GwyddonLe 2025
It was an honour to welcome the Urdd Eisteddfod to our area this year as the festival was held on the grounds of Margam Country Park. Swansea University's offering in the GwyddonLe and our presence across the field led to a very successful week at this national event!
'Roots' was this year's theme, and Swansea University scientists offered a variety of exhibits and stage shows to entertain visitors of all ages. There was barely room to move in the GwyddonLe all week.
With the Biosciences, it was possible to learn about the wonderful world of Welsh seaweed and micro algae, and with the Geography crew there was an opportunity to trace the history of our climate in ice and learn how to prevent coastal flooding. The Pharmacy stand offered an opportunity to create medicine and learn about the history of the Physicians of Myddfai, while the Psycology team focuses on well-being activities, language and culture this year.
The Teddy Bear Hospital is very popular among our younger visitors and once again, Swansea University Medical School had a host of other educational activities, including, learning about CPR and how to use a defibrillator, studying cells with microscopes, learning about DNA and the origins of diseases.
The School of Engineering taught us how materials will support a more sustainable future and product design for the local economy. There was an opportunity to learn how hydrogen contributes towards creating a green energy future, and to discover that the technology to create hydrogen was actually invented in Swansea by Sir William Robert Grove.
Did you know that one of the most popular computers of the 1980s was built in Margam? The Journalism, Media and Communications Department had the 'Dragon' and other machines from that time on display and visitors had the opportunity to play games on these old computers, programme them, and find out more about their history and background.
The Virtual Reality crew returned this year with experimental and educational games, and the Technocamps crew came back with a special robot called Gethin. In collaboration with National Museum Wales, they looked at the evolution of technology within coal mines and with the help of artificial intelligence, Gethin was able to answer all your questions about coal mines.
In addition to Technocamps and National Museum Wales, we must thank our other external partners for contributing to the success of the Gwyddonle this year, namely Taliesin Arts Centre and the County Youth Dance Company, the Physicians of Myddfai Society, E-Sports Wales, the All-Wales Medical Genomics Service and Mad Science.
Along with the scientific stands, there was a craft activity to mark the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and an opportunity to create an origami crane. This coincides with 2025 as the Welsh Government's year of Wales and Japan and here was an opportunity to invite the youth of Wales to create these symbols of peace to be displayed outside the GwyddonLe. All the paper cranes will be sent to the Children's Peace Memorial in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to join the thousands which hang near the Children's Peace Memorial to commemorate the children killed by the atomic bomb and convey the will and desire of the children of Wales for a peaceful future.
As the week drew to a close, the popular public speaking competition, the Morgan Foundation Challenge, took place. This year's topic was: "Artificial intelligence could play a vital role in the future of healthcare in Wales" set by Dr Jeff Davies, associate professor of molecular neurobiology at Swansea University Medical School. Judging with Jeff on the day, was Sioned Williams, Plaid Cymru Senedd Member for South Wales West region. Following excellent arguments presented by pupils from Ysgol Bryn Tawe and Ysgol Gwent Is Coed, the judges faced a rather difficult decision. After taking time to deliberate, Gethin Clarke, from Ysgol Gwent Is Coed, won the best speaker in favour of the motion, and Hari James from Ysgol Bryn Tawe was the best speaker against. Hari also won the 2025 Morgan Institute Challenge trophy and was the overall winner.
It was a pleasure to welcome special visitors and friends to the GwyddonLe, including Baroness Eluned Morgan MS, First Minister of Wales, Professor Paul Boyle, Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University, Niamh Lamond, Swansea University Registrar, Professor Ryan Murphy, Acting Dean and Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor Sian Rees, Acting Deputy Dean of the same Faculty, as well as Chairman of Academi Hywel Teifi and Honorary Fellow of the University, Sir Roderick Evans.
Swansea University students also experienced success. Joe Morgan won the Bobi Jones Medal for Welsh Learners, and coincidentally, the medal was sponsored by Swansea University's Tŷ'r Gwrhyd. Joe is currently studying Journalism, Media and Communications at the University and is an ambassador for the Swansea University Branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. Aelwyd yr Elyrch, competed enthusiastically in several competitions this year, and huge congratulations to them for coming 3rd in the under 25 recitation group, and to Casi and Elen for coming 3rd in the cerdd dant duet, age 19-25.
Many Swansea University members of staff and alumni were asked to adjudicate the Urdd homework competitions this year including Professor Gwenno Ffrancon, Emily Evans, Dr Alpha Evans, Dr Miriam Elin Jones, Heini Gruffudd, Professor Christine James, Robat Powell, Professor Tudur Hallam, Grug Muse, Professor Alan Llwyd, Dr Aneirin Karadog, Mari George, Dr Llinos Roberts and Professor Trystan Watson.
Professor Gwenno Ffrancon, Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor for Welsh Language, Heritage and Culture, and Director of Academi Hywel Teifi said: "After all the excitement and looking forward to welcoming the Urdd Eisteddfod to our area this year, we could not have asked for a better week! Seeing the GwyddonLe so busy throughout the week was a reflection of the varied and enticing activities we have at Swansea University, not to mention the incredible ability of our staff to communicate science in such an attractive and fun way. The GwyddonLe always attracts crowds, but this year's audiences were bigger than ever, with all the wonderful activities being presented with enthusiasm and passion thanks to the University's staff. Swansea University is extremely proud of the successful partnership we have with Urdd Gobaith Cymru and the Urdd Eisteddfod and the opportunity it gives us to attract young people - and potential students - to Welsh-medium study paths across the various sciences."
