The Furness Prize for Science Communication is awarded to a pathology trainee or undergraduate who shows continued commitment to excellence in their science communication activities. This year, the prize has been awarded to Dr Hamzah Farooq. 

Many thanks to everyone who entered and to our judges Dr Rachael Liebmann, Vice President for Communications, and Dr Shubha Allard, Clinical Director for Publishing and Engagement.

Hamzah is a Specialist Registrar in Medical Virology and Infectious Diseases, currently on secondment as a Senior Clinical Fellow in Whole Genome Sequencing of Mycobacteria at the National Mycobacterium Reference Service-South in Colindale.

Hamzah has been involved in a wide range of activities throughout the year and the judges were particularly impressed by his commitment to delivering pathology-related training to undergraduates, postgraduate trainees, healthcare workers and members of the public, including giving a talk on ‘getting into combined infection training’ and developing educational videos on whole genome sequencing.

He also delivered tutorials on virological conditions to medical students and taught the basics of microbiological and virological laboratory techniques to postgraduate trainees.

In addition, Hamzah has helped to raise awareness of infectious diseases and laboratory diagnostics. He presented several posters on infectious diseases including malaria, tuberculosis and HIV and also delivered talks entitled ‘introduction to HIV resistance and clinical cases’.

Here's what Hamzah had to say when he found out he had won this year's prize. 

I feel very privileged to have been awarded this prize and aim to use this motivation to continue honing my skills and deliver further science communication activities in the future. Pathology is a field in which one works with a variety of multi-disciplinary teams and a diversity of patients. Communication between teams is vital in pathology for patients, healthcare workers and for members of the public to fully understand the pathological and diagnostic process. Only by communicating effectively and working together, can we aim to reduce the burden of disease and improve the quality of life of patients and the general public.

The Furness Prize will open again for entries in Spring 2020. Visit the Furness Prize webpage to find out more about how to apply and read about our previous winners.