Team Prize for Excellence in Higher Education

Nominations for 2024 are now closed and winners will be announced in November.

• This prize is open to teams where at least one contributor is based within the UK and Ireland, and where the team demonstrates impact within the higher education sector.
• Self-nomination is permitted and encouraged.
• Nominees do not need to be members of the RSC.
• Nominators do not need to be members of the RSC.
• A team can only be considered for one Excellence in Education prize in any given year. In a case where the same team is nominated for more than one prize independently, RSC staff will ask the lead contact which prize they would like to be considered for.
• Nominees should only be nominated once for this prize in any given prize cycle. In cases where we receive more than one nomination for the same nominee, only one nomination will go forward to judging.
• Starting from the 2023 cycle, unsuccessful nominations for this prize will automatically rollover to the next prize cycle, unless the team's circumstances have changed so as to make them ineligible, in relation to the eligibility criteria for the prize as outlined above. We encourage nominators to update their nomination between cycles when the nomination window is open. Nominations will be considered for two consecutive prize cycles.
• Individuals named in any of the following roles during the nomination and judging period are not eligible to nominate or be nominated:
  • Education Prize Committee members
  • RSC Subject Community Presidents
  • RSC Prize Committee members
  • Trustees of the Royal Society of Chemistry
  • Royal Society of Chemistry staff

To make a nomination, please use our online nominations system to submit the following information:

• Your name and contact details.
• Details of a primary contact for the team.
• A list of all individuals who are being nominated as part of the team or collaboration. The primary contact for the team will be asked to confirm the list and if necessary add additional team members at the point of nomination.
• A short citation describing what the nominated team should be awarded for. This must be no longer than 250 characters (including spaces) and no longer than one sentence.
• A supporting statement (up to 750 words) addressing the selection criteria.
• References are not required for this prize and will not be accepted.   

The RSC reserves the right to rescind any prize if there are reasonable grounds to do so. All nominators will be asked to confirm that, to the best of their knowledge, their nominee's professional standing is such that there is no confirmed or potential impediment to them receiving this prize. All winners will be asked to sign the RSC's Code of Conduct Declaration for Recognition. 

Our selection committees base their evaluations primarily on the overall quality of relevant contributions made by nominees and not on quantitative measures. In your nomination, you should show how the team demonstrates impact in one or more of the selection criteria below. Nominees do not have to demonstrate all of the selection criteria to be considered for the prize.

The selection committee will consider the following aspects of nominations for this prize:

• Demonstrating effectiveness in delivering or supporting teaching and/or assessment.
• Contributing to the design of an innovative and effective chemistry curriculum.
• Enthusing pupils through practical chemistry.
• Raising the profile of chemistry in the curriculum and through extra curricular activities so that pupils are inspired to become more aware of chemistry and its relevance to society.
• Inspiring and encouraging students to take chemistry further, in study or in their career choice.
• Championing inclusion and diversity in chemistry education.
• A commitment to continuing professional development.
• Development of a culture that is supportive of the whole team and encourages collaboration between all members.
• Contributing to the evidence base for science teaching and sharing of good practice.
• Other indicators of esteem indicated by the nominee/nominator.

Education Prize Committee

• Chair - Niki Kaiser, Notre Dame High School
• Alison Hill - Univeristy of Exeter
• Bhavik Patel, University of Brighton
• Emma Owens, Horizon Community College
• Genevieve Adukpo, University of Cape Coast
• James Cairney, Cumbernauld Academy
• John Sandford, Andrews Memorial Primary School
• Rebecca Lamb, Stalham Infant & Junior Schools
• Ryan Mewis, Manchester Metropolitan University
• Sharon Smith, The Pilgrim School

This prize was created in 2020, as part of a series of changes introduced following an independent review of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s recognition programmes.