Bournemouth University collaboration with in the field of ageing research in Qatar is going from strength to strength. BU staff have been working with academics and clinicians at Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Department of Geriatrics and Long-Term Care. HMC has been appointed as a WHO (World Health Organization) Collaborating Centre for Healthy Ageing and Dementia, under auspices of Ministry of Publich Health in Qatar. Hamad Medical Corporation is n0t-for profit organisation. Tomorrow morning (7.00 AM UK time) FHSS will be contributing to an International Survey Research Workshop, together with BU’s Faculty of Health & Social Sciences Visiting Faculty Dr. Brijesh Sathian (based at HMC), and Prof. Padam Simhada, based at the University of Huddersfield.
Tagged / #globalBU
Successful human-centred design workshop at Safety 2024 in India
Last week colleagues from our Sonamoni project co-hosted a workshop with TGI Australia (The George Institute for Global Health) at the 15th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion (Safety 2024) which was held in New Delhi (India). Focusing on the strengths of the Human-Centred Design (HCD) approach, this workshop first introduced the design principles to participants and demonstrated how they can be employed to reduce risks and prevent accidents. These design principles have been applied for many years in designing consumer products and, more recently, in the fields of health and social systems.
In this well-attended workshop researchers presented case studies from Bangladesh (including the Sonamoni project) and Tanzania to illustrate how the process is employed with communities to co-develop interventions aimed at reducing the risk of drowning among fishing folk and vulnerable children. The team proposed a framework which integrates HCD methodology and traditional research methodologies, creating a more user-centred and multidimensional approach to intervention design. Outputs of the process included user risk journeys, stakeholder mapping and systems diagrams that can be used with communities and wider stakeholders to visualise the problem and bring to life the environment in which interventions are to be designed. These outputs can also be support advocacy and donor engagement.
The proposed framework provides a mechanism for closer collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and communities to work together to co-design context-specific solutions that are culturally and environmentally appropriate. Workshop participants were asked for their expert opinion on the proposed framework, to help us refine the framework and inform future practice.
Our Sonamoni project recently had its own video recording on YouTube. Sonamoni is a public health project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) through its Research and Innovation for Global Health Transformation programme. For more information, visit the NIHR website. Sonamoni is coordinated by Bournemouth University in collaboration with Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB), the University of the West of England, Bristol, the University of Southampton, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), and design Without Borders (DWB) Africa.
Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen
Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health
BU professor keynote speaker at international conference
The fourth International Conference on Medical and Health Sciences in September 2024 aims to bring together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from around the world to discuss the latest advancements, challenges, and innovations in the field of medical and health sciences. Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen co-director of the Centre for Midwifery and Women’s Health (CMWH) has been invited as a keynote speaker. He will be addressing the issue of being a interdisciplinary researcher in a larger research team.
BU team meets with Green Tara Nepal in Kathmandu
The BU Erasmus+ visitors included FHSS academics Prof. Steve Ersser, Dr. Michele Board and Dr. Pramod Regmi, as well as the Head of BU International Partnerships Dr. Alistair Morrison and Global Engagement Officer Elaine Hakes, and from the department of Psychology Dr. Shanti Shanker, and last, but not least, FHSS Ph.D. student Yagya Adhikari.
I would personally like to say thank you very much for all the support I have received from GTN over the past two decades!
Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen
Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health (CMWH)
Two new papers by Dr. Pramod Regmi
Congratulations to Dr. Pramod Regmi on having two papers published in the latest issue of the Journal of Health Promotion which appeared online this week. The first paper reports on eight focus group discussions (FGDs) which explored: (a) perceptions of and motives toward social media re. sexual communication in educated unmarried young people in Nepal; and (b) their views of the link between social media and risky sexual behaviour. [1] These FDGs were audio recorded, transcribed and thematically analyzed. All FGD participants were students (age range 15-22) from Kathmandu. Five themes emerged from the thematic analysis: a) use of and motives for using social media; b) sex education in general; c) sexual information through social media; d) social media’s role in forming romantic and sexual relationships; and e) negative experience of social media.
The second paper ‘Forgotten health and social care needs of left-behind families of Nepali migrant workers’ is led by FHSS PhD student Yagya Adhikari. This paper focuses on Pramod’s other research interest of the health and well-being of Nepali migrant workers. [2] The journal Journal of Health Promotion is freely available online through Open Access. Pramod is Senior Lecturer in International Health as well as Global Engagement Lead in the Department of Nursing Sciences.
Well done!
Professor Edwin van Teijlingen
CMMPH (Centre for Midwifery, Maternal & Perinatal Health)
References:
- Regmi, P.R., van Teijlingen, E.R., Silwal, R.C., Dhital, R. (2022) Role of social media for sexual communication and sexual behaviors: A focus group study among young people in Nepal. Journal of Health Promotion, 10(1):153–166.
- Adhikari, Y.R., Regmi, P.R., Devkota, B., van Teijlingen, E.R. (2022) Forgotten health and social care needs of left-behind families of Nepali migrant workers. Journal of Health Promotion, 10(1):1–4.
Erasmus+ workshop at BU by Prof. Marahatta from Nepal
Yesterday (10th August) Prof. Sujan Marahatta from Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences (MMIHS) gave an insightful talk under the title ‘Response to COVID-19 in Nepal’ to colleagues at Bournemouth University. Prof. Marahatta arrived in the UK yesterday morning and straight off the bus from Heathrow airport came to present in the Bournemouth Gateway Building. He is at Bournemouth University as part of the ERASMUS+ Key Action 107 which includes the exchange of academic staff and students between the UK and Nepal, between BU and MMIHS. His talk covered his role in writing the official report ‘Responding to COVID-19’.
He also spoke about the various joint studies conducted between MMIHS and academics in BU’s Faculty of Health & Social Sciences. These collaborations include a range of BU academics, Dr. Pramod Regmi, Dr. Catherine Angell, Dr. Preeti Mahato (who recently moved to Royal Holloway), Prof. Carol Clark, Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen, Dr. Nirmal Aryal, Dr. Shanti Shanker, and Prof. Vanora Hundley.
Erasmus+ is the European Commission’s flagship for financial support of mobility for Higher Education students, teachers and institutions. The British Councill is the funding agency in the UK and coordinates the funding at a national level. BU is proud to be part of Erasmus+.
Building International Partnerships
A current example he will highlight is one of Bournemouth University’s international research collaborations is the Nepal Federal Health System Project, led by the University of Sheffield. This three-year project (2020-2023) is funded by the Health Systems Research Initiative (incorporating the MRC, DFID, Wellcome Trust), it has partners in the UK and Nepal and bring together an interdisciplinary team of specialists in public health, sociology, health systems, social geography, health economic, political science, anthropology, medicine, emergency management, nursing & international development.
RKEDF BU Global Sessions
Are you a BU Proud researcher who wants to grow and understand the Global dimension?
Why not join Dr Alastair Morrison (BU Head of International Partnerships) and Dr Sarah Charlton (BU Global Engagement Officer) to hear more about it.
There are two sessions available, the first is an overview of BU Global and the second is looking at International Partnerships.
- BU Global 28th February 1300 – 1430 Book here!
- BU International Partnerships 15th March 1030 – 1230 Book here!
There is also a specific session for the ECRN
- BU Global 9th February 1600 – 1700 Book here!
COVID-19 online session in Nepal
This morning (UK time, as it was afternoon in Kathmandu) Bournemouth University’s Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen and Faculty of Health & Social Sciences Visiting Professor Padam Simkhada presented a webinar on COVID-19 to staff and students at Nobel College in Nepal. Both academics have Visiting Professor at Nobel College, which is affiliated with Pokhara University, for over a decade. Today’s session of close to two hours was attended by 286 people online. The presenters have published several blogs and articles about COVID-19 over the past few months [1-4]. The blog on the Healthy Newborn Network has been translated in Nepali [2]. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only changed teaching in the UK it has also opened opportunities to link online with colleagues in low-income countries without having to travel.
- Asim, M., Sathian, B., van Teijlingen, E.R., Mekkodathil, A., Subramanya, S.H., Simkhada, P. (2020) COVID-19 Pandemic: Public Health Implications in Nepal, Nepal Journal of Epidemiology 10 (1): 817-820. https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/NJE/article/view/28269
- Tamang, P., Mahato, P., van Teijlingen E, Simkhada, P. (2020) Pregnancy and COVID-19: Lessons so far, Healthy Newborn Network [14 April] healthynewbornnetwork.org/blog/pregnancy-and-covid-19-lessons-so-far/
- Sathian, B., Asim, M., Mekkodathil, A., van Teijlingen, E., Subramanya, S.H., Simkhada, S.,Marahatta, S.B., Shrestha, U.M. (2020) Impact of COVID-19 on community health: A systematic review of a population of 82 million, Journal of Advanced Internal Medicine (accepted).
- Alloh, F.T., Regmi, P., van Teijlingen, E. (2020) Is ethnicity linked to incidence or outcomes of Covid-19? (Rapid Response) BMJ (14 May) 369:m1548
International evening at BU 24th April
Dorset Global Health Network: Tech for Good:
The Dorset Global Health Network would like to invite you to an exciting session with two great guest speakers Andrew Moore and Waheed Arian on Wednesday 24 April on the 3rd Floor, Bournemouth University’s Executive Business Centre, 19.00 – 21:00 proceeded by a Light Buffet Dinner at 18:30.
Guest speakers:
Mr Andrew Moore from 3 Sided Cube is a Bournemouth based app and digital product company passionate about using Tech for Good on a global scale. Andrew will be telling us about their exciting and award winning work, including the worlds first blood donation tracking app.
&
Dr Waheed Arian from Arial Teleheal, a pioneering telemedicine charity, providing advice to doctors in war zones and low income countries. Hear Waheed’s inspirational personal journey from living in a refugee camp to being recognised as UNESCO Global Hero 2017 and winner of Rotary International Peace Award 2018.
Book your space at: https://bit.ly/2Nn0JJR
The Dorset Global Health Network is a forum for anyone interested in global health to meet, exchange ideas and experience.
This event has been organised by the Dorset Primary Care Workforce Centre (PCWC) in collaboration with Wessex Global Health Network.
Bournemouth University’s Center for Conflict, Rule of Law and Society has a new Study Project called “Global Challenges Taking An International Approach”
Academic colleagues from the UK, China, South Africa, Australia and Sweden are working on developing joint answers to global challenges from a dual cultural perspective.
The aim of this research project with the title Global challenges: taking an international approach, is to find holistic approaches to security questions, ecological threats and development challenges. This includes researching diverse topics such as exploring the potential of terrorism litigation as a legal security tool for China’s One Belt Road initiative; investigating the role that river rights play in producing new modes of regulation along China’s trans-boundary rivers; and exploring the symbolic power of International Environmental Law as a force for managing dissent in the South China Sea.
Dr. Kenneth Kang, BU Centre for Conflict, Rule of Law and Society (CROLS) PGR and affiliated with Xiamen University, China International Water Law Research Group, and Yu Dong, a graduate from Peking University and CROLS researcher granted by China Scholarship Council and China’s Department of Education, are preparing under the supervision of Dr. Bachmann two security related themes for the Chinese market.
One current activity is titled ‘Eco threats as security threats and the protection of the environment during hostilities’ and ‘Terrorism litigation as deterrence under international law’ and is based on existing academic work published in the UK by members of CROLS and aims at transferring the findings into the Chinese context. Two publications in leading Chinese journals are planned for 2019.
The study group is led by Dr. Sascha Dov Bachmann, Associate Professor at BU, Reader in War Studies at the Swedish Defence University, and Research Fellow at the Faculty of Military Science at Stellenbosch University, who is the Head of the (CRoLS), Bournemouth University, and Scientific Contributor and Research Fellow (designate) at the Legal Office of NATO, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). Expressions of interest of becoming involved can be sent directly to sbachmann@bournemouth.ac.uk.
The group aims at fostering research collaborations across the globe and to foster academic dialogue in a non-partisan way among academic and professional practitioners.
Erasmus + Programme: Visit to the Sanchez-Vives Lab at the Institute for Biomedical Research IDIBAPS-Barcelona
What is consciousness? In the traditional view, consciousness is a state of self-awareness in which the brain can experience perceptions; but which suddenly disappears in anaesthesia, coma or dreamless sleep. However, the common belief that there is sharp edge between an underlying unconscious state and consciousness is being challenged by new neurophysiological findings and theoretical models.
Is an isolated network of cells, a piece of mammal brain confined in a dish (an in vitro preparation) “conscious of itself”? if so, how can this be demonstrated? And by extension, is it a complex neuronal network model, capable of emulating the causal computations of such neuronal circuit, able to perform conscious functions?
These and connected topics were the focus of the discussions during my fascinating visit last June to the Sanchez-Vives Lab http://www.sanchez-vives.org/, within the Institute for Biomedical Research IDIBAPS; located in the core of the city of Barcelona, in the picturesque carrer Rosello. The visit was supported the Erasmus + Funds for Staff Mobility, https://www.erasmusplus.org.uk/apply-for-higher-education-student-and-staff-mobility-funding; through Global BU at Bournemouth University, coordinated by Ms Elaine Asbridge.
Professor Maria-Victora Sanchez-Vives is the leader of an associated project within the large Human Brain Project initiative, https://www.humanbrainproject.eu/en/ a FLAGSHIP FET 2020 project, spanning for 10 years and involving the over 100 European Universities. Mavi Sanchez-Vives co-supervises a Bournemouth University PhD student, Mr Roman Arango-Cabrera, whose research focuses on studying the rhythms of the spontaneous neuronal activity in isolated cortical slices in vitro.
I was particularly keen to know directly from the team of experienced postdoctoral researchers the experimental process leading to the datasets that Roman has been analysing. Likewise, I was very excited about explaining Mavi and the team the new ideas that we are designing in Bournemouth.
Their recording techniques are especially devised for identifying the spatiotemporal propagation of extracellular potentials through a neuronal network. During my short period in Barcelona, we discussed the design of a new experiment, a variant of their current state-of-the-art recording system by enhancing the precision of the registrations. This new experiment can serve as a feasibility test for our new algorithms developed in Bournemouth University.
The visit was successful in every way, I learned a lot and enjoyed very much the atmosphere in the lab during the four days I spent with them. I am very grateful to Mavi, Vanessa and to every member of the Lab for the invitation and for the great support.
In summary, in the quest for a biophysical substrate of consciousness, a key milestone is the understanding of spontaneous activity propagation in isolated cortical networks; which is the topic of this training visit supported by the Erasmus + Mobility funds. The boundary between conscious and unconscious states seems to be increasingly blurred with each new advance in the area; proposing exciting ethical challenges for the following decade.
Maria V. Sanchez-Vives, Marcello Massimini, Maurizio Mattia. 2017. Shaping the Default Activity Pattern of the Cortical Network. Neuron, 94(5): 993-1001.
Green Bubbles Open workshop: innovation in recreational SCUBA diving
Green Bubbles is a EU-funded project dedicated to sustainable recreational SCUBA diving. Recreational SCUBA diving has become a mass leisure activity engaging millions of divers worldwide. The diving industry generates large direct and indirect revenues for coastal communities and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Other benefits linked to diving include the promotion of ocean stewardship, contribution to scientific research, fostering social inclusion and personal development. Yet, diving has also negative impacts, due to damage or disturbance of habitats and organisms, and to conflicts with local communities for the access to/use of the same resources, equity issues, or cultural clashes. The central objective of Green Bubbles is to maximise the benefits associated with diving while minimising its negative impacts, thus achieving the environmental, economic and social sustainability of the system.
On 26-27 September, Green Bubbles had its first open workshop, in Santa Margherita Ligure, in Italy. Dr Lenia Marques, from the Department of Events and Leisure, was one
of the keynote speakers, bringing leisure and tourism integrated approaches into the discussion.
The workshop brought together many local and international stakeholders and it was a moment not only of discussion of different perspectives, but also of synergy creation.
It was a successful workshop and we look forward to seeing the developments of the rest of the project as
well as the future projects which started to emerge from this meeting.
Please check out the links and follow the project on social media:
Official website: www.greenbubbles.eu
E-mail: join@greenbubbles.eu
Social media hashtags: #GreenBubblesRISE #GreenBubblesproject #sustainable #diving
For more information at BU, please contact Dr Lenia Marques, lmarques@bournemouth.ac.uk.