Category: Case study

Supported by a Small Research Grant, neuroscientists Dr Fabien Naneix and Dr Kate Peters, undertake research to better understand how environmental factors affect the adolescent brain, and whether environmental enrichment can protect the adolescent brain from the harmful effects of high-fat, high-sugar diets.

Academics involved in a Scotland-Taiwan research partnership have formally established an international collaboration scheme for research into the treatment of chronic pain.

Early Scottish archaeology has long overlooked textiles because they rarely survive. RSE Personal Research Fellowship awardee Dr Susanna Harris’s research reveals that Bronze Age communities were producing sophisticated fabrics from plant fibres, wool, and horsehair. Discoveries such as a 3,000-year-old horsehair hat—the earliest known garment in Scotland—highlight textiles as a vital part of the nation’s prehistoric heritage.

The 8th Scotland-Norway Waves & Marine Hydrodynamics Symposium was held at the Royal Society of Edinburgh on 22 and 23 October this year.

Work experience: Ways of remembering (a) working life is an RSE Small Research Grant-supported project led by Professor Suzanne Ewing, which challenges how working lives—particularly those of women in Scottish architecture—are recognised, remembered, and valued.

Charlie Cobbinah, doctoral researcher, and Dr. Milena Dobreva, share their experiences of academic mentorship through RSE and University of Edinburgh scheme.

Can smart clothing support healthy ageing? Small Research Grant awardee, Dr Danying Yang, leads a human-centred research project that reimagines wearable tech for comfort, dignity, and real-life use amongst older users.

Swallowing disorders can be life-changing. RSE Personal Research Fellowship holder, Dr Joan Ma, explores the potential of Ultrasound to make swallowing assessments safer, more accessible, and closer to home. A game-changer for stroke, Parkinson’s and cancer care.

Dr Inge Sørensen leads Sustainable Screens Scotland, a cross-disciplinary network funded by an RSE grant to promote greener practices in screen and music industries through collaboration, events, and a new sustainability database.

How can music cities lead on climate justice? Professor Matt Brennan’s RSE Personal Research Fellowship explores how Glasgow, a UNESCO City of Music, can harmonise cultural vibrancy with a just and green future.

Professor Bridle was awarded an RSE Personal Research Fellowship to develop a new methodology to investigate the role of stereotypes relating to gender, ethnicity, and social class, and how this influences children’s perceptions of engineering.

Professor Tom Rice leads a project uncovering the forgotten 35mm filmstrip; a versatile mid-20th century media form. Funded by an RSE Research Network Award, his project connects archives and scholars, bringing lost histories to light.

RSE-supported research uses high-throughput DNA sequencing to explore how urban diets impact Blue Tit fitness and reproduction. Findings show that urban spaces hinder chick development due to fewer caterpillars in their diet.

Cancer screening programmes can reduce deaths; however, they fail to sufficiently engage people with intellectual disabilities, leading to low uptake. Professor Deborah Cairns, RSE International Joint Projects awardee collaborated with colleagues at the University of New South Wales in Australia to address this important but under-researched area.

Exploring LGBTQ+ life, RSE awardee Professor Yvette Taylor aims to reimagine social justice through intersectional queer perspectives, focusing on resilience, creativity, and non-normative practices.

RSE Personal Research Fellowship awardee, Dr Laura Forrest discusses her work aiming to improve menstrual health literacy in Scotland.

Dr Emily Draper of the Young Academy of Scotland speaks about her drive to understand how the world works, and her commitment to helping women in chemistry, as she receives her RSE Lady Margaret Moir Medal.

Professor Jenni Barclay is a world leader in the emerging field of social volcanology – working with communities to help them become more resilient to volcanic activity, especially in times of crisis.