News

Congregation 2012: Prizes and Award Recipients Announced

(30 June 2012)

Our successful final year students assembled in Durham Cathedral on Friday 29th June  for their graduation to receive their degree awards from the Chancellor, Sir Thomas Allen.

Following the ceremony, the Physics department welcomed graduates and their families to the Rochester Building, where they were joined by Head of Department Professor Martin Ward and members of staff to congratulate them on their achievements.

A number of prizes have been awarded this year: Jacob Minton (B.S. Physics) received the J A Chalmers Prize in Experimental Physics for work specialising in Experimental Physics. The Chalmers Prize in Physics was awarded to Gunner Ro (MPhys Theoretical Physics), Rebecca Ayling (BSc Physics) and Benjamin Moseley (MPhys Physics).

The D A Wright Prize for outstanding performance in a final year MPhys Physics and/or Astronomy project (Final Honours) went to Robert Bettles who is a MPhys Theoretical Physics graduate. Robert also won this year’s Bill Bryson prize for science communication.

The department also recognises teamwork as much as individual achievement. James Breen-Norris, David Roberts, Benjamin Simmons and Lee Zowghi have all performed outstandingly in their team project modules, ably demonstrating qualities such as leadership, teamwork and experimental excellence that have earned them the Andy Brinkman Prize.

For outstanding performance in the Physics into Schools module, joint winners Jonathan Wilcox and Rebecca Ayling received the Physics Into Schools Prize.

Another highly successful student, Greg Brittles, received the Peter Jackson Tracerco Prize, which is awarded to those who have performed particularly well on a final project or in lab sessions. The Physics Prize for Graphical Excellence was awarded to Daniel Whiting.

Finally, for outstanding overall achievement throughout their course of study, 6 individuals received the Durham Physics Award. These were:

• Robert Bettles,
  Gunnar Ro,
  Gavin Bewick,
  Benjamin Page,
  Benjamin Moseley,
  Ryan Wilkinson.

We'd just like to say well done and congratulations to all our 2012 graduates and award winners.