Latest University News

Tours of Bangor University’s art and ceramic collections

Guided tours of Bangor University’s Art and Ceramic Collections will be held on Saturday 23rd June. The aim is to raise awareness of these important collections, with highlights including a mural by Edward Povey in Powis Hall, art and ceramics in the University’s Council Chamber Corridor and a chance to see and learn about works of arts by other renowned artists such as Kyffin Williams, Brenda Chamberlain, Peter Prendergast and Frederick William Hayes.

Publication date: 12 June 2018

Treborth festival raises £17,000 for Sophie

Treborth Botanic Garden hosted a music festival, Draig Beats, to raise money for adaptations to the home of Sophie Williams, a former Bangor University lecturer and conservationist, who is now paralysed after contracting Japanese encephalitis three years ago while doing research in China.

Publication date: 20 June 2018

Investigation gets underway over Carl Sargeant tragedy and Welsh first minister

The circumstances surrounding the tragic, untimely death of former Welsh Assembly member Carl Sargeant in November 2017 are yet to fully emerge. But now that the terms of reference for an independent investigation have been announced, it is hopeful that the truth will be uncovered.

This article by Stephen Clear, Lecturer in Law, was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Publication date: 20 June 2018

Bangor Scientists travel to Peru to research life in thin air

Mountains literally take our breath away, not only because of the dramatic landscapes and distinctive cultures, but because every breath taken at high altitude contains less oxygen (known as hypoxia). Hypoxia places a considerable strain on the lungs, blood, heart and blood vessels as they work together to satisfy the body’s need for oxygen. Researchers from the School of Sport, Health and Exercise (Extremes Research Group) at Bangor University have a particular interest in understanding how humans adapt to life in thin air.

Publication date: 20 June 2018

‘Once in a lifetime’ rainforest research trip

Six days after getting married, lecturer Simon Willcock left his wife for a once in a lifetime trip to a ’lost world’- an isolated rainforest atop a large outcrop of volcanic rock in Mozambique.

A lecturer in Environmental Geography at Bangor University, since his PhD Simon has worked with a network of leading scientists whose interest include the study of remote and undisturbed rainforests.

Publication date: 19 June 2018

Eight bedtime stories to read to children of all ages

This article by Raluca Radulescu, Professor of Medieval Literature and English Literature and Dr Lisa Blower, Lecturer in Creative Writing, both from the School of English Literature was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Publication date: 15 June 2018

From Salad Cream to the Severn bridge, renaming is an emotive issue

This article by Dr Sarah Louise Wheeler, Lecturer in Social Policy (Welsh medium), at the School of Social Sciences was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

The American food giant Heinz sparked controversy with a recent proposal to change the name of one of its best known products. If it goes ahead, there will be no more Salad Cream in the world’s kitchens. We will have to make do with bottles of Sandwich Cream instead.

Publication date: 14 June 2018

Global award for Bangor wetland scientist

A Bangor University lecturer has received a top international award for his work on understanding some of the world’s most important habitats.

Prof Chris Freeman from Bangor University was given the prize after receiving nominations from scientists around the world, who praised him as a leader in his field.

Publication date: 13 June 2018

R.S. Thomas Festival, Aberdaron & Bangor

The annual festival celebrating the work of R.S. Thomas and his artist wife Mildred ‘Elsi’ Eldridge is to be held in his last parish at Aberdaron, at the tip of the Llŷn, on 29 June -1 July.

Professor Tony Brown, co-director of Bangor University’s R.S. Thomas Research Centre has been involved with the festival for some years. 

Publication date: 11 June 2018

Pupils receive awards for their participation in pan-Wales project

More than 150 pupils of eight schools in north Wales met in Bangor University to celebrate the third year of success of the award-winning MFL Student Mentoring Project. This project, funded by the Welsh Government as part of their Global Futures scheme, aims to increase the number of pupils studying modern foreign languages in schools across Wales. The schools attending were Tryfan, Emrys ap Iwan, Rhyl, Friars, Dyffryn Ogwen, Argoed, Holyhead and Glan-y-Môr.

Publication date: 11 June 2018

Young Chemists measure the saltiness of crisps!

Teams of young Chemists from schools in north and mid Wales and the borders played the role of analytical chemists in checking the sodium (salt) content of tortilla crisps as they competed in the regional final of the Royal Society of Chemistry Schools Analyst Competition at Bangor University recently.

Publication date: 11 June 2018

Agroforestry students travel to Indonesia

Staff and students from Bangor University travelled to East Kalimantan, Indonesia, as part of a field course on the MSc Agroforestry programme. The field course was organised with the support of the Forest Fruits and Rural Nutrition (FFRAN) project, a joint initiative between Mulawarman University and Bangor University, that aims to determine the role that under-utilised tropical forest fruits could play in alleviating rural childhood malnutrition. FFRAN is a British Council Institutional Links project under the Newton Fund.

Publication date: 10 June 2018

Bangor University announces new Honorary Fellows

Bangor University has announced the individual who are to receive Honorary Fellowships during this year’s degree ceremonies.

The University awards Honorary Fellowships to reward individuals who have connections with the University or with Wales, to mark their outstanding contribution in their chosen fields.

This year the University is to award Fellowships to 10 individuals. The Award will be made during the University’s Graduation Week, this year, 16-20 July.

Publication date: 8 June 2018

Bangor University helps Mozilla with Welsh speech technology

Mozilla, the California-based international company responsible for the Firefox web browser, have just launched their international Common Voice project. After having started with English last year, three new languages are now being added, namely Welsh, German and French. Welsh succeeded in being amongst the first three thanks to the help of the Language Technologies Unit at Canolfan Bedwyr, Bangor University.

Publication date: 7 June 2018

Human cancer therapies successfully treat tumor-ridden sea turtles

Therapies used to fight human cancers successfully treat genetically similar tumors in sea turtles, a new study shows. In fact, turtles can survive their own tumors and help scientists better understand human cancers.

A disease, known as Fibropapillomatosis, has been rapidly spreading to sea turtles around the world. With the fibropapillomatosis virus come large tumors growing on sea turtles’ bodies and, for some turtles, death.  

Publication date: 7 June 2018

Help Bring Dr Sophie home – the Story of Draig Beats

Sometime last year, friends of the Bangor University lecturer Sophie Williams wanted to help raise funds to make Sophie’s home ready for her to come home to. Sophie was struck down by Japanese encephalitis three years ago whilst working in China.

They came up with the idea of a one-day festival, Draig Beats, that could involve all the people who wanted to help and more. It was exactly ten years ago that Bangor University students organised the first Botanical Beats to raise awareness of Bangor University’s Treborth Botanic Garden. 

Publication date: 7 June 2018

Womenspire success for Delyth Prys

The head of Bangor University’s Language Technologies Unit, Delyth Prys, has been given an award by Wales’ leading gender-equality charity recently, in recognition for her pioneering work in the field of minority language technologies.

Publication date: 7 June 2018

Response to the Reid report on research and innovation

Following today’s publication of Professor Graeme Reid’s review of Government-funded research and innovation in Wales, Bangor University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research & Impact, Professor Jo Rycroft-Malone said: “Wales has a number of strengths in research and innovation and it’s important that we continue to support existing areas of excellence, as well as develop and nurture new areas of expertise.

Publication date: 6 June 2018

A week to remember for Aelwyd JMJ at the 2018 Brecon and Radnorshire Urdd National Eisteddfod

Aelwyd JMJ, the Urdd Aelwyd of Bangor University’s Welsh-medium Halls of Residence, have experienced an excellent Eisteddfod yr Urdd this year, with the Chair, Crown and awards in the main choral competitions being won by the Aelwyd and its members.

Publication date: 5 June 2018

Calls for control as Asian Toads set to wreak havoc in Madagascar

Despite knowing how damaging the introduced cane toad was to Australian native wildlife, it seems that we humans have done it again.

Unless swift control measures can be taken, a non-native toad is set to cause havoc in Madagascar, home of many unique species found only on the island.

Publication date: 4 June 2018

Erin wins the Eisteddfod yr Urdd 2018 Crown

The winner of the Brecon and Radnorshire Urdd Eisteddfod Crown 2018 is Bangor University student, Erin Hughes from Pen Llŷn. She wins the crown for her prose on the theme ‘terrorism', to very high praise from the judges, Catrin Beard and Lleucu Roberts.

Publication date: 1 June 2018

Osian wins Urdd Eisteddfod 2018 chair

The winner of the Urdd Eisteddfod at Brecon and Radnor 2018 is Bangor University student, Osian Owen, from Felinheli. He competed under the pseudonym, Afallon.

Publication date: 1 June 2018

Young Chemists reveal secrets and win prizes at Festival of Chemistry

Pupils from Ysgol Tryfan, Bangor were among eight teams of 11-13 year olds from across North Wales who enjoyed a fun-filled day in the Chemistry laboratories at Bangor University for this year’s Salters’ Festival of Chemistry.

Publication date: 1 June 2018

How babies became the baked beans of the childcare world

Most of us are used to seeing crazy bargains when we go into the local supermarket, with items such as baked beans, bananas or milk being sold at a price that seems far below what they must cost to grow/make and sell. It’s a well-tried method – “loss leaders” are used to draw us into shops where we are also enticed to buy non-discounted items. So, unless we only plan to eat baked beans, our shopping basket usually gives the retailer an overall profit by the time we get to the checkout.

This article by David Dallimore, WISERD Researcher, at the School of Social Sciences was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Publication date: 30 May 2018

Guardian League Tables 2019 results

Bangor University is placed 47th in the latest Guardian League Tables for 2019, capping off another successful year for the University.

Publication date: 29 May 2018

Cultivating Chinese orchids could conserve wild species

Asking people who want to buy orchids about their preferences when choosing which plants to buy has revealed that many unknowingly buy wild, possibly endangered orchids, when they would be just as happy to buy commercially grown plants that meet their preferences for colour and price.

Publication date: 25 May 2018

Obese people enjoy food less than people who are lean – new study

Global obesity rates have risen sharply over the past three decades, leading to spikes in diabetes, arthritis and heart disease. The more we understand the causes of obesity and how to prevent it, the better.

We are interested in understanding reward-driven eating. Laboratory experiments have shown that obese people are less rewarded by food than people who are lean. We wanted to know if this held true when people were in a more natural environment – that is, going about their everyday lives.

This article by Hans-Peter Kubis, Director of the Health Exercise and Rehabilitation Group, School of Sport, Health & Exercise Sciences was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Publication date: 25 May 2018

‘Journey to the Past’ provides contemporary tourists with an unusual perspective

A new website giving modern tourists insights from past visitors to Wales from France and Germanywas launched at Bangor University today (24 May).

Publication date: 24 May 2018

Improved financial regulation deters misconduct, study finds

Improved regulation has deterred a greater amount of financial misconduct in the UK since the global financial crisis, according to new research published today by the University of East Anglia (UEA) and others including ourselves.

Since the crisis of 2007, there has been increased awareness of the risks posed by the conduct of financial institutions and their employees. More incidents of financial misconduct have been investigated, with regulators applying increasingly large fines and demanding the repayment of profits.

Publication date: 24 May 2018

Wales’s ‘Greatest Artist’ in the Spotlight

Bangor University’s annual T Rowland Hughes art lecture will this year commemorate the centenary of the birth of Sir Kyffin Williams, an Honorary Fellow of the University and a man regarded by many as Wales’s greatest artist.

Publication date: 23 May 2018

Profi Project Shortlisted for Arts & Business Wales Award

Profi, an experiential learning and mentoring supporting year 12 pupils from secondary schools in Anglesey and Gwynedd has been shortlisted for an Arts & Business Cymru award.

Profi boosts confidence and helps young people develop transferable employability skills and self-worth through a series of weekly workshops aimed to offer a number of different experiences to help widen horizons. The project has just completed its fifth successful year.

Publication date: 23 May 2018

Leading design ‘fixer’ among those at Bangor Design Conference

An innovative and inspirational Product Design Conference will bring some of the best leaders and thinkers in the field of Design and Manufacturing together at Bangor University on June 7th 2018.

Publication date: 18 May 2018

Welsh Professor reaches Wales Book of the Year shortlist

A volume of poetry written by a Bangor University Welsh Professor has been shortlisted for a 2018 Wales Book of the Year award in the Welsh-language Poetry category.

Publication date: 11 May 2018

Five brain-boosting reasons to take up martial arts – at any age

This article by Ashleigh Johnstone, PhD researcher in Cognitive Neuroscience at the School of Psychology was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

We are all aware that exercise generally has many benefits, such as improving physical fitness and strength. But what do we know about the effects of specific types of exercise? Researchers have already shown that jogging can increase life expectancy, for example, while yoga makes us happy. However, there is one activity that goes beyond enhancing physical and mental health – martial arts can boost your brain’s cognition too.

Publication date: 8 May 2018

Commonwealth weightlifter awarded Llew Rees Memorial Prize

Bangor University has awarded its annual highest sporting award, the Llew Rees Memorial Prize, to a Team Wales, Commonwealth Games weightlifter.

Publication date: 8 May 2018

Bangor deliver fourth successive Varsity win

For the fourth year running, Bangor University have won Varsity - the annual sporting extravaganza against Aberystwyth University - with an overall final score of 33-10 to Bangor.

Publication date: 21 April 2018

Student Led Teaching Awards 2018

The seventh annual Student Led Teaching Awards ceremony was held Friday 20th of April and celebrated the high standard of teaching and pastoral support in Bangor University.

Publication date: 21 April 2018

WhatUni Awards Success for Bangor University

Bangor University has been chosen as the best in the UK for its Students’ Union Clubs & Societies as well as its Student Accommodation in this year’s WhatUni.com Student Choice Awards. The University was also placed third in the UK in the University of the Year category and second in the UK for Courses and Lecturers.

Publication date: 20 April 2018

The muse returns at Harvard

Many students at Bangor University’s School of Welsh have taken advantage of the University’s international partners in order to study abroad. One of their Professors has followed their example.

Publication date: 16 April 2018

Women in Science Scholarships Awarded

Two ‘Women in Science’ Scholarships have been awarded to outstanding Bangor University students – Hannah Davies and Lily Stokes. Both were undergraduate students at Bangor and graduated with First Class Honours in July 2017. The scholarships, which cover the full course fees, will enable the talented and enthusiastic students to continue their studies and the recipients of these scholarships are now enrolled in postgraduate research courses at Bangor.

Publication date: 26 March 2018

Anthill 23: Bursting the Bitcoin bubble

Bernardo Batiz-Lazo, Professor of Business History and Bank Management, at the Bangor Business School was interview for this article, which was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Publication date: 15 March 2018

Working to safeguard the public against viruses and antibiotic resistant bacteria

Scientists working to reduce risk the risks to the public from exposure to viruses and antibiotic resistant bacteria in the water environment are meeting to share their research and discuss next steps today (14 March at the Royal Geographic Society, London).

Publication date: 14 March 2018

Russian spy attack: how toxic chemicals can cause widespread contamination

This article by Vera Thoss, Lecturer in Sustainable Chemistry, at the School of Chemisty was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Publication date: 14 March 2018

Shakespeare’s Globe to perform in Pontio during their only visit to Wales this Spring

During Spring 2018, Shakespeare’s Globe will be going on tour stopping at Pontio Arts and Innovation Centre, Bangor 7-9 June for their only performances in Wales during the tour.

Publication date: 14 March 2018

Three scholarships for a new course

For the next three years, a company providing office equipment to Bangor University will be awarding a students from the School of Welsh with a scholarship for a brand new degree course.

Publication date: 14 March 2018

A Hat Trick for Bangor at the Inter-Collegiate Eisteddfod 2018

Following a weekend of competition, Bangor University were victorious at the Inter-Collegiate Eisteddfod 2018, winning for a third time in a row.

Publication date: 12 March 2018

Stanley Kubrick’s films all had one thing in common: Jewishness

This article by Nathan Abrams, Professor in Film, at the School of Creative Studies and Media was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Publication date: 12 March 2018

Distinguished Bangor Alumnus leaves generous legacy to Agricultural Botany

John Trevor Williams (PhD Agricultural Botany, 1962) made an enormous contribution towards conserving the genes of the world’s food crops and has now ensured his legacy goes even further by leaving a £75,000 bequest to support Agricultural Botany at Bangor University.

Publication date: 8 March 2018

Bangor Uni on 8 Shortlists for Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2018

Bangor University has been shortlisted for 8 of 12 Awards in this year’s Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2018, with the nominations based on the excellent reviews and opinions of the University’s own students.

Publication date: 7 March 2018

Performance from Chongqing boosts Wales-China link

Building on Wales’ link with Chongqing in south-west China, Bangor University’s Confucius Institute brought the Chongqing Performance Company to Holyhead’s Ucheldre Centre earlier this week (1 November), enthralling audiences with a stunning performance of Chinese music and dance. 

Publication date: 3 November 2017