news THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH ISSUE 33 AUTUMN 2011 RESOURC E THE NEWSLETTER OF SCOTLAND ’ S NATIONAL ACADEMY THE RSE YOUNG ACADEMY OF SCOTLAND The Royal Society of Edinburgh is delighted to announce that it has chosen the first 68 members of the new RSE Young Academy of Scotland. A small group of the newly-elected members is pictured (left) in Edinburgh following the announcement in September. This exciting development is the first of its kind in the UK and it will be part of a growing movement of Young Academies around the world. The Young Academy will be formally launched at an event at the RSE on Tuesday 29 November 2011. Details of the initiative and a full list of appointees are printed inside and are available on the RSE website. Inspiring children Encouraging researchers Rewarding achievement New RSE President New RSE President and General Secretary Take Office Sir John Arbuthnott has succeeded Lord Wilson of Tillyorn as the next President of the RSE, formally taking over the role at the Annual Statutory Meeting of the Society on 3 October 2011. Sir John Arbuthnott is a distinguished microbiologist and former Principal of Professor Alice Brown follows Professor the University of Geoffrey Boulton as the General Secretary Strathclyde. He also of the Society. She is the first woman to chaired the Greater be elected to this post. Glasgow Health Professor Brown is a former Vice-Principal Board and led the of the University of Edinburgh, having Clyde Valley review on the potential for providing shared local authority services. taught economics and politics in her Sir John was educated at Hyndland Secondary School, Glasgow University and Trinity academic career, and also served as the College, Dublin. He was made a Knight Bachelor for services to education in 1998. Amongst Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. Alice his academic posts he was a Professor of Microbiology at Trinity College, Dublin and the was an active figure in the development of University of Nottingham before returning to Scotland to take up the position of Principal devolution in Scotland, including, being a and Vice Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, a role he performed from 1991 to 2000. member of the Consultative Steering Group He has also served on a number of committees advising on aspects of policy including: the that developed the procedures for the Richmond Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food; the report on Boundaries, Scottish Parliament, and promoting the equal Voting and Representation in Scotland; and on the Allocation of Health Resources in Scotland. representation of women in the Parliament. Sir John was elected a Fellow of the RSE in 1993 and served as a Councillor 2007 –2010. She was elected a Fellow of the RSE in 2002 and was awarded a CBE in 2009. The retiring President, Lord Wilson of Tillyorn commented: Sir John is a person of high reputation, who, in addition to his academic achievements, has an outstanding record of public service. I have very much enjoyed my period as President of the RSE and in particular I am pleased that during my term the Society has recently established the RSE Young Academy of Scotland, which I hope and expect will nourish some of the outstanding younger generation of scholars and professionals that we have in Scotland. The Society will be fortunate to have Sir John as its next President. Under his Presidency I am sure that the RSE will go from strength to strength in all of its roles as the National Academy of Scotland. Sir John responded saying: I also welcome the election of Professor Alice Brown as the next General Secretary I am highly honoured to be elected as of the Society. Professor Brown is a well President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Full details of the current Council known and respected figure in public life The RSE, with its links across Scottish society, and Executive Board members can and I am confident that she will build upon plays an important role in the future of be viewed on page 18, along with the work in policy advice to government Scotland nationally and internationally. significant dates for the coming that Geoffrey Boulton has made a key session. priority during his term of office. 2 Astronomy in Focus Fire in the Sky – Cosmic Threats to Life Worried about what tomorrow may bring? Over 200 people met on 23 April 2011, as part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival (EISF), and discovered more about potential threats to life on Earth. This was a unique opportunity to hear talks from the two current Astronomers Royal, Lord Martin Rees OM FRS (pictured right) and Professor John Brown FRSE (Astronomer Royal for Scotland) along with contributions from several other astronomers. A display of meteorites could also be viewed. The main thrust of the day was discussion about various cosmic threats to life that we face every day, such as comets, asteroids, solar and stellar blasts. Lord Rees’ view, on the other hand, was that human civilisation has only a 50 per cent chance of surviving until 2100 without suffering a catastrophic event caused by mankind. The event finished with an End of the World Ceilidh, Photograph (above) by Douglas McCalman and an opportunity to use a telescope to view Saturn’s rings. Along with funding from the Institute of Physics Scotland (IoP) and EISF, Lorna McCalman and Charles Gleed of the Astronomical Society of Edinburgh had been awarded a Royal Society of Edinburgh Cormack Bequest Small Outreach Grant (£300) towards the cost of the meeting. Although this represented a small part of the full cost, the grant represented a significant contribution to the travel component, helping bring speakers from across the UK. Robert Cormack Bequest Awards Cormack awards are for the promotion of public understanding of science, specifically relating to astronomy. Cormack Small Astronomy Outreach Grants The grants are awarded to individuals or groups to develop public understanding of science activities specifically relating to astronomy, and are available through the Robert Cormack Bequest Committee. This scheme is intended to help set up new projects, or to add new elements to existing ones, rather than to fund ongoing activities. Funded projects must benefit a wider audience (e.g. public visitors, whole school) rather than the recipients of the funds (e.g. Astronomical Society, School Class or Club). Cormack Bequest/Piazzi Smyth Bequest Vacation Research Scholarships Every year, awards may include one Piazzi Smyth Bequest Research Scholarship, for work clearly related to mountain top observing/data. Applicants must be full-time undergraduates (normally up to and including the summer before final year), be nominated by a Department in one of the Scottish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and have a class record indicative of good research potential. There is no restriction on home Photograph by Rachel Thomas, the Astronomical Society of Edinburgh institution or nationality. The value of each Cormack Scholarship is £100 per week and of the Further information about the Cormack awards, can be Piazzi Smyth Scholarship £120 per week, and the maximum length of viewed on the Society website at: each Scholarship is six weeks. www.royalsoced.org.uk/562_ScienceFunding.html 3 RSE Young Academy of Scotland FIRST COHORT OF MEMBERS OF THE RSE YOUNG ACADEMY OF SCOTLAND ANNOUNCED Following a rigorous selection process, the bringing together some of the most within Scotland and further afield. Council of the Royal Society of Edinburgh able and innovative young academics, This new initiative will add significantly to (RSE), has approved the names of 68 entrepreneurs and professionals in Scotland; the role the RSE already plays in society. candidates who will form the first cohort of that it will create a forum in which they The Cabinet Secretary for Education and members of the new RSE Young Academy can work together across the boundaries Lifelong Learning, Michael Russell MSP, of Scotland. The call for applications of their own disciplines and professions; welcomed the appointments, commenting: received a huge response , with over 330 and that this very talented group of young very well-qualified applicants. The people will act together to address the The new Young Academy is supporting the successful candidates cover a wide range issues and challenges facing society both talent of the future, exposing our best of academic subjects as well as young people to the those from the professions, experience and expertise business and public of the RSE Fellowship. service. The average age It provides the ideal of those selected is 36 forum for talent in and over 40% of the science, engineering new members are and the arts to mix women. Those selected with each other as will be members of the well as supporting Young Academy for an research excellence. initial period of three The young people years, with further involved will also cohorts being selected have the opportunity in future years. The to access some of Young Academy will be our leading business formally launched at an experts through the event on 29 November. RSE Fellowship and that can only help The RSE Council hope that them achieve their The RSE Young Academy ambitions. of Scotland will succeed in Full list of members of the RSE Young Academy Rosalind Allen Research Fellow and Proleptic Lecturer , School of Physics and Astronomy University of Edinburgh Sharon Ashbrook Reader in Chemistry, School of Chemistry University of St Andrews Des Balmforth Programme Manager SELEX Kirsty Blackstock Theme