2021 Research with a global impact the people, discoveries and stories behind our research
Professor Liz Towns-Andrews OBE, awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion in 2013
The University of Huddersfield’s researchers are committed to solving the problems and answering the questions posed by industry, science and society as a whole. Our magazine, Discover, tells the stories behind our research and highlights the impact this work has on the world we all live in. Join the discussions around our research: @WeLoveResearch #hudresearch research.hud.ac.uk discover.hud.ac.uk PROFESSOR LIZ TOWNS-ANDREWS DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND ENTERPRISE 3M PROFESSOR OF INNOVATION
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global DISCOVER Research with a
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2021
Contents Research with a global impact 04 Rising to the challenge of Covid-19 08 Using research and innovative technology to prevent domestic violence 12 Improving welfare support for professional rugby league players
24 The social impact and business compliance requirements of expanding religious food markets 26 Digital re-engineering of railway safety systems
Using research and innovative technology to prevent domestic violence. See page 8
28 The changing landscape of television
14 Designing out crime 16 Mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction into the construction process 18 Empowering girls and women to work in music technology
30 Challenging the stereotypes of young people 32 Using AI technology to support ADHD diagnosis 34 New research from the University of Huddersfield Press
20 De-stigmatising mental ill-health through creative arts practice
Rising to the challenge of COVID-19. Article here? See pages 4-7 See page ?
To find out more about our research and to keep up to date with the latest research news, visit: research.hud.ac.uk To find out more about the researchers featured in Discover visit the University of Huddersfield Research Portal: pure.hud.ac.uk You can also get involved with discussions around our research by joining our online community: @weloveresearch #hudresearch research.hud.ac.uk
Rising to the challenge of COVID-19
Researchers at the University of Huddersfield have been rising to the challenge of Covid-19, here are some examples of their work.
Life-saving lullabies A team of researchers is working with a group of women in the African country of Zambia to create songs to warn against the dangers of coronavirus. They are harnessing the power of song to spread vital healthcare messages – including Covid-19 precautions – among African women. The project – titled Life-Saving Lullabies – has earned major funding from Britain’s Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and has been developed by Dr James Reid and Professor Barry Doyle at the University of Huddersfield in collaboration with Professor David Swann at Sheffield Hallam University.
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The ‘Coronavirus Generation’
Pregnancy during the pandemic Professor of Global Health Padam Simkhada and PhD researcher Pasang Tamang have co-published a report on the current knowledge of the effect of Covid-19 on pregnant women and babies. The article titled ‘Pregnancy and Covid-19: Lessons so far’ has been published online by the Healthy Newborn Network (HNN). The Huddersfield researchers collaborated on the research with colleagues at the University of Bournemouth and its Centre for Midwifery, Maternal and Perinatal Health. The article includes advice to expectant mothers on how to avoid the virus. It includes postponing any social events such as baby showers and using telephone or online appointments, rather than face-toface appointments, for pregnant women who have signs of Covid-19 or who are selfisolating.
Dr Andy Mycock collaborated with colleague and Leverhulme Trust Research Fellow Dr Tom Loughran on the analysis of a major survey exploring the impact of the pandemic on young people. During late March and early April 2020 it surveyed 1,535 young people, aged 16-25. 91% of those who responded said that they are strictly adhering to government advice. But there are negative strains on young people’s family relationships and 65% of young people said they were worried about their mental health in light of Covid-19. The report makes a series of recommendations, including a call for the Government to establish a National Young Person’s Response Unit. Using steroids to combat Covid-19 Huddersfield researchers, Dr Hamid Merchant and Dr Syed Shahzad Hasan, explored the use of steroids to combat Covid-19 in severely ill patients. They examined the use of corticosteroids such as dexamethasone on hospitalised Covid-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who were on respiratory support. Their findings revealed that using steroids could have saved lives. Their research has been published in the Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine. Oxford University’s RECOVERY trial came to similar conclusions as the Huddersfield researchers, leading to the UK government’s decision that dexamethasone could be made available to patients, a move being followed around the world.
Dr Jodie Matthews research.hud.ac.uk
Local food producers step up to the lockdown challenge As consumers joined the long queues for their shopping and supermarkets ran out of essentials, local food producers and suppliers, such as farm shops, rose to the challenge of the Covid-19 crisis, meeting a rapid rise in demand. Dr John Lever, who researches food systems and supply chains in the University’s Centre for Sustainability, Responsibility, Governance and Ethics, produced a report that charted the rise to prominence of local suppliers. Dr Lever has provided his expertise to the Huddersfield Sustainable Town initiative, by outlining a regional approach to food system reform and predicts that sourcing food locally could become the new normal.
Digital learning revolution
COVID-toes warning
As students went into lockdown digital learning became the new normal. Professor Rupert Ward’s new book, ‘Personalised Learning for the Learning Person’, calls for a radical overhaul in education that embraces digital technology to deliver specialised learning. Professor Rupert Ward was the Project Lead for iDEA – Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award – a free online programme that develops digital, enterprise and employability skills. Launched in January 2017, iDEA has been adopted in over 100 countries around the world, and has been in particular demand during the Covid-19 pandemic, with an additional 1.25m ‘badges’ – iDEA’s informal digital learning awards – completed since March 2020.
At the height of the Covid-19 crisis symptons of the virus were continually being discovered, not least a relatively unknown symptom known as COVID-toes.
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If left undiagnosed this condition can result in possible limb amputation and the spread of infection is greater. Dr Leanne Atkin sounded the alarm after witnessing a sharp increase in the amount of patients being referred to vascular clinics, with similar symptons to arterial disease but, who tested positive for Covid-19. Dr Atkin is a member of the University’s Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention and through her work as a Vascular Nurse Consultant at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, comes into regular contact with patients and was able to witness first-hand the impact of Covid-19.
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University loans DNA sampler to the Government for Covid-19 testing As well as donating large quantities of protective gear for frontline health workers, scientists at the University of Huddersfield responded to a request from the Government for high-tech equipment to increase the testing of the public for coronavirus. A network of facilities known as Lighthouse Labs was established, but to scale up their work the Government needed larger numbers of advanced polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines. These can take a tiny sample of DNA and amplify it so that it can be studied in detail. The School of Applied Sciences was able to loan its ThermoFisher 7500-Fast PCR machine, used for forensics courses, which helped the Government with its target of carrying out 100,000 Covid-19 tests every day.
Helping health staff suffering skin damage from face masks Covid-19 highlighted the problems that can arise with face masks being worn for long periods of time by healthcare professionals. Although face masks offer invaluable protection, they can cause significant skin damage. Professor Karen Ousey, Director of the Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention at the University of Huddersfield, was part of a team that conducted detailed research into the pressure damage that can be caused by a wide range of medical devices, including face masks. The findings and recommendations include keeping the skin clean, well-hydrated and moisturised and that barrier creams should be applied at least half an hour before masks are put on. Professor Ousey also urges members of the public to visit the National Wound Care Strategy webpage, which offers wide-ranging advice on wound care and pressure ulcers. research.hud.ac.uk
Using research and innovative technology to prevent genderbased violence One in three women and girls experience physical or sexual violence in their life time. Genderbased violence (GBV) extends beyond national and socio-cultural boundaries, affecting people of all ages, ethnicities and economic backgrounds. It is a world-wide issue; one repeatedly highlighted as a global crisis.
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Developing the character of Grace research.hud.ac.uk
Much of this data is still being analysed, but in Barbados and Grenada, boys reported higher rates of sexual, emotional and physical abuse than previously understood. Those exposed to multiple forms of violence were more accepting of domestic violence against females and showed reduced empathic capacity. The importance of prevention The findings call for a focus on prevention, improving access to justice for survivors, enhancing policy and practice, facilitating perpetrator accountability and engaging men and youth.
Professor Adele Jones – Director of the None in Three Research Centre
The None in Three Research Centre for the Prevention of Gender-based Violence, within the School of Human and Health Sciences, aims to turn the tide on this global problem. Research reveals that GBV is associated with deep-rooted patriarchal beliefs, unequal gender relations and attitudes which promote violence acceptance and normalisation. These attitudes are transmitted to young people which can lead to intergenerational cycles of violence. Confronting negative attitudes None in Three research confronts negative gendered attitudes, increases awareness of GBV and aims to empower victims and others in disrupting patterns of violence. Qualitative research has so far been conducted with survivors and perpetrators of GBV in five countries. Findings have highlighted the significance of intergenerational violence, coercive control, socio-culturally inscribed gender stereotypes, the extent and impact of physical, sexual and psychological abuse, the impact on children, escalatory patterns, and barriers preventing victims from seeking help.
In the Caribbean, the research has already led to attitude change and development of new knowledge and skills for social workers, health professionals, criminal justice workers and civil society organisations. It has influenced public policy and improved practice with children impacted by violence. Policy briefing and public engagement activity aims to ensure similar real world impact in the other study countries. Pro-social gaming The research findings are also used to create educational and culturally appropriate video games. From the research, plot, narrative, dialogue, environment and characterisation are derived, ensuring authenticity and relatability. JESSE, the first game developed, is an educational intervention which raises awareness of domestic violence and seeks to change the attitudes and behaviours that contribute to it. Developed in Barbados and Grenada, it was subsequently rolled out to schools in St Lucia. Four more games will be delivered by the Centre for its other study countries in 2021, with wraparound curricular materials to help schools address the difficult but essential GBV related topics in an immersive and engaging way, with young people.
A child’s point of view Research has also been carried out with more than 30,000 children aged 10-18 years. research.hud.ac.uk
The None in Three team
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School uniform work in progress Police Officer character
The None in Three Research Centre With a multi-disciplinary team of national and international experts and partnerships around the globe, the Centre is conducting research and developing pro-social video game interventions in India, Jamaica, Uganda, the UK and Brazil, thanks to funding from the EU, the UK Government’s Global Challenges Research Fund, the University of Huddersfield and UNICEF’s End Violence Against Children Fund.
For more information on the research in this article visit: www.noneinthree.org
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Improving welfare support for professional rugby league players The mental health and wellbeing of professional athletes in general and, in particular, sports which emphasize ‘mental toughness’ and are considered to reinforce masculine stereotypes, is an area of concern. Player welfare is a recent development in supporting elite athletes during their professional careers and beyond. Professional rugby players have traditionally had limited welfare support, with the majority of support directed towards improving on-field performance. Professional rugby players are in a vulnerable position with short careers, uncertain contracts and a reluctance to seek help. Prevalence rates of anxiety and depression in male elite athletes in team sports is as high as 45% and rugby has been described as having a ‘toxic culture’ of denial of mental health problems. Sport player welfare Dr Kiara Lewis, Dr Susanna Kola-Palmer and Dr Alison Rodriguez carried out research between
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Dr Kiara Lewis
2015 and 2016, working closely with the Player Welfare Director of Rugby Football League (RFL). In the first study of its kind, the team used an anonymous online survey of professional rugby players to assess their knowledge of and attitudes to RFL player welfare. This study has shown that players who know more about the available mental health support and have more positive attitudes towards that support, report fewer mental health symptoms. This suggests that by increasing positive attitudes towards mental health support and mental health
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literacy, it is possible to increase helpseeking behaviour, reduce stigma and in that way increase well-being and mental health in elite athletes. A qualitative study was also conducted by interviewing Player Welfare Managers (PWMs) across the UK and France. The findings revealed that the majority of clubs employed PWMs on 3-day-a-week contracts, resulting in PWMs experiencing high levels of pressure and an inability to cope with the demands of the job, with a negative impact on player support.
Changes to welfare provision The research findings were fed back to the RFL who then made substantial changes to policy and practice through expanding welfare provision across the sport. The findings identified key areas of improvement in welfare support in elite level rugby league, and as a result, the RFL made policy changes affecting every single Super League club across the UK, France and Canada. It was recommended that all Super League clubs should have a full time PWM to deal with the demands of the job and in support of this change consequently, the PWM role within the RFL has been expanded. Additional policy changes include increased support for PWMs, such as additional qualifications and training, to enable them to provide the necessary support to players and provide them with regular wellbeing surveys to assess the mental health of players. The changes led to a difference in awareness and attitudes of coaches and players towards welfare, in particular mental health support. The results of a second survey showed that player awareness had improved: 75% (compared to 69% in 2015) now know their club has a welfare policy and 78% (compared to 58% in 2015) know how to access mental health support.
For more information on the research in this article email: kiara.lewis@hud.ac.uk and s.kola-palmer@hud.ac.uk or visit pure.hud.ac.uk
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Designing out Crime
For more information on the research in this article email: r.a.armitage@hud.ac.uk and l.y.monchuk@hud.ac.uk or visit pure.hud.ac.uk
The extent to which housing design influences the likelihood of future crime is of fundamental importance to both planning and policing policy and practice. Once built, housing lasts for decades, and there is little that can be done to correct vulnerabilities without great expense. Secured by Design
Professor Rachel Armitage
Between 2000 and 2009, Professor Rachel Armitage and Dr Leanne Monchuk conducted three research projects, funded by West Yorkshire Police (WYP) in 2000, the Home Office (HO) in 2001 and WYP in 2009. Each focused upon the extent to which the combined design requirements of the Secured by Design (SBD) scheme impacted upon levels of crime, residents’ feelings of safety and, whether any benefits had been sustained over a ten-year period.
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Dr Leanne Monchuk
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Housing design and crime Building on these findings Professor Armitage and Dr Monchuk examined the effect of housing design on crime. Their research included assessing the impact on crime of fifty individual and combined design features of over 6,000 properties across three police forces in England and Wales. They also carried out indepth interviews with twenty-two incarcerated burglars. Both studies confirming that housing design impacts the likelihood of crime and identifying the most criminogenic design features. Research was also carried out with Police Designing Out Crime Officers (DOCOs) to assess the quality of delivery of crime prevention through environmental design. Residential housing The research confirmed that the design of residential housing influences risk of crime, and that housing built to the police SBD award scheme standards will experience significantly lower levels of crime. It identified the extent to which designing out crime is being implemented by police DOCOs, the strengths and limitations of training provision and how effectively crime prevention is being embedded within local and national planning. Building standards and regulations The research has played a key role in influencing the inclusion of SBD and security within UK building regulations. It has also influenced
policy with the government announcing that the proposed deregulation of security within the planning system would not be implemented and that the building standards would be amended to include security for doors and windows for the first time. This was implemented in England and Wales in 2015.
Global impact The findings from this research have influenced policy and planning policy and practice in the United Kingdom, Australia and the United Arab Emirates. The research confirmed that housing built to the Secured by Design (SBD) standard experiences 55% less burglary than housing that does not meet these standards, thus enabling planning guidance, building regulations and other national and local policy to stipulate that housing be built to these standards; increasing the number of secure homes (43% of new homes built between 2006 and 2017 were SBD) and, in turn, decreasing the number of crimes experienced. Through research projects funded by a variety of diverse agencies, presentations at 21 international conferences, participation on key Advisory Boards and the production of practitioner focused knowledge transfer materials, this research has impacted police and planning policy and practice, prevented residential burglary and reduced the economic and social costs of crime.
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Mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into construction In countries susceptible to natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, the construction of buildings plays a vital role in reducing the risk of homes, businesses and lives being destroyed. The Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction (2015-2030), endorsed by 187 UN states in 2015, calls for businesses to integrate disaster risk into their management practices. The framework identifies the need for disaster risk education and training for construction professionals, a view supported by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga
Engaging the global construction industry Researchers at the University of Huddersfield have played a key role in engaging the global construction industry in disaster resilience building efforts. Professors Dilanthi Amaratunga and Richard Haigh from the Global Disaster Resilience Centre have carried out extensive research which has increased the understanding, awareness and attitudes of disaster risk reduction among accredited professionals in the construction sector. Five dimensions of resilience Their initial research established a need to better understand current and emerging skills for built environment professionals that could contribute to enhancing societal resilience to disasters and the needs of key stakeholders involved in disaster resilience and management. The underpinning research, undertaken as part of the EU funded CADRE grant, involved stakeholder interviews in Europe and Asia with: national and local government organisations; the community; non-governmental organisations, international non-governmental organisations and other international agencies; academia and research organisations; and the private sector. It explored the five dimensions of resilience: social, economic, institutional, environmental and technological. Knowledge requirements The findings were used to establish thirteen key knowledge requirements including: governance, legal frameworks research.hud.ac.uk
Professor Richard Haigh
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through the development of more policy orientated guides for construction stakeholders; the recognition of disaster resilience through accreditation and the incorporation of disaster resilience in professional and ethical standards. They also recommended improving regulatory frameworks following large scale disasters; the education of construction professionals and the need to adopt a multi-stakeholder and multi-hazard approach.
Research impact and compliance; sustainability and resilience; business continuity management; ethics and human rights; disaster response; innovative financing mechanisms; contracts and procurement; resilience technologies, engineering and infrastructure; a multistakeholder approach, inclusion and empowerment; knowledge management; social and cultural awareness; post disaster project management and multi-hazard risk assessment. In addition, the study identified a series of recommendations or enablers for key actors in the built environment on how to more effectively mainstream disaster resilience in the construction process. These included the need to close the policy-science gap
The research has increased the understanding, awareness and attitudes of disaster risk reduction among accredited professionals in the construction sector. It has contributed globally through the UN in publications for city mayors and urban development guidelines, and in Sri Lanka with the Association of Disaster Risk Management Professionals of Sri Lanka. It has ensured that disaster risk reduction is incorporated into the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka’s GREENSLŽ Rating System for Built Environment and has improved the knowledge of built environment professionals to address disaster risk. Professor Amaratunga and Professor Haigh are currently working to incorporate disaster risk knowledge in formal and professional education and training through changes to policy associated with the competency requirements of construction industry professionals, including RICS and its pathways to professional qualification.
For more information on the research in this article email: d.amaratunga@hud.ac.uk and r.haigh@hud.ac.uk or visit pure.hud.ac.uk
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Empowering girls and women to work in
music technology A 2016 survey by the leading international professional body for people working in music technology (the Audio Engineering Society) found that just 7% of its members who reported their gender were women. This disparity is rooted in situations where boys often dominate tech-based lessons at school, young women lack supportive informal networks and role models, and overt or unconscious sexism affects the decisions of gatekeepers within the music industry. For more information on the research in this article email: e.d.dobson@hud.ac.uk or visit pure.hud.ac.uk
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Dr Liz Dobson
Š Imaginary Friends Photography
© Imaginary Friends Photography
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Collaboration, learning and creativity Since arriving at the University of Huddersfield in 2007 Dr Liz Dobson has conducted research investigating the interrelation of collaborative process, learning and creativity, with particular focus upon music technology environments. This research has underpinned a range of initiatives to address the underrepresentation of women in music technology. CollabHub Dr Dobson created CollabHub at the University of Huddersfield in 2012, an experimental extracurricular environment for student-led collaborative and multidisciplinary practice. This generated new insights into effective models for learning through co-creative practice. Dr Dobson explored how these insights might provide the basis of a framework for increasing the participation of women in music technology, drawing upon fieldwork with feminist sound and music collectives internationally. The findings from this research demonstrated the value of collaboration, learning and innovation. Yorkshire Sound Women Network In 2015 Dr Dobson initiated the Yorkshire Sound Women Network (YSWN), to support women as a minority in music technology. Through YSWN and other engagement activities, her work has contributed to the development of music technology skills, industry knowledge and career aspirations of girls and women across West Yorkshire and has been a catalyst for spin-off grassroots enterprise initiatives in the UK, North America and Europe.
Creating opportunities These initiatives have created employment opportunities for professional women musicians; and formed the basis of new international advocacy work that is supporting improved career pathways for girls and women in audio around the world. Since 2015, Dr Dobson has developed a model for practice that positions these insights on collaboration and learning in relation to feminist values. Her term ‘Digital Audio Ecofeminism’ characterises the values prioritised by feminist sound and music collectives set up to support people of marginalised genders. Between 2015 and July 2020, YSWN coordinated 175 events and educational workshops, involving 838 women and girls, and has cemented an international reputation as a pioneering organisation in the field, raising over £100k for its on-going work. It has also inspired nine UK-based and international spin-off groups. These activities have resulted in new music technology skills and knowledge for individuals, increased confidence and aspirations, a more diverse music sector through the establishment of new organisations, economic and employment benefits and changed attitudes and behaviours in the wider music industry. hud.ac.uk/research research.hud.ac.uk
De-stigmatising mental ill-health through creative arts practice How do you give a voice to vulnerable adults with mental health issues? How can the voices of the past effect change in the 21st Century? Dr Rob Ellis’ research was developed in response to the need for mental health organisations to understand the lived experience of mental ill-health and the demand to give these vulnerable adults a voice in policy-making and practice.
Training session with health and social care professionals – Osaka City University research.hud.ac.uk
For more information on the research in this article email: r.ellis@hud.ac.uk and or visit pure.hud.ac.uk
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Training session with National Trust staff at Little Moreton Hall research.hud.ac.uk
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Patient perspectives In 2010, Dr Ellis was invited to collaborate with Leeds City Museums and the Thackray Medical Museum on an exhibition on mental ill-health. His research placed patient perspectives at the heart of the exhibition. This partnership with Leeds led to further work on the histories of mental-ill health and learning disabilities, including a role as Visiting Research Fellow at the Mental Health Museum. In 2013, he worked in partnership with St Anne’s Community Services and Leeds Mencap, and received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) for a project called ‘Heritage and Stigma’. For this project, Dr Ellis facilitated the collection of a body of research in the form of service-user testimonies, oral histories and material culture that fed into two co-produced exhibitions ‘Nothing with us: without us’ and ‘Our minds our histories’.
Absent voices As a result of these projects, Dr Ellis began to explore the themes of patient stigma and absent voices in the presentation of public histories. This included a longer-term history of the Mental Health Museum. In 2017 Dr Ellis explored the nature of collaboration and the challenges of viewing service users as people first and foremost in the historical record. Patient/service users often left no written records behind, other than those written for them or mediated by medical professionals and administrators. The resulting article considered developments in mental health care in the past and issues that shape services in the present and stressed that the future of collaborations between historians and community groups required a closer understanding of historical voices.
Performance of ‘I have Strings’ – New Vic Theatre
Research impact Through a working partnership with the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Dr Ellis’ research led to the co-creation of a play (I have Strings) in 2018 and the ‘Bag of Tricks’ resource kit in 2019. The play has been used in schools to prompt discussion around mental wellbeing in school age children. The kit has provided training for mental health and social care practitioners in England and Japan from a range of organisations, including local authorities, NHS Trusts, the NSPCC, Mind and the Mitsuaki Centre, and provided a catalyst for organisational change in mental health provision at the National Trust. The resource has also enabled vulnerable individuals to have a voice and participate in the development of policies and procedures in such organisations. This research has enabled social and health care providers and heritage organisations to address sector specific issues of mental ill-health and wellbeing in unprecedented ways in the UK and Japan while also empowering vulnerable individuals.
Left: Feedback from a session with service users at the Mitsuaki Centre research.hud.ac.uk
The social impact and business compliance requirements of expanding
religious food markets Expanding markets for kosher and halal food presents significant economic opportunities, but animal slaughter for meat raises issues around business compliance and cultural and religious differences. When slaughter without stunning was banned in Denmark in 2014, demand for non-stunned meat increased among Muslim consumers. Prepacked non-stunned meat was subsequently imported from countries such as the UK, where non-stun production is allowed, or via countries with lower standards. In the absence of a ban, and with social and political controversy increasing, UK businesses and certifiers attempted to protect commercial interests by being discrete about labelling stunned meat as halal and identifying the method of slaughter.
Market functioning and business compliance requirements
Global research
Understanding of consumer anxieties
Dr John Lever, Professor Gerard McElwee and Dr Gareth Downing at the University of Huddersfield carried out a body of mixed methods research on the social, political and business issues linked to the global halal and kosher markets and consumer understanding in the UK, Denmark and United Arab Emirates.
As the halal market expanded, ambiguous media reports enhanced consumer concerns about threats to animal welfare standards and British values. Combined with growing market complexity, these developments also enhanced consumption anxieties among religious consumers about what is and is not acceptable.
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Dr John Lever
The research revealed that although kosher and halal meat production and consumption are ultimately premised on divine order, religion is both conditioned and invigorated by the global market.
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Educating and informing key policy stakeholders This research has educated and informed key policy stakeholders. It has influenced debates on non-stun slaughter and enhanced awareness of the need for business compliance and better product labelling in line with industry regulations and religious standards to enhance market transparency. Reframing policy debate The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is a leading advocate of banning non-stun slaughter. They recognise the significance of Dr Lever’s work on the history of kosher meat production and Jewish nonstun slaughter practice for situating and reframing their current work on halal practices. The BVA has a membership of 17,000, meaning that Dr Lever’s input has an impact across the majority of the 20,000 veterinary professionals in the UK. Reducing consumer anxiety The lack of meat market transparency has enhanced anxieties amongst religious and non-religious consumers, and Dr Lever has advocated for better labelling. In 2019 Dr Lever was asked to share his research with the Government as part of a debate on labelling and improving meat market transparency
at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). With other stakeholders, the team of Huddersfield researchers has since developed a new meat production label. Enhancing business compliance The work of Dr Lever and Dr Johan Fischer from Roskilde University in Denmark has enabled the business partners of the Halal Food Authority (HFA) to understand and determine the appropriate standards and certification criteria required to capitalise on market opportunities.
For more information on the research in this article email: j.b.lever@hud.ac.uk or visit pure.hud.ac.uk
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Digital re-engineering of railway safety systems Railway companies operate safety management systems to ensure the safety of trains, staff and passengers. Safety management hinges on capturing and storing structured and unstructured data relating to the operation of the railway and the performance of their safety controls. This data is used by railway safety practitioners to better understand railway system safety risk, leading to the development of strategies to improve the safety of the railways, thereby reducing accidents, injuries and fatalities.
Professor Coen van Gulijk
Modernising reporting systems
Natural Language Processing
Historically, railway safety management systems have used digital data analysis techniques sparsely, due to a lack of knowledge on how to appropriately apply these to rail datasets. Research carried out by Professor Coen van Gulijk, Peter Hughes, Dr Miguel Figueres, Dr Rawia El Rashidy and Julian Stow provided blueprints, methods and algorithms for the modernisation of reporting systems in the UK and France with Spain, Switzerland and Denmark following in their tracks. The work inspired the European Railway Agency to consider novel reporting techniques in their mandate to modernise European reporting systems as well. Their research focused on three key areas:
Automated text analysis, referred to as Natural Language Processing (NLP), is a useful tool for the analysis of safety reports. Because standard NLP techniques do not perform well with railway jargon and poor spelling (commonplace in safety reports) they developed novel NLP approaches that dramatically improved the outputs from NLP on unstructured data. This approach was adopted by The Railway Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) (UK), Network Rail (UK), RENFE (Spain) and TNO (Netherlands). Telemetry data analysis techniques Railway systems, such as signalling, planning and operations, and on train data recorders (OTDR) generate immense amounts of data that are not designed to inform operational safety management systems. The research focussed on developing new data analysis techniques for use on data from trains and signalling systems. The results provide new safety key performance indicators and insights for planners including the development of the fundamental logic and algorithms for a Red Aspect Approaches to Signals (RAATS) software analysis tool, which is used to better understand the likelihood and occurrence of Signals Passed at Danger (SPAD) events, which have potentially catastrophic consequences.
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Signalling data analysis techniques On a national level the research outputs have been used by the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) to develop and publish a rail risk toolkit for the Red Aspect Approaches to Signals (RAATS) tool. The tool uses signalling data to predict those signals that have high-risk red-aspect approaches. Railway operators are able to use the tool to greatly reduce risk and improve the overall flow of traffic on the network and consequently the punctuality of the service. Digital safety system The visualisation of results is of key importance if safety information is to be interpreted correctly. The research connected safety indicators to
commercial safety software: BowTies. To some extent the work has inspired GB railway partners to work with BowTies as efficient safety management interfaces, including RSSB, Network Rail, London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). Overseas railways have followed their example, including SNCF, Renfe, Swiss FOT, ProRail, Danish Railways and even the European Railway Agency adopted elements of BowTies. This research has helped significantly to contribute to railway safety across Europe. The findings supported the European Railway Agency in developing digital incident registration systems. The research had an impact on the development and launch of a digital safety system for the French railways SNCF.
For more information on the research in this article email: c.vangulijk@hud.ac.uk
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The changing landscape of television For more information on the research in this article email: c.johnson2@hud.ac.uk and m.j.hills@hud.ac.uk or visit pure.hud.ac.uk Professor Catherine Johnson
Discovering content
With over 600 television channels in the UK and more than 300 ondemand video services licensed by Ofcom, the TV industry faces a significant challenge in connecting audiences to content. The ‘discoverability’ of television is central to the economic viability of the industry, and to the socio-cultural value (and broader survival) of public service broadcasters (PSBs).
How we view and navigate what we watch on television has changed considerably. The mainstream adoption of on-demand TV since the 2010s has altered the TV landscape. In the UK, 53% of households have a TV set connected to the internet, half of households subscribe to at least one subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service, 42% consider online services to be their main way of watching film and TV, and YouTube is the most watched platform by 16-24 year-olds (Ofcom, Media Nations, 2019). Primary 1-world defaults Research undertaken by Professor Matt Hills, Professor Catherine Johnson and Research Assistant Lauren Dempsey examines the world of on-demand TV and asks how people discover content. Their research found that people have habitual ‘default’ ways of finding TV content to watch which often bypass industry-controlled interfaces. Most participants adopt different defaults depending on time of day, content and viewing mode (distracted/ engaged, exploratory/directed). However, the most
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Research impact
common default (particularly among younger participants and those with a smart TV and/or SVOD subscription) was what the research termed a ‘1-world default’: that is defaulting to the ‘world’ of a smart TV, pay-TV service and/or an SVOD and using a range of features within the world (from search and categories to recommendations and watchlists) to find content. In this research Sky and Netflix were the primary 1-world defaults. The importance of paratexts The research also revealed the strategies that people adopt to become aware of and decide what to watch, from a significant reliance on word of mouth, to the importance of paratexts, such as professional reviews and industry-produced ads and trailers. Routes to content were also shaped by media and technological literacy and household dynamics, with older women and younger adults more likely to lack control of the TV set. Participants found public service TV easy to find in the electronic programme guide (EPG), but less so on-demand. Although participants associated public service broadcasters (PSBs) (particularly the BBC) with quality and shared viewing experiences, they tended not to see PSBs’ VOD services as places to discover new content. At the same time, a number of younger participants associated Netflix with values typically aligned with PSB, to the detriment of the BBC in particular.
The research has been shared with industry and policy-makers, including Ofcom (the UK media regulator), the BBC and Red Bee Media. Professor Catherine Johnson has recently been appointed as a special advisor to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee on the future of public service broadcasting, and the research findings will help to inform her work with the committee. She is also working with Red Bee Media to develop recommendations for UK and international public service broadcasters to help them to ensure that their programmes are easy to find across the wide range of platforms and services that we now use to watch television. The impact of this research has shaped Ofcom’s research and policy discussions, facilitated the strategic development of creative businesses and informed public, industry and policy debates. Given Ofcom’s remit as the media regulator in the UK where 95% of all households own a television, the BBC’s position as the primary UK PSB and a major international broadcaster with a weekly audience of 372m around the world, and the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) membership from 56 countries across Europe, the impact has significant national and international reach. research.hud.ac.uk
Challenging the stereotypes of young people Being NEET (not in education, employment or training) for extended periods can have significant negative consequences for young people, their families, for the economy and society more broadly. Young people who spend a significant time outside education and work are more prone to social isolation, poor self-esteem, low confidence, and various limiting illnesses and conditions. They are also less likely to participate in the democratic process and often have lower levels of institutional trust relating, for example, to policing, health and social services. Economic consequences include lost tax revenue and increased expenditure on welfare.
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Exploring the lives of NEET young people Research exploring the causes of young people’s marginalisation began in 2008, with subsequent projects being funded by the Leverhulme Trust and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
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The Leverhulme project is a rare example of a major programme of longitudinal ethnographic research on the lives of NEET young people – such research being resource intensive and especially challenging given the turbulent social and cultural milieu in which participants’ lives are located. The research involved sustained engagement with over fifty participants in settings including training programmes and work placements, the careers service and job centre interviews, in young people’s homes and other social spaces. Challenging the dominant view The research carried out by Professor Robin Simmons, Dr Ron Thompson and Dr Lisa Russell from the Huddersfield Centre for Research in Education and Society (HudCRES) challenges the dominant view that NEET young people are lacking the necessary industry, motivation and commitment to be successful in education and work. Their research suggests that such dispositions usually arise from repeated negative labour-market
experiences rather than being inherent individual, social or cultural deficits. It also finds that many NEET young people feel highly frustrated about their position and that most of them aspire to the traditional signifiers of ‘mainstream’ adulthood – including a job, their own home and conventional family life – rather than being drawn from some incipient underclass. Tackling marginalisation The research findings suggest that, in most cases, the causes of young people’s marginalisation are located in a paucity of meaningful labour market opportunities more than any individual shortcomings or deficits. NEET young people are often placed on inappropriate training provision which can be de-motivating. Negative experiences of engaging with support services can also have a highly damaging effect. However, the research also revealed that good quality employment opportunities can have a positive effect on young people’s paths to employment and that practitioners who ‘go the extra mile’ can make a real difference, in terms of facilitating access to opportunities which marginalised youth may not otherwise feel able to access.
Research impact The research provides an alternative, evidence-based narrative which reflects the lived experience of marginalised youth. It challenges stereotypical assumptions and informs the way that policymakers, third-sector organisations and practitioners conceive and provide support designed to help re-engage NEET young people in education and work. For more information on the research in this article email: r.a.simmons@hud.ac.uk and r.thompson@hud.ac.uk and l.russell@hud.ac.uk or visit pure.hud.ac.uk
The University of Huddersfield has delivered training for youth and community workers for over twenty years, producing more than 600 graduates. The extensive body of NEET research is a key component of both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
research.hud.ac.uk
Using AI technology to support ADHD diagnosis Professor Grigoris Antoniou
NHS waiting lists for adults with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) continue to grow. People awaiting assessment and treatment can suffer from health, relationship and work problems. Delays in diagnosis are due to current NHS practices which require a full assessment by specialist clinicians, increased awareness of the condition and financial pressures.
Using technology to automate diagnosis Researchers at the University of Huddersfield have developed automated reasoning techniques to deal with imperfect information, which are being applied to the diagnosis of ADHD in adults. The new technology identifies clear-cut cases that can be assessed automatically, enabling timely assessments with positive benefits on patients and NHS waiting lists. Working with the NHS Professor Grigoris Antoniou researches the area of nonmonotonic reasoning, a family of automated reasoning approaches within knowledge representation (KR), where the knowledge being manipulated can be inconsistent or incomplete. research.hud.ac.uk
Prior to working with the NHS on using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to diagnose ADHD, he worked with the South-West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SWYPFT) in the area of mental health, with an initial focus on automatic risk assessment of suicide. Following the success of this project, a new collaboration was initiated on the diagnosis of ADHD in adults, funded by SWYPFT and Research England through Grow MedTech. Professor Antoniou adapted the methodology for this project working together with clinical experts and Dr Tianhua Chen performed the analysis of data from past cases of ADHD diagnosis using machine learning with a predictive accuracy of diagnostic outcome of around 90%.
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AI algorithms Key elements of the research included using the same data that clinicians use when making a clinical decision. When addressing problems in secondary care, a referral-centric approach was found to be the most suitable. It was also necessary to apply a variety of AI algorithms to accommodate the different requirements in terms of explanation and accuracy. The hybrid AI algorithm used both data-driven and knowledge-based models to assess the clinical data of an ADHD patient. It produced three possible outcomes: positive diagnosis, negative diagnosis or requiring further assessment by a medical specialist. The predictive accuracy based on the cases considered so far is 98%. This hybrid algorithm is now used in the adult ADHD services of SWPYFT.
Making a difference The impact of this research is twofold, benefitting both ADHD patients and supporting the NHS. The health and wellbeing of patients was a key focus of this research and by reducing the time it takes to diagnose and treat people with ADHD they are less likely to need time off work and risk developing other issues such as self-harm and child safeguarding. The NHS has been able to make economic savings as no new highly specialised clinicians had to be hired. It is also expected that the NHS will benefit from being able to reduce waiting lists and meet targets more effectively, by allowing it to deploy a more flexible workforce configuration safely in the context of recruitment challenges.
For more information on the research in this article email: g.antoniou@hud.ac.uk or visit pure.hud.ac.uk
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New research from the University of Huddersfield Press
Find out about new titles, plus events and giveaways by following the University of Huddersfield Press blog: hudunipress.wordpress.com and on Facebook and Twitter @HudUniPress
The University of Huddersfield Press was established in 2007 and has grown to become a primarily open access publisher of high quality research. The authors and editorial boards bring international research expertise and a strong orientation to practice and real-world application to their publications. The Press is keen to support emerging researchers and foster research communities by providing a platform for developing academic areas. By publishing innovative research as open access its aim is to improve access to scholarly work for the benefit of all.
Publications Temporary Contemporary: Creating vibrant spaces to support the conditions for creative and cultural activity This is the first book that documents and reflects on an aspect of the Temporary Contemporary initiative. Launched in 2018, Temporary Contemporary is a collaboration between the School of Art, Design and Architecture at the University of Huddersfield and Kirklees Council. This collaboration, in the form of an action research project, has sought to reflect on the efficacy, meanings and wider contribution of cultural activity in Huddersfield town and beyond. It is one small part of a bigger project about the future cultural heart of Huddersfield. https://unipress.hud.ac.uk/plugins/books/22/
ROTOR Review II The ROTOЯ programme, launched in 2012, was a partnership between the University of Huddersfield and Huddersfield Art Gallery, funded by Arts Council England. Its aim was to provide opportunities for engaging with art, design and architecture research outside of the University. ROTOЯ Review II is a sequel to ROTOЯ Review (published 2014), focussing on the second phase of the programme with beautifully written and thoughtful reviews of the exhibitions: Thought Positions in Sculpture, China East-West, Open House: A Collaboration of Experts, Migrations and Discursive Documents by international academics and art journalists. https://unipress.hud.ac.uk/plugins/books/21/
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British Journal of Pharmacy: Is it worth the wait? Should Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine be allowed for immediate use in CoViD-19? Reports that antimalarial drugs chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HQ) could be used to prevent and cure the Covid-19 virus received caution from Huddersfield pharmacists in an article published in the British Journal of Pharmacy in March 2020. Dr Syed Shahzad Hasan and Dr Hamid Merchant, in collaboration with a pharmacist from Malaysia, Chia Siang Kow, of the International Medical University in Kuala Lumpur, urged for caution over claims that widely-available antimalarial drugs could be a “magic bullet” to prevent and cure Covid-19. And the medicines can – if used rashly – have serious side effects. This article presents a critical review of clinical and scientific evidence around the use of CQ and HCQ in Covid-19 and highlights the issues concerning the safety and toxicity of CQ/HCQ if permitted for general use by the public. Due to lack of evidence around CQ/HCQ in preventing Covid-19, its potential risk of fatal cardiac arrhythmia, and greater risk of self-use and harm in the developing world, it is recommended that the use of CQ/HCQ should only be initiated by specialist clinicians dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak to treat Covid-19 associated pneumonia under close cardiac monitoring. https://www.bjpharm.org.uk/article/id/745/
Fields: An investigation to determine how the introduction of outdoor education supports learning in Key Stage One This study focuses upon the effectiveness of outdoor education on primary school pupils in Key Stage One; regarding their engagement and behaviour. In addition to this, this study will consider pedagogical strategies that are adopted by the teacher during the delivery of outdoor lessons. Mixed methods of qualitative data collection were employed to evaluate the aim of this research. The findings of this study support the view that pupils can benefit from a different learning environment in obtaining group work skills, a difference in behaviour, more enthusiasm and a higher motivation. The strongest outcome of this research depicts that common misconceptions of outdoor education from practitioners are often what hinders pupil engagement in lessons taken outside. If teachers lack an understanding of how to promote effective outdoor lessons, it raises the question of whether this approach of education is beneficial at all. https://www.fieldsjournal.org.uk/article/id/677/
Journal of Performance Magic: Call for Papers! The New Normal: We are looking for work that attempts to uncover some of the crucial themes and key issues facing contemporary performance magic in light of Covid-19. The pandemic has had a significant impact on all aspects of life, including the performing arts. This has necessitated a response from performers on finding new ways to engage with their craft and community. For more details visit https://unipress.hud.ac.uk/news/104/
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University of Huddersfield Queensgate Huddersfield West Yorkshire HD1 3DH UK Tel. 01484 422288 Email. ask@hud.ac.uk research.hud.ac.uk @WeLoveResearch #hudresearch
WINNER
HEA Global Teaching Excellence Award 2017
20121
