Teaching excellence rewarded

Dr Ewa Marek, of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, has been recognised with a Pilkington Prize for her outstanding contributions to teaching.

The prestigious award celebrates excellence in education across the university, honouring individuals who go above and beyond to inspire and support their students.

Dr Marek’s teaching is closely linked to her research in sustainable energy and green chemical production. She works on developing cleaner ways to produce heat, power, and valuable chemicals across industries. Her expertise spans areas like energy storage, carbon capture, and hydrogen production – key topics she has helped integrate into the curriculum to equip students with the skills needed to tackle climate challenges.

The Associate Professor said: “Teaching is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work. Seeing students engage with complex challenges and develop into confident engineers and scientists is truly inspiring. I am honoured to receive this recognition and grateful to my colleagues and students for their support.”

Professor Clemens Kaminski, Head of Department, added: “The Pilkington Prize is a highly prestigious award, and we are delighted that Ewa’s exceptional commitment to teaching has been recognised in this way. Her dedication to student learning and her ability to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers is truly outstanding.”

Dr Marek’s achievements extend beyond teaching. A leading researcher in sustainable energy solutions and green chemical production, she is also the leader of the Energy Reactions and Carriers research group. Her work on hydrogen production technology, H2Upgrade, earned her the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Emerging Technologies competition award in 2024. In addition, she was recently elected to the University Council, where she will bring her expertise in sustainability and education to one of Cambridge’s most influential governing bodies.

The Pilkington Prize, endowed by Sir Alastair Pilkington in 1994, is awarded annually to individuals who make an outstanding contribution to teaching within the University. This year’s recipients will be celebrated at a ceremony at Christ’s College on Wednesday 11 June 2025.