What is this event about?

Hosted by Cranfield University, the Defence and Security Doctoral Symposium provides research students and early career researchers in defence and security with an opportunity to present their work to a sector-wide audience. It covers both technological and social science research. The event also includes an exhibition space for industry and other employers of defence and security researchers.

Who should attend?

This event is designed specifically for researchers with an interest in defence and security research outcomes, including PhD and other research students and their supervisors, early career researchers, representatives from industry, government and other defence and security-relevant NGOs.

Why should you attend?

You will gain exposure to cutting-edge research being undertaken by research students and early career researchers; a breadth of understanding of key issues being investigated across technology and social science focused research; an opportunity to network widely; an understanding of key policy-drivers in defence and security; and an ideal opportunity to engage with defence and security employers.

We are seeking contributions in five areas:

  • Paper Presentations (15 mins plus 5 mins for questions)
  • 3MT (3 Minute Thesis) Competition (1 Power point slide)
  • Poster Competition
  • Digital Image Competition (1 Image and 100-150 Words)
  • 3D Installations

To contribute a presentation or 3MT you need to be in your second year and onwards if a full-time student or fourth year and onwards if a part-time student or an ECR. The poster, 3D Installation and digital image competitions are also open to Early Career Researchers and all research students.

If you wish to enter more than one category, please email Caroline.

Guidance and Competition Rules

This year we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Defence and Security Doctoral Symposium, whilst this event is free to attend online registration by 1 November is essential.

Key Dates

Submission of Abstracts by Friday 30th August 2024

Submission of all other Abstracts by Friday 13th September 2024

Acceptance notification by Friday 20th September 2024

Paper/3MT/Poster/Digital Image and accompanying presentational material to be submitted by Friday 18th October 2024

Accommodation

Blunsdon House Hotel ****

Blunsdon House Hotel, BW Premier Collection is a 4* independent hotel with fantastic leisure facilities.  Surrounded by Wiltshire countryside, our hotel is set in 20 acres of beautifully maintained grounds with views to the Cotswolds.  Relax beside green fields and country views whilst still being conveniently located near Swindon and easily accessible from the M4 and M5.  

Your room is your place to rest and recharge.  We take this seriously and pride ourselves on providing all you need for a comfortable night’s stay, so you can switch off with ease and wake up feeling well rested.  You’ll find a Queen or King sized bed, powerful Aqualisa shower, flat screen TV with 50 channels, soft lighting and ample work space.  Our executive bedrooms located in the Pavilion also feature a private balcony or patio.  Open your door to the Wiltshire countryside and stargaze in comfort, metres from your warm bed.

Our chefs cook in house, using the freshest ingredients, full of flavour.  Choose from our distinctive onsite Flame restaurant, our modern all-day Carrie’s Bar or relax in the comfort of your own room with 24hour room service.  With stylish décor, inviting tub chairs and leather sofas complete with gorgeous countryside views, you will find space to relax. We also have an idyllic garden patio area for eating and drinking in the warmer months. 

Blunsdon Fitness+ gives you complimentary access to our extensive range of onsite leisure facilities to enjoy whilst staying with us.  Take a dip in our indoor swimming pool or relax in the poolside Jacuzzi with Scandinavian sauna and Essence steam room.  We’ve got the best indoor cycle studio in the area, with 20 professional bikes, state of the art LED lighting and a pumping sound system you’ve never had a workout like it!   A fully air conditioned cardio suite with state of the art Cybex equipment plus a resistance gym with extensive weight area for those wishing to work out.  Why not try a Les Mills class in our fully equipped fitness studio or enjoy a game of tennis on our professional standard outdoor court complete with stunning views.  Perfect for a game with colleagues on a summer’s evening.

You may wish to stretch your legs after a journey or clear you head at the end of a long day.  Our mile long nature walk makes for an invigorating stroll.  Our gardeners allow the planting to reflect the changing seasons so there is always something to appreciate.  

Our friendly and attentive team look forward to welcoming you soon.

- WiFi is complimentary and available throughout the hotel.
- 300 complimentary onsite parking spaces.

Our inclusive rate includes full English breakfast, complimentary use of our leisure facilities, free WiFi and free onsite parking.  Book direct via our website using the promotional code DACU.

£114 per standard room per night (based on 1 adult), includes full English breakfast, use of our leisure club, free WiFi, free Parking and VAT 

T: 01793 721701. E: Web Booking System.SAT NAV Postcode: SN26 7AS.Username and password: DACU

Leonardo Swindon

"At Leonardo Swindon we aim to make your stay exceptional. It starts as soon as you step inside the hotel and experience the warm welcome from our Reception team, to the well-stocked bar and the relaxed quality of the restaurant".

"Leonardo Swindon is ideally situated in the heart of the town centre. The hotel has its own car park and if this happens to be full then further, public, car parking is available within a couple of minutes. For anyone arriving by train, the main station is less than 10-minute walk away. The location is ideal for visiting the pedestrian shopping area, whilst the Designer Outlet Village is also within easy reach by either foot or car".

"The 229, spacious, non-smoking bedrooms all have at least a double bed. The well-lit spacious feel is designed around our guests comfort. All rooms have flat screen Freeview televisions, high speed internet access, generous work space, hairdryer, tea/ coffee making facilities and room service".

For 2024 the rate is £105.00 per room per night (Single Occupancy). This includes a full breakfast.

An Advance purchase discount of 20% is available to book on the best available rates. This is applicable 30 days prior to the arrival date. All bookings are to be pre-paid and are non-refundable.

Car parking is available at £6 per night (either on-site or at the adjoining Whalebridge car park); The hotel car park is accessible 24 hours and tickets are to be validated at reception.
Whalebridge car park is open 6:30am – 11:00pm – Please validate your ticket with reception for the discounted rate.
Free Wifi in the public areas and Free High Speed Internet Access in the bedrooms".
Should standard rooms not be available you may be offered a discounted Superior of Executive room.

"Booking is simple, just click on the link to the website and enter DACU in the promotional code section". Online Booking. Alternatively Quote DACU

T: 01793 445600
E: LeonardoReservations@leonardohotels.com
SAT NAV Postcode: SN1 2NG

Please note: The information above is directly supplied by the hotels listed and are not the views of Cranfield University.

Terms and conditions

As per standard Cranfield University terms and conditions for delegates - available below.

Cancellations
Substitutions are welcome and may be made at any time, at no charge, provided the organisers are informed prior to the start of the event. If you have to cancel your booking, please do so in writing to Cranfield University. Cancellation up to 10 working days prior to the start date is subject to a £100 administration fee, after which, regrettably, no refund can be made. Refunds will be processed after the event.

Programme changes
It may be necessary, for reasons beyond the control of the organiser’s, to change programme content, speakers and/or timing of the event. Neither Cranfield University nor the Defence Academy is liable for any changes.

UK military rates
Rates advertised are for serving UK military salaried staff, these do not include associates and or staff working with or on behalf of the UK military, Symposia at Shrivenham reserve the right to cancel the booking/application or hold any monies paid as a credit toward a full payment.

Presentations
Access to and use of any presentations provided are for attendees use only, sharing, reproduction is forbidden without the authors permission. Cranfield accept no responsibility for any data loss due to conversion to PDF.  

Chatham House Rule
"When a meeting, or part thereof, is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed". In addition to any security classification criteria.

Data protection
If you have received correspondence from us where the personal or company details are incorrect, please contact Symposia at Shrivenham so that we may update our records. Cranfield University gathers and manages data in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. The information may be used to update you on our other events and courses. Cranfield University will not share your data with other companies or agencies offering similar services.

Health and safety
I verify that the Company will accept responsibility for the welfare of persons entering their display space with regards to Health and Safety and also accept that all electrical appliances brought on site have been PAT tested within the last 12 months.

General terms and conditions for supply of services
1.1 Definitions:
Charges: the charges payable by You for the supply of the Services in accordance with clause 5.
Commencement Date: has the meaning set out in clause 2.2.
Conditions: these terms and conditions as amended from time to time
Agreement: the Agreement between us for the supply of Services in accordance with these Conditions.
Intellectual Property Rights: patents, rights to inventions, copyright and related rights, trade marks, business names and domain names, rights in get-up, goodwill and the right to sue for passing off, rights in designs, database rights, rights to use, and protect the confidentiality of, confidential information (including know-how), and all other intellectual property rights, in each case whether registered or unregistered and including all applications and rights to apply for and be granted, renewals or extensions of, and rights to claim priority from, such rights and all similar or equivalent rights or forms of protection which subsist or will subsist now or in the future in any part of the world.
Services: the Symposia
Specification: the description of the Services including details contained in any quotation/proposal provided in writing to You.
‘We’ and ‘Our’: shall mean Cranfield University registered in England and Wales with company number RC000151.
‘You’ and or ‘Your’: the person in receipt of the Services.
Your Default : has the meaning set out in clause 4.2
1.2 Interpretation:
(a) A reference to a statute or statutory provision is a reference to it as amended or re-enacted. A reference to a statute or statutory provision includes any subordinate legislation made under that statute or statutory provision, as amended or re-enacted.
(b) Any phrase introduced by the terms including, include, in particular or any similar expression, shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding those terms.
(c) A reference to writing or written includes email.
2. Basis of Agreement
2.1 The description of the Services issued by We, and any descriptions or illustrations contained in the literature, We issued or published for the sole purpose of giving an approximate idea of the Services described in them. They shall not form part of the Agreement or have any contractual force.
2.2 The following documents will form part of the Agreement between us in respect of our supply of the Services;
a) Privacy Policy (Privacy Policy – Symposia_review_draft_HLH.docx)
b) GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) Compliance document for Symposia (data_handling_process.docx)
c) Acceptable use Policy (Acceptable Use - Symposia_review_draft_HLH.docx)
2.3 The Conditions contained and referred to herein shall apply to the Agreement to the exclusion of any other terms that You seek to impose or incorporate, or which are implied by trade, custom, practice or course of dealing.
3. Supply of Services
3.1 We shall supply the Services to You in accordance with the Specification in all material respects.
3.2 We shall use all reasonable endeavours to meet any performance dates specified in the quotation/proposal however any such dates shall be estimates only and time shall not be of the essence for performance of the Services.
3.3 We shall have the right to make any changes to the Services which are necessary to comply with any applicable law or safety requirement, or which do not materially affect the nature or quality of the Services, and We shall notify You in any such event.
3.4 We warrant to You that the Services will be provided using reasonable care and skill.
4. Customer's obligations
4.1 You shall:
(a) ensure that any information it provides is complete and accurate;
(b) co-operate in all matters relating to the Services;
(c) obtain and maintain all necessary licences, permissions and consents which may be required before the date on which the Services are to start;
(d) comply with any additional obligations as set out in the Specification.
4.2 If Our performance of any obligations under the Agreement is prevented or delayed by any act or omission of Yours or by Your failure to perform any relevant obligation (Your Default):
(a) We shall without limiting its other rights or remedies have the right to suspend performance of the Services until You remedy Your Default, and to rely on Your Default to relieve it from the performance of any of its obligations to the extent Your Default prevents or delays Our performance of any obligations;
(b) We shall not be liable for any costs or losses sustained or incurred by You arising directly or indirectly from Our failure or delay to perform any of its obligations as set out in this clause 4.2; and
(c) You shall reimburse all monies on written demand for any costs or losses We sustain or incur arising directly or indirectly from Your Default.
5. Charges and payment
5.1 You shall pay each invoice We submit:
(a) within 30 days of the date of the invoice; and
(b) in full and in cleared funds to a bank account We nominate in writing, and time for payment shall be of the essence of the Agreement.
5.2 All amounts payable by You under the Agreement are exclusive of amounts in respect of value added tax chargeable for the time being (VAT).
5.3 If You fail to make any payment due under the Agreement by the due date for payment, then You shall pay interest on the overdue amount at the rate of 4% per cent per annum above National Westminster Bank's base rate from time to time. Such interest shall accrue on a daily basis from the due date until actual payment of the overdue amount, whether before or after judgment.
5.4 You shall pay all amounts due under the Agreement in full without any set-off, counterclaim, deduction or withholding
6. Intellectual property rights
6.1 All Intellectual Property Rights in or arising out of or in connection with the Services We shall own .
6.2 You acknowledge that, in respect of any third party Intellectual Property Rights, Your use of any such Intellectual Property Rights is conditional on Our obtaining a written licence from the relevant licensor on such terms as will entitle a license of such rights to You.
7. Limitation of liability:
7.1 Nothing in the Agreement shall limit or exclude Our liability for:
(a) death or personal injury caused by its negligence, or the negligence of its employees, agents or subcontractors;
(b) fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or
(c) breach of the terms implied by section 2 of the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 (title and quiet possession) or any other liability which cannot be limited or excluded by applicable law.
7.2 Subject to clause 7.1, We shall not be liable to You, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), for breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, arising under or in connection with the Agreement for:
(a) loss of profits;
(b) loss of sales or business;
(c) loss of agreements or Agreements;
(d) loss of anticipated savings;
(e) loss of use or corruption of software, data or information;
(f) loss of damage to goodwill; and
(g) any indirect or consequential loss.
7.3 Subject to clause 8.1, Our total liability to You, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, arising under or in connection with the Agreement shall be limited to £500,000 in the aggregate.
7.4 The terms implied by sections 3 to 5 of the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 are, to the fullest extent permitted by law, excluded from the Agreement.
7.5 This clause 7 shall survive termination of the Agreement.
8. Termination
8.1 Without limiting its other rights or remedies, either party may terminate the Agreement by giving the other party one months' written notice.
8.2 Without limiting its other rights or remedies, either party may terminate the Agreement with immediate effect by giving written notice to the other party if:
(a) the other party commits a material breach of any term of the Agreement and (if such a breach is remediable) fails to remedy that breach within 14 days of that party being notified in writing to do so;
(b) the other party takes any step or action in connection with its entering administration, provisional liquidation or any composition or arrangement with its creditors (other than in relation to a solvent restructuring), being wound up having a receiver appointed to any of its assets or ceasing to carry on business or, if the step or action is taken in another jurisdiction, in connection with any analogous procedure in the relevant jurisdiction;
(c) the other party suspends, or threatens to suspend, or ceases or threatens to cease to carry on all or a substantial part of its business; or
(d) the other party's financial position deteriorates that in the terminating party's opinion the other party's capability to fulfil its obligations has been placed in jeopardy.
8.3 Without limiting its other rights or remedies, We may terminate the Agreement with immediate effect by giving You written notice if:
(a) You fail to pay any amount due under the Agreement on the due date for payment and remains in default not less than 30 days after being notified in writing to make such payment; or
(b) You are subject to a change of control.
8.4 Without limiting its other rights or remedies, We may suspend provision of the Services under the Agreement or any other Agreement between us if You become subject to any of the events listed in clause 8.2(b) to clause 8.2(d) or We reasonably believes that You are about to become subject to any of them, or if You fail to pay any amount due under this Agreement on the due date for payment.
9. Consequences of termination
On termination of the Agreement for any reason:
(a) You shall immediately pay us all of Our outstanding unpaid invoices and interest and, in respect of Services supplied but for which no invoice has been submitted, We shall submit an invoice, which shall be payable by You immediately on receipt;
(b) the accrued rights, remedies, obligations and liabilities of the parties as at expiry or termination shall be unaffected, including the right to claim damages in respect of any breach of the Agreement which existed at or before the date of termination or expiry; and
(c) clauses which expressly or by implication survive termination shall continue in full force and effect.
10. General
10.1 Force majeure. Neither party shall be in breach of this Agreement nor liable for delay in performing, or failure to perform, any of its obligations under this Agreement if such delay or failure result from events, circumstances or causes beyond its reasonable control.
10.2 Assignment and other dealings.
(a) We may at any time assign, transfer, mortgage, charge, subcontract or deal in any other manner with all or any of its rights under the Agreement and may subcontract or delegate in any manner any or all of its obligations under the Agreement to any third party or agent.
(b) You shall not, without our prior written consent, assign, transfer, mortgage, charge, subcontract declare a trust over or deal in any other manner with any or all of its rights or obligations under the Agreement.
10.3 Confidentiality.
(a) Each party undertakes that it shall not at any time during the Agreement, and for a period of five years after termination of the Agreement, disclose to any person any confidential information concerning the business, affairs, customers, clients or suppliers of the other party, except as permitted by clause 10.3(b).
(b) Each party may disclose the other party's confidential information:
(i) to its employees, officers, representatives, subcontractors or advisers who need to know such information for the purposes of carrying out the party's obligations under the Agreement. Each party shall ensure that its employees, officers, representatives, subcontractors or advisers to whom it discloses the other party's confidential information comply with this clause 10.3; and
(ii) as may be required by law, a court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental or regulatory authority.
(c) Neither party shall use the other party's confidential information for any purpose other than to perform its obligations under the Agreement.
10.4 Entire agreement.
(a) This Agreement and all documents referred to in it constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes and extinguishes all previous agreements, promises, assurances, warranties, representations and understandings between them, whether written or oral, relating to its subject matter.
(b) Each party agrees that it shall have no remedies in respect of any statement, representation, assurance or warranty (whether made innocently or negligently) that is not set out in this agreement. Each party agrees that it shall have no claim for innocent or negligent misrepresentation based on any statement in this agreement.
10.5 Variation. No variation of the Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by the parties (or their authorised representatives).
10.6 Waiver. A waiver of any right or remedy is only effective if given in writing and shall not be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach or default. A delay or failure to exercise, or the single or partial exercise of, any right or remedy shall not:
(a) waive that or any other right or remedy; or
(b) prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy.
10.7 Severance. If any provision or part-provision of the Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable, it shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, legal and enforceable. If such modification is not possible, the relevant provision or part-provision shall be deemed deleted. Any modification to or deletion of a provision or part-provision under this clause shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the rest of the Agreement.
10.8 Notices. Any notice which may be required to be given by either Party under this Agreement shall be deemed to have been duly given if left at or sent by recorded delivery post, if to Cranfield sent to Cranfield University, Contracts Office, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, and if to the Client to the Client's last known place of business or its registered office or to such other address as the Client shall have previously designated in writing.
10.9 Third parties. No one other than a party to the Agreement shall have any right to enforce any of its terms.
10.10 Freedom of Information Act. The Client acknowledges that Cranfield is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and undertakes to assist and co-operate with Cranfield to enable Cranfield to comply with any information disclosure obligations.
10.11 Governing law. The Agreement, and any dispute or claim (including non-contractual disputes or claims) arising out of or in connection with it or shall be construed in accordance with the law of England and shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of courts of England.