It has been a busy period in the University, with the work and studies in full flow, and a number of exciting developments and events as we leave winter and look towards spring. On 18th October 2024, the University will reach a special milestone and celebrate its 140th Anniversary: 140 years of people, ideas and achievements that have transformed and benefited the world.
Throughout the year, Bangor University will showcase its rich history and achievements, through concerts, exhibitions, Inaugural Professors’ lecture series, and distinguished Alumni lecture series. These events are all open to the public and the community, and further information may be found here. As part of the celebrations, the Bangor University Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will be performing in Neuadd Prichard-Jones on 21st April.
In January, it was announced that the University’s Community Fund would fund another seven projects. The projects all help north Wales communities in different ways, and include active travel, inclusive sailing on the Menai Straits, literature masterclasses for local sixth form students, and work with Eryri National Park to develop climate action proposals as well as a Youth Summit with local schoolchildren. Further information about these projects, and the eleven projects supported previously, may be found here. The next round of Community Fund proposals will open later this year.
On 29th February, schoolchildren from Gwynedd and Ynys Môn schools attended the Children’s University Graduation Ceremony. After successfully completing a range of extracurricular learning activities and experiences as part of the Children’s University’s initiative, pupils from seven schools graduated in Pontio. Entertainment included a performance by Ysgol Bro Lleu and Bloco Sŵn drums, whilst pupils from Ysgol Llandegfan performed the Children’s University Anthem which they co-wrote with The Welsh Whisperer. The Children’s University initiative, led by Wrexham University with Bangor University a key collaborative partner, includes more than fifty schools and 147 learning destinations across north Wales.
The University took part in Bangor’s St David’s Day celebrations. Pontio hosted a performance by Cleif Harpwood on 23rd February, and also the ‘Ie Ie Ie’ performance by National Theatre Wales on St David’s Day. A huge dragon put together by the M-SParc Clwb Sparci children was part of the St David’s Day parade, whilst the School of History, Law and Social Sciences organised an interesting online talk by Nerys Siddall on the life of Mary Jones and her Bible. Student Leaders also organised a St David’s Tea Party on 2nd March, held at the Activities Hub on the Ffriddoedd site. The party provided older people in Bangor with an opportunity to get out, socialise, reduce loneliness and isolation and take home some free daffodils!
The return of the Bangor Science Festival was a huge success. The festival began on 5th March with Caradog Jones, a former Bangor University student and the first Welshman to reach the summit of Everest. On 8th March, around seventy schoolchildren visited Pontio for the Eco-Science Day for Schools. Following a talk on ‘Unconscious bias in science’ by Dr Gareth Evans-Jones, schoolchildren enjoyed a range of interactive stalls, demonstrations and activities provided by colleagues within the University and external partners, including the Morlais project, Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and Xplore! Science Centre. To mark International Women’s Day on 8th March, the University also hosted an ‘Inspire Inclusion’ event in Pontio. Professor Yueng-Djern Lenn and student Kodi Edwards, both from the School of Ocean Sciences, talked about their journeys, their experiences, and science research and education.
On 9th March, the public were invited to the Brambell building to take part in the Hidden Worlds of Science Day. Around 1700 people attended and enjoyed a range of activities, demonstrations and exhibitions. Also on 9th March, Pontio hosted the Tim Haines (BBC Walking with Dinosaurs) ‘Making Monsters’ talk, where he shared his illustrious career in, and passion for, science broadcasting, and the closing event of the North Wales Young Researchers Conference (NWYRC), with the rest of the conference taking place in Penrhyn Hall.
Other Science Festival events included the Dark Skies Eryri Public Lecture on 11th March, a Nuclear Decommissioning Authority event on 12th March, an Ocean Sciences Careers Event on 13th March, and a Geology Walk in Cwm Idwal on 17th March, following in the footsteps of Charles Darwin. The festival ended with an excellent talk by Steve Backshall on “Venom: the science of terrible toxins in nature”, a sold out event held in Pontio on 20th March. In addition, the University delivered an electricity workshop in the ‘Engineous’ day at the National Slate Museum, Llanberis on 17th March.
On 11th March, the latest Bangor University Community Board meeting took place. Discussion items included an update on the work of Bangor City Council; work on the Transforming Towns scheme to introduce vinyl images on empty shop windows on the High Street continues, and includes images provided by the University. The meeting also included a presentation on Bangor University short courses; a presentation on the ‘A space for children and young people: A community consultation’ Community Fund project; and an update on the Bangor Poverty and Learning in Urban Schools project.
On 19th March, the latest Bangor University – Institute of Welsh Affairs (IWA) event took place. The ‘Delivering wellbeing and resilience through community ownership’ event was the fifth event as part of a three year partnership between the university and IWA. The event took place in Tŷ Gwyrddfai, the decarbonisation hub in Penygroes in which Bangor University is a collaborator alongside Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, with over 70 people attending. The event looked at how local groups and enterprises are coming together to purchase, manage and sustain their assets in these financially challenging times. Chaired by Professor Andrew Edwards, Pro Vice-Chancellor at Bangor University, the panel included Dr Edward Thomas Jones, Senior Lecturer in Economics at Bangor University; Selwyn Williams, Chair of Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog; Meleri Davies, Chief Officer of Partneriaeth Ogwen; Grant Peisley, Director of Datblygiadau Egni Gwledig; and Jess Silvester, Wales Programme Manager with People’s Economy. A well attended event with some interesting and insightful ideas and solutions being discussed. The sixth and final IWA partnership event will be held in October.
Looking ahead, the focus of the University’s Community Engagement team turns towards the Urdd Eisteddfod in Meifod in May/June, and the National Eisteddfod in Pontypridd in August.
Undeb Bangor, Bangor Students’ Union, continues to work with Bangor City Council on the Hot Meals Volunteering Project. The project continues to cook up a storm, serving 50-80 free hot meals to people in the community every Saturday at Penrhyn Hall (3-6pm). The Students’ Union and Project Leaders are delighted to announce that the project has secured a hygiene rating of 5, supporting its long-term continuation.
The Union is also working with the City Council on establishing a bursary system for students undertaking Bangor-relevant primary research. A proposal to offer a financial incentive to postgraduate students to undertake their research on subjects of interest to Bangor was supported by the City Council in January.
Sblat, the Students’ Union afterschool kids club, takes place every Wednesday (4pm-5.45pm) and is open to children aged 5-7 years. Student volunteers have worked incredibly hard this year to offer sports and educational activities in collaboration with student groups and organisations, giving children the opportunity to try new things e.g. a presentation by the University birdwatching society, sessions by the Judo and Squash Clubs and a session with the Herpetology Society.
The Students’ Union enjoyed a successful Volunteering Week 5-11 February, engaging new students in activities and launching a new partnership with the North Wales Wildlife Trust. Highlights included a student-led Repair Café, a Community Beach Clean in Beaumaris, and a student quiz organised in partnership by the Raising and Giving Group (RAG) and Guide Dogs volunteering project.
M-SParc continues to be a place of exciting developments, activities and events. In February, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) sustainability team visited M-SParc. As part of an innovation hub partnership, M-SParc and FAW colleagues discussed innovative ideas for a sustainable future in football, which will help grassroots football teams in Wales. M-SParc On Tour events and activities continue in Bangor and Pwllheli, including Clwb Sparci activities, Ffiws Sessions, Laser Cutting for Businesses and a ‘Create a Mother’s Day Mug’ workshop.
Pontio continues to be a busy hub for the community this Spring. fabLAB has held induction sessions introducing people to the spaces and equipment available to members. ‘BLAS’, the Pontio Arts community programme, continues with monthly Caffi Babis sessions and weekly dance sessions for individuals living with Parkinson’s. The Westend Academy performed ‘The Magic of Stage and Screen’ in Pontio on 10-11 February. Pontio also hosted the Bangor Music Festival on 15-18 February. A range of performances and workshops were held showcasing a wide range of music and something for people of all ages. Looking ahead, Ysgol Glanaethwy will be performing ‘Morynion y Gwaed’ in Pontio on 13-14 April.
Treborth Botanic Garden continues to be a hive of activity and exciting developments. On 24th February, the Garden held an introduction to lower plants day for the local community to celebrate the centenary year of the British Bryological Society and an opportunity to be guided around the new moss trail with local bryology experts. Another botanical soap making course was held on 9th March, utilising botanical and essential oils inspired by the collections in the Garden. The Alpine Garden Society held their monthly talks in the lab as well as a film night exploring plant hunting expeditions to Australia and Crete. The ‘Swap Don’t Shop’ team returned to the Garden on 3rd March for another fantastic clothes swap, encouraging the community to share their items with others instead of buying new, and of course all that swapping was washed down with coffee and cake!
With the support of continued HEFCW funding, the Garden has hosted free wellbeing walks throughout winter, promoting physical and mental well-being. Open to all fitness levels, these walks allow individuals to unwind, de-stress, and reconnect with nature. The Forest School has been buzzing this February half term with Wild Elements’ Nature Holiday Club – exploring the woodland, building dens, and getting to grips with some forest bushcraft. There is full Easter programme in the Forest School for families with the Woodland Imps playscheme – two weeks of storytelling, mud art, bug hunts and more. Artist in residence, Doreen Weaver has continued to provide an oasis of calm with her fortnightly botanical art classes, where the community can learn how to observe, drawn and paint the captivating structures of our plant collections. The Friends of Treborth annual spring plant sales are just around the corner! 20th April and 25th May will see the greenhouses and polytunnels full of vegetables, herbs, garden plants, orchids, cacti, succulents, and house plants for sale, along with homemade cakes, hot drinks, and local crafts.
Finally, the Draig Beats Summer Festival returns on 8th June, whilst a new garden set to be displayed as part of the world-renowned RHS Chelsea Flower Show this May will be relocating to Treborth this summer.
On behalf of University staff and students, we wish you a Happy Easter and we look forward to updating you on the University’s work and relevant developments during the year.
#YourUniversityYourCommunity
