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Engagement and Place Awards

The Engagement and Place Awards demonstrates how we focus on benefitting society and the world around us

The Engagement and Place Awards are an annual celebration of projects from across the University which demonstrate how we engage with communities both locally and globally. 

Engagement and Place 2025 Awards

From the seven categories, researchers from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) won two prizes.

The winners were:

  • Inclusive Education, Lifelong Learning & CPD
    Linguistics in Modern Foreign Languages – Professor Michelle Sheehan, School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics (SELLL)
  • Engaging for Societal & Environmental Benefit
    Indigenous Visualities of Climate Crisis – Dr Angelos Theocharis, School of Arts and Cultures (SACS)

 

Find out more about the Engagement and Place Awards 2025

Inclusive Education, Lifelong Learning & CPD

This category celebrates collaborative projects with external partners that support the learning experience and further the knowledge of our students and learners. 

Linguistics in Modern Foreign Languages

This project collated research to show that including the critical/analytical study of language in teaching, enriches the learning experience. 

Engaging for Societal & Environmental Benefit

This category recognises projects which add value to our society to tackle global environmental challenges. 

Indigenous Visualities of Climate Crisis

This project examines the impact of the climate crisis on indigenous cultural heritage through short films created by vulnerable communities in South and Southeast Asia.

Nominees and finalists

The seven categories also had three finalists. Out of a total 21 nominees across the seven categories, 10 were from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. These were:

  1. Business Community Engagement – Fiona Thompson and Jane Brown
  2. Bridges Internship Scheme – Sarah Carnegie, Director of Employability
  3. Indigenous Visualities of Climate Crisis – Dr Angelos Theocharis
  4. Fenham Pocket Park – Daniel Mallo and Armelle Tardiveau
  5. Concrete Dreams – Farrell Centre
  6. We All Came Here From Somewhere – Sophie Ellis
  7. Ocean of Peace – Professor Sue Farran
  8. Innovating Democracy in Scotland – Professor Stephen Elstub
  9. Linguistics in Modern Foreign Languages – Professor Michelle Sheehan
  10. Digital Transformation for Social Good – Rebecca Casey and the National Innovation Centre for Aging
Engagement and Place 2024 Awards

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) Researchers pick up four prizes

From the 6 categories, researchers from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) won 4 prizes. 

The award categories and winners are:

  • Engaging Globally: Following the Flight of the Monarchs – Dr Rob Mackay from School of Arts and Cultures
  • Engaging with Policy and Practice: Tackling Islamophobia through engagement – Professor Peter Hopkins 
  • Engaging for Cultural Benefit: Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the Vindolanda Trust – Morag Iles 
  • Inclusive Education, Lifelong Learning and CPD: Music Education Hubs, Newcastle Signs and Futures in Music – International Centre for Music Studies

Find out more about the Engagement and Place Awards 2024.

 

Engaging Globally

This category celebrates international engagement projects that address global challenges through our research or teaching.

Following the Flight of the Monarchs - Dr Rob Mackay 

This interdisciplinary ecology project brought together artists and scientists.

They connected with ecosystems and communities along the migration routes of monarch butterflies between Mexico and Canada.

Learn more about Flight of the Monarchs project by watching this short video.

 

Engaging for Cultural Benefit

This category recognises collaborative projects that contribute to the vibrancy and cultural richness of our place through our expertise in creative arts practice, culture and heritage.

Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the Vindolanda Trust - Morag Iles

An exploration to see how contemporary art commissioning could diversify Vindolanda’s curatorial approaches and interpretation methodologies.

Learn more about this Knowledge Transfer Partnership by watching this short video.

 

Inclusive Economic Growth Award: Volunteer Voices

This category recognises engagement projects that inform local, national and international policy.

Tackling Islamophobia through engagement - Prof Peter Hopkins  

Professor Hopkins has been engaging meaningfully to challenge racism and Islamophobia. He uses diverse formats and approaches to promote policy change and to inform practice in diverse areas.

 

Inclusive Education, Lifelong Learning and CPD

This category showcases collaborative projects that support equality of opportunity across the entire student lifecycle. This ensures continued commitment to improving fair access to higher education.

Music Education Hubs, Newcastle Sings and Futures in Music

An innovative music education outreach and engagement project led by the International Centre for Music Studies. It makes a positive impact on children and young people.

Learn more about this Music Education Hubs project by watching the short video.

 

Engaging for Health, Wellbeing and Societal Benefit

This category celebrates projects that deliver benefits to society through collaboration with partners in the public, health and voluntary sectors.

The Vanishing Act - Dr Vivek Nityananda 

The Vanishing Act is a cabaret show, made with young people and scientists for audiences of all ages. It explores the world of insects and the declines in their numbers.

Learn more about the Vanishing Act project by watching the short video.

 

Early Career Researcher

This category recognises the varied engagement practice undertaken by researchers in the early stages of their research careers, either doctoral students or early career researchers.

Breeding Giants to Rewild the Galápagos - Rachel Gray

Rachel Gray is helping to rewild Floreana Island in the Galápagos by mapping out the future of a unique captive breeding program for giant tortoises.

Learn more about this Breeding Giants project by watching the short video.

 

Nominees and finalists

The six categories also had three finalists

Out of a total 18 nominees across the 6 categories, nine were from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. These were:

  1. The Tyne Derwent Way – Professor Vee Pollock and Professor Richard Clay
  2. In Place of Maps – Dr James Riding (GPS)
  3. Following the Flight of the Monarchs – Dr Rob Mackay (SACS)
  4. Father Unknown - Dr Michael Richardson and Jonah York
  5. Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the Vindolanda Trust – Morag Iles
  6. Shefton Collection of Greek Art and Archaeology – Dr Sally Waite
  7. The Impact of Brexit on Women in Northern Ireland – Dr Katharine Wright, Professor Ruth McAreavy and Rebecca Donaldson
  8. Tackling Islamophobia through engagement – Professor Peter Hopkins
  9. Music Education Hubs, Newcastle Signs and Futures in Music – International Centre for Music Studies

Congratulations to all nominees and winners.