The SEPnet Public Engagement Awards take place biennially and are an opportunity to recognise the amazing physicists delivering outstanding public engagement projects at our partner universities. The awards are presented in 7 categories, and different awards are open to individuals, projects, research groups and departments.
The next round of awards will take place in 2025. Full information on the 2023 awards categories and eligibility criteria can be found here. Nominations will open in Spring 2025 and must be submitted using the web form.
2023 Public Engagement Awards ceremony took place on Monday 11th September at the Institute of Physics, congratulations to all our winners!
Newcomer Award
Highly Commended – Physics Chat, University of Portsmouth
Winner – Dr Laurence Wroe, University of Oxford
Communication Award
Winner – Professor Claudia Maraston, University of Portsmouth
Innovation Project Award
Winner – Discovery Planet, University of Kent
Achievement Award
Highly Commended – Dr Thomas Hird, University of Oxford
Winner – Dr Stephen Wilkins, University of Sussex
Research Group Award
Highly Commended – Astronomy Unit, Queen Mary University of London
Highly Commended – Supernova Group, University of Southampton
Public Engagement Champion Award
Highly Commended – Dr Katherine Shirley, University of Oxford
Winner – Dr Tracey Berry, Royal Holloway University of London
Partnership Award
Winner – Big Data: ATLAS, University of Oxford
Congratulations to all the nominees and winners!
Previous Winners
2021
Newcomer
Winner – Will Roper, University of Sussex
Communication
Winner – Meirin Evans, University of Sussex
Highly Commended:
Muhammad Hamza Waseem, University of Oxford
Achievement
Winner – Dr Victoria Mason, University of Kent
Public Engagement Champion Award
Winner – Dr Seth Zenz, Queen Mary University of London
Highly Commended:
Dr Stephen Wilkins, University of Sussex
Innovation Project Award
Winner – SETI and Democracy, University of Oxford
Highly Commended:
Space Soundscape, Queen Mary University of London
Impact Project Award
Winners – The Tactile Universe, University of Portsmouth
Space Sound Effects, Queen Mary University of London
COVID-19 Response Award
Winner – Physics Outreach Team, University of Oxford
Highly Commended:
ATLAS Research Group, University of Sussex
Strategic Approach to Public Engagement
Winner – School of Physical Sciences, University of Kent
Highly Commended:
Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, University of Portsmouth
2017
Innovation Project Award
Winner – Tactile Universe, Portsmouth
Highly Commended:
SSFX, QMUL
Stargazing +, Oxford
Walk-In Quantum Computer Installation, Sussex
Impact Project Award
Winner – Research In Schools, QMUL
Communication Award
Winner – Dr Guillem Anglada-Escudé, QMUL
Highly Commended:
Dr Suzie Sheehy, Oxford
Prof Winfried Hensinger, Sussex
Newcomer Award
Winner – Emma Osborne, Southampton
Highly Commended:
Lucy Newnham, Portsmouth
Dr Michelle Collins, Surrey
Sophie Bashforth, RHUL
Achievement Award
Winner – Dr Karen Masters, Portsmouth
Highly Commended:
Suzie Sheehy, Oxford
Research Group Award
Winner – Centre for Particle Physics, RHUL
Highly Commended:
Optical Engineering & Quantum Photonics Group, Southampton
2015
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