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BU and AECC Chronic Back Pain Project

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Bournemouth University and the Anglo European College of Chiropractic (AECC) are to fund a project to investigate chronic back pain.

Following a successful pilot study, the collaborative project will see both institutions joint-fund a PhD studentship to investigate the global problem of chronic back pain. Chronic back pain is a multifaceted condition for which there is no one cause or treatment.

The aim of this PhD studentship is to explore links between self-rated health, sensory perception and function – or how we perceive our pain and how our body responds to this perception.

Beliefs, memories and psychosocial factors relating to chronic back pain have previously been explored, but there is less evidence relating to the understanding of sensory perception (the way our brain interprets signals from our nervous system).

The project aims to influence future knowledge in preventing and managing back pain, resulting in improving outcomes for those with back pain and cost savings for health care, reducing time away from work.

Dr Carol Clark, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy at Bournemouth University and project lead, said, “We are excited to be continuing the collaboration between BU and AECC in the field of long term back pain. This project will provide insights into pain perception which will influence treatments in the future.”

As well as Dr Carol Clark, the project will include input from Dr Sharon Docherty (Biologist, AECC) and Dr Neil Osborne (Chiropractor, AECC).

Dr Sharon Docherty, Special Projects Coordinator at AECC, said, “We’re really excited about this opportunity to carry the project forward and we’re hoping it will unveil some interesting insights into chronic pain and how it affects people’s lives.”

If you are interested in finding out more about the PhD studentship, please contact Dr Carol Clark (cclark@bournemouth.ac.uk) or Dr Sharon Docherty (sdocherty@aecc.ac.uk).

Sochi2014: BU opinion and involvement in the Winter Games

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A number of Bournemouth University academics are poised to get involved in the Sochi 2014 Winter Games – using their expertise to contribute to stories and add to knowledge.

Dr Bryce Dyer is a Senior Lecturer in Product Design at Bournemouth University and is currently researching the effects of technology in elite sport. He says of the Winter Games:

“Competing at the Winter Olympics is arguably about assembling the best athletes to compete against each other. There are always stories of human interest- of those battling against the adversity of just getting to the games in the first place. Some of us will no doubt remember ‘Eddie the Eagle’ or ‘Eric the Eel’. However, the sad thing with tales like these is that whilst many of us may think of them to be a novelty, the problem a lot of the time is that some of these athletes are being unfairly penalised because of their lack of access to equipment and facilities. The Jamaican Bobsleigh team, (immortalised in the film ‘Cool Running’s’) have got their sled this time from Germany, but will only have got hold of it merely weeks before the games start whereas others have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds testing and evaluating theirs. They are not the only ones – Shiva Keshavan is competing for India in the luge event. YouTube footage shows that he has been training extremely hard – at home on steeply banked local open roads on a homemade wheeled luge – hardly the best conditions for a run at the medals. The question we have to ask ourselves is whether technology is ‘part of the game’ or is it just about going athlete to athlete. Is this fair ? Such is the importance of the best equipment, the Sochi games experience will ultimately have been decided for many, long before they’ve even crossed their start line.”

Additionally, Dr Richard Shipway, Associate Dean: International Engagement in the School of Tourism has been asked to join a panel of academic peer reviewers to assist with the assessment of applications for the Advanced Olympic Research Grant Programme, recently launched by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The main objective of the programme, which operates from the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, is to promote advanced research with a humanities or social science perspective on priority topics identified annually by the IOC. Further information on the 2014-2015 Advanced Olympic Research Grant Programme is available on the Olympic Studies Centre web pages at http://www.olympic.org/olympic-studies-centre

Dr Shipway’s current research focuses on the impact and legacies of international sports events, distance running, sport tourism, ethnographic research methods, and various aspects of Olympic studies.

Another BU researcher involved in the Winter Games is Rami Mhanna, a PhD student conducting research into mega-sport events. Rami’s research focusses on stakeholders’ perceptions of legacy outcomes of different sports events. This research focusses on The London 2012 Olympic Games, Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and the FIFA World Cup in Brazil 2014.

All academics are available for press comment and journalists should contact newsdesk@bournemouth.ac.uk or 01202 963963 to speak to a member of the Press and PR Team.

BU Epidural research featured on numerous medical websites

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Professor Venky Dubey and PhD student Neil Vaughan from Bournemouth University were featured on a number of medical websites, such as Medical Xpress and The Engineer, highlighting their award-winning medical device that makes epidural injections safer and more effective.

The device, an epidural simulator, uses software to predict where a patient’s epidural space will be, as this varies from person to person.

The project, led by Venky Dubey, won the Information Technology category at the Institution of Engineering and Technology Innovation Awards, which received over 400 entries.

The software replicates the conditions of giving an epidural to a real-life patient and allows adjustments for different heights, BMI’s, angles and rotations of the spine. The simulator allows doctors to train for the procedure, improving results and reducing potential risks to patients.

Dr Wee, consultant specialist at Poole Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust, said “there is a need to provide precise training in a delicate clinical procedure which has potential devastating effects to the mother when things go wrong”.

Midwifery conference discusses future of global childbirth healthcare

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An international conference exploring the challenges facing maternal and newborn health worldwide has taken place at Bournemouth University.

The conference, organised by Bournemouth University (BU), looked at the international health issues facing those giving birth and their newborn babies and aims to influence the global agenda for the next 15 years.

Professor in Midwifery at BU Vanora Hundley, who has helped to organise the conference, said: “Midwifery should be the backbone of universal access to reproductive health services.”

The conference, called Midwifery and the post MDG Agenda, comes as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the United Nations end in 2015.

Two of these MDGs focused on reducing child mortality and improving maternal health, and the conference will look at what has been achieved so far, and what still needs to be done.

Dr Zoe Sheppard, from BU’s Clinical Research Unit, said: “The MDGs helped focus attention on reproductive health and rights over the past 14 years.

“Now we need make sure we set challenging but achievable targets for the next 15 years.”

Delegates at the conference were encouraged by speakers to promote access to pregnancy- and birth-related healthcare for all women worldwide, regardless of economic situation or country of birth.

The conference also included a poster exhibition hall that displayed the latest research taking place in the field of midwifery. Posters included information on midwifery in poorer countries, such at Sheetal Sharma’s (pictured) poster on midwifery in Nepal.

Speakers at the one-day conference included Dr Neil Squires, from the Department for International Development (DFID), and Brigid McConville from the White Ribbon Alliance, a non-profit organisation which campaigns for safe birth worldwide.

BU’s new Student Centre reaches its highest point.

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A topping out ceremony has marked a significant stage in the construction of Bournemouth University’s new state-of-the-art Student Centre.

Construction has now reached the highest point of the six-storey, £10.5 million building’s structure, which be a focal point for students at BU, providing additional space for learning and student support, and a new home to the Students’ Union at BU (SUBU).

The ceremony, which took place at the Talbot Campus, was led by Neal Stephens, the managing director of Willmott Dixon – the constructors of the Student Centre.

Also attending were Councillor Phillip Eades the Mayor of Poole, Rt. Hon. the Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, the University’s Chancellor, Sue Sutherland OBE the chair of the Bournemouth University board, Professor John Vinney, Vice-Chancellor of Bournemouth University, among other partners, dignitaries, staff and students.

Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers said at the ceremony: “This building is going to be the centre of students’ extra-curricular activities. These are an essential part of the education in its widest sense that any good university should provide for its students. Education is not just about acquiring knowledge. It involves learning about oneself, developing as a caring person, and integrating responsibly in society. A building such as this provides the ideal environment for the activities and interrelationship that will result in students leaving this university educated in this wider sense.”

Professor John Vinney, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “We are committed to providing world-class facilities for our students and the Student Centre will provide just that.

“It’s vital we continue to attract high-calibre students and staff for years to come in an increasingly competitive market. We want to provide world-class facilities for a world-class performance.

“The Student Centre, and our plans for a new academic building, will go a long way to achieving that and we are very excited about the progress we are making.

“The University contributes £378 million every year to the regional economy through all our activities.

“This will only be maintained and grow whilst students continue to choose to study at Bournemouth and investing in facilities such as this new Student Centre is central to this.”

Neal Stephens, managing director of Willmott Dixon in south West, said: “We’re delighted to have been selected to carry out this project and it’s fantastic to see this outstanding structure reach its highest point.

“Willmott Dixon is already a major contributor to the local economy and we are delighted to be working on the biggest project in the area. We have established a great relationship with Bournemouth University and are fortunate that our client shares our environmental and sustainable approach.

“We are focused on delivering great quality facilities and have worked hard to be as cost effective and sustainable as possible. In particular, we’ve sunk boreholes into the ground to extract heat, which will save a considerable amount of money on heating in the future. In addition we have also diverted 99.7% of waste from landfill”.

The progress of the Student Centre comes as Bournemouth University also prepares to submit a planning application for a new flagship academic building at the heart of its Talbot Campus.

The Student Centre building has achieved a BREEAM excellent classification in its design stage and is due for completion during November 2014.

Its two-year construction is bringing a direct spend of £6 million into the local economy.

Willmott Dixon has also been awarded the contract to build a new performing arts centre and supporting classrooms at Bournemouth & Poole College.

BU animation lecturer featured on Guardian website

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Bournemouth University lecturer Sofronis Efstathiou has given advice to budding animators on the Guardian website.

Sofronis, Programme Leader on the 3D Computer Animation courses at BU, spoke to the Guardian Witness section of the website to ‘give his tips on how to get started in animation – and what makes a great animation’.

Guardian Witness encourages readers (or, in this case animators) to send in their own content to be shown on the website, and previous campaigns have included picture and video projects. This is the first time the Guardian Witness pages have run an animation feature.

Sofronis said in the feature, “My students love creating characters and worlds for them to inhabit – character and environment creation tends to be a very symbiotic process. The best way to develop those skills is by creating your own short animation projects.”

To read the section in full, including all of Sofronis’ tips, or to submit your animation to Guardian Witness – check out the Guardian website.

BU celebrates Chinese New Year

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Bournemouth University celebrated Chinese New Year with traditional entertainment organised by BU’s Chinese Student and Scholar Association (BU CSSA).

The event, held at BU’s Kimmeridge House, included a traditional lion dance, songs sung by a Chinese choir and a number of musical performances.

VIPs in attendance included Bournemouth University Vice-Chancellor Professor John Vinney and The Mayor and Mayoress of Poole Councillor Philip Eades & Mrs Helen Eades.

Xinglong Ma, vice-president of BU CSSA, was part of the team to organise the event and said, “There were lots of Chinese people celebrating together, including students, scholars as well as local Chinese people. It was great to promote our cultures in Bournemouth and Poole.

“Chinese New Year, just like Christmas,  is the most important festival for the Chinese people and all family members get together to celebrate. This event was brilliant. I really want to thank all our supporters from BU’s different departments and external organisations.  When we heard the roars of applause, every BU CSSA members felt very glad. Because all our work was not in vain.”

Over 100 people attended the event, with BU staff members, students and members of the public in attendance. Caroline Earth, Transition and Wellbeing Officer at Bournemouth University, said “I’ve attended a number of Chinese New Year events at BU over the years and this was certainly the biggest and best! The students had clearly put a lot of effort into organising it. It was a really interesting insight into Chinese culture and the high-point for me was the traditional lion dance. It was great to see so many people from the local Chinese community there, as well as students and staff from BU.”

Ian Jones, Head of Regional Community Partnerships at BU, said, “It was a great event and very enjoyable. I have to congratulate the organisers on creating such an amazing array of talent. I was also struck by how many from the community attended, a real testament to how hard the students worked to make it happen.”

Other entertainment at the event included a Traditional Chinese Costume and Tea Show and a solo by Dr Ping Hua using a traditional Chinese lute instrument.  Chinese buffet-style refreshments were also provided by some of the event sponsors.

BU campuses get a #BUProud makeover

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If you find yourself walking through our campus over the next few days then you may notice a little change to some of our buildings…

BU’s re-launch of the #BUProud campaign has begun with a new set of pictures displayed on the entrances to some of the university’s buildings.

Current BU students Ieva Severinaite (pictured) and Douglas Tham have been chosen to feature on the entrance doors to Poole House, at the front of BU’s Talbot Campus.

The campaign features students holding chalkboards, on which they have written what they love most about the university, or what they are most proud of. Ieva’s board reads ‘helping me find my path’, while Douglas’ highlights some of the great opportunities on offer at BU.

Other BU staff members, students and graduates will soon take pride of place on the university’s buildings, with chalkboards adorned with #BUProud slogans such as, “Proud of all my students”, “BU has allowed me to realise what I am capable of”, and “Brilliant access to professional facilities.”

Students, staff members and other university audiences are also encouraged to get involved in the campaign by taking to Twitter, using the #BUProud tag to tell the world why they love Bournemouth University.

Ieva Severinaite, who studies the BA Public Relations course within the Media School at BU, said, “It’s overwhelming but very rewarding [being recognised with this picture] and it makes me very proud to be a BU student.

“Being 19 when you come to university it can be tough to know what you want to do in life for the rest of your career. My course and my extracurricular activities at the university, such as being the International Student Officer for SUBU (Students’ Union at Bournemouth University) and being a student ambassador for the university, has helped me to see different paths and different opportunities in life and to know what I want for the future.”

On walking past the picture everyday on the way into university, Ieva said, “It will take a little time to get used to it but it definitely brings a smile to my face every time I see it.”

What makes you proud of being part of the Bournemouth University community. Join the conversation on Twitter and tell us with the #BUproud tag!

Bournemouth University receives grant to raise prosopagnosia awareness

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Bournemouth University’s Centre for Face Processing Disorders (CFPD) has been awarded a four-figure sum from the British Psychological Society to raise awareness for prosopagnosia, or face blindness, in the UK.

The money will be used to launch a Face Blindness Awareness Campaign by producing a series of DVDs that highlight face blindness, and to fund a launch event for the campaign.

Dr Sarah Bate, a Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Lead Researcher within the CFPD, said, “I am delighted to receive this award – these funds and the partnership with the British Psychological Society and Encephalitis Society will formalise our public awareness campaign and ensure maximum exposure and impact is generated.”

Prosopagnosia is a condition characterised by a selective deficit to be able to recognise a familiar person by their face.  It is estimated that one in 50 people experience prosopagnosia, to a lesser or greater degree, but public and professional awareness of the condition is very low.  The Centre aims to rectify this through their campaign.

Every year, the British Psychological Society makes grants to help its members demonstrate the relevance of psychological science to a wider audience.

Professor Catriona Morrison, Chair of the Society’s Psychology Education Board, says, “The range and quality of this year’s grant recipients emphasise how much psychological science can contribute to wider society. Sharing this knowledge with the public is an important part of our work.”

For more information about prosopagnosia, visit the Centre for Face Processing Disorders website.

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Timetable information for HSC students

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The external power supply to Royal London House has been restored and normal access to the building will resume from 8am on Monday 6 January.

HSC students are advised to check the online timetable before Monday morning as there have been a number of changes to timetables due to the power outage.

Timetables have also been amended due to a few areas in the building that have suffered water damage as a result of the continued poor weather. HSC managers and Estates staff will be on hand to assist with any remaining issues on Monday.

If you have any questions please contact your programme administrator.