A University of research excellence
Contents 05. Welcome 06. Our thriving research community 08. Research Centres and Institutes 10. Research impact: how we’re changing the world
The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. Albert Einstein
12. Keeping dancers on their feet 16. Designing solutions 20. Rethinking memory 21. A spotlight on Sikh life 22. Getting to the heart of our health 26. Giving women a sporting chance 30. Promoting lifelong learning 32. Fighting disease using mobile apps 34. Conceiving a fertile new future 36. Fighting for a cancer-free future 38. Designing treatments for cardiovascular disease 40. Delivering intelligent transport systems 42. Cracking the language barrier 44. Transforming waste plastics 46. Shining a light on societal issues 48. Tackling the issue of terror 50. Mining the past for major study of British coal industry 52. Protecting the rainforest for future generations 54. Overhauling insolvency law 56. Changing boardroom dynamics for the better 58. Our postgraduate research community 60. Meet our postgraduate researchers
Welcome to Research at the University of Wolverhampton At the University of Wolverhampton, we are proud to be changing lives and making a difference through the inspiring work of our research community. Our research profile continues to grow and receive recognition globally, thanks to the extraordinary work of our teams and the startling discoveries they are making. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework, REF 2014, we achieved our best ever results with 41% of our submission graded as world-leading or internationally excellent. More subject areas and research staff were included than ever before, with areas of particular strength including health, history and modern languages research. Our work in Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management was especially commended, ranked joint 5th in the UK.
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With REF 2021 on the horizon, we will continue to demonstrate the positive impact our research has on business, industry, society – and, of course, our students.
This brochure showcases the research we conduct, which is exploring new possibilities and making big breakthroughs. Our ground-breaking research is wide-ranging – focusing on everything from brain tumours to sperm motility, behavioural design to insolvency law – but at the heart of all the work we do is a desire to change the world for the better. We hope you are inspired by this snapshot of our innovative work.
Professor Geoff Layer Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton
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Our thriving research community World-leading
Impact
Public lectures
In the most recent Research Excellence Framework exercise, the University of Wolverhampton achieved its best ever results. Our research was celebrated for its ‘world-leading elements’ across all areas submitted to the REF 2014, with 85% of our research internationally recognised or higher.
Our research activities impact positively on business, the environment, society – and, of course, our students. The work we are doing helps to advance knowledge and address real world problems, such as the health of ageing populations and sustainable development, in a variety of different ways.
Our public lectures give University and visiting speakers the chance to talk about their research to staff, students and members of the public. With free entry, they provide the perfect opportunity to discuss intriguing and topical matters with the speaker and other members of the audience.
More subject areas and research staff were put forward than ever before, reflecting the University’s more inclusive and ambitious approach. The research by our Statistical Cybermetrics research group ranked joint 5th in the UK in REF 2014, and in 2017 was placed 1st in the world for the average quality of research in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Ranking).
Across the University, there is a growing number of dedicated Research Centres and interdisciplinary Research Institutes that cover a variety of research topics – ranging from designing for people with dementia, to new discoveries in diabetes. Working with commercial and civil society partners, as well as producing first-class research outputs, they bring together scholars in a programme of research projects, conferences/seminars, and knowledge exchanges.
Other areas of particular strength which were highlighted include health, history and modern languages research. Our strong performance across departments affirms the quality of our work, a standard we will continue to pursue and build on through our innovative research.
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Recent high profile lectures have covered subjects as wide-ranging as the resurgence of the far right, sport psychology, Brexit, turning plastic waste into usable materials, terrorism in the twenty-first century and our annual Holocaust Memorial Day Lecture, which in 2018 gave the stage to guest speaker Henri Obstfeld who shared his testimony as a Holocaust survivor.
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Research Centres and Institutes Over the last 20 years, we have invested heavily in growing our research activity and, as a result, have established Research Centres and inter-disciplinary Institutes that are at the heart of our research strategy. As key generators of research inquiry and much of our outputs, they help to create an environment where scholars, students and our research collaborators have the freedom to explore ideas and make an impact through world-leading research.
Our Research Centres and Institutes are listed below.
Faculty of Arts • • • •
Centre for Art, Design, Research and Experimentation (CADRE) Centre for Creativity, History and Identity in the Performing Arts (CCHIP) Centre for Film, Media, Discourse and Culture (CFMDC) Centre for Transnational and Transcultural Research (CTTR)
Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing • Centre for Applied Research and Education in Dementia • Education Observatory • Centre for Health and Social Care Improvement (CHSCI) • Psychology • Research Centre for Sport, Exercise and Performance (RCSEP)
Faculty of Science and Engineering • • • • • •
Centre for Applied Mathematics and Computer Science Research Centre for Engineering Innovation and Research Centre for Materials Science Research Centre for Molecular Science and Antimicrobial Research Centre for Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Centre for Smart, Sustainable and Healthy Cities
Faculty of Social Sciences • • • •
Centre for Historical Research Centre for International Development and Training (CIDT) Law Research Centre Management Research Centre
Research Institutes • Research Institute for Healthcare Sciences • Research Institute in Information and Language Processing • Institute for Community Research and Development
For more details about the University’s Research Centres and Institutes, please visit: wlv.ac.uk/research
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For details about the University’s Research Centres and Institutes, please visit: wlv.ac.uk/research
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Research impact: how we’re changing the world At the University of Wolverhampton, our research is making a real difference to real lives. The output of our Centres and Institutes spans the disciplines across our four faculties and the following case studies put a spotlight on just some of the work that is having a positive impact on people around the world.
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Keeping dancers on their feet When you compare the grace and elegance of a ballet to the fast-paced, hard-hitting intensity of a rugby game, it can be difficult to believe that professional dancers are significantly more likely to suffer injuries than rugby players.
University of Wolverhampton researchers are pioneering new techniques to help dancers to avoid injuries and keep them on their feet.
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KEY FACTS Research Centre Research Centre for Sport, Exercise and Performance (RCSEP) The research team Nico Kolokythas Professor Matthew Wyon (PI) In collaboration with • • • • •
D is for Deficiency So, why do dancers suffer such a high rate of injury? This is a question that the University’s Professor Matt Wyon first asked in 2008 and since then, his research has gone on to uncover that the answer is in fact a very simple one: Vitamin D – or rather, a lack of it. Vitamin D is crucial for adequate bone and muscle health in any human body, and it is produced through exposure of the skin to the sun. This means athletes that train indoors, such as dancers, are vulnerable to Vitamin D deficiency, and as such are at greater risk of injury. Professor Wyon is a leading expert in the field of dance science, as well as exercise physiologist for the Birmingham Royal Ballet and English National Ballet. To test his theory, he monitored dancers’ Vitamin D levels over the course of a year during
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reduced and increased exposure to sunlight and then compared it to their bone metabolism to assess the subsequent impact on bone regeneration. The results unequivocally showed that reduced sunlight exposure, particularly during the winter months, did lead to low vitamin levels and that furthermore, these dancers also suffered a higher rate of injury during that time. During the second stage of the project, over a period of four months, dancers were given a daily dose of Vitamin D which not only resulted in significant increases in muscle strength but also a reduced injury rate. The same positive effect was found on judo athletes – who similarly train indoors.
The value of this research is substantial – not only for professional athletes who need to safeguard their physical health, but also for amateur athletes, and less well-funded sports, that rely on prevention rather than cure due to limited access to expert treatment. Professor Wyon With bone diseases such as osteoporosis on the rise, and now affecting younger as well as older people, the research raises questions about whether in fact any of us are getting enough Vitamin D in our daily lives to ensure sufficient bone health.
Rehabilitation results In a move that will have real-life applications for trainee and professional dancers, performance enhancement coach and PhD student Nico Kolokythas has developed ground-breaking fitness and rehabilitation methods in collaboration with the Elmhurst Ballet School. The techniques give dancers the option to sidestep surgery and return to an improved strength and fitness level observed at pre-injury stage, supporting the intensity of full-time training. Together, the University and the Edgbaston-based ballet school are at the forefront of research in dance science. The school, in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet, produces world-class dancers through a holistic approach to training, education and health.
During the course of the 2016-17 academic year, Nico put the research into practice through the school’s Health and Wellbeing Centre – and delivered some suitably impressive results. 2017 Elmhurst graduate Jade Wallace’s excruciating ankle pain threatened to negatively impact on her performance. A multi-disciplinary intervention was put into action: firstly, Nico worked with Jade to develop her foundation strength and apply a careful regression and progression strategy to address returning pain; secondly, Jade’s body composition was closely monitored, showing decreased body fat and increased strength gains but no change in muscle mass – thereby debunking myths around female dancers’ use of weights and resistance training causing the loss of the classical aesthetic look.
Birmingham Royal Ballet Dance UK Elmhurst Ballet School National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
Nico sums up the project’s ultimate achievement:
The most important success is that we now have a dancer free of pain, who feels stronger and more confident with her body.
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Designing solutions The effect of art and design upon society is at the heart of research carried out by the University’s Centre for Art, Design, Research and Experimentation (CADRE). Professor Dew Harrison leads a team who go beyond aesthetics to investigate the social interaction inherent in new interactive technologies, the theory and practice of cultural agency, and experiments in radical democracy and performative objects. These researchers recognise that the power of art and design lies in its potential to change and enhance our lives.
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Re-imaging place through creative ‘place-making’ Dementia in MinD The four-year MinD project, spearheaded by the University, has completed its first year of research into designing for people with dementia. The project is co-ordinated by the University’s Professor Kristina Niedderer, from the Faculty of Arts, working with partners in 12 organisations across Europe and one in Australia. Because people with dementia frequently struggle with memory and perceptions of identity, mindful design solutions are often needed to help them cope with everyday social situations – which is where the work of MinD comes in. The team’s investigations into and development of innovative solutions for living spaces and wearable designs are enabling individuals with dementia to manage their condition, develop perceptions of self-empowerment, and build confidence. Data collection research with people with dementia in three countries (The Netherlands, Germany and Spain) provides insight into the needs, perceptions, aims and struggles of those with the condition and their carers, emphasising the need for social support, empathy and openness towards others. Professor Niedderer said: “The first year was given over to the development of the mindful project framework, of data collection with people with dementia to provide a basis for the design development, and of the mindful design approach.”
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The project framework introduces ideas of mindfulness to support people with dementia, highlighting the importance of trust, humour and positive language in dealing with subjective wellbeing and social engagement in dementia. Professor Niedderer
She describes the initial qualitative interviews as being very important in their own right for giving people with dementia a voice within scientific study; there are few that focus on the subjective wellbeing of those with the condition. As it progresses past its first year, the project will explore how to address shortcomings of existing research with the help of design, in order to make real improvements to the lives of those people with dementia.
‘Making in place’, with all the historical, geographical, cultural, political and economic specificities which that entails, and critically re-imaging place through creative ‘place-making’, is vital to connecting communities and developing engagement, assets and agency. This is what Professor Fiona Hackney, from the Faculty of Arts, investigates in her project “Maker-Centric: building place-based, co-making communities”. Maker-Centric is one of a series of participatory arts research projects across the UK that are funded by The Arts and Humanities Research Council’s (AHRC) Connected Communities programme. The project takes a material place-based approach to engaging communities in speculative co-design. Maker-Centric builds capacity and impact through co-making communities that are simultaneously locally embedded in a critical engagement with place, and internationally connected through a shared commitment to making. Focusing on Midlands’ heritage, the project provides opportunities to connect with the region’s long history of industrial innovation and radical thinking from a contemporary perspective. Locating the project within such contemporary initiatives as the Midlands Engine, of which the University of Wolverhampton is a part, aims to capitalise on the Midlands’ natural strengths and assets.
KEY FACTS Research Centre Centre for Art, Design, Research and Experimentation (CADRE) The research team Dr Chris Denning Deirdre Figueiredo Dr Aleksandra Galasinska Professor Fiona Hackney Professor Dew Harrison Dr Jennifer Lim Professor Kristina Niedderer Hiran Patel Kathryn Powell Dr Tina Smith Jeffrey Ting In collaboration with • Craftspace • Creative Black Country • Legacy West Midlands • Terra Vera
Did you know? Dementia is also the focus of research by Professor Ruoling Chen from the University’s Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing. Professor Chen has developed an international research programme on dementia epidemiology and health care. Backed by research grants from the BUPA Foundation and Alzheimer’s Research UK, he led a seven-province health survey study of older people in China. The study examined factors influencing the poor diagnosis of dementia in older people in low and middle income countries, where there are more people with dementia than in high income countries. The data has provided new evidence for governments to reduce socioeconomic deprivation and improve health service care in older patients. The findings also suggested a link between exposure to passive smoking and increased syndromes of dementia.
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KEY FACTS
KEY FACTS
Research Centre
Research Centre
Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies
Centre for Transnational and Transcultural Research (CTTR)
Rethinking memory Memory plays a vital part in all our lives – and, paradoxically, our global future. The University’s Professor Sebastian Groes is pioneering research into memory, leading The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Wellcome Trust-funded project Memory Network. The Memory Network is a multi-disciplinary enterprise that brings together researchers, authors and artists, and organisations to provoke and fuel original thinking about memory in the twenty-first century. Within the Centre for Transnational and Transcultural Research (CTTR), Professor Groes is engaging with new critical perspectives offered by biosciences, psychology, and computer science to explore individual and collective memory in literary narratives.
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His research aims to foster a profound and sustained engagement with these emerging models of memory, and to mobilise the transformative and dynamic potential of memory, consciousness and cognition as a subject of literaryscientific enquiry.
The research team Professor Sebastian Groes Dr Alison Waller Professor Patricia Waugh
Lead researcher
A spotlight on Sikh life A researcher based in the School of Humanities is receiving international recognition for her contribution to Sikh studies and has been appointed director of the newly established Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies at the University of Wolverhampton. Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar has worked for the University for eight years as Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies. As well as teaching, she undertakes a variety of research, specialising in subject matter that relates to the Sikh community. Engaging with local, regional, national and international community groups and governing bodies, Dr Takhar has raised awareness of issues that affect the Sikh community in the UK and abroad.
Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar
In 2017, Dr Takhar’s work was recognised when she was presented with an Outstanding Contribution to Sikh Studies Award by Lord Swraj Paul, Chancellor of the University, at the Pride of India Awards. The Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies will be based around a nationally-leading research hub, with large-scale research projects into Sikh history, art and literature, diaspora, identity, inter-religious dialogue, culture, community and place, all within the context of a 21st century global society. The centre of academic excellence aims to become the national voice for academics active within Sikh and Panjabi Studies and through links with overseas institutions, particularly with universities in Panjab. It will provide opportunities for student exchanges and other collaborative projects to encourage understanding around the world.
Her publication ‘Sikh Identity: An exploration of Groups among Sikhs’ (Ashgate 2005) is used as a key text in universities around the world, with her work on Punjabi Dalits and identity formation similarly widely published.
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Getting to the heart of our health The health and wellbeing of our population drives our researchers to discoveries that will keep us fighting fit. 22
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KEY FACTS Research Centre Research Centre for Sport, Exercise and Performance (RCSEP)
Testing heart health through exercise Body mass index (BMI) is a popular method of assessing heart healthiness – but our researchers have found fitness is the single most important factor in maintaining a healthy heart. A study led by Professor Alan Nevill found that regular exercise and being fit is key, irrespective of ‘fat’ scores such as BMI, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) or waist-to-height ratio (WTHR). The study of over 4,500 individuals was in reaction to researchers’ concerns that the commonly used indices of fat did not account for a person’s body size and therefore were not the best indicators of how likely someone was to be at cardiometabolic risk (CMR). So, to get to the heart of the matter, Professor Nevill and his researchers carried out tests to find out whether a new fat ratio presented a better way of determining someone’s risk of developing heart disease. Professor Nevill, from the University’s Institute of Sport, explained: “We asked the participants to undergo a number of tests in order to assess their CMR. We then analysed CMR against various fat ratios and two new tests; a body shape index (ABSI) and waist-toheight square rooted (WHT.5R). In all tests, the fitter participants’ CMR score was significantly lower, confirming that being fit and active can compensate for the adverse effects measured in all fat ratios.”
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The health of the heart was measured by testing blood samples for glucose and cholesterol, as well as heart rate and blood pressure – before, during and after exercise.
The research team
In addition to the findings on exercise, the study concluded that the best predictor of CMR using a body shape index alone was to divide waist by the square root of height as it gives a reading that is fair, independent of how tall or short the person is.
In collaboration with
Dr Tracey Devonport Professor Andy Lane Professor Alan Nevill
• Adidas • BBC Lab • London Marathon • The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
Did you know? The heart is not the only organ at the centre of University of Wolverhampton research. With the lack of available organs for human transplantation an increasing global concern, Professor Magi Sque’s research into the psychological and social concerns that impact organ and tissue donation has been influential.
The effects of emotion It is not just the physicality, but also the psychology behind performance that our experts are helping us to understand. The work of Professor Andy Lane, one of the country’s leading sports psychologists, has focused on emotional regulation including how environments and people shape moods and emotions. His findings on the mental aspects of preparing for marathon running and the stress for footballers taking penalties has been used to make recommendations – such as how coaches can get the best out of athletes. Meanwhile, Dr Tracey Devonport has demonstrated how emotional eating is contributing to obesity. Through her work, she is seeking to help people create strategies for regulating their emotions without relying on eating habits.
A national study carried out by Professor Sque and Dr Wendy Walker, Reader in Acute and Critical Care Nursing, made an important contribution to understanding and representing donor families’ experiences, and their decisionmaking influences at a time of critical organ shortage. The pair’s research on this topic informed the nature, design and location of an organ donor memorial at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, the first of its kind to be built on evidence obtained from donor families.
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Giving women a sporting chance A University professor has been selected as the academic lead for a national project that seeks to uncover the secret past of women’s football.
Professor Jean Williams is leading the National Football Museum’s project, which is the largest of its kind in the world, entitled ‘Unlocking the Hidden History of Women’s Football’.
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KEY FACTS Research Centre Research Centre for Sport, Exercise and Performance (RCSEP) The research team Dr Kay Biscomb Professor Jean Williams
A hidden history This milestone project will involve preparing content for an extension of the Museum’s permanent gallery to include women’s football – such as cataloguing, digitising, and writing exhibition content on an estimated 20,000-25,000 individual items including tickets, programmes, small statuettes and fine art. Professor Williams will lead a research network which will coordinate academic and community research and connect related collections on women’s football. The work will involve collaboration with many museums and archives, such as the British Library, the Imperial War Museum and the British Film Institute. Professor Williams is the perfect candidate to spearhead this particular project. Her research has focused on the role of women in sport through the ages and she has curated and written exhibitions before, including ‘The Road to Rio: History of the World Cup in 24 Objects’ in 2014. She said: “This is a very exciting project as it draws together, for the first time, an unprecedented collection of women’s football memorabilia dating back to 1869, just six years after the formation of the Football Association which saw the codification of modern football as a sport.”
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Representation of female athletes The football study follows a research report that highlighted a disparity between print media coverage of female and male athletes.
The study by researchers Dr Kay Biscomb and Hilary Matheson found that the achievements of women in sport have been under-represented over the last 40 years, in comparison to the column inches racked up by their male counterparts. ‘Are the times changing enough? Print media trends across four decades’ calls for a much higher profile of women in sport by presenting a unique analysis of four decades – from 1984 to 2014 – of British coverage of sport in six national newspapers for the same two week summer period, during which there were many women’s sporting events including tennis, cricket and golf. Research since the mid-1980s has illustrated the notion of unfair coverage with emphasis on femininity, trivialisation of women’s achievements, sexist language, negative reporting and a focus on physical characteristics of female athletes.
Outcomes have been mixed, but overall it is clear that there is continued underrepresentation of female athletes, and that what were once considered to be the major British summer sports have been replaced by a dominance of soccer reporting.
In collaboration with • The National Football Museum
Dr Kay Biscomb On a positive note, the findings suggest there has been an improvement in the amount of quantitative reporting of female athletes which has placed an emphasis on performance rather than appearance. Away from the gender equality issue, the research also revealed other interesting trends, such as a tendency to report on nationality and an increase in reporting which creates opportunities for athletes to become ‘a source of national pride’.
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KEY FACTS
Promoting lifelong learning
Research Centre Education Observatory Lead researcher Professor Sir Alan Tuckett In collaboration with • National Institute of Adult Continuing Education • UNESCO • World Economic Forum
An education expert at the University of Wolverhampton, recognised for his dedication to lifelong learning, has been chosen to help influence international education policy.
As part of the World Economic Forum’s System Initiative on the Future of Education, Gender and Work, Professor of Education Sir Alan Tuckett developed a lifelong learning policy which he delivered at the 2018 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.
Education for everyone Professor Sir Tuckett said: “A culture of lifelong learning is at the core of the Learning Region initiative the University is actively supporting across the Black Country and in Telford.” This concept of a learning region is key to Alan’s continuing work, as he promotes the societal benefits of lifelong learning both at home and abroad. A learning region aims to bring together a wide range of local organisations to strengthen the knowledge and expertise of its communities and their ability to address shared challenges.
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The Wolverhampton City Learning Region, an initiative focused on the city and its hinterland, is currently being shaped to address challenges facing the region and illustrate how access to adult education can benefit society as a whole. Professor Sir Tuckett is an internationally recognised expert in adult education and advises UNESCO on adult and lifelong learning. He was the President of the International Council of Adult Education 2011-2015, contributed to work on the educational dimensions of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and is responsible for creating the annual Adult Learners’ Week. He was awarded the OBE in 1995, and has honorary doctorates from eight universities. In the 2018 New Years Honours, he was further recognised for his services to education, in particular adult learning, when he was appointed a Knight Bachelor.
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KEY FACTS
Fighting disease using mobile apps If you thought the sole purpose of apps was to occupy commuters on the train, then work that the University is supporting to fight the spread of disease in Brazil may just surprise you. Academics are working with government officials to help communities deal with the outbreak of arbovirus diseases through mobile learning to help improve communication and health surveillance information sharing as part of a £98,000 project running from March 2017 to September 2019. In Brazil, from January until July 2016, there were 1,399,480 probable cases of dengue, 169,656 probable cases of chikungunya fever and 174,003 probable cases of Zika virus. The Zika virus is accelerated by unplanned urbanisation and social and environmental conditions, leading to the reproduction of the transmitting mosquitoes. The University is developing mobile applications and a mobile web platform to promote the training of professionals, information sharing, and the reporting of health surveillance to government and health organisations. Following visits to high schools, the researchers are developing children’s games to raise awareness of how to prevent the spread of the virus. Through the use of games, it is hoped messages will transmit from young people to their families.
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Professor of Digital Learning John Traxler, who is leading the initiative, said: “Community participation is essential for the prevention and control of the arbovirus diseases. This requires access to information and counselling to change community beliefs and practices. “The main objective of the project is using school children to take the relevant hygiene, recycling and health messages home to their families.” The research and organisational work will improve access to health education for vulnerable communities in Paraiba and Pernambuco regions. Professor Traxler hopes the outcomes will lead to future applications of the project model. He said: “The models developed by the project can be replicated to other scenarios since it proposes a network managed by IT solutions that interconnect stakeholders at different levels.” The support for the project comes from the Newton Fund administered by the British Council.
Research Centre Education Observatory Lead researcher Professor John Traxler In collaboration with • Rosalie Belian of the LIKA Institute, the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco • The British Council (as part of the Newton Fund Institutional Links initiative) • Silvana Santos, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba
Did you know? New technology may be helping health professionals to fight disease – but Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing, Dr Moses Murandu, has revolutionised a method of treating wounds using good old-fashioned sugar. Dr Murandu’s research into the healing power of sugar on wounds has won him international accolades, including a national Journal of Wound Care award, and his treatment is being trialled for use within the NHS. His research has drawn interest from countries around the world, and there are plans to open a local wound care clinic using the method he has developed. The cost of managing chronic wounds and co-morbidities is £5.3 billion a year in the UK alone, and is at an increase. Dr Murandu’s revolutionary technique could change the future of wound care forever; he has a current Patenting application which the University has filed.
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KEY FACTS Research Centre
Conceiving a fertile new future The Pill was approved as a contraceptive for women in 1960, heralding a new era of birth control and increased choice. So it’s hard to believe that in over 50 years, a suitable male version still hasn’t been created. But thanks to the groundbreaking work of University of Wolverhampton scientists, things may soon be changing.
Professor Howl, Professor of Molecular Pharmacology, said: “Dr Jones and I have proven, through extensive research studies, that it is feasible to design cell penetrating peptides to be biologically active.
Cell penetrating peptide research
“Such molecules, synthesized in our laboratory, represent a new class of agent that we have named bioportides. This state-of-the-art technology enables the control of processes that happen inside cells and which often represent intractable targets for conventional drugs.
Professor John Howl and Dr Sarah Jones are at the forefront of cell penetrating peptide research which, it is hoped, could be used in birth control techniques in the future. Their groundbreaking work has made international headlines, capturing the attention of media across the globe. They have discovered that cell penetrating peptides can be designed to alter the physiology and fertilization capacity of sperm. Attempts to develop a male hormonal-based pill so far have been problematic with reports of numerous side effects, some irreversible. Cell penetrating peptides have the potential to change sperm motility, without affecting male hormonal control systems.
“They can easily be made to incorporate a fluorescent dye which can be used to determine the distribution and precise intracellular location of these peptides within living sperm when visualised with a confocal microscope.”
Improving sperm motility But while the media attention has focused purely on the male contraceptive angle, understandably given the lack of success in developing a male pill previously, the research could also have an impact
on fertility and help couples who are struggling to conceive by improving sperm motility.
Research Institute in Healthcare Science (RIHS) They are using bovine sperm for their UK investigations but partners in Portugal have access to human sperm so can repeat the experiments conducted in the UK for further testing. Professor Howl said they had recently visited their collaborators in Portugal and the joint research project is progressing well.
Our goal now is to obtain additional funding to further progress our ideas into the clinic. A joint patent application has been filed, to protect our Intellectual Property.
The research team Professor John Howl Dr Sarah Jones In collaboration with • University of Aveiro, Portugal
Professor John Howl
Professor Howl and Dr Jones have teamed up with the University of Aveiro in Portugal on a €194,000 three-year project to look at the impact of these peptides and the way in which they can control the function of sperm.
We are basically designing peptides that can alter the physiology of sperm. Ironically, sperm are notoriously difficult to penetrate, but with cell penetrating peptides we are now able to cross an otherwise impermeable barrier to manipulate the intracellular biology of sperm so as to enhance or inhibit motility. Dr Sarah Jones
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KEY FACTS Research Centre
Fighting for a cancer-free future Pioneering scientists are undertaking revolutionary research and testing new treatments in the ongoing quest to find a cure for cancer.
Battling brain tumours Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer. The University of Wolverhampton has been trying to change this statistic through the work of its Brain Tumour Research Centre, but also to raise awareness of the urgent need for more funding into research. Professor Tracy Warr recently gave evidence to the House of Commons in support of a campaign for increased funding for brain tumour research, reviewing the reasons why the treatment of brain tumours presents a unique set of challenges based on their location and complex biology, which in turn means that research findings from other types of cancer are not readily transferable. Professor Warr emphasised the necessity of funding innovative, multidisciplinary research to improve treatment of brain
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tumour patients and reiterated that higher education institutions in the UK provide an ideal environment to host these collaborative programmes of research. Professor of Neuro-oncology John Darling explains: “While significant strides have been made in treating many types of cancer, for example acute leukaemia in children and breast cancer, over the last 30 years it has been harder to deliver significant improvements in survival in the most common types of malignant brain tumour.” Professor Warr and the team are trying to change this. She said: “We are working towards developing personalised medicine for brain tumour patients by using combinations of different drugs that will be effective against their specific tumours.”
culprit responsible for cancer growth, spread, drug resistance and recurrence.
We have also identified aberrations in metabolism in brain tumour cells. Treatments which change tumour metabolism are likely to be effective in a higher percentage of patients, whilst sparing normal cells and reducing negative side effects. Professor Warr
Developing new (and old) drugs to treat cancer As well as taking to the frontlines in the war being waged against brain cancer, University researchers are working to translate work on other types of cancer from bench to bedside to directly benefit patients. For example, Dr Iain Nicholl and Dr Christopher Perry have been granted a patent for a new drug which could provide a breakthrough in the fight against bowel cancer. The aspirin-like derivative has been effective against colorectal cancer cells, and so far does not appear to cause side effects like ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeds that come as a risk with regular use of aspirin. Recent scientific findings demonstrate that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are the
Therefore, CSCs are considered the root for cancer and clinical need of a CSC-targeting drug is urgent. However, development of new drugs that target CSCs is both timely and costly. In recent years, the use of existing drugs to treat other diseases has become an attractive strategy of drug development. The Cancer Research Group in RIHS, led by Professor Weiguang Wang, is trying to develop Disulfiram, an anti-alcoholism drug, as a CSC-killing drug for cancer treatment. Professor Wang and the team demonstrated that the drug, used for over six decades in the clinic, kills CSCs; however, the use of Disulfiram in cancer treatment is limited by its very short lifespan (fewer than four minutes) in the bloodstream.
Research Institute in Healthcare Science (RIHS) The research team Professor John Darling Dr Vinodh Kannappan Dr Mark Morris Dr Iain Nicholl Dr Christopher Perry Professor Weiguang Wang Professor Tracy Warr In collaboration with • • • • • •
Brain Tumour Charity British Cancer Now British Lung Foundation Caparo plc Pancreatic Cancer UK Royal Wolverhampton Trust
In collaboration with scientists in the UK, USA, Europe and China, Professor Wang’s team successfully ‘wrapped’ Disulfiram into nanoparticles and extended its lifespan to several hours. The new formulation of the drug shows very strong anti-cancer activity in a wide range of cancer types. This startling work has attracted over £1 million funding from Brain Tumour Charity, Breast Cancer Now, British Lung Foundation, Pancreatic Cancer UK, EU Commission and Innovate UK. The University of Wolverhampton and Caparo plc have agreed arrangements to invest in a spin-out company, Disulfican Ltd, to develop Disulfiram as a new anti-cancer drug. If pre-clinical testing of the NanoEncapsulated Disulfiram continues to prove successful, it is hoped that the first phase of clinical trials can commence in 2020.
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KEY FACTS Research Centre Research Institute in Healthcare Science (RIHS)
Designing treatments for cardiovascular disease In the UK alone, there are around 7 million people living with cardiovascular disease which is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western world. It is estimated that the day you read this, around 420 people will die in the UK from diseases affecting the cardiovascular system. This amounts to over 150,000 deaths each year. Although the treatments for this devastating disease have improved in recent years, there is an urgent need to design new, more efficient therapeutic interventions to treat these patients. Dr Angel Armesilla and his team at the University of Wolverhampton, in close collaboration with Professor James Cotton’s group in the Heart and Lung Centre of New Cross Hospital, Royal Wolverhampton Trust, is investigating
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the molecular mechanisms underlying several cardiovascular diseases including: abnormal formation of blood vessels, coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease, aortic aneurysm, and thrombosis. Previous studies by Dr Armesilla and Professor Cotton have focused on identifying the key cellular proteins that control the formation of blood vessels. Dr Armesilla explains: “This information would allow us to increase blood vessel formation in organs with occluded arteries that are not receiving enough blood, as for example happens in the heart during a myocardial infarction.” Clinically, the team has characterised the response of patients with coronary artery disease to anti-platelet treatments, taking into account the particular genes of each patient (pharmacogenomics). They have also studied the impact of different routes of anti-platelet therapy administration on microvascular cardiac function during major heart attacks.
Lead researcher Dr Angel Armesilla In collaboration with • Professor James Cotton, Heart and Lung Centre, New Cross Hospital • The Rosetrees Trust • Rotha Abraham Bequest Charity • Royal Wolverhampton Trust
Present and future studies aim to elucidate the consequences of aberrant gene expression in the formation of blood vessels in the heart. The team is also studying the function of plasma membrane calcium transporters in the pathogenesis of aortic aneurisms and in pulmonary arterial hypertension. These studies are funded by the Rosetrees Trust, the Rotha Abraham Bequest Charity, and the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.
Our ultimate goal is to translate laboratory findings into the development of efficient therapeutic strategies to treat cardiovascular patients. Dr Angel Armesilla
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KEY FACTS Research Centre Smart, Sustainable and Healthy Cities Research Centre
Delivering intelligent transport systems It’s a brave man who tries to drive the problem of traffic congestion out of our cities – but that’s exactly what one of our researchers is attempting to do. Dr Panos Georgakis is working on major projects to reduce city traffic, travel times and accidents by creating bespoke intelligent transport systems. Providing bespoke routes and solutions for individual users could revolutionise the way people travel, using combinations of public transport, car shares, bicycle routes and walking. Using data from various sensors and systems, as well as information generated by social media users, the digital age transport systems use machine learning algorithms to evaluate the condition of transport networks – allowing the anticipation of situations in near real time, to prevent problems before they emerge. Dr Georgakis has received €307,687 from Horizon 2020 for the MaaS4EU ‘Mobility as a Service’ project and is
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looking specifically at UK cities, including Manchester, which suffer from built up traffic problems, as part of wider European projects. The University is one of 17 partners working on this project and is leading on the Midlands region for Optimum, part of a £6 million Horizons 2020 project. Dr Georgakis is technical and scientific lead on the University’s €510,000 section of the project, working on easing congestion around Birmingham. He said: “Using intelligent transport systems will enable travellers to receive pro-active recommendations for personalised trips, while city authorities will be able to plan dynamic responses to anticipated traffic situations. “Optimal usage of existing networks is vital for sustaining ever-growing demand for mobility. We will be using technology that can harness big data to offer tailor-made solutions to transport needs and create cleaner, safer, more efficient systems. “I would like to see a future where people move away from car ownership to being car users, who combine this with other modes of transport. We want to create viable alternatives.”
Lead researcher Dr Panos Georgakis In collaboration with • • • •
Austrian Institute of Technology Birmingham City Council Department for Transport National Technical University of Athens • Transport for Greater Manchester • University College London
The University’s research work will support the operation of an app that gives travellers a bespoke route on the day, to avoid delays. Users will be given incentives for walking, cycling and using public transport systems, helping in the reduction of private cars on the transport network. Dr Georgakis is currently working with Birmingham City Council to trial the app. Other cities taking part in the pilot are Vienna and Ljubljana.
Did you know? Cyber crime currently costs the UK between £18 billion and £27 billion a year with 65% of companies reporting a breach in the last year. As threats are likely to evolve and become even more prevalent, the time to fight against cyber crime is most definitely now – and the University’s Centre for Cyber Security is on the front lines. Researchers are collaborating with key companies to engage with cyber research, offering innovative cyber security solutions.
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Did you know?
Cracking the language barrier Innovative research on translation technology, which will have a direct impact on the work of professional translators, is being carried out by the Research Institute in Information and Language Processing.
The Research Group in Computational Linguistics (RGCL), part of the Institute, successfully co-ordinated the EXPERT project, a Marie Curie Initial Training Network that promoted the research, development and use of data driven technologies in machine translation. In addition to a consortium that consisted of nine partners from academia and industry, researchers from RGCL carried out research on translation memories and quality estimation for professional translators.
Tackling translation Translation memories are the most used tools by professional translators, enabling them to reuse previous translations and increase their productivity. The drawback of traditional translation memories is that they are only able to retrieve previously translated sentences when they use similar words to those to be translated. Dr Constantin Orasan, Reader in Computational Linguistics, who was the co-ordinator of EXPERT, worked with other researchers in RGCL to develop semantically enhanced translation memories. This approach is able to identify sentences which are semantically similar, but do not necessarily use the same words.
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Evaluations undertaken with translators showed that the new method can reduce the time needed to translate sentences by up to 10% and reduces the effort, measured in keystrokes, by up to 30%. All this is achieved without any decrease in the quality of the translated material.
The Research Institute of Information and Language Processing is doing more outstanding work in areas of communication. Innovative new technology is being developed to improve understanding for people with autism through software that allows them to read and understand text better.
KEY FACTS Research Centre Research Institute in Information and Language Processing The research team Professor Ruslan Mitkov Dr Constantin Orasan Professor Mike Thelwall
Meanwhile, Professor Mike Thelwall runs the Institute’s Statistical Cybermetrics Research Group, ranked one of the best in the world, and was part of the world’s first social media driven lights show which transformed the London Eye during the Olympics.
This direction of research is being actively pursued by the research group. Professor Ruslan Mitkov, the head of the research group, has proposed the third generation of translation memories and is currently investigating how other types of linguistic information, such as syntactic, lexical and discourse information, can benefit translation memories. Dr Orasan is exploring how neural networks can identify semantically similar sentences in translation memories with more accuracy than existing methods. In addition to translation memories, the “Multilingual NLP” area of the research group fosters other research directions, such as quality estimation for translation, automatic translation of multiword expressions, and corpora for translation.
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KEY FACTS Research Centre Centre for Molecular Science and Antimicrobial Research
Transforming waste plastics University pioneers are challenging the throwaway culture of modern life by adopting a ‘King Midas’ approach to plastic waste. Old water bottles and other plastics are being turned into high value materials thanks to work by a team of our scientists.
Long-term legacy Through their work with international partners, Dr Iza Radecka, Reader in Biotechnology, and Professor Marek Kowalczuk are converting the waste into a pliable wax-like substance to which other elements can be added, turning it into a high value, biodegradable form of bioplastics. Their tests are exploring possible uses, including an environmentally-friendly form of mulch for farming, ‘scaffolding’ on which to grown human cells, and for items such as pens and bags. Dr Radecka said: “Mountains of plastic waste is buried in landfill sites around the world each year. “Unfortunately, plastics produced by the petrochemical industry are not
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biodegradable and therefore accumulate in the environment at a rate of more than 25 million tonnes per year. This continues to pose a growing challenge for authorities at both the local and national level.
The research team Professor Marek Kowalczuk Dr Iza Radecka In collaboration with • The Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences • Fraunhofer UMSICHT • Mercia Spinner • Recycling Technologies Ltd. • Silesian University of Technology • University of Bologna
“Waste Polyethylene (PE) is a potential carbon source that could be utilised to make value-added biopolymers, particularly as it is the most commonly produced plastic, making up over 29 per cent of worldwide plastic manufacture, while only 10 per cent of it is recycled. “Bacterial polymers such as Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are a group of biocompatible, environmentally neutral, biodegradable plastics that can be produced by certain bacteria. The structure of the PHAs can be adapted for a wide range of medical applications, especially implants, including heart valve tissue engineering, vascular tissue engineering, bone and cartilage tissue engineering, as well as nerve conduit tissue engineering.” Although there is still much work to be done in developing biodegradable, high performance bacterial plastics, the discovery is promising and points to a future where our waste could be turned into something wonderful.
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KEY FACTS Research Centre Institute for Community Research and Development The research team
Shining a light on societal issues
Professor Laura Caulfield Dr Stuart Connor Dr Steve Iafrati Dr Angela Morgan Professor Kate Moss Paramjit Singh
By highlighting injustice in our society, University of Wolverhampton research is providing a voice for the marginalised and helping to affect positive change.
Empowering women rough sleepers One example is the work of Professor Kate Moss, Professor of Criminal Justice, and her colleague Paramjit Singh, who are influencing policy to tackle issues of homelessness. They have researched women rough sleepers in Slovenia and Hungary and are involved with Women Rough Sleepers, an EU DAPHNE-funded project which aims to increase knowledge base and equip organisations with the knowledge and skills to meet the needs of homeless women. Paramjit said: “Women homelessness remains a serious problem and is often connected to domestic violence. Our research and recommendations assist with empowering women rough sleepers to protect themselves from violence such as rape and sexual exploitation while living on the streets.
Improving life chances The Institute for Community Research and Development (ICRD) works with and in our local communities to deliver effective community-based transformational projects, drive policy developments, and promote social mobility.
A new report to help tackle some of the biggest issues facing communities across the Black Country and Birmingham has been officially commissioned by independent regional charity, Heart of England Community Foundation.
Drawing on a history of collaborative research across our faculties of Social Sciences, and Health, Education, and Wellbeing, ICRD employs interdisciplinary expertise and undertakes pioneering community development studies, working with partnership networks to champion for change.
The University’s ICRD will carry out the research for the Communities Uncovered report.
Themes explored by the ICRD span social policy, sociology, economic regeneration, public policy, public sector reform, social welfare, community health and wellbeing, mental health and criminal justice.
“We also want to create an innovative supportive environment to meet the needs of the women and support them back into mainstream society and away from violence.”
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KEY FACTS Research Centre Centre for Historical Research Lead researcher
Tackling the issue of terror
Professor George Kassimeris
The world we are living in today presents us with challenges, threats and modes of terrorism that are unlike those encountered before. In the wake of terror attacks over the last few years, Professor of Security Studies George Kassimeris has seen his expertise increasingly called upon. His opinion pieces have featured in various national media outlets and his research is more relevant than ever, with few academics having such insight and experience related to terrorism today.
The changing face of terrorism Professor Kassimeris has been researching and writing on terrorism and political violence for more than 20 years, and is now planning to look into the female figures among extremist groups and how their roles are changing. While a lot of work has been done on male terrorism, there has been little insight into the role of women and he plans to focus his future research on this overlooked area. Professor Kassimeris is exploring the motives of women in terrorism and their rise in leadership positions. His latest
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research will look at the changing role of female terrorists in Greece and how they have gained increased power. “While it is still quite a taboo subject, there have always been women involved in terrorism,” he says. “What is new is that more women have now taken leadership roles within terrorist organisations and I want to understand why this is and why these women have felt more polarised.” Professor Kassimeris has also examined the causes and processes of terrorism engagement, and why people leave organisations, another underresearched area. “To be that extreme, these people are so passionate about their cause, so to exit from a group is a very dramatic departure. “I have been given access to reformed and imprisoned terrorists to find out what made them join and then ultimately exit their organisation. This has given me insight into the complex processes of disengagement among former militants and their motivations.”
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KEY FACTS Research Centre
Mining the past for major study of British coal industry The University of Wolverhampton has been awarded more than £650,000 from the Arts and Humanities Research Council to undertake a major study of the British coal industry and its subsequent demise. ‘On Behalf of the People: Work, Community, and Class in the British Coal Industry 1947-1994’ is a three-year project which commenced in October 2017 and is led by Keith Gildart, a Professor of Social and Labour History and former coal miner. The collaborative project, between historians based at the University of Wolverhampton and Stirling University, examines the political and social history of the British coal industry in post-war Britain. Using a comparative study of eight collieries located in England, Scotland, and Wales, this ambitious project
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aims to create an innovative history of the coal industry that is academic and rigorous, but also embedded in an understanding and appreciation of the complexity of industrial, social, political, and cultural identities in former mining communities. The project will seek to understand the everyday experiences of coal miners in the workplace, community and domestic sphere and shed new light on key moments in the history of the industry. Professor Gildart and his team will look at the impact of significant events and issues such as public ownership, the industrial disputes of 1972, 1974 and 1984/5, and the subsequent closure of all of the nation’s deep mines in the first two decades of the 21st Century. There are planned interviews with over 80 participants and there will be substantial community engagement in former mining areas. Professor Gildart will also look to develop a comprehensive interactive website, blog, and touring exhibition.
Centre for Historical Research The research team Dr Ben Curtis Professor Keith Gildart Dr Grace Millar Dr Andrew Perchard In collaboration with • Big Pit National Coal Museum • General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) • National Coal Mining Museum for England • Scottish National Mining Museum • University of Stirling
Did you know? The Centre for Historical Research is bridging the gap between the past and present, Britain and the world, through scholars’ innovative work. Researchers are active in a wide variety of subjects, including military history, migration, retailing and distribution, child forced labour in modern war, and class, gender and respectability. University historians have been recognised for their outstanding work on the pivotal events of early modern conflicts. For instance, Dr Spencer Jones was recently made a Haig Fellow for 2018 by the Douglas Haig Fellowship for his significant contribution to the field of First World War studies.
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KEY FACTS Research Centre Centre for International Development and Training (CIDT) The research team
Protecting the rainforest for future generations
Through a transformative project, the University’s Centre for International Development and Training (CIDT) will help to protect the endangered environment of the Congo rainforest. CIDT have secured £5 million from the European Union to support forest governance in five Congo Basin countries: Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Gabon and Democratic Republic of Congo. The project will benefit 75 million poor men, women and young people living in the Congo Basin, which is home to the second largest tropical rain-forested area in the world. Over the next four years, the aim is to empower civil society organisations and forest dependent communities to monitor forest law compliance and enforcement activities on the ground in the countries, ensuring social agreements between private companies and communities are met. The CIDT team will work in partnership with local organisations, and to ensure private sector companies are working within their contracts and operating within EU timber regulations governing deforestation and legal exports. Dr Aurelian Mbzibain, Programme Manager for the Citizen Voices for Change project, said:
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Professor Phil Dearden Ella Haruna Dr Aurelian Mbzibain Richard Nyirenda Dr Rachel Slater Sarah Thomas In collaboration with • Brainforest • CAGDF – Cercle d’appui à la gestion durable des forêts • CED – Centre pour l’environnement et le développement • CIEDD – Centre pour l’information environnementale et le développement durable • FODER – Forêts et développement rural • Field Legality Advisory Group (FLAG) • OGF – Observatoire de la Gouvernance Forestière • World Resources Institute
CIDT has significant experience of forest governance projects and improving sustainability in some of the poorest areas of the world by working alongside indigenous peoples and local organisations.
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KEY FACTS Research Centre Law Research Centre
Overhauling insolvency law
Lead researcher Professor Peter Walton
Among the key strategic areas the University’s celebrated Law Research Centre explores is insolvency law, both at home and abroad. Recently, Professor Peter Walton was appointed by the Kenyan Government to overhaul Kenya’s insolvency laws, after being recommended by the World Bank to work as a consultant, reviewing and updating laws to assist businesses in Kenya and support future economic investment. Working directly with the Attorney General’s office, Professor Walton is looking at making significant improvements to individual and corporate insolvency laws including effective and appropriate rescue and debt reorganisation procedures. He will also be drafting a Code of Conduct for the insolvency profession and advising on its implementation. Professor Walton has a national and international reputation for his expertise in insolvency law. He has previously carried out several large research projects on behalf of both the UK Government and the UK insolvency profession which have led to significant reforms in the UK insolvency system. Professor Walton, who is a Professor of Insolvency Law at Wolverhampton Law School, said:
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The main issue is that Kenya has, until now, adopted an outdated version of UK insolvency law dating from the 1940s, which is no longer fit for purpose. It is important to be sympathetic to the Kenyan circumstances, and not to just cut and paste UK laws. A good system is crucial to help turn troubled businesses around and to ensure external economic investment continues.
The year-long project started in September 2017 and Professor Walton will spend time in Kenya presenting and explaining the new law to various stakeholders. He will also run a number of training sessions for insolvency professionals and the judiciary who will be charged with implementing the new system.
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KEY FACTS Research Centre Management Research Centre The research team
Changing boardroom dynamics for the better 56
In recent years, there has been a greater focus on the boardroom and increased pressure on board members. New areas – such as potential IT risks; crisis management and reputational risk, including how organisations communicate with stakeholders; and an overall increase in boardroom-shareholder engagement – have made the role more demanding.
The team have also investigated the effects of board diversity and the business case for improving gender diversity. In a project funded by an EU Justice Progress grant, together with the employers’ associations of Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia and Bulgaria, the researchers found how boardroom dynamics changed for the better when there was greater gender diversity in the boardroom.
The University of Wolverhampton’s Management Research Centre (MRC) conducts research which identifies characteristics of healthy governance, boardroom effectiveness and influences on boardroom dynamics.
Benchmarks for good board performance have already emerged from the research, which offers insights into how to improve the strategy involvement of boards by changing board dynamics, board leadership and behavioural norms.
Value-creating boards The Centre’s research is especially interested in behavioural characteristics of boards in different organisational settings. Professor Yamak is part of an international research team that investigates Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) and boards. The results of their work, published in the Strategic Management Journal, show that the direct effect of board independence on performance is weak. The efficacy of board structures seems to depend on the national context.
In related research, Professor Machold, together with colleagues from a number of European universities, has studied how boards in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can add value through increased involvement in strategic tasks. In a new H2020 project, she and her colleague Dr Daniel Yar Hamidi from Sweden are investigating how boards in SMEs can influence strategic changes from a goods-based to a service dominant logic.
Dr Stuart Farquhar Professor Silke Machold Dr Wen Wang Professor Sibel Yamak Dr Daniel Yar Hamidi (Marie Sklodowska-Curie Research Fellow) In collaboration with • The Association of Employers of Slovenia • Board Governance (Denmark) • Bulgarian Industrial Association • Business Confederation of Macedonia • Hrvatska Udruga Poslodavaca Croatia • The Institute of Directors • StyrelseAkademien Sjuhärad (The Swedish Academy of Board Directors)
For policy-makers, the study shows implications for the codes of good governance practice relevant to small firms, specifically in relation to promoting board development initiatives and board evaluations. By striving to meet these benchmarks, perhaps more companies would avoid reaching crisis point.
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Our postgraduate research community The Doctoral College Established in 2013, the Doctoral College supports all staff and student researchers at the University of Wolverhampton. All of our postgraduate research students (PGRs) studying in the UK or abroad, part-time or full-time, are both part of their Faculty and the Doctoral College community. The Doctoral College is managed through the Research Policy Unit and uses this combined expertise to deliver its mission, as well as offering a dedicated central contact point for staff and PGR students.
· co-ordinates research student representation · organises research events such as the Annual Research Conferences and University of Wolverhampton Lecture Series. PGRs are offered development opportunities, guaranteed teaching opportunities, support for teaching and social activities and events. To find out more about the Doctoral College, visit: wlv.ac.uk/doctoralcollege
As part of its mission, the Doctoral College: · co-ordinates and delivers comprehensive researcher development including the Postgraduate Researcher Development Programme (PRDP) for research students and the Research Supervisors’ Development Programme (RSDP) for research supervisors · builds an overarching and vibrant research community that unites and supports all research students · contributes to the development of research staff, eg. through The Early Researcher Award Scheme (ERAS)
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Meet our postgraduate researchers
One important factor for me in choosing the University for my PhD programme was the faculty and facilities. The supervisory team in particular, headed by Dr Iza Radecka, was crucial in influencing my decision.
The contribution of our postgraduate research students helps to enrich our research community. Find out more below.
The primary enjoyment came from the way my project shaped up as we went along – having a competent, intelligent and motivational supervisory team to help along the way was a boon.
I chose to do my doctoral study at the University of Wolverhampton because of the exciting research project on first year undergraduate experience. It matched my research interest perfectly as my Master degree study was about educational leadership and innovation.
The University was very encouraging and had good training programmes, from designing your experiments, always having a plan B to writing up your thesis. It also provides you with opportunities such as lecturing, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Being a doctoral student at the University of Wolverhampton is one of the most memorable experiences of my life. My supervisors were extraordinarily supportive and caring, which not only helped me build up my research skills but also enhanced my personal development. The guidance and training received while doing doctoral study prepared me well for job hunting after graduation. Currently, I am doing programme evaluation work in a non-profit organisation in Canada, contributing to local community building with the knowledge and research skills developed through my PhD study.
Apart from making me technically confident, the PhD programme at the University of Wolverhampton also taught me important soft skills, ones that I utilise very often in my current job profile as Vice-President at a Welsh bioinstrumentation company.
My experience of lecturing and presenting my research work during my PhD holds me in good stead when I am required to present my company’s novel technology on the world platform.
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A PhD programme is a long and exacting commitment, so it is all the more important to enjoy the process.
Yun Luan
Aditya Bhat
Course studied: PhD in Educational Research Graduated: 2010 Current role: Evaluation Director
Course studied: PhD in Industrial Biotechnology / Microbiology Graduated: 2012 Current role: Vice-President at Aber Instruments Ltd
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After graduating from the University of Lincoln in 2011, I knew I wanted to continue with my studies – but I wasn’t really sure what direction I wanted to take. I loved every aspect of my sports science course, particularly sports psychology, so I applied for a PhD examining self-control at Wolverhampton. The major factor that swayed my decision was the chance to work alongside Professor Andy Lane and Dr Tracey Devonport, both of whom are leading researchers in the field of sport and exercise psychology. They allowed me to explore my interests and immerse myself in a topic area, but importantly guided me towards successful completion. There were so many rich and varied experiences, from teaching undergraduate students to supporting fitness testing with professional athletes. Their philosophy was very much to treat me as a colleague rather than their student, allowing me to express my ideas with confidence. It’s something I try to embed within my teaching and research supervision today.
Chris Fullerton Course studied: PhD in Sport Psychology Graduated: 2017 Current role: Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, University of Kent
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I chose the University of Wolverhampton because of my positive experience as an undergraduate at this university. Most of all, I enjoyed the challenge of learning, my intervention programmes and sharing an office with four other PhD students. Sharing the ‘ups and downs’ of doing doctoral work and the ongoing mutual support made us friends for life. I am in the process of launching my training and counselling company. At the centre of my work is emotional intelligence, the subject of my thesis. I was able to gain extensive knowledge, investigate and measure the programmes I am offering now, which facilitate the development of higher levels of self-esteem and wellbeing, and I have acquired the ability to be critical and know the value of evidence-based outcomes as a result of rigorous statistical analysis. It can get pretty tough being a doctoral student – my tip would be don’t give up because in the end the rewards are certainly worth it.
Elke Nauheimer
Course studied: PhD in Emotional Intelligence Graduated: 2017 Current role: Company Director, Consultant and Counsellor
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THE UNIVERSITY OF OPPORTUNITY University of Wolverhampton Wulfruna Street Wolverhampton West Midlands WV1 1LY wlv.ac.uk/research
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