Annual Review 2023: Awards and Success

Developing excellence
Fireworks on Plymouth Hoe

Institutional awards

Winning a Times Higher Education Award
The University’s work to combine first-rate dental training with outstanding community care saw it win the Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community category at the Times Higher Education Awards 2023.
Earning plaudits at the Green Gown Awards
The University won the Reporting with Influence award, and was also Highly Commended in the 2030 Climate Action category, both accolades acknowledging the long held commitment to carbon reduction.
Award shortlisting for sustainability leadership
The University was shortlisted in the Public Sector Local Leadership category of the Regen Green Energy Awards 2023.
Silver awards for gender equality
The School of Health Professions and the School of Nursing and Midwifery each achieved a silver Athena Swan Award.
Drake’s Place retains Green Flag Award
The University retained the Green Flag Award for Drake’s Place Gardens and Reservoir. First presented in 2015, the accolade recognises ongoing work to ensure the area remains a well-managed park and green space.
King’s Award for Enterprise
Ultramed, a digital health company that received support from the Acceleration Through Innovation programme, earned a King’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of its excellence in medical innovation.
CobBauge Building earns sustainable construction award
The CobBauge Building earned Best Commercial Sustainable Construction project at the Plymouth City Council Building Control LABC awards.
Accolade for medical innovation
An ongoing partnership between the Cornwall Intellectual Disability Equitable Research group and med-tech start-up Neuronostics earned the Partnership with Academia category at the Medilink UK Healthcare Business Awards.
Medilink South West Awards
Spin-out company Molendotech Ltd won the Innovation category at the Medilink South West Awards.
THE award win 2023 square
Green Gown award win 23
Green flag awards
Cobbauge building square

Staff honours

Darren Aoki 
Dr Darren Aoki
Dr Darren Aoki was part of a team shortlisted for a Governor General of Canada History Award for Excellence in Community Programming.
Mel Austen
Professor Mel Austen
Professor Mel Austen has been appointed to the Board of Natural England for the next three years. Mel has served on the government’s Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
Dr Richard Ayres, GP and Public Health Lead, University of Plymouth
Dr Richard Ayres
Dr Richard Ayres was elected to membership through distinction to the Faculty of Public Health, the body that represents public health practitioners in the UK.
Kevin Forshaw (square)
Kevin Forshaw
Kevin Forshaw was appointed the new chair of Maritime UK South West, and has also taken a place on the Maritime UK National Council Board.
Dr Stavros Karamperidis staff profile
Dr Stavros Karamperidis
Dr Stavros Karamperidis and his team won the Best academic paper award from the International Association of Maritime Economists.
Professor Bridie Kent 
Professor Bridie Kent
Professor Bridie Kent was chosen by Sigma Nursing to join its International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame.
Dr Pete Keohane and Dr Lealah Hewitt-Johns are part of a team that secured a prize at the Health Service Journal (HSJ) Partnership Awards
Dr Pete Keohane and Dr Lealah Hewitt-Johns
Dr Pete Keohane and Dr Lealah Hewitt-Johns were part of a team that secured the Best Educational Programme for the NHS accolade at the recent Health Service Journal (HSJ) Partnership Awards.
Professor Ewen McColl
Professor Ewen McColl
Professor Ewen McColl was elected as the new chair of the Association of Dental Hospitals.
Dr Daniela Oehring
Dr Daniela Oehring
Dr Daniela Oehring was accepted as a member of the World Council of Optometry.
Dr Clare Pettinger
Dr Clare Pettinger
Dr Clare Pettinger earned the Nutrition, Food Science or Dietetics Lecturer of the Year at the annual Caroline Walker Trust Awards.
Professor Georgy Shapiro
Professor Georgy Shapiro
Professor Georgy Shapiro was re-appointed to the UKRI Talent Panel College to support the Future Leaders Fellowship (FLF) scheme in the area of ocean science.
Professor John Summerscales
Professor John Summerscales
Professor John Summerscales was declared the 2023 winner of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) Leslie Holliday Prize.
Prof Richard Thompson
Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS
Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS was named a recipient of the 2023 Blue Planet Prize, in recognition of his significant contributions to the resolution of global environmental problems.

Honorary degrees 2023

The honorary degrees and fellowships awarded in 2023 were:
  • Sir Roger Alexander Deakins CBE – Doctor of Arts
  • Colin Irwin John Hamilton Drummond OBE DL – Doctor of Business
  • Dame Suzi Leather DBE MBE DL – Doctor of Health
  • Professor Shijun Liao – Doctor of Engineering
  • Sir Michael Morpurgo OBE FRSL FKC – Doctor of Letters
  • Philip Jonathan Clifford Mould OBE – Doctor of Arts
  • Captain Mohd Salleh Ahmad Sarwan – Honorary Fellow
  • Dame Judith Weir CBE – Doctor of Music
  • Professor Sir Duncan John Wingham Kt PhD – Doctor of Science