Social geographer Jane Dyson awarded for Outstanding International Impact

Oxford researcher Dr Jane Dyson has received an ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) prize for Outstanding International Impact. It follows the making of her film, 'Lifelines', which is based on her research with north Indian youth. The ESRC said her film has become an important educational tool, countering negative stereotypes and informing society about a poorly understood section of the world's population. Dr Dyson's documentary on the challenges facing young people in the Indian Himalayas has reached school children, students and policymakers worldwide. The film has been viewed over 14,000 times in 126 countries and has been an official selection at the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival (2015), Kathmandu International Film Festival (2014) and the Kendal Mountain Festival (2014) amongst others. Being the subject of the film ,'Lifelines', has transformed the life Makar Singh, who now aims to train with other north Indian youth to produce their own documentaries on young people's social and political action. The accompanying teaching pack now features as a Welsh national curriculum resource and is used in several universities in the US, Canada, UK and Australia.