A Lancaster University statistician is among the first members of the new UK Young Academy – a network of early career researchers and professionals established to help tackle local and global issues and promote meaningful change.

As part of the first cohort of 67 members, announced today by UK and Ireland National Academies, Professor Rebecca Killick of Lancaster University’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics, will have the opportunity to help shape the strategy and focus of this new organisation.

Along with their fellow members from across academia, charity organisations and the private sector, they will have the chance to inform local and global policy discussions, galvanising their skills, knowledge, and experience to find innovative solutions to the challenges facing societies now and in the future.

The UK Young Academy connects and develops talented individuals in the early years of their career from a wide range of sectors so they can collaborate to make a difference in the world.

It is part of a growing international initiative to give young, early-career innovators, professionals, academics and entrepreneurs a voice for the advancement of issues that are important to them. The UK Young Academy gives its members the chance to have their perspectives, knowledge and insights represented as part of the wider landscape of academic and professional bodies in the UK.

Professor Killick said: “As a statistician and data scientist, we touch all areas and can contribute meaningful analysis and debate to policy and national decision-making. Through my research and engagement activities, I have seen first-hand how excellence, coupled with a collaborative mind-set can achieve amazing things. I’m eager to represent my field and shape the priorities of the UK Young Academy to tackle larger and more impactful challenges.”

The UK Young Academy has been established as an interdisciplinary collaboration with prestigious national academies: the Academy of Medical Sciences, British Academy, Learned Society of Wales, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Irish Academy, Royal Society of Edinburgh, and the Royal Society. It joins the global initiative of Young Academies, with the UK Young Academy becoming the 50^th to join the Young Academy movement.

Professor Julia Black, President of the British Academy, said: “We are delighted to join the other Academies in launching this exciting initiative. Empowering talented and ambitious researchers in the humanities and social sciences has always been a major priority for the British Academy. The Young Academy will help harness the drive, energy and passion of the next generation, providing them with a platform to make a real difference not just in their academic fields, but to the UK’s wider higher education and research sector. We wish the members of the Young Academy every success and look forward to seeing the fruits of their work.”

The successful applicants officially took up their posts on 1 January 2023, and membership runs for 5 years.