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Engagement and Place Awards 2024

Our Engagement and Place Awards recognise and celebrate great examples of collaboration with different publics. They showcase how the benefits of our research and teaching go beyond the University.

About the Awards

We honour projects displaying the diverse ways University colleagues and students work with external partners and communities.

The awards recognise many innovative collaborations between the University and its external partners. These bring value to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing in our city, region and across the globe.

We're delighted to announce our award winners and shortlisted projects for the Engagement Engagement and Place Awards 2024 below.

Vice-Chancellor and Presidents Award

The Vice-Chancellor and President's Award celebrates the work of a colleague or team that demonstrates outstanding, sustained engagement practice. The winning project is chosen by the Vice-Chancellor as a exemplar and embodiment of our Engagement & Place Strategy. 

Winner

Insights Public Lectures

INSIGHTS Public Lectures aim to deliver a programme that will inform, stimulate, entertain, and excite. For over 60 years, the programme has attracted leading academics and public and cultural figures to the University.

Engaging for Health, Wellbeing and Societal Benefit

This category celebrates projects that deliver benefits to society through collaboration with partners in the public, health and voluntary sectors.

Winner

The Vanishing Act - Dr Vivek Nityananda 

The Vanishing Act is a cabaret show, made with young people and scientists for audiences of all ages. It explores the world of insects and the declines in their numbers. 

Shortlisted projects

Young@Heart - Hamde Nazar

Young@Heart is a student-led service that tests and screens for common health issues. It provides health and lifestyle support to people who might not normally get it.

The Tyne Derwent Way - Prof Vee Pollock and Prof Richard Clay

The Tyne Derwent Way seeks to transform an underused and neglected area of urban greenspace into a vibrant community-focused park where nature, communities and culture can thrive.

Engaging Globally

This category celebrates international engagement projects that address global challenges through our research or teaching.

Winner

Following the Flight of the Monarchs - Dr Rob Mackay 

This interdisciplinary ecology project brought together artists and scientists. They connected with ecosystems and communities along the migration routes of monarch butterflies between Mexico and Canada.

Shortlisted projects

In Place of Maps - Dr James Riding

In Place of Maps developed the novel methodology of participatory counter-mapping and atlas making. This showed how it can be used as a tool for everyday peace-building in conflict-affected societies.

Tackling Parkinson’s disease stigma in Africa - Dr Tash Fothergill-Misbah

Shaking Hands With The Devil is an output from the research grant Transforming Parkinson’s Care in Africa (TraPCAf). It demonstrates the possibilities and power of community engagement in research.

Engaging for Cultural Benefit

This category recognises collaborative projects that contribute to the vibrancy and cultural richness of our place through our expertise in creative arts practice, culture and heritage.

Winner

Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the Vindolanda Trust - Morag Iles 

An exploration to see how contemporary art commissioning could diversify Vindolanda’s curatorial approaches and interpretation methodologies.

Shortlisted projects

Father Unknown - Dr Michael Richardson and Jonah York

Father Unknown is a co-created play, exploring young fatherhood. It was made in collaboration with young dads whose expertise was recognised and valued.

Shefton Collection of Greek Art and Archaeology - Dr Sally Waite

Bringing together archaeology, classics, fine art and science to shed new light on old collections for cultural benefit at the Great North Museum.

Engaging with Policy and Practice

This category recognises engagement projects that inform local, national and international policy.

Winner

Tackling Islamophobia through engagement - Prof Peter Hopkins  

Professor Hopkins has been engaging meaningfully to challenge racism and Islamophobia. He uses diverse formats and approaches to promote policy change and to inform practice in diverse areas.

Shortlisted projects

The Impact of Brexit on Women in Northern Ireland

Dr Katharine Wright, Prof Ruth McAreavy and Rebecca Donaldson explore the detrimental impact of the marginalisation of women and women’s concerns in Northern Ireland arising from Brexit.

Preventing dangerous medical devices from harming children - Prof Tom Joyce

Newcastle University researchers found that a medical implant intending to help the most ill children was potentially causing them harm. They convinced the UK regulator to prevent further implantation.

Inclusive Education, Life Long Learning and CPD

This category showcases collaborative projects that support equality of opportunity across the entire student lifecycle. This ensures continued commitment to improving fair access to higher education.

Winner

Music Education Hubs, Newcastle Sings and Futures in Music 

An innovative music education outreach and engagement project led by the International Centre for Music Studies. It makes a positive impact on children and young people.

Shortlisted projects

Science Adventures - Dr Hannah Roome

A free multi-day event offering interactive science activities. It's an opportunity to gain first-hand research experience, inspiring curiosity and sparking a love for science in families.

PARTNERS Programme: 25 Year Anniversary - Dawn Dowling

Celebrating 25 years of supporting disadvantaged young people on their journey to university. This initiative takes an evidence-led approach to developing high quality engagement and teaching.

Early Career Researcher

This category recognises the varied engagement practice undertaken by researchers in the early stages of their research careers, either doctoral students or early career researchers.

Winner

Breeding Giants to Rewild the Galapagos - Rachel Gray  

Rachel Gray is helping to rewild Floreana Island in the Galapagos by mapping out the future of a unique captive breeding program for giant tortoises.

Shortlisted projects

Seascapes: Beneath the Waves - Rachael Priest and Peter Almond

This project reveals the hidden marine heritage of the North East, bringing it to audiences that cannot otherwise access the world beneath the waves.

UC Creatives - Dr Steph Morris

UC Creatives provided a platform where recipients of universal credit could express themselves. They examined whether creative art forms are a good way of doing this.

25 Years of Excellence in Widening Participation

Winner

The Partners Programme

The PARTNERS programme has been running since the year 2000 and is one of the most well-established supported entry routes to higher education of its kind.

Over 9,000 students have studied at Newcastle University via the PARTNERS Programme. It offers a range of support and opportunities to help you make a successful application to Newcastle University.

2023 Awards
2022 Awards