Hello Student,

Welcome to the summer edition of Spotlight.

This term has been a very memorable one. The Warwick Research Celebration, which took place in April, brought together our research community to celebrate our collective achievements. I'm so proud of the research we undertake together and the impact we have. I would like to extend my congratulations to all the award winners and thank you to everyone who attended and made the day a success.

Honouring our researchers at the Warwick Research Celebration 2024

On 29 April, colleagues from across The University of Warwick, as well as visitors, were welcomed to the second Warwick Research Celebration event.  The day showcased a breadth of outstanding research, from infectious disease modelling to creativity and homelessness. 

It culminated in an awards ceremony which celebrated colleagues across our research community, with categories including Research Culture, Impact, Communications and more.

Find out more about our award winners and take a look at photos and videos from the event.

£9 million funding will train data visualisation researchers of the future

In 2025, the Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Diversity in Data Visualisation will train 60 students to become critical, multidisciplinary leaders at the forefront of data visualisation research and practice.

The CDT, led by Professor Cagatay Turkay, brings together a diverse panel of 20 partners, including the Natural History Museum, West Midlands Combined Authority, and Coventry City Council along with an international exchange programme comprising 18 visualisation research labs. Warwick students will be hosted at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies (CIM).

Introducing Warwick's Interdisciplinary Research Spotlights

As part of the Spotlights programme, a new interdisciplinary research fund has been launched. Up to £15,000 is available to support interdisciplinary research projects that align with the Research Spotlights. Applications close on 5 June 2024. 

Warwick academic chosen as UN delegate for Commission on the Status of Women

Congratulations to Dr Shweta Singh from Warwick Business School (WBS), who has been selected as a UK delegate for the Commission on the Status of Women. 

Dr Singh will work with activists, advocates, experts, and governments from around the globe to drive change and create equal opportunities for women and girls.

She said, “Investing in women is an economic imperative, a human rights issue, and a cornerstone of building inclusive societies." 

Warwick leads the discussion on low-carbon at roundtable

Warwick's School of Engineering recently organised an event at The Shard to spur the debate on heat networks and showcase outputs of the £5.4M LoT-NET project.

The event was attended by more than 30 industry leaders, including representatives from HM Treasury and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. 
 
Baroness Sheehan, Chair of the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Select Committee, said, “Congratulations on a very informative event and on getting some of the key players around the table.” 

Meet Professor Sian Taylor-Phillips

Professor of Population Health at Warwick Medical School, Sian Taylor-Phillips, leads Warwick Screening - a group that synthesises evidence for national policy-makers and undertakes primary research across several screening programmes.   
 
Some of Professor Taylor-Phillips' accolades include receiving a prestigious NIHR Research Professorship in 2023 and becoming a member of the UK National Screening Committee. She specialises in evaluating medical screening programmes, particularly the potential benefits and harms of breast cancer screening. Read an interview with Sian on her impactful work. 

Inspiring the next generation of researchers

WMG's Improving Access and Participation in Engineering Research (IAPER) project aims to showcase successful women in STEM from underrepresented backgrounds.

Led by WMG’s Dr Freeha Azmat, the project provided funded internship opportunities allowing female students to experience engineering research first-hand. 

The project also featured a series of inspirational guest lectures. For more details, watch the video on 'Inspiring the Next Generation of Researchers'.

The University of Warwick PhD Experience

Our PhD students play an important part in our research community. Meet some of our brilliant PhD students and learn about the Warwick PhD experience in our new video, which explores the support, funding and activities available for PhD students at Warwick.
 

The Monash Warwick Alliance helping to combat antimicrobial resistance

IATL student and staff mental well-being in European higher education institutions

Arts, Creativity and Homelessness

Over in the Faculty of Arts, Professor Nadine Holdsworth has worked on a body of place-based research which devises arts to engage with those who have or are currently experiencing homelessness, within Coventry. It examines how creativity and co-production can enhance self-confidence and social connections and how it might ultimately help to change policy and perceptions.

Spanning over four years, Professor Nadine Holdsworth (Theatre and Performance Studies) explores how arts and creativity can contribute to health and wellbeing, equality and social justice.

The Distinct Effects of IT and CT on Skill Demand

Assistant Professor in International Trade, Sotiris Balanas, investigates the implications of Information Technology and Communications Technology on demand for labour in his paper, ‘The Distinct Effects of Information Technologies and Communication Technologies on Skill Demand’.  

Sampling a bulk of economic activity in ten developed countries between 1982 and 2005, the research discovers the polarisation and gaps within labour markets for groups of varying education levels. This research could be used to design policy responses to create more inclusive labour markets that can endure current and future technological changes.