Celebrating excellence at the Faraday Institution Community Awards
Wednesday 17 September 2025
Celebrating excellence at the Faraday Institution Community Awards
A group of academics at WMG, University of Warwick have been recognised at the prestigious 2025 Faraday Institution Link opens in a new windowCommunity Awards.
Dr Mona Faraji NiriLink opens in a new window, Associate Professor of Battery Modelling won the Public Engagement / STEM Outreach Individual Award, and Professor Louis PiperLink opens in a new window, Dr Ashok MenonLink opens in a new window and Dr Gaurav PandeyLink opens in a new window, were presented with the group Innovation Award.
The Awards followed the Faraday Institution Conference, which was held from 9-11 September, at the University of Warwick. The conference showcased cutting-edge research, with a strong emphasis on collaboration across academia, industry, and policy in pursuit of a net-zero future.
Public Engagement / STEM Outreach Individual Award
Described as a positive role model, Dr Faraji Niri was presented with the Public Engagement / STEM Outreach Individual Award. Given the under-representation of women in the field, her willingness to support numerous events and serve as a role model is both impactful and important to the battery sector.
Mona is a longstanding and valuable ally to the WMG OutreachLink opens in a new window team, generously giving her time to support projects. She explains: “STEM outreach shows young people how research can shape their future, while giving me the joy of inspiring the next generation and sharpening how I communicate real-world impact.”
Dr Phil Jemmett, Widening Participation Co-ordinator at WMG adds: “I greatly value Mona’s collaboration with the outreach teams here, and her commitment, professionalism, and passion for engaging people with AI, machine learning, and batteries. I thoroughly believe that her track record over the last five years demonstrates her value to the Faraday Institution as an ambassador, making a difference and ensuring that her activities have legacy.”
Innovation Award
A project led by WMG’s Professor Louis Piper, focusing on advancing battery diagnostics in industrially relevant cells, was praised in the Innovation Award category.
The project identified a new generation of diagnostic tools for full-format cells to bridge the gap between academic research and industry development, offering new insights in battery performance and manufacturing.
The insights gleaned have accelerated progress across the Faraday Institution research portfolio, influenced research strategy in several industry organisations, and could present opportunities as a quality control and diagnostic tool in battery manufacturing.
By using pilot-line-built cells, leveraging high-throughput data reduction methods including the use of advanced machine learning algorithms, and collaborating with beamline scientists at national facilities, the team has redefined what is possible for operando diagnostic techniques. This research paves the way for use of the technique by other groups and is an exemplar of impactful and collaborative translational science.
This project also included representatives from ISIS Neutron and Muon Science; Diamond Light Source; and Finden Limited.
Find out more about the Battery Materials and Cells (BMAC) Group at WMG hereLink opens in a new window