The cost-of-living crisis emerges as yet another pressing challenge disproportionately affecting women. Like the pandemic, it serves to amplify the entrenched structural disparities experienced by women, rendering them vulnerable to its impacts. This jeopardises progress in advancing economic and social equality for women and sending it into reverse. For International Women’s Day 2024, the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Young Academy of Scotland brings a panel of experts from academia and practice to dissect this challenging topic. They will explore the historical context of systematic inequalities that persist today and some solutions required to address the imbalance, from workplaces to the law.
This panel discussion reflects on the challenges of Scottish devolution and the relationship with the rest of the UK. Issues surrounding Scotland’s constitutional future continue to dominate and polarise Scottish politics and political debate. But the contested nature of the process – and especially the question of whether or not there could or should be an independence referendum – has crowded out meaningful discussion of the challenges facing devolution and Scotland’s relationship with the rest of the UK. To explore some of these challenges, the RSE is partnering with the UK in a Changing Europe, as well as the Institute for Government and Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge, as part of their review of the UK constitution, to host a panel discussion with key experts and commentators. This session is chaired by Kenny Farquharson, Columnist and Senior Writer for The Times. Panel includes: Professor Michael Keating FRSEGeneral Secretary, RSE Professor Ailsa Henderson FRSEProfessor of Political Science, University of Edinburgh Jess SargeantSenior Researcher, Institute for Government Dr Philip Rycrof FRSEFormer senior Cabinet Office official
Eve Poole, Chief Executive of the RSE, is in conversation with one of the world’s best-known crime writers and creator of Edinburgh’s local Inspector Rebus. He shares stories using objects from his life as we explore the curious mind of Ian Rankin. Speakers Sir Ian Rankin FRSE, author Dr Eve Poole, Interim CEO, Royal Society of Edinburgh About Curious Calling all curious minds! You are invited to Curious, the RSE’s summer events programme. Take part in a series of free, online, and in-person talks, group discussions and outdoor activities on key contemporary topics and ground-breaking ideas with some of Scotland’s leading thinkers.https://www.rse-curious.com About RSE The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Scotland’s National Academy, is an educational charity operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis to provide public benefit throughout Scotland.https://www.rse.org.uk/ Stay Connected https://www.facebook.com/RoyalSocEd/https://twitter.com/RoyalSocEdhttps://www.instagram.com/royalsoced/https://www.linkedin.com/company/royalsoced/
Damian Barr FRSE is in conversation with Dr Eve Poole, Chief Executive of the RSE, discussing the important moments in his life, getting to the heart of issues he cares about, and the inspirations behind his work. Best known for his memoir, Maggie & Me, is a coming of age and coming out in Thatcher’s Britain, which won him numerous literary awards – including the Stonewall Writer of the Year Award. His life is all about writing, telling and celebrating stories whilst wanting to widen participation in literature, making the case for bookshops and libraries for all. Speakers Dr Damian Barr FRSE, author Dr Eve Poole, Interim CEO, Royal Society of Edinburgh About Curious Calling all curious minds! You are invited to Curious, the RSE’s summer events programme. Take part in a series of free, online, and in-person talks, group discussions and outdoor activities on key contemporary topics and ground-breaking ideas with some of Scotland’s leading thinkers.https://www.rse-curious.com About RSE The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Scotland’s National Academy, is an educational charity operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis to provide public benefit throughout Scotland.https://www.rse.org.uk/ Stay Connected https://www.facebook.com/RoyalSocEd/https://twitter.com/RoyalSocEdhttps://www.instagram.com/royalsoced/https://www.linkedin.com/company/royalsoced/
A thought-provoking discussion chaired by Nick Fraser between Louisa Harvey, Dr Andy Kerr FRSE, and Joan Lawrie discussed how climate change continues to expose further inequalities within our society and their experience working together with local authorities and communities to enact solutions to tackle those challenges in an affordable, community-focused and sustainable way. Find out more about the speakers, watch video and read the transcript from the event: https://rse.org.uk/resources/resource/video/community-action-against-climate-change/ About The RSE, Scotland’s National Academy, is an educational charity operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis to provide public benefit throughout Scotland. https://www.rse.org.uk/ Stay Connected https://www.facebook.com/RoyalSocEd/ https://twitter.com/RoyalSocEd https://www.instagram.com/royalsoced/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/royalsoced/ We also have a YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheRoyalSocietyofEdinburgh/videos
Probably no issue caused more confusion in the 2014 referendum campaign or did more to diminish the credibility of proponents of independence. This lecture will review the various possibilities - continued use of sterling, membership of the eurozone, or the adoption of a national currency, which I shall, for concreteness, call the bawbee. The lecture will emphasise that in the modern world currency choices are matters for individuals, businesses and financial institutions as well as governments, and describe both the opportunities and the pitfalls. This lecture is delivered by Professor Sir John Kay FRSE is one of Britain’s leading economists. Response by Professor Graeme Roy, Professor of Economics and Dean of External Engagement in the College of Social Sciences at the University of Glasgow and chaired by Professor Nicola McEwan FRSE, Professor of Territorial Politics at the University of Edinburgh. This event was recorded live on Thursday 2 December.
Professor Chris van der Kuyl FRSE, Chairman and Co-founder of 4J Studios, brings together experts and young people from a variety of youth organisations and schools across Scotland to discuss topics like mental health in young people during lockdown, the potential positives and pitfalls of digital connectivity, the accuracy of data and ‘fake news’ in social media spaces, and virtual togetherness as a safe alternative for young people to connect. Recorded as part of one of the RSE's Post-Covid-19 Futures Commission’s four Working Groups work examining the role of Data, Evidence and Science and the lessons that can be learned in the wake of the pandemic. For more information on the work of the Commission, including the recent publication of the final report, visit: https://www.rsecovidcommission.org.uk/
As an end-of-year special we thought we would share this illuminating and entertaining conversation between award-winning actor and comedian Janey Godley and Kirsty Wark FRSE. Recorded as part of the Post-Covid-19 Futures Commission, this interview investigates some of the ways in which communication has become important during the pandemic; from the internet’s potential to create community and keep in touch, the varying roles and voices of communicators in getting the message across, and even the origins of Godley’s iconic ‘Frank, get the door’! This interview was initially recorded as part of the Public Debate and Participation work strand in December 2020 at The Stand Comedy Club in Glasgow and was premiered via the RSE’s Facebook and YouTube channels.