Our people
Meet the extraordinary individuals making a difference.
Dive into the history of the Indian Ocean
Prize-winning academic Dr Mahmood Kooria reveals how he is retelling the history of the Indian Ocean’s Islamic communities, matrilineal culture and female travellers.
Peter Mathieson on navigating changes at a historic university
The University’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor on driving culture change, navigating a global pandemic and remembering our shared humanity.
Building family in the student community
More than 400 student-led societies and volunteering groups aim to help build a sense of belonging in the University experience. How did one motivated student leader level up that ambition, even reaching out beyond the campus?
What happens when the stars misalign in Parkinson’s?
Áine Heffernan from the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences is the winner of the University’s 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition for research on Parkinson’s disease which aims to understand why some individuals develop the condition.
A community to champion activism
Syjil Ramjuthan uses her activism to provoke positive change. She’s committed to using the power of the student voice to improve the University environment now and for the future.
A journey to the unknown
In December 2023 Dr Claudia Colesie, a terrestrial ecologist in the University’s School of GeoSciences, travelled with a team of scientists to Antarctica. Their destination was the unexplored Zavodovski Island, said to be one of the stormiest places on Earth.
A build-up of little acts, giving back to others
More than 2,000 Edinburgh care home residents receive cards at Christmas from Julie Ann Fooshee’s community wellbeing project. Her aspirations, to reach out to the city’s isolated and vulnerable individuals, go further.
A chain of students paying back to society
Jay Choudhari founded Dhyeya in India’s rural Chandrapur. This non-profit organisation is tackling education inequality, helping children from marginalised sections of society aspire to and access education.
Prioritising community and transparency
Nadine Barakat represents a community of postgraduate research students. Her efforts have been instrumental in bringing the students together, acting on their feedback and instigating change.
On a space mission
As the University’s Space Sector Business Development Lead, Kristina Tamane is on a mission to launch collaborations between academia and industry that are out of this world.
Stepping up
When hundreds of Ukrainian children arrived in Edinburgh’s schools Katia Popova and her students organised tutoring, translation and tunes.