As we come to the end of the first year of this new decade, it is one that none of us will forget. However, here are a few highlights and positive stories to help remember 2020 with a little more fondness.
1. We unveiled the award-winning Heartspace, a new engineering atrium between the Mappin Building and the 1885 Central Wing.
2. Alumni and supporters gave over £233,000 to support research enabling thousands of refugees to grow their own fresh food in the desert with disgarded mattresses.
3. A new ‘Personalised Medicine’ approach to Parkinson’s treatment is helping us deliver tailored treatment plans to patients.
4. Engineers responded to a national call for help in the fight against COVID-19 and used the iForge makerspace to 3D print face shields for doctors and healthcare workers.
5. The University signed a new renewable electricity contract, sourcing campus electricity exclusively from solar, wind and hydro sources.
6. Once again we were ranked top in Yorkshire and Humber for graduate prospects, and second in the North.
7. Our Neuroscience Institute showed how we can use AI to detect Alzheimer’s earlier and improve patient prognoses.
8. We celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2020 with special messages from a host of alumni.
9. Engineers developed 3D printed implants that can link brains to computers, opening new avenues for treating problems in the nervous system.
10. Hasnain Khan, medical student and President of MedSoc, was awarded the British Empire Medal for his part leading 400 Sheffield Medical School students to volunteer to support hospitals, GPs and healthcare workers during the initial COVID-19 outbreak.
11. We launched our new University strategy, and commited to make campus carbon neutral by 2030.
12. Using our medical imaging expertise, we led a novel study to view the long term damage COVID-19 causes to patients’ lungs.
Here's to more successes in 2021!