Latest research and knowledge exchange news at Bournemouth University
Research Professional is pleased to invite UK researchers to our updated Broadcast Demonstration series.
The next session will take place via Microsoft Teams on the 12th December 2023.
Registration for the webinar is possible here.
This session will provide an introduction to the *Research Professional platform, demonstrate how to locate funding opportunities matching research interests, and show
how to set up email alerts to stay informed of new developments.
Following community consultation on the REF initial decisions published in the summer of 2023, the four UK higher education funding bodies have announced an extension to the timing of the next REF exercise.
The next REF will now be REF2029, with results to be published in December 2029.
It is likely that submission will now be autumn 2028. The REF team have advised that an updated timeline will be published “as soon as possible”.
The extension to the timeline is in recognition of the complexities for Higher Education Institutions in:
As well as the change to the timing for the REF, a number of other updates have been announced, including:
More detail on the initial decisions next steps can be found at https://www.ref.ac.uk/news/update-on-initial-decisions/
This week’s Bournemouth University (BU) advertised a forthcoming event in February 2024 ‘Early Career Researchers and Interdisciplinarity in the Medical Humanities – South West‘. To promote this event I would like to highlight some papers published recently by BU academics on interdisciplinarity.
First, Dr. Shanti Shanker in the Department of Psychology and Dr. Pramod Regmi in the Department of Nursing Science and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen in the Department of Midwifery & Health Sciences published the paper ‘The Interdisciplinary Team Not the Interdisciplinarist: Reflections on Interdisciplinary Research’ [1]. This interesting paper is co-authored with two BU Visiting Faculty, Ms. Jillian Ireland, Professional Midwifery Advocate in Poole Maternity Hospital (University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust) and Prof. Padam Simkhada based at the University of Huddersfield. This paper argues that interdisciplinary working is within the team, not the person being interdisciplinary . Multidisciplinary teams provide unique opportunities for researchers from different disciplines (and hence different ways of working and thinking) to collaborate with one another. We need to be careful not to try to create interdisciplinarists, or at least, not too many. The worlds needs people who are strong in their discipline and open-minded/flexible/reflective enough to see the value of other people’s disciplines. 
Secondly, the Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences published our editorial ‘Public Health is truly interdisciplinary’ [2]. This editorial was largely written to counteract some of the jurisdictional claims made in Nepal by certain people in Public Health. These claims express themselves in arguments around the question whether Public Health is a single academic discipline or a broad interdisciplinary profession comprising many different individual academic disciplines. There are two quite distinct and opposing views. Some argue that Public Health is a broad-ranging single discipline covering sub-disciplines such as Epidemiology, Management, Medicine, Nursing, Health Psychology, Medical Statistics, Sociology of Health & Illness and Public Health Medicine. Those who support this argument, typically see: (a) Public Health is the overarching dominant discipline, which brings these sub-disciplines together; and (b) that a true Public Health practitioner amalgamates all these individual elements. Others argue that Public Health is more an overarching world view or interdisciplinary approach for wide-ranging group of professionals and academics [2]. In this view some Public Health professionals are first trained as clinicians, others as psychologists, health economists, health management, statisticians, or demographers, and so on and have later specialised in Public Health.
Thirdly, doing multidisciplinary research is not without its problems, hence we reflect on some of these in the paper ‘Interdisciplinary Research in Public Health: Not quite straightforward’ [3]. The authors are BU’s Dr. Pramod Regmi, Dr. Nirmal Ayral in the Department of Nursing Science and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen, and BU Visiting Professor Padam Simkhada and BU graduate Dr. Pratik Adhikary (currently at the University of the West of England). We all are Public Health researchers, with very different educational backgrounds and training, reflecting the diversity of and interdisciplinarity in the field. Several of us have a first degree in Education or Health Education, but one has a first degree in Sociology. Whilst four of the five authors have Master degree in Public Health and/or Health Promotion, two have a Master in Education. Most of the authors have a Ph.D. in Public Health, but again the Ph.D. of one of us is in Sociology. The key point is that we are all working in Public Health.
Unfortunately the ‘Early Career Researchers and Interdisciplinarity in the Medical Humanities – South West’is for ECRs from the South West Hub only.
Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen
CMWH
References:
This is a reminder that the European Research Executive Agency invites those interested in applying for the next call to join the online info session on 8 December 2023 (9 am UK time) and learn more about MSCA Staff Exchanges.
The 2023 call of the Horizon Europe Staff Exchanges action is open for new proposal applications until 28 February 2024.
Please note that this is a 2023 Work Programme call. If a proposal is successful, UK institutions will not be eligible to coordinate the project and funding will be provided from the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee. To claim this funding from UKRI, UK applicants must apply for funding from the EU as beneficiaries and not as Associated Partners.
You can download the agenda from the dedicated webpage library or navigate directly to the streaming page.
In the meantime, the European Commission has announced the submission rates for the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks 2023 call, which closed on 28 November 2023. The European Research Executive Agency received 1066 proposals, which is an increase compared to the 946 applications received in the previous call.
Standard Doctoral Networks received 920 proposals, two of which are with BU academics participating – good luck to our colleagues!
Impacts of Corruption, Access to Finance, Productivity in 27 Transition Economies, was one of over 50 advanced research posters with abstract presentations at Fusion Building, Bournemouth University Conference on 29 November 2023, Fernbarrow, Bournemouth Poole Dorset UK.
The author is now honoured that this poster with abstract appears internationally on research gate within the works of leading international professor on successes and failures of transition economics, featured in the research lab of her AFE Advisor, Director, Professor Dr Jens Hölscher (he has over 142 multi-media articles listed) and on the author’s own research gate pages.
Jens Hölscher’s lab | Bournemouth University (BU) (researchgate.net)
The poster exhibition was then followed by the conference keynote talk (by expert, Dr Gelareh Roushan, Head Of Centre for FLIE and Associate Professor at Bournemouth University) discussing the profound implications of ‘GEN AI and ChatGPT opportunities and realities for research.’
The debates and ethical considerations on Gen AI seem to be rising with differing viewpoints and experiences, some conceding at the BU conference that the simplicity and accessibility of Gen AI and ChatGPT, means it is rapidly growing at speed, likely to be found in everyday use amongst a number of researchers and general public to make quick connections, speeding up workload processes and saving time, as hinted at during the fastmoving fascinating compelling keynote lecture speech at Bournemouth University. The lecture theatre was at full capacity, with over a hundred attendees. We are all sure that we will hear more on the impact of Gen AI from Dr Gelareh Roushan, Bournemouth University.
Head of Centre for FLIE – Dr Gelareh Roushan – Key note conference lecture – Gen AI
BU Poster exhibition (right side top 3rd position near centre poster – black and white – and author busy early on in engagement fair golden hair).
The emerging pivotal role of Eastern Europe with corruption, access to finance, productivity matters within the greater context of Western Europe, US and world.
The poster author, Fiona Vidler, her ‘personal research experience as a non-expert’ viewpoint on AI is that she had completed writing and reviewing research pages to date on over 350 academic worldwide references without AI, before AI fully emerged in news headlines in 2023, where some specific papers relevant to Eastern Europe were not even sourced in automatic electronic media searches let alone AI – a rationale for advancing knowledge to fill gaps. So, she feels personally ‘authentic’ in that she has avoided the debated emerging conscious or subconscious AI biases, influences, searches on internet, academic limitations, ethical, percentage of AI inaccuracies or ‘virtual seeming truths’ within the current implications of AI. In future, she feels now from a researcher, writer and publisher viewpoint, that there is the need to considerations of responsible use of AI, otherwise objective research beyond perceptions with meaningful research design (a theme of her own research) and virtual subjective perceptions of reality could blur.
Note from Fiona Vidler MBA MSc MLIBF Business School Bournemouth University:
All exhibitors, presenters and ticket holders internal/external/public attendees ticked boxes before admission, giving permission for any photographs to be circulated externally for responsible promotional marketing – with ‘whole’ conference room scenes credited copyright photos to the Doctoral College Conference Team, Bournemouth University December 2023.
December’s community voices webinar welcomes Nick Viney – Dorset farmers ‘Lookout’ coordinator.
The farming community in Dorset had developed a new initiative to encourage people to be ‘Lookouts’ in their local area, watching for signs that other farmers may be experiencing mental health difficulties and encouraging them to talk.
The ‘Dorset Lookouts’ group is made up of people who live and work in the agricultural industry and understand the multiple challenges that farming faces. The Farming Community Network (FCN) is working with the group and providing training and support.
Lookouts are part of the Dorset farming community. They receive basic training in recognising the signs of mental ill-health and are supported by FCN.
Do join us to hear from Nick, about the difference this farmer-led initiative is making, and the many challenges that remain.
Community voices is a collaboration between BU PIER partnership and Centre for Seldom Heard Voices to provide a platform and a voice to local community activists.
Microsoft Teams meeting
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Meeting ID: 397 765 953 34
Passcode: ohbzTW
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Dr. Chris Miles, Principal Academic in Marketing & Communication at Bournemouth University, has just published The Marketing of Service-Dominant Logic: A Rhetorical Approach, with Palgrave Macmillan.
Service-Dominant logic can be described as a mind-set for a unified understanding of the purpose and nature of organizations, markets and society. A concept that was first introduced by Vargo and Lusch in 2004, S-D logic has generated not just a vast host of journal articles and books but has established an expanding sphere of influence across marketing scholarship. In this book, Dr. Miles uses a rhetorical approach to investigate the ‘marketing’ of Service-Dominant logic, asking how the formulation and presentation of the logic aids in its persuasive promotion. In doing so, the book explores the lexicon choices, metaphors, symbols, and persuasive gambits that have resonated so strongly with marketing academia, with the aim of understanding how these elements work together in a compelling narrative that delivers the logic’s core value proposition of transcendence.
Dr. Miles investigates how these rhetorical strategies have evolved as the S-D logic framework has developed, examining the revisions to its foundational premises and axioms and the introduction of new perspectives such as systems theory. It is the first book-length rhetorical analysis of a single strand of marketing discourse and as such, it serves as a showcase for the methodology, the insights it can provide, and its value for marketing scholarship.
Cover of The Marketing of Service-Dominant Logic: A Rhetorical Approach
Book details:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-46510-9
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-031-46509-3
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-031-46512-3
eBook ISBN: 978-3-031-46510-9
The British Academy Early Career Researcher Network brings together ECRs across the humanities and social sciences disciplines, regardless of their funding source or background.
ECR and Interdisciplinarity in the Medical Humanities
This ECR-focused event brings together researchers in Medical and Health Humanities at Bournemouth from across the faculties of Health & Social Science, Media & Communication and Science & Technology, inviting them to highlight and address the main challenges of working within this varied and interdisciplinary field.
It will feature an expert roundtable and open discussion, followed by breakout groups and opportunity for networking activity for ECRs.
Suggested topics for speakers to address include, but are not limited to:
ECR and Interdisciplinarity in the Medical Humanities
Wed 21 Feb 2024 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM at Talbot Campus
Please find more information for this event and book your place here
Today we received notice that our paper ‘The impacts of decentralisation on health systems: a systematic review of reviews’ has been accepted by the international journal BMJ Global Health. [1] This review of reviews was produced as part of the Nepal Federal Health System Project, examining the consequences for the health system of Nepal’s move to a federal government structure. This is a joint project (2020-2024) led by the University of Sheffield and in collaboration with Bournemouth University, the University of Huddersfield, Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences (MMIHS) and PHASE Nepal. This longitudinal interdisciplinary study is funded by the UK Health Systems Research Initiative [Grant ref. MR/T023554/1] and has resulted in four previous publications. [2-5]
The latest paper is a review which synthesizes evidence generated by previous reviews on the impact of decentralising health system governance on the six WHO (World Health Organization) health system building blocks. We systematically searched for reviews exploring the impact of decentralisation on the health system from five databases. Reviews, both systematic and non-systematic, published in the English language from 1990 to February 2022 were included. Nine reviews, each addressing slightly different questions, contexts and health system issues, were synthesised. They showed that devolution can have positive or negative impacts on the health system and its components. Moreover, impact assessments are significantly affected by complexities surrounding decentralisation and health system concepts: their dynamic mechanisms, inconsistent and often differently operationalized health system and health system component variables, and methodological challenges. For the WHO health system components, more negative than positive impacts were reported. The reviews highlight the importance of closely assessing (pre-)existing (political and non-political) characteristics of countries and their health systems to better understand impacts. This review of reviews concludes that decentralisation can have a negative or a positive impact on the health system and its components; the impacts are shaped by pre-existing country contexts. Generating conclusive and generalisable evidence of the impacts of decentralisation on health systems is challenging. Whilst decentralisation may seek to enhance community engagement and improve the responsiveness of decision-making, it has the potential to create serious challenges to the health system, the manifestations of which are likely to be context-specific.
Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen
CMWH
The Centre for Science, Health and Data Communication Research would like to invite colleagues to our Christmas Seminar, Here’s to Your Good Health? Craft Beer, Drinking Cultures and Public Health, to be delivered by Associate Professor Guy Redden of the University of Sydney.
This research event will take place in the unique setting of one of Bournemouth’s celebrated pubs, Poole Hill Brewery, at 5.30-7.00 pm on Weds 13 December.
As you sip through the pub’s fine beers, Dr Redden will examine the novel range of ways in which craft beer is portrayed as better than most booze and how craft culture is becoming entwined with NoLo (no and low alcohol) and the rise of “mindful drinking”. He will then discuss how public health interventions increasingly involve sophisticated understandings of alcohol culture change. The event will feature responses from Professor Darren Lilleker and Dr Sae Oshima.
Please sign up for your free tickets here.
The Month in Research
The Month in Research is our new monthly round-up sharing research and knowledge exchange successes from across the previous month, showcasing the amazing work taking place across BU.
Your achievements
Thank you to everyone who has used the online form to put forward their achievements, or those of colleagues, this month.
Funding
Congratulations to all those who have had funding for research and knowledge exchange projects and activities awarded this month. Highlights include
Publications
Congratulations to all those who have had work published across the last month. Below is a selection of publications from throughout November:
Content for The Month in Research has been collected using the research and knowledge exchange database (RED), the Bournemouth University Research Online (BURO) repository and submissions via The Month in Research online form. It is by no means intended to be an exhaustive list. All information is correct as of 27.11.23.
Please use The Month in Research online form to share your highlights and achievements, or those of colleagues, for the next monthly round-up.
Congratulations to Dr. Hyun-Joo Lim on the publication of her latest book North Korean Women and Defection: Human Rights Violations and Activism which was published last week by Bristol University Press. The book covers the recent North Korean diaspora which has created female refugee groups fighting for the protection of women’s rights. Presenting in-depth accounts of North Korean women defectors living in the UK, this book examines how their harrowing experiences have become an impetus for their activism. Dr Hyun-Joo Lim, who is Principal Academic in Sociology in the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, reveals how North Korean women defectors’ have an Utopian dream of a better future for fellow North Korean women. This dream is vital in their activism. Unique in its focus on the intersections between gender, politics, activism and mobility, the book will inform debates on activism and human rights internationally.
Well done!
Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen
Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health
We are currently preparing submissions to thirteen units (otherwise known as UOAs). Each unit has a leadership team with at least one leader, an output and impact champion. The leadership team are supported by a panel of reviewers who assess the research from the unit. This includes research outputs (journal articles, book chapters, digital artefacts and conference proceedings) and impact case studies. We currently have vacancies in the following roles: Review Panel Members –
20 – Social Work and Social Policy
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. As an outputs committee member, you also 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 across BUBS. 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 clearly marked with the relevant role and unit and emailed to ref@bournemouth.ac.uk by Wednesday 6 December 2023.
Further detail on the roles, the process of recruitment and selection criteria can be found here:
| UOA Leader | Output Champion | Impact Champion | Panel Reviewer |
| Role Descriptor | Role Descriptor | Role Descriptor | Role Descriptor |
| Process and criteria for selection | Process and criteria for selection | Process and criteria for selection | Process and criteria for selection |
For further information please contact ref@bournemouth.ac.uk, a member of current UOA Team or your Deputy Dean Research and Professional Practice with queries.
Cathy Beresford, nurse and PhD student, was invited to speak with people affected by liver disease at a support group meeting run by LIVErNORTH: The Charity for Liver Patients on 22nd November. Cathy’s research is exploring care experiences in advanced liver disease, through the perspectives of people with lived experience, their carers and the professionals who work with them. Please get in touch for more information at cberesford@bournemouth.ac.uk. The presentation recording is available at
The BFX Festival 2023, one of the UK’s largest visual effects, animation and games festivals, took place between 20 and 25 November 2023. The eleventh annual event was hosted this year at the Hilton Bournemouth and across the Talbot Campus. Organised by Bournemouth University, the Festival featured a dynamic programme, including speaker series, panels, screenings, masterclasses and workshops as well as valuable networking opportunities and recruitment events. It served as a knowledge-sharing and inspiration hub, bringing together professionals, academics, students, enthusiasts as well as non-specialists.
Reflecting industry trends, speakers highlighted noteworthy topics including but not limited to virtual production, digital humans, cinematics in games, storytelling, virtual reality, creature design, production rendering and the future of VFX. A dominant subject addressed by almost all presenters throughout the Festival was generative AI and its impact on industries. We certainly will continue to hear more of this ongoing discussion in the future.
Among industry professionals, university researchers also contributed to the Festival. As part of a synchronous academic symposium, renowned academics as well as postgraduate researchers of the National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA) were given the opportunity to present their findings to the audience. Researchers from the Centre for Applied Creative Technologies (CfACTs), which is part of NCCA, participated as well, adding a scholarly dimension to industry talks.
Because of the strict no photo and recording policy, understandably due to copyrighted and in-progress materials, the audience could not capture the remarkable atmosphere of the presentations. However, please find below sneak peeks from the event photographer and BU student, Sam Coombes.
For more details about BFX, please visit https://www.bfxfestival.com. If you have any queries regarding this piece, please contact Dr Anil Bas.
These one hour sessions are aimed at all academic staff who are new to, or experienced at, supervising research degree students and are interested in expanding their knowledge of a specific aspect or process in doctoral supervision. Each session will be led by a senior academic or a service representative who will introduce and facilitate the topic. Staff will benefit from discussions aimed at sharing best practice.
Milestone Panel Member: What’s my Role? This discussion will be led by Dr Ian Jones, BU Business School. This session is focused on expanding individuals’ knowledge on the processes and responsibilities involved in being a panel member for a Probationary or Major Review. Staff attending this session will have gained additional knowledge of the role of panel members and be aware of the relevant sections of the Code of Practice for Research Degrees.
Update: This session is to be rescheduled
Administrative Checks for Examiners of Vivas: Right to Work Checks and Other Challenges (UKCGE Event)
Date: Wednesday 6 December 2023
Time: 13:00 – 14:00
For further details and to book visit the Doctoral College Supervisory Development staff intranet pages.
You are warmly invited to the first BU Sonic Arts concert of 2023/24. Come and experience the magic of immersive, spatial music and sound!
We are delighted to welcome composer Jonty Harrsion, an inspirational and acclaimed figure in electroacoustic music. This is a rare opportunity to hear Harrison’s work projected on our multichannel loudspeaker system, here in Bournemouth University’s Screening Room, Poole Gateway Building, Talbot Campus. The programme will be a historical retrospective, charting his evolving compositional practice, moving from stereo to 8-channel, to extensive multichannel, and then to ambisonic sound. Jonty is Emeritus Professor of Composition and Electroacousitc Music at University of Birmingham.
http://www.electrocd.com/en/bio/harrison_jo/
Date: Thursday 7th December 2023
Time: 17:30-19:30
Location: Screening Room PG217, 2nd Floor, Poole Gateway Building, Talbot Campus
Admission is free but please book a ticket : https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bu-sonic-arts-concert-featuring-jonty-harrison-tickets-760552030597?aff=oddtdtcreator
The UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE) is the representative body for postgraduate education and research. As BU is a member of the UKCGE, staff can attend online events free of charge.
See below for details on next week’s online event:
| Session | Details | Date, Time & Book |
| What is the impact of doctoral research in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences? | This online discussion, run in collaboration with The British Academy, will examine the impact of doctoral research in the arts, humanities and social sciences. | 6 December
13:00 – 14:00 |
This event may be of interest to research degree supervisors and academic and professional staff who support our PGRs.
BU staff can login below:
Conversation article: Wishcycling – how ‘eco-friendly’ labels confuse shoppers and make recycling less effective
Apply now to take part in the 2025 ESRC Festival of Social Science
Photo exhibition happening now at Talbot Campus – Ageing in a digital world
A compassionate approach to Simulation: new national blog post published
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025
Update on UKRO services
European research project exploring use of ‘virtual twins’ to better manage metabolic associated fatty liver disease
Research Information Network
Horizon Europe 2025 Work Programme pre-Published