Interdisciplinary Student Research Conference 2012
Students presenting their research at the conference on the 1st June 2012.
Tue, 18 Sep 2012 15:00:00 BST
The 19th annual Interdisciplinary Student Research Conference took place at the University of Huddersfield on Wednesday 1st June 2012.
The conference forms part of the assessed dissertation module for final year podiatry, physiotherapy and occupational therapy students, providing an opportunity for students to showcase their work to an audience of academic staff and industry representatives. Working in mixed groups incorporating all three courses, students planned and conducted their own research before producing posters and projects to present at the conference.
The theme of this year’s conference was ‘ethics in health care’, and included fascinating presentations by members of senior staff. Senior Lecturer in Podiatry Michael Concannon delivered a key notes speech, discussing the place of ethics in health care. Drawing on the origins of recorded western ethics and philosophers such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, he presented a fascinating modern take on ethical considerations, challenging the audience to consider the ethical implications of seemingly simple decisions taken in health care today.
Nichola Barlow, senior lecturer in Nursing, also presented an overview of her PhD research exploring the role taken by registered nurses in making ethical decisions in practice. Outlining her research process from conception to analysis, she provided an inspiring narrative of the research journey, encouraging the undergraduate audience to consider their future in academic research.
Associate Dean for the School of Human and Health Sciences Dr Janet Hargreaves was on hand to judge and award prizes for the best presentation and best poster defence, based on the professionalism of the students’ approach and their ability to convey the story of their research to the audience.
Prizes went to a group investigating the perceptions of students entering the job market, who defended a poster highlighting their research methods and themes and presented practical recommendations for future students. The prize for best presentation went to a group who compared methods of stroke rehabilitation and their impact on incidence of falls by undertaking a systematic literature review, working together to establish an answer to their research question.
This event represents the culmination of the dissertation module, and marks the start of the students’ graduation into a career as an allied health professional. Graduate Podiatrist Teresa Kantola commented;
"The Interdisciplinary Research Conference at the end of the academic year was a great conclusion to the Research module and gave students the opportunity to present their work… Although I may not pursue a career in the field of research, through the study of research modules as an undergraduate student I have been able to develop a great deal of valuable skills… I now fully appreciate the impact that research has, and will continue to have, upon me as podiatrist, building upon my current knowledge and developing my practice."
