Submitting Institution: Greenwich (University of)

REF impact found 42 Case Studies

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Activating the Reminiscence Theatre Archive (ARTA)

Summary of the impact

Reminiscence theatre's primary goals are to improve the well-being of senior citizens and promote intergenerational dialogue. ARTA has successfully engaged 100 marginalised older people, 13 young volunteers and over 200 others since 2012. The project has created a new model of reminiscence theatre by proving that archive material can be used instead of live interviews. It has learned the strengths and weaknesses of this approach and found creative solutions to the problems. It has also given the Reminiscence Theatre Archive a long-term `living' future. Finally ARTA has disseminated good practice internationally through a website, articles, training events and conferences.

Submitting Institution

University of Greenwich

Unit of Assessment

English Language and Literature

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Creative Arts and Writing: Performing Arts and Creative Writing
Language, Communication and Culture: Cultural Studies, Literary Studies

Adapting buildings to climate change

Summary of the impact

Climate change will have a profound impact on built environment performance over the next 50 years. More severe flooding and overheating will lead to more obsolete buildings and premature mortality across the UK and Europe. The research team explored the issues surrounding adaptation of the built environment to climate change, and developed a new model of built asset management that integrates adaptation decision making into the building life cycle. The model is being used by facilities managers and surveyors to produce long term asset management plans, and by central and local government policy makers to inform and develop adaptation strategies.

Submitting Institution

University of Greenwich

Unit of Assessment

Architecture, Built Environment and Planning

Summary Impact Type

Environmental

Research Subject Area(s)

Built Environment and Design: Building, Other Built Environment and Design
Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration

Advanced Materials Modelling for Earth and Space Application

Summary of the impact

Research in materials modelling by the Computational Science and Engineering Group (CSEG) is helping aerospace, defence and transport companies design advanced materials and new manufacturing processes. From lightweight components like aeroengine turbine blades to the control of magnetic fields to stabilise the next generation of International Space Station levitation experiments, CSEG is supporting innovations which have:

  • economic impact due to increase in competitiveness, market share, energy cost reduction and better use of raw materials;
  • environmental impact due to new lightweight recyclable materials and reduced energy processes;
  • increased public awareness of the importance of advanced materials and influenced government policy.

In the assessment period, CSEG collaborated closely with leading industries in steel-making (ArcelorMittal, Corus), primary aluminium (Dubal, Rusal, Norsk-Hydro, SAMI) and lightweight structural materials for transport and aerospace (European Space Agency, Rolls-Royce).

Submitting Institution

University of Greenwich

Unit of Assessment

Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Inorganic Chemistry
Engineering: Materials Engineering

Applying computational reliability engineering to the conservation of maritime heritage structures

Summary of the impact

The Centre for Numerical Modelling and Process Analysis (CNMPA) was asked in 2004 to apply its expertise in computational reliability engineering, usually used in high technology manufacturing, to help save the Cutty Sark ship and in 2010 to help restore the Medway Queen. This case study details how our computational expertise had impact and in particular:

  • substantially aided the conservation and restoration of the historic maritime heritage ships;
  • developed a decision support tool for post-restoration maintenance of the vessel;
  • demonstrated interdisciplinary collaboration;
  • contributed to the local and national heritage tourism industry.

Submitting Institution

University of Greenwich

Unit of Assessment

Aeronautical, Mechanical, Chemical and Manufacturing Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Cultural

Research Subject Area(s)

Engineering: Civil Engineering

Avoiding and Resolving Problems with Handling of Powders and Other Particulate Materials in Industry: ‘QPM’ and related projects including ‘Powder Flowability Tester’

Summary of the impact

Powder handling research at the Centre for Numerical Modelling and Process Analysis (CNMPA) enables industries to reduce the risk in new powder processes and to troubleshoot existing ones. The study focuses on two closely-related projects that have resulted in a series of instruments, analysis techniques, training and spin-out research that has found application in a large number of companies all over the world, in a wide range of industries. The case is typical of the influence that the CNMPA has had on industry awareness and practice in the UK and globally.

Submitting Institution

University of Greenwich

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Engineering: Chemical Engineering, Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy, Interdisciplinary Engineering

Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph & Theatre Union History Project

Summary of the impact

The BECTU History Project has built one of the world's largest archives of industry-related memory. Despite this it is under-used and not yet fulfilling its potential as an oral history project. Dawson and Holmes' research has changed the way project members think and act through:

  1. Stimulating serious debate, pinpointing strengths and weaknesses.
  2. Intergenerational exchange, with HE students working alongside project volunteers to boost activity and new ideas
  3. Diversity in the archive, including facilitation of a demanding new initiative to interview ethnic minorities
  4. Reaching a wider public, encouraging the project to seek new users of its archive.

Submitting Institution

University of Greenwich

Unit of Assessment

History

Summary Impact Type

Cultural

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Creative Arts and Writing: Film, Television and Digital Media
Language, Communication and Culture: Cultural Studies
History and Archaeology: Historical Studies

Better pest control in Africa and Asia through biological pesticides and insect resistant crops

Summary of the impact

Research and knowledge dissemination led by Greenwich on biological pesticides has made a major contribution to the introduction of novel safe commercial pesticides based on insect viruses to help farmers overcome the problems of chemical resistance in major crop pests in Asia and Africa. Research at Greenwich identified effective virus strains, methods of production and formulation which were then developed and evaluated with in country research collaborators before being transferred to local SMEs to start up production in India, Thailand, Kenya and Tanzania. Greenwich advised governments on adopting suitable regulation to support the registration and sale of these novel pesticides.

Submitting Institution

University of Greenwich

Unit of Assessment

Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science

Summary Impact Type

Environmental

Research Subject Area(s)

Biological Sciences: Genetics, Microbiology
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences: Crop and Pasture Production

Bringing the benefits of grammar knowledge closer to L2 practitioners

Summary of the impact

The research focuses on the second language acquisition (SLA) of tense and aspect, which are persistently problematic areas of grammar for language students to master. It has led to the development and delivery of workshops for language teachers which deliver three impacts:

  • an enhanced knowledge of the linguistic properties of tense and aspect;
  • an understanding of the reasons underlying learners' difficulties;
  • the consideration of effective pedagogical techniques in grammar teaching.

The teachers' improved confidence and skills lead to greater motivation and engagement by their students, delivering the main impacts which are improvements in education and the learning of second languages.

Submitting Institution

University of Greenwich

Unit of Assessment

Modern Languages and Linguistics

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

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

Climate Change Mitigation in the Built Environment

Summary of the impact

Research carried out at the University of Greenwich has explored issues surrounding sustainable living and climate change mitigation in existing buildings. The research identified the relationships between people and the built environment and developed a series of behavioural interventions to inform building users of the energy they were consuming and provide guidance on how this could be reduced. The socio-technical relationships were used in a public engagement programme to promote debate amongst the over-65s and the interventions by Registered Social Landlords to support behaviour change and reduce energy consumption in domestic buildings. The outputs have also been used to inform Social Housing policy development.

Submitting Institution

University of Greenwich

Unit of Assessment

Architecture, Built Environment and Planning

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Built Environment and Design: Architecture, Building, Other Built Environment and Design

Combating antisocial behaviour and pupils raising aspirations

Summary of the impact

Reducing youth anti-social behaviour and raising young people's educational aspirations are international priorities. Research carried out by the University of Greenwich has provided the basis for policy development on participation in higher education and has informed policy makers' views about, and practitioners' work on, anti-social behaviour in schools in the UK and more widely. The impact through partnerships with a local authority and a charity are also described, involving use of an assessment toolkit called the Emotion, Behaviour, Aspiration Toolkit (eBAT) to address factors that limit the aspirations and social mobility of young people. The work is located in the university's Research Centre for Children Schools and Families, which has become a centre for research on anti-social behaviour:

http://www2.gre.ac.uk/about/schools/health/research/healthsocial/ccsf.

Submitting Institution

University of Greenwich

Unit of Assessment

Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services
Psychology and Cognitive Sciences: Psychology

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