We are delighted to share the news that DPU lecturer Dr Andrea Rigon has been selected as the winner in the Early Career category in the UCL Provost's Public Engagement Awards for his work with the Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre over the past few years. Andrea is a lecturer on the MSc Social Development Practice programme and is a co-investigator for the Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre (SLURC).
In addition Nicola Antaki, a joint DPU-BSA PhD student, was the winner in the Post-graduate Research category for her PhD work with communities and children in Mumbai. A practicing architect, Antaki has developed a new teaching method that enables children to redesign their environment.
The UCL Provost's Public Engagement Awards celebrated staff and students on 6 June 2018, as part of the UCL Public Engagement Unit’s 10th anniversary year. This annual awards ceremony recognises the fantastic work of UCL staff, students, and their community partners, to open up the university’s research and teaching to the wider world.
Speaking in response to the award Andrea, speaking from SLURC in Freetown, said:
“It is a great sign to receive this recognition today, while I am in Freetown for a joint session of the board and the international advisory committee of the Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre to think at the next 5 years of this partnership. I would like to thank Alexandre Apsan Frediani who has worked with me on this project since its conception, and our two close colleagues at Njala University, Joseph Macarthy and Braima Koroma.
I want to particularly express my gratitude to DPU professional services for their support and particularly to Nkenji Okpara and Elsa Taddesse, and to Project Assistant Giovanna Astolfo. This project has certainly created extra work to resolve complex challenges to operate in Sierra Leone. This project would not have been possible without the commitment and mentorship of DPU senior staff.
In particular, DPU director Julio Davila, Julian Walker, Caren Levy, Michael Walls and Adriana Allen who provided and continue to provide constant advice at every challenge we encounter. It has been a real pleasure and privilege to work with all the staff at the Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre. What I like the most about this project is its collective and collegial nature and I want to express my gratitude to the more than 20 UCL staff and 50 UCL students directly involved. We hope to host Prof Arthur in Sierra Leone next year”