John Innes Centre scientist awarded Royal Microscopical Society Vice President's Medal

Kim Findlay, head of bio-imaging at the John Innes Centre (JIC) has been awarded the Royal Microscopical Society (RMS) Vice President's Medal for her outstanding contribution to the field of electron microscopy in plant and microbial imaging.

Mrs Findlay manages the John Innes Centre's bio-imaging facility where she operates, updates and provides training on the enormous range of cutting edge equipment which is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and housed at the JIC site in Norwich.

She has made an active input into many scientific projects and is an author on over 60 scientific papers. She has made a particularly important and long-term contribution to antibiotic research in the soil bacteria Streptomyces and has also had extensive collaborations with many other scientists within and outside JIC. She is a long-standing member and fellow of the RMS, an honorary lecturer at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and has won prizes for her images.

During more than 28 years at JIC, Mrs Findlay has taken an active role in increasing public understanding of science, including hosting schools tours and contributing to "Inside Science" workshops every year for gifted science students.

Professor Dale Sanders, Director of the John Innes Centre said:

"Kim's award is richly deserved and recognises her outstanding contribution to our understanding of plant and microbial science. Her advice on imaging has been essential to the delivery of an enormous range of science at the John Innes Centre.

"Kim is an excellent ambassador for science, training university students and giving school children what is often their first opportunity to see nature in amazing microscopic detail. It is a source of great pride and pleasure for JIC to see Kim's contribution recognized at such a high level."

Kim Findlay said:"I was surprised and delighted to hear that I have won the RMS Vice President's Medal. I have strived to deliver high-quality bio-imaging services at the John Innes Centre for well over 20 years and it means a great deal to me to be recognised for my efforts."

Provided by Norwich BioScience Institutes