Awards showcase research impact
Scientists in the Faculty of Biological Sciences were recognised at the awards as part of interdisciplinary and global teams.
The 2024 Research Impact and Engagement Awards turned the spotlight on staff who exemplify Leeds’ ambition for maximising positive impact, driving down inequalities and addressing social and economic challenges, such as climate change.
This is achieved by influencing policy, driving economic growth, improving health outcomes, fostering skills and education, or advancing sustainable development.
Research impact is often hard-won. It takes time, effort, patience and researchers who are willing to go the extra mile.
By recognising the wide-ranging forms of impact achieved through collaboration and perseverance, the awards aim to inspire others to undertake and engage in equally transformative research.
Building on the successful Engaged for Impact Awards in 2022, presentations were made across six categories: Cultural, Economic, Environmental, Health, Policy and Societal Impact.
Nominees from the Faculty of Biological Sciences
Dr Ruth Wade, School of Biology
Project: Regenerative agriculture: evidence base for policy and practice – led by Professor Pippa Chapman (School of Geography) Dr Ruth Wade and Professor Lisa Collins (University of Surrey)
Regenerative agriculture aims to improve soil health, and in doing so deliver positive environmental and socioeconomic outcomes. However, it has not been widely adopted across UK farms. This is due to lack of evidence and knowledge, guidance on good practice, on-farm skills, and financial support.
Over the past two years, the project team has developed and delivered co-designed research, demonstrations, networks, policy documents and workshops, won a fellowship to inform strategic programme design and direction for Defra, and given oral evidence at a parliamentary select committee.
Together these activities are shaping practice, guides, training, policies and regulations in regenerative agriculture.
Professor Pippa Chapman and Dr Ruth Wade explain more about the project in the below video:
You can also follow progress about the FixOurFood programme online.
Dr Alastair Ward, School of Biology
Project: Gair Wood – a new woodland for environment, research, and community – led by Dr Robin Haywood, School of Earth and Environment
Gair Wood is a newly planted research woodland, conducting long-term studies to inform woodland creation techniques and policy in the UK. In addition to its ecological, climate, and environmental impacts, Gair Wood has prioritised community impact and engagement from the project’s inception. Local communities have played an active role in the woodland’s design, planting, and now management and research.
Furthermore, Gair Wood provides a valuable case study to facilitate broader conversations and engagement around nature and woodland creation and strengthen partnerships. It is widely communicated through schools, museums, public lectures, and social media videos, which have been seen over 600,000 times.
Dr Wood advises the Gair Wood team on managing the impacts of wild animals on the woodland, and has involved undergraduate and postgraduate students in developing long-term monitoring datasets to support decision-making and to provide data for their dissertation projects. Measurements of the activity of browsing animals, especially roe deer and brown hares, at Gair Wood and neighbouring sites, have been key to deciding how to protect the thousands of young trees that have been planted.
The interdisciplinary research team includes: Dr Cat Scott (School of Earth and Environment), Thomas Sloan (School of Earth and Environment), Steve Denison (School of Earth and Environment), Anna Gugan (United Bank of Carbon and School of Earth and Environment), James Dixon-Gough (Sustainability Service), Michael Howroyd (Sustainability Service), James Wright (Estates), Iwan Downey (White Rose Forest), Philip Dougill (Facilities Directorate), Alex De Little (School of Performance & Cultural Industries), Jane Dickinson (Sustainability Service), Hazel Mooney (Sustainability Service), Sam Brookes (Sustainability Service), Surbhi Thakur (Sustainability Service) and Clare Jackson (Sustainability Service).
Learn more about the first year of the project in the video below.
For a full list of winners and those that received special mentions, visit the dedicated awards page.
