vivdunstan

Only belatedly learned that the external examiner for my Dundee University history PhD, Prof Stana Nenadic of Edinburgh University, died last autumn. She was a delight as an examiner: meticulous in her approach, with probing questions while still encouraging and a joy to chat to at my viva. RIP.

Here is a nice writeup of her life and work. A memorial conference was held in Edinburgh in the last two days.

This has been announced today, aiming for a much lower cut in jobs - 300 full-time equivalent, rather than the 632 proposed last month. And managed via voluntary severance, rather than a mix of that plus compulsory redundancies. Savings will need to be made elsewhere too, and there is presumably going to be a hefty further financial injection from the Scottish Government and Scottish Funding Council. But it's better.

Dundee University was potentially going to crash into bankruptcy as soon as June. And the originally proposed recovery plan was taking a sledgehammer approach to the university, losing 1/5 of all academic jobs, as well as cutting courses and institutions, and gutting the staff needed to deliver a high quality education. This is better. It's a shame it's been so catastrophically managed though, both to get us into this mess (the previous Principal has an awful lot to answer for, as do other executive members, including current ones), and also after the financial disaster became clear in November. It has been a phenomenally stressful time for staff and students. The Scottish Government was also hands off for too long. But we are getting there. Fingers crossed.

I'm writing this as long-term honorary research staff at the university (for 15 years now), a double alumna, and married to a salaried staff member of 24 years standing.

Got this late afternoon in Dundee city centre. I am still offered these Covid vaccines twice yearly by the NHS, being severely immunosuppressed. Very quiet vaccine centre - no one waiting when I got there early. I suspect they have a lot of no shows in the current 75+ group. I was weeks earlier for my vaccine than I might have been, keen to get it before my Capercaillie music concert in 3 weeks.

Because I was seen so early we were able to get an early takeaway dinner from a fab fish and chip shop that is sadly shutting its Dundee branch after this weekend. Sat below the uni, overlooking the River Tay to Fife. Bright evening sunshine, and surrounded by optimistic but unsuccessful seagulls. Martin also spotted wild bunnies on the grass down the steps, so dashed down to photograph them.

Planning a very quiet weekend. I expect to be feverish and very sore overnight. More seriously I will probably have a 3 month long flare in my autoimmune brain disease, starting about a week from now. It’s very difficult. But I will be protected.

Blogged a thing about Dundee University today ...

Dad donated his body for medical training at Dundee University. As I hope to do with mine, if it's deemed suitable when the time comes. Dad died in 2022, and I've just received a letter re a funeral service for 2022 donors to be held later this year. I intend to be there. Dad didn't want any kind of formal family funeral when he died, but it will be nice to be at the uni Chaplaincy for this.

(As in a room to go and rest in, British meaning, not the US meaning of a toilet)

Was reminded by a post today on Facebook from a uni friend about the “rest room” in Dundee University’s main Tower building basement, that was an enormous help to me during my postgraduate studies and during the year I was working as a research assistant as well part-time. I was battling my progressive and worsening neurological disease, and it was an enormous help to be able to go into this dedicated room with reclining chairs where I could have a lie down for an hour or so. It’s a little known facility but is especially useful for disabled or long term ill students who don’t otherwise have somewhere quiet to go. I used to always ask at the Tower front desk (usually Muriel!) for the key. But later I got my own key to keep and use. Long since returned.

Every time I post about my reading I remember how grateful I was to find such records for readers when doing my PhD on reading habits in Scotland circa 1750-1820. Lists of books read and library borrowing records were especially good! My PhD thesis is online. https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/reading-habits-in-scotland-circa-1750-1820