Winners
Outstanding early career impact (in partnership with SAGE Publishing)
Winner: Dr Harriet Thomson, The University of Manchester
Project: Rethinking the measurement of energy poverty in Europe
Dr Harriet Thomson’s research has provided the EU with a new fuel poverty measurement tool and focused attention on the 54 million European households struggling to heat and power their homes.
Outstanding international impact
Winner: Professor Lucie Cluver, University of Oxford
Project: Preventing HIV risk in Southern Africa
Professor Lucie Cluver’s research on HIV prevention led to a Cash plus Care programme that has helped over two million girls in 10 African countries avoid contracting HIV and AIDS since 2014.
Outstanding impact in business and enterprise
Winner: Professor Monder Ram, University of Birmingham
Project: Network boosts ethnic minority business
Through the Enterprise and Diversity Alliance, Professor Monder Ram (with colleague Professor Kiran Trehan) has improved ethnic minority entrepreneurs’ access to finance, markets and business support, providing a unique support network.
Outstanding impact in public policy
Winner: Professor Amina Memon, Royal Holloway, University of London
Project: Protecting vulnerable witnesses
Professor Amina Memon’s research spanning 25 years has changed the way police interview witnesses, the conduct of video parades and the treatment of vulnerable witnesses in court.
Outstanding impact in society
Winner: Ms Madeleine Sumption, University of Oxford
Project: Presenting the facts on migration
The Migration Observatory, directed by Ms Madeleine Sumption and acting director Carlos Vargas-Silva, has shifted thinking on contentious migration issues by providing the first UK source of independent, high-quality evidence and analysis aimed at public audiences.
Impact champion
Winner: Professor Anand Menon, King’s College London
In 18 months, Professor Anand Menon and his team have created the go-to place for authoritative and impartial information and analysis on the UK’s relationship with the EU.
Finalists
Outstanding early career impact (in partnership with SAGE Publishing)
Finalist: Dr Hannah Bows, Durham University
Dr Hannah Bows’ research prompted the first national study of rape and sexual assault of people over 60, highlighting this hidden, unrecorded offence and increasing support for victims.
Outstanding international impact
Finalist: Professor Mike Levi, Cardiff University
Professor Mike Levi’s research into fraud, money-laundering and organised crime has made counter strategies more effective both in the UK and abroad, reducing the billion-pound cost to society.
Outstanding impact in business and enterprise
Finalist: Professor Nigel Driffield, The University of Warwick
Professor Nigel Driffield’s contribution to developing Greater Birmingham’s inward investment strategy helped the area become one of the most successful in Europe for attracting business investment.
Outstanding impact in public policy
Finalist: Professor Mike Brewer, University of Essex
Professor Mike Brewer’s rigorous quantitative research into tax, benefits, poverty and living standards over the last 17 years has changed debate and shaped policy, most recently on universal credit.
Outstanding impact in public policy
Finalist: Dr John Gathergood, University of Nottingham
Dr John Gathergood’s research for the Financial Conduct Authority led to a price cap for payday loans, protecting more than four million payday loan customers from extortionate interest fees.
Outstanding impact in public policy
Finalist: Professor Nicola McEwen (team application), Centre on Constitutional Change, The University of Edinburgh
Evidence and advice from the ESRC Centre on Constitutional Change, directed by Professor Nicola McEwen, shaped the development of devolution legislation and enhanced the scrutiny of parliaments in Scotland and the UK.
Outstanding impact in society
Finalist: Professor Jane Green (team application), The University of Manchester
Research by Professor Jane Green and colleagues at the British Election Study on the shock result of the 2015 General Election led to more accurate polling methods that have been adopted by many leading pollsters.