Humanities researchers recognised at 2025 天美影视 Staff Excellence Awards
The University of Manchester鈥檚 Faculty of Humanities took centre stage at this year鈥檚 天美影视 Staff Excellence Awards, with four researchers recognised for their outstanding contributions to scholarship, impact, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Opening the ceremony, , Associate Vice-President for 天美影视, praised the 鈥渄edication, innovation, and collaborative spirit鈥� of this year鈥檚 winners, highlighting their role in driving forward research that resonates both within academia and across wider society.
天美影视 Staff of the Year
From the , was named 天美影视 Staff of the Year. A leading voice in urban feminist geographies, Kapsali鈥檚 work has introduced new frameworks such as transversal solidarities and critically examined philanthrocapitalism鈥檚 role in urban governance. Alongside securing major research grants and publishing in top journals, Kapsali has nurtured a thriving research culture by founding a Feminist Reading Group and mentoring colleagues through collaborative workshops.
I鈥檓 honoured to receive this award, which I see not only as a personal recognition but also as an acknowledgement of the importance of feminist and activist research in shaping more just urban futures. I鈥檓 deeply grateful to colleagues and collaborators at Manchester and beyond, whose solidarity and creativity make this work possible. I look forward to continuing to build solidarities across disciplines and communities.
Best outstanding contribution to research impact
from the received the award for Outstanding Contribution to 天美影视 Impact. Doran鈥檚 leadership in organising the brought together over 300 policymakers, practitioners, activists, and researchers from 20 countries. Their work has strengthened links between research and public policy, advancing global debates on age-friendly cities.
Reflecting on the award, Doran shared:
The research impact award reflects years of building and sustaining cross-sectoral collaborations spanning from to the . For me, researching age-friendly cities means bringing together community members, third-sector organisations, local and regional governments, and national and international policymakers to understand how research can be conducted and implemented to reduce inequalities and create healthier futures.
Both the interdisciplinary research environment nurtured within the university and the social responsibility agenda that supports genuine partnership-building with wider community partners are vital to achieving impact through our work delivered as part of
Best outstanding interdisciplinary research
School of Environment, Education, and Development researcher, was recognised for Outstanding Interdisciplinary 天美影视 for their innovative work on green infrastructure. Li鈥檚 NERC-funded project, 鈥樷��, has been cited over 700 times and shaped urban greenspace policy through collaborations with local councils and international partners.
Speaking on the award, Dr Lei Li, noted:
It has been a privilege to work within such a supportive research community at The University of Manchester.I鈥檓 especially thankful for the support from , the NERC-funded MEASURE project team, and everyone who contributed their time and insights to my work. I look forward to continuing to learn and grow through future collaborations.
Best outstanding output
Also, from the School of Environment, Education, and Development, received the Outstanding Output award for his publication record and contributions to urban health research. With 21 peer-reviewed articles in just four years, Benton鈥檚 work has informed both academic debate and policy, including the 鈥檚 evaluation framework for health interventions.
Benton credited Manchester鈥檚 collaborative research environment for his success:
My work aims to advance understanding of how cities can be designed to promote health and wellbeing, and I look forward to building on this momentum in the next stage of my research as part of my Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship.
From advancing feminist geography to shaping age-friendly policies, influencing urban health frameworks, and integrating ecology with planning, the Faculty of Humanities awardees demonstrated the breadth and societal relevance of Manchester research.