Last week we were delighted to welcome the latest recipients of the Alumni Annual Appeal Scholarships, who are beginning their studies at Otago in 2010. Ten scholarships were awarded for this year, all made possible through the generosity of donors to the Annual Appeal. It was great to meet all ten scholars and witness their excitement about studying at Otago and their plans for the future. You'll be able to read more about these outstanding young people in the next issue of the University of Otago Magazine, due out in June.

Welcome to our new website and Your Otago Link, designed to help alumni keep in touch with the University and each other.  After a protracted gestation period this baby was officially launched in December last year, and has already attracted quite a bit of interest from alumni in NZ and abroad, going by the hit reports I get each week.  A core group of departments and individuals was involved in the development of the application and throughout the coming year we’re intending to roll it out across the University until we get the widest coverage possible, so that all who are interested can participate.

Benefits include linking with other Otago alumni for assistance and introductions; information on events and reunions; access to podcasts; participation in networks; RSS feeds; and links to other university services like the Careers Office. You can also apply for your own @otagoalumni email address.  Please let us know what you think - we need your feedback to help this fledgling find its wings! I’ll keep you posted on developments as they happen. Meanwhile, happy networking…

University of Otago medical graduate Dr Andrew Greensmith, now a Melbourne-based plastic surgeon and consultant at the Royal Melbourne Children's Hospital, played a leading role as part of the surgical team that recently separated the conjoined Bangladeshi twins, Krishna and Trishna.  Read more about the challenges of the landmark operation, which was the culmination of two years of painstaking medical preparation.

University of Otago physiologist Professor Allan Herbison has been awarded the Health Research Council’s Liley Medal for “outstanding” research which could lead to new treatments for infertility. Read more...