Welcome
Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, welcomes you to the 2019 edition of Edit, in which we explore what the world needs now.
Welcome to the 2019 edition of the University of Edinburgh magazine, Edit.
We live in ever-changing and what can often seem turbulent times. Morphing political landscapes, social inequality, deliberate disinformation and rising global temperatures are just some of the threats to the harmony of our relationships with each other and the environment in which we live.
The time has come to pause and take stock of the situation, so we can determine how to make things better, not just for today but also for tomorrow. The time has come to find out what the world needs now. This edition of Edit does exactly that. It includes inspiring stories about how staff, students and alumni are engaging with topical issues and facing major challenges head on, and with a determination that instils a true sense of optimism about what lies ahead.
The time has come to pause and take stock of the situation, so we can determine how to make things better, not just for today but also for tomorrow.
Our opening interview with Pulitzer Prize-winning alumnus Andrew Marshall is a stirring reminder about the importance of truth-seeking journalism. Elsewhere, our features highlight how a multisector partnership is taking a compassionate approach to the wellbeing of homeless people, and how problem-solving synthetic biologists are promoting a circular economy. We also share a taboo-breaking opinion piece on the menopause, an open conversation on death and an essay encouraging more young scientists to unravel the mysteries of the universe.
It is true that, at this point in time, our planet and those who live on it have a growing list of essential needs. Reassuringly, as the 2019 edition of Edit reveals, we are finding more and more proactive, positive and people-focused individuals who are committed to responding to these needs. Together we could hold the key to opening up a brighter, better world.
Peter Mathieson
Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University