University of St Andrews hosts Federal government’s fact-finding visit
St Andrews played host to a delegation of politicians, academics, and media from Rhineland-Pfalz Palatinate in Germany this week.
The group, which included the Minister President, Minister for Science and Health, and three members of the State Chancellery of the federal government, as well as academics and officials from the Ministry for Science and Health, visited St Andrews as part of a fact-finding trip to Scotland that included meeting the new First Minister and a visit to Edinburgh Castle.
In St Andrews, they were keen to learn more about the work being undertaken at Eden Campus, the Scottish Oceans Institute (SOI), and the Biomedical Sciences Building.
Guided by Quaestor and Factor Derek Watson, Eden Campus Director Geoff Morris, and Senior Research Fellow in the School of Chemistry Dr Gerry Agnew, one of the groups visited the Dry Lab complex where they saw the electrolyser and hydrogen refueler, and the fuel cell prototyping centre, as well as being given a tour of the battery pilot manufacturing plan by Debbie Redpath, Research Technician in Professor John Irvine’s team in the School of Chemistry.
This group then went on to hear presentations on hydrogen technology from Dr Paul Webb and Fiona Landy, also from the School of Chemistry.
At the SOI, the group were met by Vice-Principal (Research, Collections and Innovation) Professor Tom Brown and SOI Director Dr Dave Ferrier. During a tour of the facility they were able to learn more about the innovative work being undertaken in sea mammal research from academics including Dr Carol Sparling of the School of Biology.
This group then moved on to visit the new Biomedical Sciences Building where they heard presentations from the Dean of Medicine Professor David Crossman, Professor Malcolm White (Biology) and Professor Rebecca Goss (Chemistry).
Professor Frank Lorenz Müller, Assistant Vice-Principal (Dean of Learning and Teaching) and Provost, also spoke about scholarships and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
The visit culminated in lunch at Lower College Hall where the German delegation were joined by Professor Seán Allan, Acting Assistant Vice-Principal (Dean of Arts and Divinity), and several German students, including those holding scholarships.