#swanseauniversity — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #swanseauniversity, aggregated by home.social.
-
Swansea’s new Y Storfa hub draws praise as visitors embrace city centre one‑stop shop
The building, which opened on December 1 in the former BHS store on Oxford Street, has been “busy every day”, according to Swansea Council. The authority says visitors have praised its central location, bright design and the convenience of having multiple services under one roof.
Council leader Rob Stewart said the reaction had exceeded expectations.
Cllr Stewart said:
Members of the Mentro Allan social group say Y Storfa’s welcoming staff and central location make it an ideal meeting place.“We’re delighted that public and staff feedback from the early weeks at Y Storfa has been so positive. Public comments continue to be fantastic; our staff and partners love working here. It’s proving to be a real success.”
(Image: Swansea Council)Community groups using the space say it has already become a valued meeting point.
Jean Blair, from social group Mentro Allan, said:
“We really enjoy meeting here. Y Storfa has welcoming staff, plenty of comfortable space and is in a central location.”
The South Wales Miners’ Library, now based inside the hub, says the move has made it far easier for people to drop in.
Sian Williams, head of cultural collections at Swansea University, said:
“We’re much more accessible here and are delighted with the number of people who’ve called in and continue to do so. We’re open to everybody and it’s great to welcome a range of visitors.”
The council’s lifelong learning team says demand has surged since relocating.
Swansea University’s Sian Williams says the South Wales Miners’ Library is now “much more accessible” since relocating to Y Storfa.
(Image: Swansea Council)Judith Porch from Swansea Council’s lifelong learning team says Y Storfa is helping connect people by bringing multiple services together in one place.
(Image: Swansea Council)Service co‑ordinator Judith Porch said:
“With so many services being in one space, Y Storfa is connecting people. It’s great for supporting our learners — you can see how people are enjoying the experience. We’ve seen huge interest in our lifelong learning classes; our IT classes are now completely full.”
Frontline staff say the hub is already improving how residents access help.
Senior revenues and benefits officer Andrea Jones says Y Storfa is making it easier for residents to access several services in a single visit.
(Image: Swansea Council)Senior revenues and benefits officer Andrea Jones said:
“Y Storfa has made it easy for customers to access many services in one place. I had a customer who came in for a query about benefits who was then able to go straight to housing options. It makes it much more convenient being in the same location.”
The council says the numbers back up the positive feedback. December saw more than 670 new central library members — more than triple the usual monthly average — and children’s library loans have risen. The South Wales Miners’ Library, Citizens Advice, West Glamorgan Archive Service and Careers Wales all report increased footfall.
Visitors browse bilingual library sections at Y Storfa, where history and arts collections are now housed in the city centre hub.
(Image: Swansea Council)Cllr Stewart says the hub is already playing a role in boosting the wider city centre.
He said:
Staff at Y Storfa’s circular reception desk assist visitors with council services, library access and lifelong learning enquiries.“Thousands of people have already enjoyed what Y Storfa has to offer. They like its accessible and compelling mix of essential services. There’s been a significant uplift in visitors compared to previous locations used by the services based there.”
(Image: Swansea Council)Y Storfa forms part of Swansea Council’s £1bn regeneration programme and was delivered with support from the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns fund. The council says its location — close to car parks, bus routes and the newly reopened Park Street East car park — is helping draw people back into the city centre.
Related stories
Thousands flock to new city centre hub as Y Storfa officially opens
Opening day crowds welcomed Swansea’s new one‑stop public services hub.Y Storfa opens in Swansea city centre as council services move from Civic
Major relocation brings key services together under one roof.Opinion: Torsten Bell MP on Swansea’s Pride in Place funding
How investment could reshape the future of the city centre.Swansea safety firm proud to support city regeneration
Local business backs major redevelopment projects across Swansea.Public invited to give views on new Civic Centre plans
Fresh images reveal the next stage of Swansea’s waterfront transformation.New artist’s impression shows dramatic Civic Centre transformation
#BHS #CareersWales #CentralLibrary #CitizensAdvice #Library #lifelongLearning #MentroAllan #OxfordStreet #PrincessWay #RevenuesAndBenefits #SouthWalesMinersLibrary #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaUniversity #WestGlamorganArchiveService #YStorfa
Ambitious redevelopment plans unveiled for the seafront site. -
‘Missing piece of the puzzle’: Roman villa uncovered in Margam in one of Wales’ most significant archaeological finds
The find, revealed through high‑resolution geophysical surveys, is being hailed as one of the most important archaeological breakthroughs in South Wales for decades. Researchers say the scale and preservation of the villa complex is unmatched anywhere else in the region.
The discovery was made by ArchaeoMargam, a major heritage project led by Swansea University’s Centre for Heritage Research and Training (CHART), working with Neath Port Talbot Council and Margam Abbey Church.
A close‑up of Dr Alex Langlands holding a geophysical survey map during the ArchaeoMargam project at Margam. (Image: Swansea University)‘We never dreamed it would be this clear’
Project lead Dr Alex Langlands said the team expected to find traces of Roman‑era activity — but nothing on this scale.
Dr Langlands said:
“This is an amazing discovery. We always thought we’d find something from the Romano‑British period, but we never dreamed it would be so clearly articulated. This is the missing piece of the puzzle.”
Margam is already known for its Bronze Age, Iron Age and medieval heritage, but almost nothing was known about the Roman period in the area. The villa now fills a major gap in the historical record.
A vast defended site hidden beneath Margam
Surveys carried out by Llandough‑based specialists Terradat revealed a large villa set within a defended enclosure measuring roughly 43m by 55m. The enclosure may date back to the Iron Age or reflect instability in the late Roman world.
To the south‑east, researchers also identified a substantial aisled building — possibly a large agricultural store or even a meeting hall for post‑Roman leaders.
Christian Bird, Technical Director at Terradat, said:
Aerial view of the historic Margam estate, where researchers have uncovered evidence of a Roman villa complex. (Image: Swansea University) Geophysical survey image revealing the footprint of a Roman villa complex at Margam, uncovered during the ArchaeoMargam project. (Image: Swansea University)“The magnetometry and GPR data are remarkably clear. We’ve been able to map the villa, surrounding ditches and wider layout in 3D.”
A discovery with national significance
Neath Port Talbot Council says the find underlines the importance of investing in local heritage.
Cllr Cen Phillips, Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism and Wellbeing, said:
“This spectacular find shows exactly why we created our Heritage, Culture, Tourism and Events Fund. Heritage connects our communities and inspires future generations. I’m extremely excited to learn more about this untold chapter in Margam Park’s long story.”
Swansea University says the project is already delivering cultural and educational benefits across the region, with more than 900 people — including school pupils, volunteers and students — taking part in excavations and workshops.
Professor Helen Griffiths, Pro‑Vice‑Chancellor for Research and Innovation, said:
Members of the ArchaeoMargam team reviewing survey data on site at Margam. (Image: Swansea University)Members of the Terradat geophysics team discussing survey findings in front of their equipment at Margam. (Image: Hazel Langlands)Another aerial perspective of the Margam estate, highlighting the landscape surrounding the newly identified Roman villa site. (Image: Swansea University)“ArchaeoMargam strengthens skills, social cohesion and community involvement. We’re delighted to work with partners to bring groundbreaking research to the public.”
‘A real‑life adventure’ for young archaeologists
Local pupils and young volunteers have also been hands‑on with the dig.
Harriet Eaton, NPT Council Education Officer and Young Archaeologist Club leader, said:
“This opportunity turned history into a real‑life adventure. It made archaeology tangible and fun.”
Margam Abbey Church — the only surviving nave of a Cistercian Abbey still in use today — has been central to the project.
Church warden Beverley Gulley said:
“This is a deeply spiritual landscape. We’re keen to learn more about it in partnership with people across the region.”
Public invited to learn more
The ArchaeoMargam team will share new findings — including updates on the Roman villa — at a free open day at Margam Abbey Church later this month.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Swansea waterways revival takes step forward with new feasibility study
A major project explores how to restore and reconnect the city’s historic waterways.Neath college students help restore Craig Gwladus’ historic smithy
Young people play a hands‑on role in bringing a key heritage site back to life.Penderyn Distillery handed keys to new Morfa Copperworks site in Swansea
A landmark regeneration project moves forward as the historic site enters a new chapter.Time to celebrate as new clock looks to the future
A modern installation marks a fresh moment for a much‑loved Swansea landmark.More acclaim for Copperopolis involving communities in Swansea’s history
#archaeology #ArchaeoMargam #CentreForHeritageResearchAndTraining #CistercianAbbey #DrAlexLanglands #geophysicalSurvey #heritage #history #Margam #MargamAbbeyChurch #MargamCountryPark #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #RomanVilla #SwanseaUniversity #Terradat
A celebrated heritage project continues to shine a light on Swansea’s industrial past. -
From Countdown to Cap & Gown: Carol Vorderman gets Swansea honour
The former Countdown co‑host, who became a household name after answering a newspaper advert for “a woman with good mathematical skills” back in 1982, received the Doctor of Science degree during the University’s winter graduation ceremonies at the Bay Campus.
From poverty to Cambridge
Born in 1960 and raised in a single‑parent family in north Wales, Carol overcame hardship to win a place at Cambridge at just 17, studying engineering. Her early career included work at Dinorwig Power Station in Llanberis before moving into management training in Leeds.
Her big break came on Channel 4’s Countdown, where she dazzled audiences with her quick‑fire maths skills for more than 25 years. In 2000 she was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Carol Vorderman addresses graduates at Swansea University’s Bay Campus after receiving her honorary doctorate.
(Image: Swansea University)Carol Vorderman celebrates her honorary degree from Swansea University, recognising her work in broadcasting and STEM education.
(Image: Swansea University)Championing maths education
Beyond television, Carol has been a tireless advocate for maths education. She chaired a government taskforce to improve numeracy in schools, and founded themathsfactor.com, which helped half a million primary pupils during the Covid pandemic.
Her links with Swansea are strong. In 2021 she delivered an International Women’s Day lecture at the University’s Computational Foundry, inspiring students and staff alike. That visit led to the creation of the Carol Vorderman Maths Access Bursary, worth £2,000 per student. To date, 27 undergraduates in mathematics and actuarial science have benefitted.
Giving back
Carol is also a committed fundraiser, serving as patron of the Cleft Lip and Palate Association and raising money for prostate cancer and Marie Curie Cancer Care.
“A privilege to be honoured”
Speaking after receiving her award, Carol said:
“It’s a privilege to be honoured by Swansea University. Our connection goes back many years, united by a passion for encouraging numeracy and mathematics in young people. It has brought me great joy to support mathematics students at Swansea through giving bursaries. I find our younger generation inspirational: bright, hardworking, talented, curious, creative, tolerant, and kind.”
Related stories: Swansea University honours
Carol Vorderman launches maths bursaries
Nine £2,000 bursaries offered to Swansea University maths students.Lee Trundle awarded honorary degree
Swansea City legend recognised for his contribution to sport and the community.Siwan Lillicrap honoured
Former Wales Women’s rugby captain receives honorary degree for her outstanding contribution to Welsh rugby.Mike Ruddock recognised
Distinguished rugby coach awarded honorary degree for his service to the game in Wales.George North & Becky James honoured
Rugby star and Olympic cycling medallist both awarded honorary degrees for sporting achievements.#CarolVorderman #Countdown #honoraryDoctorate #maths #numeracy #SwanseaUniversity
-
Teen who fled Ukraine war now studying space technology https://www.byteseu.com/1547335/ #CISM #Conflicts #HotelRoom #Kateryna #SolarPanels #SwanseaUniversity #Ukraine #WarInUkraine
-
In Wales, Yasmin Zaher Wins the £20,000 Dylan Thomas Prize
The Paris-based Palestinian journalist Yasmin Zaher wins the 2025 Dylan Thomas for her debut publication, 'The Coin.'…
https://publishingperspectives.com/2025/05/in-wales-yasmin-zaher-wins-the-20000-dylan-thomas-prize/#BookPrize #DylanThomasPrize #ShortStories #SwanseaUniversity #UnitedKingdom
@indieauthors -
Wales’ Dylan Thomas Prize Names Its 2025 Shortlist
The six-title longlist for the 2025 Dylan Thomas Prize is to be followed by an announcement of this year's winner on May 15.
The post Wales’ Dylan Thomas Prize Names Its 2025 Shortlist appeared first on Publishing Perspectives.
https://publishingperspectives.com/2025/03/wales-dylan-thomas-prize-names-its-2025-shortlist/#BookPrize #DylanThomasPrize #ShortStories #SwanseaUniversity #UnitedKingdom
@indieauthors -
Could AI fix the country’s pothole problem?
Self-healing asphalt roads, made from biomass waste and designed with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), could offer a promising solution to the UK’s pothole problem, which is estimated to cost £143.5 million a year.
Researchers from Swansea University and King’s College London, in collaboration with scientists in Chile, have developed a new type of asphalt that can repair its own cracks over time, eliminating the need for manual road maintenance – offering a promising solution to the UK’s pothole problem.
This research has been accelerated by AI and machine learning with support from Google Cloud. This work has been used to discover chemical properties and eventually create virtual molecules to serve a specific purpose, as with drug discovery.
While still under development, researchers say self-healing asphalt holds immense promise for improving infrastructure and promoting sustainability worldwide. Researchers say this innovation aligns with the UK government’s net-zero emissions goals and addresses the significant financial burden of road maintenance.
Potholes and cracks form when bitumen—the sticky black material in the asphalt mixture—hardens through oxidisation, but the exact processes behind this are not entirely known.
AdvertisementThe team has found a way to reverse cracking and develop methods to “stitch” asphalt back together, creating more durable and sustainable roads.
During the research, a type of AI known as machine learning was used to study organic molecules in complex fluids like bitumen. The team developed a new data-driven model to accelerate atomistic simulations, advancing research into bitumen oxidation and crack formation. They are also collaborating with Google Cloud to simulate the behaviour of the bitumen on a computer.
To make the asphalt “self-healing”, the team incorporated tiny, porous materials known as spores, which are smaller than a strand of hair and produced by plants. These spores are filled with recycled oils, which are released when the asphalt begins to crack, helping to reverse the process.
In laboratory experiments, this advanced asphalt material was shown to completely heal a microcrack on its surface in less than an hour.
Dr Jose Norambuena-Contreras, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering at Swansea University and an expert in self-healing asphalt, said: “As part of our interdisciplinary study, we have brought together experts in civil engineering, chemistry, and computer science, combining this knowledge with the state-of-the-art AI tools of Google Cloud.
Advertisement“We are proud to be advancing the development of self-healing asphalt using biomass waste and artificial intelligence. This approach positions our research at the forefront of sustainable infrastructure innovation, contributing to the development of net-zero roads with enhanced durability.”
A substantial portion of carbon emissions from roads is linked to asphalt production. As the highway sector increasingly prioritises carbon reduction to support the UK Government’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, advancing innovative bituminous materials for asphalt roads has become a key research priority.
Dr Norambuena-Contreras said: “To transition to more sustainable net-zero asphalt roads, the UK Government and private sector must invest in initiatives that drive innovation. Achieving this vision by 2050 will only be possible through the united efforts of academia, government, and industry.”
While still in development, the team’s research has enormous potential to improve infrastructure and advance sustainability around the world.
Dr Francisco Martin-Martinez, an expert in computational chemistry at King’s College London, said: “In our research, we want to mimic the healing properties observed in nature. For example, when a tree or animal is cut, their wounds naturally heal over time, using their own biology. Creating asphalt that can heal itself will increase the durability of roads and reduce the need for people to fill in potholes.
Advertisement“We are also using sustainable materials in our new asphalt, including biomass waste. This will reduce our dependence on petroleum and natural resources. Biomass waste is available locally and everywhere, and it is cheap. Producing infrastructure materials from local resources like waste reduces the dependence on petroleum availability, which helps those areas of the world that have limited access to petroleum-based asphalt.”
Iain Burgess, UKI Public Sector Leader at Google Cloud, added: “We first worked with Dr Francisco Martin-Martinez when he joined the Google Cloud Research Innovators Programme in 2022, providing him access to Google experts, technical resources and training to support his research. Now, it is inspiring to see how teams at Swansea and King’s College London are unlocking the power of cloud-based and AI tools, including Gemini and Vertex AI, to drive more efficient processes and discover chemical properties.”
(Lead image: Swansea University)
#AI #artificialIntelligence #potholes #research #SwanseaUniversity
-
New #openaccess publication #SciPost #Physics
Topological data analysis of monopole current networks in U(1) lattice gauge theory
Xavier Crean, Jeffrey Giansiracusa, Biagio Lucini
SciPost Phys. 17, 100 (2024)
https://scipost.org/SciPostPhys.17.4.100 -
New #openaccess publication #SciPost #Physics
Integrable deformations from twistor space
Lewis T. Cole, Ryan A. Cullinan, Ben Hoare, Joaquin Liniado, Daniel C. Thompson
SciPost Phys. 17, 008 (2024)
https://scipost.org/SciPostPhys.17.1.008#SwanseaUniversity #DurhamUniversity #CONICET #UNLP #VUB
#UKRI -
Climate crisis: Coca-Cola trial to make bottle tops from CO2 emissions
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67060151
#ClimateCrisis #CocaCola #Emissions #FossilFuel #SingleUsePlastic #CircularEconomy #NetZero #CarbonFootprint #SwanseaUniversity #Wales
-
New #openaccess publication #SciPost #Physics
Matrix models and holography: Mass deformations of long quiver theories in 5d and 3d
Mohammad Akhond, Andrea Legramandi, Carlos Nunez, Leonardo Santilli, Lucas Schepers
SciPost Phys. 15, 086 (2023)
https://scipost.org/SciPostPhys.15.3.086#KyotoUniversity
#SwanseaUniversity
#BEC
#THU
@ERC
#RoyalSociety
#STFC -
date: 2023-04-17 14:50:38
by: AICareer (🚀Jobs-Internships-Scholarships)Physics: Fully Funded STFC PhD Scholarship: Particle Physics and Cosmology Theory
at Swansea University
Check the details here: https://t.co/GvITbiBaSk
#phd #phdposition #phdscholarship #swanseauniversity #particlephysics #cosmology #machinelearning #ai #artificialintelliegence🐦🔗: https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/1647975864318017537
#PhdPosition -
Ooh I’ve just had an email inviting me to interview for the #SwanseaUniversity doctoral training programme in #criminology! Apparently my application was “highly impressive” 🥰 It’s a week today. One step closer to my goal! #phd #AcademicChatter
-
Next stop for our coach is #SwanseaUniversity Bay Campus. This is of interest to me as I’m based at the other campus and have never seen this one! I think it’s more modern
-
There’s a #TransDayOfRemembrance vigil at my university tomorrow lunchtime and I’d really like to go but I somehow doubt I’ll be able to get away from the training I’m delivering in the morning in time - it takes me about half an hour to get from where I’m based to campus. I’m glad that #SwanseaUniversity is marking the occasion though #TransAlly #BWithTheT
-
This view from my office (from c. 3.30 today) is what I now refer to as the joy of being head of department. #swansea #SwanseaUniversity #autumn
-
Social media sites are still not doing enough to tackle self-harm content being pushed to users on their sites, says #Samaritans.
The warning comes as new research from the charity and #SwanseaUniversity found 83 per cent of social media users surveyed were recommended self-harm content on their personalised feeds, such as Instagram’s ‘explore’ and TikTok’s ‘for you’ pages, without searching for it.
https://swanseabaynews.com/2022/11/15/samaritans-and-university-report-reveals-dangers-of-social-medias-self-harm-content/ #SelfHarm #SocialMedia #Instagram #TikTok #Research #Swansea