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School of Chemistry

School news and information

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Chemistry awards its high achievers

First year students were awarded for their hard work today when they were presented with the First Year Chemistry Achievement Awards.

The School of Chemistry awards these every year to the first year after the first semester has been completed.  The awards are based on their academic performance in their first Semester at Bangor.  The school also takes into account each student’s entrance tariff.

The winners of this year’s £500 awards were:  Chulin Dai (Epsom), Dion Roberts (Llangefni), Thomas Britten (Poole) Tamsin Cox (Warrington).

The winners of this year’s £250 awards were:  Aimee Boyd (Walsall), Natasha Powell (Wrexham), Ross Goodyear (Ashbourn), Daniel Evans (Hull), Michael Brooks (Norwich), Gemma Jones (Wrexham), David Fishwick (Colne, Lancs) and Anthony Conely (Malmesbury, Wilts).  Many congratulations to all the winners.

“All this year’s winners have been working extremely hard and have maintained excellent First Class marks throughout the semester.  It makes me very proud to be able to hand them these cheques in recognition of their achievements.”  Said Dr Mike Beckett, Head of Chemistry at Bangor.

Exciting new developments at the School of Chemistry…

The School of Chemistry is proud to announce that we have recently been successful in securing two very significant funding bids.

The first of these will go towards the £20M BEACON project, which is a partnership project between the Universities of Aberystwyth, Bangor and Swansea. BEACON will exploit the combined academic expertise in plant biosciences, microbiology, chemistry, biocomposites and life cycle assessment. The project will use non-food crop material to develop innovative products which will have the added advantages of renewability and reduced environmental footprint and will provide local plant based alternatives to reduce our reliance on products now obtained from petroleum.

The second success is WINNS, a €2.6 million project to develop and sustain jobs in the sector at the interface between chemistry and life sciences. Funded under the Ireland Wales 2007-2013 INTERREG IVA programme and managed in Wales by the School of Chemistry. The “Wales Ireland Network for Scientific Skills” (WINSS) will assist companies that work across chemistry, life sciences and material sciences. The project will provide a range of specialist skills training to develop the expertise needed by the sector.

The Role of the St David’s Day Universities in the Future of Community and Regional Regeneration in Wales

Three workshops will be held in three different regions in Wales, focussing on the particular challenges facing those involved in education and social and economic regeneration. The aim is to bring together stakeholders from academia, education, policy, industry and community and ask how the university sector can more effectively contribute to wider policy initiatives, including Communities First and Convergence.

Read more...

Missed out on a University Place? Our OpenPlus programme gives you a second chance, and may provide increased flexibility and financial security ...

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Researcher inspired by her own life-threatening illness

Read the story at Wales Online

ATM funded Masters Programmes 2012/2013

The 2012/2013 Call for Access to Masters (ATM) funded taught postgraduate places is now open. There are a limited number of funded places available for high quality students interested in studying for an MSc within the School of Chemistry from the start of the academic year September 2012.

ATM Student Applications: Students must complete an application form (entitled Participant Proposal Form) and Equal Opportunities form to establish that they are eligible* to receive the ATM Funding. These forms can be downloaded, along with a fact-sheet, from the ATM website www.bangor.ac.uk/atm. Completed forms should be returned to the ATM Office at Room E1:09, Management Centre, College Road, Bangor.

Please note that a hard signed copy of the form must be sent in order to be processed accordingly (please send a copy to the School of Chemistry). The deadline for student applications is 29 July 2012. *Please note one of the eligibility criteria for prospective students must be resident (or working) in the Convergence Area** (West Wales and the Valleys) on application, and be able to work in the Convergence Area upon completion of the scholarship. (**The Convergence area contains the 15 Local Authorities of Isle of Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire, Gwynedd, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Merthyr Tydfil, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly and Torfaen).

This opportunity appllies to the following MSc courses

Explosives detection research being conducted at Bangor University        

Scientists at the School of Chemistry in Bangor University are working on novel sensor technology which will, it is hoped, soon be trialled in airports.  The group at the School of Chemistry in Bangor is working as part of a European consortium called Nanosecure.  The group consists of 26 partners both academic and industrial all working towards an integrated system which will detect airborne explosives, narcotics, chemical and biological agents.  The system will also be able to decontaminate the air from chemical and bio agents should some be detected.  It will do this by integrating with a building’s air-conditioning units.  One of the partners in this consortium is Schipol Airport where it is hoped the units will be trialled.

The School of Chemistry is the lead institution in the development of the explosives sensor that will be used in the detection unit scientists at Bangor are also helping to create the catalytic surfaces which will be used to decontaminate the air. The idea is to integrate the system with existing security measures at airports

“This is a very exciting area of research to be in at the moment,” explained Chris Gwenin, from the School of Chemistry.  The recent international security alerts show a high level of innovation in the creation of terrorist explosive devices.  With the use of commercial explosive such as PETN being found in such devices it is clear that detection technology is urgently needed to avoid even more airport checks and further increases in passenger waiting times.”

Bangor University’s approach to this technology is based around the use of enzymes which detect different substances such as explosives. The research has show that this technology could also be used to activate an anti-cancer pro drug which will enable enzymes to be administered into cancerous tissue which will only react when a drug is administered, thereby localising the poison rather than treating the entire body and producing side effects.

Conference - Plants as Providers of Fine Chemicals

Thursday 1st September 2011, School of Chemistry, Bangor University

Dr. Jeremy Tomkinson, CEO, NNFCC, The UK’s National Centre for Biorenewable Energy, Fuels and Materials

More information...

Congratulations to Team Curol for winning the 1st Year Dragon's Den this
week

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Congratulations to all our Graduating Students

Chemistry Lecturer is licensed to sell bluebells

Image of anna croftResearch Scientist

Dr Anna Croft is currently on a sabatical at MIT in Boston. Learn more about her work.....

 

Chemistry 125

Chemistry Newsletter

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Research and the Biology / Chemistry Interface: Health interactions

Friday 4 September 2009: This workshop aims to highlight the novel research that is taking place at the interface between biology and chemistry. More details

First Prize for Sarah

Success for Bangor student at this year’s Engineering Doctorate Annual Seminar on 23rd September held at the The Village Hotel, Swansea. Sarah Rugen-Hankey, a 3rd Year EngD student, won first prize for her talk on “Unsymmetrical Phthalocyanines for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells”.

Sarah has been working for 3 years in the School of Chemistry at Bangor with Dr Peter Holliman on the EPSRC Engineering Doctorate scheme in conjunction with the Materials Research Centre at Swansea University and she is co-supervised with Dr Dave Worsley. Sarah is co-sponsored by Corus Colors and grateful thanks go to Corus and to Paul Jones and Dr Maarten Wijdekop from Corus for their help and support.

Dr Otto Stiefvater

It is with great sadness that we report to all our friends the passing away in Germany of Dr Otto Stiefvater on Saturday, September 27th 2008.  Otto joined Chemistry at Bangor in 1965 and was until his retirement in 1997 an active researcher and much respected lecturer in Physical Chemistry. Our thoughts are with Otto’s family.

Award of Teaching Fellowship

The School of Chemistry is pleased to announce that Professor Mark Baird is to be awarded a Bangor University Teaching Fellowship in recognition of his excellence in teaching and pastoral care of students. The award will be presented to Professor Baird during the Degree Ceremony on Wednesday 16th July 2008, at 11am.

Can we copy the way leaves create energy?

As leaves, nature's most efficient form of solar energy production, are bursting into view all around us, Bangor scientists are investigating whether it is possible to replicate plant life's ability to turn sunlight into energy.

The Bangor team, led by Dr Peter Holliman from the School of Chemistry, are set to begin a feasibility study into 'biosolar energy'- or harnessing the sun's energy potential- using the same methods as used by plant-life- photosynthesis in newly designed solar cells. Read on...

12/05/08

Free CPD Industrial Courses

Between 1st April 2008 and 30th June 2008 the School is offering FREE attendance for ALL CPD courses. Pre-registration essential. Read on..

New Centre for Solar Energy Research

A new Centre for Solar Energy Research is being set up at NEWI by Professor Stuart Irvine, previous Chair of Opto-electronic Materials at Bangor Chemistry, who left the School on March 1st 2008 to head this new facility.  The School wishes Professor Irvine all success in his new role.

Chemists - The Future event - School of Chemistry 28th February

The School of Chemistry is holding its first mixer event 'Chemists - the Future" to introduce our current students to our alumni. Read on...

Workshop - 22 January 2008

Advanced Materials and Devices workshop 22/01/08.  Programme of events

Dr Vera Thoss on ITV news

Dr Vera Thoss has been working with local company UTD research to develop oil from used tyres. See the news feature on youtube. To read the story in full, see the University News pages.

Newsletter

Click here to download our recent Newsletter

Recent Successes

Recent graduate Benn Heatley was awarded the Society for Chemical Industry's Liverpool and North West Regional Group Prize for the top Chemistry student of 2007.

Graduate, Jennifer Clark, received the SCI young ambassador's award. More... 

Anti-terrorism weapon

A new anti-terrorism weapon that is not to be sniffed at.  Prof. Maher Kalaji and his team have developed a biosensor that is capable of detecting and identifying very low levels of explosives in the atmosphere. More...

UCAS Open Days

Come to one of our UCAS Open Days and visit the School of Chemistry to see the world-class research facilities, meet students and staff and find out about some of the leading-edge research being carried out. You will get the opportunity to discuss our undergraduate and postgraduate courses, future career opportunities and find out exactly what it’s like to be a Chemistry student at Bangor.

More information and UCAS Open Day dates at the School of Chemitsry

Beckett group presents latest finds at Bremen symposium

Dr Beckett gave a lecture on 'New studies on pentaborate salts with non-metal cations' at the '4th European Symposium on Boron Chemistry (Euroboron 4)' in Bremen, Germany, on 5th Image of the market square in BremenSeptember, 2007.  This was the largest European boron meeting to date and was attended by over 200 participants with delegates from most european countries and additional guest visitors from Japan, India, and the USA. The Town Hall, Roland, and the market place at Bremen (pictured) is a unesco world heretage site.

Click here to see Dr Beckett's staff profile

Young Scientist Symposium 2007

The Young Scientist Symposium 2007 (North Wales Local Section) was well attended, attracting students and industrialists from the North Wales Area. Guest speakers included Dr Samanth Gardner, Chemicals Northwest, discussing Technolgy Transfer, and Bryn Jones, UWB, who gave a brief presentation on Knowledge Transfer Partnerships. Click here to read on...

Science and Energy Schools Lectures June 12-13

The School of Chemistry at Bangor will be host to the RSC’s “Science and Energy” demonstration lectures in June. Click here for more information...

Schools Analyst

Bangor recently hosted the Regional Heat of the Royal Society of Chemistry "Schools Analyst Competition".

Sixth form students who are taking an AS level in Chemistry formed teams to take part in a problem solving experiment in one of our Teaching Laboratories. Visit the School's Analyst website to view the winners and pictures of the event.

Young Chemists reveal secrets and win prizes at Festival of Chemistry

A number of north Wales schools visited the School of Chemistry, Bangor recently and left with several prizez after taking part in the Salters' Festival of Chemistry.

Click on the schools below to read about their success in the competition:

New Posts Available

The School has available several new posts across a variety of
disciplines at PhD, Postdoctoral and Lectureship level.  Click here for more details ...

Raising Money for Cancer Research UK

Image of Matt Love at the summit of SnowdonChemists are committed to saving people from cancer through the development of new drugs and understanding the biochemical mechanisms that trigger this disease. Bangor chemistry student, Matt Love, is taking this desire to help one step further …

Click here to read the full story...

Image of waterWatersafe:A Project funded under the EC’s PASR 2006

A new EU funded project into the security of water distribution networks has been announced.  Bangor University is the only academic partner in this consortium and is represented by the electrochemistry and sensors group led by Professor Maher Kalaji.

Click here to read the full story

Sioe Gemeg Presents: Flash Bang!!!

Experience an explosive gala to celebrate National Science Week. The show is guaranteed to amaze with spectacular science demonstrations featuring loud explosions, exploding vegetables, stage rockets and many more fun experiments. Watch out for the famous Mega Mash Machine, a cannon capable of record speed mashed potato! Witness record attempts at producing human sized bubbles and the fastest ice cream ever made.

Click here to find out more

New Research to Support Animal Health Company

Image of cows in a fieldA prestigious 2-year DTI and Welsh Assembly Government funded Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between Bangor University and Denbigh-based company Telsol Ltd, will enable the company to develop new products and even greener manufacturing procedures for animal health products mainly for cattle, sheep and goats.

This KTP partnership coincides with the Telsol’s need to meet increasing sales and it is hoped that this, and the new product lines, will lead to new jobs. The KTP will bring together the expertise of Telsol in specialist glasses with the advanced inorganic materials research of Dr Peter Holliman’s group at the School of Chemistry in Bangor.

Click here for the full story

Longest single molecule wire

Uk Scientists have come up with the longest ever single molecule wire. The research was headed by School of Chemistry Professor, Geoff Ashwell.  He believes that the seven nanometres molecular wire is the longest ever to be used for single-molecule electrical current studies. 

Click here to read the full story on the Royal Society of Chemistry's website

Bilingual Chemical Secrets event has student chemists in their element!

Image of A level Students at Chemical SecretsCan you identify the molecule that provides the scent in perfume or an orange or pinpoint the exact molecule that contains the medical properties in a medicine? It’s unlikely that you can. Two hundred A level students  who attended “Chemical Secrets’ chemistry workshops at Bangor University now possess these skills!

Click here to read on...

 

Dynamics of Open Quantum Systems

Dr Keith Hughes recently hosted at Bangor the CCP6 workshop on the"Dynamics of Open Quantum Systems". The workshop was designed to bring together researchers from a range of disciplines that span the broad subject of dissipative quantum systems. New approaches and formulations of quantum dissipation theory were discussed along with a discussion of how dissipation affects key dynamical processes such as electron transfer and transport, surface dynamics, quantum control and non-adiabatic effects. Talks were given be a broad International range of respected experts in this field.

Click below for more details:

http://www.bangor.ac.uk/chemistry/khh/ccp6/index.htm

Success in the Engineering Doctorate Annual Seminar

Two Bangor students tasted success at this year’s Engineering Doctorate Annual Seminar on 12th September held at the Towers Hotel Jersey Marine.

Click here for full story

12.09.06

ESF Funding

Bangor School of Chemistry is delighted to announce that we have secured EU ESF funding through the Objective One scheme to support students taking the following MSc courses:-

  • MSc in Modern Chemical Laboratory Practice
  • MSc in Environmental Chemistry
  • MSc in Analytical Chemistry
Click here to read on...

Explosions and Ice-Cream

Image of experiments at the Eisteddfod

Explosions, massive bubbles and speedily-produced ice cream will herald the launch of a Welsh language version of the Periodic Table of Elements at Bangor University’s pavilion in the Eisteddfod at 2.15 Tuesday 8 August.

Click here to read on...

Tuberculosis Workshop

Professor Mark Baird recently co-organised a workshop on tuberculosis that was held in Pretoria, South Africa, (funded by the Royal Society and the NRF in South Africa).  Four members of the School (Professor Mark Baird, Dr Juma Al-Dulayymi, Dr Anna Croft, and Dr Chris Gwenin) took part in the meeting which concentrated on the particular problems of tuberculosis coupled to HIV-Aids in Southern Africa.  The group presented work on the synthesis and modeling of key components of the cell walls of tuberculosis bacteria, as well as in sensor technology that might be of value in the early detection of TB.  South African participants at the workshop included biochemists, molecular biologists, geneticists, doctors and groups working with TB in animals.  Prof Baird was also a Plenary Lecturer at the conference of the South African Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology http://www.sasbmb.org.za/.

 

Team at Bangor develop 'nanodog' to detect and identify explosives

Image of Professor Maher Kalaji and the biosensor that detects explosivesScientists in Wales have developed a biosensor capable of DETECTING AND identifying very low levels of explosives  in the atmosphere – a technology with potential to be a major contributor in the battle against terrorism.

The biosensor was developed by a team from the School of Chemistry at Bangor University (UWB) led by Professor Maher Kalaji.

01/08/06

Click here to read the full story...

 

Young Ambassador

Image of Jenny ClarkChemistry graduate Jennifer Clark, 26 originally from London, has been named regional winner of the Chemical Industry's 'Young Ambassador Award'.

Jennifer feels her time at Bangor has given her good grounding. She added,

“My years at Bangor really helped me grow confidence and develop as an individual. The staff in the Chemistry Department at the University really inspired me and enthused me to continue my development in chemistry.”

Click here to read the full story

04/07/06

 

Undergraduate Text Book

New Undergraduate text book published June 2006:  Dr M.A. Beckett has co-authored (with Dr A.W.G. Platt of Staffordshire University) a book ‘The Periodic Table at a Glance’.  This is published by Blackwell Publishing (ISBN 1-4051-3299-X).  ‘The Periodic Table at a Glance’ provides a concise overview of the main principles and reactions of inorganic chemistry, carefully structured around the periodic table, for students studying chemistry and related courses at undergraduate level.  The information is presented in integrated, self contained double page spreads of text and illustrative material, to facilitate the rapid assimilation, understanding and recall of critical concepts, facts and definitions.  Students wanting a comprehensive and accessible overview of inorganic chemistry will find this book an ideal source of the information they require. In addition, the structured presentation will provide an invaluable aid to revision for students preparing for examinations.

Inorganic Ring systems

Conference lecture and poster: Dr M.A. Beckett  will lecture at the 11th International Conference on Inorganic Ring systems (IRIS-11, 30th July - 4th August, 2006), in Oulu, Finland.  His lecture is titled ‘New studies on compounds with non-metallic cations and hybrid organic/inorganic borate anions’.  Final year PhD student Miss Catherine Bland will be also be attending this conference and will present a poster on aspects of her research: ‘Zwitterionic and cationic monoborate species’.

Opportunities:

Three new academic positions available: Chair/Lecturership/Research Lectureship.
More details ...

New MSc Course in Analytical Chemistry to complement our existing courses in Environmental and Modern Chemical Laboratory Practice. We are accepting applications now from suitably qualified applicants.

Further information ...

The Welsh Select Committee recently came to Bangor Chemistry to discuss the future of Renewable Energy.
Read more ...

Read about how one of our students David Preskett got into chemistry in the latest edition of Chemistry World.

Bangor Chemistry - A great place to study

The latest Guardian University Guide ranks Bangor chemistry in the top 4 of its league and the third best School of Chemistry overall in the UK ...

£10.95 million have been awarded by the National Assembly to Bangor and Aberystwyth Universities for the development of a Research and Enterprise Partnership. Chemistry is involved in the Centre for Advanced Functional Materials and Devices Research which will deliver internationally-leading research into novel approaches to the development, characterisation and application of nano and macro materials, computer modelling and visualisation techniques.

New Funded Research Opportunity

EPSRC/ICI sponsored CASE studentship. Get the details ...

Chemical chocolate!

Drs Fletcher and Murphy introduced visitors to Manchester's Science and Industry Museum to the wonders of the chemistry of chocolate. Read on ...

Children in Need

The Chemistry department raised over £450 with various events for the BBC's Children in Need Appeal .
Read more ...

Green-Energy Research Project based at Bangor

Professor Stuart Irvine is leading the EPSRC-funded Photovoltaic SuperGen consortium worth over £4.5 million. Read more ...

Welsh Talent returns home

See the recent feature about Dr Keith Hughes on BBC's news site!

Other news

New biological chemistry lab established on the 10th floor by Dr Lorrie Murphy and Dr Anna Croft .

The department has new Micromass GC/MS and Brucker LC/MS systems. Further information on all our facilities can be obtained from our technical staff .