This month's essential news, events and opportunities for alumni. 1. Student award honours founder of book prizes Image 1. Students have their eyes on the prize A creative writing prize for students has been launched to honour the founder of the UK’s longest running book awards. The Janet Coats Black prize will be awarded in August to the best short story by a postgraduate student at the University of Edinburgh. The prize is part of the celebrations for the centenary of the James Tait Black Prizes, founded in 1919. Find out more 2. Leaders for the Digital Era urgently required Image 2. Digital skills in focus Dr Jim Hamill from the Business School reveals why the rapid pace of technological change means many people in leadership roles are unprepared for the digital era. Read Jim's thoughts Jim's Masterclass in Leadership in a Digital Era 3. Student designs hit runway show with a twist Image 3. Fashion show set to push boundaries Cutting-edge collections by Edinburgh College of Art fashion students will be in showcased at a runway event in the National Museum of Scotland this May. Find out more 4. Crohn’s disease research receives £1.8m boost Image 4. The Queen's Medical Research Centre An international philanthropic trust has awarded significant funding to aid scientists’ understanding of the currently incurable condition known as Crohn’s disease. The £1.8 million award to the University of Edinburgh will help improve how experts monitor and determine outcomes for the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects some 120,000 people in the UK. More information 5. Dinosaur specialist awarded Tam Dalyell Prize Image 5. Dr Steve Brusatte The University’s annual prize for engaging the public with science has been awarded to palaeontologist Dr Steve Brusatte. This prize, awarded during the Edinburgh Science Festival, recognises and rewards the University’s outstanding science communicators. More about the prize Our interview with Dr Steve Brusatte 6. Students celebrate epic quiz show success Image 6. Doing Edinburgh proud Edinburgh has won the popular television quiz show University Challenge for the first time. Our team overcame St Edmund Hall, Oxford - who were strong favourites to win the series - in a thrilling final by 155 points to 140. Edinburgh is the first Scottish university to triumph in the second series. The last Scottish team to win a grand final was Dundee in 1983. Find out more 7. Show recalls Scotland's links with Spanish world Image 7. Alumni John Dunlop (left) and George Drever fought in the Spanish Civil War Interviews with Scottish men who volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War will be heard in public for the first time as part of a new exhibition. The show celebrates 100 years since the study of Spanish – now Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies – was introduced at the University of Edinburgh. More details 8. Mastercard scholars are emerging leaders Image 8. Ritah Namwiza (left) and Edith Violet Naisubi Edinburgh alumna Ritah Namwiza and Ashei University student Ritah Namwiza (who attended the Mastercard Foundation Summer School on Transformative Leadership at the Edinburgh last year) have been selected by the Skoll Foundation as Emerging Leaders. The two Mastercard Foundation Program scholars have been selected because they are currently taking part in projects that are making significant changes to their community. Find out more 9. Awards for ECA graduates Image 9. Double award winner Shipei Wang (Fine Art 2018) Recent Edinburgh College of Art graduates have picked up eight awards at the Royal Scottish Academy's annual showcase RSA NEW CONTEMPORARIES. Find out more 10. Why the classical world still matters Image 10. Join us for a classic discussion The latest Gifford Lecture Seminar on 29 May will see four experts explore why the classical world still matters, and what ethical dilemmas the study of classics raises (and has always raised). More information and booking Enlightened 'Enlightened', the alumni newsletter, is delivered to email inboxes every month. You can make sure you receive yours by updating your details on the MyEd alumni portal. More information: Enlightened Publication date 23 Apr, 2019
