Academics celebrated for research impact

Cardiff University researchers have been celebrated for their impact by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), as finalists for the Celebrating Impact Prize 2023.

The ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize is an annual opportunity to recognise the success of ESRC-funded researchers in achieving and enabling outstanding economic or societal impact from their research.

The 2023 finalists included Dr Philip Butler, Cardiff University School of Psychology, recognising his work focussing onthe psychological skills of fire service incident commanders, as well as a team application from Dr Emily Harrop from Cardiff University’s School of Medicine and Dr Lucy Selman from University of Bristol, for their research into improving bereavement support following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr Philip Butler, School of Psychology, received a panel recommendation for his research and its impact on the psychological skills of fire service incident commanders.

ESRC Executive Chair Stian Westlake said: “The Economic and Social Research Council’s Celebrating Impact Prize competition is our opportunity to recognise the remarkable achievements of the UK’s outstanding economists and social scientists.

“The continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are a prominent theme among the finalists which cover a diverse array of topics. From helping retailers use data in new ways to support consumers towards healthier lifestyles, to predicting violence by analysing online behaviour, the impacts of all the finalists are impressive. I am proud that the Economic and Social Research Council has funded this research, and that we can fully recognise and celebrate the significant impact achieved.”

Winners are awarded £10,000 to spend on further knowledge exchange, public engagement or other communications activities, and were announced at an awards ceremony on 15 November 2023.