8 July 2005

Final graduation ceremony

The University of Dundee will host its final graduation ceremony in the Caird Hall next week for the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry. Almost 300 students will graduate with degrees, post graduate diplomas and diplomas on the afternoon of Tuesday 12 July.

University Chancellor, Sir James Black will be bestowed with the unique accolade of an honorary degree of Doctor of Science. Distinguished scientist and Nobel Prize winner Sir John Sulston and clinical pharmacologist Professor Sir Alasdair Breckenridge will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.

A Graduation garden party will be staged in a specially constructed area to the north of the Dundee University Student Association building in Airlie Place, from 4pm to 6pm.

Details of the ceremony as follows:

Photo opportunities with the honorary graduates will take place immediately following the ceremony in the Robing Room, City Chambers.

TUESDAY 12 JULY

Photo opportunity: approx 3.45pm, Robing Room, City Chambers, Dundee. Opportunity to photograph Sir James Black, Sir John Sulston and Professor Sir Alasdair Breckenridge.

2.00pm. Graduation ceremony for the School of Medicine and School of Dentistry

The University will confer honorary degrees upon Sir James Black, Sir John Sulston and Professor Sir Alasdair Breckenridge.

Sir James' contribution to science was recognised at the highest level in 1988 when he was awarded (jointly) the Nobel Prize for Physiology or medicine, for discoveries of important principles for drug treatment which led to the development of new drugs for the treatment of a range of disorders including heart conditions and ulcers. In 2000 he was awarded the Order of Merit by HM The Queen - the highest honour which can be bestowed on an individual personally by The Queen. Sir James has been Chancellor for 12 years, during which time he has served the University with commitment, wisdom, grace and distinction.

Sir John Sulston is one of the UK's most distinguished scientists. As the Director of The Sanger Centre, Sir John became one of the world's largest contributors to the Human Genome Project. The Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine was jointly awarded to Sydney Brenner, H Robert Horvitz and Sir John in 2002 for their seminal discoveries in identifying key genes that regulate organ development and programmed cell death and showed that corresponding genes exist in higher species including man. The discoveries are important for medical research and have shed new light on the pathogenesis of many diseases.

Professor Sir Alasdair Breckenridge is one of the founding fathers of modern Clinical Pharmacology in this country, a discipline in which the UK has a highly respected international reputation. In the mid 1970s he was appointed to the Chair of Pharmacology at Liverpool and steered it towards becoming one of the outstanding departments in the UK. He has been chairman of the UK Committee on Safety of Medicines and Foundation Chairman of the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

For further information please contact the Press Office on 01382 344768

By Angela Durcan, Press Officer 01382 344768, out of hours: 07968298585, a.durcan@dundee.ac.uk