Our Celebrating Impact Prize is an annual opportunity to recognise and reward the successes of ESRC-funded researchers who have achieved, or are currently achieving, outstanding economic or societal impacts.
The prize celebrates outstanding ESRC research and success in collaborative working, partnerships, engagement and knowledge exchange activities that have led to significant impact. The 2015 awards ceremony took place in London on 24 June.
Outstanding Impact in Business
Professor Colin Mason, University of Glasgow and Professor Richard Harrison, University of Edinburgh
Research by Professors Colin Mason and Richard Harrison has played a crucial role in stimulating business angel investment worth £750 million a year in the UK.
Outstanding Impact in Public Policy
Dr Aisha K Gill, University of Roehampton
Dr Aisha K Gill's pioneering research on violence against women, 'honour' crimes and forced marriage has improved support for victims, raised awareness and enabled better prevention strategies and the successful prosecution of perpetrators.
Outstanding Impact in Society
Professor Jenny Kitzinger, Cardiff University and Professor Celia Kitzinger, University of York
Professors Jenny Kitzinger and Celia Kitzinger have created a much-needed online resource supporting relatives of patients in long-term coma states.
Dr Hester Parr, University of Glasgow
A unique study led by Dr Hester Parr has improved the way UK police officers relate to missing persons and transformed policing guidance on the handling of missing persons and their families.
Outstanding Early Career Impact
Dr Jennifer Doyle, Trafford Housing Trust
Dr Jennifer Doyle's valuable research is helping the social housing sector foster social change in deprived communities through improvements in measuring, monitoring and evaluating social impact.
Outstanding International Impact
Dr Jane Dyson, University of Oxford
Dr Jane Dyson's inspiring documentary about the challenges facing young people in the Indian Himalayas has reached school children, students, policymakers and others in many different countries.
Impact Champion
Professor Charlie Jeffery, University of Edinburgh
With his long term commitment to maximising impact opportunities for his own research and that of colleagues and collaborators, Professor Charlie Jeffery is a model of leadership in the social sciences.
Finalists
Outstanding International Impact
Professor Ian Scoones, University of Sussex
Based on his 15-year study of rural livelihoods in Zimbabwe, Professor Ian Scoones and team have successfully transformed understanding of the impact of the 2000 land reform, leading to policy shifts within the region and internationally.
Outstanding Early Career Impact
Dr Oliver Owen, University of Oxford
Dr Oliver Owen's five-year fieldwork study within the Nigerian Police Force is providing unique research evidence for reforms aimed at improving police performance, effectiveness and accountability.
Outstanding Impact in Public Policy
Dr Victoria Lavis, University of Bradford
A six-year research programme driven by Dr Victoria Lavis has shaped a new national equalities policy framework and new policies and guidance for the care and management of transgender offenders.