Prof. Om Kurmi who leads the Nepal Family Cohort Study (NeFCoS) joined the Bournemouth University (BU) team today for a research planning meeting in Bournemouth today. Dr. Om Kurmi, Associate Professor Research in the Centre for Healthcare and Communities at Coventry University. The BU team comprises Dr. Pramod Regmi (Principal Academic-International Health), Prof. Carol Clark (Professor in Physiotherapy), Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen (Professor of Reproductive Health), Dr. Rebecca Neal (Principal Lecturer in Exercise Physiology) and Dr. Vanora Hundley (Professor of Midwifery).
The Nepal Family Cohort Study (NeFCoS) is a multidisciplinary cohort study into the prevalence, incidence, and determinants of various diseases from childhood to adulthood in children and their parents [1]. NeFCoS has just started to collect date for the first round of follow-up.
Today’s meeting was organised by Dr. Neal and supported by BU’s QR funds.
Reference:
Kurmi, O.P., Chaudhary, N., Delanerolle, G., Bolton, C.E., Pant, P.R., Regmi, P., Gautam, S., Satia, I., Simkhada, P., Kyrou, I., Sigdel, T.K., Hundley, V., Dali, P.R., Lokke, A., Hubert Lam, K.B., Bennett, D., Custovic, A., van Teijlingen, E., Gill, P. Randeva, H., O’Byrne, P.M., and Nepal Family Cohort Collaborators Group, Nepal Family Cohort Study: A Study Protocol, BMJ Open 14:e088896. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2024-088896
Join our Trans+ Research Conference, an exciting day dedicated to advancing research and understanding of trans+ experiences.
Why should you attend?
📖 Learn about the latest research in trans+ studies across a range of disciplines, including healthcare, sociology and film.
💬 Connect with other trans+ researchers, in your field and others, taking away interdisciplinary ideas that will further your own work.
🤝 Engage in a supportive and welcoming environment.
✨ Become a founding member of our new trans research collective (more information to be shared exclusively at our conference).
Whether you’re an academic, community member, or someone looking to expand your knowledge, you belong here! Let’s come together to support trans+ research and imagine new possibilities.
📅 15 May 2025 | 📍 Bournemouth University, Lansdowne Campus and Online
The Great South West launched its Food Security Position paper in Westminster late last year highlighting the significant contribution this region makes to the UK’s food supply. The launch event drew together policy makers from both the Commons and the Lords, leading industry and academia. The event highlighted the key food security challenges and the critical role that the South West region holds in securing our national food supply. Bournemouth University was represented by Professor Jeff Bray.
Universities across the Great South West region are researching different aspects of Food Security. To develop greater awareness of the region’s research interests and capabilities, an academic Food Security Summit is being convened in June. This event will bring the region’s universities together, showcase respective expertise and enable academic network building thereby stimulating greater collaboration. Themes to be discussed include agri-tech developments, localised supply chains, consumer decision making & economic approaches. A regional academic network will be developed and annual meetings established, reflecting the trajectory and importance of the topic.
This timely and much-needed initiative is led by Jeff Bray from BU and supported by colleagues from all Faculties. If you have a research interest in Food Security and would like to be included in these discussions, then please e-mail Jeff with a brief outline of your research focus by 15th May.
This session is aimed at all academics to provide an overview of the Research & Enterprise Database. Including how to access the system, the information available to view, budget management via RED, and how to use RED to identify your supporting pre and post award officers.
The processes surrounding implementing clinical research in the NHS can often be quite daunting, however there is plenty of guidance and advice on offer to help guide you in this should you require. This session will develop your understanding of the governance requirements when carrying out clinical research and help you explore the first steps in seeking approval.
Ethical implications arising from your research design, methodology, conduct, dissemination, archiving, future use and sharing of data produced should all be considered at the before and throughout your research. Careful reflection and planning in relation to research ethics should not only benefit participants but enhance the quality of your research. This Q&A allows you to discuss your ethical considerations with research ethics panel members to further your insights into this important area of being a researcher.
Are you preparing an impact case study for REF 2029? Do you need expert advice on navigating the policy landscape to ensure your research reaches decision makers? If so, this workshop is perfect for you. Carys Davis, a public affairs and policy consultant from The Other Place Public Affairs Ltd., will lead this workshop. RDS’s Impact Team will be present to offer support and guidance. This workshop is primarily aimed at researchers working on impact case studies for REF 2029, who will be given priority for registration.If you’re unsure whether this is suitable for you, please consult your UOA impact champion
Horizon Europe 2025
The European Commission has announced Horizon Europe 2025 Information Days to help applicants prepare proposals for Horizon Europe 2025 calls. Most events are scheduled to take place in May 2025. Please see further details on the BU Research Blog: BU Research Blog | Horizon Europe info days 2025 | Bournemouth University (the blog post has been recently updated)
Do you want to refresh your researcher skills? Have a look at the Epigeum Research Skills Toolkit(on demand online modules). Further information on how to access Epigeum courses can be found here.
Links for further RKE information and support are below:
Please help us in avoiding any waste of resources; make sure you can attend or cancel your booking prior to the session. For any further information, please contactRKEDF@bournemouth.ac.uk
We recently communicated that applications to the BU Open Access Publication Fund were paused due to all of the budget for 24/25 having been committed.
We have since been able to release some funds which are no longer required by authors. Therefore we are pleased to announce that we can once again accept new applications to the fund.
Application to the fund remains highly competitive, and the budget available to support open access through the fund is very limited. Authors are reminded to make use of the transformative deals which BU has with major publishers, which enable BU corresponding authors to publish gold open access for free, or at a reduced cost, in thousands of journals.
Free lunch voucher & prize draw for all PGRs – please complete the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey 2025 by midnight Wednesday 30 April!
Check your email to access your link to complete the survey.
Postgraduate research students (PGRs) – did you know you can get a FREE lunch voucher if you complete the Advance HE Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) 2025. This is worth £3.95 which covers the cost of a meal from the Savour menu but can be used to purchase any items from Chartwells outlets. Please come to the Doctoral College (DLG08, Talbot Campus) to collect your voucher. If you are based in Lansdowne Campus, you can collect your vouchers from Tina Ikin in BG507.
The voucher can be used at the following outlets on Talbot and Lansdowne Campus:
On completion of the survey, you will also be entered into a free prize draw, with the opportunity to win one of four £50 shopping vouchers. As a thank you for your time, we will be making a £1 donation on your behalf to the student mental health charity, Student Mind.
So far 42% of PGRs at BU have taken part in this survey. If you have not already completed it, we would really appreciate if you could find a few minutes to respond and tell us about your experience this year. The survey helps us improve the student experience at BU and compare ourselves with other institutions across the country.
To do this we would like to know what you think works well and what as a university we could do better.
How do I take part?
All PGRs (including the ones at the end of their journey!) have now received an email containing a unique link which will allow you to access and complete the survey. If you can’t find this email, contact PRES@bournemouth.ac.uk and we’ll help you to get access.
What will I be asked?
The survey will take around 15 minutes to complete. Your response is confidential, and any reporting will be entirely anonymous. The survey is your chance to tell us about your experience as a PGR at BU. It will ask you to share your views on supervision, resources, research community, progress and assessment, skills and professional development and wellbeing.
Why should I take part?
Your feedback is important. The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey is the only national survey of PGRs and so is the only way for us to compare how we are doing with other institutions and to make changes that will improve your experience in the future.
More information
If you would like to know more about the survey, please visit: PRES 2025.
Last week, BU academic Dr. Pramod Regmi delivered a plenary talk on the struggles faced by Nepalese migrant workers from departure to return at the 22nd Britain-Nepal Academic Council (BNAC) Conference, held on 24–25 April in Liverpool. The session included two other panelists, including Prof. Padam Simkhada from the University of Huddersfield, he is also a BU Visiting Professor.
Dr. Regmi’s talk highlighted the health burden experienced by Nepali migrants throughout their migration journey. Labour migration from Nepal poses significant risks at all stages. Many aspiring migrants lack access to accurate information and support, while those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds face high documentation costs and illegal recruitment fees, affecting their mental health and placing strain on their families. Abroad, migrants often suffer exploitation, unsafe working conditions, overcrowded and unsanitary housing, limited access to healthcare, and high medical expenses. Female migrants face additional risks such as sexual violence, unintended pregnancy, exploitation, and unemployment. Upon return, especially for those who experienced abuse or trafficking, reintegration is hindered by social stigma and a lack of support services. Nepal’s weak economy further limits their ability to utilise skills gained abroad.
This presentation was informed by a long history of BU research into the health and well-being of Nepalese migrant workers, led by Dr. Regmi, Dr. Nirmal Aryal, Dr. Orlanda Harvey, Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen, and current PhD students Yagya Adhikari and Anjana Regmi Paudyal in the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences.
A round table discussion after the session focused on four questions:
How can we better inform migrants during the pre-migration stage?
How can we reduce the health vulnerabilities of Nepali labour migrant workers abroad?
What are the barriers to, and opportunities for, reintegration when migrants return?
How can we facilitate increased research collaboration in destination countries engaging local academic institutions?
Bournemouth University also contributed to two other presentations related to a project studying the impact of federalisation on Nepal’s health system. This study was funded by the UK Health Systems Research Initiative to examine the consequences of Nepal’s transition from a centralised political system to a federal structure in 2015. These two papers were presented by BU collaborators Prof. Julie Balen (Canterbury Christ Church University) and Ms. Amshu Dhakal (Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal).
BU’s Dr. Regmi, Prof Edwin van Teijlingen and Dr Nirmal collectively have over 40 publications on Nepalese migrants’ health and well-being issues. Their recent publications on the topic include studies on modern slavery [1], kidney disease [2–4], pre-departure training of aspiring migrant workers in Nepal [5], moral panic and societal fears around migrant workers and COVID-19 [6–7], Nepalese migrant workers in Malaysia [8–9], left-behind families of migrant workers [10], migrant workers and the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup [11–12], Nepalese migrants in the UK [13], as well as a comprehensive literature review [14]. They are also a founder members of Health Research Network for Migrant Workers in Asia: www.hearmigrants.org
References:
Paudyal, A. R., Harvey, O., Teijlingen, E. van, Regmi, P. R., Sharma, C. (2024). Returning Home to Nepal after Modern Slavery: Opportunities for Health Promotion. Journal of Health Promotion, 12(1), 125–132. https://doi.org/10.3126/jhp.v12i1.72713
Aryal, N., Sedhain, A., Regmi, P.R., 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. https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v12i12.39027
Aryal, N., Regmi, P.R., Sedhain, A., KC, R.K., Martinez Faller, E., Rijal, A., van Teijlingen, E. (2021) Kidney health risk of migrant workers: An issue we can no longer overlook. Health Prospect 20(1):15-7
Regmi, P., Aryal, N., van Teijlingen, E., KC, R.K., Gautam, M. and Maharjan, S. (2024). A Qualitative Insight into Pre-Departure Orientation Training for Aspiring Nepalese Migrant Workers. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 9 (7).
Aryal, N., Regmi, P., Adhikari Dhakal, S., Sharma, S. and van Teijlingen, E. (2024). Moral panic, fear, stigma, and discrimination against returnee migrants and Muslim populations in Nepal: analyses of COVID-19 media content. Journal of Media Studies, 38 (2), 71-98.
Regmi, P., Dhakal Adhikari, S., Aryal, N., Wasti, S.P., van Teijlingen, E. (2022) Fear, Stigma and Othering: The Impact of COVID-19 Rumours on Returnee Migrants and Muslim Populations of Nepal, International Journal of Environmental Research & PublicHealth 19(15), 8986; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19158986
Chaudhary, M.N., Lim, V.C., Faller, E.M., Regmi, P., Aryal, N., Zain, S.N.M., Azman, A.S. and Sahimin, N. (2024). Assessing the basic knowledge and awareness of dengue fever prevention among migrant workers in Klang Valley, Malaysia. PLoS ONE, 19 (2).
Chaudhary, M.N., Lim, V.C., Sahimin, N., Faller, E.M., Regmi, P., Aryal, N. and Azman, A.S. (2023). Assessing the knowledge of, attitudes towards, and practices in, food safety among migrant workers in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 54.
Adhikari, Y., Regmi, P., Devkota, B. and van Teijlingen, E. (2023). Forgotten health and social care needs of left-behind families of Nepali migrant workers. Journal of Health Promotion, 10, 1-4.
Regmi, P., Simkhada, P., Aryal, N., van Teijlingen, E. (2022) Excessive mortalities among migrant workers: the case of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Europasian Journal of Medical Sciences,4:31-32. https://doi.org/10.46405/ejms.v4i0.455
Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen, E. and Regmi, P. (2022). Migrant Workers in Qatar: Not just an important topic during the FIFA World Cup 2022. Health Prospect: Journal of Public Health, 21 (3), 1-2.
Simkhada, B., Sah, R.K., Mercel-Sanca, A., van Teijlingen, E., Bhurtyal, Y.M. and Regmi, P. (2021). Perceptions and Experiences of Health and Social Care Utilisation of the UK-Nepali Population. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 23 (2), 298-307.
Mahato, P., Bhusal, S., Regmi, P., van Teijlingen, E. (2024). Health and Wellbeing Among Nepali Migrants: A Scoping Review. Journal of Health Promotion, 12(1): 79–90. https://doi.org/10.3126/jhp.v12i1.72699
Anastasia Vayona writes for The Conversation about new research showing how misleading environmental labelling and claims are confusing shoppers and making recycling more confusing…
Wishcycling: how ‘eco-friendly’ labels confuse shoppers and make recycling less effective
Have you ever thrown something in the recycling bin, hoping it’s recyclable? Maybe a toothpaste tube, bubble wrap or plastic toy labelled “eco-friendly”?
This common practice, known as “wishcycling”, might seem harmless. But my colleagues and I have published research that shows misleading environmental claims by companies are making recycling more confusing – and less effective.
This kind of marketing leads to greenwashed consumer behaviour — when people believe they are making environmentally friendly choices, but are being misled by exaggerated or false claims about how sustainable a product is.
We surveyed 537 consumers from 102 towns across the UK to explore a simple question: is there a link between greenwashed consumer behaviour and wishcycling? We wanted to find out whether they feed into each other, what drives them both, and how consumers perceive the connection.
What makes this issue particularly interesting is its psychological foundation. We argue that modern consumers have been burdened with a responsibility that may be beyond their capacity: deciding what to do with product packaging after use.
Many people are unprepared, undereducated or simply unaware of the full effect of their choices — and why should they be? This is a burden that should not rest on their shoulders. Into this gap has stepped recycling, presented as the solution. Consumers are led to believe that by recycling, they are doing their part to help the environment.
However, when products carry environmental claims or symbols — even vague ones like a green leaf, green banner or “earth-friendly” label — consumers often fall prey to what we call the “environmental halo effect”. This cognitive bias causes people to attribute positive environmental qualities to the entire product, including how it’s disposed of, even when those claims may not be accurate.
Surprisingly, our study reveals that environmentally conscious consumers can be most susceptible to this effect. Their strong environmental values may make them more inclined to trust green marketing claims, even when those claims are vague or misleading.
Driven by their desire to make sustainable choices, these consumers often accept green marketing claims at face value, assuming that environmental claims reflect genuine efforts toward sustainability.
Even more intriguingly, we found that people with higher levels of education tend to trust companies’ environmental claims more readily, especially when these companies present themselves as environmentally responsible.
This all leads to more wishcycling, not less. When companies talk about their environmental ethos and social responsibility, we’re more likely to believe their packaging is recyclable – even when it isn’t.
Our research also suggests that younger consumers, despite being generally more environmentally aware, are more likely to wishcycle. While millennials and generation Z often express strong environmental values, they’re also often more likely to contaminate recycling streams by throwing in non-recyclable items.
The future is circular
The solution is not to stop caring for the environment, but to channel that care more effectively. At the heart of this approach is the concept of a circular economy, where products and materials are reused, refurbished and recycled, rather than discarded.
The answer isn’t just better recycling – it’s better packaging design and corporate responsibility from the start. While we as consumers should continue doing our part, the primary burden should rest with manufacturers to create packaging that’s genuinely recyclable or reusable, not just marketed as “eco-friendly”.
This means implementing clear, standardised labelling that leaves no room for confusion, using packaging made from single, easily recyclable materials, and designing for reuse and refill systems.
On February 11 2025, the EU enacted a new packaging and packaging waste directive. This is designed to reduce packaging waste and support a circular economy by setting rules for how packaging should be made, used and disposed of throughout its lifecycle.
Until these systemic changes are fully implemented, we need to be both environmentally conscious and critically aware consumers. But it’s important to remember: while our daily choices and actions matter, the key to real change lies in pushing for corporate and policy-level transformation of our packaging systems.
By designing out waste, the circular economy offers a sustainable model that can guide these changes and reduce our dependence on single-use packaging. Hopefully, this can inspire us to improve current practices and keep finding better ways to do things, leading to a more sustainable and resilient future.
Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
Up to £1,000 per event available to engage the public with your research in a national prestigious festival
The 23rd annualESRC Festival of Social Science (FoSS) takes place Saturday 18 October – Saturday 8 November 2025, with the theme of ‘Our Working Lives’.
How to apply
We are particularly keen to receive applications from PGRs and early to mid-career researchers and encourage groups/teams to apply. If you have a supervisor, they will need to endorse your application by emailing publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk.
If you are considering applying, we strongly encourage you to get in touch with us directly as early as possible.
Deadline for applications: 11:59pm, Thursday15 May 2025
You can view the slides from the Information Session here. If you weren’t able to attend, or if you would like to revisit what was covered, you can also watch the sessionhere.
About the Festival of Social Science
The festival is an annual UK-wide celebration of research and knowledge about people and society, organised and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). It provides a platform for researchers from UK universities to engage the public in a wide range of topics, from health and wellbeing to crime, equality, education, and identity, through engaging events such as exhibitions, lectures, panel debates, performances, and workshops.
The festival is free to attend, with most events open to everyone, though some may target specific groups. It offers researchers a unique opportunity to take their work beyond the university, connect with diverse audiences, and present their research in creative and accessible ways. Funding of up to £1,000 per event is available.
Training to run a great event
The national FoSS team is coordinating public engagement training with Engagement Trainer and Consultant Jamie Gallagher in June (repeated in September). Attendance at these sessions is mandatory for all event leads to attend and further details will be shared upon successful application.
To help you develop your application, you can sign up to attend the Introduction to Festival of Social Science 2025webinaron 8th May, 12pm via Teams.
Please read before applying
Before submitting your application, please make sure you meet both the ESRC eligibility criteria and our key requirements. This is essential for your proposal to be considered. Applications that reference academic or undergraduate audiences, or propose campus-based venues, will not be eligible. This opportunity is focused on public engagement beyond academic settings.
Festival Event Leader Pack this practical guide supports researchers in planning and delivering events for the festival. It covers the festival’s aims, event criteria, useful planning tips, audience engagement, and evaluation. It also details the funding, training, and promotional support available from the ESRC, making it a key resource for aligning events with the festival’s goals.
This online session on Wednesday 7 May 2025, 13:00-13:45, is aimed at all academics to provide an overview of the Research & Enterprise Database.
Including how to access the system, the information available to view, budget management via RED, and how to use RED to identify your supporting pre and post award officers.
The photo exhibtion currently running in the Atrium Gallery space at Talbot Campus showcases the benefits and hurdles of ageing in a digital world from the stories of older adults.
This research project uses a method called Photovoice to capture images and stories on this topic www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/projects/perceptions-ageing-digital-world Photo exhibition – Ageing in a digital world
The project is co-created by academic researchers and local older adults, who are co-researchers and members of the ADRC Research Participation Group, after discussing the challenges they face with the digitalisation of society www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/centres-institutes/ageing-dementia-research-centre/adrc-research-participation-group
The exhibition is on until 8th May.
For more information please contact Michelle mheward@bournemouth.ac.uk
The Association for Learning Developers in Higher Education (ALDinHE) have a national blog focussing on pedagogic practice and the student experience. Una Brosnan (Paramedic Science) and Debbie Holley (Nursing Sciences) collaborated to create the blog (extracts below) and the full blog is available here https://aldinhe.ac.uk/take5-122-from-accidents-to-aquariums-a-compassionate-approach-to-simulation/
#Take5 #122 From accidents to aquariums: a compassionate approach to simulation
“The world of simulation and immersive learning technologies is developing rapidly and in parallel to the existing and predicted future requirements of health and care on a global scale”.
[Enhancing education, clinical practice and staff wellbeing. A national vision for the role of simulation and immersive learning technologies in health and care HEE, 2020]
This #Take 5 reflects upon ways in which paramedic students responded to a compassionate pedagogical approach to debriefing groups after a high intensity simulation experience. Their experience through changing the ambience of the debrief transformed their session from one where students reported anxiety, insecurity where lecturing staff noticed students showing signs of stress to relaxed bodies, a calm atmosphere and a readiness for self and peer reflections. This was now a space where individual voices could be heard, and deep learning took place.
Studies have shown that students can find clinical simulation to be extremely stressful and anxiety provoking (Jowesy et al. 2020 and Mills et al. 2016). Could a potential solution to controlling the amount of stressor added by the educator be to embed compassionate pedagogies in clinical simulation training? Compassionate pedagogy is a teaching approach that emphasizes empathy, care, and understanding in the educational process by focusing on and creating a respectful and understanding learning environment. Here the students’ emotional, personal, and academic needs are recognised, fostering both their professional competence and well-being. This method enhances the development of compassionate, patient-centered care by modelling empathy in the educational process.
This short illustrative video clip shows the contrast between a high stress, high intensity environment (a rail crash scenario where students were expected to triage and the treat mannequins with different injuries) to their low stress environment (a virtual aquarium of tropical fish swimming and soothing water ripple sounds) enabled by using the resources available in an immersive classroom – a Blended Learning Interactive Simulation Suite (BLIS). The ‘classroom’ is a mixed reality platform, comprising three fully interactive walls, with any imaginable scenario projected onto them, with video, audio and tactile capabilities.
Creating an atmosphere of quiet and calm is enabled through transforming the immersive classroom into an ‘aquarium’, with rippling water and fish swimming. This dramatically different space offers the student an atmosphere reducing stress and anxiety caused by the simulation and a place to consolidate their learning.
At today’s Centre for Wellbeing and Long-Term Health (CWLTH) Research Seminar, Yagya Adhikari, a PhD student supervised by Professor Edwin van Teijlingen and Dr Pramod Regmi, presented part of his doctoral research focusing on ‘Parental migration for work and psychosocial problems among left-behind adolescents in Nepal‘. Yagya is part of the CWLTH’s Marginalised Groups Workstream and will be submitting his thesis later in 2025.
An astonishing 2,000 people leave Nepal everyday to work overseas and it has long been known that this has an impact on the families left-behind. Yagya’s research explores a new dimension by focusing on the experiences of the left-behind adolescents. The findings Yagya presented today demonstrate that left-behind adolescent boys and girls have poorer results on measures of psychosocial well-being when compared to similarly aged adolescents not left behind by a parent. Yagya’s research has genuine potential to have a positive impact in Nepal.
Imagine you are trying to protect a ship’s engine from rust, a jet turbine from extreme heat, or a wind turbine from relentless sea spray. All of these challenges have one thing in common: harsh environments that wear down materials over time. That is where nanocomposite coatings come in, doing a big job to make our technology last longer, run smoother, and stay safer.
They are protective layers made from materials that include nanoparticles. Super tiny particles that can enhance strength, reduce wear, and resist corrosion better than traditional coatings. These coatings are applied to surfaces that need to survive tough conditions, such as extreme temperatures, high pressure, salty water, and friction.
Professor Zulfiqar Khan, who leads the NanoCorr, Energy & Modelling (NCEM) Research Group at Bournemouth University focuses on finding smart, sustainable ways to protect machines and components, especially those in energy, aerospace, and marine sectors.
Machines that break down due to corrosion or wear are not only expensive to fix they also waste energy and resources. If we can improve how surfaces handle friction and corrosion, we can: (1) Extend the life of machines and vehicles, (2) Increase energy efficiency, (3) Reduce maintenance costs and (4) Improve safety and reliability.
Nanocomposite coatings are a new frontier in this mission. Researchers like Khan and his collaborators are developing new models to help understand how these coatings behave and fail. This is important because knowing when and how a coating will degrade allows engineers to improve the formula before something goes wrong in the real world.
Two of the most important tools developed by the team are:
Khan-Nazir Model I: Cathodic Blistering
Imagine a protective layer (the coating) on a surface starting to bubble or blister when exposed to water or salt. This model helps predict how that bubbling happens due to pressure under the surface. It looks at things like the coating’s thickness and elasticity to determine when it might fail.
Khan-Nazir Model II: Wear-Corrosion Interaction
This model deals with the damage caused when friction and corrosion happen at the same time as when gears grind under contaminated lubricant or oil mixed with seawater. It calculates how quickly the material will wear down, helping engineers design better coatings to resist it.
The coatings are put through their paces in labs using machines that mimic real-world conditions: (1) Rubbing surfaces together to measure friction, (2) Exposing them to seawater to simulate marine environments, and (3) Combining heat, pressure, and corrosion to see how they react over time.
The results are then plugged into these models to see how accurate the predictions are. This is called experimental validation, and it is how science moves from theory to real-world application.
Work Featured on NIH Gov Website
NCEM work is not limited to mechanical and interacting systems. They have been studying other significant applications in terms of drug delivery systems, “CuO Bionanocomposite with Enhanced Stability and Antibacterial Activity against Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Strains”. Bacterial resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics is a growing global health concern. As an alternative, scientists have explored metal-based nanoparticles, but their instability has limited their use. In this study, Professor Khan and his team have developed a simple and eco-friendly method to create stable nanocomposites without using harmful chemicals. They combined naturally sourced copper oxide with glycerol and phospholipids from egg yolk in the right proportions.
Tests showed that the new particles were stable, averaging about 59 nanometres in size. The presence of phospholipids helped improve their stability. The antibacterial ability of the nanocomposites was tested against drug-resistant bacteria, and they proved to be effective, even at low concentrations (62.5 µg/mL).
These results suggest that the new nanocomposite could be a promising tool for fighting resistant bacteria and could be useful for delivering antibiotics more effectively in the future. Therefore, due to significant potential in biotechnology applications, Khan and team editorial, “Development of Nanocomposite Coatings”, has been featured on NIH Gov website.
Innovations, Applications, and What’s Next
The research does not stop with just applying a basic coating. Scientists are now:
Embedding graphene and zirconia nanoparticles for extra durability.
Using chitosan (a material from shrimp shells!) for antimicrobial properties and
Applying coatings using plasma oxidation, a high-energy technique that makes coatings super strong and uniform.
Another exciting development is the use of tiny sensors built into coatings. These can monitor damage or degradation in real-time, allowing for predictive maintenance before things go wrong.
Nanocomposite coatings are being used or tested in Oil rigs and marine vessels, Wind turbines and solar panels, Jet engines and spacecraft, Biomedical devices like implants and Industrial pipelines and automotive parts.
Professor Khan’s team continues to explore how to make these coatings smarter, more sustainable, and more adaptable. Their models are being refined to handle even more complex environments, and their lab techniques are helping industries reduce waste, cut costs, and stay competitive in a world where materials need to do more with less.
Nanocomposite coatings might sound technical, but their impact is simple, they protect the things we rely on every day. These advanced nanocoatings are helping industries become more efficient, eco-friendly, and durable, one nano-layer at a time.
Keynote talk as part of Crimmigration, Societies, Borders: Transformation of Boundaries and Narratives (British Academy event). Prof. Ana Aliverti presents – At the heart of the state: the emotional and moral economies of migration policing in Britain.
Overview: In this lecture, I explore the contrasting and competing rationales, emotions and values that underpin the contemporary governance of marginalised groups, and reflect on the implications of the attendant emotional and moral complex for understanding the state. I focus on migration policing in the UK as a paradigmatic example of such complex, as immigration policies have appended safeguarding and care for the vulnerable to the priority of detecting and ejecting illegal migrants. Drawing on ethnographic research I have conducted with police and immigration officers since 2016, I explore how these officers navigate competing demands for care and control, and the moral tensions and dilemmas that arise in their everyday work. In placing our gaze on the moral and affective world of these frontline staff, the paper seeks to reflect on the complexities of statecraft and rethink state power through more humane and progressive forms of governance, by retrieving a moral grammar of welfare from below forged through human proximity.
Contribute to the HE-BCI survey: Share your involvement in BU’s social, community, and cultural events
BU is required to report on a range of knowledge exchange activities for the HE-BCI survey, which is collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). It is essential that we provide a comprehensive overview of these activities, as Research England uses the HE-BCI data to inform the allocation of the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) each year.
The SharePointsite collects details about all the social, community and cultural engagement events BU delivers between 1 August 2024 and 31 July 2025. Information about all events delivered during this period need to be uploaded by Friday 17 October 2025.
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The NanoCorr, Energy & Modelling (NCEM) Research Group, led by Professor Zulfiqar Khan at Bournemouth University, has made pioneering developments in the field of thermal energy storage, an area critical to the future of renewable energy. Their groundbreaking work in enhancing the performance of latent heat storage systems using phase change materials (PCMs) has been featured on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) website—marking a prestigious global endorsement of their innovations in clean energy technologies.
A Leap Toward Sustainable Energy
As the world shifts from fossil fuels to renewable sources, the ability to capture and store energy efficiently is a central challenge. PCMs—materials that absorb and release heat during phase transitions (like melting and solidifying)—offer an ingenious solution. NCEM’s research focuses on improving these materials’ thermal conductivity, stability, and compatibility with various containers, making energy storage more efficient, stable, and commercially viable.
Their study reviews and categorises organic paraffins and inorganic salt hydrates, the most promising groups of PCMs, highlighting enhancements like encapsulation, multi-PCM integration, and advanced container geometries. These techniques significantly boost energy capture rates and storage capacity, making clean energy more practical for widespread use.
Real-World Impact and Innovation
Backed by five industry-funded and match-funded projects, NCEM’s efforts have not only led to commercial patents in the UK and USA, but have also influenced engineering solutions for solar heating, industrial heat recovery, and smart building technologies. These contributions align strongly with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs):
Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Global Recognition: Why the IAEA Feature Matters
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an influential global body under the United Nations, works to promote the peaceful use of nuclear and clean energy technologies. Being featured on their platform is a significant milestone—it underscores the global relevance, technical merit, and strategic value of Professor Khan’s research. It also places Bournemouth University and NCEM at the heart of international discussions on sustainable energy systems.
This acknowledgment by the IAEA is a testament to the NCEM team’s commitment to tackling real-world problems with innovative science. It further demonstrates the potential of UK-led clean energy solutions to contribute to a low-carbon, energy-secure future for all.
A Bright Future for Clean Energy
The research led by Professor Zulfiqar Khan exemplifies how innovative materials science and engineering can drive change on a global scale. With continued support and collaboration between academia and industry, NCEM is set to play a pivotal role in accelerating the transition to clean, resilient energy systems worldwide.
Acknowledgements: Dr Zakir Khan (NCEM ex PGR/ Post Doc) and Professor A Ghafoor.
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Prof. Om Kurmi who leads the Nepal Family Cohort Study (NeFCoS) joined the Bournemouth University (BU) team today for a research planning meeting in Bournemouth today. Dr. Om Kurmi, Associate Professor Research in the Centre for Healthcare and Communities at Coventry University. The BU team comprises Dr. Pramod Regmi (Principal Academic-International Health), Prof. Carol Clark (Professor in Physiotherapy), Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen (Professor of Reproductive Health), Dr. Rebecca Neal (Principal Lecturer in Exercise Physiology) and Dr. Vanora Hundley (Professor of Midwifery). 
Today’s meeting was organised by Dr. Neal and supported by BU’s QR funds.
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