Research Councils UK (RCUK) today (14 June) launches a new publication Impacts:
People and Skills celebrating the impact people are having on the economic
and social wellbeing of the UK.
David Willetts, Universities and Science Minister, said: "This report by Research
Councils UK highlights the critical importance of cutting-edge research in a knowledge
economy. It is great that over 60% of Research Council UK Doctoral graduates take
their skills into the wider economy, many in the areas we need for growth - life
sciences, advanced manufacturing and low carbon technologies. I am therefore delighted
that RCUK has taken this initiative and I hope that this publication will encourage
our future scientists to continue this tradition."
Impacts: People and Skills showcases researchers from a range of difference
disciplines who have an impact in a variety of ways.
Inspired by working as a buddy with HIV and AIDS sufferers, Dr Jenny Tillotson,
Senior Research Fellow at Central St Martins created a ‘wearable emotional support
system’. Jenny has pioneered a new way of combining technology and fashion to deliver
fragrance through clothes. The ‘e-scent’ button technology is now being commercialised
and has attracted the interest of a major UK retailer.
Professor Rick Rylance, RCUK Champion for Higher Education said: “Research is
crucial if we are to find our way out of the economic crisis and huge societal challenges
facing the UK today. People are critical to research. Whether they are researchers
striving to find urgent solutions to the challenges confronting society or those
whose lives are touched by the discoveries of research, it is people that make a
difference.”
RCUK invests in over 30,000 researchers a year. By supporting excellent people
RCUK is helping maintain the UK’s position as a world-leading research base.
During his long and respected career Martyn Poliakoff, Professor in Chemistry
at the University of Nottingham has worked with researchers around the world to
develop applications for Green Chemistry, creating cleaner, more sustainable ways
of using and disposing of chemicals. He has also dedicated a large part of his work
to widening interest in chemistry and engineering in young people and developed
the ‘Periodic Table of Videos’ which explains the elements in a more accessible
way.
This new publication is the fifth in a series highlighting the impact of research.
Previous issues have looked at the impact of research on business, public policy
and also the impact of research through partnerships.
Impacts: People and Skills is being launched as part of Universities
Week (14 - 20 June) which highlights the achievements and value of higher education
and research in the UK.
A podcast featuring an interview with Professor Rylance and a number of researchers
talking about the impact of skills and expertise is available
here
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Further information
Contact:
Jane Wakefield
RCUK Press and Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 444592
Notes for editors
- Impacts: People and Skills will be launched at an event
on the evening of 14th June.
The event will include a panel discussion with presentations from:
- Professor Alan Thorpe, Chair RCUK
- Professor Rick Rylance, RCUK Champion for Research Careers
- Nicola Dandridge Chief Executive of Universities UK
- Dr Jenny Tillotson, Senior Research Fellow, Central St Martins
- Professor Martyn Poliakoff, Research Professor in Chemistry, University
of Nottingham
- Professor Hiranya Peiris, Lecturer in Cosmology, University College
London
Members of the panel are available for interview. If you would like to arrange
an interview, please contact
Jane
Wakefield.
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A media briefing that includes more information about the value of people
and how RCUK is supporting researcher career development is available
here
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Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the strategic partnership of the UK's
seven Research Councils. We invest annually around £3 billion in research. Our
focus is on excellence with impact. We nurture the highest quality research,
as judged by international peer review providing the UK with a competitive advantage.
Global research requires we sustain a diversity of funding approaches, fostering
international collaborations, and providing access to the best facilities and
infrastructure, and locating skilled researchers in stimulating environments.
Our research achieves impact – the demonstrable contribution to society and
the economy made by knowledge and skilled people. To deliver impact, researchers
and businesses need to engage and collaborate with the public, business, government
and the third sector.
www.rcuk.ac.uk
The seven UK Research Councils are:
- Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC);
- Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC);
- Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC);
- Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);
- Medical Research Council (MRC);
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
- Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
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The inaugural Universities Week is taking place from 14-20 June 2010,
and aims to increase public awareness of the wide and varied role of the UK’s
universities.
Over 100 universities and linked organisations are involved in the week.
Nationwide activity will include open days and debates for members of the public
to attend. A full list of events taking place can be found at
http://www.universitiesweek.org.uk
The campaign is being co-ordinated by Universities UK, the representative
body for all UK universities, with support from a wide range of higher education
stakeholders including:
- Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services
- CASE Europe
- Council for Industry in Higher Education
- GuildHE
- Higher Education External Relations Association
- Million+
- National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement
- Research Councils UK
- The 1994 Group
- The National Union of Students (NUS)
- The Russell Group
- The Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association
- The University College Union
- UCAS
- University Alliance
- University Marketing Forum