Dr Holly Crossen-White
- Principal Academic in Public Health
- Executive Business Centre EB611, Bournemouth University, 89 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, BH8 8EB
Biography
I am a based in the BU Centre for Public Health and I am the Programme Lead for the MSc Public Health. Prior to becoming Programme Lead, I was a Research Fellow and had over 20 years experience of undertaking a wide range of qualitative research projects both in the UK and Europe. My research work has mainly focused upon public health issues with a large part of my work, although not exclusively, being evaluations of new approaches to service delivering. My most recent research work was the SAIL Project which was an EU research project funded under the Interreg 2 seas programme. The SAIL project used social innovation to explore how effective this approach was at developing new responsive services that addressed the expressed needs of older people. Ten projects were developed across 4 countries with the aim of ensuring older people using the projects could live more active and independent lives for longer. My role was to draw together the learning from across all 10 projects.
Becoming part of the BU Centre for Public Health has enabled me to build upon my research collaborations with colleagues across Bournemouth University... I am also keen to undertake research with partners from outside academia. For example, I have previously had a research partnership with the RSPB and undertake a number of projects that evaluated how contact with the natural environment can benefit an individual’s health and wellbeing.
A further area of interest to me is the use of technology in both research and education practice. Within research I first used online historical digital archives as a data source for my PhD. This was an historical study of drug taking that focused upon the first decades of the twentieth century and how individuals consumed drugs prior to and immediately following the introduction of criminal penalties for the supply or possession of named drugs in the UK. My PhD experience with digital archives led me to undertake research into how the public access and make use of such archives in particular younger learners and I have published on this research work. As a result of my research in this area I developed a wider interest in how technology can enhance the learning experience generally, but also specifically in higher education. In terms of education practice I also hold an interest in inclusive learning approaches. The use of technology and approaches to inclusive learning were two key areas that I enjoyed exploring in more depth while completing my PG Cert in Education Practice and when preparing my portfolio for a Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.
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I have undertaken qualitative research on public health issues for over 20 years in the UK and Europe. Currently I am engaged in a research into the benefits of Forest Bathing which builds on my previous research work into how nature can improve personal health and wellbeing.
I also have worked with charity organisations such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) on a range of research projects that look at how the natural environment can be used to improve the health and wellbeing of the population. I hold a particular interest in how prescription to nature can be effectively integrated into primary health care options.
Previously I have undertaken research into illicit drugs involving interviews with both adults and young people who were offending to support their drug dependency. This research work shaped my PhD which took an historical look at drug-taking behaviour focusing on the period when the supply or possession of named drugs became an offence in the UK. I was particularly interested in the ‘story’ of the drug consumer during this time of significant change and policy development.
My PhD research gave me the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience with digital archives as sources of data. I believe digital archives are a fantastic source to connect with the 'voice' of the past. I have several publications related to my research into digital archives and how young people learn from them. I am keen to encourage both students and the wider public to engage with digital archives and make their own historical discoveries – health related or otherwise...
However, public health remains my key research area and I have a specific interest in working with those who for whatever reason feel marginalized within the community. I am particularly keen to work in partnership with individuals or organisations outside academia.
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