Category / Knowledge Exchange

BU carbon pricing research cited in select committee report on the financial sector and the UK’s net zero transition

BU research on the impact of carbon pricing has featured in a House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) report on the role of the financial sector in helping the UK achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

A cross-faculty team comprising Dr Alan Kirkpatrick and Dr Tahani Mohamed of the Business School and Dr Festus Adedoyin of the Faculty of Science and Technology submitted written evidence which has been published as part of the report, titled The financial sector and the UK’s net zero transition

Their evidence included recommendations considering the economic welfare implications of carbon emissions pricing at a national and international level, and the need for carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAMs) that has informed the EAC’s deliberations and subsequent recommendations to the Government.

Carbon pricing systems include carbon taxes and emissions trading systems (ETSs) in which carbon credits may be bought and sold thereby creating a ‘carbon market’ which, theoretically, could help achieve a global price for carbon.

In practice, however, carbon emissions pricing systems may encourage ‘carbon leakage’ – where businesses in countries that have more stringent carbon pricing rules try to save costs by moving production activities to countries with less demanding carbon pricing rules and hence lower costs.

CBAMs are designed to reduce carbon leakage by applying charges to take account of variations in carbon prices ruling in different jurisdictions.

The BU research team discussed the risk that CBAMs might be seen as ‘climate clubs’, reducing the competitiveness of carbon-intensive emerging economies but concluded that CBAMs are necessary to minimise carbon leakage when carbon emissions pricing systems such as the UK’s Emissions Trading Scheme are implemented.

In its report the EAC has recommended that the UK Government should develop a UK CBAM. The BU research team is continuing to analyse the impact of carbon emissions pricing on wider public wellbeing in the UK.

Read the full report – The financial sector and the UK’s net zero transition     

The 15th Annual Postgraduate Research Conference – Thank You

Thank you to all of our presenters, poster exhibitors, session chairs and of course delegates who supported the 15th Annual Postgraduate Research Conference. It is always a highlight on the Doctoral College events calendar and we hope you all enjoyed the day.

We were thrilled with the energy and enthusiasm on the day, and we were delighted to see a strong turnout of PGRs and colleagues showing their support and helping to promote our positive PGR research culture and community across BU.

Last chance to submit your feedback!

If you attended, either as a presenter or delegate, we would love to hear your feedback via this anonymous feedback form.

Your feedback will help us improve future conferences so please let us know your thoughts.

Feedback collection will close soon –  15 December 2023.

Postgraduate Research Showcase

Did you miss the 15th Annual Postgraduate Research Conference? Do not worry you will be able to visit the Atrium Gallery to view the posters that were exhibited on the day!

Half of the posters will be on display from 2 January. These will then be swapped out for the remaining posters, halfway through the exhibition, which will be displayed until 23 February.

We will be holding a celebration event on the 7 February 2024, with more information to follow so watch this space!

A Virtual Exhibition is now available via the BU website.

 

You can see more of the highlights from the day on twitter #BUPGRConf23 and #BUDoctoralCollege. 

I look forward to seeing many of your again next year!

Arabella [Doctoral College Marketing & Events Coordinator]

Applications are open for the 2024 – 2026 Parliamentary Thematic Research Leads

This is a great opportunity to become involved in Parliament, get your research noticed and have policy impact. Parliament’s Knowledge Exchange Unit has opened applications for Parliamentary Research Leads in the following areas:

Key dates

  • Monday 11 December: Parliamentary Thematic Research Leads 2024 – 2026 opportunity opens for applications
  • Wednesday 17 January, 1pm – 2.30 pm: Online Information Session
  • Sunday 3 March: Deadline for applications
  • Second half of April: Interviews
  • May – August: Research Organisation submits request for funding to UKRI, security clearance sought, Fellowship Agreement signed
  • September: Thematic Research Leads take up their positions in UK Parliament
    It is our expectation that the process will follow the timescales above. Should any changes to this be necessary, we will update the Thematic Research Leads webpage with details as soon as possible.We are aware that adjustments of timing may be required for some applicants throughout this process including disabled people, those with caring responsibilities and those observing religious occasions or festivities. If you have any adjustment needs that will impact your participation in the timescales above, please let us know so that we can consider an adjustment for you.

What is a Thematic Research Lead?

This is a prestigious and influential role, the purpose of which is to facilitate and enhance the use of research evidence and expertise in Parliament (in both the House of Commons and House of Lords) through effective knowledge exchange and collaboration. Each TRL leads on a specific policy area.

To achieve this, TRLs conduct three primary activities:

  • strategic support for the production and delivery of research evidence for Parliament, within a broad policy area
  • activities to support the development of a research and innovation landscape that facilitates and encourages knowledge exchange between Parliament and the research community
  • participation in a network of Thematic Research Leads to share intelligence and insights across policy areas.

Who is this opportunity open to?

Applications are open to:

  • all UK-based mid-career university researchers who already have a PhD and are employed on an academic contract, at a university. Exceptionally, they are also open to those who don’t have a PhD but have equivalent experience of a mid-career researcher and are employed in a UK university on an academic contract.
  • those who work in UKRI’s ‘Eligible Independent Research Organisations’ and are active researchers within their organisation. They will either have a PhD or equivalent experience of a mid-career researcher.
  • for the purposes of this call, mid-career researchers are defined as those employed on a contract that actively involves research (including joint teaching and research contracts) up to but not including professorial level.

Why apply to be a TRL?

The position of TRL is a highly influential and prestigious role at the heart of Parliament. As far as we are aware, we are the first parliament globally to have developed such a position, and the first nation to have embedded an academic network in our legislature. In a global landscape, delivering and developing this role therefore provides exciting possibilities.

The role offers an exciting opportunity for you to see first-hand how research feeds into policy, through shaping parliamentary work with your research expertise and participating in the development of parliamentary processes for knowledge exchange.

You will be uniquely placed to build connections with parliamentary and government stakeholders, and this participation will provide you with rich and varied experiences to support you on an upward professional trajectory. Current postholders have reported that the role has contributed to advancement in their careers, including to professorial level.

Where can I get more information?

  • More information is available on their webpage: www.parliament.uk/trls
  • You will also find detailed Guidance Notes on our TRL webpage – please read these before applying!
  • They will be holding an information session on 17 January, 1pm – 2.30pm. This session will be for interested applicants, knowledge mobilisers, professional services teams supporting applicants, or senior management; it’s an opportunity to find out more about the TRL role. The link to register for this will be made available on the TRL webpage and will be circulated in one of our normal weekly round-ups.

Please email impact@bournemouth.ac.uk in the first instance if you are interested in applying for one of these roles.

Food for Thought for Parliament: Presenting Consumer Insights to All Party Parliamentary Group

Professor in Consumer Behaviour Jeff Bray writes about his experiences presenting his research to an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)… 

Earlier this term I received an unsolicited invitation to attend Parliament and present my research to an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). It was the first time that I received such a request and immediately viewed it with suspicion, imagining that it could be some kind of predatory conference or publication using Parliament logos improperly. But after some online checking, it did appear genuine and interesting, so I accepted the invitation.

I was invited to share my thoughts on ‘Behaviour Change’ to the Food and Health APPG. The brief was as open as that and no further guidance was forthcoming regarding likely group size, expectations or requirements. So, it was with a degree of uncertainty that on Tuesday I travelled to London with my notes, hoping that I had judged the audience and expectations correctly. I share some reflections here in the hope that it could provide others with a little guidance and confidence in similarly delivering such briefings for the first time.

I arrived in good time having been warned that getting through the airport style security could take 45mins +.  I then seemingly had the run of the place and was able to wander freely. I found the public viewing gallery in the House of Lords to be a warm spot to sit for 30mins looking through my notes, but I was distracted by the debate – the second reading of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill, which given my research field was actually quite interesting!

Finding the committee room was straightforward given the number of security guards around to advise. It was quite easy to forget that the room was filled with MP’s, Lords and Baronesses since there was a real collegial tone (despite being cross party) and definitely the discussion was more friendly and less combative than I’ve observed at some academic conferences.

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience but would have done so more, had I have known a bit better what to expect in advance. There are APPGs on a wide range of topics – the most recent register of groups is available here:  APPG register.  If there is a group that is closely linked to your expertise I believe it would be possible to contact the ‘Public enquiry point’ e-mail address and offer to present your work or just attend one of their sessions for interest.

The Fog of Streaming Wars: Prof. John Oliver delivers keynote speech at Digital Agenda Summit in Cyprus

Professor John Oliver delivering a talk on stageProf. John Oliver (FMC) recently delivery a keynote speech to over 1000 delegates at the 6th Digital Agenda Summit in Cyprus. The talk, titled the Fog of Streaming Wars, examined the subscription video on demand (SVOD) market which has seen explosive growth in recent years with global revenues reaching US$154bn in 2022.

He argued that a new phase of low-growth competitive rivalry is emerging with global and local European players fighting for market share and that future growth will be achieved by merger and acquisition in an industry that will inevitably consolidate.

Other keynote speakers taking to the main stage included the President of Cyprus, the Head of Global Communications & Marketing at Google DeepMind & Space X, and the Global Lead of Design Communication at BMW.

Prof. Oliver is a leading academic in the field of media management and a former President of the European Media Management Association. He has a successful track record in delivering world class impact from his research which has informed the UK Government’s Innovation Strategy, UK communications policy and regulation, and influenced the public policy debate on internet regulation. His research into ‘strategic transformations in the media’ resulted in multi-million pound investments made by FTSE 100 firms.

Prof. Oliver currently serves as an advisor to the Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology’s Horizon Scanning & Foresight Committee.

RKEDF training opportunities coming up in December

We’re excited to share … 

some great RKEDF training opportunities coming up in December 

Please, click on the post titles to see details and book your place on to upcoming events.

By the end of the session, attendees will have an understanding of BRIAN and how it relates to Staff Profile Pages, how to create and update items and activities, how to claim/create/import publications, as well as how to upload full text articles to BURO (Bournemouth University Research Online). 


  • Online RSA Drop-In meeting Wednesday 6th  December, 10:30-11:00

Meet your RSA reps, hear updates on how BU is implementing the Research Concordat and give feedback or raise concerns that will help to develop and support the research community at BU


This session will provide an overview of the REF, it’s purpose and how it is carried out, as well as looking ahead to the next REF2028 assessment.


This is an opportunity to have a guided tour of the Konfer platform and its full functionality, enabling you to create and connect to the UK research collaborations with other universities and businesses.


By the end of this session, you will be familiar with the structure of an impact case study, what makes an excellent case study and what you will need in order to start building an impact case study from your own research.


By the end of this session, attendees will have a strong foundation of what to expect when being responsible for their awarded projects.


This session is aimed at all academics to provide an overview of the Research & Enterprise Database, including how to access the system, the information available to view, budget management via RED.

 

Please make sure you inform us in advance if you cannot attend an event that you have already booked onto, at RKEDF@bournemouth.ac.uk 

Book your place now for a policy influencing workshop (and networking lunch!)

RKEDF: Engaging with Parliament for Impact 26th January, 10:00-14:30, Fusion Building

Sign up for this practical training session led by Sarah Carter-Bell, Knowledge Exchange Manager at UK Parliament, which also provides the opportunity to network with colleagues from AECC University College and Arts University Bournemouth.

This is particularly suitable for those with little or no experience of engaging with Parliament. As well as providing insights and information on how to get your research in front of the right policymakers, the session will provide time for you to identify key committees or APPGs relevant to your research, start a list of key contacts and write an introduction to a Parliamentary team.

If you have any specific questions you would like addressed during the workshop, please email them to impact@bournemouth.ac.uk by 5pm, Thursday 4th January.

Lunch is provided. Please indicate if you have any dietary requirements.

For full details of the session and to book, click here.

 

Sign up for workshop on how to engage policymakers with your research

RKEDF: Engaging with Parliament for Impact, Fri 26th Jan 2024, 10:00-14:30

This session will be led by Sarah Carter-Bell, Knowledge Exchange Manager at UK Parliament and is an introduction for researchers who have limited or no experience of engaging with Parliament.

As well as providing insights and practical information on how to get your research in front of the right policymakers, the session will provide time for participants to identify key committees or APPGs relevant to their research, start a list of key contacts and write an introduction to a Parliamentary team.

This training event is open to academics at AUB and AECCUC, as well as BU, and there will also be an opportunity to network over lunch with researchers from these institutions to discuss potential collaborations.

If you have any specific questions you would like to be addressed during the workshop, please email them to impact@bournemouth.ac.uk by no later than 5pm Thursday 4th January.

For full details of the session and to book, click here.