Ahead of Research Week next week (19-22 June), the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex's (ARC KSS) is today Monday 12 June, announcing the winners of the research poster competition.
Now in its third year, the poster competition aims to showcase and celebrate excellence in the contribution of research through collaboration by highlighting the importance of: new, existing and wide-ranging collaborations; unusual partnerships; and working together to influence practice for the benefit of patients, communities and the public.
Researchers throughout the region, including academics, health care, public health, social care and social work professionals, were invited to take part and submit a poster. All entries were then evaluated by a panel of judges made up of members from the Organisation and Research CApacity Group (ORCA), Developing Research Careers Group and ARC KSS Public Advisors.
Following 16 submissions, the judges awarded the prizes in categories to:
Category 1- Excellence in collaborative research: Innovative approaches or projects that can only be done through collaboration.
Winning poster prize given to Dr Julie MacInnes (University of Kent) for the poster on: The CAVEAT Study. Community and Voluntary Organisation Evaluation Toolkit.
The runner-up prize was given to Ayse Aslan (University of Surrey) for the poster on: Older adults learning to use digital technology: A case study approach.
Judges also awarded a highly commended to the poster submitted by Myles Godfrey (University of Kent) on: An evaluation of a frailty hospital at home service: rapidly accessing service user and carer perspectives through effective collaboration.
Category 2 - Implementing research into practice through collaborative partnerships
Category 3 - Working with the public and/or communities in research, including creative and innovative ways of working together. (categories were combined)
The judges awarded the winning prize to Rachel Lawrence (University of Surrey) for the poster on: We’re the conduit in an increasingly broken system”: A qualitative exploration of how the Covid-19 pandemic impacted the provision of social prescribing for older adults in the UK.
The joint runner-up prize was given to: Kate Birrell (West Sussex County Council) for the poster on: Stories of life and health in Wick: qualitative insights from a community development project in Arun; and Sophie McGrevey (Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust) for the poster on: Developing a Quality-of-Life measure for autistic children in schools.
Judges also awarded a highly commended to the poster submitted by Brontë McDonald (University of Sussex) on: A feasibility study of ISAAC - a brief parent-focused intervention to reduce Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA).
Prize winner, Sophie McGrevy, from Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, said: "I wasn't going to enter this year because I thought that the research stage I was at wasn't interesting enough to present, so to be a runner up really means a lot to me. It has showed me that research is important at any stage and has made me excited to present more of my research in the future!"
Professor Sally Kendall, ARC KSS Capacity Building Lead, said:
“We would like to congratulate all the researchers who entered this year’s research poster competition. The judging panel agreed that all entries were of very high standard and reflected the quality of research taking place across Kent, Surrey and Sussex and its potential for making a real difference to patients, families and the wider community.
"We would like to thank everyone that took part and invite you to take a look at all the entries on our website.
"As part of the programme of events, next week, all poster entries will be on display at our in-person Research Symposium on Thursday 22 June at the University of Kent, where Julie, Ayse, Rachel, Sophie and Kate have been invited to present their research posters."
Book your place to attend Research Week events and attend the in-person Research Symposium.
