A record 1,090 nominations flooded in this year, which Professor Tansy Jessop, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students, told the crowd was testament to the University’s “brilliant, quirky, creative, kind and energetic community of academics and professional services staff”.
Around 100 shortlisted nominees and supporters were treated to student performances by the University of Bristol Dance Society and an operatic recital by Nel Willmer, accompanied by Ellie Bell.
First prize was up for grabs in 18 categories, including an Inspiring and Innovative Teaching Award in each of the University’s six faculties, the Outstanding Personal Tutor Award and the Outstanding Support Award. See below for a full list of shortlisted nominees and winners.
While all winners received a framed certificate, this year the University foreswore the usual trophies. Instead, the Estates Team planted a wildflower meadow in their honour, and each winner received a selection of the seeds used in the special garden.
Throughout the event, the crowd heard dozens of quotes from nominators about the huge impact staff members have, with one called a “lifechanging academic mentor” and another “unfailing kind and approachable”.
The categories were broken into 12 Bristol Teaching Awards, and five CREATE Best Portfolio Awards. CREATE is the University’s teaching development scheme for academics.
Finally, the Vice-Chancellor picks one person from the 12 winners of the Bristol Teaching Awards to receive the Vice-Chancellor’s Award.
After telling attendees that picking was “almost impossible” from the “astonishing” line-up of winners, Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Evelyn Welch gave the award to Dr Jemma Rowlandson, Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Dr Rowlandson said it was “pretty surprising and surreal” to win the Vice-Chancellor’s Award.
She added: “Teaching is the best part of the job, it can be hard but I absolutely love it. Reading the nominations from our students was incredibly heart-warming, they really do make a big difference.”
“It wouldn’t have been possible without a really supportive team in Mechanical Engineering – they are lovely, amazing people and I’d be lost without them.”
During the afternoon of inspiration and appreciation, Professor Welch said: “Our students really are capable of so much, not just in the classroom and the city, but through all the talents they bring to this University.
“Occasions like this remind me of how proud and how lucky I am to collaborate with colleagues like yourselves. The education and innovation that all of you have brought to Bristol is outstanding.
“It’s the case that there can only be one winner. But from where I sit you are all winners and can be so proud, as are we, of your achievements.”
And the winners are...
Inspiring and Innovative Teaching Award - Faculty of Arts
- Amy Edwards, Senior Lecturer, Department of History
- Jan Wozniak, Senior Lecturer, Department of Theatre
- Michael Malay, Lecturer, Department of English
Winner: Michael Malay
Inspiring and Innovative Teaching Award - Faculty of Engineering
- Harry Felton, Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Jemma Rowlandson, Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Mark Schenk, Senior Lecturer, Department of Aerospace Engineering
Winner: Jemma Rowlandson
Inspiring and Innovative Teaching Award – Faculty of Health Sciences
- Joseph Hartland (they/them), Senior Lecturer, Bristol Medical School
- Nilu Ahmed, Senior Lecturer, Bristol Dental School
- Peter Fowler, Clinical Senior Lecturer, Bristol Dental School
Winner: Nilu Ahmed
Inspiring and Innovative Teaching Award – Faculty of Life Sciences
- Andrew Doherty, Senior Lecturer, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience
- Emily Bell, Senior Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences
- Peter Allen, Senior Lecturer, School of Psychological Science
Winner: Andrew Doherty
Inspiring and Innovative Teaching Award – Faculty of Science
- Henna Koivusalo, Lecturer, School of Mathematics
- Jonathan Fellows, Senior Lecturer, School of Physics
- Rachel Tunnicliffe, Lecturer and Senior Research Associate, School of Chemistry
Winner: Rachel Tunnicliffe
Inspiring and Innovative Teaching Award – Faculty of Social Sciences and Law
- Ashley Dodsworth, Senior Lecturer, School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies
- Marios Kremantzis, Lecturer, University of Bristol Business School
- Pietro Emilio Spini, Lecturer, School of Economics
Winner: Marios Kremantzis
Inspiring and Innovative Team Teaching Award
- Department of Russian and Czech, Faculty of Arts
- School of Education – Postgraduate Quantitative Methods Teaching Team, Faculty of Social Science and Law
- Clinical Demonstrator Team, Bristol Veterinary School
Winner: Clinical Demonstrator Team, Bristol Veterinary School
Inspiring and Innovative Teaching Award – PGRs who teach
- Cat Stiles, Graduate Teacher Level 2, Department of English
- Edoardo Tozzi, Graduate Teacher Level 2, University of Bristol Business School
- Sydney Charitos, Graduate Teacher Level 2 & Research Assistant, Department of Computer Science
Winner: Edoardo Tozzi
Outstanding Personal Tutoring Award
- Becky Selwyn, Senior Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Daniel Morse, Lecturer, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
- Sean Lancastle, Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Winner: Daniel Morse
Outstanding Research Supervision Award
- Laura Robinson, Professor, School of Earth Sciences
- Pauline Heslop, Professor, School of Policy Studies
- Stephen Montgomery, Senior Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences
Winner: Stephen Montgomery
Outstanding Support Award
- Alex Birkett, Specialist Teaching Technician, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
- Barbara Perks, Student Administration Manager, School of Physics
- Willow Gibson, Specialist Technician, Faculty of Engineering
Winner: Willow Gibson
Outstanding Support Team Award
- Badock Basepoint, Campus Management Team, Campus Division
- Industrial Liaison Office – Student Team, Faculty of Engineering
- Student Administration Team, School of Biochemistry
Winner: Student Administration Team, School of Biochemistry
Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Education
Winner: Jemma Rowlandson
CREATE Awards
Outstanding HEA Associate Fellowship Scheme Portfolio Award
- Jill Sullivan, Assistant Keeper: User Services, Theatre Collection
- Jim Walker, Senior Research Associate, Chemistry
- Katie McCay, Graduate Teacher Level Two
Winner: Jim Walker
Outstanding HEA Fellowship Scheme Portfolio Award
- Emily Derbyshire, Lecturer, Liberal Arts
- Amberly Brigden, Lecturer, Electrical & Electronic Engineering
- Chris Rossdale, Lecturer, SPAIS
- Timothy Gao, Lecturer, English
Winner: Emily Derbyshire
Outstanding HEA Senior Associate Fellowship Scheme Portfolio Award
- Clare Siviter, Senior Lecturer, French
Winner: Clare Siviter
Outstanding PGCAP Unit 1 Portfolio Award
- Deborah Murcott, Teaching Associate, Bristol Veterinary School
- Jude Bramton, Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering
Winner: Jude Bramton
Outstanding PGCAP Unit 2 Portfolio Award
- Joshua Hoole, Lecturer, Aerospace Engineering
- Kiah Tasman, Lecturer, Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience
- Lindsey Davidson, Lecturer, Religion and Theology
Winner: Lindsey Davidson
Find out more about Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) here.