4 QMYOU / News in Brief
NEWS IN BRIEF
Food and drink partnership sweeps the board at innovation awards
A
NOVEL COLLABORATION , combining both commercial and academic expertise to explore the application of microwave technologies to the food and drink sector , has won two national awards for innovation and partnership .
Advanced Microwave Technologies Ltd ( AMT ), a pioneering microwave technology business , in partnership with QMU researchers in food and drink , swept the boards at the inaugural Interface Excellence Awards 2012 for Knowledge Exchange . The team , which won in two out of three categories , received the awards from Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing . AMT scooped ‘ Innovation of the Year ’ and together they were awarded ‘ Sustained Partnership of the Year .’
AMT is emerging as one of the world ’ s most innovative users of microwave expertise in its application to the food and drink sector . The cutting-edge technology has led to a revolutionary new food processing method which could transform food manufacturing on a global basis . Trials involving commercial food businesses helped QMU and AMT researchers prove that the new technology , a very gentle process of pasteurisation , can extend the shelf life of food and drink without destroying nutrients and antioxidants and without altering taste .
Professor Isobel Davidson from QMU said : “ Our congratulations go to the AMT team which had the initial idea , vision and fortitude to get their technology to this stage . We look forward to being involved in the future success of a high growth Scottish company which has the potential for global influence .”
She concluded : “ This award helps to promote the potential of commercial and university partnerships and confirms QMU ’ s commitment to supporting SME ’ s within Scotland ’ s food and drink sector .”
For more information on this partnership and these awards visit : http :// goo . gl / 5bpBe
Community nurses mark Queen ’ s Jubilee
TH E ORGANISATIONS RESPONSIBLE for establishing the first district nursing service in Scotland came together to mark the Queen ’ s Jubilee . The September event , which involved community nurse practitioners from all over Scotland , also celebrated 150 years of public health nursing .
The institutions involved in organising the celebratory event , QMU and Queen ’ s Nursing Institute Scotland , have a shared history . Ishbel Rutherford , Nursing Lead at QMU , explained : “ The University ’ s founders were responsible for setting up the first district nursing service in Scotland . In about 1887 , Christian Guthrie Wright , Louisa Stevenson and Princess Louise helped develop the Queen Victoria ’ s Jubilee Institute for Nurses in Scotland . Almost an entirely voluntary body , the organisation established training and residential facilities in Edinburgh and Glasgow to prepare nurses to provide care to the sick poor in their own homes . Effectively this was the beginning of the district nursing service and it was a vital initiative in the period prior to the creation of the National Health Service .”
The community nurses , who were also joined by current QMU nursing students , celebrated the history of and the contribution made by the community and public health nursing professions to Scotland ’ s healthcare .
Ishbel Rutherford said : “ Queen ’ s Nursing Institute Scotland was established around the period of Queen Victoria ’ s Jubilee , so it was an appropriate point to celebrate this rich history However , the event also gave us the opportunity to look ahead . With the current ( CNO ) review of nurse education about to be published , it was a critical time to look at the future provision and education of all community nurses in Scotland .”
Special delegation to India
PROFESSOR PETRA WEND , Principal of QMU , travelled to Delhi , India in October for a Scottish national mission focusing on the area of innovation in higher education . The special event was organised by Scottish Development International in conjunction with the Indian Planning Commission ( part of the Indian Government ) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry ( FICCI ). Cabinet Secretary , Fiona Hyslop , led the Scottish delegation and Professor Wend spoke at the high level round table event .
A magical weekend of words and stories
WITH HEADLINING AUTHORS like J . K . Rowling , Alexander McCall Smith ( The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency ) and Michael Morpurgo ( War Horse ) the 2012 Lennoxlove Book Festival was always going to be a riproaring success . Thought to be the best Lennoxlove Festival yet , this year ’ s line-up offered a host of stars including historian Neil Oliver , top food experts and business women Prue Leith and Lady Claire Macdonald , and master entertainer John Sessions .
For the second year running QMU was delighted , not only to sponsor the event but also to have staff involved . The University held a special reception on the opening night for friends of QMU , and Trevor Laffin , Head of the Division of Business , Enterprise and Management , chaired the session with Lady Claire Macdonald , food writer and owner of Kinloch Lodge Hotel and Cookery School on Skye .
4 QMYOU / News in Brief