The University of Salford has announced the winners of this year's Celebration of Innovation awards, which were presented by Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nic Beech, at the recent Celebration of Innovation 2024 conference.
The Celebration of Innovation event brought together colleagues from all schools to celebrate the research, enterprise and engagement that takes place across Salford and to recognise the real-world impact the University has locally, nationally and internationally.
The theme of this year’s event was Empowering sustainable development: Exploring innovative approaches towards global challenges. In addition to a series of presentations from academics showcasing their work across the University's themes, there was an opportunity for colleagues to take part in workshops to explore research impact and how our community of researchers can be supported to help foster a vibrant culture at Salford where innovation thrives.
A focal part of the event was the afternoon's awards ceremony, which recognised and celebrated the outstanding partnerships and initiatives led by our colleagues to deliver significant impact. Awards were presented to both established experts and rising stars in seven different categories.
Dr Angela Midgley, Researcher Development Manager at the University of Salford, said: "At Salford, we're really driven to find solutions for those really difficult problems in the world through our research and collaboration. The awards are a great way of celebrating the hard work of our colleagues across the University and their contribution to shaping the wider world around us. It's so fantastic to see our established experts being recognised but also our rising stars."
Celebration of Innovation Awards 2024 winners
Best Cultural Sector Collaboration:
- Established expert: Lindsay Taylor, Curator, University of Salford Art Collection
- Rising star: Dr Juan Hiriart, Senior Lecturer in Interactive Media A&D, School of Arts, Media and Creative Technologies
- Nominees: Alan Oliver and Gary Prendergast, School of Arts, Media and Creative Technologies
- Nominee: Christina Buckingham, University Fellow, School of Arts, Media and Creative Technologies
- Nominees: Annabeth Robinson and Emma Nuttall, School of Arts, Media and Creative Technologies
- Nominee: Jill Randall, Senior Lecturer in Fine Art, School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology
- Nominees: Dr Brendan Williams and Daniel Parrott, School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology
Best Business Collaboration:
- Rising star: Dr Will Bailey, Industry Collaboration Fellow, School of Science, Engineering and Environment
- Rising star: Dr Taha Mansouri, Lecturer in AI, School of Science, Engineering and Environment
- Rising star: North of England Robotics Innovation Centre (NERIC)
- Nominees: Alan Oliver, School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology, and Changmin Lee, Lark Hill Brewery
Best Policy and Practice Collaboration:
- Established experts: Jo Sullivan, Dan Morbey, Grace Simcock, School of Health and Society
- Established experts: Dr Melanie Stephens, Siobhan Kelly, Sue Walker, Angelina Chadwick, Professor Andrew Clark, Dr Lorna Chesterton, School of Health and Society
- Rising star: Dr Angel Jimenez-Aranda, Associate Professor in Digital Transformation, Salford Business School
Best Contribution to Open and Responsible Research:
- Established experts: Tanya Williamson, Wendy Talyor, Emma Smith and Roy Vickers
- Rising stars: Dr Robert Bendall and Dr Samantha Gregory, School of Health and Society
- Nominee: Robyn McCarthy, Teaching and Learning Intern, School of Health and Society
- Nominee: Sadaqat ur Rehman, Lecturer in AI, School of Science, Engineering and Environment
Salford Entrepreneur of the Year:
- Established expert: Dr Ben Shirley, Associate Professor in Audio Technology, School of Science, Engineering and Environment
- Rising star: Dr Claire Mercer, Head of Radiography, School of Health and Society
- Nominee: Dr Alejandra Diaz De Rienzo, Lecturer in Biomedicine, School of Science, Engineering and Environment
Best Research Culture and EDI Initiative:
- Established expert: Professor Bhuvaneswari Bibleraaj, Lyndsey Rosson, Professor Heather Iles-Smith, and Professor Vanessa Heaslip, School of Health and Society
- Rising stars: Professor Katherine Yates, Dr Rachel Woolley, Hannah Helm, Keren Poliah, Dr David Gilbert, Mus'haf Khan, Adam King
- Nominee: Dr Szilvi Naray, Lecturer in Drama and Translation Studies, School of Arts, Media and Creative Technologies
Best Community or Public Engagement Initiative:
- Established experts: Dr Tanja Poppelreuter, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, and Dr Alexandra Mitchell, The Library
- Established experts: Colin Elder, Supervising Archaeologist, and Ian Miller, Heritage Management Director
- Rising Star: Dr Ashley Gluchowski, University Fellow, School of Health and Society
- Nominee: Dr Rachel Katz, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Digital Health, School of Health and Society
- Nominee: Dr Arijit Mukhopadhyay, Associate Professor in Precision Health, School of Science, Engineering and Environment
- Nominee: Dr David Hancock, Lecturer of Fine Art, School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology
- Nominee: Professor Ursula Hurley, Professor in Creative Writing, School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology
- Nominee: Ashraful Alam, Lecturer in Accounting, Salford Business School
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