Prizes

Congratulations to Emily Dennis for winning Faculty of Sciences prize for Postgraduate Research

In 2015 the University launched a new annual award scheme to recognise excellence in research as part of its 50th anniversary  celebrations. 40 applications were received from across all three Faculties, and the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research & Innovation, Prof Philippe De Wilde, led the panel that selected the winners. We are delighted to announce that Statistics PhD student Emily Dennis was among the award winners, receiving the Faculty of Sciences prize for Postgraduate Research.

The aim of Emily’s research is to develop new statistical methods for analysing national butterfly data and she has developed several novel statistical approaches for analysing data collected under the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS). Possibly the best insect data set in the world, it was not being put to optimal use. However, the method published by Emily in Methods in Ecology and Evolution is now being used in the reporting of UKBMS data and has received interest from Europe and North America.

Professor De Wilde said “The standard was extremely high, and reflects the diverse, exciting and vibrant research culture across the University.” Full details of all prize winners.

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Prizes

Congratulations to Gurutzeta Guillera-Arroita for winning RSPB most outstanding PhD in conservation science

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) offers three annual awards to recognise and celebrate excellence in conservation science. One of these is for the most outstanding PhD thesis in conservation science and the School is very pleased to announce that the 2015 winner was Dr Gurutzeta Guillera-Arroita, an SMSAS PhD student who graduated in 2012.

Guru now works at the University of Melbourne in Australia, and her thesis was chosen because it has already had a tangible impact on the conservation of a threatened species – the Sumatran tiger – and will contribute to the conservation of many others in future.

Guru commented: “I am delighted to receive this award. The RSPB is widely known for the high quality of its conservation science, and obtaining recognition from such an inspiring organisation is a real honour.” She will be continuing to work hard to support successful conservation decisions.

Further details about the awards are on the RSPB website at http://www.rspb.org.uk/forprofessionals/science/news/awards.

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