19 June 2025
The first recipients of the newly-established Tyler Prize have been announced, with four early career researchers each awarded £10,000 to support their research ambitions and leadership development.
The winning projects span a range of disciplines: a community-centred approach to dementia assessment, wildlife conservation using AI, an exploration of the links between religious fundamentalism and authoritarianism, and a fresh perspective on the climate crisis through epic poetry.
The Tyler Prize was established through a generous bequest from the estate of Professor Cyril Tyler, who dedicated his entire academic career to the University. The funding aims to support innovative researchers at a crucial stage in their academic development.
Winners had the opportunity to meet the Tyler family at a special ceremony held on June 9, where the family was officially inducted into the College of Benefactors – the highest honour the University can bestow upon donors – in recognition of Professor's Tyler's contribution to supporting academic excellence.
“These winning projects demonstrate exceptional quality and innovation while tackling some of the most pressing issues of our time,” said Professor Roberta Gilchrist, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research (Heritage & Creativity).
“Professor Tyler’s commitment to nurturing emerging research talent continues through this prize, and his legacy is fittingly recognised with the Tyler family’s induction into our College of Benefactors.
“This funding will make a real difference to these talented researchers as they advance their important work.”
With only 41% of expected dementia cases receiving formal diagnosis in England, significant barriers prevent timely identification – particularly among younger people with dementia and ethnic minority communities.
Dr Ahmed's research seeks to transform dementia assessment by moving it beyond traditional clinical settings into community spaces, including local clinics and community hubs.
This approach aims to provide equitable and accessible diagnosis to groups that often slip through the net of healthcare systems.
Dr Agbamu's project examines how global empires have historically shaped ecologies and climates, analysing these impacts through the lens of epic poetry.
By bringing science and the epic together, the research will offer a unique historical perspective on today's environmental crisis, highlighting the indispensable role of the humanities in thinking through political and environmental challenges.
Tools designed to predict dangerous weather patterns are helping to reduce impacts on ecosystems, but these efforts are often limited by gaps in plant and animal data.
Dr Boult's project will harness artificial intelligence (AI) to overcome these limitations, helping wildlife to survive extreme weather events and ultimately strengthening biodiversity resilience in an era of increasing climate volatility.
Dr Araújo's research tackles a pressing question in contemporary politics: whether religious fundamentalism drives support for authoritarian leaders like Trump, Bolsonaro and Modi.
The project will merge insights from political behaviour and political psychology to investigate the relationship between fundamentalist beliefs and adherence to authoritarian leadership, shedding light on a critical factor affecting democratic stability worldwide.
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