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Pets of the Library

07/08/2025 / julietkinsey / 0 Comments

Pets of the Library

With International Cat and Dog Day coming up this month, we decided to celebrate all the pets of the Library. Inclusivity for pets, too, we say! So it is my genuine honour to introduce you to just a wee scattering of the lovely animals we share our lives with.

Smokey

“He is a very good boy.” Jane Haigh

First up is Smokey the Syrian hamster. He is nearly 2 years old and the pet of Jane, our Learning and Research Services Manager. Smokey is in tune with his health and well-being, so his favourite snack is broccoli. Take note, kids, healthy eating is for all species. He also loves cuddles, which we all know releases endorphins. I think I may have found my next wellness influencer in Smokey.

Luffy and Maggie

Gina is excited to introduce her fluffy babies, Luffy and Maggie. Their hobbies include balcony time and getting treats from the neighbours. It’s good to be sociable. Both kitties are 2 years old. Luffy is a stubborn but loveable little brute who loves to torment their owners by knocking over the water fountain. Water for all, says Luffy! Maggie, on the other hand, is a little Romanian princess who loves a nap in the sun. A lady knows what she likes. She is also in the running for the highest-pitched meow in a teeny kitty. New Olympics category, anyone?

Georgie and Ed

Next up are Kieran’s companions, Georgie (the Collie dog) and Ed (the cat). Ed has been with Kieran for just over 8 years now, and Georgie coming up to 2 years. Like any siblings, they have good days and bad days with each other. Ed is a bit of an older sister and gets sick of Georgie’s excitement at times. Ed is a cool cat and likes the chill, whereas Georgie, being a collie, is desperate to be best friends. It’s tough having different personalities in a family, but they love each other nonetheless. A shout-out to all the siblings out there who get this!

Kieran put it best, saying:

“Both are amazing animals, but with very different temperaments. He’s very excitable, she isn’t. He’s young, she’s old. He loves his toys, but she prefers boxes. He will eat anything (we have to be careful where we leave our snacks), but she’s incredibly fussy. She puts him in his place – fair enough, she’s a lot smaller than he is, and he is pretty irrepresible at times…But more to the point, they have enriched our lives in so many ways. We’re lucky to have them in our lives and, despite the stresses (looking at you in particular, Georgie!), we love them both deeply.”

Well, I have all the feels <3

Luna

Luna is the family dog of Vivienne. She is a rescue Jack Russell/chihuahua cross. She is a shy girl around strangers but adores being with her family. Luna likes eating, sleeping in the sunshine, chasing squirrels and barking. Get those pesky squirrels, Luna, get ’em! Sounds like a lovely life. Luna is one of the few puppies out there who isn’t into walkies and sniffing other dogs. She’s a homegirl, and darn right, it’s the best place to be. All the scratchies for our girl Luna.

Shout out to all the lovely folks out there re-homing pets. Why not support our very own Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home if you can?

Brindle and Zap

Now to my lovely girls. Brindle and Zap the Super Cat (full name), comic book pending.

Zap is our newest family member, and she is the light of our universe. She’s 2 years old and still everyone’s baby kitty yumyum face. Yes, that’s what we call her, no, I am not ashamed. She is a sleek black kitty cat who likes to hide under blankets and scare the life out of you when you try to go to bed. We call her the Ninja, and as a Halloween kitty, that works well with her vibe. She also enjoys attending most online meetings and standing on the keyboard at inconvenient moments.

To quote Zap, “lCUHSDUJDKFHWO3I092QWpa08923740&*£$^%$” I’m sure you can all agree with that statement. We’ve all been in those meetings…

Brindle is both my fluffy fuzzy baby AND an Elder Queen of Cats at the ripe old age of 17 this year. She is a regal Siberian from the frozen tundra who likes to be left the hell alone by everyone but me. Something I am eternally proud of and am considering putting on my CV. She will not eat any food that she senses may have hidden plans to help her; she knows the vet is out to get her and will not take her medicine. She has zero time for Zap and will regularly bop her on the head if Zap is foolish enough to be walking past. Maybe that’s why Zap has developed such good Ninja skills? Her main hobby is sleeping and looking at me with annoyance if I try to leave a room, as I cannot be left unattended. Trust issues, no doubt stemming from all the medicine I keep trying to hide in her food.

Cooper

Our last lovely chap is Cooper. Maya’s family dog. Cooper is a Vizsla with Rizz.

Cooper puts us all to shame with his recent sportsdogmanship, winning the top Dog category in a 6-mile fun run…go Cooper! Admittedly, he was the only dog competing, but a win is a win, Coop!

Cooper’s hobbies include chasing stuff, most any stuff, including bubbles, despite the dangers of landing in burns (that’s a Scottish term for a small stream to you non-Scots folk, don’t worry).

Cooper is very Loud and unaware that he is very loud. Something I can empathise with. He also loves cuddles despite being a big boy and has acquired the nickname Velcro Vizsla from his loved ones. Lovely to meet you, Cooper!

That’s the first installment of pets of the library. Hopefully, we will be able to let you meet some more lovely animals in the future.

Read more about past pets of the Library in our articles on Cats and Dogs in the Library

Also, check our LibrarySearch.napier.ac.uk for resources we have available on animals.

By Juliet Kinsey

All pet photos copyright of their owners

Friendship Day

31/07/2025 / mayagreen / 0 Comments

Friendship Day

Yesterday was Friendship Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the importance of friendship in all its forms. We know how hard it can be to make new friends when you go to university. And we understand how important friends can be for getting you through your studies. For that reason, we thought we’d just take some time today to talk a little about the different ways the university can support you in making new friends once you start your studies here.

Once you become a student at Edinburgh Napier you are also welcomed into the Edinburgh Napier Students Association (ENSA), our student union. Here you’ll find the student clubs and societies at the university. They are also responsible for organising student-centric events at the university. You can learn more about the students union at their website, ENSA Home.

ENSA

>Joining a club or society is a fantastic way to make new friends at university. It gives you a chance to meet other students who have some of your same interests. I can speak from personal experience and say that the greatest friends I made at university, the ones I still keep in touch with today, are the friends I made through joining different clubs related to my hobbies.
>When the new academic year begins, ENSA will host a range of events throughout the first week. They are designed to welcome new students to the university and help them get to know other students in their cohort. You can find the events list on the ENSA website at Edinburgh Napier Welcome Week 2025. Here is a full list of events being added at the start of August.

The Napier Friendship Club is organised by the Visa and International Support team as a way of helping students to find and make friends with other members of the university, with a particular emphasis on helping our international students to find community as they arrive in the country. The club organise events throughout the academic year. So if you’re looking to make friends at university why don’t you email friends@napier.ac.uk to find out what they have planned for the coming school year.

Whether you’re a new student joining us or a returning student, we hope you feel welcome here at Napier. And that some of the information provided can help you build a strong friend group during your studies.

By Matthew Ferrie

Lughnasa Celtic Harvest Festival

31/07/2025 / julietkinsey / 0 Comments

Lughnasa Celtic Harvest Festival

Lughnasa is one of four traditional Celtic harvest festivals. It happens at the end of summer when the grains are ripening, but have not yet been harvested. Usually celebrated on the 1st of August, it marks the end of summer and the beginning of the second half of the year. It occurs halfway between the summer solstice and autumn equinox.

A History of Lughnasa

Lughnasa is an ancient Gaelic holiday, said to be in honour of the pagan god Lugh, and his mother Tailtiu. As well as the usual traditions of feasting and gathering, it is believed that this was when the Tailteann Games were held. Games included “the long jump, high jump, running, hurling, spear throwing, boxing, contests in swordfighting, archery, wrestling, swimming, and chariot and horse racing. They also included competitions in strategy, singing, dancing and story-telling, along with crafts competitions for goldsmiths, jewellers, weavers and armourers.”[Source]

Lughnasa is still celebrated today in Ireland as a holiday. It includes music, dancing, stories and crafts. Furthermore, One modern-day legacy of Lughnasa is “Reek Sunday”. This involves climbing up a mountain or hill. In Ireland, many people climb up Croagh Patrick in Co. Mayo., also known as “the Reek” hence the name “Reek Sunday.”

The Myth

The myth that the Lughnasa Celtic Harvest Festival is based on, according to Máire MacNeill, who wrote on it back in 1962 is the following:

“[it involves] a struggle for the harvest between Lugh and Crom Dubh, another mythical god who stores the grain, which Lugh seizes for humanity. Often, this is portrayed as a struggle for ‘Eithne,’ a woman who symbolizes the grain. Also, Lugh combats and destroys another figure representing blight. ‘Óenach Tailten’ or ‘Aonach Tailteann’ was a ceremony held during Lughnasadh in commemoration of Tailtiu [Lugh’s mother].” Source

The four feast days

As well as Lughnasa, there is Samhain, Imbolg and Beltane. These are all based on the harvest periods and seasons. Samhain is celebrated on the 31st of October and is linked to Halloween celebrations. People leave gifts for the dead to appease their spirits and festivities and bonfires are often lit. Imbolc or Imbolg is celebrated on the 1st of February and is a lesser know celebration. It marks the beginning of spring and rebirth of the land. The final festival, and a very big one for Edinburgh is Beltane. It happens on the first of May and involves a lot of dancing and bonfires. Why not visit Edinburgh this year and attend our Beltain event on the top of Carlton Hill.

Read more on Scottish history at librarysearch.napier.ac.uk

By Juliet Kinsey

Photo by Polina Rytova on Unsplash

Read more on Scottish history and Festivals with articles on:

The Edinburgh Festival

Sighthill Campus Library

27/07/2025 / mayagreen / 0 Comments

Sighthill Campus Library

At the start of 2011 we opened our newest campus building in Sighthill just to the west of Edinburgh city centre, and for the past fourteen years it has been the home of our School of Health and Social Care, and the School of Applied Sciences, providing our students with a state-of-the-art learning environment and research centres where they can perfect their skills and conduct important research into their field.

Sighthill Campus

The Sighthill Campus can be found at 9 Sighthill Court, in the suburb of Sighthill, just off Calder Road and right next to Sighthill public park. Which makes us neighbours with the Sighthill campus of Edinburgh College!
You can easily reach the campus through several different Lothian bus routes, with bus stops located right next to and across the road from the campus. You can reach the campus through the number 3, 21, 25, 32, 34, and 36 bus routes, with the number 36 bus serving all of our campuses across the city.
The campus is also only a short walk away from Edinburgh Park train station, or you can catch the above-mentioned buses from either Haymarket or Edinburgh Waverly. We are also only a short walk away from the Bankhead tram stop.
With all these options, there’s really no excuse to not pay us a visit.

The Sighthill Campus itself is divided into separate “blocks” numbered A to F, with each block being based around a particular service.
The A block is the atrium, the main entrance area, where you’ll find the canteen, espresso lab and some areas for you to sight and socialise with friends.
The B block has the offices, where you’ll find the support and administrative teams, such as the finance team, international support, and offices for the School of Health and Social Care and the School of Applied Sciences.
In the C block you’ll find our specialist teaching departments (more on those later!)
D block has our lecture theatres and class rooms.
E is for the Learning Resource Centre, the campus library.
And F is for the sports building (You’ll be hearing more on that later too!)
Each room number will include the letter for which block it is. So if you’re told to go to room 4.E.13, you’ll know it’s on the fourth floor of the library in room thirteen.

You can learn more about the layout of the building, along with a guide to disability access points, at Sighthill Building | AccessAble.

At Sighthill, you’ll find our most modern campus building, boasting specialised laboratories and our very impressive Simulation and Clinical Skills Centre, a facility that simulates different healthcare working environments to give the students of our school of health and social care a taste of what they can expect once they enter their careers, and a chance to practice their skills in a controlled setting.
For our School of Applied Sciences we have laboratories focusing on research into the Biological Sciences, Social Sciences, and Sports Sciences. These include facilities and equipment for research into microbiology and biomedicine, as well as labs that allow for practical psychology studies with interview rooms and equipment for testing perception and eye tracking. Of particular note, we also have an environmental performance laboratory that can be used to simulate different climate conditions for research into how extreme weather conditions effect human physiology.

Sighthill Campus Library

On campus you can also find our Sighthill Learning Resource Centre, 5 storeys tall and taking up the E block of the building. On the first floor you’ll find a café and area for group study and socialisation. The second floor has our library help desk for any enquiries you might have, as well as computers for you to use and the lapsafe if you need to borrow a laptop to help with your studies. The third and fourth floors are silent study areas that have our collection of books. On the fifth floor you’ll find the Horizon Suite, one of our Sighthill conference venues, which can accommodate over one hundred people, gets plenty of sunlight, and has a great view of the surrounding area. Also on the fifth floor is some more study rooms.
You can learn more about the learning resources on offer in the library at Sighthill Learning Resource Centre.

In addition to our research facilities, our Sighthill campus also offers a café on the first floor of the library right next to the entrance, as well as a canteen in the atrium and the Sighthill Espresso Lab for if you want a coffee on your way to class. We also have the ENGAGE Fitness centre, a gym that is open to staff and students as well as members of the public. At ENGAGE you’ll find equipment for cardio and weightlifting exercises, including Olympic weightlifting platforms and a sports hall that can be booked for activities such as badminton. There is also personal trainers available to support you while you’re there.

We’ll be looking forward to welcoming any new students to the Sighthill campus in the coming academic year, and we hope that with this blog post you’ll be able to find your way around a little easier!

By Matthew Ferrie

Read all about Craiglockhart library

Spotlight on Craiglockhart Library

23/07/2025 / julietkinsey / 0 Comments

Spotlight on Craiglockhart Library

Craiglockhart Library is the library for the Business School. Here you will find books covering a range of business topics such as leadership, marketing and law. The library is located in the basement of the campus, down the stairs leading off the foyer.

General

As you reach the bottom of the stairs and before you access the library you will see a whiteboard with information about upcoming library events. Just inside the entrance we have a display table for promotions such as Love your Library and Pride and a stand with the QR code for booking a library tour.

Stock

Print books are stocked in 2 main areas – main stock, which is the largest section and the law section which can be found in the Law Hub.

We have a small number of print journals and DVDs following on from the end of the main stock. Back issues of the Financial Times are held there too.

Our Wellbeing collection has books on subjects such as anxiety, sexuality, exam stress etc.

Study spaces

There are a variety of different spaces for studying in the library. There are group study rooms which are bookable, collaborative desks and booths which are first come first served, a silent study room and a quiet study room. One of our group study rooms is a family room with books and toys for small children.

Services provided

Pcs, some with dual screens and a small number of Macs. Assistive technology PC.

Power for laptops and charging.

Lapsafe for self-service laptop loans.

Click and Collect shelf for requested items. Self-service kiosk for issuing and returning books.

Printers.

Helpdesk

At the library helpdesk we can assist with connecting Eduroam, the university recommended network

using the lapsafe

directional queries

advice on long term laptop loans

issuing inter library loans and you can also collect your print services requests from here. Also a range of ergonomic equipment such as keyboard, mouse and headphones can be borrowed from here.

Wellbeing

Along with our Wellbeing Collection of books, there is a relaxation space for you to take time out from your studies. Books, games, origami paper and colouring sheets are provided. There are also tables for completing jigsaws.

War Poets Collection

At present, the collection and exhibits do not have a curator, but library staff can offer a limited amount of assistance regarding the collection.

We hope to see you soon at Craiglockhart library!

By Vivienne Hamilton

Read more about the library here

Support for Exams during the Summer 2025

14/07/2025 / mayagreen / 0 Comments

Support for Exams during the Summer 2025

It’s summertime – yay! For most of our student community at Edinburgh Napier University, exams and assignment deadlines will be over and out of the way for now. Nevertheless, whether it’s resits or Trimester 3 exams, some of our students may still have upcoming exams and tests to sit during these summer months. No matter what time of year it is as well, exams and upcoming finals can always be extremely daunting. Nevertheless, our campus libraries are still open over the summer with a varied abundance of resources and services to support and assist you with exam revision and preparation for any upcoming exams and finals you may have. The best part – all resources and services alluded to in this article, as well as exam revision tips, will be both relevant and accessible all year round.

Our Libguide and Libcal

Our detailed LibGuide can be found and accessed through our My Napier webpages and cover all schools, with detailed subject guides for Arts and Creative Industries, Applied Sciences, Health and Social Care, The Business School and Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment. It also has sections about referencing, utilising reading lists, an A-Z list of databases and literature reviewing to assist you with these elements of your revision and research as well. There is even a section on how to measure your research performance. You can also access our Wellbeing Collection guide through our Libguide as well, which includes resources with various tips regarding how to manage stress, eat well, stay organised and tackle procrastination – if applied, these are all extremely helpful when it comes to exam revision!

Training and Events

You may notice on the front page of our LibGuide that we also have a link which takes you to our Training and Events Calendar. Our information services team regularly run a variety of training events and workshops on areas such as literature searching, learning technologies, copyright and publishing, referencing and getting started with the library sessions, to name a few. They are mainly run by our subject librarians, learning technologists and academic skills team – all of whom are extremely helpful and more than happy to answer any questions you may have. If you feel that you would perhaps benefit from one-to-one support, you can also book a personal appointment with one of our academic skills advisors through our My Napier webpages or alternatively one of our subject librarians by emailing library@napier.ac.uk. Each of our subject librarians also has specialisms in specific subjects and schools at Edinburgh Napier, so you may well be referred to one which can help you with search queries and referencing relevant to your school or specialism!

Study Spaces and Resources

All bookable study rooms and spaces can be booked through Resource Booker or by emailing library@napier.ac.uk.

If you need a quiet space to study for exams without distraction, or alternatively, a space to collaborate about an upcoming exam with friends or course mates, our three campus libraries have spaces tailored to any of these specific needs regarding your preferred study environment. All study spaces have PCS, which are free for students and staff to use, some of which also have dual monitors as well should a bit of multitasking be required. We also have MFDs for printing, scanning and copying in each campus library, which you can use by scanning your student card on the machine once you have sent your documents to the printer through one of our PCs or through Papercut. This application can be found in your student account and the My Napier app. Do not worry if you do not have your physical student card on you as well – all MFDs can also be manually logged into if needed. More information about our three campus libraries and study spaces can be found in our My Napier webpages in our About the Library section.

Borrowing Items

Each campus library also has a varied abundance of books and resources, which are tailored to meet the research needs of all schools at Edinburgh Napier University. Once borrowed, all books will automatically renew for up to four months unless they are requested by another patron, in which case you will receive an email asking you to return the book 7 days from when this email is sent. Many of our books can also be accessed online as eBooks. Should it be the case that we do not have a physical copy available, you are unable to come to campus to retrieve the physical version, or even if it is down to personal preference. All the physical resources and eBooks we have in stock can be found and requested through LibrarySearch.

Inter Library Loans

Can’t find the book that you need for your exam research and studies? We also have a Inter Library Loans service where we can request a book that you need from another library that we do not have within our own stock, then pick it up from us once it has arrived at one of our campus libraries. You can also access the Inter Library Loan request form through LibrarySearch as well.

All of our campus libraries also host our varied Research Collection with a range of resources covering basic research and referencing skills as well as study skills relevant to specific subjects and schools. Our Wellbeing Collection, on the other hand, has a range of resources which can provide advice regarding how to manage stress (because we all know exam season is a stressful time), how to eat well and how to optimise energy levels and motivation when revising to get the results that you want.

Recommendations

Here are some recommendations from both collections from us!

Stay balanced while you study: Make the most of your student experience, Thompson, Dominique, author. 2020. Available at Merchiston and Craiglockhart Campus Libraries.
Pass your exam, Anderson, Lorraine, 1964- author.; Spark, Gordon, author. 2020. Available at All Campus Libraries.
Ace your exam, Northedge, Andrew, author. 2021. Available at All Campus Libraries and Online.

by Rachel Downie

Image: Photo by Julia M Cameron from Pexels

The Filmhouse Re-Opens

11/07/2025 / mayagreen / 0 Comments

The Filmhouse Re-Opens

Rejoice as the Filmhouse re-opens.

After a three-year closure due to pre-existing financial issues combined with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Edinburgh cinematic institution The Filmhouse reopened on Friday, the 27^th of June. Due to a combination of business backing, government grants, crowdfunding and protests, the Filmhouse has finally rejoined Edinburgh’s cultural firmament.

Originally built as a Presbyterian church in the 19^th century, the Filmhouse became Edinburgh’s first dedicated arthouse cinema in 1979. The area around it on Lothian Road is a major thoroughfare, known for a ‘lively’ nighttime scene. It has long been a significant spot for culture – The Usher Hall (which also hosts Napier graduations), the Lyceum, the Traverse, as well as sadly departed music venues like Henry’s Cellar Bar and The Citrus Club.

In its new incarnation, the building has undergone comprehensive renovation inside, with all three cinema screens refurbished. The largest screen, cinema 1, now looks better than ever. The much-loved café also returns, as well as spaces for film education. On that last point: Edinburgh film-maker Charlotte Wells (best known as the director of Aftersun), in an interview with Sight and Sound, described the crucial role of the Filmhouse in her artistic education:

When I was about 14, I took part in an Ideas Factory competition where we had to pitch an idea for a short documentary; I pitched one about female footballers and got an opportunity to meet Nick Broomfield, who did a masterclass, and Mark Cousins. Through that, I found a place on the Filmhouse’s Scottish Kids Are Making Movies (SKAMM) initiative…Discovering what it felt like to point the camera wherever you wanted to shoot, and to work collaboratively, was a very early introduction to filmmaking, which was like any art form when I grew up – it was not considered a viable career. SKAMM provided a vision of filmmaking as a possibility. As did walking through the Filmhouse doors every Saturday morning.

Cinemas are palaces of dreams – intimate places, where people gather to see the vision of a director and the collective work of a cast and crew manifested on the big screen. You can watch pictures from a range of time periods, nationalities, big names and small names, the established classic (the Filmhouse’s first screening on re-opening was Cinema Paradiso), as well as the up-and-coming creative force (it is back as the main host of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, which is primarily focused on new work). They are also, of course, places for communities to come together, to celebrate culture and to thrive. Edinburgh – like any city – needs this. Support it if you can.

by Kieran Curran

Photo by Jeremy Yap

Keep the cinematic flow, we have a post on how Barbie conquered the cinema world of 2023

Green and Sustainability Libraries

10/07/2025 / mayagreen / 0 Comments

Green and Sustainability Libraries

Libraries are perfect hubs for green and sustainability awareness. Filled with information and resources, but also play a role in being environmentally conscious.

Green and Sustainability at Edinburgh Napier Library

Academic books can go out of date, particularly in computing, health and sciences. Do you ever wonder what happens with these? We donate our outdated stock to Better World Books. Better World Books is a “for-profit social-minded business that collects and sells books online with each sale generating funds for literacy initiatives around the world”. Books typically go to landfills, but Better World Books sells these books, with profits funding library programmes. If books are not able to make a sale, they are recycled and used for animal bedding.

We have reduced our physical footprint, with more digitisation and e-resources to save paper and trees.

Green and Sustainability at Edinburgh Napier.

At the university, we are committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as well as Scotland’s National Performance Framework. Much of our research and curriculum is dedicated to the SDG14, there are embedded toolkits and case studies that are available for academics to frame their programmes to meet these. In the School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment, sustainable construction is focused on heavy.

On top of this, we have made strides from biodiversity to reducing waste. 80% of our waste is recycled, while the remaining 20% is used for fuel production. All our campuses and accommodation’s energy usage is monitored, and LED lighting is used throughout.

Did you know that Craiglockhart campus contains around 50 different plant species, which include a rare fungus and a yellow barista. We also have the Lion Gates Garden that sits just outside Merchiston Library, or you can take part in a gardening club at Sighthill. And we are proud that all our campuses are hedgehog-friendly.

Green Libraries

Upon reading for this article, I stumbled across the Warsaw University Library, and I helped myself not to talk about it. It is one of the most impressive green libraries, is Warsaw University library. To such an extent that it has become a major tourist attraction in the city. In 2002, a garden was opened on the University of Warsaw library’s rooftop. It is one of Europe’s largest rooftop gardens. The garden is divided into two sections: the lower section and the upper section. The lower section even includes a fish pond that ducks have taken kindly to. It is open to the public from April to October, and it’s a must-visit if you’re ever in Warsaw.

Read about International Forest Day that happened earlier this year.

Discovering the Future: Research at Edinburgh Napier University

05/07/2025 / julietkinsey / 0 Comments

Discovering the Future: Research at Edinburgh Napier University

When you think of cutting-edge research, you might picture sprawling labs, scientists in white coats, and complex algorithms running on glowing screens. You’ll find all that—and much more—at Edinburgh Napier University (ENU).

Whether it’s developing AI systems to solve real-world problems, helping veterans reintegrate into civilian life, or leading the charge in sustainable construction, ENU is quietly making a big impact. It’s not just a place to study—it’s a place where ideas come to life.

Let’s take a look at some of the exciting research happening across the university—and how you can get involved.

Research with Purpose

One of the things that makes research at ENU so dynamic is its clear focus on real-world challenges. The university’s work is guided by four key themes:

AI & Advanced Technologies
Health
Culture & Communities
Environment

These aren’t just buzzwords. They shape everything from collaborative projects to the kinds of PhDs being offered. You can read more on our research webpages.

Cutting-Edge Tech on Campus

In 2024, ENU took a big leap forward by launching ENUCC—a brand-new high-performance computing (HPC) and AI cluster. It gives researchers and students serious computing power to run simulations, analyse big data, and build AI models.

It’s part of a wider push to make sure students and staff have access to the kind of tech that fuels innovation. Read more about it here: ENU launches new HPC and AI cluster

Cool Projects You Should Know About

ENU is home to some seriously innovative projects and research centres. Here are just a few standouts:

Swarmchestrate: An EU-funded project using swarm computing and blockchain to develop smart, autonomous digital systems. Think of it as nature-inspired tech!

In 2023, a team of Edinburgh Napier University students participated in a pioneering construction project in Guangxi, China. They collaborated with local universities to build the world’s first bamboo-timber composite gridshell structure. This innovative project aimed to explore sustainable building methods to combat climate change. Among the participants were female students like Devika Vijayan, Alice June Davyson, and Zara Anam Rafiq, who contributed their expertise in architectural technology and civil engineering. The project was led by PhD student Yanghao Pei and supervised by faculty members, including Dr. Ahmed Mohamed.

Research into supporting Scotland’s armed forces at the Centre for Military Research and Public Engagement: Housed at the historic Craiglockhart campus, this centre explores topics like PTSD, military transitions, and veteran education.

Innovation Support & Opportunities

If you’re a student, early-career researcher, or even an entrepreneur, ENU has support for you through its Innovation Hub. From Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) to funding for start-ups and seed grants, the university is serious about turning ideas into action.

You can check out what’s on offer here:
ENU Innovation Hub
Research, Innovation & Enterprise Blog

Events & Community

From the ENclusion Conference on equity and inclusion to innovation meetups, ENU offers loads of opportunities to get involved, network, and learn.

One highlight is the annual ENclusion Conference, a day-long event packed with talks, panels, and practical sessions.

The Library

Libraries are essential to research because they provide access to high-quality, credible resources—books, journals, databases, and archives—that researchers need to build on existing knowledge. They offer expert support in information literacy, data management, and referencing, helping researchers work efficiently and ethically. Libraries also preserve knowledge and ensure long-term access to scholarly work, including open-access materials and institutional repositories. Simply put, libraries are the backbone of academic research, connecting people with the information and tools they need to discover, question, and innovate. Start your research journey at one of our campus Libraries or by using our wealth of online resources found at librarysearch.napier.ac.uk.

Don’t forget all the useful information on our Library webpages, including study guides and lists of resources.

——————————————————————————————————————————————-

Edinburgh Napier University is fast becoming a major leader in Research. Whether it’s AI, sustainability, social justice, or health tech, ENU’s research is focused on creating a better future.

So if you’re curious, creative, and ready to make a difference, this is a great place to start.

Want to know more? Dive into ENU’s Research and Innovation pages or explore funding and partnership opportunities through the Innovation Hub.

By Juliet Kinsey

Read more on research at Edinburgh Napier University here on our Blog, with our latest post on Women in Stem

ENU Alumni Network

03/07/2025 / mayagreen / 0 Comments

ENU Alumni Network

Graduations are soon, and we want to say many congratulations to the class of 2025 but it doesn’t mean your time with Edinburgh Napier is over.

Join the ENU Alumni network today.

ENU Alumni Network

165,000 members

183 countries

1 ENU Alumni Network

What is ENU Alumni Network

The alumni community has members across the world. There is no sign-up required as alumni are automatically enrolled on graduation day. The Alumni Team is responsible for helping these graduates stay in touch with each other and the University and organising opportunities that will help them advance in their careers.

Benefits of Joining Alumni Network:

There are opportunities to get involved with the alumni community all over the world. This network can help you take your career to the next level, breathe new life into your business, help you reminisce about University life and more.

Events programme

The Alumni Team runs a robust international events programme. Activities include business networking events, programme celebration reunions and alumni receptions.

Career opportunities

Alumni retain access to Student Futures’ careers support for two years after graduation. Entrepreneurial graduates have lifelong access to Bright Red Triangle, the University’s enterprise hub. The Alumni Team also organises other initiatives that will support graduates throughout their careers, such as digital networking groups.

Study Opportunities:

Looking to do a postgraduate degree at Edinburgh Napier, as an alumni member, you can receive a 20% discount on tuition fees for the first of your full-time course (Terms and conditions apply). Library access is free when applying 12 months after graduation. After this, it is 50% off library membership meaning for £20, you can have full access to library books and spaces. Please note you won’t have access to e-resources.

Keeping in touch

The above are just a couple of examples of how the Alumni Team supports the Edinburgh Napier alumni community, however, there are many other opportunities and benefits available to graduates. It’s important that alumni to keep their contact information up to date and follow the alumni’s social media channels so the Alumni Team to share information with them.

Learn more about the ENU Alumni Network: https://www.napier.ac.uk/alumni

Or contact the Alumni Team on: alumni@napier.ac.uk

Alumni can join networking groups to meet fellow alumni, share ideas or ask for advice. By keeping in touch with the University after graduation, you will also receive invitations to networking events, reunion get-togethers, further study opportunities and hear about upcoming activities that will help you in your future career.

Keep in touch and stay connected.

And remember the library blog for all updates.

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