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The Research Impact Awards 2024 winners have now been announced!

Find out who won and the full list of shortlisted applicants below.

View the 2024 Sussex Research Culture and Research Impact Awards brochure [PDF 4.87MB]

For all enquiries, please contact the RQI team: rqi@sussex.ac.uk

If a cluster is not represented in a category this is because we did not receive any eligible applications from that cluster.

 Award Categories

1. Outstanding early-career impact

This award rewards activity by an early career researcher that is generating early or advanced impact in any field.

Winner:

Sciences

Dr Mahmoud Bukar Maina (LifeSciences) - Transforming Global Health: iPSC Innovations and Capacity Building in African Biomedical Research

My research has pioneered the use of induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) from indigenous Africans, opening new pathways to advancing global understanding of dementia. This spurred global engagements, including a talk at the United Nations General Assembly Science Summit. To support my work locally, I secured support from the Yobe State Government (YBSG) to establish a state-of-the-art Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre (BioRTC) in Nigeria and the Northern Nigeria Dementia Group. These have enhanced local research capabilities (150+ scientists trained at BioRTC since 2021) and forged numerous strategic partnerships, including an MoU between YBSG and the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ.

Shortlisted applicants:

Arts & Humanities

Dr Feras Alkabani (MAH) - Fundraising (multiple charities); knowledge dissemination (media); addressing real-world issues (Syria); engaging with non-academic communities (artists)

I’ve curated and translated a selection of Arabic medieval poems for Carole Bennett’s exhibitions, including Reflections of the Silk Road, (Royal Pavilion; 21-22 March 2023); all proceeds (over £15,000) were in aid of DePaul International. I’ve co-founded the Syrian Academics and Researchers’ Network (SARN) in the UK – the first of its type (September 2023) and secured AHRC funds as PI (November 2023) for its research activities (April 2024 – September 2025). I’ve collaborated with Damascus-based artists to publish an illustrated children’s story (September 2023) and contributed to 2 documentaries on T.E. Lawrence and Orientalism (October 2023 – January 2024).

Social Sciences

Dr Kyle S. Herman (SPRU) - Deployment of machine learning and AI to assess the commensurability of corporate climate disclosures with performance

The EU, the UK, and the US have recently ramped up regulations on corporate climate disclosure. The main impetus is to help firms align there climate disclosure with climate performance. Nevertheless, these regulations normally involve disclosure through reports--which are mainly not quantative but rather qualitative data. In recent publications, and in an ERC grant that is now in the second round, I develop tools and frameworks to solve this puzzle.

2. Commercial impact or outstanding engagement with a commercial partner

This award rewards engagement with a commercial partner that is generating early or advanced impact in any field.

Winner:

Sciences

Dr Charlotte Rae (Psychology) - A research-led support program for employers trialling a 4 day working week

The ‘4 day working week’ is gaining popularity amongst businesses who want to improve staff wellbeing and workplace performance. However, many organisations who would like to trial a 4 day week aren’t sure how to do so. The Sussex 4 Day Week project uses findings from psychological research to support employers with trialling a 4 day working week. We have helped 14 employers to implement a 4 day week trial, by redesigning the work, delivering productivity training, and measuring the impact on staff and on the business. After taking part in the project, 80% of employers kept their new working hours.

Shortlisted applicants:

Arts & Humanities

Dr Tanya Kant (MAH) - CheatGPT? Creating ethical use of generative text AI in the UK communications sectors

Text-generating AI tool ChatGPT and its competitors have made waves for their abilities to instantly create human-like text. My collaboration with Brighton-based PR firm Magenta Associates aims to empower workers in small-to-medium creative industries businesses to talk about and use AI text tools ethically, productively and with creative confidence. The project has mapped the terrain of UK AI policy and unveiled the realities of using generative text AI in the UK PR / Communications sector. By project completion we will have established a network of 1,000 content writers and employers in the industry, creating impact through policy and workplace change in AI writing practices throughout the sector.

3. Impact through interdisciplinary work

This award rewards the collaborative activity of an interdisciplinary team or informal grouping that is generating early or advanced impact in any field.

Winner:

Arts & Humanities

Dr Tom F. Wright (MAH) - Transforming Approaches to 'Oracy' in UK Schools Through Interdisciplinary Research

Speaking Citizens is a team of historians, linguists, social scientists and Classicists, exploring new approaches to ‘oracy’ (speaking and listening) in UK state schools. Our new evidence base is enabling teachers, policymakers, charities, and exam boards to see oral communication as more about preparation for citizenship than mere employability ‘skills.’ We are part of a movement that has convinced the Labour Party to embrace oracy as a key education policy, and we have changed teaching in over 60 UK schools through CPD training. Our approach is clear model of problem-focused interdisciplinary research, bringing insights from multiple disciplines to bear in impactful knowledge exchange

4. Social or cultural impact

This award rewards activity that is generating early or advanced social or cultural impact in any field.

Winner:

Sciences

Professor Jools Simner (Psychology) - Improving the lives of children with misophonia

To improve the lives of children with misophonia (a sound-sensitivity disorder), I achieved the following impact: (a) instigated a nationwide change in examination policy for GCSEs, A-levels, Scottish Highers etc., such that the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) now recognises and supports the 60,000 children with misophonia who take exams yearly (b) with my team, created a virtual support-hub for misophonia families, now being actively recommended by GPs (c) hosted a symposium with WestSussex.gov for 200 child-facing professionals, to provide better school-support for children with misophonia (d) created the first diagnostics for childhood misophonia, now administered via our open-access testing portal by thousands worldwide including clinical professionals (c) opened scores of new conversations on misophonia between parents and teachers via my purpose-built “misophonia-dialogues” web-application.

Shortlisted applicants:

Arts & Humanities

Professor Hester Barron (MAH) - Changing local history teaching in schools in Bolton, Greater Manchester

Inspired by essays written by schoolchildren in 1930s Bolton, now archived at The Keep in ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ, this public history project works alongside local heritage stakeholders in Greater Manchester to engage children from deprived communities in innovative co-created learning experiences. Using the words, images and stories of children living in their streets and communities nearly a century ago, the project brings the past to life for today’s primary and secondary-age children. A range of different activities encourage imaginative and empathetic responses, helping children gain greater understanding and appreciation of the history of their local area, and their place within it.

Social Sciences

Dr Karis Jade Petty (Global Studies) - Driving inclusion for the sight impaired in heritage and outdoor sectors: community, policy and practice

Dr Petty’s research examines experiences of nature amongst the sight impaired. This has involved creating a new walking programme providing sighted guiding for the sight impaired around Brighton and Hove. From this project, she co-produced guidance to support the creation of further programmes for the national Walking for Health network with Bristol University, the Ramblers, and British Blind Sport. Her most recent project explores the potential of participatory arts to drive inclusion in the outdoor and heritage sector for sight impaired visitors, which is now being explored through a funded pilot programme at Wakehurst Kew Gardens.

5. Impact on public policy

This award rewards activity that is generating early or advanced impact on public policy at any level (locally, nationally or internationally) and in any field.

Winner:

Sciences

Professor John Drury (Psychology) - Improving event safety and civil contingencies planning through crowd psychology

My research on crowd psychology has changed policy and guidance in UK government departments, changed crowd safety management practices around the world, and made people safer. My model of crowd behaviour in emergencies has become the leading and dominant approach in policy and practice, supplanting popular views such as ‘mass panic’. Based on my work, policy and practice has shifted from withholding information from the public to sharing information with the public. The dominant approach is now to treat the public as a partner, not an obstacle. My work provides the psychology needed for the UK policy of community resilience.

Shortlisted applicants:

Arts & Humanities

Professor Mahon O'Brien (MAH) - Shaping Policy and Public Perception Concerning the Use of Air-Cushioned Whips in Horseracing

“Mahon’s work is an inspiring example of the importance of Arts and Humanities (specifically philosophical and ethical) perspectives in areas of policymaking that are fraught with evidence gaps, strong opinions, and popular misconceptions. His research and broader expertise have positioned him as an influential voice in key policy discussions and decision-making processes relating to the ethics of whip use in horseracing, including through his capacity as Independent Chair of the British Horseracing Authority's (BHA) Ethics Committee.” (Professor Matthew Dimmock. Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange (School of Media, Arts and Humanities)). I have engaged effectively with the BHA executive, stakeholders, and the Horse Welfare Board, helping to shape current policy concerning the use of the air-cushioned whip (aka Pro-Cush). Some of my research on this issue was published in a high-profile sports policy journal in 2021 leading to widespread discussion. The BHA’s Whip Consultation group listed my article in the reference section of their published report in 2022 and agreed with some of my key recommendations. (https://media.britishhorseracing.com/bha/Whip/Whip_consultation_report.pdf)

Medicine

Jo Middleton (BSMS) - Improving treatment and outbreak management of scabies in care homes and other institutions

Scabies outbreaks in care homes, refugee settings, and other institutions are a major public health burden. As a result of ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ research and advocacy, in 2023 UK government published the first ever national scabies outbreak guidance, and in 2024 approved the licensing or oral ivermectin for scabies treatment.

Social Sciences

Professor Nuno Ferreira & Dr Moira Dustin (LPS) - Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Claims of Asylum in Europe: improving understanding and enhancing rights

SOGICA (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Claims of Asylum) was a four-year project (2016-2020) that created new understanding, raised awareness and impacted the work of courts, public agencies and NGOs through our findings and recommendations to improve the experiences of SOGI refugees. Beneficiaries of the research have included the Canadian Federal Court, UK parliament, European Union institutions, UNHCR and NGOs globally, who have used our research directly to decide on asylum claims, reform policies, produce strategies, and develop guidance for authorities. This has resulted in additional protection and rights-compliance in current policies and decisions, benefiting countries in Europe and beyond.

6. Impact on health or wellbeing

This award rewards activity that is generating early or advanced impact on health or wellbeing in any field.

Winner:

Medicine

Professor Sumita Verma (BSMS) with Margaret O'Sullivan, Ahmed Hashim, Adele Mourad - Engaging the disengaged: A novel hepatitis C community service for vulnerable adults

Our novel community liver model for the homeless/people who use drugs has led to increased access to and treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV); and improved patients’ HCV care experience/understanding of HCV/quality of life. Our model has been adopted nationally /endorsed by national liver bodies/charities and internationally by the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention as a good practice model. We have won multiple awards with multiple national/international presentations and high impact publications. This work is a major player in our national goal to achieve HCV elimination by 2030 and was submitted as a REF ICS in 2021.

Shortlisted applicants:

Arts & Humanities

Professor Joanna Callaghan (MAH) - Goodbye Breasts! A practice research project creating conversations about breast cancer, recovery and the creative arts

Goodbye Breasts! is a creative health project that explores breast cancer and recovery through a personal story led by Joanna Callaghan. It involves an interactive touring exhibition, a documentary, creative workshops and a digital campaign to explore women's experiences of breast cancer, mastectomy and faulty genes. Its four societal impact aims are to encourage positive conversations around breasts and breast health; raise awareness of early detection of breast cancer; increase understanding of faulty genes; and highlight the role of arts in health and wellbeing. It has over 40 stakeholders including medical professionals, charities, universities, and creative arts and cultural organisations.

7. Outstanding public or media engagement

This award rewards media or public engagement that is generating early or advanced impact in any field.

Winner:

Medicine

Professor Claire Smith (BSMS) - My Dead Body: breaking down boundaries, and delivering health education to millions.

The documentary ‘My Dead Body’ focused on the rare cancer of the first consented publicly dissected donor Toni Crews. 1.5 million viewers, and a considerable number of media and social media activities highlighted the public's interest in the documentary; showing admiration and gratitude for Toni, the value of education, and that while the documentary was uncomfortable to watch, it had value in reminding viewers of life, their bodies, and their purpose. Nominated for BAFTAs, Royal Television Society, and Greirson Awards the Anatomy team have demonstrated outstanding public engagement to promote health-conscious life choices and improve understanding of the human body.

Shortlisted applicants:

Social Sciences

Dr Emily Robinson (LPS) - H ull/Ravenser Odd: twin cities, sunken pasts -- exhibition, schools project, public events

A collaborative public project, recovering the forgotten history of a short-lived medieval island. Ravenser Odd emerged at the mouth of the Humber in the 1230s and became a Royal Borough in 1299, on the same day as its neighbour, Hull. While Hull survived and prospered, Ravenser Odd was soon washed away by storms; its story sinking with it. This forgotten environmental history has been retold through a three-month exhibition, including documents loaned from The National Archives, and a gallery of Lost Objects created by children in three local schools; a programme of public events; and a specially commissioned comic book.

8. Academic impact champion

This award rewards the contribution of an academic staff member to supporting their School’s / Department’s / Division’s community, culture and / or capability to achieve and / or report on research impact.

Winner:

Arts & Humanities

Professor Margaretta Jolly (MAH) - Leading School-wide transformative change in impact strategy, literacy, activity, and success

Margaretta has shown tremendous commitment to advancing impact work in the School of Media, Arts and Humanities. She has led on strategic planning and implementation of the School’s impact support programme, engages in numerous internal and external networks and steering groups, plays a crucial role in impact funding decisions, and has contributed substantially to raising impact literacy and mapping activity among faculty, through an extensive series of individual impact meetings. Further to this, she is leading the AHRC IAA’s largest strategic ‘cluster’ project, bringing together research across and beyond the School to facilitate impactful engagement with key regional stakeholders.

Shortlisted applicants:

Medicine

Professor Sumita Verma (BSMS) - Engaging the disengaged to achieve hepatitis C elimination and improve symptom burden in advanced liver disease

Nationally, we have championed novel community models of care for people who use drugs and the homeless – a cohort with high hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence. This work has been a major player in our national goal to achieve HCV elimination by 2030. It has been endorsed by national/international bodies and charities and submitted as a REF ICS 2021. Secondly, we lead on trialing novel palliative intervention for untreatable fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites), the commonest complication of advanced liver disease. We hope to reduce inequity in palliative care provision thereby enhancing end of life care for this neglected cohort.

9. Professional Services impact champion

This award rewards the contribution of a professional services staff member to supporting their School’s / Department’s / Division’s community, culture and / or capability to achieve and / or report on research impact.

Winner:

Arts & Humanities

Katherine Blackadder (MAH) - Katherine Blackadder: Driving impact literacy, activity and achievement through collaborative support and team development

Katherine has been pivotal in enhancing research impact in MAH since December 2022. She created a new work programme for impact support, leading a mini-team with marked gains in productivity and personal growth. Recognised for fostering non-academic impact understanding, she's also adeptly managed the AHRC Impact Acceleration Account, updating policies and guiding impactful research and ethics. As a mentor, she's nurtured over 30 advisory relationships, encouraging collaborative impact efforts across the university, and demonstrated exceptional leadership and integrity in preparing for REF 2028.

The Research Impact Awards 2024 are now closed for entries.

Find out more about the process below. Please note these documents may be updated in advance of the 2025 awards process.

For key information, eligiblity and further guidance on what to expect at each stage of the award process, please refer to the document below:

Research Impact Awards 2024: Key Information and Guidance [PDF 324.90KB]

To assist with your application, please see below PDF versions of the application form which you may wish to refer to before completing your entry on Qualtrics:

Research Impact Awards 2024 - Entry Form (Categories 1-7) (For info only) [PDF 205.58KB]

Research Impact Awards 2024 - Entry Form (Categories 8-9) (For info only) [PDF 179.02KB] 

What are the Research Impact Awards?

The Research Impact Awards are an important recognition of all impact achievements at Sussex. Whether this is through your own body of research, or through your work to support colleagues, all achievements are celebrated.

Award entry forms this year have been designed to focus on the entrant’s main impact/impact support achievement(s) so far, which is what is being recognised and rewarded.

As part of this recognition, which includes a financial prize, award entry forms have also been designed to assess the entrant's impact work more broadly (described with terms such as 'project' and 'activities'), meaning that it is understood that impact does not necessarily need to derive from one project/activity or support mechanism, or in a linear way/specified timeframe. Therefore award winners will be able to use the financial prize in any way, as long as this can be justified as contributing towards their impact development.

Celebrating everyone's impact achievements at Sussex

The Research Impact Awards seek to acknowledge what could be described as a perceived hard line between academic and research colleagues and Professional Services colleagues at ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ, by offering award categories that are accessible to all roles and career levels and providing an overall purpose of recognition and reward with these awards.

FAQs

Can I enter if I am a doctoral researcher or student?

Unfortunately doctoral researchers and students at any level are not eligible to enter. Doctoral researchers may instead be interested in the Adam Weiler Doctoral Impact Award.

See who won the Awards in previous years: Previous Research Impact Award winners [PDF 171.29KB]

Testimonials from previous winners

 - Winner of the Impact through public engagement award, 2023

It was fabulous being awarded the "Impact through Public Engagement Award" and getting recognition for my work in this domain.

What do you think about the impact awards (as a funding opportunity, a recognition of colleagues at Sussex)?

When looking for resources and support, Public Engagement often feels like the poor cousin of commercially driven knowledge exchange. Having Public Engagement specifically included in the impact awards is great. The recognition is gratifying and hopefully inspirational to other colleagues that there is value in this kind of impact work. 

Was the timing of the award critical to your plans and activities?

It was well timed as it was a little after the bulk of our initial work had ended and I was able to demonstrate the impact of the work. For future plans it was great as it allowed me to consolidate what we'd done and have the resource to plan future activities and also generate more outputs from the work already completed.

What have you used the funding for?

The funding has been used to purchase and develop more resources that will be used in future engagement events and also the publication of reports on the work. We have approval for a report in the academic journal, Brain and Neuroscience Advances, and I plan to submit a piece to a specialist public engagement journal, Research for All, as well as writing some blogs for internal Sussex websites. 

The award has really given me the impetus to build on my achievements and continue my engagement work. I have found an area to which I really feel I can contribute to the University's strategic development and excellence and am passionate to continue. 

 - Winner of the Emerging Impact (Early-career research) award, 2023

I was delighted to receive the 2023 Emerging Impact (early-career researcher) Research Impact Award for engaging with patient groups about new genomic medicine technologies though creative methods. I was nominated by my mentor Professor Bobbie Farsides, which speaks to the highly supportive research culture that exists within Brighton and Sussex Medical School that encourages and celebrates success. Having a specific category for early-career researchers is a vital way to support the development of researchers at the start of their careers. Since being presented the Award, our impact work has drawn critical acclaim from stakeholders across the genomics sector, become part of library and museum collections, and incorporated into the NHS-led International Genomics Education and Training Summit and distributed as a training resource to delegates from 49 countries. The Award has given me a platform to pursue further funding opportunities by recognising the importance of the work I’ve been involved in; it has given me the confidence to develop my impact activities further and engage with new communities and stakeholders.

 - Winner of the Emerging impact through enterprising activity award, 2022.

I was very pleased to have been the recipient of a research with impact award last year for my work with Athos Medical Technology. We are using the money to enable professional branding for the company which will support our new funding round in the next few months.

 - Winner of the Emerging impact open award, 2022

How did you find the process of applying for and receiving your Sussex impact award?

The process of applying for the impact award was relatively straightforward. The questions were clear, and I understood what I needed to write in the application form. Overall, it was a smooth process.

What have you used the funding from the award for?

I am still in the process of establishing an online discussion platform called “WITNESS and SUPPORTER” where women can share their discrimination experiences (e.g., being a target of/witness of discrimination), raise their awareness of gender discrimination (e.g., reading about other’s women stories), get support from each other (e.g., receiving female support through discussions) and discuss how to take action against gender discrimination (e.g., individual or collective action). As I thought self-identified women students at Sussex might use this platform, I wanted to examine their opinion first. Together with a PhD student, we conducted focus group discussions with them and asked some questions about a platform like ours. We are now analysing the data from these discussion groups. Once we do that, we will use this knowledge to shape the platform.

Do you think this is a good way to celebrate and recognise impact at Sussex?

Absolutely! It encourages researchers like myself to think about the potential impact of our research. When I saw this award call, I was motivated to think about how my research could translate into the real-world, and this is how I came up with the idea of the "Witness & Supporter" platform.

Would you recommend colleagues to apply for the upcoming internal impact awards?

I even did. I am glad Sussex is supporting researchers through these awards.