BU Research Blog

21 December 2025

New Nepal scoping review on maternal & neonatal health

international, open access, Publishing, Women's Academic Network, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

Today, Discover Public Health, published our latest academic paper on maternity and neonatal care in Nepal [1]. Our latest paper ‘A scoping review of interventions to improve maternal and neonatal care in Nepal‘ is lead by Dr. Sharada Prasad Wasti at the University of Greenwich and co-authored by Bournemouth University’s Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen.

For this scoping review we found 418 studies, and twenty were included, which used various interventions that aimed to improve maternal and neonatal health. Five overarching interventions were identified: (1) community-based maternal health literacy; (2) health facility strengthening, including health staff training, (3) mobilisation of female community health volunteers (FCHV) for birth preparedness and identifying danger signs; (4) mobile health messaging, and (5) involving husbands in improving the uptake of maternal and neonatal care. Most interventions were a mixture of activities with a combination of interventions rather than a single intervention.

The authors note that no single intervention is sufficient on its own; indeed, a combination of approaches is needed to improve the uptake of maternal and neonatal care services.

This scientific paper in Discover Public Health is open access and, therefore, freely available worldwide to anybody with internet access. Interestingly, the journal has added an AI generated summary, despite the fact that we as authors had provided a perfectly useful abstract.

Reference:

Wasti, S.P., van Teijlingen, E., Adhikari, N. Morgan, J. (2025) A scoping review of interventions to improve maternal and neonatal care in Nepal. Discover Public Health 22, 855 . https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-01241-x

18 December 2025

British Academy funded capacity-building training in Nepal

Awarded & submitted bids, international, Knowledge Exchange Edwin van Teijlingen

Yesterday we reached third day of the three-day Fellowship training workshop in Dhulikhel, Nepal on evidence synthesis. This capacity-building project is led by the University of Huddersfield and takes place at Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences (KUSMS). This new Fellowship scheme is an international collaboration led by the University of Huddersfield in the UK, in close collaboration with Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences (in Nepal), the Nepal Health Research Council, and several UK universities: Bournemouth University, the University of Sheffield, Canterbury Christ Church University, Keele University and the University of Chester. This unique Fellowship started online in the autumn of 2025 and is part of a larger project on strengthening institutional knowledge and capacity of federal, provincial and local governments for evidence-informed health policymaking in Nepal. This important initiative is funded by The British Academy and supported in the field by Green Tara Nepal [1]. The project involved Bournemouth University’s Dr. Pramod Regmi and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen both in the Faculty of Health, Environment & Medical Sciences.

Some 28 Fellows have been selected from nearly one hundred applicants to help build capacity in the field of evidence synthesis with overall aim to promote evidence-informed policymaking in Nepal. This is longstanding aim of the researcher as highlighted in previous call for an evidence-based policy centre in Nepal [2].

References:

1. Simkhada P, Vaidyal A, Regmi P, Paudyal P, van Teijlingen E, Dhimal M, Koirala B, Shresthe A, Simkhada B (2025) Strengthening Evidence Synthesis for Health Policymaking in Nepal: A New Fellowship Initiative, Nepal J Epidemiol

2. Simkhada P, Dhimal M, van Teijlingen E, Gyanwali P (2022). Nepal Urgently Needs a National Evidence Synthesis Centre, J Nepal Health Res Council, 20 (3): i-ii.

16 December 2025

From Classroom to Catalyst: Impact, Inclusion and the UN SDGs in Entrepreneurship Education at Bournemouth University

BU Challenges, Business Engagement, Centre for Excellence in Learning, Fusion, HEIF, Industry collaboration, innovation, international, Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement, REF 2029 impact case studies, Student Engagement, Women's Academic Network Sukanya Ayatakshi

It feels like only yesterday that I was writing a research blog reflecting on social impact entrepreneurship amongst students at Bournemouth University Business School (BUBS) in the Faculty of Business and Law. A year on, this work continues to evolve, offering further evidence of how entrepreneurship education can act as a catalyst for social impact, inclusion and sustainable development.

This year’s final-year 20-credit module on the Entrepreneurship pathway, called Entrepreneurship and Business Ventures, ran yet another elevator pitch event, resulting in 22 new mentoring opportunities for students developing socially and environmentally minded business ideas. This builds on 24 mentoring opportunities created the previous year, highlighting not only the consistency of outcomes but also the growing strength of the entrepreneurial ecosystem surrounding BU.

The module has now been running for over seven years and has undergone deliberate pedagogical redesign during that time. It now operates as an in-class incubation and ideation space for social and impact entrepreneurship, rather than a traditional lecture-led module. Students are supported in developing, testing, and refining venture ideas within a structured environment that prioritises both business viability and social impact.

Central to the unit’s design is the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Rather than treating the SDGs as abstract global ambitions, students are encouraged to use them as a practical framework for opportunity recognition. The SDGs help students to identify real-world problems, consider systemic impacts, and design business models that create economic, social and environmental value simultaneously. In this sense, sustainability is positioned not as an ethical add-on, but as a source of legitimacy, resilience and competitive advantage.

Across two days of live elevator pitches, final-year students presented a diverse range of ideas addressing challenges at local, national and global levels. The quality and ambition of the pitches demonstrated a notable shift in entrepreneurial mindset. While financial feasibility remained central, many students framed entrepreneurship in terms of long-term value creation, legacy and responsibility, with profit understood as a means to enable impact rather than an end in itself.

As a module-level assessment, this activity could have been delivered entirely within the classroom. However, entrepreneurship is inherently experiential and relational. Each year, the assessment is therefore designed as a live engagement exercise, with students pitching to an external panel of judges drawn from industry, policy and practice. The panel provides immediate feedback and, crucially, offers mentoring and access to professional networks. These outcomes are particularly significant in relation to inclusive entrepreneurship practice at BU. By embedding incubation, mentoring, and ecosystem engagement within a credit-bearing module, access to entrepreneurial opportunities is expanded. Students do not need prior entrepreneurial experience, social capital or financial resources to participate. Instead, all students on the pathway are given structured access to support, feedback and visibility.

Inclusive entrepreneurship is also evident in the nature of the ideas themselves. Many ventures draw directly on students’ lived experiences, cultural backgrounds and community contexts, demonstrating how diversity can be a driver of innovation. The breadth of the judging panel—including expertise in sustainability, inclusive enterprise, ethnic minority entrepreneurship and venture coaching—further reinforces inclusive role modelling and challenges narrow stereotypes of who entrepreneurs are and what they do. None of this would be possible without the entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports this work. Over seven years, that ecosystem has grown significantly, reflecting shared commitment to impact-driven and inclusive entrepreneurship. The sustained willingness of external partners to mentor students demonstrates that meaningful inclusion is built through relationships and trust, not rhetoric alone.

Reflecting on these outcomes raises an important question for higher education more broadly. If such impact—mentoring, confidence building, inclusive participation and SDG-aligned venture development—can be achieved within a single 20-credit module, what more might be possible with structured, longitudinal support for student social entrepreneurs? At Bournemouth University, this module offers a practical example of how entrepreneurship education can contribute to inclusive growth and sustainable development, aligning teaching, research and external engagement with the Global Goals.

16 December 2025

Bournemouth University Cyber Security Researcher Wins Best Poster Award at HISC 2025

PG research hdogan

Bournemouth University (BU) is proud to announce that PhD Cyber Security researcher Serdar Akar, has been awarded Best Poster Winner at this year’s High Integrity Software Conference (HISC) 2025, held in Newport, Wales.

HISC is a leading international forum that brings together software engineers and industry practitioners to exchange knowledge, address critical challenges, and strengthen the foundations of a trustworthy software ecosystem.

Serdar’s winning poster, titled “Towards Productive Cyber Resilience and Safety Analysis in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)”, was showcased in the conference’s Future Zone, which highlights innovative research shaping the future of high-integrity software.

Serdar was also recently named the Winner of our BU’s ‘Business Idea Challenge’, organised by the Students’ Union (SUBU). This award recognises a student-led venture that is not only highly feasible but also carries a strong social impact, aligns with the university’s sustainability priorities, and demonstrates impressive potential for future growth.

Serdar said, “To have my work recognised in both academic and entrepreneurial spheres in such a short time is immensely encouraging. It is a great privilege to be able to contribute to the research and innovation environment here at Bournemouth University.”

Dr Duncan Ki-Aries at Bournemouth University, commented, “These awards reflect the high calibre of research being undertaken at BU. Serdar’s work contributes to advancing cyber resilience and safety in complex systems, and we are delighted to see it recognised on an international stage.”

Prof Huseyin Dogan mentioned, “There are challenges centred on Model Based Systems Engineering in industry, and we are bridging theoretical benefits with practical applications. Serdar’s PhD will contribute to this domain by integrating cyber resilience and safety analysis through software tool support.”

The recognition underscores Bournemouth University’s commitment to pioneering research towards safer, secure, and more resilient digital infrastructures.

If you’re interested in learning more about these impactful projects, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with Prof. Huseyin Dogan and Dr. Duncan Ki-Aries, and others.

15 December 2025

Fourth INRC Symposium: From Clinical Applications to Neuro-Inspired Computation

PG research, REF Subjects, Research themes ebballester

We cordially invite you to the 4^th Symposium of the BU Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Research Centre: From Clinical Applications to Neuro-Inspired Computation on Friday, the 16th of January 2026, 9:30-15:00 at the Lees Lecture Theatre (Talbot Campus, Poole House -outside).

This symposium encompasses a journey from clinical case studies to new, emerging experimental and computational methodologies that underpin future translational applications. It is an opportunity for informal discussions on grant proposals and to explore shared interests with our external guests from the NHS and collaborating EU universities.

The schedule is as follows:

9:30 Coffee

9:50 Opening and Welcome Address

10:00-10.50 Dr Michalis Doumas (Queen’s University Belfast): Sensory integration for postural control in healthy ageing and in people living with Parkinson’s.

10:50 Coffee break

11:00-11:50 Session I. Ageing and Neurodegenerative Disorders

Dr Ioanna Markostamou: Naming spatial relations in typical and atypical ageing: At the crossroads of language and perception.

Dr Catherine Talbot: Dementia in the digital age: exploring the promise and pitfalls of social technologies.

11:50-12.50 Lunch break (no lunch provided, but Talbot Campus facilities available)

12.50-13.40 Dr Andre Rupp: Auditory perception and clinical applications (title: TBC).

13:40 Coffee break

14:00-14.50 Session II: Neuro-inspired computation

Dr Anna Metzger: Understanding haptic perception of objects’ shape and material via DNN modelling.

Dr Hongchuan Yu: Waa3D: an open-source platform to benchmark performance of algorithms for automated neuro tracing in light microscopy datasets.

Concluding Remarks + Invitation to everybody to become a member of the INRC network

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Ellen Seiss, eseiss@bournemouth.ac.uk or Emili Balaguer-Ballester, eb-ballester@bournemouth.ac.uk.

Thank you very much; we are looking forward to seeing you there.

Kind regards,

Ellen and Emili, on behalf of all of us.

13 December 2025

Writing policy briefs

international, open access, Publishing, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

This week saw the publication of ‘Bridging Research and Policy: Practical Tips for Writing Policy Briefs‘ co-authored by Bournemouth University’s (BU) Dr. Pramod Regmi and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen as well as former BU staff Dr. Nirmal Aryal. An effective policy brief bridges the gap between research findings and policymaking, ensuring that evidence is presented succinctly and in a way that is accessible and usable for policymakers and relevant stakeholders. It is an important step in what is called knowledge mobilisation. However, many researchers find it hard to communicate the findings of their studies to relevant policymakers, whilst policymakers note that the evidence they need is not easily accessible and is often not presented in an accessible format. Producing policy briefs is one of the approaches which academics can use to get their research noticed by policymakers.

This practical paper outlines some of the trials and tribulations of producing policy briefs, based on real-world research. It offers several recommendations to help improve the writing and dissemination of policy briefs. The paper is published in an Open Access journal hence freely available to anybody across the globe with internet access.

References:

van Teijlingen, E., Balen, J., Regmi, P., Rushton, S., Simkhada, P., Aryal, N. (2025). Bridging Research and Policy: Practical Tips for Writing Policy Briefs. Journal of Health Promotion, 13(1),:89–96. https://doi.org/10.3126/jhp.v13i1.87170

2 December 2025

Up2U: New BU academic publication

open access, PG research, Publishing, Women's Academic Network, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

Congratulations to the interdisciplinary BU team on the publication of the paper ‘Up2U: designing and validating a new evidence-based programme for perpetrators of domestic abuse who want to change’ in Frontiers in Psychology [1]. The new paper is part of the series ‘The Dynamics of Emotion Regulation and Aggressiveness in Gender-Based Violence Contexts’, and it appeared in an Open Access journal and is therefore easily accessible.

Domestic abuse is a pervasive issue rooted in patterns of power and control, contributing to a significant number of high-harm offenses both in the UK and internationally. While programmes have been aiming to disrupt abusive cycles through the understanding and recognition of harm, there is widespread disagreement on what effective interventions should look like. This paper addresses this gap.

The authors of this paper include both psychologists and social workers, as well as a student co-author. The lead author, Terri Cole, is a Principal Academic in Forensic Psychology.

Congratulations!

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Reference:

Cole, T., Oliver, L., Harvey, O., Healy, J., Sperryn, A., Barbin, A. (2025) Up2U: designing and validating a new evidence-based programme for perpetrators of domestic abuse who want to change, Frontiers in Psychology, Volume 16 – 28 Nov.2025 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1676490

2 December 2025

New BU midwifery paper

PG research, Publishing, student research, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

Congratulations to HEMS colleagues on their recently published paper in MIDIRS Midwifery Digest. This new qualitative publication focuses on the ‘Barriers to the uptake of healthy eating messages by Black African immigrant pregnant women living in the UK: midwives’ perspectives’ [1]. The paper grew out of Aniebiet Ekong’s PhD research on this topic which was supervised by Drs. Pramod Regmi, Juliet Wood, and Jaqui Hewitt-Taylor.

Reference:

Ekong A, Regmi P, Wood J, Hewitt-Taylor J. Barriers to the uptake of healthy eating messages by Black African immigrant
pregnant women living in the UK: midwives’ perspectives MIDIRS Midwifery Digest, 35(4): 372–383.

24 November 2025

New Cyber Security Advisory Highlights Integration of Safety, Security, and Human Factors in Defence Systems

Industry collaboration hdogan

Following collaborative research on Secure by Design (SbD) conducted by Bournemouth University (BU) and Mima, with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), a new Cyber Security Advisory has been released. This guidance addresses the complex challenge of balancing security, safety, and human factors in requirements practices.

The project, led by Dr Duncan Ki-Aries and Prof Huseyin Dogan centred on developing and evaluating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that demonstrates how these critical domains can be effectively integrated into SbD practices. The goal: to enhance the design of secure, resilient, and user-aware systems for defence applications.

Figure 1. The Secure by Design Process Framework

The advisory outlines key findings from the research, explores the challenges of merging safety and human factors into SbD processes, and offers insights into potential improvements. It also signals directions for future projects aimed at advancing this integration.

Ongoing research at BU will continue to build on this foundation, drawing on the combined expertise of BU and Mima in Human Factors, Security, Systems of Systems Engineering, Safety, and Risk Assessment. This work remains committed to strengthening future defence capabilities through a robust Secure by Design approach.

Figure 2. The project team

21 November 2025

BU academic publishes in online newspaper in Nepal

international, open access, Public engagement, Publishing, Women's Academic Network Edwin van Teijlingen

Last week the internet newspaper Online Khabar published ‘Celebrating Nepal Female Community Health Volunteers, but for how much longer?‘. This article is written by Sankalpa Bhattarai, a researcher based at Green Tara Nepal, and BU’s Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen about the future of Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) in Nepal. In the late 1980s the Government of Nepal introduced the FCHV programmea at a time, Nepal was one of only two countries in the world where the life expectancy for women was lower than that of men. These FCHVs were recruited locally in their own communities to help reduce infant and maternal mortality. They provided health education, immunisation, and information on family planning and hygiene, as well as offering basic first aid services and referring people in their communities to basic or advanced health services when needed.

The FCHV programme is one of the most successful parts of the country’s health system, and recognised worldwide for offering basic care in a system of harmony between local volunteers and the communites they live in, as such meaningful connections can have a profound impact on people’s well-being. There are FCHVs in most villages and the volunteer workforce comprises over fifty thousand women spread across the country. Th future of this FCHV programme is currently being discussed with four possible strategies emerging: (1) redefining FCHV roles; (2) modernization and skills upgrade; (3) establishing permanent support and incentives; and (4) formalizing their role in crisis response.

The online newspaper article is based on a paper we published last year as a Commentary in the Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences [1]. Our previous research work on FCHVs included a paper in PLOS Global Public Health [2], as well as two further papers based on the Ph.D. study by Dr. Sarita Panday [3-4].

We like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Pramod Regmi, Principal Academic in International Health in the Faculty of Health, Environment & Medical Science, for connecting us to the editor of Online Khabal.

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health

References

Bhattarai, S., & van Teijlingen, E. (2024). Nepal Needs A Two-Pronged Approach to Secure Future of Its Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs). Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences, 9(1), 43–48. https://doi.org/10.3126/jmmihs.v9i1.68640
Panday, S., Barnes, A., van Teijlingen, E. (2024) Exploring the motivations of female community health volunteers in primary healthcare provision in rural Nepal: a qualitative study, PLOS Global Public Health Aug 1;4(8):e0003428. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0003428.
Panday, S., Bissell, P., van Teijlingen, E., Simkhada, P. (2017) The contribution of female community health volunteers (FCHVs) to maternity care in Nepal: a qualitative study, BMC Health Services Research 17:623 be/vz9C
Panday, S., Bissell, P., van Teijlingen, E., Simkhada, P. (2019) Perceived barriers to accessing female community health volunteers’ services amongst ethnic minority women in Nepal: a qualitative study, PLoS ONE 14(6): e0217070 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0217070

21 November 2025

Final day of the ESRC Festival of Social Science

Festival of Learning, Fusion themes, international, PG research, Public engagement, REF Subjects, Student Engagement Edwin van Teijlingen

Saturday 8th November was the final day of the national Festival of Social Sciences (FoSS), which was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Many universities across the Uk organised a wide-ranging set of events. Bournemouth University (BU) organised six events, and on the last day it put up a public-engagement event around its Sonamoni research project at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) building in Poole. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children aged 6-24 months in Bangladesh, yet it rarely receives the same attention as other global health issues. The Sonamoni project, led by Bournemouth University and the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB), is an interdisciplinary collaboration with the University of Southampton, the University of the West of England (UWE), the RNLI, and Design Without Borders (DWB) in Uganda.

This £1.6m project has been made possible thanks to a grant from the UK’s National Institute for Health & Care Research (NIHR) through its Research and Innovation for Global Health Transformation programme. Sonamoni is in the process of developing practical, community-based solutions to reduce drowning among 6-24 months’ old children.

The FoSS event at the RNLI earlier this month was presented by BU academics John Powell and Edwin van Teijlingen with a major contribution from BU’s PhD student Md. Shafkat Hossain, whose doctoral studies focuses on the local community’s understanding of, and engagement with, the Human-Centred Design element of the Sonamoni project. Prof. van Teijlingen, from BU’s School of Health & Care, introduced the project and he highligthed the harmony between the different social science disciplines of the members of the international research team as well as the interdisciplinary nature of this collaboration. The FoSS event was prepared and supported by BU’s Yasemin Oksel Ferraris and Claire Fenton.

One of the ideas generated by the Sonamoni project, which involves local community involvement at all stages of the study, is a low cost playpen to keep young children save. John Powell MBE outlined the Human-Centred Design process and the eight potential solutions it generated. The FoSS event on the Saturday morning focused particulary on the design stages of the playpen, from concept to a model that could be tested in the field in rural Bangladesh. The colourful first batch of playpens in the photo are ready to be taken to families to be tested in the two field sites. The audience of the FoSS event was particularly interested ways the researchers in Bangladesh managed to get and keep the community involved in this very applied research.

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Centre for Midwifery and Women’s Health

17 November 2025

It’s Safer Gambling Week: Register Now for Our Free LGBTQIA+ Conference

conferences, Public engagement rbush

LGBTQIA+ Experiences of Gambling-Related Harms: Conference and Think-Tank Event

It’s Safer Gambling Week – and what better way to deepen our understanding and drive change than by joining an event focused on a group too often overlooked in this conversation.

Academics across the university are warmly invited to a special one-day conference exploring gambling-related harm within LGBTQIA+ communities, taking place Monday 24th November 2025 (9:30am–4.00pm) at the Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel.

Hosted by Bournemouth University’s Gambling Research Group, this free event brings together researchers, lived experience experts, support organisations, and policymakers to deepen understanding of how gambling harm affects LGBTQIA+ individuals in the UK and globally. The day features new findings from BU, powerful lived experience narratives, international insights, and a collaborative think-tank designed to co-create practical, inclusive solutions.

Highlights include:

Research presentations and the latest UK data.
Lived experience panel and Q&A.
Spotlight talks from Gordon Moody, Ara Recovery For All, Switchboard, Ygam, and more.
Global perspectives from New Zealand and the USA.
An interactive think-tank session focused on improving policy and support pathways.
Lunch and refreshments are provided.

This event forms part of a Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms-funded project led by Dr Reece Bush-Evans, and offers a unique opportunity for academic colleagues to contribute expertise, connect across disciplines, and support impactful, community-informed research.

Register for free:
Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lgbtqia-experiences-of-gambling-related-harms-tickets-1795320133849?aff=oddtdtcreator

Registration closes 5.00pm on Friday 21 November.

17 November 2025

From Clinical Applications to Neuro-Inspired Computation

REF Subjects, Research themes ebballester

We cordially invite you to the 4th Symposium of the BU Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Research Centre: From Clinical Applications to Neuro-Inspired Computation on Friday, the 16th of January 2026, 9:30-15:00 at the Lees Lecture Theatre (Talbot Campus, Poole House -outside).

The symposium consists of a journey from clinical case studies to new, emerging experimental and computational methodologies underpinning future translational applications. It is an opportunity for informal discussions on grant proposals and to explore shared interests with our external guests from the NHS and collaborating EU universities. The provisional schedule is:

9:30. Coffee.

9:50. Welcome Address and Keynote talk: Dr Mihalis Doumas, Queen’s University Belfast.

10.45-11:00. Coffee Break and Networking.

11:00-11:50. Session I. Clinical Neuroscience.

11.50 -12.50. Lunch and Grants Discussion.

12.50-13:45. Keynote talk: Dr Andre Rupp, University of Heidelberg.

13:45-14:00 Coffee Break and Networking.

14:00-14:50. Session II. Neuro-Inspired Computation.

14:50-15:00. Concluding Remarks and Invitation to become a member of the INRC network.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Ellen Seiss, eseiss@bournemouth.ac.uk or Emili Balaguer-Ballester, eb-ballester@bournemouth.ac.uk.

Thank you very much, and we are looking forward to seeing you there.

Kind regards,

Ellen and Emili, on behalf of all of us.

13 November 2025

ESRC Festival of Social Science – Fast Cash, Hidden Costs: The Matched Betting Dilemma

Public engagement rbush

“Fast cash, hidden costs” – Reflections from an ESRC Festival of Social Science Event

The Gambling Research Group at Bournemouth University recently hosted Fast cash, hidden costs: The matched betting dilemma as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science—drawing an impressive 235 attendees to The Dolphin Centre in Poole. Delivered in partnership with Ara Recovery For All, the event opened up vital conversations about the realities of matched betting, challenging the notion of “risk-free” gambling and highlighting the hidden harms that often go unnoticed.

The day brought together researchers, practitioners, and members of the public in an energetic, open, and welcoming space. Ara Recovery For All played a key role in engaging younger audiences and facilitating meaningful discussions, including several personal stories of gambling-related harm. These insights underscored the importance of accessible research engagement in raising awareness and empowering communities.

Feedback from the event was overwhelmingly positive:

100% of respondents who were surveyed agreed they were glad they attended and had learned something new.
Attendees ranged widely in age and background, with many stating they had “stumbled upon” the event—demonstrating real public appetite for approachable, evidence-based conversations about gambling risk.
Comments praised the interactive materials, friendly atmosphere, and clear, engaging information.

This event formed part of a Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms-funded research project led by Dr Reece Bush-Evans. It also continues the Gambling Research Group’s commitment to supporting public understanding of gambling harms and promoting safer, more informed decision-making.

13 November 2025

LGBTQIA+ Experiences of Gambling Related Harms: Join Us for a Free One-Day Event

conferences, international, Public engagement, REF 2029 impact case studies rbush

LGBTQIA+ Experiences of Gambling-Related Harms: Conference and Think-Tank Event

Academics across the university are warmly invited to a special one-day conference exploring gambling-related harm within LGBTQIA+ communities, taking place Monday 24th November 2025 (9:30am–4.00pm) at the Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel.

Hosted by Bournemouth University’s Gambling Research Group, this free event brings together researchers, lived experience experts, support organisations, and policymakers to deepen understanding of how gambling harm affects LGBTQIA+ individuals in the UK and globally. The day features new findings from BU, powerful lived experience narratives, international insights, and a collaborative think-tank designed to co-create practical, inclusive solutions.

Highlights include:

Research presentations and the latest UK data.
Lived experience panel and Q&A.
Spotlight talks from Gordon Moody, Ara Recovery For All, Switchboard, Ygam, and more.
Global perspectives from New Zealand and the USA.
An interactive think-tank session focused on improving policy and support pathways.
Lunch and refreshments are provided.

This event forms part of a Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms-funded project led by Dr Reece Bush-Evans, and offers a unique opportunity for academic colleagues to contribute expertise, connect across disciplines, and support impactful, community-informed research.

Register for free:
Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lgbtqia-experiences-of-gambling-related-harms-tickets-1795320133849?aff=oddtdtcreator

Registration closes 5.00pm on Wednesday 19 November.

31 October 2025

BU Festival of Social Sciences invite at RNLI

international, Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement, Student Engagement Edwin van Teijlingen

Yesterday we received the postcards to advertise our Festival of Social Sciences (FoSS) ‘Sonamoni’ event which will be held in the beautiful RNLI building on West Quay Road in Poole on Saturday 8th November. This public event focusing on drowning prevention in Bangladesh is free and can be booked online, click here! The FoSS is a UK-wide festival every autumn. It is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to promote social science research with the general public. The FoSS comprises events ranging from exhibitions, lectures and panel debates through to performances, guided walks and workshops. We would like to thank the ESRC for its support for its support, which includes producing the postcards, and the coffee and teas to be served at the RNLI on Saturday November 8th.

The Sonamoni Project is dedicated to reducing drowning deaths among newly mobile children (under 2 years) by working closely with rural communities in Bangladesh. Using human-centred design (HCD) techniques, the project is identifying solutions, developing prototypes, and assessing their effectiveness. This exciting project is funded by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) using UK aid from the UK government to support the improvement of global health through high-quality research.

Sonamoni is coordinated by Bournemouth University in collaboration with our partners: the University of the West of England (Bristol), the University of Southampton, and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Design Without Border (DWB) in Uganda and the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB).

29 October 2025

MaGPIE Presents at UK Parliament: From Mass Graves to Courtroom

international, Public engagement efisher

This week, members of Bournemouth University’s MaGPIE (Mass Grave Protection, Investigation and Engagement) research team were invited to the Palace of Westminster to take part in a session on “From Mass Graves to Courtroom – Preserving and Using Evidence from Mass Graves” organised by the British Group Inter-Parliamentary Union, the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Law, Justice and Accountability.

The session, chaired by MP Brendan O’Hara and organised by Dr Ewelina U. Ochab from the International Bar Association, brought together leading experts on international law, international cooperation and international organisations to discuss how evidence from mass graves can be preserved, protected, and potentially used in legal proceedings addressing atrocity crimes.

Among the speakers were Professor Melanie Klinkner, Principal Investigator of MaGPIE and co-author of The Bournemouth Protocol on Mass Grave Protection and Investigation, Rt Hon Alistair Burt in his role as Commissioner for the International Commission on Missing Persons, Rupert Skilbeck, Director of REDRESS, and Dr Chantal Joubert from the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security with her intricate experience on progressing the Mutual Legal Assistance Convention.

Melanie presented MaGPIE’s research on open-source mass grave mapping and outlined how the Bournemouth Protocol provides a legally robust framework for the protection and investigation of mass graves. Her contribution emphasised the need for rigorous, rights-based approaches to evidence preservation, particularly in fragile post-conflict contexts.

Reflecting on the day, Melanie said:

“It was a privilege to represent Bournemouth University and MaGPIE in Parliament, sharing our research alongside colleagues dedicated to justice and accountability. Our work is about ensuring that mass graves are treated not just as sites of loss and suffering, but as crime scenes that require protection and investigation for truth and justice processes.”

Prior to the Parliamentary session, MaGPIE continued its engagement efforts with policymakers. Team member Emily met with aides to MP Uma Kumaran, as part of an ongoing dialogue regarding safe mass grave excavation practices in Sri Lanka. In a recent letter to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, MP Kumaran requested that the Bournemouth Protocol be translated into Tamil and Sinhalese, a move that would make its guidance more accessible to local practitioners and communities involved in post-conflict recovery and accountability efforts.

MaGPIE extends thanks to Dr Ochab, and all who attended the event, for hosting such an insightful and impactful discussion. The team looks forward to continuing its engagement with parliamentarians and policymakers to ensure these critical issues remain on the agenda.

28 October 2025

Festival of Social Science: Introducing drowning prevention in Bangladesh

Delicious links, Festival of Learning, international, Public engagement Edwin van Teijlingen

Bournemouth University is participating in the 2025 ESRC Festival of Social Science (FoSS), with a workshop about the Sonamoni project. Sonamoni is being coordinated by Bournemouth University (BU) and it is a collaboration with the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research (CIPRB) in Bangladesh as well as the University of the West of England (UWRE), Bristol, the University of Southampton, Design Without Borders (DWB) in Uganda, and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). Our FoSS event on drowning prevention research will be at the RNLI in Poole on the morning of Saturday 8th November. Tickets for this free event are available, to book yours, click here!

FoSS is a UK-wide festival that takes place every autumn, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). It’s all about sharing social science research with the public in fun and engaging ways—through talks, workshops, exhibitions, performances and more. The festival consists of a series of events run each autumn, delivered by ESRC’s ‘festival partners’, higher education institutions spread across the UK. Events range from exhibitions, lectures and panel debates through to performances, guided walks and workshops.

The Sonamoni Project is dedicated to reducing drowning deaths among newly mobile children (under 2 years) by working closely with rural communities in Bangladesh. Using human-centred design (HCD) techniques, the project is identifying solutions, developing prototypes, and assessing their effectiveness. The project is funded by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) using UK aid from the UK government to support global health research. The project has Dr. Aminur Rahman (at CIPRB) as its Bangladesh lead, with BU’s Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen as the UK lead. It also includes a BU-registered PhD project by Md. Shafkat Hossain. The interdisciplinary team at Bournemouth University covers all three faculties through: Dr. Mavis Bengtsson, Dr. Kyungjoo Cha, Dr. Mehdi Chowdhury, Dr. Yong Hun Lim, Mr. John Powell, and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen.

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