The TIGR2ESS research project, led by Professor Howard Griffiths, Co-Chair of the University of Cambridge Global Food Security IRC, was awarded the Cambridge University Vice Chancellor’s Collaboration Award for its work in rural India.

The Vice-Chancellor’s Research Impact and Engagement Awards are given – as stated by to Professor Stephen Toope – in “recognition of outstanding achievement, innovation and creativity in impact and public engagement with research activities.”

TIGR2ESS works on research related to food security and sustainable agricultural practices for communities in rural India. The project aims to create a “two-way knowledge exchange partnership” between relevant experts in India and the UK, tackling issues such as groundwater levels, nutrition, entrepreneurship, and gender equality – among others.

There are over 20 organisations and 30 early career researchers working on TIGR2ESS.

The award judges said of the project: “The impact of this project is truly epic in scale and importance. It has had a huge influence on people and communities in the developing world.”

The other Vice-Chancellor’s Awards, announced on 07/10, included the Early Career Researcher Award – awarded to Dr Jan van der Scheer for his work with the NHS, and the Established Academic Award – which was awarded to Professor Daniela De Angelis for her work on the real time monitoring of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The projects awarded are assessed as having the potential to create “significant economic, social and cultural impact from, and engagement with, research.”