News Archive: February 2017

Celebrating Success on St David’s Day

Bangor University will mark St David’s Day this year by celebrating the success of three teams who scored the highest possible marks in an independent survey of Welsh language services. The Central Switchboard team and the Reception team in Pontio scored 100% in a survey of phone and reception services by the Welsh Language Commissioner. As part of a ‘mystery shopper’ exercise, the Commissioner’s office contacted these teams three times. On each occasion they found that a comprehensive and courteous Welsh language service was offered. The Welsh Language Commissioner’s Assurance Report was a national survey and only a relatively small number of workplaces scored 100%.

Publication date: 28 February 2017

Shiromini Satkunarajah

Professor John G Hughes, Vice-Chancellor, said: “Bangor University has welcomed the news of Shiromini Satkunarajah’s release last night. We would particularly like to thank Hywel Williams MP who has worked tirelessly to secure her release as well as the Students’ Union at Bangor University and NUS Wales and students, staff, local media and many others around the world who lent their support. “We will continue to support Shiromini on her return to the University, and very much hope that she will be allowed to remain to complete her degree.”

Publication date: 28 February 2017

Three new Bangor academics among Sêr Cymru talent welcomed by Minister

Three new Bangor University academics were among the latest tranche of international research Fellows and Chairs welcomed to Wales at a special reception in Cardiff last night [27 February 2017] to celebrate Sêr Cymru investments and the start of the second phase of the programme.

Publication date: 28 February 2017

Shiromini Satkuranajah

After learning about Shiromini’s situation at the end of last week, the Vice-Chancellor of Bangor University has written to the Home Office requesting that Shiromini Satkunarajah be allowed to remain in the UK to complete her studies.

Publication date: 27 February 2017

Nation, Class and Resentment

Bangor University sociologist and lecturer Robin Mann discusses the differences in the way that national identity is expressed in Wales, Scotland and England, and how national identity affects attitudes towards current issues such as Brexit and immigration in a unique comparative study, just published.

Publication date: 27 February 2017

Professor Angharad Price named Best Playwright in the Welsh Language

Congratulations to Professor Angharad Price from Bangor University’s School of Welsh who was named Best Playwright in the Welsh Language in the Wales Theatre Awards 2017 held last Saturday (25 February 2017) in Swansea’s Taliesin Arts Centre.

Publication date: 27 February 2017

Golygathon cyntaf erioed ar Gerddoriaeth i’w gynnal yn Adran Gerdd Prifysgol Bangor

Fe fydd y ‘Golygathon’ cyntaf o’i fath erioed ym maes Cerddoriaeth yn cael ei gynnal yn Adran Gerdd Prifysgol Bangor ddydd Gwener, 24 Chwefror, 2017.

Publication date: 23 February 2017

‘International Mother Language Day’ celebrated at Bangor University

On Wednesday the 21st of February, students at Bangor University celebrated ‘International Mother Language Day’ With students from nearly 90 countries represented at the University, the day celebrated the linguistic diversity at Bangor, with students from all over the world promoting and sharing their own language.

Publication date: 22 February 2017

New EU project to help grow the fisheries industry in Wales and Ireland

More than €1m of EU funds will be invested in a new project to support the growth of the shellfish industry in Wales and Ireland. The Irish Sea Portal Pilot will investigate patterns of movement of shellfish in the Irish Sea to help reduce the costs of locating shellfish seed and help increase the volume of mussels and shellfish available to the industry.

Publication date: 21 February 2017

Bangor University students awarded prestigious Drapers’ Company medals

Bangor University, School of Ocean Sciences students were presented with the Drapers’ Medals at a recent ceremony. The Drapers’ Company is one of the historic Livery Companies of the City of London, and now a philanthropic organization. The Drapers’ Company kindly donates two medals each year to be awarded to outstanding postgraduate students.

Publication date: 20 February 2017

The future of upland farming beyond the CAP

Leaving the EU poses opportunities as well as challenges for Welsh upland farmers, say organisers of a Conference which will see farmers, academics, conservation bodies, and Government officials come together to develop a vision for the future of land use policy in Wales’ iconic uplands landscape.

Publication date: 20 February 2017

Minister visits Bangor University’s School of Electronic Engineering

The Welsh Government’s Minister for Skills & Science, Julie James AM, visited Bangor University’s School of Electronic Engineering on Thursday (16 Feb). During the visit, the Minister was taken on a tour of the school’s state-of-the-art laboratories and was given a demonstration of the work undertaken by Professor Jianming Tang and his Optical Communications Research Group (OCRG).

Publication date: 17 February 2017

The Appliance of Science!

Bangor University’s Science Festival is back for its seventh year and welcomes everyone to explore and discuss science through talks hands-on activities exhibitions demonstrations - all free to attend.

Publication date: 16 February 2017

What causes mass whale strandings?

This article by Peter Evans , Honorary Senior Lecturer, School of Ocean Sciences was originally published on The Conversation . Read the original article . Around 600 pilot whales recently became stranded on a New Zealand beach , around 400 of which died before volunteers could refloat them back into the sea. Sadly, this kind of mass whale stranding has occurred since human records began, and happens somewhere in the world on a regular basis.

Publication date: 15 February 2017

We need your Welsh!

Work to capture everyday words and phrases used by Welsh speakers is about to get underway with the launch of a specially designed app. Welsh speakers from all walks of life will be able to record their conversations to form part of the Corpws Cenedlaethol Cymraeg Cyfoes (CorCenCC) project...

Publication date: 15 February 2017

The Sir Hugh Owen Memorial Lecture 2017: ‘Curo’n hyderus ar y drws tri-enw: golwg ar le’r Gymraeg yn adolygiad Donaldson’, Professor Mererid Hopwood

Bilingualism and the Donaldson review of education will be the subject of the Sir Hugh Owen Memorial Lecture to be given by the linguist, writer and poet Mererid Hopwood at Bangor University on Wednesday, 22 February at 6pm, in the Eric Sunderland Lecture Theatre of the Main Arts Building .

Publication date: 14 February 2017

A life in Labour Politics: Kim Howells in conversation

Former MP and member of Tony Blair’s Labour cabinet, Dr Kim Howells will be in conversation at Bangor University on Thursday 23 February. The third annual Professor Duncan Tanner Annual Memorial Seminar and Debate , which starts at 5.30 in Terrace Room 3 at the University’s Main Arts Building, promises an interesting evening of insights from Kim Howells, former Member of Parliament (MP) for Pontypridd, who held a number of ministerial positions within the Blair and Brown governments. Kim Howells will be in conversation with Professor Andrew Edwards, Labour historian and Dean of Arts & Humanitries at Bangor University.

Publication date: 14 February 2017

Opportunity knocks for UK's Supreme Court to become more diverse

This article by Stephen Clear, of Bangor University Law School ,was originally published on The Conversation . Read the original article The UK judiciary has a long history of fairness, integrity and soundness of judgement – but not diversity. In theory, the balance of judges’ ethnicity, gender and background should reflect society. Although there have been moves to improve diversity in the profession, the vast majority are still white , middle-class , private-schooled , Oxbridge-educated men .

Publication date: 14 February 2017

Impact of Rheumatoid Arthritis research acknowledged in the US

A paper written by Prof. Andrew Lemmey (School of Sports Health & Exercise Sciences) titled “ Tight control of disease activity fails to improve body composition or physical function in rheumatoid arthritis patients ”was adjudged the most popular article on rheumatoid arthritis in 2016 by Rheumatology Advisor (U.S. weekly newsletter which cherry-picks and summarises articles from all the major international rheumatology journals).

Publication date: 10 February 2017

Taboo: working for the East India Company could make you rich ... or dead

This article by Lowri Ann Rees , Lecturer in Modern History, was originally published on The Conversation . Read the original article . BBC1’s latest historical drama certainly brings something different to the table. Taboo is dark, menacing, violent and at times shocking. In episode one we see James Delaney (played by Tom Hardy at his swaggering best), thought long dead and gone, suddenly return home from his travels overseas. His arrival is dramatic, to say the least. As he comes bursting through the church doors in the middle of his late father’s funeral service, the congregation is shocked to see the returned son. A key player in this intriguing story is the East India Company . What started as a trading company in 1600 became a powerful imperial interest, with substantial commercial and political influence which ruled over India from the late 18th century. Tales of misconduct, dishonest dealings and exploitation abounded. The famous impeachment trial of Warren Hastings during the 1780s and 1790s reinforced contemporary perceptions of a corrupt and unscrupulous organisation.

Publication date: 10 February 2017

Prof. Emily Cross selected to join prestigious group of European scientists

Prof. Cross has been invited to join the Young Academy of Europe a pan-European grouping of outstanding young scientists whose aim is to promote scientific excellence by providing opportunities for networking, scientific exchange and science policy.

Publication date: 9 February 2017

Students’ music video heads for viral fame

Having their heads shaved for charity proved the impetus for two Bangor University Music students to create a music video which is rapidly going ‘viral’ on the internet. At the time of writing, ‘The Changing Man’ by Colonel Dax has had over 160,000 views on YouTube, with comments and messages of support from as far afield as Australia and America and Spain.

Publication date: 8 February 2017

Translating public health economics research into policy and practice

A public health economics expert has highlighted research suggesting that investing in early years has the potential to save millions of pounds across public sectors in Wales, to the National Assembly for Wales ’Children, Young People and Education Committee consultation on the ‘First 1,000 Days’ .

Publication date: 6 February 2017

New information makes it easier to ‘Think global, act local’ when conserving coral reefs

Coral reefs provide vital resources, acting as both feeding grounds for fish stocks and natural barriers protecting vulnerable coastlines, among other essential ecosystem services. But they’re under increasing threat of ‘bleaching’ – when the symbiotic algae that live within the coral are expelled due to warmer sea temperatures, starving the coral of photosynthetic energy and weakening the viability of the whole coral reef structure in the process.

Publication date: 6 February 2017

Cancer research in Wales gets £200k boost for World Cancer Day

A research project which will look at the way in which cancer cells grow and divide has been given a boost of £200,000 thanks to North West Cancer Research . The money will fund a three-year research project based at the North West Cancer Research Institute at Bangor University.

Publication date: 3 February 2017

How King Arthur became one of the most pervasive legends of all time

This article by Raluca Radulescu , Professor of Medieval Literature and English Literature, Bangor University was originally published on The Conversation . Read the original article . King Arthur is one of, if not the, most legendary icons of medieval Britain. His popularity has lasted centuries, mostly thanks to the numerous incarnations of his story that pop up time and time again.

Publication date: 3 February 2017

A series of tours of Bangor University’s art and ceramic collections

Guided tours of Bangor University’s Art and Ceramic Collections will be held between February and May. 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. The guided tours will start from the foyer of the Main Arts Building, College Road, Bangor on Saturdays 11th February, 11th March, 8th April and 6th May. English tours will be held 11.00am-12.00pm and Welsh tours 12:30pm-1:30pm on these days. If you are interested in attending then booking is necessary as there is a maximum of 15 spaces per tour. To book your place, please contact Storiel by phoning 01248 353 368 or email storiel@gwynedd.gov.uk

Publication date: 2 February 2017