Science and engineering stars shine
The UK's top inspirational scientists and engineers were celebrated at the House of Commons RISE Awards Reception last night with RISE Leaders and RISE Fellows honoured. The next generation of future leaders were named as Rising Stars - with the top three receiving prizes worth £21,000 in total.
The winners of the Rising Stars awards are: Dr Piers Barnes from Imperial College London, whose prize is to deliver the RISE Award lecture at the British Science Festival; Dr Marianne Ellis from the University of Bath who wins a travel grant; and Peter Shadbolt who has recently moved to Imperial College from the University of Bristol, who wins a British Science Festival Media Fellowship hosted by The Conversation.
The winners were chosen after pitching to an eminent panel of judges. All of the ten Rising Stars, who are at early stages of their careers, were nominated by the RISE Leaders for their qualities of leadership, communication skills and ability to inspire others.
Professor Philip Nelson, Chief Executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council said: "The wealth of talent the RISE Awards shows is truly impressive and heartening. These are the strong, inspirational leaders who can ensure the long-term health of UK science and engineering."
The RISE Awards celebrate the inspirational scientists and engineers leading innovation in engineering and physical sciences. The campaign is being run by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering to celebrate the 20th anniversary of EPSRC.
In addition to the RISE Leaders, the nominees who are Fellows of the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Academy of Medical Sciences are being celebrated as RISE Fellows. During the next stage of the RISE campaign, high profile public figures are appointed as RISE Champions and paired with RISE Leaders. Follow the stories that emerge on the EPSRC website. Philip Greenish CBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering said: "Pairing world class science and engineering researchers with eminent figures from the worlds of politics and journalism is an opportunity for cross-fertilisation of ideas that could not be so simply achieved otherwise.
"This is a clear example of how RISE, part of the Engineering for Growth campaign, is bringing engineering to the heart of society."
Notes to Editors:
RISE Leaders, RISE Champions and Rising Stars
| RISE Leader | RISE Champion | Rising Stars Nominated by RISE Leaders |
| Professor Jim Al-Khalili University of Surrey | Liam Byrne, MP Shadow Minister, Dept for Business, Innovation and Skills | Dr Radu Sporea University of Surrey |
| Professor Sadie Creese University of Oxford | James Quinault, Cabinet Office, Director OCSIA (Office of Cyber Security and Information Assurance) | Dr Jason Nurse University of Oxford |
| Professor Lee Cronin University of Glasgow | Dave Allen, Head GSK Respiratory Therapy Unit | Dr Oren Scherman University of Cambridge |
| Professor Harald Haas University of Edinburgh | Jonathan Legh-Smith, Head of Partnerships and Strategic Research, BT | Dr Lev Sarkisov, University of Edinburgh |
| Professor Stephen Haake Sheffield Hallam University | Sir John Armitt, Chairman of the Council of the City and Guilds of London Institute | Dr Jon Wheat Sheffield Hallam University |
| Professor Jenny Nelson Imperial College London | Zac Goldsmith, MP | Dr Piers Barnes Imperial College London |
| Professor Jeremy O'Brien University of Bristol | Danny Finkelstein, Executive Editor, The Times | Peter Shadbolt University of Bristol on secondment with Imperial College London |
| Professor Rodrigo Quian Quiroga University of Leicester | Professor John Perkins, Chief Scientific Adviser, Dept Business, Innovation and Skills. | Dr Hernan Rey University of Leicester |
| Professor Kevin Shakesheff University of Nottingham | Professor Jeremy Farrar, Director, Wellcome Trust | Dr Marianne Ellis University of Bath |
| Professor Rachel Williams University of Liverpool | Sir Mark Walport, Government Chief Scientific Adviser | Dr Paolo Paoletti University of Liverpool |
The judging panel for the Rising Star Awards was comprised of: Professor David Delpy, former CEO of EPSRC; Imran Khan, CEO the British Science Association; Dr Sarah Main, Director, Campaign for Science and Engineering; Dr Claire Craig, Deputy Head, Government Office for Science; and Professor Mark E Smith, Vice Chancellor, Lancaster University. RISE is an acronym for Recognising Inspirational Scientists and Engineers
Provided by Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council