Category / Uncategorized

KTP success rate is still sky high..!

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) are a fantastic way of making long-lasting relationships with industry, bringing in income and measuring impact, which is quite a feat for a scheme that is 40 years old this year..!

Submission deadlines are every two months and once proposals are reviewed, statistics are released on how well the proposals submitted, fared against the Proposal Approval Group (PAG).

Below is an update documenting the most recent statistics from the Innovate UK PAG in December 2014.

Proposals submitted 86
Proposals supported 77
Of which, number supported without amendments 39
Withdrawn by Adviser prior to consideration 0
Proposals not supported 9
Of which, number that can be revised for resubmission 8
Success rate 90%

These statistics demonstrate the high success rate of KTP proposals that are awarded and also the amount of proposals that were submitted in November.

If you’re working (or want to work) with industry on innovative projects, find out more about how KTP can help you.  Contact Rachel Clarke, Knowledge Exchange Adviser (KTP) on 61347 or email clarker@bournemouth.ac.uk

BUDI Orchestra Needs You!

BUDI are still looking to recruit people with dementia and their carers to join the BUDI Orchestra, starting Wednesday 4th February 2015 for 8 weeks.

If you know of anyone living with dementia, or caring for someone with dementia, that you think would be interested in joining a music group led by professional musicians from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, then please do get in touch! We are also seeking volunteers with an interest in music (staff or students) to help facilitate the sessions.

Interested?

For more information, please contact: Laura Reynolds on (01202 9) 62546 or email: lreynolds@bournemouth.ac.uk.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Join us for today’s cyber security seminar…

Staff and students are invited to join us for today’s cyber security seminar on:

‘Persuasive Technology for Information Security’

Tuesday, 27th January at 4pm. 

Room: P335 LT

In the seminar, participants will hear about design principles for persuasive technology for promoting information security and also about methods to evaluate persuasive technology. Concrete examples and “best practices” will be given from a recent research project, in which it is used in organizations to make employees comply with information security policies.

Our speaker will be Marc Busch.  Marc is a scientist at the AIT – Austrian Institute of Technology and is active at the intersection of persuasive technology and usable privacy and security. Furthermore, he is specialized in advanced quantitative and qualitative usability and user experience methodology, research methods and statistics in Human-computer interaction. Marc is involved in several international and national research and industrial projects, such as MUSES – Multiplatform Usable Endpoint Security Before joining AIT, Marc was at CURE – Center for Usability Research & Engineering, where he focused on user experience and usability.

31 publications by January 31st!

 

My contribution to the BU Research Blog this year started on 3-1-2015 under the heading First BU publication of 2015.  I soon discovered that with loads of journals publishing their first issue of the new year in early January and books being published early in the new year (rather than late in the previous one) the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences had quite a few new publications lined up.  It seems a nice idea to write another BU Research Blog under the title ’20/20′ referring in our case to twenty publications by January 20th with wordplay on the 20-20 perfection vision.  But before January 20th the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences had already more than 20 publications.

The plan changed to report 25 publications by January 25th.  This time the title in my head was ‘In the month 25-25 …’ a poor wordplay of the song ‘In the year 2525’.  In The Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus) was a hit in my youth (in the late Sixties by the US duo Denny Zager and Rick Evans).   Unfortunately, this plan was short-lived too as I was made aware of several publications by Faculty of Health & Social Sciences colleagues in the space of three days.

Hence the final attempt ’31 publications by January 31st!’ (published today 26th January) before I find out about further publications!

 

 

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Centre for Midwifery, Maternal & Perinatal Health

Faculty of Health & Social Sciences

 

The list of 31 Faculty of Health & Social Sciences publication for early 2015, comprising 21 papers and ten book chapter:

  1. Hemingway, A., Norton, L &  Aarts, C. (2015) Principles of Lifeworld Led Public Health Practice in the UK and Sweden: Reducing Health Inequalities Nursing Research & Practice,  Vol. 2015  Article ID 124591, 4 pages
  2. Jonathan Williams and his colleagues at Cardiff University published: ‘Development of a computation biomechanical model for the investigation of infant head injury by shaking’ Medicine, Science and the Law,   http://msl.sagepub.com/content/early/2014/12/30/0025802414564495.abstract
  3. Bernardo G.L., Pacheco da Costa Proença R, Cristin M, Calvo, M., Fiates, G.M.R., Hartwell H. (2015),”Assessment of the healthy dietary diversity of a main meal in a self-service restaurant”, British Food Journal,  117(1): 286 – 301.
  4. Ashencaen Crabtree, S., Parker, J. (2015) Reflections on Social Work and Human Rights, SUHAKAM Malaysian Journal of Human Rights Journal, pp.19-30 (forthcoming)
  5.  Ashencaen Crabtree, S., Parker, J., Azman, A., Masu’d, F. (2015) Typologies of learning in international student placements, Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work & Development. Advanced access/online Doi: 10.1080/02185385.2014.1003393
  6. Ashencaen Crabtree, S. and Parker, J. (2015) Being male in female spaces: Perceptions of male students on masculinity on a qualifying course. Revista de Asistenţă Socială, anul XIII, 4/2014, pp. 7-26, www.swreview.ro
  7. Simkhada, P.P., van Teijlingen, E., Marahatta, S.B. Mental health services in Nepal: Is it too late? Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences (accepted).
  8. Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen E., Winter, R.C., Fanning, C., Dhungel, A., Marahatta S.B. Why are so many Nepali women killing themselves? A review of key issues Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences (accepted).
  9. Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen, E. Wasti, S.P., Sathian B., Mixed-methods approaches in health research in Nepal (Editorial) Nepal Journal of Epidemiology (accepted).
  10. Galvin, K., Todres L (2015) Dignity as honour-wound: An experiential and relational view Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
  11. 16.  Worswick, L., Little, C., Ryan, K., Carr, E. (2015),Interprofessional learning in primary care: An exploration of the service user experience leads to a new model for co-learning Nurse Education Today
  12. Murphy, J., Pulman, A., Jeffery, J., Worswick, L., Ford, G., 2015. Translating research into practice: Evaluation of an e-learning resource for health care professionals to provide nutrition advice and support for cancer survivors. Nurse Education Today, 35(1), 271-276.
  13. Hundley, V., Luce, A., van Teijlingen Do midwives need to be more media savvy? MIDIRS (accepted).
  14. Rachel Arnold published from her PhD research: Arnold, R., van Teijlingen, E.R., Ryan, K., Holloway, I. (2015) Understanding Afghan health care providers: A qualitative study of the culture of care in a Kabul maternity hospital, BJOG 122: 260-267.
  15. Angell, C., Alexander J, Hunt J (2015) ‘Draw, write and tell’: A literature review and methodological development on the ‘draw and write’ research method, Journal of Early Childhood Research 13(1): 17-28.
  16. Gyawali, B., Keeling, J., van Teijlingen, E., Dhakal. L., Aro, A.R. (2015) Cervical Cancer Screening: Ethical Consideration, Medicolegal & Bioethics 5 :1-6
  17. Grylka-Baeschlin, S., van Teijlingen, E.R., Stoll, K., Gross, M.M. (2015) Translation and validation of the German version of the Mother-Generated Index and its application during the postnatal period. Midwifery 31(1): 47–53.
  18. MacKenzie Bryers, H., van Teijlingen, E. Pitchforth, E., Advocating mixed-methods approaches in health research, Nepal Journal of Epidemiology (accepted).
  19. Hall, J., Hundley, V., van Teijlingen, E. The Journal editor: friend or foe? Women & Birth (accepted).
  20. Marsh, W., Colbourne, D., Way, S., Hundley, V., 2014. Would a student run postnatal clinic make a valuable addition to midwifery education in the UK? A systematic review. Nurse Education Today. (In Press)
  21. Bevan A.L., Hartwell H, Hemingway, A., Rossana Pacheco da Costa Proença (2015) An exploration of the fruit and vegetable “foodscape” in a university setting for staff: A preliminary study British Food Journal, 117(1): 37-49.

 

Book chapters:

  1. Edwin van Teijlingen published a chapter on ‘Sociology of Midwifery’ in: Sociology for Midwives, Deery, R., Denny, E. & Letherby, G. (eds.) published by Polity Pres
  2. PhD student Sheetal Sharma is co-author of a book chapter called ‘Customs and believes surrounding newborn babies in rural areas’ published  The Dynamics of Health in Nepalet al. by Himal Books, Nepal.
  3. Benoit, C., Sandall, J., Benoit, C., Murray, S.F., van Teijlingen E., Wrede, S., & Declercq, G. New directions in global policy: maternal health. In: E. Kuhlmann, E., Bourgeault, I. (eds.) Palgrave International Handbook on Health Care Policy & Governance,  Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan (forthcoming 2015)
  4. Jenny Hall has a chapter forthcoming ‘Spirituality and compassion and maternity care’ in The Roar behind the silence: why kindness, compassion and respect matter in maternity care, S. Byrom & S. Downe (eds.) published by Pinter and Martin: http://www.pinterandmartin.com/the-roar-behind-the-silence.html?
  5. van Teijlingen, E, Simkhada, P., Wasti, P.P. (2015) Nepal is Changing: Modernisation and Diversity in Healthcare.  In: Wasti, S.P., Simkhada, P.P. & van Teijlingen, E. (Eds.) The Dynamics of Health in Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal: Social Science Baha & Himal Books: 1-15.
  6. Wasti, S.P., Simkhada, P.P. & van Teijlingen, E. (Eds.) (2015) Socio-Cultural Aspects of HIV/AIDS. In: The Dynamics of Health in Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal: Social Science Baha & Himal Books: 47-62.
  7. Simkhada, B., Sharma, A., van Teijlingen, E., Silwal, R.C., Simkhada, P. (2015) Exploring Maternal Mortality Reduction. In: Wasti, S.P. et al. The Dynamics of Health in Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal: Social Science Baha & Himal Books: 95-121
  8. Devkota, B., van Teijlingen, E. (2015) Exploring Rebel Health Services during the Maoist People’s War. In: Wasti, S.P. et al. (Eds.)  The Dynamics of Health in Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal: Social Science Baha & Himal Books: 122-130.
  9. Devkota, S., Maharjan, H.M., van Teijlingen, E. (2015) Media and Health.  In: Wasti, S.P., Simkhada, P.P. & van Teijlingen, E. (Eds.)  The Dynamics of Health in Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal: Social Science Baha & Himal Books: 169-184.
  10. Parker, J. (2015) Single Shared Assessments in social work. In J.D. Wright (ed.) The International Encyclopedia of Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2nd edn, Elsevier, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.28105-1 .

 

Most cited article in MIDWIFERY

The scientific paper ‘Risk, Theory, Social & Medical Models: a critical analysis of the concept of risk in maternity care’ written by Dr. Helen MacKenzie Bryers (NHS Highland) and BU Professor of Reproductive Health Research is now listed on the website of the international journal Midwifery  as its top most cited paper since 2010 (1).   Midwifery, published by Elsevier, is one of the leading global journals in the field of midwifery and maternity care.

The paper provides a critical analysis of the risk concept, its development in modern society in general and UK maternity services in particular. Through the associated theory, the authors explore the origins of the current preoccupation with risk.  Using Pickstone’s historical phases of modern health care, the paper explores the way maternity services changed from a social to a medical model over the twentieth century and suggests that the risk agenda was part of this process.

‘Risk, Theory, Social & Medical Models’ has been cited 40 times in SCOPUS, measured today Jan. 25th 2015.   In Google Scholar the citation rate is even higher  and stands at 69.

 

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Centre for Midwifery, Maternal and Perinatal Health

Faculty of Health & Social Sciences

Reference

  1. MacKenzie Bryers, H., van Teijlingen, E. (2010) Risk, Theory, Social & Medical Models: a critical analysis of the concept of risk in maternity care, Midwifery 26(5): 488-496.

Hi! I’m Jo…

Hi, I’m the Project Administrator within the Research and Knowledge Exchange primarily responsible for the Faculty of Media & Communication externally-funded projects, so if you need a trip booking down the Zambezi or a taxi to Heathrow, I’m the one you need to talk to!

I’m also the clerk to the University Research Ethics Committee and the two University Ethics Panels, arranging the meetings and taking minutes. I really enjoy finding out about the research projects going on in the University, they are so varied and inspiring.

I’ve been at the University for a little over two years now – previously I worked for the Civil Service in a variety of roles, latterly as an Office Manager for the Official Receiver. I moved around a little, starting in Liverpool after graduating from Liverpool John Moores University working for The Employment Service and then moving on to the Official Receivers when returning south to Bournemouth.

 

In my spare time I like travelling, usually with family and exploring new cultures and territories. I love cooking and devising new recipes, watching films and reading fiction.

HE Policy Update

Monday

Russell Group

Greg Clark has told Russell Group universities that they must step up efforts to attract talented pupils from the northern regions and areas of low achievement. Research by The Times and the Sutton Trust revealed that all but one of the 20 councils that send the most children to the top third of universities are in London and the South East. Academic apartheid against north must end, leading universities told (The Times).

Tuesday

Fall in High Skilled Jobs

Britain’s economy has shifted more towards low-skilled jobs compared with other European countries, according to Oxford university research. High-skilled jobs hard to find as graduate pool grows (The Financial Times).

REF Results

The way universities have been presenting their REF results has been highlighted. One observer counted 14 universities tweeting that they were in the top 10, prompting claims that universities are crunching the numbers to present the results in the most favourable way. Universities worry about fallout from research ranking, (The Guardian).

Wednesday

North/South Divide

An interesting comment piece on the findings that all but one of the 20 council areas that send the most children to Britain’s top universities are in London and the southeast has been released. The piece suggests that one course of action is for universities to help close the gap in information and understanding, which often deters students from applying to university or results in poor decisions about institutions and courses. ‘Tackling the north-south university divide’ (The Telegraph)

Thursday

Gender Gap in HE

UCAS figures show that students’ choice of degree is becoming increasingly polarised along gender lines. The figures show that nearly 58,000 more women entered university this academic year than men. The figures also reveal that there are more women than men in about two-thirds of subjects; these include subjects allied to medicine and education. However, male students strongly outnumber female students on engineering and computer science courses, with 20,300 more men doing engineering and 17,300 more on computer courses. Gender gaps among students revealed by Ucas (THE), Women students shun science  (The Times).

EU Students

The Times Higher Education shows how much higher education investment there is in different EU countries. It reveals that the UK spends the second most per student at €16,500 only behind Sweden which spends €20,520.  Analysis: are EU students feeling the squeeze? (THE).

Friday

Labour – £6000 fees

Analysis into why Labour may not commit to its £6000 tuition fee cap proposal highlights universities’ concerns. The article suggests that whilst Labour has promised to make up the difference in institutions’ income, universities are concerned where this money will come from and how it will be distributed. Why lowering tuition fees is more complicated than you think (BBC News).

International Students

Analysis of HESA figures showing where international students are coming from to study in the UK, reveals that the continued growth in the number of Chinese and other East and Southeast Asian students is making up for the drop in students from elsewhere. Hard Evidence: is immigration policy discouraging foreign students? (The Conversation).

Reminder: Consumer Research Group Meeting No.3!!

 The ‘Consumer Research Group’ will be holding its next meeting 2-4pm on Wednesday 28th January in PG19.  Professor John Fletcher – Pro Vice Chancellor – Research and Innovation – will open the meeting.  Discussions within this meeting will revolve around an outline of the vision/strategic plan for the CRG, as well as opportunities to initiate and progress collaborative research projects around the seven CRG themes.  These all aim to develop an even stronger research profile for the CRG.

Anyone who is doing consumer research of any description is welcome to join and contribute to the discussions – and as before there will be coffee and cake to help our consumer thinking along.

If you would like to come along please email any of the other contacts below so that we can get a feel for numbers.  If you are unable to make this meeting but are interested in being involved please email us to let us know and we will keep you informed about future events.

Jeff Bray (Tourism; jbray@bournemouth.ac.uk)

Juliet Memery (Business School; jmemery@bournemouth.ac.uk)

Janice Denegri-Knott (Media School; JDKnott@bournemouth.ac.uk)

Siné McDougall (SciTech; smcdougall@bournemouth.ac.uk)

Dancing with Parkinson’s: Standing Tall, Stepping Boldly and Feeling Lovely

Lunchtime Seminar on Thursday 12th February 2015 , 1-1.50pm in EB708, Lansdowne Campus

Dr Sara Houston, Principal Lecturer in Dance at the University of Roehampton

Against the backdrop of a five-year study into dance for people with Parkinson’s, Dr Houston will examine what it means to ‘live well’ with Parkinson’s through those who participate in a dance class.  She will  examine how participants’ aims to ‘stand tall and step boldly’ are embodied and shaped by their dancing experience.  The seminar  will highlight one woman’s claim that dancing makes her feel beautiful, and, as such, is fundamental to her wellbeing. She will debate the challenge that this claim poses to those who argue that beauty in dance is at best unimportant, at worst disenfranchising. In debating this challenge she will create a link between aesthetics and health through a reformulation of the value of beauty in the context of chronic illness and wellbeing. This link will then allow her to discuss how feeling lovely could become relevant and meaningful within the context of participating in dance.

Dr Sara Houston is Principal Lecturer in Dance at the University of Roehampton.  Currently, she leads a longitudinal mixed-methods research study examining the experience of dancing with Parkinson’s commissioned by English National Ballet.  Her work won her the BUPA Foundation Vitality for Life Prize in 2011 and she was a Finalist for the National Public Engagement Awards in 2014.  For the last five years, Sara’s project with people with Parkinson’s has developed her work on the intersection between dance as art, health and wellbeing and on the tensions and collaboration between quantitative and qualitative methodologies and between art and therapy models of engagement.  In 2014, Sara won a National Teaching Fellowship from the Higher Education Academy for excellence in teaching.  She is Chair of the Board of People Dancing: the Foundation for Community Dance.  Her book Dancing With Parkinson’s: Art, Community and Wellbeing is in preparation and will be published by Intellect Books.

The seminar will be followed by the BU Humanisation Special Interest Group meeting  from  2 -4.30pm  in EB708, Lansdowne Campus. All are welcome.

Funding Opportunity: British Medical Association

 

BMA 2015 research grants –  now open for applications

The 2015 British Medical Association research grants are now open and are accepting applications online at bma.org.uk/researchgrants<http://bma.org.uk/researchgrants>.

The grants provide approximately £500,000 of research funding annually across ten different grants. Funding areas range from heart disease to schizophrenia to novel technologies to assist in patient care. Applications are invited from medical practitioners and/or research scientists for research in progress or prospective research.

Details of the grants available in 2015 can be found here<http://bma.org.uk/developing-your-career/portfolio-career/research-grants/research-grants-details>.

For any further information on the BMA Research Grants please see their webpages at bma.org.uk/researchgrants<http://bma.org.uk/researchgrants> or  contact them directly info.sciencegrants@bma.org.uk<file:///\\bma1.bmauk.net\bma1.bmauk.netbmaProfessionalPolicyRESEARCHGRANTSAdvertisingofgrantsExternalorganisationsinfo.sciencegrants@bma.org.uk

or call 020 7383 6755.

Call for Cardiff Science Festival Proposals

Cardiff Science Festival are looking for content for this year’s festival and now is the time to get in your proposals!

2015 FESTIVAL
The fourth Cardiff Science Festival is scheduled to take place between 13th and 19th July 2015. Their showcase for science and technology has loads of events taking place in venues across Cardiff. From hands on workshops, live demonstrations, comedy, talks, discussion forums, performances, lectures, debates, exhibitions, guided tours and panel discussions, there is something for everybody. Cardiff Science Festival is organised by a group of volunteers with the aim of providing as many fun and informative events as possible whilst keeping the costs as low as possible.

Specifically for this years festival they are looking for Proposals which include ideas such as:

  • Talks/Shows
  • Workshops
  • Hands on ‘stall’ type events & busking activities

They are also open to all ideas, so if you would like to find out more information including how to submit your ideas, please click here.

They will be finalising the programme in early May with it being made public at the start of June. You can submit ideas to them any time between now and then but the earlier you can submit, the better chance it has of making the programme.

This is a great opportunity & one you can’t miss!

HE Policy Update

Monday

Graduate Employment

The Graduate Market in 2015 report has shown that for Britain’s leading employers, the average graduate starting salary will rise to £30,000 this year and graduate recruitment is set to expand by 8.1% (the highest in the past decade). Graduates are getting record salaries (The Times).

Tuesday

Counter Terrorism and Security Bill

The Joint Committee on Human Rights advised that the government should remove universities from the list of authorities covered by proposed new powers in the Counter Terrorism and Security Bill. They say the plans to require universities to stop people from being drawn into terrorism would stifle academic freedom. Terror plans ‘threaten academic freedom’ (BBC News).

Wednesday

US Universities

There is concern that students are choosing to go to US universities amid concerns over rising fees and quality of degree courses – including contact time. British students shun Oxbridge in favour of ‘value for money’ US (The Independent).

Campus Safety

A third of female students in Britain have endured a sexual assault or unwanted advances at university, new research conducted for The Telegraph shows. The End Violence Against Women Coalition, an alliance of charities and campaign groups, warned that higher education institutions are avoiding their legal responsibilities by refusing to investigate sexual assault allegations. One in three UK female students sexually assaulted or abused on campus (The Telegraph).

Thursday

International Students

Higher education leaders have called on Theresa May to stop using international students as a political football in a Conservative Party power struggle, as details emerge of more proposed visa restrictions. Foreign students used as ‘pawns in a political game’ (Times Higher Education).

Friday

Degree Quality

HESA figures show that one in five graduates were awarded a first-class degree last year, prompting claims that universities are handing out more top grades to boost their league table positions. The number of students attaining a first has doubled in the past decade, rising by 14 per cent in 12 months to a record of almost 80,000 last summer. Universities ‘handing out more firsts to lift rankings’ (The Telegraph).

Part-Time Students

Nearly 55,000 fewer part-time students were studying in the UK in 2013-14 than in 2012-13, with overall numbers dipping to 603,325 last year according to data released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Part-time student numbers continue to dive (Times Higher Education).

Chinese Students

Last year, 58,810 first-year students from China started undergraduate degrees at UK universities – a rise of 4 per cent on last year. The number of new Chinese students has rocketed by almost 60 per cent since 2009-10. However, students from India declined by 12 per cent and Pakistan by 7 per cent, suggesting that the government’s clampdown on student visas and tough rhetoric on immigration had put many off coming to the UK. More students here from China than whole of EU (The Independent).

 2015 Election

Several Vice-Chancellors have been asked to share their expectations for 2015 party manifestos for the Guardian HE Network, the article includes comments from Professor John Vinney. Vice-chancellors share their expectations for 2015 party manifestos (Guardian HE network).

Introducing Sue Townrow, FIF Co-ordinator

Hello! I’m the co-ordinator for the Fusion Investment Fund which was designed to support Fusion by funding ‘pump-priming’ initiatives. There are two different strands for staff – Staff Mobility & Networking and Co-creation & Co-production. I also deal with two externally funded programmes – Erasmus and Santander, which both support overseas staff travel for purposes such as teaching, training and networking.

You can find out more about the Fusion Investment Fund here and do get in touch if you have any queries or want more information. The next round is likely to be opening in the Spring.

It’s a fascinating job – I’m involved in all stages of the process – it includes providing information about the funds, helping people through the application process and supporting the pre-screen and committee review processes. After the awards are made, I liaise with the PIs to set up their budgets and get their project started, I monitor the project’s progress, deal with any requests for changes to the project or its budget, carry out budget audits and ensure that each PI carries out an effective evaluation at the end of their project. We currently have around 130 live projects utilising about £1.3m of funding.

My main aim is to ensure that high quality projects obtain funding and then that the funding is used in the most effective way to obtain the best results for BU as a whole. Simples!!

I’ve been at BU since 2011, firstly in Student Administration Services and more recently in Applied Sciences (as it was then) in Programmes Admin and student support. I really enjoyed being part of a School and one of the attractions of this role for me was the continued contact with academic staff and their research.

My pre-BU experience is mostly in Finance, including ten years in Credit Management and three as a Budget Analyst. I’ve also got some experience of applying for grants in the charity sector, all of which gives me a useful background for this job.

Outside of work I enjoy crafts, especially sewing and knitting, I love cooking (and luckily my husband loves eating!) and we both enjoy walking and photography. We bought a house at the end of last year and I am presently perfecting my skills at crossing a mud slide to get to my front door – my husband is confident it will be a garden one day! I have two grown children and in fact our daughter came to university here, loved it so much she stayed and that’s how we ended up moving to Dorset four years ago.

So – if you are thinking of putting in a bid in the next round, or want to know more about how the fund might support your work, do get in touch. One opportunity would be the next RKEO coffee morning on 4th Feb – it’ll be 9.30 to 10.30 in the RKEO office on the 4th floor of Melbury House.

 

 

 

Crowdfunding SMEs

I have some researchers visiting from the University of Ulster in February and they would like to take the opportunity to interview 2 or 3 SME owners who have used crowdfunding. I’d be grateful if anyone has contacts that they could pass on to me:  palford@bournemouth.ac.uk