M AG DA L E N Free Student Magazine
ISSUE 49
Choose Life, Choose Sleep
Is it a Bird? Is it a Plane?
When at university the urge
Screw Ultron and Joker, it’s
to stay out later is real, and
the fickle finger of fanboys
biological
which will be the death of the superhero
CHOOSE LIFE
CHOOSE SLEEP
Dont Take The Bait
Phishing scams are carefully crafted Think before you link Find out more during Information Security week 26th - 30th October uod.ac.uk/infosec
ISSUE 49 Editors Letter
Editors
So, the first month of Uni has been and gone, many a drink will have been had and
Editor in Chief
many a hangover suffered. Hopefully you will have found time for your studies in
Andrew Stewart
amongst the carnage, but if not DON’T PANIC! Deputy Editors The theme of this letter will be of staying strong in hard times and celebrating your
Kate McAuliffe
successes. This will be relevant to every student at some point, and has never been
Leona Reid
more relevant to the Magdalen team. Art & Entertainment Editors Our strong and faithful Deputy Editor, Leona Reid, is having to say goodbye to Dundee
Patrick O’Donnell
for a year, while she recovers from a serious illness back home in Northern Ireland.
Francesca Reid
Leona has been with the Magdalen right from the start of her time in Dundee. (Even further actually, as she confesses to have researched the magazine before even
Community Editor
getting here.)
Hannah Baird
Previously our Fashion Editor, Leona has been a creative and reliable member of the
Current Affairs Editor
team, and will remain a member of our family until she is ready to come back. Good
Euan Forbes
luck Leona, from all of the team. Enterprise Editor It is important to remember when times are tough, that the people in your life are of
Vladimir Ghita
the upmost importance, your family and friends will always support you, and provide you with guidance. Remember the good things you have, and you will make it through.
Design Editor Hazel Wyllie
So to you, the students, and to Leona, I leave you with a quote (not Dr. Seuss I’m afraid) from Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States:
Fashion Editor Sarah Doig
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don’t have the Lifestyle Editor
strength.”
Lauren Copeland Stay strong students, a long year lies ahead! Opinion Editor Leona, we wish you a fast recovery and remember, you will always be part of our team
JB Fyfe
and will be welcomed back to the Magdalen with open arms. Science Editor Andrew Stewart
Victor Chamosa Pino
Editor in Chief Sports Editor Alasdair Hooper
Published By
Printed By
Events Manager
Dominic Younger, VPCC
Winter & Simpson Print
DUSA, Airlie Place, Dundee, DD1 4PH
16 Dunsinane Avenue, Dundee, DD2 3QT
Social Media Manager
vpcc@dusa.co.uk
sales@wintersimpson.co.uk
Molly Barnes
Jessica Borwell
01
ISSUE 49 Creative Directors Letter
Design Team
It’s a busy month in Dundee, isn’t it? With events happening accross the city, the
Creative Director
student calander is looking more packed than ever. From Autumn pop up shops to
Kenny Meek
international conferences, the people of this neat little city on the water really are showing us something new every single day.
Asst. Creative Director Andrew Simpson
Speaking of new things, the team has a whole new group of designers. That’s right, a myriad of young, inspirational minds who really, REALLY love extra-curricular activity
Designers
have popped their wee heads up to say ‘yo, I want to design for this magazine’ and we
Freya Bigg
listened, and we agreed, so we let them and here we are...
Gavin Reid Amy Collier
Not only did we bring on new designers, but we celebrated veterans to the Magdalen
Ali Elliott
design team. See, with the new cover style this year, we’ve had to solve a serious
Fabio Maragno
problem: What do we feature on the cover?
Jill Montgomery Alice McConnell
Usually the cover design is a last minute affair. It’s done in panic, on the day before
Katie Wilkinson
print and it’s a terrifying experience for all involved. This is the first thing people see
Maha Ghani
so it has to make an impact. We solved this problem by utilising the best resource we
Ross Grubb
have available to us; student designers who will work for free!
Laura Gelston Monica Dunne
Here’s the plan: every month from now until my reign of terror ends, the covers will be
Dawn Neely
designed by 4th year members of the design team. This gives them a chance to flex
Ellen McLean
their creative muscles and it gives you, the students a shit hot magazine to do what
Erin Docherty
you want with. Be that read, or use as emergency toilet roll.
Craig Barbour Alice Farquhar
This months cover is by Maha Ghani - A graphic designer based in Dundee.
Ruth Martin Caitlin MacLeod
Kenny Meek
Grace Cunningham
Creative Director
Kieran Mcmaster
Contributors List
Alasdair Hooper, Dominic Marshall, Hannah Baird, Jalal Abukhater, JB Fyfe, Katie Jowett, Larissa Kathleen Kennel, Lauren Copeland, Patrick O’Donnell, Qasim Ali, Ross Pollard, Sarah Doig, Sarah Witt, Victor Chamosa Pino, Vladimir Ghita
CONTENTS Community
Current Affairs
04 - 06
Dundeh Eh?
28 - 29
07
The Women Who Built This City
Science
Lifestyle
Stop and Search Stopped
31
Dawn of Mind?
In Vitro Meat
08 - 09
#Freshnotfat
32 - 33
10 - 11
Choose Life, Choose Sleep
Design
12 - 13
How to Protect your Privacy in the Age of
34 - 35
Kevin Biggins
Surveillance
Fashion
Enterprise
16 - 17
Fall into New Season Homeware
36 - 37
18 - 19
Five Autumn Must-Haves
Sports
The Perks of Being an Enterprising Student
Art & Entertainment
38
Global Sports Event of the Month
20 - 21
Is it a Bird? Is it a Plane?
39 - 41
Sports Union
22
Dundee Literary Festival
Opinion 23
Branching Out in Autumn
24
Star Wows: Conquering Space
25
Jeremy Corbyn
26 - 27
Problem Drinking: Downing Society
JOIN US!
Email themagdalen@dusa.co.uk or go to dusamedia.com/the-magdalen for more information.
Community
DUNDEH, EH? Amsterdam is as charming as it is wild and as lively as it is laid back. Dundee is much the same. The Salty Dug explains the first statement, and the people explain the latter. However, the cities are a stark contrast.
Amsterdam is just over three times bigger than Dundee but it feels bigger. The tourists, the foreign attractions and the novelty enlarge the place. The things I liked most about Amsterdam could be done in Dundee. Amsterdam is extremely social, there are open spaces and the streets are cluttered with tables, chairs and umbrellas with the advantage of wide, well planned pavements. Amsterdam’s socially skillful streets are lined with businesses, without the gaps found in our high street. More business and less empty windows make a place bustling and buzzing whilst street food stalls and public pianos make the streets a playground. Council regulations are crushing for any food van entrepreneurs (a one-day-only taco van man in Caird Square explained to me), but why not put a grand piano in the train station and let people play? I saw a gang of young people piled round the piano en masse at Amsterdam Centraal and it was brilliant.
04
Community
Dundee is in the process of a big change; a £1 billion pound
city without its problems, unless it is a divided city. A new
change precisely. Structurally and culturally things are
Dundee, united and stronger, would commit to tackling the
going to be different. Dundee has its first new boutique
shocking child poverty statistics in the reinvention plan.
hotel and a new pool, whilst a central open space, new railway station and V&A museum are on their way. The
It is useful to look at other cities and analyse their
plans look great, realising open space opportunity and
development to speculate what could become of our
aesthetic dreams whilst additionally, the development
changes. The fall of the Berlin Wall illustrates the effects
could possibly revitalise local health.
of socio-economic change, and provides a useful analogy. Life was better in West Berlin and the falling of the wall
Last year the Office for National Statistics released figures
dramatically improved lives in the East. Findings by the Max
revealing Dundee has one of the lowest life expectancies
Planck Institute for Demographic Research show it ‘added
in the UK, marking the fifth consecutive year in the
6.2 years to the life of men in the former East and 4.2 to
bottom ten. The reasons given for these issues were the
their female counterparts’.
socio-economic conditions, environment, education and lifestyle. Doctor David Leon writes in his journal on trends in European life expectancy that ‘getting out and taking in the view (metaphorically as well as literally) can have a salutary effect. It broadens our perspectives and challenges our assumptions. Looking at recent trends in European life expectancy is a case in point.’ It would be interesting to see if life expectancy in Dundee increases after the
The Child Poverty Action Group released a report this year revealing that one in four children in Dundee live in poverty and even reaching one in three in most deprived areas
redevelopment but before getting ahead of ourselves, it will surely improve quality of life.
However, this also demonstrates that wealth generates wealth. After the Second World War, capitalist West Berlin
Quality of life at the moment is an issue in Dundee already.
received funding to rebuild itself, like the Waterfront.
The Child Poverty Action Group released a report this year
West Berlin roads and infrastructure were superior, as the
revealing that one in four children in Dundee live in poverty.
Waterfront development will hopefully be.
This reaches one in three in most deprived areas. Likewise, Dundee’s Evening Telegraph announced in April that ‘[new
East Berlin is infamously referred to as ‘the workbench of
statistics] providing up-to-date figures for drug-related
the West’ as companies use the East for labour yet their
deaths in 2013 have shown that there were 26 in Dundee, a
headquarters and skilled jobs remain elsewhere in the more
rate of 0.18% per 1,000 people, the highest in the country.’
prosperous West. Living conditions, infrastructure and
Such figures make it unsurprising that some locals feel
employment improved with the fall of the wall, however
bypassed, their city under construction, but at a cost.
inequalities not only remained, they grew. Will Dundonians
Money is being pumped into the arts and rebuilding
(East Berliners) benefit from the new land of West Berlin
arguably adequate infrastructure whilst children are
(The Waterfront Project) or will they be the workforce
‘growing up in families with incomes that are inadequate
for a new influx of wealth? Primarily, there needs to be
for the task of giving them a fair start in life in 21st Century
an involvement and unification of the old and the new to
Scotland’. It is important the redevelopment results in
prevent division in our city.
reinvestment into the city as it is not possible to reinvent a
MORE ON NEXT PAGE
05
Community
I had been told that there was some discontent directed towards the project for a variety of reasons, so I talked to some locals for their thoughts. I asked a varied demographic and tried my best to get an unbiased view. Generally people were hopeful for the end result but couldn’t believe how much it was costing. Older people were as pleased run-down buildings had been demolished as they were sad nice buildings had been torn down.
One elderly man feared for my safety if I wrote anything bad about the council but apart from him, people were largely ‘no bathered.’ I went to Tony’s Diner, the oldest and the best place to eat, to see what they thought. Established so long ago there were still whales in the Tay (maybe), I was expecting some opinionated people. I explained that many people didn’t seem to really know or care about the project, to which the staff said ‘pretty much’. This was interesting in itself. The tangible disinterest was strange but indifference doesn’t stop change.
Primarily, there needs to be an involvement and unification of the old and the new to prevent devision in our city
Change is inevitable and will affect Dundee forever. Here’s to Dundee culturally catching up with Europe, its change encompassing the best of the socioeconomic change in post-war Berlin and the best of the socially creative ventures in Amsterdam. Give the people what they want – a taco van, a grand piano and a better quality of life.
Hannah Baird
06
Community
The Women Who Built this City
alking through the original
Although her home no longer exists, she has her
gates to the University on
own little blue plaque which can be found on
Perth Road you may notice a small
Princes Street.
blue plaque dedicated to Mary Baxter. But who was she? Well if you’re a local you will know that
Campaigning on behalf of women was not
her family gave us Baxter Park, the Baxter Jute
just a rich lady's hobby. Many of the working
Mills and she donated a quarter of her fortune
class women fought on a daily basis for female
to found the University College so that men and
rights. One of the loudest was Mary Brooksbank.
women could be equal in education. You may
A jute mill worker, originally from Aberdeen,
now know The University College better as the
Brooksbank was not afraid to take on a cause. At
University of Dundee. However Mary Baxter is
15 she experienced her first strike for better pay
not the only woman from Dundee to support
and worked hard to try and improve the working
progression in this small city in Scotland.
conditions of her fellow mill workers. By the time she died she had been imprisoned, renounced
‘After all it’s a brave man that takes on a Dundee Lass.’
religion and been thrown out of the Communist Party. Brooksbank’s plaque can be found just around the corner from Moorhead’s on Princes Street, on the site of Baxter’s Mill.
During the suffragette movement Dundee was
Although Brooksbank, Moorhead and Baxter
a hive of activity and support. For a small city it
represent only a small selection of the women
had big ideas, and the right to vote for women
who shaped Dundee, the strength and bravery
was certainly a strong campaign. This movement
they showed in changing the history of this small
spanned decades, refusing to be ignored and
city lives on today. We can see this in the work of
showed that Dundee knew what it wanted.
the University and, the tourism and culture that is found all around the city. Baxter and Brooksbank
Ethel Moorhead was not born here but she
will be appearing in a small play about the
quickly became a Dundee favourite and was
History of Dundee on the 23rd October at the
known as the finest female artist of her time in
Verdant Works, or you can check out the Dundee
the City. However, do not let her creative ways
Women’s trail.
and reputation fool you, Ethel was not to be underestimated. She was one of the leaders of the suffragette movement in Dundee and Painting by Ethel Moorhead
Katie Jowett
in her time smashed windows and committed attempted arson in her campaigns.
07
Lifestyle
Eat, sleep, rave, repeat; eat, sleep, rave, repeat - ahhhhh to be a Fresher. No decisions, no worries, no problems. Well, maybe you have to decide which pardy to go to for pres, what to wear each night, or whether or not to get with that fit flatmate with whom there’s undeniable sexual tension (don’t, or do? YOLO.) No real problems; sheer, giddy bliss.
That’s until it’s the end of November and you’ve realized
are to your friends, they’ll either try and avoid looking at
exams are looming and no work has been done. Oh well, it’s
you because they don’t know where to look without staring
only first year, cram a little, get a solid 40% and it doesn’t
at some of your new found features or they’ll tell you point
matter anyway.
blank: ‘YOU’VE GOT FAT.’
What’s of more concern is the fact that you’ve ballooned into a hippopotamus. Eat, sleep, rave, repeat-may have been fun at the time but it certainly wasn’t good for the waistline. Or the chins. You’ve developed a lot of chins. And now it’s time to return to your old friends and family
Eat, sleep, rave, repeat - may have been good fun at the time but it certainly wasn’t good for the waistline.
who remember the fresh you. The slightly slimmer you. The single chinned you. Or probably not, they’ve realistically
Personally, I think we’d all like to avoid this situation. Now,
been stalking you on Facebook, and you’ve already been
I’m by no means trying to deter you from doing what
dubbed ‘the friend that got fat at uni.’ On your return you’ll
Freshers do, I’m not the fun police; let’s call me, the fat
be greeted jovially by friends’ parents with, “gosh aren’t
police. So, here are five top tips that if you bear in mind
you looking well, I can tell you’re enjoying uni,” with them
when it comes to Christmas you can indulge as much as you
later, after getting over the shock of your rapid increase in
like without your dad snidely muttering “should you really
size, probably enquiring if you’ve joined any sports clubs.
be having that?”
Clearly you haven’t, it’s a hint. Depending on how close you
08
Lifestyle
1. Learn to cook! It’s all too easy to live off junk food and takeaways for your entire university career but these will make you fat and probably short of cash. Cooking for yourself will be much cheaper in the long run, healthier and pretty sociable too. Find some friends, do a big shop (Lidl’s cheap) and take alternate nights to cook for each other, remembering your balanced diet!
2. An apple a day keeps the doctor away,’ and the fat at bay! Replace unhealthy snacks with fruit and nuts. Have a nice crunchy apple instead of that bag of crisps and you’re 1/5th of the way to a healthy day.
3. Alcohol. You’re going to drink and probably a lot more than you’ve ever drunk before. Everyone’s aware of the immediate repercussions of drinking too much, the dry mouth, the pounding head, the inability to move except for the occasional dash to the toilet to vom, but people rarely think about the long-term effects. Alcohol piles on the pounds, especially the tastiest drinks. The clearer the alcohol the lower the calories, so becoming a gin or vodka drinker is probably not a bad idea, coupled with slim line or low fat mixer. Sugary & sweet equal a recipe for fat, so avoid VKs, they are not the cheapest drink in Liquid, and nobody looks cool with a bright green alcopop to hand.
4. Don’t indulge in post night-out food. Scientifically unproven to improve the hangover, just adding unnecessary calories.
5. Exercise. Join a sports club; sociable, sporty people are always cool!
Now as intelligent young adults these little suggestions might seem obvious and somewhat patronizing but it’s remarkable how many people slide down the very slippery slope of purely eat, sleep, rave, repeat, get fat. It’s a tricky place to emerge from and as many wise people have said, prevention is better than cure. Maybe you’re one of those really annoying people who just have a great metabolism, maybe you think putting on a bit of weight is the natural transition from teenager to young adult, or maybe you just cba; whatever you think, ignoring this advice is likely to leave you struggling into your favourite pair of jeans and feeling less than attractive! Take it or leave it, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Sarah True-Love Witt
09
Lifestyle
CHOOSE LIFE CHOOSE SLEEP
Without wishing to conform to the Daily Fail school
circadian rhythm is truly established and going to bed
of journalism and mass stereotyping; it can be said
at 10pm and awakening at 7am becomes less of a battle.
with little hesitation that students like to sleep. However,
Hence, when at university the urge to stay out later is real,
our inherent drive to sleep may actually have roots in
and biological. It is said that each of us may be fighting our
real life science and it is at university that some basic
own personal battles each day and perhaps you can feel
problems with sleep can commonly arise. In keeping
less guilt that your own might be the unseen Everest of the
with the theme of authenticity and actual science, Dr Ian
snooze button.
Morrison, Consultant Neurologist with an interest in sleep medicine has been consulted to enlighten us as to the
Evidence suggests that regardless of variations in when
particulars of such issues.
we want to sleep, the amount we require is pretty consistent and the majority of individuals need around 8 hours of sleep
When at university the urge to stay out later is real, and biological
per night. Unfortunately, for those instances where having a lie-in is not an option and lectures can’t be missed, we can accumulate a sleep deficit. If an average of 2 hours is lost from the perfect 8, you can acquire a deficit of around
Firstly, each of us possess a Circadian Rhythm or ‘body
24 hours; at which point response times are equivalent
clock’ that establishes a sleep-wake cycle and it is this
to your friend who has just drank 3 pints (who we will
rhythm or lack thereof that could lead to problems
imagine for the sake of argument is a bit of a lightweight).
conforming to the conventional 9-5 lifestyle which is thrust
Alcohol may well inspire creativity, but such a deficit is not
upon us from the very beginning of our education. It is not
ideal for when we rely on our brain to function reasonably
until our late twenties or early thirties that a traditional
efficaciously e.g. before exams.
09
Lifestyle
In line with this, if studying is a feature of your university
science has provided the welcome knowledge that a 10-20
life, you may in fact have poor sleep hygiene, which
minute nap during the day is actually equivalent to 2 hours
perhaps surprisingly does not refer to the fact you haven’t
of sleep in the evening and is powerful enough to reset your
washed your sheets all semester. Instead, this refers to our
body clock.
behaviour in the bedroom. A propensity to work at a desk in your room or worse, in your bed can result in your brain
For anyone at university, I urge that the nap should become
reconfiguring to associate the bedroom with times of being
a firm companion. Many times in a caffeine poor state where
awake and working and hence, insomnia can ensue. The
I may have resembled a crack addict in search of a fresh hit
latter is compounded by our ubiquitous use of technology
of Arabica beans, a power nap has restored me to a semi-
where for example the advent of BBC IPlayer has seen
functioning human being.
students rejoice nationwide where a TV license can now be considered redundant. The light from an IPad or similar devices is of a wavelength that is powerful enough to reset our body clock and compound the issues described above.
A 10-20 minute nap during the day is actually equivalent to 2 hours of sleep in the evening
Alas, there is still hope for our sleep deprived souls and it comes in the form of a nap. Pre-university circa 2009,
In summary, 1. Wanting to stay up late and sleep for longer
this is something I firmly associated with the elderly and
in the morning is your biological right (within reason...) and
the habits of my grandmother after perusing the delights
is not equivalent to being lazy 2. The bedroom is designed
of Bargain Hunt all afternoon. It turns out, the old adage
only for two things (one being sleep‌) and 3. Carpe diem
rings true, she is wiser and was right all along. Once again,
can wait; have a nap.
Lauren Copeland 10
Lifestyle
How To Protect Your Privacy In The Age Of Surveillance “There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment [...] it was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time” George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four
T
o the tin-foil hat theorists
could also be a major corporation like
you sent to your significant other at
among us, there has been
Google, Facebook, Yahoo, or Microsoft.
some point in your life. Wouldn’t it be
a common understanding
Even cellular providers like Vodafone
distressing to know that a stranger
trace and store all your activity.
can access those photos, and may
for years that we are living in a mass surveillance society very similar
use them against you one day for
to the one described by Orwell in
a malicious reason? Ponder over
his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. However, with the recent revelations made by former US spy Edward Snowden, there has been little doubt that Orwell’s surveillance society has been realised. We live in a society today where it is normal for government and big corporations to intrude on our personal lives to
that thought for a second. Think
If you believe in protecting your privacy, then it’s your role as a citizen to make it harder for third parties to intrude on your private life.
such an extent that the notion of
how your life might be different if everything you considered private was fully exposed to your bank, insurance company, employer, local newspaper, or government.
If you believe in protecting your privacy, then it’s your role as a citizen to make it harder for third
privacy is losing its meaning.
parties to intrude on your private life. Not only are your private
Parliaments may pass laws protecting
So what is the deal with mass
communications not-so-private, but
the right to privacy, but those laws
surveillance? Basically, every phone
your entire online activity is also
are often reactionary, and arrive late.
call/text message you make is
recorded by a third party. You, as a
Therefore, it is our duty to normalise
recorded by a third party. Every time
citizen, are always being watched,
a culture of protecting ourselves by
you send a Facebook message or chat
even if you’re not suspected of
using Privacy Enhancing Technologies
on Google hangouts, a third party can
malicious behaviour. Think about the
(PETs). This is our chance to diminish
listen in, see who you’ve been chatting
importance of privacy for a second.
privacy threats of all kinds; from
to, and pin your exact location. The
The “Nothing to hide, nothing to fear”
mass government surveillance
third party in question is most often a
attitude is dangerous; it normalises
to invasive online monitoring, to
government agency like British GCHQ
the increasingly intrusive surveillance
hindering efforts of cybercriminals.
or American NSA. This third party
culture. Think of the nude pictures
12
Lifestyle
Some basic advice on how
3) Use encryption technology.
5) Last, but not least, be smart
to go about this:
Encryption is the key to privacy. A
about what you share online. Act
lot can be said and learned about
with the mindset of only sharing
1) Anonymise your internet activity.
encryption, but our space here
what is absolutely necessary.
By now, it is no longer a myth
doesn’t permit for anything too
However, you should not be
that all your online activity is
detailed. Briefly, you can encrypt
pessimistic about the lack of privacy
being tracked and stored.
an existing email account with
you see today. The current privacy
tools like Enigmail, GPGTools, or
enhancing technologies are only
What you can do to stop this is
GPG4Win. You can also switch
growing, and the best is yet to come.
‘anonymise’ your online activity:
to private clients like ProtonMail,
Keep in mind, this article only gives
Use a Virtual Private Network
CounterMail, or ShazzleMail.
a general idea on basic priva cy. It’s
(VPN). A VPN simply hides
On mobile, a variety of applications
up to you to figure out the rest.
your activity by rerouting your
are available to protect privacy: Silent
connection via a variety of servers.
Circle (Android & iOS), Redphone +
Contact me with questions
Text Secure (Android), Signal (iOS).
J.Abukhater@Dundee.ac.uk
My personal recommendations:
4) Get used to running security
or tweet @JalalAK_jojo
Private Internet Access, NordVPN.
software on your device. Having
Switch to Firefox as it’s the best
an up-to-date Avast anti-virus
major browser on privacy. You
and Malwarebytes anti-malware
can also use Tor Browser for top
on your system, for example, is
level anonymity. For mobile users,
a good basic step to security.
Jalal Abukhater
recommended tools are Onion Browser (iOS), Orweb (Android). 2) Use strong passwords. DO NOT underestimate the importance of a strong password. Also, don’t use the same password for more than one website.
13
Academic Skills Week Monday 19th - Friday 23rd Sessions begin at 12pm each day and last for 50 minutes. All sessions are in the D’Arcy Thomson LT, Tower, except for Thursday 22nd October which is in T.9 LT, Tower.
Academic Skills Week 19th - 23rd October Sessions begin at 12pm each day and last for 50 minutes. All sessions are in the D’Arcy Thomson LT, Tower, except for Thursday 22nd October which is in T.9 LT, Tower.
Monday
Procrastination, timemanagement & planning ahead
Tuesday
Essay writing & getting the best out of feedback
Wednesday
Report writing, Lab reports & dissertations
Thursday
Referencing, editing & proofreading
Friday
Presentations
Fashion
Fall into new season
HOMEWARE With a new season comes new homeware trends, and it’s easy to give your flat an on-trend look, even on a student budget.
T
his autumn, supermarket homeware ranges have
home look is layering fabrics, so think lots of throws,
some really affordable pieces that can dramatically
blankets and cushions. Urban Outfitters have a really good
update a room. A cushion or two can make a huge
selection of unique decorative accessories to help add boho
difference to a sofa or bed, and can really bring a room
vibes to a room and give a well-travelled feel without the
together. George at Asda have cushions in a lovely range
air miles.
of on-trend fabrics and colours starting from £4.
It’s easy to switch up your bedroom by adding a few items to a desk or bedside table. A collection of accessories like photo frames, candles and pencil pots can be gradually built up and will look great whether colour co-ordinated or
A cushion or two can make a huge difference to a sofa or bed, and can really bring a room together
completely mismatched.
Copper is really on-trend for homeware this season, and it
Geometric shapes and patterns are another key trend this
goes very well with other autumnal hues and with brightly
autumn. Try monochrome patterned fabric with splashes
coloured accessories. You can add a touch of copper to a
of pastels in the form of statement cushions or throws.
room using a simple photo frame, a copper framed mirror
Geometric shaped photo frames and mirrors can help bring
or decorative ornaments.
the trend together in a room. Green potted plants go really well as an accessory in this trend, and add natural texture
Boho is also big when it comes to homeware this season.
to an otherwise very structured room. Cacti are perfect for
Give your bedroom a boho makeover with paisley or
this as their shape and colour tie together other geometric
medallion patterned bedding and a combination of ornate
aspects of a room.
metal accessories and worldly trinkets. The key to a boho
Sarah Doig 16
Fashion
Dream catcher : Urban outfitter £12
Copper Frame : Primark £3
Printed cushion : ASDA £8
Hexagonal Mirror : notonthehighst.com £10
Plant : IKEA £5
Yellow cushion : ASDA £7
17
Fashion
Shirt : Topshop £38
Boots : Matalan £15
5 1
Khaki Shirt
AUTUMN MUST-HAVES Khaki is set to be huge this season and from skirts to scarves it’s already all over the high street. A khaki shirt is perfect for transitional layering at this time of year as it can be worn buttoned up under a warmer jacket or worn open over a vest with jeans and boots on slightly warmer days. This Topshop one has a stylish, utility look and is the ultimate go-to piece for your autumn wardrobe. (Pic 1 – Khaki shirt, Topshop £38 )
2
Black Boots
Practical, on trend and they make your legs look extra-long... what more could you want from a pair of boots?! Worn with turned up jeans or thick black tights, these will keep you cosy and comfortable as the days get colder. (Pic 2 – Chunky black boots, Matalan £15)
18
Fashion
Scarf : Miss Selfridges £18
Balm : Urban Outfitters £6.50
Coat : Topshop £59
3
Camel Coat
Camel is the perfect go-with-everything colour and so a chic coat is a must-have for this season. Throw this Topshop piece over any outfit for an effortlessly stylish, smart and simple look. Primark also have some camel colour coats for slightly cheaper, if you’re looking to stay a bit more on-budget! (Pic 3 – Camel coat, Topshop £59)
4
Checked Scarf
Everyone needs a cosy scarf for the autumn and winter and this Miss Selfridge one ticks all the boxes. Not only is it super soft, but it is oversized which means you can wrap yourself up in it whichever way you like. (Pic 5 - Checked scarf, Miss Selfridge, £18)
5
Lip Balm
As the weather gets colder, its more than likely your skin and lips will suffer. This lip balm is the perfect size for throwing in your bag, and is sure to become your new beauty favourite. Not only are the flavours super nice, but the matte finish means that your hair won’t stick to it when it’s windy; major bonus. (Pic 4 - EOS Lip Balm, Urban Outfitters, £6.50)
Sarah Doig 19
Art & Entertainment
We cannot escape the onslaught of superheroes
They are of course going to cry foul at the slightest
rapidly approaching our cinema screens. Whether
signs of failure and use that as the crux of their
you want to swing through the iconic Manhattan
argument. Furthermore, battle lines have been drawn
skyline alongside Peter Parker or drive through the
by the major studios in establishing their superhero
tumultuous streets of Gotham with Bruce Wayne,
universe as the prime one. As Marvel’s troops retreat
there is a wide variety of films within the genre to
after a lukewarm year, the oncoming war drums of
satisfy the taste of every comic book superhero fan.
Suicide Squad and Batman vs Superman: Dawn of
However, tastes naturally evolve and change, often
Justice can be heard advancing.
becoming stale to certain flavours. It is fair to say the general public is on the cusp of widespread apathy for the constant barrage of apocalyptic nonsensical stakes, Saturday morning cartoon style villains and CGI bullshittery. The superhero movie market is fast
Screw Ultron and Joker, it’s the fickle finger of fanboys which will be the death of the superhero.
becoming saturated, but will we care when it goes away? The overindulgence of superhero films speaks more The superhero film has come a long way since Joel
towards corporate greed than it does public demand.
Schumacher’s Batman & Robin and Howard the
Now our summer blockbusters have been set in stone
Duck. With Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy,
until 2020, with close to 30 superhero releases set
sophistication was brought to the genre. With Mar-
and ready to explode. This is ludicrous at best and
vel’s Avengers, a shared movie universe was created
disengaging to the general audience at worst. Also, to
in an unprecedented business move, combining three
over scrutinise the future of the genre may overlook
different movie franchises to become one of the
the fact that some films are just worse than others or
highest grossing films of all time. Even in the golden
attract less interest than other properties. One film can
age of the superhero, there are doubts with regards
determine very little in the long term success of a type
to the extent of their success. With Avengers: Age
of film. Action movies are rarely all lumped together and
of Ultron short on box office revenue and critical ac-
analysed in this investigative manner.
claim compared to its predecessor and Fox’s massive humiliation in the form of their Fantastic Four reboot,
I do believe that the superhero will get their day in court.
the suggestion that we are on the eve of widespread
I just don’t believe that day is today. Films grow and
superhero fatigue is proving accurate.
evolve. Blockbuster cinema is not the same as it was a decade ago, and with the success of Jurassic World and
But why is this happening? Whilst superhero films
a return to Star Wars on the horizon, classic Hollywood
have been a mainstay of cinema for a long time, the
cinema is sure to make a homecoming to the cultural
phenomena of the credible andsuccessful superhe-
zeitgeist. Personally, I will be done with superhero films
ro movie is only a recent one. Due to its youth, the
in 2043, when Guardians of the Galaxy vs Avengers:
genre will be over-analysed and picked apart by
Episode V- Dawn of the Sequel hits the big screen.
various scholars, experts and publications in order to determine the shelf-life of this period in Hollywood cinema history.
20
Patrick O’Donnell
Art & Entertainment
21
Art & Entertainment
Dundee Literary Festival
There are a number of names to look out for this year at the Literary Festival with Dave Gibbons, Jackie Kay, Frances Quinn, Nick Frost, Caroline Criado-Perez and Gregor Fisher.
Dundee is quickly becoming the cultural capital of the
Got a little one that loves books? The festival has events
North and what better way to show off our spectacular city
for them too. Check out the Bookbug session (0-3years)
than with the Dundee Literary Festival. Kicking off on the
and ‘Make a Book’ session (5-8years) on Friday morning.
21st of October, the festival sees a mixture of comics, talks,
These will give children an opportunity to take part in
theatre, poetry and music. There are a number of names
songs, stories and illustrate their own books.
to look out for this year such as Dave Gibbons, Jackie
Friday 23rd October 10 – 12pm
Kay, Frances Quinn, Nick Frost, Caroline Criado-Perez and Gregor Fisher. In between the events, why not have
Dundee is well known for its strong women and where
a look around the pop up library, the exhibitions and Ms
better to find them than in the Jute Mills. The Four Marys
Battenberg’s Travelling Tea Room. This really is “five days
is a play by Eddie Small about the History of Dundee
of adventure” as the programme states. Since the majority
and four of its famous Marys: Baxter, Slessor, Walker and
of events are FREE, it is a great way to spend your week
Brooksbank. Taking place in the Verdant Works’ new
and get to know what Dundee has to offer.
exciting space this play is a must see.
Friday 23rd October 7-8pm New to the festival? Well don’t worry, here is a run down of events that I think cannot, and should not be missed:
If you’re trying to think of what to do for lunch on Saturday, then why not check out the Lunchbox talks with
The Festival kicks off with a lecture by comic book artist
Professor Tim Newman. Join Prof Newman to discuss the
Dave Gibbons, well known for his collaboration with Alan
question - Can the stories we write help us understand
Moore on the graphic novel Watchmen, as well as being the
the story that wrote us? Biology is the story of man and
first Comics Laureate in the UK.
scientists here at the University of Dundee are constantly
Wednesday 21st October 4pm
trying to understand what it means. So if you’re a scientist or a writer, give this talk a go.
Ever wanted to write a poem? Eddie Small and Lindsay
Saturday 24th October 1pm
MacGregor from the University of Dundee are here to help. Join them in gaining tips and helpful advice about crafting
Don’t forget to follow it up with Human being, with Francis
and performing your own works.
and Prof Sue Black.
Thursday 22nd October 10 – 11:30am
Saturday 24th October 3:30pm
Later that day you’ll get the chance to meet the winner of the Dundee International Book Prize over tea and cake.
Thursday 22nd October 12.15 - 1pm
22
Katie Jowett
Art & Entertainment
Branching out in Autumn The beauty of Autumn has slowly
beecheating. I couldn’t palm off my
fallen upon us.
readers with such simple advice, I have other options fir you: Learn
I walnut let this season pass without a
to castle on horsebak and become a
number of walks in the woods, the city
horse chess nut; Go to a karaoke bar
sounds cypressed by the canopies.
and on ginseng your heart out; Enjoy
Let me teak you through my
the company of loyal friends like your
experiences: On one of my capers
dogwood; Or hit the library and berry
last season, I had not peared up and
your head in a book.
instead walked alone. I can’t fig-get the occasion one cyclist struck me.
Yew must make the most of the quiet,
Clearly aspen for trouble, this cad
peaceful months. Saving the cashew
caught my bodhi as he passed.
need for Christmas, it’s worthwhile
“You Clipped Us!” I protested, pining
enjoying the little things. Swapping
for revenge. Sadly, I could do nothing
the daylight-shrubbery of the cinemas,
but watch the mango off into the
take a stroll through the extensive
distance. It made me sick, a more
Camperdown Park. Avoid trimming
unjust situation unfeasible. However,
your hedge fund by discovering the
I was Oakey.
observatory amidst the bamboozling grounds of three merged parks.
A poplar past time in the autumn has
Albeit tempting to aloe yourself
cotton, with a number of students
to waste thyme and money on the
taking to the parks, a number now
indoors, I’d beg you to enjoy every
spruced up. (As a side note, the
moment of the Autumn; olive it.
renovations have cost the council thousands that they now willow the
As a note to my readers, I know some
government.) A fine walk can be
of these are difficult but I’m sure
had up the Dundee law, with a
thistle go down well.
view certainly worth it’s cedar. Of course, I would certainly expect the lay pedestrian to clamber up the steps as the gentle roadway would
JB Fyfe @DundeeOpinions #PunRun
23
Opinions Do not design above this line
V
oyager 1, the furthest emissary from Earth, is currently
Earth will not last forever. Between wars, insidious food
about 135 Astronomical Units (over 20 Billion km) away
shortage, the likelihood of pandemic wipe-out and,
from Earth, hurtling into the stars carrying a little record of
everybody’s favourite: global warming, Earth looks like it’s
our humanity. Meanwhile we’ve only managed to dig about
got a terminal case of humanity. And naturally, to paraphrase
12 km into the very planet we stand on, but who cares about
Plato, this compels the soul to look upward from this world
this old thing? With years of science fiction fuelling our
to another.
imaginations and inspirations for a new world, should we be excited?
Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, offers us great lakes of hydrocarbons (nothing like a beach day where smoking could
Hell yes, we are all over this space business.
light the sea). Venus, having apparently lent us the fairer sex, poses tolerable temperatures and a relatively good location
Let’s talk about 2020. NASA are planning the Asteroid
with only a small chance of sulphur rain. Finally, Europa,
Redirect Mission (ARM), whereby they plan to pick an
taking a name from the deity Jupiter’s bull-lover, possibly
asteroid out of orbit and ‘safely’ place it in our moon’s orbit.
harbours the very oceans we evolved from. Let us not forget,
That’s right, we’re giving the moon a moon. Great kid, don’t
these are only the local options, and there’s literally a whole
get cocky, this could be too good to be true. The risk of
universe out there to choose from; your focus determines
deorbit could, of course, lead us to the similar near-tragedy
our reality.
feeling of turning on the Large Hadron Collider and expecting to be eaten by a black hole. Never tell me the odds, we should manage this.
If you are concerned, just remember we have a fully stocked space station with humans living in orbit for over a decade. The ISS plays host to some of Earth’s boldest and brightest,
Earth looks like it’s got a terminal case of humanity. This compels the soul to look upward from this world to another.
promoting our space exploration and research. But why do we even remotely try?
So let’s grab our little physics textbook, stare skyward and dream of the great ships our grandchildren could be boarding for humanity’s exodus. If you’ve got a bad feeling about this, I find your lack of faith disturbing.
JB Fyfe @DundeeOpinions #Rant
24
Opinions
Jerem Corb y Reviv
yn:
ing L a Aban bours do Jerus ned alem
“I will not cease from mental fight, Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand: Till we have built Jerusalem, In England’s (or Britain’s) green and pleasant land.”
an increasingly unfair country for ordinary people and not a ‘green and pleasant land,’ particularly for young people. The young generation are predicted to be financially poorer in the future than their parents. If Atlee was alive today he would be horrified.
‘New Jerusalem’ was the vision of the country Britain could These are the words of William Blake’s 1808 poem ‘And did
and should be: One that takes care of its citizens and defends
those feet in ancient time’ (now more commonly associated
their working rights.
with the hymn ‘Jerusalem’). The poem conveys the blight of the industrial revolution and its damaging effects on the lives
Jeremy Corbyn embodies these ideals of the radical socialist
of working people and the environment. However, the poem
vision of a ‘New Jerusalem’ that would see the creation of a
is also about hope: the hope; of fighting back to defend
much fairer society for ordinary people. Although it is argued
an idealised image of Britain as a fairer, greener and more
by relentless media attacks that his polices are too radical,
pleasant land to live in.
looking at the rest of Europe they could be considered comparatively moderate.
Politically speaking, ‘Jerusalem’ refers to Labour Prime Minister Clement Atlee’s policies in office (1945-1951) and the vision of the Government to create a ‘New Jerusalem’; a new country in which everyone benefits from socialism and the nationalisation of industries. The greatest achievement of his
New Jerusalem’ was the vision of what the country of Britain should and could be
Government was undoubtedly the creation of the NHS, concerned with helping the many and not just the
When given the choice of two radical political extremes,
wealthy few.
surely it would be better for us to live in a Corbyn-ist Jerusalem than Cameron’s ever-increasing nightmare of a
So what does all this ‘Jerusalem’ stuff have to do with today
1984 Orwellian Britain?
and with Jeremy Corbyn? The answer is that, thanks to the Conservative Government’s ironclad austerity, we live in
Ross Pollard
25
Opinion
PROBLEM DRINKING: DOWNING SOCIETY
Alcohol has undoubtedly held the longest precedence of
Alcohol causes a death every three hours in the UK,
any addictive chemical. All cultures from Neolithic onwards
constituting one in ten deaths in men under 65. Further,
have created intoxicating substances, most commonly
Scotland has a rate twice as damaging as the rest of the UK,
alcohol in some shape or form. The basis of this is that of
with a yearly cost of £2.25 billion, close to a per thousandth
social cohesion, seen as far back as the Senet houses of
of the UK’s GDP.
Ancient Egypt, and many will argue that the use of alcohol has an evolutionary advantage due to this social positive
The current UK guidelines for alcohol involve units, the
based on its prevalence.
equivalent of a 25ml measure of a 40% alcohol, asking us to set 2-3 units per day (3-4 in men) with two alcohol free
In the modern era, however, we appear to have somewhat
days per week. However, a recent study from Sheffield
bastardised this. Images in media soil our heads of a beer
in the journal Addiction found that most regard these as
after a hard day, a whisky (or whiskey if you have no taste)
irrelevant to real-life drinking behaviours. Anecdotally,
after a tough case or a binge as a treat following a hard
this is quite quickly reflected on nights out, weeknight or
week. If drinking is the answer to a problem, then your
weekend, as ‘drinking to get drunk’ undoubtedly eclipses
answer is a problem.
the recommended intake. And so, the great divide is clear between the expected intake and the reality. Alcohol
Following our early 2000s normalising binge drinking,
clearly damages physical health, from tremors and shakes
we’ve moved into an era where alcohol has slipped from
to possible tumor-genesis, but the mental health side is
our danger radar since the 2012 minimum alcohol pricing
equally devastating.
discussion. Sadly, alcohol has seeped from its social use into an escape mechanism. Considering, however, that it has a depressant and anti-inhibitory quality, we are left with a significant threat to mental health.
With a savage cycle entered from either side, alcohol
If drinking is the answer to a problem, then your answer is a problem
can fuel brain chemistry changes detected in depression or radicalise inhibitions from suicidal thoughts. Similarly
With close to two thirds of suicides involving alcohol, the
depression can drive people to the escape of alcohol, using
relationship between intoxicants, mental health and society
societal learnt concepts of its apparent release.
is intertwined greatly. Although it’s certainly important to approach and address these problems within ourselves and our friends, societal culture’s role is somewhat complex to
26
Opinion
tackle head-on. Considering our commonplace reward-driven
The University of Dundee also runs a counselling service from
society, the insertion of alcohol into our coping mechanisms
Cross Row, contactable throughout the week.
poses a threat to our physical and mental stability. JB Fyfe In all honesty, the most poignant progression for society is one on a personal level. Addressing our own demons undoubtedly presents the first step. Culture changes at a reasonably
using discussion with TCA and Mental Health Society @DundeeOpinions #DundeeMentalHealth
insidious level. Perhaps reflecting on our own behaviour and helping those closest to us is the most appropriate immediate action.
WHAT CAN YOU DO:
If you want to keep track of your alcohol and related calorific intake, the government has a wonderful little tool that also comes in a Smartphone app [https://goo.gl/4EFJIl].
To look at your alcohol use in context, you can use the FAST screening tool online [http://goo.gl/PDOO2B], but this is no replacement for talking to your GP.
The Tayside Council on Alcohol (TCA) target groups and try to improve local relationships with alcohol from the ground up. TCA run a series of projects including art therapy, group and one-on-one counselling. They can be found on www. alcoholtayside.com.
27
Current Affairs
STOP & SEARCH STOPPED Police Scotland is an institution which has been
Mr. Scott suggested the implementation of a statutory code
plagued with controversy and criticism even before its
of practice which would regulate use of stop and search
inception. The M9 tragedy and Sheku Bayoh’s death
in Scotland. Transparency and accountability were very
whilst in custody are two such incidences which come
much at the heart of his recommendations. He proposed
to mind. While both are still under full investigation
that the new code be open to scrutiny and would be
there has been progress in changing the controversial
regularly reviewed and consulted upon by Parliament.
practice of Stop and Search by Police Scotland.
Regular reports prepared by Police Scotland would also be made public. His report also suggested a statutory
Stop and Search is the use of informal powers which
power to allow under 18s to be searched for alcohol.
the police have to search individuals despite a lack of any suspicion of criminal activity on the part of the
The proposed scheme of regulation will be welcomed by
individual searched or (where the individual consents
human and civil rights groups who argue the practice is
to the search), any urgency in obtaining evidence. What
wholly disproportionate to its aims and presents an unlawful
initially was viewed as a benefit in crime prevention and
breach of an individual’s rights. In a statement following
investigation soon became surrounded in controversy
the publication of the report, the Office of the Scottish
when it was revealed just who was being searched.
Commissioner for Children and Young People praised
A BBC investigation on Stop and Search found that
the report for placing a duty on the police to consider a
children as young as seven and those with a learning
child’s best interests. However, they expressed concern
disability – where the informed consent of the individual
at the ability to search for alcohol pointing out that it
is questionable – were often the subjects of a search.
could lead to the criminalisation of more young people.
With the report only recently published not much change
The practice could be abolished without any disruption to police’s ability to carry out their duties.
can yet be seen .However, it will be interesting to see just what effect implementation of the proposed scheme will have on public confidence in the controversy-ridden single police force, particularly in light of the damning finding of the report that a climate of target meeting facilitated the high numbers of searches being conducted.
Following growing public condemnation of the practice, the Scottish Government asked leading human rights lawyer John Scott, Q.C., to conduct an inquiry of the tactics and his report was recently published. His conclusions could not have been any clearer: the practice could be abolished without any disruption to the police’s ability to carry out their duties. 28
Qasim Ali
Current Affairs
STOP & SEARCH 70% Statistics 2013–14: 25% 17,000 37%
of total number of searches were consensual
of total number of searches provided positive results
people were stopped & searched in Tayside last year
of alcohol-related searches provided positive results
14
1,832
37
twelve year olds were stopped & searched in Dundee
twelve year olds subject to stop & search in Aberdeen
eight year olds were stopped & searched in Edinburgh
17 eight year olds were stopped & searched in Glasgow 29
Science
DAWN OF
MIND? Usually we think of our ancestor species as either
With complex, modern-looking hands and feet, a cranium
more apelike or more humanlike, based on their
similar to that of early human (Homo) species, but primitive
basic appearance; their height, hairiness, the shape
shoulders, thorax and pelvis, H. naledi’s skeleton is a mosaic
of their hands, feet, and faces all play a part.
of old and new, which is probably why those 15 skeletons
This distinction can be made officially by classing the
stood out from the other remains. It seemed clear to those
species either as Homo (like us), or something else,
investigating them that they belonged to a species that
such as Australopithecus or Ardipithecus (which are
marked the first step forward from the australopithecines
australopithecines). The search for the species that
towards modern humans.
bridges these two groups has been at the forefront of paleoanthropological investigations for years.
More surprising, however, is the fact that so many
And finally, it seems the time has come.
members of the same species were found in one
Welcome Homo naledi.
place. And not just any place; the Dinaledi chamber was inaccessible to most of the research team, who
The skeletons were in fact only a fraction of what was found in the chamber, since a total of about 1550 hominin fossil elements have been found there since 2013.
weren’t small enough to fit through the entrance. Why were the remains there? Predation, water transport and other causes were considered but discarded due to lack of evidence. Researchers hence concluded that it was other members of the H. naledi species that had deliberately left the bodies in the chamber. They had disposed of their dead. Perhaps they even observed funerary rites. This begs the question: Did human consciousness
In an article published in early September, researchers
and culture emerge with Homo naledi?
described finding 15 skeletons belonging to this new species in the Dinaledi chamber of the Rising Star cave, in the South African Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage
Victor Chamosa Pino
site. The skeletons were in fact only a fraction of what was found in the chamber; a total of about 1550 hominin fossil elements have been found there since 2013.
31
Science
IN VITRO MEAT IT’S TIME TO START GROWING MEAT AND STOP KILLING IT! Using livestock for the production of food has always been
Ruminant methane production and feed crop farming lead
important for mankind’s existence and has, until recently,
to increased CO2 emission and livestock is accountable for
not had a negative impact. Current production methods,
70% of agricultural land utilisation. An annual rise in global
however, have lead to challenging conditions for the
meat production due to the predicted growth of the global
environment.
population will cause severe problems, as the amount of additional land available is limited. Although solutions on a political level and within the scientific sector are being researched, the most important impact will be made by innovative concepts that require a new way of thinking, such as growing meat in the laboratory.
What is in vitro meat? An animal flesh product that has never been part of a living animal is referred to as ‘in vitro meat’ or ‘cultured meat’. Manufactured meat products must not be confused with vegetarian food products developed from plant sources such as soy or gluten. Development within the area of tissue engineering aims to reduce environmental pollution, stop animal suffering and minimise health risks by no longer abusing domestic animals as meat machines. Cultured meat is supposed to substitute industrialised intensive farming, serving as a healthier, more environmentally friendly and ethically acceptable alternative.
32
Science
History of in vitro meat
Advantages of in vitro meat
The idea of growing meat in vitro for human consumption
Producing meat in vitro makes factory farming unnecessary
was first suggested by Winston Churchill in 1932 during the
and prevents animal suffering. The absence of agricultural
period of his pre-Prime Ministerial life. In 1995 NASA started
land utilisation for livestock liberates land for nature and
running experiments aimed at prospective food products
wild animals. The decrease of livestock and ruminant
for long-term space travel, where storeroom is limited, and
methane production will make cultured meat more
successfully produced goldfish cells that resembled fish
sustainable and beneficial for the climate.
fillets in 2000. Soon after, scientists realised the broader applicability of the technology and ‘The In Vitro Meat Consortium’, an international alliance of environmentally concerned scientists, was established in 2007. Since then, further research was undertaken and scientists are currently
An annual rise in global meat production will cause severe problems.
able to produce pieces of in vitro meat resembling mince, with the prototype of an in vitro burger to come.
Being able to control the amount of meat produced
How is in vitro meat produced?
prevents food scarcity that can be expected with an
Starter cells, which are taken painlessly from live animals
possibility of substituting unhealthy omega-6 fatty acids
via biopsy, are placed on culture media and put into a
with healthier omega-3 fatty acids. However, scientists are
bioreactor, where they multiply and grow. Very specific cells
struggling to identify which part of the meat is responsible
are needed for the production of cultured meat; therefore
for its significant taste, obviously a key feature of a
not every animal cell is suitable. Stem cells multiply rapidly
successful product. As the industrial production of meat
but are not yet defined, while fully defined muscle cells
gets more commonly known, experts predict increased
hardly proliferate. As a compromise, cells that are between
funding so that more research can be undertaken. This
the two extremes, such as stem cells about to develop
makes them confident to announce that the first products
into muscle cells, are currently used. Research aims to find
made of cultured meat will soon be accessible for us all!
increasing world population. In vitro meat will be healthier and cardiovascular disease may be reduced due to the
a cost effective growth medium for the cells to attach to which supplies them directly with every essential nutrient they require, as they obviously can’t obtain nutrients. Cells, growth medium and a scaffold, on which the cells can grow three-dimensionally, come together in the bioreactor. This
Larissa Kathleen Kennel
apparatus must, as mentioned earlier, deliver oxygen and nutrients directly to each cell and exercise the cells through variations in temperature and environment to support their growth. Cost-effective solutions for the different phases of in vitro meat production have not yet been fully researched, but the field of tissue engineering has recently been generously funded and results are soon to be expected. The Dutch researcher and industrialist Willem van Eelen was in 2007 awarded a patent for the above
hypothetically would be efficient enough to supply the global demand for meat for 25 years, using only one animal biopsy!
33
Design
KEVIN BIGGINS // GLASGOW LEVEL 4 | GRAPHIC DESIGN | DJCAD
A Handy Guide is a visual alphabet in the form of 26 handy screen-printed illustrations. I started this project as a fun way to explore bold use of pattern and line within printmaking. The result is a series of A5 prints using between one and three colours, that can be rearranged and displayed to form words. The final set of prints are all held within a handmade, hardback folio.
34
Design
If you would like your Art/Design work featured in this section, email design.editor@dusamedia.com
What do you hope to produce this year?
It’s early days but I want to continue exploring screen-printing and I am currently working on putting together a print-making collective dedicated to putting out playful work and spreading the word about the value of print.
Who are your biggest influences?
Not a who, but I’m influenced a lot by Japanese graphic design and children’s illustration. Flat, geometric and playful design are areas that I’m particularly interested in.
Have you got any advice you would like to share with The Magdalen readers?
If the project you’re working on doesn’t interest you, then it’s your job to make it interesting. Have as much fun with it as you can!
You can find Kevin’s work at behance.net/kevinbiggins
35
Enterprise
The Perks of Being an
ENTERPRISING STUDENT
First of all, welcome to the new Enterprise section of the Magdalen Magazine. I hope this section will provide its readers with a sense of what entrepreneurship is, as well as information on certain events that will take place in the current month. I would like to thank the Magdalen for appreciating the importance of having this section published.
What does being enterprising mean? Every person has their own personality and ways in which they adapt to a situation and that’s when enterprising behaviour kicks in. The way in which we resp¬ond or act in a given situation can be considered enterprising or not. To frame the words above, being enterprising is a mind-set that exists in everyone. The degree to which you exercise that enterprising personality can only be set by you. When I came across it, I didn’t realise that there might be more for me than just going with the flow and limiting myself. Three years have passed since then, and I still could not imagine how my University years would have gone without being introduced to various possibilities of exercising this enterprising mind-set.
Why should you exercise this? You may come across situations where a “think-outside-the-box” strategy might be needed and the “old ways” of doing things are just not the right solution. Perhaps you need to impress your future employer with more than just some numbers and letters on a piece of paper. Believe it or not, when you present yourself to an employer, the way you take the initiative or reply to the interviewer can be considered enterprising. The way in which you adapt to a situation can help things go in your favour.
36
Enterprise
So, no it’s not all about starting up a business… …although some enterprising students turn into actual entrepreneurs and there’s so many organisations you can appeal to for help or advice on campus. As well as the University department I am President of; The Enterprise Gym, there are also SIE and Enterprise Campus ambassadors here to help.
Regarding The Enterprise Gym, most of our events exercise creativity and problem-solving. Although they revolve around businesses and start-ups, the practical applications of the things you learn will help you in every organisation you work with or in your day to day life. In addition to this, all the events are led by professionals in various areas and departments. Some of them are actual employers with whom you can easily speak to and network. We and the University itself provide just a framework of how things “should be done”, how things ‘are done’ is totally up to you. Will you go the extra mile? Vladimir Ghita, President, The Enterprise Gym
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SPORTS
GLOBAL SPORTING EVENT OF THE MONTH: RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015 October’s Sporting Event Of The Month is none other
Of course there are also the usual suspects from the
than the 2015 Rugby World Cup (it started on the 18th
Southern hemisphere who hold six of the seven World
September but we’ll gloss over that).
Cup titles between them. I’m of course talking about New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Expect these three to
Rugby Union’s major international competition takes place
stick around until the latter stages.
in England this year with the hosts aiming to regain the crown that they last held in 2003. They are also looking
The eighth edition of the Rugby World Cup is set to have
to become the third host nation to win the tournament
more viewers than ever before and with so many quality
following New Zealand in 1987 and 2011 and South Africa in
teams on show there’s bound to be some drama.
1995. Stuart Lancaster and his men have a huge amount of pressure to perform at the tournament and time will tell if
Who’ll win this time around? You’d all better tune in and
this is a blessing or a burden.
find out.
Also hoping to make an impact will be near neighbours, and
Tournament Dates:
rivals; Scotland, Wales and Ireland. With the competition taking place so close to home, and the Millennium Stadium
Pool Stage: 18th September – 11th
in Cardiff being used for some of the pool games, these
October
countries will be eager to impress their fans. Wales and England being paired within the same pool adds some extra spice.
France are another nation hoping to do well, and would love to do it on the home soil of major rivals, England. The French have been runners-up three times and going one
Quarter Finals: 17th October – 18th October Semi Finals: 24th October – 25th October
better than that would be a dream come true. England can’t
Third-Place Playoff: 30th October
remain the only nation from the Northern hemisphere to win
Final: 31st October
the trophy, can they?
Alasdair Hooper
38
SPORTS
SPORTS FAYRE During Freshers’ Week you may have seen some unusual sights on Campus Green: people bouncing up on down on trampolines, sailing boats, Frisbees flying around and a massive penguin, Piper, our mascot, was in attendance trying very hard to get students involved and running around getting his picture taken with you!
This was the annual Sports’ Fayre, where all our 43 clubs converge on Campus Green to promote what is on offer for you! From Badminton and Pole Dancing through to Hurling and Water Polo, hundreds of students signed up to attend ‘give it a go’ sessions where students were able to try any sport for two weeks absolutely free of charge.
You may have seen some unusual sights on campus green If you missed the Sports’ Fayre or give it a go sessions you can get involved at any time through our 43 clubs which cater for all levels of experience and ability or our campus sport events. Whether you want to challenge yourself or just want a break from studying there is something for you!
39
Sports
COMMITTEE’S CONFERENCE 2015 Volunteering in a sports club helps students gain a wide range of skills and is a huge asset to any CV.
R
esearch in 2013 by Sheffield
To this end the Sports’ Union supports
Hallam University showed that
over 40 hugely successful clubs. The
graduates who participated in
success of our clubs is a testament
sport at university earn on average 18%
to the people who run them. On
more than non-sporting counterparts.
the 13th of September the Sports’
51% of graduates said that involvement
Union held its first ever ‘Committees’
in Sport had helped them develop
Conference’ where core committee
team work skills and leadership
members from all our clubs attended
qualities in the workplace.
a range of workshops and teambuilding sessions to gain all the skills
The success of our clubs is a testament to the people who run them.
they need to run their club. From bank account management to social media training; effective meetings to conflict management the students who run our clubs are now fully prepared for the year ahead.
40
Sports
Warm Up Week 2015 This year the Sports’ Union held it’s annual ‘Warm Up Week’. This was a chance for student’s to get rid of those summer cobwebs and get their fitness back for the upcoming season! A record 340 students took part this year, including over 40 first years, who had previously not been included in the event. Over 20 clubs, from Archery and Basketball to Lacrosse and Ultimate Frisbee took part. Members attended their own daily sessions as well as a wide range of classes which challenged participants in areas such as strength, coordination, flexibility and core strength.
‘The will to win is important, the need to prepare is vital’ You may have seen participants walking around campus in their red Warm Up Week t-shirt bearing this cheesy slogan on the back. It wasn’t all as serious as it seemed, with the Warm Up Week sports-day style finale on the tennis courts involving loads of fun games to round off a successful week!
Join us next year for the 6th edition of Warm Up Week, where you will have a great time.
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