Cefas scientists receive industry award
The University of Surrey’s (UniS) school of biomedical and molecular sciences are recognising a long-standing link with scientists at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas). Four generations of former and current students have recently been working at Cefas’ Weymouth laboratory all at same time. To mark the occasion, Prof Martin Adams will present an Award to Industry certificate to Cefas scientists on Wednesday 30 November.
Since 1994 UniS has been sending students to Cefas’ Weymouth laboratory for their Professional Training Year (PTY). Scientists there have been mentoring students, with a range of abilities, on a regular basis. The UniS students were given practical experience of modern microbiological techniques in state-of-the-art laboratories. They worked on projects covering toxic algae and diseases of farmed fish. However, they focused mainly on the detection, monitoring and control, in fish and shellfish, of bacteria and viruses hazardous to human health.
As evidence of the effectiveness of the programme, a number of the students have featured in papers presented by Cefas at international conferences and published in the scientific literature.
In addition to providing undergraduate students with placements of high academic quality, the close PTY contacts between UniS and Cefas have helped to forge other links. These have taken the form of two joint research grants, a number of collaborative PhDs and the participation of Cefas staff in taught MSc courses, both as students and visiting lecturers.
Prof Martin Adam says: “Cefas staff have been exemplary supervisors, providing a strongly supportive and congenial atmosphere for the students who have unfailingly enjoyed their year and acknowledged its enormous value.”
Notes for editors
1. Cefas is an internationally renowned scientific research and advisory establishment, based at Lowestoft since 1902. It also has laboratories at Burnham-on-Crouch and Weymouth, and a number of other facilities around the UK. It became an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in 1997.
2. Cefas undertakes work on fisheries management, environmental protection and aquaculture. It offers a wide range of research, advisory, consultancy, monitoring and training activities to government departments (UK and foreign, central and local), international agencies, commercial companies and aid organisations. For more detail see the Cefas website: http://www.cefas.co.uk/.
3. A photograph of the UniS students is sent with this release. The caption is as follows:
Front row left to right: Anna Moy (PTY 2004–05); Nicole Gustar, (PTY 2005–06); Amanda Gallagher (PTY 2005–06).
Back row left to right: Sariqa Wagley (PTY 2002–03), currently doing a PhD with Cefas; Nicola Davey (PTY 2002–03), employed in Cefas’ tissue culture department; Ben Brennan (PTY 2003–04), undertook vacation work at Cefas before commencing his PhD at UniS.
Press contact:
Anne McClarnon: 01502 52 4370 / a.mcclarnon@cefas.co.uk
Alternative Cefas contact:
Rachel Rangdale; 01305 20 6707/6630.
