The submissions to the 2025 edition of the Vice-Chancellor's Engage Awards saw a fantastic response from colleagues across the University. There were projects ranging from: the worlds first documentary on unconditional basic income, which was created in collaboration with communities in Bangladesh and India, to using arts based methods to celebrate multilingualism in schools, to involving people with chronic pain in co-creating research using their lived experience among many other projects.

With such a competitive field and exceptionally high-quality examples of public engagement with research, finding just one winner in each of the three categories was difficult for the Judging Panel. We are thrilled to announce that the winners of the 2025 Vice-Chancellor's Engage Awards across three categories are...

Informing

Dr Thomas Kjeldsen, Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering

Thomas has worked with a variety of community groups and flood managers to inform people about this risks of past and future floods. His work has included being part of documentaries, science festivals and collaborating with local history groups to run community workshops. This allowed Thomas to combine mathematical modelling of flooding with community data including pictures and stories to create new research avenues. This work has led to two grants from the Leverhulme trust and one from UKRI and this research has influenced local and national flood risk planning. It was through this engagement work that Thomas realised how many local residents were deeply interested in his work, and how it can transport them into both the past and the future of Bath.

Involving

Dr Maria Loades, Department of Psychology

Dr Nina Higson Sweeney, Department of Psychology

Sophie Dallison, Department of Psychology

Maria leads the Spotlight on Adolescent Mood Problems (LAMP) research project which recruited a team of young people as co-researchers. The young people worked with the project team to co-create the research methodology, analyse data and write and disseminate guidelines based on the research. This model of public involvement supported the young people to develop their own research skills and influence the research process to create more impactful research. The young co-researchers have been named as co-authors on the research papers.

Local & Civic Engagement

Dr Sandra Daroczi, Department of Politics, Languages & International Studies

Sandra's Museums for Tomorrow project explored the overlooked contribution of women to arts, science, innovation and community. Sandra ran workshops and events in collaboration with four local museums to spotlight women's history and provided opportunities to bring in University of Bath research, including her own research into gender. The project created strong links between the University and local museums and created cross-faculty connections to support research impact.

Engage Showcase

Awards aren't for everyone. So, to recognise the achievements of colleagues doing brilliant public engagement work, we hosted the Engage Showcase alongside the Engage Awards presentation event. This year our Showcase was made up of...

• Transforming homes transformation workshop presented by Robert Grover (Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering).
• Consortium to research Individual, Interpersonal and Social Influences in Pain (CRIISP) presented by Ed Keogh and public contributors (Department of Psychology)
• South West Pharmacy Network presented by Dr Matthew Jones (Department of Life Sciences)
• Spotlight on Adolescent Mood Problems (LAMP) research project presented by Sophie Dallison (Department of Psychology)
• Museums of Tomorrow project presented by Dr Sandra Daroczi (Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies)
• Blueprint for Autism Community Involvement in Research presented by Ralph Bagnall and Ailsa Russel (Department of Psychology)
• Future of transport presented by doctoral students from the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Advanced Automotive Propulsion systems (AAPS)

Acknowledgements

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners of the 2025 Engage Awards for their exceptional achievements in public engagement. We would also like to take this opportunity to recognise the remarkable contributions of all the shortlisted candidates. Each one demonstrated excellence and was truly deserving of the award. While only a few could be named winners, every shortlisted candidate should be proud of their brilliant work. Congratulations to you all!

You can watch short videos about the shortlisted candidates on the Vice-Chancellor's Engage Awards 2025 Vimeo Showcase and you can view all the photos from the event in the Vice-Chancellor's Engage Awards 2025 Flickr Gallery.

Thank you to everyone who applied for the Engage Awards and also for the fantastic work that colleagues contributed to our Public Engagement Showcase. And finally, thank you to the Judging Panel chaired by Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Julie Barnett and included:

• Dr Christina Horvath (Department of Politics, Languages & International Studies, Winner of the 2023 Leadership Award)
• Andrew Watts (Department of Life Sciences)
• David Jenkins (Social Prescribing Project Manager at 3SG)
• Lucinda Spokes (Head of Public Engagement, University of Cambridge)

Vice-Chancellor's Engage Awards

Established in 2013, the Vice-Chancellor's Engage Awards aims to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of colleagues who engage people beyond the University with their research. The three categories of the Engage Awards focus on public engagement and involvement with research and are open to all Education and Research staff and doctoral students.

The Vice-Chancellor's Engage Awards will be back for it's 10th anniversary in 2027.

Rob Cooper is a Public Engagement Officer at the University of Bath.