Institute of Rural Sciences
Encyclopedia
The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) is a department of Aberystwyth University , and is located in the town of Aberystwyth
on the west coast of Wales
, on Cardigan Bay
. It has a remit for teaching, research
as well as business innovation in the area of land use and the rural economy. Taught undergraduate degree schemes offered by the Institute include those in Agriculture
, Animal Science
, Countryside Management and Species Conservation
, Equine Science, as well as Tourism
Management.. The Institute has approximately 500 undergraduate students, approximately 40 postgraduate students, 28 full-time lecturers and a similar number of part-time associate-lecturers http://www.irs.aber.ac.uk/staff/stafflist.shtml. The Institute has three research groups: Environmental Ecology, Animal Science
and Rural Development
. In addition, the Institute is also the home to the Organic Centre Wales, as well as the Farm Business Survey unit of the Welsh Assembly Government
.
IBERS has a complex history of mergers. The Institute of Rural Sciences was created in 1995 from the merger of the Welsh Agricultural College
(also located in Aberystwyth since 1970 and funded by Welsh local authorities) with the University's Department of Agriculture. The current Institute has taken over the Welsh Agricultural College site and buildings, now called the Llanbadarn Campus of the University
,
's Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
, and was based at Aberystwyth
, Ceredigion
, Wales
but independent of the University.
IGER was originally the Welsh Plant Breeding Station, which had been established in 1919 under the guidance of Sir George Stapledon
. Initially based at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth
, WPBS moved to Plas Gogerddan in 1953 when it was officially opened by the Queen
.
Bronydd Mawr was acquired as part of the WPBS in 1983 to conduct research into sustainable beef and sheep systems for hills and uplands.
Formed in 1990, IGER included the main laboratories and administrative centre at Plas Gogerddan near Aberystwyth plus sites at North Wyke near South Tawton
, Devon
and Bronydd Mawr near Trecastle
, Powys
. Another site at Hurley, Berkshire
, was closed in 1992. At the same time farm facilities at Trawsgoed
were acquired. The Institute consisted of three research departments:
As of 1 April 2008, IGER was also absorbed by IBERS (the fate of staff and any redundancies is unknown by this editor). This merger has led to one large department for the life-sciences.
Upon the merger with Aberystwyth University, the North Wyke site ceased to operate as part of IGER and became a component of Rothamsted Research.
SucraSEED
is a commercial exploitation of High Sugar Grass seed which was originally developed at IGER.
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
on the west coast of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, on Cardigan Bay
Cardigan Bay
Cardigan Bay is a large inlet of the Irish Sea, indenting the west coast of Wales between Bardsey Island, Gwynedd in the north, and Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire at its southern end. It is the largest bay in Wales....
. It has a remit for teaching, research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
as well as business innovation in the area of land use and the rural economy. Taught undergraduate degree schemes offered by the Institute include those in Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, Animal Science
Animal science
Animal Science is described as "studying the biology of animals that are under the control of mankind". Historically, the animals studied were farm animals, including livestock and horses, but courses available now look at a far broader area to include companion animals, for example dogs, cats and...
, Countryside Management and Species Conservation
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
, Equine Science, as well as Tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
Management.. The Institute has approximately 500 undergraduate students, approximately 40 postgraduate students, 28 full-time lecturers and a similar number of part-time associate-lecturers http://www.irs.aber.ac.uk/staff/stafflist.shtml. The Institute has three research groups: Environmental Ecology, Animal Science
Animal science
Animal Science is described as "studying the biology of animals that are under the control of mankind". Historically, the animals studied were farm animals, including livestock and horses, but courses available now look at a far broader area to include companion animals, for example dogs, cats and...
and Rural Development
Rural Development
USDA Office of Rural Development is an agency with the United States Department of Agriculture which runs programs intended to improve the economy and quality of life in rural America....
. In addition, the Institute is also the home to the Organic Centre Wales, as well as the Farm Business Survey unit of the Welsh Assembly Government
Welsh Assembly Government
The Welsh Government is the devolved government of Wales. It is accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, the legislature which represents the interests of the people of Wales and makes laws for Wales...
.
IBERS has a complex history of mergers. The Institute of Rural Sciences was created in 1995 from the merger of the Welsh Agricultural College
Welsh Agricultural College
The Welsh Agricultural College was established in Aberystwyth, Wales in 1970 with David Morris as its first Principal. In 1995 it merged with Aberystwyth University....
(also located in Aberystwyth since 1970 and funded by Welsh local authorities) with the University's Department of Agriculture. The current Institute has taken over the Welsh Agricultural College site and buildings, now called the Llanbadarn Campus of the University
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
,
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research
The Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER) was one of eight research institutes funded by the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council is a UK Research Council and NDPB and is the largest UK public funder of non-medical bioscience...
, and was based at Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
, Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
but independent of the University.
IGER was originally the Welsh Plant Breeding Station, which had been established in 1919 under the guidance of Sir George Stapledon
George Stapledon
Sir Reginald George Stapledon FRS was an English grassland scientist and pioneer environmentalist.-Early life:...
. Initially based at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth University is a university located in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal University of Wales. As of late 2006, the university had over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments.The university was founded in 1872 as...
, WPBS moved to Plas Gogerddan in 1953 when it was officially opened by the Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
.
Bronydd Mawr was acquired as part of the WPBS in 1983 to conduct research into sustainable beef and sheep systems for hills and uplands.
Formed in 1990, IGER included the main laboratories and administrative centre at Plas Gogerddan near Aberystwyth plus sites at North Wyke near South Tawton
South Tawton
South Tawton, a village on the North edge of Dartmoor, Devon, England is an ancient demesne , going back at least to the time of the Saxons, if not to the Romans, who named the river Taw, the Tavus.-History:...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and Bronydd Mawr near Trecastle
Trecastle
Trecastle is a village in Powys, Wales, on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park.Trecastle is named after an early 12th century motte-and-bailey fortification , built by Bernard de Neufmarche and designed to protect Brecon from attack from the west...
, Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
. Another site at Hurley, Berkshire
Hurley, Berkshire
Hurley is a village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire.Hurley is famous for its proximity to the River Thames. It is also within easy reach of Henley-on-Thames, Oxford and London. The parish includes the villages and hamlets of Cockpole Green, Warren Row, Knowl Hill, Burchett's...
, was closed in 1992. At the same time farm facilities at Trawsgoed
Trawsgoed
Trawsgoed Estate located eight miles east of Aberystwyth in Ceredigion, Wales has been in the possession of the Vaughan family since the year 1200...
were acquired. The Institute consisted of three research departments:
- Plant, Animal and Microbial Science
- Plant Genetics and Breeding
- Soil, Environmental and Ecological Sciences
As of 1 April 2008, IGER was also absorbed by IBERS (the fate of staff and any redundancies is unknown by this editor). This merger has led to one large department for the life-sciences.
Upon the merger with Aberystwyth University, the North Wyke site ceased to operate as part of IGER and became a component of Rothamsted Research.
SucraSEED
SucraSEED
SucraSEED is a mix of High Sugar Grass seeds. This blend is designed to increase dairy milk yield and livestock growth while reducing environmental pollution...
is a commercial exploitation of High Sugar Grass seed which was originally developed at IGER.