Aberystwyth University academic wins Gwerddon prize

Dr Lowri Cunnington Wynn from the Department of Law and Criminology at Aberystwyth University receiving the Gwerddon prize

Dr Lowri Cunnington Wynn from the Department of Law and Criminology at Aberystwyth University is the winner of this year’s Gwerddon prize.

Gwerddon is the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol’s Welsh-medium academic journal which publishes original doctoral research across a wide range of disciplines.

Lowri’s article, “’Beth yw’r ots gennyf i am Gymru?’ (What do I care for Wales): The out-migration and aspirations of young people from the Welsh speaking heartlands’, came out on top this year. It discusses the out-migration of young people from the Welsh-speaking heartlands in terms of aspirations and hopes for the future.

The Gwerddon prize is awarded every two years to the author of the best article published in Gwerddon over the last two years.

Lowri receives a trophy and a prize of £100 donated by the Learned Society of Wales.

The award was presented during the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol’s reception at the National Eisteddfod on Wednesday 7 August.

Dr Lowri Cunnington Wynn, a Welsh-medium lecturer in Criminology at Aberystwyth University, said: “It gave me great pleasure to receive the Gwerddon prize this year. The response to the article has been enthusiastic and supportive, with a great reaction from members of the public that can identify with the subject. In addition, as the subject is timely and important, the article has attracted attention from scholars and the media, which has been a huge personal boost.

“Publishing in Gwerddon has given me confidence as an academic and the editorial team have been extremely supportive. I hope to build on this success and I would like to thank everyone at Gwerddon for this wonderful opportunity.”

Dr Anwen Jones, editor of Gwerddon and Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Aberystwyth University, said: “On behalf of the Editorial Boad, Dr Hywel Griffiths and I are delighted to award the Gwerddon prize to a bright young lecturer and early career researcher who has appealed to a wide range of Gwerddon readers with an academic article so timely and relevant to the present and future of Wales in the 21st Century.

“The competition was exciting and we received many nominations for articles across a wide range of fields but, after much consideration, Lowri’s contribution undoubtedly made an impact.”

Dr Jones added: “Gwerddon takes pride in encouraging scholarly publications from contributors at all stages of their careers across Wales and beyond, but we are particularly pleased with this opportunity, with generous support from the Learned Society of Wales, to reward and celebrate the achievement of an early career researcher like Lowri. Congratulations to her and all the best for the future.”

The Gwerddon Editorial Board includes two Aberystwyth University members of staff, the editor, Dr Anwen Jones Pro Vice-Chancellor: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the vice editor, Dr Hywel Griffiths from the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences.

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