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This BERA ECR conference offered a range of strategies to ensure your research has ‘reach’, that is, impact from the word go!

The two keynote sessions explored how researchers can plan for research impact, from the beginning stages of a research journey. The practical sessions aimed to equip delegates with appropriate knowledge and a suite of skills to assist them in targeting their research audience.

Interactive workshops complemented the keynotes. The two workshops focused on how to connect with the research world, with sessions on how to effectively write abstracts and grant bids. Delegates were welcome to bring working drafts to engage in discussion on how to structure effective abstracts and bids. 

Two more workshops explored effective ways to reach your audience. One workshop explored how to get published on the BERA blog. Another discussed how to create and use podcasts to broadcast and develop a network for research purposes.

There were also opportunities for delegates to network, connect and collaborate with research communities to further identify and target research routes.

Our hope was that you will leave with a clearer vision of how to effectively promote and market your research to enable and secure that all important reach and impact. 

Draft programme:

09:30

Registration, tea and coffee 

10:00

Welcome and Introduction
Dr Nicola Marlow, Ulster University and Dr Leanne Henderson, Queen’s University Belfast

10:15

Keynote lecture: Sharing best practice – getting your research out to the wider community
Dr Una O’Connor Bones, Ulster University

11:00

Tea and coffee break 

11:30

How to get published in the BERA Blog
Professor Barbara Skinner, Ulster University

 12:00

The ‘Art’ of Abstracts
Dr Karen Orr, Stranmillis University College, Belfast

12:30

Lunch and networking 

13:40

Demystifying impact: how we can make a difference through research 
Dr Julie Bayley, University of Lincoln

14:25

Applying for funding: Understanding the process
Professor Roger Austin, Ulster University

 14:55

Writing abstracts from the margins
Dr Sultan Turkan, Queen’s University Belfast

 15:25

Keynote lecture: Getting the Word Out (Promotion and Circulation)
Professor Daniel Muijs, Head of School of Education, Queen’s University Belfast

16:10

Conclusion and thanks 

16:30

Event close 

Chairs and Speakers

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Nicola Marlow, Dr

Lecturer in Education at Ulster University

Nicola is the regional rep for Northern Ireland. Nicola is a lecturer in Education and course director of the PGCE English with Drama and Media Studies programme at Ulster University. Her research interests include writing pedagogy and how...

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Leanne Henderson, Dr

Lecturer at Queen's University Belfast

Leanne Henderson is a lecturer in education studies in the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work at Queen’s University Belfast. Her research centres on young people’s educational trajectories and transitions. She was...

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Una O’Connor, Dr

Senior Lecturer at Ulster University

Dr Una O’Connor is a senior lecturer, based in the UNESCO Centre, School of Education, Ulster University. Her teaching and research focus on improving educational outcomes for children and young people, with a particular emphasis on social...

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Sultan Turkan, Dr

Senior Lecturer at Queen's University Belfast

I specialize in improving educational practices for multilingual immigrant children. My research is guided by the view of language as a resource for effectively teaching immigrant learners. I have conducted research on the validity and fairness...

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Barbara Skinner, Professor

Professor in TESOL and Education at Ulster University

Barbara Skinner is a Professor in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)and Education in the School of Education at Ulster University. Barbara lectures on a range of teacher education courses. She is involved with doctoral...

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Daniel Muijs, Professor

Professor at Queen's University Belfast

Daniel Muijs is Head of the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work and Professor of Education at Queen’s University Belfast. He is an acknowledged expert in the fields of educational and teacher effectiveness, school improvement...

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Karen Orr, Dr

Research Fellow at Stranmillis University College

Dr Karen Orr is a Research Fellow in the Centre for Research in Educational Underachievement at Stranmillis University College. Karen has worked across a range of research centres since graduating with a PhD in Psychology from QUB in 2011....

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Julie Bayley, Dr

Director of Research Impact Development at University of Lincoln

Dr Julie Bayley is Director of Research Impact Development at the University of Lincoln, leading the development and implementation of the institution’s impact strategy. She is also Director of the Lincoln Impact Literacy Institute (LILI),...

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Roger Austin, Professor Emeritus

Emeritus Professor at Ulster University

Roger Austin is based in the School of Education at Ulster University in Northern Ireland. He has been a pioneer in the field of using technology to build community cohesion through inter-school links and has published extensively on this since...