Perth centre for mountain studies marks 10th birthday with expert’s talk

Jan 4 2011 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

SCOTLAND’S top landscape photographer was yesterday zooming-in on a public presentation in Perth.

Critically-acclaimed freelance Colin Prior will be at Perth Concert Hall on January 19 for ‘Mountains of Inspiration’, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Perth College’s Centre for Mountain Studies.

Prior has received critical acclaim for his images, including panoramic mountain scenes from ranges around the world.

The audience can also enjoy hearing from college principal Thomas Moore and Dr John Francis, vice-chairman of the UK National Commission for UNESCO Scotland.

In 2009, the mountain studies department gained prominence through the establishment of the UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Mountain Development, a first for Scotland.

And last September the centre co-ordinated the largest international science conference ever, which attracted 450 people from 60 countries.

Centre director Professor Martin Price said it was now globally recognised “as a significant and valued actor in mountain research and knowledge exchange”.

“Through partnership working, we will continue to prosper and undertake and communicate high-quality research to the benefit of mountain people and their environments all around the world,” he declared.

Tickets for the celebration event, which starts at 7.30pm on January 19, are available from www.horsecross.co.uk, with concessions for college staff and students and Royal Scottish Geographical Society members.