i Avenue The magazine for alumni and friends of the University of Glasgow Issue 49 January 2011 In the mix – creative collaborations From art historians to nano-engineers, our academics are mixing skills to create masterpieces in research Plus The Gilbert Scott building fundraising campaign Young Alumnus of the Year 2010 Glasgow’s global vision ii University of Glasgow www.glasgow.ac.uk • In the top 1% of the world’s universities, according to the QS World University Rankings 2010. • In the UK’s top 10 earners for research, and supporting the pursuit of discoveries that can change people’s lives for the better, whether that’s finding a way to detect malaria in minutes, or contributing to the biggest particle physics experiment in the world: the Large Hadron Collider. • Creating an international community by welcoming students from more than 100 countries across the globe. • Providing an experience that students love – the 2010 International Student Barometer ranks Glasgow 3rd in the UK and best in Scotland for student satisfaction, and the National Student Survey 2010 reports satisfaction levels of 90% among final-year students. 1 Though we may not always be able to predict what lies ahead, our vision is clear. The University’s new strategic plan sets out our aims and ambitions for the coming years. Welcome Contents Welcome to the latest edition of Avenue, our twice-yearly magazine for alumni and friends News 2 of the University. Recent activities and achievements There have been many interesting developments in recent months at Glasgow. In August, we In the mix 8 successfully moved from a faculty to a college structure. You can find out which college your Creative collaborations in research previous faculty now belongs to in our news story on page 4. at Glasgow Building on strong foundations 11 One of the benefits of restructuring for the University is the potential it offers our academics for The Gilbert Scott building cross-subject working. Many of our researchers have already been exploring the possibilities fundraising campaign of the 1870s and you can read about some of our current interdisciplinary research projects in our cover story In the mix – creative collaborations in research at Glasgow on page 8. Glasgow – a global vision 14 The University’s new strategic plan The University’s Gilbert Scott building is a symbolic beacon of the first-class education we Young Alumnus of the Year 17 offer. Building on strong foundations (page 11) looks back at the fundraising campaign of the Patrick Gunning is this year’s winner 1870s that helped ensure this iconic building was completed, despite difficult financial times. Now, as then, our alumni play a pivotal role in the University’s success, and its future. Wise words 18 An appreciation of Jimmy Reid Though we may not always be able to predict what lies ahead, our vision is clear. Our feature and Edwin Morgan Glasgow – a global vision on page 14 highlights the University’s new strategic plan, which sets Alumni news 20 out our aims and ambitions for the coming years. Here you can read about the three key areas Clubs, reunions and personal news of importance that shape our strategy – excelling in research, extending international reach and, of course, an excellent student experience. Report to the General Council 26 Minutes from the Half-Yearly Meeting Two former members of the Glasgow community, and great influences on the student of the General Council, including the experience, sadly passed away in August. Jimmy Reid, Rector, and Edwin Morgan, Emeritus Principal’s report Professor of English, captured the hearts and minds of our students with their enlightened way Exhibitions and events 29 with language. In Wise words on page 18, we celebrate the lives of these inspiring individuals What’s on at the Hunterian Museum and appreciate how lucky we are that they chose to share their wisdom on our campus. Looking ahead, Avenue will celebrate its 50th edition next year. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this issue – your interest in staying connected with the University is as important to us today as it’s always been. Half-Yearly Meeting of the General Council Saturday, 15 January 2011 Alumni are invited to join the Chancellor and Principal at the General Council Half-Yearly Meeting in the Senate Room at 10.30am on Saturday, 15 January 2011. Professor Anton Muscatelli Read the report of the last meeting on Principal and Vice-Chancellor pages 26–27. How to contact Avenue Editorial Strategy Committee: Giving to Glasgow: Development & Alumni Office, Produced by: Corporate Communications, Executive Editor: Susan Stewart 2 The Square. Tel: +44 (0)141 330 4951 University of Glasgow. Email: [email protected] Production Editor: Photography by the University Photographic Unit. Sarah Lincoln Changes of address and obituaries: Additional photography provided by Paul Hampton, Development & Alumni Office, 2 The Square Shutterstock, Development & Alumni Office, Hunterian Cathy Bell, Alan Macfarlane, Emily Howie. Tel: +44 (0)141 330 7146 Email: [email protected] Museum & Art Gallery, Archive Services. Contact details are listed. All addresses are Acknowledgement: Collected Poems, Edwin Morgan, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ. Letters to the Editor: Carcanet Press, 1990 Corporate Communications, 1 The Square Alumni news: Tel: +44 (0)141 330 4919 Email: [email protected] Printed by PCP Ltd on 50% recycled paper. Development & Alumni Office, 2 The Square Tel: +44 (0)141 330 4951 Email: [email protected] © University of Glasgow 2011. 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 Editorial Strategy Committee. 2 News Satisfaction guaranteed Students have, once again, reaffirmed Glasgow’s position as one of the top universities to study at in the UK in terms of student satisfaction, according to the results of the National Student Survey 2010. The results, taken from a survey completed by final-year students from across the UK, reveal that 90% of people studying at Glasgow are satisfied with their degree programme, which puts Glasgow sixth in the UK, well above the national average of 82%. Students voted Glasgow as offering the best programme in the UK in 10 out of 43 selected subject areas, underlining the fact that Glasgow continues to offer its students a first-class learning experience. The results were welcomed by Principal World first in-human stem cell trial begins Anton Muscatelli, who said: ‘The feedback from our students is incredibly important to in Glasgow us and this is a great vote of confidence in the first-class staff we have at the University.’ The first patient has been treated with stem cell therapy in a ground-breaking UK clinical trial led by the University. Students who come to study at Glasgow from abroad are also highly The PISCES study, Pilot Investigation of to establish the safety and feasibility of stem satisfied according to the summer 2010 Stem Cells in Stroke, is the world’s first fully cell implantation, which will require careful International Student Barometer (ISB). The regulated clinical trial of a neural stem cell follow-up of the patients who take part. University hit a 91.6% satisfaction rating – therapy for disabled stroke patients. higher than the UK average of 86.9%. ‘We hope that in future it will lead on to larger The patient underwent the successful surgical studies to determine the effects of stem cells The largest survey of its kind, this procedure at Glasgow’s Southern General on the disabilities that result from stroke.’ year’s ISB compared Glasgow against Hospital in November, and will be monitored 59 international universities, 44 UK closely for two years, with longer term follow- The trial, being carried out with ReNeuron institutions, 10 Russell Group universities, up procedures in place thereafter. Group plc, uses expanded neural stem cells, and seven Scottish institutions. which are the basis of Reneuron’s ReN001 Professor Keith Muir, of the University’s stem cell therapy for stroke patients. Professor Andrea Nolan, Senior Vice- Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology and Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, said: Principal Investigator for the trial, said: ‘We The clinical trial received huge exposure ‘The high rankings reflect a commitment are pleased that the first patient in the PISCES through the media across the world. The to quality across the campus, which is trial has undergone surgery successfully. study was covered by, among others, Reuters, evidently appreciated by our international Stroke is a common and serious condition Bloomberg, Fox News and the Sydney students who rightly expect a first-class that leaves a large number of people with Morning Herald, as well as a number of outlets education and experience at Glasgow.’ significant disability. In this trial we are seeking in the Gulf Region, China and South America. Glasgow joins with US Ivy League In October the University signed a students 97 Nobel prize winners, the most of Memorandum of Understanding with New any university in the world. York’s Columbia University, a member of the prestigious US Ivy League, which will Professor David Hirsh, Columbia’s Executive encourage academics from both institutions to Vice President for Research, said: ‘Columbia work closely together in key areas of research. is pleased to formalise its collaborations with the University of Glasgow as we share several The official ceremony took place in New York common research interests. We believe the City during which Professor Anton Muscatelli, mutual cooperation will advance the scholarly Principal at Glasgow, and Professor Claude pursuits at both of the universities.’ Steele, Columbia University Provost, both signed the agreement. Other senior staff from both institutions have also welcomed the new partnership, which Columbia is one of the world’s most prestigious forms part of the University of Glasgow’s universities, its impressive alumni including four new internationalisation strategy (for more US presidents – including Barack Obama, 26 information see our feature Glasgow – a global other heads of state, and among its staff and vision on page 14).