There are many different ways to remember war, and war remembrance practices change over time. This Public Forum wishes to honour veterans and their memories of war while considering collective war remembrance in New Zealand. What veterans remember and what the nation remembers changes through time.

This forum is brought to you by the National Centre of Peace and Conflict Studies is being held Wednesday 24 of April at 5.15pm to 6.30pm at Archway 2

In conjunction with the team from Little India and the Plant and Food Research team at the University of Otago the Science of Curry is being held on Wednesday March 6 at 6:30 pm (for 7.00pm start)at Little India, Moray Place.

The cost of the meal is $45 per head, and includes starters, main, naan bread, and a complimentary Kingfisher beer on arrival. Bookings are essential so please message us, e-mail director@scifest.org.nz or phone 03 474 9256.

Christmas greetings from the Otago Development and Alumni Relations Office. We thought you might enjoy this clip. All the best for 2013 

December graduation ceremonies are available via live streaming

You can watch the August graduation ceremony live via the University of Otago website from 3pm on Saturday 25th August. This ceremony will be taking place in the Regent Theatre, Dunedin.

The exhibition “Charting the Land on the Ocean: Pacific Exploration, 1520-1876” is now on at the de Beer Gallery, Special Collections, University of Otago, Dunedin. It features rare books and maps from the Hocken Collections, the Science Library, Special Collections, University of Otago, and the Heritage Collection, Dunedin Public Library.

This exhibition is now also availiable online: please use this link, and spread the word: http://www.library.otago.ac.nz/exhibitions/charting-the-land-on-the-ocean/index.php

Because there is a wealth of material and limited cabinet space, we have created a supplementary list of images at the end of the online exhibition of those we could not show. They are just too good to exclude. Gradually these will be added to, forming a greater resource for all those interested in Pacific exploration.

The creation of online exhibitions involves much effort and co-operation. Thanks go to Merrin Brewster (library web developer), John Hughes (reprographics, library), Tina Broderick, and Romilly Smith, for assisting in this process. The Hocken Collections, the Science Library, the Heritage Collection, Dunedin Public Library), and the Otago Museum deserve special thanks for the loan of items.  

Dr Donald Kerr, F.L.S.
Special Collections Librarian
University of Otago
P.O. Box 56
Dunedin, New Zealand
Phone: (03) 479-8330
Email: donald.kerr@otago.ac.nz

University of Otago Centre for the Book: www.otago.ac.nz/books/about/

Please join us on Tuesday 21^st August at the Otago Museum’s Hutton Theatre for the annual Federation of Graduate Women Winter Lecture.

Professor Harlene Hayne is providing this year’s presentation.

Entry is by gold coin donation which will be donated to Professor Hayne’s charity of choice, the Salvation Army.

Lecture Poster

Talking about Writing

The University of Otago Centre for the Book is pleased to invite you to join us for a conversation about writing with award winning author and English alumna Alice Petersen ( BA(Hons), MA (Otago); PhD (Queen’s)).  Alice will be discussing her new collection of short stories,  All  the Voices Cry (Emeryville, Ontario: Biblioasis, 2012; ISBN: 978-1-92684-552-4).

Where: Central Library Staff Room, level 1 of Central Library
When: Tuesday, 21 August at 4:00–5:00 pm

This Anzac Day the OUSA along with the Otago University will be holding a special ANZAC remembrance, the first of its kind on the campus.

“It is going to be very special and unlike any other around Otago in that it will focus on opening the service to the next generation of our young people” said Logan Edgar, OUSA President.

The 1.30pm service on April 25th is driven by the young student who believes that this is a generation that wants to remember those who fought for the future of their families and their country.

“This is about remembering and thanking those who stepped up, left their families and travelled across the globe to risk their lives for the sake of others” said Edgar. “It’s about sacrifice, remembrance and hope. That’s something we need to be thankful for, and it’s an honour to hold an ANZAC service on campus.”

The service, which has been added to the RSA’s official list of events for the day, will be held on the Memorial Walk for students who fought in the Great War. The path runs along the water of Leith in front of the university registry’s clock tower, with a plaque marking the entrance to the walk from the Leith Bridge in central campus.

“It’s such an iconic path. Students and staff walk it every day and it’s used in promotion around the world, yet only a few know the meaning it holds” says Edgar. “We want to highlight the path so when people walk it they can do so with meaning, especially remembering those ANZAC’s from our own University who fought and gave their lives.”

A piper will welcome attendees and Mr. Edgar will begin the service with Lisa Pohatu, Tumuaki, of Te Roopu Maori. University Chaplain Greg Hughson will read the opening prayer. During the service, there will be one minute’s silence, the last post and a gun salute. Vice Chancellor Harlene Hayne will share a reading, and the speaker will be Lt. Colonel Mike Hunter.

The ceremony will be concluded by the laying of the wreaths by University staff and OUSA representatives.

All students, staff and public are welcome to attend and partake in refreshments after the completion of the service.

An rare opportunity recently saw Professor Terence Dennis accompany Dame Kiri Te Kanawa in a private recital hosted by Prince Philip. (Otago Daily Times, 29 March 2012) Read more...

In early December 2010, Fred Fastier, inaugural Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Otago, donated a 1200 strong collection of Science Fiction titles to Special Collections, University of Otago. This collection forms the basis of the exhibition ‘Ray Guns & Rocket Ships. The Fred Fastier Science Fiction Collection’, which begins in the de Beer Gallery, Special Collections, University of Otago, on 23 March 2012.

During the 1920s Fred Fastier attended Arthur Street Primary, Dunedin, and it was there that he became interested in science fiction (SF). One of the first works he read was a magazine called Amazing Stories, which was edited by Hugo Gernsback, who, in his own stories, predicted RADAR and television. Two other novels remembered by Fastier included Erle Cox’s Out of the Silence, which involves the discovery of a gigantic, buried sphere, containing the accumulated knowledge of a past civilization; and Aldous Huxley’s classic Brave New World (1932). Collecting was begun in earnest when he was teaching in New York in the 1950s. This was when the McCarthy era was in full swing, dominated by anti-communism sentiment and the Cold War. As a professional scientist, Fastier preferred ‘hard-science’ SF rather than imaginative fantasy. What also captured his attention were the ideas and possible situations imagined by SF writers. As a consequence, Edgar Rice Burroughs and his Venus and Mars series did not rate, while writers such as Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, and Arthur C. Clarke did. Fastier calls the latter ‘a good technologist’. Other authors favoured include H. G. Wells (his idea of tanks before WWI); Hal Clement (especially his A Mission of Gravity); John Wyndham (of Triffids fame); and Philip K. Dick, with his The Man in the High Tower. The collection also contains a large number of magazines such as Astounding Science (which he subscribed to), Galaxy, and Nebula, many of which feature classic short stories in the field.

The exhibition ‘Ray Guns & Rocket Ships. The Fred Fastier Science Fiction Collection’ begins in the de Beer Gallery, Special Collections, University of Otago, on 23 March 2012. It runs through to 15 June 2012. Hours: 8.30 to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday

Exhibitions are free and all are welcome

For further information, please contact Dr. Donald Kerr, Special Collections Librarian , University of Otago, Dunedin. Donald.kerr@otago.ac.nz or phone: (03) 479-8330

The 40th Anniversary celebrations will now be held on 20-22 February 2013.  This is later than initially planned as the University's major building is still under repair after suffering earthquake damage.

As a prelude to the February 2013 celebrations the University will hold an Alumni Reception in Christchurch on Thursday 6th September 2012.  This event will start events rolling towards the 40th celebrations.

The celebrations will also be an acknowledgement of the impact of Canterbury earthquakes on staff and students, and recognising our bright future.

Read more about the 40th Anniversary celebrations...

Congratulations to Professor Sir David Skegg who has recently been appointed the next President of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Read more...

For details download the MBA NZ Alumni Scholarship brochure and visit www.som.cranfield.ac.uk

For further information please contact:
Pete Grogan
Head of Business Operations
AZUR Solar Systems Ltd

Dear Colleagues & Friends of Special Collections,

In a break from teleporting sci-fi captions for my next exhibition (Ray Guns and Rocket Ships), I am pleased to announce that our current exhibition ‘The Gentleman’s Magazine: the 18^th Century Answer to Google’ is now online.

Thanks must go to Merrin Brewster, our Web Developer in the Library, and John Hughes, Tina Broderick, and Amanda Hunter for working with the images.  

As a fan of the real thing, the exhibition is still on till 16 March and it is well worth visiting if you are in town.

And as usual, any comments on how we can improve our e-presence wd be appreciated.

Cheers
Donald

**
Dr. Donald Kerr, F.L.S. 
Special Collections Librarian
University of Otago

We welcome Philip Kearney as the new Director of Development in the Development & Alumni Relations Team at Otago. An Otago graduate himself Philip looks forward to meeting Otago alumni and sharing in the wide and varied stories and experiences that alumni have to share.

New Development & Alumni Director (p.3, Otago Bulletin, Issue 1, January 2012)

Contact Philip Kearney

Professor Tom Devine is Scotland’s leading historian. In 2001 he was presented by HM the Queen with the Royal Gold Medal, Scotland’s supreme academic accolade, and appointed OBE in the New Year Honours List 2005 for services to Scottish history. He is the only UK historian elected to all three national academies within Britain and Ireland. He is not only renowned as a historian, but is regularly called upon to provide political and social commentary in the press and Scottish Parliament. His book The Scottish Nation briefly toppled Harry Potter from the bestseller list in Scotland! A recent reviewer in the Scotsman described Professor Devine as ‘the man who has done more than any to transform the way this country thinks about its past’, also noting, ‘I must say I have seldom heard any speaker being listened to with as rapt attention. In public, in private, his conversational style is the same: analytical, punchy, confident, forceful, persuasive.’

While in Dunedin Professor Devine will be giving the following talks and presentations:

The “Death” and Reinvention of Scotland

Saturday 19 November 2011, 4pm
Otago Settlers Museum
Entry by free ticket, advance bookings required
Email: osmmail@dcc.govt.nz or Tel: 4742728

The eighteenth century was an extraordinary period in the history of Scotland. This was the time of the dazzling intellectual achievements of the Scottish Enlightenment and the beginnings of the transformation of the country into the second industrial and urbanised nation on earth. Yet it was also a time of deep pessimism among several of Scotland’s intellectuals who feared for the ‘death’ of the ancient identity of the country within the Union state and the impact of anglicisation. Professor Devine’s lecture will explain why their concerns proved groundless and instead the ‘invention’ of Scottishness in tartanry, song, story, and myth proceeded apace.

The Lowland Clearances and the Scottish Exodus to New Zealand (followed by a book signing and wine/cheese reception with the Deputy British High Commissioner)

Monday 21 November 2011, 5.30pm
Dunedin City Library
Entry by free ticket, advance bookings required
Email: library@dcc.govt.nz or Tel: 474 3690

Join Scotland's leading historian, Professor Tom Devine, OBE (University of Edinburgh), as he reveals the true scale of the 'Silent Clearances', and their significance for Scottish emigration to New Zealand in the nineteenth century. Personally signed copies of Professor Devine’s book will be available for purchase at the discounted rate of $45 (RRP $60).

Unveiling of the Sylvia Stewart Sculpture

Tuesday 22 November 2011, 2.30pm
Leith side of the Stadium, Dunedin

Join the Dunedin-Edinburgh Sister City Society for this special unveiling. A stone taken from the Leith to Edinburgh and sculpted there by Sylvia Stewart is now located at the Edinburgh waterfront. The reciprocal sculpture is made from Edinburgh rock and is being unveiled on the Leith side of the Stadium in Dunedin by Professor Tom Devine, OBE (University of Edinburgh). For the exact location follow the sound of the pipes.

The Puzzle of Scottish Sectarianism

Tuesday 22 November 2011, 6.30pm
St Paul’s Cathedral, the Octagon, free event

Of all the jurisdictions where Irish Catholics and Protestants have settled across the world, Scotland is unique in 2011 in having an anti-sectarian strategy and laws thought necessary by the Scottish Government. This talk by Professor Tom Devine, OBE (University of Edinburgh), explores why this is so.

Professor Devine’s visit to New Zealand is made possible by the Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies at the University of Otago, the Dunedin Burns Club, the Dunedin-Edinburgh Sister City Society, the Otago Scottish Heritage Council, and the University of Edinburgh. We are grateful for the support of the Dunedin Public Libraries, the Otago Settlers Museum, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the Dunedin City Council.

For further information please contact ciss@otago.ac.nz

Distinguished University of Otago alumna and internationally respected anaesthetist will be reading from her critically acclaimed, internationally published memoir My Innocent Absence.

Wednesday 9 November, 6pm
Room G30 A & B, Ground Floor, Hunter Centre, Great King Street (opposite the School of Dentistry), Dunedin

The evening will be introduced by Professor David Skegg and refreshments will be provided.

Copies of the book will be avaliable for sale and signing courtesy of USB.

For more information on the book and copies of international reviews visit My Innocent Absence on Facebook

A book exploring the teaching of Commerce subjects over the last 138 years has just been released. Emeritus Professor Lyall McLean has recently launched A History of Economics and the Development of Commerce Degrees at the University of Otago 1871-2009.

It traces the development of the field from a single Political Economy paper in a BA through to the multi-department Division it is now. It also includes the names of the Division's 19,000 plus graduates, listed by departments, and 101 photographs including the Professors, Deans, heads of departments and the first PhD graduates of each Department.

The book is available from the University Bookshop. It is also available online via the recently developed Otago University Research Archive (OUR archive), which has been created to provide public access to the University of Otago quality research outputs.

New approaches to the concept of researcher mobility suggest that expatriate researchers can still provide a valuable contribution to the national research sector, regardless of any intention to return.

FRENZ* (Facilitating Research cooperation between Europe and New Zealand) has launched a short online survey of EU-based New Zealand researchers in order to:

• gauge the metrics of existing EU-New Zealand research collaboration;
• achieve a better understanding of both the number and motivations for researcher mobility;
• identify opportunities to better utilize the presence of New Zealand researchers in Europe with regard to enhancing collaboration;
• identify further opportunities for cooperation in areas of mutual interest

FRENZ is inviting all EU-based New Zealand researchers to participate in this survey. For more information, and a link to the survey, please visit the New Zealand Research Diaspora in Europe website.

*FRENZ is a joint initiative funded by the European Commission (EC) and the New Zealand Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (MoRST), which works to enhance the engagement of the NZ research community with the European Union’s Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7).

Singer Claire Barton (BA(Hons) 2002, MusB(Hons) 2006, MMus 2008) is leaving New Zealand at the end of August to begin study at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music in London and is holding a farwell concert on 20th August in the Dunedin Town Hall.

Claire was the winner of 2007 Otago Daily Times Aria Contest; she sang at her own graduation ceremony in May 2008 and was named by NBR New Zealand Opera as the 2008-2009 PricewaterhouseCoopers Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artist.

We wish Claire all the best with her future studies and exciting career.

For information about Claire's farwell concert to be held in Dunedin on the 20th August, 2011, please visit Dunedin's Regent Theatre website.

A recent performance tour of campus 'All that can be expected of a woman' is now available to watch on unitube.

The tour, which was written and directed by the University’s Coordinator of International Relations Sandy McAndrew, took its audience around the old buildings of the original University campus, meeting significant women (and some men) on the way.

For those who missed the live tour a short documentary-style film is now available to view.

The Dunedin City Council's Economic Development Unit is reviewing its economic development strategy. This collaboration is between Dunedin City Council, Ngai Tahu, Otago Chamber of Commerce, Otago Polytechnic, Otago Southland Employers Association and University of Otago.

University of Otago alumni are invited to participate by completing the Dunedin Economic Development Strategy online survey.

Discover the Otago phenomenon for yourself and come along to free public lectures on a range of relevant and challenging issues that affect so many New Zealanders.

Each Lecture is followed by refreshments and an opprtunity to meet the presenter.

• Lecture series in Auckland
• Lecture series in Wellington

A unique opportunity has arisen for Otago alumni and staff to benefit from the development of the Forsyth Barr Stadium University Supporters Club, which entitles members to an exclusive personalised brick to be laid in the University Supporters Club wall or walkway, as well as access to complimentary tickets to scheduled matches in the Stadium. To find out more visit www.forsythbarrstadium.co.nz/university-supporters-club To register you will need an entry code, please email database.alumni@otago.ac.nz and we will send you your code.

For more information about Dunedin Rugby opportunities for Otago Alumni during September please visit our Dunedin Rugby Fever webpage.

In response to the earthquake and the enormous challenges facing the people of Christchurch as they go about rebuilding their shattered lives and city, Kea Beijing, the New Zealand community and its many friends in China invite you to support a fundraising event that will directly benefit the families of victims and a community in real need.

Date:   Saturday, May 14
Time:   6.30pm
Where:Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel, 61 Dongsanhuan Middle Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Cost:   Individual tickets rmb 600, table of 10 rmb 6,000
RSVP: For more info and to register, click here.
 
There will also be a raffle and auction held on the night. Sponsored products or auction items will also be gratefully accepted!
 
For further information please contact KEA Bejing.

A fundraising initiative targeted to Kiwi expats has recently been set up in the USA. The American Friends of Christchurch enables USA residents to give a tax deductible donation to assist the people of Christchuch. The University of Otago has agreed to help publicise this campaign. For further information contact Dr. Peter Watson pw@dwrightgroup.com

Professor Sir Paul Callaghan has recently launched the HEKE (Heroic Educated Kiwi Expatriates) campaign  to raise $2 billion dollars from offshore to help New Zealand rebuild Christchurch. The University of Otago supports this initiative.

Sir Paul acknowledges that he was part of a luckier generation who didn't have to take out loans to study.  However he makes the case that anyone who can start to repay their student loan assists government revenue and the taxpayer contribution to the rebuilding of Christchurch.

Otago's alumna Anna Leese will be performing in Dunedin on April 6 with the NZSO. For further information please visit the NZSO concert information.

Paul Trotman, Otago graduate and staff member, is in London for the showing of his film "Donated to Science".

This is part of the public education programme run by The Royal College of Surgeons of England and the screening will be held at The Hunterian Museum, Thursday 13th January 2011, 7:00pm.
It is a free event but booking essential by calling 02078696560.  More Information

We extend a warm congratulations to all those who have recently graduated from the University of Otago and welcome them to Otago's alumni and friends community. A list of those who graduated in December 2010 is now on the Past Graduations section of the Alumni & Friends website.

Congratulations to Iona Mylek (BA(Hons), 2009) who has been selected as a Rhodes Scholar. She will be heading to Oxford University, where she intends to study for a Masters in Global Governance and Diplomacy followed by a Doctor of Philosophy degree. See University of Otago News for the full story.

The annual world premiere of The Centre for Science Communication student films is drawing closer.

Normally held at the Regent Theatre, which this year is being renovated, the event will be at the St. David lecture theatre complex. The films produced by the graduating class of 2010 will screen at 7pm on the 19th and 20th of November. The program will include a taster of our writing and popularising science students. Tickets are $5 and can now be purchased at the Centre for Science Communication. Door sales will be available on each night (if not sold out prior).

The Film Premiere flyer can be viewed here.

Congratulations to Alison Shanks (BSc, 2004; BCom(Hons), 2004) on her outstanding effort at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi powering home to win a gold medal for the 3000m women's individual pursuit cycling race.

For full coverage of the story visit www.odt.co.nz

Bringing it Home: Remembering the Past + Feeding the Future
Centenary Reunion and Conference
Dunedin, 4th - 9th February, 2011

Registrations are now open for the Home Science/CApSc Centenary Reunion and Conference being held in Dunedin, February 2011.

For further information and programme details visit the Bringing it Home Reunion and Conference web pages.

The latest issue of The Otago Post, a newsletter for those considering post-graduate study at Otago, is now out. Click here to view Issue 6.

The latest issue of The Otago Post - an e-newsletter for those considering postgraduate study at Otago has just been released.

For further information on postgraduate study and to view the current and previous issues of The Otago Post visit www.otago.ac.nz/postgraduate/otagopost

Register for a Postgraduate Information Evenings in Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and Dunedin at www.otago.ac.nz/postgraduate/postgradinfoevenings 

Melbourne based Otago alumni and world acclaimed plastic surgeon, Mr Andrew Greensmith, will be in Dunedin to give a keynote talk on the successful separation of conjoined twins, Krishna and Trishna, that he performed last year at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. Andrew Greensmith graduated from the University of Otago in 1993 with a MB ChB.

You can hear Mr Andrew Greensmith give his keynote address – The Cutting Edge: achieving surgical marvels on Tuesday, July 6 at the St David Lecture Theatre, Corner St David Street and Cumberland Street. $10 per person.

Also as part of the International Science Festival the University of Otago invites you to come and explore the excitement of science at their expo Otago Feeds the Mind! on 9-10 July, 9am-5pm, at the St David Lecture Theatre Complex, University of Otago, Corner of St David Street and Cumberland Street.

For further details on the exciting list of events on during the New Zealand International Science Festival (Dunedin, July 6-11, 2010) visit www.scifest.org.nz

The next Commonwealth Graduates Convention is being planned for March 5-9, 2011. This follows on from the very successful Millennium Convention held in 2001. The 2011 event is being organised and hosted by Hull University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The event aims to give all university graduates of Commonwealth countries the opportunity to network and forge alliances with fellow alumni. Graduates living in Malaysia and visitors from other Commonwealth countries will be warmly welcomed.

For further information visit the Commonwealth Graduates website www.commonwealthgraduates.com

The PassItOn initiative is designed to give New Zealanders and friends of New Zealand, no matter where they are in the world, some extra incentives to start these conversations and a toolkit to help them tell a better story.

Rugby World Cup 2011 and a number of other high profile events in 2011 will create a unique opportunity for Kiwis everywhere to start a conversation about New Zealand. New Zealanders love to promote their country but all too often we talk about the same things – beautiful scenery, bungy jumping, sailing and the All Blacks.

Visit www.passiton.co.nz and do your bit to connect NZ businesses with the world! And win close to $300k in prizes.

The Ministry of Education, Singapore is keen to invite Singaporean alumni from the University of Otago to explore a career in the education profession. We will be holding an exciting Recruitment Seminar in Singapore on 24 April 2010. This event is part of our outreach efforts to promote teaching in particular as a career for Singaporeans who have studied in prestigious overseas universities.

RELIVE YOUR SCARFIE CARISBROOK EXPERIENCE FOR THE VERY LAST TIME!

This is a very special year for Otago Rugby as we celebrate Carisbrook history with the final All Black Test Match.

The ORFU is offering Otago Alumni special access to their preferential booking system, and have extended the offer for a week beyond the standard deal. This means that OU alumni have until Friday 23 April to purchase their tickets before the open purchasing begins.

To take advantage of this special ticket offer, simply visit www.ticketdirect.co.nz and locate the All Blacks v Wales ticket information page. From this page click the rugby family link and enter the password FAN. This will allow you to purchase preferential tickets for the last every All Blacks Test Match at Carisbrook.

DON’T MISS OUT ON THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF A UNIQUE SLICE OF RUGBY HISTORY!

Eminent Otago Alumnus Tan Sri Dr Sulaiman Daud (BDS 1962) died in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday the 23rd of March after a courageous battle with liver cancer.

The Kuching-born Dr Sulaiman Daud came to the University of Otago in 1958, from Kuching, Sarawak under the Columbo Plan. He was among the first students to come to Otago from Malaysia and stayed at Carrington College in Tiro Moana House, graduating in 1962 with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery.

Dr Sulaiman Daud served as a dentist with the Sarawak government and the Brunei Medical Department in the 1960's.  In 1972 he started on a political career with the Malaysian Government including the positions of Minister of Education and Minister of Agriculture, retiring in 1999 after 27 years in government.  Until recently he was the Chancellor of the International Medical University, Malaysia.

Dr Sulaiman Daud has been honoured by his own country for the distinguished service he has given to education, health, economic development and international relationships. Included in his long list of honorary doctorates is an Honorary Doctorate in Law from the University of Otago awarded in 1993.

He was a longstanding friend and supporter of New Zealand and the University of Otago.  In 1994 he set up the University of Otago Dr Sulaiman Daud 125th Jubilee International Postgraduate Scholarship (a prestigious postgraduate scholarship awarded annually to a student from Malaysia for study at Masters or PhD level). He was a patron of Otago's Malay Alumni Association and gave the graduation address at the University of Otago Kuala Lumpur graduation ceremony in 1997 (the first to be held outside of Dunedin) where he stressed that education is not merely the acquisition of knowledge but also the mixing with people.

His wife died in 2005 and he is survived by his four children.

Last week we were delighted to welcome the latest recipients of the Alumni Annual Appeal Scholarships, who are beginning their studies at Otago in 2010. Ten scholarships were awarded for this year, all made possible through the generosity of donors to the Annual Appeal. It was great to meet all ten scholars and witness their excitement about studying at Otago and their plans for the future. You'll be able to read more about these outstanding young people in the next issue of the University of Otago Magazine, due out in June.

In Alumni Relations it's all about people and over the past couple of weeks we've been very pleased to see a lot of old friends dropping by Alumni House for a visit. International visitors included Tan Sri Leo Moggie and his wife Liz from Malaysia, Brian and Pat Merrilees from Toronto and fellow Torontonians Allan and Santa Portis. From across the Tasman came Trevor Moyle, long standing and much appreciated Chairperson of Otago's Melbourne Alumni chapter, and Graeme Barnes, another Melbourne resident and chapter supporter. All of these are long time friends and talking with them brought me a renewed sense of what it means to be part of the alumni community, which seems to consist of a deep affinity to a particular place and time that resonates across the years and miles with a strength that doesn't diminish as time goes by. It's an intangible but very powerful force that gives me so much satisfaction in the work I do.

Welcome to our new website and Your Otago Link, designed to help alumni keep in touch with the University and each other.  After a protracted gestation period this baby was officially launched in December last year, and has already attracted quite a bit of interest from alumni in NZ and abroad, going by the hit reports I get each week.  A core group of departments and individuals was involved in the development of the application and throughout the coming year we’re intending to roll it out across the University until we get the widest coverage possible, so that all who are interested can participate.

Benefits include linking with other Otago alumni for assistance and introductions; information on events and reunions; access to podcasts; participation in networks; RSS feeds; and links to other university services like the Careers Office. You can also apply for your own @otagoalumni email address.  Please let us know what you think - we need your feedback to help this fledgling find its wings! I’ll keep you posted on developments as they happen. Meanwhile, happy networking…

University of Otago medical graduate Dr Andrew Greensmith, now a Melbourne-based plastic surgeon and consultant at the Royal Melbourne Children's Hospital, played a leading role as part of the surgical team that recently separated the conjoined Bangladeshi twins, Krishna and Trishna.  Read more about the challenges of the landmark operation, which was the culmination of two years of painstaking medical preparation.

University of Otago physiologist Professor Allan Herbison has been awarded the Health Research Council’s Liley Medal for “outstanding” research which could lead to new treatments for infertility. Read more...

Five of New Zealand s eight universities are listed in this years influential academic ranking of world universities. The ranking, which put Otago, Auckland, Massey, Canterbury and Victoria in the top 500, was considered an important factor in the global battle to attract international students.  Read more.

University College London, whose provost is distinguished University of Otago graduate Prof Malcolm Grant, has now leapfrogged Oxford University to become the world s fourth-top university in the latest Times Higher Education rankings.  To read more.

Welcome to the third edition of The Otago Post and to the opportunity to learn more about postgraduate study at the University of Otago.
Did you know that Otago has over 1,150 students enrolled in PhD study, over 620 enrolled for a thesis Master's degree and another 2,000 students enrolled in other postgraduate courses? This is good for Otago but it's even better for you if you're contemplating postgraduate study, because it offers you the chance to be part of a large, vibrant and dynamic postgraduate community with many opportunities to learn from each other as well as from our highly qualified academic staff.  Read The Otago Post newsletter here.

Research that could help reduce excessive weight gain by women during pregnancy is among University of Otago study projects boosted by more than $18 million in an "outstanding" Marsden Fund round. For the fifth year in a row, Otago University has gained more Marsden research funding than any other institution in New Zealand. Read the full article here.

For 100 years the Royal Over-Seas League has offered travellers a home-base in London and Edinburgh and membership is available to Alumni members for just $50 per annum. This enables full use of their Clubhouse facilities and 80 reciprocal clubs throughout the world. The London & Edinburgh Clubhouses offer superb accommodation in London’s West End and on Edinburgh’s Princes Street.

The ROSL has a long association with the University of Otago in offering scholarships and support to post-graduate students in the music and art fields. They will be bringing the Barbirolli Quartet, an international prize-winning ensemble, to Marama Hall this November for a performance and master-class prior to the annual ROSL/Pettman International Chamber Music Scholarship.

See http://www.roslnz.org.nz  or email royalo-s@xtra.co.nz

The merger of the Dunedin College of Education and the University of Otago was completed in January 2007. Since then the Development & Alumni Relations Office has been working hard to incorporate alumni records received from the Dunedin College of Education. As we amalgamate records, College graduates will begin to receive University of Otago alumni communications such as the magazine and event invitations.

If you are not currently receiving communications from us, please complete the online form to update your details. Please encourage your fellow College graduates to do so as well.

Gaining a Foothold has been published by the Friends of the Hocken Collections Inc, in memory of the late David McDonald, Hocken Library Reference Librarian from 1974 until 2000, whose dedication, enthusiasm, knowledge, helpfulness and courtesy endeared him to all users of the Library.

The Friends of the Hocken Collections, established in 1991, promotes public awareness and support for the Hocken Collections – the largest cultural research archive in Southern New Zealand – and all the proceeds from the sale of this book will be used for enhancement of the Collections.