Friday 16th September 2011

As always the Shetland rumour mill is hard at work...and depending on what you listen to I'm going to be off for 6-9 months, have a fractured neck and am currently in Aberdeen having reconstructive surgery on my knee...

Although all of the above are very exciting none are true...

Late on Sunday evening our dog got out of our garden and so I had to head off out, torch in hand, to look for her. After nearly an hour I found her sat quietly in the field adjacent to our garden and so I walked up to her and started to put her lead on...it was at that point that the large Shetland Ram who was, unknown to me, the resident of the field took a dislike to my being there and charged me. he hit me square on my right knee and knocked me over...the next thing I remember is him standing on my chest.

My wife took me to A & E where they were concerned about my head, neck and spine and so I was placed in a neck and spine brace whilst they carried out CAT scans and various X-rays and I was kept in hospital on a morphine drip with concussion.

There is no permanent damage to my head, neck or spine but my knee "is a real mess" I am told and so I'll be on crutches for a little while....but I am back in the office today and as far as I am concerned it is business as usual (or as usual as this place gets).

However, be warned, I'm not too good on the crutches yet so if you see me coming I'd stay well clear!

Thursday 8th September 2011

Monday this week saw the welcome return of our Deck and Engineering Officer Cadet students with a new intake of 24. During their induction session I have a chance to formally welcome them to The NAFC Marine Centre and it always makes me smile and reminds me exactly why we are here! It won't be long before we are all sat down in our lecture theatre in February next year for the Annual Prize giving ceremony which celebrates students achievements...

Dr Martin Robinson, our Head of Marine Sciences & Technology, has been invited to speak at the extraordinary meeting of the Employers' Group of the European Economic and Social Committee to be held in Sopot, Poland, on the 29 September 2011 on what the major "societal" responsibilities for businesses are...

I will be attending the next UHI An Comann event next week in Inverness. This is an opportunity for all of the Academic Partner Principals to get together with the Chairs of the various Boards and Committees to spend some time on strategic issues.

The NAFC Marine Centre has received formal recognition from The Carbon Trust for its approach to Carbon reduction management and the implementation of a Carbon Management Plan.

Thursday 1st September 2011

I thought you might like to see one or two photos from the UHI Celebration Day last week?

Our Vice Chancellor, James Fraser

Director of The Scottish Association for Marine Sciences Professor Laurence Mee and Director of The NAFC Marine Centre Professor David Gray