Professor Rick Rylance, Chief Executive of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) has been elected as the new Chair of Research Councils UK (RCUK) Executive Group. Professor Rylance will take up the post on 1st July 2011.
Commenting on his appointment, Professor Rylance said: “I am delighted and honoured to accept the appointment of Chair of RCUK Executive Group and look forward very much to working with my Chief Executive colleagues to develop research excellence across the UK over the next crucial period. RCUK, in partnership with other funders and agencies, will ensure that our world-leading research base is sustained and that the best people doing the best research with the greatest impact are supported across all disciplines.”
Professor Rylance has been Chief Executive of AHRC since September 2009 and will bring a new insight to the post of RCUK Executive Group Chair. His appointment will see a continuation of cross-Council working, multi-disciplinary research and new partnerships with a variety of organisations.
Outgoing Chair, Professor Alan Thorpe, Chief Executive of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) said of his tenure: “I am pleased to have been Chair of the RCUK Executive Group over the last two years, a period in which the UK research base has faced a number of challenges and has risen to meet them. The research supported by RCUK helps inspire the next generation and finds innovative solutions to global problems, and I am confident that with Rick as Chair, it will continue to do so.”
RCUK is the partnership of the UK’s seven Research Councils. It is led by the RCUK Executive Group, which is made up of the Chief Executives of all the Research Councils, and is responsible for driving and monitoring the strategic and operational activities that deliver the RCUK mission. The Chair is selected from among serving Research Council Chief Executives every two years.
Professor Rylance’s appointment will last until July 2013.
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Further information
Contact:
Jane Wakefield
RCUK Press and Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 444592
Notes to editors
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 charitable organisations. 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).