Senior Business Innovation & Growth Manager, Aimeé Skinner was named “Best Mentor” at the SPARKies in mid-July. The SPARKies, from techSPARK, brought together the best of the South West region’s tech and digital community to celebrate the best startups, designs, hardware, people and more.
Aimeé fought off fierce competition to win the Best Mentor award, sponsored by Babbasa.
Aimeé commented
“It’s an incredible honour to have been nominated and won this award. I can’t quite believe it. I’m just so thankful to everyone that has supported me over the last few years as I have joined the start-up ecosystem and worked my best to deliver innovation programmes and support businesses to grow. I’m grateful I get to do more of it!”
techSPARK is a not-for-profit community dedicated to connecting, educating and strengthening tech ecosystems from Swindon to Swansea. They work with tech and digital businesses from startups to scaleups, SME’s to global corporations to help them thrive through their networks and knowledge.
Image: Even When I Jump (dir. Jerry Rothwell, 2021)
The Documentary Film Council (DFC) is a new national trade body for the UK’s documentary film industry. Co-designed by filmmakers and executives from across the industry working in partnership with lecturers in the Film Studies team at UWE Bristol, the DFC will represent the UK’s documentary film community, facilitate transparent communication within the sector and take effective, coordinated action to address the key issues it faces. The first national trade body in the UK screen industries to incorporate as a co-operative, the DFC will be democratically run by and for its members in the interests of the wider community. It launches at Sheffield DocFest on Saturday 17 June.
The concept of the DFC stems from the UK Feature Docs research project, which was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) from 2018-2021 and which evidenced many of the challenges facing the independent documentary film industry.
Led by Dr Steve Presence, Associate Professor of Film Studies at UWE Bristol, the research team worked with freelancers and organisations across the industry as part of the ‘Industry Futures’ strand of the project. This developed into a major process of policy research and development, the findings of which were published in two reports: Keeping it Real (2020), based on a survey of independent producers and directors; and Making it Real (2021), a detailed policy programme co-created with stakeholders across the industry following an extensive consultation process. In 2022, the AHRC approved Dr Presence’s Follow-On Funding grant to seed-fund the development of the DFC.
Dr Presence commented:
Documentary films captivate, inspire, educate and entertain audiences all over the world, but the industrial infrastructures that support these films are under threat. Many of the challenges facing the screen industries – excessive workloads, precarious employment, poor mental health and so on – are mirrored in academia, so it’s been gratifying to build structures in the documentary sector to help address these issues.
We’re working with everyone from senior executives and commissioners to established and emerging filmmakers, distributors and exhibitors, so the DFC is a genuine example of stakeholder-centric, evidence-based policy-making. It’s an exciting time because if it succeeds, the DFC could have a transformative impact on the documentary film industry for years to come.
The DFC is so exciting because it brings together all voices of the UK independent documentary sector for the first time around shared challenges and opportunities. The unique importance of independent documentary to culture, society and democracy has never been more needed yet the sector faces external barriers that stop it reaching its full potential, getting films to audiences and maximising impact. The DFC is the first step to addressing sector needs in an inclusive, joined up way and we can’t wait to get started.
Two of the DFC’s first committees have already started work on two urgent priorities. To mitigate the impact of word-of-mouth recruitment on workforce diversity, the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee (led by producers and executives at FWD-Doc and Doc Society) is building the UK’s first directory for documentary talent and crew. The Mental Health committee (led by Film in Mind) is training therapists to work with nonfiction filmmakers as part of ongoing efforts to address the well-documented mental health crisis in the screen industries. This crisis is especially pronounced among documentarians because of the unique ethical and emotional challenges of the artform, which often also involves working with vulnerable people and/or in traumatic or dangerous situations.
The DFC is a new member-led organisation designed to advocate for the UK’s independent documentary film sector. It will launch officially at Sheffield DocFest in June 2023.
The Centre for Transport & Society (CTS) symposium on Thursday 6th July 2023 is a chance to share and consider research findings and their implications.
The symposium will bring together academics, practitioners, policy makers and others interested in transport. The afternoon will be dedicated to three workshops:
Improving the quality of walking environments;
Transport planners: are you ready to play a game?; and
Decarbonising travel behaviours.
We spoke to the organisers of each workshop to ask them three questions about what their workshop will entail.
Workshop 1: Improving the quality of walking environments
Can you describe what your workshop is in three sentences?
The quality of our walking environments: we talk about it, we (sometimes) measure it, but how do we improve it? This workshop aims to share insights and develop ideas that address this question. This session contributes to a workshop series held in partnership with Walk21, an international organisation that aims to make sure that walking is measured, valued and appropriately provided for- outcomes form this workshop will be presented at this year’s Walk21 conference.
Why is this topic interesting / important?
The quality of the walking environment significantly affects people’s decision to walk. However, there is no standard way to measure or share evidence on environment-quality which limits the ability of government and communities to take positive action to improve it. This workshop aims to understand how improving the walking environment can unlock the potential of walking. With an urgent need to take climate action, making it easy to make journeys on foot has never been more important.
What do you hope participants will achieve by the end of your workshop
Participants will have had the opportunity to:
learn about the “Social Model of Walkability”. This model links walking environments to behaviour;
critique the model, discussing its strengths, gaps, and potential;
share best practice for measuring the quality of walking environments and discuss the potential for a standard approach; and
share examples of policies and governance that support improvements to walking environments where it is needed most, and in a way that addresses the diversity of public need.
Workshop 2: Transport planners – Are you ready to play a game?
Can you describe your workshop in three sentences?
Have you heard of Triple Access Planning and Decide and Provide? Would you like to find out more in a fun and engaging way where you are hands on and get to have your say? Then this is the workshop for you, please come and play cards with us.
Why is this topic interesting / important?
You may have noticed the world is in a state of flux and we face a climate emergency which needs some big changes to transport and society. Local authorities in England are now entering into a ‘last chance saloon’ round of local transport plan development. We think Triple Access Planning can help.
What do you hope participants will achieve by the end of your workshop?
By the end of this workshop, you will have weighed up the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of Triple Access Planning. You will have learnt from the game and from other players. You will be primed to share your views with others in your professional network.
Workshop 3: Decarbonising travel behaviours
Can you describe your workshop in three sentences?
This workshop focuses on decarbonising travel behaviours, i.e. the choices people make about their travel. Using the framework of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) you will take part in a guided discussion where you can exchange expertise and experiences. This workshop will then discuss areas for priority action.
Why is this topic interesting / important?
Travel decarbonisation is an essential element of addressing climate change, improving air quality, enhancing energy security, fostering innovation and economic growth, and promoting sustainable development and more!
What do you hope participants will achieve by the end of your workshop?
The workshop will allow attendants to explore ideas about potential future collaborations between practitioners, academics, and others interested in travel decarbonisation.
Are you interested in taking part in one of the workshops?
You can tell us which workshop you wish to join as you register for the free CTS symposium. Find out more and register.
Taking place 9th – 18th June, the Festival of Nature is the UK’s largest free celebration of the natural world. This year several academics will be sharing their research in various ways as part of the festival’s 20th anniversary.
Our academics will be taking part in the Festival of Nature’s Wild Weekend on Saturday 17 – Sunday 18 June. The Wild Weekend includes two huge outdoor days of free nature activities, stalls and screenings, food and drink, and special guest talks at the harbourside.
Highlights from UWE Bristol include:
Climate Change Book Club with Dr Sarah Robertson and Dr Ann Alston
Interested in climate, nature and stories? Then come and have a chat with Ann Alston and Sarah Robertson who will be running their Climate Change Book Stall at the Festival of Nature weekend. Passionate about how literature can help tell the story of climate change, Sarah and Ann who specialise in climate fiction in UWE Bristol’s English Literature department, will be on hand to recommend and talk about books. Sarah and Ann will have a selection of books on the climate available for you to browse, from children’s books, to young adult books and to adult books. So, if you’re looking for book gifts or something to read while sat in your garden, or simply a chat about climate literature and the book groups Sarah runs, then they would love to see you. Follow Sarah’s climate book group on Instagram to find out more (@climate_change_book_club)
Voices in a Pandemic Project
The Arts & Humanities Research Council Voices in a Pandemic (VIP-CLEAR) project is taking its Tree of Hope and Ambition, created by Bristol artist Luci Gorell Barnes, to the Festival of Nature. Children will have an opportunity to draw their hopes on coins and add their voices to the tree. This arts activity supports ‘looking forward’ during times where threats are difficult to navigate and often invisible (such as climate change, austerity, war) and mirrors the creative research activities carried out by VIP-CLEAR with Bristol primary schools. The research informed children’s book ‘Learning to Live with Fog Monsters’ will also be available.
UWE Bristol staff and students from the School of Applied Sciences have teamed up with Wild Carbon to develop cost-effective methods and techniques to monitor and validate improvements in carbon sequestration and biodiversity in rewilding and restoration projects. At the Festival of Nature, we will be showcasing our research on the spatial and temporal variation of greenhouse gas emissions from rewilding sites and the potential use of sound recording technology (bioacoustics) as a means to monitor soil health, quality and biodiversity.
Reverse Graffiti
In collaboration with Stop Ecocide, Dr Suwita Hani Randhawa will be hosting an art installation project on ‘reverse graffiti’, which aims to inspire collective creative responses to global environmental issues. Drawing on her research on international crimes, she will also be showcasing the importance of recognizing ecocide as an international crime through an interactive activity that encourages reflection on the question of who should be held accountable for crimes against the environment.
Bristol Women’s Voice: International Women’s Day event
Bristol City Hall
10am-5pm
International Women’s Day 2023 is being celebrated at a day long event organised by Bristol Women’s Voice. Researchers from UWE Bristol, University of Exeter and the University of Edinburgh will be showcasing their research during this event, as summarised by three local female artists.
This artwork represents a focus group that these institutions conducted to discuss and explore women’s experiences of reproductive events (e.g., menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause) and how they are related to mental health. Dr Kayleigh Easey, a Senior Lecturer at UWE Bristol who led these focus groups alongside Dr Siobhan Mitchell and Dr Kate Ash-Irisarri, explains “We were very fortunate to be joined by three local artists, who have produced some amazing artistic interpretations of the conversations and themes discussed on the day. We can’t wait to share this artwork with members of the public at the IWD event, to help bring awareness and discussion about the impact reproductive events can have on mental health, and what avenues exist to promote positive mental health around this area”.
Some of the outputs to be showcased at this event are from an ongoing GW4 funded grant awarded to the researchers to further investigate an understudied, but pivotal area that can contribute to poor mental health.
This International Women’s Day event is being organised by Bristol’s Women’s Voice, to be held at Bristol’s City Hall from 10am-5pm, involving multiple workshops and interactive displays.
The College of Business and Law is located in the heart of Frenchay campus in a purpose built, ground-breaking building that is home to collaborative spaces, mock courtrooms, state of the art lecture halls and a Bloomsburg trading room.
The College is home to two schools, Bristol Business School (BBS) and Bristol Law School (BLS).
Bristol Business School
BBS is an innovative community full of diverse experts across business management, marketing, economics and accounting and finance. Its courses are accredited by leading professional bodies, such as Chartered Management Institute to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and support not only Graduate learners but are also leaders of all fields through many Continual Professional Development courses.
As a prominent university research centre for business, management, and employment, BBS are producing applied research with real-world impact. They are shaping the future of organisations through our active research networks in all of our subject areas, Accounting and Finance, Business Management, Economics and Marketing.
Bristol Business School
BBS has one research centre and six research groups:
The Applied Marketing Research Group (AMRG) exists to foster working relationships with external organisations with the aim of collaborating in areas of marketing and customer engagement.
A forum for world-leading inter-disciplinary research in the areas of corporate governance, asset pricing, market efficiency, corporate disclosure and accountability.
The Human Resources, Work and Employment Research Group takes on a reconstructive ‘both-and’ approach to human resources and employment studies research.
The Innovation, Operations Management and Supply Research Group is formed around the core disciplines of innovation, operations management and supply chain management.
The Sustainable Economies Research Group applies inter-disciplinary approaches to the analysis of complex systems to develop solutions and tools that can better bring forth a sustainable economy.
Mock courtrooms in the Bristol Law School
Bristol Law School
Bristol Law School (BLS) has been a leading provider of legal education for over 40 years. They have a diverse and inclusive learning community benefitting from a growing network of alumni, volunteer opportunities stemming from our Business and Law Clinic and invaluable legal work experience.
Bristol Law School is one of the top-rated ‘post 1992’ law departments in the country, scoring consistently high ratings in the official research assessment exercises. This reflects the fact that legal research provides a central focus for the work of the Law School, and that many staff are engaged in research of national and international significance.
They’ve established connections with professional regulatory bodies, plus regional and national law firms, chambers, and businesses. They’ve also built an extensive global network of partners.
Their world-leading researchers collaborate with national and international organisations on Public International Law, Environment Law and Financial Crime. From environmental law to criminal justice, we’re creating solutions to real-world challenges.
Providing a forum for research activity in the field of environmental, sustainability and natural resources law. Members are drawn from across the University as well as externally.
The Global Crime, Justice and Security Research Group provides a forum for research activity in the field of financial crime, criminal justice and procedure, serious organised crime and cyber security.
The UK’s Graduate Route, introduced in July 2021, means that employers can now recruit international students into any role for up to two years after they graduate without the need for sponsorship, meaning absolutely no additional fees or admin, and making it just as easy to recruit them as home students.
However, in a recent paper, the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) found that just 3% of employees had knowingly used the Graduate Route.
In this blog post, we share with employees how to use the Graduate Route to help transform your business.
Why the Graduate Route?
International students can bring a wide range of benefits to your company, including language skills, international contacts and multicultural awareness.
Historically, employers have found it difficult to recruit international students because of the stipulations, fees and red-tape associated with graduate visas.
The widespread skills shortages across the public and private sectors will only be filled with the help of international students already in the UK, according to Nick Hillman, Director of HEPI.
International students represent 1 in 4 students studying in the UK, according to HESA data, and this includes over 200,000 studying STEM subjects such as computing, engineering and mathematics.
Before July 2021, employers had to become a sponsor and could only recruit international students into a ‘graduate level’ role with a salary of £21k or higher, depending on the government’s code of practice salary for that role. And this had to be done before the candidate’s study visa expired, around 3-4 months after their graduation.
The new Graduate Route removes all fees and stipulations for two years after graduation, giving candidates and employers more time to find the right fit.
Accessing talent through our free online portal
In response to the Graduate Route, and with the support of FinTech West, UWE Bristol launched a new UK section on GradLink, a careers site for international students and graduates from all universities and HE institutions across the UK.
The award-winning platform is completely free to all – including employers. Employers can build their own profile on the GradLink site, advertise vacancies, search the site’s CV database and contact candidates directly.
The dual boon of a rich talent supply and ease of access to it, makes now a great time to consider recruiting international students and graduates to fill your skills and talent gaps.
Global Employability Development Manager David Gee commented on the scheme:
In order to thrive in the global market, employers must develop a workforce with a truly international perspective. International students and graduates are a great means for doing this, and they often bring key shortage skills with them too. The Graduate Route makes recruiting international students easy, while the GradLink service provides a trusted means for recruiting them for free.”
UWE Bristol are on the hunt for the next innovative start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs to join the high-impact start-up incubator programme.
Over the last 12 months, Launch Space has worked with more than 30 early-stage start-ups as they develop their ideas and grow their businesses. Many of these companies have already gone on to win grants, secure investment, and grow their team.
Based within the University Enterprise Zone (UEZ), the University’s incubator programmes have to date supported more than 130 early-stage businesses. These businesses have raised £52m and created more than 300 new jobs.
Applications are open until the 17 October 2022 – Find out more and apply here.
What support do I get?
Up to 20 people will be selected for the free programme of support.
If successful with your application, you will be invited to attend an exciting induction day on site in October. You will meet your peers, say hello to the innovation team, and get your first introduction to the science and tech community at Future Space.
During your six months with Launch Space, you will have access to tailored one-to-one support, workshops, networking events, and regular advisor sessions to help bring your idea to life.
Working directly with experienced mentors, you can also gain access to a wide range of contacts, industries, and expertise as you get ready to launch your business.
Who can apply?
Launch Space is open to graduate-led, or early-stage, businesses with high-growth potential. The team are looking for those that are working on new and innovative products and services across four key themes:
Health and life science
Advanced engineering
Digital futures
Sustainability and climate change
You might have a great idea you want to put into action, be in the early stages of developing your business, or need help to validate and develop your business further – either way, we are here to support your journey.
Launch Space is home to a wide range of businesses at various stages on the start-up journey, and you will be working alongside others who have a common goal of making their vision a success.
Award-winning mentor and Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Mark Corderoy, commented:“Launch Space is the perfect environment to create your start-up – a combination of community and one-to-one support, and a track record of success!”
Aimee Skinner works alongside Mark, overseeing the Launch Space programme and mentoring early-stage businesses. She said “The team has worked with hundreds of businesses over the last few years – the journey is rarely the same! That is why we take the time to work one-to-one with everyone, offering a truly bespoke experience”
Don’t just take it from us – hear what our members have to say
We caught up with the latest members of Launch Space to hear what they think.
Faiza Idris joined Launch Space in May of this year with her business, Fa Byoaqua. Fa Byoaqua is an innovative aquaponic farm which aims to alleviate food production concerns in locations with limited access to clean water.
“According to Forbes, 90% of start-up fails. To mitigate that risk, I decided to join Launch space to give my entrepreneurial journey and FA BYOAQUA ltd a good start by taking advantage of the resources available at launch space.
“Launch space has provided a safe environment where I can learn and grow as an entrepreneur. It enabled me to work with other like-minded entrepreneurs. A critical component of Launch space is its vast network of business experts, partners, and mentors such as Aimee and Mark that can assist my company in flourishing”
Morgan Edmondson is founder of Inchain – Inchain are hoping to help business avoid exposure of sensitive business data with their innovative blockchain solution.
“I joined Launch Space because I was captivated by the environment of entrepreneurs, mentors, and specialists within the program and the support that is offered.
“The support and navigation both technically and commercially through the team at Launch Space, alongside the great working environment have enabled Inchain to progress further and more efficiently day by day”
Gabriela Gomez has been working on her business, Open Labs, to tackle student mental health. Working one-to-one with Gabriela, the Launch Space team have supported Open Labs to apply for a variety of grant funding to help bring them one step closer to a working application.
“I joined the programme to turn my business idea into a reality with the help of mentors and the resources provided by Launch Space.
“Launch Space has allowed me to access invaluable start-up support by connecting me with mentors and an inspiring and supportive community of fellow entrepreneurs”
Organiko are creating universal, traceable, inclusive, and sustainable loungewear. Abbie Lifton, founder of Organiko, joined Launch Space to get support expanding the brand and exploring combined sensor technology.
“7,200 health and fitness facilities are highly populated by synthetic activewear, as 10,000 gym goers choose to abide by social norms, rather than consider traceability and whether their garment could assist in reaching their performance goals. Organiko is looking to change this.
“Launch Space has allowed us to work within a community of like-minded individuals, gain 1-2-1 support and have space for open discussion amongst peers in similar situations”
Rivern Macpherson is founder of Pair 2 Share, providing social and financial perks to restaurant owners and staff with an innovative meal swap solution.
“I began my entrepreneurial journey at Launch Space due to their ability to support me in growing my idea into a business through their fantastic community, mentorship, and facilities on offer.
“Since joining Launch Space, I have gained invaluable knowledge and experience on how to successfully manage a startup, and I am now ready to begin my first pitching round to investors”
If you would like to find out more or speak to the team, email launchspace@uwe.ac.uk
Young people aged 16-24 use buses more than older age groups and have lower access to a car.
Yet they face a postcode lottery in accessing free and discounted bus fares, a new policy briefing from UWE Bristol and Sustrans finds.
Access to buses can affect the experiences and life-defining opportunities that young people are able to reach as they gain independence.
“Buses are the sole form of transport available where I live. I do not drive and I do not intend to… I therefore need the buses to get anywhere”
Katie, 24, Cornwall
However, for many young people, cost is a barrier to using the bus.
The policy briefing brings together new research and existing evidence and identifies changes that are needed to make buses fairer for young people aged 16-24.
The Fair Bus Fares for Young People policy briefing is produced as part of the project Transport to Thrive which aims to build the case for transport policy that better meets the needs of young people aged 16-24.
Transport to Thrive is a partnership project between the Centre for Transport and Society at UWE Bristol and Sustrans.
It is part of the Health Foundation’s Young People’s Future Health Inquiry. The Health Foundation is an independent charity committed to bringing about better health and health care for people in the UK.
Overview
The Fair Bus Fares for Young People policy briefing has three parts:
Part 1 Current situation and future ambition: describes why buses and bus fare support is important to young people. It maps the current offers available across the UK, as well as future ambitions outlined in the Bus Service Improvement Plans of 79 local transport authorities in England.
Part 2 Case studies: looks at the policy justification, uptake and impacts of existing bus fare schemes for young people in different parts of the UK.
Part 3 Time to act: summarises the policy priorities that bus fare support for young people can help address. It ends with a set of policy ‘asks’ developed with young advisors aged 16-25.
Part 1 Current picture and future ambition
The policy briefing mapped the current offers available to young people across the UK:
There are currently many areas of the UK where there is no support for young people beyond the age of 16.
In areas with an offer, there is little consistency in the type of offer that is available and the upper age limit that is eligible. Offers range from free bus travel (London, Greater Manchester, and Scotland) to discounts ranging from 15-50%.
Very few schemes support young people beyond the age of 18. Notable exceptions to this include Scotland where bus travel is free for under 22s and West Yorkshire where 19-25s receive a 33% multi-operator discount (Map 2).
The report also mapped the future ambition for bus fare support for young people according to Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIP) – these are the plans that the 79 Local Transport Authorities in England (outside London) were asked to produce in November 2021 in order to access government funding for buses.
BSIP ambitions and recent policy developments in Scotland and Wales show increasing recognition of the needs of young people over the age of 16 in relation to bus fares. However, there is still little consistency in age criteria and offer-type.
“The price should be the same for everyone.”
Poppy, 16-24
“Being a young person doesn’t stop when you are 18”
Sara, 20, West Yorkshire
“Multiple offers and prices make fares confusing. Annual passes are only viable with consistent usage. Flat fares are the most obvious and simplest solutions.”
Sunshine, 16, North Wales
Part 2 Case Studies
The policy briefing looked at four existing schemes available to young people beyond the age of 16 (18-21 Zoom Beyond, South Yorkshire; 16+ Zip Pass, London; 16-25 MCard, West Yorkshire; Free travel for Under 22s, Scotland).
With few schemes available to young people over the age of 16, these case studies offered rare and valuable insights:
Bus fare support for young people could help to address multiple policy priorities including supporting access to opportunities, reducing inequalities and shifting travel behaviour away from the car.
There is a high demand for bus fare support beyond 16 and 18. For example, in London, a study found 98% of 16-18 year olds said free transport was important to them*.
Schemes can have wide benefits to young people and can enhance inclusion of young people from all backgrounds, helping to level the playing field by removing cost as a barrier to mobility.
Part 3 Time to act
Recent policy developments across the UK, present an opportunity to make bus fares fairer for young people.
We ask national governments to:
Set out a minimum offer for young people aged up to 25 and to support local transport authorities to move towards this.
We ask any transport authority or operator developing their offer to:
• Offer flat fares to young people up to the age of 25 years • Align offers across authority boundaries • Work with young people to develop offers to help ensure available support meets their needs • Collect and share evaluation data to show how these schemes meet policy objectives
* Partnership for Young London. “Free Transport Means Everything to Me”: Understanding the impact of the suspension of free travel on under-18s. Funded by Trust for London, 2020
Recent research conducted by undergraduate forensic students at UWE Bristol has revealed levels of drug contamination on the Bristol Pound (£B) notes.
A high percentage of circulating bank notes across the world are contaminated with illicit drugs. Contamination on bank notes can be spread through direct contact and contamination from cash points, whilst paper-based bank notes are also believed to present a suitable matrix for the inclusion of drug particles.
Research has revealed that it is possible to detect some geographical or regional variation in the drugs found on different bank notes- for example, cocaine is the most frequently seized stimulant in western and southern European countries, whereas, amphetamine and ecstasy predominates across northern and eastern Europe.
To present, there have been no investigations regarding drug contamination of local currencies. The team at UWE Bristol have delved into this area of research, which presents an interesting angle on drug circulation.
The Bristol Pound at the time of sampling was the largest local currency in the UK, with approximately 7 million circulating from September 2012. Using a total of 28 £B banknotes, drugs were extracted by simple sonication, filtered to remove dirt and paper fibres. The levels of drugs were then determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Cocaine represented the predominate contamination, mostly associated with the £B 20 notes, the highest domination in circulation.
Senior Lecturer Forensic Chemistry Dr. Kevin Honeychurch, who led the research, commented:
“This is an exciting piece of research, undertaken with a number of undergraduate Forensic Science students as co-authors on the paper. It highlights the extremely low levels of drugs that can be determined by sophisticated instrumentation such as liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. I now undertaking further research into the levels of illegal drugs in water and air.”
