Subsea 7 gears up for Dundee robots

HOLLYWOOD robots like R2-D2 and C3PO from Star Wars may seem a universe away from the automated vehicles that roam the depths of the North Sea but a new show at Dundee Science Centre aims to show they have more in common than you think.

Graham Sharland, who has the very cool title of vice-president for “life of field services and i-tech” at Aberdeen-based offshore engineering and services specialist Subsea 7, said sponsoring the centre’s Robot: The Fantasy & the Reality exhibition held great appeal for him.

He said: “Robots of all types share a similar purpose – to replicate in some way movements or behaviours of a human being.

“Whether it is to act as the eyes of an offshore inspection specialist or replicate the diving, running, jumping movement of a person, the basic functions are the same, all are made possible by resourceful, intelligent professionals together with the latest computer technology.”

The show, which runs until 30 September, will also feature cyborgs and robots from films and television series including Iron Man, Mars Attacks! and Red Dwarf.

Ex-Dyson director hoovers up invite

Sir James Dyson’s former right-hand man at his vacuum cleaner firm will be in Aberdeen in November to deliver an after-dinner speech at the “Unconventional Gas Conference”. Sir Richard Needham, former deputy chairman of Dyson and now chairman of coal gas specialist Seamwell, served as Northern Ireland minister in Margaret Thatcher’s government and was one of John Major’s trade ministers. Sounds like a man who will certainly have a story or two to tell as more-conventional drinks are shared after the meal.

Whose line is it anyway, Clive?

Former Scott-Moncrieff accountant Christina McKenzie barely got her feet under her new desk as managing director of the Muir Maxwell Trust when she had to entertain comedian and ex-barrister Clive Anderson, who was speaking at the childhood epilepsy charity’s recent dinner at Edinburgh’s Prestonfield House.

McKenzie left the firm in 2005 after 25 years to join Alcohol Focus Scotland as head of finance and human resources. She’s on familiar ground with her latest charity though – the trust was one of her clients at Scott-Moncrieff.

Done roaming for Dunedin staffers

staying with charities, it’s hats off to the 16-strong team from private equity firm Dunedin for completing the gruelling Artemis Great Kindrochit Quadrathlon, which included climbing seven Munros and swimming across Loch Tay. Management buyouts will never seem like such hard work after all that.