Winter graduation celebrations at St Andrews

Over 900 students from across the world will gather at the University of St Andrews in December for winter graduations.

Graduands from Scotland, China, Nigeria, Germany and the USA, to name just a few countries, will receive their academic awards in the Younger Hall on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 December.

Three leading figures from the worlds of science and political theory will be honoured by the University of St Andrews during winter graduation. Professor Dame Sue Black OBE, Director of the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification and the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science at the University of Dundee, will be honoured alongside Professor Michael Ferguson CBE, Regius Professor of Life Sciences and Academic Lead for Research Strategy, School of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee.

On Friday 8 December, Professor Roger Smith, world-renowned political theorist and genocide scholar and Emeritus Professor of Government at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, will be honoured.

A special award of honorary degrees will be conferred on two former members of staff with a combined total of 81 years’ service to the University.

The full list of recipients is as follows:

Thursday 7 December 10.30am Professor Dame Sue Black OBE ­– forensic anthropologist and an anatomist who has worked nationally and internationally on crimes associated with wars, murders, dismemberments and the abuse of children.

Thursday 7 December 10.30am Professor Michael Ferguson CBE – his research focusses on understanding the biochemistry of protozoan parasites that cause tropical diseases. He established the Drug Discovery Unit at the University of Dundee and led the construction of the Discovery Centre for Translational and Interdisciplinary Research, which he directs. He is also Director of the Dundee Proteomics Facility.

Thursday 7 December 2pm Mrs Aileen Colford and Mrs Donna James – former members of staff who worked at the University of St Andrews for 41 and 40 years respectively.

Friday 8 December 10.30am Professor Roger W Smith – world-renowned political theorist and genocide scholar and founding member of the International Association of Genocide Scholars.

CAPTIONS

Centre image (from left to right): Professor Dame Sue Black OBE, Professor Michael Ferguson CBE, Professor Roger Smith

Bottom (from left to right): Mrs Aileen Colford and Mrs Donna James

NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS/INTERVIEW REQUESTS

Photocalls with individual Honorary Graduates will be held immediately after each ceremony in St Salvator’s Quadrangle, North Street, St Andrews.

Photo opportunities will take place at approximately 12pm (after morning ceremonies) and 3.30pm (after afternoon ceremonies). Press photographers are asked to be in St Salvator’s Quad 15 minutes beforehand.

THERE WILL BE LIMITED INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES AT EACH PHOTOCALL.

If any member of the press would like to attend any of the ceremonies in the hall, please contact the communications office in advance – contacts below.

NB Places are limited and cameras will be in fixed positions.

Visit the Graduation pages for more information.

Issued by the University of St Andrews Communications Office. Contact Christine Tudhope on 01334 467 320/07526 624 243 or [email protected].