‘Enlightenment and Education – 300 years of Innovation in Scotland and America’
Published On Thu 1 May 2014 by Grant Hill
The legacy of the Scottish Enlightenment and its powerful influence on education in the United States of America will be discussed at global seminar at the prestigious Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC today (Thursday, 1st May).
‘Enlightenment and Education – 300 years of Innovation in Scotland and America’ will feature an international line up of speakers from the Universities of Dundee and Strathclyde, the US-UK Fulbright Commission, The Smithsonian and the US Patent and Trademark Office at the National Museum of American History
In a message to delegates, Alex Salmond MSP, First Minister of Scotland, said, “The Age of Enlightenment may have passed but great ideas have not. Today’s seminar will underline the importance of education and pioneering ideas within and between our two countries.
“That is why the Scottish Government has been delighted to support the US-UK Fulbright Commission in its work in Scotland, and I have been especially pleased to see the launch, in 2013, of the Fulbright-Scotland Summer Institute, jointly hosted by Dundee and Strathclyde Universities, bringing US undergraduates to Scotland for a five week academic and cultural programme.
“I would like to thank the Smithsonian for hosting today’s event and making all the contributors from Scotland so very welcome.”
Among the speakers at the seminar will be one of the world’s leading forensic anthropologists Professor Sue Black, from the University of Dundee, and the director of the Future Cities Institute at the University of Strathclyde, Richard Bellingham, who will explore universities as laboratories of innovation in the 21st century.
Dr Ronald Crawford from Strathclyde will discuss historic links between John Anderson, the founder of Strathclyde University, and Benjamin Franklin and President Washington while Professor Jim Livesey from Dundee will examine the age of enlightenment in Scotland.
The seminar is part of the legacy initiative for the Fulbright-Scotland Summer Institute which will welcome the second cohort of US students to Scotland in July.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Education & Enlightenment
300 years of Innovation in Scotland and America
Thursday, May 1, 2014, 1.30pm-5.30pm
Presidential Reception Suite National Museum of American History 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW.
Welcome by Dr David Allison, Associate Director, National Museum of American History Introduction by Michelle Delaney, Director, Consortium for Understanding the American Experience
THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT IN SCOTLAND AND AMERICA
Innovation and Enlightenment: Scotland and Modernity
Professor Jim Livesey, Chair of Global History, University of Dundee, Scotland
Professor Anderson, Dr Franklin and President Washington
Dr Ronald Crawford, Honorary Research Fellow in History and formerly Academic Registrar University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
Moderated by Jeremy Johnston, Curator, Buffalo Bill Center for the West, Cody, Wyoming Break
UNIVERSITIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY: LABORATORIES OF INNOVATION
The Future of Cities
Richard Bellingham, Director, Institute for Future Cities; Deputy Director, Fraser of Allander Institute University of Strathclyde, Glasgow
Scotland's New Anatomical Enlightenment - The Future is Thiel
Professor Sue Black OBE, Director, Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification University of Dundee, Scotland
Moderated by Elizabeth Dougherty, J.D., Director of Inventor Education, Outreach, and Recognition Office of Innovation Development, United States Patent and Trademark Office
THE FULBRIGHT PROGRAM IN SCOTLAND AND AMERICA
Penny Egan, CBE, Executive Director, US-UK Fulbright Commission
Discussion featuring R. Wesley Carrington, U.S. Department of State, and representatives from the Fulbright-Scotland Summer Institute including Professor Graeme Morton, University of Dundee; Dr. John Young, University of Strathclyde; Dr. Patricia Whatley, University of Dundee
Moderated by Ambassador Michael Owen, US State Department Liaison, Smithsonian Institution
FUTURE ENLIGHTENMENT & EDUCATION
Discussion moderated by Michelle Delaney, Smithsonian Institution; Dr. John Rumm, Buffalo Bill Center of the West; Professor Allan I. MacInnes, University of Strathclyde
The Spirit of Innovation: The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Presentation and Tasting
Roddy Isles
Head of Press
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