The Department of Mechanical Engineering has launched a Rewards and Recognition Scheme to acknowledge the amazing work of its staff.

Before the Christmas break, members of the Department were invited to nominate colleagues who did an outstanding job over the previous year, with all grades of staff eligible for nomination.

The Elected Panel, chaired by Dr Monica Marinescu, reviewed the nominations and assembled a final list of award winners. The awards recognise exceptional or significant contributions to the Department in the past year, as well as excellent performance in day-to-day work.

Inevitably, the nominations received for the pilot of the scheme highlighted the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and captured the flexibility, innovation and resilience of staff during the unusually difficult circumstances of 2020. Acknowledgements included:

• The Teaching team, for adapting to remote and multi-mode learning in a rapidly changing situation.
• Colleagues who ran essential services on site, kept critical lab experiments going or made sure the campus was as safe as possible.
• Administrative staff, who supported critical activities, from teaching and examinations to finance and HR.
• Researchers, for studies in areas such as Covid infection risk during dental surgeries, or skin injuries caused by medical PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). 

Going forward, the Rewards and Recognition Scheme aims to become a regular opportunity to celebrate Mechanical Engineering staff.