The Royal Society of Edinburgh honours Ed Constable

The Royal Society of Edinburgh RSE is Scotland’s national academy and was established in 1783 for “the advancement of learning and useful knowledge”. The RSE hosts 1600 Fellows from all branches of knowledge, in contrast to the separate English bodies, the Royal Society and the British Academy.

“I am delighted to be appointed to this interdisciplinary body which selects its members on the basis of outstanding achievement, professional standing and societal contributions,” Ed Constable said. The title of Corresponding Fellow is reserved for Fellows who reside outside Scotland, and those elected are expected to be of a higher level of excellence than Ordinary Fellows.

“The election is very special for me, not only because I was born in Edinburgh, but also because Annie Lennox, former singer of the Eurythmics and now Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University, received an Honorary Fellowship at the same time.”

However, most important for him, he joins some of his heroes in the Fellowship, including chemists William Thomson (Baron Kelvin), Sir William Ramsay, writers such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the economist Adam Smith. Interestingly, Ed's election follows 158 years after that of Christian Schönbein, his predecessor in the chair of chemistry in Basel.

The aim of the RSE is to provide independent expert advice to policymakers and inspire the next generation of innovative thinkers. This knowledge contributes to the social and economic wellbeing of Scotland, its people and the nation’s wider contribution to the global community.