Royal Society selects Dundee scientists

When the Royal Society invited applications for funding for two young scientists to attend the XVI Amaldi Conference on Global Security, it was two University of Dundee scientists who were the successful recipients, beating applicants from across the UK.

As recipients of the funding, Tim Thompson, Forensic Anthroplogy Lecturer in the Unit of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology, and James Metcalf, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Division of Environmental and Applied Biology, recently travelled to Trieste in Italy as part of the UK delegation. The Amaldi Conferences bring together scientists representing different national academies to discuss problems of global security. This meeting covered the problem of inputting independent scientific research to governmental security policy, nuclear weapons, biological weapons and biodefence research, and dual use technologies in information warfare.

The Royal Society funding was offered to two excellent post doctorate scientists under the age of forty, who could demonstrate a particular interest in the scientific aspects of international security.

James said, "In my current research I am developing and testing early warning systems for the detection of toxic and potentially toxic cyanobacteria. The purpose of these systems is to help protect and manage drinking and recreational water resources."

Tim added, "My interest here really concerns the consequences of failures in global security. My research aims to improve methods of human identification, the management of mass fatality incidents and the integration of forensic anthropology in policy decision-making."

From left: Tim Thompson, Nick Green of the Royal Society and James Metcalf