Professor Jane Rickson wins Women Leaders MK outstanding achievement award

Cranfield University’s Professor Jane Rickson has won both the ‘outstanding achievement’ award and the ‘Engineering, Science and Maths’ award at the annual Women Leaders MK awards evening hosted at Stadium:MK.

Professor Rickson was part of the team at Cranfield that was responsible for the University being awarded its fifth Queen’s Anniversary Prize, for research and education in large-scale soil and environmental data for the sustainable use of natural resources in the UK and worldwide.

Her work includes research for Government and private sector clients investigating soil degradation and loss of ecosystem goods and services; soil quality indicators; and the total costs of soil degradation. She is also involved in the training and teaching on postgraduate courses in Land Reclamation and Restoration, Environmental Engineering and Soil Management.

Professor Rickson, who is Professor of Soil Erosion and Conservation at the University, is also the first female President of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers in its 80-year history.

Professor Leon A. Terry, Director of Environment & Agrifood at Cranfield University, said: “As a leader in her field, Jane is an inspiration to us all with her contribution to soil science and agricultural engineering being rightly recognised across the world. This award is just recognition for Jane’s outstanding contribution to science and engineering.”

Also shortlisted at the award evening were Cranfield University’s Dr Christine Thompson, Director of Research and Innovation, and Jane Wharmby, Cranfield Executive Development’s Business Development Director.