WINTER 2014 | 15

THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE + BILLET & GENERAL COUNCIL PAPERS

I MADE IT UP MARGARET ATWOOD ON CRAFTING A LITERARY CAREER

ALSO INSIDE HERBARIUM: PLANTS AND PAINTINGS | WHEN OLD COLLEGE WAS NEW | HISTORY MAKERS: CHEMISTRY WINTER 2014 | 15 CONTENTS

FOREWORD CONTENTS elcome to the winter edition of Edit. 08 16 W and have a place in the hearts of countless people throughout the world, and the leading poet and author Margaret Atwood is no exception. She Inspiration can be your legacy spoke to Edit as she received an honorary degree from the , and her interview on pages “A university and a gallery have much in common. 6-7 is a characteristic blend of humour and insight, taking in the power of access to higher education to bring 10 12 Challenging. Beautiful. Visionary. about social change, and including a mention of Irn-Bru. Designed to inspire the hearts and minds Anniversaries crop up throughout this edition of your magazine. A ceremony launching a major refurbishment of of the leaders and creators of tomorrow.” Old College also celebrated the laying of the foundation Pat Fisher, Principal Curator, stone 225 years ago. We open the cabinet doors of one of 18 www.ed.ac.uk/talbot-rice the world's leading herbariums, which, jointly founded by the University in the 19th century, has been in its current home for 50 years. We also examine the University's unique relationship with China as the Confucius Institute for Scotland passes its 10th birthday. Edit itself moves with the times, and as we publish our latest printed magazine, 04 Digital Edit tu18 Wha Yo Did Next we have a new suite of digital offerings, all of which include additional multimedia content. See pages 4-7 06 Update 20 Edinburgh Experience for how to get the most from Edit in 2015. 08 The Interview 22 Snapshot Margaret Atwood on Kirsty MacDonald, Executive Director Edinburgh, writing, and 24 Arts Review of Development and Alumni Engagement ignoring advice. 10 New beginnings 25 Science Digest for Old College Looking back to Old Published by Communications and Marketing 26 The History Makers College's foundation, and The University of Edinburgh, Floor C, Forrest Hill Building, forwards to redevelopment. 5 Forrest Hill, Edinburgh EH1 2QL, UK 28 Alumni Network 12 Discoveries Contact: [email protected] Design: www.hookson.com cut and dried 29 The Two of Us Printing: Sterling Inside Edinburgh's world-leading herbarium. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written 30 Landmark consent of the University of Edinburgh. The views expressed in Edit are those of the 16 The Chinese contributors and do not necessarily represent those of the University. This magazine is printed on environmentally friendly, carbon-balanced paper that has been accredited connection 31 The Last Word by the Forestry Stewardship Council. Exploring a uniquely ON THE MOVE? If you have changed address please let us know. Contact strong relationship. 32 Billet Development & Alumni on +44 (0)131 650 2240 or at [email protected] A gift to the University of Edinburgh in your will helps us maintain an outstanding public gallery for art and ideas. This publication is available in alternative formats on request. CONTACT US

To find out more about making a gift to the University of Edinburgh in your will, [email protected] please contact Morag Murison on +44 (0)131 650 9637 or [email protected] facebook.com/edalumni We are happy to arrange a chat or simply send you an information pack. twitter.com/edinburghalumni Alternatively, visit www.ed.ac.uk/legacy-giving tinyurl.com/edalumni The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.

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Edit’s digital offering VISIT OR DOWNLOAD THE NEW DIGITAL EDITIONS has been expanded OF EDIT FOR MULTIMEDIA EXTRAS WITH MANY OF THE ARTICLES IN THE PRINT MAGAZINE. and enhanced with THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE WINTER 2014 | 15 Video content includes: the publication of Interview with Margaret Atwood, talking about links between the winter 2014/15 Scotland and Canada. magazine. You can now enjoy additional multimedia content and read the whole of Edit in the way that suits your technology and your preferences.

Video of the procession to commemorate the foundation of Old College and launch its refurbishment.

DON’T MISS OUT LET US KNOW YOUR PREFERENCES From January 2015 we will send one printed edition of Edit to all alumni Alumni have access to services and each year. Our summer edition of Edit benefits through the secure MyEd will be in digital format only, with portal. For recent graduates, who will additional features added to the have used MyEd while studying at web-based version throughout the at the University, your student login year. To enjoy the year-round benefit details will have been converted Video of Confucius Institute’s Interview with botanical of Edit, Enlightened and all alumni automatically into alumni access. “China at the Mound” artists Fiona Strickland and services, make sure we have your For those who did not use MyEd as celebrations. Robert McNeill. details and that your preferences a student, you can register for MyEd are up to date. by emailing our Information Services IPAD, ANDROID helpline: [email protected]. AND KINDLE Through MyEd, you can access a wide range of alumni services, from The winter edition of Edit is available information about alumni events to RESPONSIVE WEB EDITION as an interactive app for tablet and careers support. You can also update smartphone, across iOS, Android and your preferences, such as whether The web-based edition of the first digital edition in summer 2014, Kindle formats, accessed from the App you receive the printed version of Edit Plus: Full-screen versions of photographs. magazine, at edit.ed.ac.uk, now the web-based magazine will be Store, Google Play and Amazon. As and whether you receive the monthly includes every section of Edit, from updated between print editions with the web-based magazine, the apps ENGLIGHTENED Enlightened email. Update to The Last Word and Billet. with new feature articles. contain video with our feature articles, and the whole of the printed magazine’s Our monthly Enlightened newletter is This responsive browser-based format, Past editions of the magazine will content is included. We will publish packed with news about your fellow which includes video with many of be available and all articles will two editions of the apps each year, one graduates and the University, and the articles, can be viewed across be searchable. in summer, one in winter. information about alumni benefits. any platform from smartphone to desktop computer. Building on our

4 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.EDIT.ED.AC.UK 5 UPDATE WINTER 2014 | 15 UNIVERSITY AND ALUMNI NEWS UPDATE

FOR ALL THE LATEST ALUMNI NEWS, VISIT UPDATE WWW.ED.AC.UK/ALUMNI

01 01 02 03 04 TEVIO T CELEBRATES 125TH BIRTHDAY

Students, staff and alumni marked the 125th anniversary in November of the world’s oldest purpose-built Student Union building, .

A weekend of events celebrated the history of Teviot, which was opened in 1889. There was a Prohibition- themed jazz night in the Library Bar, and a comedy and music 05 extravaganza featuring Craig Hill, student comedians Joe McArdle and Becky Price, the Improverts and Hector's Heroes Ceilidh Band.

The weekend concluded with a students v alumni University Challenge quiz, hosted by BBC Scotland’s Political Editor, Brian Taylor. The narrowly defeated alumni team were Ruth Davidson (MA General Arts Gayle Lindgren 1999), Nicholas Grier (LLB Law 1982), Jane Barlow Jane Barlow Neil Hanna Stephen Jardine (MA History 1985) and George McGavin (BSc Zoology 1975).

01 ENERGY MINISTER AMBER RUDD LAUNCHES 02 SHINY NEW 03 NORTH AMERICAN 04 AS IT HAPPENED 05 FIRBUSH ‘BREATHTAKING’ OCEAN SIMULATOR COAT FOR OFFICE OPENS 30 YEARS AGO REVISITED GOLDEN BOY The University Library is publishing Dr Sonia Wakelin (BSc 1995, MBChB The University’s marine energy Council, the University and Scottish She added: “I have lots of fond The University has strengthened its links with North America by opening digitised editions of the Student 1997, PhD 2006), has made a very testing facility, FloWave, has been Enterprise. It can simulate waves up memories of Edinburgh. I was The iconic “Golden Boy” statue that a liaison office in New York City. newspaper from exactly 30 years special trip to the University’s opened by Amber Rudd (MA to 28 metres high and currents of 12 particularly interested in getting tops the dome of Old College has ago, week by week. Firbush Point outdoor centre on the History 1986), Parliamentary knots in the two-metre deep tank, involved in acting, and one of the been regilded. The new base will aid collaboration between the University and its partners in banks of Loch Tay – with her young Under-Secretary at the Department using 2.4 million litres of water. most extraordinary things I did with education, business and government across Canada and the USA. It will also The newspaper is being published family, 20 years after her first visit as of Energy and Climate Change. a friend was to put on a grown-up The dome was shrouded in scaffolding help strengthen ties with Edinburgh alumni in North America and provide a on the library’s blog, in a one-year an undergraduate. Testing devices at scale in the version of The Sound of Music. throughout the autumn, as the statue point of contact for prospective students. pilot that began with the 3 October The FloWave Ocean Energy Research unique facility can enable research It was slightly hammed up, but was prepared and gilded on site. 1984 edition. Dr Wakelin stayed at Firbush in the Facility, at the King’s Buildings milestones to be achieved in much extraordinarily good fun. Edinburgh The office, at Rockefeller Plaza, is the University's fourth overseas base, joining 1990s, when her head of department, campus, is a 25-metre circular pool shorter times than in open water, was a wonderful place to try It is the first time in almost 30 years the Office, China Office and the Office of The Americas, which works “I can almost smell the glue that we Professor Danny McQueen, arranged that can recreate both waves and helping bring clean energy products things out.” that the weather-beaten statue across Latin America. used to put the paper together,” said a reading party trip. Now a surgeon currents found at sea, enabling the to market more quickly and cheaply. has been recoated. Stonework and Michael Devlin (MA Arts General in Portsmouth, Dr Wakelin returns to testing of energy devices such as Ms Rudd joined an investment bank leading close to the statue were Joanna Storrar, Executive Director of the North American Office, said: “Every 1985), who was editor of the Student Scotland regularly, and wanted her tidal generators and floating offshore Ms Rudd added: “Renewable energy after graduating, before entering restored at the same time. day our deepening connections enable us to pursue opportunities – for in October 1984, in a comment three children to enjoy the outdoor wind platforms. is such an important part of what this the venture capital industry, where applying our research, attracting financial support, recruiting new students, posted to the Library’s blog. activities on offer. country does, and what we need to she helped start-up firms find The life-sized bronze figure created by developing student internships – that we simply would not have from a “It’s completely breathtaking,” said do. It’s a really exciting day – I think commercial opportunities. John Hutchison has marked the city’s distance. There is no substitute for being here.” The cover of the first digitised “The experience is hard to beat, and Ms Rudd at the opening ceremony. we’re seeing the start of something skyline since 1888. It is believed to be edition features Ian MacGregor (MA the children loved it,” she says. “It’s just remarkable to see what can pretty extraordinary.” She said that experience has modelled on a well-known Edinburgh The University hosted a series of events to mark the opening of the office in English Language & Literature 1985), be done here. It’s going to have a helped her in her political career. character, Anthony Hall, who was a New York City, and has launched two new scholarships to support outstanding now Editor of the Daily Telegraph, Firbush, which is run by the Centre fantastic application for renewable Ms Rudd, MP for Hastings & Rye “Understanding what businesses boxer and athlete and later became a students from North America. and Alastair Dalton (MA History for Sport and Exercise, offers companies wanting to test what can since 2010, reflected on her time at need to create employment has life model. The took 2,500 1987), now a journalist with the preferential rates for alumni. An be done with tidal energy.” Edinburgh, saying: “It feels fantastic been absolutely critical to the small squares of 23.5-carat gold leaf The John Witherspoon Masters Scholarships – each worth up to $35,000 – Scotsman. The Student was founded expansion is planned for its 50th to be back here, a city that I’ve never work that I do now.” to complete. will be open to postgraduate masters students in any field for 2015/16. in 1887 by Robert Louis Stevenson. anniversary in 2017. The £10.5 million FloWave facility stopped loving. Being back in this has been funded by the Engineering official capacity makes it very Watch FloWave in action Watch the restoration work Watch a video on our North libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk/ www.ed.ac.uk/sport-exercise/ and Physical Sciences Research special indeed.” at edit.ed.ac.uk at edit.ed.ac.uk American links at edit.ed.ac.uk thestudent firbush

6 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.EDIT.ED.AC.UK 7 THE INTERVIEW WINTER 2014 | 15 MARGARET ATWOOD 'WRITE THE BEST WAY YOU CAN' THE INTERVIEW

Margaret Atwood received an honorary degree at the ‘ WRITE THE University’s General Council event in Toronto. The Booker BEST WAY Prize winning Canadian author spoke to Barbara Laing about Edinburgh, writing, learning and YOU CAN’ teaching at university, and the advice she never took.

CBC Still Photo Collection/Farhang Ghajar

You regularly visit It’s not where you’re writing, Do you consider his advice still very anxious at that age (“How make the next writing project conservative, as you know. But we Edinburgh for the it’s where you’re writing about. (to go on to Harvard) to will it all turn out?”). I stopped more or less of a challenge? can say that opening the doors to – Canadians like International Book Festival. Being in a place very different from have been a seminal moment? teaching full time as soon as I was Ha ha! It had been a cliff- for instance – women and minorities Opening the What have been your favourite the one you are writing about often The alternative would have self-supporting through writing. As hanger for some time. Every has influenced social change, as to help you in experiences of the city? helps improve focus. Scotland is been to run away to France, is true for everyone who teaches, time I didn’t win it, I could expect it has changed the face of the doors to – We actually lived in good to write in because it’s not too drink Absinthe if I could find however, I enjoyed some of my headlines in the gloating Canadian knowledge-bearers in our society, your constant Edinburgh in 1978–9 – my hot. Drizzle helps. any, smoke cigarettes in a garret students very much (when they were press – Atwood Fails to Win Booker! and thus changed the nature of for instance partner Graeme Gibson was the (hopeless, they make me cough), wear smart and talked back). I had fun – as if winning it were like winning what sort of knowledge we consider struggle to keep Canadian/Scotland exchange writer What are your fondest black turtlenecks, get TB, and expire teaching, but I did not much enjoy a race. Whereas with literary prizes worth investigating, and what sorts – women and from getting too that year – so we see old friends, memories of your student early while composing deathless some of the more rancorous features the recipient is inert. It’s a bit more of judgments and evaluations we minorities including Aileen Christianson of the experiences at the University of masterpieces, sort of like La Bohème. of departmental politics. like Best Pumpkin in the garden show. have made. puffed up. University of Edinburgh, who helped Toronto, and later at Harvard? So, in a word, yes. So I have to admit it was much like has influenced with the research for Alias Grace As an undergraduate I did Mentioning your name a relief. At least I wouldn’t have to Going back to finding – one of the murder victims was a lot of multi-tasking because What other seminal in conversation causes go through the Fails to Win stuff your feet in the publishing social change. Scottish. We also see friends few were interested in the arts in the moments did you have in sharp intakes of breath followed again, though of course there was world, do you have any advice we have made since that time, Ian late 1950s. Sometimes I wrote for your university days? by outpourings about favourite immediately a piece about why I for our alumni who may have Rankin [MA English Language & the “arty” magazine under different Maybe when my senior reads. Do you have a sense of shouldn’t have won it. Canadians like similar ambitions? Literature 1982] among them. We names. Skit writing, acting, set adviser advised me to drop all what your writing has done for to help you in your constant struggle There wasn’t much of a always pay a visit to the Café Royal painting, illustrating, poster design. this writing and academic stuff and so many people? Is this inspiring to keep from getting too puffed “publishing world” in Canada with its wonderful old tile murals. At Harvard it was different: more find a good husband instead. Think when moving into new projects? up. I celebrated with family, had a in 1961, not for young Canadian Edinburgh is a great city for vintage pressure. In both places I had many maybe that was seminal. That’s lovely, but I think it’s a dram. My next project was Oryx and writers. So we made one up. I clothing shops, which we explored excellent teachers. And the libraries feature of living a long time. Crake, which had a whole new set of suppose my advice would go when I was there in 2006 as the first were very important to me. You took up academic At my age John Keats had been dead challenges. As Monty Python used to something like: publishing is in flux. Muriel Spark Fellow. So far I have posts in the 60s and 70s. for 50 years. It’s better not to think say, something completely different. Don’t assume that today’s realities avoided the deep fried Mars bar, Northrop Frye is noted as Did you enjoy the nurturing and too much about “the reader” when are the only ones there are. There’s though I have tried Irn-Bru. an influence in your early teaching aspects of these roles you are writing. You have to assume Is access to education an always another way to do it. But academic career. What were the while you researched, wrote there will be one, but if you start important issue in your that’s the delivery system. The Place is important in highlights of working with him? and published? Did you learn anticipating the strange letters, you view? And do you believe social writing should be the real concern. your writing. Do you find Not much as an undergraduate anything from your students? may freeze. change can be brought about Write your book the best way you you write differently when in – I took only half a course I really did not have much through higher education? can. That’s step number one. MORE ONLINE different parts of the world? with him – but I knew him later. A interest in being nurturing How did it feel when you We could talk about the role www.edit.ed.ac.uk You’ve lived in Europe, but is very smart person, extremely well and so forth. One doesn’t in one’s won the Booker Prize? of universities through the Canada where you need to be? read and also funny. 20s and early 30s; usually you are How did you celebrate? Did it ages – they’ve been both radical and

8 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.EDIT.ED.AC.UK 9 WHEN OLD COLLEGE WAS NEW WINTER 2014 | 15 IN HISTORIC FOOTSTEPS

A re-creation of the historic procession of 1789 that marked the foundation of Old College took place in November.

More than 100 senior figures from 01 Procession, November 2014 02 Laying the foundation stone, November 1789 03 Robert Adam’s the University, the Scottish , plan for Old College 04 Old College today 02 the Faculty of and the were among those in the procession. It began at and continued WHEN along George IV Bridge and Chambers Street, before arriving at the main entrance to Old College. OLD COLLEGE The event culminated in the unveiling of an engraved flagstone commemorating the 225th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone. The forthcoming WAS NEW redevelopment of Edinburgh Law School was also announced, and It is 225 years since the foundation stone was laid for Old College. a fundraising campaign launched. Work will begin early in 2015 and is Architectural historian John Lowrey tells the turbulent story of the expected to last five years. beginnings of this iconic building, and heralds a new chapter. RCAHMS www.ed.ac.uk/development- alumni/law-campaign

01 Douglas Robertson

www.nealesmith.com On 16 November 1789 the foundation Adam’s architectural vision was on tenemented architecture to line this 03 04 Instead a more monumental design Black, much to the alarm The College, for stone of Old College was laid by the a monumental, even urban scale, new route. This was to be introduced was used that is probably more of the University’s health and Adam, was the Grand Master Mason of Scotland, but in he lost out to his at the southern end by “the New appropriate in the larger space. safety department. in the presence of a crowd of great rival, William Chambers, in the College”, later to be known as “the start of a via 30,000. This optimistic scene of commission for Somerset House, College” and eventually, from the Playfair’s most obvious contribution That work was the prelude to the academic, civic and masonic pomp the greatest public work in Britain early 20th century, as Old College. to Old College is his stupendous remodeling of the quad to make it triumphalis that and cooperation marked the start of of the time. upper library hall. Here, he entirely once again a place of collegiality a huge, and hugely difficult, project Here, the impressive entrance is changed Adam’s design and rather than a car park. introduced the that had been dear to the heart The rebuilding of the University based on a giant Roman triumphal produced a simpler and hugely of the veteran principal, William of Edinburgh is Adam’s Somerset arch. The College, for Adam, was impressive space that combines Perhaps even more important is Enlightenment city. Robertson, for many years. House and its significance lies in its the start of a via triumphalis, a Roman classicism in the coffered the work about to start on the status not only as a major piece of monumental urban ensemble that barrel vault of the ceiling with refurbishment of the School of Law, The disparity, as he saw it, between neoclassical architecture but also as introduced the great Enlightenment a giant Greek Ionic order in the on the north side of the quad. This the fame and success of the a piece of urban design. city and culminated in his Register columns at each end, signaling the includes a substantial remodelling University and the ramshackle House at the north end of the route, de force but it came late in his opposite end, in the north-west new taste in what was by now being of the library, with new octagonal collection of buildings that housed The context was the expansion of inspired by another Roman model, career and within three years of corner, Adam’s anatomy theatre was called the “ of the North”. book stacks, taking their cue from it was an affront and even a threat, Edinburgh in the second half of the the Pantheon. the foundation ceremony, he had built and it survives today as the the old anatomy theatre at the west as the University went through an 18th century. This started with the died, with only a small amount of only teaching space from the original The current investment in estate by end of building. unprecedented period of expansion. construction of the North Bridge in His college design encompassed a the building completed. By 1794 his design. In establishing these two key the University, thankfully on a more 1765, as a prelude to James Craig’s double courtyard: a smaller one just brother and successor James and areas, Adam had made it unlikely secure footing than in Adam’s or The School of Law is the only In the time capsule that was first New Town. And in 1784, the inside the entrance, with professorial Principal William Robertson had that any cost cutting would reduce Playfair’s time, includes substantial academic school still based in Old immured in the foundation stone city decided to expand in the other housing and a new chapel, and also died. the college’s overall size. work on Old College. College and it is in roughly the was a copy of the design by Robert direction, with the construction beyond that, in the main courtyard, position allocated to it by Robert Adam that would solve this problem of the South Bridge, which would the major teaching spaces, the The finances of the building fell However, Playfair did have to cut In 2010/11 a major archaeological dig Adam in 1789. That presence is and create the grandest and most cut through the eastern end of the museum, the library and a “great hall”. apart from the mid-1790s when the down the ambition of Adam’s design. was carried out, to investigate the important and the refurbishment coherent example of scholastic University’s property and helped to long wars with France began. It was Playfair retained the key idea of open remains of the original University shows a commitment by the architecture in Britain. force a decision on its rebuilding. This courtyard was characterised by only after 1815, when Napoleon quadrants and projecting pavilions, buildings. There were hopes of University to retain in Old College projecting pavilions on the centres was defeated, that the project was but doubled their number to four finding the remains of Kirk o’ Field, the teaching function for which it Adam had been desperate to secure Adam intervened in the South of the north and south façades and restarted with an architectural in an enlarged single court. He also the site of Lord Darnley’s 1567 was originally designed. this commission, but there was an irony Bridge project and ensured that it open quadrant colonnades forming competition. The winner was took the brave decision to demolish murder, in the south-west corner of in his involvement with the University. was aligned with the North Bridge, part of a continuous corridor around . the façade of the one pavilion that the quad. It is not there, but on the John Lowrey is a senior lecturer in MORE ONLINE This is the architect who had left providing a long, axial route into the edge of the building. had been built, because its intricate east side archaeologists did find the architectural history at Edinburgh www.edit.ed.ac.uk Scotland as “a narrow place” to seek the city from the south, and he He inherited the bulk of the eastern Adam design would have been chemical store of the famous 18th School of Architecture & Landscape greater opportunities in London. produced grand, essentially Roman, It would have been Adam’s tour block on South Bridge. At the expensive to produce four times. century chemistry professor Joseph Architecture.

10 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.EDIT.ED.AC.UK 11 DISCOVERIES CUT AND DRIED WINTER 2014 | 15 DISCOVERIES CUT AND DRIED

DISCOVERIES CUT AND DRIED

©RBGE ©RBGE ©RBGE

have been added, including Society of Edinburgh Neill Medal, served in the armed forces until 1945, The University of Edinburgh is one of the founding institutions that historic collections from George the Gold Medal of the Linnean but immediately after the war, he Forrest, and Society and the Certificate of Merit It gives you a took the first step towards his dream created the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh herbarium – a globally George Walker Arnott. The latter from the Turkish Minister of State. of becoming a plant collector. He important collection of plant specimens that today includes nearly includes specimens collected by whole different joined the University of Edinburgh Charles Darwin, who studied at the Two of Davis’s fellow travellers, to study botany and graduated two-thirds of the world’s species. Edinburgh botanists helped University of Edinburgh between the internationally renowned perspective on with first class honours in 1949. 1825 and 1827, during his Beagle botanists Ian Hedge (BSc Botany The University appointed him create this unique resource and now continue its pioneering work. voyage. Collections created since the 1951) and Dr James Ratter, still work your research. lecturer of botany, even before early 20th century have been mostly at RGBE today. completion of his PhD on the Silke Currie opens the cabinet doors. acquired by RBGE staff and reflect Taxonomy of Middle East Flora in modern research interests. Around “Peter was a great botanist,” Mr ALAN ELLIOTT 1952. Moving through the academic PHD STUDENT 11,000 specimens are added to the Hedge says. “Over his life time, ranks, he eventually held a Personal or at least 500 years, the has nearly two-thirds of the world’s plants based here, people coming in collection each year. he collected more than 70,000 Chair in Plant Taxonomy from 1979. ambition to study biodiversity flora species, making it a globally and specimens being requested.” specimens, which in a global Fhas taken botanists on important research facility. Scientists One of RBGE’s most distinguished context is enormous.” Supported by six research assistants, expeditions to collect and preserve travel to Edinburgh from across In 2014, the RBGE herbarium plant collectors was Peter Hadland Davis and his collaborators plants. Their dried discoveries are the world to study its contents, celebrated 50 years in its current, Davis (1918–1992), who was both Davis’s passion for plants was completed the Flora of Turkey over stored in herbaria, systematically and specimens are sent out on purpose-built home on Inverleith a student and a professor at evoked by an apprenticeship at 20 years. “Part of his success was organised plant collections that loan to countries far and wide. Row. Its origin, however, dates back the University of Edinburgh. His Ingwersen’s Alpine Plant Nursery in in the assistants he had,” Dr Ratter are used for scientific research. Every week new species are to 1840, when the collections of monumental lifetime achievement East Grinstead, , in 1937, remembers. “The first two were discovered among its plants, the University of Edinburgh and is the Flora of Turkey and the East at the age of 19. The following year, absolutely exceptional – James “[A herbarium] is a dictionary, a both the historical specimens and the Botanical Society of Edinburgh Aegean Islands, a 10-volume book he went on a self-initiated amateur Cullen and Mark Coode. They did library, an encyclopaedia. It’s all those collected recently. Specimens were combined. Modern herbaria, series, describing the entire plant expedition to western Anatolia, a magnificent job, though with a those things in one,” says University are also used for DNA research, which typically combine several world of its title. Davis took part Turkey, to explore the local flora. considerable amount of arguing of Edinburgh PhD student Alan including evolutionary studies, collections previously held by in numerous field trips around Deeply fascinated by the countryside with Peter! He tended to have rather Elliott, who works at the Royal and RBGE scientists are among private individuals, are an invention the world and went on at least 10 and plant diversity, Davis decided to romantic ideas about things and they Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) those pioneering new DNA of the 19th century. expeditions to Turkey, resulting in become a botanist. He committed to used to bring him down to earth.” herbarium. “As well as having all the sequencing methods. an outstanding collection of Turkish an enormous undertaking: to collect specimens, you have got the experts The RBGE herbarium has been plants at the RBGE herbarium. and describe the entire native plant Davis’s colleagues have fond here as well. It is very much living.” “We are a very active, large continually growing ever since its life of Turkey. memories. “He had a considerable MORE ONLINE international herbarium,” says curator creation. Over the years, numerous Celebrated for his extraordinary www.edit.ed.ac.uk With more than 3 million dried Dr David Harris. “There is an active private collections and permanent achievements, he received a plethora The outbreak of the Second World DISCOVERIES CUT AND DRIED specimens, the RBGE herbarium number of people who study the loans from other British universities of awards, including the Royal War put his plans on hold and he CONTINUED

12 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.EDIT.ED.AC.UK 13 DISCOVERIES CUT AND DRIED WINTER 2014 | 15 DISCOVERIES CUT AND DRIED Vicki Reid

Papaver, June poppy Abies koreana by Fiona Strickland by Robert McNeill IN A FRESH LIGHT After fulfilling teaching careers, graduates Fiona Strickland and Robert McNeill reinvented themselves as award-winning one-third of his estate to fund His latest trip was reminiscent of his findings is a new species research at RBGE, and the remainder Davis’s demanding expeditions of of clematis. botanical artists. Silke Currie speaks to them about their forthcoming joint founded the Davis Expedition Fund, decades earlier. Mr Elliott’s team project in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh herbarium. to provide University of Edinburgh crossed the Himalayas into the Trans- The contents of the RBGE students with travelling grants for Himalayas, travelling mostly on foot. herbarium are currently being field trips to non-European countries. “We did about 200km in the 21 days,” digitised, which is an enormous Silke Currie: What intrigues you interfere with the flow of a particular of work, but we’ll be working in Mr Elliott says. undertaking. Specimens are about portraying plants? leaf or stem, and explore the similar environments. I may be more Dr Greg Kenicer (BSc Biological photographed in very high possibilities of showing the form interested in aspects of colour, scale Sciences 1998, PhD Cell & Molecular Expedition days start around 6am resolution, enabling researchers Fiona Strickland: It’s a visual intrigue and how the light interplays with it. or structure, whereas Robert might Biology 2007), Head of Education in the “drying tent”. The team has to see details as if they were that excites you as an artist. The be more interested in the effects of at RBGE, says: “All the trips that to assess each morning whether using a hand lens. Curator David aspect of discovering a plant when FS: [My paintings] differ from light and form. students go on under the Davis fund previously collected plants are Harris says: “We have already you find it particularly beautiful, be it traditional botanical art in that they are invaluable to them. It just lets sufficiently dry or require further got a quarter of a million in bud or in decay, has to do with the have a different viewpoint and the RMcN: We have ideas about how specimens digitalised, with very ©RBGE them see how research is done.” pressing. They then start walking for visual elements, the colour, tone and scale may be different. They are the [project] will be shown. We want the day, collecting interesting plants high quality images available on line. That is essential to the way we totally unexpected in terms of what to show the process of gathering Alan Elliott, who secured two Davis along the trail. our website for anyone in the enjoy portraying plants. people would have as a preconceived the information and recording it, as grants for field studies in Nepal as world to see.” idea of botanical art. well as having some final pieces of sense of humour,” Dr Ratter recalls. “He really was obsessed with part of his PhD studies, explains: Before collecting a plant, Mr Elliott SC: Could you describe your work. We want to get away from the “He’d tell a joke and then giggle for collecting – we collected in huge “Peter Davis believed that students takes photographs and assigns it a It is thanks to the work of Peter approaches to botanical art? SC: Tell us about your traditional ways of showing. a long time after it – with his mouth quantities,” Mr Hedge says. “It was needed to experience field work. number. He notes GPS coordinates Davis and those following in upcoming project. making all sorts of performances. tough going: I got jaundice and lost Looking at dead bits of plant is all and details about the specimen’s his footsteps that there will be FS: We work in different ways in FS: We’ve had a little experiment It’s a pity it’s not on film.” a stone.” well and good, but you don’t get a habitat in his field book. The plant quite so much to see. terms of recording the object. FS: We’ll be working through and went on expedition. We made handle on how they grow and where goes into a field press and the Flora One may be to have the object in the seasons, recording plants at lots of drawings in the field and Both Mr Hedge and Dr Ratter also Davis’s legacy is kept alive by the they grow from reading – you need of Nepal database is updated. On Silke Currie front of you and the other to take different times as well as in different measurements and we took some recall that Davis was a challenging Turkish botanists his work inspired to experience that.” returning to camp, Mr Elliott’s team (MSc Biomedical photographs, notes, and drawings. environments. [The project] will films. It was great to look back at character. “He was an impatient and the ongoing research his estate transfers all collections into secure Sciences 2010) We build up transparent watercolor take notice of the traditional way the films. The viewer can relate person in some ways [and] he facilitates at RBGE. “When the The aim of Mr Elliott’s recent presses to dry on kerosene stoves. is studying for washes and build up layers, so that of working in botanical art, in that it to the piece of work and see the was very insistent,” Dr Ratter says. first volume of Flora of Turkey was expeditions was to collect plants for As is common on such trips, many a PhD at the University of each layer has LINKS an effect on the layer will record all aspects of the plant. environment in which it was created. “He always wanted things to be published in 1965, only three Turkish the RBGE Flora of Nepal project and of the specimens are dried and Edinburgh/MRC Centre for above or below, so we have really The herbarium will be interesting done instantly.” botanists contributed,” Mr Hedge his own research on the evolution of pressed between the pages of Inflammation Research. She has strong,Fair intense trade color. at the Universityto today: use in terms www.ed.ac.uk/fairtrade of research. We says. “But now, there are scores and plants in the Himalayas. “I came back local newspapers. previously served as Editor in intend to make a film, do drawings, Robert McNeill: I'm very interested Mr Hedge, who contributed scores of very confident Turkish with a much better understanding Chief of the University science paintings and documenting notes, To see this interview in in light,Fair and trade the way video: the plant www.ed.ac.uk/fair-trade-video is significant accounts to the botanists. And what contributed to of the mountains and the sheer Back at the RBGE herbarium, Mr magazine EuSci. take lots of photographs [and] work full and to learn more engulfed in light. I like to explore Flora, accompanied Davis on that? The Flora of Turkey.” diversity of plants,” he says. “It gives Elliott is currently analysing the at the herbarium. We are really about Fiona Strickland’s the possibilities of light and shade an adventurous seven-month you a whole different perspective collected specimens. “The expedition Join the conversation: www.facebook.com/UniversityOfEdinburghFairTradeexcited about it. We are not going and Robert McNeill’s art, visit in terms of shadows, whether they expedition to Turkey in 1957. When Davis died in 1992, he left on your research.” was a success for me,” he says. Among twitter.com/UoEFairTradeto be working on the same piece www.edit.ed.ac.uk

14 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.EDIT.ED.AC.UK 15 THOUGHT WITHOUT LEARNING IS PERILOUS WINTER 2014 | 15 PILOT STUDY Lesley Martin

01 NI HAO AND HAPPY THOUGHT BIRTHDAY

10-YEAR CELEBRATIONS WITHOUT A pop-up Chinese tea house helped transform the Mound in central Edinburgh as the University’s Confucius Institute for Scotland joined celebrations to mark 10 years LEARNING of the global Confucius Institute project, in late September.

There were stage performances throughout the day showcasing IS PERILOUS* Chinese pop and classical music and dance, and storytelling by the award-winning Rickshaw Theatre. *Confucius Members of the public enjoyed Tai Chi sessions, learnt basic Chinese phrases, and left messages of hope The University of Edinburgh has a uniquely on a traditional wishing tree. strong relationship with China. Edd McCracken Visitors could try their hand at explores the continuing work to deepen mutual Chinese calligraphy, play traditional string and wind instruments, or understanding between our two cultures. sample a range of Chinese teas. With two larger-than-life panda mascots Propaganda Poster Art Centre, Shanghai on hand, the event was difficult to miss.

anuary is not Edinburgh’s kindest “What was beautiful about the Institute of the Year six times things the way it does,” explains gallery, the centre is now partially “The first day I was really The Confucius Institute for Scotland month. After the Christmas lights event was that it was contemporary, by Hanban, the Chinese cultural Professor Gentz. “In the press or funded by the Chinese government. surprised,” says Liming Jiang, a was opened in 2007 at Arden House, What we’re Jand fireworks, the cutting edge art but using a classical agency that oversees more than public speeches there is very quickly fourth-year PhD student from next to the Pollock Halls student season can appear a little grey. topic,” says Professor Natascha 500 institutes globally. a condemnation. But if you study Low cost and accessibility made Shanghai and member of the accommodation. It is one of more trying to achieve Last January, however, the University’s Gentz, Director of the Confucius China, spend time in China, you posters a ubiquitous art form in Edinburgh Chinese Scholar and than 500 Confucius Institutes across Old College quadrangle held the Institute for Scotland in the Academic and research partnerships can see its internal reasons, the 20th century China. The Edinburgh Student Association. “I was the world, established by Hanban, is for people to winter gloom at bay thanks to a University of Edinburgh and one and exchanges, particularly in the challenges it has, and why it reacts exhibition was a pictorial history of walking across the Meadows and the Chinese government department uniquely Chinese intervention. of the key figures in the lanterns’ areas of science, engineering and this way. This does not mean one a tumultuous age, from glamorous I saw a lot of Chinese students responsible for promoting Chinese get a sense of installation. “You had both sides medicine, are flourishing. has to agree with everything, but women advertising perfume in the – a lot of familiar faces.” culture and language overseas. It has why China More than 70 lanterns in the shape of China in one exhibition.” there is no point in lecturing China. republican 1930s to the ever-present been named as among the best such of China’s famous Terracotta “It is a very important relationship,” Little Red Book and beaming face of Mr Jiang’s tale is a familiar one. Institutes in the world six times since does things the Warriors illuminated the quad. This was not the first time China has says Professor James Smith, Vice- “I would want people to be more Chairman Mao after the Communist He came to Edinburgh following its establishment. Standing in formation and most been at the heart of the University. Principal International. “You can knowledgeable about China. We Party’s triumph in the 1940s. the recommendations of his way it does. measuring more than two metres It is a relationship and story that play a role in all sorts of things want people to engage with China. professors at Tongji University high, the figures cast yellow, blue, stretches back centuries. through a relationship with China. So that’s what we’re trying to do “When we think about propaganda in Shanghai and visiting PROFESSOR green and red light onto Old It is significant geopolitically and with these events.” posters we have a very clear image Edinburgh academics. NATASCHA GENTZ DIRECTOR OF THE College’s walls. In 1855 Huang Kuan graduated in increasingly economically. Of all of things like the Cultural Revolution CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE medicine from the University. He the regions in the world, China is Events such as the hugely successful posters, which are very stereotyped “For Chinese students London FOR SCOTLAND Designed by artist Xia Nan for was the first Chinese student to one of the most important.” exhibition of modern Chinese poster and violent,” says Professor Gentz. and Edinburgh are the two cities the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the study in the West, and took new art. More than 5,000 people visited “But there is a broad range and they are interested in,” he says. exhibition marked the Chinese New medical techniques back to Asia. With the world’s economic health the University’s Adam House in June diversity of posters, which is why “It’s definitely a welcoming Year in Edinburgh. Images of the Since then the relationship between tethered to that of China’s, and the and July to see colourful populist we put this exhibition on. ” place. The Chinese students luminous army were beamed around Edinburgh and China has weathered scenes of protest on the streets of images from 1913 to 1997. It was really like Scottish culture. the world, including back to China. huge political change, but continues Hong Kong in autumn 2014, China the largest such exhibition shown Nearly 160 years after Huang Kuan Scots are very hospitable, and to be pioneering. is a country that demands to be outside of China. made his arduous trip to Scotland, Edinburgh is a wonderful place More than 30,000 visitors came to understood. The University is playing the University is home to more than to study. I appreciate every day MORE ONLINE see the magical display in its 10-day In 2007 Scotland’s first Confucius a role in this dialogue. “What we’re The images came from the 2,000 Chinese students. In 2013/14, that I am here.” Lesley Martin www.edit.ed.ac.uk run. It was the most popular event Institute opened at the University. trying to achieve is for people to Propaganda Poster Art Centre in more students joined the University ever held in the quadrangle. It has since been named Confucius get a sense of why China does Shanghai. Once an underground from China than from the USA.

16 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.EDIT.ED.AC.UK 17 WHAT YOU DID NEXT WINTER 2014 | 15 JAMIE ANDREW WHAT YOU DID NEXT WHAT YOU DID NEXT

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS LIFE AND LIMB

The story of Jamie Andrew’s and Jamie JAMIE ANDREW Fisher’s ordeal in the Alps in January 1999 is told in Mr Andrew’s book BENG ELECTRONICS & Life and Limb (Piatkus 2004), which has recently become available as an ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING 1991 e-book on Amazon. The book has been shortlisted for the Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature and has Brian Hall won the Banff Mountain Book Festival Prize for Mountain Literature. The story amie Andrew, like many climbers, The helicopter rescue that eventually Charity fundraising has been a feature married with kids, I draw that line of featured in the TV documentary series I had survived, and was prevented from climbing plucked the pair from the mountain of Mr Andrew’s story. He has worked acceptable risk lower than I used to.” I Shouldn’t Be Alive in 2011. I owed it to us Jthe Matterhorn in the summer was one of the most daring and with the and the of 2014 by the weather. The dramatic in Alpine history and made John Muir Trust, among others, and Having grown up in , Mr RETURN TO THE MOUNTAINS both to give this a pyramid-like mountain on the headlines around the world. But it is a patron of Disability Snowsports Andrew chose the University of Swiss-Italian border remained white came too late for Mr Fisher, and only UK and Ordinary to Extraordinary. Edinburgh partly because of its In June 2000 Mr Andrew scaled Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest second chance. throughout August, covered in snow just in time for Mr Andrew. He is a trustee of the Edinburgh well-known mountaineering club, mountain, raising more than £15,000 for charity. A year later and ice, when normally it would be College Development Trust. of which he and Jamie Fisher both he returned to Chamonix in the Alps to climb the Cosmiques mostly bare rock. The disaster of early 1999, however, held the office of President. “That’s Arete on L’Aiguille du Midi. In 2002 he made an attempt on JAMIE ANDREW

BENG ELECTRONICS & became for Mr Andrew the beginning Brian Hall He has notched up phenomenal feats when my climbing really took off,” Mont Blanc but turned back just 300m below the summit ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING 1991 Mr Andrew, no doubt like many of a remarkable journey, in which of athleticism and climbing, including he says. as the weather worsened. In January 2004, he made an all- climbers, made the best of the he came to terms with the loss of a running the London Marathon and disabled ascent of Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa at situation. He climbed the nearby close friend and the loss of his limbs. reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro. After an engineering degree, he 5,895m, raising money for a leprosy centre on the foothills of Weissmies, which at 4023m is itself Today he is again a mountaineer, who “I promised myself that this was the But when asked about the high enjoyed a successful career in the mountain. In April 2014 Channel 5 screened a documentary an impressive mountain. has raised many thousands of pounds low point of my life, and every day I points of the past 15 years, he names industrial rope access, helping the about Mr Andrew’s attempt on the Matterhorn in the summer for charity. He is also a motivational was going to improve somehow.” events that have nothing to do with likes of electricians and painters do of 2013. In a single day of climbing, he came within 250m of the The story so far is nothing unique. speaker who travels the world with mountains or endurance sports. their work in dramatic settings. “It’s summit, and he intends to return with bivouac equipment in But Jamie Andrew is not like other a story that has a universal message In his award-winning book, Life and very exciting,” he says. “There are no order to complete the climb over two days. climbers. He has no feet, and no about overcoming challenges. Limb, published in 2004, Mr Andrew “It sounds a cliché but the biggest words to describe what it’s like to hands. All four were amputated recounts the process of tackling achievement has been having my be hanging off the , or OTHER SPORTS after a climbing accident 15 years He traces the turning point in the the everyday challenges of being a kids,” he says. Mr Andrew married off an oil rig in the North Sea, or off ago that left his close friend and aftermath of the accident to a quadruple amputee, from practicalities Anna Wyatt in 2000, and the couple .” In 2002 Mr Andrew ran the London Marathon, raising more climbing partner dead and Mr Andrew moment in hospital, soon after such as feeding himself – the solution have three children. than £22,000 for charity. Since his accident he also taken part severely frostbitten. his amputations. was a spoon strapped to his stump The thrill is fresh in his voice. So does in skiing, snowboarding, paragliding, sailing and caving. In 2007 with a simple Velcro strap – to taking Having known Mr Andrew since he yearn for both professional and he completed the gruelling North Sea Yacht race in a team of In January 1999 Mr Andrew and Jamie “I was struggling with grief for Jamie,” his first steps on prosthetic limbs, before his accident, Ms Wyatt has climbing ambitions that were taken three men who between them had three hands and three feet, Fisher (BSc Geography 1994), both he recalls. “I was very angry and I within weeks of his accident. always understood the draw of the from him in 1999? His answer raising more than £10,000 for the charity 500 Miles. experienced mountaineers, took was suffering from guilt – all sorts mountains, but Mr Andrew is clear is arresting. time out from a skiing holiday with a of emotions. Through thinking about In the summer of 2000, only 18 that he is not putting himself in the SPEAKING group of friends to climb the North things and talking with the people months after the disaster, he was path of danger with his ongoing “You could offer me my hands and Face of Les Droites in the Mont Blanc close to me, I realised I had to get again making headlines by reaching adventures. “Mountaineers are good feet back right now and I would Mr Andrew’s main occupation is motivational speaking, mountain range. As they completed through that. I was the lucky one the top of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest risk managers,” he says. “My ultimate say no without hesitation. My life which sees him travel the globe visiting schools, businesses MORE ONLINE their ascent, an unexpected storm here, I had survived and Jamie hadn’t, mountain, raising £15,000 along aim is not to get to the top of the is complete the way it is. I’m not and conferences. He is a regular presenter on leadership www.edit.ed.ac.uk blew in that was to pin them to a and I owed it to us both to give this a the way for the RAF Mountain mountain: my ultimate aim is to get searching for something that I’ve lost. programmes at the Institute for Management Development knife-like ridge of rock for five days. second chance. Rescue Association. back down safely again. Now that I’m I’ve come to terms with it.” at Lausanne, Switzerland.

18 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.EDIT.ED.AC.UK 19 EDINBURGH EXPERIENCE WINTER 2014 | 15 HAMISH LONG | ANDREA GARDINER | GEORGIE BELL EDINBURGH EXPERIENCE SHELAGH MCGUIRE | OLIVER ELLIS

If you’d like to share your experiences, we’d love to hear EDINBURGH EXPERIENCE from you at www.ed.ac.uk/alumni/yournews From artists to zoologists, many graduates view their time at Edinburgh as the GEORGIE BELL formative years of their professional lives. Here are a few of your experiences BSC GEOGRAPHY 2010

and updates on recent achievements and successes. “I arrived in Edinburgh in September In third year, while doing a course 2006. My parents had read that on the geography of wine, I realised you should send your children to that there was a connection university alone, so loaded me on between the alcohol industry and HAMISH LONG to the train at King’s Cross, London, geography, and thus based my with six suitcases and wished me dissertation on whisky and regional BSC CHEMISTRY 1963, ‘bon voyage’. identity on Islay. I was finally able to PHD CHEMISTRY 1966 combine my two loves – the spirits While changing trains half way industry and geography. “Studying at Edinburgh was hard work Later we had access to the ATLAS through the journey I managed but enjoyable. Notable experiences computers in Manchester and to offload half my bags onto the My dissertation helped me apply for included running the Charities Car Harwell. This involved sitting in platform, ran back on for the other work and I got a job at the Scotch Competition, canoeing down the Buccleuch Place in the evenings, half and the train took off – leaving Malt Whisky Society. After two Tweed from Stobo to Berwick and punching out programs and data me bagless and on the wrong train. years I became their first Global learning judo and fencing. on seven-hole tape on flexiwriters As if I wasn’t scared enough! As with Brand Ambassador. I decided to and posting it to the appropriate all bad stories, though, that won me further my education within this On the academic side, meeting and organisation. Results came back a few rounds during Freshers’ Week. field and gained a diploma in dining with Max Perutz and Dorothy four days later – usually with distillation through the Institute Crowfoot Hodgkins (both Nobel ‘parity errors’! In my first year I got a job behind the of Brewing and Distilling. prize-winners) was a highlight, thanks bar at the Opal Lounge nightclub on to my wonderful PhD supervisor, Through ChemSoc I had my first real George Street. As a result, I was not In January 2014 I joined Diageo as Dr Marjorie Harding. game of golf and learned to skittle at only able to support myself during their Luxury Malts Ambassador, the . university but I also entered the focusing on the global launch of Summer jobs included working as world that fuelled my current career. Mortlach Single Malt . crewman/barman on a little cruise I taught in East Lothian for a number I made incredible friends who were I am now travelling the world Mike Marsland ship (in reality a converted tug), the of years until I was appointed to also bartending and studying – launching Mortlach, and am very Second Snark. This involved cruises the Scottish Examination Board as girls that I am still best friends lucky to say that I’ve landed my to all the islands in the Forth and to an Assistant Examination Officer in with today. dream job.” the , including the 1973. There followed a number of day it opened. posts, culminating in my period as Educational Assessment. This gave of which have been learning to play Chief Executive from 1990 until the wonderful opportunities to build a the clàrsach and church bell ringing. My PhD was gained in the X-ray government wound up the SEB global network of organisations, and The golf, alas, has not improved. crystallography department. There in 1997. involved travel, for example to Africa, SHELAGH MCGUIRE OLIVER ELLIS was no computer and at first China, India and the Antipodes. There is no doubt that my studies (NEE KERR) MA ENGLISH punched cards had to be taken to I was, for a number of years, at Edinburgh opened up a world LITERATURE 1988 Glasgow University for processing treasurer and membership secretary Since retirement I have taken up of opportunity for which I am MA ECONOMIC on its primitive computer, DEUCE. for the International Association for various hobbies, the most rewarding truly grateful.” SCIENCE 1955 “I chose Edinburgh because it offered courses I was interested in and the “Having lived in Edinburgh during flexibility to mix and match between the war, I was determined to return. them. Also, the city is a spectacular I was the only female student, with place to be, with the streets steeped ANDREA GARDINER nine men, in the honours Economics in stories. class and was fortunate to have MBCHB MEDICINE 2000 some excellent teachers, particularly There are so many memories – Alexander Gray (Economics) and walking to the National Library of “I chose Edinburgh because I love in touch with my flatmates from project. My Ecuadorean husband John MacMurray (Moral Philosophy). I was President). Sport featured a Scotland in January wearing what UK animation studio, Cosgrove Hall Scotland, and it has an excellent student days, who have become builds houses for the poor. good deal, particularly cricket and were then described as camel Films, makers of Dangermouse, Count reputation for teaching medicine. life-long friends. I intended to become a social worker lacrosse, of which I was captain of shoes and having the wet from the Duckula and Wind in the Willows. I had a wonderful few years in the I love helping children to go to with children, and my economics the Scottish Universities team. pavement seep through the soles and city. It is such a unique, ancient city After leaving University I completed school so that they can access some degree included the right subjects. into my socks; walking around Calton Now I run my own company, Hoho with many quaint haunts. GP training in the Highlands and of the wonderful opportunities my After four years in Edinburgh I My career included work as a Child Hill and Arthur’s Seat and watching Entertainment, based in London. Islands of Scotland. Two years in world-class education has brought attended the London School of Care Officer, as a lecturer in social the sun go down; my and my tutor’s We produce our own shows and Being a country girl I enjoyed the fact Shetland were a particular highlight. me. Maybe one day one of our Economics and obtained a Certificate work and as director of a voluntuary delight in the cut and thrust of our sell them worldwide as well as the it is not too big, and the friendliness I loved the people and the life there. graduates will have the chance in Child Care. adoption society. I have also been debate during our tutorials. rights for products such as books, of the people I met there. to visit the marvellous city of a Children’s Panel member and a toys, DVDs, apps, and games. I am In 2005 I set off for Ecuador, where Edinburgh! During my time at Edinburgh I was marriage guidance counsellor. After graduating I started in very proud of our CG animated CATCH UP I volunteered with the North I have been working for charity ever involved in many organisations children’s publishing, then moved preschool series Cloudbabies. It Each month we publish Parish Church Girls’ Brigade, which since. We set up Project Ecuador, a I have written my story in a memoir, – the Students’ Representative I met my husband, Bill (PhD into the world of TV and during was a real labour of love and we five new alumni profiles online. enabled me to mix with and get charity based in Scotland. I work in a Guinea Pig For Breakfast [Grosvenor Council, the Debates Committee, Biochemistry 1956), at the Women’s the next 23 years I gradually made it all in the UK which is a big www.ed.ac.uk/alumni/profiles to know some Edinburgh natives village health centre, and run a child House 2012].” the Women’s Union and the Union in George Square. Both our specialised in kids’ TV. Part of that achievement. It airs on CBeebies and (not just students). I remain firmly sponsorship scheme and a craft Women’s Athletic Club (in which sons are Edinburgh graduates.” time was working with the famous is selling nicely abroad.”

20 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.EDIT.ED.AC.UK 21 SNAPSHOT WINTER 2014 | 15 BUILDING MEMORIES BUILDING MEMORIES

SNAPSHOT Photography by Paul Dodds

06 BUILDING MEMORIES The University’s buildings are at the heart of the architectural heritage for which the city of Edinburgh is famous. For those who have studied at the University and spent time moving among its buildings, both ancient and modern, the impact on the city’s environment and skyline is clear. Recent and planned major refurbishments, as well as investment in new construction projects, reflect the University’s ambitious approach to its estate as the needs of students and staff evolve. The photographs on these pages focus on the aesthetic richness of the Central Area campus, casting familiar locations in a new light and taking an unexpected perspective on more recent additions.

07

01 08 01 A sculpture on the commemorates Jim Haynes’ Paperback Bookshop that once occupied the site, which was signposted by a rhino’s head. 02 The Business School seen from 50 George Square, the new home of the School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures. 03 Part of the Chrystal Macmillan Building reflected in a window of 16 George Square. 04 The Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability at 9 Hope Park Square. 05 The Hugh Robson Building. 06 The David Hume 02 Tower. 07 Familiar finger posts. 03 10 08 Stonework in the entrance to the Old Medical School, Teviot Place. 09 St Albert’s Catholic Chaplaincy in George Square won two 2013 Edinburgh Architectural ARCHITECTURAL Association Awards, including HISTORY BOOK best use of wood in a building. 10 The former New North Free The University is working with Church, which has been home to Historic Scotland to produce a book the student-run showcasing the finest buildings across since 1980. 11 A stone balustrade in the University’s campuses, spanning its the Old College Quadrangle, part entire history. The book will include of a project completed in 2011 the stories behind the buildings and that transformed the square in the people who use them. It is due to line with plans dating to 1789. be published in 2016. 04

11

05 09

22 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.EDIT.ED.AC.UK 23 ARTS REVIEW WINTER 2014 | 15 SCIENCE DIGEST

If you’d like to contribute to Arts Review, email If you’d like to contribute to Science Digest, ARTS REVIEW your suggestions to [email protected] SCIENCE DIGEST email your suggestions to [email protected]

The arts have always featured prominently in our alumni activites. The work of alumni contributes to Edinburgh’s outstanding reputation in science, Here we showcase a selection of your recent endeavours. technology, engineering and medicine. Here is a typically eclectic range of highlights.

BORN: 1970, Lavington, British Columbia, Canada When I was deciding on DEALING WITH SCIENTISTS’ NAMES 60 SECONDS EDUCATION: MA Fine Art 2008 my dissertation topic UNCOVERING DATA DELUGE ON THE MAP CURRENT HOME: Edinburgh TREVOR I consciously chose EBOLA’S Google’s Research Director, The streets of the King’s Buildings JONES CURRENT ROLES: Executive Director, Art in Healthcare; exhibiting artist; something that not only was Professor Fernando Pereira (PhD campus have been given names part-time drawing and painting tutor at Leith School of Art. interesting to me but also SECRETS Artificial Intelligence 1982), helped honouring pioneering Edinburgh FAVOURITE READ: BBC News app on my mobile. launch the Centre for Doctoral alumni and teachers. could potentially provide Training in Data Science at the FAVOURITE LISTENING: Spotify browse – currently along the lines of employment. I discovered Edinburgh researchers are at the University’s School of Informatics Twelve scientists, including Radiohead, Muse, Ed Sheeran, George Ezra. that the connection between forefront of international efforts to in November. inventor of the vacuum flask FAVOURITE VIEWING: I can’t wait for the next series of Sherlock. understand the Ebola virus that is Sir James Dewar and lighthouse creativity and health and causing devastation in West Africa. Professor Pereira gave a talk on designer Robert Stevenson, have WHAT MOST INSPIRES YOU: My dad. He’s a retired mechanic who wellbeing was something Central Africa some time in the past the challenges of computational had roads named in their honour. worked in the logging industry. He is a born problem solver and to this the healthcare sector was Professor Andrew Rambaut (BSc decade and made a single species semantics at the launch event. Charlotte Auerbach, who helped day he has this calm and unwavering approach to sorting things out. Zoology 1993) and PhD student Gytis jump from an animal – probably a advance the understanding GREATEST INFLUENCE: Travel has had an enormous influence on me. beginning to take seriously. Dudas, photographed, (BSc Biological bat – to a human. The Centre for Doctoral Training of genetics, is among those I’d add my university education as a very close second. I was offered the job Sciences 2011), have helped analyse is funded by the Engineering celebrated, as is Marion genome sequences of viruses from It was this species jump in Guinea and Physical Sciences Research Ross, a pioneer in X-rays and Trevor Jones is Executive Director of Art in Healthcare (AiH). Since its with AiH a month before the current outbreak. Working with that started the current spread from Council, the University and 34 superconductivity. establishment in 1991 AiH has built one of the largest collections of graduation, so it paid off. colleagues in the US, Sierra Leone person to person, crossing into Sierra external partners, including Apple, original in the country, amounting to more than 1,400 works, and Nigeria, the phylogeneticists Leone in May 2014. Google and Microsoft. It aims to Giving names to King’s Buildings which it makes available in hospitals and other healthcare settings for the helped analyse 99 Ebola genomes help create a new generation of roads – they previously had none benefit of patients, staff and visitors. AiH has a growing outreach and art from 78 patients in Sierra Leone. The results were published in the data scientists, and includes new – is intended to make it easier for workshop programme, a thriving internship programme and a sponsorship TREVOR JONES journal Science, and offer a vital studentships. The first 11 students new students and staff to get to scheme. It offers an art consultancy and collection management service. MA FINE ART 2008 They discovered that the Ebola virus insight into a disease about which joined the Centre in September. know the area. in West Africa arrived there from very little is understood.

BORN: 1982; grew up in We’re in a very exciting stage BOOKSHELF 60 SECONDS EDUCATION: MSc Informatics 2004 of FanDuel’s growth. However, TOM CURRENT HOME: New York City to get here has taken years of Nicola O’Byrne (BA Visual Be the First to Like This: New GRIFFITHS CURRENT ROLE: Co-founder and Chief Product Officer of FanDuel, the long hours, tough decisions, Communication Illustration Scottish Poetry is an anthology global leader in daily fantasy sports. and determination from 2010) has won the Picture Book of diverse work from Scotland’s FAVOURITE READ: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by everyone on the team. category of the Waterstones new generation of poets. It Stephen Covey. Children’s Book Prize 2014 with features 40 poets including Claire This is the third startup I have FAVOURITE LISTENING: Live jazz in a New York jazz bar. her book Open Very Carefully Askew (MA English Literature helped to build and one lesson (Nosy Crow). The book, with 2008, MSc Creative Writing 2009, FAVOURITE VIEWING: Stand-up comedy: Louis CK, Andy Zaltzman, that is constantly repeated is and incorporates autumnal colour words by Nick Bromley, was PhD 2014), Janette Ayachi (MSc anything at New York’s Upright Citizens Brigade. DIVINE DESIGN the value of structured trial including oranges, golden yellows, pink highly commended in the UKLA Creative Writing 2006), Aiko WHAT MOST INSPIRES YOU: The founding stories of the great tech A stained glass window designed and peach tones. The imagery of wheat Book Award and was longlisted Harman (Creative Writing MSc companies (Google, Apple, Facebook) and the widespread impact these and error. We constantly test by Emma Lindsay (BA Architectural is intended to honour the heritage of for the Kate Greenaway Medal. 2009), Dorothy Lawrenson (MA companies have on millions of people around the world. new ideas and throw away Glass 2007) has been installed at the Garfield Weston Foundation who The second book in a two-book Fine Art & Painting 2004) and Cathedral. have been generous supporters of deal, Use Your Imagination, was Samantha Walton (PhD English GREATEST INFLUENCE: My family, my co-founders, the idealised image more than we use. These trial Canterbury Cathedral and to whom published in August 2014. Literature 2013). of the capitalist philanthropist (Carnegie, Gates, Benioff). and error cycles can be tough, Her competition-winning design was the window is dedicated. It also refers Tom Griffiths is the Chief Product Officer and co-founder of FanDuel, the world's so a support structure like chosen for its “beauty and timeless to the original purpose of the cloisters Open Very Carefully, Be the First to Like This: biggest daily fantasy sports service. He oversees all products and operations Launch.ed can really help. appeal”. It was dedicated during and is a theme which has a profound Illlustrated by Nicola New Scottish Poetry, across mobile and desktop platforms, from the company’s headquarters in a ceremony in the summer and is spiritual significance in Christianity.” O’Byrne (Nosy Crow 2013) Includes work by New York City. Mr Griffiths has been pivotal in FanDuel’s growth from a tiny expected to adorn the cathedral’s various recent alumni start-up in 2009 to a sports entertainment enterprise that will generate more TOM GRIFFITHS Great Cloister for centuries to come. Miss Lindsay has won several awards (Vagabond Voices 2014) than $50 million in revenue in 2014. He co-founded the company with support MSC INFORMATICS 2004 for her work, including the Ashton Hill from Launch.Ed, the University’s award-winning service for student and graduate Miss Lindsay says: “My design, Award from the Worshipful Company entrepreneurs. In August 2014 the company raised $70 million in a funding round Gathering, is inspired by the image of Glass Painters in 2008 and the led by Shamrock Capital, NBC Sports Ventures and KKR. FanDuel has 106 staff in of a wheat field in a gentle breeze McCarrison Society Art Prize in 2011. Edinburgh and New York.

24 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.EDIT.ED.AC.UK 25 THE HISTORY MAKERS WINTER 2014 | 15 CHEMISTRY IN MOTION THE HISTORY MAKERS THE HISTORY MAKERS CHEMISTRY

Professor Andrew Miller (BSc 1958, PhD 1962) IN MOTION unveils a plaque at the naming ceremony.

Edinburgh’s leading chemists both past and LABS NAMED IN HONOUR OF CHRISTINA MILLER present are household names among the scientific In October 2014 the Chemistry teaching laboratories, which were opened ATHENA SWAN GOLD in 2000, were renamed the Christina Miller Building. Dr Christina “Chrissie” 2012– community. The likes of Joseph Black are historic Miller (1899–2001) studied and worked at the School of Chemistry from 1921 to 1961, and in 1949 was the first female chemist to be elected to the In 2012 Edinburgh’s School of giants of the field, and today our researchers and Royal Society of Edinburgh. Her research was highly regarded, but she is Chemistry became only the most fondly remembered by alumni and colleagues for her commitment second academic institution teachers continue to lead the way, both in their to teaching and training future chemists. The building’s naming ceremony to receive an Athena Swan science and in public engagement. was followed by an alumni dinner at the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Gold Award for advancing the careers of women in science, engineering, technology, mathematics and medicine Douglas Robertson (STEMM). Also in 2012 Professor Polly Arnold, Crum Brown JOSEPH BLACK ALEXANDER CRUM BROWN SIR JAMES WALKER LESLEY YELLOWLEES Chair of Chemistry, won the (1728–1799) (1838–1922) (1864–1935) BSC 1975, PHD 1983 Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award and used it to investigate Joseph Black was educated at home Alexander Crum Brown’s most James Walker oversaw the dramatic Lesley Yellowlees, Vice-Principal, women's under-representation by his Scottish mother, and began prominent legacy is the system of expansion of chemistry at Edinburgh. Head of the College of Science in STEMM subjects, his university studies at Glasgow, representing chemical compounds in – despite his plans being interrupted and Engineering, and Professor producing a film and book, moving to Edinburgh to graduate in diagrammatic form that is still used by the First World War. Walker’s of Inorganic Electrochemistry, A Chemical Imbalance. medicine. In 1755 he outlined to the today, with atomic symbols enclosed enthusiasm was fired by the teaching became the first female President Philosophical Society of Edinburgh in circles and lines drawn between of Alexander Crum Brown, for whom of the Royal Society of Chemistry the experimental approach that atoms to represent chemical bonds. he worked as a research assistant in 2012. She was the University’s became a foundation of a revolution Crum Brown grew up in Edinburgh, after graduating, and whom he first female Vice-Principal. Her in chemistry. Among Black’s landmark CHEMSOC and joined the University as an arts succeeded as Chair of Chemistry interests include public engagement achievements were the invention EST 1785 student, before a second degree in 1908. Walker was planning a new and the promotion of women in JAMES CRAWFORD of the analytical balance, while he in medicine. He went on to study home for chemistry when war broke CHRISTINA MILLER science, and she makes regular (1682–1731) was a student, and his discoveries Edinburgh University Chemistry chemistry in Germany. He took a out. During the war Walker and his (1899–2001) appearances at international of carbon dioxide and latent heat Society is the oldest chemistry lectureship at Edinburgh before colleagues undertook exceptionally conferences on gender equality. Teaching of chemistry at Edinburgh – the energy needed to melt ice or society in the world. Official records being appointed Chair of Chemistry successful production of TNT for the Christina “Chrissie” Cruickshank She is named in the BBC's 2014 began more than three centuries ago boil water. Black was a luminary of date back to 1874, but in preparations in 1869. He had a lifelong interest in government. Expansion plans then Miller was one of the first five list of the world's most influential when Leith-born James Crawford the . Adam for the apparent 60th anniversary of weaving, knitting and knots, and his resumed, resulting eventually in the women elected to the Royal Society 100 women "trying to change the was appointed to the Chair of Smith, the political economist, loved its foundation, it was discovered that famous, pioneering model showing opening of the laboratories at King’s of Edinburgh, in 1949. In 1920 Miller world". Her research specialism is Physick and Chymistry in 1713. At nothing more than to get Black a “list of members of the Chemical the crystal structure of Sodium Buildings in 1924. Walker’s vision graduated from the University of spectroelectrochemistry, focusing on that time, chemistry was considered and James Hutton, the geologist, Society” was drawn up by Joseph Chloride, held in the School of included possible future expansion Edinburgh with a BSc with special optimising the structure of dyes for an offshoot of medicine (“physick”), together at the Oyster Club and Black in 1785. ChemSoc today plays Chemistry Collection, is made from of labs, including a second storey, distinction, having won the class use in solar cells. She was appointed but notes of Crawford’s lectures listen to them talk. an important role in the life of the knitting needles and balls of wool. which has subsequently happened. medal, and was awarded the Vans CBE in the 2014 . ELEANOR CAMPBELL show that he was among the early School of Chemistry, organising Dunlop Scholarship which allowed BSC 1982, PHD 1985 proponents of chemistry being lectures and social and sporting her to undertake research for her considered a branch of science in events, and with a membership that PhD. She worked under Professor Professor Eleanor Campbell is Head its own right. In his first lecture he includes most staff and students. Sir James Walker, and went on to of the School of Chemistry. She says he will “shew by what methods produce the first sample of pure is a Fellow of the Royal Society, and upon what principles, I phosphorus trioxide in 1928. By having been appointed in 2010 a System of Chymie is to be raised, showing it emitted no light, she for her experimental research. that it may deserve a place among proved it did not cause the glow of She is also a Fellow of both the the Sciences”. His appointment and phosphorus. This was described as Royal Society of Chemistry and his work, with limited resources, "the greatest advance in knowledge the Institute of Physics. Her recent played an important role in the of the topic in the last 20 years". She work includes the development of recognition of the subject. was awarded the Keith Prize by the nanoelectromechanical devices using Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1929. carbon nanotubes.

26 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.EDIT.ED.AC.UK 27 ALUMNI NETWORK WINTER 2014 | 15 THE TWO OF US PROJECT POSTCARD MEMORABLE MOMENTS ALUMNI NETWORK THE TWO OF US

It might seem easier than ever to track down your old friends, but for all the people you Many a lasting relationship is forged during university days, and we want to hear can find online, your old flatmate might not be among them. The University’s Project Postcard how you met your partner or best friend. Here is a range of memorable on-campus comes to the rescue. moments that led to lifetimes together.

ach summer thousands of new and loyal affections for graduates leave the McEwan fellow alumni, despite gaps in EHall and say fond farewells to communication that in many each other, vowing to stay in touch. cases span decades. Many will keep those promises, but over the years countless Edinburgh “It’s been a very exciting project alumni have lost contact with to work on,” says Tessa Birley, those who were once among their Development Officer. “We have closest friends. passed on lovely messages from people from all over the world.” In July 2014, the University sent 25,000 blank postcards to alumni, with an invitation to write a message to a long-lost friend and the promise that we would do our best to forward the postcards to those The right chemistry A slow start Low-brow beginning former classmates or flatmates. The results paint a colourful picture of undimmed, happy memories Mary MacLean There were lots of 'hops’, even after Inglis Lamont Vasiliki Papadopoulos the war started. It was the waltzes, (nee Forrester) foxtrot and some of the funny MBChB 1955 MSc Philosophy 2003 MA (Ord) 1941 dances – the bumpsie daisy, Lambeth Margaret Lamont Keith Thomas Kacsuta Examples of friends who have Alistair MacLean walk and so on. (nee Robb) MSc Social Research 2003 been put back in touch with each We girls who were close friends were other through Project Postcard BSc Chemistry 1939, MBChB 1955, MD 1991 all short of money, but on Friday include Alan Rowland (BSc 1956), of PhD 1941 mornings we would indulge in a TRAVELLING COMPANIONS Edinburgh, who wrote to Michael cup of coffee if we still had 3d after WHAT A HOOT “Keith and I were masters students “Bill” Stone (BSc 1956), now living saving bus fares by walking. living in Churchill House in 2002/3. in Edmonton, Canada. The two HOP TO HAPPINESS “The steamer hooted and made me turn round in surprise. There was Our mutual friend, Graham Steel, veterinary medicine graduates are “I studied an MA (Ord) degree with Alistair was in the last year of his Margaret, and half way from Wemyss introduced us one evening in now planning a transatlantic reunion. two years of chemistry included. I PhD and I was in the final year of Bay to Rothesay we spoke to each December 2002. lived very near King’s Buildings and my degree when we met at a hop at other briefly for the first time. Mr Stone writes: “We have now been had enough leisure time to enjoy the King’s Buildings Common Room. The three of us spent the evening in email contact – Alan is hoping eating, chatting and listening to music. Edinburgh and its environs. Three months later we were engaged That was in our third year. Thanks to to visit a former colleague from the Given that we lived in the same and we graduated on the same day shyness and 'other interests' it was not I attended the opening ball at the building, I expected to see Keith soon Vet School who lives in Saskatoon in 1941. until late in our fifth year (of a six-year King’s Buildings Common Room, and afterwards but we only ran into each in the spring. If so, hopefully we will medical course) that I asked her to go also the last graduation ball before other months later. He asked me to be able to get together.” We were married in 1943. After the out with me. the war, at what to us were the war, and after a spell in Ghana (then join him and his friends to watch the Udita Banerjee (MSc Electronics most glamorous Assembly Rooms. the Gold Coast), we were so lucky to A happy start to married life was our most low-brow of movies at the time 2013), living in India, has resumed return to Edinburgh. time in Germany, my National Service – Jackass. I obliged and a month later contact with both Yamin Zuo (MSc posting. Indeed we have enjoyed all we started dating. Electronics 2013), living in China, The Royal (Dick) Veterinary College annual ball in the Assembly Rooms in February 1956. Circled are Alan Rowland (standing), Two of our three children studied the seven places where work and Upon graduation we returned to our who is also pictured top right, and Bill Stone (seated), who is pictured bottom right. at Edinburgh: Donald took a BSc and Gillian “Gladys” Purves (BEd GET IN retirement have taken us. Thanks respective countries – mine Canada, Engineering and Margaret studied Physical Education 2012), living in to medicine more modern than we his the USA – and we decided to keep TOUCH MA Geography and then a year of Falkirk, Scotland. Technology, sought out his old friend studied, life is still fun, and we are in touch. We realised this was not Jim Blackie (BSc 1959, MSc 1962). sport management at Cramond. determined to reach our diamond could encourage them to contact If you met your conducive to being in a relationship, Ms Banerjee says: “Both Yamin Two of our grandchildren also wedding in 2017. CAN YOU HELP? us: Eleanor Cornwall (French partner or best so Keith moved to Canada in 2004. and Gladys got their postcards. His postcard having reached its studied at Edinburgh. Sadly we have not been able to 1968), Lucy Stringer (French 1993), friend at Edinburgh We got married in 2007 in Santorini, I think it was a fabulous idea to recipient, Professor Gardiner writes: Our children all followed us to the trace all the intended recipients Thomas Greenwood (Social and would like to , and in 2012 had a beautiful do this – it really gave meaning to “I was truly delighted to receive back Last year we celebrated 70 years University of Edinburgh (one doctor of the postcards returned to the Anthropology 1993), George baby boy, Andreas Kacsuta. our relationships.” an email from Jim Blackie – our first share your story, of happy marriage with family and out of four). Sad to say, no sign that University. Perhaps you know the Robertson (Medicine 1943 & 1957), communication in over 50 years. His email us at friends. Six months later Alistair slept any grandchild will come north of the We can thank Edinburgh for our life whereabouts of one or more of Arial Meirav (Philosophy 1997), Ronald Gardiner (MA 1956, BSc message included his phone number peacefully away." border to study.” together and its happiness.” the following alumni and Helen Cameron (Spanish 1984). [email protected] 1958, PhD 1962), Professor Emeritus so I rang him immediately, and had a MARY MACLEAN INGLIS LAMONT VASILIKI PAPADOPOULOS at Queensland University of long and very enjoyable blether.”

28 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.EDIT.ED.AC.UK 29 LANDMARK WINTER 2014 | 15 THE LAST WORD OPINION

MORE ONLINE LANDMARK THE LAST WORD www.edit.ed.ac.uk

Studying in the unique city of Edinburgh is an unforgettable experience. In each edition we share your memories of an iconic campus or city landmark and its role in your student days. AILIE REID MEMORIAL TRUST FELLOW Ailie Reid is a classical singer and singing teacher who has dyslexia. As part of her PhD studies at the Reid School of Music, she has won a prestigious travel fellowship to research the effectiveness of various music teaching methods CALTON HILL for dyslexic students. Calton Hill is five landmarks in one: the hill itself, with its ancient volcanic origins, giving the course record in this race way stunning views over the city; the famously unfinished National Monument modelled on back in 1986, just before writing up my PhD and wrapping up my three the acropolis of Athens, the telescope-shaped Nelson’s Monument; the ; years in Edinburgh.” and the much photographed Monument, otherwise known as the am a graduate of the Royal Current evidence suggests that pepper pot. Your contributions reflect the varied memories this unique place evokes. Northern College of Music and 10-15 per cent of the UK population Alison Hardie Ihave been singing, or training has dyslexic tendencies. Chris Lishman MA Chinese 1979 singers, since I was eight. I have I REMEMBER… “In the 1970s Calton toured with opera companies, sung I started my PhD in 2013 researching Hill had a reputation as somewhere for royalty and performed on BBC strategies to assist dyslexic classical Julia Weber the crazy number of people on the the striking monument kept us a bit dodgy (at least in the very television and radio. singers, with funding from the MSc Genomics hill and the excitement of the whole lounging around for the entire unadventurous circles in which I Radcliffe Trust, which supports more research into teaching and and Pathway thing. We took turns sitting on each afternoon, chilling on the turf while moved). Last summer I met up in York I have a wonderful career, despite my music education. This year I was metacognitive methods for dyslexic Biology 2011 other’s shoulders to have a better watching friendly golden retrievers with a Chinese art historian who was dyslexia. Or should that be because lucky enough to receive a Winston students must be carried out. Current evidence “Calton Hill view of the display and the parade. run by.” about to take his students on a visit of it? Churchill Memorial Trust Travelling suggests that 10–15 takes a very I have videos and photos from that to Edinburgh and enthused about Fellowship. I will travel to Finland, I have witnessed some wonderful prominent place night and I love how happy everyone Michael Burton the wonderful view from Calton Hill, From an early age I encountered Switzerland, Hungary, Japan, the USA teaching, including from Professor per cent of the in my memories looks and how beautiful it was.” PhD Astronomy obviously expecting me to agree. I difficulties, and many in education and Canada to research the music Toshio Takahashi, a master flute UK population has of the year I 1987 had to admit, very shame-facedly, told me to stop there and then. methods of Kodaly, Suzuki, Orff player and teacher at the Suzuki dyslexic tendencies. spent studying Nean Allman “As an astronomer, that I'd never been up Calton Hill, But I continued, and succeeded and Dalcroze, and their capacity School in Japan, helping a physically in Edinburgh. I used to climb up the BSc Geology 1964 and a graduate from Edinburgh’s and promised that I would repair with the help of friends, family to enable dyslexic singers’ self- disabled child to conduct, which hill with all the friends who came “I remember the start astronomy department based at the the omission the next time I was and kind teachers. regulating strategies when rehearsing brought me to tears. to visit me. I used to live down at of Charities Week Royal Observatory, you might think in Edinburgh. Later in the summer and performing a classical piece. Portobello, my lab was at the Royal and a torchlight procession from that Calton Hill would have memories I was there on a beautiful day and Recently I attended a course at the Then there was the master singers understand”, “It’s not my job”, or Infirmary and I regularly danced at the castle esplanade to Calton Hill, for me about astronomy, being where duly kept my promise. The view fully University of Edinburgh for dyslexic The British Dyslexia Association course at the Kodaly Institute in “It’s too difficult”. I hope with my . You can see all of watching the fireworks display and it all started back in the days when lived up to my Chinese colleague's students. I spoke to a number of held a conference focused on music Hungary, with teachers such as research to tackle some of these these places and the major landmarks joining in the chant, ‘We want a blue Edinburgh was still dark at night, rapturous description. I'll be back!” students, almost all with harrowing teaching in February 2014, and I Katalin Halmai and Janos Klezli problems and give real help to like the castle and Holyrood from one!’. Ever since, at every fireworks and as the first home of the Royal stories of trying to learn music and am witnessing changes in music working with movement and the singers, teachers and all those Calton Hill, so I always saw it as a display I watch, I gain an immense Observatory. But no, Calton Hill to most ending in disillusionment. A education methods as people bel canto technique to fine tune working in the field. I hope to good place to do the introduction amount of pleasure from spotting me brings back memories of running, number said they simply couldn’t become more aware of special voices, and the Dalcroze masters publish my initial findings in a paper to the city. Today, when I come to the blue ones.” being both the start and finish of the get to grips with music reading or educational needs, but more must in Geneva such as Helena Nicolet, in 2015. I also hope to run workshops visit, I usually arrive at Waverley, get famous Edinburgh 7 Hills race. The comprehension and felt it was just be done to make people aware not helping people to connect with and eventually to publish a book. out of the train or airport bus, get Gillian Chu race heads off from Calton to Castle KING'S too hard a battle. only of the difficulties of dyslexic their music with enjoyment and some food and head up the hill for a MA English 2006 Hill, then Corstorphine, Craiglockhart, BUILDINGS musicians but also how to aid them. real comprehension. Ailie Reid is keeping a blog of her picnic before I set out to visit friends “A couple of friends a hop over the Braids and Blackford Please send us your My research is not only for these travels and research, where you and enjoy my time. One memory who were studying at Hill (and past my old office), a race people but for the many students Through my fellowship I have been But there are still teachers and can leave comments and contact that stands out from the hundreds came over for the weekend, through the backstreets to Pollock, memories of the King's I teach and witness struggling studying at the original institutes repetiteurs out there who do not her. She is available for singing of times that I walked up Calton Hill and I played host by taking them and then the lung burster up the Buildings campus, to: endlessly, quietly and in private. where the various music methods believe dyslexia should have any lessons – dyslexic students was the Beltane Festival in 2011. I was around Edinburgh for sightseeing. direct face of Arthur’s Seat, followed [email protected] They don’t need sympathy, just a were established. The workshops impact on how they teach. So many particularly welcome. there with a very special friend, and Carlton Hill was more of an by a mad flight down past Holyrood chance to help themselves with clear and conferences have been inspiring times I have heard a teacher or another friend had come along from accidental stop, but its commanding and back up to Calton Hill again. It workable strategies and patience. but also drew me to conclude that singer say, “I can’t help”, “I don’t www.dyslexicopera.com Stirling to join in the fun. I remember view of the entire city paired with has a special place for me as I broke

30 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.EDIT.ED.AC.UK 31 BILLET WINTER 2014 | 15 THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH BILLET

BILLET CONTINUED BILLET The General Council of the University of Edinburgh BILLET NEWS

The General Council provides graduates with a continuing voice THE GENERAL COUNCIL LUNCH, in the management of the University’s affairs, and every graduate 14 FEBRUARY 2015 automatically becomes a member. Academic staff and members AS USUAL, FOLLOWING THE HALF-YEARLY MEETING ON SATURDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2015, MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL, ALUMNI, of the University’s governing body, the University Court, are also PARTNERS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO THE members of the General Council. It meets twice a year and has the GENERAL COUNCIL LUNCH IN THE PLAYFAIR LIBRARY HALL, OLD COLLEGE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING OUR AFTER-LUNCH right to comment on matters affecting the University’s prosperity SPEAKER, LUCY LUMSDEN, HEAD OF COMEDY AT SKY ENTERTAINMENT. REPORT and wellbeing. For more information on the work of the General Ms Lumsden featured in the Winter 2013/14 issue of Edit in an interview with Joanne Morrison. She graduated in 1991 with an MA in History. She quickly Sky1 /Andi Southam By Professor Charles Swainson Council, visit www.general-council.ed.ac.uk gravitated to the world of comedy, working for the BBC for 11 years, where Convener of the Business she commissioned some of Britain’s best comedy programmes, which have Committee of the General Council become household names. She moved to Sky in 2009, becoming its first Head of Comedy. We have no doubt that Lucy’s talk will be fascinating. If you would like to attend the General Council Lunch, please book online by following the link at [email protected]/whats-happening or complete and return the form below no later than Friday 6 February 2015. The General Council Meeting, 14 February 2015 Tickets at £20 include pre-lunch wine reception and a buffet lunch in the The General Council February 2015 Half-Yearly Meeting Playfair Library Hall. Table wines will be available to purchase. will this year take place in 7 Bristo Square, as a result of I am pleased to report on the activities agreement with the University of a private paper, Scotland’s Future the Committee through a period of the refurbishment of the School of Law. Further details of your Business Committee since Toronto to increase cooperation Constitutional Arrangements, which transition, and I am delighted that and papers appear on page 36. writing prior to the June 2014 between two great institutions, was sent to the University Court in July. Matt McPherson, a former Students’ Half-Yearly meeting. The June visit both ranked 17 on a recent world It set out the views of your Business Association President, will be the next to Toronto was another successful ranking of universities. Committee on the issues to be Convener. Bruce Ritson has left also, away meeting and we are grateful managed with constitutional change. after a distinguished time leading the PRIORITIES FOR THE BUSINESS COMMITTEE to our Secretary, Mike Mitchell, Your General Council Half-Yearly Now that we have a clear majority Academic Affairs Standing Committee, 2014/15 THE FEBRUARY 2015 GENERAL your Public Affairs Standing Meeting was held in the University of in favour of remaining in the United and he will be replaced very ably COUNCIL LUNCH Committee and colleagues in Toronto. The Principal gave an account Kingdom, we will need to consider by Stuart Macpherson, a former Following input from members, Court Assessors and Edinburgh University Development and Alumni who of the international developments the risks in any proposed devolution Postgraduate Dean. We bade farewell Students’ Association, the Business Committee decided upon the made all the arrangements. in our University, the aspiration to settlement. The UK Prime Minister and after 13 years to Ann Sutherland priorities it and its Standing Committees should address this session. Playfair Library Hall, Old College, on Saturday 14 February 2015, increase overseas students to 50 per leaders of the other political parties who has been a great supporter The overall theme is “the Impact on the Learning Environment of Growth 12.30pm for 1pm. The University held a stimulating cent and the corresponding increase were clear in their commitment to of the General Council. Luise Locke and Internationalisation”. debate on the question of in resources needed to support these early proposals for further devolution and Libby Morris also retired and I Please send me tickets (£20 each) independence and devolution in students. He outlined new approaches of powers to the , am grateful for their support of the GROWTH Scotland. Vice-Principal Professor to enhancing the student experience including taxation, and these will Business Committee despite busy We wish to continue our investigations into the University’s enhancements A cheque for £ is enclosed payable to the University of Edinburgh. Charlie Jeffery gave his research- and encouraging every student to be impact on the higher education sector. professional lives. of the learning environment and the student experience. While efforts so driven insights into factors that a researcher. Professor Steve Hillier, far have been admirable in intent, further progress is required. We wish to be Name might motivate the “don’t knows”, Vice–Principal International, gave Your Finance and Services Standing reassured that provision of both infrastructure and student support services thus stimulating a lively debate and a comprehensive account of the Committee met with the former is being planned for and delivered. Address comments from Canadian colleagues international reach of the University, Director of HR, Sheila Gupta, and including discussion of the experience much of it achieved during his tenure. discussed the University’s commitment Social responsibility and public engagement have been important for this in Quebec. A very good afternoon was It was a good time to hear how far to staff development and appraisal University since its foundation. We wish to review progress and encourage followed by Honorary Graduations in your University has progressed in and how this relates to the teaching new initiatives, in particular with the local community. The University has Postcode the Art Gallery of Ontario, conferred international terms, and how much and research aims in the Strategic Plan. been very active in the field of sustainability, which cuts through a wide on Garrett Herman, a bibliophile effort your Principal and others have Videos of previous range of strategic interests, especially with regard to future growth through Name(s) of guest(s) with a considerable Charles Darwin put into that. We have welcomed new members Principal’s and varied channels. collection, and Beverly McLachlin, to the Committee this session: the Chief Justice of the Supreme Your Standing Committees have Philip Mawer, a former Parliamentary Convener’s Reports, INTERNATIONALISATION Court of Canada. concluded their activities for the 2013- Ombudsman and Students’ and a selection of The University is ever more international in both its presence and its Dietary requirements/preferences 14 session. Your Academic Standing Association President; Sarah Morgan, after-lunch addresses, ambition. We wish to increase our understanding of this direction of travel, A gala dinner was hosted by the Committee discussed new approaches an entrepreneur; Sam Trett, a former can be viewed at the drivers and the opportunities. There should be clear plans in place to Please return to: Mrs Mary Scott, Assistant to the Secretary of University in the TIFF Bell Lightbox. to enhancing student learning with Sports Union President; David accommodate these changes. the General Council, University of Edinburgh, Charles Stewart There was an additional Honorary Professor Ian Pirie, Assistant Principal Houston, and Dorothy Macleod. www.general-council. House, 9–16 Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1HT, Scotland, UK, or, Graduate, the well-known author Learning and Development. The Convener of your Public ed.ac.uk/media Finally, the Business Committee will continue to evaluate the impact of any alternatively, you may order online at www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/ Margaret Atwood, who gave a witty Affairs Standing Committee, Simon political changes on higher education, and will maintain its close association whats-happening and delightful speech after dinner. Your Constitutional Standing Fairclough, has completed his co- with the University's development and alumni engagement efforts. Closing date for applications: Friday 6 February 2015. The University also signed a formal Committee completed its work on opted term. Mr Fairclough helped

32 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.EDIT.ED.AC.UK BILLET 33 BILLET WINTER 2014 | 15 THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH BILLET

BILLET BILLET NEWS ELECTIONS CONTINUED

ALUMNI WEEKEND GENERAL COUNCIL ELECTION, 5-7 JUNE 2015 FEBRUARY 2015

Join us in Edinburgh on 5–7 June 2015 for Alumni Weekend 2015. CANDIDATES FOR TWO Seconded by CANDIDATES FOR Edw ard Bruce Ritson STATEMENT ON ELECTION Secretary of the General Council.

With three days of events and Graham Clark GENERAL COUNCIL Charles Michael FIVE MEMBERS OF THE MBChB 1961, OF MEMBERS OF THE Details of all candidates appear activities, it’s an opportunity to ASSESSORS TO COURT Arber Lugton BUSINESS COMMITTEE MD 1967 BUSINESS COMMITTEE opposite. Anyone still wishing reconnect and reminisce while MA 1973, PGD 2005 Proposed by to vote by post may do so for taking advantage of exclusive The following nominations have The following nominations have Ann McIntyre As only three valid nominations were subsequent elections by requesting events and a unique atmosphere. Whether you want to relive your been received for the election of two As immediate past President of the been received for the election of five Smyth received by the deadline of 5pm on a postal vote from the General student days, visit old haunts or find out what is happening at the General Council Assessors to Court to Graduates’ Association and currently members of the Business Committee BSc 1970, Wednesday 26 November 2014 for Council Office before 30 November University today, Alumni Weekend 2015 has something for everyone. serve from 1 August 2015 to 31 July 2019. a member of the General Council to serve from 1 August 2015 to 31 July PhD 1974, MPhil the five available Business Committee in the year prior to any election. The names of the candidates appear Business Committee, with experience 2019. The names of the candidates Seconded by positions no election will be required. You’ll have the chance to gain exclusive insights into the impact of in random order, as drawn by ballot. of Public Affairs and Academic appear in alphabetical order. Charles Patrick Accordingly the three candidates; Ms To be able to vote online you need our current research, as well as connect with fellow alumni, current This is also the order in which they Standing Committees, I have had Swainson Kirsteen Joan MacGregor, Dr Edward to be a member of the General students and academic colleagues. Highlights include our popular will appear on the voting screen and the opportunity to engage with MBChB 1971 Bruce Ritson and Ms Sophie Elizabeth Council eligible to vote in this alumni ceilidh, and an afternoon tea party in our beautiful and ballot paper. graduates both at home and abroad Kirst een Joan Marshall, will be deemed to have been election and registered through historic Old College Quad. For more information please visit www. and reflect some of their concerns MacGregor Formerly consultant and senior successful and their appointment EASE as a MyEd Alumni Portal user. ed.ac.uk/alumni/alumni-weekend-2015, and look out for updates. to the University. My career as a MA 1981, Dip Ed 1982, lecturer in psychiatry at Edinburgh. will be announced at the Half-Yearly Those who registered for previous Alan David guidance teacher uniquely involved MBA 2001 Member of Business Committee of Meeting on 14 February 2015. elections do not need to do so again; Gillespie Brown me with student aspirations and the Proposed by General Council 2010-2014, Convener simply use the same user name and THE GENERAL MBChB, 1963 concerted effort which goes into Charles Patrick Academic Standing Committee The two remaining casual vacancies password. If you have already used COUNCIL MEETING, Proposed by encouraging the ablest students Swainson, MBChB 1971 from 2012. This experience revealed will be duly filled by co-option by the the Portal as a student, you should Charles Patrick to apply successfully to higher Seconded by the diversity and excellence of the Business Committee. still be able to use your student 10.30AM, Swainson education. Already a charities’ trustee Alan David Gillespie University and highlighted for me username and password to access the 6 JUNE 2015 MBChB 1971 I wish to contribute effectively to Brown, MBChB 1963 the challenge of ensuring that the Secretary to the General Council Alumni Portal. If you are a new user Seconded by the working of the Court and the student experience is personally you will need to contact the support

The June 2015 General Council Dave Morris Kirsteen Joan governance of the University. It has been a pleasure and privilege rewarding and enriching. service. To do this send an email to Half-Yearly Meeting will be held MacGregor to serve on the Business Committee the Information Services helpline at 10.30am on 6 June 2015 at the MA 1981, Dip Ed 1982, Alan McDougall at this time of unprecedented at [email protected] requesting Edinburgh Centre for Carbon MBA 2001 Johnston change, expansion and achievement access to MyEd and giving your full Innovation, High School Yards, Edinburgh. The meeting will feature MBA 1989 for the University of Edinburgh. VOTING IN THE GENERAL name, date of and degree awarded a talk by Dr Andy Kerr, Director of the Centre, which provides a hub After eight years on the Business Proposed by A second term would give time COUNCIL ELECTION at first graduation from Edinburgh. for innovation and skills to support the development of low carbon Committee and four as Convener I Charles Patrick to develop and consolidate my A username and initial password will societies. It fosters collaborative working between policy, community have extensive experience of working Swainson work; particularly on international This is the opportunity for you then be sent to you. and business leaders to deliver solutions for a low carbon future and constructively with the University; MBChB 1971 initiatives which support the to participate in the governance is supported and hosted by the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh this has given me a detailed Seconded by University’s world-class economic of the University by voting for If you experience problems at Napier University and Heriot-Watt University. understanding of the opportunities Matthew Jack and cultural impact. members of the Business Committee any point when registering for, or and challenges it faces. It is a McPherson, MA 2011 of the General Council, who are accessing, the Alumni Portal, please Dr Kerr obtained his doctorate in climate change from the University privilege supporting the University in Sophie Elizabeth responsible for much of its work, contact Information Services at the of Edinburgh, examining the stability of the Antarctic ice sheet. other ways since being appointed a A scientist with a postgraduate Marshall and for Court Assessors. above address, identifying yourself He has extensive experience in government and the private sector, Regent in 2012. Since retiring from my business degree, I was fortunate to MA 2012 by matriculation number (if known), as well as academia, in the fields of emerging international carbon medical consultant post in obstetrics retire early from an international Proposed by In February 2012 the General Council full name, year and degree awarded and biofuel markets, emissions trading schemes, and developing and gynaecology I continue GMC career in medicines research and Samuel Joseph introduced online voting on a secure at first graduation from Edinburgh. national and regional policy frameworks that support the reduction examining and medico-legal/ am now engaged in non-executive Trett website, the Elections channel of in our dependence on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. consultancy work, and am a Board positions in companies, educational MA 2011, MBA 2013 the MyEd Alumni Portal, which will He was involved in the Royal Society of Edinburgh inquiry “Facing up member of the Pleasance Theatre institutions, charities and trusts. As Seconded by be open from Tuesday 6 January to Climate Change: Breaking the barriers to a low carbon Scotland”, Trust. I have a strong commitment Convener of the Business Committee Sophie McCallum 2015 until 1700 GMT Wednesday 11 and the 's Climate Change Delivery Plan. to the University so wish to use (2004-2008) and currently General MA 2009, MSc 2012 February 2015. In order to vote you my knowledge and insight by serving Council Assessor to Court (2011- must register via the EASE registration it further. 2015), I am much engaged in and Having managed university roles in process as explained below by 1700 LUNCH AND RECEPTION, committed to our University’s EUSA and Equal Access programmes, GMT on Tuesday 10 February 2015 at Stuart James strategic priorities as a world-leading I currently work with . the latest. 12.30PM, 6 JUNE 2015 Ritchie Walker centre of excellence, with particular The University must face the MA 1968, BSc 1968 focus on enhancement of the challenges of the future, including Voting Papers are only enclosed After the meeting we will move on to the the Playfair Library Hall for Proposed by student experience and continued improving the student experience where members have specifically a Reception and Lunch at 12.30pm. Our after-lunch speaker will be Christine internationalisation. I would greatly and tackling the increasing fees requested them previously, no later announced shortly. Further information will appear on our website at: Elizabeth Reid value the chance to contribute culture. The Business Committee can than 30 November 2014, and should www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/whats-happening LLB 1969 energetically in a second and final be more representative of the diverse be completed and returned in the term as Court Assessor. community it serves. enclosed addressed envelope to the

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BILLET BILLET GENERAL COUNCIL PAPERS CONTINUED

GENERAL COUNCIL HALF-YEARLY MEETING ON SATURDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2014 3 REPOR T OF THE BUSINESS initiatives to enhance teaching welcome. He concluded by and research needed to be multi- 10.30AM: THE LECTURE THEATRE, 7 BRISTO SQUARE, EDINBURGH COMMITTEE and learning as well as the wider emphasising how important it disciplinary and increasingly student experience. The Public was for members to support the international. Our University The Convener welcomed everyone Affairs Standing Committee had University in any way they could, had been international since its 10am to 10.30am: Coffee, tea and biscuits in the Foyer, 7 Bristo Square to Toronto, home to one of the assisted in the development especially in times of uncertainty. foundation; for example, the first other great universities of the of a new website which had a professors of Medicine had come 10.30am: General Council Meeting in the Lecture Theatre, 7 Bristo Square world. He reminded everyone more modern look and included The report of the Business from Leiden. Currently about 40 that the General Council took a blogging facility to encourage Committee was approved. per cent of students came from After the meeting: Lunch in the Playfair Library Hall (see page 33 for details) every second summer meeting members to participate in General outside the UK. There were very to a location outside Edinburgh, Council business. He mentioned The full text of the Convener’s close connections with Canada Members are invited to submit questions to the meeting by email to [email protected] where it received a welcome the challenge of meeting the remarks are contained in the and across North America, with either in advance or live during the meeting. The meeting will be web-cast and may be viewed live at: from local alumni, with past international ambitions of the Annex to the Billet. both institutions and individuals. www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/media destinations including London, University, and invited ideas from That very week the University had Paris, Washington DC, Hong Kong members on how best to involve 4 DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS entered into a formal collaboration and Berlin. more alumni worldwide in the OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL with its hosts, the University work of the General Council, of Toronto. Having a formal He reminded members of the as well as how to improve The next Half-Yearly Meeting Internationalisation Strategy, with AGENDA FOR THE GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING General Council’s statutory role communications. would take place on Saturday, an associated Vice–Principal, under of enquiring into and offering 14 February 2015, in 7 Bristo the banner of Edinburgh Global, advice on any matter that The Constitutional Standing Square, Edinburgh. Any Motions had been important. 1  Results of the Elections for two General Council Assessors to Court and five Members of the General Council may affect the prosperity and Committee had examined the for discussion at this meeting Business Committee wellbeing of the University. The impacts of possible independence should be received at the The main foci had been the Business Committee discharged following the referendum General Council Office by the 26 international student experience, 2 Minut es of the Meeting of the General Council held in the University of Toronto on Saturday 21 June 2014 (PAPER A) this function through meeting later in the year, looking at the November 2014. The following international staff, academic regularly with University staff and opportunities and risks in a Statutory Half-Yearly Meeting and institutional partnering and students, through the elected very balanced way. A summary would be held on Saturday 6 June global outreach and influence. 3 Matters arising General Council Assessors on the statement would be presented to 2015, in the Edinburgh Centre Communications, especially web University Court, and by reporting Court on completion, but would for Carbon Innovation, and any based, were vital. The support 4 Report of the Business Committee back regularly to General Council not be made public. Motions for discussion at this of students had also been very Half-Yearly Meetings. In recent meeting should be received at helpful, particularly through 5 Motion (PAPER B) years the Business Committee The Finance & Services Standing the General Council Office by the Student’s Association, had set priorities. This year Committee had examined the Wednesday 18 March 2015. EUSA. Students commenting on these focused on supporting the published Annual Reports & the University through social 6 Motion (PAPER C) University with improving the Financial Statements with the 5 NOTICE OF FORTHCOMING media had also been helpful, quality of teaching, the student Director of Finance and also ELECTIONS albeit sometimes challenging. Dates of future meetings of the General Council experience and research at looked at the capital building Outstanding academics such as 7 Edinburgh, sustaining communities programme. It welcomed There would be elections for Professor Peter Higgs and Professor 8 Notice of forthcoming Elections within and outside the University, the University’s investment two General Council Assessors to Sir Ian Wilmut had had a huge supporting the Development in improved facilities for Court and five Members of the impact. Alumni also contributed & Alumni Engagement Strategy teaching, research and student Business Committee in February greatly to the University’s profile; 9  Presentation by Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, of the Annual Report to the University and reviewing progress on accommodation. The Business 2015. Nominations on forms for example Sir Chris Hoy, our implementation of the University’s Committee had received its usual available from the General Council great Olympian, and Professor 10 Any other competent business Strategic Plan. In particular this presentation on the Development Office and on the website should Lesley Yellowlees, currently past year the Business Committee Trust’s published accounts and the be received in the General Council President of the Royal Society of 11 Adjournment had also been considering the Convener was pleased to note that Office by the 26 November 2014. Chemistry. impact of possible Scottish donations continued to grow, and independence following the he reminded members that they 6 PRESENTATIONS BY The numbers of taught referendum in September. could support needy students by PROFESSOR SIR TIMOTHY postgraduates had been increasing, contributing to the various bursary O’SHEA, PRINCIPAL AND particularly international, which PROFESSOR STEVE HILLIER PAPER A EDINBURGH, ON 15 These priorities had been pursued schemes. These were very valuable VICE–CHANCELLOR, had more than doubled. Online PRESENT Vice Principal International MINUTES OF THE MEETING FEBRUARY 2014 by the four Standing Committees, and enabled many students to AND PROFESSOR STEVE learning had also expanded in both MR PETER McCOLL with Academic Standing attend the University who would HILLIER, VICE–PRINCIPAL scope and levels of participation, DR MICHAEL MITCHELL OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL Rector, in the Chair HELD IN THE UNIVERSITY OF The Minutes of the Meeting held Committee following up progress not otherwise be able to do so. INTERNATIONAL with numbers up fivefold in formal Secretary of the General Council on 15 February 2014 were approved. on the student experience with programmes. Global Academies TORONTO ON SATURDAY MS TRACEY SLAVEN Vice–Principal Sue Rigby, other The Convener was delighted Vice-Principal Steve Hillier had been highly successful, PROFESSOR CHARLES SWAINSON 21 JUNE 2014 2 MATTERS ARISING University staff and the President to report that recent elections presented the internationalisation starting with Global Health, Director of Planning Convener of the Business Committee of the Students’ Association, had attracted a good number of work of the University, which and involving multidisciplinary 1 MINUTES OF THE MEETING The Chairman reported that and the Convener was pleased candidates, including some who was truly global, meaning it was courses and external partnerships. PROFESSOR SIR TIMOTHY O’SHEA 40P AND 4V = 53 OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL there were no matters arising to report continuing progress had graduated in the previous international in student mix, in Other active Academies Principal and Vice-Chancellor (P = Physical; V = Virtual) HELD IN OLD COLLEGE, from the Minutes. in this area with major new 10 years, which was particularly staff and in impact. Both learning were Global Development,

36 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.EDIT.ED.AC.UK BILLET 37 BILLET WINTER 2014 | 15 THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH BILLET BILLET GENERAL COUNCIL PAPERS

Environment and Society, and Schools offered formal courses. 8 ADJOURNMENT PAPER C Justice. Increasingly international One undergraduate course, Our OFFICERS: research collaborations led to Changing World, had been built The Motion by the Convener MOTION The Annex to Billet, containing supporting increased numbers of international from lectures into a Massive Open of the Business Committee that, Chairman: HRH The Princess Royal CHANGES TO THE papers for the Agenda, including communications research publications with very Online Course (MOOC) which for the purpose of considering Secretary: Michael J Mitchell, BSc, PhD 2015 high impacts. New partnerships then fed back into a formal online matters which may be transmitted PUBLICATION OF from the University Court, full Standing Registrar: Sarah Smith, University Secretary ex-officio continually evolved, with countries course. MOOCs had become to the General Council by the BILLET WITHIN EDIT Committee reports, a transcript of the such as South Korea. A network very important to the University, University Court or any other GENERAL COUNCIL ASSESSORS ON THE UNIVERSITY COURT: of international representative which had the most successful business of a competent nature, Principal’s presentation, and the Business offices had been built up in China, programme outside the USA the Business Committee be BACKGROUND Committee’s report to the meeting on 15 Alan M Johnston, MBA, CSci, CChem, FRSC, CBiol, FIBiol 2015 India, Latin America and, very soon, in both numbers involved and empowered to act on behalf of Ann M Smyth, BSc, PhD, MPhil 2015 North America. breadth of courses. the Council, and that this meeting The University wishes to change February 2014, is available on the website at: Doreen Davidson, BA, AIPD 2017 be adjourned to a date to be the way Edit is published, with www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/media. These were often mirrored by Another aspiration was to increase fixed by the Business Committee, one printed version each year and BUSINESS COMMITTEE: activities within the University the number of students studying was approved. one electronic magazine version. General Council members may also request it in Edinburgh, for example the abroad at some point in their This is for two reasons. Firstly, Convener: Charles Swainson, MBChB, FRCPE, FRCSE, FFPHM 2016 Confucius Institute, the Centre degree, and offering courses to Rev Dr Harriet Harris closed the there is a significant increase in by post from: Mrs Mary Scott, General Council Vice-Convener: Frances D Dow, CBE, MA, DPhil 2016 for Canadian Studies and the improve students’ language skills meeting with a benediction. the circulation of Edit due to Office, Charles Stewart House, 9-16 Chambers Centre for South Asian Studies. helped to encourage this. This the success of the University in Street, Edinburgh EH1 1HT. Tel. 0131 650 2152; F Convener of Finance and Services Standing Committee: The success of this strategy was would also improve their status increasing graduates and alumni. Kirsty MacGregor, MA, MBA DipEd 2015 measurable with improvements as truly global citizens. As well as This has put upward pressure Email: [email protected]; or pick a copy A Convener of Academic Standing Committee: being seen in our global rankings foreign languages the language of on the cost of Edit, which is PAPER B Stuart Macpherson 2016 and in our global impact and, statistics and numbers should be compounded by increases in print up at the location of the Council Meeting from not least, making a difference a fundamental skill and teaching MOTION and mailing costs. Secondly, there half-an-hour beforehand. C Convener of Constitutional Standing Committee: Gordon D Cairns, LLB 2016 to people’s lives and the world was being expanded through SECRETARY OF THE is a need to move forward and at large. different channels. embrace digital publication and P Convener of Public Affairs Standing Committee: GENERAL COUNCIL create an excellent electronic Previous copies of Billet can be found Matthew McPherson, MA 2017 The Principal began his Sport was important at the magazine. under the Publications tab at presentation by thanking a number University, both competitively BACKGROUND MEMBERS: of people and commending the and recreationally, and helped This has implications for Billet www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/media success of the events in Toronto. attract students as well as The Secretary, Dr Mike Michael, within Edit. It is proposed that ‘A’ denotes a member of the Academic Standing Committee, He also thanked the University bringing obvious benefits for their had previously been a member Billet within Edit will also have a ‘C’ a member of the Constitutional Standing Committee, of Toronto and looked forward wellbeing. Voluntary work was of the Business Committee, once yearly printed version, on ‘F’ a member of the Finance and Services Standing Committee, and to further collaborations. The incredibly widespread and was including Convener of the Public the same schedule as the current ‘P’ a member of the Public Affairs Standing Committee: University had many successes mostly organised by the students. Affairs Standing Committee winter Edit and Billet within MOTION to be proud of including very Innovative Learning Week, also and Chair of the Media Group, Edit. This will preserve universal CHANCELLOR’S ASSESOR: high student application numbers driven by the students, had been which successfully introduced access to the minutes of the The Business Committee asks which led to very high calibre very successful. Project work live webcasting to Half-Yearly General Council Meetings as well approval for Billet to be sent out Principal Edward F Bowen, CBE, TD, QC ex-officio students, research income, high or research involvement was Meetings when his appointment as the Election papers and the once a year in January in print performance computing and the also increasingly important. The as Secretary of the General business papers for the February to all members and to be made P Morven Brown, M.A, DipEd, DipEd Psych, AFBPsS 2015 Nobel Prize presented to Professor Principal concluded with the Council was approved by the Half-Yearly Meeting. There will available to members once a year F Waverley Cameron, BSc, SM 2015 Peter Higgs. aspiration of a seamless path from General Council at its Half-Yearly then be an electronic version of in May in electronic format only. C Michael Lugton, MA 2015 undergraduate entry to research, Meeting on 12 February 2011. Billet in May to be sent out by A print version of the electronic A Ritchie Walker, MA, BSc, DipEd 2015 Not everything was optimal, picking up all the essential skills email to all members for whom format will be sent out to those F Hamish McKenzie, MA 2016 including some aspects of along the way, preparing graduates Dr Mitchell will have completed we have an email address and who request this, for a certain the student experience. Cross to be truly global citizens with his first four-year term of office which will also be available on period, with the duration of C David M Munro, MBE, BSc, PhD 2016 disciplinary working could be 21st century skill sets. in February 2015 and is eligible the General Council website. In this being at the discretion of P John Clifford, MSc 2017 improved and the physical and IT to serve for one more term. The order to continue to service the the Committee. A Anne W. Paterson, BSc, Dip. Social Study, AIMSW, CCE 2017 infrastructure required constant The full text of the Principal's Business Committee recommend needs of interested members who C Scott Peter, MA, PGDE 2017 updating. The curriculum was and Professor Hillier’s remarks, that he be reappointed for a do not have access to email and/ C Ian Stevens, MA, ACA 2017 overloaded, and assessment and the record of the discussion further four-year term. or internet there will remain the A Dorothy Macleod, BSc, MBA 2018 and prompt feedback should that followed the presentation, possibility, for at least a certain A Sarah Morgan, BSc, MSc 2018 be improved. Students now are contained in the Annex to MOTION period, to request a printed needed different skills, including the Billet. version of the summer Billet. F David Houston, BSc, MBA, PhD, FSITM 2018 entrepreneurship, cross disciplinary That the General Council appoints If you feel that it is necessary to P Sir Philip Mawer, D Litt, LLD (Hon), , MA DPA, Hon FIFA 2018 thinking, greater language, research 7 ANY OTHER COMPETENT Dr Michael J Mitchell, BSc, PhD, as have a printed copy of Billet in P Samuel Trett, MBA, MA 2018 and quantitative reasoning skills. BUSINESS Secretary of the General Council summer 2015, we would ask you for a second period of four years to inform us of this wish. We will ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY: Mary T Scott, BA Online distance learning was There was no other competent from the date of this meeting, then send a printed copy of Billet increasingly widespread; nearly all business. 14 February 2015. to you in the summer.

38 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.EDIT.ED.AC.UK BILLET 39 Something to think about this summer Reconnect at Alumni Weekend Friday 5 - Sunday 7 June 2015

Rediscover the bold new thinking and lively debates you experienced at university. Our Alumni Weekend offers an inspiring weekend of talks, lectures, exhibitions and tours. Of course, you’ll also enjoy opportunities to catch up with fellow alumni at events including our ceilidh and Old College Quad tea party.

Find out more at alumniweekend.ed.ac.uk

Ensure you receive regular updates. Send your details to [email protected] Edinburgh Innovation Scottish Inspiration Global Application