WiSA award for global aquaculture researcher
MARINE biologist Professor Elizabeth Cottier-Cook has been presented with an Outstanding Contribution award by Women in Scottish Aquaculture (WiSA) in recognition of her teaching in aquaculture and her research contribution to the global seaweed industry.
There were also awards for individuals at Mowi, Bakkafrost and Heriot-Watt University.
Professor Cottier-Cook of the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), a partner of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), received her award in recognition of her teaching in aquaculture and her research contribution to the global seaweed industry.
She played a key role in establishing the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree in Aquaculture, Environment and Society (ACES-STAR), which enables international students to learn at centres in Oban, Crete and Nantes.
Professor Cottier-Cook has also been principal investigator on the five-year Global Seaweed STAR programme, which has combined UK expertise in taxonomy, genetics and disease management with the knowledge and practical experience of seaweed farming in Africa and Asia.
Professor Cottier-Cook said: “It was such a surprise to be told I had won the Outstanding Contribution Award, and I am extremely honoured. It is important to celebrate the success of women in any STEM field.
“There is an increasing number of women working in aquaculture and it is interesting to note that in the eight years of our ACES Joint Master’s Degree, women have made up roughly two-thirds of our students."
Also in the awards, Ingrid Kelling, Chair of the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS) and Assistant Professor at Heriot-Watt University, was named Academic Champion of the Year.
Donald Waring, Learning and Development Manager at Mowi, was named Ally of the Year.
Charlotte Bolton, Freshwater Optimiser at Bakkafrost Scotland, was also named Rising Star of the Year, while Connie Pattillo, Western Isles Area Manager for Mowi, was the winner of the Role Model of the Year award.
The WiSA network – which was founded by the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) on International Women’s Day 2019 – represents all areas of the sector from producers and the supply chain to academia, and continues to champion the diverse range of career opportunities for women in aquaculture.