posted by Shabnam Wasim, Public Engagement Assistant, University of Dundee

The Margaret Harris Lecture on Religion
‘Veils, Values and Voices: Religion and the Public Space’ – Professor Mona Siddiqui OBE

Venue/Address  Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee
Date and time    11 November 2015, 5:30pm – 6:30pm

Event/activity/description
At a time when much of the western world is trying to understand and situate the role of religion in the public sphere, Islam has probably become one of the most easily identifiable images of religious life in our urban societies. Yet the visibility of Islam has become problematic for many who see the faith and its followers as being opposed to the freedoms of liberal democracies. The diversity of religious belief systems co-existing in society requires an active commitment to certain values. Diversity should not mean that as a society, we hold nothing in common. 

Admission price      Free
Contact for further information    Events Office
Telephone No          01382 385108/388154
Email                          events@dundee.ac.uk
Online ticket registration        http://uod.ac.uk/1QmfhmW
Website         http://www.dundee.ac.uk/externalrelations/events

World Cultural Council Special Lecture
‘Building stars, planets and the ingredients for life between the stars’
Professor Ewine F. van Dishoeck, Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, The Netherlands

Venue/Address       Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee
Date and time         18 November 2015, 1pm – 2pm

Event/activity/description
One of the most exciting developments in astronomy is the discovery of planets around stars other than our Sun. More than a thousand exo-planets have now been detected, but how do these planets form and why are they so different from those in our own solar system?  Which ingredients are available to build them?  Thanks to powerful new telescopes, astronomers are starting to address these age-old questions scientifically.  In this talk, an overview will be given of how stars and planets are born in the extremely cold and tenuous clouds between the stars in the Milky Way.  These clouds also contain water and a surprisingly rich variety of organic material. How and where was the water formed that is now in our oceans on Earth? Can these organic molecules end up on new planets and form the basis for pre-biotic material and eventually life?

Prof van Dishoeck is winner of the World Cultural Councils’ 2015 Albert Einstein World Award of Science, which was created as a means of recognising men and women whose exceptional scientific and technological achievements have brought progress to science and ensuing benefit to mankind.

Admission price      Free
Contact for further information      Events Office
Telephone No       01382 385108/388154
Email                       events@dundee.ac.uk
Online ticket registration        http://uod.ac.uk/1NSKjp4
Website                  http://www.dundee.ac.uk/externalrelations/events

World Cultural Council Special Lecture
‘Being an ambassador through music’
Professor Milton Masciadri, Hugh Hodgson School of Music, University of Georgia, USA.

Event/activity/description
Winner of the 2015 World Cultural Council’s Leonardo da Vinci world award of Art, The recognition is for Professor Masciadri’s extraordinary and multi-faceted career as a performing artist, cultural ambassador, educator, international leader and author. In particular, his contributions towards disseminating culture as a UNESCO Artist for Peace and his extensive work mentoring and teaching new generations of young musicians.

In this exciting event, Milton Masciadri will talk about his life and work and give a recital on the double bass, accompanied by Dr Martha Thomas on the grand piano.

Admission price      Free
Contact for further information      Events Office
Telephone No          01382 385108/388154
Email                          events@dundee.ac.uk
Online ticket registration        http://uod.ac.uk/1WhXKQY
Website                     http://www.dundee.ac.uk/externalrelations/events

The Dundee Christmas Lecture
‘Ian Rankin in conversation with Professor Sue Black’

Venue/Address    Dalhousie Building
Date and time       28 November 2015, 6pm – 7pm

Event/activity/description
The Dundee Christmas lecture is a joint lecture with Dundee City Council, a tradition which started in 2007. This year, we bring you Ian Rankin who will be discussing his life and work with our very own Professor Sue Black. Ian’s latest book, Even Dogs in the Wild which hits the shelves early November will be available to buy after this exciting event – bag yourself a signed copy for an extra special Christmas gift!

Admission price        Free
Contact for further information        Events Office
Telephone No            01382 385108/388154
Email                            events@dundee.ac.uk
Online ticket registration        http://www.dundee.ac.uk/tickets
Website                       http://www.dundee.ac.uk/externalrelations/events

posted by Lesley Watson, Business Liaison Officer

BBC News School Report gives 11-16 year-old students across the UK the opportunity to research and produce their own news reports for a real audience.

Last year, more than 1,000 schools across the UK took part in this diversity award-winning project.  Students reported on a range of issues, from social media addiction to why dancing is not just for girls and how Muslim women can wear the hijab. Some even interviewed leading politicians.

Using lesson plans and materials from the BBC’s supporting website, teachers help their pupils develop students’ journalistic skills so they can report on the stories that matter to them and make their voices heard.

The main aim of BBC News School Report is to interest young people in news of all sorts, and the world around them, by giving them the chance to make their own news.

It is also an opportunity for students to inform a real audience, via BBC programmes and web pages, about the stories which are important to them.

The project culminates on School Report News Day – this year to be held on 10 March 2016 – where all schools taking part produce stories and publish them on their school websites.  The BBC links to each school webpage, providing a real audience for the reports. Some schools will also get the chance to work with BBC staff and see their work appear on television, radio or the BBC website.

For further information, visit the website at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolreport
Twitter: @BBCSchoolReport