21 September 2006

Dundee graduate on shortlist for `student of the year'

A Dundee University computing graduate has been shortlisted as one of the best students in the UK at the prestigious Science, Engineering & Technology Student of the Year awards.

Daniel MacDonald, who graduated from Dundee with a 1st class Honours in Applied Computing earlier this year, is one of only three on the shortlist for the award as the best IT student in the UK.

The award is judged by the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the winner will be announced at the awards ceremony in London tonight (Thursday Set 21st).

Daniel was nominated by his final-year project supervisor at Dundee, Dr Stephen McKenna, for his project entitled "Tracking insects using mixture tracking" which involved developing computer vision software to detect and track insects in a video.

The initial impetus for developing the software came after conversations with staff in the Division of Environmental and Applied Biology within the College of Life Sciences, eager to find a way of tracking insect movement. The package created by Daniel could provide a powerful application for biologists.

"It is testament to all the hard work Daniel has put in that he has made the shortlist for what is a very prestigious student award," said Dr McKenna.

"He continues a recent tradition for the School of Computing in our students being acclaimed through national awards, something which has been apparent for the past decade."

The SET Awards are Britain's most important awards for science and technology undergraduates. Supported by British Industry, and Britain's leading scientific and technical institutions, the SET awards are multidisciplinary to reflect the wide range of degrees that UK universities have to offer.

Daniel, who lives in Broughty Ferry, is now employed by Dunfermline-based LevelFour Software.

For media enquiries contact:

Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk