Dundee life sciences ‘world class’ – then and now

Dundee University is an excellent example of what can be achieved.” So said then-Secretary of State for Scotland Donald Dewar on a 1998 visit to the university’s School of Life Sciences, which he described as “a world-class centre of research in the biosciences”.

The then and current success of Dundee life sciences is the culmination of a journey started in 1881 by Mary Ann Baxter, notable philanthropist of the City of Dundee, who created an institute for “promoting the education of persons of both sexes and the study of Science, Literature and the Fine Arts”.

The transformation and growth of life sciences in Dundee is perhaps best symbolised by the changing nature of the building housing Life Sciences at the university. In the 1960s biochemistry was confined to a small, run-down building believed to have been converted from a former stable block.

The School of Life Sciences now has more than 900 staff and students from more than 60 countries housed in a state-of-theart laboratory and teaching space.

With major recent investments in innovative discovery and translation, Dundee is continuing to grow and build on excellence, nurturing the next generation of scientific talent to maximise its impact as one of the leading centres in Europe for life sciences research.

Brian Cox is an actor and former rector of Dundee University.

Brian Cox