Dr. Mintewab Bezabih was awarded the Research Excellence Prize for her paper on environmental change and the contribution of biodiversity to ecosystem adaptation. Her work was judged on the basis of her originality, significance and rigour in its contribution to practical management, business and economy.
This is the first time the conference has included awards for research dissemination and research excellence. Both awards are sponsored by international sales management expert, Professor Neil Rackham. He is a visiting professor at Portsmouth Business School and known throughout the world as a speaker, writer and authority on sales and marketing issues.
Neil Rackham stated that: “There is a very vibrant research community at the Portsmouth Business School and it is important to celebrate this. The Research and Knowledge Transfer conference really demonstrates the depth, diversity and quality of research being carried out at Portsmouth so I am delighted to be in a position to sponsor the research awards.”
The winners were awarded cheques; Dr Bezabih received £5000 and Prof Thorpe received £2500, and an invitation to give a public lecture early in the autumn to discuss their research.
The Dean of the Business School, Ann Ridley, said: “This annual conference is an ideal opportunity to present the many varied cutting edge projects that we are proud to be involved in. We are especially thrilled this year to elevate the status of the conference by introducing the Neil Rackham research prizes in excellence and dissemination”. She ended by saying: “The inclusion of an awards ceremony is a wonderful way to inspire great researchers to do great research”.