Policy advice
The RSE provides independent and authoritative evidence to help inform public policy decisions and legislation. Using the wide-ranging expertise of our Fellowship, we provide advice across important national and global issues. Our contributions support policymakers in the Scottish and UK parliaments and governments.
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Latest advice papers
Valuing local communities in research and policymaking
Read MoreA report exploring community‑rooted research and why valuing lived experience and local knowledge is essential to effective policymaking.
The future of council tax in Scotland
Read MoreThe RSE has responsed to the consultation on the future of council tax in Scotland. It is vital that the Scottish Government and COSLA follow through on their commitment to reforming council tax.
Policy in practice: How Scotland can get it right
Read MoreThe Policy in practice: How Scotland can get it right report brings together the work of three RSE-convened workgroups focused on the economy, the environment, and social inclusion and cohesion. It looks not only at what Scotland might choose to prioritise, but also at how policy can be done differently – how decisions are made, how trade-offs are handled, and how people can be more meaningfully involved in shaping change
Projects
We run projects on a range of policy issues at global, national, and local levels with our Fellowship playing a key role in sharing knowledge to policymakers and elected officials.
Constitutional Futures Initiative
Read MoreAn impartial and expert reflection on Scotland’s constitutional options and how these have been reshaped by Brexit and Covid.
Post-Covid-19 Futures Commission
Read MoreThe RSE Post Covid-19 Futures Commission was established to support Scotland in emerging as positively as it can from the current pandemic.
Rethinking policy impact
Read MoreGathering experts across higher education institutions, funding organisations and government for a UK-wide conversation on the principles, goals and approaches that should guide the policy…
Scotland-Europe Initiative
Read MoreThe RSE's Scotland-Europe Initiative will examine Scotland’s and the UK’s relations with the European Union post-Brexit.
Tertiary Education Futures
Read MoreThe Tertiary Education Futures project was a ‘blue-skies’ thought experiment to stimulate continued creative thinking about how post-school education might evolve over the next few…
Funding of tertiary education in Scotland conference
Read MoreThe RSE held an evidence-based conference about the future of the funding of tertiary education in Scotland.
Networks
Connecting with shared values for the betterment of society.
Latest policy advice news
The RSE announces 43 individuals deemed excellent in their field, elected as RSE Fellows in 2026, who will use their knowledge for the public good as part of Scotland’s National Academy.
A new report suggests how we can better bridge university research and policy needs, to improve how research feeds into policy. The report, commissioned by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Universities Scotland, points to the massive uptick in research-policy exchange over the past two decades.
As thousands of teenagers prepare to vote for the first time in the forthcoming Holyrood election, how many of them will have the confidence to cast their ballot with conviction?
Latest policy advice resources
Sandy Begbie puts a case forward for why competitive taxes are key to growing Scotland’s economy and funding public services.
While cutting spending or raising taxes remain options, long-term prosperity depends on economic growth. Delivering this will require investment, skills development, and support for high-value industries to ensure more inclusive and sustainable living standards.
Scotland faces a growing nature crisis. Why urgent political leadership and public action are needed to restore biodiversity.
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