The University has honoured four staff members with Chancellor’s Awards for their teaching and research excellence and outstanding contribution.
The Chancellor’s Awards are one of the most important ways in which the University recognises current members of our community who have made outstanding contributions to teaching or research and achieved national and international recognition for their work, or that have made an outstanding contribution to the University’s work in general. The University’s current Chancellor is Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, who has held the position since 2011.
Professor Shannon Vallor, Dr Katherine Atkins, Professor Meryl Kenny, and Mr Nial Moffat are this year’s Chancellor’s Award winners and were congratulated by the Chancellor and the Lord Provost, Councillor Robert Aldridge, at a gala dinner held at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Established in 2003, the Chancellor’s Awards reward staff in four categories for teaching, research, outstanding contribution and showing great potential in early career teaching and/or research.
Research excellence
Professor Shannon Vallor is the Baillie Gifford Professor of The Ethics of Data and Artificial Intelligence and is based in the Centre for Technomoral Futures in the Edinburgh Futures Institute. Shannon received her Chancellor’s Award for Research award in recognition of her research leadership and influence on policy in the field of Artificial Intelligence, which has greatly contributed to the Edinburgh Futures Institute’s reputation and the University’s impact worldwide.
Rising Star
Dr Katherine Atkins is a Reader at the Centre for Global Health in the Usher Institute. Katherine is receiving the Rising Star Chancellor’s Award in recognition of her internationally-recognised advances in research in infectious disease modelling and her significant contribution to driving research-led education at the University.
Teaching
Professor Meryl Kenny holds a Personal Chair of Gender and Politics and is based in the School of Social and Political Science. Meryl received the Chancellor’s Award for Teaching for her significant contribution to reshaping the University’s teaching through expanding inter- and multi-disciplinary education and her inclusion of students in the development and design of the curriculum.
Outstanding Contribution
Mr Nial Moffat, Head of Security based in the Estates Department, was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Contribution in recognition of his leadership and diligent approach to keeping not only the 60,000 strong University of Edinburgh community safe on a daily basis and at controversial events, but also the wider City of Edinburgh community.
Congratulations to the award winners.
2024 Principal’s Medals awarded
A student, two members of staff, and two teams have been named winners of the 2024 Principal’s Medals.
Archie Goodburn, Mark Kobine, Sarah Cunningham-Burley, Charlie Bevan, on behalf of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Team, and Dora Handrea, on behalf of the Edinburgh Innovations Student Enterprise Team, will each receive their medals during this year’s Winter Graduation ceremony.
First awarded in 2008, the Principal’s Medals are one of the most important ways the University recognises its staff and students. The awards celebrate the achievements and dedication of the professional services and academic colleagues and students who have delivered exceptional service, have supported and served the University or the wider community and demonstrated strong alignment with the University’s values. Recipients are nominated by their fellow students and staff members.
This year’s winners
MEng Chemical Engineering student Archie Goodburn is being recognised for his exceptional success as an elite swimmer, his excellent academic achievements, and his positive and inspirational attitude whilst dealing with significant health issues.
Mark Kobine is a Design Informatics Workshop Technician. Mark is being recognised for his excellence and dedication in not only making the ‘impossible possible’ for the Design Informatics interdisciplinary research institute and Inspace but also the significant impact of his contributions in learning and teaching, and in technical, event and exhibition support.
Sarah Cunningham-Burley, Professor of Medical and Family Sociology, and Co-Head of Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society, is being recognised for her exceptional contribution to leadership, through her roles as the University Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, as Head of the Deanery for Molecular Genetics and Population Health Sciences, and as a global leader in research in Medical and Family Sociology.
Charlie Bevan and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Team are being recognised for their delivery of an innovative academic, social and leadership programme for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars, and for their excellent support of the diverse community of scholars Edinburgh welcomes through this programme.
Dora Handrea and the Edinburgh Innovations Student Enterprise Team are being recognised for the exceptional commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial talent, their tailored support for students, and for the fostering of innovative solutions to help tackle global challenges.
Congratulations to the winners and all nominated for an award.