BU Research Blog

Dr Andrew Adams of The School of Tourism is encouraging all in the Bournemouth University community to get involved in the latest GeoVation Challenge from the Ordnance Survey. There are a number of ways to get involved from registering on the Geovation site, which will enable individuals to leave comments and reviews of Geovation ideas, to enetring the challenge yourself – either as an individual or as part pf a group. According to Dr Adams, who is part of the independent judging team, ‘The GeoVation Challenge presents an innovative and enterprising way of approaching some of the problems associated with people attempting to lead active lifestyles’ and ‘ would appear to fit with the University’s Fusion agenda in bringing ideas, theory and professional practice together’.

The 7th GeoVation Challenge is ‘How can we encourage active lifestyles in Britain?’ Following the success of previous challenges, this time the challenge is calling for innovative ideas that will encourage people to lead active lifestyles in the open; whatever their age. GeoVation runs Innovation Challenges from Ordnance Survey which address specific community needs, which may be satisfied, in part, through the use of geography. The challenge is looking for great ideas which address the problems associated with leading active lifestyles using geography, technology and good design. Ordnance Survey will be offering a slice of £100,000 to help develop ventures that make best use of Ordnance Survey data, including OS OpenData and OS OpenSpace, together with other open data to solve problems.

If you have an idea that could encourage people to get active, enter the GeoVation Challenge online from 7 November 2013 to 8 January 2014 at www.geovation.org.uk
The best of the ideas submitted during this time will be invited to a weekend GeoVation Camp from 28 February to 2 March 2014 where you can work on building your idea into a prototype venture. You will also identify how to overcome problems in implementing your idea and learn to pitch your idea ‘pecha kucha’ style to the independent judging panel. Following camp successful ideas will be selected to receive a share of £100, 000 funding, subject to completing and submitting their venture plans. The winners and funding amounts will be confirmed by 26 March 2014.

Our challenges are open to UK-based organisations and/or UK residents aged 18 or over and we encourage entrepreneurs, developers, geographers, community groups, and innovators to enter.

To find out more contact Dr Adams on aadams@bournemouth.ac.uk or go to http://bit.ly/activebu