Research Awards 2023 winners

We’re delighted to announce the winners of this year’s Research Awards. The winners were presented with their awards at a showcase event and awards ceremony which took place on campus on Tuesday 13 June, along with the recipients of this year’s Research Output Prizes.

This year’s Awards included new categories to celebrate research that addresses real-world problems and improves academic practice. We received over 50 strong entries from across a wide spectrum of our research and the quality of the work demonstrates just how committed colleagues are to making a difference through their research, despite the challenges we have faced over the last couple of years.

Eleven outstanding projects were shortlisted and a winner was chosen in each category. The four winners are:

External Collaboration and Partnerships

Deepa Senapathi and Mike Garratt (Agriculture, Policy & Development): Empowering smallholder communities to co-design ecological interventions to improve sustainability

Planting insect-friendly flowers alongside crops is helping smallholder farmers in India improve fruit and vegetable yields while using fewer damaging agrochemicals, thanks to research co-developed by Reading ecologists, alongside Indian researchers and farmers. This win-win approach for both nature and sustainable food production is changing local practices, and informing national and international policy on biodiversity.

The judges said: “A very impressive, well designed and rigorous project demonstrating the practical application of research and the active involvement of non-specialists in the process.”

Openness in Research

Nicola Wilson (English Literature) and Helena Clarkson (University Museums and Special Collections Services): Virtual volunteering: Transcribing Publishing Correspondence in the Modernist Archives Publishing Project (MAPP)

The public have joined forces with academics and archivists to transcribe letters written between twentieth century book publishers and authors from The Hogarth Press publishing house, created by Virginia and Leonard Woolf. This co-created digital archive shines a light on this fascinating period, opening up a sample of Reading’s archives and Special Collections to wider audiences.

The judges said: “An excellent project which developed innovative activities for the public to contribute to academic research and where the mutual benefit of volunteering is clear.”

Public Engagement with Research

Duncan Garrow (Archaeology): World of Stonehenge

The British Museum’s World of Stonehenge exhibition, co-curated by a Reading archaeologist, has given over a million people a window into the lives of prehistoric people, through artefacts, soundscapes and events. Its legacy of online lectures, research and an exhibition book continues to link us with our distant past. The judges said: “Building on the collaboration between the University and the British Museum, this ambitious landmark exhibition achieved impressive and far-reaching impact and outreach.”

Research Impact

Netta Weinstein (Psychology & Clinical Language Sciences): Inspiring buy-in towards inclusion in UK policing: Listening and motivational principles put to practice

A fresh, evidence-based take on police diversity and inclusion training is tackling prejudice at its root, exploring what motivates staff to change their views and prompting open conversations and understanding. A testament to the project’s success, it has inspired thousands of police officers and staff.

The judges said: “A very timely topic and an excellent project spanning several years of work that has showed great success and strong scope for future multiplication of benefits.”

'Working together'

Professor Parveen Yaqoob, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation said: “We congratulate every one of the researchers who applied for the awards this year and hope that the projects inspire you to find out more about our research and the ways we work together to ensure research brings benefits to all.”

You can find out more about all the winning and shortlisted projects by visiting the awards webpage and checking out our Twitter @UniRdg_Research.