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President visits the University’s new research facilities at AMBS

07 Feb 2020

Nancy sees how new data visualisation and behavioural research facilities are enhancing multidisciplinary research

Nancy visits AMBS

Photo L-R: Professor Fiona Devine, Head of Alliance Manchester Business School, Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor, Janine Ellis, Head of School Operations, Alliance Manchester Business School 

Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor, went on a tour of two new facilities at Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) that will encourage multidisciplinary research and discovery across the University.

Both facilities were funded as part of Research England’s UK Research Partnership Investment fund award to the School in 2017. They were launched to colleagues in November 2019 and are due to be launched externally on Thursday 2 April 2020.

Data Visualisation Observatory

This new large-scale visualisation facility offers interactive 3D visualisation of data on a cylindrical matrix of 72 full HD screens. It will help to develop new insights into data and models, and to support information-intensive brainstorming sessions within the observatory or across the world.

It’s already being used to link air quality simulations and real-time traffic flows to reduce pollution levels, visualising health data and immersive observations of brain signals and anatomical models and observing customer behaviour in a simulated retail environment under controlled conditions amongst others.

Behavioural Research Laboratory

This facility allows us to study human behaviour in a controlled setting and includes more than 40 networked computers in cubicles designed to allow participants to undertake individual tasks, two individual testing rooms, spaces for focus groups and observations, and specialist equipment for eye-tracking and measuring physiological reactions.

It’s used for a number of purposes including testing customer reactions to new products and advertisements, examining investor decisions and behaviour and developing behaviour change interventions.