"Unsung heroes" of science honoured in Nature/Nesta awards

04/09/2006

"The value of mentoring cannot be overstated, and is absolutely essential to bolstering the UK's scientific base. These awards are in recognition of the support, experience and encouragement that the winners have given over many years. The UK must maintain its innovation capacity if it is to compete in the global economy and the role of mentoring in inspiring upcoming generations of scientists is key to this aim."

Presented at the British Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting in Norwich, the life-time achievement award is shared by Professor Godfrey Hewitt of the University of East Anglia and Professor Andrew McMichael of Oxford University. The award for a scientist in mid-career is awarded to the British Heart Foundation's Professor Steve Watson, based at Birmingham University's Medical School.

The recipients of these awards are considered the "unsung heroes" of science, driving innovation by inspiring and guiding the next generation of scientists. Their work often goes unseen and is seldom appreciated outside of the laboratory, yet those who have benefited from their tutelage agree that their guidance is invaluable.

Congratulating the winners, Nesta chief executive, Jonathan Kestenbaum, said:

"The value of mentoring cannot be overstated, and is absolutely essential to bolstering the UK 's scientific base. These awards are in recognition of the support, experience and encouragement that the winners have given over many years. The UK must maintain its innovation capacity if it is to compete in the global economy and the role of mentoring in inspiring upcoming generations of scientists is key to this aim."

Professor Godfrey Hewitt is described by a former student as a "model to pursue" and is Professor Emeritus at the University of East Anglia. He is best known for his papers on species' range-changes and on hybrid zones. Professor Andrew McMichael is Director of the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at Oxford University and has worked most notably on research into virus specific human T cells. Professor Watson is a British Heart Foundation Professor in Cardiovascular Sciences and Cellular Pharmacology at Birmingham University 's Medical School. Professor Watson's group works primarily in investigating platelets with application to heart and bleeding disorders.

The Nature/Nesta awards acknowledge that good mentoring takes on many guises and therefore the criteria for nominations are open to broad interpretation. A good mentor may be a researcher that works side by side with their students guiding them all the way or an experienced researcher that is readily available for consultation. The Nature/Nesta awards aim to recognise and make known the work being done by such scientists.

For further information, please contact Nesta media officer James Marsh on 0207 645 9563 or 07990 973880.

1. The awards are a collaboration between Nature magazine and Nesta, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts.

2. Professor Godfrey Hewitt of the University of East Anglia is well known for his papers on species' range-changes and on hybrid zones which are considered essential reading across most of environmental biology - a standing that is reflected in Godfrey's place on the Institute for Scientific Information's (ISI) 'Highly Cited Authors' list. He has mentored many of Britain 's leading evolutionary geneticists and last year was awarded the inaugural Molecular Ecology Prize. Indeed, a North American colleague once asked why most of Britain 's most successful evolutionary geneticists seemed to be his ex-students - a situation which reflects a lifetime of outstanding mentoring and the nurturing of enduring scientific values applicable over the wide range of research that he has encouraged.

3. Professor Andrew McMichael is Director of the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Oxford. He has worked most notably on research into virus specific human T cells. In the last ten years he has attempted to develop vaccines for HIV that stimulate strong T cell responses in humans. His nomination submission stated that: "He is always humble, fair and generous and supportive. Such an environment is very conducive to feeling able to talk ideas or results through without concerns. This undoubtedly fosters discussion and creativity. He is immensely skilled scientifically and is able (in the kindest and most constructive way) to guide all in what usually turns out to be the right direction."

4. Professor Steve Watson is a British Heart Foundation Professor in Cardiovascular Sciences and Cellular Pharmacology at Birmingham University 's Medical School. Professor Watson heads up the UK Platelet Group which focuses on the mechanisms that control platelet activity and how these contribute to thrombotic diseases such as heart attack and stroke, and certain bleeding disorders. He also runs the Platelet Summer School which aims to "provide young researchers with an overview of the latest research in the field". His nomination statement from Birmingham University stated that: "The fact that 18 researchers volunteered to contribute to the application form, shows how hard Steve works to create an environment in which you feel valued."

5. The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (Nesta) is working to transform the UK 's capacity for innovation. Our endowed funds of over £300m allow us to be a genuine risk-funder, to take a longer-term view and invest in the most promising new ideas and ventures. Underpinning our work is the fundamental view that successful innovation fuels long-term economic and social progress, and is an essential ingredient to the UK maintaining its competitive edge in the global market place.