The Department of Life Sciences (DLS, https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/life-sciences/) is a new research intensive academic department at Aberystwyth University, which has a long tradition of excellence in biological, ecological, agricultural and biomedical teaching. The department was created in August 2022, taking responsibility for the majority of academic learning and teaching provision that was previously delivered by Aberystwyth’s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS). Incorporated within DLS is Wales’ first Vet School (https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/vet-sci/) and the Healthcare Education Centre (https://www.aber.ac.uk/e