University receives huge donation to support research partnerships
THE UNIVERSITY of Sheffield has been awarded one of its largest philanthropic donations in its history to support international research partnerships.
The landmark gift of $1.5 million was given by the global science and technology research organisation Battelle, based in Columbus, Ohio.
It will be used to establish the Wadsworth Fellowships – an early career fellowship exchange programme between the university, Battelle and Ohio State University.
The ambition for the fellowships is to provide an outstanding educational experience for early-career researchers and to advance the academic programmes and values of the institutions involved.
The donation was made in honour of Dr Jeffrey Wadsworth, CEO and president of Battelle, which conducts research and development, manages laboratories and designs and manufactures products in order to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. Battelle’s vision is to translate knowledge into innovative applications that have significant societal and economic impacts.
Dr Wadsworth is an alumnus of Sheffield, having graduated in 1972 and completing a PhD in metallurgy in 1975, before receiving an honorary degree from the university in 2004. He has also been a long-standing supporter of the university’s scholarship programme.
Professor Sir Keith Burnett, the university’s president and vice chancellor, said: “Our university was envisioned as a place that would transform lives for the better. One of the most important ways we do this is by fostering a global community of scholarship to support the exchange of new ideas and the importance of working with others to solve problems. The Wadsworth Fellowships will help us to push our own boundaries in the interests of discovery and making a difference and this is a passion we share with both Jeff and Battelle.”
The fellowships will be awarded in areas including medicine, science and engineering.