Allan Ure Memorial Bursary
Recognising early career scientists who have made a significant contribution to the application of atomic spectrometry to environmental science.
Details
| Status | Closed |
|---|---|
| Career stage | Early career |
Winners
Two very strong candidates presented themselves for the 2017 award. As a result, the committee decided to award bursaries to both candidates:
Solomon Omwoma Lugasi, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kenya
Solomon Omwoma Lugasi used the bursary to buy consumables and necessary items for his research project.
Adetunde Oluwatowyin (nee Adetunde), University of Lagos, Nigeria
Adetunde Oluwatowyin used the award to buy chemicals and consumables.
The main focus of my PhD research is on mercury speciation in the livers and brains of stranded pilot whales (Globicephala melas), which exhibit surprisingly high tolerance to this global pollutant. We found unprecedented levels of mercury in the brains and our speciation data showed formation of mercuric selenide, an inert mercury compound.
Her work focuses on the speciation of arsenic in seafood, and she was looking into the formation of lipid soluble arsenic species (arsenolipids) found in seaweed. This is of increasing importance because seaweed is growing in popularity in various sectors, e.g. it is used for cooking, eaten as a snack as well as used in various skincare products. In her work she uses novel analytical techniques for the separation, quantification and identification of different arsenolipids in the seaweed. She used the award to attend the 5th International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment held 11-16 May 2014 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
About this prize
The Allan Ure Bursary is awarded on an annual basis, alternately by the Atomic Spectroscopy Group of the Analytical Division of the 九州影院 (ASG, AD, RSC) and the Atomic Spectrometry Updates (ASU) Editorial Board.
The award is presented to a scientist, at the start of their career, who the adjudicators believe has made a significant contribution to knowledge in the area of the application of atomic spectrometry to environmental science.
The successful applicant will receive 拢500 to help with any expenses that may be of benefit to their career. For example, this could be to travel to or attend a conference, so that they may present their work.
This award is in memory of Dr Allan Ure, a distinguished analytical chemist who spent many years working with both ASU and ASG. Allan championed the fields of environmental analytical chemistry, atomic spectrometry and speciation and was a pioneer in the development of sequential extraction methods for soils and sediments.
His encouragement and support of young scientists be they undergraduates, postgraduates or post-doctoral fellows and lecturers, was well known. It is therefore fitting that to honour Allan's achievements and the contribution he has made to our science, this bursary be given to help start a scientist's career.
Awarded by the Atomic Spectroscopy Group
The group aims to extend the knowledge, understanding and application of all aspects of atomic spectroscopy within analytical chemistry; and to encourage and assist all scientists, irrespective of experience, actively engaged in this analytical field.