Ulster Grad 26.Indd
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Issue 26 SPRING 2007 The magazine for alumni and friends of the University of Ulster Tim Fogg takes part in BBC’s Expedition Borneo University News Events and Reunions People Arts Sport Supported by http://alumni.ulster.ac.uk ISSUE 26 | SPRING 2007 4 12 14 16 26 29 A WORD FROM THE EDITOR contents Welcome to the 26th issue of The Ulster Graduate university news – this means that the University has been producing this magazine for its graduates for some 13 years. During that University News 02 time the University has grown substantially in terms of Honorary Graduates 09 its student and staff numbers, its physical estate and the number of graduates it produces. innovation and enterprise All these factors make the University a significant provider Support for Business 12 of expertise, and in this issue Eddie Friel, Manager of the Knowledge Club Workshops - InvestNI START Programme 12 Business Liaison Office, talks on page 12 about how that Science in Society Seminars 13 expertise can be harnessed by businesses in the region. On a lighter note, you can read about the Ulster graduates development and alumni news who used their expertise in the Imbak Canyon in Borneo, broadcast by the BBC in January (page 26). Derry and Raphoe Diocesan Library Project 14 Boston Fundraiser 14 These and other features aim to keep you in touch with Academic Excellence Awards 15 what UU has to offer and the directions followed by some of our graduates. We hope you enjoy reading them alumni reunions and events and that you will write to us to let us know what you are doing. Many Voices Festival 16 Magee Reunion 17 Finally, we are delighted to continue our relationship with Golf Challenge 17 Ulster Bank, who sponsor The Ulster Graduate. Northern Ireland Bureau Washington DC 18 Coleraine Reunion 18 Best wishes Parents Advice Evenings 18 Dublin Wine Tasting 19 Jordanstown Wine Tasting 19 Sports Studies Reunion 19 Alumni Relations Manager people Published by The Alumni Relations Office, The University of Ulster, Class Notes 20 Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, BT37 0QB. New Year Honours 22 First Trust Bank Distinguished Graduate - Brian Irvine 23 Tel: 08 700 400 700 (Switchboard), or Humanitarian Worker Hannele Haggman 24 028 9036 8350 (Direct Line), Fax: 028 9036 6085, Football Marketeer Geoff Wilson 25 Email: [email protected] Expedition Borneo 26 Web: http://alumni.ulster.ac.uk Professor Tom Fraser 27 Editor: Sue Rees, Alumni Relations Manager Design: Lairdesign arts Print: Graham and Heslip Creativity Zone 29 Views expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily UU Dance Performance Provides Seasonal Sparkle 29 of the University. The University of Ulster regrets that it cannot Creative Image Making Workshop 30 accept responsibility for any claim whatsoever North West Academy of the Arts 30 which may arise out of advertisements carried in good faith. Arts & Business Commission Programme 30 Cover Story sport UU Graduate Tim Fogg was one of four UU graduates who took part in a BBC Sports Scholarships 31 expedition to Borneo last year. See page 26 World Congress of Science and Football 32 for the full story. Harlem Globetrotters team up with UU 32 the ulster graduate l spring 2007 1 university news Marketing Person Sports Academy Launch of the Year The University’s Sports Academy structure to allow everyone who is – a giant step towards realising the interested in sport and physical activity UU graduate and leading academic University’s vision to be the leading to take part at the level that suits them Dr Mark Durkin (MA Marketing 1993) University for sport on the island of - from those who want to increase has been named Marketing Person Ireland – was launched in November their activity right through to the high of the Year 2006 by the Chartered with Ulster and Ireland rugby star performance athlete preparing for Institute of Marketing. David Humphreys as guest international competition. The idea of honour. is to bring all the areas of provision together to create synergies for sport. The UU Sports Academy is the only one Our goal is that everyone will have the of its kind in any third level education highest quality of experience through facility in Ireland and brings together all the facilities programmes and support aspects of sport in the University from services we offer.” world-class athletes to those who take part for recreation. The University has a long history of sporting achievement, with world-class Bringing together the five existing athletes such as sprinter Anna Boyle, facilities in the University – Sport rugby’s Tommy Bowe and Tyrone and Recreation Services, the Sports All-Ireland football winner Sean Development Unit, the Sports Union, Cavanagh having benefited from the the School of Sports Studies and the University’s support. Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Institute – the new Sports Academy The creation of the Sports Institute Jordanstown-based Dr Durkin, who will coordinate their actions to enhance Northern Ireland - a joint partnership is Head of the School of Marketing, sporting excellence and participation. with Sports Council Northern Ireland Entrepreneurship and Strategy, received - has been a catalyst for sport at the prestigious ‘Frank Galbraith’ award, Co-Directors of the UU Sports Academy the University. named in honour of the first recipient are Dr Nigel Dobson and Dr Marie Murphy. and former CIM Regional Director, at the Welcoming the launch of the Sports CIM Gala Awards ceremony in Belfast in Nigel said: “Our new vision is based on Academy, Professor Jim Allen, Pro- October 2006. shared ownership of sport throughout Vice-Chancellor (Communication and the University encompassing student Institutional Development) said: sport, services and facilities, administrative departments, teaching and research of “We are placing sport at the heart of sport and related subjects.” the University. The development of the Calling 2003 UU Sports Academy allows us to build Co-Director, and UU graduate, Marie on the tradition of sport established on Graduates Murphy said: “We now have the our campuses for more than 20 years.” The Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey is a follow-up of people who graduated from higher education three years ago to obtain a picture of their early career paths. Although UU graduates were initially contacted six months post graduation this later survey gives a more robust overview of employment outcomes and is invaluable in informing the career choices of current students. The survey’s website, www.graduat edestinationsurvey.co.uk provides further information. If you have been asked to participate and have not yet responded please do so as it will help to further investigate graduate activity and improve the opportunities and support available to graduates in the future. Dr Nigel Dobson, Dr Marie Murphy and Dr David Humphreys. 2 the ulster graduate l spring 2007 university news WORLD LEADING BIO-IMAGING CENTRE The mysteries of how viruses invade cells, how drugs work at the molecular level, and how nanoparticles affect our bodies are being revealed at a new world- leading research facility at the Coleraine campus. The £1.3m FEI Centre for Advanced Imaging is bristling with pioneering microscope technology available nowhere else in the world. The technology has been developed in association with the FEI Company, the US-based supplier of electron microscopy tools for nanoscale research, development and commercialisation. Global companies like Unilever Research are already benefiting from the uniquely Dr George McKerr with the world’s first cryo-dualbeam nanolab microscope, housed at the University’s new Centre for Advanced Imaging. powerful analytical and technological expertise that has been assembled at the new Centre, funded by a grant from Dr George McKerr, Director of the new temperature microscope which is the UK Science Research Investment Centre for Advanced Imaging, said: essentially a small scale workshop where Fund (SRIF). cells, virus particles and large molecules “This is the full realisation of four years can be machined and manipulated, has At the heart of the Centre’s research work. I am delighted to have the support attracted a lot of interest. arsenal are two specially constructed of FEI who are an imaginative company microscopes, the world’s first cryo- as well as being world leaders in this “The Centre at Coleraine will become dualbeam microscope – combining instrumentation. a reference lab for this type of work a focused ion beam microscope throughout Europe and we intend to do with a scanning electron microscope “Four years ago I brought FEI an idea something rather special to help local and a unique atomic force/confocal and they very quickly turned that into industry and start-up companies. Watch Calling 2003 microscope hybrid. a prototype. This idea for an ultra-low this space.” Graduates “This will be the first wide-ranging, its growth, and how the UK should be UU Researcher contemporary study to look at the role of globally represented on financial and the Treasury and will focus on the period economic policies in the European Union, to Investigate from the election of New Labour in 1997. International Monetary Fund, and the G8.” “The research will deal with the Treasury In his research Professor Thain will be under one of its longest serving and most asking a number of important questions: the Treasury influential Chancellors of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown. New Labour has ● how has the Treasury changed since under New attempted to change how government 1997? operates and to reform the public ● why has it changed? sector. At the heart of this process is Her Labour Majesty’s Treasury. ● has it done a good job? Professor Colin Thain, from the School “The Treasury is one of the oldest, “This is an exciting opportunity to of Economics and Politics, is set to most powerful and most controversial investigate the Treasury’s relationships carry out the first contemporary study departments in British government.