Meticulous, adaptable, innovative and empathetic were the descriptions used about Baggy (Ainslay Bagnall), Principal Technician at Scotland’s Rural College’s Crichton Royal Dairy Research and Innovation Centre, when receiving The Sir Stephen Watson Staff Prize during the annual awards ceremony at SRUC’s Barony Campus.
“Whether working in Dumfries or Sub Saharan Africa Ainsley quickly takes up the challenge of new tasks and delivers them with diligence and excellence,” explained Professor Dave Roberts, Regional Dean. “He has delivered way beyond the normal reams and bounds of his remit and been consistently reliable on our international activity.”
The Sir Stephen Watson Staff Prize is named after a former Principal of the former East of Scotland College of Agriculture and was for college staff in Edinburgh. However, when Barony, Elmwood, Oatridge and SAC became SRUC it was decided the award should be open to college staff at all SRUC sites.
Ainsley’s nomination for the prize stresses that when, in 2008, the Dairy Research and Innovation Centre began its work in Malawi he had no previous experience in the region. However, as the research projects spread to other countries in Sub Saharan Africa, he quickly adapted and has played his part in hosting more than ten scientists and researchers from the region and been involved in the training and mentoring graduate and post graduate students.
“Although primarily a livestock technician Ainsley has helped design innovative experiments on soils and greenhouse gasses, commented Dave Roberts. “The milking robot project presented data collection challenges very different from conventional milking parlours yet Ainsley has led the technical team not only in the data collection and developing of useable summaries but also in training other members of staff. He is a highly deserving recipient of the Sir Stephen Watson prize.”
ENDS
Photo shows: Professor Dave Roberts, Regional Dean; Ainslie Bagnall; Alistair Marshall, SRUC Board Vice Chairman
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