Autumn 08 THE The Musical Annie BBC RADIO 1’S ANNIE MAC - QUEEN’S GRADUATE ALSO IN THIS ISSUE P8 Happy Birthday Queen’s! P44 Queen’s and the Media - Special report P52 Class of 2008 THE MAGAZINE FOR GRADUATES AND FRIENDS OF QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY BELFAST THE GRADUATE P3P3 Message from the Editor Welcome to this special edition of Queen’s alumni magazine, The Graduate, in this, the University’s Centenary year. Editors: Gerry Power and Kevin Mulhern Queen’s academic and social calendar has been brimming with special events marking the University’s Centenary Managing Editor: throughout 2008. The Mitchell Conference held at Queen’s Tracey McKinney in April explored lessons to be learned from Northern Ireland in conflict resolution. In March, the University hosted a Royal Design: Visit when Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh www.darraghneely.com visited the campus as part of the celebrations. For a full round-up of the year’s events to date, turn to page 8. Contributors: Kerry Bryson In our media exclusive, we ask cover star Annie Mac and some Andrea Clements of the University’s other alumni how they got their big break Shauna Hughes and what advice they would offer fellow graduates in search Anne Langford of a career in the media (p44). Jacqui McCormick Lisa Mitchell Other alumni breaking new ground in their fields include Norma Sinte Francis Campbell, the UK’s first Roman Catholic ambassador Anne-Marie Watson to the Vatican. In his profile on page 6, he takes us through a career in which politics and religion have been closely woven. Editorial Office: On page 48, law graduate and editor of the Northern Ireland Development and Alumni Relations Office Law Reports Anne-Marie Forker, offers her unique perspective Queen’s University on how Queen’s and the city have changed since her student Belfast days. BT7 1NN Northern Ireland It’s also been a year of discovery and accolades for our students and alumni. In April a Queen’s postgraduate student Tel: +44 (0)28 9097 3100 found a mammal which has never been seen before in Ireland Fax: +44 (0)28 9097 5188 (p12), and the discovery of 10 new planets was announced [email protected] by Queen’s astronomers (p42). On page 37 Queen’s graduate www.qub.ac.uk/alumni Connor Clements shares his delight at gracing the silver screen at Cannes, and we profile Sinead Morrissey’s success in Cover: BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac (see p44) winning the UK’s biggest poetry competition (p38). © Development and Alumni Relations Office 2008 The Graduate also brings you the latest in alumni news and insight into the latest developments at Queen’s. And, don’t The Graduate is an informal magazine published by forget to check out the expanded Class Notes section to hear the Development and Alumni Relations Office, for what’s happened to your former classmates since graduating. alumni and friends of Queen’s University Belfast. Alumni feedback on The Graduate is always welcome either Extracts from The Graduate should not be using the mailing sheet which accompanies this magazine, or published without the approval of the Editors. via email to: [email protected], or in writing to the address While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy given. of printed information, readers should be aware that this is an alumni magazine and not an official And remember, you can publication. Any views expressed by the contributors keep up to date with are not necessarily those of the University or the all the latest news from editorial team. Queen’s by visiting our website: Advertisements are carefully vetted, but the www.qub.ac.uk/alumni University can take no responsibility for their content. I look forward to hearing from you. Printers: Corporate Document Services Gerry Power Co-Editor THE GRADUATE P5P5 Contents COVER STORY Media Matters 44 Annie Mac and some of Queen’s other well-known alumni discuss how they got their big break and what advice they would offer fellow graduates in search of a career in the media. PROFILE Answering the Call 6 The Graduate meets Francis Campbell, the UK’s first Roman Catholic ambassador to the Vatican. Queen’s Centenary 8 The University celebrates 100 years as a leading university and looks forward to the next 100 years. Belfast Evolving 48 Graduate Anne-Marie Forker looks at how Belfast has changed since her time at Queen’s. The Cream of the Crop 16 Meet the Graduate and Student of the Year 2008. GRADUATES Class Notes 20 Notice of Annual Meeting of Convocation 18 Queen’s Graduates’ Association 50 Absolutely Fabulous! Graduation 2008 52 UNIVERSITY NEWS Fabulous at 40! 19 New scheme launched to recruit GB students 19 FACULTY OF MEDICINE, HEALTH AND LIFE SCIENCES Grants of over £500,000 for Queen’s to investigate blindness 12 The naming of the shrew 12 Queen’s strengthens its links with India 13 Cutting-edge cancer research 14 Supporting Cancer Research 14 Profile - Dr Andrea Guiotto and Dr Habil. Michael Decker 15 FACULTY OF ARTS, HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES World-class lawyers win in India 36 In the Cannes 37 Profile - David Gibson 37 Prize Poet 38 Climbing the leadership ladder 39 A feast of arts and culture 39 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES £5 million green contract 40 Queen’s/NASA to put telescope on the Moon 41 Queen’s astronomers announce the discovery of 10 new planets 42 Profile - Sarah A Lappin 43 MISCELLANEA Sudoku, Quiz and Teaser 54 P6 THE GRADUATE THE GRADUATE P7 PROFILE Francis Campbell meets Tony Blair and Pope Benedict XVI Answering the call “Diplomats are moved every four or five years, so I don’t imagine I will be Queen’s graduate Francis Campbell has been the UK’s Ambassador to the Holy See since 2005. The University’s Alumni Officer, Gerry Power, who recently met the Ambassador in here much beyond 2010 . and as to the splendour of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London, talks exclusively where next, anywhere is possible” to him about a career in which politics and religion are closely woven. “It’s the most demanding job I’ve ever the Antrim Road, in itself a cloistered Still unsure, he went on to take MAs One of 120 applicants, his appointment at Campbell, solemnly. “The family requested done!” said Francis. “On any one day I existence. in European Integration at the Catholic the time was described as “an event that a meeting with the Pope and, having ABOUT THE VATICAN could be dealing with matters relating University of Leuven in Belgium and in could have more lasting significance for discussed the matter with Cardinal Murphy to a hostage situation in Columbia, “While I had heard about the Bot and International Relations at the University Britain’s diplomatic service”. O’Connor, the Archbishop of Westminster, The Vatican is the world’s oldest religious violence in India or the latest the Welly Park, and was aware of life of Pennsylvania - the latter on a Thouron I was able to make arrangements. Kate institution. The Government of the developments in Lebanon. If it’s of in the Students’ Union, I knew nothing scholarship. Notwithstanding this early Predictably some local commentators and Gerry McCann stayed with me the Vatican City State is known as the Holy interest to the Vatican, it’s of importance about them, certainly not first hand. We exposure to the world of politics, and focused solely on the fact that Campbell night before the meeting; in all they were See. The Holy See keeps abreast of the to the UK.” were allowed out one night per term, but with the calling to the priesthood still was the first Northern Irish Catholic in only in Rome for 24 hours.” world at governmental and grass roots we had to be in by 11pm!” playing on his mind, he found himself a UK ambassadorial position since the levels, and knows who’s who in the The hallowed corridors of the Vatican back in London. Republic of Ireland gained independence While by his own admission, being an world’s faith communities. and the challenges thrown up by in 1921, and the first Catholic to hold the ambassador presents many deep human The Vatican has its own typography, international diplomacy are a long “I came to London late in 1992 but I Vatican job since the Reformation, though challenges, it is the stark contrasts which railway station, security force, fire and way from the rolling hillsides around don’t suppose I ever really left it despite it was clear to others that he had more to make the position unique. Having handled ambulance services, daily newspaper, Barnmeen, near Rathfriland in Co Down, several wonderful years in Belgium and offer than his religion. the world’s media for most of that day, health service, bank, where Francis Martin Campbell was born the US,” said Campbell. “The city opened Campbell then had to ‘switchh roles’roles’ andand shops and radio in 1970. up many opportunities for me and in His modesty, charm and breadth of host a diplomatic dinner later thatthat evening, station,station, which 1997 I joined the fast stream of the Civil experience at the highest political levels once the McCanns had left. transmitstransmits inin Now at 38, he is one of the youngest Service and the FCO.” made him well suited to life in Rome. But 34 languageslanguages UK ambassadors and the first Roman what exactly does the British Ambassador How much longer can Franciss expect throughoutthroughout Catholic to hold the Vatican posting For the next few years, Campbell’s to the Holy See do? to remain in Rome, a posting which thethe world,world, since the Reformation.