What are the opening hours?

Monday 8:30am - 7:30pm Tuesday 8:30am - 7:30pm Wednesday 8:30am - 7:30pm Thursday 8:30am - 7:30pm Friday 8:30am - 7:30pm Saturday 8:30am - 7:30pm Sunday 8:30am - 7:30pm

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The RSE is an educational charity registered in Scotland, operating on a wholly independent and

04/09/2026

Tomorrow's the big day... our Curious festival is finally here! 🥳✨

Book now to join us for a packed programme of free exhibitions, talks and workshops, all led by Scotland’s leading minds.

On the first day of the festival tomorrow, we’ll:
🔹 Uncover 100 years of UK scandals and disasters
🔹 Dive into the Gaelic language in learning workshops
🔹Explore the impact of dyslexia and dyscalculia on everyday wellbeing
🔹 Hear from Scotland’s biggest political voices as they unpack the 2026 election

And if you haven't grabbed your free ticket yet, don't worry, there's still time! 👇
https://rse.org.uk/whats-on/?_sft_event_type=curious

We'd love to see you with us, whether you're joining in person at the RSE or tuning in online for one of our talks. 💜

03/09/2026

📣Funding now open! Scotland-wide community research awards of up to £5,000 are available.

Are you part of a local group working to improve your community? Healthy Planet, Healthy People: Catalyst Awards are designed to enable community-led research projects focused on the following themes: 🌍 climate; 🌱 nature; 🍎 and food to support healthy environments and healthy communities.

Duration: up to 12 months
Deadline: Tuesday 1 December 2026
Apply now: https://bit.ly/4nUbX8M

Recipients of a Healthy Planet, Healthy People: Catalyst Award have the opportunity to apply for the follow-on Healthy Planet, Healthy People: Change Award, worth up to £75K.

Since launching the scheme in 2023, with support from the Williamson Trust, we’ve awarded over £472,607 across 52 projects, enabling local groups to create change in their communities.

Projects have included:
• A project in Orkney exploring sustainable food waste reduction and composting systems in island communities;
• A feasibility study in Edinburgh on establishing a cooperative food-buying network to reduce food waste and improve access to quality food in the north of the city;
• Research in Fife into using nature-based methods to protect young trees against deer and reduce the amount of plastic in our environment.

01/09/2026

“We’ve seen how scarcity can so easily be used to drive division.” - Nasar Meer FRSE

Last month, we took part in the Festival of Politics (The Scottish Parliament) for a discussion exploring what it means to belong in Scotland, against a backdrop of growing polarisation and a sense of being “left behind”.

An incredible turnout for a dreich Tuesday evening, the panel, chaired by Cllr Katie Hagmann MSP, explored how we can bring diverse voices together and build stronger, more connected communities.

Among the panellists was artist The artwork of Gerard M Burns whose Mother Glasgow exhibition features 16 oil-painted portraits celebrating the women from around the world who have made Glasgow their home. Their stories reflect the experiences and contributions that shape Scotland today.

A heartfelt discussion from belonging and community participation to the role of traditional and new media in shaping political perceptions.

📸 Miss Lydia photography

25/08/2026

This year's Curious programme brings a selection of exhibitions that you can enjoy at your own pace. All exhibitions are open from 12pm–6pm for the full duration of the festival. 🖼️🕰️

Read about some of the most shocking scandals and cover-ups in UK history, see the creative outputs from workshops in Mexico City and Glasgow, or learn about ongoing efforts to decolonise knowledge.

We would love to see you with us at the RSE. Book your free tickets below to join us soon for Curious 2026! 🥳

🎟️Candour and Communities: https://rse.org.uk/event/exhibition-candour-and-communities/

🎟️Between languages, between homes: https://rse.org.uk/event/exhibition-between-languages-between-homes-visual-stories-of-language-and-belonging-in-edinburgh/

🎟️Building community: Archives from Mexico City: https://rse.org.uk/event/building-community-archives-from-mexico-city/

🎟️ Healing histories: https://rse.org.uk/event/exhibit-healing-histories/

18/08/2026

Will we see you at this year's Curious festival? 🥳

Take a look at some of this year's talks, workshops and exhibitions – and make sure to sign up below!

👉 https://rse.org.uk/whats-on/?_sft_event_type=curious

All events at Curious are free and open to anyone interested in hearing from Scotland's leading minds. To make sure we can guarantee your spot, visit our website to book your tickets.

12/08/2026

Look up tonight! 🔭

This evening, people in the UK will have the chance to witness a rare partial solar eclipse as the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun. This will be the most dramatic solar eclipse the UK has seen since the total eclipse in 1999, and another comparable eclipse won’t be seen from the UK until 2081.

🌕🌔🌓🌒🌑🌘🌗🌖🌕

The image below accompanied the physicist and RSE Fellow William Swan’s account of the 1851 total eclipse, which he witnessed from Gothenburg, Sweden. In his account he stated that he had “never witnessed any spectacle which so powerfully fascinated both the imagination and the senses”.

Swan watched the eclipse through specially designed tinted glass over the eyepiece of his magnifying glass, which allowed him to view the eclipse without the sun damaging his eyes. If you’re watching the eclipse tonight, remember to either use certified solar eclipse glasses, or watch it indirectly through a pinhole projector.

📷 Image: Illustration from ‘On the Total Eclipse of the Sun, on July 28,1851’, published in the Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (1853).

11/08/2026

Throughout the year, the RSE works closely with young people, teachers and schools across Scotland to deliver meaningful learning experiences through it's Young People's Programme.

As we get ready for a new school year, now is the time to sign up to our newsletter so you can receive the latest updates on our schools activities and upcoming events. You'll also be the first to know about any opportunities to get involved with the RSE's work.

Our Young People's newsletter covers topics like our free School Talks from the RSE's Fellowship and beyond, available learning resources, events you can get involved in, and the impact of our work.

👉 https://rse.org.uk/subscribe/

Tick 'Activities for young people' to stay in the loop! ✅

30/07/2026

Why do healthcare systems rely on voluntary blood donors rather than paying for donations? https://rse.org.uk/resource/blood-donation-the-gift-relationship/

23/07/2026

🎟️ IT'S TIME! 🎟️

Tickets are officially live for Scotland's festival of knowledge, so you can now book in for your top Curious picks. 🥳

There are so many free events to choose from (our biggest selection yet!), and we can't wait to see what you come along to in September, whether you're with us in-person at the RSE or online. We recommend booking in advance as ticket capacity is limited, and they go fast!

The RSE is the main festival hub for our exhibitions, workshops and talks, but we've got plenty of events you can tune into online.

Booking tickets is simple, just follow these steps:
1. Visit the RSE's website to explore the full programme.
2. Pick your event, then click 'Book now'.
3. Complete your booking via Eventbrite. You'll receive a booking confirmation email shortly after.

🔍 Choose from the programme: www.rse.org.uk/curious

Here's just a small snapshot of what's on offer, but don't forget that there's so much more on the RSE's website.

What are you waiting for? Go, go, go! 🤩

22/07/2026

🕰️ Not long now...

Tickets for this year's Curious festival go live tomorrow at 11am! We'll see you then. 🎟️

There is so much to enjoy in this year's Curious festival programme, and we're so excited to bring you an incredible line up of speakers and experts who will share their research and knowledge with us over the course of nine days. 🎤

If you haven't had a chance to browse the programme yet, then now is the time!

Visit rse.org.uk/curious for this year's Curious festival line up.

Address

22-26 George Street
Edinburgh
EH22PQ

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 7:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 7:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 7:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 7:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 7:30pm
Saturday	8:30am - 7:30pm
Sunday	8:30am - 7:30pm

Telephone

+441312405000

Website

http://www.rse.org.uk/

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