Swansea University is pleased to sponsor one of the main attractions at the Urdd National Eisteddfod, the GwyddonLe pavilion, again this year – offering a full week of entertaining educational activities for children and young people.
Visitors to the Eisteddfod, which takes place in Denbighshire from 30 May to 4 June, will be able to enjoy a diverse range of science-led activities led by Swansea University scientists, as well as shows, demonstrations, crafts, and competitions.
The theme of this year's GwyddonLe is 'A Century of Health Developments', and as well as scientific stands and activities a special exhibition will celebrate a century of medical developments to coincide with the Urdd's centenary celebrations. The tour-style exhibition will share information about the medical milestones that have changed the world since 1922. At the end of the journey everyone will have the opportunity to identify their favourite development from the last century and share their ideas about what they would like to see devised and presented over the next hundred years. Having experienced the exhibition, visitors to the GwyddonLe will have the opportunity to turn to the digital world with a virtual reality anatomy game, which has been created by Swansea University students.
As part of the events to mark the Royal College of Pathologists' 60th anniversary celebrations, Dr Emyr Benbow from the University of Manchester will introduce visitors to the pathologist's world at 10am on the Friday, using a living person to explain how to carry out an autopsy.
A public speaking competition, The Morgan Institute Challenge, will take place at 12pm on the Friday and the topic of the debate is 'It should be compulsory for people to be vaccinated against serious infections, for the benefit of society'. Pupils from Ysgol Bro Teifi and Ysgol Bro Pedr will go head-to-head to win the trophy and the opportunity for work experience for the best speaker organised by Academi Hywel Teifi.
The competition is sponsored by the Morgan Institute, Swansea University's centre for public policy research. The competition was launched in 2018 and aims to give pupils the opportunity to demonstrate their reasoning and debating skills as well as receiving feedback from leading critics in policy and politics. This year's competition will be judged by Professor Angharad Puw Davies of Swansea University Medical School and politician Llyr Gruffydd MP.
This year’s external partners of the GwyddonLe include Llaeth y Llan, TRIGGER, RAS200, Wessex Archaeology and North Wales Wildlife Trust.
Gwenno Ffrancon, Director of Academi Hywel Teifi, Swansea University, said: "After two years of contributing through digital means to the fun of Esietddfod-T, we as staff and students at Swansea University are delighted that we are now allowed to return to the Urdd Eisteddfod and reintroduce the young people of Wales to the fun and excitement of the GwyddonLe.
"This year our theme is intertwined with the Urdd's centenary celebrations and the GwyddonLe will give visitors the opportunity to learn about the developments that have been seen in healthcare and medicine during the Urdd’s century. As has been the norm at the GwyddonLe, children and young people will have the opportunity to learn about the developments since 1922 through fun shows, experiments, quizzes and crafts. There will be something for everyone and it will be lovely to welcome everyone back to us!"