Emerging leaders wanted as first members of new UK Young Academy

The first UK-wide national Young Academy – a network of early career researchers and professionals – is being launched today [14 June 2022].

The UK Young Academy will bring together researchers, innovators, clinicians, professionals, academics and entrepreneurs to tap into their collective potential and expertise to tackle important issues in society.  

The initiative, as part of an interdisciplinary collaboration with the Academy of Medical Sciences, British Academy, Learned Society of Wales, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Irish Academy, Royal Society of Edinburgh, and the Royal Society, aspires to connect emerging leaders with different knowledge and expertise, and include their voices in local and global policy discussions. 

Professor Dame Anne Johnson PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences said: 

“The road to a healthier future will be built by researchers from diverse backgrounds connecting across disciplines and career stages to share ideas and hear from people with different lived experiences. The UK Young Academy will create an exciting and unique forum for great minds to tackle the challenges that face us all now, and in the future. I am delighted that the Academy of Medical Sciences is a founding partner. 

“Many of the biggest societal challenges we face have a biomedical sciences element to them – from climate change and inequality to preparing for the next pandemic. The Academy of Medical Sciences encourages emerging leaders in our field to bring their skills, knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to the UK Young Academy and work to improve health in the UK and beyond. I look forward to seeing how the members of this new network will work together to influence beyond their current roles, bringing different perspectives together to innovate and promote change.”

Dr Olga Kozlova, Director of Innovation and Industry Engagement at the University of Strathclyde and member of the UK Young Academy appointments committee said:

“As a former member of the Young Academy of Scotland, I can speak from experience about the value of bringing people early on in their careers together to collaborate and learn from one another, in transforming the ways they look at the world. 

“Successful innovators, entrepreneurs and inventors of the future need the space and support to explore challenges from all angles, including the ones they hadn’t even known existed. This is the goal of the UK Young Academy; to enable cohesion between different sectors to solve societal challenges by harnessing talent across the country.”  

Professor Duncan Cameron, Professor of Plant and Soil Biology at the University of Sheffield and member of the UK Young Academy appointments committee said:

“As a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a disability advocate, I know that finding solutions to global challenges requires contributions from different people with different life experiences. It is therefore central to the creation of the new UK Young Academy that members commit to establishing an inclusive and equal environment for all. 

“We are committed to attracting a diverse membership and will be taking steps throughout the assessment process to ensure that all applicants have an equal chance to succeed. In addition, we will champion members of the UK Young Academy to be role models for other early career professionals aspiring to make positive change.” 

Applications for membership to the UK Young Academy are now open; details of selection criteria and how to apply can be found on the UK Young Academy website. Applications will close on 8 September 2022. 

ENDS 

 

Notes to editors 

About the UK Young Academy 

The UK Young Academy connects and develops talented individuals in the early years of their career from a wide range of sectors so they can collaborate to make a difference in the world.  

It is part of a growing international initiative to give young, early-career innovators, professionals, academics and entrepreneurs a voice for the advancement of issues that are important to them. The UK Young Academy gives its members the chance to have their perspectives, knowledge and insights represented as part of the wider landscape of academic and professional bodies in the UK.   

The UK Young Academy was initially established following an agreement by the seven UK Academies – the Academy of Medical Sciences, British Academy, Learned Society of Wales, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Irish Academy, Royal Society of Edinburgh, and the Royal Society. Working closely with the Global Young Academy and the Young Academy of Scotland, it was set up under the auspices of the Royal Society in 2022.   

The strategy and programme of work to be undertaken will be determined by the members of the UK Young Academy but it is hoped that there will be collaborations with other Young Academies across the world or alongside the established UK Academies. https://ukyoungacademy.org/    

The UK Young Academy will be underpinned by a shared set of values including: 

  • Excellence – members will be outstanding in their own field. 
  • Transparency – there will be a clear leadership structure that is accountable and elected through transparent procedures. 
  • Integrity – members will maintain high standards of ethics in order to make a credible contribution to global issues. 
  • Equality, diversity and inclusion – a commitment towards attracting a diverse membership will be made, and members will commit to maintaining an inclusive and equal environment for all. 

Initial funding to establish the UK Young Academy has been provided by the UK Government’s Department of Business, Education and Industrial Strategy as part of their R&D People and Culture Strategy. 

 

About the UK National Academies 

About the Academy of Medical Sciences  

The Academy of Medical Sciences is the independent body in the UK representing the diversity of medical science. Our elected Fellows are the UK’s leading medical scientists from hospitals, academia, industry and the public service. Our mission is to advance biomedical and health research and its translation into benefits for society. We are working to secure a future in which:  

  • UK and global health is improved by the best research. 
  • The UK leads the world in biomedical and health research, and is renowned for the quality of its research outputs, talent and collaborations.  
  • Independent, high quality medical science advice informs the decisions that affect society. 
  • More people have a say in the future of health and research. 

Our work focusses on four key objectives, promoting excellence, developing talented researchers, influencing research and policy and engaging patients, the public and professionals. 

www.acmedsci.ac.uk 

 

About the British Academy  

The British Academy is the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences. We mobilise these disciplines to understand the world and shape a brighter future. We invest in researchers and projects across the UK and overseas, engage the public with fresh thinking and debates, and bring together scholars, government, business and civil society to influence policy for the benefit of everyone.  
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk @BritishAcademy_ 

 

About the Learned Society of Wales 

The Learned Society of Wales is the national academy for arts and sciences. Our Fellowship brings together experts from across all academic fields and beyond. We use this collective knowledge to promote research, inspire learning, and provide independent policy advice. 

https://www.learnedsociety.wales/  

 

About the Royal Academy of Engineering 

The Royal Academy of Engineering is harnessing the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone. 

In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public. Together we’re working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age. 

www.raeng.org.uk 

 

About the Royal Irish Academy 

The Royal Irish Academy/Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann is Ireland’s leading body of experts in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. The Academy champions research and identifies and recognises Ireland’s world class researchers. It supports scholarship and promotes awareness of how science and the humanities enrich our lives and benefit society. Membership of the Academy is by election and is considered the highest Academic honour in Ireland. 

www.ria.ie  

 

About the Royal Society of Edinburgh 

The RSE, using the expertise of its Fellows, creates a unique impact by: 

  • Inspiring and supporting talent through a wide-ranging programme of research grants and awards. 
  • Engaging the public across Scotland on key contemporary issues through its outreach programme RSE@ and a wide-ranging programme of public events.  
  • Providing impartial advice and expertise to inform policy and practice through in-depth examination of major issues and providing expert comment on topical matters.  
  • Promoting Scotland’s interests overseas through building relationships with sister academies across the world and facilitating research collaborations.  

Website: www.therse.org.uk  

Twitter: @RoyalSocEd 

 

About the Royal Society 
The Royal Society is a self-governing Fellowship of many of the world's most distinguished scientists drawn from all areas of science, engineering, and medicine. The Society's fundamental purpose, as it has been since its foundation in 1660, is to recognise, promote, and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity.  

http://royalsociety.org. Follow the Royal Society on Twitter (@royalsociety) or Facebook (facebook.com/theroyalsociety) 

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