<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="/global/templates/rss_template.xsl"?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
    <channel>
        <title>Development Trust - Blog</title>
        <description>Blog posts from Development Trust</description>
        <link>https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/</link>
        <atom:link href="https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/rss.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
        <image>
            <url>https://www.abdn.ac.uk/global/images/layout/uni_logo_2016_pad_rss.gif</url>
            <title>Development Trust - Blog</title>
            <link>https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/</link>
        </image>

        <item>
            <link>https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/exciting-new-development-in-the-cruickshank-botanic-garden/</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/exciting-new-development-in-the-cruickshank-botanic-garden/</guid>
            <title><![CDATA[Exciting New Development in the Cruickshank Botanic Garden]]></title>
            <pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[The Cruickshank Botanic Garden has been an important part of the University of Aberdeen&rsquo;s Old Aberdeen campus for over 125 years after being founded in 1898 thanks to a generous gift of land from Miss Anne Cruickshank (1820-1911), in memory of her brother Dr Alexander Cruickshank.
Anne wanted the Garden to help further the study of science and was determined that it should be open and free to enter for everyone. It exists to promote an appreciation of the beauty, diversity and importance of plants, and an understanding of their role in the natural world.
Over the next 70 years,&#8230;]]></description>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <link>https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/founders-week-2026-celebrating-the-benefactors-who-shape-the-university-of-aberdeen/</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/founders-week-2026-celebrating-the-benefactors-who-shape-the-university-of-aberdeen/</guid>
            <title><![CDATA[Founders' Week 2026: Celebrating the Benefactors Who Shape the University of Aberdeen]]></title>
            <pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[The University of Aberdeen concluded this year&rsquo;s Founders&rsquo; Week with its Benefactors&rsquo; Lunch last Friday - a special event honouring individuals and organisations whose generosity and commitment continue to shape the University&rsquo;s future.
Founders&rsquo; Week offers a moment of reflection on the institution&rsquo;s origins in 1495 and on the generations of people whose support has allowed the University to thrive. This year&rsquo;s celebration held additional significance as it marked the first Founders&rsquo; Week under the leadership of the University&rsquo;s new Principal &amp; Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Edwards. The occasion provided an opportunity to recognise those whose belief in the University&rsquo;s mission&#8230;]]></description>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <link>https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/wartime-bursary-helps-inspire-legacy-gift/</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/wartime-bursary-helps-inspire-legacy-gift/</guid>
            <title><![CDATA[Wartime bursary helps inspire legacy gift]]></title>
            <pubDate>Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[When Robina (Ruby) Cormie enrolled at the University of Aberdeen to study a BSc in Science during World War II, pursuing her passion for Physics and Mathematics, she received a &pound;90 bursary, equivalent to approximately &pound;5,550 today, from the British Government to help with the cost of her studies. She considered herself very fortunate to have received financial support and maintained throughout her life that it had a hugely beneficial impact on her studies and her subsequent distinguished career as a scientist.
While at Aberdeen, Ruby met fellow student, David Tough, who was studying for an MA in Mathematics. David&#8230;]]></description>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <link>https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/celebrating-dereks-long-association-with-the-university/</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/celebrating-dereks-long-association-with-the-university/</guid>
            <title><![CDATA[Celebrating Derek's Long Association with the University]]></title>
            <pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Few people have demonstrated such an impact and commitment to the University of Aberdeen more than Derek Ogston. After first setting foot on campus at 17, he enjoyed a 70-year plus association with the University which, since his death in 2021, is continuing with a gift in his will.
Derek was born in Aberdeen in 1932 to Frederic and Ellen Ogston. Brought up in Aberdeen, along with brother Bill, the family moved to London with his father&rsquo;s work in 1939. He attended King&rsquo;s College School in Wimbledon and decided to board there when the family moved back to Aberdeen. A&#8230;]]></description>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <link>https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/chloes-fund-supports-elisias-crucial-cystic-fibrosis-research/</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/chloes-fund-supports-elisias-crucial-cystic-fibrosis-research/</guid>
            <title><![CDATA[Chloe's Fund Supports Elisia's Crucial Cystic Fibrosis Research]]></title>
            <pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[After losing their daughter Chloe to cystic fibrosis, Professor Tom and Grace Baxter wanted to support research being undertaken at the University of Aberdeen. With the help of Chloe's consultant, Professor Graham Devereux, they established Chloe's Fund in memory of their daughter, and this has enabled the University to recruit PhD students to undertake cystic fibrosis research over a number of years.
Current PhD student Elisia Josiah is working alongside Professor Heather Wilson to explore how CFTR modulators influence the immune response in cells which play a crucial role in fighting off infections in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients.&#8230;]]></description>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <link>https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/the-enduring-impact-of-the-young-family/</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/the-enduring-impact-of-the-young-family/</guid>
            <title><![CDATA[The Enduring Impact of the Young Family]]></title>
            <pubDate>Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[The University of Aberdeen is very fortunate to have enjoyed a long association with the Young family whose deep and enduring connection to the University spans generations. Brothers Donald (MBChB) and Ken (MA Physics) and Ken&rsquo;s wife Anne (MA English) all graduated from the University in 1957. Older brother Ian graduated with a BSc Physics in 1954, a PhD in 1958 and was bestowed with an honorary degree in 1992. Their academic achievements continued a family tradition of service and scholarship in Aberdeen as their father, John Young, was a Professor of Pathology at the University and their mother Ruth&#8230;]]></description>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <link>https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/finding-direction-and-confidence-my-journey-through-geoscience-at-aberdeen/</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/finding-direction-and-confidence-my-journey-through-geoscience-at-aberdeen/</guid>
            <title><![CDATA[Finding Direction and Confidence: My Journey Through Geoscience at Aberdeen]]></title>
            <pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Fay Vincent had a pretty hectic time in the run up to her graduation earlier this month with a First-Class Honours BSc in Geoscience. While studying during her final semester, she purchased a new house and moved in with her long-term partner, whilst continuing to juggle life as a business owner and parent to her 10-year-old daughter. Here she tells us about her time at the University of Aberdeen and how the School of Geosciences Undergraduate Bursary supported her.
&ldquo;I chose to study Geoscience at the University of Aberdeen, because it offered an excellent range of earth science subjects, as&#8230;]]></description>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <link>https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/adiens-dream-of-university-supported-by-the-alistair-findlater-aberdeen-aberdeenshire-trust-scholarship/</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/adiens-dream-of-university-supported-by-the-alistair-findlater-aberdeen-aberdeenshire-trust-scholarship/</guid>
            <title><![CDATA[Adien's Dream of University Supported by the Alistair Findlater Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire Trust Scholarship]]></title>
            <pubDate>Tue, 17 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[As a young boy growing up close to the University&rsquo;s Old Aberdeen campus and with a passion for history, Adien Gordon never imagined that he would be accepted to study here, assuming his financial background would prevent it. But, following years of determination and the support of the Alistair Findlater Aberdeen &amp; Aberdeenshire Trust Scholarship, Adien graduates on Wednesday 2 July with an MA in History &amp; International Relations and has a bright future ahead of him. Here he tells us more about his story and his time at the University.
&ldquo;As my time at the University of Aberdeen comes&#8230;]]></description>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <link>https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/marys-legacy-gift-creates-lasting-opportunities-in-scottish-history/</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/marys-legacy-gift-creates-lasting-opportunities-in-scottish-history/</guid>
            <title><![CDATA[Mary's legacy gift creates lasting opportunities in Scottish history]]></title>
            <pubDate>Tue, 27 May 2025 00:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Mary R S Creese lived most of her adult life in the USA but she maintained a passion for Scottish history and, following her death in 2017, left an extremely generous legacy gift to the University for our work in the field of Scottish history.
Born in Orkney in 1935 to Walter (a minister) and Annie (a schoolteacher) Weir, Mary moved to the USA in the late 50s where she married Professor Thomas Creese, a US mathematician, in 1964. They had two daughters, Anna and Catherine. She enjoyed a long and distinguished career in science and later in her career&#8230;]]></description>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <link>https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/duncans-lifetime-support-continues-with-a-gift-in-his-will/</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/duncans-lifetime-support-continues-with-a-gift-in-his-will/</guid>
            <title><![CDATA[Duncan's Life-time Support Continues with a Gift in his Will]]></title>
            <pubDate>Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Duncan Hopkin was a committed and enthusiastic member of the University of Aberdeen alumni community, attending events both on and off campus over many years and becoming a very generous life-time donor. His death in December 2023 was deeply felt by those who were lucky enough to have enjoyed his company over the years but the gift he left in his will is testament to his generous and kind-hearted spirit.
Born in September 1943 in Birkenhead, Duncan was the eldest of four children to Jim and Mary Hopkin. A move to Aberdeen when he was 10 saw him attending Ashley&#8230;]]></description>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <link>https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/community-fundraisers-advance-healthbased-research/</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/community-fundraisers-advance-healthbased-research/</guid>
            <title><![CDATA[Community Fundraisers Advance Health-based Research]]></title>
            <pubDate>Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Throughout the year, the generosity of our dedicated community fundraisers has continued to provide tremendous support for world-class research and facilities at the University.
A number of supporters organised events to raise funds for breast cancer research at Aberdeen. In October 2023, surgeon Beatrix Elsberger and colleagues at ARI organised a ceilidh, raising almost &pound;8,000 and pupils at St Margaret&rsquo;s School for Girls smashed their target of &pound;500 and raised &pound;826 by organising a week of activities including a 1,000km movement challenge, a cheekily appropriately themed biscuit sale and an awareness-raising assembly. Finally, Jen Mills and her friends Jennifer, Meg&#8230;]]></description>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <link>https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/collective-power-of-regular-giving/</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/collective-power-of-regular-giving/</guid>
            <title><![CDATA[Collective Power of Regular Giving]]></title>
            <pubDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Over the past year, regular gifts from generous alumni around the world have had a significant impact on our students as they combine their studies with extracurricular activities and receive the vital support they need to overcome challenges they experience.
Gifts have continued to support the Sports Bursary Scheme which develops the talents of our most promising athletes, and enabled the Multi faith Chaplaincy to organise regular student cafes and lunches, creating a sense of community and belonging which is especially valuable for our most vulnerable students.
Alumni regular giving has also provided funding for our Careers &amp; Employability Service&#8230;]]></description>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <link>https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/gift-in-will-encourages-lifetime-love-of-plants/</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/gift-in-will-encourages-lifetime-love-of-plants/</guid>
            <title><![CDATA[Gift in Will Encourages Lifetime Love of Plants]]></title>
            <pubDate>Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[A transformational gift in the will of Anthony Johnston in 2019 enabled the University to establish the Anthony &amp; Margaret Johnston Centre for Doctoral Training in Plant Sciences which provides fully funded PhD studentships in this globally important field.
Anthony and his wife Margaret met while at Aberdeen, both graduating in 1943. They maintained a lifelong relationship with the University through the Development &amp; Alumni Relations team, funding scholarships for many years.
Anthony was a passionate mycologist and botanist and had an eminent international career in plant pathology, plant disease and plant protection, working for both the United Nations and&#8230;]]></description>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <link>https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/devoted-couple-leave-transformational-gift-for-neurosciences/</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/devoted-couple-leave-transformational-gift-for-neurosciences/</guid>
            <title><![CDATA[Devoted Couple Leave Transformational Gift for Neurosciences]]></title>
            <pubDate>Fri, 13 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Ruth and Bernard Smith enjoyed a very happy life together, meeting when Aberdeen-born and educated Bernard was Chief of Neurology at the Meyer Memorial Hospital in Buffalo and Ruth was Chief Librarian.
Bernard graduated from the University of Aberdeen MBChB in 1940 and maintained a deep affection for his hometown and the University which had equipped him for a distinguished career. On his death in 1985, he left his estate to Ruth with the request that, on her death, the estate would be left to the University of Aberdeen to build its capacity in neurological research. Ruth lived for another&#8230;]]></description>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <link>https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/understanding-planned-giving-in-the-usa/</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.abdn.ac.uk/giving/blog/understanding-planned-giving-in-the-usa/</guid>
            <title><![CDATA[Understanding Planned Giving in the USA]]></title>
            <pubDate>Fri, 13 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[In this latest blog our US Administrator, Nancy Bikson Esq, shares an overview of the work of our University of Aberdeen Foundation and planned giving options available to those who may be considering leaving a donation to support the University of Aberdeen.
We encourage you to support the University of Aberdeen Foundation in its mission to provide meaningful support to education in general and to the University of Aberdeen in particular as the University continues to provide a home of excellence both in its academic endeavours and in its commitment to its students.
Since 1994 the Foundation has accepted donations&#8230;]]></description>
        </item>
        
    </channel>
</rss>
