BU Research Blog

Another day in the Festival of Learning and another fantastic programme of events! What could you learn about on Thursday?

Perhaps one of the most encouraging reflections so far from the Festival is that people who are coming to one event, are then signing up for more! In-fact I met someone yesterday that has been to at least two events per day, morning, noon and night on a vast array of different topics. So, what could you come along to on Thursday? How about:

Also, do stop by and take a look at our exhibition items, which on Thursday includes:

Reflections on Festival of Learning event:

Marketing for SME’s, reflections from Lucy Rossiter:

Held in the EBC, the interest was high for this workshop and it was fantastic to see 37 different businesses attend – an eclectic mix covering sector areas such as – retail, tourism, education, local council, charities and business services…Yasmin Sekhon and Julie Robson presented an engaging and thought provoking workshop. The one-day workshop encouraged the businesses to engage in marketing activities to help with the sustainability of their business. Topics included internal marketing, marketing communications, marketing research, digital marketing, and marketing and sustainability. Today’s workshop provided an excellent opportunity for local businesses to meet and discuss their marketing strategies, and helped them focus on how they can move forward with them. The day can be summed up by the enthusiastic comment made by one of the attendees:“From the minute I walked into the foyer – I knew the day would be very professional. The presenters were excellent – very talented and able to impart info. Excellent handouts. Looking forward to working with BU!” Attendee from Bournemouth Borough Council

Ageing well – an interactive and creative event, reflections from Natalie Baines:

The focus of this event was very much about what is understood by the term ‘wellbeing’. Les Todres gave a talk on ‘Understandings of Wellbeing’, explaining the dimensions of this within his model. Workshops took place on three subjects: Building and sustaining friendships in older age; Building energy, strength and a healthy balance system; and Active Living: Making health and wellbeing a possibility for older adults. At the end of the day outcomes of the sessions were shared and the following were considered to be important factors to achieving wellbeing: having a purpose, being valued, choice, control, connectivity, stillness, travel, money, time to ourselves, family/friends and health. Overall this event had some really positive outcomes such as discussing the ways awareness could be raised about what is already on offer in communities for older people and suggestions were given to the council about services and support they could provide to improve the situation in Bournemouth and Poole.

It’s good to walk! Reflections from Julie Northam:

Prof Ahmed Khattab gave a highly informative and interesting talk about peripheral artery disease to an audience of around 40 people. Exercise, diet, stopping smoking, and controlling conditions such as diabetes are more effective at improving the symptoms of peripheral artery disease than surgery, and are obviously far less dangerous. Dr Ibtisam Ali, a vascular scientist from Royal Bournemouth Hospital, then provided members of the audience with free ultrasound testing of the arteries in their legs and neck. These tests are only available from the NHS with a GP’s referral or at cost from a private clinic. In summary the event provided members of the public with access to expertise and information about their health and the ability to have their health tested for free. Read more about peripheral artery disease on the NHS website.

The Campus Permaculture Project, reflections from Nicola King:

“A small group of like-minded individuals gathered together to discuss permaculture, what it means, and what it encompasses. Attendees were also keen to explore how they could attempt to live a permacultural way of life. All attendees were happy to share ideas and experiences, and the event generated much discussion. A key highlight was an interactive Q&A Skype session with Patrick Whitefield, a leading permaculture expert/consultant. He shared his ideas on how to incorporate a permaculture way of thinking into everyday life, and how to try to spark interest in others to follow the same example. Atttendees also heard from BU’s Kathy Hodder and Ben Thomas, who led the event, and screens and display stands around the room gave an array of information on subjects such as biodiversity on campus, sustainable construction, waste minimisation and recycling, student engagement in sustainability, and the potential role of permaculture in reducing UK carbon emissions. There were also pictures of local community gardens, community farm projects, forest gardening, and other permaculture projects that are taking place locally. We learnt that permaculture is about ‘people care’, ‘earth care’ and ‘fair share’.”