BU Research Blog

June 17, 2024

BU Research Conference 2024: Powerful Partnerships – practical workshops

The BU Research Conference returns on Wednesday 26^th June, where we’ll be exploring the power of partnerships and how collaboration can enhance your research.

As well as a keynote talk from Isabella Pereira, Head of the Institute for Community Studies, and a panel discussion around building partnerships, we also have a range of practical workshops to help with developing effective research collaborations and finding partners.

Each workshop will last 45 minutes and attendees will have the opportunity to attend two workshops on the day – click on the links below to book your place.

Innovative methods for co-producing research with underserved communities

This workshop will provide practical strategies for engaging with underserved communities and how to build on social capital and lived experience of communities to develop and implement impactful research.

This workshop will be facilitated by Dr Sophia Amenyah, Post Doctoral Research Fellow in the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences

‘If you want to go far, go together’: International Research Collaboration at BU

International collaboration can increase the quality, reach and impact of research, as well as provide access to datasets, facilities, and teams of talented researchers. This workshop will feature a lively discussion about the benefits of international research collaboration, opportunities to get involved in BU strategic partnerships overseas, and to meet some of our international partners in person.

This workshop will be facilitated by Dr Gloria Khamkar, Principal Academic in Journalism, Dr Alastair Morrison, Head of International Partnerships, and colleagues from our partners at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada and the Brest National School of Engineering (ENIB), France

Collaborating with voluntary and community sector organisations (VCSOs) on research

This workshop will be an opportunity to hear and discuss opportunities for collaborating with VCSOs to maximise the relevance, quality and impact of our research. Sharing evidence and examples of best practice, the facilitators will share their insights and experiences from both academic and community perspectives, outlining where to start and how to create opportunities where all involved can work together as equal partners for equal benefit.

This workshop will be facilitated by Professor Mel Hughes and Dr Kate Jupp from the BU PIER partnership

Working with business: Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)

Professor Marcin Budka will talk about his experience of working with several businesses on Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), a government-funded initiative that brings universities and businesses together to drive innovation.

He will share his insights into the process – from application to completion – and the long-term strategic impact that can arise from a successful KTP collaboration.

This workshop will be facilitated by Professor Marcin Budka, Professor of Data Science

Collaborating for Research Knowledge Exchange

This workshop offers an opportunity to be inspired by hearing about how to bring research into knowledge exchange collaborations creatively, with impact, and in a funding limited environment. Hear from two of our BU professors about the collaborative work they have been doing in the Ukraine and in Sierra Leone, which has had a significant positive impact on the lives of individuals, and on policy makers, in two socio-politically instable countries.

This workshop will be facilitated by Dr Wendelin Morrison, Knowledge Exchange Manager, Professor Mark Brisbane (the Ukraine Pechersk-Lavra Project) and Professor Lee Miles, Professor of Crisis and Disaster Management

There will also be the chance to find out more about a Smart Leisure and Active Ageing project, led by a team from BU Business School and the Ageing and Dementia Research Centre working in partnership with local tourism and leisure partners to support inclusion and accessibility.

The BU Research Conference takes place on Wednesday 26th June in the Fusion Building. To find out more and book your place, visit Eventbrite.

June 13, 2024

The Missing Persons Indicator Project: Research Collaboration for Knowledge Exchange

HEIF, Industry collaboration, international, Knowledge Exchange, Knowledge Transfer, Research Integritiy, student research efisher

The Missing Persons Indicator Project, initiated several years ago by Professor Melanie Klinkner and Andreas Kleiser from the ICMP, has recently been enhanced by a visit to the ICMP, aimed at optimising knowledge exchange. Its goal is to showcase each state’s relationship with missing persons through comprehensive data analysis. This initiative began as a collaborative effort, with data gathering undertaken by undergraduate students at Bournemouth University, engaging students in real-world research and ensuring the project’s sustainability by welcoming new students each September.

Since its inception, the project has been fortunate to work with many enthusiastic students who have completed the first round of Structural Indicator 1. This indicator demonstrates the commitment of states to international legal instruments. The table below outlines the current indicators involved in our data collection process:

Context Indicator	A qualitative assessment as to whether the state has experienced extraordinary events that may be correlated to a rise in missing persons cases.
Structural Indicator 1	The commitment shown by states to international legal instruments is an indicator of their duties and obligation in relation to missing persons.
Structural Indicator 2	Domestic legislation by states as an indicator of their duties and obligation in relation to missing persons.
Structural Indicator 3	Institutional framework(s) established by states as an indicator of their duties, obligation, and enactment of legislation in relation to missing persons.

Thanks to HEIF funding, the Missing Persons Indicator Project recently had the opportunity to employ four student volunteers over the past two weeks. Their task was to accelerate the data collation for these indicators. By working through each indicator on a state-by-state basis, they developed a comprehensive understanding of each state’s unique situation. This method also allowed them to recognise and utilise specific details that might recur across the different indicators.

Every day, a designated “data-checker” reviewed previously inputted data to identify and correct any anomalies. This rigorous review process ensures the data’s accuracy, ethical integrity, and suitability for international dissemination.

Throughout this process, the students have been deeply engaged, asking insightful questions that challenged our perspectives and prompted us to consider aspects we might have overlooked. The atmosphere has been a hub of activity and intellectual growth.

We are extremely grateful for the hard work and dedication of our student researchers. Their contributions have demonstrated that a student ‘data-lab’ is an excellent model for conducting research and achieving meaningful results.

As this term draws to a close, we are keen to alert teaching staff to the potential for their students to join the Missing Person Indicator project in September as we recruit a new cohort for the new academic year. To learn more about the project please visit our website!

June 12, 2024

Take part in Being Human Festival 2024 and celebrate their 10th anniversary

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

The call for applications for Being Human Festival 2024 has been extended

To enable as many people as possible to participate in this year’s festival, they have extended the deadline for the Festival Event (unfunded) pathway to Thursday 18 July, 5pm

Every year, researchers, staff from universities, and research organisations are invited to take part in this national festival by organising a public engagement event or activity, rooted in humanities research.

Any organisation with a connection to humanities research is eligible to organise a festival event via this pathway, including museums, galleries, archives, libraries, publishers, community organisations and more – but all events must involve an eligible researcher in their planning and delivery.

This year’s festival will take place 7–16 November, with the theme ‘Landmarks’, honouring the their 10^th anniversary. They will be looking back on landmark events in their history, while imagining landmarks they might yet create. Researchers are invited to think about physical or metaphorical landmarks and how they shape our world.

Read more about the theme ‘Landmarks’

Further details on how to apply, and answers to some frequently asked questions, are available here

Alternatively, if you would like advice on developing ideas or submitting an application, please contact the Public Engagement with Research Team: publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

June 11, 2024

We can help promote your public engagement event or activity

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

At BU we promote and celebrate the work done to engage public audiences with our research.

The Public Engagement with Research team in Research Development and Support can help promote your event to relevant audiences through our monthly newsletters and via our social media channels.

To be considered for inclusion, your event or activity must be;

Intended for and open to non-academic audiences
Focused on BU research, either solely or as part of a wider programme. Events or activities that do not involve BU research, such as marketing or recruitment events, will not be accepted.
Submitted, at the latest, in the first two weeks of the month preceding the event. For example, an event taking place in June should be submitted via the form any time before 14 May.

Event descriptions may be edited for consistency in style with other content.

Share your upcoming public event or activity

If you have any questions, please contact the team publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

June 5, 2024

Needing Time & Space: The Innovation Common Room

Funding opportunities, Fusion themes, HEIF, Industry collaboration, innovation, international, Knowledge Exchange, Training wmorrison

NEED SOME TIME & SPACE TO CONTEMPLATE, INNOVATE & GENERATE?

THE INNOVATION COMMON ROOM

is at Fusion again TODAY – SAME TIME, SAME SPACE

A RELAXED PLACE FOR RESEARCHERS TO

MEET, DISCUSS & MENTOR

over tea, coffee and biscuits

Academics can invite their Post-Graduate Students

TODAY, 12.30 – 3.30, FG04

and EVERY WEDNESDAY afternoon throughout June

HELP ESTABLISH THIS REGULAR FEATURE AT FUSION BY JOINING

THE INNOVATION COMMON ROOM

Research Knowledge Exchange Culture: Making it Happen

Contact the BU Knowledge Exchange Manager, if you need to know more

wmorrison@bournemouth.ac.uk

May 21, 2024

Upcoming BU training – Creating your impact development plan – 7th June (online)

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement, Research assessment, Training Adam Morris

Effective planning is crucial for successfully achieving, measuring, and evidencing impact from research. Done well, it helps you identify all potential avenues and mechanisms for impact, prioritise the most important, and manage your time and resources efficiently.

This practical workshop provides the advice, templates and time to start putting together your own plan to achieve impact from your research. For researchers at all career stages and at all stages of the project lifecycle – from formulating research questions and preparing grant applications to developing a potential impact case study.

Book your place here under ‘Impact Essentials: Creating your Impact Development Plan – 07/06/2024’ in the drop-down menu

This session will be delivered over Teams by Adam Morris, Impact Advisor in RDS. It will not be recorded or delivered again this academic year.

May 21, 2024

BU Research Conference 2024: Powerful partnerships – book your place

Knowledge Exchange ematthews

Collaboration is at the heart of excellent research – whether it’s building relationships with international partners, co-creating research with communities, or working across disciplines to find fresh perspectives.

The BU Research Conference is back for 2024 and this year’s event will explore the power of partnerships, showcasing how working with others can enhance your research.

It will take place in the Fusion Building (Talbot Campus) on Wednesday 26^th June, with a mix of speakers, panel sessions, and practical workshops.

The conference will run from 9.30am to 1.15pm, with refreshments included. It will be followed by a networking lunch to help start conversations and build new connections.

The keynote speaker for the conference will be Isabella Pereira, Head of the Institute for Community Studies – a research institute with people at its heart. Engaging with people across the UK, they work to influence societal change, bridging the gap between communities, evidence, and policymaking.

Following this will be the Building partnerships panel, with academics from across BU talking about their experiences of working with partners regionally, nationally, and internationally – as well as across different sectors and disciplines – and sharing their insights and advice on effective research collaboration.

We’ll also have a range of practical workshops, covering topics including working with business, building international partnerships, and public involvement in research.

The conference is open to all researchers and those involved in research across BU and other universities in Dorset.

Book your place via Eventbrite

May 15, 2024

THE INNOVATION COMMON ROOM: Going Old School

Fusion, innovation, international, Knowledge Exchange, REF Subjects wmorrison

THE INNOVATION COMMON ROOM

is coming to Fusion

A SPACE FOR RESEARCHERS TO MEET, DISCUSS, MENTOR…

& DRINK HOT BEVERAGES

Academics can invite their Post-Graduate Students

29th MAY, 12.30 – 3.30, FG04

then EVERY WEDNESDAY afternoon throughout June

SAME TIME, SAME PLACE

On 29th May enjoy an inaugural light lunch buffet and sweet treats with your tea or coffee.

HELP ESTABLISH THIS REGULAR FEATURE AT FUSION BY JOINING:

THE INNOVATION COMMON ROOM

Research Knowledge Exchange Culture: Making it Happen

Contact the BU Knowledge Exchange Manager, if you need to know more

wmorrison@bournemouth.ac.uk

May 10, 2024

We can help promote your public engagement event or activity

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

At BU we promote and celebrate the work done to engage public audiences with our research.

The Public Engagement with Research team in Research Development and Support can help promote your event to relevant audiences through our monthly newsletters and via our social media channels.

To be considered for inclusion, your event or activity must be;

Focused on BU research, either solely or as part of a wider programme. Events or activities that do not involve BU research, such as marketing or recruitment events, will not be accepted.
Intended for and open to non-academic audiences, either entirely or as a portion of the audience.
Submitted, at the latest, in the first two weeks of the month preceding the event. For example, an event taking place in June should be submitted via the form any time before 14 May.

Event descriptions may be edited for consistency in style with other content.

Share your upcoming public event or activity

If you have any questions, please contact the team publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

May 10, 2024

Funded Public Engagement Opportunity – ESRC Festival of Social Science 2024 -Deadline for Applications Thursday 16 May

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

Funding of up to £1,000 per event is available, and BU’s Public Engagement with Research team offers continuing advice and support on all areas of event development, planning, delivery and evaluation.

The 22nd annual ESRC Festival of Social Science will take place this year Saturday 19 October – Saturday 9 November, with the theme ‘Our Digital Lives’

This national festival offers the chance to create an inspiring event to connect your research in an engaging way with a broad public audience and take your research off campus.

For the second year, BU is partnering with the University of Southampton (UoS) and we are particularly keen to hear from researchers who have already established collaborations with UoS colleagues and may wish to run a joint event. This collaboration enables us to run an extended programme of events, broadening our impact reach and expanding our networks across Dorset and Hampshire.

About the Festival of Social Science

The Festival of Social Science is an annual celebration of research and knowledge about humans and society. It is an opportunity for anyone to explore topics relating to social science – from health and wellbeing to crime, equality, education and identity – through events run by researchers from UK universities. There’s no cost to attend, and most are open to everyone, though some are aimed at specific groups.

What if I’ve never done public engagement before?

Everyone has to start somewhere, and this is the ideal place. You’ll have access to support, advice and training throughout. If you’re unsure, seek out a more experienced colleague to collaborate with.

Explore previous events from BU and examples from around the country
Start brushing up on how to make public engagement work for you. A great place to start is BU’s own video guide to getting started in public engagement with research (Brightspace). You can also browse guidance and case studies from the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE)

Can I apply if I’m not a social scientist?

The ESRC says that events must “feature social science (ideally with a social scientist involved in the event)”. If this doesn’t clearly apply to you, consider these options;

Does your research have clear implications for society that could be explored from a social science perspective?
Could you collaborate with a social scientist, combining your resources and creativity to explore the impact of your research? If you’re looking for a collaborator, the Research Blog or BU website are great places to start or contact us for help

What support will I get?

Being part of this festival means a higher level of support and reach than we usually provide.

Before applying, you’ll have access to:

Advice on request from BU’s Public Engagement Team
The ESRC’s Festival Event Leader pack

When your application is successful, you’ll get:

Funding of up to £1,000 managed by RDS
Training provided by the ESRC Festival of Social Science
Continuing advice and support from BU’s public engagement team on all areas of planning, delivering, evaluating your activity
Wide-scale promotion and marketing of your event by BU, UoS and the ESRC

How to Apply

Apply to take part in the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2024 by completing the online application form,

Deadline for applications: midnight at the end of Thursday 16 May 2024.

ESRC’s Festival Event Leader pack

Apply here

Should you require any more information, or if you would like to arrange a chat with the Public Engagement Team to discuss your application, please contact: publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk.

May 5, 2024

BU Professor has been invited to a series of plenary and invited lectures.

conferences, Industry collaboration, innovation, international, Knowledge Exchange, Knowledge Transfer, Public engagement, Publishing, REF Subjects, Research assessment, writing Zulfiqar Khan

BU Professor Zulfiqar A Khan has been invited to the 12^th International Conference KOD 2024, Machine and Industrial Design in Mechanical Engineering to deliver a plenary talk to disseminate and discuss, the latest work on numerical simulation and modelling in interacting machines and systems conducted in NanoCorr, Energy and Modelling (NCEM) Research Group led by Professor Khan. This talk is also aimed to provide an overview of Professor Khan’s work in terms of Nanoengineering & Energy Systems (NES®).

System and Design – © Z Khan 2024.

The overall relation of interacting systems, durability and reliability will be discussed by Professor Khan in the following invited lecture, entitled “an overview of research: numerical modelling and simulation for predictive condition monitoring,” invited by Professor Aleksandar Marinković, Head of Machine Design Department, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering University of Belgrade, and Prof. DR Vladimir Popović, Dean of Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Belgrade, the Republic of Serbia. Professor Popović has extended this invitation to include Professor Khan’s meetings with Faculty Management and Chairs of Laboratories for exploring to pursue mutual interests’ initiatives and common goals in Nanoengineering & Energy Systems (NES®).

Interacting System © Z A Khan 2024.

Contact mechanics and nanomaterials – IC © Z Khan 2024.

Professor Khan will then deliver an invited lecture in Mathematical Institute of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia to discuss the latest developed mathematical models, Khan-Nazir I, Khan-Nazir II and Khan-Nazir III, these are BU’s ground breaking and globally leading contributions to knowledge in terms of developing impactful design solutions to aid safety, cost savings, energy efficiency and reliability applied in complex interacting and energy systems. These novel models are linked to recently awarded GB, US, PR China, Singapore, Hong Kong (notice of allowance) and EU/EPO (pending) patents in mechanistic, nanofluidics and energy systems developed at BU by NCEM team led by Professor Khan. This lecture is invited by DR Ivana Atanasovska, seminar leader and Stepa Paunović, secretary of the seminar. This lecture will be live streamed on Tuesday, 28 May 2024, you are invited to join.

Interacting System 2 © Z Khan 2024.

This will be followed by invited meetings with key researchers and academics in the Institute of General and Physical Chemistry, Studentski try 12/V, Belgrade to explore collaborative initiatives in Clean Energy Systems.

If you are interested in any of the above topics, events and would like to know more then please get in touch through this link.

May 5, 2024

Research reaching non-academic audiences

international, Knowledge Exchange, Knowledge Transfer, Public engagement, Publishing, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

Most grant awarding bodies expect a well thought through communications and dissemination plan. As Research Culture Champion in the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences (FHSS) I thought it might be useful to outline some of the kind of dissemination processes we have employed in the past. Sometimes funding agencies’ requests for a communications and dissemination plan are framed in terms of knowledge transfer and engagement with end users. In a typical research communication plans, apart from excellent scientific publications, we outline our experience of publishing research finding in practitioners journals, online sites, and pressure groups. Depending on the research topic, population and country we may include the production of a short research summary in lay language [see picture Research Brief Migration & Health Jan 2019] and/or organising a dissemination meeting to national stakeholders. In addition we may highlight our experience in writing press releases and some of the subsequent media interest/coverage we have generated.

When writing articles for practitioners’ journals remember: First, do not to publish in practitioners’ journals before your scientific papers in academic journals, as some high-quality journals will not accept papers with findings that have been published/publicized elsewhere. Secondly, aim your paper at the target professional audience and stress the practical implications of your work. For example, BU Visiting Faculty Dr. Emma Pitchforth and I wrote an article from our NIHR-funded study on the role and place of community hospitals in the NHS in HRJ, a professional journal for health service managers [1], this had a very different slant than papers our team in the Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health (CMWH) we has written for, for example, practical midwifery journals [2-8]. Of course, articles in practitioners’ journals don’t have to be published in English [9-11].

Apart from practitioners’ journals there is growing array of online sites interesting in publishing research findings to a wider audience. The first one that comes to mind is The Conversation; for example, some CMWH contributions on aspects of midwifery and maternity care [12-13], the latter article on Nepal was duplicated in several Indian online newspapers [14-16]. There are plenty of other online outlets available, such as research institutions’ websites [17-19], as well as websites of pressure groups. When writing press releases it is useful to put the actual press release online, for example one on NIHR-funded drowning prevention project in Bangladesh, or write a blog about the press event, for example one in Nepal, all this adds to your overall dissemination plan (and profile).

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

CMWH

References:

Pitchforth, E., van Teijlingen, E., Nolte, E. (2017) Community hospitals: a traditional solution to help today’s NHS? HSJ (11 July) hsj.co.uk/community-services/community-hospitals-a-traditional-solution-to-help-todays-nhs/7020019.article#/scientific-summary
Way, S, Hundley, V., van Teijlingen, E, et al. (2016) Dr Know. Midwives 19: 66-7.
Ireland, J., van Teijlingen, E. (2013) Normal birth: social-medical model, The Practising Midwife 16(11): 17-20.
van Teijlingen E., Ireland, J.C. (2014) Community midwives on the go. Midwives 1: 54-55.
Hundley, V., Duff, E., Dewberry, J., Luce, A., van Teijlingen, E. (2014) Fear in childbirth: are the media responsible? MIDIRS Midwifery Digest 24(4): 444-447.
van Teijlingen E., Pitchforth, E (2011) One-stop shop, Midwives (The official magazine of the Royal College of Midwives) issue 1: 30-32.
Pitchforth, E, van Teijlingen E, Ireland, J. (2007) Focusing the group, RCM Midwives Journal 10(2): 78-80.
Eboh, W., Pitchforth, E., van Teijlingen E (2007) Lost words: research via translation, RCM Midwives Journal 10(8): 374-377.
van Teijlingen, E., De Vries, R., Luce, A., Hundley, V. (2017) Meer bemoeien met media (In Dutch: more engagement with media). Tijdschrift voor Verloskundigen (in Dutch: J. for Midwives), 41 (6):28-29.
Grylka-Baeschlin, S., van Teijlingen, E., Gross, M.M. (2017) Postpartale Lebensqualität beurteilen (in German: Assessing postnatal well-being), ch (April): 20-23.
Nieuwenhuijze, M., van Teijlingen, E., Mackenzie-Bryers, H. (2019) In risiko’s denken is niet zonder risiko (In Dutch: Thinking in terms of risk, it not with its risk). Tijdschrift voor Verloskundigen (in Dutch: Journal for Midwives), 43 (4): 6-9.
Hundley, V., van Teijlingen E (2017) Why UK midwives stopped the campaign for ‘normal birth’, The Conversation [31 Aug.] https://theconversation.com/why-uk-midwives-stopped-the-campaign-for-normal-birth-82779 Re-printed in UK newspaper The Independent http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/healthy-living/why-uk-midwives-stopped-the-campaign-for-normal-birth-a7925496.html
Simkhada, B., van Teijlingen E (2018) Why suicide rates among pregnant women in Nepal are rising , The Conversation [8 Mar.] https://theconversation.com/why-suicide-rates-among-pregnant-women-in-nepal-are-rising-86252
Simkhada, B., van Teijlingen E (2018) ‘A project is training midwives in Nepal to stem rising suicides of pregnant women’ Scroll.in
Simkhada, B., van Teijlingen E (2018) Why Suicide Rates Among Pregnant Women in Nepal Are on the Rise The Wire
Simkhada, B., van Teijlingen E (2018) Why suicide rates among pregnant women in Nepal are rising MedicalXpress (18 March) .
Pitchforth E., van Teijlingen E, Nolte E. (2017) Community Hospitals: Traditional Solution to Help Today’s NHS? RAND website https://www.rand.org/blog/2017/07/community-hospitals-a-traditional-solution-to-help.html
Sheppard Z, Hundley V, van Teijlingen E, Thompson P. (2014) Collaborative ‘science of science’ needed to ensure research & education make a difference to practice. LSE Impact Blog http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2014/12/15/the-impact-agenda-in-healthcare/
van Teijlingen E, Simkhada P (2016) Publishing in journals of the NepJOL family. INASP website http://blog.inasp.info/publishing-journals-nepjol-family/
Tamang, P., Mahato, P., van Teijlingen E, Simkhada, P. (2020) Pregnancy & COVID-19: Lessons so far, Healthy Newborn Network [14 April] healthynewbornnetwork.org/blog/pregnancy-and-covid-19-lessons-so-far/
van Teijlingen, E. (1992) ‘The Organisation of Maternity Care in the Netherlands’, The Association for Community-based Maternity Care Newsletter, No.5:2-4.

May 2, 2024

April’s Café Scientifique – Should we help machines understand and respond to our emotions?

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

Dr Roya Haratian at Café Scientifique

In April, a full house at Café Scientifique welcomed Dr Roya Haratian, Principal Academic in Electronic Science and Engineering at the Department of Design and Engineering at BU, to share her research with a public audience.

Bournemouth University’s Café Scientifique events take place at The Black Cherry Café in Boscombe on the first Tuesday of the month. Over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, people can hear about the latest research developments in science and technology.

Dr Haratian explains her research and shares her experience of being involved with Café Scientifique;

Can you give us a brief introduction about your research?

Assistive technology in the home is increasingly part of everyday life. To improve the experience for people who use it, an approach is investigated to adapt machines functionality to the user experience during interaction. As user experience is reflected in physiological signals, body area sensing systems can be utilised to enable the machines to recognise the user experience and provide feedback in real-time. Ethical justifications and concerns in the development of such assistive technologies were the subject of discussion in this Café Scientifique.

Why did you agree to participate in Café Scientifique?

The talk for Café Scientifique was designed to share some part of my research with public to introduce the topic and have their opinion and thoughts on it as potential stakeholders of future products and services.

Can you tell us more about your talk?

Café Scientifique audience at The Black Cherry

In this session I introduced an approach for real-time user experience recognition for assistive technologies. The reflection of user experience in physiological signals was investigated through different psychological models along with how to collect the signals and mathematically model the mapping of physiological signal changes. Using machine learning and artificial intelligent techniques, I could show how such signals have the potential to be mapped into the basis of the user’s psychological space model; therefore, predicting the user experience and enabling adaptation of the machine functionality based on the prediction during the interaction.

The ethical justification of the development of such assistive technologies discussed which includes minimising the need for assistance and enhancing the wellbeing or quality of life of people needing care. However, there are ethical concerns including a reductionist view of emotions which could potentially ignore the widely recognised psychological, cultural, and social dimensions of emotions. Solutionism is another concern and addresses whether technical fixes can be applied to genuinely social or political problems. Furthermore, the privacy and autonomy of users and their experiences is another concern. The tendency of machine learning techniques to normalise and generalise human behaviour and emotional reactions was the last ethical concern discussed and I presented potential solutions.

Dr Roya Haratian speaking at Café Scientifique

How do you feel your event went?

I am always passionate to talk about my research and found it quite interesting that the venue was fully booked. It demonstrated the public’s interest in the topic and during the presentation I could feel that interest in the audience’s questions. I am glad that BU provided me with this opportunity to share my research with the public and have their thoughts taken onboard for the next stages of my research development.

Dr Roya Haratian speaking at Café Scientifique

What did you get from your event?

The ethical justifications and concerns opened a series of questions and discussions which helped me to better understand the view of potential stakeholders while discussing potential solutions for the raised concerns. For further development of research, it is very important to be engaged with potential users and Café Scientifique provided me with this opportunity to hear from them to consider their viewpoints. At the end I shared a survey about the research to better collect their opinion and thoughts.

If you are interested, please feel free to take part in this survey which would be open till mid May 2024.

If you would like to find out more about our Café Scientifique series, or if you’re interested in getting involved in sharing your research with the public at future events, please read our blog post and register your interest.

May 2, 2024

Public Engagement Opportunity: Share your research with the public at Café Scientifique

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

Would you like to share your research with a public audience? Get involved with our Café Scientifique series 2024/2025

Café Scientifique is a public event that takes place at The Black Cherry in Boscombe on the first Tuesday evening of the month (excluding January & August), and is organised by BU’s Public Engagement with Research Team, part of Research Development and Support.

The format involves delivering a short talk, followed by the opportunity for discussion and questions from a varied public audience. It is a fantastic opportunity for you to gain experience in engaging with the public in a friendly relaxed atmosphere.

We welcome academics at all career stages, although this opportunity is particularly valuable for those getting started in engaging with the public. We encourage collaboration between less experienced and more experienced public speakers to help provide support and gain a rewarding learning experience.

The team will support you every step of the way. From developing your ideas to engage with a public audience, to setting up and promoting your event. We will also be on hand on the day to help your event run smoothly.

Complete our form to Register your interest

Please note: Completing this form does not guarantee you a space. We will be in touch with you to discuss your interest.

If you have any questions about getting involved with Café Scientifique, please get in touch with the Public Engagement with Research Team: publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk.

May 2, 2024

Apply for up to £1,000 to deliver an event and take part in a national festival of public engagement with research

Funding opportunities, Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

Funding of up to £1,000 per event is available, and BU’s Public Engagement with Research team offers continuing advice and support on all areas of event development, planning, delivery and evaluation.

The 22nd annual ESRC Festival of Social Science will take place this year Saturday 19 October – Saturday 9 November, with the theme ‘Our Digital Lives’

This national festival offers the chance to create an inspiring event to connect your research in an engaging way with a broad public audience and take your research off campus.

For the second year, BU is partnering with the University of Southampton (UoS) and we are particularly keen to hear from researchers who have already established collaborations with UoS colleagues and may wish to run a joint event. This collaboration enables us to run an extended programme of events, broadening our impact reach and expanding our networks across Dorset and Hampshire.