Five St Andrews colleagues join RSE Young Academy of Scotland

The Royal Society of Edinburgh Young Academy of Scotland (YAS) has announced the appointment of 48 new members. Among the new cohort are five colleagues from the University of St Andrews, representing approximately 10% of the 2026 intake. 

The group represents some of the nation’s most innovative young professionals from business, the public sector, the charity sector, the arts, and research and academia. They will join the academy’s existing members in realising its vision of achieving transformative societal change through citizenship, innovation, collaboration, evidence, and leadership. 

Among the new cohort from St Andrews is Dr Rob Patchett, Postdoctoral Research Fellow based at the Centre for Biological Diversity and a core team member working on the National Geographic Society’s Living Pathways program. Described by YAS as “one of the cohort’s outstanding scientists,” Dr Patchett is a research ecologist investigating human-wildlife coexistence, biodiversity monitoring, and the impacts of land use policy on wildlife. 

Speaking of joining YAS, Dr Patchett said: “I’m delighted to be joining a community of people from different disciplines, all committed to ensuring their work benefits Scotland and the wider world. My research focuses on understanding how humans impact wildlife, with a particular interest in animal movement ecology and biodiversity, and I try to keep that work closely connected to policy. Being part of YAS feels like a real opportunity to build on this work and, I hope, help make a meaningful contribution to tackling the biodiversity crisis.” 

Dr Andrew O’Malley is Senior Lecturer and Head of the Division of Education at the University of St Andrews School of Medicine, and Deputy Programme Director of ScotGEM, Scotland’s graduate-entry medical programme. 

Trained in anatomy and forensic anthropology (PhD, Dundee), his research now spans technology-enhanced learning, telehealth, and the use of generative artificial intelligence in medical education and assessment, with a particular focus on bias and equity. 

Dr O’Malley said: “Being selected to join the Young Academy of Scotland is a real honour. It’s a chance to work with talented colleagues from across disciplines and sectors on issues that matter to Scotland, and to bring that thinking back into how we educate the doctors of the future at St Andrews.” 

In addition to academic achievements, YAS selection committees placed significant emphasis on public outreach and collaboration across boundaries. Among the new members is Laura Houston, Assistant Director of Admissions, who has dedicated much of her career to widening participation and fair admissions. 

“Being accepted into the Young Academy of Scotland is an honour,” said Laura. “As someone from an underrepresented socio-economic background who benefited from widening access initiatives and scholarship support, I know first-hand the transformative impact that educational opportunity can have. 

“I hope to use my membership to join a network of people who are equally passionate about making a positive difference, and I look forward to contributing to projects that help create a more equitable and inclusive future for the next generation,” she added. 

Dr Rees Hughes leads the Research Impact team at the University, along with its funding pots and the REF29 Impact submission. With a background in Medical Anthropology and Organisational Culture, she explores systemic barriers to impact and collaborates to break these down. 

Dr Hughes said: “As a Scot, I have always believed that Scotland’s greatest strength lies in its people, its ideas, and its willingness to work collectively for the common good. I am therefore delighted to be part of the YAS community: a diverse and inspiring network united by ambition, curiosity, and social responsibility. I look forward to learning from fellow members, contributing to shared challenges, and helping ensure that knowledge is translated into meaningful impact for communities in Scotland and across the world.” 

Dr Graham Bruce is a senior research laboratory manager in the School of Physics and Astronomy. He leads a research group developing light-based measurement technologies, with work spanning fundamental optical physics and applications including the identification of arsenic-containing historic books and the authentication of whisky through sealed bottles. He said: “I’m delighted to be joining the Young Academy of Scotland. Much of my work involves bringing together people with different expertise to solve practical problems, whether that’s improving safety in heritage collections, helping establish advanced photonics capability in Ghana, or developing new measurement technologies. 

“YAS offers the opportunity to learn from people working in very different sectors and to contribute where my own experience may be useful. I’m particularly looking forward to the conversations and collaborations that emerge when people with different perspectives come together around shared challenges.” 

YAS membership is open to early to mid-career professionals with between 5-15 years post qualification experience who have demonstrated both excellence in their field and significant potential to become leaders capable of addressing the challenges of the future. 

YAS provides a platform for its members to combine their voices, talents and innovative ideas to bring change on the issues that matter most to them. It also allows members to grow rapidly as citizens and leaders by collaborating across boundaries, expanding their professional networks, and gaining access to professional development opportunities. 

Dr Rebekah Widdowfield, Vice-Principal People and Governance, said: “I am delighted to see five of our colleagues appointed to the Young Academy of Scotland, representing a significant proportion of this year’s new cohort. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and the recognition this represents of the breadth, quality and impact of work taking place across the University. 

“Their selection reflects not only excellence across a range of disciplines, but also a shared commitment to making a positive difference in Scotland and beyond. I know through my previous role as Chief Executive of the RSE, the valuable role the Young Academy plays, and I look forward to seeing them bring their expertise, fresh perspectives and collaborative approach to the Young Academy and to the important work it undertakes.”