A public debate competition at the Gwyddonle
This year, as the Urdd Eisteddfod came to Margam Park, the public speaking competition, the Morgan Institute Challenge was held for the seventh consecutive year on the stage of the GwyddonLe. The GwyddonLe is the Urdd's science pavilion and Swansea University coordinates and organises all the activities and exhibits held there throughout the week of the Urdd Eisteddfod.
The Morgan Institute Challenge is a competition open to school pupils from year 10 to 13 and is sponsored by the Morgan Advanced Studies Institute, a centre at Swansea University which focuses on transformative interdisciplinary research. This year's topic was set by Dr Jeff Davies, associate professor of molecular neurobiology at Swansea University's Medical School. Jeff also judged the competition and his co-judge on the day was Sioned Williams, Plaid Cymru Senedd Member for South Wales West region.
This year's topic of discussion was, "Artificial intelligence could play a vital role in the future of healthcare in Wales", and two schools that are long familiar with the Challenge met again on the GwyddonLe stage, Ysgol Gyfun Bryn Tawe and Ysgol Gwent Is Coed. Maïwen Watson, a pupil from year 11 at Ysgol Bryn Tawe, opened the competition presenting her arguments in favour of the subject, with Sebastian Lyne from year 10 at Ysgol Gwent Is Coed, disagreeing and speaking against the statement. Then, Gethin Clarke from year 11, Ysgol Gwent Is Coed went head-to-head with Hari James from year 12, Bryn Tawe with Gethin presenting arguments for and Hari against.
All four spoke with maturity and passion on the subject, presenting their arguments in an intelligent and clear manner. The standard of the competition was extremely high and led to quite a bit of discussion before the judges reached a decision. Both schools were successful as Gethin Clarke from Ysgol Gwent Is Coed won the best speaker in favour of the topic, and Hari James from Ysgol Bryn Tawe won the best speaker against. Both schools will receive a financial prize thanks to the boys' achievements. Of the two, only one can win the Challenge and the judges decided that the best speaker overall was Hari James. Hari is the winner of the 2025 Morgan Foundation Challenge trophy and will receive an additional prize of work experience of his choice, organised by Academi Hywel Teifi.
Dr Jeff Davies said, "It was a great experience judging the Morgan Institute Challenge this year, especially with the Eisteddfod coming to our area. With artificial intelligence playing an increasing role in our everyday lives, putting this within the context of healthcare was an extremely timely discussion. The preparation work behind the competitors' arguments was clear to see, and each of them expressed themselves in a confident and eloquent manner, creating quite a dilemma for us as judges! It was such a high standard and a difficult decision, but Hari took it in the end."
