WISE Lifetime Achievement Award
Elizabeth Kuipers, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry (IoP), King’s College London, has received the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Lifetime Achievement award.
Professor Kuipers was recognised for her significant contribution in making a difference to science, industry and society as a whole and for inspiring other women to follow in her footsteps. Elizabeth was presented the award by HRH The Princess Royal at a glittering ceremony at the Science Museum London, on Thursday 14 November.
The annual WISE Awards are designed to identify inspiring organisations and individuals promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics to girls and young women.
Professor Kuipers’ research and clinical work focuses on developing, evaluating and improving psychological interventions for people with psychosis and their caregivers. At the forefront of her field, Professor Kuipers’ interventions (family intervention for psychosis (FIp) and cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis (CBTp)) are National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended NHS treatments.
Professor Kuipers leads the IoP Athena SWAN Self-Assessment Team and is steering the IoP in its preparation and submission for an Athena SWAN Silver Award. She was responsible for starting the Women in Science initiative at the IoP and the ‘Inspiring Women’ series of events including a Q&A with Professor Dame Sally Davies, a photographic exhibition of female professors and podcasts from researchers and students describing the women scientists who have inspired them.
Prof Kuipers receiving her award from HRH The Princess Royal
On receiving her award from HRH The Princess Royal, Prof Kuipers said: “We are working hard to make sure that the wider scientific community in which we operate looks to change the experience of women at work. When I started my career there were far fewer women role models in science but I was fortunate to have worked with inspiring peers in a supportive environment.”
Professor Shitij Kapur, Dean and Head of School at the IoP said: “Throughout her 35 year career, Elizabeth has been an outstanding role model, particularly in showing us how to combine the demands of a successful clinical and academic career with a family life. In what is, at a senior level, still a rather male dominated environment, Elizabeth has been responsible for addressing, challenging and raising awareness of the inequities women face in their academic careers and is helping us address them. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Professor Kuipers on this fantastic achievement and to thank her for her work for IoP and King’s.”
The IoP also had a nominee in the WISE Advisor Award category; Margaret Heslin, a researcher in Health Economics, was shortlisted for creating an award for young women in science. Encouraging young women from disadvantaged backgrounds to stay in education, the award hopes to help them develop a career in science, technology, engineering or maths.
WISE aims to push the presence of female employees in the STEM sector from 13% to 30% by 2020, boosting the talent pool to drive economic growth and build a better future for UK industry.
For further information please contact Louise Pratt, PR & Communications Manager, King’s College London Institute of Psychiatry 020 7848 5378 louise.a.pratt@kcl.ac.uk