Author Archives: nhobby

About nhobby

Status: ACTIVE. PR Officer

BU’s Tim Darvill speaks to National Geographic

Posted on by

Timothy Darvill, Professor of Archaeology at Bournemouth University, gave his comment in a recent article for the National Geographic.

The article talks about Stonehenge and tries to uncover the mystery of how early Britons managed to move the monument’s enormous stones into place.

Professor Darvill said, “The Sarsens were moved about 40 to 50 kilometres from essentially local sources”.

They were most likely moved over land routes mounted on sleds, which then slid across rollers or rails, he explained. “Plenty of experiments have been done to show this is possible.”

“Some of the bigger sarsens weigh about 40 tons (36 metric tonnes) and would need about 150 people to pull them along,” Darvill added.

Michael Parker Pearson, an archaeologist at University College London and a National Geographic grantee notes that the roller method of transport can be problematic.

Many ancient monuments that we admire today were built without the conveniences of modern technology and with no definite answers, the mystery surrounding their construction continues.

You can read the article in full on the National Geographic website.

BU celebrates success during graduation week

Featured

Posted on by

Over 5,000 BU graduates celebrated this week as they were handed their degree certificates during six graduation ceremonies.

The ceremonies, which all took place at the Bournemouth International Centre, saw students collect their awards alongside eight honorary doctorates before celebrating with fellow graduates at a champagne reception.

Former students from all six Schools were reunited with former classmates and lecturers for the first time since completing their studies in May to celebrate the completion of their degrees together.

Receiving their awards alongside BU graduates; the eight honorary doctorates included golf professional and consultant Eddie Bullock, television presenter and anatomist Professor Alice Roberts and Olympic Gold medallist Peter Wilson MBE.

Also honoured were Paralympic Gold medallist Helena Lucas MBE, international sports performance coach David Alred MBE, former Director of Operations at the RNLI Michael Vlasto OBE, former Principal of the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic (AECC) Dr Kenneth Vall and academic and 7/7 bombing survivor Professor John Tullock.

At the ceremony Professor Alice Roberts (pictured) said, “It’s an absolute delight and an honour to be receiving an honorary doctorate, and I’m really pleased to be here at Bournemouth University. I’ve made friends with a lot of Bournemouth University academics over the years and I’ve interviewed them for all sorts of different programmes on the BBC, and it was really nice to come here and catch up with those colleagues today. And to be here receiving my own doctorate is wonderful.”

Professor John Vinney, Vice-Chancellor of Bournemouth University, said, “I am delighted to be celebrating the success of our brilliant graduates once again. Graduation is one of the highlights of our university calendar and it fills me with pride to see so many students achieving their goal of attaining a degree. I hope that they will have long and successful careers and I know that they will continue to be valued members of the Bournemouth University community.”

The graduation ceremonies were also streamed online, where they were watched by around 5,500 viewers from 60 different counties.

BU graduate is Technical Lead at McLaren

Featured

Posted on by

Bournemouth University graduate Jimmy Headdon is a Technical Lead for McLaren, working primarily in Formula 1 and other Motorsport fields, travelling the world to oversee the implementation and direction of motorsport software.

The path from university graduate to Technical Lead at McLaren was not straightforward, as Jimmy explains, “The six months following my graduation were spent re-adjusting to a non-academic life back home in Cornwall and the infamous graduate job hunt.  If I’m honest I was utterly lost as to which industry I wanted to start my career in, let alone one specific role.

“Fortunately I found a position at the Broadcast and Media Association where I had undertaken work experience several years before, based out of London.  They looked after me for three years and I had the pleasure of consulting [with] several blue chip companies around the world in this time.”

“London wasn’t for me though, and I decided to move back to a software development and architectural role similar to the industrial placement I undertook during my studies at BU.  I was now working for a telematics company designing web based applications for automotive insurance companies.  Whilst this was a valuable experience, I soon realised I belonged in a fast paced, challenging environment and therefore decided to push my luck applying for a software development role with McLaren Electronics.

“Three months later I was based in Woking at the McLaren Technology Centre applying my trade as a software engineer, working in numerous countries on an array of motorsport projects before progressing to where I am now.”

Jimmy left BU in 2008 with a degree in BSc (Hons) Business Information Systems Management and explains what his time at BU taught him. On the subject of what his course did to prepare him for his career at McLaren, Jimmy said, “The principles of applying yourself to a subject matter; analysing it from a different perspective and delivering something both valuable and unique.”

Jimmy continued, “[It was great] having the opportunity to work with some astoundingly talented and insightful people [at BU] who taught me the importance of balancing academia and socialising; predominantly at the beach!”

Now at McLaren Electronics, Jimmy is currently positioned as a technical lead for a software product which is used worldwide to provide accurate and complex data for Formula 1 and Motorsports industries.  Jimmy said, “I have technical authority over the direction of this [software] product and how we integrate with our customers systems, which are inherently complex and operate in an [environment] with zero patience for failures.”

Jimmy was also on hand to offer advice to current Bournemouth University students as they study towards their dream careers, “It’s easy to overlook the fundamentals when you are trying to stand out from the crowd.

“Take the time to learn your chosen speciality from the ground-up, you’ll likely be thrown in at the deep end when you find a position and those fundamentals will give you the confidence to ask questions and show your competence in the area.  You’ll have plenty of time to expand your domain knowledge, it’s the fundamentals that people often overlook when starting out.”

Tobias Ellwood MP talks politics with BU students

Featured

Posted on by

Tobias Ellwood MP visited Bournemouth University today to talk to a group of Media School students about the current political situation in Syria and the UK Government’s response.

The Conservative representative and Member of Parliament for Bournemouth East spoke to MA Multimedia Journalism and BA Politics and Media students offering his knowledge on the situation in Syria and the UK Government’s responsibility to be good ‘global citizens’, offering support to those who need it.

Students also offered their thoughts during a lively question and answer session, with topics such as chemical warfare and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars also discussed.

On students taking responsibility and engaging with politics, Tobias Ellwood MP said, “I think it is very important [that students engage in politics].” Mr Ellwood then went on to talk about Britain’s important place in global politics and the need for the next generation to grasp the importance of it and continue Britain’s legacy.

NCTJ Journalism Skills Conference hosted at BU

Posted on by

The sixth annual NCTJ Journalism Skills Conference is to be hosted by Bournemouth University between 27 and 28 November 2013.

The conference is marketed as a ‘must-attend annual event for those who are passionate about quality multimedia journalism’. BU’s Multimedia Journalism course is accredited by the NCTJ.

Speakers at this year’s event include:

·         Mark Austin, journalist and presenter, ITV News
·         Peter Bale, vice president and general manager, CNN International Digital
·         Pete Clifton, executive producer, MSN UK
·         Ollie Joy, digital business journalist, CNN
·         Sandra Laville, crime correspondent, The Guardian
·         Frank Le Duc, editor, Brighton and Hove News and Latest TV
·         Andy Martin, deputy editor and head of news, Bournemouth Echo
·         Ian Murray, editor-in-chief, Southern Daily Echo
·         Liisa Rohumaa, journalism lecturer, Bournemouth University
·         Mark Russell, managing editor, GQ
·         Tom Thomson, managing editor, The Herald and Times Group
·         Andrew Wilson, head of the journalism foundation, BBC.

To book a place at the conference you can visit the NCTJ website.

New project to promote vegetable consumption amongst children and the elderly

Posted on by

A new pan European project that aims to promote vegetable consumption among adolescence and elderly is to start in Denmark, France, Italy and the UK.

The aim of VeggiEAT is to take basic dishes containing ‘hidden vegetables’ to encourage more vegetable intake in school children and elderly people – the model will take account of sensory preference and attitude towards vegetable intake and hopes to show how easy it can be to eat a nutritious, vegetable-heavy diet.

Adequate intake is fundamental to a healthy balanced diet, however, EU compliance with vegetable dietary guidelines is poor and further research is required to overcome consumption barriers.   It is hoped that the study will bring benefits for European vegetable manufacturers too as it adds to the body of knowledge regarding consumer behaviour and preferences towards vegetables.

Dr Heather Hartwell, an associate professor in nutrition at Bournemouth University and principal investigator in the project, said, “This research will not only bring new information about the mapping of hospitality practice within the wider public health agenda but it will also play a major contribution towards evidence based practice for the EU Consumer Policy Strategy and to the Action Plan on Food and Nutrition Policy. The potential value of this research, therefore, to inform public health policy and strategy is identifiable.”

VeggiEAT is an industry-academia partnership led by Bournemouth University, UK with academic partners Aalborg University and the University of Florence and industrial/SME partners Bonduelle and the Institut Paul Bocuse Research Centre.  The project will run from October 2013 to October 2017.

University contribution recognised in the Bournemouth Echo

Posted on by

An article in the Bournemouth Echo highlighted Bournemouth University contributes more than £1 million per day to the economy of the South West.

An economic impact study produced by Professor John Fletcher and Dr Yeganeh Morakabati of Bournemouth University shows the university is worth £378 million in the South West.

John Fletcher said in the Bournemouth Echo the University was “part of the fabric of the conurbation of Dorset”.

He suggested it’s more than just numbers saying “it brings in people who you meet on the street, who enjoy the entertainment, enjoy the beach, go to the shops and spend money. It creates a vibrant and young society”.

“It also brings a highly creative and skilled workforce into the region, as well as their families”.

Across the region the university contributed £85 million for wages and supported 3124 jobs. These numbers are the equivalent of 11,476 households or 3.3 million visitors.

Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns praised the University for “seeking to become an integral part of the community it’s serving”.

Burns also said “Bournemouth would not only be economically and socially diminished without Bournemouth University, it would be decimated without Bournemouth University”.

By Peter Blackhall
2nd year student studying BA Public Relations at Bournemouth University

Archaeology lecturer John Gale in The Independent

Posted on by

BU archaeology lecturer John Gale appeared during an article about the modern profession of archaeology in The Independent.

“Being an archaeologist in 2013 is no longer about tweed jackets, beards and bohemian lifestyles” said Gale.

John Gale is programme leader for the MSc in archaeological practice at Bournemouth University.

While traditional skills remain essential, today’s archaeologists need more. The Institute for Archaeologists, suggests that postgraduate qualification could be helpful for those looking to move into practice, particularly those interested in heritage management and conservation.

As a postgraduate subject, archaeology appeals to students from a range of backgrounds such as history of art, English, music and sciences.

“Archaeology, while looking into the past, is rewarding as it provides great insight into the present,” says Gale.

“Why human beings do what they do, when and where are universal questions that transcend time and space. For the enquiring mind of whatever persuasion, archaeology offers a base from which you develop both intellectually and professionally”.

By Peter Blackhall
2nd Year Student at Bournemouth University, BA Public Relations

Events underway for Black History Month

Posted on by

Events are starting to take place to mark Black History Month at Bournemouth University.

The events run from 14 October 2013 to 1st November 2013 and are designed to promote freedom and equality throughout the university.

Run in partnership with Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust, the series of events began with an exploration of the life of Mary Seacole, a doctress-nurse during the Crimean War. The event, titled ‘Mary Seacole – Her Relevance in Today’s NHS’ was led by Professor Elizabeth Anionwu CBE, Professor of Nursing at Thames Valley University.

Other highlights include ‘We were here: African American GIs in Dorset’, an exhibition which explores the stories of the black GIs who came to Dorset to train for D-Day, and ‘My Journey – Clive Clarke’ where Clive will be talking about the challenges he has faced working in the NHS.

View the whole programme of events for more information. All events are free to attend and you can book your place through Eventbrite.

Share this story on Twitter.

Mental Health Awareness Week at BU

Featured

Posted on by

Bournemouth University participated in World Mental Health Awareness week by hosting a number of guest lectures and events, hoping to inform people and raise awareness of mental health.

Events included talks about the representation of mental health in the media (hosted by Paul Scates and Dr Andrew Mayers – pictured) and a presentation of a series of films created to highlight the importance of mental health awareness.

Dr Ciarán Newell, associate director of nursing for eating disorders at NHS Dorset healthcare service, delivered a lecture at Bournemouth University titled ‘Eating Disorders Myths and Truths’. Newell’s lecture considered the myths, causes and treatment options for eating disorders and how to help someone overcome the illness.

Newell commented, “I hope people leave with a better understanding of what eating disorders are and not buy into myths”. He is referring to popular misconceptions many people have about eating disorders and emphasised how common they are in society.

The events were run in partnership with Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust, Dorset Mental Health Forum, Richmond Fellowship and Borough of Poole.

Share this story on Twitter.