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 World o enterprise
How work in Shanghai and support orUK businesses made Coventry one o the most entrepreneurial universities
lights out
Helping householders to conserve moreenergy in the ght against climate change
lie saving detection
How a new diagnostic device or malariacould save thousands o lives
Applied ReseARch At coventRy UniveRsity
issue 4
AUtUmn 2008
d u   f a a u a fu rb?
At Coventry University, our applied research teamswork closely with your organisation, applying theirknowledge and expertise to devise inventive andoriginal solutions or real-world problems.At a local, national and international level, we workwith clients across the public, private and voluntarysectors. From art to design, health to sports,regeneration to human security, mathematics toengineering, computing to communications –we can nd a solution that’s right or you.
A Rar a cr Urwww.r.a.uk/rar
Printed on Revive 75 Matt rom the Robert Horne Group, which contains at least75% recovered bre and is produced at a mill that holds the ISO 14001 certicateor environmental management. The pulp is bleached using a combination o Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) and Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) methods.
 
261619281014
Welcome to the autumn 2008 issue o 
Innovate
, the applied research magazinerom Coventry University.In this issue we have cause to celebrateas our enterprising commitments haverecently been recognised in the
2008 TimesHigher Education
awards. These nationalawards attract entries rom the great andgood in UK higher education and Coventrywas proud to be nominated in threecategories and win an award in two o them.Our Leadership Development programme won in theOutstanding Contribution to Leadership Development category –seeing o erce competition rom ve other institutions includingthe London School o Economics and Newcastle University.Getting the structure at the top right can only ensure success allthe way through an institution. This certainly rang true when we werehighly commended or our dedication to enterprise.Management, academics and students at Coventry all exercisean entrepreneurial attitude throughout this University and we werehighly commended or the impact that is having internally andthroughout the UK.In this issue o 
Innovate
we’ve aimed to give you a favour o our enterprising nature and the part we are playing in supportingbusinesses both locally and globally.Our new Institute o Applied Entrepreneurship is now at the hearto our activities, creating a coordinated approach to our work andleading Coventry into uture development.Funding councils such as HEFCE are heavily supporting utureinitiatives and we continue to attract more businesses interested inworking with us on research projects and business development.I hope this issue gives you an insight into some o thegroundbreaking projects we are currently involved with and that youenjoy reading about this award-winning institution.I you have any comments please do not hesitate to get in touch.I look orward to hearing rom you.
p i M M
Pro Vice Chancellor (Research)innovate@coventry.ac.uk
 
A Rar a cr Ur : iu 4
 c
4 nw
The latest research news rom across the campus
societY and environMent
8 t r a see ag
Bringing humanity back into the economy
10 mu r
Why we need to understand dierent Muslim communities
12 erg ag bg a 
How Coventry is helping the ght against climate change
enterprise
14 vrua arg
Understanding the eects o moving the classroom online
16 Wr  rr
Revealing Coventry’s entrepreneurial attitude
18 sarg ra rwar
How HEFCE unding is supporting entrepreneurial partnerships
19 Brakg r   f
A new scheme is helping academics work remotely
22 lur wa
How new technology is changing interaction between students andlecturers
24 i Fu: durabu
Specialist computing skills help a business through a KnowledgeTranser Partnership
health
26 mgrag a
Why there are growing numbers o HIV/AIDS cases in regions acrossthe UK
28 l ag 
A new diagnostic device or malaria could save lives
30 Fgg  urbug
How lab testing helped Bostik launch a new germ-killing adhesive
c 
I you would like to nd out more about any o the articles within this issue,i you have a general enquiry about applied research, or to subscribe touture issues o Innovate, contact us at the ollowing:Telephone
024 7623 6364
 Email
a@r.a.uk
 Website
www.r.a.uk/rar
c
Managing Editor
Kar s
Written and edited by
cr l
Designed by
Krak cra
Printed by
er
This publication is available in other ormats on request.Please contact Marketing and Communications on 024 7688 8352
 
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Coventry schools were invited to the rst research event o theReading and Child Development Applied Research Group (RCDARG) in June as part o the National Year o Reading.Local teachers rom a mixture o primary and secondary schools aswell as parents, researchers and Coventry City Council attended the‘Getting Coventry Children Reading’ event.Presentations included inormation on speech rhythm andreading development. Children’s poet and primary school teacher,Neil Stevens gave teachers ideas on how to get children interestedin writing and reciting poetry in ways that can enhance theirappreciation o speech rhythm.Delegates were also told about opportunities to get involved inresearch and collaborate with the ARG on orthcoming projects.The much-publicised research into children’s text messaging andliteracy development was also discussed and details o ongoingprojects in the area were revealed.Coventry Children’s Book Club also launched in September, whichis a collaboration between the research group and Waterstone’s bookstores. The club is open to children o all ages and they can sign upor membership on the Coventry University website. Schools canarrange or Waterstone’s to run themed events on their premises.The RCD ARG is concerned with all areas o reading developmentand reading diculties, particularly the development o assessmentso reading-related skills, the early identication o reading dicultiesand the evaluation and implementation o tuition methods andtherapies, including the use o new technology and computer-basedsupport or literacy.For more inormation:
www.r.a.uk/rar//764
g  
The next generation o engineers andbuilders will hone their leadership skills at anew multi-million pound venue in Coventryrom autumn 2009.Work began on the ACT-UK SimulationCentre in September, which is beingconstructed in Coventry University’sTechnology Park.The ground-breaking centre introducesa pioneering orm o simulation trainingusing highly-skilled actors and a virtual realityauditorium, which has a 16-metre, curvedwidescreen. Trainees will be able to navigateevery aspect o a building project recordedrom real lie by watching a 4-D simulationon the screen.Regional development agency AdvantageWest Midlands is contributing £6.6 milliontowards the simulation centre in partnershipwith Coventry University and ACT-UK.Agency unding has levered in a urther£2.1m to the project, rom CoventryUniversity Enterprises Ltd, Learning and SkillsCouncil Coventry and Warwickshireand private sector investors in the companyestablished to operate the centre – ACT-UKLtd. Industry leaders are currently workingin partnership with ACT-UK Ltd to developcourses and scenarios.Michiel Schrijver, Managing Director o ACT-UK Ltd, said: “For the rst time in theUK we are able to oer training in both hardand sot skills within a complex simulatedconstruction environment. What sets thistraining apart rom any other is that itsimultaneously supplies trainees with keyleadership qualities o perspective andoresight, speeds up the learning process,oers instant eedback and develops everyaspect o their construction personality.”The centre acilities will oer business andtraining acilities to construction students,proessionals and managers. It will also refecta lielong-learning approach to training andproessional development including liaisonwith schools, colleges and universities as wellas construction companies.For more inormation:
www.a-uk..uk
or call
024 76 236 646
 or e-mail:
ag@a-uk..uk
The Design Hub has joined orces with other regional bodies to oer a package o supportto help SMEs maximise their potential thanks to unding rom the European RegionalDevelopment Fund.The Design Hub, the West Midlands Technology Network (WMTN), Innovation Challengeand the Institute or Creative Enterprises (ICE) will collectively oer ully unded websitedesigns or reurbishments and/or a ve day package o business advice and mentoring.The businesses eligible or assistance are SMEs (small to medium sized enterprises) rom anumber o sectors to help develop all areas o their business through innovation.So ar, the WMTN has assisted over 1,000 companies, helping them create over 2,600 jobsand over £86 million in sales. The WMTN works with both start-up and established SMEsto deliver practical help in product design and development and provide ree access tospecialist skills and technologies rom the region’s universities.Working together with these partners, the Design Hub is oering a support package tobusinesses to help them become more creative when it comes to developing new productsand nding the right market to maximise their potential.A ve day “pick and mix” package o business support, advice and mentoring will betailor-made or companies wishing to take advantage o ree design and assistance.Both the website and the support package are oered on a rst come, rst served basisand are open to SMEs rom a number o sectors including: creative industries, manuacturing,engineering and design, ood and drink, medical technologies and education andentertainment media.Lorna O'Neill rom the Design Hub said: “This is a must or companies wishing to takeadvantage o the range o skills we can provide. Coventry University’s Design Hub andpartners work together to assist businesses by providing resources that would normally onlybe available to larger organisations. Both oers end in December and we only have limitedplaces let so I would advise companies to get in touch as soon as possible.”For urther inormation about the oers contact Lorna O'Neill on
024 7679 2230
or email
lon@a.r.a.uk
Coventry University’s award-winningconerence centre is back in business atera £1m extensive reurbishment programme.The new acilities can now cater or allorms o corporate hospitality, conerencesand training days, with WiFi internetconnectivity throughout.The high-spec, custom-designedrooms all have plasma screens and benetrom natural daylight and balancedair-conditioning.The largest conerence room oersfexible layouts and is equipped with aull stage set, advanced integrated PAsystem and an essential range o audiovisual equipment.As well as the latest in conerencing aids,the centre can also stream conerencesto the internet and between rooms toenable real and virtual conerences to runsimultaneously.Francesca Elord, the sales and marketingocer at the TechnoCentre said:“During the summer, we have investedover £1m to reurbish the centre. Theimprovements will enable us to oer a moreextensive service tailored to meet the needso individual clients and corporations.”For more inormation call FrancescaElord on
024 7623 6016
or email the team
r.a@r.a.uk
B    B b  sMerbt 
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