Inaugural Dr Ian Napier Memorial Lecture and Studentship Launch

UHI Shetland, together with the Shetland Fishermen’s Association, was delighted to welcome a busy audience both in person and online for the Inaugural Dr Ian Napier Memorial Lecture, held on Thursday 26 March at the Scalloway Campus.

The evening marked a heartfelt and thought-provoking celebration of the life and work of the late Dr Ian Napier, whose contributions to fisheries research continue to influence policy, practice, and community understanding across Shetland and beyond.

Guest speaker Dr Demet Şahende Dinler, Assistant Professor at the University of Sussex, delivered an engaging and well received lecture titled Between Individual Autonomy and Collective Good: Roots of Social Justice in the Shetland Fishing Community.

Drawing on her ongoing ethnographic fieldwork in Shetland, Dr Dinler explored the unique resilience of Shetland’s fishing sector and the way the community has maintained opportunities for younger generations to enter the industry, contrasting sharply with global trends of consolidation, rising costs, and reduced access. Her analysis highlighted the innovative and community driven approaches that allow Shetland’s fishing industry to balance individual opportunity with collective wellbeing.

The event sparked a lively and thoughtful discussion among attendees, with many drawing links between Dr Dinler’s research and their own lived experiences within the sector.

Following the lecture, guests enjoyed refreshments kindly provided by the Shetland Fishermen’s Association. This offered a space for further discussion, as well as for attendees to share personal memories and reflections on Dr Napier’s lasting impact both as a respected researcher and as a much missed colleague and friend.

On the night a new annual studentship was launched in memory of Dr Napier, aiming to support and inspire the next generation of fisheries scientists, offering hands-on experience in one of the UK’s most important marine environments.

The initiative is a partnership between the Shetland Fishermen’s Association and UHI Shetland, and has been established in memory of the late Dr Ian Napier, whose career exemplified strong collaboration between science and the fishing industry.

The Dr Napier Studentship will provide one undergraduate student each year with an eight-week, fully-funded summer placement based in Shetland.

Running from late June to August, the programme is designed to give participants practical experience across fisheries science, marine biology, environmental science and fisheries management.

Successful applicants will receive a £2,800 stipend, free accommodation and full-funded training required for working aboard research vessels. During the placement, students will be embedded within UHI Shetland’s Scalloway campus, with opportunities to work at sea, visit fish markets and processing facilities and engage directly with industry professionals. SFA executive officer Daniel Lawson said:

“This studentship represents a unique opportunity to bridge academic learning with real-world fisheries experience. It reflects Dr Ian Napier’s legacy of fostering strong links between science and industry, while helping to build future expertise rooted in Shetland.”

Dr Beth Mouat, director of research, enterprise and impact at UHI Shetland, said:

“We are delighted to be joining with Shetland Fishermen’s Association in offering this studentship. It is a valuable opportunity for students to gain real life experience of how the fishing industry operates and on the benefits of effective industry-science partnerships.

“It is a fitting tribute to our colleague Dr Ian Napier, whose work in collaboration with the fishing industry delivered such significant impact.”

The programme is open to full-time undergraduate students across the UK studying relevant disciplines. Applicants must be aged 18 or over and hold a valid driving licence. A key feature of the initiative is its emphasis on developing “homegrown” talent: applicants with Shetland connections are encouraged, and successful participants may return for up to three placements during their studies to build deeper experience and industry relationships.

Participants will gain exposure to a wide range of activities, including:

• Assisting with marine research surveys and onboard sampling
• Conducting shore-based shellfish data collection
• Visiting fishing vessels, markets, and processing facilities
• Developing skills in GIS mapping and statistical analysis
• Building professional networks within the fishing industry

Applications will open in April, with a view to the successful candidate starting the studentship from the end of June. Interested parties should keep an eye on both Shetland Fishermen’s Association’s, and UHI Shetland’s, social media pages.

The programme aims not only to attract talented students from across the UK, but also to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Shetland’s fishing sector by nurturing skilled, industry-aware scientists.

UHI Shetland would like to thank everyone who attended and contributed to the evening’s success and extend appreciation to Dr Dinler, and to the Shetland Fishermen’s Association for their support.

Look out for information about next year’s lecture; further cementing this event as an important annual opportunity to celebrate excellence in fisheries research and the values that Ian championed throughout his career.