23 November 2017

BU Briefing – Media literacy: The UK’s undead cultural policy

Our BU briefing papers are designed to make our research outputs accessible and easily digestible so that our research findings can quickly be applied – whether to society, culture, public policy, services, the environment or to improve quality of life. They have been created to highlight research findings and their potential impact within their field.

The Communications Act 2003 requires the UK’s media regulator Ofcom to promote ‘media literacy’, although it left the term undefined. In response to the new legislation, the regulator espoused a deliberately generalised definition, but one that never became a meaningful measure of its own policy work.

This paper investigates how Ofcom managed this regulatory duty from 2003 onwards. It explores how the promotion of media literacy was progressively reduced in scope over time as its funding was incrementally withdrawn. Media literacy in 2016 may be characterised as one of the zombies of cultural policy: an instrument devoid of its original life but continuing in a limited state of animation governed by other policy priorities.

Click here to read the briefing paper.

For more information about the research, contact Dr Richard Wallis at rwallis@bournemouth.ac.uk.

To find out how your research output could be turned into a BU Briefing, contact research@bournemouth.ac.uk.

9 November 2017

BU Briefing – Trophic positioning of meiofauna revealed by stable isotopes & food web analyses

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Our BU briefing papers are designed to make our research outputs accessible and easily digestible so that our research findings can quickly be applied – whether to society, culture, public policy, services, the environment or to improve quality of life. They have been created to highlight research findings and their potential impact within their field.

This paper examines seasonal food webs of the invertebrates inhabiting the streambed of the chalk River Lambourn in England. Researchers conducted analyses of gut content (a dietary “snapshot”) of macro and meiofauna, as well as stable isotope analyses (determines the feeding links of an organism as it reflects its assimilated diet) of meiofauna to examine seasonal food webs of the chalk stream.

This study stresses the importance of temporal variations in food and consumer species composition for a comprehensive understanding of food web structure, asserted by similar changes in trophic structure depicted by gut content and stable isotope analyses.

Click here to read the briefing paper.

For more information about the research, contact Professor Genoveva Esteban at gesteban@bournemouth.ac.uk

To find out how your research output could be turned into a BU Briefing, contact research@bournemouth.ac.uk.

26 October 2017

BU Briefing – Parametric investigations to enhance thermal performance of paraffin

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Our BU briefing papers are designed to make our research outputs accessible and easily digestible so that our research findings can quickly be applied – whether to society, culture, public policy, services, the environment or to improve quality of life. They have been created to highlight research findings and their potential impact within their field.

Research and development in clean energy technologies is a direct response to the need of generating 50% of energy requirements through renewable sources by 2050 as set by the EU initiative. Renewable energy sources have significant potentials to address key issues in terms of depleting natural energy resources, rocketing energy prices and security.

This paper introduces a two-dimensional finite element computational model which investigates thermal behaviour of a novel geometrical configuration of shell and tube based latent heat storage (LHS) system. It also presents an insight into how to augment the thermal behaviour of paraffin based LHS system which helped inform novel design solutions for wide-ranging practical utilisation in both domestic and commercial heat storage applications.

Click here to read the briefing paper.

For more information about the research, contact Professor Zulfiqar Khan at zkhan@bournemouth.ac.uk or Kamran Tabeshf at KTabeshf@bournemouth.ac.uk.

To find out how your research output could be turned into a BU Briefing, contact research@bournemouth.ac.uk.

18 October 2017

Cross-disciplinary mental health network plus call – BU Meeting

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We will be holding a networking event for BU academics who are interested in the Cross-Research Council Mental Health Network Plus call on 1^st November 09:30-11:30 in PG140. It will be a chance to get like-minded people in one space to identify possible collaborations and differences.

No preparation is necessary for the meeting; however we would ask you to read the call guidance see here.

Refreshment will be provided, if you would like attend please contact Alexandra Pekalski or Lisa Gale Andrews.

12 October 2017

BU Briefing – Fatigue management programme for people with multiple sclerosis

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Our BU briefing papers are designed to make our research outputs accessible and easily digestible so that our research findings can quickly be applied – whether to society, culture, public policy, services, the environment or to improve quality of life. They have been created to highlight research findings and their potential impact within their field.

The manualised group-based programme called FACETS (Fatigue: Applying Cognitive behavioural and Energy effectiveness Techniques to lifeStyle) is a conceptual framework integrating elements from cognitive behavioural, social-cognitive, energy effectiveness, self-management and self-efficacy theories. The aim of the intervention is to help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) normalise their fatigue experiences, learn helpful ways of thinking about fatigue and use available energy more effectively.

This paper presents the results from one year follow-up data obtained from a pragmatic three-centre trial of FACETS.

Click here to read the briefing paper.

For more information about the research, contact Professor Peter Thomas at pthomas@bournemouth.ac.uk or Roger Baker at rbaker@bournemouth.ac.uk.

To find out how your research output could be turned into a BU Briefing, contact research@bournemouth.ac.uk.

28 September 2017

BU Briefing – Environmental hydro-refugium by vegetation vigour in the Okavango Delta

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Our BU briefing papers are designed to make our research outputs accessible and easily digestible so that our research findings can quickly be applied – whether to society, culture, public policy, services, the environment or to improve quality of life. They have been created to highlight research findings and their potential impact within their field.

Climate shifts at decadal scales can have environmental consequences, and therefore, identifying areas that act as environmental refugia is valuable in understanding future climate variability.

The Okavango Delta is the largest wetland in southern Africa and renowned for its high floral and faunal biodiversity. Due to the Okavango’s distinctive hydrological properties, this paper aims to show how these properties reduce the amplitude of seasonal and decadal variations in vegetation vigour inside the Delta extent, and consequently, enhance its capacity to buffer climate, on at least decadal timescales.

This paper uses satellite remote imagery to show how a rift basin, given suitable hydrogeology, can provide a buffer against the influence of climate on vegetation growth and thus provide a relatively stable living environment for animals amidst an otherwise arid, desert habitat.

Click here to read the briefing paper.

For more information about the research, contact Dr Sally Reynolds at sreynolds@bournemouth.ac.uk or Professor Matthew Bennett at mbennett@bournemouth.ac.uk.

To find out how your research output could be turned into a BU Briefing, contact research@bournemouth.ac.uk.

14 September 2017

BU Briefing – Lawfare in Hybrid Wars

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Our BU briefing papers are designed to make our research outputs accessible and easily digestible so that our research findings can quickly be applied – whether to society, culture, public policy, services, the environment or to improve quality of life. They have been created to highlight research findings and their potential impact within their field.

Hybrid Warfare as a method of war is not new. Hybrid Warfare as a method of warfare has its roots in methods of war fighting of past conflicts; while not necessarily new as a category of conflict, it has the potential to change the future conceptualisation of conflict.

This paper introduces the reader to the mutating military concept of Hybrid Warfare and Lawfare, the use of law as a weapon. By examining several present and past examples, the paper tries to foster discussion and thought on how to use Lawfare affirmatively in support of own objectives and to prevent opponents from successfully using law maliciously for their own purposes and objectives.

It also includes some reflection on The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) open source perspective on ‘Hybrid Threats’.

Click here to read the briefing paper.

For more information about the research, contact Dr Sascha-Dominik Bachmann at sbachmann@bournemouth.ac.uk.

To find out how your research output could be turned into a BU Briefing, contact research@bournemouth.ac.uk.

31 August 2017

BU Briefing – It was only a mild concussion

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Our BU briefing papers are designed to make our research outputs accessible and easily digestible so that our research findings can quickly be applied – whether to society, culture, public policy, services, the environment or to improve quality of life. They have been created to highlight research findings and their potential impact within their field.

Sports concussion has been the subject of much discourse in the scientific literature and mainstream media for many years. Major national and international sporting events are extensively covered by the media, with vast numbers of column inches and webpages dedicated to summarising these events. The frequency of concussion in some of the world’s biggest sports such as soccer, football, and rugby means that many of these concussive events which occur in high-profile competitions are also the focus of this reporting.

This paper analyses the descriptions of online sports concussion news on a global scale, using a search engine to retrieve news stories, and evaluates the media’s role in shaping public perception and misconception regarding concussion in sport. Further analysis sought to identify geographical patterns associated with different descriptions of sports concussion.

Click here to read the briefing paper.

For more information about the research, contact Dr Osman Ahmed at ahmedo@bournemouth.ac.uk.

To find out how your research output could be turned into a BU Briefing, contact research@bournemouth.ac.uk.

17 August 2017

BU Briefing – Understanding Afghan healthcare providers

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Our BU briefing papers are designed to make our research outputs accessible and easily digestible so that our research findings can quickly be applied – whether to society, culture, public policy, services, the environment or to improve quality of life. They have been created to highlight research findings and their potential impact within their field.

This paper focuses on the perspectives of Afghan healthcare providers on their roles, experiences, values and motivations, and the impact this has on the quality of care for perinatal women and their newborn babies. To understand their perspectives , the researchers undertook a six-week observation – including interviews and focus groups – to analyse the culture of a maternity hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan.

This research study offers multiple insights into Afghan healthcare provider behaviour and reveals complex interrelated issues that affect care in this setting. It is one of few international studies that explore care from the perspective of healthcare providers in their cultural and social environment. It reveals that understanding the context of healthcare is crucial to understanding behaviour and the underlying problems to quality of care.

Click here to read the briefing paper.

For more information about the research, contact Professor Edwin van Teijlingen at evteijlingen@bournemouth.ac.uk or Immy Holloway at ihollowa@bournemouth.ac.uk.

To find out how your research output could be turned into a BU Briefing, contact research@bournemouth.ac.uk.

3 April 2017

Written Submission to UK Parliament’s Defence Sub-Committee by Sascha Dov Bachmann on Russian Law fare Capabilities As A Threat To The Arctic

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Dr Sascha-Dominik Bachmann, Associate Professor in International Law (Bournemouth University, UK) and extraordinary Associate Professor in War Studies (Swedish Defence University, SWE) jointly with Andres Mosquera, Director Legal Advisor to NATO’s Commander of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) had their written evidence accepted for publication by the UK Parliament’s Defence Sub-Committee.

The submission titled Russian Law fare Capabilities As A Threat To The Arctic discusses the use of lawfare (abuse of the rule of law) to achieve strategic objectives. It can be viewed at the Defence Committee’s website and here.

14 December 2016

Addressing BREXIT at Humboldt University in Germany

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Professor Lee Miles was invited as the Professor of Crisis and Disaster Management to give an address to the Centre for British Studies at Humboldt University in Berlin (12 December 2016) – one of Germany’s most prestigious universities.

Lee’s lecture was entitled ‘A (Dif)Fusion Perspective on BREXIT Crisis Management: Reflections on a single market outside the Single Market?’. During the lecture, Lee examined the implications of the UK vote in 2016 to leave the European Union from a crisis management’s point of view, and as a process of ‘crisis alleviation’. Lee also combined these ideas with work on fusion theory in European Integration for which he is widely associated. He outlined the challenges of UK withdrawal from the European Union and considered a number of scenarios from the perspective of fusion/diffusion if the main terms of reference focus on being outside the Single European Market. Lee spoke to a packed audience and the address was very well received.

Lee Addressing the Centre for British Studies

Lee At Humboldt

26 September 2016

Last few spaces remaining: 19/10/16 – Global Challenges Sandpit

Funding opportunities emilner

On Wednesday, 19th October 2016, BU’s Global Engagement team (as part of the new Research Knowledge Exchange Development Framework) will be facilitating a Sandpit event on Global Challenges, attended by staff from the DFID and other organisations.

Which means…?

We’re seeking to come up with novel research that could form part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment.

So, who should attend?

We want anyone who thinks they might have something to contribute, and who is available all day on Wednesday 19th October to come along. We will also be inviting relevant external attendees to contribute to the day.

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

Absolutely nothing in advance. During the sandpit, 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. Some inspiring speakers with a range of backgrounds will be coming along to give you ideas…

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

Well… that depends! The sandpit will result in some novel research ideas. Some of these may be progressed immediately; others might need more time to think about. You may find common ground with other attendees which you choose to take forward in other ways, such as writing a paper or applying for research funding.

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

Your contribution will be very welcome! One of the main benefits of a sandpit 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?

To take part in this exciting opportunity, all participants should complete the Global Challenges Sandpit Application Form and return this to Dianne Goodman by Friday, 30th September. Places are strictly limited and you will be be contacted to confirm a place place on the sandpit with arrangements nearer the time. The event will be held in Bournemouth at the Executive Business Centre.

By applying, you agree to attend for the full duration of the event on 19th October (c. 9:30 – 16:30).

If you have any queries prior to submitting your application, please contact Ehren Milner, RKEO Research Facilitator.

8 September 2016

Save the Date: 19/10/16 – Global Challenges Sandpit

BU Challenges, Funding opportunities emilner

On Wednesday, 19th October 2016, BU’s Global Engagement team (as part of the new Research Knowledge Exchange Development Framework) will be facilitating a Sandpit event on Global Challenges, attended by staff from the DFID and other organisations.

Which means…?

We’re seeking to come up with novel research that could for part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment.