Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, is to be the next President of The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), it has been announced.
Lord Wilson, the Governor of Hong Kong from 1987-1992, will take over as RSE President when Sir Michael Atiyah, one of the world's greatest mathematicians, leaves office this October.
The highly prestigious post of RSE President has been held by other such distinguished figures as Lord Kelvin and Sir Walter Scott. The post is unpaid; the term lasts for three years and always provides a six-month period of overlap for the incoming and outgoing Presidents.
Currently Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge and Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, Lord Wilson has achieved international distinction in a broad range of fields and is one of the United Kingdom's most eminent diplomats.
Sir Michael Atiyah, who remains in office until October 2008, said: "I am delighted that Lord Wilson is to be the next President of The Royal Society of Edinburgh. Lord Wilson has a wealth of experience upon which to draw. As the Society's International Convener, he contributed greatly to the success and development of our work in enhancing Scotland's global collaboration. His leadership will help drive forward the public benefit activities of the Society, which I know he will take from strength to strength."
Lord Wilson said: "It is a great honour, and a great pleasure, to be elected to take over as President later this year from Sir Michael Atiyah. Over recent years the Royal Society of Edinburgh has established itself as the pre-eminent centre for serious discussion of key issues affecting Scotland and a wider world. I look forward to being able to help build on these foundations to enhance even further the role of the RSE both domestically and internationally."
Three University of Aberdeen academics have also been made new Fellows of the Royal Society. They are:
BREWER, John David. Professor of Sociology and Head of Department, University of Aberdeen.
MACRAE, Colin Neil. Professor, School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen.
McEWAN, Ian Kenneth. Technical Director, Brinker Technology Ltd, Reader, University of Aberdeen.
