Researchers celebrated for outstanding impact

15 May 2013 01:42 PM

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has rewarded researchers for their outstanding economic and social impact in the first Celebrating Impact Prize.

The winners and runners up were announced at the awards ceremony held at Church House in Westminster, London on 14 May by BBC broadcaster and former economics editor, Evan Davis.

The winners each received a trophy and £10,000 to promote economic and social impacts of research, with a further £10,000 to the department of the Impact Champion of the Year. The runners up received £5,000, also to invest in impact activities, as a result of the Prize attracting a high standard of applications.

Professor Paul Boyle, Chief Executive for the ESRC said:

"We are delighted to celebrate those who have gone above and beyond in ensuring the best economic and societal impact from their work",

"The breadth of impacts rewarded by the prize demonstrates the range of issues that social science research contributes to, offering solutions to the many challenges our society faces."

The applications were judged by a panel of experts from business, academia and the public sector. The shortlisted entrants were invited to attend an interview, with a user of their research, to further demonstrate to the panel their role in achieving outstanding research impact.

There were six categories in the prize. The winners were:

• Professor Paula Jarzabkowski, City University, for Outstanding Impact in Business
• Professor Cathy Nutbrown, University of Sheffield, for Outstanding Impact in Society
• Professor Kevin Morgan and Dr Roberta Sonnino, Cardiff University, for Outstanding Impact in Public Policy
• Professor Fulong Wu, University College London, for Outstanding International Impact
• Dr John Jerrim, Institute of Education, for Outstanding Early Career Impact
• Professor Alan Walker, University of Sheffield, for Impact Champion of the Year.

Second place was awarded to:

• Professor Mary Rose, Dr Eleanor Hamilton and team, Lancaster University, for Outstanding Impact in Business
• Professor Helen Ball, Durham University, for Outstanding Impact in Society
• Dr Rebecca Whittle, Dr Will Medd, Dr Marion Walker, Dr Hugh Deeming and team, Lancaster University for Outstanding Impact in Public Policy
• Dr Emla Fitzsimons and team, Institute for Fiscal Studies, for Outstanding International Impact
• Mr Richard Murphy, London School of Economics, for Outstanding Early Career Impact
• Professor Matthew Flinders, University of Sheffield, for Impact Champion of the Year.

Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts said:

"Economic and social science research affects almost every aspect of our lives, yet its value often goes unnoticed. These awards recognise the difference that this important work makes to our economy and society, from public policy to business practice."

For further information contact

ESRC Press Office:

• Sarah Nichols
  Email: sarah.nichols@esrc.ac.uk
  Telephone: 01793 413122

Notes for editors

1. The ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize is a new, annual opportunity to recognise and reward the successes of ESRC-funded researchers who have achieved, or are currently achieving, outstanding economic and/or societal impacts. The prize celebrates outstanding ESRC research and success in collaborative working, partnerships, engagement and knowledge exchange activities that have led to significant impact.
2. The judging panel were as follows:
   • Mr David Walker, Chair of the Celebrating Impact Prize panel and member of the ESRC Council
   • Dr Fiona Armstrong, Deputy Director of Policy, Resources and Communications at ESRC
   • Mr Neil Serougi, independent health informatics research and policy consultant and member of Methods and Infrastructure Committee, ESRC
   • Professor Claire Wallace, Professor of Sociology and Vice-Principal for Research and Knowledge Exchange at University of Aberdeen and member of the ESRC Research Committee
   • Mr Graeme Nicol, SME Consultant and former ESRC Research Committee member
   • Dr Karen Bultitude, lecturer in Science Communication and Director of Research in the Department of Science and Technology Studies at the University College London.
3. A set of short films shown at the awards ceremony featuring the winners of each prize and their research users are available to view on the ESRC website.
4. The Economic and Social Research Council(ESRC) is the UK's largest organisation for funding research on economic and social issues. It supports independent high quality research which has an impact on business, the public sector and the third sector. The ESRC's total budget for 2012/13 is £205 million.