Celebrating UEL’s community projects

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Published

09 May 2024

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The University of East London (UEL) has conferred its Public and Community Engagement Awards on staff and students who have made significant contributions to local communities. An award ceremony at The Arts Venue in Stratford on 17 April celebrated an array of projects where staff and students shared their knowledge with non-academic audiences, making it relevant and accessible. It also recognised work done in community partnerships.

Professor Matt Bellgard, pro vice-chancellor for Impact and Innovation celebrated the finalists’ achievements.
Image captionProfessor Matt Bellgard, pro vice-chancellor for Impact and Innovation celebrated the finalists’ achievements.

Gail May, Director of the Office for Postgraduates, Research and Engagement (OPRE) hosted the ceremony and reflected on the importance of the recognition. She said, 

These awards recognise the breadth of engagement at UEL and we take pride and pleasure in sharing the work of the nominees and winners who have demonstrated their commitment to developing innovative approaches and sustained partnerships with our communities.

Five projects won awards, with another five highly commended. They were nominated for their work in a wide variety of fields, including participatory research, knowledge exchange, and skills development. Each submission also included information about the ways that their project aligned to one or more of the UN Sustainability Development Goals.

Dr Mary-Jane Budd receives the Individual Award for Public and Community Engagement.
Image captionDr Mary-Jane Budd receives the Individual Award for Public and Community Engagement.

The full list of winners:

  • Student Award in Public and Community Engagement: Deisy Novoa, for her work aimed at changing the narrative around violence against women and girls.
  • Early Career Researcher Award in Public and Community Engagement: Dr Honor Townshend, for her work towards a more informed public discourse, while advocating for policies and practices that uphold justice and inclusivity.
  • Innovation Award in Public and Community Engagement: Dr Ainul Hanafiah, for her work on engagement projects with the Roma community in Redbridge.
  • Individual Award for Public and Community Engagement: Dr Mary-Jane Budd for her work to increase public knowledge and understanding of the menopause and its impact on psychology and well-being.
  • Partnerships for Public and Community Engagement Award: the Over The Tracks project, for their work developing a local community space for Newham and the Royal Docks Learning and Activity Centre in Silvertown.

Special commendations:

  • Student in Public and Community Engagement: Morag Makey, for her work on the One Newham Health Equity project.
  • Early Career Researchers in Public and Community Engagement: Dr Karina Corada-Perez and Joseph Sanchez, for their efforts towards providing meaningful citizen science research opportunities to local residents in ways that will benefit communities and influence policymakers.
  • Innovation in Public and Community Engagement: Dr Mehri Khosravi, for her research on UK households’ response to heatwaves during hot weather, which saw her engage effectively with policymakers and a broad range of other stakeholders.
  • Individual in Public and Community Engagement: Dr Alina Vaduva, for her exploration of the ways AI can contribute to fairer and healthier workplaces.
  • Partnerships for Public Engagement: the Tax and Accountancy Clinic, for its support of local businesses and low-income individuals based in East London, helping them overcome challenges related to business finance.

Alan Chandler, Co-Director of UEL’s Sustainability Research Centre, was one of the leaders of the Over the Tracks (OTT) project and said he was delighted to receive an award, “We were thrilled to be asked by London Borough of Newham to contribute to the creation of a community social and growing space to support the great work of the Royal Docks Learning and Activity Centre foodbank. The final result, creating modular planters that can be configured in multiple ways and re-assembled to create flexible, long-term use was stunning, and a credit to the enormous amount of work and commitment the students showed. As a result of OTT, we are now working with Newham on a framework for reinvigorating leftover or underused space as part of a sustainable biodiversity and public realm strategy, with students linking up with SRI researchers to help Newham transform Silvertown.” 

Each award winner will receive £1,000 through their School or Institute to deliver a public engagement or community-based knowledge exchange event, and all the finalists, winners and members of UEL’s research community will continue to be supported by OPRE, to deliver impactful engagement with local communities.

Gail May and Natalie Freeman at the awards ceremony.
Image captionGail May and Natalie Freeman at the awards ceremony.

The awards process and event were organised by Natalie Freeman, Public and Community Engagement Manager. She said, 

These awards provide a wonderful opportunity to showcase the work of UEL’s staff and students in sharing our knowledge with our neighbours, community groups, charities, public sector organisations, industry leaders and policy makers. However, our researchers don’t just share knowledge with these groups, they create it together, valuing the insight and input of all stakeholders in the pursuit of generating new knowledge, responding to challenges, and collectively identifying solutions. UEL’s researchers are relatable, visible, and present in the fabric of our East London and our global communities, and I am proud and honoured to run these awards.

The teams, individuals and students celebrating their achievements.
Image captionThe teams, individuals and students celebrating their achievements.
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