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Edinburgh Napier University

Category: Awareness (Page 1 of 2)

World Statistics Day

World Statistics Day

20/10/2025 / / 0 Comments

World Statistics Day

Librarians love statistics almost as much as we love spreadsheets and shelving books – and today we celebrate World Statistics Day! Unlike the other World Awareness Days that we covered on the blog, which have spanned decades. World Statistics Day is relatively new to the global calendar, starting in 2010 and is only celebrated every five years, making each observation more important.

Statistics, you might think, is an odd day to celebrate globally. But statistics help the world go round. The reason why the United Nations have decided to mark their awareness is that statistics are important for social and economic tracking to bring in developing policies.

  • Highlighting the importance of evidence-based policies: Statistics are data that help governing bodies make decisions, whether it be about health care to climate change.
  • Tracking social and economic progress – reliable statistics help us measure employment, literacy and other services, which allows pinpoint areas that need attention.
  • Promoting transparency – transparent tats also hold governing bodies accountable and help the democratic process.

As information professionals, librarians understand the power of data to inform and the potential it has to inspire. So let’s give up for statistics and all the data professionals who help make sense of it.

Theme for World Statistics Day 2025

World Statistics Day has returned with the theme Driving change with quality statistics and data for everyone. The theme is the spotlight for the essential role that reliable, inclusive and high-quality data plays in shaping communities, societies and policies. The year also marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, giving more meaningful reflection on how much data collection/cooperation have come, all it has resulted and the potential it can.

 

Statistics have been foundational not only to the UN’s operations but also to addressing worldwide challenges such as peacekeeping, sustainable development, climate change, and public health. The global statistical community exemplifies international cooperation, bringing together professionals from all regions to establish standards, share methodologies, and ensure accurate, timely data. Trusted statistics enable policymakers, businesses, and citizens to navigate complexity and make informed decisions, helping to reveal critical issues and drive meaningful change. (https://www.un.org/en/observances/statistics-day)

Change is built on the information that statistics provide.

Previous themes have been

2010 Celebrating the many achievements of official statistics

2015 Better Data Better Lives

2020 Connecting the world with data we can trust

 

Join the 24-hour Global Statistics Webinar:

The UN Regional Commissions will host a 24-hour global webinar marathon featuring presentations around the world, which will highlight how statistics support development. You can find the link on the United Nations website.

Photo by Nasa Unsplash 

Best online resources for finding news: Times Digital Archive & NexisUni

Dyslexia Awareness Week

11/10/2025 / / 0 Comments

Dyslexia Awareness Week

This week is Dyslexia Awareness Week

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a learning difficulty which affects millions of people all over the world. It is a life-long neurological condition which often runs in families and affects people’s abilities with reading, writing and spelling.

People with dyslexia may have difficulty processing and remembering things that they see and hear, which can have an impact on their learning. Dyslexia can also affect other areas such as memory, maths, co-ordination, time-keeping and organisational skills.

Under the Equality Act (2010), dyslexia can be classed as a disability. Dyslexia can affect children in education, adults in the workplace and situations in everyday life.

Everyone’s experience of dyslexia is different – it can range from mild to severe and can exist alongside other neurodivergent conditions such as ADHD, dyscalculia, dyspraxia and developmental language disorder.

However, dyslexia does not lessen an individual’s intelligence or potential. Many people with dyslexia achieve great success. Many famous people are dyslexic, including Jamie Oliver, Sir Lewis Hamilton, Keira Knightley, Sir Jackie Stewart, Holly Willoughby, Jennifer Aniston and Sir Richard Branson.

People with dyslexia have many strengths including being creative and observant. They can see patterns and trends in data and they are good at problem-solving, often having an intuitive understanding of how something works.

 

Dyslexia Awareness Week.

Dyslexia Awareness Week UK runs from 6th – 12th October 2025.

The theme for this year’s Dyslexia Awareness Week is “Raise the Volume” which aims to focus on young people with dyslexia – telling their stories about the challenges they face and what they have achieved. Raise the Volume aims to ensure that their experiences are being heard in schools, families, workplaces and the wider world.

World Dyslexia Awareness Day is on 10th October 2025 and is a global initiative which aims to raise the profile of dyslexia. It is committed to increasing awareness and understanding of the condition. It reminds us of the importance of supporting those with dyslexia.

World Dyslexia Awareness Day aims to promote inclusivity, access to education and the application of effective strategies to support the learning journeys of those with dyslexia.

 

 

Supporting People with Dyslexia.

There are a number of ways you can support people with dyslexia. First, learn about the condition and how it can affect people. Share information about dyslexia via social media to raise awareness; campaign for inclusive educational practices that accommodate students’ needs; support dyslexia organisations either by donating or volunteering;  and encourage and support those with dyslexia to achieve their goals.

Here at Edinburgh Napier University, the Disability Inclusion Team are available to ensure that every student has equal access to university life. The team can help students access the support they need during their time at university. The team work across all three campuses and offer support to students with a variety of learning difficulties, disabilities, and other support needs.

There are also a number of organisations which can provide information and support, including Dyslexia Scotland, The Dyslexia Association and British Dyslexia Association.

 

Find out more:

Use LibrarySearch to find books and articles about Dyslexia.

 By Sharon McMichael 

Study Skills at the library blog

 

 

National Read a Book Day

National Read a Book Day

06/09/2025 / / 0 Comments

National Read a Book Day

 

If there is anything us library workers love to promote consistently, is a love of reading. Whether it is a book, eBook, journal, article – you name it, we will always make a point of advertising the benefits of reading. As well as what resources we have to offer. Therefore, National Read a Book Day provides us with a great opportunity to promote both our resources at the library, how to access them (and how accessible they are), and the benefits of reading for literary and personal development, academic progression and overall wellbeing. Although it has unclear origins, National Read a Book Day is widely observed annually throughout the UK on the 6th of September by book lovers, advocates for reading and, of course, us library workers.

 

National Read a Book Day itself primarily encourages the celebration of reading as a simple pleasure and leisurely activity that has many benefits. Did you know that reading for at least thirty minutes a day is thought to potentially increase your life expectancy? This is due to the cognitive enhancement that reading can provide, including better memory, attention to detail and a reduction in stress levels. Stress is a major contributor to the development of heart disease, cancer and stroke, which are all leading causes of earlier fatality. Therefore, reading can potentially act as a preventative measure against stress progressing to a stage where your risk of developing these conditions and illnesses significantly increases.

Reading as a Pastime

 

Many individuals would say that reading is their favourite pastime and recreational activity for relaxation; however, some individuals feel that reading can seem like a chore at times. If you are a student and have been doing a lot of heavy reading and studying for exams and upcoming assignments, that can most definitely be the case, especially if you feel your head has never left a textbook in weeks! The last thing you probably want to do after or during the midst of this is pick up a book. Nevertheless, finding the right book, or even just a fun, light and heartwarming read can feel like a bit of leisure during stressful periods like this. Even if it’s just for a short period of time a day – on your lunch break, just before going to sleep, or even on your daily commute to make it go by a little faster. Audiobooks are also a great way to get lost in a good story on the move – whether you are on the train, bus, or even a walk.

Our Library Catalogue

Although a majority of the stock we hold at our campus libraries consists of academic resources and textbooks, we do have some lighter and more leisurely reads available to borrow and request at Sighthill, Merchiston and Craiglockhart campus. If you happen to be passing by one of our campus libraries and come across a book that interests you on one of our shelves (or displays, we love a display), you can use your student card to take it out on loan at one of our self-service kiosks.

Alternatively, if you have a specific book in mind, you can check if we have it on LibrarySearch and put in a request for it to be kept on our hold shelves for you to collect later on. We will keep it on hold for you for up to seven days. If we do not have the book which you are looking for, you can submit an Inter Library Loan request form, and we can check if another library has it in stock, then request it from them to lend to you through us. Books borrowed from our own campus libraries can automatically renew for up to four months unless requested by another patron and there are no other copies available to meet this request. When it is requested, you will be notified via email and will have seven days to return the book from when this email is sent to you.

 

Here are some recommendations from us at the library for National Read a Book Day…

  • The Comfort Book, Haig, Matt, 1975- author. 2022. Available at Sighthill Library Wellbeing Collection.
  • The salt path, Winn, Raynor, author. 2019. Available at Sighthill Library Wellbeing Collection.
  • The perks of being a wallflower. Chbosky, Stephen author. 2012. Available at Merchiston Library Wellbeing Collection.

 

By Rachel Downie

Photo credit goes to Polina Tankilevitch at Pexels.

Discovering the Future: Research at Edinburgh Napier University image of 3 researchers and a robot

Discovering the Future: Research at Edinburgh Napier University

05/07/2025 / / 0 Comments

Discovering the Future: Research at Edinburgh Napier University

When you think of cutting-edge research, you might picture sprawling labs, scientists in white coats, and complex algorithms running on glowing screens. You’ll find all that—and much more—at Edinburgh Napier University (ENU).

Whether it’s developing AI systems to solve real-world problems, helping veterans reintegrate into civilian life, or leading the charge in sustainable construction, ENU is quietly making a big impact. It’s not just a place to study—it’s a place where ideas come to life.

Let’s take a look at some of the exciting research happening across the university—and how you can get involved.

Research with Purpose

One of the things that makes research at ENU so dynamic is its clear focus on real-world challenges. The university’s work is guided by four key themes:

  • AI & Advanced Technologies

  • Health

  • Culture & Communities

  • Environment

These aren’t just buzzwords. They shape everything from collaborative projects to the kinds of PhDs being offered. You can read more on our research webpages.

Cutting-Edge Tech on Campus

In 2024, ENU took a big leap forward by launching ENUCC—a brand-new high-performance computing (HPC) and AI cluster. It gives researchers and students serious computing power to run simulations, analyse big data, and build AI models.

It’s part of a wider push to make sure students and staff have access to the kind of tech that fuels innovation. Read more about it here: ENU launches new HPC and AI cluster

Cool Projects You Should Know About

Cool Projects You Should Know About

ENU is home to some seriously innovative projects and research centres. Here are just a few standouts:

Swarmchestrate: An EU-funded project using swarm computing and blockchain to develop smart, autonomous digital systems. Think of it as nature-inspired tech!

In 2023, a team of Edinburgh Napier University students participated in a pioneering construction project in Guangxi, China. They collaborated with local universities to build the world’s first bamboo-timber composite gridshell structure. This innovative project aimed to explore sustainable building methods to combat climate change. Among the participants were female students like Devika Vijayan, Alice June Davyson, and Zara Anam Rafiq, who contributed their expertise in architectural technology and civil engineering. The project was led by PhD student Yanghao Pei and supervised by faculty members, including Dr. Ahmed Mohamed.

Research into supporting Scotland’s armed forces at the Centre for Military Research and Public Engagement: Housed at the historic Craiglockhart campus, this centre explores topics like PTSD, military transitions, and veteran education.

Innovation Support & Opportunities

If you’re a student, early-career researcher, or even an entrepreneur, ENU has support for you through its Innovation Hub. From Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) to funding for start-ups and seed grants, the university is serious about turning ideas into action.

You can check out what’s on offer here:
ENU Innovation Hub
Research, Innovation & Enterprise Blog

Events & Community

From the ENclusion Conference on equity and inclusion to innovation meetups, ENU offers loads of opportunities to get involved, network, and learn.

One highlight is the annual ENclusion Conference, a day-long event packed with talks, panels, and practical sessions.

The Library

Libraries are essential to research because they provide access to high-quality, credible resources—books, journals, databases, and archives—that researchers need to build on existing knowledge. They offer expert support in information literacy, data management, and referencing, helping researchers work efficiently and ethically. Libraries also preserve knowledge and ensure long-term access to scholarly work, including open-access materials and institutional repositories. Simply put, libraries are the backbone of academic research, connecting people with the information and tools they need to discover, question, and innovate. Start your research journey at one of our campus Libraries or by using our wealth of online resources found at librarysearch.napier.ac.uk.

Don’t forget all the useful information on our Library webpages, including study guides and lists of resources.

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Edinburgh Napier University is fast becoming a major leader in Research. Whether it’s AI, sustainability, social justice, or health tech, ENU’s research is focused on creating a better future.

So if you’re curious, creative, and ready to make a difference, this is a great place to start.

Want to know more? Dive into ENU’s Research and Innovation pages or explore funding and partnership opportunities through the Innovation Hub.

By Juliet Kinsey

Read more on research at Edinburgh Napier University here on our Blog, with our latest post on Women in Stem

International Women in Engineering Day image of woman doing some engineering

International Women in Engineering Day

23/06/2025 / / 1 Comment

International Women in Engineering Day

Celebrating Women Engineers: Breaking Barriers, Building Futures

Every year on 23 June, we celebrate International Women in Engineering Day. First launched in the UK by the Women’s Engineering Society, it’s now a global movement. It shines a light on the achievements of women in engineering and encourages more girls and young women to see this as a path for them.

The numbers are improving, but slowly. According to EngineeringUK, women make up 16.5% of the engineering workforce. In 2010, it was just 9%. There’s progress, but much more work is needed.

So, why does it matter?

Diverse teams are better at solving problems. They bring fresh ideas, challenge assumptions, and drive innovation. In engineering, where solutions shape lives—that matters. Gender diversity isn’t a tick-box exercise; it’s essential for future-ready industries.

The UK is home to many trailblazers. Dr. Nike Folayan MBE, co-founder of the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE-UK), champions inclusion across STEM fields. Professor Sarah Hainsworth, a forensic engineering expert and senior leader at the University of Bath, is another standout figure. Their stories are powerful. But for many young women, engineering still feels out of reach.

Education

To get women into engineering, we need to start with early education. A 2022 WISE report showed that girls are much less likely to choose A-level physics, despite doing just as well as boys in GCSE science. Why? A lack of role models. Limited exposure. Persistent stereotypes.

This is where schools, universities, and employers can make a real difference.

Edinburgh Napier University and Women in STEM

At Edinburgh Napier University, change is happening. The School of Computing, Engineering & the Built Environment offers strong support for women entering technical fields. From dedicated mentoring schemes to outreach in schools, the university actively promotes gender balance. Female lecturers and researchers at Napier lead projects in sustainable energy, transport systems, and digital engineering.

Take for example, the work of female PhD students at Napier who are developing smart materials for construction or working on green transport solutions. Their research not only contributes to global challenges but also inspires the next generation of engineers.

Sarah Taylor, a lecturer at Edinburgh Napier University, has been conducting research in smart, light-emitting textiles since 1995. Her work involves integrating optical fibres into woven textile structures, contributing to advancements in smart materials applicable in various fields, including construction.

In 2023, a team of Edinburgh Napier University students participated in a pioneering construction project in Guangxi, China. They collaborated with local universities to build the world’s first bamboo-timber composite gridshell structure. This innovative project aimed to explore sustainable building methods to combat climate change. Among the participants were female students like Devika Vijayan, Alice June Davyson, and Zara Anam Rafiq, who contributed their expertise in architectural technology and civil engineering. The project was led by PhD student Yanghao Pei and supervised by faculty members, including Dr. Ahmed Mohamed.

Women in Engineering  campaigns

Elsewhere in the UK, campaigns like Tomorrow’s Engineers Week, run by EngineeringUK, and events such as She Can Engineer at UCL, continue to highlight female success in the field. INWED itself is packed with virtual events, talks, and case studies—many of them accessible to teachers, students, and parents.

At the same time, the industry is evolving. Companies like Arup, Rolls-Royce, and AtkinsRéalis are investing in inclusive hiring, leadership development for women, and mentoring programmes. But culture still matters. A welcoming workplace—where all voices are heard—makes it easier for women to succeed and lead.

And it’s not just about big firms. Start-ups and SMEs across Scotland and the UK are building inclusive teams, often led by women who studied at universities like Edinburgh Napier.

So, what can you do this International Women in Engineering Day?

  • Share a story of a woman engineer who inspires you.

  • Encourage a girl to explore STEM subjects.

  • Attend a local or virtual event through WES or your local university.

  • Support or volunteer with STEM outreach programmes.

  • Thank the mentors, colleagues, and leaders who make a difference.

Small actions lead to big changes.

Because the future of engineering isn’t defined by gender—it’s built by collaboration, creativity, and courage. Edinburgh Napier University and institutions across the UK are proving that when you back women in engineering, you’re backing innovation for everyone.

By Juliet Kinsey

Read more on women in Science on our blog here: Scottish Women in Science

Autistic Pride Day June 18th

Autistic Pride Day June 18th

18/06/2025 / / 0 Comments

Autistic Pride Day, June 18th

Autistic Pride and Autistic History

Today is Autistic Pride Day. This was started in 2005 in the UK to celebrate Autism and autistic identity, as opposed to seeing it as a stigma. In the past, autistic people were institutionalised (or worse), particularly when their condition was considered severe; Today, Autistic people still struggle with being accepted and treated with the respect they deserve.

The first person to identify and diagnose ‘autism’ was the Ukrainian child psychiatrist Grunya Sukhareva. She conducted her research when working at a Moscow children’s clinic from the 1920s onwards in the Soviet Union.

Characteristics

Nowadays, autism is seen as existing on a broad spectrum (Autism Spectrum Disorder), with autistic people experiencing a variety of characteristics to varying degrees.

Common characteristics are:

  • Motor Difficulties
  • Communication Difficulties
  • Sensitivity to Change and Stimulation
  • Social Impediments
  • Repetitive Behaviour

An autistic person on one side of the spectrum might be non-verbal, and have great difficulty in processing sounds, emotions, information etc. They may also need carers to support their day-to-day lives. Alternatively, there are also low support need individuals. They can hold down jobs, complete complicated tasks, socialise, and be verbally eloquent, whilst also experiencing other features of autism. For instance, they can find it hard to understand social conventions, experience sensory overload, and find it difficult to deal with sudden changes in routine.

Some people like to think of autism through the bio-psychological-social model (BPSM) – that is to say, what we consider illness and health are based on interactions between biology, psychology and social life. Sukhareva hypothesised in the 1950s that autistic brains were different in a biological sense – something that brain scan imaging is proving today. The condition has measurable psychological effects (e.g links to social anxiety), and is undoubtedly shaped by the social attitudes to difference/differently abled people.

A Broad Church

Every autistic person is different, an original. Autistic people excel in a variety of fields, from academia to music, sports to visual art and politics. Without question, autism is a broad church.

Expert on animal husbandry and care, Temple Grandin is autistic – in more recent years, she has become a prominent public advocate for autistic people. Scottish-born David Byrne, the singer/guitarist of the band Talking Heads, is likewise on the spectrum. He was the driving musical force of the band, a sometime film-maker, as well as a distinguished writer. His book How Music Works is in the library catalogue.

Lisa Llorens, a multiple Paralympic Games winning athlete, is autistic, as is ultramarathon runner Jacqueline Herron. Likewise, Irish footballer James McClean (currently playing for the Ryan Reynolds/Rob McIlhenney-owned Wrexham F.C) and former World Number 1 tennis player Chilean Marcelo Rios – both were, like Byrne, diagnosed as adults.

Fife-born artist Richard Wawro was autistic. Legally blind, Wawro primarily used crayons as opposed to a more traditional artistic medium; he became well known in the 1970s after receiving the patronage of Edinburgh arts impresario Richard Demarco, one of the co-founders of the Traverse Theatre and, later in life, pivotal in setting up Summerhall. The 1983 documentary With Eyes Wide Open depicts his life and artistic practice. Last but certainly not least, the most famous climate and social justice activist on the planet – Greta Thunberg – is autistic.

By Kieran Curran

Read more on the blog about mental health with this article: World mental health day

 

 

 

 

 

World Health Day image of earth shaped like a heart with a stethascope

World Health Day

07/04/2025 / / 0 Comments

World Health Day

About World Health Day

World Health Day is a global awareness campaign that is celebrated annually on the 7th of April. The primary focus is to draw attention to a range of pressing and detrimental health problems and issues that affect individuals from all across the globe. It also actively promotes and calls for individuals and communities worldwide to devote a significant degree of focus toward public health and health-related challenges, and for institutions and governments to tackle these as a priority. Every year, a specific health issue of concern or illness will be a primary focal point that World Health Day will address and aim to raise awareness of. The specific theme and focus of each year can be, for example, a highly transmittable disease, barriers to sufficient healthcare access, environmental health and mental health challenges in today’s world.

This year’s theme and focus…

This year’s campaign for World Health Day is titled ‘Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures’ and solely focuses on pushing governments and healthcare institutions to try to put a stop to preventable newborn and maternal fatalities, as well as prioritising and devoting a significant focus toward the reproductive health, long term general health and wellbeing of women overall. For women and families across the world, the importance of adequate and high-quality care being in a place that caters for their physical and emotional health during the early and late stages of pregnancy as well as the post-partum stage cannot be emphasised enough. Current published estimates by the World Health Organisation suggest that approximately 300,000 women lose their lives due to pregnancy-related complications or during childbirth every year. It is also reported that close to two million babies die during the first month of their lives each year with two million more being a stillbirth.

 

With these terrifying and stark statistics in mind, the World Health Organisation intends to put out a variety of helpful information to promote healthy pregnancies and reproductivity, as well as better postnatal health and healthcare as well. Our Napier libraries also have a range of resources available regarding women’s reproductive health and general wellbeing, as well as women’s health during pregnancy and pregnancy-related care before, during and after childbirth.

Our School of Health and Social Care, Nursing and Midwifery

Edinburgh Napier hosts one of the largest schools of Health and Social care in the country and is recognised as one of the biggest providers of nursing and midwifery education as well. It has an excellent reputation which is recognised throughout the UK and beyond, and it’s midwifery course allows it’s student community to gain first-hand clinical experience and practice in midwifery in a range of healthcare settings. They are also taught and supported by lecturers with a high level of expertise in both current research and first-hand clinical practice. This ultimately means that many of our midwifery graduates leave us having acquired a wide range of clinical skills and knowledge which equips them to effectively support, advise and advocate for women and their families throughout each stage of pregnancy and childbirth.

Our Napier libraries also have a wealth of resources and textbooks on Midwifery and healthcare which are primarily located in our Sighthill campus library. The literature available encompasses a range of unique experiences which each individual women can have throughout their pregnancy journey and ultimately helps to support the research and clinical skills development and progression of our midwifery student community with a wealth of high-quality information and sources.

How Our Libraries Can Support Midwifery Students

All of the print and electronic resources that we have can be found and requested through LibrarySearch. As well as a wealth of material on current research regarding midwifery and reproductive healthcare, we also have a variety of resources in our research collection about the art and skill of conducting healthcare and midwifery research including how to write a literature review, for example. We also have subscriptions to a vast number of healthcare databases which include healthcare and allied health journals with the most current and up-to-date research on various health topics, including midwifery and women’s reproductive and general health. MA Healthcare Complete is one of the databases mentioned in our LibGuide which includes some leading titles in midwifery research. Another database where coverage of midwifery research is mentioned is Ovid Emcare, which is ran by Elsevier and covers all areas of nursing specialities and healthcare. Furthermore, the likehood of the other healthcare databases listed in our Libguide having resources with current research on midwifery and women’s reproductive and general health is pretty high as well!

 Some Recommendations from the Library

As well as our ever-popular Mayes Midwifery textbooks and PROMPT Practical Obstetric Multi-Professional Training Course manual (3rd edition), we have a wide variety of other resources covering midwifery research as well as women’s reproductive and general health and wellbeing. These recommendations can be found below.

By Rachel Downie

Cycle to campus

World Sustainable Transport Day

26/11/2024 / / 0 Comments

World Sustainable Transport Day

You would hardly know it as you try to negotiate your way around Edinburgh’s potholes and roadworks, but it’s World Sustainable Transport Day. It’s a new venture, created last year by the UN and will be celebrated annually on 26th November. This is a day for reflecting on how we can make transport safer, more efficient and greener.

How can we integrate transport options into our natural environment? How can we plan to move people around more quickly, comfortably and reliably while preserving habitats, migrating to cleaner fuel systems and causing the least disruption to our communities?

These are taxing questions, to be sure. Here at Edinburgh Napier, we’re committed to answering them. Our Transport Research Institute has been teaching, consulting and researching since 1996, and in the last few years has included low-carbon transportation and new technology solutions for the future of UK transport and city solutions as part of its thematic focus. If you’d like to know more about our TRI, see here: Transport Research Institute

On a wider level, Edinburgh Council has ambitious plans to commit to their general sustainable transport options. These include encouraging residents, by 2030, to increase their walking by 3% per week, cycling by 35%, journeys by bus or tram by 26% and rail by 12%. This assumes, of course, that residents will be happy to ditch their cars, and that the alternative transport options will be attractive ones. You can monitor the stats and gauge the results here: Targets for a sustainable transport future – The City of Edinburgh Council

Meanwhile, we would encourage you to move around our campuses by foot, bike or bus. We have a wealth of information on bike access and safety, bus timetables and route planning here: Cycling to campus. 

Have a look at the research and innovation that our School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment on their blog.

By Lesley McRobb

 

Merchiston Library and information

International Day of Universal Access to Information

28/09/2024 / / 0 Comments

International Day of Universal Access to Information

Universal access to information is not only recognised as possessing great significance worldwide, but is also viewed as a fundamental right protected by many constitutions across the globe. Access to information encourages transparency, democracy and progression. It also allows the public to hold public authorities and constituencies to account as well as allowing for informed debates and negotiations to occur, thus being more productive in practice. In today’s digital era today, it empowers individuals and groups across the world and fosters innovative practices and actions. The promotion of inclusivity, social progression, and the encouragement of informed negotiations, cannot be understated.

Background…

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) officially proclaimed the 28th of September as the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI). This was declared on the 17th of November 2015 in recognition of the importance of universal access to information and the right to seek, receive and transmit information. Four years later, the International Day for Universal Access to information was also proclaimed on the 28th of September on a UN level by the 74th UN General Assembly in October 2019. From 2016 onwards, the International Day for Universal Access promoted by UNESCO had already spanned across roughly 26 countries around the world.

The International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) primarily promotes a worldwide commitment to ensure that individuals and groups across the globe can feasibly access, search for and openly communicate information. The right to universal access to information greatly coincides with the right to freedom of the press. As the media relies on the feasibility of receiving and seeking out information to provide the public with crucial updates or information about issues of interest. Another relevant act is the Freedom of Information Act (FOI), enacted in over 70 countries across the globe and enshrined in constituencies in over 80 countries overall.

The Freedom of Information Act (FOI)…

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) allows for citizens to access information held by public authorities. It does this by enforcing that public authorities publish certain or significant information about their activities as well as allowing for members of the public to request information from public authorities as a given right. The Act itself covers all information recorded and held by public authorities and institutions throughout England, Northern Ireland and Wales, as well as UK-wide public authorities in Scotland. The key principles of the FOI act are as follows:

  • All individuals and groups have the right to access any information which is made official.
  • Applicants and requesters are not required to provide a reason behind their wish to access official information. Anyone can also make a freedom of information request without having to be a UK citizen or resident. Any refusal made toward a freedom of information request must be justified.
  • All freedom of information requests must be treated equally albeit situations involving vexatious requests or personal data. This also means that any information disclosed is information you would disclose to any other patron or group that asked for it.

    Digital Access and Poverty…

    Our digital era has made information more easily accessible than ever. And more so with the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and e-governance which can be utilised to conquer the digital divide by providing tailored and accessible content. At the click of a button, individuals can find and gain access to information. Information regarding public authorities and government services. This is essential for maintaining a fair and equitable society. However, digital poverty remains a significant issue worldwide. In some areas and regions. According to the Digital Poverty Alliance website, 26% of young people do not have access to a laptop or relevant device. 53% of people also cannot afford an average monthly broadband bill. Digital exclusion and poverty, if unaddressed can have a detrimental effect on economic, financial circumstances of individuals and societies as well as exacerbating linguistic, racial and gender issues.

    How the library can help…

    Our libraries have a wide range of physical and digital resources and devices which can help you access all of the essential information you will require for your course and university career. As well as our physical resources and books, you can find many online versions and digitised copies of resources within our collection through LibrarySearch (exlibrisgroup.com). You can also find all of the information you may need when using our campus libraries through Library (napier.ac.uk).  In need of a laptop to access this information and our online resources? Our lapsafe laptops  can be loaned out to patrons for a maximum of 14 days before they have to be returned.  Our lapsafe lockers located in each campus library, the JKCC and Bainfield student accommodation. If you think you need a laptop for longer, we also have our Digital Access Scheme. Find out more about our laptop loans at Laptops to loan (napier.ac.uk).

     

    Further Reading…

    Freedom of information – Edinburgh Napier University (exlibrisgroup.com) – Available at Merchiston.

    An open Scotland: freedom of information: a consultation – Edinburgh Napier University (exlibrisgroup.com) – Available at Sighthill.

    Freedom of information manual – Edinburgh Napier University (exlibrisgroup.com) – Available at Craiglockhart Law Hub.

     

    More resources can be found in Craiglockhart Law Hub and through Librarysearch.

     

    By Rachel Downie

     

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Rain on the high street

St Swithin’s Day

15/07/2024 / / 0 Comments

.St Swithin’s Day

Today is Swithin’s Day. Today determines what the weather will be for the next 40 days.

Who is St Swithin

St. Swithun (also known as Swithin) was an Anglo-Saxon Bishop of Winchester from 852 – 862. He died on 2nd July 862 AD.

Not much is known about St. Swithun’s life. He was well-known for giving gifts to others and building churches. And built a stone bridge over the River Itchen to allow the poor to cross the river and sell their wares in the town.

He has only one miracle attributed to him. An odd one of repairing broken eggs which were dropped by a woman crossing the bridge. He would hear the woman crying and repaired the eggs immediately.

St Swithin in Norway

St Swithun is also honoured in Norway. He is commemorated at Stavanger Cathedral. The Catholic Church in Stavanger is also named after him. In Norway St. Swithun’s Day is celebrated on the 2nd of July, the date of his death. St. Swithun requested that he was to be buried outside the church so parishioners could walk on his grave and the rain would fall on it. However, the Bishop of Winchester, and Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, declared that Swithun was to be the patron saint of the restored Winchester Cathedral. Swithun’s body was moved from the church grounds and was interred in the new Cathedral on 15th July 971. Legend has it that a huge storm followed. Raining for forty days after his body was moved, suggesting that St. Swithun was unhappy with being moved from outside the church.

The weather of St Swithin’s Day

St. Swithun is probably best known for a British weather proverb.  It says that if it rains on St Swithun’s Day, it will rain for 40 days.

The St. Swithun’s Day Rhyme:

St. Swithun’s day if thou dost rain, 

For forty days it will remain, 

St. Swithun’s day if thou be fair, 

For forty days ’twill rain nae mair.

 

According to the Met Office, there has never been 40 dry or 40 wet days following St. Swithun’s Day since records began in 1861. So it seems unlikely that it will happen any time soon!

Keep an eye on the weather.

Another fun Day of the Year: Bakewell Tart Day.

Photo by Sarah (Unsplash) 

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