MAPS Faculty Awards ceremony 2024 celebrates excellence and innovation

Chaired by the Faculty Dean, Professor Ivan Parkin, the event recognised the outstanding contributions and accomplishments of individuals and teams across various categories, including the MAPS ECR Forum Awards, Innovation & Enterprise Student Prize Competitions, Embedding EDI in Education Poster Prize Competition, MAPS Faculty Education Awards, and the Alumni Engagement Ideas Awards.

Professor Ivan Parkin said, “It was really great to see so many of the award winner from across the faculty in the areas of research, education, philanthropy and enterprise. The meeting showed the depth and breadth of the excellence across the faculty.”

Winners were presented with certificates by the Dean in recognition of their hard work and dedication. The event also highlighted the Vice-Deans' contributions in fostering a spirit of research, enterprise, education, and advancement within the Faculty.

Attendees also included the Faculty Vice-Deans, Director of Operations, Heads of Departments, staff, and students. The ceremony was followed by a lively social gathering with food, drinks, and networking opportunities. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and applause as colleagues and peers mingled to celebrate the collective achievements of the academic year 2023-2024.

The Faculty Vice Dean for Research, Professor Andrew Wills, said, “I was struck by the extraordinary passion our ECRs have, not only for advancing scientific knowledge, but also in teaching, outreach, sustainability, and research culture initiatives. It is great to see how this community is building support within itself, as well as inspiring the next generation of researchers. Many congratulations to the award winners and all involved!”

Professor Katherine Holt, MAPS Vice Dean for Education, said, “It is a pleasure to be able to celebrate the hard work and innovative approaches to education and student support through our Faculty Education Individual Excellence awards. We are pleased to be able to recognise staff in different roles and career stages and their contribution to education in the faculty.”

The MAPS Faculty Awards Ceremony not only celebrated excellence but also provided a valuable opportunity for staff and students to connect, reflect on a successful year, and look forward to future achievements within the Faculty.

Many congratulations to the following winners!

MAPS ECR Forum Awards 2024 Winners

Research Excellence Award

• Alec Owens, Research Fellow, Department of Physics and Astronomy
• Gao Xuan, PhD, Department of Chemistry
• Gianluca Pescaroli, Associate Professor, Department of Risk and Disaster Reduction
• Thaisa Comelli, Research Fellow, Department of Risk and Disaster Reduction

Teaching Excellence Award

• Lucy Maun, PhD, Department of Science and Technology Studies

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Award

• Deborah Tangunan, Research Fellow, Department of Earth Sciences
• Louisa Acciari, Research Fellow, Department of Risk and Disaster Reduction

Outreach and Communication Award

• Megan Joseph, PhD, London Centre for Nanotechnology
• Fern Pannell, PhD, Department of Physics and Astronomy

Community Work Award

• The History of Science Conversations (HosCos) Team: Catherine Lucas, Antonia Belli and Scott Keir, PhDs, Department of Science and Technology Studies
• Ina Bradic, PhD, Department of Chemistry 

MAPS Innovation and Enterprise Prize Competitions 2024 Winners

Undergraduate (MSci) Prize Competition 2024 winner

• Maj Mis, Department of Physics and Astronomy 

Postgraduate (MSc) Prize Competition 2024 winners

• Jaz Johari, Institute for Materials Discovery
• Giacomo Rossetti, Department of Space and Climate Physics/MSSL
• Yutong Li, Department of Physics and Astronomy
• Han, Xintian and Zhao, Boya, Department of Statistical Science

Postgraduate (PhD) Prize Competition 2024 winner

• Kaiyu Li, Department of Statistical Science 

MAPS Faculty Education Awards 2024 Individual Excellence Winners

• Michael Parkes, Department of Chemistry
• Jose Delgado, Department of Risk and Disaster Reduction
• Lisa Guppy, Department of Risk and Disaster Reduction
• David Angdinata, Department of Mathematics
• Ian Petrow, Department of Mathematics
• Agnes Somogyi, Department of Statistical Science
• Rory Jubber, Department of Science and Technology Studies

MAPS Embedding EDI in Education Poster Prize Competition 2024 Winners

• 1st Prize: Alexa Wong and Asma Laali, Natural Sciences
• 2nd Prize: Amy Unsworth, Natural Sciences
• 3rd Prize: Hao Ni, Department of Mathematics

MAPS Alumni Engagement Awards 2024 Winners

• Lisa Medici and Nick Nicolaou, Department of Physics and Astronomy 
• Freya Roberts and Kris De Meyer, Climate Action Unit, Department of Earth Sciences