The Celebrating Impact Prize awards are part of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Festival of Social Sciences, this year the award ceremony was live streamed from the Royal Society in London on 2 November. The competition, now in its tenth year, recognises and rewards ESRC-funded researchers who have achieved impact through exceptional research, knowledge exchange activities, collaborative partnerships and engagement with different communities.

This year a special prize was awarded in memory of the late Professor Sir John Hills who is remembered across the social science and policy community for his leadership and contribution to social policy, especially in relation to poverty and inequality. 

This category recognised a social scientist whose work demonstrates how the economic and social sciences benefit wider society and who has encouraged or facilitated positive, lasting and profound changes in the quality of the lives of a significant number of people over a sustained period.

Dr Tania Burchardt, Associate Director of CASE, was delighted to present the award to the winner, Professor Heather Joshi, and offer her congratulations on behalf of us all at CASE.

The John Hills Impact Prize 2022

Winner
Professor Heather Joshi CBE, IOE, Centre for Longitudinal Studies, UCL

Exposing social inequalities and working to break the cycle of disadvantage
As a leading architect of ESRC’s prestigious longitudinal studies infrastructure, Professor Heather Joshi CBE has made an outstanding contribution to social science. Her influence on government policies relating to women, employment, working families and pensions is evident in the everyday lives of British people across multiple generations.

Finalist
Professor Jane Millar OBE, University of Bath: Helping UK’s benefits system deliver financial security and stability