THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

SPRING 2009 bulletinTHEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE

Going for gold Meet the staff winner of the inaugural Principal’s Medal award – page 6

The origin Deals on There’s no Competitions of genius wheels place like home and noticeboard John Scally and Stana Why University staff and Professors Tom Devine and Your chance to win a prize Nenadic explore Darwin’s students are getting on David McCrone debate and find a flat or holiday let – Edinburgh – page 8 their bikes – page 11 Homecoming – page 14 pages 22 and 23 welcome...

bulletin editorial

PUBLICATION DETAILS elcome to the spring edition of bulletin. In this issue we hear from the Editor: Chris Small joint winner of the first Principal’s Medal award, staff member Lesley Design: Hamlin Daniels Forrest. Following dialysis and a kidney transplant operation a decade Artwork: Susan Halcro W ago, Lesley has dedicated herself to supporting organ donors and recipients, Print: J Thomson Colour Printers while winning medals on the sports field as a competitor in the Transplant Games. Published by: Communications and Marketing, the University of Edinburgh Read about how she balances work, family life and sporting prowess on page 6. Dr John Scally guides us through the University’s Darwin collection as we CONTACT US celebrate the link between Edinburgh and our most famous student on page 8. bulletin Also this issue, we launch our new opinion section, with Professors Tom Devine Communications and Marketing and David McCrone debating the merits of Homecoming 2009, the events project The University of Edinburgh 48 Pleasance celebrating Scotland’s contribution to the world (pages 14–16). bulletin’s Edinburgh EH8 9TJ competitions page generated a huge response last issue; this time there’s a chance E: [email protected] to win two prizes with Spot the Difference and the Word Search on page 22. T: 0131 651 4325 If you’d like to respond to our opinion pages or have any feedback about the The University of Edinburgh is mindful of magazine, we’d like to hear from you. Send an email to [email protected] the environmental impact of producing this magazine and seeks to minimise resources wherever possible. This magazine has been printed on Revive Uncoated stock, which contains 80 per cent post-consumer waste and 20 per cent mill broke and has been sourced from a mill that is certified to the environmental management system ISO14001.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

If you would like to submit an idea for an article, or tell us about some news or an event you wish to promote, please contact us at the editor’s email address above in advance of the next deadline. The summer edition of bulletin will be published in June, and the deadline for submissions is 30 April. ebulletin is available online each month. Please email [email protected] to request deadlines.

Above: Darwin’s first sketch of an evolutionary tree, drawn underneath the statement ‘I think’.

Cover photograph by Laurence Winram From his Notebook B, 1837. See feature, page 8.

2. THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE SPRING 2009 news... bulletin

RAE results place Edinburgh in top five of UK’s ‘world leading’ research universities

he University’s position as one of the This reinforces the University’s ranking as world’s leading research universities 23rd in the world in the Times Higher Thas been reaffirmed following Education’s international league table of Research at the publication of the 2008 UK Research universities, published last year. Assessment Exercise (RAE) results. University of A total of 1,684 individuals, more than 90 per The RAE is an exercise conducted on behalf cent of the academic staff, saw their research Edinburgh is of the four UK higher education funding assessed across 39 subject areas. councils to evaluate the quality of research constantly The Principal of the University, Professor Sir undertaken by British higher education Timothy O’Shea, said: “This is an expanding the institutions. exceptionally strong performance. Research depth of human Overall, the results, released on 18 at the University of Edinburgh is constantly December, ranked the University in the top expanding the depth of human knowledge knowledge and five in the UK and number one in Scotland by and making an impact on the wider world. making an impact volume of 4* ‘world-leading’ and 3* “It is our outstanding staff that attract the ‘internationally excellent’ research. on the wider world most talented students from around the The results showed that 63 per cent of our globe and underpin our substantial economic research activity is in the highest categories contributions in terms of licensing, patents (4* and 3*), of which one third is recognised and spin-out companies, as well as tangible as world-leading. social and healthcare improvements.”

Iain Macwhirter elected Rector

ournalist Iain Macwhirter has been elected as the University of Edinburgh’s J50th Rector. He took 4,822 votes in the Rectorial Election, held on 12 February, winning 69 per cent of the total vote.

Macwhirter said: “I am delighted that the Picture: Paul Edwards students and staff of the University of Edinburgh have chosen me to be their Rector.

“I am extremely excited to have this opportunity to take an active involvement in the University and look to ensure the interests of both staff and students are maintained.”

Macwhirter beat off a challenge from MSP George Foulkes.

The Rector chairs the University Court, the governing body of the University, and represents the interests of students and staff.

The election marked 150 years since William Dr Alexis Cornish, Deputy Returning Officer for “I am really excited about the Gladstone first took up the post of Rector at the Rectorial Elections, said: “We are delighted result. A lot of people think student the University, after the role was established by to welcome Iain Macwhirter as the University apathy is a problem, but the an 1858 Act of Parliament. The Rectorial of Edinburgh’s next Rector. We look forward to turnout in this election shows that Election takes place every three years. working with him.” there are clearly many students who care about these issues.” Macwhirter was formally installed as the new Macwhirter studied politics as a postgraduate Ruth Cape, Rector at a ceremony held in the University’s student at the University of Edinburgh in the 1st Year Linguistics Student Old College on 10 March (see picture, above). 1970s.

SPRING 2009 THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE 3. news... Courtesy of Ken Currie Portrait of physicist Peter Higgs unveiled

portrait of University of Edinburgh physicist Professor Peter Higgs has been Staff recognised in New Year Honours List Aunveiled in the School of Informatics. The portrait (above), painted by artist Ken niversity staff were once again Professor Isobel Sharp, Visiting Professor, Currie, was unveiled on 2 March at a launch recognised in the Queen’s New Business School – CBE for services to the event attended by Professor Higgs, Ken Currie, Year’s Honours List, published at the Accountancy Profession. and the Principal, Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea. U end of December. Senior Honorary Professor Geoffrey Professor Higgs predicted the existence of a The following awards to current or former Boulton, formerly a Vice-Principal and new particle that became known as the Higgs members of staff were announced and will Regius Professor of Geology, was also boson. The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), be conferred later this year: honoured in the French New Year’s based at the French / Swiss border near Honours List as “Commandeur dans l’Ordre Geneva, was built to search for the particle. Professor Sir Neil Douglas, School of des Palmes Academiques” for services to Clinical Sciences and Community Health – The portrait will hang in the Informatics Forum Science and French Culture. Knighthood for services to Medicine until it moves to its permanent home in the Professor Boulton said: “It was a quite James Clerk Maxwell Building in the summer. Professor Ian Halliday, School of Physics – unexpected delight to receive a decoration CBE for services to Science from France, bringing memories of animated Professor Carole debates and creative adventures with many Hillenbrand, formerly French colleagues.” “It has been a great honour Head of Islamic and and privilege to be given the Middle Eastern Studies opportunity to paint Professor – OBE for services to Read about other staff honours and awards Peter Higgs” Higher Education in People News – page 17 Ken Currie (pictured right).

4. THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE SPRING 2009 bulletin

University prepares to Discover Science research news iscover Science, the University’s popular contribution to the in brief... DEdinburgh International Science Festival, will take place from 6 to 14 April. TESTING WORLD’S TEMPERATURE More than 200 staff and students will University scientists will seek ways to curb provide a range of unique, hands-on and global warming with the help of satellites that family-friendly science activities for the measure CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere. public, many of which are free. University researchers are to study data from Drop-in activities, workshops and shows will the instruments, which are being launched by take place at the National Museum of NASA and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Scotland and Adam House (both on Agency. The satellites will for the first time Chambers Street), with some shows at give region-by-region accounts of Earth’s George Square Theatre. The College of at the University Visitor Centre and at Adam carbon emissions and highlight areas of the Science & Engineering and College of House during the Festival. planet that are absorbing the most CO2. Paul Medicine & Veterinary Medicine are involved Palmer, Lecturer in Remote Sensing & Discover Science with the University of in this significant contribution to the Modelling at the University’s School of Edinburgh @ the Museum, 6–14 April 2009, University’s public engagement activities. GeoSciences, said: “We expect to learn where 10am to 5pm daily. National Museum of and how much CO2 is released to the The full programme and events booking Scotland, Chambers Street, and Adam atmosphere and how much is absorbed by information is available through the House, 3 Chambers Street, with some shows forests and oceans. This will help us look for Edinburgh International Science Festival at George Square Theatre. The Discover ways of combating climate change on Earth.” website, www.sciencefestival.co.uk / tel science event manager is Dr Janet Paterson 0131 533 0322. Tickets can be purchased (email [email protected]). CROHN’S DISEASE DRUG HOPE Patients with Crohn’s disease are being invited to take part in pioneering research that may Annual internal services event launched find the first preventative medicine for their condition. The University is conducting a new study into the prevention of Crohn’s –a he University has launched a new procurement to video production. A second condition that causes ulceration of the gut initiative aimed at showcasing its key Services Day is planned to take place in the wall. Within 10 years of diagnosis, 65 per cent services. Services Day, held at Playfair autumn. T of patients require surgery to remove affected Library Hall, Old College, on 20 November, An A–Z Services Directory is available on tissue. The study will test whether a drug, 6- was an opportunity to promote the 200-plus www.ed.ac.uk/staff-students/staff/support- Mercaptopurine (6-MP), currently given to internal services available to staff. services. For more information about Services ease symptoms of an attack, could also be There were a wide variety of services on offer, Day contact Deepthi de Silva-Williams. Email used to prevent the disease recurring after ranging from academic publishing to [email protected] / Tel 0131 650 2247 surgery. Patients who have recently undergone surgery for the disease are invited to take part. Anyone interested in the study should visit Bus service connects city centre with Easter Bush ww.clinicaltrials.ed.ac.uk RED DEER RISK REVEALED new public transport service has been Scotland’s mainland wild red deer population launched to connect the city centre with could be lost from the landscape because of the University’s central area, King’s A breeding with a foreign species. Research in Buildings and Easter Bush. The 67 bus, which Kintyre by University scientists has shown that runs from Monday to Friday between Japanese sika deer, brought to the country in Edinburgh city centre and Bush Estate, is the 19th century, have bred extensively with provided by Lothian Buses and financially native deer. The scientists believe cross- supported by the University. breeding could alter the deer’s appearance and During the morning and evening peak times it behaviour over generations. The research, provides a 20-minute service linking Edinburgh funded by the Natural Environment Research city centre with the main University sites in the Council and the Macaulay Institute, was central area at George Square, Summerhall published in the journal Molecular Ecology in Royal (Dick) Vet School, King’s Buildings and February. Helen Senn, a postgraduate student Easter Bush Royal (Dick) Vet School, and also at the School of Biological Sciences, said: calls at the new Straiton Park & Ride. An “This cross-breeding represents a serious hourly service is provided through the day. threat to wild red deer on mainland Scotland.” More information: www.transport.ed.ac.uk

SPRING 2009 THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE 5. feature...

feature Going for gold

hen Lesley Forrest had to have a give huge amounts of time and expertise to a Staff member Lesley kidney transplant 12 years ago her vast array of projects and activities. response to her illness and operation W “We decided to recognise this contribution by Forrest is joint winner of took friends, family – and herself – by surprise. awarding a new medal, The Principal’s Medal, the inaugural Principal’s “My outlook on life was completely changed; it to honour an individual or team who had was like a second chance,” she says. Shortly benefited the wider community. This first year Medal award. bulletin after her operation Lesley competed in the of the award the nominations were exceptional Transplant Games, national and international and we therefore decided to launch the medal heard how her experience tournaments open to competitors who have had, or are due to have, organ transplants. of organ donation led to Since then she has gone on to win 14 medals in the Games (see panel, right), and worked to British Transplant Games, winning ways in the pool support families affected by transplant Sheffield, 2008 operations. 3K Racing Walk (Bronze) 50m Breaststroke (Bronze) and on the sports field. Lesley, a Senior Administrative Assistant in 100m Breaststroke (Bronze) Financial Accounting (Endowments) at the University, recently added another prize to her haul. Last December, alongside student Grant by giving two awards. Both Lesley, a member Guthrie, she was awarded the University’s of staff, and Grant, a former student, have, in inaugural Principal’s Medal. Mary Bownes, very different ways, done huge amounts to Vice-Principal (Research Training and support quite different parts of the community. Community Relations), told bulletin about the I am extremely impressed that, besides thinking behind the new award. working or studying, they have given so much of their expertise and time to help others.” “The University of Edinburgh has a worldwide reputation for the quality of our research and Lesley was surprised and moved when she teaching staff and we recognise our stars,” found out about the award. “I was quite she said. “We also have a key role to play in emotional,” she says. “I take part in the sports the wider community and many of our staff because I enjoy it and I just help people Photograph: Laurence Winram. Location: Centre for Sport and Exercise

6. THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE SPRING 2009 bulletin

A guide to the University’s Awards If you were suddenly told that you need a transplant, you’re going to accept a donated organ – so I always feel that you should be willing to reciprocate

because when you’ve been through “With Transplant Sports UK you’re going out something like that yourself you’re quite and raising awareness and communicating anxious to relate what you know.” how it changes so many people’s lives,” she The Transplant Games are an important says. “I go and hand out leaflets and a lot of corrective to the idea that a full, happy life is people say, ‘well I’m not really interested in somehow not an option after an organ donating’. And I keep wanting to say, ‘it could transplant. happen to you’. The statistics are that you’re more likely to need a transplant than ever actually give an organ.

“In terms of signing up, everyone has to make World Transplant Games, up their own minds. I don’t believe in forcing THE PRINCIPAL’S MEDAL Bangkok, 2007 people. But if you were suddenly told that you Nominees may put themselves forward or 3K Racing Walk (Silver) needed a transplant, you’re going to accept a be nominated by a third party. A team 50m Breaststroke (Bronze) donated organ – so I always feel that you nominated for the medal (above) should 100m Breaststroke (Gold) should be willing to reciprocate. However, if include no more than four members. The you really deeply feel that you should not deadline for nominations is Friday 4 September. To submit a nomination, “The Games were set up 25 years ago donate your organs, I respect that. contact Jenny Buchanan (email specifically for transplant recipients to show [email protected]). If you’d like to that they could get back to a full life and to have an informal chat about a nomination, demonstrate the benefits of transplantation,” contact Vice-Principals Mary Bownes or she says. “My cousin had had a transplant and British Transplant Games, Simon van Heyningen. Email he suggested that I should come along to the Edinburgh, 2007 [email protected] / Games. After the operation I got back to health 3K Racing Walk (Gold) [email protected] quite quickly. I went down to Liverpool for my 100m Breaststroke (Silver) first Games and just thoroughly enjoyed it.” THE CHANCELLOR’S AWARDS “You don’t and can’t think in terms of needing The experience of competing allowed Lesley a Presented in recognition of innovation, an organ donation until you’ve been there. I had different perspective on how she and other creativity and dedication. 2008’s winners the phone call to say ‘we’ve got a kidney for families coped with transplant operations. were Professor Joanna Wardlaw, Head of you’, then suddenly you realise that somebody the University’s Centre for Clinical Brain “The first Games were quite humbling,” she has actually lost their life. But you hope, through Sciences; the School of Education’s Dr recalls. “I’d said to my husband ‘I don’t think I the organ donation, that the family might Siân Bayne; and Dr Polly Arnold, of the can do all this’ – and then I saw wee four and somehow find comfort knowing someone’s life School of Chemistry. The nominations five year olds competing and I thought, ‘well I’ll has continued because of that decision.” deadline is Friday 3 April. For more just enjoy it’. I got the bug and thought I’d quite Despite the medal glory, Lesley remains information, contact Deepthi de-Silva like to do it again. Due to raising a young family steadfastly modest about her achievements – Williams. Email [email protected] it was not until 2006 – the 10-year anniversary even as she prepares to compete in this year’s of my transplant – that I decided to return to the British Transplant Games in Coventry, and THE TAM DALYELL PRIZE FOR EXCELLENCE British Transplant Games in Bath and I made a helps people in Edinburgh affected by organ IN ENGAGING THE PUBLIC WITH SCIENCE real effort to train. I won a gold that year.” donation. Open to all staff, this annual prize Lesley found that the competitors are a recognises an individual or group for work “The network, which meets regularly at the mutually supportive group who could be a with a focus on science communication. Royal Infirmary, supports people who’ve been source of advice, laughter and solidarity. “It’s Work could include hosting school visits, affected by transplants or are heading towards like a big family, everyone’s in the same boat talks and other public events, or projects in one. I think it’s good that they can have the and there’ s amazing stories about what publishing or broadcasting. The winner option to come along and see people who’ve people have actually gone through.” receives a medal and a grant of £500 for had transplants. They can see that we’re fine.” their science activity. The deadline for Heightening awareness of the complex and For more information about the Transplant nominations is Friday 4 September. For personal issues around organ donation is Games visit www.transplantsport.org.uk more information, contact Deepthi de-Silva more important than putting pressure on Williams. Email [email protected] anyone to add their name to the donor If you would like to know more about organ register, Lesley feels. donation visit www.uktransplant.org.uk

SPRING 2009 THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE 7. feature...

The origin of genius

ohn Scally is surveying a vast table in here to study Medicine and he ended up The author of On the the Centre for Research Collection’s new dropping in to the Scottish Enlightenment and JViewing Gallery, on the fifth floor of the natural philosophy,” says Scally. “He rejected Origin of Species is one Main Library at George Square, home of the medicine, despite coming from a great University’s Collections. On it lie carefully medical dynasty. Over 500 students enrolled of the University’s most positioned manuscripts, registration cards for Medicine at Edinburgh that year. But from a and delicate drawings of monkeys. In the very early age Darwin showed interest in lots famous students – centre is a University of Edinburgh of different things; he was an embryonic matriculation album dated October 1825 – Victorian gentleman investigator and scholar, and 2009 marks the and on the page that’s open the signatures of working on all sorts of interests around natural Erasmus and Charles Darwin appear in neat, philosophy, medicine, collecting and bicentenary of his birth. faded ink (see above). comparison.” Dr John Scally, Director This year marks the bicentenary of the birth of Darwin’s two years in Edinburgh need to be Charles Darwin (1809–1882) and the 150th understood in a wider cultural and historical of University Collections, anniversary of the publication of On the Origin context, Scally argues. “He had a generalist of Species by Means of Natural Selection, a perspective from the start. But when Darwin talks to bulletin about profound achievement in western intellectual came here it altered the way he thought. It was history. The University is marking the at a point when lots of great ideas were how Darwin’s time here anniversaries with a series of talks and flowing through from the European exhibitions that celebrate the link between Enlightenment; ideas about rational thinking helped shape the natural Darwin and Edinburgh. and secular investigation of the natural world. There was an attempt to pull back religion and For Scally, the collection of Darwin material the Biblical version of events to look at philosopher’s thinking. that the University has gathered since 1825 is evidence and let the natural world tell you how the perfect starting point in understanding it actually came about.” how Darwin’s time in Edinburgh informed his later work. Edinburgh itself was a city that seemed primed to accept Darwin’s questing, “Our connection with Darwin starts with that idiosyncratic approach: “The city at that point matriculation album,” Scally says. “He and his was a hotbed of lots of different ideas. John brother Erasmus, both studying medicine, James Audubon (author of The American were assiduous students. They took out more Woodsman) was there, Sir Walter Scott was books from the library in their first term than still alive – Darwin met Scott at the Royal any other student.” Society. Darwin instantly fitted in to a Whiggish Despite this, Darwin quickly backtracked from or non-conformist grouping within Edinburgh

Images courtesy Edinburgh University Collections his initial focus on medicine. “Darwin came and was welcomed in to that.”

8. THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE SPRING 2009 bulletin

Scally says the intention of the University’s exhibition, Darwin’s Edinburgh, being held from October to December this year, is to provide a fresh take on how his time in Edinburgh influenced his later life and thinking.

“We want to paint a much richer picture of Darwin’s experience in Edinburgh, rather than the hitherto sterile view that’s been taken by Picture: National Library of Scotland Darwin came here to study medicine and ended up dropping in to the Scottish Enlightenment people who haven’t actually investigated it,” he says. “Writers such as Janet Browne (author of a series of acclaimed biographies of Darwin) are coming to a much more rounded understanding of how Edinburgh shaped Darwin to become the great genius he was.” “We want the exhibitions to send the message Knives, monkeys and manuscripts that at the time Darwin was here it was the John Scally on the highlights of the University’s Darwin collection. post-Enlightenment city, and a very dynamic and vibrant environment to be in. It’s good for “Amongst the items in the collection are the of research that begins to draw various us in 2009 to be investigating that.” books Darwin borrowed from the library, and strands of study together. Darwin’s Edinburgh will run concurrently with his signed class cards (see back page), which Darwin was a member of The Plinian the exhibition An Entangled Bank, which you had to have to get entrance to a class. Society and we have a book showing features five contemporary artists’ responses to There’s also an amputation knife used by minutes from one of their meetings, on 27 Darwin’s ideas. The exhibitions will take place James Syme, who was a professor of March 1827. This is very important; it’s from October to December 2009 at the Talbot clinical surgery here shortly after Darwin left. Darwin’s first public demonstration to a Rice Gallery. For more information visit What we imagine to be an operation now learned society of the research he had http://ace.caad.ed.ac.uk/Darwin/ was nothing like it was then. James Young done. The Society were so impressed by Simpson had not yet invented chloroform to this that they voted Darwin on to the anaesthetise the patient. There was lots of committee. He was 17. JOHN SCALLY CV blood, lots of screaming and lots of We also have a book by James Wilson, discomfort. That’s the kind of thing Darwin 1987: Graduated from the produced at the time Darwin was here, saw, rejected and moved away from, University of Strathclyde showing illustrations of some of the Old towards natural philosophy. with First Class Degree, College Museum’s specimens (see page 10) BA (Joint Hons) English We’ll also be showing an engraving, owned – drawings of monkeys and other animals. In and Modern History by the National Library of Scotland, of the the exhibition we’ll try to convey the Old College Museum (pictured above). This magnitude of this museum. 1992: Graduated from the University of was at the time perhaps the second biggest Cambridge. PhD in The Political Career of The most important piece in the collection is museum in the UK next to the British James, Third Marquis and First Duke of a single leaf that came to us in the 19th Museum. That’s quite hard to comprehend Hamilton (1606-1649) to 1643. century. It’s the final draft of Origin of now. It occupied three floors in Old College, Species that Darwin wrote down. Darwin, which had just been finished when Darwin 2004: Joined the University as Director of unlike modern archivists and librarians, arrived. You can see on the engraving a lot of University Collections, working within didn’t have the same respect for his the cases containing geological specimens. Information Services. Role includes manuscript collection. The pencil arithmetic When Darwin dropped out of medicine this is responsibility for Special Collections, Lothian trials on the back of the manuscript are the where he went. Health Services Archive, Museums Support, homework of his grandchildren! He actually Digital Projects, Collections Management, the Ally that to his many visits to the Firth of gave the final draft of this famous book to Talbot Rice Gallery and the University’s Forth and to Salisbury Crags to look at the his grandchildren to do their homework on… Collections of Historical Musical Instruments. strata and you start seeing a picture So there’s a nice personal story there that He was previously Deputy Head of Rare Books emerging of great minds, great writing, and can be brought out in the exhibition.” at the National Library of Scotland.

SPRING 2009 THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE 9. features...

Edinburgh – inspiring capital?

arwin celebrations have ranged from zoologist, who took Darwin with him on Dr Stana major museum exhibitions to a collecting forays to tidal pools at Newhaven. Dreinterpretation of Down House in In his 1876 Recollections of the Development Nenadic, Kent, the Darwin family home, now owned by of my Mind and Character, Darwin reflected on English Heritage, along with popular media Grant’s impassioned espousal of Lamarckian Senior Lecturer coverage. The University of Edinburgh is also evolutionary theory during the course of one of celebrating the author of On the Origin of their companionable walks – “it is probable in Economic Species by Means of Natural Selection, in that the hearing rather early in life such views recognition not only of his great intellectual maintained and praised may have favoured and Social History, on achievement, but also of the fact that the my upholding them under a different form in young Charles Darwin was a student of my Origin of Species”. (C Darwin, how the city influenced a medicine here. Autobiographies, Penguin Classics, 2002: 24) young Charles Darwin. Darwin’s academic career at Edinburgh Darwin was a member of various student University was not impressive. Though raised societies in Edinburgh and he observed the in a distinguished medical family, the son of a intellectual life of the Royal Institution on wealthy Shrewsbury GP and grandson of Princes Street (now known as the Royal Erasmus Darwin, physician, botanist and poet, Scottish Academy) opened in the mid-1820s he was soon repulsed by his studies in these for art exhibitions and also for housing such pre-chloroform days and thought his teachers learned bodies as the Royal Society of at the Medical School – which was arguably Edinburgh. He probably attended Royal the finest in Europe – dull and boring. He left Institution public lectures on phrenology, a without a degree and moved to Cambridge popular pseudo-science and almost certainly with a family hope, soon dashed, that he might also saw the “large and highly interesting try for another profession, that of Church of Collection of Drawings of Birds, Plants and England clergyman. other Subjects of Natural History of North America, by Mr Audubon, of Louisiana, collected during the last 20 years, and upwards, in some of the most unfrequented parts of that Continent...” (The Scotsman, 18 The shape of his later November 1826).

thinking was effected In Edinburgh, Darwin would have been exposed by the cultural milieu to a variety of influences that, while not unique to the city, were certainly in evidence there. he encountered here The 1820s was a time of great religious debate and pluralism as the authority of the established churches was diluted by new Christian sects, An image from James Wilson’s Illustrations of Though Darwin’s sojourn in Edinburgh was and by deism, romantic pantheism, atheism Zoology, published in 1831, featuring drawings short, at such a formative age it is reasonable and apathy. Young men on their own for of specimen orangutans that Darwin would to argue that the shape of his later thinking education or employment engaged in a ‘pick have studied at the Old College Museum in was influenced by the cultural and intellectual and mix’ approach to religious observation the 1820s. milieu he encountered in the city. Yes, he went and religious ideas, and this may have to the theatre and assemblies and enjoyed a influenced the genesis of Darwin’s thinking. privileged social life, unlike that of most of his Darwin’s Edinburgh years also witnessed the fellow students but consistent with his first great international financial crisis of the background and family connections in elite modern age, which began as a London Edinburgh society – a society that was banking crisis with similarities to what we see dominated by the great professors, lawyers, today – monetary expansion, risky speculation medical men and literary men of the late and poor regulation – and had a domino effect Enlightenment city. But he also formed strong on the rest of the economy, bringing personal connections with others. One of bankruptcy to many. The Edinburgh publishing Darwin’s neighbours in Lothian Street (now the industry was particularly affected. The firm of site of the National Museum of Scotland Constable & Co collapsed and Sir Walter lecture theatre) was John Edmonstone, a Scott, a giant of the age, was financially freed slave and taxidermist who taught Darwin ruined. In the evolution of the economy, in the that skill. processes of economic selection and survival He also had close friendships with such of the fittest, Charles Darwin may well have Image courtesy Edinburgh University Collections younger scientists as Robert Grant, a marine seen parallels with the natural world.

10. THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE SPRING 2009 bulletin Deals on wheels further information For more information on cycling, Bicycles+ and Get Active Getting There!, including details of secure cycle parking, free cycle training and maintenance courses, and the Dr Bike timetable, go to www.transport.ed.ac.uk. It’s anticipated that Bicycles+ will re-open for staff to join during spring/summer 2009. Staff will be notified of the re-opening. Further activities are planned for Get Active Getting There! this spring, including Commuter Cycle Training.

taff and students are increasingly members, each able to select up to £1,000 Cycling to work is now choosing to commute by bike to the worth of bicycle and safety equipment to use more popular than ever. SUniversity. According to the most recent for their daily commute. Feedback from travel survey, just under 12 per cent of staff members has been extremely positive. and students – equivalent to approximately Tessa Rundall, MSc Programme Administrator bulletin reports on the 4,000 people – cycle to work or classes. That’s (pictured below), said: “The scheme is great – compared to 4.5 per cent of Edinburgh University initiatives residents who bike to work. So what has it allows you to spread the cost of a major triggered the boom in cycling? purchase, without going into debt. I hardly that are persuading notice the money coming off my salary. It costs Emma Crowther, the University’s Transport and less than a bus pass per month. Hopefully staff to get pedalling. Parking Manager, says: “Concern for personal more people will use the scheme as it makes health and fitness and reducing your individual great sense economically – cheap transport, impact on the environment receives far greater quicker commuting, exercise and fresh air.” priority for many people now than it has ever done. Emma Crowther added: “Bicycles+ is also an opportunity for staff who already cycle to “During peak travel times cycling is the upgrade to a better bike which improves the quickest way to travel about the city. Most whole cycling experience and encourages importantly, the University has taken a them to cycle more frequently.” proactive approach towards travel planning over the past decade, introducing various GET ACTIVE GETTING THERE! initiatives to support cyclists.” The University has also been working in TAX-FREE BENEFITS partnership with the sustainable travel charity Sustrans, Cycling Scotland and Paths to To promote healthier journeys to work and Health on a new initiative called Get Active reduce pollution, the Government’s 1999 Getting There! This aims to provide walking Finance Act introduced an annual tax and cycling maps showing local paths, on- exemption, which allows employers to loan cycles and cyclists’ safety equipment to street links, and new signs to dedicated employees as a tax-free benefit. Employees facilities, shops, parks and other key pay a rental fee through a salary sacrifice destinations to help people navigate the areas scheme, free of tax and national insurance. by foot and cycle. The goal is to encourage They then enter into a hire agreement with their everyone who travels to University sites to take employer, usually for 12–18 months, at the end on board the social, economic and health of which the employer can opt to sell the bike benefits of active travel. “The scheme is great – it allows for a fair market value, typically 2.5–10 per During the summer of 2008 Get Active Getting you to spread the cost of a cent of the original purchase value. major purchase, without going There! launched with the offer of the Cycling Scotland Commuter Cycle Training Course. into debt. I hardly notice the BICYCLES+ money coming off my salary. This free one-day course provides practical It costs less than a bus pass Introduced in April 2008, Bicycles+ is the training on choosing suitable routes to work, per month.” University of Edinburgh’s Cycle to Work advises on clothing, equipment and bike Tessa Rundall scheme. Open to join for a period of two choice and includes a practical session on months, the scheme attracted 171 staff riding in traffic.

SPRING 2009 THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE 11. photo-story...

At your service…

ervitors have been working at the University for more than 100 years, with the oldest record in the servitorial Sdepartment outlining the duties of the staff in 1893. Currently there are 80 employed full time, with the majority working shift patterns. Their duties include opening, closing and securing University buildings, moving equipment and furniture between properties, and carrying out daily mail collections and pick-ups. Three quarters of a million items of external University mail are processed by servitors every year along with a similar number of incoming items from the Royal Mail. An estimated one million items of internal mail are distributed every year.

Servitors also play an important part in graduations. A member of the servitorial staff performs the role of Bedellus, carrying the University Mace ahead of the Principal in the academic procession, while another leads the academic procession. A further 18 servitors are involved in taking tickets for guests, assisting graduands and generally supporting the ceremonies in McEwan Hall to make the day memorable for all. Pictures: Douglas Robertson

12. THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE SPRING 2009 bulletin

Opposite page, clockwise from top: Mike Mushet delivers the mail; Brian Hamilton and Jim Watson greet a baby at last June’s graduation ceremonies; Brian escorts a toddler; Brian and Jim pose for the camera. This page, clockwise from above: University servitors pictured circa 1930 (the top hats were phased out in the 1960s); James Burnett enjoys a joke with Stuart Adams; James snaps students celebrating their graduation; University Staffbearer John Gillan with the hat used to confer degrees.

SPRING 2009 THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE 13. opinion...

There’s no place like home

hat’s positive If you extend this vision of the Scottish external Homecoming aims to about connection to some of these other diasporas, WHomecoming? you begin to see the huge impact the Scots celebrate Scotland’s That it is happening at all. have had on education, politics, philosophy It couldn’t have occurred and medicine across the world. I’m not contribution to the world. 30 years ago. It reflects a suggesting Homecoming should be marketed greater awareness of the throughout the globe, but it at least should But is it a reflection of Scottish people’s outreach over the centuries incorporate an awareness of that dimension. and a growing historical sophistication and Most of those who will be coming from abroad our lives now, a chance understanding. for Homecoming will be North Americans. This to champion heritage – There are aspects of Homecoming that would highlights one of the biggest tensions in the gain anyone’s unqualified approval. The grass- project: the clash between indigenous Scottish or simply a marketing roots dimension and the music programme identity in 2009 and Scottish–American identity, are extremely interesting. There are also a an identity that has been forged through the exercise? bulletin series of academic events, including the invention of tradition, built around tartanry and Scottish Diaspora debate in the Parliament, Highlandism. In order to facilitate the process interviewed Professors that will be important and engaging. of seducing the American audience, the organisers of Homecoming have had to adopt But the central problem is that Homecoming those markers of Scottishness, which many Tom Devine and David has only made a connection with one part of Scots of today would think of as kitsch. Scotland’s historic diaspora: North America. McCrone (right) to hear This American audience is mainly indifferent to We’ve been sending people abroad for seven modern Scotland. Their interest is in a historic centuries. Only in the last 10 years has there what they think the Scotland: a vision of a romantic past. As part been net in-migration to Scotland. The kind of of Homecoming there will be a 7,000-person Homecoming event I’m envisaging would events say about our march, the Gathering of the Clans, led by the allow the Scottish people to be instructed that ‘clan chiefs’. Given that the great removals this is one of the very few diasporic nations in national identity in 2009. from the Highlands in the 18th and 19th the world. But there is no meaningful centuries were orchestrated by their ancestors campaign as part of Homecoming to appeal – as commercial landlords – most Scots would to Ulster, England, Europe or South Africa. find this idea deeply ironic.

Continued page 16, column 1.

14. THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE SPRING 2009 bulletin

he Homecoming It’s also important to say that there’s nothing we interest them in coming to a country that celebrations tell us wrong with marketing Scotland. We have a has some affinity with them? And the ‘auld Tthat there are many long and interesting history; it’s amazingly enemy’, England, is the country most like ours, different ways of being a diverse. We have a tourist industry going back and the one we’ve lived with since the island Scot: being born here, at least to the days of Walter Scott. existed. We’ve just completed some survey having parents or grand- work in England. Guess who they see as the We’ve been sending people around the world parents born here, or people they have most in common with? The for a long time, such that many people living simply living here. Indeed, if you want to be a Scots. England is our biggest neighbour and abroad have Scottish ancestors. We can get Scot, you have a number of ‘identity markers’ our biggest market. carried away celebrating the ‘blood line’ – and at your disposal. if we do we then ignore lots of other ways of Concerns have also been expressed about the being Scottish. Homecoming is good if it way Homecoming relates to Scottish Research on national identity that I have encourages people to come here. It’s not nationalism. There is, in my mind, very little link conducted with my colleague Frank Bechhofer good if it implies that you can only be Scottish between a lack of understanding in Scotland indicates that people make their claims to be if your granny is a MacTavish, to coin a of our own history and a rise in the popularity Scottish on all sorts of grounds, and most of phrase. After all, many Scots went abroad over of political nationalism. I know that some say these are accepted, including being born here the centuries, and made contributions to their that we have neglected our history, but there’s – not something we can do anything about! new home, just as many people have settled also the view that we became obsessed by it. There is no one way of being Scottish, any in Scotland and make a huge contribution Nationalism has developed for ‘political’ more than there is a single Scottish culture. here. They’re just as Scottish as people who reasons. Over the last 30 years, we’ve needed We are a mongrel nation; indeed, that itself is left. I was born and brought up in Scotland, more self-government, reflected in our growing a characteristic way of being Scottish. and have been here all my life. Those who sense of being first Scottish, but also British. Homecoming does not necessarily define have chosen to live here are just as Scottish Ours is not an ‘ethnic’ nationalism in which Scottishness simply as a ‘cultural export’ in the as I am. some people don’t have the correct culture or way that some of its critics have implied. skin colour, and so are not ‘one of us’. It’s It’s been claimed the Homecoming celebrations Instead, it recognises the diverse ways of ‘civic’, in that you can be a Scot by aspiration, have too strong a focus on appealing to a being Scottish. If we start saying that you are a by residence, and, of course, voting for our North American audience. If that’s the case, it Scot only by ancestry or birth, you infer that Scottish Parliament. There has been a growing wouldn’t make very good business sense. We some people are excluded. Anyway, none of ‘cultural’ sense of being Scottish – music, have many people around the world who feel us can do a thing about where our parents literature, the arts – but people’s sense of some attachment to Scotland. Our oldest decided we would be born, or what our being Scottish is not directly linked to their allies, after all, are the French. Why shouldn’t ancestors got up to. political or constitutional preferences.

Continued page 16, column 3.

SPRING 2009 THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE 15. opinion...

Continued from page 14 the 1960s and 1970s the Scot preferred the Continued from page 15 role of victim. It was in this period that John We’ve become more Prebble’s books were the most popular form There is also an accusation that Homecoming of historical literature in Scotland – Culloden, celebrates ‘Scottishness’ by employing sophisticated in our the Highland Clearances, the Darien Disaster – artificial symbols and paraphernalia. But lots of national identity over all concentrating on Scottish disasters, the our favourite cultural institutions – kilts, haggis, chip on the shoulder and victimhood. But even tartan, even golf – we borrowed from other the last 30 years ... the most superficial understanding of our role people and made our own. Borrowing is fine, in Empire would conclude that we were the as long as we don’t think we have sole rights The modern Scot is colonisers, not the colonised! over things, or more dangerously, that only certain kinds of people have the right to use now pretty sniffy about How could we inform Scots about the realities, them. Back in the 1990s I wrote a book about and help forge a more balanced view of our traditional Highlandism Scottish heritage. It convinced me that diasporic role? The teaching of Scottish history Scottish was a matter of doing, rather than We have become more sophisticated and in our schools needs to better capture the being; in other words, most folk don’t get confident in our national identity over the last tension between our national history and the terribly precious about heritage. I remember 20 or 30 years. The White Heather Club, Andy wider European and world history. talking to an old man who had set up the Stewart and Moira Anderson sit uncomfortably Ironically this comes back to Homecoming, Tartan Society. “Wear what you like,” he said. with the modern Scot. But what’s being because the Scottish Diaspora is a way of “The great thing about tartan is that it’s very marketed by Homecoming now is very much linking Scotland to the rest of the globe. Our flexible; it can be re-invented.” an incarnation of that. The modern Scot is worldwide impact could be used as a route pretty sniffy about this traditional Highlandism Homecoming represents an opportunity to from the national story into the international in a way that was not the case in the 1950s. raise awareness of Scots’ cultural history and story. One of my recent books, Scotland’s impact on the world. We have a huge While I understand that Homecoming should Empire: 1600 – 1815 (2003) was about the advantage that globally people know of us and be celebratory, there is also danger of it global reach of the Scots during the early two our culture. ‘The brand’ works. We shouldn’t becoming triumphalist. We’ve long suffered centuries of imperialism. But in order to write it exaggerate it any more than we should deplore from what I call the Burns Supper School of I had to read widely in the historiography of it. It’s out there whether we like it or not. At Scottish History, which tends to be based on a the USA, Canada, Australasia and India during times, though, I think we suffer from the ‘dearie form of ethnic conceit – here’s tae us, wha’s that period, before I could even start to locate me’ factor: the belief that somehow we’re not like us? There’s a risk of that being the Scottish factor in the story. doing it right, or no good will come of it, or perpetuated by Homecoming. It would be impossible to write a general study we’ll pay for it in the long run. Of course, we A significant gesture would be to remember of modern Scotland today without stressing the should do our best, and not inadvertently some of the darker elements of Scottish interconnection with Empire and diaspora. The damage our culture. But cultures are amazingly history by extending an invitation to effect of Empire was so profound in the making robust. They’ll be here long after we’re gone. Homecoming to Caribbean populations, many of this country; every part of Scottish life was A celebration of Scotland’s heritage, culture of whom bear Scottish names. The role of penetrated by it. That tells us that it’s false to and national identity can truly engage Scots Scots in the slave plantations in the Caribbean end our national story where the land ends.” about their own history if it’s undertaken with at the height of Empire needs to be aired and Professor Tom Devine is the Sir William Fraser good humour. We don’t take kindly to being discussed. But again, that’s missing. We don’t Professor of Scottish History and Palaeography, preached at, least of all by academics. Don’t need to carry out a public act of contrition for Director of the Scottish Centre of Diaspora turn it into a battleground about what is the what our ancestors did but we could Studies and Head of the School of History, right and wrong way to do it. Looking back demonstrate that a mature nation is prepared Classics and Archaeology. The Scottish Centre over the last 50 years, I’m cheered with how to look at its past, warts and all. for Diaspora Studies was established in Spring far we’ve come in terms of our culture and Indeed, one of the bizarre aspects of Scotland 2008 to advance historical enquiry into the national identity. We are a people of many since the mid-20th century has been the subject. For more information visit opinions, a lot of them contrary and self- amnesia about Empire until recent years. In www.shc.ed.ac.uk/centres/scdt/about.htm contradictory. That’s the Scottish way. If it’s your way, then you’re one of us.”

David McCrone is Professor of Sociology, and co-director of the University of Edinburgh’s Institute of Governance, which he co-founded About Homecoming in 1997. Along with Frank Bechhofer, he has been working on issues of national identity in Homecoming Scotland 2009 is a project that aims Scotland and England since the early 1990s, to celebrate Scotland’s contributions to the world. most notably in the context of constitutional Events throughout the year will mark the 250th change. anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth, honour famous Scots, innovations and achievements, and explore Interviews by Chris Small. our culture and heritage overall. Homecoming is an initiative of the Scottish Government managed by Illustrations by Lucy McCririck. Lucy is a Event Scotland in partnership with Visit Scotland. The University will be hosting a final-year student at Edinburgh College of Art special event on St Andrew’s Day (30 November) to mark the year of Homecoming. (www.illustrating-lucy.com). For more information, visit www.homecomingscotland.com If you would like to respond to this article, email [email protected]

16. THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE SPRING 2009 people news... bulletin people news

Lecturer in Rabbit New Vice-Principal appointed Medicine appointed

he popularity of rabbits as pets has led new Vice-Principal has been to a post for a lecturer dedicated to appointed to focus on improving the Trabbit medicine being established. Aquality of the student experience at Brigitte Reusch has taken up the role as the University. lecturer in Rabbit Medicine and Surgery at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. Professor Dai Hounsell is the new Vice-Principal for Academic Enhancement. Reusch, who has several years’ experience in He will oversee learning and teaching, and treating rabbits, will also run a dedicated support and coordinate initiatives by staff rabbit clinic at the School’s Hospital for Small across the University’s three Colleges and Animals as part of its Exotic Animal and 21 Schools. An initial priority will be Wildlife Service. enhancing student assessment and Reusch (pictured below with Franz, her pet feedback, which has been highlighted in Belgian hare) said there was a lot of recent surveys as an area of concern. misinformation about how to keep rabbits in Professor Hounsell holds a Personal Chair optimum health. Illnesses that often affect in Higher Education and was the founding Director of the University’s Centre for Teaching, Learning and Assessment. He is a Fellow of the Society for Research in Higher Education and an acknowledged expert on the influence of assessment and feedback on the quality of students’ learning. • Professor Hounsell will work closely with “This is an exciting challenge,” said Dr Susan Rigby, a Senior Lecturer in the Professor Hounsell. “The quality of our School of GeoSciences, who has a strong students’ experiences at Edinburgh are of track record in developing undergraduate the utmost importance, and I and my and postgraduate teaching. rabbits include dental and digestive diseases, colleagues across the University look which can potentially be fatal. forward to ensuring that those experiences Dr Rigby is to be designated Assistant meet the highest standards.” Principal – Taught Postgraduate Courses. “Many people are deciding to have rabbits as house pets as this fits in better with their busy working lives than having other pets,” Reusch said.

FEDERATION ROLE FOR DOUBLE HONOURS IN FINE ART VOLTAIRE FELLOWSHIP FOR NEUROSCIENTIST PROFESSOR OF FRENCH Richard Thomson, Watson Gordon Professor of Professor Sergio Della Sala (Human Cognitive Fine Art at the University, was appointed Slade Emeritus Professor John Renwick, Honorary Neuroscience, Psychology) has been elected Professor of Fine Art at the University of Oxford Fellow in French at the University of Edinburgh, President of the Federation of the European for 2008 – 2009. Professor Thomson’s Slade was elected a Research Fellow of the Voltaire Societies of Neuropsychology (ESN). The Lectures at Oxford were given between January Foundation in the University of Oxford in Federation has more than 7,000 members and March 2009, following Robert Hillenbrand’s November. The appointment follows the election belonging to national societies of cognitive Slade Lectures at Cambridge, delivered last in spring 2008 of Professor Renwick to the Royal neuroscience, neuropsychology, or behavioural autumn. Professor Hillenbrand retired from Society of Edinburgh. neurology from 15 European countries. teaching Fine Art at the University of Edinburgh in December 2007 after a distinguished career.

news in brief... news in brief... news in brief... news in brief... news in brief...

SPRING 2009 THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE 17. people news & research updates...

Theologian scoops Book on cinema impact Role Templeton Award wins international prize play niversity of rofessor Laura Edinburgh lecturer Marcus, of the UDr Paul Nimmo PUniversity of has been recognised as Edinburgh’s School of Name: Janet Craig one of the most promising Literatures, Languages Role: Occupational Health Manager young theologians in the and Cultures, has won an Department: Occupational Health Unit, world. In January he was international award for her Health and Safety Department awarded a 2009 John Templeton Award for book, which looks at the impact of early Theological Promise for his work on the ethics cinema on literature and culture. What is your role at the University? of the Swiss theologian Karl Barth. The 2008 James Russell Lowell Prize was To manage the unit and ensure we can Dr Nimmo, who was appointed lecturer in awarded to Professor Marcus for The Tenth offer good advice on matters relating to theology last June, will receive a prize of Muse: Writing about Cinema in the Modernist health and employment while keeping up $10,000 plus additional funds of up to $10,000 Period, published by Oxford University Press. to date with legislation and good practice, to pay for public lectures at universities and thereby enabling all staff to look after their The prize selection committee described other educational institutions around the health and wellbeing. Professor Marcus’s book as an “eye-opening world. interdisciplinary work of extraordinary depth, Why does the University need someone He will be presented with the prize at an range, scholarship, and imagination”. to do your job? awards ceremony at the University of People make an organisation and people Professor Marcus, the first British-based Heidelberg, Germany, in May. who are cared for and healthy in general recipient of the prestigious accolade, is Regius terms tend to do a better job and stay with Established in 2005, the John Templeton Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature at an employer for longer. Where we make a Award for Theological Promise is given the University. The prize adds to her previous difference I would hope that the employee annually for the best doctoral thesis or best awards, from Yale University, the British has a better job and is able to work for the first book related to the topic God and Academy, the Arts and Humanities Research organisation longer, so occupational good Spirituality. Council, and the Leverhulme Trust. health makes good business sense for the Dr Nimmo’s award was in recognition of his The Lowell Prize was presented to Professor employee and employer. recent book Being in Action: The Theological Marcus on 28 December in San Francisco What essential qualities and skills does Shape of Barth’s Ethical Vision, which arose during the Modern Language Association’s a person need to do your job? out of his doctoral research carried out at annual convention, the world’s largest meeting Life experience and people skills mainly but Edinburgh. of language and literature scholars. you need to be an experienced, qualified nurse with specialist qualifications in occupational health and empathy with the organisation and its people. Physiotherapist to head Manager recognised for What are the best elements of your job? team at Delhi Games procurement excellence Influencing change, and contact with people who are in genuine need – knowing indsay Thomson, ndy Kordiak, that you can make a difference. This also FASIC staff member Equipment gives a huge insight into what is really at the University’s Procurement happening in the organisation. L A Centre for Sport and Manager at the College of And the worst . . .? Exercise, has been Medicine & Veterinary Not being utilised when there is a definite selected as Head Medicine, won the need to be, or not being heard in instances Physiotherapist for Individual Award for where the offered advice would appear to Scotland’s Commonweath Games Team in procurement excellence in the 2008 Scottish make a positive influence if implemented. Delhi in 2010. Government Opportunities Awards.

In another life, what job would you do? Lindsay has built up extensive experience of The Individual Award recognises the Something in the sunshine, perhaps working with elite athletes across a range of contribution one person can make towards teaching adolescents and influencing the major sports events. Delhi will be her third delivering savings, increasing efficiency or employees of tomorrow! Commonwealth Games, having previously pioneering innovation. served with the Scotland medical team in The awards were made at the Crowne Plaza Melbourne 2006 and Manchester 2002. Hotel, Glasgow, on 29 October last year. The If you would like to nominate University had a total of four finalists Lindsay’s appointment came as FASIC yourself or a colleague for this slot, competing in the awards. please email [email protected] celebrated its 20th anniversary, in February. For more information about the CSE visit For more information visit govopps.co.uk/ www.sport.ed.ac.uk awardscotland/winners.htm

18. THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE SPRING 2009 bulletin

research updates

NEW RESEARCH FUNDING SERVICE A new research funding service for all Photograph: Paul Dodds members of the University has been launched. ResearchProfessional is a website that enables users to search for suitable research funding Appointment bolsters motor opportunities. The new service comes from ResearchResearch, providers of the University’s previous research funding service, neurone disease research ResearchResearch.com. Through its improved search function, Research Professional aims to save time, making it invaluable for researchers. otor neurone disease research at Chandran said: “I am delighted to be the University of Edinburgh has coming to the University of Edinburgh, which Hamish Macandrew, Head of Research Mbeen boosted with the appointment has a long tradition of world-class stem cell Support and Development at Edinburgh of a director to lead the centre investigating biology and has made a strategic Research and Innovation (ERI), said: “One of the illness. Dr Siddharthan Chandran, commitment to regenerative medicine. the criticisms often levelled against currently a consultant neurologist at customisable databases is that they are only Cambridge University, will head the Euan “Motor neurone disease is a debilitating and capable of simple searches which generate MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone presently untreatable disorder. The Centre’s large quantities of irrelevant material. Disease Research, leading work to mission is to undertake laboratory and ResearchProfessional offers a step-change understand why motor neurones – cells that clinical research that leads to new therapies. here with a much more intelligent selection control voluntary muscle activity such as Our research includes looking at stem cells, tool. It beautifully complements the new and walking and breathing – break down. which represent a terrific opportunity to both complex world of multidisciplinary research.” study and learn about the disease as well as For further information, contact: Dr Sarah The centre, set up following a generous potentially develop new drugs and donation from Euan MacDonald, who has Anderson, ERI, Tel: 0131 650 9034, Email: treatments.” motor neurone disease, and his father [email protected] Chandran will also establish a specialist Donald (pictured above right, with Euan ERI COURSES LAUNCHED middle and Chandran left), incorporates multidisciplinary motor neurone disease expertise in regenerative medicine and stem clinic in Edinburgh. He is due to take up his Edinburgh Research and Innovation, Transkills cell research, neuroscience and genetics. new post in the summer. and the Corporate Human Resource’s Researcher Development Programme have combined to deliver a new programme of courses that aims to give all researchers here the best possible knowledge of research Leverhulme accolades for University research staff funding sources and how to make successful applications. The Integrated University of hree young researchers from the change. He uses data from satellites, a new Edinburgh Research Funding Event Programme University of Edinburgh have been approach that produces more accurate results was launched at the beginning of January. Trecognised as among the most than conventional methods. He will use his There are three separate courses. Course 1, An promising of their generation. Dr Jared Tanner Leverhulme award to strengthen links between introduction to research funding, is aimed at of the School of Mathematics, Dr Paul Palmer his research group and its global second- and third-year PhDs, new post-docs, of the School of GeoSciences and Dr Jill collaborators. and administrators with little or no experience Burke of the School of Arts, Culture and Dr Burke is an expert in Italian renaissance art. of funding landscape; Course 2, External Environment, have each been awarded a She plans to write a book, with the working research funding for early to mid-career Philip Leverhulme Prize, which grants each title The Renaissance Nude: Nakedness in Italy researchers, is geared towards research staff winner £70,000 to further their studies. from Donatello to Michelangelo, which will with some knowledge of the grant application Dr Tanner’s work helps to improve the examine the changing concept of the nude in process; and Course 3, Funding opportunities accuracy of techniques such as MRI scanning, Italian art from 1400 to 1550. for established researchers, is aimed at data processing and statistical modelling. He senior academic staff who would like to Recipients of Philip Leverhulme prizes are intends to use his award to improve the sustain and refresh their knowledge of the usually individuals under the age of 36 who accuracy of such technologies. current funding landscape. have made an exceptional contribution to their Dr Palmer studies chemical changes in gases area of study, and are expected to continue to Details of the programme can be found at in the atmosphere that are linked to climate do so. www.eri.ed.ac.uk/events/researchfunding.html

SPRING 2009 THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE 19. appointments... appointments

and the differentiation of sister chromatids in Professor Gary A selection of honorary relation to cell fate. He is currently a visiting Entrican, Honorary Professor at the MRC Centre for Regenerative Professor professorships and other Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research Professor Gary (ISCR) at the University of Edinburgh. appointments made in Entrican, Immunology Leader at Moredun the past six months. Research Institute, has been appointed Honorary Professor at the University. He Professor Marilyn graduated with BSc Honours in Immunology at Booth, Iraq Chair of the University of Glasgow. He also conducted Arabic and Islamic his PhD in Immunology at University of Studies Glasgow, investigating immune responses to Dr Booth is a parasite infections. He then moved to graduate of Harvard- Edinburgh to take up a three-year post- Radcliffe College at doctoral position at the Moredun Research Harvard University Institute, studying immune responses to viral Honorary Professors (BA, Summa Cum Laude, 1978) and St infection in sheep. At the end of the project he Individuals conferred Honorary Antony’s College at Oxford University (DPhil, took up a Core Research position at Moredun, Professorships or Fellowships are non-staff Modern Arabic Literature and Modern Middle focussing on immune regulation and cytokine members who are of sufficiently high East History, 1985), where she also held the biology in sheep with specific reference to academic distinction that, were they Joanna Randall McIver Junior Research chlamydial abortion, a disease that causes employees of the University of Edinburgh, Fellowship (St Hugh’s College). She is the major losses in sheep flocks across the UK. they would be credible candidates for the author of Bayram al-Tunisi’s Egypt: Social His work has led to several commercial award of a Personal Chair. Criticism and Narrative Strategies and May Her products, diagnostic tests for diseases of Likes Be Multiplied: Biography and Gender sheep and cattle, and is being expanded Politics in Egypt, as well as numerous through competitive grant acquisition, most of published essays on Arabic literature and Personal Chairs which are with colleagues at University of gender. She has translated more than a dozen Academics appointed as Personal Chairs Edinburgh. novels, memoirs from the Arabic, and works are members of University staff who have from Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. been awarded the title through promotion. Dr Booth has received two translation prizes and many fellowships, including the Fulbright Peter Lansdorp, Senior Scholar Fellowship. She taught at the Honorary Professor University of Illinois from 2003 to 2008. She Peter Lansdorp has also taught at Brown University and received an MD from American University in Cairo. the Erasmus University in Rotterdam and a PhD from the University of Professor Hugh Amsterdam. He moved to Vancouver, Canada, Goddard, Director in 1985, where he has worked on monoclonal of the HRH Prince antibodies and developmental aspects of the Alwaleed bin Talal hematopoietic system as well as the Centre for the purification of hematopoietic stem cells. He Study of Islam in developed monoclonal antibodies and the Contemporary quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridisation World techniques for these studies that continue to Professor Goddard studied Islamic History in be in widespread use. He is a Professor at the the Faculty of Oriental Studies in Oxford, under University of British Columbia and a staff Albert Hourani, and then, after two years in the scientist at the Terry Fox Laboratory of the BC Middle East, took his PhD in Christian–Muslim Cancer Research Institute. His research Relations in the Department of Theology in the interests include the role of telomeres/ University of Birmingham. He taught Islamic telomerase in stem cell biology and cancer; Studies for three years at the College of

20. THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE SPRING 2009 staff notes & obituary... bulletin obituary Alex Doig (1922-2008) St Paul and St Mary in Cheltenham, and then the school through its in the Department of Theology and Religious Alex Doig, who worked initial European Studies in the University of Nottingham, where as a Projectionist and Quality Improvement he became Professor of Christian–Muslim Audio Visual Technician System (EQUIS) Relations in 2005. As well as time spent in the in Audio Visual Services accreditation. Apart Middle East and a number of western from 1968 until his from working at countries, he visited South Asia (Pakistan and retirement in 1987, died various British India), West Africa (Nigeria), South-East Asia in December, aged 86. universities, including (Malaysia and Indonesia) and Central Asia the universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow, Alex was well known (Uzbekistan and Kirghistan), in order to Bill has held visiting appointments at during his 19 years at the University and investigate the dynamics of Christian–Muslim Universities in Australia, Argentina, the worked as a projectionist at many high profile relations. His books include A History of Netherlands, Spain and the United States. He presentations over that time. He was a Christian–Muslim Relations (2000), and he has has published research papers dealing with perfectionist and took great care to ensure written many articles on different aspects of investment analysis, corporate finance and that the events went without a hitch. Christian–Muslim Relations globally. international accounting and is author of Alex also worked as a projectionist for the Financial Analysis, now in its second edition. Edinburgh International Film Festival and the His current research includes the impact of great American director John Huston insisted dividends on company valuation, measuring that Alex was the projectionist when his films strategic advantage, identifying stock market Ronald Pethig, were being screened. Alex must have made bubbles and estimating the cost of capital. He Professor of quite an impression on Huston as he even got holds a PhD from the University of Glasgow. Bio-electronics, a mention in his autobiography. He had a great the School of knowledge of cinema, which may have Engineering and inspired his choice of career and perhaps Electronics explains why he enjoyed his work so much. Before his Professor Pauline appointment at He was initially part of a small group of Weetman, Chair in Edinburgh Professor Ronald Pethig held a technicians whose work was eventually Accounting, Research Chair at the School of Electronic brought into the wider Audio Visual department University of Engineering, Bangor University. From 2000 to of the University. There he gained the support Edinburgh 2003 he was seconded as Vice-President and friendship of a larger group of colleagues. Business School (Technology) to Aura BioSystems Inc, located Professor Pauline On his retirement, Alex maintained contact with in San Jose, California. Prior to this he was Weetman has his many friends at the University and it did not Director of the Institute of Molecular and pursued an academic career in accounting for surprise any of us to discover that soon after Biomolecular Electronics at Bangor. He holds over 30 years. Following a chemistry degree ‘retiring’ he was back working as a part-time a PhD and DSc in Electrical Engineering, from the University of Oxford, she qualified as projectionist for the Lister Postgraduate Institute, awarded by Southampton University, as well a chartered accountant in Edinburgh, gaining a position he maintained for several years. as a PhD in Chemistry from Nottingham the gold medal of the Institute of Chartered University. In 1982 he was elected a Alex had a strong sense of duty that showed in Accountants of Scotland. She has held Corporation Member of the Marine Biological his work as well as his personal life, but he also professorial appointments at the Universities of Laboratory at Woods Hole, Massachusetts, had a great sense of humour. He often found Stirling, Heriot-Watt, Strathclyde and Glasgow. and since 2006 has held an appointment as time for practical jokes, which he could take as She received the distinguished academic Senior Adjunct Scientist there. His research readily as he could give out. I recall one time award of the British Accounting Association in objectives are directed towards developing he collected the contents of as many paper 2005 and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of generic tools, based on dielectrophoresis and punches as he could find to fill a colleague’s Edinburgh. Professor Weetman’s introductory related electrokinetic effects, for applications in umbrella. The delayed joke was a speciality. textbook in financial and management drug discovery, toxicology and cell therapy. accounting, published by Pearson, is now in Alex will be remembered as someone who its fourth edition and she is joint author of a could always be relied upon, who endeared further Pearson book on comparative himself to one and all by his courtesy, his William (Bill) Rees, Chair in Financial corporate reporting. She has long-established good humour and his professionalism. Analysis, University of Edinburgh connections with the accountancy profession, Although, sadly, he had mobility problems Business School including convening the examining board of towards the end of his life, he was as alert as ever, and I, for one, can still see the twinkle in Professor Bill Rees’s previous appointment The Institute of Chartered Accountants of his eye. It is good to know it never left him. was as Director of the University of Scotland and continuing as a member of its Amsterdam Business School, where he guided Accounting Standards Committee. Tom Fairnie

SPRING 2009 THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE 21. competitions...

Spot the difference

ould you like the chance to win a small Wbut undeniably exciting prize from the University gift shop? If you would, take five minutes to complete our spot the difference puzzle. Compare the two pictures here of the new Informatics Forum. The image on the right differs to the one on the left. Circle the differences and send in your answer. You’re looking for five differences. A prize draw will take place on Thursday 30 April and the winner will be notified by email.

Send your answers and email address to: Competitions, Bulletin, Communications & Marketing, 48 Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8 4TJ

Word search

ry our new word search challenge and you could win another CLUES coveted item of University merchandise. There are 25 words or Tphrases (not including apostrophes) relating to the University Award-winning new building in University graduates are members of Edinburgh hidden in the grid. See right for clues. Mark the words Crichton Street of this council on the grid and return it to us, including your email address, at the The recent vote for senior university He’s perched atop the Old College address above. A prize draw will be held on Thursday 30 April. official dome SINFORMATICSFORUM The University’s literary awards Edinburgh’s biggest student nightclub VLDUNJAMESVIEEA RO Supercomputer based at Edinburgh IAOSALOLBETKGYICJ Its foundation stone was laid in 1789 Author of On the Origin of Species

SGILSTBML AAROH TYA Alumnus and Olympic cyclist Acronym for the University’s sports IEPLEROCHECTORMN T centre Group of research-intensive TNGOYLATEHRESNAKJ universities Traditional venue for graduations OEOTTLTERWHSISETO First adult animal to be cloned Affectionate name for School of RRLTHGGIANIWRADTI Veterinary Medicine Gallery in Old College CADEERECNRGLAAO EU University Principal and Vice ELERSOLEHGEEIWORT He granted the University’s Royal Chancellor Charter NCNRHULCATSHLUTT C A thought experiment conducted in TOBOEPOLEBSECBHH U The Large Hadron Collider was 1867 built to find this particle RUOWESCLVOCLLQATE Learn a foreign language here ENYPUDKSTIANYBERO Buy your University merchandise here Launched in 2008, in red, blue and NNCDEKFFCSELCOIDC white TLMEBIKTGRI OTINOK Edinburgh’s position as a world- leading research university was Edinburgh University Complete I LMAXWELLSDEMON NE confirmed by these recently Lifecycle Integrated Development

22. THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE SPRING 2009 noticeboard... bulletin

SPRING 2009 THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE 23. Signed University of Edinburgh class cards belonging to Charles Darwin. The natural philosopher was a medical student at the University between 1825 and 1827. See feature, page 8. © The University of Edinburgh Collections Division The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.

24. THEUNIVERSITYOFEDINBURGHSTAFFMAGAZINE SPRING 2009