A message from the Head of Development and Alumni Relations
Welcome to the September 2026 edition of Bangoriad Bach and a special welcome to our 2026 graduates who are receiving our e-newsletter for the first time as alumni!
Preparations are well underway for the arrival of our new and returning students at the end of the month. I鈥檓 sure that you remember the excitement and trepidation of arriving on campus, settling into your student accommodation and attending your first lectures at the university. We wish the new cohort all the best on their new adventure and what I鈥檓 sure will be a memorable milestone in their lives.
In this edition of Bangoriad Bach we bring you news about two new members of staff (one of whom you might recognise鈥), how well our graduates are performing and how our researchers are addressing climate changes and its effects.
As ever, please do get in touch with us at alumni@bangor.ac.uk if you have any stories to share or questions for the team.
Best wishes,
Emma Marshall
Head of Development and Alumni Relations
BANGOR UNIVERSITY NEWS
Steve Backshall appointed Honorary Professor at 乐播传媒
TV wildlife presenter, naturalist and explorer Steve Backshall MBE has been appointed an Honorary Professor at 乐播传媒, recognising his exceptional contribution to the University and its students.
The BAFTA-winning presenter, best known for programmes including Deadly 60, Expedition, and Blue Planet Live, joined 乐播传媒鈥檚 teaching team in 2020 and has since become a regular visitor to the University.
Steve Backshall鈥檚 appointment as Honorary Professor will continue his long-standing relationship with 乐播传媒 and the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, supporting teaching, research, public engagement and opportunities for students.
New Dean of The Albert Gubay Business School
乐播传媒 is pleased to welcome Professor Andrew Thomas as the new Dean of The Albert Gubay Business School.
Andrew is a Professor of Engineering Management and joins Bangor from his role as Dean of Swansea School of Management at Swansea University.
He entered academia having followed an industrial career in the aerospace industry. His main research interests include; forensic engineering, supply chain management, project management, manufacturing strategy and operations management. He has published over 250 research articles, journal papers and delivered several keynote speeches in these areas as well as securing more than 拢12 million in research and commercial funding and has worked extensively with government, industry and academic partners.
His research continues to focus on improving organisational performance, productivity, sustainability and innovation, while supporting universities in delivering meaningful economic and societal impact.
We look forward to Andrew鈥檚 leadership of The Albert Gubay Business School.
Jack Darbyshire Memorial Lecture
There was a great turnout for the inaugural Jack Darbyshire Memorial Lecture earlier this week, where Prof. Iestyn Woolway from the School of Ocean Sciences discussed the future of inland waters and shared insights into his studies on global environmental change.
Alumnus and 乐播传媒 Honorary Fellow Prof. Ed Hill, (MSc Physical Oceanography, 1983 and Physical Oceanography PhD, 1987) also spoke to share some of his memories of his time here as a student under Prof. Jack Darbyshire - Bangor鈥檚 first Professor of Physical Oceanography.
London Bangorians Marble Hill House visit
The London Bangorians offer a social network for alumni in London and the South East to maintain links with fellow former students of 乐播传媒. They meet several times a year to visit London landmarks, celebrate Welsh heritage and culture in London, maintain links with 乐播传媒 and network with other Welsh university alumni groups.
The group鈥檚 next day out is to Twickenham, to see Marble Hill House and Orleans House Gallery, on Saturday, October 17. The gallery has a selection of paintings, drawings, photographs and objects on display, while the house offers visitors a chance to immerse themselves in Georgian life and learn about Henrietta Howard, who was George II鈥檚 mistress. And, of course, the visit will be a chance to meet up with fellow Bangor alumni! If you鈥檇 like to attend, please email James Tute at londonbangorians@gmail.com
Bangor Fund supports Forestry students
With the help of alumni contributions to the Bangor Fund, students from 乐播传媒鈥檚 Forestry, Woodland Management and Agroforestry programmes took centre stage at the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) National Conference in May, contributing to two panel sessions on the future of the profession.
Held at the International Convention Centre Wales in Newport, the conference brought together professionals, researchers and emerging leaders to explore forestry鈥檚 response to environmental and societal challenges. Students offered a thoughtful perspective, speaking candidly about the kind of foresters and woodland managers they aspire to become.
School of Welsh PhD student supported by Wartski International Travel Bursary
With funding from the Wartski International Travel Bursary, Claire Lober, PHD in Celtic Studies, has travelled to Nova Scotia, Canada, to present her research at the 2026 Celtic Studies Association of North America (CSANA) Conference. The bursary enabled her to share her work with leading scholars in medieval Welsh literature and engage with the latest developments across the wider field of Celtic Studies. The conference enabled Claire to build international connections and explore new perspectives on minority languages and Celtic scholarship.
乐播传媒 Open Day
If you or someone in your life is interested in undergraduate study, get a real insight into university life by coming along to one of our Open Days. The next one will be held on Sunday, 11 October. During the day you鈥檒l gain an insight into our subject areas, view course-specific facilities and resources, and have the opportunity to visit the student accommodation and attend presentations on topics such as student life and finance.
For further information and to book your place, click here.
乐播传媒 graduates are beating the national trend when it comes to finding work
More than 93% of 乐播传媒 graduates are in employment or further study when surveyed 15 months after completing their degrees, according to the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey, outperforming both the Welsh and UK averages.
The results come at a time when national headlines have highlighted the challenges many graduates face in securing work. While graduate outcomes have declined at many universities across the UK, Bangor graduates are bucking the national trend, with more students progressing into employment, further study and high-skilled careers.
The findings reflect 乐播传媒's focus on equipping students with the knowledge, practical skills and experiences that help them transition successfully into employment or further study.
Number of river heatwaves combining with extreme heat in the atmosphere triple since 1980s
Research by a global team of scientists has revealed that the number of heatwaves in rivers that combine with similarly extreme heat in the atmosphere have tripled since the 1980s.
Researchers, including Professor Iestyn Woolway, a NERC Independent Research Fellow at 乐播传媒, have published a paper examining these 鈥渃ompound heatwaves鈥 in .
Study reveals how cutting a nerve in the hand changes the human brain
Scientists at 乐播传媒 have found that repairing a severed nerve in the hand leads to functional changes in the human brain.
The findings, published in , could ultimately help researchers understand why recovery from serious nerve injuries is often incomplete, and how changes in the brain might interact with rehabilitation.
Bangor launches global initiative to harness wastewater as an early warning system for future pandemics
On 24th August, researchers from 乐播传媒 launched Global Wastewater Day, a pioneering international initiative to harness wastewater as an early warning system for future pandemics.
The launch marks the beginning of an ambitious effort by Professor Davey Jones and his team to transform wastewater from an overlooked by-product into one of the world's most powerful tools for understanding public health, environmental change and emerging global risks.
Professor calls for a 'welly belt' to protect Britain from flooding
Professor Christian Dunn, Head of the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences at 乐播传媒, has called for Britain鈥檚 remaining wetlands to be given greater protection through the creation of a 鈥榳elly belt鈥 alongside the current green belt rules.
Professor Dunn made the call in The Daily Telegraph, arguing that wetland habitats should be protected from development because of their important role in storing water and reducing flood risk.
Bangor scientists race to measure wildfire damage to UK soils
Researchers at 乐播传媒 are launching an urgent scientific campaign to measure the hidden damage caused by this summer鈥檚 wildfires to UK soils, biodiversity and the ecosystem services they provide, while some of the clearest impacts can still be measured.
The summer of 2026 has brought one of the UK鈥檚 most severe wildfire seasons in recent years, fuelled by extreme heat and exceptionally dry conditions. More than 500 fires were recorded across the country in July alone, affecting agricultural land and moorland, heathland, and upland grasslands, landscapes that store carbon, regulate water, reduce flood risk and support some of the UK鈥檚 most valuable biodiversity. While the visible damage caused by wildfire is clear, the impacts on soil health are much harder to see.
