University to host X-Men 2 premiere

The University was planning to host the Scottish premiere of X-Men 2 at the time of going to press with leading actor Brian Cox pledging his support for the event to raise funds for the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research.

With only twelve days to organise the event after 20th Century Fox agreed to a University of Dundee hosted premiere on 29th April, plans were underway to attract the cream of Scotland’s celebrities to attend the fundraising bash in Edinburgh’s Warner Village and Harvey Nichols.

Brian Cox said: "I am extremely pleased to be playing a small part in helping Sir Philip Cohen and a talented team create a world-class research centre, which will potentially change the lives of thousands and thousands of people worldwide. Sir Philip’s aim is to make Dundee and Scotland a world-leading centre in malaria and diabetes research and there are significant opportunities for companies willing to contribute to the project. I am really looking forward to the evening, the chance to meet up with some good friends and the opportunity to contribute to what is a very worthwhile cause."

The full Hollywood treatment with red carpet and the works was planned. The University is grateful to Edinburgh Warner Village and Harvey Nichols for their support. The University of Dundee is looking to raise £4m towards the £17.5m cost of the new research facility. All proceeds of the evening will go towards the campaign.

The new centre - scheduled to open in 2005 - will employ 180 scientists and will adjoin the existing Wellcome Trust Biocentre, which already houses some of Europe’s top researchers. The world-class research base - as yet unnamed - will seek improved treatments for diabetes and global parasitic diseases such as malaria. Work will begin in 2003. A full report and pictures of the premiere event will be published in the next issue of Contact.

Double-barrelled Book Prize launch

Bestselling author Ian Rankin, leading literary figure John Burnside and BBC broadcaster Edi Stark will be announced as judges of the third Dundee Book Prize at a high profile launch on Friday May 2. The double barrelled ceremony will also celebrate the publication of Claire-Marie Watson’s The Curewife - the novel which won the previous Dundee Book Prize (see page 18)

Some of Scotland’s leading contemporary writers are expected at the ceremony in DCA and a full programme of writers and readers events including a novel writing masterclass with John Burnside, has been organised the following day at DCA in tandem with the Scottish Arts Council to launch their Scottish Book Awards 2003. (continued on page 2)

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