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A Knot Speaks Louder Than a Thousand Words: Tilia Lenz’s Powerful Storywork Exhibition at Glastonbury

On the 4th July 2026, our team member Tilia Lenz held an artist talk at the Heart of the Tribe Gallery in Glastonbury. Tilia took an arts-led approach to her research into performance in Children’s Social Care and developed (auto)ethnographic Storywork in textile and narrative form. Her work is now on display at the gallery with a large scale ‘safety net in practice’ that her participants created, alongside written stories that are based on her data analysis.

The Gallery offers a space for the public to engage with Tilia’s research and visitors could listen to the stories and learn about the Social Workers’ reality of Child Protection practice. The stories offered a window of emotional engagement and dialogue beyond statistics, reports and ‘hard data’ and allowed visitors to connect. Feedback showed that visitors, from all walks of life felt connected with the stories. They shared that they could see themselves within the narrative and that it communicated their own experiences in a way they had never been able to say. The power of Storywork was evident, showing impact of research and creative methods.

Narrative Storywork
Tilia created a constellation of interconnected stories which emerged through deep listening to participants’ words, silences, gestures, and emotions. The stories were written using Indigenous Storywork principles, which honour story as a way of carrying and generating knowledge. Situated within the landscapes of the Somerset Levels, the stories invite the reader into a world that moves between lived experience, metaphor, and magical realism.

Visual Storywork
To create a more holistic experience of the Storywork, Tilia worked with illustrator Hol Thomas-Wrightson to visualise selected stories and capture atmosphere, emotion, and themes beyond words. Together, these modes of Storywork explore what people need to feel safe and trusted within managerial relationships, and able to flourish within complex organisational systems. They invite reflection on the often invisible relational work that sustains individuals, communities, and institutions.

More about Tilia

Tilia Lenz is a PhD candidate at Bournemouth University, social worker, academic, trade union activist, and storyworker. Her creative research practice brings together textile art, narrative inquiry, and Indigenous Storywork. Her doctoral research, Relationship-Based Performance Management in Children’s Social Care, explores the relationship between newly qualified social workers and their managers. Through six interviews conducted within Somerset Council, participants reflected on identity and belonging, privilege and oppression, whilst considering the impact on performance. Tilia’s work challenges conventional academic approaches by treating stories and textile practice not as illustrations of research findings, but as the analysis and findings themselves. Her Storywork draws on more than twenty years of professional practice in social work and is shaped by a commitment to decolonising research, resisting extractive methodologies, and making sense of her own lived experiences of migration, intergenerational trauma, and displacement.  Through Storywork in textile, narrative, and visual form, Tilia explores themes of safety, trust, belonging, identity, and resistance, creating spaces where complex truths can be felt as well as understood.

 

Here is a link to the exhibition: https://www.heartofthetribe.com/events-and-exhibitions/a-knot-speaks-louder-than-a-thousand-words

Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory academics – would you like to get more involved in preparing our next REF submission?

REF Subjects, Research assessment

We are currently recruiting for a UoA co-lead, with a focus on impact, to help support preparation for our next REF Submission to UOA 32: Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory.

The deadline for expressions of interest is noon 13 July 2026. The role is recruited through an open and transparent process, which gives all academic staff the opportunity to put themselves forward. Applications from underrepresented groups are particularly welcome.

We are currently preparing submissions to ten UoAs. Each UoA has a leadership team with at least one leader, output and impact champion. The leadership team are supported by a panel of reviewers who assess the research from the unit. This includes a diverse range of research outputs (including journal articles, books and chapters, films, digital artefacts etc) and impact case studies.

 

 

 

 

 

All roles require a level of commitment which is recognised accordingly with time to review, attend meetings, and take responsibility for tasks.

Undertaking a UOA role can be enjoyable and rewarding as two of our current champions testify:

“As UOA Outputs Champion you develop a detailed knowledge of all the great work that colleagues are doing related to the subject, and the different outlets used for disseminating their work.  You get to know what research is going on across BU, and it’s interesting to see the differences between disciplines.  It’s a good way develop your knowledge of the bigger picture of BU’s research, and also to understand the importance of REF and how it works in practice.  You do spend quite a bit of time chasing colleagues to put their outputs on BRIAN for REF compliance but hopefully they forgive you!”

Professor Adele Ladkin – UOA 24 Output Champion

“As a UoA 17 impact champion, I work closely with the UoA 17 impact team to encourage the development of a culture of impact. I try to pop into Department / research group meetings when I can to discuss impact, and I’ve enjoyed meeting people with a whole range of research interests. Sometimes it can be tough to engage people with impact – understandably; everyone is busy – so it’s important to be enthusiastic about the need for our BU research to reach the public. Overall, the role is about planting the seeds to get researchers thinking about the impact their work might have in the future (as well as the impact they have already had, sometimes without realising!)”

Dr Rafaelle Nicholson – UOA 17 Impact Champion

How to apply

All those interested should put forward a short case (suggested length of one paragraph) as to why they are interested in the role and what they think they could bring to it. These should be emailed to ref@bournemouth.ac.uk by noon Tuesday 13 July 2026.

Further detail on the role, the process of recruitment and selection criteria can be found here:

UOA Leader Role Descriptor

Process and criteria for selection

For further information please contact ref@bournemouth.ac.uk or a member of the current UOA Team with queries.

Equitable Partnerships in Global Health Research

conferences, international

Today is the first day of the Global Consortium for Public Health Research (GCPHR) 4th Annual Conference here at the University of Huddersfield.  This two-day Conference (July 6-7) has as its theme ‘Equitable Partnerships in Global Health Research’.  It brings together academics based in Ghana, the UK, Nepal, India, and Finland.  This 4th conference has a mixture of invited speakers, roundtable discussions, poster presentations and keynote speeches.

The conference was originally the brainchild of Prof. Padam Simkhada, who recently moved from the University of Huddersfield to the University of Chester.  The main organisers at the University of Huddersfield are Dr. Rajeeb Kumar Sah, Dr. Bibha Simkhada and Dr. Zoe Darwin.  Bournemouth University is represented in Huddersfield by Dr. Pramod Regmi and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

New Nepal-based paper published last week

international, open access, Publishing, Training, writing

Last week saw the publication of the latest article on Nepal by a BU academic.  This paper ‘Bridging The Skills Gap: Market-Relevant Skill Development Programmes in Nepal’s Health Sector‘ appeared in the Journal of Technical Education and Training [1].  This article explores the potential new diploma-level courses in the health sector in Nepal.

A qualitative research design was employed to identify new areas. Participants were selected based on their experiences in the health sector in both Nepal and abroad. A total of 25 in-depth interviews, and two interactive meeting events were conducted, and thematically analyzed. The health courses identified for diploma level development included: nursing, general medicine, Ayurveda, food science, and water, sanitation and hygiene, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, laboratory, health education and health promotion, medical records and data, health and social care, and radiotherapy. Courses identified as being in higher demand in Nepal and were: renal dialysis, radiotherapy, prosthetics and orthotics, audiology and language therapy, transfusion and blood banking, medical transcript, geriatric care, school nurse, palliative care, telemedicine and telehealth, cancer care, OT/anesthesia assistant, IVF and reproductive medicine, Panchkarma, herbs and shrubs, WASH and hospital hygienist, occupational therapy, health and social care, and data and medical records. 

The journal, based in Malaysia, is open-access and hence freely available to read for anyone with internet access.

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

 

 

Reference:

  1. Acharya, D., Devkota, B., Adhikari, E.R., van Teijlingen, E.R., Thapa, K.B. (2026) Bridging The Skills Gap: Market-Relevant Skill Development Programmes in Nepal’s Health Sector, Journal of Technical Education and Training, 18(1):118-132.

  

Digging into DNA: Sixth Form students learn Bioinformatics at BU

 

Fifteen Sixth Form students from Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester visited BU for a full-day workshop exploring the DNA of Wolbachia, a fascinating bacterium that lives inside insects and other arthropods. Hosted by Dr Demetra Andreou and Prof Genoveva Esteban from the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, the hands-on workshop introduced students to the world of bioinformatics and DNA analysis. This fantastic learning experience was made possible thanks to the outstanding support of BU’s IT team, who went above and beyond to ensure the computers were ready in time for the workshop despite the short notice.

Before visiting BU, the students had already undertaken field and laboratory work as part of their school’s Genetics after-school club. They collected terrestrial insects from the school grounds and extracted their DNA, as part of an ongoing research collaboration with a partner school in Switzerland.

At BU, the students built on this work through a hands-on bioinformatics session, analysing bacterial DNA sequences using computational tools. They learned how to identify Wolbachia from their DNA sequences, compare them with samples from around the world, and explore DNA relationships. Throughout the day, the students demonstrated impressive enthusiasm, curiosity and analytical skills, tackling university-level scientific methods with confidence and engaging thoroughly with the data. Their findings will be presented at a symposium at Thomas Hardye School this autumn.

Science teacher Simon Lewis captured the impact of the visit in his feedback:

Another splendid day visiting Bournemouth University!  Thank you so much for giving us your time and leading the analysis of the DNA results. The students universally said how much they had enjoyed the visit, I think they got a real sense of achievement from “digging” into the data and finding a few things that none of us expected!  Thanks once again, it is definitely my favourite visit of the year!

The workshop was an inspiring introduction to university-level science, giving students first-hand experience of research while encouraging them to consider future pathways in higher education and scientific careers. As part of their visit, the group was shown around the campus, including SUBU, the library and teaching laboratories, giving them a taste of university student life.

Book edited by BU academics published

Publishing, writing

Last month Routledge published an edited volume ‘Criminology, Leisure and Sport Interdisciplinary Perspectives‘ in its series Advance in Leisure Studies.  This new book is edited by two Bournemouth University’s (BU) Social Scientists Mark Berry and Jayne Caudwell.  This edited collection takes a critical look at how leisure and sport intersect with crime and harm. It brings together leading scholars in criminology, sociology, sport science, social work and psychology, it shows how recreational and elite sporting spaces can foster prosocial development but also generate significant social inequalities and injustices.  Through diverse empirical cases – including sexual abuse in sport, environmental harms at mega-events, performance enhancing drugs, athlete criminality, organised crime, deviant fandom, policing, rehabilitation and desistance – the book provides readers with an analytically rich framework for understanding sport and leisure as dynamic areas where power, inequality, harm and social transformation converge. The book’s interdisciplinary approach offers insights into these current issues in society.

Several of this interesting book’s chapters are co-authored by BU academics: including Orlanda Harvey, Paul Fairbairn, Lucy Sheppard-Marks, and Edwin van Teijlingen.

 

Reference:

Berry, M., Berry, C., Caudwell, J. (eds). Criminology, Leisure and Sport Interdisciplinary Perspectives

Publication Date: 06/2026

Publisher: Routledge

ISBN: 9781032942018

CMWH well-represented at the International Confederation of Midwives’ 34th Congress

Researchers from the Centre for Midwifery and Women’s Health shared their expertise at the recent 34th Triennial ICM Congress in Lisbon, Portugal.

Presentations included workshops by Dr Juliet Wood – Supporting student midwife confidence to facilitate physiologic birth: a workshop for clinical and academic faculty and Dr Laura Iannuzzi – Rest or arrest? A workshop to advance knowledge and skills to support women, families and teams when dealing with a slowing or pausing labour.

Laura Stedman presented her work on The impact of neonatal intensive care admission at term following gestational diabetes mellitus: a neglected area.
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Dr Dominique Mylod and Prof Vanora Hundley had poster presentations on their work in the early phase of labour: Can we identify women who will need additional support in the early (latent) phase of labour? and Supporting women in early labour: an interdisciplinary digital approach.
.
You can read the abstracts here

 

 

 

CMWH researcher highlights disparities in early labour information

Congratulations to Maryam Malekian on her presentation at the Royal College of Midwives’ symposium on the top 10 maternity research priorities.

This presentation highlighted the disparities in online information for women in the early phase of labour.

The study found that only 49% of 146 hospital websites in the UK provided guidance specific to early labour or included a dedicated section on the latent phase. There was marked variation in availability, accessibility, and content. Accessibility was often limited, with few multilingual resources, alternative formats, or inclusive visual materials. Most guidance was text-heavy, with minimal use of multimodal or user-friendly formats and limited representation of diverse populations.

The paper has been published as part of a special issue with CMWH senior lecturer Laura Iannuzzi as guest editor.

Malekian M, Mylod M, Tariq H, Hundley V (2026) Equity and inclusion: a review of NHS and HSC online information for women in the early phase of labour. Healthcare 14(13), 1911 https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14131911

Book Launch of Poverty in the UK: The Lived Experience!

We are delighted to share the launch of Poverty in the UK: The Lived Experience, a powerful book co-edited by Mel Hughes, Debbie James and Carrie-Anne Mizen.

What makes this book so special is that it is written entirely by people with lived experience. Through personal stories, it explores issues such as housing, mental health, education and institutional barriers, while connecting these experiences to social policy and encouraging meaningful reflection.

This is more than a textbook, it’s an opportunity to listen, learn, and better understand the realities faced by many people across the UK.

You can get 20% off of a copy using code 26AFLY1 at checkout.

HEMS PGR Student Writing Retreat

PG research, Publishing, student research, writing

One of the biggest challenges facing PhD and MRes students is finding uninterrupted time to focus on writing. Over the past two days (25th and 26th June), 20 students attended this year’s HEMS PGR Student Writing Retreat in a wonderfully air-conditioned room at the Nici Hotel in Bournemouth. During this facilitated Retreat, students set and (mostly) achieved Writing Goals, ranging from drafting theses chapters and submitting to their supervisors for comment to finalising and submitting journal papers. Most importantly, all the students completed a significant piece of writing that would not have been finished without attending the Retreat. Plans are being put in place for supported PGR student writing activities throughout the year and we hope to be able to repeat the Retreat next year.

Research process seminar. Applying for an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship: An Insider View. 30th June at 2pm on Teams

You are warmly welcomed to the next research process seminar.
Applying for an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship: An Insider View
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships are amongst the most prestigious grants that an early career researcher can secure. Yet they are very competitive, with typically less than 10% of applications successful. So what does it actually take to land an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship under EU Horizon? In this session, MSCA fellow Petra and her supervisor Janice will walk through the anatomy of a successful application from both sides of the relationship. Rather than a slide-led presentation, we offer an honest, discussion-style reflection on the process from the applicant’s perspective: what worked, responding to feedback, the rejections along the way, and practical advice for anyone considering applying.
About the speakers

Petra Audy Martinek is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Bournemouth University. Her research examines consumer engagement with social media advertising, advancing new conceptual frameworks and methodologies that move beyond platform-defined metrics.

Professor Janice Denegri-Knott is a Professor in Media and Consumer Research at Bournemouth University and Principal Investigator on the fellowship. As an established scholar in digital consumption, she brings the supervisor’s perspective on mentoring fellows through the application and delivery process.

30th June at 2pm on Teams

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/352732698127465?p=PGH5U0H47oMP81fJiY

Meeting ID: 352 732 698 127 465

Passcode: ji3H8vr2

Methods of Researching Digital Harms and Cybercrime: An Interdisciplinary Symposium – Wednesday 15 July

Join this upcoming interdisciplinary symposium exploring how researchers safely and effectively study cybercrime, online safety, and digital manipulation in the digital age

Supported by the Research Culture and Community Grant and organised by Dr Mark Berry, the day features insights spanning psychology, AI, criminology, and media ethics.

The symposium is designed for academic staff, early career researchers, and postgraduate researchers working on digital harms, online safety, or cybersecurity who are seeking interdisciplinary collaborations. It is also highly relevant for sector practitioners and stakeholders, including those in policing, digital investigation, victim support, policy, education, and third-sector organisations.

Highlights Include

  • NCA Keynote: Protecting Children from Online Harms – Robert Richardson and DCI Adam Smith on law enforcement challenges and the vital role of academic research.
  • AI & Cyber Communities: Using AI/BERT models to analyse text corpuses from massive hacker forums (Prof. John McAlaney).
  • Policy & Social Media: The absurdist cycle of “ban solutionism” regarding children and social media (Prof. Andy Phippen).
  • Crypto & Fraud: Machine learning models for real-time fraud detection in crypto wallets (Dr Muntadher Sallal).
  • Gaming & Gambling: Mixed-methods approaches to researching digital harms with neurodivergent youth (Dr Emily Arden-Close & Dr Constantina Panourgia).
  • International Insights: A digital anthropology approach to countering child recruitment narratives on social media in Colombia (Juan Pablo Hernández).

Event Details

Wednesday 15 July 15, 9:30am-5pm

The Allsebrook Lecture Theatre, Talbot Campus

Coffee, lunch, and dedicated Q&A networking blocks are included throughout the day.

Find out more and register here

Geography and Environmental Studies academics – would you like to get more involved in preparing our next REF submission?

REF Subjects, Research assessment

We are currently recruiting for an Impact Champion to help support preparation for our next REF Submission to UoA14: Geography and Environmental Studies.

The deadline for expressions of interest is 24 June 2026. UoA team roles are recruited through an open and transparent process, which gives all academic staff the opportunity to put themselves forward. Applications from underrepresented groups are particularly welcome.

We are currently preparing submissions to ten UoAs. Each UoA has a leadership team with at least one leader, output and impact champion. The leadership team are supported by a panel of reviewers who assess the research from the unit. This includes a diverse range of research outputs (including journal articles, books and chapters, films, digital artefacts etc) and impact case studies.

 

 

 

 

 

All UoA team roles require a level of commitment which is recognised accordingly with time to review, attend meetings, and take responsibility for tasks.

Undertaking a UOA role can be enjoyable and rewarding as two of our current champions testify:

“As UOA Outputs Champion you develop a detailed knowledge of all the great work that colleagues are doing related to the subject, and the different outlets used for disseminating their work.  You get to know what research is going on across BU, and it’s interesting to see the differences between disciplines.  It’s a good way develop your knowledge of the bigger picture of BU’s research, and also to understand the importance of REF and how it works in practice.  You do spend quite a bit of time chasing colleagues to put their outputs on BRIAN for REF compliance but hopefully they forgive you!”

Professor Adele Ladkin – UOA 24 Output Champion

“As a UoA 17 impact champion, I work closely with the UoA 17 impact team to encourage the development of a culture of impact. I try to pop into Department / research group meetings when I can to discuss impact, and I’ve enjoyed meeting people with a whole range of research interests. Sometimes it can be tough to engage people with impact – understandably; everyone is busy – so it’s important to be enthusiastic about the need for our BU research to reach the public. Overall, the role is about planting the seeds to get researchers thinking about the impact their work might have in the future (as well as the impact they have already had, sometimes without realising!)”

Dr Rafaelle Nicholson – UOA 17 Impact Champion

How to apply

All those interested should put forward a short case (suggested length of one paragraph) as to why they are interested in the role and what they think they could bring to it. These should be emailed to ref@bournemouth.ac.uk by 5pm Wednesday 24th June 2026.

Further detail on the roles, the process of recruitment and selection criteria can be found here:

Role Descriptor

Process for selection

For further information please contact ref@bournemouth.ac.uk or a member of the current UOA Team with queries.