Well, can you believe it, after a year of hard work and preparation we are nearly through the first week of the Festival of Learning – and what a fantastic week it has been! Yesterday, Natalie Bennett, Leader of the Green Party was quoted as saying: “It is really great to see a festival that is very open to lots of different ideas and discussions because I think that’s what a university should be” Another a Festival attendee left the following comment on Facebook: “Really enjoyed ‘Don’t eat poo’ tonight – congrats to all at the Festival of Learning, such a fab way to get people through the doors. My 8 year old daughter was awestruck by the campus in general and it was lovely to be able to inspire her like this”.   Does this leave you feeling #BUProud?

Before the Research and Knowledge Exchange Office reflects on some of the events that have taken place, what could you come to on Friday and bring the family to on Saturday?

FRIDAY:

• Walking in the footsteps of our ancestors
• Student Life @BU
• Dorset’s Darwin: ‘Unremitting passion for the beauty and mystery of the natural world: Alfred Russel Wallace Centenary”: Bournemouth University joint meeting with SHNH and the Linnean Society
• Pathways to impact: Ageing, diversity, connectivity and community
• Dorset’s Darwin: BNSS drinks reception
• Taster session for new CIPD-approved MSc Professional Development (HRM) Programme

SATURDAY:

• The perfect sandcastle
• Dorset’s Darwin: Exploring the life and death of Alfred Russel Wallace: fieldtrip to Broadstone Cemetery
• Story stew
• Dorset’s Darwin: “You should ask Wallace”
• Dead on time
• Food hygiene for childminders
• Celebration of cultures
• How to self-publish (and stay solvent and sane)

Reflections on Festival of Learning events so far:

Oh, for a good night’s sleep! Convened by Andy Mayers, reflections from Jo Garrad

This all day event was attended by nearly 50 individuals, with the majority having varying degrees of sleep problems.  There was a lively discussion to start to identify what type of sleep problems were being experienced, followed by an interactive presentation from Dr Andrew Mayers about what they were experiencing and how they could improve their sleeping.  Dr Phillippa Lawson from thegoodsleepprogramme gave expert advice on how to tackle insomnia without resorting to tablets.  Dr Chris Alford from the University of the West of England gave a highly entertaining presentation and discussion on the effects of sleep deprivation and how driving late at night (when you’ve been up all day) can be as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol.  James Wilson (the sleep geek) and Paul Whittey demonstrated products that could aid better sleep.  Who knew that moisture absorption in a duvet was so important in order to get a good night’s sleep?  What I learnt:  napping is bad, sleep patterns are good, caffeine after 4pm is bad, having a snack is good,  having your ironing in the room is bad, having your pet in the room (can) be good, high thread content is bad, alpaca’s are good.  If this sparks your interest, why not join Andrew again on Tuesday, 11 June for ‘Children’s sleep: What goes wrong? What can we do?

2005 Mental Capacity Act. Convened by Michael Lyne,  reflections from Paul Lynch

So you think your next–of-kin are to be trusted if you lose your decision making capacity?  They may be trustworthy but as there is no legal basis or status for what next-of-kin means – it is an academic question.  The blow of this revelation was somewhat softened by an explanation of the 2005 Act which, for the first time, delivered protection for those who lose mental capacity; a single framework for assessing capacity and opportunities for individuals to plan, whilst still having capacity, for what should happen if they are unfortunate enough to lose it.  Fascinating, useful and worrying.  All this and “psychiatric tea”.  Don’t ask!

Science and the media: issues, debates and controversies  – reflections from Brian McNulty

How science is represented in the media and how journalists write about science so that readers can understand the subject.  Discussion on how scientific announcements can be misrepresented in the media for many different reasons, including sensationalism.  The importance of fact checking and the role of an organisation’s Legal department when preparing a story.  Focus placed on climate change.

Let’s Take Pride in Engineering. Convened by Reflections from Naomi Kay

This event was a fascinating look into the past, present and possible future of engineering in the UK compared to super powers such as China and India.  Mehran discussed how the UK went from the world leader in engineering in the time the industrial revolution to a country becoming more dependent on Asia for our engineering and manufacture needs. He also spoke about the changes in this area investment, the economical impact, and the need to inspire future generations to be passionate, creative, and continue to change the face of the world through innovation.

Putting Pen to Paper, convened by Emma Scattergood

Attila the Hen and Sci-fi Chicken: learning how to get published

Emma Scattergood shows how to put Pen to Paper in order to perfect the art of writing by practicing re-writing common stories such as why the chicken crossed the road. This very interactive session included top tips on writing to get published (and self-publishing) through the ingredients needed for a gripping story and how to employ the 50 Shades of Grey model. Attendees creative tales ranged from sinister murders in a wood, to a patriotic typewriting Seal to a re-write of Cinderella’s story with lesbian step sisters who have a major crush on our lead.

Dr Corrina Dickson, Research Development Manager at Bournemouth University, said, “Hearing the creative and enthusiastic participants develop and share their ideas for stories through the techniques shared was fantastic. The group left full of passion and raring to write!’

Another day in the Festival of Learning and another fantastic programme of events! What could you learn about on Thursday?

Perhaps one of the most encouraging reflections so far from the Festival is that people who are coming to one event, are then signing up for more! In-fact I met someone yesterday that has been to at least two events per day, morning, noon and night on  a vast array of different topics. So, what could you come along to on Thursday? How about:

• Fascinating feats
• The psychology of eating, health and wellbeing
• Behind the scenes in a TV studio
• Health and wellbeing in the Roman world
• The inner primate in all of us
• Professor Fluffy
• Enterprise security: Mitigating fear, uncertainties and doubt

Also, do stop by and take a look at our exhibition items, which on Thursday includes:

• 6th Sense transport project
• Microscope madness exhibition
• Are you a super-recogniser?
• Humanising healthcare through historical enquiry

Reflections on Festival of Learning event:

The focus of this event was very much about what is understood by the term ‘wellbeing’. Les Todres gave a talk on ‘Understandings of Wellbeing’, explaining the dimensions of this within his model. Workshops took place on three subjects: Building and sustaining friendships in older age; Building energy, strength and a healthy balance system; and Active Living: Making health and wellbeing a possibility for older adults. At the end of the day outcomes of the sessions were shared and the following were considered to be important factors to achieving wellbeing: having a purpose, being valued, choice, control, connectivity, stillness, travel, money, time to ourselves, family/friends and health. Overall this event had some really positive outcomes such as discussing the ways awareness could be raised about what is already on offer in communities for older people and suggestions were given to the council about services and support they could provide to improve the situation in Bournemouth and Poole.

It’s good to walk! Reflections from Julie Northam:

Prof Ahmed Khattab gave a highly informative and interesting talk about peripheral artery disease to an audience of around 40 people. Exercise, diet, stopping smoking, and controlling conditions such as diabetes are more effective at improving the symptoms of peripheral artery disease than surgery, and are obviously far less dangerous. Dr Ibtisam Ali, a vascular scientist from Royal Bournemouth Hospital, then provided members of the audience with free ultrasound testing of the arteries in their legs and neck. These tests are only available from the NHS with a GP’s referral or at cost from a private clinic. In summary the event provided members of the public with access to expertise and information about their health and the ability to have their health tested for free. Read more about peripheral artery disease on the NHS website.

The Campus Permaculture Project, reflections from Nicola King:

“A small group of like-minded individuals gathered together to discuss permaculture,  what it means, and what it encompasses. Attendees were also keen to explore how they could attempt to live a permacultural way of life.  All attendees were happy to share ideas and experiences, and the event generated much discussion. A key highlight was an interactive Q&A Skype session with Patrick Whitefield, a leading permaculture expert/consultant.  He shared his ideas on how to incorporate a permaculture way of thinking into everyday life, and how to try to spark interest in others to follow the same example. Atttendees also heard from BU’s Kathy Hodder and Ben Thomas, who led the event, and screens and display stands around the room gave an array of information on subjects such as biodiversity on campus, sustainable construction, waste minimisation and recycling,  student engagement in sustainability, and the potential role of permaculture in reducing UK carbon emissions.  There were also pictures of local community gardens, community farm projects, forest gardening, and other permaculture projects that are taking place locally. We learnt that permaculture is about ‘people care’, ‘earth care’ and ‘fair share’.”

Well, the sun certainly shone for day two of the Festival of Learning, and what a day it has been! The hustle and bustle on Talbot Campus and in the EBC has been tremendous, with fantastic feedback continuing to pour in. Congratulations to all involved for making the Festival happen and giving members of the public such a big BU welcome.

But what does Wednesday bring? Another day of exciting events, that’s for sure! What could you come along to? As ever, take a look at where the event is taking place on the website and our welcome desk can direct you further.

• Research degrees @ BU
• Rufus Stone the movie: Community screening and feedback
• Let’s take pride in engineering
• Don’t eat poo and die, eat poo and live: An investigation into the things that we eat and the things that we don’t
•  A living wage – what it is and what it does
• Games can be fun for everybody
• Science and the media: Issues, debates and controversies
• The Mental Capacity Act 2005: What’s in it for me? What’s in it for them?

What about some events that have already happened? Some of my fantastic colleagues in the Research and Knowledge Exchange Office have some reflections on how it has gone:

Mehran Koohgilani – ‘Designing our Future’ by Dianne Goodman

“This highly absorbing event was meant to run from 7-8pm however the audience were so captivated we ran on until around 9pm, Mehran’s presentation style was captivating and stimulated many questions at the end. Mehran started his presentation asking us to consider the products we have purchased and use every day – do we take for granted they are safe? Using the plastics and toxic dyes in children’s toys and computers as designed products that most of us use every day. Mehran asked us to consider for one moment that a computer often contains more than a thousand different kinds of materials including toxic gases, toxic metals (such as cadmium, lead and mercury acids, chlorinated and brominated substances and other additives) However even though we are aware that this may be the case we often choose to ignore this fact and designers often seem to keep our consciences at bay. Reflecting what we need to be aware of for ‘Designing for the Future’ as well as the actual components of the products we also need to consider how we are being brainwashed and directed into continually needing the latest and most up to date gadgets. How can designers be more ethical when the consumer is happy to discard their existing products for the most up to date. Considering cost, infrastructure factors and recycling issues. He wanted us at the end of his presentation to go out with more questions than answers and we certainly did.”

Philippa Hudson – A Fridge Safari

Avoiding future projectile vomit and explosive diarrhea incidents by embarking on a Fridge Safari. Philippa Hudson took the audience on a tour of what we should do to avoid very sore tummies and more serious illnesses associated with our food preparation. This lively session uncovered the mysteries of fridges and food preparation and why we sometimes get a dicky tummy after stuffing our faces. We learned why animals should be hosed down before slaughter, why street food may be better for us than supermarket meat, why we shouldn’t eat food after the use by date and why we should wash melons before chopping it. There was also an autopsy of several audience members fridges which had a variety of commonly found no-nos. Dr Corrina Dickson, Research Development Manager said “it was fantastic to see everyone finally having answers to questions they had wondered for years–drinking tap water in foreign countries, keeping salad in the bottom drawer of the fridge, reheating rice. A fantastic and informative event”.

Well, the first day of the Festival of Learning is very nearly done and dusted (the last events finish at 9pm) and what a day it has been! I would love to hear your reflections on the day, please do email me with your thoughts. Like any day of any event there have been highs and lows, but it has been fantastic to see so many members of the public raving about BU events.

Below, you can learn a bit more about what happened on Festival of Learning day one. But before you read about has has been, why don’t you come along to something to an event on Tuesday? Pop along to the welcome desk in either Poole House (for Talbot Campus events) or the EBC (for Lansdowne Campus events) and we can advise you on where to go.

Events on Tuesday include:

• The myths and facts behind the sustainability agenda
• Café Scientifique: So you think you are what you eat?
• Putting pen to paper
• Cutting through the paperwork to deliver brilliant events
• The campus permaculture project
• An introduction to the Raspberry Pi
• Oh, for a good night’s sleep!
• Ageing well: An interactive and creative event
• It’s good to walk: Have you checked your blood vessels?
• Marketing for SMEs workshop
• Faith-based health promotion: Opportunities and barriers

Also, do come along to our exhibition that is taking place in Poole House Atrium and Kimmeridge House Foyer.

But what happened on Monday? Here are just a few reflections from my colleagues in the Research and Knowledge Exchange office:

Living with a long term condition: Reflections from Paul Lynch:

“For this event, our event organisers were Dr Carol S Bond and Jenny Roddis. In the morning they were joined by co-presenter Dr Jaqui Hewitt-Taylor and in the afternoon Chris Pitt. The morning session was attended by a diverse range of people, with an interesting mix of healthcare professionals and service users (and other folks too!).  The participants joined in a vibrant and informative discussion of the practical application of a theory of well-being and long term conditions.  This was followed by a lively and highly entertaining discussion of information services and their utility.  The afternoon session was a practical workshop demonstrating and implementing techniques for successful internet searching of health related information.  Both sessions offered opportunities for exchanging experiences and information in a positive and supportive atmosphere that was widely appreciated by all of the participants”.

Start local, aim global: Reflections from Emily Cieciura:

“Huiping Xian and invited speakers, Roger Colmar and Peter James gave a detailed and highly practical review of how best to do business with government bodies and companies in China and Japan, summarised as build friendship, build trust, ensure win-win. The UKTI is a key source of information. The cultural differences and similarities were considered with emphasis given to the importance of developing relationships leading to trust, tips for etiquette (including personal space through to giving gifts), awareness of regional differences, and taking time to be comfortable with the country and its people. Regarding legal contracts, Chinese partners favour good faith rather than complex legal relationships. Peter stressed the fast pace of change in China with opportunities such as the ‘green’ agenda, improvements to health and safety, a move away from a ‘saving’ to a ‘spending’ culture and increased entrepreneurship.  The event concluded with a lively discussion with speakers and guests airing their personal experiences of working with Asian business people”.

Nicola King, reflecting on Social Media for the Terrified:

“This 3-hour event was attended by nearly 50 individuals who were all keen to find out more about social media and social networking. Attendees learnt about the main social networks, what social media can actually enable us to do, and that social networks are the latest form of marketing for individuals and businesses alike. LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and others were all discussed, but attendees were also made aware of the potential dangers of social media if not used correctly. After an interesting talk by Debbie Sadd,  who led the event, attendees were then invited to discuss their particular areas of interest with others in small teams. One team focused on Facebook, another on Twitter, and they used their own devices (phones, tablets, laptops) to explore their area of interest, asking any questions of the experts on hand as they went. In summary this was a very interesting discussion focussing on a topical and, judging by the turn-out, popular subject”.

Testing capacity in people with dementia, reflections by Emily Cieciura:

“Prof. Simon Thompson outlined the features of the many forms of dementia, including those relating to head injuries, drug use and exposure to chemicals earlier in life. The legal issues arising from ascertaining mental capacity especially when the person diagnosed with dementia is drawing up a will or when a will is contested after death were aired. Early conversations are needed, soon after diagnosis, along with consulting a solicitor. The GP is normally the starting point for accessing help from social agencies. In planning ahead, a power of attorney, with forms available from The Office of the public guardian or an advanced directive, with advice available from Compassion in Dying may be of help. The Alzheimer’s Society  was highly recommended as a source of information and support. BU’s BUDI website gives information about our research and activities”.

Monday is a very exciting day or BU with the Festival of Learning finally commencing! Don’t forget, the Festival is not only for public, as members of staff you are very welcome to come and attend events. This is a great opportunity for members to learn more about what we do across BU. So what could you go to today? We still have some places for some events on a first come, first served basis so do come and stop by to support your colleagues.

On Talbot Campus today:

• A Fridge Safari, 10.30am-12.30pm in K103. Do you know what’s lurking in your fridge? This session will examine the current position regarding food poisoning in the UK and explain how new pathogens such as E coli O157 and Campylobacter have become such a problem and why organisms such as Listeria monocytogenes poses potentially greater risks for the elderly. Using digital photos of the inside of participants’ kitchens and the insides of their fridges, Philippa Hudson will illustrate the key issues and easy solutions to prevent food poisoning.
• Test capacity in people with dementia: protecting vulnerable people. 10am in KG03. This talk aims to present the difficulties faced when a person with dementia wants to make a will and leave their estate to beneficiaries. There will be an opportunity to share opinion and to discuss this topic. It is hoped that legal representation will be involved in discussions as well as a Consultant in Clinical Neuropsychology and other health professionals.
• Social media for the terrified! (Very limited availability). 10am-1pm in K101.  This interactive workshop is aimed at anyone who wants to find out more about how to use social media. The half-day activity will comprise demonstrations, workshops and tutorials on different platforms of social media as well as the chance to ask any questions you have, in addition to developing personalised plans for using social media. You are encouraged to bring mobiles, tablets or laptops with you to develop their social media usage, although we will have computers and other mobile devices available on the day.
• The ‘I don’t get finance’ introduction to finance (3 part course). 6-9pm: K103. Finance affects everyone’s life and, despite the fact that we all deal with money on a daily basis, many people imagine that it is complicated and laden with maths. This is a ‘painless’ opportunity to discover that understanding business finance is only a very small step from what you already do with your own money. This three-part course provides a user-friendly introduction to finance in for-profit and not-for-profit organisations for complete beginners, dealing with areas such as cash flow, the relationships between profit and worth and why end of year accounts are laid out the way they are.

Also, in the Atrium of Poole House, you will find some interactive exhibition stands. Go and take a look! These include:

• Are you a super recogniser? Our ability to recognise faces resides on a continuum. Some are very poor at this skill (and may have ‘face blindness’), while others are exceptionally good at remembering faces they have only encountered once before. See where you lie on the spectrum by taking part in our ‘live experiment’. In just a…
• Finding your way through complex spaces: Getting lost wastes time and money and often causes stress and anxiety. Our Wayfinding Lab has used knowledge from research into navigation and icon processing to provide consultancy to a diverse range of private and public sector organisations responsible for major facilities (NHS hospital; international airport; multi-national offices; World Heritage Site). We’ve created a systematic, scalable way to improve signage systems in complex, unfamiliar buildings, thus improving organisational productivity and reducing personal inconvenience, anxiety and risk.
• Keeping Upright: How we perceive vertical is an important part of how we function in our environment. It involves the interaction of information we receive from our eyes, inner ears and sensors throughout our body. Come along to this interactive exhibition to find out more about this process and take part in a live experiment that will test your perception of vertical.

In the foyer of Kimmeridge, you will find:

• (Don’t) mention dementia? A public engagement project between Bournemouth University Dementia Institute and Derek Eland, a multi-media artist whose work is primarily focused on engaging with people about what it is like to ‘be human’ in stressful and difficult situations.Eland is interested in the use of the written word, particularly in a digital age, to access real emotions and thoughts. Much of his work is created on location, particularly through the use of ‘Diary Rooms’, and then re-contextualised in a gallery setting. In 2011, he worked as an official war artist embedded with the British Army in Helmand, Afghanistan. The work from the time he spent on the front line has been described in the international press as ‘groundbreaking’. Using similar techniques Eland has worked with BU staff and students to capture the views of the general public about dementia, and also the views of those living with dementia about their experiences.

If today you are on Lansdowne Campus, how about:

• Living with a long term condition: the role of information and decision making. EB202, 9.30am-1.30pm. This event, targeted at health professionals and those with long-term conditions, will consist of two short presentations about living with a longterm condition. It will look at how information and decision-making may contribute to wellbeing and the information needs of those with long-term conditions. Each presentation will be followed by a discussion between healthcare professionals and people with long-term conditions. Be prepared to contribute your ideas!
• Start local aim global: How to do work with Asian business people. 2-5pm, EB302. It is well recognised that expanding to international markets creates new opportunities and is crucial for SMEs’ survival and development. However, entrepreneurs and managers are often confronted with knowledge gaps and cultural barriers when dealing with foreign business partners. This event consists of a three-hour workshop which will be a combination of presentations, discussions and interactive group activities that aim to stimulate thinking and enhance cross-cultural awareness. We will focus on business cultures and practices in China and Japan.
• Ethical decision making in business – theoretical insights and practical applications. 2pm-3.30pm: EB302. Businesses are increasingly interested in exploring the ethicality of their actions. The event will explore frameworks for understanding ethical decision making in layman’s terms and consider how an understanding of ethics can be valuable in the workplace. Come along for the opportunity to learn more about the field of business ethics, and equip yourself with the tools to help make sense of ethical dilemmas in the workplace.
• Waiting for the monsoon: 3-8pm in EB303. Nepal through my lens, a photo and storytelling exhibition: This interactive event will feature photographs, artefacts and storytelling of life in rural Nepal – a fieldwork diary of a PhD student during the summer monsoon! The camera as a research tool is well documented in disciplines such as anthropology and sociology, and the process of photography often leads to uncovering misconceptions. These photographs tell a story of the reality of fieldwork among holy cows, sacrificial goats and cultural practices. Nepal is an ideal setting due to its riot of colour, where the ancient world thrives in the modern one. Photos are available for sale, with proceeds being used to support Green Tara Trust Nepal’s work. This is an exhibition that people can drop in on, if you want to hear Sheetal talk about the exhibition they need to arrive at one of the talk times at 3pm, 5pm or 7pm.
• Designing our future. 7-8pm: EB306. What is design? What makes it good or bad, and is it just poor design leading to poor quality products? In an age where most of our products are produced in Asia, what is the future for the Chinese and Indian economies compared to that of the UK and Europe? This talk will explore these key issues.