Impact Global Location: Bahrain

REF impact found 13 Case Studies

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BioAid: The development and uptake of a hearing aid mobile app

Summary of the impact

Developed at Essex, the `BioAid' app transforms iPhones and iPods into fully functional hearing aids. The app provides readily-available and cost effective access to hearing aid technology, allowing users to test its settings at their own pace in their everyday environments. BioAid is the culmination of a research programme that has systematically built computational simulations of different types of hearing loss and developed biologically-realistic algorithms to compensate for these impairments. Launched as an open-source app in December 2012, by 31st July 2013 it had been downloaded by more than 20,000 users in over 90 countries. Over various periods in that time, BioAid has also been iTunes' most downloaded medical app in 11 countries.

Submitting Institution

University of Essex

Unit of Assessment

Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Neurosciences
Psychology and Cognitive Sciences: Psychology

Effects of parental smoking on respiratory health among children

Summary of the impact

Systematic quantitative reviews of epidemiological evidence linking parental smoking with adverse respiratory health effects in childhood were published in 1997-1999 in Thorax. These meta-analyses were updated as a contribution to the US Surgeon-General's report on Secondhand Smoking, published in 2006, and the UK Royal College of Physicians' report on Passive Smoking and Children, published in 2010.

Over this period the adverse health effects of environmental tobacco smoke achieved prominence in public health policy, through campaigns for smoke-free workplaces (including pubs and restaurants) and publicity against parental smoking in the presence of children, both in cars and in the home.

Submitting Institution

St George's, University of London

Unit of Assessment

Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services

Incorporating Socio-Economic Group Rights Within Global Development Goals

Summary of the impact

Emerging from investigations of social exclusion during the 1990s, the Unit's research into minority rights has led to outputs and consultancy ranging across political participation, identity, rights protection and international criminal law. The impact claimed here falls in two main channels. Firstly, research on socio-economic group rights, amplified by Castellino's work as co-chair of the relevant UN delegated group, has made a significant input into the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2015-30. Secondly, research has been incorporated into practice and capacity- building through projects involving judiciaries, advocates, statutory bodies, and NGOs. Beneficiaries include the public across 194 states who will benefit from implementation of SDGs over their 15 years lifespan; and civil society bodies and their users.

Submitting Institution

Middlesex University

Unit of Assessment

Law

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services
Studies In Human Society: Political Science
Law and Legal Studies: Law

Pearling: Testimony to an Island Economy

Summary of the impact

Oxford Brookes Archaeology and Heritage (OBAH) offers research, and consultancy services in archaeology, heritage and the ancient environment. OBAH undertook four major excavations on behalf of the Government of Bahrain between 2009 and 2010. The impact of OBAHs excavations and reports were instrumental in (a) the sites excavated being designated national monuments, protected under law, and (b) underpinning a UNESCO World Heritage bid by Bahrain in 2010. Pearling and its cultural landscapes in Bahrain was awarded World Heritage status at the 36th meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in June 2012.

Submitting Institution

Oxford Brookes University

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

Professor Stephanie Atkinson’s Research in Design and Technology (D&T) Education in the Secondary and Tertiary Phases of Education.

Summary of the impact

Stephanie Atkinson has a long track record of research into aspects of D&T education, focusing particularly on how people design, and the significance of factors such as creativity, motivation, designing styles, gender and achievement which has had considerable impact on government policy and practice, in the training of D&T teachers, on practice in secondary schools, public examinations, and amongst the international D&T education community more widely. Her students (over 1000 since 1990) have either gone on to either become successful industrial and engineering designers or they have become teachers, Heads of Department, University Lecturers & officials in Ministries of Education in several countries, where the impact of her research can be seen in how designing is taught in numerous secondary schools throughout the UK, Cyprus, Botswana, Bahrain, & Brunei.

Submitting Institution

University of Sunderland

Unit of Assessment

Education

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy, Specialist Studies In Education

Promoting Gender Equity in Public Sector Governance

Summary of the impact

The findings of empirical research conducted by Professor Jim Barry and Dr Trudie Honour of UEL were shared at two focused capacity building sessions held in 2008 and 2009 for women leaders in middle and senior positions of responsibility and decision-making in the public and third sectors of a number of developing countries. Workshops were attended by women from Albania, Bahrain, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Tunisia, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. Participants considered the relevance and application of the research findings for their own countries, and worked together and with the researchers to formulate potential capacity development implementation strategies for women in positions of responsibility in those countries.

Submitting Institution

University of East London

Unit of Assessment

Business and Management Studies

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration, Sociology

2. Acoustic Emission Monitoring: Transforming the Inspection of Bridges Worldwide

Summary of the impact

Cardiff University's research in acoustic emission monitoring and refined data analysis has been applied to large, complex structures and has subsequently transformed the inspection processes of concrete and steel bridges. This has been commercialised by Mistras Group Ltd. to provide a safer, more reliable and progressive means of bridge monitoring, enabling the company to acquire a global reputation and increase its turnover to £7.5M per year — £5M relating to Cardiff research. Cardiff's innovations have had major international impacts (in UK, Europe, India and USA) through:

  • Significant economic gain;
  • Enhanced industrial practice;
  • World-wide dissemination to engineering professionals;
  • Prevention of serious safety risks to society;
  • Markedly reduced CO2 emissions and reduced negative effects on regional economies.

Submitting Institution

Cardiff University

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing
Engineering: Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Children, Pornography and Sexual Exploitation

Summary of the impact

Research on the impact of exposure to pornographic and sexualised material online and offline and the links to sexual exploitation, addresses major issues in contemporary society and raises awareness and improves policy and practice responses. The research has led to several impacts including: 1) improving policing and child protection practices through training with the Metropolitan Police and Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) on online grooming of children; 2) informing public debate on pornography, healthy relationships and sex education through extensive public engagement; and 3) impact on governmental policies regarding child protection and internet service provision. The key beneficiaries are vulnerable children and agencies working to protect them from sexual exploitation and exposure to pornography.

Submitting Institution

Middlesex University

Unit of Assessment

Social Work and Social Policy

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

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

Contemporary Middle Eastern Composition: Archives, Advocacy and Performance

Summary of the impact

The Brunel Institute of Contemporary Middle Eastern Composition (BICMEM) was established in response to the significant growth of compositional activity in the Middle East for which there existed no systematic curation, promotion or research.

The Institute has established a unique archive of contemporary Middle-Eastern compositions. It works as an advocate, liaising closely with senior diplomats, academics, cultural officers, and business. In a time of great political unrest in the Middle East, BICMEM nurtures new talent, preserves cultural assets and enables international dialogue through the curation and promotion of new music events in Britain and the Middle East.

Submitting Institution

Brunel University

Unit of Assessment

Music, Drama, Dance and Performing Arts

Summary Impact Type

Cultural

Research Subject Area(s)

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

Electronic Government Research in the UK – A roadmap towards implementation of e-Governments

Summary of the impact

In a drive to improve efficiency and to increase user participation, local authorities have been set eGovernment targets and priorities by central Government. However, limited resources, conflicting priorities and internal political pressure have resulted in a lack of focus when it comes to implementing such changes and progress towards achieving e-Government has a) been slower than expected and b) had less impact than anticipated.

Research undertaken at Brunel broadened knowledge of e-Government and delivered these benefits:

  • A stakeholder-agreed structure/framework defining all relevant e-Government issues
  • Defined and agreed details of e-Government terminology
  • Full recommendations for an integrated e-Government programme
  • Priorities for e-Government research

The research created a body of knowledge that enabled delivery of novel and effective change and is contributing to making the UK a world leader on e-Government.

Submitting Institution

Brunel University

Unit of Assessment

Business and Management Studies

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Information Systems
Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration

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