Brigadier David Nicholls (1949 - 2006)

Brigadier David Nicholls became involved with the University of Dundee in 1999 when he called on an old family friend, Professor Elaine Shemilt, to help transform the notorious, mile-long "Death Star Corridor" at the Mount Pleasant army base in the Falklands into something less austere. The finished project, now called the Millennium Corridor, was turned into an attractive, warm thoroughfare by a University team of staff and students, led by Professor Shemilt.

This unique military-art collaboration led to the creation of the acclaimed "Traces of Conflict" exhibition at the Imperial War Museum in London.

The links between Brigadier Nicholls and the University remained strong and on his retiral from the Royal Marines he was involved in the creation of Project Atlantis, a small research and consultancy group based in the University and concerned with environmental protection and education.

Brigadier Nicholls served as team leader for the project and became a well known and popular figure around the University. The Project Atlantis team established a comprehensive web site, which brings the beauty of the Island of South Georgia and its natural heritage to worldwide Internet access. The project has attracted a significant profile and publicity and is now on the National Grid for Learning.

The government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands also funded the Project Atlantis team to research into and to transform the recently refurbished shell of the historic scientific research station, called Discovery House, into a visitor's centre.

Brigadier Nicholls had a long and distinguished career with the Royal Marines. He was also an internationally renowned climber and explorer.