Alumni Services

Things to share - 26 August 2020

Keeping alumni up-to-date with news, events and opportunities.

1. Darwin mentor Charles Lyell’s archives reunited

Fascinating writings of an influential scientist who shaped Charles Darwin’s thinking have become part of Edinburgh’s collections. A rich assortment of letters, books, manuscripts, maps and sketches by Scottish geologist Sir Charles Lyell, have been reassembled at the University Library’s Centre for Research Collections, with the goal of making the collection more accessible to the public.

New Lyell archive joins the collection

2. Alumna longlisted for inaugural Women’s Prize for Playwriting

Just one year on from graduating in Playwriting, Amy Rhianne Milton has been longlisted for the inaugural Women’s Prize for Playwriting and had a play commissioned by the Traverse Theatre. 'Matterhorn' runs online from 27 August to 9 September.

Playwright Amy Rhianne Milton

3. Dog helped by hi-tech cancer treatment

A much-loved pet has been successfully treated for aggressive cancer thanks to a high-tech therapy technique used for the first time in the UK. Ralph, a five-year-old Gordon Setter, is responding well to state-of-the-art radiotherapy for a tumour in his nose. Vets used a specialised radiation beam sculpted into the exact shape of the tumour to treat the family dog.

Hi-tech cancer treatment for family dog

4.  Fund for Covid-19 projects passes £1 million mark

The Covid-19 Partnerships Fund was launched in May to bolster efforts by the University’s community as they respond to the pandemic.  The funds have been donated by University of Edinburgh alumni, supporters and staff for projects which address the pandemic. One of the recipients of the fund is a project to identify new treatments for Covid-19 by repurposing existing drugs.

Update on the Covid-19 Partnerships Fund

5. Experts review ECA graduating students' work

As part of its summer 2020 celebration of graduating students’ work, Edinburgh College of Art has commissioned articles from curators, art historians and critics.

Art historian and curator Alice Strang reviews the work of BA (Hons) Sculpture grad Jess Hume

Artist and curator Peter Amoore reviews the work of three 2020 graduates: Tayo Adekunle, Molly Kent and Eleanor Beale

6. Predictive Analytics using Python - flexible online course

Do you want to build your career as a data scientist, business analyst, management consultant or systems designer? The Predictive Analytics using Python MicroMasters online course offers postgraduate level training with the flexibility of online learning. Learn how to build and evaluate machine learning models using case studies and enhance your Python coding skills. Understand how to apply predictive models in real-world business scenarios.

This online course begins on 15 September 2020. Enroll for free or pay for assessments and the opportunity to earn university credits.

Predictive Analytics using Python MicroMasters (external link)