‘Early Years and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)’ is a crucial work area for the National Centre for Population Health & Wellbeing Research. Our work in this area aims to help give children a healthy and safe start in life. There is considerable evidence that a person’s experiences in childhood play an essential part in shaping their future – with early year’s child development being associated with good health and educational outcomes in childhood and better health and employment outcomes in adulthood.
In this blog post, we spoke to Amrita Bandyopadhyay and Becky Amos to find out more about what inspired them to become researchers and why they decided to focus on ACEs research.
Amrita Bandyopadhyay, Early Years and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) researcher at the Centre for Population Health, based in Swansea University.
Amrita Bandyopadhyay
When and how did you decide you wanted to be a researcher?
I first joined Swansea University in 2013 as a Data Analyst. As a Data Analyst, my work was very much on the technical side of research. However, I started to work on several research projects that focused on vulnerable children and early life, which exposed me to the vast academic literature in this field. This sparked an interest and a newfound motivation to work in this area, and my data analyst background meant that I gravitated naturally towards epidemiology.
I am currently an Early Years & ACEs Researcher for the Centre for Population Health.
What drew you to ACEs research?
Working for the Centre gives me the opportunity to work with data held in the SAIL Databank. SAIL routinely collects population and health data – providing anonymized person-based data for research and analysis.
The ability to link and explore birth, health, education and demographic data from pregnancy, childbirth, early years and childhood into adulthood – allows us to look deeper into risk factors for preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). And when this is combined with data analytics and state-of-the-art machine learning techniques, it provides an evidence-based approach for risk identification. This shapes and impacts policy decisions and has the potential to make a real difference.
Is there a particular area of research within ACEs that interests you?
We know from existing research that ACE negatively impacts a child’s health, education, employment, and outcomes in later life. The area of ACE that particularly interests me is around ‘resilience’ – and using our research findings to help children build strength so they can break the cycle and reduce the adverse effects of ACEs.
What are you seeking to accomplish in your career?
I want the research I am involved in to make a real difference to the people who need it the most. I am keen to ensure that our research endeavour is fed back to the people and the part of the community from where the data originated. So, I am passionate about research going beyond academia and positively affecting people and communities.
When you are not working, what do you like to do in your spare time?
I am a dancer and dance instructor in my spare time. I see dance as an opportunity for young people to learn a new skill – it is an excellent way to have fun and boost wellbeing and above all expose them to an art form. It can help develop positive physical, mental and social interaction. What I look to achieve in teaching young children to dance is very similar to what I aim to achieve through my research work – that opportunity to make a difference and positively impact a young person’s life.
Becky Amos, Early Years and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) researcher at the Centre for Population Health, based in Bangor University.
Becky Amos
When and how did you decide you wanted to be a researcher?
The first time I considered being a researcher and a psychologist was in secondary school. I was 16 years old and reading about psychological experiments in a book in the library, and I was interested in how innovative methodologies are. I always wanted to be a scientist of some form, and psychology became a passion for me and something I was good at.
My aim to be a researcher was solidified during my masters; I studied research methods and their application to psychology. I was interested in all the ways I could explore phenomena – qualitatively, quantitatively. I wanted to be part of a movement to push science forward. That’s what I strive for. In addition, I like the idea of using my skills to improve the lives of others; I hope that through my research, I can achieve that.
What drew you to ACEs research?
I have always been interested in the mental health of young people and adolescents, with a focus on early intervention. As a young person who experienced several adversities, I am very passionate about drawing attention to the importance of this research and improving outcomes for those who experience or have experienced ACEs. By doing this research, we can develop more effective strategies to reduce ACEs and improve people’s outcomes.
Is there a particular area of research within ACEs that interests you?
I am particularly interested in mental health outcomes and wellbeing and how this might be promoted in those who experience or have experienced ACEs. I also think a life course approach can be informative, so the chance for prospective longitudinal work interests me.
What are you seeking to accomplish in your career?
I want to continue to grow my research portfolio. In addition, I want to work on national and international community projects to improve mental health outcomes – especially for those at an economic and social disadvantage. My main aim is to make a difference.
When you are not working, what do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to boulder in my spare time, mainly indoors but also outdoors when the weather suits. I love being outside and being active – going for long walks and cycles. Work-life balance is everything, and I try my best to nurture and care for myself whenever I can.