Sprint team short-listed for the Vice Chancellor’s Awards

We are thrilled that the How do we account for biodiversity? Sprint team have been recognised by being short-listed for the Vice Chancellor’s Awards, in the Research Engagement Award category.

The team’s nomination, fronted by Sophus zu Ermgassen, and including researchers Joe Bull, EJ Milner Gulland, Nat Duffus, Tom Atkins, Amber Butler, and Hannah Nicholas, references work undertaken during the Agile Sprint from April 2022-June 2023 on influencing the design and implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain in England.

During the Sprint, the team produced a Practical Guide for planners and developers to use when submitting Biodiversity Gain Plans which they communicated and disseminated to groups including local planning authorities, the Planning Advisory Service, and the University’s Estates and Facilities Biodiversity Sub-Committee.

Following the Sprint, the team have continued to proactively engage with relevant stakeholders at all levels on effective planning for and implementing BNG.

The Vice-Chancellor’s Awards are a University-wide celebration of outstanding people and research. This year, they received 250 entries across 11 categories, with 1,500 individuals named. The invitation-only award ceremony will take place on Wednesday 8^th May at the Sheldonian Theatre, and a showcase of award entries will be displayed at Weston Library 7^th-9^th May, which is open to all staff.

We send our congratulations to the team, and wish them the best of luck at the ceremony.