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BU research featured on BBC’s Monkey Planet

Research conducted by Bournemouth University’s Alison Hillyer has been featured on a BBC programme looking at primates.

Monkey Planet, currently showing on BBC1, featured research into the Red Colobus monkey and its interactions with another species, green monkeys, and how their relationship has developed through living in the same habitat.  Specifically, the programme showed how the red colobus monkeys form special multi-species associations that are most likely a way of improving predator detection.BU’s research at the site is mostly concerned with the conservation status of Temmincki’s red colobus in the region and is aimed at developing an integrated conservation strategy for the region that involves experts in tourism (Vijay Reddy and Feifei Xu) and primatology (Amanda Korstjens and Alison Hillyer) and is conducted in close collaboration with the local authorities.

The Temmincki’s red colobus monkeys(not to be confused with the Zanzibar Red Colobus) are in need of protection to avoid their extinction. BU students have been invited back to The Gambia in July 2014 for a new inter-disciplinary project that aims to develop a sustainable long-term strategy to support local development and conservation in The Gambia through eco-tourism business.
The programme can be viewed again on the BBC website until 9:59pm on Wednesday 23 Apr 2014.
 

Dr Fiona Kelly joins BUDI

I am delighted to have arrived at BUDI to start a new job with Anthea and her team of committed, enthusiastic colleagues. They have made me feel very welcome and I feel a part of the team already. My role in the team is to write funding applications, so I hope you will get in touch with me if you think you can contribute in any way.

I have been based for the past ten years at the University of Stirling; firstly as a student and then as a lecturer in dementia studies. At Stirling, I taught on the online programme in dementia studies and have met some fantastic students who I know will contribute to making things better for people living with and affected by dementia. I have worked with inspirational and committed researchers and academics, both nationally and internationally and have had the opportunity to travel widely to do research, teach and speak at conferences and, I hope, to inspire others to work to make a difference. Alongside my academic work, I am also a nurse and have worked, and will continue to work, in a little care home for people with dementia. I work one night shift a month partly because I love this work and am good at it and also because it stimulates new research ideas and enables me to teach with credibility. Probably the main reason I work in this little care home is that the people with dementia who live there have taught me about humanity, compassion, resilience, humour and dignity, and I am not sure I would have learned these anywhere else.

I look forward to working with the BUDI team and people beyond the team and hope to meet some of you in the future.

Dr Fiona Kelly
Associate Director (Research)
BUDI
fkelly@bournemouth.ac.uk

Lastest Major Funding Opportunities

Funding opportunities

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

EPSRC is inviting outline proposals for its call  Novel Manufacturing Instrumentation. This call provides an opportunity for the development of novel manufacturing instrumentation to improve existing processes and develop new capabilities. The principal outputs of research projects funded through this call will be bespoke equipment. The closing date for outlines is 15/05/14. 

EPSRC through the Research Councils UK Energy Programme Supergen Fuel Cells Challenge is looking to support projects that help address the key research challenges that underpin the deployment of Fuel Cell Technologies. These areas are: Degradation and Failure, Electrodes and Interfaces, Sensors and Diagnostics, and Fuel Flexibility. There is up to £5M available to support projects submitted in response to this call. Register by 16:00 on 23/05/14 with applications submitted by 16:00 on 03/07/14.

ESRC has announced the call for outline proposals for their 2014/15 Centres and Large Grants Competition. This competition is aimed at experienced researchers who require longer-term or extended support for research groups, inter-institutional research networks, project-linked programmes, medium-to-large surveys, other infrastructure or methodological developments, or any related larger-scale projects. They welcome applications of excellent quality in any area of social science. This year’s competition also has two specific strategic steers, on ‘The Future of Higher Education’ and on ‘Sustainable Prosperity’, which sit alongside the normal open element of the call. To facilitate the new interdisciplinary relationships and networks that may be required to address the ‘Sustainable Prosperity’ steer, it is strongly advised that potential applicants attend the information and consortium-building event being held in central London on 28 April 2014. The competition is for proposals ranging from £2 million to £10 million. Outline proposals are to be submitted via Je-S by 16.00 on 05/06/14. Invited full applications will be required in late September 2014.

The Energy Catalyst, to successfully address the energy ‘trilemma’ of low carbon, security of supply and affordability, has been established by the Technology Strategy Board, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). Funding up to £25m is available for the first round, opening in May 2014. Awards are available for Early-stage award: Technical feasibility , Mid-stage award: Technology development and Late-stage award: Pre-commercial technology validation. The Energy Catalyst welcomes proposals from any sector and is seeking to fund the best concepts and innovative technologies from any UK business or research organisation. Please check the specific award category for deadlines.
 
The Technology Strategy Board and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) are investing up to £2.5m in feasibility studies to accelerate commercial applications in the novel material, graphene. It will include related carbon-based, two-dimensional nanotechnologies that have recently emerged from the science base. The competition, Reaslising the Graphine Revolution, will invest in projects that explore the realistic potential of graphene to yield new products that could disrupt markets. The funders expect them to stimulate development of a robust and competitive supply base to support the nascent graphene-using industry. Registration closes on 28/05/14 and the deadline for receipt of applications is noon on 04/06/14. A briefing for potential applicants will be held on 24/04/14.
 

The Technology Strategy Board and the Welsh Government are to invest up to £8m in single-company and collaborative R&D projects to support the UK’s burgeoning regenerative medicine and cell therapy industry. This competition, Advancing regenerative medicines and cell therapies, will focus on the preclinical testing, clinical development and manufacture of regenerative medicines and cell therapies, and the development of associated underpinning tools and technologies. A briefing event and webinar for potential applicants will be held in London on 10/06/14.  Applicants must register by 09/07/14 with the deadline for expressions of interest being noon on 16/07/14.  

The Wellcome Trust scheme, Science Learning+ , aims to make a transformational step to improve the knowledge base and practice of informal science experiences, to better understand, strengthen and coordinate their vital role in science engagement and learning. Phase 1: Planning Grants (2014) is now open. This supports Short-term Planning Grants of up to £70 000 to enable groups of people and organisations in the UK, the Republic of Ireland and/or the USA to meet with each other and develop ideas and strategies. The funder aims to support up to ten Planning Grants in phase 1 and it may be that applicants in receipt of separate grants coalesce to develop collaborations together for application to phase 2, with The Wellcome Trust possibly facilitating this process. The deadline for phase 1 is 10/07/14.

Please note that some funders specify a time for submission as well as a date. Please confirm this with your RKE Support Officer.

You can set up your own personalised alerts on ResearchProfessional. If you need help setting these up, just ask your School’s RKE Officer in RKE Operations or see the recent post on this topic, which includes forthcoming training dates up to November 2014.

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

Last week in HE…

Monday

International

Universities across the world fear the “commodification and commercialisation of education”, according to a new survey. “They express concern about equal access to international opportunities for all students and about the commodification and commercialisation of education,” the IAU’s report says. 1,300 universities, one shared fear: the commodification of education (THE)

While Camille Kandiko Howson argues that as “global competition for international students is growing – the UK needs to start treating them as people and learners, not numbers.” Drop in foreign student numbers: are UK universities too complacent? (Guardian HE)

Fees

The Telegraph are a little late in covering this ongoing story. Six in 10 students will have their debts written off (Telegraph)

HE expansion

David Willetts unveils plans to create new university campuses in areas identified as higher education “cold spots” such as Shrewsbury. New universities could revive county towns, says minister (Telegraph)  

Discrimination

Nearly 60 per cent of black and minority ethnic higher education staff and students questioned for a survey feel they have been discriminated against. Race discrimination in universities still a problem, reports survey (THE) 

Tuesday

The Financial Times and City AM have today criticised the Government immigration policy saying that they are ‘closing the door’ on international students. The FT argues, “cutting back student visas as a quick fix to an arbitrary migration target hurts the economy and will ultimately increase costs for domestic undergraduates. This is an act of national self-harm that Britain can ill-afford.”

Disabled students’ funding

NUS’ national conference has got underway today by claiming that David Willetts is “arrogant and out of touch” in seeking “unfair” cuts to disabled students’ funding. NUS blasts David Willetts over changes to disabled students’ support (THE)

Discrimination

More than half of black and ethnic minority lecturers and staff believe they have suffered racial discrimination at university, according to new research. Universities are racist, say ethnic minority staff   (Independent)

Wednesday

Ed Miliband is to promise to put powerful “city-region” government at the heart of a Labour attempt to rebalance growth in the UK, claiming his plan represents “the biggest economic devolution of power to England’s great towns and cities in a hundred years”. Miliband is to write to the leaders of every council, university and LEP asking them to draw up joint plans to boost growth and private sector jobs in their regions. Ed Miliband: Labour will use English devolution to rebalance UK growth (Guardian)

International

Ministers’ efforts to increase education exports comes at a time of intense scrutiny over the appeal of UK universities and schools  to overseas customers, says the FT. Visa rules in the spotlight as overseas student numbers fall (FT) This follows the news that UK skills providers have won contracts, worth more than £1bn, to run 16 further education colleges in Saudi Arabia helped by a government unit designed to boost exports of UK education. Saudis pay over £1bn to enrol British further education expertise (FT)

Moocs

Online university providers, which offered people the chance to study from home, are turning full circle by creating a network of learning centres where students can meet and study together. Online students can’t help being sociable (BBC)

Thursday

Libby Hackett features in today’s Financial Times calling for a return to post-study work visas for international students. She says that, “we are losing international students to competing nations, such as Canada and Australia, due to the UK’s restrictive policy on post-study work visas.” Letters: Bring post-study work visas back (FT)
Yvette Cooper, the shadow Home Secretary, will set out her “progressive” vision for immigration to the UK today, pledging that Labour would safeguard growth sectors such as higher education from any immigration cap. Labour to leave students out of immigration cap (FT)

Student loans

Repayment: The majority of undergraduates now at university will be paying off their student loans well into their 40s and 50s, with three-quarters of them unable to clear the debt before it is written off after 30 years, according to an analysis published today by the Sutton Trust and IFS.

·         Three in four graduates will be paying off student loans until their 50s (Daily Mail)

·         Most students will still be paying off their loans when they are 50 (Guardian)

·         Professionals will be paying off tuition fees for decades (Times)

·         Thunderer: Middle earners will pay most in this student loan mess (Times)

·         73% of today’s students will still be paying off their tuition fees in their 50s  (Independent)

·         Students will be paying off loans into their 50s, study warns (Telegraph)

Change to budgeting rules: The government has changed the budgeting rules for student loans to allow for unpredictability in forecast repayments, saying the change is designed to “incentivise” control over loan spending. One expert suggested that the development showed spending rules could be tweaked, potentially offering scope for a major change such as the introduction of a graduate tax. Budgeting rules adjusted to manage costs of student loans (THE)

Politics

Michael Gove: The minister hopes to sink his teeth into higher education but his political stock is falling, argues Christopher Prendergast. Michael Gove: the wolf of Whitehall (THE)

Sector

Higher Education Academy: The future of the HEA looks uncertain after the UK’s funding councils decided to withdraw support for the champion of university teaching. HEA future unclear as councils cut off the cash (THE)

Marketisation: The THE looks at whether UK higher education is any closer to a genuine market and concluded, not really. There’s still no such thing as a higher education market (THE)

Referendum: Ferdinand von Prondzynski ponders possible outcomes should Scotland opt for independence. Countdown to the Scottish referendum (THE)

Recruitment

Student: Volatile student recruitment in England has benefited more selective universities and “disadvantaged” others with lower entry standards, HEFCE has said. Recruitment trends favour the selective (THE)

Leadership: Professor Bob Cryan, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield, features in this THE piece looking at the recruitment of university leaders. Beyond naked power (THE)

Connecting research and growth

Research excellence: UK academics could have their research assessed alongside scholars from Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong under plans being considered by HEFCE. Hefce looks at overseas links for research excellence (THE)

Employability and skills

Higher apprenticeships: The growth of higher apprenticeships – where people taken on by employers can simultaneously study to bachelor’s and master’s degree level – could be a “major opportunity” for universities if they grab the initiative but could be a threat if they do not. Universities risk missing out on higher apprenticeships (THE)

Education system: The UK education system has become too focussed on youngsters automatically being channelled towards going to university, the Duke of York told a conference of newspaper editors. Duke of York says education system has become too centred on university degrees (Independent)

Friday

The Science and Technology Committee have released their report into internal STEM students. They have accused the Government of taking a “contradictory” stance towards encouraging international students to study in UK universities. On the one hand, the Prime Minister says there is a need for net migration to “come down radically from hundreds of thousands a year”. Yet, on the other, it has stated that “it is realistic for numbers of international students in higher education to grow by 15 to 20 per cent over the next five years.”

In addition Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary, has said yesterday that businesses were unable to access the skills they need and thousands of fee-paying foreign students were being deterred from going to British universities.

 

Drop In Sessions for users of ResearchPAD

Now that ResearchPAD, our new Postgraduate Research online management system is Live, you may have questions about using it.  The Graduate School has organised a number of drop-in sessions, so please come along and speak to Tony Furbank who will be on-hand to answer any questions you may have:

Date Time Venue
Tuesday 15 April 2014 9.30 am – 12.30 pm S103 – Studland House
Wednesday 16 April 2014 9.30 am – 12.30 pm C124 – Christchurch House
Wednesday 23 April 2014 2 pm – 5 pm S102 – Studland House
Thursday 24 April 2014 2 pm – 5 pm C124 – Christchurch House
Wednesday 7 May 2014 9.30 am – 12.30 pm C124 – Christchurch House
Wednesday 8 May 2014 2 pm – 5 pm S102 – Studland House

No booking required.

If you have any questions, please email ResearchPAD@bournemouth.ac.uk

 

PGR Workshop – Developing Professional Researcher Networks

PG research

There are places still available on this workshop……..

Developing Professional Researcher Networks – Facilitated by Margaret Collins

The aim of this workshop is to give PhD students skills to conduct effective professional networking conversations and to use networking as a tool for developing their professional networks. Networking is recognised by established researchers and Academics as an essential tool for career development and professional advancement.  In contrast, research reveals that many Early Career Researchers feel very uncertain about networking, in respect to both the practical “how to do it” issues and the underlying, often values-based questions “Why it is important ?” and “Should I be doing this?”.

We will address various aspects of networking and develop the appropriate physical and mental skills necessary to improve our skill set in confident networking techniques.

Progress will be made through discussions and group exercises to develop essential skills, build confidence and overcome anxiety or blocks to performance.

As a result of this workshop participants will:

  • Increase their understanding of the professional importance of networking
  • Improve their ability to communicate confidently in networking conversations
  • Understand the importance of body language in effective communication
  • Have tools to deal with stress or anxiety related to networking
  • Have strategies to develop collaborations or increase visibility

WHEN: Tuesday 29 April 2014 : WHERE: K103 – Kimmeridge House, Talbot Campus

Registration is via myBU – Graduate School PGR Community – Please remember that you will need to log on with your student username and password.

CEL Seminar – Putting different forms of knowledge to work in practice: conceptual issues, pedagogical strategies and enduring challenges.

A Centre for Excellence in Learning [CEL] Seminar is taking place on Wednesday 18th June 2014, 10:00-12:00 on Lansdowne Campus.

Professor Karen Evans, Chair in Education, Institute of Education, University of London will be facilitating the seminar on Putting different forms of knowledge to work in practice: conceptual issues, pedagogical strategies and enduring challenges.

 For more information and to book on please visit the Staff Development and Engagement Pages on the Staff Internet.

 

Pedagogic fusion bids

Funding opportunities, Fusion

Dear colleagues

Following the launch of the Centre for Excellence in Learning on April 4th, I am pleased to invite colleagues to apply for a pedagogic specific round of fusion investment funding. The projects are a mixture of fair access and CEL themes with the opportunity to bid for a total of 8 projects. The timescale is tight as the money must be spent before the end of July 2014, although the project activity can carry on beyond that. Submission of bids needs to be by 12.00 on May 2nd so the awards can be made by mid-May. For briefing on the scope of the projects and application form, please go to https://staffintranet.bournemouth.ac.uk/fusion/fusioninvestmentfund/centreforexcellenceinlearning/

 I hope to see interest in this opportunity as it is an important demonstration of the value placed by BU on education development, innovation and research.

Gail

Professor B. Gail Thomas

Director of CEL & Dean of HSC

Bournemouth University

 

Media Skills: What Journalists Want Workshop

A Media Skills: What Journalist Want Workshop is taking place on Tuesday 15th April 2014, 14:00-15:30 on Lansdowne Campus.

This workshop is designed for members of staff who are thinking about utilising media as a part of their work.
What sort of stories they are after, what BU has to offer and how you can help to give journalists what they want.
The session will be run by the Press and PR team, who will give examples of previous stories and current practices used to get BU into the press.

 For more information and to book on please visit the Staff Development and Engagement Pages on the Staff Intranet.

BIS Select Committee Inquiry into University-Business Collaboration

Following the Government’s recent response to the Witty Review of Universities and Growth, the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Select Committee has announced an inquiry into university-business collaboration.

The closing date for this Call for Evidence is Wednesday 23 April 2014.

If you would like to contribute to BU and the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)’s joint submission to the Committee, please email your thoughts and comments to Colette Cherry by Weds 16 April. They are inviting responses to the following questions:

The strengths and weaknesses of business-university collaboration in the UK and the UK’s performance against international comparators

1. What are the key strengths and weaknesses of the UK’s innovation system in relation to business-university collaboration?

2. How competitive is business-university collaboration in the UK against relevant international comparators?

Effectiveness of Government initiatives to support innovation through business-university collaboration

3. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Catapult Centre model of business-university collaboration?  What areas of research should future Catapult Centres focus on?

4. What steps can be taken to improve the uptake of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), particularly among SMEs?

Funding

5. Recent BIS analysis found that the UK exhibits “a sustained, long-term pattern of under-investment in public and private research and development and publicly funded innovation”.   How does this affect business-university collaboration in the UK?

6. Will the changes to Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF), proposed in the Witty Review, be successful in increasing university engagement with innovative SMEs?

7. What has been the effect of including commercial ‘impact’ criteria in REF assessments, and should the weighting increase to 25% as suggested in the Witty Review?

8. Will the Government’s focus on the ‘eight great technologies’, as described in the industrial strategy, help to attract inward investment?

9. To what extent is this focus compatible with and complementary to the European Strategy for Key Enabling Technologies?

Local Growth agenda

10. Are Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) (and their counterparts in the rest of the UK)  investing as much as they could in innovation and R&D?

11. How can LEPs, universities and Government encourage greater regional R&D investment?

12. How should LEPs direct their allocation of European Structural and Investment Funds in order to maximise increases in R&D output?

13. To what extent will the new University Enterprise Zones encourage business university collaboration?

Congratulations and Good Luck

March saw an increase in the level of activity for bids being submitted and awards being won with congratulations due to Schools/Faculty for winning research and consultancy contracts.

For the Business School, congratulations to Dean Patton for his short course with the Guernsey Training Agency, and to Huiping Xian, grants academy member Fabian Homberg and Davide Secchi for their short course with Hubei Star Around Universe Culture Exchange Company.  Good luck to Ke Rong with his ESRC application, and to Milena Bobeva and Richard Berger (Media School) for their contract to the Higher Education Academy.

For HSC, congratulations are due to Caroline Ellis for her short course on appreciative inquiry masterclass, to Peter Thomas for his consultancy with Poole Hospital NHS Trust, and to Bernie Edwards for two short courses both with Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust.  Good luck to Ann Hemingway for her application to Alcohol Research UK to carry out a case study on alcohol harm and licensing density, to Clive Andrewes and Sarah Gallimore for their short course with Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, to Anthea Innes and Damien Fay (SciTech) for their application to the EPSRC, and to Keith Brown for his contract to Hampshire County Council.

For MS, congratulations to Iain MacRury for his consultancy with Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership.  Good luck to Lihua You for his application to the British Academy, to Julian McDougall for his application to UK Literacy Association, to grants academy member Anna Feigenbaum for her contract to NESTA and her application to Antipode Foundation, to grants academy members Jenny Alexander, Caroline Hodges, Dan Jackson and Richard Scullion for their application to AHRC, to Chindu Sreedharan, Ana Adi and Richard Berger for their application to the ESRC on initiating and supporting collaborative learning through community writing for children and teachers in Indian and Nepalese schools.

For the Faculty of Science and Technology, congratulations are due to Paola Palma for three short courses, to Gary Underwood for his consultancy with North Sea Systems, to Siamak Noroozi and Philip Sewell for their short course with EADS, and to Jonathan Monteith for his consultancy with Terence O’Rourke Plc.  Good luck to Feng Tian for his application to the Royal Society, to Lai Xu and Paul de Vrieze for their application to the Royal Society, to grants academy member Emilie Hardouin for her contract to the EC Erasmus Mundus, to Sine McDougall and Kevin Thomas for their application to the British Medical Association to research the impact of patient complications and errors on surgeons, to Hongnian Yu (leading on two) and Shuang Cang (Tourism – leading on one) for their three applications to the EC Erasmus Mundus, to Rob Britton for his application to Interreg, and to Nan Jiang for his consultancy to Grads for Growth.

For ST, congratulations to Jonathan Hibbert for his two consultancies with Bournemouth Borough Council and NHS Dorset, and to Keith Hayman for his consultancy with Corinthian Hotels.  Good luck to Miguel Moital for his EC Erasmus Mundus application.

The Speaker’s Commission on Digital Democracy

The Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon John Bercow MP, recently contacted Bournemouth University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Vinney, in relation to a Commission on Digital Democracy .

The objective of the Speaker’s Commission on Digital Democracy is to consider, report and make recommendations on how parliamentary democracy in the United Kingdom can embrace the opportunities afforded by the digital world to become more effective in:

  • representing the people
  • making laws
  • scrutinising the work and performance of government
  • encouraging citizens to engage with democracy
  • facilitating dialogue amongst citizens 

BU is very keen to engage in this initiative, and we are currently reviewing the calls for evidence with the intention of making a submission over the next month or so. We are also hoping to organise a debate on campus exploring one or more of the Commission’s five themes:

  1. Making laws in a digital age – call launched
  2. Digital scrutiny – call launched
  3. Representation – call pending
  4. Engagement – call pending
  5. Encouraging dialogue among citizens – call pending

We will be setting up an initial scoping meeting to discuss BU’s contribution and if you are interested in participating in the project, please contact Colette Cherry giving your availability for the following dates:

  • Wednesday 23 April 1-3pm
  • Wednesday 23 April 3-5pm
  • Monday 28 April 1-3pm
  • Monday 28 April 3-5pm
  • Tuesday 29 April 1-3pm
  • Tuesday 29 April 3-5pm
  • Thursday 8 May 9-11am
  • Thursday 8 May 11am-1pm

BRAD – Upcoming Opportunities

Fusion, Grants Academy, R & KE Operations

 Public Engagement Workshop Wednesday 23rd April 2014, 11:00-12:30 Talbot Campus
This session will be facilitated by Barry Squires, Public Engagement & Impact Manager, Research and Knowledge Exchange will explore how public engagement is conceptualised,
how it is developing across the higher education sector and why engaging the public with your research is increasingly essential for your career.

 Impact in Research Workshop Wednesday 23rd April 2014, 09:30-11:00, Talbot Campus
This workshop will be facilitated by Dr Rebecca Edwards, Research Development Officer, Research and Knowledge Exchange will explore what we mean by impact and why it is an increasingly important part of your research career.

 Financial Management Workshop Wednesday 14th May 2014, 15:00-16:00, Lansdowne Campus
This workshop will cover several topics ranging from; financial management, income and funding budgeting, financial resourcing and strategic financial planning.
This workshop will be facilitated by Jennifer Roddis and Paul Lynch, Research and Knowledge Exchange.

For more information about the above workshops and to book on please visit the Staff Development and Engagement Pages on the Staff Intranet,

 

Making music

Today was the first session for our rehearsal for the BUDI orchestra. We (BUDI team and the BSO players) had no idea how this would pan out as this is the first time that we are aware of where people with dementia have been given the opportunity to work alongside orchestra musicians and to gain confidence/ relearn or to learn for the first time instruments. It was something of a leap of faith to try to do this based on a hunch I had that if people can come together as a choir could we not also do this as an orchestra? Anyway, I was completely humbled by the successful use of the creative skills of the BSO musicians and BUMusic scholars as they led an initiative for those living with dementia and their family members and support workers today. As a result I have decided to do a regularish piece on my observations of the process (not the actual research which we are doing as part of FIF grant) as the sessions progress that will then culminate in a BU FOL performance on the 14 June at the Winton Life Centre. The photo gives you an idea of what happened, and when our video clips become available I will post these, but it was amazing to experience people with dementia who had lost their musical skills or perhaps more accurately their confidence bringing their instruments – a double bass and mouthorgan and regaining their musical confidence to play alongside the professional musicians. And perhaps more amazing that some of our participants who had never touched a string instrument learn some notes and then play a piece, Bolero, together –  and some other classical piece that I had never heard of before (I am not a musician). I too managed to play a few notes on a violin, or maybe it was a viola, anyway the community musician knows his stuff and directed us all to enable the musicians to get us all to play something – and in relative harmony! Two of our BUMusic scholars, while a little hesitant initially, then took the initiative to lead some of the singing that was part of this initial rehearsal and again their skill in using their talents to engage and encourage the group was amazing to watch. I had the pleasure of being taught how to play a few notes (badly) on the double bass by one of our participants with dementia which was probably the best part of the morning for me. I have a soap box position that many will have heard before about how when someone has dementia it is possible to continue to learn new things and also for people with dementia to help us learn new things. Today was just another inspiring example of that.

BRAD Qualitative Research Workshop

Fusion, Publishing

A BRAD Qualitative Research Workshop is taking place tomorrow Wednesday 9th April 2014, 13:00-16:0 on Talbot Campus.

 This session is an introductory overview of qualitative research, including its background and development.  Immy Holloway will discuss the nature and key features of this approach, the main differences to quantitative research the types of research question which could be answered through it, and its main differences from quantitative enquiry.  

To book on to this event please visit the Staff Develeopment and Engagement Intranet pages.

EU news this week: What funding could you apply for?

Struggling to stay up to date with all the latest on European funding? Then read on for this handy summary of some of the latest resources available….

  • Missed the Horizon 2020 information day in London? Then visit the ESRC website for a raft of presentations!
  • Thinking  about the Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellowships? Act now for the best chance of success! The next deadline is in September. Call details are on the EC website and for further support, please contact Becca Edwards
  • What does the EC want to see for its 70.2 billion euros? Get some insights from the update on the progress of the Europe 2020 policy.
  • UKRO is running an information session on the  Marie Sklodowska-Curie COFUND  call. For further details, please click here. The session will take place between 10.3oam-4pm in London. Further details about the COFUND call can be found on the European Commission website.  The EC says:  “Transnational mobility opens up new horizons for researchers. To encourage their movement across borders, Marie Curie Actions offer additional funding to existing or new regional and national fellowship programmes for research training and career development. This COFUND scheme can also support and strengthen existing and new international programmes”.
  • URKO annual conference. Book now! 26th/27th June in Bristol. They say: “Each year the UK Research Office (UKRO) organises a two-day Annual Conference aimed predominantly at European Liaison Officers, European research managers, Research Councils and policy makers. The conference provides an excellent forum for discussion and networking with key speakers from the European Commission on a range of EU policies and funding opportunities. 2014 is an important year for research organisations as everyone adapts to the changes brought about by Horizon 2020, Erasmus Plus and other new programmes. Furthermore, this year, UKRO is celebrating its 30th Anniversary and a special edition of the Annual Conference will be held on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 June in Bristol”.
  • What to know what the Horizon 2020 evaluators are looking for? Email Becca Edwards for the latest inside view.
  • Finding the online systems of Horizon 2020 a struggle? Then participate in this survey to make it better!
  • Working conditions and career development to be included in the H2020 grant agreement. Further details available from Vitae.
  • Interreg V:Launch of the public consultations. Further details on the Interreg V website

As ever, if you are looking for further support to develop your EU funding proposal, please do not hesitate to contact Paul Lynch or Rebecca Edwards in R&KEO.

Tags:

Does spinal manipulation change cervical inter-vertebral motion? – BritSpine 2014 conference presentation by Jonathan Branney

Awarded & submitted bids, PG research

Jonny, an HSC PhD student based at AECC has recently returned from the University of Warwick where he gave an oral presentation of his PhD findings, at the BritSpine conference. This was an opportunity to present his research on spinal manipulation and neck pain to eminent clinicians and researchers, and field questions from none less than the President of the British Association of Spinal Surgeons and the Chair of the United Kingdom Spine Societies Board – sigh of relief when they appeared to be happy with his answers!

This is the first time Jonny has presented his findings to a spine-research expert audience and this resulted in invaluable feedback that will inform not only future presentations, but his thesis too. It was only through the award of a Santander Mobility Award that Jonny was able to attend this prestigious conference – many thanks to the Graduate School and Santander Universities for making this attendance possible.

Jonny’s thesis is entitled, “An observational study of changes in cervical inter-vertebral motion and the relationship with patient-reported outcomes in patients undergoing spinal manipulative therapy for neck pain”. He is supervised by Professors Alan Breen and Jenni Bolton, (AECC) and Dr Sarah Hean at BU, and the thesis is due for completion in the summer.

In the meantime, if you’re interested in whether spinal manipulation changes inter-vertebral motion, you might like to check out the conference abstract which was published in the European Spine Journal 23(Suppl 1): S128.

 

Christine Bosse – The Virtue of Leadership

On Friday 11 April, Christine Bosse will be visiting BU, and all staff are invited to hear her speak.

Christine is widely known in the public for her direct and no-nonsense communication and is enthusiastically engaged in the societal debate for a better and safer world. She is a role model for many aspiring young people as the highest ranking female CEO in Denmark and was appointed the 22nd most influential business woman in the world in 2009 and 2010 by the Financial Times.

During this event, Christine will reflect on her experience as a CEO and now also as chairwoman and board member. She will discuss: 

– How leadership has become more relevant in a complex and fast moving world

– That balancing the stakeholders is key to success 

– Responsibility going beyond law 

– Communication as a special topic

To book a place on this event, please go to the Staff Development and Engagement intranet pages.