The University is poised to launch a series of "Discovery Days" - a stimulating new addition to the University’s winter calendar. Designed to celebrate professorial appointments and promote the cross fertilisation of ideas across a wide range of disciplines, the first of the Discovery Days will take place on 9 and 23 January 2004 in the Bonar Hall.
The new inaugural format is modelled on that successfully followed by the Royal Society when introducing their new fellows. Over the two Fridays in January, 40 professors, all of whom have been appointed over the last three years, will each give a 15 minute talk on an exciting aspect of their current research. Their talks will be pitched at the non-specialist, with the emphasis on conveying the excitement of their research area.
Each day will be divided into four mixed-discipline sessions of five presentations, rigorously chaired and followed by an opportunity for questions from an audience of invited guests, colleagues, staff and students.
Principal Sir Alan Langlands said, "Discovery Days will honour those who have been appointed as professors, inspire others to follow in their footsteps, stimulate new ideas and encourage partnerships across disciplines. Some of the most exciting research is happening at the interfaces of fields where ideas collide and unexpected resonances are generated. We look forward to Discovery Days becoming an eagerly anticipated feature in the University’s winter calendar."
Professors of cellular pathology will share the day with those of politics, addictions pharmacology, fine art, Scots Law and educational research, while an exhibition of posters illustrating each talk will run concurrently in the Ustinov Room. The series will be followed by a substantial, quality publication encompassing a summary of each presentation.
A formal Discovery Day Dinner in honour of all inaugural professors and their partners is also planned.