Ian at 17 ... and 56.
(Move your cursor over photo.)
|
Ian Stevenson, was Dundee to the core. Born, raised and educated in the city, he proved a redoubtable ambassador for Tayside and, until cancer struck him down, was actively involved in academia, sport and the maintenance of city tradition.
He wrote more than 150 publications, was a speaker at some 30 international meetings and initiatives in the academic, community, fundraising and sporting worlds. He spent four years as a university vice-principal and, as a student, once worked a summer as a Dundee tram conductor.
Possessed of no mean entrepreneurial skill, he co-founded a company spun out of the university and when the concern was sold off 23 years later, it netted a cool £1m.
|
For all that Professor Stevenson's path lay in Dundee, he gained an international reputation. Educated at Morgan Academy and Queen's College (as that outstation of St Andrews University was then known), he used his biochemistry degree to gain himself a two-year placement in the US, in Tennessee and Boston, before returning to Dundee as a pharmacology lecturer.
As a tutor, a research supervisor and holder of a departmental chair, he proved inspirational for both students and in the furtherance of pharmacokinetics, drugs metabolism and age-related pharmacology. As an administrator, his wise counsel was evident at the university court and in 1988, he was appointed deputy principal, being made vice-principal the following year.
His brainchild was undoubtedly DDS Medicines Research, the company he co-founded. Spun out from the university, it was sold in September this year for [GBP]1m. Rebranded Drug Development Solutions, the 80-strong company focuses on bringing new and existing drugs to market, with a client portfolio including GSK, Eli Lilly and Pfizer. As chairman of DDS, Stevenson could be justly proud of the contribution by DDS to both the financing of drug research and a donation to Dundee University of a [GBP]2m building he himself called "state of the art".
Outside academia, Stevenson was passionate about sport and no mean participant, in mature years representing Scotland internationally in squash as a veteran. He brought this love of physical activity to the university, playing a leading part in the creation of sports facilities and becoming convener of the physical education committee. The recent fall in university sporting outlets due to income shortages caused him to make strong representation at the meeting of the university court only 11months ago.
Professor Stevenson enjoyed outstandingly successful years as chairman on Tayside of Tenovus, the organisation dedicated to assisting young research staff and their research programmes. Secretary from its inception, the organisation was so reluctant to let go of him in 1999 that they persuaded him to continue as an ordinary member. He went on to become chairman of Tenovus Scotland.
Elected a fellow in 1987 of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's premier scientific body, he became a council member and convener of programmes. At home, he became first chairman of Dundee's Sensation Science Centre and a director of the Scottish Science Trust.
Socially, he was a president of Dundee Rotary Club and a deacon of the Bonnetmaker Craft of Dundee.
He is survived by Pat, his wife of 47 years, their two daughters and grandchildren.
Ian Stevenson FRSE, former vice-principal of Dundee University and professor emeritus of pharmacology; born December 20, 1936, died November 19, 2005.
Source: The Herald, Nov 28, 2005 - Gordon Casely.
|
|
