news THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH ISSUE 10 • AUTUMN 2004 RESOURCE THE NEWSLETTER OF SCOTLAND’S NATIONAL ACADEMY Innovator of Ultra-Miniature Screen playing on Global Stage Over twenty years of research and innovation, which has led to the creation in Scotland of a world record-breaking technology – an ultra-miniature television- quality display built on a silicon chip, was recognised by the presentation of Scotland’s top award for innovation. Dr Ian Underwood, FRSE has been announced the winner of the Gannochy Trust Innovation Award of the Royal Society of Edinburgh for 2004 in recognition of the contribution he has made throughout his career to the development of highly innovative optoelectrical and display devices here in Scotland. Ian Underwood’s work has centred around two distinct technologies – Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) from the mid 1980s until the late 1990s and, since then, Light Emitting Polymer on Silicon (LEPoS). LEPoS actually emits light and does not require sunlight or a lamp to illuminate it. In 1999, Dr Underwood co-founded MicroEmissive Displays (MED) Ltd. with former RSE Enterprise Fellow, Dr Jeff Wright. MED designs and produces ultra-miniature television-quality screens based on light emitting polymers (LEP) for use in consumer electronic products such as digital still cameras, digital video cameras and personal viewers for mobile devices. Image reproduced courtesy of Gateshead Council Sue Black joins Talk Science Royal Medals awarded Engineering & the Creative team Arts Gannochy Award longer battery life. MED’s technology Royal Society of Edinburgh, which also can also produce a highly magnified carries a cheque for fifty thousand viewable virtual image in space, as is pounds and a specially-commissioned the case in electronic viewfinders of the gold medal, was bestowed upon Dr type found in camcorders or digital Underwood by the President of the cameras and in wearable or headset Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Lord displays. There is also potential for this Sutherland of Houndwood, at a advanced technology to be a market prestigious awards ceremony held at enabler for hands-free and wearable The Royal Museum of Scotland on 1 headset displays that will allow users October 2004. Following an open hands-free access to information, competition run by The Royal Society of infotainment and entertainment on the Edinburgh, the Winner was selected by move, probably in conjunction with a a distinguished judging panel, Chaired mobile phone or other wireless devices. by Lord Ross, and including: Sir Bruce Personal wearable displays are likely to Pattullo, Professor Andy Walker, Dr Ian have application in fields including Sword and Dr Russell Leather. Dr Ian Underwood during the award medical, professional, security and As part of his prize, Dr Underwood will ceremony. Photo by Gary Doak. industrial environments. give a public lecture at the Society on 7 MED’s screens typically use at least 70 The coveted title of Winner of The March 2005. See page 11 for full per cent less power than commonly Gannochy Innovation Award of The details. used LCD microdisplay modules, and it is anticipated that this development will lead to smaller, lighter cameras with The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) Scottish Charities Bill is Scotland’s National Academy of Science & Letters. It is an independent Earlier in the year, the Scottish Executive issued a new draft Charities and Trustee body with charitable status. The Investment Bill. Many Scottish Charities, including the RSE, commented on it. This Bill Society organises conferences and implements many of the recommendations of the ‘McFadden’ report and will bring lectures for the specialist and for the general public. It provides a forum for the statutory basis for regulation of Scottish Charities more into line with that in informed debate on issues of national England and Wales. The Bill is intended to come into effect in 2006. and international importance. Its Whilst warmly welcoming much of the Bill and its intention to improve public multidisciplinary fellowship of men confidence in charities through the activities of a strengthened office of the Charity and women of international standing provides independent, expert advice Regulator in Scotland (OSCR), the Society expressed concerns about certain aspects. A to key decision-making bodies, revised Bill has just appeared and begins to address concerns raised about: including Government and · The need for greater statutory clarity over what constitutes “public benefit”. All Parliament. Scottish Charities will need to operate for ‘public benefit’ in order to continue to The Society’s Research Awards be recognised as charities. It was not considered satisfactory for the definition of programme annually awards well over ‘public benefit’ to be largely left to the discretion of OSCR, as it will have power to £1.5 million to exceptionally talented young academics and potential remove charitable status from bodies which do not pass its ‘public benefit’ test. entrepreneurs to promote commercial · The impact which ‘dual registration’ could have on the inclination of charities exploitation of inventiveness and already registered with the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales to boost wealth-generation. continue to operate on a discretionary basis in Scotland. The new Bill helpfully The RSE is active in classrooms from provides for some exemptions, but most such charities will now also require to be the Borders to the Northern Isles, with registered with and regulated by OSCR. a successful programme of lectures and hands-on workshops for primary · The greatly increased responsibilities which Scottish charity Trustees will have and and secondary school pupils. whether this could have an inhibiting effect on recruiting Trustees. Pleasingly, the The Royal Society of Edinburgh, revised Bill has dropped the term ‘Steward’ and retains the better understood term working as part of the UK and within Trustee. a global context, is committed to the future of Scotland’s social, economic Given the significance of this Bill for the charity sector on both sides of the border, the and cultural well-being. RSE will take a particular interest in its progress through the Scottish Parliament. 2 Scottish Science Advisory Committee New Membership Eighteen individuals who will help to of Committee membership is Full membership of the SSAC is: shape the future of science and undertaken at regular intervals in order Professor Wilson Sibbett, University of technology in Scotland have been to promote a high level of new and St Andrews - Chair. appointed (or re-appointed) as innovative thinking and to ensure that members of the Scottish Science the make-up of the Committee remains Professor Steven Beaumont - Institute Advisory Committee (SSAC), by the well in tune with its evolving of System Level Integration Royal Society of Edinburgh. programme. Professor Geoffrey Boulton - University The SSAC is an independent The broadly based membership of the of Edinburgh Committee set-up in 2002, under the Committee was chosen by the Council Professor Muffy Calder - University of auspices of the RSE to provide of the RSE from over seventy high Glasgow independent advice to Scottish quality applications, received in Executive Ministers on scientific issues response to public advertisements and Professor Sir Kenneth Calman - of strategic importance. widespread consultation. The University of Durham membership encompasses a spectrum Under the continuing Chairmanship of Professor John Coggins - University of of expertise in science, engineering and the eminent physicist, Professor Wilson Glasgow technology, business, education and Sibbett, CBE, FRS, FRSE, the new public engagement. Experts in their Professor Julie Fitzpatrick - The Committee met for the first time on respective fields, the members who Moredun Group August 25th in Our Dynamic Earth. have been invited to take up these Professor Peter Grant - University of Of the 17 other members, 11 are new prestigious positions were selected on Edinburgh appointments, with 6 members of the individual merit. The members will serve Committee being re-appointed for a on the Committee for up to two years. Professor Peter Morgan - Rowett second term. This scheduled refreshing Research Institute Dr Stuart Monro - Our Dynamic Earth Professor Richard Morris - University of Edinburgh Science & Scotland Dr John Nicholls - Photonic Materials Dr Barbara Spruce - University of In its first term, following wide-ranging consultation and meetings with stakeholders Dundee throughout Scotland, the SSAC published Science Matters: Making the Right Professor Stuart Reid - University of Connections for Scotland (January 2004), one of the most comprehensive overviews of Glasgow and University of Strathclyde the science-base in Scotland to date. In November 2003 its report: Why Science Education Matters, addressed key issues on the subject of supporting and improving Professor Jonathan Seckl - University of science education in Scottish Schools. The Committee will now seek to consolidate its Edinburgh work, providing advice and recommendations to the Executive on the strategic Professor Joyce Tait - University of priorities for the science base in Scotland, including prioritisation on expenditure. Edinburgh The Scottish Science Advisory Committee has recently published two further reports. Professor Chris van der Kuyl - VIS The position paper, Knowledge Transfer: Science to Scottish Business is intended to entertainment Ltd contribute