Retired Staff Association
Retired Staff Association
The Retired Staff Association (RSA), launched in 2008, exists for the benefit of all retired University of Glasgow staff. It aims to provide a programme of engaging talks, visits, and other activities, as suggested by members. Thanks to the generosity of the Ferguson Bequest, there is no membership fee.
The continued success of the RSA depends on the active involvement of its members. Please get in touch to share your ideas for activities you would like the Association to organise, as well as any comments or suggestions. We would particularly welcome hearing from anyone interested in becoming more involved in supporting the work of the Association.
Get involved
John Coggins is the Retired Staff Association Convener. To contact John, please email via John.Coggins@glasgow.ac.uk or phone 07572813691.
To join the Retired Staff Association, please contact the Alumni Team at alumni@glasgow.ac.uk.
Register as a Member
Benefits of joining the association include:
- Members receive Avenue, the University of Glasgow magazine for alumni and friends, and invitations to University events such as Commemoration Day.
- Members are entitled to a 10% discount on purchases in the University Shop.
We will use the details you provide to:
- Keep you informed of Association news and events.
- Tell you about the benefits of being part of the Retired Staff Association, including discounts and services
- Manage your interaction with the University, thank you for your support and the tell you how your support has made a difference
- If you provide a telephone number, we may use this to contact you for fundraising purposes, though we will always write to you first to ensure you are happy to be called.
Please read the Development & Alumni Office Privacy Notice to find out more about the use, management and retention of your data.
As a member of our university community you can manage your preferences including your communications preferences at any time. To do this visit Manage My Preferences.
To ensure you receive communications that are relevant to your area, you can update your details at anytime.
If you have any questions about the type of communications we send, please email alumni@glasgow.ac.uk, and we'll be happy to help.
Contact Us
Retired Staff Association Convener: Professor John Coggins OBE FRSE FSB
For more information about the RSA, contact John Coggins at John.Coggins@glasgow.ac.uk and 07572813691.
To join the Retired Staff Association mailing list, please contact alumni@glasgow.ac.uk.
If you would like to know more about alumni activities at the University of Glasgow, please contact the Development and Alumni Office at alumni@glasgow.ac.uk.
Upcoming Events
GURSA Seminars 2026- GURSA Seminars 2026 to be held in the University of Glasgow Garscube Estate, Bearsden Road G61 1QH.
Wednesday 28 October 2026
We are delighted to invite you to a talk by Professor Jeff Kettle, Professor of Electronic Engineering, University of Glasgow, titled:
"Biodegradable Electronics"
Date: Wednesday 21 October 2026
Time: 2pm-3pm
Room: Lomond Room
Lecture Summary:
Professor Kettle's group focuses on improving the sustainability of electronics with a strong emphasis on enabling a circular economy. They undertake detailed life cycle assessment of electronic and photonic technologies and develop approaches to reduce environmental impact through design for reliability, recyclability and reuse. This includes the development of biodegradable and sustainable materials for substrates, interconnects and integrated circuits, as well as greener strategies for the recovery of critical raw materials from end-of-life devices.
For those unable to attend in person, you can join us virtually using the Teams link below:
Wednesday 11 November 2026
We are delighted to invite you to a talk by Dr. Stephen Leckey Lecturer in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, University of Glasgow, titled:
‘The Psychology Behind High Performance'
Date: Wednesday 11 November 2026
Time: 2pm-3pm
Room: Lomond Room
Lecture Summary:
In elite sport, the psychological demands of performing under pressure, responding to setbacks and consistently striving for excellence are central to success in high-performance environments. In this talk, we will explore the role of sport psychology in elite sport, examining how athletes develop the mental skills needed to thrive in demanding and often unforgiving competitive settings. Drawing on research and real-world examples, we will discuss concepts such as psychological flexibility, resilience, and adaptability. We will consider how learning to accept difficult thoughts and emotions, remain focused on what matters, and commit to valued action can enhance both performance and wellbeing. Through these insights, we will explore how athletes can pursue excellence while navigating the inevitable challenges that accompany elite competition.
Stephen's research focuses on the psychology of performance. He completed his PhD on Mental Toughness in Scottish Rugby, investigating why some athletes are better able to cope with pressure, setbacks and challenges than others. Stephen is interested in helping athletes, students and everyday people develop the psychological skills needed to thrive in demanding situations. He enjoys sharing sport science research with public audiences and exploring how lessons from elite sport can be applied to everyday life.
For those unable to attend in person, you can join us virtually using the Teams link below:
Visit to Pitlochry Festival Theatre: My Fair Lady
Date: Thursday 3 December 2026
Join us for a visit to the Pitlochry Festival Theatre to enjoy a performance of Lerner and Loewe's My Fair Lady, one of the most beloved musicals of all time.
Travel Arrangements
- Coach departs Milngavie at 8.30am
- Coach departs University of Glasgow (Medical School bus stop) at 9.00am
- Expected return to the University by 7.00pm
With book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe, My Fair Lady is adapted from George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and Gabriel Pascal's motion picture of the same name.
This exciting new revival will see Olivier Award-winning actor and director Maria Friedman direct Alan Cumming as the unforgettable Professor Henry Higgins.
Featuring the songs you know and love, this spectacular production combines humour, romance and timeless music in what is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicals ever written. With Alan Cumming taking on the iconic role of Higgins, this promises to be a truly memorable theatre experience.
Thanks to the generous support of the Ferguson Bequest, the cost of coach travel will be covered.
Cost
Participants will be asked to contribute £20 per person on the day towards their theatre ticket, which has a face value of £45.
There will be a coffee stop during the journey, and we will arrive in plenty of time for you to purchase lunch in the theatre restaurant before the performance.
Booking Information
Places are limited to 40 attendees and are expected to fill quickly. To reserve your place, please contact John Coggins at John.Coggins@glasgow.ac.uk or 07572 813691 as soon as possible.
Christmas Lunch at Ross Priory
Date: Thursday 10 December 2026
We are delighted to invite you to our annual Christmas Lunch at Ross Priory, set in the beautiful surroundings of Loch Lomond.
The coach will depart Milngavie at 10.00am and the University of Glasgow (Medical School bus stop) at 10.30am, arriving at Ross Priory at noon. Drinks will be served on arrival, followed by lunch at 1.00pm. We will leave Ross Priory at 3.30pm and expect to return to the University by approximately 5.00pm.
The cost of lunch is £35 per person, payable on the day. Drinks may be purchased separately from the bar at Ross Priory.
If you would like to attend, please contact John Coggins either by email at John.Coggins@glasgow.ac.uk or by phone on 07572 813691 to reserve your place.
We look forward to celebrating the festive season with you and enjoying an afternoon of good food, friendship, and conversation.
Past Event Recordings
'Why are re-wilding and nature restoration so controversial in Scotland?'
Lecture by Neil Metcalfe on Wednesday 7 October 2026
'Radar sensing in assisted living: an overview'
Lecture by Dr Julien Le Kernec on Wednesday 13 May 2026
Click here to watch the recording
Lecture by Professor Julie Fitzpatric on Wednesday 22 April 2026
Lecture by Dr Paul Skett on Wednesday 18 February 2026
Lecture by Professor Alan Wolstenholme on Thursday 15 January 2026.
Click here to watch the recording
Memorial Service for Dr. Des Gilmore
The service took place on Thursday 30th October at the University Chapel.
Click here to watch the recording.
'What Might Your DNA Sequence Reveal About Your Family History?'
Click here to watch the recording of this talk
'The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt: the secret life of a masterpiece'
Talk by Professor Anthony Payne
Click here to watch a recording of this talk.
'Healthy Ageing'
Professor Ronald Baxendale, Professor of Human Physiology in the School of Medicine
Click here to watch a recording of this talk.
'Obesity in the UK: causes, consequences and potential solutions'
Professor Naveed Sattar, Professor of Cardiometabolic Medicine at the University
Click here to watch a recording of this talk.
"A changing society| A changing university| A changing university Museum"
Mr Steph Scholten, University of Glasgow Steph Scholten is the director of the Hunterian at the Univerity of Glasgow.
Click here to watch a recording of this talk.
"Dinosaurs: Thinking about the development of real paleoscience alongside the weird stories we tell about prehistoric life in books and on film."
Dr. Will Tattersdill, University of Glasgow
Dr Will Tattersdill is a Senior Lecturer in Literature and Contemporary Fantasy Cultures at the University of Glasgow.
Click here to watch a recording of this talk.
"Delivering Climate Neutral Districts - a sustainable vision for organisations and communities."
Dr. Roddy Yarr, University of Strathclyde
Climate change is an issue for the whole of society and one that brings with it significant challenges. This presentation describes an innovative vision that uses a ‘whole systems’ approach to develop climate projects that will develop 100% renewable heat, power, transport, adaptation and wellbeing solutions that are socially inclusive and involve local communities. The solutions identified aim to directly engage with and solve the challenges faced in becoming climate neutral at scale and at speed. The projects are multi stakeholder and collaborative and present a coherent way to tackle this societal challenge in a way that not only thinks about the infrastructure changes needed but also consider the need for social justice.
Dr Roddy Yarr is Executive Lead for Sustainability at Strathclyde University and responsible for the development and delivery of climate change and social responsibility initiatives that address the University’s response to net zero and sustainability issues across the whole University. Roddy also advises the Sustainable Glasgow Partnership Group and is on the board of Climate Ready Clyde and the Clyde Climate Forest Programme Group. He also leads the Clyde Mission ‘Net Zero’ Group that is seeking to decarbonise the Clyde Corridor. He is an external advisor on the Scottish Parliament’s Sustainability Board.
Click here to see the slides from this talk.
"Nanotechnology: From Transistors to Healthcare & Quantum Technology"
Professor Douglas Paul, Professor of Semiconductor Devices, University of Glasgow
Nanotechnology is now a technology used in many items that are around the home and used in everyday life. This talk will present some of the present areas of nanotechnology and in particular quantum technologies that are being researched to help improve communications and the internet, to improve the resilience of navigation and through magnetic imaging of the brain aid the understanding and treatment of dementia. The potential impacts to society will be discussed along with the timescales for the technologies to become available. The talk will also highlight many of the companies working in Scotland and the UK that are delivering nanotechnology products to users around the globe.
Click here to watch a recording of this talk.
“Mapping Myths: Captain Cook and his explorations in search of the fantastic Great Southern Continent”
Vanessa Collingridge, Author and Broadcaster.
Captain James Cook is widely regarded as one of the most brilliant scientific navigators in the history of exploration. Between 1768 and 1779, he sailed a distance equivalent to travelling to the moon, charting around a third of the map of the world we know today. His primary goal was to go in search of Terra Australis Incognita - the mythical Great Southern Continent. Instead, he found a shocking, frozen wasteland - now called the Antarctic - and radically transformed the West’s understanding of the nature of the world.
Click here to watch a recording of this talk.
"St Andrew's Clinics for Children: Founded at UofG 30 years ago and still going strong?"
Professor John Briggs Emeritus, Professor of Geography University of Glasgow.
STACC was established in 1992 by staff at the University of Glasgow with the mission of supporting clinics in sub-Saharan Africa to deliver primary health care to children in some of the poorest parts of the continent. Over the years since 1992, over 1.6 million African children have received treatments due to the generosity of its donors and supporters, and it has been able to support the work of clinics in Ghana, Kenya Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Uganda.
Link to web site: https://www.standrewsclinics.org.uk/
Click here to watch a recording of this talk.
“Improving the economic and environmental sustainability of a Scottish Hill Farm”
This talk from Dr John Holland, Upland Ecologist at Scotland's Rural University College, looks at how SRUC is trying to improve both the economic and environmental sustainability of their hill farm at Kirkton and Auchtertyre, near Crianlarich, which is essential for its survival as a working farm and research centre.
Click here to watch a recording of this talk.
Supplementary Links
- Virtual tour of SRUC Kirkton and Auchentyre farms
- Virtual tour of Kirkton Agri-environmental Management
- Virtual tour of Kirkton History and Archaeology
- Virtual tour of Ecosystem Services from Kirkton and Auchtertyre Glens
- Virtual tours of five SEFARI Research Farms (including SRUC’s Kirkton & Auctertyre, and Crichton Royal Farms)
Using Microsoft Teams
Here are some of our top tips for using Microsoft Teams, to get the most out of your virtual RSA events.
Joining a meeting
Muting and unmuting yourself
Press the microphone symbol to mute and unmute yourself. If the microphone has a red line through it you are muted, and no one in the meeting can hear you. If the microphone doesn't have a line through it, you are not muted, and other participants can hear you. Your camera can be controlled in the same way. If the video camera icon has a red line through it, your camera is off and participants can't see you, if the video camera doesn't have a line through it your camera is on and other participants can see you.
Clubs
A number of University Clubs are open to retired staff:
- Staff Angling Club
- Staff Bowls Club
- Chess Club
- Staff Cricket Club
- Golf Club
- Staff Tennis Club
See also the University Events List.