Welcome from the Head of Development and Alumni Relations
Welcome to the latest edition of the Bangor University Alumni E-Newsletter. Whether you're reading this from across the globe or just around the corner, we’re very happy to keep in touch with you.
This month, we’re especially excited to be celebrating our newest graduates who will be joining our alumni family during our graduation ceremonies next week. The energy, pride, and joy felt on campus every graduation week is always inspiring and a powerful reminder of the legacy you helped build.
We will share photos of graduation on our Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram pages, so make sure that you’re part of our social media networks to help us welcome the newest members of our alumni community.
Best wishes,
Emma Marshall
Head of Development and Alumni Relations
NEWS FROM THE UNIVERSITY
Nine individuals to be honoured during graduation week
Bangor University will award honorary degrees this summer to nine individuals from the worlds of public service, literature, heritage, business, music, science, and sport for their contribution to public life.
The graduation ceremonies - a highlight of the academic year for students, their loved ones and University staff - will take place in the University’s historic Prichard-Jones Hall from Monday 7 to Friday 11 July.
Seven of this summer's honorary degree recipients are alumni of the University including Cheryl Foster MBE (Sport- Health & Physical Educ, 2005 & Physical Education PGCE, 2006), Professor Pedr ap Llwyd PLSW (Cymraeg, 1983), Sharon Manning MBE (Nursing, 2004), Gwyn Lewis Williams (Music MA, 1970 and former staff), Toby Dixon (Business Studies & Marketing, 2002) , Dr Keith Hiscock MBE (Marine Biology PhD 1976) and Alison Field (Forestry, 1978). Hanan Issa, Welsh Poet Laureate, and Prof. David T Jones, Former General Manager of Clwyd Health Authority, will also be awarded.
You're invited: National Eisteddfod 2025
Please join us for our annual reunion of Bangor University alumni at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, this year being held in Wrexham. The reunion will be held on the Bangor University stand 2.00 – 3.30pm on Wednesday, 6 August 2025.
You will be welcomed by Prof. Enlli Thomas, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of Bangor University’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, who will share an update of developments at the University. You will then have the opportunity to hear about the successes of the Students’ Union from new UMCB President Huw Williams before being able to spend time catching up with your fellow alumni and former staff. Unfortunately we won’t be able to offer refreshments this year but you’re welcome to bring your own and enjoy your time on our stand.
We’re looking forward to welcoming you back to the Eisteddfod!
Please contact Bethan Perkins at b.w.perkins@bangor.ac.uk for further information.
Alumni named in King's Birthday Honours list
We were very proud to hear of several of our alumni being named in King Charles III’s Birthday Honours list recently.
Geraint Richards MVO (Forestry, 1982) (left below), President of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, was awarded an OBE for services to the forestry sector and Simon Bareham (Fisheries Biology, 1986), a senior specialist adviser for radioactivity and industry policy, will receive an MBE for services to the protection of air quality and biodiversity in Wales.
Dr Tracey Fiona Sandom (PhD from the School of Health Sciences, 2024) (pictured right), Chair of the British Association of Dental Therapists, was awarded an MBE for services to dental therapy and to the NHS in Wales and Zoe Gascoyne (Sociology and Criminology, 1998), Deputy Director of Offshore Corporate and Wealthy in Fraud Investigation at HMRC, will receive an OBE for services to complex tax investigations.
Prof. Peter Higgins (Teacher Training, 1986) (left above), Chair in Outdoor Environmental & Sustainability Education at the University of Edinburgh, will receive an OBE for services to the Environment and Outdoor Education and Robert Dunne, who graduated in 2013 with a Chartered Banker MBA, has been recognised for his services to veterans. Recently retired from his post as Head of Agriculture at Natural England last year, Geoffrey Sansome (Agriculture, 1982) will receive an MBE for services to Farming and the Voluntary Sector.
We’re delighted that their achievements have been acknowledged in this way and extend a huge congratulations from everyone here at Bangor University.
Forestry Class of '85 40 years celebration
Alumnus and Bangor University Honorary Degree recipient Trefor Owen (Forestry, 1985) recently arranged a reunion for his class to mark their 40th anniversary since graduation.
Trefor said, “We gathered in the Thoday Building’s F1 room, on a glorious Friday afternoon, for tea, cake and lots of chat! We were thrilled that some retired staff from our time at Bangor also joined us, with one of our group still seeking an extension for an unfinished essay!
After checking in at the University’s Management Centre, we dined on fish and chips, accompanied by plenty of ‘Purple Moose’ beer at Tafarn y Garth on Friday evening. Some of the group walked along the Wales Coastal Path from Bangor to Abergwyngregyn on Saturday morning, before meeting up with the others for a very enjoyable tour, tasting and light lunch at the Aber Falls Distillery. This was followed by an afternoon ‘forestry’ walk in nearby Coedydd Aber.
We concluded the programme with a lovely dinner at the Management Centre on Saturday evening, in the company of Professor John Healey and Dr Christine Cahalan. John kindly brought us to date with the work of the thriving Forestry Department and suggested different ways alumni can support him and the team.”
If you plan on gathering your alumni friends together for a visit to Bangor and would like help to organise it, please contact Bethan Perkins at alumni@bangor.ac.uk
Bangor Fund supports student-led employability initiatives
Thanks to the generosity of our alumni, the Bangor Fund has empowered students in the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences to create and deliver a range of initiatives aimed at enhancing the student experience through employability-focused activities - designed by students, for students.
A key outcome of this support has been the establishment of the School's Student-Led Employability Working Group. This dynamic group successfully organised an Employability Day, engaging nearly 300 students. The event highlighted the remarkable dedication of the student community, featuring insightful guest speakers, local career and volunteering stalls, LinkedIn headshots, and expert career advice.
The Bangor Fund has also supported upcoming nature and wellness walks, fieldcraft skills days, and contributions towards chainsaw licences - further enriching students' practical and professional development.
College Park opens to the public
Parc y Coleg, a significant and historic green space connecting the University and Bangor city centre, has recently fully re-opened to the public.
Transformed into a peaceful and accessible area, Parc y Coleg now serves as a more welcoming shared place for the entire community.
The main entrance to the Parc has opened up creating a clear connection and welcoming green space joining the lower part of the City of Bangor with Upper Bangor. The project was funded through the Welsh Government’s ‘Transforming Towns’ programme, in collaboration with Cyngor Gwynedd.
Bangor University ranked top in Wales
Bangor University has been named the top university in Wales in the 2026 University Compare Rankings.
The University Compare rankings are based on a combination of verified student reviews and key performance metrics. These include course quality, graduate employability, student life and accommodation.
The University has also made significant progress nationally, rising 49 places to 15th in the UK, placing it firmly within the top 20 universities across the country. This improvement reflects positive developments across multiple areas of our student experience.
Bangor University rises in global sustainability ranking
Bangor University is in the top 10 of the most sustainable universities in the UK, and for the fourth year, running one of the top 100 universities in the world.
Bangor University is now the joint 64th most sustainable university in the world and ninth in the UK according to the annual Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings.
This marks a strong improvement on Bangor University’s joint 77th global position in 2024 and is the first time the university has been in the top 10 in the UK.
Students lead the way in community driven research
Bangor University and Bangor City Council are pleased to announce the recipients of a new student bursary scheme designed to support research projects that align with the City Council’s strategic priorities and community ambitions.
A total of £3,000 in bursary funding was made available through the City Council, attracting 18 high-quality and competitive proposals from across the student community. Following a rigorous selection process, a panel of representatives from the City Council, the University, Undeb Bangor - the Students’ Union and M-SParc have awarded four student-led research projects bursaries, each offering unique insights and potential impact for the Bangor community and wider region.
Draig Beats Festival draws a crowd of hundreds
Over 700 attendees gathered at Treborth Botanic Garden on 7 June for the vibrant and family-friendly Draig Beats Festival, raising more than £4,000 in support of the Sophie Williams Trust.
The festival kicked off in the Wellbeing Field with a rejuvenating yoga session and a wellness walk along the scenic Menai Strait. Visitors then enjoyed a variety of calming experiences including Tai Chi, meditation, and a sound bath, set within the serene lotus belle tents nestled by the woodland edge. In the Chinese Garden, towering crab apple trees created a tranquil canopy for wellness treatments, where guests could experience massage, reiki, and reflexology in a peaceful, natural setting. Music was the heartbeat of the event, with two lively stages showcasing exceptional local talent. The big top circus tent hosted belly dancing and a joyful ceilidh and the night came to a rousing close with a foot-stomping procession through the garden.
Originally founded in support of Dr Sophie Williams, Honorary Lecturer in Plant Conservation at the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Draig Beats has grown into a cornerstone of the North Wales community events calendar.
Did you finish your course between May and July 2024?
If so, you’ll soon be invited to take part in the UK’s largest social survey—the Graduate Outcomes survey!
Look out for an email from bangoruniversity@graduateoutcomes.ac.uk in your inbox. The survey takes just 10 minutes to complete, and you may also receive a phone call inviting you to participate.
Why take part?
By completing the survey, you’ll:
- Provide valuable insights into career paths and opportunities for current and future students.
- Help Bangor University evaluate its courses and shape Higher Education policy.
All information you provide is secure, anonymised, and confidential throughout the process.
For more details, visit graduateoutcomes.ac.uk
Plastic Pollution and global warming are combining forces to disrupt ocean life
New research from Bangor University has revealed that the combined effects of ocean warming and microplastic pollution could severely damage marine ecosystems, with global consequences for the planet’s climate and food security.
In controlled experiments mimicking future ocean conditions, scientists found that phytoplankton – microscopic organisms responsible for producing half the world’s oxygen and capturing vast amounts of carbon – suffered significant losses in both growth and diversity when exposed to both higher temperatures and projected microplastic levels.