A team of staff and students in Biology and Environmental Science at Bath Spa University have won a prestigious international award for biodiversity research.
A project which examined biodiversity enhancement in woodlands at Whatley Quarry near Frome in Somerset was joint winner with a project from the Czech Republic in the ‘Biodiversity Enhancement’ category of the biennial HeidelbergCement Quarry Life Awards.
Head of Department: Science, Dr David Watson represented the research team and was presented with a trophy and the €10,000 prize money at the award ceremony in Prague.
Dr Watson said: “I’m delighted that we have won this award, it’s been a brilliant opportunity to research biodiversity restoration.
“It was great to represent the research team at the awards ceremony and I’m sure the whole team will be really thrilled at the outcome.
“We plan to use the prize money to support student research. This may involve continuing student research placements at Whatley Quarry or we may seek further funding to secure a fully funded PhD award.”
Dr Michael Rademacher, one of the international jury members and Biodiversity and Natural Resources Director at HeidelbergCement added: “This project is very practical and identified woodland management practices that might be applied, and species that might be transplanted to increase plant and butterfly diversity.
“This has a considerable relevance to quarry restoration activities in the UK and elsewhere in Northern Europe, and for woodland management more generally.”
Over 200 delegates from 22 countries attended the ceremony including other prize winners from Russia, Ghana, Germany, Australia, and Poland, who won the overall award for the 2014 competition.
The competition and research projects allow HeidelbergCement to improve its biodiversity management practices as well as share best practice examples with the public.
This international recognition follows on from the University’s recent success at the UK finals of the Quarry Life Award in which the project came second place and received £2,400 prize money.