First Leverhulme Prizes Awarded

Thirteen young scholars who work in physics-related fields received Philip Leverhulme Prizes, which were awarded by the Leverhulme Trust, located in London, for the first time this past July. The prizes go to academics in the UK to recognize the research achievement, distinction, and promise of outstanding scholars usually younger than age 36 in the fields of astronomy and astrophysics, the classics, Earth sciences, economics, engineering, geography, and philosophy and ethics. In this inaugural year, 35 total prizes were awarded.

In the astronomy and astrophysics category, Nils Andersson, a lecturer in mathematics at the University of Southampton, was recognized for his work on relativistic astrophysics. Cathie Clarke, who carries out research on the theory of star formation, won a prize for her work. She is a senior lecturer at the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy. Andrew Liddle, the professor of astrophysics at the University of Sussex, won a prize for his work on cosmology and extragalactic astrophysics. Philip Mauskopf was recognized for his work on cosmology and millimeter wave instrumentation. He is a research fellow in the physics and astronomy department at Cardiff University. Ben Moore received a prize for his research on theoretical astrophysics and cosmology, and Ian Smail was acknowledged for his work on extragalactic astronomy. Both are Royal Society research fellows in the physics department at the University of Durham.

In the Earth sciences category, a prize went to Kenneth Carslaw, a reader in atmospheric science at the University of Leeds, for his contributions to atmospheric science. Tim Elliott received a prize in Earth sciences for his work on mantle geochemistry. He is a lecturer in the Earth sciences department at the University of Bristol. Gideon Henderson, a university lecturer in environmental Earth science at the University of Oxford, was honored for his work on geochemistry. Andrew Roberts was recognized for his research on paleomagnetism and environmental magnetism. He is a reader in these fields at the University of Southampton.

In the engineering category, Steve Elston received a prize for his work on liquid crystals and display technology. He is a lecturer in imaging and displays in the University of Oxford’s engineering department. Simon Guest was honored for his research on structural mechanics. He is a senior lecturer in the University of Cambridge’s engineering department. Colin McInnes, a professor of space systems engineering at the University of Glasgow, was acknowledged for his work in that field.

Each prize is worth £50 000 (about $74 000). The Leverhulme Trust was established in 1925 under the will of the first Lord Leverhulme, who, in the late 19th century, as William Hesketh Lever, had established Lever Brothers, a company known for its manufacture and sale of soap.