Open Research & Scholarly Publications

Love Data Week 2025 - CU Research

As part of Love Data Week, we’d like to round off the week by highlighting datasets and metadata records that have been deposited into Pure. We're excited to share a couple of the valuable contributions made by our researchers, emphasising the diversity and impact of their work.

The first contribution is a Pure metadata record that links to a dataset stored in the University of Salford repository in Manchester. Lara Harris from the Centre of Manufacturing and Materials, along with her colleagues from Manchester, was part of a research team focused on designing improved transparent facemasks and shields with clear plastic inserts to aid lip-reading and enhance acoustic performance. The team noticed that previous studies on mask effectiveness had used inconsistent methods, so they aimed to refine experimental approaches using mannequins with mouth simulators, human speakers, and various cloth masks. The collected data led to the development of a transparent mask with better acoustic performance by reducing the acoustic mass of the plastic.

The second contribution highlights a case study and fieldwork research approach by Michaelina Jakala and her colleagues at the Centre for Peace and Security (CPS). Their goal was to explore how to better involve young people in peacebuilding efforts. While young people are often seen as a disruptive force in post-conflict areas, they also play crucial roles in rebuilding communities and economies. Focusing on five conflict-affected areas—Afghanistan, Colombia, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Algeria, and Bosnia-Herzegovina—CPS colleagues interviewed young people to ensure their voices are heard. They delved into the histories of peace and conflict, examining how these experiences have shaped the youths and what can be learned from them. Transcripts of these podcast interviews have been deposited into Pure and are available for reading alongside audio recordings on podcast streaming platforms.

There are a growing number of datasets and metadata records in Pure (https://pureportal.coventry.ac.uk/en/datasets/), and we’d be delighted to host and preserve your research data. Please get in contact if you’d like further assistance with this: rdm.lib@coventry.ac.uk