On 19th May 2025 at the Wessex Women and Girls Event at the Southampton Science Park, BU’s Centre for Midwifery and Women’s Health showcased its research and innovation in women’s health.
Professor Vanora Hundley and Dr. Dominique Mylod presented their ongoing development of an Early Labour app as a case study for the Maternity and Infant Health Equity Research Collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University. Professor Carol Clark’s presentation focussed on pelvic floor health and the cost of urinary and faecal incontinence to women’s health and the planet. Dr. Chloe Casey honoured her mother-in-law’s memory with her PechaKucha presentation on using creative methodologies to engage women in recovery from alcohol.
In addition, Dr. Malika Felton and MRes students Susara Blunden and Maryam Malekian displayed posters summarising their research into the impact of exercise on women’s physiology and health, improving diagnositic and treatment pathways for women with endometriosis and exploring the impact of professional knowledge and skills on breastfeeding support respectively.
The event provided a valuable platform for BU researchers to connect with regional partners, contribute to the growing Wessex Women and Girls research network, and play a key role in shaping future initiatives aimed at closing gaps in women’s health. The CMWH’s invovement reinforces BU’s role as a leading voice in this important area of health innovation.
/ Full archive
ERC Advanced Grant 2025 Webinar
This information, with some edits, is reposted from recent UKRO news.

The UK Research Office (UKRO), in its capacity as UK National Contact Point for the European Research Council (ERC), is organising a webinar for researchers who are interested in applying for the 2025 or any of the future ERC Advanced Grant calls. Attendance is free of charge, however, registration for the webinar is required. The session will last 2 hours.
The webinar will provide information on the submission process, how proposals are evaluated and other elements you’ll need to consider when designing a project for your research excellence idea ahead of the ERC Advanced Grant deadline of 28th August 2025.
Antonino Puglisi, UK National Contact Point, and Professor Rachel Gibson will be joining the webinar. Professor Rachel Gibson will share details of her journey towards getting an ERC Advanced grant.
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Inaugural research meeting for British Academy grant
Today we had the introductory meeting of our recently funded ‘British Academy Project on Evidence-Informed Policymaking in Nepal’, the project is coordinated by the University of Huddersfield by Prof. Padam Simkhada, who is also Visiting Professor in Bournemouth University’s (BU) Faculty of Health & Social Sciences. The co-investigator at BU is Dr. Pramod Regmi (Principal Academic in International Health), with other co-applicants based at the Keele University, Canterbury Christ Church University, the University of Sheffield, the University of Chester, the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC), Kathmandu University and the research-based charity Green Tara Nepal.
This one year grant is officially starting next month (1st June). The plans for this project were laid some time ago, and expressed in our 2022 paper ‘Nepal urgently needs a National Evidence Synthesis Centre‘ [1]. Our funded project will focus on the activities of: (1) formative research; (b) capacity building including evidence synthesis; (c) the establishment of a National Evidence Synthesis Centre; and (d) the evaluation of sustainability planning. The British Academy see this award also as providing a developmental opportunity, enabling award holders to build connections within the cohort and critically beyond that as well.
Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen
Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health
Reference:
- Simkhada, P., Dhimal, M., van Teijlingen, E., Gyanwali, P. (2022) Nepal Urgently Needs a National Evidence Synthesis Centre, Journal of Nepal Health Research Council, 20 (3): i-ii.
Ageing Well: What is meaningful coproduction with communities? Join our event.
Join our Ageing well event on Monday 30 June. Booking now open!
Congratulations to Dr. Shanti Farrington & colleagues
Today ResearchGate announced that the paper ‘The Interdisciplinary Research Team not the Interdisciplinarist’ [1] has been read 3,000 times. The paper, with psychologist Dr. Shanti Farrington (previously Shanker) as lead author, was written with colleagues from (a) the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences, namely Dr. Pramod Regmi and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen; (b) the NHS, Ms. Jillian Ireland, Professional Midwifery Advocate in University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust; (c) the University of Huddersfield, namely Prof. Padam Simkhada, who is also Visiting Professor at BU; and (d) the University of Greenwich, in the person of Dr. Sharada P. Wasti (previously based at the University of Huddersfield).
This methods paper addresses some of the pitfalls and barriers to being an interdisciplinary researcher. Being involved in interdisciplinary research is not an easy option for an individual discipline expert. It requires individual skills, ability to see beyond one’s discipline and perhaps personality characteristics such as a great team player. Interdisciplinary research may involve a mixed-methods approach underpinned by conflicting, and according to some, incommensurable research philosophies.
This paper on working interdisciplinary is part of a suit of academic papers on the topic written by some of the same authors [2-3]. All papers are fully open access and hence freely accessible across the globe to anyone with an internet connection.
References:
- Shanker, S., Wasti, S.P., Ireland, J., Regmi, P., Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen, E. (2021) The Interdisciplinary Team Not the Interdisciplinarist: Reflections on Interdisciplinary Research, Europasian Journal of Medical Sciences 3(2): 1-5. https://doi.org/10.46405/ejms.v3i2.317
- van Teijlingen, E., Regmi, P., Adhikary, P., Aryal, N., Simkhada, P. (2019). Interdisciplinary Research in Public Health: Not quite straightforward. Health Prospect, 18(1), 4-7. https://doi.org/10.3126/hprospect.v18i1.19337
- Wasti, S. P., van Teijlingen, E., Simkhada, P. (2020) Public Health is truly interdisciplinary. Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences, 6(1):21-22.
Bournemouth University Recognised at IEEE Artificial Intelligence Conference for Work in Human-Centred AI
Professor Huseyin Dogan was honoured with both the Best Service Award and the Best Paper Award at the 2025 IEEE International Conference on Artificial Intelligence held in Silicon Valley, USA. This recognition highlights the importance of Human-Centred AI and Professor Dogan’s valuable contributions to the area.
Professor Dogan travelled to Silicon Valley in May 2025, supported by funding from Google, USA, to lead a special track focused on Human-Centred AI. The track included 24 paper presentations and addressed the crucial need for ethical considerations in the development and application of both autonomous and collaborative Human Centred AI systems.
The conference organisers stated that “these honours are a testament to Prof Dogan’s outstanding contributions and dedication to the field.”

Bournemouth University’s commitment to shaping the future of User Experience (UX) and Human-Centred AI extends beyond this prestigious conference. Professor Dogan also recently led a highly anticipated workshop at CHI 2025 in Yokohama, Japan, on “Defining a User Experience Research Point of View” also funded by Google. The ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) is globally recognised as the premier international forum for research in human-computer interaction.
This influential CHI workshop was a collaborative effort, organised alongside leading experts in the field: Stephen Giff (Google, USA), Renée Barsoum (Admiral, UK), Elizabeth Churchill (MBZUAI, formerly of Google and the ACM), and Alan Dix (Swansea University, Wales, UK). The participation of such prominent figures highlights the significance of the topic and BU’s contribution to the international research community.

These recent successes highlight Bournemouth University’s growing influence in the critical field of Human-Centred AI and User Experience research. Through international collaborations and impactful engagement at leading conferences like IEEE AI and CHI, the university is actively contributing to the discussion around developing AI systems that are both effective and aligned with human values.
20th Anniversary of Nobel Prize novelist’s classic science fiction novel – World Literature Podcast YouTube episode
To mark the Twentieth Anniversary of Nobel Prize-winning British author Kazuo Ishiguro’s modern classic Never Let Me Go, BU Principal Academic Dr Yugin Teo from the Faculty of Media and Communication participated in a three-part edition of the World Literature Podcast on YouTube, together with Prof Laura Colombino from the University of Genova, hosted by Dr Ivan Stacy.

World Literature Podcast logo
Part 1 of the podcast examines the cultural impact the novel has had since its publication in 2005, and its importance as a work of dystopian and science fiction: https://youtu.be/Ttsz-Vt2MbE?si=6pSX_jfu5FAwJNDq
Part 2 discusses how the novel deals with memory and how it speaks to contemporary politics: https://youtu.be/1vILMft2DkQ?si=e6EKu33CFFuMOAyZ
The final part features recommendations for further reading and predictions for Ishiguro’s next novel: https://youtu.be/C8Ox0nSeB_0?si=sQYF3Sj5xRyoEVuD
Reminder – Submit Your Application for the 2025 ESRC Festival: Deadline Friday 23 May
Up to £1,000 per event available to engage the public with your research in a national prestigious festival

About the Festival of Social Science
The 23rd annual ESRC Festival of Social Science (FoSS) takes place Saturday 18 October – Saturday 8 November 2025, with the theme of ‘Our Working Lives’.
The festival is an annual UK-wide celebration of research and knowledge about people and society, organised and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). It provides a platform for researchers from UK universities to engage the public in a wide range of topics, from health and wellbeing to crime, equality, education, and identity, through engaging events such as exhibitions, lectures, panel debates, performances, and workshops.
The festival is free to attend, with most events open to everyone, though some may target specific groups. It offers researchers a unique opportunity to take their work beyond the university, connect with diverse audiences, and present their research in creative and accessible ways. Funding of up to £1,000 per event is available.
What are the festival aims?
- Encourage, support & create opportunities for social science researchers to engage with the public and young people
- Promote & increase awareness of the social sciences and ESRC-funded research, & the contribution social science makes to the UK
- Enable the public to engage with social science research
- Engage with teachers and young people and raise their awareness of the social sciences
Training to run a great event
The national FoSS team is coordinating public engagement training with Engagement Trainer and Consultant Jamie Gallagher in June (repeated in September). Attendance at these sessions is mandatory for all event leads to attend and further details will be shared upon successful application.
Applications will be assessed on 5 key areas
- Motivation for taking part – Show you have thought carefully about why you are applying e.g. to pilot an idea, reach a new audience, or develop public engagement skills, and what you hope to gain.
- Target audience identified – Events must be aimed at a non-academic audience. Clearly define who your audience is (e.g. a specific public group, community, or professional sector). If you are proposing an event for professionals, businesses, policymakers, or third sector organisations, please note that ESRC rules only permit up to 20% of our events to be targeted at these groups. As we often receive many proposals in this category, selecting one of these audiences may reduce your chances of taking part.
- Audience motivation – Show why your chosen audience would be interested in your activity, and how and when they might engage.
- Content & format – Demonstrate initial ideas for what the activity will involve, why the format suits the goal (e.g. in-person, online), and considerations for timing and location.
- Appropriate costing – Budget should be realistic, clear, and fit the scale and type of activity.
How to apply
We are particularly keen to receive applications from PGRs and early to mid-career researchers and encourage groups/teams to apply. If you have a supervisor, they will need to endorse your application by emailing publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk.
If you are considering applying, we strongly encourage you to get in touch with us directly as early as possible.
Apply to take part by completing the online application form.
Deadline for applications: 5pm FRIDAY 23 MAY 2025
You can view the slides from the Information Session here. If you weren’t able to attend, or if you would like to revisit what was covered, you can also watch the session here.
Please read before applying
Before submitting your application, please make sure you meet both the ESRC eligibility criteria and our key requirements. This is essential for your proposal to be considered. Applications that reference academic or undergraduate audiences, or propose campus-based venues, will not be eligible. This opportunity is focused on public engagement beyond academic settings.
Festival Event Leader Pack this practical guide supports researchers in planning and delivering events for the festival. It covers the festival’s aims, event criteria, useful planning tips, audience engagement, and evaluation. It also details the funding, training, and promotional support available from the ESRC, making it a key resource for aligning events with the festival’s goals.
Contact us
Please contact the Public Engagement Team to discuss your application publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk
Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025 Published
The European Commission has published the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025.

Parts of the Work Programme are available for download:
- General introduction
- Research infrastructures
- Cluster 1 ‘Health’
- Cluster 2 ‘Culture, creativity and inclusive society’
- Cluster 3 ‘Civil Security for Society’
- Cluster 4 ‘Digital, Industry and Space’
- Cluster 5 ‘Climate, Energy and Mobility’
- Cluster 6 ‘Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment’
In addition to the Info Days announced earlier, there is an info day dedicated to Cluster 3 ‘Civil Security for Society’ to be held on 11 June at 9:00 (UK time), followed by a brokerage event on 12 June. All Info Days are recorded and can be accessed at any time directly from the event website.
UKRO has published guidance materials and explainers in the run-up to the adoption of the 2025 Work Programme. Those interested in these materials may be required to log in to the UKRO portal with their credentials.
If you have any EU funding-related questions, feel free to get in touch with me – Research Facilitator International Ainar Blaudums. For general pre-award or non-EU queries, please email the Pre-award Enquiries mailbox or contact my colleagues who support UK applications. There is a lot of useful information on our RDS pre-award SharePoint site.
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Alzheimer’s Awareness Week – join us in BGB tomorrow
Join us in learning more about Alzheimer’s and Dementia!
PhD supervision is good for you
Some people in academia (and many outside it) don’t appreciate the importance of PhD supervision . An academic supervising PhD students is not merely for the educational purposes, or in other words, for the benefits of the postgraduate student. The value of postgraduate supervision lies in pushing the boundaries of knowledge, about testing new ideas, new approaches or even new methods.
Interestingly, enough it means that PhD supervision for an academic is also about developing their own ideas, expanding one’s CV, and developing one’s career. Whilst for the university it is also for the wider benefit of research for the wider society. The latter means that PhD students help improve the REF (Research Excellence Framework) scores for a university, through metrics such as number and proportion of PhD completions, but also through papers based on PhD research co-authored with staff. It always amazes me how some outsider regard PhD supervision as simply more of the same, i.e. not that different from supervising an undergraduate student.
Looking at my ow CV, some of my best papers have been co-written with PhD students, including my most cited paper on SCOPUS [1]. Moreover, as the graph of my h-index [checked SCOPUS for May 19th 2025] shows four of my top eight highest cited papers were co-authored with postgraduate students [1-4]. Papers that would not have been written without the postgraduate student conducting knowledge-advancing research! 
Not surprisingly, three of the four former PhD students who co-authored these highly-cited papers are now in academic positions across the UK (the fourth one has retired). These four highlighted papers are not just looking good on my CV, they are also highly ranked within their respective journals. The first paper [1] is the 28th most cited paper in the Journal of Advanced Nursing, an impressive 28th position out of 12,762 articles ever published by this international journal. Similarly, the paper ‘Women’s autonomy in decision-making for health care: Demographic study in Nepal’ [2] is the 10th most cited paper in Reproductive Health, whilst ‘ To tell or not to tell: Barriers and facilitators in family communication about genetic risk’ [3] is the 20th most article in Clinical Genetics. Last, but not least, ‘Risk, Theory, Social & Medical Models: critical analysis of the concept of risk in maternity care’ [4] is the 17th most cited article (out of 3,910) in the international journal Midwifery.
Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen
Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health
References:
- Simkhada, B., van Teijlingen E., Porter, M., Simkhada, P. (2008) Factors affecting the utilisation of antenatal care in developing countries: a systematic review of the literature, Journal of Advanced Nursing 61(3): 244-260.
- Acharya, D.R., Bell, J., Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen, E, Regmi, P.R. (2010) Women’s autonomy in decision-making for health care: Demographic study in Nepal. Reproductive Health 9(15) reproductive-health-journal.com/content/pdf/1742-4755-7-15.pdf
- Forrest, K., Simpson, S., Wilson, B.J., van Teijlingen E, McKee L, Haites, N., Matthews E. (2003) To tell or not to tell: Barriers and facilitators in family communication about genetic risk,Clinical Genetics, 64: 317-26.
- MacKenzie Bryers H., van Teijlingen, E. (2010) Risk, Theory, Social & Medical Models: critical analysis of the concept of risk in maternity care, Midwifery 26(5): 488-496.
Pioneering Research to Tackle Maternity Disparities: BU Academics Lead Major NIHR Initiative
This vital initiative aims to make a tangible difference in the lives of mothers and babies by tackling the complex factors that contribute to disparities in maternity care and outcomes.
MIHERC is already actively engaged in shaping the discourse around these critical issues. The team has commenced the organisation and chairing of impactful events, including the upcoming Artificial Intelligence for Maternity and Women’s Health and Wellbeing session at the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (AIiH 2025). Further details about this exciting session can be found here: https://aiih.cc/maternity-and-women-health-wellbeing/.

The whole team at Bournemouth University 08.01.25
Upcoming 3C Event – Culture, Community & Canapés
The Doctoral College 3C event is approaching! All PGRs and Supervisors are invited.
Following feedback we received at the PGR Engagement Champions meetings, we will be hosting this 3C event at the later time of 16:00-17:30.
For this 3C event, we have swapped out the usual cake for something a little fancier — canapés! Join us and enjoy delicious bites and mingle with colleagues in an informal setting.
Whether you are new to the university or a seasoned researcher, this is the perfect opportunity to:
✨ Catch up with peers
🤝 Meet new faces
🧠 Share ideas and experiences
🥂 Enjoy some tasty food and drinks!
Join us Tuesday 20 May 16:00-17:30 on the fifth floor in the Student Centre, Talbot Campus.
Register here
Let’s foster collaboration, support and networking!
Keep an eye on the Doctoral College Brightspace to stay up to date on all future 3C events.
Postgraduate Research Summer Social – tickets on sale

Tickets are now on sale for the Doctoral College Summer Social for the Postgraduate Research community at the delightful Branksome Dene Room. Situated in a stunning location that overlooks the beach, with amazing views of the sea to Old Harry Rocks.
We’ve booked this unique location for the exclusive use of PGRs and Supervisors for the afternoon to unwind and catch 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.
Booking and event details can be found 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

May’s Research Café – Showcasing tomorrow’s researchers
Postgraduate researchers took the spotlight at BU’s latest Research Café

We had a packed house at the BGB Café for a fascinating evening engaging conversation.
Three passionate postgraduate researchers from Bournemouth University took the stage to share their work. Each speaker gave a short talk on their research, sparking plenty of interest and questions from the audience. We covered everything from what drives our travel choices, to how nostalgia shapes our experience of video games, to the links between alcohol and eating habits in women.
Anna Preece Thesis: Disordered eating behaviours as a barrier to recovery in women with alcohol dependence | Rehabilitation and Sports Sciences (HSS)
Anna presented research on the behavioural links between food and alcohol, exploring how drinking habits and eating behaviours are connected in women. The talk highlighted the implications of these connections for mental health and well-being and discussed ways to improve support for individuals facing these challenges.

Jordan King presenting at Research Café
Jordan King Thesis: Exploring Nostalgic Experiences in Video Games | Psychology (FST)
Jordan explored the emotional power of video games, examining how they evoke memories from the past and create a sense of nostalgia. The talk focused on how digital play connects us to both personal and cultural memories, highlighting the deep emotional impact of gaming.

Wookjun Lee talking at Research Café
Wookjun Lee Thesis: Tourists’ use of public transportation in urban destinations: An experiential perspective | Marketing, Strategy and Innovation (BUBS)
Wookjun examined the factors influencing tourists’ travel choices, focusing on the role of public transport and how to encourage more eco-friendly travel habits. The talk highlighted strategies for promoting greener, more sustainable options for tourists.
It was a great chance to explore topics that affect our everyday lives and get a glimpse into the real-world impact of research happening at BU.
Attendees shared “It was a lovely event. A great time to learn and bond with other researchers” “It was inspiring to see the next generation of researchers sharing their work”
“I found it really interesting to hear directly from postgraduate researchers about the work happening at BU. The range of topics and the enthusiasm behind them made it a really engaging event”

Anna Preece speaking at Research Café
As one of the evening’s speakers, Anna Preece reflected on the experience
“I wanted the opportunity to share my research and hear people’s thoughts and questions about the project. It’s so important in research to hear different perspectives, especially those outside of academia, as they can challenge our thinking, or bring in new ideas… When you’re deep in the research, it’s easy to get lost in the data, so being reminded of the real-world context was invaluable… I hope attendees found the evening thought provoking and enjoyable and it helped them start to recognise the overlap between food and alcohol behaviours and consider what that might look like for themselves or someone they care about.”
Enrica Conrotto, Doctoral College Programme Manager at Bournemouth University, attended the evening and said
“a fantastic event showcasing the work of our Doctoral College PGRs. Congratulations to Anna Preece, Jordan King and Wookjun Lee for their engaging presentations, and a big thank you to the Public Engagement Team for organising the evening. An inspiring evening filled with engaging discussion”
Next up in our Research Café series
Tuesday 1 July, 6:30-8pm at BGB Café
More details coming soon
Contact
If you have any questions about this event or the Research Café series, please contact the Public Engagement with Research Team at publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk
RKEDF: Principal Investigation – Post Award for RKE
Are you a Principal Investigator or planning to be one?
This is for researchers who are or plan to be a Principal Investigator for an externally funded research or knowledge exchange project and is taking place on Talbot Campus, 13:00-14:30 on Weds, 4th June 2025.
Topics covered include:
• What is post award?
• Roles and responsibilities
• Systems
• Key policies
• Starting your awarded project
• Making changes to your project and reporting
• Hints and tips
By the end of the session, attendees will have a strong foundation of what to expect when being responsible for their awarded projects.
Book your place HERE.
For any queries regarding this workshop, please contact RKE Development Framework
Bridging the Digital Divide: How Older Adults Navigate a Digital Society
On 7th May 2025, we hosted an event focused on the theme “Ageing in a Digital World”. Attendees were local older adults, stakeholders including staff from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, and academic researchers from the ADRC. During the event attendees explored the research project photo exhibition before taking part in round table discussions on the topic.
ADRC launches new DEALTS2 train-the-trainer video series
Researchers at Bournemouth University have launched a new video-based dementia training series designed to support anyone wishing to use the Dementia Education And Learning Through Simulation 2 (DEALTS2) training materials in their own dementia training.
|https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/projects/dementia-education-learning-through-simulation-2-dealts2-programme






















SPROUT Returns: Designing Sustainability in Research Practice – Wednesday 20 May 12-2pm
Innovative Approaches to Doctoral Supervision: Selected Case Studies
3C Event: Research Culture, Community & Canapés-Tuesday 19 May 1-2pm
New chapters published in maternity book on risk
The British Academy European Research Council Grant Support Sessions
Grant Writing Workshops: Master the Art of the Winning Proposal
Apply now to take part in the 2026 ESRC Festival of Social Science
Reminder: Register for the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2026 Information Session
ECR Funding Open Call: Research Culture & Community Grant – Apply now
ECR Funding Open Call: Research Culture & Community Grant – Application Deadline Friday 12 December
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025 Call
ERC Advanced Grant 2025 Webinar
Update on UKRO services
European research project exploring use of ‘virtual twins’ to better manage metabolic associated fatty liver disease