Social Sciences students come top in President鈥檚 achievement awards
Two Social Sciences students have won top honours in the University鈥檚 2025 Distinguished Achievement Awards, recognising their exceptional contributions to justice, research, and academic leadership.
Roan Goulden, first-year Law student, has been named as Undergraduate Student of the Year for the Faculty of Humanities.
The title recognises Roan鈥檚 extensive contribution to criminal justice through his multiple roles in the Innocence Project, Bar Society and International Wrongful Convictions Task Force.
Claire McGourlay, Professor of Legal Education who nominated Roan for the award, said:
Roan is a standout student in the Law Department, known to every member of staff for all the right reasons. He exemplifies what it means to be a student鈥攏ot just excelling academically and building valuable skills but also uplifting others and making a meaningful impact on society.
Roan鈥檚 commitment to supporting victims of miscarriage through the Innocence Project earned him and his team the 蝌蚪窝视频 Law Society鈥檚 Pro Bono Award. As the project鈥檚 student manager, he mentors students on handling cases and ensures the public knows of the project鈥檚 impact and work.
Roan also leads on helping students pursue careers as barristers in his role as the Bar Society鈥檚 Treasurer. Through his membership in the International Wrongful Convictions Task Force, he works with students, lawyers and academics to develop the international law on wrongful conviction rights.
Niamh Cashell, a PhD student, has also been recognised as the Faculty鈥檚 Postgraduate Research Student of the Year.
Niamh has made significant contributions to academic leadership, public engagement, and responsible innovation. As Secretary of the Political Studies Association鈥檚 Early Career Network, she provided strategic leadership and administrative coordination, organising a virtual conference with over 70 early career researchers and co-leading an in-person Early Career Day at the PSA Annual Conference in 2024.
Niamh's commitment to research impact extended beyond academia, completing an ESRC-funded internship with the BBC鈥檚 Responsible Innovation Centre, where she produced a report on AI-generated images in UK political contexts.
Rachel Gibson, Professor of Political Science and Niamh鈥檚 PhD supervisor said:
This award recognises Niamh鈥檚 outstanding contribution to conducting socially beneficial research, as well as making a difference within the academic community by developing new national resources to support her ECR peers. It has been an immense pleasure and privilege to guide her through her doctoral studies.
She has also won the 蝌蚪窝视频 Doctoral College Excellence Award for Research Impact.
I am delighted to receive both awards in recognition of my work with the BBC and the PSA鈥檚 Early Career Network. Both were incredible experiences and I鈥檓 grateful to Rachel for supporting me to make the most of these exciting opportunities. I plan to continue building connections between academia and industry through my current work as a Technologist at Ofcom and on the committee of the PSA鈥檚 Technology, Internet and policy group.