Three of Tayside’s top academics have scooped prestigious prizes for the quality of their research work.
The academics from Dundee and St Andrews universities were among the winners of the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s inaugural prizes.
The awards have been created to recognise the achievements of people at the top of their profession as well as those in the early stages of their career who have shown great promise.
The Sir James Black prize, named after the late Nobel winner and chancellor of Dundee University, has gone to Professor Geoffrey Gadd from the university’s college of life sciences.
He is a world pioneer in the field of geomicrobiology, which looks at the roles of microbes in geological and environmental processes.
He said: ”I am so pleased our research on important environmental roles of microbes has been recognised in this way.
”An important part of our research examines ways in which microbes can be used to combat pollution.”
Dr Nicola Stanley-Wall, also from the college of life sciences, was among the early career prize winners.
She was honoured for her outstanding research work, leadership skills and work to get the public involved with science.
Her work in encouraging young people to take an interest in microbiology has included organising a Magnificent Microbes event at Dundee Science Centre.
She said: ”It is wonderful to see young schoolchildren and their teachers so inspired when we tell them about the importance of the unseen world of microbes for our general well-being.”
Another early career prize went to Dr Sharon Ashbrook, a reader in physical chemistry at St Andrews.
She was rewarded for her outstanding scientific quality and commitment to excellence in all areas of academic life.
Dr Ashbrook said:”I am very pleased to have been awarded this prize by the RSE, and to have the work of my research group recognised in this way.
”Our work would, of course, not be possible without the excellent research infrastructure here in St Andrews.”
RSE president Sir John Arbuthnott, said: ”It is a pleasure to be able to award these prizes to individuals who have contributed, and continue to contribute, so much to advancing understanding in their respective fields.
”Their achievements do much to cement Scotland’s place firmly at the cutting-edge of the global research community across a wide area of knowledge.”