Academic and artistic minds honoured as RSE Fellows

Last updated on 10 May 2023

  • Annie Lennox OBE is among those appointed to the Fellowship alongside Mark Logan, the former Skyscanner Chief Operating Officer (COO) for his business expertise, and Professor Marc Turner of the University of Edinburgh and the Director at the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service.
  • 80 new Fellows have been elected to join the Royal Society of Edinburgh from across the sciences, arts, education, business, and public life.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Scotland’s National Academy; has announced its 2022 intake of Fellows, with 80 names from the arts, business, public service and civil society as well as academia from Scotland and beyond.

Royal Society of Edinburgh, new Fellows 2022

They will be joining the RSE’s current Fellowship of around 1,700 Fellows, who are recognised as being some of the greatest thinkers, researchers and practitioners working in or with Scotland today.

This year, Dr Annie Lennox, Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University and award-winning Scottish singer, songwriter and activist, has received an Honorary Fellowship.

Dr Lennox is best known for her musical career as part of the band ‘Eurythmics’ and has also had a distinguished award-winning solo career. She is the original founder of The Circle: a non-profit organisation of women working together to achieve equality for women and girls in a fairer world and was formerly Special Envoy for the Scottish Parliament.

I’m truly humbled and honoured to have been nominated as a Fellow of the RSE. Apart from a lifetime of music making, my ardent passion lies with the most crucial issues facing all of humanity at this precarious point in time, namely the sustainability of our precious planet and the actual implementation of human rights and justice, most especially regarding the lives of women and girls in all four corners of the globe.

My hope has always been to create a positive influence and contribution towards lasting transformative change.

Dr Annie Lennox OBE

Others named as Fellows of the RSE this year include Professor Mark Logan, co-Founder of Ipso-Facto where he is an investment and start-up adviser. He is also a professor of computing science at the University of Glasgow, and the former COO of Skyscanner, one of Europe’s most successful technology companies. With 25 years of senior management experience and award-winning business leadership, he is currently appointed by the Scottish Government to lead the government’s development programme for Scotland’s high-tech sector. Speaking about his Fellowship, Professor Mark Logan said:

I am honoured to have been elected as a Fellow of the RSE, joining the company of such remarkable people. I look forward to working with Fellows across a range of sectors, to help establish Scotland as an entrepreneurship global centre of excellence.

Professor Mark Logan

Theresa Shearer, CEO of ENABLE Group and an influential Scottish third sector leader who has delivered policy change both domestically and internationally has also joined the 2022 Fellows intake. She has previously led a national campaign to deliver the Living Wage to social care employees, is a Commissioner on the UK Law Family Commission on Civil Society and is the Vice President of Inclusion Europe, advocating to end segregation and institutionalisation of disabled people.

Working with colleagues in the RSE, I look forward to continuing to influence public policy as we seek to move forward from the pandemic, and lay the foundations for a more resilient, inclusive, and equitable society both in Scotland and globally. We will promote collaboration between public, private and third sectors, underpinned by data and evidence, to empower and enable positive change in Scotland

Theresa Shearer

Another Fellow honoured is Professor Marc Turner, Director at the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and Professor of Cellular Therapy at the University of Edinburgh. His research has made strong contributions to our understanding of the risks of transmission of prion diseases, which are a group of rare, fatal brain diseases that affect animals and humans, and the translation of advanced therapeutic medicinal products to clinical practice.

Marc is also a Member of the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs, of the Scottish Medicines Consortium and a Commissioner on the UK Commission on Human Medicines.

I am delighted and honoured to be joining the Fellowship of the RSE. I look forward to collaboratively working with other Fellows across academic, commercial and healthcare boundaries in Scotland and further afield to support the successful translation of scientific knowledge into tangible outcomes

Professor Marc Turner

This year’s cohort represents the diversity of expertise within Scotland and the UK, with academics, leaders from business, Scotland’s tech sector, the legal sector and arts and culture industries being inducted to the Fellowship.

With a more diverse Fellowship, the RSE hopes to make even more of an impact across its policy, research and engagement work which seeks to address the key contemporary issues of the day. 

It is a privilege to be able to welcome our new Fellows, and we are inspired by the breadth of talent and experience in our Fellowship. Every single individual elected this year has shown exceptional levels of expertise and insight in their chosen field, and their input helps RSE effect real and lasting change in Scotland’s society
We look forward to working with our diverse Fellowship who provide a crucial link between the world of academic research and practice with government, business and civil society.

Professor Sir John Ball, President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh

The full list of new Fellows 2022 are as follows:

Honorary Fellow

Dr Annie Lennox
Celebrated and named as one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time by Rolling Stone Magazine, Annie Lennox’s iconic

Corresponding Fellows

Professor Jérôme Casas
Jérôme is specialized in the physical ecology of insects and in bio-inspired microtechnology. He graduated from ETH Zurich, had positions
Mr Chirikure Chirikure
Chirikure Chirikure is a writer who has published several books ranging from poetry collections, children’s stories, to educational materials. He
Professor Edwin Constable
Ed Constable was born in Edinburgh and began his chemical career at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge before moving
Mrs Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is a pioneering biotech entrepreneur, a healthcare visionary, a global influencer, and a passionate philanthropist. The impact she

Fellows

Professor Marialuisa Aliotta
Marialuisa Aliotta is Professor of Experimental Nuclear Astrophysics and Head of the Nuclear Physics group at the University of Edinburgh.
Professor Kenneth Baillie
Kenneth Baillie is Professor of Experimental Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. He works as a consultant in the intensive
Ms Jude Barber
Jude Barber is an architect and director at Collective Architecture. The 100% employee-owned studio has created key residential, cultural strategic
Dr Damian Barr
Damian Barr is a writer, broadcaster and journalist. His memoir, Maggie & Me, was Sunday Times Memoir of the Year.
Professor Arend Bayer
Professor Arend Bayer works in algebraic geometry, the area of mathematics studying shapes and configurations arising from polynomial equations. In
Professor Francesco Berto
Franz Berto was born in Venice, Italy. He holds the Chair of Logic and Metaphysics at the University of St
Professor Mirko Canevaro
Mirko Canevaro is a leading Greek historian with particular interests in the institutional and social history of ancient Athens and
Professor Stella Chan
As a clinical psychologist, Stella’s research focuses on young people’s mental health, seeking to identify factors that can help understand,
Professor Ravinder Dahiya
Professor Ravinder Dahiya is a distinguished academic known for his distinctive contributions to the field of electronic skin, mechanisms underlying
Professor Jamie Davies
Jamie Davies is interested in the basic science of how organs and tissues develop during embryonic and foetal life. He
Professor Mirela Delibegovic
Prof Mirela Delibegovic is the Director of Aberdeen Cardiovascular and Diabetes Centre and Dean for Industrial Engagement in Research and
Professor Cam Donaldson
Renowned for developing methods for economic appraisal of health interventions and founding GCU’s world-leading Yunus Centre for social Business &
Lady Leeona Dorrian
Lady Dorrian was installed as Lord Justice Clerk and President of the Second Division of the Court of Session in
Professor Stephen Driscoll
Stephen Driscoll specialises in early medieval Scotland at the University of Glasgow. His socially engaged practice spans community work for
Professor Rory Duncan
In his role at UKRI, Professor Rory Duncan works across the research system and government with responsibility for strategy, policy,
Professor Lindsay Farmer
Lindsay Farmer’s main area of interest is the history and theory of criminal law, combining historical analysis of the development
Professor Sinead Farrington
Sinead Farrington is an experimental particle physicist with interests across collider physics as a means of understanding the most fundamental
Professor Frances Fowle
Frances Fowle is an art historian and curator, specialising in French and Scottish art. She is an authority on collecting
Professor Aileen Fyfe
Aileen Fyfe is Professor of Modern History at the University of St Andrews. She was born in Glasgow, educated at
Professor Colin Galbraith
Professor Galbraith is Chair of the UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee, advising governments on nature conservation at the UK and
Professor Brian Gerardot
Professor Brian Gerardot holds a Chair in Emerging Technology from the Royal Academy of Engineering and leads the Quantum Photonics
Mr Neil Gillespie
Visiting Professor Scott Sutherland School of Architecture, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen Visiting Professor Sheffield School of Architecture, Sheffield University External
Professor Sotiria Grek
Sotiria Grek is Senior Lecturer in Social Policy at the School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh. She
Dr Harriet Harris
Revd Dr Harriet Harris is a theologian, writer, Head of Chaplaincy at the University of Edinburgh, and Convenor of the
Professor Emma Hart
Emma Hart is a Professor in Artificial Intelligence in the School of Computing at Edinburgh Napier University. Her interests lie
Professor Helen Hastie
Helen Hastie is an Associate Professor in the Computer Science department and a member of the Interaction Lab in the
Professor Caroline Heycock
Professor Caroline Heycock did her PhD in linguistics at the University of Pennsylvania and worked at a number of universities
Professor Matthew Holden
Matthew Holden is Professor of Pathogen Genomics at the University of St Andrews. His research focuses on the evolution of
Professor Robert Holdsworth
Bob Holdsworth is Professor of Structural Geology at Durham University. His research – a substantial proportion of which has utilised
Professor Wenxuan Hou
Professor Wenxuan Hou is Chair in Corporate Finance at the University of Edinburgh Business School. He serves as a joint-editor
Professor Muhammad Imran
Prof. Imran is an international leader in the field of communication systems. His pioneering work, particularly in the areas of
Ms Carolyn Jameson
Carolyn’s varied career has involved holding executive leadership roles covering corporate development, legal, policy and communication, within the technology sphere.
Dr Siobhan Jordan
Siobhán founded the Interface programme in 2005, implementing the vision of a central point of access for matching business challenges
Professor Andy Kerr
Andy Kerr is a leader in catalysing innovation in climate policy and practice. He mobilizes and connects resources, insights and
Professor Janice Kirkpatrick
Janice Kirkpatrick is a Designer, company Director and co-founder of design studio Graven where she leads projects for clients in
Mr Graham Leicester
Graham Leicester is Director of International Futures Forum, an organisation he helped to establish in Scotland in 2001 to restore
Professor Steve Liddle
Professor Steve Liddle is Head of Inorganic Chemistry and Co-Director of the Centre for Radiochemistry Research at the University of
Professor Mark Logan
Mark has over 25 years of senior leadership experience in the internet technology sector. He was instrumental in the success
Professor Dame Caroline MacEwen
Caroline (Carrie) is an ophthalmologist with interests in paediatric eye disease and disorders of ocular movements and has published widely
Professor Frances Mair
Professor Frances Mair is a General Practitioner who undertakes mixed methods research focusing on optimising the care of people with
Professor Adele Marston
Professor Adele Marston is a cell biologist who investigates how the genome is inherited during reproduction. Her research group use
Professor Gillian Mead
Professor Mead is an internationally acclaimed expert in stroke medicine. Her research focuses on improving stroke survivors’ quality of life.
Ms Daisy Narayanan
Daisy Narayanan is the Head of Placemaking and Mobility at the City of Edinburgh Council where she leads on delivering
Professor Inke Näthke
After obtaining her PhD at the University of California, San Franciso, Professor Inke Näthke completed postdoctoral work at Stanford and
Professor Bryne Ngwenya
Professor Bryne Ngwenya conducts fundamental research in understanding relationships between bacteria and their environment as a basis for predicting human-environment
Professor John Norrie
John Norrie is a medical statistician and clinical trialist, dedicated to improving health through randomised trials. John has led academic
Professor Roibeard Ó Maolalaigh
Professor Ó Maolalaigh has expertise in the Gaelic languages across all historical periods down to the present day. His published
Professor Rory O’Connor
Rory O’Connor is Professor of Health Psychology at the University of Glasgow, President of the International Association for Suicide Prevention
Mr Richard Ovenden
Richard Ovenden is Bodley’s Librarian at the Bodleian Libraries, and Head of Gardens, Libraries, and Museums at the University of
Dr Adele Patrick
Adele Patrick has been developing innovative cultural projects rooted in equalities for over 30 years. A co-founder of Glasgow Women’s
Professor Jamie Pearce
Jamie Pearce is Professor of Health Geography at the University of Edinburgh, where he is co-Director of the Centre for
Professor Ewan Pearson
Ewan Pearson is a Professor of Diabetic Medicine at the University of Dundee. His research focuses on how people with
Professor Peter Proud
Peter Proud is passionate about innovation, business, and the development of young talent. Having spent most of his career working
Professor Gill Reid
Professor Gill Reid is a chemist who focuses on experimental inorganic, coordination chemistry and organometallic chemistry both to develop fundamentally
Ms Melanie Reid
Melanie Reid is a writer and journalist with The Times. Since 2010, when she fell from her horse and broke
Professor Susan Rigby
Sue is Vice Chancellor at Bath Spa University. Prior to this role, she held senior leadership positions at the Universities
Professor Susan Rosser
Susan Rosser is Professor of Synthetic Biology at the University of Edinburgh. She also holds a Royal Academy of Engineering
Ms Leigh-Ann Russell
Leigh-Ann was appointed to BP’s executive leadership team as EVP, Innovation & Engineering with effect from March 1, 2022. Leigh-Ann
Professor Christian Rutz
Professor Christian Rutz has broad interests in behavioural and evolutionary ecology, advanced animal tracking technologies, conservation science and policy making,
Dr Philip Rycroft
Philip Rycroft was a civil servant for 30 years. He worked for the devolved government in Scotland and for the
Professor Jeffrey Sharkey
Pianist and composer Professor Jeffrey Sharkey became Principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in September 2014, leading Scotland’s national
Mr Donald Shaw
Donald Shaw is an acclaimed Scottish musician, producer, festival director and award-winning composer. He is currently Artistic Director for the
Ms Theresa Shearer
Theresa Shearer is one of the third sector’s most respected and influential leaders, having made a significant impact in the
Dr Mhairi Stewart
Dr Mhairi Stewart is the Head of School for the Berlin School of Public Engagement and Open Science. Through her
Ms Catherine Stihler
Born in Scotland, Catherine was educated at St Andrews University, she received a Master of Arts (MA) with Honors in
Professor Marc Turner
Marc Turner is Director of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and Professor of Cellular Therapy at the University of
Ms Linda Urquhart
An experienced Non-Executive Director with a background as a lawyer, currently a member of the Boards of Edinburgh Airport and
Professor Helen Walden
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Professor Cheng-Xiang Wang
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Professor Ya Ping Wang
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Professor Barbara Webb
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Professor Linda Woodhead
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Lord Stephen Woolman
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Professor James Yu
James is a charted engineer, a charted project manager and an elected IET Fellow (Institute of Engineering and Technology). He
Dr Sabir Zazai
Passionate about refugee rights, social justice, human rights and intercultural relations, Sabir was appointed CEO of Scottish Refugee Council in

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