News & Information

Embargoed until 00.01 BST on 9 September 2004  
 
Cutting-edge research and innovation at higher education institutions across the South West are set to receive international TV exposure thanks to a £160,000 project funded by the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA). The scheme will be launched during the British Association Festival of Science in Exeter on Thursday 9 September. 
 
Fifteen films of broadcast-news standard about research in the region will be made over the next year by Research-TV and released to thousands of news organisations worldwide via the Reuters news agency. The project is aimed at making businesses and the wider public in the UK and overseas more aware of the South West's research strengths in fields as diverse as biotechnology, nanotechnology, the creative industries, aerospace engineering and tourism.  
 
The first two films have already been made. 'Surviving an earthquake' explores the basic principles that earthquake engineers use to protect structures during earthquakes, demonstrating new technologies developed and tested at the University of Bristol. Complementary research at the University of the West of England on the isolation of buildings against earthquakes will also feature.  
 
The second film focuses on research into obesity in children undertaken at the University of Exeter, and related research at the University of Bristol into type 2 diabetes in adults.  
 
The two films will be broadcast between 12.45 and 12.55 GMT on Thursday 9 September during the BA's Festival of Science, held this year in Exeter. Subsequent films will explore the huge range of work under way across the South West of England that is designed to tackle some of the key issues and opportunities of our time. 
 
Lorelei Hunt, Innovation Manager at SWRDA, said: "It is to the credit of the region's 14 higher education institutions that they have joined forces to develop such an imaginative project. From SWRDA's point of view, it is a novel way of boosting the region's profile and reputation as a place for innovators and those who want to work with them. I anticipate real spin-offs in terms of business growth and inward investment." 
 
The project, which is the first of its kind in the UK, means that hundreds of millions of people across the globe will gain a new perspective on the region.  
 
"The South West's universities are powerhouses of research and innovation," said Ms Hunt. "It's about time we shouted more loudly about that, both in our own region and in the rest of the world. What better way to do that than via high quality television news?" END 
 
 
Notes to editors  
 
The higher education institutions that have collaborated on this project are: 
 
Arts Institute at Bournemouth 
Bath Spa University College 
Bournemouth University 
College of St Mark and St John  
Dartington College of Arts 
Falmouth College of Arts 
Open University in the SW 
Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester 
University of Bath 
University of Bristol 
University of Exeter 
University of Gloucestershire 
University of Plymouth 
University of the West of England 
 
They work together through the Higher Education Regional Development Association - South West. More information about the project in general is available from www.herda-sw.ac.uk. Follow the link for more information about VIDEO SW. 
 
 
More information on the South West Regional Development Agency is available at www.southwestrda.org.uk 
 
More information about Research-TV is available at www.Research-TV.com 
 
More information about the BA Festival of Science is available at  
www.the-ba.net/the-ba/Events/FestivalofScience 
 
 
VIDEO SW is part of the Inspire South West programme to promote innovation in South West England, which is jointly funded by the South West RDA and the European Commission, as part of the EU 'Innovative Actions' programme. 
 
TO VIEW THE VIDEO click here.

Contact
Deborah Watson
T: 01392 229579
E: herda-sw@southwestrda.org.uk