Monday, 20 June 2022
Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam has been honoured in the Business of Science Leadership Awards, to recognise the leadership he demonstrated during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Professor Van-Tam has received the Special Recognition Award in the Business of Science Leadership Awards – which are designed to pay tribute to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding business leadership in the area of science and innovation and is voted for by a panel of esteemed judges.
The judges honoured Professor Van-Tam to recognise the work he has done to bring science and business together for societal benefit, and to celebrate the leadership he demonstrated so clearly during the Covid-19 pandemic. They also recognised his ability to clearly communicate the value and importance of science to the public using understandable anecdotes, humour and facts in a way that was engaging and respectful to the audience.
First held in 2016, the Business of Science was founded to encourage and catalyse discussion and activity around the “commercialisation of science” whilst exploring the key, interlinked themes of “Science, Innovation and Skills”. A very important part of this is the development and encouragement of the interaction between science and business and the Business of Science Leadership Awards, sponsored by PZ Cussons.
Steve Bennett, the Founder of the Business of Science Conference and the Chair of the Leadership Award Judges, said: “The Judges of the 2022 Business of Science Leadership Awards are delighted to present the Special Recognition Award to Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam MBE FMedSci.
“The award is to recognise his outstanding leadership and work across business and science, in highlighting the value and contribution of science to public health and in clearly communicating such messages with clarity, humour and empathy to encourage citizen science and the widespread acceptance of self-testing.”
Professor Van-Tam said on his award win: “I am overwhelmed to receive this business of Science Leadership Award.
During my public health career I’ve also spent time in the vaccine and pharmaceutical industries and those experiences were one of the reasons I was able to contribute in the way I did to the UK vaccine taskforce, and our mission of getting vaccines to the UK, and the world, as quickly as we possibly could.
“I couldn’t have learnt those particular skills from anywhere else, and because of that special allegiance, I’m over the moon to receive this award.”
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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