Meet our 2024 London Marathon runners raising money for Healthy Minds

Legs of runners wearing race bibs on pavement

In April 2024, a group of five Bristol alumni, two students and a member of staff are taking on the 2024 London Marathon in support of the University’s Healthy Minds programme.

This programme supports students to take positive steps towards improving the way they feel through a varied and socially engaging programme of physical activity and has now supported over 500 students in improving their wellbeing.

Each runner is aiming to raise at least £2,000 for Healthy Minds, and you can support them via their JustGiving pages linked below.

Introducing this year’s runners… (more…)

Watch the Vice-Chancellor’s annual Alumni Briefing

At the start of each academic year, Professor Evelyn Welch, the University’s Vice-Chancellor and President, holds the Alumni Briefing, a digital update for alumni around the world to learn more about the opportunities and challenges she sees ahead. For those of you unable to watch this year’s Alumni Briefing live, we recorded the event to share with you. Click the video below to watch!

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Applications open for student telephone fundraising team!

Two student callers wearing headsets smile and use a computer.

We are currently recruiting for student callers to work on our 2023/24 Telephone Fundraising Campaign. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a friendly team in which you can build your skills, make a difference, and gain fundraising experience. Applications can be submitted through our online form. (more…)

‘You first need to understand what your fellow human beings are up against and try to empathise’ Latif Ismail on global development

Latif Ismail poses in honorary graduate gown while holding degree. Professor Professor Judith Squires stands on the left and Professor Eric Herring stands on the right, both wearing ceremonial robes.

We were fortunate to speak with one of this year’s esteemed honorary graduates, Latif Ismail (MSc 2014, Hon LLD 2023), CEO of Transparency Solutions and Co-Director of Somali First. Somali First is a joint initiative of Transparency Solutions and the University of Bristol, launched in 2014 to promote Somali-led development through impartial facilitation, research and education.

Latif is also Managing Director of Horn Risk Management, Co-Investigator & Hub Leader of Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures. (more…)

Watch our panel discussion, Bristol in Conversation: Our Natural World

This spring, we were honoured to host our first annual Bristol in Conversation event. It was an amazing opportunity for so many alumni and friends to make new connections and reconnect with old classmates, while hearing from two of our remarkable alumni speak about their careers in wildlife filmmaking. Dr Mike Gunton (BSc 1979), Creative Director of BBC Natural History, and Gillian Burke (BSc 1995), presenter of BBC Springwatch, offered insightful discussions on our changing world and how documentaries can help engage the public.

The event was held on campus, but for those of you unable to attend, we’ve put together a video featuring the most memorable moments. Click the video below to watch! (more…)

Bristol alumni recognised in 2023 Honours lists

Each year, the King’s Birthday Honours recognise a group of exceptional individuals, each of whom have made a positive and lasting contribution to society. This year, they were announced just after another set of awards, those of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Resignation Honours. These 19 outstanding Bristol alumni have been acknowledged for their services to health, environmental science, politics, education and more.

We admire their commitment to service and are exceedingly proud to showcase their achievements. (more…)

Lord Evans of Weardale, former Director General of MI5, on balancing security and ethics

A portrait of Lord Evans wearing a business suit, standing in an office setting

Lord Evans of Weardale KCB DL (BA 1980, Hon LLD 2008) is the former Director General of MI5, the British Security Service. He graduated from the University with a degree in Classical Studies before joining the Security Service in 1980, focusing on international and domestic counterterrorism. In 2001, he was appointed Director of the Service’s international counterterrorism work just ten days before the 9/11 attacks.  (more…)

‘My scholarship has given me the space and the freedom to explore my path’: Chinelo on her Black Bristol Scholarship

University of Bristol student Chinelo Etiaba wears professional attire as she smiles, sitting in a garden with a stone wall behind her.

Chinelo is studying a Master’s by Research in Cellular and Molecular Medicine and accessed an Opportunity Bristol Scholarship through the Black Bristol Scholarship Programme.   (more…)