A message from the Head of Development and Alumni Relations
We enjoyed a great graduation week in July and were delighted that five of our alumni returned to Bangor to receive their honorary degrees. It really is special to be able to recognise our alumni’s achievements and we know that the alumni themselves find the experience of addressing our new graduates in Prichard-Jones Hall very emotional. You can read more about our 2026 Honorary Degree recipients below.
With A-level results being released this week, the University is preparing for the Clearing process and our Open Day on Sunday, 16th August. If you have someone in your life hoping to start University, they may be interested in looking into the fabulous courses we run here and finding out what it’s like to study in Bangor today. We hear from so many alumni whose children (sometimes even their parents too!) have come to Bangor to study too which is lovely. Our alumni are great ambassadors for the University and having your help to promote your alma mater is a fantastic boost. For further details on Clearing, to search our great range of courses or to book your place on an Open Day, see our website.
Best wishes,
Emma Marshall
Head of Development and Alumni Relations
BANGOR UNIVERSITY NEWS
Honorary Graduates 2026
58³Ô¹Ï honoured ten exceptional individuals – five of them alumni - from science, culture, business and public service at its summer graduation ceremonies in July.
An Honorary Degree is one of 58³Ô¹Ï’s most prestigious accolades, bestowed on individuals who have made a notable impact in their academic discipline and/or a sustained contribution to the life of the University, locally, nationally or internationally.
This year’s honorary graduates include leading figures in artificial intelligence, healthcare, literature, engineering, marine science and humanitarian work, reflecting the University’s commitment to recognising achievement that drives innovation, enriches society and creates global impact.
This year’s honorary graduates are:
- Emeritus Professor Piers Chapman (Marine Biology PhD, 1983), internationally renowned marine chemist and oceanographer
- Dr Elin Haf Davies, a Welsh clinician scientist and entrepreneur
- Juno Dawson (Psychology, 2002), bestselling author and influential voice in contemporary fiction and LGBTQ+ advocacy
- Atul Devani (Electronic Engineering, 1989), successful technology entrepreneur and venture capital leader
- Mair Wynn Hughes (French, 1954), one of Wales’s most prolific and beloved Welsh-language children’s authors
- Llion Jones, pioneering AI researcher
- Gwen Parry Jones OBE FREng (Banking, Insurance & Finance, 1990), a leading figure in the UK nuclear sector
- Professor Stephen G Riley, is a clinician and national leader in medical education
- Philip Snow, wildlife artist and author
- Sir Terry Waite KCMG CBE, internationally respected humanitarian and author
Recruiting: Chair of Council, 58³Ô¹Ï
Mrs Marian Wyn Jones, the current Chair of Council, will step down on 30 November 2026, and 58³Ô¹Ï are seeking to appoint her successor.
The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills, having a track record of successfully dealing with complex situations, and have the vision and influence needed to shape the future, champion excellence, and ensure the organisation delivers lasting impact.
They will bring senior governance experience within a large organisation, alongside financial acumen, sound judgement and excellent stakeholder engagement skills.
The University are also keen to attract applications from individuals who would be interested in serving as an Independent Member of Council - experienced strategic leaders, with expertise in audit, cyber security, AI, property, and/or science.
For further information on these roles and to view the Candidate packs, .
Forestry Alumni Association Launch
It was a pleasure to launch the 58³Ô¹Ï Forestry Alumni Association at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show on 21st July.
The purpose of the Forestry Alumni Association is to create a connected, dynamic community of past students, as well as 58³Ô¹Ï staff past and present, who develop and retain connections between themselves and actively support current students and staff, their activities, and help to recruit future students.
Kindly hosted on the Confor (Confederation of Forest Industries) stand, the launch featured a number of alumni speakers, all of them high-profile in the Forestry industry.
It was great to see so many forestry alumni attend the launch and show their support. We thank all of our speakers for taking part in the event and their hard work in setting up the Association and look forward to engaging with more Forestry alumni as the work of the association progresses.
National Eisteddfod of Wales
58³Ô¹Ï enjoyed another great week at this year’s National Eisteddfod of Wales, with a varied programme of events and activities held on the stand.
As ever, it was lovely to welcome some of our alumni to our annual reunion on the Wednesday afternoon. Many thanks to alumnus Emyr Afan OBE (Welsh, 1985), Chief Executive Officer of Afanti Media, for making time in his busy schedule to share his memories of his time at Bangor and how the University set him on the path to his success. See you next year in Maldwyn Meirionnydd!
New book celebrates 50 years of UMCB
A new book documenting the history of Undeb Myfyrwyr Cymraeg Bangor (UMCB) was launched at the National Eisteddfod to mark the organisation’s 50th anniversary.
(Battle on the Hill: 50 Years of UMCB), edited by Arwel Vittle and published by Y Lolfa, brings together the stories, experiences and memories of staff and students who have helped shape Bangor’s Welsh-speaking community since UMCB was established in 1976.
The book, supported by alumni donations to the Bangor Fund, explores the organisation’s development over five decades, from the Welsh-language campaigns and student activisms of the late 1970s and early 1980s to its role in contemporary student life. Through personal testimonies, photographs and historical accounts, it reflects on a period of significant change for both higher education and Welsh-language life at Bangor.
You're invited: Jack Darbyshire Memorial Lecture
Title: Predicting the future of inland waters
By Dr Iestyn Woolway, School of Ocean Sciences, 58³Ô¹Ï
8th September 7pm, PONTIO PL5
We would be delighted if you could join us for the inaugural Jack Darbyshire Memorial Lecture here at 58³Ô¹Ï on 8th September.
Commemorating the work of Prof. Jack Darbyshire, Bangor’s first Professor of Physical Oceanography who founded the department in 1963, the inaugural lecture, entitled Predicting the future of inland waters, will be delivered by the School of Ocean Sciences’ Dr Iestyn Woolway. Iestyn’s work on the study of global environmental change has been widely recognised for its outstanding global impact through numerous awards and honours and we’re sure that this will be a fascinating lecture from a leader in the field.
The event is free of charge and we hope that you can join us. For more information please email alumni@bangor.ac.uk
Bangor Fund supports project to celebrate the Menai Suspension Bridge Bicentenary
This year marks the bicentenary of Telford’s iconic Menai Suspension Bridge, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to celebrate a remarkable feat of engineering on our doorstep. At 58³Ô¹Ï, we are proud to celebrate this important milestone by connecting our students and local community with the bridge’s rich history and lasting cultural significance.
With the support of the Bangor Fund, the School of Arts and Humanities, led by Prof Ruth Mcelroy, has been able to create a vibrant, bilingual programme of activities that brings this celebration to life. Through fieldtrips, creative writing and documentary film projects, and public engagement opportunities, students from across undergraduate and postgraduate levels are exploring the story of the Menai and Conwy suspension bridges and their enduring impact on Wales and beyond.
From Bangor to the Smithsonian: How a legacy gift has supported ocean discovery
A legacy gift in honour of Isidore and Winifred Marie Wartski continues to help 58³Ô¹Ï students pursue life-changing research opportunities across the globe. Through the Wartski Overseas Travel Award, Abbie Taylor, an MScRes student in the School of Ocean Sciences, received funding to take her research to one of the world’s leading scientific institutions.
Abbie travelled to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, home to one of the most significant collections of Pacific marine life. Her research focuses on the taxonomy of Eunicidae, a family of marine worms found in coral reef ecosystems.
Opportunities like this are made possible through the generosity of donors who choose to leave a legacy gift. Their support enables students to access exceptional facilities, build international connections, and contribute to globally significant research. Legacy gifts ensure that Bangor students like Abbie can pursue ambitious opportunities, advance knowledge, and shape the future of their fields, leaving a lasting impact for generations to come.
Phyllis Kinney 1922 - 2026
We at 58³Ô¹Ï were saddened to hear the news of the passing Honorary Fellow Phyllis Kinney, who died at the age of 103 last month.
Phyllis Kinney was a Michigan-born soprano who fell in love with Wales and spent her life preserving its music. In 1947 Kinney became a lead soloist with the Carl Rosa Opera Company, touring the United Kingdom. During a stop in Bangor she met Meredydd Evans, a folk musician and member of the celebrated close harmony group Triawd y Coleg.
The two married in 1948 and Kinney embraced her new home, learning to speak, read and write Welsh. Together Phyllis and Merêd edited collections of Welsh songs that came to be regarded as definitive reference works and they devoted their retirement to teaching the language and to scholarship.
Both Phyllis and Merêd received Honorary Fellowships from 58³Ô¹Ï in 1997 and in 2007 the University of Wales published a bilingual Festschrift celebrating the couple’s contribution to Welsh music, culture and language. Merêd died in 2015, and the pair’s archives were passed to the National Library of Wales, where they form part of the Welsh Music Archive.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Phyllis’ family.
(Image: © Nia Mai Daniel)
Top 20 in the UK for Teaching Quality in the 2026 National Student Study
The 2026 National Student Survey (NSS) results have been published, with 58³Ô¹Ï recording increased positivity scores across every survey theme.
Bangor's score for Teaching Quality increased from 87% to 90%, placing the University in the top 20 in the UK and 2nd in Wales. This theme reflects students' perceptions of how effectively teaching staff explain course content, engage students in learning and challenge them to achieve their best.
University remains in top 5% of global sustainability ratings
The University is in the top 10 of the most sustainable universities in the UK, and for the fifth year running one of the top 100 universities in the world.
The University is now the joint 74th most sustainable university in the world and joint 10th in the UK according to the annual Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings. This means 58³Ô¹Ï is in the top 5% of the most sustainable universities in the world.
Bangor graduate gains paid placement on HBO series
The School of Arts and Humanities is celebrating the success of recent Film and Media graduate Kieran Samuel, who secured a prestigious paid placement on Warner Bros’ House of the Dragon.
Kieran, who was a third‑year student at the time of the placement, spent six weeks working with the Lighting Department, a team that collaborates closely with the Camera Department on one of the world’s most visually ambitious television productions. The placement was arranged through Screen Alliance Wales as part of the Creative Wales initiative to provide high‑quality industry opportunities for young people in Wales.
During his time on set, Kieran gained hands‑on experience alongside industry professionals and had the chance to observe large‑scale production workflows at close range. His placement also offered a unique insight into the creative and technical processes behind one of HBO’s flagship series.
Bangor's Lifelong Learning - Short Courses, CPD Training and Flexible Learning
If you’ve been thinking about building professional skills, returning to study, exploring a new direction, or simply learning for the love of it, 58³Ô¹Ï has flexible ways to learn at every stage of life.
Our short courses, CPD training, and micro-credentials support different goals, interests, and starting points across a wide range of subject areas. Many are taught at Level 7 (Master's level), so you can develop professionally or take a first step into postgraduate study. With many courses starting in Autumn 2026, now is an ideal time to explore your options.
Whatever stage you’re at, Bangor’s short courses and flexible learning opportunities can help you explore new interests, build confidence, and continue growing personally or professionally.
To see what’s currently available, visit our short courses page or e-mail shortcourses@bangor.ac.uk
Celebrating CMI students at summer graduation 2026
58³Ô¹Ï’s Albert Gubay Business School welcomed the first cohort of alumni of their Chartered Management Institute (CMI) dual-accredited programmes in July.
As graduates of CMI dual-accredited programmes, each student also becomes a Foundation Chartered Manager. This recognises their professional knowledge, leadership potential and readiness to make a positive impact in organisations around the world.
