A PhD student from the Research Councils UK (RCUK) Digital Economy dot.rural Research Hub at the University of Aberdeen has been given the exciting opportunity to work on the BBC programme Countryfile.
Gina Maffey is one of just 10 scientists chosen from 180 applicants who has been awarded a British Science Association Media Fellowship, of which RCUK is a supporter. Her six-week placement with the BBC will begin on Monday 16 July. Dr Andrew Holding, career development fellow at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, has also been awarded a Media Fellowship and will have a placement at BBC Horizon.
Dot.rural is one of the three RCUK Digital Economy Hubs, the largest investments (£12M each) by RCUK’s Digital Economy Theme to date. The research theme, led by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) on behalf of the Research Councils, is supporting research to rapidly realise the transformational impact of digital technologies on aspects of community life, cultural experiences, future society and the economy. Gina has been working at the dot.rural hub for the last three years and is a Natural Resource Conservation PhD student. Her research focuses on the management of deer and their impact on Scotland’s habitat. Gina, who has a keen interest in science communications, is looking forward to gaining an insight into how a television programme is developed.
She said: “I am very excited to be offered this opportunity. I’m really looking forward to working on stories from start to finish – putting together storyboards, setting up the interviews, editing footage, and finally seeing the final piece aired.
“The RCUK Digital Economy dot.rural Hub is a fantastic place to work. I really enjoy the interdisciplinary aspect of working there and having the opportunity to bounce ideas off a range of people with different expertise. It is really refreshing to work with such experts in their field.”
The British Science Association media scholarships are open to practising scientists, social scientists, clinicians or engineers working in the UK and are part of a wide range of science communication, festivals, public events and programmes run by the Association.
For more information visit: www.britishscienceassociation.org
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Notes to editors
The RCUK Digital Economy Theme is supporting research to rapidly realise the transformational impact of digital technologies on aspects of community life, cultural experiences, future society, and the economy. www.rcuk.ac.uk/digitaleconomy
dot.rural is the RCUK Digital Economy Hub focusing on the rural digital economy. Rural areas have specific characteristics that create challenges around issues such as quality of life and wealth creation. We believe that rural areas of the UK can, through the user-led application of digital technology, be more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. Our aim is to harness the Hub's expertise with a range of partners to realise this ambition. www.dotrural.ac.uk
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Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils who annually invest around £3 billion in research. We support excellent research, as judged by peer review, that has an impact on the growth, prosperity and wellbeing of the UK. To maintain the UK’s global research position we offer a diverse range of funding opportunities, foster international collaborations and provide access to the best facilities and infrastructure around the world. We also support the training and career development of researchers and work with them to inspire young people and engage the wider public with research. To maximise the impact of research on economic growth and societal wellbeing we work in partnership with other research funders including the Technology Strategy Board, the UK Higher Education funding bodies, business, government, and charitable organisations. www.rcuk.ac.uk.
The seven UK Research Councils are:
- Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC);
- Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC);
- Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC);
- Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);
- Medical Research Council (MRC);
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
- Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC).