Skip to content

NTU student awarded CIEEM’s postgraduate of the year award 2020

MSc Biodiversity Conservation student Jen MacIsaac, has been awarded CIEEM’s postgraduate of the year award 2020 for her research project, acoustic surveying of hazel dormice in Nottinghamshire.

student with research project
MSc Biodiversity Conservation student Jen MacIsaac

The CIEEM Awards, otherwise known as the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management Awards, are a fantastic celebration of the success of projects, businesses and individuals who have made significant contributions to protecting the natural environment.

The 2020 awards ceremony was due to be held on 25 June in London; however, this was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was moved to an online ceremony on 20 January 2021.

“All the shortlisted nominees were asked to send in a short acceptance award video in preparation for the online event”, Jen told us.

Jen’s project investigated a new method of surveying hazel dormice by detecting their vocalisations using acoustic recorders. Hazel dormice are a rare and protected species in the UK - they were extinct in Nottinghamshire until they were reintroduced in 1994.

Jen went on to tell us a little bit more about winning the award.

“During the ceremony, the host (David Stubbs) introduced the nominees and read out some information about each project. He announced the winner and my acceptance speech was then shown.”

“I’m absolutely blown away to have won this award. I am honoured to have received recognition for my hard work - I really enjoyed my project and it was a privilege to work with the Nottingham Dormouse Group and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust to study these amazing and charismatic animals,” Jen went on to say.

“With the help of my supervisor, Dr Antonio Uzal, I’m aiming to get my research published. I’ve also started a PhD with the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) and the University of East Anglia studying acoustic surveying, which wouldn’t have been possible if I had not undertaken this research project.”

Published on 2 February 2021
  • Subject area: Animal, equine and wildlife
  • Category: Current students; School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences