Welcome
This annual event shines a spotlight on the range of postgraduate research taking place at Bournemouth University across our three Faculties. The Fusion Building will host engaging oral presentations and an impressive poster and table exhibition. This conference is a celebration of the incredible work being carried out by our postgraduate researchers, and we are proud to provide this platform for sharing knowledge, fostering collaboration, and building connections. Whether you are presenting, exhibiting, or attending, this is a wonderful opportunity to network with fellow PGRs, colleagues from across the university and external visitors.
The conference commences with our poster and table exhibition followed by a Welcome from Professor Einar Thorsen, Dean of Research, Innovation and Enterprise, and opening remarks from Dr Fiona Knight , Head of Research Excellence and Governance.
Doctoral College Conference Organisers
Enrica Conrotto - Researcher Development Manager
Zoe Leonard - Researcher Development Coordinator
Beverley Allen - Research Concordat Coordinator
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME & ABSTRACTS
On page 4 you will discover the conference programme, followed by headline details of each oral presentation presenter and their abstracts. On pages 10 - 27 you can see the posters being exhibited in the Fusion Building, followed by their full poster abstracts. The description of the table presentations are available on pages 28-29.
A selection of the posters will be displayed in the Atrium Gallery on Talbot Campus
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Event feedback
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3 CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
09:00-10:00 Poster and Table Exhibition (FG06 & FG04)
10:00
Opening Remarks (Share)
Dr Fiona Knight
Head of Research Excellence and Governance
10:05 – 10:15 Welcome
Professor Einar Thorsen
Dean of Research, Innovation and Enterprise
10:15 – 11:15 Session 1 Oral Presentations
Chair: Grace Lawrence (HEMS - School of Health and Care)
10:15 – 10:30 Daniela Mela (MST - The Media School)
Empowering educators through real-time animation: fostering inclusion and social responsibility in learning.
10:30 – 10:45 Ben Huntley (BAL - Bournemouth University Business School)
Racing cars as icons: the role of the motor car in narratives of motorsport.
10:45 – 11:00 Andrea Frankham-Hughes (HEMS - School of Life and Environmental Sciences)
Stitching the Dead: using embroidery to explore the cultural burial practices of Portland in the Late Iron Age, whilst enhancing mental health and well-being.
11:00 – 11:15 Ryan Krishnamohan (MST - School of Computing and Engineering)
Understanding antenna damage in bird tracking tags: an exploratory investigation.
11:15– 11:30 Comfort Break
11:30 – 12:30 Session 2 Oral Presentations
Chair: Yetunde Adeuja (BAL - Bournemouth University Business School)
11:30 – 11:45 Sammy Everard (HEMS - School of Health and Care)
A holistic view of self-employment support for neurodivergent people.
11:45 – 12:00 Layth Abendeh (BAL - Bournemouth University Business School)
Investigating perceived risk associated with online purchase decisions of luxury perfumes: evidence from the Middle East.
12:00 – 12:15 Alex Caton-Bradley (MST - School of Psychology)
A multi-phase, mixed-methods, multi-level investigation into the social and neural correlates of masculinity.
12:15 – 12:30 Gifty Etornam Fiagbenya (MST - The Media School)
Harnessing the power of social media to create awareness and tackle human trafficking in Ghana.
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch Break, Poster Viewings and Table Exhibition (FG06 & FG04)
13:30 – 14:15 Keynote: TBC TBC
14:15 – 15:15 Session 3 Oral Presentations
Chair: Nastassia Asselin (MST - School of Psychology)
14:15 – 14:30 Lyndsey Bradley (MST - School of Psychology)
The experiences of stress and coping in autistic children: a mixed-methods systematic literature review.
14:30 – 14:45 Enrico Sgroi (HEMS - School of Health and Care)
Coping with ADHD in nursing education.
14:45 – 15:00 Louise Davies (MST - The Media School)
How can media pedagogies facilitate cross curricular reading in secondary education?
15:00 – 15:15 Muhammad Alif Bin Abdullah (BAL - Bournemouth University Business School)
From click to take-off: digital transformation of corporate travel booking in Malaysia’s business landscape.
15:15 – 15:25 Comfort Break
15:25 – 16:25 Session 4 Oral Presentations
Chair: Wookjun Lee (BAL - Bournemouth University Business School)
15:25 – 15:40 Jessica Correia (HEMS - School of Health and Care)
What influences the decisions women make about the use of prescribed psychiatric medication during pregnancy: a systematic review of the literature.
15:40 – 15:55 Emmanuel Oluwatosin Oluokun (MST - School of Computing and Engineering)
Leveraging digital consultation and medication delivery platforms to enhance HIV care for sexual and gender minorities in Nigeria.
15:55 – 16:10 Mahdie Ahmadi (BAL - Bournemouth University Business School)
Examining gender equality attitudes with personal values, comparing genders and immigrant-citizen groups.
16:10 – 16:25 Nora Theresa Campbell (MST - The Media School)
The impact of AI-assisted shopping on consumer wellbeing: an integrated and experiential approach.
16:25 - 16:30 Closing Remarks
5 ORAL PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS
Alex Caton-Bradley (PhD candidate, MST - School of Psychology)
A multi-phase, mixed-methods, multi-level investigation into the social and neural correlates of masculinity.
This project investigates the social and neural correlates of masculinity, with a particular focus on how masculine norms are constructed and experienced across different socioeconomic groups. Using an interdisciplinary, mixed-methods design, the study begins with semi-structured interviews exploring how young men (aged 18–24) understand and navigate masculinity. These interviews will inform a Q methodology study to identify shared and divergent discourses of masculinity across socioeconomic backgrounds, which will in turn support the development of a novel measure of masculinity, psychometrically valid across socioeconomic groups. In the final phase of the project, this measure, alongside typologies derived from the Q study, will inform the design of a neuroimaging study exploring the cognitive and emotional processing of masculine norms. While the neuroimaging methodology will be finalised in later stages, the project aims to produce an integrative, socioeconomically informed model of masculinity spanning subjective, social, psychometric, and neural levels of analysis.
Andrea Frankham-Hughes (MRes candidate, HEMS - School of Life and Environmental Sciences)
Stitching the Dead: using embroidery to explore the cultural burial practices of Portland in the Late Iron Age, whilst enhancing mental health and well-being.
Portland has a rich history, with significant archaeological discoveries, however it remains under-studied in comparison to other parts of Dorset and the prehistory of Portland, in particular, is not well known. In 2006 investigations at The Royal Manor School, Weston uncovered an Iron Age/ Romano British cemetery. Interpreting funerary practices can be challenging academically, therefore embroidery is used as an innovative research tool to create a detailed reproduction of the original archaeological drawings. This novel approach provides a means to analyse grave styles, body positions, and associated grave goods, identifying any distinctive practices within the culture of the Island. Embroidery also promotes positive mental health and well-being whilst facilitating opportunities to share knowledge with a wider audience who may not normally be engaged with archaeology.
Ben Huntley (PhD candidate, BAL - Bournemouth University Business School)
Racing cars as icons: the role of the motor car in narratives of motorsport.
The aim of my research is to explore the role of the racing car within the story of motorsport. Motorsport is a global phenomenon with millions of fans worldwide and an over-125-year history. However, it has received little attention within sport heritage studies. The racing car as an icon of motorsport heritage also remains underexplored. My research explores motorsport through a sport heritage lens, using a Delphi study to investigate what makes certain racing cars stand out as icons. Utilising my positionality as a motorsport fan and researcher, I will analyse how racing cars are presented at motorsport events and in heritage contexts, using Participant Observation and Critical Discourse Analysis to analyse the meanings attached to them. This research will not only establish the role of the racing car as a tangible element of motorsport heritage, but also contribute to theoretical discussions around human and non-human icons in sport heritage.
Daniela Mela (PhD candidate, MST - The Media School)
Empowering educators through real-time animation: fostering inclusion and social responsibility in learning.
This PhD explores how real-time animation can empower educators in Asia to create socially responsible and inclusive learning for young people. Building on Education 4.0 and the OECD Future of Education 2030 framework, it examines the use of interactive animated avatars to foster empathy, collaboration, and ethical awareness in schools and social centres. Addressing digital inequality and limited access to creative tools, the project positions real-time animation as a bridge between technology, pedagogy, and social justice. Grounded in multimodality and inclusive education theory, it employs a qualitative, practice-based methodology combining prototype development, educator workshops, and reflective analysis. Early findings from pilot activities in India show that real-time avatars enhance participation and contextual learning, supporting teachers in promoting empathy and equality. The study proposes a model of co-created digital pedagogy aligning innovation with accessibility, creativity, and social responsibility in education.
Emmanuel Oluwatosin Oluokun (PhD candidate, MST - School of Computing and Engineering)
Leveraging digital consultation and medication delivery platforms to enhance HIV care for sexual and gender minorities in Nigeria.
Digital health solutions are changing how healthcare is delivered, creating new ways to reach people who often face barriers to care. This study focuses on leveraging digital consultation and medication delivery platforms to improve HIV/AIDS care among sexual and gender minorities in Nigeria. These communities often face stigma, discrimination, and limited access to healthcare services, which hinder consistent treatment and adherence. Through the use of mobile and web-based systems, the research explores how virtual consultations, appointment booking, and courier-supported medication delivery can improve access to care. Findings highlight the potential of digital platforms to enhance privacy, reduce stigma, ensure timely medication access, and strengthen patientprovider communication. The study underscores the importance of inclusive, technology-driven interventions tailored to the unique needs of marginalised populations, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes and improved quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS in resource-limited settings.
Enrico Sgroi (PhD candidate, HEMS - School of Health and Care)
Coping with ADHD in nursing education.
How do pre-registration nursing students with ADHD cope with learning on their programme? ADHD affects attention, organization, planning, and emotional regulation, all crucial for nursing education, which demands clinical judgment, prioritization, and time management. Students with ADHD may face unique learning challenges that impact achievement and retention. Previous research, mostly conducted in the USA and Canada using different methodologies, offers limited applicability to the UK context. This study will be the first in the UK to explore the lived experience of nursing students with ADHD. Aim: To develop a grounded theory explaining how nursing students with ADHD navigate their studies. Methods: Participants will be recruited voluntarily under Bournemouth University ethics approval. Data will be collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using Constructivist Grounded Theory. Conclusion: Findings will highlight the challenges and coping strategies of nursing students with ADHD.
Gifty Etornam Fiagbenya (MRes candidate, MST - The Media School)
Harnessing the power of social media to create awareness and tackle human trafficking in Ghana.
Human trafficking remains a pressing challenge in Ghana, rooted in poverty, socio-economic disparities, and certain cultural practices, with children and young women particularly vulnerable. While traffickers increasingly exploit social media for recruitment, these platforms also offer powerful opportunities for awareness creation, advocacy, and prevention. However, most existing studies focus on global or regional perspectives, leaving a gap in understanding how social media is uniquely utilised in Ghana. This study addresses that gap by examining how Ghanaian stakeholders use social media to raise awareness and combat human trafficking within the country. Anchored in the Media Literacy Theory of Change and guided by a qualitative approach, the research aims to generate insights that strengthen social media advocacy and inform evidence-based interventions. Ultimately, this study serves as foundational research for developing and implementing future social media campaigns addressing human trafficking in Ghana, informed by interviews with key stakeholders in the field.
Jessica Correia (MRes candidate, HEMS - School of Health and Care)
What influences the decisions women make about the use of prescribed psychiatric medication during pregnancy: a systematic review of the literature.
It’s estimated 20% of women experience mental health difficulties during pregnancy or the postnatal period. Suicide remains the leading cause of maternal death between 6 weeks and one year postnatally in the UK. Antidepressant use in pregnancy is estimated at 3–8% across Europe, yet safety guidance remains inconclusive, contributing to decisional conflict for women. Five core themes were identified: shared decision making (SDM), healthcare professional, access to support, acceptance and validation, experiential evidence both personal and 3rd party. Women’s decisions about psychiatric medication in pregnancy are complex, multifaceted, and highly individualised. Trust, validation, and SDM are central, but constrained by systemic and professional barriers. There is a critical need for integrated maternity and mental health services, earlier access to specialist care, and inclusive research addressing underrepresented groups.
Layth Abendeh (PhD candidate, BAL - Bournemouth University Business School)
Investigating perceived risk associated with online purchase decisions of luxury perfumes: evidence from the Middle East.
In a world where luxury meets the digital screen, how do our senses—and our trust—adapt when we buy what we cannot smell? Luxury perfumes promise identity, memory, and emotion—yet online, their essence becomes invisible. This research investigates how consumers perceive and manage risks when purchasing luxury perfumes digitally, where images and descriptions replace scent and touch. The Middle Eastern luxury perfume market is booming, driven by rising incomes, cultural significance, and e-commerce. The complex, multidimensional nature of perceived risk, which is understudied in the region’s cultural context, hinders online transactions. This study adapts a mixed-method approach to identify financial, performance, physical, social, psychological, and time risks and how they influence buying decisions. By uncovering what makes online perfume shopping feel safe or uncertain, this research helps marketers and designers create more trustworthy, sensory-rich e-commerce experiences. The findings are expected to highlight how cultural identity and e-commerce trust shape risk perception.
Louise Davies (EdD candidate, MST - The Media School)
How can media pedagogies facilitate cross curricular reading in secondary education?
This presentation is based on my ongoing Ed D research, which explores how following Media Studies programmes of study post 14 (e.g. GCSE Media Studies) can impact on the reading skills of learners across the curriculum. It is particularly interested in boys’ reading practices and how the distinct pedagogies of Media Studies can engage boys’ habitus, by allowing learners to study texts and ideas in their cultural realm, thus embracing their habitus which other curriculum areas may exclude and allowing them to decode texts more effectively. The aim of the research is to foster a greater understanding of the impact the pedagogies used in Media Studies on the literacy of underperforming groups and how we can utilise media concepts and creativity to enhance reading ability across the curriculum. I’m interested to see whether positions within the pedagogical discourse of Media Studies work differently from ‘schooled’ literacies.
Lyndsey Bradley (PhD candidate, MST - School of Psychology)
The experiences of stress and coping in autistic children: a mixed-methods systematic literature review.
Autistic children may be particularly susceptible to stress, with differences from non-autistic peers reflected in neural systems for stress regulation. These differences may become apparent through impairments such as coping responses. Most of the literature reporting on autistic children and stress lacks consideration of the child’s account, relying on proxy-reporters including parents, siblings and teachers. This mixed-methods systematic literature review, guided by scientific protocols retrieved 23 articles. Some of these articles mapped stressors faced by autistic children and revealed aspects of being autistic shaped this experience, including sensory sensitivity. Furthermore, autistic children tended to report greater stress-levels than non-autistic peers. Proxyreporters appeared to focus on the distressed and/or dysregulated stress responses of autistic children including parents being three times more likely to report negative responses. This review indicated the need to directly involve autistic children in research to inform the development of stress-coping interventions.
Mahdie Ahmadi (MRes candidate, BAL - Bournemouth University Business School)
Examining gender equality attitudes with personal values, comparing genders and immigrant-citizen groups.
Gender equality (GE) trends have presented some backlashes recently in certain countries. These backlashes have not been widely studied from a subjective perspective, such as the nexus of Personal Values (PV) and Gender Equality Attitudes (GEA). An initiative measurement method is developed based on ESS survey questions to test these relations among gender groups and immigrant-citizen groups of the UK. The SPSS analysis of 1538 usable data revealed that men had lower GEA than women in the UK. Additionally, the immigrant group showed significantly higher levels of support for their GEA than the citizen group. The results of this study could provide evidence for system justification and realistic conflict theory. The outcome of this study is helpful for policymaking purposes, as well as for HR managers and strategic HR management at the national level to implement strategies to increase GEA.
Muhammad Alif Bin Abdullah (PhD candidate, BAL - Bournemouth University Business School)
From click to take-off: digital transformation of corporate travel booking in Malaysia’s business landscape.
Despite substantial investments in Corporate Online Booking Tools (COBTs), many Malaysian corporate travellers still prefer offline booking channels, citing concerns over usefulness, usability and personal relevance. This study investigates how personalisation influences COBT adoption and uses in corporate travel. A sequential mixedmethods design is applied, interviews with travellers will explore expectations and challenges, followed by a large-scale survey to validate key findings. The research is expected to highlight barriers such as limited flexibility and gaps between system design and user needs. Outcomes will provide practical recommendations for travel
Nora Theresa Campbell (PhD candidate, MST - The Media School)
The Impact of AI-Assisted Shopping on Consumer Wellbeing: an Integrated and Experiential Approach.
This study examines how AI-assisted shopping impacts everyday wellbeing. Drawing from positive psychology, it conceptualises wellbeing as a multidimensional construct consisting of pleasure, purpose, and engagement deemed Experiential Consumer Wellbeing (ExCWB). Amid an ongoing AI-driven retail transformation, concerns persist around automation negatively impacting wellbeing. To address this, the research employs a mixedmethods design, combining real-time data collection through the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) and indepth systematic phenomenological interviews to explore broader personal wellbeing within the context of AImediated shopping. Initial findings will offer both quantitative trends and qualitative themes on how AI shapes wellbeing in consumption. The key contributions of this study are trifold: First, as mentioned above, it introduces ExCWB as a systematic and experiential framework to examine consumer wellbeing outcomes. Secondly, it extends wellbeing research into new domains by addressing overlooked aspects of AI influences on wellbeing. Lastly, this study employs a typically under-used and under-valued methodology which will provide an original and comprehensive understanding of the impact of AI-shopping on ExCWB.
Ryan Krishnamohan (PhD candidate, MST - School of Computing and Engineering)
Understanding antenna damage in bird tracking tags: an exploratory investigation.
Wildlife tracking relies on lightweight electronic tags, yet the wire ‘whip’ antennas used in bird tracking are prone to mechanical and environmental damage, leading to signal loss and reduced data collection. This study systematically examined antennas on recovered tags to understand how they fail. Each antenna was inspected for five types of damage: coating breakage, wear, discolouration, kinking, and wire breakage. The position and frequency of each were recorded. Cross-sectional light microscopy was used to assess fracture characteristics in broken wires. Statistical analysis revealed that most damage occurs near the antenna base, where bending is greatest, while kinks were more common further along the antenna. These findings identify distinct damage patterns and show that antenna degradation is predictable, not random. By linking engineering analysis with field data, this research provides the first empirical foundation for improving whip antenna design, extending tag lifespan, and supporting more reliable tracking of wild birds.
Sammy Everard (PhD candidate, HEMS - School of Health and Care)
A holistic view of self-employment support for neurodivergent people.
This qualitative study explores whether formal self-employment support is accessible and inclusive when addressing the needs of neurodivergent individuals through both the lived experience of neurodivergent people and self-employment mentors. “Is self-employment the right pathway for me?” is the question that I get asked the most in my professional career. As a qualified, self-employment practitioner, I have to be able to offer mentorship that enables the neurodivergent person to make an informed choice about their selfemployment exploration which meets their current needs and circumstances. The data being gathered from the individual journeys of both mentors and mentees has enhanced my knowledge of the daily challenges faced by neurodivergent people and demonstrates the lack of formal disability training offered to the self-employment mentors. This research offers the opportunity for future practitioners to understand why it is important to work with the neurodiverse community in a way that meets the needs of all.
POSTER ABSTRACTS
Abdullah Alsaikhan (PhD candidate, MST - The Media School)
Virtual identity construction through TikTok Live.
Influencers are keen to present themselves in a positive image to their audience, which may differ from their true personalities. This is considered a virtual persona or digital identity. The importance of this study lies in understanding the influencers’ need to appear differently from their reality in order to attract people or for any other reason they believe will help them achieve their purpose.
For Saudi influencers, TikTok Live presents as both an entertainment medium and a branding tool, influencing how they are perceived by their followers.
This study aims to explore the complex relationship between TikTok Live streaming and virtual identity formation among Saudi influencers. By analysing their live interactions, content strategies, and audience engagement, this research seeks to understand the influence of live streaming on identity construction, authenticity, and social perception in the Saudi digital landscape. In addition, this study applies the Self-Presentation Theory.
Abdullah Buhalim (PhD candidate, MST - The Media School)
The adoption and use of AI in Saudi journalism.
This research examines how artificial intelligence (AI) is being adopted in Saudi newsrooms and how it is reshaping journalistic work and professional identity. It explores journalists’ perceptions and experiences of using AI tools such as automated writing, data analysis, and content generation, and how these technologies influence newsroom culture and editorial decisions. The study employs a dual theoretical framework combining the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and post-phenomenology to capture both organisational and human aspects of adoption. Based on qualitative interviews with Saudi journalists, the research reveals how AI enhances efficiency and creativity while raising concerns about ethics, regulation, and the role of human judgement. By situating these findings within Saudi Arabia’s unique media environment, the study contributes to global debates on how emerging technologies are transforming journalism in non-Western contexts.
Abi Wheeler (PhD candidate, MST - School of Psychology)
Breastfeeding, birth trauma and the lasting impacts on perinatal mental health – with the goal of enhancing perinatal support services.
This PhD explores the intersection of birth trauma, breastfeeding, and perinatal mental health, with a key focus on healthcare professionals’ attitudes and support. Qualitative research studies explore mothers breastfeeding experiences, the influence of trauma, and impacts on mental health. Findings indicate that dismissive or inadequate support can disrupt breastfeeding and contribute to maternal mental health challenges. It is recommended that trauma-informed, person-centred care can create a positive cycle where breastfeeding supports recovery and improved wellbeing, particularly after a traumatic birth. The project highlights the complex, under-recognised links between trauma and infant feeding and offers critical insights for training healthcare professionals in maternity services. Ultimately, this research aims to inform practice and policy to ensure more compassionate, responsive care for mothers and promoting positive perinatal mental health outcomes.
Abiodun Adedeji (PhD candidate, MST - School of Computing and Engineering) Co-designing a telemedicine framework for dementia care in underserved communities: a collaborative approach with caregivers and healthcare professionals.
Dementia caregiving in Nigeria causes significant emotional and physical strain, worsened by limited access to formal support and culturally appropriate services. This study uses a mixed-methods, user-centred approach to inform the design of TeleDeCa, a proposed AI-enabled telemedicine framework for dementia care in underserved communities. Guided by Design Science Research (DSR), data were collected through surveys (n = 441) and interviews (n = 25) with caregivers and healthcare professionals. Despite high awareness of telemedicine, participants were dissatisfied with current platforms due to poor internet access (94.5%), low digital literacy, and lack of cultural relevance. Key features identified include symptom tracking, medication reminders, multilingual voice navigation, and caregiver training. Findings highlight the need for a locally adapted, inclusive digital solution tailored to Nigeria’s context. This poster shares user-driven insights to guide the future development of a scalable telemedicine framework for dementia care.
Agnes Ogmundsdottir (PhD candidate, MST - School of Psychology) How Men Who Buy Sex Perceive and Respond to Trafficking: a UK–US Comparative Study.
Sex trafficking is a serious global concern, yet limited research has examined how men who buy sex perceive or respond to potential exploitation. This PhD project compares the UK and the US to explore how public narratives and moral reasoning influence buyers’ behaviour and decision-making around trafficking. It comprises three connected studies: Study 1 will examine national policies, media, and awareness campaigns, with interviews from police, probation, and victim services. Study 2 will employ an anonymous online survey identifying what signs of exploitation buyers recognise, rationalise, or dismiss. Study 3 will build on in-depth interviews exploring emotional, behavioural, and moral reasoning when exploitation is suspected. Together, the studies offer new insights to inform prevention, education, and law-enforcement strategies addressing demand in sex trafficking.
Alan Knipmeyer (PhD candidate, MST - School of Computing and Engineering) Cryptanalysis in distributed environments and quantum proof encryption.
Cryptanalysis and Machine Learning have leveraged the availability of power classical computers, as seen in publications by Benamira-et-al (Benamira, A, 2021) and Ghimire-et-al (Ghimire, A. 2025). With Quantum computers posing the greatest challenge to classical ciphers with Quantum computers increasing in their capabilities over time as explained by Janet, R (Janet R, 2023), the hybrid use of classic and quantum computer systems will provide a challenge to keep encryption for ubiquitous use as it is today and ensure future encryption will be protected from the power of quantum systems. My research focuses on the use of classical and quantum computers for both ML and DL along with the ability to leverage quantum computers to provide quantum proof encryption. As a first-year researcher, my focus has been on building the technical resources and ability to use AI and QML in a hybrid environment, with strong foundations to take my research further.
Alexandra Ingham (PhD candidate, HEMS - School of Health and Care)
Public involvement in research: nurses experiences of looking after the critically ill child on PICU.
Public and patient involvement (PPI) is an active partnership between members of the public, patients or carers, with researchers themselves, that helps to influence and shape the research being carried out (NIHR 2021). Engagement and participation are two other key elements. Engagement includes a dissemination of information to the research participants on the findings of a study and participation is taking part, such as completing a questionnaire or being recruited into a trial. Involvement, engagement and participation can be linked together and can complement one another when it comes to PPI (NIHR 2021). The poster will examine the process of PPI within my own research area, exploring nurses’ experiences of looking after a critically ill child on PICU.
Anna Charlton (PhD candidate, BAL - School of Law and Society)
Truth, truth-telling and Indigenous unmarked mass graves in Western Australia.
Across the state of Western Australia are hundreds of former institutions including lock hospitals, reserves and children’s homes, to which Aboriginal men, women and children were forcibly taken into the twentieth century. Many who died at these sites were buried in unmarked mass graves, which today remain in need of investigation and protection that respectfully and properly reflects and respects Indigenous knowledges, cultures and rights. For First Nations peoples who continue to be impacted by legacies of settler colonial violence, acts of truthtelling are an integral first step in this process. Exploring and understanding community-led truth-telling priorities through this research can offer a framework for guiding ethical and rights-centred engagement with Indigenous mass graves.
This PhD research sits within Bournemouth University’s Mass Grave Protection, Investigation and Engagement (MaGPIE) project. This poster presents relationships of truth, truth-telling and law as emerging themes pertaining to Indigenous graves and human rights abuses.
Caitlin Budgen (MRes candidate, HEMS – Life and Environmental Sciences) Rapid on-site detection of skin cancer.
This research investigates volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from the skin as potential non-invasive biomarkers for early detection of skin cancer. VOCs are small airborne metabolites produced during normal and disease-related cellular activity. Conducted in collaboration with University Hospital Dorset (UHD), this study uses a solvent-free sampling technique (solid-phase microextraction) coupled with gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC-MS), to validate specific VOCs associated with skin cancer which have been successfully identified in a pilot study. The approach provides a non-invasive means of sampling and analysing skin emissions to characterise disease-related chemical profiles. Samples will be collected from 300 patients with confirmed skin cancer and 100 healthy participants to assess diagnostic reliability and reproducibility. The project builds upon promising pilot data and aims to strengthen the evidence base for VOC biomarkers. Ultimately, these findings will support the development of a portable, rapid diagnostic device for skin cancer detection, reducing reliance on invasive biopsy procedures.
Charlie Lavender (MRes candidate, BAL - School of Law and Society)
Gender non-conformity and recognition in legal documents.
There is little mainstream academic commentary specifically tailored to transgender experiences within the UK legal system. Transgender identity, especially non-binary transgender identity, complicates (so-called) standard procedures and the current legal system has not adapted to manage this effectively. This project seeks to address the consequences of denying legal recognition to gender non-conformity and the controversy associated with including it in the first place. Inspired by Florence Ashley’s ‘X’ Why? Gender Markers and Non-Binary Transgender People, this piece will explore how gender markers in legal documents may be adapted alongside other legislative reforms to produce legal recognition of non-binary identities in the UK.
Christabel Budd (MRes candidate, HEMS - School of Allied Health and Exercise Science)
Staff experiences of racism within acute hospitals: impact, prevention, prevalence, consequences.
Objective: Identify the various ways in which racism presents in healthcare settings, its impact, consequences and reporting systems in place.
Background: Data presented in NHS England’s Workforce Race Equality Standard gives a strong indication that racism across all levels is occurring within the NHS.
Methods: A literature review was carried out to identify the current understanding of staff experiences of racism within acute hospitals.
Results: Racism comes from all areas including patients, relatives and other staff members and as such is difficult to predict. It highlighted negative impact to both the person and organisation as well as personal, interpersonal and institutional barriers to reporting.
Conclusion: Minoritised staff are more likely to experience racism than white colleagues, with various consequences and poor reporting. Despite limitations in the search, it shows emerging research in this area. Further research is needed to support development of proactive measures to address racism in healthcare.
Christian Constantine Cosmo Cohen (PhD candidate, MST - The Media School)
Human-machine collaboration in learning and teaching in secondary education: social constructs and AI technologies.
This study examines how human–machine collaboration shapes learning and teaching in Bavarian secondary education, focusing on how artificial intelligence (AI) interacts with social structures and pedagogical practice. It explores whether AI tools reinforce existing class-based inequalities or create opportunities to reduce them, and how teachers respond to the ethical and social implications of AI integration. The research adopts a qualitative design grounded in Bernstein’s theory of pedagogic discourse and Actor-Network Theory (ANT), viewing AI as an active participant in educational networks. Data will be collected through semi-structured interviews with teachers from within a Bavarian school group. Thematic analysis will examine how participants interpret and adapt to AI in their professional contexts. Rather than assessing technical performance, the study investigates the social and educational consequences of AI, contributing to debates on equity, justice, and ethics in digitally mediated education.
Cihan Yesilmen Kilinc (PhD candidate, MST - School of Psychology)
Integrating persuasive design into digital therapeutics to enhance engagement and efficacy in the treatment of depression in adults: a systematic review.
Depression affects over 280 million people worldwide, yet many individuals face barriers such as stigma, cost, and limited access to therapy. Digital cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has emerged as a scalable and cost-effective solution, offering flexibility and privacy. However, maintaining user engagement remains a major challenge. This systematic review explores how persuasive design (PD) elements—such as reminders, gamification, goal setting, and personalised feedback—can enhance engagement and improve treatment outcomes in digital CBT for adults with mild-to-moderate depression. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, the review synthesises studies published between 2000 and 2025 to examine the relationship between PD features, adherence, and clinical outcomes. Early evidence suggests that PD can increase short-term engagement, though its direct impact on symptom reduction is mixed. This research aims to clarify which design strategies most effectively promote sustained engagement and therapeutic benefit in digital mental health interventions.
Elizabeth Leddy (MRes candidate, HEMS - School of Allied Health and Exercise Science)
Heard: including the patient voice in clinical audit.
Nearly half of patients accessing emergency health care report pain, yet differences exist between patient groups. A review of the literature found that sex and ethnic differences exist in pre-hospital pain relief, so further primary research is required. Clinical audits are a way of measuring the care being provided against existing standards of practice, yet the patient voice is often not included. Good Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) can improve the quality and relevance of research by including those with lived experience. The aim of this project is to understand how best to involve and engage patients in clinical audits. This poster summarises a PPIE project that involved the public, pre-hospital clinicians (ambulance paramedics and nurses), and researchers, to find a way to involve the public in a previously under-utilised area. By doing so, we can build public trust in research and encourage ethical and inclusive research.
Emily Fisher (PhD candidate, BAL - School of Law and Society)
Enforced disappearance cause field.
This poster will explore the applicability and utility of the concept of the enforced disappearance cause field, built upon Bereni’s 2021 ‘women’s cause field’. Organisations that specifically search for the forcibly disappeared are a worldwide phenomenon, forming networks, engaging with international institutions and lobbying governments globally, however, the manner in which they form and organise may not comfortably fit within current theoretical frameworks relating to social movement organisations, assemblages and network theory. This poster will begin to evidence how searcher organisations diverge from these theoretical parameters and how the enforced disappearance cause field may, or may not, offer an alternative for better understanding, and thus successfully engaging with, these vital organisations.
Emily Whitehead (PhD candidate, MST - School of Psychology)
Mens mental health support with a pre-existing diagnosis during early pregnancy.
Men’s mental health prior to conception and in early pregnancy can significantly impact both the childbearing partner’s mental health during pregnancy and overall familial wellbeing during the first year of parenthood. However, research on men’s mental health in early pregnancy and the first year of parenthood is limited, and the impact of men’s mental health and wellbeing throughout these stages has not been addressed. This qualitative research aims to explore how a prior mental health diagnosis in men shapes the support they receive and influences familial mental health during the pregnancy and the first year of parenthood. Data will be collected via online questionnaires and semi-structured interviews from charity service users. This poster presents the existing evidence base, proposed data collection methods, and the anticipated contribution to mental health research and future interventions.
Eshani Kawshika Fernando (PhD candidate, MST - National Centre for Computer Animation)
Predicting future connections in evolving knowledge networks using adaptive time patterns.
Knowledge graphs represent real-world information as networks of interconnected facts that change over time, such as shifting political alliances, or disease progression trajectories. Forecasting future connections requires simultaneously learning structural network patterns and capturing temporal dynamics across multiple time scales. We propose an adaptive mechanism using learnable Fourier features that automatically discovers dataset-specific temporal patterns, effectively capturing both short-term and long-term trends across multiple time scales, overcoming limitations of fixed time encodings. We employ contrastive learning to distinguish events across time while maintaining consistent historical patterns. Experiments on three benchmark datasets demonstrate competitive performance against state-of-the-art methods. The dual mechanism effectively balances recent observations with long-term historical context, capturing complex temporal dynamics more effectively than traditional fixed-time representations, thereby enhancing applicability to real-world applications.
Eunhee Kim (PhD candidate, MST - School of Psychology)
Understanding health and wellbeing during menopause in autistic and non-autistic people.
Autistic people may experience a particularly hard time during menopause, but there are few direct explanations as to why this might be. This study aimed to examine whether thoughts and feelings about menopause, termed menopause representations, affect actual menopause experiences differently in autistic and non-autistic people. We recruited 476 autistic and 425 non-autistic participants to measure their menopause symptoms severity, menopause representations, quality of life, depressive, and anxiety symptoms over one month. Mediation analyses examined relationships between menopause representations and the health outcome variables between the two groups. Results: Autistic people consistently experienced more severe menopause and mental health symptoms, and poorer quality of life as affected by menopause representations than non-autistic people. This study may help autistic and non-autistic people improve health and wellbeing during menopause with better support and resources.
Fiona Vidler (PhD candidate, BAL - Bournemouth University Business School)
European Crisis - NATO vs non-NATO SME (Firm) - Economic benefits?
This research explores 10,000 SMEs (firms) across 27 Eastern European economies, comparing NATO and nonNATO countries, using pre-crisis 2019 data from World Bank and EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development). It contributes to broader debates on “European NATO” or “European peacekeeping force.” The research introduces the concept of “alliance power,” integrating it with the core themes of financial constraints, bribery incidence, and productivity. The exploratory findings suggest a potential positive “NATO effect” and a positive “NATO economic effect” on SMEs. Defence with security guarantees for business and trade seems imperative. SMEs in or close to conflict or war zones face disrupted flights, damaged transport, and undercover deliveries or business operations are not trackable contributions to GDP economic measures. Furthermore, failures in defence with power and internet outage impair SMEs operations. All deters foreign investors ready to invest in a development growth zone with an attractive risky high return yield.
Grace Lawrence (PhD candidate, HEMS - School of Health and Care)
Navigating power and positionality: ethical recruitment of prison officers for sensitive qualitative research.
The rapid rise in the aging prison population in England and Wales has increased the number of prisoners requiring end of life care, placing prison officers at the forefront of complex caregiving roles. Officers face operational, ethical, and emotional challenges when supporting dying prisoners, yet little research explores their lived experiences.
Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, this study examines how officers make sense of these roles. The researcher’s dual identity as a nurse provides valuable insight while requiring reflexivity around authority, trust, and institutional hierarchies. Recruitment strategies focus on transparency, rapport building, and respecting professional boundaries to ensure voluntary participation. Ethical considerations include managing power imbalances, maintaining confidentiality and mitigating social desirability bias. This poster outlines the challenges of recruiting prison officers and how to support meaningful qualitative inquiry.
Jack Rose (PhD candidate, HEMS - School of Life and Environmental Sciences)
Determining tool impact angles on cut marks.
Cut marks on bone are a type of bone modification that provide evidence for a range of possible anthropogenic practices. Experimental archaeology provides researchers with the opportunity to test hypotheses surrounding bone modifications. This study presents a modified version of Bello et al.’s (2009) Angle of Tool Impact (ATI) method that can determine the angle at which a tool has impacted the bone when producing a cut mark. Cut marks were made on pig ribs at different angles using replica Neolithic knives and a stainless-steel knife. The cuts were analysed using modified ATI to determine the angle at which they were produced. Results provided what could be seen as a clear indication of either a cut mark produced at an approximate angle, such as 45 or 60-degrees, or one produced perpendicular to the surface. Therefore, aiding researchers in identifying specific patterns of anthropogenic behaviours, such as mortuary practices or butchery.
Jaskomal Kaur (MRes candidate, HEMS - School of Health and Care)
Feasibility, ethical considerations, and regulatory framework for AI-based chatbots in patient education for hip replacement in the UK.
Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and large language models (LLMs) have advanced rapidly over the past decade, driving significant transformation across multiple fields, including the healthcare sector. Among these innovations, chatbots have emerged as promising tools, with increasing research focused on their potential role in patient education. Numerous technological resources are now available to support chatbot development, and the UK government has established regulatory pathways for the approval of medical devices. However, despite these advancements and existing regulations, no dedicated chatbot for hip replacement patient education is currently available in the market. This gap highlights the absence of a structured feasibility framework to guide the development and implementation of such tools. Therefore, my study aims to assess the feasibility of creating and deploying an AI-based chatbot for hip replacement patient education within the UK healthcare context.
Jing Ye (PhD candidate, MST - School of Computing and Engineering)
Turning natural Pyrite into stable, low-cost battery materials.
Affordable and sustainable batteries are essential for storing renewable energy from wind and solar sources. In this study, we transformed natural pyrite (commonly known as “fool’s gold”) into a high-performance material for lithium and sodium-ion batteries. A simple low-cost ball milling process was used to regulate the structure and interface between FeS2 and graphene, forming a stable conductive network. The composite delivered excellent cycling stability and high performance, showing that natural minerals can be transformed into low-cost, durable materials for future energy storage.
Jorge Eduardo Jasso Cuellar (PhD candidate, BAL - School of Law and Society) Proposal for a data protection protocol in mass graves.
A mass grave is a site or defined area containing more than one buried human remains, often found in conflict zones or areas affected by natural disasters. Many aspects of this issue still require study to ensure proper investigation and accurate identification of victims. This research seeks to address one of those problems: securing the data obtained from these graves. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop a comprehensive data protection protocol for mass graves. This protocol will aim to preserve the confidentiality of information during transfer, disposition, ownership, and storage, especially in the context of the increasing exchange of information between organisations or governments in forensic/judicial investigations. While the technical aspects, such as encryption methods and secure data transfer protocols, will be discussed, the right to privacy and data protection that this type of cross-border information exchange entails, is also highly relevant.
Julia Weiss (PhD candidate, MST - The Media School)
Bi+ individuals and online spaces: exploring intersecting identities, well-being and relationships through critical participatory action research.
This project explores unique challenges faced by bi+ individuals in online spaces, people who are attracted to more than one gender, particularly concerning their mental health and well-being. To better understand their lives, bi+ people from different backgrounds will participate in group discussions, workshops, and keep diaries about their experiences. Participants will be actively involved as part of a team, sharing their perspectives and learning from one another as ‘co-researchers’. This project intends to contribute to bi+ visibility, inform queer communities, promote good mental health amongst them, and advocate for bi+ inclusive research. I will be working directly with the community and charitable organisations to assess bi+ mental health support needs. Moreover, there is also potential through collaboration to inform social policy concerning bi+ mental health support. Most importantly, the project aims to help bi+ individuals feel empowered and valued as they share and address their experiences.
Kamonpa Wangkuanklang (PhD candidate, BAL - Bournemouth University Business School)
Collaborative value co-creation of agritourism providers.
Value co-creation is an interactive process that engages and integrates stakeholders through a platform to achieve the expected values for all stakeholders. Utilising such a process in agritourism practice requires collaboration among stakeholders to exchange resources. This study aims to explore the process of collaborative value co-creation among agritourism providers, who serve as stakeholders. The primary data were gathered from interviews with agritourism businesses, academic, and governmental organisations in Thailand. The result suggested that the process of value co-creation requires stakeholders’ roles to be aligned with the mutual understanding of sharing resources, together with relevant components. Co-created value can include, for example, networking opportunities and innovation in agritourism practices. These values benefit destination performance, including increased tourist arrivals, economic growth, and improved tourism products and services.
Louise Barton (PhD by Publication candidate, HEMS - School of Health and Care)
A unique approach to smoking cessation during pregnancy.
Smoking is a leading yet preventable cause of death, disability, and social inequality, across the UK and globally. During pregnancy smoking is responsible for a plethora of poor birth outcomes. Despite this, pregnant women continue to smoke and efforts to facilitate smoking cessation have mixed results. This mixed-methods study evaluates the innovative approach to midwifery-led smoking cessation implemented by University Hospital Southampton (UHS) NHS Foundation Trust. The involvement of both pregnant women who smoke and the midwives providing their care in the research design has proved invaluable, demonstrating the value of ‘public and patient involvement’ (PPI) within midwifery research. It is hoped that by combining semi-structured interviews with quantitative data set analysis, areas of the UHS care pathway which are acceptable to both women and midwives, and those requiring modification will be identified. This will be of value to both UHS and other providers of maternity care, nationally and internationally.
Lucy Stainer (PhD candidate, HEMS - School of Health and Care)
Professional conversations, research impact and PhDs: an interwoven connection.
My PhD focuses on the Advanced Practitioner (AP), who are experiencing significant changes, such as evolving regulations and workforce challenges. How can my PhD outputs have a research impact to meet future AP changes?
This poster will explore how I am using professional conversations to engage in the AP community to ensure my research has an impact. Professional conversations have:
- Provided insight to refine my research focus
- Resulted in invitations to join practice forums, national groups, and networking, enabling me to ask questions, develop ideas and support a deeper understanding with AP insight, receive constructive feedback, and disseminate research findings
- Generated mutual benefits include greater confidence, support, motivation, and advanced careers for both parties.
- Will identify opportunities for future funding and further research
- Conceptualise research that responds to real questions in the work context and makes an original impact within the field.
Madeline Molly Ely (PhD candidate, MST - School of Psychology)
Emoji perception across the lifespan: a neuroimaging study.
As we age, our ability to accurately recognise facial emotions declines, and research shows this applies to emojis as well. Because older adults’ face perception systems were not exposed to emojis during key developmental stages, we aim to compare their neural patterns with those of children, who encounter emojis during formative years. This approach allows us to examine the developmental trajectory of face perception and its adaptation to simplified symbolic stimuli. We will analyse EEG brainwave data from adults over 65 and children aged 10–12 during an emotion perception task and use data from young adults as a comparison group. Machine learning (multivariate pattern analysis and cross-dataset classification) will provide robust measures of the generalisability of neural correlates underlying emoji emotion recognition across the lifespan. Findings will enhance understanding of neural development and aging, with implications for digital communication tools and social interaction.
Maryam Abdolali Zanjani (MRes candidate, MST - School of Computing and Engineering)
Evaluating the effects of biophilic design on human-nature interaction and stress relief in student housing across UK universities.
This study explores how biophilic design impacts students’ well-being, stress reduction, and connection to nature in UK student housing. As mental health challenges rise, living environments play a vital role in fostering comfort, focus, and emotional balance. Using semi-structured interviews across multiple universities, the research qualitatively examines students’ experiences of biophilic features—such as natural light, greenery, natural materials, and spatial layout. Thematic analysis with MAXQDA identifies patterns linking design elements to emotional and cognitive outcomes within individual, social, and cultural contexts. Integrating environmental psychology with lived experience, the study challenges universal assumptions about biophilic design and offers evidence-based guidance for creating healthier, more restorative student housing.
Maryam Cheheltani (PhD candidate, HEMS - School of Health and Care)
Spiritual support for people with dementia at end of life in the UK: a scoping review of current approaches.
This scoping review examines how the spiritual needs of people with dementia are met at the end of life within the UK context, where the number of older adults with dementia is expected to rise sharply by 2040 (Besley et al., 2023). As dementia affects communication and cognition, spiritual care becomes essential for preserving peace, meaning and connection (Britt et al., 2023). Following the PRISMA-ScR framework, this review maps existing peer-reviewed studies to identify how spiritual needs are recognised and addressed. It explores how these needs are conceptualised and fulfilled, and who provides such support, family members, caregivers or professionals and the ways it is delivered. By synthesising existing evidence, the review highlights the range of approaches, variations in understanding and key gaps in current knowledge. Findings aim to inform future research and enhance end-of-life dementia care by strengthening the provision of compassionate and culturally sensitive spiritual support within the UK’s ageing population.
Maryam Malekian (MRes candidate, HEMS - School of Health and Care)
What factors influence the knowledge and attitudes of UK university students towards breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding offers major health and social benefits, yet UK rates remain low. As infant feeding decisions are often made before pregnancy, understanding baseline knowledge and attitudes is key for early interventions. This study assessed breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes among students across disciplines and explored associated factors. A cross-sectional survey of BU students from health and non-health disciplines was conducted using convenience sampling, with descriptive, inferential, and regression analyses identifying predictors of knowledge and attitudes. Students showed high intention to breastfeed but moderate knowledge and neutral attitudes. Health students had significantly greater knowledge and more positive attitudes than non-health students. Regression analyses identified prior breastfeeding education and field of study as strongest predictors. Findings suggest targeted breastfeeding education can improve knowledge and attitudes among university students, while broader public health efforts should address social and cultural factors to create supportive environments.
Matthew Ball (PhD candidate, MST - School of Psychology)
What facial cues drive age judgements and can a machine learning model exceed human age estimation performance?
Humans can determine with a relatively good degree of accuracy the age of conspecifics. This research investigates whether an AI model, trained on a sample of human faces, can predict age as accurately as human observers. This research uses a combination of geometric morphometric methodology, skin colour and texture analysis to identify the ways in which facial appearances vary within the training dataset (n = 1324) of human faces. These appearance variables were then used to build a model to predict the age of sample faces. The models’ predictions were compared to those of 113 human individuals when rating the ages of 30 faces. The AI model had a mean absolute error of 4.82 years, this proved to be more accurate than 86.84% of the humans tested. Our results suggest that AI age prediction may be a valuable and viable tool in aiding human age judgements.
McKenna Marthiensen (PhD candidate, MST - School of Psychology)
Supporting UK Police officer mental health: an investigation into the effectiveness of the trauma tracker.
Mental health concerns, including posttraumatic stress disorder, within the police are widespread and undersupported. Understanding the timeframe to implement effective intervention and which supports are providing benefit to officers is critical to combating the development of mental ill health. Data from a trauma tracker and interviews will be used to support this work.
Method: Quantitative analysis will be used for the data from the Trauma Tracker. Thematic analysis is anticipated to be used to analyse the interview transcripts.
Results: The anticipated results will show the most beneficial support offered to police officers and interrogate the nature of the development of mental health concerns. This work will provide insight into the effectiveness of mental health services, identify any gaps in support provision, and contribute to financial savings for the police.
Md Shafkat Hossain (PhD candidate, HEMS - School of Life and Environmental Sciences)
Assessing drowning risk among children under two years via child journey mapping: insights from rural Bangladesh.
In Bangladesh, approximately 19,000 people die from drowning annually, with over three-quarters being children. However, no specific interventions are available for children under two. The Sonamoni project aimed to identify acceptable and sustainable drowning prevention strategies for children under two using a Human-Centred Design (HCD) approach. Qualitative workshops were held in Sherpur Sadar and Kalapara with 13 caregivers of children under two from high-risk villages. Participants mapped children’s daily routines, supervision patterns, and nearby hazards. Findings showed that lunchtime was the most vulnerable period, with mothers as the primary caregivers. Drowning was ranked as the top injury risk, followed by cuts, burns, falls, poisoning, and electrocution. Caregivers suggested fencing water bodies, filling in ditches, providing age-appropriate toys, and establishing community daycare centres. The study demonstrates that Child journey mapping is a useful tool of HCD that can explore drowning and other injury risks in detail by involving caregivers in rural areas.
Mosopefoluwa Akinrinmade Patience (PhD candidate, BAL - School of Law and Society)
A case for blockchain compliance post-finch: a doctrinal legal analysis of scope 3 emissions in the UK oil and gas sector and legal lessons for Nigeria.
The UK Supreme Court’s Finch decision means that new oil projects must include downstream Scope 3 emissions in environmental reviews, a significant step in holding companies accountable for their full carbon impact. This change coincides with the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), raising questions about how these rules interact with global trade laws and fairness among countries. This research uses a doctrinal methodology to analyse legal texts, cases, and principles, making it the first study to examine Scope 3 emissions regulation in light of this new court ruling. It also proposes using blockchain in the UK to enhance the accuracy and enforcement of emissions reporting, leveraging blockchain’s ability to improve transparency and data reliability. Comparing the UK and Nigeria, the study highlights Nigeria’s weaker enforcement and fragmented laws. Rather than copying technology in the UK, Nigeria could adopt legal strategies (ratios and obiter dicta) from the Finch case, providing a forward-thinking approach to understanding broader legal and trade implications and building stronger climate accountability over time.
Mostafa Nagy (EdD candidate, MST - The Media School)
Integrating AI, machine learning, data mining and virtual production for inclusive learning and enhanced graduate employability in media and film education.
This research investigates how the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), data mining and virtual production (VP) can be systematically embedded within media and film education to foster inclusive learning and strengthen graduate employability. Framed through socio-technical systems theory and human-centred AI, the study explores how technological integration can reconfigure pedagogical design, learner engagement and creative practice. It examines how AI-driven personalisation, data-informed curriculum design and accessible VP environments can accommodate diverse learner needs and expand equitable participation. The research further considers implications for skill formation, ethical literacy and new industry roles emerging from these technological shifts. By aligning theoretical models with applied teaching practices, this work contributes to the discourse on how higher education can evolve responsibly to prepare graduates for an AI-mediated creative economy.
Nastassia Asselin (PhD candidate, MST - School of Psychology)
Seeing isn’t believing: eye-tracking human interaction with AI-generated video.
This PhD will investigate how individuals cognitively and emotionally engage with AI-generated and manipulated video content, with the aim of informing psychologically grounded mitigation strategies. The project comprises three interlinked studies: (1) semi-structured interviews with members of the UK public (1a) and relevant professionals (1b) to explore perceptions, detection challenges, and intervention solutions; (2) an experimental eye-tracking study examining detection accuracy and nuance, cue recognition, and underlying cognitive mechanisms; and (3) an intervention study to develop and test human informed technological design solutions. The research aims to support stakeholders, such as technology designers and educators, by contributing to both theoretical understanding and practical intervention strategies that build public resilience to digital deception and promote digital trust.
Niamh Curtain (MRes candidate, HEMS - School of Allied Health and Exercise Science)
Could the use of environmental design strategies within anaesthetic rooms influence children’s perioperative experience and risk of emergence delirium?
Emergence delirium is a temporary postoperative condition characterised by confusion and agitation. Preoperative anxiety, particularly in children, is a key contributing factor influenced by both the anaesthetic process and environment. Environmental design strategies can reduce anxiety in healthcare settings, yet their use within anaesthetic rooms remains underexplored. This research begins with a scoping review to map existing evidence on environmental design strategies that reduce children’s anxiety in clinical settings. Building on these findings, a protocol will be developed for a mixed-methods study using validated anxiety and delirium scales and short interviews with patients, their parents and clinicians. The outcomes could inform the creation of more child-friendly anaesthetic environments, improve patient safety, and demonstrate the value of nonpharmacological approaches to reducing preoperative anxiety and emergence delirium.
Oussama Ramzi Khettabi (MRes candidate, BAL - Bournemouth University Business School)
Social media and study abroad: exploring Algerian students’ preferences in the age of digital transformation.
Algerian students are among the most mobile nationalities in global higher education, yet little is known about how social media shapes their study-abroad decisions. Traditionally oriented toward Francophone destinations for linguistic and cultural reasons, Algerian students are now exposed to new possibilities through digital platforms. This study explores how social media influences the ways they search for, interpret, and act upon information about international study destinations. Adopting a qualitative interpretivist approach, it will use semi-structured interviews with Algerian students currently studying or intending to study abroad. The research draws on Push–Pull Theory, Uses and Gratifications Theory, and Consumer Decision-Making Theory to build a framework connecting mobility drivers, digital behaviours, and decision-making stages. The study aims to contribute new insights into Algerian students’ digital engagement and provide a foundation for understanding the role of social media in shaping international higher education choices.
Rebecca Bond (EdD candidate, MST - The Media School)
Hear my voice: a participatory dance-based study exploring the lived experiences of Black female university students studying a creative media degree.
This research project explores the lived experiences of Black female undergraduate students studying media within an educational system created for and by a white male elite. It seeks to understand the challenges in developing an authentic, creative voice, and the emotional cost of pursuing academic success in an environment which does not centre Black women. It recognises the responsibility of higher education institutes to develop more equitable teaching practices and structures, and the need to produce creative confident graduates from underrepresented backgrounds who can drive positive change within the media industries through telling inclusive and authentic stories to connect with wider and more diverse audiences. This study uses a participatory dance-based methodology to explore and communicate the lived experiences of Black British female students studying media at university.
Regan John Eminson (PhD candidate, BAL - Bournemouth University Business School)
Queer Romani & traveller mental health inequalities.
Mental health inequalities are prominent amongst Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showman and Boater (GTRSB) Travelling communities as well as amongst LGBQTIA+ people. However, there is a scholarly absence in the exploration of the intersectional identities of LGBTQIA+ Romani & Traveller people and their mental health. This is a pressing concern given the lack of tailored mental health services, questions over the reliability of third-party support and the absence of an LGBTQIA+ Romani & Traveller intersectional mental health knowledge base. This project will aim to explore this intersectional identity and their experiences of issues surrounding mental health in order to produce novel knowledge to enable equity in mental healthcare access.
Ruya Ilkin Sulutas (PhD candidate, MST - School of Psychology)
Development of a virtual reality application for OCD assessment.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects around 2% of the UK population and is among the leading causes of non-fatal health loss worldwide. Many people wait months for support, leading to delayed diagnosis and a more difficult treatment process. This project introduces a virtual reality (VR) application designed to improve OCD assessment. Within virtual room environments (kitchen, bathroom) participants perform OCD-relevant tasks while their physiological and behavioural responses are recorded through wearable sensors. This allows therapists to observe emotional and physical reactions in real time and adapt the experience to individual needs. By combining self-reports, physiological data, and interactive behaviour, to get a clearer picture of experiences for more accurate diagnosis. The PhD includes studies testing the usability and feasibility, to work towards the development of more accurate and personalised OCD interventions in the future.
Sameera Alotaibi (PhD candidate, MST - The Media School)
Constructing Saudi Arabia’s image through mega events: institutional and media discourse.
Mega events are increasingly used as tools for nation branding and public diplomacy. Saudi Arabia has embraced this approach through its Vision 2030 strategy to reshape its global image. While existing literature focuses on the economic impacts of mega events, this study examines their role in constructing a national image by comparing official narratives and international media coverage. It employs a comparative discourse analysis of content published by Saudi official institutions and media coverage from the BBC and CNN, focusing on three events: Riyadh Season, Riyadh Expo 2030, and the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The analysis applies the 5D model of country image—natural, functional, normative, cultural, and emotional—to explore how these mega events are framed internally and externally to generate and promote certain images of Saudi Arabia. This study argues that mega events have become strategic platforms for communicating political messages and influencing a country’s global image.
Sara Bielak (PhD candidate, MST - School of Psychology)
Understanding threat, harm and risk in the policing of sex offences.
Police frequently use the concepts of threat, harm, and risk (T/H/R), yet there is no shared understanding of what they mean or how they guide decision-making. This research develops a framework to clarify these concepts and improve their practical application. The study combines four approaches: A systematic review of academic and policing literature, complemented by Freedom of Information requests to map current definitions; interviews with 15-25 police officers to explore operational interpretations; a public survey to capture societal perspectives; and an adapted Delphi method to build consensus among stakeholders, practitioners, and academics. By linking theory and practice, this research aims to inform policy, improve operational decision-making, and enhance the assessment and management of sexual offence cases. Its insights are relevant to researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, providing a foundation for evidence-based policing.
Sarah Clark (MRes candidate, MST - School of Psychology)
Reducing diagnostic delays for autistic individuals with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder.
Autistic individuals appear to have higher rates of the connective tissue disorder Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), yet diagnostic delays remain common. This MRes project investigates diagnostic experiences from patient and clinician perspectives across three qualitative studies. Study 1 used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore assessment and diagnostic journeys of autistic adults with EDS or HSD. Six superordinate themes emerged. Study 1 findings illustrate how diagnostic overshadowing, limited clinical awareness, and fragmented services contribute to distress and delayed recognition. Participants also described the empowering effects of diagnosis, including improved self-understanding and advocacy. This poster presentation highlights emerging themes and their implications for clinical practice, offering recommendations to enhance awareness, reduce diagnostic barriers, and promote more timely and compassionate care for autistic individuals with EDS.
Sehar Asif (PhD candidate, MST - School of Psychology)
Integrating adaptive learning platforms in English language teaching in primary schools in Pakistan.
English language teaching in Pakistan relies on a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, emphasizing on rote memorization, and grammar translation, with minimal focus on interactive learning. While global education trends increasingly integrate technology, adoption remains inconsistent across disciplines. Adaptive Learning Platforms (ALPs), like IXL, are crucial for modernizing education and improving outcomes. My research intends to investigate the challenges teachers face in incorporating ALPs into English language teaching in low-cost Pakistani primary schools. The intended focus is to identify the barriers, propose solutions, and explore teachers’ attitudes, perceptions, and motivations towards adoption of ALPs. The study intends to use a mixed methods approach to assess how ALPs influence students’ self-regulation, language acquisition, and motivation. The research aims to enhance English proficiency, reduce educational disparities, and provide actionable recommendations for policymakers and educators to promote effective technology integration and equitable access to quality education.
Serdar Akar (PhD candidate, MST - School of Computing and Engineering)
Towards productive cyber resilience and safety analysis in MBSE.
Cyber resilience and system safety are critical in complex defence systems, where failures or cyberattacks can have severe impacts. Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) formalises system models to support automated analysis, requirements traceability, and design validation (INCOSE, 2023). This PhD project investigates integrating cyber resilience and safety analysis into MBSE to enhance productivity, scalability, and usability for systems engineers. Motivated by initiatives like the UK MoD’s PYRAMID program (UK MoD, 2021), it addresses gaps such as manual workflows and tool interoperability. Objectives include identifying challenges via literature reviews, conducting gap/needs analyses, developing prototypes, and evaluating impacts through empirical research. Contributions aim to provide tools, guidelines, and evidence for scalable MBSE in defence, reducing analysis time and specialist dependency while balancing trade-offs in resilience, safety, cost, and schedule. Empirical validation uses exemplar defence cases to demonstrate practical benefits.
Siraj Talal Degnah (PhD candidate, MST - The Media School)
The role of public relations in crisis management at Saudi Aramco company (Analytical study: Aramco’s communication efforts to confront the climate change crisis).
This study aims to examine the communication strategies used by companies accused of environmental misconduct (oil companies as a model) to address climate change. This research involves a qualitative content analysis using a case study approach (Saudi Aramco). The methodology includes an analysis of Twitter content and news coverage of the crisis in newspapers in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. The study follows a deductive approach that includes data testing based on SCCT theory and the SMCS model. Aramco was chosen as the focus of this study because it is one of the world’s largest oil companies and the largest oil producer, making it a unique example for understanding crisis management communication strategies in the Middle East context. The study is based on a theoretical framework that addresses the basic concepts of crisis management, crisis communications, media framing, and environmental sustainability.
Susara Blunden (MRes candidate, HEMS - School of Health and Care)
Encouraging participation in Women’s Health research through community engagement and involvement (CEI).
1.5 million UK women of childbearing age have endometriosis which impacts physical and mental wellbeing, fertility and pregnancy. Diagnosis can take nearly nine years, decreasing this would improve women’s outcomes, whilst reducing burden on the NHS. Women’s perspectives, rightly, have guided research, but doctor’s views remain unexplored.
Objective: Conduct CEI focus groups to generate ideas for engaging doctors in endometriosis research and informing study design.
Method: Research midwives, experienced in study delivery, joined CEI focus groups via social media. Flexible online sessions accommodated work and home caring commitments. Discussions followed a topic guide and were written up using the GRIPP2 checklist.
Results: The CEI group advised approaching doctors via social media or university research networks. Taking consent electronically and collecting data in one-off, face to face group engagements will yield good compliance and rich data.
Conclusion: CEI enhances research rigour and deliverability. It provides knowledge and support for students.
Tanya Andrewes (PhD candidate, HEMS - School of Health and Care)
Strategies for managing an online focus group to validate the findings in a qualitative research project.
This poster outlines strategies adopted by the researcher to manage an online focus group. The specific purpose of the focus group was to validate the findings in a constructivist grounded theory research project. Whilst focus groups are regularly used for data collection in research, there is limited guidance available about their use as a tool for validating qualitative research findings. In light of this, the researcher was required to develop a strategy for managing the validation focus group process. The strategy included forward planning about how the meeting would be hosted, sharing of some of the findings ahead of the meeting and considerations about confidentiality and ethics. This poster illustrates the strategy adopted. It summarises the researcher’s reflections on what went well and what could be improved in the future. The poster is of interest to researchers who are undertaking qualitative research who are using online meetings for data collection.
Tomi Agfianto (PhD candidate, BAL - Bournemouth University Business School)
The readiness of Indonesia’s tourism destination in crisis and disaster mitigation.
Alongside its potential to foster the local economy, tourism is also exposed to various threats. Natural hazards that may escalate into disasters are particularly relevant for tourism activities that rely on natural resources as attractions. This study examines the mitigation and preparedness of tourism stakeholders, including hosts and tourism businesses, supported by other actors. Guided by stakeholder theory, it adopts a hexa-helix collaboration model to analyse stakeholder interactions in Banda Neira, Indonesia. A qualitative multi-method approach was employed, consisting of individual interviews in the initial stage, followed by focus group discussions. Thirty participants representing six different stakeholder groups were interviewed using semi-structured questions, with the resulting data informing the development of focus group topics. The initial findings indicate that although tourism business operators demonstrate a certain level of understanding and awareness, their degrees of preparedness vary considerably. Most operators require additional and coordinated support from the broader stakeholder network.
Zahra Sadat Mousawi (MRes candidate, BAL - Bournemouth University Business School)
UK consumers’ perceptions and engagement with redesigned fashion items in the context of circular fashion practices.
The objective of this study is to investigate consumers’ perception and engagement with redesigned fashion items within a circular economic model in the UK. Specifically, the research examines their willingness to pay (WTP), acceptance, and the level of the circular fashion framework. The proposed study will further adopt a reflexive thematic analysis instrument to extract codes and generate themes from the interview transcripts. A purposive sampling procedure will be employed to select UK participants who are active consumers of fashion products. UK millennials and Gen-Zees aged between 18 and 34 will be eligible for inclusion into the final sample. data will be collected using semi-structured interviews. Furthermore, the NVivo program will support the extraction of themes, codes, and texts that capture the participants’ feelings and attitudes toward the circular fashion industry.
TABLE PRESENTATIONS
Abbey Woolgar (PhD candidate, MST - The Media School)
Working with parents and AI to make stories for autistic children.
This table will showcase my ongoing PhD research on co-creating personalised children’s stories for autistic children using large language models (LLMs). I will display examples of the physical storybooks already created through collaboration with parents, alongside an iPad running ChatGPT to allow attendees to try generating their own stories. Visitors will be able to experiment with prompts, compare different outputs, and see how story creation can be adapted to meet children’s needs. Sample prompts and a draft story template will also be available, giving a practical insight into both the possibilities and challenges of working with AI for inclusive storytelling.
Damla Kuleli (PhD candidate, MST - School of Psychology)
Influence of social anxiety on embodied face perception during affective social interactions in VR using EEG.
The table presentation will showcase my Virtual Reality (VR) project. The audience will be able to experience my experiment using a VR headset and controllers. They will be able to see virtual characters displaying different facial expressions (positive, negative, and neutral), walk towards the virtual character and engage in a handshake. The VR controllers include pressure sensors. An EEG cap will be used for recording brain activity, and the audience will be able to watch a short introductory video of the experiment. This table presentation will provide a short demo of how facial expressions of virtual characters are recorded using motion capture and explain how we record multimodal data in VR studies.
Nerathaldeniye Shesha Kalpani Amarathunga (MRes candidate, MST - School of Computing and Engineering)
Intelligent Buildings: demonstrating a smart Arduino-based prototype for adaptive access and intelligent control.
The table presentation will feature a functional smart building prototype developed on an Arduino platform, demonstrating adaptive access and intelligent environmental control within the framework of Intelligent Buildings. The system integrates RFID-based access authentication, servo-operated doors, ultrasonic occupancy detection, LED and buzzer indicators, and an LCD display for user feedback. A live web-based dashboard will provide real-time visualization of entries, system status, and operational trends, allowing participants to observe how the prototype autonomously responds to occupancy and environmental changes. The display highlights the potential of embedded systems and adaptive algorithms in transforming traditional structures into smart, responsive spaces. Ongoing development of the prototype includes IoT connectivity, machine learning for predictive control, and multi-zone energy optimization, offering an interactive demonstration of how Intelligent Buildings can continuously learn, adapt, and enhance sustainability, comfort, and security.
Sigrid Osborne (PhD candidate, HEMS - School of Life and Environmental Sciences)
Peat: retaining stories of the past and supporting carbon capture and flood defence schemes of the future.
My research into 10,000 years of environmental change within Poole Harbour and the Isle of Purbeck, utilises peat sediment sections. Extracting data from peat on microscopic plant and animal remains can inform on past climate change, sea level inundation, peat formation processes and peat composition. The extracted data provides insights to conservation practitioners, who are currently managing, restoring and recreating peat and wetland areas, in the area of Poole Harbour and Isle of Purbeck. My table will show two aspects of peat:
1. A small experiment demonstrating the water retention of peat sediments versus other sediments such as sand and garden soil.
2. Microscopic remains extracted from ancient peat sections:
- Chironomids (non-biting midge head case larva remains) which identify freshwater enrivonment and temperature.
- Diatoms (silicified micro algae) which identify saltwater inundation.
- Phytoliths (silicified plant remains) which help with vegetation cover reconstruction.
Zahra Eskandari (PhD candidate, BAL - Bournemouth University Business School)
Developing a borderlands framework for understanding forced migrant women’s sport and leisure experiences.
The interactive table presentation illustrates a Borderlands framework for understanding forced migrant women’s embodied experiences of sport and leisure in South-West England. Using participatory Body Map Storytelling, the project integrates Intersectionality, Transnational Feminism, and Borderlands Theory to reveal how inequalities, belonging, and resistance are lived and negotiated through the body.
The table invites visitors to engage in a mini body map activity inspired by the participatory workshops at the core of the research. Visitors are invited to select a printed body outline (A3) and, using colours, symbols, or words, reflect on their own embodied experiences of belonging, movement, and in-betweenness. This process mirrors the method used with forced migrant women participants, where life-sized body maps serve as visual narratives of lived experience — expressing memories, emotions, and forms of agency that cannot always be captured through words.