PAIS ‘win big’ at the Research Celebration Awards

At the University of Warwick's Research Celebration Awards 2026 several PAIS staff were recognised in 4 out of 6 categories.

Firstly in the Research Culture strand, the Working Parents and Carer’s Group leaders (Vicki Squire, Briony Jones & Özlem Atikcan) were recognised for ensuring carers’ and parents’ needs are represented in research processes. The PAIS Working Parents and Carers (WPC) Group, created during the COVID‑19 pandemic to support colleagues balancing work and caring responsibilities, has evolved into a key part of the department’s EDI structures. By providing a trusted space for sharing challenges and shaping research‑related decisions, it has strengthened collegiality, improved information‑sharing, and ensured carers’ perspectives influence departmental planning. Now embedded in governance with a rotating leadership model, the group has driven lasting cultural change—securing recognition, structural support, and more inclusive research practices. Its work continues to inform approaches to workload, flexibility, and research support, offering a model for fostering carer‑aware research cultures across the university.

In the Collaboration and Partnerships category Professor Neophytos Loizides was recognised as having cultivated long‑term, high‑impact partnerships that link Warwick to governments, international organisations, and civil society across the globe. Through major initiatives such as the ERC‑funded PEACERETURN project and the multi‑country Inclusive Peace Project, he brings together scholars, diplomats, mediators, and community actors to co‑design practical solutions for protracted conflicts, resulting in policy toolkits, simulations, and training now used by bodies such as the UN and European institutions. His collaborations are intentionally built for sustainability and are evolving into a broader platform for inclusive governance, expanding Warwick’s role as an international centre for policy innovation. Looking ahead, his work will continue to grow through digital simulations, citizen‑assembly tools, and executive training with partners such as the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Organization of American States. His legacy lies in establishing a durable model of co‑ownership between academia and practice—one that supports early‑career researchers, underpins new postgraduate and training programmes, and positions Warwick as a global leader in collaborative, impact‑driven peace and mediation research

In Research Impact, Charlotte Heath-Kelly was awarded for influencing changes to the Prevent Strategy and raising reputational costs around NHS data sharing practices. Charlotte’s research has helped separate safeguarding from counter‑radicalisation in UK policy and continues to shape reforms to Prevent. Her work exposes the social harms and biases of counterterrorism in everyday care, empowering civil society and setting lasting standards for ethical, transparent, and proportionate security practices. As a supervisor, she is deeply supportive, empathetic, and academically rigorous, creating an inclusive environment where diverse students can thrive. Charlotte was also recognised in the Research Communications, Storytelling and Publicity group which recognises achievements in research-led public engagement. Her work has guided the UK Home Office, UN, and EU bodies, strengthened ethical and human‑rights standards, and empowered civil society by exposing the harms and biases of counterterrorism practices in everyday care.

In Excellent Supervision, Briony Jones was recognised for her care and compassion in PhD supervision. Briony’s supervision is defined by a deeply care‑centred, ethically grounded approach that prioritises the wellbeing, safety, and dignity of everyone involved in the research process. From supporting a distressed student transferring institutions to engaging respectfully with diverse community partners outside traditional academic norms, she consistently fosters trust, equity, and genuine collaboration. Her attentive mentorship has guided research undertaken in sensitive and conflict‑affected contexts, modelling a supervisory style rooted in protection, empathy, and ethical responsibility. This sustained commitment to care has shaped not only her student’s academic confidence but also their own approach to conducting research under conditions of risk and vulnerability.

Also in the Excellent Supervision category, Matthew Watson was recognised as an exceptional PhD supervisor who blends rigorous intellectual guidance with generous, personalised support. His detailed feedback, responsiveness, and encouragement of independence create a challenging yet nurturing environment where students develop confidence and produce ambitious, high‑quality work. His mentorship extends far beyond thesis completion—he supports researchers through vivas, career planning, publishing, and entry into academic and non‑academic pathways, helping them build visibility and professional networks. His student‑centred approach fosters a strong, lasting scholarly community grounded in integrity, collegiality, and mutual respect, shaping how his students go on to teach, supervise, and collaborate with others.

PAIS celebrated these successes with a light-hearted ‘Cupcake Taxation Strategy’ to recoup Gross Surplus Margin charges