An astronaut, Nobel prize winner and rock-star cum philanthropist are among the glittering company who will be awarded honorary degrees at the University of Dundee this summer.
Dr Bonnie Dunbar of NASA, Dr Tim Hunt, Nobel Prize winner and Head of Cell Cycle Control at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and Bob Geldof are just three of a host of luminaries to be honoured in this year's ceremonies on 11 and 12 July.
John Simpson, BBC world affairs editor will join with celebrated artist David Mach, Lady Strathmore, patron of the Queen Mother Research Centre campaign, Bob Seaton, former University Secretary, Professor Donald McIntyre, Professor of education at the University of Cambridge, Margaret Alexander, visiting Professor of nursing and community health at Glasgow Caledonian University, Wilson Sibbett, Professor of physics at the University of St Andrews and Sheridan Snyder, founder of Upstate Discovery Ltd, prominent American entrepreneur, sportsman and philanthropist.
Herbert Haxton from Blairgowrie is also to be dubbed with a Doctor of Laws at the request of the Chancellor Sir James Black. Mr Haxton taught the young Sir James anatomy when a student at Queen's college. To mark Sir James' tenth year as Chancellor of the University of Dundee, the University is honouring the inspirational teaching of Herbert Haxton which spurred his protégé on to the discovery of Beta Blockers and drugs which treat ulcers.
The annual Discovery lecture for alumni has now been moved from its traditional March date to "graduation Saturday" - 13 July when it is hoped more alumni will return to combine it with a package of events. This year's big attraction for alumni, graduates and their families is David Mach who graduated in the late 1970s and has made an international name as a leading contemporary artist and sculptor. His "Big Heids" on the M8 is known to millions./ENDS
Notes for Editors
Dr Tim Hunt
Dr Tim Hunt was one of the recipients of the Nobel prize last year for
the discovery of 'key regulators of the cell cycle' - the mechanism that
controls cell division in living organisms. Dr Hunt first discovered
cyclins, proteins that regulate the CDK function in the early 1980s. He
has headed Imperial Cancer Research Fund's Cell Cycle Control Laboratory for
ten years. Prior to this he was based at the University of Cambridge. He
became a fellow of the Royal Society in 1991 and has won numerous awards
for his research.
Sir Bob Geldof
In 1985 Bob Geldof organised Live Aid for the starving millions in
Africa. The song which he released with a host of famous musicians "Do they know
it's Christmas" was recorded under the Band Aid campaign and was the
best selling British single to date then - raising £8 million for Ethiopia's
hungry. A member of the Boomtown Rats, he had a major acting role in
Pink Floyd's "The Wall".
Dr Bonnie Dunbar
Bonnie Dunbar, Deputy Director of NASA started work for Boeing as a
systems analyst in 1971 and then in 1975 moved to Oxford, England as a visiting
scientist investigating the wetting behaviour of liquids on solid
substrates. She then became a senior research engineer with Rockwell
International Space Division in California developing equipment and
processes for the manufacture of the space shuttle thermal protection
system. In 1981 Dr Dunbar became an astronaut and flew 5 missions
logging over 50 days in space.
Professor David Mach
David Mach, contemporary artist, creator of the UK's self portrait at
the Millennium dome and fellow of the Royal Academy is one of the
University's most vocal ambassadors. Mach graduated from the University of Dundee in
1978 and has since spoken of his time in Dundee in glowing terms. Mach is
a leader in the field of contemporary art. As well as the Millennium Dome
he has been commissioned for a number of high profile public art projects.
He created the "Big Heids" on the M8, the makeshift temple of Tyre in
Edinburgh, the enormous Sumo Wrestler and the brick train at Darlington.
Mr John Simpson
In a BBC career spanning 30 years John has earned a reputation as one of
the world's most experienced and authoritative journalists. He has
reported from more than 100 countries across the globe, including 30 war zones.
He has recently received widespread acclaim for his reporting from inside
Afganistan where he was forced to disguise himself as a woman in order
to move undetected. He has been named television journalist of the year
twice, in 1991 and in 2000 for his reporting of the Kosovo crisis.
Mr Robert Seaton
Bob Seaton served the University of Dundee for 28 years under three
chancellors, six chairmen of court and five principals. Having signed
some 50,000 diplomas over the years he was hailed as "the supreme example of
the best type of university registrar" on his retirement. Born in Clarkston,
he attended Glasgow University, Balliol College Oxford then Edinburgh
University acquiring MA and LLB degrees. He joined the University of
Dundee in 1973 from Edinburgh University where he had quickly risen through the
administrative ranks to become assistant secretary.
Mr Herbert Haxton
Herbert Haxton taught Sir James Black anatomy when a student at Queen's
college. To mark Sir James' tenth year as Chancellor of the University
of Dundee, the University is honouring the inspirational teaching of
Herbert Haxton which spurred his protégé on to the discovery of Beta Blockers
and drugs which treat ulcers.
Professor Margaret Alexander
Margaret Alexander is visiting professor of nursing and director of the
World Health Organisation collaborating centre for nursing practice, education, research and management at Glasgow Caledonian University. Professor Alexander is current chairman of the National Board for Nursing Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland and delivers an educational consultancy with WHO Nursing in Europe. She
started out as a registered general nurse in 1955 before taking a degree at
Edinburgh and moving into nursing education.
Professor Wilson Sibbett
Scotland's first chief scientific adviser, educated at Queens University in Belfast,
Professor Sibbett as Wardlaw Professor of Physics and Director of Research in the
school of physics and astronomy at the University of St Andrews, leads a team of researchers
working on ultra fast optical science and technology. He was appointed
Scotland's first chief science advisor by the Royal Society of Edinburgh
in December and will chair the science advisory committee providing
independent advice where science and government overlap. He is a
co-director of the photonics innovation centre and director of the new
interdisciplinary research collaboration on ultrafast photonics
involving Universities and industry across the UK.
Professor Sheridan Snyder
Sherry Snyder is an entrepreneur in the biotechnology industry. In 1981
he established Genzyme, the world's third biggest biotechnology company. In
1999 he founded Upstate Discovery Ltd in Dundee which has had a
significant impact on the biotech industry in Tayside. Snyder was also a sportsman
in his day, reaching the final sixteen at Wimbledon during the 1950s. He
has since, with his friend Arthur Ashe, gone on to invest millions in
setting up tennis facilities for underprivileged children in the US.
Lady Strathmore
Lady Strathmore, as the patron of the Queen Mother Research Centre
campaign introduced the idea of the centre to the Queen Mother and was
instrumental in gaining her support for the project. Throughout her life she has
worked with people with severe disabilities. She was patron of the Dundee based
charity Brittle Bone Society and is currently patron of Sense Scotland.
Professor Donald McIntyre
Donald McIntyre took his degree in Edinburgh, went on to become a maths
teacher at Dunfermline High School and then a lecturer in education at
Moray House before moving to Hull University to become a tutor in maths.
Between 1969 and 1985 he was a senior lecturer and teacher in education
at Stirling University and then between 1986 and 1995 he was reader in
educational studies at Oxford University before moving to Cambridge in
1996.