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BU retains Eco-Campus Gold Award

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Bournemouth University (BU) has retained the EcoCampus Gold Award for its environmental management systems.

It is one of only 21 higher education institutions in the UK to achieve this award.

The recommendation for the award was made following a comprehensive on-site audit by the external auditors NQA, which included site inspections on both campuses, interviews with staff from across a range of functions, and a thorough review of procedures and documentation.

EcoCampus is a national environmental management system programme and award scheme for the further and higher education sector.

It encourages, rewards and provides universities with the tools necessary to assist them in moving towards environmental sustainability and good operational and risk management practices.

To successfully retain the Gold Award, BU had to prove it was operating in a sustainable manner in relation to a number of areas including; roles and responsibilities, environmental training, communication, documentation, operational control and emergency preparedness and response.

The university is also required to have an environmental programme in place, with initiatives underway to reduce its impact in a range of areas, including carbon and energy management, waste management, travel, sustainable procurement, water consumption, sustainable construction and biodiversity management.

Stephen Jones, Head of Facilities Management at BU, said: “We are delighted that the university’s continued commitment to manage and reduce our environmental impact has again been recognised through the Eco Campus System.

“It is important that the university takes this responsibility seriously and that we can demonstrate it openly across all areas of the institution.”

BU’s Environment & Energy Team will now begin work on implementing the requirements of the fourth and final stage, Platinum Award.

Big Dig discovery makes international news headlines

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A discovery by BU archaeology students and lecturers at the Big Dig site, which could rewrite Roman history, received international media coverage.

Five skeletons were found at the site, in Winterborne Kingston, thought to belong to a Roman family – the first time that evidence of a villa and the villa’s occupants have been found in the same location in Britain.

The story has been featured by national newspapers including The Telegraph, The Times and the Mail Online as well as local coverage in the Bournemouth Echo, Blackmore Vale Magazine and the BBC Dorset website.

The story also gained international media appearances – including coverage in Australia and India – as well as a number of industry specific websites. Over 50 BBC radio stations included the news in their hourly bulletins – giving the story wide national exposure.

The widespread media coverage led to a record-breaking Big Dig Open Day – with more than 1,500 members of the public visiting to explore the site and the discoveries.

Speaking to ITV Meridian at the Big Dig site, Paul Cheetham, Senior Lecturer in Archaeological Sciences and co-director of the project, suggested that this is just the start of many more findings to come.

“It’s a fabulous archaeological site, with material going to almost 4,500 years ago through to the end of the Roman period and possibly beyond to the early Dark Ages.

“We could probably dig here for the rest of our lives and still not discover all of the secrets in this part of Dorset.”

The story caught the attention of the British Council, who interviewed international students working on the dig to promote archaeology at BU to an international audience.

One student, Jessica Fangmann, said, “Everyone’s good friends on the dig and I feel like I’m learning the things I’m interested in. I’m so glad I came to the UK and I think this is a really good experience.”

Bournemouth pupils help come up with designs for Bio-Beach project

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Pupils at two local schools have been helping Bournemouth University (BU) researchers come up with designs for structures to increase biodiversity on the town’s beaches.

Pupils at Avonbourne College and Harewood College have been working with BU staff and students on ideas for the Bio-Beach project, which aims to improve and increase the marine life along Bournemouth’s shoreline.

Bio-Beach is a collaboration between BU and Bournemouth Borough Council to place structures on groynes along the local coastline, which will provide refuge for marine life.

The creatures living within them will then be recorded by underwater cameras – giving insight into their habitat and behaviour.

Around 30 pupils from Years 7 – 9 have been working on ideas and prototypes for the project after school, supported by BU student ambassadors and the AspireBU outreach team.

They were given a brief by the BU Bio-Beach researchers to create durable structures that could retain water and provide shelter for marine life.

The pupils came up with designs inspired by everything from rubber ducks to scuba divers, which were made of sustainable and recycled materials including old rope and tires.

Fay Lyon, Science Teacher at Avonbourne College, said: “I think it has been brilliant. They have really loved it actually.

“I think it’s the fact that it’s real world application of science – it’s really useful. These are genuine problems that need to be solved and they can contribute something for that. They have the chance to make a real difference.”

After coming up with initial designs, the pupils had to create prototypes and test them – sandblasting and submerging them in saltwater to see how durable and suitable they would be for the harsh conditions on the beach.

They then shared their ideas with Bio-Beach researchers Dr Roger Herbert and Dr Bob Eves.

Dr Herbert, a Senior Lecturer in Coastal and Marine Biology at BU, said: “The brief was to develop some new designs and features which can encourage a whole range of different things for people to look at and enjoy, as well as increasing the biodiversity of the seashore.

“They worked really hard and have got all sorts of imaginative and interesting ideas.

“When we look at these sorts of problems, we see the obvious constraints but you can learn so much from younger people who don’t see those problems and that’s where their creativity really benefits us.”

Dr Eves, a Senior Lecturer in Product Design, added: “I think what has been great is the imagination and the ideas that they have come up with, because they are free-forming.

“The ideas are coming from children, which will then be enjoyed by other children on the beach.”

The pupils will use feedback from Dr Herbert and Dr Eves to continue working on their designs, with the best ideas and elements then selected for the final Bio-Beach structure.

Year 8 pupil Rebecca Harper was part of a group who created a design which used buckets and old tyres filled with recycled materials like bottle caps and ropes.

She said: “It’s been really fun designing these things and getting to create the prototypes.

“I’ve learnt a lot about the creatures that live on the beach and how to make and reuse things. It would be amazing to see our design on the beach.”

Find out more about the Bio-Beach project

Success of BU Health and Social Care students celebrated

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The School of Health and Social Care has held its annual Awards Ceremony to celebrate the success of graduating students.

Students from each course were awarded prizes from local hospital trusts where they were on placement, course leaders and the Students’ Union.

Professor Gail Thomas, Dean of the School of Health and Social Care, said “I think this evening is one of the high points of the year because it celebrates some of our incredibly successful students.

“All of students are successful, but these have gone the extra mile and have made a real difference to their peers, to the practitioners they work with, and the patients, clients and service users they work with. Well done to all of them!”

A keynote speech from Judith Chapman, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, opened the proceedings with a motivational speech on how learning from the past helps with present challenges.

Presentations were then awarded to the students from all of the School’s undergraduate, postgraduate and post-registration courses.

Olivia Tuckerman, BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy graduate and recipient of the Students’ Union Award said: “It’s such a lovely event, I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone’s achievements”.

Rebecca Mitchell, BSc (Hons) Nutrition graduate and recipient of the Nutrition Award added: “It’s a real pleasure to be here, the evening is really nicely put on and I feel very honoured to be invited to come along”.

The evening closed with a celebration networking event for prize winners, tutors and their families.

Winners of the awards were:

  • Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Prize – Emma Stride, BSc (Hons) Adult nursing
  • Paramedic Science Award – Amanda Houghton, FdSc Paramedic Science
  • Sociology & Social Policy Award – Charlotte Garrett, BA (Hons) Sociology & Social Policy
  • Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust Prize – Laura Prowse, BSc (Hons) Midwifery
  • Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust Prize – Eleanor Hooper, Advanced Diploma Mental Health Nursing
  • Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Post-Registration And Clinical Excellence Prize – Ingrid Edwards, HSC CPD Framework
  • Poole Hospital Nhs Foundation Trust Pre-Registration And Clinical Excellence Prize –  Christopher Senior, Advanced Diploma Adult Nursing
  • BERTIE BAILEY AWARD, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust For Pre-Registration Nursing Prize – Rebecca Launchbury, Advanced Diploma Adult Nursing
  • Rodger White Prize – Sabeel Ali, BA (Hons) Social Work and Louise Anderson, MA Social Work
  • Dr Eleanor Bond Award – Ileana Savage, HSC CPD Framework
  • Phi Mu Chapter (England) Award – Peter Bartlett BSc (Hons) Child Health Nursing and Amy Phillips BSc (Hons) Child Health Nursing
  • Students’ Union Award – Olivia Tuckerman, BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
  • Nutrition Award – Rebecca Mitchell, BSc (Hons) Nutrition
  • Exercise Science Award – Jasmine Guizzetti, BSc (Hons) Exercise Science
  • Midwifery Award – Rebecca Moss-Coleman, BSc (Hons) Midwifery
  • Operating Department Practice Award – Tina Wade, Dip HE Operating Department Practice
  • Children & Young People’s Nursing Award – Laura Cox, BSc (Hons) Child Health Nursing
  • Occupational Therapy Award – Alannah Pasokhy, BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy
  • Physiotherapy Award – Kendal Burns, BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
  • Physiotherapy Team Award – Christopher Dorey, BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
  • Sarah Cheesman Compassionate Care Prize – Zuzana Nechalova, Advanced Diploma Adult Nursing
  • Dorset County Council Award – Daniel Ralph, MA Social Work
  • Dorset County Council PQSW Prize – Faye Nethercote, PG Dip in Advanced Mental Health Practice
  • National Centre For Post-Qualifying Social Work Award – Laura Tanner, Grad Dip Children and Family Studies
  • Marnie Mae Pope Prize – Rebecca Moss-Coleman, BSc (Hons) Midwifery

 

Dr Andrew Mayers talks about maternal mental health on BBC Radio Solent

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With one in ten women developing a mental health issue during or after pregnancy, BU’s Dr Andrew Mayers spoke to BBC Radio Solent about the lack of awareness surrounding pre and postnatal depression in some areas of Dorset.

Dr Mayers, a Senior Psychology lecturer, told the Breakfast in Dorset programme: “If a woman has got a history of previous mental health problems, you would hope that the local services would be alerted once she becomes pregnant.

“But I think it’s about more than that. Mums-to-be need to be given more information so they are aware of what could happen to them.”

When asked if there is a need for community and health service provisions, Dr Mayers argued there was, saying:

“I think it is important that anyone who is involved with mothers or mums-to-be should recognise the signs if there is a problem and know what to do within the community.

“In the worst case scenario women are taking their own lives. It’s one of the most common forms of death in that particular group of population.”

Dr Mayers is a member of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, which highlights the differences in support service between various areas of the country for mothers with mental health issues.

Part of the organisation’s campaign is to raise awareness for more funding and support that Dr Mayers claims is necessary for new mothers with mental health issues.

“If we spend money now on early intervention and support services, we will save money in the future for health, mental health and any other societal costs. We need the services to be brought up to scratch in mental health.”

Dr Mayers is a senior psychologist at BU and is also on the board of trustees for the organisation Pre and Postnatal Depression Advice and Support (PANDAS).

Head of BU’s Cyber Security Unit interviewed on BBC Radio Solent

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With Dorset Police commissioning online courses to help their officers investigate cyber crime and online fraud, Head of BU’s Cyber Security Unit Dr Christopher Richardson gave his thoughts to BBC Radio Solent.

Dr Richardson was interviewed on the Breakfast in Dorset show and told presenter Steve Harris that police force training at a local and national level was key.

“Training helps,” he said.  “It’s done across all the police forces and at a regional level as well. We are involved with the Regional Organised Crime Unit which is one of the agencies that are trying to tackle this problem.”

Highlighting some of the barriers towards fighting the crimes, Dr Richardson said:

“A vast majority of these crimes go unreported. The police are only touching the top of the iceberg when it comes to cyber-crime.

“The biggest problem, of course, is the individuals themselves. They need to be better aware of what’s going on when they are online. A lot of it is good cyber-hygiene; basic ideas like making sure you have an antivirus package on your system helps a lot.

“This will be reinforced by Dorset’s Police and Crime Commissioner  Martyn Underhill, who is sending leaflets about cyber crime to households across Dorset.”

Dr Richardson added: “If you get an email from someone you have never heard of before, and if you click on, it makes them very easy to get in your machine.

“Most of the crimes are very simple ideas of impersonation and basic fraud and have been around in society for hundreds of years.”

He added that the global nature of cyber crime made it more difficult to police.

“We are now connected to two to three billion people,” he said.

“So there is an escalation process within the police itself to tackle a problem that may be seen to be local, when in reality is on a more global scale.”

Find out more about BU’s Cyber Security Unit by visiting the website, Facebook page or following @bucybersecurity on Twitter.

 

 

BU research into respite care raised in Prime Minister’s Questions

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BU research into the impact that respite care at children’s hospices has on parental relationships was raised during Prime Minister’s Questions.

The research is being done by BU PhD student Ashley Mitchell in conjunction with Dorset-based children’s hospice Julia’s House and looks at how different types of respite care – and how regularly and frequently they are accessed –  impact on the relationship of the parents.

The work was raised by Mid-Dorset and North Poole MP Annette Brooke during Prime Minister’s Questions, while asking about funding into short breaks for carers.

She said: “Julia’s House, a wonderful children’s hospice in my constituency, is currently carrying out research with Bournemouth University into the impact of short breaks on family relationships.

“Will the Prime Minister give higher priority to the funding of short breaks as an invest to save measure?”

Prime Minister David Cameron, whose severely disabled son Ivan had hospice care prior to his death in 2009, responded: “I absolutely agree with my honorable friend about the issue.

“Anyone bringing up a severely disabled child knows that when you find one of those hospices – and I’ll never forget finding Helen House in Oxford, which was actually the first children’s hospice anywhere in the country – it is a complete lifesaver for families and carries out brilliant, brilliant work.

“That’s why we have committed over £800 million for local authorities to invest in short breaks for disabled children and I’m sure that this research from Bournemouth University will help to inform our work in the future.”

This is the second time in three months that the work being done at BU has been raised in Prime Minister’s Questions.

Following the success of blockbuster Gravity at the 2014 Oscars, the work of more than 50 BU graduates on the film was highlighted by Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood and praised by the Prime Minister.

Watch the Prime Minister’s Questions for 25 June (BU’s hospices research is raised at 30 minutes and 41 seconds)

Athena SWAN Charter holds talks at BU

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The Athena SWAN Charter commenced a series of talks at BU last week.

The charter is dedicated to improving recognition for women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine and Mathematics (STEMM) academia.

Guest speakers included members from Queen’s University in Belfast, with the discussion covering key topics that are high on the list of the Athena SWAN agenda.

Hosted by Vice Chancellor Professor John Vinney, among the many issues debated was the notion of ‘unconscious bias’ and gender inequality.

Equal Opportunities Officer for Queen’s University, Jane Garvey, gave some background as to the visit from Queen’s to BU.

“Queen’s have been involved with Athena SWAN since its conception and we were invited by Bournemouth University to share our experience.

“Bournemouth is off to a good start with the application for the Athena Bronze Award, and that sets a foundation for a potentially successful journey.”

The second guest speaker was the Director of the Queen’s Gender Initiative, Professor Teresa McCormack.

Professor McCormack, who has chaired the SWAN Champions group of representatives from academic schools in Queen’s, is also known for her work with the Athena SWAN awards, promoting gender equality in the sciences and engineering.

Professor McCormack gave her take on what the Athena SWAN Initiative is hoping to achieve.

“I think that the whole ethos that surrounds the Athena Swan process is one that does not want to discriminate against men or devalue their contribution in anyway.

“It’s about making a fair workplace for everybody. We know that there are balances that need to be addressed at the senior levels of management in academia, but a lot of our work actually focuses on creating an equal working environment for both men and women to thrive in.”

BU started the journey to Athena SWAN accreditation in December 2012 and has now completed the application for a Bronze Award.

More details about BU’s work with Athena SWAN

Centre for Entrepreneurship sponsors Dorset Business Award

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The Centre for Entrepreneurship at Bournemouth University is sponsoring an award as part of the Dorset Business Awards.

The Entrepreneur of the Year Award is open to any company, team or individual with a BH/DT postcode or who is based in Dorset.

To qualify as a BU Entrepreneur of 2014, the individual or team must able to demonstrate the realisation of their entrepreneurial vision and have a clear plan in place to achieve sustained growth in the future.

“This is the seventh year the university has sponsored this award. said Mark Painter, Centre For Entrepreneurship Manager.  “We are keen to showcase and recognise local entrepreneurs who have made an economic or social impact in the region.”

The Dorset Business Awards (DBA), now in their twentieth year are being run by The Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI)

There are ten award categories this year including three new awards:

  • Business Growth Award
  • Excellence in Innovation Award
  • Dorset Export Award

All the awards celebrate local achievement and success in the various categories and are an excellent way for local businesses who enter to gain publicity and recognition in addition to being able to showcase their products or services to a wider audience.

Bournemouth University alumni have been successful at these awards with the most recent winner being in 2013 with Georgina Hurcombe from LoveLove Films  winning the Business Woman of the Year Award.

Adido won the Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2011 and Paul Woods of Astute Ltd in 2012.

Winners are also able to display the DBA KiteMark on their letterheads and literature.

The Dorset Business Awards 2014 competition runs until 12th September.

Winners are announced at the end of November at the Dorset Business Awards Gala Dinner held at The BIC.

Further information is available from the Dorset Business Awards website.