The University of Edinburgh was founded in 1582 in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was originally known as Tounis College. The institution was founded as a college of law and, until 1858, was governed by the Town Council of the city. In 1935 the Faculty of Divinity of the University of Edinburgh and New College merged, representing the first change to the university's constitution. Another merger followed in 1951, this time with the Royal Dick Veterinary School. In 1998 Edinburgh expanded again, this time merging with Moray House Institute of Education. In 2002 the University underwent a restructuring process that saw Faculties abolished, and the creation of the College of Humanities & Social Science, the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine and the College of Science & Engineering. Departments became Schools within the new Colleges.

(b. 1939) Professor in Plant Biochemistry Trewavas obtained both his undergraduate degree and Ph.D in Biochemistry at University College London investigating aspects of phosphate metabolism of plants before continuing to complete his postdoctoral research at University of East Anglia. In the early 1970s he was invited to be first Visiting Professor at the Plant Research laboratory in Michigan State University following which he visited many universities across America and Europe before being announced as Professor Emeritus in the University of Edinburgh in 2004. Trewavas' research on plant genetic engineering was at the forefront of the media in the 1990s due to his creation of a light producing plant. Trewavas was also very vocal during the GM crop debates particularly about organic crops versus genetically modified crops. It was his view that organic plants were much worse than GM plants and In October 2001 was named in the High Court in London as the source of a letter making libellous allegations against Lord Melchett and Greenpeace. In response to this publicity he wrote in letters that he denies responsibility for the libel letter published under his name.