University Of Bath Research Articles

Making Human Learning Visible in a World of Invisible Generative AI

The growth of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in Higher Education (HE) challenges us to think differently and creatively about learning and assessment in order to prepare graduates for their futures (Dawson, 2023) This presentation will argue that the very strength of GenAI is also its Achilles’ heel. Anyone can access, garner and generate data rapidly, but human beings have never had a greater need for scrutiny and evaluation of this output. Our graduates will need to have a transparent understanding of how they are learning in terms of the critical choices they make, the information or knowledge they engage with, and where machine learning ends and theirs begins (Okolie et al, 2022). The future of assessment in HE must go beyond simply measuring knowledge acquisition and instead focus on capturing and evidencing students’ capacity for critical thinking. We will highlight some preliminary findings and early impacts of work underway at the University of Bath (UK) and University of Stellenbosch (South Africa), who are working collaboratively to ensure students develop holistically, excel in critical thinking, and gain the confidence and skills to use GenAI effectively to advance their ideas and learning (Osborne, 2024). This will be structured in three parts: Part one (Reviewing): We will outline work during academic year 23/24 by academic staff to review all their assessments against a three-fold categorisation model of permitted GenAI usage. From September 2024, all assessments clearly signal to students the extent to which GenAI is permitted in each assignment. Part two (Guidance): We will showcase resources that support staff to rethink assessment design that embeds GenAI in ways that are authentic, valid and robust (Upsher et al, 2024). We will also present resources that support students to consider how they might use GenAI ethically, and to develop their AI literacy skills and critical thinking. Part three (Examples): We will present initial findings from an internal project that is engaging with national and international employers, in-house world-leading AI researchers and our own students that highlight creative approaches to harnessing GenAI as a tool to reinforce and support (rather than replace) human learning. We conclude by suggesting that HE has always promoted critical thinking and the rigorous investigation and examination of the production of knowledge. We need graduates who can critically engage with their learning, and assessments that capture and evidence this. The only way to do this effectively is to put people at the start, middle and end of our assessment journey.

Identifying the Factors that Influence Students' Academic Performance as a Function of Teaching Qualities in Ahmed Yasawi International Kazakh-Turkish University

Improvement the quality of the teachers is crucially important for the nation that strives for the economic prosperity and social stability. Taking into consideration of this point of view, the paper examines the set of qualities of University teachers with regards to the student academic achievement, identify their significance and propose appropriate methods for improvement the quality of teachers in increasing the student achievement. In this chapter, we explore the importance of teachers' soft skills in establishing fair, friendly and trusting relationships between students and teachers in order to improve academic performance at Ahmed Yasawi University, Kazakhstan. The data was collected using a mixed method from students at Ahmed Yasawi University. The statistical data were collected through a quantitative questionnaire among 361 students. In order to analyze students' opinions further, ten interviews were conducted. The experience of teacher training at the University of Bath was used in the study to develop recommendations for Ahmed Yasawi University.

A Spatio-Temporal Capsule Neural Network with Self-Correlation Routing for EEG Decoding of Semantic Concepts of Imagination and Perception Tasks.

Decoding semantic concepts for imagination and perception tasks (SCIP) is important for rehabilitation medicine as well as cognitive neuroscience. Electroencephalogram (EEG) is commonly used in the relevant fields, because it is a low-cost noninvasive technique with high temporal resolution. However, as EEG signals contain a high noise level resulting in a low signal-to-noise ratio, it makes decoding EEG-based semantic concepts for imagination and perception tasks (SCIP-EEG) challenging. Currently, neural network algorithms such as CNN, RNN, and LSTM have almost reached their limits in EEG signal decoding due to their own short-comings. The emergence of transformer methods has improved the classification performance of neural networks for EEG signals. However, the transformer model has a large parameter set and high complexity, which is not conducive to the application of BCI. EEG signals have high spatial correlation. The relationship between signals from different electrodes is more complex. Capsule neural networks can effectively model the spatial relationship between electrodes through vector representation and a dynamic routing mechanism. Therefore, it achieves more accurate feature extraction and classification. This paper proposes a spatio-temporal capsule network with a self-correlation routing mechaninsm for the classification of semantic conceptual EEG signals. By improving the feature extraction and routing mechanism, the model is able to more effectively capture the highly variable spatio-temporal features from EEG signals and establish connections between capsules, thereby enhancing classification accuracy and model efficiency. The performance of the proposed model was validated using the publicly accessible semantic concept dataset for imagined and perceived tasks from Bath University. Our model achieved average accuracies of 94.9%, 93.3%, and 78.4% in the three sensory modalities (pictorial, orthographic, and audio), respectively. The overall average accuracy across the three sensory modalities is 88.9%. Compared to existing advanced algorithms, the proposed model achieved state-of-the-art performance, significantly improving classification accuracy. Additionally, the proposed model is more stable and efficient, making it a better decoding solution for SCIP-EEG decoding.

First person – Daniel Lenthall

ABSTRACT First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Biology Open, helping researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Daniel Lenthall is first author on ‘ Lower-limb coordination changes following a 6-week training intervention that elicited enhancements to maximum velocity sprint performance’, published in BiO. Daniel is a Master's in Research student at Leeds Beckett University, and strength and conditioning coach in the lab of Mr Andreas Wallbaum at the University of Bath, Bath, UK, investigating research that bridges the gap between theory and practice, making a meaningful impact beyond academia.

Pathway to Independence - an interview with Eirini Maniou.

Eirini Maniou completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Patras, Greece, before moving to the UK to complete a Master's at the University of Bath and a PhD at the University of Dundee. For her postdoctoral work at University College London, Eirini turned her attention to neural tube morphogenesis, and she is now employing engineering principles to explore this developmental process at the University of Padua, Italy, where she is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions postdoctoral fellow. Eirini was selected as one of our 2024 PI fellows, a group of researchers who will be supported by Development's Pathway to Independence Programme as they aim to secure independent positions. We spoke to Eirini to hear more about her career so far, why she decided to apply to the programme and what research questions she would like to address with her own group.

Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms following exposure to acute psychological trauma in children aged 8–16 years in South Africa: protocol for the Sinethemba longitudinal study

IntroductionChildren exposed to trauma are vulnerable to developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other adverse mental health outcomes. In low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), children are at increased risk of exposure...

Knowledge Maps and Emerging Trends in Cell-Cultured Meat since the 21st Century Research: Based on Different National Perspectives of Spatial-Temporal Analysis.

Cell-cultured meat holds significant environmental value as an alternative protein source. Throughout the 21st century, cell-cultured meat has progressively penetrated commercial markets. However, a systematic review encompassing the entire field needs improvement. Employing Citespace, Vosviewer, and R-Bibliometrix software, a bibliometric analysis was used to present the research progress and general development trends of 484 articles on cell-cultured meat from 2000 to 2022 based on countries, authors, institutions, and keywords. This analysis provides ideas for the future development of cell-cultured meat in different countries or regions worldwide. Research on cell-cultured meat from 2000 to 2022 has undergone two phases: fluctuating growth (2000-2013) and rapid growth (2013-2022). Noteworthy contributions to cell-cultured meat studies emerge from author groups in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and China, with influential institutions like the University of Bath significantly impacting pertinent research. Furthermore, over the past two decades, research has leaned towards exploring topics such as "biomaterials", "cultured", "land use", "public opinion", "animal welfare", and "food safety". Furthermore, this study reveals differences in nomenclature between regions and institutions. "Cultured meat" is more popular in some countries than in other forms. Institutions in Asia use "cultured meat" more frequently; however, institutions in the Americas adopt "cultivated meat" and rarely adopt "in vitro meat", and institutions in the European region have no particularly prominent tendency towards a specific nomenclature. Future research should emphasize aligning the labeling of cell-cultured meat with effective management strategies and referencing regulatory policies across various countries. For the first time, we use three different bibliometric methods to analyze temporal and spatial variation in research on cellular meat. The results of this study have a multiplier effect. We provide a theoretical basis and a practical reference for the identification of alternatives in the dual context of "food crisis and food security" and "climate crisis". At the same time, we also provide a reference for the sustainable development of the food system.

Deep Learning of Transition Probability Densities for Stochastic Asset Models with Applications in Option Pricing

Transition probability density functions (TPDFs) are fundamental to computational finance, including option pricing and hedging. Advancing recent work in deep learning, we develop novel neural TPDF generators through solving backward Kolmogorov equations in parametric space for cumulative probability functions. The generators are ultra-fast, very accurate and can be trained for any asset model described by stochastic differential equations. These are “single solve,” so they do not require retraining when parameters of the stochastic model are changed (e.g., recalibration of volatility). Once trained, the neural TDPF generators can be transferred to less powerful computers where they can be used for e.g. option pricing at speeds as fast as if the TPDF were known in a closed form. We illustrate the computational efficiency of the proposed neural approximations of TPDFs by inserting them into numerical option pricing methods. We demonstrate a wide range of applications including the Black-Scholes-Merton model, the standard Heston model, the SABR model, and jump-diffusion models. These numerical experiments confirm the ultra-fast speed and high accuracy of the developed neural TPDF generators. This paper was accepted by Kay Giesecke, finance. Funding: H. Su received research funding support from Nottingham Business School at Nottingham Trent University. M. V. Tretyakov was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [Grant EP/X022617/1]. D. P. Newton received research funding support from the School of Management at Bath University. Supplemental Material: The online appendices and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.01448 .

New polystyrene recycling process could be world’s first to be both economical and energy-efficient

On May 22, 2024, the University of Bath announced a promising new method for recycling the hard-to-recycle packaging material polystyrene, which has the potential to reduce landfill waste.

DO RUGBY BOOTS WITH A BLADED STUD INCREASE CONTACT PRESSURES THROUGH THE FIFTH METATARSAL COMPARED WITH A ROUNDED STUD? A BIOMECHANICAL STUDY

Fifth metatarsal fractures in sport are known to be associated with acceleration and cross cutting movements when running. It is also established that playing surface has an impact on the ground reaction forces through the foot, increasing the strain through the fifth metatarsal. But what impact does boot design have on these forces? Current thought is that boots that utilise a blade stud design resist sideways slipping of the planted foot more than boots with a rounded stud. This study aims to compare ground reaction forces through the fifth metatarsal in 2 two different designs of rugby boot to assess what impact stud design might have. The forces across the foot were measured using Tekscan in-shoe pressure plates in 24 rugby players. Each player was asked to complete an agility course to measure acceleration, cutting and cross-cutting in the two different designs of rugby boot, reproducing true playing conditions. The boots used were the Canterbury Phoenix Club 8 Stud boot and the Canterbury Speed Club Blade boot. The trial was conducted on an 4G artificial pitch at the Cardiff Arms Park rugby ground. Ethical approval was obtained from Bath University and a research grant was provided by British Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. The blade boot had significantly higher contact pressures than the stud boot on the fifth metatarsal in the combined movements (17.909 ± 10.442 N/cm2 Blade Vs 16.888 ± 9.992 N/cm2 Boot; P < .0125; n= 864 steps in each boot group). The blade boot also produced higher pressure during cross-cutting (32.331 ± 13.568 N/cm2 Vs 27.651 ± 15.194 N/cm2 p < 0.007). Pressures were also higher in both acceleration and cutting, although not significantly so. These results will guide clinicians advising athletes in shoe design, especially those predisposed to or rehabilitating from a fifth metatarsal fracture.

Purge–Mainstream Interactions in a Turbine Stage With Rotor Endwall Contouring

Abstract Purge flows are prevalent in modern gas turbine design, allowing for increased turbine entry temperatures. The purge flow passes through a rim seal and interacts with the mainstream flow, modifying the blade secondary flow structures and reducing stage efficiency. These structures may be controlled using end wall contouring (EWC), though experimental demonstration of their benefit is seldom reported in the literature. The optically accessible turbine at the University of Bath was designed to directly measure and visualize the flow field within the blade passage for a rotor with EWC. The single-stage turbine enables phase-locked flow field measurements with volumetric particle image velocimetry (PIV). Purge flow was supplied to investigate a range of operating conditions in which the secondary flow structures were modified. The modular turbine rotor allowed for expedient change of a bladed ring, or bling, featuring non-axisymmetric EWC. The identified secondary flow structures were the pressure-side leg of the horse shoe vortex (PS-HSV) and an egress vortex (EV) of concurrent rotational direction. An increase in purge flowrate monotonically shifted the EV toward the suction-side (SS) of the adjacent blade. The migration of the PS-HSV toward the SS caused the two aforementioned vortices to merge. The EWC rotor design included a leading-edge (LE) feature to alter the PS-HSV and a trough to guide the EV low spanwise in the passage and maintain displacement from the adjacent suction-side. The EWC rotor was found to be effective at altering the formation and positioning of the secondary flow structures at a range of purge flow conditions.

A Combined Experimental and Turbulence-Resolved Modeling Approach for Aeroengine Turbine Rim Seals

Abstract Ingress is the penetration of hot mainstream gas into the rotor–stator wheel-space formed between adjacent disks; a rim seal is installed at the periphery of the wheel-space. Purge flow is bled from the compressor and re-introduced in the turbine to reduce, or in the limit prevent, ingress. This study presents a unique, concomitant experimental and turbulence-resolved numerical investigation of ingress in an aeroengine rim seal, with leakage flow. Experimental modeling is conducted in the University of Bath's 1-stage turbine test facility. Measurements of gas concentration, pressure and swirl were used to assess the performance of the rim seal. A parallel study using improved delayed detached eddy simulations (IDDES) was used to generate time-averaged and time-resolved flow-fields, enabling direct comparison with experimental data. The modeled geometry included realistic features typical of aeroengine architectures, including a contoured stator undershroud and an omega-seal cover plate. Such features were shown to locally distort the flow field, highlighting the limitation when modeling simplified geometry. The circumferential distribution of sealing effectiveness was nonaxisymmetric and synchronized in accordance with the local radial velocity field. Utilization of a detached eddy simulation (DES) turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) dissipation multiplier demonstrated regions where increased turbulence resolution was required to resolve the appropriate scale of turbulent eddies. IDDES computations were found to accurately capture the radial distributions of pressure, swirl and effectiveness, both in the absence and presence of a superposed leakage flow, provided that the mesh was sufficiently refined so as to resolve ≥50% of the energy cascade. The IDDES approach exhibited significantly superior agreement with experiments when compared to previous studies that employed the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) methodology.

A qualitative evaluation of mentors’ experiences of a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic mentor scheme for clinical psychologists

ABSTRACT Objectives Inequalities in the clinical psychology profession extend to the uptake and recruitment of clinical psychologists from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. Mentoring schemes can help facilitate mentee’s personal and professional development. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of mentors who participated in the BAME mentor scheme at University of Bath. Methods Qualitative interviews were conducted with N = 29 mentors (both trainee and qualified clinical psychologists), who predominately identified as female and White British. The reflexive thematic analysis six-step process was employed to analyse the data. Results Four major themes were generated; (1) Mentoring as a learning curve; (2) Mentoring in the context of BAME; (3) Why we mentor: The impact; and (4) Moving the scheme forward: What next? Conclusions Overall, mentoring was a rewarding experience for mentors, and given the right support, could help strengthen the mentoring experience and aims of the scheme for the future. These findings offer insight and guidance for future mentoring programmes considering diversifying the clinical psychology profession.

Assessing the sensitivity and specificity of myositis-specific and associated autoantibodies: a sub-study from the MyoCite cohort.

Myositis-specific and associated autoantibodies are important biomarkers in routine clinical use. We assessed local testing performance for myositis autoantibodies by comparing line immunoassay (LIA) to protein radio-immunoprecipitation and identifying clinical characteristics associated with each myositis autoantibody in the MyoCite cohort. Serum samples from patients within the MyoCite cohort, a well-characterized retro-prospective dataset of adult and juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) patients in Lucknow, India (2017-2020), underwent LIA at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Science (SGPGIMS), Lucknow. Immunoprecipitation of 147 IIM patients' serum samples (125 adult-onset, 22 juvenile-onset) was conducted at the University of Bath, with researchers blind to LIA results. LIA performance was assessed against immunoprecipitation as the reference standard, measuring sensitivity, specificity and inter-rater agreement. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression determined clinical associations for specific myositis-specific autoantibodies. Immunoprecipitation identified myositis autoantibodies in 56.5% (n = 83) of patient samples, with anti-Jo1 (n = 16; 10.9%) as the most common, followed by anti-MDA5 (n = 14, 9.5%). While LIA showed good agreement for anti-Jo1, anti-PL7 and anti-PL12 (Cohen's κ 0.79, 0.83 and 1, respectively), poor agreement was observed in other subgroups, notably anti-TIF1γ (Cohen's κ 0.21). Strongly positive samples, especially in myositis-specific autoantibodies, correlated more with immunoprecipitation results. Overall, 59 (40.1%) samples exhibited non-congruence on LIA and immunoprecipitation, and κ values for LIAs for anti-TIF1γ, anti-Ku, anti-PmScl, anti-Mi2 and anti-SAE ranged between 0.21 and 0.60. While LIA reliably detected anti-Jo1, anti-PL7, anti-PL12, anti-MDA5 and anti-NXP-2, it also displayed false positives and negatives. Its effectiveness in detecting other autoantibodies, such as anti-TIF1γ, was poor.

О книге Саймона Хейхо (Simon Hayhoe) «Опыт слепых посетителей художественных музеев»

<p style="text-align: justify;">The review introduces the book “The Experience of Blind Visitors to Art Museums” by Simon Hayhoe, a famous philosopher and professor at the University of Bath (UK), and presents the experience of blind visitors to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, as well as the experience of blind artists such as Esref Armagan and others. The author tries to answer the following questions: why do blind people want to visit art museums if they cannot see the works of fine art and cannot even touch them? How do people whose vision is impaired or absent understand the fine arts if this comprehension is possible primarily through visual perception? What are the consequences of vision loss for a sense of self-identity in a cultural space? Simon Hayhoe believes that blind and visually impaired people enter the world of fine art due to the existence of another, non-sensory dimension. And the portal which connects the materiality of works of art with the world of non-verbal awareness is outside of perceptual knowledge. This “bridge” between conscious and nonverbal knowledge is described as a transition that is provided by the museum environment and by the knowledge of the pieces of art and the whole cultural context. The very atmosphere of museums, galleries, and cultural heritage sites promotes contact between the spiritual world of visitors and works of art.</p>

Bibliometrics Analysis of Green Accounting Research

This research delves into Green Accounting, which integrates environmental considerations into traditional accounting practices. Green Accounting has garnered significant attention in the context of heightened global ecological awareness and sustainability efforts. The study examines the trends in Green Accounting publications, investigating various aspects such as subject areas, types of publications, and international dissemination. The objectives encompass analyzing publication trends from 1992 to mid-2023 and identifying influencing factors, exploring the implications of different publication types, revealing the significance of dominant subject areas, recognizing key international channels for dissemination, making global comparisons, acknowledging prominent authors' contributions, examining affiliations and roles of authors, and uncovering prevalent themes in Green Accounting publications. The methodology involves employing bibliometric analysis utilizing Scopus and VOSviewer tools to discern patterns and advancements in Green Accounting. The findings demonstrate fluctuations driven by environmental concerns, policy shifts, funding availability, and industry involvement. Dominant article types highlight interdisciplinary green economic engagement focusing on economic and ecological aspects. The research identifies global contributions to Green Accounting from developed and developing nations, driven by notable authors such as Cairns, Bartelmus, and Markandya, and spanning diverse affiliations like Universite McGill and the University of Bath, showcasing international interdisciplinary collaboration. Themes encompass environmental accounting, economics, corporate social responsibility, sustainable development, finance, and align with the Sustainable Development Goals. The study's novelty lies in its comprehensive analysis of Green Accounting's landscape, shedding light on its development, global involvement, and influences, thus providing valuable insights for stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers to advance sustainable practices. The implications underscore the need for ongoing research to address ecological challenges through Green Accounting, utilizing the understanding of trends, subject areas, and global engagement to formulate greener strategies, fostering collaboration among authors and affiliations, and enhancing overall awareness for facilitating sustainable development progress.

Development of a magneto-optical Kerr microscope using a 3D printer

Background Magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) microscopes are powerful experimental tools to observe magnetic domains in magnetic materials. These devices are, however, typically large, unportable, and expensive (∼ several million yen), and therefore prevent many researchers in the field of materials science from easy access to study real-space images of magnetic domains. Methods To overcome these issues, we utilized data from “The OpenFlexure Project” developed by the University of Bath and the University of Cambridge. The purpose of this project is to make high-precision mechanical positioning of the studied sample available to anyone with a 3D printer, especially for use in microscopes. We built a low-cost and portable MOKE microscope device with a 3D printer. We redesigned the 3D modeling data of an ordinary optical microscope provided by The OpenFlexure project and incorporated additional elements, such as optical polarizers and an electromagnetic coil into the primarily designed microscope that did not originally have these elements. Results We successfully observed magnetic domains and their real-space motions induced by magnetic fields using the palm-sized low-cost MOKE microscope, which costs approximately 30,000 yen in raw materials to construct. Conclusions Our methodology to assemble a low-cost MOKE microscope will enable researchers working in the field of materials science to observe magnetic domains more easily without commercial equipment.

Preface

The International Conference on Mathematical Physics and Computational Simulation (CONF-MPCS 2023) is an annual conference focusing on research areas including mathematics, physics, theoretical analysis, and computational simulation. It aims to establish a broad and interdisciplinary platform for experts, researchers, and students worldwide to present, exchange, and discuss the latest advance and development in mathematics, physics, theoretical analysis, and computational simulation.This volume contains the papers of the International Conference on Mathematical Physics and Computational Simulation (CONF-MPCS 2023). Each of these papers has gained a comprehensive review by the editorial team and professional reviewers. Each paper has been examined and evaluated for its theme, structure, method, content, language, and format.Cooperating with prestigious universities, CONF-MPCS 2023 organized six workshops in Chicago, Portsmouth, Bath, Abu Dhabi, Adana, and Constantine. Dr. Stavros Shiaeles chaired the workshop “Insider Threat Detection Advances Using AI”, which was held at the University of Portsmouth. Dr. Jie Zhang chaired the workshop “Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning” at University of Bath. And Dr. Yazeed Ghadi chaired the workshop “Enhancing Human-Machine Interaction through Multimodal Interfaces: A User-Centric Approach” at Al Ain University.Besides these workshops, CONF-MPCS 2023 also held an online session. Eminent professors from top universities worldwide were invited to deliver keynote speeches in this online session, including Dr. Achintya Haldar from University of Arizona, Dr. Roman Bauer from University of Surrey, Dr. Stavros Shiaeles from University of Portsmouth. They have given keynote speeches on related topics of mathematics, physics, and computational simulation.On behalf of the committee, we would like to give sincere gratitude to all authors and speakers who have made their contributions to CONF-MPCS 2023, editors and reviewers who have guaranteed the quality of papers with their expertise, and the committee members who have devoted themselves to the success of CONF-MPCS 2023.Dr. Roman BauerGeneral Chair of Conference CommitteeList of Committee Members CONF-MPCS 2023 are availble in this pdf.

An interview with Jonathan Slack.

Jonathan Slack is Emeritus Professor at the University of Bath. His research interests have included early development of the Xenopus embryo, regeneration of limbs and tails, and attempts to reprogramme other cell types to β cells. In September 2023, Jonathan was awarded the 2023 British Society for Developmental Biology Wolpert Medal, which recognizes an outstanding individual who has made major contributions to the teaching and communication of developmental biology in the UK. We chatted to Jonathan at the European Developmental Biology Congress, where he was presented with the medal, to find out more about his career and his experience writing textbooks and the 'A Very Short Introduction' books on stem cells and genes.

Myron Gordon Award Lecture 2023: Painting the neural crest: How studying pigment cells illuminates neural crest cell biology.

It has been 30 (!!) years since I began working on zebrafish pigment cells, as a postdoc in the laboratory of Prof. Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard. There, I participated in the first large-scale mutagenesis screen in zebrafish, focusing on pigment cell mutant phenotypes. The isolation of colourless, shady, parade and choker mutants allowed us (as a postdoc in Prof. Judith Eisen's laboratory, and then in my own laboratory at the University of Bath since 1997) to pursue my ambition to address long-standing problems in the neural crest field. Thus, we have studied how neural crest cells choose individual fates, resulting in our recent proposal of a new, and potentially unifying, model which we call Cyclical Fate Restriction, as well as addressing how pigment cell patterns are generated. A key feature of our work in the last 10 years has been the use of mathematical modelling approaches to clarify our biological models and to refine our interpretations. None of this would have been possible without a hugely talented group of laboratory members and other collaborators from around the world-it has been, and I am sure will continue to be, a pleasure and privilege to work with you all!