On Wednesday (26th Feb) members of The SPRINT Project attended the Public and Cultural Engagement (PACE) strategy event at The Exchange, where the University of Birmingham outlined its vision to become the most "plugged-in" university in the world. The event emphasized deep and meaningful engagement, breaking barriers and creating a lasting impact through knowledge sharing.
As part of the event, the University recognized outstanding contributions to public engagement through the PACE Awards. We are incredibly proud to share that members of The SPRINT Project team were among those acknowledged for their dedication and impact.
Award Nominations and Recognitions
The SPRINT Project's Maria Kolitsida was nominated for ‘The Alice Roberts PGR Award for Excellence in Public Engagement' and was awarded a Highly Commended recognition. The judges praised her pioneering work in public engagement within dance research, particularly her sensitive and impactful study on self-harm. Maria's research and workshops in raising awareness around self-harm in dancers has filled a fundamental knowledge gap in the field and serves as an example of best practices in public engagement.
Dr Mary Quinton. Dr Grace Tidmarsh and Professor Jennifer Cumming were nominated for the ‘Light of Understanding Award’, which celebrates interdisciplinary engagement and knowledge exchange. While they did not take home the award, being shortlisted highlights the strength and significance of our team’s work in advancing public engagement in sport psychology and other fields.
OneDance UK was a nominee for the ‘Community Partner Award’, and who partnered with The School of Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at University of Birmingham to create safe spaces for dancers and contribute to a deeper understanding of their experiences. As a team, we work closely with OneDance UK in these efforts, and we’re proud that their dedication to supporting the well-being and inclusion of dancers is being recognised. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and making a lasting impact in the dance community.
Recognizing Award Winners
We would also like to extend our congratulations to this year’s award winners.
Dr. Caroline Gillett, Assistant Professor in PPI in Medical Sciences, who won the Light of Understanding Award for her work in exploring complex health conditions through artistic events.
Kieran Heeley who won The Alice Roberts PGR Award for his project "Get with the Hype," which explores the use of hydrogen cells for sustainable energy at festivals.
Overall, the PACE strategy event showcased the University of Birmingham’s commitment to public engagement, focusing on enhancing student experience, strengthening research, and redefining its role as a ‘civic university’. At The SPRINT Project, we are inspired by this and remain dedicated to making a meaningful impact through our work/research.
Once again, congratulations to all nominees and winners, and thank you to the University of Birmingham!
Written by Tasha Jordan-Dewhurst
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