Author: Darby Higgins

New measurements of how waters mix just below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean are to be used to improve weather forecasts.  The water turbulence was measured by an underwater ‘glider’ and the results of the research, led by Bangor University researcher Natasha Lucas, are published in a new Journal paper. Our weather is largely driven by heat supplied to the atmosphere by the ocean. In order to be able to make reliable seasonal predictions of the weather is it vital that the transfer of heat from the ocean to atmosphere is correctly predicted. A key process…

Bangor University chose national Carers’ Rights Day (21 November) to launch the only Student Carer Policy at any Welsh University and highlight their support for students who are also carers. Young carers and others will be speaking about their experiences and the support which is available to them at a Carers’ Rights event at the University, in partnership with Action for Children, Carers’ Outreach Service and Gwynedd County Council. Recognising the challenges for young carers, the majority of whom are not in full time education or employment, the University has several strategies in place to support and raise…

Dr Karin Koehler, an English lecturer at Bangor University, has won the Basil Davies prize for her success in the WJEC Welsh for Adult exam. Karin, who is originally from Germany, was awarded the prize for gaining the highest mark thorough Wales in the WJEC Intermediate exam. Last year she was awarded the same prize at Entry level and such is her ability to learn Welsh she has leapt a level (Foundation) and was awarded the prize at Intermediate level. Koehler said: “I’m really proud to have won one of this year’s Basil Davies Memorial Trophies. Many thanks to Basil Davies’ family for establishing these prizes, which really show…

A former church in Bangor will be transformed into a £3.2 million purpose-built creative hub for children and young people. The new centre will “give children and young people equal access to the creative arts to inspire them to flourish and reach their potential.” Young people theatre specialists Frân Wen announced the plans today, to create a new centre in the former St Mary’s Church on Garth Road. The theatre production company’s new home which will be known as “Nyth” (Nest) and will include rehearsal, workshop and small-scale performing spaces which will be used for a range of creative projects. Frân Wen, who also announced this…

A new data science hub for green energy is to be created at Bangor University, backed by £4.6m EU funds. The new Smart Efficient Energy Centre (SEEC) will develop joint research between Welsh and international organisations and businesses. It will investigate the options for using big data science to improve the efficiency of low carbon energy systems including nuclear, marine and offshore wind energy. The centre is forecast to become an international hub of excellence in North Wales, generating a further £9m of research income over the next four years, and encouraging collaboration on new ideas and innovative solutions to global energy efficiency issues. Research will be based…

Two of Bangor University’s Halls accommodation have been ranked in the top 50 student accommodations in the UK by students on the university review website, StudentCrowd. John Morris-Jones and Reichel on the Ffriddoedd Accommodation site were ranked highly for social experience, after 21,000 students and graduates voted earlier this year. StudentCrowd Director, Paul Humphreys, commented: “Social experience is such a huge part of attending university, and is probably the second most important factor behind the quality of the university/course itself…so, to be able to see an unbiased list of the best University Halls for Social Experience gives those attending university…

Bangor University working in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy have assisted the Department of the Environment to expand the Marine Parks system in the Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, through projects funded by the DEFRA Darwin Initiative. The expansion of Cayman’s existing marine parks was approved by the Cabinet and announced during the visit of His Royal Highness, Prince of Wales, on 28th March. The Environment Minister indicated that “This expansion will serve to protect our local marine stocks, as well as the crucially important coral reef network surrounding our Islands for generations to come.” The…

Bangor City Council are faced with a shortfall of nearly £600,000 for essential restoration work on Garth Pier. The restoration work commenced in August 2017 and the council have spent £1.3million on the work, money which they already had in reserve for the project. Detailed incremental surveys undertaken last year revealed more challenging problems and the extent of the metal decay. The survey showed that trusses supporting the end of the pier were so weak and corroded there was a real risk of the pier collapsing, this resulted in the pierhead closing to the public in June 2018 due to…

A new league table just published gauges how universities are making a real impact on society outside their research and teaching. The global ranking, compiled by the Times Higher Education magazine, measures how universities are working towards 11 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include academic freedom policies, efforts towards gender equality and taking action against climate change.   The University Impact Rankings results reveal a brand new line-up of institutions, and place Bangor University among the world’s 200 top performing institutions. 23 other UK universities join with Bangor University among the top 200, with Bangor being…

Work has begun on a new 3G all-weather pitch at Bangor University’s Treborth site. The pitch will provide year-round rugby and football facilities for student teams as well as being available for hire by the local community. Richard Bennett, Bangor University’s Director of Commercial Services, said: “We have already had a large number of enquiries regarding the facility, and have taken a significant number of bookings for next season from both local football and rugby clubs. When we also take into account the number of student clubs that will be training there, it’s already looking busy every weeknight.” Already signed…

Bangor University has been chosen as the best in the UK for its Students’ Union Clubs & Societies in this year’s WhatUni.com Student Choice Awards. The University was also placed third in the UK in the Accommodation category and third in the UK for the International award. The latest accolade is a further endorsement of students’ place at the heart of the University’s extracurricular experiences. Taking part in activities improves students’ employability, giving them opportunities to develop a range of skills. It also creates communities and networking opportunities. The Award follows another successful year which has also seen the University…

With a strong commitment to bring high quality performances to the area, Pontio will be welcoming Shakespeare’s Globe, the actress Carys Eleri and her award-winning show Lovecraft and supremely talented musicians including Lleuwen, Georgia Ruth, Gareth Bonello and Rhys Meirion, Ballet Cymru, Welsh National Opera, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, the comedian Seann Walsh and the circus company from Ethiopia Circus Abyssinia to Bangor as part of the summer’s programme. The centre will also prove its ongoing commitment to the local community by giving a platform to a range of concerts by local dance schools, Friars School and their musical ‘Legally Blonde’,…

An innovative outreach project delivered by Bangor University’s School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering in partnership with the University’s Widening Access Centre has secured a £30,000 grant from the Royal Academy of Engineering as part of its Ingenious scheme – a programme that seeks to engage the public with engineering. The ‘Photo-Electric Light Orchestra’ project will inspire children aged between 9-13 in the region to design their own musical instruments by implementing coding skills and by utilising photonics, the study of light in technology, to create a music score that will be performed at Pontio, the University’s Arts and…

Sir John Timpson of the Timpson Foundation and former Chief Executive of the Timpson group of high street stores is visiting Bangor University to present the 2019 Anne Marie Jones Memorial Lecture on Tuesday 12th March 12.30 – 1.30 pm. Sir John’s Lecture, hosted by Bangor University’s Centre for Evidence Based Early Intervention at the School of Psychology, is open to the public and takes place in Neuadd Reichel Hall on the Ffriddoedd Site, Ffriddoedd Road, Bangor. Renowned for leading Timpsons’ creative approach to employee engagement and its innovative work helping ex-offenders; it is the UK’s most active employer of…

The construction of a new purpose-built school in Bangor, to accommodate up to 420 pupils, has begun. Pupils from Ysgol Y Garnedd, Ysgol Coed Mawr and Glanadda, were present for the official ‘sod cutting’ ceremony at the new school site. The new school will be built on the corner of the Ysgol Friars playing fields, closest to the existing Garnedd school, providing fourteen classrooms, two Additional Learning Needs classrooms, a Cylch Meithrin along with several different teaching spaces, staff and administration areas and a large hall. The new development is part of a wider £12.7 million scheme that will reorganise…

Titled A Jewish History of Bangor, the exhibition and map celebrate the presence of Jews in Bangor from medieval times to the Second World War (and beyond). The launch will take place at the ‘Bangor Arts Initiative’ Gallery in the Deiniol Shopping Centre, Bangor High Street, from 2-4pm on Sunday 17th March. All are welcome and it’s free. There will be short introductions by project supervisor, Professor Nathan Abrams of the School of Music and Media at Bangor University, and Gareth Roberts of The Menter Fachwen Walk and Discover Project who assisted with the creation of the map. Local residents…