On Assignment: Bulletin Magazine

EDINBURGH, UK – 2011:   Professor Lesley Yellowlees, the newly appointed Head of the College of Science & Engineering at the University of Edinburgh.

Lesley considers herself “home grown”, having graduated from Edinburgh with a BSc in Chemical Physics in 1975. After working two and a half years in Australia researching solar energy, she returned to the city to study for her PhD, followed by a postdoctorate in Glasgow. Two decades on, in 2005, a rush of accolades – Personal Chair, Head of Chemistry and an MBE for services to science – confirmed just how far she’d risen.

As Head of School she cultivated a reputation for commitment to research, teaching excellence and equality – all of which she promises to champion in her new role.

On Assignment: Edinburgh Pipe Band Champtionship

EDINBURGH, UK – 24th July 2011:   The inaugural Edinburgh Pipe Band Championship takes place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston which sees over 35 performances from bands across Scotland competing for the championship title.  Pictured ten year old Jamie Easton from Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia pipe band practicing at the feet of the senior band members.

On Assignment: Edinburgh Moonwalk 2011

EDINBURGH – 11th June 2011: More than 10,000 women and men in decorated bra’s take to the streets of Edinburgh for the city’s 2011 Moonwalk, a walking marathon which raises millions for cancer charities each year.

Organised by breast cancer charity Walk the Walk, the popular event sees many participants who are motivated by their own experiences of loved ones suffering from cancer, take up the challenge of walking up to 26 miles across the city.

To find out more about the Moonwalk visit http://www.walkthewalk.org

We’d like to extend our congratulations to all participants and to Walk the Walk for putting on another successful event.

On Assignment: Amnesty International 50th Anniversary.

EDINBURGH, UK – 1st June 2011: As part of Amnesty International Scotland’s 50th Anniversary celebrations Malawian Jack Mapanje raised a ‘Toast to Freedom’ during a celebration at the Scottish Book Trust. Jack Mapanje, writer, poet and academic, was imprisoned without trial or charge by the Malawian government in 1987.

His case was highlighted by Amnesty International, who together with many prominent Scots, including the the late Scottish parliamentarians Donald Dewar and John Smith, Janey Buchan, then MEP, and author, James Kelman, campaigned successfully for his release. He was freed in 1991.

Maverick photographer Richard Scott’s photograph of the world’s largest collection of whisky which is on display at The Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinbrugh was used as the February/March cover image of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Business Comment magazine.   You can read the full copy online here.

On Assignment: Earth Hour 2011.

Buildings across Scotland participate in WWFís Earth Hour on March 26, 2011. Countries across the world signed up to participate in turning off lights for 60 minutes from 8:30 to 9:30 in the evening local time in an effort to raise global awareness on climate change.  The campaigns goal is to get 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote against climate change.

TV presenter Heather Reid prepares for the switch off at the castle.

Campaigners lay out candles to signify the 60 minutes of Earth Hour.

Heather Reid give a speech to the audience.

Samba drummers enjoy the festivities.

On Assignment:  National Galleries receive vital funding.

Miss Scotland Nicola Mimnagh admires a painting of The Honourable Mrs Graham by Thomas Gainsborough to help mark the announcement of a new partnership between the National Galleries of Scotland and the People Postcode Lottery which will see the Galleries receive vital unrestricted funding from the charity lottery.  She also handed over a cheque for £159,364, raised by Peoples Postcode Lottery players which will help fund new exhibition and education programmes at Edinburgh’s National Galleries, the Dean Gallery and the Portrait Gallery.

On Assignment:  Judo expert receives honour.

British Judo Association president and judo expert George Kerr from Edinburgh recently received the Order of the Rising Sun at a ceremony held at the official residence of the Japanese Consul-General, Masataka Tarahara.  The badge which features rays of sunlight from the rising sun is considered to be one of the highest honours from Japan and is generally only awarded to politicians, military leaders, or royalty.  Last year he was given the sport’s greatest honour when he was awarded the 10th Dan, a title held by only five other people in the world.