Submitting Institution: Chester (University of)

REF impact found 30 Case Studies

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Community Carbon Reduction

Summary of the impact

Roy Alexander's innovative research into climate change awareness and behaviour change has transformed the way the world looks at this issue.

It has enabled a Cheshire village to reduce its domestic carbon footprint by 20% and become an established model for communities across the globe. Dissemination of his research has reached around a billion people worldwide and stimulated the establishment of similar projects across the UK, and as far afield as Canada.

The award-winning initiative has influenced local and national government policy and attracted official visits from the Secretary of State for Defra, the Rural Advocate and Business in the Community.

Submitting Institution

University of Chester

Unit of Assessment

Geography, Environmental Studies and Archaeology

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Earth Sciences: Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration

Conflict management and post-conflict reconstruction in Casamance, Senegal

Summary of the impact

Martin Evans' research concerns conflict and its aftermath in the Casamance region of southern Senegal — the scene of West Africa's longest-running insurgency. His work has influenced policy, humanitarian and development activity in the region and beyond, and has informed Western governments, international agencies and non-governmental organisations in their interventions to support peacebuilding and `post-conflict' reconstruction. In addition, Evans has provided expert testimony in relation to asylum claims made in Western countries by Casamançais fleeing persecution. Building on his previous work, Evans has conducted the underpinning research for this activity while at Chester as a lecturer (February 2009-July 2011) and senior lecturer (August 2011-present).

His work has a lasting impact because of the situation's intractability and the need to address ongoing violence and human displacement. The conflict also retains the capacity to destabilise neighbouring countries.

Submitting Institution

University of Chester

Unit of Assessment

Geography, Environmental Studies and Archaeology

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Political Science
History and Archaeology: Historical Studies

Early Medieval Carved Stones And Landscape: Rhynie Environs Archaeological Project (REAP)

Summary of the impact

Building on Dr Meggen Gondek's expertise in Pictish stone sculpture, the Rhynie Environs Archaeological Project (REAP) has transformed popular understandings of early medieval stone monuments in northern Britain by: (i) creating a network of outreach activities engaging the public during successive seasons of archaeological fieldwork at a unique collection of fifth- to seventh-century early medieval inscribed stone monuments, (ii) disseminating the research discoveries and results to a range of audiences via traditional and new media, (iii) instigated strategies for the heritage management and conservation of the prehistoric and early historic landscape of Rhynie.

Submitting Institution

University of Chester

Unit of Assessment

Geography, Environmental Studies and Archaeology

Summary Impact Type

Cultural

Research Subject Area(s)

History and Archaeology: Archaeology, Curatorial and Related Studies, Historical Studies

Identification of vitamin B12 as a treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease

Summary of the impact

John Williams and colleagues found that serum homocysteine predicted cognitive decline and predicted the potential for vitamin B12 in treatment of dementia, including Alzheimer's Disease. This finding has led to the production of 2 novel cobalamin compounds, glutathionyl cobalamin (GSCbl) and N-acetyl cysteinyl cobalamin (NACCbl), in collaboration with Kent State University (USA), the use of which were patented in USA. We have also identified a novel anti-oxidant activity of vitamin B12. This work has led to the production of Betrinac sold by the Chester company, Cobalz Ltd, in the UK and PamLab Llc, USA.

Submitting Institution

University of Chester

Unit of Assessment

Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Clinical Sciences

Monitoring and prescribing preventive and rehabilitative physical activity for cardiovascular and neuromuscular diseases as a catalyst to being involved in national and international standards of practice

Summary of the impact

This research into the effective management of exertion intensity, symptoms and pain in the treatment of cardiovascular and neuromuscular diseases has resulted in the setting of national and international standards for safe and effective education, training and professional practice.

Physical activity forms a core component in the prevention and rehabilitation of cardiovascular disease and in genetically acquired neuromuscular disorders. Physical activity benefits are linked to the volume — frequency, intensity and duration — of participation, which will bring about physiological and/or psychosocial improvements.

Submitting Institution

University of Chester

Unit of Assessment

Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology, Clinical Sciences, Public Health and Health Services

Project Eliseg: Death and Memory in Early Medieval Britain

Summary of the impact

This case study builds upon co-director Professor Howard Williams' expertise in archaeologies of memory and mortuary archaeology through the archaeological fieldwork of Project Eliseg (hereafter PE). This project has transformed academic and popular understandings of a unique and striking ancient monument by: (i) creating a network of strategically designed outreach activities engaging the public with archaeological fieldwork at early medieval stone monuments, (ii) disseminating the research to a range of audiences via traditional and new media, and (iii) instigated strategies for the heritage management and conservation of an internationally important heritage site.

Submitting Institution

University of Chester

Unit of Assessment

Geography, Environmental Studies and Archaeology

Summary Impact Type

Cultural

Research Subject Area(s)

Language, Communication and Culture: Literary Studies
History and Archaeology: Archaeology, Historical Studies

Relational and reflective supervision for relational and reflective practice

Summary of the impact

By means of the insights generated from this project, organizational consultants, management coaches, supervisors, practitioners, practice educators and students have been enabled to consider the underpinning theory and application of relational and reflective supervision as means of achieving relational and reflective social work practice. A greater appreciation of the context, significance and use of relationship based, reflective approaches has the potential to encourage application and improve the education, management and practice of social work with children and their families. Outputs have been the first to make the theoretical links between the new profession of management coaching and the supervision and practice of social work.

Submitting Institution

University of Chester

Unit of Assessment

Social Work and Social Policy

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Social Work

Research into Creativity, Education and Professional Practice

Summary of the impact

The focus on creativity in educational practices at Chester is through the Centre for Research into Education, Creativity and Arts through Practice (RECAP), directed by Adams (since 2010) and Owens (since 1993). They have worked worldwide to bring creativity into educational and professional practices by developing innovative approaches to teaching and learning. Their research has brought about extensive international partnerships between HE, arts and professional and business institutions and groups, which has informed policy development on creative education worldwide. Their contemporary creative pedagogies have impacted on teacher education and the professional development of teachers, arts groups, communities and businesses throughout this international community.

Submitting Institution

University of Chester

Unit of Assessment

Education

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Education: Specialist Studies In Education
Studies In Creative Arts and Writing: Art Theory and Criticism, Performing Arts and Creative Writing

‘Crescendo’ – exploring propaganda film productions from Chinese state cinema from the 1950s to the 1970s

Summary of the impact

Described as `heroic' by Louise Clements (Artistic Director of QUAD, Derby), Dinu Li's very personal work has been seen as influential in the context of the development of political and economic change in China and the adoption of western contemporary art values. This year-long research project explored propaganda film productions from Chinese state cinema from the 1950s to the 1970s, with particular focus on themes of peasant uprising. Crescendo was the result of collaboration between Li and a group of villagers who had lost their homes to a road development — they feared corruption and were angry at the lack of compensation and the disregard to their human rights. Over the course of several clandestine meetings, a video art installation was created, with the villagers' participation. The work was considered too politically challenging for Shenzhen OCT Contemporary Art Terminal (OCAT Shenzhen), the host institution, and this underlined the tension between reaching out to a contemporary democratic participatory art process and the values of the current political regime in China.

Submitting Institution

University of Chester

Unit of Assessment

Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory

Summary Impact Type

Cultural

Research Subject Area(s)

Language, Communication and Culture: Cultural Studies
History and Archaeology: Historical Studies

Drama in Schools as Cultural Intervention – Romanian Case Study

Summary of the impact

Teaching and learning in Romanian schools is being transformed by the idea that the arts can have a cultural impact on learning and that drama can enhance everyday performativity. Thousands of students have been involved in this research, which has led to the foundation of the Educational Drama Association of Romania, an independent, sustainable and locally governed organisation whose aim is being achieved in schools across Romania. EDAR works to promote drama in education, both as an elective and extra-curricular activity, to develop critical thinking.

Submitting Institution

University of Chester

Unit of Assessment

Music, Drama, Dance and Performing Arts

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy, Specialist Studies In Education
Language, Communication and Culture: Cultural Studies

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