New prize for early career researchers launched as Colloquium booking opens

A new prize, named after Professor Hywel Thomas, the outgoing President of the Learned Society of Wales, will recognise the work of an early career researcher or research team in Wales.

The announcement of the prize is made as bookings open for the fourth Early Career Researchers (ECR) Colloquium.

We will award the inaugural Hywel Thomas Prize for Research Culture and Community Leadership to recognise an outstanding contribution that either champions early career research, improves research culture or builds sustainable, supportive research environments beyond someone’s own career or institution. 

The winner will be announced at the Colloquium, held this year 29-30 June in Aberystwyth.

Tickets for the colloquium are now available. Click here to reserve your place.

“Hywel Thomas’ period as President of the Society has had many successes, not least its focus on researcher development and the creation of our Early Career Researchers Network,” said Dr Barbara Ibinarriaga-Soltero, the LSW’s Programme Manager for Researcher Development.

“It is therefore fitting that we launch this new prize in honour of his contribution, as he comes to the end of his Presidency with the Learned Society.

“This will be a permanent feature of the Society’s calendar and an ongoing recognition of the role he played in putting early career researchers at the forefront of our work.”