Personal profile
Contact Info
Location: F5a Thoday, School of Environmental & Natural Sciences, Bangor University
E-mail address: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0)1248 382 637
X/Twitter: @PrysorWilliams
Teaching and Supervision
I am the Course Director for the BSc and MEnvSci degrees in Environmental Science.
I am a member of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol’s Academic Board, and Chair of its Panel for Geography, Agriculture and the Environment.
I sit on Bangor University's Curriculum Quality Assurance Delivery Group.
I have acted as an External Examiner for undergraduate degrees as Aberystwyth University and The University of Wales Trinity St. David.
Module organiser:
- ENC/S-1203 (Lefel 4) Sgiliau Ymarferol & Maes Gwyddorau'r Amgylchedd / Prac & Field Skills for Env. Scientists
- DXX-3402 (Level 6) Waste Management & Utilisation
- DXX-4101 (Level 7) Master of Env. Science Dissertation
Module contributor:
- ENS-1202 (Lefel 4) Environmental Management & Conservation
- ENC/S-1000 (Lefel 4) Tiwtorialau Academaidd / Academic Tutorials
- DXX-2002 (Level 5) Water, Air & Soil Pollution
- DXX-2012 (Level 5) Field Course: Environmental Conflicts
- DXX-2000 (Level 5) GIS & Research Methods
- DXX/C-3701 (Level 6) Honours Project / Prosiect Ymchwil
- DXX-3702 (Level 6) Management Plan
- ENS-4210 (Level 7) MSc Dissertation
- ENS-4211 (Level 7) Agriculture & the Environment
Postgraduate Project Opportunities
I am interested in many areas at the interface between agriculture and the environment. These include, but are not limited to:
- grassland production systems
- achieving Net Zero in livestock systems
- soil and nutrient management
- sustainable intensification of livestock systems
- land use and the delivery of ecosystem services
- antibiotic resistance
Please contact me by all means to discuss any ideas for PhD projects.
Overview
I was raised on an upland livestock farm and am still a practising farmer, which gives me a first-hand insight into agricultural and environmental issues, alongside my academic perspective.
I have a broad range of research interests at the interface of agriculture and the environment. These primarily focus on livestock systems, including the challenges and opportunities to reaching Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions, management of organic resources (slurries, manures, etc.), pathogens, antibiotic resistance, and soils. Having worked on several large interdisciplinary projects, I have also developed a considerable interest in the ongoing discussions around land use (sustainable intensification, delivery of public goods, etc.).
I have also been part of large projects researching the potential for energy savings and generation within the water sector (https://www.dwr-uisce.eu/) and small-scale hydropower plants (http://hydro-bpt.bangor.ac.uk/).
I sit on several external committees, including:
- Chair of the Agriculture Industry Climate Change Forum
- Board Member of Farming Connect
- Member of the Sustainable Innovation and Research Working Group for Hybu Cig Cymru
- Board Member of Mentera
- Chair of the Carneddau Landscape Partnership
- Bangor University representative on the Global Farm Platform group
- Member of the NFU’s Net Zero Scientific Advisory Panel
I was awarded the 2023 External Award from the Farmers' Union of Wales for “services to agriculture”.
I frequently engage with industry and the media on issues related to agriculture and the environment, through the medium of Welsh and English.
Education/Academic qualification
Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCertHE)
Undergraduate, BSc Environmental Science (2003)
Postgraduate, PhD: Environmental Microbiology (2006) (Survival of E. coli O157 in agricultural environments and the implications for human health)
External positions
Chair of the Agircultural Industry Climate Change Forum
Board Member of the Farming Connect programme
Board Member of Menter a Busnes
Chair of the Carneddau Landscape Partnership
Member of the Research Working Group for Hybu Cig Cymru / Meat Promotion Wales
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 13 Climate Action
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SDG 15 Life on Land
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Exploring farmer sentiment and decision-making on circular agricultural practices adoption in Europe: evidence from Italy, Norway and the UK
Evans, F., Gibbons, J., Bava, L., Chadwick, D., Colombini, S., Kvakkestad, V., Lamprinakis, L., Lind, V., Williams, P. & Wynne-Jones, S., 1 Mar 2026, In: Journal of Rural Studies. 123, 104050.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure) -
Centralised, energy positive wastewater treatment shows high potential for carbon neutrality with emissions offset through biogas and biosolids use
Schestak, I. & Williams, P., 8 Sept 2025, In: Journal of Water Process Engineering. 77, 108634.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Marginal abatement cost curves of climate-smart agricultural practices to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from smallholder dairy farms in Kenya
Caulfield, M., Graham, M., Gibbons, J., McNicol, L., Williams, P., Chadwick, D., Gakige, J., Wilkes, A., Kimoro, B. & Arndt, C., 10 Apr 2025, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 501, 145281.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
“It’s ‘common-sense’ farming”: Exploring farmers’ decision-making and behaviours towards adopting circular agricultural practices.
Evans, F., Gibbons, J., Chadwick, D., Gittins, H., Williams, P. & Wynne-Jones, S., 1 Dec 2025, In: Journal of Rural Studies. 120, 103844.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Net Zero requires ambitious greenhouse gas emission reductions on beef and sheep farms coordinated with afforestation and other land use change measures
McNicol, L., Williams, N., Chadwick, D., Styles, D., Rees, R. M., Ramsey, R. & Williams, P., 1 Mar 2024, In: Agricultural Systems. 215, 103852, 103852.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile116 Downloads (Pure)
Impacts
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Hydropower electricity generation form the water supply network
Williams, A. (Participant) & Styles, D. (Participant)
Impact
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Improving the UK agricultural greenhouse gas emissions inventory [REF2021]
Chadwick, D. (Participant), Williams, A. (Participant) & Styles, D. (Participant)
Impact: Policy and Public Services
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Sustainable farming and our land: Consultation. Welsh Government
Healey, J. (Participant), Pagella, T. (Participant) & Williams, A. (Participant)
Impact
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Understanding Rotational “mob” Grazing: Impacts, Benefits and Trade-offs
Williams, P. (PI)
1/01/21 → 17/09/26
Project: Research
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Activities
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Panel Member of the Senedd’s Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee inquiry on Soil Health in Agriculture
Williams, P. (Contributor)
30 Apr 2025Activity: Other › Types of External academic engagement - Contribution to the work of national or international committees and working groups
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BBC Radio Cymru - Bwletin Amaeth
Williams, P. (Contributor)
11 Mar 2024Activity: Other › Types of Public engagement and outreach - Media article or participation
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Recycling of Agricultural, Municipal and Industrial Residues in Agriculture Network (RAMIRAN) 2023 conference
Williams, P. (Speaker)
1 Feb 2023 → 20 Sept 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in Academic conference
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Expert panel discussion on heat recovery potential of leisure centres
Bello-Dambatta, A. (Chair), Williams, P. (Speaker), McNabola, A. (Speaker), Simmonds, L. (Invited speaker), Gordon, T. (Invited speaker), Dyson, A. (Invited speaker) & Keane, M. (Invited speaker)
23 Feb 2021Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in Academic workshop, seminar, course
Press/Media
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Nutritional Value of Meat Must Be Weighed Against Environmental Impact, Say Researchers
McNicol, L., Gibbons, J. & Williams, P.
8/03/24 → 12/03/24
2 Media contributions
Press/Media: Research