Bournemouth University Lecturer, Andy Ford was recently interviewed by the BBC commenting on coastal erosion around Lulworth.
The interview appeared on the national news on BBC1 at 6pm and 10pm plus on Radio 4.
The full interview can be viewed on the BBC News website.
For more information follow Andy@SpatialProf.
Agent based models (ABMs) are increasingly being recognised as a valuable tool to address a wide range of ecological research problems. Recent technological developments in both software and computing hardware provide unprecedented opportunities to ecologists to build powerful ABMs, which can be used to simulate the behaviour of populations of individuals, and to understand the emergent properties of ecological systems. However, relatively few ecologists have taken advantage of these opportunities to date, because of the difficulty of learning and getting started with a new method. This situation has been greatly improved by the recent publication of ‘Agent based and individual based modelling: a practical introduction’, by Steven Railsback and Volker Grimm. This provides the first hands-on, practical textbook to lead classes or individuals through the basics of designing, implementing, and analysing models. This focuses on the use of NetLogo <http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/>, an open source programming language that has proved to be an outstandingly useful piece of software for scientists and students to use as they learn agent-based modelling-and to continue using for many kinds of very serious research. It is both an incredibly powerful and easy-to-use platform.
We are offering a short course of five days duration to provide an introduction to the use of NetLogo to build ecological models. This should be of interest to both postgraduate students and academic staff who are interested in learning these skills. The course tutor will be Dr Steven Railsback, who is an adjunct professor at Humboldt State University, California, and a consulting environmental engineer. He will be supported by Dr. Juergen Groeneveld of the Department of Ecological Modeling, Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research, Leipzig. Both tutors have extensive experience of using and teaching use of Netlogo to build ABMs.
Location: Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK
Dates: May 13th -17th (inclusive), 2013
Course fees:
• £600, which includes lunch and light refreshments. BES membership and early bird discounts apply.
• Current PhD students from any institution will be offered a special discounted rate of £250.
Contact gseaton@bournemouth.ac.uk for further details and booking information
The next M.A.D. About the Wreck Open day takes place in the Thomas Hardy, Coyne
Room at Bournemouth University today March 28th 2013 at 4.00pm.
There will be presentations on the progress of the archaeological,
scientific and outreach project on the Swash Channel Wreck and an
outline of local maritime archaeology. There will also be an opportunity to view the recently created copy of the Apothecaries Jar from the wreck, pictures of which were recently posted on this site.
Talks:
- Paola Palma (Project Manager): ‘Little’ Science on the Wreck
- David Parham (Senior Lecturer): The Excavation of the Wreck
- Gordon Le Pard (Project Officer): Maritime Archaeology in Dorset
Here at Bournemouth University we have more than 1,800 international students from over 130 countries studying with us. Visit us at stand number 119 to find out how you could join them!
Date: 4 – 6 April 2013
Place: Stand No. 119
Hawaii Convention Centre
1801 Kalakaua Avenue, Road
Honolulu, HI 96815
Time: 9am – 5pm
Where is Bournemouth?
Bournemouth is a modern, lively and cosmopolitan town, situated on the south coast of England, about 2 hours from London and is one of th eUK’s most popular seaside resorts.
How do I find out more?
Visit us as stand number 119 at the SAA’s 78th Annual Meeting in Hawaii. Speak to a BU academic to find out why you should choose BU.
Stand out from the crowd – What additional skills and qualities do employers want?
On Tuesday 26th February 2013, Anna Frizzell (BU graduate, 1997) now an Environmental/Sustainable Business Advisor came and gave a lecture to ApSci Investigative & Reporting Skills students.
Based on 31 years’ experience as an employee and 15 years’ experience as a business advisor, she highlighted some of the additional skills and qualities that employers are looking for and provided some ideas on how to go about getting them and how to use them to make yourself stand out from the crowd.
“Getting good qualifications is essential, but with so many people gaining a degree it is really important to offer more, if you want a prospective employer to be interested in interviewing you!”
The lecture was absolutely fantastic and inspirational for everyone on the room.
Do you want to experience the thrill of unearthing the past?
Join us on our Archaeological Field School this summer:
Where: Bere Regis, Dorset (Daily transport from Bournemouth University provided)
When: 3- 28 June 2013
Since 2009 Bournemouth University has been engaged in the excavation, investigation and recording of a major prehistoric and Roman settlement and burial ground near Bere Regis in Dorset, as part of the Durotriges Project (the ‘Big Dig’) heavily featured in the BBC’s ‘Digging for Britain’ (series 1 & 2) and ‘A History of Ancient Britain’.
Who can apply?
Prospective Bournemouth University students who have applied for an archaeology course* can apply to join our ‘Big Dig’ excavation for up to 2 weeks during the summer 2013 (3 – 28 June 2013).
What experience will I gain?
Archaeological fieldwork ‘taster’ placements are available to applicants who would like to increase excavation, conservation, recording and survey experience on an internationally important site, prior to the start of their degree programme.
What is the cost?
The full cost of this training excavation (£100 per week) will be fully refunded to those applicants that enrol onto one of the archaeology courses at Bournemouth University in September 2013. Refunds will be made two weeks after enrolement via the original payment route.
For more information or to register your interest, please contact Gill Seaton.
Please note:
No formal qualifications are required to attend the Field School; which has been designed for students and participants (aged 16 years or over) who wish to gain experience in archaeological field practice. The course fee of £100 per week does not include accommodation, refreshments or transport to the site.
*Offer applicable to Bournemouth University applicants of BA Prehistoric & Roman Archaeology, BSc Archaeology, BSc Archaeological, Anthropological & Forensic Science and BA Archaeology & Anthropology.
Personal development sessions to help improve student employability:
In KGO3:
10.00 – Digital Footprint: What Google says about you!
10.45 – Careers in Forensic Science
11.30 – Social Media – Public Tweeting
12.00 – Introduction to Creative Writing
12.30 – Money, money, money – the art of fundraising
In KG01
13.00 – Digital Footprint: What Google says about you!
13.30 – Selling a Professional You!
15.00 - Student Development Award
Employers stands, 1pm-3pm, K101:
Atlantic Whale Foundation, Borough of Poole – Strategy Team, Bournemouth Archaeology, Bournemouth Borough Council – Parks Team, Bournemouth Borough Council – Recycling Team, BU Environment & Energy Team, BU Post-grad study options, Dorset County Council – Senior Archaeologist, Dorset Wildlife – Urban East Team, GreenForce, Institute of Environmental Scientists, Land & Wave, National Trust Eastleigh Court plus information on Science Recruitment Consultants.
The School launches its’ series of personal development events to boost student employability.
Meet the Teachers – Friday 22nd February 2013, 5pm-7pm, Kimmeridge House, Talbot Campus
Thinking of a teaching career with your science degree? Hear from teachers across primary, secondary, further &higher education, and receive advice on the Secondary School Central Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme and studying a PGCE. Refreshments will be provided. Book your place via mycareerhub.
ApSci Futures – Wednesday 27th February 2013, 10am-3.30pm, Kimmeridge House, Talbot Campus
Attend personal development sessions to help improve your employability. Sessions include: managing your digital footprint – what does Google say about you, using social media in a working world, advice on fundraising, creative writing and business English for interviews & CVs. There will also be a number of employer stands to visit. Book your place via mycareerhub.
Speedupdating – 11th March 2013, 5pm-7pm, The Retreat (staff canteen), Talbot Campus
BU alumni and other professionals across the forensic, archaeology & environmental industries will share with you their experiences of seeking employment and what employers are looking for. Refreshments will be provided. Book your place via mycareerhub.
Personal Development review – March 2013
An opportunity to reflect upon your own employability skills, highlighting your strengths and areas that require further personal development – with which the School will try to help you.
PG Open day – 27th March 2013, 11am-1pm, TAG01, Talbot Campus
Considering further study? Meet our postgraduate Programme Co-ordinators and talk about finance options, alumni discounts and the range of scholarships we offer.
Need further information?
Contact: Gill Seaton, C237 email: gseaton@bournemouth.ac.uk tel: 01202 961728
A group of BU MSc Toxicology students visited the Royal Society of Medicine on 19th January 2013 for a one day conference titled:
“Sex, drugs and Criminal Justice”
organised by the Clinical Forensic & Legal Medicine Section of the Royal Society of Medicine in collaboration with the British academy of Forensic Sciences.
Presentations were given by Judges, Forensic Clinicians, Police officers and Forensic Psychiatrists and included talks on “The trial of sexual offences from a judges point of view”, “Psychology of Sex Offences”, “Helping Families and Victims of Sex Abuse”, “Paediatric Examinations”, “Forensic Analysis of Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault”, “Operation Baidland: A so-called Honour Killing” and “Operation Batil: A case study concerning rape ad murder”.
This was a fascinating and very informative one day conference.
Thanks to all who attended the guest lecture with Paul Barnett, the Forensic Operations Manager for Dorset Police.
In a room that was full to capacity, Paul delivered an excellent and thoroughly interesting talk regarding the movement of forensic investigations from the 1970′s until the present day. Times have definitely changed since detectives could stand in mortuaries smoking a cigarette and show no concern to spilling ash over the cadaver! Paul supplemented this information with some very witty anecdotes and personal experiences which included three separate murder cases including the recent Heather Barnett case. Refreshments were provided afterwards and students were able to chat with Paul on a one-to-one basis over some pizza and wine 
Massive thanks to all who helped on the evening, extensive gratitude to Gill Seaton for her assistance and advice, and a special mention to Larissa Turney and Tom Ryan whose help with the event was above and beyond. Hope to see you all soon.
Natalie – President
Forensic Society BU