BU Research Blog

9 November 2017

BU’s Sascha Dov Bachmann presents on Hybrid Warfare at UNG, USA

international, Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement sbachmann

Dr Sascha Dov Bachmann, Associate Professor in International Law (BU) and War Studies (Swedish Defence University – FHS), Research Fellow at CEMIS, Stellenbosch University and Director of BU’s Centre for Conflict,Rule of Law and Society presented his work on Hybrid Warfare at the University of North Georgia, USA.

Its Institute for Leadership and Strategic Studies hosted an international symposium on on “Civil-Military Cooperation and International Collaboration in Cyber Operations”.

The Institute for Leadership and Strategic Studies (ILSS) was formed in September, 2015 on UNG’s Dahlonega Campus. The vision of the Institute is to make the Corps of Cadets a nationally-recognized program of choice for students pursuing careers as successful leaders in the U.S. Army, government and non-government agencies, and corporations with global interests, in support of U.S. national security. Graduates of the Corps of Cadets are highly sought after.

Sascha was invited to share the findings of his ongoing work (see BU Research News) on

Hybrid Warfare (see Interview in Remote Control Project by Oxford Research Group: Sascha Dov Bachmann) and NATO/US approaches to Hybrid Threats/Warfare (such as human trafficking, poaching and terrorism and cyber).

Sascha reflected on his work with various organizations and security actors such as US CENTCOM, NATO and national academic partners such as the Swedish Defence University, the Austrian Ministry of Defence as well as the UK Parliament’s Defence Select Committee.

6 November 2017

ESRC Festival – Weekend fun outdoors

Public engagement hcrossen

On Sunday BU and RSPB staff along with volunteers from SUBU enjoyed hearing what young people under 12 years old thought about about being outdoors.

The research team welcomed over 60 children to the KingFisher Barn to take part in this ESRC Festival of Social Sciences event. There were various outdoor activities for the young people to try including den building in the woods. Many of the fun activities also gave young visitors the opportunity to share their ideas about the importance of spending time outdoors playing with friends or family. Many of the young visitors added their ideas to the event’s ‘Big ideas Trees’. There was also the chance for them to suggest how green spaces could be improved to make them more attractive as places to play. Not all the data has been analysed yet but it would seem for the under 5’s one popular enhancement to any green space would be more muddy puddles!

3 November 2017

ESRC Festival event: Me and my green space

Public engagement hcrossen

On Sunday the Kingfisher Barn, Muscliffe will be the venue for an ESRC Festival event. BU staff from the Faculties of Health and Social Sciences and Media and Communications have developed the event in collaboration with the RSPB and Bournemouth Borough Council Parks. The event called Me and my green space is aimed at young people aged 12 years and under. There will a range of activities to help open a dialogue with younger visitors about what they think green spaces are, do they use them during play and if so what type of activities they like to do in the green spaces they visit. The research team is also interested in whether the young people have ideas about improving access to green spaces or any thoughts about how these areas could offer more enjoyment to younger visitors. The activities on offer will be den building, arts and crafts based on natural materials, an arboretum trail and river dipping. SUBU are helping to support the delivery of several of these activities. The event will end with a lantern trail to light up the woodland area around the Kingfisher Barn. All the research team – Holly Crossen-White, Angela Turner-Wilson (HSS), Annie East and Nathan Farrell (FMC) – invite you to come along and enjoy some outdoor fun – and the weather is going to be good too!

10 October 2017

CMMPH at Poole NHS Maternity ‘Whose Shoes?’ event

international, Knowledge Exchange, PG research, student research Edwin van Teijlingen

Friday 6th October St Mary’s Maternity Unit, part of Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, held a Whose Shoes? event in Poole. Whose Shoes?® is a facilitation tool to help empower both staff and service users of services. Friday’s event was led by Gill Phillips, the person behind the original idea of Whose Shoes?®. Gill’s approach involves promoting understanding and empathy by looking at issues from a wide range of perspectives from a range of possible stakeholders.

The event Poole was initiated by NHS midwife Jillian Ireland, who is also BU Visiting Faculty in our Centre for Midwifery, Maternal & Perinatal Health (CMMPH). She was assisted by Dr. Jen Leamon, who helped facilitate NHS maternity staff, pregnant women and new mothers, in their discussions. Jen is Senior Lecturer in Midwifery at BU and she facilitated the discussion with the aid of the Whose Shoes? board game. In the afternoon Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen (also based in CMMPH) led a discussion of reflection and reflective practice with midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs). CMMPH’s involvement in the event is part of our wider collaboration with the NHS locally in the field of midwifery education.

The Whose Shoes? board game is also by CMMPH in a very different context as PhD student Alice Ladur has translated the game to test it in Uganda. Alice first did a pilot study with African men living in London before embarking on a project to improve men’s involvement in maternity care in rural Uganda.

8 October 2017

BU academic writes in national newspaper Nepal

international, Publishing, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

Dr. Pramod Regmi, Lecturer in International Health in the Faculty of Health & Social Care, wrote in today’s edition of my Republica under the title ‘Health for all’. This article in one of Nepal’s national daily newspapers my Republica, is co-authored with Mr. Bhagirath Yogy, a BBC journalist based in London.

The idea of universal health insurance is high on the international agenda as it is regarded as a potential solution to offering universal health care, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Too many people across the globe have no or poor access to health care when they need it and national or local health insurance can help some populations in improving their access to health workers and health facilities.

Congratulations!

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

CMMPH

13 September 2017

Research flying high for BU – Bournemouth Air Festival was a roaring success

Public engagement biddled

The public were all smiles down at the Bournemouth Air Festival over the first weekend of September. Even as the rain poured, we had hundreds of people engaging in our research which ranged from testing your taste buds to having a go on Bournemouth University’s very own Virtual Reality headset.

“I loved seeing both old and young interested in finding out about our recreation of a local historical landmark. It is brilliant to see all areas of the public wanting to learn more and hear about the future of our research!”

The researchers who joined us from both Bournemouth and Southampton had an amazing time interacting with the public. Both young and old were fascinated by the technology we were showcasing – VR headsets and 3D printers – as well as having a go at the interactive ‘Scams and Ladders’ board that Sally Lee and Lee-Ann Fenge had brought to show the public the effects of not being careful with your money.

Cancer Research UK joined us from Southampton and told us how pleased they were to see so many people engaging with their research. Even the research engagement manager commented that “it was great to be able to talk to smaller groups of people for a longer period of time and really get into what research we do as close as Southampton. It was great to see how the engagement was teaching them something new about the research we are currently undertaking to help fight cancer!”

Everyone was obsessed with these models that were being printed on the day – you were even able to have a go at designing a 3D model yourself”

We are so glad to have joined up with the British Science Association, Siemens, University of Southampton, Cancer Research UK, and Barclays to bring an engaging tent of science to the Bournemouth Air Festival. We are grateful to everyone who got involved with our events and we hope to see you at our future events over the next year, check out our website for more information!

“The British Science Association helped us attract people to the tent with some Science Busking – everyone loved learning about the Bernoulli Principle and migrated straight into the Science tent after to learn even more”

5 September 2017

Telling tales of Engagement competition- DEADLINE 6/12/17

Public engagement emilner

The EPSRC are offering three prizes of £10,000 for RCUK Digital Economy (DE) grantholders to help capture and promote the impact the Digital Economy grant is having. Applicants will need to explain how they will use the prize to engage the public with their research and demonstrate what the benefits of the research have been. Applications must be received no later than 12:00 noon on Wednesday 06 December 2017.

To discuss this further please contact Ehren Milner (emilner@bournemouth.ac.uk).

28 July 2017

Summer Science Exhibition – Call for proposals open now

Funding opportunities, Knowledge Exchange, Student Engagement, student research Joanna Pawlik

The Royal Society is looking for brilliant science and scientists to feature at the Summer Science Exhibition 2018.

The Exhibition features the UK’s most inspiring research and is a chance for scientists to showcase their work to over 14,000 people, including everyone from school children and families to MPs and Fellows of the Royal Society. Exhibitors are supported throughout the process and get dedicated support, advice and guidance from our Exhibition team.

It’s a great event to be part of, but as our motto (Nullius in verba) urges, don’t take our word for it. A 2017 exhibitor said:

“The whole week of the exhibition was fabulous. All our team thoroughly enjoyed the event and it has been a memorable experience for us. We have learned a lot from this.”

The call for proposals closes on 1 September 2017 and the Exhibition will run from 2 – 8 July 2018.

If you are interested in finding out more or applying, please visit this website: https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2017/summer-science-exhibition/proposals/.

Please direct all enquiries to exhibition@royalsociety.org.

28 July 2017

U3A Public Lectures – Public Engagement Opportunity

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement Joanna Pawlik

Public engagement team is currently looking for speakers for U3A Public Lectures day taking place on Monday 11th September at EBC.

The University of the Third Age are a community of retired/ semi retired people who enjoy the reward of learning and take part in regular groups and sessions to expand their skills and life experiences.

They are very enthusiastic audience so be prepared for lots of questions and interesting discussion about your research.

We are looking for talks that fit into the history theme as we’re inviting Boldre Parish Historical Society to join us, but if your research is not directly related we’d still love for you to be involved!

This is a half day event, however we only ask for you to be there for duration of your talk (30-40 minute talk followed by Q&A session)

If this sounds like something you would like to do or know someone who may be interested, please drop us an email – fol@bournemouth.ac.uk

We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

25 July 2017

Nuffield Research Placements: “My experience at the Orthopaedic Research Institute”

Coffee Morning, innovation, Knowledge Exchange, PG research, Public engagement, Student Engagement, student research Francesco Ferraro

Hi, my name is Holly Coombs.

I am currently doing a research placement at Bournemouth University as part of the Nuffield programme, which gives people at the end of their first year of A-levels a chance to work with professionals in science based professions.

Alongside PGR Francesco Ferraro, I have been predominantly working on his study on inspiratory muscle training and how by using a device called POWERbreathe is possible to improve inspiratory muscles strength.

I will be at Bournemouth University for four weeks where at the end I am going to write a report that will hopefully be published by the Young Scientist Journal.

My report is going to be on the Timed Up and Go test (TUG). It is going to include information about what the TUG test is, as well as how it can help us to predict falls and measure stability.

My whole aim of this placement is to gain research skills that will help me later in life as I intend to pursue a medical career.

On the 20th July, I got the chance to use two surgical simulators:

The Orthopaedic Research Institute (ORI) contains the Ossim SimK total knee replacement simulator, and the VirtaMed knee arthroscopy. This is the only lab in Europe where the two simulators are together.

Indeed, the ORI produces high-quality research which helps doctors and students to understand and learn more about many fields, including orthopaedic surgery, knee and hip replacements. With the aid of Shayan Bahadori (Orthopaedic Research project manager), I progressed from drilling holes into a piece of woods to trying a full knee replacement. Next, I got to try my hand at a knee arthroscopy which I found very challenging.

From trying these surgical simulators, I have learned that perseverance and resilience are essential. At first, I found that even just drilling holes into a piece of wood using the simulator was incredibly hard. However, as I used and practiced the simulators more, I could feel myself improving and progressing in the fundamental skills required.

This is a valuable experience to have gained as it is essential for all careers, not just medical ones.

In conclusion, continuing my placement, I hope to assist in the carrying out of respiratory muscles tests and I hope that by the end of my internship I will have a greater understanding of what it takes to conduct a research study and also how the data collected can be used and analysed.

17 July 2017

NIHR seeks peer reviewers

Funding opportunities, Research assessment Lisa Andrews

The National Institute for Health Research is recruiting medical scientists, practitioners and lay people to join its pool of peer reviewers.

Interested parties can apply as an individual with professional experience or as a patient, carer or member of the public.

In particular, the institute is looking for candidates from within the health service with expertise as academics, clinicians, health service managers, practitioners and public health professionals. It is also looking for individuals working in social care, patients, the general public and others whose work could impact on health.

To find out more and apply, see here.

6 July 2017

Why Yawning is Important in Studying Multiple Sclerosis by Dr Simon Thompson

BRIAN, conferences, Fusion, innovation, international, Knowledge Exchange, Knowledge Transfer, Public engagement, Research themes, staff profile pages Simon Thompson

What is MS?

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic debilitating and progressive condition that affects the fatty tissue sheath surrounding nerves. Loss of the myelin sheath is largely responsible for uncoordinated movements because the nerves cannot transmit signals smoothly across the complex neural circuitry. A common symptom of MS is excessive yawning together with fatigue.

Research study

Following recent completion of a study at the Osborne Centre, West Parley, we found that people with MS had higher cortisol levels when yawning compared with healthy participants.

Previous research at Bournemouth University

This research follows several years of research by the author at Bournemouth University with the first report on the “yawning envelope”, identifying the electrical trace during yawning (Refs. 1-2), and the first report on the association between yawning and cortisol levels following provoked yawning (Refs. 3-6).

Yawning “envelope”

“Contagious” yawning is seen in animals as well humans; it may involve empathy to perceived social cues in humans.

Yawning: (clockwise) Fox, Pig, Human, Hippopotamus

A series of 3 Q and A events with talks about findings was held at the MS Society local branch which facilitated an interesting and lively debate among participants, researchers and staff at the Centre.

Further research planned

We believe that threshold levels of cortisol trigger the yawn response which lowers brain temperature, particularly important in MS where brain temperatures can be elevated considerably following fatigue. A funding bid is in preparation to examine early detection of MS using these findings.

About the author

Simon B N Thompson is Associate Professor, Bournemouth University; and Visiting Professor, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense, France. He has presented to His Excellency Bernard Emié, the French Ambassador at the French Embassy, signalling formation of the Anglo-French International Scientific Council for Research into Multiple Sclerosis.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to all volunteers; Alister Coleman and Nicola Williams for assisting in data collection and analysis; Rod Slip, Group Co-ordinator and Kay Bundy, Fundraising Co-ordinator of the MS Society Osborne Centre for providing free facilities.

References

1. Thompson, S.B.N., 2013. How to catch a yawn: initial observations of a randomised controlled trial. WMC Neurology, 4(8), doi: 10.9754/journal.wmc.2013.004371.
2. Thompson, S.B.N., Frankham, C., & Bishop, P., 2014. The art of capturing a yawn using the science of nerve impulses and cortisol levels in a randomized controlled trial. Thompson Cortisol Hypothesis as a potential predictor of neurological impairment. International Journal of Arts & Sciences, 7(3), 529-543.
3. Thompson, S.B.N., 2011. Born to yawn? Cortisol linked to yawning: a new hypothesis. Medical Hypotheses, 77, 861-862.
4. Thompson, S.B.N., & Bishop, P., 2012. Born to yawn? Understanding yawning as a warning of the rise in cortisol levels: randomized trial. Interactive Journal of Medical Research, 1(2), e4, 1-9, doi: 10.2196/ijmr.2241.
5. Thompson, S. B. N., Daly, S., Le Blanche, A., Adibi, M., Belkhiria, C., Driss, T., de Marco, G., 2016. fMRI randomized study of mental and motor task performance and cortisol levels to potentiate cortisol as a new diagnostic biomarker. Journal of Neurology & Neuroscience, 7(2); 92: 1-8.
6. Thompson, S.B.N., 2017. Hypothesis to explain yawning, cortisol rise, brain cooling and motor cortex involvement of involuntary arm movement in neurologically impaired patients. Journal of Neurology & Neuroscience, 8(1); 167: 1-5.

27 June 2017

Multiple Sclerosis Research in Bournemouth – Dr Simon B N Thompson

BRIAN, BU Challenges, conferences, Fusion, Grants Academy, innovation, international, Public engagement, Research assessment, Research Integritiy, Research themes, staff profile pages Simon Thompson

MS is a chronic debilitating and progressive condition that affects the fatty tissue sheath surrounding nerves. Incomplete innervation due to loss of the myelin sheath is largely responsible for uncoordinated movements. Brain temperature fluctuations are also often seen in people with MS together with fatigue when carrying out mentally or physically demanding tasks. These are commonly associated with excessive yawning yet the cause of fatigue in MS is not well understood.

A recently completed study asked participants to produce saliva into a small tube so that their cortisol levels could be analysed. They were also asked to look at presentations that provoked a yawning response. Results revealed that all of the participants had elevated cortisol levels after yawning and that there was a marked difference in cortisol levels between the healthy participants and those with MS.

Yawning: Pynq Thompson aged 28 days

Thompson Cortisol Hypothesis (Ref.1) proposes threshold levels of cortisol trigger the yawn response which lowers brain temperature. Correlation between brain temperature and cortisol is to be further examined together with comparison between UK and Norwegian participants with MS since the incidence of MS is greater in Scandinavian countries (and Canada and Scotland) possibly due to vitamin D and K reduction with reduced sunlight.

Previous studies have examined electromyograph (EMG) activity during yawning and manipulation of conditions to provoke yawning (Refs. 2,3). Brain regions and cortisol activity has been identified in MS in an international study (Ref. 4); and a new understanding proposed of communication between the motor cortex and brain-stem (Ref.5).

Yawning EMG “envelope” of activity

We have recently completed a trial in Bournemouth that recruited over 80 healthy participants and over 30 people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

A funding bid is being prepared to examine the feasibility of producing the early detection of MS and cortisol-insufficiency syndromes using observed yawning frequency and cortisol levels.

Simon B N Thompson is Associate Professor, Bournemouth University; Visiting Professor, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense, France. Member of International Scientific Council for Research into Multiple Sclerosis following presentation to French Ambassador, His Excellency Bernard Emié, French Embassy.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to all volunteers; Alister Coleman and Nicola Williams for assisting in data collection and analysis; Rod Slip, Group Co-ordinator and Kay Bundy, Fundraising Co-ordinator of the MS Society Osborne Centre for providing free facilities.

Note

The author would welcome interest in collaborating in writing bids for funding international work.

References

1. Thompson, S.B.N., 2011. Born to yawn? Cortisol linked to yawning: a new hypothesis. Medical Hypotheses, 77, 861-862.
2. Thompson, S.B.N., & Bishop, P., 2012. Born to yawn? Understanding yawning as a warning of the rise in cortisol levels: randomized trial. Interactive Journal of Medical Research, 1(2), e4, 1-9, doi: 10.2196/ijmr.2241.
3. Thompson, S.B.N., Frankham, C., & Bishop, P., 2014. The art of capturing a yawn using the science of nerve impulses and cortisol levels in a randomized controlled trial. Thompson Cortisol Hypothesis as a potential predictor of neurological impairment. International Journal of Arts & Sciences, 7(3), 529-543.
4. Thompson, S. B. N., Daly, S., Le Blanche, A., Adibi, M., Belkhiria, C., Driss, T., de Marco, G., 2016. fMRI randomized study of mental and motor task performance and cortisol levels to potentiate cortisol as a new diagnostic biomarker. Journal of Neurology & Neuroscience, 7(2); 92: 1-8.
5. Thompson, S.B.N., 2017. Hypothesis to explain yawning, cortisol rise, brain cooling and motor cortex involvement of involuntary arm movement in neurologically impaired patients. Journal of Neurology & Neuroscience, 8(1); 167: 1-5.

21 June 2017

Retreating from coastal areas is not what comes to mind in the hottest week since 1976…

international, Public engagement lesteves

…unless you are Allan Young, who currently is at Bournemouth, after six weeks of travelling across the USA (Hawaii, California, North Carolina and Florida) and Barbados, as part of his Churchill Fellowship on coastal management.

Allan is an urban planner, from Sydney (Australia), currently in the role of Planning Service Leader at EMM Consulting after a long spell as senior manager (Coastal and Natural Resources Policy) for the New South Wales government. The focus of his fellowship research is to identify ways in which implementation of retreat from coastal areas at high risk of erosion or flooding can be more successful. Allan explains that “There is an understandable preference for [coastal] protection in most cases due to the significant behavioural, political and systemic biases at play. Yet we also recognise that, for economic or geo-technical reasons, protection cannot occur everywhere.” He points out that while there are many alternatives (‘products’) on offer for coastal protection, a wide range of retreat options could potentially be effective risk management options, but have not yet been tested – he is trying to understand the reasons.

Allan has learned about my work on managed realignment and coastal management and decided to include BU as one of his destinations to find out more about the approach the UK is taking on coastal retreat. Managed realignment usually involves breaching of embankments or seawalls to create multiple benefits, usually more sustainable flood risk management and creation of intertidal habitats to compensate for habitat loss. I compiled a database of about 145 of such projects in Europe, nearly 60 are in the UK. On 20th June, Allan, Marin Cvitanovic and I visited Medmerry managed realignment site in West Sussex, the largest open coast project in the UK.

The land was purchased by the Environment Agency and is managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. On site, we were greeted by Tim Callaway (RSPB Area Manager) and Stephen Webster (RSPB Site Manager) and Adam Hammerton (Flood and Coastal Risk Management Officer at the Environment Agency). They showed us a 3D printing of the site before and after the breaching and passed on great insights about how the project evolved, stakeholders engagement, changes in perception of local people and the management of the site. Besides the guided field visit, I was also able to collect samples for a pilot study I’m undertaking with colleagues from the Department of Life & Environmental Sciences.

Allan is writing blogs about his visits in LinkedIn – later this week he will post one about his visit to the UK/BU. In the meantime, you can read what he learned in Barbados or the other places.

Interested in finding out more about the Churchill Travel Fellowship? The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust funds UK citizens to investigate inspiring practice in other countries, and return with innovative ideas for the benefit of people across the UK. Deadline for applications this year: 5pm on 19th September 2017.

18 June 2017

BU contributions to international midwifery conference 2017

conferences, international, PG research, student research Edwin van Teijlingen

Today sees the start of the triennial ICM (International Confederation of Midwives) conference in Toronto. BU is well represented in Canada through academics based in the Centre for Midwifery, Maternal and Perinatal Health (CMMPH) presenting posters, papers and workshops. The ICM programme can be accessed on line, click here!

Over the next few days BU staff will present on a collaboration with the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic: ‘Newborn feeding clinic service evaluation: Midwives working in partnership with chiropractors to enhance breastfeeding experiences of mothers & babies in the UK’.

Dr. Rachel Arnold presents on her PhD research at Bournemouth University under the title ‘Ensuring high-quality respectful care in a climate of fear and intimidation’. On Wednesday Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen reports on the maternal mental health training conducted in Nepal in 2016-2017 under the title ‘Mental health training for community maternity workers in Nepal’. Dr. Jenny Hall is co-organiser of a symposium Spirituality and Childbirth with Prof. Susan Crowther and Dr. Celine Lemay.

Moreover there will be many BU poster presentations this week including ones by:

Dr. Rachel Arnold and her PhD supervisors on ‘Women’s rights: the impact of management systems, managers’ practice and attitudes on midwives’;
Dr. Alison Taylor and her PhD supervisors on ‘Early breastfeeding support for first-time UK mothers: A study based on video diaries’ AND a further posters on ‘Mothers need to talk, midwives need to listen: Insights from breastfeeding mother’s video diaries’;
Sara Stride and Dr. Sue Way on ‘UUPP Study: Updating the Understanding of Perineal Practice at the time of birth across the United Kingdom’
Prof. Vanora Hundley, Dr. Ann Luce (BU Faculty of Media & Communication), Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen and two students, Sofie Edlund and Sian Ridden, on ‘Changing the narrative around birth: midwives’ views of working with the media’;
Profs. Vanora Hundley and Edwin van Teijlingen also contributed to a poster produced by Dr. Andrew Symon and colleagues from across the UK: ‘Midwifery-led antenatal care models: Mapping a systematic review to an evidence-based quality framework to identify key components and characteristics of care’.

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Toronto, Canada

23 May 2017

BU’s Sascha Dov Bachmann visits Qatar Armed Forces

international, Knowledge Exchange, Knowledge Transfer, Public engagement sbachmann

Dr Sascha Dov Bachmann, Associate Professor in International Law and Extraordinary Associate Professor in War Studies (Swedish Defence University) visits the Qatar Armed Forces to speak about his work on Hybrid Warfare and the use of law in defensive and offensive operations.

He was invited by the prestigious Joaan Bin Jassim Command and Staff College which has close ties to King’s College London to discuss emerging threat issues in the Gulf region and potential countermeasures.

Sascha will highlight the role of law fare as a potential counter measure and built on his work undertaken on the subject jointly with colleagues from NATO, the Swedish Defence College and the UK Army.

4 May 2017

Final call for ESRC Festival of Social Science applications – Apply now!

Funding opportunities, Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement Joanna Pawlik

There is only one more day left to apply for ESRC Festival of Social Science.

Please be advised that we’ve extended the deadline until midnight on Friday 5th May.

To apply, please complete the application form which can be downloaded from the staff intranet and send it to FestivalofSocialScience@bournemouth.ac.uk

Please contact Joanna Pawlik (jpawlik@bournemouth.ac.uk) or Genna West (gwest@bournemouth.ac.uk) if you would like to discuss your event idea or for further information.

We look forward to hearing from you

4 May 2017

Physiological Society Public Engagement Grants

Funding opportunities, Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement Joanna Pawlik

The Physiological Society is offering grants of up to £5000 to support public engagement. The grants, which are available to both members and non-members, are designed to fund innovative and creative projects on any aspect of physiology. They particularly encourage collaborations between science communicators, artists, facilitators of public engagement, and their members.

The society is open to any ideas from you as to how physiologists can engage with the public and are especially keen to receive project applications which fit under their 2017 focus, ‘Making Sense of Stress’, and our 2018 focus, sleep and circadian rhythm.

The grant scheme aims to:

Inspire creative public engagement with physiology
Stimulate physiologists to share their stories, passion and expertise in innovative ways with wider audiences, particularly those that are traditionally hard to reach
Increase dialogue between researchers and the public, in particular on topics such as the relevance of research to health, medicine and performance.
Produce materials and resources which can be used for further public engagement and outreach work.

The scheme is open year-round with two funding rounds. The next deadline for applications is Wednesday 14 June. The review period will take 6-8 weeks.

For more information please visit: http://www.physoc.org/public-engagement-grants or to discuss this further, please contact your Research Facilitator or Genna West (gwest@bournemouth.ac.uk).

Tagged / public engagement