RSE Beltane Prizes for Public Engagement
The Royal Society of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Beltane launched the RSE Beltane Prizes for Public Engagement in 2011, with the aim of recognising and rewarding the advancement of high quality public engagement with research.
Through encouraging those who engage the public with research, the RSE is supporting the advancement of public discussion on significant matters. Rewarding those who are exemplary at communicating and facilitating this engagement, is an important step in enabling cultural change amongst research organizations, which is necessary to ensure that the public receives the greatest benefit from Scotland’s pioneering research and innovation.
2012 Winners Announced
The RSE and Edinburgh Beltane are delighted to announce the 2012 winners of the RSE Beltane Prizes for Public Engagement
Professor Tom Devine OBE FRSE, one of Scotland’s leading historians has been awarded the Senior Prize and The University of Dundee’s Dr Nicola Stanley-Wall has been announced as the winner of the Innovator’s Prize.
More details will follow shortly on the prize winner’s event, which will be delivered to the public by Professor Devine, and where he and Dr Stanley-Wall will be awarded their prizes.
Getting to know the winners…
The next edition of ReSourcE will feature a profile and interview with the winners. Here, however, we have asked them a few less serious questions to allow you to get to know them better.
Nicola Stanley-Wall
Winner of the RSE Beltane Innovators Prize for Public Engagement and member of the RSE Young Academy
Fast Facts:
- Job: Lecturer in Molecular Microbiology at the University of Dundee
- Likes: Guinea pigs
- Dislikes: The smell of bacteria being killed in the autoclave
- New Year’s Resolutions? None!
- A few of her favourite things: My hubby Steven and daughter Isabel. The Farmers’ market on Third and Fairfax in Los Angeles. Hearing a boy tell me that he could not sleep the night before as he was so excited about coming to the outreach activity I was involved with.
- Inspirations: I have been inspired for 15 years by Tracy Palmer who was my Ph.D. supervisor and now is my friend and mentor. Additionally, I am inspired by children enjoying the science events I help to run.
Tell us about your average day…
One of the good things is that there is no average day in my working life. I can be doing a variety of different tasks. The most common ones are discussing data and experiments with members of my lab, teaching and designing and organising outreach activities. At home things are more structured and currently run around my young daughter who will turn one in February. I work a shifted day so that I can spend some time with her at home while she is young.
What three words best describe you?
Curious, caring and happy!
You have a lot of experience with public engagement, what are some of the funnier things that have happened?
Watching a group of 13 year olds trying to put gloves on (it can take quite a long time!) while trying to keep a straight face.
Getting a “rotten” cucumber at the right stage of squishiness to show how bacteria spoil food is harder than you think it might be!
Tell us something about yourself…
When living in Los Angeles I learnt traditional metal work techniques and used them to make jewellery, and larger items including a silver spoon for a friend’s baby and a fruit bowl for my sister’s wedding gift.
I helped to build the kissing gate on the West Highland Way that is just before the railway underpass before Crainlarich.
What is the best career advice to give someone?
Do something that you enjoy!
What are your top tips for engaging with the public?
1. Plan and practise your “activities” and seek advice from more experienced people.
2. Messy activities are popular.
3. Children love putting on lab coats but find it hard to put gloves on!
And finally, tell us a joke!
Why is six afraid of seven? Because seven “eight” nine.
Professor Tom Devine OBE FRSE
Winner of the RSE Beltane Senior Prize for Public Engagement
What are some of your favourite things?
- My delectable and impish grandchildren
- Time spent relaxing in our house in the wilds of the Ross of Mull and walking in the neighbouring landscape of extraordinary beauty and wonderful tranquillity
- My favourite hotel and eaterie is Monachyle Mhor in Balquihidder with the Moulin Inn, Moulin, a second and less expensive option
- Good craic with friends and/or family lubricated by a little excellent wine or a few malts.
Describe your average day
I live in Hamilton in the west of Scotland and work in Edinburgh so the day begins with an hour's car journey. I tend to use that a lot for thinking while at the same time remembering to focus on the road! The rest of the day usually has some of the following elements (it was different a year ago but in my present post I do not normally teach undergraduates): supervisions with graduate students; committee meetings, especially for REF 2014; email correspondence; lunch with an external visitor; visits to the university library and National Library of Scotland; attending a seminar by an external speaker planning future events for my Centre; preparing external presentations. I find it impossible to write in the University. Work on books and articles takes place at home in the evenings and weekends.
Tell us something funny from your public engagement activities
The standout memory is of my Strathclyde inaugural lecture, which was, of course, open to the public, in 1988. It was a packed theatre with the great and good of the University in attendance in addition to distinguished invited guests. Five minutes into my nervous presentation, one of my daughters who was sitting in the front row and then aged seven, stood up and without a word purposefully walked out (it later turned out she was going to the loo). Tension visibly rose in the hall. I tried to defuse it by saying ' She always was my most demanding critic.' It taught me an early lesson, however: be prepared for the unexpected at a public event.
Tell us something surprising about yourself!
I have been a professional historian all my career but gave up History at secondary school at the end of year two. Only when I went to university did I discover its wonders, thanks to the broad-based first year of the Scottish Arts degree.
Over the years, who or what has inspired you?
The scholars who taught and inspired me as an undergraduate in History by combining excellent instruction imbued with their own research and writing
Finally, we asked Tom’s family to describe him in a few words. They chose: Principled, committed, sometimes amusing, focused and not unassuming but quite assertive.
The next edition of ReSourE will be availble in March 2012
Follow Us: 
