The Royal Society of Edinburgh Review 2007 (Session 2005-2006) The Royal Society of Edinburgh Review 2007 The Royal Society of Printed in Great Britain by Henry Ling Limited, Dorchester, DT1 1HD Edinburgh ISSN 1476-4342 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH REVIEW OF THE SESSION 2005-2006 The Royal Society of Edinburgh 22-26 George Street Edinburgh, EH2 2PQ Telephone : 0131 240 5000 Fax : 0131 240 5024 email : [email protected] Scottish Charity No SC000470 Cover illustration by Aird McKinstrie. Design by Jennifer Cameron THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH REVIEW OF THE SESSION 2005-2006 PUBLISHED BY THE RSE SCOTLAND FOUNDATION ISSN 1476-4342 CONTENTS Proceedings of the Ordinary Meetings .................................... 3 Proceedings of the Statutory General Meeting ....................... 5 Trustees’ Report to 31 March 2006 ...................................... 27 Auditors’ Report and Accounts ............................................. 47 Schedule of Investments ....................................................... 73 Activities Prize Lectures ..................................................................... 77 Lectures............................................................................ 177 Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars and Discussion Forums ............................................................ 217 Publications ...................................................................... 247 The Scottish Science Advisory Committee ........................ 249 Evidence, Advice and Comment ....................................... 255 Inquiries ........................................................................... 257 Events for Young People .................................................. 259 Research and Enterprise Awards ...................................... 263 Medals, Prizes and Prize Lectureships ................................ 267 Grants Committee ........................................................... 269 International Programme ................................................. 271 Fellows’ Social Events ....................................................... 277 Grants, Sponsorship and Donations .................................... 279 Changes in Fellowship During the Session ........................... 281 Staff .................................................................................... 283 Obituary Notices.................................................................. 285 Index ................................................................................... 381 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ORDINARY MEETINGS 6 February 2006 reported that all those on the list Chairman (page 281) had been elected. Sir Michael Atiyah, OM, FRS, PRSE, Lecture HonFREng, HonFMedSci, Hon FFA Towards the Semantic Web: the Approval of Scrutineers for Return of the Link. Professor Ballot for Election of New Wendy Hall CBE FREng, University Fellows March 2006 of Southampton. (page 197) Professor Colin Bird and Dr Ian 20 September 2006 Sword were appointed. Chairman Lecture Sir Michael Atiyah, OM, FRS, PRSE, The Gannochy Trust Innovation HonFREng, HonFMedSci, Hon FFA Award Lecture. John Harrison. Approval of Scrutineers for (page 95) Ballot for Election of New 6 March 2006 Fellows March 2007 Chairman Professor Charles Withers and Professor John Mavor FREng FRSE. Professor Hector MacQueen Election of Fellows Lecture Professor Colin Bird and Dr Ian The Vikings and Scotland: The Sword who had acted as Scruti- Northern World and its Signifi- neers for the postal ballot for the cance for Scotland. Magnus election of new Fellows in 2006 Magnusson Hon KBE FRSE. (page 216) 3 PROCEEDINGS OF THE STATUTORY GENERAL MEETING Minute of the Statutory General Meeting held on 9 October 2006, ending the 223rd Session The Annual Statutory Meeting Annual Review for Fiscal Year took place in the Society’s Wolf- 2005/06 son Theatre on Monday 9 October Sir Michael commented that, in 2006 at 5.30 pm. Sir Michael addition to producing the formal Atiyah OM, President, took the Trustees’ Report and Accounts for Chair. Sir Michael reported that 2005-2006 in accordance with for the first time the meeting was Charity Regulations, an illustrated being web-cast live; absent Annual Review of highlights of Fellows could access this via a the year (with a summary financial password-controlled section of review) was again produced, and the RSE website; those wishing to this had been widely circulated to comment or raise questions could all Fellows, as well as to many do so live by email; and a video others interested in the Society. recording of the proceedings Feedback on the contents and would be available on the website format of the Annual Review was for those unable to view it live. invited. Following changes in Minutes recommended accounting The Minutes of the Annual practice, the formal Trustees’ Statutory Meeting held on Report also contained the finan- Monday 10 October 2005 were cial statements of the RSE taken as read, approved by those Scotland Foundation and the BP Fellows present and signed by the Research Fellowships Trust which President as a correct record. had been consolidated with those of the RSE for the first time this Matters arising year. The Trustees’ Report was At the meeting on 10 October available to any Fellow who would 2005 Professor David Finnie like a copy. expressed concern over the failure Office Bearers’ Reports for of the Society in the last few years Session 2005/06 to produce timely obituaries of deceased Fellows, and asked that Sir Michael invited Professor Gavin steps be taken to address this. Sir McCrone, General Secretary, Mr Michael reported that progress Edward Cunningham, Treasurer, had been made and was recorded and Professor Andrew Walker, in a paper circulated with other Fellowship Secretary, to report. He ASM papers, and although a suggested that Fellows’ discussion backlog remained it had been of the reports should take place reduced and was continuing to be addressed. 5 Review of the Session 2005-2006 after all three reports had been report of its findings was pub- presented. lished in June 2006. It makes 37 General Secretary’s Report key recommendations and emphasises that diversity of Professor McCrone reported on energy sources will be crucial to highlights from the following security of supply. report, which had been circulated to Fellows. In January 2006 a Steering Group, Chaired by Professor David In the year past, the Society had Ingram, was established to continued to make a strong provide independent advice to the contribution to the advancement Scottish Executive on the distribu- of learning and useful knowledge tion of its 2006/2007 funding for – in keeping with its Royal the Scottish Science Centres; and Charter, and had done so by to consider if and how the Society successfully delivering a wide might be involved in providing range of public benefit activities, independent advice on funding which reached people of all ages distribution in future years, both from across Scotland and beyond. in relation to the Scottish Execu- Professor McCrone then reported tive-funded Science Centres and the following highlights and wider Science & Society pro- issues of activities during the gramme. Society’s October 2005-October 2006 Session: The Group has now fulfilled its remit. It provided advice on core Providing authoritative, inde- funding for the Centres, but was pendent advice and making not asked to advise on the recommendations to policy distribution of funding for decision-takers individual science & society The Inquiry into Scotland’s future initiatives. It also recommended, energy supply was launched in and RSE Council agreed, that the May 2005. Instigated by the RSE’s Society should be prepared to act Council, it was Chaired by as an independent source, which Professor Maxwell Irvine and its discharged the Science Centre / Secretary was Professor Roger wider Science & Society pro- Crofts. The Inquiry took evidence gramme in future years. The from over 70 expert witnesses; Scottish Executive welcomed this received over 160 written submis- positive response, but following sions; held meetings in Lewis, discussions has decided that it Orkney, Shetland, Inverness, wishes to consider further how it Aberdeen, Glasgow, London and will implement its “Scottish Edinburgh; and an Inquiry Science Centres Network Strate- delegation visited Finland. The gy”. The work of the Steering 6 Proceedings of the Annual Statutory Meeting Group is now therefore complete. Only through the input of Fellows For its part, the Society stands were these informed papers, ready to provide independent which contribute to policy advice in the future, if it considers formulation and debate, pro- it is well placed to do so, and duced. Views expressed in the should the Scottish Executive Society’s responses do not of request it. In the meantime I course reflect the view of every would like, on behalf of the Fellow. Nor does the Society seek Society, to thank Professor Ingram to present that they do. Its and his Group for their considera- responses are a broad consensus ble input and hard work. of views received in relation to a With the input of the multi- particular issue. That approach disciplinary Fellowship, during the must be accepted where such a year, the Society produced 17 diverse Fellowship of more than authoritative responses to a wide 1400 Fellows exists. Such diversity range of public, mainly Govern- should not, however, be seen as a mental, consultations. Amongst weakness, but as a strength. the