The 2018 Vice-Chancellor’s Awards took place on Friday 5 October, if you missed the results live on Twitter, please find them below.
The winners are:
Award 1 – Early Career.
Winner Dr Long Tran-Thanh (Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences)
A lecturer in Computer Science who joined the University in 2016. He received the Most Engaging Lecturer Award in the same academic year and a Dean’s Award in 2017.
Long has received a number of prestigious awards and was invited to the House of Commons to present his research as a finalist of the STEM for Britain scientific competition. Last year he was awarded a Visiting Fellowship from the Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Society at the University of Southern California, and was elected as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Foundation for Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems.
Award 2 – Administrative and Operational Efficiency.
Winner The ERGOnauts Team (iSolutions & RIS)
The ERGOnauts Team has made an outstanding contribution to improving efficiency and reducing the administrative burden of the ethical review and approval of research through the design and implementation of the University’s second-generation online ethics review system – ERGO Two.
The planning, design and build of ERGO Two was conducted using agile development methodology, with the ERGOnauts focusing on user engagement throughout – involving the research community, Faculty Ethics Committee reviewers and students at all stages of the scoping, design and build.
Award 3 – Mentoring
Winner Dr Suzanne Reimer (Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences)
(Pete Langdon collected the award for Suzanne)
Suzanne is Associate Professor in Human Geography. She cares deeply about the development of lecturers and is keen that they succeed in research and teaching.
Suzanne frequently goes beyond the call of duty, and her inspiring dedication has made a huge difference to those that she supports, which in turn has positive effects for our students.
Award 4 – Public Engagement and Outreach
Winner The Learn with US Transition Programme Team (SRIR)
The Programme works with 16 to 18 year olds in schools and colleges to help develop the research and academic skills they need to be successful at Russell Group institutions.
The Programme, and associated Extended Project Qualification, or EPQ, admissions policy, was the first of its kind and is considered the leading example in the UK. The programme has expanded significantly over the last nine years, working with over 150 schools. The team’s online EPQ course has had over 98,000 learners sign up worldwide.
Award 5 – Research Impact
Winner The WorldPop Team
Led by Professor Andy Tatem, the team has made a major impact across a number of domains since its inception in 2013.
WorldPop has developed a unique research programme investigating how novel data sources such as satellite imagery, mobile phone network data and GPS-located surveys can be integrated to compliment national statistics. WorldPop’s research has shown how these approaches can be applied to address major issues such as disaster relief, disease elimination and poverty alleviation across the world.
Award 6 – International Engagement
Winner Bashir Lwaleed
Professor of Experimental Pathology in the School of Health Sciences. He has driven forward the Faculty’s internationalisation agenda by leading priority international agreements and fostering links with authorities and institutions in the Middle East and North Africa region, contributing to the recruitment of over 70 high-potential undergraduate and postgraduate students, and scholars across the University.
Award 7 – Collegiality
Winner Vanessa Cox
IT Manager, joined the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit in 1991. Vanessa oversees all aspects of the Unit’s IT department and ensures the production of high-quality research data throughout the Unit. This also extends to helping others by way of consultation on research
Award 8 – Support and Service to the University
Winner The Cancer Immunology Campaign Team
The cure for cancer? You’re it.
In 2015, the University publicly launched the Cancer Immunology Campaign to raise £25m to build the UK’s first Centre for Cancer Immunology.
The Campaign was an opportunity to create a cultural step-change in our philanthropic activity. This was the largest campaign we have ever undertaken and the first fundraising project clearly aligned with our strategy.
On 1st February this year, World Cancer Day, we announced we had reached our target of £25m, six months ahead of schedule.
The achievements of the Campaign team are outstanding; it is the first building in University history entirely funded by philanthropy.
Award 9 – Teaching
Winner Dr Deborah Thackray
Deborah, Lecturer in Physiotherapy, is the stream lead for all cardio-respiratory physiotherapy modules. Debbie has embraced this role wholeheartedly and has successfully integrated innovative approaches to make the teaching more engaging, improve the student experience, and engender enthusiasm for the topic across many cohorts of students.
Debbie’s most successful innovation has been her championing of the use of simulation in her teaching.
Award 10 – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Winner James Allen
James, a Learning Design Consultant, has made an outstanding contribution to the University with his dedicated work to create a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment for the LGBT community.
James recognised that when anyone can be themselves, they have an increased sense of wellbeing and perform better. We celebrate diversity and inclusion and want to make it easy to show support for each other, by enabling a positive working environment, where collegiality is visible.
Award 11 – Career Achievement
Winner The Grounds Team
A combined nomination for four members of staff in Estates & Facilities and Sport & Wellbeing, who have over 130 years’ service between them.
Malcolm Jenks, Chargehand Gardener, has worked at the University for over 22 years and has been head gardener at Highfield Campus for a significant time during his career.
Malcolm is loved by so many staff but has never been shown how much his hard work is appreciated.
The Sport & Wellbeing Grounds Team: John Kidd, Lee Bridle and Peter Wolfe, look after our Sports Grounds and Facilities at Wide Lane. The team have shown phenomenal dedication during their combined 108 years’ service.
Award 12 – Student Experience
Winner Graham Baxendale
Teaching Fellow and Senior Tutor in Sociology and Social Policy.
Helping some of our most vulnerable students, those facing mental health challenges, succeed and realise their full potential is particularly difficult but important work. Graham is doing outstanding work supporting and signposting these students to the support they need to realise their full potential.
Congratulations to everyone nominated, to those short listed and of course to the winners.
