SAMS news room

A record number of students graduated from the Scottish Association for Marine Science, a partner of UHI, today (Friday), as the institute continues to expand its educational offering.

In the same week that SAMS announced new Masters by Research (MRes) opportunities, 18 postgraduate students received their awards at the graduation ceremony in Oban’s Corran Halls.

This included 7 PhD awards, 10 students from as far afield as Canada, Nepal and Costa Rica who completed the Joint Masters Degree in Aquaculture, Environment and Society (ACES-STAR), and Isabella Cruz, the first student to graduate on the MRes in Marine Science.

In addition, 17 students from the BSc (Hons) Marine Science graduated, taking their first steps in their new science careers.

SAMS Director Prof. Nick Owens said: “Graduation is one of the highlights of the year for SAMS and I’m delighted to see so many young students and researchers, representing a huge variety of ocean interests, coming onto the stage to receive their awards.

“For them, it will have felt like a long road at times, and they have achieved a great deal. But this is just the beginning. I am excited to see what they will go on to accomplish in the future.

“Knowing the standard of graduates we produce at SAMS, I am certain they will have a lot to offer, whether they are destined to work in academia, policy, conservation, industry or some of the other opportunities that marine science will present. 

The ceremony was also a chance to recognise individual successes, including the SAMS Student of the Year Chester Sands, a PhD student who completed his studies while also working full time at the British Antarctic Survey.

Chester, who paused his studies for 20 years while work and family life took over, was praised by Prof. Bhavani Narayanaswamy, Head of SAMS Graduate School, who said the Antarctica expert had shown “resilience, curiosity, and a deep commitment to advancing knowledge”.

Chester was among seven award winners at the graduation ceremony, including fellow PhD student Carla Ruiz Gonzalez, who won the Johanna Fehling Memorial Prize for the best PhD student research paper. Marie De La Cruz Campos Mas won the ACES Best Dissertation Prize.

Lexie Robertson, who spent six months in the Arctic during her studies, won the Tim Boyd Prize for Oceanography and Imogen Sawyers won the Academic Excellence Award.

Lara Dillon, who completed two internships with SAMS during her studies on the BSc Marine Science and is now employed at the institute, won the Overall Achievement Award.

Vicki Nairn, UHI Principal and Vice-Chancellor, was the presiding officer and guest speaker was science broadcaster and producer Hannah Fisher, who told graduands: “As scientists, all of you have a natural curiosity, a desire to understand how things work, why they are how they are and what makes them that way. I see this as a superpower.

“Retaining your curiosity and desire to figure things out is not only essential, but exceptional.”

If you're interested in studying at SAMS, visit: Study — The Scottish Association for Marine Science (sams.ac.uk)