BU Research Blog

Free events for the public, organised by BU researchers, taking place online and in person throughout November. Book your places below.

The ESRC Festival of Social Science 2021

Coming up this week

The science of suicide – addressing myths and misconceptions

Saturday, 13 November
Bournemouth Gateway Building, Bournemouth University

In this talk, Dr Moseley will explore common myths and misunderstandings about suicide, and what contemporary psychological theories about suicide can tell us about why and how people end their own lives.

Through scientific research, we’ll explore themes of loneliness and social connectedness, as well as what research tells us about groups who are especially at risk, such as autistic people. We’ll also consider what we can do, including the language we use, to support people at risk of suicide.

Book now

Later this month

Connecting with nature: for wellbeing, sustainability and the environment

Monday, 15 November & Wednesday, 17 November
Online

Connecting with nature can have benefits not only for our own wellbeing, but for the environment too. Join BU researchers and local nature organisations for a selection of talks over two days, to learn more about forest bathing, volunteering for nature, sustainable living and other ways to engage with and protect the natural environment.

We’ll also discover what social science research tells us about the sustainable choices people make throughout their life. Set against the backdrop of COP26, this event will explore how the choices we make could address the climate and ecological crises, and how Bournemouth University targets and supports these.

Book now

Storytelling for communicating climate science

Monday, 15 November
Online

In a time of information overload, it can be hard to break through the noise to tell evidence-based stories that inform and inspire. In this interactive workshop our team of Science, Health and Data Communications experts will investigate the uses—and misuses of storytelling about climate change.

Through a ‘playable communications’ workshop we will explore how play, in the form of choice-based games and text adventures, can be used for myth-busting and misinformation spotting, as well as for constructing imaginative and inspiring evidence-based narratives.

Book now

Demystifying ‘mental capacity’ – what you should know

Tuesday, 16 November
Online

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is relevant to everyone working with individuals aged 16 or over who have difficulty in making informed decisions. However, many are unsure of how it is used in practice, for example in making ‘best interest’ decisions, or in relation to end of life care and Advance Decisions to Refuse Treatment.

This online event will provide an opportunity for members of the public (including experts by experience) and health and social care practitioners to learn from one another about how to best support vulnerable members of society who lack capacity.

Book now

Collaboration for better outcomes in criminal justice

Thursday, 18 November
Online

Many of the people who offend most frequently are also some of the most vulnerable, who need support from a number of different local agencies. There is huge potential for these criminal justice, health and social care services to work together for better outcomes across the board.

Join us to learn about how integrating these services is done around the world, including Nordic models, and how BU research is improving collaboration between correctional and mental health services.

Book now

Nursing in times of crisis: Covid-19 & WW2

Wednesday, 24 November
Bournemouth Gateway Building, Bournemouth University

This event will look at nursing during Covid-19 and during another period of crisis in which nurses played a key role – World War II.

We’ll explore personal stories of nursing during WW2 and from Bournemouth University’s own student nurses who worked during the pandemic, as well as considering what objects and uniforms from these different eras can tell us. This event is also an opportunity to share your own thoughts and experiences.

Book now

The face under the mask: what Covid-19 has taught us about face perception

Thursday, 25 November
Online

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed a great deal about how humans communicate and interact with each other, part of which is the wearing of face masks. But faces are our most important social clues and provide a great amount of information, so what happens when they are partially covered? We’ll discover how masks affect how we perceive faces, but also what this effect can tell us about how face perception works.

Book now

Interested in holding your own public event to share research? Join our training session on getting started in public engagement with research. Online, Thursday 4 November 11-12:30.