BU Research Blog

9 April 2025

Promote your public engagement event to wider audiences

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

At BU, we celebrate and support efforts to engage the public with our research.

The Public Engagement with Research team in RDS can help promote your event to relevant audiences through our monthly newsletter and 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 that do not involve BU research, such as marketing or recruitment activities, will not be accepted)
submitted no later than the first two weeks of the month before the event. For example, for a June event, submit by 14 May.

Please note: event descriptions may be edited for consistency with other content

Share your upcoming public event or activity

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

7 April 2025

United Players Football (more than just football!) to present at Community Voices Webinar Wednesday April 9th 12-1pm

international, Public engagement kjupp

The April Community Voices Webinar will welcome Ellie Douglas to share the wonderful things that are happening with the United Players Football Programme.

The United Players is for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young refugees from across Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole, Southampton and Portsmouth.

With a growing (currently 48) membership of young people aged 16-22 the team plays weekly in the Kings Park Sunday league. The programme harnesses the unifying force of football – bringing people form different backgrounds together to share a common passion; representing resilience, hope and the power of collaboration, and supporting a sense of belonging and community.

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.

Please do join us for this webinar….

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Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 326 465 388 163

Passcode: TW3o3Zq3

6 April 2025

Bournemouth University’s contributions to BNAC

conferences, international, Publishing, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

This year’s annual conference of BNAC (Britain-Nepal Academic Council) will be held on April 24-25 at Liverpool John Moores University. Dr. Pramod Regmi, Principal Academic in International Health in the Department of Nursing Sciences, will be a panellist on a Round Table discussion on the topic of ‘The Hidden Burden of Migration: Struggles of Nepalese Labour Migrants from Departure to Return’. This contribution is inspired by history of BU research into the health and well-being of migrant workers from Nepal by Dr.Regmi, Dr. Nirmal Aryal, Dr. Orlanda Harvey, Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen as well as Bournemouth University PhD students Yagya Adhikari and Anjana Regmi Paudyal. Dr. Regmi’s more recent publications on the topic include papers on: modern slavery [1], kidney disease [2-4], pre-departure training of aspiring migrant workers in Nepal [5], moral panics and societal fear around migrant workers and COVID-19 [6-7], Nepalese migrant workers in Malaysia [8-9], left-behind families of migrant workers [10], migrant workers and the 2022 FIFA male football world cup [11-12], Nepalese migrants in the UK [13] as well as literature review [14].

Bournemouth University is further involved in two presentation originating from the project studying the impact of the introduction of federalisation in Nepal on its health system. Details about our project are on the website Nepal Federal Health System Project. This study was funded by the UK Health Systems Research Initiative [Grant ref. MR/T023554/1] to study the consequences for the health system of Nepal’s move from a centralised political system to a more federal government structure in 2015.

Our interdisciplinary joint project was led by the University of Sheffield in collaboration with Bournemouth University, the University of Huddersfield, Canterbury Christ Church University and two institutions in Nepal, namely Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences (in Nepal) and PHASE Nepal. In late 2022 further funding was awarded by the Medical Research Foundation to Prof. Julie Balen, from Canterbury Christ Church University, to disseminate the findings of our UK Health Systems Research Initiative-funded research in Nepal. These two papers will be presented by our collaborators, namely Prof. Julie Balen of Canterbury Christ Church University and Ms. Amshu Dhakal from Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

References:

Paudyal, A. R., Harvey, O., Teijlingen, E. van, Regmi, P. R., Sharma, C. (2024). Returning Home to Nepal after Modern Slavery: Opportunities for Health Promotion. Journal of Health Promotion, 12(1), 125–132. https://doi.org/10.3126/jhp.v12i1.72713
Aryal, N., Sedhain, A., Regmi, P.R., KC, R. K., van Teijlingen, E. (2021). Risk of kidney health among returnee Nepali migrant workers: A survey of nephrologists. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences, 12(12), 126–132. https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v12i12.39027
Aryal, N., Regmi, P.R., Sedhain, A., KC, R.K., Martinez Faller, E., Rijal, A., van Teijlingen, E. (2021) Kidney health risk of migrant workers: An issue we can no longer overlook. Health Prospect 20(1):15-7
Regmi, P., Aryal, N., Bhattarai, S., Sedhain, A., KC, R.K. and van Teijlingen, E. (2024) Exploring lifestyles, work environment and health care experience of Nepalese returnee labour migrants diagnosed with kidney-related problems, PLoS One 19(8): e0309203. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0309203
Regmi, P., Aryal, N., van Teijlingen, E., KC, R.K., Gautam, M. and Maharjan, S. (2024). A Qualitative Insight into Pre-Departure Orientation Training for Aspiring Nepalese Migrant Workers. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 9 (7).
Aryal, N., Regmi, P., Adhikari Dhakal, S., Sharma, S. and van Teijlingen, E. (2024). Moral panic, fear, stigma, and discrimination against returnee migrants and Muslim populations in Nepal: analyses of COVID-19 media content. Journal of Media Studies, 38 (2), 71-98.
Regmi, P., Dhakal Adhikari, S., Aryal, N., Wasti, S.P., van Teijlingen, E. (2022) Fear, Stigma and Othering: The Impact of COVID-19 Rumours on Returnee Migrants and Muslim Populations of Nepal, International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health 19(15), 8986; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19158986
Chaudhary, M.N., Lim, V.C., Faller, E.M., Regmi, P., Aryal, N., Zain, S.N.M., Azman, A.S. and Sahimin, N. (2024). Assessing the basic knowledge and awareness of dengue fever prevention among migrant workers in Klang Valley, Malaysia. PLoS ONE, 19 (2).
Chaudhary, M.N., Lim, V.C., Sahimin, N., Faller, E.M., Regmi, P., Aryal, N. and Azman, A.S. (2023). Assessing the knowledge of, attitudes towards, and practices in, food safety among migrant workers in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 54.
Adhikari, Y., Regmi, P., Devkota, B. and van Teijlingen, E. (2023). Forgotten health and social care needs of left-behind families of Nepali migrant workers. Journal of Health Promotion, 10, 1-4.
Regmi, P., Simkhada, P., Aryal, N., van Teijlingen, E. (2022) Excessive mortalities among migrant workers: the case of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Europasian Journal of Medical Sciences, 4:31-32. https://doi.org/10.46405/ejms.v4i0.455
Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen, E. and Regmi, P. (2022). Migrant Workers in Qatar: Not just an important topic during the FIFA World Cup 2022. Health Prospect: Journal of Public Health, 21 (3), 1-2.
Simkhada, B., Sah, R.K., Mercel-Sanca, A., van Teijlingen, E., Bhurtyal, Y.M. and Regmi, P. (2021). Perceptions and Experiences of Health and Social Care Utilisation of the UK-Nepali Population. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 23 (2), 298-307.
Mahato, P., Bhusal, S., Regmi, P., van Teijlingen, E. (2024). Health and Wellbeing Among Nepali Migrants: A Scoping Review. Journal of Health Promotion, 12(1): 79–90. https://doi.org/10.3126/jhp.v12i1.72699

4 April 2025

Research Café: Showcasing Tomorrow’s Researchers – Tuesday 6 May 6:30-8pm

Knowledge Exchange, PG research, Public engagement ballen

Get inspired at BU’s Research Café – where research comes to life

Join a community of curious minds to ask questions, share ideas, and explore research at Bournemouth University. Enjoy thought-provoking talks followed by lively discussions, where you can engage directly with guest speakers and fellow attendees.

Our next event features talks from Bournemouth University postgraduate researchers, all currently working towards their PhDs and eager to share their work with the public.

We are excited to welcome three researchers who will present their work and discuss how their research might address the following questions:

What influences tourists when using public transport, and how can we encourage more eco-friendly travel habits?
How do video games bring back memories from the past, and what makes them feel nostalgic?
How are drinking habits and eating behaviours connected in women, and how can we improve support for those facing these challenges?

Taking place at BGB Café on Tuesday 6 May, the talks will begin at 6:30pm. The café opens at 6pm, so arrive early to buy a drink and a bite to eat before the event begins.

If you have any questions about this event, please email the Public Engagement with Research Team: publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

1 April 2025

Update: ESRC Festival Info Session Rescheduled to Wednesday 23 April 11am-12pm

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

ESRC Festival Info Session Rescheduled to Wednesday 23 April 11am-12pm

Online information session

Join our online information session to enhance your chances of a successful application and learn how to make the most of this exciting opportunity.

BU’s Public Engagement Team will co-host this session with the University of Southampton Impact Funding Team. During the session, you will hear about past festival events at both universities, learn first-hand experiences from previous participants, and gain an understanding of the application process. You will also receive guidance on how to get involved in this year’s festival.

Wednesday 23 April 2025
11am – 12pm
Online (via Teams)

To attend, please register and we will be in touch with further information

Register here

Find out more about how you can take part in the 23rd Annual ESRC Festival of Social Science

If you have any questions, please get in touch publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

1 April 2025

Prof. Jonathan Parker on social welfare

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

Congratulations to Bournemouth University Professor Emeritus Jonathan Parker who published a TransformingSociety blog yesterday (31 March 2025). His blog ‘Sacrificing the poor for the rich: ‘Piacular’ austerity and the need for welfare reform‘ was partly a promotion for his new book Analysing the History of British Social Welfare, which was published by Policy Press in 2024.

Prof. Parker has also been invited to speak at the Bournemouth William Temple Association at their meeting at the Marsham Court Hotel on Monday 7th April. His speech, titled “Sacrificing the Poor on Behalf of the Rich? An Examination of the Rites of Social Welfare,” will explore the relationship between the “haves” and the “have-nots” and it was advertised in the Bournemouth Echo recently.

Well done!

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Faculty of Health & Social Sciences

24 March 2025

Join our online info session to find out how you can apply for the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2025

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

The ESRC Festival of Social Science (FoSS) is back, running from 18 October to 8 November 2025.

Partnership with the University of Southampton

For the third consecutive year, Bournemouth University is partnering with the University of Southampton (UoS) to deliver a programme of social science events across Dorset and Hampshire. This collaboration enables BU researchers to organise joint events with UoS colleagues and share impactful research with a broader community.

Funding available for your social science event

Apply for up to £1,000 and join the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2025 to showcase your research.

Online information session

Join our online information session to enhance your chances of a successful application and learn how to make the most of this exciting opportunity.

BU’s Public Engagement Team will co-host this session with the UoS Impact Funding Team. During the session, you will hear about past festival events at both universities, learn first-hand experiences from previous participants, and gain an understanding of the application process. You will also receive guidance on how to get involved in this year’s festival.

Wednesday 2 April 2025
11am – 12pm
Online (via Teams)

To attend, please register and we will be in touch with further information

Register here

Get inspired about planning your event

The 2025 open call will launch soon. In the meantime, explore these resources from last year to gather ideas and see which events resonated with public audiences while aligning with the festival’s goals:

To help with planning and audience engagement, check out these useful guides from last year’s open call:

If you would like to start discussing your ideas, please get in touch publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

17 March 2025

We want to hear from you – Tell us about your involvement in Social, Cultural, and Community events

HEIF, Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

Your involvement matters – Please share details of BU’s social, community, and cultural events for the annual Higher Education Business & Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey

Bournemouth University reports on a range of knowledge exchange activities for the HE-BCI survey, collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Providing a comprehensive view of these activities is crucial, as Research England uses HE-BCI data to allocate the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) annually. For 2024-25, BU received £549,064.

Data collection period

The SharePoint site collects information on all social, community, and cultural engagement events delivered by BU between 1 August 2024 and 31 July 2025.

Please ensure all event details are uploaded by Friday 17 October 2025.

Find your faculty table

Complete all the columns in your faculty’s table, paying particular attention to the Number of attendees and Academic staff time for delivery.

Please note that this year, we cannot include data solely uploaded to the public engagement records on BRIAN, as they do not capture all the information required by HESA. If you have already added data to BRIAN, you must also upload full details to the SharePoint site to ensure your event is included in the survey.

Further support

For detailed guidance on what to include, please refer to the FAQ’s

Please contact the Public Engagement Team should you have any additional questions publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

17 March 2025

March’s Research Café – How can we help protect our towns and cities from cyberattacks?

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

BU’s Research Café kicks off exploring cybersecurity in smart cities

Our new Research Café series launched last week at the BGB Café with a thought-provoking discussion on smart cities and cybersecurity. The event brought together members of the public, researchers, and local businesses to exchange ideas, ask questions, and connect with BU’s research community.

Professor Vasilis Katos speaking at Research Café

Leading the conversation was BU’s Professor Vasilis Katos, who explored how residents, businesses, and policymakers can work together to protect smart city infrastructure from growing cyber threats. Professor Katos highlighted the increasing reliance on digital systems in urban environments and the need for proactive security measures to prevent attacks that could disrupt essential services.

Joining the conversation was Emily Rosenorn-Lanng, PhD student and CEO of BU pre-spin-out Cyber Innovations Ltd, who shed light on the often-overlooked psychological impact of cyberattacks. Emily emphasised how cyber incidents can leave individuals and small businesses feeling vulnerable, highlighting the need for greater awareness, resilience, and support systems.

Professor Vasilis Katos & Emily Rosenorn-Lanng with Research Café attendees

The session sparked a lively discussion, with audience members including local business owners sharing their concerns and experiences. Attendees described the event as “exceptionally engaging,” “eye-opening,” and “a fantastic opportunity to learn from experts.”

Emily Rosenorn-Lanng reflected on the event “Cybersecurity isn’t just about technology – it’s about people. When attacks happen, they don’t just affect data; they impact lives, trust, and livelihoods. Protecting our digital world means understanding the human side of cybersecurity too.”

Next up in our Research Café series

Showcasing Tomorrow’s Researchers – Tuesday 6 May, 6:30-8pm at BGB Café

We are excited to announce the next event in our Research Café series will feature postgraduate researchers from Bournemouth University, who will share insights into their innovative research.

Come along to hear about their work, ask questions, and gain a glimpse into the future of research.

More details coming soon

Contact

If you have any questions about this event or the Research Café series, please contact the Public Engagement with Research Team at publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

17 March 2025

Take part in the 23rd Annual ESRC Festival of Social Science

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

The ESRC Festival of Social Science (FoSS) returns from 18 October to 8 November 2025. This is a fantastic opportunity for researchers to showcase their work in the UK’s largest celebration of social science research.

Partnership with the University of Southampton

For the third consecutive year, Bournemouth University is partnering with the University of Southampton (UoS) to deliver a programme of social science events across Dorset and Hampshire. This collaboration enables BU researchers to organise joint events with UoS colleagues and share impactful research with a broader community.

Why get involved?

Engage with non-academic audiences and make a meaningful impact in the community
Showcase your research beyond the university to reach wider audiences
Gain valuable public engagement experience while enhancing your communication skills
Expand your professional network through collaborations with fellow researchers

Online information session

BU’s Public Engagement Team will co-host an online information session with the Impact Funding Team (Research and Innovation Services, UoS). During the session, you will learn about past FoSS events at both universities and hear first-hand experiences from previous participants. The session will also explain the application process and guide you on how to get involved in this year’s festival.

Wednesday 2 April 2025
11am – 12pm
Online (via Teams)

To attend, please register and we will be in touch with further information.

Register here

Thinking about applying?

The call for applications will open soon. In the meantime, if you are considering applying, we recommend reviewing the 2024 festival open call to gain a clear understanding of the expectations and festival criteria. Understanding the ESRC’s guidelines and expectations is key to submitting a strong application.

If you have colleagues at the University of Southampton who might be interested in running a joint event, consider reaching out to explore collaboration opportunities. Joint events can strengthen your application and broaden your impact, so they are strongly encouraged.

Get inspired by past festival events. For ideas and inspiration, take a look at:

These resources can help you better understand the types of events that resonate with public audiences and align with the festival’s goals.

Helpful guides

These guides from last year’s open call are valuable resources to help you understand and support event planning and audience engagement.

Funding and Support

Funding of up to £1,000 per event is available to support your event. BU’s Public Engagement team will offer ongoing advice and guidance at every stage – from application and event development to planning, delivery, and evaluation.

New drop-in surgery for application support

In addition to the information session, the Public Engagement Team will be hosting a drop-in surgery on campus, providing you with the opportunity to meet the team and receive additional support for your application.

This will:

Offer guidance on festival requirements and application criteria
Assist researchers in refining event ideas to ensure alignment with ESRC guidelines
Provide one-to-one support to strengthen applications and improve the chances of success
Share insights on best practices for engaging diverse audiences
Help refine event formats and maximise impact

Take advantage of this support to enhance your proposal and perfect your event plans.

If you would like to start discussing your ideas, please get in touch with the team at publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

12 March 2025

We can help you engage more people in your public engagement event

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

At Bournemouth University, we are committed to making our research accessible beyond the university.

If you are organising an event that connects members of the public with BU’s research, we can help promote it to relevant audiences through our monthly newsletters and 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

3 March 2025

Being Human Festival 2025: call for applications now open

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

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:

Funded pathway

Festival Event Grants: up to £4,000 to organise a single event or multiple events. Deadline: Thursday 10 April Being Human 2025 – Festival Event Grant – Further Information.pdf

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

Funding details and support available

There is no additional funding available for small expenses, and applicants should seek support from their faculty in the first instance.
The Festival Hub model is not possible this year, as it would require match funding, which we do not have.
If you wish to apply for the £4,000 event grant, you are welcome to do so, but there is no separate funding for other expenses.
BU’s Public Engagement Team can support applicants by helping them plan and design engagement activities to ensure meaningful and effective public interaction.

Further details about how to apply, and answers to some frequently asked questions, are available 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.

All sessions are free and take place online, but booking is required. Find out more and book individual sessions.

Toolkits

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

28 February 2025

Bournemouth University at Dorchester’s Celebration of Science

Genoveva Esteban

BU is a key partner in Dorchester’s annual celebration of science during the British Science Week (7-16 March 2025), significantly contributing to its success and educational impact. The Dorchester Science Festival features diverse scientific events, culminating in the Family Science Day on Sunday, March 16^th, at the Dorset Museum & Art Gallery.

The university’s involvement brings valuable research expertise and hands-on learning experiences to attendees of the Family Science Day, contributing to the 24 science stalls on offer. BU staff and students actively share their research with children and families, representing various fields including Neuroscience and virtual reality (MINE Research Cluster, Xun He, Fred Charles Charles and Damla Kuleli); Forensic Sciences (Richard Paul and Nikky Jones); Biomedical Sciences (Anna Mantzouratou and Sarah Upson); Biological Sciences (Demetra Andreou); Marine Conservation (Jocelyn Elson-Riggins); Microbial Ecology (Genoveva Esteban).

These presentations offer hands-on activities for visitors of all ages, increasing BU’s visibility in the local community while promoting understanding of scientific issues and encouraging interest in STEM fields. BU’s involvement demonstrates its commitment to widening participation in science and creating positive impact in the community, helping to make the Dorchester Science Festival an engaging and educational event that inspires future generations of scientists and fosters connections between academia and the public.

Professor Genoveva Esteban from the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences (SciTech) co-organises the Dorchester Science Festival and the Family Science Day in collaboration with the Town Council and others. The Dorchester Science Festival has been funded by the Royal Society of Biology, the Institute of Physics, Dorchester Town Council, Market Cross UK LTD and the Dorset Museum & Art Gallery.

Full programme of events can be found on the Festival’s facebook page. For more info, please contact Genoveva Esteban gesteban@bournemouth.ac.uk

17 February 2025

Calling PGRs – Take Part in Our First Annual Research Café PGR Session

Knowledge Exchange, PG research, Public engagement yokselferraris

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.

🕔 Application deadline: Friday, 14 March, 5:00 pm.

Please note: Completing this form does not guarantee a place in the event. We will be in touch to discuss your interest further.

For any questions, please contact the Public Engagement with Research Team at publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk.

17 February 2025

Explore BU’s Research: Introducing our new Research Café series

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

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

14 February 2025

Help us highlight BU’s community and cultural engagement

HEIF, Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

Your involvement counts – share details of BU’s social, community and cultural events for the annual Higher Education Business & Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey

BU has to report on a range of knowledge exchange activities for HE-BCI, which is collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

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.

For 2024-25, BU received £549,064.

Data collection period

The SharePoint site 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.

If you have any questions about the data collection, please contact publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk.

14 February 2025

Being Human Festival 2025: call for applications now open

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

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:

Funded pathway

Festival Event Grants: up to £4,000 to organise a single event or multiple events. Deadline: Thursday 10 April Being Human 2025 – Festival Event Grant – Further Information.pdf

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

Funding details and support available

There is no additional funding available for small expenses, and applicants should seek support from their faculty in the first instance.
The Festival Hub model is not possible this year, as it would require match funding, which we do not have.
If you wish to apply for the £4,000 event grant, you are welcome to do so, but there is no separate funding for other expenses.
BU’s Public Engagement Team can support applicants by helping them plan and design engagement activities to ensure meaningful and effective public interaction.

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.

All sessions are free and take place online, but booking is required. Find out more and book individual sessions.

Toolkits

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

13 February 2025

Share your research with a public audience at BU’s new Research Café

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

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.

Ready to get involved?

Complete our expressions of interest form to register your interest.

Please note completing the form does not guarantee a spot. We will reach out to discuss your potential participation.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Public Engagement with Research Team at publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

Tagged / public engagement

Promote your public engagement event to wider audiences

Research Café: Showcasing Tomorrow’s Researchers – Tuesday 6 May 6:30-8pm

We want to hear from you – Tell us about your involvement in Social, Cultural, and Community events

March’s Research Café – How can we help protect our towns and cities from cyberattacks?

BU’s Research Café kicks off exploring cybersecurity in smart cities

We can help you engage more people in your public engagement event

Being Human Festival 2025: call for applications now open

Bournemouth University at Dorchester’s Celebration of Science