news THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH ISSUE 7 • AUTUMN 2003 RESOURCE THE NEWSLETTER OF SCOTLAND’S NATIONAL ACADEMY Gannochy Trust Innovation Award of The Royal Society of Edinburgh won by Dr Barbara Spruce Groundbreaking cancer research has won a Dundee-based doctor Scotland’s top new award for innovation. Dr Barbara Spruce, based at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School at The University of Dundee, fought off strong competition to become the first winner of the Gannochy Trust Innovation Award of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. A partnership between The Gannochy Trust and the RSE led to the creation of this coveted award which carries a cheque for £50,000 and a specially commissioned gold medal. The prestigious medal was presented by Nobel Laureate and distinguished scientist and innovator, Professor Sir James Black, OM, FRS, Hon FRSE at an awards ceremony held in Scone Palace in June. Dr Spruce won the award for developing what may become an important treatment advance for cancer patients. She has identified an achilles’ heel in cancer cells and a way to cause them to self-destruct, without harming normal cells. This normal “cell death” process, called apoptosis, was discovered by a former RSE President, Sir Alastair Currie, and has opened up an important field of research. Dr Spruce considers the great advantage of the new research to be that treatment will be largely devoid of the side effects normally associated with conventional cancer therapies. When used together with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, dosages of these could be reduced, lessening their side effects and treatments could be tailored specifically to the patients’ needs. [continued on the back page] The Fate of the Neanderthals Independent RSE Inquiry on Diet and Obesity Discussion Forum the Scottish Fishing Industry The Scottish Fishing Industry The RSE has launched an independent inquiry into the crisis facing the Scottish fishing The membership of the Committee, industry. Instigated by the Council of the Society and chaired by the distinguished with expertise in marine biology, fish Biologist, Sir David Smith, the RSE’s independent inquiry seeks to identify what steps stocks, environmental issues, statistical might be taken to secure the future of the fishing industry in Scotland. The principal modelling, social science, business and objective of the Committee, which met for the first time at the end of May, is to make economics includes: an assessment of the extent to which controls imposed on the industry are Sir David Smith FRS FRSE, (Chairman) scientifically robust. former Principal and Vice Chancellor of Scotland has the largest part of the United Kingdom’s sea fishing industry and many Edinburgh University and former of Scotland’s more remote communities, especially around the North East coast and in President of Wolfson College, Oxford Shetland, are heavily dependent on it for their livelihood. Concerns over declining fish stocks, especially of cod, have led to severe restrictions being imposed under the Professor Ian Boyd FRSE, Director of the European Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and concerns exist over the long-term viability NERC Sea Mammal Research Unit, of the Scottish fishing industry. University of St. Andrews The RSE Committee has welcomed written evidence from informed organisations and Professor Stephen Buckland, Professor individuals and is engaged in a programme of visits taking oral evidence around of Statistics and Director of the Centre Scotland. The Committee is expected to reach its conclusions by Christmas 2003, and for Research into Ecological and its findings and recommendations will be made widely available in early 2004. Environmental Modelling, University of Sir David Smith (centre) and Professor Gavin McCrone listen to the views of Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s St. Andrews Association Vice-Chairman, Alex West on board the Ocean Quest in Fraserburgh harbour Mr Edward Cunningham CBE FRSE, Chairman, Business Options Ltd Professor Gavin McCrone CB FRSE, Professor in Business Studies, University of Edinburgh Dr Malcolm MacGarvin, Environmental Consultant & Company Director Professor Alasdair McIntyre CBE FRSE, Former Chief Scientific Officer, DAFS Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen Professor Monty Priede FRSE, Professor of Zoology, University of Aberdeen Professor Randolph Richards, Director of the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling Mr David Symes, formerly Fisheries Management & European Policy, University of Hull Photo by Stuart Brown 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 £1.5 million to exceptionally talented young academics and potential entrepreneurs to promote commercial exploitation of inventiveness and boost wealth-generation. The RSE is active in classrooms from the Borders to the Northern Isles, with a successful programme of lectures and hands-on workshops for primary and secondary school pupils. The Royal Society of Edinburgh, working as part of the UK and within a global context, is committed to the future of Scotland’s social, economic and cultural well-being. 2 Securing a Future THE REMIT OF THE INQUIRY INCLUDES: “The Fishing Industry is at the heart of ¨ an assessment of the scientific approach and the level of scientific support many of Scotland’s communities: a underlying present and likely future controls imposed on the Scottish fishing way of life and central to livelihoods industry, including: a comparison with other fishing nations; the impact of and local economies. The crisis facing improvements in catching technology; and the effects of practices such as industrial the industry today has prompted the fishing Council of The Royal Society of ¨ a consideration of role of aquaculture in the industry, and especially in terms of its Edinburgh to mount a broadly-based, potential for replacing some of the reduction in the catch of fish such as cod independent inquiry which will seek ¨ a critical examination of the socio-economic impact of the declining fish catches and to identify what measures might be of the controls on the industry on the Scottish communities affected (including taken to secure the industry for future relevant sectors of the fish processing industry) with particular reference to the likely generations in Scotland. Under Sir effects of the control measures now being implemented David Smith’s Chairmanship, the independent, expert committee will ¨ the formation of recommendations on how a viable sea fishing industry can best be consult widely and examine the maintained in Scotland. science underlying the controls TAKING EVIDENCE AROUND SCOTLAND AND OVERSEAS imposed upon the Scottish Fishing Industry. It is my hope that our In August the Western Isles recommendations will help to develop Committee visited Lochinver Shetland Islands sound strategies for the future.” Peterhead and Fraserburgh, taking Buckie Fraserburgh Inverness oral evidence from a Peterhead wide range of Aberdeen stakeholders, including representatives from local Fisheries Pittenweem Partnerships; the Processing and Catching Sectors and Associated Lord Sutherland of Houndwood, Industries, such as KT, FBA, FRSE, President, The Royal net makers and ship Society of Edinburgh. chandlers. The Committee also THE RSE AND PUBLIC POLICY visited the In addition to undertaking the Inquiry Peterhead into the Scottish Fishing Industry, the fishmarket, the largest in the UK; toured fish processing factories in Fraserburgh and Society continues to respond to went onboard a Pelagic fishing vessel, the Ocean Quest. The Committee plans to take Government and Parliamentary calls for more evidence first-hand in communities where fishing is central to the local economy, evidence and advice. Recent examples including: include responses to a consultation Shetland - September, Inverness & Buckie - October, Copenhagen - Visit to ICES from the Scottish Executive on the (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) - October, Pittenweem - Visit to Scottish Human Rights Commission; Fishermen’s Mutual Association - October, Aberdeen - Visit to Marine Laboratory - the European Commission’s November, Lochinver & the Western Isles - dates to be confirmed Communication on the role of the universities in the “Europe of knowledge” and the House of FUNDING Commons Science and Technology Committee Inquiry into the scientific The Chair and Members of the RSE’s independent Committee are giving their time to response to terrorism. the work of the Inquiry voluntarily, without any charge. The Society is actively seeking Fellows who would like to help in the funding from individuals, and from private and charitable bodies to cover the cost of production of these responses and be administration and travel expenses. The RSE acknowledges, with thanks, the financial notified about pending consultations support already pledged from Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, The should contact Dr Marc Rands Clydesdale Bank, J Sainsbury plc, Scottish Enterprise Grampian and Shetland Islands ([email protected]). Council. 3 Research