News Archive: May 2020

Bangor University Alumnus wins the main poetry award at Eisteddfod T

On the final day of the first ever digital Eisteddfod T, it was revealed that the winner of the main award for poetry is Osian Wyn Owen from Felinheli.

Publication date: 29 May 2020

First group of graduates from fast track 2Yr PGDip Nursing join Welsh nursing workforce

The first cohort of Postgraduate pre-registration nursing students from the School of Health Sciences at Bangor University have graduated and registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as adult nurses.

Publication date: 29 May 2020

Bangor University student success at the first ever virtual Urdd Eisteddfod

This year, the usual format of the Urdd Eisteddfod had to be adapted due to the Covid-19 situation, and the first ever virtual Eisteddfod was held - Eisteddfod T.

Publication date: 29 May 2020

Free Welsh language software released to help with lockdown home schooling and working – and beyond

A software package to help Welsh language spellchecking and grammar checking has been released as a free download thanks to a partnership between Bangor University and the Welsh Government. The release aims to support Welsh-medium learners and their parents, home workers and small organisations during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic – and beyond.

Publication date: 28 May 2020

Bangor University student wins Eisteddfod T main literary award  

Mared Fflur Jones from Dolgellau is the winner of the main literary award at the ground-breaking digital Eisteddfod T, with a piece "full of love and anguish" according to the judge, renowned author Manon Steffan Ros.

Publication date: 28 May 2020

Treatment of chloroquine poisoning

Research by Bangor University’s Professor Dyfrig Hughes has provided important evidence on the safety of treatments that are being tested for use in COVID-19.

Publication date: 28 May 2020

How Local Authorities can encourage citizen participation in energy transitions

European citizens could become co-designers and leaders of renewable and sustainable projects involving energy production, transport and social developments rather than having such projects imposed upon them, following a new European Union (EU) Clean Energy for all Europeans package.

Publication date: 27 May 2020

Bangor University student wins the first major ceremony of Eisteddfod T

The winner of the prestigious Main Composer title of the ground-breaking Eisteddfod T, the first ever digital Urdd National Eisteddfod, has been revealed as 20-year old Cai Fôn Davies from Penrhosgarnedd.

Publication date: 25 May 2020

Student Led Teaching Awards 2020

Although the celebratory event was not held this year, the Students’ Union are pleased to have been able to announce the winners of this year’s SLTAs. Organised by the Students’ Union, the SLTAs gives students the opportunity to show their support and appreciation to staff who have shown dedication and hard work throughout the students’ time at Bangor. The 2020 winners were selected by a panel of students from a pool of over 500 nominations.

Publication date: 22 May 2020

Seagrasses will benefit from global change

Researchers show that seagrasses will benefit from increases in the temperature and CO2 in the oceans because their capacity to acquire nitrogen will be enhanced, not limiting their growth.

Publication date: 22 May 2020

Tropical forests can handle the heat, up to a point

Tropical forests face an uncertain future under climate change, but new research published in Science suggests they can continue to store large amounts of carbon in a warmer world, if countries limit greenhouse gas emissions. The world’s tropical forests store a quarter-century worth of fossil fuel emissions in their trees alone. There are fears that global heating can reduce this store if tree growth reduces or tree death increases, accelerating climate change. Dr Simon Willcock of Bangor University’s School of Natural Sciences was one of an international research team who measured over half a million trees in 813 forests across the tropics to assess how much carbon is stored by forests growing under different climatic conditions today.

Publication date: 22 May 2020

Novel website opens the door to Welsh literature for youngsters during lockdown

A PhD student from Bangor University has launched a new website to open the door to Welsh literature for youngsters during the coronavirus crisis.

Publication date: 21 May 2020

Bangor University & Santander Universities supporting People Power for PPE

Santander Universities are supporting Bangor University and the region to create free PPE.

Publication date: 20 May 2020

A conversation about primate conservation

School of Natural Sciences PhD researcher Zoe Melvin interviews the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Director of Species Conservation (Africa), Dr Tim Davenport As the new BBC One series Primates draws to a close this Sunday (17th May, 8:15 PM BST) primatologists from Bangor University (@BangorPrimates) continue their Twitter coverage of the series on Twitter under the hashtag #BangorDoesPrimates.

Publication date: 14 May 2020

Bangor scientists turn damaged wetlands into carbon stores

A team of scientists have developed a new method to help damaged peat bogs capture more carbon, cutting the release of greenhouse gases. The group, led by researchers from Bangor University in North Wales, say their work could lead to new practises being developed for peatland restoration.

Publication date: 12 May 2020

What our sewage can reveal about Covid-19 infection rates in the community

Scientists at Bangor University are working with Welsh Water and United Utilities to monitor the background levels of coronavirus within different areas. The scientists have shown that tracing the dead virus which is shed naturally, can provide an early warning of when certain areas may be approaching a next peak of Covid-19, as symptoms can take up to two weeks to emerge, and around 20% of the population or more show no symptoms when they are infected.

Publication date: 11 May 2020

Healthy gut microbiomes can influence farmed fish

We’ve all probably heard or read something about how a healthy gut microbiome can affect our overall health. The gut microbiome is as vital to animals and fish as it is to us humans. We have microbiomes in different parts of our bodies, on our skin, for example. Microbiomes are made up of communities of different microorganisms, viruses and germs and these communities play an important role in the way in which we function. There is even evidence to show that a poor gut biome can lead to ill-health or even disease. With around 45% of the fish we buy and eat globally coming from farmed sources, understanding the fish gut microbiome is essential to supply this demand.

Publication date: 11 May 2020

University experts come up with dynamic videos to help lockdown kids stay fit and healthy

A pioneering exercise programme for kids has been launched in North Wales amid fears the Covid-19 lockdown could lead to a huge increase in childhood obesity.

Publication date: 7 May 2020

Research involving Bangor University with relevance full recovery for Covid-19 patients cited by European Parliament

Research by Professor Dyfrig Hughes of the Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation in School of Health Sciences into the economic impact of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) - also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) – was published recently in the journal Healthcare.

Publication date: 7 May 2020

Discovery of a WW2 Landing Craft off Wales ends 77 year old mystery

A collaboration between a team of marine scientists and technicians based in the School of Ocean Sciences at Bangor University, working with internationally renowned nautical archaeologist and historian Dr Innes McCartney from Bournemouth University has resulted in the unexpected discovery and identification of a landing craft which was mysteriously lost at sea during WW2.

Publication date: 5 May 2020

Tsunami video wins Silver Publishers’ Award of the Geographical Association

An educational video on tsunamis, made by Time for Geography in collaboration with Bangor University and the University of Dundee, has received the 2020 Silver Publishers’ Award by the Geographical Association. The Silver Award is the highest accolade given annually for materials associated with geography in schools and colleges that make a significant contribution to geographical education and professional development.

Publication date: 4 May 2020

Lockdown challenges – what evolution tells us about our need for personal space

Humans are intensely social creatures. We all need company and social contact. But for many of us, being at home for long periods with a small group of people – even those we love best – can become frustrating. One key to understanding why constant contact with our family feels so unusual comes from looking at how social groups work in other primate species. This article by Vivien Shaw of the School of Medical Sciences and Isabelle Winder of the School of Natural Sciences is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article .

Publication date: 4 May 2020

University trains up 170 extra intensive care staff to fight pandemic

A 170-strong team of nursing staff have been trained to work in critical care units across North Wales and save as many lives as possible during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Publication date: 1 May 2020

Tsunami video wins Silver Publishers’ Award of the Geographical Association

An educational video on tsunamis, made by Time for Geography in collaboration with Bangor University and the University of Dundee, has received the 2020 Silver Publishers’ Award by the Geographical Association.

Publication date: 1 May 2020

3D printing of PPE safety visors

School pupils and teachers of Ysgol Godre’r Berwyn, with support from Creo Medical, make 3D printed safety visors guided by Ilan Davies (a PhD student at the School of Computing and Electronic Engineering working with Creo Medical).

Publication date: 1 May 2020