The Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) is Scotland’s national academy. It is a premier learned society, founded by Royal Charter in 1783 for “the advancement of learning and useful knowledge”. Covering all branches of learning, including the Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Arts & Letters, the Professions, Technology, Industry and Commerce, the RSE continues to embody the spirit of the Scottish Enlightenment which shaped its original Charter. In this it provides an important Scottish forum for broadly-based interdisciplinary, as well as more specialised, activities to promote scholarship. Each year the RSE enhances its position in Scotland by electing men and women of great accomplishment to its Fellowship and there are more than 1,500 Fellows who contribute voluntarily to its activities.
The RSE is an independent Scottish charity governed by a Council of Fellows elected annually by the Fellowship. It is funded in part by Scottish Government grants and also seeks support from private and other charitable sources to promote its activities.
Working in constructive partnership with a wide range of bodies, the RSE undertakes a diverse range of public benefit activities for Scotland. It does this directly and through its connected charitable trusts, the RSE Scotland Foundation and the BP Research Fellowships Trust.
The RSE contributes to the following public benefit outcomes:
Enhancing the capacity of world-class science and culture researchers working in Scotland;
Increasing Scotland’s research and development connections internationally;
Improving connections between business and academia;
Enhancing the capcity of school age children to adopt science as a career;
Enhancing the public’s understanding of science and culture issues;
Informing and influencing public policy decisions.