The MRC have developed an Interactive Career Framework which provides information on possible options for careers and funding in health research within academia and industry.
The framework includes information on relevant funding opportunities for eight major health funders, including the MRC, Cancer Research UK, Wellcome Trust, and the National Institute for Health Research.
The Framework also offers potential career development routes depending on your current career stage.
Click here for more information and to access the Interactive Career Framework.
Don’t forget the Research and Knowledge Exchange Development Framework is a programme of training and development opportunities available to all members of staff regardless of what level they have attained in their academic career. It provides several pathways of opportunity depending on what interests you.
We would like to invite you to the latest research seminar of the Centre for Games and Music Technology Research.
Speaker: Chi Zhang (Creative Technology PhD Student)
Title:Using user-customized touch gesture for fast accessing installed apps on smartphones
Time: 2:00PM-3:00PM
Date: Wednesday 17th May 2017
Room: PG11, Poole House, Talbot Campus
Abstract:
User-defined touch gesture is a common method for fast interacting with smartphones, it enables a user to define a touch gesture for a particular task, such as, “-” for volume down and “+” for volume up. But, the user-defined touch gesture method is typically provided as a “user-defined touch gesture set” aiming for countable commonly used tasks. These approaches are aiming to build a gesture set, include a limit number of universal gesture-task pairs developed by the users. Existing user defined touch gesture sets supported a wide range of tasks on the smartphones, however, they: (1) still need learning; (2) cannot cover every task that user wants to active; (3) lack of the evaluation on the speed performance. To overcome these limitations and better understand the speed advantage of user-defined touch gesture method, we presented a novel user-customized touch gesture approach and conducted an experiment to evaluate its speed advantages. The experiment demonstrates a significant speed advantage of using our approach and the accuracy performance is evaluated as well. In particular, our findings include: (1) our approach has a significant speed advantage than traditional interaction method; (2) our approach has no significant accuracy differences between frequent and infrequent used apps; (3) analysed what caused the failure accessing in our experiments. Based on these findings, we offer (1) further evidence of the speed benefits of using user self-defined gesture for accessing tasks; (2) design implications for the future gesture-based interface for fast accessing on smartphones.
Everyone experiences conflict in life. How we deal about it is different, however. Various forms of conflict and strategies of facing them was the topic of a recent workshop organised by Professor Gabriel Schäfer, from University of Applied Sciences, Bremen in Germany. Her talk and workshop on conflict and conflict resolution has been organised over three days by Professsor Jonathan Parker of the Department of Social Sciences and Social Work.
Professor Schäfer argued that conflict resolution happens in different ways because conflict is related to aggression and as human beings we have different ways of expressing our aggression. What we need to remember in resolving the conflicts is to acknowledge that firstly our individual personalities are different (some face conflict and some want to let it go), and secondly there are cultural differences that may cause these conflicts go deeper. As it happens, relationships between couples from different cultures break up more often than those where partners have shared history, background and cultural attributes. However, in the workshop, we tried and tested different strategies that help us to not to diminish but to manage these personal and cultural differences.
Professor Schäfer presented three excellent workshops to staff and students on professionally qualifying and pure academic programmes. At a time of heightened tensions across the world learning effective ways of dealing with conflict is, of course, very important. It is central to working and living in our increasingly diverse and multi-cultural world and allows us to disagree, argue and resolve differences in constructive rather than destructive ways.
The future of transport appears full of fun and flashy possibilities. From super-fast hyperloop transport systems, to self-driving cars and hovering taxis, new technology promises to move us further and faster than ever before. Yet for cities facing everyday problems such as congestion, air pollution and under capacity, the most effective solution could be the humble bus – coupled with the power of data.
Of course, in many cities, technology has already begun replacing printed timetables with live departure boards, using real-time data about buses’ locations sourced from GPS monitoring. But this is just the beginning. There’s one source of data which could offer a live overview of a city’s entire transport network without a single penny of investment. And you’ve probably got it on you right now.
Modern mobile phones contain an array of sensors, including GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, digital compass and more, which are capable of producing a constant stream of data. Individual units of movement, tracked by a phone’s GPS and processed on mass, can give detailed information on journey times, speed and destinations.
Fair trade
Of course, using this data without compromising users’ privacy is a challenge. When dealing with location information, anonymisation can only take you so far. But there is a neat solution. In exchange for their data, passengers could receive a wealth of benefits, including more flexible routes and timetables, predictive of need at any given hour. The level of service could be directly linked to the amount of data a passenger chooses to share.
By combining these data with efficient ticketing across a range of transport modes, including bus, tram, train, taxi and others, it would be possible to create a flexible and responsive system, which can tailor transport solutions to every person’s needs.
Individuals would be able to dial in their destination as they leave home, to be guided by the fastest, cheapest, healthiest or most environmentally friendly route to their destination on a given day, by whatever means, at a standard unit of price per distance. The routes would be responsive to changing weather and road closures, with flexible timetables and services, to cater for a wet Tuesday when everyone wants to take the bus rather than walk or cycle. Overcrowding could be reduced by balancing the load of commuters across different modes of transport.
The best thing is, the system would constantly be learning and improving. It is relatively straightforward to automatically schedule extra services in real time if, say, there’s an unusually large number of people waiting at a particular stop. But, with sophisticated machine learning, which processes large amounts of historical data to detect patterns, slumps and hikes in demand could be preempted. Allowing a transport network to self-learn using data from its consumers can help it to evolve a better service, while maintaining the modest margins of the provider.
The transport system can also be used as a tool to promote social good. For one thing, price can be used as a powerful influence for positive behavioural change: discounts could be offered for getting off a stop earlier and walking the remaining distance. The bus or tram itself can also be enhanced by making it a place for culture, education and information. Advertising could be complemented or even replaced by community television, public art and educational information, which offer a more positive experience for the captive audience.
Here today?
All of this potential can be unlocked today: not in the future, but in the here and now. The main challenges are overcoming tradition, using a single ticket across various transport modes and apportioning revenue between a complex tapestry of transport providers within the domain of a single transport authority.
Alongside Bournemouth University, a small digital technology company, We Are Base, is attempting to do exactly that. Together, we are finding ways to leverage data to make public transport a better option than private vehicles in terms of punctuality, flexibility and comfort. We are also collecting and analysing real-time data to demonstrate how a transport network could use machine learning to optimise its customer transport efficiency.
The technology is the relatively easy part; negotiating local politics often proves more difficult. For instance, finding a fair way of distributing ticket revenues among operators involved in a journey which uses more than one mode of transport, potentially across a number of zones and boroughs. Gaining consumer trust is also essential. For such systems to work, the consumer must choose to follow journey suggestions, even though they might not seem to be optimal at the time. This is particularly difficult; after all, how many of us can say that we trust our local bus companies when some still struggle to run the services to a static timetable?
The opportunity for a transport revolution is here – but for it to work it must be aspired to. This starts with consumers and local authorities understanding and seeing the benefits of a self-learning, adaptable and truly flexible local transport system. And given that it’s within reach, they shouldn’t put up with anything less. So, next time someone proposes a flashy new solution to transport woes, just remember that true innovation lies in the hands of the commuters themselves – locked inside their mobile phones.
The Business School and BU Centre for Entrepreneurship were delighted to welcome Andrew Walker, Co-Founder of Clicktools, to the EBC on the afternoon of the 10th May.
This seminar, the last in the current series of ‘Meet the Entrepreneur’ events, provided a great opportunity for students and staff to hear about Andrew’s personal journey as an entrepreneur and learn more about his own experiences as a business owner and his approach to funding and growing an innovative business.
Working in software since graduating in 1989, Andrew is now on his fourth startup and has experienced the lows and highs of starting and growing software companies. His last startup, Clicktools was bootstrapped from 3 to over 50 people and was partly acquired by SurveyMonkey before being fully acquired by Callidus. Andrew is now on a new journey with ikooloo and also mentors new startups through Virgin Startups and Barclays Eagle Labs.
Mark Painter, Business Development Manager for the Business School, said, ‘I was delighted Andrew was able to visit BU and talk to us today. I am sure the attendees found his insights into the realities of starting a business, and in particular the challenges around raising finance, particularly beneficial’. Mark added, ‘I was also really pleased that we were joined by a group of students from the BU International College’.
Details of future Meet the Entrepreneur seminars will be posted on www.bucfe.com
The Research and Knowledge Exchange Development Framework is a programme of training and development opportunities available to all members of staff regardless of what level they have attained in their academic career. It provides several pathways of opportunity depending on what interests you. We will soon be launching the 2017/18 programme in time for appraisals.
We’re often asked in RKEO what type of grant should someone apply for depending on their level of experience. Our Research Facilitators are only too happy to advise and so do get in touch with them. You may find the below illustration helpful in guiding you to the choices that are right for you (a larger version is available on MyBU). Also, standard calls for proposals from major funders can be found here.
Insight 2017 opens for applications on 10 May 2017.
£1.6 million is available for research that advances the development and use of data from national clinical audits and patient registries as a mechanism for improving health care quality in the UK.
The programme comprises two funding streams for small and large-scale awards.
Deadline for applications: Tuesday 25 July 2017.
The Health Foundation is exploring what a learning health care system might look like in the UK and wants to better understand the elements that could contribute to making one. They recognise that digitisation and analysis of data and information play an important role in supporting health care systems to continuously learn and improve.
The rich information held in national clinical audits and registries can be used to inform improvements in health care quality. However, national audits and registries are yet to realise their full potential in the UK.
The Health Foundation’s £1.6 million Insight 2017 funding invites researchers to submit ideas for research that advances the development and use of data from national clinical audits and patient registries as a mechanism for improving health care quality in the UK.
The programme comprises two funding streams:
Small-scale awards – up to £100,000 to support innovative research that is particularly novel or conducted at a small scale, completed over 18 months. Projects eligible for funding under this stream include standalone research studies, and feasibility or pilot studies.
Large-scale awards – between £300,000 and £400,000 for substantive studies across more than one site and/or location of innovative and ambitious research with the potential to support transformational change, completed over three years.
The call aims to fund research that either:
broadens the involvement of patients in the design and collection of clinical audit and registry data, specifically the collection and use of patient reported outcomes
demonstrates the value of linking clinical audit and registry data to other data, to improve the value of health care
explores variation in metrics of clinical quality and outlier identification to determine priorities for improvement.
The academic jobs market is becoming more challenging and competitive post-PhD. With the number of PhD holders increasing, there is enormous pressure on the academic job market and declining academic job prospects for doctoral graduates.
What can I do after my PhD? It is a difficult decision for any PhD student on whether to pursue a career in academia, or consider alternative careers. In our dedicated live Q&A we are bringing forth a panel of experts who have moved outside of academia, to share their top tips and advice on alternate career pathways following PhD studies.
To help all those who are considering options after doctoral studies, jobs.ac.uk is holding a FREE 60-minute live video event via a live YouTube Q&A called ‘Alternative Career Pathways After Your PhD’. Find out more and register today.
Dr Nicole Ferdinand, Senior Academic in the Department of Events and Leisure recently presented at a three-day conference (April 30th – May 2nd 2017) at the International Convention Centre in Sydney hosted by Meeting and Events Australia (MEA). She was one of twelve plenary speakers who were part of the association’s national conference which featured the theme “Reboot” as delegates were treated to a number of presentations and workshops which were geared towards pushing the boundaries and challenging delegates to open their minds to the possibilities to improve the delivery of events. The conference celebrated its 40th year this year and is considered Australia’s “ultimate conference” for the events industry.
MEA Conference Opening Ceremony Featuring Australian Dance Troupe
Dr Ferdinand’s plenary session was entitled 360 Degree Post-event Evaluation and featured cutting-edge research developed with fellow BUresearcher Dr Nigel Williams on using social media data in evaluating events.
Dr Nicole Ferdinand on the main stage at the MEA National Conference
She followed her plenary session with a hands-on workshop. Feedback from both sessions was extremely positive as event evaluation is considered crucial for event success.
“Hands-on” Post-event Evaluation Workshop Led by Dr Nicole Ferdinand
For more information on the conference and the other speakers featured at the event, have a look at the conference website.
Dr Ambrose Seddon’s musical work ‘Fleeting Strands’ was recently included in the programme at BEAST FEAST 2017, an international electroacoustic music festival taking place at the University of Birmingham, 27-29 April 2017.
Ambrose ‘diffused’ (spatialised) his composition over the 64-channel loudspeaker system known as BEAST (Birmingham Electroacoustic Sound Theatre), in a programme including works by many highly-respected international artists. More information can be found here: http://preview.tinyurl.com/jvkj7q5
Ambrose is a lecturer in Music and Audio Technology at BU (Creative Technology, Sci Tech) and a member of EMERGE.
Dinosaurs to Forensics is coming to the Royal Society Summer Exhibition in July 2017. We are looking for talented and charismatic research students to help out. You will get first-hand experience of a large public engagement event and you will receive training. The Royal Society Summer Exhibition (3-9 July 2017) is the country’s most prestigious public engagement event and is held in London each year (https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2017/summer-science-exhibition/ ). The exhibit team is led by Matthew Bennett and Marcin Budka from the Faculty of Science and Technology here at BU.
Public engagement is an important aspect of every scientific discipline and this is a great way to learn and gain experience.
Each student will spend a day at the Royal Society interacting with the public and supporting the core exhibit team. Training will be provided and all travel and food expenses will be covered. Please note that this is not a paid opportunity.
GET INVOLVED
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
HAVE an AMAZING NEW EXPERIENCE
MEET NEW PEOPLE
BOOST YOUR EMPLOYMENT PROSPECT
Expressions of interest via email to dbudka@bmth.ac.uk before the 26 May 2017 please. We are looking for help specifically on the 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10 July and additional dates may be required that week. Please state clearly which days you are available for and give brief details of your course of study and experience. In the case of multiple expressions of interest a brief selection process will be run the week commencing the 5 June 2017.
Find out more about Bournemouth University (BU) work and research – while enjoying a drink in your favourite pub – during the upcoming Pint of Science Festival.
This is the first time that the world’s largest festival of public science talks has come to Bournemouth, and will see 25 BU scientists take to the stage in pubs across town.
It runs from Monday 15 – Wednesday 17th May, with talks taking place in Chaplin’s Cellar Bar in Boscombe, and at Ojo Rojo and the Goat & Tricycle in Bournemouth town centre across the three evenings of the festival.
Attendees can enjoy talks on a range of themes, from new technologies like 3D printing and how they could revolutionise the way things like jewellery are created, through to the science underlying mental illness and conditions such as autism and schizophrenia.
Selective forgetting, the selfie, internet addiction and whether breathing training can reduce falls will also be explored during the festival in Bournemouth.
BU Lecturer in Cognitive Psychology Dr Shanti Shanker, who has coordinated the Bournemouth events, said: “There is some fantastic research taking place in Bournemouth, and the Pint of Science festival is a great way for people to find out more about it.
“Not only will people hear from researchers directly, they will also have the chance to put their questions to them and delve into these fascinating topics.
“This is the first year that Pint of Science has come to Bournemouth and we really hope people embrace the opportunity to find out more in the comfort of a pub with a pint.”
The international, three-day Pint of Science festival will see thousands of scientists simultaneously standing up and telling the public about their research in over 100 cities across 12 countries.
Tickets are available from the Pint of Science website, with each evening of three talks costing £4.
To find out more about the Bournemouth events and book tickets visit the Pint of Science website.
We cordially invite staff and students with an interest in ageing and/or dementia research to join us at our monthly Ageing and Dementia Research Centre (ADRC) research meetings. The meetings provide an opportunity for those with related research interests to network and hear about the wealth of research in this area across BU.
We kick off our first ADRC Research Meeting on 9th May 2017 from 11-12.30 (S218, Studland House, Lansdowne Campus) with our theme leaders providing an overview of our three research themes:
Ageing and Dementia Friendly Environments – Prof Jan Wiener
Nutrition and Well-being – Prof Jane Murphy
Activity and Social Inclusion – Dr Ben Hicks
Following the success of a recent FHSS research seminar, the presentations will be in the ignite style – which is a short five minute slots using images, narratives, and altmetrics (http://www.ignitetalks.io/).
We look forward to seeing you there.
Anyone wishing to present their ageing or dementia research at a forthcoming research meeting should contact Dr Michelle Heward to discuss further.
The Advances in Media Management (AiMM) research cluster have been awarded the European Media Management Association’s Doctoral Summer School 2018.
AiMM is a cross faculty research collaboration between the Faculty of Media & Communications and the Faculty of Management and this award follows on from AiMMs success in hosting the association’s annual conference at BU in 2013.The Doctoral Summer School will be held at BU between the 2-4th July 2018 and is targeted at PhD students at all stages of their research, as well as early-stage post-docs.
Congratulations go to the bid team: Dr John Oliver, Dr Chris Chapleo, Dr Joyce Costello, Graham Goode, Melanie Gray and Conor O’Kane.
Social Media ‘on the go’: Examining the impact of age
Our next instalment of the ‘Photo of the Week’ series features a joint project between Dr Elvira Bolat and Harry Cutler-Smith, an postgraduate student from the Faculty of Management. The image is looking at social media ‘on the go’: examining the impact of age. The series is a weekly instalment which features an image taken by our fantastic BU staff and students. The photos give a glimpse into some of the fascinating work our researchers have been doing across BU and the wider community.
Dr Bolat’s research is looking at the generational gap on the adoption and use of social media.
Existing research on social media adoption has identified two generational groups, generation Y (aged 18-25) and generation X (aged 35-60). However, there are no existing studies that have investigated the generational gap in the adoption and use of social media ‘on the go’. The team conducted a mixed study comprising of focus group discussion and a survey. The team found that generation X uses mobile social media just as much generation as Y. This has implications on advertising strategies and tactics businesses use on social media. Brands that target generation X should not neglect social media in their marketing and need to consider targeted timely content.
Businesses using social media need to have a planned approach to content development and assume that social media and mobile social media (e.g. Snapchat) is only for younger audience.
If you’d like find out more about the research or the photo itself then please contact Dr Bolat or Harry.
We haven’t seen you for a while! Please come and join us for FREE tea and cake, and pick up your FREE coffee voucher if you have completed the PRES survey. We look forward to seeing you.
As part of the Research and Knowledge Exchange Development Framework, RKEO held a session on Writing a Justification of Resources. The session provided a brief overview of the Justification of Resources and offered tips for writing this section of the application form. Examples of effective Justifications of Resources were also provided.
The resources from the session are now available on MyBU. To access them, please logon to the ‘Research and Knowledge Exchange Development Framework’ community, and under ‘Pathways’ select ‘Research Council Funding’.
For further information, please contact Lisa Gale-Andrews, RKEO Research Facilitator.
The RCUK has issued a statement setting out the pre-election rules and what this means for research council funded researchers. This includes press releases about your research, expert commentary on the election, presenting at conferences concerning the election, research council funded data about voting patterns and behaviour, and election related content on websites and social media.
Please read the statement for exact details, but basically, you can’t mention your research council source of funding (unless directly asked) if talking about anything connected with the election.
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The MRC have developed an Interactive Career Framework which provides information on possible options for careers and funding in health research within academia and industry.
The 
Live online event on the 8th June 2017
TEA AND CAKE AT THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
The RCUK has issued a 
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