Tag: Edinburgh Napier University

12 January event to showcase Edinburgh Napier’s tech innovation

Edinburgh Napier University’s newly launched Innovation Hub will host a symposium to showcase the future of technology innovation in Scotland, as part of its effort to inspire academic research into reality.

The Hub has been set up to link the world-leading expertise and wide experience of ENU’s academics and researchers with external business communities from a wide variety of sectors, with a view of establishing commercial collaboration to support business growth and development.

Hosted at the Edinburgh Napier University’s Merchiston campus, this Symposium on Technology Innovation and Collaboration on 12 January will gather industry and academic leaders of Scottish tech, including keynote guest speaker, Mark Logan, Scottish Government’s Chief Entrepreneur. He has been instrumental in the success of several start-ups, including as Chief Operating Officer of Skyscanner, one of Europe’s most successful technology companies. 

This symposium will be convened by Professor Bill Buchanan OBE, Professor of Applied Cryptography at Edinburgh Napier University, who specialises in blockchain, cryptography, trust and digital identity. In 2017, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to cybersecurity.

Explaining more about the forthcoming symposium, Professor Buchanan said: “Scotland has produced two tech unicorns: Skyscanner and FanDuel. Where will the next one come from? Will it be a university spin-out or an innovative start-up?

“Over the past decade the university has spun-out a number of highly successful spin-outs, including Zonefox, which was acquired by Fortinet, Symphonic – acquired by Ping Identity – and Cyacomb, which has expanded rapidly in international markets.

“This symposium will not only showcase the latest tech innovation emerging from Edinburgh Napier, but also be a collaborative event with our industry partners who will share their knowledge and insights to inspire academics and researchers in the field of technology to engage in innovation and explore commercial collaboration.”

Presentations will include case studies of Edinburgh Napier success stories in the spin-out space, information on funding pathways, with inspirational talks about the opportunities out there and potential markets for the technologies we want to encourage our early career researchers to create.

In addition to Mark Logan’s talk on ‘The Future of Innovation in Scotland’, other guest talks will spotlight cybersecurity and fintech innovation, with presentations also on funding opportunities and research journeys.

Talks will feature guest speakers from: Scottish Enterprise; Innovate UK; DSTL; Interface Online; EU Horizon 2020; TrueDeploy; Zonefox; Cyacomb, and Edinburgh Napier’s Innovation Hub and Bright Red Triangle.

This event will take place at Edinburgh Napier University’s Merchiston campus, from 9:45am to 5pm, on Thursday 12 January 2023.

Advanced registration is essential via EventBrite.

Poetry in motion: Edinburgh Napier University professor wins Europe-wide award for science communication

Dr Sam Illingworth has drawn praise for using poetry and gaming to reach new audiences

An Edinburgh Napier University professor has won a major international award, organised by the European Geosciences Union, for his innovative communication of scientific ideas.

Dr Sam Illingworth, who uses poetry and gaming to reach underserved audiences, has been named the 2022 winner of the Katia and Maurice Krafft Award.

Dr Illingworth is an Associate Professor at ENU and has published research on how to broaden the interest and engagement in geosciences.

His textbook, Effective Science Communication has been downloaded more than 250,000 times, while his podcast and blog The Poetry of Science reaches thousands of listeners and readers every month.

Reacting to his award, Sam said: “I feel incredibly honoured to be recognised by my peers in this way, and I hope that I can use it as a platform to continue to make both science and higher education accessible to all audiences.

“There aren’t many awards in science communication and the people who have won this one before are doing some world-leading research. I hope I can use it as a platform to continue the work that I do.

“The great thing about poetry is that it enables us to look through science through a new lens.

“Its real strength is in developing a two-way dialogue, a medium which encourages other people, especially marginalised communities, to lend their voice and to be heard in scientific research.”

In addition to his research and online work, Dr Illingworth is founder and chief executive editor of Geoscience Communication. Since the journal was set up, it has supported the work of more than 500 geoscientists, with 100+ peer-reviewed papers.

The Katia and Maurice Krafft Award was first established by the EGU – Europe’s leading organisation for earth, planetary and space science research – in 2018, to recognise researchers who have developed innovative and inclusive ways of communicating a geoscience topic with a diverse audience.

It is named in honour of volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft, who spent their lives documenting and sharing volcanological phenomena. The most recent winners include Sarah K. Brown for her awareness films on volcanic hazards and Annie Ockelford, who developed a set of geography classroom resources.

Sam will be presented with his award at EGU23, the organisation’s general assembly, which will take place in Vienna next Spring.

Mangroves together: World-leading carbon project marks decade of conservation work

Mikoko Pamoja harnesses the ‘unsung heroes’ of the fight against climate change

The world’s first community-led mangrove conservation and restoration project supported through carbon credits is marking 10 years since it began on the south coast of Kenya.

Mikoko Pamoja, which translates as ‘mangroves together’, was set up in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University and the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute. It is run by a democratically elected committee.

It manages 117 hectares of mangrove forests in Gazi Bay, which support the livelihoods of local people by protecting the shoreline, supplying fuel, wood and fish and offering a habitat for wildlife.

Mangrove trees are of global importance as they are such powerful natural carbon sinks, storing around five times more carbon per hectare than other forests. The capture and storage of carbon in this way is sold on the global markets as carbon credits.

Over the last decade, the protection and replanting of mangrove trees through Mikoko Pamoja has avoided deforestation and saved more than 14,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, selling carbon credits has raised $119,000 for conservation and local development projects such as sanitation and education in the local villages of Gazi and Makongeni – funding new wells, school rooms, sports facilities and books.

Edinburgh Napier University Professor Mark Huxham, who co-founded the project, said: “Mikoko Pamoja shows how communities, scientists and governments can work together to make a difference to conservation and to improve lives.

“Conserving our natural carbon sinks, such as mangrove forests, is essential if we are to overcome the climate emergency.

“When controlled by local people, and meeting high scientific standards, money from the carbon market provides one way to help achieve this.”

The 10-year milestone comes as the COP27 environmental conference concludes in Egypt. Representatives of Mikoko Pamoja addressed delegates during last year’s event in Glasgow.

The project was recently visited by ITV News as part of its COP27 coverage – with the report describing mangroves as the ‘unsung heroes’ of the climate crisis.

It has been supported and managed by Scottish Charity the Association for Coastal Ecosystem Services, which works closely with Edinburgh Napier University.

In 2019 the charity went on to launch the Vanga Blue Forest project, following the success of Mikoko Pamoja – taking a similar model to a larger scale.

Edinburgh Napier child mortality project shortlisted for prestigious award

Partnership between Edinburgh Napier University and charity Newborns Vietnam is a finalist in the PraxisAuril Knowledge Exchange (KE) Awards 2022

Edinburgh Napier University has been shortlisted for a respected knowledge exchange (KE) award in recognition of its efforts in sharing expert knowledge and research, through a partnership with the charity Newborns Vietnam – which is helping reduce new-born mortality through improved neonatal nursing care and education.

The project, which began in 2018, has led to the development of a 16-week neonatal training programme, which aims to empower and upskill nurses at a hospital in Hanoi.

This teaching provides staff with crucial in-depth knowledge about theory and evidence-based practice, enhancing their confidence and improving their communication and leadership.

Maggie Reid, Business Development and Relationship Manager at Edinburgh Napier University, who supported the coordination of the knowledge exchange activities, said: “Since launching the partnership and education programme, we have witnessed a reduction in infection rates, an improvement in infection control practices, and most importantly, a 42.2% reduction in infant mortality at the VNC hospital and it continues to reduce as we teach.

“To date, over 70 nurses have taken part in the programme, and are finding their voice and have become excellent advocates for the babies in their care. They say this course has given them not only knowledge and deeper understanding, but also the confidence to speak up in the best interest of the babies and their families.

“In a very short time, these nurses have flourished through education and are making a real difference and have ensured there are systematic changes in clinical practice to the benefit of the baby and mother. These shared efforts for positive change have also received recognition from the Ministry of Health in Vietnam.

“This collaboration and the projects that stem from it, really highlight the power of partnerships and the importance of the role of the knowledge exchange professional in allowing this partnership to realise its objectives. The positive societal impact of knowledge exchange cannot be underplayed.”

The PraxisAuril KE Awards celebrate the people who initiate and deliver impact from research through a diverse range activities.

Edinburgh Napier has been shortlisted in the Place-based Knowledge Exchange Initiative of the Year category, an award that recognises the success of a place-based KE initiative which demonstrates the value it can have locally. This award also highlights and acknowledges the importance of the KE teams that support the academics and industry partners to realise these projects.

Linda Wallace, Head of Knowledge Exchange at Edinburgh Napier University said: “This knowledge exchange partnership has been a real success story for Edinburgh Napier and has demonstrated the wide reach and positive impact our knowledge exchange activities and partnerships can have on a global scale.

“This project supports Edinburgh Napier’s mission to advance knowledge and deliver impact that influences professional practice and policy and drives key societal change. We are delighted that since this KE partnership was initially established, we have secured further KE projects, with a further three neonatal courses in the pipeline and two more within midwifery.

“The success of this knowledge exchange model has allowed other academics and leadership teams at Edinburgh Napier to see the impact and benefits knowledge exchange projects can make to the individual, the school and the institution, as well as those within their community and further afield. We are delighted this project is receiving national recognition by being shortlisted for a PraxisAuril KE Award.”

The KE Awards are supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and work with Government Office for Technology Transfer (GOTT), the TenU, the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB) and SETsquared to increase support and publicity for the important and impactful achievements of the KE profession.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony that will celebrate and showcase the KE sector in Manchester on 29 November 2022.

Car designer and entrepreneur awarded Honorary Degrees from Edinburgh Napier University

Moray Callum & Paul Atkinson are being recognised for a difference-making careers

A designer behind some of the world’s most iconic cars has been awarded an Honorary Degree by Edinburgh Napier University.

Described as of the auto industry’s most influential design leaders, Moray Callum contributed to and led teams at brands including Aston Martin, Chrysler, Peugeot, Ghia and Mazda.

It was at the US giant Ford where he spent most of his career though, becoming the first non-American to hold the title of Vice President for Design at the US motoring giant.

Born in Dumfries in 1958, Moray studied industrial design at ENU’s forerunner, Napier Technical College, before embarking on a successful career in motoring spanning nearly four decades, which took him to France, Italy, Japan and the USA.

During a graduation ceremony at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, Moray was presented with an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Design by the University’s Chancellor Will Whitehorn.

MORAY CALLUM ALUMNI AND HONORARY GRADUATE Designer of the Ford Mustang Mach E (car in photograph) October 2022

Moray said: “It is a real privilege to be awarded this degree, I feel very grateful for it. It feels particularly fitting as it was here where I decided what I wanted to do with my life.

“Edinburgh Napier was the starting point – the people here helped me realise where I wanted to go with my career.

“I would like to thank those who have helped me along the way.”

Among the highlights of Moray’s career in the automotive industry were the 2016 launch of the Ford GT, the successor to the 1960s classic GT40 and the re-introduction of the Ford Mustang the previous year.

He also helped create and introduce the 2021 F-150 Mustang Mach-E [pictured here at ENU’s Craiglockhart campus] – an all-electric reimagining of the famous supercar marque.

Other best-selling models he worked on include the Ford Transit and the F-series, as well as leading the redesign of the Mazda 5 while working in Japan in the early 2000s.

The award of Moray’s Honorary Degree follows his retirement from Ford in May of last year, marking an end to seven years as Vice President and a 38-year product development career in the industry.

Also receiving an Honorary Doctorate during this Autumn’s graduation ceremonies was entrepreneur Paul Atkinson.

In a varied career, the businessman has created leading recruitment firms and been involved with some of Scotland’s most high-profile start-up firms.

After moving to Edinburgh in 1987, Paul launched Direct Resources and RecruitmentScotland.com, eventually selling both in multi-million-pound deals.

The Yorkshire-born investor would later go on to found Head Resourcing, which is now one of four brands housed within Taranata Group, where he is now executive chairman.

Paul is also founding partner at investment fund Par Equity LLP, which has supported more than 70 businesses to the tune of £200m in the last decade – including Edinburgh Napier spin-outs Symphonic and Cyan Forensics.

As a visiting professor at ENU’s Business School and member of the Advisory Board, Paul’s Honorary Degree cements a close relationship with the University.

Grads October 2022 Honorary Graduate Paul Atkinson

Accepting the title, he said: “I am a bit overawed, but delighted to here today and humbled to receive such a prestigious award.

“I wouldn’t be here without the support of my family, friends and business colleagues through the years.

“My father was a self-made businessman and farmer in South Yorkshire and it’s his hard work, resilience, integrity and love of his friends and family, that inspired me in my journey.”

Nursing graduate wins 2022 Simon Pullin Award

Siobhan Bridges praised for her compassionate care of patients

An Edinburgh Napier University nursing student has an extra reason to celebrate her graduation after being named the 2022 winner of the Simon Pullin Award.

Siobhan Bridges, who is from Portlethen in Aberdeenshire, was praised by the award’s panel for her ability to show empathy in pressured clinical situations.

As well as the accolade, the 21-year-old has picked up a Bachelor of Nursing with Distinction in Adult Nursing during Thursday’s graduation ceremony at the Usher Hall.

Siobhan said: “This is such a great honour and privilege. I got the news on my lunch break at work and I was delighted to find out.

“I had a look at Simon Pullin’s work when I applied, and I was inspired by what he did. He’s a great role model to anyone thinking of applying on the university’s nursing programme in the way he worked with empathy and respect.

“It’s been very challenging to complete a nursing degree through a pandemic, but I am proud of what I have achieved. I’ve been on several different placements, represented the university at a conference in Madrid and I’m now working in the cardiology unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

“If I can do all that during a pandemic, I think I can probably handle anything that gets thrown at me!”

Siobhan drew praise from the award’s review panel for her experience of working with a non-English speaking patient with severe autism and complex learning difficulties by using interactive posters on an iPad, allowing him to communicate. He has since been funded by his care and housing services to use this method going forward.

She also lived up to its spirit of recognising the human side to nursing by calming a patient due to undergo a coronary procedure by telling him about her experience of being diagnosed with a heart murmur as a teenager.

Dr Stephen Smith, from Edinburgh Napier University’s School of Health & Social Care, who led the awarding panel, said: “Siobhan’s entry demonstrated her ability to provide compassionate care and work to a highly professional standard, regardless of the clinical situation and workload pressures.

“Her examples of learning from practice were powerful and touching to read. They showed a beautiful sensitivity and commitment to  compassionate care.”

Jacqueline Johnston, Siobhan’s Personal Development Tutor at Edinburgh Napier University, said: “Siobhan is one of the most professional students I have ever come across both in clinical and university settings.

“She is kind, caring, open, honest and puts her patients at the heart of everything she does.

“I am confident Siobhan will continue to demonstrate compassionate and caring behaviours in her future career.”

Pioneering sports official graduates mark the final whistle of their Edinburgh Napier studies

Christina Barrow and Clare Daniels are the first to complete the world-leading Masters degree for referees and umpires

Edinburgh Napier University is celebrating the achievements of two trailblazing sports officiating graduates.

Christina Barrow and Clare Daniels are the first to be shown the red scroll after completing the world’s first taught Masters degree of its kind – designed specifically for referees and umpires.

Christina took on the three-year programme with ENU alongside her work as International Officiating Manager at World Netball, a role she has achieved after only getting involved in the sport at the age of 30.

Clare undertook her studies while working as a Performance Reviewer and coach for match officials in rugby union’s Professional Group of Match Officials Team, following a successful refereeing career on the pitch.

Both carried out pioneering research as well as completing the bespoke modules on skills including decision making and communication. They have been presented with their degrees during a graduation ceremony at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh today [Wednesday 26 October].

As part of her research into the challenges faced by female match officials, Somerset-born Clare compared the world of sport with sectors like the fire service and STEM industries.

She said: “Many of the challenges female referees deal with are very similar to those women face in industry and the corporate world. I found there are a lot of things we can learn and share from other sectors.

“Before I looked at academia and thought it was nothing to do with me, but when you dip your toe in the water you see there’s a wealth of knowledge that can help make us better. I think it’s hugely underused.

“When I left college I went straight into work, but I felt that at this stage in my life I have a much more curious attitude and a desire to learn. My mindset was right.

“I’ve become more curious in how we could do things differently, asking more questions and not just accepting the way things are done. It brings a fresh perspective.”

Christina, from Chorley in Lancashire, whose research looked at wellbeing support for officials, said: “The course seemed like a perfect fit. It’s allowed me to find out things that will help other officials in netball.

“It’s been challenging – you have to dedicate yourself – but what you gain is definitely worth it. Personally, you achieve great things.

“To be an umpire, or a referee, you have to be resilient. Netball officials are managing themselves well, but the support they get could be improved. My research found that help was often unstructured.

“It’s given me a platform to understand the problem so I can solve it and represent our officials better. I think it’s also a springboard to maybe expand into other sports and see what we can learn from each other.

“I see research as a jigsaw puzzle – you’re just looking to add more pieces. Sometimes you don’t find the pieces you want, or you need to shuffle them around, but it all helps add to the picture.”

Dr Duncan Mascarenhas, Associate Professor and Programme Leader for MSc Performance Enhancement in Sports Officiating at Edinburgh Napier University said: “It’s so exciting, I’m so pleased for them. They’ve put in the hard yards. It’s a big statement for the university that we’re able to upskill these high-profile experts in their fields.

“These two students are pioneering the programme in very different contexts – Christina as an administrator and leader in netball and Clare as a former referee and now a referee coach for rugby.

“They’re trailblazers and great role models for others coming through.

“All the modules in the programme are tailored to the students’ needs. It means we’re dealing with areas of sport which have never really been tested.

“Officiating research is relatively young. It effectively began in the eighties but only really started growing in the late nineties. There’s so much that’s still unexplored and it’s an exciting area to be involved in.”

Class of 2022: Young people with learning disabilities are Breaking Barriers in education

Edinburgh Napier University hosted a unique graduation ceremony this week for a group of students who successfully completed ENABLE’s Breaking Barriers programme.

The ground-breaking initiative, established by ENABLE in 2018, empowers young people who have a learning disability to access university life whilst being fully supported to thrive. Students can undertake work experience opportunities with a leading global employer and gain a university qualification from a world-class academic institution.

Over the course of several months, a group of students have completed a learning programme at Edinburgh Napier University and a work placement with the course’s corporate partner, multinational professional services provider – EY.

The course aims to tackle the widespread lack of opportunities for young people with learning disabilities to enter the workforce. Recent data shows that while 45% of all Scotland’s school leavers go to university, only 8.6% of school leavers who have a learning disability go on to higher education.

The Breaking Barriers business class of 2022 came together this week for joyful celebrations with friends and family in the River Suite at Edinburgh Napier University. All of the students were successful in achieving their Accreditation in Applied Business Skills.

One of the students Gemma told us what the Breaking Barriers experience has meant to her: “I’m so happy to have successfully completed the Breaking Barriers programme, it was such a valuable experience that has benefited me a lot and I now feel ready to take my next step into further education or employment.

“I used to find school and college quite overwhelming but thanks to the support Breaking Barriers offers, I’ve really enjoyed the university environment and the chance to meet lots of new people. It was lovely to all come together on Wednesday to celebrate our achievement with our family and friends.”

ENABLE CEO and co-founder of the Breaking Barriers programme, Theresa Shearer, said: “Since 2018, the Breaking Barriers programme has made it possible for students who have a learning disability to access the life-shaping experience of university that is a rite of passage for so many, yet it is currently available to so few disabled young people.

“Breaking Barriers demonstrates how the public, private and third sectors can work collaboratively to improve diversity, equity and inclusion in education and the workplace. Thanks to our partners at Edinburgh Napier University and EY, I am delighted to see those opportunities extended to even more young people across Scotland, and I congratulate what I am sure will be the first group of many from the programme at Napier.”

Philip Milne, EY Sponsor Partner in Scotland for Breaking Barriers, said: “It was our pleasure to welcome the Breaking Barriers students to our team for six weeks. As part of their work placement, the students rotated across all of our core service lines, showed curiosity by asking pertinent questions, and importantly grew in confidence every week.

“At the graduation event we heard the success stories of students who had been encouraged by their experience, to explore further education and employment – a true example of how breaking barriers down can make a difference.”

ENABLE runs the Breaking Barriers programme through its ENABLE Works division that sets out to break down barriers to employment for people living with a learning disability. 

Currently the specialist employability service is embedded within 28 local authorities across Scotland and supports 5,500 people each year. The development programmes are all about getting people of all ages ready for work – and supporting their individual needs every step of the way.

Professor Nazira Karodia, Vice Principal of Learning and Teaching at Edinburgh Napier University said: “We have been delighted to welcome our ENABLE students to our Craiglockhart campus, where our vision is to be the Business School for empowerment, enterprise, and employability for all.

“Our ethos as a university is to be the home for difference makers. Not everyone has an opportunity to change the world, but everyone can make a positive difference to the world around them: working with fantastic partners like ENABLE and EY is truly helping to break down barriers faced by young people with learning difficulties.”

The Breaking Barriers programme, which originated in the West of Scotland, has entered its fifth year and works with corporate partners including STV, Scottish Power and EY, with courses at both Edinburgh Napier University and the University of Strathclyde.

The University of Strathclyde recently expanded the programme offering to include a science cohort, giving young people with learning disabilities the chance to focus on STEM subjects both in a classroom and work placement setting for the first time. This launched in September 2022 and will run for twelve weeks.

For more information on the programme and how to apply please visit:

www.enable.org.uk/breaking-barriers or contact Madeline King at

madeline.king@enable.org.uk

Higher Education Strike: Support workers on the picket lines

Higher Education workers have had enough of poverty pay while senior management take 6 figures plus expenses!

✊

During this cost of greed crisis a 3% rise is an insult. We are demanding a real pay rise of RPI+2%!

📍

Pickets tomorrow and Wednesday, get along to support!

Report into Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland recommends changes to ensure patients’ voices are heard

Pioneering study heard from patients, named persons, practitioners and tribunal members

An Edinburgh Napier University-led study, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, into stakeholder experiences of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland (MHTS) has recommended several ways it could improve its processes and decision-making.

Addressing the influence of clinicians, encouraging participation of patients and offering more support for named persons are among the suggestions put forward in the report.

The MHTS was set up authorise and review compulsory psychiatric measures under the 2003 Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 and began operating in October 2005. The legislation is underpinned by human rights-based principles which govern the way that the MHTS makes its decisions about compulsory psychiatric care and treatment.

This study is the first of its kind since the Tribunal’s formation and heard from patients, their named persons, MHTS panel members, lawyers, independent advocates and health and social care professionals.

The timing of the study’s report means that its findings will be used to help inform the Scottish Mental Health Law Review, which is due to publish its recommendations on Scottish mental health, capacity and adult support and protection law this autumn.

Jill Stavert, Professor of Mental Health and Capacity Law at Edinburgh Napier University said: “Our study revealed several areas of agreement across all participant groups on how the Mental Health Tribunal operates and evidence of considerable caring goodwill on the part of the Tribunal and health and social care practitioners.

“However, there were certain areas where the experience and perceptions of patients and Tribunal panel members was not shared, particularly surrounding patient perceptions of their ability to participate during tribunal hearings.

“An important test whether human rights principles are effective is not only whether they are given effect by state authorities, such as tribunals, but also the extent to which they are felt to be given effect by rightsholders such as patients.”

Some of the report’s recommendations include, among others, addressing perceptions of the influence of clinicians and diversity issues, supporting patient participation, and supporting named persons more.

Professor Stavert continued: “Some of these, we consider, should be addressed by the Tribunal itself while others are for other bodies to take up.

“This is very important as human rights requirements increasingly require active respect for the rights of persons with psychosocial, cognitive and intellectual disabilities.”

MHTS-Final-Report-23-8-2022Download