2025 shortlisted entries
We received over 130 entrants for our Making a Difference Awards 2025 and the judges had a very difficult job selecting a shortlist. Below is a full list of all the shortlisted entrants in each of the categories.
Outstanding benefit to society through research
Improving asthma diagnosis – the RADicA study
Prof. Stephen Fowler and members of the Rapid Access Diagnostics for Asthma (RADicA) study team (Chief Investigator Prof. Clare Murray)
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health; colleagues external to the University
ConnecteDNAt: Direct-to-consumer genetic testing and donor-conception
Lucy Frith and the ConnecteDNA team, Petra Nordqvist, Anna Nelson and Caroline Redhead
Faculty of Humanities
Outstanding teaching innovation in social responsibility
The Justice Hub
The Justice Hub team
Faculty of Humanities
Development of a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) training clinic
Dr Claire Fothergill , Dr Katie Reid, Prof Richard Brown, Dr Tobyn Bell, Anna Pruszynska and Katie Morgan
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Empowerment through practice: Skills in ethnic minority communities
Anjali Vaidyanathan, Rebecca Marks, Sarah Sharp and Enam Ul-Haque
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Outstanding contribution to social and environmental impact through entrepreneurship
Algaverse: Pioneering algae-based solutions for a sustainable future
Nayab Raza, Jon Pittman, Suneel kunamenai, Zuopeng Zuo and Sikandar Bakh
Faculty of Science and Engineering
One World Together: Building better finance for communities globally
Nicola Banks and One World Together
Faculty of Humanities
Manchester Museum’s Top Floor
Hannah Hartley and Chloe Cousins
Manchester Museum
Outstanding public engagement initiative
Paralab
ParaLab team, Annie Carpenter and Andrew Wilson
External colleagues
Community Liaison Group (CLG): Making a difference since 2001
The Community Liaison Group (CLG): Richard Hughes, Anne Scott, Yvonne Thomas, Joe Keaney, Zach Howarth, Martin Wells, Lee Simms, Jan Stone, Philip Paulden, Javed Rehman, Yvonne Awenat, Sarah Tully, Lucy Cameron, Sasha Johns and Marshall Lester
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
International dentists in primary schools: the Kenyan project
Rachel Lee, Aryan Panchmatia, Ishmyne Bhamra and Shivani Chohan
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Developing and sharing best practice for PPIE in suicide prevention
Dr Leah Quinlivan, Dan Stears, Liz Monaghan, Sadika Asmal, Jav Rehman, Jon Smith, Manoj Mistry, Dawn Allen, Lynne Keady, Tom Bell, Tracy Neil, Fiona Naylor, David Daniels, Louise Gorman, Sarah Steeg, Jane Graney, Catherine Rodway, Pauline Turnbull, Roger Webb, Nav Kapur, Alison Baird, Jessica Leather, Ioannis Angelaskis, Mary Vingoe, Katerina Kavalidou, Melissa Lima Silva and Harriet Cant
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Let’s Talk About Cough
Jacky Smith
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Buzz For Bees
Andhira Lalita, Ruiqi Li, Wei-Cheng Liao, Hassan Masood, Jahanzaib Khan and Miroslava Lopez Villalobos
Faculty of Humanities
Learning from the past, looking to the future: peatland communities
Professor Melanie Giles, Martin Evans, Professor John McAuliffe and Professor Matthew Pate
Faculty of Humanities
A citizen’s assembly
Andy Smith and Lynsey O’Sullivan
Faculty of Humanities
The abuse of women runners: perceptions, fears and experiences
Caroline Miles and Rose Broad
Faculty of Humanities
Parents and Children Together (PACT-DS)
Dr Kelly Burgoyne, Dr Kirstie Hartwell (University of Manchester)
Dr Emma Pagnamenta, Prof. Vesna Stojanovik, Dr Rebecca Baxter (University of Reading)
Faculty of Humanities; colleagues external to the University
Ardwick Green Route
Sheena Cruickshank, Joanna Barrow, Joe Morris, George Adams, Nick Weiss, Olivia Jackson and Ardwick Pollution Action Group
Faculty of Humanities; Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health; Faculty of Science and Engineering
Outstanding contribution to equality, diversity and inclusion
DCS: Nurturing an open, diverse and inclusive working environment
Stephen Taylor and Division of Cancer Sciences
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Working Well: Roots to Dental
Dr Tamsin Cooper, Sarah Hardman, Laura Rodger and Roots to Dental team
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health and colleagues external to the University
Humba SHEpreneur: Advancing gender equality through entrepreneurship
Metri Wulandari, Pravitasari, Gloria Maria Foster Pingak, Justicia Estetika Maulida and Enrika Yumna
Faculty of Humanities
Diversity Politics student society
Maleehah Rehman and the Diversity Politics team
Faculty of Humanities
Outstanding professional services for social responsibility
Manchester-China Friendship Programme (MCFP)
Prof Peter Gries, Yannan Yu, Lorelei Baciu, Yunyang Xia, Sol Stappard, Halia Zhang, Jake Ruding and Nasira Asghar
Faculty of Humanities
Sustainable as students
Fiona Day, Emily Taylor, Dale Pullin, Andrew Appleton, Ashley Murphy, Pauline Brown and Rob Aston
Central PS Division
200 for 200: Bicentenary inclusive recruitment
Michael Platt, Will Day-English, Freya Moogan and Fiona Coll
Central PS Division
Increasing inclusivity and access to cancer research
Simon Reeds
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Outstanding contribution to environmental sustainability and a zero carbon future
IT Kit Amnesty week
John Vass-de-Zomba, David Lloyd and Hardware Asset Management
Central PS Division
The Bright Idea: A solar solution transforming campus energy
Lee Barlow
Central PS Division
LabGoods4Reuse (LG4R)
Joanna Woodburn, Natalie Terry, Becci Higgins, Rae Watkins and FBMH Technical Operations team
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Biko Bikes
Isaac Law, James Bradnam and Biko Bikes Student Action Group
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Outstanding contribution to widening access and student success
Volunteering Outreach in Science and Engineering (VOISE)
Amelie Coy, Valerie Tam, Anjali Patel, George Bourne, Annette Pullukattu, Alghala Almulhim, Ben Bradwell, Ryan Model, Yenushka Dayaratne, Vaibhav Gupta and Kathleen Setiawan Ho
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Levelling Up: Maths
Louise Walker
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Manchester Outreach Medics (MOMs)
Ellis Critchley and Manchester Outreach Medics
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Outstanding alumni contribution to social responsibility
Northwest Women in STEM – local community interest group
Saba Khan
University of Manchester alumna
Radio FANTASEE for social inclusion
David Asekomhe, Dr. Unenobong Udoka, Rita Robert Otu and Donald Ogar
University of Manchester alumna
Youth-led Environmental Movement Building Initiative in Malawi
Charles Bakolo Mvula
Faculty of Humanities
Making a Difference Awards 2025 judges
We would like to say a huge thank you to all our panels of judges, who had the unenvious job of shortlisting over 130 entries.
The judges were:
Outstanding benefit to society through research
- Professor Colette Fagan, Vice-President for Research
- Professor Nigel Hooper, Associate Vice-President for Research
- Nicola Waterworth, Strategic Lead – Ageing in Place, Greater Manchester Ageing Hub
- Dr Laura Breen, Research Development and Impact Manager (Research Strategy)
Outstanding teaching innovation in social responsibility
- Gabrielle Finn, Associate Vice-President for Teaching and Learning
- Jen O’Brien, Academic Lead for Sustainability Education
- Emma McKenna, Queens University Belfast (a national award winner for community engaged learning)
- Lisa McDonagh, Teaching And Learning Manager
- Cecilia Medupin, Reader, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Raj Ariyaratnam, Clinical Professor, Division of Dentistry
- Christine McLean, Senior Lecturer, Alliance Manchester Business School
- Emma McKenna, Queens University Belfast
- Adil Ashraf, PGR Officer for University of Manchester Students’ Union
Outstanding contribution to social and environmental impact through entrepreneurship
- Dr Leigh Wharton, Lecturer, Alliance Manchester Business School and Social Entrepreneur
- Lisa McMullan, Director of Development at the Women’s Organisation
- Stephen Parry, Lecturer, Alliance Manchester Business School
- Don Phillips, Chairman, Bubble Enterprises CIC
- Laura Etchells, Enterprise Business Development Manager, Masood Entrepreneurship Centre
Outstanding community and public engagement initiative
- Prof Stephanie Snow, Academic Lead for Public Engagement, Research
- Prof Darren Price, Academic Lead for Public Engagement, Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Mags Bradbury, Head of Social Responsibility and Civic Engagementt, Office for Social Responsibility
- Vicky Grant, Family Programme Coordinator, Manchester Museum
- Atiha Chaudry, Director, Equal Access Consultancy
- Dee-Ann Johnson, Public Engagement Manager, Office for Social Responsibility
Outstanding contribution to equality and diversity award
- Fozia Ahmed
- Sarah Fox, Executive Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- Aisha Akram, Wellbeing Liberation Officer, University of Manchester Students’ Union
- Jon Ashley, Director of Estates Support
- Rachel Cowan, Academic Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (Gender and Sexual Orientation)
Outstanding professional services contributions for social responsibility
- Alison Shedlock, Director of Campus Service, Catering
- Paula Dunn, Executive PA to the Registrar, Secretary & Chief Operating Office
- Sheila Chisholm, Safety, Compliance And Risk Manager, Manchester Museum
- Marie Conaghan, PA to Professor Nalin Thakkar and Dr Julian Skyrme, Office for Social Responsibility
- Paul Nethercott, Community Partnerships Manager, Public Health Team, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Outstanding contribution to environmental sustainability and a low carbon future
- Claire Brown, Research Associate, Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Christina Picken, Research Associate (Department of Materials)
- Kirsty Hawksworth, Digital Project Manager, Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Amy Calderbank, Student Comms and Engagement Officer
- Lucy Millard, Environmental Sustainability Manager, Directorate of Estates and Facilities
Outstanding contribution to widening participation
- Emma Nichols, Outreach Manager, Faculty Office, Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Hannah Cousins, Teaching, Learning and Student Experience, Faculty of Humanities
- Elisabeth Whittall, Student Development Manager, University of Manchester Students’ Union
- Christopher Godden, Professor in Economic History
- Sophie Hoyle-Wilby, Student Marketing and Recruitment Officer, Student Recruitment
- Lexie Baynes, UA Officer University of Manchester Students’ Union
- Alison Evans, Student Recruitment and Marketing Manager, Faculty of Science and Engineering
- David Allison, Reader, Division of Pharmacy & Optometry
- Emma Britain, Student Access, Success and Development Manager, Teaching, Learning and Student Development Division
Outstanding alumni contribution to social responsibility
- Kate Deamon, DDAR, Campaign Volunteer Officer, Development & Alumni
- Richard Screaton, Deputy Director Alumni Engagement
- Naa Acquah, University of Manchester alumni association
- Kirsty Hutchison, Student Success, Volunteering and Awards Officer
- Rosie Baker, winner of the Making a Difference Award outstanding alumni category 2024