In collaboration with the University of Sheffield Healthy Lifespan Institute
What is the u3a Dissertation Prize?
The Healthy Lifespan Institute is delighted to launch the u3a dissertation prize for 2024!
Now in its third year, this annual prize generously funded by our regional partner Sheffield u3a, is designed to encourage and celebrate undergraduate dissertations that focus on:
any aspect of ageing, including any work related to health and wellbeing across the lifespan that may have an eventual impact on ageing
any of the various challenges or opportunities that ageing presents to society
the various ways in which we can encourage these opportunities, and address or prevent these challenges
Moreover, the prize seeks to encourage intergenerational solidarity and an appreciation of the importance of active participation in later life.
Which subjects may apply?
The dissertation may be on any subject with a connection to the University of Sheffield Healthy Lifespan Institute's overarching mission to understand and transform our experience of ageing and to improve health and wellbeing across the whole lifespan.
In line with the Institute's multidisciplinary ethos, we welcome applications from a wide range of disciplines (from social to biological/biomedical science, from engineering and computer science to the arts and humanities). If you're unsure about suitability, please take a look at some of the sample winners below and do not hesitate to contact Institute Manager Gemma Stephens (g.stephens@sheffield.ac.uk).
Details of the prize:
The prize winner(s) will receive £250 and will be invited to present their dissertation to Sheffield u3a members as part of their fantastic Showroom Lecture series, as well as contribute a piece to their website.
Previous Prize Winners
Luke Seeley & Isabel Leach (joint winners of the inaugural 2022 prize)
Luke, from the Department of Sociological Studies, won for his 3rd year dissertation on "navigating multiple risks: the experience of people aged sixty and over during the Coronavirus pandemic". Luke's work explored how older people navigated the dual risk of the Coronavirus itself and the mitigations put in place to limit its spread, focusing on the spaces they had access to, their social connections, and their employment status.
Isabel, who is studying Medicine, won for her dissertation "finding out you are palliative: experiences of patients and carers" which addressed common myths about palliative care and showed that early palliative care can be beneficial for patients and loved ones.
Luke & Isabel receiving their prize
Of his experience as u3a dissertation prize winner, Luke says: "I was honoured to be a co-recipient of the inaugural Sheffield u3a dissertation prize in 2022. Receiving this award was a testament to the hard work of my supervisor Professor Liam Foster and I. This success provided clarity in the direction of my academic endeavours, as a sociologist exploring ageing. Presenting my research at the u3a event was a privilege and provided me with more experience in disseminating my research. I am now in the first year of my PhD and an early career researcher within HELSI. I believe that the award made me stand out when applying for postgraduate funding. It has also helped to elevate my academic profile. With an ageing population, it is important that the subject of ageing is explored and I encourage anyone doing so to apply for the u3a dissertation prize."
Isabel says: "It was an honour to be jointly awarded the 2022 u3a prize for my intercalated BSc dissertation which investigated patient and carer experiences of palliative care. I enjoyed presenting my work to u3a members at the Showroom cinema and felt very supported by the HELSI team in the lead-up to the event. It was really rewarding to share my research findings, help dispel myths about palliative care, and start positive discussions about the end of life. I am now in my final year of medical school and will start working as an academic foundation doctor in August 2024 where I will continue this important research. The u3a prize and presentation were a central talking point at my job interview; the experience of disseminating my research to a large general public audience definitely helped me stand out."
Ameli Vidanearachchi & Jessica Callister (joint winners of the 2023 prize)
Ameli, from the School of Architecture, received the prize for her dissertation "nurturing roots through intergenerational living" which detailed plans for social housing initiative for older adults in Neepsend, Sheffield.
Jessica, from the Department of Sociological Studies, won for her 3rd year dissertation "the gaming generation: exploring the social experience of video games for active ageing policy" which provided fascinating insights into the value of virtual leisure activities in facilitating meaningful social interactions and enhancing overall wellbeing across the lifespan.
Ameli and Jessica will be presenting their research to u3a members at the Showroom Cinema on 19th July 2024!
Ameli & Jessica receiving their prize
Eligibility & Criteria
Nominations for the 2024 prize are welcome from any department and from any discipline, providing that the work:
Considers the challenges/opportunities of ageing and how they might be addressed/encouraged
Reflects a participative orientation towards older people, commensurate with u3a’s aims, including the direct involvement of older people in the research itself.
Reflects a preventative approach, commensurate with the aims of the Healthy Lifespan Institute.
We are happy to accept departmental definitions on the nature of the dissertation, but would normally expect this to be:
an extended piece of work, long essay or research project
comprise 5000 (min) - 12,000 (max) words
represent at least 20 credits
the student must be an undergraduate and the work going towards an undergraduate level degree.
If you have any queries about suitability, please do not hesitate to Institute Manager contact Gemma Stephens (g.stephens@sheffield.ac.uk).
Application Process & Form
Each submission will be considered by a joint u3a and HELSI committee and evaluated according to the above criteria. To nominate yourself or nominate a student, please fill out the form below which asks for a brief justification of how the submission aligns with the prize criteria.
Deadline for applications Friday 5th July.
About Sheffield u3a
Sheffield u3a is one of a UK-wide collection of 1000+ locally-run interest groups that provide opportunities for those no longer in full-time work to come together and learn for fun. With 430,000 overall members, the u3a movement aims to enrich the lives of its members, to support them to continue their educational, social, and creative interests in a friendly and informal environment. Our Sheffield chapter supports over 200 groups engaged in over 50 different activities and has the largest membership in the UK. Find out more.
About the Healthy Lifespan Institute
At the University of Sheffield’s flagship Healthy Lifespan Institute we're uniting over 180 world-class researchers spanning all 5 TUoS Faculties to tackle the global epidemic of multimorbidity – the presence of two or more age related chronic conditions – to help everyone live healthier, independent lives for longer and reduce the cost of care. Together, we aim to:
Understand ageing as a lifelong process and its relationship with later life multimorbidity and frailty
Pioneer medical treatments to prevent multimorbidity and boost resilience in frail older adults
Develop policies and best practices to optimise the social, environmental and economic factors that influence how we age
Analyse the most effective combinations of social and behavioural change to promote healthy ageing
Co-produce with service users, patients and carers to devise solutions that work in real life settings
Train future generations of top quality researchers dedicated to transforming ageing
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