Vice Chancellor’s Award
2018 Awardees
At the University of Lincoln, the Vice-Chancellor’s Public Engagement with Research awards recognise staff and students who have made outstanding contributions to engaging people and communities beyond the university in new knowledge, invention and discovery.
Anne Chick
Niko Kargas
Stephen Lonsdale
Blue Dog Project Team
Individual Staff – Anne Chick
Lincoln School of Design
Professor Chick’s research investigating creating inclusive exhibitions and enhancing intellectual access for blind and partially sighted visitors has seen her engage with members of the public, blind and partially-sighted audiences, gallery and museum curators and partners. Her work has inspired innovativity in exhibition design, impacting positively on many people, especially through her co-creation of national exhibititions with over 15,000 visitors.
Individual Staff – Niko Kargas
School of Psychology
Dr Kargas’, founding Director of the Autism Research and Innovation Centre (ARIC), has enhanced the lives of people with autism through studies and work in accessible tourism, digital technology, and adaptive football, aspiring to make such environments autism-friendly. Niko has also planned conferences, advised on strategy and supported community networks such as CANadda to develop learning, skills and network for those on the autistic spectrum – and much more.
Individual Student -Stephen Lonsdale
School of History & Heritage
Stephen has wholeheartedly thrown himself into engaging the public in research as a student. In the community archaeology project ‘Unearthing Middlefield’s Utopia’, he taught participants how to excavate; inspiring them in discussion about the work and discoveries they were digging up. His involved and enthusiasm raised educational aspirations amongst children and building organisational capacity within the local community. Stephen then went on to develop and run an activity on the project for local children at the University’s LiGHTS festival 2017.
Staff Team – Blue Dog Project Team
The Blue Dog project involved stakeholders and participant in research on dog-bite prevention, body language and dog-assisted interventions. From this project, the team developed a dog-bite prevention tool which includes online guidance and an app. The team have changed public policy, established the tool as the resource of choice in NHS bite prevention as well as schools and veterinary associations nationally and internationally. With dog-bite health costs estimated at more than $53.9 million worldwide, the work of this team has had a massive international impact.
Highly Commended – Contribution to Public Engagement with Research
Sundari Anitha
School of Social & Political Sciences
Sundari Anitha’s research includes the ‘hidden histories’ of the impact of South Asian women migrants in the UK workforce in the Striking Women project; and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), widely informing policy debate and practice. Through online resources, exhibits and more, these projects have reached millions of people with sincere impact in changing views, raising awareness and inspiring others.
Kay Ritchie
School of Psychology
Kay was commended for routinely engaging people in research, with great impact, especially with those who may not normally have the have the chance to get involved. Through her work at the The Community Lab at Skegness Aquarium, Summer Scientist, Natural History Museum Lates and more Kay is inspiring budding researchers, sharing research and setting a trend for enhancing the quality and processes for how we research.
Andrei Zvelindovsky
School of Mathematics and Physics
Through Andrei’s leadership the School of Maths & Physics has developed a series of highly popular public lectures from renowned international speakers, school blogs with over 100,000 visits and staff mentoring in engaging non-specialists in research. Andrei has inspired both people in their involvement in research and researchers to develop their own public engagement practices as part of their research.
Hidden Gems
Lincoln School of Fine and Performing Arts
Hidden Gems was an exciting intercultural performance created by Cassandre Balosso-Bardin and Dominic Symonds. The evening was attended by 158 people who had the chance to experience an interactive art exhibition and a multi-media performance. The event offered audiences a unique and impactful chance to learn more about their ‘Welcoming Voices’ research, exploring migration and music and creating a bridge between cultures.