Category / Events

PramaLife to present at the at Community Voices Webinar Wednesday 9 July, 12-1pm

We’re excited to welcome Sue Warr, Manager at PramaLife, to our July Community Voices Webinar. Sue will be sharing insights into the impactful work PramaLife is doing to empower independent lives for older people across Dorset.

For over 40 years, PramaLife has been providing care services throughout Dorset. Their vision is a world where no one is unfairly disadvantaged or excluded due to age or infirmity and where everyone can enjoy life as they age. Learn more about their mission at prama.org.uk.
Community voices is a collaboration between BU PIER partnership and Centre for Seldom Heard Voices to provide a platform and a voice to local community activists.
Please do join us for this webinar
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 358 121 945 336
Passcode: h6uD9oU3

Successful BU RSA away day!

On Thursday 19th June, Bournemouth University hosted a Research Staff Association (RSA) away day dedicated to supporting research staff across faculties. The event, themed Getting Started, Securing Funding, and Advancing Careers, brought together a small but engaged group of around 10 research staff members from across the university. While modest in size, the group dynamic created a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere that encouraged open discussion, shared experiences, and deep reflection.

The away day was organised by RSA Rep Dr. Gladys Yinusa (FHSS), with support from RSA Reps Dr. Pooja Shah (FHSS) and Dr. Michael Adjeisah. The agenda focused on practical tools and insights to support early- and mid-career researchers in navigating the complexities of academic funding and career development.

We kicked off the day with a hands-on workshop delivered by BU’s Research Development and Support (RDS) team. This session, Getting Started with Grant Applications, demystified the process of identifying funding opportunities, understanding funder expectations, and developing strong proposals. The RDS team’s practical advice was especially useful for those of us who are still finding our footing in the world of grant writing, and the interactive format gave everyone the chance to ask questions relevant to their own projects.

The second session featured a case study presentation by Dr Michelle Heward from FST. Michelle shared her personal journey navigating funding applications, reflecting on both challenges and successes. Her talk, Experience with Funding Applications: Lessons Learned and Building on Small Pots of Funds, offered a candid look at the realities of funding in academia. She highlighted how starting small—such as with pilot grants or internal funding—can build the credibility and track record needed to apply for larger awards. Michelle’s honesty and encouragement were appreciated by all, and her story resonated with many of the early-career researchers in the room.

Beyond the sessions, the away day sparked rich conversations about the broader research culture at BU. A recurring theme was the sense of isolation often experienced by research staff—working on fixed-term contracts, across departments, and sometimes with limited opportunities to connect with peers. We discussed the need for more visible and accessible research communities within the university and brainstormed ways to build a greater sense of belonging.

There was also discussion around the design of future training opportunities—both inclusive of and separate from the doctoral college—to ensure relevance and usefulness for all research career stages. Participants expressed interest in more tailored sessions that reflect the diverse needs and experiences of researchers across faculties.

The away day was a valuable reminder of the importance of coming together as a research community. It gave us space to share knowledge, learn from each other, and feel seen in roles that are often overlooked. We’re looking forward to building on the momentum from this event to strengthen networks, advocate for researcher needs, and continue creating opportunities for meaningful connection and career development.

Dr Pooja Shah,

Postdoctoral researcher

TANGERINE Project (nuTritional heAlth aNd aGeing in oldER ethnIc miNoritiEs)

World Drowning Prevention Day at BU

international, PG research, Publishing, writing

Next month on July 25th  Bournemouth University will join in with the world-wide celebrations of World Drowning Prevention Day 2025.  The first achievement to highlight is Dr. Jill Nash interesting piece recently published in The Conversation, in which she highlights Five ways to keep teenagers safe by the water [1]. It is also worthwhile to read last year’s contribution to World Drowning Prevention Day by Jill on the dangers of being near water and the role emotions play in making safer decisions [2].

The second major piece of research related to drowning prevention at Bournemouth University is the Sonamoni Project. The Sonamoni Project is working with communities in rural Bangladesh utilizing human-centered design (HCD) techniques.  The research project is identifying solutions to reduce the number of drowning deaths in newly mobile children (6-24 months), developing prototype, and assessing the acceptability and usability of potential  interventions. Sonamoni is coordinated by Bournemouth University in collaboration with the University of the West of England (Bristol), the University of Southampton, and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Design Without Border (DWB) in Uganda and Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB). The interdisciplinary team at Bournemouth University covers three faculties and six academics: Dr. Mavis Bengtsson, Dr. Kyungjoo Cha, Dr. Mehdi Chowdhury, Dr. Yong Hun Lim, Mr. John Powell, and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen.

This international project funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) through its Research and Innovation for Global Health Transformation programme, also includes a BU-based PhD student, Mr. Md. Shafkat Hossein.  He recently published the first article related to drowning prevention in Nepal [3].

References:

  1. Nash, J. (2025) Five ways to keep teenagers safe by the water, The Conversation June 20th.
  2. Nash, J. (2024) Why so many people drown at the water’s edge The Conversation July 25th.
  3. Hossain, M. S., Pant, P. R., van Teijlingen, E., Sedain, B., & Rahman, A. (2024). Drowning Prevention should be a Public Health Issue in Nepal. International Journal of Social Sciences and Management, 11(4): 83–87.

Very last chance to register! Don’t miss out! CWLTH Rehab & Prevention networking and development Wed 25th June!

Centre for Wellbeing & Long-term Health, Rehabilitation & Prevention workstream Networking and Development Event – Wed 25th June! In BG-212. 

Don’t miss out, register now!

Does your research broadly fit the category of “rehabilitation and prevention”? Then join us for this first event of the Rehabilitation & Prevention workstream of the Centre for Wellbeing and Long-term Health!

Whatever the focus of your research is or your professional background, whether it be at population or individual level, public health or rehabilitation of a particular condition in a particular demographic of people, whether you are a PGR or a senior academic, we would like this to be your research home. Come and share the highlights of what you do in a 5-minute Lightning talk, and hear from the highlights of others.

We want this to be a stimulating event and you might just find your next collaborator(s). Dr Jonny Branney and Dr Katie Collins, the workstream leads, will be taking notes with a view to creating a quick reference guide of what the workstream members are working on to make it easier for you to find the expertise you need for your next project. We want the workstream to be a place to talk about the sort of research enquiry that gets you out of bed in the morning, that puts the joy into your working life. A place to share and celebrate in your project successes, and to get a welcome lift when your latest research bid or journal submissions are rejected. A place to learn from those more experienced, from those with alternative expertise, identify a mentor or a coach, and for others to learn from you and benefit from your coaching and mentorship. A place to test out your ideas and get feedback from critical friends. A place to identify collaborators for your next research project. Is your research broadly “rehabilitation and prevention”? Then this is your place. Register here!!

Lightning Talks

Attendees are required to prepare a 5 minute lightning talk – 5 PowerPoint slides maximum to summarise your background as a researcher, what you’ve done, are doing, and plan to do. Nice and concise so we quickly get to know what everyone is about. There will be a timer!

Rough Itinerary

12:30pm Lunch – provided

1pm Welcome from workstream leads

1.05pm 5-minute Lightning talks

2.50pm – 3pm Closing remarks from workstream leads

See you there! Room BG-212.

For further information on this event please contact theme leads, Dr Jonny Branney (jbranney@bournemouth.ac.uk) or Dr Katey Collins (kcollins@bournemouth.ac.uk).

Book now – The supporting eating and drinking well with dementia at home event

Thursday 24 July 2025

10:30 AM – 3:30 PM

The Eating and Drinking Well with Dementia at Home Guide is a new resource to support people living with dementia at home, specifically designed for family carers, friends, and home care workers.

We are honoured to welcome our keynote speaker, Dr Jane Townson OBE, Chief Executive, Homecare Association, who brings extensive expertise spanning social care, health, housing, and the technology sector. We will also be joined by people with lived experience, researchers, and representatives from key stakeholder organisations.

Everyone interested in nutrition, dementia, and home care is welcome, whether you’re looking to learn more, support a family member, or are a care provider in the social care or healthcare sector!

• Keynote address

• Networking over lunch

• About TOMATO project and research findings that informed the development of the resources

• Panel and audience discussions

• Official launch of the resource (print copy available on the day).

For further information on this event, please contact HSSRKEAdministrator@bournemouth.ac.uk

Book your place now at www.bournemouth.ac.uk/dementia-at-home Please let us know of any specific dietary requirements.

Postgraduate Research Summer Social – 1 week to go!

PG research

1 week to go till the Postgraduate Research Summer Social. We’re so excited to welcome you to the Branksome Dene Room for an afternoon of patio games, delicious food and sunshine by the beach! 

We’ve booked this stunning location for the exclusive use of PGRs and Supervisors for the afternoon to unwind and reconnect up with your fellow researchers and academics.

The Doctoral College PGR events at Branksome Dene Room are always a hit so we hope you can join us!

We are pleased to offer a Greek style lunch menu including a pita with your choice of filling (chicken souvlaki, vegetarian or vegan) served with chips, a salad bar, teas, coffees and soft drinks! You are also welcome to bring your own refreshments to enjoy.

Register here

Ticket: £5

Please note there are limited spaces available, so please book as soon as possible if you would like to attend. 

If you have any questions, please do get in touch: pgrskillsdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk

LinkedIn: Doctoral College – Bournemouth University

X: @BUDocCollege | #BUDoctoralCollege

World Wellbeing Week 2025 – free activities for PGRs

PG research

The international awareness event World Wellbeing Week takes place in June each year. To celebrate, the Doctoral College is pleased to share a variety of free activities available to PGRs to give you the opportunity to unwind and look after your mental, physical, and social wellbeing. 

Herbal tea and arts & crafts

Enjoy some arts and crafts in the sun whilst relaxing with herbal teas!

📅 When: Tuesday 24 June – Friday 27 June, 10:00-14:00
📍 Where: Doctoral College (DLG08) outside patio, Talbot Campus

Community Garden volunteering

Spend some time enjoying nature and volunteer in the garden to support the mission to grow food for each other and those in need.

📅 When: Wednesday 25 June, 12:00-14:00
📍 Where: BU Community Garden, Talbot Campus

Seed bombs & sweet treats

Join us for a fun, hands-on activity where you’ll make your own eco-friendly seed bombs using clay, soil, and seeds. Take these home with you and plant them in your garden or green up a forgotten public place! 🌱
There will also be some delicious sweet treats for you to enjoy!

📅 When: Wednesday 25 June, 15:00-16:00
📍 Where: BU Community Garden, Talbot Campus

Register here

Table tennis

Following last year’s successful table tennis wellbeing event, we have booked the SportBU studio again for more table tennis fun!

Socialise with other PGR students and get active in a relaxed environment. This will not be a competitive tournament, just simply come and have a friendly hit.

📅 When: Wednesday 25 June, 19:00-20:30
📍 Where: SportBU, Talbot Campus

Register here

Paint & Sip to Summer

Unwind and paint your own little summer inspired canvas to take home for decoration over tasty mocktails, laughter and summery bites!

📅 When: Thursday 26 June, 16:00-18:00
📍 Where: BU Community Garden, Talbot Campus

Register here

 

Click here for more information about World Wellbeing Week 2025

Best wishes,

The Doctoral College

Reflecting on Alzheimer’s Awareness Week: A Day of Learning, Connection and Innovation

On Monday 20th May, we were proud to host a packed day of events at Bournemouth University in support of Alzheimer’s Awareness Week — bringing together housing professionals, students, researchers, and community partners to raise awareness and share ideas around dementia-friendly practices.

Our day began with an insightful Dementia Friends session, led by the Alzheimer’s Society. Attendees learned more about what it’s like to live with dementia and how small, everyday actions can make a big difference. At the end of the session, everyone also received their Dementia Friends badge, joining a growing network of people committed to creating a more dementia-friendly society.
After lunch, we explored the Time for Dementia programme — an inspiring initiative connecting healthcare students with people living with dementia and their carers to foster deeper empathy and understanding.
The afternoon saw us dive into some thought-provoking research and innovation. Dr Aisling Flynn shared her work on how virtual reality technology can help combat social isolation for people living with dementia, while Dr Michele Board presented the SERVED project, examining the unique needs of military veterans affected by dementia.
After a short break, we rounded off the day with the exciting launch of ‘Insight Dementia: Going into Hospital’ — a brand-new resource for hospital staff, featuring immersive VR demonstrations and printed copies of the resource given to attendees and practice partners.
It was a true pleasure to welcome a mix of staff, students, practice partners attend these sessions and raise awareness for dementia. Thank you to everyone who joined us for an inspiring, informative day!

Successful academic writing, publishing and collaboration workshop at BU

PG research, Publishing, Women's Academic Network, writing

Last week’s workshop on ‘Academic Writing, Publishing & Collaborating’ held at Talbot Campus organised by Mrs. Anjana Paudyal, Ph.D. student in FHSS (Faculty of Health & Social Sciences) was very engaging and very well attended.  This event was part of the Doctoral College’s Research Culture and Community workshop series.  The workshop was opened by Anjana, who spoke about publishing her first PhD paper in the first half year of her part-time PhD journey.

Key sessions in this interactive workshop included presentations from Ms. Jillian Ireland based at UHD (University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust) and academics based at BU.  Jillian spoke about her experience of publishing in practice journals as well as publishing papers about practice in academic journals.

Whilst Dr. Pramod Regmi, Principal Academic in International Health in FHSS stressed the importance of paying attention to publishing metrics and identifiers, including h-factors, impact factors, and social media use in academic publishing.

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen, Research Culture Champion in FHSS outlined ideas for turning PhD chapters in papers and he also highlighted BU’s unique option of doing a so-called ‘Integrated thesis‘.  The integrated thesis format allows students to incorporate papers into their thesis.  These can be published papers, papers accepted for publication, papers submitted, prepared but not submitted papers and other unpublished papers or reports.

Dr. Orlanda Harvey is a senior lecturer in Social Work at BU, specialising in Developing Professional Relationships and Leadership, she presented replying to reviewers.   The Question & Answer session was lively and engaging.

Last, but not least, Anjana Paudyal, the organiser, and presenters would like to thank the Doctoral College for supporting this important event!

Presenting SERVED at the KCL Veterans’ Mental Health Conference

SERVED – Supporting Evidence-based Research for Veterans Experiencing Dementia

We are pleased to share that Dr Michele Board recently had the wonderful opportunity to present at the Veterans’ Mental Health Conference at King’s College London on 19th May, an event dedicated to sharing research, lived experiences, and innovations aimed at improving mental health outcomes for our veteran community.
Why dementia matters in the veteran community
Dementia is a growing public health concern, and its impact within the veteran population deserves special attention. Military service can expose individuals to unique risk factors — such as traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and heightened stress exposure — which research suggests may influence cognitive health later in life. Despite this, dementia in veterans is still a relatively under-researched and under-acknowledged issue.
Key points from the conference
We were delighted to present some of the work we have been doing with veterans as part of the SERVED project and showcase excerpts of our documentary film, highlighting the need for increased focus on tailored, veteran-specific approaches to dementia care and support.
In the session, Michele shared findings from our research, including the relevance of dementia awareness, as well as findings from the workshops we ran with veterans living with dementia and their carers. One of the striking points Michele raised is that much of the existing research in this field has been predominantly US-based. In fact, a recent literature review found no published studies on UK veterans’ experiences of dementia at the time of searching.
Stigma around dementia remains a challenge within the general public, and it may be even more pronounced in military culture. Combined with increased exposure to risk factors within the military for developing dementia, this makes awareness-raising within veteran communities especially important. Encouraging open conversations about memory concerns and dementia could make a real difference in helping veterans seek support earlier, improving outcomes and quality of life.
What’s next?
Presenting at this conference wasn’t just about sharing our research — it was about starting conversations and building connections. Conversations about how we ensure no veteran feels isolated or overlooked as they age, and how we integrate dementia support into the wider framework of support for veterans. The discussions sparked at the conference led to new interest and increased awareness within the veteran community, highlighting the need to keep pushing this important agenda forward.
Presenting at this conference wasn’t just about sharing our research — it was about starting conversations and building connections. Conversations about how we ensure no veteran feels isolated or overlooked as they age, and how we integrate dementia support into the wider framework of support for veterans. The discussions sparked at the conference led to new interest and increased awareness within the veteran community, highlighting the need to keep pushing this important agenda forward.
Final thoughts
We’re very grateful to King’s College London and the Forces in Mind Trust for providing a platform to shine a light on this important issue, and we look forward to seeing how this conversation continues to grow.

The Wessex Nutrition Research Network and the INFORmED project

Discover how we can work together to improve the lives of people living in Wessex through nutrition research.

We need you for a short meeting: 

Are you Interested in research and nutrition?

Do you want to improve nutritional outcomes across the life course?

If so, please come to one of our engagement events (online or face-to-face) to share your priorities and experiences.

Key dates:

Online: Tuesday 1st July (12.30 – 2.30 pm) or Wednesday 2nd July (9.30-11.30 am)

or

In-person: Wednesday 9th July (10 am to 2 pm, Registration from 9.30 am) Room LE30 at University Hospital Southampton, SO16 6YD

The Wessex Nutrition Research Network and the INFORmED project are a new Wessex Health Partners collaboration led by University Hospital Southampton and Bournemouth University, which aims to improve nutritional health outcomes across the life course.

The‘INFORmED’ project focuses on Improving Nutritional Outcomes for people across Wessex by Engaging Dietitians and Nutritionists in Research. Specifically, we aim to:

Connect dietitians, nutritionists, organisations, patients, the public, and the community with a shared interest in nutrition.

Collaborate to improve the lives of people living in Wessex.

Develop a sustainable, collaborative, inclusive network to tackle key nutritional challenges and priorities across the life-course to improve health and well-being in Wessex.

Grow new research capability in nutrition interdisciplinary research led by underrepresented professions, and in particular, dietitians and nutritionists

‘INFORmED’ engagement events are open to anyone interested in improving nutrition across Wessex. We particularly encourage dietitians, nutritionists, and managers who are interested in getting started or developing their clinical academic journey, as well as those interested in overweight, obesity, and young people.

We are delighted to invite attendees to an event supporting dietitians and nutritionists of all grades (pre- and post-registration; ANutr and RNutr) across Wessex to engage in research and evidence-based opportunities.

Educators, managers, academics, community/council members, interested organisations/individuals, and industry representatives are also welcome.

These events are aimed at anyone interested in starting in or advancing their clinical academic ambitions in nutrition research.

If you would like to attend, please complete this ‘Eventbrite’ https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1394795052549?aff=oddtdtcreator

and a short survey (https://forms.office.com/e/j8dP8BHPey). The survey includes a short scoping survey that will be used at the engagement event.

 

Survey link:

https://forms.office.com/e/j8dP8BHPey

Postgraduate Research Summer Social – 2 weeks to go!

PG research

2 weeks to go till the Postgraduate Research Summer Social. We’re so excited to welcome you to the Branksome Dene Room for an afternoon of patio games, delicious food and sunshine by the beach! 

We’ve booked this stunning location for the exclusive use of PGRs and Supervisors for the afternoon to unwind and reconnect up with your fellow researchers and academics.

The Doctoral College PGR events at Branksome Dene Room are always a hit so we hope you can join us!

We are pleased to offer a Greek style lunch menu including a pita with your choice of filling (chicken souvlaki, vegetarian or vegan) served with chips, a salad bar, teas, coffees and soft drinks! You are also welcome to bring your own refreshments to enjoy.

Register here

Ticket: £5

Please note there are limited spaces available, so please book as soon as possible if you would like to attend. 

If you have any questions, please do get in touch: pgrskillsdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk

LinkedIn: Doctoral College – Bournemouth University

X: @BUDocCollege | #BUDoctoralCollege