A message from the Head of Development and Alumni Relations
Spring has sprung here in North Wales and it is lovely to see the daffodils out in force across our campus.
As well as sharing updates on your University, in this month’s Bangoriad Bach we’re celebrating the achievements of some of our alumni and students. School of Ocean Sciences alumnus Long Vu has been recognised by the British Council’s Study UK Alumni Awards for his conservation work in Vietnam and two of our outstanding postgraduate students have been awarded medals by the Drapers’ Company. Congratulations to them all.
If you have any updates that you’d like to share with the Development and Alumni Relations Office, or have any feedback on Bangoriad Bach, you’re welcome to contact us on alumni@bangor.ac.uk
Best wishes,
Emma Marshall
Head of Development and Alumni Relations
BANGOR UNIVERSITY NEWS
Students awarded prestigious Drapers’ Company medals
One of the historic Livery Companies of the City of London, the Drapers has had strong links with Bangor University for over 100 years, initially through substantial grants towards the construction of some of the University’s main buildings. Today, as well as funding a number of PhD studentships and projects within the University, the Drapers also award two medals each year to outstanding research students.
This year’s recipients were Rebecca Day from the of School of Arts, Culture and Language who is conducting groundbreaking research on bilingualism in Rett syndrome, and Lorna McKellar, from the School of Ocean Sciences who is already internationally recognised as leading the science of setting thresholds for good environmental state. Rebecca and Lorna were presented with their awards by Master Draper, Patrick Beddows.
Alumnus wins Study UK Alumni Award in Vietnam
Huge congratulations to Bangor University alumnus Long Vu (Marine Biology MSc, 2017) on winning the Science and Sustainability category of the Vietnam Study UK Alumni Awards 2026. Long was recognised for the social impact of his work in the field of biodiversity conservation and in the study of endangered species.
Every year, the British Council’s Study UK Alumni Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of international UK alumni worldwide. These awards honour international leaders who have leveraged their UK education to make significant contributions to their communities, industries, and countries. Long Vu was announced as winner for Vietnam at a ceremony held in Hanoi on Saturday, 28th February.
Congratulations Long! We’re delighted that your terrific work has been recognised by the Study UK Alumni Awards.
Poetry Bridges: Visiting Writers help celebrate Menai Bridge
To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Telford Suspension Bridge, English Literature and Creative Writing (School of Arts, Culture and Language) presented a series of guest writer events to celebrate poetry as a means of bridging: connecting ideas, places and people. These events were free, public events open to all, supported by the generosity of alumni through the Bangor Fund and by Literature Wales.
One of these events was led by Hanan Issa, a Welsh-Iraqi poet, filmmaker, scriptwriter, and artist, who is the current National Poet of Wales. Hanan champions the ancient Welsh poetic form cynghanedd and aims to broaden engagement with poetry, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and nature. Hana was awarded an honorary degree from Bangor University in 2025 and it was a pleasure to welcome her back as part of the 200th anniversary celebrations of Menai Bridge.
Law students gain national experience with Bangor Fund support
Thanks to alumni generosity through the Bangor Fund, Bangor University law students have been able to take part in prestigious national legal competitions — experiences that have already begun shaping their future careers.
A student team from Bangor entered the national Client Interviewing Competition, joining 35 teams from universities across the UK. The experience was invaluable as students gained insight into the interpersonal and analytical skills required of solicitors, and their participation was proudly celebrated by their School for their professionalism and ambition. The Bangor Fund also enabled students to participate in two mooting competitions, both designed to develop the advocacy and reasoning skills essential for aspiring barristers.
200th Anniversary of Menai Bridge Concert
On Saturday 7th March the Bangor University Symphony Orchestra and Chorus joined with Cantorion Menai, a local SATB choir of around 70 voices based on Anglesey, to perform a concert celebrating the 200th Birthday of the Menai Bridge.
Held in the Main University Building’s Prichard Jones Hall, the audience enjoyed pieces by Mendelssohn (who came to sketch the Bridge in 1829), Vaughan Williams and William Mathias, who himself was a resident of Menai Bridge. The concert was supported by the generous bequest of Nicholas Snowman (1944-2023) who was the Chairman of Wartski and an Honorary Fellow of the University.
It was a very special occasion and a wonderful way to mark the 200th anniversary of Thomas Telford’s magnificent feat of engineering that remains so crucial to our way of life today.
Cabinet Secretary visits University to discuss regional opportunities
Rebecca Evans MS, the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, and Jack Sargeant MS, Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, visited the University recently to meet senior leaders and colleagues from the Nuclear Futures Institute.
The visit provided an opportunity to discuss the growing number of economic initiatives taking shape across North Wales and how the University can play a leading role in supporting them.
Prestigious honour for Bangor University Director of Research
Professor Michael Butler, Director of the Rhanbarth Research Centre, has received a prestigious honour in recognition of his contribution to social science. The leading academic has been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) as part of the organisation’s Spring 2026 cohort.
Professor Butler joined The Albert Gubay Business School at Bangor University in 2023 from a senior position at Aston University. Since taking up his role as Director of the Rhanbarth Research Centre, he has led a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening regional research and policy engagement.
Bangor University maintains top spot in Alternative University League Table
Bangor University has maintained its position as the number one university in the UK in an Alternative University League Table published by Unifresher.
This year Bangor stood out for its strong balance of affordability and student experience, with relatively low everyday living costs alongside high ratings for social life and sustainability. The University ranked particularly strongly for being a cost-effective and safe place to live and study, while the final element of the ranking draws on student opinion data about social life at their universities.
Researcher announced as finalist in Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists
Dr Iestyn Woolway, NERC Independent Research Fellow at the School of Ocean Sciences, is one of nine finalists shortlisted for the 2026 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the United Kingdom and the first from Wales and Bangor University to be selected for these prestigious awards.
Dr Woolway was selected by an independent jury of expert scientists selected from a pool of 91 nominees representing 46 academic and research institutions across the UK in recognition of his research on the effects of climate change on global lakes and freshwater ecosystems.
School of Health Science secures approval to deliver new community nursing specialist qualification across Wales
The School of Health Science has been formally approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to deliver a Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ) in General Practice Nursing, Community Mental Health Nursing and Community Learning Disability Nursing across Wales. This postgraduate qualification also supports wider changes to health education delivery in Wales, helping to ensure that those living and working in Wales can access high-quality education that enables them to deliver care closer to home.
Anglesey entrepreneur accelerates global growth with Bangor University Support
An Anglesey-based entrepreneur is driving international growth in the world of motorsport photography, supported by Bangor University’s Skills Innovation and Enterprise (SIV) Scheme.
Greg Childs, founder of photography business Trackside Focus®, says that by working with The Albert Gubay Business School at Bangor University, he wanted to gain a clearer understanding of who his customers are, how they find and interact with the business, and what motivates them to book a workshop. As a result of the scheme, and through working with business lecturers - Dr Heather He, Lecturer in Data Science and Analytics and Dr Hanxiong Zhang, Senior Lecturer - Trackside Focus®, a global platform dedicated to amateur and aspiring motorsport photographers, now has a robust dataset and strategic framework to guide future expansion.
UPCOMING EVENTS - YOU'RE INVITED
Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series: Dr Rebecca Heaton
"WILL BUSINESS SOLVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS FOR US?"
Wednesday, 18 March 2026, 6:00 – 7:00pm
Eric Sunderland Lecture Theatre, Main University Building, Bangor University
Join us at Bangor University on 18 March at 6pm for a public lecture led by our distinguished alumna Dr Rebecca Heaton DSc. LLD. FICFor.
A Forestry 1993 alumna and Bangor University Honorary Fellow, Dr Rebecca Heaton is a leading expert in climate change, sustainability, and the role of land use in the transition to a low carbon future. Over the past two decades, she has held senior roles across industry, research, and government advisory bodies, including serving on the UK Committee on Climate Change.
In “Will business solve the environmental crisis for us?”, Rebecca will discuss the accelerating environmental crisis and whether we can rely on business to solve the dual climate and nature crisis for us. She will also reflect on how sustainability within the business world has evolved, and the role business has played and could play in the future.
Click here for further information and to register your attendance.
Mindful Self-Care at Work: 6-week online programme
Are you working in a high-pressure or emotionally demanding role? Or are you a mindfulness teacher interested in experiencing how mindfulness can be offered in high-stress workplaces? Join our Mindful Self-Care at Work programme to learn practical, evidence-based approaches for managing stress, strengthening resilience, and sustaining wellbeing at work and home.
This six-week online programme starts 16 April (Thursdays, 4:45pm – 6:00pm). You'll explore mindfulness and compassion-based techniques to improve focus, emotional steadiness, and reconnect with what matters most in your work.
