University of Reading wins best student and Lecturer of the year – University of Reading
11 September 2003
University of Reading chemistry student Kate Barrow has been named the 2003 Science, Engineering and Technology Student of the Year Kate (23) of Somerton, near Yeovil, beat off opposition from 35 other finalists in the national awards, to bring home the prestigious accolade for Reading. at a glittering Oscar-style ceremony at London's Guildhall on 9 September. In a great night for female students – four of the eight women finalists triumphed – Kate took first the Best Chemistry student prize and then the overall Student of the Year title, clinching £2,000 and two trophies. Kate impressed the judges with her advanced organic chemistry project "Studies towards the synthesis of the side-chain of anhydroharringtonine". This project was a study into producing part of a potent anti-leukaemic natural compound synthetically. Kate made impressive advances with this and the compound could ultimately be used commercially. In addition, two of the compounds made during the project may have future uses in pharmaceutical laboratories during the production of other drugs. Kate also spent a year working with Astra Zeneca, a world leading pharmaceutical company. Kate, who attended the event with her parents, said: "I wasn't expecting this. I would like to thank everyone at the University of Reading who has helped me get this far. Presenting the award was Alan Clark, Chief Executive of the Engineering and Technology Board, main sponsors of the event. Said Mr Clark: "These young scientists and technologists will create the wealth of this nation for years to come." A new Best Lecturer Award – recognising the vital role they play in motivating students - went to The University of Reading's Dr Andrew Russell of the Department of Chemistry as Kate's tutor. He described Kate as "a truly remarkable student". "Inspirational events such as this can make the world of science and technology sexy and dispel the notion that chemistry is all about pollution, engineering about oily rags and physics about funny people that can't co-operate with others! The brilliant students here tonight would be an inspiration to any academic ." Malcolm Turner, president of the World Leadership said the awards provided a celebratory showcase for some often amazing scientific advances. "Science and technology is surprisingly often seen as the poor relation in the education spectrum and is definitely undervalued in Britain so through these awards we hope to redress the balance." The awards celebrated a host of innovative projects which had been researched in many different places, from university laboratories to islands off Romania and many with ground-breaking implications for medicine, the environment, industry, IT and sport. For more information, please contact Carol Derham tel: 0118 378 8004