Events planned to help everyone become WiSA
The Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) is to stage two events next month for Women in Scottish Aquaculture (WiSA) as part of the networking group’s ongoing mission to encourage female participation and progression in the industry.
The first of the WiSA events will be an academic meeting at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) at Dunstaffnage, Oban on Tuesday, September 17 between 12.30pm and 4pm. It follows a SAIC-organised aquaculture industry and academia “brainstorm” at SAMS between 10am and 12pm on the same day.
On the following Tuesday, September 24, SAIC will hold a WiSA industry meeting involving presentations and workshops at the Brander Lodge Hotel, Taynuilt, which will be followed by a visit to fish farmer Dawnfresh at Loch Etive.
Studying aquaculture
The first event is geared towards those working in academia or studying aquaculture and will focus on how people can develop an academic career in aquaculture.
After a welcome from SAIC’s head of skills and talent, Dr Mary Fraser, there will be short presentations from Stirling University Institute of Aquaculture (IoA) scientists Dr Rowena Hoare and Dr Sophie Fridman, Scottish Sea Farms RAS operations manager Noelia Rodriguez, Professor Elizabeth Cottier-Cook from SAMS, and Dr Teresa Garzon, key account manager for Patogen.
The IoA’s Dr Lynn Chalmers, and Dr Kim Thompson, principal investigator of Moredun Research Institute in Midlothian, will make the final presentations ahead of a workshop and panel discussion.
Reflections and recommendations
The industry meeting at Taynuilt is titled “A career in aquaculture? Reflections and recommendations” and will feature a welcome from WiSA co-chairs Charlotte Maddocks, health manager for Mowi, and SSF’s Rodriguez.
Dawnfresh farming director Alison Hutchins, Patogen’s Garzon and Mowi farm manager Kendal Hunter are slated to speak at the event, as is SAIC chief executive Heather Jones.
Another as-yet-unconfirmed speaker, a workshop and an interactive panel discussion are planned for the morning session, with a visit to Dawnfresh in the afternoon.
Both events are free and open to men as well as women. Places for the SAMS event can be booked here and for the Taynuilt event here.
