Sustainable Futures News - view all

We are pleased to share our latest publication for MELODIC in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. In this study, we spoke to people with dementia, their families, and staff on mental health dementia wards about their experiences of distress, and the use of music or music therapy to relieve this. Our findings helped to shape the co-design of the MELODIC music therapy intervention for these wards.

ARU's Naomi Thompson has contributed an article about MELODIC to the May 2025 issue of Care Talk magazine, discussing the study's findings so far.

Read our latest newsletter for the latest updates on the project.

The ARU team and their external research collaborators are busy working with colleagues in Avon and Somerset Police to collect the evidence that is critical to understanding the challenges and opportunities for improving DA investigation in Avon and Somerset Police.

Members of the MELODIC team shared the results of our research at an event at Gonville & Caius College, University of Cambridge, last week. We highlighted the power of co-design and the use of music therapy on dementia wards, as well as our plans to work with partners to implement personalised music therapy to help manage distress.

Read our latest newsletter to find out how the project is progressing so far.

Our latest MELODIC paper, in the Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, outlines the protocol for our intervention development study for music therapy on NHS inpatient dementia wards in five phases.

ARU, along with Oxford Community Action and the University of Greenwich, has created a toolkit outlining key principles for establishing and managing social enterprises led by Black and racially minoritised groups.

In October 2024, the Safe and Inclusive Communities leadership team led two events designed to foster impactful discussions on sensitive topics – engaging the postgraduate community at ARU, and beyond.

We've published our final report on Beat the Street in Chelmsford and South Woodham Ferrers, which outlines the findings and the transformative impact that the initiative has had in these communities.

We are thrilled to share our latest publication for MELODIC in Nature Mental Health. This realist review supports MELODIC’s aim to uncover the mechanisms through which music therapy supports people with advanced dementia, presenting a programme theory for how music therapy may be effectively tailored to reduce distress and enhance wellbeing in hospital and care settings.

We've published our first-year report, which outlines the preliminary findings and the positive impact that the training programme has had on the general practices where the first cohort of students work.

A lack of trust based on historic discrimination has damaged the relationship between Roma families and children’s services in England, according to a new research report by researchers from ARU, Lancaster University and the charity Law for Life.

We are thrilled to share our latest publication for MELODIC in BMC Geriatrics. This systematic review looked at all psychosocial (nondrug) interventions on inpatient mental health dementia wards. We found that interventions may be helpful in reducing distress, but there is a small amount of research and more is needed to help us work out what interventions are most beneficial and how they should be delivered. The findings are informing our MELODIC programme theory and intervention development.

The CIMTR NeuroLab team is happy to welcome Dr Tatiana Izmaylova as our temporary Lab Manager, funded by ARU. Tatiana has a background in linguistics, cognitive science and psychology, and will support us with our lab infrastructure and processes.

Sarah Royston will be editing a special issue of Carmen et Error on queer ecologies, with submissions open from May 2024.

Naomi Thompson (below, centre) attended the Alzheimer’s Disease International Conference 2024 in Krakow from 23 -26 April. It was great to share some of the work we are doing with music therapy in inpatient mental health dementia wards, hear about exciting research development around the world, make new connections, and explore the beautiful city.

On 26 March 2024, we were delighted to welcome the writer and archaeologist Electra Rhodes for a GSI seminar on Queer Landscapes and Ecologies.

The HOMESIDE study results will be presented at the British Association for Music Therapy Conference (BAMT) 2024, taking place from 17-19 May in Leicester and online. The conference theme is ‘About All of Us, For All of Us, By All of Us’.

The MELODIC project team had a fun and fruitful co-design workshop on Friday 16 February, as part of work package 2. They looked at findings so far, mapped out the key components and style for the protocol for music therapy on dementia inpatient wards, and thought about the next stages of the project.

Professor Tanya Horeck of ARU is the lead author of a new report exploring the role of the intimacy co-ordinator in ensuring that on-set television production practices are safer for everyone involved, and that intimate scenes are handled with care.

Join ARU's SVRG on Thursday 29 February as they launch their new webinar series. In this session, PhD student Abbie Lake and supervisor Dr Theresa Redmond will discuss ways PhD supervisors can support the wellbeing of students undertaking research in sensitive or potentially traumatic areas.

Professor Tanya Horeck of ARU is the lead author of a new report exploring young people's experiences of technology-facilitated, gender-based violence during COVID-19.

As part of our ongoing evaluation of Professional Advocacy, we would like to thank everyone in ESNEFT who completed our survey. Over 400 nurses and midwives responded from across the Trust between 9 October and 22 December 2023. We are most grateful for their time and input. We will use the survey data to help us to better understand what staff in ESNEFT need from their professional advocacy service.

In December 2023, the EIDS team completed our research on environmental impacts of eHealth, having interviewed 23 health sector professionals, and worked with an NHS Trust to conduct quantitative analysis on travel impacts of a virtual health app. You can read a briefing on our findings (PDF) and a briefing about doing research in a sustainable way (PDF), which we also produced. We are very grateful to all participants who gave their time to support this research.

At the British Council's request, Dr Robert Priharjo shared lessons learned from implementing TNE Nurse UKIND at the Going Global conference at the University of Edinburgh on 22 November 2023. This three-day conference brought leaders of international education together to discuss mobility, science and TNE, including the benefits of partnerships for training, evaluation, and qualifications.

Nic Guthrie and Daniel Heggie (Senior Lecturer in Clinical Skills and Simulation) shared their expertise in teaching students moving and handling techniques with colleagues at UGM from 15-21 November 2023, as part of the TNE Nurse UKIND project's aim to promote quality of education in nursing through "train the trainer" sessions on core skills.

Maria Buaki-Sogo appeared on the Inspiring Careers in Nursing panel at the 2023 Nursing Live conference in Liverpool on 10 November. She spoke on the topic of 'unlocking professional development', giving voice to some of her colleagues and sharing her own story to inspire attendees to recognise and build upon their considerable nursing experience.

Maria Buaki-Sogo on stage with panel chair Joanne Bosanquet

An article written by the PNA/PMA impact project team features in, and appears on the cover of the November 2023 Nursing Times magazine. The article, titled 'Workforce assets: recognising the value of long-serving nurses and midwives', aims to start a conversation about the experience, role and value of long-serving nurses and midwives, and how these can inform workplace planning.

Royal Papworth NHS Trust, ARU, Cancer Research UK and the Cambridge University Hospitals Leads for Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Professional (NMAP) Research are excited to announce a three-part series looking at the science of Quality Improvement and how its use can be improved in healthcare. The first event, with Prof Jo McPeake, will take place on 2 November at 5pm and is open for virtual attendance.

The results of the three-year HOMESIDE trial were published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, part of the Lancet, on 2 October 2023. The findings show that music and reading interventions delivered by trained caregivers in community contexts do not decrease enduring psychological symptoms of dementia.

The MELODIC project team held their first co-design day on Friday 22 September 2023. They would like to thank everyone who joined them in-person or online – they are very much looking forward to co-creating with you over the coming 18 months! If you have lived experience of dementia/inpatient mental health dementia wards, there's still time to join us.  

From 2 October 2023, we'll be inviting nurses and midwives working for ESNEFT to complete an anonymous survey on their knowledge and experience of PNA and PMA, as part of Workstream 3 of our evaluation. We'll ask staff about their awareness of professional advocates, whether they have used their services, and how we can make the PNA/PMA service relevant to them.

The MELODIC project was officially launched with an in-person team day at ARU's Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research on 4 September 2023.

Maria Buaki-Sogo has had a poster presentation, A Narrative Inquiry into Long Serving Nurses and Midwives: Understanding Opportunities, Barriers and Professional Development in an NHS Trust, accepted for the RCN International Nursing Research Conference 2023, taking place on 6-8 September at the University of Manchester.

Maria Buaki-Sogo has been selected to be part of an expert panel on Inspiring Careers in Nursing at the 2023 Nursing Live conference, taking place on 10-11 November at ACC Liverpool.

Maria Buaki-Sogo has been selected to be part of an expert panel on Inspiring Careers in Nursing at the 2023 Nursing Live conference, taking place on 10-11 November at ACC Liverpool.

The UK BARIN team are in the field from 15 July to 30 August. Our team has expanded, welcoming Dr Georgia Hole, dendrochronologist, and Dr Callum Pearce, anthropologist.

Researchers and clinicians from ARU and EPUT will share their latest collaborative work at their second annual joint research conference on 15 September at Hughes Hall, Cambridge. The conference's theme is 'digital innovations in practice' and will include a keynote from Prof Andrew Bateman (University of Essex) on digital innovations in rehabilitation, as well as networking opportunities.

ARU's MTRC has announced its second annual conference will take place on 13-14 September 2023 at Hughes Hall, Cambridge. The conference will particularly focus on the benefits of collaboration, and delegates will hear from Prof Wei Chen (University of Texas Arlington) on nanotechnologies, and Prof Michael Sutcliffe (University of Cambridge) on biomedical engineering.

Artists, writers, poets, social scientists, academics, runners, and non-runners are invited to join RAN for a networking day of active, artful presentations and provocations with a sustainable emphasis at ARU's Science Centre in Cambridge on 21 June 2023. Expect quick-fire presentations, provocations, physical activities, manifesto writing, connection, reflection, and more.

Critically acclaimed British Pakistani writer, journalist, theatre producer and documentary filmmaker Anwar Akhtar delivered a powerful keynote talk at the second Safe and Inclusive Communities launch event at ARU in Chelmsford on 8 March 2023.

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) has funded a bid to increase Creative Research Capacities (CResCa) for the CIMTR NeuroLab team. The equipment includes new EEG devices, fNIRS, eye tracking, motion capture, and VR and AV machinery for a brain research laboratory with integrated music and video recording studio.

The Sustainable Futures team have announced the speakers for their forthcoming conference on resilience to extreme events. Delegates will hear from professionals and experts on the themes of Cultural Heritage, Healthcare, and Infrastructure in Cambridge on 21-22 June 2023.

The Sustainable Futures team have organised a conference on resilience to extreme events. Taking place on ARU's Cambridge Campus on 21-22 June 2023, the event aims to bring together experts and professionals from around the globe to share knowledge and practical insights on how to prepare for, and respond to extreme events.

During winter 2022 and spring 2023, we worked with several NHS Trusts and organisations to develop detailed case studies on innovation and best practice in delivering digital health services.

On 22 March 2023, Prof Margaret Greenfields, Research Assistant and PhD student Sophie Coker, and Sheldon Chadwick of the Showmen’s Mental Health Awareness Charity will present their research findings on the health experiences of Travelling Showmen, followed by a panel discussion. There will also be the opportunity to view Mary Humphrey's Images from Showmen’s Lives photography exhibition.

On 5 December, Project Co-lead Dr Helen Wheeler introduced BARIN at ArcticNet Annual Scientific Meeting 2022 (ASM2022) in Toronto, at the special CINUK session.

Project Co-lead Dr Helen Wheeler recently led a research coproduction meeting between Arctic Beaver Observation Network (A-BON) and BARIN in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. Members pooled their knowledge on beavers and their effects on ecosystems.

Dr Wheeler would like to offer her thanks to everyone who participated for their great knowledge-sharing and food for thought concerning ongoing research coproduction.

Dr Raju Sapkota, Dr Pamela Knight, and Dr Justin Roberts gave a poster presentation, 'Barriers to the uptake of diabetic health services among Black Caribbean people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in the UK' at the Health, Performance and Wellbeing research theme launch in Cambridge on 28 November 2022. They discussed the aims, methods, and findings of their research into Black Caribbean patients' healthcare experiences.

Dr Susan Walker and Claire Hooks gave a poster presentation, 'Improving access to contraception for women experiencing drug addiction' at the Health, Performance and Wellbeing research theme launch in Cambridge on 28 November 2022. They summarised the aims, outcomes, and future of their project, which involved developing a network of public and third sector stakeholders who work with women with drug addiction who also required contraception.

Find out about the latest IRENES project developments in the UK and internationally in our newsletter.

Members of the In Fair Health? team will be at Chelmsford's Meadows Shopping Centre on 13 October 2022 with fun, interactive fairground activities for all the family. Drop by to learn more about the life, culture and work of Travelling Showmen and the health and wellbeing challenges that they face.

The Safe and Inclusive Communities team will be discussing their experiences of working with ‘hard to reach groups’ from marginalised and often vulnerable communities, as well as the difficulties in researching politically sensitive themes, at the Chelmsford Science Festival on 12 October 2022.

The Sustainable Futures theme launches to the public at Chelmsford Cathedral on Tuesday 18 October 2022, with a keynote speech by Helen Sharman OBE, the first British astronaut. Helen will also answer questions in discussion with Abigail Blake, ARU Masters student in Sustainability.

The Sustainable Futures team is holding an event alongside the Gaia exhibition at Chelmsford Cathedral, in support of the ARU Family Science Day on Saturday 15 October 2022 at the Chelmsford Science Festival.

ARU researchers are invited to attend the launch of the Sustainable Futures research theme in Cambridge on 27 September 2022. This is a great opportunity to network with colleagues, meet regional leaders in sustainability, and collectively brainstorm new, exciting areas for research activity.

The Sustainable Futures leadership team met with representatives from ARU research groups aligned to the theme to feedback on internal and external research and stakeholder engagement about the theme and to discuss priorities and planning for 2022/23.

Images from Showmen's Lives, an exhibition of photos created by Mary Humphrey to engage participants in the In Fair Health? project, will be on display on ARU's Cambridge campus throughout September for World Fun Fair Month 2022.

We held a virtual workshop in February 2022 with 15 experts from across the health sector, to scope out opportunities and challenges for our research. Thanks to all participants for a hugely useful session!

The EIDS project officially launched on 1 March 2021, and was announced at the Digital Economy Sustainable Digital Society 2021 Proposal Processing Panel on 3 March.

The Wildlife Change in the Arctic team have published a research update alongside our community researchers in Jackfish Creek, as part of the tsee' community-based monitoring project.