Winners Revealed: 2022 Youth STEM Matters Volunteer Team Awards
Our Youth STEM Matters Volunteer Awards recognise the achievements of the 85+ youth who lead our global youth scientific journal - and flagship project - Youth STEM Matters.
From a shortlist of 42 volunteers, 5 teams, and 8 Volunteer of the Year nominees, Editor-In-Chief, Yara Obeidi, and Founder & CEO, Mhairi McCann, had the challenge of selecting each of the category winners, which were revealed in our Awards Ceremony at the Youth STEM Matters Research Conference. Congratulations to our winners!
Extra Mile Award
Winner - Iona Finney
Winner - Kavina Uthayakumaran, Kerena Norris, Lucy Chen & William Mehew
Awarded in recognition of consistently going over and above what their role asks of them in their contributions to Youth STEM Matters.
Shortlisted:
Victor Olufemi
Zainab Khan
Leader Award
Winner - Lucy Mbochi
Awarded in recognition of exceptional leadership - in the broadest possible sense - at Youth STEM Matters.
Shortlisted:
Aminta Permpoonwiwat
Elizabeth Bourn
Madeleine Perry
Inspiration Award
Winner - Anne-Rosa Bilal
Awarded in recognition of the volunteer who most impresses the rest of the Volunteer Team with their attitude and skills.
Shortlisted:
Esra Almaeeni
Iona Finney
Poppy Bradley
Mentor Award
Winner - Aayush Shrestha
Awarded in recognition of a volunteer who has taken time to help others, and pass on their knowledge/skills. They can have done this in any format, whether 1-1 advice, group sessions, training or through helping others on Slack.
Shortlisted:
Arushi Rastogi
Kavina Uthayakumaran
Lucy Mbochi
Growth Award
Winner - Olivia Johnson
Awarded in recognition of a volunteer who has grown during their time on the Youth STEM Matters Volunteer Team. Both personal growth and growth in skills are equally valid nomination reasons for this award.
Shortlisted:
Maria Theresa Villatoro
Shalini Sellam
Yvonne Zhou
Changemaker of the Year Award
Winner - Poppy Bradley
Awarded in recognition of a volunteer who has driven positive change within the Youth STEM Matters Volunteer Team. The change can be big or small, but through their efforts, the experience of authors and/or volunteers and/or readers has been enhanced.
Shortlisted:
Josh Heng
Julia Gardiner
Victor Olufemi
Unsung Hero
Winner - Elizabeth Bourn
Winner - Samiksha Manoharan
Awarded in recognition of a volunteer who has made a valuable contribution to the team, but may not previously have been recognised for their efforts. This award is the chance to make sure they get the recognition they deserve!
Shortlisted:
Chibueze Godwin Onukelobi
Nina Khera
Youth STEM Matters Champion
Winner - Kimberly Anindo
Awarded in recognition of a volunteer who has made a substantial outreach contribution to Youth STEM Matters. They have embodied the journal's ethos and championed Youth STEM Matters. This recognition can be for any medium of outreach, including social media, events/talks, outreach to schools/organisations, and local outreach.
Shortlisted:
Aminta Permpoonwiwat
Anne-Rosa Bilal
Tatenda Murigo
Community Award
Winner - Madeleine Perry
Awarded in recognition of a volunteer who has made an excellent contribution to the Youth STEM Matters Volunteer Team community. They play a key role in the team by driving forward the Youth STEM Matters community spirit.
Shortlisted:
Julia Gardiner
Kimberly Anindo
Poppy Bradley
Rising Star Award
Winner - Tatenda Murigo
Awarded in recognition of a volunteer who, based on their current contributions to the team, we can see even bigger things ahead in their future at Youth STEM Matters.
Shortlisted:
Abbie Fitzsimmons
Isabelle Johnson
Kavya Venkatesan
Lorraine Cheng
Tirivashe Madzinga
Special Recognition for Outstanding Contribution
Awarded to Adam-Khan Qureshi
This Special Recognition for Outstanding Contribution was awarded to Adam Khan-Qureshi in recognition of the exceptional contribution he made to Youth STEM Matters in Co-Founding the journal, and during his time as its inaugural Editor-in-Chief, a role he held until December 2021. Without Adam’s huge contribution, Youth STEM Matters would not be the global platform for youth it is today.
Team of the Year
Winner - Iona Finney & Victor Olufemi
Winner - Print Edition Editorial Team - Aminta Permpoonwiwat, Anne-Rosa Bilal, Éimear Stephenson, Katie Molyneux, Lily Tierney, Poppy Bradley & William Mehew
Awarded in recognition of a team within the journal who have made an exceptional collective contribution to Youth STEM Matters. The team may be a group who have worked together year-round, or a group of volunteers who came together over a shorter time period to work on a specific project.
Shortlisted:
Aayush Shrestha & Lucy Mbochi
Senior Life Sciences Team - Anne-Rosa Bilal, Elizabeth Bourn, Kavina Uthayakumaran, Kerena Norris, Lucy Chen, Shalini Sellam & William Mehew
October 2021 Research Conference Organisers - Aminta Permpoonwiwat, Dimple Amitha Garuadapuri, Kimberly Anindo, Olivia Johnson & Zainab Khan
Volunteer of the Year
Winner - Josh Heng
In recognition of an exceptional Volunteer Team member, who has embodied the Youth STEM Matters ethos, and made an outstanding contribution to the journal, as voted for by the Youth STEM Matters Volunteer Team.
Shortlisted:
Elizabeth Bourn
Iona Finney
Julia Gardiner
Kimberly Anindo
Madeleine Perry
Poppy Bradley
Samiksha Manoharan
Congratulations to all of the winners and shortlistees on your achievements!
