June 16, 2016, by Rob Ounsworth

Sharing their passion: Graduate School Research Showcase 2016

Rob Goodwin, a first year PhD in the School of Medicine, is the winner of the Graduate School’s Research Showcase 2016.

Rob’s stunning poster combined wit h a lucid explanation of his research into access to physiotherapy at GPs’ surgeries wowed the judges at the showcase, where more than 50 finalists presented their work.

Rob, a Nottingham physiotherapist of more than 20 years’ experience, said: “I feel passionately about this project and the importance of removing barriers to patients for self-referral to physiotherapy. To have the opportunity to get this message across to a wider audience and winning this award feels like a real validation.”

The event’s guest speaker and awards ceremony compere was Dr Steve Cross, self-styled Doctor of the Human Heart (a University of Nottingham PhD in Human Genetics), comedy performer and public engagement consultant.

His message to his audience of predominantly early years researchers: “Public engagement is great for your CV, attracts funding and is your moral responsibility too. You might also find it’s fun.”

Jane Wellens, head of the Graduate School, said: “Once again we were delighted with the range and quality of submissions by the showcase finalists. Being able to present research findings in a concise and engaging manner is a valuable skill and the event underlines how important it is for our early researchers to think about engaging with wider audiences, which opens funding and partnership opportunities as well as potential pathways to impact.”

Read through our Storify online or in the slideshow below for a look at the day’s events – hover over the images for captions. You can also scroll down for a list of winners and photos.

Second prize
Victoria Strong, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science
What Becomes of a Broken (Great Ape) Heart?

Third prize
Emily Roberts, School of Biosciences
The War in our Fields – Detecting the Enemy

Award for artistic flair for poster design
Katherine Dyke, School of Psychology
Changing Minds with Brain Stimulation

People’s choice award as voted by visitors to the showcase
Mohataz Hossain, School of Architecture and Built Environment
Getting Over Overheating – Regaining Comfort for our Clothing Workers

Media Prize for best press release
William Evans, School of Physics and Astronomy
Spooky Sensors Save Our Streets

Media prize runners-up
Jess Wardlow, Nottingham Geospatial Institute
Researchers seek volunteers to play spot the difference on Mars

Victoria Strong, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science
What Becomes of a Broken (Great Ape) Heart?

Miles Fitton, School of Life Sciences
Vitamin B’s the bee’s knees in battle against dementia

Researchers submitted press releases in order to be whittled down to the 51 finalists in the Research Showcase. Media prize winner William Evans and the three runners-up will work with Media Relations Manager Lindsay Brooke, who will help further develop their stories.

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