University of Aberdeen Alumni

Legacy giving plays a vital role in supporting the University’s ambitions and will continue to do so for years to come.

Today we're recognising David Eastwood who, during a long and distinguished career, dedicated himself to the education of others. When he passed away in 2022, he left a significant gift in his will to the University for medical research, creating impact that extends from individual lives to wider societal wellbeing.

You can read more about David and his gift here: http://abdn.io/2h2

Over the past few weeks we’ve been thrilled to welcome alumni back on campus for our first two reunions of 2026.

At the beginning of the month, we hosted five graduates from the Soil Science Class of 1976 for a tour of the Science Teaching Hub and a visit to their old School. The group had a great time reminiscing, with one attendee stating: “This reunion was very special - a truly amazing experience, great fun and educational. I'm totally impressed by, and immensely proud of, how the University has continued to improve and develop."

And on Friday 12 June, the Medical Class of 1986 enjoyed a talk from Professor Simon Parson at the Anatomy Rooms before heading to our Old Aberdeen campus for a tour. There was much hilarity and a sneaky visit to The Machar to talk about old times. The group has also decided to fundraise for the Aberdeen Medics Scholarship Fund.

If you’re thinking of organising a class reunion, we’re happy to help, so get in touch at [email protected] to find out more.

On Saturday 13 June, we held our first Greater Bay Area alumni event in Shenzhen, bringing together our Shenzhen Alumni Chapter, Guangzhou Alumni Chapter and Aberdeen University Hong Kong Alumni Association.

Guests had a great time mingling and heard from the Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Edwards, entrepreneur and Chair of the Shenzhen Chapter, Wenqian He, and Head of the School of Natural and Computing Science, Professor David McGloin, as they discussed 'Shaping Global Talent in the Age of AI.'

Congratulations to our 2026 cohort of students from the University of Aberdeen and South China Normal University's Joint Institute who graduated at a special ceremony on Monday.

The Joint Institute, located on SCNU’s vibrant Foshan campus, was the result of long-established links between the two universities, having collaborated on joint programmes in Real Estate, Finance and Computing Science over almost 20 years.

We're getting excited. Today's tells us that summer graduations are just around the corner with the marquee being constructed on the playing fields.

With exciting plans for the University's new Mumbai campus on the horizon, it's also a great time to reconnect with fellow alumni in the city. Join our latest alumni event on Friday 19 June from 6.30pm (IST) for a relaxed evening of networking and conversation at Starbucks, Santacruz West. Find out more and register to attend: http://abdn.io/2fQ

The University’s Thomas Reid Circle recognises the significant commitment of those who've pledged a gift in their will to the University and two weeks ago today, on Saturday 30 May, we held our annual Thomas Reid Circle Gathering at the Science Teaching Hub.

The event was hosted by Principal & Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Edwards, and included an enthralling talk from Professor Gordon Noble, Chair in Archaeology, about his Northern Picts research, and a display of ancient artefacts, which was followed by afternoon tea. The event gave us the perfect opportunity to thank members and tell them more about the enormous impact gifts in wills can have on our students, our research and our facilities.

If you’re considering leaving a gift in your will to the University, please visit our website for more information here: http://abdn.io/2fN

David Blackburn – Change – how to turn uncertainty into opportunity – 3pm-4pm, Thursday 18 June 2026, Room 224 Sir Duncan Rice Library

Join alumnus, David Blackburn, as guest speaker for the University of Aberdeen’s Industry Pulse series. David is one of the most highly awarded HR professionals in the UK and has been recognised in HR Magazine's most influential list numerous times. He has also been named among the HRD Global 100 as one of the top 100 HR Directors in the world.

A Chartered Companion of both the CIPD and CMI, David brings almost 30 years of experience across a diverse range of sectors. His insights into strategic HR leadership are not to be missed.

Joining David will be Stephen Pobjoy, Senior Stakeholder Lead at the CIPD.

You can register for the event here: http://abdn.io/2fM

In today's it's all about the colours in Cruickshank Botanic Garden, with the Sir Duncan Rice Library and the Science Teaching Hub peaking out from behind.

There's still time to register for this year's Watt Hepburn Lecture which is taking place next Wednesday, 17 June, at King's College Conference Centre from 5pm-7pm.

CEO of Aurora Energy Services and Indigo 7 Ventures, Doug Duguid, will share an experience-led perspective on entrepreneurship, leadership, and decision-making, drawing on a career spanning more than four decades in a talk entitled On the Edge – not in the Hedge! Leadership and Managing Risk in a Fast-Growing Business and Changing Energy Landscape.

With registration from 5pm, a networking session will start at 5.15pm and will be followed by the lecture at 6pm and a Q&A at 6.45pm.

Find our more and register for the event here: http://abdn.io/2fH