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  <title>News - Abertay University</title>
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  <description>Press Releases</description>
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<title><![CDATA[Paralympian Karen Darke to receive honorary degree]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39738-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Nov 2017 09:16:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39738-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39738-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The inspirational athlete will attend Winter Graduation alongside 230 students]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/KD1.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/KD1.jpg <![CDATA[

Inspirational paralympic athlete Karen Darke MBE will receive an honorary degree at Abertay University&rsquo;s winter graduation next week.
Karen is a member of the British Paracycling Team with an outstanding record of personal achievement and work to inspire others.
She will be among more than 230 graduates to attend the Caird Hall in Dundee for a morning ceremony on Friday November 24.
A paralympic and paratriathlon World Champion, Karen has taken a host of medals in her career, including gold for Great Britain in the hand-cycling time trials at the Rio Paralympics last year.
A keen runner and mountaineer before becoming paralysed in a rock-climbing accident, Karen now takes part in canoeing and sit-skiing, as well as hand-cycling.
She has hand-cycled in various corners of the world, including Central Asia and the Himalaya, the Karakoram and the length of the Japanese archipelago.
Karen has also co-organised expeditions sea kayaking along the coastlines of British Columbia and Alaska, skiing across the Greenland icecap, climbing the kilometre-high vertical rock-face of El Capitan, and kayaking through the fjords of Patagonia.
As a coach and facilitator, author and speaker, Karen works regularly with young people, schools, businesses and many other organisations, particularly on the subject of challenge and change.
Students will graduate from across Abertay&rsquo;s four academic schools of Design and Informatics (formerly Arts, Media and Computer Games), Social and Health Sciences, Science Engineering and Technology and Dundee Business School.
The ceremony will also see the first cohort of students on Abertay&rsquo;s accelerated degree programmes graduate, entering the jobs market months ahead of their peers.
Principal Nigel Seaton said Karen&rsquo;s dedication to her sport and will to succeed made her an excellent role model for students.
He added: &ldquo;Karen&rsquo;s achievements in paralympic sport are inspirational. Her determination, coupled with a drive to educate and bring about change, reflects the values of Abertay University.
&ldquo;I look forward to welcoming all of our graduates to this year&rsquo;s winter ceremony.&rdquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Event promotes collaboration in children's services]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39725-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Nov 2017 11:14:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39725-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39725-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay hosted local stakeholders at the Hannah Maclure Centre]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Event1.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Event1.jpg <![CDATA[

An event designed to strengthen collaboration between groups supporting local children, young people and their families was held at Abertay University.
Dundee Voluntary Action hosted the event at Abertay&rsquo;s Hannah Maclure Centre, with stakeholders attending from NHS Tayside, Angus Council, Dundee Council, Perth &amp; Kinross Council as well as a range of third sector organisations.
The event focused on how best to plan, design and deliver children&rsquo;s services in the Tayside area.
The session linked into Abertay&rsquo;s involvement in the In For Care project &ndash; a three-year EU scheme project to develop innovation in service delivery by optimising informal and formal networks
Topics for the event included looking at the remit of the third sector in Tayside and ways in which the strengths of all partner agencies can be maximised.
Organiser Daniel Gilmour of Abertay University said: &ldquo;The third sector is playing a crucial role in meeting the needs of local children, young people and their families.
&ldquo;By strengthening collaboration, and by putting the third sector at the heart of partnerships and planning to design and deliver&nbsp; services, these needs could be better met and more positive outcomes could be achieved for local communities.&rdquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Grand Theft Auto creator to mark 20 Years of Games]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39697-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Nov 2017 09:54:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39697-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39697-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Dave Jones will talk on the 20th anniversary of Grand Theft Auto and 20 Years of Games at Abertay at our free discussion panel finale event]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Dave Jones Pic.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Dave Jones Pic.jpg <![CDATA[

The creator of the original Grand Theft Auto (GTA) has said there is &ldquo;no limit&rdquo; to the future prosperity of the games sector as he prepares to chart the incredible worldwide impact of the franchise 20 years on from its release.
1997 was a year of innovation in Dave Jones&rsquo; hometown of Dundee, marking not only the birth of cultural phenomenon GTA but also of the world&rsquo;s first degree in computer games at Abertay University.
On Saturday November 25 this year, Abertay will host a free discussion panel event marking the finale to a year-long programme of 20 Years of Games celebrations, featuring Jones among a group of industry experts who will look back at the achievements of the last two decades and forward at what&rsquo;s to come.
Jones, who was instrumental in setting up the first games degrees at Abertay, said the mainstream acceptance of GTA &ndash; the latest incarnation of which is the fastest selling entertainment release ever to reach $1bn &ndash; shows the incredible pace of evolution.
&ldquo;GTA is still the pinnacle game for Open World Gaming and trying to make a gaming environment as realistic as possible,&rdquo; said Jones, whose Reagent studio is still based in Dundee.
&ldquo;I still think GTA is the one game that shows how far the industry has come and what it went through was a phase of acceptance of the medium in the same way as music and movies had to.
&ldquo;Initially all games were for kids and because of the technology people weren&rsquo;t thinking of the graphics and story.
&ldquo;But then equilibrium was reached where games became like any other form of entertainment and we now we accept it.
&ldquo;The aspect that still strikes me is how GTA has become part of everyday life.
&ldquo;I remember sitting seeing a movie at home and there being a line, &lsquo;don&rsquo;t go all GTA on me.&rsquo;
&ldquo;That was a surreal moment.
&ldquo;GTA is now a part of everyday culture and one of the best things about any game is that it can have that level of impact.
&ldquo;I suppose it&rsquo;s an aspiration for people who want to make games, to have that lasting legacy and impact on the world when you produce something really great.
&ldquo;And these things continue to happen &ndash; just look at Minecraft for example.&rdquo;
Despite the exponential growth of the games industry since the release of GTA in October 1997, Jones still believes there&rsquo;s unlimited potential as unexpected new markets continue to emerge.
&ldquo;Games touch everybody&rsquo;s lives and even though we&rsquo;ve been doing it for what seems like a lifetime I still think we are in the very early days &ndash; particularly in terms of technology,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;We like to think we create these stylised virtual worlds, but in some ways we are still in the stone-age and the limitations of technology can block the ideas we have.
&ldquo;Virtual Reality has been through a cycle and Augmented Reality is about to go through a cycle, then there&rsquo;s streaming and YouTubers.
&ldquo;There are so many changes that just catch the industry unaware everything three or four years &ndash; but that keeps it interesting.
&ldquo;Everybody is looking at Artificial Intelligence just now and I think that will have an impact on gaming as well.
&ldquo;Gaming is normally quite insular and we use our own technologies, but when companies like Google are spending billions on AI research there&rsquo;s no way the gaming industry is not going to leverage that.
&ldquo;I see so many things happening in other sectors that are going to have a direct impact on gaming and there are technologies on the periphery of gaming right now that will be absorbed.&rdquo;
The free Abertay University finale panel &ndash; Next Level: A Conversation on the Future of Games - will also feature CEO of Ukie Jo Twist, CEO of Playmob Jude Ower, industry journalist Will Freeman and Computer Arts lecturer Lynn Parker.
In addition to GTA and future technologies, an array of other topics are on the discussion agenda including creative industries funding, media relationships, games education, esports, YouTubers and new business models.
Jones, who also created smash-hit Lemmings, will reveal what has kept him motivated after achieving such major success.
He said: &ldquo;If I stuck with stuff too long it would have been the safer route, for example I could have stuck with GTA forever, but that&rsquo;s not me.
&ldquo;Gaming is one of those industries where there&rsquo;s definitely no recipe for success &ndash; you&rsquo;ve got to try things and see what works and what doesn&rsquo;t.
&ldquo;If I hadn&rsquo;t tried the first two games before Lemmings then that game wouldn&rsquo;t have happened and then GTA wouldn&rsquo;t have happened.
&ldquo;So it&rsquo;s easy to look back and pinpoint success and failure, but ultimately everything leads to learning and fixing what went wrong.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve never made more than two or three versions of a game because I&rsquo;ve got to keep pushing forward otherwise I would stagnate.
&ldquo;You definitely need a bit of luck &ndash; right time, right place, right idea - but there&rsquo;s always got to be that element of quality.
&ldquo;A lot of the time the stars do align, but getting to that point is all about creative spirit.&rdquo;
Jones said there&rsquo;s no limit to what can be achieved in the sector and praised the &ldquo;nucleus&rdquo; model that has proved the blend for success in his native Dundee.
&ldquo;In Dundee it&rsquo;s the network effect of everybody knowing one another over the years,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s having that nucleus of a combination of experienced industry people, strong academia and support from local enterprise.
&ldquo;We all cottoned onto it in the early days and if you get those three things right then it really helps.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve seen others get two of the three and it hasn&rsquo;t quite had the same effect.
&ldquo;I travel to a lot of other countries and I&rsquo;ve never seen anything yet that I thought we couldn&rsquo;t do in Dundee.&rdquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Bird feather fingerprints research scoops award]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39691-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Nov 2017 13:47:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39691-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39691-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[PhD student Helen McMorris was recognised by the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Helen2.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Helen2.jpg <![CDATA[

Abertay University research to improve forensic techniques in wildlife crime has scooped a top award from the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences.
PhD student Helen McMorris, whose research has seen new methods of taking fingerprints from the feathers of birds developed, received an award for best article published in the Society&rsquo;s CSEye magazine this year.
The award was presented at the Society&rsquo;s Annual Dinner at a hotel in Nottingham.
Dr Ben Jones, Head of the Division of Science at Abertay, said the accolade was a fitting tribute to the pioneering work.
He added: &ldquo;This is an important area of research.
&ldquo;It is very difficult to prove human involvement in cases such as raptor poisoning and this technique adds another weapon to the armoury for police investigators.&rdquo;
The research was also presented to the International Society of Wildlife Forensic Science conference earlier this year.
At present, toxicological tests can prove a raptor was poisoned however there is no accurate measure of human involvement.
Abertay places importance on linking research to real world problems and has a wealth of connections between academic practitioners and ends users.
For more information on studying forensic science at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/science-engineering-and-technology/divisionofscience/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[US exchange student has gaming in her genes]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39664-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Nov 2017 13:21:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39664-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39664-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Elizabeth Peak from Champlain College in Vermont is studying at Abertay this year]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Elizabeth1.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Elizabeth1.jpg <![CDATA[

A US exchange student with gaming in her family genes has arrived at Abertay University to study art and animation.
Elizabeth Peak from Champlain College in Vermont had never been further than a trip to Canada prior to her decision to come to Scotland and hone her artistic skills at Abertay &ndash; Europe&rsquo;s number one university for games.
Abertay and Champlain both specialise in games production and, for Elizabeth, choosing to go into the sector was influenced by her mother&rsquo;s passion.
She said: &ldquo;My mum and my stepdad met online on World of Warcraft! So when she got remarried gaming became a huge part of growing up.
&ldquo;They were World of Warcraft raiding buddies &ndash; he was the tank, she was the healer!
&ldquo;My older brother used to play games too so I played them with him. So I guess it&rsquo;s always kind of been there but was in the background until it came time to pick a college.
&ldquo;I was originally looking for schools to go into graphic design, but there was a lot of typography and advertising - very static and kind of boring.
&ldquo;Then I found Champlain and I instantly knew that this is it &ndash; this is what I want.&rdquo;
Elizabeth describes her course as &ldquo;making art for video games&rdquo; and studies 3D modelling, 2D render and painting, digital illustration, texturing and animation.
When the opportunity to spend a semester at Abertay came up the 20-year-old jumped at the chance and is even missing her brother&rsquo;s wedding to take up the opportunity.
Abertay and Champlain have an exchange agreement that allows students to attend either university without being charged additional fees.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been to Montreal one time and that is the furthest I&rsquo;ve ever travelled,&rdquo; Elizabeth said.
&ldquo;Everyone in my school goes to Montreal, which is a huge gaming hub in the world, but for me that was kind of underwhelming because it was only three hours from Vermont.
&ldquo;I got an email saying we had this opportunity to study in Scotland and I thought &ndash; &lsquo;that sounds great, I want to try it.&rsquo;
&ldquo;My ultimate goal is work for a Triple A company, because it&rsquo;s a stable position. But I know I can go into any industry that requires 3D modelling or anything of that sort.
&ldquo;My favourite gaming company is located in Poland so it would be great to work there, but I would be willing to work anywhere.
&ldquo;Both Abertay and Champlain have a lot of connections to industry so that&rsquo;s great.&rdquo;
For more infromation on study abroad opportunities visit&nbsp;https://www.abertay.ac.uk/studying/exchange-study-abroad/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Nepalese student selected for Fowlie scholarship]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39654-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 06 Nov 2017 09:55:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39654-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39654-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Pratyush Bahadur Singh is studying a Masters in Professional Games Development ]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Scholarship3.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Scholarship3.jpg <![CDATA[

A Nepalese student has been selected for Abertay University's Fowlie International Scholarship.
Pratyush Bahadur Singh will receive the new scholarship, which is part of the University's Expanding Horizons programme.
Created through a generous gift from one of Abertay's closest friends and supporters, the Fowlie scholarship is designed to offer financial assistance to students.
Pratyush is the first recipient of the scholarship and said it would be used to support his studies on the Masters in Professional Games Development.
He was attracted to Abertay after the University was named number one in Europe and in the world top ten for computer games degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level respectively.
The Fowlie International Scholarship is open to anyone planning to study a full-time postgraduate degree at Abertay University and will be offered again next year.
It entails either a &pound;1,500 (for Home, Rest of UK, and EU status students) or &pound;3,500 (for International students) as well as 25% reduction of fees.
A range of other scholarships are available to students at Abertay.
To find out more visit the scholarships page on the University website.
If you want to discuss donating to the Scholarship Fund, or to find out how you could make a difference, please contact our Alumni and Development team at alumni@abertay.ac.uk.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Research finds brain treats dialects as language]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39620-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Nov 2017 13:33:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39620-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39620-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The study from Dr Neil Kirk used Dundonian words like 'sassages' and 'oxter' to test participants]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Dr Neil Kirk new.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Dr Neil Kirk new.jpg <![CDATA[

A distinctive Scots brogue is at the centre of new international research that shows the brain treats a dialect and a language in the same way.
Abertay University in Dundee, Scotland partnered with RWTH Aachen University, Germany, to study how quickly the brain can react when asked to switch between standard speech and regional dialects.
During research in Dundee, funded by the Leverhulme Trust, study participants were given a list of both English and Dundonian words which then appeared on a colour-coded screen in randomised order.
Depending on the colour, they were asked to say that word in either English or Dundonian - for example they would respond &lsquo;house&rsquo; if the image was coloured green or &lsquo;hoose&rsquo; if the image was blue.
Other words included in the survey were girl/lassie, armpit/oxter, heart/hert, sausages/sassages, ears/lugs, and children/bairns.
Abertay researchers measured the length of time that elapsed from an image appearing on screen to the participant saying each word, thereby calculating how long each person took to switch between dialects.
At RWTH, Matthieu Declerck and Andrea Philipp carried out the same experiment with people who use standard German and the regional &Ouml;cher Platt dialect.
Both studies found a &lsquo;switch cost&rsquo; where it took participants longer to name pictures when they were asked to move from speaking one variety to another.
It was also discovered that this &lsquo;switch cost&rsquo; remained the same for people comfortable with both English and Dundonian, regardless of which direction the switch went.
However, for those with one language stronger than the other - in this case English participants with little or no previous experience of Dundonian &ndash; the &lsquo;switch cost&rsquo; was greater when reverting back to speaking English.
Project leader Dr Neil Kirk of Abertay&rsquo;s Division of Psychology said: &ldquo;One explanation for this is that both varieties are always active, but in order to speak one of them, you need to suppress or inhibit the other variety.
&ldquo;More cognitive effort is required to suppress a stronger variety and this creates a delay in being able to activate it again.&rdquo;
When compared to previous language research, the results of the study showed bidialectals displayed the same &lsquo;switch cost&rsquo; pattern as bilinguals who have two equally strong languages, suggesting that different dialects (or closely related language varieties) are stored in the brain in similar ways as different languages,
Dr Kirk, who conducted this research as part of his PhD, supervised by Vera Kempe and Ken-Scott Brown, added: &ldquo;In most other studies our bidialectal participants would simply be considered &ldquo;monolingual&rdquo;, as language background questionnaires typically do not enquire about dialect usage. Yet the results of our study show that some monolinguals and bilinguals are cognitively not that different&rdquo;.
To read the full research paper visit http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010027717302639]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[International artists to gather for NEoN Festival]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39601-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 02 Nov 2017 14:36:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39601-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39601-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay's Weave project is supporting a selection of artists at Dundee's West Ward Works]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Webp.net-resizeimage (98).jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Webp.net-resizeimage (98).jpg <![CDATA[

Shining 360
An eerie 360 degree reinterpretation of The Shining, an intricate woven spiral made from hundreds of discarded computer mice and delicate 3D printed models of artefacts destroyed by ISIS are among an array of exhibits at this year&rsquo;s NEoN Festival in Dundee.
For the first time, Abertay University&rsquo;s new &lsquo;Weave&rsquo; outreach project will support a selection of works during the city&rsquo;s North East of North Festival of digital art.
Organised by a collaborative city partnership, NEoN has run since 2009 and will this year take on a Media Archaeology theme, featuring artists who are recorders of our information-based society.
Material Speculation: ISIS by Iranian artist Morehshin Allahyari will be among those supported by Weave at Dundee&rsquo;s West Ward Works cultural space as the festival runs at venues across the city from November 7 &ndash; 12.
The 3D modelling and printing project reconstructed 12 statues from the Roman period city of Hatra and Assyrian artefacts from Nineveh, destroyed by ISIS in 2015.
Also on display will be Shining 360 from Pittsburgh artist Claire Hentschker.
Her 30-minute audio-visual experiment was derived from the physical space within Stanley Kubrick&rsquo;s film and uses photogrammetry to recreate 3D spaces from the movie.
Fragments are stitched together and viewed along the original camera path in 360 degrees to create an eerie new experience.
Abertay&rsquo;s Professor of Games and Tactical Media, Joseph Delappe from San Francisco, will exhibit his Mouse Mandala.


Mouse Mandala
The ongoing piece began in 1999 using rejected computer mice from Silicon Valley and is still being added today. Edinburgh-based artist Nicky Bird will showcase Heritage Site, an art and archaeology project recreating a house buried underneath five industrial spoil heaps in West Calder, known as the Five Sisters.
By collaborating with members of the Calder History Group, an artist who works with scents, computer scientists, modellers and animators, Bird was able to create a physical and digital depiction of what may lie under the ground.


Heritage Site
She said: &ldquo;My work investigates the contemporary relevance of &lsquo;found&rsquo; artefacts, their archives and specific sites through collaborative art processes with people who have significant connections to a hidden history.
&ldquo;I am interested in how such artefacts, archives and sites carry both social and personal histories.
&ldquo;This leads to a key question: what is our relationship to the past, and what is the value we ascribe to it?
Abertay&rsquo;s Weave project aims to provide a platform for Creativity, Community and Collaboration in Dundee and is closely linked with the University&rsquo;s BA (Hons) Computer Arts course.
The Weave selection is just a small part of NEoN, which chimes with Scotland&rsquo;s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology.
Weave curator Clare Brennan said: &ldquo;Dundee&rsquo;s digital arts scene is second to none and coming just days after the submission of the city&rsquo;s Dundee 2023 Capital of Culture bid there&rsquo;s never been a better time to experience NEoN.&rdquo;
NEoN is a charitable organisation that brings together partners from across Dundee including Fleet Collective, Weave by Abertay University, University of Dundee, DJCAD, New Media Scotland, Dundee Contemporary Arts, Creative Dundee, Nomas Projects, Red Pepper Events, and is generously supported by Creative Scotland and the High Commission of Canada.
For more information visit www.northeastofnorth.com]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Diego the Tegu has science week licked]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39569-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 31 Oct 2017 12:12:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39569-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39569-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay coordinated a host of activities for more than 3,000 children as part of Dundee Primary Schools Science Week ]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Webp.net-resizeimage (94).jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Webp.net-resizeimage (94).jpg <![CDATA[

More than 3,000 primary school pupils and 250 teachers are taking part in a host of challenging activities for Dundee Primary Schools Science Week - including reptile and invertebrate handling sessions.
Running from Monday to Friday this week, the event, coordinated by Abertay University on behalf of Dundee City Council&rsquo;s Children&rsquo;s and Families Service, includes an array of sessions across 11 schools and three other venues.
All activities are designed to spark imaginations, stimulate interest and improve understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Children will literally see sparks fly, create massive soap bubbles and learn about force, forensic science and engineering.
A selection of friendly tropical invertebrates and reptiles will meet some pupils, while other children will be introduced to robots and the stars.


Classes will explore environmental issues linked to the Green Flag initiative and some will create their own chemical reaction in a drop-in lava lamp lab.
Using the backdrop of Dundee's &pound;1 billion Waterfront Regeneration project, an Abertay-led Engineering and Education for All session will bring engineers from research, industry and academia together with schoolchildren and teachers.
The exhibition will include three hands-on activities demonstrating the engineering challenges of redeveloping the railway station and plaza.
In addition to Abertay, workshop providers include Aberdeen Science Centre, Animates, Be Experimental, Dundee Botanic Gardens, Dundee Heritage Trust (Discovery Point and Verdant Works), Dundee Science Centre, Theodor Litt-Schule (German Engineering College), Thinkscience and Zoolab.
Event coordinator Jennifer Smith, of Abertay&rsquo;s Graduate School, said: &ldquo;Dundee Primary Schools Science Week is fantastic fun for all the kids, but is also a great way of teaching them about the importance of STEM subjects.&rdquo;

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<title><![CDATA[World counselling conference coming to Abertay]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39547-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Oct 2017 08:51:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39547-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39547-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The first international conference on Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy will be staged over two days next year]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Webp.net-resizeimage (35).jpg]]></image>
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The world&rsquo;s first international conference on Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy will be staged over two days at Abertay University next year.
Up to 200 delegates are expected to attend the event in Dundee from March 17-18, including a range of academics and practitioners from across the UK and Europe.
Abertay is a leader in pluralistic counselling which was developed at the beginning of the 21st century, and reflects some of the key cultural developments in this era.
Pluralistic therapy builds on the increasing tendency for people to be informed consumers of healthcare, whose use of the internet and other media enables them to develop their own ideas about what ails them and how they might be helped. 
Abertay University Emeritus Professor John McLeod will be keynote speaker alongside Professor Mick Cooper of the University of Roehampton.
The academics co-wrote Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy, an essential text on the subject.
Dr Kate Smith, Academic Curriculum Manager for the School of Social and Health Sciences said Abertay&rsquo;s MSc Counselling course focuses on a pluralistic approach.
She added: &ldquo;Our MSc Counselling was the first UK programme that provides comprehensive training in the Pluralistic framework for counselling and psychotherapy integration.&nbsp; 
&ldquo;This approach sees students train in a wide range of theories and interventions and learn how best to adapt their counselling methods to client needs.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m delighted that this conference is running at Abertay for the first time and we look forward to welcoming delegates.&rdquo;
A call for papers is now live with more information available at https://www.abertay.ac.uk/research/society/conference-pluralistic-counselling/
Early bird tickets are available at a reduced rate of &pound;50, rising to &pound;60 after December 25. 
Tickets for students are &pound;40.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay signs sports science deal with Dundee United]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39543-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Oct 2017 09:52:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39543-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39543-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Students will carry out fitness testing for Academy stars and get scholarship placements at the club]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Webp.net-resizeimage (89).jpg]]></image>
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The future stars of Dundee United Football Club will benefit from cutting edge sports science support thanks to a new partnership with Abertay University.
Staff and students from Abertay&rsquo;s Division of Sport and Exercise Sciences launched the new programme at Soccerworld in Dundee, providing a full range of fitness testing for the U13, U14, U15 and U17 sides, analysing players&rsquo; body fat, sprint speeds, flexibility and endurance capacity.
The reciprocal agreement gives Abertay students the chance to work with elite athletes, while academic staff will take the opportunity to tie the sessions into ongoing research projects.
Data from the testing periods will be reported back to the club.


In addition to the analysis work, Dundee United will provide four internship opportunities for Abertay students on the Bsc (Hons) Sport and Exercise, Bsc (Hons) Strength and Conditioning and Bsc (Hons) Sports Development and Coaching courses.
The club will also provide staff to deliver talks and workshops as part of the University&rsquo;s academic programme, with Abertay staff returning the favour for educational events run by the club&rsquo;s Academy.


Andrea Cameron, Head of the School of Social and Health Sciences said high quality performance analysis is essential in elite sport and can very often mean the difference between winning and losing.
She added: &ldquo;We are delighted to be working with Dundee United Football Club on this project which will benefit both the players and our students and staff.
&ldquo;Abertay&rsquo;s suite of courses offers a variety of avenues into the industry and, with performance analysis becoming ever more important in all disciplines, there&rsquo;s never been a better time to start a career in sport.&rdquo;


Graeme Henderson, Head of Academy Football Science and Medicine at Dundee United commented on the importance of working partnerships and the perceived impact he believes it will have on the youth players currently plying their trade at the club.
&ldquo;This partnership with Abertay University is an exciting opportunity for the club and our Academy players. In line with the Scottish FA&rsquo;s Project Brave initiative we are aiming to further improve upon the highly successful programme we have in place through the utilisation of expertise and resources from Abertay University.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I am confident that the impact of this relationship will be visible over time in the development of our youth players as well as the experiences of the aspiring students.&rdquo;
To find out more about the courses on offer at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/social-and-health-sciences/sport-and-exercise-sciences/
To view the latest information on the Dundee United FC Academy visithttps://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/the-club/academy-information]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Pupils take the plunge with mentoring scheme]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39531-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Oct 2017 13:20:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39531-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39531-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Around 40 youngsters from Grove and Morgan academies in Dundee took part in the project]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Webp.net-resizeimage (84).jpg]]></image>
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Dundee school pupils took the plunge at Abertay University as part of a mentoring scheme.
Around 40 youngsters from Grove Academy and Morgan Academy were on campus for the project, which saw them carry out experiments in the new &pound;3.5m science labs, take part in &lsquo;building learning power&rsquo; sessions and be given a taster of forensic evidence interpretation and recovery in Abertay&rsquo;s Crime Scene House.
Teachers Andy Creamer of Grove and Vikki Black of Morgan attended the full day session on Wednesday, with each pupil group assisted by an Abertay student mentor.


In the science labs, pupils were shown the effects of holding their breath under water, including cataloguing changes in heart rate.
They also learned about the wide diversity of forensic evidence types and various careers in forensic science.
Student helpers and staff led campus tours and in the evening parents were invited into hear more about the project.


The mentors themselves also received training from school counsellors and Shona McKnight of Dundee City Council.
Organiser Helen Smith of Abertay&rsquo;s Dundee Business School said: &ldquo;The aim of the project is to raise pupils&rsquo; aspirations with the support of their mentors.
&ldquo;All mentors hold Protecting Vulnerable Groups accreditation as they work on a one-to-one basis with pupils, and each mentor tends to have three or four pupils.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a great introduction to what University is all about and they always go away having had a positive experience and really good fun.&rdquo;


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<title><![CDATA[Abertay appoints four new Professors]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39525-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Oct 2017 13:09:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39525-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39525-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Professors Nicholas Grier, Karen Renaud, Ruth Falconer and David Lavallee took up post this academic year]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Webp.net-resizeimage (82).jpg]]></image>
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Abertay has appointed four new Professors this academic year - (left to right) Nicholas Grier, Karen Renaud, Ruth Falconer and David Lavallee.
Professor of Cybersecurity Karen Renaud is a Scottish computing scientist working on all aspects of Human-Centred Security and Privacy. Educated at the Universities of Pretoria, South Africa and Glasgow, she is particularly interested in deploying behavioural science techniques to improve security behaviours, and in encouraging end-user privacy-preserving behaviours.
Her research approach is multi-disciplinary, essentially learning from other, more established, fields and harnessing methods and techniques from other disciplines to understand and influence cyber security behaviours.
Prof Renaud was one of five UK Cyber Security Fulbright Awardees for 2016/17 and has recently returned from a seven-month placement at Mississippi State University.
Prof of Commercial Law Nicholas Grier is the new Head of Abertay&rsquo;s Division of Law.
Born in Edinburgh and brought up there and in Argyll, he was educated at Oxford and Edinburgh Universities before qualifying as a solicitor and working in several law firms and a Scottish merchant bank.
Having taught law at Edinburgh University, he moved to Napier University, where he became Head of the Department of Law.
Prof Grier&rsquo;s research interests are primarily in company law and in the law relating to debt in Scotland.
He particularly wishes to pay tribute to predecessor Ken Swinton&rsquo;s outstanding contribution to the study of Law at Abertay.
Professor of Complex Systems Modelling Ruth Falconer is Head of the Division of Computing and Mathematics.
She holds a BSc in Physics and PhD in Ecological Modelling and her ongoing research interests are the development of modelling and visualisation frameworks to understand complex systems.
Prof Falconer&rsquo;s innovations include developing the first theoretical model and visualisation framework for indeterminate organisms.
These modelling and visualisation skills have been applied across disciplines to develop interactive visual simulations of urban sustainability, heat loss and gain from built environment and precision agriculture.
She is interested in applying games technology including games engines, graphics hardware and related infrastructure, to develop playable models of complex systems.
Current areas of application are the Water-Energy-Food-nexus and Microbial Ecology.
She is also investigating the utility of complexity science e.g. complex adaptive system models in game design and development.
The world&rsquo;s first Professor of Duty of Care in Sport David Lavallee started in August in the Division of Sport and Exercise Sciences.&nbsp;
A graduate of Harvard University, Prof Lavallee is&nbsp;Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and&nbsp;an Adjunct Professor at the University of Limerick.&nbsp; He also recently returned from a Fellowship at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.
Prof Lavallee is originally from Boston, Massachusetts, and studied philosophy and then psychology.&nbsp;
He took up the unique position with a view to leading international research and education on a vast range of issues in the sporting arena from bullying and harassment to equality and inclusion.
The world&rsquo;s first Prof of Duty of Care in Sport David Lavallee is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Limerick and recent recipient of a prestigious Erskine Fellowship at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.
He is originally from Boston, Massachusetts, and studied philosophy and then psychology.
A graduate of Harvard University, Prof Lavallee is also a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and played international football for the USA.
He takes up the unique position with a view to leading international research and education on a vast range of issues from bullying and harassment to equality and inclusion.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Female sports stars on elite development programme]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39457-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Oct 2017 09:14:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39457-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39457-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Women make up more than 80% of EADP members this year, accessing academic support to balance heavy training and competition workloads]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Katie 2.JPGTHUMB.JPG]]></image>
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Abertay University is leading the way in support for top level female athletes with women making up more than 80% of the intake for this year&rsquo;s Elite Athlete Development Programme (EADP).
As the programme kicks off this year, the University is celebrating an array of outstanding student success stories such as hockey star Katie Robertson, who was this month called up to the senior Great Britain hockey training squad.
The BSc Sport and Psychology student from Fife will be proving her worth against members of the same team that took the UK&rsquo;s first Olympic hockey gold medal in Rio last year.
Abertay&rsquo;s EADP exists to provide students with the skills and expertise necessary to successfully incorporate a heavy load of training and competition while undertaking their academic programme.


Others on the list this year include Rebecca Norval (3rd year Sport and Psychology) who competes for Great Britain in equestrian vaulting and captain of the Swedish Women&rsquo;s Rugby Team Emilia Kristiansson (3rd year Sport anmd Exercise), who also works at Abertay as a gym instructor.
Weightlifter Marcelle Brown (1st year Sport and Exercise) is also on the EADP, alongside wheelchair basketball athlete Gemma Lumsdaine (1st year Sport and Exrcise), who was appointed to the Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Advisory Board at the start of this month.
Scottish track star Niamh Guest (2nd year Sport and Exercise) and Great Britain ice hockey player Elizabeth Milne (3rd year Food, Nutrition and Health) are on the programme, as is hockey player Katie Stott (1st year Biomedical Science) and Scottish football international Amy Gallacher (2nd year Sport and Exercise).


Two male hockey internationals, Aiden McQuade and Cameron Golden, who was recently selected for Great Britain, take up the remaining spots.
Abertay Sports Development Officer Mike Devlin said it was pleasing to see so many female athletes rising to the top of their sports.
He added: &ldquo;Mixing full-time study with a heavy training and competition workload can prove challenging and that&rsquo;s why we work hard to make sure our Abertay elite athletes receive all the support they require.
&ldquo;We provide students with the skills and expertise necessary to succeed academically while allowing enough time to incorporate their elite sport commitments.
&ldquo;Year after year we are seeing our athletes competing on the international scene while getting positive coursework results, and that is testament to the strength of the EADP.&rdquo;
For information on courses offered by the Division of Sport and Exercise Sciences visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/social-and-health-sciences/sport-and-exercise-sciences/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[World experts to discover Scotland's gin success ]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39449-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Oct 2017 11:09:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39449-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39449-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay will host the prestigious Lallemand&rsquo;s Alcohol School - Distilled Spirits Conference, welcoming guests from Barbados, Sweden, Canada, Italy, Bulgaria, France, Serbia, Latvia, the US and Ireland]]></description>
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The secrets of Scotland&rsquo;s incredible success in gin production and future opportunities of craft distilling will be under the microscope at a prestigious international conference at Abertay University.
Held in Scotland for the first time, Lallemand&rsquo;s Alcohol School - Distilled Spirits Conference will see experts from across the world gather to share best practice and discuss a wide variety of issues and trends across the sector.
Delegates will travel from Barbados, Sweden, Canada, Italy, Bulgaria, France, Serbia, Latvia and Ireland, as well as Kansas, Milwaukee and Atlanta in the US to attend the event, which will feature Sir Geoff Palmer OBE, a Professor Emeritus, human rights activist and recipient of the American Society of Brewing Chemists Award of Distinction - considered the Nobel prize of brewing.
Also on the agenda is a talk from Abertay PhD student and entrepreneur Kirsty Black of the award-winning Arbikie distillery in Angus, which has benefitted from a huge surge in demand that now sees Scotland produce more than 70% of the UK&rsquo;s gin.
Just last month a report from accountancy group UHY Hacker Young showed the number of distilleries in the UK has risen by a fifth in the last year to 131, and in Scotland alone 35 craft distilleries have opened in the last three years, offering over 100 variations.
Previously staged in Toulouse, Bangkok and Montreal, the conference runs from October 24-26 in Abertay&rsquo;s Hannah Maclure Centre.
Other presentations and workshops will include addresses on raw material from Douglas Murray of Diageo, on mash preparation for whisky from Steve Wright of Spiritech (a consultant for Lallemand Biofuels &amp; Distilled Spirits), and on craft distilling from Annie Hill of Heriot Watt University.
Prof Graeme Walker of Abertay&rsquo;s Division of Food and Drink said bringing such a high-profile conference to Scotland was a measure of the strength of the distilled spirits industry.
He added: &ldquo;Scotland has understandably always been the key international player when it comes to whisky, however it is pleasing to see that reputation now extending out to other products such as gin and vodka.
&ldquo;Our Food Innovation at Abertay project works closely with a wide range of new and established businesses to help create, refine and market a host of products, so it is fantastic for us to be able to host such a prestigious gathering.&rdquo;
For more information on studying food and drink at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/science-engineering-and-technology/divisionoffoodanddrink/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[High pressure pitches as students take on IGG 2017]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39441-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Oct 2017 14:47:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39441-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39441-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Top companies including Coca-Cola, the Scottish Football Association, Handelsbanken, the Wise Group, Xplore Dundee (National Express) and West Ward Works took part in the event]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Webp.net-resizeimage (71).jpg]]></image>
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High pressure business challenges set by Coca-Cola, the Scottish Football Association, Handelsbanken, the Wise Group, Xplore Dundee (National Express) and Dundee&rsquo;s emerging new West Ward Works cultural space are among a series faced by students in this year&rsquo;s Innovation for Global Growth event.
Now in its sixth year, the three-day IGG programme from Abertay University's Dundee Business School has grown to attract a steady stream of top class companies, with the likes of Heineken, BT and RBS taking part in previous sessions.
This year&rsquo;s competition has seen around 120 Abertay students handed client briefs by six major firms before being given just an hour-and-a-half to form a solution and pitch back to a panel of executives.


The range of business challenges includes:&bull; Handelsbanken: Attracting customers without mass advertising &bull; Wise Group: Creation of a communication and marketing plan for a new Dundee operation&bull; Xplore Dundee (National Express): Supporting Dundee to become a low emission zone &bull; West Ward Works: Developing a creative and cultural space at DC Thomson&rsquo;s West Ward Works which will have global appeal and reach but will be relevant to all of Dundee&rsquo;s communities &bull; SFA: Creating a sustainable future for outreach projects&bull; Coca-Cola: Developing the Coca-Cola 5by20 entrepreneurial programme nationally


The finale to IGG 2017 takes place at West Ward Works where award-winning social entrepreneur David Cook of Cook Creative will run the rule over the field.
He said: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s an exciting time for Dundee and students will be asked to take into account Dundee&rsquo;s Unesco City of Design status as well as the Capital of Culture 2023 bid when pitching their ideas for West Ward Works.
&ldquo;When Abertay approached us about being part of Innovation for Global Growth we were delighted to get on board and it&rsquo;s fantastic to be among such an esteemed and varied selection of businesses.&rdquo;


Claire MacEachen, Academic Curriculum Manager for Dundee Business School said the talent shown by students this year had been outstanding.
She added: &ldquo;IGG is an great opportunity for students to gain first-hand experience of the pressures of a pitching environment and learn what&rsquo;s required in response to business briefs from high level companies.
&ldquo;Our thanks go to all six of the firms involved in making the event such a success.&rdquo;
For information on studying business, accounting, finance, economics or law at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/dundee-business-school/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[River Tay viewing platform challenge for schools]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39423-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Oct 2017 10:24:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39423-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39423-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay's Division of Civil Engineering has launched the new design competition for Scottish schools]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Webp.net-resizeimage (65).jpg]]></image>
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The Scottish civil engineers of the future will create concept designs for a towering viewing platform that could offer scenic views of the River Tay, the new-look Dundee Waterfront and V&amp;A Dundee.
Abertay University is challenging budding engineers from schools across Scotland to draw up blueprints for a structure which in theory would stand at least 15m high at the Tay Bridge car park in Newport, following strict design specifications.
While the platform won&rsquo;t actually be constructed on site, the entries that show the most creativity and Civil Engineering potential will be built as scaled down prototypes at Abertay.
Professor David Blackwood, Head of the Division of Natural and Built Environment said he expected a high standard.
He added: &ldquo;It has never been more important to gain direct experience when entering the Civil Engineering sector and that&rsquo;s why Abertay is the only university in Scotland to offer a guaranteed work placement for every student.
&ldquo;We are immensely proud of our links with Scottish schools and this competition is a great opportunity for that young talent to hook up with Scotland&rsquo;s top university for civil engineering.&rdquo;
The footprint of the structure must not exceed 8m x 8m, while the viewing platform must have a minimum height of 15m.
According to the specification, the design must allow Dundee Waterfront to be seen clearly and there is no restriction on maximum height.
Above 8m, the boundaries of the platform must be no larger than 30m x 30m but must have a minimum diameter of 25m.
The Civil Engineering Design Competition for Scottish Schools is open to groups of pupils in S4, S5 and S6.
Shortlisted finalists will use a plywood base, balsa wood sticks, string, papers and glue to make their prototype platforms.
Teams must submit a 90-second video clip explaining their design along with illustrations, and some text outlining the proposal.
The deadline for teams to sign up is Friday October 27 and concept submissions must be in by 5pm on Friday December 15.
For more information visit www.abertay.ac.uk/civil-engineering-for-scottish-schools or&nbsp;email Lauren Smith at Abertay University at l.smith@aberay.ac.uk
&nbsp;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Charlotte takes on women in STEM role]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39416-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Oct 2017 09:09:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39416-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39416-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Food and Consumer Sciences student has been named an Interconnect Champion]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Webp.net-resizeimage (62).jpg]]></image>
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An Abertay University student has pledged to help &ldquo;break the glass ceiling&rdquo; for women in STEM after being named an Interconnect Champion.
Food and Consumer Sciences student Charlotte Kay has been handed the prestigious role with Interconnect - the only network for women studying STEM subjects at Scotland&rsquo;s colleges and universities.
The body was set up by Equate Scotland to give female students the opportunity to meet women from across the country studying similar subjects, as well as network with female professionals in their field and build industry links.
Charlotte is in the fourth year of an accelerated degree programme with the Division of Food and Drink, rated top in Scotland earlier this year by the Guardian Good University Guide.
She said it is important for female scientists and engineers to have the same opportunities as their male counterparts.
She added: &ldquo;Interconnect relates to any STEM subject and for me it&rsquo;s all about trying to break the glass ceiling.
&ldquo;You tend to find there are plenty of women working within STEM, but in terms of getting up to management level or director it&rsquo;s very male orientated.
&ldquo;Being a mature student I want to get into a managerial role by the time I graduate - I want to be a technical or factory manager, producing new products be that food or drink.&rdquo;
Charlotte plans to organise an initial networking session at Abertay for all female students in the School of Science, Engineering and technology, to explain more about Interconnect and canvass ideas and opinion.
She added: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s going to be an informal networking event for female students to come along and get together so I can find out what they want.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a really a positive project and I&rsquo;m delighted Abertay has got behind the ethos of it.&rdquo;
Interconnect reduces the isolation female students can feel being in a minority on their course.
In conjunction with students, employers and institutions, Interconnect runs events across Scotland to provide an insight into industry through workplace visits which enable students to see what it is like working in their chosen field.
For more information on studying food and drink at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/science-engineering-and-technology/divisionoffoodanddrink/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Rapid robots and grisly 'murders' at Open Day]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39409-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Oct 2017 09:02:00 +0100</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[The Open Day demonstrations on Saturday October 21 will also including cutting-edge sports analysis, computers games sessions, courtroom battles, and psychology and mental health workshops ]]></description>
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A Rubik&rsquo;s Cube solving robot, cutting-edge sports analysis and grisly forensic analysis of a brutal murder scene will be among a captivating buffet of live demonstrations at Abertay University Open Day.
Abertay will throw open the doors to its Bell Street campus in Dundee from 10am to 3pm on Saturday October 21, welcoming prospective students and their parents from across the country.
With an array of courses on offer ranging from Computer Games and Ethical Hacking to Mental Health Nursing, Civil Engineering and Business, there will be a wealth of information for anyone looking to come to university.
Set in the new &pound;3.5m science labs, a chilling demonstration, &lsquo;Death: The Quick, The Slow and The Painful,&rsquo; will see potential students turn forensic detective, working on cases of poisoning, electrocution, drowning and stabbing.
Family members can watch the action unfold through the thick glass walls of the labs as University experts lead the investigation.
In the state-of-the-art sports labs, a series of student-led practical sport demonstrations will take place, delving into the science behind performance enhancing techniques used by athletes which were recently covered by the BBC&rsquo;s &ldquo;How to Stay Young&rdquo; series .
Over in Abertay&rsquo;s UK Centre for Excellence in Computer Games, would-be games students can experience the real look and feel of a professional studio, playing through student games (including cutting-edge virtual reality) and viewing some of the outstanding artwork created by students who have gone on to work for the likes of Sony and Disney.


Upstairs in the bespoke Hacklab, our Ethical Hacking students will talk through the latest cybersecurity technologies, computing students will show off their Lego Mindstorms robot which can solve a Rubik&rsquo;s Cube in just two minutes, and there will be a demonstration on just how easily today&rsquo;s cyber-criminals can exploit security vulnerabilities to steal personal data.
For the business contingent, a game of high-level risk and reward is in store, with attendees challenged to build a portfolio of stocks currently trading in real markets through shrewd buying and selling.
Meanwhile, in the Abertay courtroom, visitors will become judge and jury as Law students act out a fierce legal debate and academics explain the action.
The Psychology department will offer an intriguing live social experiment where guests are asked to say what a face tells them at first glance, and will also look at how &lsquo;lefties and righties&rsquo; approach problem solving depending on what hand they use.
Through a sensory impairment demonstration, the Division of Mental Health will show the impacts of dementia.


In addition to the live demonstrations there will be campus, accommodation and library tours, a parents&rsquo; welcome, individual information sessions on each course, information on finance and an UCAS applications and Q&amp;A sessions about entry requirements.
Everyone will receive a free goodie bag and discounted food will be on offer in the Student Centre over the course of the day.
A second Open Day following broadly the same format will run on Wednesday November 8 from 12pm-3pm.
For further information or to book your place visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/opendays/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Iconic designs made into digital 'Rubik's Cubes']]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39382-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Oct 2017 09:36:00 +0100</pubDate>
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<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39382-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay games designers BluePix used V&amp;A Dundee, the Jaguar F-TYPE and the Falkirk Wheel for their creative project]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Webp.net-resizeimage (56).jpg]]></image>
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An Abertay University student team has turned some of Scotland&rsquo;s most iconic designs into playable digital puzzles as part of an innovative collaboration with V&amp;A Dundee.  The Falkirk Wheel, the Jaguar F-TYPE, and V&amp;A Dundee itself have all been digitally mapped then broken into &lsquo;slices&rsquo; for the game, which sees players challenged to reconstruct them in as few moves as possible. Also incorporating Glasgow designer Christopher Dresser&rsquo;s Teapot and the famous Orkney Chair, the mobile device prototype &ndash; working title Spinnacle &ndash; was part of the museum&rsquo;s wider Time Capsule project.

 Created by a group of six students under the banner BluePix Games, the unique title has been months in the making. Team leader Phil Smy, 22, from Essex, said: &ldquo;Spinnacle seeks to promote Scottish designs and their designers by interacting with 3D models. &ldquo;Different slices can be rotated and moved, much like a Rubik&rsquo;s Cube, and the game helps the player to think about the form and structure of each of these objects  &ldquo;We have an animation where the capsule opens and all these slices come out before the player is asked to solve the puzzle &ndash; it&rsquo;s a great educational tool.&rdquo;


Other BluePix members include Stewart McCready, 26, from Gourock, Inka Nieminen, 21, from Helsinki, Kirsten Currie, 20, from Paisley, Lewis Cooper, 20, from Dalrymple, Nicole Sangster, 20 from Aberdeen and John Bruce, 23, from Aberdeen. All students are studying a mix of Abertay&rsquo;s Computer Arts, Computer Games Technology, and Games Design and Production Management courses. Stewart has gone on to earn a one year internship with the software company Unity, whilst Inka has secured a graduate position at top mobile games company, King, in London.


At the start of the academic year the team came together and selected V&amp;A Dundee as their client. As part of the game development the students tested the prototype with audiences at the Wellgate Centre during V&amp;A Dundee&rsquo;s Family Time Capsule workshops in the October 2016 school holidays and then again at Douglas Community Centre in March 2017.  From the insight gained, the students gauged Spinnacle&rsquo;s playability and set a difficulty level, introducing a star system with bonus points for completion in fewer moves.

 &ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t know each other before this came about, but it&rsquo;s a very talented team and it&rsquo;s worked out really well,&rdquo; Phil said. &ldquo;The game is good and plays so well - I&rsquo;m very lucky to be leading this team. &ldquo;Abertay has great industry links within games and the wider world, and it was through these connections we were able to get into the project.&rdquo;

 V&amp;A Dundee&rsquo;s wider Time Capsule project, developed in collaboration with SQA and Jaguar, offered secondary students studying Higher Design and Manufacture in Scotland a chance to design a time capsule which will be a unique feature permanently on display in the grounds of the museum after it opens in 2018. Jaguar will manufacture the winning capsule design created by Luisa Geddes from the Community School of Auchterarder, Perthshire.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Innovative psychology module uses dance and gaming]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39292-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Oct 2017 12:34:00 +0100</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[The new sessions from Abertay lecturer and choreographer Dr Corinne Jola will teach students about the human brain and behaviour]]></description>
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An innovative new psychology module devised to teach students about the human brain and behaviour through dance, movement, gaming and film, has been launched by Abertay University.
Running for the first time this year, the third year module from lecturer and choreographer Dr Corinne Jola takes an entirely new approach to teaching psychology.
Entitled &lsquo;The Brain in action: From Dance to Trance,&rsquo; participating students will gain a knowledge of research on aesthetic experience, health and wellbeing through different forms of dance.
They will be taught both in lectures and practical sessions, taking part in physical exercises.
The first session saw Joan Cleville, a Dundee-based choreographer, guide the students through a series of active tasks set to music. Students were taken on a sensory awareness journey, based on a practice that the choreographer used to prepare their body and mind for their artistic work.
The students then watched Joan&rsquo;s show &lsquo;The North&rsquo; at the Dundee REP, discussed the type of practice he uses and how the experience of watching the performance was linked to the practice of creation they physically experienced.
Dr Jola, of the Division of Psychology, said the broad aim of the module is for students to gain knowledge of psychological processes involved in dance practice.
She added: &ldquo;Through embodied learning, students will have a better understanding of existing research in this area and it will enhance their abilities of personal enquiry and critical reflection.
&ldquo;Because dance involves the body, brain, sound, social cognition and sensory experience, it is an ideal way of opening up the possibilities of different research methods and bringing research closer to real-life, away from a narrow focus on laboratory-based experiments.
&ldquo;We need to engage in a more varied type of research in order to better understand human behaviour. Here, it is research with a focus on the brain, using dance as an exemplar.
&ldquo;The module will also open up students&rsquo; minds about what research is and can be, look at which kinds of research tell them what they want to know, and stimulate them to explore ideas that can be used for their honours degree projects.&rdquo;
In a similar way to the dance sessions, students will also engage in a games session, playing a number of physical computer games, some of which were created by Abertay&rsquo;s Computer Arts lecturer Lynn Parker in collaboration with Dr Jola.
These interactive games require students to move freely in space rather than sitting in front of a screen.
Dr Jola added: &ldquo;We will discuss research on how physical games can change human behaviour and how they feel the games tried out could be studied further to gain insight into human brain and behaviour.
&ldquo;As the module combines artistic and physical interest with basic scientific research, it is attractive to all students, requiring them to engage with their analytical, creative, and practical intellect.&rdquo;
All courses offered by Abertay&rsquo;s Division of Psychology are accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
To study Psychology at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/social-and-health-sciences/psychology/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Kazakhstan partnership to focus on renewables]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39289-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Oct 2017 16:16:00 +0100</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[Abertay was visited by Dr Kairzhan Abdykhalykov of Eurasian Technological University ]]></description>
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Efforts to shift oil-rich Kazakhstan towards renewable energy will be the focus of an international research and teaching partnership between the country&rsquo;s Eurasian Technological University (ETU) and Abertay University.
Dr Kairzhan Abdykhalykov, Vice Rector on Strategic Development of ETU, visited Abertay in Dundee to discuss initial strategies for a project which he hopes could lead to greater use of renewable energy sources in his home nation.
According to the academic, businesses in Kazakhstan are poised to invest in the renewables sector.
However there is currently no skilled workforce and the higher education offering remains firmly on conventional oil and gas and engineering courses.
Thanks to funding from the Erasmus+ programme for staff mobility and knowledge exchange, a partnership has been forged between the two universities.
In addition to research the partnership will focus on the sharing of best practice in teaching and learning methods.
Abertay&rsquo;s Dr Anastasia Koulouri and Dr Nikolai Mouraviev of Dundee Business School have both participated in previous research seminars into how renewables could be introduced in Kazakhstan, led by University colleague Professor Reza Kouhy.
It was through this work that a relationship with Dr Abdykhalykov and Almaty-based ETU developed.
&ldquo;This is the first visit to Abertay from ETU and we have used it to identify which direction the project will take,&rdquo; Dr Abdykhalykov said.
&ldquo;We will devote the research to renewable energy and related research issues, as well as having a focus on exchanging teaching and learning.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Renewable energy is one of the main priorities in Kazakhstan and by territory we are a very large country - so the potential for using solar energy is very high but we don&rsquo;t have a pipeline of renewable energy specialists.&rdquo;
&ldquo;There is demand from local and internationally-focused companies for such expertise and that&rsquo;s why we are now looking to collaborate with Abertay and share knowledge to explore these areas.&rdquo;
While in Dundee, Dr Abdykhalykov met with Professor Steve Olivier, Vice-Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Professor Gavin Reid, Head of Dundee Business School to discuss future avenues for collaboration, including the launches of Abertay&rsquo;s new Global MBA, and new Masters in Energy.
He also met with Abertay&rsquo;s Teaching and Learning Enhancement team, viewed the cutting-edge technology available in the Collaborative Learning Suite and took away a range of ideas for implementation.
Reciprocal teaching visits by three Abertay academics are scheduled to take place by September next year.
Dr Koulouri said: &ldquo;This project is underpinned by previous individual projects with a focus on energy, funded through the British Council.&rdquo;
&ldquo;We will now take steps to build on this partnership with ETU.&rdquo;
Dr Mouraviev added: &ldquo;Dr Koulouri and I developed a particular interest in renewable energy in Kazakhstan and we now want to further that through additional research.&rdquo;
&ldquo;We are researching the impediments to renewable energy in the country given the high dependency on oil.&rdquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Space balloon project scoops national award]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39276-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Oct 2017 10:14:00 +0100</pubDate>
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<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39276-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Amy Parent received the Leidos Software Engineering Project Award at the Young Software Engineer of the Year Awards]]></description>
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An Abertay University graduate was awarded a top industry prize for her innovative space balloon project at the Young Software Engineer of the Year Awards.
Amy Parent was selected by a panel of judges for the awards hosted by ScotlandIS, the trade body for the digital technologies industry.
Her dissertation project focused on a system that can be used to control communications from high altitude balloons.
She won the Leidos Software Engineering Project Award for her work in developing the reusable technology, which can be used by meteorologists and researchers.
Abertay staff nominated Amy, who completed a Bsc (Hons) Computing this year.
A member of Abertay Space Agency, she is also part of a project seeking to launch to break the world record for the highest 360-degree pictures taken from a balloon on the edge of space.
She said: &ldquo;I was incredibly grateful to be nominated as it&rsquo;s a project I was passionate about and have put a lot of work into.&rdquo;
The Young Software Engineer of the Year Awards are given for the best undergraduate software projects drawn from across all students studying computer science and software engineering in Scotland.
An awards ceremony was held at Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Thursday October 5.
Each university nominates the top software engineering project submitted by its final year undergraduates.
The projects are judged against a number of criteria including Level of Innovation, Level of Knowledge, Previous Research, Commercial/Social Relevance, Quality of Engineering, Planning &amp; Organisation, Quality of Presentation and Technical Difficulty.
Abertay lecturer Dr Jackie Archibald said: &ldquo;Amy produced an excellent project. It was one of many developed by 4th year students on BSc Computing that embraced advanced aspects of technology.
&ldquo;BSc (Hons) Computing at Abertay gives students the opportunity to explore and develop technology from desktop to web to mobile and beyond.&rdquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Wheelchair athlete joins sport advisory board]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39227-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Oct 2017 09:54:00 +0100</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[Gemma Lumsdaine has taken up an important role on the Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Advisory Board]]></description>
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An award-winning wheelchair athlete from Abertay University has vowed to &ldquo;help shape the future of sport in Scotland&rdquo; for women, after joining an important advisory board.
Gemma Lumsdaine has been selected to work with the Minister for Public Health and Sport, Aileen Campbell on the Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Advisory Board, helping to develop strategies to overcome the key barriers women face within the sector.
Issues on the agenda include participation, media coverage and analysis of the perception that women and girls have of themselves.
The move comes amid the first-ever Women and Girls in Sport Week in Scotland, which runs from October 1 to 8.
Gemma, who plays wheelchair basketball and rugby, has won a number of awards both locally and nationally including Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby Best in Class 2016 and the Angus sports personality of the year for people with a disability 2017.
She now coaches wheelchair basketball for Dundee Dragons Wheelchair Sports Club and is an assistant coach for Scotland U19s.
Gemma has recently been asked to trial for Great Britain in wheelchair rugby and hopes to combine her sporting career with her studies at Abertay, where she is in the first year of a Sport and Exercise degree.
&ldquo;I am incredibly honoured to have been appointed to the Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Advisory Board,&rdquo; the 20-year-old said.
&ldquo;Being on this board is a fantastic opportunity for me to work alongside successful, influential and inspiring women who are involved with sport.
&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t wait to help to shape the future of sport within Scotland and hopefully make a difference to females&rsquo; lives across the country.&rdquo;
For more information on studying sport at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/social-and-health-sciences/sport-and-exercise-sciences/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Kilted yoga star launches mental health programme]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39208-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 03 Oct 2017 09:04:00 +0100</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[Workshops from Finlay Wilson will be the first in the Open Minds series of mental health and wellbeing sessions]]></description>
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Kilted yoga star Finlay Wilson today launches the first events in a ground-breaking new mental health and wellbeing programme from Abertay University.
The Dundee-based practitioner will run two workshops on November 4 to kick off Abertay&rsquo;s Open Minds programme, a rolling series of Continuing Professional Development sessions and courses from the Division of Mental Health Nursing and Counselling.
Open Minds will cover an extensive range of issues over the coming months, including how to manage self-harm in young people, ways to better understand those with dementia and art workshops to train carers in being creative.
The offering is aimed at anyone with an interest in exploring wellbeing, as well as those already working in the mental health sector.
In the first morning session, looking at &lsquo;Muscles and Emotion,&rsquo; Finlay will start by explaining how muscles sequester emotion and run a series of breathing, meditation and journal exercises exploring how the use of primary postural muscles are connected to emotional tendencies.
The afternoon &lsquo;Fight or Flight instincts&rsquo; workshop will begin with a briefing on human anatomy and how yoga can be used in therapeutic processes, followed by some chair-based exercises.
Finlay said: &ldquo;Yoga has been used as a therapeutic tool for thousands of years, now we are seeing how the modern body can use these skills to better process and handle our living environment.
&ldquo;Through my own experience in the yoga room and massage table, I have seen tendencies that can help move a person closer to healing and achieving radiant health.&rdquo;
On November 22, Open Minds will welcome comedian Viv Gee, an ambassador for the benefits of stand-up comedy to mental health.
She will run a workshop in writing and performing comedy that encourages personal exploration and will also teach the skills that can direct others towards introspective analysis.
Head of the Division of Mental Health Nursing and Counselling Robin Ion said: &ldquo;Through our Open Minds programme we will offer bitesize half or full-day workshops, as well as more intensive courses lasting over academic semesters, all with the aim of up-skilling the wide variety of people who need or want to have a better understanding of mental health issues.
&ldquo;It has been fantastic to see mental health climb gain greater prominence on the public health agenda in recent years and this programme is all about providing skills and knowledge that will directly benefit those with mental health issues as well as family members, co-workers and friends.
For more information or to sign up for a course or workshop visit http://onlinestore.abertay.ac.uk/product-catalogue/short-courses-and-cpd/open-minds-cpd
Finlay will be launching a new book in October.
For more information visit www.finlay-wilson.com]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Food and drink seminar to boost businesses]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39194-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Oct 2017 10:05:00 +0100</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[Firms across Tayside and Fife can tap into business expertise at the event on Wednesday October 18]]></description>
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Food and drink companies across Tayside and Fife are invited to tap into a range of business support during a one-day seminar at Abertay University in Dundee.Entitled &lsquo;Who Can Help My Business?&rsquo; the free event on Wednesday October 18 will bring together a whole host of public agencies who can help food and drink businesses to grow and thrive.
The day will open with presentations from Andrew Niven of Scotland Food &amp; Drink who will give his thoughts on the future of food, and Anis Mourad of Scottish Enterprise who will focus on the importance of innovation in the industry.&nbsp;This will be followed by a series of &lsquo;quick fire&rsquo; presentations from organisations such as Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce, the Rural LEADER funding team, Tay Cities Deal and Developing Young Workforce.&nbsp;In the afternoon delegates can meet informally with all the organisations represented and chat about their requirements.&nbsp;There will also be tours of the brand new &pound;3.5m state-of-the-art food labs at Abertay, with staff on hand to explain the commercial services that they offer.
&ldquo;We are delighted to be involved in hosting this event,&rdquo; said Councillor Ron Sturrock, spokesperson for Economic Development at Angus Council.&nbsp;&ldquo;Food and Drink is a priority sector in the local economy, but often new and young companies don&rsquo;t know who best to turn to when they need support.&nbsp;&quot;This event will help these businesses build valuable relationships that will help them grow their business.&nbsp;&quot;It is also good to see Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross and Fife Councils working together to benefit businesses and I look forward to seeing more cross-regional working like this in the future.&rdquo;
Councillor Altany Craik, Convener of the Economy, Tourism, Strategic Planning &amp; Transportation Committee at Fife Council said: &ldquo;We are delighted to be supporting this free event designed to showcase and boost food and drink businesses across the East of Scotland.&nbsp;&quot;Fife has a thriving tourism industry and agriculture, fishing and&nbsp; the drinks industry are big business for the local economy.&nbsp;&quot;There is also significant potential to develop this sector and generate more, smarter, better paid jobs within food and drink.&nbsp;&quot;Food and drink is a key sector for the Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross and North East Fife economies and is key within the Tay Cities Deal.&nbsp;&nbsp;&quot;A number of proposed projects are being progressed that will build on the cluster of universities, colleges and research bodies, such as James Hutton Institute and SRUC (Scotland's Rural College), to drive forward innovation and support SME&rsquo;s to grow and develop.&rdquo;
Any food and drink business from Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross or Fife is eligible to attend this event, along with members of the agricultural community, professional services specialising in food and drink, postgraduate students and academics.To register, please visit&nbsp;https://www.eventbrite.com/e/east-of-scotland-food-and-drink-seminar-who-can-help-my-business-tickets-37941496036]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Prizewinners honoured for stellar achievements]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39180-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Sep 2017 09:02:00 +0100</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[Two ceremonies were held at Abertay Student Centre with prizes sponsored by families, businesses and individuals]]></description>
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The outstanding achievements of Abertay University&rsquo;s best performing students were celebrated across two prize-giving ceremonies.
An array of prizes were handed to students from across the schools of Science, Engineering and Technology; Social and Health Sciences; Dundee Business School and the School of Design and Informatics (formerly Arts, Media and Computer Games).
A full gallery of the winners is available here.
Ceremonies ran on both Wednesday and Thursday evening, with Principal Nigel Seaton welcoming guests.He said: &ldquo;We are very proud of our students at Abertay, and these prizewinners have demonstrated outstanding success in their fields of study.
&ldquo;The University is extremely fortunate in having a substantial community of friends and supporters who have donated prizes &ndash; as individuals or families, and as companies, professional bodies and public services. &ldquo;We value our links with the wider community, which are both broad and deep. The sponsoring of prizes, which I know is greatly appreciated by our students, is one of the ways in which our friends help us to make Abertay the special place it is.&rdquo;


Prizes awarded included Dave&rsquo;s Prize - established in memory of David Carnegie who studied Computer Games at Abertay University - which was awarded to the student on the BA (Hons) Game Design and Production Management programme who produced the best proposal for an external project.
The C J Lang &amp; Son Prize was awarded to the student in the honours year of the BA (Hons) Marketing and Business programme who was deemed to be the best student overall.
Donated by the Sword family, the Sword Prize for Sport was awarded to the student who demonstrated exceptional achievement in competitive sport.
The Alexander D G Kydd Prize was presented in memory of the former Governor of the University and the John Wilson Lawson Memorial Prize went to the fourth year student on the
BSc (Hons) Web Design and Communication programme who achieved a high level of performance.
The Lothian Family Awards were made to the student, in each of the four Schools, who in the demonstrated the greatest positive impact, and the Hannah Maclure Prize was awarded from a bequest by the late Myra Falconer in memory of her mother, Hannah Maclure.
Full list of prizes and prizewinners:
School of Science, Engineering and TechnologyAshok Adya Memorial Prize - Keela PikkarainenAxis-Shield Diagnostics Prize - Rachel HillThe Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences Prize -Marcella FerreroJohn Currie Award - Laura FordyceEde &amp; Ravenscroft Prize - Rebecca CoakleyFood &amp; Drink Federation Scotland Prize - Nikki AndersonHonorary Fellows Prize for Innovation - Rachel DiversIBMS President&rsquo;s Prize - Rachel HillInstitution of Civil Engineers Prize - Aleksandra TomczykInstitution of Structural Engineers Prize - Julie GladinAlexander D G Kydd Prize - Sarah MilesThe Lothian Family Award - Paul SherriffsHannah Maclure Prize - Rachel TerrellMars Prize - Ross SmithNisbets Award for Food Studies - Robyn McLeanRautomead Ltd Prize - Julie GladinRoche Diagnostics Ltd Portfolio Prize - Ashley BewleyScottish Geotechnical Group Prize - Julie GladinSociety of Biology Top Student Award - Rachel HillTayside Contracts Prize - Sarah MilesWright Health Group Prize - Keela PikkarainenYoung Prize - Lee Meiklem
School of Design and Informatics (formerly Arts, Media and Computer Games)Dave&rsquo;s Prize - Inka NieminenDavid Carnegie Prize - Robyn McMillanEde &amp; Ravenscroft Prize - Robert SherryHonorary Fellows Prize for Innovation -Gregory HillAlexander D G Kydd Prize - Nikita KotterJohn Wilson Lawson Memorial Prize - Philip LaingThe Lothian Family Award - Alberto TaiutiHannah Maclure Prize - Jonathan KingsThe Malcolm Prize - James WoodMars Prize - Jonathan RossA D D McKay Senior Prize - Jock MacDonaldMitchell Prize - Gary McCartanNCR Prize - William GoardNCR Prize (Computing) - Amy ParentNCR Prize (Ethical Hacking Honours Project) - Jordan ConstantineNCR Financial Solutions Group Ltd Network Security Prize - Tomasz DziwokDavid Potter Memorial Prize - James McAdam
Dundee Business SchoolBonar Yarns Prize - Alessandro SantoroButterworths Prize for Law - Erin ScottWarwick Dobson Prize - Abbie BrownEde &amp; Ravenscroft Prize - Jamie TaylorEQ Chartered Accountants Prize - Abbie BrownFamily Law Association Prize - Amy TaresW Green Prize in Law - Jamie TaylorHonorary Fellows Prize for Innovation - Jennifer HedgeICAS Charles Scott Prize - June BrandieAlexander D G Kydd Prize - Andrew MartinC J Lang &amp; Son Prize - Joy EwertJoseph Leveson Prize - Joshua HavensThe Lothian Family Award - Emilie LumineauHannah Maclure Prize - Hannah McArthurManagement Prize - Jennifer HedgeOxford University Press Prize - Ashley PatersonThe OUP Law Trove Prize - Jamie TaylorScott Prize - Kevin DuxburyDonald T Stewart Prize - June BrandieSweet &amp; Maxwell Prize for Law - Erin ScottThorntons Prize for Conveyancing - Lauren Alexander-Smith
School of Social and Health SciencesBlackwell&rsquo;s Book Prize - Jennifer ChristiesonBritish Psychological Society Undergraduate Award - Joseph HamiltonEde &amp; Ravenscroft Prize - Blythe DavisSarah Fletcher Memorial Prize for Compassionate Practice - Sumiyah MahmoodGraduate Women Scotland East Academic Prize - Susan DonaldsonHonorary Fellows Prize for Innovation - Eilidh HopeAlexander D G Kydd Prize - Louise JonardJoseph Leveson Prize - Ian HillThe Lothian Family Award - Ursa KlobucarHannah Maclure Prize - Jack BrennanGeorge McKenzie Memorial Prize - Kimberley ChesneyQueen&rsquo;s Nursing Institute (Scotland) Prize - Charlotte MillikenSociology of the Culture and Civilisation Prize - Rebecca SherriffThe Sword Prize for Sport - Christopher LowTayside NHS Board Prize -Ellie StevensonTechnical Education Development Prize - Patrycja Kusiak]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Diabulimia issues uncovered by research]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39127-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2017 16:09:00 +0100</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[The study from Dr Kate Smith found it is &quot;common&quot; for young diabetic women to stop taking insulin in order to lose weight]]></description>
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New Scottish research into the experiences of young people with diabetes has cast fresh light on the potentially fatal condition of Diabulimia, suggesting it is &ldquo;common&rdquo; for young diabetic women to shun their insulin in a bid to lose weight.
Initial findings from an Abertay University counselling project looking specifically at issues for young people with type 1 diabetes has pinpointed a need for greater emotional support for those struggling to cope.
Researchers from the University&rsquo;s Division of Mental Health Nursing and Counselling conducted interviews, focus groups, and counselling sessions with young diabetics aged 18-25 as well as a range of service providers.
Diabulimia is a little known condition in type 1 diabetes with potentially fatal consequences.
Most people with the condition will have started to under-use insulin as a way of losing weight in the short-term, however this can introduce a dangerous cycle of behaviour which can lead to eating disorders such as bulimia.
Once in that cycle, people may maintain a minimal engagement in their medication regime, or undergo binge-eating where over-eating is combined with insulin abstinence.
One of the study participants reported that her reduction in insulin control began after being ill and not injecting her normal insulin dosage. She felt the immediate weight loss and started a habit of withholding insulin in the days leading up to social events.
Another participant experienced diabetic retinopathy (sight loss) as a result of having Diabulimia in her mid-to-late teens.The damage done to her eyesight was irreparable and she was seeking emotional support to adjust and cope with a sense of responsibility and loss.
Dr Kate Smith, Academic Curriculum Manager for Abertay&rsquo;s School of Social and Health Sciences, conducted the research, which was carried out at the Tayside Centre for Counselling and funded by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Abertay offers a BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing, a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and Counselling and a well-respected MSc in Counselling.
Dr Smith said: &ldquo;It is well established that there is a gap between the psychological and emotional needs of people with diabetes and the care and support that is offered.
&ldquo;The project involved speaking to young people with the condition, talking to practitioners who work daily with young people within the NHS, and also offering counselling to young people.
&ldquo;It aimed to provide an overview of the relationships between clients and the services provided, and seek to understand unaddressed needs as perceived by the young people themselves.
&ldquo;The research showed that limiting insulin as a way of controlling weight in the short and longer term was common, particularly in young women.
&ldquo;It was also clear that emotional support is needed to address the issues surrounding this, in recognising behaviours and signs that insulin therapy is being mismanaged, to help a person acknowledge and address issues around withholding insulin, and to look at key behaviours associated with their own insulin management.
&ldquo;The research shows that Diabulimia is a complex issue which is further complicated by an absence of understanding of how healthcare can respond.&rdquo;
Often people with Diabulimia may choose to disengage with healthcare or clinic staff may be reticent of raising concerns.
The research showed some practitioners reported not wanting to raise the issue for fear of alienating the patient, or giving the idea that this might be a way of losing weight.
Dr Smith added: &ldquo;On the front line, finding a safe accepting person to talk to about what is going on is the first step to gaining help for Diabulemia. A counsellor will work to understand why a person might be engaged in withholding insulin, and be able to discuss the perspective of the client.
&ldquo;Some people find it helpful to think about why they began the cycle, or how and when it might feel like a rationale decision, but in many cases people will seek help only when they feel overwhelmed by their condition and a counsellor will help them find ways of regaining control.
&ldquo;Our suite of courses at Abertay ensure the next generation of counsellors and mental health professionals have the necessary skills and training to understand the complexity of conditions such as Diabulimia.&rdquo;
For more information visit&nbsp;https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/social-and-health-sciences/mental-health-nursing-and-counselling/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Student hails 'greatest opportunity' at V&amp;A site]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39104-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2017 09:01:00 +0100</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[Civil engineering student Stephen Brindle has been working on the landmark Dundee museum - including checking and double-checking every one of 5,000 fixing points for the iconic stone cladding panels.]]></description>
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Meet the meticulous Abertay University student tasked with checking each one of 5,000 fixing points integral to the stunning design of V&amp;A Museum of Design Dundee.
Stephen Brindle has gained invaluable experience at the landmark museum site thanks to Abertay&rsquo;s commitment to providing a guaranteed work placement for every Civil Engineering student &ndash; the only University in Scotland with such an offer.
Since the turn of the year, the 23-year-old has been working with specialist contractor Careys Civil Engineering, carrying out an array of jobs including extensive checks on 5,000 brackets &ndash; the mechanisms allowing the distinctive cladding to be fitted to the outside of the building.
Once finished, V&amp;A Dundee will be covered with 2,500 of the pre-cast stone panels, which weigh up to 3000kg each and span up to 4m wide, creating the appearance of a Scottish cliff face.
It&rsquo;s been a dream placement for BEng (Hons) student Stephen, who has also been paid a weekly wage by Careys Civil Engineering while gaining experience on one of the world&rsquo;s most prestigious builds.
He said: &ldquo;This placement has been one of the greatest opportunities I&rsquo;ve had in my life to be honest, and I feel I got really lucky with coming to Abertay and getting to work here.
&ldquo;To be working with Careys Civil Engineering is great because they are a brilliant company and there could be opportunities with them after my degree.
&ldquo;It took a long time for us to check all 5,000 brackets but making sure everything is exactly right is an important job.&rdquo;
In addition to assisting site managers with extensive checks, Stephen has worked on paving, manhole covers, groundworks and benches, as well as road traffic management, fire procedures and health and safety.
He has also been using specialist monitoring equipment to measure the positioning and stability of walls.
&ldquo;Down the line when it&rsquo;s open to the people of Dundee and tourists we want to make sure everything is 100% right, and so far it&rsquo;s all been spot on.
&ldquo;When it&rsquo;s complete, and the cofferdam is removed, the Tay will come right up to the building and it is going to look pretty spectacular.
&ldquo;Having this opportunity has been so important and I&rsquo;ve learned while working on the site that employers want qualifications, but also want experience over anything else.&rdquo;
For most information on Civil Engineering at Abertay, including Scotland&rsquo;s only guaranteed work placement, visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/civil-and-environmental-engineering/#d.en.24790]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[World's 1st Prof of Duty of Care in Sport appointed]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39083-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Sep 2017 16:48:00 +0100</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[Prof David Lavallee will lead international research and education on a vast range of issues in sport]]></description>
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The world&rsquo;s first Professor of Duty of Care in Sport has been appointed by Abertay University with a view to leading international research and education on a vast range of issues from bullying and harassment to equality and inclusion.
Professor David Lavallee takes up this unique position in Dundee with the backing of Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, who recently conducted an independent review into Duty of Care in Sport on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) as part of the UK Government&rsquo;s &ldquo;Sporting Future&rdquo; strategic plan.
The way people involved in sport at all levels are supported has become a focus of attention, with the treatment of athletes as commodities and the prioritisation of &lsquo;medals over morals&rsquo; being criticised.
It could be argued that this approach will in the long term lose its aim of inspiring a nation and adversely affect the recruitment and retention of the people in sport, whether they are taking part, coaching, volunteering or involved in some other capacity.
The issue has been thrust into the spotlight following the recent emergence of historical child abuse in UK football; however, a raft of other areas such as dropout, doping or the harmful effects of regular impacts to the body and brain also fall under the banner.
Recent investigations into alleged lack of duty of care in a number of Olympic and Paralympic sports have also focussed on athletes and the need for coaches and support staff to be better equipped to recognise mental health and discrimination.
Prof Lavallee, an Adjunct Professor at the University of Limerick and recent recipient of a prestigious Erskine Fellowship at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, took up the new position at Abertay in August 2017.
He said: &ldquo;This new Professorship emphasises Abertay University&rsquo;s commitment to sport education and research.
&ldquo;Sport around the world needs a robust duty of care approach in order to protect its unique position and impact in society. It is an important part of the next evolutionary phase of world class sporting systems. My role will focus on working in partnership with stakeholders who aspire to provide the highest duty of care in sport.&rdquo;
&ldquo;High-quality, independent evidence and impartial analysis has a big part to play in creating a sustainable positive impact on people involved in sport, both now and in the future. My work will also focus on providing education on Duty of Care in Sport to inform and influence the next generation of leaders in sport.&rdquo;
Baroness Grey-Thompson said: &ldquo;I am delighted that Abertay University has taken the step to appoint a Professor of Duty of Care.
&ldquo;I was really impressed with the dedication that Professor Lavallee showed to the subject when I was working on my Duty of Care report.
&ldquo;He provided much valuable information and support and this is an exciting time for British Sport.&rdquo;
Director of Sportscotland Institute of Sport, Mike Whittingham said: &ldquo;Duty of Care is an extremely important and topical issue. The UK has been enjoying an unprecedented period of success since 2008 and Scotland, through the institute of sport, has made a massive contribution.
&ldquo;Our system is based on a philosophy of High Challenge accompanied by High Support &ndash; David Lavallee is a world leading expert in Performance Transitions and has been working with us for some years now to ensure we get the balance right and create the necessary supporting culture including a robust Duty of Care Policy and Package.
&ldquo;We believe Scotland can lead exciting new fields and we are delighted that Abertay University has had the foresight to appoint Prof David Lavallee to lead this area from an academic perspective.&rdquo;
Chief Executive of Sport Resolutions UK Richard Harry said: &ldquo;For sport and physical activity to remain an attractive lifestyle choice, it is key that the optimum environment is in place both to encourage participation and to keep people in their sports once that positive choice has been made.
&ldquo;That a leading University has the foresight to recognise this important area is to be welcomed and I hope that the work done by Professor Lavallee will help to shape the future sporting landscape in a positive way.&quot;
Emma Atkins Director of Coaching at UK Coaching congratulated Abertay for showing such commitment to the issue.
She said: &ldquo;UK Coaching is looking forward to working with thought leaders such as Professor David Lavallee along with other agencies to ensure that those who support people to participate in sport do so utilising the very best approaches for long term well-being.
&ldquo;From working with David previously regarding exploring and providing evidence of how we can support people (world class athletes) to transition and fulfil their potential, I am confident that his input will be immensely valuable to ensure the sports system in the UK is one in which all people can achieve their potential in a safe, enjoyable and healthy environment.&rdquo;
Professor Lavallee is originally from Boston, Massachusetts, and studied philosophy and then psychology. He is a graduate of Harvard University, a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and played international football for the USA.
For more information on studying sport at Abertay visit&nbsp;https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/social-and-health-sciences/sport-and-exercise-sciences/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Cyclists flock to biggest ever Tour de Tay]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39077-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Sep 2017 09:08:00 +0100</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[Around 200 riders took part in the annual event to raise scholarship funding]]></description>
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Around 200 cyclists took on the fundraising Tour de Tay challenge in what was the event's biggest ever year. Riders aged 18 to 80 took part in the annual Abertay University ride which raised more than &pound;6000 for the institution's Expanding Horizons Scholarship Fund this year. Head of Alumni and Development Carol Ann Smith said the cash would go towards study abroad opportunities for domestic Abertay students and also for international students keen to come to Dundee. She added: &quot;This was our biggest ever Tour de Tay and it was great to see so many cyclists of all ages taking up the challenge. &quot;The amazing weather contributed to a fantastic atmosphere of cameraderie and I would like to thank all cyclists and volunteers for their efforts. &quot;It's great to see this annual event growing year on year as it really helps to boost the Expanding Horizons fund, which offers fabulous opportunities to students.&quot;


The 50-mile circuit saw cyclists set off from Newport and trace the banks of the River Tay through Fife, Perthshire, Perth, Dundee and back to the finish line.
Other entrants took a shortened 25-mile course. The tour set off at 9am and the quickest cyclists had made it through the halfway stage in Perth not long after 10am.


Almost 100 had expected to complete the route in the &lsquo;speedy&rsquo; three hours and thirty minutes, with &lsquo;leisurely&rsquo; cyclists aiming for under four hours and thirty minutes and the &lsquo;steady&rsquo; section taking a bit longer. A team from platinum sponsors Thorntons were the first to set off from the registration base at the Tay Road Bridge car park. The event was also supported by Leisure and Culture Dundee, Tactran and Bank of Scotland. Teams from an array of local firms and cycling clubs took part and an army of volunteers and marshals were on hand to offer bananas, bottles of water, energy bar and chocolates to participants.


For more infomation or to donate visit&nbsp;https://www.abertay.ac.uk/tourdetay/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Dare Academy winners hail &quot;incredible&quot; contest]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39071-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Sep 2017 09:04:00 +0100</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[Bit Loom said the games design competition had allowed them to build a reputation as a studio]]></description>
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A double-ended dog puzzler has been crowned champion of Abertay University&rsquo;s inaugural Dare Academy games design competition.
The family friendly PHOGS! from Abertay student team Bit Loom was unveiled as the winner of the hotly-contested battle during a special ceremony at EGX festival in Birmingham on Sunday September 24.
A prize of a fully paid trip to Indiecade in Los Angeles now awaits winning team members Douglas Flinders, Henry Pullan and James Wood, who have been working on the unique game since March.
The two-player PC game unusually uses one controller to move a double-ended dog, making for a collaborative experience that anyone can enjoy.
Dare judges included Colin Macdonald (All4Games), Luke Savage (Sony Interactive Entertainment) Louise O'Connor (Rare) Peter Campbell (Rare) and Neil Holmes (Xbox)
In their comments, judges called PHOGS! &ldquo;fun and cute,&rdquo; as well as &ldquo;very polished&rdquo; and with &ldquo;appealing art style and audio.&rdquo;
In a joint statement the Bit Loom team said: &quot;We are amazed to have won Dare Academy 2017. The competition was an incredible experience for all three of us at Bit Loom. We received invaluable advice from mentors and speakers some of whom we have built strong relationships with since.
&quot;Showing PHOGS! at EGX has allowed us to begin pitching the game to publishers and building our reputation as a studio. Going to Indiecade to exhibit has been a dream of ours and now it is a reality!&quot;
The two runners-up were 8Bit10 with their game King of the Castle, and Wee Door with Oil.
8Bit10 will enjoy a paid trip to China where they will meet some of the world&rsquo;s largest games companies, while Wee Door earned an industry experience in India.
Although the remaining three Dare entrants &ndash; Pocket Sized Hands, Hypnotic Pigeon and Lavalamp Games &ndash; narrowly missed out on trips abroad, all six teams spent a full four days at EGX, gaining invaluable exposure to industry.
Dare Academy was sponsored by legal services firm Lindsays, who will provide the three winning teams with a package of start-up related information and business support.
Speaking after the announcement was made on the UKIE Careers stage, Head of Abertay&rsquo;s Division of Games and Arts, Dayna Galloway said PHOGS! was a worthy winner.
He added: &ldquo;Regardless of the outcome of the competition, all six of these teams have produced innovative, fun, technically brilliant and sometimes off-the-wall games.
&ldquo;To show such outstanding creative talent and produce games of this technical quality over an intensive and compact period proves they can cope with the pressure demands of an industry environment.&rdquo;
To find out more about computer games courses at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/arts-media-computer-games/.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Expert panel finale for 20 Years of Games]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39065-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 22 Sep 2017 12:55:00 +0100</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[The November 25 event will see top industry names chart the future of games]]></description>
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Top names from the UK games industry will chart the future of the sector in a select discussion panel marking the finale to Abertay University&rsquo;s 20 Years of Games celebrations.
An array of industry professionals will come to Dundee for the Saturday November 25 event, including Grand Theft Auto creator Dave Jones, David Braben OBE of Frontier Developments, Dr Jo Twist OBE of industry body UKIE, Jude Ower MBE of Playmob, games journalist Will Freeman and Abertay computer arts lecturer Lynn Parker.
It is 20 years since Abertay became first university in the world to offer degrees in computer games and the finale event, 'Next Level - A Conversation on the Future of Games,' marks the culmination of a packed year-long programme.
Around 300 people are expected to attend Abertay&rsquo;s main lecture theatre for the free evening, with a drinks reception sponsored by Dundee-based business and financial services firm Henderson Loggie.
Audience members will have the opportunity to put questions to the panel in a lively and entertaining format and the night will be streamed live on the Abertay University Facebook page.
A special 20 Years of Games VIP dinner for invited guests will follow the panel, followed by a DJ set running until midnight.
Professor Gregor White, Head of School of Arts, Media and Computer Games, at Abertay, said: &ldquo;It is fantastic to have so many great speakers lined-up for the panel and I&rsquo;m sure there will be plenty of interesting discussion and debate to be had.
&ldquo;The selection of events marking 20 Years of Games has been excellent and there is no more fitting way to draw the year to a close than hearing from some of the University&rsquo;s finest graduates and friends.&rdquo;
Abertay is the top European university for undergraduate computer games courses and in the world top ten for postgraduate courses, according to the prestigious Princeton Review.
The announcement of the finale comes ahead of another major event on Sunday when the winners of Abertay's inaugural Dare Academy games design competition will be announced.
Six student teams are currently at EGX in Birmingham having designed, honed and polished their games since the start of the year.
The top three teams will win fully funded work placements in the US, China and India.
For more information on studying games at Abertay visit&nbsp;https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/arts-media-computer-games/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Brexit security issues pinpointed in new book]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39062-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Sep 2017 11:53:00 +0100</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[The academic book from Abertay legal experts Dr Maria O'Neill and Ken Swinton covers a wide variety of security themes]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Challenges & Critiques of the EU 070817 (1).jpgTHUMB.jpg]]></image>
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A new academic book focusing on European security issues in the context of Brexit has been published by Abertay University law experts.
EU lawyer Dr Maria O&rsquo;Neill and former Head of Abertay&rsquo;s Division of Law Ken Swinton edited the publication which is a collection of papers from academics across Europe, covering a wide range of topics.
Examining areas such as the protection of critical infrastructure and environmental crime, the book offers insight from a range of interdisciplinary perspectives, including law, geography and politics.
Titled &lsquo;Challenges and Critiques of the EU Internal Security Strategy &ndash; Rights, Power and Security,&rsquo; the book covers many subjects that will become important as Brexit negotiations unfold.
These include justice, human rights violations in immigration enforcement, cybersecurity, the framework of Europol, use of personal data and ship-source pollution.
Dr O&rsquo;Neill, who is a lecturer with Abertay's Dundee Business School, said: &ldquo;The EU Internal Security Strategy is becoming increasingly complex as it develops over time, as it has to operate against the background of growing diversity in law enforcement systems across EU member states.
&ldquo;It is clear that the strategy is, and will continue to be for a long time, a work in progress, not only in its aim to address traditional transnational security threats, but also in reacting to emerging concerns either in new crime areas or issues arising from the implementation of earlier phases of the strategy.
&ldquo;This will be a subject matter for many academic discipline areas for some time to come.&rdquo;
The book is available from Cambridge Scholars Publishing http://www.cambridgescholars.com/challenges-and-critiques-of-the-eu-internal-security-strategy
Dr Maria O&rsquo;Neill is an EU lawyer, specialising in the EU&rsquo;s provisions on police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters.
She is the coordinator of the University Association for Contemporary European Studies&rsquo; collaborative research network, Policing and European Studies.
She has published a number of books in this area, including The Evolving EU Counter-Terrorism Legal Framework, published by Routledge.
Ken Swinton is a qualified solicitor, legal academic and editor of a number of Scottish-based law publications, including the Scottish Law Gazette, and he specialises in financial services law and the proceeds of crime.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA['Dundee and Me: How the City Shapes our Moods&rsquo;]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39049-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 19 Sep 2017 08:51:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39049-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-39049-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Academics to explore the links between local environment and emotional wellbeing in Dundee]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Dundee.jpg]]></image>
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&zwnj;
Abertay and University of Dundee academics are to work with children and vulnerable adults from the city to explore the links between their local environment and emotional wellbeing.
The team behind 'Dundee and Me: How the City Shapes our Moods&rsquo; will ask the group about the places that both positively and negatively impact upon their mood and the reasons for the feelings they invoke. Participants will be asked to photograph various locations they travel to throughout the city and to record when such places bring about a change in mood.
&ldquo;The aim of the project is to build awareness of the ways in which our internal experiences are influenced by our external environment and increase the ability to of participants to acknowledge and describe their emotions and moods,&rdquo; said Dr Fhionna Moore, a Psychology researcher at the University of Dundee.
&ldquo;There are places of great beauty and tranquillity throughout the city that people with mental health issues may not know about. They will benefit from the experiences of others while we are also looking to hear from children about the places that are influencing their formative years for good or ill.
&ldquo;There are also places of huge historical significance and those with personal resonance. The project will be shaped by the participants themselves as we try to build up a picture of how Dundee impacts on its residents.
&ldquo;Our moods and emotions constantly shift, and they can be influenced by where we are and what we are doing. We hope that this will enable participants to be better at recognising and monitoring their own mental health and that of others, become more aware of Dundee's complex and unique history and environments, and be better able to change their environments in order to improve mental wellbeing.&rdquo;
In previous research, Dr Moore and her colleagues worked with the NHS 24 'Breathing Space' helpline in order to map the effects of the social and physical environment on emotional distress. They are now looking to build on this to examine the impact of the local environment.
Working with student volunteers, the participants will use the images and descriptions they capture to begin developing story boards, characters or plots for art work, creative writing, and video games. The project, led by Dr Moore alongside English tutor Eddie Small and their colleague Dr Robin Sloan from Abertay University, will culminate in a performance and exhibition for participants and their friends and families.
A class of school children aged 10-11 and an equivalent sized group of adult mental health service users will take part. The performance and exhibition will take place during Heart-Tay-Heart week in April next year.
The team are looking for individuals and groups who have experienced mental health problems to take part in the project. Anyone interested in participating should contact Dr Moore on f.moore@dundee.ac.uk.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Double Gin Success for Dundee]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38983-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 15 Sep 2017 10:13:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38983-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38983-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Two gins with strong links to Abertay University celebrated double success at the Scottish Gin Awards.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/t4_7358199897177489334.jpg]]></image>
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Two gins with strong links to Abertay University hit the right note at the Scottish Gin Awards.
The coveted Gin of the Year award went to Abertay graduate Andrew Mackenzie, whose Verdant Gin is created and sold in Dundee.
The entrepreneur did a Masters in Food and Drink Innovation at Abertay, providing the ideal preparation for his Verdant Spirits business, which only produced its first batch of gin earlier this year.He said: &ldquo;Abertay was fantastic. It gave you space to think and reflect and really develop your ideas properly.The course was very well supported.&rdquo;
There was also success for Angus-based Arbikie Distilling who won Scottish Distillery of the Year.
Kirsty Black, who helped the Stirling family set the company up, said: &ldquo;My PhD through Abertay University and the James Hutton Institute gives the unique opportunity for normally separate disciplines to cross paths &ndash; this results in the unique combination of agroecologists working with zymologists working with distillers and brewers &ndash; a combination which is forever producing new and novel ideas.&rdquo;
Head of the Division of Food and Drink, Costas Stathopoulos said: &ldquo;Huge congratulations to both Verdant Spirits and Arbikie Distilling on their incredible success at the Scottish Gin Awards.
&ldquo;At Abertay we work with some of the very best and most innovative companies in the food and drink sector and it is pleasing to see both of these businesses doing so well.&rdquo;
Abertay&rsquo;s Food and Drink courses were rated top in Scotland and 9th in the UK by the Guardian Good University Guide 2018.
The Scottish Gin Awards were held in Glasgow on Thursday night by the Scottish Gin Society.
&zwnj;For more information on how your business can benefit from Abertay&rsquo;s cutting edge new Food Science facilities, visit https://www.foodinnovation.abertay.ac.uk/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Dare winners to be unveiled next week]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38967-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 14 Sep 2017 10:14:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38967-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38967-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The top teams will be announced at the massive EGX games conference in Birmingham]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/dare.JPG]]></image>
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The winner of the inaugural Dare Academy games design competition will be unveiled at this year&rsquo;s massive EGX games conference.
Since early this year, six teams from Abertay, Europe's top games university, have been developing prototypes in a bid to land a prize of international work placements at top studios in China, India and the US.
After winning through a tough selection panel phase and enjoying mentoring sessions from industry experts during summer hot-housing, the final games will be on show at the NEC in Birmingham for the EGX &ndash; the UK&rsquo;s biggest games event.
A diverse range of games, ranging from a slick virtual reality stealth shooter to a game focusing on dementia have been created by the student teams &ndash; Pocket Sized Hands, Bit Loom, 8Bit10, Hypnotic Pigeon, Wee Door and Lavalamp Games.
Gamesindustry.biz will announce the winners online at 1pm on Sunday September 24, followed by an official prize presentation on the UKIE stand at EGX at 2pm.
Dare Academy was launched this year as a reboot of the Dare to be Digital competition and comes as Abertay celebrates 20 years since becoming the first in the world to offer degrees in computer games.
For Gary McCartan of Pocket Sized Hands - whose VR game Honeypot Espionage has already enjoyed success in the Microsoft Imagine Cup &ndash; the trip to EGX is something of a homecoming.
He said: &quot;The last time I was at EGX, five years ago, I tried Virtual Reality for the first time on the Oculus Rift.
&ldquo;Now, five years later, it is pretty amazing to be going back to EGX to show off our own Virtual Reality game Honeypot Espionage. This is where VR started for me.&quot;
Abertay is backing all of the Dare teams, which were each given a &pound;1,000 working budget to get their games off the ground and had their stalls at EGX fully funded.
The top three student studios will be selected for the international placements.
Head of Abertay&rsquo;s Division of Games and Arts, Dayna Galloway said: &ldquo;We are delighted to be supporting Dare Academy and the quality of the games coming out of competition has been incredibly high.
&ldquo;I would encourage anyone attending EGX this year to look up each of these teams and give their games a try.&rdquo;
For more information on Dare Academy, including team profiles and details of their games, visit www.dareacademy.co.uk]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Family donates to Abertay football after tragic loss]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38961-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Sep 2017 08:24:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38961-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38961-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Linda Braid donated &pound;1,000 to the supportive team following the sudden death of her husband]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Braid1.JPG]]></image>
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Abertay University&rsquo;s football captain has paid tribute to the support of his teammates after he suddenly lost his dad to a massive brain bleed last year.
Adam Braid and his mum Linda Braid donated kit worth &pound;1,000 to the University&rsquo;s football group as their own way of thanking the club for their friendship.
On October 2 last year, Adam&rsquo;s father Alex Braid died in hospital aged just 63 after suddenly collapsing at home in Dundee.
Adam, who plays junior football for Kirriemuir Thistle, had special bond with his father, who used to take him to Dundee United games as a teenager and drove him to Glasgow and back three times a week when he was training with Rangers as a youngster.
The 22-year-old former Morgan Academy pupil said his teammates at Abertay had helped him get through tough times.
He added: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s just wee things like chilling with my pals, having a chat with them or going on nights out &ndash; that&rsquo;s what I&rsquo;ve needed and that&rsquo;s why my mum and I were so keen to give back.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s been hard. If I ever had a dilemma, or anything to do with my football, I would go and see my dad.
&ldquo;This season I wasn&rsquo;t sure which team I would sign for and I didn&rsquo;t really know what to do, because when it came to football my dad just understood it all. I&rsquo;ve found it hard not to have him as my guidance anymore.
&ldquo;Now I get less emotional because I&rsquo;ve learned to gauge it. But the hurt and even the good memories float back. There&rsquo;s just days when you want to chat with him for five minutes.&rdquo;
Adam is in the final year of his Sports Development and Coaching degree at Abertay and came to the University as a direct entrant from Dundee and Angus College.
Linda, 58, who works part-time in a doctor&rsquo;s surgery, said the football team had been a huge support for the family.
&ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t have asked for more from them &ndash; they are great guys,&rdquo; she said.
&ldquo;Our lives just changed forever. It&rsquo;s been a rollercoaster and we&rsquo;ve had good and bad days, but it has hit Adam more with the football because that was their bond.&rdquo;
Linda has hosted the entire 30-strong football group at her house for after-match drinks and was keen to find a way of thanking them.
She said Alec - who worked as a lighting design engineer including major projects such as the Tyne Bridge, Forth Road Bridge and Hampden stadium - would have been &ldquo;buzzing&rdquo; about the kit donation.
Adam designed the graphics for the match day tracksuits, which bear the text, &lsquo;In loving memory of Alexander Braid.&rsquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay expert calls for school-based counselling]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38856-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 08 Sep 2017 09:14:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38856-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38856-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[An Abertay University psychology expert has called for school-based counselling services to be available for all children across Scotland.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Mhairi thumbnail.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Mhairi thumbnail.JPG <![CDATA[An Abertay University psychology expert has called for school-based counselling services to be available for all children across Scotland.
Dr Mhairi Thurston said there appears to be a &ldquo;growing appetite&rdquo; for the development of joined up approach to psychological services for children and young people in Scotland, linking school counselling provision, educational psychology and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAHMS).
She presented a case for increased access to school counselling in Scotland at the &lsquo;Children and Young People's Mental Health: Taking a Cross-Sectoral Approach&rsquo; conference in Edinburgh this week.
According to a recent report commissioned by SAMH, three children in every classroom in Scotland will experience mental health problems by the time they are 16.
The Scottish government has committed to review services for counselling children in the new Mental Health Strategy 2017-2027.
Dr Thurston said it is time to take a wholesale and in-depth look at the issue.
She added: &ldquo;School based counselling provision in Scotland is currently patchy, with 14 councils having no formal school based counselling services. This means that nearly a quarter of a million pupils have no access to this vital service. Scotland lags behind both Wales and Northern Ireland who have Government funded school based counselling provision with a counsellor in every school.
&ldquo;There is a consensus emerging about the compelling benefits of school counselling. In Wales, targeted school based interventions have led to improvements in pupil wellbeing and mental health, reducing levels of exclusion by 31% and increasing pupil attainment (Banjeree et al,2014).
Dr Thurston co-presented at the Edinburgh conference with Edith Bell, director of the largest school based counselling provider in Northern Ireland, who provided a blueprint of good practice and gave guidance on the implementation of national school based counselling provision.
The conference examined the current policy landscape and latest developments surrounding children and young people's mental health in Scotland, including key issues and challenges facing schools and colleges, children's services and the NHS and local authorities.
For more information on counselling and mental health nursing courses at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/social-and-health-sciences/mental-health-nursing-and-counselling/
&nbsp;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA['Cycle-friendly' Abertay wins recognition]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38850-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 07 Sep 2017 11:28:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38850-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38850-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay University has once again achieved recognition for its cycle-friendly approach.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/cycle thumb.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/cycle thumb.JPG <![CDATA[Abertay University has once again achieved recognition for its cycle-friendly approach.
Following an assessment carried out by Cycling Scotland last month, the University has been re-awarded Cycle Friendly Employer status.
The award lasts for three years and is &ldquo;in recognition of the commitment by your organisation to support a culture of cycling at your workplace&rdquo;.
Cycling Scotland states that, among other benefits, regular cycling to work &ldquo;has been proven to boost productivity, reduce days lost to absenteeism, and reduces the need for expensive car parking facilities&rdquo;.
Abertay has recently introduced a drying room, which allows cyclists to dry their clothing and kit throughout the day, ready for the return journey home.
Money from a Sustainable Travel Grant was also used to help support the painting of a cycle lane through the car park to the bike rack beside the university&rsquo;s Graham Building. There are also showers available free of charge in the university&rsquo;s gym facilities.
And to mark national Cycle to Work Day, Abertay&rsquo;s Healthy Working Lives is holding a spa day prize draw for anyone who cycles into work on September 13.
Sharon Jeffrey, Abertay Occupational Health Advisor, said: &ldquo;We are delighted to once again receive this award. So much hard work has gone into making cycling to work at Abertay as accessible and convenient for our staff as possible, with storage facilities and our new drying room proving popular.&rdquo;
Iain Stewart, a Teaching Fellow at Dundee Academy of Sport, travels in from Carnoustie to Abertay most days &ndash; just over 11 miles.
He said: &ldquo;I have cycled in for over a year. I&rsquo;ve lost weight and do it to keep fit and healthy. I have saved a fair few quid not taking the car or train into work and I don&rsquo;t miss the stressful car commute or packed train.&rdquo;
Shonagh McAlpine, Abertay Business Continuity &amp; Safety Co-ordinator, said: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a busy mum&rsquo;s conundrum... how to fit exercise into a busy day. Cycling to work ticks all the boxes: fitness, beating the traffic, eco-friendly; but above all getting out in the fresh air is just the ticket after sitting all day at work. We&rsquo;ve got great facilities at Abertay - covered cycle racks, cycle storage, a handy drying room and shower facilities &ndash; all within two minutes&rsquo; walk.&rdquo;
Abertay is also gearing up for the Tour de Tay challenge &ndash; a 50 or 25 mile cycling event along the scenic banks of the Tay.
Taking place on Saturday September 23, the event will raise funds to support Abertay&rsquo;s study abroad opportunities.
For more information - and to sign up for Tour de Tay - go to https://www.abertay.ac.uk/tourdetay/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Borders, Racisms and Resistance conference staged]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38840-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 06 Sep 2017 11:59:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38840-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38840-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The event at Abertay brings together activists and researchers from across disciplines to discuss the changing landscape of racisms and borders.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/pexels-photo-9816 (1).jpegTHUMB.jpeg]]></image>
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Abertay University will host a conference seeking to bring together activists and researchers from across disciplines to discuss the changing landscape of racisms and borders.
Topics for exploration at the event on September 7 and 8 will include the rise of ethno-nationalism and immigration controls, and post-Brexit racism, Islamophobia and xenophobia.
Organised by Abertay criminology lecturer Dr Monish Bhatia, the conference will also discuss responses to the refugee 'crisis' and asylum politics.
The visibility of racism and its links to struggles around multiculturalism, citizenship and belonging will also be on the agenda, as will a look at how immigration now occupies prime position in debates on both the left and the right.
Dr Bhatia said: &ldquo;New modes of resistance have emerged in response to contemporary state racisms: Black Lives Matter, anti-raids networks, and demonstrations against detention and deportation's have sought to challenge not only the violence of the state but, at times, the very notion of the border itself.
&ldquo;This conference also aims to re-assert Scotland&rsquo;s place in these global shifts, challenging assumptions of Scottish exceptionalism, and taking seriously Scotland&rsquo;s role in historical and contemporary racisms.&rdquo;
Indicative themes:&bull; Everyday borders / bordering practices&bull; Detention and deportation&bull; Securitisation, criminalisation and surveillance&bull; Islamophobia / anti-Muslim racism&bull; Nationalism&bull; Resisting state racisms]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[International games designers to appear at Arcadia]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38833-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 05 Sep 2017 10:32:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38833-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38833-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay is supporting the grassroots indie games conference]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Webp.net-resizeimage (1).png]]></image>
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Some of the world&rsquo;s most prominent independent game designers will gather in Scotland for a new collaborative celebration of the industry this Friday.
A diverse collection of game creators, artists, writers and curators will be in Dundee to take part in Arcadia, a brand new grassroots conference on independent games held in the city&rsquo;s unique West Ward Works exhibition space.
Organised by Biome Collective and We Throw Switches, with support from Abertay University, the event brings together a wide range of figures for a day of talks and panels.
The conference comes as Abertay celebrates 20 years since becoming the first University in the world to offer computer games degrees, and a selection of former students will be on hand to discuss their own journeys into indie games design.
The day event is followed the same night by the Arcadia Warehouse Party, which will turn West Ward Works into a one-night only combination of live music, drinks and an incredible collection of independent games and related works.
Edinburgh DJ collective Main Ingredient and others will be providing the night's soundtrack, and exhibited games will feature artists and creators from around the world.The event ends on Saturday, with a relaxed day of workshops, boardgames and a LARP (Live Action Role Play).
The conference will explore aspects of the current indie game scene through a programme of talks and workshops.&nbsp;
Included on the bill will be members of the design team for the original Grand Theft Auto games, Brie Code of Tru Luv media, George Buckingham of Sensible Object, and Albert Elwin, who worked on critically-acclaimed titles like Killbox and Glitchspace.
Brie said: &ldquo;I'm very much looking forward to coming to Scotland to learn more about the Scottish games scene.
&ldquo;I'll be speaking about a revolution in game design based on care and characters and why I think care is not only more culturally relevant than violence but also more physiologically rewarding to many potential new players.
&ldquo;I can't wait to discuss games of care with local devs.&rdquo;
German indie game developer Robin Baumgarten, who creates experimental hardware controllers, and developer event organiser Vaida Plankyte are also lined up to speak.
Malath Abbas of Biome, one of Arcadia's organisers, said the event would bring together an array of industry experts who had lit the path for independent game production across Scotland and beyond.
He added: &ldquo;Arcadia is about coming together to collaborate, share knowledge and learn new things, but above all it is to celebrate our global indie games community and showcase the fantastic work being produced.
&ldquo;Whether you are already immersed in games, or just interested in play and digital creativity, our Arcadia speakers will have something for everyone.&rdquo;
For more information visit and tickets visit www.arcadiadundee.com
Arcadia runs alongside THIS Festival, an exhibition of games at the same venue from September 7-10.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Students and staff attend historic bridge opening]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38825-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 04 Sep 2017 09:17:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38825-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38825-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay is the only university in Scotland to offer a guaranteed work placement for civil engineering students and has forged strong links with the Queensferry Crossing project]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Bridge event (1).jpgTHUMB.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Bridge event (1).jpgTHUMB.jpg <![CDATA[

Abertay students and academics were invited to attend the historic opening of the &pound;1.35bn Queensferry Crossing.
Head of the Division of Civil Engineering David Blackwood was joined by structural engineer Margi Vilnay and chartered water and environment manager Dr Daniel Gilmour at the event, which was attended by Her Majesty the Queen.
Student who have enjoyed paid work placements on the project were also invited to the exclusive event.
Abertay is the only university in Scotland to offer a guaranteed work placement with every undergraduate civil engineering degree and the invitation to the opening was as a result of strong links forged with the project.
A series of students have worked on the Queensferry Crossing since construction began in 2011, with some paid a wage of up to &pound;1,000 per month while they learn on the job.
Prof Blackwood said it was an honour to be invited to the ceremony and paid tribute to Transport Scotland and partners Jacobs and Arup for their professionalism and enthusiasm in helping to cultivate the next generation of civil engineers.
He added: &ldquo;The Queensferry Crossing is a truly magnificent piece of engineering and it has been a wonderful project for our students to be part of.
&ldquo;All civil engineering employers are looking for experience straight off the bat, so a degree from Abertay guarantees that extra edge and offers an invaluable chance to build up industry contacts before entering the jobs market.
&ldquo;Many of our students go on to secure full-time paid contracts with the companies who have taken them on placement and that is a direct result of the opportunities provided by Abertay.&rdquo;
Director of the Queensferry Crossing project David Climie previously hailed the long standing relationship with Abertay, saying he was &ldquo;very impressed with the consistently high calibre of the students involved who have been both enthusiastic and diligent in their periods with the client team.&rdquo;
Not all Abertay work placements are paid and any payment is at the discretion of the employer.
For more information on Civil Engineering at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/civil-and-environmental-engineering/#d.en.24790]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Prof Reid receives Medal of Honour]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38799-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Aug 2017 13:24:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38799-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38799-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The head of Dundee Business School was recognised by the Scottish Economic Society]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Webp.net-resizeimage (15).jpg]]></image>
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The head of Abertay University&rsquo;s Dundee Business School has been presented with the Scottish Economic Society&rsquo;s Medal of Honour.
Professor Gavin Reid received the honour for his &lsquo;contributions to economics in Scotland&rsquo; and was awarded the prize during a ceremony at Abertay.
Society President Professor Matthias Klaes travelled to Dundee to personally present the Medal.
He said: &ldquo;It is my great pleasure to award today, on behalf of the Scottish Economic Society, its Medal of Honour to Professor Gavin Reid for his contributions to economics in Scotland.
&ldquo;Professor Reid has been active in the Society over many years and in a number of significant roles.
&ldquo;He has served on the editorial board of the Society&rsquo;s learned journal, the Scottish Journal of Political Economy, which for over sixty years now has been an internationally recognised platform for economic research in Scotland.
&ldquo;As member of Council he has helped shape the fortunes of the Society for twelve years.
&ldquo;As President of the Society, he has offered vision and leadership.
&ldquo;All these duties he performed in honorary capacity and alongside his many academic obligations as professor of economics, head of an influential research centre at the University of St Andrews, and wide-ranging policy work.&rdquo;
Prof Reid said it was a &ldquo;privilege&rdquo; to receive such recognition and thanked Prof Klaes for attending.
Prof Reid began attending at the Society's Annual Conference in the 1970s and by the 1980s was running the event.
He is a former Chair of Economics at St Andrews University and previously held the role of President of the Scottish Economics Society (1999 -2002).
&nbsp;
Caption L-R: Sheena Stewart (Abertay University Secretary), Prof Matthias Klaes (Scottish Economic Society President), Prof Gavin Reid (Head of Dundee Business School) and Prof Steve Olivier (Abertay University Deputy]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Academic appointed to global warming solutions role]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38757-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Aug 2017 10:15:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38757-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38757-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Dr Ehsan Jorat will take up a new role with the Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment &amp; Society (SAGES)]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/DSC_1495 (1).JPGone.JPG]]></image>
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An Abertay University engineering expert has been appointed to a key position for an important Scottish scientific alliance tasked with combating global warming.
Dr Ehsan Jorat will take up a new role with the Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment &amp; Society (SAGES), which held a high level forum on global water crises at Abertay earlier this year.
Acting as as co-leader for the theme &lsquo;Carbon &amp; Biogeochemical Cycles: Sustaining Life,&rsquo; Dr Jorat will work with a large cross-section of scientists in Scotland and will play a pivotal role in decision making on funding for projects under SAGES control.
The work will explore questions relating to how Planet Earth deals with carbon, studying the carbon cycle at scales varying from microbes to the globe as a whole.
Scientists will be using varied data collection techniques, from ground-based laboratory measurements to global-scale satellite observations.
The team will also pioneer the use of an airborne platform, the Dimona Eco aircraft, to help bridge the gap between the two scales, measuring greenhouse gases and the processes of gas exchange.
Working in tandem with fellow co-leader, Dr Philippa Ascough from the University of Glasgow, Dr Jorat will gain an in-depth knowledge about the breadth of activity within the theme area.
He said: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m delighted to have been selected to co-lead in this important area.
&ldquo;Gaining a better understanding of carbon cycles is vital when it comes to addressing global warming challenges and only by collaborating through initiatives like SAGES will we make progress towards that goal.&rdquo;
Dr Jorat is currently working as a lecturer in geotechnical engineering in the Division of Natural and Built Environment in the School of Science, Engineering and Technology, having formerly served as a research associate in geotechnical engineering at Newcastle University.
For more information visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/science-engineering-and-technology/divisionofnaturalandbuiltenvironment/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Glowing blood exhibition from forensic artist]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38741-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Aug 2017 10:50:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38741-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38741-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Bea Haines is raising issues around the ethics of eating meat]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Acid Yellow 7 (1).JPGthumb.JPG]]></image>
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A former Artist in Residence at Abertay University is asking art lovers to question the ethics of eating meat through an exhibition that uses forensic dye to make blood glow bright yellow.
Bea Haines has created installation &lsquo;Acid Yellow 7&rsquo; which sees gallery-goers enter a darkened room and use special goggles to view glowing blood spatters across a dining table where a &ldquo;bloody meal&rdquo; has been eaten.
The artwork at Science Gallery Melbourne is named after research from Abertay&rsquo;s Dr Kevin Farrugia, whose work has focused on the use of the substance.
Acid Yellow 7 makes blood glow under a certain wavelength of light and can be used at crime scenes to better visualise hidden blood prints.  In addition to research in this area, Abertay offers a Bsc (Hons) in Forensic Sciences with teaching taking place in the University's new &pound;3.5m science labs.
Bea said: &ldquo;The installation is an immersive and interactive artwork which depicts a domestic table where a bloody meal has been eaten. 
&ldquo;The items have traces of blood on them, as though a rare steak has been consumed. 
&ldquo;There are also other symbolic and cultural references to blood, such as the wine glasses - in Holy Communion, wine is used as a symbol of Christ&rsquo;s blood. 
&ldquo;The forensic nature of the artwork combined with the domestic dining setting encourages the viewer to question ethics relating to eating meat. 
&ldquo;Visitors are invited to don goggles and use a specialist torch to reveal the blood traces, which would otherwise be invisible in the dark space.&rdquo;


Bea created an exhibition including 'invisible art' at Abertay in 2013, using techniques forensic scientists employ to piece together what has happened at the scene of a crime.
Including sculptures, etchings, videos, and digital prints, the showcase also offered an installation in which the viewer played detective, entering a darkened room with a torch and uncovering 'evidence'.
The exhibition was part of the first-ever Print Festival Scotland - a celebration of the cross-disciplinary nature of print.
One of the framed pieces of art was a digital print of magnified fingerprint dust powder, which reveals details not visible to the naked eye.
Bea graduated with an MA in Printmaking from the Royal College of Art in 2010 and has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions, completed residencies at Marlborough College, Abertay University&rsquo;s forensics lab, Centrespace and Griffin Gallery. 
She was listed in Artlyst&rsquo;s &lsquo;top 10 artists under 30&rsquo;, was a Print Fellow at the Royal Academy of Arts and winner of the Anthology Art Prize, RBS Bursary award and the Mann and Daler Rowney drawing prizes.
&lsquo;Blood&rsquo; exhibition at Science Gallery Melbourne runs until September 23 and will come to London in the last week of October.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Dundee Games Studios Go Head to Head at Abertay]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38696-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 25 Aug 2017 14:05:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38696-en.php]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[Two heavyweights of the UK games design scene will go toe to toe at Dundee&rsquo;s first major public e-sports event.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/gamephoto (1).jpg]]></image>
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Two heavyweights of the UK games design scene will go toe to toe at Dundee&rsquo;s first major e-sports event.
Teams from studios Ninja Kiwi and Tag Games will be among a raft of entrants to battle it out in the Street Fighter V computer games tournament at Abertay University on September 8.
With cash prizes on offer, the contest is being held as part of THIS Festival, a four-day city celebration of all things computer games including Games Design Awards, DeeCon, and a host of exhibitions, screenings and talks.
Globally, e-sports is seriously big business, and with international revenues expected to smash $1 billion by 2019 local organisers hope to establish Dundee as a Scottish base for a wider annual competition.
Strictly for over 18s only, entry to the &lsquo;Abertay Arena&rsquo; clash is now open with the &pound;5 fee including a free beer (or other drink), pizza and entertainment from a local radio DJ and wrestling announcer.
From 6pm, teams of three will battle it out on the big screen in front of a large audience, with the action being streamed online via Twitch TV and Facebook Live.
Ninja Kiwi and Tag Games are sponsoring the event along with the city&rsquo;s YoYo Games.
David Hamilton, Executive Vice President of Dundee-based Ninja Kiwi Europe said: &ldquo;We are delighted to be involved in THIS Festival and are looking forward to going up against our good friends at Tag.
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no doubt that e-sports is becoming a huge market and I think that will only continue to grow in the coming years.&rdquo;
Paul Farley, CEO of Tag said: &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a lot to celebrate about the Dundee games scene and it&rsquo;s fantastic to see an event of this size get off the ground.
&ldquo;We are pretty confident we can give the guys at Ninja a good run for their money but we will see what happens on the night.&rdquo;
The tournament is part of a programme of celebrations marking 20 years since Abertay became first in the world to offer degrees in computer games.
As well as the main event, there will be a whole range of breakout games for audience members to try on screens set up around the venue in Abertay student centre.
A film crew will be on hand to catalogue the drama unfolding across the night and there will be live pre and post-match interviews with players and audience members.
During the break there will be an opportunity for further grudge matches between audience members and the opportunity to challenge industry pros to a match.
To attend the tournament or enter a team of three visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/this-e-sports-tournament-tickets-36071849874
&nbsp;
(Picture credit: D C Thompson)]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay to host Adelaide mental health expert]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38629-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Aug 2017 11:17:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38629-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38629-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Professor Eimear Muir-Cochrane of Flinders University will deliver a seminar next month]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Eimear-Muir-Cochrane-4-cropped (1).jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Eimear-Muir-Cochrane-4-cropped (1).jpg <![CDATA[Abertay University will host a research seminar with Professor Eimear Muir-Cochrane of Flinders University, Adelaide discussing chemical restraint and its use as coercion in mental health.
Chemical restraint is considered to be one of the most severe forms of coercion in mental health, and its use is strongly restricted in some countries but preferred in others where it is regarded as the best tool to manage acutely disturbed behaviour.
Defining chemical restraint is itself problematic and consumers have strong views about its use. This presentation attempts to unpack some of the issues about this form of restraint and to gain understandings about a way forward in the treatment of people with mental health problems.
Professor Eimear Muir-Cochrane is Chair of Nursing (Mental Health) at Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia and is Visiting Professor at the Centre for Mental Health Research, City, University of London.
She has been involved in mental health research and education for over thirty years.
Her research focusses on mental health in both the community and hospital settings.
Current areas of investigation include restraint (chemical mechanical and seclusion) practices in acute in-patient psychiatric units and the consumer experience.
She is passionate about trying to make a difference in researching aggression, seclusion, absconding and restraint and is recognised as an international expert in these areas.
Currently Eimear is working on funded projects that include: the nature of empathy in acute inpatient psychiatric settings, the role of Assistants in Nursing in the observation of psychiatric patients in Emergency Departments, an operational definition of chemical restraint, and the nature of code blacks (aggression code call) on medical wards.
The seminar will be held on September 6 at 12.30pm.
For more information on studying Mental Health Nursing at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/social-and-health-sciences/mental-health-nursing-and-counselling/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay launches first online games course]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38627-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Aug 2017 08:20:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38627-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38627-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The foray into online learning is a partnership with Futurelearn]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Kenny1.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Kenny1.JPG <![CDATA[

Abertay University, the UK Centre for Excellence for Computer Games Education, and FutureLearn, the social learning platform, today announce the &nbsp;launch of the platform&rsquo;s first course in Gaming: &lsquo;Game Design and Development: A Bit-by-Bit History of Video Game Music&rsquo;.
This is Abertay's inaugural course on the FutureLearn platform and the University's first foray into free online education.
The announcement comes as the University celebrates 20 years since becoming first in the world to offer degrees in computer games. The course will plug learners into the world of video game music and is aimed at anyone interested in game design and development, including those who are considering studying it at university and entering the games industry.
It will also appeal to anyone interested in electronic or gaming music, movie soundtracks, screen media and video games.  The course draws on technology, musicology and cultural studies to explore the development of video game music.
Charting the evolution of the video game sound from the perspective of the platforms that have defined it, students will discover how the simple tones of &lsquo;Pong&rsquo; and other classic 8-bit soundtracks transformed into the tense cinematic arrangements of today&rsquo;s first-person shooters.
In the early stages of the course, learners will explore the domestication of video games, as well as the machines and hardware the kick-started the industry. Learners will then be able to watch and engage with a range of interviews with video game musicians, such as Colin Anderson, who masterminded the music in Grand Theft Auto and Lemmings, Mark Knight, composer of Wing Commander, Battletoads and the Formula 1 series, and legendary Commodore 64 composer, Rob Hubbard. Dr Kenny McAlphine, lead educator on the course and musician, author and academic from the School of Art, Media and Computer Games at Abertay University, said: &ldquo;We are delighted to be working with Futurelearn on this course and sharing our passion for video game development with a global audience. This initial course is the first of many.&rdquo; &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve managed to compliment my informal and conversational teaching style by integrating the platforms social learning pedagogy, therefore creating a course that will be enjoyable, accessible and informative, regardless of experience.&rdquo; &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the ideal place to start if you are interested in getting into the video games music scene, and I hope that those who complete the course will want to go on and learn more about this fascinating subject.&rdquo; Nigel Smith, Head of Content at FutureLearn, said: &ldquo;We&rsquo;re very excited about this new partnership and the upcoming launch of Abertay University&rsquo;s first ever online course in Computer Games Education. Abertay are experts in their field so we&rsquo;re very proud to be able to share their innovative ideas and specialist knowledge with our community of learners while welcoming new people interested in gaming to our platform.&rdquo; As with all FutureLearn courses, the course can be taken for free or there is the option to upgrade to receive additional benefits.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Dare Academy teams ready for Scottish games festival]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38592-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Aug 2017 10:03:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38592-en.php]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[The six teams competing in this year's Dare Academy will show their games at THIS Festival]]></description>
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A diverse range of six new prototype games created at this year&rsquo;s inaugural Dare Academy competition will be publicly showcased together for the first time at the UK's newest games festival next month.
Ranging from a slick virtual reality stealth shooter, to a game focusing on dementia, the games have all been created by student teams from Abertay University in Dundee competing for international work placements to China, India and the US.
Each of the studios &ndash; Pocket Sized Hands, Bit Loom, 8Bit10, Hypnotic Pigeon, Wee Door and Lavalamp Games &ndash; will have professional stands at the fantastic West Ward Works exhibition space in Dundee during THIS Festival - a four-day city celebration of all things games.
The festival comes as Abertay celebrates 20 years since becoming the first in the world to offer degrees in computer games and the Dare involvement is part of a wider programme of celebrations that has been running since January.
Festival-goers and industry professionals will have the chance to try out the games, speak to the creators and give their feedback on each of the prototypes.
The Dare stands will be among a host of others involved in the exhibition element of the festival, which runs from September 8-10.
David Gray of Pocket Sized Hands, whose game Honeypot Espionage has also been nominated in the THIS Festival Design Awards, said everyone on the team was excited to part of the event.
He added: &quot;Dare Academy has been a great experience for us. It&rsquo;s going to be exciting to see how Honeypot Espionage develops in the next few months. We have a lot planned and we are looking forward to showing off more soon.&quot;
Abertay is backing all of the Dare teams, who have each been given a &pound;1,000 working budget and will also travel to games conference EGX in September.
The University&rsquo;s Clare Brennan, curator of the Hannah Maclure Centre and a lecturer in Visual Arts Practice is coordinating the Dare stands.
She said THIS Festival would be a great opportunity for the students to get consumer feedback on their games.
&ldquo;All of the students who have been part of Dare Academy have worked really hard to create, refine and polish their games and THIS Festival will be the first opportunity to showcase these to the public.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been blown away by the quality of the games this year and I urge anyone interested in seeing an array of high quality and thoughtful indie games to come along and check out the Dare Academy stands.&rdquo;
For more information and bookings visit https://www.dctevents.com/event/this-festival/
For more information on Dare Academy visit dareacademy.co.uk]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay distiller named Rising Star]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38575-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Aug 2017 08:26:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38575-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38575-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Kirsty Black of Arbikie Distilling is working on a PhD project]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Gin1.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Gin1.jpg <![CDATA[

An enterprising plant scientist and master distiller with links to the James Hutton Institute and Abertay University has been chosen as one of Farmers Weekly&rsquo;s first-ever Rising Stars.
At just 35, PhD student Kirsty Black manages Arbikie Distilling Ltd, a company she helped set up from scratch, and her beers &ndash; produced in collaboration with Barney&rsquo;s Beer - have been chosen as Edinburgh Science Festival selections for the last three years running.
Originally a Biological Sciences graduate from Edinburgh University, Kirsty obtained an MSc in brewing and distilling at Heriot-Watt University and is now pursuing a PhD degree at Abertay University and the James Hutton Institute in Dundee.
Abertay offers a range of food and drink courses and also boasts a food and drink innovation arm that helps businesses to develop new products.
&ldquo;I started at Arbikie Distillery when it was an empty shed and have helped take it from zero to being widely distributed across the UK, by building a modern innovative distillery and producing award winning spirits that people want to buy,&rdquo; Kirsty said.
The new Farmers Weekly Rising Star aspires to revolutionise the UK alcohol industry in the UK from the field up.
Kirsty added: &ldquo;The alcohol industry is very important economically in the UK, being worth nearly &pound;40 billion in sales but this, in turn, has resulted in such a huge area of our arable land being used to grow malting barley, heavily reliant on inorganic fertilisers.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to see a wider variety of crops being grown &ndash; hopefully by valorising legumes through the alcohol and aquaculture industries they will become a more attractive crop to grow. I would hope that my research into intercropping confirms that legume supporting cropping systems are a viable alternatively to inorganic fertilisers and becomes adopted into mainstream farming.
&ldquo;I feel honoured to be chosen as one of the 2017 Rising Stars by the judges. My PhD through Abertay University and the James Hutton Institute gives the unique opportunity for normally separate disciplines to cross paths &ndash; this results in the unique combination of agroecologists working with zymologists working with distillers and brewers &ndash; a combination which is forever producing new and novel ideas.&rdquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay graduates make Kickstarter appeal]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38542-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Aug 2017 09:13:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38542-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38542-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Wrench Games are seeking funding for their title - Blind Wizard Brawl]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Photo 3.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Photo 3.jpg <![CDATA[&nbsp;
&zwnj;&zwnj;
An Abertay graduate games studio has launched a Kickstarter funding bid to market their unique hybrid tabletop game.
Wrench Games are looking for funding to push Blind Wizard Brawl, a real world and digital game in which players create spells and bluff their way to victory using both cards and a mobile app.
The concept was initially created by Computer Arts graduate JL Brady for an Abertay honours project investigating hybridised games.
As Wrench evolved, the idea was taken out of the classroom and developed by the team during their final year.
The team originally came together during a 3rd year Professional Project module which sees Abertay students from across disciplines come together to work on a live brief.
Other members of Wrench include Game Design and Production Management graduate Nik Balson; Computer Games Application Development graduate Stuart McKie; Computer Games Technology graduate Peter Black and Computer Arts graduate Alissa Dolan.
To bring the game to market the team are using Kickstarter, a crowdfunding platform that helps to get creative projects off the ground.
Nik said: &ldquo;Abertay has been fundamental to developing the game and bringing it to where it is today.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Coming to Abertay and seeing how many successful games studios the University has spawned or contributed to was the ideal motivation to succeed.&rdquo;
He added: &ldquo;Our successful funding will go towards completing this game and making it the best product possible for backers and future players.
&ldquo;So we are appealing for anyone interested in funding a dynamic, young and hungry team of game designers to come forward and give us your support.&rdquo;
Wrench have already reached 69% of their funding goal and for every target reached they plan to release new characters and features of the game.
To help support their game and to find out more about it visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pixelbrady/blind-wizard-brawl
For more information on computer games courses at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/arts-media-computer-games/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Queensferry Crossing students earn while they learn ]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38531-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Aug 2017 10:16:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38531-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38531-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay is the only Scottish university to guarantee a work placement for Civil Engineering students]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Queens1.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Queens1.JPG <![CDATA[

Two Abertay University students are weighing up international opportunities after completing fully-paid work placements on one of the biggest civil engineering projects in Scotland&rsquo;s history.
Greg Robertson, 21, and Ross Smith, 20, who have been pals since their early school days in Monifieth, have just finished extended industry placements on the Queensferry Crossing, where they received around &pound;1,000 per month while learning how to apply their engineering skills.
Abertay is the only University in Scotland to offer a guaranteed work placement for every Civil Engineering student, and the pair now have more than seven months&rsquo; experience with Transport Scotland, Jacobs and Arup between them.
Places for a range of Civil Engineering courses starting this September are currently available through the Clearing process and applicants must sign up by August 28.
Now going into fourth year, both students plan to complete their degrees and then take on a Masters, with Greg already eyeing opportunities with Jacobs in the likes of Australia and New Zealand.
Greg, from Dundee, worked with Transport Scotland from January until the end of April and then Jacobs until August after his paid placement on the &pound;1.35bn bridge was extended for the summer.
He was based on the Fife side of the bridge and split his time 50/50 between the office, where he would update drawings using AutoCAD software, and site work such as surveying using satellite technology.
&ldquo;You are out with site inspectors at least four times per week and the standards are really stringent,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;You get experience of everything on the site and work from the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, which was described to me as the Bible for the job.
&ldquo;After this work placement I&rsquo;m so glad I chose to come to Abertay because it has been incredible.
&ldquo;Experience is so important now and every employer is looking for it, so the fact you are getting real work while at Uni, and also getting paid for it, is perfect.
&ldquo;Because I&rsquo;m a Jacobs&rsquo; employee I have been getting emails offering opportunities to join the growing team in Australia and New Zealand. I&rsquo;ve been speaking to my girlfriend about it and we will see what happens.&rdquo;
Ross, from Dundee, did his placement with Transport Scotland and Arup and was based on the deck section of the 1.7-mile crossing, which is the longest three-tower, cable-stayed bridge in the world.
He said: &ldquo;Since it&rsquo;s one team working across Transport Scotland, Jacobs and Arup, you were very much integrated with everyone and got loads of good experience.
&ldquo;I was mainly looking at the progress of deck finishes like wind barriers and vehicle restraint systems, checking how much work had been done and reporting back to meetings.
&ldquo;You learn loads when you are out on site and I feel I&rsquo;ve taken a lot away from it. It opens so many doors to have worked with these three companies and it&rsquo;s a chance to get to know people, meet them and get your face and name known.&rdquo;
Forth Replacement Crossing Project Director David Climie said: &ldquo;I know from my own personal experience how useful work experience is during a civil engineering university course.
&ldquo;Transport Scotland has a long standing relationship with Abertay University and I am delighted that we have been able to offer opportunities to work on the Queensferry Crossing and its approach roads each year during the construction period.
&ldquo;I have been very impressed with the consistently high calibre of the students involved who have been both enthusiastic and diligent in their periods with the client team.&rdquo;
Not all Abertay work placements are paid and any payment is at the discretion of the employer.
For more information on Civil Engineering at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/civil-and-environmental-engineering/#d.en.24790]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Bacteria analysed in coastal erosion project]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38505-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Aug 2017 09:58:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38505-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38505-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[School pupils from Brechin and Glenrothes are assisting with the lab work]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Erosion1.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Erosion1.JPG <![CDATA[

School pupils from Tayside and Fife are part of an Abertay University project aiming to discover more about the role bacteria can play in battling coastal erosion.
Brechin High School student Sofiya Zyza, 18, and Dana Cheung, 16, of Glenwood High in Glenrothes, are analysing samples from mud flats at Tenstmuir beach between St Andrews and Dundee as part of microbiology analysis work.
Carried out in connection with wider coastal erosion exploration from the University of St Andrews, the project aims to analyse the properties of a certain type of bacteria known as pseudomonads, which has unusually been found in sediment at the site.
One strand of the research is to analyse how these bacteria and other microbes such as algae contribute to cementing together sandbanks in the tidal zone, using a high pressure water jet to gauge its level of resistance to wave power.
Dr Andrew Spiers is supervising the project in Abertay's Microbial Ecology Laboratory with the assistance of visiting student Rebecca Rickart, 30, from Leuphana University in Germany.
He said the pseudomonads would more commonly be found in plants and soils rather than beach sediment and, as such, their properties merited further investigation.
Dr Spiers added: &ldquo;We have been isolating bacteria from these samples and are looking at 30 to determine if there are differences between those found in the grass bank and those found further down.
&ldquo;One of the things we are doing is looking at how well connected the sand is.
&ldquo;The top layer has so many microbes on it, including algae, that all of the proteins and polymers act as a sort of glues that holds it all together.
&ldquo;Microrganisms compact the sand so that it resists quite a bit of the wave action, and for us that&rsquo;s a nice step because when we look at biofilms in sand, the bacterial growth could be contributing to keeping it in place.
&ldquo;So we are interested to see how different or similar this sediment is from normal soil and to ask whether some of the polymers which act as the cement may be expressed by these bacteria.&rdquo;
The school pupils are at Abertay as part of a Nuffield research placement over the summer.
The wider project is looking at coastal erosion in a fuller light including the development of seawall defences.
For more information on studying science at Abertay, including the BSc in Environment, Science and Technology, visit
https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/science-engineering-and-technology/divisionofscience/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Nutrition meets sports science at conference]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38486-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 11 Aug 2017 08:57:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38486-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38486-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay will host the event from the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland ]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Babraj.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Babraj.JPG <![CDATA[

A new Scottish conference will bring together industry experts and academics from the worlds of food, nutrition and sports science this month.
A collaboration between the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland and hosts Abertay University in Dundee, the event, Cycling &amp; Sports - Opportunities in Food and Drink, will be attended by food and drink producers, members of the business support industry and academic staff.
Aimed at stimulating exchange of ideas, analysing trends and sharing expertise, the purpose of the conference on August 22 is to build partnerships across the sectors.
Two Edinburgh based companies are among the businesses signed up to attend.
Some are already making cycling and sports produce, while others are considering diversifying.
Networking and speed pitching sessions will take place in addition to a series of talks and one to one sessions.
Active Root, a new natural ginger based sports drink company from Edinburgh, will provide an insight into their product, which was borne out of co-founder Will Townsend&rsquo;s experience during the London Marathon.
Tony Fullerton of Stoats will also give a presentation, speaking about his firm&rsquo;s range of quick and easy snacks and cereals &ndash; from porridge sachets, pots, bars and boxes to oatcakes and mueslis.
Organiser Danny Cowe of the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland, which is linked to Edinburgh Napier University, will present a talk on Opportunities in the Cycling Industry.
He said there is a real chance for Scottish businesses to tap into a global market for sports and nutrition worth over $20billion.
He added: &ldquo;Cycling and sports products command high price points compared to general food stuffs and this event is an opportunity to look at how food and drink businesses can best reach that market.
&ldquo;There is a major buzz around sports nutrition and health at the moment, so producing new or enhanced products can only benefit both industry and those participating in sport.&rdquo;
Abertay&rsquo;s Dr John Babraj, whose research includes developing models to promote cardio-metabolic health and improve sports performance, will give a talk detailing exactly what athletes require for fuel and hydration.
Dr Jonathan Wilkin, Senior Food Technologist at Food Innovation at Abertay, will speak about business support available at the University.
A tour of Abertay&rsquo;s new &pound;3.5m science labs, which boast Scotland&rsquo;s only industry standard Consumer Experience Lab, will also be included.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Umpire Carly on the international stage]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38481-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 10 Aug 2017 08:27:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38481-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38481-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The 19-year-old has begun taking charge of world class hockey matches]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Carly1.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Carly1.JPG <![CDATA[

A 19-year-old Abertay University student is forging a career as an international hockey umpire.
Carly Edward from Dundee recently returned from the Czech Republic where she officiated an Under 21s tournament featuring eight top hockey nations.
She took charge of a relegation crunch match between Turkey and Poland, but wasn&rsquo;t fazed when players&rsquo; tempers and emotions ran high, despite being younger than most on the field.
After leaving school in fifth year, the sport-mad teenager enrolled in the BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise course at Abertay.
Although still playing hockey for local side Grove Menzieshill, Carly has already accepted she won&rsquo;t make it as an elite competitor, instead preferring to shift her focus behind the whistle.
Abertay is ideally placed to assist in this area, offering additional support for elite coaches and umpires in a similar way as it would for athletes.
&ldquo;I got into umpiring because me club asked me to cover a development league game in the men&rsquo;s competition and it came to be that I was running a game ever Sunday,&rdquo; Carly said
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m now doing the National One Women&rsquo;s league, which can be any league around Scotland, but I&rsquo;m also involved in international matches.
&ldquo;Every team takes games seriously, no matter what the level is, but when it comes to senior matches you have to be able to pick up the deliberate fouls.
&ldquo;In my first senior game I had one of the players swear at me, so I told her that if she had a question then she could voice it appropriately.
&ldquo;When players&rsquo; moods are up high an umpire needs to be calm. If you match them then you will have a problem and it could escalate.&rdquo;
Carly will move into the third year of her course at Abertay this September and will continue to develop her umpiring skills.
She said: &ldquo;Abertay is fantastic. I wanted to go into the broadest course possible to allow me to choose from different avenues for my future career.
&ldquo;I really love sport and it&rsquo;s great to be involved in sport every day.&rdquo;
For more information on sports courses at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/social-and-health-sciences/sport-and-exercise-sciences/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Digital poncho game shakes up the Fringe]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38452-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Aug 2017 08:49:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38452-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38452-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The game was created at this year's Global Game Jam and is now on show at Edinburgh Festival]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Poncho1.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Poncho1.jpg <![CDATA[

An innovative computer game where three players don a poncho, use an interactive set of maracas and collaborate to become the &ldquo;wave of life&rdquo; will be featured at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year as part of the FuturePlay Festival.
Mexican-themed Ola De La Vida was created at Abertay University in Dundee during Scotland&rsquo;s largest Global Game Jam event in January.
The game prototype was put together in just 48 hours by a team including Abertay computer arts lecturer Lynn Parker, PhD student Mona Bozdog and Abertay graduates Danny Parker and Alex Pass, who now work for Dundee games studios Ninja Kiwi and Outplay respectively.
Players are challenged to become a three-headed mystical being and use the wave of life to help fallen luchador pi&ntilde;ata on a journey to the next realm.
Each player&rsquo;s head represents the stages of life - El Ni&ntilde;o, El Primo and El Muerte &ndash; with all standing on a Wii balance board, holding hands with one another and using as set of maracas.
Players must sway side to side with their bodies in order to tilt their part of the wave of life while watching the game on a screen or projector.
If the players let go of one another's hands, or maracas, then the wave is broken and the game lost.
Lynn said: &ldquo;Making this game was incredible fun but also showcases exactly what we are about here at Abertay, collaboration, creativity and thinking outside the box.
&quot;The game aims to bring people together to play in the same space, whether they know one another or not. It has the potential to form new (albeit temporary) social relationships.
&quot;The themes of the game links to our digital culture research here at Abertay whilst its creation and novel use of technology aligns to our teaching.
&quot;When students come to us they find artists mixing with programmers and sound designers with animators to create a unique melting pot of ideas that you simply don&rsquo;t find at any other university &ndash; and that has been the key to our success.
&ldquo;We are all looking forward to showcasing Ola De La Vida at the Fringe and seeing how visitors to Scotland react to trying it out.&rdquo;
Abertay is number one in Europe for undergraduate computer games courses and in the world top 10 for postgraduate courses.
Last month the university was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Education prize at the prestigious Develop Awards in Brighton, which reward and recognise the achievements of game developers, focusing on creativity, teamwork and inspiring innovation.
The Future Play Festival runs until August 26, celebrating, exploring and showcasing cutting-edge creative content and ideas at the intersection of art and technology.
For more information on games courses visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/arts-media-computer-games/
Picture courtesy of DC Thomson]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Students find success through Clearing at Abertay]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38413-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 08 Aug 2017 09:03:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38413-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38413-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[As school pupils open their exam results, our Abertay graduates tell how Clearing worked for them]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Lauren.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Lauren.JPG <![CDATA[

As school leavers open their exam results today a duo of Abertay graduates share their successes since coming to the University through Clearing.
Abertay&rsquo;s Clearing Fair runs tomorrow offering the ideal chance for students to secure a place on the right course for them, whether they got unexpected exam results, fancy a change of path or simply hadn&rsquo;t thought about university until now.
The Clearing process is open until August 28 and Abertay's hotline is now open on 01382 308080.
Four years ago, Civil Engineering graduate Darren Donaldson was just entering the Clearing process at Abertay and now has a degree under his belt and is preparing for a Masters.
Darren, who is currently enjoying a summer of work experience in structural design, said Abertay had provided an &ldquo;excellent perspective and great opportunities&rdquo;.
The 21-year-old from Fife completed the Bsc (Hons) Civil Engineering course, which was recently ranked top in Scotland and sixth in the UK by the prestigious Guardian Good University Guide 2018.
&ldquo;Abertay's course uniquely works to prepare you for becoming a Civil Engineer, with a range of practical modules and activities - from the Constuctionarium event to placements with a wide range of construction companies,&rdquo; said the former Canmore Primary School and Dunfermline High School pupil.
&ldquo;The course has given me an excellent perspective and great opportunities to learn how civil engineers operate from a professional real world standpoint, rather than only learning the theory.&rdquo;
Meanwhile, Abertay graduate Lauren Rankine will be rubbing shoulders with rock royalty after securing a job marketing a major Scottish music festival.


She is graduating from Abertay&rsquo;s Dundee Business School having secured a place on the BA (Hons) Marketing and Business course through Clearing.
The 21-year-old from Stirling has big plans for the coming year and is targeting both a period working overseas and a stint marketing a new festival set to hit central Scotland in 2018.
She said: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to be one of the lead marketers with it and there will be a team of us.
&ldquo;There will be loads of different business angles to cover and I will be working both on the accounting side and the social media and digital marketing aspects.
Lauren said coming to study in Dundee had provided her with a strong grounding in business and, such is her confidence, she is eventually hoping to start her own company.
&ldquo;I have really enjoyed Abertay and the standard of teaching is brilliant &ndash; it&rsquo;s such an innovative university,&rdquo; said Lauren, who attended Alloa Academy.
She added: &ldquo;There&rsquo;s so many people from different backgrounds at Abertay, especially in business, so it&rsquo;s really nice to be immersed in that.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to think in five or 10 years&rsquo; time I would have my own company because I want to work for myself.&rdquo;
For more information on Clearing at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/clearing/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[College route proves first class at Abertay]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38405-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 07 Aug 2017 09:13:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38405-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38405-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[A scheme set up to encourage college students into higher education has produced its first graduates]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Coll.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Coll.jpg <![CDATA[

The first group of students to achieve first class honours degrees following an innovative partnership between Abertay University and Dundee and Angus College have paid tribute to the scheme.
This year saw the first cohort of students graduate from the Additional Funded Places Scheme for articulation, which was set up in 2013 to encourage students to progress from further to higher education.
Under the Scottish Funding Council backed initiative, students are offered a place at Abertay at the start of an HNC, subject to them completing that year and a subsequent HND year.
A total of 21 students who took this pathway graduated from Abertay this summer with honours degrees in Computer Arts, Biomedical Science, Computing and Sport and Exercise.
Among them were four who achieved first class honours degrees.
Ben Newcombe, 21, from Dundee, who was home-schooled as a child, came to Abertay after two years at college and now has a first in Computing.
He said: &ldquo;Abertay is very proactive in going out to the colleges and I&rsquo;ve benefitted amazingly from it.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s been good to know where I&rsquo;m going and having that comfort, rather than a fear of not getting into University.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve now got a job in software development secured at the BBC.
&ldquo;Abertay is very close knit and there is a great deal of collaboration across different courses which you don&rsquo;t see elsewhere &ndash; it&rsquo;s a real community feel.
Ryan McGinnis graduated with a first in Computer Arts and has also secured a job.
He said: &ldquo;While I was at college I was coming into Abertay periodically and getting to speak to students and some of the lecturers.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve begun work MTC - a creative agency based in Dundee and Edinburgh where I develop web design, branding and other creative projects.
&ldquo;I interned there last year while I was at Abertay.
&ldquo;I found that doing the college route was really beneficial, because both Abertay and Dundee and Angus College were great for different reasons.
&ldquo;College got me prepared after coming out of school and that progression made me feel ready to come into third year. It was a really nice pathway.&rdquo;
For more information about studying at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/studying/
Caption: Ben Newcombe (left) and Ryan McGinnis graduated at the Caird Hall in Dundee.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Cycle challenge launches Tour de Tay]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38402-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 04 Aug 2017 14:02:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38402-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38402-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[It&rsquo;s time to gear up for the Tour de Tay cycling challenge.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Tour de Tay thumb.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Tour de Tay thumb.JPG <![CDATA[It&rsquo;s time to gear up for the Tour de Tay cycling challenge.
Abertay University&rsquo;s annual fundraising event was launched today with a head-to-head race on campus.
Abertay Principal &amp; Vice-Chancellor Nigel Seaton and Noele McClelland, of Thorntons Law &ndash; the event&rsquo;s Platinum sponsor &ndash; took to static bikes in the University&rsquo;s gym for a strenuous warm-up.
Tour de Tay is a cycling challenge along the scenic banks of the River Tay.
On Saturday 23 September, participants can take on the 50-mile route from Newport or the 25-mile route from Perth.
Thorntons are the Platinum event sponsors, with Leisure &amp; Culture Dundee and Tactran are already signed up as Gold sponsors.
Noele, a Partner at Thorntons, will be taking part in Tour de Tay. She said: &ldquo;As an organisation, Thorntons are keen to support local initiatives and the university is such an important part of our community.
&ldquo;If we can help students to develop personally and professionally, while also getting a bit of exercise at the same time, then everyone&rsquo;s a winner.&rdquo;
Professor Seaton, who will also be participating, said: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m delighted that so many people are signing up for this year&rsquo;s Tour de Tay.
&ldquo;Having taken part before, I can tell you that it&rsquo;s a super event. It&rsquo;s a challenge for everybody involved, and also an event with a spirit of comradeship, as we come together to raise funds to support Abertay students.
&ldquo;We are very grateful to our backers, including Platinum sponsors Thorntons, for getting behind the event and helping our students to fulfil their potential.&rdquo;
All proceeds from the &pound;20 sign-up fee go towards Abertay&rsquo;s Expanding Horizons Scholarship Fund &ndash; helping provide opportunities for students to study abroad with our partner institutions as part of their degree.
Callum Craigie, who is about to start his fourth year at Abertay on the Sport &amp; Exercise Science programme, had a nine-month exchange to the USA as part of his Tour de Tay scholarship.
The 22-year-old, who signed for the ice hockey team Dundee Comets, the Scottish National League feeder team to the Dundee Stars, in 2015 when he started his degree, works hard to juggle his studies and sporting commitments.
Each week, Callum trains in the gym five times for at least two hours at a time and on the ice up to three times. He also plays two games every weekend, and sometimes another midweek.
Last season, Callum&rsquo;s ice hockey career was given an international boost when he played in Jacksonville, while on exchange at the University of North Florida.
He said: &ldquo;The exchange was a life-changing experience. As an ice hockey player, I wanted to see the ways in which American sports franchises and athletes are maintained. Training and playing in America was very much a highlight of my stay and very valuable experience for my ice hockey career.
&ldquo;I would like to thank everyone who took part in last year&rsquo;s event and wish this year&rsquo;s event even more success.&rdquo;&nbsp;
For more information - and to sign up for Tour de Tay - go to https://www.abertay.ac.uk/tourdetay/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[VIDEO: Graduation Day 2017!]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38374-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 03 Aug 2017 14:03:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38374-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38374-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Watch our highlights reel as the Class of 2017 graduate in style]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Grad.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Grad.JPG <![CDATA[

The official highlights film from Graduation 2017 goes live today!
More than 800 students took part in this year's event in July, climbing the steps of the Caird Hall to graduate in style.
To check out this highlights package from the big day CLICK HERE!]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Study shows verbal aggression impacts nurses]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38370-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 03 Aug 2017 13:44:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38370-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38370-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Abertay supervised research showed mental health nurses subjected to aggression are more likely to back restraint techniques]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Doc.jpeg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Doc.jpeg <![CDATA[Mental health nurses exposed to verbal aggression by patients in secure units are more likely to back the use of restraint or seclusion interventions, a new study has shown.
Research supervised by Abertay University&rsquo;s Professor Geoff Dickens has shown that targeted, personal, verbal aggression from patients can affect nurses&rsquo; decision-making when it comes to coercive techniques.
Published today in the prestigious International Journal of Nursing Studies, the project was conducted by Dr Rahul Jalil of Birmingham City University, previously of the University of Northampton, who carried out rigorous assessments with mental health nurses working in three UK secure mental health units.
The study, which was funded by Northampton and St Andrew Healthcare, revealed that, while individual nurses exposed to verbal aggression were more approving of coercive interventions, this did not translate into an increased use of restraint or seclusion.
However the findings suggest that nurses subjected to humiliating personal remarks by patients experience higher levels of distressing emotions including anger.
The new information follows previous studies that have shown exposure to physical aggression and self-harm have detrimental consequences for nurses in terms of staff sickness and trauma.
Dr Jalil said: &quot;Nurses who reported being the target of derogatory remarks reported higher levels of anger than their colleagues.
&ldquo;This was not true for those who had witnessed greater levels of physical aggression or self-harm.
&ldquo;The same nurses who experienced humiliating remarks were more likely to endorse coercive management techniques such as restraint or seclusion.
&quot;It seems that existing checks and balances, perhaps including team support or nurses own self-awareness, act to prevent a spiral in which behaviour is dealt with coercively which in turn might make patients more likely to insult the nursing staff.&rdquo;
The research was one part of Dr Jalil's PhD studies which also involved looking at the role of anger in patient aggression and in the nurse-patient therapeutic relationship.
Professor Dickens is part of Abertay's Division of Mental Health Nursing which offers a BSc Hons degree in the subject.
He said self-awareness and management of emotional responses are areas that must be considered when training mental health nurses.
He added: &quot;We already knew that exposure to aggression seems to be related to nurses' approval of these less desirable interventions.
&ldquo;What this study adds is that it is this particular type of insidious and seemingly less severe form of aggression that seems to play the largest role.
&ldquo;This has real implications for education and training for staff in the prevention of violence and aggression.
&ldquo;Training provision largely focuses on managing physical aggression through techniques such as de-escalation.
&quot;While this is great, more attention should be paid to how nurses regulate their own responses to this behaviour.
&ldquo;This study shows that anger seems to be a mechanism that plays a unique role.
&ldquo;While it is common to hear that nurses should 'just deal with it', it is unreasonable to believe that nurses are immune and can do this without help or support.&quot;
To read the study in full visit http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020748917301700]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Bug biscuits on the menu for sustainability project]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38343-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 02 Aug 2017 08:50:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38343-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38343-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The chocolate and orange creations were produced by a group of Masters students]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Bug biscuits1.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Bug biscuits1.JPG <![CDATA[

Bug biscuits were on the menu at Abertay University as students invited Dundee foodies to a creepy crawly consumer challenge.
A trio of Abertay Masters students have perfected what they believe is the perfect tea break snack - using the bodies of ground-up crickets.
Members of the public were asked to taste the crunchy insect-based treats, which had been baked with cocoa powder and a hint of orange.
The project aims to find out what it would take for Dundonians to accept insects as a legitimate source of nutrition.
Student Anja Sieghartsleitner, who is leading the study with classmates Sara Duthie and Emma Morrison, said western attitudes towards food must change if the world is meet the food demands of a growing population.
Anja added: &ldquo;Insects are a lot more sustainable than other sources of meat like, beef, chicken and pork.
&ldquo;They use a lot less land and water and you can eat the whole insect, not just part of the animal.
&ldquo;You may not want to eat a whole cricket, but if it&rsquo;s hidden away in flour, or in a biscuit, you may be more likely to accept it.
&ldquo;The flour is already for sale and there are a handful of companies that have started out in this market.
&ldquo;The UK, the Netherlands and Belgium are more advanced in this area than the rest of Europe and it will take some time for this to grow.
&ldquo;If we are seeking to feed nine billion people by 2050 then we have to change our eating behaviour, as the amount of meat we eat is not sustainable.
&ldquo;You have to make products look and taste really appealing to consumers to hold their interest.
&ldquo;Food choice is about pleasure because you don&rsquo;t just eat to make hunger go away. We need to convince people insects can be an enjoyable source of food.&rdquo;
The testing was carried out in Abertay&rsquo;s new state-of-the-art &pound;3.5m science labs which boast Scotland&rsquo;s only industry standard Consumer Testing Lab, featuring climate-controlled booths.
Project supervisor Dr Alberto Fiore of the Division of Food and Drink said: &ldquo;We need to be able to feed our planet and meat is becoming an unsustainable source of food.
&ldquo;We think using insect protein could be the answer to this challenge, but the problem is that we need to fight against the reluctance of the western population to buy into this type of product.&quot;
The project is in collaboration with the University of Naples &quot;Federico II&quot; Agricolture Department which was started some years ago by Prof Rossella Di Monaco.
For more information of Food and Drink courses at Abertay visit&nbsp;https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/science-engineering-and-technology/divisionoffoodanddrink/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay graduate secures top civil service role]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38338-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 31 Jul 2017 12:12:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38338-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38338-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Lucy Upton beat competition from almost 50,000 applicants to get on the Fast Stream programme]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Lucy (1).JPG1.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Lucy (1).JPG1.JPG <![CDATA[

A former Abertay University student is set to take up a post with the coveted Civil Service Fast Stream programme after beating almost 50,000 applicants in a gruelling interview process.
Law graduate Lucy Upton, who currently works in Abertay&rsquo;s Student Advisory Service, begins her first role as a learning associate at HMRC next month.
The 23-year-old from Kirriemuir, who studied at Abertay&rsquo;s Dundee Business School, was among the top tier accepted into the programme, which takes on just a small percentage of applicants each year.
Such is the competition for places that it has taken Lucy almost a year to secure the job, having won through rounds of tests, video interviews and assessments.
She said: &ldquo;I will be doing two eighteen month placements with the first one at HMRC in Manchester and after that I&rsquo;ll most likely be in London.
&ldquo;I had to complete a series of online tests for the likes of personality, maths and English with some other exercises and a video interview.
&ldquo;I then went to Newcastle for an assessment which was more looking at personality traits.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve always been quite ambitious and I&rsquo;m motivated by career progression. The law course at Abertay was really professional and has given me a good grounding and the confidence to go onto this new role.&rdquo;
The Civil Service Fast Stream recruits the &ldquo;brightest and best graduates&rdquo; and gives them the skills, knowledge and experience needed to become effective and inspiring leaders.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Legal experts run Dare Academy workshop]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38293-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Jul 2017 12:13:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38293-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38293-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The speakers from Lindsays spoke to Abertay games designers about protecting intellectual property]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Lindsays1.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Lindsays1.JPG <![CDATA[

The next generation of computer games designers benefited from top level business acumen and legal advice from one of Scotland leading law firms.
Douglas Roberts, Kate Wyatt and Iain Penman, partners at Lindsays solicitors, were at Abertay University in Dundee to host a workshop for students taking part in the inaugural Dare Academy games design competition this summer.
As part of a sponsorship package that includes a cash investment of &pound;1,000, the business law experts taught the young teams about business structure, shareholders&rsquo; agreements and the all-important protection of intellectual property.
The teams also gained valuable insights around clarity on status in business and how to prepare for an exit.
Following his presentation in the University&rsquo;s Dare Academy zone, Mr Roberts said Lindsays was delighted to be supporting the competition, which gives students an intensive hot-housing experience as they seek to build new games from scratch in just a few weeks.
He added: &ldquo;It is brilliant for our firm to be involved in Dare Academy and we really enjoyed speaking with the students about their ideas and passing on our legal experience of helping our clients in the games industry. &rdquo;
Lindsays is a full service award-winning Scottish law firm providing advice for businesses, families and individuals, with offices in Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow. &nbsp;Having helped many start-ups, gaming businesses and entrepreneurs with the specific issues they face, Lindsays understands the challenges and can help them achieve their ambitions.
Dare Academy comes as Abertay celebrates 20 years since becoming the first university in the world to offer computer games degrees.
Six teams have until August 4 to hone their games, with a working budget of &pound;1,000 to develop prototypes.
A judging panel will select the three top teams to showcase their finished products at the UK&rsquo;s biggest games conference, EGX, which attracts more than 75,000 people over four days to the NEC in Birmingham every year.
Those teams will also scoop trip of a lifetime placements to international games studios in China, India and the US.
The overall winner of Dare Academy will be unveiled at the end of EGX on September 24.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[First prize for Abertay researcher]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38280-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 24 Jul 2017 08:59:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38280-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38280-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[An Abertay University researcher who is using computer games technology to help produce an innovative tool for cancer analysis scooped first prize at a prestigious conference poster competition.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/poster comp thumb.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/poster comp thumb.JPG <![CDATA[An Abertay researcher who is using computer games technology to help produce an innovative tool for cancer analysis scooped first prize at a prestigious conference poster competition.
Andrei Boiko, 26, presented his cell signalling visualisation research and technical demonstration at the SICSA (Scottish Informatics and Computer Science Alliance) PhD conference last month.
The Abertay graduate, who is from Tallinn, Estonia, was one of around 130 students attending the event, with research projects ranging from mathematical modelling to human-computer interaction.
He is involved in the University&rsquo;s SiViT project, which aims to produce and refine a computer-based simulation of cell signalling pathways that allows healthcare professionals to investigate and analyse how cancer cells will react to various drugs and treatments.
Andrei said: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m in the third year of my PhD and winning this award has given me that extra bit of confidence that I&rsquo;m on the right track with my research.
&ldquo;I had to give a short presentation and my work was analysed by a judging panel who are experts in their field.
&ldquo;My undergraduate degree is in Computer Games Technology and I initially came to Abertay thinking I would go down the entertainment product route.
&ldquo;But I discovered I really like teaching and research, and this project is a nice blend of biology and programming and it allows me to apply my skills to research that can improve peoples&rsquo; lives.
&ldquo;My ideal scenario for the future is to continue to work at Abertay. I&rsquo;m already a part-time lecturer and I like being here and living in Dundee.&rdquo;
Around 35 posters were presented at this year&rsquo;s conference, held at the University of Dundee.
Every poster was reviewed by two domain experts and three posters were shortlisted for the best poster award in each category.
Andrei won best 3rd year poster award and his technical demonstration of SiViT was also shortlisted for an honour.
The conference is organised by volunteers from universities across Scotland and James Sutherland, a researcher at Abertay, was on the organising committee.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Could the secret of a long life be found in cheese?]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38210-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Jul 2017 15:02:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38210-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38210-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Suspected life-extending properties of homemade cheese and yoghurt from the Carpathian Mountains will be analysed at Abertay University in a bid to discover their biological secrets.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/cheese thumb.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/cheese thumb.JPG <![CDATA[Suspected life-extending properties of homemade cheese and yoghurt from the Carpathian Mountains will be analysed at Abertay University in a bid to discover their biological secrets.
PhD researcher Kateryna Tkachencko has arrived at Abertay in Dundee to take advantage of the University&rsquo;s microbiology expertise, as she delves into the seemingly extraordinary yeasts in products from her home country of Ukraine.
For centuries, locals living across the East Carpathians, which stretch from the Czech Republic to Ukraine, have been creating fermented dairy products based on recipes handed down the generations.
Kateryna has been involved with studies from the Zabolotny Institute of Microbiology and Virology in Kiev, which have discovered an abnormally long life expectancy in the region - with the majority of the population living well into their 90s - and it is thought these foods could hold the key to such longevity.
Her research project will analyse interactions between yeasts and bacteria and study probiotic effects, with the ultimate hope that whatever seems to be causing the effect can be pinpointed and captured for use on a commercial level.
Having studied the phenomenon since 2014, Katya will now be at Abertay for three months thanks to a research grant from the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS).
She said: &ldquo;It was chance conversation with one of my research supervisors in Kiev that alerted me to this interesting reaction and the project has grown from there.
&ldquo;It is a completely new piece of research, and while I am here at Abertay I will be investigating the antagonistic activity that goes on between the yeast and bacteria in order to better understand the process.
&ldquo;My previous research is in antibiotic resistance, so while not directly related there is a nice link there.
&ldquo;These are homemade products that have never been produced on a commercial level so I am interested to discover more about them.&rdquo;
Dr Andrew Spiers, who will be supervising the project in Abertay&rsquo;s Microbial Ecology Laboratory, said the research was just one example of the fascinating work under way at the University.
He added: &ldquo;At Abertay we are fortunate enough to have some of the best science courses in the UK at both undergraduate and postgraduate level and I&rsquo;m delighted that Katya has chosen to visit us here.
&ldquo;These yoghurts might be potential probiotics or reveal mechanisms that could prevent people becoming sick, so it is an exciting project to work on.&rdquo;
For more information on the School of Science, Engineering and Technology visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/science-engineering-and-technology/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Students go global to become leaders of the future]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38175-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Jul 2017 09:01:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38175-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38175-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Five Abertay students are taking on a summer training challenge in a bid to become business leaders of the future.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Saltire thumb.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Saltire thumb.JPG <![CDATA[Five Abertay students are taking on a summer training challenge in a bid to become business leaders of the future.
A record 165 students will enter Entrepreneurial Scotland&rsquo;s prestigious 2017 Saltire Scholar Internship Programme, which is now in its 10th year.
The group of Abertay students successfully applied to take part in the scheme, which aims to nurture the next generation of business talent.
They were helped through the application and interview process by staff in Abertay&rsquo;s Careers Service.
Cameron McPherson (Computer Games Technology) is working as an engineering intern with Karuna Labs in San Fransico and Amy Ballingall (Business Management) is on a placement as an analyst with IBM in Maidenhead.
Dana Mucichescu (Business Management) is with GA Engineering in Dundee as a purchasing analyst, while Hannah Aitken (Forensic Science) secured a spot with Avista Pharma Solutions in Durham, USA and Joshua Havens (Business Management) is working at Edinburgh Airport as a complex build intern.
The programme provides Scotland&rsquo;s most talented students with opportunities to work with 77 leading organisations in sectors including the music industry, banking, fashion, financial services, food and drink, life sciences, energy, manufacturing as well as not for profit organisations.
The 2017 cohort has students representing 15 of Scotland&rsquo;s Universities and is 57% female and 43% male.
Students are visiting countries including Ireland, England, Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland, China, UAE, USA, and for the first time, Canada.
Sara Nelson, Head of Saltire Scholar Internship programme, said: &ldquo;The programme is not only life-changing for the students that take part, it is hugely valued by our host company partners and Saltire Scholars are highly sought after by graduate employers.
&ldquo;Firms who want to grow their business say their biggest challenge is finding talented people with the ambition, attitude and skills to get the job done.&nbsp; Saltire Scholars again and again show that they have these qualities.&rdquo;
Sandy Kennedy, Chief Executive of Entrepreneurial Scotland, said: &ldquo;This is truly a landmark year for our Scholar internship programme. We set out a decade ago to find, fuel and spark students with potential to become the next generation of leaders for Scotland. Fast forward 10 years and we now have an alumni of more than 1,000 Saltire Scholars from across Scotland who are giving back to their country and making an impact in organisations around the world.&rdquo;
Saltire internships are open to every year to third year students and are fully funded through supporters and donors of the Saltire Foundation charity, the philanthropic arm of Entrepreneurial Scotland.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[The bizarre faces we pull in response to food]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38140-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Jul 2017 08:42:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38140-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38140-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The often-bizarre faces we pull in response to disgusting food will be the focus of new analysis at Abertay University.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/food lab for web.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/food lab for web.JPG <![CDATA[The often-bizarre faces we pull in response to disgusting food will be the focus of new analysis at Abertay University.
Researchers at Abertay are investigating how facial movements and expressions can be used to gauge the likeability of new health food products.
Carried out in the University&rsquo;s new &pound;3.5m state-of-the art science labs, which opened earlier this summer, the project will seek to develop a new tool that can show the link between a person&rsquo;s facial reaction and the sensory stimulus, which provoked the change.
In the long term, the research could hold the key to producing a new range of health foods designed to be more appealing to the general population.
Despite the increase in general knowledge about how to select a healthy diet, some people still consistently make unhealthy food choices.
In addition, the food industry has high failure rate in terms of new health food product launches.
Therefore, understanding the relationship between how people rate foods in terms of their sensory characteristics and how these ratings relate to &quot;liking&quot; is a key part of optimising the new product development process.
As of yet no formal technique has been developed and validated which can reliably predict this relationship.
The project will uniquely combine real-time eating and physiological measures of subjects, whilst observing sensory and facial responses.
A funded Master by Research studentship is available to assist progress, including a tax-free stipend of &pound;14,553 a year, paid tuition fees and a generous study package with travel budget and training.
The aim is to understand the cognitive processes in how we evaluate our foods while eating.
Dr John Grigor, of Abertay&rsquo;s Division of Food and Drink, said: &ldquo;We have all pulled a face when we taste, see or smell something unpleasant.
&ldquo;This project aims to discover more about how that sensory relationship with food works with a view to potentially finding ways to make healthy foods more appealing.&rdquo;
Earlier this month Abertay&rsquo;s Division of Food and Drink was ranked top in Scotland and 9th in the UK in the Guardian Good University Guide.
For course information visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/science-engineering-and-technology/divisionoffoodanddrink/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay wins major honour at prestigious awards]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38111-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Jul 2017 14:46:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38111-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38111-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay University has scooped a major honour at a prestigious game development industry awards ceremony.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Develop web pic.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Develop web pic.JPG <![CDATA[Abertay University has scooped a major honour at a prestigious game development industry awards ceremony.
The University won the Outstanding Contribution to Education award at last night&rsquo;s glittering event in Brighton.
The award was given in recognition of the 20th anniversary since Abertay became the first to offer computer games degrees in 1997.
The Develop Awards are held to reward and recognise the achievements of game developers, focusing purely on creativity, teamwork and inspiring innovation.
Gregor White, Head of School of Arts, Media &amp; Computer Games, at Abertay, said: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s hugely satisfying to receive this recognition from our industry.
&ldquo;Develop is the UKs biggest games industry conference and awards so to be honoured for our work here is fantastic.&rdquo;
They are widely regarded as being the biggest awards night in the game development industry calendar.
Earlier this year, Abertay&rsquo;s computer games courses were ranked best in Europe for the third consecutive year by the prestigious Princeton Review.
The annual ranking placed Abertay as number one in Europe for undergraduate degrees and in the World Top 10 for postgraduate courses.
Last night&rsquo;s event was hosted by comedian Mark Watson, who regularly appears on TV panel shows including Mock the Week and Would I Lie To You?
&nbsp;
&nbsp;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Award helps mum Sonia to follow passion for science]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38081-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Jul 2017 08:38:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38081-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38081-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[An Abertay student is balancing motherhood with her passion for science after securing a financial award for a project analysing fat regulation in Scottish seals.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Seal thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Seal thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[An Abertay University student is balancing motherhood with her passion for science after securing a financial award for a project analysing fat regulation in Scottish seals.
Sonia Cieplinska from Poland finished the third year of Abertay&rsquo;s Biomedical Sciences degree in May, having enrolled straight from Dundee and Angus College.
While juggling full-time education with caring for her three-year-old son, Wojtek, can often prove difficult, Sonia, 26, is determined to follow the passion for science that has been with her for as long as she can remember.
&ldquo;I always dreamed about studying and being a scientist and when I was young I watched documentary films on National Geographic and the Discovery Channel ,&rdquo; said Sonia, who grew up in Bytom (Silesian Voivodeship).
&ldquo;I have a lot of different things in my life, but it&rsquo;s my passion to be a scientist that keeps a hold of me.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m getting a lot of knowledge and experience condensed into just eight weeks, so I will try to work hard.&quot;
Thanks to a programme run in partnership between Abertay and Dundee and Angus College, there was no barrier to Sonia gaining a university place, but balancing childcare and studying can be a real challenge and often prevents women from entering or staying in science careers.
Sonia will use the &pound;800 studentship from the Physiological Society to help towards Wojtek&rsquo;s daily childcare costs.
Such was her drive to take part in the internship that she flew her in-laws over from Poland to babysit for a week while she took part in fieldwork in Islay, off the west coast of Scotland.
Now back in the lab, Sonia is analysing samples from the seals, gaining invaluable in-depth and fast-track knowledge about research methods in physiology.
&ldquo;A lot of people have helped me to be here and I&rsquo;m really glad I have these people around me, especially my husband Marek,&rdquo; Sonia said.
&ldquo;I worked as a bakery operative while I was at college and as a housekeeper while studying at Abertay University, but now I need to be here Monday to Friday and I need time to study.&quot;
Abertay lecturer Dr Kimberley Bennett is supervising the internship in the lab and accompanied Sonia on the field trip to Islay, run by the Sea Mammal Research Unit at the University of St Andrews.
She said: &ldquo;Sonia is seeing the full pipeline, from getting the samples in the field through to analysing them in the lab. There is lots to learn very quickly.
&ldquo;The Physiological Society internship is intended for people part of the way through their degree to get a taster of what it&rsquo;s like to work in a physiological lab, and it&rsquo;s very difficult to be selected. We&rsquo;re really thrilled that they picked our project and are supporting a great student like Sonia, who might not otherwise get such a unique experience.&rdquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Dare Academy contest enters intense next phase]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38056-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 10 Jul 2017 14:14:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38056-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-38056-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The new Dare Academy games design competition has reached its intense hot-housing period.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/dare 1.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/dare 1.JPG <![CDATA[Abertay University&rsquo;s new Dare Academy games design competition has reached its intense hot-housing period.
Six teams of students will design, test and create prototypes from July 10 to August 4.
Each team will have a working budget of &pound;1,000 and will receive mentoring from leading games companies as well as workshops and guest speakers.
The high-profile mentors and speakers come from the likes of Sony, Yo Yo Games, Epic Games, Tag Games, Microsoft, Denki Ltd, Ninja Kiwi, and Rockstar Games.
Topics will range from technical sessions through to how to get your game to market, how to promote your game, legal issues, creating eye-catching press and also pitching techniques.
The three top teams will win placements to international games studios in China, India and the US, with winners expected to jet out in October, November and December this year.
The final teams include Wee Door with its game, OIL, Lavalamp Games with I am Here, Pocket Sized Hands with Honeypot Espionage, 8Bit10 with King of the Castle, Bit Loom with PHOGS! and Hypnotic Pigeon with Shade.
Leo Reid, of 8Bit10, said:&nbsp;&ldquo;Dare is an excellent opportunity to create a project with the mentorship and guidance from industry professionals, leading to us showcasing our game at a massive gaming expo.
&ldquo;The whole experience is priceless and is sure to help all involved move one step closer to achieving their goals from landing their first games job to starting their own company.&rdquo;
This summer, Abertay teams will compete for a huge prize package including the opportunity to showcase their prototypes at the UK&rsquo;s biggest games conference, EGX, which attracts more than 75,000 people to the NEC in Birmingham every year.
Gary McCartan, of Pocket Sized Hands, said: &ldquo;We think the most challenging moment of Dare will be getting the game to a level in which we are happy to show it off at EGX. It will be a pretty busy summer, but it will be worth it when we can show it off at EGX and get to see people play and enjoy the game we have been working so hard on.&rdquo;
The overall winner of Dare Academy will be unveiled at the end of EGX on September 24.
For more information visit dareacademy.co.uk or search Dare Academy on Facebook or Twitter.
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<title><![CDATA[Graduation proposal joy for Kenny]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37953-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 06 Jul 2017 13:12:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37953-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37953-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Games Design and Production Management student got engaged to girlfriend May in Dundee city square]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Kenny 2.png]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Kenny 2.png <![CDATA[

Graduation day proved doubly special for Abertay student Kenny Mok who got down on one knee in Dundee city square today.
The 24-year-old from Hong Kong proposed to girlfriend of six months May Wan, 22, from Glasgow, just minutes after graduating in Games Production and Management.
Standing outside the Caird Hall, Kenny said he was looking forward to their new life together.
He added: &ldquo;We are very suitable for each other so I thought &ndash; why not?
&ldquo;I feel very excited because I was always planning to propose after the course was finished.
&ldquo;Now the course is done I want to step into my future career, and May is one I want to be married to.
&ldquo;My family and friends are here and they are delighted.&rdquo;
May, who also studies in Dundee, said the proposal was unexpected.
She added: &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve not been together very long but I&rsquo;m happy.&rdquo;
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<title><![CDATA[Class of 2017 graduate in style]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37923-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 05 Jul 2017 15:28:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37923-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37923-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Around 800 students are expected at the Caird Hall in Dundee for this summer's Graduation Day]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Grad 1.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Grad 1.jpg <![CDATA[

Expertise and innovation in fields as diverse as cybersecurity, food science, marketing and criminology is being celebrated today as Abertay University&rsquo;s class of 2017 is honoured in Dundee.
Around 800 students from a broad spectrum of backgrounds will climb the steps of the Caird Hall to receive their degrees, watched by family and friends.
Students from Dundee Business School and the School of Arts, Media and Computer Games join others from the schools of Science, Engineering and Technology and Social and Health Sciences.
From mature students who joined through the AHEAD programme, to school leavers who completed a full four years and those who came to the University from college courses, all sides of the Abertay family are represented.It is a special year for Abertay's computer games graduates, coming at the University celebrates 20 years since becoming first in the world to offer degrees in the discipline.
Speaking this morning Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Nigel Seaton urged all of the new graduates to grasp the opportunities lying before them.
He told them: &ldquo;Abertay is a learning community, and you have all contributed to the learning of others, and to the richness of their lives.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The challenges you have faced have been personal challenges, and your achievements are your own.
&ldquo;But university life is also about friendship, and comradeship, and about being part of that community.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Special tribute was paid to this year&rsquo;s honorary graduates, Dundee entrepreneur Chris van der Kuyl, Emeritus Professor of Mental Health David Alexander and Professor of Nursing Laura Serrant.
Giving his morning oration, Head of Arts, Media and Computer Games, Professor Gregor White spoke of Mr van der Kuyl&rsquo;s impact on the games industry and on Dundee.
He said: &ldquo;Chris is a serial entrepreneur, investor, property developer and passionate Dundonian.
&ldquo;His success means he&rsquo;s been able to contribute to Dundee&rsquo;s recent transformation, proving an influential figure in attracting the V&amp;A to Dundee and the UNESCO City of Design Award in 2014.
&ldquo;Thanks to Chris&rsquo; generosity and enthusiasm future generations will benefit from opportunities to follow in his footsteps and create more success for the city.&rdquo;
Speaking of Prof Alexander&rsquo;s achievements, Head of Science, Engineering and Technology, Prof Carl Schaschke said: &ldquo;David is an outstanding academic and clinician, who pioneered the way trauma is managed in this country.
&ldquo;He is in constant demand for his expertise, and has been involved in numerous major traumatic incidents and conflict zones around the world.&rdquo;
Ahead of delivering the oration for Prof Serrant this afternoon, Head of Social and Health Sciences Andrea Cameron said the graduate&rsquo;s work in recognising culturally different patterns of engagement with the healthcare system had resulted in collaboration with research and policy developers across the globe.
She added: &ldquo;Laura is one of only six black nursing professors in the UK and acknowledges that there are too few minority voices in nursing leadership, a cause she has championed as she has sought to empower others with her &lsquo;lift as you climb&rsquo; motto.&rdquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Dance artist comes to Abertay]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37815-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 03 Jul 2017 16:37:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37815-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37815-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Botis Seva will take part in a Q&amp;A session in the Hannah Maclure Centre]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/19143107_10154540760705868_4732375864619090659_o.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/19143107_10154540760705868_4732375864619090659_o.jpg <![CDATA[

Abertay University&rsquo;s Hannah Maclure Centre will host a Q&amp;A session with award-winning London dance artist Botis Seva.
Held on Thursday July 13 at 7pm, the hour-long event will be hosted by Scottish Dance Theatre&rsquo;s Artistic Director, Fleur Darkin.
Botis will give an insight into his working process in creating TuTuMucky and his experience working with Scottish Dance Theatre dancers.
A freelance artist and artistic director of dance company Far From the Norm, Botis works collaboratively across forms and adapts his practice whether working with professional companies or within the community dance scene.
His work has a strong spiritual foundation and draws on both contemporary and experimental Hip Hop techniques blurring the lines between genres.
He was awarded the Bonnie Bird Choreography Fund, Marion North Mentoring Award in 2015 and has since won the two largest international choreographic competitions: Choreography 30 in Hannover, Germany and Copenhagen&rsquo;s International Choreographic Competition.
For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/events/812961982196606
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<title><![CDATA[Review of cladding system]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37752-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 30 Jun 2017 15:09:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37752-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37752-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The review follows the tragic events at Grenfell Tower in London]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Cladding.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Cladding.jpg <![CDATA[As part of our continuing investigations into the various concerns with cladding systems that have been raised following the tragic events at Grenfell Tower, Abertay University has now completed a full review of all our buildings.
Following discussions with suppliers after an initial review, we have now identified one area of cladding to our Kydd Building which includes an aluminium composite material.
The affected area is the east elevation of the Kydd Building, which is the grey cladding that faces into the Baxter Building car park.
Further investigations and testing are now underway to establish if the product used within this cladding is of concern and the results of that will determine subsequent actions.
In the interim, to ensure the safety of building occupants, the University has carried out a thorough review of our fire risk assessments in the affected building and have received advice and guidance from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service locally to confirm some additional precautions for our fire safety management plan and evacuations procedures, such as relocating the bin stores.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are in agreement that with these additional measures, together with the already cautious approach to fire safety at the University, we can continue to operate safely from the building until we are in a position to determine any remedial measures that may be necessary for the longer term.
Notes:
- The University operates an evacuation on fire alarm activation policy, meaning buildings are emptied as soon as possible in the event of an activation
- The Kydd Building has a centralised fire alarm system and extensive fire detection is part of that system
- The area where aluminium composite materials are installed was re-clad in 2010 and full Building Standards approvals are in place for the project
- The fire safety aspects of design were considered in great detail at the time of the project and there are extensive fire safety measures built in to the overall cladding system
- The University is very grateful to Fire Scotland for their quick response and pro-active support
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay success at &lsquo;Jamchester&rsquo; event]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37585-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jun 2017 15:12:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37585-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37585-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Student success at UK&rsquo;s biggest professional game jam]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/crop.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/crop.jpg <![CDATA[

Jamchester is the UK&rsquo;s biggest professional game jam. It invites teams of professionals and students to gather in Manchester every year to create games over one weekend with participants working on their projects overnight.&nbsp; The theme of the jam was 'Shape the Future.&rsquo;
This year a team of Abertay students Simon Messer, Josh Hale, Rebecca Roe and Jacob Naylor took part and won the Best Student Game Award for their game Colonies. We caught up with 3rd year Game Design and Production Management student, Simon to find out more.
Q. How do you think events like this help you develop your game development skills?
A. Game Jams are such an important part of the industry because it allows you to show everyone what you can achieve under pressure! It forces you to rapidly improve your skills, as well as your understanding of what can realistically be done in longer-term projects.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s great to work in a friendly and collaborative environment where you get the immediate help and feedback from your team, so we can all have something to be proud of in the end!
Q. Tell us about what you created.
A. We created a puzzle game for Google Cardboard Mobile VR where the player must colonize floating islands in the sky by creating a clear path for their explorers to follow. They can create these paths by rotating world blocks - think Lemmings meets a Rubik&rsquo;s Cube!


&zwnj;
Q. What challenges did you face?&nbsp;
A. The most difficult part of this particular jam was coming up with the initial concept. We went through so many ideas and it took a few hours into the jam before we were confident enough to dive the development.
We came up with a lot of strong ideas, but went with the one that suited all our strengths better. Our challenges were minor. Our team was well oiled; good communication and solving problems together was the core of our approach.
Q. What was the best thing about the competition?&nbsp;
A. Meeting new and old friends both professional and student alike. Learned and getting inspiration from each other is invaluable.
These events are such an important part of improving as a developer, since they push you to create something that you want to be proud of in such a short time. The pressure can obviously be daunting, but it becomes all worthwhile when you see people actively enjoy your game in the end!
Q. You won best student game! How did that feel?
A. We couldn&rsquo;t be prouder of each other. We didn't expect it at all. It made us all feel that we are moving in the right directions in our individual skills. We worked amazingly together!&nbsp;
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<title><![CDATA[Honorary graduates announced]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37389-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jun 2017 10:48:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37389-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37389-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Entrepreneur Chris van der Kuyl, Emeritus Professor of Mental Health David Alexander and Professor of Nursing Laura Serrant will be honoured at summer graduations next week.
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<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/133_Abertay_Grad_Morn_AR (1).jpg1.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/133_Abertay_Grad_Morn_AR (1).jpg1.jpg <![CDATA[
&zwnj;
Entrepreneur Chris van der Kuyl, Emeritus Professor of Mental Health David Alexander and Professor of Nursing Laura Serrant will be honoured at Abertay University&rsquo;s summer graduations next week.
The three honorary degrees will be presented as part of the University&rsquo;s summer ceremonies, which take place across morning and afternoon sessions on Thursday July 6 at the Caird Hall in Dundee
Around 800 students from the schools of Arts, Media and Computer Games; Science Engineering and Technology; Social and Health Sciences, and Dundee Business School will graduate this year.
Professor Nigel Seaton, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, said the honorary graduates had been chosen for excellence in their respective fields.
He added: &ldquo;Through their outstanding achievements, and by their personal qualities, our honorary graduates represent the values of Abertay University, and are hugely inspiring role models to our students.
&ldquo;I look forward to welcoming all of our honorary graduates to this year&rsquo;s ceremony.&rdquo;
Chris van der Kuyl is an entrepreneur whose expertise combines the start-up, development and market-listed business arenas in the technology, media and entertainment sectors.
As chairman and co-founder of 4J Studios - one of the UK&rsquo;s most successful computer game developers &ndash; he is responsible for the multi-million selling and multi-award winning console editions of global phenomenon Minecraft, currently on track to become the most successful game of all time.
Mr van der Kuyl is also chairman of fast growing data analytics company, TVSquared, and is the founding chairman of Entrepreneurial Scotland which represents all Scotland&rsquo;s entrepreneurial talent and exists to inspire, connect and develop entrepreneurial behaviour in all Scotland&rsquo;s people.
David Alexander is Emeritus Professor of Mental Health at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.
Having studied first at the University of St Andrews, followed by postgraduate study at Dundee and Aberdeen, he undertook specialist training at Birmingham University, the FBI Academy, the Universities of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast.
A principal adviser to the UK police, Prof Alexander is also an Associate of the Scottish Police College and the Scottish Institute for Policing Research.
Having led the response to the Piper Alpha oil disaster in 1988, he has been an expert adviser following a number of major international incidents and conflicts.
Professor Laura Serrant is Professor of Nursing in the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing at Sheffield Hallam University, one of only 6 black Professors of Nursing in the UK.
She has frequently found herself as the sole voice representing nurses and minority communities; a position which she has striven to challenge throughout her career by empowering others to come forward to join her.
She is one of the 2017 BBC Expert women, Chair of the Chief Nursing Officer for England's BME Strategic Advisory group and a 2017 Florence Nightingale Scholar.
&nbsp;
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<title><![CDATA[Unsung Heroes of STEM celebrated at Abertay]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37383-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jun 2017 15:01:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37383-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37383-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[To mark International Women in Engineering Day last Friday, Abertay hosted a day of workshops, talks and announced the winners of the Unsung Heroes of STEM poster competition. ]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/STEM pic.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/STEM pic.JPG <![CDATA[

&nbsp;To mark International Women in Engineering Day last Friday, Abertay hosted a day of workshops, talks and announced the winners of the Unsung Heroes of STEM poster competition.
The event kicked off with a fully booked Unconscious Bias workshop delivered by the Head of Equate Scotland, Talat Yaqoob and her colleague, Sara Orr-Saiz. This was followed by talks given by top women in engineering, including Director of Research at University of St Andrews, Dr Aileen Fyfe and Abertay alumni and General Manager at Scottish Water, Belinda Oldfield.
Frances Ratcliffe, Chair of Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Scotland, then announced the winners of the Unsung Heroes of STEM poster competition. The winners received Amazon voucher prizes courtesy of the Institution of Civil Engineers. The competition had participants from Inverkeithing High, Monifieth, Community School of Auchterarder, Dunfermline High, St Leonards, Dunnikeir Primary, Newport Primary, University of Dundee, Abertay University and Science Girls.

Winners &ndash; primary schools:
1st Place: Jonny and Anna on Karl Benz - St Leonards Primary, year 2 &nbsp;
2nd Place: Jessica on Charles Perkin - Dunnikier Primary, primary 5
3rd Place: Euan and Zachary on Seki Takakazu - St Leonards Primary, year 4
&nbsp;
Winners &ndash; secondary schools and universities
1st Place: Stephanie Anani on Mary Anderson - University of Dundee, 1st year Civil Engineering
2nd Place: Chiran Utan on Gregoire Courtine - Inverkeithing High, Senior 3
3rd Place: Finn Smith on Ajay Bhatt - Inverkeithing High, Senior 3
&nbsp;
Caption: Abertay organisers, Aleksandra Tomczyk and Margi Vilnay with 1st place winner Stephanie Anani, teachers Kristen Petrie (science teacher from Dunnikier Primary) and Tracey Hunter (chemistry teacher from Inverkeithing High School) and Chair of ICE Scotland, Frances Ratcliffe
&nbsp;
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<title><![CDATA[Police trained in cybersecurity game]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37359-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Jun 2017 13:26:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37359-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37359-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Around 100 officers have tested the new system co-created by Abertay]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Nat.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Nat.JPG <![CDATA[

An innovative game co-developed by Abertay University to train police in handling digital evidence has been live tested by almost 100 officers.
A partnership between Abertay, private company Droman Crime Solutions and Police Scotland led to the creation of a &lsquo;serious game&rsquo; that can be used to train police first responders in how to deal with cybercrime.
The game can be played on a tablet, smartphone or desktop computer, allowing users to interact with a virtual environment and make decisions about applying legislation and police powers.
Trainees move around a virtual apartment finding possible evidence and answering questions about legislation and legal procedures.
The game was featured on BBC&rsquo;s Crimewatch show yesterday (THURS) and more than 90 Police Scotland officers have now been trained to use it.
It teaches them how to recognise and secure different networked and isolated digital devices, recording vital evidence that could be lost if the device is not handled properly.
By playing, users also learn when to call for more expert support and how to provide advice to victims.
The game can be easily and quickly updated to reflect changes in technology, helping staff maintain skills.
Financial backing from the Scottish Funding Council&rsquo;s Interface scheme allowed Droman to spend more than a year working with Abertay and Police Scotland to develop the learning tool.
Paddy Tomkins, chairman of Droman Crime Solutions, said: &ldquo;When we started our project with Police Scotland to develop an innovative approach to training over 12,000 police officers in how to deal with the fast growing and evolving challenge of cybercrime we also needed a partner from the university sector.
&ldquo;Abertay University stood out, with its established reputation for reliability in advising the police on computer security and digital forensics, excellence in gaming technology and design, and a pragmatic attitude to business and intellectual property.
&ldquo;The University, staff and students have been energetic, imaginative and fully engaged throughout our collaboration, with clear benefits for all parties.
&ldquo;Joint presentations and papers to professional and academic conferences have raised the profile of the University and our work to develop better trained and more confident police officers.
&ldquo;Our aim is for this to become a long term relationship in which we can reinvest in the University, boosting learning and employment opportunities for graduates.&rdquo;Abertay experts, Dr Natalie Coull, Dr Ian Ferguson and Dr Iain Donald helped to develop the prototype with the help of former student team Hyper Luminal, now an independent games studio.
Dr Coull said: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s great to see this game developing further and it has the potential to be of great assistance to thousands of police personnel who might be the first responders to an incident of cybercrime.&rdquo;
For more information on cybersecurity and computer games courses at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/arts-media-computer-games/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay awarded Race Equality Charter Mark]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37300-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 22 Jun 2017 13:34:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37300-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37300-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay has been awarded a Race Equality Charter Mark &ndash; the first University in Scotland to achieve the recognition.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/race web pic.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/race web pic.JPG <![CDATA[Abertay has been awarded a Race Equality Charter Mark &ndash; the first University in Scotland to achieve the recognition.
The Equality Challenge Unit (ECU), which works to support equality and diversity for staff and students in higher education institutions across the UK, presented the bronze award during an event at Abertay yesterday.
The Race Equality Charter Mark aims to improve the representation, progression and success of minority ethnic staff and students within higher education.
Abertay began the application process in January following a framework set out by ECU to identify and self-reflect on barriers standing in the way of minority ethnic staff and students.
Initiatives and solutions for action were then developed by the University&rsquo;s Race Equality Charter Mark Self-Assessment Team (SAT), led by Director of Student Services James Nicholson.
David Bass, Scotland Programme Manager at the Equality Challenge Unit, met the team behind the award bid.
Presenting the award to Abertay Principal, Professor Nigel Seaton, Mr Bass said: &ldquo;This is a landmark achievement; this is the only race charter mark award in Scotland and you should be rightly proud of yourselves and your institution.
&ldquo;Abertay has taken a clear and positive leadership role in the sector for race equality. I would encourage you, individually and collectively, to embrace that role. Champion the voices of people from different ethnicities. Share what you&rsquo;ve learned and what you&rsquo;ve achieved; share where you&rsquo;ve struggled. But keep pushing the conversation forward, and keep demanding progress.
&ldquo;This award is the start of a journey, and an opportunity. I&rsquo;m incredibly pleased to be presenting you with this award, but I&rsquo;m even more excited about where we go from here.&rdquo;
Prof Seaton said: &ldquo;It is a great privilege to receive this award and I&rsquo;m very proud of the work we have done here, in particular by the self-assessment team.
&ldquo;It is a very &lsquo;Abertay&rsquo; achievement &ndash; working together across the University. I am very pleased indeed that our work on equality and diversity has been recognised by the Race Equality Charter Mark.&rdquo;&nbsp;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay lecturer blogs for Women in Sport Week]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37301-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 22 Jun 2017 13:31:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37301-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37301-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Marie Clare Grant reflects on her experiences in sport]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Marie Clare1.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Marie Clare1.JPG <![CDATA[Women in Sport Week has compelled me to reflect on my involvement in sport as a female, writes Abertay lecturer Marie Clare Grant.
I have played and coached various sports over the years and have never perceived gender to be a barrier or issue.
In particular, I have been involved in swimming from a young age and have always found it be a very supportive environment, both as a swimmer and coach.
Now, as a Masters swimmer the social factor is definitely something which keeps me training and competing.
My positive experience in sport has ultimately carved out my career path, which began by studying Physiology and Sport Science at university.
Further study and obtaining my PhD in Exercise Physiology has given me the opportunity to work at here at Abertay University as a lecturer within the Division of Sport and Exercise Science.
There are many aspects to the role including teaching, research and working within the community.
However, working with students passionate about sport and exercise and seeing them working hard to achieve their goals is definitely one of the most enjoyable parts of the job.


Marie Clare carries out a Vo2 Max test with a marathon runner
&nbsp;
Despite my positive experiences in sport, I know in many sports there are gender inequalities faced by both males and females.
For example, in stereotypical male sports (perhaps more so at elite level) lack of opportunities, financial support and role models are all issues regularly faced by females wanting to progress as either an athlete or coach.
Improvements are being made but this needs to reach a point where gender is no longer perceived as barrier in any sport.
Finally, if you want to pursue a career related to sport and exercise there are many varied and interesting opportunities &ndash; as long as you are willing to work hard then there is a great chance of success.
If you want to try out a sport or activity &ndash; go for it!
Not only will you improve your physical and mental wellbeing but you get the chance to meet like-minded people.
At Abertay, events like staff varsity are a great opportunity to try out a sport and socialise with colleagues.
&nbsp;
Marie Clare Grant is a lecturer with the Division of Sport and Exercise at Abertay]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Teaching Excellence Framework success for Abertay]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37294-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:56:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37294-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37294-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay secures Silver in the important new measure]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/TEF1.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/TEF1.jpg <![CDATA[Abertay University is one of five Scottish institutions to achieve a ranking in the important new Teaching Excellence Framework.
The framework, based on assessments of student satisfaction, student retention and graduate employment, as well as submissions made by individual universities, found Abertay students &ldquo;consistently achieve excellent outcomes.&rdquo;
Assessors awarded Abertay a Silver ranking, noting that a &ldquo;very high&rdquo; proportion of students continue with their studies after enrolment and progress to employment or further study.
The TEF panel also found high levels of satisfaction with academic support at Abertay and commented on the success of the University&rsquo;s commitment to widening access through a flexible admission policy which takes the background of applicants into account.
Feedback from the panel showed employability was &ldquo;systematically embedded&rdquo; within Abertay, informed by an institutional Employability Strategy.
It was also noted that Abertay teaching encourages high levels of student engagement, while commitment to learning and study is personalised through small class sizes and integrated student support services.
Another key strength was Abertay&rsquo;s investment in high quality physical and digital resources &ndash; examples of these being the recently opened &pound;3.5m science labs and ongoing &pound;4m library transformation.
The TEF panel also said that the institutional culture at Abertay &ldquo;facilitates, recognises and rewards excellent teaching.&rdquo;
Principal of Abertay University, Professor Nigel Seaton, said: &ldquo;We are delighted to be among the five Scottish institutions to be rated in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
&ldquo;At Abertay we focus on ensuring that our students enjoy an outstanding learning experience.
&quot;The quality of our teaching and our support for our students mean that our graduates have a great foundation for a successful career.
&ldquo;We have transformed our approach to learning and teaching over the last few years and our recent investment in new learning spaces, science labs and the library is a mark of our commitment to providing a first-class environment for both learning and research.
&ldquo;We are delighted that our commitment to our students and our recent achievements have been recognised through this UK-wide award.&rdquo;
Three of the five Scottish universities to have taken part in the assessment were based in Tayside and Fife - St Andrews, Dundee and Abertay - highlighting the excellence of teaching across the area. The TEF award is valid for three years.
Across the UK there were a total of 59 gold awards, 116 silver, 56 bronze and 64 provisional.
To read the Abertay TEF submission in full click here]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay graduate launches Dundee's first gin]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37281-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Jun 2017 15:59:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37281-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37281-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[An Abertay University graduate who once hired the Spice Girls to launch McLaren&rsquo;s iconic Formula One racing brand is now changing lanes to break into the Scottish gin market.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/t4_7358199897177489334.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/t4_7358199897177489334.jpg <![CDATA[

&nbsp;
An Abertay University graduate who once hired the Spice Girls to launch McLaren&rsquo;s iconic Formula One racing brand is now changing lanes to break into the Scottish gin market.
High flyer Andrew Mackenzie has always worked in the creative industries, but when he wanted a change of career in 2013 turned to Abertay Division of Food and Drink.
After achieving his Masters in Food and Drink Innovation, the businessman &ndash; who launched McLaren&rsquo;s new brand at the glitzy Alexandra Palace, London in 1997 &ndash; was ready to create Dundee&rsquo;s first gin.
Andrew moved into his premises at Edward Street Mill in 2015 and within the last few weeks has produced his first batch of Verdant Gin, under the company name Verdant Spirits Ltd.
&ldquo;Through everything I&rsquo;ve done there&rsquo;s always been a common theme - using technology for creative ends,&rdquo; Andrew said.
&ldquo;Whether that was computer graphics, video production, or Formula One, I suppose there&rsquo;s always been a nerdy side of me that needed fulfilling somehow.
&ldquo;With the gin it&rsquo;s as much about a great product as it is about building a brand, and that&rsquo;s something I know about.
&ldquo;My eye got caught by the cocktail industry, so I did a lot of research into why people didn&rsquo;t feel confident making cocktails at home.
&ldquo;At the end of that realised it was time to do it.
&ldquo;Abertay was fantastic. It gave you space to think and reflect and really develop your ideas properly.
&ldquo;The course was very well supported.&rdquo;
Earlier this month, Abertay&rsquo;s Food and Drink courses were rated top in Scotland and 9th in the UK by the Guardian Good University Guide 2018, and last month the University opened new &pound;3.5m science laboratories.
Set to make his mark on the food and drink industry, Andrew said now was a great time to be investing in Dundee.
He added: &ldquo;I really like the Dundee ethos, the innovation and the internationality of the city.
&ldquo;With all the changes happening in Dundee it&rsquo;s becoming such a vibrant city to live and work in, so it seemed the very place to do it.
&ldquo;I think Abertay has played a big part in that success, particularly in the creative industries.&rdquo;
Andrew is targeting sales of around 20,000 bottles of Verdant Gin in his first year.
For more information on how your business can benefit from Abertay&rsquo;s cutting edge new Food Science facilities, visit https://www.foodinnovation.abertay.ac.uk/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Dare Schools Team Challenge 2017]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37249-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jun 2017 15:48:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37249-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37249-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The winners have been announced]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/DSC_0587.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/DSC_0587.JPG <![CDATA[

&nbsp;
The winners of the Dare Schools Team Challenge have been announced.
The competition challenged school pupils from Dundee to tackle tasks they may face in future workplaces. Aspiring graphics, software and creative producers were&nbsp;tested in their computer, art and music skills to encourage digital entertainment designers of the future.
Now in its 14th year the challenge is backed by Dundee City Council and delivered by Abertay University with support from local games company Hyper Luminal.
The challenge encourages S5 pupils at five city schools to take part and gain valuable insight into teamwork and personal development.
They work in teams to design and build a 2D single-player game played in a web browser using software supplied by Dundee-based YoYo Games.
Lynne Short, convener of Dundee City Council&rsquo;s city development committee, who handed over the prizes said: &ldquo;As mother to a 15 year old son that eats, sleeps and breathes gaming this is right up my street and totally exciting!
&ldquo;Dare Schools Challenge has given a number of young people from Dundee a head start in the computer games industry because of the way it creates a realistic learning environment for aspiring developers. It focuses minds and tightens up the skills needed to launch and sustain a career in this sector.
This year's winners, who were announced on Friday at Abertay's Hannah Maclure Centre, were:
Team prizes
Winning Team:&nbsp;Team Blank (Daniel McInroy, Kieran Houston, Jesse Chan, Jack Teviotdale)
All pupils on the winning team were from Morgan Academy.&nbsp;
Runner-up Team:&nbsp;Rail Runner (Innes White, Finley Connelly, Callum Arthur)
All pupils on the runner-up team were from Grove Academy.&nbsp;
Individual Prizes
Outstanding achievement (Audio):&nbsp;Ella Dodan&rsquo;li (Harris Academy)
Best Artist:&nbsp;Theo Bryden (Harris Academy)
Best Programming:&nbsp;Jesse Chan (Morgan Academy)]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[International biogas event looks to future]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37246-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jun 2017 15:26:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37246-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37246-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay's Urban Water Technology Centre will host the three-day workshop]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Prof Joseph Akunna (1).PNGTHUMB.PNG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Prof Joseph Akunna (1).PNGTHUMB.PNG <![CDATA[

International biogas experts will gather at Abertay University to deliver a three-day knowledge transfer workshop aimed at sharing best practice in the sector.
Biogas experts from Germany will be joined by leading figures from across the UK at the event, which will investigate the future of the industry across the continent and ways to make it more efficient.
As well as drilling into key issues affecting the sector such as the operation of biogas energy plants and maximising yields, the conference, running from Tuesday June 20 to Thursday June 22, will also discuss how unconventional novel feedstocks the likes of algae and wool fibres can be harnessed to produce power.
Hosted by Abertay&rsquo;s Urban Water Technology Centre in Dundee (UWTC), the event is run jointly organised by Abertay University, Renewable Energy Association (REA) and the International Biogas and Bioenergy Centre of Competence (IBBK Fachgruppe Biogas) in Germany.
Professor Joseph Akunna of Abertay&rsquo;s School of Science Engineering and Technology, and UWTC Co-Director, said the in-depth seminar would shape future advances in renewable energy production.
He added: &ldquo;Biogas has now been accepted worldwide as the most sustainable way of dealing with food wastes. We are now seeing in Dundee, and all over the UK, increased emphasis for separate collection of food wastes. The reason being to ensure that a high proportion of food wastes is diverted to biogas plants.
&ldquo;There has been a massive increase in biogas plants in Scotland in the last 10 years and this is increasing. There is therefore a need for operators to share operational experiences and for researchers to disseminate new findings to the sector.
&ldquo;Abertay is the only Scottish university to offer a guaranteed work placement on every civil engineering degree and only by equipping the next generation in this way will be solve our energy problems.
&ldquo;One of the key worries of the industry is insufficient amounts of feedstock to meet the needs of the industry. The onus is therefore on researchers like those at Abertay University to come up with practical and feasible solutions.&rdquo;
Abertay University has, in the past twenty years, made a significant contribution to international biogas research and has particularly played a leadership role in the growth of the technology in Scotland.
This is the second time this workshop has taken place in Scotland, the first being in 2015 also at Abertay University.
Delegates, comprising mainly of industry practitioners across Europe, are expected to attend the event, which will include study visits to biogas plants across Scotland.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Businesses invited to Spanish energy expert talk]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37238-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jun 2017 08:37:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37238-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37238-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Dr Francisco Rosique will deliver two presentations at Dundee Business School]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Solar (1).jpeg1.jpeg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Solar (1).jpeg1.jpeg <![CDATA[

Dundee and Angus businesses are invited to Abertay University to hear from a Spanish manufacturing expert on advances in energy efficiency.
Dr Francisco Rosique, a Managing Director of Gedac Electric, will deliver two presentations at the University&rsquo;s Dundee Business School on Bell Street on Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 June.
With more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing electrical components and equipment, Dr Rosique will describe real examples of energy saving technology and how they fit into the marketplace.
His experience covers residential and industrial electrical distribution, as well as energy efficiency and solar projects.
Dr Rosique has a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Spain, an MDP from the IESE Business School in Spain, an MBA from the University of Durham and a PhD in Management from the University of St Andrews.
The talk on Tuesday June 20 June runs from 4pm to 5pm and will focus on Microgrids (Smart Grids), explaining basic concepts and showing real examples of technologies, market sizes and evolution.
The talk on Wednesday June 21 also runs from 4pm to 5pm and will cover energy efficiency objectives, including examples of initiatives in international utilities, energy audits, electrical measurements, software and electrical equipment.
For more information email organiser Erven Lauw of Dundee Business School at e.lauw@abertay.ac.uk.
&nbsp;
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay takes on rain garden project]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37194-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jun 2017 12:54:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37194-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37194-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The University worked with primary school children in the west of Scotland to highlight sustainable drainage and environmental issues]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Water 1.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Water 1.jpg <![CDATA[

Abertay University staff are teaching the next generation of engineers as part of a collaborative project to highlight rain gardens, sustainable drainage and the environment.
The University teamed up with Taylor Wimpey West Scotland and Global Professional Services Consultant WSP to offer a learning package aimed at Primary 5 children.
Pupils from Holytown Primary School near Motherwell are the first to benefit from the educational resources with a series of classroom talks and discussions, interactive activities and local show and tell visits in the local community to learn more about the concept of Greener Gardens.
The children&rsquo;s day included a visit to Taylor Wimpey West Scotland&rsquo;s Torrance Park development in Holytown to see the Torrance Water project features in-situ which includes a natural rain garden, a raised rain garden, water butts and a suds-in-box as well as a visit to the Ravenscraig BRE site.
Taylor Wimpey West Scotland continues to work in partnership with the Scottish Government, Central Scotland Green Network Trust and academia on the &rsquo;Greener Gardens&rsquo; project that looks at how gardens of new homes can be used to contribute to green infrastructure, biodiversity and storm water management.
The project features a number of strands - all designed to encourage the development of sustainable places &ndash; including installation of demonstration rain gardens, academic research, provision of water butts as part of the package for new homeowners, and raising awareness by promoting the benefits of rain gardens both to homeowners and the wider housebuilding industry.
Dr Rebecca Wade from the Urban Water Technology Centre (UWTC) at Abertay University said: &ldquo;At Abertay University we are training the next generation of sustainability-informed engineers, and that includes working with schools. It is a pleasure to be working with Holytown Primary School, the teachers and pupils have been wonderful, the pupils loved the activities and asked fantastic questions.
&ldquo;We will continue to support them as they develop a plan to design and build a rain garden in their school grounds. Abertays&rsquo; civil and environmental engineers believe that working in collaboration industry can really make a difference; in fact, all of our degree students are guaranteed a work placement during their studies. By working together, with industry and communities we can help deliver better environments which work harder for us &ndash; providing communities with attractive areas to live and play, supporting nature, and tackling flooding and climate change issues too.&rdquo;
Raising the awareness of this innovative project has overall benefits for a wide audience as Stephen Andrew, Technical Director for Taylor Wimpey West Scotland explained: &ldquo;Along with our project partners we are leading the way both in research and analysis of rain gardens at plot level.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re delighted to have played our part in facilitating a visit from the Primary Five year group at Holytown Primary to the Torrance Park Water Project. The team really enjoyed the opportunity to explain why the inclusion of rain gardens within new home garden can contribute positively to help the industry deal with storm water management in a sustainable way as a source control SUDS technique.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Lynne Brennan, Headteacher at Holytown Primary said: &ldquo;Our children had a great time with the Greener Gardens project team learning more about the importance of creating sustainable ways of dealing with rainwater. We&rsquo;re very committed to this project, and by extending our partnership with members of the team we are considering how we might include a rain garden within our school grounds.&rdquo;
James Travers, associate at WSP, said: &ldquo;At WSP we pride ourselves on being innovative solution providers in the built environment. The opportunity to work with our client and academic partners on this community project is an excellent way of showcasing our passion for design innovation. It is also an opportunity for us to engage wider by giving something back to communities and help raise awareness of the importance and benefit of STEM within schools.
&ldquo;We are looking forward to working with the school further as the project progresses with some practical and fun activities that can really bring this to life for the pupils.&rdquo;
Homeowners are also being encouraged to get involved and to highlight the importance that Greener Gardens will play in the future, Taylor Wimpey West Scotland, Scottish Government and CSGNT have joined forces to provide and install a free 200 litre water butt to the first 80 new homes at the Torrance Park development. These will act as a visible reminder to residents about the need to be more aware of water use and how little changes can have a big impact on the environment.
And as part of the overall approach to creating a Greener Garden the project team has created a homeowners&rsquo; leaflet that encourages homeowners to consider how they might achieve a rain garden in their own garden, and how a water butt provides a useful way to conserve and use rainwater effectively as a first step towards achieving a sustainable Greener Garden.&nbsp;
The project team has also collaborated to create a &lsquo;Developer&rsquo;s Guide&rsquo; that aims to introduce the concept of greener gardens to the wider housebuilding industry, and provide guidance on how small changes can make a huge impact on the wider green infrastructure, bio-diversity and storm water management and how their future developments can embrace this thinking.
A copy of this guide is available at www.centralscotlandgreennetwork.org/greenergardens.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Police reveal 'missing' statistics at conference]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37190-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jun 2017 09:43:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37190-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37190-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Police Scotland were at Abertay to unveil new figures on missing persons investigations]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Conf.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Conf.JPG <![CDATA[

New statistics showing nearly 22,000 individual investigations into missing people are carried out by Police Scotland every year were launched at Abertay University's International Conference on Missing Children and Adults today.
The conference, which has attracted around 150 delegates from all over the world to Dundee, heard from&nbsp;Assistant Chief Constable Andy Cowie, who revealed that over half of those who go missing do so repeatedly.
In one instance, the same person was the focus of over 170 investigations in a year.
And around one per cent of people who go missing never return.
Of those who went missing in the year from April 2016-Mar 2017:&bull; 58 per cent were male,&bull; 53 per cent were in the 13 -16 year old age group&bull; 54 per cent were a repeat missing person&bull; 76 per cent of those who are reported missing return with returned within 24 hours&bull; 99 per cent of all missing people were traced or returned home safe and well.&bull; 78 out of the 87 people traced deceased in 2016/17 were adult men, the majority of whom had not been missing before.
Mr Cowie, said: &ldquo;Police Scotland undertakes nearly 22,000 full-fledged missing person investigations each year and records around 40,000 missing person incidents.
&ldquo;Since April 2016, we have been compiling data on missing persons and the first full year of information provides us with a very clear picture of who goes missing and the locations from which they go missing. It is also illustrative of the non-crime related demand on Scotland&rsquo;s police service.
&ldquo;People go missing for a broad range of reasons and usually voluntarily. But we also know that the majority of people who go missing are vulnerable.
&ldquo;What our data tells us is that we need to do more, working with partners, to understand why people go missing, to prevent people going missing and to protect the most vulnerable people in our communities.
&ldquo;Our Policing 2026 strategy is looking at how we can transform our service to meet the changing, future demands on policing more effectively focusing on the five key areas of prevention, protection, communities, knowledge and innovation. The work we are doing around missing persons already reflects this focus.
&ldquo;Our primary purpose will always be to improve the safety and wellbeing of people, places and communities in Scotland. While missing person investigations are police-led they are not police-only.
&ldquo;This international conference is an opportunity to meet with partners nationally and internationally to discuss approaches to dealing missing people and to share best practice. We are all working hard to prevent people going missing, looking at best practice nationally and internationally, to support us in developing how we prevent people going missing.
&ldquo;We recognise we simply cannot do that alone. We need our partners and communities to work with us to protect those most at risk of going missing and prevent missing person episodes wherever possible.&rdquo;
Dr Penny Woolnough, based at the division of psychology at Abertay University and an expert adviser to the police on missing people, said she was delighted Police Scotland agreed to address the conference.
She added: &ldquo;Working in partnership with Police Scotland and the Scottish Institute for Policing Research this is the first time this important event has been hosted in Scotland.
&quot;It is the only international conference which sees multi-disciplinary academics, practitioners and policy makers come together to explore and discuss the full range of issues associated with the challenges faced by those who are missed, those who are charged with responding to missing and those who are affected by missing in its broadest sense.
&ldquo;It reiterates Scotland&rsquo;s commitment to leading development of policy and practice in this area.
&quot;We will be welcoming 150 delegates from across the world including Australia, China, Canada and many European countries as we come together to share international best practice, but also to challenge our ways of working and to identify gaps in knowledge and opportunities for future collaborative work to address these.&rdquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Facial ageing research at 'missing' conference]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37167-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 14 Jun 2017 09:59:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37167-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37167-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Image of what missing toddler Ben Needham may now look like will be unveiled at Abertay]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Face (1).jpgTHUMB.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Face (1).jpgTHUMB.jpg <![CDATA[

A new method of ageing facial images that could enhance the search for long-term missing people worldwide will be unveiled at Abertay University's International Conference on Missing Children and Adults.
The method developed by the University of Bradford maps out the key features of a face at a certain age such as the shape of the cheek, mouth and forehead.
Researchers used the case of Ben Needham, who went missing on a Greek island as a toddler, as a test image for the project and have created fresh pictures of what he may look like today.
Information is fed to a computer algorithm which then synthesises new features for the face to produce photographic quality images of the face at different ages.
A key feature of the method is that it teaches the machine how humans age by feeding the algorithm facial feature data from a large database of individuals at various ages.
Consequently, the method improves on existing techniques, achieving greater level of accuracy.
The findings will be presented at the International Conference on Missing Children and Adults at Abertay University, Dundee, and have been published in the Journal of Forensic Sciences.
The conference runs from Wednesday June 14 to Friday June 16, with delegates attending from all over the world.
Professor Hassan Ugail, of Bradford&rsquo;s Centre for Visual Computing, is leading the research.
He said: &ldquo;Each year around 300,000 missing person cases are recorded in the UK alone.
&quot;This has been part of our motivation in endeavouring to improve current techniques of searching for missing people, particularly those who have been missing for some considerable time.&rdquo;
The technique developed by the team uses a method of predictive modelling and applies it to age progression.
The model is further strengthened by incorporating facial data from a large database of individuals at different ages thus teaching the machine how humans actually age.
In order to test their results the researchers use a method called de-aging whereby they take an individual&rsquo;s picture and run their algorithm backwards to de-age that person to a younger age.
The result is then compared with an actual photograph of the individual taken at the young age.
As a test case, the researchers chose to work on the case of Ben Needham.
Ben disappeared on the Greek island of Kos on 24th July 1991, when he was only 21 months old.
He has never been found, but several images have been produced by investigators showing how Ben might look at ages 11-14 years, 17-20 years, and 20-22 years.
The team used their method to progress the image of Ben Needham to the ages of 6, 14 and 22 years.
The resulting images show very different results, which the researchers believe more closely resemble what Ben might look like today.
An effective method needs to do two things: the synthesized images need to fit the intended age; and they need to retain the identity of the subject in age-progressed images.
The results were evaluated using both machine and human methods, and in both, the images of Ben produced using this method were found to be more like the original picture of Ben than the images created as part of previous investigations.
Professor Ugail added: &ldquo;No criticism is implied of existing age progression work. Instead we are presenting our work as a development and improvement that could make a contribution to this important area of police work.
&quot;We are currently working with the relevant parties to further test our method. We are also developing further research plans in order to develop this method so it can be incorporated as a biometric feature, in face recognition systems, for example.&rdquo;
&nbsp;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay launches first law scholarship]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37041-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jun 2017 08:44:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37041-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-37041-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The one-year package is sponsored by Thorntons Law]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Thorntons.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Thorntons.JPG <![CDATA[

A prominent legal firm has become the sponsor of the first ever law scholarship at Abertay University.
The one-year &pound;1,250 scholarship with Thorntons Law is open to either third or fourth year LLB (Hons) Law students.
It is aimed primarily at a student who has overcome difficulties to attend university, is from a low-income background or who is a carer while also studying at Abertay.
The student will also receive career advice from a Thorntons&rsquo; solicitor throughout the year of their scholarship.
Thorntons and Abertay have long-established links, with the legal firm currently awarding a prize to the best law student in fourth year. In 2016, they were also the gold sponsors for the Tour De Tay cycle challenge.
Jane Davidson, Thorntons Director of Marketing, said: &ldquo;We are delighted to be the sponsor of the first ever law scholarship at Abertay University.
&ldquo;This scholarship is a way to reward someone who has excelled in their studies at university. We are especially pleased that this scholarship will reward a student who has perhaps come from a challenged background or who is the first in their family to attend university.
&ldquo;At Thorntons we offer legal traineeships offering hands-on experience, practical work and direct client contact from the onset. Sponsoring the Abertay University Law Scholarship is another way for us to support and mentor people developing their career in the legal industry.&rdquo;
Professor Gavin Reid, Head of Abertay&rsquo;s Dundee Business School (DBS), said: &ldquo;Law at DBS is ranked in the top 20% in the UK, and provides disadvantaged students the prospect of a first class legal education.
&ldquo;The sponsoring of a scholarship by Thorntons to aid talented law students who have difficulties of background or responsibilities is far sighted and generous. Often those who first have struggled most to achieve, will &ndash; in a lifetime &ndash; achieve the most.&rdquo;
Professor Nicholas Grier, Acting Head of the Division of Law at Abertay, said: &ldquo;Thorntons has always been a good friend to Abertay. This scholarship will be a wonderful opportunity for the successful student.
&ldquo;We are grateful to Thorntons, both for their open-handedness in offering the scholarship, and for their genuine desire to help, in a practical way, a suitably deserving applicant.&rdquo;
For more information on scholarships at Abertay visit&nbsp;https://www.abertay.ac.uk/studying/scholarships/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Work begins on &pound;4m library upgrade]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36903-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jun 2017 11:15:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36903-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36903-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Work has begun on a &pound;4million state-of-the-art upgrade to Abertay University&rsquo;s library.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Library web pic.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Library web pic.JPG <![CDATA[Work has begun on a &pound;4million state-of-the-art upgrade to Abertay University&rsquo;s library.
The first phase of the refurbishment will continue throughout the summer, re-opening on August 28.
The project is a major investment in the education and welfare of students and staff, providing the very latest in interactive technology and support services.
All four levels of the library, which is also open to the general public, will be completely refurbished, along with the plant room on level 5. The current first phase will focus on the redevelopment of levels 1 and 2.
The upgrade will include a new caf&eacute; and extensive facilities aimed at the comfort and convenience of students and the staff who work in the building.
More than &pound;200,000 is being spent on new furniture for the library, while the interior design scheme is contemporary and incorporates the colours in Abertay&rsquo;s branding to create distinctive areas.
Much of the redevelopment will create open plan spaces but will also include a suite of acoustically isolated meeting rooms.
The start of the redevelopment comes hot on the heels of a &pound;3.5million revamp of the university&rsquo;s food and science labs, officially unveiled just last week by distinguished biologist Dame Anne Glover.
The original Bernard King Library opened in 1998 and the needs of students and staff have continued to evolve, as has the use of technology in information resources &ndash; in teaching and society more generally.
A new feature on level 2 of the Library is a &lsquo;creative design suite&rsquo; - a multi-purpose room somewhere between a &lsquo;maker space&rsquo; and a &lsquo;google war room&rsquo;.
Laptop lockers and charging stations will be included in the concept, while the introduction of acoustic partitions and acoustically absorptive materials will be used strategically throughout the library to cut down on intrusive sound levels.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Students and staff have been extensively consulted throughout the process via the likes of surveys, comment cards and focus groups.
The university has employed a firm of architects, ADP, who are award-winning library designers, providing both architectural and interior design services. Pick Everard is providing the remaining consultancy services while the main contractors are Kier Construction.
Abertay&rsquo;s Project Director, Michael Turpie, said the redevelopment would give the university&rsquo;s students among the best study facilities in the UK.
He said: &ldquo;Our aim is to create a learning centre fully kitted out to utilise state-of-the-art study, collaboration and learning facilities.
&ldquo;It is a public building and is open for use so we welcome people to come in and see it and use it when complete.
&ldquo;Many of the existing fixtures and fittings were dated and at the end of their anticipated useful life. There were also issues related to the control of temperature, light and ventilation, which often featured in student feedback.
&ldquo;There has also been an increase in demand for spaces where collaborative and peer-to-peer learning can take place, involving greater levels of conversation and social interaction &ndash; an essential part of modern learning.&rdquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Feather fingerprint research presented to conference]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36787-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jun 2017 09:46:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36787-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36787-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The pioneering work could have a positive impact on wildlife crime]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Feather 1.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Feather 1.jpg <![CDATA[

Pioneering Abertay University work to enable the recovery of fingerprints from the feathers of birds of prey has been presented to the international Society of Wildlife Forensic Science conference.
Abertay PhD student Helen McMorris delivered a presentation detailing her innovative project, which is investigating techniques to take fingerprints from bird feathers in a bid to prove human involvement in wildlife crime.
The conference in Edinburgh, which runs until June 9, comes after figures in the latest RSPB Birdcrime report revealed almost 200 bird of prey crimes in the UK in a single year.
At present, toxicological tests can prove a raptor was poisoned and DNA swabbing can confirm dog attacks, however there is no accurate measure of human involvement.McMorris, a part-time teaching fellow with Abertay&rsquo;s Division of Science, said a lack of forensic evidence could hamper wildlife crime investigations, where it is already difficult to secure a prosecution.
She added: &ldquo;We only have to look to a few weeks ago when at least two cases in the UK were dropped by the courts for what they considered to be non-admissible video footage.
&ldquo;My research has been investigating the development of fingerprints on bird of prey feathers in an attempt to help confirm human involvement in wildlife crime and potentially provide more evidence for court.
&ldquo;The structure of a feather is very similar to the fine weave structure of some fabrics such as silk.
&ldquo;It has recently been found that fabric with a thread count of three per millimetre can sustain a fingermark or grab mark, and after microscopic examination, it was found that bird of prey feathers have a barb count of three per millimetre, suggesting that they could sustain a fingermark.
&ldquo;Fingerprint development is about having a strong colour contrast between the background surface and the developed print.
&ldquo;On feathers, this proved to be very difficult as they can be black, brown, grey, white, and therefore commonly used CSI powders such as black magnetic powder, or aluminium powder, were unsuitable for use.
&ldquo;It was green and red magnetic fluorescent powder that were most effective.
&ldquo;When excited with a blue wavelength of light and viewed through a yellow filter, they fluoresce.
&ldquo;This fluorescence suppresses the background colour, no longer making it problematic and allowing the developed fingerprint to be clearly visible.&rdquo;
Statistics from the latest Wildlife Crime in Scotland Annual Report show there were 18 bird of prey crimes recorded in Scotland in 2015.
Abertay places importance on linking research to real word problems and has a wealth of connections between academic practitioners and ends users.
For more information on studying forensic science at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/science-engineering-and-technology/divisionofscience/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Interpol DNA specialist to speak at Abertay]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36657-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 06 Jun 2017 09:22:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36657-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36657-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Dr Susan Hitchin will call for data sharing on missing persons' issues at a major conference in Dundee]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Interpol 1.jpeg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Interpol 1.jpeg <![CDATA[

An Interpol specialist will speak at a prestgious international conference at Abertay.
Dr Susan Hitchin will give one of two keynote addresses at the 3rd&nbsp;International Conference on Missing Children and Adults, due to be held from June 14-16.
The Interpol DNA specialist said: &ldquo;All countries have unsolved missing person investigations.
&ldquo;There is also an increasing number of human remains being found that are not from their country of origin making it an impossible task to identify nationally.
&ldquo;It is estimated that over 600 people worldwide go missing every day and whilst many of these people are located alive, sadly many are also never found.
&ldquo;Consequently, with the increasing occurrence of transnational crime, including terrorist attacks, the ease of international travel and the increase in global migration, it is vital that more effective international mechanisms are in place to allow missing persons&rsquo; data to be compared globally.
&ldquo;Interpol, as the world&rsquo;s largest police organisation is uniquely positioned as an information hub that aids police with their international missing person cases.&quot;
Dame Sue Black, Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology at the University of Dundee, will be the other keynote speaker at the conference at Abertay.
She said the impact of being &lsquo;missing&rsquo; is profound both on those who have gone and for those who are left behind.&nbsp;
&ldquo;We often forget that it also leaves a lasting impression on those whose job it is to search for the missing and in the worst case scenario, confirm their identity,&rdquo; Dame Sue said.
&ldquo;This conference is a tremendous opportunity for the community to come together to learn, to share and to understand.&rdquo;
Abertay will host police experts, academics and policy makers from across the world at the event which explores the full range of issues around why people go missing.
The conference comes to Scotland for the first time, having previously been held in Brussels and Portsmouth.
Delegates are expected from the likes of Hong Kong, Canada, Israel, the Netherlands, Australia, South Africa, Belgium and the US for the event, which is organised in partnership with the Scottish Institute for Policing Research, Police Scotland and the Centre for the Study of Missing Persons at the University of Portsmouth and sponsored by WPC Software.
For more information visit&nbsp;https://www.abertay.ac.uk/research/society/conference-missing-children-and-adults/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Professor calls for 'fake news' education]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36532-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jun 2017 10:09:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36532-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36532-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Alex Law wants media literacy lessons for 'turbulent times']]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Fake News 3.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Fake News 3.jpg <![CDATA[

School pupils must be educated on 'fake news' to avoid them being &ldquo;swept up in hysteria or fantasies&rdquo; by targeted social media campaigns, an Abertay University Professor has urged.
Professor Alex Law, whose research includes issues around social change and state formation, said it is vital to have informed citizens literate in the workings of the media and politics as the world navigates turbulent times.
The Abertay sociology expert delivered a talk on the fake news phenomenon at an Association for Media Education in Scotland conference in Edinburgh.
Presenting to an audience of school teachers and other educators, Prof Law outlined a balanced view of the impact of social media and the importance of youngsters independently assessing the veracity of news media &ndash; including deliberately fake sites.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a worrying time because you can see where it leads,&rdquo; said Prof Law.
&ldquo;The real problem for me is the way that fake news frightens and worries and causes anxieties that escalate social and political problems.
&ldquo;My major worry is when fear comes into it through deliberate misinformation to target some sections of society as the enemy.
&ldquo;People need a more critical grasp of the dynamics.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s thinking about educating students in media literacy so they themselves can put it into context.
&ldquo;Fake news gives rise to fantasies that will never happen and there&rsquo;s a worry that some politicians will heighten expectation and say anything to win popularity.
&ldquo;If masses of people buy into that, how are we going to deal with the mass disappointment that follows?&rdquo;
Prof Law is a lecturer at Abertay, which offers a suite of courses including BA (Hons) Sociology, BA (Hons) Criminology and BA (Hons) Social Science, as well as the AHEAD access programme.
He said social media had &ldquo;changed the game&rdquo; in terms of media reporting with the dominant view being that it&rsquo;s instantaneous nature had corrupted media literacy.
&ldquo;It is very easy to get into a scenario where there is escalation, exaggeration and distortion,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;In the interest of democracy, the last thing we want is more government regulation and we want people to be able to air opinions.
&ldquo;However, a problem arises when people start to challenge scientific consensus on an issue, and that can often be done out of ignorance or out of ideology.
&ldquo;You have to leave space for expert knowledge and there&rsquo;s often a conflict there.
&ldquo;Experts always have a role to play even though they have to justify their position to a public that may not know the subject in detail.
&ldquo;Experts must try to guide the conversation without setting themselves up as infallible gods.&rdquo;
The Association for Media Education in Scotland conference was held at the University of Edinburgh on June 3.
Conference organiser, Rick Instrell, said the event was designed to look at how teachers can promote respectful, rational and evidence-based dialogue when politicians and media often gain support and audiences through the opposite.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[STEM gallery to honour war hero former student]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36503-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Jun 2017 12:43:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36503-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36503-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[First female British marine engineer Victoria Drummond will be included in gallery ]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Drummond 1.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Drummond 1.JPG <![CDATA[Abertay University is to honour an inspirational former student who became the first ever female British marine engineer and was awarded an MBE for bravery at sea during the Second World War.
To mark International Women in Engineering Day on June 23, Abertay will host a conference day packed with workshops and talks, all featuring &lsquo;Unsung Heroes of STEM&rsquo; who have had an influence on science, technology, engineering or mathematics.
The event will also feature a gallery in Abertay&rsquo;s Hannah Maclure Centre, including images of former student, the late Victoria Drummond.
Drummond was born at Megginch Castle, Perthshire in 1894, where she was named after her godmother, Queen Victoria.
Abertay&rsquo;s Old College already houses a commemorative memorial plaque to the pioneer, who was the first British woman marine engineer, the first female member of the Institute of Marine Engineers and was awarded both an MBE and Lloyds war medal for bravery at sea during the Second World War.
After training to be an engineer at the University when it was Dundee Institute of Technology, Drummond began her career as an apprentice in the Northern Garage, Perth, from 1916-1918 before moving to the Caledon Ship Works in Dundee where she stayed until 1922.
Drummond worked as an air raid warden in London at the start of the war, with the Victoria Drummond canteen set up in Lambeth North to provide food for families bombed out of their homes.
By 1940, she had joined the SS Bonita and was aboard the ship when it was attacked by enemy aircraft in the mid-Atlantic.
After the incident she was commended for her bravery and leadership, with her conduct described as an &ldquo;inspiration to the ship's company&rdquo; by The Times.
The Abertay event organisers are lecturer Margi Vilnay and student Aleksandra Tomczyk of the University&rsquo;s Division of Civil Engineering &ndash; this month ranked top in Scotland in the Guardian Good University Guide 2018.
Aleksandra said: &ldquo;Victoria Drummond is an amazing example of what can be achieved when someone is driven to succeed in their chosen field, regardless of the obstacles in their way.
&ldquo;Our Unsung Heroes of STEM will shine a light on the achievements of some incredible pioneers of STEM and there is still time to sign up and get involved.&rdquo;
The event, funded by the Division of Civil Engineering, will include a bookable workshop on Unconscious Bias, afternoon tea, networking, two guest speakers and the unveiling of the poster competition winner.
To sign up visit&nbsp;https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/unsung-heroes-of-stem-international-women-in-engineering-day-at-abertay-tickets-34107846487.
For more information on how to enter the poster competition, the prize for which is funded by the Institution of Civil Engineering Dundee Area Branch, email Aleksandra at 1304133@abertay.ac.uk]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay students win award in Stuttgart]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36501-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Jun 2017 12:36:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36501-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36501-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[A team of students from Abertay University who travelled to Stuttgart to take part in a business competition have scooped a top award.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/EBMC thumb.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/EBMC thumb.JPG <![CDATA[A team of students from Abertay University who travelled to Stuttgart to take part in a business competition have scooped a top award.
The four students came up with an app which could provide information for new people arriving or settling in Scotland.
The Entrepreneurial Brains Made on Campus (EBMC) competition saw the Abertay team pitted against six other teams from across Europe.
And yesterday, at the event at Stuttgart City Hall, Business Management students Amanda MacLean, Katie-Rose MacDonald, Amy Ballingall and Claire Monribot, won the &lsquo;Greatest Social Impact Award&rsquo;.
The team&rsquo;s business idea was to help tackle the challenges faced by people arriving in a new country, including difficulty finding a job, looking for accommodation, enrolling children in school and accessing healthcare.
They pitched their idea of an app called Move 2, the first element being Move 2 Scotland with further plans to develop for other countries.
EBMC is a European start-up competition where students learn to think and act as entrepreneurs. It started in 2009 and Abertay has been involved every year.
During the preliminary rounds at each of the partner universities, supported by lecturers of Stuttgart Media University, the students worked in teams developing a business idea. The teams identified problems related to changes in population, age structure, education or income within the European Union.
Five prizes were handed out at yesterday&rsquo;s event &ndash; Best Business Model, Greatest Social Impact, Best Pitch, Craziest Idea and the Austria Audience Award.
Senior Lecturer Helen Smith, of Abertay&rsquo;s Dundee Business School, said: &ldquo;The EBMC is an excellent opportunity for students to develop their entrepreneurial skills and gain experience they could never get from a textbook. The chance to network with students from other universities, to pitch their idea to a panel of experts and respond to questions is a fantastic experience and an excellent enhancement to their employability skills.&rdquo;
Team member Katie-Rose said: &ldquo;EBMC was a fantastic experience that allowed us to develop our innovation skills. We were given tools to help us think outside the box and develop our entrepreneurial minds.&rdquo;
Claire added: &ldquo;It was absolutely brilliant to take part in this unique event. Having the opportunity to work abroad within a multicultural group with an adventurous spirit helped develop our entrepreneurial skills.&rdquo;
&nbsp;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay team on a green mission]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36462-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 31 May 2017 11:39:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36462-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36462-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Staff and students have taken on an allotment and hope to provide fresh produce across campus.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Allotment web.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Allotment web.JPG <![CDATA[A team from Abertay University Students' Association is on a &lsquo;greenifying&rsquo; mission.
Staff and students have taken on an allotment at the Community Garden in Dundee&rsquo;s Robertson Street.
The EcoAbertay team are growing fresh produce, which will then be used to create soup bags or given out across campus at little or no cost.
The garden is split into numerous plots and is used by different community groups across the city.
Carina Gaertner, EcoAbertay project co-ordinator, is working with EcoAbertay gardener Gillian Fyfe to make the allotment a success.
Volunteers from Abertay, many who are new to gardening, are being taught basic skills&hellip; and they&rsquo;re already reaping the rewards.
Carina said: &ldquo;We have a big plot with fantastic views overlooking the water. It&rsquo;s a beautiful place to be.
&ldquo;There are so many benefits to this. We&rsquo;re working closer with the community and we want to produce local, seasonal food. It gets people outside and is a lovely place to take a break from the stresses of life. It&rsquo;s great for our mental health.
&ldquo;It gets people together &ndash; staff and students &ndash; and we&rsquo;re all learning so much about growing our own produce.
&ldquo;We want to grow fruit and vegetables that we can then give to staff and students at little or no cost to encourage healthier lifestyles. The aim is to create soup bags, with simple recipes that people can follow.&rdquo;
Elena Nikolova, who is going into the second year of a BA in Computer Arts at Abertay, said: &ldquo;I thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the gardening activity session and I had a lot of fun learning new tips and tricks on planting fruit and veggies.
&ldquo;For me this was a rewarding experience which I believe has many important benefits including promoting healthy living and supporting sustainability.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a great opportunity for Abertay students to unwind after a long day of studying, meet up with friends and learn more about wholefood.&rdquo;
The Community Garden is just one part of EcoAbertay&rsquo;s mission to &lsquo;greenify&rsquo; the campus.
Carina added: &ldquo;We want a green corridor, which will attract wildlife, like bees, and it generally makes things look nicer when there&rsquo;s more greenery. We plan to make much better use of the space we have, like ensuring the planters are full, and that we grow produce where we can.&rdquo;
This mission stretches to the student halls at Lyon Street &ndash; a stone&rsquo;s throw from the allotment.
The team wants to improve the outside space, creating benches out of pallets for students to sit on near a new vegetable plot and planters.
EcoAbertay also run gardening and composting workshops. If you want to get involved and have some spare time to help, email c.gaertner@abertay.ac.uk or via the team&rsquo;s Facebook page at Facebook]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Dame Anne Glover opens &pound;3.5m labs]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36440-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 30 May 2017 12:12:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36440-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36440-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The former Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland praised the &quot;investment in the future of Scottish science&quot;]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Food sensory 2.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Food sensory 2.jpg <![CDATA[

Professor Dame Anne Glover unveiled Abertay University&rsquo;s new &pound;3.5m science laboratories marking an &ldquo;investment in the future of Scottish science.&rdquo;
A morning ceremony was held to mark the official opening of the labs in Dundee, which will boast Scotland&rsquo;s only Consumer Experience Laboratory for use by Abertay&rsquo;s Division of Food and Drink - recently named top in Scotland by the Guardian Good University Guide 2018.
The labs have four distinct areas to support the teaching and research of the School of Science, Engineering and Technology, which also includes Forensics and Biomedical Sciences.
In addition to providing a cutting edge teaching and learning space, the labs will also be able to support external business projects such as food testing and product development.


The Consumer Experience Laboratory is made up of 12 climatically controlled booths for the sensory analysis of food.
A preparation and serving room is linked to a kitchen, while a waiting room can be used for consumer experience testing, student tutorials and small group working.
The New Product Development Laboratory will house pilot scale food manufacturing across a range of food processes and industries.


Featuring two labs, a large teaching area will be used by the forensic science and biomedical science divisions, while the final space &ndash; a learning/social area &ndash; is multi-purpose and includes an 84-inch screen and seating.
Students assisted in the design of all labs, helping to shape both layout and decorative features.


Professor Dame Glover, a distinguished biologist, former Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland and former Chief Scientific Adviser to the President of the European Commission , said: &ldquo;By building these labs Abertay has invested in the future of Scottish science and these new facilities will undoubtedly benefit students and researchers for years to come.
&ldquo;The importance of STEM subjects cannot be overestimated and it&rsquo;s fantastic that such a well-appointed resource will be placed at the disposal of the next generation of scientists.&rdquo;
Principal Nigel Seaton said: &ldquo;By investing in these new laboratories Abertay has demonstrated a commitment to providing a technology-rich learning and research environment for our students and staff.
&ldquo;The courses we offer in food and drink, forensics and biomedical sciences will benefit greatly from these enhanced facilities, as will projects brought forward by our business partners from across the UK.&rdquo;


To study science at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/science-engineering-and-technology/
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<title><![CDATA[Dare Academy finalists revealed]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36370-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 25 May 2017 15:54:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36370-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36370-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[An industry panel selected six student teams for the computer games design competition]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/dare 1.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/dare 1.JPG <![CDATA[

Six talented student teams are today revealed as finalists in Abertay University&rsquo;s new Dare Academy computer games design competition.
Games projects ranging from serious themes such as dementia to &ldquo;frenetic&rdquo; shooters were selected for the final phase of the contest, which offers a prize of major industry exposure and international work placements.
Earlier this month, a panel of games industry experts hosted a judging day at the University in Dundee, where students presented professional pitches stating their case for inclusion.
The final teams include Wee Door with their game, OIL, Lavalamp Games with I am Here, Pocket Sized Hands with Honeypot Espionage, 8Bit10 with King of the Castle, Bit Loom with PHOGS! and Hypnotic Pigeon with Shade.
Leo Reid of 8Bit10 said: &quot;We are developing a multiplayer game in which you control toys in a bedroom scenario. The main reason we entered Dare was that it is a fantastic opportunity to receive guidance and mentorship from industry professionals as well as the academic staff here at Abertay.
Ian Gibb from Lava Lamp Games said: &quot;Our game is called I am Here and it is designed to raise awareness of dementia. We are using Dare to further develop our game and polish it into a more in-depth experience.&quot;
Judge Dave Bradley of industry website PocketGamer.biz said he was already itching to get his hands on some of the games.
He added: &quot;I was amazed by the variety of projects we saw this year: from adventures tackling serious topics like dementia or the Great War, all the way to surreal puzzles games and frenetic multiplayer shooters.
&ldquo;The six finalists not only demonstrated a ton of innovation in their game ideas, but also pitched them professionally to the judges and were able to show team work and forward planning.
&ldquo;Everybody who took part should feel very proud.&quot;
Judge Kirsty Rigden, Development Director at FuturLab said: &ldquo;I was delighted by the variety of subject matter tackled in the game designs, with some interesting new mechanics I&rsquo;d not seen before.
&ldquo;The confidence and professionalism of some of the teams really shone through.
&ldquo;Definitely some bright stars to watch.&rdquo;
Judge Melissa Knox of Blazing Griffin said: &ldquo;The Dare Academy projects are of high quality and the six finalists showed professionalism, hard work, and a load of creativity, which is what pushed their applications through to the next phase.
&ldquo;I was impressed by the diversity of the games and the committed attitude that the entrants showed in building up their prototypes and pitching them to the panel.&rdquo;
Dare Academy is in its inaugural year and comes as Abertay celebrates 20 years since becoming the first university in the world to offer computer games degrees.
Having made it through round one, the six successful teams now enter a hot housing period from July 10 to August 4, with a working budget of &pound;1,000 to develop their prototypes further with advice and mentoring from industry experts.
After that, judges will select the three top teams to showcase their finished products at the UK&rsquo;s biggest games conference, EGX, which attracts more than 75,000 people over four days to the NEC in Birmingham every year.
Those teams will also scoop trip of a lifetime placements to international games studios in China, India and the US.
The overall winner of Dare Academy, which is open only to Abertay students, will be unveiled at the end of EGX on September 24.
For more information visit dareacademy.co.uk or search Dare Academy on Facebook or Twitter.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Eilidh scoops award for PTSD game]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36355-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 25 May 2017 09:24:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36355-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36355-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The fourth year was handed a Virtual Reality game design kit]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Eilidh 1.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Eilidh 1.JPG <![CDATA[

An Abertay University student received a cutting edge virtual reality games design kit after scooping an industry prize.
Eilidh Macleod received an HTC Vive after her project, Recover, won the Totally Epic Prize awarded by Unreal Engine and Epic Games.
The prize was one of a raft of industry awards handed to students from Abertay&rsquo;s School of Arts, Media and Computer Games as the academic year draws to a close.
Fourth year student Eilidh, whose game is designed for people with PTSD, said she was delighted to receive the honour.
She added: &ldquo;The prize was for the project that used the game engine to maximum effect, exploring VR and using it to build the environment.
&ldquo;Unreal Engine 4 definitely helped me a lot in the design of the game and has helped shape who I am as a designer.
&ldquo;The prize is incredible and I never thought I would get it. I&rsquo;m going to continue developing my project and I will explore Recover using this kit.&rdquo;
Jess Hider of Epic Games selected Eilidh&rsquo;s project, saying it had a &ldquo;great focus&rdquo; and was &ldquo;well executed&rdquo;.
For more information on games courses at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/arts-media-computer-games/
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<title><![CDATA[Seaweed beer created in new &pound;3.5m labs]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36333-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 24 May 2017 10:15:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36333-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36333-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay's new labs will be used for Food and Drink, Forensics and Biomedical Sciences]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Labs.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Labs.JPG <![CDATA[

Students created seaweed beer, fava bean vodka and investigated the greatest brand of ready salted crisps ahead of the opening of Abertay University&rsquo;s new &pound;3.5m science labs.
Abertay will next week officially unveil the new facilities which will be used by students from Food and Drink, Forensics and Biomedical Sciernces.
The investment includes the only Consumer Experience Laboratory in Scotland to provide industry-quality climatically controlled booths for sensory analysis of food.
Ahead of the opening on May 30, fourth year student Kirstie McKillop has already taken advantage of the new facilities to carry out testing of her seaweed-infused beer.
The 26-year-old from Linlithgow said Abertay&rsquo;s Food and Consumer Science course provides the ideal gateway to a large range careers in the food industry.
&ldquo;Getting to go out and do work placements was really good because we have found all employers are looking for experience, and not all university courses give you that.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m using the new labs to do some sensory evaluation and cut my product down to the most popular type of beer.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really pleased with how it&rsquo;s going and it&rsquo;s great to have access to such modern facilities.&rdquo;
Like Kirstie, fellow fourth year Fiona Park&rsquo;s final year project to make a distilled spirit out lentils, peas and fava beans was inspired by sustainability.
The 21-year-old from Glasgow said: &ldquo;Abertay sets you up so well because you cover, food, law, marketing and lots of other subjects, so you get so much great experience to pull from that can be used in any industry.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m trying to focus on the use of sustainable raw materials that are better for the environment and legumes don&rsquo;t need the same fertilizers used for more traditional sources like potatoes.&rdquo;
Classmate Emma Webber, 21, from Lenzie, is keen to break into food writing and has already been part of a team that wrote recipes for the BBC Good Food Magazine and This Morning TV show.
She used the lab&rsquo;s specialist lighting function to test participants comparing crisps.
She said: &ldquo;There are five different brands, all of them ready salted, and I&rsquo;m looking at the whole process from the type of potato, the variety each brand uses and the thickness and texture.
&ldquo;Participants gave feedback and try to guess which crisps are being used.&rdquo;
Abertay was last week ranked best in Scotland for Food and Drink courses and best modern university in Scotland for biosciences by the Guardian Good University Guide 2018.
For more information visit&nbsp;https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/science-engineering-and-technology/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay graduate honoured by NHS]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36286-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 23 May 2017 09:31:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36286-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36286-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[An Abertay University graduate has been recognised for his outstanding work with the NHS at a glittering awards ceremony.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/andrew thumb.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/andrew thumb.JPG <![CDATA[An Abertay University graduate has been recognised for his outstanding work with the NHS at a glittering awards ceremony.
Andrew McKean, a Staff Nurse in Short Stay Medicine at Ninewells Hospital, won a silver award in the Outstanding Individual (Clinical) category.
The winners of NHS Tayside Staff Appreciation and Recognition (STAR) Awards were announced on Thursday at a celebration event held at the Invercarse Hotel in Dundee.
The awards offered staff and the public a chance to nominate an individual, service or team in one of six categories for delivering outstanding patient care or going the extra mile in their job. The finalists in each category were invited to the ceremony where the gold, silver and bronze awards were presented. They won glass awards, certificates and educational vouchers.
Ian Simpson, Director of Operations at Abertay, was one of those who nominated Andrew, who graduated with a degree in Nursing from the University in 2015.
Ian said: &ldquo;My sister and I nominated Andrew when my Dad was under his care having been admitted to Ninewells. Dad was very ill and although he has largely recovered now, for a time his prospects looked very bleak indeed. It&rsquo;s very difficult to convey your gratitude to someone who has such a profound effect on your life but when we saw the information for the Star Awards it seemed like a great way to recognise Andrew&rsquo;s work and convey how grateful we felt to Andrew and his colleagues, many of whom are also Abertay graduates.
&ldquo;For both the patient and family members these situations are very stressful and emotional. Andrew&rsquo;s approach to my Dad&rsquo;s care and the way he went out of his way to keep us informed was fantastic. It was such a reassurance to know that Dad was being so well looked after. He really went above and beyond what we could have expected.
&ldquo;Although my Dad&rsquo;s ill health has been a challenging time, it has been really positive to come into contact with Andrew, and other Abertay Alumni, who have gone on to be fantastic practitioners in their chosen field. Of course so much of that is down to each individual&rsquo;s capability and dedication but it&rsquo;s also been a real reminder of the value of what my colleagues do at the University.&rdquo;
The ceremony was hosted by Professor Jason Leitch, National Clinical Director, Healthcare Quality and Strategy Directorate with the Scottish Government.
He said: &ldquo;One of the great privileges of this job is to see the great work around the country done by health and care staff. Tayside is no exception. Great work from great people.&rdquo;
In Andrew&rsquo;s category, the winners were:
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gold: Dr Antony Nicoll, Consultant in Obstetrics &amp; Gynaecology, Ninewells
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Silver: Andrew McKean, Staff Nurse, Short Stay Medicine, Ninewells
&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Bronze: Mr Kismet Hossain-Ibrahim, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Ninewells
&nbsp;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay creatives involved in Dundee Design Festival]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36173-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 22 May 2017 09:26:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36173-en.php]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[Staff and students will host workshops and give talks over the next two weeks]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Haunted 1.png]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Haunted 1.png <![CDATA[

A game that starts on paper and ends in virtual reality will be part of Abertay University&rsquo;s creative contribution to Dundee Design Festival this month.
Running from May 25-29, the festival at West Ward Works is packed full of workshops, talks, exhibitions and tours, all with a focus on design.
Doodle Targets is a virtual reality mini-game experience that sees players design monsters or other characters on paper before they are scanned to become virtual reality shooting targets in just a few seconds.
Abertay student team Pocket Sized Hands created the game in just 40 hours at the Moray Game Jam in Elgin earlier this year and will now show it during a festival slot on Monday May 29.
The team is also behind the acclaimed Honeypot Espionage, an online VR multiplayer shooter focused on stealth combat, which came third at the prestigious Microsoft&rsquo;s Imagine Cup UK 2017.
Team member Gary McCartan said: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s great to be a part of Dundee Design Festival and to feel part of the city&rsquo;s wider creative and design-based community.
&ldquo;We are looking forward to showing off our game and to catching a look at the work of other designers and makers.&rdquo;
Also taking part in the festival will be Abertay lecturer Lynn Parker of the Division of Games and Arts, who will co-deliver a Game Play workshop as part of a build-up event on Wednesday May 24.
The full day interactive session will explore the intersections between games and performance, with participants building narrative structures, character suggestions, and game parameters to produce interactive &lsquo;game-like&rsquo; experiences in real space.
The prototype experience created during the Game Play workshop will be showcased at Dundee Rep on Sunday May 28.
People of all ages are invited to the free viewing session between 1pm and 3pm.
Professor Joseph DeLappe, who arrived at Abertay in January as a Games Research academic, will be part of a PechaKucha evening at West Ward Works on Thursday May 25.
Abertay photographer Jaimini Jethwa will also take part, talking about her upcoming play The Last Queen of Scotland, focused around the actions of notorious dictator Idi Amin.
The PechaKucha night gives a dozen speakers 20 images and 20 seconds per image to talk about whatever they want.
For more information on Dundee Design Festival and to book for events visit http://2017.dundeedesignfestival.com/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Fellowship for disability sport pioneer]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36087-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 17 May 2017 15:51:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36087-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36087-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The University welcomed four new Honorary Fellows during a campus ceremony]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Fellows.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Fellows.jpg <![CDATA[

A disability sport pioneer has been made an honorary fellow of Abertay University after transforming local opportunities in Tayside.
Elizabeth Ferris from Carse of Gowrie was selected for the honour in recognition of her tireless work in establishing and growing the Dundee Dragons wheelchair sport charity since 2013.
The 30-year-old was inducted as an honorary fellow alongside former Assistant Chief Executive of NHS Tayside, Daniel McLaren, former Abertay academic, Professor Louis Natanson and former Abertay Vice-Principal, Professor Mary Malcolm.
Abertay&rsquo;s Division of Sport and Exercise has close links with Dundee Dragons and many students have engaged in training placements before going on to coach disability sport at a national level.
From small beginnings, Elizabeth, originally from Northern Ireland, has grown the organisation to more than 60 members across a range of sports including rugby, basketball, tennis, curling and badminton.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really honoured to receive this Fellowship from Abertay, particularly because of the strong links we have had with the university,&rdquo; said Elizabeth, who suffered a spinal cord injury in 2011 and is a full-time wheelchair user.
She added: &ldquo;When you are in a chair, people treat you as if you are wrapped in cotton wool, so the best thing to disprove that is to get out there and get involved in sport.
&ldquo;The importance of exercise is magnified tenfold for someone with a disability and there&rsquo;s also an important social aspect that can&rsquo;t be overlooked.&rdquo;
Daniel McLaren has contributed greatly, over four decades, to good governance in the National Health Service.
The University of St Andrews graduate has worked with South Eastern Regional Hospital Board, Grampian Health Board, Westminster Hospital and NHS Tayside.
He was a member of the University Court from 2005 to 2014.
Professor Louis Natanson retired from his role as Head of the School of Arts, Media and Computer Games at Abertay in 2015 after 30 years&rsquo; service.
The University of St Andrews graduate initially became a teacher at Kirkton High School in Dundee and went on to teach maths, physics and computing at Southaw School in London and Forfar High School.
At Abertay he rose through the ranks, holding nearly all academic roles, and in 1999 oversaw the development of the new portfolio of programmes in Computer Games and Computer Arts which has been so crucial to the University&rsquo;s success.
Professor Mary Malcolm is currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at the University of Bedfordshire.
She is credited with helping to transform the University into the modern force that it has become.
Prof Malcolm advanced rapidly through the ranks at Abertay, becoming first Senior Lecturer, then Division Leader, Head of the Dundee Business School, and finally Vice-Principal (Academic Development). &nbsp;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Research seeks to enhance fruity flavours in whisky]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36074-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 17 May 2017 09:58:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36074-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36074-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The PhD studentship has the potential to open new markets for Scotland's national drink]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Whisky.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Whisky.JPG <![CDATA[

Research at Abertay University could open a new market for Scotch Whisky by investigating how alternative yeasts can enhance fruity flavours in Scotland&rsquo;s national drink.
Abertay is currently recruiting for a PhD research studentship that aims to increase the understanding of naturally produced flavours in whisky.
The industry is currently governed by strict guidelines stating what can and can&rsquo;t be sold as whisky, and this includes any artificial tampering with taste.
Currently, just one yeast &ndash; Saccharomyces cerevisiae &ndash; is the chief strain used in the production of all whisky, however Prof Graeme Walker of Abertay&rsquo;s Division of Food and Drink in Dundee said his project would study around 20 of the other 1,500 yeast species available.
&ldquo;The yeast is responsible for making the alcohol - and hundreds of other flavour compounds - and this creates the complex flavour and aroma of whisky and other fermented beverages.
&ldquo;One idea is to look at yeast used in other beverages like the wine industry.
&ldquo;Some of these are very interesting in bringing out fruity notes, produced by compounds known as esters.
&ldquo;Whether it&rsquo;s peach, apricot, banana, or whatever you like, there is almost one fruit for each type of ester and these are all chemical compounds that the yeast produces.
&ldquo;Perhaps some of these may have interesting applications for bringing out these flavoured notes in other beverages, including spirits like whisky.&rdquo;
The Abertay project is being carried out in collaboration with the Scotch Whisky Research Institute.
Until now research has focused on distilling yeast mainly for efficiency in producing ethanol, paying little attention to flavour possibilities.
Prof Walker said the studentship project may also examine how yeast co-cultures can be used, with a different yeast strain being added halfway through a fermentation process.
Funding for the research comes from the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre&rsquo;s Collaborative Training Partnership and the project is due to commence in October.
A mini distillation apparatus will be used in Abertay&rsquo;s labs to create small quantities of spirits for sensory analysis.
The deadline for applications for the studentship is May 19.
For more information visit https://www.hirewire.co.uk/HE/1061263/MS_JobDetails.aspx?JobID=76715]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay surges in Guardian guide rankings]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36062-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2017 10:39:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36062-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36062-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay records the biggest increase of any Scottish university]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Ab.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Ab.jpg <![CDATA[

Abertay University has climbed almost 20 places in The Guardian University Guide for 2018 &ndash; the biggest increase in Scotland.
Abertay is now ranked 66th in the respected table published today, rising from 85th place last year.
The University&rsquo;s civil engineering course was ranked 6th &ndash; the best in Scotland &ndash; and is the only Scottish course to offer a guaranteed work placement for every student.
Abertay came in at 9th for its food and drink food programmes &ndash; also the best in Scotland &ndash; and was ranked top modern university in Scotland for biosciences, well inside the top half of the UK table at 48th.
According to the ranking, 88.8% of Abertay students were satisfied with their course &ndash; the best result for a modern university in Scotland - compared with 87.8% at overall first placed Cambridge and 88.4% at second-placed Oxford.
On satisfaction with feedback and assessment, 76.5% of Abertay students were satisfied &ndash; the second best rating in Scotland - outperforming Cambridge 71.2% and Oxford 69%.
A total of 89.3% of students at Abertay were satisfied with the quality of teaching offered within their course &ndash; the best result for a Scottish modern university.
The fresh success comes just two months after Abertay was rated best in Europe for undergraduate computer games degrees and in the world top 10 for postgraduate computer games courses by the prestigious Princeton Review.
Principal Nigel Seaton said: &ldquo;These rankings reflect the outstanding work of our teaching and support staff and the University&rsquo;s determination to provide an excellent education to all our students.&rdquo;
Psychology courses also performed well in the Guardian table, with the University ranked top modern in Scotland and 30th in the UK from more than 100.
Abertay&rsquo;s sports science degrees were rated in the top half of UK courses at 30th, while accounting and finance courses achieved the same ranking.
Abertay ranked 36th for computer science and 31st for criminology.
The University was also 43rd for forensic science, 30th for accounting and finance and 45th for sociology.
Over the past three years Abertay has now climbed a total of 35 places in the Guardian guide.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[New &pound;3.5m science labs to be unveiled]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36047-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 15 May 2017 10:51:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36047-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-36047-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Dame Anne Glover will officially open the labs on May 30]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Labs.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Labs.jpg <![CDATA[&nbsp;

A &pound;3.5m investment to create cutting edge science laboratories at Abertay University will place students at the forefront of food, forensics and biomedical sciences.
The official opening of the new facilities in Dundee will take place on May 30, attended by guests from the worlds of science, industry, business and academia.
Distinguished biologist Dame Anne Glover will formally unveil the suite of labs, which boast four different areas to support the teaching and research of the School of Science, Engineering and Technology, as well as external business projects.
The Consumer Experience Laboratory is unique in Scotland and comprises 12 climatically controlled booths designed for the sensory analysis of food.
It has a preparation and serving room linked to a kitchen as well as a waiting room which can be used for consumer experience testing, student tutorials and small group working.
The New Product Development Laboratory will be used for pilot scale food manufacture schemes across a range of food processes and industries.
Designed to food manufacturing and environmental health standards, the zone features a controlled barrier, change area, walk-in cold room and store.
A teaching area featuring two new labs will be used by the forensic science and biomedical science divisions.
Both are linked, equipped with two high-tech fume cupboards, and designed specifically to accommodate 30 students each.
Features include a controllable camera, independent monitors and a total of 15 display screens which can be operated collectively or independently by teaching staff and students.
The final space &ndash; a learning/social area &ndash; is multi-purpose and includes an 84-inch screen and seating.
A link corridor around all of the labs has seating and lockers.
Students had a major hand in the design of all areas, inputting valuable user comment that helped to shape layout and decorative features.
Professor Carl Schaschke, Head of the School of Science, Engineering and Technology, said the new facilities will provide a major boost to learning and research.
He added: &ldquo;This project forms part of the University&rsquo;s commitment to excellence in teaching and research.
&ldquo;Not only will the new labs benefit Abertay students for years to come, the facilities have huge potential for business and we already have a significant engagement with a number of local companies who are keen to work with us.&rdquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay marks Nurses' Day]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35969-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 12 May 2017 10:59:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35969-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35969-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay colleagues have come together to mark International Nurses&rsquo; Day.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/NursesDay.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/NursesDay.jpg <![CDATA[Abertay colleagues have come together to mark International Nurses&rsquo; Day.
The event is a chance to celebrate nursing staff around the world &ndash; &lsquo;the superheroes of health care&rsquo;.
International Nurses&rsquo; Day is being marked with a host of events and celebrations in hospitals, surgeries, care homes and in communities worldwide.
Staff in the Division of Mental Health Nursing &amp; Counselling got together today to mark &lsquo;Happy Nurses&rsquo; Day&rsquo;.
Robin Ion, Head of Division, Mental Health Nursing &amp; Counselling, said: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s great to celebrate the magnificent contribution made by nurses across the world.
&ldquo;Very best wishes to all our current and former students.&rdquo;
Find out more about our Mental Health Nursing course at https://www.abertay.ac.uk/studying/postgraduate/msc-mental-health-nursing/name,24843,en.php
And check out our video of staff marking the occasion at https://www.facebook.com/AbertayUni/
&nbsp;
&nbsp;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Poster competition to find Unsung Heroes of STEM ]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35897-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 10 May 2017 10:19:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35897-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35897-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay is hosting an event as part of International Women in Engineering Day.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Aleks.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Aleks.JPG <![CDATA[

Abertay University will unveil the Unsung Heroes of STEM at an event marking International Women in Engineering Day.
A series of experts from the world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics will stage talks and workshops at the University&rsquo;s Hannah Maclure Centre on June 23.
Speakers will include Chair of the Institution of Civil Engineers in Scotland Frances Ratcliffe, General Manager of Scottish Water Belinda Oldfield and University of St Andrews lecturer Aileen Fyffe - an expert on the history of science.
The event includes a workshop on unconscious bias which can be booked in advance.
The day will also mark the culmination of a competition where members of the public, including school children and college students, were invited to create a poster describing a little-known STEM discoverer or discovery that has changed people&rsquo;s lives.
Posters will be displayed in the foyer at Abertay from June 19, with the winning entrants receiving prizes at an awards ceremony as part of the main event on June 23.
Around 70 guests are expected to attend from 2pm to 5pm with a workshop session from 12 noon until 1.30pm.
Abertay Civil Engineering Student Aleksandra Tomczyk &ndash; an Interconnect Champion for Equate Scotland &ndash; has organised the event with the help of Programme Leader for Abertay&rsquo;s BSc (Hons) in Civil Engineering, Margi Vilnay.
Aleksandra said: &ldquo;There are so many STEM discoveries that are relatively unknown and this event will shine a light on some of those.
&ldquo;Taking place on International Women in Engineering Day, it is also a chance to celebrate the vital contribution that women have made to the sector.
&ldquo;I wish all of the entrants to our posters competition the best of luck and look forward to receiving many creative entries.&rdquo;
Posters should be A1 size (594mm x 841mm) and have no more than 250 words of text.
Email your poster in PDF format to Alex at 1304133@abertay.ac.uk
Entries are open until midnight on June 12.
To register for the main event or workshop on June 23 visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/unsung-heroes-of-stem-international-women-in-engineering-day-at-abertay-tickets-34107846487
Unsung Heroes of STEM poster.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[International conference on 'missing' issues]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35824-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 09 May 2017 12:12:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35824-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35824-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Abertay event will explore key missing person issues such as dementia, child exploitation and body recovery.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/MISPER.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/MISPER.jpg <![CDATA[Abertay University will host police experts, academics and policy makers from across the world at a prestigious international conference exploring issues around why people go missing.
The International Conference on Missing Children and Adults comes to Scotland for the first time from June 14-16, having previously been held in Brussels and Portsmouth.
Professor Dame Sue Black of the University of Dundee and DNA specialist Dr Susan Hitchin of Interpol have been confirmed as keynote speakers for the event, which will see delegates travel to Dundee from the likes of Hong Kong, Canada, Israel, the Netherlands, Australia, South Africa, Belgium and the US.
Topics will include psychological distress in relatives of missing persons, missing children in migration, parental alienation and links between repeated runaways and sexual exploitation.
Other areas will include the identification and recovery of bodies, human body movement in water, underwater decomposition, responses to young runaways in Tayside and coping with Dementia-related &lsquo;wander-walkers&rsquo;.
The use of technology in missing person cases will also be explored, as well as a concept analysis of going missing and a look at the cultural space between life and death.
More than 150 delegates are expected at Abertay for the event, which is organised in partnership with the Scottish Institute for Policing Research, Police Scotland and the Centre for the Study of Missing Persons at the University of Portsmouth and sponsored by WPC Software.&nbsp;
The full range of challenges associated with missing people will be analysed by people working in the sector, from those charged with responding to live cases to others affected by the concept of &lsquo;missing&rsquo; in its broadest sense.
Abertay forensic psychologist Dr Penny Woolnough, an expert on missing person behaviour and chair of the conference said: &ldquo;A missing person case can range from a teenager failing to come home over a weekend to more sinister incidents where foul play is involved, and as such the sector presents a mammoth challenge for police forces and partner agencies across the world.
&ldquo;By coming together to exchange knowledge in this way, the agencies dealing with these issues on the frontline will go away better equipped to find people and also to offer the suitable support to those involved, the families affected and the staff who must sometimes deal with harrowing discoveries.&rdquo;
Abertay Principal Nigel Seaton said: &ldquo;This conference plays a vital part in global knowledge exchange on issues around missing children and adults and we are delighted to host delegates from across the world.&rdquo;
Registration deadline is Friday June 2 at 5pm.
For more information visit&nbsp;https://www.abertay.ac.uk/research/society/conference-missing-children-and-adults/
&nbsp;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Expert forum to investigate water issues]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35698-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 08 May 2017 10:51:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35698-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35698-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The SAGES group will meet at Abertay to formulate responses to urgent global water crises.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Civ.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Civ.jpg <![CDATA[Some of Scotland&rsquo;s top civil engineering and water management experts will gather in Dundee to devise crucial solutions to urgent global water issues.
Abertay University will host the Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment &amp; Society (SAGES) forum on May 11 and 12, where almost 30 delegates will come up with new and inventive research projects seeking to solve water crises across the world.
There will be a particular focus on nations in Africa and South Asia, which are the key elements of ongoing calls by the UK research councils, such as the RCUK Global Challenges
Research Fund and the NERC India-India Water Quality call.
As one of the UK&rsquo;s top water management research centres, Abertay is the lead institution for the event, which will be attended by academics from Aberdeen, Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh, Heriot Watt, Stirling and West of Scotland universities.
Representatives from the James Hutton Institute, British Geological Survey, SEPA, the Scottish Association for Marine Science, and the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation will also attend the high-level forum.
Head of Abertay&rsquo;s Division of Natural and Built Environment, Professor David Blackwood said combining research with educating the next generations of civil engineers would hold the key to global water solutions for emerging nations.
He added: &ldquo;At Abertay we believe in preparing students for a diverse range of civil engineering projects, including water management, and that&rsquo;s why we are the only Scottish university that offers a guaranteed work placement for every student.
&ldquo;As one of the most research-intensive civil engineering departments in the UK, we are ideally placed to host this forum which I hope will lead to opportunities for Scottish universities to collaborate on crucial research projects.&rdquo;
The forum aims to spark multidisciplinary research in water cycle management, linking natural science research, applied research in water quality and quantity management in rural and urban areas.
A series of major issues for action have been identified by SAGES, including emerging pollutants, ground water and surface water interface and water cycle management.
Workshops at the &ldquo;Integrated Water Cycle Management&rdquo; forum will analyse these and other &ldquo;grand challenges&rdquo; in the sector.
For more information on civil engineering at Abertay visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/science-engineering-and-technology/divisionofnaturalandbuiltenvironment/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Digital Graduate Show draws large crowds]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35688-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 08 May 2017 08:43:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35688-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35688-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[This year's ADGS was the biggest ever staged at Abertay.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Pic2.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Pic2.jpg <![CDATA[

Around 1,000 people flocked to Abertay Digital Graduate Show over the weekend enjoying everything from interactive sandpits to quick-fire PechaKucha.
The showcase of digital art, computer games, cybersecurity, digital forensics, web design and music projects, which continues today and tomorrow, proved a major draw, complemented by a series of additional family activities.
Some of the most popular stands included a sandpit that uses an interactive projector, a game that highlights elderly loneliness and a Triple A horror prototype.
On Saturday morning children and parents learned about Abertay&rsquo;s Computer Arts courses by creating 3D worlds from paper before an afternoon programming session using Minecraft and bananas.
A PechaKucha talk to celebrate 20 years since Abertay became first in the world to offer computer games degrees was staged on Saturday evening, attended by around 300 guests.
Graduates including Ubisoft art director Liam Wong, Danny Parker of Ninja Kiwi, and Timea Tabori of Rockstar North gave short presentations during the event, which was followed by a Back to Campus party for alumni.


Further family activities including sounds effects workshops, comic adventures and stop frame animations ran yesterday with a series of school visits in store today and tomorrow.
A special business breakfast event organised in collaboration with Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce runs from 7.30am tomorrow morning and there will also be coding workshops in partnership with Dundee City Council.
ADGS curator Clare Brennan said it&rsquo;s not too late to catch some of the incredible student projects on show.
She added: &ldquo;The event has been non-stop ever since our VIP launch night on Friday and there has literally been something for everyone.
&ldquo;And we are not finished yet. The show is open from 10am to 3pm on both Monday and Tuesday, so I would encourage people to come down, take a look, and find out more about the work of our School of Arts, Media and Computer Games.&rdquo;

]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Food and Drink degree show a success]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35604-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 05 May 2017 12:56:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35604-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35604-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[More than 30 posters showing projects were viewed by academics, students and their family and friends]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/carl (1).JPG THUMB.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/carl (1).JPG THUMB.JPG <![CDATA[More than 30 students from Abertay's Division of Food and Drink celebrated their final year degree show on Friday May 5.
Head of the School of Science, Engineering and Technology, Prof Carl Schaschke joined Head of the Division of Food and Drink, Prof Costas Stathopoulos to judge the project entries, alongside other department colleagues.
Judging took place throughout the morning and the event culminated in a prize-giving ceremony at 3pm.
Student were joined by family and friends for the ceremony in the University's events space.
Prof Stathopoulos said: &quot;Today's event marks the culmination of four years of hard work from our students and this year's projects were of a very high standard.
&quot;I wish all of our graduates the best of luck for their future careers and I'm certain the education they have received here at Abertay will stand them in good stead for the future.&quot;
&nbsp;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay Digital Graduate Show goes live!]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35550-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 05 May 2017 09:47:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35550-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35550-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[More than 150 student projects on show including a game that tackles PTSD]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/ADGS LIVE.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/ADGS LIVE.JPG <![CDATA[

A five-day feast of digital art, computer games and cybersecurity innovation goes live today at the biggest ever Abertay Digital Graduate Show!
A virtual reality game combating PTSD by a student affected by the disorder, and a poignant game from a graduate who recreated a digital version of her late grandmother&rsquo;s house are among more than 150 projects on display at the Dundee event.
This year marks two decades since Abertay University became first in the world to offer computer games degrees and a special Game Changers exhibition and Games PechaKucha have been organised to coincide with ADGS, as part of the 20 Years of Games celebrations.
Other student projects on view until Tuesday May 9 include a computer programme that aims to enhance communication from space balloons, swamp monster concept art and a game already picked up by Xbox and Playstation that shuns violence in favour of relaxation.
Eilidh MacLeod, who devised the game Recover while tackling her own PTSD, will present her showpiece from inside the sanctuary of a &lsquo;pillow fort&rsquo; &ndash; reflecting the theme of her work.  Members of the public can crawl into the fort, put on a VR headset and be transported into a calm and relaxing world.
She said: &quot;Games were always a huge coping mechanism for me growing up. 
&ldquo;PTSD is a condition that has personally impacted my life, so mental health and improving mental wellbeing through creative practice has always been a huge passion of mine and often the drive behind the majority of my projects.
&ldquo;Recover aims to harness the skills and coping mechanisms taught in clinical therapies given to those suffering from PTSD, and create a safe game environment where they can be practiced and encouraged. 
&ldquo;My project investigated the benefits from both immersive game design practices and developing a self-help compatible mobile application. 
&ldquo;Recover only scraped the surface of what could be done in this area of study and I am excited to continue to develop and explore it further.&quot;


The art director of games giant Ubisoft, Liam Wong, has travelled from Montreal to be part of ADGS and will join a host of other high-profile graduates.
ADGS is free and opens to the public at 6pm today.
A range of free fun-packed family activities including comic workshops, 3D paper world design and Minecraft programming sessions will run tomorrow and Sunday and can be booked in advance.
A 20 Years of Games PechaKucha evening will be staged in Abertay&rsquo;s main lecture theatre tomorrow and the Game Changers exhibition, featuring a selection of influential graduates, will run for several weeks.
For more information and the full programme visit www.abertay.ac.uk/graduateshow.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Science division stages graduate showcase]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35515-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 04 May 2017 12:07:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35515-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35515-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The annual poster presentation covered forensic and biomedical science projects]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Science.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Science.JPG <![CDATA[

An investigation into how e-cigarettes can influence antibiotics and research on early breast cancer detection were among more than 70 final year projects at this year&rsquo;s Abertay University Division of Science showcase.
The annual poster presentation held from 11.30am to 3.30pm on Thursday May 4 included an array of final year work from across&nbsp; BSc Forensic Science and BSc Biomedical/Applied Biomedical Science and will be attended by more than 200 people.
Harley Ross, an Applied Biomedical Science student, has been looking at whether e-cigarettes change how bacteria respond to antibiotics.
Her project found that chemicals in e-cigarettes lead to greater biofilm formation by bacteria - a property that is often associated with increased antibiotic resistance.
Harley said: &ldquo;There&rsquo;s not a lot of research going on into e-cigarettes just now so I thought it would be an interesting area of study.
&ldquo;I hope it is something that will be carried on in the future.&rdquo;
Other research topics range from developing techniques to identify fingerprints on new polymer bank notes to working out a method to identify genuine heather honey.
Another graduate explored the ethics of holistic fertility clinics while further research evaluated biomarkers for the early detection of breast cancer.
All students are presenting posters summarising their research to academic staff and the general public.
This is the final assessment for the students and the culmination of four years of study.
The final project comprises one third of the final year for both programmes and makes a substantial contribution to degree classification
Projects are based around staff research interests so that students can carry out work at the cutting edge of their discipline.
Recent investment by the laboratory space has increased capacity to support students.


Dr Janet Horrocks, who organised the poster event, said this year&rsquo;s graduates had come up with a diverse range of projects.
She added: &ldquo;This event is the highlight of the year for our graduates and marks the end of their degree courses.
&ldquo;The standard of this year&rsquo;s work has been particularly high and&nbsp; that is testament to the hard work and long hours the students have put in to achieve their research goals.&rdquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Final line-up confirmed for Games PechaKucha]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35480-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 04 May 2017 10:55:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35480-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35480-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Ubisoft art director Liam Wong will fly in from Montreal for the event]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Liam Wong thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Liam Wong thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[The stellar final line-up for Abertay University&rsquo;s 20 Years of Games PechaKucha has now been confirmed.
Ubisoft art director Liam Wong will travel from Montreal for the free event on Saturday evening, which will be attended by more than 300 fans of games, computer arts and culture.
The award-winning designer, who was recently included on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, completes a group of a dozen speakers.
Organised to celebrate 20 years since Abertay became first in the world to offer degrees in computer games, the series of quick-fire talks will chart the history of the gaming industry and the impact that Dundee graduates have had.
Other confirmed speakers for the event in Abertay&rsquo;s main lecture theatre include:
Danny Parker, Head of Mobile Technology, Ninja Kiwi, graduated in 2004 - BSc Computer Games Technology.
Amrita Bharij, UI/UX Designer, Rockstar Games, graduated in 2006 - BA Computer Arts.
Timea Tabori, Engine Programmer, Rockstar North, graduated in 2013 - BSc Computer Games Technology.
Zoe Sams, Tools Programmer, graduated in 2014 - BSc Computer Games Technology.
Jess Hider, European Community Manager, Unreal Engine - Epic Games, graduated in 2015 - BA Computer Arts.
Caitlin Goodale, User Experience Designer, King, graduated in 2016 - BA Computer Arts.
Brian Lawson, Senior Games Designer, Reagent Games, graduated in 1989 - BSc Applicable mathematics, mathematics and computer science.
Mona Bozdog, PHD Student, Abertay University PHD Student.
Joseph De Lappe, Professor in Games Research, Abertay University.
Ken Fee, Games Lecturer, Abertay University.
Gareth Robinson, Director, Biome Collective, graduated in 2012 - BSc Computer Games Technology.
Presenters will show 20 images, each for 20 seconds and will talk about their experiences since graduating or collaborating with Abertay University.
The event, from 5-8.30pm, will look at the games scene in a fun and informal way and will be followed by an After Party in the Student Centre.
A small number of places are still available at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/20-years-of-games-powered-by-pecha-kucha-tickets-32986202620
&nbsp;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Digital dress student hails Graduate Show]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35289-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 02 May 2017 10:40:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35289-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35289-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Ilona Gatherer now working at Tatler after successful Abertay degree]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Ilona Gatherer_4.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Ilona Gatherer_4.jpg <![CDATA[&zwnj;

&nbsp;
This time last year, Abertay graduate, Ilona Gatherer was getting ready to present her honours project at the Abertay Digital Graduate Show.
Her work brought to life a plain white dress through projection mapping, the same technique that animates some of the world&rsquo;s most famous buildings at New Year&rsquo;s Eve celebrations.
The mesmerising final projection video turned the basic outfit into the ultimate party dress that changed colour and design to the beat of Oh Wonder&rsquo;s Midnight moon.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The freedom within the degree allowed me to experiment and work on a project completely out of my comfort zone and to create a really unique final piece of work,&rdquo; Ilona said.
&ldquo;The lecturers greatly encouraged me to work with emerging media and to push me even further to stand out with my project.&rdquo;
Translating her digital work to a physical environment took her a lot of planning and alterations, which paid off with her winning the Hannah Maclure Centre Award for Best Creative Installation.
Her advice to the students taking part in this year&rsquo;s Abertay Digital Graduate Show would be to talk to as many people as they can. &ldquo;You never know who you could be speaking to, what insight they could have or what it could lead to.
&ldquo;It also helps you to practice describing and discussing your project and design style for later job interviews.&rdquo;
The 24-year-old now works at Conde Nast publication and society magazine, Tatler as a Multimedia Assistant. In her role, she designs graphics, animations, motion graphics, photography and videos, along with co-ordinating video shoots and picture research for the Tatler social media and website.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a really fun and diverse role, I have a lot of freedom to try new styles and time to focus on creating exciting work.&rdquo;
Her lasting impression of Dundee is its emphasis on design. &ldquo;It appreciates the design community. There is so much encouragement for artists and their work.
&ldquo;It was a really exciting place to study as a designer.&rdquo;
The Abertay Digital Graduate Show runs from the 5-9 May featuring the final year work of more than 150 students in the School of Arts, Media and Computer Games.
For more information of Abertay Digital Graduate Show visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/graduateshow/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay courses climb rankings in Uni Guide]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35014-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 27 Apr 2017 14:26:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35014-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35014-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay courses have enjoyed substantial improvements according to the latest Complete University Guide.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/complete pic web.jpeg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/complete pic web.jpeg <![CDATA[Abertay courses have enjoyed substantial improvements according to the latest Complete University Guide.
Published this week, the scores are based on such measures as student satisfaction, research quality and graduate prospects.
Abertay&rsquo;s Sport Science jumped up by 22 places to number 32.
Dr Scott Hardie, Head of Division of Sport &amp; Exercise Sciences, said: &ldquo;This outstanding achievement reflects the excellent and extremely hard working staff in the Division, and their dedication towards working in partnership with students to enhance their learning experience.&rdquo;
The Psychology Division rose nine places, achieving an overall score of 88.3, placing it 33rd on the list.
Dr Clare Cunningham, Head of Psychology Division, was delighted with the result.
She said: &ldquo;Moving up nine places to 33rd is amazing for a small department. I want to thank all the team for their continued hard work and support that is pushing us from strength to strength. Well done everyone.&rdquo;
Meanwhile Law fared well, jumping nine places to number 30. Accounting and Finance went up seven places to number 84, while Business &amp; Management Studies went up by five to number 70.
Gavin Reid, Head of Dundee Business School, was delighted with the efforts of all those involved.
He said: &ldquo;The performance of Law was magnificent and is testament to the great leadership and inspiring teamwork by all members of the Division.
&ldquo;The other two Divisions of Accounting, Finance and Economics and Business &amp; Management also achieved substantial gains in their rankings. In the competitive fields in which they lie, this is a very difficult thing to do. All staff are to be congratulated on a great team effort.&rdquo;
Civil Engineering and Computer Science both moved up one place to 28 and 58, respectively.
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<title><![CDATA[Relaxation game at Grad Show Business Breakfast]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35012-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 27 Apr 2017 14:12:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35012-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35012-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The makers of Glaze will give a talk as part of the Abertay Digital Graduate Show Business Breakfast]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Glaze.png]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Glaze.png <![CDATA[

An Abertay University game development studio is aiming for international commercial success with an innovative title that shuns violence in favour of relaxation.
Students from Puny Astronaut will showcase their unique title Glaze at a special Business Breakfast from Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce, as part of next week&rsquo;s Abertay Digital Graduate Show.
Focusing on relaxation and play, the game &ndash; aimed at children between six and twelve and casual-gaming adults &ndash; is a far cry from the often violent titles that have come to dominate UK sales.
Team producer Cian Roche, 25, will present a talk at the Business Breakfast on Tuesday May 9, explaining the collaborative design process that saw a multidisciplinary team of programmers, artists, sound designers, and level designers create the world of Glaze.
The same event will act as a launch for applications to phase two of the Cultural Tourism Fund, which has already assisted local projects including Dundee Museum of Transport.
Cian, a Game Design and Production Management student at Abertay, said: &ldquo;Glaze is an escape from bullets, explosions, and noise, and acts as a chance to catch your breath &ndash; the game is a very undemanding and gentle experience.
&ldquo;It first started as a prototype last year when we had 10 weeks to develop it as part of Dare to be Digital.
&ldquo;You fly around a gentle, charming countryside world as a friendly flying dragon and it is designed to lull you into a state of relaxation.
&ldquo;We have had three-year-olds playing it and 83-year-old grandparents playing it.&rdquo;
Glaze won a &pound;25,000 funding pot after scooping the Channel 4 prize at last year&rsquo;s Dare to be Digital games design competition, run by Abertay.
It has also been showcased at the Perth Museum and Art Gallery, and at the Discovery Science Centre in Dundee.
Since then work on the game has taken off and it is now being developed for Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
&ldquo;We have been working hard over the last few months and we can&rsquo;t wait to showcase the game and hear what people think,&rdquo; said Cian.
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s not another game that&rsquo;s like this and it appeals to what we called a &lsquo;non-core&rsquo; gaming audience.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s an ambitious project - we are making a very richly detailed game in a very short time for two major consoles.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve pushed ourselves to make the most of our skill and talent, and the team have done an incredible job.&rdquo;
With additional funding, Puny Astronaut hope to continue to expand Glaze into next year, with a view to a commercial launch that would see the product retailing for around &pound;15.
Abertay has supported the team by providing dedicated office space, and loaning them computer equipment.
The next round of the Cultural Tourism Fund will open on May 9 with the final closing date for applications the June 14, 2017.
All applications will be evaluated by a panel comprising representatives from Scottish Enterprise and Dundee City Council with applicants notified of the decision by Thursday June 22.
The Abertay Digital Graduate Show runs from May 5-9 featuring the final year work of more than 150 students from the School of Arts, Media and Computer Games.
To book a place on at the Business Breakfast visit http://www.dundeeandanguschamber.co.uk/events/DACC-Business-Breakfast_3191.html
For more information of Abertay Digital Graduate Show visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/graduateshow/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[New China hub to prepare students for Abertay]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35004-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 27 Apr 2017 08:52:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35004-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-35004-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Pixseed Institute of Digital Art has been officially opened in Beijing]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/1314488530 (1).jpgTHUMB.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/1314488530 (1).jpgTHUMB.jpg <![CDATA[

A state-of-the-art new learning space will prepare Chinese computer games students for one of the world&rsquo;s top postgraduate courses at Abertay University.
Abertay Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Nigel Seaton attended the unveiling of the new Pixseed Institute of Digital Art in Beijing, where students will train for five months before coming to Dundee to join the University&rsquo;s MProf Games Development programme.
The visit on Thursday April 27 followed the signing of a cooperation agreement between Abertay and school owner Perfect World Education in December, with a view to furthering collaboration and cultural exchange between the two countries&rsquo; games sectors.
Pixseed opens as Abertay celebrates 20 years since becoming the first University in the world to offer computer games degrees, with a programme of events running on campus in Dundee throughout the year.
And just last month, Abertay&rsquo;s MProf course was ranked inside the world&rsquo;s top ten games courses by the prestigious Princeton Review, while undergraduate courses were rated best in Europe.


Prof Seaton said the five-month Master of Professional Practice in Games Development Orientation Programme (MPPOP) in Beijing would provide Chinese students with the ideal preparation for entering Abertay.
He added: &ldquo;Pixseed is a fantastic resource and acts as a tangible marker of the growing collaboration between Abertay University and Perfect World, as well as reflecting the strength of collaboration between the UK and China in Higher Education.
&ldquo;Abertay&rsquo;s MProf programme was recently ranked in the global top ten for postgraduate computer games courses, indicating the outstanding quality of teaching and support that students joining us from Beijing can expect to receive.
&ldquo;I am confident that the creative industries of both countries are well placed for further success as we continue to share our talent and expertise, and to grow together.&rdquo;
Pixseed is a talent incubator that focuses on digital art fields such as games, comics and animation, TV and movies to cultivate talent in design, research and development and management.


All courses will use classic games as case studies in teaching and practicing and students will get internship opportunities in Perfect World Education and its affiliated companies, as well as other enterprises.
Pixseed was unveiled during a ceremony attended by President of Perfect World Education Investment Co. Ltd Wang Yuyun and representatives from the Chinese games and animation industry.
Wang Yuyun said: &ldquo;We have experience in judging the job market and we know how to train a suitable talent.
&quot;And more importantly, we are able to integrate top-class digital innovation education resources from across the world, and that is why we are fully confident in the future of Pixseed.&quot;
To a warm reception from the crowd, Prof Seaton presented Wang Yuyun with a toy Highland Cow as a gesture of friendship and a play on the similarity between the Mandarin words for 'good' and 'cow'.
The MPPOP is Perfect World&rsquo;s first education programme and the company is focusing on developing talent with an international outlook for the Chinese market.


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<title><![CDATA[Talk will explore science behind food industry]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34935-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 26 Apr 2017 10:31:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34935-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34935-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Dr John Grigor will present at Cafe Science]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Woman eating.jpeg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Woman eating.jpeg <![CDATA[An Abertay University lecturer will host a talk exploring the science of the food industry.
Dr John Grigor of the Division of Food and Drink will speak at a Caf&eacute; Science evening in Dundee on Monday May 8.
The event, organised in partnership with the University of Dundee, will focus on why we choose particular foods and how we change our tastes throughout our lives.
Dr Grigor said his talk will also touch on food sustainability and whether we will ever be convinced to eat insects.
He added: &ldquo;Choosing, buying and eating foods is an everyday activity we take mostly for granted in the western world.
&ldquo;Nevertheless, behind the fully stocked supermarket shelves is a sophisticated industry which may know you better than you know yourself.
&ldquo;I will discuss the science behind our food preferences and how it develops from birth through to old age.
&ldquo;The talk will also look at how our food choices are influenced by culture, social, personal and emotional preferences.&rdquo;
&nbsp;The talk, titled &lsquo;Does the Food Industry Listen to Me?&rsquo; is free and begins at 7pm at&nbsp;Avery &amp; Co. at 34 South Tay Street.&nbsp;
To book visit https://www.cafesciencedundee.co.uk/?p=2197
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<title><![CDATA[Triple awards success for games students]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34927-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 26 Apr 2017 09:06:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34927-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34927-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay performs well in trio of major competitions]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Dare image (1).jpg THUMB.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Dare image (1).jpg THUMB.jpg <![CDATA[Students from Abertay&rsquo;s School of Arts, Media and Computer Games are celebrating success in three major competitions.
Abertay teams reached the finals of Grads in Games&rsquo;s Sumo Digital Rising Star competition, Microsoft&rsquo;s 2017 Imagine Cup UK and TARGETjobs Undergraduate of the Year.
Third year Computer Arts student, Dorota Sekula scooped the Sumo Digital Rising Star Overall and Character Art prize, which guarantees her an internship interview with top games studio Sumo Digital.
The Sumo Digital Rising Star competition is the biggest competition in Europe for students who are not yet in their final year.
Dorota and her fellow candidates were evaluated on a portfolio assessment and an art specialisation project that gave them an art brief to create a publishable product.
The 22 finalists then went onto an industry-style interview where they received advice from games studios as well as industry speakers.
Dayna Galloway, Head of the Division of Games and Arts said: &ldquo;We&rsquo;re delighted by Dorota&rsquo;s success. The competition is a great opportunity for students to showcase their artwork and get industry feedback.&rdquo;
Dorota is currently taking advantage of Abertay&rsquo;s partnership with NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences by spending a year studying in their games department in the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, student team, Pocket Sized Hands also had success at Microsoft&rsquo;s 2017 Imagine Cup UK competition by coming joint third alongside a student from the University of Oxford.
Students Gary McCartan, Alan Yeats and Rory Thomson, who make up Pocket Sized Hands, reached the final with their online VR multiplayer game, Honeypot Espionage.
The Imagine Cup empowers the next generation of computer science students to team up and find the next big thing.
From the 400 who signed up, only ten teams made the final and two of those were from Abertay.
Also at the competition were students Jack Gullen, Cameron McPherson and Michael Brown from Obviously Games who made a co-operative virtual reality and HoloLens game.
Along with the competition winners, there was also a special John Brengman Award given out to entrants that showed Imagination, Inspiration and Innovation in their projects.
John Brengman was an Abertay graduate who reached the final of the UKs Imagine Cup in 2015, but sadly died of cancer last year.
His family set up the prize to celebrate a project that matched the same goals as John&rsquo;s.
Third year Computing student, Callum Dickson also enjoyed success, making it to the final of the TARGETjobs Undergraduate of the Year.
Callum was nominated for the Computer Science, IT and Physics award partnered by with tech company, FDM.
This year&rsquo;s competition was entered by more than 3,500 students from over 130 universities and Callum managed to get down to the final ten, which was an amazing achievement.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay lecturer made Guggenheim Fellow]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34883-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Apr 2017 09:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34883-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34883-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[An Abertay University lecturer has received a highly prestigious award, having been made a Guggenheim Fellow in the Fine Arts.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Joseph website.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Joseph website.jpg <![CDATA[An Abertay University lecturer has received a highly prestigious award, having been made a Guggenheim Fellow in the Fine Arts.
Professor Joseph DeLappe is among an esteemed and diverse list of distinguished scholars, artists and scientists to be selected for the honour.
The 2017 Fellowship winners &ndash; awarded by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation - were officially revealed in an advert in the New York Times with Joseph listed under &lsquo;Joseph DeLappe, Dundee, Scotland&rsquo;.
Fellowships are given to &lsquo;individuals who have already demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts&rsquo;.
They are financial grants given to individuals for up to 12 months, which allow them to work on projects with as much creative freedom as possible.
The Foundation receives approximately 3,000 applications each year with around 175 Fellowships awarded.
Joseph, who arrived at Abertay in January as a Professor in Games Research in the School of Arts, Media &amp; Computer Games, has a hugely impressive portfolio of work behind him.
From 17-foot polygon sculptures of Gandhi, to a weeping Statue of Liberty cardboard creation and a project highlighting the number of American military casualties in Iraq, Joseph has never shied away from controversial subjects.
Originally hailing from San Francisco, Joseph has worked with electronic and new media since 1983, and his works in online gaming performance, sculpture and electromechanical installation have been exhibited to critical acclaim throughout the world.
In 1999, Joseph began creating &lsquo;The Mouse Mandala&rsquo;, put together with used, broken or discarded computer mice, woven into a growing spiral. He bought the mice hundreds at a time through electronics surplus stores in the Silicon Valley.
The work was inspired by contemporary work cultures while paying a wry tribute to the weavers and craftspeople whose lives were upended by the UK industrial revolution.
In 2006, he began the controversial project &lsquo;dead&#8208;in&#8208;iraq&rsquo;, to consecutively type all the names of America's military casualties from the war in Iraq into the America's Army first person shooter online recruiting game.
From 2007 to 2009, Joseph worked on three of his &lsquo;Cardboard Gandhi&rsquo; creations. Standing 17-feet high, the polygon sculptures were created in tribute to Gandhi&rsquo;s 248-mile Salt March across India in 1930, protesting against UK taxes.
Joseph built the statue after recreating the march over 26 days with the help of a treadmill and the online community Second Life.
In 2013, he rode a specially-equipped bicycle to draw a 460-mile long chalk line around the Nellis Air Force Range to surround an area that would be large enough to create a solar farm that could power the whole of America.
In 2015, Joseph co-collaborated on &lsquo;Liberty Weeps&rsquo;, a 9-foot cardboard sculpture commissioned for #ManifestJustice, a pop-up exhibition in Los Angeles. The project was a response to the state of &lsquo;truth, justice and liberty&rsquo; in the United States.
His critically-acclaimed works have been featured in the likes of the New York Times and he has appeared on CNN.
At Abertay, Joseph is continuing his own creative research in computer games and new media based practices and will lead efforts to highlight and coordinate research.
Joseph spoke of his delight at receiving the award.
He said: &ldquo;I am quite over the moon about this. It is such an honour to be awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in the Fine Arts. The financial support and professional support granted by this prestigious award will surely prove to be instrumental in further developing and disseminating my creative practice.&rdquo;
To view the advert announcement in the New York Times, click here https://www.gf.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NYTimesAd2017.pdf]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Dundee MSP backs Heart Tay Heart at Abertay event]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34867-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 24 Apr 2017 09:44:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34867-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34867-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Dundee MSP Shona Robison has spoken of her commitment to help those with mental health issues &ldquo;get the right help at the right time&rdquo;.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Shona web pic.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Shona web pic.JPG <![CDATA[Dundee MSP Shona Robison has spoken of her commitment to help those with mental health issues &ldquo;get the right help at the right time&rdquo;.
Ms Robison attended the official launch of Heart Tay Heart, which aims to raise awareness of mental health in Dundee.
Hosted by Abertay University on Friday evening, the launch offered an opportunity for the organisers to thank all those who have contributed towards the upcoming week of events.
Heart Tay Heart&rsquo;s mental health awareness week was created by people within the Dundee community who have a passion and determination to push for a different conversation around mental health.
Organised by Abertay student Louise Johnstone, the week involves a host of events.
Ms Robison, MSP for Dundee East and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, spoke of her delight at attending the opening event at Abertay&rsquo;s Student Centre on Friday for the city&rsquo;s Mental Health Awareness Week.
She said: &ldquo;It is admirable that Louise, and everyone else involved, are opening up the conversation about mental health here in Dundee. They are making it possible for us to specifically listen to the stories of Dundonians and their journey with their own mental health, and they are highlighting practical strategies to help manage and recover from mental health challenges.
&ldquo;The Scottish Government is committed to all the principles of what has brought all of us here today. I want to see a Scotland where people can get the right help at the right time. Where people can expect recovery and fully enjoy their rights, free from discrimination and stigma.&rdquo;
Abertay University is playing its part in Heart Tay Heart with a series of events taking place this coming week (April 24-28).
From a lunchtime Walk Up the Law today to suicide risk awareness workshops, a dementia awareness workshop, mindfulness stress-buster sessions, there is lots going on to mark the week.
For the full programme of events, click here http://www.heart-tay-heart.co.uk/heart-tay-heart-events]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Amazing line up for Abertay Digital Graduate Show]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34850-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Apr 2017 11:07:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34850-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34850-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[A special exhibition paying tribute to graduates who changed the games industry is among a host of cultural, artistic and family attractions confirmed for the Abertay Digital Graduate Show.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Sophie studio web.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Sophie studio web.jpg <![CDATA[A special exhibition paying tribute to graduates who changed the games industry is among a host of cultural, artistic and family attractions confirmed for next month&rsquo;s Abertay Digital Graduate Show.
Today the full line-up for the five-day smorgasbord of digital delicacies is confirmed with activities ranging from alumni reunions, to workshops creating 3D paper worlds, and even a Minecraft session using bananas.
In addition to visually stunning artwork, concept games, immersive sound projects and innovative cybersecurity programmes from more than 150 final year students, the show will feature around a dozen additional events for members of the public, schoolchildren and businesses.
Taking place across all five floors of Abertay&rsquo;s Student Centre for the first time, the show has been expanded to celebrate 20 years since the University became the first in the world to offer degrees in computer games.
A special &lsquo;Game Changers&rsquo; exhibition will be one of the highlights of the programme with a selection of former Abertay students recognised for the paths they have forged into the games industry.
The list of those included in the gallery will remain under wraps until the VIP launch night on Friday May 5 and the exhibition will stay in place for several weeks after the show closes on Tuesday May 9.
ADGS curator Clare Brennan said the show would have something for people of all ages.
She added: &ldquo;Our students are putting the final touches to their ADGS projects and there is a real buzz around campus as we all prepare for our biggest show yet.
&ldquo;Including the Game Changers exhibition was our way of paying tribute to a small section of the sea of talented graduates who have&nbsp; gone on to shape the games industry across the world.&rdquo;
For more information visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/graduateshow/&nbsp;and read on for a fantastic graduate case study and for the full programme.  CASE STUDY
Visually stunning concept art viewed through a cardboard device that turns a mobile phone into a Virtual Reality (VR) headset will be part of Sophie North's Abertay Digital Graduate Show submission.
The digital artist from Mansfield, near Nottingham - who is currently working as art director on a project with Disney - is investigating VR design production pipelines as part of her final year dissertation.
Using Google Cardboard headsets, members of the public attending ADGS will step into an eerie virtual swamp world created from scratch by the 23-year-old.
&ldquo;It's a swamp scene environment and the story revolves around a scientist who has been looking for a swamp giant,&quot; Sophie explained.
&ldquo;You can put on this cardboard headset, slot in your phone, and be able to see a digital painting all the way round.
&ldquo;This is something that everyone can access and it's basically turning your mobile into a VR machine.
&ldquo;My honours project was concept art for VR, so I'm looking into the process of visualising and producing that, and how it fits into the industry pipeline.&rdquo;
When selecting a university, Sophie had a number of unconditional offers but chose Abertay due to its Creative Skillset accreditation and friendly atmosphere at the Open Days she attended.
&ldquo;In essence my course is a digital arts course, so while there&rsquo;s sometimes a perception that Abertay is focused on games, there are so many skills that you learn for the wider digital industry.
&ldquo;The great thing about Abertay is that you get to work with other people across so many different departments, so rather than working on your own in isolation you get experience working with programmers, sound guys and developers, meaning you are a lot more practiced in an industry environment by the end of it.
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FULL PROGRAMME
Friday 5 May
6pm-9pm: Abertay Digital Graduate Show public opening. Exhibitions, demonstrations and Game Changers Exhibition (No booking required).
Saturday 6 May
12pm-4pm: Abertay Digital Graduate Show open to public
10.30am &ndash; 12pm: Free Family Workshop &lsquo;Building 3D Paper Worlds&rsquo; https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/freefamily-workshop-building-3d-worldstickets-33460991727
1pm-2.30pm: Free Family Workshop &lsquo;Learn to program while playing Minecraft with a banana!&rsquo; https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/freeworkshop-learn-to-program-whileplaying-minecraft-with-a-banana-tickets-33461437059
2pm-5pm: Tours for &lsquo;Back to Campus&rsquo; alumni. To book email alumni@abertay.ac.uk
5pm-8.30pm: 20 Years of Games PechaKucha https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/20-years-of-games-powered-by-pecha-kucha-tickets-32986202620
8.30pm-Late: &lsquo;Back to Campus&rsquo; party https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/20-years-of-games-poweredby-pecha-kucha-tickets-32986202620
Sunday 7 May
12pm &ndash; 4pm: Abertay Digital Graduate Show open to public
10.30am &ndash; 12pm: Free Family Workshop &lsquo;Making Sound Effects in Games&rsquo; https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/myevent?eid=33461667749
1pm &ndash; 2.30pm: Free Family Workshop &lsquo;Stop Frame Animation&rsquo; https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/publish?crumb=7ed020b-053de73&amp;eid=33461786103
1pm &ndash; 2.30pm: Free family Workshop &lsquo;Comic Adventure Workshop&rsquo; https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-family-workshops-a-comic-adventure-workshop-tickets-33461998739
Monday 8 May
10am-3pm: Abertay Digital Graduate Show open to public
10am &ndash; 1pm: Primary School Visits including quick-fire talks and tours. To book email v.collie@abertay.ac.uk
Tuesday 9 May
7.30am-9.30am: ADGS Business Breakfast
10am-3pm: Abertay Digital Graduate Show open to public
1pm &ndash; 3pm: Secondary School Visits including quick-fire talks and tours. To book email v.collie@abertay.ac.uk]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Hockey star bounced back from equestrian fall     ]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34748-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Apr 2017 09:51:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34748-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34748-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Katie Robertson switched sports after a serious showjumping accident]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Katie 2.JPGTHUMB.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Katie 2.JPGTHUMB.JPG <![CDATA[
&zwnj;
An Abertay University elite athlete who survived a serious showjumping accident is preparing to compete for Scotland &ndash; after switching to hockey.
Katie Robertson from Fife was in the early stages of an equestrian career that had seen her selected to compete for Great Britain in European competition, when a fall during a show in Wales saw her knocked unconscious for 10 minutes and rushed to hospital.
Aged just 14 at the time, the former Kilgraston School pupil had to be removed from the arena out cold on a spinal board having broken her shoulder and collar bone.
While she never regained the confidence to ride competitively, Katie&rsquo;s decision to turn her attention to hockey yielded positive results.
Quickly progressing through the school ranks as a teenager, she made the Scotland Under 18 team aged 16 and is now competing at full international level.
The 20-year-old BSc Sport and Psychology student from Freuchie said she refused to let the 2010 fall from her horse, Atlantic Swift, put her off pursuing a career in sport.
&ldquo;I did ride a couple of times after that but I didn&rsquo;t have the confidence to really go for it.
&ldquo;I took up hockey because I wanted something to fill up my time and it has just gone on from there.
&ldquo;We are training just now for World League 3 in Brussels in June and if we reach the quarter-final stages then we qualify for the World Cup in the London next year.
&ldquo;It is such an honour to play for your country and I have a tear in my eye every time I pull on the jersey and the national anthem is playing.&rdquo;
Third year student Katie, who attended Falkland Primary, is on Abertay&rsquo;s Elite Athlete Development Programme and is completing her course part-time to allow additional training time for both club and country.
After graduating, the Grove Menzieshill player, who trains at Dundee International Sports Complex, hopes to stay in sport both as a competitor and a coach.
She added: &ldquo;The support I have had here at Abertay has been incredible and it is fantastic to be surrounded by so many talented staff and students.&rdquo;
Abertay currently has 23 sports clubs with over 450 members.
The University&rsquo;s Elite Athlete Development Programme provides strength and conditioning programmes, financial support, lifestyle management and, where necessary, academic flexibility.
For more information visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/student-life/sport/elite/ or https://www.abertay.ac.uk/student-life/sport/clubs/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Business students design call lab of future]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34737-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Apr 2017 13:11:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34737-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34737-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Dundee Business School used gamification to improve BT's workplace environment]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/34_BT_Dundee_AR (1).jpgTHUMB.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/34_BT_Dundee_AR (1).jpgTHUMB.jpg <![CDATA[

Abertay students used computer games technology to help design BT's first Customer Experience Lab in Dundee.
Designed to reinvent the traditional contact centre, the unique Lab will trial innovative customer service solutions and feature concepts developed in collaboration with students at Abertay&rsquo;s Dundee Business School.
Those which prove successful will be extended to other BT centres and operations in the UK.
A team of 31 multi-skilled advisors has been drawn from BT&rsquo;s existing city operations to staff the new Lab and provide expertise on a range of business enquiries - from new orders to billing and technical support. Business customers who call in will only need to speak to a single advisor, regardless of the reason for their call.
In the month since the Lab opened its doors, the newly-trained team has handled more than 3,000 calls from small and medium-sized business customers across the UK.
The Lab was designed by Glasgow workplace architects Alpha Scotland to create a unique collaborative and creative space.
The Abertay students came up with several ideas to transform the traditional contact centre environment after being given a brief to rip up the rule book and redefine the role of the advisor.
They applied fresh thinking to workplace layout and feel, use of technology to create new ways of working and how to improve productivity and engagement.
Among the student concepts to be incorporated into the final Lab design were a &lsquo;product bench&rsquo; with working versions of BT&rsquo;s products, which advisors can use during conversations with customers; wireless headsets to let people to move around while they are on the phone; and the use of &lsquo;gamification&rsquo; to provide engaging training opportunities.
For example, during training sessions one team could create a fault on a piece of kit typically used by a customer &ndash; such as a computer &ndash; and the opposing team would score points for fixing these faults against the clock.
Charlie Malone of Abertay University&rsquo;s Dundee Business School, who leads the Innovation for Global Growth partnership with BT, said: &ldquo;Abertay has a fantastic working relationship with BT and the success of this project demonstrates what can happen when companies place faith in the creativity and fresh ideas of our students.
&ldquo;With a major focus on collaboration with industry and across academic disciplines, Abertay does things differently, and the use of gamification in this workplace of the future is a prime example of how that approach can produce incredible results.&rdquo;
BT&rsquo;s Trafford Wilson, managing director for customer service, business and public sector, said: &ldquo;Through innovation and trialling new processes, we&rsquo;re addressing things that our customers tell us we can improve. We know our customers don&rsquo;t like having their call transferred from one department to another, so we&rsquo;ve created a team of experts that can handle most enquiries on the one call.&quot;Dundee-based Alison MacKenzie, general manager for BT customer service, said: &ldquo;We felt we had a great talent pool in Dundee to draw on for the launch, not only among our own employees to staff the Lab, but with Abertay&rsquo;s students providing some exciting new ideas which now move from concept to reality.&quot;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Funded places for Mental Health Nursing Programme]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34729-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Apr 2017 15:17:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34729-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34729-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay is offering four funded places for its Masters by Research programme]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/people-woman-coffee-meeting (1).jpgTHUMB.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/people-woman-coffee-meeting (1).jpgTHUMB.jpg <![CDATA[Abertay is offering four funded places on its Masters by Research programme as part of an ongoing ambition to develop a centre of excellence in mental health nursing.
Successful applicants will work with one of Scotland&rsquo;s most published Mental Health Nursing academics, develop subject expertise, and become proficient in research design, conduct and dissemination.
To qualify you must be Registered Mental Health Nurse currently working in the field in Scotland.
Candidates must have an Upper Second Class Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline and/or a Master&rsquo;s degree.
In some cases appropriate professional or experiential learning may be considered in combination with a lower classification of Honours degree.
Research may focus on any area relevant to mental health nursing, but should have the potential to further knowledge and improve patient care.
We particularly welcome projects which explore:
&bull; Inpatient care &bull; Aspects of risk, resilience, and safety planning&bull; Medication management and non-medical prescribing&bull; Work with people with a diagnosis of borderline or other personality disorder&bull; Raising concerns about poor care.
The above projects are indicative only and are open to negotiation and discussion.
The Masters by Research requires a significant time commitment on the part of the student.
Although attendance at University is only required for project supervision and occasional class based work, applicants should be able to set aside an average of 10 &ndash; 15 hours per week for independent study.
In our experience, students are most likely to succeed where the project chosen matches service need and where some component of the research, for example, data collection, can be undertaken during work time.
For further details contact Geoff Dickens, Professor of Mental Health Nursing at g.dickens@abertay.ac.uk or 01382 308527.
Alternatively visit&nbsp;https://www.hirewire.co.uk/HE/1061263/MS_JobDetails.aspx?JobID=76651]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Student scoops national food science prize]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34661-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Apr 2017 13:31:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34661-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34661-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Aimee Dale took first place in the Young Scientist Competition from the Institute of Food Science and Technology]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Aimee (1).JPGTHUMB.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Aimee (1).JPGTHUMB.JPG <![CDATA[An Abertay University student won a national prize at a prestigious Scotland-wide food science competition. Food Nutrition and Health student Aimee Dale scooped the honour during the Young Scientist Competition from the Institute of Food Science and Technology.Speaking at Glasgow Caledonian University on Tuesday April 12, Aimee impressed the judging panel with a presentation on her work looking at the sonification of mushroom enzymes.The Young Scientist Competition offers students the opportunity to present food-related projects in front of their peers and to a panel of food professionals. Entrants are required to submit an abstract of no more than 150 words on their subject area.Dr Jon Wilkin, a lecturer at Abertay&rsquo;s School of Science, Engineering and Technology said: &ldquo;This is a top notch competition with a vast array of different presentation topics, and a win from one of our students really made it special. &ldquo;We are so proud of Aimee, who showed innovative presentation skills, real life applied science and a relaxed style to take the top prize for undergraduate students. &ldquo;She did a wonderful job and special mention should be made to the runners up who showed incredible fortitude in engaging the audience.&rdquo;The Institute of Food Science and Technology is the qualifying body for food professionals in Europe and the only professional food body in the UK concerned with all aspects of food science and technology.The judging panel included Bill Crosson, former IFST Vice President &amp; Chair of IFST Scottish Branch; Moira Stalker, FDF Scotland; Lindsay Logan, Technical Manager for Premier Foods Hovis, and Phyllis Brown, Research &amp; Development Scientist for R-Biopharm Rhone Ltd.
&nbsp;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Graduates celebrate Women in Games honour]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34635-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 11 Apr 2017 11:07:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34635-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34635-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Three Abertay alumni have been named ambassadors for their industry]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/AmritaBharij_Passportstyle (1).jpgTHUMB.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/AmritaBharij_Passportstyle (1).jpgTHUMB.jpg <![CDATA[

Three Abertay University computer games graduates are celebrating being named as European ambassadors by Women in Games.
Timea Tabori, Amrita Bharij and Alex Grahame will join 40 other Women in Games ambassadors in supporting women and girls in understanding the games industry and the opportunities within it.
The programme is aimed to increase membership of the group and to help it achieve the strategic goal of doubling the number of women in the games industry over 10 years.
Timea Tabori who graduated with a BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology from Abertay in 2013 said: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m really inspired and humbled to be named as a Women in Games Ambassador in WIGJ's new programme, as part of a group of extraordinary women, a lot of whom I know and look up to.
&ldquo;It's hard to be what you can't see, but this programme puts some fantastic people front and centre and I'm really excited to work with my fellow ambassadors to achieve maximum impact.&rdquo;
Ambassadors are expected to reach out to young women at school, college and university locally in their region to encourage them to consider the games industry as a career.
They will also contact the local public, regional industry and educational leaders and local government to form partnerships and long term strategic relationships.
The programme is sponsored by Google&rsquo;s Women Techmakers initiative, which provides visibility, community, and resources for women in technology, implementing global scalable initiatives to support and empower women in the industry.
Timea, who now works at Rockstar North as an Engine Programme, is used to advocacy roles as she is also the Chair of IDGA Scotland, a STEM ambassador and a CoderDojo mentor.
&ldquo;My advice to women looking to pursue a career in games is to follow your passion,&quot; she added.
&ldquo;It might lead you towards or away from games at times, but as long as you love what you're doing, you can find the power to thrive at anything.&rdquo;
Timea, Alex and Amrita are all involved in events to celebrate 20 years of games education at Abertay.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Forensics students enjoy awards success]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34612-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 07 Apr 2017 16:47:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34612-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34612-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Teams travelled to Liverpool to take part in the National Forensic Science Competition.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Forensic comp 2 thumb.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Forensic comp 2 thumb.JPG <![CDATA[Abertay forensics students enjoyed success in the National Forensic Science Competition.
Two Abertay teams travelled to Liverpool John Moores University for the contest on Saturday April 8, where they went &nbsp;head to head with institutions from across the UK.
A series of stringent assessments covering the three cores strands of forensic science - biology, chemistry and crime scene assessment &ndash; were set by examiners.
The event aimed to give students the opportunity to make contact with practitioners from the private and industry sectors as well as network with their peers and staff from other universities.
Prizes totalling &pound;2,000 were on offer for winners to invest in their future education and research.
Each university was invited to submit up to three teams of five, with students graded at different levels dependent on experience.
Teams were asked to submit a poster on a research topic and the final consisted of a 30 minute University Challenge Style Quiz.
One of the Abertay teams scooped first prize for their poster, with the other coming in second in their category.
A grand prize of &pound;1,000 was awarded to the overall winners on the day.
Dr Ben Jones, Head of the Division of Science at Abertay said: &ldquo;This competition is a fantastic opportunity for our students to network with industry figures and other universities.&quot;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[BAFTA win for Abertay games team]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34584-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 07 Apr 2017 12:59:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34584-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34584-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Bluedoor Games scooped the Ones to Watch award at the BAFTA Games Awards in London]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/bafta (1) (1).jpgTHUMB.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/bafta (1) (1).jpgTHUMB.jpg <![CDATA[

A team of Abertay University games students are celebrating after scooping the prestigious Ones to Watch prize at the BAFTA Games Awards.
Student team Bluedoor Games took the coveted title at a glittering black-tie event in London, attended by key players from the world&rsquo;s games industry.
The winning game, Among the Stones, was created as part of Abertay&rsquo;s Dare to be Digital Competition which has this year been rebooted to become Dare Academy.
Bluedoor&rsquo;s entry beat strong competition from fellow Abertay team Ludico&rsquo;s creation, Pentagrab, and Hexterion&rsquo;s dodgeball-based title, Rebound, to secure the win.
Professor Gregor White, Head of Abertay&rsquo;s School of Arts, Media and Computer Games, said the standard of entries in the category had been particularly high.
He added: &ldquo;To win this award is an incredible achievement from a great team and all of the Abertay students who were nominated are now on a trajectory towards a stellar career in the games industry.
&ldquo;Making to the BAFTA Games Awards is a great opportunity for our students, not only to showcase their talent, but to network with some of the sector&rsquo;s biggest players.&rdquo;
Bluedoor Games is made up of Lukasz Gomula, Ashton Mills, Alberto Taiuti, James Wood, Roberto Macken, Kevin McKenna and Rory Sweeney.
Kevin said: &quot;It's so surreal, when we started making the game it was out of a nostalgic love for our gaming childhood .
&quot;We never thought it could come this far and we have a burning passion to take it as far as we can. Being nominated for a BAFTA was such a huge honour and winning it is amazing.
&quot;This means a lot to the team. Not only does it mean our hard work is validated and celebrated by industry but it gives us all more confidence to approach the jobs and kind of future we want in games.&quot;
The winning game, Among the Stones follows a brave, young adventurer as she explores a mysterious island with the aid of its friendly stone inhabitants.
The 3D platformer allows the player to carve their own path with its creative stone building mechanics, solving puzzles and uncovering secrets on the way.
The game features friendly characters and peaceful environments with fun platforming and logic challenges.
In the wider awards ceremony, held on Thursday night, Uncharted 4 from Naughty Dog won best game while Overcooked took the prize for best British game and family title.
Platformer Inside won in four categories including Original Property, Artistic Achievement, Game Design and Narrative.
&nbsp;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Report calls for missing children protection]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34566-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 06 Apr 2017 09:13:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34566-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34566-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay academic co-authored European research]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Missing child (1).jpegTHUMB.jpeg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Missing child (1).jpegTHUMB.jpeg <![CDATA[A new European report co-authored by an Abertay University academic calls for better protection of former missing children and their families from the negative impact of publicity appeals.
As Abertay prepares to host the prestigious 3rd International Conference on Missing Children and Adults in Dundee this summer, the report from the University&rsquo;s Dr Penny Woolnough has revealed serious concerns over a child&rsquo;s privacy and their right to be forgotten.
In the EU alone, at least 250,000 children are reported missing each year with publicity appeals often launched through websites, social media, TV, radio interviews and national child alerts.
The report &lsquo;Once missing &ndash; never forgotten?&rsquo;, launched at an event in Brussels on April 6, collected data from over 100 professionals from 19 missing children hotlines across Europe.
Produced by Missing Children Europe and the Centre for the Study of Missing Persons at the University of Portsmouth, it found that the internet and social media were becoming a primary source of information-gathering and sharing in missing children cases.
The report demonstrated that publicity appeals can make the missing child feel like someone cares, encouraging them to reach out and return to safety.
However, a former missing child can find it difficult move on with no control over their &lsquo;digital footprint&rsquo; and the media can keep the story alive years after the fact.
In some cases abducted children have experienced bullying when they return to school.
Former police expert, Dr Woolnough of Abertay&rsquo;s Division of Psychology, said the report would be discussed at the international conference on June 14-16, when more than 150 global delegates are expected in Dundee.
She added: &ldquo;The internet and social media are primary sources of information-gathering and sharing in missing children cases.
&ldquo;However, until now no research has explored the impact this has on the individual days, weeks, months or even years after the missing episode.
&ldquo;Critically, the research has highlighted that while publicity can be a critical and positive aspect of locating a missing child, it can also have very negative implications ranging from personal embarrassment in the short term to concerns over a persistent negative public image, affecting things like job applications, in the longer term.
&ldquo;Much more research is needed and important discussions over a child&rsquo;s privacy and their right to be forgotten need to be held to ensure appropriate support and protective mechanisms can be put in place.&rdquo;
Study co-author Dr Karen Shalev-Greene, Director of the Centre for the Study of Missing Persons, said the findings highlighted a number of important issues.
She added: &ldquo;First, a public appeal for a missing child is always launched without the child&rsquo;s consent.
&ldquo;Yet, once found, the child must live with the consequences of their image being in the public domain.
&ldquo;Second, once the images are in the public domain, the child does not seem to have the legal right to control the use of those images.
&ldquo;This denies children the right to be forgotten and potentially further traumatises them.
&ldquo;Third, once a name and image of a child are made public, it is a real challenge to remove pictures and articles that were published online.&rdquo;
Study co-author Delphine Moralis, Secretary-General of Missing Children Europe said better strategies must be developed to prevent negative consequences.
&ldquo;In order to further inform and improve the decision-making process for launching appeals, further evidence is needed on the effectiveness and impact of appeals,&rdquo; she said.
The research was partially funded by the European Commission (Rights Equality and Citizenship Programme 2014-2020).
For more information on the 3rd International Conference on Missing Children and Adults visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/research/society/conference-missing-children-and-adults/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Graduates return for 20 Years of Games Pecha Kucha]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34543-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 04 Apr 2017 10:20:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34543-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34543-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[A special evening of quick-fire talks will be staged during Abertay Digital Graduate Show]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Games event (1).jpgTHUMB.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Games event (1).jpgTHUMB.jpg <![CDATA[Some of the world&rsquo;s premier computer games creators will return to Abertay University to present quick-fire talks during a special 20 Years of Games Pecha Kucha evening.
Designers and programmers from across the globe are part of a star-studded line-up for the free event on Saturday May 6, celebrating two decades of games education at Abertay.
Held during Abertay Digital Graduate Show &ndash; which runs from May 5-9 &ndash; the session is being organised by Creative Dundee and all speakers are graduates of the University who have gone on to influence the games industry.
The event will see speakers show 20 images, each for no more than 20 seconds, as they share experiences and journeys since graduating or collaborating with Abertay, charting the history and future of the games scene.
Brian Lawson of Dundee&rsquo;s Reagent Games, who has worked at a host of studios including Popcap, Realtime Worlds, Ubisoft, and creators of Lemmings, DMA Design, will give a presentation.
Caitlin Goodale, User Experience Designer at King &ndash; the makers of Candy Crush Saga - will travel from Malmo, Sweden to speak.
Danny Parker, Head of Mobile Technology at Dundee-based Ninja Kiwi forms part of the line-up as do International Game Developers Association Scotland chair, Timea Tabori, and board member Zoe Sams.
Prominent designer Amrita Bharij will speak at the event, with European Community Manager for Epic Games, Jess Hider and Abertay PhD student Mona Bozdog completing the list.
Gillian Easson of Creative Dundee said: &quot;Abertay University has been critical to the city being recognised as a renowned video games hub over the last two decades.
&ldquo;The city has an important digital heritage and great future ahead for the sector.
&ldquo;Creative Dundee is delighted to be bringing Pecha Kucha to the University to celebrate this impressive 20 year games education achievement.&quot;
Pecha Kucha, or &lsquo;chit chat&rsquo; in Japanese, was developed by Klein Dytham Architecture, in Tokyo back in 2003 and events now run all over the world in more than 900 cities.
The 20 Years of Games evening runs from 5.30pm to 8pm in the main lecture theatre of Abertay&rsquo;s Kydd Building on Bell Street, Dundee.
To book visit http://bit.ly/20GamesPK.
For more information check out #GamesPK or look out for the flyer, the artwork for which was created by Abertay 4th year Computer Arts student Yannic Kawan.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Games courses included on BAFTA list]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34534-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 03 Apr 2017 15:38:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34534-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34534-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[MProf listed on scholarship programme]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/01 Digra Play and Party_Credit Kathryn Rattray (1).jpg THUMB.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/01 Digra Play and Party_Credit Kathryn Rattray (1).jpg THUMB.jpg <![CDATA[An Abertay University computer games course ranked in the Princeton Review&rsquo;s global top ten is included in a BAFTA scholarship programme on offer in the UK, China and Hong Kong.
The University&rsquo;s MProf in Computer Games Development is included on a list of eligible courses for students applying for this year's BAFTA scholarships.
The confirmation comes after the Princeton Review rated Abertay the 9th best institution in the world for postgraduate computer games courses and number one in Europe for undergraduate courses.
Taught within the Scottish Centre for Excellence in Computer Games Education at Abertay, the course offers a unique postgraduate experience, specifically designed in collaboration with games industry partners.
Students work within games development teams to produce innovative projects under the expert stewardship of full-time staff experienced in both the games industry and academia.
They also receive guidance and mentorship from games industry representatives to develop the professional skills and knowledge relevant to roles within the sector.
Professor Gregor White, Head of Abertay&rsquo;s School of Arts, Media and Computer games, said inclusion in the scholarship programme was a continuation of several years of partnership with BAFTA.
He added: &ldquo;Our Professional Masters in Games Development provides graduates with the skills to flourish in workplace settings within the games industry.
&ldquo;By the end of the course they will have become skilled developers, learning how creative ideas fit into the design pipeline and expanding their awareness of the importance of business, marketing, psychology and perception.&rdquo;
BAFTA has been part of Abertay&rsquo;s internationally-renowned games design competition for several years and the University regularly hosts visits from winners of the BAFTA Young Games Designers (YGD) contest.
In 2015, BAFTA president Prince William visited Abertay with his wife Catherine to meet students involved in the YGD project.
During the visit, Their Royal Highnesses also met two BAFTA Scholars who were studying at the university.
The BAFTA Scholarship programme includes a range of courses in various academic disciplines at universities across the UK.
This year, students can apply to access up to &pound;12,000, with each successful scholar also receiving mentoring and support from a BAFTA member and free access to BAFTA events.
The scheme is available to UK citizens in financial need, who will be starting an eligible course this year, or, in some cases, starting the second year of a two year course.
Applicants can ask for funding to study in mainland China or Hong Kong, while students from those areas can also seek BAFTA funding to come to the UK.
For more information visit http://www.bafta.org/supporting-talent/scholarships/uk-programme
Homepage image by Kathryn Rattray.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Study shows self-evaluation influences facial memory]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34439-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 30 Mar 2017 09:33:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34439-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34439-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The psychology research found attractive women are better at remembering good-looking men]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Press Release Images_prqc (1).jpgTHUMB.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Press Release Images_prqc (1).jpgTHUMB.jpg <![CDATA[Can you remember someone you met for the first time? Was there something in particular about them that caught your eye?
New research from Abertay University suggests that our self-evaluation and circumstances influence our memory for strangers.
The study from Abertay's Dr Christopher Watkins uncovered evidence which suggests that women in a relationship are particularly good at remembering how other women look, although their memory for faces also depends on how they rate their own attractiveness.
It was also discovered that attractive women were particularly good at remembering brief encounters with good-looking men.
During testing, women who did not consider themselves attractive remembered other women as more beautiful than their original encounter, and men as less beautiful than their original encounter.
In addition, women in good relationships tended to remember men&rsquo;s attractiveness in a more positive light.
The experiment, in collaboration with the University of St Andrews, saw women in a long-term romantic relationship take part in a task which tested their memory for faces.
They completed a standard memory task in which they viewed faces for three seconds each and were later asked if they had seen the faces before.
Computer graphics were used to alter the appearance of some of the faces in the memory test, with participants sometimes shown more attractive or less attractive versions of previously viewed identities.
If a participant who rated herself plain-looking originally viewed a less attractive female face, she was biased in her memory and recalled that face as being more attractive.
Dr Watkins of Abertay&rsquo;s Division of Psychology said: &ldquo;We wanted to examine whether personal factors influence memory &ndash; how good you judge your current relationship to be and how attractive other people are likely to find you.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Our findings suggest that these two factors shape both accuracy and illusions in how you remember the attractiveness of faces after a brief encounter.&rdquo;
Dr Watkins said these findings suggest that memories are attuned to certain features in other people as we move through a romantic relationship, but our memories can also show striking biases.
The research suggests that our own attractiveness and thoughts on our current relationship shape our memory for encounters with strangers.
The work was funded by a Research Incentives Grant from The Carnegie Trust, awarded to Dr Watkins.
To find out more about the research visit www.relationship-lab.com.
Abertay offers degree courses in Psychology, Psychology with Forensic Biology, Psychology and Counselling and Sport and Psychology.
For course information visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/social-and-health-sciences/psychology/
Study information: Watkins, C.D., Nicholls, M.J., Batres, C., Xiao, D., Talamas, S. &amp; Perrett, D.I. (2017). Own attractiveness and perceived relationship quality shape sensitivity in women&rsquo;s memory for other men on the attractiveness dimension. Cognition, 163, 146-154.
&nbsp;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Malaysian links boosted by exchange deal extension]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34421-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Mar 2017 13:24:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34421-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34421-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay's long partnership with SEGi is expanding and evolving]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Professor Patrick Kee (1).JPGTHUMB.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Professor Patrick Kee (1).JPGTHUMB.JPG <![CDATA[

Abertay University has signed a student and staff exchange agreement with SEGi University strengthening the oldest higher education relationship between the UK and Malaysia.
Since the late 1980s, Dundee-based Abertay University has forged close links with SEGi University in Kota Damansara, with the relationship evolving and expanding over the decades.
Through a Double Award scheme, Abertay already runs degree courses in Business, Accounting, and Computing at SEGi and now a Civil Engineering course is being added to that portfolio.
It is also intended that the extended Erasmus+ agreement will lead to increased staff and student exchange between the institutions.
As part of the relationship, SEGi students will be able to complete the final year of any Business and Computing degree at Abertay and of the Civil Engineering degree from 2019.
In addition, a new Masters in Business Administration from Abertay is due to begin at SEGi in September this year.
SEGi Vice-Chancellor Professor Patrick Kee said: &ldquo;My message to my students at SEGi &ndash; I think you should definitely make Scotland your first choice and come to experience this country, widen your horizon and opportunities.
&ldquo;To my faculty staff &ndash; there will be opportunities to visit here so please come. It&rsquo;s a great place where research and teaching go hand-in-hand.
&ldquo;We continue to put our focus onto teaching and learning and this is also one of the major strengths of Abertay.
&ldquo;We started the exchange programmes for both students and staff and we are beginning to see that is this gaining a lot of interest, not just among our students, but also our staff, who are now asking me when is the next opportunity for them to come to Abertay.
&ldquo;We are very thankful Abertay and SEGi are able to utilise Erasmus funding for these visits, in fact the last visit has resulted in joint paper publications and this is very promising indeed.
&ldquo;We will continue to strengthen and we are very pleased with this engagement.
&ldquo;In the future there will be more and more engagement particularly among our faculty staff.&rdquo;
Abertay Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Steve Olivier said: &ldquo;Our relationship with SEGi has been a long and fruitful one and I&rsquo;m delighted this is continuing to evolve.
&ldquo;Many of our staff have already made the trip to Malaysia to share their knowledge and expertise, and I know there is plenty of interest from others in taking up the opportunity.&rdquo;
As a private education provider, SEGi has been a holding company listed on the main Malaysian stock market since 1995 and delivers educational services at diploma, degree and postgraduate degree levels
The first partnership agreement was formalised in the 1991/1992 academic year, when SEGi's Systematic Advanced Diploma in Accounting (SADA) was validated by Abertay.
In 2008/09 the Malaysian Qualifications Agency awarded Abertay the highest commendation that can be achieved within the national system for its programme delivery at SEGi.
The development of a Double Award partnership was established in 2011 with a revised Memorandum of Agreement, including a further developed award arrangement, signed in September 2014.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Business Food Jam to explore food poverty solutions]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34396-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Mar 2017 09:27:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34396-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34396-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Dundee Business School will host the enterprise and networking event]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/FoodbankSorting.jpgTHUMB.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/FoodbankSorting.jpgTHUMB.jpg <![CDATA[An innovative new Abertay University project will use business expertise to find creative solutions to Scotland&rsquo;s ongoing food poverty crisis.
A Food Jam will be staged at Abertay&rsquo;s Dundee Business School on Friday March 31 after the University became the only Scottish institution to secure funding from a Higher Education Funding Council England social innovation stream.
With 60,000 referrals inside six months to the Trussell Trust alone last year, stark figures show Scottish families are relying on foodbanks to survive every day.
The Abertay enterprise and networking event will explore food chain redesign, community driven food supply systems and opportunities with urban orchards, city farms and local farms.
Participants will learn the value of using a Growth Mindset approach and gain additional tools to become innovative and entrepreneurial.
Organisations can expect to leave with a tailored action plan for development to act as guide for operational effectiveness.
Dr Gary Mulholland of Dundee Business School said the interactive Food Jam session is part of the Appetite For Change project in collaboration with Coventry, Lincoln, Staffordshire and The Open universities.
He added: &ldquo;Abertay University is holding a Food Jam to collect expertise and experience with the help of James Hilder and Marie Duguid of Social Enterprise Academy.
&quot;It&rsquo;s not just about tackling hunger, it&rsquo;s also about getting involved in your community to share your expertise, resources and get fit at the same time - digging over gardens and planting trees is fun and healthy.
&ldquo;We want to encourage local farmers, food growers, gardeners, food distributors, food retailers and restaurants cafes to join us on the day.&rdquo;
Derek Marshall Trustee of Dundee Foodbank and Chairman of Angus Foodbank said: &quot;Both Dundee and Angus Foodbanks have seen substantial increase in demand for their services this past year, with Dundee feeding over 9,300 individuals in food crisis and Angus feeding nearly 3,500 in the last year. Nearly one third of these are children.
&ldquo;This is a wholly unacceptable situation for 21st Century Scotland which strips people of their dignity and self-respect.&quot;
The event is being supported by the Scottish Government, Dundee City Council, Kirsty Thomson (Along Came Kirsty), James Hutton Institute, Abertay Food Innovation Academy, NHS Tayside, and the University of Dundee.
Abertay Student Association (ASA) will also take part.
An ASA spokesperson said: &ldquo;We encourage students to make use of their skills and become innovators in their fields, exploring and developing innovations that address pressing social problems such as food poverty in our society.
&ldquo;We have the power to facilitate discussion and support students with our time, skills and resources and we need to make the most of it.&rdquo;
The free programme runs from 10am to 4pm and is open to anyone in the community with ideas that could create new solutions to food poverty or with insight into the food industry.
Contact g.mulholland@abertay.ac.uk for more information.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Walking football enriches lives]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34381-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Mar 2017 13:54:00 +0100</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34381-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34381-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay conducts research into mental health issues]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Football (1).jpegTHUMB.jpeg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Football (1).jpegTHUMB.jpeg <![CDATA[New research from Abertay University has found organised football sessions have a direct improvement on the lives of people with mental health conditions like schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder.
Since December 2015, Abertay academics Emma Lamont, and Professor Geoff Dickens have been working on a collaborative project with NHS Tayside and NHS Fife which offers regular five-a-side football and walking football sessions to people who have experience of mental health conditions
The research, which is due to be published, found participants reported a range of positive benefits from the sessions including an enhanced ability to form and sustain relationships and friendships, improved fitness and health, and a feeling of peer support from team mates.
&ldquo;What we found is that when players went along to the football and perhaps weren&rsquo;t having a good day then others could recognise this and say &lsquo;I&rsquo;ve been there, I know how you feel and it&rsquo;s going to get better&rsquo;,&rdquo; said Lamont, of the Division of Mental Health Nursing &amp; Counselling.
She added: &ldquo;Some players said that, at their worst, they had been unable to leave the house for months, but then after joining the football group gradually started feeling a little better.&rdquo;
The study looked at four different groups, some of which have been playing together for as long as 15 years.
Ages range from 18 to 60 and there is a mixture of male and female participants.
Sessions take place at community centres in Tayside and Fife and are co-ordinated by mental health professionals such as nurses, physios, volunteers and sports coaches, including highly specialist physiotherapist Gillian McDonald of NHS Tayside.
Lamont said: &ldquo;These are specifically mental health football teams for service users who play as an aspect of care.
&ldquo;They compete in mental health leagues in Scotland and talked about going to these tournaments as a big motivator for them - they were proud of what they achieved.
&ldquo;If someone is acutely unwell and in hospital they can come to play football as therapy.&rdquo;
At the beginning of the research, Lamont held focus groups with the teams and asked an extensive range of questions.
She said: &ldquo;Some of the men had been quite successful in football when they were younger and were in teams before mental health problems started and took away the chance to pursue a professional career.
&ldquo;So being able to access these teams is huge for them. They really talked like this was life-changing and there was a real team-spirit and camaraderie developed through these sessions.
&ldquo;Many of them would go for a drink or a curry together, forming a lasting relationship.&rdquo;
The football sessions are funded through the NHS with local authority support.
Lamont is due to present the research to the Finnish Association for Mental Health when they visit Scotland on April 3.
She will also speak about Abertay&rsquo;s Masters Programme in Mental Health Nursing and Mental Health, a CPD module in Recovery and Self-Management, and an innovative undergraduate nursing programme that develops Mental Health Recovery Nurses.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay games courses ranked best in Europe]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34319-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 23 Mar 2017 12:25:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34319-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34319-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Princeton Review also ranked postgraduate courses in the World Top 10]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Games Jam thumb.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Games Jam thumb.jpg <![CDATA[

Abertay University computer games courses have been ranked best in Europe for the third consecutive year by the prestigious Princeton Review.
The annual ranking, released today, placed Abertay as number one in Europe for undergraduate degrees and in the World Top 10 for postgraduate courses.
The accolade comes as the University celebrates 20 years since becoming the first to offer computers games courses in 1997, with a programme of celebrations already under way.
Both of Abertay&rsquo;s rankings were an improvement on last year with the University moving up from 22nd to 19th in the global undergraduate table and 12th to 9th in postgraduate.
The University of Malta was the only other European institution to make either list, coming in at 23rd for postgraduate courses.
Professor Gregor White, Head of Abertay&rsquo;s School of Arts, Media and Computer Games, said: &ldquo;To be featured so highly in this prestigious ranking for a third consecutive year is testament to the hard work, dedication and excellence of my colleagues in the School and across the University.
&ldquo;To make advances in both lists is an incredible achievement and is particularly pleasing in this anniversary year.&rdquo;
The Princeton Review chose universities based on a survey it conducted in 2016 of 150 institutions offering game design coursework.
The 40-question survey asked universities to report on everything from their academic offerings and faculty credentials to their graduates&rsquo; starting salaries and employment experience.
Criteria examined also included the academics themselves, facilities, career services, and technology.
Robert Franek, The Princeton Review&rsquo;s Editor in Chief said: &ldquo;Game design is an exciting field and programs are springing up in colleges all over the world.
&ldquo;As we continue to help students find the best program for their needs and interests, we strongly recommend Abertay and each of the other schools that made our 2017 ranking lists.
&ldquo;These schools have outstanding faculties and great facilities which will give students the skills and experience they need to pursue a career in this dynamic and burgeoning field.&rdquo;
The Princeton Review's full report can be accessed at www.princetonreview.com/game-design
*Homepage image courtesy of The Courier/DC Thomson.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Marathon uncle Stuart pushed to the max for Maisie]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34305-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 23 Mar 2017 08:29:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34305-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34305-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The runner is raising funds for a service used by his disabled niece]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Stuart 3 (1).JPGTHUMB.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Stuart 3 (1).JPGTHUMB.JPG <![CDATA[

A loving uncle was at Abertay University for high level sports analysis as he bids to raise funds to boost a group used by his disabled four-year-old niece.
Stuart Fraser from Perthshire will take on the London Marathon next month and was at Abertay to undergo a gruelling VO2 max treadmill session with the aim of measuring his cardiovascular fitness.
The 36-year-old is raising funds for Perth and Kinross Disability Sport (PKDS)who provide therapeutic trampoline sessions for his niece, Maisie, who has cerebral palsy.
Lecturer Marie Clare Grant from Abertay&rsquo;s Division of Sport and Exercise put the former Royal Engineer through his paces during a session in the University&rsquo;s sports performance lab in Dundee.
The Vo2 max test measured Stuart&rsquo;s maximum rate of oxygen consumption as the treadmill gradually sped up and raised into an incline position, thereby providing a measure of his aerobic fitness.
Following a successful test that rated his fitness as &ldquo;excellent&rdquo; for his age group, father-of-two Stuart, a store manager in Aberfeldy, revealed he hopes to complete the London Marathon in under three hours and raise more than &pound;1,000 in the process.
He added: &ldquo;Having Maisie in the back of my head will spur me on to do as well as I can, so hopefully I can do my best and the donations will start rolling in.
&ldquo;Locally lots of kids get a benefit out of what PKDS does and Maisie gets a direct benefit out of it.
&ldquo;Being given the opportunity to do a marathon on their behalf is a great opportunity and they can use the money to provide kit and facilities for children and adults to take part in sport - which is something we all take for granted.&quot;
Caroline Ness, Branch Manager at PKDS knows Stuart through Perth Road Runners and was always confident he would rise to the challenge.
She said: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m over the moon that Stuart has put himself forward and I absolutely knew that he would commit himself 100% and make a difference to the work that we are doing.
&ldquo;We have family activity days where adults and children with sensory and physical disabilities come in from across the whole of Perth and Kinross.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a large area and we know there are a lot of people out there who could take advantage of our service, so I would encourage them to get in touch and come to see what we do.&rdquo;
To donate to Stuart's effort visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=StuartFraser5&amp;faId=790239&amp;isTeam=false
To find out more about Abertay&rsquo;s selection of sports-based courses visit www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/academic-schools/social-and-health-sciences/sport-and-exercise-sciences/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Prestigious judging panel for new Dare Academy]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34168-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Mar 2017 12:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34168-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34168-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The fresh games design competition is now live]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Dare image (1).jpg THUMB.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Dare image (1).jpg THUMB.jpg <![CDATA[

Abertay University&rsquo;s new Dare Academy games design competition is now live with student teams bidding for a chance to gain massive industry exposure and international experience.
Some of the most respected figures from the UK games sector have been selected as judges for this year&rsquo;s inaugural Dare Academy in Dundee.
The contest launches as Abertay celebrates 20 years since becoming the first university in the world to offer computer games degrees.
This summer, Abertay teams will compete for a huge prize package including the opportunity to showcase their prototypes at the UK&rsquo;s biggest games conference, EGX, which attracts more than 75,000 people to the NEC in Birmingham every year.
Using key ingredients from the world-renowned Dare to be Digital formula, teams applying for the new competition will go through a tough selection process before the best six are chosen to design, test and create prototypes over an intense hothousing period from July 10 to August 4.
The three top teams will scoop trip of a lifetime placements to international games studios in China, India and the US.
The fully funded spots will be taken up by the successful games teams during the 2017/18 session and winners can expect to jet out in October, November and December 2017.
Dare Academy judge Peter Molyneux OBE, an Abertay Honorary Graduate and a games industry legend, has designed and been involved in many great games, including the Fable series.
He said: &ldquo;The future of the games industry relies on the talent of those that are involved in it. Dare Academy is a fantastic way of new talent being spotted and recognised and it is a great honour to become a Judge of Dare Academy 2017.&rdquo;
Luke Savage, Senior Academic Development Manager for Sony Interactive Entertainment is also on the judging panel.
He said: &ldquo;Today&rsquo;s students are the lifeblood of the games industry. They&rsquo;re going to push the boundaries of innovation and become the star developers of the future. That&rsquo;s why Abertay University and the Dare Academy are so crucial &ndash; they&rsquo;re helping to usher in a new wave of exciting talent right now. I can&rsquo;t wait to see what this year&rsquo;s teams come up with.&rdquo;
Paul Farley, CEO of TAG Games said: &ldquo;Dundee is undoubtedly one of the UK&rsquo;s top games production hubs and Abertay graduates have played a major part in that success. This industry moves at an incredibly fast pace and the structure of Dare Academy, where teams are asked to be both creative and strategic under time pressure, will prove an invaluable learning experience for those involved.&rdquo;
Other judges include Jim Woods, Director of Development Services at SEGA Europe, Colin Macdonald, Games Commissioner at Channel 4 Games, and Gavin Smart, Associate Producer at YoYo games.
Only current Abertay students can apply to enter Dare Academy and the deadline for applications is April 24.
Judges will assess the entries and decide on the shortlist to proceed to the competition phase by May 3, with the final six teams announced on May 26.
The overall winner of Dare Academy 2017 will be unveiled at the end of EGX on September 24 after the top three teams have showcased their games for four days, gaining huge industry exposure.
For more information check out the brand new website &ndash; dareacademy.co.uk &ndash; or simply search Dare Academy on Facebook (@abertaydareacademy) or Twitter (@abertaydare).]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Research shows fingerprints on the move]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34162-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Mar 2017 12:05:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34162-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34162-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay forensics project shows latent prints move across surfaces]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Abertay research assistant Krastio Popov (1).JPG THUMBS.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Abertay research assistant Krastio Popov (1).JPG THUMBS.JPG <![CDATA[

New research at Abertay University has discovered that crime scene fingerprints can move after they have been deposited.
The project led by Abertay&rsquo;s forensics team, supported by the Home Office, found a thin layer of material from a print can migrate across surfaces away from the original mark.
Over a period of up to two months that material, around four millionths of a millimetre thick, will spread away from deposited fingerprint ridges, depending on the host surface.
This movement can cause the clarity of the developed fingerprint to be reduced or in some cases obliterated.
The discovery has the potential to help determine how long a print has been at a scene and could prove to be a valuable for police forensics techniques.
The findings are part of a project from Abertay research assistant Krastio Popov, 35, from Bulgaria, which has been published in Forensic Science International.
Using an Atomic Force Microscope, Popov has been studying a series of prints on a variety of surfaces since 2013.
Dr Ben Jones, Head of the Division of Science at Abertay, said: &ldquo;Fingerprints deposited on surfaces are a complex mixture of water, fats and salts.
&ldquo;This research has implications in the development of the mark, particularly relevant to new materials such as polymer banknotes, and potentially helps to gather more intelligence from the forensic exhibits.&rdquo;
The research also involved Huddersfield and Manchester universities.
Tests have been carried out using silicon and Formica, such as kitchen work surfaces, observing the migration of material through differences in the stiffness of the fingerprint and the surface.
This is particularly helpful where surfaces which have a level of roughness.
The paper, &quot;Migration of latent fingermarks on non-porous surfaces: Observation technique and nanoscale variations&quot; is by KT Popov, VG Sears and BJ Jones.
For more information visit https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1Ui1l1MCG0EKxN or http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.02.015.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Health benefits of dance explored in expert talk]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34150-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Mar 2017 16:08:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34150-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34150-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Former ballet master Andrew Greenwood spoke at the Hannah Maclure Centre]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Andrew Greenwood (1).jpg THUMB.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Andrew Greenwood (1).jpg THUMB.jpg <![CDATA[

A facilitator of dance for health and wellbeing and former international ballet master was at Abertay University to share how his dedicated dance sessions can have a positive impact on the lives of people with Parkinson&rsquo;s, Alzheimer&rsquo;s and Multiple Sclerosis.
Andrew Greenwood told an audience at Abertay&rsquo;s Hannah Maclure Centre of the growing economy in the wellness and health market, and how policymakers are recognising a demand for a different approach to managing health.
The 54-year-old, who has performed in ballet companies all over the world including the US, Brazil and Europe, developed his Switch2Move workshops as a way of using movement and artistic practice techniques to improve serious health conditions.
He said: &ldquo;When a person is diagnosed with an incurable disease, they start to be treated as a &lsquo;person with Parkinson&rsquo;s or &lsquo;Alzheimer&rsquo;s&rsquo; and treatments are very concentrated on the condition rather than the individual.
&ldquo;I recognised that the health condition is only 10% of the actual person and realised I could make a difference.
&ldquo;For example, somebody with Parkinson&rsquo;s has very clear symptoms so you know they need to work on balance, flexibility, stability and cognition.
&ldquo;With MS you need more of a &lsquo;moving meditation&rsquo; and open space way to approach the person and if it&rsquo;s someone with Alzheimer&rsquo;s you get fully up in their face, because in half an hour they may not know who you are.&rdquo;
Andrew travelled from his home in Amsterdam to deliver the talk, which was hosted by Abertay&rsquo;s Dundee Academy of Sport and Division of Psychology.
He said a new market in movement for wellbeing was emerging, adding: &ldquo;Policymakers are looking for new ways of finding personal empowerment, because we currently have an inactivity epidemic.&rdquo;
Andrew&rsquo;s visit was organised by Abertay psychology lecturer Dr Corinne Jola, who has over a decade of expertise in research on the neuronal and cognitive processes involved in dance. Recently, she has written a chapter for an upcoming book on the health benefits of dance.
Dr Jola has worked in multidisciplinary research projects on the perception and cognition of dance in prestigious universities across Europe, before taking up her position at Abertay.
Her background is not just in the sciences, she is also a dancer and a choreographer.
She said: &ldquo;This chapter is a review of the physiological, psychological and emotional benefits of dance.
&ldquo;This was a theoretical approach, so I am delighted to have Andrew here to tap into his practical experience.&rdquo;
Dr Jola&rsquo;s chapter, &ldquo;The dancing queen: Explanatory mechanisms of the &lsquo;feel-good-effect&rsquo; in dance&rdquo; will be included in The Oxford Handbook for Dance and Wellbeing later this year.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay credited in Sunday Times city guide]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34113-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Mar 2017 11:19:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34113-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34113-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay University has been credited with creating &ldquo;a city fizzing with energy and attitude&rdquo; in a new Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/abertay times best places to live main image.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/abertay times best places to live main image.jpg <![CDATA[Abertay University has been credited with creating &ldquo;a city fizzing with energy and attitude&rdquo; in a new Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.
The report lists Dundee among the top 12 best places to live in Scotland.North Berwick took top spot, while Dundee was listed &ndash; in no particular order &ndash; among the likes of Banchory, Dunblane, Melrose and Orkney.
The accolade comes in part two of The Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide, which is published on Sunday.
The guide states: 'You could never say that Dundee hasn&rsquo;t put the effort in. Its transformation from dismal deprivation to groovy creative hub &ndash; Unesco&rsquo;s first UK City of Design, no less &ndash; hasn&rsquo;t happened by accident.
'It&rsquo;s mainly the result of the &pound;1 billion waterfront regeneration, which has already delivered new flats and will see the Victoria &amp; Albert Museum of Design open next year.
'Thank the universities, too. Abertay&rsquo;s decision, in 1997, to launch the world&rsquo;s first degree in computer games has made Dundee a big player in this vital industry.
'The result is a city fizzing with energy and attitude.'
Dundee was assessed on a number of factors, from culture, community spirit, local shops and broadband speed, to jobs and exam results.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Events announced for Abertay Digital Graduate Show]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34107-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Mar 2017 08:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34107-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34107-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[ADGS will be the cornerstone event for 20 Years of Games]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Sophie North.jpgTHUMB.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Sophie North.jpgTHUMB.jpg <![CDATA[A unique blend of digital art, computer games and cybersecurity innovation will be unveiled at the biggest ever Abertay Digital Graduate Show as the University celebrates 20 Years of Games.
ADGS is the cornerstone event for a programme of celebrations marking two decades of games education at Abertay University and will run from May 5-9.
For the first time, this year&rsquo;s expanded ADGS will take over all five floors of Abertay&rsquo;s Bell Street Student Centre where more than 170 final year students will showcase their work.
An array of exciting, unusual and creative graduate projects will be exhibited, including software that can transmit from space, concept art linked to a device that turns mobile phones into a virtual reality headset, and a chillingly realistic AAA game that sees players escape from a creepy locked room.
ADGS also acts as the launch event of Dundee&rsquo;s Ignite Festival which shines a spotlight on culture across the city.
As well as student work, a series of weekend workshops are planned for families including paper craft design sessions, Raspberry Pi computing, a music and sound for games tutorial, and animation and comic design classes.
School children will attend coding workshops and quick fire lectures while a business breakfast is also scheduled.
Clare Brennan, ADGS lead and curator of the Hannah Maclure Centre, said the expanded show will feature some of Scotland&rsquo;s finest digital graduate talent.
She added: &ldquo;This is the biggest ADGS we have ever staged and students, academics and staff are all working hard to make sure it is an event to remember.
&ldquo;Many of our graduates are operating at the cutting edge of the digital world and no other exhibition captures the unique mix of art and technology created here at Abertay.&rdquo;
To celebrate 20 Years of Games at Abertay a special Game Changers exhibition has been added to the ADGS line-up from May 5-9.
The showcase will pay tribute to 20 graduates who have made an impact on the computer games industry both in the UK and internationally.
A game-themed Pecha Kucha evening will run on May 6, featuring speakers who have played a part in Abertay&rsquo;s success over the last two decades and a Back to Campus celebration for
games graduates, including tours of the University, will be hosted the same night.
A series of other events linked to 20 Years of Games will take place as the year progresses, including the rebooted Dare Academy, a student-led gaming tournament, Desert Island
Games interview sessions, a city-wide games festival, the Inktober design event, the annual NEoN festival and a 20 Years of Games finale on campus.
A full list of dates and timings for ADGS will be released next month.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Scotland's oldest graduate bids to return to Abertay]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34090-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Mar 2017 10:57:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34090-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34090-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Alec Stewart wants to enrol on an incredible ninth degree, aged 87]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Alec THUMB 1.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Alec THUMB 1.JPG <![CDATA[

Scotland&rsquo;s oldest graduate is bidding to enrol at Abertay University to undertake his ninth degree - at the age of 87.
Alec Stewart from Dundee has completed a staggering seven degrees since returning to further and higher education aged 65, and attended Abertay&rsquo;s Open Day on Wednesday in the hope of gaining entry to yet another course
The pensioner, originally from the Lochee area, plans to apply for either an Environmental Science and Technology or Criminology course to add to his incredible string of qualifications from both Abertay and the University of Dundee.
Since 2001, the ex-serviceman has completed an MA (Hons) American and French Studies, BSc Town Planning, BA Tourism Studies, BA European Economy Management, MA English Literature, BSc Sociology and an MA Philosophy.
Last year he took on an MA General Studies course.
A former Logie High School pupil, Alec said he knew he always had the intelligence but didn&rsquo;t begin his academic career until he retired from work.
&ldquo;I would like to get another degree from Abertay because I enjoyed my previous time here, the staff were very helpful and I managed to get through a degree year.
&ldquo;I took it a step at a time and because I don&rsquo;t have any other commitments at my age I was able to do a lot of research for my degrees and I managed to get passes.
&ldquo;I made a point that if I had failed overall at any time I would stop.&rdquo;
At the age of 14, Alec had wanted to attend Harris Academy but his parents could not afford the fee.
Instead he went to work as a labourer in Dundee&rsquo;s McTavish &amp; McAinsh sawmill to help put food on the table for his brother and sister.
After moving onto building sites for better wages, Alec, who is married with three children, was called up to the RAF where he served as a radar operator for 10 years.
His son Simon Stewart studied geology, while younger brothers Jonathan and Dominic graduated in medicine and law respectively.
Alec said: &ldquo;After I retired I wanted to see what was possible and to go into higher education to do something I could enjoy.
&ldquo;My three sons are graduates so I knew what it was about and felt I could cope.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve made a point in my late years of studying different subjects.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not looking for a job so I don&rsquo;t need to look at every degree being a PhD or something like that.
&ldquo;I say to myself &lsquo;use your brain Alec and change your subject with each degree&rsquo;. It means your brain is pretty full of a lot of stuff.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I find that once in a tutorial or seminar group the younger students get to know you and they are always asking questions.
&ldquo;They always want to know who the old man is.&rdquo;
Abertay will be running further Open Days on March 25, April 19 and April 26.
For more information call 01382 308080 or email sro@abertay.ac.uk.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Kenny to take on poignant marathon run]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34069-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Mar 2017 09:12:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34069-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-34069-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The computer arts academic is raising funds in memory of his late father and best man]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Kenny McAlpine running gear (1).jpg THUMB.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Kenny McAlpine running gear (1).jpg THUMB.jpg <![CDATA[An Abertay University academic who broke down in tears during a poignant marathon attempt is preparing to take on his next challenge.
Kenny McAlpine will run the London Marathon in April in memory of his father George and best man David, who died from bowel cancer and a brain bleed respectively in 2012.
It is the first time in years the Abertay computer games music expert has felt emotionally able to take on a charity run, after the 2013 Edinburgh Marathon took a severe mental and physical toll.
The 42-year-old will now compete in the London race for the Brain Research Trust &ndash; a cause doubly close to his heart after his daughter Iona was rushed into intensive care as a newborn in 2010.
Doctors diagnosed a serious neurological condition when Iona was about a week old, but although she pulled through, the paediatric consultant wasn&rsquo;t able to identify the cause.
Kenny and his family were left with an uncertain period wondering if there would be any long-lasting consequences, but six years on Iona is a normal, happy little girl and that difficult time seems to be behind them.
Originally from Airdrie, Kenny said he had initially taken up running as a &quot;concrete way&quot; of showing his father he cared, following a cancer diagnosis in 2011.
&ldquo;As a wee boy from the west of Scotland who doesn&rsquo;t speak much about feelings or emotions or anything like that, it&rsquo;s really difficult to go up to your dad and say, I love you. This was my way of showing dad how much he meant to me,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;In training for the Edinburgh Half Marathon in April 2012 I was feeling confident and was able to run longer and longer distances.
&ldquo;Then out of the blue we got a call to say my best man David had died suddenly of a brain bleed.
&ldquo;He was only 37 and had just complained of not feeling well, gone to sit down and slumped and collapsed.
&ldquo;It really knocked us all back.&rdquo;
Just a few months after the Edinburgh Half Marathon, Kenny&rsquo;s dad passed away, the day after his own wedding anniversary.
Despite the double loss, the next year the father-of-two, who now lives in Wormit, Fife, took on the full Edinburgh Marathon 2013.
&ldquo;Running 26 miles rather than 13 is a completely different thing,&rdquo; said Kenny.
&ldquo;As I was heading back through Prestonpans towards the finishing line everything ached and I was surviving on raw mental energy alone.
&ldquo;Every now and then I would get these waves of emotion where I would remember dad or David.
&ldquo;I was running and laughing and crying all at the same time, and I&rsquo;m sure that all the people on the street were pointing at me, but somehow I managed to get to the end of the race and just broke down and sobbed.
&ldquo;It was a really mixed bag of emotions and it took so much out of me that it was the last year I did any kind of serious fundraising.&rdquo;
Kenny&rsquo;s past two efforts raised a combined &pound;6,200 and he has already smashed his target for the London Marathon.
He said students and staff at Abertay have been &ldquo;tremendously generous&rdquo;.
&ldquo;Students I haven&rsquo;t seen for 15 years have been sending messages of support and throwing money in. It&rsquo;s been really life-affirming.
&ldquo;It has taken me until now to properly get through the grieving process.
&ldquo;This feels like the first time I have been able to celebrate them rather that commemorate them.&rdquo;
With the help of his students, Kenny plans to host charity events, games jams and concerts to boost his total.
He is aiming for a time of 3 hours and 50 minutes but said he would be happy with anything under four hours.
To sponsor Kenny visit http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/KennyRunsLondon2017]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[International Women&rsquo;s Day]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33943-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Mar 2017 10:40:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33943-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33943-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay is today marking International Women&rsquo;s Day by celebrating our inspirational females.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/InternationalWomensDay-thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/InternationalWomensDay-thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[Abertay is today marking International Women&rsquo;s Day by celebrating our inspirational females.
The theme of this year&rsquo;s campaign is #BeBoldForChange with a call to the masses to help forge a better working world &ndash; a more inclusive, gender equal world.
International Women's Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. But it also recognises that, in many parts of the world, progress has been slow and global action is needed to accelerate gender parity.
From students to academics and support staff, the contributions of the whole Abertay community are being recognised.
We have selected just a few inspirational women from across the University to feature in a new page on the Abertay website.
They tell their stories, give advice to young women and talk about what International Women&rsquo;s Day means to them.

Look out for our coverage on Abertay&rsquo;s social media channels, too.
Equality and diversity are important to Abertay. The University joined the Athena SWAN Charter in November 2014 and made a successful submission for Bronze in November 2015.
This is evidence that the University recognises its achievements in respect of gender equality across the community and has articulated a credible plan for future action aimed at building on strengths and addressing weaknesses.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Former Scenes of Crime officer passing on expertise]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33669-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Mar 2017 18:04:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33669-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33669-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Neil Coupar worked on 9/11, the Christmas Tsunamis and the Arbroath 'Head on the Beach' murder]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Neil Coupar (1).JPG THUMB.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Neil Coupar (1).JPG THUMB.JPG <![CDATA[&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been welcomed into people&rsquo;s lives when they are at their darkest, and that to me is a privilege. So although I can&rsquo;t change the world overnight I can at least help in some form and I love that. That&rsquo;s why forensic science is great.&rdquo;
That&rsquo;s the view of new Abertay University forensics lecturer Neil Coupar who is teaching the next generation of CSI officers from his wealth of real world experience, including the Arbroath &lsquo;Head on the Beach&rsquo; murder, the largest European maritime drugs bust involving &pound;512m of cocaine, and a series of air crashes, gas explosions, rapes and killings.
The retired police officer is the latest recruit to Abertay&rsquo;s School of Science, Engineering and Technology in Dundee, bringing decades of expertise from previous roles at Tayside Police, Scottish Police Authority and the Met where he was seconded to the Anti-Terrorist Branch.
A firearms expert, Neil has been trained to deal with chemical warfare and bombs and his courtroom testimony has helped put killers and rapists behind bars.
The 54-year-old, who became a police officer in Angus in 1988, said the role of the forensics officer often provides &ldquo;a form of closure&rdquo; to families affected by tragedy.
He added: &ldquo;I always treat the deceased with complete respect, showing concern for the next of kin; they want and deserve a professional examination and inquiry.
&ldquo;You have to deal with it and each and everybody is different.
&ldquo;I realised I could make a difference and help catch the bad guy, then hopefully other agencies come in and ensure it doesn&rsquo;t happen again.
&ldquo;I assisted the Met, during 9/11 enquiries, recovering forensic evidence that could identify a deceased person.
&ldquo;I was also a member of the UK Disaster Victim Identification Team which came about after the Christmas Tsunamis in the Indian Ocean.&rdquo;
Neil&rsquo;s father was a professional photographer and he grew up fascinated by his books about the great pathologists of the time and the murders they investigated.
He always had an interest in firearms, shooting as a hobby for sport then trained in military firearms by the Royal Marines at RM Condor, Arbroath.
When a job came up in the Identification Branch of Tayside Police, Neil applied and became a Scenes of Crime Officer (SOCO) at a time when scene examination was a police core function.
Although still a serving police officer, he continued working within the scene examination branch, through its transformation to SPSA then SPA.
He was the last serving police officer in Scotland to work in Forensic Services retiring last year as a team leader.
A former Countryside Ranger at Monikie Country Park in his life before the Force, Neil would go on to work on a series of high profile cases including the G8 visit to Gleneagles in 2005, the murder of Montrose woman Kimberley MacKenzie whose body parts were discovered in wheelie bins, and the tragic murder of Dundee mother of three, Mary McLaren.
As an Authorised Forensic Scientist in the field of Firearm Examination he was regularly called on to give evidence in court.
&ldquo;That can range from shooting of seals to the shooting of drug dealers,&rdquo; Neil said.
&ldquo;You could argue that luckily firearm scenes don&rsquo;t come up very often, but when they do you have to learn as much as you can and pass it on for the next time, it&rsquo;s the same with major disasters.
&ldquo;Forensics should be carried out in a slow methodical way.
&ldquo;If the suspect didn&rsquo;t commit the crime the evidence will confirm that, but if we can prove otherwise then that&rsquo;s another story.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a very fulfilling career.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s exciting and interesting, you never know what the next job&rsquo;s going to be and you feel you are doing something and contributing.
&ldquo;Science changes all the time and techniques that weren&rsquo;t thought about five years ago are now up and running and part and parcel of the armoury we use as investigators.&rdquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[BAFTA visit amid 20 Years of Games celebrations]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33642-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Mar 2017 08:56:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33642-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33642-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Call for next year's BAFTA Young Games Designers now live]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/BAFTA (1).jpg THUMB.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/BAFTA (1).jpg THUMB.jpg <![CDATA[Some of the UK&rsquo;s best young computer games designers visited Abertay as the University celebrates 20 Years of Games.
Abertay student teams built prototype versions of the winning games created for the 2016 BAFTA Young Game Designers competition.
The competition is open to 10-18 year-olds and a call for entries for the 2017 initiative is now live at http://ygd.bafta.org/.
This year Abertay is celebrating 20 years since the University became the first in the world to offer degrees in computer games and a programme of celebrations including games jams, the Abertay Digital Graduate Show, exhibitions, interviews and social media events is under way.
The four BAFTA 2016 winners, Daniel Smith, 19, from Newcastle, Nick Gordon, 19, from Derby, Charlie Thurston, 15, from Forest Row in Sussex, and Aysheq Hussain, 13, from Birmingham, joined the party as they travelled to Dundee to see how their games turned out after being selected from more than 1,000 entrants.
The students who created the prototypes were on hand to explain the process and all of the winners had the chance to play each of the games.
As part of the visit, the young designers met staff at the city&rsquo;s Ninja Kiwi studio, gaining a valuable insight into how the industry works.
Abertay lecturer Ken Fee said: &quot;The experience is a great one for students because they have a client with no sense of expectation so it is up to the students to develop the game the best they can.
&quot;The masters is about having the best professional ability, presenting work in it's best light and managing client expectation.&quot;
Tim Hunter, Director of Learning and New Talent at BAFTA, said: &ldquo;The BAFTA YGD competition is a great way for young people to explore their creativity and the craft of game design.
&ldquo;Each year, our finalists demonstrate just how much young talent is out there which makes us feel very optimistic about the future of the games industry, and we can&rsquo;t wait to see this year&rsquo;s entries.&rdquo;
The contest is run in association with Nominet Trust, which is working with BAFTA to develop additional schools-focussed activity addressing the under-representation of women in the games workforce.
Other supporting partners of BAFTA YGD include Criterion, Jagex, King, Oracle Academy, SEGA, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Unity and WB Games.
Winners will be named at a special awards ceremony in July at BAFTA&rsquo;s headquarters in London, attended by stars of the games industry.
Entry for the 2017 competition will close on Wednesday May 3.
For more information on the 20 Years of Games programme stay tuned to #abertaygames20.
ENDS
Caption: BAFTA Young Games Designer Aysheq Hussain (centre) meets his Abertay protoype team (Credit: BAFTA/Alan Richardson).]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[International ballet dancer to host talk at Abertay]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33639-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Mar 2017 08:50:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33639-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33639-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Andrew Greenwood will present a lecture on his dance for heath work]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Andrew Greenwood (1).jpg THUMB.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Andrew Greenwood (1).jpg THUMB.jpg <![CDATA[Abertay University will host an open lecture by the internationally renowned ballet master Andrew Greenwood.
Andrew developed Switch2Move, a method that uses movement and artistic practice from dance to improve the conditions for people suffering from Parkinson&rsquo;s, Dementia and Multiple Sclerosis.
Following on from years of experience in the Netherlands, Italy, Germany and Australia, Andrew Greenwood will come to Dundee, Scotland on Friday March 17 to share his knowledge on how dance can change people&rsquo;s lives.
Hosted by Abertay&rsquo;s Dundee Academy of Sport and the Division of Psychology, the talk is free and open to anyone interested in dance, movement, empowerment, inclusive practice, education or rehabilitation.
The Space at Dundee and Angus College will also welcome him for a Switch2Move workshop on the art of movement, health and well-being on that weekend, March 18 and 19.
Born in the UK, Andrew is co-director of the Dance Health Alliance in Australia and co-founder of the European Dance &amp; Creative Wellness Foundation.
He took up ballet aged 8 and studied at the Royal Ballet School and Central School of Ballet, later joining ballet companies and performing across the world.
Andrew has performed at London Festival Ballet, at Cologne Opera House and as part of the National Ballet of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro.
In 2012 he co-founded the organisation Dance for Health and created education programs specialised for people with physical and cognitive impairment.
The aim is to increase the circle of influence of dance by facilitating partnership and providing a platform for cross-sector dialogue to further the role of dance in public health and quality of life.
His approach combines health, movement and art, offering dance and creative wellness activities, backed by a growing body of evidence-based research on the health benefits.
Participants hope to relieve chronic pain and low levels of energy, increase blood circulation and combat stiffness, stress, depression and inactivity.
The movement programs can also include a meditation element.
Abertay psychology lecturer and choreographer Dr Corinne Jola said: &ldquo;We are delighted to be hosting the internationally renowned dance practitioner and facilitator Andrew Greenwood who has years of experience in using dance as a tool for promoting health and wellbeing.
&ldquo;I am excited to bring together a community of dance and movement practitioners in and around Dundee to exchange and learn from his experience.
&ldquo;I would encourage anyone with an interest in dance, education, movement or health and wellbeing to come along.
&quot;There will be an opportunity to discuss his propositions directly with him and audience members at the end of his presentation.&rdquo;
To attend the free talk book at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/movement-toward-self-reliance-tickets-32433848514]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Movie screening for Women in Science Festival ]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33611-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Feb 2017 09:24:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33611-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33611-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Dr Rebecca Wade to give a talk ahead of Interstellar]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Spaceman (1).jpg thumb.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Spaceman (1).jpg thumb.jpg <![CDATA[Abertay University will harness science fiction to feed into the Women in Science Festival in Dundee.
Dr Rebecca Wade, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science, will present a talk on sustainability issues ahead of a screening of the Hollywood movie &lsquo;Interstellar&rsquo; on Friday, March 10.
The film, starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway and Michael Caine follows a crew of astronauts who travel through a wormhole in search of a new home for humanity after famine and drought on Earth.
Dr Wade, of Abertay&rsquo;s School of Science, Engineering and Technology, said the movie was chosen due to its strong female characters.
She added: &ldquo;Abertay is happy to contribute to the Women in Science Festival which is organised by the University of Dundee with additional input from the University of St Andrews and Dundee Science Centre.
&ldquo;We chose to screen Interstellar as it looks at sustainability issues and the plot has links to our courses in water and environmental management.&rdquo;
Dr Wade will introduce the film, speak about the science behind the plot and discuss some of the main themes with audience members.
The free screening takes place at 7pm at the Hannah Maclure Centre, Bell Street, Dundee.
The movie is rated 12A and runs for 2 hours 49mins.
To book your free tickets visit https://wis-abertay-interstellar.eventbrite.co.uk
As part of the festival, Abertay's Interconnect Student Champions, Itziar Ferreira Cores and Aleksandra Tomczyk, will be involved in a networking evening on Thursday March 9.
The female Civil Engineering students were selected for the role last year by Equate Scotland to promote studying science, engineering, technology and built environment to women.
For full festival listings visit&nbsp;https://www.dundee.ac.uk/revealingresearch/newsandevents/women-science-festival/
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<title><![CDATA[Tragic solider's story told through digital comic]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33599-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Feb 2017 15:45:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33599-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33599-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Project with Nine Trades a success]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Nine Trades (1).JPG thumb.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Nine Trades (1).JPG thumb.JPG <![CDATA[

The tragic story of a Black Watch soldier executed for desertion during the First World War is now being told anew for today&rsquo;s generation &ndash; through a digital comic.
Thanks to a partnership between Abertay University and the Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee, the story of Private Peter Black, who died aged just 21, will live on.
An Innovation Internship funded by the Nine Incorporated Trades enabled computer arts student Fruzsina Pittner to design the comic.
The 22-year-old fourth-year student created &lsquo;5:47&rsquo; &ndash; named in reference to the time of Peter&rsquo;s execution - in a bid to ensure his story could be told to a modern audience.
The comic is now available for free download from the Great War Dundee website.
Members of the Nine Trades &ndash; Deacon Convener Murray Petrie and education officer Jim Patrick - came to Abertay this week to see the finished project.
Peter was shot by firing squad at 5:47am on 18 September 1916.&nbsp; But his name may have been lost from history were it not for a public outcry in his hometown of Newport-on-Tay.
After the war, plans were drawn up for the town&rsquo;s official war memorial to commemorate the 84 local men killed in the conflict.
Some bereaved parents and the local war memorial committee demanded that Peter&rsquo;s name be excluded on the grounds that it was &lsquo;unsuitable&rsquo; for a Roll of Honour.
However, some ex-servicemen who knew Peter protested angrily, even threatening to blast the memorial into the River Tay with gelignite if his name wasn&rsquo;t on it.
They believed that he shouldn&rsquo;t have been on the frontline at all due to his fragile mental state, and that his service in major battles earlier in the war gave him the right to be included.
At a fiery public meeting, the community voted overwhelmingly that Peter&rsquo;s name should appear on the monument &ndash; unusual at a time when most people regarded desertion as a terrible crime.
Now, the story is being told afresh &ndash; after months of hard work by Fruzsina and project supervisor Dr Iain Donald, lecturer at Abertay University.
Fruzsina said, 'It was extremely interesting and rewarding to participate in a project like this. It wasn&rsquo;t simply an artist job, but detective work, a lot of writing and narrative construction about events about which factual evidence is often contradictory or hard to find.
'The story itself had to be pieced together from old newspaper articles, Private Black&rsquo;s service records, books and some of the myths that surround his story.
'This project has largely shaped the artist I am now, my career aspirations and my skills, and it wouldn&rsquo;t have been possible without the help I have received from the Nine Trades.'
Murray Petrie, Deacon Convener, Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee, said, 'This project has shown how the Great War impacted on ordinary men and women and how many families still treasure memories of those who did not return.
'We in the Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee have been delighted to provide financial assistance to Abertay for this project and look forward to our continuing relationship with the University.'
Read the digital comic at&nbsp;http://www.greatwardundee.com/2016/10/05/ww1-deserter-honoured-by-his-community/
(Left to right) Jim Patrick, Education Officer (Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee), Abertay student Fruzsina Pittner, Abertay lecturer Dr Iain Donald and Murray Petrie, Deacon Convener (Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee).]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Ethical Hackers host Securi-Tay 2017]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33595-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Feb 2017 15:16:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33595-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33595-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[More than 350 attend conference]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Securi-Tay main (1).JPGthumb.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Securi-Tay main (1).JPGthumb.JPG <![CDATA[

Abertay University hosted more than 350 cyber security students and industry professionals from across Europe at the major Securi-Tay conference.
The next generation of UK ethical hackers heard from cyber security experts at the sixth annual event which has grown substantially since its first year when between 20 and 30 delegates attended.
The conference comes as Abertay contributes to submissions for a proposed cyber security hub for Dundee as part of the Tay Cities Deal project.
Former Abertay student Gavin Holt, Senior Security Consultant at Manchester-based NCC Group - a major Abertay graduate employer - acted as keynote speaker for the event.
The former Abertay Ethical Hacking Society VP said, 'It's fantastic to see how the conference has grown over the years and to see the high calibre of companies that it now attracts.
'This event means Abertay students have a world-class conference on their doorstep and it's a great opportunity for them to meet key players in the industry.'
Abertay Principal Nigel Seaton said, 'Cyber security is an increasingly important issue and it's good to see another successful event at what is the UK's only student-run conference of its type.'
William Goard, Abertay Ethical Hacking Society President said, 'The world of online security is growing and Ethical Hacking is a subject that will be directly linked to employment opportunities after graduation.
'As I always say to students, the course is good fun, interesting, a subject area that is always changing and you are likely to get a job at the end of it.'
The conference featured talks and workshops from respected speakers as well as students from the Abertay Ethical Hacking Society.
Topics included malware, ransomware and attack detection as well as discussion around the cracking of mobile apps and messenger services.
Sponsors included MWR, NCC Group, SecureWorks, BT, CompTIA, ECS, Pentest, Synopsys, BSides Edinburgh, NCR and Abertay University.
A mass delegation from Leeds University attended, keeping up strong links forged between the two institutions.
The conference is aimed at anyone with an interest in hacking and information security and high level computing expertise is not required.
Abertay was the first university in the UK to offer courses in Ethical Hacking.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay student proves child&rsquo;s toy can be hacked ]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33577-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Feb 2017 09:48:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33577-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33577-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[An Abertay student has carried out ground-breaking hacking work showing how an innocent child&rsquo;s toy could be transformed into an offensive &lsquo;talking Chucky&rsquo; doll.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Cayla doll hacking story.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Cayla doll hacking story.jpg <![CDATA[

An Abertay student has carried out ground-breaking hacking work showing how an innocent child&rsquo;s toy could be transformed into an offensive &lsquo;talking Chucky&rsquo; doll.
Ethical Hacking fourth year student Cheryl Torano spoke of the project she carried out as it was revealed that parents in Germany have been told to destroy the &lsquo;Cayla&rsquo; doll because of its security risks.
The warning over Cayla &ndash; a doll that reads stories and can respond to a user&rsquo;s question through an app &ndash; was issued by the Federal Network Agency, which oversees telecommunications.
Researchers there say Cayla&rsquo;s smart technology can reveal personal data. But Abertay student Cheryl&rsquo;s project went a stage further and showed how hacking into the talking doll was &lsquo;frighteningly easy&rsquo;.
The 32-year-old transformed Cayla from an &lsquo;angelic&rsquo; child&rsquo;s doll into a &lsquo;swearing and offensive&rsquo; toy.
Cheryl said, &lsquo;We downloaded the doll&rsquo;s app using free software that anyone can access. We then extracted the files from the doll and decoded it.
&lsquo;It was in English on a Word document, which exposed the password. Then we were in&hellip; It couldn&rsquo;t have been easier.
&lsquo;We turned Cayla back into a working doll &ndash; but this time she was a talking Chucky doll. Her stories went from being nice and gentle to being vulgar and offensive. Suddenly Cayla was swearing like a trooper in her sweet, little voice.
&lsquo;The one thing that was meant to be secure in this doll was that it could not use inappropriate language. We proved that wasn&rsquo;t the case far too easily.
&lsquo;We contacted the doll&rsquo;s manufacturers (Genesis Toys) and they said they were aware of its vulnerabilities and would update the software. But this doll is out there now. I&rsquo;m not surprised to see sanctions being taken like in Germany today.&rsquo;
Cheryl says, as a mother of two children &ndash; Jessica, 13, and Stewie, 5 &ndash; she was even more aware of the potential dangers posed by toys.
&lsquo;It was unbelievably easy. Anyone sitting in their house could effectively spy on your child through a doll.
&lsquo;This is why I want to make cyber security my career. Seeing how easy hacking into Cayla was makes me want to protect people.&rsquo;
Dr Natalie Coull, Ethical Hacking lecturer at Abertay, said, &lsquo;The big problem is that a lot of these issues arise with toy manufacturers who have not really had to consider cyber security before.
&lsquo;But now, the likes of baby monitors and talking dolls are risks and are perhaps not tested enough before being sold and used.
&lsquo;The reality of the Internet of Things (IoT) is just around the corner: an era in which all manner of devices will be online, collecting data about daily life.
&lsquo;Internet-enabled toasters, fitness watches and even toothbrushes are available with high-tech features that offer an improved user experience. However, these devices can also be misused and attacked. Misuse of these devices has the potential to bring the internet to its knees.&rsquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay partnership wins innovation award]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33557-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2017 16:24:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33557-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33557-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[A partnership between Abertay University and a Fife fruit and vegetable wholesaler has enjoyed double success at a prestigious awards ceremony.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Innovation Award thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Innovation Award thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[

A partnership between Abertay University and a Fife fruit and vegetable wholesaler has enjoyed double success at a prestigious awards ceremony.
Malcolm Wood, who said he had a &lsquo;eureka moment&rsquo; in the middle of the night, picked up the coveted Innovation of the Year award at the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards 2017.
Malcolm worked with Abertay University to develop his idea after business-academic matchmakers, Interface, connected the two.
New legislation preventing fast food outlets from disposing of food and starch waste in public drains prompted Malcolm, of Ivan Wood and Sons of Ballingry, to come up with an affordable, compact starch filtration system, PeelTech.
The judges noted the significant innovation behind the product in meeting environmental and regulatory needs, while demonstrating a clear commercial opportunity in the UK and overseas.
Meanwhile, a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate from Abertay University, who worked with Ivan Wood &amp; Sons to improve the PeelTech filtration system, triumphed in the Building Skills through Knowledge Exchange category.
Lee-Anne McGee redesigned and validated the filtration system, reducing waste materials and generating sales within the UK and Europe.
Lee-Anne implemented a Food Quality Management System, which resulted in significant cost savings to both the company wages and packaging. She also impressed the judges by developing a high-quality vegetable stock from the recovered starch to be sold as a new product to the food service industry.
Another Abertay related project was shortlisted in the Innovation of the Year category &ndash; relaunching the iconic Scottish soft drinks brand Bon Accord.
An academic team supported the famous company through new product development, consumer research and nutritional labelling to create a new range of naturally sweetened soft drinks.
The Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards, held in Edinburgh, celebrated projects and partnerships that are created by Scottish higher education and research institutions.
Dr Jon Wilkin, of Abertay&rsquo;s Division of Food and Drink, was delighted with the successes.
He said, &lsquo;I'm very pleased that we won the &ldquo;Innovation of the year&rdquo; for our project with Ivan Wood and Sons. This shows how collaborations between industry and academia can pay off for both parties.
&lsquo;We also did not expect to win the second award, with Lee-Anne McGee, former KTP Associate working on this project. It just shows the hard work and determination of all parties and how our collaborations can really drive change within the company. We look forward to working with them going forward. They certainly are one to watch in the future.&rsquo;
Interface Director, Siobh&aacute;n Jordan, said, &lsquo;We have had some truly inspirational individuals and collaborations celebrated at today&rsquo;s awards ceremony. The day has been a fantastic showcase of what can be achieved when business and academia come together. &lsquo;The standard of entries was incredibly high and the judges had some tough decisions to make. Each of the finalists really demonstrated how collaborations can boost innovation, drive company growth to support the economy and position Scotland as a &ldquo;can do&rdquo; nation.&rsquo;
Paul Wheelhouse, Scottish Government Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, said, &lsquo;I would like to congratulate all the nominees and winners who have been recognised for their outstanding work at the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards.
&lsquo;These are truly innovative projects between our businesses and academia from all disciplines and are crucial for improving productivity and creating sustainable economic growth, whilst playing a vital role in shaping Scotland&rsquo;s future.&rsquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Teams prepare for Varsity battle]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33309-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2017 16:37:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33309-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33309-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay and Dundee universities will compete in March]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Varsity 5 (1).jpg Thumb.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Varsity 5 (1).jpg Thumb.jpg <![CDATA[

The elite of university sporting talent will do battle across more than a dozen sports as the annual Varsity tournament returns to Dundee.
Old rivalries will be resumed on Wednesday March 15 when Abertay University and the University of Dundee go head to head in a series of eagerly anticipated matches at the city&rsquo;s Riverside pitches and Institute of Sport and Exercise.
Varsity is the biggest amateur sporting event on the Dundee calendar with more than 600 students taking part over a full day for the coveted Tay Varsity Challenge Trophy.
Teams will compete in a range of sports including in Archery, Basketball, Badminton, Volleyball, Cricket, Netball, Tennis, Triathlon, Football, Rugby, Swimming, Hockey and Golf.
Each competitive win adds one point to the overall team tally and there will be a range of participation fixtures played purely for local bragging rights.
The event is organised jointly by Abertay Sport and Dundee Sports Union and features both men's and women's sides.
A launch for the clash was staged at Slessor Gardens in the shadow of the V&amp;A Dundee on Monday February 20.
Sports club captains from both institutions were on hand to conduct pre-tournament interviews ahead of the showdown and a dance group put on a special performance.
Abertay Sports Development Officer Mikey Devlin said some mouth-watering fixtures were in store.
He added, 'The University of Dundee were overall winners last year so I know Abertay will be seeking to come back with a bang in 2017.
'Varsity is a fantastic event and is growing every year in tandem with the friendly rivalry between the two universities.
'I would encourage supporters of both sides to get down on the day and make their voices heard.'
Supporters from both universities will be on hand to cheer on their teams on the day of the event and members of the public are welcome to attend.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay student to promote gender diversity in games]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33279-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2017 12:42:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33279-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33279-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay's Mona Bozdog will promote gender diversity at San Francisco's Game Developers Conference after securing a grant worth thousands of pounds from the IGDA Foundation.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Mona Bozdog Inchcolm (1).JPG Thumb.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Mona Bozdog Inchcolm (1).JPG Thumb.JPG <![CDATA[An Abertay University PhD student who blended theatre and computer games in a ground-breaking experiment on a Forth Estuary island has now received a scholarship to attend the world&rsquo;s biggest games conference.
Mona Bozdog will promote gender diversity on her trip to the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco after securing a grant worth thousands of pounds from the IGDA Foundation.
She will act as a Women in Games Ambassador during the event, which runs from 27 February to 3 March and attracts 30,000 people.
The theatre maker &ndash;&nbsp;who made the headlines last year for her pioneering digital performance experiment on Inchcolm Island in the Forth &ndash; is currently researching the relationship between performance and video games.
It will be her first time in San Francisco and she is keen to tap into the industry expertise on offer.
Mona&rsquo;s Applied Research Collaborative Studentship PhD, Connecting Performance and Play, is a partnership between Abertay University, The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, The National Theatre of Scotland and the Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities.
Her research is funded by Abertay and The Scottish Funding Council through the SGSAH.
She said, 'I&rsquo;m a firm believer that we all have a creative voice and we should all be able to express it. These voices show how we all perceive and engage with the world.
'The more creative voices we have, the more diverse these voices are, the more accurate and insightful our world view will become.
'Only by achieving gender parity at the creative level we can start hearing more female voices and gain access to more diverse and varied ways of looking at, engaging with, and experiencing the world.'
GDC features over 500 lectures, panels, tutorials and discussions hosted by industry experts from across the world.
In October last year, Mona and a team of international artists combined Bafta-nominated video game Dear Esther with a theatrical performance and a live orchestral arrangement of two songs from the game's soundtrack.
A live feed of the game being played was projected inside the 12th Century Inchcolm Abbey.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[GCHQ expert attends Walter McNicol lecture]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33277-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2017 12:32:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33277-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33277-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Event with focus on cybersecurity attended by 300 people]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Walter talk pic.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Walter talk pic.JPG <![CDATA[Abertay University hosted a cybersecurity expert from GCHQ at the fourth annual Walter McNicol Defence Lecture.
The annual lecture is staged by each of the universities within Tayforth Military Education Committee (MEC) - Abertay, Dundee, Stirling and St Andrews.
This year it was titled Cyber &ndash;&nbsp;A Complex World and topics covered included encryption and cyber and legal parameters.
Leaders from both military and civilian roles provided an insight into their experiences in defence and an expert from GCHQ talked about cybersecurity.
Attendees included academics and students from the four universities, members of Tayforth Universities Officers Training Corps, East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron (ESUAS) and representatives from the local police and security industry.
Abertay Military Education Committee (MEC) Convener Eddie Simpson said, 'The GCHQ expert's lecture was interesting, informative and exciting, providing the audience of nearly 300 with an insight into the complexity of the intelligence services in their role of defence.
'The oversight of numerous career options, including STEM subjects, led to an incredible 23 follow-up enquiries after the lecture.'
Walter McNicol was a former convener of the MEC and he commenced an annual defence lecture for the Tayforth area Units in the early 1980s.
In 2013 the annual defence lecture was named after Mr McNicoll as a mark of respect for his contribution.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay Space Agency chasing record]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33275-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2017 12:26:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33275-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33275-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The group's project will see pictures taken from a balloon in space.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Space (1) thumb.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Space (1) thumb.jpg <![CDATA[An Abertay Space Agency record attempt to take the highest 360-degree pictures from a balloon on the edge of space will be at the centre of a new public Open Day.
Members of the student-led society will host the event at 3pm on February 28 at Abertay University where people can learn more about the group and the ambitious launch project, as well as trying virtual reality headsets, science experiments and drones.
ASA President Adam Rapley, 22, an ethical hacking student from Newcastle, said the Open Day would provide an opportunity to discuss the record attempt and attract new recruits.
As part of the project the students intend to send a figurine model of Oor Wullie into space with the balloon then later sell it for charity.
A number of test launches must still be carried out, however the attempt has been scheduled for this summer.
The Open Day will be supported by Dundee Science Centre who will provide a space suit, a bell jar and other interesting workshop items for the event.
Adam encouraged anyone interested in space to attend to learn about the work of the agency.
He said, 'If we pull it off then it will be the highest 360 pictures ever taken from a camera on the edge of space.
'We are all really looking forward to the Open Day and have lots of activities planned.
'It is a fantastic opportunity for the community to get involved with the exciting space science project we are taking on.'
ASA work with Dundee charity Advocating Together as part of their community outreach commitment.
The group works with people who have learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Success for &pound;500,000 fertility study]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33255-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 2017 12:26:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33255-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33255-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The collaborative project is exploring the causes of male infertility.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Dr Sean Brown thumb.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Dr Sean Brown thumb.JPG <![CDATA[An Abertay electrophysiologist has reached a landmark phase in a collaborative &pound;500,000 study of male infertility.
Dr Sean Brown recently completed a study, which aimed to establish how human sperm cell fertilisation ability is affected by alterations in specific membrane proteins called ion channels.
Carried out in collaboration with the University of Dundee, the University of Birmingham and the Assisted Conception Unit at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, the study has investigated if sperm that lacked potassium ion channels could still fertilise.
Dr Brown undertook an&nbsp;analysis of sperm from sub-fertile men at Ninewells Hospital using a technique known as patch clamp electrophysiology, which permits the study of ion channel function in individual cells.
He said the study examined the correlation between the success of IVF (In vitro fertilisation) and the presence or absence of a potassium channel in sperm cells.
'In mouse models, it was found that when sperm potassium channels were knocked out the male mice were infertile and that gave us a clue that it might be the same in humans,' Dr Brown said.
'Patients come on the day of treatment and provide samples to be used in either ICSI (Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) or IVF.
'I can take a single cell from this sample and using the patch clamp technique I can attempt to activate the ion channels.
'I found that cell populations with an extreme abnormality in the potassium channel have low fertilisation success at IVF.'
Dr Brown explained that ion channels regulate many cellular functions.
He said, 'We aim to find out the molecular cause of potassium channel dysfunction and what precise cellular functions are affected.'
The joint funding grant of &pound;500,000 from the Medical Research Council is due to come to an end this year and those leading the project plan to apply for additional funding to address these challenges.
A paper on the research was published last year in Human Reproduction and it was recently cited as being of 'special significance in its field' by industry site F1000 Prime.
Dr Brown is a Senior Lecturer on Abertay's undergraduate&nbsp;Biomedical Sciences&nbsp;programme and has degrees from University College London and at the University of Strathclyde.
For more information visit&nbsp;https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dew056.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay 'invincibles' celebrate league triumphs]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33232-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Feb 2017 10:44:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33232-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33232-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Netball and badminton teams unbeaten all season.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Invincibles 2. thumb.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Invincibles 2. thumb.JPG <![CDATA[
&zwnj;
Abertay University is celebrating double sporting success after securing league wins for both netball and badminton in two &lsquo;invincible&rsquo; seasons.
The unbeaten Abertay netball team&rsquo;s latest 64-24 victory against the University of Strathclyde was enough to secure them the British University and College Sport (BUCS) title in their division.
The Dundee-based side, which boasts two Scottish Universities representatives, have now won all seven of their fixtures this year, with an enormous +296 goal difference &ndash; almost quadruple that of their nearest rivals.
Following their league success the team is now looking forward to a cup semi-final against the University of Edinburgh on March 4. 
Captain Lauren Wright, an Abertay Sports Development student, said, 'It&rsquo;s fantastic to see all the hard work we have been putting in pay off.
'We are a competitive club but we also have recreational players and international students on the Erasmus programme who enjoy coming to train with us.'
Meanwhile, the Abertay badminton team also secured their BUCS league title with a win over the University of Edinburgh. 
The undefeated side have won eight and drawn one this year with one fixture remaining.
Club captain Matthew Taylor said, 'It&rsquo;s a competitive league so it&rsquo;s great to have won.
'I&rsquo;m confident we can win our remaining match to go unbeaten for the full season.'
Abertay Sports Development Officer Mikey Devlin said the achievements were a result of the hard work and determination shown by both teams.
He added, 'To win any league without suffering defeat is an incredible success so all of us at Abertay Sport are delighted they have pulled it off.
'Abertay has a strong culture of participation and competition in sport and achievements like this go a long way to inspiring others to get involved.' Caption L-R: Badminton captain Matthew Taylor, Sports Development Officer Mikey Devlin and netball captain Lauren Wright.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Global kissing study launched on Valentine's Day]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33228-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Feb 2017 09:05:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33228-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33228-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay survey will ask at what point people say 'I love you.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Kiss thumbnail.jpeg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Kiss thumbnail.jpeg <![CDATA[How important is kissing to you and what do you think makes a good kiss? In time for Valentine&rsquo;s Day, these are just some of the questions that will be posed to participants in a new global Abertay University psychology study looking at how we express ourselves in close relationships. The survey from Dr Christopher Watkins is now live and he wants people across the world to share their thoughts. Participants will take part in an anonymous online questionnaire examining three forms of romantic expression, including:

The frequency of mouth-to-mouth kissing and hugging within close relationships.
When people decide to say 'I love you' within a close relationship.
General feelings and emotions experienced by individuals when they are in a committed relationship.&nbsp;

&nbsp;
Dr Watkins said, 'This area of science is still relatively new.
'Anyone 18 years or older can take part in the study, regardless of whether they are currently in a relationship.  'This work will provide insight into factors that are important to wellbeing in close relationships.' The 10-15 minute study is available online and can be found at www.relationship-lab.com/romanticexpression.html Participants can complete it privately and in their own time, and the front page of the task provides further information before they decide whether to take part. Foreign language versions of the task will also be posted on the website. Dr Watkins is a Lecturer in Psychology at Abertay who is interested in human mate choice and romantic attraction.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Food and drink projects shortlisted for award]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33157-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2017 09:36:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33157-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33157-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay University food and drink projects have been shortlisted as the two finalists for Innovation of the Year at the prestigious 2017 Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Food thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Food thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[Abertay University food and drink projects have been shortlisted as the two finalists for Innovation of the Year at the prestigious 2017 Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards.
The University&rsquo;s work to help relaunch iconic Scottish soft drinks brand Bon Accord will compete for the honour against another Abertay partnership with fruit and vegetable business Ivan Wood and Sons Ltd.
The Bon Accord project saw an academic team support the famous company through new product development, consumer research and nutritional labelling to create a new range of naturally sweetened soft drinks.
Innovative recipes were developed that can be scaled up and produced in larger quantities.
The Ivan Wood and Sons Ltd project, which involved Peel Tech Ltd, saw Abertay develop an affordable, compact starch filtration system to comply with new legislation that stops food and starch waste from vegetables being deposited in public drains.
It is estimated the new product will have a huge impact on food preparation businesses, including fish and chip shops, wholesalers, restaurants and takeaways across the UK.
Dr Jon Wilkin of Abertay&rsquo;s Division of Food and Drink said the department was delighted to be the only institution in Scotland to be selected in the category.
He added, 'These nominations show the high regard in which our food and drink research projects are held.
'Both of these partnerships have made a major impact in their respective industries and I wish the teams behind each of them the best of luck.'
A total of fourteen finalists were announced across all categories for the wider awards ceremony, which takes place at the RBS Gogarburn Conference Centre, Edinburgh, on Tuesday&nbsp;21 February.
The awards are run by Interface, which matches businesses to Scottish universities and research institutes, and is funded by the Scottish Funding Council, Scottish Enterprise, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Other categories include Sustained Partnership, Outstanding Contribution to Knowledge Exchange, Multi-Party Collaboration and Building Skills Through Knowledge Exchange.
Lee-Anne McGee, a Knowledge Transfer Partnership Associate from Abertay, has been nominated in the Building Skills through Knowledge Exchange category for work with Ivan Wood &amp; Sons.
Interface Director, Siobh&aacute;n Jordan, said, 'The judges had some really tough decisions to make as the standard of entries was incredibly high.
'However, the finalists in each category had the edge with some outstanding collaborations, many of which have the potential to revolutionise an industry or several industries, change society and people&rsquo;s lives or make a global impact far wider than Scotland&rsquo;s shores.']]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Sport used as hook to engage 40,000 participants]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33150-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2017 08:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33150-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33150-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Dundee Academy of Sport is celebrating a landmark achievement]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Vikings thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Vikings thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[

An innovative Abertay University education programme that has used Lionel Messi&rsquo;s wages, the Tour de France and the Six Nations as hooks to engage children in Tayside and Fife has reached an incredible 40,000 participants.
Since 2013, the University&rsquo;s Dundee Academy of Sport has enjoyed sustained success in running a wide range of projects at schools, colleges, summer camps and community groups.
Many of the targeted classes are delivered at schools in SIMD 20 areas, which have large pockets of deprivation.
This week, Florian Szarlej, 8, from Dundee became the 40,000th participant in the programme at a typically creative session at Our Lady&rsquo;s Primary in the Hilltown area.
Abertay teaching fellows Amy Macleod, 25 and Rhona Martin, 27, led a class that saw the P4 group don helmets and take to rowing machines as they learned about both the history and physiology of the Vikings.
Dundee Academy of Sport Project Officer Alan Clark, 42, said using sport as a vehicle for education had proved a powerful tactic in trying to harness the imagination and attention of children.
'The kids we are delivering to come from the SIMD 20 areas and in Dundee that tends to include the majority of the schools.
'It is about finding unique and creative ways to engage them &ndash;&nbsp;if we are doing numeracy we might focus on Transfer Deadline Day or how much Lionel Messi gets paid in a week.
'We provide that extra bit of razzmatazz and inspiration and that is then backed up by the teachers who play an integral role in the sessions and are able to follow up with lessons after we have gone.
'Our work has been well received from pupils and teachers alike, with high levels of engagement and excellent feedback from class teachers.
'If they are enjoying what they are doing then they engage &ndash; it can be like sneaking education in by the back door.'
The project is delivered in partnership with Dundee and Angus College and has been jointly funded by the Scottish Funding Council and Abertay in a bid to support tackling the various attainment challenges that face schools across the area.
Avenues to continue the project beyond the summer of 2017 are currently being explored.
Teacher feedback shows a satisfaction rate of more than 90% for the sessions.
Our Lady&rsquo;s teacher Sean Moran said the visits from Dundee Academy of Sport were invaluable to his class.
A lot of the children are really into sport and watch it a lot on TV so it&rsquo;s a great way to get them engaged.
Many of them won&rsquo;t get to experience this kind of activity outside of school so it&rsquo;s a great opportunity for them.
They are definitely more engaged and ask a lot more questions afterwards so it&rsquo;s great to see them taking it all on board.'
Florian said, 'I like it when the sports guys come to our school &ndash; it&rsquo;s more fun than normal class. I like Parkour, basketball and gymnastics and maybe one day I will teach sports like them.']]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay student selected for Rugby League World Cup]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33090-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2017 11:24:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33090-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33090-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[An Abertay student has battled back from serious injury to be selected for the Student Rugby League World Cup in Australia.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Niall thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Niall thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[An Abertay student has battled back from serious injury to be selected for the Student Rugby League World Cup in Australia.
Niall Hall, 21, who took up the sport at the age of six, will travel to Sydney to take part in this summer&rsquo;s prestigious competition.
Niall, who studies Physical Activity and Health at Abertay, was involved in the tournament in 2014 and 2016, but missed out in 2015 due to an injury that required surgery and rehabilitation.
The fourth year student is thrilled to have made it back into the fold for this July&rsquo;s World Cup.
He said, &lsquo;I have played rugby since I was six after my dad encouraged me to try a sport. &lsquo;I wasn&rsquo;t involved in the World Cup set up in 2015 due to a severely injured shoulder that could have ended my rugby career &ndash; ultimately requiring two operations to fix and a year of rehabilitation.
&lsquo;Being selected for the Students&rsquo; Rugby League World Cup in Australia tops off a very special year for me, with it being my first full year back playing rugby following my operations.
&lsquo;From January 2016, I have turned out for both university and club teams. I am currently the top try scoring forward for Abertay. For Dundee High, I recently made my first appearance for the 1st XV team in the National 1 league, the second highest league in Scotland.&rsquo;
For Niall, selection into the Scottish World Cup squad involved four trial sessions around the UK, with more than 80 students competing for a place.
The team has friendlies coming up prior to the World Cup, with a game against the GB Police team in Newcastle in May.
Niall added, &lsquo;This selection means the world to me, and couldn&rsquo;t have got to this point without the continued support of my family, especially my mum and dad who have continually motivated me to grab every opportunity that I am presented with. They have stood and watched me in rain or shine, got me to training and helped me out financially.
&lsquo;I also owe this selection to the work of Ryan Beattie and all those involved within the Abertay University Rugby Club who have motivated me and developed me into the player and person I am today.&rsquo;
The World Cup will take place from 5-17 July.
As a member of the Scotland squad, Niall has to raise &pound;3,000 to cover the cost of travel, accommodation and kit. As well as crowdfunding and other fundraising, Niall is also looking for corporate sponsors to help him fulfil his dream. If you&rsquo;re interested in helping, contact Niall on nfhall95@gmail.com
&nbsp;
&nbsp;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[New fingerprint chamber has cold case potential]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33064-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2017 14:22:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33064-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33064-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The VMD machine has been installed in the new &pound;3.5m science labs]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/VMD 4.Thumbnail.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/VMD 4.Thumbnail.JPG <![CDATA[

Abertay University forensics students will benefit from working with a high-tech new machine capable of retrieving the fingerprints of cold case murder victims.
The University is the only place in Scotland that students can access the specialist Vacuum Metal Deposition (VMD) chamber from West Technology, which heats gold and zinc to 1600C, evaporating the metal, which is redeposited as a thin layer on a target surface, delineating any fingerprints.
Similar devices are used by police forces in Scotland, the rest of the UK and as far afield as Canada and Australia and can be used to extract an accurate print from almost any material or object including guns and the new polymer five pound notes.
Abertay students will experience this within practical laboratory sessions on crime scene mark enhancement.
The instrument is part of a raft of new equipment that is being installed in Abertay&rsquo;s new &pound;3.5 million science labs, which are due to officially open later this year.
Dr Ben Jones, Head of the Division of Science at Abertay, said the VMD has the potential to provide detectives with a finger print from materials that may have been used to conceal a body buried years previously.
He added: &ldquo;This is all about making sure our students have access to the latest technology and, from a research point of view, expanding on our earlier work with the UK Home Office in understanding of the processes involved at the micro level to further develop the use of the technique.
&ldquo;Fingerprints are still used more than DNA when it comes to identification so this piece of equipment places our students at the cutting edge of what is available in the industry.&rdquo;
West Technology ran a two-day training course to show staff and students how to operate the VMD for best results.
The company has also provided a scholarship worth &pound;4,500 for student Paul Sheriffs who will be using the device as part of his PhD research project.
He said: &ldquo;A big area of research just now centres around the new polymer five pound notes as they are very different from what we had before in terms of being able to extract a print.
&ldquo;It is great that the University has been able to give me access to this resource.&rdquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Cream of UK sales talent to shine at Abertay]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33014-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2017 09:32:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33014-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33014-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Salesforce Scottish Open Sales Competition is coming to Dundee]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Sales Competition thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Sales Competition thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[The best young sales talent in the UK will compete in a national university contest where selling skills are honed and students receive candid feedback on their abilities from corporate executives.
Abertay University will host the prestigious Salesforce Scottish Open Sales Competition 2017 in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University, where the event was first piloted last year.
Universities from Scotland and England will be challenged to sell under real life conditions to major players including San Francisco-based software and enterprise firm Salesforce and banking giant RBS.
The next generation of business professionals from Abertay, Edinburgh Napier, Aberdeen University, Robert Gordon University, Dundee University, Sheffield Hallam University, Coventry University, Perth College UHI, St Andrews University and Glasgow Caledonian University are currently sharpening their sales tactics in preparation for the battle in Dundee on February 21 and 22.
The competition conference model is based on massive US sales events where up to 1,500 colleges regularly compete, and the winners will go head-to-head against the best in Europe at a contest at Edinburgh Napier this summer.
Sponsored by Salesforce, Royal Bank of Scotland, IT insights specialist Gartner, recruitment solutions firm Talented Scot, software company Zudu, and the Association of Professional Sales, the competition at Abertay is also a golden opportunity for businesses across Scotland to identify student sales talent with a view to employing future stars.
A role play session where students engage in a business to business seller-buyer meeting makes up one element and there will be a timed Speed Sell section to test nerves under pressure and also instill confidence in the students.
There will also be a range of talks and feedback sessions from industry experts over the two days and the event will culminate in a Gala Dinner.
Dr Gary Mulholland of Abertay&rsquo;s Dundee Business School said the competition is both a learning opportunity and a chance for the cream of University sales students to make their mark.
He added: &ldquo;We teach people how to capture the imagination within 30 seconds in an elevator pitch style and those skills will determine who succeeds in this competition.
&ldquo;Working in the sales industry is both rewarding financially and personally and is a great way of meeting people and the different approach we take at Abertay puts our students on that path.&rdquo;
Tony Douglas of Edinburgh Napier Business School said: &ldquo;It is so important in today&rsquo;s fast changing business environment that our University Business School students have the opportunity to learn and practice the important presentation, listening, questioning and negotiating skills that will help equip them for not just a job in sales but also introduce them to the opportunities for a career in sales.
&ldquo;Large numbers of students leaving our Business Schools are destined for a sales-related first job in the real world &ndash; it is important that we assist them in finding meaningful employment on graduation&rdquo;
Zane Powell, law student and director of start-up company UniJob App, said: &quot; I took part in the first ever Scottish Open Sales Competition and this luckily coincided with the early stages of my business venture.
&quot;The experience I gained in selling from the competition and the dedicated team of professional sales coaches was vital in helping me go forward and secure significant investment for my start-up venture.&rdquo;
The wider Abertay Enterprise week, running February 20 to 23 is open to attend, but the competitive element is closed for competitors only.
Local sponsorship opportunities are still available and present an ideal opportunity for companies to identify their next top sales people.
For more information visit www.scottishopensalescompetition.co.uk.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay launches &pound;5m international fisheries bid]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33013-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2017 09:17:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33013-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33013-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Work from Dr Constantinos Stathopoulos could have major impact for Vietnam.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Costas fisheries thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Costas fisheries thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[Abertay University has launched a &pound;5 million research funding bid that could transform the lives of millions of Vietnamese fishermen.
Food waste technology expert Professor Constantinos Stathopoulos is leading a new project that aims to harness waste from the fisheries industry to create usable materials like biodegradable plastics.
A teaching, conferencing and networking trip to Vietnam saw the Abertay food and drink division leader agree a bid to the Global Challenges Research Fund, in partnership with the highly regarded Nha Trang University on the country&rsquo;s east coast.
If successful in attracting the funding, which is worth between &pound;4m and &pound;5m, the work has the potential to provide a major boost to Vietnam&rsquo;s fisheries industry, which exported an estimated &pound;7bn worth of product last year.
Prof Stathopoulos said, 'This project has huge potential for increased income and productivity with fisheries being the mainstay of communities in Vietnam.
'My research focusses on extracting valuable things out of waste. In this context, it is fisheries. In the likes of Australia, it was fruit.
'To extract those things allows you to potentially make other products, increase income and reduce waste, thereby maximising efficiency in the supply chain.
'If it is apples, you get antioxidants. If you do the same with cherries, you get purple colouring.
'With fisheries, it is things you can use for biodegradable plastics like films and coatings.
'It makes the most of the catch. When you eat a prawn, 40 to 50 percent goes in the bin.
'If we can make things out of that, the producers can make money and have to throw away less.
'And when you are talking this sort of volume, if matters because they have to pay to get rid of the waste.'
Abertay will spearhead the project, tapping into expertise from its School of Science, Engineering and Technology and Dundee Business School.
Nha Trang is the main international partner and other institutions are involved.
The research will focus on using water as a base for the extraction of useful items from fisheries waste, rather than organic solvents that can be toxic or difficult to handle.
The project will see substances such as chitsan, chitin and peptides gathered, all of which all have broad applications.
The trip to Vietnam also yielded a research collaboration grant worth &pound;20,000 that will see Prof Stathopoulos and Abertay lecturer Dr Jon Wilkin visit Nha Trang in March.
Two of their staff will then come to Dundee for three months over the summer to strengthen links.
While in Vietnam, Prof Stathopoulos also taught an international programme as a guest lecturer at Nong Lam University and spoke on sustainable agriculture and the environment at a conference organised in collaboration with the University of California, Davis.
He then travelled to Thailand where productive collaboration talks were held with Siam University.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Statement on the Teaching Excellence Framework]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33007-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2017 13:11:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33007-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-33007-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay University will take part in the Teaching Excellence Framework.  ]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Statement on Teaching Excellence Framework thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Statement on Teaching Excellence Framework thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[&zwnj;Abertay University will take part in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
The TEF seeks to measure the performance of UK universities in teaching and in supporting the learning of their students.
Each participating university is rated on its students&rsquo; views of the quality of the teaching and the support they receive, the contribution the university makes to delivering social mobility through higher education, and the impact it has on the employment prospects of its students.
Participation in the TEF is voluntary. Abertay has chosen to take part to demonstrate the quality of the work it does with its students from Scotland, from elsewhere in the UK and from abroad.
Abertay University is the highest ranked Scottish modern university in the National Student Survey, and in 2016 was shortlisted for the Times Higher Education University of the Year Award.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay build links with SEGi]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32998-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2017 16:13:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32998-en.php]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[A new development in Abertay University's partnership with one of Malaysia&rsquo;s biggest private educational institutions could see foreign academics travel to Dundee to benefit from local expertise.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Segi thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Segi thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[A new development in Abertay University's partnership with one of Malaysia&rsquo;s biggest private educational institutions could see foreign academics travel to Dundee to benefit from local expertise.
Dr Alex Avramenko of Abertay&rsquo;s Dundee Business School jetted out to SEGi University&rsquo;s Faculty of Business, Accounting and Management in Kuala Lumpur to deliver an interactive teaching programme in contemporary qualitative research methods.
The trip was also aimed at exposing SEGi&rsquo;s staff and students to interactive teaching practices used in business and management disciplines at Abertay.
Dr Avramenko&rsquo;s five-day visit, funded by the European Union Erasmus+ programme for staff mobility exchange, strengthened the existing partnership between the two institutions.
The SEGi University students experienced a different style of teaching and learning and were exposed to a different perspective in contemporary research methods.
Dr Avramenko said, &lsquo;Research is a real priority for SEGi and so in the time I had free from teaching I met with many people, including Professor Patrick Kee, the Vice Chancellor, to discuss how research collaboration can be fostered practically and in particular on an individual level.
&lsquo;We are now looking to welcome SEGi&rsquo;s lecturers here in Dundee Business School to expose them to our dynamic research culture and share best practice activities with them&rsquo;.
Last year a SEGi lecturer, Mehrunishah Begum, came to Abertay for a similar visit to gain exposure to practice-centred teaching approaches in entrepreneurship education.
The two institutions already have a dual degree initiative and are hoping to build a solid research partnership through collaborative papers, staff exchange, joint funding applications and student placements.]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Ethical hackers prepare for Securi-Tay]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32993-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2017 13:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32993-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32993-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[More than 350 delegates to attend cyber security conference]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Nigel Securi-Tay - thumbnail.JPG]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Nigel Securi-Tay - thumbnail.JPG <![CDATA[

The next generation of UK ethical hackers will hear from Europe&rsquo;s top cyber security experts at Abertay University&rsquo;s annual Securi-Tay conference.
More than 350 students and professionals will attend the major event at the Dundee campus on 24 February with an array of big names from the online security sphere expected to attend.
The conference will feature talks and workshops from respected speakers as well as members from the organising body Abertay&rsquo;s Ethical Hacking Society, which is made up of students.
In previous years headline speakers have included representatives from major players such as Cisco and NCC.
A mass delegation from Leeds University will attend this year, keeping up strong links forged between the two institutions.
The conference is aimed at anyone with an interest in hacking and information security and high-level computing expertise is not required.
Organiser William Goard of the Ethical Hacking Society said, 'Securi-Tay promises to provide a fantastic, worthwhile experience for everyone, new to the scene and conference veterans alike.
'It&rsquo;s a chance for students to meet with top industry professionals in their own environment in a more informal way than going for a job interview.
'The world of online security is growing and Ethical Hacking is a subject that will be directly linked to employment opportunities after graduation.
&ldquo;As I always say to students, the course is good fun, interesting, a subject area that is always changing and you are likely to get a job at the end of it.'
The list of speakers for Securi-Tay 2017 will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Welcome events for delegates will take place prior to the conference and an &lsquo;after party&rsquo; will also be staged.
For more information or to become an event sponsor visit&nbsp;2017.securi-tay.co.uk
For tickets visit eventbrite.co.uk/e/securi-tay-2017-tickets-29478582233]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Biggest Global Game Jam event in Abertay&rsquo;s history]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32969-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2017 11:53:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32969-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32969-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay staged the biggest Global Game Jam event in the University&rsquo;s history, signalling the start of celebrations to mark 20 years of video games courses.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Game Jam roundup 2017.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Game Jam roundup 2017.jpg <![CDATA[
&nbsp;
Abertay staged the biggest Global Game Jam event in the University&rsquo;s history, signalling the start of celebrations to mark 20 years of video games courses.
A group of 220 students, graduates and Scottish games industry professionals arrived at the Dundee campus at 5pm on Friday to play their part in a worldwide 48-hour challenge that links China to the US and Macedonia to Mexico.
This year marks two decades since Abertay became the first university in the world to offer named degrees in computer games development and a major programme of events is to unfold in the coming months.
Lynn Parker, Computer Arts programme leader, organised the Abertay Global game jam event alongside Division Leader Dr Dayna Galloway, Teaching Fellow Kayleigh MacLeod, PhD student Mona Bozdog and two student assistants.
More than 700 sites across over 100 different countries took part and it was the fifth time Abertay has hosted the main Dundee meet, where 47 teams took part.Teams were challenged to come up with ideas for new games, pitch them and create them over the course of the event.
Lynn said, &lsquo;The participants are a mix of students, graduates and friends in the industry so our current crop of students get the benefit of meeting people who have been through the course at Abertay and gone on to set themselves up in business.
&lsquo;It&rsquo;s great for them to be able to get an insight into the processes and ways of thinking behind creating a game and the Jams are so intensive that it challenges the students to quickly come up with concepts then prototype them and identify any issues.
&lsquo;It&rsquo;s such a friendly environment where everybody pitches in and plays each other&rsquo;s games and it&rsquo;s a great chance to meet new people, make contacts, learn from each other and improve on skills in a fun environment.&rsquo;
Jams started at 5pm each nation&rsquo;s local time, spreading across the globe until the last designers began in Hawaii.
The theme for the Jam is always kept under wraps until kick off and there is a social media blackout until all sites have begun.
After that, participants shared their ideas, inspirations and innovations in real time using the hashtag #GGJ17.
The Abertay event culminated in The Jammies where teams were awarded pots of jam to recognise their efforts.
Abertay offers undergraduate courses in Game Design and Production Management, Computer Games Technology, Computer Arts, Sound and Music for Games, and Computer Games Application Development.
Postgraduate courses including the MSc Computer Games Technology and MProf Games Development are also available.
To find out more about the Global Game Jam go to http://globalgamejam.org/]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Oor Wullie artist visits creation in his new home]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32899-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2017 11:14:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32899-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32899-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[One of the artists behind the iconic Oor Wullie sculptures has visited his creation in its new home at Abertay.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Oour Wullie thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Oour Wullie thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[

One of the artists behind the iconic Oor Wullie sculptures has visited his creation in its new home at Abertay.
David Marr came to see Silicon Wullie in all its glory at Abertay&rsquo;s main reception, where Wullie greets staff, students and visitors every day.
And David also revealed his initial drawings for the sculpture &ndash; which even included a Terminator-inspired creation.
Last summer, 55 individually designed Oor Wullie statues were positioned in and around Dundee as part of the Archie Foundation&rsquo;s Oor Wullie Bucket Trail.
David, 39, said he could not believe how successful the trail had become.
He said, &lsquo;I found out about the trail on the Creative Scotland website. There were templates to fill in so I initially submitted drawings for a steampunk Wullie, sitting on a coal bucket, complete with pistons, cogs and inspired by Tik-Tok from Return to Oz.
&lsquo;The deadline was extended so I submitted another one. I wanted to do something futuristic so I came up with Silicon Wullie, after having a go at RoboCop and Terminator-inspired designs.
&lsquo;I was delighted when Silicon Wullie was picked.&rsquo;
Edinburgh-based David explained that the process of creating Silicon Wullie took around six days.
He explained, &lsquo;I sprayed the statue blue as a base then taped off the areas to mask for the design.
&lsquo;I used spray paint rather than a brush as I didn&rsquo;t want brush strokes on what was meant to look like metal. The hardest part was making him look symmetrical.
&lsquo;I was so happy with the end result. I&rsquo;d never done anything like that before and was nervous about how he&rsquo;d turn out.&rsquo;
David, along with some of the artists, went on a bus tour of the trail.
He added, &lsquo;It was amazing to see how popular the trail was and surreal to hear that there were concerns from local dog walkers about the number of people turning up to see Silicon Wullie at the Observatory.
&lsquo;The trail was beyond all our expectations. Oor Wullie is part of Dundee&rsquo;s identity and the trail brought everyone together.&rsquo;
David is Office Manager at the charity Art in Healthcare, which brings art and creativity to patients, staff and visitors at hospitals and other health care sites.So Archie&rsquo;s appeal to create a twin operating theatre at Tayside Children&rsquo;s Hospital is a cause close to his heart.
Following the trail, the statues were sold at an auction at Dundee Rep Theatre, which raised a total of &pound;883,000. Silicon Wullie was bought for &pound;10,000 and brought to his new home at Abertay University.
David said, &lsquo;I watched the auction online. I was so nervous to see if anyone would buy him.
&lsquo;It&rsquo;s nice to have played a part in raising so much money.&rsquo;
David met with Abertay Principal Nigel Seaton during his visit to campus and spoke of his delight at seeing his &lsquo;old pal&rsquo; Silicon Wullie again.
&lsquo;I loved seeing him in his new home and I&rsquo;m pleased he&rsquo;s being seen by so many people&rsquo;, David said.
&lsquo;It&rsquo;s apt for him to be in such a modern place, with Abertay being the leading computer gaming university.&rsquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay academic elected to Royal Society of Arts]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32850-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jan 2017 14:46:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32850-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32850-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[An Abertay University academic has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, joining the likes of Professor Stephen Hawking and Charles Dickens.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Kenny McAlpine thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Kenny McAlpine thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[

An Abertay University academic has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, joining the likes of Professor Stephen Hawking and Charles Dickens.
Dr Kenny McAlpine becomes a member of the prestigious 262-year-old institution in recognition of his work, research and outreach projects in computer games music.
The society is committed to finding practical solutions to social challenges and was founded in 1754 by William Shipley on the belief that the creativity of ideas can enrich social progress.
Other notable current members include inventor of the internet Sir Tim Berners-Lee and broadcaster Adam Hart-Davis.
Historical members include Karl Marx, Peter Ustinov, Benjamin Franklin and Charles Dickens.
&lsquo;It&rsquo;s a terrific honour to become a small part of such a prestigious and historical institution, but it&rsquo;s also more than a little daunting: the RSA roll-call includes some very notable figures and some truly world-changing achievements,&rsquo; Dr Mc Alpine said.
&lsquo;Like many who enter public service, I became an academic because I wanted to make a positive difference, and so it&rsquo;s wonderful to think that I might be pulling in the right direction.&rsquo;
Dr McAlpine is preparing to publish a new book, Bits n Pieces: A history of chip tunes, in spring or early summer.
The book charts the rise of the 'chip tune' sound from the underground game cracking scene of the 1980s and 1990s through to its use in big budget movies today.
It will be the first scholarly book on the subject.
&lsquo;It all stems from those classic video games,&rsquo; Dr McAlpine said.
&lsquo;The guys back then started using really sophisticated programming tricks, which gave rise to the peculiar sound of 8-bit music, and that came to typify that period of gaming from 1984 to 1989.
&lsquo;Kids started cracking commercial software and leaving little digital calling cards to identify their work and they would stick little music tracks on there as well. Over time, those tracks got more elaborate and the style evolved.
&lsquo;I&rsquo;ve always been very conscious of the fact video games have only very recently been accepted as a legitimate form of cultural expression and a legitimate industry.
&lsquo;I&rsquo;m also very conscious that although that&rsquo;s true, it applies even further to video game music, which still isn&rsquo;t really seen as proper medium in the eyes of musicologists and cultural theorists.
&lsquo;So writing the book is partly about telling that story but also linking it in with a wider musical timeline to lift that status.&rsquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay graduate makes Forbes &rsquo;30 under 30&rsquo; list]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32846-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jan 2017 10:05:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32846-en.php]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[Abertay graduate hails Dare to be Digital after Forbes list prestige]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Liam Wong thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Liam Wong thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[

An Abertay University graduate who went on to become one of the world&rsquo;s premier games designers has hailed the impact of the Dare to be Digital competition on his career after he was included in the prestigious Forbes 30 under 30 list.
Liam Wong from Edinburgh graduated with a BA Computer Arts from Abertay in 2010 but said he hadn&rsquo;t considered a career in games until he was immersed in the annual Dare project in his third year.
The Graphic Design Director was picked for the new Forbes 30 under 30 list, which recognises the brightest young international entrepreneurs, breakout talents and change makers across 20 diverse sectors such as arts, sports, finance, tech, education, media and energy.
Recognised for his work at industry giant Ubisoft, where he directed the visual look of hit game Far Cry 4, Liam described the accolade as a &lsquo;real honour&rsquo;.
He added, &lsquo;I guess the most noticeable impact of the Forbes list is the exposure but more importantly to be able to inspire other artists to keep working hard and to keep pursuing their careers.
&lsquo;I have been at Ubisoft a little over three years now and my job is to define, design and direct the visual identities for AAA games.
&lsquo;I took a year out after high school as I was uncertain as to what type of career I wanted to pursue.
&lsquo;My brother went to Abertay and when I saw the Computer Arts course I knew it was the one for me.
&lsquo;But it wasn't until I took part in Dare to be Digital in third year that I had considered a career in games.
&lsquo;My advice to students is: figure out what you are passionate about and then spend every day working on improving your craft.&rsquo;
Liam now works at the Ubisoft offices in Montreal, the studio responsible for games like Assassin&rsquo;s Creed, Watch Dogs, Child of Light and Rainbow Six.
He said his training at Abertay &ndash; with Creative Skillset accreditation and a Centre for Excellence for games courses &ndash; had provided the ideal preparation for such a high level role.
&lsquo;My experience at university was really positive,&rsquo; Liam said.
&lsquo;The course gave me insight into the various types of art, from which I was able to identify what I was passionate about.
&lsquo;I would definitely recommend the course and university - spending four years there really helped me grow as an artist.
&lsquo;I often find myself returning to Dundee to check out the upcoming talent.
&lsquo;I came back last year to speak at Abertay and was really surprised by how much the city had changed - it's a great place to be, particularly if you are a games developer.&rsquo;
Liam took up photography in the last year and his pictures have already been featured by Adobe, Business Insider, Canon, CNN, Saatchi and Smithsonian.
For more information and pictures visit liamwong.com]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Reboot for Dare to be Digital ]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32840-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Sat, 14 Jan 2017 08:55:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32840-en.php]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[Abertay&rsquo;s Dare to be Digital games design competition will be rebooted as the university celebrates 20 years of games.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Dare reboot thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Dare reboot thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[

Abertay&rsquo;s Dare to be Digital games design competition will be rebooted as the university celebrates 20 years of games.
For the first time Dare winners will be flown out for fully-funded international placements at top gaming hubs in China, India and the US.
A total of three student teams will make the trips and can expect to jet out in October, November and December.
In another first, Dare teams will be given stands with individual team branding to promote their games at EGX, Europe&rsquo;s second largest gaming trade show.
Held at the NEC in Birmingham the event attracts 75,000 visitors over three days and will provide an invaluable showcase for the students, allowing access to video games industry leaders, trendsetters and gamers.
The teams will also attend Resonate: Total Gaming festival in Glasgow with the same high level of support.
Under new branding, Dare to be Digital will become Dare Academy and competition entry is open only to Abertay students.
This year Abertay is celebrating 20 years of games, having been the first in the world to offer the courses in 1997.
A further opportunity to showcase this year&rsquo;s Dare talent will be offered at a hugely expanded five-day Digital Graduate Show at the end of the year, taking place in the University&rsquo;s Hannah Maclure Centre from 5-9 May.
The show will see Dare material included in an array of exhibitions, retro games, performance pieces and other events to celebrate achievements from Abertay&rsquo;s games courses over the last two decades.
The events arm of the contest, Dare ProtoPlay, will cease to run so the funding can be spent where it really matters &ndash; the competition itself and the students.From 1 February, Abertay student teams can enter the Dare Academy contest with successful applicants selected by an independent industry panel.
Teams made up of the 30 best games creators will be given a four-week intensive hot-housing period in the summer accessing expertise from industry professionals.
With a working budget of &pound;1,000 per team, the 2017 entrants will be able to let their creativity flourish.
Professor Gregor White, Head of the School of Arts, Media and Computer Games, said, &lsquo;Dare to be Digital has been running for 16 years with ProtoPlay in place since 2007 and we felt it was the right time to re-evaluate what our Abertay students were getting from the experience.
&lsquo;The more focussed attention Dare Academy allows us to provide to our students will be invaluable to them, with Dare games counting towards their degree qualification.
&lsquo;Attendance at EGX and Resonate, coupled with the opportunity to win an international work placement, means there is more on offer to our contestants than ever before.
&lsquo;It is well documented that Scottish universities are facing severe funding pressures at present with no certainty as to when the situation might improve.
&lsquo;So while it is sad to see ProtoPlay end it is without doubt the correct decision in terms of safeguarding the future of Dare and acting in the best interests of our students.&rsquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay graduate shortlisted for prestigious award ]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32835-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2017 12:35:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32835-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32835-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[An Abertay University graduate has been shortlisted for a prestigious British Education Award.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Rachel Smyth thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Rachel Smyth thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[An Abertay University graduate has been shortlisted for a prestigious British Education Award.
Rachel Smyth, who graduated with a first class BSc in Psychology in July, is being honoured for her &lsquo;brilliant academic result&rsquo; in the Degree category.
She has now been invited to attend the British Education Awards Ceremony on 30 January in London.
At the glittering event, young people and their families, teachers, politicians, senior government ministers, professionals and celebrities from across the UK will celebrate the successes of those nominated.
Rachel spoke of her delight at the honour. She said, &lsquo;I feel amazing about being nominated for the award, and very proud to have been shortlisted as a finalist.
&lsquo;The incredible support that I received from Abertay, my fianc&eacute;, family and friends helped me achieve a first class honours degree.
&lsquo;I am my own worst enemy - I tend to doubt myself a lot. But achieving a top degree and now being a finalist for a prestigious award has given me confidence in my abilities that will help me in the future.&rsquo;
Dr Lynn Wright, lecturer and BSc Psychology programme leader in the School of Social &amp; Health Sciences at Abertay University, said this was &lsquo;a tremendous achievement&rsquo; for Rachel.
She said, &lsquo;This nomination reflects Rachel&rsquo;s hard word and determination which she demonstrated throughout her studies on the BSc Psychology programme.
&lsquo;Our suite of psychology programmes gives students the opportunity to learn about human and animal behaviour, and, as part of their honours project research, our students can also choose to specialise in a particular area of psychology.
&lsquo;For her honours project, Rachel chose to conduct her project in the field of mental health and well-being, and this is something that she highlighted as one of the most enjoyable parts of her degree programme.&rsquo;
]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay staff member's 1000-mile charity challenge]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32827-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2017 09:44:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32827-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32827-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[An Abertay University staff member is taking on a gruelling 1,000-mile running challenge to thank those who helped care for her dying mum.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Tina Robertson thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Tina Robertson thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[

An Abertay University staff member is taking on a gruelling 1,000-mile running challenge to thank those who helped care for her dying mum.
Tina Robertson&rsquo;s beloved mum Christine Roberts died in November after a short battle with cancer, aged just 57.
Tina now wants to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and for Ward 32 at Ninewells, where Christine was cared for.
The demanding challenge will see 34-year-old Tina attempt to run 1,000 miles before the year is out &ndash; juggling this round a full-time job, two children and a husband working shifts.
Tina, who is an admissions officer at Abertay, said she wanted to give something back to the people who had helped the family in their hour of need.
She said, &lsquo;This is a mammoth challenge, but I feel I need to do a challenge which will really test me.
&lsquo;I&rsquo;ve done half marathons and 10k races before, raising money for different charities, including Clic Sargent, Macmillan, Guide Dogs and local causes.
&lsquo;I&rsquo;ve never done anything as big as this, though. I work full time, have two children with very busy after school commitments and a husband who works nightshift.
&lsquo;I&rsquo;ll be pushing myself further than I ever have before.&rsquo;
Tina, who lives in Carnoustie but is originally from Arbroath, hopes to raise &pound;1,000 and aims to complete 19 miles each week &ndash; running mainly at lunchtimes.
Tina said the support of her husband, Colin, and children, Danielle, 10, and Logan, 8, as well as friends, family and Abertay colleagues would help get her through &ndash; as will the memory of her beloved mum.
Tina spoke of Christine&rsquo;s battle with cancer.
&lsquo;It was a shock when we found out that our mum had cancer, but unfortunately it was too advanced for treatment&rsquo;, she said.
&lsquo;She was diagnosed in May but didn&rsquo;t tell us about it until June. The cancer had spread to different organs.
&lsquo;Our mum kept the severity of the cancer to herself not wanting to worry others. She battled on to the very end as stubborn as ever.
&lsquo;I had spoken to her about doing this challenge, and she thought I was nuts but that it was a good challenge to undertake.&rsquo;
Sadly, mum-of-five and grandmother-of-five, Christine, who worked as a barmaid at the St Tams pub in Arbroath for around 25 years, lost her fight on November 24 at Ninewells Hospital.
Tina added, &lsquo;After our mum died we used the Macmillan website and workers for support on how to understand your feelings when you have lost a loved one and to understand that people grieve differently.
&lsquo;The staff on Ward 32 were very supportive and were a comfort at a very difficult time. It would be great to raise a good amount of money for them both.&rsquo;
To help Tina in her efforts, go to https://www.gofundme.com/tinarobertson]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[New podcast tackles gender stereotyping in sport]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32820-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2017 11:06:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32820-en.php]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[A new digital initiative from sportscotland will see an Abertay University expert push to break down barriers around gender stereotyping.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Gender sport thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Gender sport thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[

A new digital initiative from sportscotland will see an Abertay University expert push to break down barriers around gender stereotyping.
Abertay University Sport and Sociology lecturer, Dr Rhiannon Lord, is recording a series of six podcast for the national governing body&rsquo;s online app, aimed at providing information and training for coaches.
More than 60 people have already signed up to the free service from an array of sports including football, rugby, gymnastics and netball.
Dr Lord, who teaches Social Sciences in the Sport and Exercise programmes that Abertay offer, said media portrayal can have a huge impact on youngsters thinking of taking up sports traditionally associated with a particular gender.
She added, &lsquo;Why are we seeing boys shy away from sports like gymnastics and dance? It&rsquo;s mainly due to gender stereotyping.
&lsquo;Perhaps they don&rsquo;t want to be seen as feminine if they are going into these sports or on the other hand girls don&rsquo;t want to be seen as butch if they are going into sports like rugby.
&lsquo;As they get to that pre-pubescent age gender becomes more important.&rsquo;
Sportscotland launched the podcasts to target coaches at different levels.
Dr Lord said the online tool is more accessible to modern coaches than other forms of professional development that have been run in the past.
&lsquo;Rather than go in on a course which is three hours and you have to pay for it then travel to it, sportscotland have set up an app and these modules will be on there.
&lsquo;Coaches do it in their own time and there is a Facebook page so they can ask questions and discuss the content with other coaches.&rsquo;
Other universities are linking into the project on issues including nutrition and psychology.
The podcasts last about 10 to 15 minutes and are scheduled up until April 2017, with the December broadcast already live.
Dr Lord said gender inequity was a &lsquo;key marker&rsquo; for change among many Scottish governing bodies.
&lsquo;Strong role models are also really important, for example I think of Max Whitlock for boys in gymnastics at the moment,&rsquo; she said.
&lsquo;But there are some sports that are still struggling to find those role models.&rsquo;
Dr Lord said a 2013 study (Kane - Kane, M.J., 2013. The better sportswomen get, the more the media ignore them. Communication &amp; Sport) showed 40% of sport relates to women yet receives around 2% of overall coverage.
She added, &lsquo;The type of coverage is often more about human interest rather than their sporting achievements.
&lsquo;One of the key messages in the podcasts is about what we can do as coaches to close that gap.&rsquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay University student lands top scholarship]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32801-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2017 16:53:00 +0000</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[An Abertay University student will receive the first scholarship offered by a Tayside accountancy firm.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Robbie Scholarship thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Robbie Scholarship thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[An Abertay University student will receive the first scholarship offered by a Tayside accountancy firm.
Robbie Pol, a first year BA (Honours) Accounting &amp; Finance student, landed the &pound;5,000 scholarship after showing a desire to forge a career for himself in the field, despite financial constraints.
The Murray Taylor Scholarship is a four-year scheme and Robbie, 18, will receive &pound;1,250 for each year of his studies and two weeks&rsquo; unpaid work placement in the summer holidays.
Applicants had to write a piece on why they had the academic, motivational and economic requirements before facing a panel interview.
In his submission, Robbie, who started at Abertay in September after leaving Blairgowrie High School, spoke of how the scholarship would alleviate financial pressures.
Robbie was delighted to be the first to receive the scholarship.
He said, &lsquo;Being the first to receive it gives me a lot of confidence in the way I approach situations like interviews. It feels great that the panel believed in me.&rsquo;
In his application, Robbie spoke of how his decision not to take a student loan had resulted in his having to work long hours on top of his studying commitments.
He said, &lsquo;I have to work as much as 45-hours-a-week on a low wage to cover expenses like travelling to and from university. I have little time to study independently, have a social life or join extra-curricular activities.
&lsquo;The scholarship will help me hugely by providing financial help, which will allow me to cut back the hours at my job, giving myself more time to study and focus on getting the results I am determined to attain.&rsquo;
Louise Sim, Director of Murray Taylor, which has offices in Arbroath, Montrose and Dundee, spoke of the firm&rsquo;s delight at creating the &pound;5,000 deal with Abertay&rsquo;s Dundee Business School.
She said, &lsquo;We were delighted to donate this scholarship and were keen to encourage the next generation of accounting and finance talent.
&lsquo;Having been involved in developing one of the modules for the degree course, we&rsquo;re well aware of how relevant and exciting Abertay&rsquo;s teaching is, and it&rsquo;s great to be able to help a student to benefit from the course.&rsquo;
Lecturer Helen Smith said, &lsquo;Having been selected for interview with Murray Taylor, Robbie performed very well in response to questions from the panel.
&lsquo;Having the opportunity to receive funding to support his studies will be of great benefit and the work experience at Murray Taylor will provide Robbie with the skills to enhance his employability as he progresses towards the completion of his degree.&rsquo;]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Abertay offers lowest cost degree in the UK]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32766-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2017 15:55:00 +0000</pubDate>
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<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32766-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[A new study has found Abertay University offers the best value degree in the UK.
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<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Most affordable uni thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Most affordable uni thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[

A new study has found Abertay University offers the best value degree in the UK.
The wide-ranging research found that the total cost of studying at Abertay was just &pound;15,880 per year.
That figure includes fees for tuition, halls, travel, socialising, books, food, clothes, the gym and laundry.
At &pound;23,000 cheaper than the most expensive degree at Regent&rsquo;s University in London, the study placed Abertay at the top of the league table for overall value in terms of cost.
Broken down on a monthly basis, the report from comparison site gocompare.com showed Abertay students can expect to pay as low a rate as &pound;4 for a gym membership in the city, &pound;86 on books and &pound;38 on travel.
An Abertay University spokesperson said, &lsquo;This study shows that Abertay continues to offer incredible value to prospective students.
&lsquo;Whether students are joining us from Scotland, the rest of the UK, Europe or elsewhere across the world, we consistently find their experience stacks up as one of the best value offers available.
&lsquo;The low cost of completing a degree, coupled with the cultural renaissance under way in Dundee adds up to a fantastic opportunity to live, work and study in one of the UK&rsquo;s most vibrant cities.&rsquo;
Abertay offers degrees in sport and exercise, psychology, mental health nursing and sociology.
It also offers courses in science, engineering and business management.
This year marks 20 years since Abertay became the first university in the world to offer a named degree in computer games design.
A programme of events to mark the milestone will be announced in the coming weeks.
To see the full results of the study visit http://www.gocompare.com/savings/degree-of-value/#table]]></content:encoded> 
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<title><![CDATA[Global Game Jam marks 20 years of games education]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32762-en.php]]></link> 
<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2017 10:14:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32762-en.php]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/2017/name-32762-en.php]]></guid>
<description><![CDATA[Abertay University will stage a major programme of celebrations to mark 20 years of sector-leading games courses &ndash; starting with its biggest ever Global Game Jam event.]]></description>
<image><![CDATA[https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Global Game Jam thumbnail.jpg]]></image>
<content:encoded>https://www.abertay.ac.uk/discover/news/news-archive/media/Global Game Jam thumbnail.jpg <![CDATA[

Abertay University will stage a major programme of celebrations to mark 20 years of sector-leading games courses &ndash; starting with its biggest ever Global Game Jam event.
This year marks two decades since the University became the first in the world to offer degree level qualifications in computer games development.
Since 1997, the School of Arts, Media and Computer Games has grown in tandem with massive investment in teaching and infrastructure facilities to ensure Abertay graduates have the best education on the market, including strong links to industry.
From 20-22 of January, the University will host a site for the 2017 Global Game Jam as the first in a catalogue of events, exhibitions, trade shows, interviews and design sessions.
An estimated 220 students, lecturers and games industry professionals will flood into Abertay&rsquo;s Dundee campus to collaborate on the creation of new computer game prototypes over a 48-hour window.
The event is part of the international Global Game Jam where developers work to a set theme to inspire their designs and produce thousands of new games.
Around 100 different countries are expected to take part and it will be the fifth time Abertay has hosted the Dundee event.
Lynn Parker, Computer Arts programme leader said, &lsquo;We are delighted to be welcoming participants to Abertay for the Global Game Jam to celebrate not only collaborative development of computer games, on site and across the world in one unified weekend, but also to kick off our celebrations of 20 years of Computer Games at Abertay.
&lsquo;Game jams allow us to foster creativity, support innovation and to aid our students, graduates, alumni and invited industry guests in their development of computer games for today and for the future.
&lsquo;Not only am I proud to be part of the organising team here at Abertay, but I am also really excited to be participating in the Jam, alongside fellow graduates of Abertay and current students.
&lsquo;We believe that there is more to teaching games than playing and talking about them, so this is a great opportunity for me and my colleagues to spend a weekend making prototypes, collaborating with our students and exploring the potential of the medium.
&lsquo;We also believe in healthy work/life balances, so throughout the Jam we will be encouraging participants to eat healthily, to rest and to take regular breaks.&rsquo;Abertay offers undergraduate courses in Game Design and Production Management, Computer Games Technology, Computer Arts, Sound and Music for Games and Computer Games Application Development.
Postgraduate courses, including MSc Computer Games Technology and MProf Games Development, are also available.
To find out more about the Global Game Jam go to http://globalgamejam.org/
Book tickets for Abertay&rsquo;s Global Game Jam
Full details of events to celebrate 20 years of games development at Abertay will be announced in the coming weeks.]]></content:encoded> 
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