IBERS student awarded travel Scholarship

From left to right: Madeline Bidder, Worshipful Livery Company of Wales, Cariad Roberts, IBERS, Bob Clarke, Worshipful Livery Company of Wales.

From left to right: Madeline Bidder, Worshipful Livery Company of Wales, Cariad Roberts, IBERS, Bob Clarke, Worshipful Livery Company of Wales.

18 May 2015

An IBERS Zoology student has been awarded a £1,000 travel Scholarship by the Worshipful Livery Company of Wales (formerly the Welsh Livery Guild).

The WLCW was established in 1993 for the purpose of promoting the arts, science and technology in Wales and in particular the development of the skills and professional competences within these activities. 

One of the ways it achieves these objectives is by offering a limited number of £1,000 Travel Scholarships in various sectors of education and personal development activity. The Scholarship enables recipients to travel abroad and to undertake a study project which will significantly assist in furthering their careers and enhancing and developing their talents.

Cariad Roberts is in her second year at Aberystwyth and this summer will be travelling to and camping in the forests of Madagascar to study the effects of farming and agriculture on the frog populations. 

With the help of local guides Cariad will be collecting data to study whether farming and increased land use may be contributing to the introduction and susceptibility of the deadly frog disease chytrid, which is currently crippling frog populations the world over.

To secure the award Cariad had to undergo a rigorous interview by Madeline Bidder and Bob Clarke from the WLCW.

In presenting the award both Madeline and Bob congratulated Aberystwyth University for fielding such a strong shortlist of candidates to be interviewed.

Bob Clarke said “All four finalists were high calibre and I am confident they will all go on to excel in their chosen fields”.

Madeline added “What we particularly liked about Cariad was the way her enthusiasm leapt across the table at us, she is clearly very driven and passionate about here chosen field of study and we wish her and the other candidates all the very best in the future”.

Tony O’Regan who is the Work Experience Coordinator at IBERS said: “I would like to thank the Worshipful Livery Company of Wales for their kind comments and generous sponsorship of this award”.

Cariad’s degree scheme coordinator Dr Helen Marshal added “Cariad is an exceptionally bright, dedicated and committed Zoology student and truly a worthy winner of the award”