Top scientific award for Ph.D graduate

Dr Ranjan Bhattacharyya has been named Asian Scientist of the Year 2009 by theWorld Association of Soil and Water Conservation (WASWAC).

Ranjan, a scientist of Vivekananda Institute of Hill Agriculture (VIHA) in Almora, India, was awarded his Ph.D degree by the University of Wolverhampton in September 2009. He was selected for the WASWAC Award on the basis of his scientific contributions to soil and water conservation in the Indian Himalayas.

Ranjan said: “I was amazed, but also delighted to have won this award. The award reflects the hard work I put in, but it is also a testament to the academic and emotional support I received from so many staff of the VIHA and from the University of Wolverhampton.”

Ranjan was nominated for the award by thanked Professor Mike Fullen, Professor of Soil Technology at the University’s School of Applied Sciences.

Professor Fullen said:“Ranjan is an excellent, dedicated and hard working researcher. I am confident his work will make a valuable contribution to soil conservation in Asia and beyond.”

Professor Fullen was the Director of Studies of Ranjan’s Ph.D. programme and Dr Colin Booth, from the School of Engineering and the Built Environment, was co-supervisor. Ranjan’s research formed a major contribution to the BORASSUS Project, which is an EU-funded Project.

Ranjan received a Ph.D. studentship from 2006 to 2009 from the BORASSUS Project to pursue his Ph.D.

The WASWAC Asian Network bestows the Asian Scientific Award on an individual in Asia who has made a remarkable contribution to research or the implementation of soil and water conservation in Asia.

For further information on the BORASSUS Project, please visit: http://www.borassus-project.net

Further information

Picture: Dr Ranjan Bhattacharyya with Rob Marris MP

For more information please contact Vickie Warren in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736