Swansea Research Honoured with Impact Awards

In recognition of some of its most outstanding research, The 2015 Swansea University Impact Awards held on June 18, paid tribute to projects ranging from the Connected Communities initiative that celebrates the history of the Swansea Valley and beyond, to the development of novel light therapies used to treat a range of skin conditions. Established to meet the needs of the region’s industry in 1920, the recent Research Excellence Framework 2014 ranked Swansea University 22^nd in the UK for the quality of its research impact.

The event, which attracted 165 guests from academia, industry and the public sector, was hosted by broadcaster - and Swansea University graduate – Jason Mohammad and featured a presentation from the 65 Degrees North team, who achieved the world’s first unsupported crossing by an amputee of the Greenland Ice Cap, a challenge which was aided by the researchers.

Winners included:

The Age UK Award for Outstanding Impact in Health and Wellbeing. Prof Mark Rees and Dr Seo Kyung Chung and the Neurology Research Team, College of Medicine. ‘Finding the Cause for Paediatric Neurological Disease: Hyperekplexi.’Runner-up was Professor Shareen Do ak and the In Vitro Toxicology Group. ‘Familial breast cancer: classification and care of people at risk.’

The BBC Research and Development Award for Outstanding Impact on Professions, Practices and Services. Winner: “Empowering rural digital communities” - Prof. Matt Jones, Dr Jennifer Pearson and Dr Simon Robinson, College of Science.

The TATA Steel Award for Outstanding Impact in Commerce, Industry and Enterprise Winner: “Novel light therapies for the treatment of skin conditions” - Prof. Marc Clement and the Enterprise and Innovation Team, College of Medicine

The National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement Award for Outstanding Impact in Public Engagement Winner: “Nobody puts baby in the corner” - Dr Amy Brown, with Dr Michelle Lee, Dr Jaynie Rance, Dr Ruth Davies and Dr Sue Jordan, College of Human and Health Sciences.

Swansea University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard B Davies, said: “The recent Research Excellence Framework showed that Swansea is amongst the best performing universities in the UK for the impact that its research has on wider society. Looking at the talent put forward for this year’s Impact Awards it is clear why this is the case. We thank our sponsoring organisations who have made possible these awards, and congratulate our winners and nominees for their remarkable and diverse impact on society." ‌

The event’s headline sponsor was Geldards Law, with individual awards sponsored by Age UK, TATA Steel, Parthian Books and Library of Wales, BBC Research and Development, and the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement. The event itself is part of a programme of activities supported by the University’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded Impact Acceleration Account.