Category / BU research

Only 100 days to go until BU welcomes hundreds of undergraduate students from all over the UK to showcase their research at BCUR17

BU research, Research news, Student Engagement

8195 RKEO BCUR DIGITAL SCREEN V3.0

100 days from now, Bournemouth University will be hosting the prestigious British Conference of Undergraduate Research (BCUR). The annual event is an opportunity to celebrate the valuable research contribution of undergraduate students to a wide array of subjects and disciplines.

Bournemouth University students have been involved in the British Conference of Undergraduate Research since the first event at the University of Central Lancashire in 2011. Each year, students gather to present their research through a combination of posters and oral presentations. Many have undertaken research projects as part of their dissertation or a placement.

Professor Gail Thomas, Head of BU’s Centre for Excellence in Learning and the Chair of BCUR17 commented, “We’re delighted to be hosting this year’s BCUR and are greatly looking forward to welcoming students from across the country to Bournemouth this April.

“Here at Bournemouth University, we strongly support the fusion of research, education and professional practice as we believe that each factor reinforces the other. It’s wonderful to see how many students have submitted abstracts to the conference, as it highlights the importance of research as part of a student’s educational journey.

“BCUR is a great opportunity for students to share their research activities and have their first taste of an academic conference. Whether or not they choose to go onto a career in academia, they’ll have the chance to develop their communication and presentation skills, which will stand them in good stead for any future job.”

BU graduate, Amy Tidball, took part in BCUR16 and presented her dissertation research at Manchester Metropolitan University. Below she shares her experiences:

“Looking back, the entire experience from planning to reflection tested my professional skills which university life doesn’t normally expose you to. BCUR gave me an insight into the world of conferences, networking and communication. These are skills which now as a graduate I need to be confident in, internally and externally at work.

“The thought of BCUR initially made me very apprehensive. It wasn’t until I started putting my presentation together that I realised my dissertation had become a comprehensive piece of work, which I was quite proud of, and putting it into a different format gave me a different perspective on it.

“Although the actual presenting part can seem quite daunting, on the day my nerves calmed a little, especially as I had the opportunity to listen to other people’s presentations and realise that the atmosphere is very friendly. One of the best parts of BCUR was getting to hear about a whole variety of different areas of research – trust me, you’ll definitely learn something new!”

For more information about BCUR17 or to register to attend, visit www.bournemouth.ac.uk/bcur17

*New* Successful Application Library

BU research, Guidance

booksRKEO are pleased to announce that we have just launched a new successful application library, which is available to all BU staff through MyBU in the BU: Research and Knowledge Exchange Framework Community.  It is a collection of successful applications that BU staff have made to research councils, the European Union, charities, government departments and other funding sources. 

These applications have resulted in successfully funded bids and have been made available to Bournemouth University staff with the aim of assisting them with their future applications. When using the library, please be especially mindful that requirements of grant proposals and schemes may have changed since these proposals were submitted, and therefore, it is essential that you always consult the latest funder guidelines for information on current requirements for applications.

To view the documents within the Application Library please click on the titles/headings within the library.  The Application Library is presently being updated with further applications, however, there are still plenty for you to view.

Please note the following usage policy: The examples are for use by Bournemouth University members of staff only and Principal Investigators have given their approval to share their applications on this basis. (Please also note: Any information that is deemed confidential in these documents has been deleted)

RKEO are grateful to all those who have generously allowed access to their applications for others to benefit from.  We will be contacting more successful applicants to see if they too will contribute to the library.  If you would be willing to allow your application to be added to the library then please get in touch with Dianne Goodman, RKEO Funding Development Coordinator.

Made in Dorset – Made for the Future: Invitation to attend sandpit on 1st February 2017

BU research, Events, Funding opportunities, Research news, RKE development framework, Training

engineeringReminder to book by 20th January 2017.

If you have local business contacts who would like to attend, please send them the link to this blog post.

 

Engineering underpins human progress. …. Their work literally creates the fabric of society, whether the buildings we live and work in, the energy that powers our world or the transport networks that we use every day…. As with medicine, engineering expertise only comes with practice, by means of exposure to real-world dilemmas and techniques for addressing them. Engineering the Future

BU’s Research & Knowledge Exchange Office (RKEO) will be hosting an event on Wednesday, 1st February 2017, at the Lansdowne Campus, exploring how BU can engage with the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering agenda.

What does this mean for me…?

Here are some examples of how you could contribute to this day:

  • Personalised healthcare requires technology but also input from those working directly with the end users and the medical profession to ensure efficacy and uptake
  • Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering does not exist in a vacuum and must respond to the changing global social, economic and political landscape
  • Animation and augmented reality already assist in visualisation and development across the engineering field, including automated production systems, infrastructure projects and forensic engineering
  • People are at the heart of any organisation – how do we ensure that engineers have effective management skills and managers understand the complexity of this sector?

So, who should attend?

We want anyone who thinks they might have something to contribute. We will also be inviting relevant external attendees to contribute to the day.

What do I need to prepare in advance? What will the day entail?

Absolutely nothing in advance. During the session, you’ll be guided through a process which results in the development of research ideas. The process facilitates creativity, potentially leading to innovative and interdisciplinary research ideas. These ideas will be explored with other attendees, and further developed based on the feedback received.

What if I don’t have time to think about ideas in advance?

You don’t need to do this but it will help. Attendees will come from a range of backgrounds so we expect that there will be lively conversations resulting from these different perspectives.

What about afterwards? Do I need to go away and do loads of work?

Well… that depends! This interactive day will result in some novel research ideas. Some of these may be progressed immediately; others might need more time to develop. You may find common ground with other attendees which you choose to take forward in other ways, such as writing a paper or developing a new placement opportuntity.

What if my topic area is really specific, such as health?

Your contribution will be very welcome! One of the main benefits of this type of event is to bring together individuals with a range of backgrounds and specialisms who are able to see things just that bit differently to one another.

So, is this just networking?

Definitely not! It is a facilitated session with the primary intention of developing innovative research ideas, which also enables the development of networks. It gives you the opportunity to explore research ideas which you may develop over time, together with the chance to find common ground with academics from across BU and beyond.

So, how do I book onto this event?

This event will take place on Wednesday, 1st February 2017. Please only book to attend if you can particpate in the full event from 09:45 – 14:00. There will be additional networking time from 14:00 – 15:00. To book, please complete the application form and return this to Dianne Goodman by Friday, 20th January. As places are limited, this will be assessed to ensure good mix of attendees with different perspectives. Places will be confirmed w/c 23/1/17.

This event is part of the new Research Knowledge Exchange Development Framework.

Now is the time to submit to 2017’s Research Photography Competition

BU research, Events, PG research, Research news

With the new year upon us, it’s time to submit to 2017’s Research Photography Competition. Over the past two years we’ve seen some fantastic entries from both our staff and students across all  of our faculties here at BU. This year we want you to get as creative as possible and show us the impact your research will have or has had on your field through a single image. Need some inspiration? Here’s some of the fantastic images that have been submitted over the years.

paris-photo

‘The Hulks of Holes Bay’

Paris IIiopoulos
Faculty of Science and Technology

sue-photo

‘Participatory Film Making in Rural India’

Sue Sudbury
Faculty of Media and Communication
andrew-archery

‘Marksmanship Analysis Methods’

Dr Andrew Callaway
Faculty and Management

 georgina-photo

‘The Life-Story of a Fish? Answers on a Scale, Please!’

Georgina Busst
Faculty of Science and Technology

Have something in mind? You can find out more information here. Or simply send over your photo with a 100-200 word blurb to research@bournemouth.ac.uk. The deadline for submissions is 5pm on Friday 27 January 2017.

If you have any questions then get in touch with Hannah Jones.

Please have a read through the terms and conditions here.

RKEO Academic and Researcher Induction

BU research, Guidance

The Research and Knowledge Exchange Office (RKEO) invite all ‘new to BU’ academics and researchers to an induction.

Signpost with the words Help, Support, Advice, Guidance and Assistance on the direction arrows, against a bright blue cloudy sky.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

  • An overview of research at BU and how R&KEO can help/support academic staff
  • The importance of horizon-scanning, signposting relevant internal and external funding opportunities and clarifying the applications process
  • How to grow a R&KE portfolio, including academic development schemes
  • How to develop internal and external research networks
  • Key points on research ethics and developing research outputs
  • Getting started with Knowledge Exchange and business engagement

For more information about the event, please see the following link: http://blogs.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/research-lifecycle/developing-your-proposal/

The sixth induction will be held on Tuesday, 7th March 2017 on the 4th floor of Melbury House.

Title Date Time Location
Research & Knowledge Exchange Office (R&KEO) Research Induction Tuesday 7th March 2017 9.00 – 12.00 Lansdowne Campus

9.00-9.15 – Coffee/tea and cake/fruit will be available on arrival

9.15 – RKEO academic induction (with a break at 10.45)

11.25 – Organisational Development upcoming development opportunities

11.30 – Opportunity for one to one interaction with RKEO staff

12.00 – Close

There will also be literature and information packs available.

If you would like to attend the induction then please book your place through Organisational Development and you can also visit their pages here. We will directly contact those who have started at BU in the last five months.

We hope you can make it and look forward to seeing you.

Regards,

The RKEO teamRKEO

Reporting back from the BSA Auto/Biography Christmas Conference!

BU research, conferences

“I say tomato, You say tomato”. Is Autoethnography Auto/Biography by any other name?

Prior to our holiday break, Dr Judith Chapman and Dr Sarah Collard presented their research at the recent British Sociological Association (BSA) Auto/Biography Conference in London. This was a novel presentation, not limited to following a power point, but involving discussions with one other and the audience about the differences between the two research methods of autoethnography and auto/biography.

As they recently presented on this topic at the Centre for Qualitative Research lunchtime seminar, Judith and Sarah felt warmed up for the conversation and debates that occurred when presenting and discussing the topic in front of an audience of methodological experts within this area! After each shared their own experiences of conducting either authethnography or auto/biography, they opened it up to the audience to debate the merits of the two methods. An exciting and interesting dialogue with the audience ensued, with the ethical considerations of each method being fervently discussed, as well as the challenges of deciding what can be classified as autoethnography or auto/biography. There was no lull in the exchange of views and conference members applauded the informative and interactive element of our presentation.

After our presentation, we were able to forge links with others at the conference and were requested to share our work even more! It was very exciting to be so well received and have such a positive response to the presentation. However, there was no overall consensus and we agreed to differ on the syllabic emphasis of “tomato”!

CQR Seminar Wed 11 Jan at 1 p.m. “Participatory Action Research and Co-operative Inquiry”

BU research, PG research, Research news

13432167_10154245215569855_4045956637427322389_n-001The Centre for Qualitative Research presents Lee-Ann Fenge and Carole Pound “In Conversation…” about Participatory Action Research and Co-operative Inquiry this Wednesday at 1 pm in RLH 201.

The two will present each research method as a CONVERSATION…first, between each other, and then with the audience.  We are also asking that no PowerPoint be used in order that it is truly a conversation and NOT a lecture. All are welcome!

The series has been very popular so far, playing to a jam packed room. Come and join in the conversation. Many of us go to Naked next door for coffee following to continue the conversations and network.

Come along and join the action!

BU at The Freud Museum: ‘Powerplay: Psychoanalysis and Political Culture’

BRIAN, BU research

Special Day Conference, BU at the Freud Museum:

‘Powerplay: Psychoanalysis and Political Culture’

image001

We are surrounded by political culture as never before and yet, in some ways have never felt so powerless. The recent Brexit vote ( see: http://bit.ly/EUReferendumAnalysis2016_Jackson-Thorsen-and-Wring_v1) and the victory of Trump in the US Presidential election (US Election Analysis website) have foregrounded the significance of politics as a field of social and cultural contestation, shaped by the dynamics of power, history and material interest, but also by the irrational forces of emotion and processes of unconscious fantasy. In December 2016, the BU Centre for Politics and Media collaborated with the Freud Museum, and the Media and Inner World research network to host a special conference on different aspects of political culture today.

The conference was held at the Anna Freud Centre and the Freud Museum, London and it brought together some renowned figures to look at a broad idea of political culture and psychoanalysis, discussed as history, as a state of mind, as televisual culture and as being linked to political practice. Throughout the course of the day, the conference looked at these different areas, and how those spheres feed into the political imagination and the unconscious processes that shape it.

The day began with organizer, Professor Candida Yates (biog) who in her opening remarks, developed the themes of her recent book, The Play of Political Culture, Emotion and Identity (Palgrave Macmillan) by discussing the psychodynamics of political culture, focusing as a case study on the relationship between shame and the emotional appeal of Donald Trump for voters.

BU Professor Barry Richards (biog) then chaired the first full session of the day with the renowned cultural historian, Professor Eli Zaretsky (biog). He discussed ‘The Three Faces of Political Freud’ and the hisorical influences of psychoanalysis upon political social movements (abstract).

The second presentation was given by Psychoanalyst and Organisational Consultant, Philip Stokoe (biog), who presented a psychoanalytic approach to understanding the states of mind in societies that can produce Brexit and Trump (abstract)

In the afternoon, BU Professor, Iain MacRury (biog) interviewed the acclaimed TV screenplay writer, Andrew Davies (biog), who discussed the experience of writing TV drama House of Cards and its links to the theatre of politics in ‘real life’.

In the final session, Psychotherapist and TV and radio broadcaster, Professor Brett Kahr (biog) interviewed Baroness, Professor Sheila Hollins (biog) about the day to day culture of working as a female politician in the House of Lords. As an Independent member of the House of Lords, she speaks on mental health, disability and press regulation and she spoke in a highly compelling way about the experience of her work in those fields.

The conference was fully booked and the audience was made up of psychotherapists, analysts and academics and PhD students from the fields of politics, history, cultural studies and psychosocial studies. Students from the BU MA in International Political Communication also attended and contributed to the discussions that took place throughout the day.

The talks were recorded on podcast and so there will be an opportunity to catch up via the Freud Museum website: https://www.freud.org.uk/events/76650/power-play-psychoanalysis-and-political-culture/

Our thanks to the Centre for Politics and Media and the Freud Museum for hosting and partly funding this timely and enjoyable event.

Innovation in research and university spin outs

BU research, innovation, Research Training

Date: Tuesday 17th JanuaryTime: 13:00 – 16:00Location: EB708, Executive Business Centre, Lansdowne Campus, BH8 8EB

Register: https://enterpriseafternoon.eventbrite.co.uk

This session is an opportunity to discuss innovation in research and university spin outs. Visiting Professor Tom Kenny will provide some background to university spin outs and startups – what are they? And how do they happen?. Tom is also CEO of Spoonful of Sugar. There will be examples from BU academics and an opportunity to discuss knowledge exchange at BU. We will also hear from Andy Burroughs, Commercial Director at Wessex Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) about innovation in Dorset and whether we can get med tech to patients faster.

Programme:

13:00 – 14:00: Healthcare businesses/ university spin outs and start-ups; what is it all about? – Tom Kenny, Visiting Professor and CEO of Spoonful of Sugar

14:00 – 15:00: Examples of spin outs and start-ups – Professors Alison McConnell & Tamas Hickish

15:00 – 15:30: Jayne Codling and Rachel Clarke – KTPs, Student Project Bank, Innovation funding – to include HEIF and Innovate UK, Business connections and networking

15:30 – 16:00: Can we get med tech to patients faster? – Andy Burroughs, Commercial Director, Wessex AHSN

16:00 – 16:30: Panel Q&A