Chester student wins leading award for outstanding animal research
A University of Chester student has been honoured with an award celebrating the skills of emerging animal scientists after standing out as the unanimous choice among the judging panel.
Holly Buxton has won the British & Irish Society of Animal Science (BISAS) 2026 Undergraduate Thesis of the Year Award.
She was nominated by University academics for her exceptional dissertation which focused on the impact of visitor numbers and noise levels on the social behaviour of chimpanzees at Chester Zoo.
Holly completed a Bachelor of Science in Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the University this year, and was presented with her degree certificate at a graduation ceremony last week. She is now studying a Master’s in Animal Behaviour at the University.
Holly, from Norwich, said: “I am incredibly grateful and excited to have won this award. It feels rewarding to have been noticed for doing a project that I have thoroughly enjoyed, found very interesting, and put a lot of hard work into. It has inspired and motivated me to continue doing this sort of research.”
The judges commented: “Congratulations to Holly, our BISAS Thesis of the Year Award winner. The panel were unanimous in their decision to pick Holly as the winner.
“This award recognises outstanding research and celebrates the talent, dedication and contribution of the next generation of animal scientists.”
Dr Krista McLennan, Associate Professor of Animal Welfare Science and Academic Leadership, and Head of the School of Natural Sciences at the University of Chester, said: “We are immensely proud of Holly for receiving this award. It is a well-deserved recognition of the hard work, dedication, and commitment she has demonstrated throughout her studies in animal science.
“Holly has consistently shown the qualities of an outstanding young scientist, and we are delighted that she has chosen to continue her academic journey with us at Master's level. We look forward to seeing all that she will achieve in the future.”
Dr Jodie Gruber, Lecturer in Animal Behaviour at the University and Holly’s dissertation supervisor, added that Holly showed creativity, diligence and dedication, and was a delight to work with on her dissertation.
Holly will present her research at the BISAS annual conference in Dundee next April.
Her success is also being shared on the BISAS website with a Q&A and an overview of her work in the BISAS Fledgling Bytes series which features concise summaries of award-winning early-career theses and research papers.
The full title of Holly’s dissertation is: The Impact of Visitor Numbers and Ambient Noise Levels on Affiliative and Agonistic Interactions in Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes spp.) at Chester Zoo. Affiliative interactions include behaviours such as grooming and agonistic interactions include behaviours such as threat displays. She found that agonistic behaviours showed clearer responses to visitor numbers and noise levels than affiliative behaviours.
On the independent research project completed at the end of a degree, she said: “I am really interested in social behaviour and wanted to choose a thesis topic that reflected this while providing insight into zoo animal welfare.
“I’m grateful for the guidance and encouragement from my supervisor, Dr Jodie Gruber, throughout my dissertation, and to Chester Zoo for providing access and the opportunity to conduct this research.”
BISAS is the principal learned body supporting animal science in the UK and Republic of Ireland.