Director of the Centre to take part in major Times debate on the future of the Union
Professor Devine is one of the key speakers at a one day conference on 'Scotland and the Union: what future?' which is sponsored by The Times at the Royal Society of Edinburgh on Friday 2 March. Other contributors include Alex Salmond MSP, Professor Vernon Bogdanor, Alastair Darling MP, Andrew Marr and James Harding, editor of The Times.
Book of the Year Success for To the Ends of the Earth
To the Ends of the Earth: Scotland's Global Diaspora 1750-2010 (Allen Lane, The Penguin Press, 2011) by Professor Tom Devine was named a Book of the Year 2011 in the Spectator, New Statesman, Scotland on Sunday and The Herald.
Director of SCDS awarded Scotland's premier academic prize for public engagement
Professor Tom Devine has been awarded the Royal Society of Edinburgh Beltane Senior Prize for Public Engagement 2012.
The University of Dundee’s Dr Nicola Stanley-Wall has been announced as the winner of the RSE Beltane Innovator’s Prize for Public Engagement 2012.
With these prestigious prizes the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Beltane aim to recognise and promote excellence in public engagement with research; fostering a culture in which researchers consider good communication an integral part of their work.
Professor Mary Bownes, Vice Principal of the University of Edinburgh and Chair of the Committee that selected this year’s winners, commented “The task of choosing the winners was once again extremely difficult; the candidates were of extremely high calibre and we could have easily given out several awards. We are delighted with the selection of Professor Devine, who is excellent at engaging the wider community with Scottish History, and Dr Stanley-Wall, whose innovative engagement activities in Molecular Microbiology exhibit potential for future developments.”
On winning the prize, Professor Devine commented “I am deeply honoured to be awarded this prestigious prize in the vital field of public engagement in which so much brilliant work is now being done in the universities to the huge intellectual and cultural benefit of Scottish society”.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh Beltane Prizes 2012 - Press release
Dr Wendy Ugolini lecture to Society of Antiquaries Anniversary Meeting
Dr Wendy Ugolini presented an introduction to "Wha bears a blade for Scotland?": the construction of Scottish diasporic military identities, c.1880- present day, a joint project between the Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies and the National Museums Scotland exploring the meaning of military Scottishness among the diaspora from the 19th century to the present day.
A video of the lecture is available on the Society of Antiquaries website.
"Wha bears a blade for Scotland?": the construction of Scottish diasporic military identities, c.1880- present day lecture video
Society of Antiquaries Anniversary Meeting 2011 - Further information
Professor’s history masterclass set to inspire pupils
Professor Tom Devine is to meet school pupils at a one-off event in a bid to inspire them to engage with Scottish heritage and culture.
Best selling author, Professor Tom Devine will speak about the remarkable influence of Scotland on shaping the modern world at the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s annual Christmas lecture on Monday, December 12 at the Glasgow Science Centre.
The event, for an invited audience of 350 of senior pupils, will be webcast 'live' by BBC Scotland to schools and the wider public across the UK.
The schools lecture is now full. However, schools can still take part via the live webcast at http://www.rse.org.uk/958_ChristmasLecture.
An evening lecture is open to all members of the public, at 7pm on Monday 12 December. To register go to: www.rse.org.uk
Professor's history masterclass set to inspire pupils - Further details
The Royal Society of Edinburgh Christmas Lecture 2011, To the Ends of the Earth: Scotland's Global Diaspora - Further details
Professor Tom Devine's book shortlistled for two 2011 Saltire Society Literary Prizes
Professor Tom Devine's recent book, To the Ends of the Earth: Scotland's Global Diaspora 1750-2010 (Allen Lane, The Penguin Press, 2011), has been shortlisted for two Saltire Society Literary Prizes 2011, the History Book of the Year and the Research Book of the Year. Winners will be announced at a ceremony in the National Library of Scotland on 1 December.
The book has also been selected by the First Minister of Scotland as his favourite read of 2011 in The Herald and Scotsman Books of the Year features.
The Saltire Society Awards - Further details
The Herald Books of the Year - Further details
The Scotsman Books of the year - Further details
Professor Tom Devine to give both The Royal Society of Edinburgh and National Museum of Scotland 2011 Christmas Lectures
Professor Tom Devine will deliver the annual RSE Christmas lecture, 'To the Ends of the Earth: Scotland's Global Diaspora' on 12th December and the NMS Christmas lecture 'A Global History of the Scottish People' on 14th December.
For further details please follow the links below.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh Christmas Lecture 2011, To the Ends of the Earth: Scotland's Global Diaspora - Further details
National Museum of Scotland Christmas Lecture 2011, A Global History of the Scottish People - Further details
Professor’s history masterclass set to inspire pupils
The New Wave of Irish Emigration
Enda Delaney, Associate Director of SCDS, has contributed an opinion piece to the 'Generation Emigration' series in The Irish Times,
Ireland's leading newspaper. This series explores the recent mass exodus
that has resulted from the dramatic economic downturn in Ireland, and Dr
Delaney argues that this new wave should be seen in historical context.
The article is available here:
www.irishtimes.com/blogs/generationemigration/2011/11/02/traditions-of-emigration-the-irish-habit-of-going-away/
Scottish Diaspora Studies
This studentship is funded by the Scottish Government through the Scottish Funding Council, and is part of a larger grant made by to the Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies at the University of Edinburgh.
deadline for receipt of applications 31 May 2012
Scottish Government PhD Studentship - Further details
Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies Annual review for 2010/11
Applications sought for Three Fixed-Term Career Development Post-Doctoral Fellowships in Scottish Diaspora History and Migration Studies
These awards have been made possible through generous funding from the Scottish Government in support of expansion of research activity associated with the Scottish Centre of Diaspora Studies at the University of Edinburgh. Applications are invited from scholars of the highest calibre with a strong record of publication and research in Diaspora History or Diaspora Studies who hold a doctorate or will be awarded their doctorate by December 2011.
The appointments are tenable for two years, from 1 January 2012 until 31 December 2013.
Apply online, view further details at www.jobs.ed.ac.uk, vacancy ref: 3014862. Alternatively, telephone the recruitment line on 0131 650 2511.
Closing date 14 October 2011
Fellowship at New York Historical Society for Diaspora Centre graduate
Matthew Dziennik, a previous affiliated student at the Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies who completed his PhD in 2011, has been been awarded the Bernard and Irene Schwartz Postdoctoral Fellowship at the New York Historical Society.
Charting Scotland's global influence
New research reassessing Scotland’s influence on the modern world has been launched at the Edinburgh Book Festival.
The pre-eminent Historian, Professor Tom Devine, Director of the Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies at the University charted the story of the Scots at home and abroad over the last three centuries in his latest book To The Ends of the Earth.
Charting Scotland's global influence - further details
Ways with words
With ‘revolution’ as its overarching theme, the Edinburgh International Book Festival is set to begin on August 13.
Academics and researchers from the University will be amongst the 750 events and 800 authors populating Edinburgh’s Charlotte Square Gardens for two weeks of debate, readings, and signings.
Festival highlights
Highlights include Professor Tom Devine launching the third and final volume of his trilogy charting the history of Scotland.
To The Ends of the Earth follows the global migrations of the Scottish people since the 18th century.
Professor Devine is also taking part in a panel discussion on the teaching of national histories in The Wonderfulness of Us, an event presented by the London Review of Books.
Edinburgh International Book Festival - further details
Museum relaunch opens doors
The National Museum of Scotland reopens its doors this summer after a £47 million redevelopment.
Among the items on display, 80% of which will be seen for the first time, several tell the tale of the University’s relationship with the Museum.
The two institutions are more than just neighbours. They share a common history and active links today and the Museum also has strong links with several of the University’s subject areas and centres including The Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies.
Museum relaunch opens doors - further details
Publication of
Scottish Philosophy in Transnational Contexts symposium papers
We are pleased to record that the IASH/SCDS Spring 2011 symposium on Scottish philosophy in transnational contexts will form the basis of a special issue of the scholarly journal History of European Ideas, published by Elsevier. Publication is anticipated by late 2012.
Discussion at the symposium, centred in particular on the reception of Scottish moral philosophy in late eighteenth and nineteenth century France, England, the USA and Canada, as well as on the extent to which this influence related to exceptional qualities in the Scottish tradition of the exposition of moral philosophy.
SCDS would like to thank Brad Bow, one of the doctoral students affiliated with the Centre, for planning and contributing to the symposium, as well as becoming guest editor for the special issue in which its proceedings will be
published.
SCDS would also wish to thank the University of Edinburgh's Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities for hosting the event, the second occasion in which SCDS and
IASH have collaborated successfully.
Sectarianism in Scotland: Myth or Reality?
A podcast and video of the debate held on Mondy 23rd May 2011 are now available
Fellowship at American Philosophical Society for Diapora Centre research student
Sarah McCaslin, a PhD student and McFarlane scholar at the School of History, Classics, and Archaeology and a research student at the Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies, has been been awarded a one month fellowship at the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh funding for joint project with National Museums Scotland on Scottish diasporic military identities
Dr Wendy Ugolini, Acting Associate Director of the Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies (SCDS) and David Forsyth, Senior Curator, Scottish Social History and Diaspora of National Museums Scotland (NMS) have successfully secured funding from The Royal Society of Edinburgh to undertake a joint project on Scottish diasporic military identities. The funding will enable the two organisations to host an international workshop and research colloquium in 2012, bringing together leading historians and curators from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK to examine the adoption of military Scottishness within Commonwealth countries from 1880 to the present day.
By focusing on the period of mass migration of the late nineteenth century up to the present, the project - ‘ “Wha bears a blade for Scotland?”’ - aims to develop a critical understanding of the complexity of connections between Scotland and its diasporic communities, addressing wider questions of ethnicity, identity and national belonging.
The global family of Scots
At a time of year when Scots around the globe are thinking of home, the Scottish Government has announced it is financing four new research posts that seek to understand the modern dispersion of Scots from their homeland.
Funding of £200,000 over two years is supporting a PhD studentship and three post-doctoral fellowships at the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Diaspora Studies to help inform the Government's policy on engaging Scotland's diaspora.
External Affairs Minister Fiona Hyslop said:
"We recently published a Diaspora Engagement Strategy which sets out how Team Scotland will seek to engage with the estimated 40 million individuals around the world who share a connection with Scotland.
"There is a sound economic basis for engaging with the diaspora and indeed Scotland has been recognised as being particularly well-placed to take advantage of the opportunities of engaging with its global family. Of course, it is important that such engagement is undertaken with a sound understanding of those connections and the nature of the relationships.
"Funding of these posts will build a sound research base to help inform development of a robust approach that can reap the full benefit of Scotland engaging with its diaspora."
Professor Tom Devine, Head of the Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies said:
"The Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies is very pleased to acknowledge this generous support from the Scottish Government for our work in this key area of research. This funding will enable the Centre to extend its work into the modern diaspora, an aspect of the long history of Scottish emigration which is little understood at present.
"It is most gratifying that the Government has signalled that its own framework for more engagement with the global Scottish diaspora will now be underpinned and guided by rigorous and independent academic research.
"The Minister for Culture and External Affairs and her colleagues have given a most welcome vote of confidence in the relevance and importance of high-quality scholarship in the humanities and social sciences in helping to shape this aspect of government policy."
The Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies was launched in 2008 with an endowment of £1 million from an Edinburgh fund manager and his family, thought to be the largest single private gift ever made for historical research in the UK.
The role of the Centre is to re-assess Scotland's influence on the shaping of the modern world. A key focus is to examine how Scots influenced societies, economies and cultures around the world - not just the New World of Australia, New Zealand and North America, but countries such as Sweden, Poland and France, as well as Asia.
Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies Annual review for 2009/10 and strategic plan for 2010/11
General Council and University of Edinburgh Lecture by Professor Tom Devine, 12 June 2010
A joint General Council and University of Edinburgh Lecture was held on Saturday 12 June 2010 in the University of Hong Kong on the occasion of the Half-Yearly Meeting of the General Council. The lecture by Professor T M Devine
was entitled ‘An Empire of Commerce: Three Centuries of Scottish Enterprise in the East’.
To view video of the lecture please follow the link, www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/video_gallery_events.htm.
Professor Tom Devine has been invited by the University of Wales to give the 2009-10 O'Donnell Lectures
Professor Tom Devine has been invited by the University of Wales to give the 2009-10 O'Donnell Lectures. The series will be presented consecutively at the constituent Colleges of the University, Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, Lampeter, and Swansea in spring 2011. Previous O'Donnell Lecturers include Professor Sir Barry Cunliffe FBA, Professor Wendy Davies FBA, Professor Patrick Sims-Williams FBA and Lord Kenneth Morgan FBA.
Professor Tom Devine made three appearances at Edinburgh Festivals in August 2010
For the third successive year Tom Devine spoke at the International Book Festival on 18 August; the following day at the Fringe in the first-ever Knowledge Festival, sponsored by Heriot-Watt Unversity; and, finally, at the official Festival itself, on the 24 August, he was in discussion with the producer and director of the new National Theatre of Scotland play, Caledonia, which recounts the story of the Darien disaster.
Further details can be found at:
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Edinburgh International Festival website
Edinburgh Book Festival website
Prestigious Swiss scholarship for Diaspora Centre research student
David Hesse, a second-year PhD student at the School of History, Classics, and Archaeology and a research student at the Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies, has won a prestigious scholarship in his native Switzerland. David was awarded one of the Swiss National Science Foundation's competitive Prospective Researchers Scholarships in July 2010. The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) is the most important Swiss agency promoting scientific research. It is mandated
by the Swiss Federal government.
Professor
Tom Devine to become next Chair of the Advisory
Board of the USA based British Scholar Society
Professor Tom Devine will become the next
Chair for a five year period of the US-based
British Scholar Society, publishers of the
journal, British Scholar, and organisers
of the annual British Scholar Conference.
He succeeds Professor W Roger Louis CBE
FBA, the renowned historian of empire, of
the University of Texas at Austin.
SCDS singled
out for praise in University Annual Review
by Principal and Vice Chancellor
Professor
Sir Timothy O’Shea, December 2009
The University of Edinburgh Annual Review
2008/2009
Quarter
of Pilgrim Fathers returned home
Where Tomorrow Begins: Reflections of Scottish
Innovation
A six month, touring exhibition by Scotland's
universities, forming an important part
of the Homecoming Scotland celebrations.
Tour details
Further details
Where Tomorrow Begins website
Prof Tom Devine spoke at the International
Festival on 16 August (Scotland Exports
the Enlightenment ),
the Book Festival on 17th (Why did the Scottish
Enlightenment Happen?) and the Scottish
Parliament's Festival of Politics on 19
August. In addition, on 25 July, he delivered
the keynote address at the Scottish Diaspora
Forum, an important event of the Year of
Homecoming celebrations, in the Chamber
of the Scottish Parliament before a distinguished
invited audience.
Further
details - Scottish Diaspora Forum
Further
details - Festival
www.eif.co.uk; www.edbookfest.co.uk; www.scottishdiasporaforum.org
Fellowship success for Scottish Centre for
Diaspora Studies
New Postgraduate Degree in Diaspora and
Migration History, the only one of its kind
in the UK, launched by Scottish Centre for
Diaspora Studies at the University of Edinburgh
Notable success for the Scottish Centre
for Diaspora Studies
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