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Water Woman Award 2025

Category
Water Woman
Date

water@leeds recognizing the inspiring power of women 

water@leeds is delighted to launch the fourth edition of the Water Woman Award. Water Woman aims to recognize the achievements of women in research, and their power to inspire others. 

By rewarding achievements by women whose work contributes to the objectives of water@leeds in securing competitive research funds, producing world-class research,  achieving significant societal impact, or supporting others in doing so, the Water Woman Award aims at highlighting their efforts in an academic world in which the hurdles are still greater for females. 

Read about our previous winners

Water Woman Award Inspirational Event 2023

The award is based on two equally weighted criteria: the nature of the achievement, and its potential for empowering and inspiring other women into following their example. 

Contributions can be of any discipline or support sector of the University contributing to addressing water related challenges. The awards are open to all employees of the University of Leeds identifying as women, and from all backgrounds. 

The Water Woman Award concerns achievements having taken place (or having reached a significant milestone) within their last 5 full time equivalent years[1] 

Award Categories 

Applicants or nomination should select one of the following 4 categories and the winners will receive £1000 each, transferred to their staff development account: 

  • Research Funding:  in recognition of securing significant competitive research funding[2] 
  • Research Excellence:  in recognition of outstanding research (e.g. academic publication or equivalent) 
  • Societal impact and Knowledge transfer: in recognition of translating research and innovation 
  • Academic Support: in recognition of critical support provided to the achievement of any of the above (e.g. through administrative, organizational or technical support) 
  • Early Career Award.  Early career is defined as being within eight years of the award of their PhD[3] and applies to any of the above categories. Applicants without a PhD will still be considered for the Academic Support Award.  The winner will receive £500 to their development account. 

The Water Woman Award is part of a broader Water Woman Initiative, which creates a space for celebration and mutual inspiration for water@leeds women. In the last edition we hosted an Inspirational Event. This year we are supporting Carers in STEMM co-founded by Prof Laura Carter, a former Water Woman Award winner. 

How to Apply 

To apply complete this Application Form by midnight on 17 January 2025. 

If you would like to see the Application Form questions in advance of starting the form, they are here:  WWA Questions.  But please note we will only accept applications via the online form. 

Winners will be announced on 10 February 2025, to mark the UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science. 

For more information, please contact: 

Ann Marie Boyle (A.M.Boyle@leeds.ac.uk) 


[1]i.e. the time of career breaks is to be discounted from the 5 years. 

[2] The level of significance will be considered in relation to the discipline and area of work and does not include a specific threshold of the value amount. 

[3] We class an early career researcher (ECR) as being: within eight years of the award of their PhD (this duration should exclude any period of career break, for example, family care or health reasons) Or within six years of their first academic appointment (by 'first academic appointment', this is a paid contract of employment, either full-time or part-time, which lists research and/or teaching as the primary function).