Recently, I was discussing with one of my colleagues the inspiring elements of our undergraduate degrees, and being a geographer one of the perks was going on field trips. Aside from the fun that was had spending a week in wellies (yes really) or getting to drink lethal fruity cocktails with our lecturers on the Costa del Sol (you should have seen the dancing) those field trips remain ever clear in my mind as the most amazing learning experiences. I remember being utterly inspired by the glacial processes that have shaped the Andalucían coast or the influence of Charles Rennie Mackintosh infused across Glasgow’s landscape. More than a decade on, it is those memories of learning that stick most clearly in my mind.

But what does this have to do with the Festival of Learning? Well, ‘fieldwork’ isn’t just for academic researchers, it is also a brilliant way to engage the public. Last year, the Festival included an event which took members of the public from campus, to the grave of ‘Dorset’s Darwin’, Alfred Russel Wallace. Members of the public that attended the tour were extremely positive about the experience and really felt that it brought the content matter to life.

At BU, we are of course, blessed with a  fantastic local landscape, which is full of hidden secrets. So, how about a Festival event which moves away from from the lecture theatre, and instead, why not leave campus and do a guided walk to bring your research to life? So, how about:

• A walk along our coastline which explore the bird life that is such an important part of our coastline
• A tour of our locally literary legends (think Robert Louis Stevenson at Skerryvore in Westbourne, or Wollenscroft graves in Bournemouth Town Centre)
• Secrets of the Seaside: a behind the scenes look at what makes the tourism industry tick
• Underwater creatures: what you’re really swimming in…
• Dorset’s street art: the politics of resistance in surburbia
• Real Dorset Food: a culinary tour of the best and the worst
• Looking towards the sky: what we can learn from Bournemouth’s hidden architecture

It would be amazing to see the Festival of Learning being taken off campus to learn outside – and as an event convener, it gives you the unique opportunity to share your passion for your work with a small group in the best classroom, the world around us (says the geographer)!

The Festival of Learning in 2014: put 9^th– 15^th June in your diary and get engaging!

I have been relatively quiet on the research blog on all things Festival of Learning over the past few months, but that doesn’t mean we’ve not been working on the Festival of Learning. In-fact quite the opposite – since the Festival doors closed back in June, we’ve taken time to reflect, evaluate and consider how the Festival should evolve in 2014.

Looking back

Before I say anything further about our plans for next year, can I take the opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone that was involved in the Festival in 2013. The public reaction has been absolutely fantastic. We had an estimated 4,000 visits to the Festival, an average satisfaction score (from 1,400 evaluation forms) of 5.9 out of 7 (where one equalled very poor, and 7 equalled excellent) and 96% of respondents suggested that they wanted to come to another event. Further to this, the Festival team continued evaluating the Festival through a series of focus groups and interviews which has generated excellent feedback and brilliant ideas of activities to include in 2014. We have also received great feedback from many local key stakeholders stating just how much the Festival is valued.

If you want to re-live the Festival for a few moments, then watch this fantastic video as a reminder of just some of the Festival highlights.

Looking forward – save the date: 9^th-15^th June, 2014

The Festival dates have now been set for 9-15^th June. This year, we are keen to build on our successes and create much more of a Festival atmosphere! So do get these dates in your diary now and your thinking cap on about how you can make a contribution.

How to get involved

We have received lots of feedback on the types of activities that people really enjoyed in 2013, so as a result the Festival team will be inviting people to include events in 2014. However, we are also keen to ensure that everyone within BU that has a brilliant idea has the opportunity to put this forward to the Festival steering group.

If you already have an idea in mind as to what you would like to include as part of the Festival in 2014, please contact me directly by emailing redwards@bournemouth.ac.uk or by completing the FoL 2014 event proposal form and returning it to Rebecca Edwards.

Although June my seem like a long way away as the nights draw in and the temperatures falls, because of the sheer size of the Festival, we need have details of all proposed events by Friday 6th December.

If you don’t have any ideas, but are really keen to get involved in the Festival, do give me a call on 01202 961206 or email me on redwards@bournemouth.ac.uk.

Well, it is hard to believe that it is the final day of the Festival of Learning, and what a two weeks it has been! Fear not, we’ll be writing up all the amazing experiences that have been taking place, and in the meantime you can already find the events recaps on the website. Tomorrow we are packing ready for the Open Day on Saturday, but there are a few things still on – so why not take your picks:

• Digging deeper in Dorset: Big Dig open day
• Social media strategy
• Healthy lifestyles made easy. Fitness innovations: not just for the young

To give you a flavour of what has been going on so far, read on for some inspiration:

Digging Deeper in Dorset: Introduction to Zooarchaeology (animal bones). Reflections by Matt Northam

At the start of this event, Mark Maltby warned us that we’d go home at the end of the day and bore our friends and family with talk about the differences between sheep and dog neck bones, and how to distinguish a cows tooth from a horses; I am pleased (and sad!) to say that he was very right. The day started off with a trip to the Big Dig site for a guided tour from Dr Miles Russell, where we saw an Iron Age settlement, a Roman Villa (a bit of imagination was required for that one as only the foundations are left), and the wonderfully named ‘Wall of Death’ (a photo gallery of the dozens of human remains found at the site). It was great to see the archeology students at work, and we got a chance to look at some recently unearthed skeletons – freshly cleaned by toothbrush – including cats, deer and moles! Afterwards, we headed back to the bone lab to dry off and learn about identification techniques and start to piece together various skeletons. My proudest moment of the day was finding some knife marks on a sheep’s neck, indicating that it had likely been butchered; it wasn’t quite an Indiana Jones-esque discovery but it was enough for me! Dr Ellen Hambleton then walked us though the bone cataloging process which was much more interesting than you might think(!) and then we all had a bit more time to put our newfound skills to the test. All in all, it was a really great day, and well worth braving the weather for! One of the other participants said that it was just like Time Team, but Ellie and Mark were much better hosts than Baldrick and it was great to get a bit of hands on experience rather than just watching it on TV!

The Impact of Technology on Children: Reflections from Emily Cieciura

Over 40 people crowded into a classroom at Winton Primary School to hear academics and practitioners discuss the physical and behavioural impacts that technology can have on our growing children. The morning brought together key research and practical advice to parents and those working with children. They key message is that, with all tools, they can be used for good…. But it is up to the responsible adults around them to ensure that children interact with technology appropriately for their age and stage of physical development. Part of this is applying the boundaries that we have in real life to this virtual one. Practical tips included uses parental controls including DNS controls, where the internet goes through an external filter (so covering all devices used on home wireless) and setting up privacy settings on devices. The session also video clips useful for starting a conversation with a teen or pre-teen including Think before you post. Plentiful resources are available from The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) and from providers themselves. This was an insightful and valuable session which was well balanced in its views and vital to all involved with the care of children. As a parent, I’m going to take time to follow these links and do my ‘job’ a little bit better.

Nutrition and Healthier Living: reflections from Julia Taylor

This interesting and engaging event started off with each presenter discussing their specific interests related to nutrition and healthy living. The presenters (Jane, Fotini, Tim, Gillian and Joanne – the core team representing BU’s Nutrition course) included registered nutritionists, dieticians, exercise physiologists, food scientists and psychologists. Following the short presentations, the audience took part in a food myths quiz asking questions such as, ‘is ice cream a good source of dairy’ and ‘is organic food healthier than non-organic.’ Everyone really enjoyed the quiz as it helped to confirm and deny several questions we see in the media on a regular basis. Next, there were several demos to test muscular strength and resting metabolic rate, which the audience found most interesting. The session ended with a healthy eating quiz, so we all got to try full fat cheese and low fat cheese to try to tell the difference. If any of this sounds of interest, the team will be in the Poole House Atrium Friday morning! Fun fact: STRESSED is DESSERTS spelled backwards!

Children’s sleep. What goes wrong? What can we do? Reflections from Eva Papadopoulou 

This very well attended event included presentations and interactive workshops, led by experts in children’s sleep across the country. Panel members and individually presenting: Dr Andrew Mayers (BU), Emma Janes (The Children Sleep Charity), Deborah Sugden (Savvy Tot Sleep), and Sue Atkins (Parenting expert).  The highly successful children’s sleep workshops at Winton Primary School have received a great deal of national and local media attention (TV, radio and newspapers), which Dr Mayers wanted to share with the public. Also the experts’ work within their own background recently seen at the Channel Four BedTime Live and the appearances in This Morning from the parenting expert, all attributed in a very strong panel, that answered individual queries and also lead to group discussions. The day was a good opportunity for parents, educators and clinicians to find out how to tackle the all too common of getting children to sleep well. The event provoked vibrant discussion throughout the day and looked at tools and techniques that parents and professionals can use. A very positively received event.

Five Go Killing- 12^th June: Reflections from Sarah Katon and Natalie Bates

A packed auditorium gathered for the compelling portrayal of ‘Five Go Killing’. This chilling and inspirational performance was written by BAFTA award winner John Foster. This was a unique one woman show that was inspired by a true event that occurred in France but was transposed into the Bournemouth area. This story uncovers a group of five young middle class professionals who embark upon a killing spree involving the murder of old people. This play was gripping and captured the audience. A question and answer session followed where attendees had the opportunity to address the director, producer, writer and actress with questions about the drama.

Motion Capture: Reflections from Emily Cieciura

If you thought VHS and Betamax or CVD vs. Blu-ray was confusing, finding out about all the different methods of motion capture (or Mocap) was an eye-opener. Zhidong Xiao talked us through all the methods currently available and their relative pros and cons in terms of accuracy, space, cost and time. At BU, Passive Optical is used but even this state of the art system still has disadvantages in terms of cost, heavy data usage and set up time. It does though, allow of multiple actors in a convenient space. The most obvious uses are in the entertainment industry for gaming, films and advertising but mocap is also found in the life sciences for sports’ performance analysis, injury prevention and rehabilitation. Use is also made of this technology in performance art, image heritage preservation, robotics and 3D visualisation. The session ended with one of the attendees donning the mocap suit and seeing their ‘stick-man’ image instantly on screen. A very impressive ‘YMCA’ dance ended a very technical but highly enjoyable introduction to this fascinating technique.

Binge Bournemouth?- 13^th June: Reflections from Sarah Katon and Natalie Bates

This was a very interactive event held by Will Haydock  with Dorset Police as a guest speaker. There were a variety of stakeholders in attendance such as Bournemouth Borough Council, Alcoholics Anonymous, Bournemouth Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT), A & E nurses, The Bournemouth Brief Intervention Team as well as the general public. This was an informative event that dealt with the issue of binge drinking in the local area. This was a great opportunity for these organisations/service providers to debate the issue and to discuss initiatives already in place and potential future actions to combat this problem

Social Sensing: Are You Happy to Work as a Monitor? Reflections from Paul Lynch

Dr Raian Ali’s thought-provoking presentation introduced the concept of Social Sensing and outlined the nature of research happening at BU and elsewhere in this very current area.  The session concentrated on what motivates people to participate or to not participate and how best to get feedback from them.  The greater part of the session was taken up in a discussion come feedback event enthusiastically engaged in by a very diverse audience.  Technology is so present in everyday life now that everyone had a pertinent contribution to make. The discussion crystallised worries around privacy and data usage but equally recognised our apparent willingness to forgo these worries where pleasure or gain is obtained in return.  Quite what reward is required to make one say “Yes” when asked “Have you five minutes spare to provide your valuable feedback?” was a trickier question still to be resolved.  A very relevant session for all.

Incredibly, we are very nearly at the end of the Festival of Learning. But if you’ve missed out already, fear not – there are some fantastic events that you can still come along to on Thursday. There is a really diverse selection which you can choose from, and don’t worry if you don’t have a ticket – come and see us at the welcome desk and we can point you in the right direction. So, how about your take your pick from:

• Your community matters
• Public engagement in renewable energy and technology issues
• Doppelganger dialogues
• Third sector skills: Visual communication
• The impact of technology on adolescents: Drawing on psychological research to inform practice within schools and the home
• Binge Bournemouth? Making changes in young people’s drinking practices
• Nutrition and healthier living
• The impact of technology on children
• Digging deeper in Dorset: Introduction to ancient artefacts

But what about has already has taken place? As ever, take a look at some of the reflections from the lovers of learning, the Research and Knowledge Exchange team:

Waiting for the Monsoon: Nepal through my lens, a photo and storytelling exhibition of research fieldwork experience in rural Nepal reflections by Eva Papadopoulou

An Interactive event  of photographs, artefacts and storytelling of life in rural Nepal – a fieldwork diary of an HSC PhD student, Sheetal Sharma, during the summer monsoon. The camera as a research tool is well documented in disciplines such as anthropology and sociology. The process of photography often leads to uncovering misconceptions. These photographs ‘tell a story’ of the reality of fieldwork, among holy cows, sacrificial goats and cultural practices. Nepal is an ideal setting due to its riot of colour: where the Ancient world thrives in the Modern one. There was a good turn up for this event, which took place Monday 3^rd June, with 3 one hour presentations, there was a good discussion during and after the event, with a variety of ages of attendees. Very positive feedback was received for this colourful and exiting presentation.

Social Media Monitoring  – reflections from Philip Leahy-Harland

A very well presented and facilitated session with Ana Adi covering the rationale for social media and how to measure what it does. Although the social media landscape has evolved greatly over the last five years, the what, why and how questions to understand how social media can work for you and/or your business remain the same. So what are your objectives, how will you recognise success, what are your key performance indicators,  what should you monitor and how frequently should you monitor it? Over the social media landscape there are recognisable and bespoke social media tools. If you are ‘expressing’ then Twitter and blogs will feature highly, if you wish to provide ‘content’ then YouTube and FlickR may be the right tools for you, what about ‘networking’, well there’s LinkedIn and Xing amongst many and if you are firmly in the ‘social’ arena then Facebook, Bebo etc. are for you. Overall, know what you want, how to measure and analyse it. There are many free analytical tools  available to you. Facebook has Insight built in for example. External tools such as Google Trends look at trends in search terms (who, where from, when?). This type of analysis helps identify language used by others as well as common typos which could be used in web site optimisation and marketing. Tools such as Social Buzz and Topsy look at FB, twitter and Google+, but beware such systems are not ‘human’ and capture data based on programming, so sentiment in message analysis can be misleading So what’s good to measure? Well, that is down to you, however there are many tools and approaches, you just need to pick the ones that are right for you.

In attendance was Luke Williams, a very experienced social media ‘geek’ (to use his introduction). Luke works for the RNLI and use many social media tools and outlets covering RNLI HQ and all UK RNLI stations (200+). He spends around an hour a day on analysis and an hour responding. This is a busy role but does offer a guide to the amount of time an organisation could spend using social media effectively.

Well, the weather may now be very reminiscent of a muddy Glastonbury year, but we still have some amazing events lined up for the last three days of the Festival of Learning! Before I give you a sneaky preview of these, I just wanted to share one element of the fantastic feedback that have received in the Festival office. A recent attendee to the Story Stew event emailed: “Just wanted to say my daughter and I found this event to be excellent. Mary had exactly the right balance of humour, learning, participation, adult/child balance. She did an excellent job and really enthused my already avid writer child into wanting to write even more (just not at the moment as she has a broken wrist – made Kira’s day that Mary wanted to sign her cast!) We were really impressed”. Congratulations to Mary Evans for her fantastic event (and all my colleagues that helped the event run smoothly).

If you still haven’t been to an event, why not take a break from marking and come along to:

• Five go Killing
• Social sensing: Are you happy to work as a monitor?
• Rufus Stone the movie: Community screening and feedback
• Engaging the public: Effective public engagement
• Digging deeper in Dorset: Introduction to zooarchaeology (animal bones)

But what about that have happened before? Below are some reflections from the Research and Knowledge Exchange office:

Story Stew – Saturday 8 June, Reflections from Natalie Baines:

Mary Evans led a fantastically fun and entertaining event at BU enjoyed by children and adults alike. A funny poem about smelly dads, which dads in attendance helped to bring to life by acting out different parts, was very well received by their children! Following the recipe for the perfect story, the audience helped Mary with the ingredients to create an amazing story stew and with her they chanted:

Somebody tries

To get what they want

Oh no! What’s in the way?

Rescued now. What happens next?

You’ll have to see-Hooray!

The main principles of story writing were covered in a humorous, light-hearted and exciting way which made for lots of smiling, happy faces on yet another bright and sunny festival day.

Engaging young women with sun safety: the learning from a research study. Organised by Liz Norton. Reflections by Jenny Roddis

This exciting event organised and presented by ‘the sun lady’ (so called by study participants) considered a research study which developed a theory as to why young women adopt the approaches they do to sun safety. The talk focused on the propensity to forget about sun protection and to inadvertently get sunburnt – categorised as slipping up. Although getting sunburnt is perceived as bad (others would laugh at them and it is painful), young women get burnt inadvertently. They also confuse heat with radiation, and if it is windy or cloudy, they are unlikely to realise they can get burnt. They perceive the sun as being hotter abroad, and don’t realise that the sea or a pool – where they go to cool down – actually intensifies the radiation. Contrary to adults’ opinions, young women don’t get sunburnt just because they like to take risks!

How to Self Publish (Staying Solvent and Sane): reflections from Natalie Baines

Valuable advice and knowledge about self-publishing was shared during this event by Mary Evans. The world of self-publishing can be overwhelming with the array of possibilities out there in this digital age. Mary’s lecture helped to address and make sense of self-publishing so that attendees had some valuable information to go away with. The formats of books and e-books were explored as well as options such as printing on demand and publishing your work yourself. The pros and cons of each were highlighted along with the costs and different packages available from companies such as Amazon, Lulu and more. Another informative and entertaining event from the Festival of Learning which was very well received by attendees.

Mobile Momentum, reflections from Natalie Baines:

Elvira Bolat led the first session providing background to the academic understanding of mobile technology, business practice in deploying mobile technology, an overview of the methodological approach and research context along with the results of her research. Leading the second session was guest speaker, Mike Read, from Taptiva, a company who specialise in touch-screen websites. How the mobile experience could be improved was explored and discussed in detail and it was emphasised that user experience should be the focus. Attendees participated in discussions where they exchanged knowledge, experience and their opinions. This event gave a great introduction into the world of mobile technology.

We are now well into the second week of the Festival of Learning – how did that happen so quickly? Despite the amazing weather at the weekend, we had a great turn-out on Saturday with colleagues enjoying learning about how to build the Perfect Sandcastle, Story Stew (it did involve a large stew pot), How to Self Publish (Staying Solvent and Sane), a field trip to Russell Alfred Wallace’s home (complete with nature walk and talk), a theatre performance to help us learn about Russell Alfred Wallace’s life and not to mention over 250 people visiting Bioblitz over in Poole Park. Amazing stuff and the fun continued on Monday… more reflections from my fantastic colleagues in the Research and Knowledge Exchange Office below. Before, we move to them, what do we have happening on Tuesday 11th June? Lots and lots, so take your pick:

• The fastest men on no legs: Disability, prosthesis and the role of technology in elite sport – no need to book in advance, come to the Loft at 7pm to hear from our award winning science communicator!
• 20 years of law at BU 
• Social media monitoring 
• Community cohesion
• Equipping the business leaders of the future 
• Engaging young women with sun safety
• Mobile technology: Distraction or touch point in education and professional development?
• An introduction to motion capture
• Intervention in childbirth: What’s wrong with letting women choose?
• Children’s sleep: What goes wrong? What can we do?

So, what has been happening at the Festival so far… my colleagues from RKE provide their reflections:

Power of the placement year: Reflections by Emily Cieciura

Following a networking breakfast, Mark Ridolfo and Linda Ladle outlined the power of the placement to a gathering of local businesses. The benefits to the company and to the placement student were highlighted along with how the scheme works and is supported by BU. The session also included talks by BU students. Attendees also enjoyed the opportunity to talk with BU staff, including key Placements and careers staff, and network with other local companies. To find out more visit BU’s Business Services Webpages (http://bu.bournemouth.ac.uk/business-services/graduate-and-student-recruitment/index.html) and follow links to all the services we offer.

The perfect sandcastle: Reflections by Emily Cieciura

Professor Sandcastle himself (aka Professor Matthew Bennett) told us the enthralling story of sand and introduced us to the big and little ‘sedi-people’ who make up sand, which is especially wonderful along Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. Matthew used the audience to demonstrate the importance of size, shape, friction and water in making great sand. He explained the physics behind making glass sheets stick together with just water and how water can go uphill, revealing how these scientific feats are vital for having fun at the beach. Using samples of local Bournemouth sand, we worked out the best proportion of sand and water to make that perfect sandcastle. Staking his reputation on it, Matthew told us all the secret of the perfect mix but sorry, you had to be there…. Now, where is my ice-cream?

Reading, writing and eye movements, event organised by Sine McDougall and Julie Kirkby, report by Jenny Roddis

Attendees at this well attended event heard about the history of written language, beginning with pictures and including the English language (did you know that yacht was spelt yot until the advent of the printing press in the Netherlands?). Consideration was also given to the future of English, which is changing as a result of text messaging, emails and Internet chat rooms – should we be able to spell however we wish? Individuals then separated into groups, where they heard about research using the eye tracker and assessing reading skills. An engaging final discussion was held about how dyslexia can be spotted in the classroom.

 What a first week of the Festival of Learning! A huge thank you to everyone that has made the first week so brilliant. But, there is more to come – much, much more! Before we move onto our daily round up of events, what could you come to on MONDAY?

• Lights, cameras and some action: My three year learning curve of science, public engagement and the media
• Mobile momentum: Creating opportunities and being SMART
• Reading, writing & eye movements
• Working in partnership: Academia, artists and community organisations
• eTourism innovations in the digital era
• Science café: Health in the time of mobile technology
• An introduction to sustainable product design
• Digging deeper in Dorset: Introduction to geophysics (seeing beneath the soil)
• The power of the placement year

So how about what has already happened? Read all about it from the fantastic Festival team that have been supporting events this week:

The Inner Primate in Us All: Reflections from Jo Garrad

This fun and hugely enjoyed event saw talks from Fiona Coward on the intelligence of humans and other animals, followed by Amanda Korstjens on what primates are and the story of Boris the orang-utan becoming a fully flanged male, followed by Ari Shedden on conservation and threats to primates.  It was interesting to hear about non-human language vocalisation systems and how it is thought that Neanderthals spoke; how chimpanzees communicate immediate food needs rather than thinking about what they’ll have for tea tomorrow; how the aye aye has a useful long finger for poking inside trees to extract grubs; and 71% of Asia’s primates are threatened mainly due to forest fragmentation, which leads to the destruction of their habitat and isolation.  We then had a game to see how generous we were and I’m pleased to say that whilst we started with 5 sweets, most ended up with 8-9.  The day ended in the Bone Lab where several primate skulls were on display and attendees got to assemble skulls and skeletons (the wrist is a lot more complicated than it looks) with the help of the student volunteers.

Community Screening of Rufus Stone : Reflections from Teresa Coffin

Community Screening of Rufus Stone the movie on Wednesday 5th June at the Lighthouse, Poole, hosted by  Kip Jones and Lee-Ann Fenge. Rufus Stone is a story of growing up gay and growing older in rural south west England, based on three years of in–depth research conducted at Bournemouth University into ageing and sexuality in rural Britain. The film was directed by Josh Appignanesi and stars well-known actor, William Gaunt in the title role. After the showing of the 30 minute film the audience were invited to engage in a discussion with Kip about the showing. There was a good turnout for this event, across a wide age range from 16 to 79 and many interesting point where raised about both the film and the issues it razed.   There was also a lot of there was a lot of positive feedback for both the film and the event itself.

Walking in the Footsteps of our Ancestors: Reflections from Nicola King

Professor Matthew Bennett gave attendees at this event a very interesting insight into his extensive work investigating fossilised human footprints around the world. We learnt where the world’s most famous footprints are located, from Kenya to Namibia to Italy and Mexico. We learnt how Professor Bennett and his colleagues actually ‘read’ these footprints, and he gave us an overview of some of the science involved in analysing them. We also learnt that geology matters! Interestingly, Professor Bennett told us that his research indicates that the differences between how our ancient ancestors walked, and how we walk today are not that great, suggesting that the basic characteristics of the foot were formed very early in evolutionary history. Following the talk, attendees were invited to ask any questions in a short Q&A session. In summary, this was a very well-received and engaging talk.

Fascinating Feats: Reflections by Emily Cieciura

Fascinating Feats attracted over 65 people – a mixture of parents, grandparents, friends and, of course, children keen to try their hand at all the science-based experiments on offer. Naomi Capell and her team of BU students hosted hands-on tables where participants found out how to take the shell off an egg and leave the sack inside intact, why slime is a non-Newtonian liquid, how to make mini-rockets and, highly popular, how to make ice cream without a fridge. All of the experiments used items that can be found at home. By the looks of concentration and the smiles on the children’s (and grown-ups’) faces, this event showed that science and technology learning can be great fun, even after a day at school. This was certainly an “I’m bored” free zone!

Behind the Scenes TV Studio Day: Reflections by Paul Lynch

A palpable air of excitement hangs over the group;  we are all grown-ups but there is a sense of anticipation and a rekindling of the magic of childhood.  Overblown?  Well, no.  The people attending this course were truly enthralled and exhilarated by this glimpse behind the big velvet curtain (or whatever the  studio equivalent is).   Turns taken at scripting, directing, camera operation, presenting, operating the sound desk etc led to oddly familiar and dramatic scenes of stress, chaos and sheer communal joy.  The product, an episode of  “Cooking Today, was equally pleasurable for participant and viewer alike  and gave equal space to both hidden talents and talents that should be hidden.  A true joy.

Professor Fluffy @ BU: Reflections by Jenny Roddis and Caroline O’Kane

A large group of children from local primary schools were introduced to Professor Fluffy (she’s a Professor of Engineering) and the delights of scientific experimentation by the AimHigher team and their student ambassadors. This enthralling event involved a range of engaging activities, such as playing a computer game which explored the differences between school and university, experimenting with eggs and red cabbage and making a mortar board hat and the children even experienced their very own graduation ceremony. They also had a tour of the University campus and enjoyed a great pizza lunch. Both teachers and children were delighted with the day.

Well, can you believe it, after a year of hard work and preparation we are nearly through the first week of the Festival of Learning – and what a fantastic week it has been! Yesterday, Natalie Bennett, Leader of the Green Party was quoted as saying: “It is really great to see a festival that is very open to lots of different ideas and discussions because I think that’s what a university should be” Another a Festival attendee left the following comment on Facebook: “Really enjoyed ‘Don’t eat poo’ tonight – congrats to all at the Festival of Learning, such a fab way to get people through the doors. My 8 year old daughter was awestruck by the campus in general and it was lovely to be able to inspire her like this”.   Does this leave you feeling #BUProud?

Before the Research and Knowledge Exchange Office reflects on some of the events that have taken place, what could you come to on Friday and bring the family to on Saturday?

FRIDAY:

• Walking in the footsteps of our ancestors
• Student Life @BU
• Dorset’s Darwin: ‘Unremitting passion for the beauty and mystery of the natural world: Alfred Russel Wallace Centenary”: Bournemouth University joint meeting with SHNH and the Linnean Society
• Pathways to impact: Ageing, diversity, connectivity and community
• Dorset’s Darwin: BNSS drinks reception
• Taster session for new CIPD-approved MSc Professional Development (HRM) Programme

SATURDAY:

• The perfect sandcastle
• Dorset’s Darwin: Exploring the life and death of Alfred Russel Wallace: fieldtrip to Broadstone Cemetery
• Story stew
• Dorset’s Darwin: “You should ask Wallace”
• Dead on time
• Food hygiene for childminders
• Celebration of cultures
• How to self-publish (and stay solvent and sane)

Reflections on Festival of Learning events so far:

Oh, for a good night’s sleep! Convened by Andy Mayers, reflections from Jo Garrad

This all day event was attended by nearly 50 individuals, with the majority having varying degrees of sleep problems.  There was a lively discussion to start to identify what type of sleep problems were being experienced, followed by an interactive presentation from Dr Andrew Mayers about what they were experiencing and how they could improve their sleeping.  Dr Phillippa Lawson from thegoodsleepprogramme gave expert advice on how to tackle insomnia without resorting to tablets.  Dr Chris Alford from the University of the West of England gave a highly entertaining presentation and discussion on the effects of sleep deprivation and how driving late at night (when you’ve been up all day) can be as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol.  James Wilson (the sleep geek) and Paul Whittey demonstrated products that could aid better sleep.  Who knew that moisture absorption in a duvet was so important in order to get a good night’s sleep?  What I learnt:  napping is bad, sleep patterns are good, caffeine after 4pm is bad, having a snack is good,  having your ironing in the room is bad, having your pet in the room (can) be good, high thread content is bad, alpaca’s are good.  If this sparks your interest, why not join Andrew again on Tuesday, 11 June for ‘Children’s sleep: What goes wrong? What can we do?

2005 Mental Capacity Act. Convened by Michael Lyne,  reflections from Paul Lynch

So you think your next–of-kin are to be trusted if you lose your decision making capacity?  They may be trustworthy but as there is no legal basis or status for what next-of-kin means – it is an academic question.  The blow of this revelation was somewhat softened by an explanation of the 2005 Act which, for the first time, delivered protection for those who lose mental capacity; a single framework for assessing capacity and opportunities for individuals to plan, whilst still having capacity, for what should happen if they are unfortunate enough to lose it.  Fascinating, useful and worrying.  All this and “psychiatric tea”.  Don’t ask!

Science and the media: issues, debates and controversies  – reflections from Brian McNulty

How science is represented in the media and how journalists write about science so that readers can understand the subject.  Discussion on how scientific announcements can be misrepresented in the media for many different reasons, including sensationalism.  The importance of fact checking and the role of an organisation’s Legal department when preparing a story.  Focus placed on climate change.

Let’s Take Pride in Engineering. Convened by Reflections from Naomi Kay

This event was a fascinating look into the past, present and possible future of engineering in the UK compared to super powers such as China and India.  Mehran discussed how the UK went from the world leader in engineering in the time the industrial revolution to a country becoming more dependent on Asia for our engineering and manufacture needs. He also spoke about the changes in this area investment, the economical impact, and the need to inspire future generations to be passionate, creative, and continue to change the face of the world through innovation.

Putting Pen to Paper, convened by Emma Scattergood

Attila the Hen and Sci-fi Chicken: learning how to get published

Emma Scattergood shows how to put Pen to Paper in order to perfect the art of writing by practicing re-writing common stories such as why the chicken crossed the road. This very interactive session included top tips on writing to get published (and self-publishing) through the ingredients needed for a gripping story and how to employ the 50 Shades of Grey model. Attendees creative tales ranged from sinister murders in a wood, to a patriotic typewriting Seal to a re-write of Cinderella’s story with lesbian step sisters who have a major crush on our lead.

Dr Corrina Dickson, Research Development Manager at Bournemouth University, said, “Hearing the creative and enthusiastic participants develop and share their ideas for stories through the techniques shared was fantastic. The group left full of passion and raring to write!’

Another day in the Festival of Learning and another fantastic programme of events! What could you learn about on Thursday?

Perhaps one of the most encouraging reflections so far from the Festival is that people who are coming to one event, are then signing up for more! In-fact I met someone yesterday that has been to at least two events per day, morning, noon and night on  a vast array of different topics. So, what could you come along to on Thursday? How about:

• Fascinating feats
• The psychology of eating, health and wellbeing
• Behind the scenes in a TV studio
• Health and wellbeing in the Roman world
• The inner primate in all of us
• Professor Fluffy
• Enterprise security: Mitigating fear, uncertainties and doubt

Also, do stop by and take a look at our exhibition items, which on Thursday includes:

• 6th Sense transport project
• Microscope madness exhibition
• Are you a super-recogniser?
• Humanising healthcare through historical enquiry

Reflections on Festival of Learning event:

The focus of this event was very much about what is understood by the term ‘wellbeing’. Les Todres gave a talk on ‘Understandings of Wellbeing’, explaining the dimensions of this within his model. Workshops took place on three subjects: Building and sustaining friendships in older age; Building energy, strength and a healthy balance system; and Active Living: Making health and wellbeing a possibility for older adults. At the end of the day outcomes of the sessions were shared and the following were considered to be important factors to achieving wellbeing: having a purpose, being valued, choice, control, connectivity, stillness, travel, money, time to ourselves, family/friends and health. Overall this event had some really positive outcomes such as discussing the ways awareness could be raised about what is already on offer in communities for older people and suggestions were given to the council about services and support they could provide to improve the situation in Bournemouth and Poole.

It’s good to walk! Reflections from Julie Northam:

Prof Ahmed Khattab gave a highly informative and interesting talk about peripheral artery disease to an audience of around 40 people. Exercise, diet, stopping smoking, and controlling conditions such as diabetes are more effective at improving the symptoms of peripheral artery disease than surgery, and are obviously far less dangerous. Dr Ibtisam Ali, a vascular scientist from Royal Bournemouth Hospital, then provided members of the audience with free ultrasound testing of the arteries in their legs and neck. These tests are only available from the NHS with a GP’s referral or at cost from a private clinic. In summary the event provided members of the public with access to expertise and information about their health and the ability to have their health tested for free. Read more about peripheral artery disease on the NHS website.

The Campus Permaculture Project, reflections from Nicola King:

“A small group of like-minded individuals gathered together to discuss permaculture,  what it means, and what it encompasses. Attendees were also keen to explore how they could attempt to live a permacultural way of life.  All attendees were happy to share ideas and experiences, and the event generated much discussion. A key highlight was an interactive Q&A Skype session with Patrick Whitefield, a leading permaculture expert/consultant.  He shared his ideas on how to incorporate a permaculture way of thinking into everyday life, and how to try to spark interest in others to follow the same example. Atttendees also heard from BU’s Kathy Hodder and Ben Thomas, who led the event, and screens and display stands around the room gave an array of information on subjects such as biodiversity on campus, sustainable construction, waste minimisation and recycling,  student engagement in sustainability, and the potential role of permaculture in reducing UK carbon emissions.  There were also pictures of local community gardens, community farm projects, forest gardening, and other permaculture projects that are taking place locally. We learnt that permaculture is about ‘people care’, ‘earth care’ and ‘fair share’.”

Well, the sun certainly shone for day two of the Festival of Learning, and what a day it has been! The hustle and bustle on Talbot Campus and in the EBC has been tremendous, with fantastic feedback continuing to pour in. Congratulations to all involved for making the Festival happen and giving members of the public such a big BU welcome.

But what does Wednesday bring? Another day of exciting events, that’s for sure! What could you come along to? As ever, take a look at where the event is taking place on the website and our welcome desk can direct you further.

• Research degrees @ BU
• Rufus Stone the movie: Community screening and feedback
• Let’s take pride in engineering
• Don’t eat poo and die, eat poo and live: An investigation into the things that we eat and the things that we don’t
•  A living wage – what it is and what it does
• Games can be fun for everybody
• Science and the media: Issues, debates and controversies
• The Mental Capacity Act 2005: What’s in it for me? What’s in it for them?

What about some events that have already happened? Some of my fantastic colleagues in the Research and Knowledge Exchange Office have some reflections on how it has gone:

Mehran Koohgilani – ‘Designing our Future’ by Dianne Goodman

“This highly absorbing event was meant to run from 7-8pm however the audience were so captivated we ran on until around 9pm, Mehran’s presentation style was captivating and stimulated many questions at the end. Mehran started his presentation asking us to consider the products we have purchased and use every day – do we take for granted they are safe? Using the plastics and toxic dyes in children’s toys and computers as designed products that most of us use every day. Mehran asked us to consider for one moment that a computer often contains more than a thousand different kinds of materials including toxic gases, toxic metals (such as cadmium, lead and mercury acids, chlorinated and brominated substances and other additives) However even though we are aware that this may be the case we often choose to ignore this fact and designers often seem to keep our consciences at bay. Reflecting what we need to be aware of for ‘Designing for the Future’ as well as the actual components of the products we also need to consider how we are being brainwashed and directed into continually needing the latest and most up to date gadgets. How can designers be more ethical when the consumer is happy to discard their existing products for the most up to date. Considering cost, infrastructure factors and recycling issues. He wanted us at the end of his presentation to go out with more questions than answers and we certainly did.”

Philippa Hudson – A Fridge Safari

Avoiding future projectile vomit and explosive diarrhea incidents by embarking on a Fridge Safari. Philippa Hudson took the audience on a tour of what we should do to avoid very sore tummies and more serious illnesses associated with our food preparation. This lively session uncovered the mysteries of fridges and food preparation and why we sometimes get a dicky tummy after stuffing our faces. We learned why animals should be hosed down before slaughter, why street food may be better for us than supermarket meat, why we shouldn’t eat food after the use by date and why we should wash melons before chopping it. There was also an autopsy of several audience members fridges which had a variety of commonly found no-nos. Dr Corrina Dickson, Research Development Manager said “it was fantastic to see everyone finally having answers to questions they had wondered for years–drinking tap water in foreign countries, keeping salad in the bottom drawer of the fridge, reheating rice. A fantastic and informative event”.

Well, the first day of the Festival of Learning is very nearly done and dusted (the last events finish at 9pm) and what a day it has been! I would love to hear your reflections on the day, please do email me with your thoughts. Like any day of any event there have been highs and lows, but it has been fantastic to see so many members of the public raving about BU events.

Below, you can learn a bit more about what happened on Festival of Learning day one. But before you read about has has been, why don’t you come along to something to an event on Tuesday? Pop along to the welcome desk in either Poole House (for Talbot Campus events) or the EBC (for Lansdowne Campus events) and we can advise you on where to go.

Events on Tuesday include:

• The myths and facts behind the sustainability agenda
• Café Scientifique: So you think you are what you eat?
• Putting pen to paper
• Cutting through the paperwork to deliver brilliant events
• The campus permaculture project
• An introduction to the Raspberry Pi
• Oh, for a good night’s sleep!
• Ageing well: An interactive and creative event
• It’s good to walk: Have you checked your blood vessels?
• Marketing for SMEs workshop
• Faith-based health promotion: Opportunities and barriers

Also, do come along to our exhibition that is taking place in Poole House Atrium and Kimmeridge House Foyer.

But what happened on Monday? Here are just a few reflections from my colleagues in the Research and Knowledge Exchange office:

Living with a long term condition: Reflections from Paul Lynch:

“For this event, our event organisers were Dr Carol S Bond and Jenny Roddis. In the morning they were joined by co-presenter Dr Jaqui Hewitt-Taylor and in the afternoon Chris Pitt. The morning session was attended by a diverse range of people, with an interesting mix of healthcare professionals and service users (and other folks too!).  The participants joined in a vibrant and informative discussion of the practical application of a theory of well-being and long term conditions.  This was followed by a lively and highly entertaining discussion of information services and their utility.  The afternoon session was a practical workshop demonstrating and implementing techniques for successful internet searching of health related information.  Both sessions offered opportunities for exchanging experiences and information in a positive and supportive atmosphere that was widely appreciated by all of the participants”.

Start local, aim global: Reflections from Emily Cieciura:

“Huiping Xian and invited speakers, Roger Colmar and Peter James gave a detailed and highly practical review of how best to do business with government bodies and companies in China and Japan, summarised as build friendship, build trust, ensure win-win. The UKTI is a key source of information. The cultural differences and similarities were considered with emphasis given to the importance of developing relationships leading to trust, tips for etiquette (including personal space through to giving gifts), awareness of regional differences, and taking time to be comfortable with the country and its people. Regarding legal contracts, Chinese partners favour good faith rather than complex legal relationships. Peter stressed the fast pace of change in China with opportunities such as the ‘green’ agenda, improvements to health and safety, a move away from a ‘saving’ to a ‘spending’ culture and increased entrepreneurship.  The event concluded with a lively discussion with speakers and guests airing their personal experiences of working with Asian business people”.

Nicola King, reflecting on Social Media for the Terrified:

“This 3-hour event was attended by nearly 50 individuals who were all keen to find out more about social media and social networking. Attendees learnt about the main social networks, what social media can actually enable us to do, and that social networks are the latest form of marketing for individuals and businesses alike. LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and others were all discussed, but attendees were also made aware of the potential dangers of social media if not used correctly. After an interesting talk by Debbie Sadd,  who led the event, attendees were then invited to discuss their particular areas of interest with others in small teams. One team focused on Facebook, another on Twitter, and they used their own devices (phones, tablets, laptops) to explore their area of interest, asking any questions of the experts on hand as they went. In summary this was a very interesting discussion focussing on a topical and, judging by the turn-out, popular subject”.

Testing capacity in people with dementia, reflections by Emily Cieciura:

“Prof. Simon Thompson outlined the features of the many forms of dementia, including those relating to head injuries, drug use and exposure to chemicals earlier in life. The legal issues arising from ascertaining mental capacity especially when the person diagnosed with dementia is drawing up a will or when a will is contested after death were aired. Early conversations are needed, soon after diagnosis, along with consulting a solicitor. The GP is normally the starting point for accessing help from social agencies. In planning ahead, a power of attorney, with forms available from The Office of the public guardian or an advanced directive, with advice available from Compassion in Dying may be of help. The Alzheimer’s Society  was highly recommended as a source of information and support. BU’s BUDI website gives information about our research and activities”.