RSE-Research-Awards-2014-prog-FINAL_lowres

The Royal Society
of Edinburgh
monday 1 september 2014
research awards reception
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Front cover images:
1. Professor Lynn Abrams – Scottish Government Arts & Humanities Network, p. 23
2. Dr Geraldine Parsons – Scottish Government Arts & Humanities Small Grant, p. 29
3. Dr Kamusella Tomasz – Scottish Government Arts & Humanities Small Grant, p. 27
Map of official languages in Central Europe, 1721
4. Mungo Campbell – Scottish Government Arts & Humanities Workshop, p. 18
William Hunter 1718–1783 by Allan Ramsay
5. Dr Gareth Lloyd – Scottish Government Personal Research Fellowship, p. 11
Crystal structures, produced by X-ray Crystallography, of a molecular porous material with two
important gases, carbon dioxide (top) and acetylene (bottom), captured within the structure
6. Professor James Loxley – Scottish Government Arts & Humanities Workshop, p. 18
7. Professor Murdo Macdonald – Scottish Government Arts & Humanities Small Grant, p. 27
Detail of ionisation caused by X-rays, CTR Wilson, 1912
8. Dr Bertalan Pusztai – CRF European Travel Fellowship – Visit to Scotland, p. 16
Reenactment and place branding – jousting at the Bruce Festival in Dunfermline
9. Dr Anita Quye and Dr Klaus Staubermann –
Scottish Government Arts & Humanities Network, p. 22
ReCREATE network logo
10. Dr Genevieve Lennon and Professor Clive Walker –
Scottish Government Arts & Humanities Workshop, p. 19

THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH
RESEARCH AWARDS RECEPTION 2014
PROGRAMME
5.00 pm Guests arrive and seated by 5.30 pm
5.30 pm Welcome from the President:
Sir John Arbuthnott MRIA
5.35 pm Research Awards Convener:
Professor Steve Beaumont OBE
Report on 2014 Awards Programme
Announcement of Scottish Crucible Project Awards
Launch of RSE Enterprise Fellowships Promotional Film
5.45 pm President’s Concluding Remarks
5.50 pm Poster Displays and Buffet Supper
8.00 pm Finish

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Welcome by Sir John Arbuthnott MRIA
The President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Welcome by Professor Steve Beaumont OBE
Research Awards Convener
Welcome to the RSE’s annual awards reception. I am Professor Steve Beaumont, from
the University of Glasgow, and I am the Research Awards Convener here at the RSE.
Many of you will have met me when you came for your interviews earlier in the year.
This evening gives us the opportunity to celebrate with the 2014 Research Fellows,
Enterprise Fellows, Scholars and Students. You will find their details and information
about their projects in the following pages of this programme. The RSE is Scotland’s
National Academy of both Science and the Arts and it is very fortunate to be able to
offer awards across all disciplines, reflecting the founding aim of the Society which
is “the advancement of learning and useful knowledge.”
We have awarded Scottish Government-funded Research Fellowships, a BP Trust
Research Fellowship and a Caledonian Research Fund (CRF) Research Fellowship this
year. The RSE welcomes the funding it receives from its partner organisations, the
logos of which you will find on page 5, which make these awards possible.
The RSE employed a new PR and Marketing Officer late last year and this evening we
will see the fruits of his labours as we launch the Enterprise Fellowships promotional film
and new marketing materials. Application numbers continue to be high for these awards
and we anticipate they will become even more competitive when the new materials take effect.
The Arts and Humanities awards remain very popular and the next deadline for applications
is approaching on 15th September. Earlier this year, the RSE selection panel selected 30
Scottish Crucible participants and they have now completed their career development
‘labs’. We will announce the winning group projects at this event and you will find more
information about Scottish Crucible, and its participants, at the end of this programme.
I wish all the 2014 awardees every success with their projects over the coming year
and into the future.
The Research Awards reception is a true highlight of the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s
annual events calendar. It lets us celebrate and reflect upon the important research
work being done across academia and business here in Scotland. It also allows us
to recognise the forging of new international research connections, and reinforces
the strength of our existing collaborations.
Gathered here this evening we have over 100 distinguished individuals whose
achievements and discoveries not only help progress knowledge in their respective
subject areas, but also serve to revitalise the RSE’s 230-year history of supporting
excellence across all areas of academic, public and scientific life in Scotland: from
science and engineering, to medicine, and the arts and humanities, I am once again
heartened by the sheer breadth of research that is being supported by our various awards.
These awards are made possible through the continued support of our many funding
partners. For this I want to extend my warm thanks to BBSRC, BP, Scottish Enterprise,
the Scottish Funding Council, the Scottish Government and the STFC. Finally, I would
like to offer my congratulations to each of the inspiring individuals whose successes
and abilities are being celebrated here this evening. They represent the continuing
ferment of inspired research that typifies the RSE.

Research Awardees 2014
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Laura Moran
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews
Detecting Earth-size Planets
I have always had a fascination with space and, in particular, planets orbiting stars
other than our own. The prospect of life in other planetary systems, or even another
planet for humans to live on, used to be science fiction, but thanks to more powerful
telescopes we are now able to discover and characterise these alien worlds – albeit
from afar!
Extra-Solar planet detection is a relatively new field in Astronomy. Improving the radial
velocity method (one of the most common techniques used to find these planets)
allows us to measure the mass of small planets. By monitoring a star’s radial velocity,
we can detect a planet and measure its mass. This leads to estimating its density and
hence the bulk composition and structure of the planet. The aim of this project is to
determine the masses of small Earth-size planets.
Craig McNeill
School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews
Analysis of Sunspot Rotation on the Simulation of an Emerging Toroidal Flux Tube
The wide scope in the reporting of sunspot rotation merits a study of the mechanisms
driving this motion. Several reports have noted that rapidly rotating sunspots have
accompanied coronal mass ejections and solar flares, giving the study of sunspot
rotation particular significance (recent studies include reports by Török et al. [2013] &
Wang et al. [2014]). A suggested method of the mechanism is due to the untwisting
of an emerging toroidal flux tube through the photosphere. This project used data
from simulations of the toroidal flux tube described by Hood et al. [2009] to analyse
the magnetic field and plasma velocity at both the photosphere and the solar interior.
This was to determine if the flux tube was untwisting and what its rate of rotation
was at the photosphere, in order to compare it with previous reported findings from
observational data.
Cormack Vacation Research Scholarships
Aneesh Naik
Department of Physics, University of Oxford
Visiting: School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews
Onset of turbulence and inverse cascade in the ISM
The stellar IMF (initial mass function) is the mass distribution of stars. This turns out
to be a universal function; i.e., it is the same wherever we look in the sky. There are
various different strands of theories regarding the origins of this universal function;
e.g., theories based purely on statistics, theories based on accretion processes,
theories based on turbulence, etc. I played around with the latter case. In the first
part of my project, I investigated the assumptions underpinning Padoan and
Nordlund's turbulence-based theory of 2002, while in the second part I considered
the effect on the IMF of turbulence arising via the 'inverse cascade'; i.e., turbulence
rising from small length scales to large length scales, as opposed to the conventionally
assumed 'direct cascade', the opposite case.

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Katriona Goldmann
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh
Visiting: School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews
Linking the 3D-shape of bulges with its dynamics
Galaxies can only be observed in the 2D plane of the sky, thus their unknown 3D
shape could hold invaluable information about their evolution and formation.
Although previous studies have investigated the overall intrinsic shapes of elliptical
galaxies, the slightly more complicated disk or spiral galaxies have not been studied
quite so extensively.
This project investigated the shapes of a sample of spiral galaxies using data from
the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. This was achieved by firstly constructing a 2D model
of the galaxy using photometric observations. From this, the most probable intrinsic
shape could be constrained in all three dimensions using realistic triaxial methods.
With images from the CALIFA survey, these shapes were then compared to the
kinematics of the stars within them. This could then show whether there was any
correlation between the bulge type, or stellar dynamics, and its shape.
Cormack Vacation Research Scholarships
Anna Mary Rice
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews
Equilibrium Chemistry in Extra-Solar Objects
The LEAP project, based at the University of St Andrews, studies charge processes
in planetary atmospheres, with the aim of understanding how atmospheric ionisation
mechanisms change in the transition region between stars and planets. These charge
processes could potentially influence the occurrence of life by electricity. Key to this is
understanding what the dominating electron donor species are in such objects, and
what global parameters are required for an atmosphere to become an ionised plasma.
Over the course of this project, we use simulations produced by the Drift-Phoenix
atmosphere grid and apply a chemical equilibrium routine to them, to calculate
chemical compostion. By using a broad range of simulations with varying global
parameters such as effective temperature and metalicity, we are able to understand
how the ionising species in an atmosphere change at varying atmospheric depths
for different types of object.
Magnus Woods
School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Glasgow
Investigating small X-ray flares outside of Solar active regions
Flares are rapid bursts of energy released in the Sun’s atmosphere, observed as
flashes of light over many wavelengths. The largest flares always occur in active
regions, locations of strong magnetic field. This characteristic appears to continue
down to smaller flares, known as microflares. This is supported by data from NASA’s
Solar X-ray satellite RHESSI. Some flare positions found with RHESSI lie outwith active
regions and although this is often due to instrumental artifacts, it would be important
for understanding how the solar atmosphere is heated to find flare-like energy
releases occurring throughout the Solar atmosphere, not just in active regions. Since
2010, there have been near continuous EUV images of the Sun from NASA’s SDO/AIA
and so the aim of this project is to identify microflares that appear to be located
outside of active regions, confirming whether they are real events through this
combination of EUV and X-ray observations.
Piazzi Smyth Research Scholarship

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Lessells Travel Scholarships
David Garcia Cava
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Dynamics of Advanced
Structures and Machinery Research Group, University of Strathclyde
Visiting: Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
MI, USA
Development of an automatic online vibration-based health monitoring system for
structures made of composites
The growth of aerospace and other sectors of engineering, such as wind turbine
structures for instance, placed composite materials at the forefront of the contemporary
research. Modern structures typcially require the use of lightweight and strong materials,
which demand a high level of performance combined with greater efficiency. Damage
in composite structures adversely affects the system’s performance, which gives an
additional importance to the use of structural health monitoring. The aim of this
research is the development of an integrated system for structural health monitoring
to fulfil the needs for delamination assessment and data-driven modelling of the
vibratory behaviour of composite structures. With real time monitoring of the damage
development of structures subjected to a wide range of environmental methodologies,
my research is oriented towards the development of a novel methodology for
statistical data analysis of the vibration resonse obtained from composite materials.
Margaret Creed
Institute of Energy Systems, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh
Visiting: Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, University of Western
Australia, Perth, Australia
Modelling the Environmental Impact of Tidal Stream Turbines
Renewable tidal energy extraction is at the cusp of the implementation stage. It is
vital to understand the interaction between the energy extraction devices and their
surrounding environment, to develop the most efficient technology whilst simultaneously
minimising any negative environmental impacts. It has been shown that, depending
on the amount of energy extracted, the flow hydrodynamics can be altered significantly.
The aim of this research is to develop a numerical model to analyse the interaction
between the modified flow hydrodynamics and the erodible sea bed. The results will
be used to determine the varying impact that the extraction of tidal energy could have
on the short- and long-term sea bed and coastal morphology, depending on the
quantity of energy extracted. The Lessell’s Travel Scholarship will help strengthen the
collaboration between offshore engineering researchers at UWA, Oxford University
and the University of Edinburgh, particularly in the area of tidal energy extraction.
Jeanette Heiligers
Advanced Space Concepts Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering, University of Strathclyde
Visiting: Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research, Department of Aerospace
Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
Solar sailing in the Earth–Moon system
Solar sailing is an exciting and relatively new, but advanced, field of spacecraft
propulsion. By reflecting solar photons off a large, highly-reflective membrane, solar
sails produce a continuous thrust force without relying on an on-board propellant
source. Solar sailing is therefore a breakthrough in Space propulsion, as it enables
long-lived orbits and high-energy mission concepts. For the first time, this project
will perform a thorough and systematic investigation of such orbits and concepts
in the Earth–Moon system, as the potential of solar sailing has so far mainly been
demonstrated in the Sun–Earth system. By creating solar sail orbits ‘closer to home’
the outcomes of this work will improve and enable a range of vital space applications
including Earth observation, Space surveillance (keeping ground and Space assests
safe from Space debris and asteroids), and lunar far-side communication, which will
be key in future human exploration of the Moon.

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Lessells Travel Scholarships
Christopher Lowe
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Strathclyde
Visiting: Institute for Astronautics, Technical University of Munich
Spacecraft Through-Life System Optimisation and Design
The use of nano-satellites to solve modern day problems is growing in popularity,
in particular with the fielding of large, distributed constellations. The relatively low
cost and modularity associated with these capable platforms is driving new mission
applications; however, the design infrastructure is not necessarily in-line, resulting
in generally sub-optimal mission performance.
The aim of this work is to identify new methods of examining the performance, utility
and value of large networks comprising satellites and ground nodes, such that optimal
missions can be established efficiently and with confidence. This involves, for example,
modelling connectivity through the network over time, identifying system capacity
and removing information flow bottlenecks. Data-flow can be used to represent the
vast majority of Earth-orbiting satellite applications, from image capture and
dissemination, through to communication, and maritime surveillance. Modelling
large Space networks in this way is key to the success our future in Space.
Emma McIntyre
BRE Centre for Fire Safety Engineering, University of Edinburgh
Visiting: Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Fire Performance of Concrete Reinforced with Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Bars:
Large Scale Experimental Study of FRP-Reinforced Bridge Decks at the National
Research Council of Canada in collaboration with Queen’s University, Canada
The introduction of FRP bars into construction is becoming commonplace due to
numerous well-known benefits, mainly corrosion resistance. However, severe code
restrictions typically remain where fire resistance requirements must be met. Critical
temperatures for steel reinforced concrete are defined by a 50% loss in tensile
strength and, on this basis, the critical temperatures of FRP bars are likely to be
much lower than for steel, due to the softening of the polymer matrix resins.
The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario have commissioned Queen’s University to
investigate the risk of fire on FRP-reinforced bridge decks, specifically hydrocarbon
fires. As part of this study, a concrete bridge deck reinforced with FRP bars has been
cast and will be tested at elevated temperatures. My current research involves the
determination of fire-safe applications of FRP in concrete. This exchange will allow
me to observe and assist with this unique large-scale structural fire test.
Shahid M. Naseer
Division of Biomedical Engineering, University of Glasgow
Visiting: Harvard-MIT Health Sciences & Technology, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology
To Study the Growth of Stem Cells for Tissues Regeneration using Surface Acoustic
Waves and Dielectrophoresis
Stem cells are capable of self-renewal through replication by residing in a complex
microenvironment and differentiating into specialised cells. In recent years,
microfabrication-based technologies, such as lab-on-a-chip (LOC), in combination with
stem cell biology, are laying the foundation for the development of in vitro diagnostic
systems capable of analysing cells under physiologically relevant conditions. Novel LOC
platforms can not only mimic complex in vivo milieu, but also provide greater control
in understanding cell properties in a scalable manner. My research is therefore concerned
with developing a platform, which integrates two complementary technologies –
dielectrophoresis and surface acoustic waves – to study the electrical and mechanical
properties of cells respectively. The J.M. Lessells Travel Scholarship would enable a
collaborative research project with the expertise from MIT to characterise the electrical
and mechanical properties of stem cells on their differentiation in matrix materials and
develop tissue constructs for tissue-engineered applications.

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Lessells Travel Scholarship
Marios Theristis
Institute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering, Heriot-Watt University
Visiting: Center for Sustainable Energy Systems, Fraunhofer, Albuquerque, USA
Outdoor characterisation of concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) systems
Concentrating photovoltaic systems (CPV) use optical components to focus direct
sunlight onto a receiver, in order to increase the power output and reduce costs. In
high concentrations, high-efficiency (over 40%) III-V multijunction solar cells are used
to further increase the power output. Due to the high heat flux concentration, the cell
temperature rises sharply, resulting in suboptimal performance and increasing the risk of
system failure. An integrated spectral-dependent electrical and thermal characterisation
is therefore required to predict the cell temperature and optimise the performance of
such devices under variable atmospheric conditions.
The J. M. Lessells Travel Scholarship will allow me to experimentally validate the numerical
model that I have constructed, as well as to quantify the effect of various atmospheric
factors on the CPV electrical, thermal and optical performance. The outdoor test field
of CSE Fraunhofer in Albuquerque is an ideal location to account for these effects.
Lyubov Chumakova
School of Mathematics, University of Edinburgh
Leaky troposphere – improving reduced atmospheric models
With the changing climate, accurate global weather and climate predictions are of
the utmost importance. A major difficulty in such predictions is the highly nonlinear
nature of moisture dynamics in the tropics, which requires much computational
power to capture accurately. In addition, the Atmosphere does not have a definite
top, which makes the computational load even larger. However, most of the weather
and moisture are confined to the Troposphere, the lower atmospheric layer
approximately 12km in height, above which airplanes fly to avoid turbulence and
storms. In this study, I will model the Troposphere in isolation, while retaining the
essential physics of the full Atmosphere by allowing it to “leak” the wave energy to
higher layers. By incorporating moisture dynamics in these reduced models, I hope
to tackle several outstanding problems in tropical dynamics, and to improve weather
and climate prediction models through collaboration with atmospheric scientists.
Scottish Government Personal Research Fellowships
Erik Gauger
School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University
Biomimetic energy harvesting with quantum nanostructures
I am interested in understanding and controlling Nature at the quantum level. My
research explores the physical limits of efficiency for light harvesting and energy
distribution on the nano-scale, motivated by the aim of laying the foundation for
future approaches to energy generation and delivery.
On the atomic scale, energy occurs in quantised chunks, e.g. as a photon of light,
and its behaviour is governed by quantum mechanics. In Nature, harvesting and
distributing quanta of energy is crucial for all forms of life, and these processes
have been fine-tuned within living organisms for hundreds of millions of years.
Taking inspiration from the ingenious solutions found in the natural world, I
intend to develop novel ways of harnessing quantum effects in artificial,
quantum-engineered molecules and devices.

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Nasar Meer
School of Social Work and Social Policy, University of Strathclyde
“We're a' Jock Tamson's Bairns” – To what extent is there a distinctive Scottish
approach to race equality?
It is a curious feature of UK citizenship that its possession has never conferred a right
to non-discrimination, not least because the UK has no formal or ‘written’ constitution
as found in many liberal democracies. What has been amassed instead is a body of
legislation that is overseen by the judiciary and which protects both citizens (and non-
citizens) from discrimination on specific grounds, and so seeks to treat people equally,
rather than resting on a benign ideal of equal treatment. What remains unclear is
how these settlements are finding expression in approaches to race equality in Scotland
in the context of a restored national parliament, fifteen years of devolution and the
prospect of further political self-governance. Even though matters of equality are formally
reserved in the Scotland Act (1998), my research will explore the ways in which
Scotland may have innovated with categories and incorporated third sector partners
at local and national measures, and so assess the extent and scope to which Scotland
might have developed a distinctive approach to race-equality policy and practice.
Scottish Government Personal Research Fellowships
Gareth O. Lloyd
Institute of Chemical Sciences, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-
Watt University
The Supramolecular Chemistry of Hydroxamic Acid
Supramolecular chemistry explores how molecules interact with each other through
weak and dynamic forces. The research proposed in this fellowship will look at the
supramolecular chemistry of the chemical group hydroxamic acid (HA). HAs are
utilised in medicines, are abundant within biology and are industrially relevant to the
binding of iron. It is therefore surprising that the supramolecular chemistry of HAs is
relatively unexplored. I therefore aim to extensively explore the weak chemical
interactions of the HAs, aimed at developing modern supramolecular chemistry
understanding. This knowledge will be utilised in the development of three important
aspects; namely, supramolecular hydrogels, molecular capsules and porous solid
materials. The supramolecular hydrogels will have use in cosmetics, drug delivery and
tissue engineering. The molecular capsules will be utilised in enzymatic mimicking
chemistry. Finally, the porous solid materials will be investigated for gas storage and
separation, particularly looking at carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide pollutants.
Mohammed F. Saleh
Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences, Heriot-Watt University
Novel Nonlinear Phenomena in Microstructured Waveguides
Optical microstructures with truly unique properties have been developed at a fast
pace in recent years as a result of the rapid progress in fabrication techniques.
I aim to conduct analytical and theoretical research to investigate novel nonlinear
optical phenomena in microstructured waveguides. Hollow-core photonic crystal
fibres (HC–PCFs), microstructured waveguides with a two-dimensional periodic
cross-section, offer unprecedented advantages that can lead to several fruitful
opportunities for demonstrating and better understanding new physical phenomena
in optics. HC-PCFs push the field of nonlinear fibre optics beyond the interaction of
light with solid media. These structures can host strong nonlinear interactions
between intense light and gaseous media over a relatively long propagation distance.
In addtition, having a wide range of gases with different properties enhances the
opportunity to observe different novel nonlinear phenomena inside these structures.
This will result in developing various novel photonic devices for diverse optical
applications in the near future.

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Ona Kealoha Miller
Department of Biology, University of St Andrews
Covalent attachment of bacteria to the host
In this project, previously uncharacterised bacterial surface proteins and their adhesion
domains will be studied using a combination of structural biology (nuclear magnetic
resonance, X-ray crystallography, small angle X-ray scattering), biochemical and
cell-based assays. Furthermore, using powerful new tools for protein interaction
analyses, binding partners of the bacterial proteins in question will be identified from
complex biological samples, such as blood plasma. We have already developed a
fluorescent molecular probe that specifically reacts with the bacterial covalent
adhesion proteins, which can be used to label and identify proteins on the surface
of bacteria. Our probe will also serve as a starting point for the development of small
molecules that could prevent bacterial adhesion, and therefore serve as a new tool for
combating bacterial infection.
BP Trust Personal Research Fellowship
Olof Johansson
School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh
Photoinduced Ultrafast Magnetisation Dynamics in Molecular Materials
Faster memories with higher storage densities are needed to match the rapid
development in electronics devices. A promising alternative to existing technology
is to use ultrashort laser pulses to control magnetic materials, which are the basic
components in information storage devices. This technique has the potential to
read and record data 1000 times faster than what present computer memories can
achieve. In particular, I am interested in applying these techniques to a new class of
magnetic materials that are based on molecular building blocks, in analogy to
commercially-successful OLEDs. Due to the chemical flexibility of these novel
materials, interesting magnetic and optical properties are obtained and it is possible
to systematically study how the material composition and properties affect the
magnetisation dynamics. Ultrafast magnetism is one of the frontiers in current
magnetic research and several important questions and challenges remain open.
Brianna Vandrey
School of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of St Andrews
An investigation of the role of the lateral entorhinal cortex in episodic memory
A prominent model of episodic memory in the medial temporal lobe posits that spatial
and non-spatial information about an event is processed separately by the medial and
lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC), respectively, before converging in the hippocampus to
form an associative memory. However, this model may be too simple; recent findings
in the rodent brain suggest that some spatial and non-spatial information is jointly
processed in the LEC prior to the hippocampus. Therefore, I will combine
electrophysiology, selective lesions and behavioural measures in a rodent model to
examine how the activity of single cells in the LEC reflects the integration of spatial
and non-spatial information, with the further aim of investigating the relationship
between LEC and hippocampal function when processing information about an
episode. This research will encourage the development of a more accurate neural
model of episodic memory and may further our understanding of memory impairment
in diseases where the entorhinal cortex is damaged, such as Alzheimer’s.
Carnegie Caledonian Scholarship
Henry Dryerre Scholarship

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CRF Personal Research Fellowship in Biomedical Sciences
Dina Iordanova
Centre for Film Studies, University of St. Andrews, Scotland
Visiting: SPEAP (Science Po); Jean-Michel Frodon/(also Paris Cinema Festival/La Femis
Cinemas of Paris
The Fellowship will allow me to spend a period in France and work on my project
on Parisian Cinemas (this will be a book which I am working on with my French
colleague, the famous film critic Jean-Michel Frodon). I already spent a period in
France earlier this year, and am returning again to continue work in the Fall.
Iain Andrew Ferguson
School of International Relations, University of St Andrews
Visiting: Centre for EU–Russia Studies (CEURUS), Department of Government
and Politics, University of Tartu, Estonia
‘Sweet Enemies’: The Character of the EU–Russia Relationship
This research project builds on my PhD work that tells the story of an unresolved
conflict in the EU–Russia relationship that began on the eve of the invasion of Iraq
in 2003.
The RSE grant will support my work on three research papers during a visit of five
months from 1st August 2014 to the only research centre in the world dedicated to
studying this international political relationship, at the University of Tartu in Estonia.
One paper will be a theoretical explanation for why the EU and Russia can be
understood as international ‘sweet enemies’. The other two papers will examine the
dark side of this relationship, with a particular emphasis on describing and explaining
the expansionist character of the struggle between these neighbouring powers, first
in Georgia and more recently in Ukraine.
Shipra Bhatia
MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC IGMM, University of Edinburgh
Decoding the functional relevance of cis-regulatory variation in human diseases
A large portion of the human genome regulates gene expression rather than coding
for proteins. Understanding how these regions of the genome work is of vital
importance for human health – it has been demonstrated that genetic changes in
these regions result in incorrect gene expression, leading to a variety of human
diseases. Differentiating the disease-causing sequence changes in noncoding regions
from the background sequence variation observed in the normal population can be a
challenge. My research aims to explain the role of the noncoding-element mutations
associated with mental retardation and other complex human diseases, using a
zebrafish model. It is hoped that the research will lead to the development of
improved disease treatments, or preventive approaches.
CRF European Travel Fellowships – Visits to Europe

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CRF European Travel Fellowships – Visits to Europe
Costas Panayotakis
Classics, School of Humanities, University of Glasgow
Visiting: Thesaurus Linguae Latinae, Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Munich
A commentary on the fragments of low farcical drama in the Roman Republic
My current research deals with indecent comic drama written in Latin, dated to
the Roman Republican period, and now surviving only in fragments. The aim of
the project is the production of a new text, the first-ever English translation, and
a comprehensive commentary on the substantial fragmentary corpus of what is
conventionally known as Atellane comedy. Atellane comedy comprised presumably
improvised spectacles during its early stages as type of theatrical entertainment,
but acquired literary form by the first Century BC in the hands of innovative
dramatists and actors. The literary scripts of Atellane playwrights have not been
transmitted directly, but survive in very short fragments cited by grammarians,
lexicographers and encyclopaedists. Despite the importance of Atellane comedy,
whose study enhances our appreciation of non-standard Latin language, Roman
society, and Italian culture, there has never been an English translation or
commentary on the fragments. My Visiting Research Fellowship will enable me to
travel to Munich to consult the unpublished linguistic resources of the Thesaurus
Linguae Latinae, and benefit from the expertise of the Redaktoren who work in it.
Katharine Mitchell
Department of Italian, University of Strathclyde
Visiting: Department of Italian Studies, University of Bologna, Italy
Women at the Theatre: Writers as Spectators in Early Post-Unification Italy
(1861–1914)
I spent two months at the University of Bologna liaising with colleagues in Italian,
History and Theatre Studies, and examining female performance and its consumption
as mediated through columns on theatregoing in women's journals housed at the
Biblioteca Italiana delle donne in Bologna. The project identifies the beginnings of a
female critical community with its own lexicon of cultural criticism by and for women,
linking it to the emergence of women writers on the literary scene in the 1870s and
the rise of the movement for female emancipation in the 1890s. Through an
examination of journalism, fan letters, diaries and realist fiction, the project
demonstrates a burgeoning solidarity among women in the public eye which was
specific to nineteenth-century European celebrity culture, in contrast to the here
and now, and which produced a significant degree of emancipation for female
theatregoers, whose lives were typically confined to the domestic sphere.
Andy Murphy
School of English, University of St Andrews
Visiting: School of English/Long Room Hub, Trinity College, Dublin
Bringing the Nation to Book: Ireland, Reading and Cultural Nationalism
Whilst critics have charted the rise of cultural nationalism in Ireland from the
emergence of the United Irishmen in the 1790s, little attention has been paid to the
way in which this intersected with the spread of educational provision and the rise
of literacy. In the early decades of this period, nationalist activists had to work through
a predominantly oral culture in spreading their message to a general audience. The
achievement of near full literacy by the final decades of the century facilitated the
nationalist project, but it also led to a curious crux, as the Irish ‘common reader’
entered a print marketplace dominated by the output of London publishers. Repeatedly
in this period, an Irish cultural elite complained that Irish readers were resorting to the
populist wares of the London trade. Mass literacy thus prompted, ultimately, an
extended debate about what precise form a specifically Irish literature should take.

15
Christoph Bläsi
Institute for Book Studies, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz (Germany)
Visiting: Scottish Centre for the Book, Institute for Creative Industries, Edinburgh
Napier University, Edinburgh
Rivalling ebook formats and open ebook strategies for Scottish publishers
Cultural diversity and the important role of bricks-and-mortar bookstores for a
European-style book culture are hampered by non-interoperable ebook formats as
they dominate the current market. The first objective of the project was to see this
as an instance of the more general issue of technologies competing to be the
standard and embed it in the corresponding academic discourse that, for example,
analysed the earlier Blue-ray–HD DVD struggle. The second objective was to develop
what this situation with respect to formats and other factors in the digital publishing
markets means for small Scottish publishers. The latter culminated in a public lecture
attracting representatives from the publishing sector in Scotland
(cf. ww.youtube.com/watch?v=pguoCp0SjfI). Moreover, I took the opportunity to be
in Scotland to do expert interviews with major figures in publishing education in the
UK (with additional financial support from the Scottish Centre for the Book) about the
self-conception of Publishing Studies etc.
Timothy Peace
The Alwaleed Centre, University of Edinburgh
Visiting: Centre for European Studies, Sciences Po, Paris
Muslim participation in the 2014 French local elections
During my research visit to Paris, I explored the participation of French Muslims in
electoral politics through a study of the local elections which took place on 23rd
and 30th March 2014. My study was based in the suburban towns of Montfermeil,
Trappes and Sevran, which have significant Muslim populations and also record
low levels of voter turnout, particularly during local elections. My fieldwork took me
on the election campaign trail as I tried to understand why there is so much apathy
amongst Muslim voters and also understand how political parties try to court this
electorate. I was able to work with renowned scholars of French politics such as
Professor Nonna Mayer, an expert on elections and political participation, and
Professor Gilles Kepel, who is the foremost authority on Muslims in France. The
research I carried out complemented my existing work into the political participation
of Muslims in Britain.
CRF European Travel Fellowships – Visits to Scotland
CRF European Travel Fellowship – Visits to Europe
Andrea Caracausi
Department of Historical and Geographic Sciences and the Ancient World,
University of Padua
Visiting: School of Humanities, University of Glasgow
Labour conflicts in early modern times: Italy in a European perspective
The present number and variety of protests worldwide invites scholars to investigate the
reasons for and forms of protests in historical perspective and especially to evaluate their
interaction with social and economic trends. This study aims to understand the development
of social conflicts in early modern Italy in a European, comparative perspective, by focusing
on labour and the exclusion of groups and individuals, such as women, migrants or
ethno-religious minorities. The Italian peninsula as a case study is particularly appropriate
because of the high level of commodification of labour during the centuries before
industrialisation, suggesting appropriate comparisons across historical periods. To
investigate conflicts within the world of work, this study will use a large database of trials,
mostly among individual employers and labourers and disputed in municipal guild courts.
My study will examine the trends of these conflicts in relation to periods of collective
protest and changes in economic, social and political contexts and will stimulate new
possibilities for the field of labour history and the study of social conflict.

16
Holger Pfaff
IMVR – Institute for Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and
Rehabilitation Science, University of Cologne
Visiting: Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen
Leadership, organisational culture, social capital and quality of care in healthcare organisations
The main object of the visit is to study the relationship between leadership,
organisational culture, social capital and quality of care in healthcare organisations.
In previous work, I have found that social capital and transformational leadership are
important determinants of several aspects of organisational performance in healthcare
organisations such as quality management efforts. However, I could not identify
empirically a relationship between organisational culture and quality management
efforts in hospitals. My collaborator in Scotland, Professor Lorna McKee, has conducted
research on this relationship and found an association between organisational culture
and quality of care in the NHS. Building on this prior work, we aim to further analyse
the role of organisational culture for quality management and we aim to compare its
importance in different healthcare systems across Europe. Another aim is to compare
healthcare systems with regard to the use of different coordination mechanisms (eg.
hierarchy vs. market-based coordination).
Sandro Jung
Department of Literary Studies, University of Ghent, Belgium
Visiting: School of Critical Studies, University of Glasgow
A History of Eighteenth-Century Scottish Book Illustration
The principal aim of consolidating collaboration with the Scottish Literature team
and identifying further potential collaborators relates to my own and the Scottish
Literature team’s desire to establish a long-term collaborative programme that may
operate at both teaching and research levels and promote a research partnership
not only with myself but also with the Centre for the Study of Text and Print Culture,
of which I am the Director.
Bertalan Pusztai
Department of Communication and Media Studies, University of Szeged, Hungary
Visiting: School of Scottish Studies, University of Edinburgh
Festivals, Tourism and Social Change on European Peripheries
This project deals with the connections between tourism, festivals and local identity.
I contrast the local discourses surrounding village and small town festivals with those
which emerge from scientific findings. In the majority of the cases analysed in previous
research, festivals are interpreted locally as being connected with a surviving element
of a lost, ideal culture. This interpretation generates a degree of exoticism, which is
eagerly popularised by the media. My prior work has shown that such festivals are part
of conscious settlement development strategies which may be observed in several areas
across Europe. Given its rich cultural tradition, Scotland is a fertile location in which to
conduct analysis on this topic, especially in the context of the independence
Referendum. One key question will be the importance attached to the formation of a
clearly-distinguishable Scottish identity, not only on a national, but also on a local level.

17
Borut Telban
Institute of Anthropological and Spatial Studies, Research Centre of the Slovenian
Academy of Sciences and Arts
Visiting: Department of Social Anthropology, University of St Andrews
Traversing Ontologies and Epistemologies in Anthropological Research
While exploring the life-worlds of the Amazonian people, with the apparent existence
of one culture and many natures, several influential anthropologists have recently
developed intriguing concepts of multi-naturalism, perspectivism and new animism.
Instead of seeing other people’s articulations of their existence as ‘beliefs’ or ‘cultural
perspectives’, and simultaneously rejecting a single unitary ontology of modern
Euro-Americans, they conceive them as enunciations of different ‘realities’, ‘worlds’
or ‘natures’. All these approaches are no doubt worth further exploration and critical
reflection, especially in the context of Pacific anthropology. Building upon years of
ethnographic fieldwork in Papua New Guinea, I intend to engage in extended
discussions and broad comparative research with my colleagues from the Department
of Social Anthropology at the University of St Andrews, many of whom have gained
their reputation as scholars of either Melanesia or Amazonia and have, in different
ways, significantly contributed towards the ‘anthropology of life’.
Tiina Suopäjarvi
Urban Life Lab, Department of Computer Science and Engineering,
University of Oulu, Finland
Visiting: Business School, University of Aberdeen
Rhythms of everyday life: temporal and spatial performativities of public spaces
The project explores the use of visual methods, namely time-lapse film, photography
and short walking videos, in the study of public urban space. The aim is to capture the
rhythms of everyday practices, and how they constitute time and space. Time-lapse
methodology highlights the rhythmic variations related to age and gender, as well
as different ways of moving. It also draws attention to temporal and spatial shifts,
and how those are materialised through different practices. During Spring 2014,
the project team made a time-lapse film of Union Terrace Gardens, a greenspace in
Aberdeen City. The film conveys movements and activities – including people, animals,
technologies and wildlife – and their accompanying soundscapes. Through further
analysis, our objective is to understand the socio-cultural meanings of the Gardens,
such as the power relations constituted through different social–material practices;
but also the agency of the visual methods themselves in the study of public spaces.
Scottish Government Arts & Humanities Workshop
Callum G Brown FRSE
School of Humanities, University of Glasgow
Humanism and Civil Society in Modern Scotland
Humanists have a major influence in policy formation and national morality in
Scotland, and are now the second largest provider of weddings. Hitherto largely
ignored by academia, this project is exploring the way forward for the integration
of secular humanism within Scottish civil life. Workshop events are being held which
combine leaders, managers, publicists and celebrants of Scottish humanist and
secularist organisations on the one side, and researching academics and doctoral
students on the other. The Workshops explore humanism’s evolution in the last forty
years as a cultural institution: in community development, chaplaincy services, in
educational provision, health organizations, and in marriages, baby naming and
funerals. The Workshops bring together a multi-disciplinary network of scholars to
better understand the nature of the secular humanist sector in Scottish civil life,
and to provide the sector with advice on its future prospects.

18
James Loxley
Literatures, Languages and Cultures, University of Edinburgh
Scotland’s Collections and the Digital Humanities
Digital technologies present many exciting new avenues for humanities research
and engagement with Scotland’s national collections. They offer an emergent set
of computational methodologies for the study of cultural artifacts, narratives and
histories: from text mining large corpora in order to identify patterns and trends or
mapping networks of relations between objects, people and institutions, to creating
dynamic visualisations that allow new perspectives on objects and data. At the same
time, they enable data and findings to be shared globally and in innovative and
engaging forms, breaking down the traditional distinction between academic
research and public engagement. This project brings together humanities researchers,
librarians, archivists and digital technologists to discuss these methods, the
opportunities and challenges they present to those working in different sectors,
and how they might be used to increase access to, knowledge of and engagement
with Scotland’s collections.
Mungo Campbell
The Hunterian, University of Glasgow
William Hunter Tercentenary Research Project – 2018
2018 will mark the tercentenary of the birth of the Enlightenment anatomist and
collector, William Hunter (1718–1783). Hunter’s primary legacy, The Hunterian at the
University of Glasgow, forms a unique embodiment of Enlightenment knowledge.
In close collaboration with the Yale Center for British Art, The Hunterian is planning
a major exhibition, accompanied by academic programmes and publications, for
2018/2019. Reflecting extensive collaborative international academic dialogue, our
interdisciplinary outputs will offer new insights into 18th
-Century collecting,
advancing understanding of William Hunter’s role in the Enlightenment and the
evolution of the museum as a public educational institution. To initiate this
groundbreaking programme, The Hunterian is holding two research workshops
during 2014, inviting leading scholars and curators from Britain, Europe and North
America to scope and establish research questions, workstreams and teams for this
timely and truly multi-disciplinary investigation of a treasure at the heart of Scotland’s
intellectual history.
Jan R. Strenger
Classics Department, University of Glasgow
Gaza: Tradition and Leadership in a Learning City
Gaza in Palestine underwent, in common with other cities, a profound transformation
during the 6th
Century CE in society, economy, culture and religion. What is
significant about Gaza is its thriving cultural sector, as documented by ample literary
and material evidence. The key questions of this project are: how did major figures of
religious and secular life, such as orators and monks, create educational authority in
the urban context and attempt to shape, through their leadership, Gaza as a ‘learning
city’? To what extent did these attempts respond to the challenges of change? The
investigation focuses on the discourse strategies through which cultural visions were
disseminated across the civic community and relates them to modern uses of learning
for the promotion of urban regeneration. The objective of this pilot study is to gain
insight into the situational nature of learning across times and cultures.
Scottish Government Arts & Humanities Workshops

19
This workshop brought together 24 world-
renowned experts from four continents, both
academics and practitioners, in the field of
terrorism law and security. The workshop
adopted a thematic approach to the substance
of counter-terrorism law, examining categorical
approaches, based on pursuit, protection and
prevention. The 20 papers presented an
authoritative, comprehensive, and critical
analysis of how laws are, and ought to be,
invoked in domestic jurisdictions against
terrorism. The topics covered included:
counter-terrorism law and codes; surveillance;
dataveillance; detention; trial; oversight
mechanisms; counter-terrorism policing
arrangements and powers; the penology of
terrorism; homeland security; manifestations
of extremism; ‘Prevent’ policies and law’; and
the social impact of counter-terrorism policies.
The workshop enabled cross-fertilisation
between the various contributors, allowing
them to further develop their analysis. The
papers will be published as the Routledge
Handbook of Terrorism and Law.
Genevieve Lennon
School of Law, Department of
Humanities and Social Science,
University of Strathclyde
Clive Walker
Law School,
University of Leeds
Law and Terrorism
The idea that the welfare state should provide
unconditional support has come under attack.
Governments seek to reduce the overall welfare
bill by adopting more restricted criteria for
eligibility; and many worry that an unconditional
welfare system encourages a culture of
dependency, unfairly forcing the prudent to
subsidise the profligate. Such thoughts lie
behind the Westminster Government’s current
reforms, which are shifting many benefits from
an unconditional to a conditional basis, thereby
– at least in aspiration – making the welfare
state more responsive to individual responsibility.
Can Scotland do things differently? This
collaborative project will explore the possibility
of finding an alternative set of principles to
underpin the welfare state. Through a series of
cross-disciplinary workshops, we will assess the
chances of finding a financially prudent solution
which pays due heed to the importance of
individual responsibility, whilst rejecting the
moralised austerity that is dominant south of
the Border.
Ben Colburn
Philosophy,
School of Humanities,
University of Glasgow
Hugh Lazenby
Philosophy,
School of Humanities,
Responsibility and the Welfare State

20
The Scottish Government has signalled –
through both its International Engagement
Strategy and its Cities Strategy – that whatever
the outcome of the vote of September 2014,
the development of Edinburgh as a dynamic
and internationally-oriented city remains a
priority. The current political moment presents
an opportunity to understand what kind of
international city Edinburgh could become.
In order to do so, we propose a three-tiered
international comparative project in order to
understand the international socio-political
logics behind the development of an
international city. This involves identifying,
historically and sociologically, the key actors
in the international field in different cities
(Geneva, Oslo, Brussels and Edinburgh),
and comparing how these actors are similar
or different in their attachment and relation
to their specific sovereign national fields.
Xavier Guillaume
School of Social & Political Science
University of Edinburgh
Daniel Kenealy
School of Social & Political Science
What is an international city? And what does it take to become one?
The future of Edinburgh as an international city
Developing ‘talent’ is a key aspect of the
Scottish Government’s Strategy for the Creative
Industries (2011). At a crucial time of political
and technological change, Scotland finds itself
competing within a highly competitive global
market to identify, attract and retain creative
talent and strengthen its skills base. Whilst the
discussion of ‘talent’ appears ubiquitous in the
policy context, this project takes as its focus the
Screen Industries to examine current definitions
and understandings and consider whether these
reflect the reality and complexities of a changing
industry. By identifying key gatekeepers and
examples of best practice, we ask whether
digital technology offers new pathways to
capture and nurture a diverse talent pool and
what kinds of policy intervention is required to
achieve this. These questions will be addressed
through two themed workshops designed to
initiate dialogue between academics,
policymakers and stakeholders within Scotland’s
Screen Industries and beyond.
Lisa W. Kelly
Centre for Cultural Policy Research
Katherine Champion
Centre for Cultural Policy Research
Shaping Scotland’s Talent: Change, Flexibility and New Pathways
in the Screen Industries

21
Fall Narratives is an interdisciplinary
collaboration between scholars affiliated with
a broad range of arts and humanities fields of
learning, who are engaged with many aspects
of the Fall. The aim of this collaboration is to
explore the concept of the Fall across a wide
range of disciplines and languages, from
antiquity to the present day; to produce a
peer-reviewed book about the themes of the
Fall from an interdisciplinary perspective; and
to create a mutually-enriching interdisciplinary
scholarly research network to facilitate further
exploration of the theme of the Fall. Following
the local and international interdisciplinary Fall
Narratives workshops, which took place at the
University of Aberdeen in March 2014 and June
2014, a book on the theme of Fall is currently
under process. The success of the international
workshop might lead to additional such
workshops in the future.
Zohar Hadromi-Allouche
School of Divinity
University of Aberdeen
Áine Larkin
Department of French
Fall Narratives: An Interdisciplinary Perspective
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945) is one of
the most prominent and contested modern
theologians. His dramatic involvement in the
German resistance to Hitler, and consequent
execution, have contributed to a widespread
and sustained interest in his work. Today, he
remains amongst the most widely read
theologians in Europe, North America and
beyond. Most significant debates in
contemporary theology and ethics are in
some way shaped by his provocative legacy.
This series of exploratory workshops at the
University of Aberdeen is bringing together
leading Bonhoeffer researchers and scholars
from around the world. In particular, the
workshops focus upon critically assessing the
significance of Bonhoeffer’s work for
contemporary debates in theology, ethics
and public life. This series will shape the
agenda for ongoing research in these fields.
Philip Ziegler
Department of Divinity and
Religious Studies
Michael Mawson
Department of Divinity
and Religious Studies
The Challenge of Bonhoeffer’s Theology for Contemporary Ethics and
Public Life

22
Scottish Government Arts & Humanities Workshop
A research workshop by Glasgow Life and
Glasgow University featuring filmed analysis
of objects and themes from Glasgow Museum’s
major exhibition on Georgian Glasgow called
How Glasgow Flourished, 1714–1837 – the
largest history exhibition attempted at the new
Kelvingrove Museum since its refit in 2003 and
a keynote celebration of the city’s and country’s
history in Glasgow’s hosting of the
Commonwealth Games. The films will increase
knowledge about Glasgow, making scholarship
and public museum collections more accessible,
with speedier knowledge exchange between
Scottish schools, colleges and universities via
the professional digital filming of presentations
by Glasgow University’s Media Services and a
dedicated website for hosting these
presentations, as well as using them for the
Museum’s web-based digital database.
Anthony Lewis
Glasgowlife
Glasgow Museums
Simon Newman
Andrew Hook Centre for American
Studies, School of Humanities
How Glasgow Flourished, 1714–1837
Scottish Government Arts & Humanities Network
The multidisciplinary ReCREATE research
network reconnects the tools, materials,
laboratory/workshop environments,
manufacturing skills and experimental practice
that Scotland used to make colourful decorative
textiles in the Industrial Revolution. Building on
successes from the knowledge exchange project
ReINVENT, ReCREATE strengthens links between
academic and heritage sector researchers in
science, arts and humanities through four
innovative networking meetings, where the
collaborators examine and discuss historical
tools, equipment, textiles and documents now
in museums, archives and trusts. Knowledge
exchange between the core group and invited
specialists from the UK and Europe will inform
and inspire reconstructive research for making
decorative textiles, and contextualise the
international significance of Scotland’s
experimental culture before and during the
Industrial Revolution. The group will ultimately
share their expanded understanding though a
public conference for public and private
collections, and also scope collaborative research
partnerships between the academic and heritage
sectors to rediscover Scotland’s forgotten story
of textile manufacturing innovation.
Anita Quye
Centre for Textile Conservation and
Technical Art History, History of Art
Klaus Staubermann
Department of Science and Technology
National Museums Scotland
ReCREATE: reconstructing the experimental culture of 19th-Century
Scottish textile manufacture

23
Scottish Government Arts & Humanities Networks
Handknitting has had a prominent place in
the Scottish economy since the 19th
Century.
Its products, ranging from the softest woollen
socks, to the finest Shetland shawls, from
elaborate Fair Isle jumpers to the black and
white Sanquhar gloves, have come to symbolise
Scottish heritage and are a synonym for skill,
an eye for design and an authenticity that is
highly valued in the modern marketplace.
Today, knit is the pin-up craft for sustainability,
creativity and authenticity. Knitting in the
Round will investigate the transformation
from small-scale, home-based craft production
to one of Scotland's most identifiable brands
and it will explore the relationships that knit
facilitates: between young and old, across
continents, between practitioners and
researchers, producers and consumers, in the
Scottish and international context. The result
will be greater public understanding of the
ways in which knit contributes to the Scottish
economy, to health and wellbeing and to
cultural enrichment.
Lynn Abrams
History, School of Humanities
Marina Moskowitz
College of Arts
The project focuses on the legacy of religion in
Scotland. Despite the persisting secularisation
of Scottish society, represented by decreasing
church attendance, understanding Scotland's
religious past is a sine qua non for
understanding Scotland's social present.
Religion has served as a principal factor in the
formation of Scottish culture by shaping cultural
norms, delineating individual and corporate
identities, and profoundly influencing the
nation's legal and political institutions, and
remains prominent in the use of the Saltire as a
national emblem. Moreover, the recent census
highlights the continued importance of religion
in understanding modern Scotland. Whilst the
number of Scots who feel religion defines their
identity has decreased, the religious diversity of
the nation has never been greater. The project
seeks to deal directly with the role of religion
as a formative and yet divisive force in Scottish
society and highlight its positive and negative
functions in the nation's culture.
R. Scott Spurlock
Theology and Religious Studies
University of Glagow
Crawford Gribben
School of History and Anthropology
Queen’s University, Belfast
Knitting in the Round: Hand-Knitted Textiles and the Economies
of Craft in Scotland
Scottish Religious Cultures Research Network

24
We are building a trans-disciplinary,
trans-national network to address the role of
criminal punishment in democratic societies –
a timely issue in Scotland, as we rethink our
approach to punishment. If we accept the
principle that those who commit crimes do not
thereby exclude themselves from citizenship,
from the mutual respect and concern that
citizens should expect, what modes of punishment,
with what aims, could be legitimate? This topic
can be usefully addressed only by collaborative
work that draws on the resources of different
disciplines and different traditions of penal
thought – i.e. by this kind of network.
We are focusing initially on the material forms
(especially imprisonment) that punishment may
take; and on the collateral consequences of
punishment – the further deprivations that
offenders often undergo beyond their formal
punishment. We plan to disseminate our work
to a variety of audiences of policy makers,
practitioners and interested citizens.
Richard Sparks
School of Law
Antony Duff FRSE
Department of Philosophy
University of Stirling
Robert Crawford FRSE
School of English, University of St Andrews
Loch Computer
This project brings together short-story writers, poets, artists, computer scientists
and digital humanities scholars to ponder the meaning of remoteness and
connectedness in the digital age. It is hoped that the results will include publications
and an exhibition. The project runs from 2014 until 2016.
Democracy, Citizenship, and Punishment
Photo by Aisha Farr

25
Scottish Government Arts & Humanities Small Grant
Christopher J. Berry FRSE
School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow
The Virtues of a Commercial Society
The grant paid for my fare to Japan (and contributed to travel expenses whilst there).
The trip was a follow-up to my book The Idea of Commercial Society in the Scottish
Enlightenment (Edinburgh University Press 2013). I gave four different lectures in six
different universities, wherein I developed a theme of the book by examining the
recalibration undertaken by Smith and Hume of the ‘classical’ virtues (prudence,
justice, temperance, courage) to make them ‘fit for purpose’ in the modern world
and how they established the appropriateness of distinctive ‘commercial virtues’
such as probity and humanity. The visit was also intended to foster Scotland–Japan
intellectual links. On a personal level, I discussed my work with the Japanese
translator of the book and, more generally, through the exchange of ideas, the
possibility of establishing an international academic network in the study of the Scottish
Enlightenment was explored. Indeed, a Japanese scholar visited Glasgow in August.
Carole Hough
English Language, School of Critical Studies, University of Glasgow
Cognitive Toponymy: People and Places in Synergy
This project uses place names to investigate human conceptualisation of place
and its impact on the development of Western society. Cognition-based approaches
are currently prominent in various disciplines, including archaeology, linguistics and
psychology. The focus is on mental models and the role of embodied experience in
the everyday interaction between human beings and the world. This project
harnesses these approaches within an interdisciplinary study of perceptions of place,
examining the strategies used by humans to impose order on their surroundings
and make sense of their environment over the last two millennia.
The nine members of the Research Network are based in Scotland and Denmark,
and the research draws on comparative evidence from these two countries. Three
main strands relate to differences between geographical and mental compass
points, the role of religion in the standardisation of place naming in medieval
Europe, and the factors that determine salience in the visual perception of place.
Richard Oram
History and Politics, University of Stirling
Royal Scone: parliament, inauguration and national symbol
• To consolidate active research partnerships between scholars working on royal
governance and symbolic use of place in northern Europe.
• To enhance public knowledge and understanding of Scone’s historic significance
for governance in Scotland’s early national story.
• To organise an international academic conference and free public lecture series to
facilitate knowledge exchange about royal Scone’s place in Scotland and European
legislative history.
• To publish new research on Scottish medieval inauguration and governance and its
European context in a peer-reviewed monograph.
• To develop a schedule of public interpretation events in partnership with end-users
and network scholars, using diverse media including creative writing, art work and
digital media.
• To form an authoritative research development and management plan for Scone
and other European royal centres as the basis for development of the case for a
UNESCO World Heritage Site application.

26
Scottish Government Arts & Humanities Small Grants
Sally M Foster
Archaeology, School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen
ECCLES: pre-Romanesque ecclesiastical architecture in Scotland in its European context
Europe’s pre-Romanesque ecclesiastical architecture is an outstanding resource,
key to understanding of the introduction of Christianity and of the earliest
Europeanisation. Through it, we can also explore Scotland’s contribution to the
development of early medieval (pre-1100 AD) Europe. The main objective of ECCLES
(Early Christian Churches and Landscapes) is, with partners in England, Ireland and
Wales, to develop a wider understanding and appreciation of the nature, value and
significance of this resource in the Isles. Taking a European perspective, we need to
celebrate, address and build on the highly regional nature of the resource, its existing
research and future potential. This grant enabled me to meet my partners, fact-find
and explore options with researchers in different disciplines in Scotland, and learn
from the experience of leading Corpus Architecturae Religiosae Europae practitioners,
in France and Spain. The outcomes are working reports, conference papers
(Edinburgh and Istanbul), an article and a grant application.
David Cowley
Aerial Survey, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments
of Scotland
From ‘spy in the sky’ to material witness: aerial images of conflict in war museums
World Wars I and II saw the application of aerial photographs to military intelligence
grow exponentially from amateur pursuit to enormous specialised industry. Whilst
images were collected to inform strategy and assess bomb damage, amongst other
objectives, they now offer a unique textured view of conflict landscapes. Drawing
on his extensive work on the uses of historic aerial photographs for archaeology,
including the archaeology of conflict, and landscape studies, the applicant aims to
examine uses in military museums, specifically in visitor engagement. Museum visits
in Europe and desk-based assessments world-wide will examine the role of historic
aerial photographs in creating narrative histories and stimulating memory. This will
inform critique of synergies between archaeological approaches to imagery, generally
as sources for the more distant past, and their role in stimulating engagement with
the recent past.
Sir Tom Devine OBE FRSE
School of History, Classics and Archaeology, University of Edinburgh
The Scottish Factor in the Ceylon Tea and Coffee Eoncomics in the 19th Century
This project examines the key Scottish influence on the development of the Ceylon
(now known as Sri Lanka) tea and coffee economics in the 19th
Century. Despite the
significant growth of interest in Scottish activity throughout the Empire and globally,
no sustained study of the country’s influence in Ceylon has been attempted.
This research aims to fill a significant gap in the historiography of the Scots abroad.
The outcomes of this targeted project will be four journal articles, several seminar
papers, and a presentation at the 2014 Scottish Homecoming conference.
The wider project on the Scottish migrant experience in Ceylon, of which this
particular project is a part, will result in a jointly-authored book by Devine and McCarthy.

27
Murdo Macdonald
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, University of Dundee
C T R Wilson and the Tracks of Sub-Atomic Particles: An Aesthetic Consideration
The Scottish physicist C T R Wilson was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1927 for his
invention of the Cloud Chamber, an apparatus described by Rutherford as ‘the
most original and wonderful instrument in scientific history.’ Taking the standpoint
of art rather than science, my objective is to draw attention to the high aesthetic
quality of Wilson’s Cloud Chamber photographs, and by doing so to disseminate
his contribution outside the scientific community.
The aesthetic significance of the images has been little explored, even though
Wilson’s skill as a photographer is widely recognised. The purpose of this
research is to take further the advocacy of Wilson displayed at the conference
in his honour held at the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2012. This project is in
collaboration with the Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture.
Anthony Heywood
History Department, University of Aberdeen
Tsarism’s Achilles’ Heel? Russia’s Railways in World War 1, July 1914–March 1917
My current monograph project addresses a key question for understanding Tsarist
Russia’s war effort in World War 1 and the autocratic regime’s momentous collapse
in the 1917 February Revolution: how well did Russia’s railways cope with the war
emergency from 1914? Traditionally, textbooks have asserted that the railways
collapsed, greatly exacerbating the food shortages that sparked revolution. Yet this
claim has never been thoroughly investigated. Already, I have proved that actually the
railways carried 20 per cent more freight in 1916 than in their record peacetime year
(1913). My RSE Small Grant is advancing my investigation considerably by enabling
fieldwork in Russia during 2014 to clarify three core issues: when the railways began
mobilisation in 1914; how well they coped with it; and the effectiveness of the
government’s subsequent efforts to expand railway capacity to accommodate the
unforeseen and unprecedented demands of total war.
Tomasz Kamusella
School of History, University of St Andrews
The Atlas of Language Politics in Modern Central Europe
The Atlas offers a novel insight into the mechanisms and history of how Central
Europe’s languages have been made, unmade and deployed for political action,
mainly in the age of nationalism (19th–21st centuries), but with a reference to
earlier periods, too. The interdisciplinary project is unique in its approach and
scope, as no similar work has been attempted so far. The Atlas makes a wealth
of specialised and hard-to-reach information readily available to the specialist and
general reader, and allows, at a glance, for gleaning information on, for instance,
the fashioning of Serbian and Croatian into Serbo-Croatian, before it split into the
two former languages, and Bosnian and Montenegrin, this process parallel to the
breakup of Yugoslavia. The Atlas’s several map series charter, amongst others,
writing systems, the employment of languages for state building projects, and the
disappearance of non-state languages.

28
Gavin Miller
English Literature, University of Glasgow
DSM-5 and the Future of Psychiatric Diagnosis: Perspectives from Medical Humanities
This award allowed me to participate as a discussant in an international symposium
hosted by the Brocher Foundation in Switzerland. The Foundation supports
interdisciplinary research on the ethical, legal and social implications of medical
research and biotechnologies. The Symposium (organised by Dr Matthew Smith,
History, Strathclyde University) brought together around twenty-five participants
in a critical examination of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders [DSM-5]. My particular contribution was a response to a paper
on scientific classification in the DSM-5 presented by Dr Rachel Cooper of Lancaster
University. It is hoped that a network of researchers will emerge from this meeting.
Emily Nimmo
Collections, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
Securing Scotland’s 3D Digital Heritage
As the national collection for Scotland’s built environment, RCAHMS has a
commitment to ensuring that the widespread capture of 3D laser scan data of
Scotland’s ancient and historic monuments remain accessible to future generations.
The fast pace of technological change in this area and the absence of an existing
mature and workable approach to its preservation places this important record at risk.
Current guidance for the long term preservation of this data requires essential
metadata which is often found to be too burdensome by the data creators. They
therefore tend not to submit their important data to archives or submit with little
or no accompanying metadata, putting its long term preservation at risk.
This research project has identified an approach which finds a balance between the
ease of use required by data creators and the essential documentation (metadata)
required by archives for preservation purposes. This will be taken forward by the
partners through future research applications.
Bernadette O’Rourke
School of Management and Languages, Heriot-Watt University
Becoming a “new speaker” of a minority language – comparisons between Gaelic,
Irish and Galician
In many parts of Europe, traditional communities of minority language speakers are
being eroded as a consequence of urbanisation and economic modernisation.
Increased provision for these languages through their inclusion in school curricula,
the media and other public domains is giving rise to new types of speakers on whom
the future of these languages is likely to depend. Despite their significance, academic
research and policy makers have not always given ‘new speakers’ (commonly referred
to as non-native or second language speakers) adequate attention. The aim of this
project is to bring this important sociolinguistic group into focus through a
comparative analysis of the linguistic and social practices of new speakers across
three contrasting European minority language settings including Gaelic (Scotland),
Irish (Ireland) and Galician (Spain).

29
Geraldine Parsons
Celtic and Gaelic, University of Glasgow
An edition of Acallam na Senórach from Oxford, Bodleain Library, Rawlinson B 487
Acallam na Senórach is an extraordinary literary work. Written c. AD 1200, probably
in the west of Ireland, it imagines St Patrick coming into contact with ancient,
pagan warriors from the war-band (fían) of Finn mac Cumhaill. The tale functions
as a medieval meditation on Gaelic history and cultural identity and on the role that
the land plays in each; place names prompt questions about the past, whilst the
warriors root their answers in the landscapes they pass through.
One of the lengthiest literary texts to survive from the Gaelic Middle Ages, the work
has not been edited since 1900. The Rawlinson version of the text was under-utilised
in the 1900 edition and hence neglected by literary critics. This edition represents
the first single-witness edition and, I hope, the first digital edition of the Acallam.
In both these ways, I hope to facilitate new ways of understanding the text.
Neil Price
Archaeology, University of Aberdeen
Imperial Addictions: Collateral Archaeologies of the Opium Trade, 1730–1930
The age of the European empires combined the rise of capitalism with early
globalisation, and the large-scale production, transport and consumption of
specialised commodities. This project makes a new, interdisciplinary study of one
of them: opium. An unusual focus is brought to bear on the concept of collateral,
to embrace not just the core areas of the trade such as Britain and China, but also
the full range of its peripheries, the world that opium touched and changed.
Gathering a wide series of archaeological case studies, material culture is used to
illuminate what opium meant to the peoples of the early modern world, and to
shed light on its varied socio-political heritage in our own time. The RSE's generous
support has funded project research in Hong Kong, Canton (Guangzhou), Macau
and Mauritius, together with its presentation at the primary world conference on
Indo-Pacific archaeology, held this year in Cambodia.
Johnny Rodger
Mackintosh School of Architecture, Glasgow School of Art
The Spatial Distribution of Justice in Scotland
This project examines the history and design of the places and symbols where
justice is delivered in Scotland. By a thorough examination of the development of
the courthouse building, its design and use, and its role in the legal process and the
trial, the aim is to foster a wider and more nuanced understanding and appreciation
of the forms and processes of justice. The courthouse is the physical expression of
our relationship with ideals of justice: how does it mediate them, where does it do
it, and what are the factors that have determined the development of such an
expression? Given that important changes in regional provision of court buildings
are underway, how have the buildings themselves been seen as part of a ‘problem’,
and how can design and distribution of such spaces affect equal access to justice,
now and in the future?

30
Katie Stevenson
School of History, University of St Andrews
The Power of Pedigree: The Stewart Dynasty and the Foundations of Royal Authority
This project provides a new understanding of the ways in which history was created
and utilised in late medieval and early Renaissance Scotland (c.1371–c.1562), a key
period in the nation’s past when it was fully independent and a significant power
in Europe. Drawing on sources that have hitherto been largely neglected by scholars
– particularly visual and material culture – and developing the wider disciplinary
argument that iconography and symbols of sovereignty provided a mode of
communication through which authority could be maintained during periods of
constitutional crisis, as well as in the normal day-to-day running of the kingdom,
this project explores the development and propagation of the myth of dynasty
created by the Royal House of Stewart, which rested on key moments in the
nation’s past in order to exercise power and authority in the kingdom and beyond.
Zoë Strachan
School of Critical Studies, University of Glasgow
Out There, a new anthology of LGBT writing from Scotland
The first anthology of LGBT writing from Scotland in over 14 years, and only the
third in existence, Out There features contributions from new and established
Scottish writers including Ali Smith, Carol Ann Duffy, Jackie Kay, Christopher Whyte,
Ronald Frame, Louise Welsh, Jenni Fagan and many more. The stories and poems
are contextualised by critical essays by Professor Berthold Schoene (MMU) and
Dr Jeff Meek (GU). Edited by Zoë Strachan and to be published by Freight Books
in September 2014.
Rhian Williams
English Literature, University of Glasgow
Parochial Histories: The poetics of ecological record-keeping and material
change, c. 1770–1830
My RSE grant has enabled me to visit key archive holdings of 18th
-Century weather
records, informing work delivered to the European Association for the Study of
Literature, Culture and the Environment as the first stage in a new study
of the natural history writer Gilbert White (1720–1793) and cultures of ecological
record keeping, 1770–1830. This historicised, materialised and theorised study
is specifically alert to the generic variations in private weather diaries, almanacs,
garden calendars, weather- and gardening-related letters, notebooks, and poems
in this period of intensifying industrialisation. This cross-genre reading delineates
a subtle and varied literacy in writing about and responding to the natural world
in this period and by embedding White into the active and local communities of
‘weather watchers’ and phenological recorders, my research demonstrates that
‘parochial histories’ contain within them the logic and models by which
communities develop an ‘ecological mindfulness’ that connect them to larger
social processes and to our own moment of ecological concern.

31
Saeko Yazaki
Theology and Religious Studies, University of Glasgow
Muslim–Jewish–Christian relations: A. S. Yahuda and his career
The current political and social climate deeply affects our perception of history.
For example, the Israeli–Palestinian conflict often leads to a misconceived belief
that there has been a long history of hatred between Jews and Arabs/Muslims.
This project draws attention to Muslim–Jewish–Christian relations through exploring
the Arab-Jewish scholar, A. S. Yahuda (d. 1951), and his study of Hebrew–Egyptian
relationships in the Bible, Judaeo-Islamic traditions in al-Andalus, and Judaeo-Christian
thought in Newton’s religious writings. Yahuda was an early supporter of Zionism,
but became critical of its direction for ignoring the importance of Arab–Jewish
relations, whilst he regarded the shared heritage of medieval Spain as the socio-political
basis for post-Ottoman Palestine. This project focuses on Yahuda’s under-researched
views of the strong tie amongst the three monotheistic faiths, central to his political
activities, through an exploration of his life and achievements as a scholar and
manuscript collector.
Orfeas Boteas
Edinburgh Technology Transfer Centre (ETTC), University of Edinburgh
Dehumaniser
Creating monster and imaginary creature sounds for the entertainment industry is
a time consuming procedure, which requires the recording and process of various
animal sounds or human voice in order to create the wanted sound. This procedure
demands technical knowledge, equipment and time in order to create the wanted
result. Dehumaniser is a unique vocal software processor/sound design tool for
making monster and imaginary creature sounds in real time. It can be used for the
entertainment industry, including films, video games, radio and theatrical
performances. Dehumaniser is being used by the biggest sound studios and video
game companies worldwide.
Olivia Feng
Accounting and Finance Department, Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow
Developing and commercialising an online interactive platform (CampusBuddy) to
help universities to reach and engage with prospective international applicants
Utilising app development skills and research expertise in gamification (behavioural
experiments and modification), we aim to develop attractive online solutions that
provide a more virtual and immersive learning and social experience for users. The
current project focuses on providing CampusBuddy as an online platform as a SaaS
(software as a service) model. We are able to help converting and engaging more
prospective applicants into committed students. CampusBuddy is a cross-platform
mobile app that will revolutionise the way universities communicate and engage
with international applicants. CampusBuddy enables a university to directly reach
and communicate with ten million prospective international applicants so that it
accurately reflects the strengths and aspirations of that university, allowing users
to find the university that best fits their needs. Students will be better informed
and more confident in making the right application decisions.
Scottish Enterprise Enterprise Fellowships

32
David Hunter
Shot Scope Technologies
Sport performance and wearable technology markets are growing at an exceptional
rate, Shot Scope is the next generation of both. The patent-pending wearable
technology revolutionises sports performance data collection.
Initially targeting the golf market, Shot Scope collects statistical data automatically
as a golfer plays. Once finished, the golfer uploads data to the Shot Scope website,
where statistics are displayed in graphs, charts, tables and a map of the golf course.
The technology has been proven and tested with professional golfers and the
Sports Technology Institute at Loughborough University. I now seek investment
to commercialise the technology.
The RSE/SE Enterprise Fellowship, combined with an award from the Technology
Strategy Board, provided the skills, knowledge and resources to progress the
business. Prior to founding Shot Scope I worked for seven years as an electronics
design engineer, developing electronics products for medical, military, oil & gas
and commercial applications.
Eirini Komninou
Computer and Information Sciences, University of Strathclyde
Automated near-optional Space science operations scheduling with the use of heuristics
Satellites are sophisticated tools used for observation, communications, etc. Post-
launch, a satellite provides the scientific or commercial return it was designed for,
during a predefined operational timeframe. Operations can last for years or decades,
depending on the mission. Instructing a satellite what to do, when and for how long,
known as mission operations scheduling, is pivotal for a successful mission. Operations
scheduling has been conducted manually since the beginning of the Space era.
Missions have become more complex, making the process increasingly challenging.
Nevertheless, the scheduling process has remained largely manual, with experts
comparing mission requirements to constraints by hand before a conflict-free schedule
is generated. Such a process is lengthy, cumbersome and error prone. During this
research, tools and methodologies are being developed to automate and optimise the
process of mission operations scheduling, supporting experts by alleviating excessive
workload whilst increasing operations reliability and maximising mission return.
Jamie Kunka
Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, University of Dundee
Lonely Mountain Skis
I am a research associate with a background in product design and engineering.
I love combining my passions for design and outdoor sports and making products
that will put a smile on people’s faces.
Lonely Mountain Skis produces innovative handmade skis for the freeride and ski
touring markets. Using hardwood and natural fibre composites, we can bring skis
to market that are high performance, lightweight and sustainable. We use
hardwood top sheets on our skis, which is a homage to the days when we skied
on wood. Our skis are made with as much locally-sourced, natural and recycled
material as possible. Sustainability is a big deal for us, as we plan to operate in
an industry which relies on snowfall.

33
Liita-lyaloo Naukushu
Reusable Menstrual Hygiene Device for Wholesale to International Development Agencies
Kalitasha Ltd. was established and registered in Scotland in 2013. The company seeks to
enable women to effectively and securely manage their menstrual fluids.
Although menstruation is a critical aspect of every woman’s life, for many around the
world it is often accompanied by a loss of dignity and a limited capability to engage in
public life. At Kalitasha Ltd., we believe that women should find dignity in every day.
The company has developed a reusable menstrual hygiene device, which it will contract
out for manufacturing. It will then market and sell bulk quantities of the product to
organisations that can distribute it to adolescent girls in developing countries. Through
this for-profit model, the company seeks to produce social benefits to women and girls;
and also provide financial returns to investors.
Jack Ng
Sanitation by easily-applied copper surface
80% of infectious diseases are transferred by touch. In the healthcare environment,
when patients are weak or have healing/open wounds, it is easy to pick up additional
infections which cause serious complication and even death. Can we reduce the risk
of hospitals actually harming people?
One in three of us carries bacteria that can kill someone in hospitals. Hand washing
and trying to change people’s behaviour is not enough. Copper has a natural power
that destroys the germs landing on its surface. Jack has developed a product, micron
Copper, that can be easily painted onto high-touch and high-traffic surfaces such as
bed rails, trolley & drawer handles, door fixtures, patient accessories, surgical table
tops and other devices.
Jack has been a lead researcher of several projects in simplifying manufacturing
processes for eight years. He founded the company Sansible. It stands for sanitation
that is sensible, and simplified.
Silvana Palacios
School of Textiles and Design, Heriot-Watt University
Selvancolour® Unique technology for sustainable fashion
Selvancolour® is the only method of digital ink-jet printing fabric with sustainable
and environmentally friendly dyes at an industrial scale.
Each year, seven million tonnes of synthetic dyes are produced, much of it ending
in bodies of water, where they have toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic
effects. On clothing, they can cause contact dermatitis. Our proprietary ink
formulations are based on natural organic dyes and are adaptable to industrial-
scale printing technology.

34
Muhammad Rohaan Sadiq
Division of Imaging and Technology (DIT), University of Dundee
Active Needle Technology for Safe Needle Interventions
Every year over 1.5 million UK and 250 million world patients undergo needle-based
procedures, such as regional anaesthesia and cancer biopsy. The problems of poor
visibility and deflection of the needle tip are still major concerns for clinicians at both
trainee and consultant levels. These problems, besides increasing the overall duration
of the procedures, lead to numerous post-operative complications, such as nerve
damage, internal bleeding and repeat biopsy, costing more than $1 billion annually.
Dr. Sadiq has developed an innovative medical device ‘Active Needle’ technology
that allows the clinicians to see the standard medical needles in colour during
ultrasound-guided procedures and significantly reduces tip deflection. It is believed
that this technology can revolutionise the healthcare system by providing safer,
efficient and cost-effective needle-based procedures, benefitting patients, clinicians
and healthcare providers. The RSE/SE Enterprise Fellowship is offering valuable
support for the commercialisation of the ‘Active Needle’ technology through market
research, enterprise training and development of a viable business plan for Dr. Sadiq’s
pre-incorporated startup Ultravizion.
Abesh Thakur
Real-time 3D audio engine
There is a growing demand for immersive audio-visual experiences, as evidenced by
the growth of virtual reality head mounted displays such as those developed by
Oculus VR (Facebook) and Sony. Although these technologies deliver a compelling
visual experience, they lack advanced audio technologies, mainly due to the
computational complexity associated with complex audio effects such as 3D audio
in real time.
At Two Big Ears we have created 3Dception, an efficient cross platform 3D audio
engine which allows games and application developers to create realistic audio
content to match their high-quality visual environments. When played back over
headphones, sounds can appear to come from any point in space – front, back, even
above or behind the user. It is easy to implement in existing developer workflows and
is up to 29 times faster than competing technologies. Imagine hearing a monster
growling right behind you so realistically that it forces you to turn around and face it!
Alex Ward
Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews
The commercialisation of a novel piezoelectric nanopositioner
In the modern world, where even a toaster has a microchip and a mobile phone
has the computing power of a state-of-the-art computer from ten years ago; a lot of
our society is built on really tiny circuitry. Although during the manufacturing of such
nanotechnology, often clever techniques can be used to avoid direct manipulation
at these tiny-length scales, sometimes, during inspection and error correction, it is
necessary to bite the bullet and actually move and probe these structures. To do this
requires a technology to provide precise, stiff, high-force movement with a precision
measured in nanometres. During the course my RSE fellowship, I will be commercialising
a new mechanism for nanomanipulation; one that has the potential to be more
robust and more powerful than current technologies. This will be sold, initially,
to an academic market who research nanotechnologies, before graduating into
scanning-probe microscopy and, finally, integrated circuit manufacture and inspection.

35
Huabi (Helen) Yin
Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde
Commercialisation of high power broadband terahertz Gyrotron Travelling Wave
Amplifier (Gyro-TWA) technology
I propose to set up a company to manufacture and sell terahertz Gyro-TWAs to
the magnetic resonance instrumentation market initially and later to the security
industry. The gyro-TWA has >50 times higher power-bandwidth performance than
any competing devices and is the best product available to meet the demand for
high resolution pulse electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and high-sensitivity
nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) through
the terahertz-based dynamic nuclear polarisation (DNP) technique. EPR has huge
applications in bioscience, as it is used to characterise the structure and properties
of bio-molecules. DNP technique can increase the sensitivity of NMR and the
contrast of MRI by a few orders of magnitude. EPR/DNP represents a £Billion industry.
With the one-year RSE Enterprise Fellowship, I will develop a business which can
manufacture the gyro-TWAs in sufficient numbers (30 to 50 units per year) to satisfy
EPR/DNP market demand.
Matthew Murdoch
Department of Physics, University of Liverpool
Commercialisation of an anti-neutrino detector for plutonium accounting
at nuclear reactors
Nuclear proliferation is of great concern to the global community. Nuclear
materials are difficult to robustly track and safeguard by their very nature.
This is particularly true at nuclear reactors, where plutonium is produced as
a by-product, creating the opportunity for diversion of materials from peaceful
use. Currently, the IAEA employs many and varied safeguards at nuclear reactor
sites to prevent such diversions. However, the use of nuclear energy is on the
rise, increasing the demand for robust, automated safeguard measures.
Anti-neutrinos are the smallest, massive particles observed and are created in
abundance in reactor cores. By deploying state-of-the-art neutrino detection
technology (such as that developed at Liverpool), the anti-neutrino emissions
of a reactor can be monitored to provide an automated, near-to-real-time
safeguard measure that can be monitored remotely, requiring no access to
the reactor building itself.
STFC and Scottish Enterprise
co-funded Enterprise Fellowship
STFC Enterprise Fellowship

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