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News Celebrating 100 years of isotope science It’s 100 years since isotopes were discovered at Glasgow by chemist Fredrick Soddy. Soddy, who lectured at the University before the First World War, introduced isotopes to the world in the journal Nature on 4 December 1913. Since then isotope science has transformed science, engineering and medicine, and there is scarcely an aspect of biological, medical, chemical, earth or nuclear sciences that does not utilise isotopes. Soddy received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1921 for this work. Born in Eastbourne and educated at Oxford, Soddy spent two years in Canada working with Sir Ernest Rutherford on radioactivity, and then with Sir William Ramsay at University College London. He moved to Glasgow in 1904 as a lecturer in Physical Chemistry and Radioactivity, and it was during his ten years at the University, while working with collaborators including laboratory assistant Alexander Fleck (who later rose to become Chairman of ICI), that he completed his most important research, into the chemistry of radioactive elements. He realised that a single chemical element could occur as atoms with different atomic weights, with different nuclear properties, such as radioactive half-life. This reconciled the periodic table with the newly discovered phenomena of radioactivity and atomic transformation. To celebrate Glasgow’s role in the birth of this key development, University staff delivered a range of talks and public activities throughout 2013, including Isotope Day on 4 December. An exhibition is running in The Hunterian’s new science showcase space until the end of February. www.glasgow.ac.uk/hunterian
Caesium iodide crystals glowing in the radioactivity emitted by one of Soddy’s surviving samples.
Stay involved after graduation Your relationship with the University doesn’t have to end after graduation. As a graduate, there are many benefits including discounted membership of the University’s library and sport facilities. You can also have a voice in how the University responds to and tackles the challenges ahead. One way to share your views or hear what’s happening is to attend the General Council meetings, which usually take place in January and June. The dates of these meetings are posted in every issue of Avenue; see pages 26–27. Graduates and academic staff are all members of the General Council.
‘Every graduate’s contribution would be greatly valued,’ says George Tait, convener of the General Council’s Business Committee. ‘We are particularly keen to encourage recent graduates to get involved.’ From time to time there are opportunities to join the General Council’s Business Committee, who act on behalf of the General Council and raise issues of importance to graduates and academic staff with the University Court. If you are interested in getting involved, see www.glasgow.ac.uk/about/generalcouncil.