The Fiona Foundation was established over a decade ago in memory of Newcastle University Chemical Engineering graduate Fiona Karran (née Duncan).
Over the last 10 years, the Foundation has provided scholarships for women in engineering, a cause close to Fiona’s heart following her experience of being one of only four female students on the course during her time at Newcastle University.
And this year, the Fiona Foundation have expanded their support of Newcastle University to include the science outreach programme Kids Action Thru Science (KATS), donating £3,000 to empower the KATS team to run their programme at a new school in Newcastle.
About Fiona
Fiona was born and raised in the west of Hull, and moved to the North East to complete her BEng Chemical Engineering degree in the mid-1980s. She spent her first year living in Henderson Hall and was a keen sportsperson alongside her studies, playing tennis and lacrosse.
Shortly after graduating, Fiona made the move to Manchester to pursue her career in the engineering industry. It was here that she married Martin Karran, made her home and raised her two boys, Joseph and Patrick.
Fiona was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2010, and passed away a year later in October 2011. Before she died, Fiona raised the idea of providing the opportunity to bring friends and family together to celebrate life, her memory and particularly to allow Joe and Patrick to share great stories about her as they grow up. This was the cornerstone that the Fiona Foundation was built on, with family and trustees honouring her memory and raising money for causes close to her heart.
Fiona’s legacy
The Fiona Foundation was set up by Fiona’s husband, Martin, following her death. It is a small, family-run foundation that supports a select group of causes and particularly educational institutions, including Newcastle University and the primary school that Fiona’s children went to.
For over 10 years, Newcastle University has received an annual donation of £3,000 to fund a scholarship for female engineering students. The lack of representation of women in the engineering industry, and particularly in senior roles, was a source of frustration for Fiona, which started when she found herself in the minority in the lecture theatre and continued throughout her career. By supporting the next generation of female engineers through the scholarship, Fiona’s legacy provides greater opportunities in this still male-dominated sector.
“Fiona’s time as a student at Newcastle was a wonderful time for her and it is fitting that the Foundation she inspired has developed such a rewarding relationship with the University. It has been inspirational to support so many young women as they progress into the world of engineering. We hope this relationship will continue to flourish.”
Joe Karran, Fiona's elder son
Inspiring local schoolchildren
Most recently, in the academic year 2022/23, the Fiona Foundation chose to support an education outreach programme inspiring local schoolchildren to take climate action and encourage an interest in STEM from an early age. This represented a new step for the Foundation, inspired by Fiona’s son Joe, to shift emphasis towards providing opportunity in STEM at entry level.
Kids Action Thru Science (KATS) encourages young people to learn about climate change issues, enabling them to acquire the skills to become climate activists and global citizens, helping accelerate action to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Fiona’s legacy enabled the KATS team to extend their outreach to a new school in the area, Benton Park Primary.
KATS delivered their programme at Benton Park Primary throughout June 2023. The project focussed on exploring all things marine biodiversity and the threats that climate change and plastic pollution poses to life below water. One of the teachers from Benton Park Primary involved in the project said:
“It really educated our young people to think about what action they can take to fight climate change and realise the current situation the Earth is in.
“The VR headsets and the day at Tynemouth Aquarium and the Boiler House were real highlights for our children. It gave some of them opportunities they would never otherwise have and they are still talking about it now!”
On 26 June 2023, Martin Karran visited campus to meet children from Benton Park and award prizes to them for completing the KATS programme. One of the students said of the programme, “I learnt that I’m good at something. I’m good at science.”
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Fiona Foundation, its supporters and Fiona’s family for their ongoing generosity and support of Newcastle University.
Corporate and Foundation Giving at Newcastle University
We work closely with a variety of organisations, from grant-making trusts to corporates, to support research, student activity and campus developments here at Newcastle.
We are committed to working together to make a difference and provide a positive impact on our community through widening participation initiatives, funding, training and careers support.
If your organisation would like to know more about partnering with us, please contact Fiona Watson, Head of Corporate and Foundation Relations.