Celebrating graduation at the heart of the campus

The newly completed Campus Green, at the heart of the University, provided a picturesque focal point for graduation celebrations this summer.

Located between the Queen Mother Building and the Students' Association the new Green provided an attractive and spacious venue for this year's series of Garden Parties for graduates and their guests.

The completion of the Campus Green prior to Graduation marked the fulfilment of a long-standing vision to create a central focal point for the campus.

Joining graduates and their guests at Graduation 2008 this summer were leading figures from the world of science, literature, law, design and broadcasting who received Honorary Degrees from the University.

Among the impressive list of recipients this year were Dame Vivienne Westwood, who has been one of the world's most influential designers for more than 30 years, Lord Foster of Thames Bank, one of the most celebrated architects of his generation and Nobel Prize winner Professor Edmond Fischer, whose work on reversible phosphorylation with Edwin Krebs had major implications for the understanding of diseases such as diabetes and asthma.

Former University Rector Lorraine Kelly, one of the country's most popular TV presenters and journalists was also honoured as were acclaimed novelist William Boyd CBE, journalist, documentary maker and alumnus of the University Alan Johnston and acclaimed violinist Nicola Benedetti, who gave a breathtaking performance at the opening graduation ceremony of the summer.

Also honoured this year were leading geneticist Sir Alec Jeffreys, who developed the techniques used for DNA fingerprinting and profiling, Lord Turnbull, who became Scotland's youngest judge when he was appointed a Judge of the Court of Session and High Court of Justiciary at the age of 46, leading international nutritionist Dr Walter Willett and Dundee Medical School alumni Professors Alastair and Margaret Wood.

While in Dundee Dame Vivienne Westwood and William Boyd took part in the second Dundee Literary Festival, which doubled in size this year and featured more than 20 different authors including Ian Rankin, James Kelman, Joan Lingard, Colin Bateman and local mother and son writing dynasty Robin and Rosamunde Pilcher.

Dr Willetts also added his own contribution to the Graduation Celebrations by delivering this year's Greatest Minds lecture.