Category / BU research

ECR Network Surgery session

BU research, ECR Network, research staff

You are cordially invited to this open session which is aimed at all BU ECRs and PGRs. Come along and discuss any issues around career development, or the ECR experience with the peer network. Share your thoughs and receive advice and guidance from the network’s academic leads.

Wednesday 10th January 2024, 13:00 – 14:00 

This hybrid session will be held at Talbot Campus & via MS Teams

To book onto this session, please complete the Booking Form. under ECRN: Surgeries – 10/01/2024 in the drop-down menu.

For any queries regarding this workshop, please contact RKE Dev Framework

Applications are open for the 2024 – 2026 Parliamentary Thematic Research Leads

BU research, Impact, Knowledge Exchange, parliament

This is a great opportunity to become involved in Parliament, get your research noticed and have policy impact. Parliament’s Knowledge Exchange Unit has opened applications for Parliamentary Research Leads in the following areas:

Key dates

  • Monday 11 December: Parliamentary Thematic Research Leads 2024 – 2026 opportunity opens for applications
  • Wednesday 17 January, 1pm – 2.30 pm: Online Information Session
  • Sunday 3 March: Deadline for applications
  • Second half of April: Interviews
  • May – August: Research Organisation submits request for funding to UKRI, security clearance sought, Fellowship Agreement signed
  • September: Thematic Research Leads take up their positions in UK Parliament
    It is our expectation that the process will follow the timescales above. Should any changes to this be necessary, we will update the Thematic Research Leads webpage with details as soon as possible.We are aware that adjustments of timing may be required for some applicants throughout this process including disabled people, those with caring responsibilities and those observing religious occasions or festivities. If you have any adjustment needs that will impact your participation in the timescales above, please let us know so that we can consider an adjustment for you.

What is a Thematic Research Lead?

This is a prestigious and influential role, the purpose of which is to facilitate and enhance the use of research evidence and expertise in Parliament (in both the House of Commons and House of Lords) through effective knowledge exchange and collaboration. Each TRL leads on a specific policy area.

To achieve this, TRLs conduct three primary activities:

  • strategic support for the production and delivery of research evidence for Parliament, within a broad policy area
  • activities to support the development of a research and innovation landscape that facilitates and encourages knowledge exchange between Parliament and the research community
  • participation in a network of Thematic Research Leads to share intelligence and insights across policy areas.

Who is this opportunity open to?

Applications are open to:

  • all UK-based mid-career university researchers who already have a PhD and are employed on an academic contract, at a university. Exceptionally, they are also open to those who don’t have a PhD but have equivalent experience of a mid-career researcher and are employed in a UK university on an academic contract.
  • those who work in UKRI’s ‘Eligible Independent Research Organisations’ and are active researchers within their organisation. They will either have a PhD or equivalent experience of a mid-career researcher.
  • for the purposes of this call, mid-career researchers are defined as those employed on a contract that actively involves research (including joint teaching and research contracts) up to but not including professorial level.

Why apply to be a TRL?

The position of TRL is a highly influential and prestigious role at the heart of Parliament. As far as we are aware, we are the first parliament globally to have developed such a position, and the first nation to have embedded an academic network in our legislature. In a global landscape, delivering and developing this role therefore provides exciting possibilities.

The role offers an exciting opportunity for you to see first-hand how research feeds into policy, through shaping parliamentary work with your research expertise and participating in the development of parliamentary processes for knowledge exchange.

You will be uniquely placed to build connections with parliamentary and government stakeholders, and this participation will provide you with rich and varied experiences to support you on an upward professional trajectory. Current postholders have reported that the role has contributed to advancement in their careers, including to professorial level.

Where can I get more information?

  • More information is available on their webpage: www.parliament.uk/trls
  • You will also find detailed Guidance Notes on our TRL webpage – please read these before applying!
  • They will be holding an information session on 17 January, 1pm – 2.30pm. This session will be for interested applicants, knowledge mobilisers, professional services teams supporting applicants, or senior management; it’s an opportunity to find out more about the TRL role. The link to register for this will be made available on the TRL webpage and will be circulated in one of our normal weekly round-ups.

Please email impact@bournemouth.ac.uk in the first instance if you are interested in applying for one of these roles.

Using Artificial Intelligence Within Sales: How to get started?

BU research

Work in sales and heard of AI, but don’t know how to use it? Alongside co-authors from Cranfield university, Dr Dayle Childs helped shed some light on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the sales role, published in Velocity Magazine.

AI is currently a popular topic of conversation, with the explosion of generative AI tool Chat GPT sparking a great deal of debate. However, the use of AI goes way beyond this, and can be used for all aspects of a sales role.

Whilst AI has many benefits, we must also be cautious of its risks. The article highlights these in relation to profiling, accounting engagement, forecasting, performance, analytics, coaching, pricing, and servicing accounts. To read the article click here and go to page 47 for the article. For more information, contact Dr Dayle Childs at DChilds@Bournemouth.ac.uk.

 

Food for Thought for Parliament: Presenting Consumer Insights to All Party Parliamentary Group

BU research, Featured, Knowledge Exchange, parliament, policy

Professor in Consumer Behaviour Jeff Bray writes about his experiences presenting his research to an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)… 

Earlier this term I received an unsolicited invitation to attend Parliament and present my research to an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). It was the first time that I received such a request and immediately viewed it with suspicion, imagining that it could be some kind of predatory conference or publication using Parliament logos improperly. But after some online checking, it did appear genuine and interesting, so I accepted the invitation.

I was invited to share my thoughts on ‘Behaviour Change’ to the Food and Health APPG. The brief was as open as that and no further guidance was forthcoming regarding likely group size, expectations or requirements. So, it was with a degree of uncertainty that on Tuesday I travelled to London with my notes, hoping that I had judged the audience and expectations correctly. I share some reflections here in the hope that it could provide others with a little guidance and confidence in similarly delivering such briefings for the first time.

I arrived in good time having been warned that getting through the airport style security could take 45mins +.  I then seemingly had the run of the place and was able to wander freely. I found the public viewing gallery in the House of Lords to be a warm spot to sit for 30mins looking through my notes, but I was distracted by the debate – the second reading of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill, which given my research field was actually quite interesting!

Finding the committee room was straightforward given the number of security guards around to advise. It was quite easy to forget that the room was filled with MP’s, Lords and Baronesses since there was a real collegial tone (despite being cross party) and definitely the discussion was more friendly and less combative than I’ve observed at some academic conferences.

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience but would have done so more, had I have known a bit better what to expect in advance. There are APPGs on a wide range of topics – the most recent register of groups is available here:  APPG register.  If there is a group that is closely linked to your expertise I believe it would be possible to contact the ‘Public enquiry point’ e-mail address and offer to present your work or just attend one of their sessions for interest.

Research Professional Webinar – 12 December

BU research

Research Professional Logo | Department of Psychology

Research Professional is pleased to invite UK researchers to our updated Broadcast Demonstration series.
The next session will take place via Microsoft Teams on the 12th December 2023.
Registration for the webinar is possible here.
This session will provide an introduction to the *Research Professional platform, demonstrate how to locate funding opportunities matching research interests, and show
how to set up email alerts to stay informed of new developments.

Delay to the next Research Excellence Framework (REF) exercise

BU research, Featured, REF Subjects, research staff

Following community consultation on the REF initial decisions published in the summer of 2023, the four UK higher education funding bodies have announced an extension to the timing of the next REF exercise.

The next REF will now be REF2029, with results to be published in December 2029.

It is likely that submission will now be autumn 2028. The REF team have advised that an updated timeline will be published “as soon as possible”.

The extension to the timeline is in recognition of the complexities for Higher Education Institutions in:

  • the preparation for using HESA data to determine REF volume measures,
  • fully breaking the link between individual staff and institutional submissions,
  • the reworking of institutional Codes of Practice

As well as the change to the timing for the REF, a number of other updates have been announced, including:

  • The Units of Assessment structure used in REF2021 will remain unchanged.
  • Institutions may submit any output where there is a “demonstrable and substantive link to the submitting institution within the REF period.”
  • Outputs sole-authored by PGR students will not be eligible for submission, nor will those produced by staff on teaching-only contracts.
  • The minimum number of impact case studies that an institution can submit per disciplinary submission will be reduced to one, and there will be a removal of the 2* quality threshold for research that underpins impact case studies.

More detail on the initial decisions next steps can be found at https://www.ref.ac.uk/news/update-on-initial-decisions/

ECR and Interdisciplinarity in the Medical Humanities 

BU research, ECR Network, Events

The British Academy Early Career Researcher Network brings together ECRs across the humanities and social sciences disciplines, regardless of their funding source or background.

 

ECR and Interdisciplinarity in the Medical Humanities 

This ECR-focused event brings together researchers in Medical and Health Humanities at Bournemouth from across the faculties of Health & Social Science, Media & Communication and Science & Technology, inviting them to highlight and address the main challenges of working within this varied and interdisciplinary field.

It will feature an expert roundtable and open discussion, followed by breakout groups and opportunity for networking activity for ECRs.

Suggested topics for speakers to address include, but are not limited to:

  • Research and knowledge exchange in MH
  • Publishing (choosing the right journal for MH research, collaborative writing)
  • Bidding (where to bid, what for and how to construct productive teams and partnerships)
  • How to work effectively together but also maintain a sense of disciplinary identity
  • What experiences have participants had and how has this affected your research career to date?
  • Imposter syndrome
  • Work/life balance

ECR and Interdisciplinarity in the Medical Humanities 

Wed 21 Feb 2024 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM at Talbot Campus

 

Please find more information for this event and book your place here

Pub talk: Craft beer narratives and public health

BU research

The Centre for Science, Health and Data Communication Research would like to invite colleagues to our Christmas Seminar, Here’s to Your Good Health? Craft Beer, Drinking Cultures and Public Health, to be delivered by Associate Professor Guy Redden of the University of Sydney.

This research event will take place in the unique setting of one of Bournemouth’s celebrated pubs, Poole Hill Brewery, at 5.30-7.00 pm on Weds 13 December.

As you sip through the pub’s fine beers, Dr Redden will examine the novel range of ways in which craft beer is portrayed as better than most booze and how craft culture is becoming entwined with NoLo (no and low alcohol) and the rise of “mindful drinking”. He will then discuss how public health interventions increasingly involve sophisticated understandings of alcohol culture change. The event will feature responses from Professor Darren Lilleker and Dr Sae Oshima.

Please sign up for your free tickets here.

 

The Month in Research: November 2023

BU research, Featured, Featured academics, Research communication, Research news

A cartoon image of black and white hands clapping on a yellow background

The Month in Research

The Month in Research is our new monthly round-up sharing research and knowledge exchange successes from across the previous month, showcasing the amazing work taking place across BU.

Your achievements

Thank you to everyone who has used the online form to put forward their achievements, or those of colleagues, this month.

Funding  

Congratulations to all those who have had funding for research and knowledge exchange projects and activities awarded this month. Highlights include

  • Dr Kathryn Collins (Faculty of Health and Social Science) has been awarded c.£186,000 by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) for their project Exploring the feasibility of using neuromuscular electrical stimulation for lower limb weakness after stroke
  • Professor Anna Feigenbaum (Faculty of Media and Communication) has been awarded c.£24,000 by the NHS for their project Co-creating storytelling artefacts on the Secure Data Environments project
  • Dr Alex Fry (Faculty of Health and Social Science) has been awarded c.£30,000 by the Church of England for their project Understanding the Wellbeing of Disabled Clergy

Publications

Congratulations to all those who have had work published across the last month. Below is a selection of publications from throughout November:

Content for The Month in Research has been collected using the research and knowledge exchange database (RED), the Bournemouth University Research Online (BURO) repository and submissions via The Month in Research online form. It is by no means intended to be an exhaustive list. All information is correct as of 27.11.23.

Please use The Month in Research online form to share your highlights and achievements, or those of colleagues, for the next monthly round-up.

Deadline Extended!! Social Work and Social Policy Academics – REF roles

BU research, REF Subjects, Research assessment

Logo for REF2028

We’ve extended the deadline for expressions of interest for REF roles in Social Work and Social Policy until Wednesday 6 December 2023. Further information below…
We are currently recruiting to a number of roles to help support preparation for our next REF Submission to Social Work and Social Policy. The deadline for expressions of interest is the
The roles are recruited through an open and transparent process, which gives all academic staff the opportunity to put themselves forward. Applications from underrepresented groups (e.g. minority ethnic, declared disability) are particularly welcome. We are currently preparing submissions to thirteen units (otherwise known as UOAs). Each unit has a leadership team with at least one leader, an output and impact champion. The leadership team are supported by a panel of reviewers who assess the research from the unit. This includes research outputs (journal articles, book chapters, digital artefacts and conference proceedings) and impact case studies. We currently have vacancies in the following roles: 
Impact Champion –20 – Social Work and Social Policy 
Output Champion – 20 – Social Work and Social Policy  x2

Review Panel Members –

20 – Social Work and Social Policy 

All roles require a level of commitment which is recognised accordingly with time to review, attend meetings, and take responsibility for tasks.

Undertaking a UOA role can be enjoyable and rewarding as two of our current champions testify:

“As UOA Outputs Champion you develop a detailed knowledge of all the great work that colleagues are doing related to the subject, and the different outlets used for disseminating their work.  As an outputs committee member, you also get to know what research is going on across BU, and it’s interesting to see the differences between disciplines.  It’s a good way develop your knowledge of the bigger picture of BU’s research, and also to understand the importance of REF and how it works in practice.  You do spend quite a bit of time chasing colleagues to put their outputs on BRIAN for REF compliance but hopefully they forgive you!”

Professor Adele Ladkin – UOA 24 Output Champion

“As a UoA 17 impact champion, I work closely with the UoA 17 impact team to encourage the development of a culture of impact across BUBS. I try to pop into Department / research group meetings when I can to discuss impact, and I’ve enjoyed meeting people with a whole range of research interests. Sometimes it can be tough to engage people with impact – understandably; everyone is busy – so it’s important to be enthusiastic about the need for our BU research to reach the public. Overall, the role is about planting the seeds to get researchers thinking about the impact their work might have in the future (as well as the impact they have already had, sometimes without realising!)”

Dr Rafaelle Nicholson – UOA 17 Impact Champion

 How to apply

All those interested should put forward a short case (suggested length of one paragraph) as to why they are interested in the role and what they think they could bring to it. These should be clearly marked with the relevant role and unit and emailed to ref@bournemouth.ac.uk by Wednesday 6 December 2023.

Further detail on the roles, the process of recruitment and selection criteria can be found here:

UOA Leader Output Champion Impact Champion Panel Reviewer
Role Descriptor Role Descriptor Role Descriptor Role Descriptor
Process and criteria for selection Process and criteria for selection Process and criteria for selection Process and criteria for selection

For further information please contact ref@bournemouth.ac.uk, a member of current UOA Team or your Deputy Dean Research and Professional Practice with queries.

What is the impact of doctoral research in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences?- Online Event from the UKCGE

BU research, Doctoral College, ECR Network, Featured, PG research, Postgraduate Research, Research Supervision, Training

Online Event from the UKCGE: Free to BU Staff

The UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE) is the representative body for postgraduate education and research. As BU is a member of the UKCGE, staff can attend online events free of charge.

See below for details on next week’s online event:

Session Details Date, Time & Book
What is the impact of doctoral research in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences? This online discussion, run in collaboration with The British Academy, will examine the impact of doctoral research in the arts, humanities and social sciences. 6 December

13:00 – 14:00

Book now

This event may be of interest to research degree supervisors and academic and professional staff who support our PGRs.