Ysgol Cwm Rhymni and Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw are in for an unusual day of Spectacular Chemistry, when Dr Robyn Wheldon-Williams and the ‘Sioe Gemeg’ visit the Heads of the Valleys on Friday 12 March. The show, Flash Bang! is crammed full of explosions, massive bubbles and speedily-produced ice-cream, and is a great way to show the Year 7 and 8 pupils the wonders of chemistry.
Robyn and his ‘Sioe Gemeg’ team from the National Eisteddfod of Wales will perform exciting experiments and demonstrations including exploding vegetables, indoor fireworks, stage rockets and a mega mash potato canon. But that hasn’t given the entire show away- Dr Robyn has more wacky experiments up his sleeve!
The show is organised in association with Bangor University’s School of Chemistry and is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and Research Councils UK.
Robyn says: “The Sioe Gemeg is an excellent way to encourage young people to get involved in science and technology, and this show, held at the start of Science and Technology Week, is a chance to promote science through the medium of Welsh and the activities which will be held at the Science and Technology Pavilion in the Blaenau Gwent and Heads of the Valleys National Eisteddfod later this year.”
Robyn is an excellent communicator who inspires an interest in science in children and adults alike, is responsible for the Science and Technology Pavilion at the festival and is also a Chemistry teacher at Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Ruthin.
The Blaenau Gwent and Heads of the Valleys National Eisteddfod is hel din The Works, Ebbw Vale from 31 July – 7 August. The Maes is convenient for visitors from all parts of Wales, with easy transport links from all main routes and regular public transport access. Forty minutes from the centre of Cardiff, Ebbw Vale is an hour from Swansea and two and a quarter hours from the Dolgellau area.
The festival attracts around 160,000 visitors every year, and is a travelling festival which alternates between north and south Wales. Entry to all daytime activities is free of charge for the price of a daily Maes ticket.
The Eisteddfod receives a grant from the Welsh Assembly Government through the Welsh Language Board. The Eisteddfod also receives funding from unitary authorities in Wales through its partnership with the Welsh Local Government Association. This year’s festival has received £300,000 from the Heads of the Valleys Regeneration Programme, to enable the Eisteddfod to visit the Blaenau Gwent and Heads of the Valleys area.
