WINTER 08 The University of Edinburgh THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE INCLUDING BILLET & GENERAL COUNCIL PAPERS Alumnus of the Year 2007 Human rights lawyer Emily Maw in conversation with Sheena McDonald ALSO INSIDE: Edinburgh’s innovative new centre for motor neurone disease research A year in focus: Edit reviews the past academic year Contents 18 Foreword Welcome to the Winter 2008 edition of Edit. In this issue we meet a number of friends and fellow alumni including those behind the groundbreaking Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research. We also join Sheena McDonald in conversation with the Alumnus of the Year 2007, Emily Maw, whose dedication and 16 contribution to criminal justice in the US will make all Edinburgh Alumni justly proud. In addition we take a look at the University’s achievements throughout 2006/07 in our Review of the Year. A more detailed account can be found at www.ed.ac.uk/annual review. 2008 is set to be a great year as we expand 20 14 and strengthen our alumni networks throughout the world. We’re also delighted that the General Council will be holding their June meeting in Washington DC for the first time. This promises to be a momentous and historic occasion. A Voting Features Paper for the election of members of the Council’s Business Committee is also enclosed. 14 A Cure Lies in Collaboration With best wishes for the New Year. Shedding new light on motor neurone disease. Young P Dawkins III 16 Fighting for Freedom Vice-Principal, Development Sheena McDonald talks to lawyer Emily Maw, the University’s Alumnus of the Year 2007. Publisher Barbara Laing , Communications and Marketing, The University of Edinburgh Centre, 18 Review of the Year 2006/07 7–11 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9BE Edit puts the spotlight on the past academic year. Design Freight Design 0141 552 5303 Cover Photography Alaisdair Smith Printing J Thomson Colour Printers Mailing Services Capital Communications Advertising Enquiries Landmark Publishing Services 0207 692 9292 No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of the publishers. Edit is printed on environment-friendly, Forestry Stewardship Council-accredited paper. Edit, the University of Edinburgh’s magazine, is published twice a year. The views expressed in its columns are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent those Regulars of the University. The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336. 02 University News 20 Alumni Network ON THE MOVE? If you have changed address please let us know. Contact Development & Alumni on 0131 650 2240 or email 24 World Service [email protected]. 28 Talbot Rice Gallery FSC logo 29 Billet (including details of the General Council Meeting in Washington 2008) 02 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 03 For all the latest University news, visit: www.ed.ac.uk/news University News Scotland’s first Confucius Institute launched The Royal (Dick) Vet celebrates 50 years A national centre to promote economic, educational and cultural ties between Scotland and China A homecoming weekend for alumni and a special graduation ceremony were held in the summer was launched in September at the University by First Minister Alex Salmond. to commemorate 50 years since the first vets received degrees from the University. The Confucius Institute for Scotland will The Principal of the University, Professor “This new Institute will strengthen More than 300 alumni from all over the Veterinary Surgeons, and Dr Freda Bush campus and Edinburgh Zoo, join a global network of more than 140 Timothy O’Shea, says: “Productive these cultural and academic world came to Edinburgh to mark half Scott-Park, Senior Vice-President of the a gala homecoming dinner and the 2007 institutes to develop effective business, collaboration between the University interactions, and create new a century since the first students British Veterinary Association. William Dick Lecture – “Is Man Just of Edinburgh and China stretches back possibilities for further Scottish graduated with Bachelor of Veterinary cultural and academic links with the The anniversary celebrations also Another Animal?” – delivered by Steve at least a century and a half. engagement with China.” Medicine and Surgery degrees after fastest growing economy in the world. included tours of the School’s Easter Jones, Professor of Genetics at UCL. the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary The Institute, backed by the Chinese Studies joined the University in 1951. Education Ministry, will offer a range Among the alumni were 10 out of the of cultural and academic programmes original 17 vets who graduated from the to develop awareness of modern China, University in 1957. On Friday 22 June, its history and culture. members from the “Class of 1957” joined a graduation procession for 109 To mark the Institute’s opening, the newly qualified vets and postgraduate National Office for Teaching Chinese students. The School’s patron, HRH as a Foreign Language, known as The Princess Royal, also attended the Hanban, donated a bronze bust of ceremony held at the University’s the Chinese educator and philosopher McEwan Hall and presented graduate Confucius, and officials from Zhuhai Louisa Ing with the School’s top prize, city donated a bronze statue of Huang the William Dick Medal. Kuan, the first Chinese graduate of Honorary degrees (Doctor of Veterinary any European University. Huang Kuan Medicine and Surgery) were awarded graduated in medicine from the to alumni Robert Moore, Junior Vice- HRH The Princess Royal presents graduate Louisa Ing with the School’s top prize, First Minister Alex Salmond and the University’s Principal, Professor Timothy O’Shea the William Dick Medal University of Edinburgh in 1857. President of the Royal College of While studying at the University’s Alumnus of the School of Law, Emily was given a Small New veterinary cancer centre Project Grant by the Alumni Fund to Year 2007 take up an internship at the Louisiana to benefit animals and humans Crisis Assistance Center, where she US-based lawyer Emily Maw, who returned to work after graduating. A £3 million veterinary research centre, Combining radiotherapy with new specialises in fighting miscarriages of She later graduated from Louisiana’s to be based at the University, will enable advanced imaging technologies, justice, has been named the University Tulane Law School. scientists to deepen their understanding the Centre will be able to offer the of Edinburgh’s Alumnus of the Year of cancer and inflammatory diseases most comprehensive range of cancer Nominations are now invited for the 2007. and to develop new therapies. The therapies in Europe, placing it in the Alumnus of the Year Award 2008. Cancer Centre, due to open in June top five veterinary cancer centres in Emily, 31, Director of The Innocence The award is made annually to a former 2008, will be a key part of a £100 million the world. Project New Orleans (IPNO), was student for services to the community, investment in the development of the presented with the prestigious award achievements in arts or sciences, in As well as supporting clinical research, ‘Dick Vet’ at Easter Bush, Midlothian. at a ceremony in the McEwan Hall. business, public or academic life. the Centre will enhance the educational Over the past six years, IPNO has To submit a nomination, and to see Under the directorship of Professor experience of the students of the Royal overturned 12 wrongful convictions for a full list of past winners, please visit David Argyle, the Centre is about more (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, men sentenced to life without parole in www.edinburghcampaign.ed.ac.uk, Emily Maw than just animal health, and will be providing improved training facilities Louisiana and Mississippi, states with or contact us (details on page 1) to ideally placed to offer research in animal for undergraduate and postgraduate the US’s highest incarceration rates. request a nomination form. Edit talks to Emily Maw on page 16. cancers as a model for human cancer. students. 04 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 05 For all the latest University news, visit: University News www.ed.ac.uk/news University of Edinburgh Chancellor honours academic excellence Three innovative academics have received Chancellor’s Awards in 2007 in recognition of their Campaign tops £200m contribution to the University and beyond. The University of Edinburgh Campaign has passed the The Chancellor of the University, since been leading educational and war crimes, and his latest book, £200 million mark and is well on target to meet its goals. HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, development within the Vet School. The Greatest Game of Genocide, won presented the awards to the academics the 2007 Raphael Lemkin Prize. Professor Donald Bloxham, of the School in front of some 200 supporters and The Campaign aims to raise Vice-Principal of Development, Young of History and Classics, was honoured Now in their fifth year, the Chancellor’s alumni at a dinner in the Palace of £350 million by 2011 in order to fund Dawkins, says: “People recognise that with the Rising Star Award. He has built a Awards recognise innovation, relevance, Holyroodhouse in August. world-class research, build state-of-the- making a stronger University makes a reputation for his research into genocide creativity and personal dedication. art facilities and provide a range of stronger Scotland. The gifts we receive The School of Chemistry’s Professor scholarships. Its initial success is due make a huge difference to the David Leigh picked up the Research University, its students and to the impact to an exhaustive worldwide programme Award in recognition of his pioneering of the University’s research on the of networking and fundraising.