Ms. Annamalai Jeyakumari, a researcher at the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin, India, has won the 2012 Peter Howgate Award for young fish technologists.
The award, which provides a travel grant of EUR500 (about US$600) has helped Ms. Jeyakumari to continue her PhD research work on emulsification and encapsulation of omega-3 fatty acids, by undertaking a period of study in December 2012 at the University of Kasetsart in Bangkok, Thailand. There Ms.Jeyakumari studied with Dr. Utai Klinkesorn, Department of Food Science and Technology, who has an ongoing research programme on physio-chemical properties of fish oils. Ms.Jeyakumari’s research is aimed at improving the stability of polyunsaturated omega-3 fish oils during processing and storage, so as to prevent oxidation and preserve their quality, safety, and nutritive value.
Ms.Jeyakumari has both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Fisheries Science from the Fisheries College and Research Institute, Tamilnadu, India. She has previously served as a Quality Control Technologist for a commercial seafood processing company in Tuticorin, India. She has worked at the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology since 2008, supported by a Senior Fellowship Award from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Under the guidance of her supervisor, Dr. G. Venkateshwarlu, Principal Scientist, Harvest and Post Harvest Division, she hopes to achieve her PhD in 2012.
Miss Jeyakumari’s application was judged by the award panel to be the most deserving received in this, the second year of the Peter Howgate Award. The judges were particularly impressed by the relevance of her research programme and its potential to deliver practical benefits to human nutrition, and considered that her work would be enhanced by the opportunity to study at the regional centre of excellence on fish oils in Thailand.
Applications are now open for the 2013 Peter Howgate Award. Applicants must be working or studying in the area of fish technology, and have been born on or after 1st January 1983.
Notes for Editors
1. The aim of the annual Peter Howgate Award (www.peterhowgateaward.com) is to support young scientists and technologists who have shown a promising start to their career in fish technology. The award provides financial help for travel which will contribute to advancing the candidate’s experience, skills and knowledge. The award is specifically aimed at those in a junior position (under 30 years).
2. The Award was launched in 2011, as a recognition by his colleagues, of Peter Howgate’s immense contribution to the field of fish technology, and the people who work in it. Peter worked at the UK’s Torry Research Station, Aberdeen, for 35 years, where he was Head of the Quality Assessment Unit, and undertook pioneering work on the sensory assessment of fish. He retired from Torry in 1989, but he remains one of the worlds leading experts on this subject.
3. The Award was established by fish technology professionals around the world, with the help of the Seafood HACCP Discussion List community (http://seafood.ucdavis.edu/listserv/listinfo.htm) to which Peter is frequent contributor. The award panel includes Peter and several leading fish technologists. Funding is provided by donations from individuals, institutes and the private sector. More information is available from the Secretary, Peter Howgate Award, Megapesca Lda. Portugal (megapesca@mail.telepac.pt).