ABERDEEN University has achieved a first in modern academia by submitting scientific research in the Scots language.

The move was praised by The National’s Scots columnist Alistair Heather, pictured, who said the university is leading the “Scot-language renaissance”.

The article highlights the social nature of damselflies, revealing they are more likely to survive the cold Scottish climate if they are in the “right social group”.

It is published in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society in both Scots and English.

Heather said: “Fir a lang time a the business o baith toun an goun in Aiberdeen wis conductit in Scots. The status o Scots fell, an mony Aiberdonians an ither Scots saw it as nae mair nor a slang or vulgar wye o speakin wi yer freens.

“This shaws that Scots can aince mair be a language o formal communication in Scotland.”

Senior lecturer Dr Lesley Lancaster led the research while the Scots translation was provided by Jack McLachlan, a Scottish doctoral candidate at the University of Maine.

McLachlan said: “Scots has all the nuance and specific language to communicate complex theories or exciting results.”

The university is also at the heart of a long-term study into Scots, led by professor Robert McColl Millar, and has signage in Scots across the campus. Heather said: “It is awfy important that fowk get tae ken that the Scots leid is mair than just a puckle coorse wirds an phrases.”