Trinity Scientists Honoured at Irish Blog Awards
Posted on: 15 October 2014
Scientists from Trinity College Dublin were delighted to be recognised for their online engagement efforts as ‘EcoEvo@TCD’ won the title of “Best Science and Technology Blog” at the Irish Blog Awards. The prize was accepted by the blog’s administrators, Zoology postgraduate students Adam Kane and Sive Finlay, at an awards ceremony earlier this month.
Written by the staff and students of the School of Natural Sciences at Trinity, EcoEvo@TCD (http://www.ecoevoblog.com) covers a wide range of ecology and evolution-related research and science news. The blog gives regular updates on current research in the School from diverse areas including plant-pollinator networks, animal behaviour, parasitology, ecosystem stability, palaeontology and biodiversity research.
EcoEvo@TCD also publishes popular advice and comment articles that give hints and tips to help students and researchers as they navigate the perils of academic life. Many of these come from stimulating ‘NERD club’ sessions: the weekly meetings of the Networks in Ecology/Evolution research Discussion group. Another popular feature of the blog is the series of posts by Senior Sophister Zoology and Functional Biology students about the Evolutionary Biology and Ecology seminars held in the School.
This was the first nomination and win for EcoEvo@TCD at the awards that celebrate the best of Irish blogging. The title of “Best Science and Technology Blog” rounds off a fantastic year for the EcoEvo@TCD team after one of its authors won a prize from the Association for British Science Writers and two EcoEvo@TCD articles reached the semi-final stages in the 3 Quarks Daily science prize.
Speaking about the award, Professor of Zoology at Trinity, Yvonne Buckley, said: “The knowledge that we gain through our research and education can have a much bigger impact on the world if it is transmitted and used. This award is really encouraging for our staff and students who contribute to the blog: it’s great to see their communication activities being recognised.”
You can find the blog at ecoevoblog.com or follow it on twitter (@EcoEvoTCD) and Facebook (EcoEvo@TCD) to find out more about the research, science communication activities and other ecology/evolution-related activities in the School.