Leading thinkers and practitioners elected as RSE Fellows in 2023

• 91 Fellows have been elected to join The Royal Society of Edinburgh from across the sciences, education, the arts, business, and public life.
• Among those joining are Olympian Dame Katherine Grainger; world record holder Mark Beaumont BEM; Cardiovascular specialist, Professor Lis Neubeck; former CEO of Wood Plc, Robin Watson CBE; and author Andrew O’Hagan.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Scotland’s National Academy, has announced its 2023 intake of Fellows, with 91 names representing science, arts, business, sports, civil society and academia from across Scotland and beyond.

They will be joining the RSE’s current Fellowship, which comprises 1,800 people recognised as being some of the greatest thinkers, researchers and practitioners in their field working in or with organisations in Scotland today.

This year, Dame Katherine Grainger DBE, Chair of UK Sport, receives the coveted Honorary Fellowship in recognition of her ability to engage and inspire people. Dame Katherine is one of Team GB’s most decorated athletes and the only female athlete – in any sport – to gain medals in five consecutive Olympic Games.

She also works with several charities helping young people to access the benefits of sport and physical activity. Alongside her stellar sporting achievements, Dame Katherine has achieved a PhD in criminal law, and in 2020 was the first woman to be appointed Chancellor of the University of Glasgow since it was founded in 1451.

Also joining the Fellowship this year is Andrew O’Hagan, the Scottish author whose 2020 novel, Mayflies, was recently adapted into a highly successful drama for BBC starring Martin Compston and Tony Curran.

Born in Glasgow and raised in Ayrshire, Mr. O’Hagan has had a decorated career, including three booker prize nominations. He won the Glenfiddich Writer of the Year Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Award, and the E.M. Forster Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He is currently Editor-at-Large of the London Review of Books, and is a contributor to Esquire, the New York Review of Books, and the New Yorker.

Others named as Fellows of the RSE this year include Mark Beaumont BEM, who holds the record for cycling round the world in less than 79 days. With a degree in economics and politics, Mr. Beaumont has spent 15 years working with a leading mid-market private equity firm and also became a partner at investment firm Eos Advisory in 2019. He was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to charity and sport in 2018.

Mr. Beaumont has already invested in Scottish innovation in science, engineering and technology, and his unique networks, passion for performance and skills in public engagement will make him an inspirational adviser and advocate for the RSE.

Professor Lis Neubeck, cardiac nurse and Head of Cardiovascular Health in the School of Health and Social Care at Edinburgh Napier University is another individual joining this year’s prestigious list of Fellows. Her research focuses on innovative solutions to secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, the identification and management of atrial fibrillation, and use of new technologies to improve access to health care.

Her work across the international healthcare community, from being an honorary professor at Sydney Nursing School, to past President of the Association of Cardiovascular Nurses and Allied Professionals of the European Society of Cardiology means she brings extensive experience of overseas collaboration to the RSE.

Robin Watson CBE, former chief executive of Wood Plc, the Scottish multinational engineering and consultancy company, was also elected as a Fellow for his services to business.
Mr. Watson stepped down from his role at Wood Plc in 2022, where he spent 10 years on the board, seven of which as chief executive. He transformed the business into one of the world’s foremost engineering and consultancy companies, and was awarded his CBE in Her Majesty the Queen’s 2020 Birthday Honours, in recognition of services to international trade.

His track record of global business impact, passion for developing the Scottish economy, huge appetite for encouraging academic and business partnerships and the reputation and standing to positively influence make him an asset to the RSE network.

The full list of new Fellows 2023 are as follows:

Honorary Fellow

• Dame Katherine Grainger DBE
  Chair, UK Sport

International Fellows

• Professor Claire Connolly
  Professor of Modern English, University College Cork
• Professor Ian Hay
  Professor of Medicine and Endocrine Research, Mayo Clinic College Of Medicine
• Dr Moriba Jah
  Associate Professor, University of Texas at Austin
• Dr M. N. V. Ravi Kumar
  Distinguished University Research Professor, The University of Alabama
• Professor Dr Peifeng Li
  Dean and Distinguished Professor, Qingdao University
• Dr Mallik Tatipamula
  Chief Technology Officer, Ericsson

Fellows

• Professor Richard Anderson 
  Elsie Inglis Professor of Clinical Reproductive Science, University of Edinburgh
• Professor Ross Anderson 
  Professor of Security Engineering, University of Cambridge and University of Edinburgh
• Mr Paul Atkinson LT
  Founding Partner, Par Equity
• Professor Liz Bacon 
  Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Abertay University
• Lieutenant General Robert Baxter CBE
  Director Defence and Security, Chapel Associates
• Mr Mark Beaumont 
  Partner, Eos Advisory
• Mr Alexander Begbie CBE
  Chief Executive, Scottish Financial Enterprise
• Ms Gillian Berkeley 
  Education Professional
• Professor Nehal Bhuta 
  Chair of Public International Law, University of Edinburgh
• Professor Clare Bond 
  Professor, University of Aberdeen
• Professor George Boyne 
  Principal and Pro Vice Chancellor, University of Aberdeen
• Dr Stephen Breslin 
  Chief Executive Officer, Glasgow Science Centre
• Professor Christopher Chapman 
  Chair of Education Policy, University of Glasgow
• Professor Hugh Cheape MBE
  Senior Lecturer, University of the Highlands and Islands
• Professor Alessio Ciulli 
  Professor of Chemical and Structural Biology and Director of the Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, University of Dundee
• Professor Craig Clark MBE
  Professor of Practice for Space, University of Strathclyde
• Professor Jan Clarkson 
  Professor of Clinical Effectiveness, University of Dundee
• Ms Elizabeth Connolly 
  Principal and Chief Executive, West College Scotland
• Professor Sharon Cowan 
  Professor of Feminist and Queer Legal Studies, University of Edinburgh
• Ms Alison Culpan 
  Scotland Director, Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
• Professor Albena Dinkova-Kostova 
  Professor of Chemical Biology, University of Dundee
• Professor Mark Elliott 
  Professor of Biblical and Historical Theology, Director of Research, Highland Theological College, University of the Highlands and Islands
• Professor Martin Evans 
  Professor of Statistical Physics, University of Edinburgh
• Professor David Flynn 
  Professor of Cyber Physical Systems, University of Glasgow
• Professor Maria Fusco 
  Chair in Interdisciplinary Writing, University of Dundee
• Ms Cathy Gallagher 
  Executive Director of Sport, University of Stirling
• Professor Jaboury Ghazoul 
  Professor of Ecosystem Management, ETH Zürich
• Mr David Gow 
  Writer, editor and consultant
• Professor Frank Gunn-Moore 
  Professor of Molecular Neurobiology, University of St Andrews
• Professor Karen Halliday 
  Chair of Systems Physiology and Dean of Systematic Inclusion, University of Edinburgh
• Professor Ewen Harrison OBE
  Professor of Surgery and Data Science, University of Edinburgh
• Professor Deirdre Heddon 
  James Arnott Professor in Drama, University of Glasgow
• Professor Peter Higgins 
  Professor of Education  (Environmental, Sustainability & Outdoor Education), University of Edinburgh
• Professor Sascha Hooker 
  Professor of Marine Ecology, University of St Andrews
• Professor David Ireland 
  Head of School, School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Glasgow
• Professor Ima Jackson 
  Professor, School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University
• Mrs Sarah Jardine 
  Chief Operating Officer, Epipole
• Professor Michel Kaiser 
  Professor of Fisheries Conservation, Heriot-Watt University
• Professor S Vittal Katikireddi 
  Professor of Public Health and Health Inequalities, University of Glasgow
• Ms Uzma Khan 
  Vice Principal Economic Development & Innovation, University of Glasgow
• Professor Alex Lascarides 
  Professor of Semantics, University of Edinburgh
• Regius Professor Alison Lumsden 
  Regius Chair in English Literature, University of Aberdeen
• Dr Margaret M McCartney 
  Chief Scientist Office NHS Research Fellow and Hon Senior Lecturer, University of St Andrews
• Professor Francisco Javier Martin-Torres 
  Personal Chair, Planetary Sciences, University of Aberdeen
• Professor Jacqui Matthews 
  Director of Veterinary Science, Austin Davis Biologics
• Ms Karyn McCluskey 
  Chief Executive, Community Justice Scotland
• Professor Davy McCracken 
  Head of Integrated Land Management Department, Scotland’s Rural College
• Dr Fiona McNeill 
  Reader in Computer Science Education, University of Edinburgh
• Ms Karina McTeague 
  Chief Risk Officer, Visa Europe Limited
• Professor Stewart Mercer 
  Professor of Primary Care and Multimorbidity, University of Edinburgh
• Professor James Miller 
  Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of the West of Scotland
• Professor Lorna Milne 
  Professor of French, University of St Andrews
• Professor Elisa Morgera 
  Professor of Global Environmental Law, University of Strathclyde
• Professor Isla Myers-Smith
  Professor of Climate Change Ecology, University of Edinburgh
• Professor Harish Nair 
  Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Global Health, University of Edinburgh
• Professor Lis Neubeck 
  Professor, Edinburgh Napier University
• Professor James Njuguna 
  Professor of Composite Materials & Research Strategic Lead Engineering, Robert Gordon University
• Professor Rachel Norman 
  Chair of Food Security and Sustainability, Institutional Dean for Research Engagement and Performance, University of Stirling
• Professor Conchúr Ó Brádaigh 
  Head of the School of Engineering and Chair of Materials Engineering, University of Edinburgh
• Professor Phillips O’Brien 
  Chair of Strategic Studies, University of St Andrews
• Mr Andrew O’Hagan 
  Novelist and Essayist
• Professor Christopher Quine 
  Chief Scientist, Forest Research
• Professor Naeem Ramzan 
  Professor and Director of AHCSE Research Centre, University of the West of Scotland
• Mr Peter Reekie 
  Chief Executive, Scottish Futures Trust
• Professor Graeme Roy 
  Dean of External Engagement, College of Social Sciences & Professor of Economics, University of Glasgow
• Mrs Angela Scott 
  Chief Operating Officer & Founder, TC BioPharm Scotland
• Professor Robert Semple 
  Chair of Translational Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh
• Ms Amina Shah 
  Chief Executive, National Library of Scotland
• Mr Alan Simpson OBE
  Lord-Lieutenant Stirling and Falkirk
• Professor Stephen Skinner 
  Ceres Power/RAEng Research Chair and Professor of Materials Chemistry, Imperial College London
• Professor Blair H Smith 
  Professor of Population Health Science, University of Dundee
• Professor Christopher Smith 
  Executive Chair, Arts and Humanities Research Council
• Professor Leigh Sparks 
  Deputy Principal and Professor of Retail Studies, University of Stirling
• Professor Steven Spoel 
  Director, Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, University of Edinburgh
• Professor Catherine Steel 
  Professor of Classics, University of Glasgow
• Professor Alyson Tobin 
  Former Vice Principal for Learning and Teaching, Edinburgh Napier University
• Professor Dr Satnam Virdee 
  Professor of Sociology, University of Glasgow
• Professor Sarah Walmsley 
  Professor of Respiratory Medicine, University of Edinburgh
• Mrs Jackie Waring 
  Founder, Investing Women Angels Ltd
• Mr Robin Watson CBE
  Non-Executive-Director
• Professor Janette Webb MBE
  Professorial Fellow, University of Edinburgh
• Professor Louise Welsh 
  Professor of Creative Writing, University of Glasgow
• Mr Rob Woodward 
  Chair of Court, Glasgow Caledonian University
• Ms Jackie Wylie 
  Chief Executive and Artistic Director, National Theatre of Scotland