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RCUK Sponsors Champion Award at WISE 2014 ceremony

On Thursday, November 13, the WISE Awards took place in London celebrating the achievements of women in science and engineering.

RCUK Sponsored the prestigious WISE Champion Award which is presented to an individual who has used their position to influence others to take positive action to promote female talent in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) within their own organisation or beyond.

Investing more than £3billion each year in excellent research in the UK the Research Councils UK expect those who are awarded funds to promote and lead cultural change in relation to equality and diversity. The WISE Champion award recognises the efforts of those who make an individual contribution to this aim.

This year the WISE Champion Award went to Sue Cooper for leading policies and practices which have supported the recruitment and retention of female engineers in Atkins, where she was HR Director for UK and Europe.

Professor Elena Rodriguez-Falcon, The University of Sheffield, was also highly commended in this category with Professor Jane Clarke, University of Cambridge, and Sue Ferns, Director of Communications and Research, Prospect, making up the other nominees.

RCUK congratulates all the winners and nominees for their achievements in this field and are proud to support WISE by sponsoring the Champion Award.

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Further information

Contact:
Nicholas Turner
Press and Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 444592 or email: Nicholas Turner

Notes to editors

Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils who annually invest around £3 billion in research. We support excellent research, as judged by peer review, that has an impact on the growth, prosperity and wellbeing of the UK. To maintain the UK’s global research position we offer a diverse range of funding opportunities, foster international collaborations and provide access to the best facilities and infrastructure around the world. We also support the training and career development of researchers and work with them to inspire young people and engage the wider public with research. To maximise the impact of research on economic growth and societal wellbeing we work in partnership with other research funders including the Technology Strategy Board, the UK Higher Education funding bodies, 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).