureship, Readership, Research Board of the Medical Research Council.

269 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

Abe’s final appointment was as As well as being a highly regarded Regius Professor of the Practice of clinician and outstanding re- Medicine in Glasgow University at searcher, Abe had a passion for the Western Infirmary in 1978, teaching. A considerable amount where a major focus of his activity of time was spent with the was to be the modernisation of medical students and junior medical undergraduate teaching medical staff imparting his by the production of entirely new knowledge and enthusiasm for audio-visual teaching materials. It medicine. He ensured that was also during this busy period teaching was given a high priority that he was invited to be Chair- in his Unit and throughout the man of the Committee on Safety Glasgow hospitals. In 1962, of Medicines (CSM) in London. during his Editorship of the Goldberg was acutely aware of Scottish Medical Journal, he the importance of this committee, initiated a special series on which had only recently been Scottish Medical Education. Abe formed in the wake of the will be forever remembered for his thalidomide drug toxicity disaster. “dermatome dance”, a routine He became renowned for his which he had invented to help the encyclopaedic knowledge of the students remember the nerve voluminous papers which would supply of the skin in different arrive in their familiar ‘green regions of their body, which bags’. Unfortunately, he fell victim involved them placing their hands to the type of television journal- on different parts of their body ism that favours drama over facts while reciting the corresponding in a BBC Panorama programme nerve supply. It is often stated that about Opren, a drug for arthritis doctors are more interested in the that caused liver disease. This diseases from which their patients showed the CSM and, in his suffer than in the patients position as Chairman, Abe themselves, but this was not true himself, in an unfavourable light in Abe’s case. He took a personal which was as unfair as it was interest in his patients who deeply depressing for him. suffered from acute porphyria, Nevertheless, he rallied through sending every one of them a this difficult period, indeed, with Christmas card right up until the cross-party support for his year of his death, eighteen years Chairmanship of the CSM in the after retiring. House of Commons, and was Always teaching that research rightly honoured with a knight- should be fun, Abe inspired a hood, conferred in 1983 for his generation of medical researchers. many services to medicine. Like every successful professional

270 Obituary Notices

his work was his hobby. Some- ships and several overseas visits. times his research fellows found Memoirs of those times spent in his lateral thinking difficult to the Middle East during Israel’s follow. However, that was part of birth pangs (when he met David his genius. As a truly original Ben-Gurion, the Israeli prime thinker he had the gift of being minister), and of being in South able to look at what everyone else Africa during apartheid, tell much was looking at and see what about Goldberg’s abhorrence of nobody else could see. He had the discrimination and his passion for ability to ask penetrating ques- fairness in the world. tions which could open up an Success such as his has to be won entirely new area of research. Abe in an often hostile environment in had a remarkable memory, which certain personal characteris- something which junior staff tics must be displayed discovered to their peril when he appropriately. Ambition, energy, would ask for the results of a test passion, tenacity and single- he had requested several weeks mindedness made him either earlier and which had not been famous or notorious depending adequately prioritised. He on where one stood with him. retained his keen memory all his years. Retirement was an opportunity to indulge fully his passion for Chronic back pain plagued Abe history and his gift for creative through most of his life. It writing, which he had revealed inhibited his ability to travel and during his career by the publica- forced him to relinquish his tion of many non-medical articles election to President of the Royal in newspapers and magazines. He College of Physicians and Sur- also gave generously of his time in geons in Glasgow. His chronic charitable works, including the pain gave him a special ability to promotion of a better under- relate to the suffering of many of standing between those of his the patients under his care. faith and others. Despite his back pain, he accepted the invitation to become Founder Abe was a staunch family man. President of the Faculty of Phar- Despite his huge workload, he maceutical Medicine of the Royal remained close to and engaged Colleges of Physicians of the with his family. He recognised and United Kingdom, a role which he often stated that medicine was a presided over from 1989 to 1991. very jealous mistress, consuming much of his time and energy. Abe lived in interesting times. His However, he always asserted that medical celebrity brought him his wife and family were his many prizes, eponymous lecture-

271 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

greatest blessing. He referred to Provost’s Award for Public Service. them as his true crown. He A year earlier he had given the recounted how his family expand- Fitzpatrick Lecture of the Royal ed his life by increasing his College of Physicians of London experience of joy and pain. He on the history of European regularly took his two boys David medicine. It was in such public and Richard to see Celtic play in lectures that he was able to Glasgow. His practical genius convey his great love of history. even enabled him to combine After delivering the Goodall quality time with his family with Memorial Lecture of the Royal his professional duties. He College of Physicians and Sur- regularly brought his two young geons in Glasgow on James VI boys on his Saturday morning and I, he was appointed Honorary ward round which started at mid- Senior (later Professorial) Research day. Fellow in the Department of Abe was remarkable for the Modern History at the University breadth as well as the extent of of Glasgow. He continued in his his achievements. In this respect retirement to write papers and he was the last of a breed of deliver public lectures on a range professors of medicine. He of topics, including Dreyfus, excelled as a clinician, researcher, Theodore Herzl, Weizmann, teacher and administrator. His Wilberforce and Glasgow Medi- had influence which extended cine in 1900. from his own medical unit Abe was always aware of the throughout the whole hospital, treasure he had in his wife Clarice. his city, his country and interna- He was buried 50 years to the tionally. His influence lives on minute of his marriage to her. She through the many changes he survives him, together with his introduced and through the many three children, David, Jennifer and people who have had the privilege Richard and four grandchildren. to work alongside him. He was Reproduced courtesy of The honoured in his home country Herald, with additional contribu- and city as well as abroad. In tions from Professor Kenneth 1989, the year of his retiral, he McColl and Professor Henry received the City of Glasgow Lord Dargie.

Abraham Goldberg Kt, MB, ChB, MD (Edinburgh), DSc(Glasgow), FRCPGlas, FRCPE, FRCP, FFPM. Born December 7 1923; Elected FRSE 1 March 1971, Died September 1 2007.

272 Obituary Notices

Anders Hjorth Hald 3 June 1913 – 11 November 2007

Anders Hjorth Hald, one of that he held until retirement in Denmark’s most distinguished 1982. statisticians, died on 11 November His researches in industrial quality 2007. In 2001, he had become control and associated sampling one of the first group of eminent studies were always informed by foreign scholars elected to our his deep practical sense. This new category of Corresponding brought him international repute Fellows. Unfortunately, he never as teacher and consultant. His had any subsequent opportunity own travels and his encourage- to visit Edinburgh and so to ment of foreign visitors to his develop his intended role as an Department were important to the academic link between Denmark growth of cooperative statistical and Scotland. activities especially in Europe but Anders, born in 1913, was the also further afield. An involvement son of a village schoolmaster in in writing the history of his Jylland. Like many Scandinavian university turned his mind to statisticians, his university studies surveying the history of statistics. were in actuarial science. Doubt- This resulted in two splendid less his early success in winning a volumes. First in 1990 was A gold medal for a student paper History of Probability and Statistics on: Mathematical exposition of R. and their Applications Before A. Fisher’s Theories was a factor in 1750; next in 1998 came A his appointment as a statistical History of Mathematical Statistics assistant to Georg Rasch, at the From 1750 to 1930, which will be internationally renowned State his memorial for many years to Serum Institute. His rapidly come. He deployed his own great developing interest in diverse mathematical powers to “rewrite practical applications of mathe- the original papers in a uniform matical theory was evident in his modern terminology and nota- deservedly successful 1948 tion”, so permitting him to add textbook: Statistical Theory with illuminatory comments from a Engineering Applications [English modern standpoint on researches edition 1952]. In 1960 he became that extend from De Moivre to the first Professor of Mathemati- Fisher. He did much to clarify the cal Statistics in the University of importance of early Danish Copenhagen, an influential post contributions.

273 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

Hald’s many honours included Fellowship of the Royal Statistical Membership of the Royal Danish Society and honorary doctorates. Academy of Science and Letters David Finney and of the Danish Academy for the Technical Sciences, Fellowship I am indebted to Professor Niels of the American Statistical Keiding for information taken Association and of the Institute of from his more detailed notice in Mathematical Statistics, Honorary the ISI Newsletter number 1 for 2008.

Anders Hjorth Hald. MSc, Dr Phil (Copenhagan), Drhc (Danish Technical University), Member of The Royal Danish Academy of Science and Letters, Member of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics , FASA, HonFRSS, Hon Member, Danish Society for Theoretical Statistics. Born 3 June 1913; Elected CorrFRSE 5 March 2001; Died 11 November 2007.

274 Obituary Notices

Henry Heaney 2 January 1935 – 14 September 1999

Henry Heaney was the University design and operation of which Librarian and Keeper of the owed much to Henry’s characteris- Hunterian Books and Manuscripts tic blend of innovation and at the University of Glasgow for conservatism – while always open twenty years until his retirement in to new initiatives and opportuni- September 1998. He was born in ties, he was well aware of the Newry, Northern Ireland, and after need to retain the best of past secondary school went to Queen’s practice and activity, thereby University Belfast. In 1957 he creating an evolutionary process graduated with a BA in Modern of change. History, and in 1970 took an MA The many positive developments with a thesis on prison reform, a of the eighties were unfortunately subject which remained dear to matched by a prolonged period of his heart. financial uncertainty, as the After graduating he became an various crises in Higher Education Assistant Librarian at Queen’s, and began to bite. Henry’s response to in 1963 obtained his first post as these and to other developments Librarian at Magee University was collaborative activity. He made College in Londonderry, which sure that Glasgow was a founder subsequently became part of the member of the Consortium of New University of Ulster. In 1972 University Research Libraries he took up the post of University (CURL) which he helped to Librarian at Queen’s, Belfast, and transform from a small informal in 1975 moved to Dublin to group to an effective and success- become Librarian of University ful organisation. As CURL College Dublin, before coming to developed he became the Chair of Glasgow in 1978. the management committee, and His twenty years at Glasgow saw a when it became a limited compa- revolution in the way in which the ny the first Chairman of the University and its Library operated, Board. From a very early stage, he the most significant being the rise saw collaboration as the only way of electronic information sources in which cash-strapped libraries and delivery. They were also would be able to work together characterised by significant on projects which would ensure additions to the fabric of the their development, or even University Library building, the survival. Collaboration has resulted in a number of important

275 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

products such as COPAC (CURL who has visited the new building Online Public Access Catalogue), will agree. As a member of the a database listing many of the Joint funding Councils’, Libraries holdings of the CURL libraries, Review Group (the Follett Com- and SALSER (Scottish Academic mittee), he was part of one of the Libraries Serials Project), a Scot- most significant developments in land-wide database for academic 20th century librarianship. The journals. Also noteworthy was his Follett recommendations changed pioneering work on Conspectus, the way in which libraries are an American system for recording viewed and the way in which they the strengths of libraries’ collec- will develop. Henry’s position on tions. the committee was influential; as Henry’s interest in Conspectus a hugely experienced and well- mirrored another significant respected University Librarian he aspect of his work in Glasgow: his was able to bring an understand- knowledge of and love for the ing both of the traditional wealth of the collections, particu- strengths of conventional librar- larly (he Special Collections. He ianship and of the exciting valued his title of Keeper of the possibilities of IT, digitisation and Hunterian Books and Manu- networking. Follett led directly to scripts, and insisted on using it as the Anderson Committee on part of his normal description. He research needs, another group on was always keen to ensure that which he served with distinction. these collections were preserved, His work in all these areas was developed and exploited, regard- recognised by the award of an ing them as a priceless treasure OBE in 1996. which needed to be passed on to Among other distinctions, he was future generations in as fine a a Trustee of the National Library of state as possible. Scotland between 1980 and 1991 On the national scene, he will be and President of the Scottish best remembered as a member of Library Association in 1990. He the British Library Board and as a was elected a Fellow of the Royal member of the Follett Committee. Society of Edinburgh in 1992. He ably represented academic Henry will be remembered by libraries on the British Library those who knew him for his deep Board at a time when the design commitment to his profession, his and construction of the St. pawky sense of humour and his Pancras building was being abiding interest in people; many virulently criticised on all sides, current University Librarians have and defended the project – a benefited from his help, encour- defence amply justified as anyone agement and friendship as they

276 Obituary Notices

pursued their careers. Within the historian; only this year he University of Glasgow, he was a published an edition of the well-known figure and a stalwart manuscript journals of Robert of the College Club, whose Graham of Redgorton under the management committee he title A Scottish Whig in Ireland chaired for a number of years. 1835-1838 – a project he had His sudden death less than a year long wished to complete. after his retirement has cut short a Henry is survived by his wife Mary. promising second career as Andrew Wale

First published in 1999 in the University of Glasgow Newsletter and reproduced by kind permission.

Henry Heaney – an appreciation

Andrew Wale has written of Henry was a very social being and Henry’s professional contribution knew people in all walks of life. It but little of the man himself apart came in useful when we were from his sense of humour. I asked jointly to supervise the should like to add a personal publication of a book about the note. treasures of the University of His Keepership of the Hunterian Glasgow to mark Glasgow’s year Books and Manuscripts first as the European City of Culture. brought us together as colleagues Henry persuaded the University but we rapidly became friends and administration that it was desira- allies. As Keeper he had to report ble, in the interests of making the to me annually as well as to the book a better read, to get a writer Libraries Committee on the use with no immediate connection to that had been made of the the University to weave together Hunterian Books and MSS. This the texts that our staff had seemed to me to be a waste of written. An author known to effort so I soon dispensed him Henry was chosen but there were from the obligation. incredible delays while Adminis- tration made up its mind whether I found that we had similar views it could afford his fee. By the time on academic problems and that it did, the intended writer was too his readiness to share his knowl- busy to be able to take on the task edge was most helpful as was his but fortunately Henry knew, advice on numerous occasions. through a dining club to which

277 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

they both belonged, a Glasgow but amusing speech, I was graduate, journalist Robert concerned that the two stories I McLaughlan, and was able to thought of telling might be persuade him to do the job. It familiar to my audience so I tried happened that I retired in 1990 them out on Henry. He had not during Glasgow’s reign as City of heard either of them so I felt safe Culture, leaving Henry to see the in recounting them to an audi- job through. The punning title ence which, it turned out, had not Gifted, was Henry’s idea. heard them either. Not only did Henry have a ready His early retirement and withdraw- smile - indeed I cannot remember al to Wolverhampton came as a him without a smile on his face - shock. I had not realised till then but he possessed a great fund of that he had become my best comic stories. On one occasion, friend. when I was asked to make a short Frank Willett

Henry Heaney BA, MA(Belfast), FLA, OBE. Born 2 January 1935; Elected 2 March 1992; died 14 September 1999.

278 Obituary Notices

Douglas Mackay Henderson 30 August 1927 – 10 November 2007

Douglas Mackay Henderson was of every social background, it was born in Blairgowrie on 30 August characteristic of him to shun 1927, the second son of Captain humbug and judge everyone on Frank Morrison Henderson and their merits while treating each Adine Cornfute Mackay. His with equal respect. father, the son of a bank agent, At Blairgowrie High School began training as a banker in (1932–1944) Douglas was Trinity, Edinburgh before he ran influenced by his science teacher, away to sea. He became a Master J. Neilson, who encouraged his Mariner and held a command for boyhood interests and showed many years with the Ben Line, how science and everyday country serving with the Merchant Navy life could work together in a during both World Wars. His wholesome unity. At Edinburgh mother was the daughter of University he obtained 1st class Charles Gordon Mackay, for forty Honours in Botany in 1948. years medical practitioner in During his studies he was strongly Lochcarron, and former associate influenced by Sir William Wright of Joseph Lister. Douglas’ eldest Smith, Harold Fletcher and brother, the late Frank Paterson, Malcolm Wilson. became a geologist and his younger brother Andrew Ernest, a An indication of how his future zoologist. Douglas’ father was at interests would develop was sea for lengthy spells and died shown by his 3rd/4th year university when in his fifties and the project which was on the genus responsibility for rearing the Sclerotinia, a group of plant- family devolved therefore upon pathogens. Malcolm Wilson was their able mother and Helen Watt particularly supportive when (‘En’), her characterful maid from Douglas went to train as a plant Buchan. Mrs Henderson awak- pathologist with K.M.Smith at ened the boy’s love of Wester Ross Moltens Institute Cambridge, and Highland culture, including studying methods of plant his love for skating. ‘En’, for virology, before joining the whom Douglas had great affec- Department of Agriculture for tion and esteem, led him to value Scotland at their research estab- and enjoy the worth of every lishment at East Craigs, Edinburgh individual. In later life, when he in 1948. There he met his future was privileged to mix with people wife Julia Margaret Brown.

279 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

Margaret was born in Belfast, the introduced him to poppies in the daughter of an industrial engi- genus Meconopsis and not only neer, but went to school and spawned a seminal paper on the university in Glasgow before pollen of the constituent mem- joining the WRNS (1943–46). bers, but also allowed him to After qualifying from Jordanhill, apply his new found skills to the she taught for a short time in morphology and structure of rust Denmark before joining the staff fungi spores. Douglas later at East Craigs. They were married introduced the first electron at Cawthorne, Yorkshire in May microscope to RBGE. This not only 1952 one year after Douglas had allowed him to continue his own moved to the Royal Botanic work but it created opportunities Garden Edinburgh as a Scientific for other members of staff, which Officer. With his bride, Douglas he energetically encouraged. For honeymooned in the Pyrenees the Herbarium, he negotiated in collecting plants. They accompa- 1966 the transfer of the recently- nied Malcolm Wilson, whose work discovered collections of he admired, and Mrs Wilson, who Archibald Menzies from the Free became life-long friends. Church College, Edinburgh to add The Royal Botanic Garden Edin- to the Garden’s earlier holdings of burgh was then an internationally this important Scottish explorer important, multifaceted institute and collector. encompassing research, curation In 1966 he was elected a Fellow of of herbarium specimens, archival the Royal Society of Edinburgh material and living plants. In 1953 (proposed by Professors Harold R Douglas became Senior Scientific Fletcher, Robert Brown, J A Officer and in 1961 Principal McDonald and Paul E Weatherley). Scientific Officer. A year later The following year he was Douglas was overseeing the awarded a Nuffield Fellowship to expansion of the herbarium and visit North America, Hong Kong, library, and planning a new Singapore, Australia and South building, which was completed and Central Africa. The whole tour before the 10th Botanical Con- of duty took seven months and gress was held in Edinburgh in allowed him to gauge the devel- 1963. He then took sabbatical opment of research programmes leave, sponsored by the US Atomic at other Botanic Gardens. His Authority, to work in Solna, subsequent career saw him Stockholm with Professor Gunnar returning to some of these Erdtman, one of Europe’s fore- locations and also to new ones in most palynologists, on pollen the USA, the USSR, Australasia, structure. His research there Asia and West Africa.

280 Obituary Notices

In 1970 he became the 12th Inverleith, at Logan Botanic Regius Keeper of the Royal Garden, Stranraer and at Younger Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Who Botanic Garden, Benmore near better to follow Harold Fletcher, Dunoon and, in 1978, Dawyck with whom he had collaborated Garden, Stobo, near Peebles was closely over the years and also incorporated into the care of the shared the same vision for Garden. This last site extended the Edinburgh? He commenced his climatic range available for stewardship by recruiting dynam- growing plants and demonstrated ic, new staff and introducing that, with this third regional three-year senior and junior garden, the RBG Edinburgh was a Fellowships, the latter on the national and international asset. study of rust fungi. Douglas In 1986 Inverleith House, formerly enhanced the role of the Garden the Regius Keeper’s home, was in botanical and horticultural taken over and opened as a research, attempting to draw the botanical gallery and exhibition two closer. He introduced new centre, replacing the Gallery of techniques, some from his time as Modern Art, which moved to new, a plant pathologist, and encour- larger premises. This expanded aged his staff to explore new ways the already purpose-built Exhibi- of looking at their research. He tion Hall facility opened for the initiated the Flora of Bhutan Tercentenary Celebrations. All project, the publication of which these added to the considerable saw over 6,000 species document- academic regard in which the ed; the present day connections Garden was held by the botanical between RBGE and China are world. Horticulture and science firmly rooted in his policies. Peat were further brought together and rock gardens were developed during this time in the computeri- in newly-constructed research sation of the living plant glasshouses, expanding the collection, until that time held on facilities available to the research traditional index cards. staff, especially those returning Civil Servants were not always as from plant collecting expeditions. enthusiastic as Douglas about Just as he had found travelling some of his proposals – often abroad important, he encouraged delivered in a somewhat robust his staff to do likewise. He also way – but Douglas was probably encouraged contact with the admired nonetheless. Certainly he public, and broadened the would not suffer fools gladly. He educational remit of the Gardens was fair, but spoke his mind, and and the public services. Educa- his diplomatic skills almost always tional facilities were added at secured him small amounts of

281 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

extra funding towards the end of newly-formed International the financial year. Soon after Association of Botanical Gardens becoming Regius Keeper, he – a fairly onerous duty, as the administered the Garden’s shift Association comprised 1,500 or from the Ministry of Public so organisations. This created a Buildings and Works, to the platform for the much later Rio Scottish Office, as a full Civil Convention and the European Service body within the Depart- Year for Conservation in 1970. A ment of Agriculture and Fisheries founder member of the Conserva- for Scotland. In 1986 he negoti- tion of Plants and Gardens, he ated the creation of the RBGE as a was from the 1980s a Trustee of non-departmental public body, the Grimsthorpe & Drummond with Trustees appointed by the Trust and also of the Sibbald Trust Secretary of State for Scotland. (1984–2003). He also set up The grave doubts felt by many gardens in Iran and in Vancouver, about the transfer to a Board of Canada, and spent a term as a Trustees were proved wrong member of the Policy Committee because of Douglas’s skills and of the New York Botanic Garden. the enlightened choice of Sir Peter His horticultural activities were Hutchinson as Chairman. recognised by the award of the In such negotiations, Douglas Patrick Neill Prize of the Royal realised the significance of Caledonian Horticultural Society communication and networked in 1971, the Scottish Horticultural with directors of like institutes, Medal in 1981, the Willendow which resulted in the formation of Medal from the Berlin Botanic the Edinburgh 1970s Club. He Garden and the Victoria Medal of was a true natural historian, and Honour in 1985 from the Royal had an intellectual curiosity over Horticultural Society. and above his field and laboratory He served on the Council of the interests. He became a Fellow of Royal Society of Edinburgh (1970– the Linnean Society and, because 1973) and held office as Curator systematics in his time worked (1978–1987), for which service he hand-in-hand with books, his was awarded the Society’s Bicente- experience in archival materials nary Medal (1989). He was and libraries expanded. Ultimately awarded a CBE in 1985, and in this led to him becoming involved 1983, an Honorary Professorship with the British Library. of the University of Edinburgh. In the 1970s, with Harold Fletcher, This recognised not only his Douglas helped to unite botanic botanical skills, but also that he gardens worldwide and from had brought the RBGE and the 1969 to 1981 was Secretary of the University closer together through

282 Obituary Notices

the instigation of a Diploma in all served 44 years, even Course in Plant Taxonomy, now describing a new variety of Juncus the MSc in Biodiversity and effusus (var. suberectus), based on Taxonomy of Plants. After 36 years material from Big Sand by Gair- at RBGE he retired in 1987, the loch collected in 1968. It was year he became Queen’s Botanist considered subsequently to be a in Scotland. wild population of the cultivar Douglas and Margaret redirected now found in many gardens, viz. their energies when Douglas took F. spiralis (McNabb) Praeger. up the post of Administrator at Prior to his appointment at Inverewe Gardens, Wester Ross on Inverewe, Douglas already had behalf of the National Trust for strong connections with the NTS Scotland. This gave them both, to as Convener of the Gardens’ the benefit of the NTS, the Committee from 1978 to 1981. opportunity to entertain many Latterly, during his period in the visiting botanists and horticultur- West, he had time, from 1995, to ists, and allowed Douglas to be Secretary of the Highland promote the attributes of his branch of the charity Help the beloved West Coast. Their Aged. stewardship lasted until 1992 and Douglas was foremost a natural included a culmination to Doug- historian and was active in las’ long interest in music, as in conservation over many years in nearly every year of their five-year the Scottish Committee of the stay, chamber music was played in Nature,the Advisory Committee the House at Inverewe. Another for Scotland of the Nature art-form much-loved by Douglas Conservancy Council, and on the was water-colour painting. Advisory Committee on Sites of Douglas commenced his duties by Special Scientific Interest of critically examining the tree- Scottish Natural Heritage. plantings, which had been made He was passionately interested in by Osgood Mackenzie during the fungi, especially rust- and smut- Garden’s inception in 1862, and fungi. Sadly Malcolm Wilson, his planned for a new generation of long-standing friend, died after trees. His interest in the mix of completing only the rather more archival information and living straightforward parts of his plants led him to research the proposed book on British rust origins of the plants in Inverewe. fungi. Left wanting were those He had been Recorder for Wester rust fungi found on the compos- Ross for the Botanical Society of ites, sedges and willows, so in the British Isles long before he 1960 Douglas was working on took up the post at Inverewe, and

283 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

the harder parts of what would stimulated after he had collected become the standard book for the bryophytes there with Adam identification of these British Stainton in the 1960s, linking up representatives of this group of what was to be a long-standing fungi. It may have been simpler if union between the RBGE and the he had had greater earlier input University of Edinburgh, particu- into the other parts, but felt that it larly with Peter Davis then was better to publish and have spear-heading a study of the comments than not to publish. Turkish Flora. In virtue of his The book was published in 1966 training in plant pathology, which and remains the definitive work itself requires an intimate knowl- today. Along with his later up- edge of host and parasite, dates and his Checklist published Douglas became familiar with by the British Mycological Society both crop plants and ornamentals in 2000, it is indispensable. and their diseases, but in addi- His interests in smut- and rust- tion, because of host/fungus fungi led him to common links associations, became well versed with several Scandanavian in the British vascular plant flora, mycologists and visits to Abisko, including native ferns. His search Ivalo, etc. Authoritative papers for ways to separate closely were published supporting and related rust species led him to call expanding the observations on his earlier experiences attempt- outlined in his book on rust-fungi ing to apply serological as a direct result of his use of techniques to find some of the techniques learnt in that all- answers; measures which, necessi- important visit to Stockholm. He tating having a rabbit on the made long-standing friendships premises, left some of his col- with many, such as Halvor B leagues rather bemused! He was Gaerjum of Ås, Norway and the also very encouraging in this Finnish mycologist, Ikka Kukko- author’s developmental studies of nen, possessing a mutual interest basidiomes and, with the then with the latter in Anthracoidea Regius Keeper, Harold Fletcher, and Cintractia, smut genera on made it possible to have laborato- sedges. Douglas’ interests in rust- ry facilities tailored for such fungi, (they were never rusts!), activities. After the European over time expanded to encompass Mycological Congress in Glasgow those species found in China and in 1963, he acted as the UK the Himalayas, in part fuelled by representative on the newly- the newly-collected material from proposed European Mapping plant expeditions and those Scheme. With his assistant species from Turkey. The last was Heather Prentice he scoured

284 Obituary Notices

collections and the literature, and these extreme conditions. It was integrated, along with submitted on such visits that he collected records, information for 100 and described the new anamor- chosen species of fungi and phic genus Glomopsis, a genus located their British sites on a 10 probably related to the jelly fungi, Km grid covering much of Europe; which he had found growing on this was a long and laborious Empetrum in many montane sites task. Such devotion to Scottish in Scotland. He was one of the plants and fungi made him an first to demonstrate that the admirable President of the lichen thalli classified under Botanical Society of Edinburgh Incertae sedis in lichen texts were (now Scotland) from 1964 to in fact the thalli of basidiolichens, 1966. His interest in Scottish ferns placed then in Omphalina; he was and the Turkish bryophytes, which very familiar with a whole range of had led him to take a greater ectomycorrhizal species occurring interest in native mosses and on the ‘tops’. It was from his liverworts, culminated in him awareness of the richness of the bringing to our attention many British macromycota, and the fungi subtly hidden from view importance of thus having a amongst moss thalli and hiding reliable check-list of agarics and amongst fern sori. This was a boleti, that he made it possible for common feature of Douglas’ P D Orton, a long-time friend, to scholarship that, coming upon a achieve this goal, making available group of unfamiliar plants, he space and resources at the RBGE would grasp the nettle and get to for its production. This catalysed know them! the deposition in the Edinburgh His knowledge and interest in all Herbarium of the hundreds of fungi, especially Scottish taxa, was specimens, including types extensively borne out by the vast collected by Orton after 1960. collections from all groups of Douglas, Peter Orton and the micro- and macro-forms now writer had many happy times housed in the herbarium at the collecting together, often in the RBGE. Douglas was always happy company of foreign visitors, and it to be outdoors and always took was this three-way friendship, opportunities to collect, even which culminated in the concept during his Nuffield Fellowship and then the production of the trip. Many of our noteworthy first volumes of the British Fungus vascular plants in Scotland fall in Flora; Agarics and Boleti. Through the montane/alpine category and the basidiolichen link, Douglas’ Douglas was in his element particular interest amongst the collecting fungi found under agarics was the omphalinoid

285 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

forms, a group now dissected out Botanical Society of Edinburgh, of recognition based on DNA which was ‘Fungi as Plants’. sequencing. Douglas had very In his way Douglas upheld the strong views about such ap- long tradition of scholarship that proaches, for although willing to had been the basis of the Royal use new methodology he was Botanic Garden since its founda- saddened that these new studies tion. He sustained a life-long were often being conducted in interest in fungi and nurtured the the absence of robust field study of mycology. One of his observations and authenticated greatest regrets in retirement was collections. He continued to that this study, so important as an encourage other researchers who integral part of any biodiversity used the mycological facilities and environmental study, has then in place in Edinburgh. Many been allowed to lapse in Edin- visitors passed through to use the burgh. Latterly Douglas felt it a Garden’s resources, often staying great disappointment that the for relatively long periods to study, long history of mycology at the including Professor Per Magnus RBGE, which reaches back Jórgensen then from Sweden, through a series of Regius Professor Douglas Parbery from Keepers to the Balfours, was Melbourne and his long-term gradually fading, especially when friend Halvor Gjaerum, to name so much headway had been made but a few. during his custodianship. It was Douglas’ mycological achieve- through his strength of mind that ments were recognised by the visitors still come to Edinburgh to British Mycological Society in his study the wealth of collections. nomination as President in 1975. Douglas is survived by his wife, His Presidential Address to the Margaret, son Neil and two BMS was entitled ‘The Living Rust daughters, Barbara and Jennifer. Fungi’, contrasting with his Presidential address to the Roy Watling and Charles Waterston

Douglas Mackay Henderson CBE, FRSE, BSc (Edinburgh), FLS, CBiol, FIBiol, VMH. Born 30 August 1927; Elected 7 March 1966; Died 10 November 2007.

286 Obituary Notices

Richard Milne Hogg 20 May 1944 – 6 September 2007

Richard Milne Hogg was born on second was well towards comple- May 20 1944, and died suddenly tion when he died. In addition, on 6 September 2007 of a heart he showed his great skills as an attack. Richard was born in editor, and as conceptualiser and Edinburgh and attended both director of large and complex school and University in the city, projects, in his championing of all of which, much later, meant the multi-volume and multi- that his election to a Fellowship of author Cambridge History of the the Royal Society of Edinburgh in English Language, which ap- 2004 was particularly special to peared between 1992 and 2001. him. Richard graduated with first He, Bas Aarts and David Denison class honours in English Language also established the journal and Literature in 1967 and English Language and Linguistics subsequently worked as a gradu- in 1997; it has become increasing- ate student both on his doctorate ly important to the growing and on modern English syntax, and on thriving community of English Angus MacIntosh’s Middle Language scholars and students. English Dialect Project, now the However, Richard also became Institute of Historical Dialectology. increasingly interested in variation His first lectureship was in in modern English, and in atti- Amsterdam, and he then moved tudes to accents and dialects; to Lancaster and then in 1980, at characteristically, as a historical the age of 36, to the Smith Chair linguist, he then chose to explore of English Language and Medieval earlier traditions of scholarship on Literature at the University of dialects, and was deep in the Manchester, where he remained, (sadly unfinished) History of with brief excursions into faculty English Dialectology at the time of administration, as the University his death. restructured itself around him. Not only was Richard Hogg an Richard became increasingly outstanding researcher, but he engaged with the history of was also a superb teacher and English, and alongside a range of lecturer whose talks regularly books and articles on sounds and enlivened conferences (and whose their theoretical analysis, he outrageous laugh tended equally embarked on his Grammar of Old to enliven the social sessions English; the first volume was afterwards). He inspired enor- published in 1992, and the mous loyalty and affection among

287 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

his colleagues and students, and An annual prize of £500 has been was a tireless encourager of more set up in his memory by the junior linguists. As well as his International Society for the FRSE (2004), he was a Fellow of Linguistics of English (ISLE). The the British Academy (1994), and Richard M. Hogg Prize is open to played a leading role through his students and early-career scholars work with the British Academy in and is for a paper of up to 10,000 bringing together the profession- words on any research-related al associations and other bodies topic in English language or associated with linguistics, for English linguistics. Given Rich- instance in chairing a central ard’s enormous influence on his nominating group for the 2001 discipline, and his concern for his linguistics RAE panel. His family students, this is surely the most was also extremely important to fitting of memorials. him: he and Margaret, who April McMahon married in 1967, had two sons, Daniel and Robert.

Richard Milne Hogg, MA, PhD(Edinburgh), Diploma in General Linguistics, MA (Manchester ), FBA. Born 20 May 1944, elected FRSE 1 March 2004, died 6 September 2007.

288 Obituary Notices

Martin David Kruskal 28 September 1925 – 26 December 2006

Martin David Kruskal, one of the the (classified) Project Matterhorn most insightful and innovative of which aimed to use controlled applied mathematicians and nuclear fusion as a clean, safe theoretical physicists, died on 26 energy source. Under the project’s December 2006. During his long director Lyman Spitzer, he sup- active career, largely at Princeton, plied the expertise in then latterly at Rutgers University, mathematical modelling and his many honours included the analysis crucial in laying down the National Medal of Science in theoretical foundations for 1993, the Gibbs Lectureship and controlled fusion and the yet the 2006 Steele Prize for Seminal undeveloped field of plasma Contribution to Research (both physics. After declassification, the from the American Mathematical project became the Princeton Society) and the Maxwell Prize Plasma Physics Laboratory, where from the International Congress Kruskal became successively on Industrial and Applied Mathe- Associate Head of the Theoretical matics. He was a member of the Division, then Senior Research National Academy of Sciences Associate, while combining his (1980), foreign member of the sophisticated knowledge of Royal Society of London (1997) mathematics with strong physical and of the Russian Academy of intuition to develop important Sciences (2000) and a Honorary results both in mathematical Fellow of the RSE (2001). technique and for physical Born in New York City on 28 application. He was prominent in September 1925, he grew up in devising and elucidating modern New Rochelle, New York, with two methods for asymptotics (a theme brothers destined also to become to which he returned in greater well-known mathematicians. He sophistication, later in his life) received his BS in mathematics and, amongst results for plasma from the University of Chicago in stability, for the “Kruskal-Sha- 1945, then moving to New York franov” criterion for kink University for his MS and PhD instabilities. During this period he under Richard Courant (a neigh- also introduced the Kruskal bour of his parents) and Bernard (-Szekeres) coordinates, which Friedman on The bridge theorem remove from black holes the non- for minimal surfaces. His first physical Schwarzschild singularity. employment, from 1951, was on

289 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

In 1961, he became Professor of drag on canal barges, so as better Astrophysical Sciences at Prince- to compete against railways. ton, a Chair which he retained Observing an occasion when the when in 1979 he became Profes- test barge decelerated suddenly, sor of Mathematics. From yet a great heap of water sped 1968–1986, he was also Director down the canal for two miles or of the Applied and Computation- more, led him to describe the al Mathematics program. On ‘great wave of translation’. For becoming Emeritus at Princeton in decades this remained a curiosity, 1989, he became David Hilbert until theories developed first by Professor of Mathematics at Boussinesq and then in 1871 by Rutgers University. Besides being Korteweg and de Vries allowed a seminal researcher, Martin was solitary waveforms to travel always an enthusiastic teacher, without change of shape along continuing lecturing at Rutgers shallow channels. Outside into the final year of his life. This hydraulics this had little signifi- enthusiasm is illustrated by the cance for nearly a century. Then, account of a graduate student, Kruskal with Norman Zabusky, seeking a time for an appoint- while performing numerical ment and receiving the reply computations on an atomic “How about 1 o’clock, tomor- lattice, noticed some remarkable row?” Asking whether this meant collision properties of energy a.m. or p.m., he got the reply pulses. After multiple collisions, “You choose, its all the same to the pulses emerged unscathed. me”. His insatiable curiosity Despite the vast disparity of scale about the mysteries of the world with water waves, Martin saw the around him and a wish to get to analogy with solitary wave the essence of problems before solutions of the Korteweg-de letting logic take over in develop- Vries equation, so leading him to ing new theory was infectious. seek an underlying mathematical Perhaps the clearest illustration of explanation. Along with Prince- this is the development of ton colleagues Gardner, Greene “soliton theory”, which is perhaps and Miura, he elucidated in a Martin’s most all-pervasive series of six papers (for which the contribution to science. 2006 Steele prize was awarded) The concept of “solitary waves” the connection between the originates in Edinburgh, where Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation John Scott Russell performed (which is nonlinear, so that experiments in 1834 on the Union solutions may not be added, or Canal at Hermiston with a view to ‘superposed’) and the well- understanding and reducing the developed quantum theory,

290 Obituary Notices

described by linear equations. stimulated vast activity in ‘integra- They showed, using sophisticated ble systems theory’, which both transformations and construc- exploits powerful, but half- tions, how solutions initially forgotten, results from a century described in terms of any number ago and continues to generate of non-overlapping solitary waves deep new connections with are described exactly, throughout geometry and classical analysis, their many interactions, then re- aided by powerful modern emerge as solitary waves of exactly computation. the same amplitude and form as One such semi-classical body of initially. However, the theory also results is due to Painlevé (after gives precise formulae for the shift whom a square beside the of the paths of the emerging Sorbonne is named). Seeking pulses from the original paths. differential equations from a Moreover, the formalism allows certain class, which possessed a construction of the most general certain analytic property, he and solution to the KdV equation. his students identified before These revelations were nothing World War I six which could not short of dramatic. Kruskal’s be related to those already inspired naming of the solutions discovered, named and studied. as ‘solitons’, combined with the Solutions to the new equations intrinsic elegance of the predic- were called ‘Painlevé tran- tions led to a veritable explosion scendents’, but remained only of activity. Within a very few years, partially understood. However, a stream of results from eminent Martin saw their relevance as scientists in the USA, Soviet solutions to similarity reductions Union, Japan, Italy, Britain and of equations possessing solitons, many other countries not only thereby frequently describing the extended the theory, but also long-time behaviour. Conversely, showed that the soliton property if an equation passed a ‘Painlevé was not unique to the KdV test’ it was shown to be a good equation. Between them, equa- candidate for possessing the tions possessing the ‘complete ‘soliton property’. This provoked integrability’ property were soon two important lines of investiga- shown to have relevance in many tion, characterising Martin’s drive branches of physics, in chemistry, to develop transparent methods in bio-molecules and in telecom- for revealing hidden structure. By munications. Moreover, by generalising the Painlevé test to showing that nonlinear partial partial differential equations, differential equations need not be Martin stimulated another field of intractable, soliton theory has intense activity, since the test was

291 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

seen to be more methodical to In his emeritus years he reinvigor- apply than many previous tech- ated asymptotic analysis, being a niques. Also, in seeking a major contributor to the develop- procedure more direct than the ment of exponential asymptotics, essentially algebraic one due to which explains the often subtle Sophus Lie for identifying all effects missed by more standard similarity reductions of a partial procedures. His enquiring mind differential equation, he devised also became fascinated by ‘surreal with Peter Clarkson an extremely numbers’ (which include both efficient and remarkably direct exponentially small and exponen- method. Surprisingly, this not tially large numbers) discovered by only saved much labour, but for a Conway. To this beautiful topic, few well-known equations he has contributed much insight revealed possibilities not predicta- and defined various operations ble using Lie’s method. The which he hoped would lead to a method has not only become calculus for surreal numbers. He widely used, but its surprise continued to travel widely as predictions have also provoked invited participant at research reappraisal of classical methods. meetings and was a frequent Peter’s story that their method was visitor to Scotland, especially to devised essentially during a seven- Heriot-Watt University, which hour car journey across New awarded him an honorary DSc in Mexico illustrates the remarkable 2000; indeed he was a lead alertness of Martin’s mind - an speaker at a meeting there only a alertness well known to all those month before the first of two who attended conferences and strokes which led to his death. To workshops at which he was the many who worked with him, present, wearing one of his his loss is deeply felt, while the mathematically-inspired T shirts, wide community which he carrying his knapsack and shoot- influenced will miss his many ing out penetrating but helpful penetrating insights. questions! David Parker

Martin David Kruskal MS, PhD (NYU), HonDSc (Heriot-Watt), MemNatAcadSci, ForMemRS. Born 28 September 1925; Elected Hon FRSE 5 March 2001; Died 26 December 2006.

292 Obituary Notices

Peter Nielsen Ladefoged 17 September 1925 – 25 January 2006

Peter Ladefoged, Professor wide, through his teaching, his Emeritus of Phonetics at the students, his research, and his University of California at Los support of colleagues in the Angeles was born in Surrey to a profession of phonetics. family of Danish extraction. He His own research was oriented was educated at Haileybury initially to speech science, and School, Cambridge University latterly to the phonetic and (1943–44) and, after war service in linguistic characteristics of the the Royal Sussex Regiment, he world’s languages. While at completed a PhD at Edinburgh Edinburgh, he collaborated with University under the supervision the physiologist David Whit- of David Abercrombie on the teridge on respiratory aspects of nature of vowel quality. speech, then with the Cambridge After an eight-year Lectureship in psychologist Donald Broadbent Phonetics at Edinburgh, he began on the perception of speech, and in 1962 an association with UCLA then with Walter Lawrence, the that was to last the rest of his life. inventor of the Parametric Artifi- He established and directed the cial Talker, one of the very first world-famous Phonetics Laborato- acoustic speech synthesisers. At ry in the UCLA Department of UCLA, he published extensively Linguistics, and supervised a series with his PhD students. His own of 20 PhD students, the very large publications were on speech majority of whom have gone on acoustics, experimental phonetics, to professorial appointments in phonetic and phonological diverse countries. All of his features, and on endangered students and many of his col- languages. He specialised in field leagues reflect the profound linguistics, taking heavy analytic influence of a scholar committed equipment with him into virgin to the mutual illumination of linguistic territory into 19 coun- meticulously observed data and tries in every inhabited continent. stringently formulated theory. His views on endangered lan- Peter Ladefoged’s personality was guages were unusual, robust, and generous, charismatic and liberal. characteristically independent. He He had endless professional believed these languages should curiosity and boundless energy. be researched by linguists, but not He exercised an extraordinary officiously preserved. He thought influence on his subject world- that the decision to try to preserve

293 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

a dying language was the prerog- gresses (1983–91), and the ative of the speakers themselves, International Phonetic Association not of outsiders. He also thought (1987–91), which awarded him a that the resources directed to Gold Medal in 1991. He held preservation might often be more Fellowships of the Acoustical useful for local development, and Society of America, which award- that preserving an endangered ed him a Silver Medal in 1994, the language attracted the risk of American Speech and Hearing encouraging tribalism and Association, and the American weakening national unity. Howev- Academy of Arts and Sciences. He er, he was deeply committed to was a Corresponding Fellow of the investigation of endangered the British Academy, and a Foreign languages, and with his colleague Member of the Royal Danish Ian Maddieson was personally Academy of Sciences and Letters. responsible for more extensive Honorary degrees were bestowed linguistic research on them, in the on him by the University of field and the laboratory, than any Edinburgh (DLitt, 1993) and other person in history. Queen Margaret University (DSc, Professor Ladefoged was elected 2002). But perhaps the honour he to a Corresponding Fellowship of most enjoyed was his role in 1964 the Society in 2001. His election as consultant to the film director recognised a life devoted to the George Cukor during the produc- study of speech and the spoken tion of ‘My Fair Lady’, guiding the languages of the world. He actor Rex Harrison through the published ten books, four of intricacies of a performance as a which were worldwide standards phonetician. in many editions, and over 140 Professor Ladefoged died sudden- other publications in the subject’s ly in London in January 2006, at most prestigious scientific the age of 80, while returning to journals. He was without question his home in Los Angeles from a the world’s leading phonetician, field research trip in India. He is laden with academic honours. He survived by his wife of 53 years, was President of the Linguistic Jenny, three grown-up children, Society of America (1978), the Lise, Thegn and Katie, and five Permanent Council for the grandchildren. Organization of Phonetic Con- John Laver

Peter Nielsen Ladefoged MA, PhD (Edinburgh), Hon DLitt (Edinburgh), Hon DSc (QMUC), FASA, FASHA, FAAAS, CorrFBA, ForMem Royal Danish Acade- my of Sciences & Letters. Born 17 September 1925; Elected CorrFRSE 5 March 2001; Died 25 January 2006.

294 Obituary Notices

John McIntyre 20 May 1916 - 18 December 2005

One of the most distinguished would later commend it to his Scottish theologians and church- own pupils as the best means for men of his generation, John mastering their discipline. Work McIntyre served both the Universi- on two early books was complet- ty of Edinburgh and the Church of ed during this period. His DPhil Scotland in important ways. thesis, Anselm and His Critics A talented pupil at Bathgate (1954) and The Christian Doctrine Academy, McIntyre confirmed his of History (1957) established his early promise as a student in reputation as a measured and Edinburgh, graduating MA with lucid writer with a capacity to first class honours in Philosophy apply analytic rigour to the central and BD with distinction. His topics of theology. These Austral- studies under the philosopher ian years were also marked by a Norman Kemp Smith and the series of public debates in which theologian John Baillie were to he explored questions of religious leave an indelible mark on his belief with the eminent philoso- contribution as a teacher and pher John Anderson, another Scot scholar. who had earlier settled in Sydney. Both McIntyre and Anderson had Several years were spent in parish been pupils of Kemp Smith, ministry, first in Argyll at though their views on the exist- Glenorchy and Inishail, and then ence of God differed sharply. in Fenwick, Ayrshire. During this latter period, he met and married In 1956 following the retiral of Jan Buick, the district nurse at John Baillie, McIntyre returned to Fenwick, with whom he celebrated Edinburgh as Professor of Divinity, sixty years of marriage in 2005. In a Chair he was to hold with 1946, McIntyre was appointed distinction for thirty years. His Professor of Theology at St work in Edinburgh was marked by Andrew’s College in Sydney. His highly effective leadership. Several ten years in Australia proved key positions were occupied. He immensely productive. Working in served as Principal Warden during a small college, he faced the the time of the construction of challenge of teaching across the Pollock Halls. Following the entire theological syllabus. He departure of Michael Swann to regarded this as of immeasurable the BBC in 1973 he held office as benefit in his early career and Acting Principal and Vice-Chancel- lor in 1973–74. This was repeated

295 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

again in 1979 after the untimely dispute within the student body death of Hugh Robson. As Dean was resolved within 48 hours after of the Faculty of Divinity and McIntyre assumed responsibility Principal of New College from as Vice-Chancellor. The same 1968 to 1974, he was deeply qualities were evident in his committed to the centuries-long lecturing. Long before the time Scottish tradition in which when teaching aids became de ministers were educated in the rigueur, he would provide his ancient universities. He positioned students with a complete tran- the Faculty of Divinity at New script of his lecture notes. This College in the centre of university imposed a significant burden on life. Yet while defending the place his secretary, being before the era of the Church of Scotland in his of the photocopier. A quietly Faculty, he also perceived the methodical teacher, McIntyre importance of ecumenical links possessed an urbane and self- and of the burgeoning field of deprecating humour. He would religious studies. By the time of sometimes remark that he not his retirement in 1986, New only put his students to sleep, but College had become a more gave them the sheets in which to ecumenical institution, but one do so. Whether they slept or not, that retained much of its tradi- he could remember them clearly tional strength, not least its years later and was always keen to appeal to students from overseas. follow their progress in parish An important marker had been set ministry or academic life. Many down in 1979 with the appoint- had cause to be grateful for his ment of James Mackey, a Roman concern. Catholic theologian, to a Chair of Despite the burdens of university theology in Edinburgh. His administration, McIntyre main- nomination aroused controversy tained a significant scholarly in the General Assembly of the output that continued through Church of Scotland and the many productive years of retire- national press. ment. A longstanding interest in As a university administrator, the role of the imagination in McIntyre possessed a patient and religious belief resulted in the measured style that was to prove publication of Faith, Theology and highly effective in the building of the Imagination (1987), perhaps Pollock Halls, in the reconstruction his most original work. The of New College, and in his many previous year, a Festschrift collec- dealings with university staff and tion in his honour had appeared students. In the more militant era on this same theme. Other of the early 1970s, a long-running volumes on traditional theological

296 Obituary Notices

topics such as the love of God, the fifteen years. The public highlight person and work of Christ, and of his career came in 1982. During the Holy Spirit were also undertak- his time as Moderator of the en. General Assembly of the Church He was made a Fellow of the Royal of Scotland, he greeted John Paul Society of Edinburgh in 1977 and II before the statue of John Knox served on its Council from 1979 in the New College courtyard. In to 1986, the last three years as a welcoming the Pope, he celebrat- Vice-President. ed the end of years of sectarian division in Scotland and a new era Also a noteworthy churchman, of ecumenical collaboration. McIntyre was appointed by the Queen as one of her Honorary John McIntyre is survived by his Chaplains in Scotland and as wife Jan, their two sons, Eoin and Dean of the Order of the Thistle in Angus, and their daughter, 1974, a position he held for Catherine. David Fergusson

Very Rev Professor John McIntyre, CVO, MA, BD, DLitt(Edinburgh), DD(Glasgow), Drhc(Edinburgh), DHL(College of Wooster, Ohio). Born 20 May 1916; Elected FRSE 7 March 1977; Died 18 December 2005.

297 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

Andrew Ronald Mitchell 21 June 1921 – 22 November 2007

Andrew Ronald Mitchell was born Rutherford, and in particular, they in Dundee on 21 June 1921, and discovered an early form of died in Dundee on 22 November successive overrelaxation (before 2007. Ron, as he was known to this appeared in a famous 1954 almost everyone, was an only paper of David Young), although child; his father was a blacksmith. the work was never published. His Ron went to Morgan Academy in first PhD student was J. D. Murray, Dundee, and in 1938 he won a who started in 1953 working on a scholarship through the school to topic in boundary layer fluid do a mathematics degree in dynamics. Around this time, Ron University College, Dundee (then a developed an interest in numerical college of St Andrews University), analysis, initially as a means of where E. T. Copson was Professor tackling fluid dynamics problems of Mathematics. He graduated using Southwell’s relaxation with First Class Honours in 1942, methods. and was called up and sent to the Since his move to St Andrews, Ron wartime Ministry of Aircraft had continued to play football, Production in London, where he and signed as a part-time profes- remained until after the end of sional with a number of Scottish the war. Ron had shown great League clubs. During the period promise as a footballer at school, 1946–1955, he played with St and while in Dundee had played Johnstone, East Fife, Brechin City for Dundee North End Junior and Berwick Rangers. While with Football Club; he continued to Brechin City, he won a Scottish play during the war, turning out a Qualifying Cup South Runners Up few times for Chelsea. Medal in 1949–50, and Scottish In October 1946, Ron was Qualifying Cup South Winners appointed to an Assistant Lecture- Medal in 1950–51. ship at St Andrews University and In 1959, Ron married Ann, and started a PhD with D. E. Ruther- took up a one year post as Senior ford. In 1950, Ron was awarded Research Fellow in the Mathemat- his PhD (which was concerned ics Department at California with relaxation methods in Institute of Technology. Jack compressible flow), and stayed on Lambert was appointed as a at St Andrews as a Lecturer. There Lecturer at St Andrews in the same was some co-operation with year and he became Ron’s third

298 Obituary Notices

PhD student, working on numeri- appeared, but was invaluable cal methods for ODEs. Other PhD when he attended the Interna- students who came to work with tional Congress of Ron about this time were Graeme Mathematicians in Moscow in Fairweather and Sandy Gourlay, 1966. There he met D’Yakonov and with these students (in and, as a result, the latter visited particular), important contribu- Ron in the late sixties. A by- tions were made to finite product was that people in the difference methods for partial West became much more aware of differential equations. the activity in the USSR concerning By 1965, there was a thriving split operator techniques. numerical analysis group in St In Moscow Ron played football Andrews. There was also a group for The Rest of the World against in Edinburgh, headed by Mike the USSR in a match which was Osborne. Ron and Mike Osborne held in the stadium of Moscow felt there should be more interac- Dynamo. The home team, who tion, and they agreed to hold a had been in training for several conference, with St Andrews weeks, won 5–2. chosen as the venue, and Ron and In 1967, Queen’s College Dundee Jack Lambert the main organisers. (as University College had become Of course no one knew this at the in 1954) separated from St time, but this was the first in a Andrews to become the University biennial series of conferences on of Dundee, and Ron’s growing numerical analysis, which contin- reputation and influence were ued in Dundee, and became the recognised when he was appoint- longest running series of its kind ed to a newly established Chair of in the world. The 22nd conference Numerical Analysis. Over the next in the series was held in Dundee few years, Ron’s leadership and in June, 2007. vision built up numerical analysis Around 1965–66, Ron went to in Dundee, attracting some evening classes in Dundee to learn excellent staff and students. He Russian. During Graeme Fair- obtained Research Council money weather’s thesis work, it had been for a numerical analysis year in realised that some Russians, in 1970–71, as a result of which five particular Samarskii, Andreyev and conferences were held, and visits D’Yakonov were also working on for periods up to a year were high order difference methods for arranged for about 34 of the partial differential equations. A world’s leading numerical ana- knowledge of Russian not only lysts. Indeed his efforts really put allowed Ron to keep up with the Dundee on the numerical analysis Russian literature as soon as it map.

299 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

Ron’s interests changed in the late During his research career, Ron 1960s from finite differences to always had the uncanny knack of finite elements. This was virgin alighting on fundamental issues territory for numerical analysts which, through his many papers and Ron did much pioneering and conference talks, drew others work during the next few years to the subject. He has a long and with collaborators and students. illustrious list of publications, but The next change of direction equally if not more impressive is occurred as a consequence of a the list of his 27 PhD students, lecture given by Olec Zienkiewicz many of whom have gone on to at a conference at Brunel Universi- successful research careers. One of ty in 1975. In this talk Zienkiewicz Ron’s great strengths was the way described instabilities experienced he was able to motivate and by his group in converting their encourage his students; he had a successful finite element codes for truly outstanding talent for structural problems into codes for getting the best out of research solving the Navier–Stokes and students and for instilling self- related equations in fluid dynam- confidence in them. ics. On his return to Dundee, Ron Ron’s many contributions to and David Griffiths attacked this numerical analysis, both at a problem with some gusto over the national and international level, next few weeks, and the end through his books, his conference result was upwind-biased test talks, his visits, his supervision of functions and what is now known students and of research fellows, as the Petrov–Galerkin finite his encouragement of young element method. people, is only a part of the story. There followed several fruitful No attempt to paint a picture of years working on convection– Ron would be complete without diffusion problems until, through mention of his human qualities, his interest in diffusion and the immense personal magnetism, dispersion effects and his collabo- the marvellous sense of humour. ration with Brian Sleeman, he He was a wonderful companion, a became interested in nonlinear friendly, warm and entertaining effects in the early 1980s. Some of person, who had no airs and the problems arose from mathe- graces and who made everyone matical biology, but Ron was also feel comfortable in his presence. interested in solitons, particularly He was able to combine a serious those arising from the Korteweg– side as far as his work was de Vries and Schrodinger concerned with the ability to poke equations. He was instrumental in fun at people and things, and find bringing the subject of spurious humour in just about anything. solutions to the fore.

300 Obituary Notices

His last few years were plagued by analysis who had a significant ill health. As someone who had impact on the subject. Because of been very active, both physically his human qualities, he was also and mentally, it was frustrating for regarded with huge affection by a him to experience a diminution of great many friends and colleagues those powers. But he never lost from all over the world. He will be his sense of humour, or his love of greatly missed. football and mathematics. Ron Alistair Watson. was a major figure in numerical

Andrew Ronald Mitchell BSc, PhD, DSc (St Andrews), FIMA, CMath. Born 21 June 1921; Elected FRSE 2 March 1953; Died 22 November 2007.

301 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

Wallace Spencer Pitcher 3 March 1919 – 4 September 2004.

Wallace Pitcher, (or Wally, as he studies and he entered the army. was generally known),who died in Because he had given his profes- the Wirral on 4 September 2004, sion as a ‘chemist,’ this was was born in London on 3 March misunderstood as a ‘pharmacist’ 1919, and became the leading and he spent the next five years as and most distinguished British a medical orderly in the Royal expert on granites, their emplace- Army Medical Corps. Because of a ment mechanisms, the geology of leg injury he worked in the Donegal and the Donegal gran- Pathological Laboratory. He ites, and, with John Cobbing, the gained promotion to a sergeant, geology of the Peruvian batholith. but was invalided out of the Army He was elected an Honorary FRSE in 1944, and in 1945, aged 26, in 1993. A full account of his life with a grant to study full-time, he will be found in a special Pitcher returned to complete his degree issue on granites in the Transac- at Chelsea. He graduated in tions of the Royal Society of 1947. Edinburgh: Earth Sciences and In 1947, Professor H. H. Read FRS also in the Proceedings of the of Imperial College (IC) was Geologists’ Association, 117, seeking to fill a Demonstratorship 311-319 (2006). in Geology with someone able to His childhood was spent in Acton, cope with teaching their some- west London. He showed an early what boisterous, and at times, interest in fossils, collecting his belligerent, ex-servicemen stu- first London Clay fossil by the age dents, while also wanting of ten and, by his early twenties, someone who would work with he was an amateur expert on the him in studying the origin of the Tertiary fauna of the London Clay. granites of Donegal. Read, a At 17, a post as an apprentice petrologist, was world-famous for assayer for George T. Holloway & his trenchant views on the origin Co. gave him a training in chemi- of granite by transformation of cal analysis. Concurrently, he metamorphic rocks into granite by enrolled as a part-time student for element movements (granitisa- a degree in chemistry and geolo- tion) rather than being derived as gy, which combined his main a magmatic rock. Read needed a interests, at Chelsea College, chemical geologist to be able to London. However, the Second elucidate the granitisation World War interrupted these process. The analysis of silicate

302 Obituary Notices

rocks was a slow and skilled job practicals and field trips carefully. that required much chemical He continued his involvement practice to obtain reliable results, with the Geologists’ Association so Wally’s experience was wanted. and led many day excursions on Robert M. Shackleton, who was the geology of London and its already working in Donegal, surroundings. showed Read that the mapping of His own PhD (1951), on Thorr the Donegal Granite by the Granodiorite, marked the begin- Geological Survey of Ireland in the ning of a flood of accounts 19th Century had revealed an dealing with the Donegal project apparent succession of metamor- and was rapidly followed by his phic rocks enclosed by, and 1953 study of the Rosses Granitic gradually disappearing into, the Ring Complex. In order to under- (Main) Donegal Granite, possibly stand the emplacement of the being transformed into granite. Donegal Granites, and their Read appointed Wally and was his influence on their envelopes, supervisor, but Wally was left to structural and metamorphic, it choose his own PhD area in was early appreciated that the Donegal, albeit with the guidance metamorphic country rocks had to and approval of Shackleton. So, be mapped in detail, as well as the during the Easter break in 1948, granites. This, plus the generally accompanied by Stella Scutt, magnificent rock exposure, whom Wally had married in enabled detailed interpretation. August 1947, he first went to Read was by now approaching Donegal with Shackleton, and retirement and had heavy admin- started a major 25-year pro- istrative duties and so Wally gramme of research into the effectively ran the Donegal geology of Donegal and its project. Later, the new results numerous granites. Eventually, obtained from the detailed dozens of researchers, many but mapping in Donegal, combined not all from IC, would become with new work from Connemara involved. and Scotland, enabled the first Wally held the post of Demonstra- correlation of the whole Dalradian tor for one year (1947–48), an sequence from Scotland to Assistant Lecturership for two Connemara to be completed. (1948–50), and then a Lectureship Wally enjoyed field work and he in Geology at IC for five years established great rapport with the (1950–55). He was a meticulous people of Donegal. The kindly teacher, very well-liked by his homesteaders would invite him students as he went to great into their small cottages (often trouble to prepare his lectures, still thatched, without electricity or

303 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

running water and quite unlike stature as the leading British their modern replacements), for expert on granites and their tea and ‘craic’, usually tea, boiled emplacement. eggs and soda-bread with In 1955 Wally moved to King’s animated conversation. College London as Reader in To prove Read’s view of the Geology, and then in 1962 to the granitisation origin of some or all George Herdman Chair of of the granites, it was necessary to Geology in the University of have chemical analyses of the Liverpool, where he remained granites and of the country rocks until after his retirement in 1981. and of their intermediates that From Liverpool, Wally initiated a were supposedly part way to major study of the Peruvian being chemically changed into batholith, involving arduous field granite. Wally was the first in the work, again with a number of UK to set up rapid methods of other researchers, but in particular silicate analysis involving colori- with Dr John Cobbing, of the metric and flame photometric now-named British Geological methods, which markedly in- Survey. The field work was carried creased the speed of completion out at high altitudes, often under of rock analyses. Ironically, as the extreme heat, using tents, horses, Donegal work progressed it walking and Land Rovers in an became apparent that virtually all arid region (the opposite of the Donegal granites had been Donegal!), with very primitive intruded as magmas with no facilities, which was not easy for a granitisation and it fell to Wally’s man approaching 60. The topog- diplomatic skills to persuade the raphy enabled the strongly dogmatic Read that the three-dimensional shape of the results of the project had been to tops of some of the constituent demonstrate the opposite of his plutons to be observed in a way often expressed and firmly-held not possible in Donegal. This views! The summary of the study of a supra-subduction zone Donegal results appeared in 1972 batholith related to the Pacific in the great book whose title margin generated many papers reflected what had been found, culminating in a 1985 book: not what had been looked for: Magmatism at a Plate Edge: the The Geology of Donegal; a study Peruvian Andes. of granite emplacement and Wally gradually became the unroofing (Pitcher & Berger 1972), leading British, and an interna- together with the most detailed tionally regarded, geological geological map of Donegal ever statesman on granites. With the produced. This confirmed Wally’s Circum-Pacific Plutonism Project,

304 Obituary Notices

he travelled the world examining Wally was a founder member and granites of different types and Aberconway Medallist (1983) of ages. the Institution of Geologists. He Wally was a big man physically, was a life-long member of the but a calm, generally unruffled, Mineralogical Society, which he hard-working, rather ponderous- joined in 1949, and of the speaking, impeccably-mannered, Geologists’ Association from gentlemanly-type. Despite the 1942, eventually (1973) becoming substantial administrative load of an Honorary Member. He was a running one of the biggest Fellow of the Institution of Mining Geology Departments in the and Metallurgy. He was the country, he gave major service to recipient of many honours, being the geological profession in a an Honorary Fellow of the Geo- variety of ways. He became a logical Society of America (1982), member and then Chairman of Honorary MRIA (1977), Honorary the NERC Geological Sciences FRSE (1993) and apart from an Research Grants Committee, earned DSc (London 1964), held serving from 1974 to 1981. He Honorary DSc degrees from was President of Section C of the Dublin (1983) and Paris-Sud 1979 British Association Meeting, (1993). He was awarded the Silver but most of all he was significant- Medal of the Liverpool Geological ly responsible for extricating the Society (1964) and the University Geological Society from the 1960s Medal of Helsinki in 1986. mess that threatened the Society’s Wally was Head of the Geology existence. Wally then became a Department in Liverpool from Secretary (1970–73), Foreign 1962 to 1978. As the financial Secretary (1974–75), and then cuts of the ’70s began to affect President (1977–78). This was a student field work, staffing and very heavy commitment with the research, running the Department numerous meetings involved, as became a much more burden- return between London and the some matter, requiring strategic Wirral involved a minimum of nine and manipulative administration hours’ travel. He also kept the quite unlike the traditional Society from falling apart as Professorial priority of research successive Specialist Groups were and teaching. Wally did not like or formed and instead it became the excel at this and running the ‘umbrella’ under which many Department did not give the groups clustered. He received the satisfaction it had previously. The Lyell Fund in 1956, the Bigsby calls to represent the Department Medal in 1963, and the Mur- extra-murally brought much chison Medal in 1979, from the reflected glory to it, but clashed Geological Society.

305 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

directly with the need to be on the Origin of Granite (1993). This ground, bean counting, and he went into a second edition in resigned as Head of Department 1997 when he was no less than in 1978. Wally volunteered for 78, a considerable achievement. formal early retirement in 1981 at He remained active in research, age 62 and obtained a Lever- especially over Donegal geology, hulme Emeritus Fellowship and attending the Liverpool (1981–83) to write up the Peruvi- Geological Society’s meetings, an work. right to the end. He was a courte- After this Wally, working from ous, hard-working, productive, home, and helped by his wife, kindly and modest man who combined his enormous knowl- would have been the first to deny edge and experience of granites charismatic brilliance, but whom and of the published literature on many remember with great granites, to produce another affection. major book, The Nature and Bernard Elgey Leake

Wallace Spencer Pitcher BSc(Chelsea Polytechnic), PhD (Imperial College), DSc(Lond), HonDSc(Dublin, Paris-Sud), HonMRIA, FIMM, FGS, HonFGeolSocAm. Born 3 March 1919; Elected HonFRSE 1993; Died 4 September 2004.

306 Obituary Notices

Professor Geoffrey Webb 15 June 1938 – 8 May 2007

Geoff Webb was born on the 15th Glasgow with Professor Samuel June 1938 in the small village of Thomson. This was to mark the Heather in deepest Leicestershire. beginning of a collaboration that He attended school in Ashby was to last for 30 years and a before going to the University of friendship that lasted even longer. Hull to undertake his undergradu- In 1965 Geoff was appointed to ate studies in Chemistry, where he an assistant lectureship at Glas- was awarded a B.Sc. in 1959. At gow, and in 1966 to a full this point Geoff explored two lectureship. Geoff’s research career options, teaching and concentrated on heterogeneous research, themes that would be catalysis, especially concerning repeated throughout his career. adsorption and hydrogenation In 1959/1960 Geoff held a reactions of hydrocarbons over teaching position as Science precious metal catalysts. This is an Master at Greatfield High School area where Geoff’s contribution to in Hull and combined this with science has been enormous. He part-time research with Professor developed new concepts and, Geoffrey Bond. It is a testament with Sam Thomson in 1976, to Geoff’s research skills that this proposed a new mechanism for work was published in the Journal the hydrogenation of hydrocar- of the Chemical Society and so it bons on metal surfaces. This was no surprise that, by the end radical proposal changed the of the year, the decision was made scientific landscape. He was one and Geoff joined Geoff Bond to of the first to support metal study for a PhD in the area of carbonyl clusters on oxide sup- catalytic hydrogenation using ports and show their utility in ruthenium and osmium catalysts. catalysis. He also worked in the Geoff’s love for sport also began area of CFCs and HCFCs, bringing to blossom during his time at Hull his skill and knowledge of and he was active in both Univer- catalysis and radiotracers to bear sity cricket and football. However on an important area of environ- his love of sport was not the only mental science. thing to blossom because it was He was awarded a DSc in 1981 by here he met and married Linda. the University of Glasgow for his In 1963 Geoff was awarded a PhD research contribution and was and moved to take up a postdoc- elected to a Fellowship of the toral position at the University of Royal Society of Edinburgh in

307 The Royal Society of Edinburgh

1995. He was well known and Alternative Chemistry syllabus was respected in the chemistry being introduced into schools in community around the world, Scotland. Geoff was intensely regularly giving lectures at interested in this, partly because international conferences. He sat he was in charge of first year on Editorial Boards for a range of teaching and wanted to know scientific journals including about his students’ background, Applied Catalysis and Journal of and partly because he was Adsorption Science and Technolo- interested in education in general. gy. Geoff also had strong links to His approach to this was similar to the industrial community under- his approach to his research, taking collaborative research with thorough and meticulous. He companies such as ICI plc, BP plc, attended every course available in Johnson Matthey, British Gas and Scotland to get a good working Davy-McKee Ltd, and also served knowledge of the new syllabuses, as a consultant to many interna- including courses in assessment tional companies. and objective testing, which he Geoff was always very supportive later introduced into the chemistry of young academics and is department. He volunteered to be remembered fondly by many an examiner for Sixth Year Studies whom have now gone on to Chemistry for both the written senior positions, for the help he paper and for the oral assessment gave them. He did not just help of the projects, a role he contin- those in this country: in 1975 ued for more than 20 years. He Geoff spent four months in was a tactful oral examiner, Nigeria helping the University of putting candidates at their ease Nigeria develop a new undergrad- and often acknowledging their uate curriculum in physical and superior knowledge in their inorganic chemistry. chosen topics. In 1977, Geoff and Alex Johnstone wrote a book Geoff was also heavily involved in on Thermodynamics (Energy teaching and chemical education, Chaos and Chemical Change) and in 1967 Sam Thomson and which was widely used in schools Geoff wrote an undergraduate and colleges throughout the UK, textbook on Heterogeneous and was translated into Spanish Catalysis bringing, for the first and Italian. Geoff taught at all time, this area of chemistry into levels within the University from the reach of many students. teaching basic chemistry to Amongst other responsibilities, medical students, to advanced Geoff was head of first year post-graduate courses. He took teaching in chemistry for many teaching seriously and his lectures years. At this time the, then new,

308 Obituary Notices

were carefully crafted and well the Institute of Biomedical & Life thought out. Sciences and later the Faculties of Outside his academic career Geoff Biomedical & Life Sciences, was equally dynamic, with Information & Mathematical interests in photography, angling Sciences, and Physical Sciences and shooting. Through his where he continued as Dean. He interest in shooting, he was was, most significantly, a constant actively involved with the 1986 source of advice to many of his Commonwealth Games in colleagues across the whole of the Edinburgh, acting as the Competi- University. tion Director for the Small-bore Geoff retired in 2002, and in Shooting events. He was Secre- 2003 a conference was held at the tary/Treasurer of the Scottish University to mark his 40 years of Shooting Council and was a scientific research. Over 130 member of the Scottish National delegates attended with attend- Small-bore Rifle team in 1979 and ees from as far a field as China, 1983. He also developed a Australia and the USA. Much of passion for fly fishing, with the Geoff’s scientific legacy was week spent every year with his discussed at that meeting, but brother Gerald as one of the great what was equally pleasing to him immovables in the calendar. was the attendance of past Throughout his academic career students and co-workers. In his Geoff was progressively promoted time at Glasgow, Geoff supervised to Senior Lecturer, Reader and, in over forty PhD students and his 1988, to a Titular Professorship. legacy, in terms of the students He made a huge contribution to and co-workers who benefited the University, holding the from his guidance and knowl- positions of Head of the Depart- edge, is as significant as his legacy ment of Chemistry, Head of the to science. Physical Sciences Planning Unit He is survived by his wife Linda, and Dean of the Science Faculty. his three children Alistair, Elaine He was involved in the creation of and David and his five grandchil- dren. David Jackson

Geoffrey Webb BSc, PhD (Hull), DSc (Glasgow), CChem, FRSC. Born 15th June 1938; Elected FRSE 6 March 1995; Died 28th May 2007.

309 INDEX A BP: Prize Lecture, 79; Research Fellowships 225. A Brush with Foxes and other British Academy Albert Reckitt Carnivore Tales, 153. Archaeology Lecture, 130. Accounts: Group Balance Sheet, Bruce, Dr Donald, 189. 52; Group Statement of Financial Bruce Preller Prize Lectureship Activities, 51; Group Cash Flow 229 Statement, 54; Notes to the Brunel International Lecture, 152. Financial Statements, 55; RSE Burnett, Sir John: Obituary 258 Balance Sheet, 53. Activities for Session 2006/07, 6. C The Ageing Population, 199. Calcium Signalling in Health and Alcock, Professor James E, 164. Disease, 132. Alexander Ninian Bruce Prize 229 Caledonian Research Foundation: Alm, Dr Norman, 199. Prize Lecture, 94; Prize Lecture- Alternatives to Prison, 172. ship 229; Research Fellowships Annual European Lecture, 161. 225. Annual Statutory Meeting Campbell, Professor Keith, 188. 5; Election of Office Bearers, Can Information be Personal?, 11; Discussion of Reports 94. 9; Fellowship Secretary's Report Carter, Professor Sir David, 229. 9, 24; General Secretary’s Report Changes in Fellowship, 245. 6, 12; IEEE/RSE Wolfson, James Chief Scientific Advisor for Clerk Maxwell Award 5; Matters Scotland, 213. arising 6; Minutes 6; Office Christmas Lecture, 138. Bearers’ Reports 6; Report on City of Edinburgh Council, 6. Activities 6; Treasurer’s Report, Clerk Maxwell, James: Fund, 6; 7. IEEE/RSE Wolfson Microelectron- Apt, Dr Jay, 165. ics Award, 5, 122, 229; Statue, Archer, John Stuart: Obituary 250 6. Architecture in Nano-Space, 157. Conferences: Alternatives to Auditor's Report, 49. Prison, 172; Energy for Scotland: Avdeev, Sergei Vasilyevic, 165. is there a consensus?, 195; B Glasgow’s People : Transcending Poverties, 192; Multi-wavelength BBSRC Enterprise Fellowships, Astronomy - The Observable 228. Universe, 200; Tall Tales about Beck, John Swanson: Obituary the Mind and Brain, 206; The 253 250th Anniversary of the Birth of Berridge, Michael J, 132. Thomas Telford, 204; The Union Black Holes and Small Bangs, of 1707: New Dimensions, 202. 143. Black, Professor Sue, 136.

311 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Corballis, Professor Michael C, Erchova, Dr Irina, 199. 164. Evans, Henry John: Obituary 261 Cormack Bequest: Meeting, 200; Evidence, Advice and Comment, Postgraduate Prize 227; Under- 215. graduate Prize 227; Vacation Executive Board 2007-2008, 12. Scholarships 227. F Council: 2007-2008, 12. Cultural Policy and National Featherstone, Vicky, 184. Identity in Post-devolution Fellows: Deaths of, 245. Scotland, 182. Fellows' Social Events, 241; Discussion Dinners and Suppers, D 241; Fellows’ Golf Challenge, Dining Club, 241. 242; New Fellows’ Induction Day, Discussion Forum: Cultural Policy 241; Summer Soirée, 241. and National Identity in Post- Fellowship Secretary’s Report, 9. devolution Scotland, 182; Earth, Figel', Jan, 161. Wind, Fire and Water: Floods, Forensic Anthropology – The 169; The Ageing Population Journey from Culloden to Iraq, (Lloyds TSB), 199; The Ten Years 136. of Dolly: Past, Present and Fraser, Sir Campbell: Obituary Future, 187. 264 Does Science Matter?, 140. G Doors Open Day, 209. Gannochy Trust Innovation Award E Prize Lecture, 82, 229 Earth, Wind, Fire and Water: General Secretary’s Report, 6,12. Floods, 169. Glasgow’s People : Transcending ECRR Peter Wilson Lecture, 140. Poverties, 192. Edinburgh Lectures, 136, 165. Glover, Professor Anne, 140. Election of Fellows, 245. Goldberg, Sir Abraham: Obituary Election of New Fellows: Scruti- 268 neers, 3. Grants: Research Visitor to Election of Officers and Council Scotland, 232; Support for for the 225th Session, 11. Meetings, 231; Travel Assistance, encounter, 181. 231. Energy for Scotland: is there a Grants, Sponsorship and Dona- consensus?, 195. tions, 243. Engelbrecht, Professor Jüri, 127. Engineering Civilisation from the Shadows, 152. Environmental Choices Regional Lecture, 139.

312 Index

H International Programme, 233; Hald, Anders Hjorth: Obituary Events, 238; Relations with Sister 273 Academies, 239; Visits, 238. Hammond, Professor Norman, Investments, 75. 130. J Heaney, Henry: Obituary 275 Jacobs, Dr Irwin, 5, 122, 229. Heavens, Professor Alan, 143. James Clerk Maxwell: Fund, 6; Henderson, Douglas Mackay: IEEE/RSE Wolfson Microelectron- Obituary 279 ics Award, 5, 122, 229; Statue, Henderson, Professor George, 6. 134. Jessiman, Dr Lesley, 199. Henderson, Dr Isabel, 134. Jowitt, Professor Paul, 152. Henry Dryerre: Prize Lectureship, 229; Scholarship 227. K Henry Duncan Prize Lecture, 106. Kroto, Professor Sir Harry, 157. The Highlands: Scotland’s Great Kruskal, Martin David: Obituary Success Story, 106. 289 Hogg, Richard Milne: Obituary L 287 Holland, Professor Alan, 188. Ladefoged, Peter Nielson: Obitu- Holloway, Richard, 183. ary 293 Hunter, Professor James, 106. Laurie, Professor Graeme, 79. Laver, Professor John D M H, 229. I Lectures: A Brush with Foxes and IEEE/RSE Wolfson Microelectron- other Carnivore Tales, 153; ics, James Clerk Maxwell Award, Architecture in Nano-Space, 157; 5, 122, 229 Black Holes and Small Bangs, Inquiries: Energy Issues for 143; Calcium Signalling in Scotland, 217; The Future of Health and Disease, 132; Does Scotland’s Hill and Island Areas, Science Matter?, 140; Engineer- 217. ing Civilisation from the International Exchanges: China - Shadows, 152; European Science Outgoing, 233; Czech Republic - Policy and Academia, 127; Incoming, 233, Outgoing, 233; Forensic Anthropology – The Hungary - Incoming, 233, Journey from Culloden to Iraq, Outgoing, 233; Open Pro- 136; Philology in a New Key: gramme - Incoming, 235, Humane Studies in Digital Space, Outgoing, 236; Poland - 144; Recovering Maya Civilisa- Incoming, 233; Slovenia - tion, 130; Reforming Europe’s Incoming, 234, Outgoing, 234; Universities – Why and How?, Taiwan - Incoming, 234, Outgo- 161; Rights, Freedom, and ing, 234. Welfare in Economics, 128; Tall

313 Review of the Session 2006-2007

Tales about the Mind and Brain, N 164; The Unpredictability of New Fellows’ Dinner 2003, 241. Science and its Consequences, New Fellows’ Induction Day 2005, 148; The View from Space: 241. Changing Planet, 165; Using History and Science to Under- O stand Scotland’s Changing Obituary Notices: Archer, John Biodiversity, 1600–2000, 139; Stuart, 250; Beck, John Swanson, Visual Theology in Pictish Art, 253; Burnett, Sir John, 258; 134; Weather Forecasting in the Evans, Henry John, 261; Fraser, 21st Century, 138. Sir Campbell, 264; Goldberg, Lessells Bequest: Travel Scholar- Professor Sir Abraham, 268; ship 228 Hald, Anders Hjorth, 273; Lloyds TSB Foundation for Heaney, Henry, 275; Henderson, Scotland: Research Fellowships Douglas Mackay, 279; Hogg, 226; Studentships 228; Work- Richard Milne, 287; Kruskal, shops 226 Martin David, 289; Ladefoged, M Peter Nielsen, 293; McIntyre, John, 295; Mitchell, Andrew McCrone, Professor David, 182. Ronald, 298; Pitcher, Wallace Macdonald, Professor David W, Spencer, 302; Webb, Professor 153. Geoffrey, 307. McGann, Professor Jerome, 144. Office Bearers’ Reports for Session McIntyre, John: Obituary 295 2006/07, 6. McKillop, Sir Thomas, 229. O’Neill of Bengarve, Baroness Mearns Spragg, Dr Andrew, 229. Onora, 94. Medals, Prizes and Prize Lecture- Ordinary Meetings, 3. ships: Alexander Ninan Bruce Prize, 229; Bruce Preller Prize P Lectureship, 229; CRF Prize Parker, Marie Claire, 82. Lectureship, 229; Gannochy Parliamentary Liaison, 219. Trust Innovation Award, 229; Pattanaik, Prasanta K, 128. Henry Dryerre Prize Lectureship, Pender, Professor Garry, 169. 229; IEEE/RSE/Wolfson/James Penning-Rowsell, Professor Clerk Maxwell Award, 229; Royal Edmund, 170. Medal, 229. Philology in a New Key: Humane Mitchell, Andrew Ronald: Obitu- Studies in Digital Space, 144. ary 298 Pitcher, Wallace Spencer: Obituary Multi-wavelength Astronomy - 302 The Observable Universe, 200. Prize Lectures, 79; BP: Protecting Human Dignity at the Beginning and End of Life, 79; CRF: Can

314 Index

Information be Personal?, 94; Cormack Postgraduate Prize, Gannochy Trust Innovation 227; Cormack Undergraduate Award Lecture: Protein-Coated Prize, 227; Cormack Vacation Microcrystals and Drug Delivery Scholarship, 227; Henry Dryerre of Biologics, 82; Henry Duncan: Scholarship, 227; Lessells Travel The Highlands: Scotland’s Great Scholarship, 228; Lloyds TSB Success Story, 106; IEEE/RSE/ Studentships, 228. Wolfson James Clerk Maxwell: ReSourcE, 211. Reflections on the Amazing Rights, Freedom, and Welfare in Ubiquitous Cellphone, 122. Economics, 128. Proceedings A: Mathematics, Royal Medal 229 211. RSE Roadshow Public Lecture, Protecting Human Dignity at the 143. Beginning and End of Life, 79. S Protein-Coated Microcrystals and Drug Delivery of Biologics, Savinykh, Viktor Petrovich, 165. 82. Scottish Government: Research Publications, 211. Fellowships, 226; Teaching Fellowships, 228. Q Scottish Science Advisory Commit- QUALCOMM, 5. tee: (SSAC), 213; Chief Scientific R Advisor, 213; Members, 213; Staff, 213. Recovering Maya Civilisation, 130. Secombes, Professor C J, 229. Reflections on the Amazing Shoelson, Professor Steven, 229. Ubiquitous Cellphone, 122. Staff Changes, 247. Reforming Europe’s Universities – Statue: James Clerk Maxwell, 6. Why and How?, 161. Statutory General Meeting Reid, Heather, 138. 5; Election of Office Bearers, Research and Enterprise Awards, 11; Discussion of Reports 225; Arts & Humanities Work- 9; Fellowship Secretary's Report shops, 226; BBSRC, 228; BP 9, 24; General Secretary’s Report Personal, 225; CRF European 6, 12; IEEE/RSE Wolfson, James Visiting, 225; CRF Personal, 225; Clerk Maxwell Award 5; Matters Lloyds TSB Personal, 226; Lloyds arising 6; Minutes 6; Office TSB Support, 226; Lloyds TSB Bearers’ Reports 6; Report on Workshops, 226; Scottish Activities 6; Treasurer’s Report, Government Personal, 226; 7. Scottish Government Support, 226; Teaching Fellowships, 228. Research Scholarships and Prizes: Auber Bequest Award, 227;

315 Review of the Session 2006-2007

T U Tall Tales about the Mind and The Union of 1707: New Dimen- Brain, 164, 206, 224. sions, 202. The Ten Years of Dolly: Past, The Unpredictability of Science Present and Future, 187. and its Consequences, 148. Thomas, Professor Sir John Using History and Science to Meurig, 148. Understand Scotland’s Changing Transactions: Earth Sciences, 211. Biodiversity, 1600–2000, 139. Treasurer’s Report, 7. V Trustees' Report and Accounts to 31 March 2007: Achievements in The View from Space: Changing the year, 33; Balance sheet, 47; Planet, 165. BP Research Fellowships Trust, Visual Theology in Pictish Art, 43; Communications, 37; Events, 134. 38; Future plans, 43; Income and Viterbi, Dr Andrew, 5,229. Expenditure, 46; Informing W decisions, 41; Inspiring young Watson, Dr Fiona, 139. people, 39; Investment powers Weather Forecasting in the 21st and policy, 44; Journals, 37; Century, 138. Objectives and activities, 31; Webb, Geoffrey: Obituary 307 Operating policies – grant Wilmutt, Professor Ian, 190. making, 44; Overview of the year, Wilson, Professor David, 171. 31; Performance monitoring, 33; Wolfson Microelectronics, 5. Reserves policy and funds, 45; Resources expended, 47; Result Y for the year, 45; Risk manage- Young People, 221; Annual ment, 30; RSE Scotland Inspiration Awards, 224; Foundation, 43; Statement of Christmas Lectures, 221; RSE Council’s responsibilities, 30; Roadshows, 221; RSE@Schools, Structure, governance and 221; SET Summer Week, 223; management, 29; The Fellowship Startup Science Masterclasses, Programme, 42. 223; Tall Tales about the Mind The 250th Anniversary of the Birth and Brain, 224; The 250th of Thomas Telford, 204, 223. anniversary of Thomas Telford, 223. Young People's Programme, 221.

316