America's leading cultural and educational institution has invited the University of Aberdeen to present its world class Irish and Scottish research in Washington DC next year.
The Smithsonian Institution has chosen the University's Research Institute of Irish and Scottish Studies to present an all-day seminar on "Ireland and Scotland: Exile and Identity" on March 20, 2004.
The Washington seminar will feature in the Smithsonian Associates' prestigious "Great Schools" program to coincide with St Patrick's Day on March 17.
The invitation is a major achievement for Aberdeen as previous universities invited to take part in the program have mainly been US Ivy League institutions including Harvard and Yale. Oxford is the only European university to have presented an all-day program in recent years.
The pioneering Institute, which hosts the Arts and Humanities Research Board (AHRB) Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies, was opened by Mary McAleese, President of Ireland, on St Andrew's Day 1999.
Speakers at the event will include the Scottish historian Tom Devine, the AHRB Centre's director, and Ted Barrington, former Irish Ambassador to the UK, now an Honorary Professor at the University.
The news will be announced tonight (Monday 27 October) by the Scottish Culture Minister Frank McAveety MSP at the launch of Tom Devine's latest historical blockbuster Scotland's Empire: 1600-1815 at the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
Published by Penguin, the book is the first in-depth exploration of Scotland's vital role in the creation of the British Empire.
Mr McAveety will say: "I would like to take this opportunity to warmly congratulate Tom Devine and
The Research Institute of Irish and Scottish Studies at the University of Aberdeen on being chosen by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington to present a seminar next March on 'Ireland and Scotland: Exile and Identity. The University should be very proud of this recognition of its achievements."
Professor C Duncan Rice, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, at the University of Aberdeen said: "This is an honour for Aberdeen. The Smithsonian is a global player in the field of culture and education. I am delighted that we have been invited to showcase our Irish and Scottish research in this way."
Professor Devine said the seminar will have a strong Irish thread including key issues surrounding emigration, identity, economy and culture. He said: "This is a particularly welcome accolade for the Institute because we pride ourselves in our cosmopolitan outlook. The invitation complements the Scottish Executive's push into North America. One could say that the Institute is the academic arm of this important initiative."
Dr David Pelizzari, of the Smithsonian's Department of Cultural and Educational Programming, said: "Around the world, certain universities, departments and schools shine through the influence of their research and the renown of their faculty.
"From time to time, we invite these "great schools" to the Mall in Washington, DC to help our Washington audience understand what makes them great, and to celebrate their achievements.
"I had the pleasure of introducing Tom Devine at a major lecture during our Scotland at the Smithsonian series of events earlier this year. We are delighted to welcome him back, with his colleagues, to paint a fuller picture of the Centre's extraordinary work."
Further information on the seminar will be available from November 1, 2003 at http://www.ResidentAssociates.org or by calling Smithsonian Associates on 001-202-357-3030.