Events with Texas partners

Welsh Government Education Minister

Welsh Minister for Education Kirsty Williams visited the University of Houston, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Baylor College of Medicine to learn more about Swansea’s collaborations in Texas.

She viewed a demonstration of pioneering medical simulation models developed by Swansea's Professor Ian Pallister and also visited Mission Squash, a youth enrichment programme founded by Swansea alumnus Alistair Barnes which aims to give children from underserved communities the opportunity to fulfil their potential and achieve their dream of a college education.

Research as Art in Texas

The Texas Strategic Partnership has enabled Swansea University's Research as Art inititave to reach new audiences in Texas. Research as Art is an annual competition which provides a platform for students, researchers and staff to convey the beauty, humanity and importance of their research through an image and 150-word description.

An exhibition of winning images has been on display in the Scholars Commons at UT Austin's Perry-Castaneda Library since 2016, and the competition's founder and director, Prof Richard Johnston has delivered lectures about the initiative at partner universities in both Austin and Houston.

US Ambassador visit to Swansea

Woody Johnson, the US Ambassador to the United Kingdom visited Swansea University to learn more about its world-leading research and its partnerships in Texas.

During the visit he met with the Vice Chancellor and representatives from the College of Engineering, the International Development Office and the Texas Strategic Partnership. He also had the opportunity to meet a student from Texas currently participating in an internship programme in Politics which combines a series of lectures on British and European politics and policy making with an internship with an MP, member of the Welsh Assembly or non-governmental organisation.

Invent for the Planet

Since 2018 Swansea University has participated in Invent for the Planet, a 48 hour Intensive Design Experience in conjunction with Texas A&M University. Students select an engineering problem and have just 48 hours to develop a solution, prototype and elevator pitch which is presented to a panel of judges from academia and industry.

The event gives students the opportunity to collaborate in cross-discplinary teams and to work with students and mentors from other participating institutions. 40 universities from 20 countries joined IFTP 2020, but Swansea is the only UK university invitedto participate. 

The Black Prince of Florence

As part of the tour to accompany the US launch of her book The Black Prince of Florence, Dr Catherine Fletcher from Swansea University's History Department, was hosted at events in Austin. 

Dr Fletcher participated in a roundtable on the 500th Anniversary of the Venice Ghetto hosted by UT Austin's Institute for Historical Studies and delivered a talk and book signing at legendary Austin book store, Book People.

Texas Research Excellence Showcase

Timed to coincide with what would have been the 100th Birthday of Swansea-born poet Dylan Thomas, Swansea University held a showcase of its research excellence at a series of events in Texas.

The showcase, which featured lectures from 20 of the University's internationally recognised researchers, was held in partnership with three of the University's Texas partner Universities, the University of Houston, Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin.

To see the event programme and speaker profiles download the Texas Showcase Brochure.

A Critical Appraisal of Fracking

As part of the Texas Strategic Partnership's commitment to knowledge transfer, Texas experts were amongst the speakers invited to deliver a seminar, " A Critical Appraisal of Fracking" to an audience of AMs and advisors at the National Assembly for Wales.

Speakers included Prof Andrew Barron, Director of Swansea University’s Energy Safety Research Institute, and Charles W. Duncan, Jr. - Welch Chair of Chemistry and Professor of Materials Science at Rice University in Texas, and Dr Ramanan Krishnamoorti, Chief Energy Officer from the University of Houston.

University of Houston Swansea Showcase

A delegation of academics from the University of Houston visited Swansea to discuss collaborations in teaching, research and student and staff mobility, as well as deliver a programme of guest lectures on a range of topics.

Academics from the Graduate College of Social Work, College of Engineering, College of Optometry, and Department of Hispanic Studies delivered lectures on topics including Treating Depression through Acupuncture, Smart Materials and Applications in Aerospace and the Needs of Immigrant Children in the Child Welfare System.

Study Abroad and Recruitment Fairs

Swansea University representatives attend Leaning Abroad fairs at the University of Houston and University of Texas Austin.

If you would like to arrange for a Swansea representative to attend your Study Abroad fair or school recruitment event in Texas, please contact Dr Caroline Coleman-Davies.