Research Councils UK (RCUK) is delighted to announce the winners of two awards
celebrating outstanding support for researchers and serendipitous discoveries in
research. The RCUK sponsored awards were presented at the Times Higher Awards last
night (15 October 2009); the Serendipity Award to Dr Mark Maloney and the award
for Outstanding Support for Early Career Researchers to Durham University.
With more entries than ever before, this year's winners had to demonstrate an
extremely high standard of excellence with impact. Professor Dave Delpy, RCUK Impact
Champion, was on the panel for the Serendipity Award.
"The panel was hugely impressed by the wide range and high standard of entries
and we are delighted to announce that Dr Mark Moloney with 'Penicillin to plastic
dyes' is the winning entry. The serendipitous crossover from penicillin research,
begun in 1985, leading to the novel application of the findings in the field of
plastics made this entry a strong contender. However, the lead researcher's personal
involvement in creating a spin out company to market the unexpected discovery really
set this entry apart, ensuring that it gained first place."
The winner of the Outstanding Support for Early Career Researchers, sponsored
by Research Councils UK in association with Vitae, was a team from Durham University
with a programme ensuring that transferable skills training is accessible to all
doctoral candidates and early career research staff. Following a systematic study
of barriers to successful completion of research degrees, the team worked to develop
a wide-ranging programme providing an inclusive approach which benefits all researchers,
including part-time or distance-learning students.
Professor Ian Diamond, RCUK Skills Champion, commented: "This is an outstanding
programme, consisting of an impressive mix of innovative actions generated by a
real evidence base. The UK needs to support and build on our existing skills base,
and forward thinking programmes like this, which ensure that all talented researchers
can access excellent training whatever their situation, deserve recognition."
Dr Janet Metcalfe, Head of Vitae, confirmed: "The Durham programme embodies the
spirit of inclusiveness, successfully providing access and support for all researchers,
as clearly demonstrated by the high satisfaction levels of researchers."
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Notes
Contact:
Chloë Somers
RCUK Press Officer
Tel: 01793 444592
About the awards
The RCUK Serendipity Award recognises entrepreneurial spirit in universities
and rewards researchers who have seen and seized unexpected opportunities for economic
and/or societal impact arising from research.
The Award for Outstanding Support for Early Career Researchers provides an opportunity
to highlight some of the excellent ways in which researchers are helped to develop
the research, vocational and entrepreneurial skills that are matched to the demands
of their future career paths.
About Vitae
Vitae is a national organisation championing the personal, professional and career
development of doctoral researchers and research staff in higher education institutions
and research institutes. Vitae is supported by Research Councils UK (RCUK) and managed
by CRAC: The Career Development Organisation.
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/
About Research Councils UK
Research Councils UK is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research
Councils; they invest annually around £3 billion in research, covering the full
spectrum of academic disciplines from the medical and biological sciences to astronomy,
physics, chemistry and engineering, social sciences, economics, and the arts and
humanities. 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).