John Connell Awards Celebrate 25 Years at Westminster

John Connell Award Winners and Highly Commended (representatives) 2026 with The Viscount Stansgate
Photo credit: Andrew Dunsmore, Picture Partnership

The John Connell Awards celebrated their 25th anniversary at the Palace of Westminster on Wednesday 21 October 2026, bringing together people from science, engineering, local government, industry and the wider community.

Hosted by The Viscount Stansgate, President of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee and a member of the House of Lords, the evening recognised ideas and initiatives helping to improve our sound environments. The awards are named after the Noise Abatement Society's founder, John Connell OBE.

The awards were presented by The Viscount Stansgate, Dr Danny Chambers, MP for Winchester, and Dr Bill Parish, Deputy Director at Defra.

This year's recipients demonstrated the breadth of work taking place across the field. Local authorities showed how listening to communities can help create more peaceful public spaces, while a team of young engineers developed a smartwatch to make everyday sounds more accessible to people with hearing loss.

Other recognised projects explored how acoustics can improve building design and the places where people live and work. Research examined the potential of roadside vegetation to reduce noise, alongside work on underwater acoustics and protecting marine life.

Hundreds of recipients have been honoured over the awards' history for their contributions to wellbeing and environmental quality. The anniversary celebrated both technical innovation and community action, highlighting the importance of sound and noise in everyday life.

For more information about the awards, winners and sponsors visit: https://noiseabatementsociety.org/john-connell-awards-2026/

Why this matters for policymakers

Editorial implications drawn from the work recognised by the awards.

• Community-led decisions Consider how local authorities can use residents' experiences to guide noise reduction and improve shared spaces.
• Inclusive design Support consideration of different hearing needs in building acoustics and the development of assistive technology.
• Environmental protection Examine how research on roadside and underwater noise can inform measures to protect people and wildlife.