Kent Research Round-Up

Research round up

A snapshot of the research and innovation activity happening across the University of Kent.

Impact matters

A child playing on a swing

How do we take the heat out of outdoor play?

Kent researchers Dr Marialena Nikolopoulou and Dr Christos Efstratiou have been awarded £1.5 million from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to save school playtime from the global warming impacts of climate change.

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Candida albicans visualised using optical microscopy

How can refugee employability be improved?

Dr Joel Montgomery from Kent Business School (KBS) is calling for participants to help him understand more about the role of local councils in improving refugee employability in the Southeast.

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An elderly woman and her carers in a bedroom setting

Is home care good value for money?

r Florin Vadean and Dr Olena Nizalova from the Personal Social Care Research Unit are working with partners to assess the value for money of home care services.

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Can ferries from Dover to Calais go electric?

The Centre for Logistics and Sustainability Analysis is working with AVL and DFDS to explore the feasibility of different electric ferry (e-vessel) designs for future deployment on the Short Straits routes between the Kent coast and northern France.

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How can we drive more sustainable fashion?

Dr Rob Barker has partnered with sustainably-focused packaging suppliers Priory Direct to create a service which will empower the fashion industry to reduce packaging emissions and wasted material.

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Medical vials containing blood

How can we improve the diagnosis of disease?

Kent academics Professors Mark Smales and Kathy Kotiadis are set to lead a new Centre for Advanced Diagnostics Development and Application to accelerate the development and application of tools to improve disease diagnosis.

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Knowledge exchange in action

To maximise the impact of our research, we are always looking for new ways to share academic ideas and insights outside of academia, and bring in external perspectives and experiences. Here are some of the ways we're doing that:

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👏 Congratulations to... 👏

Dr Jennifer Leigh, Reader in Creative Practices for Social Justice, named in this year’s Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list in recognition of for her impact, innovation and influence in changing the perceptions and stereotypes of disability.

The Centre for Child Protection, recognised in the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Impact Prize 2024 for their innovative 'Robyn and Molly' programme developed in partnership with Kent Police.

Dr Blanka Hilton, Lecturer in Applied Bioscience, who, as part of an international team, was awarded the 2024 Horizon Prize for Education for their creation of the 3DI and ISCC Virtual Reality Institutes.

Professor Nigel Mason and his colleagues who have published a book called 'Mars and the Earthlings: A Realistic View on Mars Exploration and Settlement' reviewing the issues and challenges of transport to Mars, how to explore it and whether we can (or should) settle on the 'red planet'.

Nikhil Sengupta smiling to the camera in a suit
'Different projectiles behave in different ways as they enter and progress through the body.

Dr Chris Shepherd Director of Studies for Chemistry and Forensic Science

Events on the horizon

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This page is updated quarterly by Kent's Communications Team. If you have a research story you think is worth sharing, contact pressoffice@kent.ac.uk.