the alumni magazine including billet & general … · can rkb lodf w hug v es, for instance in...
TRANSCRIPT
THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE INCLUDING BILLET & GENERAL COUNCIL PAPERS
WINTER 2011
In memory of her motherJK Rowling’s pledge to unravel the mysteries of MS
ALSO INSIDE
Celebrating 40 years of ideas and innovation
Actress Genevieve Barr steals the spotlight
FSC logo
This publication is available in alternative formats on request.
Contents
1826
14 08
MyEd Alumni PortalThe MyEd Alumni Portal is a securewebsite giving you access to a range ofpersonalised alumni services. You can usethe Portal to search for and contact oldfriends, to update your personal detailsand to tell us how you would like to becontacted. You can also apply for your freeAlumni Benefits Card, which entitles you toa range of discounts and benefits acrossthe University and with external companies.If you are a new graduate, you can accessthe University’s Careers Service for up totwo years after you graduate.
To log in to the MyEd Alumni Portal, visitwww.myed.ed.ac.uk and use your
student login and password. If you have forgotten your login or have neverused the MyEd Alumni Portal, [email protected] for assistance.
Alumni Email Service
We are delighted to announce the launchof the new Alumni Email Service, whichprovides you with an email account for life after you leave the University. You can retain your student mailbox and keep in touch with fellow graduates andany friends who are still studying here. This service is available to alumni whohave graduated from 2010 onwards, and is only available via the MyEd Alumni Portal.
From the day you finish your studies at the University of Edinburgh you are a lifelongmember of our international alumni community. All alumni are entitled to a range ofbenefits and services – so stay in touch and reap the rewards!
Our alumni, your Edinburgh
Update your personal detailsDon't miss out on alumni news,events and other benefits. While youare in the MyEd Alumni Portal makesure we have your current contactdetails by clicking on the ‘Updateyour details’ tab and checking thatthe contact information we have foryou is correct.
For further information on alumnirelations and all the services we offer our graduates, visitwww.ed.ac.uk/alumni.
Features08 In memory of her mother
JK Rowling shares her vision for multiple sclerosis research
12 The interviewActress Genevieve Barrsteals the spotlight
14 From ideas to industryCelebrating 40 years of innovationand invention at Edinburgh
18 Hidden historiesThe ideas and influence of philosopher David Hume
04 University News
20 Alumni Profiles
22 Alumni Network
24 Master & Apprentice
25 My Edinburgh
26 Then & Now
28 Arts Review
30 Food for Thought
31 The Two of Us
32 Billet
Regulars
NEW
NEW
NEW
ForewordThe past year has been a time ofprogress at the University, and in thisissue we showcase a number ofEdinburgh success stories. Amongthem is the Anne Rowling RegenerativeNeurology Clinic, made possible thanks to a generous gift from author JK Rowling (page 8). Edinburgh pridesitself on such innovative ventures, and on page 14 we celebrate the 40th anniversary of our researchcommercialisation office.
With every new year comes fresh ideas,and we have also introduced somenew sections to Edit. We hope youenjoy our extra features, coveringhistory, the arts, food and friendships(pages 18–19, 28–31).
With best wishes for the New Year.
Young P Dawkins IIIVice-Principal, Development
ON THE MOVE? If you have changed addressplease let us know. Contact Development & Alumni on +44 (0)131 650 2240 or [email protected].
Published by Communications and Marketing The University of Edinburgh, Floor C, Forrest HillBuilding, 5 Forrest Hill, Edinburgh EH1 2QL Contact: [email protected]
Design White Light Media 0131 555 6494
Printing J Thomson Colour Printers
Advertising enquiries Landmark Publishing Services 020 7520 9474
Cover photographJP Masclet
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of the publishers.Edit is printed on environmentally friendly, ForestryStewardship Council-accredited paper. Edit, the Universityof Edinburgh’s magazine, is published twice a year. The views expressed in its columns are those of thecontributors and do not necessarily represent those of the University.
The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body registeredin Scotland, with registration number SC005336.
Voting papers for the election of the General Council Assessorsand Business Committee Members are enclosed.
This publication is available in alternative formats on request.
Contents
1826
14 08
Features08 In memory of her mother
JK Rowling shares her vision for multiple sclerosis research
12 The interviewActress Genevieve Barrsteals the spotlight
14 From ideas to industryCelebrating 40 years of innovationand invention at Edinburgh
18 Hidden historiesThe ideas and influence of philosopher David Hume
04 University News
20 Alumni Profiles
22 Alumni Network
24 Master & Apprentice
25 My Edinburgh
26 Then & Now
28 Arts Review
30 Food for Thought
31 The Two of Us
32 Billet
Regulars
NEW
NEW
NEW
ForewordThe past year has been a time ofprogress at the University, and in thisissue we showcase a number ofEdinburgh success stories. Amongthem is the Anne Rowling RegenerativeNeurology Clinic, made possible thanks to a generous gift from author JK Rowling (page 8). Edinburgh pridesitself on such innovative ventures, and on page 14 we celebrate the 40th anniversary of our researchcommercialisation office.
With every new year comes fresh ideas,and we have also introduced somenew sections to Edit. We hope youenjoy our extra features, coveringhistory, the arts, food and friendships(pages 18–19, 28–31).
With best wishes for the New Year.
Young P Dawkins IIIVice-Principal, Development
ON THE MOVE? If you have changed addressplease let us know. Contact Development & Alumni on +44 (0)131 650 2240 or [email protected].
Published by Communications and Marketing The University of Edinburgh, Floor C, Forrest HillBuilding, 5 Forrest Hill, Edinburgh EH1 2QL Contact: [email protected]
Design White Light Media 0131 555 6494
Printing J Thomson Colour Printers
Advertising enquiries Landmark Publishing Services 020 7520 9474
Cover photographJP Masclet
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of the publishers.Edit is printed on environmentally friendly, ForestryStewardship Council-accredited paper. Edit, the Universityof Edinburgh’s magazine, is published twice a year. The views expressed in its columns are those of thecontributors and do not necessarily represent those of the University.
The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body registeredin Scotland, with registration number SC005336.
Voting papers for the election of the General Council Assessorsand Business Committee Members are enclosed.
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 5The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 54 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
For all the latest University news, visit
www.ed.ac.uk/news
A family has pledged a six-figure sum toincrease understanding of a little-knowngenetic condition that affects their son.
Gus Alusi and Reem Waines, whose sonKenz has Fragile X Syndrome – theleading cause of inherited learningdifficulties and autism – have backed anew University research centre.
The Patrick Wild Centre for Research into Autism, Fragile X Syndrome andIntellectual Disabilities has also receivedsupport from University graduate Dr Alfred Wild, whose family has beenaffected by autism. The Centre wasnamed in memory of Dr Wild’s latebrother Patrick, who was severely autistic.
Pledge aids research into brain disorders
Drug cuts stroke riskA new drug could significantly reducethe risk of strokes and blood clots in patients with irregular heartbeats.An Edinburgh study found thatrivaroxaban cut the risk by one-fifthcompared with existing treatments.The collaborative research with North Carolina’s Duke University was undertaken in 45 countries and involved 14,000 patients.
Carbon capture projectThe University is collaborating withScottishPower and Imperial CollegeLondon to develop carbon captureand storage technology. The £5 million, five-year project will seekto advance the environmentallyfriendly technology, which enables the collection of carbon dioxide whenit is generated by power plants.
Science winner namedProfessor José Torero, Director of the BRE Centre for Fire SafetyEngineering, won the 2010 TamDalyell Prize for Excellence inEngaging the Public with Science.The annual award recognises anindividual or group’s work in areassuch as hosting school visits, talksand other public events or publishingand broadcasting.
Canine cancer wardA dog ward for canine cancerpatients has been officially opened at the University’s Hospital for SmallAnimals. The canine oncologysupport ward at the Royal (Dick)School of Veterinary Studies willcomplement the School’s £3 millionRiddell-Swan Veterinary CancerCentre, which opened in 2009.
NEWS IN BRIEFIntegrated imaging facilitygives insight into diseaseA unique world-leading imagingcentre, housed in Edinburgh, ishelping researchers and doctorsimprove diagnoses and treatmentsfor a range of illnesses.
The recently opened £20 million ClinicalResearch Imaging Centre (CRIC), acollaboration between the Universityand NHS Lothian, is the first fullyintegrated imaging facility of its kind inthe UK, and is based at Edinburgh’sQueen’s Medical Research Institute.
The revolutionary facility enablesresearch into illnesses includingmultiple sclerosis, schizophrenia,cancer and heart disease, and patientsacross Scotland are benefiting due tothree state-of-the-art scanners all beingsituated under the one roof.
CRIC houses a high-strength magneticresonance imaging (MRI) scanner, the world’s most advanced computerisedtomography (CT) scanner and a CT-positron tomography scanner. The hi-tech equipment allowsinvestigations to take place withoutinvasive procedures and reduces theneed for biopsies or angiograms. Expertscan scan organs in less than a second
to see in detail how they function and can track blood flow through vessels, for instance in the heart.
“As opposed to simply looking at thestructures of the body, we can look at how organs are functioning in realtime,” says Professor Edwin van Beek,the CRIC’s Director. “This will help us to improve both diagnosis andtreatments.”
Radiochemistry laboratories and acyclotron are also being used at theCentre to investigate cancer spread.
Edinburgh scientists havedeveloped a genetic test thatreveals how diverse a person’sancestors were.
A Centre for Population HealthSciences study shows that anindividual’s DNA records ahistorical archive of where theycome from, and that it is possibleto determine whether a person’sancestors came from small,isolated communities, or fromlarge, cosmopolitan populations.
Scientists analysed the DNA ofmore than 1,000 people across 51 ethnic groups.
DNA study putsgenetics to test
An archaeological dig at the University’s Old College quadranglehas unearthed a fascinating chapter in Scotland’s history.
University News
The excavation was carried out prior toa £1 million landscaping makeover ofthe iconic quadrangle.
Archaeologists unearthed remnants ofbuildings on the famous Kirk O’ Fieldsite, which became widely known as theplace where Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley,the second husband of Mary Queen ofScots, was murdered in 1567.
The archaeologists also uncoveredskeletons, coins and pottery shards thathad been buried beneath the concretefor centuries.
Quadrangle dig unearthsEdinburgh’s dark history
The University was granted the Kirk O’ Field site in 1583 and work began on the present-day Old College in 1789.
The landscaping project, due to becompleted in April, will fulfil the vision of architect William Henry Playfair, whocompleted the landmark buildingoriginally designed by Robert Adam.
The makeover is being funded by aprivate donor and is one of several keyimprovement projects taking place aspart of the University of EdinburghCampaign, a five-year, £350 millionfundraising initiative.
Julie Howden/The Herald; Clinical Research Imaging Centre
University scientists have discovereda gene that may trigger the spread ofan aggressive form of breast cancer.
The Edinburgh team are the first toidentify the key role played by thegene c35 in causing the spread ofHER2 positive breast cancer, anaggressive form of the disease. It is thought the gene helps cancercells break off from the primarytumour and move around othertissues in the body.
Director of the University’sBreakthrough Breast CancerResearch Unit, Professor DavidHarrison, hopes the discovery willhelp his team develop newtreatments: “This is an importantdevelopment because we now knowone of the key triggers to the spreadof this type of cancer. We now needto do more work in the lab.”
Gene find offersbreast cancer hope
Buckingham Palace has announcedthat HRH Prince Philip, Duke ofEdinburgh, will step down asChancellor of the University in 2011.He turns 90 in June, and has held the post since the 1950s. He has alsobeen Chancellor of the University of
Cambridge since 1976. Meanwhile,Edinburgh staff Professor James Garden (Clinical & Surgical Sciences),Professor Peter Sandercock(Molecular & Clinical Medicine) and Dr Euan Brechin (Chemistry)received 2010 Chancellor’s Awards.
UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR TO STEP DOWN
An archaeologist carries out excavation work at the Old College quadrangle site
An MRI scan showing blood flow in thebrain is just one of the Centre’s capabilities
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 5The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 54 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
For all the latest University news, visit
www.ed.ac.uk/news
A family has pledged a six-figure sum toincrease understanding of a little-knowngenetic condition that affects their son.
Gus Alusi and Reem Waines, whose sonKenz has Fragile X Syndrome – theleading cause of inherited learningdifficulties and autism – have backed anew University research centre.
The Patrick Wild Centre for Research into Autism, Fragile X Syndrome andIntellectual Disabilities has also receivedsupport from University graduate Dr Alfred Wild, whose family has beenaffected by autism. The Centre wasnamed in memory of Dr Wild’s latebrother Patrick, who was severely autistic.
Pledge aids research into brain disorders
Drug cuts stroke riskA new drug could significantly reducethe risk of strokes and blood clots in patients with irregular heartbeats.An Edinburgh study found thatrivaroxaban cut the risk by one-fifthcompared with existing treatments.The collaborative research with North Carolina’s Duke University was undertaken in 45 countries and involved 14,000 patients.
Carbon capture projectThe University is collaborating withScottishPower and Imperial CollegeLondon to develop carbon captureand storage technology. The £5 million, five-year project will seekto advance the environmentallyfriendly technology, which enables the collection of carbon dioxide whenit is generated by power plants.
Science winner namedProfessor José Torero, Director of the BRE Centre for Fire SafetyEngineering, won the 2010 TamDalyell Prize for Excellence inEngaging the Public with Science.The annual award recognises anindividual or group’s work in areassuch as hosting school visits, talksand other public events or publishingand broadcasting.
Canine cancer wardA dog ward for canine cancerpatients has been officially opened at the University’s Hospital for SmallAnimals. The canine oncologysupport ward at the Royal (Dick)School of Veterinary Studies willcomplement the School’s £3 millionRiddell-Swan Veterinary CancerCentre, which opened in 2009.
NEWS IN BRIEFIntegrated imaging facilitygives insight into diseaseA unique world-leading imagingcentre, housed in Edinburgh, ishelping researchers and doctorsimprove diagnoses and treatmentsfor a range of illnesses.
The recently opened £20 million ClinicalResearch Imaging Centre (CRIC), acollaboration between the Universityand NHS Lothian, is the first fullyintegrated imaging facility of its kind inthe UK, and is based at Edinburgh’sQueen’s Medical Research Institute.
The revolutionary facility enablesresearch into illnesses includingmultiple sclerosis, schizophrenia,cancer and heart disease, and patientsacross Scotland are benefiting due tothree state-of-the-art scanners all beingsituated under the one roof.
CRIC houses a high-strength magneticresonance imaging (MRI) scanner, the world’s most advanced computerisedtomography (CT) scanner and a CT-positron tomography scanner. The hi-tech equipment allowsinvestigations to take place withoutinvasive procedures and reduces theneed for biopsies or angiograms. Expertscan scan organs in less than a second
to see in detail how they function and can track blood flow through vessels, for instance in the heart.
“As opposed to simply looking at thestructures of the body, we can look at how organs are functioning in realtime,” says Professor Edwin van Beek,the CRIC’s Director. “This will help us to improve both diagnosis andtreatments.”
Radiochemistry laboratories and acyclotron are also being used at theCentre to investigate cancer spread.
Edinburgh scientists havedeveloped a genetic test thatreveals how diverse a person’sancestors were.
A Centre for Population HealthSciences study shows that anindividual’s DNA records ahistorical archive of where theycome from, and that it is possibleto determine whether a person’sancestors came from small,isolated communities, or fromlarge, cosmopolitan populations.
Scientists analysed the DNA ofmore than 1,000 people across 51 ethnic groups.
DNA study putsgenetics to test
An archaeological dig at the University’s Old College quadranglehas unearthed a fascinating chapter in Scotland’s history.
University News
The excavation was carried out prior toa £1 million landscaping makeover ofthe iconic quadrangle.
Archaeologists unearthed remnants ofbuildings on the famous Kirk O’ Fieldsite, which became widely known as theplace where Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley,the second husband of Mary Queen ofScots, was murdered in 1567.
The archaeologists also uncoveredskeletons, coins and pottery shards thathad been buried beneath the concretefor centuries.
Quadrangle dig unearthsEdinburgh’s dark history
The University was granted the Kirk O’ Field site in 1583 and work began on the present-day Old College in 1789.
The landscaping project, due to becompleted in April, will fulfil the vision of architect William Henry Playfair, whocompleted the landmark buildingoriginally designed by Robert Adam.
The makeover is being funded by aprivate donor and is one of several keyimprovement projects taking place aspart of the University of EdinburghCampaign, a five-year, £350 millionfundraising initiative.
Julie Howden/The Herald; Clinical Research Imaging Centre
University scientists have discovereda gene that may trigger the spread ofan aggressive form of breast cancer.
The Edinburgh team are the first toidentify the key role played by thegene c35 in causing the spread ofHER2 positive breast cancer, anaggressive form of the disease. It is thought the gene helps cancercells break off from the primarytumour and move around othertissues in the body.
Director of the University’sBreakthrough Breast CancerResearch Unit, Professor DavidHarrison, hopes the discovery willhelp his team develop newtreatments: “This is an importantdevelopment because we now knowone of the key triggers to the spreadof this type of cancer. We now needto do more work in the lab.”
Gene find offersbreast cancer hope
Buckingham Palace has announcedthat HRH Prince Philip, Duke ofEdinburgh, will step down asChancellor of the University in 2011.He turns 90 in June, and has held the post since the 1950s. He has alsobeen Chancellor of the University of
Cambridge since 1976. Meanwhile,Edinburgh staff Professor James Garden (Clinical & Surgical Sciences),Professor Peter Sandercock(Molecular & Clinical Medicine) and Dr Euan Brechin (Chemistry)received 2010 Chancellor’s Awards.
UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR TO STEP DOWN
An archaeologist carries out excavation work at the Old College quadrangle site
An MRI scan showing blood flow in thebrain is just one of the Centre’s capabilities
For all the latest University news, visit
www.ed.ac.uk/news
IVF vision realisedProfessor Robert Edwards, the recipient of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, credits the University of Edinburgh forhelping him turn his IVF vision into a reality. Cate MacKenzie reports.
After nearly three decades of scientificinvestigation, physiologist RobertEdwards made a medical breakthroughthat would change the lives of millions of couples around the world.
The University of Edinburgh scholarbegan his pioneering work in the 1950s,and working in close collaboration withgynaecologist Dr Patrick Steptoe, herevolutionised reproductive medicine by creating human in-vitro fertilisationtherapy, or IVF.
IVF is a technique in which egg cells arefertilised outside the body before beingimplanted in the womb, and its inventionled to the birth of the world’s first ‘test-tube’ baby, Louise Brown, in 1978.Three decades on, IVF is an establishedmedical therapy that has helped couplesto conceive more than four million childrenworldwide. In some countries, betweenone and two per cent of newborns areconceived through the technique.
In recognition of his world-changingresearch, Professor Edwards wasawarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in
Physiology or Medicine. Due to the Nobel Foundation’s stipulationsprohibiting posthumous prizes, hecannot share the accolade with Dr Steptoe, who died in 1988.
postdoctoral research at the University’sInstitute of Animal Genetics (nowintegrated into the School of BiologicalSciences) from 1951 to 1957. His PhDinvestigated embryonic development in mice and he credits this early work as having laid the foundations for his revolutionary IVF techniques.“Edinburgh is where it all started –everything was in my head, but not on paper, by the time I left,” he oncesaid of his time at the University.
The physiologist became a staffscientist at London’s National Institutefor Medical Research in 1958, and then went to Cambridge in 1963. There,he worked first at the city’s universityand then at the Bourn Hall Clinic, the world’s first IVF clinic, which he foundedwith Patrick Steptoe, a pioneer oflaparoscopic or ‘keyhole’ surgery. The clinic has since helped more than 10,000 couples to conceive.
Louise Brown, whose parents had triedunsuccessfully for a baby for nine yearsbefore visiting the Bourn Hall Clinic, wasdelighted by Professor Edwards’ NobelPrize honour. “[We] are so glad one ofthe pioneers of IVF has been given therecognition he deserves,” the 32-year-oldmother told the media. “We hold Bob ingreat affection and are delighted to sendour personal congratulations to him.”
News of the prestigious accolade wasalso well received at the University ofEdinburgh. “Professor Robert Edwardsbegan his research career in Edinburghand we are delighted to see theimportance of his work has beenrecognised by the Nobel committee,”said Hugh Edmiston, Registrar of the University’s College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine. “The University of Edinburgh has a long history ofexcellence in reproductive sciences and this award demonstrates the world-leading qualities of our teachingand research staff.”
In addition to Robert Edwards, 14 experts associated with the University of Edinburgh, including Sir AlexanderFleming (1945) and Sir Paul Nurse (2001), have received Nobel Prizes.
Professor Robert Edwards with Louise Brown and her mother Lesley and son Cameron
“Today, Robert Edwards’vision is a reality and bringsjoy to infertile people allover the world.”
News Feature
The Nobel Assembly at Sweden’sKarolinska Institutet described ProfessorEdwards’ vision as representing a“monumental challenge”, with the prizecommittee stating: “His achievementshave made it possible to treat infertility, a medical condition afflicting a largeproportion of humanity… Today, RobertEdwards’ vision is a reality and brings joy to infertile people all over the world.”
Manchester-born Robert Edwardsundertook postgraduate and then
The PrincessDashkova RussianCentre is the UK’sfirst university-based centre to besupported by theRusskiy MirFoundation, whichpromotes Russianculture around the world.
The Centre focuses on research, trainingand knowledge exchange and itsDirector, Dr Lara Ryazanova-Clarke,Senior Lecturer in Russian and Convenerof the Research Centre for Study ofRussian in Context, says it draws on theUniversity’s leading expertise in the widefield of Russian studies.
“The Princess Dashkova Russian Centre
Unique research centrestrengthens Russian ties
Labrador Retriever owners are beingasked to help find out how theirdog’s lifestyle affects its health.
The Dogslife study, the first project of its kind in the UK, aims to assesshow factors such as diet andexercise can influence an animal’ssusceptibility to disease and illness.
The project is being led by Universityresearchers at the Royal (Dick)School of Veterinary Studies and theRoslin Institute, and it is recruiting theUK’s most common breed of dog,the Labrador Retriever.
Owners of Kennel Club-registeredLabrador Retrievers born after 1 January 2010 can take part in thestudy. For more information, visitwww.dogslife.ac.uk.
The University and Edinburgh Collegeof Art (ECA) have proposed to mergewith effect from 1 August 2011. Thetwo institutions have a long history ofacademic collaboration, and it isanticipated that the merger willcreate a world-class centre forresearch and education in the visual,creative and performing arts.
“Merger will enable us to enhanceprovision beyond the existingcapability of our two independentinstitutions. It presents a strategicopportunity to extend theinternational reputation of both the University and ECA,” saysProfessor David Fergusson, Vice-Principal with responsibility for the merger discussions.
The Cabinet Secretary for Educationand Lifelong Learning is expected todecide on the proposal in early 2011.
Merger with artcollege: update
will help Edinburgh reaffirm itself as acentre for Russian language researchand for exchange between Russia andthe UK,” Dr Ryazanova-Clarke says.
The Centre’s extensive resources includeRussian literature, Russian televisionprogrammes and databases of full-textRussian media. It is named after PrincessEkaterina Dashkova, one of the leadingfigures of the Russian Enlightenment,who lived in Edinburgh from 1776 to1782 while her son attended theUniversity.
While in Edinburgh, Princess Dashkovalived at the Palace of Holyrood Houseand was close friends with several ofScotland’s brightest Enlightenmentthinkers, including William Robertson,Adam Smith and Adam Fergusson. Commonwealth
Games success Two athletes with links to theUniversity of Edinburgh tookhome medals from the 2010Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Michael Jamieson, a member of the University Swim Team,came second in the men’s200m breaststroke event andEilidh Child, an Edinburghgraduate, won silver in thewomen’s 400m hurdles.
These latest medals have takenthe tally of CommonwealthGames medals won by athleteswith links to the University to 27.In all, 35 athletes, coaches andsports staff with links to theUniversity participated at theDelhi Games. Of this number,34 attendees were part of theScotland squad, while onefeatured for the Isle of Man.
University News
Callum Bennetts/Maverick Photo Agency; Bourn Hall Clinic
The University has opened an innovative new Russian study centre, which is the first of its kind in Britain.
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 76 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
PUPS SIGN UP FOR BID TO BOOST HEALTH
The Edinburgh study aims to assess how a puppy’s lifestyle affects its health
For all the latest University news, visit
www.ed.ac.uk/news
IVF vision realisedProfessor Robert Edwards, the recipient of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, credits the University of Edinburgh forhelping him turn his IVF vision into a reality. Cate MacKenzie reports.
After nearly three decades of scientificinvestigation, physiologist RobertEdwards made a medical breakthroughthat would change the lives of millions of couples around the world.
The University of Edinburgh scholarbegan his pioneering work in the 1950s,and working in close collaboration withgynaecologist Dr Patrick Steptoe, herevolutionised reproductive medicine by creating human in-vitro fertilisationtherapy, or IVF.
IVF is a technique in which egg cells arefertilised outside the body before beingimplanted in the womb, and its inventionled to the birth of the world’s first ‘test-tube’ baby, Louise Brown, in 1978.Three decades on, IVF is an establishedmedical therapy that has helped couplesto conceive more than four million childrenworldwide. In some countries, betweenone and two per cent of newborns areconceived through the technique.
In recognition of his world-changingresearch, Professor Edwards wasawarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in
Physiology or Medicine. Due to the Nobel Foundation’s stipulationsprohibiting posthumous prizes, hecannot share the accolade with Dr Steptoe, who died in 1988.
postdoctoral research at the University’sInstitute of Animal Genetics (nowintegrated into the School of BiologicalSciences) from 1951 to 1957. His PhDinvestigated embryonic development in mice and he credits this early work as having laid the foundations for his revolutionary IVF techniques.“Edinburgh is where it all started –everything was in my head, but not on paper, by the time I left,” he oncesaid of his time at the University.
The physiologist became a staffscientist at London’s National Institutefor Medical Research in 1958, and then went to Cambridge in 1963. There,he worked first at the city’s universityand then at the Bourn Hall Clinic, the world’s first IVF clinic, which he foundedwith Patrick Steptoe, a pioneer oflaparoscopic or ‘keyhole’ surgery. The clinic has since helped more than 10,000 couples to conceive.
Louise Brown, whose parents had triedunsuccessfully for a baby for nine yearsbefore visiting the Bourn Hall Clinic, wasdelighted by Professor Edwards’ NobelPrize honour. “[We] are so glad one ofthe pioneers of IVF has been given therecognition he deserves,” the 32-year-oldmother told the media. “We hold Bob ingreat affection and are delighted to sendour personal congratulations to him.”
News of the prestigious accolade wasalso well received at the University ofEdinburgh. “Professor Robert Edwardsbegan his research career in Edinburghand we are delighted to see theimportance of his work has beenrecognised by the Nobel committee,”said Hugh Edmiston, Registrar of the University’s College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine. “The University of Edinburgh has a long history ofexcellence in reproductive sciences and this award demonstrates the world-leading qualities of our teachingand research staff.”
In addition to Robert Edwards, 14 experts associated with the University of Edinburgh, including Sir AlexanderFleming (1945) and Sir Paul Nurse (2001), have received Nobel Prizes.
Professor Robert Edwards with Louise Brown and her mother Lesley and son Cameron
“Today, Robert Edwards’vision is a reality and bringsjoy to infertile people allover the world.”
News Feature
The Nobel Assembly at Sweden’sKarolinska Institutet described ProfessorEdwards’ vision as representing a“monumental challenge”, with the prizecommittee stating: “His achievementshave made it possible to treat infertility, a medical condition afflicting a largeproportion of humanity… Today, RobertEdwards’ vision is a reality and brings joy to infertile people all over the world.”
Manchester-born Robert Edwardsundertook postgraduate and then
The PrincessDashkova RussianCentre is the UK’sfirst university-based centre to besupported by theRusskiy MirFoundation, whichpromotes Russianculture around the world.
The Centre focuses on research, trainingand knowledge exchange and itsDirector, Dr Lara Ryazanova-Clarke,Senior Lecturer in Russian and Convenerof the Research Centre for Study ofRussian in Context, says it draws on theUniversity’s leading expertise in the widefield of Russian studies.
“The Princess Dashkova Russian Centre
Unique research centrestrengthens Russian ties
Labrador Retriever owners are beingasked to help find out how theirdog’s lifestyle affects its health.
The Dogslife study, the first project of its kind in the UK, aims to assesshow factors such as diet andexercise can influence an animal’ssusceptibility to disease and illness.
The project is being led by Universityresearchers at the Royal (Dick)School of Veterinary Studies and theRoslin Institute, and it is recruiting theUK’s most common breed of dog,the Labrador Retriever.
Owners of Kennel Club-registeredLabrador Retrievers born after 1 January 2010 can take part in thestudy. For more information, visitwww.dogslife.ac.uk.
The University and Edinburgh Collegeof Art (ECA) have proposed to mergewith effect from 1 August 2011. Thetwo institutions have a long history ofacademic collaboration, and it isanticipated that the merger willcreate a world-class centre forresearch and education in the visual,creative and performing arts.
“Merger will enable us to enhanceprovision beyond the existingcapability of our two independentinstitutions. It presents a strategicopportunity to extend theinternational reputation of both the University and ECA,” saysProfessor David Fergusson, Vice-Principal with responsibility for the merger discussions.
The Cabinet Secretary for Educationand Lifelong Learning is expected todecide on the proposal in early 2011.
Merger with artcollege: update
will help Edinburgh reaffirm itself as acentre for Russian language researchand for exchange between Russia andthe UK,” Dr Ryazanova-Clarke says.
The Centre’s extensive resources includeRussian literature, Russian televisionprogrammes and databases of full-textRussian media. It is named after PrincessEkaterina Dashkova, one of the leadingfigures of the Russian Enlightenment,who lived in Edinburgh from 1776 to1782 while her son attended theUniversity.
While in Edinburgh, Princess Dashkovalived at the Palace of Holyrood Houseand was close friends with several ofScotland’s brightest Enlightenmentthinkers, including William Robertson,Adam Smith and Adam Fergusson. Commonwealth
Games success Two athletes with links to theUniversity of Edinburgh tookhome medals from the 2010Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Michael Jamieson, a member of the University Swim Team,came second in the men’s200m breaststroke event andEilidh Child, an Edinburghgraduate, won silver in thewomen’s 400m hurdles.
These latest medals have takenthe tally of CommonwealthGames medals won by athleteswith links to the University to 27.In all, 35 athletes, coaches andsports staff with links to theUniversity participated at theDelhi Games. Of this number,34 attendees were part of theScotland squad, while onefeatured for the Isle of Man.
University News
Callum Bennetts/Maverick Photo Agency; Bourn Hall Clinic
The University has opened an innovative new Russian study centre, which is the first of its kind in Britain.
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 76 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
PUPS SIGN UP FOR BID TO BOOST HEALTH
The Edinburgh study aims to assess how a puppy’s lifestyle affects its health
8 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 98 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 9
A world-class neuroregeneration research facility willopen this year at the University, thanks to a gift from
JK Rowling. Here, the author reveals her vision for theclinic, which is named in honour of her late mother.
By Tara Womersley
At 45, JK Rowling is thesame age as her motherwas when she passedaway after a decade-long battle with multiplesclerosis (MS). Anne
Rowling died in 1990, just six monthsafter her daughter started writing herfirst Harry Potter novel.
The creator of the world’s mostbeloved boy wizard never got to shareher phenomenal literary success withher mother, who was wheelchair-boundfor the last two years of her struggleagainst the progressive and debilitatingdisease.
While there may be no magic wandthat can unravel the mysteries of MS inan instant, Ms Rowling is helping toaddress the devastating effects of thecondition with a £10 million donation tothe University, in honour of her mother.
The donation – the most generousthe author has ever given and the largestsum the University has ever receivedfrom an individual – will establish theAnne Rowling Regenerative NeurologyClinic at the University.
While the cause is close to theauthor’s heart, the donation alsohighlights the immense strength ofEdinburgh’s expertise in studying
neurological conditions. As well asinvestigating MS, the research clinic will also provide insight into otherneurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’sdisease, Huntington’s disease andmotor neurone disease.
“I have supported research into the cause and treatment of multiplesclerosis for many years now, but whenI first saw the proposal for this clinic, I knew that I had found a project moreexciting, more innovative, and, I believemore likely to succeed in unravelling themysteries of MS than any other I hadread about or been asked to fund,”says Ms Rowling.
“I am incredibly impressed by thecalibre of clinicians and researchersthat Edinburgh has already managed toattract to make this project a reality, andI truly believe that it is set to become aworld centre for excellence in the fieldof regenerative neurology.”
The ethos of the clinic is to putpatients at the heart of research,making it a hub for patient-basedstudies and trials for new therapies. Its ambition: to accelerate research for treatments that will slow, stop and ultimately reverse MS and otherneurodegenerative disorders. The clinic, JP
Masclet/W
riter Pictures
In memoryof her mother
8 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 98 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 9
A world-class neuroregeneration research facility willopen this year at the University, thanks to a gift from
JK Rowling. Here, the author reveals her vision for theclinic, which is named in honour of her late mother.
By Tara Womersley
At 45, JK Rowling is thesame age as her motherwas when she passedaway after a decade-long battle with multiplesclerosis (MS). Anne
Rowling died in 1990, just six monthsafter her daughter started writing herfirst Harry Potter novel.
The creator of the world’s mostbeloved boy wizard never got to shareher phenomenal literary success withher mother, who was wheelchair-boundfor the last two years of her struggleagainst the progressive and debilitatingdisease.
While there may be no magic wandthat can unravel the mysteries of MS inan instant, Ms Rowling is helping toaddress the devastating effects of thecondition with a £10 million donation tothe University, in honour of her mother.
The donation – the most generousthe author has ever given and the largestsum the University has ever receivedfrom an individual – will establish theAnne Rowling Regenerative NeurologyClinic at the University.
While the cause is close to theauthor’s heart, the donation alsohighlights the immense strength ofEdinburgh’s expertise in studying
neurological conditions. As well asinvestigating MS, the research clinic will also provide insight into otherneurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’sdisease, Huntington’s disease andmotor neurone disease.
“I have supported research into the cause and treatment of multiplesclerosis for many years now, but whenI first saw the proposal for this clinic, I knew that I had found a project moreexciting, more innovative, and, I believemore likely to succeed in unravelling themysteries of MS than any other I hadread about or been asked to fund,”says Ms Rowling.
“I am incredibly impressed by thecalibre of clinicians and researchersthat Edinburgh has already managed toattract to make this project a reality, andI truly believe that it is set to become aworld centre for excellence in the fieldof regenerative neurology.”
The ethos of the clinic is to putpatients at the heart of research,making it a hub for patient-basedstudies and trials for new therapies. Its ambition: to accelerate research for treatments that will slow, stop and ultimately reverse MS and otherneurodegenerative disorders. The clinic, JP
Masclet/W
riter Pictures
In memoryof her mother
10 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
which is envisaged to open later this year in a purpose-built facility at theUniversity’s Chancellor’s Building, willalso recruit and train the very best youngdoctors and scientists to ensure a strongfoundation of expertise for the future.
Close collaborationStaff at the research clinic will workclosely with those based at otherUniversity centres, including the Centrefor Multiple Sclerosis Research, whichwas opened in 2007 and also receivedsupport from Ms Rowling, the MedicalResearch Council Centre forRegenerative Medicine, the EuanMacDonald Centre for Motor NeuroneDisease Research and the Division of Clinical Neurosciences.
Such collaboration is essential in understanding MS and otherneurological disorders, for while theymay be separate conditions they sharemany similarities, explains SiddharthanChandran, Professor of Neurology andCo-director of the Centre for MultipleSclerosis Research: “In multiplesclerosis, nerve cells become damagedand die. This also happens for otherneurodegenerative disorders, such asParkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and motorneurone disease. We believe that theseconditions share similar mechanisms as to how they are caused and how the disease progresses. Thus,understanding one disease could also shed new insight into otherneurodegenerative disorders.”
Although there has beenconsiderable success with newtreatments for early-stage relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis, there are notherapies for the disease once it hasreached the progressive stage. “This isthe huge unmet clinical need that weseek to address,” says ProfessorChandran. “If we could also eventuallyrepair the damage caused by multiplesclerosis we would be able to reverseor repair the condition when it reachesthe progressive stage.”
Over the past decade, a geneticrevolution has led to a much greaterunderstanding of neurodegenerativedisorders and researchers are beginningto discover more about the causes ofinherited forms of these diseases. Stemcell research has also opened up newavenues of investigation.
Professor Charles ffrench-Constant, Co-director of the Centre for MultipleSclerosis Research and Director-elect of the Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine,explains: “The immensely generousdonation from JK Rowling will help usbetter understand neurodegenerativediseases and the process behind
them, with the clinic working inpartnership with many research teamsin regenerative neurology at theUniversity.
“The research clinic will enable trialsand studies to be carried out which will inform laboratory research. Thisknowledge, in turn, can be translatedback into treatments for patients. Byputting patients at the heart of research,the Anne Rowling Regenerative
ABOVE: JK Rowling is “impressed by thecalibre of clinicians and researchers thatEdinburgh has already managed to attract”
RIGHT: Professor Siddharthan Chandran
OPPOSITE: An artist’s impression of thefoyer of the Anne Rowling RegenerativeNeurology Clinic at the University
Multiple sclerosis (MS) affectssome 100,000 people in the UKand is one of the most commonneurological disorders in youngadults. Despite its high incidence,experts are unsure of the causesof this complex neurologicalcondition. Genetics are thought toplay a role, as are environmentalfactors, such as lack of sunlightand vitamin D, and geography,with figures linked to how far awaysufferers live from the equator.Scotland has one of the world’shighest rates of the disease, with 10,500 people currently diagnosed with the condition.
The mysteries of MS
JK (Joanne Kathleen) Rowling was born in July 1965 and grew up in Chepstow, Wales. Shecompleted a French and Classicsdegree at England’s University of Exeter before moving to London where she worked for atime as a researcher for AmnestyInternational. She moved toPortugal, where she taught English as a foreign language,then returned to the UK tocomplete a teacher-training courseat Edinburgh’s Moray House in1995 before working as a supplyteacher at Leith Academy.
She wrote her first book, HarryPotter and the Philosopher’sStone, on a manual typewriter. Itwas published in 1997 and thesequel followed a year later, aScottish Arts Council bursaryenabling the author to invest in aword processor. Five furtherbooks followed, and the fifth in theseries, Harry Potter and the Orderof the Phoenix, was the fastestselling book in history. Her novelshave been translated into 69 languages and have sold morethan 400 million copies worldwide.They have also been made intofilms, with the final instalment duefor release this July.
Ms Rowling was given anhonorary degree (Doctor honoriscausa) by the University ofEdinburgh in 2004, and she hasbeen recognised with a number ofawards, including an OBE in 2001,the Prince of Asturias Award forConcord in 2003, the EdinburghAward in 2008 and the Chevalierde la Legion d’Honneur in 2009.
She is married to Dr Neil Murrayand has three children – Jessica,from a previous marriage, andDavid and Mackenzie.
JK Rowling: the story so far
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 11
Neurology Clinic will enable us to study the causes behind neurologicaldisorders with a view to finding improvedtreatments for patients.”
Giving backMs Rowling, an Edinburgh honorarygraduate, completed a teacher-trainingcourse at the University’s Moray House in1995 before working locally as a supplyteacher. She views the donation as givingsomething back to her home city.
“The fact that it will be situated inEdinburgh, my home town, makes theproject, if possible, even dearer to myheart,” she explains. “Edinburgh hasgiven me so very much that I have been looking for a way to givesomething meaningful back to the city for a long time.”
She continues: “I cannot think ofanything more important, or of morelasting value, than to help the Universityattract world-class minds in the field ofneuroregeneration, to build on its longand illustrious history of medicalresearch and, ultimately seek a cure for a very Scottish disease.
“I have just turned 45, the age at which my mother, Anne, died ofcomplications relating to her MS. I knowthat she would rather have had hername on this clinic than on any statue,flower garden or commemorativeplaque, so this donation is on herbehalf, too; and in gratitude foreverything she gave me in her far-too-short life.”M
ike Wilkinson; The
Motor Neu
rone
Disea
se Assoc
iation; Kep
pie
10 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
which is envisaged to open later this year in a purpose-built facility at theUniversity’s Chancellor’s Building, willalso recruit and train the very best youngdoctors and scientists to ensure a strongfoundation of expertise for the future.
Close collaborationStaff at the research clinic will workclosely with those based at otherUniversity centres, including the Centrefor Multiple Sclerosis Research, whichwas opened in 2007 and also receivedsupport from Ms Rowling, the MedicalResearch Council Centre forRegenerative Medicine, the EuanMacDonald Centre for Motor NeuroneDisease Research and the Division of Clinical Neurosciences.
Such collaboration is essential in understanding MS and otherneurological disorders, for while theymay be separate conditions they sharemany similarities, explains SiddharthanChandran, Professor of Neurology andCo-director of the Centre for MultipleSclerosis Research: “In multiplesclerosis, nerve cells become damagedand die. This also happens for otherneurodegenerative disorders, such asParkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and motorneurone disease. We believe that theseconditions share similar mechanisms as to how they are caused and how the disease progresses. Thus,understanding one disease could also shed new insight into otherneurodegenerative disorders.”
Although there has beenconsiderable success with newtreatments for early-stage relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis, there are notherapies for the disease once it hasreached the progressive stage. “This isthe huge unmet clinical need that weseek to address,” says ProfessorChandran. “If we could also eventuallyrepair the damage caused by multiplesclerosis we would be able to reverseor repair the condition when it reachesthe progressive stage.”
Over the past decade, a geneticrevolution has led to a much greaterunderstanding of neurodegenerativedisorders and researchers are beginningto discover more about the causes ofinherited forms of these diseases. Stemcell research has also opened up newavenues of investigation.
Professor Charles ffrench-Constant, Co-director of the Centre for MultipleSclerosis Research and Director-elect of the Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine,explains: “The immensely generousdonation from JK Rowling will help usbetter understand neurodegenerativediseases and the process behind
them, with the clinic working inpartnership with many research teamsin regenerative neurology at theUniversity.
“The research clinic will enable trialsand studies to be carried out which will inform laboratory research. Thisknowledge, in turn, can be translatedback into treatments for patients. Byputting patients at the heart of research,the Anne Rowling Regenerative
ABOVE: JK Rowling is “impressed by thecalibre of clinicians and researchers thatEdinburgh has already managed to attract”
RIGHT: Professor Siddharthan Chandran
OPPOSITE: An artist’s impression of thefoyer of the Anne Rowling RegenerativeNeurology Clinic at the University
Multiple sclerosis (MS) affectssome 100,000 people in the UKand is one of the most commonneurological disorders in youngadults. Despite its high incidence,experts are unsure of the causesof this complex neurologicalcondition. Genetics are thought toplay a role, as are environmentalfactors, such as lack of sunlightand vitamin D, and geography,with figures linked to how far awaysufferers live from the equator.Scotland has one of the world’shighest rates of the disease, with 10,500 people currently diagnosed with the condition.
The mysteries of MS
JK (Joanne Kathleen) Rowling was born in July 1965 and grew up in Chepstow, Wales. Shecompleted a French and Classicsdegree at England’s University of Exeter before moving to London where she worked for atime as a researcher for AmnestyInternational. She moved toPortugal, where she taught English as a foreign language,then returned to the UK tocomplete a teacher-training courseat Edinburgh’s Moray House in1995 before working as a supplyteacher at Leith Academy.
She wrote her first book, HarryPotter and the Philosopher’sStone, on a manual typewriter. Itwas published in 1997 and thesequel followed a year later, aScottish Arts Council bursaryenabling the author to invest in aword processor. Five furtherbooks followed, and the fifth in theseries, Harry Potter and the Orderof the Phoenix, was the fastestselling book in history. Her novelshave been translated into 69 languages and have sold morethan 400 million copies worldwide.They have also been made intofilms, with the final instalment duefor release this July.
Ms Rowling was given anhonorary degree (Doctor honoriscausa) by the University ofEdinburgh in 2004, and she hasbeen recognised with a number ofawards, including an OBE in 2001,the Prince of Asturias Award forConcord in 2003, the EdinburghAward in 2008 and the Chevalierde la Legion d’Honneur in 2009.
She is married to Dr Neil Murrayand has three children – Jessica,from a previous marriage, andDavid and Mackenzie.
JK Rowling: the story so far
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 11
Neurology Clinic will enable us to study the causes behind neurologicaldisorders with a view to finding improvedtreatments for patients.”
Giving backMs Rowling, an Edinburgh honorarygraduate, completed a teacher-trainingcourse at the University’s Moray House in1995 before working locally as a supplyteacher. She views the donation as givingsomething back to her home city.
“The fact that it will be situated inEdinburgh, my home town, makes theproject, if possible, even dearer to myheart,” she explains. “Edinburgh hasgiven me so very much that I have been looking for a way to givesomething meaningful back to the city for a long time.”
She continues: “I cannot think ofanything more important, or of morelasting value, than to help the Universityattract world-class minds in the field ofneuroregeneration, to build on its longand illustrious history of medicalresearch and, ultimately seek a cure for a very Scottish disease.
“I have just turned 45, the age at which my mother, Anne, died ofcomplications relating to her MS. I knowthat she would rather have had hername on this clinic than on any statue,flower garden or commemorativeplaque, so this donation is on herbehalf, too; and in gratitude foreverything she gave me in her far-too-short life.”M
ike Wilkinson; The
Motor Neu
rone
Disea
se Assoc
iation; Kep
pie
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 13
prize
12 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
Com
pany Pictures
THE INTERVIEW
Eyeson the
Deaf actress Genevieve Barr took the small screen by storm in 2010 after her breakthrough role in the BBC drama The Silence. The English Literature/History graduate andformer teacher tells Cate MacKenzie how Edinburgh helpedher gain the confidence to follow her dreams.
“Cate MacKenzie: What did you learnfrom your time at Edinburgh?
Genevieve Barr: University taught me to be more self-sufficient and proactive. I rarely attended lectures in the first twoyears because I struggled so much withhearing, which required me to do a lot ofcatch-up in the library. Professor JudithGreen was a fascinating history tutor andgave me some needed confidence in myaptitude, and Dr Alan Gillis opened myeyes to some incredible poets and gaveme the chance to discuss and work onmy own creative writing.
CM: What about out of the classroom?
GB: I captained the second team inlacrosse in my third year, and playinglacrosse four times a week teaches youdedication and perseverance. Thestandard at Edinburgh is incredible, andI loved playing for Scotland U21s – thepatriotism, despite not being Scottish (I’m from Yorkshire), was amazing.
CM: Did having a disability hold you back at university at all?
GB: To be honest, it took me two yearsto face up to the fact that I was reallystruggling and that it was impacting onmy studies. The staff at the University’sDisability Office were great – they wentout of their way to show me a numberof options to help me deliver my fullpotential academically.
CM: How did you get your first job?
GB: I was the first person with adisability to qualify for the Teach Firstgraduate scheme, which provides sixweeks training before sending you to achallenging school. I wanted to pick thetoughest job I could find, and the onethat terrified me the most, because Iwanted to prove to future employersthat I could do anything.
CM: And did that experience proveto be enjoyable as well asconfronting?
GB: Lip-reading was difficult sometimes,and occasionally the pupils got
frustrated when I didn’t hear what theysaid, but there were some hilarioussituations where I tried to guess whatthey said and got it completely wrong.But I was acting as an example of howeven if you’re born with a disadvantage,it doesn’t have to dictate your life.
Having students visit you in your lunchhour because they want to confide inyou about something is rewarding, as isknowing that you’re building their trustand respect and helping them changetheir lives. These pupils come fromfamilies who have never studied atuniversity, some whose parents barelyspeak English. I’ll never forget theexperience; it’s made me a strongerperson and I was hugely inspired by the people I met.
CM: How did you switch fromteaching to TV acting?
GB: I loved acting when I was at schoolbut I never got any big parts and I gaveit up, not having the confidence topersevere with it. After a year ofteaching, a university friend asked me if I’d audition for a deaf role for a television pilot called The AmazingDermot. I got the part and filmed thatfor a week and then three weeks backinto school I was contacted about TheSilence. [Genevieve plays the lead role of Amelia, a deaf teenager whowitnesses a murder.] The productioncompany auditioned both deaf andhearing actresses to ensure that the jobwas given to the person who had thepotential to handle such a huge role.Luckily, that person was me!
CM: Was it challenging with suchlittle acting experience? And you hadto learn sign language for the role…
GB: It was daunting but I’m incrediblygrateful to have been able to workalongside and benefit from theexperience and talent of such a stellarcast. I’d tried to take up sign languageseveral times but I never had the time to follow it through. Learning it wasdifficult – we were filming in Dublin andmy interpreters communicated usingIrish sign language and yet were
teaching me British sign language. But I was grateful to have the opportunityto learn such an expressive skill.
CM: Has your life changed sinceyou landed that role, and what liesahead for you?
GB: My life has changed dramatically.It’s odd having people recognise youon the street. Having said that, it’s ahuge struggle to get more work,particularly given that I’m deaf anddon’t speak as coherently as a hearingperson. I go to speech therapy threetimes a week to improve my voice sothat I can start to win parts on merit ofmy acting regardless of my disability.I’ve been working on a documentaryand going to auditions. I’m hoping tostart working in America as well.
CM: It sounds like you’re ready for anything life throws at you…
GB: My parents had a lot of peopletelling them when I was younger thatmy options would be limited, andthey’ve been an inspiration to me inencouraging me to dismiss thosedoubts by achieving ‘the impossible’. If you care about something enough, no matter how long you have to wait or how hard you have to work, you canachieve whatever you set your mind to. Life should be hard. Life should be a challenge, because it helps youdevelop into the most capable personyou can be.
If you care aboutsomething enough, no matter how longyou have to wait orhow hard you haveto work, you canachieve whatever
you set your mind to.
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 13
prize
12 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
Com
pany Pictures
THE INTERVIEW
Eyeson the
Deaf actress Genevieve Barr took the small screen by storm in 2010 after her breakthrough role in the BBC drama The Silence. The English Literature/History graduate andformer teacher tells Cate MacKenzie how Edinburgh helpedher gain the confidence to follow her dreams.
“Cate MacKenzie: What did you learnfrom your time at Edinburgh?
Genevieve Barr: University taught me to be more self-sufficient and proactive. I rarely attended lectures in the first twoyears because I struggled so much withhearing, which required me to do a lot ofcatch-up in the library. Professor JudithGreen was a fascinating history tutor andgave me some needed confidence in myaptitude, and Dr Alan Gillis opened myeyes to some incredible poets and gaveme the chance to discuss and work onmy own creative writing.
CM: What about out of the classroom?
GB: I captained the second team inlacrosse in my third year, and playinglacrosse four times a week teaches youdedication and perseverance. Thestandard at Edinburgh is incredible, andI loved playing for Scotland U21s – thepatriotism, despite not being Scottish (I’m from Yorkshire), was amazing.
CM: Did having a disability hold you back at university at all?
GB: To be honest, it took me two yearsto face up to the fact that I was reallystruggling and that it was impacting onmy studies. The staff at the University’sDisability Office were great – they wentout of their way to show me a numberof options to help me deliver my fullpotential academically.
CM: How did you get your first job?
GB: I was the first person with adisability to qualify for the Teach Firstgraduate scheme, which provides sixweeks training before sending you to achallenging school. I wanted to pick thetoughest job I could find, and the onethat terrified me the most, because Iwanted to prove to future employersthat I could do anything.
CM: And did that experience proveto be enjoyable as well asconfronting?
GB: Lip-reading was difficult sometimes,and occasionally the pupils got
frustrated when I didn’t hear what theysaid, but there were some hilarioussituations where I tried to guess whatthey said and got it completely wrong.But I was acting as an example of howeven if you’re born with a disadvantage,it doesn’t have to dictate your life.
Having students visit you in your lunchhour because they want to confide inyou about something is rewarding, as isknowing that you’re building their trustand respect and helping them changetheir lives. These pupils come fromfamilies who have never studied atuniversity, some whose parents barelyspeak English. I’ll never forget theexperience; it’s made me a strongerperson and I was hugely inspired by the people I met.
CM: How did you switch fromteaching to TV acting?
GB: I loved acting when I was at schoolbut I never got any big parts and I gaveit up, not having the confidence topersevere with it. After a year ofteaching, a university friend asked me if I’d audition for a deaf role for a television pilot called The AmazingDermot. I got the part and filmed thatfor a week and then three weeks backinto school I was contacted about TheSilence. [Genevieve plays the lead role of Amelia, a deaf teenager whowitnesses a murder.] The productioncompany auditioned both deaf andhearing actresses to ensure that the jobwas given to the person who had thepotential to handle such a huge role.Luckily, that person was me!
CM: Was it challenging with suchlittle acting experience? And you hadto learn sign language for the role…
GB: It was daunting but I’m incrediblygrateful to have been able to workalongside and benefit from theexperience and talent of such a stellarcast. I’d tried to take up sign languageseveral times but I never had the time to follow it through. Learning it wasdifficult – we were filming in Dublin andmy interpreters communicated usingIrish sign language and yet were
teaching me British sign language. But I was grateful to have the opportunityto learn such an expressive skill.
CM: Has your life changed sinceyou landed that role, and what liesahead for you?
GB: My life has changed dramatically.It’s odd having people recognise youon the street. Having said that, it’s ahuge struggle to get more work,particularly given that I’m deaf anddon’t speak as coherently as a hearingperson. I go to speech therapy threetimes a week to improve my voice sothat I can start to win parts on merit ofmy acting regardless of my disability.I’ve been working on a documentaryand going to auditions. I’m hoping tostart working in America as well.
CM: It sounds like you’re ready for anything life throws at you…
GB: My parents had a lot of peopletelling them when I was younger thatmy options would be limited, andthey’ve been an inspiration to me inencouraging me to dismiss thosedoubts by achieving ‘the impossible’. If you care about something enough, no matter how long you have to wait or how hard you have to work, you canachieve whatever you set your mind to. Life should be hard. Life should be a challenge, because it helps youdevelop into the most capable personyou can be.
If you care aboutsomething enough, no matter how longyou have to wait orhow hard you haveto work, you canachieve whatever
you set your mind to.
T he year was 1969 – and it wasproving to be something of alandmark one. As one of the
most exciting and tumultuousdecades in the 20th century drew to a close, millions of people joinedtogether in the US to protest againstthe Vietnam War, a man walked on themoon and a generation made historyat the Woodstock Festival.
Over in Edinburgh, researchers at the University were hard at workcreating their own little piece ofhistory in the shape of a robot calledFREDDY – a character that wouldunwittingly launch the start of one of the most successful universitycommercialisation projects in the UK.
FREDDY was the first physicalmanifestation of the University’sformal plan to commercialise itsresearch. Earlier in the decade,Prime Minister Harold Wilson hadfamously referred to the “white heat”of the scientific and technologicalrevolution and the need to embraceit – in Edinburgh FREDDY was proofthat the University’s scientists weredoing just that.
Developed in the University’sDepartment of Machine Intelligence& Perception (now ArtificialIntelligence within the School ofInformatics), FREDDY was the first
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 15
automated industrial robot to integrateperception and action and it becamethe forerunner of the machinery used inindustrial plants today. That early robotsignalled the beginning of more thanfour decades of the promotion andencouragement of collaborations withindustry at Edinburgh. Through theUniversity’s research commercialisationarm, Edinburgh Research andInnovation (ERI), staff have helpedentrepreneurs to create more than 200new companies, several of which arenow global players, and ERI marked its 40-year milestone in 2009.
Innovation and invention at theUniversity of Edinburgh is nothing new – for more than four centuriesresearchers have been makingdiscoveries in science and medicinethat have helped to shape the modernworld. Perhaps FREDDY’s creators tookinspiration from the likes of alumni such as James Clerk Maxwell whosework more than a century earlier hadsuch an impact on innovations asdiverse as microwave technology and colour photography.
What’s different now is that thistradition of creativity and invention canbe harnessed in a commerciallyprofessional way for the benefit ofsociety while at the same time having a very positive impact on the economy,in terms of start-up businesses and jobcreation. Translating laboratory ideasinto industrial realities has meant that in recent years Edinburgh can lay claimto having introduced to industry theworld’s first miniature digital camera, the smallest television screen and thefirst genetically engineered hepatitis Bvaccine, to name but a few innovations.
The University continues to build on itshistory of invention by collaborating withindustry, often with world-changing results.
• Before 1980, only 4 per cent ofuniversities in the UK and 14 percent of universities in the US had a comparable commercialisationoffice to that of the University ofEdinburgh.
• In the past five years, 132 newcompanies and businesses havebeen formed at the University,employing 350 staff members.
• More than 400 patents have beenfiled in the past five years for newdiscoveries made at the Universitywith market potential.
• Since 2005, more than £55 millionof research and consultancy hasbeen funded by business andindustry to develop innovativesolutions.
Edinburgh’s innovation
Staff have helpedentrepreneurs to createmore than 200 newcompanies, several of which are global players.
Edinburgh’s FREDDY was a forerunner ofthe machinery used in industrial plants today
World Ban
k
IDEASTO INDUSTRY
FROM
14 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
T he year was 1969 – and it wasproving to be something of alandmark one. As one of the
most exciting and tumultuousdecades in the 20th century drew to a close, millions of people joinedtogether in the US to protest againstthe Vietnam War, a man walked on themoon and a generation made historyat the Woodstock Festival.
Over in Edinburgh, researchers at the University were hard at workcreating their own little piece ofhistory in the shape of a robot calledFREDDY – a character that wouldunwittingly launch the start of one of the most successful universitycommercialisation projects in the UK.
FREDDY was the first physicalmanifestation of the University’sformal plan to commercialise itsresearch. Earlier in the decade,Prime Minister Harold Wilson hadfamously referred to the “white heat”of the scientific and technologicalrevolution and the need to embraceit – in Edinburgh FREDDY was proofthat the University’s scientists weredoing just that.
Developed in the University’sDepartment of Machine Intelligence& Perception (now ArtificialIntelligence within the School ofInformatics), FREDDY was the first
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 15
automated industrial robot to integrateperception and action and it becamethe forerunner of the machinery used inindustrial plants today. That early robotsignalled the beginning of more thanfour decades of the promotion andencouragement of collaborations withindustry at Edinburgh. Through theUniversity’s research commercialisationarm, Edinburgh Research andInnovation (ERI), staff have helpedentrepreneurs to create more than 200new companies, several of which arenow global players, and ERI marked its 40-year milestone in 2009.
Innovation and invention at theUniversity of Edinburgh is nothing new – for more than four centuriesresearchers have been makingdiscoveries in science and medicinethat have helped to shape the modernworld. Perhaps FREDDY’s creators tookinspiration from the likes of alumni such as James Clerk Maxwell whosework more than a century earlier hadsuch an impact on innovations asdiverse as microwave technology and colour photography.
What’s different now is that thistradition of creativity and invention canbe harnessed in a commerciallyprofessional way for the benefit ofsociety while at the same time having a very positive impact on the economy,in terms of start-up businesses and jobcreation. Translating laboratory ideasinto industrial realities has meant that in recent years Edinburgh can lay claimto having introduced to industry theworld’s first miniature digital camera, the smallest television screen and thefirst genetically engineered hepatitis Bvaccine, to name but a few innovations.
The University continues to build on itshistory of invention by collaborating withindustry, often with world-changing results.
• Before 1980, only 4 per cent ofuniversities in the UK and 14 percent of universities in the US had a comparable commercialisationoffice to that of the University ofEdinburgh.
• In the past five years, 132 newcompanies and businesses havebeen formed at the University,employing 350 staff members.
• More than 400 patents have beenfiled in the past five years for newdiscoveries made at the Universitywith market potential.
• Since 2005, more than £55 millionof research and consultancy hasbeen funded by business andindustry to develop innovativesolutions.
Edinburgh’s innovation
Staff have helpedentrepreneurs to createmore than 200 newcompanies, several of which are global players.
Edinburgh’s FREDDY was a forerunner ofthe machinery used in industrial plants today
World Ban
k
IDEASTO INDUSTRY
FROM
14 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
opportunities. In the past four yearsstudent entrepreneurs have takenadvantage of LAUNCH.ed, an initiative to encourage undergraduates andpostgraduates to form new companies.
“This gives the students commercialopportunities and also career optionsthat they wouldn’t have had before,” saysMr Wheeler. “Forming and running yourown company gives you skills that arevery attractive to other employers.”
With University researcherscontinually coming up with innovativeideas in fields as diverse as engineering,informatics, geosciences and music, theprospects for more companies and newtechnology being created at Edinburghare bright. We may have moved onsignificantly from the technology ofHarold Wilson’s “white heat” revolution,but the creativity and appetite forinvention born of that age seems certainto remain a driving force for Universitystaff, students and alumni.
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 17The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 17
To find out about working with the University, email [email protected] or visit www.research-innovation.ed.ac.uk.
16 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine16 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
In the past academic year alone, 40 companies were created at theUniversity of Edinburgh – a record for a Scottish institution.
“We’ve put a lot of effort intogenerating a culture of enterprise at the University,” says GrantWheeler, ERI’s Head of CompanyFormation and Incubation. “Studentsand staff believe that if they come up with an idea for a business or a piece of technology, they will getthe support here to test it and findout if it will work.”
In addition to patenting newtechnology, ERI also seeks to helpacademics create their owncompanies. Today, it puts Universityentrepreneurs in touch with itsnetwork of experiencedprofessionals, who provide advice onchallenges such as writing businessplans, filing tax reports and avoidingpotential legal issues. It also providesfledgling businesses with officefacilities within the University,allowing academics to remain close
to their research while also working toget their new ventures up and running.
The approach has helped numerousfirms get off the ground, including VisionGroup, a company – formed in 1990 –whose technology pioneered theminiaturisation of video cameras. In 1995,Vision Group became the first Scottishuniversity company to be publicly listedon the UK Stock Exchange.
MTEM, a company that uses electriccurrents to locate oilfields, also found
success with the help of ERI. After itsformation in 2004, MTEM was bought byNorwegian firm Petroleum Geo-Servicesfor $275 million in 2007. Anton Ziolkowski,Co-founder of MTEM, says ERI’sassistance allowed the company to makethe necessary connections to secure itsinitial funding. “That allowed us to provethat our idea worked – and that’s what we needed at the start,” he explains.
Today, ERI doesn’t just help itsacademics to seek commercial
The world’s smallest TV screen was createdin 1999 by MicroEmissive Displays Group plc
We’ve put a lot of effortinto generating a culture ofenterprise... Students andstaff believe that if theycome up with an idea for a business or a piece oftechnology, they will get the support here to test it.
Since 1969, innovative applications of Edinburgh-basedresearch have led to the creation of inventions thatmany of us, possibly without knowing it, wouldn’t beable to live without. Here’s a snapshot of just some of our innovative achievements...
1969 the first automated industrial assembly robot
1972 amniocentesis tests in pre-natal screening
1979 a new generation of deep-sea diving communicationssystems
1980 the first genetically engineered hepatitis B vaccine
1987 a prototype sensor-assisted wheelchair for children with severe and multiple disabilities
1990 technology that miniaturised video cameras,including digital cameras in mobile phones
1992 the UK’s first research centre, the Fujisawa Institute of Neuroscience at Edinburgh
1999 the world’s smallest TV screen
2002 discrete element modelling software for theengineering sector
2004 multi-transient electromagnetic survey technology that saves the oil industry billions of dollars
40 years of bright ideas
Fast facts:
• Invented by Paul Nisbet
• Prototype developed atthe CALL Scotland unit
• ERI assisted Smart tonegotiate a licensingdeal with manufacturerSmile Rehab
Created in 2005, CereProcdeveloped the world’s mostadvanced text-to-speech technology.
Computerised systems that taketext and convert it into voicesusually sound flat and robotic, butCereProc’s technology enables it toimpart character, regional accentsand even emotional variation intoits output.
One convert to CereProc’s systemis renowned film reviewer RogerEbert, who lost the ability to speakafter life-saving cancer surgery.CereProc was able to reconstructhis original voice by usingrecordings of TV appearances andDVD commentaries. As a result, MrEbert can now communicate, usinga laptop, by typing sentences thatare converted by a synthesiser intothe sound of his own voice.
Since its invention in 1987, theSmart wheelchair has improvedthe lives of severely disabledchildren by giving them moreindependence.
The electric wheelchair has acomputer-based controller andspecial motion sensors, allowingoperators to move around a presetpath by pressing a single switch.
The wheelchair – developed at theUniversity’s CALL Scotland unit,which uses technology to helppeople with communication orphysical difficulties – is nowsupplied to children with specialneeds across the UK.
“It gives the children the chance tobe mobile, and that’s tremendouslygood fun for them,” says thewheelchair’s creator, Paul Nisbet.
Fast facts:
• Founded by MatthewAylett and Nick Wright
• Voices sound real rather than robotic
• Roger Ebert showcasedhis new voice on TheOprah Winfrey Show
CereProc Smart wheelchair
San
dy You
ng Pho
tograp
hy; P
eter Tuffy
Products such as Apple’s iPod and Microsoft’s Xbox owe some of their technical wizardry to themicrochips produced by WolfsonMicroelectronics, one of the largestfirms to be started at the University.
Created in 1984, the company has become a global leader insupplying circuits to the world’sbiggest producers of consumerelectronic products.
In 2003, Wolfson undertook thelargest technology flotation in theUK for three years, becoming thesecond company created at aScottish university to be listed on the UK Stock Exchange.
The company retains close links to the University, offeringscholarships to informatics andengineering students.
Skoogmusic is bringing music tochildren who are unable to usetraditional instruments with itsinvention, the Skoog. A brightlycoloured soft cube that is robustenough to resist strong handling,the invention allows severelydisabled children to play music inan expressive and creative way.
When squeezed, hit or eventhrown against a wall, technologywithin the instrument’s tactilesurface converts the impact into the sound of different pre-programmed instruments,such as a flute, trumpet or drums.As a result, users can play avariety of sounds and alter pitch,timbre and volume with a verysmall range of movement.
Hundreds of children in schools inthe UK are now using the Skoog.
Fast facts:
• Developed by BenSchögler and DavidSkulina
• The Skoog went on sale in March 2010
• Plans are in place to sellit in America and Europe
Fast facts:
• Created by David Milneand Jim Reid
• Employs 125 people in Scotland and has amarket value of £280m
• Produced its billionthmicrochip in 2008
Skoogmusic WolfsonMicroelectronics
Making a differenceHere, we showcase just a few research commercialisation success stories from EdinburghResearch and Innovation that are helping to improve people’s lives around the world.
opportunities. In the past four yearsstudent entrepreneurs have takenadvantage of LAUNCH.ed, an initiative to encourage undergraduates andpostgraduates to form new companies.
“This gives the students commercialopportunities and also career optionsthat they wouldn’t have had before,” saysMr Wheeler. “Forming and running yourown company gives you skills that arevery attractive to other employers.”
With University researcherscontinually coming up with innovativeideas in fields as diverse as engineering,informatics, geosciences and music, theprospects for more companies and newtechnology being created at Edinburghare bright. We may have moved onsignificantly from the technology ofHarold Wilson’s “white heat” revolution,but the creativity and appetite forinvention born of that age seems certainto remain a driving force for Universitystaff, students and alumni.
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 17The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 17
To find out about working with the University, email [email protected] or visit www.research-innovation.ed.ac.uk.
16 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine16 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
In the past academic year alone, 40 companies were created at theUniversity of Edinburgh – a record for a Scottish institution.
“We’ve put a lot of effort intogenerating a culture of enterprise at the University,” says GrantWheeler, ERI’s Head of CompanyFormation and Incubation. “Studentsand staff believe that if they come up with an idea for a business or a piece of technology, they will getthe support here to test it and findout if it will work.”
In addition to patenting newtechnology, ERI also seeks to helpacademics create their owncompanies. Today, it puts Universityentrepreneurs in touch with itsnetwork of experiencedprofessionals, who provide advice onchallenges such as writing businessplans, filing tax reports and avoidingpotential legal issues. It also providesfledgling businesses with officefacilities within the University,allowing academics to remain close
to their research while also working toget their new ventures up and running.
The approach has helped numerousfirms get off the ground, including VisionGroup, a company – formed in 1990 –whose technology pioneered theminiaturisation of video cameras. In 1995,Vision Group became the first Scottishuniversity company to be publicly listedon the UK Stock Exchange.
MTEM, a company that uses electriccurrents to locate oilfields, also found
success with the help of ERI. After itsformation in 2004, MTEM was bought byNorwegian firm Petroleum Geo-Servicesfor $275 million in 2007. Anton Ziolkowski,Co-founder of MTEM, says ERI’sassistance allowed the company to makethe necessary connections to secure itsinitial funding. “That allowed us to provethat our idea worked – and that’s what we needed at the start,” he explains.
Today, ERI doesn’t just help itsacademics to seek commercial
The world’s smallest TV screen was createdin 1999 by MicroEmissive Displays Group plc
We’ve put a lot of effortinto generating a culture ofenterprise... Students andstaff believe that if theycome up with an idea for a business or a piece oftechnology, they will get the support here to test it.
Since 1969, innovative applications of Edinburgh-basedresearch have led to the creation of inventions thatmany of us, possibly without knowing it, wouldn’t beable to live without. Here’s a snapshot of just some of our innovative achievements...
1969 the first automated industrial assembly robot
1972 amniocentesis tests in pre-natal screening
1979 a new generation of deep-sea diving communicationssystems
1980 the first genetically engineered hepatitis B vaccine
1987 a prototype sensor-assisted wheelchair for children with severe and multiple disabilities
1990 technology that miniaturised video cameras,including digital cameras in mobile phones
1992 the UK’s first research centre, the Fujisawa Institute of Neuroscience at Edinburgh
1999 the world’s smallest TV screen
2002 discrete element modelling software for theengineering sector
2004 multi-transient electromagnetic survey technology that saves the oil industry billions of dollars
40 years of bright ideas
Fast facts:
• Invented by Paul Nisbet
• Prototype developed atthe CALL Scotland unit
• ERI assisted Smart tonegotiate a licensingdeal with manufacturerSmile Rehab
Created in 2005, CereProcdeveloped the world’s mostadvanced text-to-speech technology.
Computerised systems that taketext and convert it into voicesusually sound flat and robotic, butCereProc’s technology enables it toimpart character, regional accentsand even emotional variation intoits output.
One convert to CereProc’s systemis renowned film reviewer RogerEbert, who lost the ability to speakafter life-saving cancer surgery.CereProc was able to reconstructhis original voice by usingrecordings of TV appearances andDVD commentaries. As a result, MrEbert can now communicate, usinga laptop, by typing sentences thatare converted by a synthesiser intothe sound of his own voice.
Since its invention in 1987, theSmart wheelchair has improvedthe lives of severely disabledchildren by giving them moreindependence.
The electric wheelchair has acomputer-based controller andspecial motion sensors, allowingoperators to move around a presetpath by pressing a single switch.
The wheelchair – developed at theUniversity’s CALL Scotland unit,which uses technology to helppeople with communication orphysical difficulties – is nowsupplied to children with specialneeds across the UK.
“It gives the children the chance tobe mobile, and that’s tremendouslygood fun for them,” says thewheelchair’s creator, Paul Nisbet.
Fast facts:
• Founded by MatthewAylett and Nick Wright
• Voices sound real rather than robotic
• Roger Ebert showcasedhis new voice on TheOprah Winfrey Show
CereProc Smart wheelchair
San
dy You
ng Pho
tograp
hy; P
eter Tuffy
Products such as Apple’s iPod and Microsoft’s Xbox owe some of their technical wizardry to themicrochips produced by WolfsonMicroelectronics, one of the largestfirms to be started at the University.
Created in 1984, the company has become a global leader insupplying circuits to the world’sbiggest producers of consumerelectronic products.
In 2003, Wolfson undertook thelargest technology flotation in theUK for three years, becoming thesecond company created at aScottish university to be listed on the UK Stock Exchange.
The company retains close links to the University, offeringscholarships to informatics andengineering students.
Skoogmusic is bringing music tochildren who are unable to usetraditional instruments with itsinvention, the Skoog. A brightlycoloured soft cube that is robustenough to resist strong handling,the invention allows severelydisabled children to play music inan expressive and creative way.
When squeezed, hit or eventhrown against a wall, technologywithin the instrument’s tactilesurface converts the impact into the sound of different pre-programmed instruments,such as a flute, trumpet or drums.As a result, users can play avariety of sounds and alter pitch,timbre and volume with a verysmall range of movement.
Hundreds of children in schools inthe UK are now using the Skoog.
Fast facts:
• Developed by BenSchögler and DavidSkulina
• The Skoog went on sale in March 2010
• Plans are in place to sellit in America and Europe
Fast facts:
• Created by David Milneand Jim Reid
• Employs 125 people in Scotland and has amarket value of £280m
• Produced its billionthmicrochip in 2008
Skoogmusic WolfsonMicroelectronics
Making a differenceHere, we showcase just a few research commercialisation success stories from EdinburghResearch and Innovation that are helping to improve people’s lives around the world.
history as natural phenomena, and thusamenable to scientific explanation.”
Dr Peter Millican, Illumni DavidHume Fellow at the University’s Institutefor Advanced Studies of the Humanities,feels that this first work, though flawed,offers a precious perspective on Hume’searly thinking: “The Treatise was toodifficult for people to digest – it was a bitconfusing and he published it too soon.It would have benefited from a couple ofyears’ reflection. But it’s a wonderfulresource, showing a philosophicalsystem in progress; in effect, the workingdrafts of a great genius.”
Hume’s Essays, Moral and Politicalwere published in the early 1740s and in 1748 followed his Enquiry, whichpresented the mature heart of histheoretical philosophy. He had adaptedhis style and these works were met morepositively, but by this point Hume’snotoriety had earned him enemies. In1745 the Chair of Ethics and PneumaticalPhilosophy was advertised at theUniversity of Edinburgh. Hume’sapplication for the post was vetoed byclerics, influenced by a pamphlet that hadused excerpts from the Treatise to portrayhim as a religious infidel. “Hume’sreputation as an atheist made him anenormously controversial figure, to theextent that Edinburgh didn’t recognisehim with an academic appointment whenhe was alive,” explains Dr Richmond.Later his bid to become Professor ofMoral Philosophy at Glasgow Universitywas also rejected. Despite thesedisappointments and the vilification ofsome of his philosophical views, he waswidely praised for being benevolent andvirtuous, and friends were loyal.
Both Dr Millican and Dr Richmondagree that one of Hume’s most distinctivequalities is the elegance of his writing, askill that allowed him to communicatecontentious ideas with great subtlety. “Heis a master of philosophical prose,” saysDr Millican. “He wrote beautifully. But onreligion he had to be circumspect, and asa reader you sometimes have to readbetween the lines. He writes very carefully,conveying messages to those who areable to see them.”
In the early 1750s, Hume worked as a librarian to the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh, a post that allowed him to cultivate his historical research,culminating in The History of England.Running to six volumes, it was a critical
- 26 april - Birthday Party Event, chaired by Sheena McDonald
- 18 july - Enlightenment Lecture, delivered by Professor Amartya Sen
- 25 october - Gifford Lecture, delivered by Lord Sutherland of Houndwood
For more information, visit www.ed.ac.uk.
and commercial success, but it helped todefine Hume as a historian rather than aphilosopher during his lifetime. Followinga spell as Secretary to the BritishEmbassy in Paris, Hume returned toEdinburgh and became a champion ofthe city’s green spaces, while continuingto write and finesse his published work.He died in the capital in 1776.
His Dialogues Concerning NaturalReligion, published posthumously,questioned the belief that a sense oforder in nature pointed to the existence of God, with Hume thought to berepresented mainly by the work’ssceptical character Philo. “The Dialoguesare Hume’s attempt to survey whatreason can uncover about God andhuman nature,” says Dr Richmond.“Increasingly they are seen as developingthe most articulate philosophy of religionever, and their impact on the scepticaltradition can’t be underestimated.”
Part of an intellectual firmament thatincluded his friend, the economist AdamSmith, Hume foreshadowed thinking onscience, ethics, psychology and religionthat was to take flight 150 years after hisdeath. “John Stuart Mill, Bertrand Russell,Immanuel Kant and Albert Einstein are allin some way indebted to him,” says DrRichmond. “It’s difficult not to encounter
him across all branches of philosophy.He also anticipated insights laterdeveloped by another Edinburghalumnus, Charles Darwin.”
2011 is the tercentenary of DavidHume’s birth, and the University will markit with a series of international events.Perhaps the irony of the anniversary is that, while failing to recognise himwhile he was alive, the University keenlyfeels his influence on the teaching ofphilosophy three centuries on.
“Hume has a profound influence onphilosophy at the University today,” saysDr Richmond. “He informs core teachingin moral philosophy and ethics, theory ofknowledge, philosophy of science andprobability, philosophy of religion,aesthetics, political philosophy andphilosophy of law. In all these and other fields Hume made a centralcontribution that we still recognise. He isincontrovertibly the greatest philosopherto emerge from Scotland and thegreatest to write in English.”
The University’s Institute for Advanced Studies in theHumanities and Philosophy department are seekingphilanthropic funding to establish a permanent DavidHume Fellowship and David Hume Chair. These twopositions seek to attract outstanding scholars andunderpin Edinburgh as the natural centre for the studyof David Hume. Phone James Clayton-Jones on +44(0)131 651 4403 or email [email protected].
2011: The Year of Hume
To celebrate David Hume’s legacy, the University of Edinburgh is staging a number of international events throughout 2011. Highlights include:
“Hume’s reputation as an atheist made himan enormously controversial figure, to the
extent that edinburgh didn’t recognise him with an academic appointment.”
HIDDEN HISTORIES
DaviDHuMe1711–1776
In the first instalment of this new series, ChrisSmall examines theideas and influence ofthe Western world’smost prominentphilosopher.
Most Edinburgh studentswait until they are intheir late teens toattend the University,but in 1721 classes
included a child aged 10. The youngscholar was David Hume, who would goon to be recognised as a critical figure inthe Scottish Enlightenment and one ofthe greatest philosophers the West hasever produced.
Hume sought to create a newscience of humanity. His works, includingA Treatise of Human Nature, An EnquiryConcerning Human Understanding andDialogues Concerning Natural Religion,have informed philosophical thought,economics, religion and politics for threecenturies. Dr Alasdair Richmond, lecturerin the University’s School of Philosophy,Psychology and Language Sciences,describes Hume as “a key product of the
free enquiry fostered by the ScottishEnlightenment, the source of an enduringwillingness to view human beings asnatural phenomena and an ongoing,inspiring challenge to dogmatism.”
Hume was born in a tenement inEdinburgh’s Lawnmarket area, thoughthe family home was in Chirnside nearBerwick. His father died when Hume wastwo and, until enrolling at the University,he was educated by his mother in a strictCalvinist household. At University hisapproach to studies hinted at anunorthodox relationship with academia;he informed a friend that, “There isnothing to be learned from a professor,which is not to be met with in books.”Initially drawn to law, a passion for theworks of classical authors such as Ciceropulled him instead to philosophy.
Pages recovered from a notebookHume wrote in his early twenties suggest
a fascination with atheism and theexistence of God. A letter describes a“New Scene of Thought” opening up tohim, and an intense period of study inFrance fed into his first major work, A Treatise on Human Nature, twovolumes of which were published in1739, when Hume was 27.
In the Treatise Hume argues thathuman nature is mainly guided byinstinctive belief rather than reason. Thework established him as an empiricist who viewed knowledge as being informed only by what we directly experience. TheTreatise was poorly received in Britain –Hume said it “fell dead-born from thepress” – but it ultimately earned him a place in history, and seeded hisreputation as an atheist in the minds ofhis critics. As Dr Richmond explains:“Hume broke radically new ground inconsidering human reason, ethics and
Sco
ttish Nationa
l Portrait G
allery. L
icen
sor www.scran
.ac.uk
; Taybu
rn
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 1918 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
history as natural phenomena, and thusamenable to scientific explanation.”
Dr Peter Millican, Illumni DavidHume Fellow at the University’s Institutefor Advanced Studies of the Humanities,feels that this first work, though flawed,offers a precious perspective on Hume’searly thinking: “The Treatise was toodifficult for people to digest – it was a bitconfusing and he published it too soon.It would have benefited from a couple ofyears’ reflection. But it’s a wonderfulresource, showing a philosophicalsystem in progress; in effect, the workingdrafts of a great genius.”
Hume’s Essays, Moral and Politicalwere published in the early 1740s and in 1748 followed his Enquiry, whichpresented the mature heart of histheoretical philosophy. He had adaptedhis style and these works were met morepositively, but by this point Hume’snotoriety had earned him enemies. In1745 the Chair of Ethics and PneumaticalPhilosophy was advertised at theUniversity of Edinburgh. Hume’sapplication for the post was vetoed byclerics, influenced by a pamphlet that hadused excerpts from the Treatise to portrayhim as a religious infidel. “Hume’sreputation as an atheist made him anenormously controversial figure, to theextent that Edinburgh didn’t recognisehim with an academic appointment whenhe was alive,” explains Dr Richmond.Later his bid to become Professor ofMoral Philosophy at Glasgow Universitywas also rejected. Despite thesedisappointments and the vilification ofsome of his philosophical views, he waswidely praised for being benevolent andvirtuous, and friends were loyal.
Both Dr Millican and Dr Richmondagree that one of Hume’s most distinctivequalities is the elegance of his writing, askill that allowed him to communicatecontentious ideas with great subtlety. “Heis a master of philosophical prose,” saysDr Millican. “He wrote beautifully. But onreligion he had to be circumspect, and asa reader you sometimes have to readbetween the lines. He writes very carefully,conveying messages to those who areable to see them.”
In the early 1750s, Hume worked as a librarian to the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh, a post that allowed him to cultivate his historical research,culminating in The History of England.Running to six volumes, it was a critical
- 26 april - Birthday Party Event, chaired by Sheena McDonald
- 18 july - Enlightenment Lecture, delivered by Professor Amartya Sen
- 25 october - Gifford Lecture, delivered by Lord Sutherland of Houndwood
For more information, visit www.ed.ac.uk.
and commercial success, but it helped todefine Hume as a historian rather than aphilosopher during his lifetime. Followinga spell as Secretary to the BritishEmbassy in Paris, Hume returned toEdinburgh and became a champion ofthe city’s green spaces, while continuingto write and finesse his published work.He died in the capital in 1776.
His Dialogues Concerning NaturalReligion, published posthumously,questioned the belief that a sense oforder in nature pointed to the existence of God, with Hume thought to berepresented mainly by the work’ssceptical character Philo. “The Dialoguesare Hume’s attempt to survey whatreason can uncover about God andhuman nature,” says Dr Richmond.“Increasingly they are seen as developingthe most articulate philosophy of religionever, and their impact on the scepticaltradition can’t be underestimated.”
Part of an intellectual firmament thatincluded his friend, the economist AdamSmith, Hume foreshadowed thinking onscience, ethics, psychology and religionthat was to take flight 150 years after hisdeath. “John Stuart Mill, Bertrand Russell,Immanuel Kant and Albert Einstein are allin some way indebted to him,” says DrRichmond. “It’s difficult not to encounter
him across all branches of philosophy.He also anticipated insights laterdeveloped by another Edinburghalumnus, Charles Darwin.”
2011 is the tercentenary of DavidHume’s birth, and the University will markit with a series of international events.Perhaps the irony of the anniversary is that, while failing to recognise himwhile he was alive, the University keenlyfeels his influence on the teaching ofphilosophy three centuries on.
“Hume has a profound influence onphilosophy at the University today,” saysDr Richmond. “He informs core teachingin moral philosophy and ethics, theory ofknowledge, philosophy of science andprobability, philosophy of religion,aesthetics, political philosophy andphilosophy of law. In all these and other fields Hume made a centralcontribution that we still recognise. He isincontrovertibly the greatest philosopherto emerge from Scotland and thegreatest to write in English.”
The University’s Institute for Advanced Studies in theHumanities and Philosophy department are seekingphilanthropic funding to establish a permanent DavidHume Fellowship and David Hume Chair. These twopositions seek to attract outstanding scholars andunderpin Edinburgh as the natural centre for the studyof David Hume. Phone James Clayton-Jones on +44(0)131 651 4403 or email [email protected].
2011: The Year of Hume
To celebrate David Hume’s legacy, the University of Edinburgh is staging a number of international events throughout 2011. Highlights include:
“Hume’s reputation as an atheist made himan enormously controversial figure, to the
extent that edinburgh didn’t recognise him with an academic appointment.”
HIDDEN HISTORIES
DaviDHuMe1711–1776
In the first instalment of this new series, ChrisSmall examines theideas and influence ofthe Western world’smost prominentphilosopher.
Most Edinburgh studentswait until they are intheir late teens toattend the University,but in 1721 classes
included a child aged 10. The youngscholar was David Hume, who would goon to be recognised as a critical figure inthe Scottish Enlightenment and one ofthe greatest philosophers the West hasever produced.
Hume sought to create a newscience of humanity. His works, includingA Treatise of Human Nature, An EnquiryConcerning Human Understanding andDialogues Concerning Natural Religion,have informed philosophical thought,economics, religion and politics for threecenturies. Dr Alasdair Richmond, lecturerin the University’s School of Philosophy,Psychology and Language Sciences,describes Hume as “a key product of the
free enquiry fostered by the ScottishEnlightenment, the source of an enduringwillingness to view human beings asnatural phenomena and an ongoing,inspiring challenge to dogmatism.”
Hume was born in a tenement inEdinburgh’s Lawnmarket area, thoughthe family home was in Chirnside nearBerwick. His father died when Hume wastwo and, until enrolling at the University,he was educated by his mother in a strictCalvinist household. At University hisapproach to studies hinted at anunorthodox relationship with academia;he informed a friend that, “There isnothing to be learned from a professor,which is not to be met with in books.”Initially drawn to law, a passion for theworks of classical authors such as Ciceropulled him instead to philosophy.
Pages recovered from a notebookHume wrote in his early twenties suggest
a fascination with atheism and theexistence of God. A letter describes a“New Scene of Thought” opening up tohim, and an intense period of study inFrance fed into his first major work, A Treatise on Human Nature, twovolumes of which were published in1739, when Hume was 27.
In the Treatise Hume argues thathuman nature is mainly guided byinstinctive belief rather than reason. Thework established him as an empiricist who viewed knowledge as being informed only by what we directly experience. TheTreatise was poorly received in Britain –Hume said it “fell dead-born from thepress” – but it ultimately earned him a place in history, and seeded hisreputation as an atheist in the minds ofhis critics. As Dr Richmond explains:“Hume broke radically new ground inconsidering human reason, ethics and
Sco
ttish Nationa
l Portrait G
allery. L
icen
sor www.scran
.ac.uk
; Taybu
rn
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 1918 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 2120 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
Ysolda TeagueMA (Hons) English Literature, 2007
Scottish knitwear designer YsoldaTeague sells thousands of patterns amonth, is about to publish her thirdbook and enjoys celebrity status inAmerica’s online world, where knittingis a multimillion-dollar industry.
“The nice thing about the EnglishLiterature degree at Edinburgh is thatthere’s a lot of freedom in what you canstudy; it’s a big subject and there’s a lotof diversity. I really enjoyed my courses on the history of the book and thedevelopment of printing, and I got to play with the printing press in the Main Library. I now publish books myself so it was very helpful.
“I had piles of lecture notes but I neverlooked at them and always ended upresearching things online. So I stoppedtaking notes and started knitting, writingdown the occasional idea, and I found that I could process what had been said a lot better. I didn’t knit in smalltutorials as it was distracting for otherpeople but I got away with it in a lecture hall.
“I learnt to knit when I was young but really fell in love with it while I was atuniversity. I taught a lot of students how to knit and started to make up my ownpatterns. In my third year I came across a how-to-submit-a-pattern page onlineand started selling pdfs and created a website.
“When I graduated I gave myself threemonths and decided if I wasn’t making at least the equivalent of the minimumwage, then I would put my degree to work and get a ‘real’ job. It took six weeksso I figured I’d just keep going. Now I’m working on a third book and I sellaround 400 to 500 patterns a day –it can jump up to 1,000.
“Sometimes I have an insane amount ofwork to do – I haven’t been home forlonger than a month in the last year andI’ve recently travelled for work to America,London, Shetland and then Iceland,teaching at a retreat.
“I teach a few classes a year and I try to show people things they couldn’tnecessarily learn from someone else. I spend most of my time putting my ideas into designing. I like tofocus on things that are fun tomake rather than something thatlooks perfect but is tedious andtakes six months to finish. I also
make patterns in big size ranges and do a lot of fitting and shaping for your body.
“People say knitting is the new yoga – it’srelaxing but it can be horribly frustrating!It’s like anything physical, like bike ridingor swimming or handwriting – you need to build muscle memory and that takespractice.
“It’s pretty surreal that I have this oneworld where I’m really famous and therest of the world doesn’t have a clue who I am. My dad keeps telling people he has a famous daughter! Blogging is so one-sided – I meet so many peoplewho know all this stuff about me and I don’t even know their name.
“I wouldn’t have seen this coming at all.Most of us spend, say, from the timewe’re 16 until we graduate from university,focussing on what we’re going to do with our lives – it’s really stressful and you feel you have to make the rightchoices. At Edinburgh I learnt a lot about research skills and being able to work independently but the universityexperience is also about all the things you learn that aren’t necessarily obviousat the time how helpful they might be later. In the end, things fall into place.”
We are happy to forward correspondence to graduates for whom we hold current address details. Email us at [email protected].
“I STOPPED TAKING NOTESAND STARTED KNITTING,WRITING DOWN THEOCCASIONAL IDEA, AND I FOUND THAT I COULDPROCESS WHAT HAD BEENSAID A LOT BETTER.”
Alumni Profiles
Gordon BennettLLB, 1969
Barrister Gordon Bennett shares histime between his London chancerypractice and Survival International, anorganisation that defends the rights oftribal peoples, including Botswana’sCentral Kalahari Bushmen.
“I enjoyed my time at Edinburgh but weall took ourselves frightfully seriously! Itwas a case of off to university you wentand we all worked jolly hard. I was inDramSoc from time to time and playedhockey, which was a source of hugeenjoyment and great danger.
“There were some stimulating andentertaining people in the law faculty. JohnMoffatt, who was tragically killed shortlyafter I graduated, was enormouslyinteresting and gave us the impressionthat there was a world outside; and IanMcGibbon, an urbane and sophisticatedman, was an observer at NelsonMandela’s trial in Pretoria in 1963 (theRivonia Trial), again a reminder that there
was a world out there that was altogetherless comfortable than Edinburgh.
“When I left Edinburgh I went to theUniversity of California, Berkeley, to which Igot a scholarship. I went from one extremeto another: Edinburgh was still in thosedays a rather staid and respectable placeand California was at the other end of thespectrum. It was the year after Nixon hadinvaded Cambodia [1971] and a time ofimmense revolutionary activity in California.
“I decided to go to the English bar andapplied for and got a scholarship toCambridge. My postgraduate dissertationon ‘primitive’ peoples or indigenouspeoples as we now call them, waspublished and then picked up by SurvivalInternational, and I’ve been going away withthem off and on for the past 30 years or so.
“My chancery work at Lincoln’s Inn ismostly commercial/commercial fraudwork. My work with Survival is quite
different, and there’s satisfaction to bederived in helping people protect theirway of life – something you don’t get fromhelping people protect their bank balance.
“Through my work with Survival I have metextraordinary people. In Guyana, SouthAmerica, I flew to a settlement in a tropicalrainforest in a single-seat aircraft – therewas no seat for me, I sat on a drum. I alsowent in a dugout canoe up a tributary of theMazaruni River to talk to the local people[Akaiwo Indians].
“Not surprisingly, you learn that of courseother people’s ways are just as valid as ourown, and some might say even more valid.These people have found a way of livingwith their own environment without spoilingor destroying what has been given to them.
“One of the frustrations of this kind of workis that disputes and problems tend to festerfor many, many years. You don’t have a lotof control – you fly in, do your stuff and thenfly out again, but it’s the local organisationsthat are keeping the movement going.
“In Botswana very few Bushmen can speakEnglish, so you are often dependent upontranslators. But you can get by if you havea sense of humour and you can makepeople laugh – it helps a lot to makepeople feel you have something incommon.”
Interviews by
Cate MacKen
zie; Gordo
n Ben
nett’s imag
e co
urtesy of w
ww.survivalinternationa
l.org
“THERE’S SATISFACTION TOBE DERIVED IN HELPINGPEOPLE PROTECT THEIRWAY OF LIFE – SOMETHINGYOU DON’T GET FROMHELPING PEOPLE PROTECT THEIR BANKBALANCE. THROUGH MY WORK I HAVE METEXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE.”
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 2120 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
Ysolda TeagueMA (Hons) English Literature, 2007
Scottish knitwear designer YsoldaTeague sells thousands of patterns amonth, is about to publish her thirdbook and enjoys celebrity status inAmerica’s online world, where knittingis a multimillion-dollar industry.
“The nice thing about the EnglishLiterature degree at Edinburgh is thatthere’s a lot of freedom in what you canstudy; it’s a big subject and there’s a lotof diversity. I really enjoyed my courses on the history of the book and thedevelopment of printing, and I got to play with the printing press in the Main Library. I now publish books myself so it was very helpful.
“I had piles of lecture notes but I neverlooked at them and always ended upresearching things online. So I stoppedtaking notes and started knitting, writingdown the occasional idea, and I found that I could process what had been said a lot better. I didn’t knit in smalltutorials as it was distracting for otherpeople but I got away with it in a lecture hall.
“I learnt to knit when I was young but really fell in love with it while I was atuniversity. I taught a lot of students how to knit and started to make up my ownpatterns. In my third year I came across a how-to-submit-a-pattern page onlineand started selling pdfs and created a website.
“When I graduated I gave myself threemonths and decided if I wasn’t making at least the equivalent of the minimumwage, then I would put my degree to work and get a ‘real’ job. It took six weeksso I figured I’d just keep going. Now I’m working on a third book and I sellaround 400 to 500 patterns a day –it can jump up to 1,000.
“Sometimes I have an insane amount ofwork to do – I haven’t been home forlonger than a month in the last year andI’ve recently travelled for work to America,London, Shetland and then Iceland,teaching at a retreat.
“I teach a few classes a year and I try to show people things they couldn’tnecessarily learn from someone else. I spend most of my time putting my ideas into designing. I like tofocus on things that are fun tomake rather than something thatlooks perfect but is tedious andtakes six months to finish. I also
make patterns in big size ranges and do a lot of fitting and shaping for your body.
“People say knitting is the new yoga – it’srelaxing but it can be horribly frustrating!It’s like anything physical, like bike ridingor swimming or handwriting – you need to build muscle memory and that takespractice.
“It’s pretty surreal that I have this oneworld where I’m really famous and therest of the world doesn’t have a clue who I am. My dad keeps telling people he has a famous daughter! Blogging is so one-sided – I meet so many peoplewho know all this stuff about me and I don’t even know their name.
“I wouldn’t have seen this coming at all.Most of us spend, say, from the timewe’re 16 until we graduate from university,focussing on what we’re going to do with our lives – it’s really stressful and you feel you have to make the rightchoices. At Edinburgh I learnt a lot about research skills and being able to work independently but the universityexperience is also about all the things you learn that aren’t necessarily obviousat the time how helpful they might be later. In the end, things fall into place.”
We are happy to forward correspondence to graduates for whom we hold current address details. Email us at [email protected].
“I STOPPED TAKING NOTESAND STARTED KNITTING,WRITING DOWN THEOCCASIONAL IDEA, AND I FOUND THAT I COULDPROCESS WHAT HAD BEENSAID A LOT BETTER.”
Alumni Profiles
Gordon BennettLLB, 1969
Barrister Gordon Bennett shares histime between his London chancerypractice and Survival International, anorganisation that defends the rights oftribal peoples, including Botswana’sCentral Kalahari Bushmen.
“I enjoyed my time at Edinburgh but weall took ourselves frightfully seriously! Itwas a case of off to university you wentand we all worked jolly hard. I was inDramSoc from time to time and playedhockey, which was a source of hugeenjoyment and great danger.
“There were some stimulating andentertaining people in the law faculty. JohnMoffatt, who was tragically killed shortlyafter I graduated, was enormouslyinteresting and gave us the impressionthat there was a world outside; and IanMcGibbon, an urbane and sophisticatedman, was an observer at NelsonMandela’s trial in Pretoria in 1963 (theRivonia Trial), again a reminder that there
was a world out there that was altogetherless comfortable than Edinburgh.
“When I left Edinburgh I went to theUniversity of California, Berkeley, to which Igot a scholarship. I went from one extremeto another: Edinburgh was still in thosedays a rather staid and respectable placeand California was at the other end of thespectrum. It was the year after Nixon hadinvaded Cambodia [1971] and a time ofimmense revolutionary activity in California.
“I decided to go to the English bar andapplied for and got a scholarship toCambridge. My postgraduate dissertationon ‘primitive’ peoples or indigenouspeoples as we now call them, waspublished and then picked up by SurvivalInternational, and I’ve been going away withthem off and on for the past 30 years or so.
“My chancery work at Lincoln’s Inn ismostly commercial/commercial fraudwork. My work with Survival is quite
different, and there’s satisfaction to bederived in helping people protect theirway of life – something you don’t get fromhelping people protect their bank balance.
“Through my work with Survival I have metextraordinary people. In Guyana, SouthAmerica, I flew to a settlement in a tropicalrainforest in a single-seat aircraft – therewas no seat for me, I sat on a drum. I alsowent in a dugout canoe up a tributary of theMazaruni River to talk to the local people[Akaiwo Indians].
“Not surprisingly, you learn that of courseother people’s ways are just as valid as ourown, and some might say even more valid.These people have found a way of livingwith their own environment without spoilingor destroying what has been given to them.
“One of the frustrations of this kind of workis that disputes and problems tend to festerfor many, many years. You don’t have a lotof control – you fly in, do your stuff and thenfly out again, but it’s the local organisationsthat are keeping the movement going.
“In Botswana very few Bushmen can speakEnglish, so you are often dependent upontranslators. But you can get by if you havea sense of humour and you can makepeople laugh – it helps a lot to makepeople feel you have something incommon.”
Interviews by
Cate MacKen
zie; Gordo
n Ben
nett’s imag
e co
urtesy of w
ww.survivalinternationa
l.org
“THERE’S SATISFACTION TOBE DERIVED IN HELPINGPEOPLE PROTECT THEIRWAY OF LIFE – SOMETHINGYOU DON’T GET FROMHELPING PEOPLE PROTECT THEIR BANKBALANCE. THROUGH MY WORK I HAVE METEXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE.”
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 23
We are happy to forward correspondence to graduates for whom we hold current address details. Email us at [email protected].
Edinburgh University Club of LondonThe Edinburgh University Club ofLondon was founded in June 1864when 21 graduates came together to establish the first club of its kind at the University. Now boasting 210members, drawn from many academicdisciplines and occupations, the clubprovides a forum for Edinburghgraduates living in and around Londonand the Home Counties. Regular
events include an annualgeneral meeting, annualdinner, visits to the theatre,art collections andbuildings and areas ofarchitectural and historical interest,lectures and Burns Night suppers. An investment networking event isplanned for early 2011. For details, visitwww.dev.ed.ac.uk/clubs/London.
Hamish RobertsonMA (Hons) Business Studies, 2005
From serving local businesses out of hisstudent bedroom to running his own ITsupport firm, graduate Hamish Robertsonis a young entrepreneur on the ascent.
“Robertson Technologies provides computersupport services to companies – we basicallyact as a virtual IT department for small tomedium businesses.
“I started the business in 2005, while I was at university. I didn’t back up my work andthought there must be a way to copyautomatically my files from one computer toanother, across the internet, so I created apiece of software that did that. I thought if I benefit from this, then surely other peoplewould want to pay for it. I started doing onlinebackup for Edinburgh businesses from a bigserver in my bedroom in a student flat.
“I expanded into computer support, and in2009 I franchised the business across the UK,which has taken it to a completely differentlevel. We now have five franchises operatingand will award a further 10 in the next 12months. I’ve always wanted to run my own
business. I have a vision of creatingsomething that I can pass on to differentgenerations. Already I have achieved a senseof satisfaction that I’ve created somethingfrom scratch. In five years, from nothing,we’ve created this nationwide business andmaybe in another five years it will be bigger.”
Rising star
Club focus
“I sometimes think back on thewhirl of being a fresher whereeverything was new. There werebooks to be bought, societiesto join, people to meet,classes to find out about – it was all go but here wasthe city where I wanted to be.I was just plain happy, and I don’t know what I’d havedone if I hadn’t been acceptedfor Edinburgh.
“Possibly topping the list of myfondest memories was the sensefirst of surprise, then relief,and finally happiness when atlast I saw the long-awaitedfinals results posted up.
“Coming to Edinburgh gave methe chance to achieve what Iwanted, a degree in history.It opened up so many newhorizons and instilled in me an academic discipline that hasalways stood me in good stead.
“I loved Edinburgh’s dramaticbeauty, its atmosphere of‘oldness’, and perhaps mostbecause even yet when Ireturn, it’s a place wherealmost everyone you meet knowssomeone you know.
“I live in Kenya, where mythree children were born. I arrived in 1955, newlymarried, and have been hereever since.”
Julia Lawrence (née Edwards)MA (Hons) History, 1950–1954
22 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
Get
ty Im
ages
; Rob
erts
on T
echn
olog
ies
Alumni Network
Hong Kong eventsreflect historic links More than 100 alumni based in HongKong, China and other East-Asianregions, together with a contingent fromall the continents, gathered in HongKong recently to enjoy a series of eventsorganised by the University and itsGeneral Council. Guests learnt about thelife of the University in 2010 and weregiven the opportunity to influence theinstitution’s development in the comingyears. Events included a conference on the business of climate change and a lecture on Scotland’s historic links with the East, reflecting past andpresent commercial and educationalcollaborations with China.
Alumni, students, staff and seniormembers of the University cametogether in Delhi to celebrateEdinburgh’s success at the 2010Commonwealth Games. More than 90 people, including alumna and silvermedallist Eilidh Child (pictured) and agroup of India-based alumni, attendeda reception hosted by UniversityPrincipal Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea.Other guests included representativesfrom various Scottish organisations andIndian universities. For details onUniversity activities in India, [email protected].
Have you ever wondered what your former classmates are upto? Here’s a snapshot of who’s doing what, where and why… Visit www.ed.ac.uk/alumni to keep up with the latest alumni news and stay informed about events happening in your area.
Athletes and alumnicelebrate Games success
Save the date: 20–22 May, Edinburgh
Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group50th Anniversary Reunion
A sing-through of The Mikado, completewith a full orchestra and principals from1961 to the present day, is just one of theevents planned for the 50th anniversaryreunion of the Edinburgh University SavoyOpera Group (EUSOG). Other tentativeactivities planned for the weekend ofcelebrations include dinner andentertainment for Savoy members from1960–1964 at the New Club, a tour of theUniversity’s world-renowned musicalinstrument collection, a gala 50th reunionball at the George Hotel and a Thanksgivingservice at Greyfriars Church. Full details ofthe event will be confirmed early in 2011.For event and ticket information, visitwww.eusog.org. To pre-register for events, email [email protected].
Note: There is a limit of 250 tickets for thegala reunion ball, so book early to avoiddisappointment.
Let’s get togetherWhether you’re thinking of an informal gathering or a full weekend of activities, we can advise you on how to organise a reunion. For more information,or to find out about reunions in your area, contactDevelopment & Alumni’s Anna Moslow:
T: +44 (0)131 650 2240E: anna.moslow.ed.ac.ukW: www.ed.ac.uk/alumni
A gala reunion
European graduatesgather in Brussels Graduates from all over Europe cametogether in Brussels recently forDevelopment & Alumni’s second annualEuropean Alumni Dinner. The event,jointly hosted by University PrincipalProfessor Sir Timothy O’Shea and theEdinburgh University Brussels Society,was held at the prestigious CercleRoyal Gaulois, Brussels. A follow-up tothe inaugural event held in December2009, the evening was anothersuccess, with attendees enjoying areception, intimate formal dinner andaddress from guest speaker Dr AndyKerr, Director of the Edinburgh Centreon Climate Change (ECCC).
EUSOG members perform their firstproduction, The Mikado, in 1961
Julia with her grandchild, and on her graduation day
Memory lane
New horizons
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 23
We are happy to forward correspondence to graduates for whom we hold current address details. Email us at [email protected].
Edinburgh University Club of LondonThe Edinburgh University Club ofLondon was founded in June 1864when 21 graduates came together to establish the first club of its kind at the University. Now boasting 210members, drawn from many academicdisciplines and occupations, the clubprovides a forum for Edinburghgraduates living in and around Londonand the Home Counties. Regular
events include an annualgeneral meeting, annualdinner, visits to the theatre,art collections andbuildings and areas ofarchitectural and historical interest,lectures and Burns Night suppers. An investment networking event isplanned for early 2011. For details, visitwww.dev.ed.ac.uk/clubs/London.
Hamish RobertsonMA (Hons) Business Studies, 2005
From serving local businesses out of hisstudent bedroom to running his own ITsupport firm, graduate Hamish Robertsonis a young entrepreneur on the ascent.
“Robertson Technologies provides computersupport services to companies – we basicallyact as a virtual IT department for small tomedium businesses.
“I started the business in 2005, while I was at university. I didn’t back up my work andthought there must be a way to copyautomatically my files from one computer toanother, across the internet, so I created apiece of software that did that. I thought if I benefit from this, then surely other peoplewould want to pay for it. I started doing onlinebackup for Edinburgh businesses from a bigserver in my bedroom in a student flat.
“I expanded into computer support, and in2009 I franchised the business across the UK,which has taken it to a completely differentlevel. We now have five franchises operatingand will award a further 10 in the next 12months. I’ve always wanted to run my own
business. I have a vision of creatingsomething that I can pass on to differentgenerations. Already I have achieved a senseof satisfaction that I’ve created somethingfrom scratch. In five years, from nothing,we’ve created this nationwide business andmaybe in another five years it will be bigger.”
Rising star
Club focus
“I sometimes think back on thewhirl of being a fresher whereeverything was new. There werebooks to be bought, societiesto join, people to meet,classes to find out about – it was all go but here wasthe city where I wanted to be.I was just plain happy, and I don’t know what I’d havedone if I hadn’t been acceptedfor Edinburgh.
“Possibly topping the list of myfondest memories was the sensefirst of surprise, then relief,and finally happiness when atlast I saw the long-awaitedfinals results posted up.
“Coming to Edinburgh gave methe chance to achieve what Iwanted, a degree in history.It opened up so many newhorizons and instilled in me an academic discipline that hasalways stood me in good stead.
“I loved Edinburgh’s dramaticbeauty, its atmosphere of‘oldness’, and perhaps mostbecause even yet when Ireturn, it’s a place wherealmost everyone you meet knowssomeone you know.
“I live in Kenya, where mythree children were born. I arrived in 1955, newlymarried, and have been hereever since.”
Julia Lawrence (née Edwards)MA (Hons) History, 1950–1954
22 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
Get
ty Im
ages
; Rob
erts
on T
echn
olog
ies
Alumni Network
Hong Kong eventsreflect historic links More than 100 alumni based in HongKong, China and other East-Asianregions, together with a contingent fromall the continents, gathered in HongKong recently to enjoy a series of eventsorganised by the University and itsGeneral Council. Guests learnt about thelife of the University in 2010 and weregiven the opportunity to influence theinstitution’s development in the comingyears. Events included a conference on the business of climate change and a lecture on Scotland’s historic links with the East, reflecting past andpresent commercial and educationalcollaborations with China.
Alumni, students, staff and seniormembers of the University cametogether in Delhi to celebrateEdinburgh’s success at the 2010Commonwealth Games. More than 90 people, including alumna and silvermedallist Eilidh Child (pictured) and agroup of India-based alumni, attendeda reception hosted by UniversityPrincipal Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea.Other guests included representativesfrom various Scottish organisations andIndian universities. For details onUniversity activities in India, [email protected].
Have you ever wondered what your former classmates are upto? Here’s a snapshot of who’s doing what, where and why… Visit www.ed.ac.uk/alumni to keep up with the latest alumni news and stay informed about events happening in your area.
Athletes and alumnicelebrate Games success
Save the date: 20–22 May, Edinburgh
Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group50th Anniversary Reunion
A sing-through of The Mikado, completewith a full orchestra and principals from1961 to the present day, is just one of theevents planned for the 50th anniversaryreunion of the Edinburgh University SavoyOpera Group (EUSOG). Other tentativeactivities planned for the weekend ofcelebrations include dinner andentertainment for Savoy members from1960–1964 at the New Club, a tour of theUniversity’s world-renowned musicalinstrument collection, a gala 50th reunionball at the George Hotel and a Thanksgivingservice at Greyfriars Church. Full details ofthe event will be confirmed early in 2011.For event and ticket information, visitwww.eusog.org. To pre-register for events, email [email protected].
Note: There is a limit of 250 tickets for thegala reunion ball, so book early to avoiddisappointment.
Let’s get togetherWhether you’re thinking of an informal gathering or a full weekend of activities, we can advise you on how to organise a reunion. For more information,or to find out about reunions in your area, contactDevelopment & Alumni’s Anna Moslow:
T: +44 (0)131 650 2240E: anna.moslow.ed.ac.ukW: www.ed.ac.uk/alumni
A gala reunion
European graduatesgather in Brussels Graduates from all over Europe cametogether in Brussels recently forDevelopment & Alumni’s second annualEuropean Alumni Dinner. The event,jointly hosted by University PrincipalProfessor Sir Timothy O’Shea and theEdinburgh University Brussels Society,was held at the prestigious CercleRoyal Gaulois, Brussels. A follow-up tothe inaugural event held in December2009, the evening was anothersuccess, with attendees enjoying areception, intimate formal dinner andaddress from guest speaker Dr AndyKerr, Director of the Edinburgh Centreon Climate Change (ECCC).
EUSOG members perform their firstproduction, The Mikado, in 1961
Julia with her grandchild, and on her graduation day
Memory lane
New horizons
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 25
My Edinburgh
Heidi RettigSocial Anthropology MSc, 1998
Where do you live now and why?
I live near Glacier National Park, innorth-west Montana, in the US. Myhusband and I love the natural beautyand the relaxed lifestyle. Because weboth run our own companies (I own myown consultancy firm), we had theflexibility to choose where we live.
When did you live in Edinburgh?
From 1995 to 2000.
What did the University do for you?
It was rare to be a part of the richtradition of social anthropology atEdinburgh under the guidance ofcontemporary scholars doing some ofthe most interesting work in our field.
Coming to Edinburgh means a lot of memories are enhanced by the stunning location, breathtaking weather and all-round cosmopolitan experience. We invite you to share what made your student days so memorable.
What do you miss most about the city?I loved walking through differentparts of the city – particularlyalong the Water of Leith, and also near New College and the RoyalBotanic Garden.
What was in your “little black book”when you lived in Edinburgh?John Knox House – on sunny days itwas lovely to have lunch in the garden– and I was a regular at Henderson’s.
What was your first impression ofEdinburgh when you arrived as afresher?
I was very taken with the views – on aclear day you can see the Firth of Forth – and with how quickly the weather canchange.
What is your fondest memory of your time at university?
I was able to secure a private viewingof the medical specimens at thepathology museum at the RoyalCollege of Surgeons of Edinburgh. I feltlucky, as an anthropologist-in-training,to learn about plagues and diseasesthat had altered the course of history in Scotland and abroad.
Which academic staff memberinfluenced you the most when youwere here?
Tony Cohen, Neal Thin, JonathanSpencer and the late Charles Jedrejwere exceptional guides. They honedmy observation skills and advised that I write it all down. My office is filled withtiny, battered spiral notebooks.
What is your favourite view of the city?
The view up to the Castle from PrincesStreet Gardens – from the West Endnear St Cuthbert’s Church.
What would you recommend as“unmissable” to a tourist when they visit Edinburgh?
The penguin parade at Edinburgh Zoonever fails to impress. And the LothianBuses 23 route is an excellent tour of thecity – sit in the upstairs front window!
Send your photographs of your studentdays to [email protected]
‘‘ ’’Tony Cohen, Neal Thin, Jonathan Spencer and the lateCharles Jedrej were exceptional guides. They honed myobservation skills and advised that I write it all down.
School: History, Classics & Archaeology Title: Emeritus Professor and Honorary Professorial Fellow
Harry Dickinson
Master & App
rentice interviews by
Cate MacKen
zie. Im
ages: U
niversity of E
dinb
urgh
Spe
cial Collections; G
spatter; Chris Sco
tt; Bria
n MacLe
nnan
; Dave Morris
Master & Apprentice
Are you an Edinburgh alumnus?
Yes. I was awarded a DLitt in 1986.
When did you start work at Edinburgh?
I came to the University as an AssistantLecturer in History in the summer of 1966.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
I have always found lecturing, teachingand supervising very satisfying.Research can be a very lonely businessand academic life would not have beenhalf so rewarding without personalcontact with students. I have also takengreat satisfaction in publishing everysingle year from 1964, more than 20books and 180 articles and essays.
… and the most challenging?
Trying to improve and assess thequality of teaching, administration andresearch across the whole universitysector or across the whole discipline of history in the UK.
What has changed over the years?
Undergraduates undoubtedly facegreater financial problems, are undergreater pressure to get a good degreeand are taught in larger and less frequent seminars, but they get moreexpert advice and more opportunities to do good work than before.Postgraduate students are more closelysupervised than before and are lessisolated because of the far greaterstudent numbers.
Is it satisfying to see graduates excelin their careers?
I take great pleasure in noticing theachievements of former students who havemade successful careers. One of the reallyexciting things about Edinburgh graduationceremonies is seeing how we have taughtstudents from so many different countries– you appreciate that Edinburgh really isan international university.
Can you name a student who made yourrole as mentor particularly satisfying?
I taught Hugh Langmuir as anundergraduate. He was the mostindependent-minded and inquisitiveundergraduate I have taught. He laterdid an MBA at Harvard and has had adistinguished non-academic career.
After a 40-year career, Professor Dickinson retired in 2006 but remains active in supervising MSc and PhD students.
THE APPRENTICE
I remember Harry as an accomplished but humble teacher. He had therelatively rare gift of being a deservedly popular teacher of undergraduatesand a respected researcher and publisher. Aside from knowledge, which heimparted in an interesting and colourful way, Harry left me with intellectualskills that have served me well to this day: evidence-based, criticalreasoning; capacity for cogent, tight synthesis of swathes of facts; disciplineand work ethic; and, very importantly, honesty and humanity.”
“
Hugh Langmuir
THE MASTER
Hugh Langmuir studied History (MA Hons, 1978) underHarry Dickinson’s tutelage. Hugh is Managing Partner at London-based investment firm Cinven.
Every graduate can name a mentor who gave them advice and encouragement. But have you ever wondered if you inspired your teachers in return? Here, we talk to one of your role models about their experiences.
24 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 25
My Edinburgh
Heidi RettigSocial Anthropology MSc, 1998
Where do you live now and why?
I live near Glacier National Park, innorth-west Montana, in the US. Myhusband and I love the natural beautyand the relaxed lifestyle. Because weboth run our own companies (I own myown consultancy firm), we had theflexibility to choose where we live.
When did you live in Edinburgh?
From 1995 to 2000.
What did the University do for you?
It was rare to be a part of the richtradition of social anthropology atEdinburgh under the guidance ofcontemporary scholars doing some ofthe most interesting work in our field.
Coming to Edinburgh means a lot of memories are enhanced by the stunning location, breathtaking weather and all-round cosmopolitan experience. We invite you to share what made your student days so memorable.
What do you miss most about the city?I loved walking through differentparts of the city – particularlyalong the Water of Leith, and also near New College and the RoyalBotanic Garden.
What was in your “little black book”when you lived in Edinburgh?John Knox House – on sunny days itwas lovely to have lunch in the garden– and I was a regular at Henderson’s.
What was your first impression ofEdinburgh when you arrived as afresher?
I was very taken with the views – on aclear day you can see the Firth of Forth – and with how quickly the weather canchange.
What is your fondest memory of your time at university?
I was able to secure a private viewingof the medical specimens at thepathology museum at the RoyalCollege of Surgeons of Edinburgh. I feltlucky, as an anthropologist-in-training,to learn about plagues and diseasesthat had altered the course of history in Scotland and abroad.
Which academic staff memberinfluenced you the most when youwere here?
Tony Cohen, Neal Thin, JonathanSpencer and the late Charles Jedrejwere exceptional guides. They honedmy observation skills and advised that I write it all down. My office is filled withtiny, battered spiral notebooks.
What is your favourite view of the city?
The view up to the Castle from PrincesStreet Gardens – from the West Endnear St Cuthbert’s Church.
What would you recommend as“unmissable” to a tourist when they visit Edinburgh?
The penguin parade at Edinburgh Zoonever fails to impress. And the LothianBuses 23 route is an excellent tour of thecity – sit in the upstairs front window!
Send your photographs of your studentdays to [email protected]
‘‘ ’’Tony Cohen, Neal Thin, Jonathan Spencer and the lateCharles Jedrej were exceptional guides. They honed myobservation skills and advised that I write it all down.
School: History, Classics & Archaeology Title: Emeritus Professor and Honorary Professorial Fellow
Harry Dickinson
Master & App
rentice interviews by
Cate MacKen
zie. Im
ages: U
niversity of E
dinb
urgh
Spe
cial Collections; G
spatter; Chris Sco
tt; Bria
n MacLe
nnan
; Dave Morris
Master & Apprentice
Are you an Edinburgh alumnus?
Yes. I was awarded a DLitt in 1986.
When did you start work at Edinburgh?
I came to the University as an AssistantLecturer in History in the summer of 1966.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
I have always found lecturing, teachingand supervising very satisfying.Research can be a very lonely businessand academic life would not have beenhalf so rewarding without personalcontact with students. I have also takengreat satisfaction in publishing everysingle year from 1964, more than 20books and 180 articles and essays.
… and the most challenging?
Trying to improve and assess thequality of teaching, administration andresearch across the whole universitysector or across the whole discipline of history in the UK.
What has changed over the years?
Undergraduates undoubtedly facegreater financial problems, are undergreater pressure to get a good degreeand are taught in larger and less frequent seminars, but they get moreexpert advice and more opportunities to do good work than before.Postgraduate students are more closelysupervised than before and are lessisolated because of the far greaterstudent numbers.
Is it satisfying to see graduates excelin their careers?
I take great pleasure in noticing theachievements of former students who havemade successful careers. One of the reallyexciting things about Edinburgh graduationceremonies is seeing how we have taughtstudents from so many different countries– you appreciate that Edinburgh really isan international university.
Can you name a student who made yourrole as mentor particularly satisfying?
I taught Hugh Langmuir as anundergraduate. He was the mostindependent-minded and inquisitiveundergraduate I have taught. He laterdid an MBA at Harvard and has had adistinguished non-academic career.
After a 40-year career, Professor Dickinson retired in 2006 but remains active in supervising MSc and PhD students.
THE APPRENTICE
I remember Harry as an accomplished but humble teacher. He had therelatively rare gift of being a deservedly popular teacher of undergraduatesand a respected researcher and publisher. Aside from knowledge, which heimparted in an interesting and colourful way, Harry left me with intellectualskills that have served me well to this day: evidence-based, criticalreasoning; capacity for cogent, tight synthesis of swathes of facts; disciplineand work ethic; and, very importantly, honesty and humanity.”
“
Hugh Langmuir
THE MASTER
Hugh Langmuir studied History (MA Hons, 1978) underHarry Dickinson’s tutelage. Hugh is Managing Partner at London-based investment firm Cinven.
Every graduate can name a mentor who gave them advice and encouragement. But have you ever wondered if you inspired your teachers in return? Here, we talk to one of your role models about their experiences.
24 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
Send your photographs of your studentdays to [email protected]
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 27
10 A new home for the School’s founder, William Dick. 11 A Labrador Retriever puppy gets an MOT. 12 Specialists treat a polar bear at Edinburgh Zoo. 13 A pet cat gets checked out. 14 Exotic species like snakes benefit from Dick Vet expertise. 15 Our vets at the operating table. 16 The official opening ofthe £3 million veterinary cancer care centre. 17 Farm call-outs are all in a day’s work. 18 Feathered friends are cared for too. 19 The new Hospital for SmallAnimals building at Easter Bush.
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15
13
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26 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine26 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
Then& Now Veterinary Studies
01 The anatomy lecture theatre in Clyde Street, c1905. 02 A 1930s class takes a closer look at bacteria slides. 03 The Dick Vet’s 1913 rugby team. 04 Dr Peter Jackson shows a student vet the ropes. 05 J Matheson puts his charge through his paces in 1961. 06 A new generation carries on the William Dick legacy, c1895. 07 Servitor Hubert CN Peapell (Joe) is ready for work at Summerhall in 1937. 08 Clyde Street’s physiology andpathology laboratory, 1905. 09 Hands-on learning during the 1980s.
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Paul Carwardine; Callum Bennetts/Maverick Photo Agency; Paul Dodds; Norrie Russell/The Roslin Institute of the University of Edinburgh
04
Founded in 1823 by William Dick, the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies was Scotland’s first vet schooland is now part of the University’s College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine. Affectionately known as the‘Dick Vet’, the School is one of the world’s most innovative and influential centres for clinical care and studenteducation, with graduates going on to become leaders in their fields as teachers, researchers and clinicians.
Send your photographs of your studentdays to [email protected]
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 27
10 A new home for the School’s founder, William Dick. 11 A Labrador Retriever puppy gets an MOT. 12 Specialists treat a polar bear at Edinburgh Zoo. 13 A pet cat gets checked out. 14 Exotic species like snakes benefit from Dick Vet expertise. 15 Our vets at the operating table. 16 The official opening ofthe £3 million veterinary cancer care centre. 17 Farm call-outs are all in a day’s work. 18 Feathered friends are cared for too. 19 The new Hospital for SmallAnimals building at Easter Bush.
11 12
17
18
15
13
10
14
16
19
26 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine26 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
Then& Now Veterinary Studies
01 The anatomy lecture theatre in Clyde Street, c1905. 02 A 1930s class takes a closer look at bacteria slides. 03 The Dick Vet’s 1913 rugby team. 04 Dr Peter Jackson shows a student vet the ropes. 05 J Matheson puts his charge through his paces in 1961. 06 A new generation carries on the William Dick legacy, c1895. 07 Servitor Hubert CN Peapell (Joe) is ready for work at Summerhall in 1937. 08 Clyde Street’s physiology andpathology laboratory, 1905. 09 Hands-on learning during the 1980s.
01
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03
06
02
09
08
05
Paul Carwardine; Callum Bennetts/Maverick Photo Agency; Paul Dodds; Norrie Russell/The Roslin Institute of the University of Edinburgh
04
Founded in 1823 by William Dick, the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies was Scotland’s first vet schooland is now part of the University’s College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine. Affectionately known as the‘Dick Vet’, the School is one of the world’s most innovative and influential centres for clinical care and studenteducation, with graduates going on to become leaders in their fields as teachers, researchers and clinicians.
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 2928 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
If you would like to contribute to Arts Review, email your suggestions to [email protected].
WHAT’S ON AT THE TALBOT RICE AS Byatt and John Carey
win prestigious book prizesAuthors AS Byatt and John Carey havebeen awarded the 2010 James Tait BlackMemorial Prizes.
Alumnus and best-selling crime writer IanRankin announced the winners duringEdinburgh’s International Book Festival,and 100 alumni enjoyed a National Trustfor Scotland reception at Charlotte Squarebefore attending the awards ceremony.
AS Byatt received the fiction award for TheChildren’s Book (Vintage, £7.99) and JohnCarey (pictured) won best biography forWilliam Golding: The Man who wrote Lordof the Flies (Faber and Faber, £10.99).
ROSEMARIETROCKELDrawings, Collages and Book Drafts29 January to 30 April
Rosemarie Trockel came to prominence in the mid 1980s with her drawings, sculpturesand intermedia works. Drawings, Collages and Book Drafts is the most comprehensivepresentation of her works on paper to date. A creative partnership between the Talbot Rice Gallery, Kunstmuseum Basel andKunstmuseum Bonn, this exhibition willprovide a fascinating glimpse of her wide-ranging graphic output over the past 30 years and feature a record of heroutstanding achievements in drawing.
Image: © Rosemarie Trockel, Vorstudie(Preliminary Study), 1989 Rosemarie Trockel, VGBild-Kunst, Bonn 2010. Image courtesy of SprüthMagers Berlin London and Centre Pompidou Paris
Visit www.trg.ed.ac.uk for details.
Established in 1919, The James TaitBlack Memorial Prizes are Britain’soldest literary prizes, and are awardedannually by the University of Edinburghand judged by a panel of its scholarsand postgraduate English Literaturestudents. The awards have acquired aninternational reputation, and previouswinners include DH Lawrence, IanMcEwan, Beryl Bainbridge and LyttonStrachey.
Visit www.ed.ac.uk/about/people/tait-black for more information.
GiGi (1958) I adore the clothes andthe music and the wholespectacle of it, and thewonderfully nonsensicalromantic story. Philippa Gregory, PhD 1985
Moon (2009)It’s a brilliant low-key, eerie sci-fi directedby David Bowie’s son, Duncan Jones. It’soriginal, funny, creepy and a refreshingchange from Hollywood blockbusters. Tim Johns, MA Geography 2007
04
05
THE FAB FIVE Can you name your all-time favourite film? Tough, isn’tit! Here, five alumni provide their pick of the flicks.
Manon des Sources (1986)It’s a wonderful retelling of several mythicthemes and I love the accent from that partof France because my family lived there. Tim Maguire, MA History 1977
The Godfather (1972)It’s a gripping story with great actors,music and a fantastic script. It takes theAmerican gangster film to a new level.Paul Weighand, MA History 1998
In the Loop (2009)Very amusing. James Hunter, MAEnglish Language & Literature 1973
01
02
03
Born: London, 09.03.77 Educated: The High School of Dundee 1982–1995, theUniversity of Edinburgh 1995–1998 (LLB), the University ofDundee 1998–1999 (PGDip, Legal Practice), City of LondonUniversity 1999–2000 (PGDip, Newspaper Studies)Current home: LondonCurrent job: Novelist, journalistFavourite book: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar WildeFavourite film: BraveheartFavourite song or piece of music:Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good”The place that most inspires you: Lochinver, the Scottish HighlandsGreatest influence: My mum, AnneSkill you’d most like to learn: Discipline
At school Martel set her sights on a legal careerbut her time at the University of Edinburghdeveloped her sense of fun, which stood her ingood stead for a career as an entertainmentreporter. Martel was the Sun newspaper’s firstgraduate trainee, and her celebrity insights havemanifested in her debut novel Scandalous, as hasher love for the city of Edinburgh, which is thebirthplace of one of the book’s key characters.
“I always thought I’d be a lawyerbut university is a time for learningwho you really are and what you want. I found doing law atEdinburgh pretty tough but ittaught me that not everythingcomes easily.”
Whether for work or play, the arts have always featured prominently in our alumni activities. Here, we showcase just some of your artistic endeavours and feature a few favourite cultural escapes.
Arts Review
Burke & Hare Film
s Ltd; Titian
(Tizian
o Ve
cellio, Italian, ca. 148
5/90
–157
6), T
he V
irgin
and
Chi
ld w
ith S
t. Jo
hn th
e B
aptis
t and
an
Uni
dent
ified
Sai
nt,
abou
t 151
5–15
20, o
il on
can
vas. Nationa
l Gallery of S
cotland
(Brid
gewater Loa
n, 194
5); G
uillem Lop
ez Pho
tograp
hy; W
arne
r Bros.
To watch…Starring Simon Pegg and AndySerkis, Burke & Hare tells thetale of Edinburgh’s notoriousmurderers who found a lucrativebusiness providing cadavers tothe University’s Medical Schoolin the 1800s. You’ll recognisefamiliar Edinburgh landmarks inthis black comedy, which waspartly filmed in and around thecity. – Burke & Hare (15), John Landis, Ealing Studios
Masterpieces on showTogether with the University of Glasgowand the National Galleries of Scotland,the University staged a viewing for alumniof Venetian Renaissance masterpieces atthe High Museum of Art in Atlanta.
Alumni viewed the collection of 13paintings and 12 drawings, on loan from the National Galleries of Scotland.
University representatives also travelled to Boston, New York and Washington DCto hold annual east coast alumni events.
To read… Edinburgh graduate Caroline Irbytravelled around the UK for 12months to photograph foreignchildren who now call Britainhome. She visited schools,councils, hospitals, refugee campsand embassies to track downyoungsters from 185 countries,and the book includes their viewson life in Britain. – Caroline Irby, A Child from Everywhere (BlackDog Publishing, £14.99)
THE HIT LIST
MARTEL MAXWELL
60 SECONDS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Scandalous by Martel Maxwell (Penguin, £6.99)www.martelmaxwell.com
To listen to…From William Byrd on a 16th-century Venetian harpsichord toHaydn on an early 19th-centuryKuhlbörs grand pianoforte, thisinformative demonstration recitalreveals the diversity of thehistoric keyboard instrumentcollection at the University ofEdinburgh’s St Cecilia’s Hall. – John Kitchen, Instruments from the Rodger MirreyCollection, (Delphian, £11.99)
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 2928 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
If you would like to contribute to Arts Review, email your suggestions to [email protected].
WHAT’S ON AT THE TALBOT RICE AS Byatt and John Carey
win prestigious book prizesAuthors AS Byatt and John Carey havebeen awarded the 2010 James Tait BlackMemorial Prizes.
Alumnus and best-selling crime writer IanRankin announced the winners duringEdinburgh’s International Book Festival,and 100 alumni enjoyed a National Trustfor Scotland reception at Charlotte Squarebefore attending the awards ceremony.
AS Byatt received the fiction award for TheChildren’s Book (Vintage, £7.99) and JohnCarey (pictured) won best biography forWilliam Golding: The Man who wrote Lordof the Flies (Faber and Faber, £10.99).
ROSEMARIETROCKELDrawings, Collages and Book Drafts29 January to 30 April
Rosemarie Trockel came to prominence in the mid 1980s with her drawings, sculpturesand intermedia works. Drawings, Collages and Book Drafts is the most comprehensivepresentation of her works on paper to date. A creative partnership between the Talbot Rice Gallery, Kunstmuseum Basel andKunstmuseum Bonn, this exhibition willprovide a fascinating glimpse of her wide-ranging graphic output over the past 30 years and feature a record of heroutstanding achievements in drawing.
Image: © Rosemarie Trockel, Vorstudie(Preliminary Study), 1989 Rosemarie Trockel, VGBild-Kunst, Bonn 2010. Image courtesy of SprüthMagers Berlin London and Centre Pompidou Paris
Visit www.trg.ed.ac.uk for details.
Established in 1919, The James TaitBlack Memorial Prizes are Britain’soldest literary prizes, and are awardedannually by the University of Edinburghand judged by a panel of its scholarsand postgraduate English Literaturestudents. The awards have acquired aninternational reputation, and previouswinners include DH Lawrence, IanMcEwan, Beryl Bainbridge and LyttonStrachey.
Visit www.ed.ac.uk/about/people/tait-black for more information.
GiGi (1958) I adore the clothes andthe music and the wholespectacle of it, and thewonderfully nonsensicalromantic story. Philippa Gregory, PhD 1985
Moon (2009)It’s a brilliant low-key, eerie sci-fi directedby David Bowie’s son, Duncan Jones. It’soriginal, funny, creepy and a refreshingchange from Hollywood blockbusters. Tim Johns, MA Geography 2007
04
05
THE FAB FIVE Can you name your all-time favourite film? Tough, isn’tit! Here, five alumni provide their pick of the flicks.
Manon des Sources (1986)It’s a wonderful retelling of several mythicthemes and I love the accent from that partof France because my family lived there. Tim Maguire, MA History 1977
The Godfather (1972)It’s a gripping story with great actors,music and a fantastic script. It takes theAmerican gangster film to a new level.Paul Weighand, MA History 1998
In the Loop (2009)Very amusing. James Hunter, MAEnglish Language & Literature 1973
01
02
03
Born: London, 09.03.77 Educated: The High School of Dundee 1982–1995, theUniversity of Edinburgh 1995–1998 (LLB), the University ofDundee 1998–1999 (PGDip, Legal Practice), City of LondonUniversity 1999–2000 (PGDip, Newspaper Studies)Current home: LondonCurrent job: Novelist, journalistFavourite book: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar WildeFavourite film: BraveheartFavourite song or piece of music:Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good”The place that most inspires you: Lochinver, the Scottish HighlandsGreatest influence: My mum, AnneSkill you’d most like to learn: Discipline
At school Martel set her sights on a legal careerbut her time at the University of Edinburghdeveloped her sense of fun, which stood her ingood stead for a career as an entertainmentreporter. Martel was the Sun newspaper’s firstgraduate trainee, and her celebrity insights havemanifested in her debut novel Scandalous, as hasher love for the city of Edinburgh, which is thebirthplace of one of the book’s key characters.
“I always thought I’d be a lawyerbut university is a time for learningwho you really are and what you want. I found doing law atEdinburgh pretty tough but ittaught me that not everythingcomes easily.”
Whether for work or play, the arts have always featured prominently in our alumni activities. Here, we showcase just some of your artistic endeavours and feature a few favourite cultural escapes.
Arts Review
Burke & Hare Film
s Ltd; Titian
(Tizian
o Ve
cellio, Italian, ca. 148
5/90
–157
6), T
he V
irgin
and
Chi
ld w
ith S
t. Jo
hn th
e B
aptis
t and
an
Uni
dent
ified
Sai
nt,
abou
t 151
5–15
20, o
il on
can
vas. Nationa
l Gallery of S
cotland
(Brid
gewater Loa
n, 194
5); G
uillem Lop
ez Pho
tograp
hy; W
arne
r Bros.
To watch…Starring Simon Pegg and AndySerkis, Burke & Hare tells thetale of Edinburgh’s notoriousmurderers who found a lucrativebusiness providing cadavers tothe University’s Medical Schoolin the 1800s. You’ll recognisefamiliar Edinburgh landmarks inthis black comedy, which waspartly filmed in and around thecity. – Burke & Hare (15), John Landis, Ealing Studios
Masterpieces on showTogether with the University of Glasgowand the National Galleries of Scotland,the University staged a viewing for alumniof Venetian Renaissance masterpieces atthe High Museum of Art in Atlanta.
Alumni viewed the collection of 13paintings and 12 drawings, on loan from the National Galleries of Scotland.
University representatives also travelled to Boston, New York and Washington DCto hold annual east coast alumni events.
To read… Edinburgh graduate Caroline Irbytravelled around the UK for 12months to photograph foreignchildren who now call Britainhome. She visited schools,councils, hospitals, refugee campsand embassies to track downyoungsters from 185 countries,and the book includes their viewson life in Britain. – Caroline Irby, A Child from Everywhere (BlackDog Publishing, £14.99)
THE HIT LIST
MARTEL MAXWELL
60 SECONDS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Scandalous by Martel Maxwell (Penguin, £6.99)www.martelmaxwell.com
To listen to…From William Byrd on a 16th-century Venetian harpsichord toHaydn on an early 19th-centuryKuhlbörs grand pianoforte, thisinformative demonstration recitalreveals the diversity of thehistoric keyboard instrumentcollection at the University ofEdinburgh’s St Cecilia’s Hall. – John Kitchen, Instruments from the Rodger MirreyCollection, (Delphian, £11.99)
The Two of Us
“Ours is a mixed marriage, loveacross the barricades. I was an artsstudent, all dressed in black, and Neil was a science student, all dressed in cords.
“I came home from my summer job to my new flatshare in Mayfield Road, onMidsummer’s Day, 1985, and Neil was in the kitchen talking to my flatmate. Wewere having a party but Neil had reallycome to stay the night before setting offearly on a field trip the next day. We talkedinto the night and by the time he left thenext day I knew he was the one.
“I think we arranged for him to come back the next weekend after the field trip;he thinks we left it open. I stayed in all daywaiting; he went to the pub with the lads!We bumped into each other again at thePear Tree pub during the Festival Fringe,and after that we spent every minutetogether, it seemed.
“We moved into a flat in Buccleuch Placein 1987 but after three years there, westarted 20 years of weekly commuting(between Ayr and Edinburgh, Gallowayand Leeds and then Galloway andEdinburgh). So we’ve always beentogether every weekend but we’ve had to do a lot of driving.
“Last summer we finally escapedcommuting – but we had to move 7,000miles to do it! Neil started on the faculty at the University of California, Davis. Now we live in – basically – paradise!”
“It was love at ‘second sight’. A friendof mine was having a party at her newflat. When Catriona came into the kitchenshe was wearing her work clothes and Ididn’t pay much attention. She went offto her room, got changed and cameback – she was the most captivating,interesting and striking girl I’d ever seen!
“After that first meeting I got cold feet –there was no way I would get to havesuch a great girlfriend... I was a KB nerd,complete with corduroys and heavy metalT-shirts; Catriona was a George Squaregirl, with a style all of her own. But by thetime term started in October 1985 wewere inseparable.
“We spent a lot of time in the Old Bell Inn quietly sorting out the world, but wedidn’t go in for clubs or societies. In fact, I forsook the University Curling Club for a year or so to spend Wednesdayafternoons with the girl I love.
“We got married after we’d been togetherfor years. We ran away to Gretna andasked a couple of local women who wereout doing their shopping to act aswitnesses. After a wedding lunch of a canof ginger beer and a pie from the baker’swe took off for our honeymoon in the LakeDistrict. We sent everyone postcards.
“In June 2010 we moved to Davis,California. Catriona’s career as a writermeans we were able to uproot. I onlyhope we’ll be able to adjust fromgardening in the cold and wet of Scotlandto gardening in the heat of California!”
Neil McRoberts is Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of California, Davis. Catriona McPherson is an author, whose latestbook, Dandy Gilver and an Unsuitable Day for a Murder (Hodder & Stoughton, £19.99), is out now. If you met your partner or a lifelong friend at the University of Edinburgh and would like to share your recollections, email us at [email protected].
Neil McRobertsBSc (Hons) 1987, PhD 1992
Catriona McPhersonBSc (Hons) 1988, PhD 1996
Many a lifelong friendship is forged during our university days, and we want to hear how you met your partner or best pal. In the case of Neil McRoberts and Catriona McPherson, it was love at ‘second sight’.
I was a KB nerd, completewith corduroys and heavymetal T-shirts; Catrionawas a George Square girl,with a style all of her own.
Edinburgh graduate RashnehPardiwala is a member of Mumbai’sParsi community, whose socialtraditions are based on a fusion ofIranian, native Gujarati and Britishinfluences. Here, she shares somesecrets of Parsi cooking and herfavourite recipe, passed on to her by her mother.
“While I was at Edinburgh, I survived on pizzas, pasta and curries like moststudents! Sometimes I would cookIranian Kesari Murghi (Saffron Chicken),which is very simple. I ate haggis once at a Burns Night party, but let’s just say I wouldn’t have spent my hard-earnedmoney on more!
“Parsi food is a unique blend of MiddleEastern and Indian cuisine, with bold andrustic flavours ranging from sweet, spicyand sour to nutty and fruity. Parsi cuisineisn’t for the faint hearted as it revolvesaround copious quantities of fish, lamb,chicken, mutton and eggs! Cookingtechniques are fairly standard but time-consuming – slow roasting, steamingand baking – and children are rarelyallowed into the kitchen, where ahierarchy exists.
“Meal times are special for Parsis. As a child, I remember spending mostweekends with relatives at mygrandparents’ home. First came anelaborate lunch, followed by a long,leisurely afternoon siesta, evening snacks and drinks (Parsis love theirwhisky!) and then dinner late at night.
“In India, most religious ceremonies,festivals, weddings and social occasionsare centred around food. Parsi weddingsare grand affairs, with no less than 1,000guests and a sit-down dinner with a bareminimum of six courses. Parsis lovecelebrating and guests are constantlyprodded to keep pace and eat more!”
Most of us have honed our cooking skills somewhat since we were students, but in case you’re in need of a littleinspiration, here are some culinary and cultural insights from a fellow graduate, who hails from Mumbai, India.
Food for Thought
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 3130 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
• 1 medium-sized chicken • ½ cup salad oil • 3 onions, sliced into rings • 1 small tsp saffron, gently roasted • Juice of 1 large lemon • 1 tbsp tandoori masala • Salt, to taste
1 Cut the chicken into medium-sized pieces. To make a marinade, mix the remainingingredients together in a large bowl, then add the chicken pieces and coat well.
2 Cover, then refrigerate overnight or for at least four hours.
3 Transfer the chicken and marinade to a baking dish and bake in a preheatedoven (200°C/400°F/gas mark 6) for 45 minutes, turning the pieces after 30 minutes, or until cooked (to test if ready, pierce the skin with a skewer – if the juices run pink leave it in forlonger).
4 Serve with crusty bread.
If you would like to feature in Food for Thought,email us at [email protected].
Dr Rashneh Pardiwala is Founder and Directorof the Centre for Environmental Research &Education, a Mumbai-based non-profitenvironmental sustainability organisation.
Meet the chef:Rashneh Pardiwala (MSc Environmental Protection & Management, 1997)
Reader Recipe Iranian Kesari Murghi (Saffron Chicken) Serves 4
The Two of Us
“Ours is a mixed marriage, loveacross the barricades. I was an artsstudent, all dressed in black, and Neil was a science student, all dressed in cords.
“I came home from my summer job to my new flatshare in Mayfield Road, onMidsummer’s Day, 1985, and Neil was in the kitchen talking to my flatmate. Wewere having a party but Neil had reallycome to stay the night before setting offearly on a field trip the next day. We talkedinto the night and by the time he left thenext day I knew he was the one.
“I think we arranged for him to come back the next weekend after the field trip;he thinks we left it open. I stayed in all daywaiting; he went to the pub with the lads!We bumped into each other again at thePear Tree pub during the Festival Fringe,and after that we spent every minutetogether, it seemed.
“We moved into a flat in Buccleuch Placein 1987 but after three years there, westarted 20 years of weekly commuting(between Ayr and Edinburgh, Gallowayand Leeds and then Galloway andEdinburgh). So we’ve always beentogether every weekend but we’ve had to do a lot of driving.
“Last summer we finally escapedcommuting – but we had to move 7,000miles to do it! Neil started on the faculty at the University of California, Davis. Now we live in – basically – paradise!”
“It was love at ‘second sight’. A friendof mine was having a party at her newflat. When Catriona came into the kitchenshe was wearing her work clothes and Ididn’t pay much attention. She went offto her room, got changed and cameback – she was the most captivating,interesting and striking girl I’d ever seen!
“After that first meeting I got cold feet –there was no way I would get to havesuch a great girlfriend... I was a KB nerd,complete with corduroys and heavy metalT-shirts; Catriona was a George Squaregirl, with a style all of her own. But by thetime term started in October 1985 wewere inseparable.
“We spent a lot of time in the Old Bell Inn quietly sorting out the world, but wedidn’t go in for clubs or societies. In fact, I forsook the University Curling Club for a year or so to spend Wednesdayafternoons with the girl I love.
“We got married after we’d been togetherfor years. We ran away to Gretna andasked a couple of local women who wereout doing their shopping to act aswitnesses. After a wedding lunch of a canof ginger beer and a pie from the baker’swe took off for our honeymoon in the LakeDistrict. We sent everyone postcards.
“In June 2010 we moved to Davis,California. Catriona’s career as a writermeans we were able to uproot. I onlyhope we’ll be able to adjust fromgardening in the cold and wet of Scotlandto gardening in the heat of California!”
Neil McRoberts is Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of California, Davis. Catriona McPherson is an author, whose latestbook, Dandy Gilver and an Unsuitable Day for a Murder (Hodder & Stoughton, £19.99), is out now. If you met your partner or a lifelong friend at the University of Edinburgh and would like to share your recollections, email us at [email protected].
Neil McRobertsBSc (Hons) 1987, PhD 1992
Catriona McPhersonBSc (Hons) 1988, PhD 1996
Many a lifelong friendship is forged during our university days, and we want to hear how you met your partner or best pal. In the case of Neil McRoberts and Catriona McPherson, it was love at ‘second sight’.
I was a KB nerd, completewith corduroys and heavymetal T-shirts; Catrionawas a George Square girl,with a style all of her own.
Edinburgh graduate RashnehPardiwala is a member of Mumbai’sParsi community, whose socialtraditions are based on a fusion ofIranian, native Gujarati and Britishinfluences. Here, she shares somesecrets of Parsi cooking and herfavourite recipe, passed on to her by her mother.
“While I was at Edinburgh, I survived on pizzas, pasta and curries like moststudents! Sometimes I would cookIranian Kesari Murghi (Saffron Chicken),which is very simple. I ate haggis once at a Burns Night party, but let’s just say I wouldn’t have spent my hard-earnedmoney on more!
“Parsi food is a unique blend of MiddleEastern and Indian cuisine, with bold andrustic flavours ranging from sweet, spicyand sour to nutty and fruity. Parsi cuisineisn’t for the faint hearted as it revolvesaround copious quantities of fish, lamb,chicken, mutton and eggs! Cookingtechniques are fairly standard but time-consuming – slow roasting, steamingand baking – and children are rarelyallowed into the kitchen, where ahierarchy exists.
“Meal times are special for Parsis. As a child, I remember spending mostweekends with relatives at mygrandparents’ home. First came anelaborate lunch, followed by a long,leisurely afternoon siesta, evening snacks and drinks (Parsis love theirwhisky!) and then dinner late at night.
“In India, most religious ceremonies,festivals, weddings and social occasionsare centred around food. Parsi weddingsare grand affairs, with no less than 1,000guests and a sit-down dinner with a bareminimum of six courses. Parsis lovecelebrating and guests are constantlyprodded to keep pace and eat more!”
Most of us have honed our cooking skills somewhat since we were students, but in case you’re in need of a littleinspiration, here are some culinary and cultural insights from a fellow graduate, who hails from Mumbai, India.
Food for Thought
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 3130 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
• 1 medium-sized chicken • ½ cup salad oil • 3 onions, sliced into rings • 1 small tsp saffron, gently roasted • Juice of 1 large lemon • 1 tbsp tandoori masala • Salt, to taste
1 Cut the chicken into medium-sized pieces. To make a marinade, mix the remainingingredients together in a large bowl, then add the chicken pieces and coat well.
2 Cover, then refrigerate overnight or for at least four hours.
3 Transfer the chicken and marinade to a baking dish and bake in a preheatedoven (200°C/400°F/gas mark 6) for 45 minutes, turning the pieces after 30 minutes, or until cooked (to test if ready, pierce the skin with a skewer – if the juices run pink leave it in forlonger).
4 Serve with crusty bread.
If you would like to feature in Food for Thought,email us at [email protected].
Dr Rashneh Pardiwala is Founder and Directorof the Centre for Environmental Research &Education, a Mumbai-based non-profitenvironmental sustainability organisation.
Meet the chef:Rashneh Pardiwala (MSc Environmental Protection & Management, 1997)
Reader Recipe Iranian Kesari Murghi (Saffron Chicken) Serves 4
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 33The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 33
10am to 10.30am: Coffee, tea and biscuits in the Lorimer Room, School of Law, Old College
10.30am: General Council Meeting in Room LT175, School of Law, Old College*
After the meeting: Lunch in the Playfair Library Hall (see page 38 for details)
*Members are invited to submit questions to the meeting in advance by email to [email protected] or live during the meeting via the General Council website link at http://www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/forthcoming_meetings.htm. Please note that the meeting will be filmed.
PAPER AMinutes of the Meeting of the General Council held in Hong Kong on 12 June 2010
Present:
General Council Half-Yearly Meeting on Saturday 12 February 201110.30am: Room LT175, School of Law, Old College
1. Minutes of the Meeting of the General Council held inOld College, Edinburgh, on 13 February 2010
The Minutes of the Meeting held on 13 February 2010 were approved.
2. Matters arising
There were no matters arising.
3. Report of the BusinessCommittee
Dr Alan Brown, Convener of the BusinessCommittee, gave the Report of theBusiness Committee. He said that it was a
special privilege to give his report in HongKong, which he and his wife had visited morethan 20 years earlier. It was a great pleasureto greet members from Asia, Australia, NorthAmerica, continental Europe and the UK, thefirst time that members from so manycontinents had gathered together in one placeat a General Council meeting. He alsowelcomed those attending the meeting bywebcast and reminded members that video-clips would be available on the GeneralCouncil website.
Another step towards connecting better withmembers was the facility for voting online inGeneral Council elections. Good progress wasbeing made with the preliminary work and
Billet
Lord Cameron of LochbroomChairmanMr Melvyn CornishUniversity Secretary and Registrar of theGeneral CouncilProfessor Sir Timothy O’SheaPrincipal and Vice-ChancellorDr Ann MathesonActing Secretary of the General CouncilDr Alan BrownConvener of the Business Committee37P + 81V = 118 members(P=Physical; V=Virtual)
The Rev. Di WilliamsChaplain to the University opened the meetingwith prayer.
AGENDA FOR THE GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING1 Result of the Election of General Council Assessors and Members of the Business Committee 2 Minutes of the Meeting of the General Council held on 12 June 2010 (PAPER A)3 Matters arising4 Report of the Business Committee5 Motions (PAPER B)6 Dates of future meetings of the General Council7 Notice of forthcoming Elections8 Presentation by the Principal of the Annual Report of the University9 Any other competent business10 Adjournment
32 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
Billet The General Council of the University of Edinburgh
Since my last Report we have had the highlysuccessful out-of-Edinburgh meeting of theGeneral Council and the University in HongKong in June 2010. The weekend was wellattended, and for the first time we had membersfrom four continents together. There was also astrong representation of Business Committeemembers. The General Council meeting waspreceded by a lecture by Professor Tom Devineon ‘An Empire of Commerce: Three Centuries of Scottish Enterprise in the East’. This wasfollowed by the award by Professor Sir TimothyO’Shea, Vice-Chancellor, of an honorary degreeto Dr Ann Matheson, Secretary of the GeneralCouncil. Many members attended the meetingby webcast and sent live questions by emailfrom many locations including Afghanistan,Malta and Atlanta. Please enjoy the video-clipsand the questions and answers on the GeneralCouncil website.
The Business Committee continues to addressimportant issues affecting the University on yourbehalf. The current debate on the funding ofhigher education is being closely followed; andthe Committee has been kept well informedabout the proposed merger with Edinburgh
College of Art, and is supporting the University.Our new General Council Scholarships Fundinitiative has reached two important landmarks:the first Scholarship has been awarded to GordonClark, who is studying for an MA in Archaeology;and the Scholarship Fund is also now endowed,thanks to a generous contribution from thePrincipal’s recent Appeal. Business Committeemembers are taking a lead in supporting theFund, and I encourage all General Councilmembers to contribute to this worthwhile cause.
The work of the Standing Committees is fullyrecorded in the Conveners’ Reports in the Annexto the Billet, which is available on the website orfrom the Office. The preparatory work for onlinevoting in General Council elections is welladvanced, and I strongly encourage you toregister your email address on the Portal (detailson page 38). Introducing online voting hasrequired alterations to the University Ordinance,and in consultation with the University theBusiness Committee proposes a new simplerOrdinance with the detailed procedures forelections inserted in the ConstitutionalArrangements. It is also proposed that GeneralCouncil terms of office should be unified as twoconsecutive four year terms. The BusinessCommittee’s proposals, which are intended tobring the Council’s procedures into line withcurrent practice, are set out in the Motion for theFebruary 2011 Meeting in Paper B in this Billet.The associated documentation may be consultedon the website or requested from the Office.
A Search Committee was set up by the BusinessCommittee to seek a Secretary of the GeneralCouncil for the next four years. At its Octobermeeting, the Business Committee
recommended the appointment of Dr Michael J.Mitchell, and a Motion to this effect is set out inthis Billet. Dr Mitchell graduated BSc and PhD inthe University of Edinburgh, and has held seniormanagement positions in the life sciences. Hewas a member of the Business Committee from2006 to 2010, and Chairman of the Public AffairsStanding Committee and the Media Group.
Mr Melvyn Cornish, Secretary of the Universityand Registrar of the General Council, steppeddown in September 2010. To mark hisretirement a dinner was held in St Leonard’s Hallin October. Our thanks go to Melvyn for hissignificant contribution to the success of thisUniversity and we wish him a happy retirement.Melvyn’s successor is Dr Kim Waldron fromColgate University, New York. She has kindlyagreed to be Registrar of the General Council.We welcome her warmly.
The Rev. Di Williams, Chaplain to the University,also moved on in September. She was adedicated contributor to our meetings and will be greatly missed. Di’s successor is the Rev. Dr Harriet Harris, who comes from Oxford. Wewish her every success in this important post.
We have said farewell to five highly committedmembers of the Business Committee: MrFrancis Brewis, Ms Helen Campbell, Mr FinlayMarshall, Mr James Murray and Dr MikeMitchell. They have all contributed greatly to the work of the Business and StandingCommittees for which they have our thanks and appreciation. We warmly welcome to theCommittee Ms Luise Locke, Dr ElizabethMorris, Dr Bruce Ritson, Professor CharlesSwainson and Mrs Ann Sutherland.
Report By Alan Brown, Convener of the Business Committee of the General CouncilThe General Council is the means by which graduates have a continuing voice in the management of theUniversity’s affairs, and every graduate automatically becomes a member. Academic staff and members ofthe University’s supreme governing body, the University Court, are also members of the General Council,which meets twice a year and has the right to comment on matters affecting the University’s prosperity andwellbeing. For more information on the work of the General Council, visit www.general-council.ed.ac.uk.
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 33The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 33
10am to 10.30am: Coffee, tea and biscuits in the Lorimer Room, School of Law, Old College
10.30am: General Council Meeting in Room LT175, School of Law, Old College*
After the meeting: Lunch in the Playfair Library Hall (see page 38 for details)
*Members are invited to submit questions to the meeting in advance by email to [email protected] or live during the meeting via the General Council website link at http://www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/forthcoming_meetings.htm. Please note that the meeting will be filmed.
PAPER AMinutes of the Meeting of the General Council held in Hong Kong on 12 June 2010
Present:
General Council Half-Yearly Meeting on Saturday 12 February 201110.30am: Room LT175, School of Law, Old College
1. Minutes of the Meeting of the General Council held inOld College, Edinburgh, on 13 February 2010
The Minutes of the Meeting held on 13 February 2010 were approved.
2. Matters arising
There were no matters arising.
3. Report of the BusinessCommittee
Dr Alan Brown, Convener of the BusinessCommittee, gave the Report of theBusiness Committee. He said that it was a
special privilege to give his report in HongKong, which he and his wife had visited morethan 20 years earlier. It was a great pleasureto greet members from Asia, Australia, NorthAmerica, continental Europe and the UK, thefirst time that members from so manycontinents had gathered together in one placeat a General Council meeting. He alsowelcomed those attending the meeting bywebcast and reminded members that video-clips would be available on the GeneralCouncil website.
Another step towards connecting better withmembers was the facility for voting online inGeneral Council elections. Good progress wasbeing made with the preliminary work and
Billet
Lord Cameron of LochbroomChairmanMr Melvyn CornishUniversity Secretary and Registrar of theGeneral CouncilProfessor Sir Timothy O’SheaPrincipal and Vice-ChancellorDr Ann MathesonActing Secretary of the General CouncilDr Alan BrownConvener of the Business Committee37P + 81V = 118 members(P=Physical; V=Virtual)
The Rev. Di WilliamsChaplain to the University opened the meetingwith prayer.
AGENDA FOR THE GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING1 Result of the Election of General Council Assessors and Members of the Business Committee 2 Minutes of the Meeting of the General Council held on 12 June 2010 (PAPER A)3 Matters arising4 Report of the Business Committee5 Motions (PAPER B)6 Dates of future meetings of the General Council7 Notice of forthcoming Elections8 Presentation by the Principal of the Annual Report of the University9 Any other competent business10 Adjournment
32 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
Billet The General Council of the University of Edinburgh
Since my last Report we have had the highlysuccessful out-of-Edinburgh meeting of theGeneral Council and the University in HongKong in June 2010. The weekend was wellattended, and for the first time we had membersfrom four continents together. There was also astrong representation of Business Committeemembers. The General Council meeting waspreceded by a lecture by Professor Tom Devineon ‘An Empire of Commerce: Three Centuries of Scottish Enterprise in the East’. This wasfollowed by the award by Professor Sir TimothyO’Shea, Vice-Chancellor, of an honorary degreeto Dr Ann Matheson, Secretary of the GeneralCouncil. Many members attended the meetingby webcast and sent live questions by emailfrom many locations including Afghanistan,Malta and Atlanta. Please enjoy the video-clipsand the questions and answers on the GeneralCouncil website.
The Business Committee continues to addressimportant issues affecting the University on yourbehalf. The current debate on the funding ofhigher education is being closely followed; andthe Committee has been kept well informedabout the proposed merger with Edinburgh
College of Art, and is supporting the University.Our new General Council Scholarships Fundinitiative has reached two important landmarks:the first Scholarship has been awarded to GordonClark, who is studying for an MA in Archaeology;and the Scholarship Fund is also now endowed,thanks to a generous contribution from thePrincipal’s recent Appeal. Business Committeemembers are taking a lead in supporting theFund, and I encourage all General Councilmembers to contribute to this worthwhile cause.
The work of the Standing Committees is fullyrecorded in the Conveners’ Reports in the Annexto the Billet, which is available on the website orfrom the Office. The preparatory work for onlinevoting in General Council elections is welladvanced, and I strongly encourage you toregister your email address on the Portal (detailson page 38). Introducing online voting hasrequired alterations to the University Ordinance,and in consultation with the University theBusiness Committee proposes a new simplerOrdinance with the detailed procedures forelections inserted in the ConstitutionalArrangements. It is also proposed that GeneralCouncil terms of office should be unified as twoconsecutive four year terms. The BusinessCommittee’s proposals, which are intended tobring the Council’s procedures into line withcurrent practice, are set out in the Motion for theFebruary 2011 Meeting in Paper B in this Billet.The associated documentation may be consultedon the website or requested from the Office.
A Search Committee was set up by the BusinessCommittee to seek a Secretary of the GeneralCouncil for the next four years. At its Octobermeeting, the Business Committee
recommended the appointment of Dr Michael J.Mitchell, and a Motion to this effect is set out inthis Billet. Dr Mitchell graduated BSc and PhD inthe University of Edinburgh, and has held seniormanagement positions in the life sciences. Hewas a member of the Business Committee from2006 to 2010, and Chairman of the Public AffairsStanding Committee and the Media Group.
Mr Melvyn Cornish, Secretary of the Universityand Registrar of the General Council, steppeddown in September 2010. To mark hisretirement a dinner was held in St Leonard’s Hallin October. Our thanks go to Melvyn for hissignificant contribution to the success of thisUniversity and we wish him a happy retirement.Melvyn’s successor is Dr Kim Waldron fromColgate University, New York. She has kindlyagreed to be Registrar of the General Council.We welcome her warmly.
The Rev. Di Williams, Chaplain to the University,also moved on in September. She was adedicated contributor to our meetings and will be greatly missed. Di’s successor is the Rev. Dr Harriet Harris, who comes from Oxford. Wewish her every success in this important post.
We have said farewell to five highly committedmembers of the Business Committee: MrFrancis Brewis, Ms Helen Campbell, Mr FinlayMarshall, Mr James Murray and Dr MikeMitchell. They have all contributed greatly to the work of the Business and StandingCommittees for which they have our thanks and appreciation. We warmly welcome to theCommittee Ms Luise Locke, Dr ElizabethMorris, Dr Bruce Ritson, Professor CharlesSwainson and Mrs Ann Sutherland.
Report By Alan Brown, Convener of the Business Committee of the General CouncilThe General Council is the means by which graduates have a continuing voice in the management of theUniversity’s affairs, and every graduate automatically becomes a member. Academic staff and members ofthe University’s supreme governing body, the University Court, are also members of the General Council,which meets twice a year and has the right to comment on matters affecting the University’s prosperity andwellbeing. For more information on the work of the General Council, visit www.general-council.ed.ac.uk.
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 35
Centre for Diaspora Studies was launched; andthe University developed its internationalisationstrategy, focusing on Global Academies. In thepresent year 2010, the University would open therefurbished Business School in Buccleuch Place;and would also open an office in Mumbai inIndia. The University had remained out ofclearing and the signs for postgraduate teachingand international recruitment were good.
The Principal acknowledged the support of hisexcellent senior management team of Vice-Principals, Assistant Principals and Heads ofSchool, and paid warm tribute to Melvyn Cornishas University Secretary. He underlined that theUniversity had grown strongly over the last sevenyears and was in robust financial health. Lookingto the future there was some anxiety about corefunding from the Funding Council but theUniversity had a strong management team andthere continued to be a strong interest instudying at the University of Edinburgh. The top10 student locations were the US, China,Canada, India, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan,Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. TheUniversity also had a proven track record incommercialisation: seven years ago it hadcreated eight companies a year; and 30 hadalready been created in 2010. All in all over thelast decade the aim had been to develop long-term strategies for growth and this wouldcontinue in the future. The Principal concludedthat notwithstanding current financial challenges,the University would continue to recruit strongacademic colleagues and strong students, andthat it would succeed in completing its currentprojects and new buildings.
A full text of the Principal’s remarks, and the record of the discussion that followed the presentation, arecontained in the Annex to the Billet.
7. Any other competent business
No matters were raised.
8. Adjournment
The Motion by the Convener of the BusinessCommittee that, for the purpose of consideringmatters which may be transmitted to the
General Council by the University Court or anyother business of a competent nature, theBusiness Committee be empowered to act onbehalf of the Council, and that this meeting beadjourned to a date to be fixed by the BusinessCommittee, was approved.
The Rev. Di Williams, Chaplain, closed themeeting with a benediction.
The Annex to the Billet contains supportingpapers for the Agenda, includingcommunications from the University Court, fullStanding Committee reports, a transcript of thepresentation and the Business Committee’sreport to the meeting on 12 June 2010. GeneralCouncil members may either collect the Annexfrom 30 minutes before the Council Meeting orrequest it by post from: Mrs Mary Scott, GeneralCouncil Office, Charles Stewart House, 9–16Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1HT. Tel(0131) 650 2152; email:[email protected].
PAPER B (MOTIONS)
Motion:
PreambleThe Business Committee on the advice of theConstitutional Standing Committee has agreedto introduce online voting for General Councilelections; and to unify existing periods ofoffice for General Council Assessors,Conveners and Vice-Conveners of the BusinessCommittee and members of the BusinessCommittee as two consecutive four yearperiods of office; and has further agreed thatthe detailed information currently held inOrdinance No. 198 (amended by OrdinanceNo. 205): Election of Chancellor and GeneralCouncil Assessors should be moved from newOrdinance No. 210 to the General Council’sConstitutional Arrangements and Regulations.The objectives are to encourage participation inGeneral Council elections; to bring GeneralCouncil practice in line with recent reports ongovernance; and to make the process fordealing with necessary amendments to theOrdinance less time-consuming.
The Business Committee proposes:(i) That the detailed information currently in
Ordinance No. 198 (amended by OrdinanceNo. 205) shall be inserted into the GeneralCouncil’s Constitutional Arrangements andRegulations.
(ii) That the relevant Ordinance be amended tothe extent that the period of office in respectof General Council Assessors under therelevant Ordinances shall be two consecutiveterms of four years after which time a periodof one year shall elapse before that membermay be proposed for re-election.
(iii) That the necessary amendments to therelevant Ordinance should be made tofacilitate the introduction of online voting atGeneral Council elections as set out inparagraphs 2 (2) and 3 (1).
(iv) Accordingly, the Business Committeeinvites the General Council to recommendthat the University Court approve theterms of Draft Ordinance No. 210 to alterthe arrangements for the election of theChancellor and for the election ofAssessors nominated by the GeneralCouncil to serve on the University Courtas presently governed by University ofEdinburgh Ordinance No. 198 asamended by University of EdinburghOrdinance No. 205.
Proposed by the Convener of the BusinessCommitteeSeconded by the Vice-Convener of the BusinessCommittee
The full text of amendments and associateddocumentation are mounted on the GeneralCouncil website at www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/businesspapers.htm; and may berequested from the General Council Office([email protected]). Copies will also be available at the Half-Yearly Meeting on 12 February 2011.
Motion:
That the General Council appoints Dr Michael J.Mitchell, BSc PhD, as Secretary of the GeneralCouncil for a period of four years.
Billet
34 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
current plans were to begin to offer onlinevoting in 2012. It would still, of course, bepossible to request a postal vote.
The Convener highlighted the General CouncilScholarships which had just been launched toprovide assistance to students. The goal wasto build an endowment substantial enough tosupport these scholarships in perpetuity.Members of the Business Committee weregiving a lead and it was hoped that it wouldsoon be possible to award the firstscholarship, which would be an excitinglandmark. He strongly encouraged membersto contribute to this most worthwhile scheme:details of how to do so were in Billet withinEdit and on the website.
The Convener noted the impending retirementlater in the year of Mr Melvyn Cornish,University Secretary and Registrar of theGeneral Council. On behalf of the GeneralCouncil he thanked him and wished him well in his retirement. Sadly, the Rev. Di Williamswas also leaving the University in the autumn.The Convener thanked her for her assistance atGeneral Council meetings and wished her wellin the next stage of her calling.
The weekend events in Hong Kong were theresult of hard work by many people behind thescenes. The Convener thanked them all fortheir professional skills and dedication,especially Mrs Mary Scott, Assistant to theSecretary of the General Council, who wasabsent because of a family bereavement, andMs Mariana West from Development & Alumni,for her assistance. Sincere thanks were due tothe University of Hong Kong for kindly hostingthe meeting, and to Ms Monica Wong, Mr Wai-kay Pang and Ms Emily Shek for theirspecial help. He thanked Professor Kam-FaiWong, who had been a most accomplishedMace-bearer, for his assistance.
The report of the Business Committee wasapproved.
The full text of the Convener’s remarks, and the recordof the discussion that followed the presentation, arecontained in the Annex to the Billet.
4. Dates of future meetings of theGeneral Council
The next Half-Yearly Meeting would take placeon Saturday 12 February 2011 in Old College,University of Edinburgh. Any motions fordiscussion at that meeting should be received inthe General Council Office by 24 November2010. The following Half-Yearly Meeting wouldtake place on Saturday 18 June 2011 in King’sBuildings, Edinburgh. Any motions fordiscussion at this meeting should be received inthe General Council Office by 31 March 2011.
5. Notice of forthcoming Elections
There would be elections for two GeneralCouncil Assessors to the University Court andfive Members of the Business Committee inFebruary 2011. Nominations on forms availablefrom the General Council Office should bereceived in the General Council Office by 24November 2010.
6. Presentation by Professor SirTimothy O’Shea, Principal and Vice-Chancellor
The Principal said that it was a great pleasure toaddress the General Council in Hong Kong. Heexpressed the University’s appreciation of thework of the General Council and commended theGeneral Council Scholarship initiative. Heintended to present a personal recent history ofthe University focusing on the last decade and tohighlight internationalisation since the meetingwas being held in Hong Kong. In 2000 theUniversity had been through a period of veryconsiderable growth and student numbers haddoubled, but the level of state support had beeneroded and from 1980 to 2000 had come to beworth 60 per cent of what it was. In 2000 theUniversity was in good heart and had very goodplans, and he proposed to mention somehighlights over the decade.
In 2000 the Scottish Micro-Electronics Centreopened at King’s Buildings. In 2001 theResearch Assessment Exercise was introduced.In 2002 the new Medical School at Little France
opened in August. In 2003 the EdinburghStanford link opened with funding of £5.3million; and Wolfson Microelectronics was spunout at an initial value of £240 million. In 2004the first Chancellor’s Award was made atHolyrood Palace, the University became the firstScottish university to receive Fairtrade statusand Lord Sainsbury opened the Centre forScience at Extreme Conditions. 2004 was alsothe first time the General Council crossed theborder and met very successfully in London inthat year. In 2005 the G8 Summit met inScotland and there was a 160,000-person MakePoverty History demonstration. Many from theUniversity supported the march and academicdebates were also provided. Research poolingwas introduced in 2005 with the University inthe lead; and the spin-out company MTEM wassold to a Norwegian company for £138 million,while retaining high-quality jobs in Scotland. Italso saw the accreditation of Edinburgh Collegeof Art for University of Edinburgh degrees; thelaunch of the Advanced Computing Facility atEaster Bush; and the opening of the University’sBeijing Office.
In 2006 the University was out of clearing for thefirst time and filled all the places in its 600programmes at the first stage, important both forplanning and for reputation. The ‘Enlightenmentin the 21st Century’ Campaign was launched; theUniversity won the Queen’s Anniversary Prize forits work on veterinary e-learning; and theQueen’s Medical Research Centre opened. In2007 the Centre for Regenerative Medicine waslaunched; the University was designated the UKCentre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World;and the Confucius Institute in Scotland waslaunched. The new University tartan was alsoproduced that year. In 2008 the InformaticsForum opened with 600 researchers in an iconicbuilding that has attracted many architecturalawards. A Research Assessment Exercise alsotook place in 2008. The University received a giftof £8 million from Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal forthe Centre for the Study of Islam in the ModernWorld. In 2009 the Students’ AssociationTeaching Awards were awarded for the first time;the University was ranked 20th in the world inthe Times Higher World Rankings; the Scottish
Billet
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 35
Centre for Diaspora Studies was launched; andthe University developed its internationalisationstrategy, focusing on Global Academies. In thepresent year 2010, the University would open therefurbished Business School in Buccleuch Place;and would also open an office in Mumbai inIndia. The University had remained out ofclearing and the signs for postgraduate teachingand international recruitment were good.
The Principal acknowledged the support of hisexcellent senior management team of Vice-Principals, Assistant Principals and Heads ofSchool, and paid warm tribute to Melvyn Cornishas University Secretary. He underlined that theUniversity had grown strongly over the last sevenyears and was in robust financial health. Lookingto the future there was some anxiety about corefunding from the Funding Council but theUniversity had a strong management team andthere continued to be a strong interest instudying at the University of Edinburgh. The top10 student locations were the US, China,Canada, India, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan,Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. TheUniversity also had a proven track record incommercialisation: seven years ago it hadcreated eight companies a year; and 30 hadalready been created in 2010. All in all over thelast decade the aim had been to develop long-term strategies for growth and this wouldcontinue in the future. The Principal concludedthat notwithstanding current financial challenges,the University would continue to recruit strongacademic colleagues and strong students, andthat it would succeed in completing its currentprojects and new buildings.
A full text of the Principal’s remarks, and the record of the discussion that followed the presentation, arecontained in the Annex to the Billet.
7. Any other competent business
No matters were raised.
8. Adjournment
The Motion by the Convener of the BusinessCommittee that, for the purpose of consideringmatters which may be transmitted to the
General Council by the University Court or anyother business of a competent nature, theBusiness Committee be empowered to act onbehalf of the Council, and that this meeting beadjourned to a date to be fixed by the BusinessCommittee, was approved.
The Rev. Di Williams, Chaplain, closed themeeting with a benediction.
The Annex to the Billet contains supportingpapers for the Agenda, includingcommunications from the University Court, fullStanding Committee reports, a transcript of thepresentation and the Business Committee’sreport to the meeting on 12 June 2010. GeneralCouncil members may either collect the Annexfrom 30 minutes before the Council Meeting orrequest it by post from: Mrs Mary Scott, GeneralCouncil Office, Charles Stewart House, 9–16Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1HT. Tel(0131) 650 2152; email:[email protected].
PAPER B (MOTIONS)
Motion:
PreambleThe Business Committee on the advice of theConstitutional Standing Committee has agreedto introduce online voting for General Councilelections; and to unify existing periods ofoffice for General Council Assessors,Conveners and Vice-Conveners of the BusinessCommittee and members of the BusinessCommittee as two consecutive four yearperiods of office; and has further agreed thatthe detailed information currently held inOrdinance No. 198 (amended by OrdinanceNo. 205): Election of Chancellor and GeneralCouncil Assessors should be moved from newOrdinance No. 210 to the General Council’sConstitutional Arrangements and Regulations.The objectives are to encourage participation inGeneral Council elections; to bring GeneralCouncil practice in line with recent reports ongovernance; and to make the process fordealing with necessary amendments to theOrdinance less time-consuming.
The Business Committee proposes:(i) That the detailed information currently in
Ordinance No. 198 (amended by OrdinanceNo. 205) shall be inserted into the GeneralCouncil’s Constitutional Arrangements andRegulations.
(ii) That the relevant Ordinance be amended tothe extent that the period of office in respectof General Council Assessors under therelevant Ordinances shall be two consecutiveterms of four years after which time a periodof one year shall elapse before that membermay be proposed for re-election.
(iii) That the necessary amendments to therelevant Ordinance should be made tofacilitate the introduction of online voting atGeneral Council elections as set out inparagraphs 2 (2) and 3 (1).
(iv) Accordingly, the Business Committeeinvites the General Council to recommendthat the University Court approve theterms of Draft Ordinance No. 210 to alterthe arrangements for the election of theChancellor and for the election ofAssessors nominated by the GeneralCouncil to serve on the University Courtas presently governed by University ofEdinburgh Ordinance No. 198 asamended by University of EdinburghOrdinance No. 205.
Proposed by the Convener of the BusinessCommitteeSeconded by the Vice-Convener of the BusinessCommittee
The full text of amendments and associateddocumentation are mounted on the GeneralCouncil website at www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/businesspapers.htm; and may berequested from the General Council Office([email protected]). Copies will also be available at the Half-Yearly Meeting on 12 February 2011.
Motion:
That the General Council appoints Dr Michael J.Mitchell, BSc PhD, as Secretary of the GeneralCouncil for a period of four years.
Billet
34 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
current plans were to begin to offer onlinevoting in 2012. It would still, of course, bepossible to request a postal vote.
The Convener highlighted the General CouncilScholarships which had just been launched toprovide assistance to students. The goal wasto build an endowment substantial enough tosupport these scholarships in perpetuity.Members of the Business Committee weregiving a lead and it was hoped that it wouldsoon be possible to award the firstscholarship, which would be an excitinglandmark. He strongly encouraged membersto contribute to this most worthwhile scheme:details of how to do so were in Billet withinEdit and on the website.
The Convener noted the impending retirementlater in the year of Mr Melvyn Cornish,University Secretary and Registrar of theGeneral Council. On behalf of the GeneralCouncil he thanked him and wished him well in his retirement. Sadly, the Rev. Di Williamswas also leaving the University in the autumn.The Convener thanked her for her assistance atGeneral Council meetings and wished her wellin the next stage of her calling.
The weekend events in Hong Kong were theresult of hard work by many people behind thescenes. The Convener thanked them all fortheir professional skills and dedication,especially Mrs Mary Scott, Assistant to theSecretary of the General Council, who wasabsent because of a family bereavement, andMs Mariana West from Development & Alumni,for her assistance. Sincere thanks were due tothe University of Hong Kong for kindly hostingthe meeting, and to Ms Monica Wong, Mr Wai-kay Pang and Ms Emily Shek for theirspecial help. He thanked Professor Kam-FaiWong, who had been a most accomplishedMace-bearer, for his assistance.
The report of the Business Committee wasapproved.
The full text of the Convener’s remarks, and the recordof the discussion that followed the presentation, arecontained in the Annex to the Billet.
4. Dates of future meetings of theGeneral Council
The next Half-Yearly Meeting would take placeon Saturday 12 February 2011 in Old College,University of Edinburgh. Any motions fordiscussion at that meeting should be received inthe General Council Office by 24 November2010. The following Half-Yearly Meeting wouldtake place on Saturday 18 June 2011 in King’sBuildings, Edinburgh. Any motions fordiscussion at this meeting should be received inthe General Council Office by 31 March 2011.
5. Notice of forthcoming Elections
There would be elections for two GeneralCouncil Assessors to the University Court andfive Members of the Business Committee inFebruary 2011. Nominations on forms availablefrom the General Council Office should bereceived in the General Council Office by 24November 2010.
6. Presentation by Professor SirTimothy O’Shea, Principal and Vice-Chancellor
The Principal said that it was a great pleasure toaddress the General Council in Hong Kong. Heexpressed the University’s appreciation of thework of the General Council and commended theGeneral Council Scholarship initiative. Heintended to present a personal recent history ofthe University focusing on the last decade and tohighlight internationalisation since the meetingwas being held in Hong Kong. In 2000 theUniversity had been through a period of veryconsiderable growth and student numbers haddoubled, but the level of state support had beeneroded and from 1980 to 2000 had come to beworth 60 per cent of what it was. In 2000 theUniversity was in good heart and had very goodplans, and he proposed to mention somehighlights over the decade.
In 2000 the Scottish Micro-Electronics Centreopened at King’s Buildings. In 2001 theResearch Assessment Exercise was introduced.In 2002 the new Medical School at Little France
opened in August. In 2003 the EdinburghStanford link opened with funding of £5.3million; and Wolfson Microelectronics was spunout at an initial value of £240 million. In 2004the first Chancellor’s Award was made atHolyrood Palace, the University became the firstScottish university to receive Fairtrade statusand Lord Sainsbury opened the Centre forScience at Extreme Conditions. 2004 was alsothe first time the General Council crossed theborder and met very successfully in London inthat year. In 2005 the G8 Summit met inScotland and there was a 160,000-person MakePoverty History demonstration. Many from theUniversity supported the march and academicdebates were also provided. Research poolingwas introduced in 2005 with the University inthe lead; and the spin-out company MTEM wassold to a Norwegian company for £138 million,while retaining high-quality jobs in Scotland. Italso saw the accreditation of Edinburgh Collegeof Art for University of Edinburgh degrees; thelaunch of the Advanced Computing Facility atEaster Bush; and the opening of the University’sBeijing Office.
In 2006 the University was out of clearing for thefirst time and filled all the places in its 600programmes at the first stage, important both forplanning and for reputation. The ‘Enlightenmentin the 21st Century’ Campaign was launched; theUniversity won the Queen’s Anniversary Prize forits work on veterinary e-learning; and theQueen’s Medical Research Centre opened. In2007 the Centre for Regenerative Medicine waslaunched; the University was designated the UKCentre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World;and the Confucius Institute in Scotland waslaunched. The new University tartan was alsoproduced that year. In 2008 the InformaticsForum opened with 600 researchers in an iconicbuilding that has attracted many architecturalawards. A Research Assessment Exercise alsotook place in 2008. The University received a giftof £8 million from Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal forthe Centre for the Study of Islam in the ModernWorld. In 2009 the Students’ AssociationTeaching Awards were awarded for the first time;the University was ranked 20th in the world inthe Times Higher World Rankings; the Scottish
Billet
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 37
Cultural Heritage and Environment policyissues. This has involved a wide range,including finance, human resources andinstructions for legislation. I served on theBusiness Committee from 2006 to 2010, andhope to return.
Mr Stuart James Ritchie WalkerBSc 1968
Proposed by Alan McDougall Johnston, MBA 1989Seconded by Mrs Christine Reid, LLB 1969
From teaching maths as a VSO in Africa topromoting equal access as a guidanceteacher to students from adversecircumstances, I fervently believe in theopportunities of education. As Vice-Presidentof the Graduates’ Association, I am keen toencourage closer liaison with the GeneralCouncil to benefit our University.
Mr Charles Michael Arber LugtonMA 1973
Proposed by Dr Alan David Gillespie Brown,MB ChB 1963Seconded by Mr Neil Robertson Hynd, BArch 1969
Career in public administration in theScottish Office, the Scottish Executive andlatterly as Chief Executive of the Scottish LawCommission. I would aim to bring experienceof leadership, management and strategicthinking at senior levels to the maintenanceand development of the University’simpressive reputation at home and abroad.
Chairman: His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, KG, KTActing Secretary: Ann Matheson, OBE, MA, Dip.Scottish Studies, MLitt, PhD, Hon DLitt (St And.),
Dr h.c. (Edin)Registrar: Kim Waldron, PhD, University Secretary ex-officio
General Council Assessors on the University Court:Douglas A Connell, LLB 2011Ann M Smyth, BSc, PhD, MPhil 2011A Margaret Tait, BSc 2013
Business Committee: Convener: Alan D G Brown, MB ChB, FRCOG, FRCS Ed 2012Vice-Convener: Frances D Dow, MA, DPhil 2012
A Convener of Academic Standing Committee:Ian W Sutherland, BSc, PhD, DSc 2013
F Convener of Finance and Services Standing Committee: Doreen Davidson, BA, AIPD 2012
P Convener of Public Affairs Standing Committee: Neil R Hynd, LVO, BArch, FRIAS, FSA Scot 2013
C Convener of Constitutional Standing Committee:Ralph V Parkinson, MA 2011
Members:‘A’ denotes a member of the Academic Standing Committee, ‘C’ a member of the Constitutional Standing Committee, ‘F’ a member of the Finance and Services Standing Committee, and ‘P’ a member of the Public Affairs Standing Committee:
Chancellor’s Assessor: The Rt Hon. Lord Cameron of Lochbroom, MA, LLB, QC, FRSE, FRIAS ex officio
C Gordon D Cairns, LLB 2011A Alan D Simpson, BSc, PhD 2011P Frank I Stewart, MB ChB, MA 2011F Hilary A Vandore, MA, MBA 2011A R E Asher, BA, PhD, DLitt, FRSE 2012P Michael C Conway, MA 2012C Bruce L K Rae, LLB 2012C Mary M Swarbrick, MA, PGC 2012A William Ruthven Gemmell, LLB 2013F William Shields Henderson, MA, CA 2013P Jane E Kille, MA, MBA 2013F Luise Locke, BA, MA 2014P Elizabeth Morris, MB ChB MRCGP 2014A Bruce Ritson, MD, FRCPE, FRCPsych 2014C Ann M Sutherland, MA, FBCartS 2014F Charles P Swainson, MB ChB, FRCPEdin, FRCSEdin, FFPHM 2014
Assistant to the Secretary: Mary T Scott, BA
Officers
36 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
Postal ElectionCandidates for Postal Election ofGeneral Council Assessors andMembers of the Business Committee
The following nominations have been receivedfor the election of two General CouncilAssessors and five members of the BusinessCommittee to serve until 31 July 2015.
Candidates for General Council Assessors
Mr Ian James MillerMA LLB 1962
Proposed by Sheriff John Douglas Allan, BL 1962, DMSSeconded by Dr Bruce Ritson, MB ChB 1961,MD 1967
My professional life was spent mainly in thepublic sector, having been involved at seniorlevel in local government and Universityadministration for over 30 years. I was a non-executive Director of Edinburgh HealthcareTrust and Lothian Primary Care Trust beforechairing the Mental Welfare Commission forScotland for 8 years. I was a Governor ofMorrison’s Academy, Crieff, served for 4years on the Business Committee of theGeneral Council and was Convener of theFinance and Services Standing Committee. Ihave detailed knowledge of the operation andcorporate governance of complex publicbodies including the University.
Mr Alan McDougallJohnstonMBA 1989
Proposed by Ms Doreen Davidson, BA 1977Seconded by Dr Alan David Gillespie Brown,MB ChB 1963
I completed a term as elected Convener ofGeneral Council Business Committee in2008 and now seek to build on theconstructive relationships I established withinand beyond the University. I wish to
contribute actively to current issues inUniversity Governance, including Access,Funding and Student Experience. Havingretired early from my post of CommercialDirector in a large International PublicCompany engaged in Biomedical Research, Icurrently hold voluntary and Non-ExecutiveDirector posts in Charitable, Public andPrivate Sector Organisations. I live inEdinburgh, and undertake to apply myexperience, energy and enthusiasm toUniversity Court, if elected.
Professor Ann McIntyre SmythBSc 1970, PhD 1974, MPhil 1975
Proposed by Dr Alan David Gillespie Brown,MB ChB 1963Seconded by Ms Doreen Davidson, BA 1977
Since 2007 I have served as General CouncilAssessor on the University Court, three of itscommittees and two strategic project boards(estates). During this time the University hasflourished. I have thereby gained experienceand understanding of this complex institutionand of the wider University sector to enablean effective contribution to universitygovernance in the exceptionally challengingtimes ahead. In 2010 I served on the groupwhich reviewed Court’s effectiveness. Ishould like to see through theimplementation of its recommendations. Ishould feel honoured to be re-elected by theGeneral Council to serve for a second term.
Candidates for Membersof the Business Committee
Mr Waverley Duncan CameronBSc 1966
Proposed by Dr William Hugh Salvin Rampen,PhD 1993Seconded by Dr Uwe Bernhard Pascal Stein,PhD 2003
More than 40 years of experience working forand with technology companies in the UKand USA, with an emphasis on patent
licensing. Most recently this has been asChairman of an Edinburgh University spin-offcompany developing enabling technology forrenewable energy applications.
Mrs Kirsty Joan MacGregorMA 1981, Dip.Ed 1982, MBA 2001
Proposed by Dr Alan David Gillespie Brown,MB ChB 1963Seconded by David Martin Scott Steel, The RtHon. Lord Steel of Aikwood, MA 1960, LLB1962, LLD 1997
Three times graduate of Edinburgh University,MA, MBA, Dip Ed, I bring extensiveexperience in the design and delivery ofhigh-level strategic projects and leadershipdevelopment programmes. Currentlyrepresentative for the MBA year of 2001, I am committed to the world-class vision and success of the university.
Mrs Morven Islay HelenGibson BrownMA 1972
Proposed by Professor Ann Smyth, BSc 1970, PhD 1974, MPhil 1975Seconded by Mrs Hilary Vandore, MA 1968,MBA 1984
I graduated from the University on threeoccasions. I am an educational psychologist ina large independent school where I set up anddeveloped the learning support department. I siton the Academic Policy and Directors of StudyCommittees and wrote the school policies onliteracy, numeracy and learning support.
Mr Francis RogerMacTaggart BrewisMA 1972
Proposed by Mr Neil Robertson Hynd, BArch 1969Seconded by Professor Ann Smyth, BSc 1970, PhD 1974, MPhil 1975
I graduated in Economics in 1972. In theCivil Service I have worked on Health,
Billet
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 37
Cultural Heritage and Environment policyissues. This has involved a wide range,including finance, human resources andinstructions for legislation. I served on theBusiness Committee from 2006 to 2010, andhope to return.
Mr Stuart James Ritchie WalkerBSc 1968
Proposed by Alan McDougall Johnston, MBA 1989Seconded by Mrs Christine Reid, LLB 1969
From teaching maths as a VSO in Africa topromoting equal access as a guidanceteacher to students from adversecircumstances, I fervently believe in theopportunities of education. As Vice-Presidentof the Graduates’ Association, I am keen toencourage closer liaison with the GeneralCouncil to benefit our University.
Mr Charles Michael Arber LugtonMA 1973
Proposed by Dr Alan David Gillespie Brown,MB ChB 1963Seconded by Mr Neil Robertson Hynd, BArch 1969
Career in public administration in theScottish Office, the Scottish Executive andlatterly as Chief Executive of the Scottish LawCommission. I would aim to bring experienceof leadership, management and strategicthinking at senior levels to the maintenanceand development of the University’simpressive reputation at home and abroad.
Chairman: His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, KG, KTActing Secretary: Ann Matheson, OBE, MA, Dip.Scottish Studies, MLitt, PhD, Hon DLitt (St And.),
Dr h.c. (Edin)Registrar: Kim Waldron, PhD, University Secretary ex-officio
General Council Assessors on the University Court:Douglas A Connell, LLB 2011Ann M Smyth, BSc, PhD, MPhil 2011A Margaret Tait, BSc 2013
Business Committee: Convener: Alan D G Brown, MB ChB, FRCOG, FRCS Ed 2012Vice-Convener: Frances D Dow, MA, DPhil 2012
A Convener of Academic Standing Committee:Ian W Sutherland, BSc, PhD, DSc 2013
F Convener of Finance and Services Standing Committee: Doreen Davidson, BA, AIPD 2012
P Convener of Public Affairs Standing Committee: Neil R Hynd, LVO, BArch, FRIAS, FSA Scot 2013
C Convener of Constitutional Standing Committee:Ralph V Parkinson, MA 2011
Members:‘A’ denotes a member of the Academic Standing Committee, ‘C’ a member of the Constitutional Standing Committee, ‘F’ a member of the Finance and Services Standing Committee, and ‘P’ a member of the Public Affairs Standing Committee:
Chancellor’s Assessor: The Rt Hon. Lord Cameron of Lochbroom, MA, LLB, QC, FRSE, FRIAS ex officio
C Gordon D Cairns, LLB 2011A Alan D Simpson, BSc, PhD 2011P Frank I Stewart, MB ChB, MA 2011F Hilary A Vandore, MA, MBA 2011A R E Asher, BA, PhD, DLitt, FRSE 2012P Michael C Conway, MA 2012C Bruce L K Rae, LLB 2012C Mary M Swarbrick, MA, PGC 2012A William Ruthven Gemmell, LLB 2013F William Shields Henderson, MA, CA 2013P Jane E Kille, MA, MBA 2013F Luise Locke, BA, MA 2014P Elizabeth Morris, MB ChB MRCGP 2014A Bruce Ritson, MD, FRCPE, FRCPsych 2014C Ann M Sutherland, MA, FBCartS 2014F Charles P Swainson, MB ChB, FRCPEdin, FRCSEdin, FFPHM 2014
Assistant to the Secretary: Mary T Scott, BA
Officers
36 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
Postal ElectionCandidates for Postal Election ofGeneral Council Assessors andMembers of the Business Committee
The following nominations have been receivedfor the election of two General CouncilAssessors and five members of the BusinessCommittee to serve until 31 July 2015.
Candidates for General Council Assessors
Mr Ian James MillerMA LLB 1962
Proposed by Sheriff John Douglas Allan, BL 1962, DMSSeconded by Dr Bruce Ritson, MB ChB 1961,MD 1967
My professional life was spent mainly in thepublic sector, having been involved at seniorlevel in local government and Universityadministration for over 30 years. I was a non-executive Director of Edinburgh HealthcareTrust and Lothian Primary Care Trust beforechairing the Mental Welfare Commission forScotland for 8 years. I was a Governor ofMorrison’s Academy, Crieff, served for 4years on the Business Committee of theGeneral Council and was Convener of theFinance and Services Standing Committee. Ihave detailed knowledge of the operation andcorporate governance of complex publicbodies including the University.
Mr Alan McDougallJohnstonMBA 1989
Proposed by Ms Doreen Davidson, BA 1977Seconded by Dr Alan David Gillespie Brown,MB ChB 1963
I completed a term as elected Convener ofGeneral Council Business Committee in2008 and now seek to build on theconstructive relationships I established withinand beyond the University. I wish to
contribute actively to current issues inUniversity Governance, including Access,Funding and Student Experience. Havingretired early from my post of CommercialDirector in a large International PublicCompany engaged in Biomedical Research, Icurrently hold voluntary and Non-ExecutiveDirector posts in Charitable, Public andPrivate Sector Organisations. I live inEdinburgh, and undertake to apply myexperience, energy and enthusiasm toUniversity Court, if elected.
Professor Ann McIntyre SmythBSc 1970, PhD 1974, MPhil 1975
Proposed by Dr Alan David Gillespie Brown,MB ChB 1963Seconded by Ms Doreen Davidson, BA 1977
Since 2007 I have served as General CouncilAssessor on the University Court, three of itscommittees and two strategic project boards(estates). During this time the University hasflourished. I have thereby gained experienceand understanding of this complex institutionand of the wider University sector to enablean effective contribution to universitygovernance in the exceptionally challengingtimes ahead. In 2010 I served on the groupwhich reviewed Court’s effectiveness. Ishould like to see through theimplementation of its recommendations. Ishould feel honoured to be re-elected by theGeneral Council to serve for a second term.
Candidates for Membersof the Business Committee
Mr Waverley Duncan CameronBSc 1966
Proposed by Dr William Hugh Salvin Rampen,PhD 1993Seconded by Dr Uwe Bernhard Pascal Stein,PhD 2003
More than 40 years of experience working forand with technology companies in the UKand USA, with an emphasis on patent
licensing. Most recently this has been asChairman of an Edinburgh University spin-offcompany developing enabling technology forrenewable energy applications.
Mrs Kirsty Joan MacGregorMA 1981, Dip.Ed 1982, MBA 2001
Proposed by Dr Alan David Gillespie Brown,MB ChB 1963Seconded by David Martin Scott Steel, The RtHon. Lord Steel of Aikwood, MA 1960, LLB1962, LLD 1997
Three times graduate of Edinburgh University,MA, MBA, Dip Ed, I bring extensiveexperience in the design and delivery ofhigh-level strategic projects and leadershipdevelopment programmes. Currentlyrepresentative for the MBA year of 2001, I am committed to the world-class vision and success of the university.
Mrs Morven Islay HelenGibson BrownMA 1972
Proposed by Professor Ann Smyth, BSc 1970, PhD 1974, MPhil 1975Seconded by Mrs Hilary Vandore, MA 1968,MBA 1984
I graduated from the University on threeoccasions. I am an educational psychologist ina large independent school where I set up anddeveloped the learning support department. I siton the Academic Policy and Directors of StudyCommittees and wrote the school policies onliteracy, numeracy and learning support.
Mr Francis RogerMacTaggart BrewisMA 1972
Proposed by Mr Neil Robertson Hynd, BArch 1969Seconded by Professor Ann Smyth, BSc 1970, PhD 1974, MPhil 1975
I graduated in Economics in 1972. In theCivil Service I have worked on Health,
Billet
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 39
The February 2011 General Council LunchPlayfair Library Hall, Old College, on Saturday 12 February 2011, 12.30pm for 1pm
Please send me tickets (£18 per person) for the General Council Lunch.
A cheque for £ is enclosed, payable to the University of Edinburgh.
Name
Address
Postcode
Name(s) of guest(s)
Please complete and return this form to Mrs Mary Scott, Assistant to the Secretary of the General Council, University of Edinburgh, Charles StewartHouse, 9–16 Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1HT, or alternatively you may order online at: www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/events.htm. Closing date for applications: Monday 31 January 2011
As a graduate of the University ofEdinburgh, you can enjoy 10% offyour postgraduate tuition fees.
We offer 350 world-class postgraduateopportunities across 22 subject areas.The University is consistently ranked asone of the top 50* in the world and in therecent RAE**, 96% of our research wasconsidered world leading.
We hope to see you again.
Visit www.ed.ac.uk for more details.
* THES – Reuters Ranking Annual Review 2008/09**2008 UK-wide Research Assessment Exercise
Your 10%discount
38 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
Billet
Contribute to the General Council Scholarships FundThe General Council Scholarships werelaunched in 2010. They will provide supportfor students who would otherwise be unable toafford to go to the University of Edinburgh. Anendowment has now been created with the aimof supporting these scholarships in perpetuity.An award provides £1,000 of support each yearfor qualifying and deserving students. Thesenew Scholarships are in addition to the existingEdinburgh Fund Access Bursaries. Together, itis hoped that they will give many students thechance to take up their well-earned places atthe University.
If you would like to contribute as a GeneralCouncil member, you may do so online atwww.general-council.ed.ac.uk/GeneralCouncilScholarships.htm. Contributions large or small are very much appreciated, as are also annual donations for a period of four years.
If you prefer to send a cheque, please print outthe donation form that is available at the linkabove and send it with your cheque to:Development & Alumni University of Edinburgh FREEPOST EH565 Edinburgh EH8 0BR
Register for GeneralCouncil Online ElectionsFrom 2012 the General Council is preparing to introduce online voting in a secure website. To enable you to vote online, you need to register for the MyEd Alumni Portal and provide us with your email address. To do this, please go to www.myed.ed.ac.uk andcomplete the EASE registration process if you are a new Portal user.
If you have already used the Portal as a student, you can use yourstudent username and password to access the Alumni Portal.
If you experience any problems registering for, or accessing theAlumni Portal, please email [email protected].
If you require a postal vote, please send your request to the GeneralCouncil Office, Charles Stewart House, 9–16 Chambers Street,Edinburgh EH1 1HT, email: [email protected].
“I strongly commend to you the General Council Scholarships, which is one of themost important initiatives the Business Committee of the General Council hasimplemented. I am particularly grateful to Mr Douglas Connell, a General CouncilAssessor on the University Court, who proposed the scheme.”
Alan Brown, Convener of the Business Committee
The February 2011 General Council Lunch The Chancellor
Following the Half-Yearly Meeting, members of the General Council, other alumni, partners,family and friends are cordially invited to the General Council Lunch on Saturday 12 February2011 in the Playfair Library Hall, Old College. The Very Reverend Dr Gilleasbuig MacmillanCVO FRSE, Minister of St Giles’ Cathedral, will give the after-Lunch address.
If you would like to attend the next General Council Lunch, please complete and return theform opposite no later than Monday 31 January 2011.
Tickets at £18 include pre-lunch wine reception and a buffet lunch in thePlayfair Library Hall. Table wines will be available for purchase at the meal.
His Royal Highness, The Prince Philip, Duke ofEdinburgh, has intimated his intention to standdown from his position as Chancellor of theUniversity. The General Council expresses itssincere gratitude for his loyal and unstintingservice as Chancellor from 1953. The processfor the election of a successor is being put inhand by the General Council. For furtherinformation, please contact the Secretary of theGeneral Council, Charles Stewart House, 9–16 Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1HT(email: [email protected]).Dr Gilleasbuig Macmillan
Half-Yearly Meeting in the University of Hong Kong onSaturday 12 June 2010 Attendees at the Meeting included,front row, left to right: Professor John Smyth; Vice-PrincipalYoung Dawkins; Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea; Lord Cameronof Lochbroom; Dr Ann Matheson; Mr Melvyn Cornish; Dr AlanBrown; Rev. Di Williams; and Professor Kam-Fai Wong.
The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 39
The February 2011 General Council LunchPlayfair Library Hall, Old College, on Saturday 12 February 2011, 12.30pm for 1pm
Please send me tickets (£18 per person) for the General Council Lunch.
A cheque for £ is enclosed, payable to the University of Edinburgh.
Name
Address
Postcode
Name(s) of guest(s)
Please complete and return this form to Mrs Mary Scott, Assistant to the Secretary of the General Council, University of Edinburgh, Charles StewartHouse, 9–16 Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1HT, or alternatively you may order online at: www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/events.htm. Closing date for applications: Monday 31 January 2011
As a graduate of the University ofEdinburgh, you can enjoy 10% offyour postgraduate tuition fees.
We offer 350 world-class postgraduateopportunities across 22 subject areas.The University is consistently ranked asone of the top 50* in the world and in therecent RAE**, 96% of our research wasconsidered world leading.
We hope to see you again.
Visit www.ed.ac.uk for more details.
* THES – Reuters Ranking Annual Review 2008/09**2008 UK-wide Research Assessment Exercise
Your 10%discount
38 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine
Billet
Contribute to the General Council Scholarships FundThe General Council Scholarships werelaunched in 2010. They will provide supportfor students who would otherwise be unable toafford to go to the University of Edinburgh. Anendowment has now been created with the aimof supporting these scholarships in perpetuity.An award provides £1,000 of support each yearfor qualifying and deserving students. Thesenew Scholarships are in addition to the existingEdinburgh Fund Access Bursaries. Together, itis hoped that they will give many students thechance to take up their well-earned places atthe University.
If you would like to contribute as a GeneralCouncil member, you may do so online atwww.general-council.ed.ac.uk/GeneralCouncilScholarships.htm. Contributions large or small are very much appreciated, as are also annual donations for a period of four years.
If you prefer to send a cheque, please print outthe donation form that is available at the linkabove and send it with your cheque to:Development & Alumni University of Edinburgh FREEPOST EH565 Edinburgh EH8 0BR
Register for GeneralCouncil Online ElectionsFrom 2012 the General Council is preparing to introduce online voting in a secure website. To enable you to vote online, you need to register for the MyEd Alumni Portal and provide us with your email address. To do this, please go to www.myed.ed.ac.uk andcomplete the EASE registration process if you are a new Portal user.
If you have already used the Portal as a student, you can use yourstudent username and password to access the Alumni Portal.
If you experience any problems registering for, or accessing theAlumni Portal, please email [email protected].
If you require a postal vote, please send your request to the GeneralCouncil Office, Charles Stewart House, 9–16 Chambers Street,Edinburgh EH1 1HT, email: [email protected].
“I strongly commend to you the General Council Scholarships, which is one of themost important initiatives the Business Committee of the General Council hasimplemented. I am particularly grateful to Mr Douglas Connell, a General CouncilAssessor on the University Court, who proposed the scheme.”
Alan Brown, Convener of the Business Committee
The February 2011 General Council Lunch The Chancellor
Following the Half-Yearly Meeting, members of the General Council, other alumni, partners,family and friends are cordially invited to the General Council Lunch on Saturday 12 February2011 in the Playfair Library Hall, Old College. The Very Reverend Dr Gilleasbuig MacmillanCVO FRSE, Minister of St Giles’ Cathedral, will give the after-Lunch address.
If you would like to attend the next General Council Lunch, please complete and return theform opposite no later than Monday 31 January 2011.
Tickets at £18 include pre-lunch wine reception and a buffet lunch in thePlayfair Library Hall. Table wines will be available for purchase at the meal.
His Royal Highness, The Prince Philip, Duke ofEdinburgh, has intimated his intention to standdown from his position as Chancellor of theUniversity. The General Council expresses itssincere gratitude for his loyal and unstintingservice as Chancellor from 1953. The processfor the election of a successor is being put inhand by the General Council. For furtherinformation, please contact the Secretary of theGeneral Council, Charles Stewart House, 9–16 Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1HT(email: [email protected]).Dr Gilleasbuig Macmillan
Half-Yearly Meeting in the University of Hong Kong onSaturday 12 June 2010 Attendees at the Meeting included,front row, left to right: Professor John Smyth; Vice-PrincipalYoung Dawkins; Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea; Lord Cameronof Lochbroom; Dr Ann Matheson; Mr Melvyn Cornish; Dr AlanBrown; Rev. Di Williams; and Professor Kam-Fai Wong.
Please complete and return this form
Name ...............................................................................................................................
Address............................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
Postcode ........................................... Tel No. ................................................................
Email ...............................................................................................................................
Return to: The University of Edinburgh Development Trust,
FREEPOST EH565, Edinburgh EH8 0BR
Please tick one of the following (you do notneed to return the form if you have alreadynotified us of your pledge)
!! I have already included a gift to theUniversity in my Will
!! Please send me information onhow to make a gift in my Will
or contact Morag Murison and Gillian Blake of the Legacy Team:Tel: +44 (0)131 650 2240,email [email protected] [email protected]
DATA PROTECTION: Your data may be used by the University, its agents and recognised alumni clubs, for a range of alumni activities including sending publications, offering benefits andservices, organising reunions and in our fundraising activities. If you would prefer not to be included in any of these activities, please tick this box . We will contact you to establish andrecord your wishes. The University of Edinburgh Development Trust is a charity registered in Scotland, No: SC004307. The University of Edinburgh is a charity registered in Scotland, No:SC005336.
ED
IT J
AN
11
Help us to support the next generation of Edinburgh students
THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH CAMPAIGN
By remembering the University in their Will,
Edinburgh alumni are helping to break down
the financial barriers facing so many talented
students today.
Leaving a pledge for scholarships and bursaries
is an excellent way to ensure that young people
and mature students, who may not otherwise be
able to afford to attend the University of
Edinburgh, can fulfil their potential.
Legacies also help us to continue our vital and
innovative research by uncovering the
breakthroughs of tomorrow.
By making a gift in your Will, you, too, can
help shape the future of Edinburgh.