Psychology lecturer creates exciting opportunities for staff and students
Dr Kyle Jones, a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Swansea University, has developed an initiative to develop an interdisciplinary research community of Welsh language students and staff. The intention of the initiative is to invite participants to participate directly in live research with experienced staff. This will include learning how scientific studies are planned and carried out, giving valuable experience to those who take part, all of which contributes to Wales' ambition to become a global centre for bilingual research.
Although Wales has the ideal environment for bilingual research, there is a lack of representation in terms of research output compared to global leaders such as the Basque Country or Catalonia. Dr Jones suggests that part of the problem is the recruitment of specialist groups, such as Welsh speakers, which is a long and laborious process often hindered by separate recruitment efforts that take place independently across the University. The aim of the partnership is to tackle this, strengthening Welsh-medium research capacity, promoting collaboration across disciplines, and creating opportunities for students to gain direct experience in live research projects.
The Dragon Research Partnership is a network of Welsh speaking volunteers who are interested in contributing to Welsh and bilingual research projects in Swansea, who can be matched with staff and research students. Currently there are two live studies underway which call for Welsh speakers. The first project examines how Welsh - English and Japanese - English speakers process language in real time by using eye-tracking technology. The second is a study which examines how people from different cultures value parts of the body (i.e. one eye, one leg etc.). They take as little as 7 minutes to complete.
Dr Jones said: "In my opinion, this initiative is closely aligned with the University's strategic priorities for bilingualism, community engagement and research participation. With our success in attracting scholarships from the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and partnerships with international research networks such as Bilingualism Matters, there is a growing need for a reliable community of volunteers who speak Welsh to support the expanding areas of work. Therefore, I hope that by spreading the word about this new project, we will attract volunteers within the University to be part of this special community. Join, make connections, and help put bilingual research in Wales on the map!"
Here is the link to join Swansea University's new Welsh Bilingual Research Community: https://forms.gle/RN91RxHVE1RGufBCA