News › Isobel Wright is announced as the 'best student' in the 'Rothamsted Post Graduate Award in Crop Protection' for 2012

Isobel Wright receives her award from Maurice Moloney (Rothamsted Director), Peter Taylor (RRA Chairman) and Stephen Jacob (BASIS)

22 June 2012

Isobel Wright, of Lincoln University (Riseholme College), was presented with the best student award for her performance in the 2012 'Rothamsted Post Graduate Award in Crop Protection'’ at the 'Cereals Event' held at Boothby Graffoe, Lincolnshire 13th – 14th June.

Receiving the Rothamsted Post Graduate Award Certificate, from Peter Taylor, chair of the Rothamsted Research Association (RRA), Mrs Wright said: "it was an opportunity to meet and learn from scientists who are leaders in their research field which has been fantastic" and added that "I can show that I am in contact with top researchers and can feed this information through in an immediate way to our own students at Riseholme."

Originally a concept of the RRA, the Rothamsted Post Graduate course was set up to deliver a high level of training to industry and bridge the gap between academics and industry. The course is aimed at those who have some industry experience and are likely to become 'key influencers' in the future. Pamela Chambers, Rothamsted Research, Knowledge Transfer Manager said "Funding for the course has been primarily driven by the BBSRC and supported by the RRA sending a very powerful message to the industry in supporting knowledge transfer and food security issues within UK agriculture."

The course is based on 3 residential modules at Rothamsted Research and a 1 day module at Rothamsted Research – Broom’s Barn. All students have to complete a project based on a topic from one of the modules which are 1) General scientific principles of agricultural research 2) plant pathology 3) entomology and 4) weed science. The final assessment is based on the project report, a presentation of the project to fellow students and examiners and an oral examination, all of which were overseen by BASIS.

On completion of the course, all participants receive a Rothamsted Post Graduate Award Certificate and if successful in the examination, a BASIS Advanced Module Certificate is awarded. The course has also been accredited by Harper Adams University College and is taught at MSc level.

"The collaboration of Simon Jacob, of BASIS, was instrumental in ensuring the course achieved accreditation and became recognised as an Advanced BASIS module," says Pamela Chambers, "it is also worth 30 CPD points to all those who complete the course".

The course will run again during winter/spring 2012/13 and is likely to be eligible for a 100% bursary from the AgriFood Training Partnership (ATP) to cover the teaching fees. For details on the Agrifood ATP see www.agrifoodatp.ac.uk or e-mail info@agrifoodatp.ac.uk

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For further information, please contact Darren Hughes, Head of Communications, on +44 (0) 1582 763 133 ext 2673, email darren.hughes@rothamsted.ac.uk

Rothamsted is the longest running agricultural research station in the world, providing cutting-edge science and innovation for nearly 170 years. Our mission is to deliver the knowledge and new practices to increase crop productivity and quality and to develop environmentally sustainable solutions for food and energy production. Our strength lies in our integrated, multidisciplinary approach to research in plant and soil science.

Rothamsted Research receives strategic funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) . It is the longest running agricultural research station in the world, developing environmentally sustainable solutions for food and energy production through science and innovation for nearly 170 years.

About BBSRC

BBSRC is the UK funding agency for research in the life sciences and the largest single public funder of agriculture and food-related research.

Sponsored by Government, BBSRC's budget for 2011-12 is around £445M which it is investing in a wide range of research that makes a significant contribution to the quality of life in the UK and beyond and supports a number of important industrial stakeholders, including the agriculture, food, chemical, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.

BBSRC provides institute strategic research grants to the following:

The Babraham Institute, Institute for Animal Health, Institute for Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (Aberystwyth University), Institute of Food Research, John Innes Centre, The Genome Analysis Centre, The Roslin Institute (University of Edinburgh) and Rothamsted Research.

The Institutes conduct long-term, mission-oriented research using specialist facilities. They have strong interactions with industry, Government departments and other end-users of their research.

For more information see: www.bbsrc.ac.uk