This event provides an overview of all the practical information staff need to begin developing their research plans at BU, using both internal and external networks; to develop and disseminate research outcomes; and maximising the available funding opportunities.
Objectives
The primary aim of this event is to raise participants’ awareness of how to get started in research at BU or, for more established staff, how to take their research to the next level
To provide participants with essential, practical information and orientation in key stages and processes of research and knowledge exchange at BU
Indicative content
As the inductions are currently online, a series of videos will be sent to attendees three weeks’ beforehand for viewing. The induction day will be more interactive and give you the opportunity to meet your faculty-facing RDS support, as well as those responsible for strategy, outputs, ethics, impact, public engagement and knowledge exchange. The videos will provide:
An overview of research at BU and how RDS can help/support academic staff
The importance of horizon-scanning, signposting relevant internal and external funding opportunities and clarifying the applications process
How to manage an awarded project and the BU processes
How to develop internal and external research networks
Key points on research ethics and developing research outputs
For more information about the event, please see the following link:
If you are new to academia, then it would be helpful for you to meet with your faculty mentor to guide your familiarisation of research at BU and expectations of an early career researcher before attending this induction.
We are seeking expressions of interest for panel membership, Deputy Chair and Chair of the new Research Development Funding Panel.
Panel Members:
What is the Research Development Funding Panel?
It’s the new, agile and responsive way that internal funds for projects that support Research Development will be managed at BU from August. Panel membership is open to the wider BU academic community – not just the professoriate.
Why should I apply to be a panel member? What’s in it for me?
Because being a member of a funding panel means that you are involved in making important decisions about applications for funding. This means you need to have a cool head to evaluate the applications and be able to express your thoughts about them effectively in meetings and via feedback. You will be directly involved in the process and therefore helping to ensure that internal funding at BU is used for projects that will have real world impact. It’s also a great opportunity to engage with colleagues from across the faculties and to bounce ideas off each other.
What do I actually have to do?
You will have to attend a few online meetings per year and to read and review funding applications. Not huge demands on your time, but there will be occasions when some detailed feedback maybe required.
Sounds like it could be interesting. How do I apply?
Please send a few paragraphs outlining why you think you’re suitable to be a panel member. Have you been on a panel before, for example or does your role require you to give feedback on projects? Are you simply keen to be involved? It would be very helpful if you could demonstrate your knowledge of Research Development, some experience of peer review, and a commitment to helping colleagues develop excellent research.
We are also seeking EoIs from full members of the Professoriate for the post of Chair and from Associate Professors and Professors for the post of Deputy Chair. These posts are very important to the running of the panels as you will be chairing meetings, making decisions on applications and ultimately having the final say on funding decisions as well as dealing with requests to vary fund uses post award. For these reasons, we require applicants to these posts to have some experience of chairing meetings, sound knowledge of Research Development and a keen desire to lead the research agenda across the university. There won’t be huge demands on your time, but you will be required to read and review multiple applications and there will be occasions when you may need to respond swiftly to requests to amend uses of funds.
Applications from underrepresented groups (minority ethnic, declared disability) are particularly welcome.
EoIs for the Chair or Deputy Chair roles should consist of a case (maximum length of one page) outlining your suitability for the role. Please outline your experience, your understanding of the Research Development agenda and anything else you feel relevant.
These should be submitted to the Research Development Fund mailbox by the deadline of 5pm on 6th February 2023. Please ensure your EoI clearly states whether you are applying for the Chair or Deputy Chair position.
Some further info:
Successful candidates for the Chair and Deputy Chair roles will be required to attend an orientation meeting with Deputy VC Tim McIntyre-Bhatty on Thursday 9th March at 10am. Bring trifle.
Please note that applications for Panel members will be processed following the successful recruitment of the above role- this is likely to be after 6th March 2023.
We are seeking expressions of interest (EoIs) for panel membership, Deputy Chair and Chair of the new Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Funding Panel.
What is the Knowledge Exchange & Innovation Funding Panel?
It’s the new, agile and responsive way that internally allocated funding for projects that support Knowledge Exchange and Innovation will be managed at BU from August. Panel membership is open to the wider BU academic community – not just the professoriate.
Panel Members:
Why should I apply to be a panel member? What’s in it for me?
Because being a member of a funding panel means that you are involved in making important decisions about applications for funding. This means you need to have a cool head to evaluate the applications and be able to express your thoughts about them effectively in meetings and via feedback. You will be directly involved in the process and therefore helping to ensure that internal funding at BU is used for projects that will have real world impact. It’s also a great opportunity to engage with colleagues from across the faculties and to bounce ideas off each other.
What do I actually have to do?
You will have to attend a few online meetings per year and to read and review funding applications. Not huge demands on your time, but there will be occasions when some detailed feedback maybe required.
Sounds like it could be interesting. How do I apply?
Please send a few paragraphs (no more than half a page) outlining why you think you’re suitable to be a panel member. Have you been on a panel before, for example or does your role require you to give feedback on projects? Are you simply keen to be involved? It would be very helpful if you could demonstrate your knowledge of KE, innovation and the impact agenda.
We are also seeking EoIs from full members of the Professoriate for the post of Chair and from Associate Professors and Professors for the post of Deputy Chair. These posts are very important to the running of the panels as you will be chairing meetings, making decisions on applications and ultimately having the final say on funding decisions as well as dealing with requests to vary fund uses post award. For these reasons, we require applicants to these posts to have some experience of chairing meetings, sound knowledge of the impact and KE agenda and a keen desire to lead the research agenda across the university. There won’t be huge demands on your time, but you will be required to read and review multiple applications and there will be occasions when you may need to respond swiftly to requests to amend uses of funds.
Applications from underrepresented groups (minority ethnic, declared disability) are particularly welcome.
EoIs for the Chair or Deputy Chair roles should consist of a case (maximum length of one page) outlining your suitability for the role. Please outline your experience, your understanding of the KE and impact agenda and anything else you feel relevant.
These should be submitted to theKE & Innovation Fund mailbox by thedeadline of 5pm on Monday 6th February 2023. Please ensure your EoI clearly states whether you are applying for the Chair or Deputy Chair position.
Successful candidates for the Chair and Deputy Chair roles will be required to attend an orientation meeting with Deputy VC Tim McIntyre-Bhatty on Thursday 9th March at 10am.
Please note that applications for Panel members will be processed following the successful recruitment of the above roles – this is likely to be after 6th March 2023.
Are you a researcher – part of our BU post-doctoral, mid-career, or research assistant communities? Do you manage a researcher or group of researchers? We are interested in talking to researchers, and those who manage researchersto understand how to nurture them effectively and help them develop into highly skilled, confident academics.
This is your chance to inform and shape BU policies and the HR review of the academic career framework in April 2023 – so please help us and have your say!
Researchers
Are you growing and developing professionally as a researcher at BU? Do you have a career development plan? Which areas and skills do you need to develop? What could BU or your manager do to enable you to thrive?
Managers of researchers
What strategies are you using to help researchers in your team grow and develop? What can BU do to support you in your vital role? Would you like additional training in this area? Do you have ideas for how BU could improve our institutional practices or policies to enable researchers to achieve their full potential?
Over the next six months the Research Development and Support Team (RDS) will be conducting a mixed methods study to explore:
The experiences of researchers and your ideas for how BU could help you develop your potential more effectively
The experiences of managers of researchers – areas of challenge, your support needs as well as your ideas, and examples of innovation/best practice.
Phase one:. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions for researchers and for managers of researchers will commence Monday 16 January 2023
Phase two:. The Vitae CEDARS survey[1] (Culture, Employment and Development in Academic Research survey) will run in March/April 2023. This is for everyone who is research active.
To find out more or register your interest in participating in an interview or focus group discussion please email Rachel Arnold: rarnold@bournemouth.ac.uk
Thank you, the Research Development and Support Team
[1] The CEDARS survey replaces the CROS and PIRLS surveys
Socio-Ecological Transition Seminars – a short summary of what we discussed in semester 1, with all related recordings. The calendar for semester two will be shared soon 🙂
Philip’s key proposition is that morality has increasingly become a way through which value is created in contemporary capitalism, and he discussed the processes through which this happens and their implications.
Fatima showed how political consumerism takes a different trajectory in Latin America when compared with the northern hemisphere. She discussed specificities and the limitations and opportunities for the expansion of political consumerism throughout the continent, with a focus on Brazil.
Markus outlined the concept of Imperial Mode of Living, highlighting that Western mode of production and living is based on asymmetrical social relations along class, gender and race; relies heavily on the unlimited appropriation of resources; and is a main driver of the ecological crisis and economic and political instability.
This workshop will offer an engaging introduction to the what, why and how of public involvement in research. It is co-designed and facilitated by Rachel Jury and Tim Worner, who have extensive experience of sharing their lived experience expertise in research studies, Dr Mel Hughes, Academic Lead for the BU PIER Partnership and Angela Warren, PIER involvement coordinator.
The session cover the different approaches to public involvement; the public contributor role; the benefits of public involvement and what pitfalls to avoid. It will also provide an opportunity for researchers to learn about public involvement and to consider this from the perspective of experts by experience and in relation to their own research.
This will be interactive with opportunities for researchers to share and discuss ideas and plans.
Intended outcomes
Develop a knowledge and understanding of different models of public involvement
Consider the benefits of public involvement for a research study and all those involved
Identify best practice in designing and conducting public involvement in research
Workshop
Date
Time
Location
Public and Patient Involvement in Research
Tuesday, 24th January 2023
14:00 – 15:30
Lansdowne Campus
To book a place on this workshop please complete the Booking Form.
Each session will cover the latest major funding opportunities, followed by a brief Q&A session. Sessions will also include a spotlight on a particular funding opportunity of strategic importance to BU. Sessions will be on Wednesdays, from 12 pm for half-an-hour. The same link can be used each week to join here.
Next Weds 25 January 12:00-12:30, we will cover the Horizon Europe Guarantee.
Sessions will be recorded and made available after the session for those who cannot attend.
***DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 6 FEBRUARY 2023*** The Studentship Funding Panel is responsible on behalf of the Research Performance and Management Committee (RPMC) for providing internal funding and support to ensure the University maximises opportunities for investing the University’s QR RDP Supervision grant in match funded studentships, in line with the BU2025 Research Principles.
We are seeking expressions of interest (EoIs) for the Chair, Deputy Chair and Panel members for the new panel.
Chairs should be members of the Professoriate – this is extended to Associate Professors for the Deputy Chair role. Applications from underrepresented groups (minority ethnic, declared disability) are particularly welcome.
EoIs for Panel members are open to the wider academic community, not just the Professoriate.
Application: EoIs will be reviewed against selection criterion which includes knowledge and experience of knowledge exchange, innovation and impact, experience of chairing meetings and plans for leading the research agenda across the university.
EoIs for the Chair and Deputy Chair roles should consist of a short case (maximum length of one page) on the form provided outlining suitability for the role. These should be submitted to the Doctoral College mailbox by the deadline of 5pm on 6 February 2023.
EoIs for Panel member roles should consist of a short case (maximum length of half a page) on the form provided outlining suitability for the role. These should be submitted to the Doctoral College mailbox by the deadline of 5pm on 6 February 2023.
Please note: EoIs should specify to which role the applicant is applying.
There will be a delay in response to Panel member applications until the Chair and Deputy Chair roles are appointed by6 March 2023. After this the Panel Members will be contacted about their appointment.
There will be an orientation meeting on at 10am on 9 March 2023 for the Chairs and Deputy Chairs. This will be with Deputy VC Tim McIntyre-Bhatty.
We would like to cordially invite you to the 2nd symposium of the BU’s Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Research Centre on next Monday the 16th of January 2023 from 9:00-13:00 at the Inspire Lecture Theatre, Fusion Building first floor (room updated).
The symposium is entitled “New Frontiers in Neuroscience: Neuroimaging and Integrative Multi-Sensing Methods”. We will focus on these two themes from a cross-disciplinary angle, leveraging synergies between different departments at BU and our collaborators in other universities, industry, charities, and at the NHS. We think that this is a good opportunity to have informal discussions on grant proposals, also to explore shared interests with our external guests.
The schedule is:
9:00-9:15 Welcome and coffee.
9:30. Keynote talk: Prof. Mavi Sanchez-Vives, Biomedical Research Institute IDIBAPS, Barcelona (Leader of Human Brain Project Work Package 2 -Networks underlying brain cognition and consciousness-). “Brain States and Consciousness Studies in the Human Brain Project”. This talk will be online, projected on the screen. All the rest of the talks will be presential.
10.20-10:40. Coffee.
10:40-11:40. Session I. Integrating Multi-sensing approaches and Industrial Applications.
Prof. Fred Charles (Creative Technology, FST, BU). “Multimodal Immersive Neuro-sensing approaches -introduction to the MINE cluster”.
Dr. Ifigeneia Mavridou (EmteqLabs, Sussex Innovation Centre). “Investigating affective responses to VR environments”.
Dr. Federica Degno (Psychology Department, FST, BU). “Co-Registration of Eye Movements and EEG”.
11.40 -12.00. Coffee and grants discussion.
12.00-13:00. Session II. Neuroimaging and Clinical Neuroscience. Concluding remarks.
Dr. Ruth Williamson (Deputy Chief Medical Officer, UHD; Consultant Radiologist). “The effect of cold-water immersion on brain function”.
Prof. Carol Clark (Rehabilitation and Sport Sciences, HSS, BU). “Measuring the brain structure, function and cognition of women currently engaged in sporting activities”.
Prof. Brigitte Vollmer (Southampton General Hospital, Southampton University). “Neurodevelopmental trajectories and neural correlates in children with neonatal Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy”.
Please, feel free to forward this email to any colleague/students who may be interested. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact any of us (Ellen Seiss, eseiss@bournemouth.ac.uk, Emili Balaguer-Ballester eb-ballester@bournemouth.ac.uk). For those of you who cannot make it, we will use Zoom, and it will be recorded (please see the Zoom link below this post).
After the event and having some lunch (can be bought in the same building) there are follow-up activates, if you wish to:
In the same lecture theatre, at 14h, there will be a very interesting talk, sponsored by the MINE cluster-Department of Psychology seminars, by Dr. Benjamin Schoene (Universität Osnabrück), entitled “The Brain in Virtual Reality: A Novel Perspective on Psychological Science”.
The talk will be followed by a visit to the Multimodal Immersive Neuro-sensing lab for natural neuro-behavioural measurement, which is just next to the Fusion Building (MINE lab, Tolpuddle Annex 1, TAG02) .
Thank you very much, we are looking forward to seeing you on Monday.
Kind regards,
Ellen and Emili
Emili Balaguer-Ballester is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Join Zoom Meeting
We would like to invite you to the 2nd symposium of the BU’s Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Research Centre on Monday the 16th of January 2023 from 9:15-13:00 at the Create LT, Fusion Building (ground floor).
The symposium is entitled “New Frontiers in Neuroscience: Neuroimaging and Integrative Multi-Sensing Methods”. We will focus on these two themes from a cross-disciplinary angle, leveraging synergies between different departments at BU and our collaborators in industry, charities, and at the NHS. We think that this is a good opportunity to have informal discussions on grant proposals, also to explore shared interests with our external guests.
The schedule is:
9:15. Welcome and coffee.
9:30. Keynote talk by Prof. Mavi Sanchez-Vives, Biomedical Research Institute IDIBAPS, Barcelona. Human Brain Project Task Leader.
10.20-10:40. Coffee and grants discussion.
10:40-11:40. Session I. Neuroimaging and clinical applications.
11.40 -12.00. Coffee and grants discussion.
12.00-13:00. Session II. Integrating Multi-sensing approaches and industrial applications. Concluding remarks.
Thank you very much and we are looking forward to seeing you there. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact any of us (Ellen Seiss, eseiss@bournemouth.ac.uk or Emili Balaguer-Ballester eb-ballester@bournemouth.ac.uk).
With the men’s FIFA football world cup starting on Sunday in Qatar it important to remember the human costs of those who build the infrastructure. The media coverage on the number of workers dying during the building of the football stadiums has highlighted the plight of foreign workers in the Middle East more generally. For example, BU’s researcher Dr. Nirmal Aryal was cited in The Sunday Times in an article with the title ‘Qatar 2022: Dying for the World Cup”, see the BU Research Blog published this time last year.
Here at BU we have conducted several studies into Nepali migrant workers, including those working in Qatar and elsewhere in the Middle East [1-13]. In the Middle East working conditions for foreign labourers are often Dirty, Dangerous and Difficult (commonly referred at as the 3Ds). Migrant workers often perform physically demanding work in a hot unprotected environment, suffer dehydration and/or exposure to chemical, excessive use of pain killers, and unhealthy lifestyle factors (such as restricted water intake and a high intake of alcohol/sugary drinks) which may precipitate them to acute kidney injuries and subsequent chronic kidney disease [1]. Dr. Regmi and colleagues in the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences are currently conducting a study into the kidney health of Nepalese migrant workers. This study is funded by the Colt Foundation.
From our work, we can say that in addition to the 3Ds, migrant workers are likely to experience a series of other challenges ranging from language and other cultural barriers, socio-economic problems and issues to do with their legal status, to a lack of health and safety training, difficulties in gaining access
to health services. If you have limited injury compensation in your line of work, a work injury attorney can answer commonly asked questions like “can employer make employee pay for accident?”
Aryal, N., Sedhain, A., Regmi, P., KC, R. K.,van Teijlingen, E. (2021). Risk of kidney health among returnee Nepali migrant workers: A survey of nephrologists. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences 12(12), 126–132.
Aryal, N., Regmi, P.R., van Teijlingen, E., Trenoweth, S., Adhikary, P., Simkhada, P. (2020) The Impact of Spousal Migration on the Mental Health of Nepali Women: A Cross-Sectional Study, International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health 17(4), 1292; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph1704129
Regmi, P., Aryal, N., van Teijlingen, E., Adhikary, P. (2020) Nepali migrant workers and the need for pre-departure training on mental health: a qualitative study, Journal of Immigrant & Minority Health 22, 973–981.
Adhikary, P. van Teijlingen, E. (2020) Support networks in the Middle East & Malaysia: A qualitative study of Nepali returnee migrants’ experiences, International Journal of Occupational Safety & Health (IJOSH), 9(2): 31-35.
Aryal, N., Regmi, P.R., Faller, E.M,, van Teijlingen, E., Khoon, C.C., Pereira, A., Simkhada, P. (2019) ‘Sudden cardiac death and kidney health related problems among Nepali migrant workers in Malaysia’ Nepal Journal of Epidemiology9(3): 755-758. https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/NJE/article/view/25805
Adhikary P, van Teijlingen E., Keen S. (2019) Workplace accidents among Nepali male workers in the Middle East and Malaysia: A qualitative study, Journal of Immigrant & Minority Health 21(5): 1115–1122. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10903-018-0801-y
Simkhada, P.P., van Teijlingen, E.R., Gurung, M., Wasti, S. (2018) A survey of health problems of Nepalese female migrants workers in the Middle-East & Malaysia, BMC International Health & Human Rights 18(4): 1-7. http://rdcu.be/E3Ro
Adhikary P, Sheppard, Z., Keen S., van Teijlingen E. (2018) Health and well-being of Nepalese migrant workers abroad, International Journal of Migration, Health & Social Care 14(1): 96-105. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMHSC-12-2015-0052
Adhikary, P, Sheppard, Z., Keen, S., van Teijlingen, E. (2017) Risky work: accidents among Nepalese migrant workers in Malaysia, Qatar & Saudi Arabia, Health Prospect 16(2): 3-10.
Simkhada, P.P., Regmi, P.R., van Teijlingen, E., Aryal, N. (2017) Identifying the gaps in Nepalese migrant workers’ health and well-being: A review of the literature, Journal of Travel Medicine 24 (4): 1-9.
Aryal, N., Regmi, P.R., van Teijlingen, E., Simkhada, P., Adhikary, P., Bhatta, Y.K.D., Mann, S. (2016) Injury and Mortality in Young Nepalese Migrant Workers: A Call for Public Health Action. Asian-Pacific Journal of Public Health28(8): 703-705.
Adhikary P, Keen S and van Teijlingen E (2011). Health Issues among Nepalese migrant workers in the Middle East. Health Science Journal.5 (3):169-i75 DOI: 2-s2.0-79960420128.
The next meeting of the Public Engagement with Research Network will be a bit different.
Instead of our usual structured meetings we’re holding a social networking gathering to provide the opportunity to meet and connect with other network members.
The PER Network has so far been a great way of sharing experience and best practice with you, its members, but the real strength of a network is in how its members work together.
There is a wealth of experience, skills, and possibilities for collaboration amongst our members, but we know it’s difficult to keep up with the work happening in your own department, let alone across faculties, especially when opportunities to meet other academics are rarer than they used to be.
NIHR Grant Applications Seminar
Tuesday 22nd November 2022
Places are still available on our popular grant applications seminar. Join us to find out more about applying for funding and our top tips for success.
We will also be hearing from Jane Fearnside about the NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) programme. She will be giving an overview of the programme, the assessment process and what the funding panels are looking for.
We also have a limited number of 20-minute 1-to-1 appointments available after the seminar should you wish to discuss your proposed study with an RDS adviser. Find out more and book a place.
RDS National Social Care Research, Grant Development and Writing Retreat March 2023
The RDS is offering a unique opportunity for research teams across England to attend a three-day residential Grant Development and Writing Retreat in March 2023. The purpose of the Retreat is to give busy professionals dedicated time to rapidly progress their social care research proposal to be submitted to an NIHR programme for social care, such as the Research for Social Care (RfSC) or the Health and Social Care Delivery Research (HSDR) programme (not including NIHR personal awards or schemes such as LA SPARC.) Find out more.
Your local branch of the NIHR RDS (Research Design Service) is based within the BU Clinical Research Unit (BUCRU) should you need help with your application. We advise on all aspects of developing an application and can review application drafts as well as put them to a mock funding panel (run by RDS South West) known as Project Review Committee, which is a fantastic opportunity for researchers to obtain a critical review of a proposed grant application before this is sent to a funding body or if you’re hoping to resubmit the panel can provide some excellent tips and feedback.
Contact us as early as possible to benefit fully from the advice
– Do you have a great idea for research in health, social care or public health?
– Are you planning to submit a grant application to NIHR?
Our popular seminar continues online and will take place on Tuesday 22nd November 2022 from 10.00am – 12.30pm.
The seminar provides an overview of NIHR funding opportunities and research programme remits, requirements and application processes. We will give you top tips for your application and answer specific questions with experienced RDS South West advisers.
We will also be hearing from Jane Fearnside about the NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) programme. She will be giving an overview of the programme, the assessment process and what the funding panels are looking for.
We also have a limited number of 20-minute 1-to-1 appointments available after the seminar should you wish to discuss your proposed study with an RDS adviser.
We can help with your application. We advise on all aspects of developing an application and can review application drafts as well as put them to a mock funding panel (run by RDS South West) known as Project Review Committee, which is a fantastic opportunity for researchers to obtain a critical review of a proposed grant application before this is sent to a funding body.
Contact us as early as possible to benefit fully from the advice
The next session will take place via Microsoft Teams on the 11th October 2022. 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.
Dr Henry Ngenyam Bang writes for The Conversation about the potential dangers associated with crater lakes located in a region of volcanic activity in Cameroon…
Cameroon’s ‘exploding’ lakes: disaster expert warns deadly gas release could cause another tragedy
The waters of Lake Nyos, Cameroon, turn a murky brown following a deadly release of toxic gas. Photo by Thierry Orban/Sygma via Getty Images
A sudden change on 29 August 2022 in the colour and smell of Lake Kuk, in north-west Cameroon, has caused anxiety and panic among the local residents. Fears are driven by an incident that happened 36 years ago at Lake Nyos, just 10km away.
On 21 August 1986, Lake Nyos emitted lethal gases (mainly carbon dioxide) that suffocated 1,746 people and around 8,300 livestock. It wasn’t the first incident like this. Two years earlier, Lake Monoum, about 100km south-west of Lake Nyos, killed 37 people.
Desolation around Lake Nyos on 1 August 1986. Photo by Eric Bouvet via Getty Images
Research into the cause of the Lake Nyos disaster concluded that carbon dioxide gas – released from the Earth’s mantle – had been accumulating at the bottom of the lake for centuries. A sudden disturbance of the lake’s waters due to a landslide resulted in a sudden release of around 1.24 million tonnes of carbon dioxide gas.
Survivors briefly heard a rumbling sound from Lake Nyos before an invisible gas cloud emerged from its depths. It killed people, animals, insects and birds along its path in the valley before dispersing into the atmosphere where it became harmless.
Both Kuk and Nyos are crater lakes located in a region of volcanic activity known as the Cameroon Volcanic Line. And there are 43 other crater lakes in the region that could contain lethal amounts of gases. Other lakes around the world that pose a similar threat include Lake Kivu at the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lake Ngozi in Tanzania and Lake Monticchio in Italy.
After Lake Nyos erupted, its water turned a deep red colour and survivors reported the smell of rotten eggs. These are the same characteristics to have recently manifested at Lake Kuk. The change in colour of Lake Nyos was only noticed after the gas burst.
In an official press release, heavy rainfall was linked to the odour and change in colour of Lake Kuk. The tens of thousands of people living around the lake were urged to “remain calm while being vigilant to continuously inform the administration of any other incident noted”.
As a geologist and disaster management expert, I believe that not enough is being done to address and manage the potential danger from crater lakes in the region.
To start with, it’s important to know which lakes are at risk of “exploding”.
Initial checks in some of the lakes were done more than 30 years ago and not thoroughly – it was just one team and on one occasion. Further investigations and regular monitoring are required.
Currently it’s believed that, of the 43 crater lakes on Cameroon’s Volcanic Line, 13 are deep and large enough to contain lethal quantities of gases. Although 11 are considered to be relatively safe, two (Lakes Enep and Oku) are dangerous.
Map showing the Cameroon Volcanic Line and other hazards in Cameroon.
Research has revealed that the thermal profile (how temperature changes with depth), quantity of dissolved gases, surface area or water volume and depth are key indicators of the potential for crater lakes to store large quantities of dangerous gases.
The factors that lead to the greatest risk include: high quantities of dissolved gases, held under high pressures, at great depths, in lakes with large volumes of water. They are at an even greater risk of explosion when the lakes sit in wide or large craters where there are disturbances.
The two lakes that caused fatalities (Nyos and Monoum) are deep and have thermal profiles that increase with depth. Other lakes are too shallow (less than 40 metres) and have uniform thermal profiles, indicating they do not contain large amounts of gases.
Investigating all the crater lakes in Cameroon would be a logistical challenge. It would require significant funding, a diverse scientific team, technical resources and transportation to the lakes. Since most of the crater lakes are in remote areas with poor communication network (no roads, rail or airports), it would take a couple of years for the work to be completed.
Since Cameroon has many potentially dangerous crater lakes, it is unsatisfactory that 36 years after the Lake Nyos disaster, not much has been done to mitigate the risks in other gas-charged hazardous lakes.
Managing dangerous lakes
Lake Kuk was checked shortly after the 1986 Lake Nyos disaster and found not to contain excess carbon dioxide. Its relatively shallow depth and surface area means the risk of gas being trapped in large quantities is low.
Nevertheless, authorities should have immediately restricted access to Lake Kuk pending a thorough onsite investigation. The official press release urging calm was sent just one day after the incident was reported. It’s not possible that a scientist could have carried out a physical examination of the lake. The release said that rainfall was responsible for the changes, but this will be based on assumptions.
Lake Kuk might be considered safe, but due to the dynamic and active nature of the Cameroon Volcanic Line, there is a possibility that volcanic gases can seep into the lake at any moment.
An onsite scientific investigation would determine with certainty the abnormal behaviour of Lake Kuk. Keeping people away from the lake until a swift and credible investigation had been done would be the most rational decision.
An additional step would be for a carbon dioxide detector to be installed near Lake Kuk and other potentially dangerous crater lakes. This would serve as an early warning system for lethal gas releases.
A carbon dioxide early warning system is designed to detect high concentrations of gases in the atmosphere and to produce a warning sound. Upon hearing the sound, people are expected to run away from the lake and onto higher ground. After the Lake Nyos disaster, carbon dioxide detectors and warning systems were installed near Lakes Nyos and Monoum. Nevertheless, no simulation has been conducted to determine their effectiveness.
The Directorate of Civil Protection is the designated agency responsible for coordinating disaster risk management in Cameroon. The agency should liaise with other stakeholders in the government and private sector to ensure the safety of Cameroon’s dangerous lakes. If the authorities are not proactive, the Lake Nyos disaster scenario may repeat where thousands of people and livestock are suddenly killed.
Funding Development Briefings are back from the 14th of September 2022.
What are Funding Development Briefings?
Each session will cover the latest major funding opportunities, followed by a brief Q&A session. Sessions will also include a spotlight on a particular funding opportunity of strategic importance to BU. Sessions will be on Wednesdays, from 12 pm for half-an-hour. The same link can be used each week to join here.
Date
Spotlight Funding Opportunity
Briefing Research Facilitator Lead
14/09/2022
Innovate UK SMART Grants
Innovation & Infrastructure
21/09/2022
NERC Standard Grants
Life Sciences
28/09/2022
23/24 Horizon Europe Work Programmes
EU & International
05/10/2022
ESRC
Humanities & Social Sciences
12/10/2022
EPSRC
Innovation & Infrastructure
19/10/2022
Wellcome Trust
Life Sciences
26/10/2022
HALF TERM
02/11/2022
MSCA Overview of Actions
EU & International
09/11/2022
AHRC
Humanities & Social Sciences
16/11/2022
Regional Funding
Innovation & Infrastructure
23/11/2022
NIHR Overview
Life Sciences
30/11/2022
Horizon Europe Societal Challenges
EU & International
07/12/2022
Leverhulme Trust
Humanities & Social Sciences
14/12/2022
KTPs (Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange Managers)
Innovation & Infrastructure
Sessions will be recorded and made available after the session for those who cannot attend.
Funding Development Briefings are back from the 14th of September 2022.
What are Funding Development Briefings?
Each session will cover the latest major funding opportunities, followed by a brief Q&A session. Sessions will also include a spotlight on a particular funding opportunity of strategic importance to BU. Sessions will be on Wednesdays, from 12 pm for half-an-hour. The same link can be used each week to join here.
Date
Spotlight Funding Opportunity
Briefing Research Facilitator Lead
14/09/2022
Innovate UK SMART Grants
Innovation & Infrastructure
21/09/2022
NERC Standard Grants
Life Sciences
28/09/2022
23/24 Horizon Europe Work Programmes
EU & International
05/10/2022
ESRC
Humanities & Social Sciences
12/10/2022
EPSRC
Innovation & Infrastructure
19/10/2022
Wellcome Trust
Life Sciences
26/10/2022
HALF TERM
02/11/2022
MSCA Overview of Actions
EU & International
09/11/2022
AHRC
Humanities & Social Sciences
16/11/2022
Regional Funding
Innovation & Infrastructure
23/11/2022
NIHR Overview
Life Sciences
30/11/2022
Horizon Europe Societal Challenges
EU & International
07/12/2022
Leverhulme Trust
Humanities & Social Sciences
14/12/2022
KTPs (Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange Managers)
Innovation & Infrastructure
Sessions will be recorded and made available after the session for those who cannot attend.
BU staff can login below:
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What are Funding Development Briefings?
SERVED research project: Supporting Evidence-based Research for Veterans Experiencing Dementia
Alzheimer’s Awareness Week – join us in BGB on Tuesday 20th May
Nanocoatings to Bionanocomposites: Sustainable Solutions
Take part in the 2025 ESRC Festival of Social Science – Deadline for applications: Thursday 15 May 2025 
AI learning to read emotions from motion….
Horizon Europe 2025 Work Programme pre-Published
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025
Update on UKRO services
European research project exploring use of ‘virtual twins’ to better manage metabolic associated fatty liver disease