2024 Institute for Policy and Engagement Awards

In the week commencing 22^nd April 2024, we proudly unveiled the winners of the Institute for Policy and Engagement Awards. These awards recognise the outstanding contributions of numerous University of Nottingham academics and staff who have made tangible differences through their research. From influencing policies to driving positive impacts through community engagement at the local and national levels, our nominees and awardees exemplify excellence in their various fields. We couldn’t be prouder of them all!

About this year's awards

In the last couple of decades, the academic community at the University of Nottingham has produced world-changing research by focusing on real-world problems and challenges that affect people and society in the UK and globally. At the Institute, we have constantly positioned and connected Nottingham’s world-leading academics producing this amazing research with policymakers to create real impact, share insights and solve problems.

To give back the academic community, we established the Institute for Policy and Engagement Awards in 2019 as a platform for showcasing and spotlighting these amazing academics, and the impact they are making with their research.

This is the 5^th year, and we are super excited for all the nominees and winners. This year’s awards had six categories: Best Policy Impact Initiative, Best Public Engagement Initiative, Rising Star: Policy Impact, Rising Star: Public Engagement, Best Schools Engagement Initiative, Institute Director’s Award.

The selection process

The selection process was a meticulous one, designed to ensure the recognition of the most deserving candidates. The process is overseen by a distinguished panel of judges, each bringing their unique expertise and perspective from start to finish.

Stephen Meek, the Director of the Institute for Policy and Engagement brings extensive experience in public policy and public engagement. Katherine Hathaway, the Director of Programmes at NCCPE, lends her expertise in programme management and her keen eye for impactful initiatives. Lastly, Peter Bruce, Head of Student Recruitment in Widening Participation at the University of Nottingham, provides a valuable perspective on public and stakeholder engagement.

It was a great privilege to be part of the panel for Nottingham’s Policy Impact and Public Engagement Awards 2024 and to see how much incredible engagement work is being undertaken. It meant the panel had some very difficult choices and, in some cases, it was impossible to do so. Colleagues at Nottingham should be justifiably proud of the variety, reach, scope and creativity you have shown in your engagement work and the significant impact you have achieved both individually, locally, nationally and internationally. Congratulations to all the finalists and, especially, to the final award winners.

Following the initial review, and another round of deliberations and consensus, the judges shortlisted the most compelling projects and initiatives. These finalists were then subjected to a more thorough evaluation where their initiatives and contributions were examined in greater detail.

The final decision was made through a scoring process, where each judge awarded a specific number of points according to the criterion for each award category. Winners were then chosen based on their final cumulative score, ensuring a fair and balanced outcome for every nominee. This stage was particularly challenging due to the high quality of nominations we received in all categories. This ultimately resulted in more than one winner in two of the award categories, having emerged with the same cumulative scores.

Meet the outstanding finalists and winners

Best Policy Impact Initiative

• Sarah Cassidy, Associate Professor, School of Psychology, Faculty of Science (Winner)
• Matthew Boyd, Professor of Medicines Safety, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science
• Caroline Emberson, Assistant Professor in Operations Management, Nottingham Business School
• Bagus Muljadi, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering.

Best Public Engagement Initiative

• Paul Crawford & team - School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (Winner)
• Hongwei Bao - School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies, Faculty of Arts
• Daniel Jolley - School of Psychology, Faculty of Science
• Helen Kennedy - School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies, Faculty of Arts

Rising Star Award: Public Engagement

• Lauren Eglen - Rights Lab, Faculty of Social Sciences (Winner)
• Aishah Nasir - Biodiscovery Institute
• Luke Norman - Nanoscale and Microscale Research Centre (nmRC)
• Scouting and Guiding Initiative (SAGI) Team - School of Psychology, Faculty of Science

Rising Star Award: Policy Impact

• Kimberley Sonnex - School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science (Winner)
• Li Shean Toh - School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science (Winner)
• Andrea Nicholson - School of Politics, Faculty of Social Sciences (Winner)

Best Schools Engagement Initiative

• The Vikings for Schools team - School of English, Faculty of Arts (Winner)
• Lucy Cragg - School of Psychology, Faculty of Science
• Jex Turner - Faculty of Engineering
• Is Tyrannosaurus rex was just a big chicken? - Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Institute’s Director’s Award

• Helen Frost - Faculty Head of Marketing and Communications, Faculty of Arts (Winner)
• Student Living Team and Political and Public Affairs teams (Winner)
• Helena French - Widening Participation and Outreach Officer, Faculty of Science

You can find detailed information about their projects and initiatives here.

Conclusion

As we reflect on the remarkable achievements of researchers highlighted through the Institute for Policy and Engagement Awards, we are reminded of their significance. These awards provide a moment to pause and celebrate the remarkable efforts of University of Nottingham academics working to bridge the gap between academia and society, to influence policy, and to engage the public in the world of research. We can’t wait to see our winners make more impact with their research and initiatives.

The diversity of initiatives, from outreach programs to collaborative research projects, reinforces the University of Nottingham’s commitment to making a tangible difference nationally and globally. As we look forward to the next awards, we are excited to see how our researchers will continue to shape policy and engage with the public in innovative ways.