I am delighted to report that Glasgow has risen five places from 59 to 54 in the latest QS World University Rankings which were published on 11 September. This is further good news for Glasgow, confirming our growing reputation as a world leading research intensive university. We are one of only three Scottish institutions in the top 100.

Our strategic partnership with Columbia University has continued to flourish and we were delighted to welcome two speakers earlier this year as reported on in this issue. Our partnership with Columbia originally focused on collaborations in biomedicine and we are now exploring further opportunities in Economics, Engineering and History, amongst others.

This autumn we have an exciting series of events planned including our celebration event in North Carolina. For almost 30 years Glasgow has been welcoming visiting students from Duke University as part of the Duke Public Policy Studies course which began with the first student cohort arriving at Gilmorehill in September 1985. The programme has continued until this day and we are delighted to be celebrating this long standing relationship. Professor David Fearn International Dean for the Americas

News Issue 13 Autumn 2012For alumni and friends living in North America

McGill celebrates long-standing ties with University of Glasgow

From left to right: Professor Anton Muscatelli; Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh; Chancellor Arnold Steinberg and Principal Heather Munroe-Blum of McGill University unveil three commemorative benches in James Square. / Photo: Owen Egan

Welcome from the International Dean

Accepting the award, Professor Anton Muscatelli said, “James McGill, the founder of McGill, studied at Glasgow in the 1750s and we have maintained strong and enduring connections with McGill over the past two and a half centuries. There are more than 100 Canadian students currently studying with us at Glasgow, adding greatly to the campus life and student experience. This is a tremendous honour not just for me personally, but also for the community of the University of Glasgow.”

Prior to the ceremony, Principals Muscatelli and O’Shea unveiled three commemorative benches in the James Garden on the McGill campus. The benches are made of Scottish granite that was quarried near Aberdeen. Each bench is made of three pieces of granite, representing the three universities, joined together in three different designs that are similar yet unique. Replicas of the three Scottish stone benches, made of Quebec granite, will be placed on a ‘mirror’ site at Macdonald College, as a complement to the installation on the main campus.

“James McGill was motivated to found this university by a sense of curiosity and a spirit of social responsibility instilled in him as a young man in Scotland,” said Professor Heather Munroe-Blum, McGill’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor. “Today, this same spirit is to be found in the active student exchanges and research collaborations that build on the foundational ties between McGill and the esteemed sister universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. As a fitting finale to McGill’s 190th anniversary celebrations, I am delighted to award honorary doctorates to these distinguished academic leaders and international colleagues, Professors Muscatelli and O’Shea.”

To honour the long-standing intellectual, academic and medical ties that bind McGill University in Canada to Scotland, Professor Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow was awarded an honorary doctorate at a ceremony held there in late May. Also honoured was Professor Timothy O’Shea of the University of Edinburgh.

Glasgow welcomed two academic speakers from Columbia University, New York. Dr Sandro Galea, Gelman Professor and Chair of Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health, spoke at an Institute of Health and Wellbeing Seminar on Tuesday, 1 May 2012 about the biological and behavioural causes of disease, while his colleague Alan Brinkley, the Allan Nevins Professor of American History, delivered the 12th Annual Gordon Lecture in American Studies on Wednesday, 2 May.

Dr Galea’s primary research has been on the causes of mental disorders, particularly common mood-anxiety disorders and substance abuse, and on the role of traumatic events in shaping population health. He was named as one of TIME magazine’s epidemiology innovators in 2006.

Professor Herbert I H Saravanamuttoo (BSc 1955) and Andrew H Wilson (BSc 1949) have been inducted into the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE) in 2011 and 2012 respectively. The CAE is the national institution through which Canada’s most distinguished Engineers are recognised and which provides advice on matters of national importance to Canada.

In the early 1980s Professor Saravanamuttoo was President of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI), and Drew Wilson was President of the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering (CSME). Mr Wilson was also the first Glasgow graduate to be elected President of the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC), Canada’s oldest such society which was established in 1887.

Alumnus, Dr Robert Lawson (MA 2004, MPhil 2005, PhD 2009), has received a Scottish Studies Fulbright Award to enable him to research at the University of Pittsburgh on one of the most selective scholarship programmes operating world-wide.

In 2004, Robert was the recipient of an Economic and Social Research Council postgraduate scholarship to conduct research on the relationship between language, violence and identity among working-class adolescent males in Glasgow in one of the first ethnographically-informed sociolinguistic accounts of language variation in Scotland. During his PhD, he was awarded a Mac Robertson traveling scholarship, which allowed him to undertake a period of overseas research training in linguistic anthropology and urban ethnography at the University of Arizona. In 2009, he joined the School of English at Birmingham City University as a lecturer in linguistics.

Commenting on receiving the Award, Robert said: “It’s a privilege to have been chosen as the Fulbright Scottish Studies Scholar and I’m very excited to be part of one of the world’s most prestigious exchange programmes. As a Fulbright Scholar, I’ll be working on two book projects during my time at the University of Pittsburgh.”

For more information on the Fulbright Commission please visit: www.fulbright.org.uk

Former Glasgow academic receives prestigious Fulbright Award

Support for transatlantic exchange visits Studying and undertaking research abroad can be a challenging and life-transforming experience. It is possible to support exchange visits of postgraduate and research assistant students to and from Columbia University through our Mobility Scholarships, as part of the Scholarships Fund. Gifts to Mobility Scholarships can provide students with the opportunity to study abroad and enhance their skills and employability which will equip them for the global economy and global citizenship. Visit www.gla.ac.uk/about/givingtoglasgow for further information.

Prof Brinkley spoke on the ‘The Great Depression: Then and Now’. In 2009 at the start of the current economic crisis, Prof Brinkley briefed members of Congress and their staff on the relevance of the Great Depression for today’s situation. He has continued to reflect on these connections, and spoke about them at the lecture, after giving an overview of the New Deal programmes devised by President Roosevelt’s administration during the 1930s.

Glasgow’s strategic partnership with Columbia University is currently focused on collaborations in biomedicine. A key feature of the Research Co-operation Programme has been short exchange visits in both directions by senior and younger scientists as well as at senior management level.

Glasgow hosts speakers from US strategic partner Columbia University

Engineers inducted into the Canadian Academy of Engineering

Professor Saravanamuttoo has over 55 years of experience in the field of gas turbine engines and his teaching and writing have influenced the development of more efficient turbines around the world. At the 2012 Annual General Meeting of the CAE he delivered the keynote address entitled “After the Avro Arrow – Lessons Learned”, a presentation on the subsequent development of aircraft design and production in Canada.

Mr Wilson served for many years in agencies of the Public Service of Canada. Since he retired he has contributed significantly to the recording of the history of engineering in Canada and abroad.

The University’s International Story is a new online resource being developed to showcase our rich heritage of pioneering international students and staff. A team of International Story student editors support the project and are researching our historic connections with particular countries. Many are using their language skills and country-specific knowledge to dig out previously hidden facts.

San Francisco Opera General Director David Gockley presented Chorus Director Ian Robertson (BMus 1971), with the San Francisco Opera Medal, the highest honour awarded by the Company to an artistic professional. The Opera Medal was presented to Robertson on stage at the War Memorial Opera House following the June 12 performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Attila. Joining Gockley onstage for the presentation was San Francisco Opera Music Director and Attila conductor Nicola Luisotti, the cast of Attila, and the San Francisco Opera Chorus.

David Gockley stated: “Ian Robertson celebrates his twenty-fifth anniversary with San Francisco Opera this year, and over the course of his distinguished tenure he has led the acclaimed San Francisco Opera Chorus in more than 300 productions. He has brought great artistry not only to the life of this Company, but to the musical fabric of the Bay Area through his work with the San Francisco Boys Chorus and other institutions. He is a treasured member of the artistic leadership of San Francisco Opera, and it is very fitting that we recognise him in this way.”

San Francisco Opera Chorus Director receives coveted award

International story and James Wilson, one of the Founding Fathers of the USA

Image: James Wilson’s signature in the Student Receipt Book used for borrowing books

One alumnus already featured on the blog is James Wilson, a prominent lawyer and early advocate of American independence, who was a member of the Committee of Detail producing the first draft of the United States Constitution in 1787. Without attaining a degree, this young Scottish scholar and his education were to have a marked bearing on his future successes and indeed those of his new country, British America.

If you know of any historic stories of pioneering international alumni and staff, we would be happy to hear from you! Further information about the project can be found online at: http://uoginternationalstory.wordpress.com/

Do you Tweet?If you have a Twitter account, be sure to follow @EmmaJSloan

We’ll be tweeting information about our events, current activities and news from Glasgow. Tell any fellow graduates and friends to follow us too. The more the merrier!

Giving formAmerican Alumni of Glasgow University

Please note the change of address for contributions to AAGU: Melvyn Pond, President, AAGU, 183 Wolf Harbor Road, Milford CT 06461-1961

Name

Name at graduation (if different)

Address (inc zip code)

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Give online:www.gla.ac.uk/givefromtheUSA

Please accept my gift to further the mission of American Alumni of Glasgow University. I would like to make a gift in the amount of $ I will give this amount every year for years I enclose my check payable to American Alumni of Glasgow University My company will match my gift; I will forward the appropriate forms to AAGU Signature Date I wish to convey to the Board of Directors of AAGU my hope that consideration will be given to allocating this contribution to I understand that AAGU’s Board of Directors retains sole discretion and control over all gifts made to help support its grants to the University of Glasgow. The University may not include my name in its publications in connection with or by reason of my gift to AAGU. Thank you for your donation. Acknowledgement of your gift will be sent to you. Details about this gift will be shared with the University. American Alumni of Glasgow University is a 501(c)(3)tax-exempt organization (recognised by the U.S Internal Revenue Service) which funds grants that benefit the University of Glasgow. In compliance with IRS regulations, the Board of Directors of American Alumni of Glasgow University maintains complete discretion over allocation of gifts to the University. A copy of its latest annual report may be obtained, upon request, from its Treasurer. If you are giving from Canada, please complete the form opposite.

2012 AUT NA NEWS

David was appointed to the Board in 2010 and was inspired to do so by former Principal Sir Muir Russell and colleagues from the Development and Alumni Office. He brings his business expertise to the board and his role is to avail the University of his many academic and business connections in the US.

Following a spell of no contact David reconnected with the University in the 1990s by which point he had settled in the US with his wife. “I was delighted to fund a scholarship for non-traditional students at Glasgow as both my parents had obtained their degrees at the University by quite non-traditional means. By happy coincidence Muir Russell, my old High School of Glasgow schoolmate was Principal at this time, and another strong bond was re-made.”

Most recently David has connected Professor Anna Dominiczak, Vice Principal and Head of the College of Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, with contacts at Life Technologies, Inc., a California based global scientific supplies and instruments corporation of which he is a Director. “I am proud that this has lead to a proposal from Prof. Dominiczak, to undertake a genome-wide analysis of the West of Scotland population to gain a better understanding of the heritability and individual susceptibility patterns of the major diseases that afflict people of this region.”

Do you have any particularly memorable student experiences? The calmness, refinement and intellectual rigor of the library in the chemistry building; waiting for the exam postings in the quadrangle; enjoying Kelvingrove Park during the beautiful spring weather around finals time in 1970, my last year; dancing with a lovely girl to the Four Tops on a Friday night at the Union.

How has your Glasgow degree helped your career? Most importantly, the basic learning and training I achieved at Glasgow granted me entrance into a world famous laboratory at Johns Hopkins, where I made my scientific reputation; that in turn got me a good professorship at Northwestern University in Chicago which subsequently vaulted me into my industrial career in the US, starting and leading biotechnology companies, and overseeing global R&D enterprises in major pharmaceutical companies.

Today, I am still passionate as a venture capitalist and entrepreneur to help translate the best academic science in medical schools along the pathway towards the development of new and better drugs.

What motivates you as a volunteer? Like many, as I have become older, I want to give back, and I feel very fortunate indeed to be able to give my time, money and expertise to a number of very good causes, including my first Alma Mater.

What aspirations do you have for the future activities of AAGU? That AAGU should become increasingly visible to the GU expat community, and a yet stronger vehicle by which they can give back to the University.

David’s full profile will be available to view on the AAGU webpages from October.

AAGU Board Member in Profile David U’Prichard (BSc 1970)

I am delighted to update all of our supporters with news on AAGU activities. The board met most recently in August to discuss our future actions and as a result we will shortly be launching our new website. The site will contain information about the many different ways to support us, board member profiles, and news on projects supported at the University. We hope the pages will prove to be a useful tool for alumni in the USA.

This autumn many of you will receive a call from a current university student to discuss alumni activity, university life and to ask for a contribution to AAGU. I hope you enjoy the experience and feel inspired to support us.

Your donation directly benefits Glasgow and will contribute to the university’s success in the future.

A special thank you must go to Vivek Thakur who has handed over the role of Treasurer to Jackie Smith. A co-founding member of AAGU, Vivek has worked tirelessly over the past four years and will remain on the board to support future initiatives.

I look forward to meeting fellow graduates and supporters at the forthcoming event in NYC in October.

Melvyn Pond (BVMS 1966) President, AAGU www.gla.ac.uk/givefromtheusa

News from AAGU

Alumna Rita Reilly (MA 1961) invited graduates and friends to join her for a barbecue and beer party on Saturday, 31 March. Rita’s daughter Laura Wieland very kindly opened up her wonderful home for the occasion and warmly welcomed guests of all ages and academic interests, a great and representative cross section of the University. Guests watched a personal video message from the Principal who spoke about the University’s forward looking plans. The video was followed by a quick round robin discussion during which everybody shared aspects of their own Glasgow story.

Celebrations in Austin and HoustonHot on the heels of the event in Austin, Texas alumni were invited to the Houston Backyard Bash on Friday, 1 June. Special thanks must go to Christine Pucillo (MA 1972) for all of her hard work in putting the event together and thanks are also due to Helen Mann (MA 1967) for her assistance in the run up to the event. The evening would not have been possible without them!

Alumni activity in Texas

People in profile: Hugh Forrest, Professor Emeritus, University of Texas

For over forty years, Dr Forrest has been active as an editor for the international journal, “Biochemical Genetics”. His research career has been largely devoted to the elucidation of the chemical structures of naturally occurring compounds. He has written over 100 papers in refereed journals on chemistry of natural products, isolation of coenzymes and cofactors and on aspects of DNA chemistry and Biochemistry.

Dr Forrest has been elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, as well as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and has represented the University of Glasgow with great distinction through his career.

Hugh Forrest, born in Glasgow in 1924, graduated in 1944 from the Glasgow with 1st Class Honours in Chemistry. During the critical post war period of burgeoning scientific development Dr Forrest earned a PhD at the University of London in 1948, a PhD from the University of Cambridge in 1951, and a DSc in 1961 from the University of London. From 1951-1956, Dr Forrest was a Post Doctoral Fellow at the California Institute of Technology.

From 1956 to 1995, Dr Forrest served as a faculty member at the University of Texas as a distinguished professor of natural sciences and as a collaborative and innovative researcher noted for his expertise in biochemical genetics, molecular biology, and human physiology. Generations of students and colleagues have benefited from his contributions. In recognition, the University of Texas designated Forrest as Professor Emeritus in 1995.

Photo: Vancouver

How to contact usEmma Sloan International Development Officer

Development & Alumni Office 2-3 The Square, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK Tel: +44 (0)141 330 2810 Email: Emma.Sloan@glasgow.ac.uk Web: www.glasgow.ac.uk/alumni

Data Protection Act 1998 Under the codes of the 1998 Data Protection Act, the University of Glasgow will use the information provided by you for University education, social and charitable purposes only.

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002The Development & Alumni Office acts in accordance with the terms of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Information on donations received by the University of Glasgow is provided in ‘Giving to Glasgow’ and other project-specific newsletters. Information is included only on donors who have given us their express permission to do so.

Printed on 50% recycled paper Printed by Mailing & Data Solutions Ltd, Glasgow

© University of Glasgow 2012

The University of Glasgow, charity number SC004401

Giving formGiving from Canada – tax deductable

Give online: www.gla.ac.uk/givefromCanada

Telephone: +44 (0)141 330 2810 or email Emma.Sloan@glasgow.ac.uk to arrange a call from Glasgow.

Please complete this form and return to: Development & Alumni Office, 2-3 The Square, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK

Name

Name at graduation (if different)

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I would like to make a gift to the University of Glasgow of $

n Enclosed is a cheque made payable to ‘The University of Glasgow’

n I will give this amount every year for years.

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n The Paul O’Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre

n College of Arts*

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n I would like information on how to make a bequest to the University in my will

n I would like my gift to remain anonymous.

*If applicable, please specify which project you would like to support eg. Small Animal Hospital, Edwin Morgan Postgraduate Scholarship fund.

Thank you for making a donation. Acknowledgment of your gift will be sent to you.

Please make cheques payable to ‘The University of Glasgow’, not ‘University of Glasgow Trust’.

The University will send you a receipt for your own tax records.

2012 AUT NA NEWS

Vancouver The Glasgow University Alumni Association of British Columbia hosted their 10th Annual Gathering in May at Cheers Restaurant, North Vancouver on Saturday, 26 May. 28 guests attended the event and were delighted to welcome Professor Chris Berry, FRSE, as guest speaker whose talk was entitled: ‘The State Scotland is in: some musings’.

A warm welcome was made to newly elected Association President, Peter Richards (BSc 1971) and Secretary, Sheila Anderson (LLB 1969). Special thanks must go to Edward Mornin (MA 1961) and Peter Waddell (BSc 1956) who tirelessly led the group for over a decade and supported the University in their respective former roles as President and Secretary of the Association.

Calgary

The first meeting of alumni in Calgary took place at the end of May at the James Joyce Pub and was a great success. Professor Chris Berry was delighted to host this event and thoroughly enjoyed meeting all who attended. The gathering was an informal opportunity for alumni in the area to meet with fellow graduates and to celebrate Glasgow. Many guests were keen to stay in touch with the University and each other and following the event contact details were exchanged. We look forward to assisting with future alumni activities in the area.

Events round-up

Celebrating four decades of Duke in Glasgow Tuesday 16 October 2012 at 6.30 pm The Washington Duke Inn, 3001 Cameron Blvd, Durham, NC 27705

2012 NYC Alumni Cocktail Party Thursday 18 October 2012 at 6.30pm Christie’s 20 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020

Glasgow’s Canadian Connections: Cocktail Reception and Poster ExhibitionSaturday 20 October 2012 at 6.30 pm Granite Club, 2350 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON M2L 1E4

Save the dateWashington DC Burns Supper Thursday 21 February 2013

Chicago Burns Supper Saturday 23 February 2013

We are looking forward to meeting you at one of our forthcoming events. Further information and ticket booking is available online at www.glasgow.ac.uk/alumni/events.

Forthcoming events