In-depth

From Aberdeen to the world – our pioneers and their extraordinary achievements

For more than five centuries the University has supported innovation which has changed the world around us and our staff, students and graduates have achieved remarkable success. We explore their stories and how they have shaped the lives of others.

Changing the world through innovation

Celebrating our foundation as a ‘light of the north’

Who was Elphinstone? Why was Aberdeen an early beacon for education, formed at a time when only Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews and Glasgow were already in existence? Find out in our foundation story.
Honouring the ‘Toronto Four’

More than a century on from the awarding of a Nobel prize for the discovery of clinically useful insulin, a series of events were held in Aberdeen to honour the ‘Toronto four’, credited with the lifesaving breakthrough. The celebrations mark the first time the four have been commemorated together and reflect changing attitudes and a reassessment of the contributions of each man to the advance in science which has saved the lives of millions of people with Type 1 diabetes.
Boundary breaker: Professor Mirela Delibegovic FRSE

The University of Aberdeen’s Professor Mirela Delibegovic is leading research which could provide the key to unlock early intervention and diagnosis before the onset of type 2 diabetes. She heads up the Aberdeen Cardiovascular and Diabetes Centre exploring how diabetes, heart disease, ageing and Alzheimer’s are woven together.
A vision to feed the world: Celebrating Rowett Institute founder John Boyd Orr

We explore the extraordinary life and achievements of a man who earned the Nobel Peace Prize for his effort to “conquer hunger and want, thereby helping to remove a major cause of military conflict and war”.
The Aberdeen ‘father of diabetes’ whose own life was saved thanks to the work of another University graduate

When RD Lawrence graduated from the University for the third time in 1922, he was not yet 30 and had already dedicated much of his young life to saving the lives of others. We explore the extraordinary parallels of the insulin story which not only saved the life of Lawrence and countless others with diabetes, but enabled him to transform support for those with the condition in ways that continue to make a difference today.
The airbrushing from history of the Aberdeen insulin pioneer

In 2021, the world celebrates the centenary of the discovery of insulin – a breakthrough which transformed what is now known as Type 1 diabetes from a death sentence to a manageable condition. But the name of Aberdeen graduate JJR Macleod has not always been at the forefront of commemorations for one of the most significant advancements in medical science.
The "small team of half-mad scientists" who changed the course of medical history

The University pays tribute to Professor John Mallard, who died in February 2021, and his team of MRI pioneers