JERSEY’S oldest heritage organisation has launched a £2,000 research grant in memory of a prominent environmentalist and former politician as part of its 150th anniversary celebrations.
Former Senator Nigel Quérée, who was a member of the Société Jersiaise, was passionate about protecting Jersey’s natural environment, with the flooding of Queen’s Valley and the disposal of hazardous waste from the incinerator at La Collette being two prominent issues he fought against.
The Société award, consisting of a grant of up to £2,000, recognises and supports relevant research, fieldwork and other projects. It is open to students, citizen scientists and groups.
To celebrate the award, the Société recently opened its doors on Pier Road to allow the public to learn about its academic research and engage with different academic disciplines or “sections” represented by the heritage group.
This event comes as part of the organisation’s celebrations throughout 2023 for its 150th anniversary year.
In total, there are 16 sections at the Société, each dedicated to a particular field of study, which include: archaeology, architecture, bibliography, botany, entomology (the study of insects), environment, garden history, geology (the study of rocks), history, Jèrriais, marine biology, meteorology (the study of weather), mycology (the study of fungi and mushrooms), numismatics (the study of coins), ornithology (the study of birds), and zoology (the study of animals).
During the open day, representatives from each section delivered presentations on current projects and answered attendees’ questions. Société chief executive Rebecca Bailhache said: “Over the last century-and-a-half, the organisation has been dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and the preservation of the Island’s history, culture, language and environment.”
“This is vital work, which is largely carried out behind the scenes, so we’re very excited to raise more awareness about the fantastic research of our sections.”
