The impact made by outstanding and varied research carried out at Swansea University was celebrated in the city last week (Thursday, June 19).
About 160 guests from academia, industry and the public sector attended the first Swansea University Impact Awards at the Marriott Hotel, Swansea.
Six awards were given to projects as varied as the Research as Art initiative which has reached more than 50 million people and one which looked at innovative ways to use satellite data to improve weather forecasts.
Impact – the contribution that the university makes to the economy and society – is something Swansea has been doing well since the University was established to meet the needs of the region’s industry in 1920.
Professor Ian Cluckie, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Science and Engineering), said: “Our research delivers academic impact through papers and publications but also in countless other ways ‑ from innovation and commercialisation, to informing public policy and improving health and wellbeing; from enriching cultures and sustaining environments to educating and inspiring future generations.
“These inaugural Impact Awards give us the ideal opportunity to celebrate some of the people and projects making an incalculable difference to our society. The fact that we received nearly fifty nominations demonstrates the breadth of ground-breaking work being undertaken at Swansea.”
The evening was hosted by comedian and broadcaster ‑ and Swansea University history graduate ‑ Chris Corcoran and featured a presentation from Richard Noble OBE on the BLOODHOUND SSC project, which involves Swansea engineers and aims to take the land speed record to 1,000mph.
The event’s main sponsor was the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, with individual awards sponsored by Age UK, TATA Steel, GE Healthcare, Parthian Books and Library of Wales, BLOODHOUND SSC, and Bridging the Gaps.
Professor Cluckie said: “We are grateful to all the organisations which have supported the Impact Awards, and are proud to count them among our collaborative research partners.
“I also congratulate all the entries that made the shortlist after the rigorous judging process. Clearly, Swansea University is home to some exceptional research and talented academics, and I applaud the six worthy winners.”
The 2014 Swansea University Impact Award winners are:
The Bridging the Gaps Award for Outstanding Excellence in Public Engagement:
Winner: Research as Art ‑ Dr Richard Johnston, College of Engineering
Supported by Swansea University Research Forum, this project showcasing arresting scientific images has run for four years, with exhibitions at the Royal Institution London and Swansea’s Grand Theatre. It is estimated that Research as Art has reached more than 50 million people around the world bringing Swansea University to the attention of national and international audiences.
Runners-up:
Materials Live! (Dr R Johnston, Dr I Mabbett, College of Engineering)
The Skeleton Archers of the Warship Mary Rose (Nick Owen and team, Sports Science, College of Engineering)
The Parthian Books and Library of Wales Award for Outstanding Impact in Culture, the Arts and Sport:
Winner: Copperopolis: Regenerating and Transforming an Industrial Landscape in the Lower Swansea Valley – Professor Huw Bowen, Stuart Griffin, College of Arts and Humanities
A range of activities was undertaken to raise awareness of the historic importance of Swansea’s copper industry, and persuade regeneration and planning officers in local and Welsh government of the untapped cultural potential of the former smelting sites. Research by Swansea historians has since acted as a catalyst for the regeneration of the former Hafod-Morfa Copperworks site.
Runners-up
The Wizard the Goat and the Man Who Won the War (D J Britton, College of Arts and Humanities)
Using creative writing to engage the public in Welsh language culture and enrich the cultural life of Wales (The Richard Burton Centre for the Study of Wales, Dr F Dafydd, Dr C James and Professor T Hallam, College of Arts and Humanities)
The Age UK Award for Outstanding Impact in Public Policy and Services:
Winner: Reducing the burden of emergency hospital attendances for patients, carers and health providers, by improving out-of-hospital care ‑ Professor Helen Snooks and team, College of Medicine
Over 15 years, the team has worked to identify safe and cost-effective alternatives to ambulance dispatch and onward transport to hospital founded upon collaboration with policy makers, the NHS and patients. The impact on emergency care is profound. In England emergency calls not leading to hospital transport rose from 480,000 in 2001 (10% of all calls) to 4.1 million in 2013 (45% of all calls) with savings from avoided ambulance journeys of £60million.
Runners-up:
Assessing the age of children and young people seeking asylum: changes to policy and practice in the UK, Europe and beyond (Professor Heaven Crawley. Centre for Migration Policy Research, College of Science)
Hazard assessment and risk reduction policy following severe wildfires – (Professor S Doerr, Dr R Shakesby, Dr C Santin, College of Science)
The TATA Steel Award for Outstanding Impact in Commerce and Industry
Winner: Improved Aerodynamic Design Process for the Aerospace Industry through the Application of Unstructured Mesh Technology ‑ Professor Kenneth Morgan, Professor Oubay Hassan and Dr Ben Evans, College of Engineering
FLITE, a computational aerodynamics design system developed at Swansea has transformed the way in which computer simulation is used in the aerospace industry worldwide. In 1995, BAE Systems reported that overnight turnaround was being achieved for simulations which previously could have taken up to six months to complete. FLITE was also integral to the design process of the Airbus A380. FLITE3D aerodynamic modelling is now being used in the BLOODHOUND project.
Runners-up:
The development of novel food items to facilitate mood and cognition ‑ Professor D Benton, College of Human and Health Sciences)
Exemplifying SME Leadership Development ‑ LEAD Wales, Department of Research and Innovation
The GE Healthcare Award for Outstanding Impact in Health and Wellbeing
Winner: Contribution to Improvements in Patient Safety through Computer-Human Interaction for Medical Devices – Professor Harold Thimbleby and the CHI+MED project team, College of Science.
About 10% of hospital deaths due to preventable errors are due to computational errors and are estimated to cost the NHS over £600 million per year. This research aims to reduce the likelihood of human error in the use of medical devices, leading to improved quality and delivery of healthcare and significant reduction in patient harm. It has led to strong links with international partners such as the US Food and Drug Administration.
Runners-up:
Improving Breastfeeding Rates: Monitoring Medicines Administered In Labour ‑ (Dr S Jordan, College of Medicine)
The concept of DNA damage thresholds benefits patients and the pharmaceutical industry (Professor G Jenkins and the DNA damage group, College of Medicine )
The BLOODHOUND SSC Award for Outstanding Breakthrough in Research
Winner: Using land-surface satellite data to improve weather forecasts and climate predictions – Professor Peter North, Dr Sietse Los, Dr Jackie Rosette and Andreas Heckel, College of Science
Researchers at the Global Environmental Modelling and Earth Observation group have used satellite data to improve weather forecasts and climate predictions. Swansea University has worked directly with the UK Met Office and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts to refine the way in which land is represented in their numerical weather prediction models. The research has led to the ECMRWF improving its precipitation forecast, increasing predicted summer rainfall by 7% – and its variability, which is relevant to flood and drought forecast, increased by 30%.
Runners-up:
Manufacturing high performance solution processed photovoltaics ‑ (Professor D Worsley, Dr T Watson, College of Engineering)
Can we heal osteoarthritic joints? A collaborative approach for solutions to a longstanding problem ‑ (Dr I Khan, Dr L Francis. Centre for NanoHealth, College of Medicine)
