Aberystwyth student shortlisted for top award


Aberystwyth zoology student Victoria Franks has been short-listed for the “Best Biology Student” prize in the 2011 European Science, Engineering & Technology (SET) Awards.
Victoria is one of only three out of 600 to have made it on to the short list. She now faces an interview in London to decide the overall winner.
Victoria graduated with 1st Class honours earlier this year and had to write a 2,000 word synopsis of her final year honours project. Titled “Brains or daring: shoaling fish follow the leader”, it investigated social learning in guppies, a tropical fish. On hearing the news, Victoria said “I’m amazed but delighted. I loved being at Aberystwyth, and studying the guppies’ behaviour for my project was fascinating!”
Victoria was nominated by her tutor, Dr Rupert Marshall, lecturer in Animal Behaviour at Aberystwyth University. “I am thrilled for Victoria. She was an excellent student, excited by science and a delightful person to work with. I wish her well for the next stage of the competition.”
The winner of the Best Biology Student prize will be considered for the overall “Student of the Year” award – the tutor of this student being named “Lecturer of the Year”.
The results are announced at a dinner at the Millennium Hotel, Grosvenor Square in London on Friday 23rd September.
• The SET Awards (Science, Engineering & Technology Student of the Year) are the world's most important awards for science and technology undergraduates.
• The SET awards provide a showcase for educational excellence by publicly recognising the exceptional achievements of both students and universities.
http://www.setawards.org/index/europe
• Aberystwyth University offers a range of degrees in the biological sciences, including both Zoology and Animal Behaviour. More details here:
http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/undergrad/courses/biology/
• Aberystwyth’s next open day is on Wednesday 14th September, when the aquarium facilities will also be available to visit.
• Dr Rupert Marshall is Lecturer in Animal Behaviour at Aberystwyth University's Institute for Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS).
• His research centres around signal evolution and sexual selection.
• More information can be found on his webpage here: http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/ibers/staff/staff-list/rmm/

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