Exploring adolescent wellbeing in Bradford at HELIX
Layla Kouara and Kate Hiley, PhD students in Psychology, leverage the resources in HELIX to advance their research in partnership with Born in Bradford for the BiB Brain project.
The BiB Brain project supports the Citizen Neuroscience workshop, aiming to identify factors contributing to adolescent brain health, with a focus on health, wellbeing, and education.
Layla and Kate are engaging with Bradford residents, targeting underserved communities due to health and socioeconomic disparities. Their workshops involve 30 students at 15 neuroscience stations, gathering hands-on data. They also collaborate with the Health Sciences Outreach team, hosting events like 'Boys into Psychology' to engage secondary school boys in practical psychology.
Layla and Kate have studied over 100 students in HELIX so far and will continue to work on this research project to inform policy and improve the lives of young people in Bradford and beyond.
Location: Makerspace
Aims: Through their research, Layla and Kate aim to identify and understand the necessary factors which make an adolescent brain happy and healthy.
Output: Layla and Kate’s Citizen Neuroscience workshop sessions facilitate data collection and promote community engagement and educational outputs.
Impact: Layla and Kate’s research aims to inform policy and practice to improve the lives of young people, both in Bradford and beyond by fostering a greater understanding of the conditions that impact the health, wellbeing and education of members of society. This research is increasingly vital for areas such as Bradford which suffer from health disparities and socioeconomic inequalities.
Why did you choose HELIX for your project?
‘The facilities at HELIX are well-suited to our needs. No other space on campus provides the facilities and resources which would allow us to deliver our sessions, and everything is accessible to book.
HELIX allows us to engage in cross-faculty work by providing a neutral space where different departments and individuals within the University can meet. The space itself is also highly adaptable being equipped with loanable laptops and meeting spaces with power outlets.’
How did working in HELIX help you to achieve your aims?
‘Working in HELIX allowed for the seamless delivery of our workshops, especially as Josh, Peter and Kerr are always willing to provide technological support. The space is always ready for use and is well equipped to facilitate our sessions.’
Do you have any advice to share from your HELIX experience?
‘It is a good idea to book your desired space(s) well in advance to ensure that you can access the spaces and technologies you need. It may also be a good idea to book a tour or to walk around the space yourself before making a booking to ensure that you are booking the space(s) that best suit the needs of your project. Also, make use of the support team within HELIX as they are very helpful.’