Sir William Darling Memorial Prize awarded for public engagement in science
PhD student Lucy Doyle has been awarded the Sir William Darling Memorial Prize 2024 as part of the University of Edinburgh’s Welcome Ceremony.
Lucy is a PhD student on the Martin Lee Doctoral Scholarship Programme at the Institute for Regeneration and Repair within the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. She is member of the Illingworth Lab with a research focus on investigating the role epigenetic regulators play in the control of early neural stem cell development.
Lucy is awarded this prize in recognition of her multiple years of dedicated public engagement work and continual commitment to communicating science and innovation to local communities
Pictured here with the Edinburgh BioQuarter Education and Community Engagement Team, Cathy Southworth (left) and Dom Cairn-Gibson (right) is Lucy in red robes holding the award. Behind them Principal Peter Mathieson (second left), IRR Head of Postgraduate Programmes Marieke Hoeve (right) and members of the academic procession.
Lucy received her prize with four other students at the Ceremony which officially welcomes all new students to the university on the first day of Welcome Week. The event included a bagpiper, video presentations, academic procession, and the Sir William Darling Prize.
The Prize is awarded by the Principal, Peter Mathieson, to truly exceptional University of Edinburgh students who have enhanced the reputation of the University.
Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, said: ” We have a number of ways of recognising some of the magnificent achievements of our students and one of them is through the Sir William Darling Memorial Prizes. These prizes are awarded to students whose conduct has significantly advanced or enhanced the reputation of the university.”
Sir William Darling, after who the prize was named, was a pre-eminent alumnus of the University and Lord Provost of Edinburgh during the early 1940s.
Peter Mathieson added: ” Throughout her studies, Lucy has contributed to enhancing the reputation of the University via a plethora of research and outreach activities locally and internationally. In 2022, Lucy was awarded the Centre for Regenerative Medicine Public Engagement Award for her work in establishing a primary school outreach programme.
” More recently, she was awarded a grant from the University for a science engagement through storytelling project for which she is writing a children’s book.
” Her commitment to fostering scientific literacy and outreach within the community, finding time for this alongside her PhD research is truly inspiring. Please join me in congratulating Lucy.”
