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Swansea University experts deliver Welsh-medium science activities online as part of virtual Eisteddfod
Scientists from Swansea University will launch a series of Welsh-medium online activities for children as part of the alternative, redesigned Urdd National Eisteddfod event to be held online from 25-30 May.
The week-long event, Europe’s largest competitive festival for young people, was set to have been held in Denbighshire this year, but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year’s festival will now be called Eisteddfod T (a play on words – Ti means ‘you’ and Tŷ means ‘house’ in Welsh) and the final rounds of the competitions will be broadcast on specially scheduled programmes on S4C and BBC Radio Cymru.
The GwyddonLe science pavilion has been a partnership between the Urdd and Swansea University since 2010, becoming one of the Eisteddfod’s most popular attractions, with experts bringing science to life with interactive scientific exhibits and workshops for the thousands of young people who visit the pavilion each day.
With the Eisteddfod being relocated online, Swansea University will continue to provide science activities by releasing a new video every day throughout the week from one of Swansea University’s science experts, demonstrating simple experiments that children and youngsters can carry out safely at home. The University is also holding online competitions for primary and secondary school pupils.
The videos will be available on Swansea University’s YouTube channel at 11am.
The daily videos will feature:
- Monday - 'Dinosaurs' with Dr Rhian Meara, Senior Lecturer in Geography
- Tuesday - 'What's in the Blood?’ with Dr Alwena Morgan, Lecturer in Biochemistry
- Wednesday - 'How to Make a Rainbow' with Dr Aled Isaac, Senior Lecturer in Physics
- Thursday - ‘Atishoo!’ with Amanda Jones, Senior Lecturer in Nursing
- Friday - 'Technocamps Challenge' with Luke Clement, Technocamps Education Officer
Dr Gwenno Ffrancon, Director of Academi Hywel Teifi, Swansea University said: “Although we are naturally disappointed not to be able to open the doors of the GwyddonLe to the thousands of young people who enjoy our activities this year, we’re pleased to be able to offer these digital activities. These resources will hopefully enable children and young people to continue some learning over the May half term week and inspire young minds to pursue careers in STEMM. Offering these online workshops and activities will also enable the University to continue to maintain and build on its success in promoting science through the medium of Welsh.”