The Pathik Pathak Impact Award
Celebrating a legacy of social impact and student changemakers
Professor Pathik Pathak was the founder of the University of Southampton’s Social Impact Lab and a passionate believer in the power of students to create positive change.
Pathik sadly passed away in September 2025. The Social Impact Lab and the School of Economic, Social and Political Sciences are establishing an annual award in his honour, celebrating his commitment to social impact and his belief in the potential of the next generation of changemakers.
Pathik’s vision
Pathik believed that universities should do more than prepare students for their future careers. He wanted students to have the opportunity to use their knowledge, ideas and skills to tackle real-world challenges and make a meaningful difference to people’s lives and communities.
This belief was at the heart of the Social Impact Lab. Through the Lab, Pathik created opportunities for students to explore social and environmental challenges, develop solutions and work with communities and organisations both locally and internationally.
He was particularly passionate about creating opportunities for students to learn through experience – encouraging them to be curious, take action, collaborate with others and have the confidence to make a difference.
“My dream is that through the Social Impact Lab we can help to cultivate a mission-driven sense of student experience.”
Continuing Pathik’s legacy
The Pathik Pathak Impact Award will recognise a University of Southampton student who has demonstrated exceptional social impact through their work.
The award will celebrate students who have:
- identified and responded to a real-world social or environmental challenge
- made a meaningful difference to people, communities or society
- put their ideas into action
- demonstrated initiative, creativity and commitment
- used their knowledge and skills to create positive change.
Impact can take many forms. It could come through a social enterprise, community project, volunteering, research, campaigning, innovation or another form of student-led action.
The award will recognise impact rather than simply achievement – celebrating the difference a student has made and the values that Pathik championed throughout his work.
Each year, potential recipients will be identified and put forward based on evidence of their work and impact. A panel from the Social Impact Lab and the School of Economic, Social and Political Science will select the award recipient.
A lasting legacy
The award is intended to be more than a memorial. It is a way of continuing Pathik’s work by recognising and inspiring students who share his belief that we can all play a part in creating positive change.
Through each year’s recipient, Pathik’s legacy will continue to inspire new generations of student changemakers.
Pathik believed in the potential of students to change the world. This award celebrates those who are putting that belief into action.
If you have memories, reflections or photographs from your time working with or being taught by Pathik that you would be happy to share, we would love to hear from you –please get in touch with the Social Impact Lab at [email protected].