PRESS RELEASES

Nature Research Award for Driving Global Impact to focus on researchers addressing global challenges

The application period for this year’s Nature Research Award for Driving Global Impact, in partnership with Tencent, is now open  

London | Beijing, 10 February 2020

Early career researchers are invited to apply for the Nature Research Award for Driving Global Impact, organised in partnership with Tencent, for the second year running. This year, the scope of the award has been broadened to reflect some of our greatest societal challenges, including research into food, water and energy security; healthcare interventions; environmental protection; climate change; and sustainable cities. Researchers who have established an independent research group within the past five years, and are working on projects in any of these broad areas are encouraged to apply. Applications can be submitted until 27 March 2020 through the award website, which also includes detailed information about the eligibility criteria.

Applicants are judged by a panel chaired by Nature Editor-in-Chief Magdalena Skipper, and including relevant Nature Research editors and independent experts. The winner of the prize receives USD 30,000, and two runners-up will each receive USD 10,000.

Magdalena Skipper, Editor-in-Chief of Nature, said: “I’m delighted that this year’s Nature Research Award for Driving Global Impact will recognise early career researchers who are seeking solutions to global challenges. Science has a critical role to play in addressing issues such as climate change, food security and healthcare interventions. Nature and Springer Nature are committed to supporting the research communities in their efforts. I strongly encourage researchers worldwide to apply for this award. We look forward to learning how your work is making a difference.”

There are many threats to public safety, health and the environment, with the most recent examples being the bushfires in Australia, the swarms of locusts in East Africa and the outbreak of current novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in China. 

Edward Cheng, Vice President of Tencent, said: "There is an urgent need for global scientists to work together to create breakthroughs, as unprecedented challenges related to public health and climate change have arisen in recent years, bringing significant impacts to mankind and the world. This is the second year that Tencent and Nature Research join hands to launch the Nature Research Awards for Driving Global Impact. We are pleased that numerous important scientific topics have been added to the scope of this year’s award with an aim to encourage more young scientists reaching their highest potential whilst building a sustainable future together."

The winner of the 2019 inaugural award was Professor Tom Baden of the University of Sussex for his research into signaling processes within the retina, and projects promoting open source hardware and 3D printing in developing countries. 

About Nature Research

Nature Research is a portfolio of high-quality products and services across the life, physical, chemical and applied sciences – including journals, databases and researcher services – dedicated to serving the scientific community.

Nature (founded in 1869) is the leading, international weekly journal of science. Nature Research also publishes a range of Nature-branded subscription journals, the leading open access multidisciplinary journal Nature Communications, other open access journals including Scientific Reports, and a range of Nature Partner Journals published in partnership with institutions and societies. Together, these journals publish some of the world's most significant scientific discoveries.

Online, nature.com provides over nine million unique visitors per month with Nature Research content, including news and comment from Nature, and the leading scientific jobs board, Nature Careers. Nature Research also offers a range of researcher services, including online and in-person training and expert language and editing services. For more information, please visit nature.com and follow @nresearchnews. Nature Research is part of Springer Nature.

About Springer Nature

For over 175 years Springer Nature has been advancing discovery by providing the best possible service to the whole research community. We help researchers uncover new ideas, make sure all the research we publish is significant, robust and stands up to objective scrutiny, that it reaches all relevant audiences in the best possible format, and can be discovered, accessed, used, re-used and shared. We support librarians and institutions with innovations in technology and data; and provide quality publishing support to societies. 

As a research publisher, Springer Nature is home to trusted brands including Springer, Nature Research, BMC, Palgrave Macmillan and Scientific American. For more information, please visit springernature.com and @SpringerNature

About Tencent

Tencent uses technology to enrich the lives of Internet users. Our social products Weixin and QQ link our users to a rich digital content catalogue including games, video, music and books. Our proprietary targeting technology helps advertisers reach out to hundreds of millions of consumers in China. Our infrastructure services including payment, security, cloud and artificial intelligence create differentiated offerings and support our partners’ business growth. Tencent invests heavily in people and innovation, enabling us to evolve with the Internet. Tencent was founded in Shenzhen, China, in 1998. Shares of Tencent (00700.HK) are traded on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.

Further Information

For more information about last year’s winner Tom Baden, see here 

Further details about the awards, including guidelines for applicants, are available at: www.nature.com/impactawards

Contact

Elizabeth Hawkins | Springer Nature | Communications
tel +49 6221 487 8130 | elizabeth.hawkins@springernature.com