Results of the Sir Patrick Geddes Memoral Trust Awards Scheme for 2008 - 2009

Please click on an image for video (MP4) of the presentations and further footage of Stephen Hajducki who is a member of the Trust.

Claire Myles and Stewart Stevenson	Mike Smith and Stewart Stevenson

On 12 March 2009, as part of the Scottish Government's Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning, Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change presented certificates to two students for their entries in the Sir Patrick Geddes Memorial Trust Student Awards' Scheme for 2008-2009.

This year entries were received from students studying Architecture, Geography, Town Planning and interestingly, for the first time, from a student doing a Master of Literature degree at the School of Humanities at Crichton University Campus. Five awards were made and the Trustees at the awards' ceremony, held at the Hub were delighted to meet and congratulate those students who were able to attend the ceremony.

The Category 1 award (course work reflecting Geddes principles) went to Mike Smith of Crichton University for his collection of poems on "All things are connected". Man's endless and intricate relationship with nature and his desire to understand it better are captured in elegant and evocative language.

In Category 2a (award for best undergraduate dissertation) the judges decided to recognise the work of two students: Clare Gillespie of the Geography Department at Edinburgh University for her dissertation on "The Leptogenic Environment: to what extent can an affluent area be considered to reduce the risk of obesity for all its residents" and Keith McGregor of the Department of Architecture at Strathclyde University for his work on "The significance of the vernacular as a learning tool: an investigation into the role of the highland vernacular on the development and progression of Rural Scotland." The first dissertation highlighted the significance of social, economic and environmental factors in influencing levels of obesity (or lack of it) in a local neighbourhood. The second emphasised the need to respect the relevance of the built heritage in fostering new forms of development that were appropriate and sustainable.

In Category 2b (award for best postgraduate dissertation) the judges commended the entry from Allana Hughes of the School of Architecture at the University of Dundee on "The perceived and actual forces shaping the distinctive character of Islands' Architecture." This extensive and detailed work investigated the character and form of buildings on the island of Rum and produced a "pattern book" for the key to be taken into account to achieve development compatible with the island's past and its prospects for the future.

The Category 3 award (best first year student) went to Claire Myles of the Department of Town and Regional Planning at Dundee University. Claire submitted an essay on "Patrick Geddes has been described as the father of Town Planning. Review his work and discuss how his ideas have contributed to the development of British planning practice." The judges considered that she had captured succinctly the life, work and influence of Patrick Geddes on the development of the British plan led system.

The Trustees warmly congratulate all five prize winners and are most grateful to those universities which submitted entries. All of the work received was of a high standard. Our thanks go to the Scottish Government for their continuing kind support in letting us join their national awards' ceremony and also to The Economic Development Investment Group, for their ongoing financial support.