news THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH ISSUE 14 • SUMMER 2006 RESOURCE THE NEWSLETTER OF SCOTLAND’S NATIONAL ACADEMY Independent Energy Inquiry Stimulates Debate Scotland should urgently seek a secure, competitive, socially equitable and low carbon emissions supply of energy. This will require energy from a diversity of fuels, countries and technologies, helping Scotland to be competitive in global markets, with all sections of society having access to energy at a price they can afford, and using technology with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions throughout their life cycle. This was the principal conclusion of the RSE’s major independent Inquiry into Energy Issues for Scotland launched in June. To achieve its goals, the RSE report recommends a comprehensive and integrated strategy and four key changes: (1) an increase in the efficient use of energy; (2) the use of cleaner energy sources; (3) the research and development of new technologies to benefit Scotland; and (4) the implementation of more effective measures to improve market operation. Instigated by the Council of the RSE, the Inquiry calls for urgent action in view of the prediction that Scotland’s Energy demands will increase by 50% between 2000 and 2050, whilst facing a reduction in North Sea oil and gas production and at a time when our coal and nuclear electricity-generating plants are approaching the end of their economic lives. New Clerk Maxwell Award FRSE is Chief Scientific Advisor The Vikings and Scotland Energy Inquiry Chaired by Professor Maxwell Irvine and endorsed by the RSE’s Council, the multidisciplinary expert committee’s report makes 37 key recommendations. Available in full on the Society’s website and in hard copy, the report broadly emphasises that diversity of supply is crucial, there being no single solution to the energy gap our Nation faces; that Scotland has an opportunity to make important decisions on energy infrastructure and is in a position to influence decisions on electricity. As a Nation we should reduce energy use by a combination of changing attitudes and behaviour, better building design, the reuse of urban waste for water and space heating, the use of modern energy saving devices, and using waste for energy production in the main urban areas. The report concludes that there is much potential in renewable technologies which should be explored. We should reject the false polarisation of a nuclear v wind debate and seek decisions reached through a process of public engagement in which consensus, rather than the strongest lobbying groups, prevails. DEBATING SCOTLAND’S ENERGY CHOICES The Inquiry report is the beginning, not the end, of the Society’s contribution to this important debate. After the Society’s AGM in October there will be an opportunity for Fellows to discuss the analysis and findings of the reports. A series of events around Scotland is being planned to provide the opportunity for input by the public and all interest groups and a parallel series with schools. This programme will culminate in a conference in Edinburgh in March 2007 where we shall seek to distil and report on the outcomes of the country-wide activity. The Committee had a membership with wide-ranging expertise. It was chaired by Professor Maxwell Irvine, FRSE, Professor of Physics, University of Manchester and Professor Roger Crofts, CBE, FRSE, Visiting Professor of Geoscience, University of Edinburgh, was the Secretary. Inquiry Chairman Professor Maxwell Irvine, FRSE TAKING EVIDENCE AROUND SCOTLAND AND OVERSEAS: FUNDING: During the year, evidence was taken from almost one hundred expert witnesses and The Chair and Members of the RSE’s nearly two hundred written independent Committee gave their submissions were received. time to the work of the Inquiry Meetings were held in voluntarily, without any charge. The Lewis, Orkney, Shetland, RSE acknowledges, with thanks, the Inverness, Aberdeen, financial support provided by: Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeenshire Council; The Binks Trust; London. In addition, a Buccleuch Estates Ltd; Highlands & delegation visited Finland to Islands Enterprise; Scottish & Southern observe its approach to Energy plc; Scottish Enterprise Energy energy issues. Written Team; and Total E&P UK plc. evidence submitted to the independent committee can be seen at: http:// REPORT FORMAT & COPIES: www.royalsoced.org.uk/ The Summary Report is available in hard enquiries/energy/evidence/ copy and online. The Full report is index.htm available online at www.royalsoced.org.uk and in hard copy, by request (ISBN: 0 902198 742) Inquiry Secretary Professor Roger Crofts, CBE FRSE from Mr William Hardie, Secretary to the Committee Email: [email protected] 2 The President’s Perspective As this Newsletter shows, the Society continues to be active on many fronts. The most notable event this summer was the launch of our report on the Energy needs of Scotland, the result of a one-year Inquiry chaired by Professor Maxwell Irvine FRSE. The report came out on schedule and at an opportune moment, and was well received. Our relations with the Scottish Executive occupy much of our time and are being transformed by the recent appointment of Professor Anne Glover FRSE as Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland. The creation of this post was a move that we had strongly argued for. This year has been widely celebrated as the 175th anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s greatest scientist, James Clerk Maxwell. One outcome has been the establishment of an annual James Clerk Maxwell Prize Lecture, under the auspices of the RSE, generously sponsored by Wolfson Microelectronics. Plans for a statue of Maxwell are also being pursued. Two RSE events are particularly noteworthy. The highly topical conference on Islam and Democracy was held in May (see back cover) and was broadcast to much of the Arabic- speaking world. A two-day meeting on the Viking influence on Scotland, organised jointly with our Norwegian colleagues, is planned for later this month. These two meetings emphasise the wide scope of the RSE, embracing science but extending well beyond it into other cultural dimensions. Sir Michael Atiyah, OM, FRS, PRSE, HonFREng, HonFMedSci The Royal Society of Edinburgh The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) is an educational charity, registered in Scotland. Independent and non-party- political, we are working to provide public benefit throughout Scotland and by means of a growing international programme. The RSE has a peer-elected, multidisciplinary Fellowship of 1400 men and women who are experts within their fields. We seek to provide public benefit in today’s Scotland by: 1 Organising lectures, debates and conferences on topical and significant issues 2 Conducting independent inquiries on matters of national and international importance 3 Providing educational activities for RSE FELLOW APPOINTED CHIEF SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR FOR primary and secondary school SCOTLAND students throughout Scotland 4 Distributing over £1.7 million to top Professor (Lesley) Anne Glover, FRSE has been appointed Chief Scientific Advisor for researchers and entrepreneurs Scotland. Professor Glover, who has a Personal Chair in Molecular Biology in the working in Scotland School of Medical Sciences at the University of Aberdeen, will be seconded to the 5 Showcasing the best of Scotland’s Scottish Executive. Sir Michael Atiyah welcomed the appointment: “This is a most research and development important post which will help Scotland establish its position in UK science circles and capabilities to the rest of the World on the international scene. With the ever-increasing role of scientific matters in public 6 Facilitating Scotland’s international affairs it is vital that the Scottish Executive has access to the best scientific advice, collaboration in research and through a variety of channels. The RSE hopes to establish a good working enterprise relationship with Professor Glover and assist her in her important task”. 7 Awarding prizes and medals 3 Recognising Excellence JAMES CLERK MAXWELL AWARD The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE), and the RSE have agreed to create the James Clerk Maxwell Award, which will be supported by Wolfson Microelectronics plc. This top new annual award is to encourage and reward transforming developments in electronics and electrical engineering or related fields and which are profoundly improving people’s lives. The scale of the challenge lies in the identity of the pioneering Scottish Scientist whom the prize commemorates - James Clerk Maxwell. A hero of Einstein’s and the man who laid the foundations for almost all aspects of communications central to the way we live our lives today, Clerk Maxwell will be no easy act to follow. The exceptional winner of The IEEE/RSE James Clerk Maxwell Award will receive $20,000 and a prestigious gold medal. The new award is being funded by Wolfson Microelectronics plc, a global leader in the supply of high- performance mixed-signal chips for the digital market. Wolfson’s global headquarters are in Edinburgh, Maxwell’s place of birth. Professor Michael Lightner, (pictured IEEE President Professor Michael Lightner and Sir Michael sign the Agreement (photo by Gary Doak) above right), President of the IEEE, visited the Society on 31 August 2006 Sir Michael Atiyah said: to give a lecture and to sign the Agreement between the RSE and IEEE. Maxwell ranks with Einstein as one of the founders of modern Physics and deserves much greater recognition in Scotland that he has previously received. This is the 175th anniversary of Maxwell’s birth and I am delighted that the IEEE is joining forces with the RSE and Wolfson Microelectronics to create this significant new international award which recognises Maxwell’s contribution to the whole of modern technology. Seeking world-class competition, we are spreading the net wide – worldwide. There are no restrictions as to race, gender or age and entrants are not required to be Fellows of the RSE nor Members of the IEEE.