9 0 0 2 - 8 0 0 2 W E I V E R L A U N N A BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD. 9 0 0 CONTENTS 2 - 1 A WORD FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR 8 2-5 HIGHLIGHTS OF 2008/2009 0 0 6-9 TEACHING AND LEARNING Learning Can Happen in the Most Unexpected Places 2 Unique Islamic Banking Course A First in Wales W Investing in Research Scholarships E Fairest Workload of Them All! I Renewing Ffriddoedd V E 10-13 RESEARCH R Neuroscience Gets Philosophical Bangor Leads on Visual Computing L High Standard of Research Recognised A Welsh Seals Provide Window to Our Past University Research Assists Welsh Small Businesses U Identifying Fish for Environmental and Consumer Protection N 14-17 COMMUNITY N Using Your Loaf A Solving a Problem for European Farming Shaping Wales’ Future Memorial Arch Student Volunteer Projects Rewarded Pontio 18 CELEBRATING 125 YEARS EDITOR Elinor Elis-Williams, Corporate Communications and Marketing Department, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2DG. Tel: 01248 383298. Email: [email protected] Website: www.bangor.ac.uk A WORD FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR his has been a remarkable year for of the area and to our young people’s TBangor University: a year that has seen futures. Although times have changed, world-leading research identified in all of these motives are remarkably similar to Bangor's 19 assessed subject areas in the those which led to the establishment of the Research Assessment Exercise, and a year in University 125 years ago. Today however, which world-renowned individuals joined us our young people face global competition at Bangor to celebrate our 125th anniversary. for jobs and business, and we need to empower them with the skills to compete Despite the aspirations of our founders in at this international level. This new centre 1884, few I imagine would have expected will help us to ensure that not only are they the University which they established with able to compete at this international level, 58 students to have grown to become a but that Bangor is at the forefront of global thriving and world-renowned University developments and innovation. with over 11,000 students. That we have achieved this level of success is testament I cannot end this brief introduction without to the tremendous contribution of our staff, referring to the global financial crisis students and supporters over many years. which has touched most people’s lives in one way or another during the last year. There have also been many changes during Bangor, like every other University has the University’s 125-year history – the been affected by this, and will continue to details of which are outlined in a face its consequences for a few years to fascinating book written to mark our 125th come. Despite this however, I am delighted anniversary by the Registrar, Dr David to report that our financial position has Roberts – however, the pace of change is strengthened further during the year. continuously increasing and we need to However, as public spending reduces we, in ensure that we are at the cutting-edge of common with all Higher Education higher education in order to maintain institutions, and indeed the whole public Bangor’s position as a world-leading sector, will have some tough decisions to University. make if we are to remain the strong and vibrant institution that we presently are One example of this cutting-edge thinking and go on to realize our aspirations. is a development which must be one of the most exciting initiatives of its kind in The year ahead offers exciting new Europe if not the world, a new £35m Arts opportunities such as those resulting from and Innovation Centre, and I’m delighted to the creation of a new NHS Wales structure report that the Welsh Assembly to develop medical education here at Government has just announced the first Bangor. Combining this with our tranche of funding for the project. aspirations to develop a new Health and Technology Science Park and the Arts & This will be a centre where Science meets Innovation Centre that I referred to earlier, the Arts, where students will learn new and it’s clear that Bangor University has skills and be offered new opportunities for the vision and confidence to become the a brighter future. It will make a significant world-leading University that our founders contribution to the economic regeneration in 1884 would have been proud. Professor R Merfyn Jones BANGOR UNIVERSITY ANNUAL REVIEW 08/09 01 1 02 BANGOR UNIVERSITY ANNUAL REVIEW 08/09 HIGHLIGHTS 08/09 Secretary of State for Environment, Food Bangor University and Santander-Abbey 1 and Rural Affairs, Hilary Benn selected signed a three-year agreement that will Professor Gareth Edwards-Jones, lead to the provision of university Professor of Agriculture and Land Use at scholarships, international seminars, the School of Environment & Natural entrepreneurial activity, business Resources as a member of the newly incubators and research, as well as a formed Council of Food Policy Advisers. range of other activities. Bangor graduate Danny Boyle swept the Inspiring tutor, Dr Kathy Hopewell, of the Oscars, with the film, Slumdog Millionaire , College of Education and Lifelong which he directed, winning eight Oscars, Learning was named the Higher Education Danny Boyle receiving Best Director Oscar. Tutor of the Year in the annual Inspire Adult Vice-Chancellor, Professor Merfyn Jones Tutor and Mentor Awards organised by commented: “winning eight Oscars NIACE Dysgu Cymru, advocates of adult including Best Film and Best Director is the learning in Wales. very pinnacle of achievement in the world of cinema. Nothing pleases us more than to A CD recorded by the internationally learn of the successes of our graduates renowned Brabant Ensemble contained whether it is a spectacular success such as their recording of religious music, unheard that of Danny Boyle or the individual since the sixteenth and seventeenth achievements of graduates making a century. 'Music from the Chirk Castle 1. Oscar winner and difference here in Wales and across the Part-Books', released by Hyperion, was Bangor graduate Danny Boyle and a scene from his world.” based on research by Dr David Evans of the film, Slumdog Millionaire . School of Music . Bangor University was among Wales' five 2. Professor Merfyn Jones, major universities announcing their Emeritus Professor Peter Williams, of the Vice-Chancellor and Luis Juste, Director Santander intention to work together and combine School of Ocean Sciences , was honoured Universities UK & Portugal their strengths and talents to drive forward for his outstanding contribution in his sign an agreement. the knowledge economy in Wales as part of academic field. Professor Williams received the ASLO (American Society of 3. Dr Kathy Hopewell, the St David's Day Group. Higher Education Tutor of Limnology and Oceanography) Redfield the Year. 'Siarad', the largest collection of Welsh Lifetime Achievement Award for his conversation ever created, was released by contributions to our understanding of 4. Emeritus Professor Peter Williams of the the University. Containing over 40 hours of oceanic productivity, carbon cycling and School of Ocean Sciences spoken conversations from people who are metabolic balance and for his role in received the Redfield bilingual in Welsh and English, the shaping current views on the importance of Lifetime Achievement microbial processes in the oceans. Award. database will be of great use for all researchers into Welsh or bilingualism, no 5. The Brabant Ensemble's matter what their background. It was 5 latest CD is based on collected by researchers at the ESRC research by Dr David Evans of the School of Centre for Research in Bilingualism and Music. School of Linguistics . 2 34 BANGOR UNIVERSITY ANNUAL REVIEW 08/09 03 HIGHLIGHTS 08/09 In its annual review of English-language The iconic Environment Centre Wales reference works published in all academic building in Bangor won the RICS Wales fields of study, Library Journal , the oldest 2009 Sustainability Award. The project and most respected publication in the USA became one of three buildings around the covering the field of academic librarianship, world deemed worthy of a commendation has given pride of place to an under the RICS Sustainable building encyclopaedia co-edited by Professor category. Peredur Lynch of the School of Welsh with Menna Baines, John Davies and Nigel Professor Barrie Johnson of the School of Jenkins. The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia Biological Sciences was one of nine UK of Wales , and its Welsh-language scientists presented with a Royal Society counterpart Gwyddoniadur Cymru yr award at the annual Royal Society Labs to Academi Gymreig , were published in 2008. Riches event in London. Professor Johnson was awarded a Brian Mercer Feasibility Bangor University launched its Award of £28,000. This will enable him to Environmental Policy , setting out the nine further develop his innovative and cost- key areas that will be the focus of activities effective means of both cleaning acidic as the University strives to achieve mine pollution and retrieving metals continuous environmental improvement. contained in the waters. Dyfrig Jones, a lecturer in Media Studies Professor David Thomas, of the School of and Media Production at the School of Ocean Sciences , was appointed one of 12 Creative Studies , was appointed a Member international Finland Distinguished of the S4C Authority. His term of Professors by the Academy of Finland. appointment is for four years from 20 April Under the programme, distinguished 2009 to 19 April 2013. international researchers team up with the 'best of the best' in Finnish academic Dr Jordi Cornellà-Detrell of the School of research. Professor Thomas will help run a Modern Languages visited Barcelona to five year Baltic 'Catchment to coast' receive the prestigious Premi Fundació project, an opportunity to forge links Mercè Rodoreda for his study 'Writing between Finnish and Bangor scientists in a between the Lines: Literature as a research area that complements the Response to Cultural and Political Catchment to Coast initiative currently Repression in Franco's Catalonia'.