Media release - For immediate use | Fios naidheachd - airson a chleachdadh sa bhad
Wednesday 12 May 2021 | Diciadain 12 Cèitean 2021
Leading peatland research becomes a Professor
A north researcher who is regarded as one of the world's leading peatland experts has been awarded a professorship from the University of the Highlands and Islands.
Professor Roxane Andersen, a senior research fellow at North Highland College UHI's Environmental Research Institute in Thurso, has been given the title in recognition of her outstanding research activity, her leadership skills and her contribution to education.
Professor Andersen joined the Environmental Research Institute as a research fellow in 2012. Since then, she has helped to secure over £4 million of grant income from a range of funders to develop a comprehensive and collaborative programme of research on peatlands and ecological restoration. She has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles in academic journals, organised and contributed to numerous international conferences and supervised 13 PhD students. Professor Andersen has also contributed to national and international policy and governance, supporting a bid for Caithness and Sutherland's Flow Country to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site and being appointed as chair of Scotland's National Peatland Monitoring and Research Group in 2018.
Speaking about her new title, Professor Andersen said: "I am truly honoured and I feel incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported me on this journey so far, not least to the whole team at the Environmental Research Institute. I feel privileged to have met many strong, intelligent and amazing women throughout my career who I could look up to. I really hope that, like them, I too can inspire others to follow their passion."
Professor Todd Walker, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Highlands and Islands, said: "The title of professor is the highest level of academic achievement which can be awarded. It is reserved for individuals who are recognised as leaders in their field and who have demonstrated excellence in their work. Professor Andersen is a worthy recipient. She has made an invaluable contribution to peatland science and developed an international reputation for her work. She is a credit to our university and I look forward to seeing how her career continues to grow."
Professor Stuart Gibb is Director of the Environmental Research Institute at North Highland College UHI and is also Chair of the Peatlands Partnership. He said: "In recent years we have seen a shift in scientific understanding peatlands. Their importance in terms of biodiversity, carbon capture and climate change and in the provision of ecosystem services has been re-evaluated and Roxane's work, particularly in the Flow Country, has been at the heart of this. However, the impact of her work goes beyond science and has helped promote societal appreciation of the global significance of the peatlands we have on our doorstep. This is an excellent example of ‘place-based' research and its power to connect local communities with international agendas and I am delighted that Roxane has been recognised for this contribution."
Following the announcement of her new title, Professor Andersen will give a free, public seminar on Wednesday 2 June - World Peatlands Day. The online talk will explore the science of peatlands, touching on subjects including climate change, biodiversity and restoration.
For more information and to book, visit www.uhi.ac.uk/en/media/events
ENDS
Tha prìomh neach-rannsachaidh mòintich gu bhith na h-Àrd-Ollamh
Tha neach-rannsachaidh bho thuath a tha air aithneachadh mar aon de na prìomh eòlaichean mòintich air an t-saoghal air ollamhachd a chosnadh bho Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean.
Fhuair an t-Àrd-ollamh Roxane Andersen, àrd neach-rannsachaidh ann an Institiud Rannsachaidh na h-Àrainneachd aig Colaiste na Gàidhealtachd a Tuath UHI ann an Inbhir Theòrsa, an tiotal mar aithneachadh air a gnìomhachd rannsachaidh barraichte, a sgilean ceannardais agus na chuir i ri foghlam.
Chaidh an t-Àrd-Ollamh Andersen a-steach don Institiud Rannsachaidh na h-Àrainneachd mar neach-rannsachaidh ann an 2012. Bhon uair sin, tha i air cuideachadh le bhith a' faighinn còrr air £4 millean de theachd-a-steach tabhartais bho raon de luchd-maoineachaidh gus prògram rannsachaidh coileanta agus co-obrachail a leasachadh air talamh mònach agus ath-nuadhachadh eag-eòlasach. Tha i air còrr air 50 artaigil ath-sgrùdaichte fhoillseachadh ann an irisean acadaimigeach, air eagrachadh agus air cur ri grunn cho-labhairtean eadar-nàiseanta agus air 13 oileanach PhD a stiùireadh. Tha an t-Àrd-Ollamh Andersen cuideachd air cur ri poileasaidh agus riaghladh nàiseanta agus eadar-nàiseanta, a' toirt taic do thagradh airson Dùthaich nan Sruth ann a Gallaibh agus Cataibh a bhith na Làrach Dualchas na Cruinne aig UNESCO agus a bhith air a h-ainmeachadh mar chathraiche air Buidheann Sgrùdaidh is Rannsachaidh Mòinteach Nàiseanta na h-Alba ann an 2018.
A' bruidhinn mun tiotal ùr aice, thuirt an t-Ollamh Andersen: "Tha e na urram mòr dhomh agus tha mi air leth taingeil don a h-uile duine a thug taic dhomh air an turas seo gu ruige seo, gu sònraichte don sgioba gu lèir aig Institiud Rannsachaidh na h-Àrainneachd. Tha e na urram dhomh gun do choinnich mi ri mòran bhoireannaich làidir, tùrail agus iongantach fad mo chùrsa-beatha, ris am b' urrainn dhomh coimhead suas. Tha mi an dòchas gun urrainn dhomhsa, mar iadsan, feadhainn eile a bhrosnachadh gus an dìoghras a leantainn."
Thuirt an t-Àrd-ollamh Todd Walker, Prionnsapal agus Iar-Sheansalair Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean: "Is e tiotal proifeasair an ìre as àirde de choileanadh acadaimigeach as urrainn a thoirt seachad. Tha e glèidhte do dhaoine fa leth a tha air an aithneachadh mar stiùirichean san raon aca agus a tha air sàr-mhathas a nochdadh nan obair. Tha an t-Ollamh Andersen airidh air. Tha i air tabhartas luachmhor a dhèanamh ri saidheans mòintich agus air cliù eadar-nàiseanta a leasachadh airson a cuid obrach. Tha i na creideas don oilthigh againn agus tha mi a' coimhead air adhart ri bhith a' faicinn mar a bhios a cùrsa-beatha a' sìor fhàs."
Tha an t-Àrd-ollamh Stuart Gibb na Stiùiriche air Institiud Rannsachaidh na h-Àrainneachd aig Colaiste na Gàidhealtachd a Tuath UHI agus tha e cuideachd na Chathraiche air Com-pàirteachas Mònach. Thuirt e: "Anns na beagan bhliadhnaichean a dh'fhalbh tha sinn air gluasad fhaicinn ann an tuigse shaidheansail air mòinteach. Chaidh ath-mheasadh a dhèanamh air cho cudromach 's a tha iad a thaobh bith-iomadachd, glacadh gualain agus atharrachadh gnàth-shìde agus ann a bhith a' toirt seachad sheirbheisean eag-shiostamach, agus tha obair Roxane, gu sònraichte ann an Dùthaich nan Sruth, air a bhith aig cridhe seo. Ach, tha buaidh na h-obrach aice a' dol nas fhaide na saidheans agus tha i air cuideachadh le bhith a' brosnachadh tuigse shòisealta mu chudromachd cruinneil nam mòintich a tha againn air ar stairsnich. Tha seo na dheagh eisimpleir de sgrùdadh ‘stèidhichte air àite' agus a chumhachd air coimhearsnachdan ionadail a cheangal ri clàran-gnothaich eadar-nàiseanta agus tha mi air leth toilichte gun deach Roxane aithneachadh airson an tabhartais seo."
Às deidh an tiotal ùr aice ainmeachadh, bheir an t-Àrd-ollamh Andersen seachad seiminear poblach an-asgaidh air Diciadain 2 Ògmhios - Latha Mònach na Cruinne. Nì an òraid air-loidhne sgrùdadh air saidheans mòintich, a' suathadh air cuspairean a' gabhail a-steach atharrachadh gnàth-shìde, bith-iomadachd agus ath-nuadhachadh.
Airson tuilleadh fiosrachaidh agus airson àite a ghleidheadh, tadhail air www.uhi.ac.uk/en/media/events
CRÌOCH
Professor Roxane Andersen (click to download)
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