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GeoNet Launch with climate change event

The fusion funded GeoNet project holds its first event on Tuesday the 3rd of February. The project aims to bring together staff and students from across the university with mutual interests via a series of events, including some lunchtime panel debates and a series of external speakers. GeoNet is very inclusive and anyone with an interest is welcome to come and take part. The events are designed to encourage conversation and interaction, with plenty of audience participation. Our first event is;

A conversation about climate change

Coyne Lecture Theatre

Tues 3rd February, 1-2pm

Come along to the Coyne on the 3rd Feb to join in the first of eleven planned GeoNet events. Join panellists who research the science of climate change and its impacts (John Stewart, Andrew Ford and Pippa Gillingham from the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences) and those who research how best to communicate it (Einar Thorsen, Nathan Farrell and David Fevyer from the Media School) in conversation to find out more about their work. We want this session to be as interactive as possible and there will be lots of opportunities to ask questions and help us as we try to learn from each other.

Tea, coffee and cookies will be provided and all are welcome!

PG Researcher Development Workshops coming up in February 2015

Here’s what is coming up in February 2015:

  • Wednesday 4 February 2015 – Managing Working Relationships (Supervisor and PGR)
  • Wednesday 4 February 2015 – Peer Mentoring
  • Thursday 5 February 2015 – Imposter Syndrome
  • Wednesday 11 February 2015 – Managing your Citations using Endnote and Endnote Web
  • Wednesday 18 February 2015 – An Introduction to Critical Thinking
  • Wednesday 18 February 2015 – Introduction to Research Philosophy
  • Wednesday 25 February 2015 – The Art of Facilitation

Further details and information on how to book your place, are available via myBU (Graduate School PGR Community).

Don’t forget that you’ll need to log on with your student username and password.

BU conference addresses finance and lending for small businesses

A conference at Bournemouth University explored some of the issues around finance and lending to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

The two-day Entrepreneurship and Access to Finance for SMEs conference brought together speakers and delegates from industry, academia and government agencies to discuss the most pertinent issues of SME finance and credit risk.

A number of breakout sessions and workshops explored key issues around SME finance, borrowing and policy, while keynote speeches were also given by leading names in the finance and lending world – Thortsen Beck, from City University London, and Josh Ryan-Collins, of the New Economics Foundation.

The event marked the start of a project which will be delivered after a successful bid to the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the UK’s leading research and training agency addressing economic and social concerns.

Opening the conference, BU’s Professor Jens Holscher, Principal Investigator for the project, said: “This is the start of a two-year project and the first of seven meetings.

“This is ‘blue sky’ and so we wanted to exchange ideas and even get new things we should be looking at.”

He added: “A key long term and strategic position of BU is to become known for regional economic development and SMEs are key, so we see this project as part of a bigger vision of regional economic development.”

The project team consists of Professor Jens Hölscher and Co-Investigators Professor Andrew Mullineux and Professor Dean Patton, with colleagues from the University of Brighton, Aston University and the University of Nottingham.

The project team will also collaborate with Professor Andreas Horsch and his colleagues from the Technical University of Freiberg in Germany, who will contribute on access to finance from Germany.

RADIQL: Reminiscence Arts and Dementia

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend a one-day seminar hosted by Age Exchange (http://www.age-exchange.org.uk/), at The Kings’ Fund, London, to find out more about RADIQL (Reminiscence Arts and Dementia: Impact on Quality of Life) – a method that uses Reminiscence Arts to improve wellbeing and quality of life in people with dementia.

The day started with an overview of RADIQL, described by the Artistic Director of Age Exchange as “reminiscence empowering people in the present”. RADIQL encompasses two main elements: a structured Reminiscence Arts intervention, and a workforce training programme for care staff working in relationship-centred environments. We were then given an overview of the national context – the recent CQC report ‘Cracks in the Pathway’: the quality of dementia care in health and social services, and a presentation by KCL’s Jo Moriarty on care workers’ views of compassionate care.

The Keynote was provided by Dame Eileen Sills who continued the theme of ‘compassion’ by providing the back-story of ‘Barbara’s Story’, which I’m sure many within health and social care fields will have heard of already. Barbara’s Story is a dramatization created by Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust to raise awareness about dementia among their staff, and show the meaning of ‘kindness’ in the workplace, emphasising the impact that every member of staff has on patient experience. Following the success of ‘Barbara’s Story’, the Trust have since developed as series for use as training materials. You can watch ‘Barbara’s Whole Story’ here (with tissues at the ready!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtA2sMAjU_Y&feature=share&list=UUbJBh2MFKrX6Lf8bJ7_ZGWQ

The afternoon sessions saw attendees partaking in interactive workshops, demonstrating the activities one might engage with during a RADIQL session. Before the day, attendees were asked to choose whether to be a ‘participant’ or a member of an ‘audience’, i.e. whether to take part in the session, or observe a session from an objective perspective. These workshops were the most insightful part of the day, giving some first-hand experience into how the sessions may be conducted. For anyone planning seminars or ‘how-to’ workshops in the future – I would highly recommend using a similar form of dissemination, if appropriate to your cause, as this seemed to resonate with most of us as an effective and engaging way to demonstrate methods and disseminate research to peers.

The RADIQL method is currently being evaluated by Royal Holloway University London in a three year pilot project funded by Guys & St Thomas’ Charity. More information about the day, and the presentations provided, can be found here: http://www.age-exchange.org.uk/radiql-the-kings-fund/

A paper copy of the interim report and a guide to RADIQL  are available in the BUDI office (PG63) if anyone is interested.

Latest Funding Opportunities

The following funding opportunities have been announced. Please follow this links for more information:

Association for Industrial Archaeology, GB

Nominations are invited for the Archaeological Reports Award. The awards are given to reports which demonstrate the highest standards of fieldwork, recording and contextual research for industrial archaeological projects. The is one award  for the best report produced by a funded project and one for the best report from a project produced by a voluntary group or individual in alternate years. Each award is worth up to £800. Closing date: 01/03/2015

Colt Foundation, GB

The Colt Foundation invites applications for its fellowships in occupational or environmental health. Fellowships are awarded each year to those qualified in science or medicine who are carrying out research within the area of occupational and environmental health at a UK university. The Fellowship is normally for three years and the research is expected to lead to a PhD degree. The stipend rate for the first year is £14000 rising with inflation the following two years. Closing date: 12/10/2015

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, GB

The EPSRC, under the eFuturesXD programme invites applications for its travel award, which will allow researchers from one ICT discipline to spend a short time in a different institute, or for two researchers to spend time in each other’s institutions. Visits are expected to be no longer than a month and exchanges no more than two weeks per visit (1 month in total). Maximum award (100% fEC) is £5000. Closing date: no deadline

The EPSRC, under the eFuturesXD programme invites applications for its facility award. The award is intended for researchers who have a current or recent cross-disciplinary project and require additional resources to take their idea towards commercialisation or require further investment to bridge the gap with follow-on funding. Applications from early stage work are also permitted but evidence of success factors should be included in the application. Maximum award (100% fEC) is £20000. Closing date: no deadline

The EPSRC, under the eFuturesXD programme invites applications for its staff award. The award is primarily aimed at small teams of researchers carrying out larger scoping or “proof of concept” studies, which require dedicated staff (RA’s) to carry out specific tasks (experiments) or an extended visit to a laboratory in order to be immersed in another discipline. Maximum award (100% fEC)  is £60000. Closing date: no deadline

The EPSRC, under the eFuturesXD programme invites applications for its meeting award. Meeting awards are intended to facilitate the building of larger research consortia comprising researchers from a number of departments and institutions across the ICT portfolio. Maximum award limit (100% fEC) is £10000. Closing date: no deadline

Innovate UK, GB

The Next generation predictive policing competition has been launched by South Wales Police and Gwent Police. Its aim is to identify and develop innovative solutions that maximise the effectiveness of resources and enhance the service provided to the communities of Southern Wales. Interested parties must register their interest by 6th March 2015. Organisations will be invited to compete for a share of a total £250000 fund. Closing date: 16/03/2015

 

Please note that some funders specify a time for submission as well as a date. Please confirm this with your  RKEO Funding Development Officer

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.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Academic Development Scheme, cohort 2!

I am delighted to announce the launch of the second Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Academic Development Scheme (KTPADS).  This scheme is centrally coordinated through the Research and Knowledge Exchange Office and aims to equip academics with the skills and knowledge required to identify and pursue a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP).

What is KTP?

A KTP is part-funded by the government and the aim of this scheme is to encourage collaboration on projects between businesses and academics.   KTP is managed by Innovate UK (formerly the Technology Strategy Board) and provides benefits to all parties involved – this scheme offers a fusion of academic and industry collaboration supported by an associate (graduate).

What is to benefit to me?

KTP is an excellent way of bringing in income and developing knowledge exchange with a clear pathway to impact.

Key benefits of KTP are as follows:

  • Facilitates research impact
  • Increases research funding, including supervision time for the Knowledge Base Supervisor (academic) to the Associate (graduate), this time averages at half a day a week
  • Contributes to the University’s REF submission
  • Improves links with industry partners
  • Applies knowledge to innovative business-critical projects
  • Raises your profile among colleagues/the Institution

What does this scheme involve?

This scheme consists of an initial one-day development course, on Wednesday 1st April 2015, off campus, to provide you with the necessary information to pursue a KTP in your area of research.  The development day consists of information about KTP, engaging with business and writing proposals.  Members will be required to bring KTP ideas to develop.

Members are then supported throughout the year in developing their KTP ideas including support in working with business and bespoke one-to-one sessions with the Innovate UK KTP Adviser.  Additional support includes a travel budget for members to use on potential KTP collaboration visits.

Expected time commitments for this scheme are: one full day for the development course on 1st April 2015, two half-day support networks in 2015, at least three one-to-ones with the KTP Adviser from Innovate UK and unlimited one-to-ones as per your requirements from the KE Adviser (KTP) within the BU Research and Knowledge Exchange Office.

Please note: the expectations of the scheme are for members to collaborate with business and submit a KTP proposal within a year of starting the scheme.

Dates for your diary

Wednesday 1st April – all day development day

Week commencing 6th April – initial one-to-one

Wednesday 10th June – afternoon support network

Week commencing 21st September – mid-point review one-to-one

Wednesday 9th December – afternoon support network

 

What are the KTP funding priorities?

If you’re interested in working on KTP, there are a number of funding priorities for KTP as detailed below:

  • Advanced materials
  • Nanotechnology
  • Biosciences
  • Electronics, photonics and electrical systems
  • Information and communication technologies
  • High value manufacturing
  • Digital technologies
  • Emerging technologies
  • Energy generation and supply
  • Environmental sustainability
  • -Sustainable agriculture and food
  • -Low impact buildings
  • Creative industries
  • High value services
  • Medicines and healthcare
  • -Assisted living
  • -Detection and identification of infectious agents
  • -Stratified medicine
  • Transport
  • -Low carbon vehicles
  • Space

Special funding calls are also regularly released, currently there is a specialized call for agri-food and space respectively, which are due to close in February and also a call for user experience which closes in April.  Further themes are due to be announced throughout the year.

If your research expertise fits into any of these themes, then KTP could be a great knowledge exchange project for you.

How do I apply?

To apply for a place on the scheme, please contact Rachel Clarke to request an application form.  This form will need to be signed by your Line Manager and please note that all applications will be submitted to the respective Deputy Dean of Research for review to ensure applications meet Faculty strategic aims.   Applications open on Monday 9th February and close at 5pm on Friday 27th February.

If you would like to discuss this scheme or receive an application form, please contact Rachel Clarke, Knowledge Exchange Adviser (KTP) on 01202 961347 or clarker@bournemouth.ac.uk

New opportunity from Innovate UK – SME Growth Support!

If you’re working with a business to apply for funding from Innovate UK, for example, a KTP, from January 2015, all SMEs will receive the opportunity to access SME growth support.  This support is available for awarded projects from eligible competitions and includes an online diagnostic, coaching and mentoring opportunities and also skills training in areas such as strategic marketing.  Innovate UK will be providing the funding for SMEs to receive this growth support.

Further information on this new growth support opportunity can be found on the Innovate UK government website.

 

Professor Stephen Page publishes new editions of popular textbooks

 

 

Stephen J Page, Professor of Tourism/Hospitality in the Faculty of Management  has just published his 39th book, a 5th edition of his popular colour undergraduate one semester textbook Tourism Management with Routledge.  The 5th edition has a range of new innovative pedagogic features (including youtube clips) that engage students and lecturers with current debates in the area of study including sustainability, events management and the challenge of managing sensitive environments in a simple and clear manner.

He has also recently published a student paperback edition of the 2012 Handbook of Events published by Routledge, co edited with Dr Joanne Connell at Exeter University Business School with several contributions from Bournemouth University Staff.  This peer reviewed collection of essays has quickly established itself as the leading review of research in the area, aimed at final year undergraduate and postgraduate students and lecturers.

KTP success rate is still sky high..!

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) are a fantastic way of making long-lasting relationships with industry, bringing in income and measuring impact, which is quite a feat for a scheme that is 40 years old this year..!

Submission deadlines are every two months and once proposals are reviewed, statistics are released on how well the proposals submitted, fared against the Proposal Approval Group (PAG).

Below is an update documenting the most recent statistics from the Innovate UK PAG in December 2014.

Proposals submitted 86
Proposals supported 77
Of which, number supported without amendments 39
Withdrawn by Adviser prior to consideration 0
Proposals not supported 9
Of which, number that can be revised for resubmission 8
Success rate 90%

These statistics demonstrate the high success rate of KTP proposals that are awarded and also the amount of proposals that were submitted in November.

If you’re working (or want to work) with industry on innovative projects, find out more about how KTP can help you.  Contact Rachel Clarke, Knowledge Exchange Adviser (KTP) on 61347 or email clarker@bournemouth.ac.uk

Mapping the UK’s research community

The Council for Science and Technology has launched a project to better understand how the UK’s research community defines itself and the links that exist between research disciplines.

Researchers are being asked to visit the UK Knowledge Landscape website to fill out information about themselves (such as: position, research interests and collaborators), their perceptions of how their research areas fit within the landscape of connected disciplines and the main pieces of research infrastructure in their areas of expertise.

Once a sufficiently large number of users have submitted their views, partial statistical analysis will be used to generate a ‘consensus view’ of how disciplines connect with and rely on each other. This output will then be made publicly available.

By gathering data about the research community in the UK, the Council for Science and Technology hopes to build a stronger evidence base for science in the UK.

BUDI Orchestra Needs You!

BUDI are still looking to recruit people with dementia and their carers to join the BUDI Orchestra, starting Wednesday 4th February 2015 for 8 weeks.

If you know of anyone living with dementia, or caring for someone with dementia, that you think would be interested in joining a music group led by professional musicians from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, then please do get in touch! We are also seeking volunteers with an interest in music (staff or students) to help facilitate the sessions.

Interested?

For more information, please contact: Laura Reynolds on (01202 9) 62546 or email: lreynolds@bournemouth.ac.uk.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Join us for today’s cyber security seminar…

Staff and students are invited to join us for today’s cyber security seminar on:

‘Persuasive Technology for Information Security’

Tuesday, 27th January at 4pm. 

Room: P335 LT

In the seminar, participants will hear about design principles for persuasive technology for promoting information security and also about methods to evaluate persuasive technology. Concrete examples and “best practices” will be given from a recent research project, in which it is used in organizations to make employees comply with information security policies.

Our speaker will be Marc Busch.  Marc is a scientist at the AIT – Austrian Institute of Technology and is active at the intersection of persuasive technology and usable privacy and security. Furthermore, he is specialized in advanced quantitative and qualitative usability and user experience methodology, research methods and statistics in Human-computer interaction. Marc is involved in several international and national research and industrial projects, such as MUSES – Multiplatform Usable Endpoint Security Before joining AIT, Marc was at CURE – Center for Usability Research & Engineering, where he focused on user experience and usability.

Cyber Security Seminar: Persuasive Technology for Information Security – Today, 4pm

Our next Interdisciplinary Cyber Security Seminar will take place TODAY (Tuesday, 27th January) at 4pm. The seminar will take place at Poole House in P335 LT, and will be free and open to all.

Our speaker will be Marc Busch. Marc is scientist at the AIT – Austrian Institute of Technology and is active at the intersection of persuasive technology and usable privacy and security. Furthermore, he is specialized in advanced quantitative and qualitative usability and user experience methodology, research methods and statistics in Human-computer interaction. Marc is involved in several international and national research and industrial projects, such as MUSES – Multiplatform Usable Endpoint Security. Before joining AIT, Marc was at CURE – Center for Usability Research & Engineering, where he focused on user experience and usability.

Abstract: Persuasive Technology is a vibrant field of research and practice, aiming to change the attitude or behavior of people. Persuasive technology has various different application areas, e.g. games motivating physical activity. An emerging application area is persuasive technology to increase information security and to engage people to protect their privacy. In the seminar, participants will hear about design principles for persuasive technology for promoting information security and also about methods to evaluate persuasive technology. Concrete examples and “best practices” will be given from a recent research project, in which persuasive technology is used in organizations to make employees comply with information security policies.