Submitting Institution: Bedfordshire (University of)

REF impact found 24 Case Studies

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Biosensor technologies for improved environmental monitoring

Summary of the impact

Reliable and timely measurements are vital for innovation, trade, environmental protection and quality of life. University of Bedfordshire work with measurement systems was already established in 1993 with commercially sponsored work to develop and patent sensors for rapid toxicity assessment in the water industry. Biosensor technologies provide approaches to development and application of cost effective devices for measurement at the point of need in many fields of application and the university's Sensor Research Group has continued to work with industry to develop robust (bio)sensor systems to address business and society needs — particularly with respect to environmental protection, health and wellbeing.

Submitting Institution

University of Bedfordshire

Unit of Assessment

Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Environmental

Research Subject Area(s)

Mathematical Sciences: Statistics
Chemical Sciences: Analytical Chemistry
Engineering: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Building Media Development and Journalism Education in Africa

Summary of the impact

The impact outlined here derives from research done by Professors Ivor Gaber and Jon Silverman in the related fields of political reporting, justice and democratic accountability through freedom of expression. This work, conducted under the aegis of the Centre for International Media Analysis, Research and Consultancy (CIMARC) at the University of Bedfordshire (UoB), has influenced both the policy environment and professional practice. For example, (in Gaber's case) improving the news coverage of elections in Nigeria, Malawi and Uganda; and (in Silverman's) working towards post-conflict reconciliation in Liberia and Sierra Leone, through an analysis of the media's reporting of war crimes trials.

Submitting Institution

University of Bedfordshire

Unit of Assessment

Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management 

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Political Science
Law and Legal Studies: Law
Studies In Creative Arts and Writing: Journalism and Professional Writing

Choreographing technology

Summary of the impact

How can digital technology redefine choreographic practices? This is an important question in terms of: the impact of networked technologies in connecting individuals virtually; screen interfaces as mediated contexts for embodied communication; the impact of technology in mediating experiences of motion. Interest in these questions is manifest in both academic, practice-led research and professional arts contexts.

This case study identifies how interdisciplinary, collaborative choreography and technology research projects undertaken within the Centre for Applied Research in Dance have focussed on choreographic innovation in live, mediated networked environments and the development of software tools enabling new methods of choreography and documentation.

Submitting Institution

University of Bedfordshire

Unit of Assessment

Music, Drama, Dance and Performing Arts

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing
Studies In Creative Arts and Writing: Film, Television and Digital Media, Performing Arts and Creative Writing

Cyberstalking countermeasures adopted by Government bodies

Summary of the impact

The extensive knowledge and understanding built up by the National Centre for Cyberstalking Research (NCCR) at the University of Bedfordshire (UoB) has provided the basis for decisions, plans and training programmes by UK government and official bodies including the Stalking and Harassment Working Group of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), who are seeking to understand, counter and legislate for cyberstalking; a change in UK law has taken place. Public presentations and extensive international media coverage of the NCCR findings has resulted in an appreciation of, and public debate on, the nature and dangers of cyberstalking, along with potential protection options for victims.

Submitting Institution

University of Bedfordshire

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Legal

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Data Format
Technology: Communications Technologies

Enabling high-quality, low power mobile broadband services

Summary of the impact

Femtocells provide short-range (e.g. 10m) wireless coverage which enables a conventional cellular communication system to be accessed indoors. Their widespread and growing use has been aided by the work in UoA11 by the University of Bedfordshire (UoB).

In 2008, while the femtocell concept was still in its infancy, researchers at UoB with expertise in wireless networks recognised that coverage prediction and interference reduction techniques would be essential if the benefits of that concept were to be realised.

Collaboration with two industrial partners (an international organisation and a regional SME) resulted in tools that enable operators to simulate typical femtocell deployment scenarios, such as urban, dense apartments, terraced house and small offices, before femtocells can be reliably deployed by users without affecting the rest of the network (a benefit of the technology). These tools have been deployed by those partners to support their businesses. A widely-cited textbook, written for network engineers, researchers and final year students, has brought knowledge of femtocell operation to a wider audience.

Submitting Institution

University of Bedfordshire

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Computation Theory and Mathematics, Information Systems
Technology: Communications Technologies

Energy supply industry design capability and chip manufacturers’ market performance are significantly enhanced by integrated computer hardware and software

Summary of the impact

Effective industrial design and simulation require efficient and versatile computing systems. As a result of research performed by our team experienced in High Performance Computing (HPC), novel software structures and aligned hardware architectures have led to significant benefits to the energy supply industry and to microprocessor manufacturers.

As a result of our research with supercomputing, simulation times for electric field patterns in power components have reduced more than 30-fold, with accurate complex 3-D outputs for an increased range of configurations, thereby enabling our partner company to achieve results not possible with commercial software and to reduce product development costs by $0.5M - $5M p.a.

Our research has been incorporated by Intel into their numerical libraries and now made available to the general public supported by their latest processor architectures. Intel now has a 82% share of processors, according to the November 2013 Top500 list.

Submitting Institution

University of Bedfordshire

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing, Computation Theory and Mathematics, Computer Software

Enhancing the international higher education experience through the clearer specification of Academic English proficiency and through improved assessment products and practice

Summary of the impact

Academic English language skills are essential if overseas students are to perform effectively in university/college contexts and to engage in study with relative independence and adequate comprehension. The Centre for Research in English Language Learning and Assessment (CRELLA) has developed a theoretically sound and practically efficient methodology for the construction and validation of tertiary-level Academic English tests used in the selection of millions of students by universities worldwide. Greater precision in language tests enables academic institutions to target their resources in ways that bring maximum benefit to students, both pre- and post-entry. CRELLA's research into how English is employed in academic contexts has led to significant improvements in test design and practice, and added to the commercial impact of both the existing tests to which they have contributed and the new tests they have created. Over £1.6 million was generated by our development of the Password test alone — see Section 4 below.

Submitting Institution

University of Bedfordshire

Unit of Assessment

English Language and Literature

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

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

Impact of the development of the Coach Analysis Intervention System (CAIS)

Summary of the impact

Dr. Stephen Harvey and colleagues have developed a computerised observation software tool for the systematic analysis of coaching behaviour. Designed for use on an iPad, the Coach Analysis Intervention System (CAIS) is able to provide researchers, coach educators, and coaches with a range of data that helps coaches improve their practice. In terms of impact, CAIS has been endorsed by national sports governing bodies. A company, in which Dr. Harvey is a shareholder, has been set up to actively develop the software tool.

Submitting Institution

University of Bedfordshire

Unit of Assessment

Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services
Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration
Psychology and Cognitive Sciences: Psychology

Improved Care and Support for Older People with Diabetes

Summary of the impact

The work of IDOP has resulted in:

  • Improved awareness of challenges posed by diabetes in older people among NHS commissioners and service providers
  • Greater recognition at national and international level of the importance of frailty in diabetes
  • Developing the growing national community network for practice and learning (ODN)
  • Publication of UK and European Guidelines for clinicians outlining better standards of diabetes care and best clinical practice
  • Improved service commissioning by creation and dissemination of specific guidance
  • Initiating major new national, European and global projects being initiated, attracting considerable funds, and providing the platform for enhanced diabetes care in older people (see www.instituteofdiabetes.org).

Submitting Institution

University of Bedfordshire

Unit of Assessment

Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Clinical Sciences, Public Health and Health Services

Improving access to education for marginalised groups

Summary of the impact

This group of four research studies has improved access to education in schools and higher education (inter)nationally through changes to policy and practice:

a) a study of online construction of men and women in science, engineering and technology resulted in a practical toolkit that has informed gender equality in online media;

b) the recommendations of an investigation into support needs of parent students in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have informed national policy and practice;

c) material contribution to others' work resulted in development of culturally appropriate pedagogical practices in New Zealand secondary schools and raised Māori students' achievement;

d) research syntheses impacted on teacher professional development in special needs education.

Submitting Institution

University of Bedfordshire

Unit of Assessment

Education

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy, Specialist Studies In Education
Studies In Human Society: Sociology

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