Research News: June 2016

A century after the Battle of the Somme, can we finally explain shell shock?

The Battle of the Somme was one of the most bitterly contested and bloodiest battles of World War I. The five-month attritional offensive saw more than a million casualties: on the first day of fighting alone the British Army suffered their largest loss to life of the war.

This article by Leanne K Simpson a PhD candidate at the School of Psychology & Institute of Elite Preformance was originally published on The Conversation. Read theoriginal article.

Publication date: 30 June 2016

Independence Day: what alien invasions tell us about current global politics

When Soviet communism disintegrated, political scientist Francis Fukuyama famously declared that it was “the end of history”. He argued that Western liberal democracy and capitalism had triumphed as the world’s only viable system, and though humanity would still face bumps in the road, the ultimate progression to this eventuality for all nations would prove inevitable, even if it took many years.

This article by Gregory Frame, Lecturer in Film Studies, Bangor University was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Publication date: 27 June 2016

Looking to the future: Dementia and Imagination at the Utopia Fair

Dementia and Imagination, an exciting Bangor University led project which gives people with dementia an opportunity to get involved in art, will be one of a number of stall holders at Somerset House for their UTOPIA 2016 Fair.

UTOPIA 2016 is a collaboration between three London neighbours: Somerset House, Kings College, London and the Courtauld Institute and Gallery, in partnership with the British Library, the AHRC, the British Council, London School of Economics and Politics, M-Museum in Leuven, Guardian Live and Verso.

Publication date: 24 June 2016

Caught in the wire: The rise of border security fences forces reconsideration of wildlife conservation strategies in Eurasia

Between 25,000 and 30,000 kilometres of wire fences and walls surround many countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. These are killing wildlife that becomes entangled and act as a barrier to wildlife movements, cutting species off from important seasonal habitats. The long-term consequences are a lower viability of wildlife populations, and a reduction in their ability to respond to climate change. This situation forces a re-think of transboundary conservation strategies.

Publication date: 23 June 2016

“Can earlier symptomatic diagnosis improve cancer outcomes in Wales”

A report prepared for Public Health Wales by Bangor University makes recommendations for improving cancer outcomes in Wales.

The report, “Can earlier  symptomatic diagnosis improve cancer outcomes in Wales” is written by Professor Richard Neal of the University’s North Wales Centre for Primary Care Research  has been launched at a Conference in Manchester (14 June): Cancer Data and Outcomes Conference 2016: Using data to drive services. Professor Neal is a general practitioner and a leading authority on improving GPs cancer detection rates.

Publication date: 15 June 2016

Brexit and Britpop: Europeans have stronger cultural links to the UK thanks to English language music

As the European referendum campaigners try to outdo each other with spectacular claims and counterclaims about the risks and benefits of remaining in or leaving the EU, what has become clear is that it is not just the Tory party that is deeply divided on the issue, but Britain as a whole.

The ambivalence is even part of the “in” rhetoric, with statements frequently prefaced by assurances that the politician is “no lover of European bureaucracy” or some such qualification. And there are suspicions that even at the top there is a lack of wholehearted support for the European project, with both Jeremy Corbyn and David Cameron having been accused of previously tending towards Euroscepticism.

Publication date: 13 June 2016

Climate-changing carbon loss from mangroves preventable - say Bangor scientists

The release of dangerous amounts of greenhouse gases from mangrove swamps could be halted, claim scientists.

A team of researchers, led by Bangor University, say they have the potential to stop climate-changing amounts of gases, such as carbon dioxide, from leaving tropical mangroves if they are damaged or cut-down.

Publication date: 9 June 2016

How forests recover rapidly on logging roads in the Congo Basin

Large areas of tropical forest worldwide are used for selective logging which requires extensive road networks to access trees harvested for timber. It is well documented that building roads into intact forest can have consequences for forest ecosystems. This is because they lead to fragmentation and facilitate access for people which can lead to long-term forest degradation or deforestation.

This article by John Healey, Professor of Forest Sciences, Bangor University and Fritz Kleinschroth, PhD Graduate and Researcher at CIRAD, Bangor University was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Publication date: 6 June 2016

How to achieve the best outcomes in bilingual education

With this years’ National Literacy and Numeracy tests for primary school children aged 6-14 across Wales just about complete, experts will be discussing the best way to educate children in a bilingual setting at a major international conference on Bilingualism in Education and will be making recommendations on how to ensure that the highest standards are achieved by children in all of their languages.

Bangor University is hosting the International Conference on Bilingualism in Education June 10th – 12th 2016.  This event, sponsored by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, draws together researchers and practitioners from a range of countries to discuss developments and best practice in bilingualism in education. 

Publication date: 6 June 2016

Bangor University begins research in Virtual Joint Centres with Brazil and China to improve nitrogen use in agriculture

Agriculture faces a pressing problem: the need to provide food security for a burgeoning population whilst safeguarding the environment. Whilst the use of fertiliser nitrogen has helped in increasing food production, this has been at the expense of the environment, especially in rapidly developing countries such as China and Brazil.

Publication date: 3 June 2016

Scientists assess hydration potential of different drinks

Scientists at the universities of Stirling, Loughborough and Bangor are calling for the creation of a beverage hydration index to help people understand how different drinks can keep you hydrated.

A recent research trial which tested the effects of 13 commonly consumed drinks on urine output and fluid balance, found several fluids were retained in the body for the same time, or longer, than water.

Publication date: 1 June 2016