We speak to the medallist about his work promoting and protecting minority languages. Professor Robert (Rob) Dunbar, Chair of Celtic Languages, Literature, History and Antiquities, has been awarded the Sir Walter Scott Medal by the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE). The award recognises Rob’s international role in furthering policies relating to the promotion and legal protection of minority languages, a body of work that includes board membership of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. This is the only treaty in the world designed to protect and promote regional and minority languages and to enable speakers to use them both in private and public life.Closer to home, the medal acknowledges Rob’s “prominent and long-standing contribution to the support and development of Scottish Gaelic language and policy in this country, and high-quality research in the area of Gaelic literature and culture generally”. Speaking ahead of the medal ceremony on Wednesday 19 November 2025 in Edinburgh, Rob said “I am deeply honoured to have been awarded the RSE Sir Walter Scott Medal. I am most grateful to the Royal Society of Edinburgh for this recognition, not only of my own work but of the importance of the Gaelic language and culture, and of linguistic and cultural diversity more generally, both in Scotland and in Europe.” Professor Rob Dunbar with his medal at the RSE award ceremony. Image © Stewart Attwood Photography, courtesy of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Like many in my field, I have sought to combine scholarship and teaching with wider engagement, in my case with the public policy process, both here in Scotland and abroad, particularly through the Council of Europe. My efforts would not have been possible without the outstanding work of many others, both within and outside academia, from whom I have learned and with whom I have engaged and collaborated. My work would also not have been possible without the support of my university colleagues and the love and support of friends and family. For this, I am also profoundly grateful. Professor Rob Dunbar RSE Sir Walter Scott Medal winner 2025 Are you interested in studying with us? The study of Celtic at the University of Edinburgh goes back to 1882, while the School of Scottish Studies was founded in 1951 to collect, archive and promote the cultural traditions of the nation. Brought together in 2001, our multidisciplinary team delivers teaching and supervision across a broad range of specialist areas and is committed to excellence in research and publication. Join us at the heart of Scotland’s capital and festival city:Undergraduate studyPostgraduate study Find out more and apply for a PhD in Celtic Previous medal winners In 2021, Professor John Peter Renwick was the first Modern Linguist to be awarded the Sir Walter Scott Medal. Professor Renwick was John Orr Chair of French at the University of Edinburgh for over a quarter of a century from 1980 until his retirement. He has been an Emeritus Professor in French in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) since 2007. His medal recognised what the RSE noted as a “monumental and ground-breaking contribution” to the 140-volume Complete Works of Voltaire (Oxford, 1969-2021), and Renwick’s key role in the “scholarly resurrection of the highly significant figure, Jean-François Marmontel”. Tags Celtic and Scottish Studies Research Teaching Publication date 19 Nov, 2025
