Past News 2016 Read all about graduate, student and staff achievements – and find out more about the top University news stories – throughout 2016, by clicking on the appropriate title below. If you have a query about a previous news item, or would like to suggest a story for the current news section, please contact Communications Officer, Gerry Power, at editor@qub.ac.uk. For archive news stories from previous years please click here. David Park - The Truth Commissioner An adaptation of a highly acclaimed novel by 1975 Queen’s BA graduate David Park, was screened on BBC 2 on Sunday 13 March. BACK TO TOP 'Remembering Brian Friel' Queen’s has been presented with a portrait of honorary graduate, Brian Friel by his widow Anne, at a special event held at the University last week (10.03.16). BACK TO TOP 'The Man Who Captured Washington' A major new work on the impact of Northern Ireland on American history has just been published by 1980s Queen's graduate John McCavitt. BACK TO TOP Rag Day students sought from 45 years ago! Were you at Queen’s in the early 1970s? Did you dress up, throw flour or rattle a tin to raise money for good causes on Rag Day 1971? If so, BBC NI needs your help! BACK TO TOP Breakthrough in identification of 'legal highs' Chemists from Queen’s have developed a new approach which allows for more rapid screening and identification of ‘legal highs’. BACK TO TOP First female to lead top-flight law firm in Northern Ireland A Queen’s 1990 graduate, Catriona Gibson, head of dispute resolution at law firm Arthur Cox, has been appointed as its managing partner. BACK TO TOP New President of Irish Hotels Federation is Queen's graduate Joseph Dolan, a 1985 Queen’s PhD graduate from Co Leitrim, has been appointed President of the Irish Hotels Federation for two years. BACK TO TOP Year-end planning? Will do... At this time of the year, people start getting their tax affairs in order and alumni may be considering making or updating a will or leaving a gift to Queen’s. And in that regard, your University is here to help! BACK TO TOP Queen's in world's first trial of new prostate cancer treatment A major trial of a possible new life-saving treatment for prostate cancer is being led by Queen’s in partnership with the Belfast Trust. BACK TO TOP Queen's receives Royal award for cyber security A major hub for research and innovation in cyber security has received a prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education. BACK TO TOP Queen's announces 2016 Honorary Graduates Leaders from business, science and the arts from Northern Ireland and around the world are included in this year’s list of Queen’s honorary graduates. BACK TO TOP €4.8m UniServer project underway The largest local project funded by Horizon 2020 – the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever developed – is underway at Queen’s. BACK TO TOP Queen's scientists hunt for gravitational waves Scientists from Queen’s are leading the hunt for the source of gravitational waves, the discovery of which is being heralded as the most important breakthrough in physics for decades. BACK TO TOP Mr Justice Colton becomes presiding judge of Coroners' Court High Court judge and Queen’s LLB graduate Mr Justice AdrianColton, has taken charge of Northern Ireland's Coroners’ Service. BACK TO TOP Queen's signs student accommodation deal for 1,200 places Queen's has signed an agreement with property firm McAleer and Rushe to develop 1,200 city centre student accommodation places. BACK TO TOP Women in Business elects new Chair Belfast solicitor and Queen’s alumna Imelda McMillan has been elected chair of Women in Business, the local network for femaleentrepreneurs and business leaders. BACK TO TOP Queen's Annual Fund awards ceremony Over £60k was presented to various student and student-related projects at the Queen’s Annual Fund awards ceremony on 03 February. BACK TO TOP Critically acclaimed Educating Rita star is alumna Kerri Quinn Currently wowing audiences for her role in Educating Rita at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast is Queen’s drama graduate Kerri Quinn. BACK TO TOP New look Donor News reveals impact of University supporters Donor News, the new look and retitled publication for the University’s donors and volunteers, has been issued to 7,000 Queen’s supporters worldwide. BACK TO TOP International Sports Court appointment Professor Jack Anderson from Queen’s School of Law, has been appointed as an arbitrator to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which is based in Switzerland. BACK TO TOP Reunion marks 1965 Queen's expedition to South Morocco A 2,500 mile overland trek to the remote deserts of Southern Morocco – 50 years ago – was celebrated by a group of Queen’s graduates last September. BACK TO TOP Ian Beattie MBE Queen's graduate, Rotarian and lifelong Unilever employee Ian Beattie was recognised in the latest New Year Honours for his services to charity and to his local community in the Bristol area. BACK TO TOP Queen's researchers help sequence first ancient Irish human genomes Work carried out to sequence the first ancient human genomes from Ireland, shows that early Irish farmers were similar to southern Europeans. BACK TO TOP Queen's alumna and DUP leader Arlene Foster becomes First Minister History was made today (11.01.16) when Arlene Foster, Queen’s graduate and former solicitor became Northern Ireland’s First Minister. BACK TO TOP Top of Page