University of St AndrewsThe StAndardStaff Magazine, Issue 14, June 2008

Scotland’s first university

Virtually possibleFrom Land’s End to John O’ GroatsA bird’s eye view of St Andrews

Here comes the summer

ContentsPage 1: WelCome

Pages 2-16: PeoPle 2 Inthehotseat 5 ourcreativecolleagues 10 onthestartingblock 16 musicalnotes Pages 17-21:ToWN 17 Guesswhere? 18-19 Stanzareview

Pages 22-47: GoWN 22-24 It’sallacademic 26-34 onlinespecial 30-31 AccessibleAuldActs 32-33 Handsupforclickers 36-37 RwandaandPeacekeeping 42-45 Researchhighlights Pages 48-56:NeWS 48-49 medicinemovesforward 49 Captioncompetition 51 SportRelief 54 Schoolofenglisheco-garden 56 livinglinksopening 57 Guesswhere?Answers

The StAndardisfinancedbytheUniversityandeditedbythePressoffice.Wewelcomesuggestions,letters,articles,newsandphotographyfromstaff,studentsandmembersofthewiderStAndrewscommunity.

Pleasecontactusatmagazine@st-andrews.ac.ukorviathePressoffice,StKatharine’sWest,TheScores,StAndrewsKY169AX,FifeTel:(01334)462529.

Coverpicture:‘Goingonholiday’,GeorgemiddlemassCowiec.1935Credit:SpecialCollections

ProducedbyCorporateCommunications,UniversityofStAndrewsDesignedbyReprographicsUnit

TheUniversityofStAndrewsCourtisacharityregisteredinScotland,No:SC013532PrintedonFSCaccreditedrecycledpaper

Welcome

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The one in which we go electric

Well,maybewithnotquitethesameimpactasBobDylan’sso-calledJudasturnatthe1965NewportFolkFestival…butthisissuedoestakeaseriouslookatthewaysinwhichtheUniversitycommunityisbeingdrivenbytheinternetandnewtechnology.FromFacebooktoSecondlife,there’snoescapingthevirtualworld,butisitalljustprocrastinationoverawificonnectionorcanitreallyhelpdelivertheUniversity’scoreaimsofteachingandresearch?TurntoourUniversityonlinespecial(pp26-34)totakeatriptoStAndrews’exoticpresenceonSecondlife.Wehaveourownislandyouknow…

Afurtherdelveintotechnologydrivingtheteachingexperienceunveilsanewwaytohelpthoseshystudentswhostillfearputtingtheirhandsupinclass.Thehandhelddevicesknownas‘clickers’beingsuccessfullypilotedinPhysics&AstronomyandtheButemedicalSchoolofferawayofincreasingstudentinteractionaswellasconfidenceinclass.

Talkingofclickers,ourcreativecolleaguessection(pp5-9)highlightsyetmoretalentedphotographersamongtheUniversitycommunity,withwardensrecognisingstudentinterestinthesubjectbyholdingaphotographycompetitionovereaster.Turntop9toseehowstudentscapturedthe‘spiritofStAndrews’.

Aseverourfocusisonthepeoplearoundus,withcolleaguesfromacrosstheUniversitytakingpartinourregularfeatures;wetaketheopportunitytoputbothStefanPughandBrianlanginthehotseatbeforetheyleaveus,whilewelcomingtwonewcolleaguesinestatesandResidential&BusinessServicestotheirposts.Inouracademicprofiles,DickByrneandInekedemoortelsharetheirexpertiseintheevolutionofintelligenceandthesun.BeyondStAndrews,JerryDeGrootprovidesathought-provokingpieceonRwanda,andastudentonthenewPeaceandConflictmlittsharesherexperienceofahumblingfieldtriptoSarajevo.

Wetakealookatfundraisingeffortstoo,withStephenKingsharingwithreadersthechallengeofacycletripinmemoryofhislateniece.GoodlucktoStephenandthankstohimandallcontributorstothisissueforsharingtheirexperiences,commentsandtalents.

Finally,ontomajordevelopmentsandnews.FromlivinglinkstotheRecordsoftheParliamentsofScotlandandournewSchoolofmedicineandtheSciences,2008hassofarwitnessedtwomajorareasofresearchreachingfruitionandthebeginningofanewmulti-millionpoundbuild.Congratulationstoeveryoneinvolved.

Atthisstagewewouldalsoliketothankthemembersofoureditorialboard,whohaveprovidedmuchhelpfulinputsincethemagazine’sinceptionfouryearsago,andarenowbowingoutsinceyouhavegivenitalifeofitsown.Now,it’sovertoyou!

AnyoneintheUniversityiswelcometoprovidefeedback,suggestionsorcontributionstoThe StAndard.ThenextissueisdueoutinNovember-emailusatmagazine@st-andrews.ac.ukorwritetotheaddressontheinsidecover.AllbackissuesarenowavailabletoviewordownloadontheUniversitywebsiteatwww.st-andrews.ac.uk/standardandFacebookersamongyoucanalsojoinourgrouponline(searchforThe StAndardasagroupwithintheUniversitycommunity).

Finally,asever,The StAndardacknowledgestheuseofimagessuppliedbyAlanRichardson,Pix-AR,SpecialCollections,RichardCormack,Stephenevans,StephenKing,www.stephenrasmussen.com,eugeneTheodore,JerryDeGroot,AlanRThomsonRZSS,IanJacobsPhotography,JohnScott,KrisGetchell,BruceSinclair,BBC,ChrisKuklewicz,DickByrne,SaschaHooker,GeorgiosTsiminis,PeterAdamson,JulesKnight,GayleCook,RobertGendler,RJayGaBany,VitorFialholopez,SidraKhanandFranceslander.

PeoPle

Would you like to put yourself or a colleague in the hot seat? Email us at magazine@st-andrews.ac.uk with your suggestions.

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Inthehotseat

(oflearning)

NAME: Dr Stefan Pugh

POSITION: Reader in Russian

LAST GOOD BOOK–Istanbul: Memories of a City,byorhanPamuk.

FIRST RECORD BOUGHT–Abbey Road(TheBeatles,ofcourse!),boughtin1969.

TOP HOLIDAY DESTINATION–AnywhereinItaly.

HAPPIEST CHILDHOOD MEMORY–Gettingmyfirstdog,Axel(ahoney-colouredcockerspaniel),atageseveninNürnberg,Germany.

IDEAL MEAL–StefanPugh’sbakedchickenbreaststuffedwithcheese(Havarti,Gruyère,etc.),wrappedinprosciuttoandglazedwithhoney,accompaniedbyoliveoilstir-fried

vegetables(withgroundblackpepperandgarlic).Riceoptional.ofcourse,wherefoodisconcerned,therereallyisalmostnosuchthingasan‘ideal’meal:forme,apastawitharichItaliansauce(VeRYrichingarlic,meatorveggie)wouldmakemehappyanytime.

MOST PRIZED POSSESSION–oftheold:mysmallcollectionofpre-Columbianartefacts,collectedinecuadorinthelate1960s;ofthenew:mybeautifulshiny2008ChryslerPTCruiser.

CHILDHOOD AMBITION –Tobecomeanastronomer…thenanoceanographer.Andlookwhathappened.

FAVOURITE LOCAL HAUNT–TheCentral.Anyotheranswerwouldjustnotbebelievable!

FIRST LOVE–Chocolate.lotsofchocolate.ApologiestoSuzieofmyfourthgradeclassin1964.

ALL-TIME FAVOURITE FILM–The Godfather.

CURRENTLY PLAYING ON STEREO–VinceGill(country:I’manewconvert);hitsofthe60’sand70’s(rock).

THE PERFECT WEEKEND–AcoupleofnightsatacosyinnintheHighlandswithmywife.longwalks,alogfireintheevening,agreatbottleofredwine.mightsoundtoopredictable,butyoucan’tbeatit!

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NAME:Brian Lang

POSITION: Principal and Vice-Chancellor

LAST GOOD BOOK–SummitsbyDavidReynolds–describessixmeetingsbetweenpoliticiansthathelpedshapethetwentiethcentury,fromtheHitler/Chamberlainconfrontationsof1938tothe1985GenevaGorbachev/Reagandiscussions.Thebookdemonstratesthatpeopleinpositionsofveryhighauthorityreallycaninfluenceeventsonthebasisoftheirpersonalrelationshipswithotherleaders,andarenotnecessarilysimplycaptivetoeventsandcircumstancesaroundthem.

FIRST RECORD BOUGHT–That’ll be the Day,byBuddyHolly,musthavebeen1958,theyearhewaskilled.(AndIstilloccasionallylistentoBuddyHolly,albeitonmyiPod!)

TOP HOLIDAY DESTINATION–Bali.mywifeisIndonesianandwevisiteveryyear,oftencombiningaholidaywithvisitstoin-laws.Theislandisbeautifulandverytranquil(despitethebombingsof2002)andafavouriteactivityiswatchingHinduceremoniesinlocaltemples.Thesearecolourful,musicalaffairsandlocalpeopleareonlytoodelightedtoletusspectate.ThefoodinIndonesiaiswonderful,too!

HAPPIEST CHILDHOOD MEMORY–Probablywalkingthestreetsofedinburghwithmyfather,assoonasIwasabletokeepupwithhim.HeinstilledaloveforthecityinmeandlikedtostrolltheNewTown,theRoyalmileandthemuseums,pointingoutsightsandtellingtalesfromScottishhistory.Hewasawonderful,cleverbutunrequitedmanwhodeservedabetterlotinlifebuthadtoleaveschoolaged14–hewasbroughtupinthe1930sandlifewasverydifferent-tobringinawagetokeepthefamily.

IDEAL MEAL–AbowlofpastawithagoodbottleofItalianredwine–preferablyaBaroloifIcanafforditatthetime.KenandRaphaelinThelittleItalianShopinBellStreetmaketheirownravioliwhichIrecommend.

MOST PRIZED POSSESSION–Agreetingscardsentin1916bymygrandfathertomymother,onlyweeksoldatthetime,justdaysbeforehewaskilledontheSomme,servingwiththeRoyalScots.

CHILDHOOD AMBITION–Tofly.IwasdesperatetobeaRAFpilot.FastjetsstillfascinatemeandIenjoywatchingtheleucharsTornadoesswoopingaroundStAndrewsBay.Butmyfirstrealjobwasasauniversitylecturer,instead!

FAVOURITE LOCAL HAUNT–ThelittleItalianShop(seeabove!).Youcanbrowsetheshelveslikeabookshopandtheadvicefromthestaffisalwayssound.It’saculinaryAladdin’scave.

FIRST LOVE–IhadatabbycatcalledTrunkie.HediedwhenIwasfiveandIwasinconsolable.

ALL-TIME FAVOURITE FILM –Play it Again Sam,withWoodyAllen.ThefilmisaboutthelengthstheWoodycharactergoesto,toappear‘cool’,whentherealityisthatwhenjustbeinghimself,heisbright,wittyandloveable(intheeyesofDianeKeaton,anyway).

CURRENTLY PLAYING ON STEREO–The Soul of the Tango,YoYomaoncelloplayingtangocomposedbyAstorPiazzola.Ilovelatinmusic,includingCuban;afavouritesingerisomaraPortuondo,whomyoumayhaveseeninBuena Vista Social Club.

THE PERFECT WEEKEND–mostweekendsareperfect.InStAndrews,Ilikealeisurelybreakfastwiththenewspapers,astrollalongmarketStreetwithmywifeTari,chattingtopeopleweareboundtobumpinto,amealatTheCellarinAnstrutherorafilmattheNewPictureHouse(I’mpassionateaboutthelounging,feet-upseatsupstairs).Weliketoentertainathome,andthiscanbeeitheranofficialUniversitydinnerpartyor–myrealfavourite–wehaveallouroffspringandtheirpartnersandourgrand-daughter,tostayfortheweekend.Thenoiselevelattheseeventsisamarvel;wecanprobablybeheardinCarnoustie.

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NAME:Amy Grieve

POSITION:Receptionist/Administrator, The Gateway

LAST GOOD BOOK-Fromitsearlypages,IthinkmycurrentbookThe House at RivertonbyKatemortonisgoingtobeoneofthebestbooksIhavereadrecently.I’mlookingforwardtothe“thrillingmysteryandcompellinglovestory”thatwillunfoldwithinits600pages.

FIRST RECORD BOUGHT–ThefirstrecordsIeverhadweretheTopTwentysinglesIwoninachildren’scompetitioninThe Daily Express.WithallofthosetoplayitwasawhilebeforeIboughtmyfirstrecord,Herman’sHermits’I’m into Something Good.

TOP HOLIDAY DESTINATION–It’sdifficulttochoosebetweenthewestcoastofIrelandandthenorth-westcoastofScotland.Bothofferstunningviews,greathospitality,relaxationandtranquillity.I’dalsolovetovisitAustraliaandNewZealandoneday.

HAPPIEST CHILDHOOD MEMORY–Ihadahappychildhood,withmemoriesofourtrainjourneyholidaystomum’sfamilyinliverpool(we'dhaveferrytripsacrossthemerseyfordaysouttotheseasideatWestKirby,andalsoitwasatimetoenjoymeetingupwithaunts,unclesandcousins),andthefunofplayingoutandaboutwithfriendsathomeintheschoolholidays.ButIthinkonefavouritewouldbetuckedup,withafavouritebook,listeningtothebirdssingingandwatchingthesummerevening’ssunfadeonthebedroomwall.

IDEAL MEAL–I’vefairlysimpletastes,butagoodbowlofhome-madesoupfollowedbyminceandtattiesorstoviesandI’mhappy!Ialsolovefish,especiallysalmon.Fisher&Donaldsonisfullofdelights,andIcan’tpassanm&Sstorewithoutstoppingforoneoftheiryummycappuccinos!

MOST PRIZED POSSESSION–Ithinkfortheworkthatvariousrelativeshaveputintoit,itwouldbethefamilyreminiscencesthroughpreviousgenerations,includingDad’searlymemoriesandanaccountofhis20+yearsintheBlackWatchinoftenchallengingsituationsandmum’sliteratureofsocialchangethroughthe1900s.Forthefamilyithasbeenaninterestingandoftenhumblinginsightintothepast.

CHILDHOOD AMBITION–Itwastobeanurse,butthisambitiononlylasteduntilthedayIhadaminormishapinourvegetablepatchandthesightofbloodthenputmeoff!

FAVOURITE LOCAL HAUNT–IthinkStmary’sQuadhasalovelyrelaxedairaboutit,Ienjoysittingtherehavinglunchonasummer’sday.Bycontrast,theWestSandsofferabracingwalkandthesmellofseaair–invigorating!

FIRST LOVE–Perth,itwasagreatplacetogrowupin,andhasalovelysetting.Istillalwaysenjoygoingthere.Ireallyenjoyedprimaryschoolastherewasjustsomuchtolearnabout,itheldmy

interest.learningtoswim,knitandsewthereaswelljusttoppeditoff!

ALL-TIME FAVOURITE FILM–Idon’thaveaspecificfavourite,butanythingthatmakesmelaughhastobegood–Jacklemmonhadgreatcomictiming.Ialsoloveagoodedge-of-the-seatthriller,andperiodfilmsthatleaveyouwiththatfeel-goodfactor.

CURRENTLY PLAYING ON STEREO–ACDmybrothergavemelastmonthsaying“You’llloveit!”,Amymacdonald’sThis is the Life.otherwise,itwouldbeanythingfromJoanBaeztoKeaneorClannadasIenjoyawiderangeofmusicstyles.

THE PERFECT WEEKEND–ForaweekendawayitwouldbelochTayinPerthshirewhereIlivedforsomeyearsbeforecomingtoStAndrews.AboattriproundthelochwouldbeamustinordertoenjoythesuperviewsincludingBenlawers.Addinalochsidehotelwitharoaringlogfire,greatcompany,familyorfriends,welcominghospitality–andI’mtherealready!

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Abird’seyeviewofStAndrewsby University Web Manager Dr Stephen Evans

AnyonewhohasclimbedtothetopofStRule’stowertoviewStAndrewsfromabovewillhaveappreciatedthebeautifulview.Itisonlyfromabird’seyeviewthatwecanstarttounderstandtherelationshipbetweenthetownandtheseaandtherelativelocationsofdifferentbuildings.

Forthosewhodon’thavetheenergytoclimbtothetopofStRule’stower,orthemeanstocharterahelicopter,thereisanalternative!DrStephenevans,UniversityWebmanager,hasbeenusingalightweightdigitalcameramountedonhisradiocontrolledaeroplanetotakeuniqueaerialphotographsofStAndrews.

Thecamerashutterisremotelytriggeredbyflickingaswitchontheradiotransmitterwhiletheaeroplanefliesoverhead.Justasinanytypeofphotography,thebestphotographsare

achievedbyplanningthecomposition.So,goodlightingfromtherightdirection,asuitabletidestateandlowwindspeedarecriticalforsuccess.

Aquietelectricmotorpowersthe1.5metrewingspanaeroplanesoitcantakephotographsclosetobuiltupareasandfromalowerheightthanthatallowedbyaconventionalaircraft.Forexample,photographshavebeentakenbyflyingfromtheladeBraesandeast,WestandCastleSands.

Itisnotpossibletoknowwhatthephotographswilllooklikeuntiltheimageshavebeendownloadedandviewedonacomputer,soquiteafewphotoshavetobetakeninordertoselectthebest.Despitetheapparenthitandmissapproachtotakingaerialphotographsthisway,theresultshavebeenremarkablysuccessful.

To find out more about radio controlled aerial photography and to view a selection of photographs, please visit www.visualflight.co.uk

ourcreativecolleagues

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CapturingStAndrews&beyondEmeritus Professor of Mathematics Richard Cormack has travelled the world capturing stunning images from far-flung locations along the way. Here, he shares his pick of the best from his personal archives with readers of The StAndard.

Closertohome,RichardisamemberoftheFriendsofStAndrewsBotanicGardenandisoneoftheirsemi-officialphotographers(seehisimagesillustratingthepieceonpage20).Anactivepublicspeaker,Richarddeliversaroundtentalksayeartophotographicandothersocietiesaroundthecountryonsubjectssuchas‘FascinationsofFife’and‘encounterswithplants.’oneofRichard’sfavouritechallengestoaudiencesis‘WhatcolourisScotland?’Ifyou’rethinkinggreen,orevenblue,you’rewrong–theanswer,accordingtoRichard’skeeneye,isactuallyorange.

Richard,whoarrivedinStAndrewstobecometheUniversity’sfirstProfessorofStatisticsin1972,isanaward-winningamateurphotographerandmemberofathrivingcommunityofkeensnappersintheStAndrewsarea.Instantlyrecognisingthebreadthofphotographicopportunitiesinthetownandsurroundingareas,Glasgow-bornRichardjoinedtheStAndrewsPhotographicSocietyalmostrightawayandhasn’tstoppedtakingpicturessince.Regularlyrisingbeforedawntocapturethebestlight,someofRichard’sfavouritelocationshavebeencaughtoncameraovertheyearsbeforetherestofusareevenawake.ButRichard,whopreferscandidphotography,striveshardtotakeadifferentviewfromthepopularshotsregularlytakenbyvisitingtourists.Indeed,foroneyear-longperiod,Richardchallengedhimselftotakeshotsofthesameonesquarefurlongstripoftheharbour,inanattempttocomeupwithsomethingdifferenteverytime.

The Pier, low tide

'Rolled gold' was taken in the Palouse in eastern Washington State, during one Seattle trip

“It’sverydifficulttoavoidthechocolateboximagesinaplacelikeStAndrews,”hesaid,“butprincipallyI’mnottryingtorecordimages,I’mtryingtocreateartandcapturebeauty.moroccoisawonderfulplacetophotograph,butclosertohometheStAndrewsBotanicGardenisexcellentbecauseofitsbeautifuldesignanditsvastcollections–theyhaveover8,000differentspecies,whichofferunlimitedopportunitiestophotographers.”

Richard’sfavouritesubjectsincludetheScottishHighlands,natureandmountains.FurtherafieldhismostvisitedforeignlocationsareSeattle,wheremoststudyleavewasspent,and,since1997,morocco,ingroupsledbyHonoraryGraduateDrHamishBrown.Hehasjustreturnedfromhisninthtriptomorocco,happytohaveseennewplacesandtohaverevisitedsomefavouritelocationsintheearlymorninglight.Duringhispreviousvisit,hewasdisappointedtofindhis‘favouritebench’hadbeenmoved,butonreflectionrealisedthiscreatedafreshchallenge!

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'In the cool of the evening', outside the Koutoubia in Marrakesh

'Ice floes, Blackmount' - Lochan na h'Achlaise, near Glencoe

'Windy Parade' was taken in December 1973, as part of Richard’s harbour 'self-challenge'

'Quality Cleaning' – Asprey, New Bond St, London

'North Street in a windscreen' was taken in St Andrews recently

overtheyears,Richardhascapturedsomeofficial,andnotsoofficial,Universityevents–fromtheinstallationofFrankmuirasRectortocroquetmatcheswithformerPrincipalStrutherArnott,heenjoysthe‘colourful’natureofUniversityevents.WhenhearrivedinStAndrewsbackin’72,thePrincipalwasStephenWatsonandJohnCleesewasRector–whoRichardremembersasbeing‘veryfriendly’athisfinalinterview.

Richard,whoretiredin1994,stillcarrieshiscamerawhereverhegoes,takingapicturemostdays.However,heisnottheonlytalentedUniversityphotographeraround–hewaskeentostressthatthelocalclubhasalwayshadUniversityinvolvement.Hesaid,“I’mpartofareallythrivingcommunity;there’sareallyactivelocalphotographysceneinStAndrewsandit’sgreattoseenewpeoplejoininganddevelopingallthetime.”

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AWardennialsystemforthe21stCenturyWardens’ Manager David Hammill outlines the results of a recent review of the wardennial system at St Andrews.

The vast majority of St Andrews students spend at least some of their time at university in a hall of residence.Forsome,theexperienceissoenjoyableandfulfillingthattheydecidetostayinhallforthewholeoftheirundergraduateorpostgraduatecourse,althoughmosttendtosamplehalllifeinthefirstyearandthenmoveintoprivateaccommodation,sometimesreturningtohallonceagainforthefinalyear.Whateveroptiontheychoose,mostundergraduatesspendatleasttheirfirstyearinaresidenceandformanythehallbecomesahome,afamiliarbaseduringthosefirstfewnervousweeks.

Ifnationalstudentsurveysaretobebelieved,thewhole‘studentexperience’atStAndrewsisratedprettyhighlyamongthosewhospendtheirundergraduatedayshere–andthat,ofcourse,includestheresidentialexperience.eventhestudentsurveyscarriedoutinternallyseemtoindicateareasonablyhighlevelofsatisfactionwiththehallsofresidence,althoughthereisalwaysgoingtoberoomforimprovement.So,onthebasisof‘ifitain’tbroke,don’tfixit’,itmightberegardedasapointlessorevenfoolhardyexercisetoembarkonafullreviewofourwardennialsystemandthewayinwhichourresidencesaremanagedinapastoralanddisciplinarysense.However,sixmonthsagothatisexactlywhatwedid.

AreviewcommitteewasconvenedbyChrislusk,DirectorofStudentServices,withtheremittoexamineourresidentialsystemwithaviewtodiscoveringhowwecouldimprovetheserviceweprovideforourstudentsandmakeitgenuinelyfitforpurposeinthe21stcentury.Fromtheoutsetwewerekeenlyawarethatthereismuchaboutourwardennialsystemwhichisgoodandsowhateverchangeswemightmake,itwasimportantnotto‘throwthebabyoutwiththebathwater’.Thereviewcommitteeconsultedwidelywithstudents,academicstaff,residence

managementaswellaswithalllevelsofthewardennialteams,pastandpresent.Wealsoinvestigatedwardennialset-upsinotheruniversitiestoseeifwecouldlearnanythingfromthewayinwhichtheyapproachthisaspectofstudentlife.

Interestinglyenough,foravarietyofreasons,anincreasingnumberofuniversitiesthroughoutBritainaremovingawayfromtheprovisionoftraditionalwardennialcoverinhallsofresidence.Insomecasesitisdeemedtobeanexpensiveluxury,whileinothersthereisafeelingthatstudentsdonotneedthisdegreeofguidanceorpastoralcare.Somehaveabandonedtheirwardennialsystemsaltogetherand,atleastforabrieftime,weconsideredthispossibilityforStAndrews.However,wecametotheconclusionthatwhateverotherinstitutionsmightdo,StAndrewspridesitselfonthelevelofpastoralsupportandguidancewhichisavailabletothosestudentswhowantit.Atthesametimewelearnedthat,whilestudentswanttoknowthathelpandsupportisthere,theydonotwantittobeforcedonthem.Theywanttobetreatedastheadultsthattheyareandnot‘mothered’or‘smothered’byover-zealousandunnecessarilyintrusivepastoralcare.

Therefore,weconcludedthat,whateversystemweeventuallydecidedtoadopt,itmustbeonewhichprovidesaprofessionalservicetoourstudents,onethatisfitforpurposeandonewhichhastheaimofempoweringstudents,helpingthemtohelpthemselvesratherthanprovidinganever-presentsafety-net.

How do we intend to achieve this?ThemostnotableandvisiblechangewithinthehallsofresidencewillbethereplacementofDeputyWardens,SubwardensandResidentAssistantswiththenewroleofAssistantWarden.WardennialteamsarebeingslimmeddownandthenewAssistantWardenswillberequired,afterappropriate

training,totakeonahigherlevelofresponsibilityandagreaterdegreeofcommitmentintermsofthetaskofprovidingappropriatepastoralsupport,disciplinaryguidanceandcommunity-building.Forallmembersofthewardennialteamtherewillbeanemphasisonprovidingajoined-upserviceinconjunctionwithStudentSupportServices,HallCommitteesandResidencemanagementteams.Aboveall,therewillbeanaimofempoweringstudentstohelpthemselves,andaninvolvementinstudents’lives,notinaninterferingorintrusivesense,butmeetingstudentsattheirpointofneed.

Inordertotrytoprovideaservicewhichhascontinuityandconsistency,itisourintentiontoemployonlymembersofstaffandPhDstudents.Itishopedthatmembersofwardennialteamswillwanttostayinpostforsomeyears,asopposedtothepresentsituationwherethereisarelativelyhighturn-over.Wewouldliketoencouragemoremembersoftheadministrativestafftobecomeinvolvedinthisway–wardeningisnotjustforacademics.Indeed,administrativestaffoftenhaveexactlythesortoflifeexperiencewhichwouldbeinvaluableinahallofresidence.Beinginvolvedinhalllifeisfun.Italsocarriesquiteasubstantiallevelofresponsibilityandcommitment,butitisasatisfyingandrewardingwayoflife.Ifyouarethesortofpersonwhoenjoyscontributingtothewelfareofothers,ifyoulikehelpingtoorganisesocialactivities,ifyouarecaringandcompassionatewhilerecognisingtheneednottobecomeover-involved,ifyoucankeepyourheadinacrisisandifyouhavegoodmanagerialskills,thenbecominginvolvedinthewardenialsystemmightbetherightthingforyou.

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about being a Warden or an Assistant Warden is welcome to contact David Hamill, the Wardens’ Manager, at ‘The Student Experience’, 101A North Street or by email on dh31@st-andrews.ac.uk

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CapturingthespiritofStAndrewsThe New Hall wardennial team challenged students to capture their own unique views of St Andrews recently. The brainchild of Academic Adviser and New Hall subwarden Lara Meischke, the photography competition resulted in some ‘quite remarkable’ results. Students were able to select from the categories Easter, The Spirit of St Andrews, The Pier, A ruin, Daily Essentials and An amusing sign. A selection of the best are shared here with readers of The StAndard.

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onthestartingblockIn this issue, The StAndard welcomes Petra Barber and Gillian Jordan to their new posts.

Petra BarberDeputy Director of Residential and Business Services

Petra joined the University in November last year from a position at Lancaster University and claims her feet haven’t touched the ground since! Having worked at the universities of Glasgow, Robert Gordon, Edinburgh and Stirling, she relished the opportunity to come to St Andrews for this challenging post.

ongraduatingfromtheUniversityofGlasgowin1992withaJointHonoursdegreeinFrenchandGerman,PetrathencompletedapostgraduatediplomainTourismatStrathclyde.HerfirstjobwasatGlasgowUniversityasaTraineemanagerandasanAssistantWarden,andtherest,astheysay,ishistory!

PetraleftGlasgowtotakeupapostinaccommodationadministrationatRobertGordonUniversityinAberdeen,andthereafterprogressedintostudentresidencemanagementrolesattheUniversitiesofedinburghandStirling.mostrecentlysheworkedatlancasterUniversity,where,aswellastheroleofResidencesmanager,sheundertookan“immenselyenjoyable”15-monthsecondmenttoestatesasthemanagerofFacilitiesmanagement.

Petrasaid,“overthepast10years,studentresidencesasaconcepthavebecomeincreasinglyimportantwhenstudentsareconsideringtheirchoiceofuniversityandoverallexperience.StAndrewsisconsistentlyratedasoneofthetopuniversitiesintheUK.IntermsofwhattheUniversityhastoofferresidentiallybywayofquality,variety,associatedservicesandincommitmenttothestudentexperience,

itisextremelyhardtobeat.Itwasarealdrawtohavetheopportunitytoworkinanenvironmentwhichisstrivingtoexpandandcontinuallyimproveinalltheseareas.”

Petrawaspleasedtoreturnnorthoftheborder.Shesaid,“It’snicetobebackinScotlandandclosertofriendsandfamily!”

Herfirstimpressionsbothofthepeopleandplacehavebeenoverwhelminglypositive.Shenoted,“Stafffromotherdepartmentshavebeenextremelyhelpful,friendlyandsupportive,andIhavebeenimpressedbythepositive,committedandprofessionalattitudeoftheRBSstaff.AlargeproportionhasbeenworkingfortheUniversityandthedepartmentformanyyears,whichshowsthatboththetownofStAndrewsandtheUniversityaregreatplacestowork.”

Althoughtheroleisachallengingone,Petraiskeentobeinvolvedintheon-goingdevelopmentthroughouttheUniversity.

Petraexplained,“UniversitiesarenowoperatingwithintightfinancialconstraintsandanincreasinglycompetitiveenvironmentandRBS,alongwithallotherdepartmentsintheUniversity,hastorisetothesechallenges.

“It’sanexcitingtimefortheUniversity,withthenewdevelopmenttakingplaceontheNorthHaughandadditionalchallengesforRBS,suchastherollingrefurbishmentprogrammeforexistingresidences,thedrivetoupgradefacilities,supportingtheenvironmentalagendaaswellasdealingwiththeday-to-daystudentandcommercialoperations.Iamlookingforwardtobeingpartofit.”

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Gillian JordanCleaning Services ManagerEstates

Dundonianbornandbred,GillianjoinedtheUniversityinFebruarythisyearfromacrossthewater,justoneweekbeforetheGovernmentscrappedthebridgetoll,fortuitouslyaidingherdailycommute!

GillianstudiedatQueenmargaretCollegeinedinburghwhereshegraduatedwithaBAdegree.Shewentontocompleteayear’spostgraduatequalificationinInstitutionalmanagement.Initially,GillianworkedforDundeeCollegeofeducationasanassistantmanagerinstudentresidenceslookingafterthecleaningoperation.FromthereshemovedtoDundeeUniversityResidencesin1987.

Shesaid,“IstartedinChalmersHall(theoldRoyalBritishHotel)ontheHighStreetas“Bursar”,amarvellousbuildingandwhatsoldittomewasthegorgeousolddiningroomwithmassivemirrorsandornatehighceilings!Iworkedmywayaroundmanagingmostofthecateredhalls,spendingseveralyearsineachaswellasaspellintheselfcateringsector.”

Afterthebirthofhersecondchild,Gillianstartedworkingpart-time,mostlyincleaningmanagement,withabitofcateringandout-of-hoursworkthrowninforgoodmeasure!Whenherfamilyweregrowingup,shetookupapositionattheWestParkConferenceCentreasAssistantCateringmanager.

WhenthemanagementoperationofDundeeUniversityresidenceswascontractedtoSanctuarymanagementServicesseveralyearsago,cateredhallsbecameathingofthepastandself-cateringensuiteaccommodationwasthewayforward.GillianmovedfromthecateringmanagementjobinWestParkConferenceCentretoafulltimepositionaspartofanewmanagementteamandsecuredajobasDeputyCampusAccommodationmanager.

Shesaid,“TheUniversityhadcommissionednewpurpose-builtflatsandIwasinvolvedinthetransitionfromtheoldaccommodationtosettingupthenewbuilds,withallthejoysthatnewbuildingscanbring!ItwasanexceptionallybusytimefromtheopeningofBelmontFlatsinSeptember2006,withtwofurthersitesfollowingonsoonafter.ItwasagoodlearningcurveworkingforamanagementCompany,withmanynewsystems,policiesandprocedurestolearn.”

ShethenbecameHealthandSafetyRepresentativefortheDundeeCampus,liaisingwiththeResidenceofficeoverstudentdisciplinaryissuesaswellastheday-to-daymanagementandmaintenanceissuesoftheresidences.

Shesaid,“IappliedtoStAndrewsforawholenewsetofchallenges!mybackgroundhasmostlybeeninresidences/accommodationandIfeltachangewouldbegoodforme,whiledrawingontheexperienceIhavegainedovertheyears.IhadvisitedtheUniversityonanopenDayin2007withmydaughterandIlikedthewholeatmosphereoftheUniversity–sheisnowfollowinginmyfootstepsinSeptembertobeanundergraduatestudent.

“myparentsarebothfromFifeandasafamilywhenIwasyoungweregularlycameovertoStAndrewsduringthesummerinthedayswhenthesummerholidaysseemedtolastmuchlonger,andspentdaysontheWestSands–italwaysseemedmuchsunniertoo-veryhappymemories.

“myownfamilyspentourfirstsummerholidaytogetheratKingsbarnswhenoursonwasthreemonthsold–proofthatyoudonotneedtotravelfarforanexcellenttime.DaytripstoStAndrewsforlongwalksandicecreamhavebeenapartofourlifefromtheearlydays!”

WorkingforestateshascombinedGillian’sloveofthetownwithherpassionforitsbuildings.Sheexplained,“WhenIfirststartedinthepost,theUniversityseemedvast,butalreadyitseemssmallerandperfectlymanageable!TheestatesstafftakearealprideintheirjobsandithasbeenquiterefreshinggoingroundallthebuildingswiththeCleaningSupervisors,meetingthestaffandseeingtheeffortthatstaffputintokeepingtheirbuildingstosuchahighstandard.“

Gillianislookingforwardtomeetingpeopleinhernewposition,notleasthernumerouscolleaguesinestates.Shesaid,“IenjoymeetingpeopleandthenumberofstaffthatestatesemployensuredIwouldbeabletodothateasily.

“GettingtogripswiththechallengesofsuchavarietyofbuildingswasalsosomethingIwaslookingforwardtoandtakingonboardnewanddifferentissues.

“onadailybasisallmannerofthingscancropupandaswellastheplannedagenda,unplannedeventshelptokeepthedaysinteresting.”

Gillianisthoroughlyenjoyinglookingafterthebuildingsinthishistorictown.Shesaid,“Ihavebeenbowledoverbythedefinite“WoW”factorinsomeofthebuildingsandactuallysaidthewordwhenenteringsomeofthemforthefirsttime!

“AllofthepeopleIhavemethavebeenveryfriendlyandwelcoming.IlikethefeelofthetownandofthewholeUniversityandhavethoroughlyenjoyedthefirstfewmonthswithallthechallengesIhavemetsofarandlookforwardtoeverythingelsethatmaybethrownatme.”

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School of Mathematics & Statistics

Two members of the School with over 80 years’ service between them retired from their positions this year. Both academics received presentations in March.

Colin (on the right) is with the Head of School, Professor Alan Cairns

AsthedateofhisretirementapproachedProfessor Graham SmithoftheSchoolofArtHistorymadeitclearthathewantednopartyandnospeechessincehehadalreadyenjoyedaconferenceinhishonourorganisedbyhiscolleaguesJulianluxfordandAlexmarrlastyear.HisdepartureinJanuaryhasbeensuitablymarked,however,thankstotheinitiativeofoneofGraham’sstudents,TomWright.TomwastakingGraham’smoduleonPhotography and the BookandconceivedtheideaofcommissioningaphotographfromtheeminentScottishphotographerRobinGillanders,whoseworkwasdiscussedduringthecourse.RobinisagoodfriendofGraham’sandhadcontributedtotheconference,sowhenTomapproachedhimhewasdelightedwiththeideaandundertooktopersuadethesubjecttosit.IndiscussionheandGrahamdecideditshouldbeagroupportrait,reflectingGraham’spleasureinteachingandhishands-onapproachtotheuseofrealartworksinclass.

Robin’sphotographisacarefullycomposedanddramaticallylitstudyinspiredbytheworkofHillandAdamson,pioneersofthemedium,whoseworkiswellrepresentedintheUniversity’sSpecialCollections.In

School of Art History

Retirals

particularitislooselybasedonaportraitentitledThe Dumbarton PresbyteryandRobinsays“itwasmadewithaviewcamera,thedesignofwhichhashardlychangedsinceH&A’sdaywiththeexceptionthatithasashutter.Theexposurewaslong,sothestudentsandGrahamhadtobeverystill.InamannerofspeakingIwasalsoattemptingtoreplicatethedegreeofformality(anddiscipline)thatH&Awouldhavehadtoapplytotheirworks.”oneframedsilvergelatinprinthasbeenmadeforGrahamandonefortheUniversityCollections,whichwehopewillbeondisplaylaterthisyearinmUSA,thenewmuseumonTheScores.Robinhasalsogenerouslygivenasmallerprinttoeachofthestudentsinvolved.TheprojecthasbeenmadepossiblebycontributionsfromGraham’sstudents,fromstaffinArtHistoryandRobinGillandershimself.WhatbettertributecouldateacherofArtHistoryreceivethantoinspirestudentstocommissionanewworkfromalivingartist?

Annette CarruthersHead of School

Dr Colin CampbellretiredfromhispositionasReaderinmathematicsattheendofJanuary,aftermorethan40years’servicetotheUniversity.ColinisanativeofedinburghandstudiedforhisfirstdegreeatedinburghUniversitybeforegoingontopostgraduatestudyatmcGillUniversityinmontreal.ReturningtoScotlandhewasappointedtoalecturingpostinStAndrewsandsincethenhasservedtheUniversityinawidevarietyofways.HehasbeenanimportantcontributortothedevelopmentofStAndrewsintoaleadingcentreincomputationalalgebraanddiscretemathematicsandwasforatimeHeadofthePuremathematicsDivisionwithintheSchoolofmathematics&Statistics.HismanyservicestothewidercommunityincludebeinganelectedmemberofSenate,aperiodasTreasurerofthelocalbranchofAUTandalongperiodaseditoroftheProceedingsoftheedinburghmathematicalSociety.ItwasaveryfittingtributetohisservicestothemathematicscommunityinScotlandthathewaselectedPresidentoftheemSin2006.

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Dr Robert Grundy (left)retiredfromhispositionasSeniorlecturerintheSchoolofmathematics&StatisticsattheendofJanuary.BobGrundyisaYorkshiremanbuthisuniversityeducationtookplaceinlondon,wherehegainedhisfirstdegreeanddoctoratefromImperialCollege.Hewasappointedin1968towhatwasthentheseparateDepartmentofAppliedmathematicsandcontributedgreatlytotheDepartmentandtotheSchoolintowhichitwasincorporated.InhisresearchBobhasshownhimselftobeanaccomplishedandversatileappliedmathematicianwithcontributionstoavarietyofareasincludingfluidmechanics,asymptoticanalysisandnumericalanalysis.HehasalsobeenapopularandeffectivelecturerandhasservedtheSchoolinavarietyofways,includingaspellasHeadoftheAppliedmathematicsDivision.onenotablecontributiontoUniversitylifeisthefactthatheisoneofthefewmembersofthestaffcricketteamtohavescoredacenturyinacompetitivematch.

School of Divinity

Professor Richard J Bauckham retired at the end of October after fifteen years service with the University, as well as twenty years in previous academic posts. He is one of the foremost living specialists on the New Testament and he has also made a major contribution to the interface between theology and biblical studies. James Davila (School of Divinity) pays tribute to him here.

Richard Bauckhamwasbornin1946inlondonandheattendedtheenfieldGrammarSchool.HereceivedhisfirstdegreeinHistoryatClareCollege,CambridgeUniversity.HisPhDdissertation,alsoproducedatCambridge,wasonasixteenth-centurytheologiannamedWilliamFulke.Inthe1970sRichardwasaResearchFellowatStJohn'sCollegeinCambridgeandalecturerinTheologyattheUniversityofleeds.From1977-1992hewasalecturerandthenaReaderintheHistoryofChristianThoughtatmanchesterUniversity.DuringthisperiodhisresearchmovedsteadilyintotheareaofNewTestamentstudies(withrelatedinterestinearlyJewishstudiesandnon-canonicalearlyChristianliterature),althoughhiscommitmenttotheologicalstudiesremainedstrong,asitdoestothisday.RichardwasappointedProfessorofNewTestamentStudiesintheDivinitySchooloftheUniversityofStAndrewsinJuly1992andhebecameBishopWardlawProfessorin2000.DuringhistimeherehehasalsobeenappointedaFellowoftheBritishAcademyandaFellowoftheRoyalSocietyofedinburgh.

Richard J Bauckham

Richardhaspublished17sole-authoredmonographsandcollectionsofessaysandhehasco-writtenorco-editednumerousotherbooks.Hehasalsopublishedwellover200articlesinjournals,books,andreferenceworks.HiscontributiontoNewTestamentstudieshasbeenwide-rangingandfundamental.

Richardhassupervisedmorethan20doctoralstudentstocompletionduringhistimehere,andhascontributedtothesupervisionofmanyothers.Hehasalsobeenactiveincontributingtoandencouragingdialogueandco-operationbetweenbiblicalscholarsandtheologians.And,finally,heistheauthorofthechildren'sbookThe MacBears of Bearlochofwhichtheremaybemoretocome.

RichardmovedtoCambridgeshortlyafterhisretirement,buthewillcontinuehisassociationwiththeSchoolofDivinity,notleastasoneoftheprincipalinvestigatorsforthemoreoldTestamentPseudepigraphaProject,aninternationalcollaboration,fundedbyamajorresearchgrantfrom

theleverhulmeTrust,topublishanewcollectionofbiblicalapocryphapertainingtotheoldTestament.WehopetoseeRichardhereoftenintheyearstocome.

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Stephen’scyclechallengeThis summer, Stephen King will undertake the challenge of a lifetime in memory of his “inspirational” niece to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust. He spoke to The StAndard about his forthcoming test of endurance.

StephenhasbeenatechnicianinthePhotonicsInnovationCentresince1998.Akeencyclist,hehasoftencontemplatedtheland’sendtoJohno’Groatschallenge.lastyearwhenhisnieceZoëwasill,Stephenmadeuphismindtodoitforher.

BeforecomingtoStAndrews,heworkedattheCityUniversityinlondonfortenyears,wherehebecamepassionateaboutcycling.

Heexplained,“longbeforethecongestionchargeIfoundthatthebest,andleaststressfulwaytogetaroundlondon,wasbybike.TheroadswerejammedandtheUndergroundalwaysfeltlikeyouwerewalkingthroughadustbuster.eventually,IwasluckyenoughtoworkoutacommuteusingthecanalandriverpathsinNorthlondon.

“Thiswasagreatwaytoavoidtrafficfumes,wakeupandgetsomeexercise,withouthavingtodragmyselfouttoagymorwhateverintheevenings.Whatcouldbebetter?”

Followinghisrelocation400milesnorthin1998,hesoondiscoveredsomeofthebestcyclingroadsinthecountry.oneofStephen’sfavouriteroutesisfromDundeetoStAndrewsviaTayport.

“FirsttheTayBridge:Inevergettiredofthatcrossing,withsomeofthebestsunsets.ThenheadalongtoTayportlookingouttosea(withpotentialdolphinsightings).

“TayporttoStmichaelswiththelovelyTentsmuirforestinthedistance.Avoidlowflyingaircraftandit’sontoGuardbridge.Finally,thepathalongtoStAndrewshasitsviewsouttotheedenestuaryandtheStAndrewsskylineasyouapproach.Fantastic,andmostofthetimewithatailwind.”

“Peoplewhodon’tcyclemuchthinkthatit’salongway,buttheywouldbesurprisedhowthemilesgobyonceyougetusedtoit,andyouseesomuchmorewhenyouarecycling.”

Stephen’sniece,ZoëKing,wasdiagnosedwithcancer,agedjust14,andrefusedtoletitgetherdown.ShelostherfightwithcanceronWednesday12September,2007,justdaysbeforeher18thbirthday.But,throughoutthethree-yearperiod,Zoëwasneverbeaten.

Apositive,upbeat,schoolgirl,ZoësupportedtheTeenageCancerTrustinabidtoseebetterfacilitiesinedinburgh

forteenagersfightingcancer.InApril2007shehelpedorganiseafundraisingfashionshowfortheTrust–andwasoneofitsstarmodels.Shewowedtheaudiencewithherpositiveattitudeandturnedheadsinhervarietyofwigs.

Stephensaid,“eventhoughshewasgoingthroughalotoftreatmentsZoëstillfoundtheenergytofighthercornerforteenagerswithcancer.”

“Havinglostherhairduringrepeatedchemotherapy,Zoëalsobackedthecampaignforreal-hairwigs.AlthoughgratefultoreceiveacrylicwigsfromtheNHS,she-incommonwithmostteenagepatients-foundtheminflexibleandeventuallyuncomfortable.RealhairwigsareveryexpensiveandZoëwantedthemtobemorereadilyavailable.”Zoë

Stephen

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To contribute, visit www.justgiving.com/rememberzoe and mention Stephen’s “End 2 End” cycle trip in the comments section.

For further details on The Teenage Cancer trust visit www.teenagecancertrust.org

Stephendecidedthentobringattentiontothesecausesbydoingacyclerideforthecharities.

Hecontinued,“Ihavethoughtabouttheland’sendstoJohno’Groat’scyclefromtimetotimethenitwoulddisappearasIbuiltexcusesinfrontofit.ItcametomindagainlastyearwhenmynieceZoëwasill.

“IplantodothejourneyinsevendaysfromSaturday26JulytoSaturday2August.Itwillbeonmyown,withchangesofkitbeingpickedupandpostedbackasIgo.ThismeansthatIcanuseafairlylightbikeandhopefullykeepupagoodaveragespeed.Thetargetmostdayswillbe130miles.IamchoosinganeastofthePenninesroutewhichmeansIshouldbeabletocomethroughStAndrewsandDundeeonmywayup.

“Zoëwasawonderfulpersonanditwillbeanhonourtohelpinsomethingshecaredaboutsomuch.”

Atnearly1,000miles,thistestofendurancewillbethebiggestchallengethatStephenhasfaced.

Hesaid,“Thisisfromapersonthatwasn’tverysportyatallforalongtime.WhenIfirstarrivedinStAndrewsitwastheSpokescycleshopthatpointedmeinthedirectionofDundeeThistleCC.ThatwasthefirstcyclingclubthatIhadeverjoinedandInowhelprunyearlycycleevents.

“IhavealsobeeninvolvedwithScottishCyclingingettingayouthcyclingacademystartedinDundee,whichwithabitofluckwillhavepeoplecompetinginthe2012londonolympics.

“IcouldgoonandonaboutthebenefitsbutallIwouldsayistryit,itmaybejustwhatyouhavebeenlookingfor!”

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musicalnotesDo you have a soundtrack to your life? Is there one song that always cheers you up, makes you sad or reminds you of days gone by? What tunes inspire you, relax you or get you in the mood?

From what they listen to at work, home, in the car or on holiday, The StAndard asks members of staff to name their top ten tracks of all time. Send yours to magazine@st-andrews.ac.uk

NAME: Andrew Disbury

POSITION: Director of Admissions

1. Come What May,sungbyewanmacGregorandNicoleKidmanin“moulinRouge”–fullofoptimism,passion,confidenceandstyle.

2. Constant Craving,KDlang–forabestfriend.

3. Cha Cha No. 1,BeboValdez&hisorchestra–IwasstrictlyComeDancingbeforeitwaspopular.

4. He’s the Greatest Dancer,SisterSledge-well,IthoughtIwas!

5. I Will Survive,GloriaGaynor–becauseIdid…

6. longdeChuanren’sMasters of the Dragon,HouDejian-theanthemofTiananmenSquare1989.

7. Possession,elvisCostello–thesoundofmystudentyears.

8. True Love,BingCrosby/GraceKelly–aswellegant,elegantmovie(High Society).

9. Tu Te Reconnaîtras,Anne-marieDavid–achampioneurovisionchanson.

10. YueliangDaibiaoWodeXin’sThe Moon Represents My Heart,TeresaTeng–oneofChina’sfirstpopsongsintheearly80s;acompulsorykaraokeclassic.

NAME: Paul Harryman

POSITION: Telephone System Administrator

1. Forget That Girl,Themonkees-love’sfirstlosswhenIwas14.

2. (On the) Threshold of a Dream(lP),moodyBlues-lazySundaystrainingatRAFCosford1970.

3. I Hear You Knockin',DaveedmundsRockpile-playingatadiscowhenImetthefuturemrsH(Sandra)38yearsago.

4. Whiter Shade of Pale,ProcolHarum-refusedpermissiontoplayitatourwedding.

5. One Year of Love,Queen-Freddiemercuryathisbest.

6. Silent Night/7 o' clock News,SimonandGarfunkel-thoughtprovoking.

7. I Will,TheBeatles-shortandsweetlovesong-dedicatedtoSandra.

8. Time in a Bottle,JimCroce-IgetgoosebumpseverytimeIhearthis.

9. Hazard,Richardmarx-astoryofprejudiceandsuspicion.

10. War of the Worlds(lP),JeffWayne-InevertireoflisteningtothisandRichardBurton’snarration.

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1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9

Guesswhere?

Again, we take a closer look at some of the town and gown’s most distinctive features – can you guess what it is yet? Answers on page 57

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StAnzareviewStAnza 2008: A Celebration of Poetry

StAnza: Scotland’s Poetry Festival, which took place in St Andrews fro02m 12-16 March, provided audiences with poetry for every mealtime and over a few drinks, writes Annie Kelly, StAnza Press & Media Manager.

PoetrycouldbeenjoyedwithcoffeeandapastryatPoetryBreakfasts,withalunchtimepintandabutterieduringPoetryCabaretperformancesandyoucouldevenhaveapoemrecitedtoorder,froma‘cocktailmenu’providedbyPoetryTheatreperformanceduoRettaBowenandlauralloyd.Gonearethedayswhenapoetryfestivalmeanssittingonaricketychairinadraughtyhallorbeingsquashedinthebackroomofabar,strainingtolistentoapoetread.FestivalsarerealcelebrationsandStAnzaisuniqueinbeingafestivaloflivepoetry,presentedinavarietyofformsinatownthathasbeendubbedthePoetryCapitalofScotland.

Throughoutthisyear’sFestival,poetrywasconstantlyspillingoffthestageandintothecentreofthings.Therewereunexpectedmoments,suchasanimpromptujazzhowlbyFrisianpoetsTseadBruinja&elmarKuiper,orespeciallymovingones,suchasAmericanpoetTessGallagher’sreadingfromherownvolume,Dear Ghostsandfromthepoetryofherlatehusband,RaymondCarver.

ThecelebrationbeganonWednesday18marchintheByreTheatre’smainfoyer,withafanfarefromtheScottishViennaHorns,awelcomefromFestivalDirectorBrianJohnstone,andanostalgicandwittyopeningspeechbyBrianTaylor,BBCScotland’sPoliticaleditor,recallinghisownbrusheswithpoetryasanundergraduateattheUniversityofStAndrews.ReadingsbyStAnza’sPoet-in-Residence,AdrianmitchellandtheAmericanpoetAugustKleinzahlerintroducedtheFestival’sthemes:Poetry & ConflictandSea of Tongues.

Thechallengesofthefirstthemewerecrystallisedinadiscussion(heldinpartnershipwiththeUniversityofStAndrewsPoetryForum).Therewasanenergeticexchangeofviewsbetweenthepanellistsonwhetherpoetrycouldinspirepeopleinwartimetowards

‘resistanceandrestraint.’ForAugustKleinzahler,poetrywaslesseffectiveasaformofprotestthansongs,filmandjournalism.Adrianmitchell(whosefathercamefromCupar,andwhotreasureshisScottishconnections)spokeeloquentlyabouthisfather’swartimeexperiences,andhowtheseinfluencedhisowncommitmenttopacificism.ThepoetBrianTurner,alsoonthepanel,talkedabouthistimeasasoldierinIraq:hiscollection,Here, Bullet,isanurgentpoeticdespatchfromthatconflict.TomJones,whoteachesattheSchoolofenglish,talkedabouthowpoets‘atvariancewiththeState’,areinfluential,referringtotheRussianpoetAnnaAkhmatova,whoseworkhehastranslated.

Sarahmaguire,poetandDirectoroflondon’sPoetryTranslationCentre,deliveredthisyear’sStAnzalectureonthethemewithasimilarquestiontothepanellists’.StartingwithWHAuden’sdamningline,‘poetrymakesnothinghappen’,sheproceededtocounterthisviewwithanother:that‘poetryisawayofmakingthingshappen’.Inherspiritedsurvey,shediscussedhowgovernmentscantreatpoetrybothasanenemyandsometimesatooloftheStateandhow‘translatingpoetryistheoppositeofwar’.Shecontinuedwithanexaminationofhowpoetryistreatedin

BBC Scotland’s Brian Taylor launches the Festival

Musicians from the Scottish Vienna Horns

James Fenton, reading at the Byre Theatre

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othercultures,givingasanexamplethecareeroftheSomalianpoet,maxamedXaashiDhamac‘Gaarriye’,lionisedinhisownland–‘Somalisarethemostpoetry-obsessedpeopleonearth’–becausehispoetryarticulatesthecountry’scultureandidentity.ToreadtheStAnzalectureinfull,visitwww.stanzapoetry.org

Withitsemphasisonpoetryintranslation,Sarahmaguire’slectureencompassedbothStAnza’sfirstthemeanditssecond,Sea of Tongues,whichcelebratedthediversityoflanguagesinwhichpoetswork,andcreatedanatmospherewhichinspiredandentertainedaudiences.TheFestivalwelcomedpoetswritinginovereleventongues,fromScotsandGaelictoNorwegian,French,andthelesswellknownFrisian(Netherlands)andFranconian(Germany).TheFestival’sfirstmasterclassinTranslation,ledbyedinburgh-basedpoetandtranslator,KenCockburn,successfullyshowcasedthecreativepossibilitiesthatcomewithworkinginotherlanguages.Forexample,NorwegianpoetsodveigKlyveandFinnØglændcouldfindcommongroundandhistoricallinks

August Kleinzahler

withRobertAlanJamieson’sworkinShetlandic.AmongthosemovingbetweenlanguageswasHeatherDohollau,whowasborninsouthWales,butwhohaslivedinFranceformostofheradultlifeandwriteshauntinglyaboutplaceandmemory,particularlyhernativeWalesandheradoptedhome,Brittany.ThevisittoStAndrewsofthisdistinguishedpoetwasalsomarkedbykeyreadingsandseminarsonherworkattheSchoolofmodernlanguages.StAnza’sGlasgowFocusproducedaseriesoftalksandreadingsbysome

ofthatcity’sfinestpoetsandwriters,includinglizlochhead,JaniceGalloway,michaelSchmidtandTomleonard,who,inoneoutstandingpoem,toldhowthewarofterrorcamehome(almostliterally)tohimoveracupofteawithasmilingyoungpoliceman.Newervoices,CherylFollonandABJackson,presentedpoetrylacedwithhumourandsatiricalobservationsofeverydaylife.

Poetryalsoprovidedafeastofmusic,performances,exhibitionsandfilms.Amongmanyoutstandinghighlightswasapoetryandjazznight,whichcombinedthetalentsoflocalmusiciansandassortedpoets–includingtheaforementionedjazzhowl–andachilled-outeveningoflorca,CohenandNickDrake,settomusicbyguitaristKeithJamesanddoublebassistRickFoot.StAnza’sPoetryFilmprogrammeisinitssecondyearanditsinnovativeselectionofshortfilmsblendedvisualimagesandhauntinglines.Amongaricharrayofexhibitionswasaward-winningpoetJenHadfield’sshowofexquisiteartworks,inspiredbymexicanfolkart.TheyevokedShetland’slandscapesandformedavisualcomplementtohernewcollection,Nigh No Place.

TheFestivalendedwithajointreadingbyJamesFentonandAdrianmitchell,bothofwhomraisedtheroof–andmanyhearts–withtheirpassionateandpoliticalpoetry.AgoodmomenttorecallSarahmaguire’squotationfromJohnBergerinherlecture:“Poetrycanrepairnoloss,butitdefiesthespacewhichseparates.Anditdoesthisbyitscontinuallabourofreassemblingwhatisscattered”.

Plansarealreadyafootfornextyear’sStAnza.eleanorlivingstone,theFestival’sArtisticDirector,iskeepingthelistofparticipantsunderwraps,butshecangiveusahintofwhatistocome.“Formarch2009,weplantojoinintheHomecomingScotlandcelebrationstomarkthe250thanniversaryofthebirthofRobertBurns,bylaudingthecontributionsScotlandhasmadehistoricallytopoetryandbyrecognisingtheimportanceofthisbyScotland’s

diaspora.Withoursecondtheme,Poetry Centre Stage,we’llbecontinuingourcollaborationwithotherartforms,thistimetheatre,withaseriesoffocusedevents.”Andthelatestnews,“addedFestivalDirectorBrianJohnstone,“isthatthefestivalhasnowbeenformallyselectedtobepartoftheScottishGovernment’sHomecomingproject,oneofonly58sucheventsacrossthecountry,andtheonlyoneinFife.Wearehonouredanddelightedbythisconsiderableaccolade.”Detailsofnextyear’sStAnzawillbeavailablesoononwww.stanzapoetry.org

StAnzaissponsoredbyTheScottishArtsCouncil,TheNationallottery,TheUniversityofStAndrews,FifeCouncilandothers.

Poet-in-Residence Adrian Mitchell

Festival Director Brian Johnstone introduces StAnza 2008

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The‘hiddenjewel’ofStAndrewsProfessor John Allen provides a colourful glimpse into the local Botanic Garden

When John Wilson founded the University Botanic Garden to the south of St Mary's Quad it was a prominent feature of the University, although laid out in an instructional rather than ornamental manner. Later, it expanded over the road to Dyer's Brae where a few of the plants still flourish on the south-facing slope.

Gunnera by pond

Loches pool in Spring

Intheearly1960stherewasagreatexpansionwhentheUniversitymovedtheGardentoasiteofsevenhectares,twowind-sweptfieldsbetweentheCanongateandtheKinnessburnonwhatwasthentheouteredgeofStAndrews.Bobmitchell(Curator)andJimmackie(HeadGardener)performedtheHerculeantasksoflandscapingtheground,movingtheplantsfromtheexistinggardenandplantingashelterbeltoftreestomitigatethewind.Todaythetreesandplantshavegrown,ashasStAndrewswhichnowencirclestheGarden.Thesiteisnolongersoobvious,thereforehasbecomeoneofthosejewelsofStAndrews;lesswell-knownthanitdeserves.

Thelandscapingusedthelieofthelandtogoodeffect.Thereareupperandlowerlevelsseparatedbyalongsteepbank.Partofthebankwasmadeofrocks,withastreamcascadingdowntoapoolinthegrassyareabelow.Rockplantsgrowinthecrevicesandthescreearea,water-sideplantsonthebanksofthestreamandpool.Furtheralong,thebankisbuiltupofpeat,withmanyspeciesofrhododendron,primula,trilliumandotherplantsfora

shadier,morehumidclimate.ontheupperlevelarethesystematicorderBeds,alongherbaceousborder,aPeaceGarden,aherbgardenandtheglasshouses.Alongglasshousecorridorfullofspectacularflowersgoesfromcooltohightemperatures,withsideglasshousesleadingoffandfollowingthetemperaturesequence,culminatinginthehotandhumidtropicalhousewithanastonishingdisplayoforchids(andbananas!).Thereisalsoalargetemperateglasshousewithapondcontaininggoldfish,whereinJanuaryandFebruarycamelliasbloominprofusion,almostunseenbecausesofewpeopleventureintotheGardeninwinter.InfactthereisbeautyandinteresttobefoundintheGardenatalltimesoftheyear.

TheGardenhaswideappeal.Forthebotanist,thereare8000speciesofplants,manyrare,fromdiversegeographicalandclimaticregionsoftheworld.Theyareproperlylabelledwiththeirnameandareaoforigin.Agardenercanseewhataplanttheyarethinkingofbuyingfromanurserylookslikeingrowth,andcanusethelabellingtoidentifythatplantwhosename

theyhavealwayswantedtoknow,orhaveforgotten.Tothisendtheherbaceousborder,whichisamassofcoloursthroughoutthesummer,hasplantsselectedtoappealtothegardener.Forthecasualstrollerthereisagoodvarietyofrelaxingenvironments.

In1987theUniversity,shortofmoneyasusual,decideditcouldnolongeraffordtomaintaintheGarden.Fortunately,insteadofitsbeingclosedandthrowntodevelopers,anagreementwasreachedwithNeFifeDistrictCouncilthattheCouncilshouldmanagetheGardenona25-yearlease.later,theagreementtransferredtoFifeCouncilCommunityServices.Theaimsaretoprovideapublicamenity,topreserveanimportantplantcollectionandtocontinuewiththeuseoftheGardenforeducationand,toalesserextent,research.InputfromtheUniversityisformalisedandBobmitchell,nowretiredbutactiveinmanythings,isHonoraryCurator.Theeducationalaspectsextendtoallages.Thereareregularlecture/demonstrationcoursesonvariousaspectsofhorticulture.ThereisalsoJuniorHortus,ayoungsters'gardeningclub,whichwasstarted33yearsago.Visitsbygroupsofschoolchildrenhaveincreasedinnumbergreatlyinrecentyears.Theyenthusiasticallystudynotonlydifferentaspectsofplantsbutalsothebirds,

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Loches pool in Autumn

Camellia bushAzaleas

weebeasties,creepy-crawliesandfungifoundintheGarden.A"GlassClass",aglasshousededicatedtothepurposeandappropriatelyequipped,aidsthestudies.TheseeducationalactivitiesaremainlyrunbytheFriendsoftheBotanicGarden.Toco-ordinateandexpandthem,theStAndrewsBotanicGardeneducationTrustltdwassetupasaregisteredcharityandtookoverfromtheFriendsinJanuary2006.

TheFriendsoftheBotanicGarden,foundedin1981tofurthertheaimsoftheGarden,isaflourishingorganisationwithamembershipnowofabout1200,whichislargeforapopulationthesizeofStAndrewsanditssurroundings.moneyisraisedthroughmodestsubscriptionsand,substantially,throughsalesofplants,manyassiduouslypropagatedbytheWednesdayGroup.Withthefunds,theFriendssupportmanythingsintheGarden:forexample,theypaidforthecreationoftheherbaceousborder,providedasophisticatedlabellingmachine,givemoneytotheeducationalTrustandpayforsummerworkers.

FromoctobertoJunetheyhavemonthlylectures,wellattended,ontopicsasdiverseasplantcollectinginIranandnineteenth-centuryillustrationsofIndianbotany.Itisanotablyfriendlyorganisation,andmembershavetheadvantageoffreeentrytotheGarden.

IfyoudidnotknowoftheexistenceoftheGarden,orknewofbutnevervisitedit,nowisagoodtimetogoalthoughanytimeintheyearisgood.

The Garden entry is on the Canongate, with ample car parking. Opening times are 10am to 7pm May-September, 10am to 4pm October to April. Admission charge is £2 adult, £1 concession and children, free for children under five and Friends of the Botanic Garden. There is disabled access to most of the Garden. Dogs are not allowed except guide dogs. www.st-andrews-botanic.org

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It’sallacademicWhat attracts leading academics to St Andrews and what makes them stay? This feature focuses on individual researchers, looking at their achievements so far and their hopes for the future.

This issue, we spoke to researchers in the fields of Evolutionary Psychology and Solar Physics.

NAME: Dick Byrne

POSITION: Professor of Evolutionary Psychology

AREA/S OF RESEARCH: Animal cognition and the evolution of intelligence. ‘Intelligence’ isn’t a unitary quantity, but best thought of as a collection of skills that allow animals – including us - to survive and prosper by using their brains. By gaining an understanding of the natural conditions that led to the evolution of intelligence in different groups of animal, and by charting the variation in cognitive abilities across species, we can begin to sort out when and why humans became so very specialised for brain power, and understand how our abilities differ from those of other species.

WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE THIS FIELD OF RESEARCH?

‘Choose’wouldbeanexaggeration.onlymyineptitudewithlanguagesmademetakeascientificpath,andIwentuptoCambridgetoreadphysics.There,physicsistakenaspartofnaturalsciences,andthatallowedmetodiscoverthefascinationofusingcognitivepsychologytounderstandthehumanmind,withtheadvantagethatitdidnotrequireBesselfunctionsortensoralgebra,soIwentontoaPhDincognitivepsychology.WheninterviewedforalectureshipatStAndrewsIhadlittletrackrecord,butmalcolmJeevesneverthelesspickedmeforhisrathernewPsychologyDepartment.Thismeantthat,bysheerluck,IhadendedupintheonlyBritishpsychologydepartmentwhereethologywasstudied.myPhDworkhadleftmeworriedbypsychology’sfailuretoanalyseeverydaybehaviourasdata,andIwasdelightedtodiscoverethology,thescientificstudyofnaturalbehaviour.Thelaissez-faireclimateofacademicresearchatthattimeallowedmetobeginstudyinganimalbehaviourinthefield—andI’venotlookedback!

WHY IS YOUR RESEARCH IMPORTANT?

myownmotivationisafascinationwithtryingtounderstandtheevolutionaryoriginsofhumanabilities,andpurepleasureinwatchingandanalysinganimalbehaviour.Butstudyinganimalcognitionandhumanevolutionisimportant,becauseonlyifwecanunderstandthebiologicalunderpinningsofeverydayhumanbehaviourarewelikelytobeabletodosomethingusefulwhenthingsgowrong:inpathology,developmentaldisorders,orantisocialbehaviour.

WHAT DO YOU MOST ENJOY ABOUT YOUR WORK?

Itisexcitingtodiscoverthatmakingcomparisonsbetweenspeciesallowsanimalcognitiondatatofeedindirectlytomodellinghumancognitiveevolution.ButI’mnotsureifIwouldstillbedoingit,ifIhadnotalsodiscoveredhowenjoyableitcouldbetocollectthatdata.Whenworkingonhumansubjects,Ihadalwaysbeeninahurrytographtheresultsandtestmycurrenttheory,whereasfollowinglargeanimalsinthefieldisapleasureinitself,workingsurroundedbythebiologicalrichnessofatropicalenvironment.Andwithspecieslikegorillasandelephants,theanimals’sociallivesareagooddealmoreexcitingtoobservethanNeighboursorEastEnders.Thatmakesadaypainstakinglyrecordingsequencesofmanualactionorinter-animalproximityintoastorytotellintheevening.

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WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING FINDING YOU HAVE MADE?

That’shardtochoose—differentthingsinterestdifferentpeople.PersonallyI’drateasmostimportantmydiscoverythattheplant-feedingmethodsofmountaingorillasweretechnicallycomplex,withseveralconsistentstageseachinvolvingthetwohandsworkinginoppositiononasingletask.Before,gorillastendedtobedismissedasbigandcute,butdumb.Chimpanzees,incontrast,werefamousfortoolusing.Gorillafeedingprovedtobeorganisa-tionallymorecomplexeventhanchimpanzeetool-use;waybeyondanythingamonkeycoulddo.Thispointstowhatmaybe‘special’aboutgreatapeabilities,theabilitytounderstandandorganisenewbehaviourtasks,ratherthanwhetherornottoolsareused—ahinttowardsunderstandingourowndistantpastevolution.Butmostscienceisdoneaspartofateamandnowadaysmostofmytimeisspentdirectingandsupervisingothers,sointerestingfindingsarejointefforts.Forinstance,workwithmypostdoctoralstudentlucyBatesontheAfricanelephant,incollaborationwithCynthiamoss’s35-yearprojectinAmboseli,hasshownthatelephantskeeptrackofupto30familymembersbyupdatingtheirmemorieswithinformationtheygetfromsmellingrecenturinedeposits.PhDstudentsoftenbringnewideas:RahelNoserhasshownthatbaboonsplantheirday’srouteaheadofanythingtheycanphysicallydetect;theyhavea‘mentalmap’oftheterrain.ericaCartmillfoundthatorangutansareabletotakeaccountofhowwelltheiraudiencehasunderstoodtheirgestures,showinganabilitythatformspartofthe‘theoryofmind’.

AND WHAT DEVELOPMENTS AND/OR CHALLENGES DO YOU FORESEE IN THE FUTURE?

Ithinkevolutionarypsychologistshaveallfocusedonlarge-brainedspeciestoomuch(myownrecentworkwithelephantsisacaseinpoint!)ofcourse,specieshavelargebrainsforareason,sostudyingthemislikelytobeexciting,

butunlesswealsostudycognitioninmoreaveragespeciesitwillbeimpossibletointerpretthespecialcasesinanevolutionaryframework.Forthatreason,I’mhappytobecollaboratingwithmikemendlandSuzanneHeld,atBristolUniversity,onthecognitionofdomesticpigs,andinthefutureIhopetostudycognitioninmoremodestspeciesstill,evenreptilesandinsects.Nowthatwouldbeachallenge!

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TOST ANDREWS?

Ajobadvert.ApplyingforjobsseemedthethingtodowhenfinishingaPhD,andIgotthisone.

AND WHAT MAKES YOU STAY HERE?

WhenIarrived,Iexpectedtostayacoupleofyearsinwhatwastomealmostaforeigncountry.ItwasonlyafterthePsychologyDepartmentherestartedgettingtopranksforresearchthatIbegantorealisethatleavingmightnotbesmart,andbythenIhadcometolovelivinginFifeandScotland.

Tosomeonebroughtupinthelondonsuburbs,itisatreattowalktoworkovertheKinkellBraesandalongtheeastSands,withviewsofthesnow-coveredGrampians.IcanonlyhopethattheScottishGovernment’streatmentofuniversitiesdoesn’tmakeamovetoenglandanessentialcareermove.

Dick with Zizi, a mountain gorilla in Rwanda, 1989

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NAME: Ineke De Moortel

POSITION: Royal Society University Research Fellow, School of Mathematics & Statistics

AREA/S OF RESEARCH: Solar Physics

WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE THIS FIELD OF RESEARCH?

Istudiedmathsandastronomyasanundergraduateand,asafinalyearstudent,IdidaprojectinSolarPhysics.IbecamefascinatedbyourSun,anddecidedtocontinueasaPhDstudent.Whodoesn'tliketheSun?

WHY IS YOUR RESEARCH IMPORTANT?

TheSunistheonlystarthatisnearenoughtoobserveingreatdetail.UnderstandingourSunwillhelpusunderstandotherstars.obviously,theSunalsohasalargeimpactontheearthandunderstandinghowtheSunaffectsforexample,theearth'sclimateisatopicwhichismoreimportantthanever.

WHAT DO YOU MOST ENJOY ABOUT YOUR WORK?

TheresearchIdoisreallyvaried,andit'scertainlyverychallenging.ThemodernsatelliteimageswenowgetdailyfromourSunshowsomuchdetail.Justlookingatthemmakesyouwonderhowweareevergoingtounderstanditall.Apartfromdoingresearch,Iamalsoinvolvedinteachingandsupervisingstudents.IfinditveryrewardingtobeabletopassonsomeoftheknowledgeIhavegatheredoverthelasttenyears.

WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING FINDING YOU HAVE MADE?

Fromsatelliteobservations,IfoundevidencefortheexistenceofatypeofmagneticwavesintheSun'satmosphere.Theoristshadlongpredictedthatthosewavesshouldexist,butuntilthemodernsatellitescamealong,nobodyhadactuallyseenthosewavesontheSun.observationsofwavesinthesolaratmospherehavenowbecomeveryfrequentbutbeinginvolvedintheirdiscoveryrightfromthestarthasbeenagreatexperience.

AND WHAT DEVELOPMENTS AND/OR CHALLENGES DO YOU FORESEE IN THE FUTURE?

Thenextgenerationofsolarsatelliteswillproducedataatsuchahighratethatitwillbeimpossibletolookatthemallindividually.Hence,wewillhavetoteachcomputershowtoanalyseobservationaldataforus.Atthesametime,theoristshavetoimprovetheirmodelscontinuouslytokeepupwithreality.ThecurrentbudgetcrisiswithinSTFC,ourresearchcouncil,iscertainlyprovidinganadditionalchallenge.onamorepersonallevel,Iwillhavetofindoutsoonhowtocombinemyworkwiththedemandsofayoungfamily.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO ST ANDREWS?

Ioriginallycamehereasafinalyearundergraduatestudent,ontheerasmusexchangeprogramme,andreturnedayearlaterasaPhDstudent.mysupervisorinBelgiumknewtheSolarTheoryGroupherequitewellandpreviousexchangestudentsreallyenjoyedtheirtimeinStAndrews.SoIdecidedtogiveitatryaswellandIguessIhavestayedhereeversince.

WHAT MAKES YOU STAY HERE?

StAndrewsisjustagreatplacetoliveandworkandIloveScotland,despiteitssomewhaterraticclimate.Sincearrivingheretenyearsago,IhavetakenupmountaineeringandhaveclimbedalltheScottishmunroes.ThereisstillsomuchunspoiledcountrysideinScotlandandIhaveagreatsenseoffreedomwhenIgowalkinginthemountains.IfonlytheSunwouldshinealittlebitmoreoften!

Nominations or volunteers for this feature are welcome. Email your suggestions to magazine@st-andrews.ac.uk

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NewAppointmentsProfessor David BrownjoinstheSchoolofDivinityatStmary’sfromDurhamwherehehadbeenVanmildertProfessorofDivinityandaCanonoftheCathedralforthepastseventeenyears.

Priortothis(forfourteenyears)hewasUniversitylecturerinethicsandPhilosophicalTheologyatoxfordandFellowandTutorinTheologyandPhilosophyatorielCollege.Asthosetitlesperhapsindicate,hismainresearchinterestinthosedayswasrelationsbetweenphilosophyandtheology,andthisisreflectedinhistwoprincipalbooksfromthattime,TheDivineTrinityandContinentalPhilosophyandModernTheology,withtheformerinparticularreflectinghistraininginanalyticphilosophyatbothoxfordandCambridge.Whilenotlosingconcernforsuchinteraction,hisfocusatDurhambroadenedtoencompasstherelationshipbetweentheologyandwiderculturemoregenerally.

Theresult,overthepastdecade,hasbeenaseriesoffivebooks(allpublishedbyoUP).Thefirsttwo(TraditionandImagination;DiscipleshipandImagination)explorethekindoffactorsthathaveled,overthecenturies,tofreshwaysofunderstandingtheChristianScripturesandwhatsortofimpactthishashadonthearts.Thelatterthree(GodandEnchantmentofPlace;GodandGraceofBody;GodandMysteryinWords)examinethesenseinwhichitmightbeappropriatetospeakoftheexperienceofGodbeingmediatedthroughtheartsandculturemoregenerally:sonotjustmusicandarchitecture,forexample,butalsosuchthingsasgardensandmeals.TheSchoolofDivinityhastakentheopportunityofhisarrivaltolaunchanewoneyearmlittcourseinTheologyandtheArts.DavidwaselectedaFellowoftheBritishAcademyin2002.

Althoughhehaslivedinenglandformostofhislife,DavidisinfactaScotoratanyrateahalf-breed(Scotbybirth,butwithanenglishfather).HewasbroughtupinIslay,wenttoschoolinDumbartonandtookhisfirstdegreeinClassicsatedinburgh.onthatoccasionhehadalsobeenofferedaplaceatStAndrews,soheisdelightedtohavethissecondchanceofcomingtoScotland’soldestuniversity.

NewRSeFellowsFour St Andrews academics have followed in the footsteps of distinguished pioneers such as Sir Walter Scott, Charles Darwin and Einstein, having been elected Fellows of The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE).

Professor David Dritschel,ProfessorofAppliedmathematics,Professor Russell Morris, ProfessorofmaterialsChemistry,Professor Hamish Marshall,WardlawProfessorofInternational

AtthetimeoftheannouncementPresidentofTheRoyalSocietyofedinburgh,SirmichaelAtiyah,commented,“IamdelightedtobeabletowelcomethisoutstandingcohortofnewFellowstotheSociety.ConferringtheaccoladeofFellowshiponindividualsrecognisedasamongstthebestmindsinScotlandandaroundtheworld,isthebeginning,nottheend,oftheSociety’spurpose.”

History,andProfessor Malcolm White,ProfessorofBiochemistry,joinoversixtyexpertsasnewFellowsoftheSociety.

NewHonoraryFellowsincludeinternationalstatesman,HRHPrinceelHassanbinTalalandProfessorRobinHochstrasser,apioneerintheinnovativeuseoflasers.

Fellowsareelectedinrecognitionofoutstandingachievementintheirfieldsandcontributiontopublicservice.

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Virtuallypossible–buyingintotheSecondlifeImagine the scene... an open-air lecture theatre surrounded by the swishing of palm trees and the sound of the ocean’s waves, or a modernist staff room, complete with sea views and warmed by a roaring open fire. Welcome to Minerva Island, the University of St Andrews’ Second Life and an oasis of learning developed by group of University academics.

NamedaftertheRomanGodoflearning,minervaIslandisaplacewherestaffandstudents‘fly’tolectures,excavateancientruinsandopenexhibitions;inrealitytheydon’tneedtoleavehometoattendclassesorpickupcoursenotes–instead,everythingcanbedoneonline.

Secondlifeis,virtually,aplacewhereanythingispossible.Fromattendingreal-timeeventsfromuniversitylecturestorockconcerts,buyinganythingfromanislandtoanewpairofshoes,orusingitasameetingplaceforthetwenty-firstcentury,the3Dspaceisfastdevelopingasaneducationalresourceforinstitutionsaroundtheworld.Withthousandsofnew‘residents’joiningeveryday,Secondlifeisanonlinevirtualworld,richinmultimediacontent,andcreatedentirelybyitsresidents,whoareonaverageaged30.Inspiredbythecyberpunkliterarymovement,itoffersanadvancedformofsocialnetworkingwhereresidentscaninteractwitheachotherinrealtime.manyorganisationsusethesiteformarketing,promotionalandrecruitmentpurposes(HarvardhostsopendaysonSl);businessesselltheirgoodsonline(over$12mwerespentinmarch2008),IBmhavetheirownisland,evenDrWhohasjoinedintheact.BandssuchasU2andSuzanneVegahaveheldliveevents.So-called‘metaverseevangelists’hold

massconferencestoaudiencesallovertheworld.Althoughmanyofitsusersaretraditional‘gamers’,educationalestablishmentsarecatchingon,with700universitiesaroundtheworld(and52inBritain)establishinga‘presence’onthemUVe(multiUserVirtualenvironment).

establishedin2003bylindenlab,therearecurrentlyover13mresidentsonSl,beamingindirectfromtheirhomesaroundtheworld(over100countriesarerepresented).Inanyseven-dayperiod,halfamillionpeoplelogontotheir‘otherlife’ononeofthe16,993islands(andthereis21msquarefeetof‘land’forsale).Secondliferscansetupwholecommunitiesonline,buyandsellgoods(inrealmoney,thoughtheonlinecurrencyislindendollars–currentlyexchangingataround500tothepound)andevenreadthelocalpaper,whichreportsonislandlife.TheculturedamonguscanvisittheSistineChapel,theadventurouscantakepartinmediaevaljoustingtournaments,

whiletheromanticcanget‘married’inthedecadentGentleHeartsTouchchapel.Butthisvirtualspaceisnotjustahomeforlonelyhearts–thousandsofbusinessesaroundtheworldarecapitalisingonthepopularityofSl,wheresomecanfarebetterthanintherealworld.Secondlifehasalistof’Topmillionaires’thatearnreallifemoney.ForexampleoneChineseteacherisworth$1mbytradingvirtuallandanddevelopingdiversebusinessactivitiesaroundvirtualworlds.

Userscanjoinasabasicuserforfree–theonlycostisincurredwhenbuyinggoods(suchasland),whichisoptional,andSlisaccessibleviadownloadablesoftware.NewcomersareeasedingentlywithaseriesofonlinetutorialstointroducethemtotheSecondlife,wherelifeisreallywhatyoumakeit–fromsettingupyourownbusinessorbuildingyourownhometoplayinggamesandgoingshopping,theSecondlifeworldisyourvirtualoyster.Indeed,thecreatorscallita‘homeawayfromhome’.

St Rule’s Tower, as it appears on Second Life

onlinespecial

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ThoughtheUniversityhasno‘official’presenceontheisland(i.e.forrecruitmentormarketingpurposes),thereareanumberofongoingprojectsrelatedtoteachingandresearch,whichstartedupinthelastyearthroughfundingfromFIlTA,viaSAlTIReandtheHighereducationAcademy.Thoughtheyuseunique‘avatars’(onlinecharacters)ratherthantheirownidentities,The StAndardtrackeddownandmetupwiththestaffmembersinvolved.enterIshbel Hartmann(VickiCormie,library),Alan Thor(Alanmiller),Aardvark Gumbo(ColinAllison),Kristoffer Drake(KrisGetchell)-allComputerScience-andSchoolofManagement1413Maximus(Andrewmacías-Díaz,

(left-right) Vicki Cormie, Kris Getchell,

Alan Miller, Ross Nichol, Thomas Sturgeon, Colin Allison

and Andrew Macías-Díaz - and their Second Life personas

(Colin Allison missing from virtual photo)

management),allseasonedSecondliferswithapassionfortheonlinelifeandtheendlesspossibilitiesitofferstoteachingandlearning.

AnimportantcomponentofthelearningprocessfacilitatedbymUVesistheabilityto‘learnbydoing’.Alanexplained,“UsuallymUVesaregamesthataregoalorientated.WhilethetechnologyissimilartogamessuchasQuake,thedifferencewithSecondlifeisthatthesystemdoesn’tdefinewhatyoudo.It’sbeendesignedsothatyoucannotjustfullyinteractwiththeenvironment,butyoucanchangeittoo.Thewholeprocesslendsitselfreallywelltoexploratorylearning,whichiswherewecomein.Thewholeideaofapplyinggamingmethodsanda3Denvironmenttothelearningprocessisreallyquiteimportantandunique.3DvirtualworldslikeSecondlifelendthemselvestosupportingmanyaspectsoflearning,forexampletheexplorationofvirtualenvironments,thedevelopmentofvirtuallaboratoriesandinteractivelearningusingmultimediacontent.”

Alan’scolleagueThomasSturgeonhascreatedavirtuallabwithinSecondlifeforexperimentationwithwirelessnetworking.Studentscanlearnaboutthecomputingsciencebehindthedevelopmentof3Dvirtualworlds,aswellaswirelessnetworking.“Itreallyisquitegroundbreakingwhatwe’redoing,”hesaid.“ThelabisavailabletostudentsontheComputerScienceNetworksandCommunicationscourseaswellasHonoursstudents,whomaywishtocarryoutprojectsonSl.Aspartoftheircoursework,studentswillbegradedonthecodetheywritewhichcontributestothedevelopmentofthelabonminervaIsland.”

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“ThisisthrowingupmanyseriouschallengesinprovidingthesamequalityofsimulationandlearningthathasalreadybeenachievedintheversionthatrunsoutsideSecondlife,butthere’snodoubtthattheenvironmentintriguesandcaptivatesstudents”,saidColinAllison,“Wewillbeconductingusertestswithundergraduatesinthenearfuture”.

meanwhile,PhDstudentAndrewmacías-DíazinmanagementhasalreadytaughtamoduleentirelyinSecondlife.Andrewrecentlytaught22studentsonthee-businessmoduleforthemastersinFinance,marketing,ITandHumanResourcesviathevirtualspace.Theideabehindthepaperlessmodulewastoteachstudentshoworganisationscanusethevirtualworldformarketingpurposes.FromAndrew’sremodelledultra-modernglassfrontedStRule’sTower,studentscandoanythingfrompickingupcoursenotesfromtheirvirtualpigeonholetocommunicatingwitheachotheronline.eachsteptheyclimbatStRule’srepresentsastageintheircoursework,whichultimatelyleadstothemsettinguptheirowne-business.Farfromstudentscompletingthecoursefromthecomfortoftheirbedrooms,theyspentasetnumberofhoursonlevel2oftheGateway,manyofthemstayinglongerthannecessary,whileAndrewwasavailableonelevelup.Nordiditreplaceface-to-faceteaching,withthebeginningofthemoduletakingtheformofagroupmeetingbeforestartingthetrainingmoduleinSl,wherenewusersliterallyhavetolearnhowtowalk.

Andrew,whobecameinterestedinthepossibilitiesofteachingviathevirtualworldthroughhisresearchfortheFutureofDigitalCitiesproject,said,“Studentswereenthusiasticandhadmoremotivationbecauseitisaninteractiveandfunwaytolearn.Itisaveryhands-onenvironmentwherestudentscanworkinteamsorasindividualsandcouldcarryoutawholeprojectwithinavirtualenvironment.Ithinkoneofthereasonsthatstudentsenjoyeditsomuchisbecausetheywereinthedrivingseatbecausetheycanworkattheirownpace,completingcourseworkintheirowntime.But

theorganisationelementmeansstudentscaneasilyseewhentheyarefallingbehind.It’sverypracticaltoo–ratherthansendthemtoatriptoedinburghonanassignment,IcansetupsomethingforstudentstovisitinSecondlife,frominternationalorganisationstovirtualbusinesses.”

AgroupofsixstudentsfromthemastersinmanagementandITarecurrentlywritingtheirdissertationsontopicssuchassecurity,finance,psychology,marketingandthetechnicalaspectsofSecondlifeanditsapplicationforbusinesses.

Thoughadmittingthatthereareprosandconstothevirtualworld,andthatthedangerofinternetaddictionisonetobewaryof,hesaid,“Anythingispossibleinthevirtualworld.onSecondlife,youcanfallinlove,workandmakemoney.YoucanteleworkandhaveactualmeetingsinSecondlife,asIBmdo.It’sveryimportantforentrepreneurshipandinthefutureeveryonewillhavetheirownpersonalavatarandatelepresenceonvirtualworldslikeSecondlife.Itisstillrelativelynewbutthingsaremovingveryfast,Secondlifeisjustatthestagenowwheretheinternetwasinthe80s.”

AndrewisveryinterestedinthepotentialofSloutsideofteachingandrecentlyfoundhimselfaccidentallymarketinghiscoursewhenbumpingintocuriousStAndrews’alumnionline!Asforthemastersstudents,Andrew

thepossibilityofhostingconferencesforanyoneintheworldtoattendonSecondlife.lastmonththeSchoolbroadcastkeyspeakersfromtheFourthScottishDoctoralmanagementConferenceacrosstheinternet.

“Itisveryimportantforcommunicationskills,”hesaid.“Itisaverypioneeringwaytoteach.Harvard,forexample,hostweeklyseminarsonSecondlife.Butyoucanlearnsomuchonlinetoo;youcansetupexperimentsandyoucanevenlearnwhatitfeelsliketobeschizophrenicononeisland.Inthefutureitwillbepossibletoteachstudentsacrosstheworldinthisway…alreadytwoofmystudentsareusingSltolearnanewlanguage–one,aGreeklearningChinese,whiletheother,aChinesestudent,islearningSpanish.It’samazing.”

VickiCormie,Academicliaisonlibrarian(Science&medicine),agreed,“Secondlifeisverygoodatmodelling,forexampleyoucanbuildtheecosystemonawholeisland.objectscanevolveovertimeandthereisawholeeducationalaspect,where,forexample,youcaninteractwithmolecules.”

VickiiscurrentlydevelopingavirtualexhibitionspacefortheUniversitylibraryonSecondlife.Shebecameinterestedinthevirtualworldtwoyearsagoonapersonalbasisandsoonfoundherselfengrossedinaburgeoningcommunityinwhichpeoplefullyintegrateinto‘immersivecharacters’(it’s

Vicki’s space for Special Collecions online

saidthattheyhadoverwhelminglyenjoyedthemodule(77%wouldcontinuethecourseinSl)andlaterintheyeartheywillgivepresentationstofellowmanagementstudents(andanyoneelsewhowantstolisten)viaSecondlife.AndrewwillrepeatthemoduleforthenextsetofstudentsinSeptember.Heisalsoconsidering

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consideredbadetiquettetoaskfellowresidentsabouttheirreallife)whenonline.RecentlyshehasbeenworkinginSecondlifeasateachingassistantontheInformationmanagementdegreeattheUniversityofSheffield.ShealsoattendsandoccasionallypresentssessionsinSecondlifeattheweeklymeetingsoftheInformationliteracyGroupwhichincludesprofessionalsinterestedinthesubjectfromallaroundtheworld.

onminervaIsland,VickihasdevelopedanexhibitionspacewhichwillallowSpecialCollectionstohighlightsomeoftheirtreasuresandallowvisitorsaninteractiveexperienceofturningthepagesandexaminingsomeoftheirrarestmaterialincloseupdetail.“Itwillgiveusthechancetoshowoffsomeofourmostfragilematerialtothewiderworld”,shesaid.

“ThebestthingaboutSecondlifeisthatthesystemdoesn’tdefinewhatyoudo–instead,userscandefinetheirownenvironment,whichlendsitselfreallywelltoexploratorylearning,”shecommented.

It’sasociableplacetoo–Vickihasbeenknowntohosthousepartiesonline,enjoyingaglassofwinewithfriendsacrossthecountry,andevenattendedavirtualmusicfestival,whichwassorealisticshegotannoyedatitbeingsocrowded.“Iwenttochurchyesterdaymorning,”sheadded,notmeaningalocalone.

ComputerSciencePhDstudentKrisGetchellmeanwhileisworkingwithAlanmillerandColinAllison,SarahKennedy(akaBunniDeerhunter)andRebeccaSweetman(SchoolofClassics)tocreateavirtualexcavationofaByzantineBasilicainSparta,Greece.Theauthentic3DmodelisbasedonRebecca’sreal-lifeexcavationoftheareain2000,thefirstinahundredyears,andwhichKrisdescribesasa‘footprint’fortheproject.TheideabehinditistoenablestudentsontheAncientHistoryArchaeologydegreetoparticipateinavirtualexcavationoftheBasilicaandhighlighthowrealworldfindingscanbeusedtoprovideanauthenticvirtualexcavationexperience.FromsearchingthedeepovergrowthoftheGreekAcropolisfortheactualsitetosubmittingfundingproposalstothevirtualresearchcouncil,studentshavetouncoverandidentifyartefactsbeforecuratinganexhibitionoftheirsignificantfindingsintheSecondlifeBasilicaVisitorCentre.

TheprojectcameaboutwhenKris’ssupervisorAlangottalkingtoRebeccaaboutvariousprojectsattheirstaffinduction,andtheydecidedtocombineskillstocreateauniqueeducationalopportunity.TheyfeltthatSlofferedanenvironmentthatencourages‘self-motivateddiscovery’.

Rebeccaexplained,“Inmanycasestheopportunitiestoparticipateinarealexcavationarelimitedduetolackofspaceandfinance.Toallowstudents

Kris Getchell aka Kristoffer Drake surveys the Basilica

someopportunitytoexperienceanexcavationandthewiderprocessesinvolved,wedevelopedavirtualexcavationonSecondlife.Indeed,manyoftheseexperiencesmaynotbereadilyavailableonarealexcavation.”

Inthefuture,Rebeccaandhercolleagueshopetocreateanewisland

inSecondlifewhichisparticularlyrichindifferentarchaeologicalmaterialsothatstudentscanreallyputtheirsurveyskillstothetest.

ofcoursenoteveryoneissuitedtotheSecondlife–approximately80percentofislandersdon’tgetpastthefirststagesandgiveup.“It’snotNirvana,”commentedAlan,“therearelotsofproblemssowe’redefinitelynotindangerofreplacingface-to-facecontact.”

ItremainstobeseenwhetherSecondlifehasashelflife,andwhatitslastingimpactinhighereducationwillbe.Inevitablyitraisesquestionsaroundresource,ITbandwidthandreputationalrisk,allofwhichneedcarefulconsiderationwithinthecontextoftheUniversity’soverallmission.

experimentationaddstoourunderstandingofitsusefulnessandriskhowever,meantimeourvirtualcolleagueswillprogresswiththeirownprojects.TheexpansionofminervaIslandandahoped-forreconstructionofStAndrewsCathedralarebothinthepipeline...watchthisvirtualspacefordevelopments.

“It’sverymuchworkinprogress,”saidAlan.“It’simportanttobepartoftheeducationalpotential;wewouldliketoseeawholesuiteofprojectsdevelopacrosstheUniversity.Anyonecanuseit,it’sanappealingandengagingwaytolearnandisanimportantpartofthefutureoflearning.TenyearsagothissortofinteractionwithanenvironmentlikeSecondlifewasjustnotpossible.Thewholevirtualworldisnotsomethingthatwillgoaway-itwillonlydevelopmoreinthefutureassystemsdo.Whoknowswherewewillbeintenyears’time?”

AsAndrewmaciaspointedout,wecouldallhaveourown‘telepresence’withdifferentUniversityunitsbeingadaptedintothesecondlife-itmaynotbelongbeforestaffcanformtheirownclubonlineforavirtualcoffee.

Gayle Cook

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AccessibleAuldActsFuel shortages, arguments over tolls on the Forth and Tay, binge drinking, and debates over the credit crunch - sound familiar? Scottish politicians were fighting about them some 500 years ago, according to a major new historical resource produced by academics within the University.

An act from 1621 outlawing the robbing of hawk nests and hunting in snow. Parliament frequently legislated on

environmental issues in an effort to preserve game and wildfowl for hunting, the main sport of the nobility.

(L to R) Bruno Longmore of the National Archives of Scotland, Professor Keith Brown, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Dr Gillian MacIntosh, Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson and Dr Brian Lang.

Inaprojectofunprecedentedscaleandcomplexity,ProfessorKeithBrown,DeputyPrincipalandmasterofUnitedCollegeandateamofresearchersfromtheSchoolofHistoryhavecreatedafullysearchableonlinedatabaseoftheproceedingsoftheScottishParliamentfromitsfirstsurvivingactof1235toitsdissolutionbytheActofUnionof1707.

ProjectmanagerDrGillianmacIntoshexplained,“Theneweditionisthefullestrecordeveravailableoftheinstitutionthatlayattheheartofthenationfornearly500years.Whilehistorianshavetendedtoconcentrateonparliament’sroleingreatmattersofstate,themajorityofitsbusinesswasrelativelymundaneandwouldbefamiliartoanyonewhofollowsparliamentarydebatestoday.

“Indeed,acursorysearchoftherecordrevealsthatmanyso-calledmodernissues–suchasrowsovermPs’expensesortheplantingoftreestoimprovetheenvironment–allhavelengthyhistoricalprecedents.”

ThepublicationonlineofTheRecordsoftheParliamentsofScotlandto1707atwww.rps.ac.ukmakesfreelyavailabletoallthe16.5millionwordsthatdocumentalmost500yearsofScottishparliamentaryhistory.

Presidingofficer,AlexFergussonmSP,hostedaformallaunchofthemajornewparliamentaryrecordattheScottishParliamentinmay.

Hesaid,“Thisprojectistheperfectblendofoldandnew,takingdocumentsandtexts,someover700yearsold,andbringingthemalivetodaythroughtheuseofthemosttechnologicallyadvancedmethodscurrentlyavailable.ItwillprovideourpeoplewithagreaterunderstandingoftheirpastandthehistoricchaptersofScotland’sparliamentarylife.”

Theprojecthastaken11yearstocompleteandpresentstherecordsoftheScottishParliamentinaformatthatisamongstthemostuser-friendlyofanyhistoricalrecordyetpublished.Theresourceoffersstudents,scholarsandanyoneinterestedinScotland’spastanimmediatelyaccessibleandfullysearchablepointofentryintooneofthecountry’skeyhistoricalsources.

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ProfessorKeithBrownsaid,“elevenyearson,atacostof£1.2millioningrantsandmuchmoreintermsoffulleconomiccosts,andhavingemployed,inoneformoranother,anarmyofpost-doctoralfellows,researchassistantsandpostgraduates,aswellashavingsolicitedthegoodwillofmanyothers,theprojecthasbeencompleted.

“Aftercountlessprojectmeetings,themammothenterpriseoftranscribing,translatingandmarkingupsome16.5millionwordsofScotland’sparliamentaryrecordwasquietlyplacedinthepublicdomaininNovember2007.

“Ithasbeenalongjourneyinthecourseofwhichpeoplehavemovedjobs,crossedcontinents,publishedbooks,acquiredchildrenandgenerallygotolderaltogether.Forexample,GillianmacIntoshmovedthroughthelifeoftheScottishParliamentProjectasaPostgraduate,ResearchAssistant,ResearchFellow,editorandlatterlyProjectmanager.No-oneeverimagineditwouldtakesolong!”

Sincethewebsite’s“softlaunch”inNovember,Greenland,mongoliaandCentralAfricaremaintheonlyterritorieswhichhavenotyetlogged-ontoinvestigateScotland’sparliamentarypast.

Dr Gillian MacIntosh and Professor Keith Brown

Dr Gillian MacIntosh and Jack McConnell in front of the new website

NicolaSturgeon,DeputyFirstministerofScotland,alsoattendedthelaunchandpraisedthe“Herculeanefforts”oftheStAndrewsteam.Shesaid,“IwouldliketocongratulateeveryoneattheUniversityofStAndrewswhohasbeeninvolvedinthislandmarkprojecttomakepubliclyavailable,inanaccessibleform,someofthemostimportantdocumentsinScotland’shistory.

“Anyonewithaninterestwillnowbeabletoreadforthemselvesaboutthegoings-oninScotland’soriginalnationalparliamentovernearly500years.What’sparticularlyfascinating

abouttheserecordsisthefactthatourparliamentarypredecessorswerelegislatingonmanyissuesthatarestillofconcerntoScotstoday,frombingedrinkingtothecostoffuel.mostimportantly,perhaps,thisdatabaseisareminderthatScotlandhasalongandproudtraditionofrepresentativegovernmentthatprovidesthebackdropforourpresent-daydemocracy.”

TheprojecthasbeensupportedbytheNationalArchivesofScotland,Scotland’soldestnationalcollection,wherethemajorityoftherecordsoftheoldScottishParliamentarepreserved.

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HandsupforclickersStudents’ fears of putting a hand up in class may now be a thing of the past thanks to emerging new technology successfully piloted by St Andrews academics.

Innovative devices designed to engage students, prompting and enhancing learning in class lectures, have been employed by the School of Physics & Astronomy and the Bute Medical School. The StAndard spoke to Dr Bruce Sinclair and Dr Peter Nelson to find out how the pioneering electronic voting system, known as the personal response system (PRS), has been received in St Andrews.

Studentresponseunitsor‘clickers’enhanceinteractiveclasses,benefitingbothstudentsandlecturers.Feedbackisfastandfrequent;theclickerscanbeusedtocheckunderstanding,givingformativefeedbacktobothstudentsandpresenteraswellasenablinglecturerstouseresponsestoadaptteachingonthespottosuitthegroup.

DirectorofTeachinginPhysics&Astronomy,DrBruceSinclair,explainedthatthepurposebehindthetrialwastoengagestudentsmorewithinlectures.

Hesaid,“Forsometimewehadbeenputtingquestionsouttostudentsinlecturesandgettingthemtotalkaboutthemandtoanswerbackviaashowofhands.Thisinitselfwassuccessfulingettingmostthinkingaboutthetopicanddoingthingswithit,butitcouldbeconsideredembarrassingtothosewhogotthewronganswer,anditmaybe

temptingforsomestudentstoseehowthe‘good’personinthefrontrowwasresponding.

“Withclickersthewholeclasscanbepolledwithnoindicationastowhoisgivingwhatanswer.Theresponsesoftheclassoverallcanbeseenbystudentsandlecturerinaneasilyinterpretedhistogram.Allinallamuchcleanerandlesspotentiallyintimidatingsystemthanashowofhands.Dependingontheresultthelecturercanthenstructurethenextpartofthelecturetotakeaccountofwherethestudentsareintheirunderstandingandabilitiestoworkwiththematerials.”

IntheButemedicalSchool,SeniorTeachingFellowandDeputyDirectorofTeachingDrPeterNelsonalsousesclickerstogaugeresponsetopotentially‘problematic’topics.Hesaid,“Iinitiallythoughtitwouldbeasuitablewaytohaveresponsestoquestionsthatstudentsmightfindawkwardorsensitiveinasubjectsuchasmedicalethicsi.e.makingjudgementsthatwereperhapsdeemedcriticalofpotentialcolleagues.

“Forexample,Ihaveaskedthestudentsasaclasswhethertheythemselveswouldhavestruckoffthedoctorswhoactuallywerestruckoffbecauseof‘substandardpaediatriccardiacsurgery’intheBristolHeartInquiry.”

Thesystemsfeatureradiofrequencyclickersandreceiversthatuseatwo-

waytransmissionprotocoltosenddatabackandforth.PRSclickersarebattery-operateddevicesfeaturinganlCDscreenandakeypadthatincludesnumeric,letteredandmathematicsymbols,aswellasnavigationkeys.Theclicker’sdisplaymakesitpossibleforthestudenttoseeandedittheiranswersbeforetheyaresent,andtoreceivestatusmessagesabouteachanswertheytransmit.

PeterdescribedhowthedeviceshadbeenwellreceivedintheBmS.Hesaid,“Studentsinitiallytreatitwiththeusualgleethatisgeneratedwithanynewtechnology.Ibelievetheyalsoliketoseetheyarewiththeclassmajorityintheresponsesummarystatistics.Thosewhowanttogoagainsttheperceivedorthodoxywouldprobablydosoeveniftheywerenotanonymous‘clickers’.”

AstudyconductedbyBruceintheSchoolofPhysics&AstronomyconfirmedthatstudentshaverespondedpositivelytothePRS.overthree-quartersoftheclasssurveyeddescribedtheclickersas‘useful’.

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Physics&Astronomytookdeliveryof110clickersinlate2006.ThesehavebeenfundedbytheSchoolandbyaUniversitySelFgrantandhavebeenutilisedprimarilyinleveloneandtwophysicslecturestoencourageevenmorethoughtbystudentsduringlectures.Duetotheportabilityofthereceiverhardwareandgiventhatclickersarehandedoutforalectureatatime,itishopedthattheequipmentwillbewidelyusedthroughouttheSchool.

Theclickersareprobablybestusedinmultiple-choiceconcept-testingquestionsinlectures.Whenrequested,thestudentpressesonresponseAtoeorcanenteranumericalvalue,oranswerTrue/Falsethenpressthegreenarrowkeytoentertheirresponse.ThissignalissentusingRFtothereceiverthatisconnectedtothelecturer'scomputer.Thisunitsendsasignalbacktothestudenttotellthemthattheirresponsehasbeenreceived,andcan(optionally)tellthestudentiftheirresponseisrightorwrong.oncethepollingtimeisover,thelecturercanbringupahistogramofthestudentresponsesonthescreen.Thelecturercanthenadapther/hisnextpartofthelectureinresponsetotheclassanswers.TheSchoolofPhysics&Astronomyiscurrentlyusingthisteachingmethodinlectureclasssizesofaround80,thoughelsewhereithasbeenusedsuccessfullywithafewhundred.

educationalbenefitsfromsuchinteractivelearningaddresstheissueoflimitedattentionspan,involvinglearnerparticipationandengagement.Additionally,sincethefeedbacktostudentsisimmediate,explicitandnon-threatening,thismodeoflecturingappearstopromoteboththeirinterestin,andunderstandingof,thesubjectmaterial.Thedevicesenablecontingentteaching:genuineteacherandlearnerinteractionwherebothparties’actionsdependonwhattheotherdidlast.

Peterexplained,“Intermsofeducationalbenefitstheygiveimmediatefeedbackaswellaslong-termconsiderationtotheunderstandingofwhatandhowyouteachasubjectarea.”

Bruceagreed,“educationalbenefitsaretoencourageactiveparticipationbystudentsinlectures,andtogiveimmediatefeedbacktothestudentsandlecturerastowheremembersoftheclassareintheunderstandingofthetopicinquestion.Itcanalsobeusedasasurveytoolorforformativeorsummativeassessment,thoughwehavenotgonedownthesummativeassessmentroutewiththem.”

InmarchSAlTIRehostedaseriesofengagingtalksontheuseof‘clickers’.TomHaffiefromWesternUniversity,Canada(aninvitedspeakeratthisyear'senhancementThemesconference)gaveapresentationon"engagedPedagogymeetsemergingClickerTechnology".Tom'stalkwasfollowedbyshortpresentationsbyBruceandPeteronhowclickersarebeingusedhereattheUniversityofStAndrews.

DrHeathermcKiggan-Fee,Web&educationalDeveloperofSAlTIReexplained,“SAlTIRewaspleasedtobeabletoarrangeforTomHaffietogiveatalkatStAndrewsonhisinnovativeuseofclickerstoenhancestudentengagement,particularlyinlargeclasses.over20staffattendedtheevent,includingtheVice-PrincipaloflearningandTeachingandtheDeanofScience,aswellastwolearningtechnologistsfromotherScottishuniversitieswhowereparticularlyinterestedinfindingoutabouttheStAndrewsapplicationofclickers.TwomoreSchoolshavenowexpressedaninterestintryingoutclickersasaresultofthepresentations.”

Ifyouwouldlikemoreinformationonusingclickers,oraretemptedtogivethematry,SAlTIRewouldbehappytohelp.Heathersaid,“WehaveasetofQuizdomclickerswhichwecanloanoutifanyonewouldliketoexperimentwiththetechnologybeforecommittingtoit.BidscanbesubmittedtotheSelF(StrategicenhancementoflearningFund)orFIlTA(FundforInitiativesinlearning,Teaching&Assessment)forfundstocontributetothepurchaseofsuchtechnology.”

Pleasedirectenquiriesto:learning@st-andrews.ac.uk

For links to information on the pedagogy of using clickers, and the practicalities of setting up the model used in Physics & Astronomy in St Andrews, visit www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~bds2/clickers/

Fiona Armstrong

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It’s‘allGreek’tomeWhen Juan Coderch arrived in St Andrews to take up the post of Senior Language Tutor at the School of Classics, he brought with him a global phenomenon in the form of a unique web-based news service.

From the latest on the US Presidential elections to news of major football transfers, Juan offers regular news bulletins from around the world… in Ancient Greek. His website Akropolis World News, which has been running since January 2003, is a hit with keen users of the ancient language across the globe due to the novel nature of its current affairs content.

FansfromtheUS,Spain,Australia,Germany,Italy,theUKand,ofcourseGreece,havedescribedthesiteasa‘veryvaluable’onlineresource,aswellasa‘breathoffreshair’whichhelpsbotholdandnewstudentsoftheancientlanguage.onecolleaguefromtheUniversityofTurku,Finland,hasdescribedthesiteas‘averyimportantstepforwardforGreekstudies’anda‘majorbreakthrough’,whileateacherofthelanguageattheUniversityofoxford(whereJuanwasteachingbeforecomingtoStAndrews)saidthatherundergraduatestudentsweremoreexcitedatlearning‘unconventional’materialratherthanthetraditionalsettexts.

SomeofJuan’srecentmemorableheadlinesinclude“Scotlandbeatsengland”,“SherlockHolmes,120yearsold”and“latinloversneeded”.

Aswellasrecentheadlines,Juanprovidesfreeaccesstotranslationsoftexts,fromSocrates’descriptionofUSfootballtoHamlet’sfamous‘tobeornottobe’soliloquy.Afurtherusefulresourcetonewlearnersisa‘home-made’A-Zenglish-GreekandGreek-englishdictionaryofcommon

modernwords(whichhavetobetranslatedintomodernGreekbeforebeingtranslatedtoAncientGreek).Aquickglanceatthelistingprovidesanintriguinginsightinto21stcenturyissues,withwordsselectedincludingalcoholism(oinopneumatíasis),cinema(kinematograficós),computer(hypologistés),football(podósfairon),glacier(pagetón),tosmoke(kapnízein),terrorist(tromokrátes)andunemployment(anergía).Andforthoseofyouwhodon’talreadyknow,AncientGreekforuniversityispanepistémion.

oneofJuan’smainreasonsforestablishingthesitewastoencouragetheuseofancientlanguagesaroundtheworld,andhiswebsitefillsagapcausedbythefactthat‘peopletranslatefromGreek,butnotintoGreek’.Hesaid,“Thegrowinginterestforlatinlanguageanditsuseworldwideissomethingknownbyeverybody:congressesthatarecelebratedinlatin,culturalmeetings,publicationsonseveralareas,newsservices(fromHelsinki,BremenandWarsaw),youthsthatcommunicatewitheachotherthroughinternetetc,allofthisinthelanguageofCicero.Iwondered,wouldanythingsimilarinAncientGreekbepossible?

“IthoughtthatbyofferingworldnewsinthislanguageIcouldmaybehelpmanystudentslosetheirfearandmakethemmoreinterestedinitsstudy.ontheotherside,forthosemoreadvancedinthelanguage,this‘newsservice’mayoffertothemthenoveltyandtheattractionofseeingThucydides’sandPlato’slanguageusedforpresentmatters.IhopeitisanewandrefreshingexperiencethateliminatesthesensationthatGreekisa‘closedworld’”.

ThewebsiteisopentocontributorsorcommentsfromexpertswillingtoprovidefurtherinformationonthederivationofhistoricaltranslationssourcedandpostedonlinebyJuan.

JuanjoinedtheUniversityinSeptemberlastyearfromtheUniversityofoxford,wherehehadbeenteachingbothGreekandlatin.“InevertalkaboutlatinandGreekasdeadlanguages–theyareimmortal,”hesaid.

Visit Akropolis World News at www.akwn.net

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BroadcastingStAndrewsmedievalmindsProfessor Robert Bartlett, of the School of History, painted a fascinating portrait of medieval Britain in a new television series at the heart of BBC Four’s season on the Middle Ages. ‘Inside the Medieval Mind’ delved into the intellectual landscape of the medieval world in four hour-long documentaries in an attempt to understand the mentality and the outlook of people who lived in the Middle Ages.

Theseriesrevealedmedievalman'sfascinationwiththesupernatural,approachtosexandcourtlyromance,thestringentclasssystem,andunderstandingoftheworldthroughfourprogrammesentitledKnowledge,Sex,BeliefandPower.

ProfessorBartlettexplained,“Theperiodisimportantbecauseitisthefoundationofourworldnowand,becauseit’sstrangeanddifferent,itencouragesustouseourimaginations.

“Inmanywaysthesewerepeopleverymuchlikeus,intermsoffamily,ambitionsforchildrenandtheworldofemotions.ontheotherhand,theyinhabitedaverydifferentworld,inwhichitwasbelievedthedeadvisitedtheliving,andwheresomewheretherelivedaraceofpeoplewiththeheadsofdogs.”

Aswellashighlightingthebirthofscientificinquirybytakingatripintothemedievalpsyche,ProfessorBartlettrevealedhowdeepintellectualcuriosityandthefoundingofoxford(1096),Paris(1175)andCambridge(1209)leddirectlytothehighereducationsystemoftoday.

Hesaid,“manypeoplethinkofthemiddleAgesasaperiodofignorance,andwearereallytryingtoredressthatandtopointoutnotsimplyhowtheareaofknowledgeatthattimewasdifferentfromtheareaofknowledgenow,butalsohowdynamicandcreativemedievalthinkerswere.

“Thefirstuniversitiesgrewslowly,butoncetheywereinexistence,otherscouldbefounded.ouruniversity,StAndrews,istheoldestinScotland,abouttocelebrateits600-yearanniversary.Ithasgotacontinuoushistory.”

Theseriesdemonstratednotonlythedifferencesbetweenmedievalsocietyandmodernsociety,butalsoflaggedupmanyofthesimilarities,particularlybetweenpeople.

Hecontinued,“IhopedviewersmightgetoutofthisaverystrongsensethatthemiddleAgeswasfullofrealpeople,insomewayslikeusandinsomewaysnotlikeus,buttheywererealpeopleandtheycanbeencounteredasbestyoucanthroughtheirwordsandthroughtheirrecords.”

Professor Bartlett (photo courtesy of the BBC)

For further information about the series visit: www.open2.net/medievalmind/index.html

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RwandaandPeacekeepingProfessor Jerry DeGroot from the Department of Modern History went to Rwanda in late March to speak to a UN conference on gender and peacekeeping. The following is a summary of his impressions.

FrancinemurengeziIngabirewasabeautiful12yearoldgirlwholovedswimmingandplayingwithherbigsisterClaudette.InApril1994,thisordinary,happychildwashackedtopieceswithabayonet.Herordinarinessmakesherspecial,sincesheprovidestheperfecttragicsymboloftheuniversalityofsufferingenduredbytheTutsipopulationofRwanda.Injust100days,some1.5millionTutsisweremurderedbyHutusintentuponaRwandanversionoftheFinalSolution.Francine’sstoryistoldinaspecialroomdevotedtochildvictimsatthegenocidememorialinKigali.eachoffourteenglasspanelsisdevotedtothelifeanddeathofasinglechild.Dominatingeachpanelisahugephotographofasmilingboyorgirldeniedafuturebecauseofthecircumstanceofcontrivedethnicdifference.Thepanelsareagauntletoftragedywhichrenderthevisitoranemotionalwreck.

emergingfromthebuilding,oneencounterssomehugeconcreteplinthswhichcoverthemassgravesof237,000individuals.Thehumidequatorialairisthickwiththescentofmemorialflowers-theodourofgrief.Theimmensityofthegravesisoverwhelming,butitissmilingFrancinethattyrannizesone’semotions.Itisimpossibletoforgetthosebeautifulbrowneyes.AsJosefStalinoncesaid(rathertoocynically):asingledeathisatragedy,amilliondeathsastatistic.

Thestatisticsareneverthelessdevastating:85percentoftheTutsipopulationofRwandawaskilledinthegenocide.Ahighpercentageofthesurvivorscarryterriblescars-physicalandmental-or,inthecaseofwomen,arestillcopingwiththetraumaofrape.manywomenwereintentionallyinfectedwithHIV,itselfaweaponofgenocide.

TothoseunfamiliarwiththecurrentstateofAfrica,Rwandaremainssynonymouswithgenocide.Thoughthekillingsoccurredfourteenyearsago,ethnicslaughterstilldominatesimpressions.Thatisashame,sinceRwandaisaproudnationthatseeksadmiration,notpity.TheRwandanpeoplewanttobeseenasanexampleoftheresilienceofthehumanspirit,notofthedespairthatdefinesAfrica.Thatspiritisapparenteverywhere.Intheimmediateaftermathofthegenocide,theconstitutionwasre-written.IntalkingtoRwandans,oneisstruckbythebeliefshowningovernment-notjustinpoliticians,butalsointhemilitary,thejudiciaryandthepolice.oneprominentcomponentofreformwastheshareofauthoritygiventowomen-bylaw.Atpresent,womenconstitute47percentofthe

legislature-thehighestproportionoffemalerepresentationofanycountryintheworld.WhenIaskedanArmycolonelhowhehadadjustedtosurrenderingsuchalargeshareofpowertowomen,hereplied:“What’stheproblem?Rwandahasalwaysbeenamatriarchalsociety.We’vejustgivenlegalrecognitiontothatfact”.

Granted,itiseasytogetcarriedawaybyRwandanoptimism.onesuspectsthat,underthesurface,demonsstilllurk.But,atthesametime,cynicismseemschurlishinacountrytryingdesperatelytosucceed.RwandawantstobeamodelfortherestofAfrica,andhugestrideshavealreadybeenmadetowardthatgoal.Kigali,forinstance,isarguablythesafestcapitalcityonthecontinent.Thesafetyofthecountry,whencombinedwithits

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immensebeauty,makeittheperfectdestinationfortouristskeentoexperienceAfrica.Thegovernmentalsohopesthatsafetyandstabilitywillattractforeigninvestment.

Thedesiretobeamodelisnotconfinedtomatterseconomic.onenoblegoalofthenationistoprovideanexampletotherestofAfricaintermsoftheprofessionalismofitsmilitary.Thisisparticularlyimportantinthepeacekeepingcontext,sinceitisimperativethatpeacekeepingforcessenttotroublespotsinAfricacontainahighpercentageofAfricansoldiers.Incommonwithstable,peace-lovingcountrieslikeNorway,SwedenandCanada,Rwandahasrecentlydecidedthattheprimarypurposeofitsmilitaryforceswillhenceforthbepeacekeeping,andhasinvestedanimmenseamountofeffortintrainingsoldiersforthatpurpose.

DagHammarskjöld,theNobelPeacePrizewinnerandsecondSecretary-GeneraloftheUnitedNations,oncesaidthat'peacekeepingistooimportanttobeundertakenbysoldiers'.But,headded,'soldiersaretheonlyoneswhocandoit'.Becausepeacekeepingcanbeviolent,combattrainingisessential.Butthepeacekeepermustalsobeconciliatoryandpatient.Fewconventionallytrainedmalemilitarypersonnelcombinethequalitiesofsoldierandconciliatoressentialtothejob.Asaresult,UNoperationshavebeenmarredbyaggressivebehaviourthatexacerbatestensions.Donningabluehelmetdoesnottransformasoldierintoasaint.VirtuallyeveryUNoperationhasbeenmarredbyinstancesofpeacekeeperscommittingviolenceagainstthelocalpopulation.Rapeisespeciallyprevalent.onsomeoperations,UNpeacekeepershavesetupprostitutionrackets,usinglocalwomenassexslaves.

Inrecognitionoftheseproblems,theRwandanDefenceForcehaslaunchedaprogrammeofgendertrainingforsoldiers,inco-operationwiththeregionalofficeofUNIFem-theUnitedNationsDevelopmentFundforWomen.

Theaimisnotjusttoeradicatethescourgeofgender-basedviolence,butalsotorecognisetheimportanceofwomentothepeacekeepingprocess.

myowninvolvementcameasaresultofbeinginvitedtoaconferenceinKigalionengenderingthepeaceprocess,sponsoredbyUNIFemandtheRwandanDefenceForce.IwasinvitedbecauseofmyexpertiseonwomeninpeacekeepingandbecauseIamanadvocateoftheirincreasedparticipationinallaspectsofmilitaryaffairs.TheevidencefromvariousUNmissionssuggeststhatthepresenceofwomeninUNmissionsimprovestheoverallchancesofsuccess.Womensucceedforthesimplereasonthattheyarenotmen--sincegenderstereotypesencouragethebeliefthatfemalesarelessaggressive,thefemalesoldierislesslikelytoinflameatensesituation.Thepresenceoffemalesalsohasamoderatingeffectuponthebehaviourofmalesoldiers,renderingthemlesslikelytoengageingenderbasedviolenceagainstlocalwomen.

Ihaveattendedmanyconferencesofthistype,eachtimeappealingforthegreaterparticipationofwomen.But

thiswasmyfirsttimeinAfrica.WhatstruckmewashowreceptivemaleofficersintheRwandanarmyweretomymessage,instarkcontrasttowhatIhaveexperiencedatNAToheadquartersandelsewhere.TheArmyChiefofGeneralStaff,GeneralJamesKabarebe,haspubliclystatedthatviolenceagainstwomenisasecuritythreatthatbreedsaseverelynegativeimpactonsocio-economicdevelopmentingeneral,andhumanrightsinparticular.Asherecognises,thisisnotsimplyamatterofbeingnicetowomen.Itisamatterofensuringamoreeffectivepeace.

ItremainstobeseenhowsuccessfulRwandawillbeinitsgoalofprovidingamodelfortherestofAfrica.ThesamehopesthatarenowinvestedinRwandawereonceassignedtoKenya,andweareallfamiliarwithhowabruptlypromisecanturnintodespair.ButtheRwandanpeopledeserveourhelpandencouragement.Theyrecognisethatthebestwaytoensurethestabilityoftheirowncountryistoexportprofessionalismandpeacetotheirneighbours.Hope,notpity,iswhatAfricaneedsmost.

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CityofhopeandfearProfessor Oliver Richmond (International Relations) and Research Fellow Richard Franks launched the first MLitt in Peace and Conflict Studies recently with a groundbreaking field trip to Sarajevo. Student Stefanie Kappler shared her experience with The StAndard.

Sarajevo - city of hope and fear, East and West, dreams and nightmares - and we found ourselves in the middle of this!We,allninestudentsofPeaceandConflictStudies,werereallyluckytogetsentawayfromStAndrewsforelevendaystodoresearch“ontheground”inBosniaandHerzegovina.

Afteranadventurousflighttosnow-coveredSarajevo,wewerefacingalongweekendtogettoknowthecity,whichfascinatedusbyitsvarietyofpeopleandinfluences:half-destroyedapartmentblocksfromthecommunisterafacingmodernofficetowers,interspersedwithmosquesallovertheplace.

mustafa,ourlocalguide,tookusonatourtoshowusthefamoustunnelthroughwhichtheSarajevansgotfoodandweaponsduringthesiege–itwasshockingtoseehowmuchpeople’slivesweredependentonoutsidesupplies.Verydifferent,butnolessinteresting,wasourtourtotheolympicmountains:gettingstuckinthesnowandidentifyingfieldsoflandminesrightnexttothestreet,wegotanideaofhowthepaststillimpactsontheoverallatmosphereinthecountry.

ThankstoJasmin,aformerStAndrewsstudentfromSarajevo,wediscoveredthenightlifeofSarajevofroma‘local’perspective.Indeed,nightlifeseemsto

playanimportantroleinSarajevo,andaswithBosnianmusic,itisveryclearhowmuchthecityhasbeeninfluencedbybotheastandWest,developingastylewhichbringsthistogetherinaverycreativeway.

‘Work’startedonmondaywiththearrivalofProfessoroliverRichmondandDrJasonFranks.NejraČengić,ourlocalresearcher,hadorganisedmeetingswithnumerousactorsofthedevelopmentandpeacebuildingscene.Thesemeetingsallowedustogetinterestinginsightsintotheapproachesofvariousorganisationsandinstitutionsworkingondifferentlevelsofsociety.

Itparticularlysurprisedustoseehowdisillusionedtheinternationalkeyactorsareoftensittingintheirivory-towersorover-securitisedbarracksandfranklyadmittingthatpeacebuildingisinastalematetheydonotknowhowtogetBosniaoutof.ThiswaspalpableinthemeetingswiththeWorldBank,theeUCommissionandtheUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme,butmuchmoreclearlyarticulatedin

theofficeoftheHighRepresentative,wherethetensesituationwasliterallyintheair.Yet,amorepositiveassessmentwasmadebyactorsclosertothepeople.HavingmetwithvariousNGos,wefeltslightlymoreoptimisticforBosniaandHerzegovina–atleastonthesmall-scale,thingsseemtobemovingforward,eventhoughtherearepersistentgrievances.Ingeneral,mostattributethelackofprogressinBosniatolocalpoliticiansandtheirtendencytoexploitthetensesituationfortheirpersonalbenefit.ThanksagaintoNejra,wegotthechancetomeetthreepoliticians,representativeoftherespective‘constituentpeoples’(ethnicgroups)ofBosnia.Despitetheirfactualinterests,itwasinterestingtoseehowmuchtheyagreedonthefactthatpoliticsisnotadirtybusinessatall.Rathertheyputemphasisonthevalueofdemocracyandtheirengagementwith(civil)society–incontrasttothecriticismvoicedbythepeopleandorganisationswehadmetbefore.

oneofthehighlightsoftheweekcertainlywasourtriptomostarand

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mexicanistsgatherinStAndrewsformajornewproject

Trebinje.escapingfromsnowySarajevotosunnymostar,wevisitedthefamousbridgeofreconciliation.Atfirstglance,mostarisabeautifulplacetobe;veryidyllicandtouristy.However,movingoutfromtheverycentreoftown,wewerefacedwithnumerousbuildingsdestroyedbythewarandremindersthatthetownisethnicallydivided.Thisshowedusagainthatreconstructionhasworkedonthesurface–areconstructedbridge,anoldtownenjoyablefortourists–whereasdeeperdivisionsinthebackyardofthetownandofpeople’smindsarestillstrugglingwiththememoryofwar.

movingontoTrebinje,atownintheRepublikaSrpskaatthebordertomontenegroandCroatia,wemetaSerbianpolitician,who–tooursurprise–startedtointroducehimselfandhisideasbyreferringbacktothesixthcentury.AfterhehadtoldusthatpeopleinTrebinjehadtriedtoassassinatehimeleventimes,itfeltabitoddtobeshownaroundbyhiminthetownwherehewas‘notverypopular’.

Thelastworkingdayoftheweekgaveustheopportunitytoarrangeourownmeetingsaccordingtoourpersonalinterests,whichhadclearlyevolvedthroughouttheentireweek.

Thisalsohelpedustothinkabouthowtogetintouchwithpeopleindependentlyfromthegroupandgaveustheopportunitytomakeimportantcontactsforpotentialfutureresearch.Intheafternoon,wetookpartinaworkshopwithstudentsoftheUniversityofSarajevo.oliverandJasonhadorganisedthistodiscussissuesofpeacebuildinginthecontextofBosniaandHerzegovina.Thiswasparticularlyinterestingagainstthebackgroundthatmostofthestudentswereworkingforinternationalorganisationsandhencetookamiddlepositionbetweenthetensionswediscussed,namelybetweenlocalandinternationalideas.Wecouldobservethatduringtheprocessoflectureanddiscussion,manystudentscametobemoreopenabouttheirresentmentsagainsttheliberalpeacebuildingmodeltheyarethemselvespartofandexpressedtheirfrustrationsaboutBosniansbeingtreatedlike‘guinea-pigsinanexperimentallaboratory’bytheinternationalkeyactors.

AfteralasthikingdayinSarajevo’sintensesun–springwasclearlyannouncingitspower–thetripwasapproachingitsend.Weallagreethatwehadagreattimeandaremorethangratefultooliver,JasonandNejrafor

organisingthisandsupportingusindiverseways.Thetripallowedustolearnaboutprofessionalaspectsofconductingfieldworkbymakingusthinkaboutpracticalconcerns,suchastoaskpeoplewhetherandhowwecouldquotethem.Apartfromthat,welearnedwhichlanguagetousetoaskquestions,howtostructuremeetingsandhowtogetaccessto'subjugateddiscourses'bylisteningtoordinarypeople,whichgoesfarbeyondtheexperienceofreadingbooksorarticles.Beyondrevealingmajorstrengthsandweaknessesofthepeacebuildingmodelinthecountry,thetripalsohelpedourclasstogettoknoweachothermuchbetterandtohaveagreattimetogether.

Last summer Professor Will Fowler (Department of Spanish) was the recipient of a major AHRC (Arts and Humanities Research Council) research grant worth £610,000. The grant, the largest awarded to the School of Modern Languages to date, is funding a three-year project on “The Pronunciamiento in Independent Mexico, 1821-1876” (2008-2010). Professor Fowler describes the project’s importance to The StAndard.

oftentranslatedas‘revolt’,thepronunciamientowasawrittenprotest/petition,oftendraftedasalistofgrievancesordemands,signedbyagroupofindividualsand/orcorporatebody(high-rankingofficers,towncouncilofficials,villagers,membersofaparticulargarrison,Indianpueblo,etc.)thatcouldresultinanarmedrebellionifthegovernmentdidnotattendtothem.Asearlyasthe1820s,thepronunciamientohadalreadyacquiredinSpainandinmexicotheparticularlydistinctivesetofnorms,procedures,anduseofdiscursivestrategiesthatsetitapartfromacommonrevoltormilitaryuprising.TheactualpronunciamientotextsorActaswhichbecameanintegralpartoftheproceedings,acquiredaformal,evenlegalisticregisterandstyleoftheirown,whichtogetherwiththeexpectedpreamble,numberedpetitionofdemands,callfornegotiationortoarms,andessentiallistofsignatories,developedinto,forwantofabetterterm,agenreinitsownright.

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Itwasthesenormsandproceduresofthepronunciamiento,togetherwithitsbureaucraticcomponentsthatmadeitintosuchadistinctivepractice–onethatwould,interestingly,becomesignificantlyprevalentonlyinSpainandmexico.Althoughthepronunciamientoisstilldefinedinmostdictionariesandencyclopaediasasamilitaryuprisingorcoup,inrealityitwasnotalwaysamilitaryaction,itwasgenerallynotconcernedwithoverthrowingthegovernment,and,quitefrequently,itwasnotaresponsetoadevelopmentinnationalpolitics.Inotherwords,thepronunciamiento,withitsdistinctiveandculturallyuniqueexpectations,formulisticandformulaicprocedures,andeasilyrecognizablegeneric-driventexts,wasanineteenth-centuryHispano-mexicanextra-constitutionalpoliticalpracticethatwasusedbysoldiersandcivilianstoforcefullylobby,negotiate,orpetitionforpoliticalchange,bothatanationalandatalocallevel.

ThegenerousAHRCawardhasallowedustoputtogetheravibrantteammadeupoftworesearchfellows(DrGermánmartínezmartínez[essex]andDrNatashaPicôt[Nottingham]),twoPhDstudents(RosieDoyleandKerrymcDonald),andadatabasedeveloper(SeanDooley).AfurtherfourPhDstudentshavealsostartedtheirdoctoralprogrammesonrelatedtopicsundermysupervision(SharaAli,melissaBoyd,leticiaNeriaandAnaRomeroValderrama–thelasttwofundedbythemexicangrant-awardingbodyConacyt)allowingfortheemergenceofalivelycommunityofmexicanistsintheSchoolofmodernlanguages.

Theaimofthisprojectistodevelopabetterunderstandingofthecivilconflictsthatbrokeoutwithremarkableandtragicconsistencyfollowingtheachievementofindependence.over2,000so-calledpronunciamientos eruptedinmexicobetween1821and1876,insomecasesleadingtobloodycivilwars(e.g.theCivilWarof1832,theRevolutionofAyutla[1854-55],theCivilWaroftheReforma[1858-60]),inotherstoapeacefulchangeofgovernment,theremovalofcontroversialministers,orashiftinpolicy.

Weareinterestedinexploringthepoliticalculturethatappearstohavelegitimisedthethreatofarmedrebellionasameansofeffectingpoliticalchangeduringthisperiod.Itiswiththisaiminmindthatwearebringingtogetheraformidablegroupofhighprofilescholarstostudytogethertheorigins,levelsandnatureofparticipationanddevelopment,outcomes,representation,andmemoryoftheexperienceofthepronunciamientoinIndependentmexico.

ThreeconferenceswillbeheldinStAndrews,basedaroundthreedifferentyetinterrelatedcycles,namely:

ForcefulNegotiations(20-22June2008)

Politics,ConflictandInsurrection(19-21June2009)

TheDamnedandtheVenerated(18-20June2010)

ThisisaprojectthatwillsignificantlyimproveourunderstandingofIndependentmexico,thenatureanddynamicsofthepronunciamientoinapostcolonialSpanishAmericansociety,testmainstreamtheoriesofrevolutionaryactivityinthecaseofmexico1821-76,enhancetrans-AtlanticBritish-mexican-Americancollaborativescholarship,assistfouryoungscholarsdeveloptheircareersaspeopleandacademics,andproduceanextremelyhelpfuldatabase,threeimportanteditedvolumesandamonograph.

Theultimategoalsoftheteamare:

1. Toproduceamajoronlinerelationaldatabasethatincludestranscriptionsofover2,000pronunciamientos;

2. Topublishthreeeditedvolumesontheorigins,experienceandmemoryoftheseforcefulpetitions;

3. ToenablethePhDstudentstocompletetheirdissertationssuccessfully;

4. Toassistmeincollatingthedatathatwillthenbeanalysedinmymonographonthesubject.

To find out more about the Project go to: arts.st-andrews.ac.uk/pronunciamientos/

Professor Will Fowler (front right) with his team. Back row (left to right): Dr Natasha Picot, Dr German Martinez

Martinez, Ana Romero Valderrama, Shara Ali and Kerry McDonald; front row (left-right): Sean Dooley, Rosie Doyle

and Melissa Boyd.

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GraduationJune2008–HonorarydegreesFigures from the worlds of academia, acting and golf will be awarded honorary degrees by the University of St Andrews this month (Tuesday 24 - Friday 27 June 2008).

They include actress Dame Judi Dench, lady golfer Renee Powell, philosopher René Girard and environmentalist George Monbiot.

Theceremonies,totakeplaceintheYoungerHall,aredetailedasfollows–

Tuesday 24 June 2.30pm

DameJudiDench,Actress–HonDlitt(Doctorofletters)

DrSimonCampbell,leadingBritishPharmaceuticalScientistandChemist–HonDSc(DoctorofScience)

Wednesday 25 June 10.30am

ProfessorSirNicholasWright,WardenofBartsandThelondonSchoolofmedicineandDentistry–HonmD(Doctorofmedicine)

ProfessorAngusDeaton,DwightD.eisenhowerProfessorofInternationalAffairs,PrincetonUniversity–HonDlitt(Doctorofletters)

Wednesday 25 June 2.30pm

BaronessHelenaKennedy,Distinguishedlawyer–HonllD(Doctoroflaws)

ReneePowell,ProfessionalGolfer–HonllD(Doctoroflaws)

Dame Judi Dench

Renee Powell

Thursday 26 June 10.30am

Henningmankell,SwedishNovelist,Playwright,Director–HonDlitt(Doctorofletters)

DameNancyRothwell,Vice-PresidentofResearch,manchesterUniversity–HonDSC(DoctorofScience)

Thursday 26 June 2.30pm

AdamHochschild,AuthorandJournalist–HonDlitt(Doctorofletters)

Friday 27 June 10.30am

majorGeneralGeorgeCowan,DistinguishedcareerintheRoyalmedicalArmyCorps–HonmD(Doctorofmedicine)

Georgemonbiot,environmentalist–HonDSc(DoctorofScience)

ProfessorSirKennethmurray,emeritusProfessorofmolecularBiology,Universityofedinburgh–HonDSc(DoctorofScience)

Friday 27 June 2.30pm

RenéGirard,CriticandCultureTheoristandPhilosopher–Dlitt(Doctorofletters)

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ResearchhighlightsNew discovery linked to DNA repair and cancer

Scientists at the University of St Andrews have discovered a new protein in humans that plays an important role in repairing DNA damage that could lead to cancer.

Stereotyping success

Women doing badly at maths or English footballers missing penalties could all be down to historical stereotyping, according to St Andrews researchers.

AreportbypsychologistSteveReicheratStAndrewsandAlexHaslamoftheUniversityofexeterarguesthatsuccessorfailureatwork,schoolorinsportisnotalwaysdowntolackofabilityorincompetence.

Instead,theysuggestthatthepowerofstereotypescancausepoorperformancewhenapersonbelievestheyshoulddobadly.

A good innings

A high number of test match appearances is linked to a longer life in English cricketers, according to St Andrews' research.

Inthenewstudy,ProfessorPaulBoyleexaminedwhetheroccupationalsuccessinfluencedlongevityamongenglandtestcricketers.

Hefoundthatwhilehighernumbersofappearanceswereassociatedwithalongerlife,captainingtheteamdidnotextendtheirlifespan.

ProfessormalcolmWhite,CentreforBiomolecularSciences,ledthediscoveryalongsideaninternationalteamfromtheQueenslandInstituteformedicalResearchinBrisbane,Australia.

ProfessorWhiteandDrKumKumKhannainBrisbanediscoveredtheprotein,namedhSSB1,whensearchingthehumangenomeforancientclassesofproteins.Theyfoundasmallgene,whichhadpreviouslygoneunnoticed,encodinganovelDNAbindingproteinthatboreastrongresemblancetoproteinsfromagroupofmicrobescalledArchaea.

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Discovery may assist future treatment of Alzheimer's

A St Andrews' researcher has identified a new protein associated with the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The discovery may assist in developing future treatments for the disease, which currently affects around 700,000 people in the UK.

NeurobiologistDrFrankGunn-moorefoundthatincreasedamountsofaproteincalledendophilinIarelinkedtoincreasedstressinthebrain,whichsubsequentlyleadstobraincelldeath.

Black Holes made of light

Scientists at the University of St Andrews have used lasers to simulate a black hole in their laboratory.

ProfessorUlfleonhardtandDrFriedrichKönigusedintenselightpulsestocreateanartificial`eventhorizon'-thedefiningfeatureofablackholeknownas`thepointofnoreturn'.ThedevelopmentmayallowresearcherstotestProfessorStephenHawking'stheorythatblackholesarenotblackatallbutinfactradiatelight.

Itisthefirsttimethatscientistshavesuccessfullysimulatedaneventhorizonusinglight.Thereisnodangerhoweverofthescientistsbeingsuckedintodeepspacebyanintensepullofgravity,sincethetabletopdeviceonlyactsonlightinopticalfibresandisperfectlyharmless.

Theresearchershopethatbyusingsophisticatedlasersystemsandadvancedopticalfibres,theirhorizonwilleventuallybestrongenoughtoobserveHawking'sradiationtheory.

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Meaningful monkey calls

Researchers at St Andrews have found that monkeys combine calls to make them meaningful in the same way that humans do.

Astronomers find baby planet

St Andrews’ astronomers have found a baby planet still in the stages of forming and encased within a 'womb' of gas.

Thenewstudymayprovidefreshinsightsintotheevolutionofhumanlanguage.

StAndrews'researchersDrKlausZuberbühlerandKateArnoldstudiedputty-nosedmonkeysinNigeria,wheretheyrecordedmonkeyscombining

Why the dating game is taken at face value

Suitors can tell a young person's attitude to sexual relationships by the look on their face, according to new research which gives deeper insight into mate attractiveness.

ResearchersattheUniversitiesofStAndrewsandAberdeencollaboratedwithDurhamUniversityinastudywhichalsofoundthatyoungmenandwomenlookforcompleteoppositeswhenitcomestorelationships.Thestudyfoundthatmengenerallypreferwomentheyperceiveareopentoshort-termsexualrelationships,whilstwomenareusuallyinterestedinmenwhoappeartohavepotentialtobelong-termrelationshipmaterial.

Thescientistssaytheresearchshowspeoplecanusetheirperceptionstomakemoreinformedpartnerselectiondependingonthetypeofrelationshiptheyareafter.Thestudyisasignificantstepinfurtherunderstandingtheevolutionofpartnerchoice.

The face on the right is more likely to be in-terested in a short-term sexual relationship

For more information and to take part in web-based experiments, log onto www.perceptionlab.com

distinctalarmcallsinparticularwaystoconveydifferentmeanings.

Thenewfindingschallengethenotionthatcombiningsignalswasanessentialstepintheevolutionofhumanlanguage.

Theembryonicplanet,thoughttobetheyoungesteverseen,wasdiscoveredbyDrJaneGreavesandcolleaguesfromacrosstheUKandtheUS.

Thefindingprovidesauniqueviewofhowplanetstakeshape,becausethesupportingimagesalsoshowsthewomb-likeparentdiskmaterialfromwhichthenewplanetformed.The'protoplanet',calledHlTaubafteritsparentstarHlTau,couldbeasyoungasafewhundredyearsold.

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Researchers offer a whale of a time

Young conservationists with an interest in marine life are being given the opportunity of a lifetime by researchers at the University of St Andrews.

Rainbow lasers light up the future

How good were the sixties for you?

New research by a St Andrews’ historian suggests that the sixties was not really the decade of peace, love and understanding that people generally remember.

TheUniversityisofferingthechanceforabuddingDavidAttenboroughtojointhemonawhaleresearchprojectaroundmadeira.Theyoungsterwillsailwithscientistsonaweek-longtriparoundmadeiraontheInternationalFundforAnimalWelfare’suniquevesselSongoftheWhale.

TheinnovativemethodofengagingyoungpeopleinconservationissuesisthebrainchildofStAndrews’researcherDrDavidBorchers,whohasbeenworkingontheprojectforseveralyears.

Youngpeopleagedbetween16and21whoresideintheUKcantakepartintheonlinecompetition,whichisbasedonascientificaerialsurveyofwhales.

ThepurposeoftheSeptembertripistostudytheacousticbehaviourofbeakedwhalesintheAtlanticocean,andtheyoungobserverislikelytocatchsightoftheserareanimalsandspermwhales.

University scientists have created the next generation of low cost light sources - lasers which can be tuned to every colour of the rainbow.

Thenewtechnologycanbeusedforawiderangeofapplications,frommedicaltreatmenttolight-emittingclothing.Becauseoftheirabilitytobepoweredbyasimplelight-emittingdiode(leD)ratherthananotherlaser,thecompactnewvisiblelaserscanbecreatedatafractionofthecostofexistingtechnologies.

ThebreakthroughbyphysicistsProfessorIforSamuelandDrGrahamTurnbullusesremarkableplastic-likesemiconductingmaterials.

Instead,JerryDeGrootclaimsthatthedecadewasasmuchmarkedby`mindlessmayhem,shallowcommercialismandunbridledcruelty’asitwasbywearingflowersinyourhairandlovingyourfellowman.

Inhisnewbook,Jerryattemptstorewritethehistorybooksandcapture‘therealspiritofthesixties’thatis

generallylostinthemistsofnostalgia.The Sixties Unplugged: A Kaleidoscopic History of a Disorderly Decade,suggestsanalternativeviewofthedecadebestknownasatimeforfreelove.Thenewresearchrestorestothehippyerathe`prevalentdisorderandinconvenienttruthsthatlonging,wistfulness,anddistancehaveobscuredfrommemory’.

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Shopping for food in the ocean

A St Andrews’ scientist is part of an international study into how marine animals 'shop' for food deep within the ocean.

DrAndrewBrierley,oftheUniversity'sSchoolofBiology(Gattymarinelab)tookpartinthenewstudywhichhasrevealedfreshinsightsintothehuntingstrategiesofpredatorbehaviourintheocean.Thelargestprojectofitskind,theresearchsuggestssharksandothermarineanimalsfindfoodusingsimilarsearchpatternsthathumansemploy.

Theinternationalstudy,involvingtheanalysisofmarinepredatorssuchassharks,tuna,cod,seaturtlesand

penguins,examinedthedistributionpatternsofpreyandfoundthatpredatorsevolvedasearch‘rule’togetthebestpossibleresultsfromforagingexpeditions.

Aswellascontributingtothenewstudy,theStAndrews'datawillbeusedinnewfisherymanagementplansinSouthGeorgiaaimedatminimisingtheimpactofcommercialfishingactivitiesforkrillonpredatorsincludingpenguinsandsealsthatdependonkrillforfood.

To read the full news releases visit www.st-andrews.ac.uk/news

Astronomer sheds light on ‘dusty’ Universe

Switching on the cancer killer gene

St Andrews’ scientists have discovered how to control a major anti-tumour gene that could lead to more effective chemotherapy.

ResearchconductedbyNickWestwood(Chemistry)andcolleaguesattheUniversityofDundeemayeventuallyleadtothedevelopmentofnewcancerdrugs.

Thegene,calledp53andknownas“theguardianofthegenome”,isdamagedorswitchedoffinmostcancers.Buttheresearchersfoundthattheycouldrebootitusingtwonewbiologicalcompoundscalled“tenovins”.

The Universe is actually twice as bright than was previously thought, according to research conducted by St Andrews’ astronomers.

Aspartofaninternationalstudy,DrSimonDriverdiscoveredthatdustisobscuringapproximatelyhalfofthelightthattheUniverseisgenerating.

WhileastronomershaveknownforsometimethattheUniversecontainssmallgrainsofdust,theyhadnotrealisedtheextenttowhichthisisrestrictingtheamountoflightthatwecansee.Thedustabsorbsstarlightandre-emitsit,makingitglow.

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PicturingStAndrewsDo you have any extraordinary or distinctive images suitable for greetings cards, notelets or similar merchandise? Would you mind if we added our own amusing captions?

Combingthecollections

Recentlyretiredfromthelibrary'sSpecialCollectionsDepartment,CillaJacksondescribesworkingwiththeUniversity’sphotographiccollections,andchoosesafewofherfavourites.

Thewealthandbreadthofthephotographiccollectionsmeanthat,onadailybasis,thephotographicteamisendeavouringtofulfiltherequestsofawiderangeofenquirers.Thereareover400,000photographs,valuedcollectivelyintheregionofseveralmillionpounds,withindividualitemsworthinexcessof£10,000.Allareinvaluableasuniqueresourcesforteachingandresearch,especiallyintotheearlyphotographicprocesses.

Thephotographicwebsitealreadyhasapproximately55,000imagesandisaddedtoandupdatedonadailybasis.Theimagebaseformstheelectronichubofthephotographicarchive’sacademicandcommercialactivityandisaninvaluableresourceforourcustomersatmanylevels.Wereceiveregularcomplimentarycorrespondenceabout

thewebsite’susefulnessfromthosecarryingoutresearchorengagedinpublishingworkinavarietyofareas.

Wealsoreceiveextrainformationonthecontentofsomeofthephotographs,andwarmlywelcomeemailsrelatingtothe'relativelyfew'inevitableerrorsthatoccur,forsomeofwhichweareentirelyresponsible.othermistakeshavebeenmadebythephotographers,publishersorindexers,sometimesmorethan100yearsearlier.

mostphotographicenquirersreceiveaninformativeinitialresponsewithin24hours,aservicelevelofwhichwearejustlyproud.enquiriescomefromallovertheworldandhighresolutionimagescan,whenrequired,besuppliedwithinminutesviatheweborFTP.

Thechemicalnatureofthephotographicprocessmakesitintrinsicallyvulnerabletodegradation.Theaimofthecuratorialaspectofthework,whichtakesplacealongsidetheenquiries,istominimiseandslowthisdowninordertomaintaintheintegrityofthehistoriccollectionsforthe

academiccommunity.Wearecurrentlyundertakingaprojectinvolvingthelong-termstorageofnitrateandacetatenegatives.Filmnegativesarehighlysusceptibletodeterioration,includingthepossiblespontaneouscombustionofbadlydecayednitrateandthe‘vinegarsyndrome’tendencyofacetates(gassing-offofaceticacid).Theseeffectscanbesignificantlydelayedandthelife-spanofthenegativesradicallyincreasedbyfreezingthematatemperatureofminus18°C.Old Tom Morris addressing

the ball. A much used portrait of the popular character taken c.1905.

Dancing in the street. Taken from the tower of the Town Kirk (Holy Trinity Church) during the Lammas Fair in August 1902, this unusual lantern slide was taken by John Hardie Wilson, founder of the St Andrews Botanic Garden (see page 20).

East Sands, St Andrews. With a softness of tone reminiscent of a ‘wet in wet’ watercolour, this attractive study of the town by Peter Adamson in about 1980 is very appealing.

Winter sky, birch and snow, Loch Insh,1945. This atmospheric image of a tree silhouetted against the evening sky, overhanging the snowbound shore, is characteristic of the work Robert Moyes Adam.

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Toanswerthespecificquestionsposedatthebeginningofthisarticle,IhaveselectedanumberofmyfavouritephotographswhichIhopewillbeofgeneralinterest.Thechoicewasdifficultbecauseitinevitablyhadtoberestricted.However,wedotendtorespondtoanyenquirybygivingaflavourofwhatweholdthatisrelevant,andthenreactappropriatelytothefeedbackgiven.Sofarwehaveresistedtheamusingcaptions,feelingprotectivetowardsthecollectionsandsensitivebothtothefeelingsofthemanywhohavesogenerouslygiftedtheirphotographsovertheyears,andtotheimagethatwewishtopromoteoftheUniversityanditscollections.

Ihavewrittentheaboveinthepresenttensebut,asindicatedinthelastissueofThe StAndard,itiswithmixedfeelingsthatIamnolongeramemberoftheteam.IlookforwardtohandingoverthebatontomarcBoulay,whotakesuphispositionasPhotographicArchivistatthebeginningofJune.Iwishhimwell.Ishouldalsoliketotakethisopportunitytothankmydepartmentalheads:BobSmart,ChristineGascoigneandNormanReid,forthegreatprivilegeofbeingabletoworkwiththemovertheyears,and,notleast,myimmediatecolleagues,PamCranstonandJaneCampbellforalltheirhelpandsupport.Thephotographiccollectionsareleftinveryablehands.

(ThephotographicdatabasecanbeaccessedfromtheSpecialCollectionspagesofthelibrary’swebsite,ordirectlyatwww.special.st-andrews.ac.uk/saspecial/)

Do you have a historical question or challenge for the Special Collections team?Email us at magazine@st-andrews.ac.uk

‘The shadow walkers’. This fascinating study is by Hamish Brown, photographer, climber, writer, lecturer

and Honorary Graduate of the University.

Going on holiday. The subject of this 1/4 plate glass negative of an unidentified young child taken by

George Middlemass Cowie c.1935 made a popular greetings card a number of years ago.

Snow in the United College QuadrangleAn unusual view of the Quad by Peter Adamson from a window in the Development Office in February 2001. This is a favourite photograph of mine which has already been used as the University Christmas card.

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medicinemovesforwardWork starts this month (June) on building a New School of Medicine and the Sciences at the heart of the University’s science campus on the North Haugh, alongside the School of Physics & Astronomy with which it will be physically linked, and opposite The Gateway building.

Thedevelopment,costing£45million,representsthemostimportantinvestmentundertakenbytheUniversityinrecenttimes.InadditiontotrainingdoctorsthenewSchoolwillhousethenewlyconstitutedinterdisciplinarymedicalResearchInstitutewhichwillleadcollaborativeresearchinareassuchascancer,health,psychologyandinfectiousdisease.

TheSchoolwillbehometooneofthefirstUKmedicalSchoolswhoseresearchfacilitieswillbefullyintegratedwiththeothersciencesandkeyUniversitydisciplinesincludingphysics,chemistry,biologyandpsychology,providinganimportantnewdimensiontothetrainingofnewdoctorsbyfosteringtruecollaboration.

ItisanticipatedthisintegrationwillhelpenabletheUniversitytoexpanditsleadingedgemedicalresearchcapacityfour-foldoverfiveyears.

ThenewSchoolisbeingmadepossibleinpartbyadonationof£8millionfromtheSekharFoundation,thecharitablearmofthemalaysianbasedPetraGroup,andwillbenamedafterthelateDrBCSekhar,aniconicfigureinmalaysia’shistoryandthefatherofthecountry’srubberandpalmoilindustries.ThedonationisoneofthelargesttobereceivedbyaScottishuniversity.

ThedevelopmentofthenewSchoolwillbeoneofthemostimportantcomponentsoftheUniversity’s600thanniversarycelebrationsandthefundraisingcampaignwhichsupportsthisinitiativeisthebiggestandmostambitioustheUniversityhasundertaken,withatargetof£20million.

Thefirstphysicalsignofthestartofthisambitiousproject,whichisexpected

toseeallmedicalresearchstaffandmedicalstudentsmovedintothenewbuildingbyAutumn2010,camewiththecommencementof‘enablingworks.’Thisstagewasreachedafteralmostsixyearsofplanningandrevisionsofdesign.

Severalattributesmaketheprojectstandout:Firstlyitssize-withalmost11,000squaremetresoffloorspaceoverthree-storeys,thenewbuildingwillprovideafullyintegratedcentreformedicineandthesciencesincludinglaboratoriesforteachingandresearch,write-upspaceforresearchers,officesforacademicandresearchstaffandgroundfloorfacilitieswhichwillbeattractiveforconferences,comprisinga300seatlecturetheatre,seminarrooms,posterpresentationareaandacafé.

Secondly,inadeparturefromthemodelemployedbymostmedicalschools,thebuildingwillnotbeusedsolelyformedicalteaching.BiologyandChemistrywillhavetheirownlargeteachinglaboratorieswithinthebuildingandinterdisciplinaryresearchwillbeacoreactivity.

InlinewiththeUniversity'ssustainabledevelopmentagenda,thebuildingwillbeasgreenaspossible-notaneasychallengeforthedesignersaslaboratoriesgenerallyrequirehighlevelsofservicingforfumecupboards,airconditioningandextraction.TheUKschemeforratingbuildingsaccordingtotheirsustainability-knownasBReeAm-hasbeenaddressedaspartofthedesignprocess.Currentlythebuildingisontracktoreceivean'excellent'rating-thehighestavailable.

TheconstructionprocesswillinevitablycausesomenoisedisturbancestootherNorthHaughusersandinordertoseektomitigateproblemsasmuchaspossiblerepresentativesfromthevariousSchoolsandUnitshavebeenbriefedbythedesignteamonthebuildschedule.

extensiveliaisonhasbeencarriedoutwiththeSchoolofPhysics&Astronomyduetotheproximityoflaboratoriestotheconstructionsite.Inonecasethishasnecessitatedtheacquisitionofspecialistvibrationdampingtoavoidinterference.

Artists impression of the new building(Image Copyright: Reiach and Hall Artchitects)

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AlthoughtherewillbeconstructiontrafficenteringtheareafromtheA91thistrafficshouldnothaveanimpactonthetown.Acontractor'scompoundwillbeformedacrosstheroadfromtheconstructionsiteintheareatothesouthandwestofTheGateway.ThiswillmeansomelossofparkinghoweverparkingnumbersontheNorthHaughhavebeenmonitoredandsparecapacityidentifiedatNewHall.

TheconstructionwillbemanagedbyoneoftheUK'slargestcontractors-Bovislendlease.experiencedinconstructinginsensitiveareasthecompanyisalsoamemberofthe'ConsiderateConstructors'programmewhichlaysoutstandardsformanaginginconveniencetoneighbours.

mitigationmeasureswillinclude:solidhoardingsaroundworksitestominimizevisualimpact,tyre-washingofconstructionvehiclesandthesweepingoftheNorthHaughaccessroadonaregularbasis.

Last issue’s image was taken during a visit to the Royal Society of Edinburgh. The best captions are:

“Ienjoythesefunctionssomuchmoresinceyoubecamemyfoodtaster.”

"lookatthem.TheyactuallythinkIlIKeeatingthisstuff!"

"Comeon.Takeabite.Itwon'thurtyou."

Each issue The StAndard will trawl the University’s photo archives, past and present for strange, surprising and humorous images calling out for an entertaining caption.

Captionfantastic!

Suggested captions (anonymous or otherwise) can be sent to

magazine@st-andrews.ac.uk or by post to the address on the inside

cover. The best captions will be printed in the next issue.

Likewise, images for possible use are welcomed.

This issue’s image was taken during the official launch of the Records of the Parliaments of Scotland.

Vinod Sekhar makes the first cut with the Principal looking on

Howeversomeaspectsofthebuildingprocesswillcausenoiseandothertemporaryinconveniencewhichissimplyunavoidableinconstructingafacilityofthissize.

TokeeptownandgowninformedofbuildingactivitiesdetailsofconstructionarebeingmadeavailableontheUniversitywebsitewww.st-andrews.ac.uk/about/Newdevelopments Thesepagesshowplansoftheconstructionsiteandcompoundaswellasfloorplansandimagesofthenewbuilding.AlsofeaturedarecontactdetailsforBovis'ssitemanagementteam.

membersoftheUniversitycommunityshouldbeawarethatBovisareunabletoceaseactivitiesonrequest-theconstructionprogrammefollowsacarefullydefinedpathanddelaystoitarelikelytohaveacosttotheUniversity.

Ananimatedfeaturehasbeenincludedonthewebpagestoshowthesequence

ofthebuild.Followingthelinkto'ConstructionofmedicalScienceBuilding'willbringupapresentationshowingthesequenceofeventswhichwilloccurasthisexcitingnewbuildingtakesshape.

Marion Gibson

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UniversityStrategicPlanThe process of finalising the University’s Strategic Plan for the next ten years is nearing completion.

Followingcirculationofthedraftplan2008-18forcommentbystaffandtheStudents’Association,twoopenmeetingswereheldinmaytoprovideanopportunityfordiscussionwithmembersofthePrincipal’soffice.

AllfeedbackfromresponsesisbeingconsideredforincorporationinafinaldraftwhichisduetogotoAcademicCouncilthismonthandtoCourtforratificationinearlyJuly.

oncethisstageisreachedanabridgedplanwillbeproducedwhichwillaidSchoolsandUnitsastheystartworkonplansforimplementation.

ThestaffmeetingswereopenedbythePrincipalDrBrianlangwhosaidtheUniversity,althoughextremelysuccessful,facedchallengesaheadasitsoughttoremaincompetitive.

Vice-PrincipalforGovernanceandPlanningProfessorRonPiperthankedallwhohadcontributedtothedevelopmentoftheplaneitheratthecompilationstageorincommentingonthepublisheddraft.

ProfessorPiperexplainedthatthestrategicplanisdesignedtocapturetheaspirationsoftheorganisation.Thereareninestrategicaimsdetailingobjectiveswithinspecificareas:

• Research• learningandTeaching• TheStudentexperience• PartnershipsandCollaborations• Staff• organisationaleffectiveness

andefficiency• Infrastructureandestate• FinancialHealth• InstitutionalProject-the600th

Anniversary

Thedeliveryofobjectivesintheseareaswillbeunderpinnedbysupportingstrategies,someaspectsofwhichwillevolveovertime.Centraltoallthestrategiesarethecross-cuttingthemesof‘AcademicexcellenceandDistinctiveness’and‘FinancialSecurity’,‘Growth’and‘Internationalisation’.KeyProgrammeIndicatorslinkedtotargetsarealsointroducedforeachstrategicaim.

The600thanniversaryasaninstitutionalprojectwillprovideanopportunityforfundraisingandforengagingstaff,studentsandalumniinaseriesofspecialactivitiestoenhancetheprofileoftheUniversity,explainedProfessorPiper.

DeputyPrincipalandmasterProfessorKeithBrownemphasisedthatexcellenceinresearchandteachingwasattheheartoftheUniversity’smission.

“everymemberofstaffisemployedtoassistinthedeliveryofthismissionandcrucialtoourcontinuedsuccessistheneedtoensurethatallwedocontributestoacademicexcellence.

“Tohelpfacilitatethisthenewstrategicplanseekstoremovebarriersandpromoteinterdisciplinarycollaboration.

“HowevernoneofouraimswillbeachievedwithoutahealthyfinancialbaseandtheactiveengagementofalltheUniversitycommunity”,saidProfessorBrown.

Marion Gibson

BarcatoreturntoStAndrewsFootballing giants FC Barcelona will arrive back in St Andrews this summer to train at the University’s ‘first class training facilities’.

TheclubwillarriveinScotlandonmonday21anddepartonSaturday26July.Duringtheirstay,theywilltrainattheUniversity’splayingfieldsandplaytwofriendlyfixturesagainstDundeeUnitedandHibernianFC(26and24Julyrespectively).

moreinformationwillbeannouncednearerthetimeofthevisit.

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SportReliefa‘runawaysuccess’inStAndrewsBy John Scott, Operations Manager, Sports Centre

One of the strands of the University's Strategy for Sport is to exceed national participation figures pro rata at a local University level. As a means to encourage people to take up and maintain waking and jogging as a form of regular and beneficial exercise, it was timely to receive an invitation last October from SportRelief to host a St Andrews SportRelief Mile event as part of a one-day national participation event and sponsorship appeal.

Photographs of the event can be seen at:

www.st-andrews.ac.uk/sport

TheideologyofSportReliefistoharnesspeopletohelpchangetheirlivesforthebetterbyusingthepowerandpassionofsport.ThesponsorshipanddonationmoneyraisedisspentbyComicRelieftotransformthelivesofsomeofthemostvulnerablepeoplehereintheUKandinthepoorestcountriesoftheworld.

Cometheday,Sunday16march,participantscouldchoosetowalk,jogorrunone,threeorsixmilesaroundtwodifferentloopsoftheplayingfieldsculminatinginatrackfinish.Inajamboree-typespiritwiththeBrothersBandperforming,temptingsmellsofbarbecuedfoodwaftingthroughtheair,sidestallsandbeat-the-goalie,eachwavestarttimecontainedabout125people.Almost500runners/joggers/walkersinvariousguisescompletedtheirgoalof1/3/6miles.ParticipantscamefromasfarafieldasNewcastle,edinburgh,Perthanderrollandincludedanumberofteams:StAndrewsKendoClub,UniversityCanoeClub,errollGuides,ChemistryTopHatsandascantily-cladwaterpoloduo.

Somecompletedthecourserunningbackwards,somewalkedasatrioboundbythefeet,otherspushedpramsandshopping,andsomecarriedcanoepaddles.Theyoungestrunnerwasthreeyearsoldandhisdaywasmadeevenmorememorablebystartingthethirdwave.

TheProvostofFife,CouncillorFrancesmelville,startedwavesoneandtwo,withPaulSamsonofRiver City,theBBCScotlandTVseries,loweringtheflagonthelastwave,havingcompletedhisrun.Thewackiest-dressedteamawardwenttotheUniversity'sCanoeClubwhodonnedwetsuitsetalfortheirrun.

Atthetimeofgoingtopress,itisnotknownhowmuchsponsorshipmoneywasraisedasindividualsponsorshipwassentdirecttoSportReliefandmoneyisstillbeingsent.ontheday,fundraisingrealised£305fromavarietyofstalls.

Thanksgotothelocalbusinesseswhosupportedtheeventwithtombolaandauctionprizes.

onbehalfoftheUniversitySportsCentre,IwouldliketothankanumberofpeoplewhogenerouslygaveoftheirtimetomaketheStAndrewsSportReliefmilearun-awaysuccess.GratefulthanksgotoallthemanyhelpersonthedayandbeforehandwithoutwhomtheStAndrewsSportReliefmile

wouldnothavebeenpossible;theFirstAidteam,administrators,stall-sellers,photographers,press,coursemarshalls,theBrothersBand,UniversityestatesandGrounds.

Aboveallitwasextremelypleasingtoseethenumberofstudents,localfamiliesandyoungchildrenwhoenteredtheevent.Thankyouforsupportingtheeventwithsuchenthusiasm.Keeponrunningandputthedateinthediaryfornextyear!

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Rugby150Celebrations will be held in St Andrews this September to mark the 150th anniversary of the University’s oldest sports society.

TheUniversityofStAndrewsRugbyFootballClub,oneoftheoldestclubsinScotland,wasfoundedin1858.AprogrammeofeventsisplannedtomarkthisimportantmilestoneincludinganinternationalmatchatUniversityParkandanAlumniweekend.“oldBoys”areinvitedtoreturntoStAndrewsandtakepartinthespecialactivities.oneofthehighlightswilltakeplaceinSeptemberwhenTheSouthAfricanRugbylegendswilltraveltoStAndrewstochallengetheScottishlegends.Bothteamswillbemadeupofex-internationalists.

AgamebetweentheUniversity’s1stXVandtheStAndrewslegendswilltakeplaceduringthealumniweekend.CelebrationswillculminateinalargefundraisingSportsman’sDinneratTheFairmontStAndrewsHotel.GuestswillincludeSouthAfricanandScottishRugbylegendsaswellasStAndrewsoldBoys.

Sesquicentennialco-ordinatorFergusKnightwascaptainoftheclubfrom2003-2004andhasbeenplanningcelebrationsforaroundtwoyears.Hesaid,“mytwobrotherswerealsoheavilyinvolvedinStAndrewsUniversityRugbyFootballClubandtogetherourinvolvementspansabout25years.WehaveallhadmanygoodtimeswiththeclubandIwantedtogivesomethingbackNothingwasdonetomarkthecentenarysowearehopingthatlotsofalumniandoldBoyswillreturnforthiseventtomarktheoccasioninanextra-specialway.”

Presentclubmembersalsohopetobeabletoreconstructadetailedhistoryoftheclub,updatingarchiveswithplayerdetails,newspapercuttingsandphotographs.Althoughafairlycomprehensivehistoryappearsfrom1890-1988,therugbyclubarekeentofillinthegapsforfuturegenerationsandcompileahalloffame.

AnyoneinterestedinsupportingtheclubshouldcontactFergusatfergus_knight@hotmail.comorconsultthewebsitewww.standrewsrugby.comformoreinformation.

TheAlumniweekend,includingthe150thCelebrationDinner,SouthAfricalegendsvScotlandlegendsgameandaSesquicentennialmagnumGolfChallengewilltakeplacefrom11-14September.

1932 - 1933 Team photo

Participants in the Ma Bells 7s tournament in 2007

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Fife:TheHomeofeconomics

The prestigious appointment of a St Andrews’ academic will bring the UK’s Learned Society for Economics to Scotland for the first time in its history.

Professor John Beath has been named the Royal Economic Society’s new Secretary-General, making him just the ninth post-holder in over 100 years.

TheSecretary-GeneralisresponsibleforrunningtheaffairsoftheReSwhichincludesthepublicationoftwoleadinginternationaljournals(The Economic Journal and The Econometrics Journal)aswellasotherscholarlyworks,overseeinganannualinternationalconference,authorisingtheprovisionofgrantsandfellowships,andorganisinganannualpubliclectureandanationalcompetitionforschools.

ProfessorBeath,fromtheUniversity’sSchoolofeconomics&Finance,willformallytakeoverthepostthismonth.

Hesaid,“IamgreatlyhonouredtobecomeonlytheninthSecretary-GeneralintheSociety’s118-yearlife,especiallywhenIreflectonthenamesofthosewhohavepreviouslyheldthepostsuchaslordKeynes,forexample,whowasthethirdpost-holder.

“equallyimportant,Ifeel,istheheightenedinternationalprofilethiswillgivetoeconomicsinScotlandastheSocietywillbebasedinStAndrews.ThiswillbethefirsttimesincetheSociety’sfoundingthatitsofficewillbeoutwithlondon.

“FollowingonfromtherecentmajorinvestmentineconomicsbytheScottishFundingCouncil(SIRe,TheScottishInstituteforResearchineconomics),thisisafurthersteptohelpmovethecentreofgravityinthedisciplinebacktowardsScotlandandtoFife,thecountryandthecountythatthroughAdamSmithhavehadsuchaprofoundeffectonthedevelopmentofeconomicthought.”

Foundedin1890,theRoyaleconomicSocietyistheUK’slearnedsocietyforeconomics.ThemajordrivingforcebehindtheSocietywasthegreat19thcenturyeconomistAlfredmarshallandthemeetingtofounditwasheldatUniversityCollegelondononNovember21,1890.

oneofitsfoundermemberswasJamesBonar,aneconomistandseniorcivilservantandanativeofPerth. ThefoundingmeetingwaschairedbyViscountGoschen,subsequentlyChancelloroftheexchequer,whobecameitsfirstPresident.

RedgowngivengreenmakeoverThe distinctive red gown synonymous with student life at the University of St Andrews was given a `green’ makeover for a charity student fashion show.

StudentdesignerCamdenHauge’scollectionofrecycledwoollengownsformedthecentrepieceoftheStAndrewsCharityFashionShow2008,whichaimedtobethemostenvironmentallyfriendlystudentfashionshowinthecountry.

Thenewcollectionincludedcustomisedversionsofthegowningarmentsincludingskirts,shortsandevenakilt!

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Schoolofenglisheco-gardenCreative output in the University of St Andrews is expected to blossom when poetry and nature are combined in the development of a new eco-garden.

Followingtherenovationofitsbuildingandgroundsoverthepastyear,theSchoolofenglishisplanningtocreateaneco-gardenarounditstwobuildingsonTheScores.

Itishopedthatthegardenwillbenefitstaff,postgraduatesandundergraduatesalike,attractingbirds,beesandthoseinneedofapeacefulspace.

Sincetheexistinglawnandbedsofshrubswerepartlydestroyedduringrecentwork,theSchoolhastakentheopportunitytodesignandplantanew'greener'gardenthatreflectsitscommitmenttotheenvironment.

membersofstaffintheSchoolofenglishhavecontributedtotheplanningstageoftheproject,whichisstillintheearlystagesofauthorisationanddevelopment.Severalothershaveindicatedtheirwillingnesstodigwhenthetimecomes.

DrSusanmanly,alecturerinenglishandoneoftheproject’sarchitectssaidthattheaimsofthegardenarethreefold.

Sheexplained,“Wewantthegardentobeeducational,introducingstudentsandothervisitorstonativeand'heritage'speciesandthethreattodiversitythatindustrialmonoculturesandenvironmentaldegradationpresent;wewantittobewildlife-friendly,encouragingbirds,beesandbutterflies;andwewantittobeatranquilspace,wherestudents,staff,andvisitorscanrestandcontemplate

nature,takingabreak,howeverbrief,fromthestressesoftheworkingday.”

JohnBurnside,Readerincreativewritingandlectureroftheliteratureandecologycourse,welcomedthegardenasaresourceforthedepartment.

Hesaid,“Ilookforwardtoseeinghowitgrowsanddevelops-bothasaspaceforgettingawayfromitallandasaworkspace.Ithinkthegardenisagreatidea-toparaphraseVoltaire,‘Wemustallcultivateourgardens’.

“Apartfrombeingacreativewriter,Iteachacoursecalledliteratureandecology,whichseekstointroducestudentstoecocriticalapproachestoliteratureandtothinkaboutwhatwemeanwhenwetalkabout'Nature',bothinaliteraryandamoregeneralcontext.Icanseethegardenbeingarealresourceforthiswork,especiallygiventhenatureofthedesignandthosecontributingideastothedevelopment.”

Thearchitectshopetoplanttrees,includingappletrees,shrubs,hedgingandvegetables,withanemphasisonplantsthatwillencouragebirdsandbeneficialinsectsintothegarden(thoughthey'lltrytokeepsomeofthevegetablesforhumanconsumption!),plantsthatreflectthelocalflora,andheritagevarieties.

Johncontinued,“Ihaveworkedasacollegegardenerinthepast,andIamawareofallthepressuresandconventionsthattendtowardsmaking

moreleaguetablesuccessStAndrewsretaineditstoptenpositionintwoleadingnewspaperleaguetablesoutinthelastcoupleofmonths,withThe GuardianandandThe Good University Guide(publishedbyThe Independent)placingStAndrews5thand7thintheUK(andtopinScotland)respectively.

gardensofthattypefairlyuniform-theneedtoensureeasymaintenance,thesupplyofspecific'groundcover'plantingsetc.

“Ithinkwhatismostinterestingaboutthisgardenplanisthatitreflectstheinterestsandtasteofpeoplewhoarenotnormallyinvolvedininstitutionalgardendesign,andsowillbeaunique'micro-garden’withintheUniversity'soveralllandscapescheme.”

Atoneendofthegarden,therewillbeanumberofraisedbeds,edgedwithwoodandsurroundedbygooseberryandblackcurrantbushesandraspberrycanes.Therearealsoplanstogrow‘heritage’varietiesofvegetables,includingpotatoesandonions,chard,spinachbeet,beetroot,radishes,andsaladgreens.

Amixedhedgewillrunthelengthofthegarden,incorporatingplantsthatwillprovidehabitatandfoodforbirdsandbeneficialinsects,includinghawthorn,hazel,elder,blackcurrantshrubs,berberisandpyracantha.

AgainstthewallsofKennedyHall,theSchoolhopestogrowramblingroses,lavender,ribesandforsythia;andaroundasunken,pavedseatingarea,theteamwillplantherbs.

SupportfortheprojecthasbeenofferedbyRoddyYarr,environmentandenergymanagerfortheUniversity,estatesAssistantDirectorofGroundsServices,JimDrummond,andbythestudent-runStAndrewsPermacultureGardenSociety.

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Celebratingcharitableefforts

An outstanding total of over £160,000 was raised by student fundraising efforts in St Andrews this year.

TheUniversityhostedacelebratoryCharitableStAndrewseventrecentlytorecognisetheworkitsstudentsdoforcharityandtomarktheirachievements.

Thespecialevent,heldinlowerCollegeHall,broughttogetherUniversitystaffandstudentswithlocalresidents,communityrepresentativesandthoseinvolvedwithsupportedcharities.

FifeCouncilProvostFrancesmelvillecongratulatedthestudentsontheirfundraisingeffortsandpresentedDavidHaines,ConvenoroftheCharitiesCampaign,withtheFifeShieldmarkingcivicappreciationofcharitableachievementsbythestudentcommunity.

DirectorofStudentDevelopmentandActivitiesJennymackaysaid,"ofthe129affiliatedstudentsocietiesoftheStudents’

Spotlightoneurope’sBiophotonics

Professor Kishan Dholakia, Dr Tom Brown and Dr David Stevenson attended a “Kick Off” meeting for the first European network of excellence for Biophotonics in Jena, Germany.

(L to R) Kishan Dholakia, David Stevenson and Tom Brown who attended the

recent kick-off meeting for this new European Initiative in Biophotonics.

morethan50high-rankingscientistsfromnineeUcountriesandRussiagatheredinJena,Germany,onmay6and7toofficiallylaunch“photonics4life”withacelebratoryeventandafirstmeeting.

Thenetworkisaconsortiumof13first-classresearchinstitutionsembracingthechallengetodevelopthepotentialsofBiophotonicsineuropeandisfundedbytheeuropeanCommissionwithintheSeventhFrameworkProgramme.

Withthehelpofnovelopticaltechnologieshealthcarecanbeoptimisedinthefutureinsofarasthediagnosisandtreatmentofwidespreaddiseaseslikecancerorinfectionscouldbecometailoredtotheneedsoftheindividualpatient.Biophotonicsresearchprovidesmedicineandlifescienceswiththenecessarytools,andallowshighlyefficient,thoughaffordable,therapeuticmethods.Biophotonicsisadisciplineandamarketontherise,inthescientificaswellasintheeconomicsense.ArealBiophotonicsboomhasbeenpredictedintheforthcomingyears.

ProfessorKishanDholakia,theprojectleaderattheUniversityofStAndrewssaidheconsideredit“veryprestigiousfortheUniversityofStAndrewstobeaselectedpartnerinsuchahighprofileeuropeanSeventhFrameworkProgramme.”

Association,mostpartakeinfundraisingeventsoractivitiesthroughouttheacademicyear,bringinggeneralawarenessofworthycausesintotheconsciencesofStAndrewsstudents."

Intotal,studentcharityeffortraisedaround£20perstudentinStAndrews.CombinedcharityeventsinStAndrewshavedonated£162,244betweenApril2007andApril2008tomanylocal,national,andinternationalcharitiessuchasAmnestyInternational,HabitatforHumanity,UNICeFandmacmillanCancerSupport.

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‘magicalpieceofnature’livinglinksopensWorld leading primatologist Dr Jane Goodall has officially opened a unique University centre dedicated to understanding the origins of human behaviour.

DrGoodall,whoselandmarkresearchiscreditedwithredefiningtherelationshipbetweenhumansandanimals,openedthepioneeringlivinglinkstoHumanevolutionCentre,aninnovativepartnershipbetweentheUniversityofStAndrewsandtheRoyalZoologicalSocietyofScotland,lastmonth.

Duringheraddresstoaninvitedaudience,whichincludedCabinetSecretaryforeducationandlifelonglearning,FionaHyslopmSP,andtheChiefScientificAdviserforScotland,ProfessorAnneGlover,DrGoodallcommented,‘You’reinforarealtreat,it’squitemagicalwithimaginativedesignandtheoutsideisapieceofnature.Therearesomeamazingprimateswhichareverysatisfied.onereallyexcitingaspectistoinvolvethepublicmore,enablingpeopletounderstandandseeforthemselvesthatmonkeyslovetoperformtasks.It’sbeenalotofhardworkbutthisisasuperbfacility.’

The£1.6mstate-of-the-artfacilityatedinburghZoowillprovideStAndrews’researchers,alreadyinternationallyrenownedfortheirstudiesofwildmonkeysandapes,withtheopportunitytoobservemoredetailedaspectsoftheprimates’behaviourclosertohome.

Thepurpose-builtnewcentreisauniquecombinationoffieldstationandresearchcentrewhichhasre-createdmixed-speciescommunitiesofcapuchinsandsquirrelmonkeysthatarenaturalinthewild.ThiswillallowtheresearcherstomonitorinteractionbetweenthetwoSouthAmericanspeciesandultimatelywillhelpresearchersunderstandtheculturalconnectionswesharewithourprimaterelatives.

DrGoodallopenedthenewCentrejointlywithProfessorSirmichaelAtiyah,PresidentoftheRoyalSocietyofedinburgh,whocommented,“Thelinkbetweenscientificresearchandpublicperceptionatlivinglinksisexemplary.”

Capuchin infants

GraduateawardedaBritA graduate of the University of St Andrews who formed a band via Facebook has won a Classical Brit award.

JulesKnight-knownasJulianKayeduringhisstudentdaysandpicturedfarleft-graduatedin2005withanmAinArtHistory.InJune2007,heformedtheclassical-popquartetBlakeonthesocialnetworkingsitewithStephenBowman,DomTigheandollieBaines.lastmonth-followingawhirlwindpromotionaltour-thebandbeatoffstiffcompetitiontowintheBritforAlbumoftheYear,followinglastyear’swinnerSirPaulmcCartney.

Dr Jane Goodall at the opening

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Guesswhere?Answers

7. Bandstand,TheScores

1. StSalvator’sChapel

5. Bikeshelter, Physics&Astronomy

3. TheScores

4. ‘TheendHouse’,GibsonPlace

2. PoliceStation, NorthStreet

6. TheRoyal&Ancient

8. ‘ThelionsHouse’,HopeStreet

9.lockers,SchoolofChemistry

Back cover: ‘The Lions House’, Hope Street Credit: Alan Richardson, Pix-AR

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