A series of live events, resources and videos for the whole family
Swansea University is sponsoring and coordinating one of the main attractions of the online Urdd Eisteddfod-T once again this year, the GwyddonLe, offering a series of live events, resources, and videos of entertaining educational activities for the whole family.
The videos and resources can be accessed via the Eisteddfod-T app or on the Facebook pages of Academi Hywel Teifi and the Urdd Eisteddfod from Monday 31 May.
This year, the videos have been created by Swansea University staff and students, and include experiments that children and young people can do at home:
- How plants take water when using xylem, with Dr Gethin Thomas
- Volcanoes, with Tom Kemp
- The senses, with Dr Alwena Morgan
- Penny battery experiment, with Carys Worsley
- Solvent and osmosis, with Dr Gethin Thomas
- How the Gauss method works to calculate total, with Dr Kristian Evans
- Haematology: blood grouping, with Dr Alwena Morgan
Technocamps will be holding two 'Save the Astronaut' live sessions on Zoom – the first on the afternoon of Tuesday 1 June, and the morning of Friday 4 June. Both sessions are suitable children aged 9-13. Children will need to solve problems to save an "astronaut" and they will also have the opportunity to ask questions about tspace.
Downloadable resources include: a wordsearch, an emoji quiz, a pack of activities by Technocamps, and a poster to identify human body parts.
On Tuesday afternoon, the result of the GwyddonLe competition will be announced on S4C, with judge Dr Alwena Morgan from the University's Medical School.
On Friday 4 June, the Morgan Institute Challenge public debate competition organised by Academi Hywel Teifi will be held. Speakers from three schools – Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg and Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr – will go head-to-head in a debate on the topic 'Is now the time to declare a climate emergency?'
The competition, sponsored by the university’s Morgan Advanced Studies Institute, aims to give pupils the opportunity to demonstrate their reasoning and debate skills, and to receive feedback from leading judges. This year's judges are Ben Lake MS and a leading expert on the climate crisis, Professor Siwan Davies.
The best speaker debating for and against will receive £250 each for their schools, and the winner will receive a work placement organised by Academi Hywel Teifi. The competition will be broadcast live on Facebook between 12pm-1pm.
Dr Gwenno Ffrancon, Director of Academi Hywel Teifi, Swansea University, said: "We’re looking forward to offering a feast of activities through the GwyddonLe-T one again this year showcasing a – showcasing a range of specialisms from Swansea University's Welsh-medium scientists. The University is proud of our partnership with the Urdd, and we’re delighted to be working to promote science and technology subjects through the medium of Welsh, helping to inspire the scientists of the future."