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Dundee Academics Honoured as RSE Prize Winners


Two scientists from the College of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee are among the winners of the Royal Society of Edinburgh's inaugural prizes, recognising some of the top talent in Scotland at both senior and early career levels.


Professor Geoffrey Gadd, a world pioneer in the growing field of geomicrobiology, receives the RSE/Sir James Black Prize for his outstanding contribution to his field.


Dr Nicola Stanley-Wall, lecturer in the Division of Molecular Microbiology, receives the RSE/Patrick Neil Medal, the early career prize in the field of life sciences, for her outstanding research work, leadership skills and public engagement activities. Dr Stanley-Wall runs a highly successful research group at the university and her work in encouraging young people to take an interest in microbiology has included organising the two-day ‘Magnificent Microbes’ event at the Dundee Science Centre.


Professor Gadd said, "It is a great honour to receive the Sir James Black Medal from the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and I am so pleased that our research on important environmental roles of microbes has been recognised in this way. Microbial interactions with metals and minerals influences many geological processes, as well as plant productivity and human health, and an important part of our research examines ways in which microbes can be used to combat pollution.”


Professor Geoffrey Gadd Dr Nicola Stanley-Wall


Dr Stanley-Wall said, "I am delighted to receive the RSE/Patrick Neil Medal and to have our work on the social life of bacterial communities recognised. It is wonderful to see young school children and their teachers so inspired when we tell them about the importance of the unseen world of microbes for our general well-being."


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Can Charcoal Help Fight


Climate Change?


New £715K Laboratory will Advance Research into Cell Biology


Funding in the form of a £715,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation, coupled with significant investment from the University of Bristol has enabled the refurbishment of space in the University’s School of Medical Sciences to provide a state-of-the art laboratory space for cell biologists.


The facility will house three research teams, led by Professor George Banting, Professor David Stephens and Dr Jon Lane, who share a common interest in understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie cell function — how the tens of thousands of individual components within a cell work together for the cell to do its job.


Adrian Warner of the Welsh Livery Guild (l) presents researcher Ian Mugford with a cheque for £1000, watched by Professor Alayne Street-Perrott (r).


Most of us think of charcoal only when we’re lighting a barbecue, but research at Swansea looking at its potential for tackling climate change has been boosted by an award of £1000 from the Welsh Livery Guild.


Ian Mugford, a PhD research student in the College of Science, is researching biochar, which is a carbonised material, similar to charcoal, made of plants and wood. Biochar can lock away carbon for hundreds or even thousands of years, keeping greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide out of the air.


The Welsh Livery Guild has awarded him a travel scholarship of £1000 to allow him to carry out fieldwork in Italy.


Ian explained: “My work looks at traditional and modern charcoal production. We’re trying to find out what the long- term impact is of applying biochar to soil. We have to look at soil in different climates. So the travel scholarship from the Welsh Livery Guild is very welcome.”


Professor Alayne Street-Perrott, an international expert in the field and Ian’s research supervisor, said: “We have a team at Swansea University made up of experts from different subjects, all looking at biochar. We don’t really know a lot about what happens when charcoal or biochar is added to soil, but it’s important to find out. It could make a big difference in helping us tackle carbon emissions.”


Adrian Warner from the Welsh Livery Guild said: “Our awards are to help people develop their talents. We look to support outstanding students with a strong Welsh connection. We cover the whole of Wales and fund a wide range of awards – whether for apprentices or for students in schools, colleges and universities.”


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Professors Banting and Stephens will use the facility to study how proteins are delivered to the right place(s) within cells, how they are exported from cells, and how cell membranes are organised. This research is fundamental to cell biology as it has implications for a range of disease states as well as for tissue organisation and responses to


pathogen (bacterial and viral) infection.


Dr Lane’s lab applies an understanding of membrane and cytoskeletal dynamics to "autophagy" — a process of cellular quality control that is upregulated during cell stress. This process is vital for normal organismal development, but can give rise to degenerative diseases and cancer if it goes wrong.


Professor Leo Brady, Head of the University’s School of Biochemistry said: “Cells are the building blocks of most forms of life. This investment from the Wolfson Foundation helps to keep Bristol at the cutting edge in cell biology research.”


The refurbishment also provides bespoke space for sophisticated microscopy systems that have been purpose built within the Stephens and Lane research groups. These systems complement the excellent imaging equipment available in the nearby Wolfson Bioimaging Facility – which is regularly used by around 100 research groups across the University.


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National Facility to Expand the Use of Plants Opened


Business Secretary Vince Cable has opened a new Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) at the University of York.


The new Centre, headed by Dr Mark Gronnow, Process Development Unit Manager, integrates modern genetics with green chemistry and processing techniques to create renewable chemicals and materials.


It will support industry in developing manufacturing technologies that use plants, microbes and biowastes as the raw materials for high value products.


Dr Mark Gronnow


The open-access facilities bridge the gap between the laboratory and industry, providing companies and academia with a way to test, develop and scale up biorefining processes.


The unique feature of the BDC is that it can also use molecular breeding to rapidly improve plants and microbes as raw materials for these processes.


This creates the potential to source high-value chemicals from plants by developing novel crops or improving those already in use.


Expansion of the Centre has been supported with £2.5 million from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).


BBSRC's Bioenergy Champion Duncan Eggar, said: "The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council welcomes the new facility which will benefit the industrial biotechnology community throughout the UK by enabling more efficient improvement of


plant and microbial raw materials.


“The development centre offers the opportunity to take research to the next level, turning ideas into industry products. The facility highlights the important role that investment in this area can play in boosting economic growth, and highlights how academics and business can work together to generate new products and new jobs."


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