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Exploring the Constructions of Dreams at BGU
We all sleep and, believe it or not, we all dream too. What we don’t always do, however, is remember those dreams. To explore the importance of our nocturnal imagination, psychologist Dr Caroline Horton is heading up research at the new DrEAMSLab which will be launched tomorrow at Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln. “Research shows that although we dream several times a night, arguably even continually through the night, we remember very little of our dreams,” said Dr Horton, who has set up DrEAMSLab (Dreaming, Emotions, Associations & Memories in Sleep Laboratory) at BGU. “Although dreams are difficult to access, there are systematic ways of studying them. Indeed, scrutinising the individual elements of dreams, and the ways in which these different elements combine, can tell us a lot about how the brain processes memories during sleep – a process known as memory consolidation. Sleep enhances memory as part of that consolidation journey.” Dr Horton added that the Continuity Hypothesis broadly states that there is overlap between our dreams and in our waking lives, a theory which challenges those who have argued that dreams are the product of random firing of brain cells during certain stages of sleep, or that dreams might provide an insight into our futures. The British Psychological Society, which accredits the suite of Psychology joint degree courses offered at BGU, has recently funded Caroline and her team of researchers from the Universities of Manchester, Swansea and Bedfordshire to co-ordinate a series of seminars that aim to push the boundaries of our understanding of how dreaming might contribute to memory consolidation in sleep. The first event in the seminar series will be held at BGU on Wednesday 10th February and will include a series of talks, discussions and celebrations. If you are interested in coming along to learn about what dreams can tell us about brain and mind, as well as the role of dreaming in memory formation, you can register your interest by emailing bronwen.kane@bishopg.ac.uk Tomorrow’s event begins at 10am in the Hardy Building at BGU and will conclude at 4pm with the launch of DrEAMSLab. To find out more, visit www.dreamslab.co.uk or follow DrEAMSLab on Twitter @sleepandmemory. -
City Universities to Clash in Historic Football Match
Lincoln’s two universities will do battle on the football pitch in a new challenge cup competition this month. The inaugural Cathedral Cup match between BGU and the University of Lincoln will take place on Wednesday 10th February under lights at Sincil Bank, home of Lincoln City FC. Organisers hope the game will become an annual fixture. “The footballing gap between the two universities has significantly reduced over recent years, and the University of Lincoln's first team were impressed by our standard this year, so we decided to stage the first competitive fixture between the two universities,” said Callum Ward, President of the BGU Football Society and a former youth team player at Lincoln City. “This game will hopefully develop into an annual fixture and be the students' sporting spectacle that the city craves so much! We aspire to get as many people in attendance as possible because it will be an unforgettable event for all involved,” Callum added. Dr Graham Basten, Head of the School of Social Sciences at BGU, commented: “We’re looking forward to the match next month, which will be a coming of age for our rapidly improving football team. “The fixture will also be an opportunity to showcase our partnership with Lincoln City, which goes far beyond shirt sponsorship and provides opportunities for engagement between the club and our students at many different levels. We work closely with Lincoln City on a number of initiatives, including Football in the Community work, placement opportunities for BGU students and partnerships between the football club and BGU's sports courses. We also work with the Lincoln City Sport and Education Trust to support its work with children and young people in the local area.” University of Lincoln’s Men’s Football President Will Fry added: “It’s taken a lot of hard work by me, Callum Ward and Lincoln City. We are looking forward to a huge event that will hopefully become an annual fixture and draw the students and the city closer together. “It’s huge for the football club to run what has the potential to be the biggest student event in the city.” The match will kick off at 7.45pm on Wednesday 10th February at Sincil Bank. Tickets cost £3 and are available at the Students’ Union at both universities. Bishop Grosseteste University Bishop Grosseteste University was established in January 1862 and celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2012 It is an independent higher education institution based in Lincoln which awards its own degrees at foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate level It changed its name from Bishop Grosseteste University College to Bishop Grosseteste University in November 2012 BGU has over 2,300 students, including undergraduate, postgraduate and research, with over 280 students at collaborative partners across Lincolnshire In 2015 BGU was the second highest ranked university in the UK for employability with almost 99% of our leavers in work or study six months after graduating (2013/14 DLHE) BGU is a main club sponsor and the home shirt sponsor of Lincoln City FC and has has its own sports and leisure facilities as well as a cinema (The Venue) on campus, all open to the public University of Lincoln The University of Lincoln was named among the UK's best modern universities in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2016. It has some of the most satisfied students in the UK, rating in the top 25% nationally in a number of subject areas of the National Student Survey 2015 with Psychology ranked number one It is recognised for its pioneering approach to working with employers, winning a Lord Stafford Award and a Times Higher Education Award. Graduate prospects are strong with nine out of ten of Lincoln’s most recent graduates in work or further study six months after finishing their course In the Research Excellence Framework 2014, more than half of our submitted research was judged to be internationally excellent or world leading, with Lincoln ranked in the UK’s top 10 for quality of research outputs in two major subject areas -
BGU Seeks Future Research Leaders
Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln is seeking six future research leaders to take up six full-time PhD studentships starting in spring 2016. As part of its ongoing strategy to increase its research activity, BGU will award the studentships to six candidates who can demonstrate their academic achievement and future research potential. The successful students will have the opportunity to work alongside BGU’s world-leading academics for up to four years. Studentships are being offered in two areas: Education and Related Studies, and Health, Social Care, Psychology and Wellbeing. The former will look at topics such as children’s spirituality, global issues in early childhood education and care, and enterprise education, while the latter will consider such subjects as human nutrition, psychosocial cancer care, and sleep, memory and dreaming. “We are looking to attract candidates with the ambition and ability to launch their research careers at Bishop Grosseteste University,” said Professor David Rae, Executive Dean for Research & Knowledge Exchange at BGU. “This is the first major investment by the university in developing its PhD programme by funding four-year studentships across areas of research excellence, and we plan to grow our involvement in research and innovation with further commitments in the future.” BGU will provide each successful student with a bursary and payment of their tuition fees for PhD study at the university. The PhD will be awarded by the University of Leicester under its validation partnership with BGU. The minimum entry requirement for a research degree programme is an upper second-class honours degree, or an equivalent overseas qualification, in a relevant subject. These studentships are restricted to applicants with citizenship in the United Kingdom and European Union. For more information and how to apply, please click here. -
It’s Not Too Late to Apply to BGU
If you’re considering applying to university for this September, or if you didn’t get the A-level results you expected, it’s not too late to apply through Clearing. That’s the message from Bishop Grosseteste University which has recently been ranked second highest public university in England for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey. The results published on Wednesday (10th August) show that 92% of BGU students are satisfied with their university experience – that’s 7% higher than last year’s score and 6% higher than the sector average.The admissions team at BGU in Lincoln is on hand to deal with enquiries during Clearing, which begins on Thursday 18th August when students across the country will receive their A-level results. The call centre will be open from 8am until 6pm on both Thursday 18th August and Friday 19th August and the number to call is 01522 583698. Prospective students can also visit the university at an open day on Friday 19th August from 10am until 5pm. The day provides an opportunity to see what Bishop Grosseteste University has to offer, take a minibus tour of Lincoln and speak to staff and students about courses and life as a student. “A-level results week can be a stressful and worrying time for students and their families, but remember that we are here to help and advise whatever your situation,” said Karen Richardson, Head of Student Recruitment and Admissions at BGU. “It’s always a busy period for us but as always we will do our best to ensure that students are not left worried or uncertain about their place at university.” Case study: Glen Hughes An Education Studies and Psychology student who was looking for a new career challenge and applied to Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln through Clearing has graduated with an honours degree. Now he’s aiming to continue his education by studying for a master's degree in Forensic Psychology at the University of Lincoln. Glen Hughes (25) was disillusioned with his job as a carer and convinced Olivia Sagan, Academic Co-ordinator for Psychology at BGU, to offer him a place. He graduated with a BA (Hons) degree in Education Studies and Psychology on Wednesday 20th July. “I was pretty bored with my job and I rang up not expecting a place,” said Glen. “When I spoke to Olivia she gave me a place and I was like, what is going on here? I don’t think it really dawned on me that I was actually going to university! “My advice to anyone contemplating going to university through Clearing is: don’t hold back, just do it. When I contacted BGU I was bored out of my mind and they gave me what I needed.” Glen, from Bracebridge Heath near Lincoln, has been involved in a number of roles at BGU that help promote both the Education Studies and Psychology courses; he worked as a student ambassador and is now interning for Olivia and helping with her research projects. Before entering Clearing Glen studied for a BTEC in Health and Social Care at Andover College. He then moved to Lincoln and was a carer with Bupa for two years. Top Tips for Clearing If you’ve just got your A-level results and you’re not sure what to do next, consult Karen Richardson’s handy set of tips for students who will be entering the Clearing system: Don’t panic! If you stay calm you’re more likely to take in all the information you need to succeed. If your grades fall short, wait for that important acceptance/rejection indication on Track before you put yourself into Clearing. You never know – your first-choice university might still accept you. Don’t give up! You may well get a place on a similar course that’s just as good – but you’ll need to shop around. Don’t rush your decision. The UCAS system doesn’t even let you trigger the formal process of accepting a Clearing place until 5pm on results day, so you have the chance to shop around. Be realistic. If you’ve seriously blown it then think hard about re-sits or another course altogether – you can always re-apply next time around. UCAS is offering a free (for landlines) Exam Results Service on 0808 100 8000 where trained, professional careers advisers will be available to give help and advice. Be prepared to make lots of phone calls and to be persistent! Keep your nerve – you may need all your negotiating skills to persuade an academic that they should take you on. Enlist the support of friends and family – keep them informed, as they’ll be a great help to you when you have to make that difficult final decision. Be prepared to explain to universities why you didn’t do as well as you hoped in your exams – and be honest. If you don’t get the grades you need it’s not the end of the world – there are plenty of other opportunities to consider. -
Children’s Spirituality Top of the Agenda at BGU
A total of 75 delegates from more than 15 countries converged on Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln for the biennial four-day event. Led by Dr Kate Adams, Head of Research at the university, and held in partnership with the International Association for Children’s Spirituality (IACS), the conference ran from Tuesday 26th until Friday 29th July. Dr Adams said: “There is a significant recognition that the spiritual dimension of life is often undervalued in societies which are consumer-driven and market-orientated. We wanted to explore the many elements of children’s spirituality through dialogue between those from different disciplines and cultures.” Entitled Spirituality and the Whole Child: Interdisciplinary Approaches, the conference attracted many of the world’s leading experts, practitioners and postgraduate students and was a forum for those working in education, social work, chaplaincy, psychology, youth work, ministry and neuroscience. Keynote speakers came from prestigious universities from across the globe and included John (Jack) Miller from the University of Toronto, Canada; Joyce Ann Mercer from Yale Divinity School, USA; and Jacqueline Watson from the University of Exeter, UK. They shared their research, insight and wisdom and stimulated debate on alternative schooling, restorative spirituality for traumatised children and integrated working to support children respectively. An additional 44 papers and workshops were delivered covering themes relating to spirituality in different contexts. These included the early years through to adolescence, music, art, meditation, mindfulness, children’s literature, resilience and religious approaches. During the conference, Dr Adams was elected as Co-chair of the association. “I am honoured to have been voted in to this role by our members,” she said. “IACS is an inclusive community which values the spiritual lives of children and young people, irrespective of their faith or lack thereof. It is particularly pertinent to BGU as a church university to be central to this significant work which is being conducted across the globe.” A series of social events took place during the week and included the formation of a community choir by conference delegates. The choir was led by Frances Kelly, a recent recipient of a British Citizen Award for services to community music-making in Lincolnshire. The delegates also enjoyed a bespoke tour of Lincoln Cathedral as seen through children’s eyes as well as a conference dinner showcasing the outstanding talents of BGU chef Jack Bridges and his team. -
Need a New Career Challenge? Why Not Apply to University?
An Education Studies and Psychology student who was looking for a new career challenge and applied to Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln through Clearing will receive his degree at Lincoln Cathedral on Wednesday. Now he’s aiming to continue his education by studying for a master's degree in Forensic Psychology at the University of Lincoln. Glen Hughes (25) was disillusioned with his job as a carer and convinced Olivia Sagan, Academic Co-ordinator for Psychology at BGU, to offer him a place. He will graduate with a BA (Hons) degree in Education Studies and Psychology on on Wednesday 20th July. “I was pretty bored with my job and I rang up not expecting a place,” said Glen. “When I spoke to Olivia she gave me a place and I was like, what is going on here? I don’t think it really dawned on me that I was actually going to university! “My advice to anyone contemplating going to university through Clearing is: don’t hold back, just do it. When I contacted BGU I was bored out of my mind and they gave me what I needed.” Glen, from Bracebridge Heath near Lincoln, has been involved in a number of roles at BGU that help promote both the Education Studies and Psychology courses; he worked as a student ambassador and is now interning for Olivia and helping with her research projects. Before entering Clearing Glen studied for a BTEC in Health and Social Care at Andover College. He then moved to Lincoln and was a carer with Bupa for two years. -
BGU Launches New PhD Opportunities
In line with its mission to excel at teaching, learning and research, Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) in Lincoln has launched a second round of PhD studentships as part of its ‘Future Research Leaders’ programme. Following on from the University’s success in the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014), in which it was judged to be undertaking world-leading research, BGU is offering up to six full-time PhD studentships in History and Education. Successful candidates will receive a bursary of £14,000 per year plus tuition fees for up to four years to study at BGU. The University’s Vice-Chancellor, the Reverend Canon Professor Peter Neil, said the new posts represent a significant investment by BGU in its research strategy. “We are keen to build on our success in the REF 2014 as we are convinced that the best teaching is always informed and improved by high-quality research,” he said. “We are committed to enhancing the quality and quantity of our research, and increasing the proportion of postgraduate research students is key to this objective. “We also want our research to be applied and to be of benefit to society. I am delighted that we are in a position to offer opportunities to students who wish to take the next step in their academic journey.” Among the studentships available is a project looking at the works of the University’s namesake Robert Grosseteste and the contribution he made to the history of educational thought. Dr Jack Cunningham, Academic Co-ordinator for Theology at BGU, explained: “Robert Grosseteste was an English statesman, scholastic philosopher, theologian, scientist and Bishop of Lincoln during the 13th Century which was a crucial period in the religious history of this country. “He was also interested in many aspects of education and had a good deal to say on what we should learn, how we acquire knowledge and how it benefits us. However, this area of Grosseteste’s thought remains largely undiscussed so this is a unique opportunity for someone who is passionate about education to study the life and works of a truly fascinating man.” Vytautas Nastajus was awarded a PhD studentship in Psychology at BGU in June 2016. He recommends the university to anyone thinking of doing a doctorate. “The support you get in here is fantastic, especially from the doctoral group which is made up of PhD and EdD students and meets on a regular basis to talk about projects, achievements and any issues you may be having,” he explained. “My own experience has been great so far: excellent supervisors, teaching opportunities, funding for attending conferences and so on. I am really glad I chose Bishop Grosseteste University.” To find out more about the opportunities or projects available please visit our Doctoral Study page or email Dr Caroline Horton, Academic Co-ordinator for the PhD programme, at caroline.horton@bishopg.ac.uk The studentships will commence in summer 2017 and the closing date for applications is 17th February. -
Research Boosted at BGU as Five Earn Promotions
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) in Lincoln has appointed a professor and four readers from among its academic staff in recognition of their research work. Dr Kate Adams in the University’s Research and Innovation Centre becomes a professor, while Dr Jack Cunningham and Dr Sibylle Erle in the School of Humanities and Dr Caroline Horton and Dr Emma Pearson in the School of Social Sciences become readers. Professor Adams is an education specialist and the University’s Head of Research. Her research focuses on aspects of childhood from children’s perspectives, particularly on spirituality, and the implications of children’s understandings for the wellbeing agenda in education. Dr Cunningham is Academic Co-ordinator for Theology and has researched extensively into early modern and late medieval religious history. He is also one of the principal investigators of the Ordered Human Project based at BGU and a specialist in the life and work of Robert Grosseteste. Dr Erle is a Senior Lecturer in English and her research interests range from William Blake and Alfred, Lord Tennyson to 1790s politics and landscape gardening. She has lectured and given seminars at Tate Britain and the Wellcome Institute and most recently lectured at the Universities of Greifswald and Zürich. Dr Horton is the Academic Co-ordinator for the PhD programme. She also teaches on psychology courses and runs DrEAMSLab, the university’s Dreaming, Emotions, Associations and Memories in Sleep Laboratory. She is an active researcher in the field of sleep-dependent memory consolidation, with a particular interest in studying dreaming as a reflection of autobiographical memory consolidation processes. Dr Pearson is a Senior Lecturer in Education and Academic Co-ordinator for the Education Doctorate programme, and her research activities are centred on the study of socio-cultural contexts of learning. Her consultancy work with organisations such as UNICEF, UNESCO and the Asia Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood (ARNEC) has supported her research and involved travel to many countries, from North Korea to Vanuatu. “These appointments recognise the exceptional leadership and excellence in research which is being demonstrated by these members of staff,” said Professor David Rae, Executive Dean for Research and Knowledge exchange at BGU. “BGU has a long-term plan to develop research excellence, and recognising the talent and achievements of our top researchers is fundamental to this. The new professorship and four readerships aim to provide the research leadership for our entry into the next Research Excellence Framework in 2021 and beyond.” -
Wellbeing of cancer carers seminar series continues
A seminar series co-hosted by Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) continues this July with: ‘The psychological and physical wellbeing of cancer carers: how much do we (not) care?’ The seminar, the second in a British Psychological Society (BPS) funded series, will be held at Loughborough University on 11 July 2018 and will look at how carers manage stress and fatigue along with how they balance caring responsibilities with significant others. Attendees will further explore ways in which caring responsibilities can be negotiated, so that stress and fatigue among carers can be prevented at different developmental stages. The BPS backed seminars offer the opportunity to identify and discuss current issues relating to how a diagnosis of cancer might affect carers’ physical and psychological wellbeing and to translate research knowledge into policy and practice (broadly defined). Their aim is to explore current challenges and implications for improving carers’ situations and provide recommendations for service provision. By bringing together experts (researchers, academics, healthcare policy makers, representatives of patient organisations and family practitioners), diagnosed patients and carers, the seminars aim to build up a network that would facilitate the exchange of ideas and expertise. The first seminar took place at BGU in January 2018 and brought together healthcare professionals, carers, people diagnosed with cancer and researchers. Its focus was on three strands: (i) identifying gaps in our current knowledge of cancer survivorship that hinder moving quickly from research to practical action; (ii) better understanding of the interplay between work, health and wellbeing of cancer carers and (iii) exploration of challenges, decisions and knowledge gaps in how families support the treatment process and balance care and work responsibilities. All interested researchers, students, practitioners, policy makers and cancer carers are invited to attend. Should you be interested in attending, please register via the following link. If you’d like to learn about health and wellbeing our Health & Social Care and Psychology courses are the perfect place to start. Contact our Enquiries Team today for more information. -
BGU Representatives to Deliver "Fearless" TED Talks
Dr Caroline Horton, Reader in Psychology and PhD Programme Leader at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), will be delivering a talk designed to help people become fearless as part of this year’s TEDx Brayford Pool Event. Dr Horton’s talk, titled “Sleep well, Dream will, Be fearless (almost)”, will discuss her research within DrEAMSLab along with highlighting the ways in which sleep processes our emotions. This will be Dr Horton’s second TEDx talk and she was delighted to be returning: “It’s great to be part of the TEDx family. I am a passionate campaigner for open science and knowledge exchange, and am particularly happy to contribute to this in Lincoln. TED offers the opportunity for big ideas to reach thousands of people quickly and easily, which makes academic ideas far more accessible than the average journal article or traditional output.” This year’s event, the second TEDx Brayford Pool event in Lincoln, will be held on Saturday 30 June with 17 presenters all examining the event theme of “Fearless”. In addition to Dr Horton speakers include BGU Education Studies & Applied Drama Student Joshua Cudmore who will be discussing how ‘The Power of Theatre’ can help combat fear. Also joining the lineup is award-winning campaigner, actor and presenter Adam Pearson, who has fronted the critically-acclaimed documentaries Horizon: My Amazing Twin, Adam Pearson: Freak Show and The Ugly Face of Disability Hate Crime. The full presentation titles for all the speakers have officially been launched and tickets are now available from the TedX event box office. All the presentations across the event promise to widen your horizons and change your life so make sure you don’t miss out. You can find more information on the range of courses and opportunities on offer at BGU on our website or by contacting our Enquiries Team.
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