Healthy Parent Carers Programme

I am really excited and proud to be working - as an Assistant Facilitator - on the Healthy Parent Carer Programme, which is run by PenCRU at Exeter University. The parent carers of children with additional needs are often vulnerable to poor health and wellbeing and are often marginalised. Through a series of six workshops, the programme aims to improve health and wellbeing among this group. During the first half of 2019, the programme is being run in six locations in Devon and Cornwall.

My own role on the project is as an Assistant Facilitator. I will be working in Dawlish in Devon and the first workshop is on May 1, 2019. I am looking forward to further developing my workshop and participatory facilitation skills that I have developed through my own participatory research. At the same time, I really keen to learn new skills, especially working on such potentially challenging issues, and I am excited about the very direct positive benefit that the programme has for parent carers. I am looking forward to contributing to the programme in 2019 and - hopefully - as it grows in the future.

You can read more about the programme and associated research here.

Public understandings of UV exposure

In May 2019, I will be starting a new project with atmospheric science researchers - led by Professor Ann Webb - at University of Manchester. More than a decade of interdisciplinary research at University of Manchester has explored the relationship between UV exposure (sunlight), diet and vitamin D status (with sun exposure being a major determinant of vitamin D status). However, the over-riding public health message of previous decades has been that exposure to UV radiation is detrimental to health, resulting in sunburn and skin cancer. The project has two key elements to it. 

The first is to conduct new quantitative research into current public understandings of the interplay of benefits (e.g. vitamin D) and risks (e.g. cancer) associated with UV exposure. The research will also explore changes in these understandings. My role in this part of the project will focus on research design, questionnaire development and data analysis (the survey will be delivered by a local agency).

The second element of the project is to support the development of an 'impact' case study for the 2021 Research Excellence Framework. On this part of the project, I will be further developing and implementing an emerging 'impact' strategy, and supporting development of the 'impact' case study itself.

I am excited by this project because - after many years of studying public understanding of science research and other science and society issues - it is great to experience such research from within a scientific team and to hone my large-scale survey skills. I am also pleased to have the chance to draw on and further develop my 'impact' skills and knowledge.