WINTER 2010 THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE INCLUDING BILLET & GENERAL COUNCIL PAPERS Absolute Bedlam! An Edinburgh icon celebrates 30 years ALSO INSIDE Helping students follow their dreams The Talbot Rice Gallery unveiled An alumnus for life Your links with Edinburgh don’t end when you leave the University – you’re an Edinburgh alumnus for life – so stay in touch and reap the benefits! The Alumni Benefits Card What will it do for you? Have you got your Alumni Benefits • Receive 15% off hire of University • Enjoy free access to the University’s Card yet? All alumni are eligible for venues, accommodation and catering many libraries and their printed the card, which allows discounted for weddings, parties, meetings and, collections – as well as 50% off access to many of the University’s of course, reunions! borrowing rights. outstanding facilities, and entitles • Enjoy discounted membership at • Receive a 20% discount on all you to a new range of discounts the University’s Centre for Sports Edinburgh University Press books. with partner organisations worldwide. and Exercise – one of the Scotsman’s • Receive a 10% discount at Blackwell’s Sign up at www.ed.ac.uk/alumni. top five gyms in Scotland – which bookshop across the UK and online. offers you a wealth of fitness classes, • Get discounted rates with our partners training, gym support, climbing in the hotel and leisure industry all over facilities, a circuit gym, playing fields, the world. We regularly add to our list of an outdoor activity centre on Loch Tay partners, so visit www.ed.ac.uk/alumni and much more! for the latest offers. Log on to www.ed.ac.uk/alumni and discover the lifelong advantages of being a University of Edinburgh alumnus! Contents Foreword As another busy year unfolds, we celebrate a number of new beginnings around the University. The student-run Bedlam Theatre celebrates 30 years (page 12), the Talbot Rice Gallery unveils its plans for the coming year (page 16) and the Main Library reveals its exciting transformation (page 28). 14 In this edition we also meet the students who are following their dreams thanks to the University’s bursary and scholarships schemes (page 14), and we showcase a selection of the University’s achievements over the past academic year in ‘Review of the Year’ (page 18). 12 28 04 For a more detailed account, visit www.ed.ac.uk/annualreview/. Features With best wishes for the New Year. Young P Dawkins III 12 Absolute Bedlam! Vice-Principal, Development Edinburgh’s iconic Bedlam Voting Papers for the election of the Members of the Theatre marks a milestone General Council’s Business Committee are enclosed. 14 A Gift for Life Published by Communications and Marketing How financial support The University of Edinburgh, Floor C, Forrest Hill is changing futures Building, 5 Forrest Hill, Edinburgh EH1 2QL Contact [email protected] 16 When Art meets Academia Design White Light Media 0131 555 6494 A revamped Talbot Rice Printing J Thomson Colour Printers Gallery unveils its new look Advertising enquiries Landmark Publishing Services 020 7520 9474 18 Review of the Year 2008/09 Cover photograph A snapshot of the past academic year Michael Whitham in Ella Hickson’s Eight No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of the publishers. Edit is printed on environmentally friendly, Forestry Stewardship Council-accredited paper. Edit, the University of Edinburgh’s magazine, is published twice a year. The views expressed in its columns are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent those Regulars of the University. The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body registered 04 University News in Scotland, with registration number SC005336. ON THE MOVE? If you have changed address 20 Alumni Network please let us know. Contact Development & Alumni on +44 (0)131 650 2240 or email [email protected]. 26 My Edinburgh 28 Then & Now 30 Talbot Rice Gallery 31 Billet This publication is available in alternative formats on request. 4 The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine University News Honours for Desmond Edinburgh Global website proves an Tutu and Annie Lennox international hit The Most Reverend Desmond Edinburgh Global, an online platform for accessing the University’s wealth of Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of international expertise, has proved a Cape Town, and singer Annie success since its launch in mid 2009. Lennox have received honorary The website is the public face of the degrees from the University. University’s new Internationalisation Strategy, which builds on Edinburgh’s Archbishop Tutu, the South African cleric strong worldwide reputation. and activist who rose to prominence in the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid, Edinburgh Global offers the latest was awarded an Honorary Degree of The Most Reverend Desmond Tutu news on the University’s Doctor of Divinity. internationally important discoveries, its international student body and its The graduation ceremony took place in contribution to international events. the Playfair Library at Old College. The website also helps University Archbishop Tutu was welcomed to staff, students and visitors find out Old College by Principal Professor about Edinburgh’s innovative Sir Timothy O’Shea, who conferred research work and influential the degree. partnerships. In his acceptance speech, Archbishop The Internationalisation Strategy Tutu spoke of the historic links between lists key international aspirations, Africa and the University: “Some of our outcomes and actions for Edinburgh first black physicians were people who Annie Lennox in the coming years. The University had trained here and there is a long will report annually on its progress tradition that links this university with towards these goals. our part of the world.” The star, whose record sales exceed 80 million as a solo performer and with University Principal, Professor Sir In a separate ceremony, Annie Lennox, Eurythmics and The Tourists, said: “It’s Timothy O’Shea, said: “We operate the acclaimed singer/songwriter and an incredible honour and privilege to be on an international stage and this human rights campaigner, received the acknowledged in this way.” must be reflected in all areas of Honorary Degree of Doctor honoris University life; from our students and For a full list of honorary graduates from causa. She also gave her backing to a staff, to our collaborations, and in the 2008/09, visit www.ed.ac.uk/about/ University-led study urging more support important intellectual and societal people/honorary-degrees/2008-09. for children in Scotland living with HIV. contributions we make.” MAIN LIBRARY TRANSFORMED The University’s Main Library marked a Square building is scheduled to finish milestone in late 2009 as bestselling in 2012. The project preserves Sir Basil crime writer Ian Rankin officially Spence’s iconic 1960s design while unveiled three floors of the Grade introducing contemporary features. A-listed building. A £60 million •Turn to Then & Now (page 28) to see redevelopment of the iconic George how the Main Library has transformed. www.ed.ac.uk/about/edinburgh-global Sandy Young/Scottishphotographer.com; Douglas Robertson; School of Chemistry Sandy Young/Scottishphotographer.com; The University of Edinburgh Edit Magazine 5 For all the latest University news, visit www.ed.ac.uk/news Royal honours Record-breaking year for for staff members investment in research Two members of University staff have been recognised in Her Majesty the The University of Edinburgh has in the latest financial year Queen’s 2009 Birthday Honours List. earned record levels of investment in its pioneering work. Professor Peter Grant, Regius Professor of Engineering, was New figures show that the University was Despite the difficult economic climate, awarded an OBE for services to awarded £249 million to fund its research the University also increased its income science, and Professor Ian Ralston, in 2008/09, 17 per cent more than the from consultancy work to a record £4.5 Professor of Later European £212 million received in 2007/08. million, up from £3.6 million in 2007/08. Prehistory, was awarded an OBE for services to Archaeology in Scotland. The investment – won in competition with Derek Waddell, CEO of Edinburgh other universities and research centres Research and Innovation, the University’s – supports work across the disciplines of research and commercialisation office, medicine, veterinary medicine, science, said: “These record figures are testament Carbon-cutting engineering and the humanities. to the strength and depth of the University’s research excellence.” The awards are made from a variety of initiative a priority sources, including government, industry, commerce and charities. Of the 1,064 The University has signed up to a awards, 41 were for more than £1 million. nationwide drive to reduce carbon emissions by 10 per cent in 2010. The University also filed a record 89 patents to protect new inventions by Edinburgh joins a wide range of research staff, and a total of 38 licence organisations, businesses and agreements to allow commercial use of individuals from around the UK in technologies developed on campus. committing to the 10:10 initiative launched in London. University staff and students created a total of 26 new companies, the highest Joining the initiative is just one number formed in a single year by a element of the University’s efforts to Investment in research hit record levels Scottish university. advance social responsibility and sustainability. The University’s Sustainability and Environmental Advisory Group has Edinburgh ranked in world top 20 embarked on drafting a Social Responsibility and Sustainability The University of Edinburgh has been higher education, and helps position Strategy outlining plans in this area listed in the top 20 universities in the Scotland as a leading player in the new up until 2020. world. global knowledge economy.” The Group is convened by The Times Higher Education – QS World American universities dominate the top Vice-Principal Professor Mary Rankings 2009 place Edinburgh 20th, 20, with Harvard University retaining the Bownes, who will also be taking a three places higher than the 2008 top spot.