Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Norfolk science centre names scholarship after Indian botanist

One of Britain’s leading centres for research and training in plant and microbial science has launched a new scholarship for post-graduate students from developing countries in honour of a botanist who was among the first women from India to obtain a PhD in botany.

The John Innes Centre in Norfolk, chose to honour Dr Janaki Ammal for her work at the John Innes Horticultural Institution first in the 1930s and then between 1940 and 1945.


The Janaki Ammal Scholarship Scheme will award scholarship to post-graduate research applicants from 88 eligible countries who wish to study plant and microbial sciences at the John Innes Centre.

“We take great pride in our international alumni...and we are delighted to name this new scheme in her honour,” said Professor Dale Sanders, director of the John Innes Centre. The scheme has been set up to reduce the financial impact of UK tuition fees on international students from less developed and lower income countries, including India.

“At the John Innes Centre, we strive for a level playing field on which all students compete on scientific merit, irrespective of nationality, economic status or gender. For this reason, we’ve established this mechanism to support students from low income countries with their tuition fees,” added Sanders.

The award applies to graduate students from least developed, low income or lower middle-income countries as defined by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). This includes sub-Saharan African countries and India, but excludes middle-income countries such as China and many Latin American countries.

Janaki Ammal’s research linked with the John Innes Centre led to the publication of the Chromosome Atlas of Cultivated Plants, which she wrote jointly with the then Director, CD Darlington. She ultimately returned to India to continue a distinguished career in science before she passed away in 1984.

More For You

Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case
Bhim Kohli

Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case

THE seven-year prison sentence handed to a 15-year-old boy convicted of the manslaughter of 80-year-old Bhim Sen Kohli is to be reviewed under the UK’s Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

The Attorney General’s Office confirmed on Friday (5) that the teenager’s sentence will now be considered by the Court of Appeal.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dalai Lama hopes to live 'beyond 130 years'

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama attends a prayer meet held for his long life at the Dalai Lama temple in the northern hill town of Dharamshala, India, July 5, 2025. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis

Dalai Lama hopes to live 'beyond 130 years'

THE Dalai Lama said on Saturday (5) he hopes to live until he is more than 130 years old, two decades longer than his previous prediction, following his assurance to followers that he would reincarnate as the spiritual head of the faith upon his death.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner was speaking during a ceremony organised by his followers to offer prayers for his long life, ahead of his 90th birthday on Sunday (6), and as China insists it will choose his successor. The Dalai Lama told Reuters in December he might live to 110.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK heatwave by mid-July

Daytime temperatures meeting or exceeding set thresholds of 25°C

iStock

Met Office warns of potential third UK heatwave by mid-July

Key points

  • Met Office forecasts rising temperatures by mid-July
  • Possible third heatwave after record-breaking June
  • High pressure system likely to bring hot air from the Atlantic
  • Yellow rain warning and flood alerts issued in parts of Scotland and Cumbria

Possible heatwave to return by mid-July

The UK could experience its third heatwave in a month by mid-July, the Met Office has said. Forecasters expect rising heat and humidity during the second weekend of July, following two weekends of unusually warm weather in late June.

June was officially the hottest on record in England, and the return of high temperatures could mean another heatwave for parts of the country. However, the Met Office cautioned that it is too early to confirm how hot conditions will get.

Keep ReadingShow less
crypto

Two men have been jailed for defrauding investors of £1.5 million through a fake crypto investment scheme. (Representational image: iStock)

Two jailed over £1.5m crypto investment scam

TWO people who duped investors of £1.5 million by selling fake investments in crypto have been jailed for 12 years, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said.

Raymondip Bedi, of Bromley, and Patrick Mavanga, of Peckham, conned at least 65 people by cold-calling them between February 2017 and June 2019. They operated companies including CCX Capital and Astaria Group LLP.

Keep ReadingShow less
Manchester Police probes over 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects

Photo for representation. (iStock)

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Manchester Police probes over 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects

GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE is now investigating more than 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects, following years of public criticism and institutional failings in tackling child sexual exploitation.

A new report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has revealed the force has made “significant improvements” in dealing with group-based sexual abuse and related crimes.

Keep ReadingShow less