News Archive: June 2018

Why we explored an undisturbed rainforest hidden on top of an African mountain

Atop Mount Lico in northern Mozambique is a site that few have had the pleasure of seeing – a hidden rainforest , protected by a steep circle of rock. Though the mountain was known to locals, the forest itself remained a secret until six years ago, when Professor Julian Bayliss spotted it on satellite imagery. It wasn’t until last year, however, that he revealed his discovery, at the Oxford Nature Festival . We recently visited the 700 metre-high mountaintop rainforest in an expedition organised by Bayliss, in collaboration with Mozambique’s Natural History Museum and National Herbarium. As far as anyone knew (including the locals), we would be the first people to set foot there (spoiler: we weren’t). This article by Simon Willcock , Lecturer in Environmental Geography, Bangor University and Phil Platts , Research Fellow, University of York was originally published on The Conversation . Read the original article .

Publication date: 29 June 2018

Pioneering Teacher Education partnership launched in North Wales

Bangor University and the University of Chester are delighted with the announcement today that their proposed new courses for Initial Teacher Education, which will be delivered from 2019 onwards, have been accredited by Welsh Government.

Publication date: 29 June 2018

First textbook on ocean renewable energy published

A potential source of renewable energy surrounds us – the ocean – a vast natural resource that could potentially meet all of the world’s growing demand for electricity several times over. With recent investments, R&D, and academic research into ocean renewable energy, it was considered timely to produce a textbook on the fundamentals of ocean renewable energy. This book, published by Bangor University ocean energy expert Dr Simon Neill, in collaboration with Dr Reza Hashemi at the University of Rhode Island, is the first published in this new topic.

Publication date: 28 June 2018

Welsh Professor wins people’s choice Award

A volume of poetry written by a Bangor University Welsh Professor has won the golwg 360 Barn y Bobl prize (Welsh people’s choice award) at the glittering 2018 Wales Book of the Year Awards . Caeth a Rhydd by Peredur Lynch , Professor in Welsh had been shortlisted in the Welsh language Poetry category. Professor Peredur Lynch completed his first poetry volume while on a sabbatical at Harvard University’s Department of Celtic Languages and Literatures.

Publication date: 27 June 2018

Significant barriers to timely diagnosis of dementia and access to post-diagnostic support found across five European countries

Significant barriers to timely diagnosis of Alzheimer have been found across Europe, according to a report presented today at the European Parliament. The findings of the five-country study funded by Alzheimer Europe and led by Prof Bob Woods of Bangor University’s College of Healthcare Sciences identified the following:

Publication date: 26 June 2018

New work by Owain Llwyd for Llangollen Eisteddfod

The Llangollen Eisteddfod is celebrating ten years of its Inclusion Project with the commission of a new performance piece, SEND A Message.

Publication date: 25 June 2018

Bangor two in Santander Entrepreneurship Competition

Bangor University is well represented in the penultimate round of the 2018 Santander Universities Entrepreneurship Awards taking place at Strathclyde University on 26th June. Having been selected from undergraduate and graduate students competing at Bangor University recently, Tim Hunt and Joe Perkins are among 20 entrepreneurs to have made it through to the next round to pitch their ideas at the Regional Finals.

Publication date: 22 June 2018

We're working on a more accurate pollen forecasting system using plant DNA

Most people enjoy the warmer, longer days that summer months bring – but plant allergy sufferers will have mixed emotions. Roughly one in five Europeans suffers from allergic reactions to tree, grass and weed pollen causing pollinosis, hay fever and allergic asthma . This article by Simon Creer , Professor in Molecular Ecology, School of Biological Sciences and Georgina Brennan , Postdoctoral Research Officer, Bangor University was originally published on The Conversation . Read the original article .

Publication date: 21 June 2018

Master class for learning disability nursing students

The School of Healthcare Sciences welcomed Mark Gray, a learning disability nurse and consultant in learning disability and sight loss to their ‘Learning Disability Community of Practice’ day.

Publication date: 21 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

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

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

‘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

Confucius Institute International Conference

The Confucius Institute at Bangor University has successfully concluded its first international conference in Bangor, north Wales, United Kingdom.

Publication date: 15 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

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

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

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

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

Dr Bethan Loftus invited to present her research on covert policing at the University of Oxford

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

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

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

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

Forestry Student Launches Social Enterprise

A student from Bangor University forced to turn-down her dream work placement because of ongoing health problems has reason to celebrate following the launch of her own eco-awareness business, which aims to enlighten teenagers about environmental issues.

Publication date: 4 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

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.

Publication date: 3 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

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