Mathematician nominated for prestigious life-time achievement award

Thursday, 16 August 2012

Professor Nancy Nichols

Professor Nancy Nichols has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to mathematics and for her dedication in helping women develop their careers.

Professor Nichols has been nominated for the UKRC WISE Award for Lifetime Achievement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The Award pays tribute to women who have made significant achievements in the STEM subject over their career lifetime and who, through their work, have inspired future generations of women to pursue a STEM career.  

Professor Nichols has had a long and distinguished career in mathematics. She was one of the few UK female professors in mathematics when the University of Reading appointed her in 1995. She has developed the careers of an impressive 32 successful PhD students and continues in supervision of five further PhDs, of which 16 have been women.

Professor Nichols said: "It is an honour for me to be short-listed for this award. It has been a pleasure for me to work with colleagues in many different disciplines and also with a variety of industries.  I have been especially pleased to have had the opportunity to demonstrate the strong role women may play in both academic and industrial research and have enjoyed teaching and mentoring many students throughout my career.

"The initiative of the UKRC in publicising the careers of women in science is extremely important and I am grateful and honoured that my colleagues are recognising not only my record in mathematics but also the active support for female colleagues and students that I have been able to provide during my career."

Dr Beatrice Pelloni, Head of the University's Department of Mathematics and Statistics, said: "Nancy is inquisitive, indefatigable, selfless and always ready to go beyond the call of duty.  She has been an invaluable mentor and colleague also to the many, many students and junior staff in her large group, and in particular to her women students and colleagues, like me.

"Her work over forty years has spanned several topics, and has always met the utmost standards of rigour and originality, while being delivered with her distinctive charm and humour.  She is a precious colleague and a wonderful person and we have been lucky to have her around for so long. The Department is thrilled that Nancy has been nominated for this richly deserved award."

The 2012 WISE Awards in association with Amey, will be held on 29th November 2012 at The Institution of Engineering and Technology, London.