A RESEARCH project which, with the help of The Bolton News, replicated a social experiment carried out in the town in 1938 to find out what makes people happy has been awarded a grant in the memory of the first principal of Bolton Institute of Technology.

The University of Bolton and The Bolton News recreated the Mass Observation happiness survey in 2014.

Now Professor Jerome Carson from the University of the Bolton has received a Jenkinson Award for “The Changing Nature of Happiness”.

The awards were launched in 2015 with the span of research activities funded by the scheme reflects the diversity of research activities at the University of Bolton. The awards are named after Augustus Jack Jenkinson, known as Jack, who was the first Principal of Bolton Institute of Technology, which opened in 1964.

This year, 17 projects have received funding of between £600 and £10,000 to fund research. The university said the submissions were of a high quality “with a particularly strong emphasis on the benefits of the proposed research for students”, adding the wide range of projects supported reflected the diversity of research at the university.

Projects range from studies of cancer through to the history of textiles, counselling and high performance composites.

And this year, several early career researchers have been successful, which the university says reflects its commitment to supporting academics at the earlier stages of their careers, alongside senior researchers.

Said Dr Kondal Kandadi: “The university has developed a number of crucial pathways and initiatives to implement our TIRI strategy and embed the Teaching Intensive, Research Informed Philosophy, High quality programmes, excellent and new staff, state of art curriculum and great student experience.”

The psychology department scooped seven out of seventeen Jenkinson Awards night hosted by Professor Patrick McGhee and Dr Kandadi.

Professor Jerome Carson won a second Award for his Happiness research, conducted with Sandie McHugh. He said: “I am so proud of the whole team in psychology.

"In addition to delivering high quality teaching, all members of staff are involved in teaching informed research, hence the Jenkinson success.

"The Department is now at 71 in the Sunday Times League Table and in the top 50 for student satisfaction. I am sure we will build on this success next year under the leadership of Gill Waugh, our Head of School.”