Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland. It was established in 1783., it has more than 1,660 Fellows.
The Society covers a broader selection of fields than the Royal Society of London including literature and history. Fellowship includes people from a wide range of disciplines – science & technology, arts, humanities, medicine, social science, business, and public service.
History
At the start of the 18th century, Edinburgh's intellectual climate fostered many clubs and societies. Though there were several that treated the arts, sciences and medicine, the most prestigious was the Society for the Improvement of Medical Knowledge, commonly referred to as the Medical Society of Edinburgh, co-founded by the mathematician Colin Maclaurin in 1731.Maclaurin was unhappy with the specialist nature of the Medical Society, and in 1737 a new, broader society, the Edinburgh Society for Improving Arts and Sciences and particularly Natural Knowledge was split from the specialist medical organisation, which then went on to become the Royal Medical Society.
The cumbersome name was changed the following year to the Edinburgh Philosophical Society. With the help of University of Edinburgh professors like Joseph Black, William Cullen and John Walker, this society transformed itself into the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1783 and in 1788 it issued the first volume of its new journal Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
As the end of the century drew near, the younger members such as Sir James Hall embraced Lavoisier's new nomenclature and the members split over the practical and theoretical objectives of the society. This resulted in the founding of the Wernerian Society, a parallel organisation that focused more upon natural history and scientific research that could be used to improve Scotland's weak agricultural and industrial base. Under the leadership of Prof. Robert Jameson, the Wernerians first founded Memoirs of the Wernerian Natural History Society and then the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, thereby diverting the output of the Royal Society's Transactions. Thus, for the first four decades of the 19th century, the RSE's members published brilliant articles in two different journals. By the 1850s, the society once again unified its membership under one journal.
During the 19th century the society contained many scientists whose ideas laid the foundation of the modern sciences. From the 20th century onward, the society functioned not only as a focal point for Scotland's eminent scientists, but also the arts and humanities. It still exists today and continues to promote original research in Scotland.
In February 2014, Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell was announced as the society's first female president, taking up her position in October.
Location
The Royal Society has been housed in a succession of locations:- 1783–1807 – College Library, University of Edinburgh
- 1807–1810 – Physicians' Hall, George Street; the home of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
- 1810–1826 – 40–42 George Street; shared with the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland from 1813
- 1826–1908 – the Royal Institution on the Mound; shared, at first, with the Board of Manufactures, the Institution for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts in Scotland and the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
- 1908–09 – University premises at High School Yards
- 1909–present – 22–24 George Street, purchased from the Edinburgh Life Assurance Company with the assistance of a grant of £25,000 from the Scottish Office
Awards and medals
Fellowship
is an award in its own right that entitles fellows to use of the initialism or post-nominal letters FRSE in official titles.Royal Medals
The Royal Medals are awarded annually, preferably to people with a Scottish connection, who have achieved distinction and international repute in either Life Sciences, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences or Business and Commerce. The Medals were instituted in 2000 by Queen Elizabeth II, whose permission is required to make a presentation.Past winners include:
- 2018: David Climie, Professor Richard Henderson and Thea Musgrave
- 2017: Professor Tessa Holyoake
- 2016: Professor James Hough and Professor Sir Angus Stewart Deaton
- 2015: No award
- 2014: Professor W.B. Kibble and Professor Richard G.M. Morris
- 2013: Sir John Cadogan, Professor Michael Ferguson and Sir Ian Wood
- 2012: Professor David Milne and Sir Edwin Southern
- 2011: Baroness Helena Kennedy, Noreen Murray and Professor Desmond Smith
- 2010: Professor Sir Fraser Stoddart and Dr James MacMillan
- 2009: Sir James Mirrlees, Professor Wilson Sibbett and Professor Karen Vousden
- 2008: Professor Roger Fletcher, Right Reverend Richard Holloway and Professor Sir David Lane
- 2007: Professor Sir David Carter, Professor John David M H Laver and Sir Thomas F W McKillop
- 2006: Sir John M. Ball and Sir David Jack
- 2005: Sir David Edward and Professor William G. Hill
- 2004: Sir Philip Cohen, Sir Neil MacCormick and Professor Robin Milner
- 2003: Sir Paul Nurse, Lord Mackay of Clashfern and Sir Michael Atiyah
- 2002: Professor Sir Alfred Cuschieri, Professor Sir Alan Peacock and Professor John R Mallard
- 2001: Professor Sir James Black, Professor Tom Devine and Professor A Ian Scott
- 2000: Professor Sir Kenneth Murray, Professor Peter Higgs and The Rt. Hon The Lord Perry of Walton
Lord Kelvin Medal
Keith Medal
The Keith medal has been historically awarded every four years for a scientific paper published in the society's scientific journals, preference being given to a paper containing a discovery. It is awarded alternately for papers on Mathematics or Earth and Environmental Sciences. The medal was founded in 1827 as a result of a bequest by Alexander Keith of Dunnottar, the first Treasurer of the Society.Makdougall Brisbane Prize
The Makdougall Brisbane Prize has been awarded biennially, preferably to people working in Scotland, with no more than fifteen years post-doctoral experience, for particular distinction in the promotion of scientific research and is awarded sequentially to research workers in the Physical Sciences, Engineering Sciences and Biological Sciences. The prize was founded in 1855 by Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane, the long-serving fourth President of the Society.Gunning Victoria Jubilee Prize
The 'Gunning Victoria Jubilee Prize Lectureship' is a quadrennial award to recognise original work done by scientists resident in or connected with Scotland. The award was founded in 1887 by Dr Robert Halliday Gunning, a Scottish surgeon, entrepreneur and philanthropist who spent much of his life in Brazil.Bruce-Preller Lectures
See separate article on Dr Charles S. du Riche Preller for the list of lecturers.This biennial lecture given at the Society was begun in 1931 at the bequest of Dr Charles Preller and named after himself and his late wife, Rachel Steuart Bruce.
It is usually given by a Fellow either of the Royal Society of Edinburgh or the Royal Society of London.