MICRA PhD Network co-chair wins research photo competition

MICRAs PhD Network reaches over 100 members – PhD students and early career researchers with an interest in ageing, across the UK and internationally. The network is co-chaired by Francisca Ortiz Ruiz from the University of Manchester, and by Louise Mitchell from the University of Salford.

We were thrilled to hear that Louise has been awarded the Judges Winner prize in the Doctoral Training Alliance Images of Research 2020 Competition. Doctoral Training Alliance (DTA) PhD students were challenged to submit an image with a short blurb that represents their current research project or topic area for their annual ‘Images of Research’ competition.

Louise’s winning entry is titled: “Finding positivity through planting and protecting health in a pandemic: a positive view from Fay and Alex.”

Louise told MICRA:

“This photograph sums up my study looking to evaluate the benefits to health and wellbeing of older adults, who access greening and growing projects. These include spaces such as community gardens (CGs) or farms (CFs), within Greater Manchester (GM).

"It is important to research this subject as the world’s population continues to increase at rapid rates, alongside urbanisation, which reduces our access to nature. As populations continue to grow, more pressure is applied, especially on healthcare systems - which has also been highlighted in this pandemic.

"The use of CGs or CFs provides an opportunity to engage people with natural environments and consequently create mental and physical health benefits for those taking part – which has also been noted in the pandemic with people adopting activities such as gardening, cycling and outdoor swimming. This PhD project looks to understand the objective and subjective impacts that these nature spaces have on physical, mental and social health of the older adults, whilst developing recommendations to assist their development for the future."

Photo background:

"Fay and Alex have kept positive through the pandemic, also when shielding, by gardening with their two West Highland White Terriers - Angus and Robbie. With their dedication to the dogs inspiring their two ornamental planters as shown in the photograph.”

You can view all the entries here.