Knowledge hub
Stay updated on the latest knowledge and research with our hub, which is designed to help you learn about the world around you.
These resources are from RSE Fellows, members of the Young Academy of Scotland, RSE research awardees, and medallists. These resources do not necessarily reflect the views of the RSE but are an opportunity for those in the RSE community to share their expertise and updates in their work.
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Dave Robertson reflects on how Scotland’s rural communities experience further and higher education differently from those in cities, and why we need to remove practical barriers like poor transport, inflexible funding and rigid apprenticeship models.
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Why public trust and engagement are vital to the future of UK research and development and what CaSE’s polling reveals.
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Why euphemisms for menstruation persist and how clearer language can reduce stigma, improve health and support menstrual dignity.
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New data from Speak for Yersel reveals how Scots pronunciations and sentence structures vary across Scotland.
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This blog examines how mediation and peacemaking continue to bring opposing sides together, highlighting lessons from the Edinburgh Conversations.
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Research shows that exercise messages for young women are most effective when presented in a gain-framed and health-focused manner, reducing resistance and encouraging activity.
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How music communicates meaning and connection from Hendrix’s *All Along the Watchtower* to the science and social power of sound.
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James Naughtie argues that one of the deepest challenges we face is not simply political disagreement, but the fragmentation of our public discourse:
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Four experts argue that the UK must shift from treating nature as expendable to recognising it as our life support system. Drawing on recent climate warnings, they outline why transformational, nature-centred change is essential for resilient food systems, healthier communities, and a secure future.
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Jan Lundell, Finnish education expert, reflects on STEM strategies in Scotland and Finland, highlighting shared challenges, teacher trust, and systemic innovation.
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Read about one of the darkest chapters in Edinburgh’s scientific history. A story of ambition, controversy, and the fine line between discovery and disgrace – still unsettling, even two centuries later.
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A new UN report highlights how climate change is reshaping the lives of whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Experts call for urgent action.
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What role do peatlands play in Scotland’s rural future? Perhaps more pertinently, what role do peatlands play in the future of Scotland’s rural economy, and of the nation’s ecology?
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From Skye to the Highlands, rural Scotland is caught between tourism growth and community wellbeing. Professor Sandro Carnicelli explores why a new approach is needed.
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As energy demand rises, Scotland’s rural and island communities face a critical question: who benefits from the energy transition?
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Scotland’s rural beauty masks a deeper ecological and biodiversity crisis. Professor Pat Monaghan calls for urgent reform in land use, forestry, and environmental policy.
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Kirsten Gow takes a critical look at how spatial classifications shape perceptions and policies around Scotland’s rural and island areas – and how new tools like the Scottish Islands Typology offer a way forward.
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Frank Rennie writes about why preserving local rural heritage and culture matters in a globalised world.
