Blog Archives
UON Annual Research Conference 2022: Call for submissions extended to Monday 23rd May
Tuesday 21st June (online) and Weds 22nd June (on campus)

Hosted by The Graduate School
The University of Northampton’s Annual Research Conference provides an ideal opportunity for all researchers to present their research and to discuss and share good practice with others in a supportive environment. We are offering researchers the opportunity to present online on Tuesday 21st June and on-campus (with synchronous live streaming) on Wednesday 22nd June.
If you do not wish to present but would like to help at the Conference, for example as a session Chair, then please also get in touch with Simone.
Read the rest of this entryCall for Entries; Graduate School Research Poster Competition 2022
The Graduate School has launched the call for entries for the 15th Annual Research Poster Competition and the call for entries closes on May 3rd. The competition is open to all PGRs at UON. Posters will be displayed digitally in an exhibition at Waterside, with an in-person judging session, on May 24th at Graduate School Update Day. The competition will be held from 12:15pm through to prize giving at 3:30pm.
The aim of the event is for PGRs to create a digital poster that explains their research to a mixed audience of non-subject specialists. At whatever stage in the research process you are, do take this opportunity to share your work with others and gain valuable feedback. For further information on the rules of entry, please see the Guidelines.
Read the rest of this entryResearch and Innovation Funding Support Office Drop-in Session
The Research & Innovation Funding Support Office are hosting their first Drop-in Session (formerly known as Coffee Mornings) on Wednesday, 31st October. Join us on the comfy sofas outside the Research and Enterprise office on the Ground Floor of the Senate Building on Waterside between 8am-10am. You’ll have a chance to meet with the team and find out more about the funding opportunities and support we can provide. No need to book, just turn up. Warm refreshments are available from the Café on the same floor.
Don’t worry if you are unable to make this one, these sessions will be run on a monthly basis at various locations on Waterside Campus.
Use of NECTAR…
We are currently in the process of implementing a Current Research Information System, named Pure, which will become the new platform that you engage with to upload your research outputs… And a whole lot more!
As part of this process, whilst the public facing side of NECTAR will remain, your use of it will come to an end!
I realise how busy you are with Waterside… So in a bid to make this an easier transition, from the 1st of August please do NOT put any items into NECTAR.
If you have a journal article or conference proceeding with an ISSN number that is accepted for publication from the 1st of August until Pure is launched, please email it to nectar@northampton.ac.uk and our team will ensure it is uploaded to meet HEFCE’s open access requirments for the REF (Research Excellence Framework). Please email as soon as it is accepted to allow our team adequate time to meet these requirements.
If you have any other research outputs accepted or published during this time, please hold on to them until Pure is launched! (Expected to launch late October).
Don’t be alarmed… Training will be given in how to use Pure – which is a much more user friendly platform than NECTAR in due course.
If you have any questions or concerns relating to this please email pure@northampton.ac.uk
The Research Support team will be wandering over to Waterside on the 1st of August… Our calendars are always up to date and open to all… So feel free to invite us to meetings at locations of your choice!
Many thanks
Dawn Hibbert
Head of Research Support
Research Support Centre – Coffee Morning
This will be our last Coffee Morning of the Academic year, drop in anytime between 10.30am-12pm on Wednesday, 20th June. The RSB team will once again be on hand to help with any questions you may have and can offer support on funding applications and bidding or researcher development. Charlotte Patrick, Key Sector and Knowledge Transfer Manager and Dawn Hibbert, Head of Research Support, LLS will also be joining the morning. An ideal opportunity to find out more about working with businesses or LLS topics including the REF, Impact, Open Access and Research Data Management.
We will be hosting in our sunny conservatory in the Top Lodge Building on Park Campus. Refreshments and lovely biscuits will also be on offer.
Library & Learning Services – Research Conference
If you’ve ever wondered about the reasons behind the support LLS (Library and Learning Services) offer students and staff at the University… But haven’t got the time to spend the whole day in a conference… Choose a session that suits… and join us in Cottesbrooke for 30 min to an hour!
09:30 – 11:00: Morning Plenary Session [ C101 ]
● Welcome from Nick Petford, Vice Chancellor of the University of Northampton
● Chris Powis – Tall Shelves and Ladders: student perceptions of the library
● Rob Howe, Vicky Brown and Julie Usher – Understanding the student
digital experience
● Paul Rice and Rob Farmer – Evaluating the effectiveness of a quiz in an educational video
11:15 – 12:00: Parallel Session 1 [ C203 ]
● Richard Byles – Advocating active blended learning through video case studies
● Joanne Farmer and Hannah Woods – Digital value: some reflections
on Resources Week at the University of Northampton
● Vicky Brown – Electronic Evidence & Expression: Evaluating the efficacy of and support for ePortfolio systems at UoN
11:15 – 12:00 Parallel Session 2 [ C101 ]
● Kate Coulson and Alison Loddick – Using Research to Grow a Service
● Rob Howe and Jim Atkinson – Exploring staff digital competencies
Afternoon Sessions
12:00 – 13:00: Panel Discussion [ C101 ]
● Chris Powis (chair), Cheryl Gardner, Sheryl Mansfield, Lisa Anderson,Dawn Hibbert
14:00 – 15:00: Parallel Session 3 [ C203 ]
● Susannah Quinsee – Citizen Researcher
14:00 – 15:00: Parallel Session 4 [ C101 ]
● Rob Howe – Enhancing the student experience through the use of NILE (Blackboard) templates – where is Wally?
● Sam Thomas – ‘How can I help?’ What impact does our language have on student perception, understanding and the development of academic skills?
● Gillian Siddall, Cheryl Gardner and Emily Oakley – Evaluating online reading lists – the student experience
● Al Holloway – Everybody deserves a captioned video]
15:20 – 16:30: Afternoon Plenary Session [ C101 ]
● Nick Dimmock – Off the shelf: thesis digitisation in LLS
● Kate Swinton – UNPAC – Take 2
● Dr Cleo Cameron – Implementing ERM: Electronic Resource Management or Extremely Riddlesome Matter?
● Dawn Hibbert – Do we really need a CRIS?
Research Support Centre – Coffee Morning
Our Coffee Morning this month will be hosted from The Cottesbrooke Hub on the ground floor in the Faculty of Business and Law. Drop in anytime between 10.30am-12pm on Thursday, 17th May for a chat with the RSB team and find out about the funding opportunities and support we can provide. Charlotte Patrick, Key Sector and Knowledge Transfer Manager will be on hand to offer her guidance and experience on working with businesses. Nick Dimmock, Research Information Specialist, LLS will also be available and can help on various topics including referencing and NECTAR.
Refreshments, nice biscuits and friendly advice are always on offer.
Research Support Centre – Coffee Morning
Need advice on making that all important connection with businesses? Charlotte Patrick, Key Sector and Knowledge Transfer Manager, will be on hand at our next Coffee Morning to offer her guidance and experience on working with businesses. The RSB team will also be joined by Dawn Hibbert, Head of Research Support, LLS to answer any questions you may have on open access, research data management and of course, REF 2021 and Impact. This is a great opportunity to find out more on the kind of support and opportunities that are available.
Please drop in anytime between 10.30am-12pm on Wednesday, 18th April in the Top Lodge Conservatory on Park Campus. Hot beverages along with lovely biscuits will also be on offer.
Research Support Centre – Coffee Morning
For those of you based at Avenue, you’ll be pleased to know we are hosting our next Coffee Morning in the Newton Café on Wednesday, 21st March.
Helen Backhouse from the RSB team will be joined by Dr Ali Al-Sherbaz, Research Leader for FAST and Dawn Hibbert, Head of Research Support, LLS. They will be on hand to help with any specific research issues from the FAST academics and answer any questions you may have on REF 2021 and Impact. Or perhaps you need some advice on a funding application or guidance on our Gateway Haplo Funding system. Drop in anytime between 10.30am-12pm. Tea and coffee along with nice biscuits will be on offer.