The University’s Research Communications team has received Gold and Silver awards for content described as ‘top-notch’ and ‘deceptively simple’ in the international CASE Circle of Excellence Awards.
Cambridge content was recognised by the jury from hundreds of submissions from around the world.
The team won Gold in the Writing: Online category for its long-form feature articles, including Shanidar Z: What did Neanderthals do with their dead? by Fred Lewsey, Unexpected Experiences by Toni Fola-Alade, and High flying academics by Craig Brierley.
The judges described the content as “top-notch, very detailed and interesting”, going on to say: “The quality of the writing and the depth of research/interviewing involved in this package of articles was on a level significantly higher than most online-only pieces.”
Craig Brierley, Head of Research Communications at the University of Cambridge, said: “We have a very talented team of research communicators here at Cambridge, and it’s a real honour to get international recognition for our work.
“We’re very fortunate that our University is such a rich source of compelling stories, which is why we believe it’s vital to invest time and energy to bring these fully to life. For several years, we’ve been producing long-form, media-rich content that not only engages audiences with our research, but that spotlights the individuals at the heart of our institution.”
The team was awarded Silver in the Writing: Series category for This Cambridge Life, a series focusing on the people who make the University of Cambridge unique.
The judges described the series as “deceptively simple at first glance; It’s so well-executed that all the behind-the-scenes work the editorial team did to find, curate, and edit these pieces is almost invisible to the reader”.
They went on to say: “The stories appear to have no agenda other than to humanize the folks who make up the Cambridge community, and that makes for a refreshing reading experience”. The judges also commended the “smart use of beautiful photography and portraiture”.
As one judge noted, the profiles in the series “paint the full picture of life on campus.”
This Cambridge Life was the brainchild of Alex Buxton, who has since retired. It is now written and produced by Charis Goodyear, with photography by Nick Saffell and Lloyd Mann. The series is edited by Louise Walsh.
Charis Goodyear said: “This Cambridge Life was born out of a desire to show the heart and soul of our University, which is often hidden behind our iconic buildings and under the weight of our history. It’s a privilege being able to meet and write about such incredible people.
“The series showcases this rich tapestry of life at the university through personal, honest, and open interviews. I hope that the series will inspire potential academics, students, and staff to come to Cambridge, whatever their background and wherever they are from.”
This is the second consecutive year that Cambridge Research Communications have been recognised by the CASE Circle of Excellence Awards. In 2020, the team won Gold for their redesign of Horizons magazine and Bronze for their series Sustainable Earth and for The Casebooks of the Most Notorious Astrologer Doctors in England.