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Forum 2012

The US-UK Fulbright Commission hosts an annual cultural immersion programme for all American Fulbright Scholars currently studying, researching and lecturing in the UK each January (which for most participants falls mid-way through the Fulbright year).

In 2012, the American grantees gathered together in Glasgow and Edinburgh -- new home for some scholars, and new adventure for the rest of the cohort.

We were extraordinarily lucky to have impeccable weather throughout the week, and what's more, news broke of an upcoming Scottish referendum on independence!

A fascinating variety of academics from the University of Glasgow presented their research - we heard about everything from Robert Burns to optical tweezers and inorganic biology! From there we were formally welcomed to the city of Glasgow by a Civic Reception hosted at the City Chambers - a once in a lifetime experience! Did you know the City Chambers building has (reportedly) the largest marble staircase in the world?

We learned from academics at the University of Stratchlyde that big things are happening in Scotland in terms of economy, business and technology.

Fulbrighters also had a chance to share their research and cultural anecdotes amongst the group via Scholars Presentations. Fulbrighters are up to some amazing things: medical research, art history, theology - you name it, they're doing it. As a bonus, we also figured out which UK cities are best for castles, sports, and celeb-spotting!

Current scholars and friends of the Fulbright Programme danced in a Céilidh at The National Piping Centre. The event was a highlight of this year’s Forum, and was generously sponsored by the British Fulbright Scholars Association (BFSA). Click on the video to hear a bit of the fantastic Ceilidh performers who not only played music, but taught us the steps as well!

 

 

 

 

 

From Glasgow we moved onto Edinburgh. We headed straight for the Scottish Parliament -- a truly fascinating piece of architecture, which is quite a bit different from what we saw when we visited Parliament during US Orientation in London! We were honoured to be visited by Michael Russell MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning. The hot topic of the day was, of course, the referendum, so we moved on to hear predictions from an MSP, an MEP, and two journalists -- which made for quite an opinionated discussion!

 

Our university visits concluded with our host, the University of Edinburgh. Did you know Scotland held a national mental survey and has some truly unique and fascinating data? And could you believe that this data was found wrapped up in a basement? 

In St Cecilia's Hall at the University of Edinburgh, we also held the first ever Fulbright Concert, which featured scholars' muscial talents on a variety of instruments, including euphonium (click on the videoto hear David DeMair) and bassoon.

 

As if all of this fun wasn't enough, some scholars, programme alumni - and one dog - headed up to Comrie to plant trees with Trees4Scotland, as our first Fulbright Community Action Day. We planted 150-some trees, and hope to return in the future to see the 'Fulbright Forest' growing tall in the Scottish Highlands!

 

Without a doubt, the 2012 Forum was an exhilarating success!

Fulbrighters were given the chance to learn more about Scotland and certainly Scottish history and politics, experience the contrasts of the landscape and cultures of the United Kingdom and to engage with the various issues, initiatives and contemporary drivers of their host country.

We live-tweeted these events throughout Forum, so if you're interested in following along our other events and updates, please follow us on Twitter @FulbrightAwards.