Postgraduate Research Symposium

Global Challenges Postgraduate Research Symposium

23rd June 2021, online

Aimed at promoting and supporting the work of postgraduate researchers from all disciplines and subject areas whose work is aligned with the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The GCRF supports research that aims to develop sustainable and practicable pathways to healthier, safer lives and prosperity for all, with a focus on improving lives and opportunities in the Global South. PGR students from across the university are conducting important research in many areas relating to the priorities of the GCRF. The symposium will provide a forum to showcase this work, allowing PGR Students to explore how the GCRF and UN Sustainable Development Goals align with their research, and to share their work with a multidisciplinary audience across the university. We hope this will also inspire PGR students to consider new interdisciplinary possibilities and research collaborations.

Hand holding pen. Writing on lined paper

Conference Programme

10am -10:20am: Introduction to symposium and GCRF

10:20am-11:20am: Session 1: Sustainable Energy

1120-11:30: Morning Break

11:30-12:10: Session 2: Immunity

12:10-12:45: Dr Sam Baxland: Communicating Research on Global Challanges

12:45-13:30: Lunch Break

13:30-14:10: Session 3: Sustainable Engineering & Climate Resilience

14:10-15:10: Session 4: Physical Health

15:10-15:20: Afternoon Break

15:20-16:20: Session 5: Mental Health

16:20-16:30: Closing remarks

Programme details

Session One: Sustainable Energy

Chair: John Hudson

Bing Yuan, College of Arts and Humanities: Reinterpreting 4A’s framework of energy security from the perspective of human security - an analysis of the development of electric vehicles in China

Geoff Blanche, College of Science: Endothermic Electricity, new energy generation possibilities for maximum efficiency

Natasha Hawkins, College of Science: Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity as Heterogeneous Base Catalysts for Sustainable Applications

Session Two: Immunity

Chair: Freja Petrie

Sean Holm, Medical School: Neutrophil extracellular trap formation in neonates

Huri Ozturk, College of Humand and Health Sciences: A Global Health Challenge: Managing Antimicrobial Resistance in Turkey

Dr Sam Blaxland: Communicating Research on Global Challenges

Dr Sam Blaxland: Department of History, Understanding Global Problems podcast

Communicating Research on Global Challenges

This session will reflect on communicating your global challenges research to non-specialists through a variety of ways, providing examples and tips for sharing your work with different audiences.

Session Three: Sustainable Engineering & Climate Resilience

Chair: Millie Parks

Kristian Ions, College of Engineering: Nature Based Solutions - Civil Engineering

Nathalie Al Kakoun, College of Engineeringwer: Values and Human-Centred Designing in Civil Engineering

Session Four: Physical Health

Chair: Benjamin Cooze. Medical School

Freja Petrie, College of Engineering: Sex and Gender Differences in Head Impact Characteristics Within Rugby Union

Abbigail Tann, College of Engineering: The effect of an 8-week home-based body weight HIIT training on acute and chronic acyl ghrelin levels and visceral adiposity in post-menopausal women

Karol Szuba-Jablonski, College of Science: Characterization and Functionalization of Ultrabithorax Materials for Tissue Engineering and Biosensing

Session Five: Mental Health

Chair: Anthony Brennan, College of Human and Health Sciences

Eleanor Bryant, College of Human and Health Sciences: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the criminal justice system

Alessandro Sparacio, College of Human and Health Sciences: Stress regulation via self-administered mindfulness and biofeedback interventions in adults: A pre-registered meta-analysis

Nicola Heady, Medical School: A minority within a minority? Estimating the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders in looked after children and how they impact on health and social wellbeing.