Pharmacy recognised in University’s Celebrating Excellence Awards

Cardiff University hosted their annual Celebrating Excellence Awards on Wednesday 21^st November, and two teams from the School of Pharmacy were present as finalists in their respective categories. The glittering event took place in the Great Hall in the Students Union building.

In the category of Professional Services Team of the Year, The School’s Technical Services team reached the final stage of judging for their superb efforts in helping the School’s labs run smoothly and efficiently. Technical Resources Manager, Denise Barrow, said of her colleagues, “I’m very proud of my team and it’s fantastic that their contribution has been recognised by the School and the University in this way.”

In the Excellence in Civic Mission award, Pharmabees saw off some tough competition to bring home first prize. The Pharmabees project, which began life looking into the antibacterial properties of honey, and which has since expanded into a huge public outreach program, has seen microbiology scientists heading into schools across South Wales to deliver STEM engagement and enthuse children about the opportunities science offers.

In 2017, Dr James Blaxland ran School Science Club, which involved eight primary schools in Newport being taught about bees and bacteria, and which culminated in nearly five hundred children visiting the Redwood building to get a taste of university life and the kind of work taking place in the labs. This year, Dr Jennifer Wymant has been running Science Sessions, a similar project in the Cathays area of Cardiff, and which also includes online resources and CPD for teachers.

Professor Les Baillie, who is head of the Pharmabees initiative said, “The project is very much a team effort and demonstrates the collegiate nature and esprit de corps of the School of Pharmacy.”