‘Deux ex machina,’ meaning ‘god from the machine,’ is an Ancient Greek theatrical practice and, more recently, the theme for the latest issue of St Andrews’ own Stereoscope magazine. For the uninitiated, Stereoscope  is an annual arts magazine produced in collaboration with the University Library’s Special Collection, named after the revolutionary invention of Sir David Brewster. Released at the launch event on 13 February, this issue blends student-submitted poetry and photography with...

Trudging down Market Street in the pouring rain to the Buchanan Lecture Theatre, hours after the usual lectures had concluded, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. The TEDX Student Speaker Competition was scheduled to start at 7pm, and promised a range of talented individuals from St Andrews’ very own student body, competing to gain a place in an official, recorded TEDX event in March. Beyond this information, and a page detailing the names and talk titles of the participants, I was going...