Professor Rick Rylance, Chief Executive of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) today (1 July) begins his term as Chair of Research Councils UK (RCUK) Executive Group.
Commenting on his new role, Professor Rylance said: “I am delighted and honoured to be Chair of RCUK Executive Group and will work with my Chief Executive colleagues to develop research excellence across the UK over the next crucial period. RCUK, in partnership with other funders and agencies, will ensure that our world-leading research base is sustained and that the best people doing the best research with the greatest impact are supported across all disciplines.”
Professor Rylance has been Chief Executive of AHRC since September 2009 and brings a new insight to the post of RCUK Executive Group Chair. His term will see a continuation of cross-Council working, multi-disciplinary research and new partnerships with a variety of organisations.
RCUK is the partnership of the UK’s seven Research Councils. It is led by the RCUK Executive Group, which is made up of the Chief Executives of all the Research Councils, and is responsible for driving and monitoring the strategic and operational activities that deliver the RCUK mission. The Chair is selected from among serving Research Council Chief Executives every two years.
Professor Rylance’s appointment will last until July 2013. He succeeds Professor Alan Thorpe, Chief Executive of the Natural Environment Research Council.
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Further information
Contact:
Jane Wakefield Jane.wakefield@rcuk.ac.uk
RCUK Press and Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 444592
Jake Gilmore j.gilmore@ahrc.ac.uk
AHRC Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 41 6021
Notes to editors
Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils. We invest annually around £3 billion in research. Our focus is on excellence with impact. We nurture the highest quality research, as judged by international peer review providing the UK with a competitive advantage. Global research requires we sustain a diversity of funding approaches, fostering international collaborations, and providing access to the best facilities and infrastructure, and locating skilled researchers in stimulating environments. Our research achieves impact – the demonstrable contribution to society and the economy made by knowledge and skilled people. To deliver impact, researchers and businesses need to engage and collaborate with the public, business, government and charitable organisations. www.rcuk.ac.uk.
The seven UK Research Councils are:
• Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC);
• Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC);
• Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC);
• Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);
• Medical Research Council (MRC);
• Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
• Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) supports research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from languages and law, archaeology and English literature to design and creative and performing arts. The AHRC makes research awards every year ranging from individual fellowships to major collaborative projects as well as over 1,100 studentship awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded.