Welcome
It’s been a standout year for philanthropy at Bath thanks to our alumni and supporters. The numbers speak volumes about the unwavering commitment and generosity of our global community. But it’s the stories of impact – the opportunities for education and innovation you’ve made possible – which are the true measure of success.
In your annual edition of Inspire, we share the experiences of our students, researchers and donors and take stock of what we have achieved this past year together. It’s been a challenging one, with the cost-of-living crisis affecting many of our community, but your support has eased the financial stress for those hit hardest.
As you’ll see over the coming pages, this support comes in many shapes and sizes. Whether it’s a single or regular donation, an endowed fund or a legacy – each and every gift makes a real difference to people’s lives and the impact of our research.
I joined the University in January 2022; we were still in partial lockdown and much of the activity we had taken for granted was on hold. We used the global reopening to review the ways we work and reengage with our loyal alumni and supporters around the world. This publication is just one example of our renewed approach, and I hope you enjoy reading about the fabulous impact of your support.
It is with great sadness I share the news that I will be leaving the University in February 2025 to spend more time with my family in the north of the country. Bath is the sixth UK higher education institution I have worked at, and I can safely say your community is one of the most friendly and welcoming. You are rightly proud of the University and all it has achieved, as our recent alumni survey shows, and so many of you would recommend the institution to family and friends. I am constantly struck by how impressive the students and alumni are that I meet.
Thank you for welcoming me into your community and for the generosity of gifts, time and thought you have given the University. We need your help, and the fact you have stepped up to donate £5.7 million in our last financial year is wonderful. I am particularly proud of the new Research with Impact PhD Scholarships, and that in the past year we have managed to increase the University endowment by 50% – both hugely important to the future of Bath. I hope to see and thank some of you in person.
Gordon Cox
Director of Advancement
Advancement Office
Philanthropy in numbers
Your generous contributions in 2023/24 are transforming lives and making a lasting impact.
Across the University and our three strategic themes – health and wellbeing, sustainability and digital – we are growing our research strengths, with your support.
Your gifts to scholarships support bright students to fulfil their potential.
These include student awards and prizes, and endowed posts.
University updates
Investing in innovation
Four University of Bath budding entrepreneurs have been announced as the winners of this year’s Alumni Innovation Awards – securing £20,000 each to help turn their business ideas into reality.
“Winning the award has been the best accolade and is a testament to the importance of the work I have been doing during my PhD,” says recipient Zoe Jeffrey. Her research on teenage girls’ disengagement in school physical education led her to develop VibeStride, an augmented reality gaming app aiming to transform the experience for all pupils.
The awards have been generously supported by His Excellency Khalil Foulathi and the late Bruce Brain.
Success at the SPARKies Awards
EnsiliTech – a Bath spinout that makes vaccines safer – won Most Innovative Use of Tech at the SPARKies Awards 2024. Founder Dr Asel Sartbaeva developed this life-saving research thanks to early support from alumni and friends and has recently secured a £1.7 million government contract to develop the world’s first thermally stable mRNA vaccine.
Meanwhile, the Best Mentor Award went to alumnus Laurence James who volunteers his time with the Enterprise Bath team to guide and empower student entrepreneurs.
Funding solutions
Six inspiring projects in the field of life sciences have recently been awarded £20,000 each as part of the Synergy Awards.
These awards – generously funded by alumnus and pharmaceutical entrepreneur, Professor Raymond F. Schinazi – support projects addressing global challenges.
The successful ideas include exploration of novel approaches to overcoming drug resistance in skin cancer and harnessing microorganisms for sustainable construction.
Humanities students go on an EdVenture
Alumnus Mickey Ko provided funding for two Bath students to participate in China EdVenture 2024.
The students, both studying international politics and modern languages with Mandarin, spent five weeks at Shexian School as part of the fully funded cultural exchange – immersing themselves in the culture and language while teaching English to local students.
LEAPing into the future
The University has joined the new LEAP Digital Health Hub for South West England and Wales. Funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the £4.11 million hub will revolutionise the region’s digital health landscape.
“We are really excited to be part of an effort with the potential to unlock new avenues for research, innovation and partnership,” says Professor Christos Vasilakis from our School of Management.
Seaweed packaging innovator receives landmark investment
Kelpi, a firm that uses seaweed to create sustainable packaging, is getting closer to market after securing £4.35 million in investment.
Co-founder and Bath bioprocess engineer, Professor Chris Chuck, says: “It has been fantastic to be able to leverage the University’s capability in sustainable technology research and develop an idea all the way through to creating genuinely novel materials on scale.” Chris began his research journey at Bath thanks to a donor-funded Whorrod Fellowship.
Labs for life science
Local pharmaceutical product manufacturer, Pharmaxo, generously donated a gift-in-kind to the University worth £230,000.
This includes vital laboratory equipment and private study booths that will aid research activity and enhance student experience across the University.
Pharmaxo is already a valuable research partner of our Department of Life Sciences.
Engineer’s legacy lives on at Bath
A further seven ambitious mechanical engineering students have received funding for various opportunities as part of the Arthur Clements Awards.
These include an internship with Sherpa Mobile Robotics, development of an electronic plane model and a volunteering trip to Madagascar for HoverAid.
The awards are funded by a legacy of the late engineering entrepreneur Arthur Clements CBE, whose Trust kindly gave a further £290,000 in 2023/24.
New partnership takes flight
Bath researchers have joined HyFIVE – a UK consortium working to develop a hydrogen fuel system for aviation – adding to its sky-high efforts to reduce the impact of air travel on our vulnerable planet.
The consortium will receive initial funding of £37 million from industry and the government.
Your generous support and philanthropic example makes such a difference here at the University of Bath. Your donations really do change lives, and we thank you on behalf of all those whose lives are touched by your kindness.
Our commitment to you, the University’s donor community:
• Swift acknowledgement of your pledge, gift or instalment.
• Invitations to relevant student support and research-focused events, where you can hear more from beneficiaries on the impact of your donations.
• The annual donor magazine, Inspire, including specific reporting relative to your giving.
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