/ Full archive

Sherlock’s Window: In search of an odourless growth medium

Business Engagement, HEIF, innovation, Knowledge Exchange

“A key aspect of forensic investigation is the assessment of the ‘window of opportunity’ during which death took place. Estimations using insects (e.g. blowflies) increase accuracy. Using blowflies to determine post-mortem period requires an understanding of the temperature dependent growth patterns that they develop through their life cycle. In order to understand this, blowfly larvae are reared on growth media in the laboratory.

Sherlock’s Window is a HEIF-funded project at BU which aims to produce an odourless growth medium that can be rolled out internationally for use in forensic investigation. Illustrated here is the head of a third instar blowfly larva. Maggots have no eyes, but the protrusions at the tip of the mouth area are palps, used for feeling and manipulating food particles. The rows of black barbs that are visible are used to pull the maggot forward through the food substrate.”

This was the abstract submitted to accompany Dr Andrew Whittington’s recent submission to the Research Photography Competition.

Find out more about the project in the latest edition of the Bournemouth Research Chronicle featured in the section:  “Innovation in industry:how researchers and the wider community are working together.”

Follow HEIF on Instagram to find out more about the innovation projects taking place at BU: https://www.instagram.com/heif_at_bu/

 

 

 

BU alumni working on serious gaming project

Business Engagement, HEIF, innovation, Knowledge Exchange

Joshua (Josh) Cook graduated in 2016  with a first in BSc Games Programming.  He is currently working on an innovation project being led by Professor Wen Tang. ” PLUS”   is a gamified training application funded by HEIF,  in collaboration with the Dorset, Devon and Cornwall (Strategic Alliance) Police forces in order to provide a virtual learning environment that teaches trainees in a more engaging manner than traditional paper based learning.

As a project team member Wen commented “Josh has been a pro-active and key member of the project team working with both academics , the College of Policing and police forces around the UK to develop this training application.”

Key areas of focus for Josh have included:

  • Making the system more generic, so that the project can later be expanded to multiple areas and more situations with ease
  • Improve the visual environment (of the game) with shaders and animations
  • Include data analytics in order to obtain an understanding as to how trainees are using the game, how long they take, how many mistakes they make etc

Josh didn’t take a placement year during University, so aside from a summer position in a local games position he  did not have much work experience. On being given this opportuntity to work on the projetc Josh commented ” The PLUS project seemed like an interesting project to work on, and when I found out a position was open to work on it I applied. I’ve learned some useful things on this project, such as working from and improving upon an existing code base, what it’s like working directly with clients, implementing and using data analytics, and I’m sure I’ll learn more throughout the duration of my employment.”

This project has received funding from August 2015 with the funding ending in July 2017. (HEIF 5+1 and HEIF 5+1+1)

Read more about this project in full: Serious Games for Police Training. 

College of Policing Research Map

Come along to 14:Live on Tuesday 21 March

PG research, Student Engagement

14live

14:Live- Festival Fear of Missing Out (FoMO): What is it and how can you manage it?

Come along on 21 March at 2-3pm on Floor 5, Student Centre, Talbot Campus for the March edition of 14:Live.

Spring is fast approaching and festival season is just around the corner. Over the next few months you will be subjected to intense marketing campaigns from festival promoters, such as Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds, who will be telling you not to miss out on this year’s music festivals.

Many of your friends will be sharing their excitement about going to these festivals on social media. Social media has heightened the sensation that everyone but us appears to be having fun and many people have become more sensitive to FoMO appeals.

In this 14:Live, Dr Miguel Moital will discuss the psychology of ‘Fear of Missing Out’. What emotions come with FoMO? What marketing tricks are used to heighten FoMO? How can these emotions be managed?

With drinks and snacks provided, this will be a session you won’t want to miss!

All staff and students are welcome!

New projects in the Student Project Bank!

There are new projects in the Student Project Bank from Acts Fast, Civic Media Hub and the Diversity Trust in the following subject areas:

  • Accounting, finance and economics
  • Business, management and marketing
  • Computing and information technology
  • Health and social care, Social studies
  • Tourism, hospitality and events

Short briefs are listed below and full project briefs are available upon request.

SPB051: Social media strategy for Acts Fast

Design a social media strategy that will enable Acts Fast (Abused Children’s Trauma Support, Family Advice & Strategy Team) to promote their support services to parent/carers and children under 16. Create a user guide that Acts Fast can use to train volunteers to carry out the strategy.

SPB052: Marketing strategy for Acts Fast

Create a marketing strategy that will enable Acts Fast (Abused Children’s Trauma Support, Family Advice & Strategy Team) to promote their support services to parent/carers and children under 16. Assist Acts Fast in the creation of strap lines for promotional materials and a core message that makes it clear who their support services are aimed at.

SPB053: Financial management plan for Acts Fast

Acts Fast (Abused Children’s Trauma Support, Family Advice & Strategy Team) is planning to expand in the future. Design a financial management plan that will enable them to plan for this expansion and allocate resources accordingly.

SPB054: Fundraising event for Acts Fast

Acts Fast (Abused Children’s Trauma Support, Family Advice & Strategy Team) is planning to run a fundraising gala. Work with them to plan and run the event – establish the best time of year, format and location.

SPB055: Build a database on housing in London

The Civic Media Hub at Bournemouth University is currently working with various housing organisations and groups in London that all record and store data in different ways. These stakeholder partners would like to share their resources more easily. Co-develop a database prototype with the project supervisors and stakeholders from a set of stakeholder’s user stories and a preliminary data infrastructure report.

SPB056: Trans Health Matters research project

Since 2012 the Diversity Trust has been researching the health needs of LGBT+ people and has found evidence to support national findings on trans experiences. To continue this work the Diversity Trust plans to carry out a research project into the specific health needs of trans people across Avon, Swindon and Wiltshire. Assist with data collection and analysis, and contribute to a report and final presentation.

Apply now

Projects are available to all undergraduate and postgraduate students at BU and can be used for their dissertation, assignment, unit or group work. Members of staff may also choose a project to set to their students. A complete list of projects is available here.
If you would like to find out more and apply for one of the above projects, email spb@bournemouth.ac.uk to request a project brief and an application form.

Applying for funding from NIHR – Patient and Public Involvement Session 5th April 2017

RKEO dev logo - banner

As part of the Research and Knowledge Exchange Development Framework, RKEO are holding a session on Applying for funding from NIHR – Patient and Public Involvement (PPI). At this session, you’ll hear from a Research Fellow / former PPI Senior Programme Manager at the NIHR about what is meant by PPI, and to understand how this can be applied to your research. You’ll also hear from the NIHR Research Design Service South West PPI Lead on the importance of involving the public and patients in research.

Date: Wednesday 5th April 2017RKEO RKE NIHR

Time: 14.00-16.00

Venue: Lansdowne Campus

Book your space via the RKE Development Framework page for this event.

For further information, please contact Lisa Gale-Andrews, RKEO Research Facilitator.

HE policy update w/e17th March 2017

Research assessment

Brexit:

  • Research Professional illustrates the Brexit threats to research positioning and job losses by highlighting the difficulties facing an EU astronomy consortium. The consortium represents seven countries, led by the UK, but will move headquarters to an EU member state from January 2021. The move means the UK will lose the project’s leadership and the 12 UK universities may not continue post-Brexit. Research Professional notes that while access to research infrastructures is available to non-EU states, the EU membership plays a significant role in decisions on where to locate facilities. Gerry Gilmore (the consortium leader, from University of Cambridge) stated:
    “The UK will lose substantial scientific leadership and influence in the EU. There is going to be bad news all around. I don’t think people realise how many new jobs and new opportunities have just been destroyed.”
  • The EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill has survived the parliamentary process and received Royal Assent on 16th March (BBC). This bill allows the Prime Minister to notify the EU of the UK’s intention to withdraw from the EU. The Lords made two amendments to the Bill – one relating to Parliament having a “meaningful vote” on the final arrangements and one requiring a guarantee for EU citizens to remain in the UK. The bill was approved by the House of Commons, which rejected the Lords bill and then went back to the Lords under what is called “ping-pong”. The Lords voted again on both issues but the House of Lords majority backed down and the bill was passed. The PM is expected to trigger article 50 later in March.
  • 2018/19 EU student and staff guarantees: During oral questions in the Lords Baroness Royall of Blaisdon pressed the government spokesperson (Viscount Younger of Leckie) when announcements would be made regarding fees and access to loans for 2018/19 EU student starters. Leckie gave a side stepping response: “The noble Baroness makes the important point that there are uncertainties arising from Brexit, but the Government have moved rapidly to give assurances to this sector… “We have also provided similar assurances that EU nationals starting courses in 2016-17 and 2017-18 remain eligible for Research Council postgraduate support. As I have said, we will ensure that students starting in 2018-19 have the information well in advance”

International students:

  • The debate over the inclusion of international students in the long-term migrant numbers continues. Even senior ministers are rebelling – Boris Johnson, Phillip Hammond and Liam Fox have all protested, although Jo Johnson continues to toe the party line backing the PM’s stance to include international students within the original immigration statistics. Liam Fox spoke out this week about the value of overseas campuses.
  • On Monday the House of Lords defeated the government on the Higher Education and Research Bill (HERB), approving an amendment to prevent international students being counted as long-term migrants. The government have responded that “the proposed amendment would create a situation where we were potentially unable to apply basic visa checks, or impose conditions on a student visa. It would also mean that fresh primary legislation were needed just to make minor, technical changes to immigration rules.” (Wonkhe)
  • HERB is scheduled to have its third reading in the Lords on 22 March 2017 and then will go back to the Commons. The PM’s stance on international students seems rock solid (Financial Times) and Theresa May is not expected to waiver – the parliamentary ping pong regarding international students will surely make headlines over the coming weeks.
  • Meanwhile there are worries about student recruitment. Politics Home quotes an Office for National Statistics release stating the number of students coming to the UK dropped by 41,000 in 2016.

Higher Education and Research Bill:

  • The HE and Research Bill has finished its third reading in the House of Lords (although it will have to go back if the House of Commons makes any changes, as seems likely).  The report stage in the Lords is on 22nd March – usually only technical or minor amendments are made at this stage.  The current version of the bill as amended by the Lords is here.
  • The surprise amendment on international students is referred to above.
  • The government won the final vote on the proposed amendment that would have required UKRI and OfS to jointly revoke research degree awarding powers, the amendment was defeated. Wonkhe report that Lord Mackay made an impassioned speech noting that it was “extraordinary” that the OfS was not required to have any expertise or experience regarding research, and yet had the unilateral power to revoke research degree awarding powers, but to no avail. The Bill continues to say that research degree-awarding powers should be made by the OfS with advice from UKRI.

With long debates, late nights and a large number of amendments, it is fair to say that HERB has received an excellent level of scrutiny within the Lords. Lord Prior of Brampton notes: “Everyone who has contributed [to the Bill debates] can take some credit for having improved it considerably. For me, it is a good example of the value this House can bring to a Bill of this kind.”

HEFCE 2017/18 funding to universities: The grant letter details the overall funding to the sector for 2017/18. It includes doubled funding for the National Collaborative Outreach Programme (£60m pa), an additional £17m increase for mainstream quality-related research, a reduction of £40m for teaching (including a reduction in PGT FTE funding rate), maintaining the disabled students premium at the 2016/17 level, the inclusion of nursing, midwifery and allied health professions (£32m), cuts to the student premium budget for full time UG of £20m (part time UG funding remains static). Institutions will receive individual allocations in April although with a publication embargo in force until May. Capital allocations will be announced in March.

Student Loans Sale: A parliamentary question tabled by Steve McCabe requested publication of the ‘in-depth market testing exercise associated with the same of the student loan book. Jo Johnson has responded: “The Government ran a market testing process with a cross-section of potential investors in the student loan book from the end of September into November 2016. This sought feedback on potential sale structures and key features of the transaction and informed the design of the sale. This was a commercial rather than a public process and was conducted under non-disclosure agreements. We do not intend to publish a report of the details. Protecting the details of the conclusions of market testing will help the ongoing sale process achieve value for money for taxpayers.”

Student Fees: On Thursday 16th the Petitions Committee released its latest decisions regarding recent petitions with a high number of signatures. This included a petition to government to change the University fees from £9250 back to the £3000 fee. The Committee agreed to wait for the Higher Education and Research Bill to complete its passage through Parliament before deciding whether to schedule a debate – effectively this was a dismissal of the petition.

Research Excellence Framework  The responses to the REF2021 consultation were due in by midday on 17th March.

  • There has been a lot of focus on one area, the definition of “research active staff” for the returns – there are some interesting views:
  • HEFCE blog (and BU’s reply) – HEFCE are proposing a negotiated definition for each university, BU is proposing all staff should be returned, including teaching only
  • Royal Society blog on Research Professional – they say staff shouldn’t be returned at all, it should be institutional
  • The PVC (Research and Enterprise) from Hertfordshire says on Times Higher Education that the solution is flawed and that clarity is needed

There are many other issues in the REF consultation, including the portability of outputs, which will have important consequences for institutions and their staff. The HEFCE REF consultation on the implementation of the REF 2021 closed on 17 March 2017.  You can read BU’s response here.

Latest Funding Opportunities

Funding opportunities

The following is a snap-shot of funding opportunities that have been announced. Please follow the links for more information:

Scoping group for designing future landscapes for biodiversity and ecosystem services – meeting

Natural Environment Research Council, GB

NERC invites applications to join a scoping group that will develop the science case for a potential strategic research programme on designing future landscapes for biodiversity and ecosystem services.

This is one of two potential strategic programme areas (SPAs) which have emerged from the ideas process for strategic research. Any potential SPA must meet NERC’s criteria for a strategic programme, so it is possible that neither will result in a funded programme.

Maximum award: Not known

Closing date: 27 Mar 17 Closing soon

Invitation to quote for the development of an assessment template to monitor sector progress towards open access (OA) compliance with funder policies

Higher Education Funding Council for England, GB

HEFCE, RCUK, Jisc and Wellcome require an understanding of how the higher education sector is progressing towards OA compliance in relation to funder policies. We require further understanding of the tools and systems being utilised by HEIs to fulfil OA compliance needs.

We require a contractor to work with HEFCE, RCUK, Jisc, Wellcome and the HE sector to develop a method to collect appropriate quantitative data on HEI compliance. This must not be unduly burdensome for the institutions to complete and should draw upon existing mechanisms and data where possible. Further detail on the tender requirements can be found in the specification section below.

We anticipate that the eventual data collection will be in the form of an assessment framework (survey) which HEFCE, RCUK, Jisc and Wellcome will deliver in summer 2017.

Maximum award: £25,000

Closing date: 28 Mar 17 Closing soon

LARIA annual conference bursaries

Economic and Social Research Council, GB

The Local Area Research and Intelligence Association (LARIA) and the ESRC invite applications from academic researchers based at UK universities to receive a bursary to attend the LARIA annual conference. The conference will be held on 23-24 May 2017 in Sheffield.

ESRC and LARIA would like to increase the level of attendance by ESRC supported researchers and social scientists generally at the conference. It is the highlight of the research calendar for those researching local areas and is the ‘must go’ event for such analysts. In 2016, over 100 delegates attended from the public sector including local authorities, fire and rescue services, health, and housing. The majority of attendees are from local authorities and the sector is known for its commitment to collaboration and innovation.

Maximum award: Not known

Closing date: 03 Apr 17 (recurring)

University of Sheffield/English Heritage/AHRC – the evolution of Audley End collaborative PhD studentship

Arts and Humanities Research Council, GB

These studentships are based on research areas we have identified because they will:

  • Advance the protection of the historic environment
  • Advance understanding and interpretation of the nationally important sites in the care of English Heritage
  • Are in areas we would not otherwise be able to carry out research on by ourselves alone.

They are supervised by both Historic England and English Heritage experts in partnership with University academics.

The CDP programme provides the perfect opportunity to align practical research with heritage protection outcomes. It also provides skills-sharing to students planning careers in heritage research and management; and by doing that, it helps to address skills shortages in the heritage profession.

Maximum award: Not known

Closing date: 17 Apr 17

Accelerating innovation in rail

Innovate UK, GB

The rail industry is transforming the way it manages innovation and introduces new technologies. The Rail Capability Delivery Plan 2017 outlines the industry’s vision for using technology to create a better railway. This competition aims to provide direct support and encourage collaboration between rail industry clients and innovative businesses.

The focus of this competition is industrial research. To be in scope proposals must demonstrate how they meet specific industry challenges. Proposals should contribute to the high-level programmes developed by the rail industry, as outlined below. Future exploitation is a key priority. Applications should provide evidence of a market need for specific solutions and engagement with potential rail industry customers.

Maximum award: Not known

Closing date: 10 May 17

Research institute in hardware security

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, GB

Reflecting the aims of the National Cyber Security Strategy, the UK Government and its delivery partners are working to increase the UK’s academic capability in all fields of Cyber Security. EPSRC and NCSC are inviting proposals from academic researchers to form a Research Institute in Hardware Security. The Research Institute will be jointly funded by NCSC and EPSRC, with an indicative budget from the sponsors of £5 million over five years. In order to establish the institute there are two concurrent calls – one to identify a director of the institute and one to support initial research projects.

Working in conjunction with NCSC whilst undertaking research to be published in the public domain, the Research Institute will identify and address key issues that underpin our understanding of Hardware Security.

This call will identify a number of research projects to form the core research activity of the institute. The concurrent call ‘Research Institute in Hardware Security – Call for Director’ will invite proposals for the Director.

Maximum award: Not known

Closing date: 10 May 17

UK-Philippines – joint health research initiative

Medical Research Council, GB

The UK Medical Research Council (MRC), and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through the Philippine Council for Health and Research Developmentopens in new window (PCHRD) invite concept proposals to the second UK-Philippines Joint Health Research Call.

This initiative will provide funding for high quality 3-year collaborative research projects focusing on Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases of relevance to the Philippines. This exciting initiative builds on the MRC-PCHRD Call launched in 2015 through which 6 proposals addressing research needs in Infectious Diseases were funded.

Maximum award: Not known

Closing date: 11 May 17

Productivity network plus

Economic and Social Research Council, GB

The ESRC is pleased to invite applications for a Productivity Network.

Productivity has a major bearing on sustainable economic growth. The UK’s ongoing low levels of productivity, especially in comparison with international competitors, are of critical concern and require affirmative action on the part of both government and business. To aid progress, the UK needs research to help understand and explain the factors affecting productivity levels, and to provide robust evidence to inform policy and practice. The complex nature of the productivity challenge requires a multi-perspective, interdisciplinary approach.

To this end, the ESRC will fund an interdisciplinary ‘Network Plus’ as a first step to developing the capacity needed to sustain a substantive multidisciplinary and policy-orientated research programme. The network will include representatives from the policy community and the private sector, as well as academics from a range of disciplines. It will connect interdisciplinary research groups and networks from academia, policy and business; complement and collaborate with existing capacity and current research agendas (whether or not ESRC-funded); and develop an understanding of the current state of productivity research. It will promote methodological innovation and develop a series of small-scale studies. The Network Plus will also play a role in co-ordinating the ESRC’s data strategy for productivity, including by encouraging the exploitation of existing data resources and feeding into the development of new data infrastructure.

Maximum award: Not known

Closing date: 17 May 17

COMING SOON: Industrial CASE studentships

Medical Research Council, GB

*** This opportunity will be available soon. The next call is expected to open in April and close in July 2017. The following information is subject to change. These studentships aim to provide students with research training experience by facilitating collaborations with academic and non-academic partner organisations. ***

Driving innovation and collaborating with industry remains at the heart of MRC strategy and delivery plans.

Our industrial CASE (iCASE) PhD studentship scheme has for many years played a key role in this by helping develop partnerships and enabling students to benefit from a broad and unique training experience.

Given this previous success and the enormous potential that industry-academic collaboration has to offer for UK society and the economy, we wish to enhance the flexibility of the MRC iCASE studentship scheme.

Maximum award: Not known

Closing date: Not known

Find more funding opportunities

Search all the latest calls

If you are interested in submitting to any of the above calls you must contact your  RKEO Funding Development Officer with adequate notice before the deadline.

For more funding opportunities that are most relevant to you, you can set up your own personalised alerts on Research Professional. If you need help setting these up, just ask your School’s/Faculty’s Funding Development Officer in  RKEO or view the recent blog post here.

If thinking of applying, why not add notification of your interest on Research Professional’s record of the bid so that BU colleagues can see your intention to bid and contact you to collaborate.

BU alumni supporting innovation projects at BU

Business Engagement, HEIF, innovation, Knowledge Exchange, Student Engagement, student research

Dominika Budka is currently working on an innovation funded (HEIF) project called: “Dinosaurs to Forensic Science: Digital, Tracks and Traces”. She graduated last year  (2016) having completed an MSc Forensic and Neuropsychological Perspectives in Face-Processing

Forensic technology and tools are advancing across the board, with the analysis of digital trace evidence being an exception. The techniques and tools used to capture and analyse footwear evidence have not changed in over a hundred years. This project is already changing the status quo by translating academic research on human and dinosaur tracks into tools for forensic practitioners to use. The product that has been  developed, DigTrace, is an integrated software solution for the capture and analysis of 3D data whether in a forensic context (footwear evidence) or in the study of vertebrate tracks and footprints. One of the  recent successes is the exhibit  the project team are  organising at the very prestigious Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, to be held in London in July.

 The project team were looking for a dissemination officer to help spread the word about the software and engage user groups both within the UK and overseas.  Dominika’s role involves working with external stakeholder groups, organising dissemination events, developing training materials and events for academics, crime agencies, forensic specialists, and UK police forces.

About working on the project, Dominika comented,  “I’m thrilled to be able to contribute to the project, which is not only well-aligned with my interests, but has also a huge potential for impact in terms of improving societal security. I’m working with a unique product set which can enhance global security by improving forensic practice, as well as criminal intelligence gathering and ultimately prosecution. The forensic context of the project is what I find most interesting as it links directly to my MSc”

To find out more about the project – click on the link: Dinosaurs to Forensic Science: Digital, Tracks and Traces

 

Inaugural lecture: Secrets of storytelling in documentaries, movies, and games

Stories are all around us – in the books we read, games we play and films we watch. The best stories are those that draw us in, captivate us and make us empathise with the characters and their situations. But can you create a story that will thrill and engage your audience?

Professor Kerstin Stutterheim, Professor of Media & Cultural Studies at Bournemouth University, is an expert in dramaturgy – the study of the different elements that make up a story. As part of her inaugural lecture, Professor Stutterheim will share insights from her research and professional practice as a documentary film maker. She will explain how to tell a story that will interest, inform and excite your audience, illustrated with a wide range of examples from documentary film, and the games industry.

Professor Kerstin Stutterheim joined Bournemouth University in 2015, where she teaches a range of subjects, including film studies, directing of documentary and fiction films. She is currently involved in a research project exploring the cultural legacy of the Paralympics, as well as undertaking research into the storytelling of HBO hit TV show – Game of Thrones.

Bournemouth University’s inaugural lecture series aims to celebrate new professorial appointments and the depth and breadth of research produced by the university. For further information on the inaugural lecture series, please visit www.bournemouth.ac.uk/public-lecture-series

About the event

To book your free ticket, click here.

Venue: Poole Lighthouse, 21 Kingland Road, BH15 1UG.

Date: Tuesday 9 May.

Time: 6:30pm for a 7pm lecture start.

Refreshments will be provided at the event.

For more information about the event, please contact Rachel Bowen at rbowen@bournemouth.ac.uk.

New publication: vital signs obstetric charts

PG research, Publishing, student research, writing

Congratulations on the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences team which had its paper ‘Vital signs and other observations used to detect deterioration in pregnant women: an analysis of vital sign charts in consultant-led UK maternity units’ accepted by the International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia (published by Elsevier). 
The paper compares: (i) vital sign values used to define physiological normality; (ii) symptoms and signs used to escalate care; (iii) 24 type of chart used; and (iv) presence of explicit instructions for escalating care. The authors conclude that the wide range of ‘normal’ vital sign values in different systems used in the UK and the Channel Islands suggests a lack of equity in the processes for detecting deterioration and escalating care in hospitalised pregnant and postnatal women. Agreement regarding ‘normal’ vital sign ranges is urgently required and would assist the development of a standardised obstetric early warning system and chart. The lead author of this new paper is FHSS Visiting Professor Gary Smith, his co-authors include FHSS staff Vanora Hundley, Lisa Gale_Andrews and Edwin van Teijlingen as well as three BU Visiting Faculty: Debra Bick (King’s College London), Mike Wee (Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust) and Richard Isaacs (University Hospital Southampton).

MSCA IF 2017

Funding opportunities, international

As the European Commission celebrates the support of over 100,000 researchers through Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, RKEO are pleased to confirm our arrangements for supporting this high profile call in 2017.

Support

Timeline

As this is a highly popular call, RKEO need to carefully manage the flow of work within RKEO but also for all your colleagues, who work together, to ensure that each application is approved and submitted correctly.

The call will open on 11/04/17, when further information will be posted on this blog.

Please ensure that the Intention to Bid is submitted to RKEO by 30/06/17. You can, of course, let us know earlier than this date that you intend to apply, so that we can provide you, and your potential fellow, with as much support as possible, right up to the closing date of 14/09/17. It is expected that early drafts will be sent to RKEO at the beginning of August, allowing time for all those involved to manage their workloads.

Communication

Once we know that you are thinking of applying, even before submitting the Intention to Bid, we can keep you up to date with announcements from the funder and other sources of help and support.

If you are considering applying and would like to receive updates, please contact Dianne Goodman, RKEO’s Funding Development Team Co-ordinator, so that we can register your interest and provide useful information, such as  the indicative timetable for actions prior to submission. If you are ready to submit your Intention to Bid, you can do this now, via Dianne. The allocated Funding Development Officer can then contact you.

If you have any queries or comments about this  scheme, please contact Emily Cieciura, RKEO’s Research Facilitator: EU & International

RCUK statement on Apprenticeship Levy

Funding opportunities, Guidance

RCUK have issued the following statement this week:

 

Any Research Organisation submitting an feC Proposal to the Research Councils can now recover the costs of the new Apprentice levy.

The Research Councils in informal consultation with the sector, have agreed that the cost of the Levy can be recovered by adding the levy charge through direct staff costs, for both Directly Allocated and Directly Incurred Staff. This should be added to any UK based salary at 0.5%. This would not apply to any staff based at overseas Organisations.

The levy charge can be included on all future applications submitted from this date, no amendments to applications or grants submitted or funded will be allowable, though the charge can be recovered through grant virement within the cash limits of the grant. Further details on how this can be entered into Je-S is attached here .

We will be working with TRAC Development Group (TDG) in the coming year in order to include the levy for indirect staff as part of the indirect cost and how the income can accounted for.

The RKEO Funding Development Team will be adding the 0.5% cost (where DA and DI staff are included) to all research council applications with immediate effect.

Creative Europe – Current Calls

Funding opportunities

Through the Creative Europe programme, the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency is promoting the following calls and their closing dates:
Distribution Selective Scheme – Support for the transnational distribution of European Films 2017 Distribution – selective support, MEDIA, Creative Europe Open 01/12/2016 – 12:00 (CET/CEST, midday Brussels time), 14/06/2017 – 12:00 (CET/CEST, midday Brussels time) EACEA/19/2016
Support for Film Festivals EACEA 16/2016 MEDIA, Film Festivals, Creative Europe Open 24/11/2016 – 12:00 (CET/CEST, midday Brussels time), 27/04/2017 – 12:00 (CET/CEST, midday Brussels time) EACEA 16/2016
Distribution – Support to sales agents 2016 MEDIA, Distribution – support to sales agents, Creative Europe Open 16/06/2016 – 12:00 (CET/CEST, midday Brussels time), 03/10/2017 – 12:00 (CET/CEST, midday Brussels time) EACEA/01/2016
Support for Content Development of Single Project 2017 MEDIA, Development single projects + slate funding, Creative Europe Open 17/11/2016 – 12:00 (CET/CEST, midday Brussels time), 20/04/2017 – 12:00 (CET/CEST, midday Brussels time) EACEA 20/2016
Distribution Automatic Support 2016 Distribution – automatic support Open 29/04/2016 – 12:00 (CET/CEST, midday Brussels time), 01/08/2017 – 12:00 (CET/CEST, midday Brussels time) EACEA/09/2016
Distribution Automatic Support 2017 Distribution – automatic support, MEDIA, Creative Europe Open 28/04/2017 – 12:00 (CET/CEST, midday Brussels time), 01/08/2018 – 12:00 (CET/CEST, midday Brussels time) EACEA/18/2016
Promotion of European Works Online EACEA 26/2016 Promotion of European audiovisual works online Open 06/04/2017 – 12:00 (CET/CEST, midday Brussels time) EACEA 26/2016
TV Programming 2017 MEDIA, TV programming Open 24/11/2016 – 12:00 (CET/CEST, midday Brussels time), 30/05/2017 – 12:00 (CET/CEST, midday Brussels time) EACEA 23/2016
Support to European Platforms 2017 European platforms Open 06/04/2017 – 12:00 (CET/CEST, midday Brussels time) EACEA/06/2017
If you are interested in applying for any of these calls, please contact Emily Cieciura, REKO’s Research Facilitator: EU & International, in the first instance.

Tracks in the sand: tracking criminals

HEIF, innovation, Knowledge Exchange

“Within our lives we leave thousands of individual footprints – in the snow, on the beach, in the park and sometimes even muddy prints on the kitchen floor!  Tracks are more numerous than any other form of trace evidence, and record a unique snap shot in time about the track-maker.  Not only do they record details of the shoes worn, but information about our body mass, style of walking and the specific wear on the soles of our shoes that record information about the history of our footfall.  Reading these clues digitally provides an important forensic tools and HEIF-funded BU research (www.DigTrace.co.uk) in this area is shaping forensic practice both in the UK and overseas. “

This was the abstract submitted to accompany Professor Matthew Bennett’s  recent submission to the Research Photography Competition.

This is the first image to go live on the new Instagram account for HEIF. What not follow to find out more obout the exciting innovations projects past and present at BU.

It can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/heif_at_bu/

 

Innovation funding now featured on Instagram !

Business Engagement, HEIF, innovation, Knowledge Exchange, student research

Forming part of a media package to support innovation funding at BU, a new Instagram Account is now live. Oliver Cooke a third year student on the BA Honours Media Production course is developing a number of different media channels to showcase the range of Higher Education Innovation Funded (HEIF) projects at BU.

It can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/heif_at_bu/

This first image to go live comes from Matthew Bennett’s submission to the Research Photography Competition. (Read more about the HEIF project Matthew is leading on here: Dinosaurs to Forensic Science: Digital, Tracks and Traces

(Research Photography Competition now in its third year.)

Ollie is also working on a short video documentary and website as part of this project.

Ollie’s  experience with HEIF came from the time on his  work placement last year.  He worked within the Research and Knowledge Exchange Office (RKEO) as the Student Engagement Co-Ordinator and had the chance to be involved in a number of initiatives including HEIF. Whilst reflecting on his time in RKEO and ideas for his Graduate Project, it was clear  that there are many interesting projects at BU.

Commenting on his chosen topic Ollie comented “It also struck me that here was an ideal opportunity to create some really engaging media content in order to showcase the innovation journeys and provide more information about innovation and knowledge exchange at BU. This will aim to highlight the people involved with HEIF at BU, as well as the research.”

Ollie has just started filming and the first footage has been shot involving Andrew Whittington (PI)  and BU student Christopher Dwen who are working on the project: “Sherlock’s Window: improving accuracy of entomological forensics at post-mortem criminal investigation using combined cuticular hydrocarbon and internal metabolite analysis.”

(Sherlock’s Window was also featured in the latest edition of the Bournemouth Research Chronicle: Edition 6, January 2017, Page 22.)

BU Undergraduate Research highlighted in Parliament

Now in its fifth year, and for the fourth year running for BU, the Posters in Parliament exhibition has given MPs a window onto the innovative research undertaken by university undergraduates across the UK. The annual exhibition at Westminster is part of BCUR – the British Conference of Undergraduate Research– which BU is hosting this April, an open coalition of universities dedicated to encouraging a national culture of research at undergraduate level.

Staged this year by UCL, the exhibition showcased the work of 52 students from 27 universities, with BU undergraduates among them:

“The Posters in Parliament exhibition was a remarkable experience. It was technically a competition and there were some very worthy entries, but that was just a small part of the overall celebration and culmination of incredible research from a breadth of subjects. From music to science to media and back again, I was humbled to be a part of it” Jordan Ezra, in his final year of Digital Media Design (FMC).

“It was an amazing experience to stand alongside other passionate and inspiring students in the Houses of Parliament …I truly appreciate the support from all who attended but also those who approached me asking questions on my research. I am so happy and proud to attend and I am certainly looking forward to attending the BCUR in April”. Georgia Robertson, final year Events & Leisure Marketing student (FM).

The posters on display explored an impressive range of research topics, including eg everything from the relationship between short-term memory and inner speech, the impact of dieting on mortality in obese adults, the reasons for low participation in physical activity by older South Asians in the UK and the role of the West in the development of the Ukraine crisis.   Other uni’s attending included eg: Lancaster, London Met, LSE, Queen Mary, Teeside, UCL, Leeds, Reading, Sheffield, Sussex, Warwick, York etc.

Bournemouth’s own Conor Burns and Tobias Ellwood along with Hilary Benn (Leeds), Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) and Caroline Lucas (Brighton) were among the MPs who attended the event on Tuesday 14 March.  Each year prizes are awarded to the best posters. The judging panel is made up of leaders in the higher education and research sectors and this year consisted of, Naomi Saint, Universities Programme Manager at Parliament, Diana Beech, Higher Education Policy Institute, Professor Dilly Fung, UCL and Professor Stuart Hampton-Reeves, UCLan.

UCLan’s Professor Stuart Hampton-Reeves, Chair of the British Conference of Undergraduate Research (BCUR) Steering Group, said: “The students whose posters are included here represent the next generation of innovators and academics. Their discoveries are already helping to further our understanding of the big challenges facing the world today.” Hilary Benn MP (Leeds) said: “Shut your eyes and listen to that buzz! It’s ideas, it’s determination and it’s cutting-edge research. This is the sound of the future. It’s fantastic that this event has taken place in Parliament today.”

The event was sponsored by Keir Starmer, MP for Holborn and St Pancras, Chuka Umunna, MP for Streatham, and Naomi Saint, Houses of Parliament Universities Programme Manager.

The 2017 British Conference of Undergraduate Research meets annually every Spring in a different British university to showcase research by undergraduates at all levels and in all disciplines. The 2017 Conference will be held in Bournemouth on 25-26 April and also comes out of BU’s hosting of SURE (Showcasing Undergraduate Research Excellence) conference first held in 2015.