Dr Xiangming (Tommy) Tao receiving his Education Award

Crowd applauding in the Attenborough Centre at awards ceremony

The new Sussex Awards are open for nominations now. Nominations are quick and easy, with most categories only needing a short (maximum 300-word) summary. We are all busy, so why take the time to nominate your colleagues and postgraduate researchers?

Nominating for the Sussex Awards isn’t just about highlighting achievements – it’s a great way to recognise and congratulate staff, students and researchers for the positive impact they are making at Sussex.

Previous award nominees and winners tell us how it felt to be nominated. 

Reason one: shining a light on research and researchers

The awards highlight the impact of the fantastic research happening in every School – with a focus on good research culture, highlighting outcomes that we can all take pride in.  

Professor John Drury from the School of Psychology was a winner in 2024, with a nomination which demonstrated the impact his research had on public policy. He said: “The research impact award I received last year was a welcome recognition from colleagues of the value of the practical connections I have built up with policymakers and practitioners.”

Category in Sussex Awards 2025: Research and Innovation Impact

Speaking in the video highlights of last year’s Research Culture and Impact Awards (one of the programmes that has been brought into the new Sussex Awards), Dr Alison Lacey said she was delighted to have won the Ethical Research awards: “Because it really underlines, I think, the University's commitment to the research process and not just to outcomes and results.”

Category in Sussex Awards 2025: Research and Innovation Culture

Dr Dominique Makowski was a winner last year in the Open Research category and said at the time: “This award is a fantastic recognition for us because it shows that the University of Sussex doesn't only value the research output per se, but also all the ground work that makes science possible.”

Category in Sussex Awards 2025: Open Research

Professor Claire Smith, Professor of Anatomy and Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Innovation, was recognised last year for her work on the pioneering My Dead Body documentary. Claire said: “I was grateful for the research award, especially as pushing boundaries in public engagement, particularly in an area traditionally kept behind closed doors, is not always easy. This recognition means a great deal and reinforces the importance of making anatomy accessible to all.”

Category in Sussex Awards 2025: Open Research

Reason two: peer recognition

People who have been nominated, shortlisted and won in the previous awards told us how wonderful it feels to be nominated for an award by their colleagues.

Lisette Whittaker from the Organisational Development team was shortlisted in last year’s Research Culture Awards, EDI category, for her work ensuring that Sussex staff are able to thrive through all stages of the menopause. Lisette said: “Being shortlisted for a 2024 Research Culture Award was an incredible honour and a deeply meaningful recognition of my work. It wasn’t just about the award itself but about recognising the importance of creating opportunities for all staff to flourish and fostering an environment where knowledge is shared to enrich lived experiences. To be acknowledged in this way was very humbling and inspiring, highlighting the importance of community and the tangible impact that research can have on everyday life.”

Category in Sussex Awards 2025: Inclusive Sussex

Jo Chee from Student Advice and Guidance said: “I was very proud to receive an Education award last year. To be nominated was a real surprise but to win was fantastic! Having worked at Sussex for more than 20 years, working hard to support our international students is embedded in my day to day working life but being recognised by colleagues who went out of their way to nominate me for this was very special.”

Category in Sussex Awards 2025: Inclusive Sussex

Reason three: recognising those taking action for the future

Many of the awards categories focus on the future – in environmental sustainability, global and civic engagement, and transforming the University, as well as the future of our students in delivering world class education and employability.

Chris Baker, a Technical Supervisor in Chemistry, said: “My Team and I won the ‘Better World’ category last year because of our work on improving the sustainability of our labs and expanding our outreach provision. It felt amazing just to be nominated, let alone to go ahead and win it! It certainly gave me a great sense of pride in my team. I feel it demonstrates commitment to playing our part in improving the sustainability of the University, as well as providing outreach to our local community, helping to rebuild the idea that a University is a public good. Being recognised in this way was immensely satisfying.”

Category in Sussex Awards 2025: Environmental Sustainability

Helen Power-Hosking, Head of Commercial Services, was a joint winner last year and said: "As a member of Professional Services, particularly as someone from outside the HE sector, it was very rewarding to work with students, support their academic endeavours, and then be recognised with an Education Award for my contribution."

Category in Sussex Awards 2025: Education for Employability and World Readiness

Careers and Employability Consultant Kaz Field said: “Being nominated and winning a Sussex Education Award was a very proud moment for me. In Careers and Entrepreneurship, we work hard to embed careers and employability within the curriculum and work with many different staff, professional services and academic, across the University - it was amazing to have this hard work acknowledged and respected by University colleagues. The project I was nominated and awarded for was a collaborative one within the School of Life Sciences, so it was great to share this achievement together to demonstrate the huge benefits of team working across the University.”

Category in Sussex Awards 2025: Education for Employability and World Readiness

Reason four: celebrating our community

Our inclusive community of staff, students and researchers helps make Sussex a great place to work and study. A wealth of categories in the Sussex Awards celebrate inclusivity, and are a brilliant way for colleagues and students to say thank you.

Dr Xiangming (Tommy) Tao was a winner in last year’s Education Awards and said: “Being nominated in three categories for the 2024 Education Awards was a great honour, and winning the Inclusive Sussex Award made it even more special. It reaffirms my commitment to inclusive education and strengthens my drive to make a meaningful impact in our community. Teaching is more than a profession - it is a passion, and I am so grateful to collaborate with such supportive colleagues at SPRU and the Business School.”

Category in Sussex Awards 2025: Inclusive Sussex

Dr Ambra Moroncini from Media, Arts and Humanities was also an Inclusive Sussex winner last year and said: “‘Thank you’ messages from students, or a note in a card saying ‘I think you are the most brilliant teacher and I feel so lucky that you taught us' are very precious tokens of appreciation to me. But being nominated for an Educational Award gives you immense pride. If we are fortunate enough to win it, then it’s an immense joy, and a huge belief that our profession is a passion worth pursuing.”

Category in Sussex Awards 2025: Inclusive Sussex