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2025 Winners

View of the auditorium during the awards

Heriot-Watt University honoured its most impactful research teams at the 2025 Principal's Research Impact and Engagement (PRIME Awards), held at the Edinburgh campus.

The event, which drew academics, partners, and community collaborators, celebrated research that goes beyond academia to inspire, involve, influence, innovate, and build a sustainable future.

“These awards recognise the extraordinary breadth and depth of research impact across Heriot-Watt University. From tackling climate change and digital inequality to transforming healthcare, education, and public policy, our nominees are united by a shared commitment to making a difference.”

Deputy Principal Professor Gill Murray

The awards were presented across five categories, each recognising outstanding contributions to public engagement and societal impact. Now, in its 15th year, there were a record number of nominations, reflecting the University’s growing commitment to real-world change.

Winners & Highly Commended

Inspire Award

  • Winner: Heriot-Watt Schools Link Programme Team: Emilie Dufresne, Emily Brown, Samantha Clark, Emma Coutts, Grace Smith, Elma Charalampidou, Babis Koniaris, Lauren McWhinnie, Clayton Magill, Deborah Sargent, David Jenkins, Kirsten O’Sullivan, Copper Lewis and their teams. External collaborators: Jenny Quinlan (School Teacher) and Bahiya Basheikh (DYW School Coordinator, Edinburgh)
  • Highly Commended:Chemistry Technicians – Lee McMahon and Thomas DohertyAI and Robotics Youth Panel – Tess Watt, Chris Purcell, Ada Grecner, Elle Miller, Alistair McConnell, Marta Romeo, Camilla Irvine-Fortescue, Andrew Jenkins, Leona McPhail, Hazel Matthews
5 people receiving an award
Winners of the Inspire Award: Heriot-Watt Schools Link Programme

Influence Award

  • Winner: Environmental Debt Markets Team: Professor Pati Klusak, Professor Matthew Agarwala, Dr Matt Burke, Dr Kamiar Mohaddes, Professor Uli Volz, Dr Moritz Kraemer, Claudia Lucciola
  • Highly Commended: Fair Way Scotland Research Team (I-SPHERE) – Beth Watts-Cobbe, Lynne McMordie, Rhiannon Sims, Glen Bramley, Gillian Young, Jen Ang, Matt Rayment

Involve Award

  • Winner: Co-Creating Solutions with Impacted Communities Team: Huong Ngo, Michel Kaiser, Linh Nguyen, Ingrid Kelling, Chi Vu, Thomas Wagner, Tien Nguyen, Juliane Bischoff, Thuong Truong, Ryan Pereira, Tu Trinh, Heidi Burdett, Huong Mai, Tony Gutierrez, Qingping Zou, Max Webb, Sevda Norouzi Alibabalou, Zhiling Liao, Inna Yaneva-Toraman, Duc Nguyen, and others
  • Highly Commended: INforMHAA Team – Professor Jemina Napier, Jane Dey, Benjamin Gorman, Samantha Vanterpool
4 people receiving an award from the Vice Principal
Winner of the Inspire Award: Co-Creating Solutions for Communities

Innovate Award

  • Winner: Whisky Analysis Testing Team (WATT) Team: David Ellis, Martin McCoustra, Ken McKendrick, Ruaraidh McIntosh
  • Highly Commended: OptoLoc Pre-Spinout Team – Michael Tanner, Robert Thomson, Andras Kufcsak, University of Edinburgh: Tom Craven, Paul Fineran, Aysha Ali and many more. Commercial: David McMahon (CEO), HWU TTO: Dominic Gammon)
5 people receiving an award
Winners of the Innovate Award: Whisky Analysis Testing Team (WATT)

Sustainable Futures Award

  • Winner: Ocean Systems Lab Team: Maria Koskinopoulou, Ignacio Carlucho, Carlos Mastalli, Mustafa Suphi Erden, Yvan Petillot
  • Highly Commended: Campus Digital Twins Team – Alex MacLaren, David Cole, Jivantika Satyarthi, Douglas Audu, Hayford Pittri, Paul Osabhie Esangbedo, Martin Aitken, Emily Stone, Lynda Johnston, Dave Jenkins, Laurent Galbrun, Lois Hurst, Chris Walton, Gordon Craig, Samantha Clark, Emily Brown
Two people receiving an award from the vice principal
Winners of the Sustainable Futures Award: Ocean Systems Lab, with University Vice Principal Ruth Moir