7873-graduate 2/10/07 12:16 Page 1 Autumn 07 THE Everest lifesavers FULL STORY INSIDE ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE 0606 ARLENE FOSTER AND BARRY McELDUFF HAPPY BIRTHDAY QUEEN’S! 1010 QUEEN’S PIONEERS RESEARCH TO FIGHT AIDS 2424 CLASS OF 2007 4444 THE MAGAZINE FOR GRADUATES AND FRIENDS OF QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY BELFAST THE MAGAZINE FOR GRADUATES 7873-graduate 2/10/07 12:16 Page 2 THE GRADUATE P3 Message from the Editor With Queen’s Centenary year rapidly approaching in 2008, I am delighted to welcome you to the new-look, Editors: renamed alumni magazine. The Graduate embraces a Gerry Power & Kevin Mulhern fresher and much livelier style echoing the University’s confidence as it continues to deliver a world-class Managing editor: experience. Tracey McKinney Your alumni publication once again focuses on graduate Designer: news and is brimming with stories on the latest Darragh Neely developments at Queen’s. You can read about the important roles of Queen’s graduates in the new local Contributors: Assembly (p6); how one former student has helped Shauna Hughes steer Northern Ireland’s football team to the top of Jacqui McCormick Europe (p40), and the latest on online dating (p34)! Eugene McCusker There are also articles on Queen’s input into David Maxwell groundbreaking laser research for cancer treatment Kerri Warnock (p20); insight into how the University has linked up with charity WAVE to develop the first Diploma in Trauma Editorial office: Studies in Northern Ireland (p26), and details of Queen’s Development and Alumni Relations Office contribution to a major new study of divided world Queen’s University cities (p30). Belfast BT7 1NN And if you are wondering what has happened to your Northern Ireland former classmates since you graduated, there’s an expanded Class Notes section crammed with all the Tel: +44 (0)28 9097 5322 latest news. Fax: +44 (0)28 9097 5188 [email protected] Alumni feedback on this inaugural issue of The www.qub.ac.uk/alumni Graduate would, as always, be most welcome to - [email protected], or in writing to the address given. Cover: Graduates of the Year, Dr Nigel Hart and Dr Roger McMorrow (see p32) And remember, you can keep up-to-date with all the latest graduate news from Queen’s by visiting the © Development and Alumni Relations Office website – www.qub.ac.uk/alumni. The Graduate is a magazine for alumni and Autumn 07 I look forward to hearing friends of Queen’s University Belfast. from you. THE Extracts from The Graduate should not be Gerry Power published without the approval of the Editors. Editor Everest lifesavers Any views expressed by the contributors are FULL STORY INSIDE not necessarily those of the University or the editorial team. The University does not take responsibility for the advertisements within this publication. Printers: Corporate Document Services ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE 06 ARLENE FOSTER AND BARRY McELDUFF HAPPY BIRTHDAY QUEEN’S! 10 QUEEN’S PIONEERS RESEARCH TO FIGHT AIDS 24 CLASS OF 2007 44 THE MAGAZINE FOR GRADUATES AND FRIENDS OF QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY BELFAST THE MAGAZINE FOR GRADUATES Shelagh Rosemary Rainey, BA English & Latin 1967, has drawn to our attention a number of factual inaccuracies in the article ‘A Life Fulfilled’ (p39, Queen’s today, 2007). Rosemary developed ME in 1991 and not at Queen’s as stated. The spelling of her forename (Shelagh) was also incorrect. The Editorial team have apologised privately and now do so publicly for the errors. 7873-graduate 2/10/07 12:16 Page 4 THE GRADUATE P5 Contents COVER STORY Graduate and Student of the Year 2007 32 Dr Nigel Hart and Dr Roger McMorrow discuss their Everest research mission and rescue operation. Student of the Year, Neo discusses his pride at winning this year’s Award. FEATURES The Art of the Possible 6 The Graduate meets Arlene Foster and Barry McElduff, two former Queen’s students who are reunited in the corridors of power. Happy Birthday Queen’s! 10 How Queen’s plans to celebrate 100 years as a leading university. The New Dating Game 34 The Graduate talks to Dr Monica Whitty about her innovative research into online dating. Sea of Green 40 Queen’s graduate and Head of Marketing and Communications at the IFA, Geoff Wilson discusses Northern Ireland’s recent rise in football fortunes. GRADUATES Class Notes 12 Notice of Annual Meeting of Convocation 38 Golden Jubilee 2008 42 Queen’s Graduates’ Association 43 Celebrating the Class of 2007 44 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES High-powered laser research 20 Profile - Doctor David Linton 21 Aeronautics Conference puts Queen’s on international stage 22 New David Bates Building 23 FACULTY OF MEDICINE Queen’s helps in fight against AIDS 24 Group breathes new life into Cystic Fibrosis Research 25 Profile - Professor Jennifer Ames 25 Peake Practice 26 FACULTY OF ARTS, HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES The Mitchell Symposium 28 Profile - Professor Richard English 29 Divided Cities 30 Calling all Graduates 31 QUEEN’S SPORT Corporate health promotes corporate wealth 36 The Campaign for Queen’s races on 37 MISCELLANEA Sudoku, Quiz and Teaser 46 7873-graduate 2/10/07 12:16 Page 6 P6 THE GRADUATE THE GRADUATE P7 FEATURE BARRY MCELDUFF ARLENE FOSTER Studied: Celtic Studies and Political Science Studied: Law Born 1966 Born 1970 4th of 5 children (2 brothers, 2 sisters) 3rd of 4 children (2 sisters, 1 brother) Married with three children - Aged 11, 8 and 7 Married with three children - Aged 7, 5 and 1 The Art of the Possible St Colmcille’s Primary School Aghadrumsee Primary - Rosslea and Moat Primary - Lisnaskea Omagh Christian Brothers School Collegiate Grammar School for Girls - Enniskillen As the Assembly starts the first full term since restoration last spring, David Maxwell Main hobby: Passionate about Gaelic Main hobby: Reading historical books and looking after children! speaks to two former Queen’s students who are reunited in the corridors of power. University life prepares you for many great passion at Queen’s, Gaelic In her first year, Arlene found comfort lived with three other girls on things, but few students at Queen’s football: “One of the things I liked in making regular visits to her aunt Lower Windsor Avenue and in the 1980s could have imagined who lived in Dunmurry: “I used to go our house became known running the country one day. to her quite a lot, so it wasn’t really as ‘Windsor Castle’!” Northern Ireland, beleaguered by “I remember at until second year that I fully settled conflict, had become used to being into Queen’s life and moved in with When graduation ruled at arms-length. Yet two Queen’s being girls who studied Law with me.” day came for Barry students, who came to Queen’s in and Arlene, they that decade, have joined the many surrounded by were both faced other University alumni who now “I think some of with the daunting walk the corridors of power in some of Ireland’s prospect of what Stormont. my most to do next. For best Gaelic and Barry, there was Barry McElduff came to Queen’s in meaningful little doubt in his 1984 to take up a degree in Celtic rugby players and mind about what Studies and Political Science. He was friendships have he wanted to do. born in Carrickmore, County Tyrone, I counted that a His passion for the and his move to Belfast was his first come from my Republican cause time living away from home. From as huge privilege” was undiminished young as he can remember Barry was and he immediately time at Queen’s” started volunteering with Sinn interested in politics, and for him the BARRY McELDUFF political situation at that time had a Féin: big impact on his University ARLENE FOSTER experience: “I was already a member of most was playing Gaelic football for Sinn Féin, but I made “In all honesty, my life then was the Freshers’ team. I was privileged Unlike Barry McElduff, Arlene the offer as soon as trying to secure a degree to play alongside the likes of Henry embraced student politics, I had completed qualification and at the same Downey, who went on to lift the immediately joining the Queen’s my degree to time being a bit of a political Sam Maguire Cup for Derry. I Unionist Association: “I took a very work full-time in player. Even at that young age, remember at Queen’s PEC being active interest in it (the Queen’s a voluntary I was distracted by political surrounded by some of Ireland’s best Unionist Association) and student capacity and developments and by the Gaelic and rugby players and I politics as well. I would have income didn’t conflict all around me. And counted that a huge privilege.” represented the Law Faculty in come into it,” these were very politically- Student Council and stood for he explained. charged times - just after the Arlene Foster arrived at the election. I suppose student politics hunger strikes,” he recalled. University in 1989 from Fermanagh. was my main hobby outside of Law,” It was not her original intention to she added. Barry was not heavily study Law, but her grades made this involved in student option possible and she decided to Politics outside the University politics at the go for it. For Arlene, it was quite a inevitably found their way inside University, but shock to move to the ‘big city’, and during Arlene’s time at Queen’s, but he did find in her first year she lived in the halls overall, she says she looks back on her an outlet of residence at Hamilton Hall: “Paddy time with fondness: “I think some of for his Kielty was in those halls at the same my most meaningful friendships have other time,” she revealed with some pride.