Richard Silman, Chair of MRS

With the most entries ever (and the highest number of client-driven entries) the MRS Awards 2015, which were announced at Supernova London on Monday, saw us celebrate the pinnacles of excellence across our sector.

But we have a lot more to celebrate beyond that one night.

The awards do not just mark the end of a year. Jane Frost also unveiled our plan to mark the 70th anniversary of MRS in 2016. We will not only honour the achievements of our sector so far, but we will look ahead to the challenges and opportunities of the future.

I think we can all - not just MRS - do a lot more to promote the unique strengths of the business of research. In fact, doing so is critical if we are to fulfill our potential as a sector. This anniversary presents us with just such an opportunity.

Celebrating success is not indulgent, whether for an award or an anniversary. Look at Monday’s sumptuous new venue – was this an indulgence? No, it is absolutely necessary to accommodate a record number of attendees, which in turn signals the ever greater ambition of the research sector.

‘Curiosity, insight and revolution’. These words do not describe an industry that is either introspective and deferential, or superficial and indulgent. These are important words that reflect this sector’s commanding role in the machinery of business and society.

Let’s continue to celebrate on behalf of the sector, not just for one night but into 2016 and beyond.

See the full list of MRS Awards winners here.

 

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