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THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH ISSUE 19 • WINTER 2007

RESOURCE THE NEWSLETTER OF ’S NATIONAL ACADEMY

Innovat INNOVATOR RECEIVES SCOTLAND’S HIGHEST ACCOLADE

The Thefifth fifthGannochy Gannochy Trust Trust Innovation Innovation Award Award of the Royalof Society the Royal of EdinburghSociety of wasEdinburgh presented was to Dr Andrewpresented Mearns to Spragg Dr Andrew at a ceremonyMearns Spragg held inat the a Royalprestigious Museum ofawards Scotland ceremony on 26 heldOctober. in the The awardRoyal was Museum created toof encourageScotland on and 26 reward October. Scotland’sThe award young is innovatorsScotland’s highestfor work accolade which willfor benefitindividual Scotand’s achievement wellbeing. inDr innovation Spragg held and an RSE Scottishwas Enterprisecreated to Fellowshipencourage inand 2000 reward and is now CEOScotland’s of Aquapharm young Bio-Discovery innovators for Ltd, work a Heriot-Watt which spin-outwill benefitcompany. Scotland’s The award wellbeing. carries Dra £50,000 Spragg chequeheld and an RSEa specially Scottish commissioned Enterprise Fellowship gold medal in which2000 was and presented is now toCEO Dr ofSpragg Aquapharm by the PresidentBio- of theDiscovery RSE, Sir Ltd,Michael a Heriot-Watt Atiyah and spin-out the Gannochy Trustcompany Chairman, based Dr Russell in Oban. Leather. The award Dr Spragg carries plans a to use£50,000 the £50,000 cheque to and conduct a specially stringent experimentscommissioned designed gold to medal guage which the full was potential of the technologypresented to he Dr is Spraggdeveloping by the and President to help ofto securethe co-development RSE, Sir Michael partners.Atiyah and the Gannochy Trust Chairman, Dr Russell Leather. Dr Spragg plans to use the £50,000 to conduct stringent experiments designed to gauge the full potential of the technology he is developing and to help to secure co- development partners.

Stimulating debate Offering advice Funding research Recognising Excellence

NEW ANTIBIOTICS FROM THE SEA BED TO THE HOSPITAL BED New antibiotics to fight hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA may come from the sea. This Scottish-based research is just one of the promising developments and achievements in combating chronic multi-drug-resistant infections that has won biotechnology pioneer, Dr Andrew Mearns Spragg, the nation’s top award for innovation. Whilst it must be emphasised that the technology requires further development, this Award recognises the potential of Aquapharm’s new antibiotic compound, P-216CM, that was isolated from a new series of marine micro-organism. Preliminary results have demonstrated strong antibacterial properties towards MRSA, with ‘proof of concept’ efficacy studies showing the ability of the molecule to reduce Staphylococcal infection caused by bacteria. Andrew Mearns Spragg founded and set up Aquapharm Biodiscovery Limited, following an RSE/Scottish Enterprise Fellowship awarded in 2000. Now based at the European Centre for Marine Biotechnology, Oban, Argyll, Aquapharm is the first UK Dr Spragg reacted to the announcement: I company dedicated to natural product discovery from the, as yet, untapped microbial am honoured to have been chosen as the resource of the sea and from which innovations are expected to be of significant recipient of this year’s award and thank all economic benefit to the Scottish and global biotechnology sector. Aquapharm’s focus concerned. The accolade recognises almost is to isolate and develop new antibiotics active against multi-drug-resistant organisms, a decade of work and will further enhance such as MRSA & C difficile and active ingredients for food and cosmetic applications. the commercial credibility of marine biotechnology. Such achievements would The Gannochy Trust’s Chairman, Dr Russell not have been possible without the Leather commented: The Gannochy Trust support of a strong and committed team recognises the enormous potential of Dr within Aquapharm. It is inspiring to receive Spragg’s innovation, to offer very this recognition and we shall remain significant healthcare benefits to people in dedicated to developing what is an exciting Scotland and abroad by exploiting the new area of commercial research and to microbial resources of the ocean. I am realising the true potential of this delighted that we can support and technology in pharmaceutical applications. encourage the best of our young innovators through this partnership with the RSE. I wish Dr Spragg and his colleagues every success in transforming their technology into life-enhancing and life-saving medicines.

RSE President Sir Michael Atiyah said: If further development of these antibiotic compounds proves successful, this innovation could save many lives. I am delighted that, as a result of the Gannochy Trust’s generous support, we are able to recognise Dr Spragg’s achievement. I offer my congratulations to Dr Spragg and commend his drive, dedication and hard work. Sir Michael Atiyah and Dr Russell Leather pictured with all five Gannochy awardees, from l-r Dr Barbara Spruce (2003), Professor Ian Underwood (2004), Mr John Harrison (2005), Dr Andrew Mearns Spragg (2007) and Dr Marie Claire Parker (2006)

2 President’s Perspective

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) is Scotland’s National Academy of Science & Letters. It is an independent body with charitable status. The Society organises conferences and lectures for the specialist and for the general public. It provides a forum for informed debate on issues of national and international importance. Its multidisciplinary fellowship of men and women of international standing provides independent, expert advice to key decision-making bodies, including Government and Parliament. The Society’s Research Awards programme annually awards well over £1.7 million to exceptionally talented As an independent scholarly body The Fostering dialogue between scientists young academics and potential Royal Society of Edinburgh has to avoid and parliamentarians is the aim of the entrepreneurs to promote commercial party politics. However this does not annual Science and the Parliament event. exploitation of inventiveness and mean that we remain in our ivory tower Successfully run by The Royal Society of boost wealth-generation. and ignore the real world. Our task is Chemistry (RSC), with support from the Among its many public benefit to be effective in the public arena, RSE, this year’s event on Climate Change, activities, the RSE is active in interacting with Government, Energy & Transport struck me as classrooms from the Borders to the Parliament and the media and particularly timely. There was input from Northern Isles, with a successful influencing public opinion on the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure programme of lectures and hands-on important social, economic and cultural and Climate Change, workshops for primary and secondary issues. Our wide membership, covering MSP and other Senior decision-makers in school pupils. all fields of learning and public life, Science policy. Instrumental in the event, The Royal Society of Edinburgh, enables us to offer an independent and our new Parliamentary Liaison Officer, working as part of the UK and within a global context, is committed to the knowledgeable perspective on the Bristow Muldoon is doing a fine job future of Scotland’s social, economic complex problems that face Scotland. acting as a bridge between the and cultural well-being. parliaments and the RSE and RSC. At Our independent Inquiries on issues Bristow Muldoon’s instigation, a cross- important in Scotland and elsewhere party group on Science and Technology is have demonstrated the scope of The expected to be formed in early 2008. This Royal Society of Edinburgh to act in this is an encouraging step forward and I way. They are testament to a national Since January 2007, the RSE’s reiterate my commitment to supporting academy’s willingness to stand up and international exchange programme has all parties. be counted on thorny issues. Foot and resulted in around 170 weeks of Mouth Disease, the Future of the Strengthening Scotland’s position exchanges. In due course, I hope we Scottish Fishing Industry, Energy Issues internationally remains a priority. To this shall be able to identify further some of for Scotland - complex matters. These end, I am pleased to report the signing of the specific benefits that have resulted involve in-depth study and wide- a Memoranda of Understanding between from this dialogue and collaboration. ranging consultation. Our Committee The Royal Society of Edinburgh and the In the year ahead, I believe we can of Inquiry into the Future of Scotland’s Pakistan Academy of Sciences on 8th contribute even more to the Hill and Island Areas has recently been November 2007, signed by its President, “advancement of learning and useful taking evidence in Islay and Skye - Dr Ishfaq Ahmad; and the Indian National knowledge” by bringing people learning first-hand of issues vital to Science Academy on 10th December, together and by supporting those distinctive communities. These when the partnership was sealed with its facing complex decisions. Inquiries have been highly successful in President, Dr R. A. Mashelkar. providing evidence-based findings to Agreements must be meaningful and Sir Michael Atiyah, OM, FRS, PRSE, inform the decision-making process. have tangible benefits for both parties. HonFREng, HonFMedSci, Hon FFA

3 Scotland’s Research Talent

REAL POTENTIAL FROM SUPERBUG DECOY New drugs to combat antibiotic-resistant superbugs could be developed with the first application of biological ‘decoy’ therapy against infectious bacteria. RSE/BBSRC Enterprise Fellow, Dr Michael McArthur, and colleagues at the John Innes Centre have demonstrated that by taking a short stretch of DNA from a bacterium and delivering it with an existing antibiotic, they can ‘switch off’ antibiotic resistance. Dr McArthur explains, “We are putting genetic information directly into drugs. The DNA sequence acts as a decoy, disrupting gene expression and blocking resistance.” Together with the John Innes Centre, and its technology transfer company PBL, the Enterprise Fellowship has helped enable Dr McArthur to create a spin-out company, Procarta Biosystems Ltd, to develop the technology. Emphasising the importance of the Enterprise Fellowship, Dr McArthur commented, “It has made a genuine difference in providing the opportunity to commercialise the technology and improve my business skills through tailored training, learning from other entrepreneurs and networking within the business community. Dr Michael McArthur The Fellowship encourages scientists to assess the value of their technology and crucially to use the appropriate tools to realise that value”. Procarta Biosystems Ltd have also patented a way of discovering decoys RSE/BBSRC Enterprise in bacteria without necessarily having to know the genes involved. This Fellowships are awarded with offers the potential to develop a range of therapies targeting many the objective of increasing infectious diseases. The technology can give fresh patent life to exploitation of ideas with existing antibiotics because when combined with a decoy, they can be commercial potential from patented as a new drug, with greater clinical efficacy and reinvigorated BBSRC-supported research. sales. This comes at a time when the number of new antibiotics The Enterprise Fellowships are receiving approval has dramatically declined. “Faced with antibiotic designed to enable an resistance the pharmaceutical industry is unlikely to be able to deliver individual to advance the new products. Natural resistance will always be hot on the heels of a commercialisation of existing new antibiotic because they co-evolve”, said Dr McArthur. “ Ours is not research results or a traditional pharmaceutical approach and provides a completely new technological developments challenge to bacteria”. and are tenable for a period of The technology can also be used to improve the production of one year. The Fellowships antibiotics by bacteria and to produce enzymes and other compounds enable the holder to using bacteria for use in industrial processes. Many industrial processes concentrate on developing the are harsh and unsustainable, using petrochemicals, high temperatures commercial potential of their and creating toxic by-products. In industrial biotechnology, also called research, whilst also receiving ‘white biotechnology’, bacteria make medically and commercially formal training in relevant important compounds biologically. business skills. Putting the potential public benefits of the technology in context, Dr Currently, Enterprise McArthur commented: “We use the products of white biotechnology Fellowships are also funded by in our everyday lives. They contribute to ingredients in the food we eat, the STFC (Science and energy we use that has been generated with renewable biomass rather Technology Facilities Council). than fossil fuels, medicines we take, and everyday products such as detergents, paint and paper. By using bacteria, many industrial processes could be cleaned up.” For further information see website - www.procartabio.com

4 RSE ENTREPRENEURS’ CLUB - 25 OCTOBER 2007 Twenty-six people attended the RSE Entrepreneurs’ Club on Thursday 25 October at the RSE for a discussion dinner. The event was chaired by Professor Walter Nimmo FRSE, Convener of the RSE’s Enterprise Fellowships Committee, and three past Enterprise Fellows, Dr John March, Professor Ian Underwood FRSE and Dr Sonia Schulenburg gave their views on the theme of the discussion, Commercialisation: the good, the bad and the ugly! The three speakers provided a wealth of advice from their experiences of setting up their own businesses from academia, which each had found a roller-coaster of a ride. Mr Bob Richards, a business mentor Mr Bob Richards addresses the members for the Enterprise Fellowship programme, also spoke and provided sound advice on customers and sales.

THE GOOD success - if and when it comes ambition - will take you far determination - needed in abundance advice - best advice: “don’t give up, stick with it!” confidence - having the confidence to get on and do it enjoyment - loving one’s work, job satisfaction.

THE BAD Professor Ian Underwood FRSE sacrifice - the toll on family life; long working hours; no social life investors - not knowing how they will react when things go wrong time - everything takes longer than you think. some consultants - not as knowledgeable as one might think, or as they think!

THE UGLY living on the edge lengthy negotiations on IP Dr Sonia Schulenburg laying-off employees when investors insist on cutting costs

Dr John March

RESEARCH AWARD CLOSING DATES FOR 2008 Research Awards in Arts & Humanities - Workshops - Networks 15 January Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland Awards - Studentships - Personal Fellowships - Support Fellowships - 22 February Workshops Robert Cormack Vacation Scholarships 25 February Lessells Travel Scholarships 14 March Scottish Government Awards - Personal Fellowships - Support Fellowships 17 March BP Research Fellowships - Personal Fellowships 28 March For further information on RSE awards please visit our website - www.royalsoced.org.uk/research_fellowships/ index.htm or contact [email protected] - 0131 240 5023

5 International LINKS WITH SISTER ACADEMIES INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE Memorandum of Understanding with The Pakistan Academy of Sciences PROGRAMME The RSE is pleased to announce the signing One of the main purposes of the RSE of a Memorandum of Understanding with International Programme is to award The Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS). The short-term travel grants to enable agreement was signed by the PAS President Scottish researchers to establish links and Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, Dr with colleagues in other countries with Ishfaq Ahmad and the RSE President, Sir a view to a long-lasting collaboration, Michael Atiyah on Thursday 8th November through joint publications and joint 2007 at the Society’s rooms. The signing of applications for longer-term funds. The the agreement was followed by a dinner awards are particularly appropriate for with members of the RSE International researchers at the early stages of their Committee and invited guests. careers, to facilitate the establishment of international connections. Full The agreement sets out the commitment to details are available on the RSE website facilitate, encourage and support research at www.royalsoced.org.uk/international collaboration in all areas between research groups in Scotland and Pakistan. Under this Eligibility and deadlines agreement the two academies also agree to The International Exchange Programme fund academic exchanges between the two is open to Scottish-based researchers of countries through the RSE’s International at least postdoctoral status for visits of Exchange Bilateral Programme. up to four weeks. Visits can take place in Scotland or at the overseas The signing took place while Dr Ahmad was collaborator’s institution. Through the on a three-day visit to Edinburgh, during which time he also met with representatives of Bilateral Exchange Programme, costs the Scottish Government, visited the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh and spent time are shared by the RSE and its bilateral with the Principal and post-graduate students at the University of Strathclyde. partners (sister academies with whom we have established agreements). Applications are also invited for the Open Exchange Programme, which is for exchanges between Scotland and countries not covered by the RSE’s bilateral agreements. Both Exchange Programmes are open to Fellows and non-Fellows of the Society. There are Scotland Europa Members’ Meeting and 15th Anniversary four deadlines per year, and the next Celebrations deadline for applications is 31 January The RSE was pleased to host Scotland Europa’s Members’ Meeting on 30 October, 2008. Applications for the Bilateral which was followed by an evening reception to mark Scotland Europa’s 15th Programme are invited for all four Anniversary. deadlines; however please check the RSE website for confirmation of the Scotland Europa is a membership organisation of public, private and voluntary deadlines for the Open Programme - bodies, of which the RSE is a member, providing a central point of contact for www.royalsoced.org.uk/international. Scotland in Europe. Scotland Europa provides policy analysis and funding information about the European Union and promotes Scotland’s interests in Extension of Deadline for Europe. Exchanges with India and The event was an opportunity for Scotland Europa to thank the members and Pakistan stakeholders with whom they have worked over the past 15 years. Speakers and In order to encourage stronger links guests included MSP, Minister for Europe, External Affairs and between Scotland and Pakistan and Culture, Jack McConnell MSP and Ana Werson, the Slovenian Honorary Consul in Scotland and India, applications for Scotland. exchanges with these countries are The RSE is pleased to have been able to participate in these celebrations and looks currently being invited. Please note that forward to the next 15 years. applications for exchanges with India and Pakistan can be accepted at any time (not just at the quarterly deadlines) until further notice.

6 The following are excerpts from two reports of visits supported by the International Exchange Programme.

Dr John Moore, Centre for Timber Engineering, Napier University Visited: Professor Frank Lam, Centre for Advanced Wood Processing, University of British Columbia, Canada

spruce growing on the Queen Scottish-based host: Professor Andrew Charlotte Islands with those growing in Jarman, Centre for Integrative plantations in the UK was discussed. A Physiology, University of Edinburgh research proposal will be prepared seeking funding for this project. If Visitor: Dr Angela Chen, Institute of successful, this project would Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat- commence in the summer of 2008 with Sen University, Taiwa the collection of field data. Samples collected from these stands would be analysed in laboratories in the UK and in Canada. Data derived from this project would be published in peer- reviewed journal papers and would also be incorporated into a book (bulletin) on Sitka spruce wood properties. Logo of the National Sun Yat-Sen University A number of other collaborations were also discussed. These include the The purpose of Dr Chen’s visit was to development of systems (e.g. roof explore the possibility of a collaboration Professor Frank Lam from the Department trusses) which utilise low stiffness that combined their different expertises. of Wood Science at the University of British timber, and promoting the use of Professor Jarman’s interest is in the control Columbia holding a piece of Sitka spruce timber in commercial construction. of gene expression in neural development timber from the Queen Charlotte Islands. Despite the large amount of timber in Drosophila; Dr Chen’s is in the molecular used in residential construction in Sitka spruce is the main conifer species function of the SUMO protein modification Canada, there is very little timber used grown commercially in the UK and is pathway. They wondered whether the latter in commercial construction. A similar originally from the Queen Charlotte might be important in the former. During Dr situation exists in many parts of the Islands of Canada. A visit to the Faculty Chen’s visit, both learned a lot about each world, including the UK. Further of Forestry at the University of British other’s field and it became clear that a discussions around this topic are Columbia was undertaken to develop research collaboration could prove very planned at the next World Conference collaborative links in wood science and exciting. They laid the plans for preliminary on Timber Engineering in 2008. timber engineering, and in particular to experiments that made use of laboratory learn what research has been undertaken techniques, using reagents provided by Dr on Sitka spruce wood properties. Data on Chen’s lab. The preliminary results from the physical and mechanical properties of these experiments look very promising and Canadian Sitka spruce indicate that it has have prompted them to follow up with a superior properties to UK-grown detailed plan of collaboration, including a material; however these data come from reciprocal visit by Professor Jarman to trees which are older than those found in Taiwan. Dr Chen’s visit was a success: they the UK. would never have considered working in this interesting area without it. During the visit, a collaborative project to investigate the wood properties of younger Sitka spruce trees from the Queen Charlotte Islands was discussed and a formal project proposal will be prepared with the intention to obtain funding to support data collection and The atrium of the Faculty of Forestry’s analysis of the samples during the building at the University of British Columbia. summer of 2008. The building is an excellent example of the A joint research project to compare the use of timber in commercial construction. wood properties of second-growth Sitka

7 Evidence and Advice RSE INQUIRY INTO THE FUTURE OF SCOTLAND’S HILL AND ISLAND AREAS

Recognising that changes to policy affecting the countryside will have a major impact on distinctive communities in Scotland, the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) launched its independent Inquiry in May 2007 to find ways to help secure a prosperous and environmentally-sustainable future for rural areas, especially for the more economically- fragile communities. To date, the Committee has received 80 written evidence submissions from both organisations and individuals. In order to stimulate debate and discussion, the RSE is making the written evidence publicly available on its website at www.royalsoced.org.uk/enquiries/ hill_and_island_areas/evidence/index.htm

The Committee has also made a number of evidence-gathering visits. The first of these involved a delegation of the Committee meeting with a wide range of stakeholders, including those from the agriculture, fisheries, environmental, forestry, energy and community sectors, on Mull on 27 and 28 September. Committee members also met with land- use experts at the Macaulay Institute in October, and visited Islay and Skye in November.

James Hilder (far left), Director, and Sandy Brunton (far right), Chairman, Mull & Iona Community Trust, pictured with Professor Gavin McCrone FRSE (centre left), Chair and Professor Bill Slee (centre right), member of the Hill and Island Areas Inquiry Committee

The process of evidence-gathering is on-going and visits to other areas, including the Southern Uplands, are planned for the early part of the New Year. A joint discussion meeting of the RSE and the Foundation for Science and Technology, Chaired by the Earl of Selborne KBE FRS, on the theme of What should be the policy for the development of the remote regions of Scotland? was held at the RSE on 31 October. The speakers included Professor McCrone, as well as Professor Mark Shucksmith, Chairman of the Scottish Government’s Committee of Inquiry on Crofting, John Cameron, farmer and former President of NFU Scotland, and Professor Frank Rennie, Professor of Sustainable Rural Development at the UHI Millennium Institute. About 100 stakeholders attended the meeting and dinner, and a summary of the Pictured L - R: Robin and Samantha Sedgwick of event is available at www.foundation.org.uk/ Crannich Woodfuel, Keith Miller, Forestry Commission, Dr Marc Rands, RSE, Professor Gavin McCrone and Professor Bill Slee at Crannich Farm, Mull

8 AVIAN INFLUENZA: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE THREAT TO SCOTLAND

The RSE, recognising the need for independent advice, set up an expert Working Party, Chaired by Professor John Coggins, to asses how well prepared Scotland is to handle an epidemic of avian influenza. The Working Party also took evidence over several months from key people involved in this complex issue and it reported in September of this year. The report has concluded that the only effective means of protection available to the Scottish poultry industry is to prevent the virus infecting its poultry flocks. It is important, therefore, to have the means of detecting the presence of the virus in this country at an early stage, whether in the wild bird population or in domestic or commercial poultry, and to implement biosecurity measures as quickly as possible to protect individual poultry units from the introduction of the virus. Recommendations were also made to improve both disease prevention measures and the capability of dealing with an outbreak, should this occur in Scotland. In view of recent developments, the Working Party is currently working on updating its assessment and advice. This updated report will shortly be available on the web-page at www.royalsoced.org.uk/enquiries/ avian_flu/index.htm

CONSULTATION RESPONSES IN 2007

March October Draft Culture (Scotland) Bill International Development Policy In October, in light of the External Affairs Minister, Linda Fabiani’s announcement that April the International Development Fund (IDF) is to be doubled to £9 million, the RSE International Policies and Activities responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on how the IDF can be best of the Research Councils utilised. The response highlights the need for a ‘bottom-up’ community-based approach in the priority areas of Health, Education and Agriculture. The response June recognises the substantial contribution that Scotland has made to sub-Saharan Funding of Science and Discovery development, but also the opportunity to pursue proposals, irrespective of geographic Centres location. The mutual benefit that can be achieved with projects developing links with organisations in Scotland is also an important issue. July Renewable Energy-Generation November Technologies Graduate Endowment Abolition (Scotland) Bill/Higher Education Funding in Scotland The Environmental Effects of The recent proposals by the Scottish Government for higher education funding and the Novel Materials and Applications Bill to abolish the graduate endowment led the RSE to contribute to the wider debate on investment in Scotland’s universities and the role they play in society. Research and Hybrids and Chimeras: The ethical education that are excellent by international standards are vital if Scotland is to attract the and social implications of creating mobile investment that seeks out the best research and researchers wherever they are human/animal embryos in found. Scotland’s universities have not sat on their laurels and the ‘pooling’ initiative has research created networks of the best researchers from the Scottish universities in important August disciplinary areas and, critically, proved to be a powerful attractor for international talent into Scotland. It is in this context that the proposed budgetary settlement for the The European Research Area: New universities is a severe blow. It reverses the trajectory of development that has made such Perspectives an impression internationally and could inhibit the universities’ capacities to capitalise on The Wider Implications of Science these latter gains. It is also unfortunate that the proposed settlement coincides with the and Technology advent of top-up tuition fees in England, and could realise the outcome that pooling was designed to avoid: the loss of the best researchers and groups from Scotland to better- September funded English institutions. Scotland’s universities, and the educational system at large, The Economic Impact of Immigration are such vital parts of Scotland’s infrastructure, that the difficult decisions required to maintain their excellence must be taken.

These consultation responses, and others that the RSE has produced, are available from www.royalsoced.org.uk/govt_responses/ evid_index.htm and also on request by contacting the Consultations Officer at [email protected]

9 [email protected]

FORTHCOMING EVENTS TICKETS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL RSE EVENTS. To book tickets online, visit www.royalsoced.org.uk or phone events ticket line - 0131 240 2780. Contact [email protected] for further information. Unless stated otherwise, events are held at the RSE.

FEBRUARY 2008

Monday 4 February at 5.30 pm JAMES SCOTT PRIZE LECTURE Security, Insecurity, Paranoia and Quantum Mechanics Professor Stephen Barnett FRS FRSE, Professor of Quantum Optics, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde We are becoming used to a world in which information is power and money is a sequence of digits in a computer file but, in a world of hackers and fraudsters, just how safe are we? It is surprising and perhaps worrying to realise that internet purchases and international bank transactions rely on the same simple (and unproven) ideas from pure mathematics. Remarkably, developments in quantum theory provide the means (at least in principle) to hack into these transactions, thus rendering money valueless. But don’t worry yet, quantum theory also provides its own radical solution.

Tuesday 12 February 2008 at 5.30 pm ECRR PETER WILSON LECTURE Science, Innovation, Education: The Challenge to Society Professor Geoffrey Boulton OBE FRS FRSE, Vice-Principal and Regius Professor of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Edinburgh The annual ECRR Peter Wilson Lecture is one of the highlights of the RSE events programme and has in the past attracted many of the key figures of the science world, including Professor Ian Wilmut, Steven Jones and Sir John Krebs. The lecture is named after Professor Peter Wilson, former Professor of Agriculture and Rural Economy at the University of Edinburgh, who had a pivotal role in the emergence of ECRR in 1989 as an outward-looking voluntary association of science-based organisations linked by an involvement in one or more aspects of ‘rural research’.

Date to be confirmed - at 6 pm CULTURAL FLAGSHIPS SERIES DISCUSSION FORUM Cultural Flagships: being a ‘National’ - Music and Opera The first in a series of seminars exploring what it takes to be a ‘National’ cultural flagship. In the context of new nations and nationalisms, government and policies, how do institutions represent different art forms and respond to the challenge of being ‘National’, while still incorporating historic variations? Leaders from a wide range of cultural bodies will have an opportunity to share their experiences and reflect on how they seek to be ‘National’. An influential panel will debate the issues for music organisations operating under a ‘National’ remit. Encompassing a range of values and purposes such as excellence, geographical spread, international ambitions, such companies are also drivers in the preservation and development of the art form. Future seminars will discuss national theatre companies, broadcasters and galleries. Visit www.royalsoced.org.uk/events/national_culture.htm for updates on this event series.

10 MARCH 2008 Monday 3 March 2008 at 5.30 pm Monday 10 March 2008 at 5.30 pm GANNOCHY TRUST INNOVATION AWARD PRIZE LECTURE LECTURE New Antibiotics from the Sea Bed to the Optos: The Design Challenges and Hospital Bed Business Tribulations Dr Andrew Mearns Spragg, CEO, Aquapharm Bio- Mr Douglas Anderson, Executive Discovery Ltd Director, Optos plc The potential of the oceans to deliver a new drug The talk will encompass product pipeline is enormous. In the area of anti-infectives alone, specification and design, project there are four natural products with annual sales over planning and commercialisation of $1 billion: Augmentin®, Zithromax®, Biaxin® and Optomap®. Optomap® is a totally new Rocephone®. The rate of new natural porducts discovered from land-based organisms is (and disruptive) eye imaging technology slowing down, and scientists around the world have recognised the importance of the aimed to improve preventative marine environment for the provision of new biological diversity that vastly outnumbers diagnosis of eye and general health the species diversity of land-based organisms. Already, marine organisms are yielding problems. Based upon his personl exciting drug prospects, as research has shown a wide variety of new chemical entities of experience of observing difficult manual pharmaceutical potential. eye exams undertaken on his five year This is a joint lecture with the Gannochy Trust. old son, Douglas Anderson will describe the history and the secrets of the whole This lecture forms part of an RSE Ordinary Meeting and so shall be preceeded by Society Optos story from sceptics “it’s business. impossible and not needed anyway” APRIL 2008 right through the 15-year innovation and entrepreneurial processes. Today Monday 21 April 2008 at 5.30 pm Optos (now an LSE list plc) have 3,000 users and over 13 million patients have LECTURE benefitted from this new type of eye Architectural Politics in Renaissance exam. Venice Professor Deborah Howard, University This is a joint lecture with the Royal of Cambridge Academy of Engineering Over the past few decades Venetian historiography has highlighted architecture as one of the means of Monday 28 April 2008 at 5.30 pm expression of the so-called ‘Myth of ROBERT CORMACK BEQUEST LECTURE Venice’. It has become accepted among architectural historians that the Republic 100 Years of Radio Astronomy: Past, Present and Future sought to project its ideology to the Professor Michael Garrett, General Director, public through the patronage of public ASTRON buildings. This lecture questions this Professor Garrett will review the birth of radio assumption through a close examination astronomy, from the earliest discoveries of cosmic of decision-making procedures in radio emission just before and after the Second prominent public building projects of the World War, through to the construction of the huge 16th century. It suggests that paraboloid dishes that became synonymous with the ‘democratic’ processes often impeded dawn of the modern space age (eg Jodrell Bank). He the formulation of coherent ideologies will describe the unique role radio astronomy has of state, while technological innovation played in advancing our understanding of the nature on the building site earned as much and evolution of the Universe as a whole, as well as respect as classical erudition. our own place within it. In particular, he will look forward to the transformational science that will be This is a joint lecture with the British conducted by a new generation of radio telescopes over the next 15 years, including Academy new and increasingly sensitive searches for extra-terrestrial signals from intelligent life elsewhere in the Galaxy.

The full list of RSE events appears on the RSE website, www.royalsoced.org.uk/events and in the RSE events diary, available from the Events Team - [email protected]

11 Free, fully organised educational activities for young Young People people throughout Scotland

The RSE Annual Inspiration Awards This Year’s Annual Inspiration Awards ceremony was held at the Royal Society of Edinburgh on Monday 29 October 2007. Sir Michael Atiyah, President of The Royal Society of Edinburgh, introduced and welcomed 65 invited guests and thanked them for their continued support of the RSE’s Young People’s programme. Sir Michael emphasised the RSE’s commitment to promoting science and technology and the arts and culture to young people throughout Scotland, recognising that a high level of scientific literacy and arts appreciation is crucial for the future prosperity of Scotland. To support this, the RSE therefore organises a varied programme of free educational events run the length and breadth of Scotland, which cater for students in primary school, right through to those studying for their Highers. The events are presented by volunteer experts from academia and industry. Dr Val Mann is a Senior Research Fellow within the newly formed Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. She received a Personal Research Fellowship from the Royal Society of Edinburgh as part of the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland scheme in 2003. Dr Mann recognises that she was fortunate at school to have been taught by “two fantastic biology teachers who made science interesting and exciting”. Therefore, she is delighted to contribute to the RSE@Schools programme and hopes her school visits to Following Sir Michael’s welcome, Professor Miles Padgett (pictured left), Convener of deliver her talk What does your granny have the Young People’s Committee, presented a Review of all the Young People’s activities in common with a space man? excite that had taken place throughout the year. Professor Jan McDonald (pictured right), students to go on into further education and Vice-President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, then gave a short talk to launch a possibly future careers in the life sciences series of events planned to take place in 2008, entitled RSE@Arbroath. sector. Folllowing this presentation, Bob Kibble, Senior Lecturer in Science Education at the School of Education, gave a short presentation about ‘Engaging with Young People’ and the ‘250th Celebrations of Thomas Telford’ Professor Miles Padgett and Sir Michael Atiyah then made the presentations to the 2007 Awardees, all of whom have made long standing contributions to the RSE Young People’s Programme. Professor Thomas Krauss is Professor of Optoelectronics at the School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews. He presents one of the RSE@Schools talks, Lasing down the internet, which explains modern communications technology from basic Mr Bob Kibble is Senior Lecturer in Science principles to the latest research. He was Education at the School of Education in a member of the RSE Young People’s Edinburgh. In 2006 Bob initiated ‘Things are committee and is a Director of the looking up’, a programme of evening “Sensation” Science Centre at Dundee skywatch sessions for parents, teachers and with a particular interest in making pupils in partnership with the Royal science more accessible to school Observatory Edinburgh. In the past 12 months children. Bob has delivered seven workshops on space and shadows to primary schools in Edinburgh Dr Susan Armstrong is a part-time Senior University Teacher in Chemistry at as part of science week 2007. Bob helps run University. She joined the Higher Education Academy at its inception and was awarded the institute of Physics summer school for a Fellowship in March 2007. Her RSE@Schools talk, Mirrors, Medicines and Metals teachers and sits on the RSE’s Young People’s aims to answer the question, ‘How are metals, mirrors and medicine related?’ Dr Committee. Bob produced the school learning Armstrong was unable to attend the ceremony but was recongised in her absence. materials for the Telford celebrations.

12 Professor Anthony Busuttil is RSE@Arbroath Professor of Applied Pathology at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He often speaks at secondary schools about the actual work invovled in forensic medicine and science, explaining the educational pathways which can lead into this speciality. His RSE@Schools talk entitled Solving Crime and Murder looks at Throughout 2008, in a new venture, the RSE will focus on one geographical area, some suspicious crime scenes and beyond the central belt, in Arbroath. RSE@Arbroath will encompass the arts and explains how the forensic process humanities as well as science and technology based subjects and will engage with a works. wide range of partners, including RSE Fellows, Arbroath Primary and Secondary schools and Angus college, youth and drama groups, businesses, the local Council and the tourist board. The year’s programme will be divided into four themes: Identity and the People of Arbroath. January – March 2008 The RSE Spring Roadshow Concentrating on the citizenship, history and culture of Abroath, the RSE Spring Road Show will include classroom activities for primary 6 and 7 children, two RSE@Schools talks for secondary school pupils in years 3–6 and two lectures for the general public.

Wealth Creation in Arbroath. April – May 2008 Events will include primary school projects to Promote Arbroath to Visitors, and a secondary school and college ‘Question Time Panel’ - RSE’s Den (an RSE version of television’s Dragon’s Den).

The Arts in Arbroath. Dr Bruce Davies is Senior Lecturer in June – September 2008 Mechanical Engineering at Heriot-Watt This section will be aimed at senior school pupils and the general public. Musical University. He has been a regular theatre workshops, illustrated talks, performances and sound exhibitions under the contributor to the Edinburgh general title, Blurring the Boundaries will explore differences between classical and International Science Festival since contemporary music, various genres and between art and science. A series of Art 1995. He presented portions of the Workshops will also be organised during this period. televised Millennium Royal Institution Places in Arbroath. Christmas Lectures on Robots and is a September – December 2008 regular contributor to radio and The RSE Autumn Roadshow television programmes. In 2006 Dr Primary school workshops involving indoor and outdoor activities will centre around Davies delivered the RSE@Schools the cliffs, the coast line and the harbour of Arbroath and involve legends and myths lectures on Mathematics Matters at the from these areas, as well as examining local formation, flora and fauna. Aberdeen annual Tech Fest. A secondary school cross-curricular illustrated talk for secondary 3 and 4 pupils will be presented entitled The Bellrock Lighthouse and the Stevenson family – The Engineer and the Author. Christmas Lecture RSE@Arbroath will culminate in the RSE Christmas Lecture. This will be delivered to secondary school pupils in the afternoon, with the same lecture being presented to the general public in the evening - The Coast line and the impact of climate change.

For further information on these and all of our Education activities, visit our website - www.royalsoced.org.uk/schools or contact the RSE Education Team - 0131 240 5035 - [email protected]

13 Innovation

MOCK TRIAL - ARE OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES BEING UNDULY ERODED?

The Mock Trial, chaired by Dr Magnus The protagonists were Baroness Helena The event was supported by the Faculty of Linklater FRSE, was staged at the Society Kennedy, QC, who led three witnesses, Advocates, Messrs Balfour & Manson and on Monday 19 November, before a Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty, Messrs Simpson & Marwick, solicitors, and capacity audience, who acted as jurors. Henry Porter, Novelist and Journalist the Clark Foundation. This interesting and and Roy Martin QC, Former Dean, entertaining debate can now be viewed on Faculty of Advocates, arguing for the the Society’s web page at proposition; and Lord (Charlie) Falconer, www.royalsoced.org.uk/video PC QC, arguing to the contrary, leading Lord Elder, House of Lords, Alistair Bonnington, Solicitor to the BBC in Scotland and Lord McCluskey, former Solicitor General for Scotland.

Baroness Helena Kennedy Lord Falconer (left) with Dr Magnus Linklater

RE-LAUNCH OF RSE JOURNAL EDINBURGH DOORS OPEN DAY THE RSE’S Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh has been published continuously since 1785, when James Hutton’s ‘Theory of the Earth’ appeared in Volume I. In 1980, the journal evolved into Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sciences. The link with James Hutton has been maintained over the years, with the publication of the quadrennial Hutton Symposia on the Origin of Granites and Related Rocks. The first of these, held in September 1987 in conjunction with the Royal Society of London, to celebrate the bicentenary of Hutton’s work, was published in 1987 (volume 79.2/3). The proceedings of Hutton VI (held in South Africa in July 2007) are due to be published in 2009 (volume 100.1/2). The journal also has a reputation as a vehicle for the high-quality publication of long papers in palaeontology. Transactions has always welcomed the submission of papers in all areas of the earth sciences, and to emphasise its broad remit, the journal has been re- launched from 2007 with a new title and a re- For the first time since 2001, the RSE designed cover. The first issue of Earth and participated in ‘Doors Open Day’, held Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal this year on Saturday 29 September. Society of Edinburgh (volume 98.1) was marked The Society was open all day and with a Special Issue of invited papers entitled proved to be a popular venue on the . ‘Holocene Environmental Change: Lessons from itinerary. Over 360 visitors were given Small Oceanic Islands’. It is intended that Special tours of the building, in groups of 15- Issues like this will stimulate the submission of 25, lead by volunteer members of staff. papers in all fields across the broad spectrum of Few of the visitors had been in the the earth and environmental geosciences, as well building before, and all showed an as interdisciplinary papers. The ‘new’ journal is appreciative interest in the history of being highlighted in a concerted marketing the Society’s Rooms and the portraits campaign by Cambridge University Press, who and furniture they contain. It is hoped have taken over the subscription fulfilment, distribution and marketing of both the that the Society will participate again Society’s journals. We look forward to an exciting future for the re-launched and re- next year. badged journal. For further information please contact Journals and Archive Officer - [email protected] - 0131 240 5039

14 Fellows’ Notice Board

FELLOWS’ COFFEE MEETINGS CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

Coffee is available in the Fellows’ Room on Tuesday mornings at 10.30 am. Once a The RSE Rooms will be closed from Friday month, between October 2007 and March 2008, this takes the form of an informal 21 December 2007, reopening on discussion in the East Wellcome Room. These are informal and friendly occasions, Thursday 3 January 2008 open to all Fellows and, if you are able to attend, you will be made most welcome. Below is the programme for the coming season: 8 January 2008 Are you being served? The Civil Service in a changing world - Sir Russell Hillhouse. 5 February 2008 The place of the victim and the victim’s family in criminal proceedings - The Rt. Hon. Lord Cameron of Lochbroom. 4 March 2008 Science and conservation: their influence on livestock farming in Scotland - Dr James Irvine ANNIVERSARY APPOINTMENTS, AWARDS, This year marked the 150th anniversary of the death of the Reverend Dr John Fleming CITATIONS FRSE (1785–1857). Dr Fleming was one of Scotland’s most prominent zoologists of the early 19th century. Professor William M Banks has been awarded The 2007 James Alfred Ewing Medal for “special meritorious RSE PRIZES AND MEDALS TO BE AWARDED IN SESSION contributions to the science of 2007–2008 engineering in the field of research”. The award is made on the joint The Royal Medals - closing date 4 February 2008 recommendation of the Presidents of All other Prizes and Medals - closing date 31 January 2008: the Royal Society and the Institution of Civil Engineers. The Bicentenary Medal Neill Medal - (Natural History) Promoted by the Faculty of Forest Science, Professor Paul Jarvis FRS, FRSE Makdougall Brisbane Prize - (Biological Sciences) received the degree of Doctor of BP Prize Lectureship in the Humanities - (Language, Literature and the Arts) Forestry honoris causa, from Sveriges lantbrukuniversitet (The Swedish Bruce Preller Prize Lectureship (Medical Sciences) University of Agriculture and Forestry) Henry Dryerre Prize Lectureship - Medical Research on October 6th 2007. Gunning Victoria Jubilee Prize Lectureship - (Physics) Professor David Milne OBE received an Full details and nomination forms are available from the Research Awards Manager - Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree [email protected] - 0131 240 5013 - or see www.royalsoced.org.uk/ from the University of Bristol in July and research_Fellowships/prizes/prize_noms.htm an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Heriot-Watt University in November. STAFF NEWS Professor Michael E Cates has been Mr Bristow Muldoon joined the RSE Team as Parliamentary Liaison Officer in September. given a Royal Society Research Bristow will undertake work for both the RSE and the Royal Society of Chemistry and will Professorship. spend a considerable amount of time at the and other external locations. Lyndsey Hume, Conference Centre Co-ordinator, left the organisation on Friday 16 FELLOWS DECEASED November. We would like to wish her good luck for the future and thank her for her contribution to the RSE. It is with much regret that we record the Claire Swatton, RSE Events Assistant, was successful in her application to replace Lyndsey deaths of the following Fellows: and moved to the Conference Centre team on 3 December. Professor Douglas Mackay HENDERSON CBE Claudia Balugani joined the RSE on 4 December as temporary Events Assistant until the end of January 2008. Professor Andrew Ronald MITCHELL Lisa Weis started at the RSE on 15 October as temporary Receptionist. Whilst here she The Very Revd Professor Thomas Forsyth also did some work on improving and updating the staff intranet. Lisa left on 7 December TORRANCE and returned to her home in America, where she will get married on Boxing Day.

15 Science and the Parliament

Science and the Parliament is an annual event organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry, with the aim of bringing together Scotland’s scientific community with policy-makers such as Government Ministers, MSP’s and civil servants. The RSE supports the event and this year Professor Geoffrey Boulton, General Secretary of the RSE, chaired the main proceedings. Held in Our Dynamic Earth, the theme was the Science behind the Energy debate, and the relationship of energy to climate change. The Minister with responsibility for developing the policy of the Scottish Government on Climate Change, Stewart Stevenson MSP, addressed the conference on the challenges facing Scotland in tackling climate change. The Minister stated that it is, “important that we as politicians build our policies on good science and work in L-R Stewart Stevenson, Adam Berg, Shona Gibson, Renna partnership with scientists on this.” Mahsoub, Jim Feast, Richard Pike

The Minister then presented the 2007 Chemistry Awards: Higher Grade Chemistry Prize to Adam Berg, Douglas Academy; Advanced Higher Grade Chemistry Prize to Shona Gibson, The High School of Glasgow; and Advanced Higher Chemistry Investigation Prize Award to Renna Mahsoub, High School of Dundee, pictured above with RSC President, Professor Jim Feast CBE, FRS and Chief Executive, Dr Richard Pike. Professor Anne Glover, the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Scottish Government, made a presentation on what the latest scientific evidence shows us is the potential environmental impact of climate change and then participated in a question and answer session, in which she was joined by Professor Stuart Munro, Co-Chair of the Scottish Science Advisory Committee and Professor Maggie Gill, Chief Scientific Adviser for Rural Affairs and the Environment. Following this, a panel of five MSPs, Alex Johnstone, , Liam McArthur, (pictured left) and Robin Harper (out of shot) took part in a lively question and answer session, during which each set out the approach of their own party towards energy policy and climate change. The most heated exchanges took place over the views of the various parties on whether nuclear power had a continuing role to play in the future as part of the electricity generation energy mix.

The main part of the conference then concluded with a group of presentations and discussions around four specific themes: renewable energy; transport & fuel; electricity generation; and, energy & conservation. Anyone who wishes more detail on the speeches and presentations made on the day can contact the RSE & RSC Parliamentary Liaison Officer - [email protected] - 0131 240 2787. In the evening there was a Parliamentary debate on Science and the Parliament, led by Des McNulty MSP, and responded to by the Minister for Enterprise, Energy & Tourism, Jim Mather MSP, which was attended by many of the event delegates. This was followed by an evening reception at which many MSPs mingled with the 300 delegates who Professor Glover pictured at the evening reception with had taken part in the conference. prize-winners recognised by the Institute of Biology. L-R Amy Davidson, Melanie Wightman and Jenny Godfray

COPY ADDRESS INFORMATION Please send any copy to Jenny Liddell at 22-26 GEORGE STREET website: www.royalsoced.org.uk the Society - EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND www.rsescotlandfoundation.org.uk [email protected] EH2 2PQ e-mail: [email protected] Any opinions expressed in this Tel: 0131 240 5000 ReSourcE : ISSN No 1473-7841 newsletter are not necessarily those of Fax: 0131 240 5024 replaces RSE News all RSE Fellows events ticketline: 0131 240 2780