Bringing Bangor’s buzz to the Bay

Again this year, staff from Bangor University are contributing their expertise to a number of  core and fringe events at this year’s National Eisteddfod, which is being held in Cardiff between 30-11 August.

The Sciences

Emeritus Professor Deri Tomos, winner of the 2017 Anglesey Eisteddfod  Science and Technology Medal opens the Science and Technology Village on Saturday, and Dr Dei Huws of the School of Ocean Sciences will present ‘Marine scientists: Wales and the world needs you more than ever!’, the Eisteddfod’s  keynote Science Lecture, which takes place as 2.30 Thursday 9 August at the Societies Pavilion (Senedd Building). Throughout the week, University staff will also be presenting a daily ‘Sioe Wyddoniaeth Wych!’ (Wonderful Science Show) at the Science and Technology Village.

Using Welsh

The use of Welsh in our daily lives is a topic of annual discussion and debate at the Eisteddfod and this year is no exception. The focus this year includes the use of Welsh in technology. Delyth Prys and Indeg Williams of the Language Technology Unit at Canolfan Bedwyr are participating in a number of discussions on the topic including one discussion hosted by Jill Evans MEP “Ieithoedd Ewrop yn yr Oes Ddigidol (European languages in the Digital Age) at 10.00 on Monday in the Societies Pavilion. Delyth and Indeg are also contributing to a session ‘Panel Comisiynydd Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol ar Dechnoleg a’r Gymraeg’ (Future Generations Commission Panel on Technology and Welsh) at 6.00pm on Thirsday. On a more personal note, Delyth Prys is in conversation with Angharad Tomos, discussing ‘Brwydr y Beasleys ac Ymgyrch Dros y Gymraeg’ (The Beasleys’ battle and the Campaign for Welsh), ( Delyth’s parents campaigned to receive their tax bil in Welsh  during the 50’s and received a bilingual bill in 1960).

On Wednesday, Dr Catrin Hedd Jones from the School of Healthcare Sciences will be discussing the importance of Welsh in social care in an event organised by Social Care Wales, between 1-300 at Life Sciences Hub, Cardiff Bay.

The Arts

Dr Manon Williams, Drama Lecturer at the School of Welsh chairs, Wastad ar y Tu Fas, part of the Mas ar y Maes activities around the LGBT community in Wales at 2.00on Tuesday. Manon is also at Theatr y Maes on Thursday for a discussion session following a reading of a stage version by Theatr Genedlaethaol Cymru of the film, Nel.

On Wednesday at 11.00 on Bangor University’s stand, Learn Welsh north west, along with the National Centre for Learning Welsh are launching ‘Chwedlau ar Lafar’ (oral folk tales), a digital resource for parents learning Welsh. The pack presents learners with three folk tales, one from the south, one from mid Wales and one from the north, along with a glimpse at regional dialect and some regional history of those areas.

Also on Wednesday, (3pm  in the Sinemaes) there will be a showing of films by School of Music and Media students, who are following  Welsh medium courses via  the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

There will be a pre-launch event to celebrate the ‘Cydymaith i Gerddoriaeth Cymru’ (Companion to Welsh Music) which is edited by Wyn Thomas and Prof Pwyll ap Siôn of the School of Music and Media, Bangor University, with piano performances by Chris Williams. This takes place at the Ty Cerdd, Millenium Centre on Thusrday at 2.00.  The Cydymaith is to be published in September, with a formal launch at Bangor University on 27 September.

On Friday Prof Jerry Hunter of the School of Welsh, joins Myrddin ap Dafydd to interview Emyr Lewis about his new volume, Twt lol!, in the Author of the Day session at 1.30pm  in the Literature Pavilion. 

Also, some of the University’s poets, Dr Llion Jones and Ifan Prys of Canolfan Bedwyr, will be representing the Caernarfon team in the final round of the popular poetry competing Talwrn y Beirdd on Saturday 4 August.

Publication date: 3 August 2018