College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Researchers scoop photography prize

Researchers who are assessing the influence of outdoor spaces on wellbeing have won a national photography competition.

Researchers scoop science photography prize

An image representing Mobility, Mood and Place – a collaborative project by OPENspace, a research centre for inclusive access to outdoor environments – has been recognised in the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council’s (EPSRC) annual  science photography competition.

Research in action

The award was presented for 'Spiderman on George IV Bridge' by Richard Coyne in the People and Skills category.

The image shows a volunteer wearing a headset that records brain activity as he walks along George IV Bridge in Edinburgh.

Researchers used Electroencephalography (EEG) – a method to record electrical activity of the brain –  to measure the neural responses of older people to different outdoor urban environments, from busy roads to parks.

The Mobility, Mood and Place research project has been exploring how places can be designed collaboratively to support outdoor activity, health, and wellbeing and community engagement as people age.

Partnership project

The project is a multidisciplinary collaboration between the Universities of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt, York and King’s College London.

Led by the Edinburgh College of Art the project spans a range of research areas and academic disciplines, including environment, health, wellbeing and social policy.

The EPSRC presented awards in five categories,  Eureka and Discovery, Equipment and Facilities, People and Skills, Innovation, and Weird and Wonderful. 

The overall winner was  'Single Atom in an Ion Trap' by David Nadlinger from the University of Oxford.

Every year we are stunned by the quality and creativity of the entries in our competition and this year has been no exception. The images help the public engage with the research they fund, and I hope they will spark interest in science and engineering among people, young or older.

Professor Tom RoddenDeputy Chief Executive of EPSRC

Mobility, Mood and Place

OPENspace

EPSRC Photography Competition