Murray Black Award
Introduction
The Murray Black Award is an annual scholarship aimed at providing opportunities for early career members of BSAS to enhance their skills and experiences.
Who was Murray Black?
Throughout his career, Murray was instrumental in implementing innovative changes that are now standard practice, including forward creep grazing, developments in sheep housing, and improvements to sheep breeds. Along with fellow scientists Bob Thomas, his major achievement was in relation to clean grazing as a major solution to the parasitic cycle of intestinal parasites in sheep. In 1964, Murray moved to the Agricultural Institute in Dublin to manage their R&D farms, before coming to the Edinburgh School of Agriculture in 1970 as farms director, serving both the University of Edinburgh and the Scottish Agricultural College. In this role, he was involved in modernising and making the large farm's estate profitable. He was also an influential member of the Farm Animal Welfare Council. As well as being president of BSAS, Murray was awarded an MBE in 1996 for services in agriculture and education, and was made a fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society in 1996.
Competition
Open to post-graduates and those in the early stages of their career, the award focuses on helping early-career scientists carry out research or specific short programmes that add value to their existing PhD or Masters programmes. Potential recipients can apply for funding to travel to work away from their base. The award is open to all branches of animal science, and applications that cover the role of domestic and wild animals in enhancing and maintaining the rural environment are particularly welcome.
Review of competition entries
Applications to the Murray Black award will be assessed based on the application form. In making its decision, the selection panel will consider the relevance of the applicants work and the extent to which they will benefit from receiving the award.
Reporting requirements
The project/study tour/meeting attendance must be completed within 12 months of the closing date of the Award. Successful candidates will be asked to prepare a report of their award, which will be published on the BSAS website. Following completion of the scholarship, recipients of the award are expected to (i) attend and present the outputs from the award at the BSAS annual conference student day (funding may be available for this) and (ii) submit a short report / poster which will be uploaded to the society’s website.
Questions?
If you have any queries, please contact awards@bsas.org.uk
What is the prize?
The award, up to £1500, based on the quality and type of application.
How do I apply?
The Murray is open to applicants from all branches of animal science who are in the early years of their career. Applications only accepted from BSAS members whom have been a member of the society for a minimum of 6 months. Please complete the on-line application form and return by the application deadline.
Application deadline
Entries for 2021 not open at present, dates to be announced shortly or contact bsas@bsas.org.uk for further details
