Post on 28-Mar-2016
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School of Natural Sciences
Newsletter June 2012
Research Update
Stirling joins new programme to combat animal
disease
Professor Randolph Richards of Stirling’s Institute
of Aquaculture is one of seven academic
members of the new Animal Health Research
Club (ARC) steering committee; details here.
Stirling Psychology Professor wins prestigious
funding award
Professor David Donaldson has been announced
as the successful recipient of a Higher Education
Academy (HEA) Doctoral Programme award, as
part of a new HEA initiative to support the
development of learning and teaching across UK
higher education; details here.
Arab award for abalone research excellence
Mr Khalfan Al-Rashdi, who is currently a first year
research postgraduate student at the Institute of
Aquaculture, University of Stirling, has been
awarded the first prize for scientific innovation in
the field of aquaculture; details here.
News @ Stirling
University of Stirling Guard of Honour welcomes
Olympic Torch
The University of Stirling held a special guard of
honour celebration as the Olympic flame passed the
campus during the penultimate day of its tour of
Scotland.; details here.
Graduation celebrations at University of Stirling
Over 1400 students will graduate from the
University of Stirling on 27 and 28 June, in four
ceremonies which will take place in the University’s
National Tennis Centre on the Stirling campus;
details here.
University of Stirling first in Scotland and eighth in
the UK
The University of Stirling is ranked number one in
Scotland and eighth in the UK in The Times Higher
Education 100 Under 50 table, which ranks the
world’s best 100 universities under 50 years old;
details here.
Welcome to the School of Natural Sciences Newsletter!
Choosing the right university for your postgraduate studies is essential. Here at Stirling, we combine excellent teaching and learning with dynamic and innovative research which all feeds into the stu-dent experience. The School of Natural Sciences offers a unique academic environment in which to study, where new ideas on the complex and challenging relationships between human behaviours, social, biological and environmental systems are explored.
This newsletter provides a glimpse into our world of research and we are very much hoping that we can welcome you to that world very soon.
Ian Simpson, Head of School
Featured Programme
MSc in Biological Conservation
The University of Stirling’s MSc or MRes in Biological Conservation, new to
2012, provides a secure foundation in the scientific principles of
conservation and the opportunity to specialise in particular areas via the
selection of option units and the research project. Areas of potential
specialisation include habitat restoration, river conservation, environmental
economics, conservation genetics, habitat and biodiversity management
and application of GIS and remote sensing to environmental management.
Full programme details are available here.
Research Focus
The African Forest Ecology Group (AFEG) specializes in ecology and conservation in the Congo Basin rainforest. For almost 3 decades our members have contributed to understanding tropical ecosystems in the region and the resulting data has been highly influential in shaping the face of conservation in Central Africa today. All the group have spent years carrying out long-term field research in Lopé National Park, Gabon. These combined efforts have generated one of the longest-running and most valuable ecological databanks in the world. Full details here.
Academic Focus
Professor David Goulson Professor of Biological Sciences
I maintain diverse ecological research interests, although my focus is largely on various aspects of the conser-
vation of biodiversity (at genetic, species and community level), particularly of bumblebees. I have a strong
interest in the application of molecular techniques to answering ecological questions. I am also increasingly
involved in “Citizen Science” as a mechanism to involve large numbers of people in conservation and in sci-
ence more generally, as a means for gathering large data sets. Some of my current research areas are:
Conservation, ecology and population genetics of bumblebees.
Use of molecular tools.
Sustainable maintenance of ecosystem services in agroecosystems, particularly pollination.
Management, restoration and recreation of species rich grasslands.
Keep in touch:
Biological &
Environmental Sciences
Psychology
Institute of Aquaculture
Computing Science &
Mathematics
Funding Opportunities
The School of Natural Sciences (Psychology) is pleased to be able to offer
five £1,000 bursaries to contribute towards fees or maintenance costs for
students beginning a taught MSc course in September 2012. For more
information click here.
The Institute of Computing Science and Mathematics are offering scholar-
ships worth £3,000 towards tuition fees for the MSc Advanced Compu-
ting programme. For more information click here.
RESEARCH WITH IMPACT STUDENTSHIPS TO BE CONFIRMED….. STEPH
COLVIN TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE
For further information on Scholarships please click here.
Research Funding Successes
Across the School of Natural Sciences, a range of research is undertaken
which feeds into your learning and teaching experience at Stirling. During
your time with us, you will be taught by academics, who are at the fore-
front of their field of expertise and therefore exposing you to cutting-
edge research and contributing to your employability.
‘An integrated model for predicting bumblebee population success
and pollination services in agro-ecosystems’, Lead PI – Prof Goul-
son; total value £1.1 million
‘Global Observatory of Lake Responses to Environmental Change
(GloboLakes)’, Consortium Grant. Lead PI – Dr Tyler, total value
£2.5 million
‘Genetic diversity and ecological success of the invasive riparian
plant Mimulus guttatus’. PI: Dr Mario Vallejo-Marin; Total value
£60,000
Preventing alcohol-related harm among young women: develop-
ment and feasibility testing of a community-based group interven-
tion, Dr Linda Irvine (Dundee) is the Principal Investigator and
Vivien Swanson is a Co-Investigator, total value MRC £161,866
University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159
Any questions? Email international@stir.ac.uk