University of Exeter researcher Dr Sarah Bell has been awarded the Philip Leverhulme Prize. Dr Bell is a Senior Lecture in Health Geography at the University of Exeter’s European Centre for Environment and Human Health.

Dr Sarah Bell will receive £100,000 from the Leverhulme Trust towards her research, which concerns disability, wellbeing, and the physical, social and cultural environments throughout the life course.

A total of 30 prizes were awarded to researches, all in early stages of their careers, in the fields of Archaeology, Chemistry, Economics, Engineering, Geography, Languages and Literature.

Dr Bell said her “work has challenged the ableist assumptions that often underpin prominent discourses around nature and wellbeing while developing collaborative opportunities to curate new disability-led nature narratives and encounters.”

[My] work has challenged the ableist assumptions that often underpin prominent discourses around nature and wellbeing

Dr Sarah Bell

Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Research and Impact at the University of Exeter’s Medical School said: “A huge congratulations to Dr Sarah Bell on winning such a prestigious award. The University of Exeter is delighted to have hugely talented researchers such as Sarah who is making major contributions in our Public Health and Sport department.”