Staff awards 2022

Posted on: 6 July 2022 in Issue 2

The University’s Staff Awards recognise staff commitment, skills and successes and are judged by a panel of colleagues from a broad range of areas.

The Awards Ceremony took place on Wednesday 6th July at Liverpool’s World Museum. Around 300 staff attended the event with University of Liverpool alumna, Mairead Smyth, senior reporter and presenter for BBC North West Tonight and Politics North West.

The awards received a record number of just over 460 nominations across the Institution.

Two sustainability awards were introduced this year, reflecting the University’s commitment to this important area and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. These awards recognise achievements by colleagues both in research and through initiatives and projects on campus.

Sustainability in Research Award

The Sustainability in Research Award recognises individuals or teams whose research has made a significant contribution to Sustainability with proven or potential worldwide impact. The award supports the key ambitions of the University’s Sustainability Strategy.

Congratulations to the Innovatory Team, Department of Geography and Planning.

The Low Carbon Eco-Innovatory Team led by Director, Matt Fulton, is in its 10th year. The ‘Innovatory’ is a series of three European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) business support programmes (the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation, the Low Carbon Eco-Innovatory and Eco-I NW. In total, the programmes have supported over 700 SMEs, created over 300 jobs, developed more than 120 new low carbon products and services, and have added £45 million gross GVA to the low carbon economy in LCR and the Northwest. A total of 67 PhD students have been funded by the three programmes at the University over the past 10 years and many of these have sparked longer-term research relationships between academics at the University and some of the organisations supported. The team has covered a wide variety of disciplines such as Engineering, Chemistry, Management, Biology, Architecture, Computing Science and Mathematics. Colleagues have recognised the input of the Professional Services team who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to collectively manage these three programmes to drive forward the low carbon agenda.

Matt Fulton said “We’re honoured to win the award, there is so much activity in sustainable research across the campus that it’s great for our contribution to have been recognised. In a way, we represent the overall low carbon ambitions of the University as our projects are based across the campus in a diverse range of topics. The impact of the teams’ efforts is growing year on year, and demonstrates how the University can influence and assist as we move toward a net zero future.”

The Low Carbon Eco-Innovatory Team receiving the Sustainability in Research Award

Congratulations to all shortlisted teams in this award.

  • Climate Futures Theme Steering Group, Cross-Departmental
  • The Rurban Revolution, Department of Psychology

Sustainability on Campus Award

The Sustainability on Campus Award recognises individuals or teams who have made a significant impact on Sustainability at the University. Open to both professional services and academic colleagues, the award celebrates initiatives on campus that support the key ambitions of the University’s Sustainability Strategy.

Individual Winners

Congratulations to both Professor Liz Sheffield, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), Faculty of Science and Engineering and Kate Sisodia, Sustainability Assistant, Facilities, Residential and Commercial Services for winning the individual Sustainability on Campus Award.

Liz has been an inspiration and leading champion for sustainability on campus ever since she joined the University. Liz has been the driving force for many of the successful schemes that have been implemented including Education for Sustainable Development; Sustainability working groups; the University's Sustainability Strategy and much more. Liz also helped to achieve the gold award for a Hedgehog Friendly Campus for an improved wildlife eco-system. Liz works tirelessly with all areas of the University, bringing together colleagues and students, to make sustainability change happen and become embedded in all our lives and the legacy of the University of Liverpool.

Liz said “I was delighted and humbled to receive this award as so many people are working so hard on sustainability both on and off campus. I'm so proud to be at a University that takes this seriously enough to issue awards but hope that in the future there will be no need, as we'll all be living and breathing sustainability!”

Professor Liz Sheffield receiving the Sustainability on Campus Award

Kate Sisodia has played a central role in bringing the University’s sustainability work to a wider audience over the past five years. As the face of sustainability to all who visit the campus, Kate has been responsible for organising events such as virtual Earth Day, an annual Falconry display and coordinated the University’s ‘Stories of Climate Change’ photography competition and exhibition, coinciding with COP26. This saw innovative digital images submitted by students and staff, which Kate turned into a photography exhibition for all to enjoy. Kate not only brings attention to sustainability work, but she also embodies our staff value of making a difference to society locally, nationally, and internationally. Kate also manages the sustainability social media channels, ensuring all sustainability-related events on campus are well-promoted. In a rapidly changing working environment and wider sustainability sector, Kate has continually adapted her skills to ensure sustainability remains at the forefront of campus life. She is building a new website and has developed content which supported a climb of over 50 places in the People and Planet League Table.

Kate said “Receiving a staff award is only made possible through collective endeavours with colleagues, students and partners. I'm motivated by the holistic nature of sustainability, not only the environmental aspects but also the social, cultural, and political dynamics, and hope to harness the momentum around sustainability amongst the university community. I feel a genuine sense of pride in my role and it is a privilege to be a part of a progressive Institution that is aiming to cement its credentials as a leader in sustainability."

Kate Sisodia receiving the Sustainability on Campus Award

Team Winners

Congratulations to the LEAF Pilot Group, Technology, Infrastructure and Environment Directorate, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences for winning the team Sustainability on Campus Award.

LEAF (Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework) is an initiative developed by the University of Central London (UCL) to improve the sustainability and efficiency of laboratories and technical workspaces. The University of Liverpool’s Faculty of Health and Life Sciences and Faculty of Science and Engineering have been running a pilot of LEAF in laboratory spaces to review impact and effectiveness, since March 2021. LEAF has a tiered approach of Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. The LEAF framework attributes to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) and targets on waste, energy, training, and culture. Our LEAF pilot is also part of a national project coordinated via LEAF / National Technician Development Centre. The pilot group at Liverpool is a a mix of academic and technical staff who have cooperated and worked collectively throughout. The interim report was well received by our sustainability board with ambitions for LEAF to be taken on fully as an initiative by the University going forward.

Chris French said “This team, comprising of many different roles and backgrounds, have worked so hard to be sustainability pioneers across our campus - this is a great recognition of their work and all the influence they continue to have to champion lab sustainability”

The LEAF Pilot Group receiving the team Sustainability on Campus Award

Congratulations to the Sustainability in Action Project Team, Careers and Employability and the Centre for Innovation in Education for being shortlisted for this award too.

The full shortlist and winners can be found here.