Your Durham alumni update: Newswire - June 2018

Newswire
June 2018

News

Durham ranked top 5 in the UK

Durham University has been ranked 5th in The Guardian University Guide 2019.

As well as being ranked in 5th position overall, the University has two subjects, English and Music, ranked as top in the UK. This result reaffirms both departments as leading within the UK as they were also top-ranked in the recent Complete University Guide.

Supporting local artists to thrive

The University’s Assembly Rooms Theatre is hosting a series of local artists in residence, who will use the 150-year-old venue as a base to develop their work. This comes ahead of the £2.4 million refurbishment, due to begin in August.

Durham Internships for SMEs

Match funding is available to SMEs in County Durham for student or graduate internships to support the development of businesses within County Durham. For more details:

Email Laura

Seventeenth Century Scottish soldiers reburied in Durham

The remains of the Scottish soldiers, discovered during construction work at the University’s Palace Green Library, have been reburied in Durham City.

Events

Durham Alumni in Tech Networking Event

Alumni working in technology are invited to this exclusive networking event at Google's offices in London, with special guest speakers.

Durham Festival of the Arts

Join Music Durham for the official opening of Durham Festival of the Arts. The audience will be taken beyond the realm to lands of magic, myth, and mystery.

View all upcoming events

Check our events pages regularly for all of the upcoming alumni events across the world.

View Now

Alumni

Global Connections

Two Durham alumni crossed paths at a music festival for International School students in Shanghai. Find out what happened in this story of alumni making a difference together.

Alumni Weddings in the Castle

Did you know that Durham Alumni receive a 15% discount on room hire when they hold their wedding at Durham Castle?


Class Notes

Her Majesty the Queen has approved the appointment of Lieutenant General Mark Carleton-Smith CBE (History/Politics, Hatfield College, 1982-85) to be the new Chief of the General Staff of the British Army. Forbes Middle East has named Vijay Gandhi (Business Administration, 2002-05) one of the Top 50 Indian Executives in the Arab World 2018. In July, Chris Heaton (French, University College, 1977-81) will set out from the far south-western corner of the Gobi Desert and attempt probably the first wholly solo run across the Gobi, finishing in the south-east at Sainshand. Sophia Galer (Modern Languages, St Mary’s College, 2012-16) won a Best Arts & Culture Social Media Webby award for her work with BBC Culture. Madeleine Knight (Social Sciences, University College, 2005-08) and Charlotte Peters (Music, College of St Hild & St Bede, 2006-09) returned to Durham with the play Birdsong at the Gala Theatre last week. James Longcroft (Chemistry, Hatfield College, 2011-14) has created a fully biodegradable and sustainable water bottle. Joshua March (Law, University College, Law, 2004-07), Founder & CEO of Conversocial, has released a book: Message Me: The Future of Customer Service in the Era of Social Messaging and Artificial Intelligence. Mauro Properzi (Theology and Religion, Ustinov College, 2004-10) has a new publication out - Mormonism and the Emotions: An Analysis of LDS Scriptural Texts. 2018 Australian of The Year & University of New South Wales Professor Michelle Simmons (Physics and Chemistry of Materials, Trevelyan College,1985-88 and Physics, St Aidan's College, 1992) has been elected Fellow of The Royal Society — the highest scientific honour bestowed by the academy. Megan Smith (Geography, University College, 2013-17), who completed her final year of studies whilst battling cancer, is now cancer free. She will be taking to the catwalk for Maggie's on the Runway – raising funds for Maggie's Cancer Centre. Stephanie Solomonides (Sociology, Grey College, 2001-04) has become the first Cypriot to reach the south and north poles. Andy Stephenson (Computer Science, St Chad’s College, 2007-13) is expanding into Europe with his award-winning Newcastle firm Weekend Box. Yasmin Waljee OBE (Economics & Law, Trevelyan College, 1988-93) has been awarded 2018 Asian Women of Achievement Award for Business. New Facebook group for Creative Alumni A Durham finalist has created a casual group on Facebook for Durham students and alumni in the creative industries.

Colleges

Hatfield College

The annual Hatfield Association Reunion Weekend is nearly upon us, so don’t forget to book your spot! A lot has changed in Hatfield recently, and we have big plans for the future. Come along to see what has already changed and to find out what our new Master has planned!

Book now

John Snow College

We regret to inform you that there has been at least a one year delay in the opening of the new home for John Snow College on the Mount Oswald site. The University is currently scoping options for 2019/20 and is committed to reaching the best possible outcome for 2019/2020 and beyond.

Book now

St Cuthbert's Society

Alumni Weekend
14-16 September 2018
This year, we celebrate the 125th Anniversary of St Cuthbert’s Society Boat Club! Book it in your diary now and help spread the word by inviting your friends and getting a group together.

Book now

St John's College

Why not rally your friendship group together and join us back at John's for the reunion of the year? And by year we mean 2019!

Trevelyan College

It’s our pleasure to invite Trevs Alumni back to reconnect and celebrate at our Summer Reunion 2018, please visit our website on the link below to find out more and book your place today!

University College

Alexandra Scarlett Wilshaw was a Castle student who tragically died by suicide. To honour her memory, a fund has been established at University College in her name to help promote awareness of anxiety, depression and the risk of suicide, and better ways to cope with these issues.

Van Mildert College

So many things are happening at Mildert over the next couple of months that you can be involved in! From Mildert Day to the 48 Hour Musical - and don’t forget there’s still time to sign up for our Annual Reunion Weekend. This year is particularly special as it marks 50 years since our first VM Graduates in 1968.

Departments

Archaeology - Scottish Soldiers events

Our Scottish Soldiers Project has some events in Durham this summer. There's a major exhibition at the Palace Green Library and even a play which has been developed from the research results. We'd love it if you could come and attend one of these events and perhaps it would be an excuse for you to come along to the department and say hello.

Business School - alumni visit

DUBS Advisory Board Member Satvinder Singh has visited the School to speak to MSc students about careers in banking and to MBAs about corporate entrepreneurship. He graduated (MBA) 25 years ago and has since enjoyed an international banking career with HSBC, Citibank and Deutsche Bank.

Chemistry - the Durham Lectures

Every year we invite an internationally leading chemist to give a series of lectures within the Department to highlight a topic area of modern chemistry research. See what we've got coming up

Durham Law School to offer on-site training for New York and California state bar exams

Anyone with a Durham LLB can take the New York or California state bar exams. No other UK law school offers on-campus in-person training. All Durham University students and alumni will receive a 10% discount.

Strong Presence of Music

The Department of Music has been rated as the top UK music department for two years running in both The Complete University Guide (2018 and 2019) and The Sunday Times University League Table (2017 and 2018).

The University is embarking on ambitious plans to build a multi-purpose Concert Hall to Durham that would benefit the students and the local community and we have recently appointed some venue consultants to help us on this development.

The Music Societies have witnessed a steady growth of student numbers to their 27 music societies (including six different orchestras!) and this year’s highlights include performing to His Royal Highness, Prince of Wales, in a private concert in February.

Physics - Could a Multiverse be hospitable to life?

A Multiverse – where our Universe is only one of many – might not be as inhospitable to life as previously thought, according to new research.

Stay Connected

Have we got your correct details? Update your address and email for news of events near you, alumni benefits and the latest developments from Durham.

Keep in Touch

If you would like to unsubscribe or change your email preferences, please contact us;

+44 191 334 6305

alumni.office@durham.ac.uk

Durham University, Development & Alumni Relations Office, Palatine Centre, Stockton Road, Durham. DH1 3LE

Privacy Notice | Email Preferences