The shape of things to come: from Napier’s bones to future science

A whirlwind tour of advances in science and engineering is to highlight just how far we have come since John Napier devised his calculating bones and changed mathematics forever. Professor Jim Al-Khalili (above) is heading north to take an Edinburgh audience on a journey through the cutting-edge developments which will change the way we live. Continue reading The shape of things to come: from Napier’s bones to future science

Edinburgh Napier links-up with University of the Third Age

Retired and semi-retired individuals in Edinburgh with a passion for learning are set to benefit from a new agreement that will see them able to participate in University research projects. Edinburgh Napier University has signed a partnership agreement with University of the Third Age (U3A) as a commitment to supporting the life-long learning passions of its members in the city. Continue reading Edinburgh Napier links-up with University of the Third Age

A horse in the home: Callum designs equine therapy chair

Chair replicates riding motion to provide home therapy for autistic children

Autistic children could soon receive the benefits of equine therapy from the comfort of their own home thanks to a unique chair design by an Edinburgh Napier student. Fourth year Callum Hunter has designed ‘U Rock’ – a therapy chair that replicates the movement of a horse when walking – as part of his final year project at the University. Continue reading A horse in the home: Callum designs equine therapy chair

Students harness tech to tackle homelessness

Twenty Edinburgh Napier students took part in a 24 hour ‘Hackathon’ at Edinburgh Napier University on Friday 3 to Saturday 4 February. Cyrenians, Bright Red Triangle, Scottish Institute for Enterprise, and IBM co-hosted the event, along with staff from Edinburgh Napier University who also provided the facilities. Continue reading Students harness tech to tackle homelessness

STV to operate new local Edinburgh TV channel

Edinburgh

STV has won the new local TV licences for both Edinburgh and Glasgow, the first of the new generation of local broadcasting services to be awarded in Scotland by media regulator Ofcom. The separate licences for Glasgow and Edinburgh will see new services for the two cities broadcast free on terrestrial television.

STV, which holds the Channel 3 licence for North and Central Scotland, will run the services in partnership with universities, providing peak time content including local news and current affairs programming as well as magazine shows.

Bobby Hain, STV Director of Channels, said: “STV is delighted to have been awarded the Local TV licences for Glasgow and Edinburgh. The two services, GTV and ETV, will be delivered in partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University and Edinburgh Napier University. GTV and ETV will provide an innovative television service to the communities they serve complementing STV’s existing broadcast, online and mobile services. These new ventures will also provide media students with opportunities to work and learn in a live broadcast environment.”

Professor Dame Joan Stringer, principal and vice chancellor at Edinburgh Napier University, added: “This presents a unique opportunity not only for our students but for the wider community of Edinburgh. The university has a track record of producing top journalism and media graduates who benefit from fantastic facilities and industry-experienced staff. I am sure the contribution of our students will be invaluable to the community programming planned for ETV.”

Ofcom will award up to 21 local TV licences, including Belfast, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Grimsby, Norwich, Nottingham, Sheffield and Southampton. Although not part of the current bidding process, there are another 44 locations where a local television licence is “technically possible”, including Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness and Ayr.

Following the announcement that local TV licences in Scotland have been awarded to STV, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop said: “I would like to congratulate STV on being awarded the local TV licences for Edinburgh and Glasgow. However, these services – which focus on the two largest centres of population that are already well served by media – should not have been the priority for broadcasting in Scotland.

“The priority should be delivering for viewers in the South of Scotland – who are arguably most in need of local television as they currently receive local news on Channel 3 which is broadcast from Gateshead – and addressing the need for choice in public service broadcasting across Scotland, such as through a publicly-funded Scottish Digital Network.

“The television licence fee has been frozen and top sliced by the UK Government to pay for local television and the Welsh channel S4C, at the expense of audiences across Scotland. This damaging settlement has led to job cuts at BBC Scotland, with up to 120 posts going by 2017 – and these cuts are beginning to bite.
“I am committed to protecting public service broadcasting. Under independence, Scotland would have full responsibility for broadcasting, which provides opportunities to better meet the needs of audiences here while reflecting Scottish life, culture and interests.”