Explore Awards 2023

The Explore Awards have supported researchers across a range of inspiring projects. Read further details about the successful projects

Shipworm in the mango swamps of Panama

Researcher: Dr Reuben Shipway
Project outline:
Reuben, with partners and key stakeholders, sought to build on the successes of finding a new species of Shipworm in the mango swamps of Panama in July 2022.
Through this funding, Reuben built stronger relationships with Cristhian Puchicama – a member of the WNC and other members. Reuben and partners learnt more about the biology and ecology of Hihai, as well as being able to facilitate collaboration with colleagues at the Smithsonian and Harvard. Finally, Reuben captured and created further media content on Shipworm research with Bizarre Beasts.    
Partners included: Wounaan National Congress (WNC), Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology (HMCZ), Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute affiliates (STRI) and Bizarre Beasts (network of YouTube channels).

Research, development, and recommendation of a community shared e-cargo bike system to increase user-ship

Researcher: Dr Minchul Sohn
Project outline:
Minchul, collaborating with partners from Bikespace and Zedify, has looked at research, development, and recommendation of a community shared e-cargo bike system to increase usership, particularly amongst small-medium businesses and retailers in Plymouth’s local commercial hubs.
The participatory workshops organised helped find problem framing techniques, undertook preliminary exploration of potential solutions, and helped create business models for a community shared e-cargo bike system in Plymouth.

Exploring the role that human rights education programmes played in shaping notions of empowerment amongst displaced women in Columbia

Researcher: Dr Claudia Blandon
Project outline:
Claudia has been exploring the role that human rights education programmes played in shaping notions of empowerment amongst displaced women in Columbia.
The award supported the delivery of face to face workshops in Cali, Columbia for culturally sensitive discussions on gender and empowerment issues with diverse audiences (such as young people, men and women, diverse gender identities, diverse cognitive and literacy levels).
Partners: working with Marleni Alegria – Union of University Workers and Employees of Colombia (SINTRAUNICOL).

Better access to education

Researcher: Ms Phyllis McNally
Project outline:
Phyllis worked with Community Horizons CIO and Women Merging Cultures – Art Collective, collected the stories of mothers in relation to the barriers experienced in accessing education and the challenges experienced as parents of forcible displaced backgrounds (FDP) that have to learn an additional language, culture and educational systems, for themselves and their children. 
This case study pilot explored community engagement through innovative focus groups, art sessions and coaching workshops, bringing together women of FDP, academics and voluntary sector practitioners.