Winners at the Research and Innovation Awards
The breadth of Swansea University’s world-leading research was put in the spotlight at the Research and Innovation Awards 2022, with fourteen projects named as winners.
Researchers from across the University were invited to submit entries, with over 100 received, across the 14 award categories. Each application exemplified the quality, relevance and positive global impact of Swansea University’s research and its potential to inspire.
Swansea University Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Boyle said:
"At Swansea University, we are incredibly proud of the growth in our research and innovation activity over the past decade. In the past 7 years, our research income has increased by 160% from £148m to £286, and our global reputation as a collaborative research partner is flourishing.
Every year, our Research and Innovation awards provide a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the agility and adaptability of our research community, with our partners across the public, private and third sectors. Our success over the past 100 years has been as a result of meaningful collaboration and I am confident that this spirit of partnership will continue to drive our success during our second century."
Professor Helen Griffiths, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation, said:
“This is the sixth Research & Innovation Award ceremony, celebrating the development of our thriving research and innovation community. This year we made 14 awards, with over 250 stakeholders joining us in person and a further 200 guests tuning in remotely for the celebrations.
The scale of the celebrations reflects the enormous growth in Swansea University’s research capacity in recent years, and the purposeful partnerships that we continue to grow with private, public and third sector organisations.”
Prior to announcing the winning entries, guests from industry, academia, third sector and funding bodies were treated to an inspiring presentation, given by Dr Laura Baker of Tata Steel and Swansea University Queen’s Anniversary Prize Winner, Professor Dave Worsley, which was called: Leading a Revolution in Renewable Energy Technologies.
The 14 award winners, with the sponsors supporting them, are:
1. Outstanding Research and Innovation Collaboration in Humanities and Social Science (sponsored by Azets) - Legal Innovation Lab Wales
2. Outstanding Research and Innovation Collaboration in Medicine, Health and Life Sciences (sponsored by F&J Healthcare) - Swansea Modelling Team
3. Outstanding Research and Innovation Collaboration in Science and Engineering (sponsored by KLA Corporation) – SUNRISE
4. Outstanding International Impact of Research and Innovation (sponsored by Razbio) - AMBER - Working Together to Fix Europe’s Broken Rivers
5. Outstanding Contribution to Public Engagement (sponsored by Symbiosis) - Swansea University Science for Schools Scheme S4
6. Outstanding Impact on Health and Well-Being (sponsored by Vindico) - SAIL Databank and Swansea Data Science Group
7. Outstanding Impact on Industry, Commerce and Innovation (sponsored by Development Bank of Wales) - Unstructured Mesh Generation Tools
8. Outstanding Contribution to the Arts, Culture and Society (sponsored by Swansea University) - Professor Kirsti Bohata
9. Outstanding Contribution to Shaping the University’s Research and Innovation Community (sponsored by Zimmer & Peacock) - QS Rankings & Research Reputation
10. Outstanding Research Supervision (sponsored by Certis Group) - Dr Lloyd Hughes Davies
11. Research and Innovation Rising Star – Postgraduate (sponsored by Tata Steel) - Alaa Alaizoki
12. Research and Innovation Rising Star – Early Career (sponsored by GX Group) - Dr Ashra Khanom, Dr Emrys Evans, Dr Gemma Morgan
13. Outstanding Technician’s Contribution Award (sponsored by Dell Technologies) - Ian Hemming
14. Non-competitive award: Outstanding Response to Covid Pandemic (sponsored by Rolls Royce) - PVCOVID (Public Views During the Covid-19 Pandemic) Study, Innovative Thrips Lure, UK Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Register, Medical Microbiology and Infection Services / Public Health Wales, Microbiology Swansea, Healthcare Technology Centre, Swansea University Hand Sanitiser Project, SAIL Databank and Swansea Data Science group, The NHS Wales Covid 19 Innovation and Transformation
See all entries shortlisted in the award categories
Ceri Jones, Director of Research, Engagement & Innovation Services (REIS) at Swansea University, said:
“I would like to thank our headline sponsor, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, for their continued support, and for the legacy they have instilled within our research culture. In giving us the tools to maximise the impact of much of our research and innovation activities here at Swansea University.
I would also like to thank all our event sponsors, many of whom we are delighted to have worked with over previous years, and all of whom we look forward to collaborating with over the years to come.”