University of Dundee - Annual Report

Serving the community
The University may be known in academic circles around the world for the quality of work across a broad range of areas (eg accountancy, art and design, applied computing, civil engineering, biomedical sciences, phsychology) but has never lost sight of its roots within the local community. This value-added role may go unnoticed such is the integration of the University into the fabric of everyday life of the city.
The University is able to benefit the local community in many different ways:

Through the exceptionally high standard of health care available (thanks to the Medical School, Dental School and School of Nursing and Midwifery). Enriching the cultural life of the city (through its role in Dundee Contemporary Arts as well as its own programmes of concerts and exhibitions).

Bringing hi-tech industries to the city (on the back of its research in the life sciences). Providing graduates with the skills and confidence to start up their own businesses in the city.

As a major contributor to the local economy (with an annual turn-over of Ł100 million and a policy of placing contracts locally whenever possible). By improving the skills of the workforce through its short course continuing development programmes.
By providing expert advice to public bodies and businesses (through its consultancy services). By providing adult education courses attended by thousands of local people each year.

Design Centres
The University is at the forefront of the city’s growing reputation for top quality design which will be further enhanced by an ambitious Ł1.5 million project to build two interlinked design centres at each of the city’s universities. The initiative will ensure that Dundee graduates will have the opportunity to put their innovative ideas into practice in the city and not have to move away.
Dundee by Design Awards
The University’s corporate image designers, David Herbert and Gary Gowans of the School of Design, were among the winners of the inaugural Dundee by Design awards for their part in transforming a traditional butcher’s shop into an up-market food store. The winners’ trophies were designed by Barbara Meighan, a Master of Design student.
Dundee Book Prize
The Dundee Book Prize for an unpublished novel set in Dundee, the brain child of University Press Officer, Carol Pope, and former Lord Provost, Mervyn Rolfe, secured a steady stream of publicity for the city culminating in the awards ceremony. The University had five authors on the shortlist for the prize including one current student. The Prize was won by Andrew Murray Scott (First Class Honours, 1997) for his novel, Tumulus, which will be published by Polygon.
Challenging Dundee Myths
Staff in the Department of History are engaged on a major project to challenge the outdated perceptions of the city. For example, research has shown that far from being a poor relation among Scottish cities, Victorian Dundee possessed business and civic leaders of ambition and vision.
High Supermarket Prices
Dr Carlo Morelli, Department of Economic Studies, spent some weeks in the USA as part of a study to examine why a few supermarket giants have emerged in the UK while, in the land that invented self-service stores, retailing is much more competitive to the benefit of consumers.
Alzheimer’s Disease
The University has been selected as one of nine centres of excellence in Alzheimer’s disease. The multidisciplinary Dundee team will be led by Dr Kieran Breen and will include specialists in neurochemistry, pharmacology, psychiatry, psychology, neurology and social work.
Worldwide Study of Heart Attacks
The initial findings were published of a study of 170,000 heart attack patients across the world. The study is the biggest of its kind ever undertaken involving 21 countries in four continents and covering a period of almost 20 years. The lead author of the report is Professor Hugh Tunstall-Pedoe of the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit. One of the findings was that the suspected causes (smoking, obesity, cholesterol levels) do not explain national differences in heart attack rates.
Energy Law
Professor Thomas Walde and Professor Peter Cameron and colleagues from the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy have been awarded a contract of one million Euro to help 13 Eastern European countries to re-write their energy laws in line with the Energy Charter Treaty, an agreement covering energy policy, investment and trade. Training workshops for high-level officials will be held in each of the countries involved.

Solving Africa’s Water Shortage
Villagers in Kenya are being shown how to use seeds from a native tree to purify their water by Professor Janet Sprent and her team from the Department of Biological Sciences. The Moringa tree - a fast-growing, drought-resistant species - grows extensively throughout Kenya but few local communities are aware of its properties. Chief of these is the antibacterial nature of the seeds which can clean a murky glass of water in about an hour.
Poverty in India
Dr Raju Das of the Geography Department is examining why anti-poverty programmes in India have had disappointing results.
Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA)
The University was one of the prime movers in the project to give the city one of the finest modern art centres in the UK. Appropriately the University will have a permanent presence in DCA via its Visual Research Centre: a high-tech research laboratory for the arts enabling artists to produce prints, catalogues, CD Roms, to create three dimensional models from computer drawings, to make and edit videos.
Harbour Development
Mr Neil Grieve of the School of Town and Regional Planning was instrumental in drawing up the conservation plan for the redevelopment of Dundee’s harbour. The first phase of the construction of City Quay, a Ł30 million project, is about to start. The conservation plan aims to refurbish many of the old buildings - former whaling sheds and jute stores for leisure, retail, housing and heritage use.
Flood Alert
Professor Alan Werritty, Department of Geography, has highlighted significant climatic changes in Scotland and the need to improve flood prevention schemes.
Economic Benefits of the Scottish Parliament
John McCarthy, School of Town and Regional Planning, is co-editor of Governing Scotland: Problems and Policies which looks at the impact of the Scottish Parliament on economic development and suggests that tangible benefits are only likely to arise in the medium to long term once policies are in place to improve productivity and competitiveness.
Guide to the Scotland Act
Professor Alan Page, Dr Andrea Ross-Robertson and Professor Colin Reid of the Department of Law have published The Guide to the Scotland Act.
Cervical Cancer
The Medical School, in partnership with the Universities of Aberdeen and Nottingham, is participating in a Ł3 million research programme to assess the risk to women with an abnormal smear from developing cancer. Ten thousand women will be screened over 6 years.

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Through the exceptionally high standard of health care available (thanks to the Medical School, Dental School and School of Nursing and Midwifery).	Enriching the cultural life of the city (through its role in Dundee Contemporary Arts as well as its own programmes of concerts and exhibitions).
Bringing hi-tech industries to the city (on the back of its research in the life sciences).	Providing graduates with the skills and confidence to start up their own businesses in the city.
As a major contributor to the local economy (with an annual turn-over of Ł100 million and a policy of placing contracts locally whenever possible).	By improving the skills of the workforce through its short course continuing development programmes.
By providing expert advice to public bodies and businesses (through its consultancy services).	By providing adult education courses attended by thousands of local people each year.