MVLS welcomes judges from BBSRC
Published: 14 April 2016
The College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences (MVLS) yesterday welcomed judges to the Queen Elizabeth University’s Teaching & Learning Centre as the college went through the final round of the prestigious BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) Excellence with Impact Competition.
The College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences (MVLS) yesterday welcomed judges to the Queen Elizabeth University’s Teaching & Learning Centre as the college went through the final round of the prestigious BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) Excellence with Impact Competition.
The competition, which formally started in January 2013, aims to recognise institutions that can develop and successfully deliver a vision for maximising impact, alongside a relevant institution-wide culture change.
The University of Glasgow is one of only ten finalists shortlisted in the competition, which saw judges from across the country come to Glasgow to meet the team leading the efforts on behalf of MVLS and meet academics and staff from across the college to see first-hand the efforts being taken to develop and further research impact.
The winning organisation will receive an award of £0.5M, and a further £0.5M to be awarded at the judge’s discretion to highly commended runners up.
The judges included Professor Nessa Carey from Praxis Unico; Dr Andy Muir, director of Rainbow Seed Fund; Dr Steven Walker, Director General of Campden BRI; and James Sundquist, Innovation and Skills Programme Manager at the BBSRC.
The MVLS submission was led by the Impact Strategy Working Group – which comprises Dr Carol Clugston, College Secretary; Professor Nicol Keith, Impact Champion, Institute of Cancer Sciences; Professor Graeme Milligan, Dean of Research; and Dr Jane Townson, Deputy College Secretary – and has been a primary focus of College activities over the past three years.
Also in attendance were Anna Dominiczak, Vice Principal and Head of College and industry collaborators including David Sibbald, Executive Chairman of Aridhia Informatics and Fiona Fleming from NHS Research Scotland.
The judges were treated to exhibitions from academics across the college, including Alex Binks, 2015’s Impact in 60 Seconds winner; Zoe Johnston, Images with Impact 2015 winner; and Dr Tiziana Lembo from BAHCM, amongst many others.
The judges’ visit also included a visit to the Glasgow Science Centre in an effort to highlight some of the public engagement activities undertaken by the college.
Institutions who take part in the Excellence with Impact Competition are judged on a number of factors including encouraging Research Organisations (ROs) to develop a vision that supports wide-ranging impact from their research, embedding impact-enhancing strategies and showcasing the impact of excellent research.
Professor Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “
“Through its efforts in impact and in this competition, MVLS has offered the whole of our University a great example on the way in which impact can be used and profiled.”
Dr Clugston said: “We are delighted to be a finalist in the BBSRC Excellence with Impact Competition, and I am proud of the whole team involved.
“Our College believes that all excellent research can achieve impact, making a constructive difference in some way and at some time that will ultimately benefit society.
“MVLS has developed a strategy to support staff in realising impacts from their research through activities aligned to the four themes of understanding, identifying, enabling and publicising impact, and we look forward to showcasing that to the BBSRC judges for the competition when they come to Glasgow next month.”
MVLS is a finalist in the competition alongside fellow Scottish institutions The University of Aberdeen and The University of Edinburgh. Other finalists include Aberystwyth University, Babraham Institute, John Innes Centre, University of Leeds, the University of Manchester, University of Oxford and Queen Mary University of London.
The winners and runners-up from the competition will be announced on 18 May 2016 at Fostering Innovation 2016.
Professor Anna Dominiczak, Vice-Principal and Head of College of MVLS said: “I am incredibly proud that MVLS has been shortlisted in this prestigious competition.
“Since beginning our journey in this competition the importance and role of impact has become embedded in every aspect of our College life. What we have achieved over the last few years has been beyond my expectations”.
enquiries: ali.howard@glasgow.ac.uk or elizabeth.mcmeekin@glasgow.ac.uk / 0141 330 6557 or 0141 330 4831
First published: 14 April 2016
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