Research into key eye diseases gets a £5,000 funding boost thanks to Marathon Oil UK and offshore workers on one of its three platforms.

Dr Iain Fraser, Chairman of Saving Sight in Grampian, said: “It is tremendous that Marathon Oil UK is giving us this donation. The money will go towards funds we are raising to buy a new flow cytometer which is an absolutely brilliant piece of equipment in the University’s eye lab which is headed up by Professor John Forrester who is a world leader in uveitis research.

 ”This piece of outstanding equipment is essential in clinical research including providing rapid analysis of blood samples and advising on which type of treatment is relevant for patients with uveitis, a condition where speed is of the essence if sight is to be saved.”

Eye researchers at the University are investigating a range of conditions including uveitis, diabetes, macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and corneal grafts.

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5 March, Hong Kong – The Aberdeen University Hong Kong Association are organising a Scottish Evening. Click here for more info

 

12 March, Aberdeen – The AGA are holding their annual Granite City Ball. Click here for more info

12 March, Fochabers – Join us for family fun at the  Yummy Food Lab at Baxters Highland village. Click here for more info

7 April, Edinburgh - There will be an informal event for alumni living in the Central belt on 7 April. Details are still to be finalised but please save this date in your diary.

20 May, Abuja - Join representatives from the University of Aberdeen while they are in the area. Details are still to be finalised but please save this date in your diary.

 

     

 

 
  Photograph: Launch event of our city series of cafe scientifique, launched by University of Aberdeen Principal Professor Ian Diamond.

We’re launching another exciting cafe science series during National Science and Engineering Week in March. Cafe Cosmos is an initiative of the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen College and TechFest-SetPoint and will reopen the Aberdeen College planetarium to the public for the first time is almost a decade.  Star shows delivered by TechFest-SetPoint’s cosmic dome team will be complimented by a guest speaker on a range of space science and astronomy related topics. The planetarium can hold 30 people and so this new series will be booking only, with places being offered on a first come basis. Events will be held monthly from March until June and details will be posted at www.abdn.ac.uk/science/cafescience over the next few weeks. 

This new series brings to six the number of community cafe programmes that have been set up by the University’s Public Engagement with Science unit. Dr Ken Skeldon, who leads the programmes will be presenting at the first international conference on science festival and cafes being held in Washington DC on February 16 and 17. Ken will be accompanied by Jill Burnett of the University’s events team and local organising contact for Aberdeen’s hosting of the 2012 British Science Festival. Ken and Jill would welcome the chance to meet with any alumni who happen to be in the Washington area around the time of the conference in February. 

 

In the meantime, we hope to see any of our more local alumni at our upcoming events which include three cafe sessions in February (14, 15 and 16) and also the launch of our National Science Engineering Week programme which will take place from March 11 – 20 with over 30 events for people of all ages and interests.

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As the bells chimed to usher in 2011, so too came the realisation that our new Library will open this year.  

An exciting thought certainly and one which will be at the forefront of our activities in the coming months as our fundraising efforts continue in tandem with the construction of the building.  

On the construction front, we are due to complete two major milestones in the coming weeks, firstly with the completion of the glass façade and then followed by the first flow of power to the building as internal structuring work, electrical wiring and plumbing, and early aesthetic work is undertaken undisturbed by the elements outside. The building is due to complete in spring before work begins over the summer months to move the contents of the Queen Mother Library and our Special Collections and Archives into their new home. 

Throughout the last year, and indeed throughout the entirety of our Library campaign, the support that the University has received has been remarkable. Over £18m has been raised for the project, with the majority of this amount coming from individuals keen to play their part in progressing the University of Aberdeen. Another popular reason is graduates looking to remember their years at Aberdeen and the libraries that they studied in during their time, be it King’s College, the current facilities as Queen Mother Library or its former title of Science Library, or the specialist Law or Medical Libraries.  Individuals have donated gifts ranging from £10 per month to multiple millions and everything in between and we are truly grateful for every contribution.

Without this support, the Library project simply would not be possible and, with just a few months remaining until the new library is built, we would like to ask you to consider donating to the Library. There are numerous ways in which you can donate either as an individual, as part of a group  or on behalf of a company and information on the various methods and applicable tax benefits can be found on our website at: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/aberdeen/how-to-give
 

As always, our team is always happy to help, to answer any questions and discuss any specific requirements. You can either pop in to our offices or we can be contacted by telephone or email. Please contact Stephen Fernie on 01224 273057 or email: s.fernie@abdn.ac.uk

Our Sixth Century Campaign has already delivered so much and we are now entering the final few months of successfully completing one of the most successful and established campaigns in the UK by opening certainly the most ambitious building in the University’s modern history. I hope that you will consider supporting us.

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Class Reunions

Ever thought about organising a reunion?  Fellow graduates Murdoch and Jenny Shirreffs are the Class reunion organisers for the Aberdeen Medical Class 1964-70.  Having just organised their 6th class reunion perhaps they can provide you with some inspiration – click here to read their story.

If you are already planning a reunion or would like to begin planning a reunion we would love to hear from you. The Alumni Relations Office can help you in a variety of ways, further information can be found on the website.

Scottish Aid Worker Linda Norgrove Honoured with World Humanitarian Award

Scottish aid worker Linda Norgrove was today announced as the winner of the 2011 Robert Burns Humanitarian Award. Ms Norgrove, who died in October during a US military-led rescue mission to free her from Afghanistani captors, was given the award in recognition of her humanitarian work in Afghanistan. Ms Norgrove was an outstanding student who gained a Bachelor of Science degree with first-class honours in Tropical Environmental Science from the University of Aberdeen in 1996.

 

 

Are you up for the challenge?

 

The Encap Arran Triathlon takes place on 10 September 2011. 2000 competitors will tackle a 1500m open water swim in Lamlash Bay, a 23 mile cycle with views of some of Scotland's most spectacular scenery, and a 6 mile run to finish off. Pre registration for this event, which is by far the largest of its type in Scotland, has now opened. Full details are available on www.arran-tri.com, and it promises to be a great weekend. This event is being organised by recent graduate Nick Scott LLB Hons 2007.

Aberdeen Alumnus Association

The Association held its Annual General Meeting on 22 November 2010, preceded as usual by a most interesting presentation by University Secretary Steve Cannon on the subject of the University’s preceding year and his thoughts on what the coming years of financial austerity may hold for the University. The AGM itself approved some significant changes to the Association’s Constitution, including a widening of eligibility for membership to include the University’s support staffs as well as teaching and administrative staffs, and graduates of other institutions of higher education who live in the area, and the introduction of measures to enable the Association to make fuller use of modern communications technology.

As always, the 2010 annual Christmas celebration at King’s College Chapel, on 10 December was a popular and well-attended event. As well as thoroughly enjoying the performances, the audience had the opportunity, as usual, to exercise their own vocal talents in some favourite carols. The celebration was followed by the customary gathering in fellowship at Zeste over mulled wine and mince pies.

Our next event will be on 16 February 2011, when we shall hear a talk by one of our own members, Jenny Shirreffs, on the subject “Have Medical Class – Will Travel”. The Association continues to be keen to welcome to its events visitors who may wish to consider membership but who would like to attend one or two events before making a commitment.
 

For more information about this and other planned events, contact Association Secretary Alan Towns at Aberdeen 589812 or at abalas@btinternet.com, and for information about membership of the Association see the University website http://www.abdnalumni.org.

 

International Development Careers Day

Do you work in International Development?  If so why not get involved in the first International Development Careers Day on campus!

As part of International Development Week the Careers Service is holding this event to help students learn more about this sector and the variety of jobs available. The event takes place on the 3rd of March 2011 and there are a variety of ways to get involved. If you work in this area and can give your time please visit this link to find out more.’

  

Alumni Ambassador in New York

New York based alumni, David Baxter and Scott Mcvittie, have recently join the University of Aberdeen Alumni Ambassador programme. David and Scott are working on creating opportunities for fellow Alumni living in New York to meet up, network and reminisce about time spent in Aberdeen. They have set up a University of Aberdeen Alumni in New York Facebook page, if you are on Facebook and would like to join it please click here. If you are not on Facebook they will be sending out emails about events and activities that are planned.

 

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Postgraduate Research Funding in Arts & Social Sciences

In the current academic year, over 80 postgraduate students are benefiting from over £1.5 million of support towards fees and stipend. For next academic year, the College of Arts and Social Sciences is pleased to announce a range of funding opportunities for postgraduate students at both the masters and doctoral level.

The College is supporting nine research projects and three research groupings with nearly SIXTY studentships starting in Autumn 2011 and Autumn 2012. Each research theme has a minimum of two PhD studentships available commencing in 2011-12. Research Preparation Masters studentships are also available. For more information about all of these research projects, please visit  www.abdn.ac.uk/cass/graduate/funding/research .

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