Reward and recognition
From social responsibility initiatives to research impact, public and patient involvement and engagement and volunteering, the following award schemes celebrate the many inspiring engagement activities of our people – staff, students, alumni and external partners – locally, nationally and internationally.
Our awards share some of the very best engagement practice from across the University, and celebrate individual and collaborative contributions to wider society.
The Making a Difference Awards
The Making a Difference Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of our staff, students, alumni and external partners and celebrate how they are making a difference.
The category for ‘outstanding public engagement initiative’ recognises outstanding examples where the University engages with the public to share knowledge created through teaching and research, that enrich lives and inspires and is inspired by our communities locally, nationally and internationally.
The subcategories recognise work with:
- local/civic engagement;
- national/international engagement;
- public contributors;
- our cultural institutions.
Hosted by the Office for Social Responsibility, the awards open each November, culminating with a ceremony in May.
Find out more and take a look at previous winners: Making a Difference Awards.
Volunteer of the Year Awards
The Volunteer of the Year Awards recognise the achievements of our staff, students, alumni as volunteers either here in Manchester, or elsewhere nationally or internationally.
Hosted by the Student Development and Community Engagement Division, the awards open each January, culminating with a ceremony in May.
The awards are affiliated to the University’s Make a Difference Awards, and the winners also receive the President’s Social Responsibility Medal.
Find out more and take a look at previous winners: Volunteer of the Year Awards.
Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Celebration
Hosted by the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, the PPIE celebration event highlights the positive impact public contributors, staff and students make in PPIE across the Faculty.
The event includes the Outstanding Contribution to PPIE Awards, which recognise the inspirational and dedicated commitment to PPIE across teaching and research.
These awards are open to public contributors, staff, and students affiliated with the Faculty. The celebration event takes place in June/July.
Find out more and take a look at the winners of the 2021 awards.
Better World Awards
Hosted by the Faculty of Science and Engineering, the Better World Awards aim to raise awareness of the important contribution that science and engineering makes to social and environmental impact.
They celebrate the efforts of our staff and students who are making a difference, and aim to inspire others to do the same. The celebration event takes typically takes place in February.
Find out more and take a look at previous winners: Better World Awards.
External awards
The Josh Award
The Josh Award is a national prize for early-career science communicators who are passionate about continuing to work in this field in the future, including students, volunteers, researchers or creatives. It has been run in conjunction with Manchester Science Festival since 2007.
Find out more about the Josh Award.
Biochemical Society: Science Communication Prize
Each year, the Biochemical Society looks to identify and celebrate outstanding science communicators with its annual Science Communication Prize.
Last year, the Science Communication Prize was open in two higher education categories: one open to foundation/undergraduate students and another to postgraduate students.
Find out more about the Science Communication Prize.
Royal Society of Biology: Outreach and Engagement Award
The Outreach and Engagement Award is intended to acknowledge and reward outreach work carried out by researchers who inform, enthuse and engage the public with their research.
There are two categories: New Researcher and Leadership in Outreach and Engagement.
Find out more about the RSB Outreach and Engagement Award.
Royal Meteorological Society: Climate Science Communication Award
This prize is awarded to a member of the Society who has made a significant contribution in the field of climate science, and who has also excelled in increasing the understanding of climate science among members of the general public.
Find out more about the Climate Science Communication Award.
Royal Astronomical Society: Annie Maunder Medal for Outreach
The Annie Maunder Medal is open to everyone involved in outreach or public engagement for astronomy or geophysics. This includes academics, amateurs and professionals (including those whose main occupation is outreach or public engagement). The medal can be awarded to individuals or whole teams.
Find out more about the Annie Maunder Medal for Outreach.
The Royal College of Pathologists: Furness Prize for Science Communication
The Furness Prize for Science Communication is an award given to a pathology trainee or undergraduate who has shown excellence in their science communication activities throughout the year.
Find out more about the Furness Prize for Science Communication.
ESRC: Celebrating Impact Prize
The ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize is an annual opportunity to recognise and celebrate the success of ESRC-funded researchers in achieving and enabling outstanding economic or societal impact from excellent research.
Find out more about the Celebrating Impact Prize.
Royal Society: David Attenborough Award and Lecture
The Royal Society David Attenborough Award and Lecture is awarded annually to an individual for outstanding public engagement with science.
The award, open to everyone, recognises high quality public engagement activities and complements the Michael Faraday Prize and Lecture.
Find out more about the David Attenborough Award and Lecture.
Royal Society: Michael Faraday Prize and Lecture
The Royal Society Michael Faraday Prize and Lecture is awarded annually to the scientist or engineer whose expertise in communicating scientific ideas in lay terms is exemplary.
Normally, preference will be given to a practising scientist or engineer, but other individuals whose primary expertise is in writing, broadcasting or other relevant forms of communication may also be considered.
Find out more about the Michael Faraday Prize and Lecture.