The (UMHC) was created by Student Minds in partnership with leading higher education bodies and thousands of staff and students. 91ֱ�� was amongst the first group of universities to sign up as members of the , which brings together universities committed to making mental health a university-wide priority, to share practice and create cultural change. 

The is a voluntary accreditation scheme that supports universities to understand their areas of strength and development to inform ongoing improvement in mental health and wellbeing, recognising good practice along the way. 

As part of the assessment process, we conducted a robust, evidenced-based assessment of our whole-university approach against the principles of good practice within the , including any challenges, weaknesses, and areas of improvement. A self-assessment report, a student-led report and a two-day onsite visit from Student Minds which involved over 100 staff and students, were all part of the assessment process.

Overall, Student Minds stated: “in many areas we can be confident that the University is sector-leading” and that they were “encouraged that the University is going in the right direction.” Student Minds felt that “the University is largely doing well to meet the Principles of Good Practice and is doing an incredible job to work towards having a whole university approach to mental health.”   

In awarding the University with the UMHC Award, Student Minds highlighted several examples of excellent practice, including: 

• Within the External Partnerships and Pathways theme, Student Minds “were particularly impressed with the University ’s commitment to the partnership work across the Greater 91ֱ�� Universities Student Mental Health Service. This is widely being acknowledged as novel, innovative and sector leading.” 
• Within the Progression theme, Student Minds “recognised as excellent practice that the University now offers 3.5 years (versus the standard 3 years) of funding to funded PhD students in recognition of the positive impact of this on completion and PGR student wellbeing.” 
• Within the External Partnerships and Pathways theme, Student Minds noted that “the University is part of a sexual violence network across 91ֱ�� that includes the HEI’s, police, council, and NHS. This approach is potentially sector-leading and an example of excellent practice in developing external partnerships.”

Speaking about the UMHC Award, Sarah Littlejohn, Director of Campus Life and UMHC Lead said: “The UMHC Programme has given an additional focus and impetus to our existing institutional priority of student and staff mental health and wellbeing. It has helped to shine a light on our whole-University approach, encouraging us to reflect on our current practice across all the different framework themes. We are proud to have achieved the UMHC Award which marks the latest part of our journey in our commitment to continuous improvement around mental health and wellbeing, and our dedication to its ongoing development.” 

The University will continue as members of the UMHC Programme and will now start to use the Award Outcomes Report to inform and feed into our work in this area. Our priorities for the next 6-12 months will focus on the UMHC Framework themes of Student Voice and Participation, Learning, Teaching and Assessment and Inclusivity and Intersectionality. 

Aisha Akram, Wellbeing and Liberation Officer, University of Manchester Students’ Union commented: 'I'm really pleased that we have received this award and I particularly appreciate the commitment to including myself and my fellow officers at the Students Union within countless panel discussions, in order to ensure that the University's commitment to the student experience with our support service is driven by student feedback. 

“We will continue to work with the University to ensure that we all stay committed to working in this area and building on the recommendations offered to us. I'm excited to enhance collaboration between the Students’ Union and the University to push for the best possible student experience.”

Head of Colleague Wellbeing, Helen Brewis, said:  “I’m delighted we have achieved the UMHC Award, reflecting the commitment we place on the wellbeing of our students and colleagues and how we have worked as a whole university community on our approach to mental health.

"Over the last two years, we have significantly developed our approach to supporting our colleagues’ mental health and wellbeing. The process of working towards the award has helped us to reflect on what is working well and where we can do more. We look forward to using the recommendations from the Award Outcomes Report to continue developing our approach to promoting and supporting good mental health and wellbeing at work.” 

• For further information about UMHC Award holders, please visit the  
• For further information about the UMHC Programme, please email UniversityMHCharter@manchester.ac.uk.

The Athena Swan Charter is designed to help institutions achieve gender equality and meet equality legislation requirements. It also identifies areas for positive action, recognises and shares good practices, and supports the promotion of inclusive work environments.

All three Schools (School of Biological Sciences, School of Health Sciences, School of Medical Sciences) were holders of individual Silver Athena Swan awards since the formation of FBMH.

In 2022, the Faculty  consolidated efforts into one Athena Swan Award application, rather than submitting three concurrent School applications. This approach was designed to enable the scaling up of initiatives, whilst showcasing achievements in a more detailed way. It also allowed the Faculty to include a larger number of professional services staff, demonstrating  commitment to equality and career progression for all staff in FBMH.

There are three levels of the Athena Swan award: bronze (for planning), silver (for doing), and gold (for sustaining). The Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health has been awarded the silver award, which is valid until September 2029.

Established in 2005, the Athena Swan Charter was created to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM).

It has since been expanded to include recognition of work undertaken in arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSSBL), in professional and support roles, and for transgender staff and students. This also includes efforts to combat gender equality more broadly, namely through addressing barriers to progression, irrespective of sex or gender identity.

Professor Natalie Gardiner and Dr Beth Micakovic, Athena Swan Leads of FBMH said: “Creating and maintaining an inclusive and supportive environment where all staff and students thrive is our priority. We have outstanding colleagues driving equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) across FBMH and this award is testament to everyone's hard work. A huge thank you!

“Through the Athena Swan process our EDI leads and self-assessment team were able to take stock of our progress, reflect on successes and where we need to do more. Through critical self-assessment, consultation with key stakeholders, we have co-created an ambitious action plan to tackle inequalities, to promote a positive learning and working environment for staff and students of all genders.

“We hope you will see a number of commitments already coming to fruition, but we look forward to working with the whole FBMH community in delivering on the commitments set out in the Action Plan.”

Advance HE will host a ceremony for all 2024 Athena Swan award recipients in early 2025.

The University of Manchester’s continued commitment to the principles of the Athena Swan Charter, and to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, will ensure a diverse and vibrant working environment for both staff and students.

The KEF provides information about the broad ranging knowledge exchange activities of English HE Providers, such as the way universities work with external partners, from businesses to community groups, for the benefit of the economy and society. 

The University of Manchester supports the full range of knowledge exchange activities through public engagement, supporting businesses and commercialising research towards next generation technologies. Students, staff, partners and local communities all play a key role in ensuring that the University makes a positive societal and economic impact. 

The KEF allows universities to better understand their own performance and fosters a culture of continuous improvement. HE Providers are placed into a cluster of peers, grouping together universities of similar types, with The University of Manchester placed in a group of 18 large, research-intensive universities including Oxford and Imperial. 

91ֱ��’s performance in continuous professional development and Graduate Startups, which is supported by the work of the and , received an enhanced rating of high engagement in KEF4, and 91ֱ�� now sits above the cluster group average.  

91ֱ�� also continues to receive the highest rating for Research Partnerships, where the University is placed above the cluster group average. This recognises the work of the University’s Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange team.  

The excellent performance of the in licensing, IP income, investment and turnover of spinouts continues to be recognised with the highest rating in IP and Commercialisation. 

The University also received the highest rating for Public Engagement, and includes our achievements in volunteering, festivals, citizen science, and engagement with communities through our cultural institutions, , , , and the . 

Professor Luke Georghiou, Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, said: “Knowledge exchange is a core priority for The University of Manchester. We shall continue to ensure that our research, teaching and social responsibility activities benefit the economy and society at local, national and global levels.”  

• You can view each university’s performances on the . 

The University of Manchester is proud to share that Dr Bovinille Anye Cho has been announced as a recipient of the prestigious (CDF), a programme aimed at developing underrepresentation in UK STEM academia.

Dr Anye Cho is one of eight outstanding researchers selected in the first cohort of CDFs, who are undertaking groundbreaking research that can benefit society and further human understanding.

His research centres on revolutionising bioenergy processes to become more environmentally sustainable, in particular, anaerobic digestion (AD), which is a process that transforms agricultural and food waste into a clean energy source known as biomethane.

Although an effective way to manage waste, this process also creates a significant amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and impurities, which contributes to global warming.

Dr Anye Cho is exploring the use of microalgae, which can be used to convert CO₂ into valuable food supplements and healthcare products through photosynthesis. In the UK, where tons of agricultural and food waste are generated, incorporating algae technology into the exiting AD facilities could increase the production of clean energy, while yielding high-value bio renewables that are currently heavily dependent on imports.

Dr Anye Cho’s project aims to employ advanced mathematical modelling and Artificial Intelligence methods to ensure that facilities of various sizes can operate effectively for long durations, enabling stability and boosting the production of clean energy and valuable products. His fellowship will be based in the Department of Chemical Engineering, where he has served as a Research Associate since March 2023. He earned his PhD from the same department in January 2023, completing it in an impressive three years while publishing over 11 original scientific papers.

The Career Development Fellowships are currently running as a pilot programme with researchers from Black and Mixed Black heritage. The CDFs offer four years of funding (up to £690,000), mentoring and support to kickstart the careers of researchers from underrepresented groups.

The scheme was launched in response to 11 years of higher education data which showed Black heritage researchers leave academia at higher rates than those from other groups. The impact of this higher attrition rate is pronounced at senior levels of academic careers.

Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, said: “We need an academic system where talented researchers can build a career, whatever their background. But we know that is not the case in the UK today – particularly for researchers of Black heritage.

“The variety and quality of research being undertaken by this first cohort of Royal Society Career Development Fellows suggests a bright future ahead if we can ensure more outstanding researchers develop their talents and follow their research passions.

“I hope this pilot and the support it offers can be a launchpad to achieve that.”

In addition to their fellowship funding and support from the Royal Society, the award holders will have access to networking and mentoring opportunities supported by the (BBSTEM) network.

If the pilot is shown to be effective, the CDF programme could be expanded to include researchers from other groups, where the data shows there is persistent underrepresentation.

Dr Mark Richards, Senior Teaching Fellow at Imperial College London and a member of the Royal Society’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee who participated in the shortlisting and assessment panels for the CDFs, said:

“There are many reasons scientists from marginalised groups may leave academia, often it’s because they’re looking ahead and not seeing themselves reflected in those spaces.

“This scheme, which offers funding, mentoring and recognition from a body like the Royal Society can be the endorsement to propel these eight excellent academics to go on and grow their own research groups.

Overtime I hope it can become self-sustaining, creating a network of scientists in universities, and beyond, who can help raise aspirations and open doors.”

• Applications for the second year of Career Development Fellowships are due to open on 24 September 2024.
• Find out more about the Royal Society Career Development Fellowships .
• Read the Royal Society’s CDFs press release .

A University of Manchester scientist has been awarded the prestigious by the Royal Society for his work documenting the history of biology as both an author and a broadcaster.

The medal, given for excellence in a subject relating to the history, philosophy or social function of science, was awarded to Professor Matthew Cobb last week.

Professor Cobb joined The University of Manchester in 2002 as a lecturer in animal behaviour; he is currently a Professor of Zoology in the Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, but will shortly retire, becoming Professor Emeritus.

While most of Professor Cobb’s research has been on behaviour and communication in animals, his Royal Society medal is in recognition of his contribution to the history of science.

Professor Cobb said: “This is a tremendous honour for me – the Medal is the fusion of three awards, one of which goes back 80 years, and has been won by some extraordinary people.

“It is really quite humbling to be in such company. And a vindication of The University of Manchester’s embrace of multidisciplinarity, and of the School of Biological Sciences’ enthusiasm for its students’ taking courses from the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine.”

In 2021, Professor Cobb presented a BBC radio series on the history of genetic engineering, He has also presented programmes about the history of academic publishing, the development of CRISPR gene editing, as well as programmes about the origins of animals and the life of the revolutionary scientist Sydney Brenner.

Alongside his BBC series, Professor Cobb is known to a wider audience through his books which have received commercial success. In 2022, he published The Genetic Age: Our Perilous Quest to Edit Life. In 2020, The Idea of the Brain was chosen as one of The Sunday Times' ‘Books of the Year’.

The Wilkins, Bernal and Medawar lectures were originally delivered as three separate lectures, before they were combined under one title in 2007. Previous winners include Melvyn Bragg in 2010, Professor Jim Al-Khalili OBE FRS in 2020, and most recently Professor Sarah Franklin, who in 2023 delivered the lecture, ‘Talking Embryos: Changing Public Perceptions of Embryo Research’.

Professor Cobb’s passions extend beyond science. He has written two books on the French Resistance during World War II, one of which won the Anglo-French Society Award.

For this work he was made a Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes académiques, an award conferred by the French government for significant contributions to the advancement of intellectual, scientific and artistic pursuits.

Professor Cobb is currently finishing a biography about Francis Crick, the co-discoverer of the DNA double helix; Crick’s extraordinary career will potentially inform the subject of Cobb’s Royal Society lecture. The date of his prize lecture is yet to be confirmed.

• To read more on the Royal Society’s 2024 award recipients visit .

Research Project of the Year: STEM 

Groundbreaking research that led to the world's first bedside genetic test to prevent babies going deaf has also earned a nomination. 

The research, led by Saint Mary’s Hospital, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), The University of Manchester and 91ֱ��-based firm genedrive Plc, helped to develop the pioneering, rapid bedside genetic test which was piloted at MFT in 2022. 

The technology could save the hearing of 180 babies in the UK every year and bring a saving of £5m to the NHS annually. The test is now being rolled-out in all Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Greater 91ֱ��, with a hope that this will become part of routine clinical care across the UK. 

Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year 

In collaboration with the University of Salford and IntoUniversity, the University of Manchester played a pivotal role in launching a new learning centre aimed at supporting thousands of young people to achieve their academic and career ambitions.  

Salford is the 18th most deprived local authority in England, out of 317, with latest figures suggesting 22% of children are living in poverty and pupils in the area now 22.9 months of learning behind their peers by the end of their GCSEs.  

The centre has exceeded targets since opening, driven by a dedicated team that has supported over 1,500 young people, recruited students to Academic Support, established partnerships with local schools and run programmes through the holidays. 

For the second year in a row, the University of Manchester has been awarded the CATE by Advance HE - with this year’s accolade going to The University of Manchester Library Student Team (UMLST). Developed and led by , Head of Teaching and Learning Development for the University of Manchester Library and the University’s Academic Lead for Student Success, UMLST is a driving force behind student-led teaching and learning activity in the Library.

This year’s CATE award makes Jennie, also a National Teaching Fellow, the University’s first ever recipient of both accolades. Student members of the team have also been recognised for their own individual achievements with Fellow and Senior Fellow accreditation from Advance HE.

Under the UMLST model, current students work collaboratively with University staff over extended periods of time to enhance Library services, create inclusive learning resources such as the award-winning My Learning Essentials academic skills programme, and foster a welcoming, supportive environment for students. Student members take the lead on initiatives that give their peers a powerful voice and represent the diversity of the communities found at 91ֱ��, taking part in local outreach sessions and workshops at national conferences. UMLST members also participate in consultations and contribute to shaping University-wide policies and practices, and their influence is felt across the whole institution, driving positive change and fostering a culture of inclusivity.

UMLST student member Durian (Divya) Malhotra said: “Every day is always so exciting, and with a wonderful team to support you every step of the way, you’re never alone. Being an ST has made me feel like my voice as a student has made a truly important impact at the University.”

The University is also celebrating the announcement of a new National Teaching Fellow among its ranks this year. , Senior Language Tutor in the , is passionate about promoting research-informed approaches to language teaching and fostering the development of learning communities. Across the UK, Europe and China, she is recognised for her expertise in multimodal interactive learning pedagogy, language for specific purposes and intercultural communication.

Minjie was previously a professor of Applied Linguistics at the Harbin Institute of Technology in China. She was also a guest professor at Shanghai Jiaotong University and Zhejiang University. After pursuing her PhD in Multimedia Language Learning in the UK under a full scholarship fund, she started teaching Chinese at Nottingham University before joining the team at 91ֱ��.

With her extensive knowledge and experience, Minjie has made an outstanding impact at the University. Her focus on ‘real-life’ language learning promotes connections between native speakers and non-native speakers, helping to build intercultural understanding through friendships.

91ֱ�� is one of a few British universities with a significant and popular offering in Chinese Studies that caters for all levels– in no small part down to Minjie’s high standards and strong professional networks. She is incredibly active in outreach activities too, bringing the joy of language learning to schools, colleges and the local community.

Alison Johns, Advance HE Chief Executive, said: “We know that higher education has the power to transform lives but this doesn’t happen by default. Outstanding teaching is the result of knowledge, commitment, passion, energy and creativity. All of these 2024 winners demonstrate these attributes and put them into practice with excellent results.  

“It is vital for student success that we invest in higher education teaching and promote the value of excellence. Congratulations to each and every one of you for this prestigious prize.”

The 2024 Awards Ceremony will be held at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh on Thursday 3^rd October.

“We strongly endorse Professor Courtney’s nomination on the basis of his academic standing within the community and his unwavering commitment to the development of professional colleagues, early career researchers and students within our field,” said Dr Paul Armstrong, on behalf of the Critical Educational Leadership and Policy research group. “His influence on our group - and through this, the wider field of educational leadership, management and administration - cannot be overstated.”

“I unreservedly endorse Professor Courtney for this award - his steadfast dedication, active involvement and exemplary contributions have significantly enriched the BELMAS community, making him an outstanding candidate for this prestigious honour,” said Dr Ruth McGinity from University College London. “He has been a dedicated member of BELMAS for many years, and has made a profound and sustained commitment to the society's mission to enhance knowledge and scholarship in the field of Educational Leadership, Management and Administration and to create a space for research and practice to meet.”

“Professor Courtney is an exemplary colleague, an inspiration to many of us, and a go-to source for knowledge, support and wise advice - I recommend him without reservation for the BELMAS Distinguished Service Award,” said Professor Steven Jones from The University of Manchester. “As well as being an excellent mentor to his students, his experience and insight is often in demand from junior colleagues, and his feedback is sought for all kinds of scholarly writing. Unlike some eminent professors, he is approachable and thoughtful, providing guidance that is robust but always fair.”

“Steven deserves this award due to his commitment and passion for BELMAS and educational leadership – he is a true leader in every sense,” said Dr Victoria Showunmi from University College London. “His contribution to social justice and leadership is something that also must be celebrated - being a high-profile male leader who is from the LGBTQ+ community makes him a great role model for others entering the field.”

Judges, drawn from across business and academia, highlighted 91ֱ��’s superb standing and achievements across the North and globally.

Celebrating 200 years of academic excellence, The University of Manchester has continually demonstrated a commitment to driving positive change locally and globally. Embracing social responsibility as a core value, the institution has pioneered initiatives that address pressing societal challenges, earning accolades such as being rated top in the UK, Europe, and second in the world in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings global performance table for its unwavering dedication to making a difference.

Moreover, the university's commitment to sustainability and community engagement has been recognised through its top rankings in independent assessments such as the QS World University Sustainability Rankings and the prestigious Platinum Watermark award from the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement.

Commenting on the award, the competition’s judges said: “An outstanding University that is such an essential engine for the city and the region.  Celebrating 200 years, their global reach is impressive with students from 170 countries and over 500,000 alumni across the world.  Judges highlighted the innovation and economic impact through their considerable investment of £1.7 billion and forecast of 10,000 local jobs. 

“The University of Manchester continues to support the local community with 45% of graduates choosing to remain in the north-west region to live and work. Their drive and commitment to development is proven through their research excellence in areas such as Alzheimer’s, air pollution and women’s abuse. It’s clear that The University of Manchester is very deserving of this award. Great work!”

A hallmark of the University of Manchester's success lies in its approach to education and student experience. With a diverse range of interdisciplinary learning opportunities the institution empowers students to excel both academically and personally. Notably, its comprehensive cost of living support programme, coupled with strategic investments in enhancing the student experience, underscores the university's unwavering dedication to student welfare.

Furthermore, The University of Manchester's commitment to innovation and economic growth is exemplified through initiatives like , a groundbreaking innovation district poised to create over 10,000 new jobs and drive advancements in key sectors such as advanced materials, health innovation, and digital technology.

In the realm of research, The University of Manchester continues to develop world leading discoveries ranging from robotics, to healthcare diagnostics. Its research power, coupled with a commitment to inclusivity and diversity, has garnered international acclaim and solidified its position as a leading research institution.

Internationally, The University of Manchester's impact extends far beyond its campus, with strategic partnerships and collaborative ventures spanning continents. From revolutionising cancer treatment in Kenya to celebrating cultural diversity through innovative exhibitions, the university's global footprint underscores its commitment to fostering meaningful change on a global scale.

As The University of Manchester embarks on its third century of excellence, the title of University of the Year stands as a testament to a  dedication to driving positive change and shaping the future of education, innovation, and research. With a rich legacy of accomplishments and a steadfast commitment to social responsibility, the university continues to inspire generations of scholars, innovators and pioneers worldwide.

The ‘Team Womb’ collective, headed by Professor Emma Crosbie, Honorary Consultant in Gynaecological Oncology at MFT have been given the prestigious Team Science Award for their pioneering work on Lynch-syndrome associated endometrial cancer.

The team from Saint Mary’s Hospital (pictured below), part of MFT, will receive this award at the on Sunday 7 April in San Diego, California. The 10 researchers are from MFT, The University of Manchester, 91ֱ�� Cancer Research Centre, and NIHR 91ֱ�� BRC.

, who is Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Co-Theme Lead at NIHR 91ֱ�� BRC and Professor of Gynaecological Oncology at The University of Manchester said: “I am thrilled that our research means that everyone diagnosed with endometrial cancer in the UK is now offered testing for Lynch syndrome. The recognition of this work through the prestigious 2024 AACR Team Science Award is a tremendous honour and I would like to thank everyone who supported us along the way. This was a true multidisciplinary effort involving clinicians, allied healthcare professionals, researchers, patients and charities without whom none of this would have been possible.”

91ֱ��’s ‘Team Womb’ led a research programme that identified a link between womb cancer and Lynch syndrome, changing clinical practice across the UK.

Lynch syndrome is a genetic condition that can significantly increase the risk of developing cancer. It affects around 1 in 300 people, with most unaware that they have it. This condition runs in families and means anyone with the faulty gene carries a high risk of developing womb, bowel and other cancers.

Through unselected and comprehensive testing all womb cancer patients attending MFT between 2016-18, the team showed that 3% had Lynch syndrome and defined the best strategy for identifying them.

Following this study, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) commissioned an expert advisory group to assess the evidence, and resulted in a change in guidance which recommends universal testing of all endometrial cancer patients for Lynch syndrome. This guideline means around 1,000 new people per year in the UK alone can benefit from cancer prevention strategies.

The AACR founded the prestigious Team Science award in 2006 to recognise the growing importance of interdisciplinary teams in understanding cancer and for translating research through to clinical care.

Annually, this award recognises ‘outstanding interdisciplinary research’ teams for their ‘innovative and meritorious science’ that has ‘advanced or may advance our fundamental knowledge of cancer, or has applied existing knowledge to advancing the detection, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of cancer’.

2024-25 AACR President, Dr Patricia M. LoRusso said; “I believe that this team exemplify true team science, bring together an interdisciplinary team of academics, clinicians and healthcare staff from across medicine, oncology, pathology, health economics and behavioural science. Within this nomination I highlight their exceptional and practice changing work within detection, alongside several outstanding current and future projects they have in their portfolio.”

Picture captions:

Photo 1 – Team Womb (from left to right): Prof Ray McMahon, Ms Nadira Narine, Prof Katherine Payne, Dr Louise Gorman, Prof Emma Crosbie, Dr Neil Ryan, Dr Rhona McVey, Dr James Bolton. Also Prof Gareth Evans and Dr Durgesh Rana (not in photo)

Photo 2 – Team Womb (from left to right): Dr Rhona McVey, Dr James Bolton, Dr Louise Gorman, Ms Nadira Narine, Prof Emma Crosbie, Prof Katherine Payne, Dr Neil Ryan, Prof Ray McMahon. Also Prof Gareth Evans and Dr Durgesh Rana (not in photo)

The awards celebrate outstanding women post-doctoral scientists, and forms part of the L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science UK & Ireland Rising Talent Programme, which offers awards to promote, enhance and encourage the contribution of women pursuing their scientific research careers in the UK or Ireland.

Dr Swidah, a postdoctoral researcher at the 91ֱ�� Institute of Biotechnology, was one of five winners at the award at a ceremony at the House of Commons in London on Monday, 18 March.

Other winners were awarded in the categories of engineering, life sciences, mathematics and computing and physical science.

Reem said: “I am honoured to announce that I have been awarded the prestigious L'Oréal UNESCO Award for Women in Science in the category of Sustainable Development.  

“These awards are vital for supporting and celebrating women in science, offering recognition and inspiration. It provides financial research support, fosters networking and collaboration among recipients, and contributes to reducing gender disparities in STEM fields. By highlighting the achievements of women scientists, the award inspires future generations and advocates for gender equality in science.

“Programs like L'Oréal UNESCO  for women in science are critically important, providing vital recognition and support for women scientists while challenging prevailing stereotypes and biases.  Believe in yourself, defy stereotypes, continuously enhance your professional skills, and persist in pursuing your dreams. If opportunities don't come your way, create your own path. Seek mentors, embrace learning, take risks, step out of your comfort zone, and surround yourself with supportive peers. Remember, diversity in STEM drives progress and innovation.

“This award will enable me to balance motherhood and research while gaining the necessary support to make a meaningful impact in my field.”

Reem received a £25,000 grant that is fully flexible and tenable at any UK or Irish university or research institute to support 12 months of research. Her work currently focuses on the genome minimization project (part of the Sc3.0 project initiative), focusing on genome minimization within the synthetic yeast strain (Sc2.0).

Reem was selected for the award for her drive and ambition to leverage her skills in synthetic biology to address global challenges and her work to harness the exceptional evolutionary abilities of synthetic yeast strains to develop innovative and cost-effective technologies to produce biofuels.

She believes that these advancements hold the potential to combat climate change and play a pivotal role in achieving the ambitious goal of Net Zero emissions by 2050, a key strategic objective of The University of Manchester.

She added: “This award will enhance childcare support for my baby and will afford me the time and financial resources to develop my professional skills. I intend to engage in one-to-one career coaching programs and leadership training, which will help me unlock my full potential and excel in my role, which I currently cannot do.

“The grant will also enable me to attend international conferences, where I can engage with scientists and stay updated on global challenges and solutions and it will help me to enhance my research independence by using the grant to purchase small equipment and to conduct essential experiments to boost my research objectives.”

The Women in Science National Rising Talents  is run in partnership between L’Oréal UK and Ireland, the UK National Commission for UNESCO and the Irish National Commission for UNESCO, with the support of the Royal Society.

Thierry Cheval, L'Oréal UK and Ireland, Managing Director said: “As a company founded by a scientist over 100 years ago, L’Oréal, together with UNESCO, is committed to driving gender equality in STEM and recognising the exceptional work of female scientists who are vitally contributing to solving the challenges of tomorrow.

“Congratulations to this year’s Fellows who are a true inspiration for generations to come.”

Professor Anne Anderson, Chair of the UK National Commission for UNESCO's Board of Directors, added: “Congratulations to the 2024 Rising Talents. As we stand at a pivotal moment in time for scientific advancement, UNESCO continues to highlight the importance of true gender equality in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and the vital role women play in a more equitable scientific society.

“The United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO is proud to support these young women in STEM from the UK & Ireland and celebrate their achievements as researchers paving the way for a brighter global future.”

A highlight of the life sciences calendar, the awards dinner was held at the Concorde Conference Centre on 7th March, with 339 attendees gathering for an evening of celebration and achievement.

According to the judges,  The University received the Partnership & Collaboration Award for being able to demonstrate a collaboration with their more than 15-year skin health and ageing research partnership with Boots.

The collaboration enabled new discoveries in skin biology to be incorporated into novel commercial products via a robust, clinical screening programme.

It has also brought several million pounds of investment into North-West bioscience, producing 100+ scientific publications, 10 patents and new employment opportunities.

Welcoming the award    said: “We are very honoured to receive this prestigious award from BioNow.

“Our partnership with Boots is built on a shared aim to uncover new insights into skin biology and to apply this knowledge to repairing accumulated damage.”

People in the image from The University of Manchester: , , Michael Sherratt,  . And from Boots: Vickie Wright, Jo Watson, Roboh Borke, Steph Franklin

Dr Abigail Langton said: “The acknowledgment from Bionow of our partnership with Boots is a significant achievement, and we're excited about the recent five-year contract renewal, extending our collaboration into its 20th year”.

Filmed in the German language, the movie is a UK/Poland co-production directed by Jonathan Glazer which deals with the day-to-day life of Nazi Commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig as they go about building their dream home next to Auschwitz. The film also picked up the award for ‘Best Sound’, upsetting favourites ‘Oppenheimer’ to the title.

Amis joined the Centre for New Writing in 2007 to take up his first teaching post at The University of Manchester. 

Famous for a series of novels including his London Trilogy, Martin was highlighted by The Times as one of the 50 greatest British novelists of the late 20th Century. He stepped aside from his teaching post in 2011. Martin passed away from cancer in May 2023 aged 73.

�Ѳ����پ���’s The Zone of Interest was published in 2014 and was �Ѳ����پ���’s fourteenth novel to be published. The Oscar-winning film of the same name is a loose adaptation of the novel.

“At a time when the importance of the social sciences to addressing many pressing issues cannot be overstated, it’s a pleasure to welcome some of the UK’s leading social scientists to the Academy’s Fellowship,” said Will Hutton, President of the Academy. “Their contributions have furthered our understanding in tackling a wide range of societal challenges including mitigating health and economic inequalities, understanding the causes and effects of hate crime, the development of inclusive practices in education, and the future of cities. 

"We look forward to working with them to further promote the vital role the social sciences play in all areas of our lives.”

UNEP accreditation grants our University the privilege to submit written contributions, participate in the work of UNEP’s Governing Bodies, such as  and the Committee of Permanent Representatives, and be granted observer status to the Assembly and its subsidiary bodies.

The University is delighted to have been awarded such status and looks forward to using its outstanding research contributions in environmental sustainability to influence and drive further change through such a prestigious organisation as UNEP.

Today, the and The announced the nine recipients of the 2024 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the UK, including three Laureates and six finalists.

and are named among the three Laureates, who will each receive £100,000 in recognition of their work in Chemical Sciences and Physical Sciences & Engineering, respectively.

Now in its seventh year, the awards are the largest unrestricted prizes available to UK scientists aged 42 or younger. The awards recognise research that is transforming medicine, technology and our understanding of the world.

This year’s Laureates were selected by an independent jury of expert scientists from across the UK.

Professor Anthony Green, a Lecturer in Organic Chemistry from The University of Manchester, has been named the Chemical Sciences Laureate for his discoveries in designing and engineering new enzymes, with valuable catalytic functions previously unknown in nature that address societal needs. Recent examples include the development of biocatalysts to produce COVID-19 therapies to break down plastics, and to use visible light to drive chemical reactions. 

Rahul Nair, Professor of Materials Physics at The University of Manchester, was named Laureate in Physical Sciences & Engineering for developing novel membranes based on two-dimensional (2D) materials that will enable energy-efficient separation and filtration technologies. Using graphene and other 2D materials, his research aims to study the transport of water, organic molecules, and ions at the nanoscale, exploring its potential applications to address societal challenges, including water filtration and other separation technologies.

Internationally recognised by the scientific community, the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists are instrumental in expanding the engagement and recognition of young scientists and provide the support and encouragement needed to drive scientific innovation for the next generation.

, Founder and Chairman of Access Industries and Head of the Blavatnik Family Foundation, said: “Providing recognition and funding early in a scientist’s career can make the difference between discoveries that remain in the lab and those that make transformative scientific breakthroughs.

“We are proud that the Awards have promoted both UK science and the careers of many brilliant young scientists and we look forward to their additional discoveries in the years ahead.”

, President and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences and Chair of the Awards’ Scientific Advisory Council, added: “From studying cancer to identifying water in far-off planets, to laying the groundwork for futuristic quantum communications systems, to making enzymes never seen before in a lab or in nature, this year’s Laureates and Finalists are pushing the boundaries of science and working to make the world a better place. Thank you to this year’s jury for sharing their time and expertise in selecting these daring and bold scientists as the winning Laureates and Finalists of the 2024 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the UK.”

The 2024 Blavatnik Awards in the UK Laureates and Finalists will be honoured at a black-tie gala dinner and award ceremony at Banqueting House in Whitehall, London, on 27 February 2024.

The award follows on from Jason winning the Forward Prize for Best Collection last October, and the book has also since been shortlisted for the Writers’ Prize.

The TS Eliot Prize shortlist also featured Centre for New Writing graduate Joe Carrick-Varty, who was recognised for his debut collection, More Sky.

Jason’s collection is published by 91ֱ��-based Carcanet Press, a publisher with a long association with the University, through the John Rylands Research Institute Library, and is run by and , who also teach at the Centre for New Writing.

His first collection, Thinking With Trees, was . His non-fiction book, Scanning the Bush, will be published later this year.

In presenting the award said: “Few people in higher education have been as successful at every rung of the ladder as Dame Nancy, who will next year complete 14 years in charge of The University of Manchester.

“In doing all this she has shone out as a beacon for women in higher education and beyond, smashing glass ceilings at every turn.”

Only one such award is made by Times Higher Education each year and previous winners have included highly influential figures such as classicist, Professor Dame Mary Beard; Dame Sarah Gilbert, Saïd professor of vaccinology, University of Oxford; and Dame Athene Donald, University of Cambridge.

Nancy’s association with 91ֱ�� goes back to 1987 when she joined the University as a researcher in physiology. She has held a number of roles in both leadership and research at the University and in 2010 became the first woman to lead the University or either of its two predecessor institutions.

The award recognises outstanding contributions to the wider sector.  Nancy’s influence nationally includes being the founding President of what is now the Royal Society of Biology and previously serving as Co-Chair of the PM’s Council for Science and Technology and President of the British Neuroscience Association. She was the first woman to Chair the Russell Group (2020- 2023).

On Nancy’s continued scientific achievements, the judges added: “She started with PhD completed in just 2 years (it was published in Nature, naturally) and went on to enjoy a stellar research career as a physiologist.

“She performed the rare feat of switching fields, from obesity to neuroscience –and established herself as one of the UK’s leading science advocates.”

Nancy said: “I would like to thank the Times Higher Education for this award. It is an honour to join the list of remarkable people who have received it in previous years.

“I am very proud to lead The University of Manchester and the incredible community of staff, students and partners who contribute to its success, especially as we enter the University’s 200^th year in 2024.

“I care deeply about the higher education sector in this country and I will continue to advocate for it and the role it plays in transforming lives and society for the better.”

Sophie Duncan, Co-director of the NCCPE said: “At the NCCPE, as well as challenging the sector and campaigning for change, we champion excellent practice. We’re delighted to be able to award 91ֱ�� a Platinum Engage Watermark for their sustained and deep-rooted commitment to public engagement, which has been informed by consultation with staff, students and partners”.  

Winning a Platinum Engage Watermark is a significant achievement. It is the highest honour that can be awarded to an institution and recognises exceptional strategic leadership of public engagement; high standards of professional support; and excellence in partnership working.  It also evidences that the institution has a profound grasp of challenges ahead and of areas of relative weakness, with a commitment to addressing these. 

Key features of The University of Manchester’s approach which drew special praise from the assessors included its efforts to open up the campus and cultural institutions to become more welcoming and accessible for community use, the involvement of partners and communities in shaping the research and teaching at the university, and the very significant commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Dr Julian Skyrme, Director of Social Responsibility at The University of Manchester said: “We’re delighted to receive this prestigious Platinum award for public engagement. We’ve prioritised new forms of public engagement through our emphasis on civic partnerships, our cultural institutions and in creating a local Citizens’ Panel. We’re grateful for the support and constructive challenge throughout the Watermark process and the commitment our staff, students and community partners play in delivering our core goal of social responsibility.”  

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester said: “As a passionate advocate for public engagement, I’m proud that we have embedded a culture of high-quality practice through our core goal of . We are delighted to be recognised nationally with a prestigious Platinum Watermark for our sustained excellence and leadership in public engagement.” 

Cllr Bev Craig said: “As the leader of Manchester City Council and lead for greater 91ֱ�� Combined Authority for economy and Inclusive growth, I am proud that we have The University of Manchester as a civic partner. This award is great recognition for the University’s collaborative work with local communities, councils, business and civic partners to address to address real priorities and realise mutual benefit through the GM Civic University Agreement.” 

REC is part of Advance HE’s Equality Charter Marks programme and provides an opportunity to identify both areas of good practice and where we’re doing less well to co-create actions that advance race equality at the University.

The University has been part of REC since its inception in 2015. In previous submissions, in 2015 and 2018, the university received Bronze awards. To achieve these awards, areas for development we highlighted.

This new Silver submission goes further to reflect on progress as well as ongoing challenges and developed a bold, ambitious, and sustainable plan to eliminate racial inequalities and become an anti-discriminatory, anti-racist, inclusive organisation where everyone feels a sense of belonging and can thrive.

The was based on comprehensive data analysis and open and honest conversations with our students and staff at all levels who shared both positive and negative experiences. Although 96% of actions from our previous award were either ‘achieved’ or ‘in progress’, these candid conversations, together with results of staff and student surveys, provided evidence that not everyone was aware of, or felt they had benefited from the progress made since the previous submission.  

The Silver application therefore explicitly focuses on developing ‘’. This ambition can only be realised by working together to co-create integrated actions aligned with clear targets and other University strategies.

The University of Manchester is committed to progressing race equality. For full transparency, The REC Achievement Plan which emphasises our future focus on impact and not just action has been made available.

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Dawn Edge, Professor of Mental Health and Inclusivity, University Academic Lead for Race, Religion and Belief and Chair of the REC self-assessment team, said: “We know we still have a way to go and need to move at pace, ensuring no one is left behind. Our Achievement Plan therefore signals our intention to focus on measurable markers of success in representation, retention, progression, and culture. Whilst action owners will have responsibility for delivery, we all have a role in eliminating discrimination and advancing race equality.

"We look forward to working with you, evaluating and reporting our progress, to ensure that our University is a great place to work and study for all.”

The finalists were selected by an independent judging panel chaired by Andrew Miller MBE from more than 1,500 public nominations. Full details of this year’s finalists can be found on .

The top 10 and all-important top spot will be announced on 8 November from The Drum, Wembley. To receive updates please follow Shaw Trust on  , or LinkedIn, or contact powerlist@shaw-trust.org.uk.

Dr Jen O’Brien and Dr Jennifer Silverthorne are among the new fellows named in the Advance HE National Teaching Fellowship Scheme, which recognises individuals who have made a tremendous impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession in higher education. 

Dr O’Brien is a Senior Lecturer in Human Geography, as well as the University’s Academic Lead for Sustainability Teaching and Learning. She is an Inaugural Fellow of the 91ֱ�� Institute of Teaching and Learning and leads the ‘Informed and Inspired’ Challenge for Sustainable Futures. A Development Geographer by training, Jen is interested in the intersection between innovative pedagogy and independent field or applied research aiming to inspire and equip learners to ethically address challenges of sustainability, inequality and social justice to make a difference. She directs the University Living Lab, which links applied research needed by organisations with students who can undertake it for their assessment to effect change.

Jen leads 91ֱ��’s ‘Creating a Sustainable World’ course, which is run through the University College for Interdisciplinary Learning (UCIL). The first of its kind in the world, the course - which is available to undergraduates and postgraduates from across the University - uses the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to equip them with the skills to make positive social change and reflect critically about sustainability. It has been recognised by the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings, which ranks 91ֱ�� first in the UK and Europe and second in the world for its contribution to the SDGs.

Dr Jennifer Silverthorne is a Reader in Clinical Pharmacy in the Division of Pharmacy and Optometry who leads a team of clinical academics, senior NHS pharmacists and placement tutors providing clinical education. Her commitment to inclusive practice in the classroom, programme design and assessment has changed the University’s approach to Pharmacy teaching and influenced the practice of colleagues. Her reach into the sector through work with professional, statutory and regulatory bodies has transformed Pharmacy education to deliver a highly skilled, reflective and progressive workforce fit for the future.

“I’d like to congratulate Catherine, her team, Jen and Jennifer for their well-deserved awards,” said Professor April McMahon, the University’s Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students. “Being acknowledged in this way is a huge achievement, and it recognises their dedication to teaching, and to our colleagues and students.

“I’d also like to thank them for their overall outstanding contribution to the teaching and learning provision at our University. I am sure they will continue to drive forward even more positive change in the future.”

An independent panel of senior higher education leaders, representing the four UK nations, assures the quality of the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme and Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence and recommends winners.

"Every year as we select the NTFS and CATE winners, we are in awe of these extraordinary and gifted people who are teaching with such professionalism, passion and commitment in higher education - this year was no different,” said Professor Becky Huxley-Binns, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education at the University of Hull, and Chair, UK Teaching Excellence Awards Advisory Panel 2023. 

“These awards are incredibly important in recognising and celebrating these people and in sharing 'what works' so that colleagues can build on their expertise too and students can enjoy the benefits of great practice in teaching and learning.”

The awards ceremony will take place in Birmingham on Thursday 28^th September. 

The University of Manchester has today been named top in both the UK and Europe, and second in the world for meaningful contributions towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) in the .

91ֱ��’s top ranking comes from a record assessment of 1,705 universities from 115 countries/regions. As well as ranking first in the UK, The University of Manchester is also the only UK institution in the global top 10 and the only university in the world to rank in the top ten in every year the Impact Rankings have been running. In addition, the University attained the top spot for SDG 15 – Life on Land and was third for SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production.

The ranking, now in its fifth year, is the world’s only one that measures universities’ contributions to the and assesses their commitment to sustainability across four broad areas: research, stewardship, outreach and teaching.

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester said: “At The University of Manchester social responsibility is a core goal and is very important to us. So, we’re delighted to be ranked first in the UK, first in Europe and second in the world in this year’s THE Impact Rankings, which are based on our performance against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

“This builds on our performance in previous years, where we’ve been a global top 10 university for five years running – the only university in the world to do this.  

“These Impact Rankings cover the social and environmental contribution of universities across their full range of functions – through their research, their students, their public engagement and their operations – and we’re proud to be part of this ever-growing community of universities around the world leading work to a make a difference.”

The UK has the most universities in the top 100 of the overall table with 26. British universities’ progress towards tackling the world’s greatest challenges are laid out in the .

Phil Baty, Chief Knowledge Officer, THE, commented: “The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, now in its fifth year, is establishing itself as one of the world’s most important university rankings.  

“It moves away from the traditional and more narrow approach to rankings and looks at far broader issues – examining how universities’ are improving our world.

“I’m especially impressed to see how well British universities are doing – taking more than a quarter of the top 100 places in the overall ranking and with a real diversity of institutions showing excellence. It is testament to how seriously those institutions take those critically important goals and how the UK higher education sector is taking a global lead on international sustainability issues.  

“It is also inspiring to see even more universities participate and see countries that don’t normally rank so highly do so well.

“This is an extremely valuable tool for universities, governments, funders and policymakers to understand how universities are supporting the drive to meet the UN SDGs and what must be done to improve their performance even further in this massively important area.

“The rankings are also vital for millions of prospective students who are increasingly demanding to see evidence that the universities they consider for their education are committed to sustainability and to helping them to become sustainably minded citizens.”

Dr Julian Skyrme, Director of Social Responsibility at The University of Manchester who leads the institution’s entry to the ranking, said: “The evidence we submitted covers work from a wide range of our functions – our cultural institutions, equality, diversity and inclusion, widening participation, research impact, public and civic engagement, the student experience and reporting on the SDGs. Everyone in our University community should therefore take enormous pride in this result.”

THE Impact Rankings 2023: overall top 10  

On a great night for The University of Manchester, as well as Meera’s award and Professor David Olusoga’s BAFTA Special Award win in recognition of his outstanding contribution to television, alumnus Joe Lycett took home the features award for his programme Joe Lycett Vs Beckham: Got Your Back At Xmas which covered the controversy surrounding FIFA’s decision to host the World Cup in Qatar last year. 

They have been selected for their substantial contribution to the advancement of science, from the use of forensic techniques to identify victims of war crimes, to investigating processes in the Earth’s core, and mapping the world’s largest peatlands in the Congo basin.

Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society said: “I am delighted to welcome our newest cohort of Fellows. These individuals have pushed forward the boundaries of their respective fields and had a beneficial influence on the world beyond.

“Among this year’s intake are individuals who were at the forefront of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and those working on global challenges, from TB to climate change. They are pioneering scientists and innovators from around the world who have confounded expectations and transformed our thinking.

“This year’s intake have already achieved incredible things, and I have no doubt that they will continue to do so. I look forward to meeting them and following their contributions in future.”

This year sees 59 Fellows, 19 Foreign Members and two Honorary Fellows elected, reflecting changes introduced in 2023 which increased the maximum number who can be elected. This will help create a broader and more engaged Fellowship and support the Society’s mission of championing excellence in research and science for the benefit of humanity.

The Fellows and Foreign Members join the ranks of Stephen Hawking, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Lise Meitner, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar and Dorothy Hodgkin.

New University of Manchester Fellows:

Professor Judith Allen FMedSci FRS
Professor of Immunobiology, Faculty of Medicine, Biology and Health, University of Manchester

Professor Mark Lancaster FRS
Professor of Particle Physics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester

Professor Allan Matthews FREng FRS
Professor of Surface Engineering and Tribology, The Henry Royce Institute, Department of Materials, University of Manchester

Statistics about this year’s intake of Fellows:

• 30% of this year’s intake of Fellows, Foreign Members and Honorary Fellows are women.
• New Fellows have been elected from 20 UK institutions, including 91ֱ��, Sussex, Exeter and Edinburgh.
• They have been elected from countries including Japan, Finland, China and South Africa.

The full list of the newly elected Fellows and Foreign Members can be found on the .

The BAFTA Special award is one of BAFTA’s highest honours recognising an outstanding contribution to film, games or television.

With a three-decade career spanning the creative arts and academia, presenter, broadcaster, filmmaker, author and historian Olusoga has been a trailblazer for the television industry, leading a reappraisal of how history has been traditionally told through popular culture.

A special commemoration of his extensive body-of-work at the forthcoming BAFTA Television Awards will pay tribute to Olusoga’s ongoing legacy and impact on the television industry and society, for widening perspectives of how history is presented, and expanding the diversity of stories told.

Olusoga’s credits include presenting the long-running BBC history series A House Through Time (BBC Two), writing and presenting the award-winning series Black & British: A Forgotten History (BBC Two) and the BAFTA winning Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners. Among his other credits are The World’s War (BBC Two), and The Unwanted: The Secret Windrush Files, Extra Life, a Short History of Living Longer and the landmark BBC arts series Civilizations. He is a Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester. In recent years he led major interviews with the former President of the United States, Barack Obama and lectures including the Edinburgh TV Festival MacTaggart Lecture in 2020.

David Olusoga said: “I am honoured to be the recipient of the BAFTA Special Award 2023. It is humbling to have my work in television, as both a producer and a presenter, recognised in this way.”

Jane Millichip, CEO at BAFTA said: “We are honoured to present David Olusoga the BAFTA Special Award at our forthcoming BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises. David Olusoga has made an outstanding contribution, not just to the television community but to our society and culture. His commitment and bravery in reappraising how history is presented through television is inspiring.

“He represents the best of what television can do - its power to inspire, educate and challenge. David has made our industry and society a better place, and this BAFTA Special Award couldn’t be more deserved.”

Alongside his television work, Olusoga is the author of seven books including: Black & British: A Forgotten History, awarded both the Longman-History Today Trustees Award and the PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize; The World’s War, which won First World War Book of the Year in 2014; and Black & British A Short Essential History was a Waterstones Book Of The Year, Non-Fiction winner at the Quiz Writers' Choice Awards 2021 and Book of the Year, Children's non-fiction at the 2021 British Book Awards. His other titles are The Kaiser’s Holocaust: Germany’s Forgotten Genocide; The Colonial Roots of Nazism; Civilizations: Encounters The Cult of Progress; and A House Through Time. 

He is also a recipient of the British Academy's Presidents Medal and the Norton Medlicott Medal for Services to History, and a Fellow of the British Academy, The Royal Society of Literature, The Royal Society of Arts and the Royal Historical Society. Olusoga was also a contributor to the Oxford Companion to Black British History, writes for The Guardian and is a columnist for The Observer and BBC History Magazine. 

The Special Award is one of BAFTA’s highest honours. Previous recipients for their television work include Nicola Shindler, Clare Balding, Idris Elba, John Motson, Henry Normal, Nick Fraser, Lenny Henry, Delia Smith and Cilla Black.

This prestigious five-year position is part of the Academy's Research Chair scheme, which promotes collaboration between academia and businesses to tackle engineering challenges. Prof. Nair is one of seven U. K. researchers awarded this position.

Professor Nair, of the and the , will partner with Carlsberg Group to develop next-generation membranes for filtration and separation technology specifically for the food and beverage sector. The project will explore how graphene and other 2D materials-based membranes can be used for more healthy, sustainable, and responsible plant-based food production.

Graphene and other two-dimensional materials offer unique advantages in separation and purification technology due to their ability to fabricate membranes with tunable pore sizes, controllable surface wetting functionalities, and fast water and solvent transport. Professor Nair's group is already collaborating with several leading industries to develop graphene-based membranes for water desalination, filtration, and oil separation. This partnership with Carlsberg aims to further expand this research direction into the food and beverage industries. 

Professor Nair said: “Adopting a more plant-based lifestyle can lower the impact of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and water usage. By investigating and applying novel membrane technology, the project will target the selective removal of sugars, alcohol and acids to obtain a more balanced plant-based diet. It will strengthen the general food sector by providing better plant-based food and beverage products.” 

“Carlsberg has a tradition of supporting creative ideas through collaborations and helping to overcome engineering challenges”, said Professor Nair. “The National Graphene Institute (NGI) at the University of Manchester is the world's largest academic space of its kind, solely dedicated to 2D materials research and covers the full scale of research from fundamentals to prototypes.” 

Dr. Birgitte Skadhauge, Vice President at Carlsberg Research Laboratory, said “this new partnership, enabled by a substantial donation from Carlsberg Foundation, will contribute to Carlsberg’s vision and commitment to sustainability, a healthier future, and zero carbon emission in all breweries by 2030 and in the value chain by 2040 via Carlsberg’s Together Towards ZERO and Beyond program.”

Dr. Arvid Garde, Director of Brewing Technology at Carlsberg Research Laboratory added “this research direction has the potential to significantly impact the food and beverage industry, as well as other industries that require advanced separation and purification technologies.

on each can be found on the Academy website.

The latest report also highlights that graduate recruitment at the UK's top employers increased substantially in 2022, with a 14.5% increase in the number of graduates recruited compared to 2021. 

The number of graduate jobs available is expected to increase by a further 6.3% in 2023, with accounting & professional services firms being the largest recruiters of new graduates.

For more information, please read the or visit the .

“The FDM everywoman in Technology Awards are both a recognition and a celebration of the impact women are having on the technology industry worldwide and the diverse, fulfilling, and exemplary careers that women can have in technology,” said Maxine Benson MBE, co-founder of everywoman. “Over the past 14 years, the accomplishments and stories of these talented women have inspired future generations to pursue a career in an industry where women are underrepresented.”

“Jackie and the other winners are role models whose remarkable achievements showcase the vital advancements technology has in saving, transforming, and improving lives, while also positively impacting the planet and ensuring the future of tech grows ever more diverse and inclusive.” 

“The representation of females in the sector still has a long way to go before women are no longer considered the minority in the industry,” said Sheila Flavell CBE, Chief Operating Officer of FDM Group. “A challenge we continue to face is showcasing more female role models to inspire and encourage future generations to choose a career in tech.”

“It is more important than ever to shine a spotlight on the exceptional female talent that has contributed to the growth of the tech industry, paving the way for others to follow.” 

For more information about the FDM Everywoman in Technology Awards, .

She is Honorary Lecturer for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programme at the University and a Clinical Lecturer in the same department from 2010 to 2015, when she was also the Deputy Academic Director, and Chair of one of the five University-wide research ethics committees. 

Dr Trayner’s winning project will be the development of Goal Manager^®, an application that she developed to automate goal setting processes and administration in brain injury rehabilitation, her specialist area. The project was picked from over 900 applicants to be awarded £50,000 towards the further refinement of the platform. 

She will be building a Data Dashboard, a project which will support clinicians and researchers in answering some of the most unknown questions in rehabilitation. 

With millions of people in the UK requiring rehabilitation for various health conditions every year, as well as many millions more living with the long-term consequences of traumatic injuries and problems like stroke, Dr Trayner aims to be a leading light in the digital revolution in healthcare which will enable faster identification of patients’ difficulties, a more rich and specific understanding of needs, and a joining-up of services and pathways to mean that rehabilitation is more efficient and people can get better faster.

Dr Trayner has already won grants through Health Innovation 91ֱ��, and was awarded £20,000 in ERDF funds to run a trial of the existing platform within the NHS which commenced in January 2023. The Innovate UK grant will commence in April 2023, and the Goal Manager^® project design team will be joined by Professor Andrew Bateman of the University of Essex. Professor Bateman is lead for the rehabilitation theme for the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Brain Injury MedTech Co-operative, Director of NIHR Research Design Service for East of England and Chair of the UK Acquired Brain Injury forum. He will be assisting with the research behind the design and evaluation of the new Data Dashboard.

As well as being a neuropsychologist, Dr Trayner is a professional DJ, and has also established the first of its kind DJing for Rehabilitation school, BPM Rehab, right in the heart of Manchester, in partnership with DJ Mark One, an award winning, internationally renowned, platinum selling DJ. Together they are changing the face of rehabilitation and making music more accessible for so many whose lives have been changed by catastrophic events.

Dr Trayner is proud to be running her business from 91ֱ��, but works all over the UK and the world, spreading the message about leveraging technology to make the world more accessible and also designing interventions that people really want to help improve their lives.

Stonewall is Europe’s largest charity for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace (LGBTQ+) people and each year ranks organisations for their LGBTQ+ inclusion practices against other organisations.

The University of Manchester scored 113 out of 200 in its Workplace Equality Index submission. Ranking in 30^th overall, the University also achieved a Gold award for meeting specific criteria around a number of identified measures for LGBT+ inclusion.

In addition to this, the University has been awarded a Highly Commended Network Group award, to celebrate the achievements of its LGBTQ+ network group, . The network is fully inclusive and welcomes all lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and non-binary staff as well as anyone who may have an interest or wish to support colleagues, friends and relatives. 

ALLOUT organises awareness-raising events throughout the year, works with the University on policy development and review, and runs the successful Allies programme which provides training to staff who do not identify as LGBTQ+ but wish to support their colleagues. The network co-chairs are Dominic Bilton, Megan Johnston and James Lea.

The University uses benchmarking tools as part of its inclusion performance metrics, and taking part in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index has supported this. The submission is compiled by Lead Equality Diversity and Inclusion Partner, Paul Marks-Jones, who also coordinates the University’s staff networks. The overall sponsor is Patrick Hackett, Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer.

Adèle MacKinlay, Director of People and Organisational Development at the University said: “We have been consistently strong in the Stonewall Index over a number of years; it’s great to see this trend continue.  It’s vital to create a culture in which everyone can thrive. We all benefit from diverse viewpoints and perspectives. This is why I’m very grateful to ALLOUT for their continued feedback and engagement.”

Banji Adewumi, Director of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion at the University added: “The Stonewall ranking is a great indication of our inclusivity in practice. This is one of the key measures for our new EDI strategy, which we are working hard to progress. The actions we are taking now, will make our University better for staff and students, and more successful, and hopefully we will continue to move up in this Index as a result.”

February is LGBT+ History Month and ALLOUT have organised lots of events. Further details can be . There are also many events .

A new Knight and a Dame are among the University of Manchester people recognised in the New Year Honours, the first to be granted by King Charles III.

Professor Robina Shah is the Director of . She has been made a Dame for services to Patient Care. Robina is a Chartered Consultant Psychologist and Professor of Psycho-social Medicine and Medical Education in the Division of Medical Education at The University of Manchester Medical School. 

She is the lead academic on person-centred education, patient safety, patient, and public involvement in the Division of Medical Education.

Robina is passionate about giving patients, carers and families a voice through active partnership. She is also a powerful advocate of psychosocial medicine and committed to patient and public involvement.

Over two decades, Robina has shared her teaching expertise in this area to challenge the focus of medical education from a biomedical model of disease to one that accommodates the psychological, social, and behavioural dimensions of illness.

Truly humbled,honoured, thankful to everyone who have enriched my life’s journey. Deeply indebted to my parents,husband Tariq,children,Zainab,Raabiyah, Sulaymaan. Heartfelt thanks to patients,carers,friends,colleagues. This recognition is for all of us.

— Professor Robina Shah MBE DL JP CPychol FRCGP(Hon) (@robinashah_GM)

has been knighted for his services to medicine and mental health. Louis is Professor of Psychiatry at the University and Chair of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisory Group.

Louis leads , investigating suicide and self-harm, the largest research unit in this field internationally.  Its findings have been the basis of Government policy on suicide prevention and are widely quoted by governments, professionals and charities.  From 2000-2010 Louis was seconded as the Government's National Director for Mental Health to lead a national programme of reform in mental health care in England and from 2010-2014 he was National Clinical Director for Health and Criminal Justice.  From 2013-2019 he was a non-executive director of the Care Quality Commission, the NHS regulator. 

Louis was the author of England's first national suicide prevention strategy and continues to co-chair (with a health minister) the Government's advisory group on suicide prevention. He has written reports on suicide prevention after the Grenfell fire for the NHS and on doctors facing investigation for the GMC.  

Thanks for the kind messages re the .

It’s a tribute to the brilliant researchers, charities, professionals & civil servants I’ve worked with.

To the inspirational families who have brought out of the shadows.

Thanks to them & .

— louis appleby (@ProfLAppleby)

, Professor of Ecology, has been made a CBE for services to Soil Ecology and Climate Change Science.

Over the last thirty years, Richard's research has led to advances in the area of plant-soil interactions, with a particular focus on understanding impacts of plants on soil microbial communities and feedback consequences for plant growth and ecosystem processes, especially carbon and nitrogen cycling. Richard has published over 350 scientific papers, including many highly cited works in leading journals such as Nature and Science. He has also authored and co-authored several books,

Richard has a long-standing commitment to promoting awareness of soil biodiversity research. To this end, he was a founder member of the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI), established in 2011 to create a global platform for the translation of expert knowledge on soil biodiversity into policy, and he contributed to the UN's Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils report The Status of the World's Soil Resources (2015).

Professor Chas Mangham, has an honorary chair at the University. He has been made MBE for services to Forensic Science. He is Professor of Musculoskeletal Pathology, University of Manchester and 91ֱ�� University NHS Foundation Trust.

Sir Michael Marmot has been made a Companion of Honour for services to public health. Sir Michael holds an honorary chair with the University. He is a Professor of Epidemiology and a world-leading expert in health inequalities.

Alumni have also been recognised in the honours:

Lyn Chitty (BSc (Hons) Pharmacology 1973), Professor of Genetics and Foetal Medicine at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, has been made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to medicine.

Dominic Herrington (BA (Hons) Economics 1991) becomes a Commander of the Order of the Bath (CB) for services to education. Dominic was National Schools Commissioner from 2019 to 2022. He is now Executive Director for Transforming Delivery in Prisons, part of HM Prison and Probation Service. Dominic is also a trustee of the Brilliant Club, a national charity that supports disadvantaged children to gain access to the most competitive universities.

Gwynneth Bellman (BA (Hons) History of Art and Architecture 2003), a magistrate, is made an MBE for services to the administration of justice and to the community in 91ֱ��.

Colin Riordan (BA (Hons) German Language and Literature 1981; PhD 1986), President and Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff University, has been made a CBE for services to higher education. 

Wakkas Khan (Dentistry 2004; MSc Advanced Restorative Dentistry 2022) is made an MBE for his services to charity, young people and interfaith relations. In 2017, in the aftermath of the 91ֱ�� Arena bombing, Wakkas founded Young Interfaith, a national grassroots initiative that seeks to bring together young people of all faiths and none to inspire them to collective social action. Prior to this, he was Chair of The Prince's Trust Mosaic North West, a charitable mentoring initiative founded and supported by King Charles III. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater 91ֱ�� in 2019.

Shelly Quinton-Hulme (BSc (Hons) Environmental and Resource Geology 1995) is made an MBE for services to the community in Stretford, Greater 91ֱ��. Shelly, who is a project manager for Network Rail, is chair of the Friends of Victoria Park, Stretford, an organisation which she has been involved with for over 20 years. She is also a governor of Victoria Park Infant School and a trustee of Stretford Children’s Theatre.

Veronica Hilliard (BA Education 1995), who is Executive Headteacher of Golborne and Maxilla Children's Centres in London, has been made an MBE for services to early years education.

Jenifer White (BSc (Hons) Plant Biology 1982), Historic Landscape Advisor at Historic England, is made an MBE for services to heritage and historic parks and gardens.

Richard Lower (BSc (Hons) Chemical Engineering 1987), a procurement manager for Tarmac, is awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the community in Buxton, Derbyshire.

Peter Nicol (BSc (Hons) Chemistry 1977), who has served as Chair of Governors at Bury College since 2008, receives the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to education.

Salman Desai (MBA 2021), Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Strategy, Partnerships and Transformation at the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust, receives the King’s Ambulance Medal (KAM) for 25 years’ service. The Medal is awarded to ambulance staff who have shown distinguished service, exemplary dedication to their role, and demonstrated outstanding ability, merit and conduct to their vocation.

91ֱ�� researchers, based at Saint Mary’s Hospital, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), worked with The University of Manchester and 91ֱ��-based firm genedrive Plc on the Pharmacogenetics to Avoid Loss of Hearing (PALOH) study. Together, they developed the pioneering, rapid bedside genetic test which was .

Using a cheek swab, the test can identify in 26 minutes whether a critically ill baby admitted to intensive care has a gene change that could result in permanent hearing loss if they are treated with a common emergency antibiotic, Gentamicin.

While Gentamicin is used to safely treat approximately 100,000 babies a year, one in 500 babies carry the gene change that can lead to permanent hearing loss when given the antibiotic.

The new test means that babies found to have the genetic variant can be given an alternative antibiotic within the ‘golden hour’ and could save the hearing of 200 babies in England every year.

PALOH study lead, Professor Bill Newman, Consultant in Genomic Medicine at MFT and Professor of Translational Genomic Medicine at The University of Manchester, said: “I am delighted for the team to receive this recognition of their fantastic efforts and their innovative approach in bringing this test to fruition.”

The new swab test technique, which was piloted at MFT, replaces a test that traditionally took several days and is the first use of a rapid point of care genetic test in acute neonatal care.

Dr Ajit Mahaveer, Consultant Neonatologist, Rachel James, Senior Research Coordinator and Nicola Booth, Research Nurse Manager on the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at Saint Mary’s Hospital, attended the awards ceremony in London and accepted the award on behalf of the team.

Dr Mahaveer said: "I am incredibly proud to be part of the team who made this study a reality and to be recognised at this year’s New Statesman Positive Impact Awards. It’s an honour to accept the award on behalf of the team, knowing the work we have put into delivering this research will truly make a difference to hundreds of babies’ lives each year.

“As a doctor dealing daily with infection, my main concern was how easy and quickly the test was to conduct, as it’s important that we do not delay antibiotic treatment. Our experience of using this test has been very positive. It’s straight-forward, non-invasive and will have a huge impact on our patients’ lives.”

Professor Newman, Theme Co-Lead Lead for Rare Conditions, National Institute for Health and Care Research, 91ֱ�� Biomedical Research Centre, continued: “I am absolutely thrilled with the success of the study and that this test is now being used in routine clinical practice. This test will make a real difference, helping to ensure babies are not going to lose their hearing for a preventable reason.”

It is expected the test could save the NHS £5 million every year by reducing the need for other interventions, such as cochlear implants.

Professor Dame Sue Hill, Chief Scientific Officer for England and Senior Responsible Officer for Genomics in the NHS said: “This ground-breaking bedside test for detecting whether an antibiotic could cause deafness in babies in intensive care is another example of how the NHS is harnessing the power of genomic medicine to transform patient care. This award is a tribute to the hard work of Professor Bill Newman and his team in 91ֱ��.”

Dr Gino Miele, R&D Director, genedrive plc, said: “The collaboration of our company with the research and clinical team at MFT is a shining example of the NHS working with a commercial company to deliver real improvements in patient outcomes in a cost-effective way.”

Caption: Rachel James, Senior Research Coordinator; Nicola Booth, Research Nurse Manager, Newborn Intensive Care Unit and Dr Ajit Mahaveer, Consultant Neonatologist at Saint Mary’s Hospital, part of MFT receiving the award on behalf of the PALOH team. (Photo credit: New Statesman Positive Impact Awards)

Animal research communications lead Mike Addelman and Communication officer at the University’s animal unit Zach Bowden received the award from renowned cardiovascular researcher Professor Cherry Wainwright at a ceremony in London.

The judging committee were wowed by this year’s openness campaign, which used social media platforms to promote a YouTube video depicting a day in the life of an animal technologist featuring the University’s Rachael Bowden.

The campaign also promoted three case studies   penned by science writer Richard Berks - on the University’s pioneering 3Rs work on reducing animals numbers, finding ways to replace them, and refine projects to maximise animal welfare.

It is the second time 91ֱ�� have won the award - organised by (UAR); the University received recognition -  and widespread praise - for its pioneering website in 2016.

The website contains case studies, minutes, project non-technical summaries governance information and facts and figures, and a virtual tour of the unit.

UAR is a not-for-profit organisation which promote the broad understanding of the humane use of animals in medical, veterinary, scientific and environmental research in the UK.

They manage the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research, a set of commitments for UK-based life science organisations to enhance their animal research communications.

Launched by UAR in 2014, the Concordat currently has 128 signatories including the University. 91ֱ�� was one of 12 to be designated Leader in Openness status in 2019, which was renewed this year.

Maria Kamper, Director of the animal unit said: “Transparency has always been a cornerstone of our work. This stems from our strong conviction to support ground-breaking research  at 91ֱ�� and the high standards of animal welfare we foster.”

Animal research communications lead Mike Addelman said: “This award is the culmination of many years of work- in which we have transformed The University of Manchester into one of the most open institutions in the UK -  and beyond in animal research.”

Zach Bowden, communications officer for the University of Manchester animal unit said: “We are very proud of this achievement, and look forward to continuing our work on openness in the coming year through some new and exciting projects.”

“Perhaps the most important thing our research established is that it is pointless simply telling young men that domestic abuse is ‘wrong’ – most already know that. Rather, public education campaigns must engage with young men on their own terms around issues of trust, vulnerability and control over the long term if they are to secure sustained reductions in the rates of men’s violence against women and girls.," added Professor Gadd.

“David’s work has been ground-breaking,” said Suzanne Jacob, CEO of SafeLives, a UK-wide domestic abuse charity. “It gives a sense of how we can bring boys and men into the work to end the abuse of girls and women, and help overcome some of the challenges we all face in achieving truly transformational change.” 

“Government as well as other agencies and organisations all strive to provide young people who use violence with opportunities for change - Professor David Gadd’s work illuminates how to make this a reality and reduce domestic abuse in society,” said Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales. 

The winners of the prize will be announced at an awards ceremony on 2nd November 2022. 

For more information on Professor Gadd’s work and the ‘From Boys to Men’ project, visit

A project whose research was explicitly referenced in the government’s Levelling Up White Paper earlier this year has also been shortlisted for one of the awards - for more information, visit  

For more information about the ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize and how to livestream the awards ceremony, visit

Today’s shortlisting for the Bhattacharyya Award, which celebrates strategic industrial collaborations that benefit society, recognises 91ֱ��’s and National Grid’s long tradition of innovating at pace to ensure the UK has access to reliable, affordable, and environmentally sustainable energy. 

Spanning more than 19 years, the partnership has delivered significant CO₂ reductions, increased productivity, stimulated large investment in new jobs and engineering activity in the UK, and has facilitated the safe transfer of cleaner and affordable energy in a Net Zero future electricity network.  

In overhead line research alone, the knowledge generated has provided approximately £11m in cost savings to the UK energy network and enabled a new design – the T-Pylon – which now delivers power to six million homes.

91ֱ�� and National Grid have been shortlisted alongside: University of Birmingham and Rolls-Royce, University of Cambridge and ARM, Imperial College London and Transport Strategy Centre, Swansea University and Steel Strategic Alliance, and University College London, HR Wallingford and Arup. 

The Bhattacharyya Award and a cash prize of £25,000 will be presented to the team who best demonstrate how industry and universities can work together. The winning partnership will be announced on 29 September 2022.   

Professor Dame Ann Dowling OM DBE FREng FRS, former President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Chair of the judging panel for the Bhattacharyya Award, said: “All six shortlisted partnerships are excellent examples of industry-academia collaboration, with timely and innovative responses to some of the most challenging issues facing society today. It is a privilege to showcase these successful collaborations and we hope that doing so fosters even greater connection between industry and academia in the UK.” 

Margot James, Executive Chair of WMG, University of Warwick, said: “It’s great to see the extremely high quality of industry-academia partnerships shortlisted for the second annual Bhattacharyya Award. As a celebration of Lord Bhattacharyya’s legacy, the Award continues to highlight how building symmetry between academia and industry is so vital for meeting the needs of society, and adapting to global challenges. We look forward to seeing which collaboration is selected as the overall winner.”  

The winner of the Bhattacharyya Award will be announced on Thursday 29 September 2022, at an event showcasing the shortlisted partnerships at the University of Warwick.

Those wishing to attend the Bhattacharyya Award ceremony can .   

Applications for Bhattacharyya Award 2023 are now open until 16 December 2022 and can be submitted via the Academy’s online grant system. 

Now in their 7th year, the awards were created by Mather Institute to inspire evidence-based next practices that can improve the lives of older adults.

As an internationally recognized resource for research and information about wellness, aging, and trends in senior living, Mather Institute invited submissions by researchers from universities and organizations around the world for this year’s awards, which cover a variety of categories from Aging in Place to Technological Advancements for Older Adults, and beyond. The University of Manchester research was honoured in the award category of ‘Health and Well-Being of Senior Living Residents’ based on an innovative 2021 study on the importance of purpose in life to people living in long-term care facilities.

The study authors, Dr Rebecca Owen, Dr Laura Brown, and Professor Katherine Berry, from the Division of Psychology and Mental Health at the University of Manchester, interviewed residents from four care homes about their views and experiences about:

• What purpose in life means to them.
• What helps give them a sense of purpose.
• The extent to which they would like to engage in more purposeful activities.
• How long-term care providers could help or hinder this.

They then analysed the interviews for common themes that revealed opportunities for senior living providers to support residents to maintain a sense of purpose in their facilities.

“The Innovative Research on Aging Award honours the study authors for providing insights into the importance that long-term care residents place on purpose in life, how purpose in life can be promoted through resident programs, and the barriers and facilitators to engagement that residents face,” said Cate O’Brien, PhD, VP and Director of Mather Institute. “These awards honour excellent applied research with practical implications for the senior living industry. We hope these award-winning studies will spark ideas in senior living organizations across the country and around the world.”

“We are delighted that our research has been recognised by the Mather Institute in this way”, said study author Dr Laura Brown. “Our findings clearly show how important it is to many care home residents to maintain a sense of purpose, and provide valuable insights into how care home staff can support this. We hope that this award enables long-term care facilities around the world to benefit from these findings in order to help their residents to age well.”  

A full complimentary report on the Innovative Research on Aging Award recipients, Revealing Research 2022, is available for download at . The full version of the original research (Owen et al., 2021), published in the journal ‘Aging and Mental Health’, can be found

Founded in 1941, Mather is a nondenominational not-for-profit organization based in Evanston, Illinois, that creates Ways to Age Well.^SM Mather Institute is its research area of service, and serves as an award-winning resource for research and information about wellness, aging, trends in senior living, and successful aging service innovations. To learn more, find your way to .

Jesy is studying with financial mathematics in 91ֱ�� and was recognised with this award win due to a raft of high-profile activities undertaken whilst studying.

Each year, the Student Social Mobility Awards are organised by the social mobility charity to showcase the incredible achievements of undergraduate students alongside the contributions of organisations and individuals striving to improve social mobility across the UK.

This year’s awards were announced during a prestigious ceremony at the House of Lords, which was hosted by Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, the winners were celebrated for their grit, resilience and determination to succeed.

Speaking on his award success, Jesy said: “In terms of how I feel, I feel proud and overjoyed. I am grateful for the recognition of my work and blessed to have the opportunity to attend the House of Lords and connect with fellow change-makers within the social mobility scene.

“What comes is next to take the opportunities that follow with an open mind and see what comes out of them. I will see where I can help support people that look like me and come from similar backgrounds to myself. I am involved in several projects this coming academic year and I am excited to see how they unfold.”

As well as his studies Jesy has acted as the National Finance Director of The 93% Foundation, the largest state-educated social mobility network. Jesy also the participated in the pilot for The University of Manchester's '91ֱ�� 10/10' programme where we look to narrow the attainment gap at the university between Black students and their peers.

Jesy was also awarded the prestigious Stephen Lawrence Scholarship by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer law firm, which is designed to address the disproportionate under-representation in large commercial law firms and other City institutions of black men from less socially mobile backgrounds.

All student winners and nominees have managed to find success despite facing socio-economic challenges, such as limited professional networks, juggling multiple responsibilities alongside studying, reduced access to careers support and living in areas with low job prospects. 67% of nominees were the first in their family to attend university, 21% had caring responsibilities and more than half were eligible for free school meals.

Stephanie Lieber, Acting CEO at upReach said: “upReach is proud to have hosted the fourth annual Student Social Mobility Awards and shone a spotlight on both students who have excelled, and the organisations that have paved the way for them to do so. Having overcome significant socioeconomic barriers and mitigating circumstances, these winners and nominees serve as inspiring role models for those from similar backgrounds, encouraging them to set their ambitions high and realise their full potential.”

The International Women in Engineering Day takes place today, 23 June and continues to lead the way to provide female engineers with a voice heard around the world.

With 16.5% of engineers now being women, the annual INWED event provides female engineers with an opportunity to shine in an industry where they are underrepresented. This one-of-a-kind event plays a pivotal role in not just showcasing talent but also in encouraging and inspiring the next generation of female engineers.

Now in its seventh year, the 2022 WE50 winners celebrate women who are older than 18 who can demonstrate the creation or improvement of a product or process that makes a difference.

For 2022, the Women’s Engineering Society, in association with and Ball Corporation, a global supplier of sustainable packaging, invited nominations on numerous factors, including their ability to support and combat climate change, work as an advocate for women in STEM, their drive to make a difference within the engineering industry and achieving beyond what would normally be expected.

Professor Caroline Jay has been recognised for her research into finding an easier way to monitor a symptomless heart condition which could save thousands of lives each year. “It’s a great privilege to be named as one of the top 50 Women in Engineering 2022.” she said.

“As Head of Research in the School of Engineering I believe it’s vital that we celebrate the work of female engineers, and I’m delighted that Aline Miller has also been recognised for work founding 91ֱ�� Biogel, and as Associate Dean for Innovation and Business Engagement in the Faculty of Science and Engineering.”

Professor Jay and her team have created an algorithm that can more easily detect the condition, known as long QT syndrome, which can cause fast, chaotic heartbeats and can be life threatening.

Professor Aline Miller’s research interests lie at the life-science interface with emphasis on applying physical principles to mimic, manipulate and improve molecular self-assembly for material design and application.

“I am thrilled and humbled to be sat alongside the inspiring women who are also featured in the top 50 Women in Engineering 2022.” said Professor Miller.

“International Women in Engineering Day is a day to celebrate the many contributions of women working within our discipline, but we should also pause and remember how much more there is to do to reach true equality within the workforce and in innovation.”

Working with academics and industry Aline’s team work to translate hydrogel materials to improve the quality of our lives and reduce costs and time involved to achieve a successful clinical outcome. Application areas currently showing promise in animal studies include the regeneration of heart tissue after heart attack, peripheral nerve repair and the targeted delivery of therapeutics for the treatment of endometriosis.

As Elizabeth Donnelly CEO of WES says: "Once again WES is delighted to celebrate the achievements of women engineers. It's a joy that so many innovative women are making a difference to our everyday lives and working to mitigate the impact that engineering has on the environment".

Find out more about the .

“In Search of Hope harnesses UK research to challenge assumptions about life imprisonment, and to promote humane penal practices and treatment of some of the most vulnerable people in our society," she added.

UKRI Chief Executive, Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, said, “Future Leaders Fellowships provide researchers and innovators with the freedom and generous long-term support to progress adventurous new ideas, and to move across disciplinary boundaries and between academia and industry.

“The fellows announced today provide shining examples of the talented researchers and innovators across every discipline attracted to pursue their ideas in universities and businesses throughout the UK, with the potential to deliver transformative research that can be felt across society and the economy.”

Professor Sarah Haigh has been named winner of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Analytical Division mid-career Award. Based at the University of Manchester, Professor Haigh won the prize for the development of transmission electron microscopy methods for advancing understanding of the dynamic behaviour of 2D materials and nanomaterials.

After receiving the prize, Professor Haigh said: “I’m very excited to have received this prize and thank the RSC for the honour. It is a testament to the hard work of my fantastic research group who very patiently put up with me. I am very grateful to them for their great ideas, persistence, enthusiasm, and collaboration. This prize is evidence that you can continue to succeed in science with a young family even with the huge additional challenges and stresses imposed by the pandemic over the last years.”

Most science and engineering processes occur in liquids or gases. Professor Haigh’s research group uses electron microscopes to study these processes, dynamically, with atomic spatial resolution and chemical sensitivity. Electron microscopes are similar to optical microscopes, but they use electrons instead of light. Electrons can be accelerated to very high speeds, when they have a wavelength 100,000 times smaller than visible light, which gives us the possibility to see atoms.

Applications of their research include studying the early stage synthesis of nanomaterials, the charging and discharging of batteries, the production of electricity from fuel cells or of green fuels from renewable energy, and the corrosion of pipelines or offshore wind turbines. Her research group is particularly interested in the applications for clean energy generation to support the net zero energy transition.

Professor Jason Micklefield has been named winner of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Interdisciplinary Prize. Based at the University of Manchester, Professor Micklefield won the prize for innovative research spanning organic chemistry to molecular genetics, leading to the discovery, characterisation, and engineering of many novel enzymes.  

After receiving the prize, Professor Micklefield said: “I am very pleased to win this award. I am particularly grateful to my very talented research group for their hard work, dedication and excellent research over the years, which has made this possible.”

Nature uses enzymes to catalyse reactions building all of the molecules required for life. Enzymes also break down molecules to release energy that enables all living organisms to move forward. Professor Micklefield’s lab discovers novel enzymes from unusual bacteria in nature. They characterise these enzymes to determine their structures and mechanisms. With this knowledge, they are able to re-programme the enzymes to create variants that can catalyse new reactions. 

These engineered enzymes are used to produce novel antibiotics to combat antimicrobial resistance, antiviral agents that entered clinical trials for COVID-19, anticancer agents and other useful molecules. The enzymatic pathways they develop are cleaner and more sustainable than the traditional chemical synthesis routes that are currently used to prepare pharmaceuticals and other molecules.

Professor Christopher Hardacre has been named winner of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Tilden Prize. Based at the University of Manchester, Professor Hardacre won the prize for outstanding contributions to the areas of liquid and gas phase heterogeneous catalysis.

After receiving the prize, Professor Hardacre said: “I was delighted and honoured but surprised.”

Professor Hardacre’s group focuses on the use of solids as catalysts for the production of commodity and fine chemicals and the removal of pollutants. Catalysts are materials that can lower the energy required for chemical reactions to proceed at the required rate. The group uses them in both the liquid phase and gas phase. The research aims to produce chemicals and fuels more efficiently and selectively. As well as having a direct application in the chemicals and energy sector, catalysis is key to achieving net zero.

Dr Helen Pain, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said: “Great science changes the way we think about things – either through the techniques used, the findings themselves, the products that emerge or even in how we interact with the world and those around us. Importantly, it also allows us to reflect on the incredible people involved in this work and how they have achieved their results. 

“Although we are in the midst of negotiating a particularly turbulent and challenging era, it is important to celebrate successes and advances in understanding as genuine opportunities to improve our lives. The work of the three winners from The University of Manchester is a fantastic example of why we celebrate great science, and we’re very proud to recognise their contribution today.”

“It was a wonderful experience to be involved in an event that recognises the inspiring work that our staff, students, alumni and partners are involved in,” added Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility. “These awards have shown how the unique abilities and resources of universities can create positive change in wider society through research, innovation, and most importantly our people.”

This year’s event was Lemn Sissay’s final one as the University’s Chancellor. He concluded proceedings with the live reading of a new poem to commemorate his time in post, and he was presented with a new award - the Chancellor’s Making a Difference Award - to acknowledge his seven years at the University. 

“Lemm has been a truly outstanding and inspirational Chancellor, has raised the profile of the University, and has been a real champion for our Social Responsibility work,” said Nalin Thakkar. “In every ceremony or event that Lemm has presided over, he has made people laugh, relax and feel included. This is such a wonderful quality to be able to create spaces where people feel noticed, feel valued and feel respected. Lemm welcomes everyone in our community with open arms.”

Lemm said: “My highlight has been to be surrounded by so many incredibly intelligent people who match their intelligence with integrity. I am surrounded by people at this university who know much more than me about many things. The way they apply their knowledge to the community and to themselves is outstanding. I’m constantly humbled by being in that environment, and honoured to be a Chancellor.”

Professor Tony Redmond has been honoured with a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 Pride of Manchester Awards, in recognition of a career spent providing crucial medical care to those most in need all over the world.

Tony is Professor of International Emergency Medicine at The University of Manchester’s Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute, and he has been involved in delivering international emergency humanitarian assistance since 1988. 

He has organised and led medical support to natural disasters, major incidents, conflicts and complex emergencies throughout the world including earthquakes, epidemics, wars and plane crashes.

He set up , a charity based at the University which sends vital medical care to places of great humanitarian need across the globe – a team of their volunteer medics are currently in Ukraine, where they have set up clinics to treat injured and displaced people as well providing vital support and training for local healthcare staff.

Tony coordinated the NHS response to the Ebola epidemic in 2014 – the experience and knowledge that he acquired during this crisis led to him being appointed as the medical director of the NHS Nightingale Hospital North West, the temporary hospital located in the 91ֱ�� Central conference venue at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He has won countless awards and accolades during his distinguished career, including an OBE in 1994 for his work providing humanitarian assistance in Sarajevo during the Bosnian war, and The University of Manchester’s Medal of Honour in 2018.

He recalled seeing a letter in the 91ֱ�� Evening News from a local resident who said it made them proud to see a team from the city doing such important work in the places where it is most needed. “It really touched me - it makes me proud to be from 91ֱ��,” he said.

Redmond was presented with his award by Elbow singer Guy Garvey, who reflected on Redmond’s achievements to the audience at 91ֱ��’s Kimpton Clocktower Hotel. 

“When I think about what Tony has done and how many millions of people he’s facilitated to live - he’s remarkable,” he said. “I’m just so very very honoured and proud to be here with him. The attitude at the top filters down in organisations, and that’s why what Tony has done is so special.”

Tony’s charity UK-Med is currently providing direct medical care, training and support for the people of Ukraine - please to help them to provide emergency healthcare to those most vulnerable.

The 2022 New Generation Thinkers were announced as part of a special episode of Free Thinking on BBC Radio 3 introduced by Laurence Scott, one of the first New Generation Thinkers in 2010. Featuring all ten researchers, the episode is available to listen to on demand on and as an . 

To find out more about New Generation Thinkers, visit the .

Professor Dongarra is currently a Turing Fellow at The University of Manchester and collaborations with 91ֱ�� colleagues include work on batched computations, mixed precision arithmetic algorithms, and the PLASMA software.

As a leading ambassador of high-performance computing, Dongarra led the field in persuading hardware vendors to optimize these methods, and software developers to target his open-source libraries in their work. Ultimately, these efforts resulted in linear algebra-based software libraries achieving nearly universal adoption for high performance scientific and engineering computation on machines ranging from laptops to the world’s fastest supercomputers. These libraries were essential in the growth of the field—allowing progressively more powerful computers to solve computationally challenging problems.

“Today’s fastest supercomputers draw headlines in the media and excite public interest by performing mind-boggling feats of a quadrillion calculations in a second,” explains President Gabriele Kotsis. “But beyond the understandable interest in new records being broken, high performance computing has been a major instrument of scientific discovery. HPC innovations have also spilled over into many different areas of computing and moved our entire field forward.

“Jack Dongarra played a central part in directing the successful trajectory of this field. His trailblazing work stretches back to 1979, and he remains one of the foremost and actively engaged leaders in the HPC community. His career certainly exemplifies the Turing Award’s recognition of ‘major contributions of lasting importance.’”

Professor Andrew Hazel, Head of Department, said: "Jack Dongarra's pioneering work has made it possible for researchers around the world to access high-performance computing. The Department of Mathematics is delighted that his fundamental contributions have been recognised by the ACM Turing Award."

“Jack Dongarra's work has fundamentally changed and advanced scientific computing,” said Jeff Dean, Google Senior Fellow and SVP of Google Research and Google Health. “His deep and important work at the core of the world's most heavily used numerical libraries underlie every area of scientific computing, helping advance everything from drug discovery to weather forecasting, aerospace engineering and dozens more fields, and his deep focus on characterizing the performance of a wide range of computers has led to major advances in computer architectures that are well suited for numeric computations.”

Dongarra will be formally presented with the ACM A.M. Turing Award at the annual ACM Awards Banquet, which will be held this year on Saturday, June 11 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco.

Dongarra has a 25% FTE appointment in the Department of Mathematics as Turing Fellow. He is a member of the Numerical Linear Algebra group and his work in 91ֱ�� has been funded by EPSRC and EU Horizon 2020 grants. He has also held Knowledge Transfer Partnerships with NAG Ltd., funded by Innovate UK.

"Through this Award, we aim to spotlight the transformational power of art for individual and societal change and provide a lever for organisations to scale their civic role work," said Louisa Hooper, Interim Director of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch). 

"We hope that reading about this year’s recipients – and how they have played a central role in their communities in the most innovative ways – provides inspiration for other organisations too. They provide fuel for hope and for a future in which the arts sector brings its visionary and healing magic to the business of reconnecting and shaping our world for the better."

SPRITE+ was created in 2019, as part of the EPSRC’s Digital Economy programme, to foster engagement between academic and non-academic communities and provide a platform for building interdisciplinary collaborations to address challenges related to the future of digital trust, identity, privacy, and security (TIPS). Its activities include workshops, showcase events, research funding, and other community-building activities across disciplines and sectors.

Since its launch, SPRITE+ has attracted over 750 members from academia, industry, government, law enforcement and civil society organisations, and the support of eighteen Project Partners. Currently, 75% of its members are academic researchers from technical, scientific, arts/humanities and social science disciplines, with over ninety HEIs represented from the UK and beyond.

In its second phase, SPRITE+ will be led by Professor Mark Elliot from the University of Manchester, with Professor Stacey Conchie (Lancaster University), Professor Deeph Chana (Imperial College London), Professor Vladimiro Sassone (University of Southampton), and Professor Sakir Sezer (Queen’s University Belfast). The current SPRITE+ Director, University of Manchester’s Professor Emma Barrett, will remain as part of the Management Team for phase two.

The additional funding from 2023 will enable SPRITE+ to enhance its research support, including new funding calls to tackle industry-led challenges, ‘deep dive’ research projects and horizon scanning exercises. Early career researchers will benefit from enhanced opportunities to develop their skills and engage with stakeholders from industry, government, and civil society. SPRITE+ will also extend its international reach by building new collaborations in Canada, Australia, South Korea and the USA. The new activities will complement and extend the existing programme of sandpits, community building and networking events.

As the UK’s national NetworkPlus for TIPS, SPRITE+ works closely with other networks and hubs that also cover aspects of digital trust, identity, privacy and security, supporting their work and maximising opportunities for collaboration across disciplines and sectors. Twenty-four high-profile organisations (including organisations from phase one) have already signed up to join phase two of SPRITE+ as Project Partners.

The second phase of SPRITE+ will launch in September 2023, and is funded by the EPSRC for four years.