Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering student Chotiwat Jantarakasem has won an Educational Excellence Award from the Anglo-Thai Society.

The award from ATS’s Education Fund celebrates Thai students in the UK as well as rewarding the work of PhD and Master's level researchers from all nationalities studying in the UK whose work could benefit Thailand, the Thai Society and developing countries.

Applicants can apply for awards across various categories: Maths and Physics, Engineering, Physical and Computer Sciences, Health and Biological Sciences, Economics and Law, Humanities and Arts and Research at Master's level. Judging is conducted by a panel of experienced academics.

Chotiwat (CJ) is a PhD student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering studying how photos taken on smartphone cameras can be used to analyse water quality via an app. On receiving the award he said: ‘It is such an honour to have won The Educational Excellence Award 2023. I trust that this recognition will serve as an exemplar of a social engagement project related to my PhD research. I hope it inspires other PhD students to contemplate research impacts from various perspectives, such as societal engagement or starting a business.’

Supervisor Professor Michael Templeton said: ‘CJ has shown great dedication to his PhD research and believes strongly in the societal benefits that it can achieve in low-income settings, including in his home country of Thailand. I am delighted that he has been recognised with this award.’

Dr Laure Sione, co-supervisor, agrees: ‘It’s a proud moment when your PhD student wins any award, but the particularity here is that it is recognising not only CJ's commitment to his research, but to his desire to give back to the country that led him to this achievement in the first place.

CJ is a Student Programme Partner for the Graduate School’s Research Impact Programme for 2023-24. As a Partner, CJ works closely with the Graduate School and Societal Engagement team on their professional development courses to help doctoral students better understand research impact and the importance and relevance of societal engagement as a pathway to impact.

CJ said ‘As a participant in the student partner programme, I chose to join the Research Impact Programme because I believe I can contribute to encouraging other students to delve deeper into the impacts of their PhD research.’ The Graduate School’s Research Impact Programme Lead, Victoria Crossley, said: ‘We are absolutely delighted to have CJ working with us. CJ’s enthusiasm and commitment to creating impact from his own research and helping other PhD students understand how they can do this for their own projects helps to benefit students, the College and wider society. I am thrilled that his work and commitment have been recognised through this prestigious award’.

Find out more about the Graduate School’s Research Impact Programme and Students as Partners.