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The first week of August promised to be a busy one for Tregaron this year, but now that the main festival will not be held there, the Eisteddfod has launched the 2020 AmGen Festival – a project that will give people a taste of the main festival between 30 July and 8 August, all available on S4C, Radio Cymru and the Cymru Fyw website.
Amongst the week’s events, Academi Hywel Teifi will hold various sessions in Pabell y Cymdeithasau, Y Babell Wyddoniaeth and Y Babell Lên.
Monday 3 August, 11am, Pabell y Cymdeithasau – Views on Wales – Citizenship and Identity
A discussion resulting from the work of Swansea University scholars that forms part of the ‘Safbwyntiau’ series published by University of Wales Press - with Dr Gwennan Higham from the Department of Welsh, Dr Simon Brooks from the Morgan Academy, Professor Daniel Williams from the Richard Burton Centre for the Study of Wales and Plaid Cymru’s Shadow Minister for Transforming Public Services and the Future, Delyth Jewell AM.
Wednesday 5 August, 11am, Pabell y Cymdeithasau – University after the Pandemic
A discussion on the role and work of universities in the 'new normal' and the impact on Welsh institutions and Welsh-medium education – Dafydd Trystan, Y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, Alpha Evans, Swansea University Students’ Union, and the Director of Academi Hywel Teifi, Dr Gwenno Ffrancon, as chair.
Thursday 6 August, 11am, Y Babell Lên – Remembering Hywel Teifi
A decade after the loss of Professor Hywel Teifi Edwards and the establishment of Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University in his name, an opportunity to evaluate his unique contribution to Welsh scholarship and culture and to enjoy his lecturing ability by replaying clips from the National Library archive. Professor Geraint H Jenkins, Professor M. Wynn Thomas and Lord Dafydd Wigley join Dr Gwenno Ffrancon, director of Academi Hywel Teifi, as they look back on Hywel Teifi's life and legacy.
Thursday 6 August, 4pm, Y Babell Wyddoniaeth – Wales’ Contribution to Overcoming Covid
A timely talk by Dr Angharad Puw Davies, an infectious disease specialist at Swansea University Medical School, on the contributions of the scientists and population of Wales to the task of tackling coronavirus and the challenges we face in attempting to end the pandemic.
Friday 7 August, 1pm, Pabell y Cymdeithasau – Nature and Covid
A discussion between naturalist and Swansea University Honorary Fellow Iolo Williams and Professor Siwan Davies, the Head of Swansea University’s Geography Department and an international expert on climate change. A timely discussion about the impact of the pandemic on our dealings with nature and how nature has responded to the huge social changes that have resulted from the virus.
Dr Gwenno Ffrancon, the Director of Academi Hywel Teifi: "The Academi is delighted to contribute as usual to the National Eisteddfod’s programme, and to be able to support it during this challenging time. The AmGen Eisteddfod has been a balm for us all over recent weeks and it will be wonderful to be able to contribute a variety of discussions that reflect the range of expertise of the Welsh-medium academics on the Swansea University staff.
“It will also be an opportunity to mark ten years since the loss of Professor Hywel Teifi Edwards, and I invite everyone to join our special session in Y Babell Lên to remember his unique contribution to our nation and to enjoy watching clips of him at his peak, from the Eisteddfod archive, holding court in his own incomparable way."