Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli has been elected as the next President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Prof Sir Anton will become the 48th President of the prestigious body on 1 April next year.

Prof Sir Anton said: “It is an honour to be elected as President of the RSE. I greatly admire the institution and its mission, and the responsibility of leading it is one I take very seriously.

“Whether through its policy advice work or serving as a forum for having vital conversations about difficult subjects, the RSE has a key role to play in the future of Scotland.

“Through helping Scotland’s academic landscape to thrive through ongoing research funding, or its public engagement work with its Curious festival of knowledge, the RSE is ideally placed to be a benefit to all Scots, and I am relishing the opportunity to be a part of that noble endeavour.”

As Scotland’s National Academy, the RSE supports Scotland’s research and academic community and civic society. This is achieved through public engagement, utilising the expertise of its many Fellows to draw up policy advice papers on various aspects of public life, and awarding funding to a wide range of academic researchers.

As President, Prof Sir Anton will have responsibility for ensuring that the RSE continues to direct its resources towards these aims, as well as being a public voice for the RSE as a whole.

He will take over from the current President of the RSE, Professor Sir John Ball, next April. He follows in the footsteps of the likes of Sir Walter Scott, Lord Kelvin and Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell.

The RSE’s Chief Executive, Professor Sarah Skerratt, added: “I look forward to working with Sir Anton to ensure a seamless transition for the RSE next year.

“His proven track record as a leader in the Higher Education sector and as a trusted voice on the economic matters will be an invaluable asset to Scotland’s National Academy.”

First published: 16 December 2024

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