Are you a Postgraduate Researcher at Bournemouth University? Do you want to share your research with a public audience in an engaging way and enhance your communication skills? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!
After more than 12 years, our Café Scientifique series has come to an end. Building on its success, we are launching a new Research Café series, which will showcase research from across BU—including arts, humanities, science, health, technology, business, and more.
We are looking for 3–4 Postgraduate Researchers to take part in our first annual PGR session of the Research Café series.
What’s Different About This Event?
We’re moving away from traditional slide-based presentations to create a more engaging and interactive experience. Instead, this session will feature:
A short talk about your research.
An interactive discussion where you can engage with a diverse audience and answer their questions.
It’s a fun and informal way to share your research with the public while gaining valuable feedback and new perspectives.
Why Take Part?
Improve your public engagement and communication skills.
Receive training and support from our experienced Public Engagement Team.
Develop confidence in presenting your research in an accessible and engaging way.
Get feedback from a varied audience with different perspectives.
We strongly encourage interactive elements to make your talk engaging and accessible.
Event Details
📅 Date: Tuesday, 6 May 🕡 Time: 6:30–8:00 pm 📍 Venue: Bournemouth University Gateway Building (BGB) Café
How to Get Involved
Complete a short form to express your interest and tell us a bit about your research.
If selected, you will receive guidance on developing an engaging talk for a public audience. We will ask you to prepare and practise a draft version of your talk.
Attend a training session on Tuesday, 8 April, where you will present your talk to the organisers and fellow speakers. You will receive constructive feedback and be encouraged to support other speakers with their presentations.
The Public Engagement Team will organise and promote the event to local public audiences. We will support you every step of the way—from refining your talk to helping with logistics on the day.
Apply Now
If you’re interested in taking part, please complete this form.
Get inspired at our new Research Café event series – where research comes alive. Ask questions, share ideas, and connect with a community of curious minds.
After more than 12 years, our Café Scientifique series has come to an end. Building on its success, this new series will showcase research from all areas at BU—including arts and humanities, alongside science, health, technology, business, and more.
Meet the Researcher
At each event, you will have the chance to meet the researchers behind the project. Gain insights into their research journey, challenges, and discoveries, and enjoy the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about their area of expertise.
In the first talk in our new series, Bournemouth University cybersecurity expert Professor Vasilis Katos will explore how we might help to defend our towns and cities from cyber threats.
How can we help protect our towns and cities from cyberattacks?
Smart cities bring together residents, technology and infrastructure, creating a complex system. With the rise in AI-enabled cyberattacks, which can compromise energy or phone networks for example, it’s becoming increasingly clear that ordinary residents need to help protect smart city services from such cyberattacks.
Event Details
BU’s Research Café will be held at Bournemouth University Gateway Building Café
Tuesday 4 March from 6:30-8pm
While the talks start at 6:30pm, the BGB Café will open earlier—arrive from 6pm to grab a drink or a bite to eat before the event begins.
Come for the research, stay for the conversation
If you have any questions about this event, or if you’re interested in getting involved with a future Research Café, please email the Public Engagement with Research Team: publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk
Your involvement counts – share details of BU’s social, community and cultural events for the annual Higher Education Business & Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey
It is crucial we provide as full a picture as possible of these activities as Research England uses the HE-BCI data to help allocate the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) each year.
The SharePointsite collects details about all the social, community and cultural engagement events BU delivers between 1 August 2024 and 31 July 2025.
Information about all events delivered during this period need to be uploaded by Friday 17 October 2025.
Find your faculty table
Please ensure you complete all the columns in the individual table for each faculty, especially Number of Attendees and Academic Staff Time for Delivery.
This year, for the first time, we will not be able to include information uploaded to the public engagement records on BRIAN as these do not provide all the data HESA requires.
If you have added data to BRIAN for the relevant time period, please also upload full details here or we will not be able to include your event in the survey.
Further support
For more guidance on what you must include, please refer to the FAQ section.
The call for applications for Being Human Festival 2025 is now open
Being Human is the UK’s national festival of the humanities. Each year researchers and staff from universities and research organisations are invited to take part in the national festival by organising a public engagement event or activity, rooted in humanities research.
This year’s festival will take place 6-15 November with the theme ‘Between the Lines’.
Being Human is a place-based festival that emphasises interaction, collaboration and engaging with communities outside higher education. The festival supports innovative, participatory and creative activities that foster genuine, two-way connections with communities.
You can get an idea of what the festival looks like, and the types of activities they support, in the 2024 highlights film, and by reading the 2024 highlights blog.
There are various ways to participate in the festival:
Please note: only applicants from UK Higher Education Institutions and AHRC-recognised IROs are eligible to receive grants.
Unfunded pathway
Festival Event: organise a festival event that does not require funding from Being Human. Deadline: Friday 4 July
Further details about how to apply, and answers to some frequently asked questions, are available here.
Apply to Being Human Festival 2025 Webinar
Find out more about applying to the festival at the online information session ‘Applying to Being Human Festival 2025’ taking place on Thursday 27 February 2-3pm. Sign up here.
Training Programme 2025
The full training programme for 2025, has sessions running from February to October. This year’s programme includes new events on engagement and inclusion and creative engagement, alongside sessions on audiences, partnerships, promoting events and delivering events.
The sessions are led by expert facilitators, alongside members of the Being Human Festival team. Training is primarily aimed at those taking part, or thinking of taking part, in Being Human Festival, but will be of interest to those working in public engagement more broadly.
The Public Engagement Toolkits have recently been updated. These downloadable PDF resources cover subjects including working with partners, delivering inclusive activities and finding the right format. Browse the toolkits
Contact
Should you require advice on public engagement activities or support with your application, please contact BU’s Public Engagement with Research Team: publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk
Make an impact: engage the community with your research
Get involved with our new Research Café series—an excellent opportunity to share your research with the public in a relaxed setting. Move away from conventional slide-based presentations and connect with the community in a meaningful way.
After more than 12 years, our Café Scientifique series has come to an end. Building on its success, our new event series will open up to all areas of research. In the first talk in our new series, Bournemouth University cybersecurity expert Professor Vasilis Katos will explore how we might help to defend our towns and cities from attack – Find out more
Our event in May will showcase post-graduate researchers – more information coming soon.
For our upcoming July event, we are especially interested in hearing from arts and humanities researchers.
Why share your research with a public audience?
Sharing your research with members of the public builds understanding, trust, and support. It makes your research more relevant, encourages learning, improves communication, and strengthens the connection between research and society. The questions you receive from attendees may also help you think differently about your own research and even inspire new areas to explore.
Introduction to public engagement and available resources
The National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) highlights the value of public involvement in research and provides resources to help researchers engage with the public effectively, making research more impactful and accessible. Learn more about public engagement and access resources here
Can you present your research in a simple and engaging way?
We encourage you to share your research in 10 slides or fewer. The challenge of keeping it brief will help you focus your message and keep your audience engaged.The event format will involve delivering a short talk about your research, followed by a discussion where you can answer questions from a varied audience. We strongly encourage interactive methods to keep your talk engaging.
Event details
Location: BGB Café
Event times: 6:30-8pm. Attendees will be able to arrive from 6pm to purchase drinks and food before the event begins.
We are now inviting expressions of interest for speakers for our event on Tuesday 1 July.
Who can get involved?
This is an excellent training opportunity, especially if you are new to public engagement. The friendly audience and relaxed environment will provide a great setting to build your confidence. Whether you are just starting out, or looking to improve your skills, we welcome academics at all career stages, with a focus on those beginning their public engagement journey. We encourage collaboration between experienced and newer speakers to help provide support and gain a rewarding learning experience.
What support can you expect?
Organised by BU’s Public Engagement with Research team, part of Research Development and Support, the team will support you every step of the way—from brainstorming your ideas, developing interesting and interactive ways to help you connect your research with a public audience, to event set-up and promotion. We will be there on the day to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Evaluating your event
To help you get the most out of this experience, we will also support you in evaluating your event. By gathering feedback from your audience, you will gain valuable insights into how well your research was understood and received, and how you can refine your public speaking and engagement skills for future events.
The first community voices webinar of the year will welcome Erica Sloper CEO of Poole Waste Not Want Not to share the wonderful charity journey, the amazing work they do and the vision they have for the future- Poole Waste Not Want Not runs a community shop intended for individuals and families struggling to feed themselves and their families with nutritious food due to financial hardship in Poole and surrounding areas – and so much more for the community they serve with wellbeing days activities and meals to name just a few.
Community voices is a collaboration between BU PIER Partnership and Centre for Seldom Heard Voices to provide a platform and a voice to local community activists.
This case study shares the knowledge gained from working with an individual having lived experience of a health condition contributing toward an occupational therapy education module through the reflections of an occupational therapy academic and a PIER partner working at Bournemouth university. The primary goal was to establish an empirical evidence base for involvement of people with lived experience in occupational therapy education and to encourage other educators and individuals with lived experience to follow this model of teaching and learning in their curricula. Based on the belief that teaching and learning through co-production creates a ‘triangle’ of benefit for individuals with lived experience, students and academics. Individuals with lived experience are seen as powerful, independent, and strong despite their medical condition. Students learn more about important aspects of service provision beyond direct medical and therapy knowledge and academics learn about and model this new way of working. This case study aims to promote development of co-production learning activities in occupational therapy education.
Are you organising a public engagement activity or event that you would like help to promote?
Whether it’s a community event, public lecture, workshop, or any other public engagement activity, the Public Engagement with Research team can assist in promoting your event. Our monthly newsletters and social media channels offer a range of promotional opportunities to help you reach a wider audience and ensure your event is a success.
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.
There is one week left to apply to run an event at the British Science Festival 2025!
The British Science Festival will take place in Liverpool from the 10 – 14 September 2025, and will be hosted in partnership by the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University.
The programme showcases cutting-edge science, technology and ideas that challenge, inspire and excite audiences. Each year, thousands of people come together to celebrate the latest developments in research and engage in open discussion about issues affecting our culture and society.
Open Call for proposals – Do you have an idea to engage public audiences with science and research?
Anyone can propose an event and the Festival celebrates science in its broadest sense. The organisers are looking for proposals from individuals, researchers, industry professionals, artists, writers, organisations, charities, academic institutions, and more. They aim to programme a range of formats from talks to drop-in activities and creative content that challenges perceptions of what science is and can be.
The Festival is free and open to all, but content should be appropriate for an adult (16+ audience).
More information, including how to submit a proposal, can be found here
The deadline for proposals is 23.59 20 January 2025.
Alternatively, should you wish to discuss your application with BU’s Public Engagement with Research team, please contact publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk.
This week the international scientific journal Midwifery published Ms. Joanne Rack’s second paper from her PhD research. This latest paper ‘The Pregnant Pause: Engaging and Involving Public Contributors in Maternal Health Research‘ [1] appeared online two days ago. This paper focuses on Joanne’s PPI (Patient Public Involvement) in prepartion for her PhD research. The public contributors of PPI groups can include an extensive range of people, including patients, family members or carers, people from allied organisations, service users, and members of the general public who have an interest in research for other reasons. Participants bring their unique perspectives and experiences that can help to shape and inform the research process. This type of involvement ensures that maternal health research is grounded in the needs and preferences of those it aims to serve and grows a sense of ownership and investment among those who use the services but also those who provide them. Joanne stresses that PPI is an essential element for all maternal health endeavours.
Joanne is doing a Clinical Doctorate in the Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health (CMWH) specialising in personalised care for women of advanced maternal age. This PhD study is matched-funded by University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) NHS Foundation Trust and Bournemouth University. Her PhD is supervised and supported by Profs. Vanora Hundley, Ann Luce and Edwin van Teijlingen at BU and Dr. Latha Vinayakarao in Poole Maternity Hospital. The first PhD paper with Joanne as lead author was her research protocol ‘Understanding perceptions and communication of risk in advanced maternal age: a scoping review (protocol) on women’s engagement with health care services’ published int he summer of 2024 [2].
Rack, J., Hundley, V., van Teijlingen, E., Luce, A., Vinayakarao. L. (2024) Understanding perceptions and communication of risk in advanced maternal age: a scoping review (protocol) on women’s engagement with health care services, MIDIRS Midwifery Digest, 34(3): 201-204.
Today and yesterday (January 7-8) academics involved in MIHERC (Maternal and Infant Health Equity Research Centre), the successful interdisciplinary collaboration to address challenges in maternity care, met in Bournemouth. MIHERC is led by Sheffield Hallam University, along with Bournemouth University, South Yorkshire Digital Health Hub (SYDHH) and the Health Determinant Research Collaboration, Doncaster. In addition, a range of local and national partners are recognised. MIHERC is one of the nine groups of UK universities making up the new NIHR Challenge Maternity Disparities Consortium. This NIHR Consortium aims of tackling inequalities in maternity outcomes, focusing on inequalities before, during and after pregnancy.
Our second planning meeting highlighted our collective strengths including our expertise in community engagement and PPIE (Public & Patient Involvement & Engagement); intelligent digital solutions in maternity service delivery; research into under-served communities; and capacity building of both communities and maternity staff. The first planning meeting was held late last year at Sheffield Hallam University.
MIHERC is the only midwifery-led collaboration with a strong community engagement and digital inclusive research. MIHERC will work with various NHS Trusts as well as charities such as the Active Pregnancy Foundation, Active Dorset, and Maternal Mental Health Alliance.
The British Science Festival will take place across the city of Liverpool from the 10 – 14 September 2025, and will be hosted in partnership by the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University.
Anyone can propose an event. Artists, researchers, community activists, critical thinkers, industry partners, charities and beyond- from across disciplinary backgrounds are invited to submit proposals events, activities or installations.
The British Science Festival celebrates science in its broadest sense. The programme showcases cutting-edge science, technology and ideas that challenge, inspire and excite audiences. Each year, thousands of people come together to celebrate the latest developments in research and to engage in open discussion about issues affecting our culture and society.
While the primary focus is on events programming, the organisers are keen on programming public installations and welcome proposals that could be hosted throughout the festival in site-specific locations like shopping centres, public buildings and town squares.
The Festival is free and open to all, but content should be tailored to an adult (16+) audience.
The target audience for the programme is:
Non-specialist young adults (16-30 years old), particularly from groups underserved and underrepresented in science
Those with broad interest in science but don’t actively seek to engage with it
Those who might not self-identify as interested in science, but who are interested in cultural experiences (e.g., music, technology, films, fashion etc) or have a personal connection to a particular field of science (e.g., gardening, sports, mental health, accessibility technology, etc)
The organisers particularly welcome creative content that challenges perceptions of what science is and can be. They anticipate that the majority of events in the 2025 programme will use a range of participatory formats and take place outside traditional lecture-theatre settings. A limited number of talks and panel discussions will be programmed.
To submit a proposal for an event please complete the proposal form.
The deadline for open call applications is 23.59 on Monday 20 January 2025.
Before developing and submitting your proposal, you are encouraged to read the FAQs
Alternatively, should you wish to discuss your application with BU’s Public Engagement with Research team, please contact publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk.
We are pleased to announce there will be a new round of funding available for public engagement with research activity early in the new year. BU’s Engaged Research Seed Fund aims to continue our ambition to embed an engaged research approach across the university in order to improve the quality of our research and help us respond to societal needs.
BU Engaged Research Seed Fund: what next?
We will be sharing guidance for applicants and information on how to apply early in January. As before, the fund will operate on a rolling basis and provide small, individual awards up to £500 to kickstart or develop engagement. It could be used, for example, to carry out a pilot activity to build networks in preparation for a funding bid or to develop an engagement activity for a new community.
Applicants will need to describe how the seed funding will lead to further engagement and how that engagement will be used to enhance external bidding or accelerate the translation of research into impact.
Success stories from the pilot scheme
Between February and May 2024, we received 13 applications and funded 7 projects, totalling £3,131.
Engagement activities included: a collaborative workshop on psychosocial research and Shakespeare’s Periclesat the Young Actors Theatre, London; a hybrid pilot public lecture/debate on law and ethics entitled ‘Your rights to the right diagnosis in Dorset’; involvement in a community-run ‘Live Well with Pain Café’ session to gain lived experience perspectives; and a school-based event run in conjunction with Southwest Police Regional Cyber Crime Unit Prevent team.
Feedback from award holders:
“This funding truly enabled a pilot project that allowed us to explore a topic, try out some ideas, connect with partners and the public, and collaborate on a new research project”
“The Seed Fund was invaluable in realising [our] project… This proves that even small amounts of funding – like £500 – can make a huge difference in facilitating projects when the right conditions are there”
What is public engagement with research?
UKRI defines public engagement as ‘any activity that seeks to break down the barriers between research, innovation and society’, while Wellcome describes engaged research as ’embedding stakeholder perspectives across the research lifecycle – from agenda-setting, funding and research design through to implementation, monitoring and evaluation’.
“We know that when wider society is involved, research and innovation become more relevant and useful for everyone. For these reasons, a key priority for everyone working in research and innovation must be to forge deeper connections with wider society” UKRI Public Engagement Strategy
Public engagement with research encompasses a range of activity, with co-production at one end of the spectrum and public lectures at the other. To aid understanding of the many activities that public engagement encompasses, Wellcome have even created The Public Engagement ‘Onion’:
If you are interested in applying for the seed fund, you may want to look at the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement’s website for a wealth of free resources and advice on designing, delivering and evaluating public engagement.
For informal enquiries about the funding, please email Impact Manager Amanda Edwards.
December’s Community Voices Webinar welcomes Jae Harris SYCC Manager.
SYCC is a small independent non-government funded charitable organisation at the heart of the Somerford community that aims to meet the needs of young people, their families, and the wider community. SYCC runs youth clubs, activities and other services for young people such as mentoring and mental health support. SYCC runs a community food project called The People’s Pantry – a low-cost service for families who are experiencing food poverty and there is a gym open to the community to use – and so much more.
Community voices is a collaboration between BU PIER partnership and Centre for Seldom Heard Voices to provide a platform and a voice to local community activists.
The ESRC Festival of Social Science 2024 has come to an end, successfully bringing together diverse audiences to explore, learn, and engage with BU’s research.
The 2024 festival, which included 324 nationwide events, had ‘our digital lives’ as a central theme. Many of the events examined the relationship between humans and digital technology, exploring current threats and opportunities, as well as imagining what life might be like in the future.
For the 13th year, BU took part in the festival, drawing over 250 attendees to five engaging events, two of which were also featured in the University of Southampton’s Arts and Humanities Day on Saturday 9 November. In partnership with the University of Southampton for the second consecutive year, the festival showcased a programme of events, ranging from discussions on well-being and cybersecurity to an exhibition highlighting the voices of young LGBTQ+ individuals.
Avonwood Primary School
Our festival programme began with ‘Underwater Farms – The Magic of Seaweed’ an exciting opening event for 61 year 3 students at Avonwood Primary School.
Activities with pupils at Avonwood Primary School
BU researchersAnastasia Vayona and Kirthana Pillay visited two classes, where they introduced children between the ages of 7-8 to the wonders of seaweed as a food source and highlighted how underwater farming could play a crucial role in creating a more sustainable future for agriculture. The children were particularly keen to try the seaweed scones!
“…a really informative and fun event that was perfectly pitched for the age of participants…it gave them a chance to explore food and nutrition in a fun, interactive context” feedback from a teacher at Avonwood Primary School
The next event in our programme, ‘Take a Meno(pause)’ – exploring well-being through yoga for mid-life -was an interactive session at Pavilion Dance, focusing on the benefits of yoga during the menopause years.
Yoga practice led by Dr Hecquet
Dr Juliette Hecquet’s research looks at yoga’s effectiveness in managing the physical and emotional symptoms of perimenopause, menopause, and beyond. By integrating body and mind, yoga promotes health, strength, and overall well-being during this life stage.
Yoga breathing exercises
Participants learned how yoga can enhance physical and mental health and how mindfulness can support the transition through mid-life. The session also included a guided yoga practice led by Dr Hecquet, with poses and breathing exercises designed to deepen relaxation and improve well-being throughout the menopause journey.
“…very professional and I thoroughly enjoyed it.” feedback from an attendee
Board game activities at Cybersecurity Family Fun day in Poole Dolphin Centre
BU’sCyGamBIT Team hosted a ‘Cybersecurity Family Fun Day’ at Gather, the hub for community events at the Dolphin Centre in Poole. During half term, this interactive cybersecurity day gave participants of all ages the opportunity to discover practical tools to enhance digital safety, with hands-on activities that made learning about cybersecurity both fun and accessible
Guided by BU computer science researcher Dr Jane Henriksen-Bulmer and CyGamBIT co-founder and BU PhD student Emily Rosenorn-Lanng, families left with practical takeaways to help keep their information secure and a better understanding of how digital safety affects everyone.
“…granddaughter loved how it taught her about safety online” feedback from an attendee
The ‘Communities of wellbeing: the digital lives of LGBTQ+ young people’ exhibition was displayed at the Lighthouse in Poole from 26 October – 16 November. The artwork highlighted the powerful stories of young LGBTQ+ individuals, who shared their experiences of creating inclusive online spaces where they feel safe, joyful, and have a sense of belonging.
Exhibition displayed at the Lighthouse in Poole
Dr Jayne Caudwell and Dr Francesca Gaunt hosted a series of workshops with LGBTQ+ youth. Through these group discussions, six key themes emerged, including topics like the experience of coming out as LGBTQ+ in online spaces. These conversations inspired the creation of artwork reflecting the themes explored.
The exhibition images and content from the workshops will also be used to create a digital version of the exhibition, coming soon!
“…inspiring – we all have far more in common than our differences – we all need respect and acceptance” feedback from an attendee
Our online workshop, ‘Teaching for Wellbeing: Connecting Practice with Socio-Emotional Support’, led by Dr Esther Anwuzia, covered effective teaching practices to support students’ well-being in today’s challenging environment.
Former teachers Elaine Baker-Smith and Jerry Whitton with a combined 55 years of experience also participated in the session, offering their perspectives on effective teaching practices, and promoting student well-being.
Dr Anwuzia’s research explores how heavy workloads restrict teachers’ ability to reflect beyond teaching and grading. Since the pandemic, an increasing number of students with social and emotional difficulties are absent from school. Focused teaching can help build students’ confidence and support responsible decision-making.
Teacher Zoom Event
The workshop provided an opportunity for teachers to connect, exchange insights, reflect on their experiences, and explore strategies for making a positive impact on students’ lives.
“… I remember having a teacher who explained information in lots of different ways to help with our understanding”
“…really brilliant presentation!” feedback from attendees
Watch this event
A Special Feature – Southampton Arts and Humanities Day
For the first time, BU researchers were invited to participate in the University of Southampton’s Arts and Humanities Day, which took place on Saturday 9 November in the city’s Cultural Quarter. The day offered a range of free interactive activities, workshops, talks, performances, and exhibits.
Attendees had the opportunity to engage with the Young LGBTQ+ stories exhibition, which attracted more than 90 viewers, while Dr Esther Anwuzia hosted a drop-in session on Connecting teaching with student wellbeing, making her own connections with more than 30 educators and members of the public.
Southampton Arts and Humanities Day
Thank you
A big thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to this year’s ESRC Festival of Social Science. Your involvement helped make our events a meaningful celebration of the positive impact social science has on our communities.
Applying for the ESRC Festival – what you need to know
Event leads were chosen through a competitive internal application process, with selections determined by a panel of researchers and professional services staff. BU’s Public Engagement Team provided support to help bring their creative and engaging event ideas to life.
If you’re considering participating in a future ESRC Festival of Social Science, now is an ideal time to start preparing your proposal. Begin by exploring the 2024 festival open call to gain insight into what we look for in applications for 2025.
If you would like to start discussing your ideas, please get in touch with the public engagement with research team at publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk.
This month we welcome Mike Graham (Chief Executive Officer) and Tanya Bailey Education, Training & Employment Coordinator from The Lantern Trust.
The Lantern Trust is an independent registered charity that was founded in 1983 to help vulnerable and marginalised people in the Weymouth and Portland area.
The Lantern Trust aims to bring a lasting change in people’s lives through our dedicated service; meeting people’s practical, emotional, and personal aftercare needs. Their ethos is one of social inclusion, and aiming to break cycles of disadvantage and dependency.
Community voices is a collaboration between BU PIER partnership and Centre for Seldom Heard Voices to provide a platform and a voice to local community activists.
We are pleased to confirm that the deadline for submitting data for the 2023-24 HE-BCI submission has now passed.
We would like to extend our thanks to everyone who provided information on their social, community and cultural events.
This year, thanks to your valuable contributions, we appear to have successfully captured an increased number of events in comparison to previous years.
Thank you once again for your support. We look forward to sharing further insights with you soon.
Thank you to everyone who has already submitted their social, community and cultural events for 2023-24. Your contributions are greatly appreciated. If you haven’t submitted yours yet, there is still time.
Deadline: Monday 4 November
Last year, we documented over 200 events and reached a total of 18.5 million attendees (including media appearances) for the 2022-23 return. We aim to match or even exceed that success this year!
ESRC Festival of Social Science 2023 – Two Tone Towns: A Social History of Ska in Dorset
What is HE-BCI?
The HE-BCI survey is a mandatory annual return that BU makes to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). An important part of this is to capture activity in terms of social, community and cultural events intended for the external community. This data is part of the information used to determine the allocation of Higher Education and Innovation Funding (HEIF) for BU.
What activities can be included?
Please include details of any relevant events that you have been involved in which took place/will take place between 1 August 2023 – 31 July 2024
Events must have been open to the public or intended for an external (non-academic) group and have included an exchange of knowledge. Events may take place in the UK or overseas
TheSharePoint site provides details about what data is collected, including calculating attendee numbers, staff time, reporting online activities and multiple related events
Being Human
Event details
Guided by BU computer science researcher 
This year, thanks to your valuable contributions, we appear to have successfully captured an increased number of events in comparison to previous years.
Conversation article: Fossil footprints reveal what may be the oldest known handcarts – new research
Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition
C.A.I.R.E.E.S. Conference: Harnessing AI for a sustainable future
Update on UKRO services
European research project exploring use of ‘virtual twins’ to better manage metabolic associated fatty liver disease
BU Professor has been invited to a series of plenary and invited lectures.