Alumni Services

July '18 bulletin

Our alumni-oriented round-up of news, events and opportunities for July 2018, updated throughout the month.

1. Welcome to new alumni

Graduations McEwan Hall
1. Summer graduations took place in early July

Our summer graduation ceremonies took place between 30 June and 10 July 2018 in McEwan Hall, with the University welcoming over 6,000 new graduates. There were several eminent honorary graduates too, including  acclaimed Japanese artist and Edinburgh College of Art Takahiro Iwasaki, master whisky blender and Edinburgh chemistry graduate Rachel Barrie, and Canadian politician Kirsty Duncan MP, who studied for her PhD at Edinburgh.

Find out who else received an honorary degree

2. Are you on Platform One?

Platform One members
2. Join us on Platform One

The University of Edinburgh has launched Platform One, a new online meeting place where our students, alumni, staff and volunteers can share information and support each other. There are already over 600 active members, and membership is open to all alumni.

Join Platform One

3. Statue for Winkle

Eric Winkle Brown statue at airport
3. Statue for renowned pilot and alumnus

Former pilots of Edinburgh University Air Squadron are behind a bid to raise funds of £100,000 to commemorate one of the world’s greatest pilots, Captain Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown, who studied German at the University and trained to fly at what was then RAF Turnhouse in the late 1930s. The first phase of the project to install a bronze statue of Winkle on the Plaza to the east entrance at Edinburgh Airport has now been completed and was unveiled by His Royal Highness The Duke of York on the 2 July. The life-size statue depicts him as a young pilot in 1930’s style flying gear striding towards his aircraft. 

EUAS Winkle Memorial

4. HYPED up

HypEd product design
4. The HYPED team are taking their designs to the States

Regular readers will know that we have followed the progress of the HYPED group of student engineers, who received support through alumni donations. Now the team is the UK’s sole representative in a prestigious engineering contest to help develop a futuristic form of transport. The students are heading to California for the final of the annual competition, which challenges participants to design and build a prototype travel pod for the Hyperloop.

Find out more

5. Happy birthday, NHS

NHS staff on the ward
5. Edinburgh Medical School and the NHS

As the NHS celebrates its 70th anniversary, Edinburgh Medical School has been highlighting its work to shape the future of healthcare in the UK and beyond. It is also taking this opportunity to reflect on key achievements that have improved patient care.

Read the School's article

6. Life on Earth in the dark for much of history

A view of the Earth from space with a flare of sunlight appearing on the horizon.
6. Research looks at the very dark ages of Earth

Our highlight of this month's research news comes from the School of Physics Astronomy. Their study suggests that tiny creatures that lived in the dark – either underground or below the sea floor – were the dominant life forms on Earth for much of the planet’s history.

Who were these tiny creatures?

7. Alumna's glassware showcase

Siobhan Healy
7. Siobhan is set for the Arts Festival. Image courtesy of Siobhan Healy

Glass sculptures decorated with diamond dust, images of rare wildlife species and handwritten words from writer Alasdair Gray feature in this year’s Edinburgh Art Festival. Artist Siobhan Healy’s eclectic exhibition is the result of research into endangered plants and animals during her year-long residency at Edinburgh College of Art. Cabinets full of more than 30 intricate glass artworks will be on display at the Edinburgh College of Art Fire Station from 26 July until 26 August.

Find out more

8. Historian receives lifetime achievement award

Sir Tom Devine receives his award from Nick Thomas-Symonds, MP alongside Catherine Devine
8. Sir Tom Devine receives his award from Nick Thomas-Symonds, MP alongside Catherine Devine

Scotland’s pre-eminent historian Sir Tom Devine has received a lifetime achievement award at the House of Commons. Sir Tom, Professor Emeritus at the University of Edinburgh, was honoured by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Archives and History. He is the first Scottish historian to win the group’s lifetime achievement award, now in its eighth year.

Find out more

9. Graduating students receive inaugural Bookmarks Prize

Alice Eastwood's artwork
9. Artwork by Alice Eastwood; Image: Lucy Roscoe

Four graduating students have received an inaugural award for innovative use of the book form. The Bookmarks Prize was awarded to selected students for work shown at this year’s Degree Show. The prize is open to all students across Art and Design at Edinburgh College of Art (ECA).

Find out who received the prize

10. Seattle alumni attend Highland Games

Seattle Alumni 2018
10. A Scottish day out for Seattle alumni

Three members of the University's new Seatlle Alumni Club recently attended the Skagit Valley Highland Games in Mount Vernon, Washington. Charlie and the two Sarahs all graduated with an MSc in 2013.

The Seattle Club's Facebook page

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