News Archive: November 2015

Behaviour Change helps Sustainable Social Enterprise of the Year

A local social enterprise has won a national award with the support of an innovative research centre. Antur Waunfawr was presented with the Sustain Wales Sustainable Social Enterprise 2015 Award at a ceremony in Cardiff. The enterprise was encouraged to apply for the award following a successful project with the Wales Centre for Behaviour Change at Bangor University to create an Impact Report.

Publication date: 27 November 2015

University research showcased at event celebrating social sciences in society

Case studies from Bangor University are featured in a new publication which celebrates research undertaken by social science researchers in Wales. ‘ Making the Case for the Social Sciences 10: Wales ’ is published by the Academy of Social Sciences as part of its Campaign for Social Science. The publication comprises 14 case studies of research carried out by Welsh institutions which have influenced national and international governments, as well as highlighting the benefits of social science research on public policy.

Publication date: 27 November 2015

Bangor University to reward outstanding impact from its research and enterprise activities

Twelve projects at Bangor University have been shortlisted for the University’s third annual Impact and Innovation Awards 2015, supported by Santander Universities. These prestigious awards at Bangor University recognise and celebrate the recent impact that the University’s research, innovation and enterprise activities have on the wider economy and society. This year, the University is also introducing a new award category, Outstanding Contribution to Wales , to recognise activities that have led to impact of national significance in Wales.

Publication date: 27 November 2015

New report urges governments to review the duty of collective worship in schools

The vast majority of state schools in the UK are required by law to organise acts of daily collective worship (England, Northern Ireland, Wales) or religious observance (Scotland) for their pupils. The majority of collective worship acts during any school term must be of a 'wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character’, be concerned with ‘reverence or veneration paid to a divine being or power’ and ‘accord a special status to Jesus Christ’. A multidisciplinary research team led by Dr Alison Mawhinney (Bangor Law School) has examined this duty and, at an international conference held this month, launched a report which urgently recommends that governments in the UK re-examine the obligation.

Publication date: 25 November 2015

Celebration of nursing excellence in north Wales

Excellence in nursing in North Wales was acknowledged recently at the Royal College of Nursing in Wales 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards . Finalists in three of the award categories came from Bangor University’s School of Healthcare Sciences .

Publication date: 20 November 2015

Scholarship opens doors to television production company experience for Shân

A student from Bangor University has recently had a great opportunity to work on a TV series for S4C. Shân Pritchard, a Bangor Univerity graduate with a first class degree in Sociology and Social Policy, was awarded a KESS scholarship to study for a PhD in partnership and television production company, Cwmni Da . Thanks to this special scholarship, Shân had opportunity to work on a number of exciting projects, such as 'Dyma Fi' .

Publication date: 18 November 2015

Signs of our times: why emoji can be even more powerful than words

This article by Vyvyan Evans Professor of Linguistics, at the School of Lingusitics & Engish Language was originally published on The Conversation . Read the original article . Each year, Oxford Dictionaries – one of the world’s leading arbiters on the English language – selects a word that has risen to prominence over the past 12 months as its “Word of the Year”. The word is carefully chosen, based on a close analysis of how often it is used and what it reveals about the times we live in. Past examples include such classics as “vape”, “selfie” and “omnishambles”.

Publication date: 18 November 2015

Lecturers recognised by Bangor University for contribution to teaching and learning

Two lecturers from the School of Social Sciences recently received awards from Bangor University in recognition of their contribution to teaching and learning.

Publication date: 18 November 2015

Recommendations to strengthen Wales’ Administrative Justice System

A report raising awareness and highlighting challenges and opportunities for Wales’ administrative justice system has been launched today (17 November). Administrative justice deals with the relationship between the individual and the state and extends from principles of good decision-making for public bodies, to how people complain to those bodies, as well as to external redress mechanisms such as courts and tribunals and Ombudsmen and Commissioners with responsibilities in different areas of public life.

Publication date: 17 November 2015

Welsh children’s report to United Nations is a first

School pupils from three primary schools across north Wales (Beaumaris Primary School, Southdown Primary School, Buckley and Hiraddug Primary, Dyserth) were invited by Bangor University’s Law School to formally launch their report " Lleisiau Bach Yn Galw Allan / Little Voices Shouting Out " (17th November). This is the first time the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has received a report drawn up by 7-11, based on their own research.

Publication date: 17 November 2015

Early research findings show Wales' Child & Adolescent Health falling short of standards

Wales’ Child and Adolescent Mental health services fall short of standards according to early research findings (17 November). The findings were reported at the launch of Observatory@Bangor , the North Wales branch of the Wales Observatory on the Human Rights of Children and Young People , based at Bangor University Law School .

Publication date: 17 November 2015

AMs, MPs and Experts Call On Welsh Parties to Support Mindfulness Teaching in Health and Education

AMs from across the parties will join mindfulness experts in calling for more active engagement with mindfulness at a meeting at the National Assembly for Wales Tŷ Hywel building tomorrow (Tuesday 17 November). Wales is facing a mental health crisis, with a consensus that more needs to be done to support those experiencing mental health problems or at risk of developing them. Mindful Nation UK, a new report by Westminster MPs, presents evidence that mindfulness training - learning techniques including meditation that help people respond to better to difficulties - can play a vital role in healthcare education and the workplace.

Publication date: 16 November 2015

Culture Challenge at Bangor University

Bangor University is inviting the public to find out about the cultural diversity among Bangor University’s students and take part in a ‘Cultural Challenge’ quiz. On the 2nd December, ten teams of Bangor University students will be competing against each other for some great prizes in a ‘Culture Challenge’ which includes the first prize of a trip to China.

Publication date: 16 November 2015

Professor Bernardo Batiz-Lazo recognised for excellence in academia

Professor Bernardo Batiz-Lazo has been awarded a prestigious prize by his alma mater in recognition of over 15 years of professional excellence.

Publication date: 16 November 2015

Codi’r To ‘Raise the Roof’ during Senedd visit

Year 6 pupils from Ysgol Maesincla, Caernarfon and Year 5 pupils from Ysgol Glancegin, Bangor who ‘raised the roof’ and ‘brought the house down’ with their new-found musical talent when they visited the Senedd Building recently.

Publication date: 16 November 2015

Making Data Available for Research

SAIL and NWORTH Agree Strategic Collaboration SAIL (Secure Anonymised Information Linkage) and NWORTH (The Bangor Clinical Trials Unit, part of the University’s School of Healthcare Sciences ) have agreed to work together in a collaborative partnership. SAIL is a Wales-wide research resource focused on improving health, well-being and services

Publication date: 13 November 2015

Explore your Archive

Three Bangor University students will be sharing the fruits of their research at the University’s Archive at an open event on Wednesday 18 November. The three were chosen by the Archive, part of the University’s Library & Archive Service, as part of a National campaign across the UK, “Archwiliwch eich Archif / Explore your Archive”, which is raising awareness of the amazing archive collections to be found across the Country.

Publication date: 13 November 2015

Bangor University research into access to rare disease medicines

New research from Bangor University, shows that patients with rare diseases often experience a challenging journey that poses difficulties for the National Health Service. Researchers at the University's Centre of Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation at the University's School of Healthcare Sciences found that patients often face difficulties in diagnosing their condition, accessing specialist care, and having effective treatment available.

Publication date: 12 November 2015

Bangor University student awarded Ebola Medal

Following Sierra Leone has being declared free of the Ebola virus, a Bangor University PhD student has been awarded a medal in recognition of her bravery and dedication in tackling the crisis in West Africa.

Publication date: 9 November 2015

A Bangor University postgraduate student has recently signed a deal to write a biography of a Punk band

Joe Shooman, 41, from Oswestry, has just signed a deal to write a biography of US Pop-punk band All Time Low. The 75,000 word book will be out on Music Press Limited in the UK in spring/summer 2016.

Publication date: 9 November 2015

A conference to make Welsh work

The First Minister of Wales and the Welsh Language Commissioner will be sharing a platform at a conference at Bangor University this week that will be looking at ways of encouraging the use of Welsh in the workplace. On Friday 13 November, over 100 delegates from organisations and companies from across Wales will be attending the ‘ Making Welsh Wor k’ conference that will focus on sharing examples of good practice when facilitating the use of the Welsh language at work.

Publication date: 9 November 2015

How trillions of tiny solar panels could power the internet of things

This article by Jeff Kettle , ‎Lecturer in Electronic Engineering, was originally published on The Conversation . Read the original article .

Publication date: 9 November 2015

CERQual: A new approach for supporting the use of qualitative evidence in decision making

A new paper published in PLOS Medicine describes an innovative and transparent approach for assessing how much confidence to place in findings from qualitative evidence syntheses. The new approach, known as CERQual (‘Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research’), is designed to help decision makers use qualitative evidence for decisions and policies about healthcare and social welfare.

Publication date: 6 November 2015

Award winning film director Danny Boyle talks about his ‘wonderful time’ at Bangor University

Academy Award winning director Danny Boyle, who graduated with a degree in English and Drama from Bangor in 1978, discussed the fact that he remembers his time at Bangor with great fondness, during an interview with BBC Radio Wales programme Good Evening Wales recently.

Publication date: 3 November 2015

Health Partnerships to teach, train and provide practical assistance to health workers in Lesotho

Bangor University’s School of Healthcare Science will be sending key academics with expertise in healthcare organisation, management and leadership to Lesotho. The University is working with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) on a Department for International Development funded project awarded via the Tropical Health & Education Trust Health Partnership (THET) Scheme.

Publication date: 3 November 2015

Offences against the person – modernising the law on violence

New rules are needed to tackle violent offences and make better use of court time, according to the Law Commission . A new Law Commission report will be launched at a dedicated event held at Bangor University, where Professor Ormerod, Law Commissioner for Criminal Law will present a guest lecture on ‘Reforming Offences Against the Person’, to Bangor Law School students and invited guests at 11am today (Tuesday 3rd November 2015).

Publication date: 3 November 2015

Can we use eDNA as an ‘environmental magnifying-glass’?

An innovative idea submitted by Bangor University has been selected as one of eight projects selected within four “idea” areas to be funded by the Natural Environment Research Council’s (NERC) new “Highlight Topic” research funding stream. Based on their research, the scientific community were invited to subject project areas which would place environmental science at the heart of the sustainable management of the planet. “Environmental DNA: a tool for 21st century ecology”, the new idea suggested by Bangor University in collaboration with other academics and stakeholders, was among around 150 submissions. The successful project will assess how we can use new genetic techniques to measure biodiversity.

Publication date: 2 November 2015

Archive of the month

Publication date: 2 November 2015