Best Operational Research PhD Thesis in in the UK for School of Maths lecturer

A lecturer from the School of Mathematics has been awarded for producing the best PhD thesis in Operational Research in the UK.

Dr Geraint Palmer has been recognised by the Operational Research Society with the Doctoral Award of the Operational Research Society for the best PhD thesis in OR in the UK in 2018.

This is an annual award given for the "most distinguished body of research leading to the award of a doctorate in the field of OR", with a prize of £1,500. Dr Palmer will also have his name engraved on the George Patterson Memorial Shield. He recently travelled to the Royal Society in London to the annual Blacket Memorial Lecture to receive his award.

Dr Palmer said: “I am honoured to be chosen as winner of the award, and I continue a strong Cardiff tradition: Richard Wood won the award in 2011, Julie Vile was runner up in 2013, and Rob Shone runner up in 2014.

“I will now give a talk at the Royal Society in February 2021, a huge honour considering its location (a few doors down from the Queen!), and its long history with some of the most prominent scientists over the last few hundred years.

“Thank you to my incredible PhD supervisors, Prof Paul Harper and Dr Vincent Knight.”

Dr Palmer gained his BSc in Mathematics at Aberystwyth University, before coming to Cardiff University where he completed both his MSc in Operational Research and Applied Statistics and PhD in Applied Stochastic Modelling. He is now a Welsh medium lecturer at the School of Mathematics.