Five SEED projects shortlisted for Making A Difference awards

19 Mar 2026

Five projects from across the School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) have been shortlisted for the University's flagship awards to recognise excellence in social responsibility

The Making a Difference Awards are the University's annual recognition of excellence in Social Responsibility, recognising the outstanding achievements of our staff, students, alumni and external partners. This year, there were over 140 entries to the awards, with 34 of these being shortlisted for the final awards. Of those shortlisted entries, five are from SEED, showing the School's high level of commitment to social responsibility.

Shortlisted entries from SEED are in three categories:

Outstanding benefit to society through research

• Intergenerational movement-building for more just urban futures - Daniela Cocco Beltrame (GDI) and 25 co-researchers from the SDI Network 

Outstanding public engagement initiative

• Hulme Nannas: (in)visibility, community and urban change - Niamh Kavanagh (Architecture) and Tina Cribbin (community organiser)
• UoM EHE family science: Curiosity catalyst - Amanda Banks Gatenby and Sara Jackson (MIE)

Outstanding contribution to widening access and student success

• Supporting the UCAS personal statement reform to widen participation - Tom Fryer (MIE)
• The very local maths project - Laura Black and colleagues (MIE) and colleagues in the School of Natural Sciences

A full list of shortlisted entries can be found here. Congratulations to all the shortlisted entrants and the very best of luck - the award winners will be announced at a ceremony in Whitworth Hall on Wednesday 6 May.