The President’s Award for Excellence in Research Environment (Ethics, Culture, Sustainability)
Promoting a Positive Research Environment at Imperial
At Imperial, fostering a vibrant and positive research culture is central to our ethos. A
positive research culture is one that in centred on ethical behaviour and respect for each
other and our planet - it is one that thrives on integrity, collaboration, sustainable approaches
and inclusion. This award celebrates individuals, groups, and initiatives whose innovative
practices and actions demonstrate leadership in creating this kind of environment—one that
nurtures excellence and sustainability in research.
You can find out more about Imperial’s approach to achieving a positive research
environment here: Our research environment | Research | Imperial College London.
Excellence in Research Environment
Nominations can be made by staff from all areas of the College. Self-nomination is permitted
- Staff in any role across the College are eligible to be nominated (Can include teams).
- Nominations can be made by any Imperial staff member
- Self-nomination is permitted for this award category
- Previous winners may not be re-nominated for the same category of award until at least three years have passed since their previous success (i.e. winners of 2022, 2023 and 2024 cannot be re-nominated for the same award in 2025). Find the full list of previous winners on the previous award winners webpage.
Excellence in promoting a positive research environment should be demonstrated
through evidence of the following:
- Promoting Openness and Integrity: Encouraging open and transparent dialogue
and research practices and upholding the highest standards of research integrity. - Knowledge Dissemination: Sharing knowledge, best practices, or research findings
related to research culture, sustainability, and the environment within the research
community or beyond. - Leadership in Inclusion in Research: Demonstrating leadership in creating a
supportive research environment that values diverse perspectives and promotes
collaboration - Mentorship and Well-being: Providing mentorship and support to researchers,
technical professionals, and related roles, empowering them to thrive in their careers - Environmentally Conscious Practices: Reflecting a commitment to long-term
thinking, responsible resource use, and collective accountability, inspiring others to
adopt sustainable behaviours and reinforcing a culture of care within research
activities, labs, or projects. - Reducing Environmental Impact: Demonstrating measurable efforts in reducing the
environmental footprint of research operations or initiatives. - Collaborative Partnerships: Engaging in collaborative efforts across disciplines or
with external entities to promote a culture of sustainability in research. - Innovation in Practice: Developing new lab protocols, processes, or activities that
enhance fairness, accessibility, and interdisciplinary collaboration. - Consistent Role Modelling of College Values: Demonstrating the College’s values
and behaviours in all activities.
By recognizing those who exemplify these values, this award seeks to inspire a community-wide commitment to building a positive research environment—one where integrity,
innovation, inclusion, and sustainability drive excellence and lasting impact in research.
To make a nomination please use the new online nomination system.
Please view the user guide to help you access the system and enter your nomination(s). Specific guidance for each award category can be found below.
If you have any issues please contact Mr Alex Headley.