The College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences Academic Recognition Awards 2022
View our online Flickr Gallery of the EMPS Summer Celebration 2022 where we presented our award winners.
The results are in for the CEMPS Academic Recognition Awards 2022
Our Academic Recognition Awards provide a unique opportunity for CEMPS academic staff to celebrate the success and achievements of their colleagues within the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
Find out who our previous winners have been and what happened at past events by viewing our 2019 awards and 2020 awards webpages.
We are delighted to share the results of the CEMPS Academic Recognition Awards 2022, as voted for by you. We received nominations for over 90 members of staff and more than 190 of you took part in the final voting stage. Please see the shortlist and final winners below:
Dean’s Outstanding Contribution Award
To recognise staff who have gone above and beyond in any aspect of their role, or who have had significant positive impact on the university as a whole.
Find out who our previous winners of this award were in both 2019 and 2020.
The joint winners of the Dean’s Outstanding Contribution Award were decided by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean and we are delighted to announce that Dr Helen Smith and Prof. Richard Everson have received the award this year.
Prof. Richard Everson - Acceptance
Dr Helen Smith - Acceptance
Inspiring Leader Award
To recognise staff who have brought out the best in the people they work with to achieve exceptional results. They champion innovation and collaboration, deliver real change for their discipline and institution, and inspire the higher education community.
Find out who our previous winners of this award were in both 2019 and 2020.
Note the text below is what was submitted by the colleague(s) who nominated the shortlisted academic.
Shortlisted nominees for this award are:
Prof. Beth Wingate – WINNER
Beth Wingate has been Director for Research for the Mathematics Department for six years. In that time Beth has really driven forward the research income of the Mathematics Department. In particular, she has encouraged everyone to value holding a grant, from pure mathematics to applied science, and more recently, the Number Theory, Algebra and Geometry group has been particularly successful. Beth delivered the Mathematics REF during this time as well as building her own research group and contributing to education. She has also built an external reputation with bodies such as EPSRC and was one of the co-editors for the Mathematics section of the UKRI Science Case for Supercomputing.
Prof. Beth Wingate - Acceptance
Mr Charlie Statham – Shortlisted
Charlie Statham is from the Engineering Department and is Programme Lead for the Civil Engineering Degree Apprenticeship. Charlie puts an incredible amount of passion, positivity, and uplifting leadership into the Civil Engineering Degree Apprenticeship. The whole team rallies behind Charlie, and thanks to him we have got happy and motivated apprentices, a fantastic teaching team and support staff who are willing to go the extra mile. Throughout Covid-19, Charlie has been infectiously optimistic about any challenges or problems that have come our way, which has kept the team going even though times have been tough.
Dr David Wakeling – Shortlisted
David Wakeling is Director for Education for the Computer Science Department. David has steered the Computer Science Department education portfolio effectively in an extremely difficult time, with Covid-19, student numbers growth, staff growth, and programme growth. David has often stepped in personally to cover teaching and marking when staff are ill or on leave. He has been invaluable in maintaining departmental coherence in teaching.
Positive Impact Award
To recognise staff who have made an exceptional difference to others’ experiences through an outstanding contribution to the College, their Department or Group and who have worked hard to make individuals’ experiences better.
Find out who our previous winners of this award were in both 2019 and 2020.
Note the text below is what was submitted by the colleague(s) who nominated the shortlisted academic.
Shortlisted nominees for this award are:
Dr Sophie Cowie – JOINT WINNER!
Sophie Cowie is an outstanding representative of the Level 7 Research Scientist/ MSc Data Science (Professional) Programme. Sophie is exceptionally helpful in supporting all members of the team. She has positively contributed to all discussions with outstanding problem-solving skills. She takes on board all viewpoints that play into the delivery of the programme to come up with suggestions that address the needs of apprentices and employers. Sophie shows high passion and enthusiasm through her work and has received many positive comments from students for being extremely supportive.
Sophie Cowie - Acceptance
Dr Pablo Loren-Aguilar – JOINT WINNER!
Pablo Loren-Aguilar has recently taken on the role of Deputy Director of Education in Physics and Astronomy. His work in this role has had an immediate positive impact on students and staff in the Department, by leading initiatives with the wellbeing team, working tirelessly with the SSLC, and dealing efficiently and with good humour the many tasks that fall to those in the education team. Alongside his administrative role, Pablo is an exceptionally gifted educator who has taken on a substantial portfolio of new teaching this year. Pablo is a genuine team-player, who richly deserves this award.
Pablo Loren-Aguilar - Acceptance
Dr Aritra Ghosh – Shortlisted
Aritra Ghosh is a Lecturer in Renewable Energy. Aritra motivates and encourages students to take research to the next level. For example, he supervised three MSc students last year and all of them submitted their work in journals. Being so early in his lecturing career, Aritra is making excellent contributions to the Department and College. His research output has been outstanding in the last academic year, and his commitment to teaching is second to none. Last year, he led a team and made a video on solar energy research in Cornwall for G7. Aritra has a positive impact on individuals and the wider community.
Diversity and Outreach Award
To recognise staff who worked well with people of diverse personalities, learning styles, and life experiences, as well as groups of social differences including race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic, country of origin, cultural, political, religious, or other affiliations. The recipient(s) sought out, valued, and utilized the knowledge and experiences of the diverse community.
Find out who our previous winners of this award were in both 2019 and 2020.
Note the text below is what was submitted by the colleague(s) who nominated the shortlisted academic.
Shortlisted nominees for this award are:
Dr Hugo Barbosa – Shortlisted
Hugo Barbosa is the Chair of the Computer Science Department Inclusion Group. Hugo has championed the WP agenda resulting in the creation of a new Exeter scholars strand. This is for high achieving National BAME students from low participation/income neighbourhoods, interested in computer science. He focuses on motivating more females into coding and seeks best practise to ensure he is informed. He seeks to create a safe environment for our LGBTQ+ community at all levels through increased conversation and visibility especially on the Computer Science Small Piece residential. Many others have learnt from his dedication to interactive and inspiring widening participation outreach work.
Dr Corrina Cory – Shortlisted
Corrina Cory is the Chair of the Engineering Department Inclusion Group. Corrina has been nominated for re-energising and leading this group which includes proposing and developing a new CEMPS UG Resonance Scholarship for black students.
Dr Jenny Hatchell – WINNER!
Jenny Hatchell has been an exceptional member of the Physics and Astronomy Inclusion Group for many years, making important contributions to applications, meetings, and in looking rigorously at the data which is so critical to measuring the success of the Action Plan. Jenny combines this with a huge amount of outreach work, both as Physics and Astronomy's Widening Participation coordinator and across a myriad of different events including the Big Bang Southwest and talks and demonstrations at schools across Devon.
Jenny Hatchell - Acceptance
Dr Houry Melkonian – Shortlisted
Houry Melkonian is a senior lecturer in the Mathematics Department. Houry’s project STEM Without Boundaries has brought together many female undergraduate students, across all stages in Mathematics, learning more about historical notable women in mathematics. The output of this work has been impactful not only on a university level, but also externally as part of the European Women in Mathematics Society.
Inspirational Teaching Award
To recognise staff who have used their passion and dedication for a subject area to inspire others to be ambitious, enthusiastic and challenged to develop new ideas.
Find out who our previous winners of this award were in both 2019 and 2020.
Note the text below is what was submitted by the colleague(s) who nominated the shortlisted academic.
Shortlisted nominees for this award are:
Dr Eros Mariani – WINNER!
Eros Mariani is a senior lecturer in the Physics and Astronomy Department. Eros is an exceptionally gifted educator, who combines academic rigour with an infectious enthusiasm for physics - a combination which leads to an outstanding student experience. His feedback says it all "Eros is a great lecturer, making a very complex topic understandable", "Whilst the module is difficult in its content, the teaching from the lecturer was truly superb." This great feedback continued during the pandemic: "These are the best online lecture videos I have watched.". He recently took over a challenging third-year module and once again the students were incredibly appreciative - Eros is a true inspiration.
Eros Mariani - Acceptance
Dr Joanne Mason – Shortlisted
Joanne Mason is a superb lecturer and all-round teacher in Mathematics. I constantly meet students who tell me how much they enjoy her teaching, in particular her lecturing of Fluid Dynamics in year 3, a topic she brings to life with video clips of fluid flows and instabilities, and real-world applications.
Dr Peter Melville-Shreeve – Shortlisted
Peter Melville-Shreeve started as a new Lecturer in Engineering & Entrepreneurship at the start of the pandemic and has been through a very steep learning curve on two important Entrepreneurship modules (Entrep 1 and Entrep 2). He module led Entrep 1 in 2021-22 and achieved positive accelerate feedback. He has fully embraced the Gold Standard PBL style of teaching and his teaching style on all modules is a hit with students as he applies his entrepreneurship and industry experience to inspire students and enhance student experience.
Excellence in Internationalisation Award
To recognise staff who have identified, developed and sustained valuable new international partnerships, championed initiatives in the implementation of the international strategy, worked to integrate two-way understanding between international and home students, established or enhances successful international opportunities/programmes, and collaborated and shared internationalisation best-practice across departments in support of our University strategy.
Find out who our previous winners of this award were in both 2019 and 2020.
Note the text below is what was submitted by the colleague(s) who nominated the shortlisted academic.
Shortlisted nominees for this award are:
Prof. Akbar Javadi – WINNER!
Akbar Javadi has been an excellent member of the College DoGD team. Akbar has actively engaged and facilitated a large number of meetings with international partners. He has actively engaged in international student recruitment via both Direct as well as the TNE route. Akbar has promoted the education and research of engineering at Exeter to a wide international audience and is contributing to the increase in international student numbers.
Akbar Javadi - Acceptance
Dr Hannah Hughes – Shortlisted
Hannah Hughes is a Senior Lecturer in Exploration and Mining Geology. Hannah has developed links for the College with tireless enthusiasm that stretch into the four corners of the world, from China and Arabia to Africa and South America. This is an outstanding contribution to internationalisation.
Prof Xiaohong Li – Shortlisted
Xiaohong Li has been an excellent and engaged member of the College DoGD team. Xiaohong has been instrumental for development of our College partnership with Hainan University and actively pursuing other initiatives. Xiaohong has promoted the education and research of engineering at Exeter to a wide international audience and is contributing to the increase in international student numbers.
Research Excellence Award
To recognise staff who have led an impactful research project that has achieved external recognition for research, demonstrated significant or novel results, fostered creative collaborations or imaginatively communicated research results.
Find out who our previous winners of this award were in both 2019 and 2020.
Note the text below is what was submitted by the colleague(s) who nominated the shortlisted academic.
Shortlisted nominees for this award are:
Dr Federico Botta – Shortlisted
Federico Botta is one of two new recipients of the inaugural No. 10 Downing Street Data Science Fellowships. This is the first time this fellowship is being awarded, and it is likely to bring positive benefits to him and the department. He managed this achievement while having a heavy teaching load and working with the Head of Computer Science on the development of a new MSc Programme in Urban Analytics.
Prof. Stefan Kraus – WINNER!
Stefan Kraus is an international leader in the field of high angular resolution observations, using facilities such as the VLT in Chile, and the CHARA interferometer in California, to probe the innermost regions of planet-forming discs. Stefan has an impressive track-record of prestigious fellowships - he was recently awarded an ERC Consolidator grant, following from his ERC Starting grant and before that his STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowship. As well as conducting observational programmes, Stefan's group also develops instruments for interferometry, including MIRC-X on CHARA and now BI-FROST, which will be deployed on the VLT.
Stefan Kraus - Acceptance
Prof. Tim Dodwell – Shortlisted
The Data Centric Engineering group led by Tim Dodwell has expanded remarkably since its recent start. Projects combined have brought in over £20M of funding from multiple major funding bodies including UKRI, EPSRC, and Innovate UK. Over the last two years, the group has expanded to having over 18 new researchers and involved numerous external collaborators from major institutions as well as international companies. From digital twins for building controls to AI for air traffic control, their state-of-the-art, highly interdisciplinary research outputs attract readers from all departments in the College.
Industry Award
To recognise staff who have contributed to outstanding university partnership with a business or an industry – regional, national or international – with a lasting impact for students, staff and the university.
Find out who our previous winners of this award were in both 2019 and 2020.
Note the text below is what was submitted by the colleague(s) who nominated the shortlisted academic.
Shortlisted nominees for this award are:
Prof. Chris Smith – Shortlisted
Chris Smith has been nominated for his term as Deputy ADR Industry and for his leadership of the Centre for Future Clean Mobility. Chris has developed the Centre for Clean Mobility (now based in the Engineering Building - Exeter Science Park) and continuously builds links, collaboration, and funding from local, regional, and national companies.
Dr. Oleksandr Kyriienko – Shortlisted
Oleksandr Kyriienko is a lecturer who is an expert on quantum optics, condensed matter physics, and quantum computing. Oleksandr has had excellent success in engaging with industry, having gained over £400k of industry sponsorship since joining Exeter in 2019. His links with industry have also had benefits to undergraduates, with Physics students accessing real-life quantum computers, thanks to the IBM Quantum Educators Program facilitated by Oleksandr.
Prof. Alastair Hibbins – WINNER!
Alastair Hibbins have been nominated for his relationship with DSTL and for his leadership on the metamaterials 'big idea'. Alastair is the driving force behind the interdisciplinary Centre for Metamaterials Research and Innovation. He was worked tirelessly to push the Metamaterials agenda at University, regional, and national levels in academia, industry, and government. His inspiring leadership has lead to the award of £1M EPSRC Network grant, a £1.8M Centre-to-Centre grant with the NSF and CUNY in the US, and the incorporation of the "Metamaterials Revolution" as an EPSRC Big Idea. Alastair has done all this while continuing as an active research with a wide portfolio of grants and running the Metamaterials CDT.
Alastair Hibbins - Acceptance
Sustainability Award
To recognise staff who used their passion and dedication for the CEMPS Environment and Climate Emergency initiative.
Note the text below is what was submitted by the colleague(s) who nominated the shortlisted academic.
Shortlisted nominees for this award are:
Prof. Justin Hinshelwood – WINNER!
Justin Hinshelwood has been the driving force behind establishing the College Environment and Climate Emergency Group. Without his dedication, passion and input we would have not been able to achieve the great progress we have made so far.
Justin Hinshelwood - Acceptance
Dr John Bruun – Shortlisted
John Bruun has actively engaged with the CEMPS Environment and Climate Emergency Group initiatives and has ensured environmental sustainability is embedded through ADSS projects such as the Assessment of the University Energy and Procurement Business Systems in the Light of the Net Zero Climate Emergency.
Dr Alex Dudgeon – Shortlisted
Alex Dudgeon organised a LEAF meeting for Physics and Astronomy and encouraged the uptake in labs, leading to the start of a cultural shift towards increased sustainability within the department.