2021 highlights from an extraordinary year for Brighton students, staff and alumni

World leading research, major awards and innovations – 2021 has been another unforgettable year. Here’s a look back at some of the highlights.

13 December 2021

January

University of Brighton atmospheric expert Kevin Wyche received an urgent response research grant to further his work on COVID-19 transmission in the air.
Brighton alumna Dr Madeleine Orr hosted a research seminar on her work in sport ecology, which saw Forbes list her among the leading young people in sport for 2021.
A short anti-drug community film made by students as part of the Marketing Management BSc course was shortlisted for the London Rolling Film Festival.

The Brighton Atmospheric Observatory

Annie Whilby being interviewed about Black Lives Matter

Professor Phil Ashworth brought his expertise to a new £3.7m five-year research project to improve global flooding forecasts and responses.
Brighton and Sussex Medical School received a £344,000 grant to create surgical training using live streaming, Virtual Reality and 360-degree cameras.
PhD student Annie Whilby combined her research work with an increasingly high-profile presence as AFLO, a spoken word activist poet in movements like Black Lives Matter.

A Brighton company founded by graduate Tom Meades pioneered the use of old e-bike batteries to power portable music speakers made from waste plastic.
New Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) results ranked the University of Brighton in top tiers for delivering diverse economic and social benefits with partners.
Dr Dwight Turner, Senior Lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Science published a book highlighting often ignored issues around race, post-colonialism and feminism in counselling and psychotherapy.

Tom Meades (right) with his Gomi Bluetooth speakers

Dr Ray Ward studying seagrass

Dr Ray Ward, Principal Lecturer in Environmental Sciences continued his research on how aquatic plants extract carbon from the environment, providing a key strand of a new Natural England report into carbon sequestration.
The School of Architecture and Design hosted a digital School of Re-construction, exploring re-use of materials in the built environment, with international collaboration.
University of Brighton joined a campaign by the University Alliance to double the number of academics engaging with the media over the next 3 years, to increase the presence of those from diverse backgrounds.

Bethany Williams

John Sugden, Abbas Suan and Gary Stidder with Football 4 Peace

The University of Brighton recorded the largest improvement of any UK institution in the updated 2022 Complete University Guide.
A global football-based project established in Brighton marked the 20th anniversary of its mission to promote peaceful co-existence amid conflict.
Brighton researchers tested a pioneering hydrogen engine that could provide a clean and efficient way to help decarbonise transport globally.

Business graduate Janelle Sultana created a scheme named #AskForRoxy to provide safer environments for women socialising in bars and clubs around Brighton.
Archie White received a Fine Art BA(Hons) at the age of 96 from the University of Brighton, making him the oldest person in the UK to complete a degree.
Education student Sarah-Beth Parker received a prestigious award named after the late Princess Diana, honouring her work promoting British Sign Language.

Archie White

Professor David Nash analysing the Phillips' Stonehenge Core under a magnifying glass

Professor David Nash led a team taking the first glimpse inside one of Stonehenge's giant sarsen stones, providing new insights into the iconic objects.
Digital Music and Sound Art graduate Alex Lewis-Whitaker won the Nagoya University of the Arts Award of Excellence 2021, for his final degree show project.
A study by Brighton and Sussex Medical School found a third of meat eaters who take part in Meat Free Monday go fully vegetarian after five years.

Dame Sarah Storey set a new record winning the 17th Paralympic gold medal of her career, this was an accolade too for her long-time University of Brighton coach Gary Brickley.
Researchers and students teamed up for a project to tackle shortages in relation to blood and organ donation in Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities across the UK.
Professor Rusi Jaspal joined the University of Brighton in autumn as the new Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Exchange).

Professor Rusi Jaspal

New Mithras Halls at the University of Brighton

Our Moulsecoomb campus transformation came to life, completing on 5 stylish high rises providing accommodation to 800 students.
Dr Annebella Pollen was awarded a £100,000 Philip Leverhulme Prize, which she will use to fund a new study into the history of photography by children.
Just four years after fleeing Syria with almost no English, Syrian refugee Omar Alsalih fulfilled his dream, in taking up a place to study architecture at Brighton.
Dr Marlon Moncrieffe's book on the overlooked history of black cycling champions was longlisted for William Hill Sports Book of the Year.

The University of Brighton team ready to board the weightless parabolic flight

Dr Annebella Pollen