Trustees report and financial statements 2020

STRATEGIC REPORT GOVERNANCE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OTHER INFORMATION THE ROYAL SOCIETY TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 28 SCIENCE SHAPING THE WORLD WE LIVE IN 29 Dynamics of data science skills How can all sectors benefit from data science talent? NON-INVASIVE TECHNOLOGIES Recording technologies Stimulating technologies Recordingand stimulating technologies EEG Electroencephalography MMG Mechanomyography MEG Magnetoencephalography FES Functionalelectrical stimulation fMRI Functionalmagnetic resonance imaging tDCS Transcranialdirect current stimulation fNIRS Functionalnear-infrared spectroscopy TENS Transcutaneous electricalnerve stimulation TMS Transcranial magnetic stimulation EEGwithFES Recording technologies Stimulating technologies INVASIVE TECHNOLOGIES ECoG electrocorticography Cortical implant Neuraldust Neural lace Neuropixels Cochlear implants Stentrodes DBS Deepbrain stimulation Retinal implants Optogenetics VNS Vagusnerve stimulation Vestibular implants iHuman Blurring lines between mind and machine PERSPECTIVE Demonstrating the importance of science to everyone Priorities: 1 Increase scientific advice for policy makers. 2 Implement a programme of public dialogue and engagement. 3 Integrate science into public debate and culture. 4 Promote the value of STEM education. 5 Inspire through historic collections. Above: Participants at the Summer Science Exhibition Lates, 2019. Strategy in action continued Increase scientific advice for policy makers The Society continues to influence policy makers and three of our reports from the past year illustrate our work in this area. Our report on green ammonia considered the opportunities and challenges associated with the manufacture and future use of zero- carbon or green ammonia. Ammonia is a gas that is widely used to make agricultural fertilisers, and green ammonia is the same gas but made in a way that is 100% renewable and carbon-free. The report looked at how the production of green ammonia could offer further options in the transition to net-zero carbon dioxide emissions, including energy storage for renewable energy, as a zero-carbon fuel and as a means of storing and carrying hydrogen, which is difficult to store on its own. Our report on data science illustrated the increased demand for jobs in this area and set out ways to help build a stronger talent pipeline to help all sectors benefit from data science. The report, Dynamics of data science skills , looked at the current demand for data professionals and how this varies across industrial sectors and UK regions. It identified areas for action to strengthen the UK’s data science talent base. Two companion booklets were also published with case studies highlighting career paths across academia, industry, charity and government; and models and mechanisms presenting innovative approaches which could be implemented to meet demand and share talent. This year, we launched the iHuman: blurring lines between mind and machine report, which showed how new technologies could transform medicine and fundamentally change how we interact with technology and each other. Neural interfaces are electronic devices placed on the outside or inside of the brain or nervous system to record or stimulate activity and interact with the nervous system. The report took a future-facing look into possible applications of neural and brain- computer interfaces, the important ethical questions the technologies raise and how to maximise the benefits and minimise the risks of the technologies. Priorities 1 3 2 Scientific thinking influences how people live their lives, never more so than now. The Society engages with the public in many different settings to hear their experiences and views and to make science part of the wider conversation.