World Economic Forum Honours Southampton Scientist

University of Southampton Astronomer Dr Anna Scaife has been selected by the World Economic Forum to join its 2014 Young Scientists Community.

Dr Scaife is one of 30 scientists from around the world who will engage with business and political leaders at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2014 in Tianjin, China (on 10-12 September) to contribute their scientific perspective and identify emerging research trends.

The Annual Meeting of the New Champions brings together more than 1,900 participants from 90 countries under the theme, Creating Value through Innovation.

Dr Scaife has been selected for her work in developing new techniques for detecting and measuring magnetic fields in clusters of galaxies and the cosmic web using radio astronomy.

Dr Scaife says: “I am very grateful to the World Economic Forum for this honour and for the opportunities it has made available to me through the WEF network. Bringing together scientists with business and political leaders provides a unique platform in which to discuss and develop the social and economic impacts of scientific research. I hope that this opportunity will allow me to broaden the impact of my own research and also to highlight both the historical and immediate benefits of radio astronomy to a wider society.

“I would also like to thank the European Research Council, who support my research.” Each year the Forum identifies the best scientific minds, leading in the pursuit of answers for global impact and the common good. They are honoured for their contributions to advancing the frontiers of science, engineering or technology in areas of high societal impact.

More than 250 nominations were submitted from 21 leading global science institutions, including the European Research Council, Nature Magazine, Scientific American Magazine, National Institutes of Health, École Polytechnique Fédérale De Lausanne, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, and the Global Young Academy.