Triploid winner at Aqua UK
The prize was offered by Novartis Animal Health, who put up a 'Young Scientist Award' with an expenses paid trip in July to visit its state-of-the-art Research and Development facilities on Prince Edward Island (PEI).
The judges found it hard to make a decision, given the high quality of presentations, but finally decided that Marie Smedley, a student from Stirling University’s Institute of Aquaculture, deserved to win for her presentation on ‘Nutrition as a tool to improve performance in triploid Atlantic salmon in freshwater and seawater production’.
Dr Neil Robertson, European Commercial Manager of Novartis Aqua, and Dr Tim Rees, who opened the conference, said that the company was very proud to sponsor an event which “was very much about the future of the industry”.
“Any scientist should want to go on a trip like this,” reflected Dr Rees, “as it will open their eyes to the commercial side of aquaculture.”
Whilst in Canada, Marie will meet leading scientists from Novartis and have the opportunity to learn about fish vaccines, novel pharmaceutical developments, and revolutionary new technologies in fish health. A visit to the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island, where the Novartis Chair of Fish Health is based, is also on her itinerary.
Commenting on the experience of the last winner of the prize, Rogelio Sierra Flores, Dr Robertson recalled that, after a night out with the Novartis sales team, Rogelio was missing in action for at least a day – proof that the trip was not all about business.
The reasons that Rogelio won last time, however, were less related to his partying prowess as they were for the “quality, innovation and passion” shown by his research as well as the clarity of his presentation. It was for these qualities, Dr Robertson reflected, that Marie was deemed the winner.
