University of Exeter researcher wins prestigious UK award

Dr Chris Sweetapple, from the University’s Engineering department, has won the coveted Scopus Young Researcher UK Award. He was one of only seven researchers from across the country to receive an award, which was presented last night (Nov 5).

Dr Sweetapple was presented with the Environmental Sciences Award 2015 at a special event, held at the Royal Society in London, which was attended by more than 70 senior figures from government, academia and industry.

Speaking after receiving the award, Dr Sweetapple said: “It came as quite a surprise to have won the award in the Environmental Sciences category, but I am both excited and honoured with this achievement.

“It is always great to receive recognition for my work, and it is also a testament to the world-class research taking place in the Centre for Water Systems, at the University of Exeter. It is a wonderful accolade and will really give my research an extra boost as I look to progress my research career.”

Chris graduated from the University of Exeter with a first class degree in Civil Engineering in 2011. He then began to specialise in the water field, completing a PhD at the University of Exeter and going on to obtain his current position as an associate research fellow in the university’s Centre for Water Systems in 2014.

Chris is interested in and has worked on a range of water systems, but is particularly interested in wastewater treatment. Chris’s current research contributes to a project which aims to develop a new paradigm for Safe and SuRe (reliable, resilient and sustainable) urban water management in the UK in response to emerging challenges and uncertainties.

Professor Stephen Eichhorn, Head of Engineering at the University of Exeter added: “We are all absolutely delighted for Chris, the award is testament to his outstanding research and is richly deserved. Awards such as this demonstrate the outstanding research, and teaching, taking place both within the Engineering department and the University as a whole. We all delighted that he has received this considerable honour.”

Speaking after the awards, Gareth Davies, Director General for Knowledge and Innovation, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, UK said: “All the winners should be very proud of their achievements. The UK research base is one of our country’s great success stories and punches well above its weight, so to be at the front of this field is no mean feat. I wish them every success for the future.”