A lot has changed since John Napier was born in the tower at Merchiston Castle in 1550, during turbulent times for Scotland.
Times are still a little turbulent… but what would Napier think of our modern-day university campuses?
As you may know, Edinburgh Napier has 3 campus locations – at Merchiston, Craiglockhart and Sighthill. Not long after being renamed Edinburgh Napier university in 2009 (previously Napier University), the University opened its brand new £60m Sighthill campus in 2011.
Sighthill Campus, photograph from Edinburgh Napier Image Bank
Situated in the west of Edinburgh, sights of Sighthill include Burton’s biscuit company, Edinburgh Beer Factory, Edinburgh College and of course our own Edinburgh Napier Sighthill Campus.
More than 5000 students choose to study at Sighthill campus, which houses the School of Health and Social Care (SHSC) and the School of Applied Sciences (SAS).
Applied sciences courses include Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Marine Biology and Conservation, as well as Sport Sciences, Social Sciences, Psychology, Policing and Careers Guidance. Facilities include Sport and exercise science labs, biotech labs and an environmental chamber to simulate high altitude conditions!
Health and Social care courses include Nursing, Midwifery, Allied Health professions and Social Work, as well as Health & Social Care Sciences. Step inside and you’ll find a 1000 sq metre Clinical skills centre with hospital wards, where students can treat ‘patients’ in a life-like setting.
https://www.napier.ac.uk/about-us/our-location/our-campuses/sighthill
Nursing, photograph from Edinburgh Napier Image Bank
The opening of the 2011 Sighthill campus, with its brand new 5 storey Learning Resource Centre library, meant the bringing together of staff from a number of small ‘school of health’ libraries at Livingston St John’s hospital, Canaan Lane campus which was on the grounds of the Astley Ainslie Hospital and Comely Bank campus which was situated within the Western General Hospital’s grounds.
However, Edinburgh Napier was present at Sighthill long before 2011!
Sighthill Campus was originally opened in 1968 as custom-built accommodation for Edinburgh College of Commerce. The Edinburgh Corporation established the college in 1966 and subjects taught here would have included management and business studies – which you will now find at Craiglockhart campus!
In 1974, Edinburgh College of Commerce was amalgamated with Napier College of Science & Technology – and Napier College of Commerce & Technology was born. In 1986, Napier College became Napier Polytechnic, and then Napier University in 1992.
Notably, in 1984, her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Duke of Edinburgh came to Sighthill campus to open the newly refurbished library! The library was given the apt name of ‘The Queens Library’.
Queen Elizabeth II opened Sighthill Library
Our present-day Sighthill LRC has a range of study environments fit for any royalty 👑 👑 👑!.
Across 5 floors, we have around 300 networked computers, spaces for laptops, study booths and collaborative desks for group work.
Our book collections are spread across the 3rd and 4th floors, with group study rooms, silent study areas and a relaxation space also available.
You can also borrow laptops from our LapSafe or ask for help at our Help Desk on LRC2.
Want to know more? Find out here.
Sources:
https://www.napier.ac.uk/about-us/our-history
https://www.napier.ac.uk/about-us/our-location/our-campuses/sighthill
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_Napier_University
https://my.napier.ac.uk/library/about-the-library/sighthill
Seath, G. (2017). Beyond Logarithms & Bones: A short history of John Napier and his legacy.
The Napier Estate : past and present. (2007). Napier University.
By Judy Wheeler
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