SUMMER 09 THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE INCLUDING BILLET & GENERAL COUNCIL PAPERS The Origin of Genius Charles Darwin’s Edinburgh connection ALSO INSIDE Edinburgh’s innovative teaching leads the way Edit meets the winners of the Principal’s Medal The University of Edinburgh Forever a part of it Your links with Edinburgh don’t end when you leave the University – you’re an Edinburgh alumnus for life – so stay in touch and reap the benefits! The Alumni Card What will it do for you? Have you got your new-look Alumni Card • Receive 15% off hire of University • Enjoy free access to the University’s yet? As an alumnus you are eligible for the venues, accommodation and catering many libraries and their printed new card, which replaces the Edinburgh for weddings, parties, meetings and, collections – as well as 50% off Passport and allows discounted access of course, reunions! borrowing rights. to many of the University’s outstanding • Enjoy a 25% discount at the • Receive a 20% discount on all books facilities. The card also entitles you to University’s Centre for Sports and published by Edinburgh University a new range of discounts with partner Exercise – one of the Scotsman’s Press. organisations worldwide. Sign up at top five gyms in Scotland – which Get discounted rates with our partners www.ed.ac.uk/alumni. • offers you a wealth of fitness in the hotel and leisure industry all over classes, training, gym support, the world. We will be adding to our list climbing facilities, a circuit gym, of partners on a regular basis, so make playing fields, an outdoor activity sure you visit www.ed.ac.uk/alumni centre on Loch Tay and much more! for the latest offers. Log on to www.ed.ac.uk/alumni and discover the lifelong advantages of being a University of Edinburgh alumnus! Contents Foreword In this Summer 2009 edition, we chat to 14 friends and fellow alumni from all corners of the globe, including the winners of the inaugural Principal’s Medal (page 16). We also go behind the scenes as the University celebrates the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Darwin, one of our most eminent scholars (page 12), and we showcase our latest teaching innovations (page 14). With 2009 unfolding as an exciting and busy year, we hope you will stay in touch. As you can see from our new ‘My Edinburgh’ and ‘Then & Now’ 26 16 02 features (pages 24–27), Edinburgh students, past and present, have some interesting and intriguing stories to tell – Features we encourage you to share yours. 10 Reputation Reinforced Young P Dawkins III Edinburgh’s outstanding Research Vice-Principal, Development Assessment Exercise results explained 12 The Origin of Genius Publisher Barbara Laing ([email protected]) Communications and Marketing, The University How studying at Edinburgh helped of Edinburgh Centre, 7–11 Nicolson Street, shape the thinking of Charles Darwin Edinburgh EH8 9BE Design Freight Design 0141 552 5303 14 Next Generation Education Production Cate MacKenzie A variety of teaching innovations are winning Cover Photography Portrait of Charles Robert Darwin the approval of Edinburgh students (1809–1882), painted by George Richmond in 1840. Science Source/Science Photo Library 16 Lending a Helping Hand Printing J Thomson Colour Printers We meet the joint winners of the Mailing Services bss scotmail inaugural Principal’s Medal award 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 environmentally friendly, Forestry Stewardship Council-accredited paper. Edit, the University Regulars 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 02 University News of the University. The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body registered 18 Alumni Network in Scotland, with registration number SC005336. 22 ON THE MOVE? If you have changed address World Service please let us know. Contact Development & Alumni on +44 (0)131 650 2240 or email [email protected]. 24 My Edinburgh NEW! 26 Then & Now NEW! FSC logo 28 Talbot Rice Gallery 29 Billet 2 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine University News Honorary degree for legal Turf cutting ceremony for philosopher and politician research centre The late Professor Sir Neil A turf cutting ceremony with MacCormick was one of Scotland’s Finance Minister, several noted individuals John Swinney, marked the building of a £60 million research centre at to receive honorary degrees the University. from the University. The Scottish Centre for Regenerative Professor MacCormick, who died in Medicine will provide researchers with April, aged 67, was a renowned legal state-of-the-art laboratories to study philosopher and Scottish politician. diseases of the blood, bone, brain Shortly before his passing, he was and liver. Its location next to the Royal awarded the honour of Doctor of Science Infirmary of Edinburgh will also help in Social Science by the University. Professor Sir Neil MacCormick translate research from the laboratory bench into treatments for patients. Professor MacCormick served as Regius • Steve Morrison, Chief Executive Professor of Public Law and the Law The building, due for completion of All3Media (Doctor of Science in of Nature and Nations at the University in 2010 and to be headed by Social Science) for 36 years, and was a former SNP Professor Sir Ian Wilmut, will house member of the European Parliament • Sir David Murray, Rangers Football researchers from a range of and a member of the Convention on the Club chairman, and chairman of disciplines, including those from the Future of Europe. Murray International Holdings (Doctor University’s internationally recognised honoris causa) Institute for Stem Cell Research. Other honorary awards conferred at the Winter 2009 Graduation Ceremonies • Professor Joseph Weiler, Joseph The Centre forms a key part of the include: Straus Professor of Law at New York Edinburgh BioQuarter development University (Doctor of Laws). at Little France, a collaboration • Matthew Macleod MacIver, Chief between the University, Scottish Executive/Registrar of the General The University Benefactor Award was Enterprise and NHS Lothian. Teaching Council for Scotland presented to Alan and Anne McFarlane, (Doctor of Education) and Donald and Euan MacDonald. Mr Swinney said: “The Centre builds on Scotland’s strengths and ability to work together across PROFESSOR SIR NEIL MACCORMICK (1941–2009) academia, health and industry and will enhance Scotland’s global Professor Sir Neil MacCormick Possessing a “staggering intellect reputation for science.” studied philosophy at the University and great wit”, Professor MacCormick of Glasgow, and politics at Oxford, will be sadly missed by friends and and during his 36 years as Regius colleagues, said Professor Douglas Professor of Public Law and the Law of Brodie, Head of the School of Law. Nature and Nations at the University of “Perhaps no other contemporary Edinburgh he published many seminal scholar has influenced so many areas works on law, politics and morality. of legal thinking so deeply over such a long period,” Professor Brodie said. He retired from the University in January, but continued his public Professor MacCormick is survived service as adviser to the First Minister by his wife Flora, three children and on European and external affairs. three stepchildren. An artist’s impression of the Centre The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 3 For all the latest University news, visit: www.ed.ac.uk/news Celebrating five Journalist takes up seat years of Fairtrade as Edinburgh’s new rector Edinburgh has celebrated its fifth anniversary as Scotland’s first Iain Macwhirter has been Fairtrade University. installed as the University Edwards Paul Students and staff marked the of Edinburgh’s new rector. milestone earlier this year with a series of events, including a Fairtrade The journalist took 4,822 votes in the tea party, hosted by the University rectorial election held earlier this year, and EUSA, its students’ association. winning 69 per cent of the total vote. A Fairtrade birthday cake was provided and guests included Towera Mr Macwhirter said: “I am extremely Jalakasi, a Fairtrade consultant and excited to have this opportunity to take expert from Malawi, courtesy of the an active involvement in the University Scottish Fair Trade Forum. and look to ensure the interests of both Iain Macwhirter celebrates staff and students are maintained.” “Since the University of Edinburgh has become a Fairtrade university, The rector chairs the University Court, postgraduate student in the 1970s, and thousands of farmers have been the governing body of the University, he has worked as a political researcher helped out of poverty,” said EUSA and represents the interests of students and journalist since the 1980s. He has President, Adam Ramsay. and staff. The University’s rectorial been a regular political commentator for election takes place every three years, Glasgow’s Herald and Sunday Herald and this election marks 150 years since and a writer for the New Statesman and William Gladstone first took up the post. the Guardian. Mr Macwhirter studied politics at “It’s a genuine honour and a privilege the University of Edinburgh as a to chair the University Court,” he said. University staff acknowledged in Queen’s New Year’s Honours List University of Edinburgh staff have once Head of Islamic and Middle Eastern again been recognised in the Queen’s Studies – OBE for services to Higher Edinburgh reaffirms New Year’s Honours List. Education worldwide reputation The following awards to current or • Professor Isobel Sharp, Visiting former members of staff will be Professor, Business School – The University of Edinburgh’s conferred later this year: CBE for services to the Accountancy position as one of the world’s Profession.