Interdisciplinary Research Week 2015: 11-15 May

interdisciplinary-research-weekJoin us to celebrate the breadth and excellence of Bournemouth University’s research across its many disciplines, and spark new collaborations and ideas among our diverse research community.

This week-long event includes a programme of lectures, demonstrations, discussions, and a film, all aimed at showcasing some of the fantastic research being undertaken at the university.

Bournemouth University is proud to be at the centre of a network of educational, business and local government partners who form a powerful team dedicated to world-class research. Together we create a rewarding exchange of knowledge that stimulates new ideas to examine important societal issues across the globe. Our innovative integration of perspectives from the arts, humanities and social sciences, along with methods drawn from computer science, engineering or the physical sciences, puts us at the forefront of developing new advanced strategies and technologies.

Find out more about what’s happening during Interdisciplinary Research Week >>

Student Showcases Research in Parliament

Karolina-HospitalityKarolina Tarnauskaite, a BA (Hons) Level H International Hospitality Management student recently travelled to Westminster to show-case her dissertation research at the ‘Posters in Parliament’ event.

Posters in Parliament brings together some of the best undergraduate research from across the country. The event is part of the British Conference of Undergraduate Research (BCUR), a group of universities dedicated to encouraging a national culture of undergraduate research.

This year Karolina was one of 40 students to present their work. Karolina’s research topic ‘Spanish Tapas Concept in other cuisines in the UK Hospitality Industry’, explores peoples’ perceptions and attitudes toward Tapas style meal experiences.

Reflecting on her time at Westminster, Karolina said: “Posters in Parliament gave me the perfect opportunity to present my research to the wider society, and it was a very successful event.

“Not only was I able to present the issues that I have an interest in, but also to discuss these issues with people from different backgrounds with numerous attitudes and opinions. I would say it’s the biggest compliment to be chosen to present Undergraduate Research at Posters in Parliament.”

Karolina hopes that her findings could provide recommendations for those businesses who have implemented or are interested in the Tapas concept.

Research Photography Competition – Vote Now

‘Can you tell the story of your research in a single image?’ That’s the challenge we set BU’s academics and postgraduates earlier this year, and the overwhelming response saw researchers from all across the university downing tools to take up their cameras and think of unusual ways to illustrate their research. The resulting images demonstrate not just the creativity of our academics and postgraduates, but also the fascinating range of research taking place at BU.

Researchers from all across the university working in areas as diverse as dementia, archaeology, kayaking and 3D printing submitted images to the competition, and now we want your help to decide which pictures should form a photography exhibition on Talbot campus later this year.

To vote for your favourite images, visit our research website or Facebook page and vote for as many images as you like. Perhaps a particular research subject strikes a chord with you, or you find a certain image especially evocative – whatever your reasons for having a favourite, the content of the exhibition is up to you to decide!

Make sure you vote to ensure that your favourite image is part of the exhibition on Talbot campus later this year. The deadline for voting is Friday 27 March. Details of the exhibition will follow once voting is complete.

BU Celebrates British Science Week

british-science-week-logo-300To mark British Science Week (13-22 March), BU is celebrating excellent examples of research taking place all across the university.

From 10am on Monday 16 March, students and staff will be able to participate in a range of hands on science activities run by BU’s academics, postgraduates and student societies. This will include fingerprinting activities, face recognition and eye tracking activities, and even opportunities to participate in current research projects.

Over the course of the two days, staff and students will also have the opportunity to hear short talks from academics featured in the 2015 Bournemouth Research Chronicle which will be launched to coincide with British Science Week. Featuring examples of research from all over the university, the BRC gives a small insight into some of the exciting work going on at BU, including improving nutrition in cancer survivors, reducing fatigue in people with MS and mapping auditory processes.

The research featured in the BRC has been published ‘open access’, meaning that unlike traditional models of academic publishing, it is freely available for anyone to read and use. Open access is increasingly becoming a feature of academic life, and it’s exciting to see BU’s researchers are already taking the opportunity to share their work with a wider audience. Staff from the Research Knowledge and Exchange Office will be on hand to answer any questions academics may have about open access after each talk.

To see the full programme of events please visit the Research Blog.

BUDI Orchestra Volunteering Opportunity

BUDI-imageBU’s Dementia Institute (BUDI) are teaming up with professional musicians from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra to create a music group for people with dementia and their carers.

We are looking for up to 5 students to work alongside the musicians, to plan and run the workshops with people with dementia and their carers. You will support them to learn new instruments, sing and re-learn previous skills.

We’re looking for volunteers with a genuine interest in working with older people, and those who are able to commit to most, if not all, of the 8 weekly sessions. We also ask that individuals have some musical knowledge, either through singing or playing an instrument, as you will be supporting people to maintain rhythms and sing along to the music.

For more information about the project, please see our YouTube Video.

The workshops will run for 8 weeks, from Wednesday 4 February – Wednesday 25 March 2015, in the Student Hall, Talbot Campus. These rehearsals will culminate in a final performance on Friday 27 March, in the Atrium, Talbot Campus, to showcase the group’s efforts.

Previous volunteers have found this to be a fun experience that has helped them to gain confidence and communication skills.

For more information, and to volunteer, please contact Laura Reynolds: 01202 962546, or email lreynolds@bournemouth.ac.uk

Deadline for contact: 6 February 2015.

Vice-Chancellor’s Staff Award Winners – Faculty of Science & Technology

Durotrigues-375x250Congratulations to The Durotriges Project Team being Collaborative Team Award Winners 2014 at the Vice-Chancellor Staff Awards 2014.

The Durotriges Project Team were identified as a ‘beacon of Fusion’ to win a VC Staff Award 2014.

The Durotriges Project Team were nominated for the innovative way in which they have blended research, education and professional practice over a sustained period of time in order to enhance the student learning experience, but also to engage the wider community.

The Durotriges Project Team combine, in a wonderful way, research, education and professional practice.  Research because through excavation, they are attempting to unravel the history of the late Iron Age/Early Roman Period in South West England; education because they train generations of students from BU and further afield in the skills of the trade, and professional practice because they engage the wider public and volunteers and help people take the skills they’ve learnt into real life experience”.

This project is a beacon of Fusion that does BU proud.

Professor Holger Schutkowski, Professor of Bioarchaeology, Faculty of Science and Technology

Find further information on the 2014 Vice-Chancellor’s Staff Awards.

 

Disability History Month

To highlight Disability Month, a number of events are being held across both campuses in December. 

Tuesday 9 December – ‘Dementia Friends’

People with dementia get by with a little help from their friends; and anybody can become a Dementia Friend. It’s just about understanding more about dementia and the small things you can do to help people with the condition.

Dementia Friends learn a little bit about what it’s like to live with dementia and turn that understanding into action. Come along to this session to become a friend and get a simple introduction to Dementia, and find out how you can help.

For full details and to book, please head to the Eventbrite page.

Wednesday 10 December – Exploring the use of video within social media

The use of video within social media is providing researchers with novel ways of publicising research findings. This is inspiring researchers to think outside of traditional academic approaches, and enabling research to extend to new and wide-ranging audiences.

This event focuses on the Living Well with Dementia project, which was designed to use video to raise awareness and challenge gaps in perceptions and understanding of dementia. The project involved filming and disseminating a video featuring people with dementia and carers talking about what it means to live well with dementia.

The finished video was uploaded to YouTube, with members of the public invited to complete a short survey to establish whether watching the video challenged their understanding of dementia.

For full details and to book, please head to the Eventbrite page.

Friday 12 December – Changing attitudes: Paralympian’s perspectives on disability

Since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, there has been an increasing interest in the Paralympics, which resulted in the highest level of interest so far for London 2012, the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The impact of the Paralympics and, in particular, London, suggests the games have had a positive impact and have helped improve public attitude towards disability within Britain.

At this event, three Paralympian’s –  Kate Grey, swimmer and Sky Sports Living for Sport Mentor/BBC sports reporter, Ben Rushgrove, sprinter and Lucy Shuker, tennis player – will share their reflections on disability.

For full details and to book, please head to the Eventbrite page.

SURE: Showcasing Undergraduate Research Excellence

SureConference-800Proud of your research? Share your abstract to be part of BU’s SURE Conference 2015.

Research is a central part of academic life and each student’s undergraduate study, and the skills you develop by conducting research are relevant to almost all careers.

On 4 March 2015 BU is hosting its first SURE Conference to celebrate the outstanding research you’re already involved with, and demonstrate how research has enhanced your learning experience.

The call for submissions is now open, and BU undergraduates (including recent graduates) from all schools and courses are eligible to apply. Examples of research could be anything from preparing for your dissertation or an essay, to work carried out during your placement year, volunteering or work with academic societies. The main condition is that you demonstrate evidence of your critical thinking.

As well as developing new skills, getting involved with the SURE Conference is a good opportunity to enhance your CV through a conference presentation, publication of abstract or even being the winner of awards and prizes.

Get involved: register and submit your abstract (300 words max) on the SureBU website by Tuesday 20 January.

For more information read the SureBU frequently asked questions.

Prof. Colin Pritchard’s research into child mortality featured in Sunday Times

Professor Colin Pritchard’s research highlighting the issue of child mortality rates in Britain has been featured in the Sunday Times.

Professor Pritchard, a Researcher in Social Psychiatry at BU, found that the UK has one of the highest rates of children’s deaths among developed countries, coming fourth overall in the rankings.

He also found that there is a direct correlation between poverty and income inequality and child mortality in the Uk, with at least 1,827 children dying in 2010 alone.

“British children are trebly disadvantaged,” says Professor Pritchard in The Sunday Times article.

“They live in a country with the worst income equality in the western world, they live in the joint-lowest funded health system, and our under 15s are dying at a rate that puts us near the bottom of the world’s richest nations.”

Trailing behind the UK in the ratings was America, where on average 2,437 children per million died each year. Canada and New Zealand also fell below the UK’s record.

However, Professor Pritchard also found that there are improvements in Britain’s figures, with a fall of 62% since the 1979.

By Anushka Naidoo, BA (Hons) Communications and Media student