The University of Westminster has hosted its annual Professor Geoffrey Petts Memorial Fund roundtable event featuring donor Professor Judith Petts, where PhD students benefitting from the fund presented their research projects and shared how the support enhanced their fieldwork.
Dame Judith was joined by Nicola Allett, Doctoral Researcher Development Manager at the University’s Graduate School, Jordan Scammell, Head of Development and Fundraising, Professor M. Gulrez Zariwala, Director of the Centre of Nutraceuticals, and ten of the 12 PhD researchers funded by the memorial fund.
The PhD researchers presented their projects to Dame Judith, which spanned disciplines including social science, life science, architecture and cities, media and communications, and the arts. Each researcher shared what their PhD research projects sought to uncover, the experiences they had on fieldwork and their outcomes.
The roundtable discussion featured researchers who have received direct support from the fund as well as those from the Centre for Nutraceuticals, a first-of-its-kind centre which was recently refurbished and expanded with contributions from the fund.
Dame Judith set up the fund in her late husband’s name during the 2020/21 academic year to honour his contributions to scientific research and support student research at Westminster. It supports fieldwork for doctoral researchers, with no limitation on subject matter and up to £1,000 available to be claimed by each applicant. Since its origins the fund has supported 55 researchers with over £39,500 of funding support. As a former researcher herself, Dame Judith aims to boost PhD researchers at Westminster by funding travel costs, accommodation and materials in the field.
Dame Judith Petts said: “To hear about how the memorial fund is being used to support and enable research in the field across some impressive and diverse PhD projects was a real joy. I wish all the students success in the next stages of the work.”
Nancy Wellman, Development Officer at the University, added: “Thank you to Dame Judith for her generous commitment to the Professor Geoffrey Petts Memorial Fund, which continues to provide vital support for our PhD researchers. Her dedication ensures that students across disciplines have the resources they need to pursue ambitious projects and make meaningful contributions in their fields. It was inspiring to see Dame Judith engage directly with the 2024/25 cohort, hearing first hand how the fund has opened doors, shaped their research journeys and amplified the impact of their work.”
The Professor Geoffrey Petts Memorial Fund directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4: Quality Education and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions, helping students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable, and healthier society.
There are four application windows for the fund each academic year, with three now remaining. Find out more and apply to the Professor Geoffrey Petts Memorial Fund.
To find out how to support students and establish a fund at the University of Westminster, please contact the Development Team.
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