St Andrews' academics recognised in New Year Honours

Three outstanding academics from the University have been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours for their services to education, mathematics and literature.

St Andrews Regius Chair of Mathematics, Professor Kenneth Falconer, FRSE, was awarded a CBE for Services to Mathematics; Andrew Pettegree FBA, Professor of Modern History, was awarded a CBE for Services to Literature; and Professor of Pure Mathematics, Colva Roney-Dougal received an OBE for Services to Education and Mathematics, making it a double celebration for the School of Mathematics.

Winter Solstice Labyrinth of Light

Students, staff, alumni and members of the wider St Andrews community walked a path of light on the longest night to celebrate the Winter Solstice on Friday 22 December.

The grounds of Economics and Finance were lit with solar lights in support of the University’s sustainability goals and gave visitors an opportunity to pause and reflect at the end of a busy semester and before the festive period.

The Labyrinth of Light was organised by the University Chaplaincy.

The Andrew Carnegie Lecture Series

Mark Sedwill, Baron Sedwill of Sherborne GCMG FRGS LLD, gave the 12th Andrew Carnegie Lecture to a full house on Tuesday 16 February. His talk was entitled Global Challenges: Cooperation in the Era of Competition and was preceded by a student seminar on Terrorism and Democracy, which included the presentation of the Sedwill Prize to postgraduate student Gregor McIntyre.

A video recording will be available in due course and you can find out more about past lectures below.

Alumni Stories

We welcome stories from alumni about your time here, your journey since leaving and what the University of St Andrews has contributed to that journey.

This month, we feature Fulbright scholar Alisha Dietzman (PhD 2023), who describes her journey from Iowa to St Andrews and her poetry publications post-graduation. We also hear from Sheila Masson (MLitt 2013), pictured, who describes how a postgraduate degree as a mature student led her to managing photographic preservation at the National Collection of Aerial Photography.

Email the editor at sem28@st-andrews.ac.uk if you would like to share your story.

Alumni Authors

Global Burns Night 2024

We are looking forward to welcoming alumni and friends to our Global Burns Night celebration online at 7pm (UK time) on Thursday 25 January.

This online event celebrates Scotland's national poet and Scottish culture through a showcase of music, poetry, traditional dance, food and drink, and academic elements from across the University.

If you have not yet registered and would like to attend, you can do so below. There is no cost for this event.

Saints Talk

The next Saints Talk will take place on Tuesday 13 February from 5.15pm - 6.15pm online via Microsoft Teams. It will be given by Dr Stavroula Pipyrou, Senior Lecturer in Social Anthropology, Director of Impact and Founding Director of the Centre for Minorities Research at the University of St Andrews.

The link to attend this online Saints Talk will be shared prior to the event.

Coffee Connect

To celebrate National Mentoring month we have launched another round of Coffee Connect. Sign up now to inspire others through experiences and stories about your own journey at the University and beyond.

Join over 3200 alumni and students who have signed up previously to have a relaxed chat over a virtual coffee.

The closing date for registration is Sunday 28 January 2024.

Save the date for the Sands International Film Festival

This year's Sands International Film Festival will be held from Friday 19 - Sunday 21 April 2024. Alumni, parents and friends are invited to join us in St Andrews for this three-day festival, presenting an exciting and diverse international showcase of contemporary and classic cinema alongside a range of supporting events.

Those who attended last year enjoyed industry talks by casting director Margery Simkin, costume designer Ellen Mirojnick, director Reinaldo Marcus Green and writer, director and actor Stanley Tucci (pictured alongside festival director Ania Trzebiatowska and supporter Joe Russo).

Further details will be shared in due course.

Alumni Weekend 2024

Save the date for this year’s Alumni Weekend, which will take place from 14-16 June 2024!

The full programme - which includes the Arnold Palmer Invitational (pictured) - will be available soon. Contact us at alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk if you would like us to help you reconnect with fellow alumni.

Get involved with the St Andrews Graduates Golf Club

Would you be interested in a round of golf with fellow St Andrews graduates? The St Andrews Graduates Golf Club (StAGS GC) is seeking to engage with fellow alumni who are keen golfers and were part of the University golf team during their studies for social and golfing events. 

A full calendar of events and new social media channels will be launched shortly. If you would like to hear more, please register your interest by emailing Edward Findlay, Alumni Relations Officer, at egf7@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Engaging with our Persian and Iranian alumni

The Kaleidoscope Alumni Network (KAN) would love to hear from any Iranian or Persian alumni, families and friends, as the Persian Society is organising a special Nowruz celebration in collaboration with the Wardlaw Museum in March! 

You are invited to join us at this in-person event in St Andrews to reminisce about past celebrations and to create new memories. Ahead of the event, we’d like to reconnect, share stories, and hear how you have enjoyed the Nowruz spirit over the years. 

If you would like to be involved or simply reconnect, please contact Dr Catherine Dunford, Alumni Relations and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Engagement Coordinator at stakan@st-andrews.ac.uk

SaintsFunder

This month’s SaintsFunder project – SAASUM – is led by a committee of students who coordinate an annual event focused on Africa and the African diaspora. SAASUM introduces African affairs to students who might otherwise have little connection to the continent. The 2024 event will mark the 10th anniversary of the Summit.

Alumni discount for postgraduate study

An exclusive 15% discount on tuition fees is available for St Andrews alumni who are looking to undertake further study at the University. The discount is available to alumni who graduated within the last three years or who completed a Global Summer School, Study Abroad or Exchange programme and would like to pursue postgraduate studies.

From Oxford to St Andrews: call for alumni support

Alumnus Dr John Waś (MA 1975) has kindly offered to donate his complete run of Opera magazine to the University library. As a non-driver, John is seeking the assistance of any fellow alumni or friends who may be travelling from the Oxford area to St Andrews and have capacity to help transport the remaining volumes in his collection.

Please contact johnoxuk@gmail.com if you are able to help.

Psychology research: past PGR student participation

Third-year Psychology student Lina Chi (pictured left) is conducting research into imposter syndrome (also known as imposter phenomenon). A person with this self-perception feels that they are an intellectual fraud, soon to be exposed. Imposter syndrome is common among Postgraduate Research (PGR) students. Lina is supervised by Dr Paula Miles of the School of Psychology (pictured right) and is developing interventions to raise awareness and support students through these feelings.

Lina is compiling direct quotes from past PGR students about their experiences of imposter syndrome and incorporating these into poster designs to further raise awareness.

Support from our alumni community would be greatly appreciated. A brief survey is below.

Laidlaw Live

The Laidlaw Music Centre presents an exciting and varied programme of concerts throughout the year, many of which are live-streamed and can be enjoyed wherever you are in the world.

The latest brochure is now available to view, featuring a fantastic selection of musical events.

Reconnect!

If you know someone who would like to reconnect and sign up for St Andrews in the News, they can do so using the links below:

Alumni: Update your contact information

Parents/guardians of undergraduate students: Register to join the Family Programme

Email: alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk for more information.