Category Archives: awards

12Jan/21

SEPnet Public Engagement Awards now open for nominations!

12th January 2021awards, Public Engagement, SEPnetJacob Dunningham

The SEPnet Public Engagement Awards 2021 are now open for nominations! The deadline for submission is 5pm on Friday 19^th February 2021. The awards ceremony will be held online on March 25^th 2021.

The awards have been postponed from September 2020 in the hope that they would be able to go ahead in person. Unfortunately, that won’t be possible this year, however we wanted to make sure that they still went ahead so that we can celebrate and recognise that incredible engagement work that goes on across the whole of SEPnet. In recognition of the current situation we have also added in an award which specifically recognises engagement work done during the COVID-19 pandemic. The full list of categories is:

Newcomer Award (Individual)

Communication Award (Individual)

Innovation Project Award (Project)

Achievement Award (Individual)

Impact Project Award (Project)

Research Group Award (Research Group)

Public Engagement Champion Award (Individual)

Strategic Approach to Public Engagement Award (Department)

COVID-19 Response Award (Individual)

Full information about the eligibility criteria in each category can be found here.

Applications must be submitted using this web form.

There are four types of awards: Projects, Individuals, Research Groups and Physics Departments. Projects, individuals and research groups can be nominated for more than one award however a nomination form for each award is required. Self-nominations are welcome. Projects, individuals and research groups can be nominated in successive years for the same award, however winners will not receive the same award twice. Those previously highly commended in a category are eligible to be nominated into the same category but must demonstrate to judges substantial improvement/development since the last awards. Any work having taken place since September 2017 is eligible. All award applications must be submitted using the web form. If submitting multiple nominations please complete the form separately for each one. Outreach Officers, Public Engagement staff and anyone working on Outreach or Public Engagement at 0.5FTE or higher are ineligible for the Individual Awards. Please note School’s Outreach activities not based on research are not eligible for any award. Nominations must be received by 5pm on Friday 19th February 2021.

19Feb/18

Team from Royal Holloway wins SEPnet Enterprising Ideas Competition

19th February 2018awards, Employer Engagement, TrainingSean Ryan

In early 2017 SEPnet invited students, both undergraduate and postgraduate, from the network to submit teams for the SEPnet Enterprising Ideas competition. We were looking for teams who bring fresh ideas, innovative thinking and who have great team working skills that businesses increasingly need.

The idea of the programme was to engender new skills in the students: a fresh perspective on how their skills and knowledge can be applied; understanding more about entrepreneurship and what it means to have an entrepreneurial mindset; and to develop real insights into business, innovation, enterprise and team workings.

The programme would last throughout 2017 with teams undertaking training in June led by Elaine Hickmott of EH-Enterprises who tailored the programme specifically for Physics students in SEPnet. They were then asked to submit their ideas via a short video by September. This was followed by submitting detailed market research and their business case, leading up to a “Dragon’s Den” format presentation to a panel of Business people at the GRADnet Winter School in February.

Unfortunately along the way, some teams dropped out due to research and studying commitments. However they gained valuable experience from the intensive training provided.

Three teams made it through the grueling process and reached the finals:

VR-Teach – a Physics VR Simulator from a team from the University of Kent
MQMobile – monitoring lab equipment, from the University of Southampton
“Conker” monitoring for concussion in sporting and other accidents, from Royal Holloway


The team from Kent	The team from RHUL	The team from Southampton

The panel of judges (Bob Pickles of Canon UK, Simon Bland of Reigate and Banstead Borough Council and Phil Edwards of Weald Technology) was extremely impressed with all three finalists and by the quality, credibility and potential of the ideas being showcased. It was a tough call. However, they chose “Conker” from RHUL as the winning entry.


The winners collect their certificates	The runners up collect theirs.

Congratulations to all the teams for not just demonstrating great technical ideas, but also how to ensure they solved real problems and what was needed for commercial success. Congratulations to the team from RHUL for winning.

18Oct/16

SEPnet’s Averil MacDonald receives ‘Starting Out Award’

18th October 2016awards, DiversitySean Ryan

At a reception held at the Guildhall in London held on 17th October 2016, Professor Averil MacDonald OBE, SEPnet’s Diversity and Impact Champion, received the ‘Starting Out Award’ from the Women’s Business Council.
The award recognises Prof MacDonald for her work inspiring the next generation to take up careers in STEM including the People Like Me project sponsored by Women in Science and Engineering (WISE).

Professor MacDonald has a long standing commitment to encouraging women into careers in Science and Engineering. She has been a role model and has pursued innovative ways of reaching out to girls at an early age to overcome the barriers to gaining STEM qualifications and taking up STEM careers.

In 2015 Professor MacDonald was awarded an OBE for her work in promoting Women in Science and Engineering.

See a People Like Me session with girls at the WISE conference in London on 10 November. Hurry to register before tickets run out: https://www.wisecampaign.org.uk/conference/wise-conference-2016

05Jan/16

Two SEPnet Physics students win a week at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre

5th January 2016awards, Public EngagementSean Ryan

Two SEPnet students win a week’s Cosmonaut Space and Leadership Experience at the Yuri Gagarin Training Centre in Russia

To mark Tim Peake’s momentous visit to the International Space Station, SEPnet and the University of Kent’s School of Physical Sciences recently launched their own space initiative.

Physics students, Kieran Hashmi (Queen Mary University of London) and Greg Smith (University of Kent), have been selected to participate in a week’s cosmonaut training in Star City near Moscow. The opportunity, sponsored jointly by SEPnet and University of Kent, will enable them to develop their team building and communication skills using the same equipment as the real astronauts.

Students from SEPnet partner universities were asked to submit 2-minute videos describing an investigation they would like to send into space. The winning videos were selected by a panel of 6 SEPnet partner judges. 2 runners up, Holly Stemp (University of Surrey) and Jonathan Bensusan Bash (University of Sussex) were awarded prizes of £500 each towards career development training.

The judges were impressed by the quality of all the applications and the students’ very creative use of visuals and good scientific knowledge. You can view some of the shortlisted videos here:

Kieran Hashmi, Queen Mary University of London – How microgravity affects thermal conductivity of a ferrofluid
Greg Smith, University of Kent – A solution to showering in space
Holly Stemp, University of Surrey – Magnetic field investigations using worms
Jonathan Bensusan Bash – composting food waste in space

17Dec/15

Call for SEPnet Grant Proposals for Public Engagement

17th December 2015awards, Public EngagementSean Ryan

Public Engagement Grants available

Aim: To support researchers in engaging the public with their research, SEPnet is offering small grants to support an individual or to provide resources for their project.

Concept: Many researchers have good ideas for engaging the public with their research but do not have time and/or resources. Other would like to undertake some preliminary dialogue with the public to inform their Pathways to Impact in their next grant application

Solution:

Either: A small grant to support an individual – a PhD student after submission but before the viva or before starting a post doc position, or an ECR between contracts – to work with the Outreach Officer to explore opportunities for research impact, to develop, deliver and evaluate a project, or to undertake preliminary engagement with potential stakehoders to inform a Pathways to Impact document.

Or: a small grant to provide resources to develop, undertake and evaluate an engagement project.

The engagement activity may include but is not limited to debate, workshop, training (but not teaching/school resources), display, festival, business breakfast, performance, focus group.

Process: A short written statement outlining the nature of the underpinning research, initial ideas for public engagement, how the target audience will be engaged and how the project will be evaluated. Include a justification for the resources requested and submit to Averil Macdonald (a.m.macdonald@reading.ac.uk).

It is recommended that applicants consult with their Outreach Officer to discuss ideas.

N.B. This grant is specifically for engaging the public with research and not for outreach activities or development of teaching resources.

Deadline: The process is on a first come first served basis with a deadline of 15^th February 2016 for final proposals.

17Dec/15

Call for SEPnet Grant Proposals for Impact

17th December 2015awards, ImpactSean Ryan

Impact Grants available

Aim: To support researchers in developing Impact from their research, SEPnet is offering small grants to support an individual for up to 3 months full time or pro rata.

Concept: Towards the end of a project a PhD student, ECR or their supervisor may have ideas for developing research impact but the termination of the contract proves a barrier.

Solution: A small grant to support the individual – this may be a PhD student after submission but before the viva or before starting a post doc position, or an ECR between contracts. The individual will work with the Innovation Partnership Fellow to explore opportunities for research impact.

The impact sought may be economic, environmental, policy, health/lifestyle, cultural or societal.

The time may be spent identifying and working with stakeholders to determine the feasibility of the research delivering impact and to determine how this impact may be achieved.

Process: A short written statement outlining the nature of the underpinning research, initial ideas for impact and target stakeholders and a justification for the resources requested to be submitted to Averil Macdonald (a.m.macdonald@reading.ac.uk)

It is recommended that applicants consult with their Innovation Partnership Scheme (IPS) Fellow to discuss ideas and/or discuss initial thoughts with Averil Macdonald.

Deadline: The process is on a first come first served basis with a deadline of 15^th February 2016 for final proposals.

26Nov/15

SEPnet 2015 Public Engagement Awards Ceremony

26th November 2015awards, Outreach, Public EngagementJacob Dunningham

SEPnet’s 2^nd Public Engagement Awards Ceremony took place at the Royal Academy of Engineering. The awards recognised physicists across the South East region for their exceptional contribution to engaging the public with their research.

The event was attended by researchers carrying our Public Engagement activities from across the region. SEPnet Director of Outreach, Dr Dominic Galliano encouraged those present to go big and bold with their future ideas and projects, highlighting the importance of encouraging and helping those who have less experience in public engagement.

Continue reading →

12Nov/15

SEPnet Physics Students: Win a week at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre

12th November 2015awards, internship, OutreachContest, Employer Engagement, People like me, PGRs, Public EngagementSean Ryan

Win a week at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, Moscow to train with NASA astronauts. (Flights included)

SEPnet and University of Kent’s Department of Physical Sciences are offering the opportunity for 2 physics undergraduates or postgraduate research students to attend Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre to develop their team building and communication skills by training like the real Cosmonauts and Astronauts on the same equipment and facilities.

What you have to do:

Create a video of yourself describing an investigation that you would like to send into space.
The video should be no more than 2 minutes long.
You should consider physics knowledge, presentation skills and feasibility.
- Send the videos (zipped) to employerengagement@sepnet.ac.uk

Deadline 12:00 Wednesday 9^th December

Criteria

You must be a physics student at one of SEPnet’s partner universities at the time of travel.
Have a valid passport.
Be available to travel from 19^th to 25^th March 2016.
Be eligible to enter Russia.

For more information, please click on the link below:

http://www.isset.org/Cosmonaut_Leadership/Downloads/(Medium)%20Cosmonaut%20Space%20&%20Leadership%20Experience%20Leaflet.pdf

27Oct/15

SEPnet 2015 Public Engagement Award Winners Announced

27th October 2015awards, Outreach, Public EngagementJacob Dunningham

Physicists across the South East region have been recognised for excellent engagement activities in the second annual SEPnet Public Engagement Awards. SEPnet (the South East Physics Network) has awarded prizes to one project and three individual researchers from across their partner institutions for their exceptional contribution to engaging the public with their research.

The quality of all nominations was high and the judging panel had a difficult time picking the winners. A further four researchers were highly commended for their work. We are delighted to see the standard of public engagement in the region is rising.

Prizes are as follows:

Newcomer Award
Winner: Dr Jillian Scudder, University of Sussex
Highly Commended: Dr Mafalda Dias, University of Sussex
Highly Commended: Michael Tarr, University of Portsmouth

Communications Award
Winner: Prof Monica Grady, The Open University
Highly Commended: Dr Karen Masters, University of Portsmouth

Achievement Award
Winner: Prof David Berman, Queen Mary, University of London
Highly Commended: Prof Andrew Norton, The Open University

Innovation Project Award
Winner: Reflecting Photonics RHS Tatton Park Show Garden
Project Lead – Pearl John, University of Southampton

SEPnet looks forward to awarding the winners with their prizes at the Public Engagement Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 18 November at 16:15, to be held at Prince Phillip House in central London. This will be a celebration of all public engagement activity across SEPnet. Photos will be available after the ceremony.

For more information on the awards, please contact:
Dr Dominic Galliano, Director of Outreach
outreach@sepnet.ac.uk
07702 363731

09Oct/15

‘I Wish I Had Known Earlier’ – GRADnet Student-led Online Learning Proposal Call October 2015

9th October 2015awards, GRADnet, postgraduateSean Ryan

Once again GRADnet is offering a scheme in which its postgraduate researchers can create online learning modules to share their knowledge and experience with peers in earlier years. We invite GRADnet PGRs to participate in this. Successful proposals will receive a £1,000 bursary for each online module they create. Details of previously created modules are available in the Summer edition of GRADnews and also on the VRE, log on to http://www.open.ac.uk/students/research/SEPnet/training/student-led-on-line-learning%20modules

Proposals can be to support the development of either technical skills (for example, theoretical methods and tools, or practical physics know-how and skills) or more transferable/genetic skills (for example, Managing your Time, or Presenting at Conferences). Although we have provided these examples, we expect that you will have a much better idea from your own experience of exactly what you wished you had known when you had started or what you had difficulty getting to grips with. These modules are designed to help those coming behind you avoid the same problems.

You are asked to submit a proposal for an online module, see attached guidelines and form. The proposal should identify the topic, provide an outline of what a module needs to cover and what learning it is intended to deliver. If selected, you will receive mentoring in Autumn 2015 to help you develop a high quality virtual learning package in one of several possible formats (video, website, text etc). This is another skill to add to your portfolio. Collaborative modules between groups of students are particularly welcomed. This is an excellent opportunity to develop your teaching skills and experience for your CV.

Before you submit your proposal, there will be a chance to discuss your ideas and see what previous students have done over the videoconference facility on Tuesday, 20 October 2015 at 14:00, Virtual Room SEPnet 6. If you wish to participate in this session please email gradnetadmin@sepnet.ac.uk by midday on Friday, 16 October 2015.

I wish I had known application form and guidance 2015 Final

An example from last year’s high quality proposals can be found here.

Category: awards

Two SEPnet students win a week’s Cosmonaut Space and Leadership Experience at the Yuri Gagarin Training Centre in Russia

Impact Grants available

What you have to do:

Criteria