Success in Vice-Chancellor’s Awards - 2024

Success in Vice-Chancellor’s Awards - 2024

Oxford’s Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery and our home Departments celebrated acknowledgement in FOUR categories at the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards on Wednesday 8 May.

The Vice-Chancellor's Awards recognise the achievements and celebrate success across the University – from academics and researchers to professional, technical and support staff, whether they are in colleges, divisions, departments, central services, libraries, museums or elsewhere.

There were 250 award entries across the 11 categories this year, with 1,500 individuals included in the nominations. 

A total of 65 nominations were shortlisted, and were given an opportunity to share their work at a showcase event at the Weston Library from Tuesday 7 May to Thursday 9 May 2024.

The Vice-Chancellor Professor Irene Tracey, CBE FRS FMedSci, presented the awards at a special ceremony at the Sheldonian Theatre on 8 May 2024.

Find out more on the Vice Chancellor’s awards webpage. 

CATEGORY: Community Partnership Award

Recognising colleagues who have partnered with others to make a positive difference locally, nationally or globally.

WINNER: 

Supporting young people from African families in accessing science capital – History of Science Museum and Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences (MPLS) scientists  

This collaboration saw colleagues from a number of University departments working with community group African Families in the UK to support young people of African and black Caribbean heritage to enjoy science and build cultural connections. Based in Blackbird Leys, one of the 20% most deprived wards in the country, the project included a programme of events and workshops at the History of Science Museum, the University’s science facilities, and other sites – helping those from migrant families to develop and build confidence and self-esteem, and bring them closer to the scientific community. 

Find out more here: Supporting Minority Youth & Women | AFiUK

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEAM including Associate Professor Weston Struwe (Kavli INsD & Department of Biochemistry)

CATEGORY: Innovation and Commercialisation Award

Recognising individuals or teams undertaking research-led innovation or commercialisation. 

HIGHLY COMMENDED:

Refeyn – Development and commercialisation of mass photometry: single molecule mass measurement  

Refeyn is a spinout from the Department of Chemistry based on a completely novel approach for weighing molecules using light scattering which emerged from more than a decade of fundamental research in ultrasensitive light microscopy and mass measurement workflows for biomolecules. It has raised close to $100M, employs 180 worldwide, and has sold 250 instruments with more than 100 papers published annually that leverage the technology.

Find out more here: Meet Refeyn: The Company Shining Light on the Molecular World - Oxford University Innovation

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEAM – including founders Professors Justin Beneschand Philipp Kukura (Kavli INsD & Department of Chemistry) and others - Associate Professor Weston Struwe (Kavli INsD & Department of Biochemistry)

CATEGORY: Inclusive Teaching and Assessment Award

Recognising groups of colleagues who have adopted approaches that make teaching more inclusive for different groups of students. 

SHORTLISTED:

Diversification of assessments in Sleep Medicine

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEAM including Professor Simon Kyle, Dr Sumathi Sekaran, Dr Rachel Sharman and the sleep medicine team (Kavli INsD and Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences)

Find out more here: Oxford Online Programme in Sleep Medicine — SCNi

CATEGORY: Research Culture Award

Recognising those who have contributed to a positive, inclusive, and equitable research culture. 

SHORTLISTED: 

X-NET: Removing barriers for collaborative & inclusive interdisciplinary research – Oxford University (Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine and the Kavli Institute); University of Edinburgh; University of Aberdeen; University of Dundee

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEAM on behalf of the multi University project including Associate Professor David Sims and Dr Charlotte George (Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine) and Désirée Tennant (Kavli INsD and Medical Sciences Division)

Find out more here: The X-Net Training Network | X-Net

*Photo credits to John Cairns