NOVEMBER 2015

NEWSLETTERTHE LATEST NEWS FOR ALL UNIVERSITY STAFF

NICE TO MEET Jo Rycroft-Malonep3

HONORARY FELLOWSHIPS p4

MEET THE TEAMStudent Support p6

PONTIOInnovationp8

PARTNERSHIP DEAL Bangor City FC p12

TŶ GOBAITH NEWS p13

Bangor University again leads Welsh universities in the most recent measure of student satisfaction, and is among the top 10 of the UK’s best non-specialist universities, the traditional institutions who offer a broad range of subjects.

The results are drawn from the National Student Survey, a poll of around half a million graduating students in the UK, which provides the most comprehensive feedback on the student experience at each institution.

Professor Oliver Turnbull, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Teaching & Learning said:

“The fact that almost one quarter of our degree subjects have a 100% satisfaction rate is clearly to be celebrated, as is our 91% overall

satisfaction score, which places us level with Oxford University, and ranked higher than every other Russell Group institution.”

As well as topping the overall table in Wales, and being joint 8th among the UK’s non-specialist universities, Bangor tops the UK tables in six subjects, according to graduate feed-back, and is top in Wales in 12 subjects. In addition to this, the University appears in the top 10 in the UK for 19 of the 39 subject areas taught at the University.

The survey questions students about the teaching on their course, assessment and feedback, academic support and organisation and management, learning resources and how their personal development is supported. Bangor University’s students responded favourably, placing the University

in the ‘top 10’ institutions UK-wide in four of these areas: teaching; assessment/feedback; academic support and personal development, and leads Welsh universities in five of the six categories - being placed second in one category.

Prof Turnbull added: “The data provides valuable information to prospective students, and reflects our expertise in teaching, for which we have recently been awarded a Higher Education Academy Award to enable us to share our best practice with other UK higher education institutions.

Additionally, the University is now listed in 411th position in the world in this year’s influential ‘QS World University Rankings’, a rise of 60 positions

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NICE TO MEET...PROFESSOR JO RYCROFT-MALONE, PRO VICE-CHANCELLOR (RESEARCH & IMPACT)

TOP TWEETS Find out what some of our followers have been saying on Twitter

@rachtaylor13 Amazing to see the sports facilities @BangorUni looking forward to seeing how @BangorUniRUFC get on now!

@JoBangor@BangorUni now composts all its green waste, over 30 tonnes a year #sustthinktank

@Benregis1 Gosh! It’s 30 years this week since I arrived in @BangorUni for my first term. Made some great friends there, still friends 30 years on.

@mirosannnow I just asked to be signed up for a ten-week course on British Sign Language - I love all the opportunities here @BangorUni !

@Ryan_Willmott95 It’s been the best week of my life!!! @BangorUni #lovebangor

@Curlybyrdy #ff to the friendliest, most supportive, and simply fantastic university there is @BangorUni :-) #happieststudents

@SueJohnDMS Cannot believe how well our lil girl has settled @BangorUni everyone has made her feel so welcome she is loving its such a relief

Where are you from/where do you live?I was born in Nottinghamshire of Yorkshire parents and spent most of my formative years in the South of England. I now live in a fairly remote spot above Llanberis. Where did you work before the University?I moved from the RCN Research Institute, Warwick Medical School at Warwick University to Bangor University in 2006. What does your job/role entail?Leading the development and implementation of a strategy that ensures the building blocks are in place for excellent research to flourish, helping the research we carry out to make a difference, and raising the profile of the breadth and depth of research activity across the University.

What do you like watching on the TV?I don’t watch a lot of TV – but when I do it will be to watch a good drama or comedy – I love Spooks, Sherlock, Homeland, The Fall, Miranda, W1A and my guilty pleasure is Game of Thrones. What is your favourite film?It’s a toss-up between The Wizard of Oz and Gladiator [I know!] If you could invite any 3 people (dead or alive) to dinner, who would they be and why?Leonardo da Vinci because he’d be able to talk about anything given he was the master of inter-disciplinarity. Jane Austen because I’d want to see if her wit, observation and insight translated into conversation and Miranda Hart, because we’d need a laugh.

Emeritus Professor Tom Corns, from the School of English Literature has been awarded a prestigious Fellowship of the British Academy (FBA).

Each year, the British Academy elects to its Fellowship up to 42 outstanding UK-based scholars who have achieved distinction in any branch of the humanities and social sciences. In the words of the British Academy, Fellows are scholars who have ‘attained distinction in any of the branches of study which it is the object of the Academy to promote’. This title is the highest honour in the UK for a scholar of the arts and humanities.

Professor Corns is an internationally renowned expert on seventeenth-century English literature and, in particular, a leading authority on the work of John Milton, author of the great

English epic poem, Paradise Lost.

Professor Corns retired from teaching in the School of English Literature in 2014 after a career at Bangor that took him from junior lecturer to Pro-Vice-Chancellor. He continues to be an active researcher, much in demand at home and abroad for his knowledge and expertise, and he is currently the joint general editor of the new Complete Works of Milton for Oxford University Press.

Professor Andrew Edwards, Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and one which rightly recognises Professor Corns’ immense contribution to the humanities and social sciences over a long and distinguished career. This is a great honour for both Professor Corns and Bangor University.”

PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FOR PROFESSOR

Emeritus Professor Tom Corns

WWW.BANGOR.AC.UK/BRAILSFORD

EMAIL:TEL:

brailsford@bangor.ac.uk01248 382571

Canolfan BrailsfordFfriddoedd Road, Bangor, LL57 2EH

WWW.BANGOR.AC.UK/BRAILSFORD

EMAIL:TEL:

brailsford@bangor.ac.uk01248 382571

Canolfan BrailsfordFfriddoedd Road, Bangor, LL57 2EH

All University staff now have the option to pay for Gym/Gym & Classes Membership at Canolfan Brailsford via a simple monthly salary deduction.

Priced at just £16.66 a month for unlimited gym access and £20 month for unlimited gym and fitness classes, this gives staff the chance to take advantage of a big reduction on the normal pay-as-you-go monthly cost of £27.50. With no additional joining or induction fees, there has never been a better time to use the facilities based right on campus.

Open from 7am to 10pm and with 37 fitness classes per week including a range of lunchtime sessions, there are also 70 state of the art LifeFitness machines at the refurbished Canolfan Brailsford.

For more information, call the Reception team on x2571 or email sportmemberships@bangor.ac.uk with any questions, or call into Reception in person to sign up.

Gift vouchers for ‘Gym and Classes monthly memberships’ are also available.

GREAT MEMBERSHIP SCHEME FOR ALL UNIVERSITY STAFF

What kind of music do you listen to?I have eclectic tastes, and go through phases – some of the music on current devices includes Elgar, Vaughan Williams, The

Waterboys, Handel, Faurjé, Adele, Mozart, Ed Sheeran, Jack Savoretti and U2 and I like a good musical too! What book are you reading at the moment?I have two on the go – Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal: Medicine, and What Maters in the End, and, The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton Do you have any pets?A Welsh sheepdog called Tanwen, and a border collie called Mac.

What are your hobbies?Crossfit, sailing, cycling, walking, snowboarding, playing the piano (badly in comparison to how I used to be able to play!), and photography.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself…I once played (in the percussion section) at The Proms in the Royal Albert Hall

Professor Jo Rycroft-Malone

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ALUMNUS OF THE YEARThe 2015 Bangor University Alumnus of the Year Award was presented to Dr Ross Piper in recognition, not only of his professional success, but for his continued contribution to, and support of Bangor University. He was one of the team in last year’s successful three-part BBC series, Wild Burma: Nature’s Lost Kingdom, and has

presented and been an expert for CBBC’s Wild, and more recently for Sky’s series Extreme Phobias, Extreme Cures. He’s also an accomplished author who has observed and studied animals across the world. His latest textbook, Animal Earth: The Amazing Diversity of Living Creatures, is an exploration of animal diversity.

GRADUATION WEEK & HONORARY FELLOWSHIPS 2015

LOWRI EVANSFor services to marine science

After five years as Director General of the EU’s Fisheries and Maritime Affairs directing science policy and implementation in maritime affairs and fisheries, Lowri Evans will move

on to a new challenge as Director General of the EU Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. Presented by Professor Colin Jago, Dean of the College of Natural Sciences.

PROFESSOR JEREMY HOWELLFor services to sports science

A Bangor graduate and now a professor at the University of San Francisco, a small, exclusive Jesuit university. He received a scholarship to study in America in 1982 and

never looked back. Presented by Professor Lew Hardy, School of Sport, Health & Exercise Sciences (left).

BERNARD TAYLOR CBEFor services to pharmaceutical science

Currently Chairman of Cambridge Laboratories Ltd. He has a degree in Zoology from Bangor University and began his pharmaceutical career

in marketing with SmithKline & French. He was with Glaxo from 1963 - 1990, mainly in Australasia, becoming Chief Executive of Glaxo Worldwide. He subsequently co-founded and became Executive Chairman of Medeva plc, before moving to his current position. Presented by Professor David Shepherd (left).

DR DAVID ROBERTS For services to the University

Recently retired, he was a member of staff for 35 years, 11 of which were as Academic Registrar prior to becoming the University Registrar, a post he held for 15 years. Dr Roberts

recently authored the latest history of the University, Bangor University 1884-2009. Presented by the Vice-Chancellor.

MYRDDIN AP DAFYDD For service to Welsh literature & publishing in Wales

Founder of Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, a press and publishing house in Llanrwst. Presented by Professor Peredur Lynch, School of Welsh (left).

MEIRION PRYS JONES For services to language policy and planning

A Bangor graduate and chair of the Network to Promote Linguistic Diversity, Meirion Prys Jones is a former chief executive of the Welsh

Language Board and is well-known and respected across Europe by people involved in linguistic rights and language planning. Presented by Professor Jerry Hunter, Pro Vice-Chancellor (right).

NICHOLAS SNOWMAN OBEFor services to business

He is the fourth generation member of the Wartski family to lead the London-based jewellers, Wartski of Llandudno, one of the world’s most respected and eminent jewellers.

Founded in Bangor by Morris Wartski in 1865, a refugee from the Tsarist Russia, Wartski’s is now a firm of art and antique dealers specializing in fine jewellery, gold boxes, silver and works of art by Carl Fabergé. Presented by Professor Andrew Edwards, Dean of the College of Arts & Humanities (right).

SHIREEN CHAMBERS For services to forestry

A Bangor graduate, she is currently the Executive and Technical Director of Institute of Chartered Foresters. Presented by Professor John Healey from the School of

Environment, Natural Resources and Geography.

HUW STEPHENS & GRUFF RHYSFor services to music

Huw Stephens (left) and Gruff Rhys are first cousins and have had successful careers in music for many years. BBC Radio 1’s youngest ever DJ, Huw, also

co-hosted BBC Radio Cymru’s music strand, C2. He broadcasts and writes about music as well as curating and introducing the performances at several music festivals. He was presented by Elen ap Robert, Pontio. Gruff Rhys achieved mainstream success in the 1990s with the band Super Furry Animals. He has also worked on a number of solo projects, most recently, writing the film score for Set fire to the Stars, a film about the last days of Dylan Thomas. He was presented by Dr Pwyll ap Sion, School of Music.

NEW TEACHING FELLOWSDuring the degree ceremonies nine members of academic staff were awarded Teaching Fellowships in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the teaching and pastoral care of students. Nominations for Teaching Fellowships are made by both staff and students and considered by a panel.

Barry Carver, School of Healthcare Sciences

Dr Lyle Skains, School of Creative Studies & Media

Eleri Hughes, Canolfan Bedwyr

Dr James McDonald, School of Biological Sciences

Dr Marguerite Hoerger, School of Psychology

Dr Caroline Bowman, School of Psychology

Dr Lynda Yorke, School of Environment, Natural Resources & Geography

Wendy Ashurst, Bangor Business School

Dr Ross Roberts, School of Sport, Health & Exercise Sciences

Dr Ross Piper

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480 Peer Guides

14,084 recorded contacts

206 accessed additional funding/ bursaries

£663,945 Additional funding awarded to students following sta intervention

67,293 accommodation searches on Student Pad

207students retained from leaving (potential loss of £5.5M)

MEET THE TEAM: STUDENT SUPPORT

The University’s Student Services provision was established in 1995 with the Student Support Team formed in 2012. The Team aims to empower students, helping them to fulfil their potential by providing a range of support services. These services help to free students from concerns and equip them to make an informed choices so that they can focus on their studies and

university life. Student Support liaises with academic staff, other University support services and external agencies to ensure effective referral and to support an integrated approach to student welfare and well-being. The team are often praised for their non-judgmental approach and receive good feedback from staff and students alike.

STEPH BARBARESISenior Assistant Registrar & Head of Student Support Time at Bangor: 30 years

As a Bangor student, Steph worked at the Ffriddoedd bar, a precursor to Bar Uno, and ended up managing it after graduating. She served as a Sabbatical Student Welfare Officer in 1986-87, and then went on to do various roles within the Academic Registry before she started working at Student Services in 1998. Steph now oversees all the student support services as well as working with Wendy on the student withdrawal service and provides support for personal and senior

tutors. She is a proud recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award at the Students’ Union inaugural Student Led Teaching Awards in 2012. Steph met her husband, Simone Barbaresi, Deputy Director of IS, whilst they were both Hall Wardens at Bangor, they were married at the Anglican Chaplaincy 18 years ago.

MONEY SUPPORT TEAM: Wendy and Gwenda provide advice and information to potential and registered students on the full range of financial support available, including grants, loans, additional allowances, hardship and bursary funding. They provide money advice and information to students experiencing financial difficulty and liaise with agencies such as the Student Loan Company. They also refer students to external agencies and University support services and advise staff members on student funding issues. They received the Student Service Department Award in the 2013 Student Led Teaching Awards.

WENDY WILLIAMSTime at Bangor: 8 years

After a period of administering student finance applications for Anglesey Council, Wendy joined the Student Support team. In addition to providing advice and information to students, she also works with Steph on the student withdrawal service and is the Care and Mature Students Adviser. She also gives finance presentations during University open days. Wendy is a keen Welsh Rugby Union fan and faithfully follows the international matches.

GWENDA BLACKMORETime at Bangor: 25 years

Gwenda began as an administrator in the Department of Agriculture after she left school. She then moved to the Academic Registry and is one of the original members of the Student Support team. Gwenda and Wendy have been friends since childhood, and were in the same class at school.

STUDENT HOUSING TEAM: Amy and Mair provide a one-stop shop for students’ private sector housing needs, providing them with the tools to make informed decisions and taking the worry out of house hunting. They look after the Bangor Student Pad website, ensuring that landlords comply with relevant regulations. They also help with students’ search for available properties, their rights as tenants and any issues that may arise.

AMY JONESTime at Bangor: 11 years

With over 4,600 calls to the office last year, Amy deals with a wide variety of queries ranging from basic house hunting, contract guidance and complex issues such as tenant/landlord disputes. Originally from Bristol, Amy enjoys catching up with family and spending time with her two young children.

MAIR OWENTime at Bangor: 10 years

Although the majority of students have a harmonious time in their accommodations, Mair occasionally deals with the reporting of disputes such as unprotected deposits, disrepair and utilities disputes for example. A rugby mum, Mair is often found on the side-lines cheering her sons at Llangefni RFC matches.

KIM DAVIESPeer Support Co-Ordinator Time at Bangor: 12 years

Bangor developed the Peer Guide scheme 20 years ago, and it is now led by Kim. She looks after the recruitment and training of Peer Guides and advises schools on good practice, as well as making sure they all get their certificates and Bangor Employability Award points.

There are now nearly 500 Peer Guides in Bangor. In her spare time, Kim likes walking Madog, her border collie, along the coastal path.

TERESA CRITCHLOWClerical Assistant Time at Bangor: 26 years

Teresa, or TC, started as a domestic assistant at the Students’ Union and began an administrative role in 2000. TC has worked on the SU’s reception and at the SU advice centre before commencing her current role three years ago. She now provides clerical support to the whole of the Student Support team and is

also rostered on the Rathbone reception desk rota, being a first point of contact for students seeking support. TC is a keen member of Freda’s Fitness Club and keeps a watchful eye over the team’s diet, ensuring that they all eat healthily

STUDENT SUPPORT 2014/15

Wendy & Gwenda

Amy & Mair

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Working with a range of University departments and graduates, Arloesi Pontio Innovation is currently working on a number of real time research projects with potentially valuable commercial applications. A new innovation ‘gym’ is soon to be launched offering membership to both academics and local businesses to make use of the latest facilities and expert knowledge on hand at Pontio.

From bespoke medical solutions to improved data collection on the high seas, Pontio has already started to support research with expertise in design and manufacture of a wide range of equipment. Pontio provides not only tools, expertise and training, but crucially brings people together to collaborate and share ideas. This in turn will create an environment and ecosystem that will support research and research impact.

One collaborative project which has already delivered results is a project to devise a bespoke clamp stand for use in the cardiovascular physiology laboratory at the School of Sport,

Health and Exercise Sciences. The clamp enables researchers to stabilise the ultrasound transducer when performing vascular scanning, helping to greatly improve the accuracy of data generated.  

Dr Aamer Sandoo, lecturer in cardiovascular physiology, said: “The production of the clamp stand represents the excellent collaborative links between academics and innovation technicians, and showcases the ability of the technicians to produce scientific instruments which directly benefit students and researchers.”

Another real time research application was undertaken with SEACAMS, a branch of the School of Ocean Sciences which has been successfully manufacturing equipment for the sea for many years. A recent collaborative project with Pontio has used 3D printing technology to create a customised frame to mount different types of equipment.  Dr Martin Austin from SEACAMS, said: “By using powerful 3D CAD software to model the frame, it ensures manufacture will be error free and all aspects of the design are fully resolved. Pontio took the CAD model and produced a scaled 3D printed prototype.

PUTTING PROTOTYPES THROUGH THEIR PACES

“After reviewing the design by analyzing the 3D printed prototype a decision was made to increase the height of the marine grade 316 stainless steel frame from 1200mm to 1400mm. This would provide the instruments with more clearance from the seabed and ensure the data is collected with maximum precision and accuracy.

“Overall, the project has illustrated that SEACAMS and PONTIO are capable of designing high quality, customised equipment, ensuring that the University is at the forefront of marine research and design.”

Faced with another medical themed challenge, a local startup, UW Designs, received technical support from Pontio to enable it to develop a prototype endoscopy device with Bangor-based company, CREO Medical. Pontio provided a great boost for this company, headed by George Ullrich and his business partner David Webb. Pontio’s support enabled the company to undertake research and design work previously beyond their financial reach.

George Ullrich, said: “Pontio is such a useful facility for a small company such as ours. Being able to plan, test and prototype our design here in Bangor, enables us to develop viable commercial products, and is so valuable for our business.”

Pontio is also working with the School of Psychology on an adjustable support arm and experiment mounts for the MRI Scanner.

Dr Kenneth Valyear, Lecturer, School of Psychology, said: “Our research often requires the design and production of novel materials. The provisions provided by Pontio are of great value to our group. Working in-house, we would struggle to produce such high quality outcomes. Pontio has played an essential role in moving our research forward efficiently, and in enabling our group to apply for research funding opportunities in a timely manner.”  

Pontio invites other Bangor University departments to explore the benefits of collaboration as it prepares to move to its new premises in the main Pontio building

Before constructing their seabed frame, the SEACAMS team wanted to prototype and test their CAD design. This is the 3D printer that Pontio used to print the seabed frame prototype. Pontio upskilled Steven Rowlands of Ocean Sciences to help construct the prototype.

The constructed seabed frame built with its adjustments after analysis of the Pontio built prototype being lowered down to the seabed to collect data.

Professor David Bowers of the School of Ocean Sciences has been honoured for his work using satellites to study the ocean. He received an Award from the Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society. This award is granted for services to remote sensing through sustained and distinguished contribution to furthering science and applications which use remote sensing. Professor Bowers and his research group have been involved in advances in the remote sensing of ocean thermal fronts, algal blooms, salinity and suspended sediment patterns and used this information to learn more about how our seas work. The award is made on an occasional basis and Professor Bowers is the 9th recipient since 2000.

The University teamed up with the British Heart Foundation Furniture & Electrical store in Wales this summer to donate unwanted furniture at the end of term. The sum of £13,125 was raised for the BHF and enabled the charity to recycle goods that might otherwise be wasted. Deirdre McIntyre, Campus Life Manager, said: “We are delighted that this collaboration has proved to be such a success, helping us to raise vital funds to continue the BHF’s life saving work. The furniture we were able to reuse also supports Bangor University’s commitment to sustainability and the well-being of future generations.”

Dr Tony Dobbins, Bangor Business School and Dr Alexandra Plows, School of Social Sciences, organised a Welsh Labour Market Summit on Skills and Employment at the University in September. The Labour Market Summit was a knowledge exchange event to promote research impact. It attracted a mixed audience of policy-makers, labour market practitioners, employer representatives, trade unionists, careers advisors and academics. The Summit was an opportunity for different labour market stakeholders to come together to debate policy interventions affecting skills and employment in Wales. It was funded by a grant from the British Academy and the Leverhulme Trust.

Dr Lucy Huskinson of the School of Philosophy and Religion co-Chaired the fourth international conference of the collaboration of the International Association for Analytical Psychology and the International Association for Jungian Studies at Yale University, USA recently.

The conference, Psyche Spirit and Science: negotiating contemporary social concerns, was sponsored by the Yale Divinity School. Dr Huskinson was also elected to give a key note address on her work on the psychoanalytic principles of architecture, with a paper called Repressed Architecture.

Bangor University is listed as the best place to study Radiography according to the Times & Sunday Times University Guide 2016. Bangor‘s Radiography students also had the best graduate prospects of any UK radiography graduates and the University was listed 3rd for radiography entry standards.

Bangor also appears among the top 10 UK universities for a further five subjects - Celtic Studies (Welsh) (2nd), Social Policy (2nd), Agriculture & Forestry (7th), Creative Writing (8th) and Education (10th).

Bangor Benefits: If you missed the October closing date of the Cycle to Work Scheme, don’t worry, it will be available again the Spring, so there is time to shop around and decide how much to spend via the salary sacrifice arrangement.

The sum that can be sacrificed to purchase a bike has now increased to £2,000 and therefore increasing the choice and range of bikes available via the scheme.

The University has recently joined the Arriva Employer Travel Club. This entitles staff to discounted bus travel on all Arriva routes. Further details are available here: www.bangor.ac.uk/hr/bangorbenefits/index.php.en

NEWS IN BRIEF NEWS IN BRIEF

The prototype adjustable support arm and experiment mounts for the MRI Scanner being tested using a mock MRI scanner in Brigantia.

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PROMOTION TO PERSONAL CHAIR

Professor Raluca Radulescu joined the School of English Literature in 2005 as a Lecturer in Medieval

Literature. She was promoted to Senior lecturer in 2008 and to Reader in 2013. She is a recognised international scholar in Arthurian studies and has an international reputation as a researcher in medieval studies, in particular manuscripts and political culture. Professor Radulescu is currently the editor-in-chief of the Journal of the International Arthurian Society and the President of the British Branch of the same society.

Professor John Parkinson joined the School of Psychology as a Lecturer in 2004. He was promoted to Senior

Lecturer in 2009 and Reader in 2013. He became the Head of the School of Psychology in 2013, where he has taken an active and positive lead to maintain the highest standards within the School. Dr Parkinson’s interest are in positive psychology, behaviour change and transdisciplinary innovation. He plays a strong role in staff development, in part because of his research expertise in positive psychology

STAFF PROMOTIONSWe are pleased to announce the following promotions:

RESEARCH ROUND UPMore research news at www.bangor.ac.uk/research

Dr Simon Creer, School of Biological Sciences has been awarded a £1.2M NERC Standard Grant to investigate the relationship between grass pollen and the incidence of asthma, via the development of novel molecular genetic approaches and modelling to quantify the composition of airborne grass pollen.

The grant will see a collaboration between the Met Office, Exeter and Aberystwyth Universities and the National Pollen and Aerobiological Research Unit at the University of Worcester to hopefully make changes into how grass pollen is assessed, modelled and linked with human health, with Dr Creer leading the team. The research will provide information that healthcare professionals and charities will be able to translate into helping individuals live healthier and more productive lives and be less reliant on the health system, with accompanied economic benefits

LEARNING WELSH, USING WELSHJADE LUKE Human Resources

What made you learn Welsh / use more Welsh?When I started working at the University, it was frustrating that I couldn’t understand everyone. Also, I think it’s important to use Welsh whenever that is the other person’s preference. I started classes in Dean Street two mornings a week and now, I try to use Welsh every day. It’s useful when fluent speakers continue in Welsh, even when I find it difficult. More practise equals more confidence! 

How do you use Welsh at work?I answer the phone bilingually and continue to use Welsh if the other person would like me to. Some staff have started sending me emails in Welsh and I can understand and respond to most of them. Sometimes it’s difficult but I have learned that my Welsh does not need to be perfect if the other person can understand. It’s more important to have a go.

How do you use Welsh outside work?My family and my partner don’t speak Welsh, so it’s difficult to find the opportunity to practice. When I go to the shops in Bangor, I try to use Welsh in the first instance.

How would you like to see your use of Welsh developing?I would like to use more Welsh on a daily basis. Perhaps I don’t understand everything straight away but I get there in the end. All it takes is confidence, perseverance and a bit of patience 

The English Language Centre for Overseas Students, better known simply as ‘ELCOS’, marks its 30th anniversary this year.

Since 1985, ELCOS, part of the International Education Centre, has supported thousands of international students who have come to study at the University. The Center offers both preparatory courses prior to students beginning their degree and also in-sessional, credit-bearing modules and discipline-specific workshop support throughout their studies at the University.

Additionally, ELCOS offers one-to-one tutorials for writing advice, bookable through http://elcos.bangor.ac.uk/

ELCOS also runs General English classes for partners and families of PhD students, international faculty and visiting scholars, providing a

valuable social network for people who might otherwise feel isolated.

David Andrews, Director of ELCOS, said: “If your School would like to know more about how ELCOS can support your students in a targeted way, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to supporting our international students, staff, visiting scholars and their families

for another 30 years!”

ELCOS is accredited and assessed by The British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes. ELCOS also belongs to The International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language

ELCOS CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY

The Centre for Evidence Based Early Intervention, based in the School of Psychology, is continuing its collaboration with SCHOLA EMPIRICA, a Prague based educational National Government Organisation (www.scholaempirica.org).

Over the last year, European Social Funding enabled 80 Czech early years teachers (four groups of twenty in each visit) to visit the Centre to receive two days of training in promoting children’s social emotional skills and to undertake two days of visits to early years settings across north Wales. Professor Judy Hutchings, Centre Director, visited Prague in October and February to train teachers that were not able to get places on the visits. The final visit took place in April, but collaboration has continued with an award of Erasmus funding for a two-year long project until August 2016. This project will develop, implement

and disseminate inclusive educational strategies to address the needs of pre-school children from socially or economically disadvantaged environments.

At Bangor this new project is a collaboration between Schola Empirica, CEBEI and the School of Education. Other partners are Leeds Trinity University, Masarykova Univerzita in the Czech Republic and Skola Dokoran in Slovakia.

The project includes a comparative analysis of early childhood education and care policies and strategies in the four partner countries and a survey of staff working with pre-school children,

exploring their experiences and needs. This will inform the development of an inclusive methodology for pre-school children and the training of 10 pre-school teachers and staff from each of the partner countries, implementation of activities for pre-school children and evaluation of the project outcomes.

Later this year Bangor will send ten early years teachers and lecturers to Prague and provide training to staff from all of the partner centres in Bangor in early October. They will be joined by two teachers from Lesotho who are visiting Wales through Dolen Cymru, an independent charity which fosters a unique link between the two countries

COLLABORATIONS CONTINUE

Back row L-R: Dr David Keeble, Debbie Garlick, Dave Andrews, Victoria Thompson, Josie RyanFront row L-R: Claire Quinn, Janet Roberts, Fawzia Parker

Jade Luke

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The home of Bangor City Football Club has been renamed the Bangor University Stadium after a new partnership was agreed.

The University became Bangor City’s stadium naming rights partner as part of a three year agreement, the second change of stadium name since the football club moved to Nantporth in 2012.

Richard Bennett, Director of Sport, said: “This is the start of an exciting partnership with Bangor City FC and something that will benefit both Bangor University, the football club and the local community.

“Through a number of work placements and volunteering roles, we will help the club develop their junior programmes as well as giving our students employability skills in areas such as facility management, media and coaching.”

Bangor City FC Chairman Dilwyn Jones said: “We see this as an exciting opportunity and partnership

for the club, Bangor University, the city and our supporters.

“This collaboration is aimed at establishing sustainability and progression through a sharing of skills and resources. I am excited at the prospect of developing relationships with students

and staff and bringing an extra dimension to player and business development at the club.”

This new partnership agreement will see the University engaging with the football club in many different ways

SENRGY’S STATESIDE VISIT

Mary Evans from Bangor Business School and Mannon Briggs, Halls of Residence, recently took to the skies at ZipWorld to raise money for Tŷ Gobaith. Both thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would like to thank everyone who sponsored them. Mary raised a total of £260 and Mannon raised £250.

Mannon said: “I braved the longest and fastest zip line in Europe and raised money for a worthy cause whilst doing so. I originally applied to take on the challenge on my own but managed to convince my brother in-law to join me. Our first challenge was the little zipper, which is a taste of what’s to come and a good way to calm the nerves. You fly over the quarry road and trees towards a member of staff who has their hand out to catch you.

“We then made our way up to the Big Zipper and I was getting more nervous by the minute. We were very lucky to have a clear day and had a magnificent view of the land below. We opted to go first to get it out of the way and it was brilliant. It didn’t feel very fast when I was zipping down the wire, but it was a fantastic experience. I would highly recommend it and hopefully the monies raised will help many families in need.”

Do you have your own fundraising ideas?

Tŷ Gobaith is offering the University £50 to grow into as much money possible. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best, for instance a cake sale, raffle or sporting challenge. If you would like to run an event, please contact Emma Riches at e.riches@bangor.ac.uk with your idea.

By raising £250, you could help a terminally ill child have a day out, £500 would provide 30 hours of music therapy and £700 can cover 24 hours’ worth of care for a child at the hospice. Get thinking!

A mini Christmas Craft Fair will be held in Bar 1884 on November 27th, from 11.00am-2.00pm. A percentage of all sales, as well as a small charge at the door, will be donated to Tŷ Gobaith. There will be a selection of handmade arts, crafts, jewellery and more for sale – the perfect chance to get a head start on your Christmas shopping

Above: Mary Evans. Left: Mannon Briggs with her brother in law, Dylan Parry.

TŶ GOBAITH NEWS

In early September, Dr Matt Hayward from the School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography; and Biological Sciences, was invited to Michigan State University, USA, to present his research to the College of Fish and Wildlife at the invitation of Dr Bob Montgomery. Dr Hayward gave a research talk to 150 staff and students of the College (one of the largest in the field in the US) and discussed collaborative research. Dr Hayward’s talk described the evolution of his prey preference work from a simple question posed by a national park manager to a burgeoning field that now encompasses predators from all continents with the key message that ecosystems require the full suite of possible predators to ensure appropriate top-down control of herbivores

In response to the implications of the new undergraduate fees structure and the loss of funding for MSc students, back in 2011 oceanographers at the School of Ocean Sciences created a new 4 year undergraduate “MOcean” degree. The first cohort of the degree which utilised modules from the long running and internationally renowned MSc courses in Physical Oceanography and Applied Marine Geosciences graduated this year. Of the 5 students who graduated, 3 secured funded PhD studentships at top UK Ocean, Atmospheric and Geoscience departments whilst a fourth was offered at PhD at a leading marine renewables

engineering school. The change has also resulted in a big increase in the numbers of students taking the MSc modules despite a climate in which MSc funding by NERC and by the Welsh Assembly Government has ceased.

The University is to offer an undergraduate physics programme for the first time in nearly thirty years this October. Made possible by the Vice-Chancellor’s recent investment in numerical sciences the new BSc Ocean and Geophysics will benefit

from historical strengthens in physical oceanography and marine geophysics, at the School of Ocean Sciences.

It will provide students with the key skills to either enter the off-shore industry or undertake climate research. The first two years of the course will focus on the observation, identification and quantification of the key physical processes driving the ocean and linking to other components of the earth systems; the atmosphere, the cryosphere and the continents, with the students specialising in either Ocean Modelling or marine geophysics

NEWS IN BRIEF

BANGOR CITY FC LANDMARK PARTNERSHIP DEAL

From left: Peter Crew (BCFC), Richard Bennett, Director of Sport, Dilwyn Jones (BCFC Chairman), Professor John G Hughes, Vice Chancellor, Professor Carol Tully, Pro Vice Chancellor and Ethan Ray (BCFC Community Manager).

Arthur Muneza and Tutilo Mudumba from Michigan State University with Dr Matt Hayward (centre).

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Once again this year, the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol has funded more lecturers to teach in various fields at universities across Wales.

As a result, Welsh medium provision will be available at Bangor University in subjects such as Zoology, Psychology and Economics.

Dr Sara Wheeler from Wrexham, who has been appointed Social Policy Lecturer at Bangor University is eager to start teaching and researching.

Marian Pye from Llangefni has been appointed to a Zoology lecturing post and she hopes to expand upon the strong provision that already exists within the department.

Awel Vaughan-Evans from Gellifor will teach Psychology, after completing her undergraduate and post graduate courses at the University.

Dr Edward Thomas Jones from Bodedern studied for his degree at Bangor University and has been awarded a lectureship in Economics. He will commence in November.

Dr Ioan Matthews, Chief Executive of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol said: ‘‘We were glad to be able

to support these appointments and look forward to seeing more students studying subjects through Welsh as a result of the Coleg’s investment. I would like to wish them all well as they create resources and recruit perspective students over the years to come.’’

Bangor University’s Library and Archives Service have received the Outstanding Library Team Award, presented at the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards 2015, along with other Welsh partners in the Wales Higher Education Libraries Forum (WHELF). WHELF comprises the National Library of Wales, all the Welsh universities, the Welsh NHS Libraries, the Open University in Wales and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

The Times Higher Education awards, now in their seventh year, recognise outstanding leadership and management in the UK’s higher education institutions. The team are delighted to be part of this award-winning project which is a ground-breaking partnership to deliver a library management and resource discovery system for the whole country. Ultimately they hope that users will be able to access and borrow material from every higher education library in Wales, while

both physical and digital services are being transformed. The first cohort of libraries has gone live and Bangor University will implement the new system next summer.

The judges described WHELF as an “ambitious project” that “shows great trust, ability to develop a shared vision and achieve impressive cross-organisational alignment and coordination”. “As well as cost savings on procurement and infrastructure, the partnership approach will improve discovery and ultimately access

to library resources for all users in Welsh universities, the National Library of Wales and further afield,” the panel said.

Sue Hodges, Director of Libraries & Archives at Bangor University and Vice-Chair of WHELF, said: “I’m delighted that Bangor University’s Library and Archives Service has made a valuable contribution to the development of this project. All WHELF libraries are committed to working together to open up our collections for teaching, learning and research and to our communities. It a truly collaborative project across Wales of which we are all proud.”

AWARD WINNING LIBRARIES SERVICES

Members of the WHELF Shared LMS team with their award. Flora Lewis (far right) represented Bangor University at the event: [Image: Times Higher Education]

From left: Marian Pye, Sara Wheeler and Awel Vaughan-Evans,

Do you have a son or daughter who’s preparing for University? Maybe they’re at the application stage and struggling with their UCAS Personal Statement, or wondering how University will be different from school. Staff within Corporate Communications and Marketing have teamed up with current students to create a one-stop shop for advice and great tips on how to prepare for university. The content for the Get Ready for University website and YouTube Channel has been jointly prepared by the Digital and Web Marketing Team and the School Liaison Team.

On the website, you’ll find advice on the application process, student finance, useful words and terms,

frequently asked questions and advice for parents and guardians. The Get Ready for University YouTube Channel features video blogs by School Liaison Officers and current Bangor University students, giving help and advice and sharing their own experiences.

Find out more at www.bangor.ac.uk/GetReady and www.youtube.com/GetReadyForUniversityVideos

GET READY FOR UNIVERSITY

MORE COLEG CYMRAEG POSTS AND PROVISION

Riders from Aberystwyth and Bangor taking a well-earned break in Beddgelert.

TRAVEL THE WORLD CHALLENGE Once again Bangor and Aberystwyth Universities worked together to support healthy living and improving activity levels among staff. The “Travel the World” challenge saw participants log their daily exercise to see how far they could travel around the coast of Wales individually and then around the world collectively. The 200 participants from Bangor travelled 32,805 miles in the 2 month challenge. Unfortunately on this occasion, Bangor came second to Aberystwyth, who travelled almost 7,000 miles further.

To mark the end of the Travel the World challenge, 14 riders chose to ride from Bangor to Aberystwyth. Arwyn Owen from Bangor’s Security team spurred himself on with a successful fundraising campaign, raising over £200 each for Hope House and for the Alaw Ward at Ysbyty Gwynedd. Lee Evans from the Printing and Binding Unit met the superhuman challenge of riding the return journey back to Bangor and was home before the other riders in their minibus. To join next year’s Aber-Bangor bike ride, contact Chris Drew c.drew@bangor.ac.uk

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NEWSLETTER is published by the Corporate Communications & Marketing Department, Bangor University. Items for inclusion in the next edition should be emailed to aose3e@bangor.ac.uk by 18 January 2016© Bangor University. Please contact aose3e@bangor.ac.uk for permission to reproduce any article. Updated University news can be found at www.bangor.ac.uk/news @BangorUni @BangorUniPress

Alan Owen, Duty Officer at Canolfan Brailsford and his friend Stephen Edwards ran Europe’s toughest marathon six times in consecutive days to raise money for Bangor cancer sufferer Irfon Williams’ #teamirfon fundraising campaign in October.

The gruelling challenge saw them cover 157.2 miles, and a total ascent of almost 11,000ft as they pounded the roads of the Snowdonia National Park in aid of Ysbyty Gwynedd’s Alaw Unit.

The last part of the challenge saw the pair join 2,500 runners for the Snowdon Marathon.

Alan said: “Like many other people, I’ve lost close friends to cancer and I know how important it is to support the cancer services in our local hospitals. I hope the 6 in 6 challenge can help raise awareness and help connect people with the symptoms, and get them to go for a check-up.

“I’ve completed the Snowdon Marathon three times in the past, but had never attempted anything like this before.”

So far, Alan has raised over £4,500 for the #TeamIrfon and the #HawliFyw campaigns by taking part in a number of gruelling physical challenges, including the Wales Ironman Triathlon and the London Marathon. Since being launched in May 2014, Irfon’s campaign has raised over £92,000 for Ysbyty Gwynedd’s Alaw Unit through the North Wales NHS Charity, Awyr Las.

This has funded wigs and

headwear for female cancer patients, complementary therapies like therapeutic massage and aromatherapy, as well as additional training to help staff support cancer patients with depression. £14,000 from the campaign will help fund a dedicated counselling room on the Alaw Unit, which is due to undergo a major expansion later this year.

To sponsor Alan please visit www.justgiving.com/6in6teamirfon

6 IN 6 CHALLENGE

Stephen Edwards (left) and Alan Owen.