The Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland’s National Academy, has announced its new cohort of Fellows. Fellows are elected to the RSE for their exceptional achievements and acumen in the world of science, mathematics, business, and the arts.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh has been made a Royal Honorary Fellow of the RSE, joining the Society’s patron His Majesty King Charles III, The Prince of Wales and The Princess Royal.
Professor Sara Brown of the University of Edinburgh was elected for her exceptional work as a clinical academic dermatologist, researching genetic predispositions to inflammatory skin diseases.
She said: “It is a great honour, and I feel very privileged to have been elected. The diverse range of expertise and experience in the Society gives a real opportunity to progress with the aim of ‘Knowledge made useful’ for Scotland and beyond. I look forward to contributing to this work.”
Other University of Edinburgh professors to be made Fellows of the RSE this year include: Professor Kim Graham; Professor Manu Shankar-Hari; Professor Evelyn Telfer; Professor Rustam Al-Shahi Salman; Professor Philip Thornton; Professor Amy Buck; Professor Pleasantine Mill; Professor Richard Ball; Professor Carole Morrison; Professor Michael O’Boyle; Professor Thanasis Tsanas; and Professor Gbenga Ibikunle.
Professor James Scobbie of Queen Margaret University also joins the Society this year. His work on theoretical phonology has contributed to the understanding of speech and language therapy, child speech acquisition and psycholinguistics.
Professor Scobbie said: “I am honoured to join the RSE and thrilled by the opportunities it offers to share my joy of speech science. Human languages are amazingly diverse natural artefacts, with physical, mental and social facets. Every detail of each one is worthy of study and celebration.”
Joining the cohort of new Fellows is David Field, Chief Executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, who run both Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park. He previously served as chief executive of the Zoological Society of East Anglia, zoological director of the Zoological Society of London and curator of Whipsnade Zoo.
He said: “The RSE inspires the world in scientific endeavour so to be recognised and elected as a Fellow is a true privilege. I am excited and challenged to now use my experience in conservation and zoology to further the aims of the RSE and more especially to feel worthy to sit alongside that incredible network of Fellows that embodies the RSE.”
Two Heriot-Watt University professors – Professor Mehul Malik and Professor Minhyong Kim – also join the 2025 cohort, as has Professor Jamie Newbold of the Edinburgh Campus of Scotland’s Rural College.
President of the RSE, Professor Sir John Ball PRSE, said: “It is my sincere pleasure to welcome each of our new Fellows – from the worlds of academia, public service, business, and the arts – to Scotland’s National Academy.
“They represent excellence in their fields and will reinforce our ability to tackle the challenges that Scotland, and indeed the wider world, faces now and in the future.
“Across a range of disciplines, they have each shown an unshakeable commitment to their research, work or craft, and it is exactly this superlative level of accomplishment that makes them belong as Fellows of the RSE.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of our new Fellows, and I hope they will avail themselves of all that our great National Academy has to offer them.”