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Dr Miles Russell on BBC 2 Archaeology programme

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Dr Miles Russell, Archaeology Lecturer at Bournemouth University recently appeared on the BBC 2 programme ‘Border Country: The Story of Britain’s Lost Middleland’.

Russell discussed how Britain looked before the Romans arrived. “Before the Romans arrived, do you think there would have been a clear dramatic difference between what we now call Scotland and what we now call England? No. There’s now real difference” said Russell.

He went on to say “boundaries are a much more modern concept, the idea of fixed impenetrable borders between one civilisation and another”.

“I think a Roman coming here would see this as primitive because they’re used to lights. They’re used to painted walls and nice solid floors and they would see the mud floor, thatched roofs, the daubed walls and really the tribal nature of society itself as being very backwards”.

You can view the programme again on iPlayer.

BU Lecturer works on BBC Radio 4 production

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Jo Tyler, Programme Co-ordinator of MA Radio Production at Bournemouth University, has been involved in a stage radio production of the classic ‘Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy’ as part of BBC Radio 4’s character takeover day.

The production brought the 1978 classic into the 21st century and took place at the BBC Radio Theatre. Jo performed the role of production assistant on the script and assistant director for the Live performance.

Tyler said, “As an experienced live producer it is always fun to push the boundaries of your medium. So when you find yourself running a live stage for radio with a robot, live band and actors for company, that has to be close [to pushing the boundaries]”.

“I’ve been involved with the stage version for two years and this performance marks radio history bringing the show back home to the BBC Radio Theatre in London, with a live audience on air and in the theatre. You have to think carefully about the audience experience in both places and to assist Director Dirk Maggs in achieving this was a privilege. Dirk has always inspired students with his guest lectures, most recently on his ‘Neverwhere’ (Neil Gaiman) adaptation for Radio 4.”

The show which was originally broadcast across multiple platforms, is now available to listen on BBC iPlayer until 4th April 2014.

Community out in force for Sport Relief Mile

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On Sunday 23 March the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile set off in Littledown Park, Bournemouth, with around 300 locals walking, running and jogging for Sport Relief.  Super sprinters and willing walkers felt at home with a choice of one, three or six mile runs.

The event was hosted by Bournemouth University’s sportBU, in conjunction with AFC Bournemouth Community Sport Trust and BH Live.

Highlights included a 75 year old entrant who walked the course backwards and the youngest entrant, only 2 years old, who waddled the course with his parents to a standing ovation from the crowd of spectators!

Sainsbury’s supported the event handing out free fruit and water to runners and AFC Bournemouth brought down their inflatable shoot out machine for spectators to keep themselves entertained.

In total, more than £1,800 was raised for Sport Relief through the Bournemouth event.

BU men’s football team celebrate promotion success

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Bournemouth University’s men’s football team are celebrating this week, with the 1st and 3rd team clinching promotion to higher divisions.

The Men’s 1st team secured promotion with a 5-0 away victory against University of Winchester Men’s 1st team to claim the BUCS Western 2A League title.

The Men’s 3rd team finished the season with a top of the table clash against University of Bath and claimed a 2-1 away victory – with the winning goal scored in the last few moments of the game. They too, claimed their division title with the win and are promoted as a result.

From next season the Men’s 1st team will be playing in the BUCS Western 1A League, with the 3rd team playing in BUCS Western 2A League.

Marcus Dowdeswell studies Business Studies with Finance at Bournemouth University, and is Captain of the Men’s 1st Football team. He said, “The boys showed great commitment and character to win their respective leagues on the last game of the season. We have a strong squad, with strength throughout and I believe this is what allowed us to achieve what we did this season.”

Marcus continued, “There is a great spirit and will to succeed amongst the players and each member of the squad contributed to the success of BUFC. There are a number of final year students, including myself, within the squad and therefore the title deciding games were our last games for Bournemouth University FC, and this success concluded a great three years of university football for Bournemouth.”

Steve Cuss, Head of AFC Bournemouth’s Community Sports Trust, works with BU’s football teams as varsity football coach, and said, “Congratulations to all the players on the achievement of a double promotion.  We have enjoyed working with the players on a weekly basis, the effort and commitment shown by all has very evident and the two winning teams are reward for the hard work of the players throughout the season”.

Steve’s contribution to the football teams’ success was also highlighted, as the continuing link between Bournemouth University and AFC Bournemouth provides an opportunity for students to receive a professional level of coaching during their time at university.

Mrs Valerie Pitt-Rivers appointed as Pro-Chancellor at BU

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Bournemouth University is delighted to announce the appointment of Mrs Valerie Pitt-Rivers as Pro-Chancellor for the University.

Mrs Pitt-Rivers is the former Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset, a post she held from 2006 until her retirement in 2014. Prior to this she was the Vice-Chairman of the West Dorset General Hospitals NHS Trust; the culmination of a long and distinguished career with Dorset NHS.

Valerie is also the founder of the Arts in Hospital project for Dorset County Hospital. She was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the 2014 New Year’s Honours List for her services to The Queen.

Mrs Pitt-Rivers succeeds Dame Yvonne Moores DBE, who stepped down from the role of Pro-Chancellor at the end of 2013 after eight years of service to the University.

BU Vice-Chancellor Professor John Vinney said, “I am delighted to welcome Valerie to the BU community. She has been a strong supporter and friend of the University for a number of years and I am very glad that she has agreed to join us in a more formal capacity.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Dame Yvonne for the fantastic contribution she has made to BU over the last eight years. She gave a huge amount of time and support to the University, and inspired a whole generation of students through her wisdom and guidance.”

Mrs Pitt-Rivers added, “I am very pleased to be accepting the role as BU’s Pro-Chancellor, and will enjoy continuing the excellent relationship that developed between us during my time as Lord-Lieutenant.

“The University is going from strength to strength, and I am looking forward to being part of its future”. 

University Business Challenge – BU into the Grand Final

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Congratulations to Business School students Ross Warrington (BA Accounting and Taxation, Level H), Tom Flanagan (BA Marketing, Level C) and Daniella Conway (BA Economics, Level C) for their victory at the IBM University Business Challenge (UBC) semi-final, hosted by Serco and The Defence Academy in Swindon on Tuesday 18 March.

The team will now take part in the Grand Final, at IBM in London on Friday 21 March.

This year, 312 teams representing 60 universities and 70 faculties entered the UBC competition. The Business School sponsored 6 teams with a total of 27 students. Two of these teams qualified for the semi-finals and one team is through to the Grand Final.

The BA Business Studies team  Clarissa Barber (Level H), Jamie Seager (Level I) and Alice Barnes (Level I) were the other team to make it through to the semifinals, and after competing again 19 other teams, finished in 8th place, a fantastic achievement.

Deborah Taylor, the Business School Placement Co-ordinator, and Milena Bobeva  as the IBM UBC co-ordinator, accompanied the teams at both semi-finals. Milena said after the competition; “We were incredibly proud with the professionalism of our teams in the face of the challenges they were presented with on the day, and the outstanding feedback we have received from both organisers and business sponsors about our semi-finalists, placement students and graduates.”

You can follow the competition at both the UBC Worldwide Facebook page, the UBC News page or by following @milenabobeva on Twitter.

Top London PR Agency run workshop at BU

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Leading London PR Agency Bell Pottinger ran a workshop at Bournemouth University (BU) aiming to give students an insight into the PR industry and assist them with their studies.

James Gater, Associate Partner at Bell Pottinger lead the first hour of the workshop, which focused on the Science of PR. Gater said he wanted students to understand that “the concept of public relations is a hybrid combination of head and heart”.

Gater, who studied PR at BU said, “I thoroughly enjoyed my time at BU. The thing it has above other universities is that it has a very practical and pragmatic approach to education, and focused firmly on getting people employment”.

Luke Chauvaeu, Partner at Bell Pottinger drew upon his extensive industry experience, leading the second presentation of the session focusing on ‘the guts’ of PR. Chauvaeu said “I’ve been entertained and had a very engaging team of people in terms of this afternoon’s lecture. Everyone’s been welcoming!”

After the presentations the students were set an interactive pitching activity, aimed to prepare them for the working world of PR and increase their professional presentation skills.

Dr John Oliver, Associate Professor of Media Management at BU said, “Hopefully the day has given students a chance to showcase their talents and exposure to a top agency. We have seen really high quality work from students today”.

Pippa Chester, a final year student at BU who took part in the session, said, “It’s really good to have people from a top communications agency. It says a lot about the course that they’ve come to Bournemouth.”

Hilary Stepien, Programme Leader of PR at BU said that she hopes “people will take away knowledge that there is a whole world of PR out there beyond consumer stuff. We would love to have them back again next year as the session would benefit any PR student at any level of their studies”.

Bryce Dyer discusses Paralympic tech for The Conversation

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Bryce Dyer, Senior Lecturer in Product Design at Bournemouth University wrote a feature article for The Conversation discussing some of the technology used in the Winter Paralympic Games.

Dyer stated, “Technology has long been a part of sport. Every event, whether it’s cycling, sailing or skiing requires uniquely designed technology. Over in Sochi right now, athletes are showcasing the greatest of innovations being pushed to the limits of their design.”

A number of innovative solutions have been created to assist competitors such as; Bluetooth headsets for the visually impaired, sophisticated sit ski’s where a seat is mounted to a single ski, and electro-acoustic headphones to effectively “aim” by listening to a tone that varies in pitch as they move their gun on target.

One of the newest additions to this year’s Winter Paralympics is snowboarding. For this event, specialised prosthetic limbs have been developed using linkages and pneumatic springs to help absorb impacts, but allowing “competitors to perform manoeuvres without being restricted by weight and mobility”.

“The Paralympic Games showcases novel sports that require innovative solutions to get the best from athletes, be it through engineering, wireless technology or adaptation of traditional equipment.”

Dr Heather Hartwell speaks to BBC West Midlands

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Dr Heather Hartwell, Professor of Food Service at Bournemouth University recently appeared on the BBC Radio West Midlands as a part of their debate on saturated fats.

Hartwell’s views contrasted with new research findings from Cambridge University which found that “there is no evidence to link saturated fat with heart disease”.

Hartwell began by stating “saturated fat is fat that can increase the amount of cholesterol in your blood. The message is we should eat less fat” because we all eat too much”.

The presenter debated Hartwell commenting that “scientists discovered saturated does not cause heart disease, so doesn’t this mean we can all pick up the butter again?”

Hartwell disagreed, arguing that “fat is fat is fat”, and we should all “be reducing our fat intake as many of the foods we eat have lots of hidden fat in them. We should all be eating far more fruits and vegetables”.

“If we get into our heads that we should be eating less fats, that is a simple message to take forward”.

Sue Thomas debates digital detox for The Conversation

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Sue Thomas, Writer and Visiting Fellow for The Media School at Bournemouth University, wrote a feature article for The Conversation UK discussing the appeal of taking a ‘digital detox’.

“A digital detox can be achieved by disconnecting yourself from the internet and turning off your phone for short bursts of time to flush out the anxiety infesting your poor wired mind,” she said in the article.

Thomas also discusses the idea of taking digital detox holidays. “The Caribbean island of St Vincent and the Grenadines offers a digital detox holiday package where travelers exchange their smartphones for a guidebook explaining how to function without technology and a life coach to help them through it”. Another option would be Camp Grounded in northern California, which says it helps visitors to “disconnect from technology and reconnect with yourself”.

Thomas goes on to suggest that although switching off can be beneficial, the internet “is good for you in many ways”, such as “strengthening relationships”. Also “studies have shown that encountering nature on a screen can be as beneficial as the real thing”.

Thomas concludes by proposing “another kind of resort, one which offers not detox but intoxication – with both nature and with digital life. Gaze at the stars each night while tracking the International Space Station on your iPad; take wonderful photos and share them on Facebook, and journal the entire experience on whatever platform you like best”.

“If you have all that kit in the first place, you are a lucky grown-up living in the 21st century: enjoy it”.