Edinburgh Student Wins Top Forestry Award

University of Edinburgh student Sian Jones was in high spirits at her graduation ceremony on 25 June after she was presented with the Institute of Chartered Foresters’ Best Student award for having produced the most outstanding dissertation in a forestry-related subject.

Sian graduated with a first class Bachelor of Science degree in Ecological Sciences with Honours in Forestry. For her dissertation, entitled “A comparison of agri-environment schemes in Wales and Scotland: reasons for non-entry”, she surveyed 86 land managers to identify the most important factors in making the decision on whether or not to enter into these schemes.

On receiving the award, Sian said: “I chose a subject which I was interested in and came up with a research question which required me to learn a lot of new investigative and analytical techniques as well as put in a lot of time collecting data. My dissertation was the most challenging piece of work I’ve done yet, so receiving this award as a result is great. It’s really nice to know that all the effort over the last year was worth it and to get some recognition for it.”

Next year Sian will be working with the Forestry Commission in Resolven, South Wales, and hopes to work towards gaining Chartered status with the Institute of Chartered Foresters.

Presenting the award on behalf of the Institute, Keith Logie MICFor, Regional Chairman of the ICF South Scotland Regional Group, said: “The ICF is committed to maintaining excellence in forestry and arboriculture and the Best Student awards are an important part of that process. They demonstrate the Institute’s recognition and support for the most promising graduates at the very start of a career as a tree professional. I’m absolutely delighted to present Sian with this Award and wish her continued success in the future.”