BD25 Univ of Bradford Research

26/03/2025

On 8 March 2025, staff and students from the Department of Peace Studies and International Development helped to run an intergenerational and intercultural play session. Rotarians from the district and local primary school children joined elders at the Khidmat community centre, which serves mainly South Asian heritage users . Participants swopped memories of childhood games, and people of all ages joined in different forms of play and creativity. The guest of honour was Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick, who also unveiled a Peace Pole at the Centre.

Of course, the fun and games had a more serious purpose: active play is fundamental to children's wellbeing and cognitive and emotional development, and to their ability to cooperate, resolve conflict peacefully.

And play can build bridges between communities and cultures. This was part of the university's contribution to Bradford's City of Culture 2025, and is the launchpad of an ongoing partnership between the Rotary District, the School of Social Sciences, PeaceJam UK and the Khidmat Centre.


Here is a short film about the project:

https://youtu.be/AMEjBdj6EYk



For more information, contact Professor Fiona Macaulay on [email protected]

Play is good for everyone! This video explains the philosophy underlying a project involving the Khidmat centre in Bradford, Rotary District 1040, the Univer...

13/02/2025

The Department of Peace Studies and International Development is so proud that a Peace Studies graduate - the very talented Furaha Mussanzi – gave such an inspiring performance at the opening night of Bradford's City of Culture 2025 in a celebration of art, community, and peace. She and her family fled the Democratic Republic of Congo and settled in Bradford as refugees. Furaha (known as Fufu) and her father and mother all studied for a Masters in peace studies with us. Apart from being wonderful musicians, they are all passionate advocates for human rights and justice.

In the coming months, academics at our department will lend their expertise to a range of projects linked to the UK City of Culture 2025. We will be sharing updates on their different contributions that underscore the importance of research and knowledge in fostering cultural understanding and strengthening community ties.

In the meantime, do check out BBC1’s Bradford’s Big Bash in the link below for an impressive performance by Rise Choir, featuring a solo from Furaha.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0026z4c

14/01/2025

Bradford’s City of Culture launched with a bang at the weekend! Some 20,000 people, over two days, braved sub-zero temperatures and were rewarded with a moving and sublimely creative performance by ordinary Bradfordians and local artists. Poetry, dance, song, light show, large scale magic performed by Bradford legend Stephen Frayne - all showcasing the District’s diversity and resilience. Bradford is a proud working class city of many people, languages and cultures- check out the programme through the rest of the year! Bradford is Rising!

10/01/2025

09/01/2025

What is the University researching around the City of Culture? We have identified three research strands for 2025 and beyond.

These are:

(1) The Space In-between

We will be engaging people, young and old, from different communities in the District, in conversations on topics important to the city. We will be using art and technology to explore issues including heritage, identity, faith, and artificial intelligence.

(2) Engines of Change

Bradford is a city built on the technologies of industrialisation. Here we examine our ongoing relationship with technology, how we use it and how it defines who we are. We will use diverse mediums including film, theatre and other media, reaching out to people across the district.

(3) How are you?

We will build on the University’s world-leading research in health and wellbeing to lead conversations about culture through the lived experiences of people from a range of backgrounds. This will encompass initiatives led by, or closely linked to, the University such as Born in Bradford, Whole Schools Physical Activity and Dying to Talk cafes. We will also be using our groundbreaking research into cancer therapeutics, dementia care and SMART cities.

09/01/2025

Did you know... We have invented a robot dog that can help us document Bradford District's physical and human cultural heritage, starting with our beloved football ground!

BD25 is the nickname of the robot dog owned by the University of Bradford's School of Archaeological and Forensic Sciences.

It is equipped with a 3D laser scanner and other sensors that can explore and map hazardous sites without a human companion. It is also the first robot dog in the UK to have color vision and can climb stairs. BD25 can explore and record heritage at risk, such as abandoned mill buildings.

It can also create a virtual 3D twin. BD25 is being used in the "Stories from Valley Parade" project to create a virtual 3D twin of the football ground, which you will be able to access through virtual reality (VR).

BD25 has already met fans at Bradford City matches to encourage them to tell us about their experience of supporting the Bantams. Your stories will be attached to different places in both a physical and digital copy of the stadium for people to view.

If you would like to share your memories, click here: https://tinyurl.com/mrwf9rmc

09/01/2025

Welcome to Bradford City of Culture 2025! The University of Bradford is delighted to be a partner in showcasing the cultural riches and dynamism of Bradford District. On this page you will find information about the events being held at the University, and about the research that our academics are carrying out with, for, and around the City of Culture.