A unique scientific network setup to better understand soil erosion in Europe will draw on Cardiff University expertise.
EUROSION brings together 24 partners from 13 countries to establish the first pan-European dynamic soil erosion monitoring network.
The large-scale research and innovation project relies on 14 monitoring sites, stretching from Norway to Tunisia, which will act as open-air laboratories and cover water, wind and farming-related erosion processes.
Erosion is a major threat to processes involving soil, such as nutrient cycling, food provision and water purification.
Better monitoring and analysis of its on- and off-site effects is required according to the multi-national team.
“On-site effects refer to impacts on the land where erosion occurs such as loss of topsoil and reduced soil fertility),” explains Dr Zhuoli Zhou, from Cardiff University’s School of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
“While off-site effects are impacts elsewhere, for example sediment entering rivers or dust from wind erosion affecting surrounding areas.
“So, this network will provide valuable data to better understand these impacts arising from soil erosion processes, supporting more effective land management across Europe.”
The network aims to expand, improve and harmonise existing data, knowledge, and monitoring approaches.
These advances will enable partners to assess soil erosion status and trends across geographies and over time.
The team says doing so will help to reduce soil erosion by promoting best practices to agricultural land managers and decision-makers.
Launched by the European Union (EU) with €11.49 million support, the project will directly contribute to the European Soil Strategy and the European Green Deal by providing integrated, harmonized, and dynamic understanding of soil erosion.
The project also aligns with EU goals for sustainable agriculture and climate resilience, supporting evidence-based decision-making for soil protection across the continent.
Cardiff University scientists are leading research into the development of a potential universal bowel cancer vaccine, thanks to new support from the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK.
The Fund – established in 2022 to continue the legacy of the late Dame Deborah James – has surpassed a £20m milestone and has announced two new major research investments, including a Cardiff University-led project that aims to revolutionise future treatment and prevention of bowel cancer.
Professor Andrew Godkin and Professor Awen Gallimore, based in Cardiff University’s School of Medicine, will lead research to explore designing an accessible and scalable cancer vaccine for bowel cancer.
Current bowel cancer vaccines in clinical trials must be individually tailored to each patient, making them expensive, complex and out of reach for many. The Cardiff University team aims to overcome these barriers by modifying specific antigens produced by bowel cancer cells so they can be more easily recognised and destroyed by the immune system.
This approach seeks to create an “off‑the‑shelf” universal vaccine capable of treating far greater numbers of patients. If successful, the team hopes their findings could also be used to prevent bowel cancer in high‑risk individuals and pave the way for pioneering new vaccines for a range of other cancer types.
Professor Godkin and Professor Gallimore, who run a joint laboratory, are internationally recognised for their research into T-cell biology.
Professor Godkin said: “We, and the team, are incredibly humbled by the support shown to us by Dame Deborah James’s family. Our research is focused on helping the body’s immune system better recognise cancer. We do this by slightly changing certain proteins made by cancer cells, to make them more visible to the immune system. Because these proteins are found in many types of cancer, we hope this approach could work for a wide range of patients, rather than needing a different treatment for each individual. We’re still in the early stages, but the results so far are very encouraging.”
Dame Deborah James, known as Bowelbabe, was just 35 years old when she was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in December 2016, which went on to become stage 4. The initial fundraising goal was £250,000, but within the first 24 hours, it reached over £1m. Now, almost four years on, the total raised stands at an incredible £20.5m.
Chief executive of Cancer Research UK, Michelle Mitchell, said: “Reaching this £20m milestone is a true testament to Deborah’s incredible legacy. With the help of everyone who has donated, fundraised or helped to spread vital health information, as well as the tireless efforts of Deborah’s family, her impact on the lives of people affected by cancer will continue to be felt for years to come.”
Thanks to research, more than half of people diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK will survive the disease. But there is still much more to do. These new projects announced today are another example of the hope and progress being fuelled by research in Dame Deborah’s name.
Chief executive of Cancer Research UK, Michelle Mitchell
Dame Deborah James’ mother, Heather James, said:“Deborah would be absolutely over the moon if she were here today to see this. I don’t think any of us ever imagined reaching the £20m milestone when she first set up the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK almost four years ago.
“She was so passionate about supporting research that would help give more people affected by cancer more time with their loved ones. Thanks to the wonderful generosity of everyone who has donated, walked, ran or even danced for Deborah, we’ve been able to come together once again as a family to choose another round of projects to support. I can almost feel her excitement in the room each time we do.
“And I know exactly what she’d be saying now: ‘Right, how can we raise even more?’ That was Deborah to the core, always wanting to do more and we’re so proud to be continuing what she started.”
Tomos Lewis appointed Chairperson of Cardiff Met FC’s Board of Directors.
Cardiff Met Football Club Ltd has confirmed the appointment of its newly established Board of Directors following a rigorous recruitment process.
The eleven-member Board comprises eight Non-Executive Directors, two University-appointed Directors and the Club’s Chairperson. Members bring significant experience across governance, elite sport, commercial strategy, finance, communications and performance.
The move forms part of a refreshed governance framework aligned to the Club’s Five-Year Development Plan and the Football Association of Wales’ strategic pillars.
Members include:
Chairperson
Tomos Lewis,Partner at a national law firm and former Welsh Gymnastics Non-Executive Director
Directors
Ben O’Connell, Director of Sport at Cardiff Metropolitan University
Professor Katie Thirlaway, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost at Cardiff Metropolitan University
Non-Executive Directors
Dr Kerry Harris, Senior Lecturer and former Cardiff Met Women’s Football Club Performance Director
Ian Davis, commercial leader at Glamorgan Cricket and former FAW Chief Commercial Officer
Joanna King, HR leader at the Welsh Rugby Union
James Williams, Chief Executive of Welsh Athletics
Emma Smith, strategic communications specialist
Gwyn Derfel, former General Manager of the JD Cymru Premier
Adrian Coles, growth finance and board advisor
Russell Hullett, UEFA A Licensed coach and former Premier League academy leader
Commenting on the establishment of the new Board, Chairperson Tomos Lewis, said:
“The breadth of knowledge and experience across our Board will be instrumental in supporting the continued growth of Cardiff Met FC. The Club holds tremendous potential, and I am honoured to represent it at such a defining period for Welsh domestic football.”
Dr Chris Baker, Director of Football Systems at Cardiff Metropolitan University, added:
“The establishment of this Board represents a defining moment for Cardiff Met FC. Professionalising our structures and processes is central to unlocking the Club’s significant untapped potential.”
The Board convened for the first time last week in Cardiff and will work closely with Club leadership to advance commercial growth, community engagement, operational excellence and performance development.
Researchers at Cardiff Metropolitan University are exploring how illustration can strengthen communication between healthcare professionals and patients, improving understanding and supporting more effective shared decision making (SDM).
Shared decision making is a collaborative process in which healthcare professionals and patients work together to make informed treatment decisions. The approach relies on clear communication and accessible information to ensure patients fully understand their options, risks and benefits.
Led by Amelia Huw Morgan, alongside colleagues from the University’s Health Sciences department, researchers have been investigating how illustration can play a crucial role in enhancing SDM. This project, supported by the Welsh Government, focused on co-producing visual information resources designed to support patient understanding in clinical settings.
As part of the initiative, Master’s students worked alongside patients and healthcare professionals in clinical settings to develop illustrated materials covering:
The correct administration of hydrocortisone injections (for reducing pain and inflammation)
Effective steroid management (for example to patients with asthma or eczema)
The risks and benefits associated with sodium valproate (used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder)
The co-produced resources were designed to be clear, accessible and patient-centred, ensuring that complex medical information could be more easily understood during consultations.
Findings from the project demonstrate that well-designed illustrations can significantly reduce misunderstandings between patients and healthcare professionals. By providing supportive visual materials, clinicians are better equipped to explain treatment options, while patients gain greater confidence in participating in decisions about their care.
Amelia Huw Morgan, Senior Lecturer of Illustration in the School of Art and Design at Cardiff Metropolitan University, said:
“Shared decision making depends on clarity, trust and mutual understanding. Our research shows that illustration can act as a powerful bridge in clinical conversations, helping patients grasp complex information and feel more confident about the decisions they are making.”
The research highlights the potential for interdisciplinary collaboration between health sciences and creative disciplines to improve patient outcomes and experiences, which is being explored further in a fully-funded PhD studentship. The team hopes the findings will inform future healthcare communication strategies across Wales and beyond.
Ramadan has always been a time of reflection, discipline and spiritual growth for me. Observing it while studying at Cardiff Met has added new layers to what the month means in my life. Balancing lectures, deadlines, society commitments and social life while fasting from dawn to sunset has not always been easy, yet it has been one of the most grounding and fulfilling parts of my University experience.
Ramadan at Cardiff Met has taught Muskaan (furthest right) resilience, gratitude, and the power of community
Spending three Ramadans at Cardiff Met has shaped my University journey in ways I never expected. Each year has looked different academically and personally.
My first Ramadan at University was an adjustment. Waking up for suhoor in student accommodation, quietly making breakfast while my flatmates slept, and heading into lectures without my usual caffeine fix felt surreal. What could have felt isolating instead became an opportunity to build new connections. The Islamic Society played a huge role in that transition. Through it, I met fellow Muslim students navigating the same balance of coursework, deadlines and fasting. There was comfort in that shared understanding.
What has made Ramadan truly special at Cardiff Met is the sense of community. Breaking fast alone can feel isolating, but being surrounded by other Muslim students transforms the experience entirely. Whether gathering for iftar on campus, praying together, or simply checking in on each other during long days, there is a shared understanding that creates an instant bond. Even friends who do not fast often show support in thoughtful ways, from adjusting group meeting times to asking genuine questions about what the month means. Those small gestures remind me that Ramadan is not just about abstaining from food and drink, but about strengthening character, patience and gratitude.
One of the most meaningful parts of Ramadan at Cardiff Met has been iftar on campus. Breaking fast together transforms an ordinary University evening into something deeply meaningful. Sitting in a circle, counting down the minutes to Maghrib, sharing dates and water, and praying side by side creates a sense of unity that is difficult to put into words; it is not just about the food, it is about collective gratitude.
Over the years, those iftar gatherings became something I genuinely looked forward to. They transformed campus into a space that felt like home. Even during busy academic periods, pausing at sunset reminded me that faith does not need to be separated from student life – it can be woven seamlessly into it.
Volunteering during Ramadan also became an important part of my journey. Whether helping organise iftar events, supporting Islamic Society initiatives, or contributing to charity efforts, giving back added another layer of meaning to the month. Ramadan emphasises compassion and service and practising that within the University community made the experience even more fulfilling. It shifted my focus from just personal reflection to collective impact.
By my third Ramadan at Cardiff Met, the experience felt different once again. I was no longer just adjusting; I was contributing. I understood the rhythm of balancing University responsibilities with spiritual commitments. I came to appreciate the early mornings, the quiet walks to campus, the shared exhaustion and the shared joy at sunset. Ramadan had become less about managing challenges and more about embracing growth.
Looking back, three Ramadans at Cardiff Met have been about far more than fasting. They have been about belonging, about meeting people who remind you of home while creating new memories together.
Ramadan at Cardiff Met has taught me resilience, gratitude and the power of community. And for that, I will always be thankful.
Muskaan Ali is a final-year student at Cardiff Met’s School of Management and the SU Activities & Communities President-elect for 2026/27. She is widely recognised within the University’s international student community, having served as an International Student Ambassador and SU International Student Officer.
A research project at Cardiff Metropolitan University is investigating the potential of plant-derived essential oils as new treatments for chronic wound infections, a growing but often overlooked health challenge affecting more than 3.8 million people across the UK.
Chronic wound infections place a burden on patients and healthcare systems comparable to conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. But treatment options are becoming increasingly limited due to the rise of antimicrobial resistance; so with few new antibiotics in development, researchers are turning to nature for alternative solutions.
Dr Sarah Hooper, Reader in Microbiology and Infection at Cardiff Met, said: “For centuries, plant-based remedies have been used in traditional medicine to treat infection. Modern research has confirmed that many plants contain complex mixtures of bioactive compounds capable of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity. Essential oils extracted from plants in the Lamiaceae family, such as thyme, oregano, basil, rosemary, and sage, have consistently shown strong activity against harmful bacteria in laboratory studies.”
Despite these promising results, essential oils are not currently used in clinical wound care. The obstacles include limited human data, inconsistent results in studies, safety concerns, and challenges associated with standardising extraction methods.
To address these challenges, the Cardiff Met team screened ten essential oils from the Lamiaceae family for their effectiveness against two common wound pathogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The study aimed to identify which chemical components were associated with the strongest antimicrobial effects and to determine whether the most effective oils could be successfully incorporated into a topical hydrogel suitable for wound application.
Dr Hooper said: “Our findings move essential oil research beyond traditional laboratory testing by linking detailed chemical composition with functional performance in a realistic wound model. Even oils that come from closely related plants can work very differently against bacteria. The effectiveness of an oil doesn’t just depend on its main ingredients, but also on tiny amounts of other compounds, how the oil is prepared, and how it’s applied or delivered. Our next step therefore is to grow plants in the lab in very precise conditions, so that we can hopefully develop a standardised oil that is sustainable to produce.”
“There are still a lot of challenges to overcome, but by linking detailed chemical testing with how these products perform, and by exploring improved ways to deliver them, we could develop new plant-based wound treatments that may help support healing and reduce dependence on traditional antibiotics.”
This project is part of a collaborative effort with Prof Chris Wallis, an expert in sustainable compounds of natural origin, and Matt Bates an expert in chemical analysis of plant oils.
Britain’s landscape is highly fragmented by roads, with researchers from Cardiff University finding that more than 70% of the UK’s roadless areas are smaller than 1 km2.
The researchers say that more than 60% of roadless patches in the UK are smaller than the typical area many common UK mammals needs to survive, meaning species such as badgers and red foxes likely face a high risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions.
Dr Sarah Raymond, who completed the work during her PhD at Cardiff University School of Biosciences, said: “Roads cover 20% of land globally, fragmenting land into almost 600,000 patches.
“Because of this, roads have a wide range of impacts on wildlife, including reduced habitat connectivity and wildlife-vehicle collisions. Wildlife-vehicle collisions are estimated to cause millions of animal mortalities on roads every year and are a leading cause of population decline and biodiversity loss.”
The researchers extracted and mapped roads across Great Britain from OpenStreetMap, an open-access geographic database, to calculate roadless areas in Great Britain. Both areas covered by roads and ‘road effect zones’ – the areas around roads that experience ecological effects – were mapped. The roadless areas were defined as patches of land unaffected by roads, beyond the road effect zones.
The researchers found that the total number of roadless patches across Great Britain was 6,138 with a 1km road effect zone, 29,164 with a 500m road effect zone, and 93,561 with a 100m road effect zone. The majority (71-74%) of roadless patches were smaller than 1km² in size, and a small minority (0.002-0.014%) were greater than 100km2.
Roadless patches were significantly larger in Scotland than England and Wales, with Scotland having the greatest percentage of roadless area and larger individual patches, primarily coinciding with the Scottish Highlands and Cairngorms National Park. England had the largest number of individual patches, but the lowest overall percentage of land that is roadless.
The researchers found that 53% of all roadless areas were not covered by existing protected habitat designations, highlighting a need to increase protection of roadless areas and connectivity between them.
Dr Perkins, who runs Road Lab at Cardiff University, added: “Nearly half (47%) of roadless areas overlap with existing protected sites, but often only partially. Protecting and connecting roadless areas offers a practical route to expanding our protected area network while reducing wildlife‑vehicle collisions.”
The findings of the study emphasise the extent to which Great Britain is fragmented by roads and the extent of their effects.
“The European badger has a home range greater than the majority – 73% – of roadless patches, putting them at high risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions compared to other species with smaller home ranges,” added Dr Raymond.
Cardiff Metropolitan University has been recognised nationally for excellence and creativity in student recruitment, scooping two prestigious awards at the 2026 HELOA Awards.
Cardiff Met won Best Practice in Student Recruitment for the University’s ‘Help! I’m Going to Uni’ podcast and Best Undergraduate Initiative for ‘Get Cardiff Met Ready’.
The HELOA Awards celebrate outstanding work across UK universities in student recruitment, outreach and access, and are voted for by peers from other higher education institutions.
Cardiff Met’s ‘Help! I’m Going to Uni’ podcast uses innovative ways of supporting prospective students and tackles the real anxieties of starting university with honesty, humour and authenticity.
Featuring diverse student voices, the podcast has become a standout tool for the University to connect with applicants and has been woven into Cardiff Met’s campaigns, live events and prospectus content.
The ‘Get Cardiff Met Ready’ pre-enrolment event recognises its impact on helping new students feel confident, connected and prepared to begin university life.
Held on campus before enrolment, the event offers practical sessions, student-led talks and interactive activities to ease anxieties and build belonging. Over 880 students attended in 2025, a 14% increase on the previous year, and 94% said they felt more prepared to start their studies.
Rebecca Lever, Chief Marketing, Communications and Student Recruitment Officer at Cardiff Metropolitan University said: “Both initiatives show our creative thinking and commitment to continuous improvement.
“These latest wins highlight Cardiff Met’s commitment to innovation, collaboration and putting students at the heart of everything we do. Well done and thank you to everyone involved.”
‘Help! I’m Going to Uni’ is available for streaming on major platforms, including YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
A large-scale motion sensor camera project has revealed the hidden results of feeding hedgehogs – and it may have a bigger impact than previously thought.
Researchers at Nottingham Trent University and Chester Zoo analysed thousands of images from 415 gardens, alongside each garden’s specific characteristics, to examine how often hedgehogs were detected and which features most influenced their visits.
Hedgehogs were present in more than half (57%) of the gardens studied, demonstrating that these spaces are crucial habitats for them..
The study in residential gardens across Cheshire, was part of Chester Zoo’s Hedgehog Watch scheme and is thought to be one of the UK’s largest trail camera studies for a single species.
Hedgehogs are a species of conservation concern across Europe with long-term population declines due to factors such as loss of habitat and increased vehicle collisions.
The researchers believe urban habitats are increasingly important for hedgehogs and that unlocking insights into how they use gardens could play a key role in their conservation.
Food was by far the most important factor for their presence, with the spiky mammals appearing in 78% of gardens that supplied hedgehog food and 53% of gardens where bird food was left on the ground. Hedgehog presence dropped to fewer than half of gardens (46%) when no food was left out.
Just over a quarter (28%) of all the gardens surveyed contained food left out for hedgehogs.
Lead researcher Kelly Hitchcock, a PhD student in Nottingham Trent University’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, and one of Chester Zoo’s Conservation Scholars, warned that the practice of feeding wildlife needs further study as it can lead to significant and unanticipated changes to animal behaviour and health.
She said: “The provision of supplementary food clearly plays a significant role in shaping hedgehog movement and distribution. Despite the possible benefits of supplementary feeding, it can pose potential risks such as increased disease transmission among animals, altered hibernation behaviour, increased aggression between species and changes in species community structure.”
The study also revealed that hedgehogs were 70% more likely to be spotted in gardens where foxes had been detected, possibly due to increased food availability.
Kelly said: “We saw some of this on the cameras, which captured images of foxes and hedgehogs sharing food bowls, despite the fact that hedgehogs can be a prey species for foxes. The potential impacts of supplementary feeding certainly warrant further investigation in future research.”
While the authors anticipated that the presence of food would be important, it was so dominant that it made other variables such as the presence of flower beds, vegetable patches, overgrown areas, or ponds, less significant within the data.
The researchers argue, however, that while their work sheds important light on how hedgehogs are using urban gardens, people should continue to include wildlife-friendly features on their land as hedgehogs and other species will benefit from them.
“Our data will contribute to further studies, including one looking at hedgehogs, foxes and badgers. There is more research needed, and public participation has huge potential to help us understand how UK wildlife and people coexist within a changing world,” said Kelly.
Leah Williams, Lead Conservation Scientist in Population Biology at Chester Zoo, said: “This was a fascinating and ambitious project. It is generally difficult for scientists to access private gardens to gather camera trap footage. One of the largest camera trap studies of its kind in the UK, it yielded an incredible sample size and captured amazing snapshots of garden wildlife.
“It was a hugely collaborative project and would not have been possible without the volunteers who allowed cameras into their gardens. We know many were surprised to find that their gardens host hedgehogs, which are nocturnal, and we like to think this was a nice way for the participants to feel more connected to species living just beyond their doorstep.”
Bonington Gallery presents A Semester in Nottingham, 1976, an exhibition of photographs by American photographer and videographer John Dean.
In the Spring of 1976, Dean was a 20 year old visiting student from the Maryland Institute College of Art, taking part in an exchange programme with Trent Polytechnic (now Nottingham Trent University). During his short visit, he created a powerful body of work that captures Nottingham during a year of profound social and economic change.
Armed with a camera and quiet curiosity, Dean immersed himself in the rhythms of Nottingham life. Over the course of a single semester, he wandered the city’s streets and parks — Hyson Green, Market Square, the Arboretum — capturing striking black-and-white portraits of residents going about their daily lives. The resulting images are both documentary and deeply personal, offering an intimate glimpse into the lives of Nottingham residents during this transformative era.
The exhibition marks a significant homecoming to the institution where Dean studied fifty years ago. Now, half a century on, these photographs will be exhibited in the UK for the first time, in the city where they were made.
First developed in Trent’s own darkrooms (still situated next door to Bonington Gallery, in the School of Art & Design), these photographs have remained largely unseen for decades. Now, they return to the place of their origin, standing as a testament to the power of observational storytelling, told through the eyes of a visitor to the city.
John Dean has since built a distinguished career as a producer and videographer, creating historical and educational media for museums and non-profit organisations across the United States. Yet photography remains his first and most enduring creative language — a medium through which he continues to explore the intersections of memory, environment, and human experience.
John Dean is a Baltimore-based photographer, videographer who graduated with a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art.
He regularly works with museums, non-profit organisations and editorial platforms on the creation of educational and historical media and content. In addition to his institutional work, John’s independent photographic practice has taken him around the world, exploring historic and cultural sites, including excavation sites in Greece and sacred spaces in Istanbul.
Current work includes photography for the 111 Places Guides, a series of books published by Emons Verlag.
John worked on 111 Places in Baltimore That You Must Not Miss and 111 Places in Washington DC That You Must Not Miss. As a mentor and arts advocate, John is consistently guided by a curiosity for human stories.
John Dean A Semester in Nottingham, 1976 21 March – 9 May 2026 Launch: Friday 20 March 2026, 6-8pm
