Photo opportunity 5.15pm, Thursday 17 October, Wellcome Trust Biocentre, University of Dundee.
A mature student and mother who started her degree in life sciences at age 39 will pick up a prize today for the best zoology student at the School of Life Sciences prize giving on the fifth birthday of its home - the Wellcome Trust Biocentre at the University of Dundee.
Penny Hood came to University through a year long one day a week access course. She is conducting her honours project in the University's Botanic Garden where her husband Alastair is curator. Penny will be observing the activity of red and grey squirrels in the garden to establish whether the grey squirrels are becoming more predominant than the red.
On hearing of her prize Penny said: "I am delighted and surprised to be receiving this award. I left school at 16 because I wanted to work with horses. I've always loved animals and feel that I am now able in my zoology class to study animals on a more academic level."
Penny will receive the Jonathan Glover prize for the best zoology student at the school of life sciences prize giving today in the Wellcome Trust Biocentre at 5.15pm.
The Wellcome Trust Biocentre celebrates its fifth birthday today. It is five years since Bridget Ogilvie, then head of the Wellcome Trust came to the city to open the £13 million Biocentre.
Contact Angela Nicoll 01382 348377
By Jenny Marra, Press Officer 01382 344910 j.m.marra@dundee.ac.uk