James Watt

I was at a Telecare & Telehealth Conference today at Heriot Watt University at Riccarton (on the outskirts of Edinburgh) today which was really useful and informative. It was an unusual format, in that there were 22 snapshot presentations (each had 5 minutes to speak and basically, got chased off the stage if they ran over!) as well as 2 world cafe style discussions - all very interesting stuff.

As the name of the university suggests, it is named after 2 Edinburgh luminaries, George Heriot & James Watt and at the front of the university and conference centre is this statue of James Watt.

The statue, by Peter Slater, was made for the University's predecessor,the Watt Institution and School of Arts in 1954. This stone carving was moved to the campus in 1991, from its previous setting at Heriot-Watt College in Chambers Street, Edinburgh. Students favour this statue for seasonal pranks. James Watt regularly dons a Father Christmas cap at Christmas and has been seen holding a bunch of daffodils quite frequently.

The University also owns another statue of James Watt which was gifted to the University in its 30th Anniversary by the Dean snd Chapter of St Pauls Cathedral, London. The 7-ton marble Statue is in the splendid setting of the National Portrait Gallery, Queen Street, Edinburgh until a suitable setting is found on campus.