HISTORICAL THESAURUS BETA-BLOCKERS

TheAvenue magazine for alumni and friends of the University of Glasgow Issue 63 January 2018

THERMODYNAMICS

NEON

ECONOMIC THEORY ISOTOPES

RADIO PULSARS XENON A CATALYST FOR CHANGE KRYPTON

TELEVISION STEAM POWER

ANTISEPTIC SCOTTISH ENLIGHTENMENT

STATINS

ULTRASOUND glasgow.ac.uk/avenue 1

TH SOMETHING TO In this issue AN 8 CHEMICAL REACTION 2 OUTSTANDING Chemistry's home is getting a makeover and hopes are high that the past will ACHIEVEMENT repeat itself

he University has risen eight places to EVERY ENGLISH WORD EVER SPOKEN 4 80th in the Times Higher Education World T A remarkable story of academic dedication University Rankings released in September. and perseverance Phil Baty, editor of the rankings, said: “For sm:)eABOUT Glasgow to make 80th in the world is an TURNING DREAMS INTO REALITY 6 outstanding achievement. A rise of eight Students who mean business places within the top 100 of this list is or the second year in a row dentistry at Glasgow has been ranked top in the UK by particularly impressive given the intensifying FThe Times & The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018. Two other subjects – animal INTRODUCING OUR YOUNG global competition. You have to run fast just to science and education – are also ranked top in the UK, and the subjects of medicine, nursing ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR 10 stand still in these rankings.” and veterinary medicine have all been placed second in the UK in the same guide. Read the inspiring story of MindMate founders Susanne Mitschke and Patrick Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak, Vice-Principal and head of the College of Medical, Renner Veterinary & Life Sciences, said: “I am extremely proud of these new league table results for the areas of medicine, dentistry, nursing and veterinary medicine – the college’s four ALUMNI NEWS & EVENTS 12 aces. Having all four of these subjects in the top 1 or 2 position in the UK is testament to the Reunions, clubs and personal news “ IT IS THE QUALITY exemplary work of colleagues across all of our schools and research institutes, and also proof OF OUR TEACHING, that our innovative college strategy fosters both world-leading teaching and research.” GENERAL COUNCIL 18 IT IS THE CITATION A report to the General Council FOR OUR RESEARCH, IT’S OUR INTERNATIONAL WHAT'S ON AT THE UNIVERSITY 21 OUTLOOK.” Collections, exhibitions and events PRINCIPAL PROFESSOR SIR ANTON MUSCATELLI CORRECTION In the previous issue of Avenue our feature on inspiring women should have stated that Professor Rona Mackie became the first woman Professor of TOP 50 SCOTTISH UNIVERSITY Dermatology in the UK in 1978. KEEP IN TOUCH Glasgow is among the top 50 universities All addresses are Development & Alumni, 2 The in the world for studying law. The University Square, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ. is ranked 48th in the THE World University Deadline for content: 15 March 2018 Rankings, testament to the quality of OF THE YEAR Alumni news, events, reunion notices and reports the School of Law’s teaching, student T: +44 (0)141 330 4951 experience and research. E: [email protected] he University is celebrating being named Scottish University Tof the Year by The Times & The Sunday Times Good University Changes of address and obituaries Guide 2018. T: +44 (0)141 330 7146 The University’s Dental School has successfully created the world’s biggest smile E: [email protected] Alastair McCall, editor of the guide, said: “The University of Glasgow during an event at the SEC in Glasgow in June. University staff, dental alumni, Letters to the Editor is going places. It is in the midst of one of the biggest capital spends schoolchildren and teachers from the Glasgow area were invited to form the lips and E: [email protected] for a Scottish university, with the redevelopment of the former teeth of a giant smile to highlight the importance of good oral health and, with more Western Infirmary site, which will reshape the city’s West End. It is than 750 participants, they set a Guinness World Record. Editorial Board: Cathy Bell, Siobhan Convery, Ailie a great example of the transformational role that can be played by Ferrari, Amber Higgins, Emily Howie, Gerry Law, universities, not just in individual lives but in communities more widely John Marsh, Rachel Sandison, Sarah Spence and in regional and national domains. It recruits internationally based Editor: Susan Howie RISING on its outstanding reputation for research, and it has avoided the Alumni section editor: Jennifer Baird pitfalls of others in Scotland in being able to provide a student-centric MAKING WAVES Online editor: Lynne Maclagan TO 70 undergraduate experience alongside that.” Art director and designer: Darren Jewell-Irons Gravitational wave physicists at Glasgow are celebrating the Produced and designed by External Relations, Arts and humanities The University jumped nine places in the national league table to feature announcement of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics which goes to Rainer University of Glasgow. Photography by the University subjects at Glasgow have inside the UK’s top 20 and scored gains in six of the nine performance Weiss (MIT), Barry C Barish (Caltech) and Kip S Thorne (Caltech). Photographic Unit. Additional photography: CASE, jumped eight places to indicators used to rank universities in the annual undergraduate guide. The three played a key role in the historic first direct detection of The Hunterian, Reuben Paris, Shutterstock.com, be placed 70th in the gravitational waves in September 2015, which established the new Eivind Yggeseth, University Archives. THE World University field of gravitational wave astronomy. Researchers from the University Printed by J Thomson. Rankings. The subjects are part of the international LIGO Scientific collaboration, and with their covered include history, colleagues around the globe have made significant contributions to ISSN 0950-7167 philosophy, theology, CHALLENGING, EXCITING, UNFORGETTABLE the research initiated by the three new Nobel laureates. In the scientific Views expressed are not necessarily those of the languages, literature & background to the Nobel Prize published by the Nobel Committee University or the editors. All rights reserved. Nothing may linguistics, archaeology We asked our students to describe Glasgow, Scottish University of the for Physics, the pioneering work by two Glasgow alumni and staff be reproduced without written permission from the Editor. Year, in three words. See glasgow.ac.uk/avenue. © University of Glasgow November 2017 and performing arts. members – Professors Ron Drever and James Hough – was noted. The University of Glasgow charity number SC004401 2 3

FROM INVESTMENT 1936 A public appeal was launched by Principal Hector Hetherington for a large Chemistry Institute complex TO INNOVATION of four new specialist departmental buildings for organic, medical, physical and inorganic chemistry. On completion it was the largest chemistry teaching As part of the University’s £1bn campus redevelopment programme, and research building in Britain. Notable innovative the Joseph Black Building – home to the School of Chemistry – is features included separate linked buildings for organic and physical chemistry, a 400-seat lecture theatre, receiving a £35m makeover. Over the centuries investment in chemistry a reading room, broad corridors, high ceilings and at Glasgow has led to groundbreaking discoveries and world-changing special foundations to eliminate vibrations. research. Current head of the school Professor Graeme Cooke is well aware of the department’s past achievements and expects that this 1747 latest investment in chemistry will be a catalyst for even greater things For the sum of £52, William Cullen established to come. “By creating a modern environment which is sympathetic to the first lectureship in chemistry at Glasgow. the historic building, open-plan laboratories and world-class facilities, It appears that his lectures and practical we will encourage and strengthen multidisciplinary activities and demonstrations were very popular, though he was later to complain that he had expended a much collaboration throughout the school and with our industrial partners.” greater sum himself “… in purchasing cucurbits, boltheads and a great many other instruments.”

1904

Pictured: a model The first Lecturer in Physical Chemistry, Frederick Soddy, 1762 Newcomen steam was appointed in 1904. Fresh from fundamental research engine that James with Ernest Rutherford and Glasgow graduate William Cullen was succeeded by Watt tried to repair in 1763. It was his failure Ramsay (Nobel Prize, 1904), Soddy carried out a demanding his pupil Joseph Black to coax the machine series of experiments at Glasgow which established the whose research on latent back to optimum relationship between atomic number and Periodic Table heat, shared with his good capacity that sparked position. Soddy’s researches led him to make the imaginative friend James Watt in 1762, his invention of the separate condenser, suggestion that elements with different atomic weights that led to the development of the component that did not seem separable by chemical means were indeed the steam engine that drove led to rapid expansion chemically identical. He proposed the name isotope, 1818 the Industrial Revolution. in British industry. meaning equal place (in the Periodic Table), and won the Black, who is also credited Nobel Prize for this work in 1922. The Regius Chair of Chemistry was founded by King with discovering carbon Caesium iodide 1957 George III, with Thomas Thomson appointed in 1818 dioxide, later complained crystals glowing in the radioactivity emitted Glasgow graduate as the first professor. He was a pioneer in emphasising that his lab was small, dark by one of Soddy’s the importance of laboratory work in teaching and unfit for teaching and surviving samples. Alexander R Todd (Lord chemistry and has been called the first teacher of secured £500 to build a Todd) received the Nobel practical chemistry in a British university. new one. Prize in Chemistry for “his work on nucleotides and nucleotide co-enzymes”. His pioneering work on the structure of nucleic acids laid the foundations for research to establish the general formula of 1969 DNA. Regarded as the greatest organic chemist of his generation, Sir 1870 Derek Barton, Regius Professor of Chemistry 1831 When the University moved to Gilmorehill in 1870 an 1955-57, galvanised octagonal laboratory was built for chemistry. In 1899 the department in the A new laboratory was then Principal Herbert Story began a fundraising mid-1950s. He was built, at a cost of £5,000, campaign and this allowed a “temporary” new awarded the Nobel Prize for Thomson to teach the chemistry building to be built in 1902 as well as in Chemistry in 1969 University’s first practical lectureships in organic, physical and metallurgical for his “contributions to chemistry course. chemistry. the development of the concept of conformation and its application in chemistry”.

1841 2017 Current developments to the Joseph Black Building will provide state- The Chemical Society (now known as the Royal of-the-art laboratories to enhance the student experience, provide Society of Chemistry) chose Glasgow graduate modern ways of learning and continue to attract the best students Thomas Graham as its first president. Graham is to Glasgow. Past experience at Glasgow has shown that major known for his studies on the behaviour of gases, investment in chemistry makes ambitious aims achievable. “Ours which resulted in his formulation of two relationships, can be stated quite simply,” says head of the school Professor both since becoming known as Graham’s Laws. His Graeme Cooke. “We aim to become a UK top six research-led study of colloids resulted in his ability to separate chemistry school by 2025.” colloids and crystalloids using a so-called “dialyzer”, using technology that is a rudimentary forerunner of technology in modern kidney dialysis machines. 4 5

THE ORIGINAL EDITORS

Their dedication stretched for decades: the quartet of original editors, who notched up a combined total of 183 years’ commitment to the thesaurus. WE HAVE A WAY WITH Professor Michael Samuels (1920–2010) announced his intention, at a meeting of the Philological Society in 1965, to begin the thesaurus project – a decision that was met with “scorn, ridicule and disbelief that we thought the project possible” in some quarters. Forty-four years later, vindication came when the thesaurus was published to worldwide acclaim. Known as an innovative teacher and leading linguistics scholar, Professor Samuels’ work also included the examination of thousands of medieval manuscripts, resulting in the publication of A Linguistic Atlas of Late Medieval English.

Joining Professor Samuels on the project in 1969 was the formidable Christian Kay (1940–2016), who featured in the last Avenue as one of our 20 inspiring women. “Christian loved words, and she loved classifying,” remembers Professor BY JENNIFER BAIRD of English Philology Jeremy Smith. “She was awesomely intelligent and had the imagination to be an ‘early introducer’ of computers in support of research in the humanities. I’m not sure she or It took more than 200 researchers, working 320,000 hours, language processing. And the generosity of Glasgow alone than it cost to make over 40- any of the editors knew it would take as long as it the editors, who signed over their copyrights plus years, so it really has been transformative. did, but she would have done it anyway. She was WORDS an inspirational leader.” Professor Kay took over almost half a century to complete the world’s first historical to the University on the understanding that It’s transformed research elsewhere; it’s as director of the project when Professor Samuels the royalties (exceeding £125,000 to date) transformed research in Glasgow.” retired, and was a key figure in securing funding to allow it to continue. thesaurus of English. Eight years since it was first published, would be dedicated to fund new research into the English language, has led to the Professor Alexander, who became deputy “I kept quiet for years about what I the thesaurus has transformed teaching, learning and award of 26 postgraduate scholarships. to Professor Christian Kay (one of the four was up to,” reflectsJane Roberts, Recipients are talented early-career scholars original editors, see right) in 2009, is working remembering the sometimes who have produced theses on a wide range on the second edition of the thesaurus and cynical reception which the research at Glasgow. announcement of the thesaurus of topics, such as the representation of mental is now adding a further 20,000 words as well project provoked. She began health in newspaper articles, the language as redating around 220,000 words as a result indexing word meanings from the standard dictionaries of Old English in 1965, which were The thesaurus From low-tech beginnings on handwritten After the raft of index cards, or “slips”, of early modern Scottish law courts, the of new citations being found. He appreciates to be used as a research tool for the thesaurus contains almost index cards in 1965 to integration into the used to capture each sense of a word were concept of anger in Old English, English the enormity of the task he has inherited but project. “When Michael Samuels first described 800,000 words – the project to the then small department, I found online Oxford English Dictionary (OED) in almost destroyed in a fire in 1978, they were and economic development in modern declares it “a delight” to be part of. “Because it exciting. But I had no realistic idea then how virtually every word Malawi, and grammatical choices in medical of the apprenticeship that Christian put me long it would take.” Professor Roberts taught at of English since 2010, The Historical Thesaurus of English has switched to microfilm, copied in triplicate autobiographies. through,” he says, “I feel quite happy about King’s College London from 1969 but remains AD 700 – and is filled a niche so perfectly that author Philip and distributed between different archives – involved with the thesaurus – the editor with the the only complete Pullman described it as “the information we taking no more chances. The 1980s brought the changes we need to make, and why and longest tenure. historical thesaurus had to spend hours hunting down through a large backlog of additional material from In addition to these awards, a large number of how we need to make them.” of any language. the thickets of the OED, shot, stuffed and the second edition of the OED, prolonging externally funded PhD researchers have come Professor Samuels accepted It arranges words mounted for us”. the project considerably, and it wasn’t to Glasgow to study, primarily to have access Unsurprisingly, the overwhelming success of Irené Wotherspoon onto the intuitively by subject, to the thesaurus’ database and the expertise the thesaurus has started a domino effect, with project as a young postgraduate within three intriguing until 2008 that the last slip was slotted into student in 1967. “The thesaurus main categories: the “Why do words die out, and how are they place in the database. When the thesaurus of its staff. Additional royalties are funding a at least seven other countries now planning to was something different to what flagship yearly lecture series on the English create their own. The trailblazing efforts of the anyone else had done; it sounded External World, the replaced?” This question was the catalyst was finally released in October 2009, the really visionary and wide-ranging, and I was Mind and Society. for the project which Michael Samuels, then enthusiastic worldwide reception that greeted language, as well as undergraduate prizes creators of the world’s first historical thesaurus absolutely hooked, from the start,” she says. The synonyms listed Professor of English Language, started back its publication meant that the first printing sold rewarding research excellence. of a language can only be described as “Every day you were coming across different include the dates extraordinary (1580–), remarkable (1604–), things and every day there was something really, each appeared. In in 1965 – to record the semantic development out quickly and a second had to be rushed really interesting, though also slightly frustrating “Since it’s been published,” says current immatchable (1596–1630). because of time constraints – you would see short, the book shows of every English word from Anglo-Saxon times out in time for Christmas. something you would madly like to investigate, you the history of to the present day. thesaurus director Professor Marc Alexander, but couldn’t take the time to follow up. But it was “it’s brought in more in research grants to glasgow.ac.uk/thesaurus a wonderful job – I loved it.” a word’s meaning Success and successors rather than simply that of the word The power of persistence Since publication, the thesaurus has enjoyed itself. It allows you to His team embarked on the painstaking task of significant international recognition: sales understand the variety longhand data transcription of the first edition revenues of £1.9 million, exceptional for an WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY of words available of the OED, followed later by bulk digital data academic book; winner of several literary at any given time, entry as the pace of technology advanced. awards such as Book of the Year in the The ultimate Manna for No words of A permanent A vehicle and reveals different Along the way, funding was a chronic Guardian and the Times Literary Supplement; degrees of longevity: around 7,000 words preoccupation – would grants be renewed? the Saltire Society’s Research Book of the volume for the intellect mine can monument for a kind of have endured since Would jobs continue? Originally expected Year; and a recent submission for the Queen’s the earliest days of to be carried out by staff and postgraduate Anniversary Prize. the word and a express the to the linguistic the English language students, the project grew in scale and, over fetishist. welcome magnificence anarchic time travel. in Britain. Eke and the decades, involved four editors and more At Glasgow the impact of the thesaurus has hue, for example, than 230 individual contributors. In the 1980s, been considerable. It is used constantly in NEW YORKER BOOK NEW YORK TIMES have survived from BENCH gift to of this energy, good Old English. this included government-sponsored trainees teaching – not just in courses on English sent to acquire new digital skills. historical linguistics, but also in history, humankind. monument to humour and computing, digital humanities and natural COMMENT ON TELEGRAPH ARTICLE our huge and generosity OMG, Winston! In 1917, the first usage of OMG (Oh! My God!) was recorded in a letter often beautiful of our to Winston Churchill. Discover more about the social history of OMG and language. language. other interesting English words at glasgow.ac.uk/avenue. ELSPETH BARKER, CHRISTOPHER HART, LITERARY REVIEW SUNDAY TIMES 62 STUDENT ENTERPRISE 7

Creating a successful business is all about building dreams. tudent business is big business Recognise your strengths and nowadays. It’s been estimated that up Sto a quarter of current UK students have weaknesses and bring people on started a business while at university. And they’re in good company – the list of global board to plug any gaps. companies that started while their founders were students include Facebook, Dropbox, MARION ANDERSON, STUDENT ENTERPRISE MANAGER Google, Dell, SnapChat and Reddit.

Taking the entrepreneurial route and starting a business is a great way for students to earn an income as well as gaining business and support new entrepreneurs. I hope that experience across a range of disciplines student entrepreneurs who win the Innovation from marketing to accounting. But it’s not Award will amaze us all with their ideas, without its challenges and that’s where our creativity and innovation.” SUCCESS Student Enterprise Manager Marion Anderson STORIES can help. Back to school Another staunch supporter of student Corien Staels’ enterprise Passion enterprise is banking giant Santander. For – Staels Design – has the “We want to act as a catalyst to help support the last three years the bank has funded a potential to change the lives entrepreneurial students turn their dreams summer school at the University that functions of wheelchair users. She de- into reality,” says Marion, who has 15 years’ as an intense incubator and launch pad for veloped her business in reha- experience in business development. “We fledgling start-ups to take flight. bilitation product design and offer one-to-one business advice, a range mobility equipment while a of practical workshops and networking Students compete for four available places student at Glasgow and she’s events, free campus office space, as well as and equity-free funding from Santander worth won a number of awards FROM professional legal, financial and marketing £2,500 for each business towards start-up and prize money for her guidance.” and running costs. And as well as a welcome innovative product WheelAir input of capital, the winning student ventures – a backrest for wheelchair LIGHTBULB But Marion’s role is also to challenge the get free desk space on campus; mentoring, users to help regulate body students. “I play devil’s advocate and ask the marketing and networking advice; Santander temperature. difficult questions. Students need to recognise banking support; and additional funding if their burning idea has real business potential opportunities. Susanne Mitschke and MOMENT TO or not. It takes hard work and a strong will Patrick Renner have just been to make it, but true entrepreneurs have that “The 12-week programme enables students to named joint Young Alumnus passion.” learn how to start and operate a business and of the Year. Their business, BUSINESS provides a low-risk opportunity for them to trial MindMate, develops apps to Innovation their business ideas,, says Marion. “The aim is help people with dementia, Someone who understands the challenges to establish viable ongoing business start-ups their caregivers and family of starting a new business is Scottish and motivate future student entrepreneurs. members, and it began while PLAN entrepreneur Jay Smith, whose business It’s very satisfying to see students bring their they were still students here. ventures include a training firm, a film ideas forward, win competitions, secure Read about their lightbulb company, a beauty business and a restaurant. funding and get their first deals.” moment on page 6. Through personal and corporate donations, he has founded the Jay Smith Innovation Award One of the biggest incentives for student Our four successful student to help student entrepreneurs at Glasgow entrepreneurs is the prospect of making entrepreneurs from this year’s A growing number of students at university aren’t just cover costs such as legal fees and patent a career out of their business. For those summer school have the applications. who don’t think joining the annual graduate same drive and ambition as focusing on their studies or their social life, but on starting recruitment round is for them, being your own Corien, Susanne and Patrick. Although not a Glasgow alumnus himself, boss offers an alternative. “Self-employment Read their inspiring stories their own businesses. And at Glasgow we’re making sure all four of his children studied here. “This is a realistic option that more and more of over the page. University has given so much to our family our students are seriously considering,” says our next generation of entrepreneurs get the support and – my children had a wonderful student Marion, “whether that’s starting your own experience – and it is great to be able to give business, working freelance or becoming a encouragement they need to succeed. something back to help inspire, encourage sole trader.”

BY MARTIN SHANNON 8 STUDENT ENTERPRISE 9

BADVO GIN WALKING TOURS IN GLASGOW

English Literature & Language graduate Helen Business graduates and couple Olivia Barber Stewart first developed her sophisticated palate and Jennifer Benson have turned their shared working at a whisky distillery near the family farm entrepreneurial spirit and love of the city of where she grew up. But it was when she discovered Glasgow into a thriving start-up. the rich heritage of farm distilling in Scotland and the joys of small batch gin that she radically Our Glasgow-based walking tours use local guides to provide personal, friendly and insightful tours of our wonderful city. Our City Centre tour changed career direction to specialise in distilling. encompasses all the key sites: George Square, Glasgow Cathedral and Necropolis, the Tolbooth Steeple and Glasgow Cross, the Barrowlands Badvo is a micro gin distillery based on my family farm near Pitlochry and the Barras, the People’s Palace at Glasgow Green, Templeton in Perthshire. The farm is a perfect place to have a distillery. Using factory, the Clutha, St Enoch, Buchanan Street and the Duke of a private supply of spring water, the gin will be distilled in traditional Wellington. copper pot stills modelled on the original stills that would have been in use on the farm pre-1825. We made the decision to keep our price low so that it could be affordable and accessible to as many people as possible, and we have SYNAPTIC HUB LTD All of the botanicals for the gin are foraged from the farm including fresh young and old from every corner of the world on our tours. There really juniper, which only two other distilleries in Scotland currently use. The is so much to see around the city, and we’re here to show visitors the idea that I could use the same land and resources as all those years incredible history, culture and modern life of Glasgow. Leon Franzen, a final- before me, made me love the idea of distilling all the more. year PhD student The hardest part of establishing a new business for us was to ignore The summer programme put me in touch with professionals who were the fear of failure and just go for it. The summer programme helped us in Neuroscience, is excited to help me establish myself in a popular industry. boost our marketing and employ several tour guides to meet demand. passionate about helping Next year, I’m looking to launch a range of liqueurs and expand on site. We’re currently planning our off-season tours for winter to hopefully people with dyslexia. Beyond that, I’d love to open the stillhouse to the public to give people keep the company going even when not so many tourists are around. He is currently applying a greater understanding of gin, distilling and why spirits are part of our And we hope to add different tours to next year’s agenda in time for heritage in Scotland. summer. We want to show tourists that Glasgow is the best city in his studies to designing the world. products that assist badvo.com walkingtoursin.com children who experience problems BOOKVOYAGE reading, writing and spelling. Bringing people together was the motivation for Abdallah Moh D, who is studying for an MSc in Software Development, to start his subscription box I was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of nine. I know how this feels, business BookVoyage. with all its disadvantages but also advantages and strengths. This gives me first-hand insight into the workings of the dyslexic brain and My long-term vision is to bridge the cultural divide through literature. also what works and what doesn’t in terms of therapies. Given all the toxic, populist rhetoric going on in the media, I set out on a mission to create more tolerance, empathy and understanding between My business, Synaptic Hub Ltd, is currently developing a people from different cultures by getting people to read more broadly. neuroscience-based solution for people with dyslexia, called a This is because it’s my belief that if we hear the world’s stories, we stop DYsLexiMeter. This first product is a screening app using eye-tracking seeing people as ‘others’ and start seeing them as fellow humans who technology to help identify dyslexia in children as young as five. are not that different to ourselves.

The hardest part has been to stay on top of the bureaucracy involved Each of the monthly boxes is country themed and contains a foreign in employing someone. But most tasks have been good fun, though book written by a critically acclaimed local author and translated into challenging, because my co-founder Abdullah Garcia and I both have English, tea or coffee from that country, as well as a sweet or savoury additional full-time jobs. treat to go with the hot drink, giving what I like to call a truly global immersive reading experience. Taking part in the summer programme this year has been a great learning experience, teaching me about accounting, business strategy The summer programme was tremendously beneficial, taking me from and pitching. It also enabled us to purchase everything we needed a one-man band working part-time from my flat to a business with to really start our business, including being able to employ a User an office. The start-up capital enabled me to take on an intern and Interface Designer student intern. make concrete goals. That step is crucial. It causes a shift in mentality and the business stops being something you’re just tinkering with Our long-term goal is to establish Synaptic Hub Ltd as a global leader and becomes a solid place of work you’re responsible for. That really for innovative neuroscience-based solutions that enable people with increased my productivity. different needs to improve their quality of life. I would like to make the education system a better place for young dyslexics by helping them The list of countries already featured in BookVoyage boxes include the to avoid failure from Primary 1 onwards. Lebanon, Portugal, India, the Netherlands, China, Germany and South Africa – and many more are planned. synaptichub.com bookvoyage.co.uk 10 STUDENT ENTERPRISE 11

Huddled in the kitchen of their West End flat, Susanne Mitschke indMate is the brainchild of our University,” says Patrick. “This helped us 2017 Young Alumnus of the Year to bring the initial team together, spend the and Patrick Renner eat cheap noodles and discuss the next steps winners, Susanne Mitschke and summer together, get a little bit of money to MPatrick Renner, graduates from the build a prototype. It helped us to take our first for their new venture – an app to help empower people living with Adam Smith Business School. steps with MindMate as a product.” dementia. It is 2015, the pair have not long graduated and are After avoiding the temptations of the graduate Careful collaborations “milk round” and lucrative job offers, the duo Aware of their limited medical knowledge and preparing to launch their new product, MindMate. It’s a huge task, instead opted for the road less travelled. the complexities of dementia, the team looked to industry experts for advice. They contacted but one they’re prepared to tackle head on. “What I really love about being an Dr Terry Quinn from the University’s Institute entrepreneur is that you have flexibility. You of Cardiovascular & Medical Sciences. He can push hard to realise your own goals,” shared the latest science and best practice says Patrick. That they have. What started in dementia care, and helped the team to as an idea among three students became translate this to the app. a chart-topping app, clinching the number one spot in the Apple health app chart in 17 “From my first meeting with them I was countries. MindMate has over 350,000 users. struck by their passion and enthusiasm,” says Dr Quinn. “What sets MindMate apart A cross between a guardian angel, a personal from other apps is the time and effort that assistant and a personal trainer, MindMate is the team have spent working with people tailored to those over 65. It trains the body and affected by dementia. Many healthcare apps brain to keep them healthy. Photo albums, are produced by commercial companies to-do lists, quizzes, exercises and healthy who make limited attempts to engage with recipes are some of the features. clinicians or patients and carers.”

What makes MindMate special is that it MindMate’s medical board includes is much more than a lifestyle app for the representatives from the Universities of over 65s. It has the potential to make a Stanford, Cambridge, Cornell and Glasgow. huge difference in the care, prevention and They’ve also grown their tech capabilities WHERE diagnosis of diseases that cause cognitive through opportunities such as the Techstars decline. accelerator programme in New York. ARE A meeting of minds The team’s hard work is paying off, but there’s BY LYNNE MACLAGAN Dementia is a worldwide health issue still a long way to go. They continue to work affecting around 47 million people, and this with Dr Quinn to test the functionality of the number is expected to triple by 2050. There is app and develop new features. They have a THEY no cure, yet. grant from Scottish Enterprise to help build their backend technology. Sales and business Susanne, Patrick (both MSc 2015) and fellow strategy is getting attention thanks to a seed- NOW? co-founder Roger Arellano (a University funding investor in California. of Strathclyde graduate) have all seen the The Young Alumnus of the Year Award was brutal reality of cognitive decline at first hand. “What’s next for MindMate is to find more launched in 2001 to recognise graduates Roger was a carer for his grandfather for research partners – universities, clinical who have made a major contribution to the seven years. Patrick and Susanne have both researchers, pharmaceutical companies – and community, arts, sciences or business. volunteered in care homes. to work with them to match our users to their clinical trials,” explains Susanne. “This will We’ve caught up with a few of the previous “It was a shock to see how people could help to bring us closer to a cure for dementia.” winners to find out what they’re up to now, spend their whole day in front of the including television without any meaningful activity or With challenging times ahead, one thing is • cyclist Mark Beaumont, who tells us about interaction,” explains Patrick, who spent a year clear – Susanne and Patrick have the passion his latest round-the-world record volunteering in a care home as part of his civil and entrepreneurial spirit needed to drive their • foreign correspondent Martin Patience, service in Germany. “That was the inspiration product forward. reporting from his latest posting in the for me when I met Roger and Susanne. We Lebanon could build something that could make a “I have always wanted to change the world. • cancer researcher Professor Patrick difference.” This is why I am doing what I’m doing,” says Gunning, talking about his next big project. Susanne. “I hope with MindMate we can have They had an idea, but needed the cash and an impact on as many people as possible.” For their latest interviews and more see space to turn it into something tangible. glasgow.ac.uk/avenue. “We were lucky enough to be selected for mindmate-app.com the Santander summer programme at the

To receive the Young Alumnus of the Year award makes us very proud. It shows that the University really cares about entrepreneurship and that it can make a real difference.” PATRICK RENNER, CO-FOUNDER OF MINDMATE 12 13

Alumni news Alumni news

NOTES FROM No 2 QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS 2017

Principal of the University Professor Vito Antonio Muscatelli (MA 1984) received a Knighthood for services to economics and IN BRIEF higher education News from Emily Howie, Head of Alumni James Bowie (MBChB 1958) has been Engagement in the Development & Alumni Mr Billy Connolly (DLitt 2001) received a presented with a 50-year award for service Office at No 2 The Square. Knighthood for services to entertainment and to rural medicine by the Rural Health West charity association of Australia. Dr Bowie, who spent I’d like to extend a special welcome to our LOVE BY NUMBERS time working in the University’s anatomy 2017 graduates who will be receiving Avenue Professor Parveen June Kumar CBE (DSc department, as well as at Glasgow Royal for the first time. 2014) received a Damehood for services to The demise of the Maths & Stats building on University Gardens, which will make way for the Infirmary, the Flying Doctors and in the medicine and medical education new Learning & Teaching Hub, had bittersweet significance for two of our alumni. It was where Vietnam War, still works up to 12 hours a day In addition to the many graduates who enjoyed Katrina and Gavin Kerr, who both studied Applied Maths ten years ago, found love blossoming. practising medicine in a small town in Western the splendour of the Bute Hall, and probably Mr Terrence Scuoler (MA 1971) was ap- Australia. He hopes to return to Glasgow in a spot of rain or two, at their ceremony here pointed CBE for services to manufacturing “The Maths & Stats building is important to us because it is where we met,” says Katrina, “and 2018 for his 60-year class reunion. at Gilmorehill this year, we welcome a number and engineering where our relationship grew from friendship to something more. It was a bit sad to hear it was of new graduates from our overseas degree coming down so we got in touch with UofG, to ask if we could have a small memento.” Colin Cameron (BL 1957), former Honorary programmes. Other facilties and services you can still have Ms Nora Margaret Senior (MA 1979) was ap- Consul of Malawi in Scotland, has been access to as an alumnus include (for a small pointed CBE for services to the Scottish and The couple returned to campus to choose a keepsake of the building before it was demolished commended by the Malawian government for The number of students graduating in fee) the library, our sports building and the UK business community – a lecture theatre door plaque which Katrina says will be framed and put up on their wall. his outstanding contribution to the country and Singapore now exceeds 300 each year and unions. invited to return to the country on an official this is set to continue rising as we expand our Professor Philip Cotton (MBChB 1989) was “I was a terrible student but I loved every minute of it,” she says. “I was a good student,” says visit in honour of his anti-apartheid work. programmes. And another alumni benefit you may not be appointed OBE for services to education in Gavin, “until I met Katrina! Being at UofG was the best time of my life.” aware of is a 10% discount on postgraduate Rwanda Sir Akhlaq Choudhury (BSc 1988) has been We celebrated our first graduations in China taught courses (see glasgow.ac.uk/ appointed a High Court Judge in England this year, with a joint ceremony with Nankai pgtalumnidiscount for details). The Very Reverend Dr Elizabeth Lorna and Wales. The first in his family to attend University in Tianjin on 26 June and, in Hood (MA 1974, BDS 1977, DD 2014) was university, he was called to the Bar in 1992, Chengdu on 28 June, for those graduating Finally, I’d like to express my thanks to appointed OBE for services to the Church of appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 2015 and in our joint programme with the University of our outgoing Director of Development & Scotland and charity First-class weddings a deputy high court judge in 2016. Electronic Science & Technology of China. Alumni, Cathy Bell (MA 1980), who has led and inspired her team for the last 30 years. Dr Judy Mary Murray (DUniv 2016) was ap- with distinction Dr Hugh C Hendrie (MBChB 1958, DSc Ceremonies such as these help to reinforce Cathy was recently the proud recipient of pointed OBE for services to tennis, women in 2002), Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry the growing international influence of the prestigious Council for Advancement sport and charity Did you know that as a graduate you are part at Indiana University School of Medicine, the University. Our alumni community is & Support of Education (CASE) Europe of the exclusive club that entitles you and Indianapolis, has received a Lifetime increasingly global and we are delighted that Distinguished Service Award for “setting an Miss Joanne I Eccles (BDS 2012) was your children – when the time comes – to get Achievement Award from the Alzheimer’s many of you stay in touch with us despite your outstanding example of loyalty and selfless appointed MBE for services to equestrian married at the University? Association for his contribution to advancing busy lives since graduation. dedication and three decades of successful vaulting Alzheimer’s disease and dementia research. fundraising”. I would like to wish Cathy well Whether holding a ceremony in the On the adjacent page you can read the lovely for her retirement. Dr John Pender McClure (MBChB 1966) magnificent Memorial Chapel or one of the Professor Angela McRobbie FRSA (MA story of Katrina and Gavin Kerr who met at was appointed MBE for services to paediatric majestic ceremonial rooms, marrying in a 1974), of Goldsmiths University of London, university, fell in love and married. I know that As always, we love hearing about your healthcare religious or non-religious ceremony, throwing has been elected a Fellow of the British it’s not unusual to find your life partner while activities, news and achievements. Keep in a sumptuous service or arranging a more Academy. Professor McRobbie has pioneered at Glasgow. Being a Glasgow alumnus (or touch with us at [email protected]. Dr Adele Emeli Sandé (BSc 2009, DUniv intimate affair, the University is the perfect research across topics such as youth culture, even the child of an alumnus) entitles you to 2013) was appointed MBE for services to venue. gender and popular media, the creative hold your wedding in various locations on music economy and feminist theory. our stunning campus, such as the Memorial We look forward to welcoming you back. Pictured left: Director of Development & Alumni Chapel, the Melville Room and the Turnbull Cathy Bell receiving her CASE award; right, our Dr Alan Campbell Stanfield (MBChB 1977) Amair Saleem (BSc 1985) was Operation Room. first graduation ceremony in Chengdu, China. was appointed MBE for services to curling Contact us at [email protected]. Project Manager of the new Enterprise Command & Control Centre of Dubai, a $90 million scheme which integrates all surface transportation systems. Ronnie Convery (MA 1988) has been INSPIRING named Honorary Consul of the Italian Andrew J Stroehlein (MPhil 1997), European ENGINEER VISIT Republic in Glasgow. It is the first time in Media Director of Human Rights Watch, has history that a non-Italian citizen has been been named one of the 20 Most Influential Orla Murphy (MEng 2013), Quality Engineer named consul in one of Italy’s consulates Global Analysts operating on Twitter by ES at Jaguar Land Rover, appeared in the Top 50 in the UK. Global Magazine. Women in Engineering under 35 named by the Women’s Engineering Society. She gave Ronnie arrived at the University in autumn John Richard Watson (PhD 1966) has been a talk on campus in June, coinciding with 1983 without knowing a word of Italian named a Fellow of The Hymn Society (USA International Women in Engineering Day, to and graduated with a first-class Honours and Canada) for his work as an eminent speak about her career journey and inspire the degree in the subject. He was knighted by scholar of hymnology and tireless advocate next generation of women engineers. the Italian Republic in 2008 with the title for hymns and hymn-singing. “Cavaliere”. 14 15

Alumni events Alumni events

lumni around the world get together Birmingham: Glasgow Vet gathering Los Angeles: Getty Center tour to celebrate their connection with the Friday 7 April 2017 University. Representatives from the Thursday 15 July 2017 A The annual Glasgow Vet gathering took place University attend these social events to meet Sixteen alumni enjoyed a guided tour of the this year at the Malt House. It was as busy as with and grow our esteemed network of exhibition Thomas Annan: Photographer ever, with almost 70 graduates and Vet School graduate, current and future students. To find of Glasgow. The tour was led by assistant staff attending. This event is part of a series out about future events, see glasgow.ac.uk/ curator Amanda Maddox, and organised by that take place throughout the year for our vet alumni/events. alumnus Peter Donahue (MSc 2014). graduates, including gatherings at the British Equine Veterinary Association and the London Aberdeen: pub night Vet Show. Thursday 27 April 2017 Greece: Athens alumni reception Alumni from the Aberdeen area joined London: Law reception members of the GU Club of Aberdeen for Friday 5 May 2017 Thursday 23 March 2017 an informal get-together in Six˚North. These Around 70 guests, including the British Herbert Freehills LLP generously held a successful biannual events have become Ambassador to Greece, attended a reception convivial reception for over 40 law alumni a staple of the calendar and attract a wide which coincided with the official launch of in their stunning London offices. Graduates range of alumni eager to reconnect with the University of Glasgow Hellenic Alumni John Taylor (LLB 2000) and John Corrie (LLB the University. This event keeps going from Association. Along with University updates, 2001), both partners at the top law firm, made strength to strength. guests had a progress report from association Chicago: Scottish University Alumni of wonderful hosts. Speakers included head of president Alex Athanassoulas (MBA 1992). Chicago meet-up school Professor Iain MacNeil and chairman of If you are interested in joining, contact eve. the University’s Campaign Leadership Board [email protected]. Thursday 11 July 2017 Sandy Black. Singapore: Alumni reception Thirteen former classmates of Scottish universities held a summer meet-up and pub Monday 24 April 2017 night at River North’s Hubbard Inn. The group Over 120 alumni and friends gathered on the Royal Albatross – the first time we have ever enjoyed some casual networking and happy held an event on a boat – with our shoes off and slippers on. Principal Professor Sir Anton hour cocktails, sharing stories from Scotland Muscatelli updated guests on the latest University happenings, in particular our exciting and and making new connections. To join the ambitious campus redevelopment. Around 10 prospective students also joined this event. Chicago alumni association, contact amy. Edinburgh: Botanic Gardens event [email protected]. Wednesday 31 May 2017 Our first “Behind the Scenes” event at the Royal Botanic Garden (RBGE) was attended by 25 alumni who enjoyed a tour of the Herbarium and the Research Houses, areas not open to members of the public. The evening was made possible by alumnus and former Principal Sir Muir Russell (BSc 1970, DUniv 2001), who is Chairman of the Board of Switzerland: Geneva and Zürich Trustees for RBGE. receptions Hong Kong: Soho Yard evening Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 June 2017 London: Alumni summer drinks Friday 21 April 2017 Glasgow: Commemoration Day We held two successful alumni drinks Hong Kong’s trendy Soho Yard hosted alumni Wednesday 12 July 2017 events in Switzerland, with guests joining Wednesday 14 June 2017 and friends on a rainy April night, including London-based alumni gathered in July representatives from the Development & Around 300 alumni and guests attended a number who made the trip from Shenzen. for informal drinks at the Folly bar. They Alumni Office for drinks and nibbles in a the event this year, and among the honorary Principal Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli were joined by representatives from the Geneva lakeside hotel on a warm summer’s graduates were John Tiffany (MA 1994), presented on Glasgow’s many achievements Toronto: Alumni association pub night Development & Alumni Office, as well as evening. The following night alumni in Zürich Vincent Deighan and Sir Paul Nurse. It was over the year. Guests enjoyed music and current students from the Adam Smith joined us at the top of the Prime Tower and New York City: Tartan Day 2017 Thursday 20 July 2017 also a great pleasure to see large numbers of conversation and took photos against our Business School who were taking part in enjoyed breathtaking views of the city over Ashley Koen (MSc 2012) brought 20 Toronto alumni returning for the day to help celebrate cloisters backdrop. For more information, Saturday 8 April 2017 summer internships at financial institutions in drinks and canapés. alumni together for a summer pub night to the foundation of the University. contact [email protected]. A great troop of over 30 alumni got together the city. celebrate the newly formed group. The sun under the New York City sun to show off their shone and the group made the most of the University tartan at the annual Tartan Day beer garden. We hope to have another event London: Glasgow University Parade. Save the date for the next parade on in the fall before winter sets in. Women’s Club 7 April 2018. Saturday 16 September 2017 Over 30 members and guests enjoyed an interesting Houses of Parliament tour guided by Connect with Hilary Booth, a long-time member of GUWC. It was the club’s second outing this summer as former classmates, members visited Hatfield House in July. New York City: An evening with find out about alumni Glasgow: MBA 40th anniversary Moscow: Alumni summer lunch Glasgow at the Flatiron Room Jakarta: British Council alumni awards events happening Friday 1 September 2017 Sunday 23 July 2017 Wednesday 8 March 2017 Sixty alumni attended a gala dinner to Friday 3 March 2017 Members of the Russian-speaking alumni Over 70 guests and prospective students in your area or celebrate 40 years of the Glasgow MBA, with Alumni joined staff from the University to association met for lunch at a Scottish- gathered in NYC’s stylish Flatiron Room. Florida: Alumni lunch Principal Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli invited support Dr Tatas HP Brotosudarmo (PhD themed restaurant in central Moscow. The Vice-Principal Professor Frank Coton read about how to to speak of his time teaching the programme. 2010) at the British Council Awards in Jakarta. group enjoyed a meal of Scottish favourites, presented news from Glasgow, and guests Sunday 28 May 2017 Activities held during the year raised £6,685 Dr Brotosudarmo won in the Professional including grilled venison and cranachan. networked and shared Glasgow stories to Eleven alumni enjoyed a lunch generously organise your own towards the MBA Travel Scholarship fund. Achievement Award Category, for his Guests also took part in a prize UofG the accompaniment of live jazz music. Also hosted by graduate Dr Leonard Benedict reunion at glasgow. The gala dinner brought to a close a series of scientific achievements in photosynthesis – general knowledge quiz. Contact: Maria, on offer were our signature cocktails, the (MBChB 1972) at his home in Florida. Lots of commemorative events. congratulations on your magnificent success. [email protected]. Mackintosh Mule and the Gilbert Scott. catching up and laughs ensued. ac.uk/alumni. 16 17

Reunion notices Reunion reports

1958 Beta 1969 Chemistry We are holding our 60th reunion in Glasgow To celebrate 50 years since our graduation, from 25–27 September 2018. Contact: Stuart I am calling all 1969 Chemistry graduates who Parker, [email protected]. would be interested in arranging a golden reunion in summer 2019. Contact: Dr Neil Hair, [email protected]. 1959 Gamma Following a very successful 58th reunion, plans are proposed for a 60th reunion in 2019. 1969 Engineering YEAR Contact: Norrie Mackay, (+44) 141 616 2831, Would you be interested in taking part in a [email protected]; Marjory Macsween, reunion in 2019 to celebrate 50 years since (+44) 141 639 0254, marjorymacsween@ graduating? If so, please contact David Kerr, googlemail.com or John Kennedy, (+44 )141 [email protected]. 1957 Alpha 632 8540, [email protected]. On 16 May 2017, 13 members and seven 1972 Psychology 1971 Geography partners gathered in the Principal’s Lodgings The Psychology class of 1972 held an 1961 Zeta Would you be interested in taking part in at Gilmorehill where Principal Professor enjoyable reunion in Glasgow on 20 May. We are celebrating our 57th reunion from a reunion on 31 August 2018 to celebrate Sir Anton Muscatelli welcomed us and Hardcore nostalgists (seven graduates 12–14 September 2018 at the Crowne Plaza 50 years since starting our studies? If so, outlined future developments. Professor YEAR and three well-preserved academic staff) Hotel, Glasgow. We will have dinner on the please contact Dougie Lamont, dwlamont@ Matthew Walters, Head of the School of converged from all parts of the UK and South Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and other btinternet.com. Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing then described Africa to celebrate the 45th anniversary at the activities will be arranged closer to the event. the modern MBChB course and after an Ubiquitous Chip. All look forward to a Golden Contact: Douglas Briggs, (+44) 141 334 9744 excellent lunch we took a guided tour of the 1978 Electrical Engineering Anniversary gathering in 2022. or [email protected]. The Blown Fuse Society is planning its Hunterian Museum. We were joined by the 40th reunion from 5–7 October 2018, at Chancellor, Professor Sir Kenneth Calman, 1967 Alpha The 1967 Botany Club make the most 1962 Alpha the University. We would like to encourage for afternoon tea and finished the day at a of the sunshine in the Yorkshire Dales Members of the 1967 Alpha Club met at On 22 and 23 March 2018, please join those we have lost touch with to try and local curry house. Our grateful thanks are Cameron House, Loch Lomond from 4–6 us for our reunion in Glasgow. Contact: participate in this milestone event. Contact: due to the Development & Alumni Office for July 2017 to celebrate the 50th anniversary [email protected] or dhlawson@ Ken MacPherson, kenneth.macpherson@ their invaluable help in organising what we all of their graduation. It was an especially doctors.net.uk. blueyonder.co.uk or (+44) 7801 714163. agreed was an absolutely splendid day. 1967 Chemistry happy occasion, meeting old friends, chatting and reminiscing. On Friday 22 September 2017, nine 1963 Maths & Natural Philosophy 1978 Zoology graduates plus partners met at Gilmorehill We will celebrate our 55-year reunion at the We are planning to hold a reunion in June 1967 Botany for a Golden Anniversary reunion. We were University’s Commemoration Day in June 2018 to celebrate 40 years since graduating treated to a tour of our old haunt, the Joseph 2018. Contact: [email protected]. and would be delighted if you could attend. The 1967 Botany class celebrated its 50th Black Building, before gathering in the Contact: Mick McGowan, mrpm12@ anniversary in glorious sunshine at Malham Turnbull Room in the main building for drinks 1968 Engineering gmail.com or Paul McMenamin, paul. Tarn Field Centre in June, enjoying the rich and dinner. It was a great day and everyone [email protected]. limestone flora and scenic grandeur of the We will celebrate our 50th anniversary of is looking forward to the 55th reunion in 2022. Yorkshire Dales. Particular attractions were graduating at a dinner in the University’s the nesting peregrines at Malham Cove, Randolph Hall on 6 October 2018. Professor 1980s Molecular Biology 1967 Notre Dame 1959 Gamma the waterfall at Gordale Scar, the waving Frank Coton, Vice-Principal, Academic & Did you graduate with a BSc in Molecular 2002 Beta aquilegias of Oxenber Wood, and the clints On 1 September 2017 the 1967 Class of Educational Innovation, has agreed to attend. Biology in 1985 or 1986? Would you be We held our 58th reunion in the Marriott Hotel and grykes of Great Close Scar – a closed Notre Dame College of Education reunited Celebrating the 15th anniversary of their All 1968 engineering graduates and their interested in a reunion? If so, we are looking in Glasgow from 18–20 May. The banquet nature reserve that contains the finest for a memorable Golden Jubilee Celebration. graduation, a great night was had by all in the partners are invited to participate. Contact: Ian to arrange a reunion for spring or summer hosted 39 of us, all octogenarians. A visit to upland limestone pavement in the country. Over 60 alumnae attended a mass in the Bute Hall on 10 June 2017. McCall, [email protected]. 2018. Contact: Tom Gillespie, gillespie. the Royal Yacht and the Falkirk Wheel kept us University Chapel, where the retired teachers [email protected]. busy the previous day. Plans are proposed for sang a two-part “Panis Angelicus” as a 60th reunion in 2019. 1967 BDS Apollonian Society 1968 Beta perfectly as they had sung it in college 50 Please join us on 30 and 31 May 2018 in St 1988–1993 Wolfson Hall A golden anniversary reunion of the society years before … no rehearsal required. Andrews for the 50th reunion of the 1968 Beta Did you stay in Wolfson Hall between 1988 was held in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Club. Contact: [email protected]. and 1993? We are planning a 25th reunion Glasgow from 8–10 September 2017. The jubilarians then enjoyed a delicious lunch on campus on 3 and 4 August 2018 and A weekend of renewing old friendships in the Senate Room where they reminisced staying overnight at Wolfson Hall once again. and reminiscing over student days was 1969 Natural Philosophy and enjoyed a “memory-lane” slideshow and Contact: [email protected] or enjoyed by 21 members of the year and a ’60s music quiz. Special thanks to Dan Commemoration Day in June 2019 is an ideal [email protected]. their spouses. A very interesting visit to the Traynor of the Development & Alumni Office opportunity for a class reunion. Depending Dental Hospital took place on the Saturday for his constant assistance before and during on numbers and interest this can be either 1998 BDS afternoon, with 14 in attendance, all this event. part of the larger celebration or a separate 1972 Alpha fascinated by the demonstrations of modern Please join us in November 2018 in Glasgow event, or both. Contact: Robert Boyd, technology and the modern approach to GU Basketball mark historic first for our 20-year reunion. Contact: Nadia, Around 60 of our year, many with partners, See more golden reunion pictures at [email protected]. the undergraduate teaching of dentistry. [email protected]. attended our 45th anniversary reunion on glasgow.ac.uk/avenue. GU Basketball alumni hosted a first reunion A formal dinner ended a truly memorable the weekend of 28–30 April 2017, in the on Saturday 20 May, when 24 former players golden anniversary weekend. DON’T MISS THE 1998 Gamma Atholl Palace Hotel, Pitlochry. Golf and tennis and club office-bearers from eight decades We will be having a 20-year reunion in late on the Friday afternoon were followed by enjoyed a convivial lunch at Stravaigin before DEADLINE. an informal dinner. On Saturday morning adjourning to the Stevenson Building to see 2018 – updates on gamma98.com. 1973 Beta Submit your reunion we were entertained by lighthearted talks the new Games Hall being put to good use notice, report, event from four classmates. We assembled on From 11–13 May 2017, 64 members of the in a Past v Present Challenge. Guests of or news item for 1999 Delta Saturday evening for a class photograph, 1967–1973 Beta Club attended their reunion honour Isobel (Izzie) MacKay (née McPhail), the next edition of We are planning our reunion at the University drinks reception and formal dinner, delighted at Dunkeld House Hotel. We enjoyed a the women’s captain in 1949, and David Avenue, to alumni@ on 25 May 2019, and would love to see you to be joined by the Chancellor, Professor “scientific session” on the Saturday morning (Dai) Thomas, the men’s captain in 1951, glasgow.ac.uk by there. Join the Facebook group “Delta 99 20 Sir Kenneth Calman and his wife Ann. We which was “an absolute hoot”, and £1,110 were joined by friends and contemporaries Thursday 15 March year reunion” or contact: Shalini, shalini@ then “took the floor” for a ceilidh and ’60s was raised over the weekend in aid of in what is hoped will be the first of many 2018. doctors.org.uk. disco. A 50th anniversary event is now being Pancreatic Cancer Scotland. The next reunion such occasions. Contact Sandy Sutherland, considered. is planned for 2020. [email protected]. 18 19 CONVENOR’S The General Council COMMENTS

The General Council of the University was set up by Act of Parliament to give voice to the From John Marsh, Convenor of the General Council Business Committee views of the graduates and academic staff on the regulation and wellbeing of the University. If you are reading this, you are almost certainly a graduate of the University, like me, and A report prepared for the General Council forward for staff and students to vote on. The to grow with over 324 clubs and societies Closure of the Meeting therefore a member of the General Council. by Amber Higgins, Clerk to the General Convenor reported that GCBC members and in which 15,500 students participate. There The Chancellor thanked all those present Since graduating, you have probably also, like Council, [email protected]. alumni were updated on Court vacancies and are 35 student businesses, which shows and informed the meeting that the next me until recently, had limited contact with encouraged all members to apply. It was also the increase in entrepreneurial skills in meeting would take place on Monday 22 the University. The last General Council meeting was held on noted that the new University Secretary, Dr students. The University also has over 1,000 January 2018 in the Learning & Teaching Monday 12 June 2017 in the Wolfson Medical David Duncan, had met with the Clerk and the students studying for Glasgow degrees at Centre, Queen Elizabeth University But our relationship with the University does School Building. The Chancellor, Professor Convenor. the University of Glasgow Singapore and our Hospital, at 6.30pm. not need to end when we graduate. There are Sir Kenneth Calman, was in the chair. This two partner institutions in China, with the first ways in which the University continues to give article contains an abbreviated description It was highlighted to the Council that the students graduating at Nankai and UESTC. Following the closure of the meeting something to its graduates, and also ways of the business of the meeting. A full minute GCBC has ongoing discussions about its role there was a presentation by Professor in which we graduates can give something can be found at glasgow.ac.uk/about/ and purpose as it was clear that the graduate In summary, Court approved the initial Frank Coton, Vice-Principal (Academic back. There are many ways in which we can generalcouncil/gcmeetings/gcminutes. body of the University had changed over the financial envelope of £430m which will be & Educational Innovation) on the new give something to today’s students and recent last few years and included an increasing spent over the next five years on the first Learning & Teaching Hub. graduates, and to the University. Report of the Business Committee number of alumni. phase of the project. Glasgow City Council Convenor, Mr John Marsh approved the campus masterplan in January glasgow.ac.uk/generalcouncil For students and recent graduates, the Careers Service offers support in the form of careers Business Committee Matters: Convenor The Chancellor thanked the Convenor for his 2017. The School of Mathematics & Statistics guidance and career coaching, interview techniques, mentoring, internships, assistance and John Marsh thanked the Chancellor for his report and thanked all the GCBC members has moved into its new modular home. This advice on setting up your own business and much more. introduction and welcomed everyone to the for their hard work on behalf of the General has allowed the University to secure the new meeting. Council. It was noted that no questions Learning & Teaching Hub site for asbestos But what about those of us who graduated longer ago? We will have picked up skills and were raised and John was thanked for his removal and the building should start to come connections which will be of use to today’s graduates. Some of us started our own businesses, The Convenor reported that there had been presentation. down over the summer. Our delivery partner some of us now have particular technical or management experience. two meetings of the General Council Business Brookfield Multiplex has been confirmed. Committee (GCBC) since the last half-yearly Principal’s Report, by Vice-Principal, Multiplex has been delivering landmark So this may be the time to give something back. If you would like to mentor a student or meeting and that Cathy Bell, Director of the Professor Frank Coton property and infrastructure for more than 50 graduate, to give a talk on a subject which will help people, perhaps to offer an internship or Development & Alumni Office, had recently The Chancellor welcomed Vice-Principal years. The Chancellor thanked Professor training, help out at recruitment fairs or act as an ambassador, why not get in touch? Email the given an informative presentation to the Professor Frank Coton to the meeting. Coton for his report and welcomed the Clerk of the General Council to register interest: [email protected]. GCBC. Professor Coton was attending in the place positive news delivered in his report which of the Principal. Professor Coton reported on showed that the University continued to grow The Convenor also reported that the capital the University’s progress towards the KPIs and move forward, before inviting comments. plan had been approved by Court and work and that five areas had significantly improved My recent election to the GCBC provides me with a new opportu- would now start onsite with the Learning & since 2010. It was noted that the University Q&A: General Council members commented nity to contribute to our great University. My career was spent at the Teaching Hub being the first building. The had moved up two places in the Complete on the positive report and were delighted that University both in the Vet School and latterly as part of the senior Committee had also been kept up to date University Guide and three places in the the University continued to go from strength management team. I am now retired and welcome the opportunity on the University’s progress to compliance Guardian league table. to strength. A General Council member asked to contribute in a different way. I believe that the GCBC can provide with the Higher Education Governance about future-proofing the buildings and it was a valuable platform for developing new ways in which our large (Scotland) Act 2016, with which they had until The University continues to expand and confirmed that the University was looking at graduate base can contribute to the University in the future and I 2020 to comply. The process for appointing we are now a larger and more research- this as long-term investment into the campus. would like to pursue some of these ideas. the Convenor of Court was currently being intensive institution, with international students The Chancellor drew this section to a EMERITUS PROFESSOR PETER HOLMES, (BVMS 1966) looked at as it would involve advertisement growing from 2,665 in 2009–10 to 5,407 in close and thanked Professor Coton for his and interview with at least two candidates put 2016–17. The student community continues presentation. Management, governance, stakeholder engagement, were not part of my vocabulary or sphere of interest as a Glasgow science under- graduate in the late 1970s. Today, I’m convinced that excellence in these areas is close to being as important as academic excellence in the world’s greatest universities.

I stood for election to GCBC to help keep the engagement of graduates a positive and constructive influence on the University, and because the prosperity and reputation of the University are important to me. The dynamic and forward-looking ethos at UofG Next is palpable, and as a graduate and one-time academic, I hope Glas- gow will continue to have high autonomy and freedom as a centre Meeting of of learning and research. The General Council CAMERON MARSHALL (BSc 1979)

The next meeting takes place on I was delighted to be elected onto the GCBC since it gave me a Monday 22 January 2018 in the chance to return to a place which will always be very special to me. Learning & Teaching Centre, With all that is happening on the campus, this is a very exciting Queen Elizabeth University time to be involved with the University. I hope to be able to make Hospital, at 6.30pm. some sort of contribution, however small, to that and look forward to playing my part. STEVEN QUITHER (LLB 1982) 20 21 WHAT’S ON AT THE HUNTERIAN glasgow.ac.uk/hunterian

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

SCOTLAND’S OWN COINAGE Until 1 July 2018 Hunterian Museum (Admission free) Issuing coinage is an important symbol of a nation’s independence, status and power. Scotland struck its own coins for The General Council hundreds of years before the Act of Union Paper A: Report by the Principal with England created a British coinage in 1707. From nobles, lions, unicorns, ryals and testoons to merks, dollars, bawbees, groats and placks, Scotland’s Own In September 2017, we were delighted to learn that the University had risen eight places Coinage features a spectacular variety of gold, silver and base metal coinage to to 80 in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. This was one of explore. the most significant ranking increases of any UK university in the top 200. Analysis of the THE PHILOSOPHY CHAMBER: ART AND SCIENCE AT GLASGOW AND reasons behind this success revealed improved scores in citations, international outlook and HARVARD 23 March – 24 June 2018 research and, most notably, teaching reputation, where the University rose by some Hunterian Art Gallery (Admission free) Created in partnership with the Harvard Scott Mackay Hugh Baillie, House for an Art Lover (Haus eines Kunstfreundes) competition entry: dining room, 1901–1902. (From William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Movement in Britain.) 34 places. University Art Museum, this major exhibition reunites the unrivalled collection which played a vital role in Moving up for Sustainable, Healthy & Learning Cities University Hospital (QEUH), the new Imaging teaching and research at Harvard, NATIONAL & COMING SOON: Hot on the heels of this result, the University and Neighbourhoods led by Professor Centre of Excellence and the new Clinical providing an invaluable window into was named Scottish University of the Year Ya Ping Wang and the School of Social & Innovation Zone (CIZ) in particular. This the art and culture of early America. INTERNATIONAL WILLIAM HUNTER AND THE ANATOMY OF by The Times & The Sunday Times Good Political Sciences. The centre will conduct offers 22,000 square feet of dedicated space Dispersed and hidden away for nearly LOANS THE MODERN MUSEUM University Guide 2018 and was also shortlisted comparative studies of urbanisation and for companies to engage with academia 200 years, The Philosophy Chamber 27 September 2018 – 4 January 2019 for the overall University of the Year award urban neighbourhoods and will investigate and industry. The CIZ has already attracted reunites many of these original objects, Not based in Glasgow? You can enjoy The Hunterian Art Gallery (Admission free) for the UK. This outcome reflected a positive the internal socio-economic structure of companies to relocate to Glasgow from showcasing a range of works that have Hunterian’s collections throughout the world Celebrating the tercentenary of William move of nine places in the national league 14 cities located in seven African and Asian Singapore (Clinnovate), Germany (MR been unseen for nearly two centuries. with our national and international loans Hunter’s birth, this exhibition explores the table, placing us in the UK’s top 20, gaining communities. Its aim is to inform the debate CoilTech) and California (BioSpyder), all of programme. contexts in which The Hunterian founder in six of the nine performance indicators. and address the key questions of what makes whom join the Stratified Medicine Scotland ULRIKE OTTINGER formed his collections and the unique These included improvements in graduate a productive urban life, and sustainable Innovation Centre and informatics company April – July 2018 MUSEUM NACIONAL D’ART DE position they occupy in the development of prospects, completion rates, teaching quality neighbourhoods and cities. It will work with Aridhia at the QEUH location. A week later, Hunterian Art Gallery (Admission free) CATALUNYA, BARCELONA modern museums. For the first time in 150 and student experience. We were top in three colleagues in Urban Studies, Education and MVLS won the Collaboration for Change This solo exhibition profiles the influential William Morris and the Arts and Crafts years, visitors will be able to see the scope of subject tables: for animal science, dentistry Health & Wellbeing and with international Award, a top award at Glasgow’s inaugural filmmaker and photographer Ulrike Movement in Britain (22 February – 3 June Hunter’s collections all in one place, reuniting and education. partners across South Africa, Tanzania, 2017 Global Game Changers Awards. It Ottinger, whose work has rarely been 2018) paintings, ethnographic objects, anatomical Rwanda, India, Bangladesh, China and the recognised the college’s role in transforming exhibited in the UK and remains less On loan – two Charles Rennie Mackintosh and natural history preparations and items The THE also produces a league table which Philippines. healthcare through its triple helix approach well known here than its quality merits. chairs and a photolithograph by Scott Mackay from Hunter’s library and coin collections. specifically focuses on arts and humanities to precision medicine, collaborating with The exhibition will feature a range of Hugh Baillie. and, while it uses the same methodology as A civic university industry and the NHS to create a thriving new Ottinger’s photographic prints and a the THE’s world ranking, it gives more weight Closer to home, the University has also biomedical innovation cluster at QEUH. small selection of her shorter film works. KELVINGROVE ART GALLERY AND to teaching and research and less to citations been recognised for its contribution to A special programme of screenings of MUSEUM, GLASGOW ABOUT to reflect the disciplines’ priorities. The good the local community and city. For the third Taking all of these performance measures her feature-length work will accompany Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Making THE HUNTERIAN news was that our College of Arts rose eight year running the University won the Higher and achievements together, it’s encouraging the exhibition. of the Glasgow Style (30 March – 14 August places to 70th out of a total of 400 institutions Education Institution of the Year, the top to recognise that they reflect success across 2018) The Hunterian is one of the leading across the world. prize in the Herald Higher Education Awards, our key missions to teach and research, On loan – a selection of works by Charles university museums in the UK and one of Jean-Simeon Chardin, A Lady Taking Tea, 1735. Scotland’s most important cultural assets. coming first in four categories. Significantly, to work internationally and with our local (From William Hunter and the Anatomy of the Rennie Mackintosh and insect specimens Addressing crucial issues these reveal the breadth of the University’s community, with business and industry, Modern Museum.) collected by J J F X King. Founded in 1807, it is the country’s oldest Research, along with teaching, knowledge community links and outreach activity and making what we do available for individual, public museum and home to one of the transfer and international outlook form the include Outstanding Contribution to the Local collective and worldwide benefit. There is no STAATLICHE KUNSTHALLE, BADEN- largest collections outside the National core focus for the THE world rankings, and Community, Campaign of the Year, and the room for complacency, however, in the face BADEN Museums. continuing research success increasingly Innovation Technology Excellence Award for of intensifying global competition. As the Exhibiting the Exhibition (Ausstellen des depends upon being able to respond the ViRES project. editor of the THE, Phil Baty, has said: “You Ausstellens) (1 March – 20 June 2018) effectively to big interdisciplinary initiatives. have to run fast just to stand still”. We know On loan – Velarium by James McNeill Whistler. OPENING TIMES Research Councils UK Collective Fund has The College of Medical, Veterinary & Life this and take confidence from the fact that the Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 5pm established the Global Challenges Research Sciences (MVLS) won the Industry and successes noted in this report are based on THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, Sunday: 11am to 4pm Fund (GCRF) to address major global Business award at Glasgow’s Inspiring City the talent and commitment of our students NEW YORK issues which require interdisciplinary and awards for its outstanding contribution to and staff, the same qualities that will take us Visitors to Versailles, 1682–1789 (9 April – 29 Free admission to the Museum and international activity. Our College of Social inspiring and fostering business growth forward to future achievement. July 2018) Art Gallery. Admission charge for The Sciences has recently been successful in and development in the city. It centred on On loan – Isabella, Countess of Hertford by Mackintosh House and some exhibitions securing £7.1m to set up a GCRF Centre developments around the Queen Elizabeth Alexander Roslin. (free to University of Glasgow staff and students with valid staff or student card). As a graduate, I want to offer my congratulations to the University of Glasgow for being named Scottish University of the Year – a great achievement by the staff and students. It is very fitting that the University’s strengths in research, teaching and graduate employability have been recognised in this way as work gets underway on its expansion plans, ensuring that the education, experience and facilities offered by Glasgow continue to lead the way not only in Scotland, but on the world stage. FIRST MINISTER OF SCOTLAND NICOLA STURGEON