Stephen Fry Public Engagement Awards

The annual Stephen Fry Public Engagement Awards recognise our staff and students, and their work engaging audiences and stakeholders beyond the university. Winners and nominees of the Awards are recognised for their crucial role in organising and delivering excellent public engagement, enhancing benefits to society and improving their own skills.

The awards are open to all staff and students, and recognise the vital role played by our partnering organisations.

There are three categories of award:

• Engaged Early-career Researcher (Postgraduate researchers and research staff)
• Engaged Researcher (Academic and academic-related staff)
• Engagement Project of the Year (open to all staff and students)

2023 Award winners

Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Stephen Fry Public Engagement Awards. The annual awards celebrate the people and projects that engage with wider audiences, and the benefits they bring to society. In addition, commendations were awarded in all award categories. The work described in these applications excelled at engaging audiences with the University's research.

Watch a video of the 2023 Stephen Fry Award winners receiving their awards from Principal, Prof Iain Gillespie and Stephen Fry.

Engaged Early Career Researcher of the Year

Vicky Armstrong won the Early Career Researcher of the Year award for her work in early-years art therapy including 'Art at the Start'.

'Art at the Start' explores the impact of engaging with the arts on infant’s well-being, development and attachment relationships.

Commendation for Engaged Early Career Researcher of the Year

Dr Thomas Williams

Dr Caitlyn Norman

Selection panel members: Alex Russell, Janice Aitken, Sandra Oza and Jennifer Smith (Abertay University)

Engaged Researcher of the Year

Ellie Harrison, from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, has been named Engaged Researcher of the Year in recognition of 'Bus Regulation: The Musical', a project that influenced changes in transport policy.

'Bus Regulation: The Musical' is inspired by the 1980s hit musical 'Starlight Express', and features performers on roller skates to re-enact the history of public transport provision in the Strathclyde region from the post-war period to the present day.

Commendation for Engaged Researcher of the Year

Dr Suzanne Duce

Dr Teodor Mladenov

Dr Elizabeth Lakin

Selection panel members: Amy Rogers, Heather Doran, Sarah Derrick (DCA)

Selection panel members: Louise Marryat, Norin Arshed, and Nicky MacCrimmon (Dundee City Council)

Engagement Project of the Year

'Home Fae Home'

‘Home Fae Home’ is a project led by Linsey McIntosh and Gary Kennedy, both from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design.

The project involved working with young people from a youth-group organisation called The Hot Chocolate Trust charity, to co-design a range of new spaces within their existing building.

These spaces were designed to increase a sense of home, belonging and safety for young people. They were also designed to help reduce stress, aid the recovery from adversity and trauma, and create many new opportunities for young people to develop additional skills, confidence and experiences which will help them to thrive in life.

With special thanks to all 'Home Fae Home' project partners:

• Young People of Hot Chocolate Trust (Hot Chocolate Trust)
• Charis Robertson (Hot Chocolate Trust)
• Andy Robertson (Hot Chocolate Trust)
• Team at Hot Chocolate Trust (Hot Chocolate Trust)
• Anne McKechnie (Consultant Clinical Forensic Psychologist at the National Child Abuse Inquiry)
• Aymeric Renoud (3D Designer/Maker at kennedytwaddle (Former Role) & DJCAD Interior & Environmental Design Alumni)
• Aleksandra (Ola) Daszynska (Designer at kennedytwaddle & DJCAD Interior & Environmental Design Alumni)
• Tehmina Ahmad, Blair Boyle, Aleksandra Daszynska, Rebecca Hackett, Abbie Hunter, Lee Johnstone, Anna Macpherson, Jennifer Meier (Interior & Environmental Design Students at DJCAD)

Commendation for Engagement Project of the Year

Big Back Garden

Breaking the Chains: A Walking Trail Exploring Dundee's Connections to Slavery