Southampton Professor to help choose £10m prize fund winner to solve global issue
Professor Lucy Yardley from the University of Southampton has been appointed as one of the judges for a new challenge prize with a £10 million fund. The Longitude Prize has been launched to solve one of the greatest scientific problems facing the world today.
The UK’s innovation foundation Nesta, in collaboration with Innovate UK, the new name for Technology Strategy Board, BBC and other partners, launched the Longitude Prize 2014 earlier this year to find solutions to one of six key global challenges: dementia, antibiotics, flight, water, paralysis and food.
After a five week public vote, antibiotics became the theme of the Prize. Competitors can enter ideas that help reduce antibiotic resistance. They have to come up with a device to make sure the right antibiotics are prescribed when they are really needed. Entries can be submitted from Tuesday 18th November – European Antibiotic Awareness Day.
The Longitude Prize commemorates the 300th anniversary of 1714 Longitude Act, which was won by John Harrison. His clocks enabled sailors to pinpoint their position at sea for the first time.
Professor Yardley is part of the Longitude Advisory Panel, which features experts from across the scientific world, who will judge all entries relating to how to combat the rise in antibiotics resistance and give advice to the Longitude Committee who will make the final decision on who wins the Prize.
Professor Yardley says: “This is a great opportunity for us to tackle some of the biggest issues facing society today. The development of antibiotics has added years to our life. Yet the rise of antimicrobial resistance is threatening to make them ineffective. It is one of the most serious issues we face.”
More information about the Prize can be found at www.longitudeprize.org