Author Archives: presspr

Dr Andrew Mayers’ research is hit with BBC

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BU’s Dr Andrew Mayers was again featured in the media for his research that looks into the sleep habits of children.

Appearing on several BBC mediums, including BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Solent and BBC1 Breakfast News, Dr Mayers was able to talk about the importance of good sleep and showcase the sleep workshops he runs in conjunction with Winton Primary School.

Speaking on BBC1 Breakfast, Andrew said, “What we would like to do is roll these sleep workshops out across the whole country so that we can train other people to do this so children can benefit from a routine and a consistency of sleep so that it can improve their performance in the classroom.”

BBC Breakfast also went live to Winton Primary School at 7.20am and 8.20am to talk to parents and teachers about the real impact that this research is having on home life and the classroom environment.

If you would like more information about Andrew’s research you can view one of the links below:

Jean-Claude Baumgarten receives Honorary Doctorate from BU

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Tourism leader Jean–Claude Baumgarten received the honorary doctorate from Bournemouth University during the School of Tourism Awards Ceremony.

Jean–Claude began his long tenure at Air France in 1970, working his way to management positions across many countries before becoming Vice–President and General Manager of the United States, and subsequently for France. After a short stint at another company in the early ‘90’s, Jean–Claude returned to Air France where he became Executive Vice–President of Corporate, International and Industrial Affairs and Advisor to the Chairman.

In the late ‘90’s, Jean–Claude started his own consultancy firm, CREWE Associates, to provide advice to new businesses. In 1999 he was appointed President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council, where he was instrumental in organising the World Tourism summits in a bid to review tourism in light of the 9/11 tragedy.

A friend of BU’s School of Tourism, Jean–Claude has given guest lectures and will be supporting current students by mentoring them, helping to pass on his extensive knowledge in the field of tourism and travel.

Jean–Claude Baumgarten said, “It’s a big honour, it was so touching to see the parents admiring their children becoming graduates. They are the future of travel and tourism. It was so comforting to see the young energy coming into this industry.”

Local community heroine receives honorary doctorate from BU

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Charity director Sibyl Fine King received the honorary doctorate from Bournemouth University during the School of Design, Engineering and Computing Awards Ceremony.

Sibyl is a long–time resident of Dorset and her generosity and kind–hearted nature has greatly affected the county. As Director of the Fine Family Foundation Sibyl has provided support to many Dorset–based charities, enriching areas such as the environment, the arts, education and health.

The landscape of Dorset has been shaped by Sibyl’s generosity, and buildings such as The Fine Foundation Marine Centre at Kimmeridge Bay and The Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre are just two examples of her local impact.

She is a good friend of Bournemouth University, and has helped to shape BU’s cultural landscape too, sponsoring the statue that sits outside the Library.

Sibyl Fine King said, “I feel honoured and delighted to be receiving this award, it’s really unexpected and it’s a wonderful day for me. It’s been an unexpected and delightful event and I am glad to be a part of the Bournemouth University family.”

BU’s US Election coverage is media success

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Hope FM broadcasts live radio coverage provided by Bournemouth University while BBC Radio Solent commissions students to create a news package.

Bournemouth University’s Media School students worked through the night to provide live television, radio and online coverage of the US presidential election race. The radio coverage was broadcast live on Hope FM, with students providing expert analysis, information and interviews for their listening audience.

Student Editor–in–Chief Oscar Tollast appeared on BBC Radio Solent as he was commissioned to create a news package for the breakfast show the following morning that focussed on the social media frenzy surrounding the election – and how social media has impacted this presidential election race.

As the package was played the next morning, Oscar was invited back to share his thoughts on the previous night. Oscar spoke to Breakfast presenter Julian Clegg shortly after finishing the 10 hour live broadcast, “It was an incredible experience. It was everything I could have hoped for. Our radio coverage was incredible and so professional. I was really proud of everyone involved in this project.”

Project co–creator and lecturer in Journalism and Communications at Bournemouth University, Ann Luce, was also invited onto the radio, speaking to Wave 105 about the project. Additionally, news stories about the media students also appeared on Fire and Jack FM radio stations.

For more information about the election coverage you can still visit the bespoke website.

Bournemouth University celebrates graduate success

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More than 5,000 students graduated from Bournemouth University last week, in ceremonies at the Bournemouth International Centre.

As well as being an incredible event for all involved, the ceremonies generated a lot of media attention.

The Bournemouth Echo featured a round–up of all of those who were receiving honorary doctorates from BU this year. These included tourism leader Jean–Claude Baumgarten, Forensic Science regulator Andrew Rennison, Sibyl Fine King, who established Dorset–based charitable body The Fine Foundation and Fiona McMillan, former principal of Bridgewater College.

The awarding of an Honorary Doctorate of Arts to Oscar and BAFTA–winning visual effects supervisor Paul Franklin, also received coverage in a number of media outlets.

The story was featured on BBC South Today on the morning of the Media School graduation ceremony – when Paul received his honorary doctorate – and he was also interviewed on BBC Radio Solent’s breakfast show.

Paul talked to presenter Julian Clegg about his work on blockbuster films including Inception and the recent Batman trilogy and said that the National Centre for Computer Animation at BU was a “huge success story.”

He said: “It produces a very large number of high quality graduates every year, and you can look at almost any big film with lots of visual effects in it and there will be a large number of people from Bournemouth University involved in making that film – things like Avatar, and my co–winning VFX supervisor on Inception was a graduate of the Media School.

“It’s a fantastic success story.”

He added that his honorary doctorate was “an incredible and unexpected honour” that made him feel “very, very humble”, saying: “I think the university does absolutely fantastic things and it is brilliant to be honoured this way.”

His honorary doctorate has also been featured on the BBC News website, London Wired website and radio stations in London.

ITV Meridian News also came along to the graduation ceremony for the School of Tourism, and spoke to graduates about whether they had found it difficult to secure a job.

Social affairs correspondent Christine Alsford said that Bournemouth University had one of the best graduate employment rates in the country and featured Hospitality Management graduate Sophie Haskins, who has set up her own cake–making business and baked graduation–themed cakes for the ceremony reception.

Afterwards, Christine also tweeted that she found the graduates at BU “inspiring and optimistic”

Following the ceremonies, the Bournemouth Echo wrote about the graduation ceremony for the Media School – including Paul Franklin saying that the media school had become a “powerhouse of creative reputation” and a speech given by Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers at the graduation ceremony for the Media School.

Reminding the graduates that they had huge opportunities but huge responsibility, Lord Phillips said: “I happen to believe this is the finest media school in the country. So congratulations to you, your family and friends and all those who teach at the university.”

The article was written by assistant editor at the Bournemouth Echo Andy Martin – who also teaches Multimedia Journalism students at BU, and presented multimedia journalism student Kirsty Callaghan with the annual Daily Echo award at the graduation ceremony.

BU student creates best film about his placement abroad

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A Bournemouth University student has won a national competition for creating the best film about his placement year abroad.

BSc (Hons) Product Design student Martin Constantine spent his placement year in French town Charleville–Méziéres, working for Visteon – who design and manufacture parts for companies like Ford and Jaguar.

The film he created of his experiences won first prize in the Film Category of the British Council and Ecorys ‘Your Story’ Competition, which was open to all students who had undertaken an Erasmus placement abroad.

Martin, 23, who is now in the fourth year of his degree, has won £100 of Amazon vouchers and will attend an awards ceremony in London on November 15.

“I was just really surprised to win,” said Martin, who is from Woodbridge in Suffolk but lives in Winton while studying.

“I was really pleased to be able to tell my parents that I had won and the university as well.

“It is not really about winning the prize, it’s about the recognition of the work I put into the placement and the experience that I had.”

The video shows Martin at work, and some of the machinery he used during his placement, but also focuses on the experiences that he had outside of work – such as making new friends, learning French and kayaking.

“I got the opportunity to do things I would never have been able to do if I had stayed at home – like learning to play ice hockey,” he said.

“I was filming bits and pieces for myself anyway as I was going to festivals and historical re–enactments and I just wanted to keep a memento.”

He added: “I’m not really sure what the competition was like but I like to think that my film had a nice balance of the overall experience – so the work and the social side of things and engaging with the people in France and doing things with them.”

Erasmus placements are funded by the European Union and mean students from higher education institutions can spend a placement period of between three months and one year in another EU country.

Bournemouth University helps students to find the placement abroad and offers support throughout the year, making sure students are settled and happy.

Martin was in Charleville–Mezieres from last June to July this year, and said he learnt a lot both about industry and himself.

“I really enjoyed my placement and it was actually quite difficult to come back.

“I felt like I really had a lot of responsibility and the company took me very seriously, as if I had been there ten years and I wasn’t just a work experience student.

“Everybody went to a lot of effort to make me feel welcome and at the weekend, I was making friends and we would go out and do different things, and I had new experiences because of it.”

He added: “I think going abroad adds a completely different dimension to your placement year. By putting myself a bit out of my comfort zone, it helped me to develop much more.

“Now I can speak French and now I can say that I received an award for my film about the experience. It is something that little bit extra that makes you stand out.”

He said that the experience has also helped him decide what career path to go down after graduating.

“It has definitely given me the direction that I was never really sure about before.

“Now I know that I want to work in the automotive industry, as I found the whole experience so great.”

Watch Martin’s video

 

Health professionals learn more about nutrition for cancer survivors

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Health professionals found out more about the right nutrition and lifestyle advice to give cancer survivors at a masterclass jointly organised by Bournemouth University and Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Health professionals attended a masterclass jointly organised by Bournemouth University and Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Evidence increasingly shows the importance of a good diet and gentle exercise for cancer survivors – with improved survival rates, physical and psychological wellbeing and a reduced risk of cancer recurring.

The free Nutrition for Survivors Beyond Cancer masterclass on Thursday gave professionals involved in the care of cancer survivors information on current evidence and key advice to give patients.

It was jointly organised by Dr Jane Murphy, framework lead for nutrition and exercise science in BU’s School of Health and Social Care, and Grainne Ford, dietetic manager at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Jane said: “The purpose of the masterclass is to think about how we can improve the nutritional knowledge of people working on the frontline, who care for people who have had cancer and are living beyond cancer, and to think about how we can improve their nutritional skills.

“We also want to signpost them to important nutritional resources and a key evidence base that will support and improve their practice.”

The masterclass took place at the Village Hotel, next to Royal Bournemouth Hospital, and a diverse range of health professionals attended – from hospital managers to fitness instructors and cancer support group representatives.

Talks included the importance of gentle exercise, the evidence linking nutrition and cancer and how to broach the subject of the need to lose weight with cancer survivors.

There were also interactive workshops, where health professionals were given cancer survivor case studies and had to come up with a nutrition and lifestyle plan for them.

Grainne said that people often gained weight following cancer treatment – particularly for breast cancer – and it was important to raise the benefits of being a healthy weight sensitively once people were in remission.

“There is a lot more emerging evidence to show that diet and lifestyle can really help cancer survivors and it’s an area that patients can take into their own hands and feel empowered by doing something about the nutrition side of their life.”

She added: “The feedback that we have had shows a real need for this kind of class to help people understand what the current evidence is and what the recommendations are, so that they can take those practical things back to their patients and help them on their journey.”

Advice for cancer survivors includes limiting the amount of red and processed meat they eat, avoiding sugary drinks and alcohol and being active for at least 30 minutes a day.

The masterclass also helped to dispel some of the common myths about cancer and nutrition – such as the fact that dietary supplements alone do not benefit cancer survivors, and large doses are actually negatively associated with cancer recurrence.

Mary Milne, who works with breast cancer patients and is currently doing a PhD into cancer survivorship, was one of those who attended the masterclass.

She said: “Nutrition often comes up and we tend to find that patients are often informed via the internet – whether it’s right or it’s wrong – so it’s important that health professionals are able to give informed answers to the questions they are asked and to feel comfortable giving that answer.

“The masterclass has been excellent. I think it has been targeted perfectly to the health professionals – and we’ll leave feeling informed and ready to go back and hopefully just provide a better service for cancer survivors.”

A second free masterclass will take place at the Kingston Maurward Conference Centre in Dorchester, on Wednesday 21 November.

It will run from 10am–4pm and you can find more information and book online here

BU students win two international awards for short film

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An animated film created by students at Bournemouth University has won two awards at international film festivals.

Almighty Doodles was made by computer animation and sound design students as part of a coursework project last May.

But the one minute film has also impressed at international film festivals, and has been awarded both audience and jury prizes.

Simone Giampaolo, who is now in his third year of a BA Computer Animation Arts degree at BU, directed Almighty Doodles and entered it into one–minute film festivals in Switzerland and the USA.

Simone, 23, is from Switzerland, and was able to attend the One Minute Film and Video Festival 2012 – which took place in Aarau, Switzerland in August – to see the film win the Audience Award.

The group won a trophy and a camera – which they will share between them and use for future projects while they are studying.

“The festival was awesome but I didn’t expect the film to win any prizes,” said Simone, who lives in Winton while at BU.

“To be honest, we had to rush in the end to submit something but, even though there are some little mistakes, people still seem to like it.”

He added: “The film festivals are quite established and there were people there with a wide range of skills, and some film–makers who had been doing it for ten years.

“At the end of the day, this short was nothing more than a university assignment and I think it is really nice, and it really makes us proud that something we did for university could be screened abroad and watched by hundreds of people.

He added: “It was a really nice feeling and great that I could be there and explain how the film was made and the people who worked on it.”

He also submitted the film to the Film One Fest, which is based in New Jersey, in the USA, and takes place in July.

Although no–one from the group was able to attend the festival, they were told they had won a Jury Prize via email, and received a certificate through the post.

“It is quite a big festival,” Simone said. “I would have loved to have gone there. It has a giant screen in a field and they told me that more than 1,000 people watched the film.

“I never thought we would get an award at both the festivals, so we are all really happy.”

Almighty Doodles was created by Simone and fellow BA Computer Animation Arts students Jack Carrington and Danit Klibansky; BA Computer Visualisation and Animation students Rob Stratton and Rochelle Flynn, who are now in their third year; and BSc Music and Audio Technology students Andrei Leskovski and Asha Blatherwick – who worked on the sound for the film and have now finished their degrees at BU.

The film is inspired by the Book of Genesis, and takes place in ‘God’s studio’, showing him selecting the creatures he will bring to life. Man manages to escape before he can be rejected by God’s holy stamp.

“We were trying to make fun of humankind but do it in a funny, naïve way without offending anyone,” said Simone.

He added that he hopes the film’s success will inspire future students who have to do the coursework project, which involves pitching and creating a one minute film.

“After spending hours and hours on a project, you want your work to be showed somewhere,” he said.

“Hopefully letting this year’s second year students know that one of these film projects was shown at international film festivals will help them see it is not just an assessment.

“Bournemouth University is really renowned for computer animation, so the fact that we got to showcase our skills while we are still students is really positive.

View Almighty Doodles

Students interview Skyfall stars Daniel Craig and Naomie Harris

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Two students from Bournemouth University’s Media School got to interview James Bond stars Daniel Craig and Naomie Harris for BBC Radio 1.

Third year BA Multimedia Journalism student Natalie Morris and second year BA English student Ellie Parkinson were whisked off to London to interview the actors on Monday, ahead of the release of latest Bond film Skyfall.

The friends, who met while living in Cranborne House halls together in first year, entered a competition organised by the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show, and were told live on air that they had won.

Natalie said: “We had a phone call and we had to answer in the style of Bond – ‘The name’s Morris, Natalie Morris’.

“We were very excited and were literally jumping up and down on our sofa. We definitely broke a few springs.”

The girls, who live in Winton, won the competition after creating a parody video of their favourite Bond scene – from film The World is Not Enough – which featured them dressed up as James and one of his Bond girls, Elektra King.

The girls’ video shows them having fun in a toy speedboat and fully-clothed in the bath, before James kills Elektra.

“We love James Bond and all Daniel Craig’s movies,” said Natalie, 22, who is from Birmingham.

“We watched a few different clips of Bond murdering different women and thought that the scene with Elektra would be great to use.

“We gave it a unique twist to be as funny as possibly, and it literally took us about half an hour to film.

“It was great fun to do – especially the bath scene, although we did get a bit soaked when we were riding the speedboat.”

Natalie and Ellie, 21, who is from Berkshire, were one of five competition winners who interviewed the Skyfall stars.

They got to visit the Radio 1 studios and appear on air before being taken to The Dorchester Hotel to interview Daniel Craig, who plays James Bond himself, and Naomie Harris, who stars as Bond girl Eve in the film.

The interview was played on the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show on Tuesday.

“We got a chauffeur-driven Aston Martin from the Radio 1 studios to the hotel, which was amazing,” said Natalie.

“It was quite surreal, but very exciting. We felt like celebrities – especially cruising down Oxford Street in a £250,000 Aston Martin.”

The girls got to ask the actors which one gadget they would choose that James Bond didn’t have and why.

Daniel Craig said that he would like something from another superhero film, such as Iron Man’s suit, while Naomie Harris said that she would like something that allowed her to go back in time.

“They were really lovely,” said Natalie. “Daniel Craig has amazing blue eyes and Naomie Harris was warm and friendly, and also very beautiful.

“We still haven’t been able to let it all sink in – it’s very surreal.”

She added: “It’s my aim to be a presenter either on radio or TV, and this experience will definitely help me.”

Watch the girls interview Naomie Harris and Daniel Craig

 

Historian talks at BU about black community during World War II

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Historian Stephen Bourne was at Bournemouth University to share the forgotten stories of black people who helped Britain’s war effort.

His talk, Mother Country – Britain’s Black Community on the Home Front 1939–45, took place in a packed lecture theatre of students and staff in Bournemouth House on Tuesday.

He said: “I was pleasantly surprised by the turnout and the diversity of people in the room, with such a wide mix of students from different courses.

“I think it is important that these stories are told and their contribution needs to be explained to young people.

“Time is running out as we are getting further and further away from World War II and young people need to get out there and talk to older people.”

Stephen is an author of 19 books, looking at the secret histories which are often ignored, forgotten and overlooked.

His talk covered some of stories of black people during World War II – from children who were evacuated to find that no–one in rural villages wanted to take them in, to a mother who wrote to Prime Minister Winston Churchill after they were forced out of their local air–raid shelter by police.

He also talked about some of the black people who contributed to the war effort – such nurses who came over from the West Indies and other British Colonies to help.

He said: “During the war, people did pull together – in spite of all the negative stories. “For every negative story, I found a positive story – and that is very important for me as part of a history of black Britain.

“Some historians portray black people in history as victims, but I don’t think that is healthy and I don’t think that is the bigger picture.”

The talk was one of a number of events taking place at Bournemouth University throughout October to mark Black History Month.

On Monday 29th October there will be a screening of film The Help, in Kimmeridge House, from 6pm. The screening is open to staff, students and members of the public.

On Tuesday 30th October, there will be a culture evening in the Loft, in Poole House, which will feature live music, West African food and a display of fashion. The event runs from 7pm and is open to staff, students and the public.

Dr James Palfreman–Kay, equality and diversity adviser at Bournemouth University, said: “We celebrate Black History Month as well as other cultural events at Bournemouth University because we are a multicultural university with a diverse range of students and staff.

“We hope that by marking such events it shows that we are an inclusive and diverse community.”

If you would like more information about events happening at BU as part of Black History Month, email multiculture@bournemouth.ac.uk.