Written by Wafi Ali
Photographed by LSE Events Press Team
On 30 September 2026, LSE celebrated its second set of LSE Impact Prize awards, with eight winners, each from a different category. Along with the eight winners, ten runners-up and eight highly commended certificates were also awarded.
The LSE Impact Prize recognises research that leads to the betterment of society, encouraging a culture of progression across the school. Winners from most categories are also awarded £7.5k to be used for future engagement and impact activities.
Since its inception last year, the 2026 Impact Prizes saw the creation of a new category, Distinguished Impact Achievement. This category seeks to recognise outstanding and sustained impact from a body of research in any domain, rather than a specific project or career stage. This year, Professor Sonia Livingstone OBE, from the Department of Media and Communications, won the award. Her research has fundamentally reshaped international policy frameworks and how governments, regulators, and technology companies worldwide understand children’s rights in the digital environment.
With 64 applications and nominations across 27 departments and research centres, the Impact Prize celebrates the achievements of researchers and staff at varying career stages in differing job types. Professor Susana Mourato, LSE Vice President and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research) said how the LSE Impact Prize shows “social science research reaching beyond the university, changing policy and practice.” “At a time when the value of universities is increasingly being questioned, we have to demonstrate the difference we make,” she added.
