Prizes
The MSc in Environmental Technology maintains strong links with alumni students in the business sector and has been privileged to be awarded a series of prizes from some of the top companies in the environmental arena.
Winners 2020/2021
Environmental Resources Management Prize
-
Lena Bernkopf
Lena is an Austrian/British sustainability professional that recently completed the MSc in Environmental Technology course with the Business and the Environment option. Her research focus was on sustainable food production systems, in particular analysing the feasibility of integrating insect farming and aquaponic farming into one system.
Prior to the masters Lena received a BSc (Hons) in International Management from the University of Bath and gained experience in corporate sustainability management and consulting.
She is now working as a Sustainability Strategy and Implementation Manager, where she is responsible for sustainability strategy development, embedding sustainability in the organisation and communicating and promoting ESG topics.
"I’m extremely excited to have received this prize. I took a risk in choosing a topic that I found extremely challenging, but it most definitely paid off! Thank you to Dr Mike Tennant for enabling this and thank you to ERM for the prize! "
Ross Makuch Memorial Law Prize
-
Aymeric Bricout
Aymeric graduated with Distinction from the MSc Environmental Technology (2021) at Imperial College London, option Global Environmental Change and Policy. In recent years, Aymeric has been developing a strong interest in trans-disciplinary topics related to climate and energy policy and geopolitics. During the spring term of his MSc, he was involved in a research project aimed at providing a comprehensive guidance for a progressive and resilient transition to low-carbon power in the European Union. Then, in partnership with the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS), he focused for his MSc thesis on the role of the European international oil and gas majors in the geopolitical landscape of the energy transition. Since September 2021, Aymeric has now started his professional career as an energy and climate consultant specialising in European affairs for Deloitte in Brussels.
"The real value of this award lies above all in the unique academic learning experience I benefited from, which has given me a solid foundation of knowledge on European energy and climate policy, immediately applicable in my present professional role."
-
Calvin Trottier-Chi
"I am delighted to be a recipient of the Ross Makuch Memorial Law Prize. It is tremendously exciting to see the legal space acting on climate science and providing the necessary structure for effective market policies. The Environmental Law course provides an invaluable foundation for understanding legislative processes and Zen and Karen Makuch are inspirational."
-
Callum Coghlan
-
Lidia Ruiz
AECOM (First Prize)
-
Yasar Yetiskin
Yasar is a chemical engineer with five years of engineering consultancy and oil & energy industries experience prior to joining MSc. Environmental Technology programme as a Jean Monnet Scholar. Over the years, his interest in and exposure to various sustainability topics were increased as he served in several water & energy efficiency, industrial decarbonization and sustainability strategy development projects. In 2020, he decided to expand his understanding on the role of environmental technologies and policies in achieving climate neutrality targets, and received Jean Monnet Scholarship from European Union for his studies to specialize on the EU Acquis Chapter 27: Environment and Climate Change.
After a challenging, yet productive year at Imperial College, Yasar started to work as a senior sustainability consultant in London. He currently enjoys using the skills he developed at the MSc. Environmental Technology Programme and his previous industry experience, to support public and private aviation industry stakeholders across the world on aviation decarbonization technologies, policies, and strategies, with a particular focus on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF).
“I am very happy and truly honoured to have been awarded the AECOM Prize. It was an unprecedented and challenging year, and without the support of my family, my friends, and my teachers, achieving that would not have been possible for me. I feel very privileged and grateful to be surrounded by such extraordinary people. I am also very happy to see my fellow classmates are already working for amazing organizations and finding solutions to various sustainability challenges.
For upcoming Environmental Technologist reading this page (because I did that before my application), I would like to share that, many other fellow environmental technologists helped me during my application and job hunt processes, so you will be joining an amazing community. Please feel free to reach out, and I am more than happy to help.”
AECOM (Runner-up Prize)
-
Callum Coghlan
Adnams Prize
-
Lena Bernkopf
"I’m grateful to have received this years Adnams prize. I had a fantastic time on the Business & Environment option and look forward to taking this knowledge and applying it to help businesses have a positive impact. Thank you to Adnams for showing this is possible.
Nigel Bell Prize
-
Eleanor Bartlett
Ellie is a recent graduate from the Environmental Technology MSc at Imperial. Ellie is 24 and from London but has spent much of her time in Pembrokeshire over the past few years. It is there she became interested in the relationship between agriculture, pollution, and the environment. Specialising in marine and coastal research, Ellie’s thesis focused on the impact of river pollution on seagrass restoration in the UK.
“Undertaking my thesis in a subject I am passionate about, and learning so much in the process, was incredibly rewarding in and of itself. But to then have my work recognised and be a joint recipient of the Nigel Bell Prize was a wonderful feeling, particularly after the challenges of the past year.”
Ellie would like to thank her course leader Dr Martin Head and thesis supervisor Mrs Claire Hunt for their support and encouragement.
-
Sophie Hearn
Sophie is from upstate New York, and graduated with a BSc in environmental science in 2018. Prior to completing the MSc at Imperial, she worked for a consulting firm for two years conducting environmental exposure and risk assessments for the US Environmental Protection Agency. Sophie’s thesis explored how pharmaceutical manufacturing effluent affects antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the aquatic environment, focusing on two cities in India as case studies.
“After a challenging but rewarding year, I’m honoured to be a joint recipient of the Nigel Bell Prize. A huge thanks to my family, friends, and supervisors Dr Nick Voulvoulis and Dr Theo Giakoumis for their guidance and support.”
-
Emma Sherburn
Emma specialised in the Integrated Water Management option on the MSc Environmental Technology, following a BSc in Geography from Durham University. She undertook the Master’s as part of a studentship from Anglian Water with a 16 month placement. Through the MSc and placement, Emma enhanced her knowledge of the water sector, environmental policy and strategy. Her thesis developed a framework for quantifying microplastics in wastewater which is a topical issue in the water sector.
“Studying for the MSc allowed me the space to pursue my interests of the water sector, pollution and environmental protection. My thesis was at the intersection of these and being able to delve into these topics has expanded my knowledge and skillset. I am incredibly grateful to my supervisors, Anglian Water and family for their support in my studies”
The Aether Prize
-
Callum Coughlan
-
Calvin Trottier-Chi
I am delighted to be a recipient of the Ross Makuch Memorial Law Prize. It is tremendously exciting to see the legal space acting on climate science and providing the necessary structure for effective market policies. The Environmental Law course provides an invaluable foundation for understanding legislative processes and Zen and Karen Makuch are inspirational.
"I am honoured to be a recipient of the Aether Prize. The GECP option was a magnificent opportunity to develop practical skills for engaging in policy analysis, to engage in multidisciplinary thinking, and to be inspired by policy solutions. I’ll always remember the principles instilled during the programme. The aether’s the limit!"
The Professor Tony Goddard Prize
-
Rosie Watt
I completed my undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering at The University of Edinburgh and, after graduating, I worked in IT consultancy for two years before deciding to change the direction of my career. I undertook the the Environmental Technology MSc to strengthen and broaden my understanding of the environment, specifically the challenges of climate change mitigation and adaptation. I specialized in Energy Policy which gave me in-depth knowledge of the energy system and the challenges facing the energy transition. I now work as an Energy Consultant at UK Power Networks Services, where I support public and private institutions to reduce emissions and meet carbon reduction targets by incorporating low carbon technologies and innovative solutions into their energy systems.
"I am honored to be awarded the Tony Goddard Prize for my thesis, I am delighted that all the hard work that went into my research has been recognized. I could not have done it without the support of my supervisor Dr Iain Staffell. I hope that my research has highlighted the importance of considering how new technologies will operate within the energy system and that we must ensure policies are in place to support sustainable deployment."
Prizes and Awards
Environmental Resources Management Prize
A prize awarded for best thesis, showing originality and innovation; sound theoretical basis; critically applied methodology; incisive discussion and wider implications and practical application.
Ross Makuch Memorial Law Prize
An annual award to a postgraduate student from the Department of Environmental Science and Technology for the best overall performance on the Environmental Law course of the MSc in Environmental Technology.
AECOM (First Prize)
An annual award for the most outstanding overall course performance on the MSc Environmental Technology.
“AECOM is delighted to support the annual awards for outstanding overall course performance on the MSc Environmental Technology. The content of the MSc is very relevant to the environmental work that AECOM undertakes to address the major sustainability challenges of our time, including climate change and biodiversity loss.”
AECOM (Runner-up Prize)
An annual award for the second most outstanding overall course performance on the MSc Environmental Technology.
Adnams Prize
An award for Excellence in Business and the Environment.
“We are proud to support, recognise and congratulate Maakie on this achievement. At Adnams, we have for decades and will continue to learn, share and make changes to address climate justice - business can and should be a force for good.”
Nigel Bell Prize
An award for the best research thesis on a topic related to pollution management.
The Aether Prize
An award for best overall academic performance on the Global Environmental Change & Policy Option of the MSc Environmental Technology.
“Aether is pleased to sponsor the prize for the Global Environmental Change and Policy module of the Environmental Technology MSc at Imperial. We’re always excited to see their work, and a few of our staff graduated from this module.”
The Professor Tony Goddard Prize
The Prize will be awarded to the student adjudged by the College to have produced the best MSc research thesis in the field of Sustainable Energy within the Centre for Environmental Policy.
The Oraee Fund
A generous donation from CEP alumni brothers Dr Behdeen Oraee (PhD Centre for Environmental Policy 2014) and Dr Nikzad Oraee (MSc Management 2010, PhD Centre for Environmental Policy 2013) has enabled the Oraee Fund that supports five awards each year for students in the Centre for Environmental Policy.