Finalists announced for UEA's Innovation and Impact Awards 2026
By: RIN
A record number of entries were submitted for this year’s Innovation and Impact Awards, and following a highly competitive judging process, finalists have now been selected across seven categories.
The Awards celebrate staff, students and graduates, and the outstanding ideas, partnerships and research transforming lives locally, nationally and globally. The exceptional standard of submissions reflects the creativity, ambition and real‑world impact that define UEA’s innovation community.
Winners will be announced at a ceremony on Wednesday 20 May, where invited guests from across industry, academia and the wider community will celebrate the achievements of UEA staff, students and partners.
Attendance is by invitation only, but those interested in joining the waiting list can contact uea.innovation@uea.ac.uk.
Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement – winner announced
The 2026 Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement is awarded to:
Prof Eylem Atakav (School of Media, Language and Communication Studies) for her project Domestic Abuse: Using Film to Change Policy, Training and Awareness.
Prof Atakav’s influential body of work – Growing Up Married, Lifeline and Left Behind – has had significant national impact, shaping legislation, informing government strategy, enhancing frontline training, and amplifying the voices of survivors of domestic abuse. Her films have contributed to the Marriage and Civil Partnerships (Minimum Age) Act 2022, supported the 2025 Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, and strengthened support pathways for practitioners working with those affected by abuse.
This survivor‑centred work exemplifies a commitment to creativity, compassion and social justice.
Congratulations to all the finalists.
Learn more about the Innovation and Impact Awards or get in touch at uea.innovation@uea.ac.uk.
Related Articles
Three subjects at UEA rank in the top 100 in the world
The University of East Anglia (UEA) has three subjects in the top 100 of the QS World University Rankings By Subject.
Read more
Competition experts say no guarantees veterinary prices will come down
Competition experts from UEA and the University of Glasgow have warned there is no guarantee that transparency remedies will bring down veterinary prices following the publication of a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation.
Read more
New research warns charities against ‘AI shortcut’ to empathy
A new report from the University of East Anglia (UEA) warns that the potential reputational damage of charities using AI-generated images in their campaigns is more complex than many organisations realise.
Read more