Professor Michael Batty, who is one of the co-investigators of the TALISMAN node of the NCRM, has been awarded the prestigious Laureat Prix International de Geographie Vautrin Lud, the highest award that can be gained in the field of geography. Named after the 16th century scholar credited with naming America, Valentin Lud, the prize is commonly referred to as the 'Nobel prize of geography', and is awarded each year at the International Geography Festival held in the French village of Saint-Die-des-Vosges.
Prof Batty was nominated for the prize by a jury made up of five geographers from across Europe, and finally named as the Laureate through a vote of over 200 prominent geographers from around the world.