WINTER 2013|14

THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE + BILLET & GENERAL COUNCIL PAPERS

LAUGHING MATTERS SKY HEAD OF COMEDY LUCY LUMSDEN ON THE FUNNY BUSINESS ROAD TO REFERENDUM HOW OUR EXPERTS ARE SHAPING THE DEBATE

ALSO INSIDE AWARD-WINNING FILM'S STUNNING STORY | MEADOWS MEMORIES | ALUMNI WEEKEND PHOTOGRAPHS WINTER 2013|14 CONTENTS

FOREWORD CONTENTS elcome to the Winter issue of Edit. The turn 12 26 W of 2014 heralds an exciting year for our staff, students and alumni, and indeed for Scotland. Our experts are part of history as they inform the debate on SAVE THE DATE the referendum (p10), while in a very different arena the 19 - 21 June 2014 University will play a major role in the Commonwealth Toronto, Canada Games in Glasgow (p5). In a nationwide public engagement project our researchers are exploring the 30 10 impact on Scotland of the First World War throughout the four years of its centenary (p17), and on p16 we look back at the heroism of an Edinburgh alumna during the conflict. If you are seeking light relief, you may have to thank Lucy Lumsden. She has commissioned some of 18 Britain's most successful television comedies of recent years, and in our interview (p8) she talks about the importance of making people laugh. We report on an exceptional string of successes, from Professor Peter Higgs's Nobel Prize (p5), to BAFTAs, including one for a documentary whose story is told by a remarkable 04 Update 18 What You Did Next Edinburgh graduate on pages 12-15. Find your friends in photos of our alumni weekend (p22) and, if you couldn't 08 The Interview 20 Edinburgh Experience Lucy Lumsden, make it, we hope to see you at the next one in 2015. Sky's Head of Comedy 22 Snapshot Kirsty MacDonald, Executive Director of Development and Alumni Engagement 10  Road to 24 Arts Review referendum Professor Tom Devine 25 Science Digest maps the route to Published by Communications and Marketing Scotland's historic decision 26 The History Makers The University of Edinburgh, Floor C, Forrest Hill Building, 12  Something 5 Forrest Hill, Edinburgh EH1 2QL, UK 28 Ideas Exchange beautiful Contact: [email protected] Design: www.hookson.com Louise Oswald on the film 29 The Two of Us Printing: Sterling her terminally ill husband Cover photograph: © Sky1/Andi Southam was determined to make 30 Landmark No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written 16  Fighting to help consent of the publishers. Edit is published twice a year. The views expressed in its columns are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent those of the on the front line 31 The Last Word University of Edinburgh. The magazine is printed on environmentally friendly, carbon- The story of Elsie Inglis and balanced paper that has been accredited by the Forestry Stewardship Council. Scottish Women's Hospitals 32 Billet ON THE MOVE? If you have changed address please let us know. Contact Development & Alumni on +44 (0)131 650 2240 or at [email protected] Join us in Toronto from 19 to 21 June 2014 for a spectacular weekend This publication is available in alternative formats on request. The University of Edinburgh of talks, tours and tartan. CONTACT US is coming to Canada DIGITAL As well as the General Council half-yearly meeting, the weekend will [email protected] include a programme of distinguished speakers, social gatherings, city DELIVERY 2014 alumni weekend abroad tours and a very special honorary degree ceremony. Look out for news in the next facebook.com/edalumni issue of Edit of our planned Email [email protected] if you are interested in getting involved or digital edition. And don't miss would like to receive regular updates. twitter.com/edinburghalumni out – please let us know your email address: [email protected] tinyurl.com/edalumni The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.

WWW.ED.AC.UK EDIT MAGAZINE 3 UPDATE WINTER 2013|14 UNIVERSITY NEWS UNIVERSITY UPDATE

FOR ALL THE LATEST UNIVERSITY NEWS, VISIT UPDATE WWW.ED.AC.UK/NEWS Callum Bennetts/Maverick Photo Agency Douglas Robertson Images/JedAction Leicester Callum Bennetts/Maverick Photo Agency Austin Smith Lord 01 02 CHANCELLOR 03 05 06 06 OPENS RESEARCH FACILITIES

A clinic for research into neurological conditions, founded by author JK Rowling (PGCE 1995), has been opened by the Chancellor, HRH the Princess Royal. The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic will research ways to treat neurodegenerative

Callum Bennetts/Maverick Photo Agency conditions including multiple Whitedog Photography 02 sclerosis, motor neurone disease 04 and Parkinson’s disease.

The Chancellor also opened the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation George and Kaity David Centre, at High School Yards – named after the couple whose donations enabled its construction. George David is an Edinburgh alumnus (BA Commerce 1959).

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.ANNEROWLINGCLINIC.COM WWW.EDINBURGHCENTRE.ORG

01 ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR: 03 YOUSAFZAI 04 GAELIC GAINS 05 GEARING UP 06 NOBEL PRIZE FOR PETER HIGGS PROFESSOR LESLEY YELLOWLEES AMONG GREATER VOICE FOR GAMES HONORARY The University has launched a Gaelic Alumni, staff and students of BRINGS BOOST FOR PHYSICS PROFESSOR LESLEY YELLOWLEES HAS BEEN NAMED ALUMNUS GRADUATES Language Plan to raise the profile of the University are preparing to FOLLOWING THE AWARD OF A NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSICS TO EMERITUS PROFESSOR PETER HIGGS, OF THE YEAR, IN RECOGNITION OF HER CONTRIBUTION TO the language on campus and create take central roles in the 2014 THE UNIVERSITY IS TO FURTHER ENHANCE ITS RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN THE SUBJECT. SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, AND PROMOTING A range of high-profile figures opportunities for its use. Commonwealth Games. WOMEN AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. including education campaigner Malala Yousafzai and former US Developments include a new Among the first athletes confirmed Professor Higgs (pictured) was named for the Higgs Centre for Theoretial be built at the Science & Technology Professor Yellowlees (pictured) is Vice-Principal and Head of the College of president Bill Clinton have been undergraduate degree in Gaelic and for Team Scotland in the Games are joint winner of the Nobel Prize with Physics will build on the legacy of Facilities Council’s UK Astronomy Science & Engineering. She completed both her BSc in Chemical Physics and her awarded honorary degrees. Primary Education and a free online 400m hurdler Eilidh Child (pictured) Belgian physicist Francois Englert in the achievements of Professor Higgs. Technology Centre, alongside the PhD in Inorganic Electrochemistry at Edinburgh, in 1975 and 1982 respectively. course in Scottish traditional music. (BEd Physical Education 2008) and October, and in December received University's Institute for Astronomy Ms Yousafzai (pictured), the 16-year- The Plan also covers staffing and squash player Alan Clyne (BEd his award from the King of Sweden at The Scottish Government has on the Royal Observatory Edinburgh Presenting Professor Yellowlees with her award, Professor Mary Bownes, Senior old Pakistani girl who was shot in the use of Gaelic in branding and Physical Education 2008), who both a ceremony in Stockholm. pledged support for a new building campus. Vice-Principal External Engagement, said: “While we often look externally 2012 by the Taliban and has since communications. followed the sport performance (pictured) to house the Higgs Centre to select our Alumnus of the Year, Lesley is such an outstanding researcher campaigned for universal access to programme at Edinburgh, and are Professor Higgs was awarded the for Theoretical Physics, which will be Professor Higgs said: “This support and leader and a stunning role model and advocate for women in science, education, was guest of honour at A Gaelic Fair marked the launch both medal hopefuls for Glasgow. prize for his theory predicting a built at King's Buildings. The Centre from the Treasury and the STFC engineering and technology that we are delighted to have chosen one of our the inaugural meeting of the UN of the Plan in November, where fundamental particle that gives also received a £100,000 pledge from will create an environment in own members of staff this year.” Global Citizen Commission hosted students from the Department of Current students to look out for mass to all other particles, which he Edinburgh alumnus Professor Walter which future generations of by the University. Celtic and Scottish Studies ran taster include first-year undergraduate Professor Yellowlees has been central to the promotion of women in science produced in 1964 while a lecturer Nimmo (MBChB 1971, MD 1982). The scientists from around the world sessions in Gaelic language and Sarah Adlington in judo and at the University of Edinburgh. The Centre was established in 2012, with can share and develop ideas in at the University. The School of Chemistry, where Professor Yellowlees holds Mr Clinton received an honorary culture. The University of Edinburgh postgraduate Caitlin McClatchey existence of the Higgs boson was funding for new academic staff, PhD theoretical physics.” a personal chair in inorganic electrochemistry, is one of only four university doctorate in recognition of his Highland Society organised a ceilidh. in swimming. Among University detected in 2012 and confirmed in studentships and a programme of departments in the UK to hold an Athena Swan Gold Award for commitment charitable work. Other recent staff taking part will be Scotland’s 2013 by experiments at the Large international visitors and workshops. The University has launched a free to advancing women’s careers. honorary graduates include rower Sir The University appointed Bria Mason hockey team manager Eugene Hadron Collider at CERN. Professor seven-week Massive Open Online Steve Redgrave, film director Lynne (MA Celtic 2009) as Gaelic Officer in Connelly and sports medicine staff, A pioneer of dye-sensitised solar cells, and a specialist in spectroelectrochemistry, Englert also produced a theory about The UK Treasury, meanwhile, Course (MOOC) entitled The Ramsay and author Anne Donovan. February 2013. three of whom have been chosen Professor Yellowlees is President of the Royal Society of Chemistry. how particles achieve mass, at around has announced a £10.7 million Discovery of the Higgs Boson, which for Team Scotland. the same time as Professor Higgs. investment to create a Higgs Centre will be available in February. FORMALALA MORE ADDRESSES INFORMATION, MCEWAN VISIT FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT for Innovation, which will provide YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN PROFESSOR POLLY ARNOLD WWW.EDINBURGHNEUROSCIENCE.HALL AUDIENCE WWW.ED.AC.UK/ WWW.ED.AC.UK/ABOUT/ FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT A new Higgs Centre for Innovation support for start-up businesses and FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT ON WOMEN IN SCIENCE: THE LAST WORD, PAGE 31 ED.AC.UK/MUIRMAXWELLCENTRENEWS/2013/MALALA-211013 GAELIC-LANGUAGE-PLAN WWW.ED.AC.UK/SPORT and a second phase of development new partnerships. This Centre will WWW.PH.ED.AC.UK/HIGGS

4 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.ED.AC.UK EDIT MAGAZINE 5 UPDATE WINTER 2013|14 ALUMNI NEWS ALUMNI UPDATE

FOR ALL THE LATEST ALUMNI NEWS, VISIT UPDATE WWW.ED.AC.UK/ALUMNI © Crown copyright 01 02 04 05 05 NEW RECRUIT TO NEWSNIGHT

Laura Kuenssberg (MA History 1999) joins the BBC’s Newsnight team in February, as presenter and chief correspondent. She has been ITV’s business editor since 2011. Ms Kuenssberg (pictured) will present Newsnight around once a week, replacing Gavin Esler, who is leaving the programme. She joins the team that includes Jeremy Paxman and fellow Edinburgh alumna Kirsty Wark 03 06 (BA Arts 1976). Ms Kuenssberg was chief political correspondent of the BBC News channel before she moved to ITV, where she has recently presented News at Ten.

As an undergraduate at Edinburgh, Ms Kuenssberg spent a year at Georgetown University in the US, where she spent time working on a TV current affairs programme, an experience she says “confirmed that I wanted to work in broadcasting”.

01 PROTECTING FISH – AND 02 HIGH FLYER 03 NEW CHAIR 04 CURTAIN RAISES 06 HELPING … AND HELPING FISHING COMMUNITIES JOINS 'REDS' OF FUNDING FOR EDINBURGH UP LANDLORDS YOU SETTLE IN Stewart Campbell (BEd Physical COUNCIL REACH Gemma Pirnie (MA International A MARINE CONSERVATION PROJECT IN MADAGASCAR Education 2002), a Flight Lieutenant ELEVEN ALUMNI SPANNING SIX DECADES OF Relations 2009) has launched a Alice Brown, former Emeritus TENANTS… in the Royal Air Force, is one of two service to help new graduates HAS EARNED DR ALASDAIR HARRIS (BSC BIOLOGICAL Professor of Politics and Vice- STUDYING, PLUS A CURRENT STUDENT, FEATURE IN new pilots to join the Red Arrows Sam Zawadzki (UG Certificate 2012) seeking work in Glasgow and SCIENCES 2002) THE HIGHLY COMMENDED PRIZE IN Principal, has been appointed chair A NEW 30-MINUTE FILM, EDINBURGH UP, ABOUT THE aerobatics display team. and Bilal Khan (BSc 2010, MSc 2012) Edinburgh meet and make friends. THE INAUGURAL TUSK CONSERVATION AWARDS – THE of the Scottish Funding Council. IMPACT OF AN EDINBURGH EDUCATION. are working to expand their online LATEST IN A STRING OF INTERNATIONAL ACCOLADES Flt Lt Campbell (pictured) began his Your New Crew, which was supported Education Secretary Michael Russell The film, narrated by the journalist and broadcaster Sheena property service after winning a Red Arrows training in October and by Launch.Ed, has organised a series FOR HIS WORK. said Professor Brown’s “extensive McDonald (MA English Language and Literature, 1976), was premiered national business competition. will fly with the nine-aircraft team for of social events to bring together experience will help to forge at the Playfair Library at an event attended by participants, families Dr Harris (pictured) is founder of Blue Ventures, which works with three years. In April the Red Arrows AdvancetoGO, a free service, young professionals who are new innovative partnerships between the and invited guests, and introduced by the University’s Principal, communities to nurture sustainable fishing practices. begin their 50th season. enables private landlords to access to Scotland’s two biggest cities. further and higher education sectors, Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea. A second launch event took place major property advertising websites Ms Pirnie says: “YNC is about real As an undergraduate Dr Harris set up Eucare (Edinburgh University and beyond”. at the Caledonian Club in London. He joined the RAF in 2003 and and provides online lettings life experiences and getting offline Coral Awareness and Research Expeditions), and in 2001 took his first has flown two operational tours From 2002 to 2009 Professor Brown All of those featured in the film received some form of financial management tools. to meet new people and make expedition to Madagascar, funded by University expedition research in Afghanistan in Tornado aircraft. (pictured) served as the first Scottish assistance to support their studies, and in their interviews they new friends.” grants. Blue Ventures, established in 2002, now employs about 90 His selection for the Red Arrows – In 2012 Mr Zawadzki and Mr Bilal won Public Services Ombudsman. She explain the impact this had on their time at Edinburgh, and their people. It has worked in several tropical countries, and has permanent also known as the Royal Air Force initial funding from the University’s steps down from her University post subsequent careers. yournewcrew.com programmes in Madagascar and Belize. Aerobatic Team – involved flying Edinburgh Technology Transfer and as General Secretary of the Royal tests, interviews and peer assessment. The interviewees cover a wide range of experiences, from current Centre, having been supported by “Edinburgh is unique in the support and opportunities it gives Society of Edinburgh, to take up her Medicine student Megan McGregor, to Jann Brown (MA History Launch.Ed, the University's service for undergraduates to undertake independent research expeditions,” new duties. Flt Lt Campbell, from Peebles, said: 1978), who is Finance Director of oil and gas giant Cairn Energy. student entrepreneurs. says Dr Harris. “It was because of the support that went to Eucare that “The Red Arrows represent the Professor Brown graduated from The reverend John Hardy is the earliest graduate in the film, having STAY I had the confidence and contacts to set up Blue Ventures.” pinnacle of fast jet display flying Mr Zawadzki went on to win The Edinburgh in Economics and Politics studied Geography between 1965 and 1969. CONNECTED and I’m honoured to be joining this Pitch UK, receiving £50,000 in Dr Harris was presented with his prize by the Duke of Cambridge, who in 1983, winning the DP Heatley Prize. To share your experiences about famous team. The way the team Their individual stories and the 30-minute film can be viewed online. business support. has a close interest in conservation in Africa, and is patron of Tusk. She completed a PhD in 1991 and where your degree took you, operates and how it represents the email us at [email protected] received an honorary doctorate advancetogo.com RAF and UK as a whole is something www.edinburghup.ed.ac.uk or follow us on Twitter at www.blueventures.org in 2010. I very much wanted to be part of.” @edinburghalumni

6 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.ED.AC.UK EDIT MAGAZINE 7 THE INTERVIEW WINTER 2013|14 LUCY LUMSDEN THE POWER OF COMEDY THE INTERVIEW have an arts MA, but it was the with and the creative freedom we student theatre that ultimately felt we could give them. It was It was the influenced the direction of my about placing risk in the hands of FUNNY career. When I graduated I started the experts. Sky is fast moving and student theatre with some grand ideas about being has a really dynamic atmosphere FAVOURITES an illustrator, I did the artwork which spurs you on. I’m thrilled that ultimately for Daunt Books in London. I then with the success we’ve had with DESERT ISLAND BOX SET: volunteered at the National Film and shows like Stella, Hunderby, A influenced the TV School, as production manager Young Doctor’s Notebook, Spy Fawlty Towers direction of on a graduation film. I blagged my and Trollied. way through it, I really didn’t have a WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF my career. clue. It was from that job that I got Looking back over your ADVICE YOU HAVE RECEIVED? the call from The Comic Strip to career, which achievement go and work with my good friend, are you most proud of? Feel the fear and do it anyway producer Nira Park. I created an anthology series for Sky for Christmas 2010 FAVOURITE AUTOBIOGRAPHY During 11 years at the called Little Crackers. It was a series BBC you developed, of short autobiographical films Bossypants by Tina Fey commissioned and featuring comedy stars, including worked with the very Stephen Fry, Dawn French, Chris FAVOURITE LAUGH-OUT-LOUD best in British comedy to O’Dowd, Kathy Burke, Victoria MOMENT You graduated in 1991 produce an array of hits Wood, Bill Bailey and many with an MA History of such as Outnumbered, others. The success of it felt like a There is a moment in Touch of Art. Why did you move Gavin and Stacey, The complete accident at the time, and Cloth where a character played from England to study Catherine Tate Show, and I was thrilled that Chris O’Dowd’s by Suranne Jones gets out of in Scotland and why Miranda. Why were you series Moone Boy came out of it. bed naked and then it cuts to Edinburgh? drawn to comedy rather They’ve just finished filming the an image of a man’s big hairy I wanted to get as far away than drama? third series. bottom. I nearly spat my tea out from London and my family as I knew very quickly that there at that, and that’s a good thing. possible. I loved the city, which I had is something so interesting Both at the BBC and got to know during a Fringe Festival. about making people laugh. It is Sky you’ve had the WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THAT I had a brilliant time at Edinburgh, I a mysterious, unpredictable thing golden touch with MAKE YOU LAUGH MOST? loved it, I am so glad it chose me, or and I’m constantly in awe of people comedy commissioning. I chose it. who can do it well. It has always What do you think Julia Davis, Peter Kay, the entire fascinated me. are some of the main cast of Modern Family. What are your main ingredients in fantastic memories of your student In 1998 you became the comedy? experience? Controller of Comedy Comedy, like music, has an I remember being extremely Commissioning at the immense range to it and cold all the time, and there BBC. Given the immense certain styles come in and out of was this pressure every year to find legacy and history of fashion. We’re clearly now in a time a boyfriend before winter kicked in British comedy at the where the big and silly is back in Lucy Lumsden, Head of to keep you warm. I lived in several BBC, broadly how did you vogue. But in my role you have to parts of Edinburgh, starting in Leith approach your task? always be looking out for the thing Comedy at Sky, has an then ending up in the New Town. I tried not to be intimidated that is going to surprise. by that amazing legacy and THE astonishing record of Did living and studying in focused on the new writers and With a massive number the world’s leading festival performers coming through. The key of TV channels and social commissioning TV shows city influence your choice part of the role was to ensure the media, audiences can of career? best ideas got through and to help tune into anything when that have been among the When I started at Edinburgh I the best talent shine. and where they want. Is POWER OF felt quite self-conscious about this a new era for comedy biggest hits of the past 15 years. being English, but this soon changed You moved to Sky as Head or are the same formulas She tells Joanne Morrison when I started working at the Bedlam of Comedy in 2009. What working? Theatre, where I met an incredibly did this move give you the I think all of these things how her enthusiasm for diverse group of people. I worked on freedom to do? provide an avenue for COMEDY loads of productions; it was where I We had a standing start to young talent to be seen and heard student theatre helped felt at home. work to introduce British in ways that weren’t possible comedy to a broadcaster known before. Laughing together can ignite her love of making Did your degree or any of for news, sports, movies and US really unite a nation, and I have your tutors influence your content. But I felt trusted to get on very fond memories of laughing people laugh. first career steps? with it by my boss Stuart Murphy. with my parents at a character Yes and no. I realised quite It meant I could be more choosey or scene. It’s the best feeling in quickly that it was great to about who we wanted to work the world.

Gemma Day 8 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.ED.AC.UK EDIT MAGAZINE 9 ROAD TO REFERENDUM WINTER 2013|14 ROAD TO REFERENDUM

ROAD TO REFERENDUM

In 2014 students and staff at the University of Edinburgh find themselves at the centre of history in the making, as Scotland decides whether to become an independent country. SHAPING THE DEBATE Tom Devine, Senior Research Professor in History, reviews The University is helping both voters Scotland’s journey towards this vote over the past generation. and politicians steer a course to the historic vote in September.

Edinburgh academics are playing a central role in shaping the debate over Scotland’s future. he failure of the first of the militant tendency paralysed greatest of all Scottish nationalists” Scots voted hold a referendum on Scottish Indeed, the SNP, with its vehement referendum on Scottish Labour for several years. because she had managed to unite the independence within the five-year condemnation of the war and Public engagement is a vital part Tdevolution in 1979 caused nation against most of her policies. against Thatcherite term of his administration. This will left-of-centre policies, could be of this work, says Professor Charlie acrimony, bitterness and disillusion Devolution no longer seemed now take place in September 2014. depicted as the rightful heir of Old Jeffery, Vice-Principal Public Policy and among its supporters. relevant; the Campaign for a Scottish A so-called “democratic deficit” policies but they Labour values. The SNP also came Impact, and Director of the Academy Assembly, which attempted to carry developed. Scots voted against The independence referendum was across as having run a very positive of Government. “It’s really striking that James Turnbull’s famous cartoon in the torch for Home Rule, was a voice Thatcherite policies but they were were foisted on certainly a direct consequence of campaign, competent in government, when we put on public lectures or the Glasgow Herald the day after in the wilderness until the later 1980s. foisted on them anyway as the the landslide victory by the SNP. But the source of popular policies PROFESSOR debates, we get an awful lot of people the result, depicting the Scottish Conservatives continued to win them anyway. analysis of the 2011 poll results does and committed to the defence of CHARLIE JEFFERY coming,” he says. “That’s a reflection of lion cowering in the cage with the It was eventually deeper and wider UK majorities. not suggest that a general aspiration Scottish interests. VICE-PRINCIPAL, PUBLIC POLICY AND this setting being a trusted one to get door wide open mumbling “I’m feart”, political and economic factors that for Scottish independence was at the IMPACT AND beyond the simplified messages of yes captured the mood of despondency brought constitutional change back Home Rule now had wide appeal as heart of the nationalist success. Other This last was vital, as the Scottish DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY’S or no.” and recrimination in the Yes camp. on to the agenda towards the end of it seemed the only way to insulate factors were much more influential. electorate had mastered the habit ACADEMY OF that decade. Scotland from unacceptable decisions of supporting a party in Holyrood GOVERNMENT Academics have also been working with Yet, a mere two decades later, in July made in Westminster. The dormant varying powers. Its landslide victory The key battle in the election was thought best able to run Scotland, both the UK and Scottish governments 1999, the Queen opened the Scottish Whole sectors of Scottish industry, devolution movement came alive. of 1997 was followed swiftly by the between Labour and the SNP. The and a different party in Westminster. on all kinds of issues in the run-up Parliament in Edinburgh to the both old and new, went to the wall promise of a referendum on Scottish Tories still languished as an electoral It was a substantial bonus that in their to the referendum, including “stress acclaim of a virtually united nation as a result of the steep climb in Prominent Scots drawn from across devolution later that year. rump and the Liberal Democrats were leader, the SNP had perhaps the most testing” ideas on both sides, in light of after the Scots voted overwhelmingly oil prices and the determination civil society drew up a Claim of Right virtually wiped out. accomplished politician in the UK. research and scholarship. in another referendum for a more of the Thatcher government to for Scotland, stating the need for a Some thought that the establishment powerful devolved administration squeeze inflation out of the UK Scottish Constitutional Convention of the Holyrood Parliament might Labour was weaker than pre-election Thus it is that through a complex At the same time, the independence than that on offer in 1979. economy by raising interest rates to plan for a devolved assembly with spell an end to further Scottish commentaries suggested. Afterwards recent history of domestic politics, debate is a living laboratory for researchers to unprecedented levels. Old-style more powers than that mooted in 1979. constitutional experiments. George the veteran journalist Neal Ascherson the Anglo-Scottish Union faces its from many disciplines, as they study the The outcome was far from inevitable support for ailing industry came to Robertson, former Secretary of State described the party’s campaign as biggest challenge for more than effects of a population deciding whether and would indeed have seemed a an end and it became easy to depict The SNP proclaimed triumphantly for Scotland, notoriously predicted “hopeless”. But others saw this poor three centuries. to create a new nation state. pipe dream to the disappointed the Conservative government as “Free by ‘93”, only to be disappointed that “devolution will kill nationalism performance as symptomatic of a As the vote nears, Professor Jeffery campaigners of 20 years earlier. uncaring and anti-Scottish. yet again with the election of John stone dead”. more profound malaise in a party Professor Tom Devine predicts a heating up of the arguments, Major’s government in 1992. that had grown accustomed to is the author or editor and says a focus for the University’s work Soon after that first referendum This view hardened when in 1987 the Twelve years later, however, in ruling Scotland. Descriptions such as of more than 30 books will be “helping people think about what both the SNP and Labour, the two hated community charge or poll tax But during the years that followed, May 2011, the SNP won what was moribund and ossified were bandied on Scotland’s history, happens the day after the referendum”. pro-devolution parties, were mired was imposed on Scotland before Labour, a party that could win previously thought to be impossible, about by both insiders and external and in 2012 won the Royal Society in profound factional difficulties. The England, suggesting that the Scots a UK election outright and was namely an overall majority in the critics. Many traditional Labour of Edinburgh’s Sir Walter Scott Prize SNP threatened to split apart as war were being treated as tax guinea sympathetic to devolution, Scottish Parliament. One immediate voters were also alienated by for his contribution to the study of FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT raged between different groups for pigs. Charles Kennedy MP at the time committed itself to the proposal result was the promise by the neo-liberal Blairite policies and Scottish history. He is Director of the the soul of the party while the threat described Margaret Thatcher as “the for a Scottish Parliament with tax- First Minister, Alex Salmond, to memories of the Iraq War. Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies. WWW.REFERENDUM.ED.AC.UK

10 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.ED.AC.UK EDIT MAGAZINE 11 SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL WINTER 2013|14 SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

Neil Platt and his son Oscar with filmmakers Emma Davie (left) and Morag McKinnon

need to be nearer family, and that and Lou Gehrig’s disease. It was this Louise Oswald was the wife of Neil Platt, whose battle against we would need a house that could blog post that caught the attention Neil Platt’s blog ‘The Plattitude’ accommodate disability. All of these of our good ECA friends Morag motor neurone disease was documented in the award-winning things led us to a rented bungalow McKinnon and Emma Davie. They continues to offer support to film I Am Breathing. The documentary, directed by two Edinburgh in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. We are both film directors and ECA sufferers and their families. moved there in April 2008. Neil was teachers – Emma is Head of Film www.iambreathing.com/plattitude College of Art staff, has been viewed in cinemas around the already using a walking stick and and Television and Morag is a tutor quickly needed crutches. By June we in directing. world, and has changed the lives of many sufferers and their had a wheelchair in the house and by July he could no longer walk at all. None of us knew at this point quite Louise has now completed the book families. Here, Louise tells us how humour, boundless energy and how involved we would all become inspired by Neil’s words, and is currently It was around this time that we in what would evolve into the film great, talented friends have enabled Neil’s legacy to continue. started to write a blog, to let friends I Am Breathing. seeking a publisher. and family know how we were coping. I had very little time to One of the most common questions eil and I first met at friends who helped me nurse Neil up and drove to get him a new pair keep in touch with those who cared I am asked by audiences is “How Edinburgh College of Art in and keep his sense of humour alive of shoes. about us and the blog offered a way intrusive was it to have the cameras Nthe early nineties when he after the diagnosis of motor neurone of letting everybody know how we there at such a difficult time of your was studying architecture and I was disease when Oscar was only five He came home the next day worried were. It also created a facility for lives?” I have come to look forward studying theatrical costume design. months old. that the problem was still there and people to send us support through to answering this question, because I We had mutual friends in the film before he even took his coat off, he the comments page. Gradually, we have so many reasons why the word department, as my costume skills I remember when the first symptom sat down to remove his shoes and realised that our blog was reaching “intrusive” didn’t figure at all in the were often called upon and Neil was appeared. Neil came home socks to inspect his feet. other people in a similar situation. making of the film. always willing to jump in front of the complaining of a limp. There was camera to try his hand at acting. no pain and he explained it as his Neil’s father had died of motor Around September 2008, shortly By the time we started filming, Neil foot “kind of slapping itself on the neurone disease (MND) at 51 and after Oscar’s first birthday party, and I had already lost all sense of It was due to this group of friends ground” when he walked. At this his grandfather at 60. Unlike me, when Neil could no longer wheel privacy for our little unit of three. that we met again in 2003 when point, I have to admit, I was more Neil knew that the cause of his himself in his chair, and had started We had needed physical help round we were both living and working in concerned about baby issues than discomfort could be a lot more using ventilation, he put a call out the clock a long time before the Neil and Louise on their London. They were the same friends a slight limp from my strong, fit serious than an old pair of shoes. on the blog for anyone who had any camera arrived. wedding day who danced at our wedding and husband. I pointed out that he’d This was the start of it all. media contacts to get in touch with shared in the excitement of our been wearing the same pair of shoes ideas of how we could raise more Time was something that Neil baby boy, Oscar, when he arrived every day for a while, and the sole Neil and I knew that we could no awareness of MND, also known as knew he didn’t have, and once we SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL in August 2007. They were also the was thinning, so we bundled Oscar longer stay in London: that we would amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) started filming, he realised that CONTINUED

12 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.ED.AC.UK EDIT MAGAZINE 13 SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL WINTER 2013|14 SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

TOWARDS disease and ultimately develop a cure,” says Professor Siddharthan TREATMENTS Chandran, MacDonald Professor of Neurology and Director of the EDINBURGH IS PART OF AN Euan MacDonald Centre. INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND AND COMBAT euanmacdonaldcentre.com MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE

Motor neurone disease (MND) is an ANNE ROWLING REGENERATIVE untreatable condition that results NEUROLOGY CLINIC in progressive muscle weakness leading to paralysis and ultimately The clinical side of the research death, usually within a few years into MND and other neurological of diagnosis and generally due to disorders is undertaken at the Anne respiratory failure. Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, which was opened by the The University of Edinburgh is at the University's Chancellor, HRH the forefront of research into the disease Princess Royal, in October 2013. and potential treatments, as home to The Clinic was founded by the both the Euan MacDonald Centre for author JK Rowling (PGCE 1995) and Motor Neurone Disease Research and is named after her mother, who the recently opened Anne Rowling died of multiple sclerosis aged 45. Regenerative Neurology Clinic. The Clinic is a research facility based at the University’s Little EUAN MACDONALD CENTRE France campus, focusing on a wide range of neurological conditions, the documentary could speak for people have taken I Am Breathing into In 2007 the University opened including multiple sclerosis, MND, I promised I him long after he was gone. Having their hearts (many of them hardened the Euan MacDonald Centre for Parkinson’s disease and dementia. would turn Morag and Emma there was good for film critics) and helped us to spread SCREEN Motor Neurone Disease Research, It hosts specialist NHS clinics, me too, as they didn’t wear uniforms awareness of this devastating disease. made possible by the generosity of integrating patient care with our story into like everyone else coming to the OR WATCH MND patient Euan MacDonald and clinical research, including disease house to work. There was always a One of the most difficult things THE FILM his father Donald, who are both registries and clinical trials. something sense of satisfaction and calm after for me to deal with is knowing that Edinburgh alumni. The Centre is a Neil had been filming. awareness of this disease is so low in group of 30 experts across Scotland At a ground-breaking ceremony to beautiful, so that the public consciousness. It’s sad to I AM BREATHING DIRECTORS seeking to improve the lives of mark the beginning of construction After Neil died, he left us all with say, but this is because there are no EMMA DAVIE (DIRECTOR patients through research, including of the centre, JK Rowling said: “I people would the responsibility of having his words survivor stories. Lack of awareness OF FILM & TV AT ECA) AND both fundamental discovery science cannot think of anything more want to listen heard, and Morag and Emma really adds to the feeling of isolation, so I MORAG MCKINNNON (BA and patient-oriented projects. important, or of more lasting value, took this on board when developing have been very proud that Neil has FILM & TELEVISION 1993) than to help the University attract rather than the film. I promised him that I would managed to bring so many sufferers WON THE 2013 BAFTA Recently, the Centre hosted a visit world-class minds in the field of write a book about our story and together and give families a way of SCOTLAND AWARD FOR BEST from the World Cup-winning South neuro-regeneration.” look away. have his words published alongside understanding how to help. Most DIRECTING. THE FILM WAS African rugby star Joost van der my own. I promised I would turn of all, I’m touched that the spirit of ALSO RUNNER-UP IN THE Westhuizen, an MND patient, and his The Anne Rowling Clinic and Euan our story into something beautiful, the outreach attached to the film BEST SINGLE DOCUMENTARY J9 Foundation. MacDonald Centre place great so that people would want to listen reminds me of Neil’s ability to CATEGORY. emphasis on partnership — with rather than look away. gather friends together, make You can host a screening of In February 2013, Euan MacDonald academia, the NHS and industry, everyone welcome and include as the film, helping to raise Centre researchers, with UK and US and with their many community On 21 June 2013 I Am Breathing was many people as possible, doing so awareness of MND/ALS. At collaborators, pioneered a way to supporters whose fundraising chosen as the centrepiece for the with boundless energy. www.iambreathing.com you grow nerve cells “in a dish” that were is crucial to supporting the MND/ALS Global Awareness Day can sign up for an event, made from stem cells derived from ongoing research. campaign by the MND Association I have managed to move on and advertise your screening, invite the skin of an MND patient. This so- and, due to the talented and Oscar and I are now very happy, but viewers and get involved. called regenerative neurology holds Professor Chandran took part innovative outreach work of the obviously raising awareness of MND is great promise for understanding the in a panel discussion after the team at the Scottish Documentary something that will always stay with You can also watch the film in disease processes in MND and for premiere of I am Breathing at the Institute, it screened in more than 200 me, as Neil suffered from a familial full online. testing potential new treatments. 2013 Edinburgh International venues in 45 countries that day, and it strain. As a mother, all I can wish Film Festival. still continues to travel, most recently for is some positive news for those “Our aim is to find ways to slow to New York and Los Angeles. diagnosed. Cure is a long way off but down progression of this devastating annerowlingclinic.com with further research funding, we I have been amazed at just how many could at least have hope.

14 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.ED.AC.UK EDIT MAGAZINE 15 ONE WOMAN’S FIGHT TO HELP ON THE FRONT LINE WINTER 2013|14 ONE WOMAN’S FIGHT TO HELP ON THE FRONT LINE

01 03 COMMUNITY RESEARCH MARKS ONE WOMAN’S CENTENARY

A PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECT IS HELPING UNCOVER HOW THE FIGHT TO HELP ON CONFLICT AFFECTED PEOPLE ACROSS SCOTLAND

The University is running a major community-based research project THE FRONT LINE throughout the course of the centenary of the First World War.

“Scotland’s War” will run for four and 02 half years. It is “probably the largest This summer countless people across the globe will public engagement project that’s ever been undertaken in Scotland about commemorate the beginning of the First World War a the First World War”, says Yvonne McEwen, Honorary Fellow and century ago. Here, Edd McCracken tells the story of one Director of the project. Edinburgh graduate who left her own mark on history From Shetland to the Borders, through an astonishing altruistic determination. communities are contributing to the research effort. The University is partnering with the Scottish Library & Information Council, 01 Dr Elsie Inglis 02 Nurses at the Royaumont hospital 03 SWH ambulance and staff the National Library of Scotland, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the Scottish Military Research Group. The local staff ne of the many cruel ironies Service. Like the war she gave her life from her father, Inglis set up her women did likewise. She contacted in Serbia. Her expertise instantly the hospitals’ name. The units of the First World War was to, her impact is still felt today. own rival medical school, the the War Office offering to set up helped reduce typhus’s fatal grip on suffered a significantly lower rate As an illustration of the kind of proudly identified Othe name it acquired while Scottish Association for the Medical medical units run by women to treat the camps. However, that summer of death from disease than other discoveries being made, Ms McEwen it was happening: the war to end Fittingly, Inglis’s first auxiliary Education for Women. the casualties. She was reportedly Austrian troops overran the Serbs. auxiliary hospitals. Scottish recalls a family in South Queensferry themselves as all wars. hospital was in a Cistercian told by an official: “My good lady, go Women’s Hospitals were one presenting small items that “looked ‘Scottish women’ monastery. The monastic order After qualifying in 1890, she moved home and sit still.” Inglis and her fellow nurses refused of the most successful medical like scrap metal”. In fact they were Sadly, instead of burying conflict, it dedicates itself to “choosing the to London to work with another to leave their patients. They were initiatives of the war. “trench art” – sculptures and models in honour of the birthed a new kind – mechanical, narrowest gate and steepest path pioneer, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, But while Britain’s masters of war captured and became prisoners of that soldiers fashioned out of empty hospitals’ name. relentless, death on an industrial to the Kingdom of Heaven”. Inglis’s at the New Hospital for Women, were sniffy, their continental allies war, before the United States helped Inglis’s body lay in state in shell cases and other materials while scale. The screaming howitzers medical and social spirit was of a before returning to Edinburgh breathlessly accepted the offer. Both gain their release. Edinburgh’s St Giles Cathedral. fighting in the trenches. “They had of the Somme were the terrible similar vocation. In her passion to four years later. She was shocked France and Serbia were desperate She was buried with full military used the heads of two shell casings heralding of the modern age of lessen suffering and improve her by the level of care afforded to for help. So, with money raised via Undeterred, Inglis returned home honours in the city’s Dean and made them into peaked caps like warfare. The war sucked in all of society, she passed through many poor women, so she established women’s suffrage societies, Inglis to raise funds for a new hospital in Cemetery. Later, Sir Winston the Tommies wore, and they even put society, tore up ancient empires and narrow gates. And where there was The Hospice, the first female-run established the Scottish Women’s Russia. In August 1916, she set sail Churchill was so moved by her the regimental crest on them,” says orders. It reached across the globe no gate she made one. maternity hospital in Scotland. Hospitals for Foreign Service (SWH). with the newly formed SWH unit. work that he said she would Ms McEwen. and the century. Even after 100 years, After a year on the front line she “shine for ever in history”. no one is a bystander. Born in India in 1864, she moved The status of women across society, On 1 November 1914 the first fell ill with cancer, forcing her to One major task is to update “rolls to Edinburgh in 1878 when her not just in its hospitals, moved Inglis auxiliary hospital was established in return to Britain. Elsie Inglis died A century on, a glimmer of of honour”, the lists of those killed in Yet amid the mangle of barbed wire family returned home to Scotland. to join the Suffragette movement. Royaumont Abbey, 20 miles north on 26 November 1917, aged 53, one Inglis’s achievements can be the war, many of which are known to and the choke of chlorine gas, the When she began her studies at the She launched the Scottish Women’s of Paris. Two hundred beds were day after arriving in Newcastle seen in every woman standing be incomplete. war birthed something more human. University of Edinburgh in 1886, Suffragette Federation in 1906 and expertly organised amid the 13th Upon Tyne. resolute in the face of adversity, Women arrived on the front line, in the gates to the medical school on campaigned alongside her mentor century cloisters. It set a template be it in a war zone, hospital As yet unknown results of the project every sense. Teviot Place were just opening. Inglis Garrett Anderson and the National that Inglis repeated 14 times across Cancer may have claimed her life, ward, or debating chamber. will emerge throughout its progress, was among its first cohort of female Union of Suffrage Societies. Europe during the war, from Malta but her legacy proved indomitable. It can also be seen in every and “everything we do will have a Among them was Elsie Inglis: one of medical students. and Greece in the south, to Russia in By the end of the war, in Inglis’s ambitious student graduating research outcome and legacy”, says the University’s first female medical Then, in 1914, war broke out. the north and Romania in the east. hospitals 1,000 women treated in the McEwan Hall, mere Ms McEwen. graduates, prominent suffragette, She initially studied under the Europe tumbled into conflict. The thousands of men. The local staff metres away from the medical and the founder of the Scottish pioneering Sophia Jex-Blake but continent’s men heeded their In April 1915 she left her fundraising proudly identified themselves as school that launched Inglis into For more information visit Women’s Hospital for Foreign the pair soon fell out. With money countries’ calls. Inglis and many other activities and served in an SWH unit "Scottish women" in honour of the world. www.edinburghs-war.ed.ac.uk

16 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.ED.AC.UK EDIT MAGAZINE 17 WHAT YOU DID NEXT WINTER 2013|14 EMMA GRANVILLE | FRED WATSON WHAT YOU DID NEXT

If you’d like to share your experiences, we’d love to hear from you at www.ed.ac.uk/alumni/yournews Jamie Gilbert Today Professor Watson works in the field of “galactic archaeology”. He and his colleagues use fibre-optic techniques to study vast numbers of stars to unveil the history of our part of the universe. “You’re poking about in the ruins of our galaxy, looking for WHAT YOU evidence that it’s grown in a certain way,” he says.

Through their decade-long RAVE project, they have, for example, DID NEXT identified the “Aquarius Stream” of stars, thought to be a small galaxy gobbled up by our own, about 600 Edinburgh has been the starting point for the careers and life choices of many million years ago. alumni. So where did your journey take you? In this edition we profile a pioneer It's heady stuff, but Professor Watson likes to keep his science down to of permaculture in Swaziland and a star of science communication in Australia. Earth. In a twice-weekly Sydney-based radio show, Professor Watson answers listeners’ questions on physics and astronomy. One of his several books – one that earned him the Queensland “WE ALWAYS DISCUSSED Premier’s Literary Prize for Science Writing – takes its title from one THE ILLS OF THE WORLD.” of those questions, “Why is Uranus Professor Fred upside down?” EMMA GRANVILLE, Watson at the Australian Astronomical Music is a second major passion for MA ENGLISH LITERATURE 2000 Observatory Professor Watson, and once again he is no dabbler. As a folk singer he has performed alongside Billy Connolly he seeds of a remarkable project live below the World Bank’s poverty Spectroscopes in particular have and Gerry Rafferty, having learned Twere sown when Emma Granville line of $1.25 a day. “THEY DON’T TAKE come to play a central role in his craft in the folk clubs of Scotland, met Sam Hodgson in 1995, when they Professor Watson’s achievements when an undergraduate and masters were both first-year students. The HIV pandemic has created a THEMSELVES TOO SERIOUSLY, as a physicist. student at St Andrews. generation gap, devastating the “We flat-shared with a whole load traditional “homesteads” at the AND I THINK THAT’S A GOOD The device can analyse light from In 2008 he won the prestigious of friends. We always discussed the heart of the rural economy. “It’s very a star to decipher all sorts of APRA Award for Choral Work, for his ills of the world, and were always common when we go to people’s Since establishing Guba in 2009, Ms And such a turnaround can have MESSAGE FOR ALL SCIENTISTS.” information – from what it is made of libretto for a choral symphony, Star interested in finding solutions,” says homesteads that there will be about Granville, Mr Hodgson (MA Social wide-reaching impact. Ms Granville to how fast it is moving. In the 1980s, Chant, which has been performed at Ms Granville. eight children under five, teenagers, Anthropology with Development explains: “We believe that risky FRED WATSON, PHD PHYSICS 1987 including during his Edinburgh PhD, the Sydney Opera House. and a grandparent, usually a ‘gogo’, 1999) and a team that now numbers behaviour associated with poverty Professor Watson pioneered the use Today the couple live with their or grandmother,” says Ms Granville. 10 have trained 745 local people in and HIV has declined in the of fibre optics in astronomy, which Physics today “is a really inspiring young daughter on a farm in permaculture design and practices, communities we work with, because red Watson is like a child with preparing to sing at a “Science in the enabled the spectroscopic analysis science”, says Professor Watson, Swaziland, where for five years they With the middle generation largely which Ms Granville says indirectly they have something to fight for that Fnew toys when it comes to Pub” event. It’s a fairly typical day, of many stars simultaneously, where adding that scientists must have run Guba, an organisation missing, many people have either benefits nearly 10 times that figure. they have created for themselves.” astronomy – an enthusiasm that has he says. previously it had been possible to themselves make sure the subject aiming to alleviate extreme poverty yet to learn or have lost important A typical long-term course is one made him Australia’s best-known analyse only one star at a time. is accessible to the wider public. and the effects of the highest HIV skills. That’s where Guba comes in, week of training per month for a year, Ms Granville does not consider her space expert, through countless His boyish excitement remains infection rate in the world. providing practical training, and “tools followed by two years of support work an act of altruism; she talks appearances on TV and radio, and irrepressible 50 years after he first Professor Watson remembers his Recalling a visit to CERN in for designing better quality of life”. and monitoring. Shorter skills training about it more as though it is even as a star-gazing folk singer. got his hands on those “toys” of “eureka moment” during Switzerland, where the Higgs boson Guba, which in siSwati means courses are also offered. self-indulgence – finally getting to physics, as an A-level student in his Edinburgh PhD. He recalls: “I had was famously discovered, he says: “to dig”, helps people improve their Ms Granville says: “The tools that tackle those “ills of the world” that Professor Watson is Astronomer-in- Yorkshire, thanks to the open- the fibres lined up on stars, pointed “They have a cafeteria where people quality of life through training we share – always with their input Former trainees and members of the she and her partner talked about all Charge of the Australian Astronomical minded approach of his teacher. the telescope where I thought it think and breathe science over their in permaculture, encompassing – support our community to reskill surrounding communities are now those years ago. Observatory, New South Wales, and ought to be and at the other end I lunches. But there’s a little ‘animal sustainable agriculture, appropriate without having to go cap in hand. To Guba staff – a development that has been widely honoured for his “If I wanted to use a spectroscope had all these little fibres in my sanctuary’ off to one side, and it’s technology and natural resource be self-sufficient is hugely empowering brings a huge sense of achievement In 2007, during a trip to Europe services to astronomy and science or something like that he just let hand. I looked down at them, and full of old computer mice. It tells me management. whoever, wherever you are. But when for Ms Granville. “In a relatively short together, the pair drew up a list of communication. me take it home and play with it,” I could see all the stars, all the that they don’t take themselves too you’re in the position that most people time, these guys who had very little aspirations. She says: “We never says Professor Watson. “I had different colours. That was a seriously, and I think that’s a good In Swaziland, 31 per cent of adults are are in here, which is often one of prospects have been able to – as they thought our wishes would come When he speaks to Edit, Professor the opportunity to fool around magical moment.” message for all scientists.” infected with HIV, life expectancy is poverty and hunger, it can mean the would say – ‘be the change they want true, as they seemed beyond reality, Watson’s day has already included with all this kit, and it gave me 48, and two-thirds of the population difference between life and death.” to see’. They have done it,” she says. but here we are living them.” three radio interviews, and he is hands-on familiarity.” www.gubaswaziland.org www.facebook.com/gubaswaziland www.permaculture.co.uk www.fredwatson.com.au www.aao.gov.au

18 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.ED.AC.UK EDIT MAGAZINE 19 EDINBURGH EXPERIENCE WINTER 2013|14 KIRSTY DUNCAN | MATT BILSLAND | GRACE LEE EDINBURGH EXPERIENCE JULIAN JAMES WAGSTAFF | HELEN QUINN

If you’d like to share your experiences, we’d love to EDINBURGH EXPERIENCE hear from you at www.ed.ac.uk/alumni/yournews

From artists to academics, many graduates view their time at Edinburgh as the GRACE LEE formative years of their professional lives. Here are a few of your experiences MSC NEUROSCIENCE 2005 and updates on recent achievements and successes. “During my childhood I was involved from the Scottish Rite Charitable in a motor vehicle accident that Foundation of Canada. left me with a serious occipital- cervical dislocation and the loss of My passion is to help improve the KIRSTY DUNCAN my mother due to irreversible brain care for patients with traumatic PHD GEOGRAPHY 1993 trauma. These experiences fuelled brain injury. Currently, I investigate my interest in everything related to the development of brain imaging “As a highland dancer, Gaelic speaker A shocking 20 years later, there is neuroscience. technology, and its applications and piper, my dream was always to nothing I like more than visiting my in diagnostics, informed consent, study in beautiful, historic Scotland, treasured alma mater, and of course My most notable experiences of treatment decision-making, and and to attend one of the world’s sharing stories of Edinburgh and being a student at Edinburgh are the end-of-life care. I oversee the truly great universities. Scotland with students and young ones that every student enjoys while strategic direction of a Canadian- Canadians. living in halls of residence. Every day based investigation assessing social, I loved my time at Edinburgh, my was an opportunity to interact with ethical, and legal issues intersecting first-class professors, and my friends, Since returning home, I taught at brilliant people from around the brain imaging and clinical health many of whom I am still in touch with three universities in Canada for 16 world, each with their own unique care for patients with disorders of today; in fact, I had lunch with my years, consulted to government, and story. I particularly enjoyed ceilidh consciousness from brain trauma. dear friend, Dr Andy Kerr, Executive had the honour of serving as a lead nights at the Caledonian, Burns Director for the Edinburgh Centre author for North America on the Suppers, and visiting the Highlands I also write recipes and home for Carbon Innovation, just a few Intergovernmental Panel on Climate where I learned to sail – and saw lots kitchen recommendations for my weeks ago in the new state-of-the-art Change, which was jointly awarded the and lots of sheep! food blog (Graceful Cuisine) and I’m building at High School Yards. 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore. co-founder of Krimson Marketing. After finishing my masters, I As a student, I took every job During the same time, I spent a decided to return to Vancouver to I still speak fondly of my experiences available at the time, including decade leading a search for the cause complete a doctoral degree from in Edinburgh, and I’m proud to have teaching dancing, trampolining of the 1918 Spanish flu virus, which the University of British Columbia. I started the University of Edinburgh and weightlifting. And when I killed upwards of 50 million people. received a full four-year scholarship Alumni Club in Vancouver.” wasn’t buried in the basement of Drummond Street studying, or Today, I have the privilege of serving at the gym, I loved volunteering the community where I was born every Friday morning at the Royal and raised as a second-term Member Infirmary, or volunteer teaching of Parliament for Etobicoke North in JULIAN JAMES WAGSTAFF HELEN QUINN BSC GEOLOGY AND “tiny tot” gymnastics. the Canadian House of Commons.” PHD MUSICAL COMPOSITION 2008 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 2001, PHD 2006

At the time I was a fairly youthful- “Fieldwork formed a very big part in the science department at the looking 30, and everyone at the of my enthusiasm for the joint BBC making TV documentaries. It conference simply assumed I was a honours I did in Geology and involves researching stories, writing MATT BILSLAND LLM INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY music student. That got me thinking, Physical Geography. scripts, interviewing scientists and ‘if everyone assumes I am a music travelling the world to film these LAW 2011 BY ONLINE DISTANCE LEARNING student, why don’t I become one?’ My favourite memories are of stories. The Rise of the Continents The following Monday I requested a the Scottish trips, particularly the with Professor Iain Stewart on potential opportunity. I thought I now work for Google in Dublin, than when I got things right. The University of Edinburgh prospectus. second year field trip to Torridon. BBC 2 was an amazing series to the only way really to understand and Google had always been at the more you post, the more confident The beauty of the place blew work on. copyright was to understand the law top of the list of organisations I you get. I was proud to serve as the founding my mind. By learning traditional that underpins it. wanted to work for. I got that job, president of Composers’ Orchestra, geological sciences in such I am regularly suggesting ideas for a and that was really exciting. We had a dinner at the graduation, which is still going strong, though stunning landscapes I got hooked new geology series on Antarctica!” I wanted to understand it from an where we all met for the first time. somewhat less proud of crashing on fieldwork, eventually staying at international perspective, not just Many big companies seem to value It was great. The geographical a University minibus into a bridge Edinburgh to study a PhD, which focus on Australian IP law, and I learning beyond work. The degree scope of the people on the course “By the age of 30 I was settled in during Wagner study week. resulted in spending a season in wanted to study at a university that also showed I could operate in new was amazing – pretty much every Edinburgh, my native city, with Antarctica. is held in high esteem. The School areas, and that I was able to absorb a continent. I’ve got very fond improbable parallel careers as a I am currently serving as composer “Before my masters, I had a career of Law at Edinburgh has a good lot of detail quickly. memories.” translator, computer programmer in residence in the School of Antarctica and my studies at in copyright licensing and was living reputation, and it seemed like a and occasional guitarist. Chemistry, where I have completed Edinburgh hugely shaped my career. and working in Australia. good online course. I was working Online distance learning was a very a new opera entitled Breathe Freely The science began to lend itself full time, and we’d just had our encouraging environment. I had In October 2000 I attended, on to celebrate their tercentenary. to a story that could be much I realised there was a lot of first child, so the studying had to some really good advice early on: ONLINE a whim, a conference in Glasgow more widely communicated. After complexity around intellectual be flexible. It couldn’t be evening read a little, post a little – really LEARNING dedicated to the Russian composer The connections and friendships attending a science communication property and copyright. I was classes that I had to attend, it had dive into the forums. Don’t be afraid Explore our online opportunities: Shostakovich, of whom I was a huge I made while a student continue course during my PhD I started to working with companies that were to be something I could do in the to make mistakes. I learnt more www.ed.ac.uk/online-learning fan. It turned out to be one of those to stand me in good stead as a write some of the results up as trading in it, and I saw there was a middle of the night if necessary. from the times I made mistakes rare life-changing events. professional musician today.” stories for newspapers. Today I work

20 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.ED.AC.UK EDIT MAGAZINE 21 SNAPSHOT WINTER 2013|14 ALUMNI WEEKEND ALUMNI WEEKEND SNAPSHOT Photography by Graham Clark

07 08

NICE TO SEE YOU In June 2013 the University hosted an alumni weekend with a packed programme of varied events spanning Friday to Sunday. Graduates from as far away as Australia and New Zealand travelled to Edinburgh, where they recalled student memories, reunited with old friends, and enjoyed activities ranging from a thought-provoking political debate to dancing and live comedy. The weekend encompassed reunions of alumni from particular subjects, societies and year groups, as well as the wider general alumni gathering. It was the first such event for some years, and the University now hopes to host alumni weekends in Edinburgh every two years, with gatherings at international venues in the years in between – starting with Toronto in 2014.

PHOTOGRAPHS HERE WERE TAKEN DURING THE ALUMNI WEEKEND 21-23 JUNE 2013.

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01 10 11 01 Alumni and their families enjoyed a full weekend of varied events. 02 Ruth Davidson MSP, leader of the Scottish Conservatives; Professor Charlie Jeffery, Vice-Principal Public Policy and Impact; and Blair Jenkins, chief executive of Yes Scotland, during a debate on independence. 03 Catching up at a barbecue for staff and alumni in the Old College Quad. 04 One of the many happy reunions. 05 A group of MBA alumni pose with a ceremonial piper. 06 Political debate entertained the McEwan 02 Hall audience. 07 Old friends 03 13 together again. 08 & 09 Comedian Craig Hill was among the line-up STAY for a night of entertainment CONNECTED at Teviot. 10 Former members of the University Air Squadron, Class reunions are more popular than which offered flying training to ever. They are a great way of renewing undergraduates in the 1950s and old acquaintances and keeping in 1960s. 11 A drinks reception in the touch with friends who may be based Playfair Library began the weekend. all over the world. About 40 reunion 12 & 13 Alumni offspring enjoyed groups get together each year, many family entertainments in the Old at the University. We can help you College Quad 14 & 15 A ceilidh contact old classmates and organise put a swing into the weekend for discounted rates on accommodation alumni and guests, including... 16 ... and venue hire. the Principal, Professor Sir Timothy www.ed.ac.uk/alumni/services O’Shea, and Lady O’Shea. 04 12

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22 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.ED.AC.UK EDIT MAGAZINE 23 ARTS REVIEW WINTER 2013|14 SCIENCE DIGEST

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

The arts have always featured prominently in our alumni activities. Our alumni’s work helps sustain Edinburgh’s outstanding reputation in science, Here we showcase a selection of your artistic endeavours. technology, engineering and medicine. Here is a typically eclectic range of highlights.

BORN: Kilkenny, Ireland, to German parents Rose Street is a place with SMALL BUT LIFE-SAVING 60 SECONDS EDUCATION: BA Fine Art and Art History, Osnabrück 2009; MFA a vibrant history that has BAFTA TRIUMPH FOR POWERFUL TRAFFIC LIGHTS Illustration Edinburgh College of Art 2012 ASTRID JAEKEL managed to maintain its Mechanical Engineering graduate Consultant anaesthetist Adam Paul CURRENT HOME: Edinburgh character while seeing GAME-MAKING COUPLE Andrew Fraser has won a prestigious and two colleagues at the Royal award for designing a small petrol CURRENT ROLES: Tutor at the Illustration Department of Edinburgh many changes. It’s a little AN ALUMNI COUPLE HAVE CREATED AN ADDICTIVE IPAD Infirmary of Edinburgh have won College of Art and the Office of Lifelong Learning. Artist in Residence engine that has the power of much funding for a device that could for the Wigtown Book Festival and Spring Fling 2013–14. gem within Edinburgh’s GAME THAT HAS WON A SCOTTISH BAFTA AND BEEN bigger engines but far lower fuel save lives during surgery by helping centre, so different from USED BY APPLE TO PROMOTE ITS DEVICES. consumption and emissions. keep airways open. FAVOURITE READING: I have a love for beautifully illustrated books. I’m awaiting delivery of Hartmann Schedel’s Chronicle of the World. the two shopping streets Coolson’s Artisanal Chocolate Mr Fraser was presented with the Edinburgh alumnus Dr Paul shared FAVOURITE LISTENING: Rain against the window when lying in bed. it’s sandwiched between. Alphabet is a hand-illustrated game Jim Clark Memorial Award by the the top prize in the BioQuarter FAVOURITE VIEWING: I enjoy watching old men in pubs; they are one It has been a huge honour where the player has to make words Association of Scottish Motoring Innovation Competition with of my favourite drawing subjects! to be able to create a piece from random chocolate letters Writers for his work on a 1-litre Dr Alistair Gibson and Dr Oliver travelling on a conveyor belt. EcoBoost engine for Ford, where Robinson for their “traffic light WHAT MOST INSPIRES YOU: Memories of living in West Cork where I of work to contribute to he is gasoline calibration manager. bougie”. A bougie helps the placing grew up with my siblings; its landscapes still have a great impact on me. the place and I hope that Emily Thomforde, a computational of a breathing tube, and the team’s people will enjoy it. linguistics PhD graduate, and her The engine has won the Ford traffic light system reduces the Astrid Jaekel initially trained as a dietician but says that in 2005 “I finally husband Jamie Montgomerie, a Fiesta car the International Engine chances of harming the patient. accepted that art was my true calling and set about making up for lost computer science graduate, spent of the Year accolade two years Dr Paul also helps organise the time”. In October 2013 her large-scale work Beachcomber was installed ASTRID JAEKEL six months creating the app. Players running. It produces the power of annual Edinburgh Anaesthesia MFA ILLUSTRATION at the west end of Edinburgh’s Rose Street. Words and illustrations EDINBURGH COLLEGE OF follow the story of a student who a conventional 1.6-litre engine but Festival, a three-day event hosted representing the poem Beachcomber by George Mackay Brown have ART 2013 takes a job in a chocolate factory, achieves 65mpg and emits only by the University, and teaches two been cut into metal sheets and installed, backlit, in the street-level which, in the narrative of the game, is 99g/km of carbon dioxide. University medicine courses. arched windows of the former BT Exchange building. sited on Edinburgh’s Candlemaker Row.

coolsons.com Catwalking.com ECA SUCCESSES BORN: Grimsby, Lincolnshire 1961 Science permeates every 60 SECONDS EDUCATION: MA Psychology 1983 aspect of our existence TO READ EDINBURGH COLLEGE OF CURRENT HOME: Deep in the Chilterns, Buckinghamshire and there is a scientific ART GRADUATES HAVE BEEN QUENTIN CAPTURING THE HEADLINES COOPER CURRENT ROLES: Freelance, regularly hosting science and other events dimension to every story Gavin Francis (BSc Neuroscience Meanwhile, Edinburgh College worldwide, and presenting programmes for BBC Radio 4 and World Service. and subject, so whatever 1996 and MBChB 1999) has won of Art alumnus and tutor Edward WITH A STRING OF RECENT Scotland’s biggest literary prize, Hollis saw his latest book The ACHIEVEMENTS. FAVOURITE READING: Big soft spots for Russell Hoban and Alan Moore anyone is interested in – the Scottish Mortgage Trust Book Memory Place: A Book of Lost but currently enjoying reading Tove Jansson’s Finn Family Moomintroll to sport, food, TV, politics, my three-year-old. of the Year, for Empire Antarctica. Interiors (Portobello) long-listed Sara Ishaq’s short documentary drink, yodelling – there is It has just been published in for the 2013 Samuel Johnson Karama Has No More Walls has FAVOURITE LISTENING: Sonically promiscuous – lots of radio, lots of paperback by Vintage Books. Dr Prize for Non-Fiction. “Nobody been shortlisted for an Oscar. The music. The Triffids are my top band of all time but I’ve fond memories always at least a sliver of Francis, a GP based in Edinburgh, writes about the human nature film, about the Yemeni uprising in from my undergraduate years of Edinburgh’s Josef K. science to be found. spent 14 months as the doctor of architecture quite as movingly March 2011, was part of her MFA, and FAVOURITE VIEWING: Manchester City playing scintillatingly and winning My favourite stories and for 13 staff at the Halley Research as Hollis,” wrote Stuart Kelly in featured in the ECA degree show in (you rarely get both at once). It’s almost like watching Brazil, which, as it Station, one of Antarctica’s most the Scotsman. 2012. The Oscar results are announced Designer Iona Crawford, who programmes are ones happens, is my favourite film. remote bases. He wrote Empire on 2 March. graduated in 2007, has been named that mix arts, science and WHAT MOST INSPIRES YOU: Long walks, good talks, great cheese. Antarctica during his time there, Edward Hollis, creative director of Stirling 2014, a preferably a few other exploring his fascination with the The Memory Place: Lauren Smith (pictured), graduating year-long programme of events to continent and both its loneliness A Book of Lost Interiors in 2013, took the top prize at mark the 700th anniversary of the elements too. and the comforting presence of the internationally renowned battle of Bannockburn and Scotland’s Quentin Cooper is a science communicator and broadcaster, best known its dominant inhabitants, Graduate Fashion Week in London Year of Homecoming in her as the voice of the popular BBC Radio 4 series Material World, which he presented from 1999 to 2013. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of QUENTIN COOPER emperor penguins. – the George Gold Award for best home town. MA PSYCHOLOGY 1983 collection. And the Menswear Award Science by the University of Edinburgh in July 2013. Quentin is a guest Gavin Francis, went to a collaboration between Painter and illustrator Owen lecturer on the recently launched MSc in Science Communication and Empire Antarctica two ECA graduates: fashion student Normand won the Young Artist prize Public Engagement, putting the students through their paces with mock Shauni Douglas and jewellery in the BP Portrait Awards 2013, for his radio and television interviews and covering how print and broadcast student Olivia Creber. painting Das Berliner Zimmer. media works.

24 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.ED.AC.UK EDIT MAGAZINE 25 THE HISTORY MAKERS WINTER 2013|14 LAW THE HISTORY MAKERS CLASS OF 1953 REUNION

In June 2013, 10 graduates of the 1953 law class met for lunch at the Playfair Library to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their graduation. For more information THE HISTORY MAKERS on our regular reunions, see www.ed.ac.uk/alumni/services/reunions LONG ARM OF THE LAW SCHOOL

The history of legal education in Edinburgh can be traced DID YOU to the 16th century, and the University’s Faculty of Law was KNOW…? formally established in 1707. Since then, our law alumni have The foundation stone of the Law made an impressive mark on history, both within the legal School’s home at Old College was laid on 16 November 1789. profession and beyond. The ceremony was led by the Old College architect Robert Adam and the Quad in the late 1940s Principal William Robertson and attended by 30,000 of Edinburgh’s then 80,000-strong LORD RUTHERFURD OF DAME MARGARET LORD (RANALD IAIN) population. Interrupted by CROSSHILL HENDERSON KIDD SUTHERLAND the Napoleonic Wars and the The Law School death of Adam himself in 1793, (BORN ANDREW (1900–1989) LLB 1922 MA LLB 1953 has doubled in size construction was not finished GREENFIELD) (1791–1854) until 1816 – with William Playfair Dame Margaret Henderson Kidd Lord Sutherland was the presiding over the past five completing Adam’s plans. Lord Rutherfurd was a Scottish achieved many firsts for women judge at the Lockerbie bombing trial advocate, judge and politician. years and now has lawyers. When she was called to of 2000–1, which found Abdelbaset Called to the bar in 1812, he was 83 academic staff the Faculty of Advocates in 1923 al-Megrahi guilty of 270 murders by appointed Solicitor General for she became its first female member. the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 Scotland in 1837, becoming Lord and more than In 1948 she was the first woman over Scotland. JUSTICE JULIA SEBUTINDE Advocate in 1839 and Whig MP for 1,500 students. appointed King’s Counsel, and in LLM 1990 Leith Burghs in the same year. 1960 she was appointed Scotland’s He has served as a member of the first female sheriff, for Dumfries Criminal Injuries Compensation Justice Julia Sebutinde is the SIR WALTER SCOTT Lord Rutherfurd was a campaigner ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON BARONESS LEE and Galloway. Dame Margaret was Board and as Scottish Representative first African woman to sit on the KATHERINE GRAINGER (1771–1832) for legal reform in Scotland – he (1850-1894) (JENNIE LEE) (1904-1988) the first female advocate to appear to the International Association International Court of Justice, having LLB 1997 proposed the repeal of the Corn MA 1925, LLB 1927 before the House of Lords and of Judges. been appointed in 2012. She grew up Although known throughout the Laws in 1846 and was instrumental One of Scotland’s best-known before a select committee of the and studied in Uganda, where she Katherine Grainger took up rowing as world as an author and poet, Scott in amending the law of entail in writers had been expected to follow Jennie Lee was a key figure in House of Commons. In 1949 she said: Lord Sutherland was among those returned after gaining her masters at an Edinburgh law student in 1993, and was a lawyer by profession. 1848. He was appointed a Senator his father’s footsteps into lighthouse the establishment of the Open “Much excellent work is being done who attended the Class of 1953 Edinburgh. She was appointed Judge went on to captain the Edinburgh of the College of Justice and Privy design, and at 17 Stevenson entered University. A daughter of a Fife steadily and faithfully by many able reunion in June 2013 – see above. of the High Court in Uganda in 1996, University Boat Club. She won three He began studying classics at the Counsellor in 1851. the University to study engineering. miner, Lee graduated from Edinburgh women solicitors in town and county and in 2005 to the Special Court on successive Olympic silver medals University in 1783, aged 12, and with an MA, a teaching diploma districts throughout Scotland. The LORD (PATRICK STEWART) Sierra Leone. She is Chancellor of before taking gold in the double initially stayed for two years. After a There is a bust of Lord Rutherfurd He showed no enthusiasm for the and an LLB in 1927. Having inherited general public know too little of the HODGE the International Health Sciences sculls at the London 2012 Games. spell working in his father’s office as in the Playfair Library. profession, and switched his studies her father’s socialism she became service which they give.” LLB 1980 University in Kampala. an apprentice Writer to the Signet – to law. He qualified in 1875, but a Member of Parliament for the Ms Grainger was named Alumnus equivalent to solicitor – he returned never practised – during his summer Independent Labour Party in 1929, Lord Hodge was sworn in to the of the Year in 2001, was inducted to the University in 1789, and was vacations as a student he travelled and for the Labour Party in 1945. Supreme Court London in October into the University’s Sports Hall of called as an advocate in July 1792. The current head among like-minded artists in Europe, She became arts minister in 1964 2013, replacing Lord Hope as one of Fame in 2008, and was awarded an and before he graduated had in the Harold Wilson government, two Scottish judges serving on the honorary doctorate in 2011. Scott’s experiences as a fledgling of the Law School, decided his calling was as a writer. and in 1966 she put forward a white Supreme Court. He has sat in both advocate are echoed in his 1824 Professor Lesley paper for the “University of the Air” the Court of Session and High Court She opened a rowing gym and novel Redgauntlet. Scott went McAra, is the first – a reference to “airwaves” taking of Justiciary in Edinburgh. launched a scholarship both named on to become Sheriff-Depute teaching into homes via radio in her honour at the Centre for Sport of Selkirkshire in 1799, a post he woman to hold and television. Lord Hodge famously consented to and Exercise in December 2012. retained until his death in 1832. From the post. the liquidation of Rangers Football 1806 he also served as Clerk of the Today, the Open University credits Club in 2012. She completed a PhD in Law at King’s Court of Session in Edinburgh. Lee with its existence. College London in July 2013.

26 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.ED.AC.UK EDIT MAGAZINE 27 IDEAS EXCHANGE WINTER 2013|14 THE TWO OF US ‘GO ABROAD’ MEMORABLE MOMENTS IDEAS EXCHANGE THE TWO OF US

The global exchange of ideas has always been part of Edinburgh’s impact. A new ‘Go Abroad’ Many a friendship is forged during our university days and we want to hear how initiative aims to help the University reach its target of more than doubling the number of you met your partner or best friend. Here’s a range of memorable on-campus students gaining an international experience during their degree. moments that led to lifetimes together. Photograph courtesy of Alasdair Keane

Angela Cunningham’s Sindhu Rajesekaran Kirsty and Rob friend Nick Toth and Sushant Desai ‘We look back White with their played ‘Dad’ at her have launched a in gratitude’ son Harrison graduation film company

reate at least 800 new says Isabell Majewsky, Acting opportunities. There is also a new Widening Participation (WP) William Cutting Kirsty White Angela Cunningham Sindhu Rajasekaran opportunities for our Deputy Director of the University’s Go Abroad website, described as priorities, through increasing MBChB 1958 (nee Sneddon) MSc by Research MSc Creative Writing 2011 Cstudents to gain an International Office. a “one-stop shop” for students funding for international international experience. That’s and staff, bringing all international exchanges, as well as creating Margaret (Margot) Cutting MA Business Studies 2003 Geographical Information Sushant Desai a very clear statement of intent “Having an international perspective exchange opportunities into one new travel opportunities aimed (nee Manderson) Rob White Science and Society 2010 MBA 2011 in the University’s Strategic and experience helps students portal. specifically at WP students. There Plan 2012–16. understand what it means to be are also new short-term schemes MBChB 1957 BSc Biological Sciences 2003 Nick Toth a global citizen, what it means to At the heart of the project is intended to appeal to students (non-alumnus) FILMING WITH FRIENDS Currently the University operate in a global marketplace, and the University’s commitment to who may not wish to spend “I met Sushant at Fleming House offers about 650 international get an insight into different cultures.” enhancing the student experience. longer periods abroad. FLASH OF LEG DOWNHILL FROM THE START – University accommodation opportunities and the recently “One of my earliest memories of my “Rob and I got together in December THE COFFIN CONNECTION overlooking Arthur’s Seat – where launched “Go Abroad” initiative There are three main strands to the Go Abroad “seeks to build on our Ms Majewsky says: “Yes, we wife was in the anatomy dissecting 2000, having met through close “I met one of my best friends, Nick we shared a kitchen and a love of aims to help meet the ambitious Go Abroad campaign: create new tradition of mobility, by inspiring have an academically brilliant room above the Medical Quadrangle friends. Rob was always involved Toth, at Pollock Hall’s first public films. We were married in 2012. strategic target. opportunities for travelling abroad and increasing participation and the standard. But we also have in 1953. She was a year ahead of me, in the Snow Sports Club and was ceilidh of the 2009–10 academic year. revising for the second MB exam, president in 2002–3. I had never to study, work or volunteer; increase range of opportunities available for this fantastic opportunity for My husband is a Mumbai-based and she nonchalantly pulled a whole skied in my life, but he wanted us “We want to ensure students funding support; and encourage our students”, says Ms Majewsky. students to get a whole new I went alone and sat down among entrepreneur, and in late 2012 human leg out of the formalin tank to go to Whistler, British Columbia, have a really enriched students and staff to increase understanding of how the world a group of dateless lads (including we started an independent film on the far side of the hall. after graduating, so he dragged me to experience at the University,” participation in existing and new The scheme embraces the University’s works and your role within it.” Nick), figuring one of them would production company, Camphor the dry ski slope at Hillend. I didn’t ask me to dance. They were having Cinema. We are in post-production She graduated in 1957, I graduated make much progress, and I think a rambling conversation that of our first feature film, about the in 1958 and we were married in he was a bit embarrassed that the eventually turned to the topic of the mathematical prodigy Srinivasa Edinburgh a week later. “first lady” of the EUSSC was not a kind of events that might be part of NICOLE Ramanujan. It will be released in WHAT THE STUDENTS SAY... TURNER snow bunny. an Olympic Games for undertakers. STAY We look back in gratitude on 55 early 2014. ENGLISH Coming from Colorado, where there CONNECTED years, a wonderful, varied and We went to Whistler in 2003 and joined Edinburgh via Widening LANGUAGE is more than one quirky mountain Good friends I made on the Creative interesting life, including 12 years ended up staying a year. He was a Participation programmes. Chelsea AND HISTORY, town that hosts coffin races, I Writing masters have crucial roles in There are numerous at a Christian hospital in India, snowboard instructor, and I sold lift says: “I’m not sure what it was about YEAR 2 jumped right in. our project. ways in which alumni six years in London, and 20 years tickets – we had the best year of our the trip, but we just all feel more Nicole joined the University of can help current back in Edinburgh. We have four lives! I am eternally grateful to him A lifelong friendship was born. Nick confident now. It’s also piqued my Delhi’s “College on Wheels”, a This has been my dream project, and children, 11 grandchildren, four great for introducing me to skiing, which is and my friend Eva played ‘Dad’ and interest in going abroad later, rather week-long educational journey students benefit it’s been a great pleasure to work grandchildren and still counting.” now a passion for both of us.” ‘Mom’ at my graduation.” CHELSEA MARTIN than staying at home.” For Alistair, as through north-west India. She says: from international with all these great people we met LAW YEAR 2 AND ALASDAIR an International Relations student, a “It was as if we were doing a year experiences. If you WILLIAM CUTTING KIRSTY WHITE ANGELA CUNNINGHAM at the University.” KEANE INTERNATIONAL visit to Capitol Hill “was an amazing abroad in one week. I learnt so much: have an idea about RELATIONS YEAR 2 opportunity”. With an ambition to it was cultural immersion. And it how you’d like to get SINDHU RAJASEKARAN Chelsea and Alasdair spent two work in broadcast media, he took the teaches you a lot about yourself involved, email us at weeks at the University of Virginia chance to “speak with student media and how you react to situations. [email protected] on the inaugural Study America people, and it has made me think I have come back with so much If you met your partner or best friend at Edinburgh and would visit, fully funded for students who about how things work back here”. more confidence.” like to share your story, email us at [email protected]

28 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.ED.AC.UK EDIT MAGAZINE 29 LANDMARK WINTER 2013|14 THE LAST WORD THE MEADOWS OPINION

Send us your recollections of The LANDMARK Pleasance, to [email protected] THE LAST WORD

Studying in a unique city like Edinburgh is an unforgettable experience. In each edition we tell the story of an iconic campus or city landmark – and share your memories of its role in your student days. PROFESSOR POLLY ARNOLD CRUM BROWN CHAIR OF CHEMISTRY ‘A Chemical Imbalance’, a project led by Professor Arnold, investigates why women remain under-represented in science, technology, engineering and Lufei Gao mathematics. The work has resulted in a film, a book, a call for action, and some embarrassment over the f-word.

THE MEADOWS Huizhong Hu (PhD Molecular & Clinical Medicine 2011) The Meadows are a storied part of the Edinburgh cityscape. Today they play host to countless gatherings and events, from impromptu picnics to the new Meadows

Marathon, while in the past they have been dug up to grow vegetables for the war dinburgh Chemistry has an mean we’d have solved the equality Dominic Ibbotson effort, and even served as a quarantine area for plague victims in the 16th century. encouragingly high number of problem by now. Efemale students and academics: Both a thoroughfare and a retreat, the Meadows have a special place in the heart 30 per cent of our professors are We are unconvinced by continued of many students. Here we share your memories. women, while the UK average is calls for inquiries that produce 11 per cent. familiar mixtures of issues. We are calling for action now, before the even if it’s not true, we’ve already I REMEMBER… While we are still a long way from hard work of the generation above lost them. And many hiring panels equal, we wanted to see if there was us is lost through complacency. could also benefit from mentoring. Are you a Shaun Murphy all-nighter for an essay at 5:30am and inside of the tarmac to reduce the Madeleine anything in particular we had done feminist? It’s a BSc Civil we decided to celebrate by going impact, leaving a trod through the Lefebvre right. To make A Chemical Imbalance Here are our four action points to Create a workplace that supports Engineering 1972 out for a few holes of golf at the trees. Monday night was particularly MA Arts 1972 I hired a journalist and two film- drive progress towards equality in everyone and allows flexibility. simple question “Pain – from the Meadows just as the sun was special as we would do a few laps “My best memory was makers, all Edinburgh alumni, to help the workplace. Creating a workplace in which that tied my 12-hour pedal car race round the coming up. The tranquility of the slowly to keep everyone together going into the Meadows with friends investigate. We sent questionnaires everyone wants to work is something Meadows during Charity Week. still-sleeping city was beautiful.” before heading back to have pasta at after a party nearby and listening and to Edinburgh’s current chemists and Monitor our numbers. Monitoring I’d like to change about society, not male and female First-year Civils came second and someone’s flat.” singing along to my classmate Jeremy alumni of all ages, and to many other is not about establishing quotas, just the odd chemistry department. colleagues in knots. won crates of beer, better than the Wendy Barrett Rossiter and his guitar. We sat there UK chemists, through social media. it’s about removing an unconscious Allowing human beings flexibility to first prize of a bottle of whisky!” MA English Dr Anthony R until the sun came up – good friends, bias. We’ve nearly eradicated overt deal with all the messy parts of their Literature & Dickinson good memories.” We received responses from more dinosaur sexism but research studies lives might give our brains the space Treva Goodhead Language 1985 PG Diploma than 700 people of all backgrounds show consistently subconscious to come up with even better science. MA Politics 1995 “Walking through the Meadows after Neuroscience 1988 Spencer Hamill and ages, including an important but biased behaviour in many subject “First year had me my finals and the blossom falling “Hiking to and from the George BSc Mathematics harder-to-access (for a geek like me) areas. We need to know ourselves Reclaim the meaning of feminism. the word and its simplest message walking across the like snow.” Square library, knowing that the many 1970 group of people who had moved and our biases to avoid lapsing back Asking interviewees about the of equality. In the meantime by Links and Meadows every day from plague victims were left here in what “Most mornings in out of science. We also had some into hiring in our own image. f-word was a huge shock for me. Are mentoring and seeking mentoring, Warrender Park Terrace. While every Sarah Glanville is now the Meadows to drown or 1967–8 I walked from my student inspirational anecdotes. I am hugely you a feminist? It’s a simple question I think we stand the best chance of day had something new, my favourite MA Latin Studies otherwise decompose when it was digs in Warrender Park Road across grateful to all those who took time Mentor our people and make that tied my male and female building talented and diverse teams. one was when the morning fog sat 2012 a lake, so many years ago.” the Meadows to 9 o’clock lectures to reply to yet another survey. We sure the best are applying. The colleagues in knots. The answers And mentoring starts with just being waist high. Totally clear at eye level, “Playing on Bruntsfield in Drummond Street or Chambers interviewed chemists of all academic thing that marks out Edinburgh as made me laugh out loud. I felt naïve. nice to people. Shouldn’t be so hard but couldn’t see your feet. Only Links in November 2010 late at night Carol Brown Street. I shared a room with a levels, and ex-chemists, such as Dr different, and the point that came up And then angry. Everyone was in – should it? happened to me once, but made after deep snow had fallen. We were BSc Mathematics fellow second-year Maths student Elaine Murray MSP. We asked about repeatedly in interviews, is the effect agreement on all the other difficult such an impression.” the only people there in fresh snow 1980 who owned a car, and he would factors that affected their career that mentoring can have. While I themes we probed, but hardly “A Chemical Imbalance” was funded and it was beautiful.” “Studying for first year occasionally, on the rare days he directions such as mentoring, role- understand that everyone’s busy and anyone admitted to being a feminist. by the award of a Rosalind Franklin Charlton Leung exams in Warrender Park Crescent attended lectures, give me a lift. He models, conscious and unconscious academics are mostly introverts, prize from the Royal Society to MA Business James Jarvis and when needing a break going to died, aged 20, on 8 May 1968 after bias, and family-friendly policies. communicating with our young Since I outed myself as a feminist Professor Arnold. The book is written Studies & PhD Biochemistry the swing park I could see from the suffering a bad asthma attack. We talents is crucial. The saying goes a few months ago, 7,000 people by Cameron Conant, and the film was Accounting 2004 1999 windows. When having a reminiscent both played the guitar and I still have But analysis of the data did not that women wait until they’re 120 have visited “A Chemical Imbalance” made by Siri Rødnes and Marie Lidén. “As a first-year student living at “For me the Meadows go down the slide one kid said his words to Tom Paxton’s Talking reveal a magic bullet. If it had, that per cent ready but men wait until 80 and scores of men have felt able Warrender Park Crescent, my friend was the rendezvous for Hare & ‘there’s a mum playing!’ I felt so Pop Art he wrote down for me a few would suggest there was a simple per cent. If our youngsters perceive to tell me they are also feminists. www.chemicalimbalance.co.uk and I had just completed an Hounds runs. We would run on the old at 19.” months before he died.” solution – which of course would themselves not to be good enough, I am hopeful that we can reclaim www.homepages.ed.ac.uk/parnold

30 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.ED.AC.UK EDIT MAGAZINE 31 BILLET WINTER 2013|14 THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH BILLET

BILLET CONTINUED BILLET The General Council of the University of Edinburgh BILLET NEWS Chris Park © Talbot Rice Gallery Chris Park © Talbot Rice Gallery The General Council provides graduates with a continuing voice PRIORITIES FOR in the management of the University’s affairs, and every graduate NEW SESSION automatically becomes a member. Academic staff and members After input from members, of the University’s governing body, the University Court, are also Court Assessors and EUSA the members of the General Council. It meets twice a year and has the Business Committee reviewed the priorities that should be right to comment on matters affecting the University’s prosperity addressed this session. Events REPORT will happen and new issues arise and wellbeing. For more information on the work of the General which need to be dealt with By Professor Charles Swainson Council, visit www.general-council.ed.ac.uk throughout the year but the Convener of the Business following themes were regarded Committee of the General Council as priorities for the Committee and its Standing Committees. Chris Park © Talbot Rice Gallery

The student experience THE GENERAL COUNCIL HAS RELAUNCHED ITS WEBSITE. TO SEE OUR NEW LOOK including learning and teaching AND JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION, VISIT WWW.GENERAL-COUNCIL.ED.AC.UK We have been encouraged by the breadth of actions and the scale of investment by the University in tackling the issues The Business Committee was colleagues from the United States, and would continue to follow both income and from Mr Derek Waddell, identified in part by the National delighted to welcome the new who had contributed £750,000. of these themes as they were of Chief Executive, Edinburgh Research Student Survey. However, General Council Assessor, Ms Highlights included a major gift fundamental importance. and Innovation, about wide ranging we feel it will be important Doreen Davidson, who served from the Shirley Foundation for the initiatives to commercialise the to review the progress being with distinction on the Business Patrick Wild Centre for the study of The Public Affairs Standing University’s intellectual property made implementing the many Committee 2008–2012. She brings autism and fragile–X chromosome Committee has worked with D&A and encourage entrepreneurialism. proposed enhancements. We considerable experience of strategic syndrome, and major support for and the Secretary to develop the want to look into what impact human resources management. It the HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal new General Council website. This In early October, the Chancellor these changes have had on both has also welcomed the new Business Centre for the Study of Islam in has been simplified with a fresh look visited and opened magnificent staff and students. There are Committee members elected to the Contemporary World and the and feel. There is now an interactive new facilities, hosted a dinner at initiatives to develop innovative serve until July 2016, John Clifford, (Handa) Chair of Japanese–Chinese blog which provides opportunities the Palace of Holyroodhouse for teaching and learning methods Matt McPherson, Anne Paterson, Relations. Corporate donations to contribute to discussions, for the Chancellor’s Award winners, but we need to see how Scott Peter and Ian Stevens. had fallen but were outweighed example about the future of and presided at a celebration of PAIK EXHIBITION A FESTIVAL TREAT UPDATED WEBSITE widespread these are. by substantial private donations. the University. excellence where three honorary In June Development & Alumni Members of the General Council degrees and a fellowship were Engaging with communities held their first alumni weekend could assist fundraising by providing The June 2014 Half Yearly Meeting awarded. The University builds Ms Pat Fisher, Principal Curator of the Talbot Rice Gallery, Old College, The General Council has recently The University has continued to coincide with an Edinburgh introductions to potential will now be held in Toronto, the communities of support in this way once again welcomed members of the General Council and their guests, launched its updated website. We to grow, in both numbers and Half-Yearly Meeting, held at the donors through their extensive Grand Prix schedule preventing and identifies people who could be the Graduates’ Association and Friends of the Talbot Rice Gallery, to a hope that members will find it easier geography. Efforts need to be Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary personal networks. it being held in Montreal, as inspirational to us all. It was a great private viewing of the work on display during Edinburgh International to navigate and more attractive and made to create community spirit Studies at Easter Bush. All present planned originally. honour and pleasure for the General Festival in August. will use the interactive blog facility such as the initiatives being were informed and entertained The Standing Committees have Council to be fully involved. to enhance communication with us. developed in the Vet School. by Professor David Argyle, Head been working diligently, with new The Finance and Services Standing This year the exhibition featured Transmitted Live: Nam June Paik We are seeking ways to engage Committee met with Dr John Scally, of School, and after lunch by an information for candidates for our Resounds, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Paik’s first solo exhibition, Please visit www. with the wider civic community. interesting account of veterinary elections and improved induction Director of Library & University Exposition of Music – Electronic Television (Wuppertal 1963), when the We wish to build on our links Videos of previous general-council.ed.ac.uk developments and medicines packs being published by the Collections who covered the Principal’s and artist brought television into the realm of art for the first time, presenting with current students, including worldwide from Dr George Gunn Constitutional Standing Committee. extensive redevelopment of it as a tactile and multisensory medium. and let us know what EUSA. Finally, we are involved of Novartis. Other weekend events the Main Library. The improved Convener’s Reports, you think. in the new Alumni Engagement included a reception, a ceilidh and a The Academic Standing Committee student facilities had increased and a selection of As part of the counter-cultural movements of the 1960s, Paik believed Strategy and wish to support barbecue hosted by the University. has enquired into the efforts made usage considerably, with students after-lunch addresses, that artists should humanise technology, get their “fingers in and tear enhanced alumni relationships. by the University to improve the commenting that it was now one of can be viewed at away the walls” of the establishment. Paik, a trained musician, treated The Committee heard from Ms student experience. The University their favourite spaces. Continuing technology as a material part of his repertoire, which later expanded to Other strategic issues Kirsty MacDonald, Executive has made considerable investment emphasis on the digital future also wwww.general-council. include video, satellite transmissions, robots and lasers. The University’s progress in Director of D&A, on the annual and the Business Committee raised many issues. The Committee ed.ac.uk/media implementing the Strategic Plan report of the University of recognises that it will take a few also heard from Mr Nigel Paul, Vice A fascinating insight to the work of the artist was given by Ms Fisher after must be followed. Implications Edinburgh Development Trust to years to be reflected in the Student Principal and Director of Corporate which guests were able to roam the gallery and enjoy a reception for of any changes in Scotland’s July 2012. It showed that income Survey results. The Committee also Services, on the University’s with friends. constitutional arrangements was stable at £11 million with good enquired into the integration and excellent commercial enterprises should be identified. support from legacies and our support of international students which also created additional

32 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.ED.AC.UK BILLET 33 BILLET WINTER 2013|14 THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH BILLET

BILLET BILLET NEWS ELECTIONS CONTINUED GENERAL COUNCIL ELECTION, FEBRUARY 2014 Hart House, TORONTO TO Toronto Toronto University University HOST WEEKEND OF EVENTS AND CANDIDATES FOR MEMBERS I have over 25 years’ experience After a varied career in public In February 2012 the General Council OF THE BUSINESS COMMITTEE in organisational representation, service and Church administration, introduced online voting on a secure JUNE MEETING gained in senior roles across several and with experience in regulation, website, the Elections channel of The following nominations have sectors. As Convener of the Public financial services and charities, I the MyEd Alumni Portal, which will The June 2014 General Council been received for the election of five Affairs Standing Committee I am now offer that experience to the be open from Monday 6 January Half-Yearly Meeting will be held at members of the Business Committee to currently enjoying working with University. I particularly look to help 2014 until 1700 GMT Wednesday 12 Toronto University, on Saturday 21 serve from 1 August 2014 to 31 July 2018. Business Committee colleagues with the University’s governance, its February 2014. In order to vote you June 2014. Please check our website to deliver enhanced opportunities engagement with alumni and the must register via the EASE registration for further details. The names of the candidates appear for engagement between the external world, and with student process as explained below by 1700 www.general-council.ed.ac.uk in random order, as drawn by ballot. General Council, students, and staff support. GMT on Tuesday 11 February 2014 at This is also the order in which they staff, management and other the latest. It is hoped that members, their will appear on the voting screen University stakeholders. Jane Elizabeth Kille families and friends will be able and ballot paper. MA 1973 Voting Papers are enclosed only to join the General Council at the David James Robert Proposed by Charles where members have specifically first overseas weekend of alumni Sarah Morgan Houston Patrick Swainson, requested them previously, no later events to be held in Canada. The BSc 1997 PhD 1976 MBChB 1971 than 30 November 2013, and should weekend will follow the successful Proposed by Charles Proposed by Alan Seconded by Gordon be completed and returned in the formula of previous overseas Patrick Swainson, McDougall Johnston, Douglas Cairns, enclosed addressed envelope to the weekends in Washington DC, Hong MBChB 1971 MBA 1989 LLB 1979 Secretary of the General Council. Kong and Berlin, and will include an Seconded by James Seconded by Gordon Details of all candidates appear intellectually stimulating conference, Alexander Norman Douglas Cairns, I offer the General Council a further on this page. Anyone still wishing the General Council Meeting and Graham, BSc 1995 LLB 1979 term of commitment by building to vote by post may do so for Lunch and a Gala Dinner. on my previous experience on the subsequent elections by requesting a www.ed.ac.uk/alumni Sarah is an entrepreneur and My strengths are in strategic finance Business Committee – in particular, postal vote from the General Council nano-technology geek, with a and management which have served the review process. I would use this Office before 30 November in the background in business development me well in local authority top teams, to continue developing its positive year prior to any election. across three countries, UK, US and as a director of a professional society relationship with the University Canada. An early career in television, and a management consultant. by representing the views of To be able to vote online you need film and music production has led to I wish to bring these skills and alumni and colleagues proactively to be a member of the General LUNCH WITH A LEGAL THEME THE FEBRUARY 2014 GENERAL a successful fashion business in the experiences to assist the University’s and constructively. Council eligible to vote in this COUNCIL LUNCH US and funding of a nano-technology strategic planning in consultation election and registered through As usual, following the Half-Yearly Meeting on Saturday 15 February lighting company in Scotland. with members. Dorothy Turvey EASE as a MyEd Alumni Portal user. 2014, members of the General Council, alumni, partners, family and Playfair Library Hall, Old College, on Saturday 15 February 2014, 12.30pm for 1pm. MacLeod, MBA 2001 Those who registered for previous friends are cordially invited to the General Council Lunch in the Samuel Joseph Trett William Gordon Daniel Proposed by Kirsty Joan elections do not need to do so again, Playfair Library Hall, Old College. Please send me tickets (£20 each) MA 2011 Jack, BDS 1983 MacGregor, simply use the same user name and Proposed by Stuart Proposed by Kirsty MA 1981 password. If you have already used Sheriff Principal Edward Bowen CBE, Chancellor’s Assessor and A cheque for £ is enclosed payable to the University of Edinburgh. James Ritchie Walker, Joan MacGregor, Seconded by Jill the Portal as a student, you should eminent lawyer, has kindly accepted our invitation to speak after MA 1968 MA 1981, MBA Robertson, MBA 2003 still be able to use your student lunch and we are confident that his talk will be fascinating. Sheriff Name Seconded by Ian Seconded by Jill username and password to access the Principal Bowen has a long and distinguished career behind him, Herbert Stevens, Robertson, MBA 2003 The University is a power house for Alumni Portal. If you are a new user including as Advocate Depute, Sheriff of Tayside Central and Fife Address MA 1985 future growth and development. you will need to contact the support and Queen’s Counsel, before being appointed Sheriff Principal of I worked in Wales and Shropshire Risk management and collaboration service. To do this send an email to Glasgow and Strathkelvin and then transferring to the Sheriffdom of After an Edinburgh University MBA, for 27 years establishing two dental are critical factors in maintaining its the Information Services helpline Lothian and Borders in 2005, retiring from that office in May 2011. I founded a drinks company. My practices and successfully selling global position. I would contribute at [email protected] requesting experiences as a recent Sport Union both. After gaining three more key skills in partnership building and access to MyEd and giving your full He has also served in numerous other capacities, including President and committee member qualifications from Royal Colleges investment, developed over 25 years name, date of and degree awarded Commissioner and then Chairman of the Board of Northern Postcode of the Graduate, and Sports Union, and Sheffield University, plus working with both public and private at first graduation from Edinburgh. A Lighthouses. Alumni Associations give me helpful working for Universities of Wales sector organisations to ensure its username and initial password will be Name(s) of guest(s) insight into the University’s working and Birmingham, I feel I have much ongoing success. sent to you. If you would like to attend the next General Council Lunch, please and its challenges. My passion to offer Edinburgh now we have book online by following the links at www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/ and experience will ensure strong returned to Scotland. If you experience problems at whats-happening, or complete and return the form adjacent no later representation on committee. VOTING IN THE GENERAL any point when registering for, or than Friday 7 February 2014. Dietary requirements/preferences Philip John Courtney COUNCIL ELECTION accessing, the Alumni Portal, please Simon Maurice Lytton Mawer, MA 1971 also contact Information Services Tickets at £20 include pre-lunch wine reception and a buffet lunch Please return to: Mrs Mary Scott, Assistant to the Secretary of the General Fairclough, MBA 2004 Proposed by Hilary This is the opportunity for you to at the above address, identifying in the Playfair Library Hall. Table wines will be available to purchase. Council, University of Edinburgh, Charles Stewart House, 9–16 Chambers Proposed by Charles Leith Watkinson, participate in the governance of the yourself as above. Street, Edinburgh EH1 1HT, Scotland, UK, or, alternatively, you may order online Patrick Swainson, BSc 1968 University by voting for members at www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/whats-happening MBChB 1971 Seconded by Ian of the Business Committee of the Closing date for applications: Friday 7 February 2014. Seconded by Frances Angus Moffat, General Council, who are responsible Diana Dow, MA 1969 MBChB 1968 for much of its work.

34 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.ED.AC.UK BILLET 35 BILLET WINTER 2013|14 THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH BILLET

BILLET BILLET GENERAL COUNCIL PAPERS CONTINUED

PAPERS FOR THE GENERAL COUNCIL HALF-YEARLY MEETING PAPER A MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL HELD the new Post-16 Education Bill. University Court, where she served ON SATURDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2014 In the submission it emphasised 2001-2013. She championed the IN THE ROYAL (DICK) SCHOOL OF VETERINARY STUDIES, THE the objections to the potential causes of the disadvantaged and 10.30AM: ROOM LT175, SCHOOL OF LAW, OLD COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH, EASTER BUSH ESTATE, MIDLOTHIAN removal of the General Council had always held the torch aloft ON SATURDAY 22 JUNE 2013 from the Governance of the for students in particular. The University and to sweeping powers University community had much 10am to 10.30am: Coffee, tea and biscuits in the Lorimer Room, School of Law, Old College to direct an institution and its to thank her for. 1 MINUTES OF THE MEETING further whether our election curricula proposed in Section 2 10.30am: General Council Meeting in Room G175, School of Law, Old College OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL procedures for a future Chancellor of the Bill. The evidence given The report of the Business HELD IN OLD COLLEGE, should be updated and no to the Education Committee Committee was approved. After the meeting: Lunch in the Playfair Library Hall (see page 34 for details) EDINBURGH, ON further changes were proposed. of the Parliament and the 9 FEBRUARY 2013 New procedures for publicising subsequent Parliamentary debate The full text of the Convener’s Members are invited to submit questions to the meeting by email to [email protected] either in advance the election had already been had resulted in a Bill which was remarks are contained in the Annex or live during the meeting. The meeting will be web-cast and may be viewed live at: www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/media The Minutes of the Meeting held introduced. substantially improved. The to the Billet. on 9 February 2013 were approved. Committee supported the draft The Academic Standing Scottish Code of Higher Education 4 DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS 2 MATTERS ARISING Committee had been enquiring Governance, which had been OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL into the new approaches to prepared under the Chairs of The Chairman reported that student support for both Home Court. We emphasised the role of The next Half-Yearly Meeting AGENDA FOR THE GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING there were no matters arising and International Students. The the General Council, the election would take place on Saturday from the Minutes. University had invested in single of the independent Assessors to 15 February 2014, in Old College. point of access services and the the Court that it undertook, and Any Motions for discussion at this 1 Results of the Election of Five Members of the General Council Business Committee 3 REPORT OF THE BUSINESS Personal Tutor scheme. It had met supported the concept of elected meeting should be received in the COMMITTEE with students to listen to their staff and student members General Council Office by the 27 2  Minutes of the Meeting of the General Council held in the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, experiences with these changes. on Court. November 2013. The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Estate, Midlothian on Saturday 22 June 2013 (PAPER A) The Convener welcomed in The Committee continued to particular those Members of the investigate whether these were The Convener thanked a number Post Meeting Amendment: With General Council who had travelled having their intended benefits. of retiring Committee Members the agreement of the Business 3 Matters arising to Edinburgh as part of this Alumni for their contribution: Jane Committee the date for the Weekend. He also welcomed The Finance and Services Standing Kille, Ruthven Gemmell, Ian following Statutory Half-Yearly 4 Report of the Business Committee Sarah Smith as new University Committee had reviewed the Sutherland, Neil Hynd and Shields Meeting had been changed to Secretary and looked forward excellent previous financial year Henderson. Ian Sutherland had Saturday 21 June. Any Motions for 5 Dates of future meetings of the General Council to working closely with her and as described in the Report and been Convener of the Academic discussion at this meeting should her team. Financial Statement to 31 July Standing Committee from 2009 be received in the General Council 2012 (available on the University to 2012 and had been a member Office by Monday 31 March 2014. 6 Notice of forthcoming Elections The Committee had completed website) with the Director of of the Business Committee agreed guidelines for consultation Finance, Phil McNaull. He had since 2001. Neil Hynd had been 5 NOTICE OF FORTHCOMING Presentation by Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the Annual Report to the University between the General Council described the emphasis on Convener of the Public Affairs ELECTIONS 7 and the University. These had the University becoming less Standing Committee since 2010, 8 Any other competent business now been approved by Court and dependent on Government and Vice Convener of the Business There would be an election for were available on the General Teaching Grants and seeking as Committee 2004-8, serving a five Members of the Business Council website. The Business broad an income base as possible. total of 11 years as a member of Committee in February 2014. 9 Adjournment Committee benefited from regular the committee. Between them Nominations on forms available updates from Communications The Public Affairs Standing they had given over 23 years to from the General Council Office & Marketing. The range and the Committee had been working on service on the Committee. The and on the website should be number of newsworthy events and a redevelopment of the General Convener also thanked the retiring received in the General Council the research that came out of the Council website. Development General Council Assessor, Mrs Office by the 27 November 2013. University were hugely impressive. & Alumni was a key partner in Margaret Tait, who had made an this and other related work. outstanding contribution to the 6 PRESENTATION BY DR MICHAEL MITCHELL The Constitutional Standing The new Executive Director of PROFESSOR DAVID ARGYLE, PRESENT Secretary of the General Council General Council and the University Committee had produced new Development & Alumni, Kirsty for an astonishing 27 years. Mrs HEAD OF THE ROYAL (DICK) MR PETER McCOLL PROFESSOR CHARLES SWAINSON information for those wishing MacDonald, had been welcomed Tait had been elected to the SCHOOL OF VETERINARY Rector, in the Chair Convener of the Business Committee to stand for election and had to the Business Committee in Business Committee in 1986, had STUDIES refreshed the information available January and gave an excellent served on various committees, MS SARAH SMITH 49P AND 4V = 53 OTHER MEMBERS for those who were elected introduction to the new strategies had been Convener of Public Professor Argyle highlighted the University Secretary and Registrar of the General Council (P = Physical; V = Virtual) thus improving induction. The for alumni engagement. Affairs Standing Committee three main strands to the work of commitment expected had been 1990-1992, Vice Convener 1992- the Veterinary School; education, PROFESSOR DAVID ARGYLE REV DR HARRIET HARRIS clarified and the way in which The Business Committee 96, and then Convener of the research and clinical work, all Head of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies Chaplain to the University we operated to support your responded to the publication Business Committee 1996-2000 important and interrelated. university. They had considered by the Scottish Government of and had then been elected to the The history of the School was

36 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.ED.AC.UK BILLET 37 BILLET WINTER 2013|14 THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH BILLET BILLET GENERAL COUNCIL PAPERS

described, from its origins in health monitoring and professional for human chronic lung fibrosis. and Imaging Centre, Large Animal Clyde Street under William counselling were all on board. The A very large Medical Research Hospital, and a new Sustainable Dick, through the Summerhall students themselves designed and Council Grant had been awarded Biodiversity Funded Avian Facility OFFICERS: The Annex to the Billet, containing era to the latest major campus ran a Student Welfare Week. to develop the donkey as a model to ensure that the current level of Chairman: HRH The Princess Royal supporting papers for the Agenda, including developments at Easter Bush. for human disease. Chronic disease success was at least maintained. Secretary: Michael J Mitchell, BSc, PhD 2015 The close working relationships Education in a research-led and diseases associated with Registrar: Sarah Smith, University Secretary ex-officio communications from the University Court, with the Medical School were environment was the driving ageing in humans and animals were The presentation was closed with full Standing Committee reports, a transcript of also highly influential and created concept. The vision for Easter incredibly common. A number of a stimulating and wide ranging GENERAL COUNCIL ASSESSORS ON THE UNIVERSITY COURT: major opportunities for a “One Bush was a European Centre of important diseases being studied question session. Professor Agyle’s presentation, and the Business Health” agenda. Another major Excellence in Animal Science. This included cancer, liver disease, Alan M Johnston, MBA, CSci, CChem, FRSC, CBiol, FIBiol 2015 development for research had was based on two elements; firstly osteoarthritis and kidney disease, The full text of Professor Argyle’s Ann M Smyth, BSc, PhD, MPhil 2015 Committee’s report to the meeting on 22 June been the incorporation of the “One Health”, taking full advantage which were as common a cause remarks, and the record of the Doreen Davidson, BA, AIPD 2017 2013, is available on the website at: Roslin Institute which was now of the fact that the School was of reduced quality of life or death discussion that followed the housed in an adjacent location strategically sited within the in dogs and cats as they were in presentation, are contained BUSINESS COMMITTEE: www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/annex.htm. in a stunning new building. College of Medicine & Veterinary humans. Another major research in the Annex to the Billet. The Convener: Charles Swainson, MBChB, FRCPE, FRCSE, FFPHM 2016 General Council members may also request it There had been major expansion Medicine and the other was Food project across Schools, including presentation may also be seen Vice-Convener: Frances D Dow, MA, DPhil, CBE 2016 in animal cancer care and research, Security, which was really all Engineering and Human Medicine, as a video on the website. by post from: Mrs Mary Scott, General Council also new facilities including a about the livestock industry and was investigating ways to make A Convener of Academic Standing Committee: Office, Charles Stewart House, 9-16 Chambers linear accelerator. The vision making sure that it could feed the radiation therapy much more 7 ANY OTHER COMPETENT Bruce Ritson, OBE, MBChB, MD, FRCPE, FRCPsych 2014 for the campus was to create nation and help our international effective using micro-sensors BUSINESS P Convener of Public Affairs Standing Committee: Street, Edinburgh EH1 1HT. Tel. 0131 650 2152; a world-leading centre of partners. Major areas of impact to detect areas of hypoxia in Simon Fairclough, MBA 2014 Email: [email protected]; or pick a copy veterinary research, education for the campus were those of tumours. Working on mitral There was no other competent F Convener of Finance and Services Standing Committee: and clinical care. livestock and human genetics. valve replacements grown in business. Kirsty MacGregor, MA, MBA DipEd 2015 up at the location of the Council Meeting from tissue culture for dogs had direct C Convener of Constitutional Standing Committee: 30 minutes beforehand. One of the major emphases was Thus research on animal health, relevance to human heart disease. 8 ADJOURNMENT Gordon D Cairns, LLB 2016 to enhance the student experience including the underlying biological and to build some really mechanisms, fed into it and was For a successful future it was The Motion by the Convener of MEMBERS: Previous copies of Billet can be found strong academic communities itself supported by the work on important that the clinical the Business Committee that, for and the new facilities helped human health. The main aims services were excellent and that the purpose of considering matters ‘A’ denotes a member of the Academic Standing Committee, under the Publications tab at tremendously. The next generation were enhancing animal health postgraduate education and which may be transmitted to the ‘C’ a member of the Constitutional Standing Committee, www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/media of vets needed to be research and welfare through knowledge, research income were competitive. General Council by the University ‘F’ a member of the Finance and Services Standing Committee, and literate, able to use evidence- sustainability of livestock This meant investing in people Court or any other business of a ‘P’ a member of the Public Affairs Standing Committee: based medicine to make clinical systems, food safety, enhancing and investing in technologies. The competent nature, the Business judgements, clinically confident, human and companion animal profession had changed; 80% of Committee be empowered to act CHANCELLOR’S ASSESOR: and able to communicate to the health through understanding graduates now went into small on behalf of the Council, and that Sheriff Principal Edward F Bowen, CBE, TD, QC ex-officio general public. Curriculum choice the basic mechanisms of health animal practice which was a big this meeting be adjourned to a had been expanded, including and disease, and identifying new change even from 20 years ago date to be fixed by the Business P Luise Locke, BA, MA 2014 forming partnerships with other diseases and treating them. The and 80 per cent of graduates Committee, was approved. P Elizabeth Morris, MBChB MRCGP 2014 universities, such as Stirling for research divided into genetics were now female, which changed C Ann M Sutherland, MA, FBCartS 2014 aquaculture. Technology had and genomics affecting immunity, the profession. There was heavy Rev Dr Harriet Harris closed the P Morven Brown, M.A, DipEd, DipEd Psych, AFBPsS 2015 enhanced learning, including neurobiology, developmental investment in the clinics as a meeting with a benediction. F Waverley Cameron, BSc, SM 2015 virtual farms or abattoirs and using biology and clinical sciences, platform for translational research, C Michael Lugton, MA 2015 functioning models of animals. all interlinked. In terms of thus maintaining the cutting edge, A Ritchie Walker, MA, BSc, DipEd 2015 genetics capabilities, this providing opportunities for the F Robert (Bobby) Burt, MD, FRCA, FRCPE, FACP 2016 The School had been very active in campus was second only to clinicians to change practice and A Stuart Macpherson 2016 the enhancement of the Student the Sanger Centre in Cambridge lead innovation, providing key F Hamish McKenzie, MA 2016 Experience; it had its own version for sequencing technologies clinical questions to underpin C David M Munro, MBE, BSc, PhD 2016 of the Personal Tutor system and the sequencing output. research as well. P John Clifford, MSc 2017 and had introduced a Student A Matthew McPherson, MA 2017 Experience Officer together with The other main aspect of the This enabled the School to A Anne W Paterson, BSc, Dip. Social Study, AIMSW, CCE 2017 Student Support fellows. The work was clinical service. There produce the next generation C Scott Peter, MA, PGDE 2017 students had been involved in were three main hospitals; the of veterinarians, and provide F Ian Stevens, MA, ACA 2017 developing systems and structures Small Animal Hospital, the Equine education opportunities to lead relevant to their needs. This had Hospital and the Cattle Practice. postgraduate education nationally ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY: Mary T Scott, BA included developing a House Everything done could be directly and internationally. Considerable system, enhancing staff and reflected in human health. For investment in additional new student interaction, support and example, in terms of One Health facilities was on-going or planned advisory teams and an on-campus One Medicine and One Biology, including the Pathology Extension, referrals service. Study skills donkeys, which suffer from chronic Innovation Hub, new Avian advice, stress management, mental fibrosis, were a very good model Facilities, Large Animal Research

38 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH WWW.ED.AC.UK BILLET 39 Your legacy, whatever its shape or size, is vital to the University of Edinburgh. To fi nd out more about making a gift to the University of Edinburgh in your will, please contact Morag Murison on +44 (0)131 650 9637 or [email protected] We are happy to arrange a chat or simply send you an information pack. Alternatively, visit www.ed.ac.uk/legacy-giving