News - Researcher from West Goes East
A researcher from the European Centre for the Environment and Human Health (ECEHH), part of the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, is to travel to Hong Kong to work with researchers from the University of Hong Kong.
Dr. Katherine Ashbullby, based at ECEHH in Truro, will be working with colleagues from the University of Hong Kong to investigate the use of the natural environment, especially the 'blue environment', to promote the wellbeing and physical activity of families in the UK and Hong Kong.
The project is a three-way collaboration between the University of Plymouth, ECEHH and the University of Hong Kong.
Over her three week visit, Dr. Ashbullby will work with Dr. Alison McManus whose research focuses on the way in which children and adolescents respond to exercise - including the use of technology such as XAVIX (a Japanese version of computer based exercise technology such as Wii and XBOX). In line with research being carried out at ECEHH, Dr. McManus is exploring the cues that could prompt active behaviour in youngsters.
Dr. Ashbullby will also work with Dr. Ester Cerin, whose key area of research investigates the relationship between the environment, psycho-social influences and physical activity. She is currently looking at how the built environment of Hong Kong influences the various forms of physical activity undertaken by its citizens.
Together, Dr. Ashbullby and her colleagues in Hong Kong will be using her visit to explore ways in which this international collaboration can contribute to her research focusing on families and the Blue Gym (physical activity in, on or near water).
The collaboration will investigate key issues such as: how families spend time being active in natural environments; how they choose what activities to do in the natural environment, and how children help to make that choice and the exploration of the best ways to encourage families to do more outdoors.
Dr. Ashbullby commented: "This is a very exciting visit and one which, it is hoped, will result in greater research collaborations between scientists here in the South West of England and in Hong Kong. In both the UK and Hong Kong, the rising incidence of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity represent significant threats to public health."
She added: "Understanding how to use the natural environment and blue space to promote the health and wellbeing of families in both countries could have important policy implications - there is definitely a current lack of research on this topic in both the UK and Hong Kong, and any collaboration would go a long way to addressing this research gap."
ECEHH received £3 million from the European Regional Development Fund Convergence programme. Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said, "When the ECEHH investment was announced this time last year we said that it would contribute to world health issues as well as creating opportunities for our ambitious businesses that wish to trade knowledge and expand globally.
"This project will cement those aspirations and help to position Cornwall as a world leader for research of this kind."
Dr Sue Brownlow, Director, Combined Universities in Cornwall, said: "Dr Ashbullby's visit to Hong Kong will be the first of many important international research collaborations for ECEHH. It is a sign of the internationally recognised research expertise now present in Cornwall through the Combined Universities in Cornwall partner institutions. We're very pleased to see Cornwall at the centre of such activity."