The RSE names 2020 Fellows
The Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland’s National Academy has announced its newly elected 2020 Fellows. These new Fellows comprise leading thinkers and experts from Scotland and around the world whose work has a significant impact on our nation.
- 63 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 author and activist Alan Cumming; world expert on global health and tropical diseases, Professor Francisca Mutapi; director at Equate Scotland, Talat Yaqoob; and Scottish historian Niall Ferguson.
The new intake of 63 fellows joins the current roll of around 1,600, representing the full range of physical and life sciences, arts, humanities, social sciences, education, professions, industry, business and public life. Those who are nominated, and then invited to join, have undergone rigorous assessment of their achievements, professional standing and societal contribution. Fellows, who give of their time freely, play a fundamental role in enabling the RSE to deliver its mission ‘Knowledge Made Useful’, contributing to the cultural, economic and social well-being of Scotland and the wider world.
The list includes many leading academics, such as Professor Francisca Mutapi, a world-expert on global health and tropical diseases, and Professor Rosalind Allen, whose work contributions to our understanding of antibiotic resistance, but also includes a wide array of leaders from the arts, third sector, business and public life. These include Talat Yaqoob, a director at Equate Scotland, the national expert in gender equality throughout the STEM sectors, and an Equalities Consultant, who since 2016 has been leading work to change cultures in organisations and academia to encourage more women into male dominated fields.
Talat comments:
It is an honour to be elected as a fellow and have the opportunity to be part of such an esteemed network. I admire the work of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and look forward to playing my role in its aims to engage a diverse range of people, to create a fairer society and to make Scotland a global leader in tackling social and economic challenges.
Alongside the 53 fellows and eight international fellows, honorary fellowships have also been awarded to actor, producer, singer, author and activist Alan Cumming and historian Niall Ferguson.
In the words of Val McDermid, one of Alan’s supporters for Fellowship: “His range is remarkable – as a highly respected actor, director, producer, singer, voice artist, interviewer and writer, his career is both inspirational and aspirational for the young people he supports.
“His work in support of the LGBTQI community has also been of real significance and his own journey is one that provides hope and stokes ambition in young people in difficult situations. He’s a wonderful communicator who engages directly with a broad spectrum of audiences, talking passionately and thoughtfully about his beliefs and experiences.”
In response to his fellowship, Alan commented:
“We are at a time in history when more than ever before we need to talk, debate, and conclude. It is such an honour to be asked to join such a great group of thinkers and I am so excited to meet the RSE fellows.”
The diverse expertise and experience of our fellows, means that, as an organisation, we are well-placed to respond to the issues of the day with clear informed thinking free from commercial or political influence. Our new fellows, who we look forward to welcoming, not only hold vast knowledge but also deep experience, keen judgement, boundless enthusiasm and a passion for promoting societal development and change. By using their talents as a collective, we can often unlock or inspire new potential and unearth fresh solutions to some of the most complex issues Scotland’s society faces today.
The full list of new RSE Fellows 2020 are as follows:
Honorary Fellows
Mr Alan Cumming
Actor, Producer, Singer, Author and Activist
Professor Niall Ferguson
Milbank Family Senior Fellow, Stanford University
International Fellows
Professor David Bates
Chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, USA
Professor Joan Cordiner
Professor of Process Engineering and External Engagement, University of Sheffield
Professor Alan Cowman
Deputy Director – Science, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Professor Tom Curran
Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer, Children’s Research Institute
Professor Malik Dahlan
Principal and Chief Lawyer, Institution Quraysh for Law & Policy
Dr Mwapatsa Mipando
Principal of the College of Medicine, University of Malawi
Dr Viswanathan Mohan
Director, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation
Professor Mari Ostendorf
Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Washington
Fellows
Professor Lynn Abrams
Professor of Modern History, University of Glasgow
Professor Rosalind Allen
Professor of Biological Physics, University of Edinburgh
Professor Emerita Annie Anderson
Professor of Public Health Nutrition, University of Dundee
Professor Keith Bell
Scottish Power Professor of Smart Grids, University of Strathclyde and a co-Director of the UK Energy Research Centre
Professor David Borchers
Professor of Statistics, University of St Andrews
Ms Christine Borland
Artist
Mr Melfort Campbell
Director, Imes Group Limited
Rt Hon Lord Menzies Campbell of Pittenweem
Chancellor, University of St Andrews
Professor David Crossman
Dean of Faculty of Medicine, University of St Andrews
Professor Simon Dobson
Professor of Computer Science, University of St Andrews
Professor Penny Fielding
Grierson Professor of English Literature, University of Edinburgh
Professor Robert Frost
Burnett Fletcher Professor of History, University of Aberdeen
Professor Sebastian Geiger
Energi Simulation Chair and Director of the Institute of GeoEnergy Engineering, Heriot-Watt University
Professor Ian Gilbert
Head, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, and Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Dundee
Professor Tom Gillingwater
Chair of Anatomy, University of Edinburgh
Professor Rebecca Goss
Professor of Organic Chemistry, University of St Andrews
Professor Bruce Guthrie
Professor of General Practice, University of Edinburgh
Professor Katie Hampson
Wellcome Senior Research Fellow, University of Glasgow
Dr David Hare
Independent Non-Executive Director
Professor Ailsa Henderson
Professor of Political Science and Head of Politics and International Relations, University of Edinburgh
Mr Dominic Hill
Artistic Director, Citizens Theatre
Professor Mark Huxham
Professor of Teaching and Research in Environmental Biology, Edinburgh Napier University
Professor Ralf Kaiser
Professor of Physics, University of Glasgow, and Managing Director, Lynkeos Technology
Dr Deborah Keith
Chair, James Hutton Ltd
Mr Fergus Linehan
Festival Director & Chief Executive, Edinburgh International Festival
Professor Margaret Lucas
Director, Centre for Medical and Industrial Ultrasonics, University of Glasgow
Professor Rory McCrimmon
Dean, School of Medicine, University of Dundee
Sir Iain McMillan
Member, Competition Appeal Tribunal
Professor Dr Nasar Meer
Professor of Sociology, University of Edinburgh
Dr Lindsay Montgomery
Visiting Professor, School of Law, University of Strathclyde
Professor Jill Morrison
Clerk of Senate and Vice-Principal, University of Glasgow
Dr Joseph Morrow
President, Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland
Professor Simon Mudd
Professor of Earth Surface Processes, University of Edinburgh
Professor Miratul Muqit
Professor of Experimental Neurology, University of Dundee
Professor Scott Murray
Emeritus Professor of Palliative Care in the Community, University of Edinburgh
Professor Francisca Mutapi
Professor of Global Health Infection and Immunity, University of Edinburgh
Dr Sandy Nairn
Investment Partner and CEO/Chairman, Edinburgh Partners
Ms Francesca Osowska
Chief Executive, Chief Executive,
Professor Beatrice Pelloni
Professor of Mathematics and Head of School, Heriot-Watt University
Professor Jose Penades Casanova
Professor of Microbiology, University of Glasgow
Professor Aidan Robson
Professor of Particle Physics, University of Glasgow
Professor Alex Rowe
Professor of Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh
Dr Alison Sheridan
Emerita Principal Archaeological Research Curator, National Museums of Scotland
Professor Chris Soulsby
Professor of Hydrology, University of Aberdeen
Professor Chris Speed
Chair of Design Informatics, University of Edinburgh
Rt Hon Colin Sutherland
Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General of Scotland
Professor Stephen Tierney
Professor of Constitutional Theory, University of Edinburgh
Professor Lesley Torrance
Director of Science, James Hutton Institute, and Professor of Plant Virology, University of St Andrews
Professor Dr Pieter van West
Director of the International Centre for Aquaculture Research and Development, University of Aberdeen
Professor Nick Watson
Chair of Disability Research and Director of Centre for Disability Research, University of Glasgow
Professor Nick Weston
General Manager, Renishaw Plc
Mr Andrew Wilson
Founding Partner, Charlotte Street Partners
Ms Talat Yaqoob
Independent Consultant and Researcher