UHI Inverness celebrates the investiture of Professor Bernd Hänfling

Professor Bernd Hänfling, Director of the Institute for Biodiversity and Freshwater Conservation at UHI Inverness, was given the gift of a quaich to acknowledge receiving the title of Professor of Freshwater Biodiversity and Conservation. The title of professor is reserved for academics who have an international reputation in their field and have made a valuable contribution to UHI.

Professor Bernd Hänfling is a molecular ecologist with an extensive experience in studying the ecology and evolution of freshwater organisms. His primary focus lies in applying molecular markers including Next Generation Sequencing approaches to study ecological and evolutionary processes in aquatic ecosystems and populations. An overarching aim of his research is to understand the interplay of natural and anthropogenic processes influencing the geographic distribution of biodiversity.

‘It means a great deal to me to have received the title of Professor of Freshwater Biodiversity and Conservation, a subject that has been my passion since I was a wee lad tickling trout in the streams of my native Bavaria. I’ll use my role at UHI Inverness to advancing our mission to deliver science that not only has international and national relevance but also serves the needs of local communities’