The University at the National Eisteddfod

The University's stand at the Eisteddfod

Aberystwyth University is offering a full programme of events on its stand at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, Blaenau Gwent and the Heads of the Valleys 2010.

Monday 2nd of August
11am
Dr Hywel Griffiths: Poetic Geography and Geographical Poetry
In this session the bard Dr Hywel Griffiths, who is a lecturer at the Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, will be reading and talking about some of his poems which have been inspired by the geography and landscape of Wales.

3.30pm
Aberystwyth University Challenge
Test your general knowledge! On Monday afternoon the University will hold a University Challenge. Two teams, representing students and staff, will face each other during this quiz under the watchful eye of historian and author Dr Russell Davies. 

Tuesday 3rd of August
11am
Communication in the age of digital and social media
Pop by the stall to listen to a panel of experts discussing the influence of new technology on our everyday lives. On the panel will be Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones, Director of Canolfan Mercator, Owain Schiavone, Chief Executive of Golwg 360, Gareth Morlais, BBC Cymru/Wales Online and Guto Harri, Director of Communications of the Mayor of London. The session will be chaired by Professor Aled Jones, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University and an authority on the history of the media in Britain.

2.30pm
Memory and the Media in Wales, 1950 – 2000.
Dr. Iwan Rhys Morus from the History and Welsh History Department leads the launch of this innovative research project and will be asking the public for help to understand television’s influence on the culture of, and everyday life, in Wales.

Wednesday 4th of August
9am – Midday
Who is TH?
This is a new research project lead by T. Robin Chapman from the Welsh Department and Dafydd Sills-Jones from the Theatre, Television and Film Studies Department. We are looking at the importance of T.H. Parry-Williams’ work to contemporary Wales and are looking for volunteers to help them. Call by the Univeristy’s stall if you’d like to help us by reading some of his work.

2-4pm
Reception for Aberystwyth University Alumni
Hosted jointly by the Old Students’ Association and the University this is a great opportunity for everyone who’s ever studied at Aberystwyth University to get together on the Eisteddfod field. 

The guest speaker this year will be Jonathan Edwards, the new Member of Parliament for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, who graduated in History and Politics at Aberystwyth before going on to complete a Masters degree in International History. Jonathan will be presented by Eurwen Richards, Vice-President of the Old Students Association. Light refreshments will be provided and it will be a chance to reminisce with old friends.  All welcome!

Thursday 5th of August
11am
Award Ceremony
On Thursday morning the winner of Translator’s House Wales / Oxfam Cymru Translation Challenge will be announced in the company of Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones AM.

1pm
UMCA (Welsh Students’ Union) Quiz
Come and take part in a lighthearted quiz arranged by UMCA President Rhiannon Wade. All are welcome, and there will be prizes for the winning team!

2 - 5pm
Who is TH?
Another chance to take part in this innovative project lead by Dafydd Sills-Jones from the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies and T. Robin Chapman from the University’s Welsh Department.

Friday 6th of August
10.45am
Announment of Bike Competition Winner
Remember to call by the stall today if you have taken part in the bike competition to see if you are the lucky winner!

11am – 1pm
Welsh Politics’ Next Earthquake?
It’s a very exciting time for Welsh politics. Only a few months have passed since the 2010 General Election, when Labour won the least proportion of the votes since 1918, less than Scotland for the first time ever, but still manage to dominate Wales’ political map at Westminster. The Assembly’s next elections are on their way, and two referendums on the horizon. Is this enough to shake the foundations of Welsh politics and change the political landscape in a way that’s never been seen before? 

During this meeting we will be discussing the implications of these events in the company of some of Wales’ most prolific political commentators - Vaughan Roderick (BBC Welsh Affairs correspondent), Daran Hill (Managing Director at Positif Politics), and Arwyn Jones (BBC Cymru’s Parliamentary Editor). Dr Elin Royles from the Institute of Welsh Politics will chair the meeting and light refreshments will follow. All welcome.

2 – 4pm
Midsummer Reunion
If you are a current student at Aberystwyth Univeristy pop by the stall on Friday afternoon to meet friends on the Eisteddfod field! The band ‘Candelas’ will be performing as well as dancers and singers from UMCA, the Welsh Students’ Union. Prospective students are also welcome to come and meet current students and staff to ask anything you might want to know before arriving at the University in October! We will also be announcing the names of the Welsh Medium Mathematics and Physics Bursary winners. Light refreshments will be provided.

4pm
Moot
In a nightclub in Aberystwyth, a woman was injured. Heulwen Rhiannon Williams was bought before the court as a defendant. Will the court grant her bail? Students from the University’s Law and Criminology Department will be prosecuting and defending the case. 

Alumni and the Old Students’ Association
Representatives from the OSA will be present at the stall offering a warm welcome to all and a chance to join the association if you haven’t done so already. On Wednesday the University and OSA hold a joint reception with refreshments for all Aber alumni, so come along to meet old friends, reminisce about Aber and hear what’s happening there now!

Win a mountain bike
To celebrate the fact that Aberystwyth University is on the list of official training campus for the London Olympic Games 2012, we are holding a competition during the week of the Eisteddfod. The prize for the winner is a Trek 3700 mountain bike, all you need to do is visit our stall and answer a simple question. The winner will be announced at 10.45am on Friday.

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