Swansea University will be showcasing science on a grand scale at one of Europe’s largest youth festivals, when it comes to Swansea this week.
The Urdd National Eisteddfod will take place at Felidre, near Swansea, from Monday May 30 until Saturday, June 4, 2011.
One of the festival’s flagship exhibitions – the GwyddonLe science pavilion – will bring science to life for the thousands of young people who will visit the event. GwyddonLe will hold all kinds of interactive scientific exhibitions and workshops for all ages on the theme of ‘Scale’.
Swansea University has teamed up with a host of other organisations – including Tata Steel, Techniquest, the National Botanic Garden of Wales and Keep Wales Tidy – to create an exciting learning environment.
Professor Richard B Davies, the University’s Vice-Chancellor, said: “We are proud to support the Urdd National Eisteddfod again, particularly as this year’s host city is Swansea.
“If universities are to build effectively upon the success of Welsh medium schools it is essential that Welsh is seen not only as a language of the arts and culture, but also of science, research, and enterprise. This is why we are delighted to join with the Urdd in presenting the GwyddonLe this year, which will give a flavour of the world-class research and teaching expertise of our academic staff and postgraduate students.
“We hope that by bringing science to life in a fun and interactive way, the GwyddonLe activities will inspire many young minds to pursue careers in the key strategic growth areas that underpin economic growth and prosperity – following in the proud scientific tradition Wales holds and Swansea University represents.”
Professor Iwan Davies, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, added: “We are delighted to see the realisation of the GwyddonLe partnership between the University and the Urdd Eisteddfod.
“We have recently established Academi Hywel Teifi to promote more opportunities for Welsh medium teaching and learning in all disciplines and we are particularly keen to build on our established strengths in Modern Languages, History and Law and extend this to the sciences and technology and Life and Health Sciences.
“The thousands of children visiting the Urdd Eisteddfod receive their education through the medium of Welsh and we hope that the science activities at the GwyddonLe will inspire them to continue their studies into University.”
Aled Siôn, Director of the Urdd National Eisteddfod, said: “GwyddonLe is an innovative project and one of the festival’s flagship exhibitions and we’re grateful to the University not only for their support but also their expertise in the science field.”
