Dr Anne Edwards presented with British Empire Medal
Dr Anne Edwards has been presented with her British Empire Medal by the Queen, for services to the environment and public understanding of science.
Dr Edwards was the scientist who confirmed ash dieback disease had reached the UK’s wild ash population in September 2012, confirming this through DNA analysis.
The discovery led to a cross-specialism collaboration funded by the BBSRC which brought together tree health and forestry specialists with scientists who were using state-of-the-art genetic sequencing, data and imaging technology to investigate exactly how the fungus interacts at a molecular and cellular level with ash trees.
The work of this consortium, called the Nornex Consortium, has already led to a better understanding of how the fungus works.
