TheAvenue magazine for alumni and friends of the University of Glasgow Issue 64 Spring 2018 SPORTS CLUBS STUDENT SOCIETIES FLATMATES RESEARCH BLOGS ALUMNI GROUPS In this issue, we’re celebrating our UofG communities ii 1 In this issue Our new Research Hub will build a community of staff, research students and industries at the heart of our campus. Our vision is to create a free-thinking and collaborative environment for researchers across all four colleges to come together to address some of the world’s biggest challenges. glasgow.ac.uk/connect/supportus/research FRIENDSHIP & FELLOWSHIP 2 Building a research community CAMPUS COMMUNITIES 4 Giving students a sense of belonging STAYING CONNECTED 8 Hearing from alumni groups around the world ALUMNI NEWS 10 Events, reunions and updates OBITUARY LIST 17 Deaths of members of the General Council GENERAL COUNCIL 18 A report to the General Council WHAT'S ON AT THE UNIVERSITY 21 Collections, exhibitions and events KEEP IN TOUCH All addresses are Development & Alumni, 2 The Square, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ. Deadline for content: 21 September 2018 Alumni news, events, reunion notices and reports T: +44 (0)141 330 4951 E: [email protected] Changes of address and obituaries T: +44 (0)141 330 7146 E: [email protected] Letters to the Editor E: [email protected] Editorial Board: Siobhán Convery, Michelle Crane, Ailie Ferrari, Amber Higgins, Emily Howie, Gerry Law, John Marsh, Rachel Sandison, Fran Shepherd, Sarah Spence Editor: Susan Howie Alumni section editor: Jennifer Baird Online editor: Lynne Maclagan Art director and designer: Darren Jewell-Irons Produced and designed by External Relations, University of Glasgow. Photography by the University Photographic Unit. Additional photography: Alan M Wilson (Cheetah Vet) – BBC Stuart Dunn, CASE, The Hunterian, Reuben Paris, Shutterstock.com, Eivind Yggeseth, University Archives. Printed by J Thomson. ISSN 0950-7167 Views expressed are not necessarily those of the University or the editors. All rights reserved. Nothing may be reproduced without written permission from the Editor. © University of Glasgow April 2018 The University of Glasgow charity number SC004401 An artist’s impression of the planned Research Hub – a cornerstone project of our ambitious campus development. 2 3 DR ELIZABETH ADAMS TAKES A GROUP OF STUDENTS FOR A LUNCHTIME WALK IN KELVINGROVE PARK FRIENDSHIP & FELLOWSHIPBY SARAH SPENCE The world of postgraduate research can be a solitary one. When I started my PhD last October, the first morning. These micro-communities come it’s about, is people saying they come back It’s true. I’ve recently set up a discussion thing I did was set up my home office. A new in all shapes and sizes, just like researchers feeling more motivated.” group in my specialism, the medical But becoming part of a community of your peers can help lamp, a comfy chair, even a houseplant. I was themselves. humanities, with two other students. It brings eager to work from home: no more lugging Students themselves are key in shaping these together researchers with shared interests ensure success. PhD student Sarah Spence reflects on her my laptop and books to classes. But as the Elizabeth’s team are behind a number of communities. The PGR Blog – uofgpgrblog. from different disciplines who don’t usually semester wore on, I felt disconnected from my initiatives to get postgraduate researchers com – is written for students by students. This get to meet each other. We’re eager for peer first year as part of this community. fellow researchers. It was a strange feeling, together. There’s something for everyone: online community offers professional advice mentoring, a chance to debate ideas without one I’d never had before: professional lunchtime walks, a gardening group, crafting on everything from data management to worrying about impressing supervisors, and loneliness. events and competitions. networking, alongside personal perspectives networking opportunities with like-minded and competitions. people. Reaching out to my colleagues That’s why Dr Elizabeth Adams’ work is so These events attract students from across has been the best cure for my professional important. She’s the University’s Researcher the University. Meeting people from different Leading the way loneliness. Development Manager, working with PhD research backgrounds is inspiring, says Elizabeth believes that the best results come students to organise training and build a Elizabeth. “You see all the other exciting when researchers themselves lead the way. Glasgow’s postgraduate communities community. Even though many researchers research that goes on, but you also see the “I don’t really like that idea of forcibly creating continue to thrive. Elizabeth’s excited that work independently, community is the key similarities and differences between other a community. I think you need to give people the forthcoming Research Hub will provide to success, whether through networking, people’s PhDs, and it makes you reflect back the opportunity to explore, and let them come more training, office and social spaces for collaboration or reputation in the field. on your own.” up with their own community.” The University’s researchers to collaborate. Meanwhile I’m role is supporting these ideas, whether happy to leave my home office behind a few All shapes and sizes Workshops provide formal training but through funding, offering advice or providing days a week to reconnect with my fellow What exactly is a research community? When chatting during breaks can be just as meeting spaces. researchers and the communities we share. I ask Elizabeth she says it’s not simply one big productive. Elizabeth says the biggest help group across the whole University. We each can simply be “realising you’re not the only Taking the lead can be daunting. But success • Interested in joining our research join lots of smaller communities for different one finding it a struggle”, whether that’s after the PhD depends on skills built alongside community? Find out about postgraduate purposes. You might join a writing boot camp dealing with trouble sleeping or frustrating lab the thesis, like organising events and working research opportunities at glasgow. to push through tough deadlines, form a public results. Reconnecting with others can also be with others. Being proactive in the community ac.uk/research/opportunities. engagement group with colleagues in your refreshing. “The number one bit of feedback is empowering, says Elizabeth. “You get out of subject area, or pop along to a weekly coffee we get from any workshop, regardless of what it as much as you put in.” 4 5 CAMPUS TEAM TALK COMMUNITIES BY LYNNE MACLAGAN & WILLIAM LIM It’s about belonging. EMELIE ADENLOF, TEDx PROJECT MANAGER (PICTURED SECOND FROM LEFT, FIRST ROW) CLUBBING TOGETHER Xavier loves the interdisciplinary nature of TEDx. Arriving on campus for the first time can be daunting, Geography student Rowan Sinclair is completely overwhelmed at university. captain of the high-performing women’s They make the time for it. They give everything but awaiting each Fresher is the opportunity for new hockey club. With 146 players across five they’ve got. friendships, new experiences and a new community. teams, that’s no easy task. What’s it like being team captain? It’s Avenue intern William Lim, now a fourth-year student, How did it all begin for you? I didn’t actually definitely been a learning curve – I think recalls where he first found his campus community. play at the University in my first semester, I especially because the club numbers are played for another club. I swapped and came so big now. I’m always checking to see if into the team halfway through the season. people are enjoying themselves and making Everyone was really welcoming and made me sure everyone’s okay. From being one of the feel part of the team straight away, especially ones having the good time to making sure To me community means belonging and I found this in the the girls in my year. I think that’s a massive everyone else is having a good time, that’s Viking Society. It’s easy to get along with those who enjoy feature of the club – we try to be as welcoming been the biggest change. as possible. the same history and activities as you. From discussing old What does community mean to you? It’s battlefield tactics to trying them out on the re-enactment Tell us about the club. The club’s been a about being there for each other. University real support network for me. There is a mix stress and hockey training can be a bit field, I always felt that I belonged in the Viking Society. It of older and younger members, and we look much sometimes. The main thing is having a seems strange to think that sharpening an axe could turn into after each other. We organise team dinners, support network – someone is always at the make sure each other gets to the bus on time end of the phone or in your flat. We’ve a really You’ve probably heard of TED, an organisation devoted to sharing friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime. But it’s not just and things like that. We’re just a big group of strong sense of friendship within the club. ideas through short, powerful talks, and perhaps you’ve attended the Viking Society that creates a tight-knit student community. friends. a locally run TEDx event. Project Manager Emelie Adenlof and Greatest achievement? We never turn Assistant Coordinator Xavier Weiss tell us what brings the TEDx I’ll let my fellow students tell you more. How has the team inspired you? There anyone away. We had 100 Freshers come to University of Glasgow community together.