50 images of research will go on display this week (Thursday 12 May) at The Edge for an innovative exhibition showcasing how research from our University is making a difference locally, nationally and internationally.
The annual competition, arranged by the University’s Public Engagement Unit, challenges researchers to summarise their work and findings with just one captivating image and a short text description. This year’s competition coincides with celebrations for the University of Bath’s 50th Anniversary – which will be officially marked this October.
At the exhibition, open from Thursday until Tuesday 24 May, members of the public can find out more about a diverse range of projects from psychology to mechanical engineering; management to chemistry.
From improving water quality locally to addressing child mental health in South Africa
Water quality is a huge issue in the UK and across the world – one need only look at the water crisis in Flint, Michigan to see what happens when it goes wrong. Our researchers working in Architecture & Civil Engineering, including PhD candidate Mahan Amani Geshnigani, are conducting research on the topic at local reservoirs as their image ‘Assessing how oxygen levels influence quality’ explores.
On a different theme, Pharmacy & Pharmacology PhD candidate Josephine Palandri’s image - Your brain on drugs – explores her work on unlearning addiction and association with drugs like caffeine, alcohol or nicotine. Josephine’s research involves studying which parts of the brain are involved in remembering the pleasurable effects of drugs in different contexts.
Many of us will have been, or will know someone who has been, victim to a scam. From the phone calls claiming to be from your bank, to the fake e-mails offering you a tax rebate, scams are getting increasingly sophisticated. Dr Emma Williams, from the School of Management, is investigating what makes some scams more successful than others and is using this insight to develop better ways to defend against this growing problem in the future, as her image - Focusing on our defences - explains.
Internationally, our researchers are working closely with colleagues in South Africa at Stellenbosch University to address complex social, environmental and economic challenges. One such project, which involves Psychology PhD candidate Vici Williamson, aims to understand more about how children in a township near to Cape Town, Khayelitsha, experience and cope when faced with traumatic life events. Vici’s entry - Surviving the township - paints a stark reality of day-to-day life for the population there.
Engaged research community
Ed Stevens, the University’s Public Engagement Officer, explained: “This year is the eighth year we’ve run the competition and the entries are our best yet. The diversity and creativity of research taking place here is truly amazing, and the images really bring that research to life.”
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Jonathan Knight added: “The Images of Research competition is an excellent initiative which is challenging our researchers – at all levels – to explain their work and why it really matters.
“I very much look forward to welcoming members of the public to The Edge who I hope will get a much better understanding about the kinds of innovative projects we’re working on and the difference they are making locally and around the world.”
Members of the public will be able to vote for their favourite images at the exhibition, which is open 10am – 5pm, Monday to Saturday in the Galleries, ground floor of The Edge.