Category / Events

Further CMWH contributions to 2026 ICM congress

Congratulations are due to BU’s Midwifery Lecturer Laura Stedman whose abstract ‘The impact of neonatal intensive care admission at term following gestational diabetes mellitus: A neglected area’ has been accepted for presentation at the 2026 ICM (International Confederation of Midwives) in Lisbon, Portugal.  Also congratulations to BU’s Lead Midwife for Education, Dr. Juliet Wood.  She been accepted to present a workshop at the ICM Congress under the heading ‘Supporting student midwife confidence to facilitate physiologic birth: A workshop for clinical and academic faculty‘.  The latter workshop is a proper international collaboration as the team also includes colleagues from Northern Ireland, the USA, Poland and Australia.

The ICM works with midwives and midwives’ associations globally to ensure that women and gender diverse people have access to a midwife’s care before, during and after childbirth. We advocate for midwives to practise the full scope of our profession, providing education, sexual and reproductive health services and newborn care.

Congratulations to both!

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health

Researcher Development Opportunities for ECRs

We are excited to introduce the new Researcher Development and Culture Team within the Doctoral College at BU

Our team – Enrica Conrotto, Beverley Allen, and Zoe Leonard support BU researchers at all career stages. We will work together to shape and deliver initiatives that strengthen researcher development and promote a positive research culture across BU.

As we are currently developing a more structured programme of support, specifically for Early Career Researchers, we are pleased to offer you immediate access to 10 core online workshops from the Researcher Development Programme

You can register for the following online workshops via Eventbrite, where you will also find an overview of each session.

Research data management: An introduction – Friday 10 October, 12-1pm

Ethics: Values, standards, and BU process Q&A – Monday 3 November, 12-1pm

Ethics: Clinical research governance – Monday 3 November, 2-3pm

Presentation skills for researchers – Friday 7 November, 10am-1pm

NVivo: Day 1 – Setting up your qualitative database – Thursday 13 November, 9am-5pm

NVivo: Day 2 – Analysing your data – Friday 14 November, 9am-5pm

Publishing your research: Mastering journal paper writing (SSH) – Wednesday 19 November, 2-4pm

Publishing your research: Mastering journal paper writing (STEM) – Thursday 27 November, 10am-12pm

Academic writing: Reduce anxiety – Friday 5 December, 10am-1pm

Integrating GenAI in our Research: A practical guide – Monday 17 November, 10am-12pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional opportunities are available via the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network

The British Academy Early Career Researcher Network is an inclusive, researcher-led membership body accessible to all UK-based early career researchers working in the humanities and social sciences.

Finding your Voice – Stream 2 Advancement – Wednesday 8 October, 10:30am-4:30pm

Early Career Researcher Network Welcome Session and Development Fund Drop In – Thursday 9 October, 11am-12:30pm

Mastering CV and Cover Letters for International Scholars in the UK – Friday 10 October, 10am-12pm

Being Strategic & Prioritising Your Time – Stream 2 Advancement – Wednesday 15 October, 9:30am-12:30pm

Empirical Research – Coding and Analysing interview data with Dr James Lovelock – Wednesday 15 October, 3-4:30pm

Curating Conversations: Setbacks, support and success – Thursday 16 October, 10am-4pm

Compass 1: Reframing Research Identity – Thursday 16 October, register to access

Finding your Voice – Stream 2 Advancement – Thursday 16 October, 10am-4pm

Compass 2: Pathways Beyond Academia -Thursday 6 November, register to access

Conference: Company Law and Sustainability – Friday 7 November, register to access

Compass 3: Strategic Action Planning – Thursday 27 November, register to access

Other useful resources for ECRs are available on the Elsevier Research Academy. The Elsevier Researcher Academy is a free e-learning platform designed to unlock the potential of early and mid-career researchers.

Finally, we are pleased to invite you to our 3C event, taking place on Talbot Campus, Wednesday 12 November 3-4pm

These regular social events provide an informal forum to connect with fellow researchers, exchange ideas, and develop new collaborations over refreshments. All members of the BU research community are invited to attend and contribute.

Find out more and register here

Please keep a look out for further announcements regarding the Early Career Researcher Network.

Should you have any questions, suggestions, or would like to discuss your development needs, please contact the team: researcherdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk

Events to celebrate National Postdoc Appreciation Week 2025

National Postdoc Appreciation Week is just around the corner, taking place 15-19 September 2025

UK National Postdoc Appreciation Week (UKNPAW) is an annual nationwide event celebrating the vital contributions postdocs make to research and academic life.

This year, from Monday 15 September to Friday 19 September 2025, events will take place to connect and support researchers. To celebrate, you can attend a special online flagship event: “From surviving to thriving: planning your future” designed to help you take control of your career path. Join to explore self-leadership and hear from those who have successfully navigated their own professional journeys.

The event will feature a screening of “Postdoc: The Musical,” an entertaining musical celebrating the lives and achievements of postdocs. Following the film, Dr Chris Russell will deliver a masterclass on resilience and self-leadership in an uncertain world. The event will conclude with a discussion featuring a diverse panel of academics who will share their career journeys and offer tips on navigating professional uncertainties.

Event Details:

  • Date: Monday 15 September 2025
  • Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
  • Register here

For more information and to catch up on past events, visit the UKNPAW website

Free event on Solutions to Inequalities in Dementia Diagnosis and Care

Dr Catherine Talbot is hosting the upcoming EquaDem Quarterly Network Event on the afternoon of 3rd September at Bournemouth Gateway Building. This free, in-person event brings together researchers, students, health and social care professionals, third-sector workers, and people with lived experience to explore how we can collectively reduce inequalities in dementia diagnosis and care.

The event will feature short presentations from Dr Gladys Yinusa, who will discuss how nutritional care can be tailored to support people with dementia and carers; Sue Warr from PramaLife, who will highlight the charity’s work delivering dementia awareness training and running local support groups; and, a public advisor researcher from the EquaDem Network, who will provide an update on their ongoing work.
Attendees will also take part in networking activities designed to spark discussion about solutions to address dementia inequalities.
Register your attendance for free here: Equadem Quarterly Network Event Bournemouth Tickets, Wednesday 3 September 2025 at 12:30 PM | Eventbrite

AI and Academic Identities: Navigating the Future

The RKEDF is excited to announce this ECRN seed funded event:

AI and Academic Identities: Navigating the Future
📅 Thursday, 18th July 2025
🕚 11:00 AM – 3:15 PM
📍 FG06, Fusion Building, Bournemouth University

This interdisciplinary workshop explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping academic identity, challenging traditional roles in research, teaching, authorship, and professional development. Join us to reflect on what it means to be an academic in the age of AI and how to navigate these shifts with clarity and confidence.

Workshop aims:

  • Examine how AI is influencing the academic profession and the nature of scholarly work
  • Share cross-disciplinary perspectives and with me or Samreen experiences
  • Encourage open dialogue around ethical, practical, and professional implications
  • Consider how universities can support identity development in a tech-driven landscape

Click here for more information and to register your place.

(Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis)

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with mconsonirubio@bournemouth.ac.uk  or sashraf@bournemouth.ac.uk

PramaLife to present at the at Community Voices Webinar Wednesday 9 July, 12-1pm

We’re excited to welcome Sue Warr, Manager at PramaLife, to our July Community Voices Webinar. Sue will be sharing insights into the impactful work PramaLife is doing to empower independent lives for older people across Dorset.

For over 40 years, PramaLife has been providing care services throughout Dorset. Their vision is a world where no one is unfairly disadvantaged or excluded due to age or infirmity and where everyone can enjoy life as they age. Learn more about their mission at prama.org.uk.
Community voices is a collaboration between BU PIER partnership and Centre for Seldom Heard Voices to provide a platform and a voice to local community activists.
Please do join us for this webinar
Meeting ID: 358 121 945 336
Passcode: h6uD9oU3

Successful BU RSA away day!

On Thursday 19th June, Bournemouth University hosted a Research Staff Association (RSA) away day dedicated to supporting research staff across faculties. The event, themed Getting Started, Securing Funding, and Advancing Careers, brought together a small but engaged group of around 10 research staff members from across the university. While modest in size, the group dynamic created a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere that encouraged open discussion, shared experiences, and deep reflection.

The away day was organised by RSA Rep Dr. Gladys Yinusa (FHSS), with support from RSA Reps Dr. Pooja Shah (FHSS) and Dr. Michael Adjeisah. The agenda focused on practical tools and insights to support early- and mid-career researchers in navigating the complexities of academic funding and career development.

We kicked off the day with a hands-on workshop delivered by BU’s Research Development and Support (RDS) team. This session, Getting Started with Grant Applications, demystified the process of identifying funding opportunities, understanding funder expectations, and developing strong proposals. The RDS team’s practical advice was especially useful for those of us who are still finding our footing in the world of grant writing, and the interactive format gave everyone the chance to ask questions relevant to their own projects.

The second session featured a case study presentation by Dr Michelle Heward from FST. Michelle shared her personal journey navigating funding applications, reflecting on both challenges and successes. Her talk, Experience with Funding Applications: Lessons Learned and Building on Small Pots of Funds, offered a candid look at the realities of funding in academia. She highlighted how starting small—such as with pilot grants or internal funding—can build the credibility and track record needed to apply for larger awards. Michelle’s honesty and encouragement were appreciated by all, and her story resonated with many of the early-career researchers in the room.

Beyond the sessions, the away day sparked rich conversations about the broader research culture at BU. A recurring theme was the sense of isolation often experienced by research staff—working on fixed-term contracts, across departments, and sometimes with limited opportunities to connect with peers. We discussed the need for more visible and accessible research communities within the university and brainstormed ways to build a greater sense of belonging.

There was also discussion around the design of future training opportunities—both inclusive of and separate from the doctoral college—to ensure relevance and usefulness for all research career stages. Participants expressed interest in more tailored sessions that reflect the diverse needs and experiences of researchers across faculties.

The away day was a valuable reminder of the importance of coming together as a research community. It gave us space to share knowledge, learn from each other, and feel seen in roles that are often overlooked. We’re looking forward to building on the momentum from this event to strengthen networks, advocate for researcher needs, and continue creating opportunities for meaningful connection and career development.

Dr Pooja Shah,

Postdoctoral researcher

TANGERINE Project (nuTritional heAlth aNd aGeing in oldER ethnIc miNoritiEs)

World Drowning Prevention Day at BU

Next month on July 25th  Bournemouth University will join in with the world-wide celebrations of World Drowning Prevention Day 2025.  The first achievement to highlight is Dr. Jill Nash interesting piece recently published in The Conversation, in which she highlights Five ways to keep teenagers safe by the water [1]. It is also worthwhile to read last year’s contribution to World Drowning Prevention Day by Jill on the dangers of being near water and the role emotions play in making safer decisions [2].

The second major piece of research related to drowning prevention at Bournemouth University is the Sonamoni Project. The Sonamoni Project is working with communities in rural Bangladesh utilizing human-centered design (HCD) techniques.  The research project is identifying solutions to reduce the number of drowning deaths in newly mobile children (6-24 months), developing prototype, and assessing the acceptability and usability of potential  interventions. Sonamoni is coordinated by Bournemouth University in collaboration with the University of the West of England (Bristol), the University of Southampton, and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Design Without Border (DWB) in Uganda and Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB). The interdisciplinary team at Bournemouth University covers three faculties and six academics: Dr. Mavis Bengtsson, Dr. Kyungjoo Cha, Dr. Mehdi Chowdhury, Dr. Yong Hun Lim, Mr. John Powell, and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen.

This international project funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) through its Research and Innovation for Global Health Transformation programme, also includes a BU-based PhD student, Mr. Md. Shafkat Hossein.  He recently published the first article related to drowning prevention in Nepal [3].

References:

  1. Nash, J. (2025) Five ways to keep teenagers safe by the waterThe Conversation June 20th.
  2. Nash, J. (2024) Why so many people drown at the water’s edge The Conversation July 25th.
  3. Hossain, M. S., Pant, P. R., van Teijlingen, E., Sedain, B., & Rahman, A. (2024). Drowning Prevention should be a Public Health Issue in Nepal. International Journal of Social Sciences and Management, 11(4): 83–87.

Very last chance to register! Don’t miss out! CWLTH Rehab & Prevention networking and development Wed 25th June!

Centre for Wellbeing & Long-term Health, Rehabilitation & Prevention workstream Networking and Development Event – Wed 25th June! In BG-212. 

Don’t miss out, register now!

Does your research broadly fit the category of “rehabilitation and prevention”? Then join us for this first event of the Rehabilitation & Prevention workstream of the Centre for Wellbeing and Long-term Health!

Whatever the focus of your research is or your professional background, whether it be at population or individual level, public health or rehabilitation of a particular condition in a particular demographic of people, whether you are a PGR or a senior academic, we would like this to be your research home. Come and share the highlights of what you do in a 5-minute Lightning talk, and hear from the highlights of others.

We want this to be a stimulating event and you might just find your next collaborator(s). Dr Jonny Branney and Dr Katie Collins, the workstream leads, will be taking notes with a view to creating a quick reference guide of what the workstream members are working on to make it easier for you to find the expertise you need for your next project. We want the workstream to be a place to talk about the sort of research enquiry that gets you out of bed in the morning, that puts the joy into your working life. A place to share and celebrate in your project successes, and to get a welcome lift when your latest research bid or journal submissions are rejected. A place to learn from those more experienced, from those with alternative expertise, identify a mentor or a coach, and for others to learn from you and benefit from your coaching and mentorship. A place to test out your ideas and get feedback from critical friends. A place to identify collaborators for your next research project. Is your research broadly “rehabilitation and prevention”? Then this is your place. Register here!!

Lightning Talks

Attendees are required to prepare a 5 minute lightning talk – 5 PowerPoint slides maximum to summarise your background as a researcher, what you’ve done, are doing, and plan to do. Nice and concise so we quickly get to know what everyone is about. There will be a timer!

Rough Itinerary

12:30pm Lunch – provided

1pm Welcome from workstream leads

1.05pm 5-minute Lightning talks

2.50pm – 3pm Closing remarks from workstream leads

See you there! Room BG-212.

For further information on this event please contact theme leads, Dr Jonny Branney (jbranney@bournemouth.ac.uk) or Dr Katey Collins (kcollins@bournemouth.ac.uk).

Book now – The supporting eating and drinking well with dementia at home event

Thursday 24 July 2025

10:30 AM – 3:30 PM

The Eating and Drinking Well with Dementia at Home Guide is a new resource to support people living with dementia at home, specifically designed for family carers, friends, and home care workers.

We are honoured to welcome our keynote speaker, Dr Jane Townson OBE, Chief Executive, Homecare Association, who brings extensive expertise spanning social care, health, housing, and the technology sector. We will also be joined by people with lived experience, researchers, and representatives from key stakeholder organisations.

Everyone interested in nutrition, dementia, and home care is welcome, whether you’re looking to learn more, support a family member, or are a care provider in the social care or healthcare sector!

• Keynote address

• Networking over lunch

• About TOMATO project and research findings that informed the development of the resources

• Panel and audience discussions

• Official launch of the resource (print copy available on the day).

For further information on this event, please contact HSSRKEAdministrator@bournemouth.ac.uk

Book your place now at www.bournemouth.ac.uk/dementia-at-home Please let us know of any specific dietary requirements.

Postgraduate Research Summer Social – 1 week to go!


1 week to go till the Postgraduate Research Summer Social. We’re so excited to welcome you to the Branksome Dene Room for an afternoon of patio games, delicious food and sunshine by the beach! 


We’ve booked this stunning location for the exclusive use of PGRs and Supervisors for the afternoon to unwind and reconnect up with your fellow researchers and academics.

The Doctoral College PGR events at Branksome Dene Room are always a hit so we hope you can join us!

We are pleased to offer a Greek style lunch menu including a pita with your choice of filling (chicken souvlaki, vegetarian or vegan) served with chips, a salad bar, teas, coffees and soft drinks! You are also welcome to bring your own refreshments to enjoy.

Register here

Ticket: £5

Please note there are limited spaces available, so please book as soon as possible if you would like to attend. 

If you have any questions, please do get in touch: pgrskillsdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk

LinkedIn: Doctoral College – Bournemouth University

X: @BUDocCollege | #BUDoctoralCollege

World Wellbeing Week 2025 – free activities for PGRs


The international awareness event World Wellbeing Week takes place in June each year. To celebrate, the Doctoral College is pleased to share a variety of free activities available to PGRs to give you the opportunity to unwind and look after your mental, physical, and social wellbeing. 


Herbal tea and arts & crafts

Enjoy some arts and crafts in the sun whilst relaxing with herbal teas!

📅 When: Tuesday 24 June – Friday 27 June, 10:00-14:00
📍 Where: Doctoral College (DLG08) outside patio, Talbot Campus

Community Garden volunteering

Spend some time enjoying nature and volunteer in the garden to support the mission to grow food for each other and those in need.

📅 When: Wednesday 25 June, 12:00-14:00
📍 Where: BU Community Garden, Talbot Campus

Seed bombs & sweet treats

Join us for a fun, hands-on activity where you’ll make your own eco-friendly seed bombs using clay, soil, and seeds. Take these home with you and plant them in your garden or green up a forgotten public place! 🌱
There will also be some delicious sweet treats for you to enjoy!

📅 When: Wednesday 25 June, 15:00-16:00
📍 Where: BU Community Garden, Talbot Campus

Register here

Table tennis

Following last year’s successful table tennis wellbeing event, we have booked the SportBU studio again for more table tennis fun!

Socialise with other PGR students and get active in a relaxed environment. This will not be a competitive tournament, just simply come and have a friendly hit.

📅 When: Wednesday 25 June, 19:00-20:30
📍 Where: SportBU, Talbot Campus

Register here

Paint & Sip to Summer

Unwind and paint your own little summer inspired canvas to take home for decoration over tasty mocktails, laughter and summery bites!

📅 When: Thursday 26 June, 16:00-18:00
📍 Where: BU Community Garden, Talbot Campus

Register here

 

Click here for more information about World Wellbeing Week 2025

Best wishes,

The Doctoral College

Reflecting on Alzheimer’s Awareness Week: A Day of Learning, Connection and Innovation

On Monday 20th May, we were proud to host a packed day of events at Bournemouth University in support of Alzheimer’s Awareness Week — bringing together housing professionals, students, researchers, and community partners to raise awareness and share ideas around dementia-friendly practices.

Our day began with an insightful Dementia Friends session, led by the Alzheimer’s Society. Attendees learned more about what it’s like to live with dementia and how small, everyday actions can make a big difference. At the end of the session, everyone also received their Dementia Friends badge, joining a growing network of people committed to creating a more dementia-friendly society.
After lunch, we explored the Time for Dementia programme — an inspiring initiative connecting healthcare students with people living with dementia and their carers to foster deeper empathy and understanding.
The afternoon saw us dive into some thought-provoking research and innovation. Dr Aisling Flynn shared her work on how virtual reality technology can help combat social isolation for people living with dementia, while Dr Michele Board presented the SERVED project, examining the unique needs of military veterans affected by dementia.
After a short break, we rounded off the day with the exciting launch of ‘Insight Dementia: Going into Hospital’ — a brand-new resource for hospital staff, featuring immersive VR demonstrations and printed copies of the resource given to attendees and practice partners.
It was a true pleasure to welcome a mix of staff, students, practice partners attend these sessions and raise awareness for dementia. Thank you to everyone who joined us for an inspiring, informative day!