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Methods of Researching Digital Harms and Cybercrime: An Interdisciplinary Symposium – Wednesday 15 July

Join this upcoming interdisciplinary symposium exploring how researchers safely and effectively study cybercrime, online safety, and digital manipulation in the digital age

Supported by the Research Culture and Community Grant and organised by Dr Mark Berry, the day features insights spanning psychology, AI, criminology, and media ethics.

The symposium is designed for academic staff, early career researchers, and postgraduate researchers working on digital harms, online safety, or cybersecurity who are seeking interdisciplinary collaborations. It is also highly relevant for sector practitioners and stakeholders, including those in policing, digital investigation, victim support, policy, education, and third-sector organisations.

Highlights Include

  • NCA Keynote: Protecting Children from Online Harms – Robert Richardson and DCI Adam Smith on law enforcement challenges and the vital role of academic research.
  • AI & Cyber Communities: Using AI/BERT models to analyse text corpuses from massive hacker forums (Prof. John McAlaney).
  • Policy & Social Media: The absurdist cycle of “ban solutionism” regarding children and social media (Prof. Andy Phippen).
  • Crypto & Fraud: Machine learning models for real-time fraud detection in crypto wallets (Dr Muntadher Sallal).
  • Gaming & Gambling: Mixed-methods approaches to researching digital harms with neurodivergent youth (Dr Emily Arden-Close & Dr Constantina Panourgia).
  • International Insights: A digital anthropology approach to countering child recruitment narratives on social media in Colombia (Juan Pablo Hernández).

Event Details

Wednesday 15 July 15, 9:30am-5pm

The Allsebrook Lecture Theatre, Talbot Campus

Coffee, lunch, and dedicated Q&A networking blocks are included throughout the day.

Find out more and register here

ECR Funding Open Call: Research Culture & Community Grant – Apply Now

Funding opportunities

Research Culture & Community Grant – Relaunch with dedicated ECR Funding

Following the success of the Doctoral College Research Culture & Community Grant for our PGR community, we are excited to announce a new funding strand specifically for Early Career Researchers.

This is your opportunity to secure dedicated funding to develop your ideas, build essential collaborations, and grow professionally within BU’s research environment.

We have set aside grants to support ECR-led social and/or academic events. Whether it is a social mixer, a focused training workshop, or a creative new initiative, we want to empower you to enhance the BU research culture and community.

Which stream is right for your idea?

We have two dedicated streams to support a diverse range of activities:

Stream 1: Researcher Development 

This stream supports the organisation of skills-focused workshops, events, or initiatives designed to build research capacity. 

  • Grants Available: Up to £500 per activity
  • Examples: Specialised research methods workshops, inviting an external guest speaker, or dedicated academic writing sessions. 

Stream 2: Research Culture & Community 

This stream supports initiatives focused on community building, well-being, or social activities that enhance the overall research culture at BU. 

  • Grants Available: Up to £300 per activity. 
  • Examples: Cultural and social events, or activities specifically designed to enhance researcher well-being. 

Key Terms & Conditions 

Please review the following terms before submitting your application: 

One Activity Limit: No ECR should be the primary organiser of more than one activity. 

Community Reach: Activities should be engaging and made available to the full PGR community. 

Commitment: Organisers must be committed to promoting, delivering, and evaluating their activity. 

Timeline: Activities must take place and be invoiced before 31 July 2026. 

Originality: Activities should not duplicate those already on offer elsewhere within the Doctoral College or wider University. 

Match Funding: Contributions from other sources are welcome to complement the Doctoral College grant. 

Non-Retrospective: Funding will not be offered for activities that have already taken place. 

Ready to apply?

If you would like to discuss your ideas before submitting your application, we encourage you to get in touch. Please contact Enrica Conrotto, Researcher Development Manager at researcherdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk

The closing date for all applications is 4pm, Friday 12 December 2025

Apply here 

We look forward to seeing your ideas and supporting you in shaping the future of community and development at BU.

The Researcher Development and Culture Team