Bursaries awarded for new research into North Wales’ nuclear past, present and future
Bangor University and Cwmni Egino, in partnership with Great British Energy Nuclear (GBE-N) have announced the recipients of the 2026 Bursary Scheme, which supports innovative research into North Wales’ relationship with nuclear energy.
A total of £10,000 was made available by Cwmni Egino and attracted high quality and competitive proposals from colleagues and students across the University. Following a rigorous selection process, a panel representing Cwmni Egino, the University and GBE-N selected four projects that will support research into North Wales’ past, present and future relationship with nuclear energy.
The successful projects are:
Nathan Abrams, Professor in film and Dr Mari Wiliam, lecturer in modern history – Atomic identities: Cultural memory, community narratives, and the future of nuclear North Wales
Exploring how communities have understood, represented, and negotiated nuclear energy from the mid‑twentieth century to the present, with a particular focus on Wylfa, Trawsfynydd, seeking to address how nuclear energy has been imagined in local memory, cultural production, and everyday life.
Dr Edward Jones and Dr Graeme Pearce, senior lecturers in economics – Who do we trust? Identifying credible messengers for nuclear dialogue in North Wales
Exploring who people trust to talk about nuclear energy, helping to shape more open and meaningful public conversations about the region’s future. It will generate practical insights to support more informed, inclusive, and effective public engagement around future energy developments.
Dr Heather He, lecturer in data science/analytics, Dr Junyu Zhou, lecturer in Management and Dr Rhys ap Gwilym, senior lecturer in Economics – Staying power in North Wales: How risk communication shapes local talent pathways in the context of Wylfa SMR
Exploring how risk communication about the proposed Wylfa SMR shapes public perceptions of risk and trust, and how these in turn influence young people’s willingness to pursue local training and employment opportunities in North Wales.
Zola Hinds, PhD student, Nuclear Futures Institute- Every picture tells a story: Visualising how story-based engagement shapes nuclear perception in North Wales
Conducted with M-SParc, this study explores how primary school aged pupils visually perceive nuclear energy and whether storytelling using the Island Energy book improves nuclear literacy and reduces exaggerated risk imagery. The findings will inform community engagement strategies supporting the proposed Small Modular Reactor (SMR) development at Wylfa.
Professor Paul Spencer, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), said: “We are grateful to Cwmni Egino for their support , and are delighted to partner with them and Great British Energy Nuclear to support research that places the people, communities and culture of north Wales at the centre of conversations about nuclear future. These projects demonstrate the depth of talent and creativity within the staff and student community here at the University, and the vital role that academic insight plays in supporting informed decision making for the region.”
Alan Raymant, Cwmni Egino Chief Executive, said: “A key part of our mission has been to support more informed, inclusive and less polarised conversations about nuclear projects – with the aim of helping local stakeholders and communities engage meaningfully with projects that may affect them. As part of our legacy, we want to make sure that conversations around nuclear development in the region continue, grounded in robust research and evidence. The successful projects will undoubtedly make an important contribution to those conversations.”
Cwmni Egino was established by Welsh Government in 2021 to develop socio-economic growth opportunities from new nuclear development in North Wales. Having laid foundations for the delivery of future projects in North Wales, Cwmni Egino will close at the end of March 2026.
All four research projects will run over the next 12 months, with outcomes shared with the community partners, stakeholders and regional organisations.