York shortlisted in two categories at prestigious THE Awards 2025
Posted on Thursday 4 September 2025
The York Environmental Sustainability Institute (YESI) has been shortlisted for Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership, while Joe Rees-Jones has been nominated for Outstanding Technician of the Year.
Widely recognised as the 'Oscars of higher education', the winners will be announced at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Thursday 13 November.
Interdisciplinary research
Environmental sustainability is a core principle at the University of York, driving research, education, and partnerships.
The York Environmental Sustainability Institute (YESI) exemplifies this through its pioneering YESI Fellows Programme—an institutional model for interdisciplinary, impact-led research.
Since 2022, 43 Fellows have secured over £1.5 million in grant income. The programme supports researchers at all career stages, fostering innovation, stakeholder engagement, and real-world impact.
York shares its model through national forums and training, helping embed sustainability into wider research culture.
Professor Lindsay Stringer, Director of YESI, said: “The complexity and urgency of today’s environmental challenges demand distinctly new knowledge, fundamentally new ways of generating it, and radically new ways of acting on it.
“By championing interdisciplinary, actionable research, York is leading systemic change in how environmental sustainability challenges are addressed.
“It is fantastic that YESI has been shortlisted by the Times Higher, there is a wonderful team behind the Fellows programme who deserve all the credit for this shortlisting.”
Specialist skills
Joe Rees-Jones, a research technician in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology at the University of York, has specialist skills and knowledge of immersive technologies.
Between 2019 and December 2023, Joe worked as the sole creative technician at XR Stories, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Creative Industries Research Cluster for the Yorkshire and Humber screen industries.
In 2021, he led the set up of an immersive research and development (R&D) lab to enhance XR Stories’ support to creative businesses. In the final year of the cluster, more than 50 local businesses benefited from access to Joe's essential contribution to the project.
Alongside his creative technician duties, Joe supports research and teaching at the University's AudioLab where he co-designed and delivers a module to MSc Audio and Music Technology students.
Commenting on the shortlisting, Joe said: “I am thankful to have been shortlisted for this award. The recognition reflects not just my own work but the incredible collaboration and creativity of the XR Stories and AudioLab teams at the University of York.
“I'm grateful to be part of such a diverse range of projects supporting research, creativity and innovation in immersive and audio technologies.
“Thank you to the THE Awards for highlighting the important role of technical staff in higher education and good luck to the other technicians shortlisted in the category."
Essential role
Damian Murphy, Professor of Sound and Music Computing and Director of XR Stories, University of York, added: “Joe’s person-centered, down-to-earth approach enables the highest quality teaching, research and knowledge transfer.
“His work is testament to the essential role that technicians play in fostering innovation in creative practice, both in higher education and in the creative industries.
"I'm delighted that Joe has been shortlisted and wish him all the success at the ceremony in November."
