We’re delighted to congratulate Dr George Green and DPhil student Olivia Holder (2020), whose work has been shortlisted for this year’s Vice-Chancellor’s Awards. Selection for this prestigious honour was highly competitive, with nearly 170 entries and around 1,000 individuals included in nominations.

Dr George Green – Breakthrough Researcher Award

Lincoln lecturer Dr George Green (Associate Professor, School of Archaeology) has been shortlisted individually for the Breakthrough Researcher Award. It recognises the significant impact the archaeology and heritage partnership he leads between the ISIS Neutron & Muon Source and Oxford is having. There are only three facilities in the world where elemental analysis with muons is possible, let alone being directed towards archaeological research questions. This means that George’s work is incubating a globally unique and truly cutting-edge research area at Oxford.

Muons can tell us the composition of artefacts deep beneath the surface, totally non-destructively. It is perfectly suited to his specialist area: understanding the movement and manufacture of gold in ancient Africa, Asia and Europe. George’s research has investigated the crisis of Rome’s AD 68/69 Civil Wars; the recycling of Dacian (Romanian) gold in ancient Afghanistan; and the composition of Aksumite gold in ancient Ethiopia. The partnership builds on this work, providing new training and teaching opportunities to students across archaeological science, classics, archaeology, history, and engineering; as well as new DPhil studentships working on the Ashmolean’s collection.

George's project has been selected for an exhibition at the Vice Chancellor's Awards Showcase on 2 June, held at the Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities. He'll be joined by colleagues from ISIS and visitors will have the chance to see components from the particle accelerator up close.

Olivia Holder – Local Community Engagement Award

Olivia Holder (2020) contributed as a Research Consultant to the Ashmolean Museum’s Shedding Light project, which has been shortlisted for the Local Community Engagement Award. This category recognises initiatives that have made a positive difference to the lives of individuals and communities in Oxfordshire.

Drawing on the museum’s earlier Nice Cup of Tea project, Shedding Light explores the interconnected histories of colonialism, enslavement, sugar production and ceramics. Set within a reimagined Caribbean living room, the installation pays tribute to the experiences of the Caribbean diaspora and invites visitors to reflect on the global histories embedded in everyday objects.

Olivia’s DPhil research at Lincoln examines the relationship between Afro-Caribbean communities and ceramics, and informed her contribution to the project.

Olivia commented: “It is so wonderful to have this project recognised by the Vice Chancellor. I am particularly proud that it is being celebrated for finding its roots in community engagement. What we have created is now part of the Ashmolean's permanent display and addresses an important aspect of history that was not previously included in way that the museum represented our global stories. I am honoured to help present a new perspective that will continue to shape how visitors reflect on the world we live in.

See the full Vice-Chancellor’s Awards shortlist