Prizes

The University of Leicester is one of only small number of universities to have won the highly prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher Education on more than one occasion.

These prizes are awarded for excellence in research and teaching.

In 1994 the University of Leicester celebrated winning the Queen's Anniversary Prize for its work in Physics & Astronomy. Leicester is home to the biggest University based space research group in Europe. The prize citation reads: "World-class teaching, research and consultancy programme in astronomy and space and planetary science fields. Practical results from advanced thinking".

The University was chosen from 200 universities and colleges that entered the prestigious national awards scheme - adding significantly to its status as one of Britain's leading universities.

Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning

The department is a member of the Pi-CETL collaboration of three university physics departments with a track record in teaching and learning innovation. The Physics Innovations CETL is one of 74 Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), over all academic disciplines, and the only one in physics. It was funded for 5 years (2005-2010) by the Higher Education Funding Council for England. Pi-CETL involved collaboration between the Open University and the Universities of Leicester and Reading, and focused on curriculum innovation, the use of modern technology, the development of personal and professional skills, positioning physics in a broader scientific context and widening access.

Awards for Individual Members of Staff

Listed below are a selection of the many prizes awarded to our members of staff since 2002.

• Prof. Stan Cowley (2011), Fellow of the Royal Society.
• Dr Emma Bunce (2011), Phillip Leverhulme Prize.
  
• The Swift Gamma Ray Burst mission team (2007), Bruno Rossi Prize of the AAS High Energy Astrophysics Division.
• Prof. Derek Raine (2006), Institute of Physics Bragg medal for 'his work on the teaching of physics in universities.'
• Prof. Stan Cowley (2006), Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society.
• Prof. Stan Cowley (2006), Julius Bartels Medal of the European Geophysical Union.
• Prof Terry Robinson (2006), Royal Astronomical Society Harold Jeffreys Lecturer.
• Dr John Remedios (2006), NASA Group Achievement Award, for 'work on the UARS project'.
• Dr Steve Milan (2006), ESA science award, for 'work on the Cluster mission.'
• Dr Steve Milan (2006), URSI Young Scientist Award.
• Prof. Martin Barstow (2005) Isaac Newton memorial Lecturer.
• Prof. Stan Cowley (2003), medal of the University of Helsinki.
• Prof. Andrew King (2002), Wolfson Merit award.