Welcome to the Summer Issue of News Bites from the College of Science where you can find out some of the latest news and events. For more information about the College of Science visit www.swan.ac.uk/science

STUDENT ACTIVITIES / STUDENTS IN THE NEWS

Swansea physics students experience CERN

Student success for Robyn Lock and Olivia Fox

Antimatter matters!

Earlier this year, forty Swansea physics students, visited the world renowned CERN facilities in Geneva, where discoveries such as the Higgs Boson particle have been made. 

The whole trip was organised through the physics society with the assistance of members of the physics staff.

The visit included a tour, of the ALPHA experiment where Swansea staff and alumni work year round. ALPHA is an international collaboration based at CERN whose aim is stable trapping of antihydrogen atoms, the antimatter counterpart of the simplest atom, hydrogen.

Best friends Robyn Lock and Olivia Fox graduated together this summer after they both battled the same illness while studying for their degrees. They began their Marine Biology degrees in 2012 and immediately became best friends and were always very keen to learn.

During the course of their studies, both Robyn and Olivia were diagnosed with similar rare forms of cancer at different times, causing both of them to have to suspend their studies while they undertook treatment.

Their strength and dedication has been remarkable. Their treatment was quite harrowing, causing them both to lose all of their hair and feel quite unwell. Despite this they were committed to their studies, they returned to complete their third year and have both just graduated with a high 2:1 and exactly the same overall mark. Congratulations to them both!

Final year PhD physics student Steven Armstrong Jones and Post Doctoral Research Assistant Dan Maxwell took part in the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition ‘Antimatter Matters’. 

The exhibition looks at science’s biggest questions - why we live in a Universe made of matter, rather than a Universe with no matter at all?

The behaviour of antimatter, a rare oppositely charged counterpart to normal matter, is thought to be key to understanding this question – but the nature of antimatter is a mystery. Scientists use data from the ALPHA and LHCb experiment at CERN to study antiparticles and antiatoms in order to learn more about it.

Quantum Advisory Prize for the most original contribution to Mathematics

Alissa Alicherova Kamilova, originally from Bulgaria but more recently living in Mexico, is the first recipient of the ‘Quantum Advisory Prize for the most original contribution to Mathematics’ of £1000 donated by Quantum Advisory, Cardiff, the Actuaries and Employee Benefit Consultants. Congratulations Alissa!

Geography students visit Vancouver

The Physics Society wins award

Second-year field courses in Geography again included Vancouver as a destination in March and early April, this year with more students than ever.  48 students studied aspects of the physical and human geography of Vancouver and south-west British Columbia, accompanied by Kevin Rees, Geraint Owen, Kath Ficken, Suzanne Bevan and Hilary Carberry, with support in Canada from the Geological Survey of Canada, local film studios and tourist attractions, and geographers from University of British Columbia.

At the Annual Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) Awards dinner, the Physics society won an award for its partnership with the Physics Department in organising a Physics employability afternoon.  The PhySoc organisation and advertising of the event made it one of the most successful Physics-focussed employability events to-date, with the attendance of over 100 students.

The PhySoc has also been recognised at the Annual Student Union Awards where the award of ‘highly commended’ in relation to most improved society was given.

Pollination expert invited to workshop

Adam Powell wins subject rep of the year!

Biosciences graduate has paper published

Biosciences PhD student Andrew Lucas was invited as one of a limited number of pollination experts to a elicitation workshop. The workshop was covered by the local midlands BBC news but has also been featured in the BBC radio 4 farming Today programme.

Adam, a 2nd year physics student, has been praised for his work as a student representative.  Whilst juggling this role, Adam has also been President of PhySoc and also continues in that role next year with a new and committed team. Well done Adam!

Chris Dowle, our recent Biosciences undergraduate student has had his third year literature review accepted for publication in Bioscience Horizons, a journal run by Oxford University Press. Many congratulations Chris!

Success for final year physics student!

Congratulations to final year BSc student Sri Potturi who has succeeded in gaining both gold and platinum awards in the Swansea Employability HEAR Scheme. Well done Sri!

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

Teachers get hands-on with new BBC micro:bit at Technocamps workshop

Super Science Sunday success!

GEOFEST 2016

Up to one million BBC micro:bits have been delivered free to every year 7 student in England and Wales. The device, which is part of the BBC’s Make It Digital project, was showcased at a launch event at Swansea University through its Technocamps project.

Teachers from across South Wales were given an insight into how the handheld computer can be introduced into the classroom to provide Year 7 pupils with a tangible, engaging and enjoyable experience to begin their coding journey.

The BBC micro:bit is a pocket-sized codeable computer that allows young people to get creative with technology, whatever their level of experience, and aims to help develop a new generation of digital pioneers. 

The College of Science took its research out into the community to engage in science activities with families as part of its Super Science Sunday event for British Science Week.  A range of fun activities were on offer at the National Waterfront Museum, including animal adaptations, mighty mussels experiment, robotics and marine biology.

Primary school pupils from across Swansea were also treated to a tour of the University research vessel, the RV Noctiluca, where they got to explore the variety of beasties that live in the waters around Swansea Bay.

Geofest 2016 was a 2-week festival of walks and talks in late May and early June, held in the Fforest Fawr Geopark, a member of the recently designated UNESCO Global Geopark network.

Geraint Owen (Geography) led two guided walks, exploring limestone landscapes near Ystradfellte and the legacy of limestone quarrying in the Black Mountain, and gave a talk at the Brynaman Black Mountain Centre entitled ‘Rock of Ages: geology and landscape in the Fforest Fawr Geopark.’

The events were well attended by young and old, locals and visitors, and the walks in particular benefited from glorious weather.

Students celebrate women in Mathematics

College of Science hosts Geographical Association events

The Further Maths Support Programme Wales and the College of Science held an exciting conference on 15th March 2016 at Swansea University entitled ‘Celebrating Women in Mathematics’.

The event, organised as part of the British Science Week, was dedicated to celebrating women who have made significant contributions to Maths, Science and Engineering.

The conference showed both contemporary and historic examples of women who have made great progress in what is sometimes seen as a field dominated by men.

The College has recently hosted several events of the Swansea and District Geographical Association, part of a national organisation of geography teachers.

In December Geraint Owen (Geography) gave a talk at the university for GCSE and A level pupils on society’s response to living with natural hazards.  In April the annual Worldwise Quiz was held in the Wallace Building and won by Maesydderwen School, who now proceed to a national competition.

In May about 15 teachers attended a CPD event for training in online mapping resources suitable for a range of key stages, delivered by a representative from Ordnance Survey.  Finally, in early June, WJEC subject representative Nicky King held a networking and resource-sharing afternoon event focussed around changes to the WJEC curriculum which was attended by 12 teachers, several of whom are themselves Swansea Geography graduates.

Technoteach: Computer Science teachers rewarded for their success

Rhian Meara at the Eisteddfod

Students attend a pre-CERN workshop at Swansea

Thirteen teachers from across South Wales have become the first cohort of learners to successfully achieve the (QCF) Level 3 Certificate of Computing for Teachers as part of the year-long Technoteach CPD programme at Swansea University.

The training is part of the University’s successful Technocamps programme and has been funded by the National Science Academy through the Welsh Government to up-skill teachers to become confident and competent to deliver the computer science curriculum, as well as support the introduction of the Digital Competence Framework.

Dr Rhian Meara of the Department of Geography was interviewed by S4C about teaching children to sing the song “hey Mr Urdd” in British Sign Language during the Eisteddfod.

Rhian was also interviewed by Radio Cymru’s Taro’r Post show to discuss the BSL Scotland Act here (23 seconds in) alongside the Children’s Commissioner for Wales.

Dr Aled Isaac, Department of Physics, was also interviewed by S4C in the GwyddonLe. 

Pupils from Cyfarthfa High School attended the event in March in preparation for their once in a lifetime trip to CERN.

Pupils were able to take part part in lectures and hands-on demonstrations on the fundamentals of particle physics by Swansea Physics lecturers so that they could make the most of their amazing CERN experience - a once in a lifetime opportunity!

Scratching the surface at Pontarddulais

Geraint Owen (Geography) gave a talk earlier in the year at Pontarddulais Public Library on Scratching the Surface: geology and landscape in Pontarddulais.  This provided the geological background to a series of leaflets explaining and interpreting geology and landscape along short walks in rural areas of Swansea, which were the outcome of a project undertaken with Siwan Davies (Geography) and funded through City and County of Swansea’s Rural Development Business Plan, by the Welsh Assembly Government and European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. 

In early June Geraint led an enthusiastic group of Pontarddulais residents around one of the walks, looking at coal-bearing rocks and evidence of coal mining at Cefn Drum, north of Pontarddulais.  The event was successful, leading to an understanding of the geological setting of Pontarddulais within the South Wales Coalfield.  Some superb plant fossils were found amongst the waste material from the old Graig Merthyr colliery and the participants went away keen to explore more of the countryside from a geological point of view.

RESEARCH IN THE NEWS

EarthChar collaboration leads to first accredited Biochar product on UK market

Tiny microbes engineer own environment!

Ocean warming primary cause of Antarctic Peninsula glacier retreat

Researchers from Swansea University joined forces with Commons Vision Ltd to launch EarthChar, the UK’s first accredited biochar product, at the recent Low Carbon Swansea event, which was hosted by the Down to Earth Project.

Professor Alayne Street-Perrott, who is instrumental in leading Swansea University’s Biochar Research Team in the College of Science, said: “Our research, published in Nature Communications in 2010, showed that production and development of sustainable biochar could play a significant role in slowing global warming.

“Our team has worked very hard in partnership with Commons Vision to demonstrate the practical value of the approach, and we congratulate the company on this tremendous achievement.”

Coccolithophorids are minute planktonic microbes that drift with the ocean current. Though tiny, their presence back through geological time is evident the world over in the form of vast limestone deposits, including the white cliffs of Dover. New research has concluded that these tiny organisms are bioengineering their immediate environment in order to enhance their growth.

The research is published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B by a group of scientists, led by Professor Kevin Flynn from the College of Science at Swansea University, with colleagues from Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the Marine Biological Association.

A new study has found for the first time that ocean warming is the primary cause of retreat of glaciers on the Antarctic Peninsula. The Peninsula is one of the largest current contributors to sea-level rise and this new finding will enable researchers to make better predictions of ice loss from this region.

Dr Alison Cook, who led the work at Swansea University, said:  “Scientists know that ocean warming is affecting large glaciers elsewhere on the continent, but thought that atmospheric temperatures were the primary cause of all glacier changes on the Peninsula. We now know that’s not the case."

Professor Faron Moller elected Fellow of Learned Society of Wales

Professor Stefan Doerr awarded Leverhulme Research Fellowship

Professor Faron Moller, Department of Computer Science, is one of four Swansea University academics to have been elected Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales (LSW).

Election to Fellowship is a public recognition of academic excellence, and LSW Fellowship is keenly competed. Fellows are elected following a rigorous examination of their achievements in their relevant fields.  Fellows assist the Society in its work by serving on its various committees and working groups and by representing us nationally and internationally.

During this prestigious 12-month fellowship, Professor Doerr, Department of Geography, will focus on identifying and mitigating the risk of water supply contamination resulting from wildfire in the UK, North America and Australia.

Water supply reservoirs are often located in fire prone upland areas and the highly erodible ash formed during fire can be a major threat to water quality.  The recent fires around Fort McMurray in Canada, for example, are now posing a serious threat to the sole water supply of the city.

Raiding baboons find loophole in management strategy

Professor Siwan Davies presents new series on climate change

Research as Art Competition 2016

Scientists from Swansea University are part of an international team who have shown how canny baboons living on the edge of Cape Town, South Africa, are occasionally able to get around the management strategies put in place to prevent them raiding the urban environment.

The documentary Her yr Hinsawdd, by the production company Telesgop, started on S4C on Tuesday 5th July. The series follows Professor Siwan Davies's personal journey to discover what is truly happening to our planet's climate.

Two entries from Biosciences were among the winners of this year’s Research as Art competition.

'From anonymity to personality' by Gaelle Fehlmann is a composition of field drawings of baboons illustrating subtle differences between individuals. It was one of five winning entries and got the award for "Connection with the natural world”.

Ruth Callaway’s visualisation of the fauna of Swansea Bay in ‘Mondrian meets marine biodiversity' was among nine runner-up entries.

Novel disease controls in aquaculture to deliver poverty reduction

Swansea University has been successful in attracting over £2m funding, as part of a consortium of nine research institutes and universities in India, the UK and Bangladesh, to alleviate poverty within poor farming communities in Bangladesh and India by controlling disease risk in fish and crustacean aquaculture.

New research project seeks to restore river connectivity

Scientists discover reason behind extreme global carbon cycle sink event

Swansea University is leading AMBER (Adaptive Management of Barriers in European Rivers), a 6.2 million Euro multi-disciplinary research project that will deliver the first comprehensive Atlas of river barriers across Europe and will apply adaptive barrier management to reconnect Europe’s rivers.

Professor Carlos Garcia de Leaniz, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research said ‘Solutions for better barrier management are urgently required across Europe because many rivers are becoming increasingly fragmented due to water abstraction compounded by climate change.’

Dr Natascha Kljun from the College of Science is one of the co-authors of a report published on Nature.com that identifies the event that has caused a momentous change in global water and carbon cycles.

Dr Kljun explained: “In 2011, one of the most notable events occurred in global water and carbon cycles: ocean levels dropped by 5mm, reversing a long-term increasing trend, and carbon uptake by vegetation resulted in an enormous global land carbon sink."

“Working with a team from Australia (the University of Technology, Sydney and Flinders University, Adelaide) we have found how this event was driven by a rare superimposition of three ocean-atmosphere systems: the El Niño-Southern Oscillation in the tropical Pacific Ocean; the Indian Ocean dipole in the tropical Indian Ocean, and the southern annular mode in the Southern Ocean."

Misconceptions about trends and impacts of wildfire revealed in new research

New bio-control research could help regulate spread zika

Swansea glaciologists take part in Antarctic discovery

A new analysis of global data related to wildfire, published by the Royal Society, reveals major misconceptions about wildfire and its social and economic impacts.

Prof. Stefan Doerr and Dr Cristina Santin from the College of Science carried out a detailed analysis of global and regional data on fire occurrence, severity and its impacts on society. 

The researchers conclude: “The data available to date do not support a general increase in area burned or in fire severity for many regions of the world.   Indeed there is increasing evidence that there is overall less fire in the landscape today than there has been centuries ago, although the magnitude of this reduction still needs to be examined in more detail.”

New research published by College of Science academics has revealed an effective new bio-control in the form of fungal blastospores which could help to regulate the spread of a range of diseases such as yellow fever, dengue, Chikungunya and more recently, Zika by destroying the mosquitoes that transmit them.

Researchers from the Department of Biosciences, the State University of North Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, and Adnan Menderes University, Turkey have found that the blastospores of the insect pathogenic Metarhizium brunneum fungus are effective in killing Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae and could be used to control the number and spread of this type of mosquito. 

An international research team led by academics from Aberystwyth and Swansea Universities has published a significant piece of research that sheds new light on one of our greatest natural phenomena. The formation of ice shelves has often been considered to provide important evidence as to how our climate has and will develop. Until recently however it has been extremely difficult to gather valuable data due to the inhospitable landscapes of the ice shelves themselves.

The team of researchers, made up largely from the Welsh universities, organised a drilling expedition to one of the largest ice shelves in the Antarctica known as Larsen C. Working with the logistical support of the British Antarctic Survey, they were able to establish a base on the shelf and carry out the work which provides vital information on the response of ice shelves to a warming climate for current and future research.

Miserable summers linked to random shifts in atlantic storm track

Research led by College of Science academics shows that European summer temperatures can be linked to random changes in the position of the storm track crossing the Atlantic.

Whilst average European temperatures, on the whole, rise and fall in response to climatic forcing factors, such as greenhouse gases, there is another factor that impacts European summer climate strongly - the position of the Atlantic storm track, which varies randomly and could lead to a mixture of cold and wet or warm and dry summers in the future, that we simply cannot predict.

Microalgal biofilms to mitigate acid mine discharges

Steve Skill, of the Department of Biosciences, has won a nationwide competition to find a sustainable solution for acid mine pollution.

Steve has developed a scalable, low cost, passive and sustainable technology solution for acid mine pollution that employs microbial consortia as microalgal biofilms and the system can be deployed in remote mine or spoil heap locations, without requiring civil engineering constructions or utility services.

TEACHING DEVELOPMENTS

College of Science staff receive outstanding teaching award

Congratulations to Dr Geraint Owen, Department of Geography, Dr Neal Harman, Department of Computer Science, and Dr Sean Walton, also from the Department of Computer Science, who were winners of this years' Excellence in Learning and Teaching Awards.

The awards are made annually to members of staff who have made an outstanding contribution to the student learning experience.

OTHER NEWS AND EVENTS

New research centre for Biomathematics launched

Professor Marcus Doel delivers keynote lecture

Professor Tim Hollowood wins prize for best paper

Swansea University has launched its latest new research project – the Centre for Biomathematics.

The Centre, based in the College of Science, provides a cross-community, interdisciplinary focus for experts from across the College of Science and beyond with interests on the interface between mathematics and biology or medicine. Its aim is to foster collaborations which are mutually interesting, leading to new developments in both fields. 

Image: Graph of a 2D probability density function of animal locations.

Professor Marcus Doel (Human Geography) delivered a keynote lecture entitled ‘Strange Cities: For a Desiring-Revolution Whilst Stirring Still’ to the 'Spaces of Desire; Remembrance and Civic Power’ symposium hosted by the School of Geography and Planning, and the Welsh School of Architecture, at Cardiff University, 30th June to 1st July, 2016.

Each year, Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical awards a Best Paper Prize to celebrate and applaud well written papers that make a significant contribution to their field.

This year, Professor Tim Hollowood(Swansea University), J Luis Miramontes (Universidad de Santiago de Compostela) and David M Schmidtt (work completed whilst at Swansea University) have been awarded a JPhysA Best Paper Prize for their article: ‘An integrable deformation of the AdS5 × S5 superstring’.

British Science Festival 2016

In September 2016, one of the UK’s most prestigious events will be hosted by Swansea University. The British Science Festival is Europe’s longest-standing national event which connects people with scientists, engineers, technologists and social scientists. First held (as the inaugural and then annual meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science) in 1831, the Festival has been the stage for many iconic moments in history, such as the famous debate on Darwin’s controversial theory of evolution between Thomas Huxley and the Bishop of Oxford in 1860. It also saw the first use of the word ‘scientist,’ in 1834. The annual meeting has previously been held in Swansea on four occasions: 1848; 1880; 1971 and 1990, however 2016 will be the first time that Wales has held the Festival in its current format.

Mathematics at Swansea moves up the rankings!

As well as being valued within the University, the Mathematics Department’s standing in the international community has been confirmed with the recent announcement that, yet again, Mathematics has secured a 5-star rating, and top 350 ranking, in the highly selective QS World University Rankings by subject 2015.  This ranks specific subjects in Universities world-wide with an overall score based on academic reputation, employer reputation and research impact.

This achievement is recognition of the excellent international reputation of the Mathematics Department in research, and of the meticulous care that our lecturers show to students and their learning experience.

Swansea Mathematics has also been ranked in the QS Top 25 departments in the UK.

Particle physicists organise two summer conferences

Media's Mapping Impulse

Dr Alla Silkina talks at phycology workshop

This summer, members of the particle physics theory group are involved in the organisation of two major international conferences taking place in the UK.

The 34th International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2016) will commence at Southampton University on July 24 and is co-organised by Biagio Lucini (Maths) and Gert Aarts (Physics).

Immediately afterwards, the 14th International workshop on QCD in eXtreme conditions (XQCD 2016) takes place at Plymouth University. This meeting, with over 70 participants, is co-organised by Simon Hands (Physics), with Gert serving on the International Advisory Committee.

 Professors David Clarke and Marcus Doel (Human Geography) participated in the 'Media’s Mapping Impulse’ international symposium held at the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany in June. The symposium brought together 30 scholars from around the world to debate the fraught relationship between cartography, geospatial technologies, and locative media on the one hand, and new and traditional media forms such as social media, mobile apps, television, film, and music, on the other hand.

Dr Alla Silkina successfully presented a talk entitled “Novel production-process technologies for a range of high value pigments from microalgae” at the Phyconet Applied Phycology Workshop. The workshop took place in the 2016 Protistology-UK Spring Meeting between 6-8th April 2016 at Bournemouth University in Dorset.

Mathematics Scholarships available from September 2017

Dr Richard Smith invited to speak in Bogota

The Department of Mathematics plans to offer scholarships worth up to a total of £3000 for students starting their university studies in September 2017. The prizes will be awarded on the basis of a competitive two and a half hour examination to be taken during Spring 2017. If you would like to take the exam, make Swansea one of your choices on your UCAS form. Details of the scholarship exam will be announced here.

In March 2016, 32 students sat the scholarship exam for 2016/2017 entry with five offers made.

Dr Richard Smith, of the Department of Geography, was invited to talk at a conference in Bogota. He presented his latest research “Unravelling control in the global economy” at the National University of Colombia on 12th April.

Science Research Hub

In line with the University’s substantial growth over recent years, departments have been through a restructuring process to ensure seamless operations across both campuses.  As part of the restructure, four new College Research Hubs were established in the summer of 2015 (Arts, Humanities & Law Hub; Bay Hub; Life Science Hub; Science Hub).    

The Science Hub is physically located at College level, supporting the needs of the College of Science.  It is populated by knowledgeable professional services staff from REIS, PSPU & Finance (Procurement) with a wealth of knowledge and experience of working in collaboration with external stakeholders such as business partners and research sponsors.

New home for Department of Mathematics

From September 2018, Mathematics will be moving to the Computational Foundry, a state of the art purpose built facility in the Swansea University Bay Campus that will provide an ideal environment for the professional development and success of researchers and students alike. It will be home to a thriving community of mathematically and computationally minded students who will shape the future of our society.

The move of Mathematics to the Bay Campus reaffirms the central place of the Department in Swansea University's strategy for becoming a Top 200 University world-wide. Mathematics was among the first academic departments to be established in the University, nearly one hundred years ago, and remains among the most important. 

The proximity to Computer Science, Engineering and the School of Management will provide new and exciting opportunities for developing the directions alongside consolidated strengths.

Seaweed farm installed in Pembroke Dock

Geography Professor honoured with special issue of journal

Dr Richard Unsworth invited to speak at National Seagrass Conference of India

This April a brand new seaweed farm was installed in Pembroke Dock by marine biologists from Swansea University.

This new facility is part of the EPSRC funded Macrobiocrude project (Durham University lead; Swansea University PI: Pr. Kevin J. Flynn; Swansea University Project Management: Fleuriane Fernandes). The 100 metre double longline structure will sustain kelp cultivation for the following years and the cultivated biomass will be mainly used for research on ensilage processes, a conservation method of organic material.

Professor Alayne Street-Perrott, of the Department of Geography, has been honoured by former students and current colleagues with the publication of a special issue of the Journal of Quaternary Science.

The issue is entitled ‘Quaternary palaeoenvironmental proxies and processes – papers in honour of Professor Alayne Street-Perrott.’

Dr Richard Unsworth, of the Department of Biosciences, was invited to give a plenary talk this month in new Delhi at the 1st National Seagrass Conference of India.

He spoke about how seagrass meadows provide support for community food security and poverty alleviation throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

For further details on any item reported above, please contact the member of staff concerned, or email Nicola Jones

Croeso i Rifyn Haf o gylchlythyr y Coleg Gwyddoniaeth, Pytiau Newyddion, lle gallwch ddysgu rhagor am y newyddion a'r digwyddiadau diweddaraf. I gael rhagor o wybodaeth am y Coleg Gwyddoniaeth, ewch i www.swan.ac.uk/science

GWEITHGAREDDAU MYFYRWYR / MYFYRWYR YN Y NEWYDDION

Ymweliad a CERN I ffyrwyr ffiseg Abertawe

Llwyddiant colegol I Robyn Lock ac Olivia Fox

Trafod gwrthfater!

Yn gynharach eleni ymwelodd deugain o fyfyrwyr ffiseg Abertawe â chyfleusterau byd-enwog CERN yng Ngenefa, lleoliad darganfyddiadau fel y gronyn Higgs Boson. 

Trefnwyd y daith gyfan drwy’r gymdeithas ffiseg gyda chymorth aelodau o staff yr adran ffiseg.

Yn ystod yr ymweliad cafwyd taith o gwmpas yr arbrawf ALPHA lle mae staff a chyn-fyfyrwyr Abertawe’n gweithio drwy gydol y flwyddyn. Cywaith rhyngwladol yw ALPHA wedi’i leoli yn CERN, a’i nod yw dal atomau gwrth-hydrogen, sef cymar gwrthfaterol yr atom symlaf, hydrogen, mewn modd sefydlog.

Graddiodd y ffrindiau gorau Robyn Lock ac Olivia Fox gyda’i gilydd yr haf yma wedi i’r ddwy frwydro â’r un salwch wrth astudio am eu graddau. Dechreusant eu graddau Bioleg Môr yn 2012 a daethant yn ffrindiau gorau mewn byr o dro. Roeddent bob amser yn awyddus iawn i ddysgu.

Yn ystod eu hastudiaethau, canfuwyd bod Robyn a Libby ill dwy’n dioddef ffurfiau prin o ganser ar wahanol adegau, a achosodd i’r ddwy orfod gohirio’u hastudiaethau tra derbynient driniaeth.

Mae eu cryfder a’u hymroddiad wedi bod yn hynod. Roedd y driniaeth yn eithaf dirdynnol, gan beri i’r ddwy golli’u gwallt i gyd a theimlo’n wael iawn. Er gwaethaf hyn roeddent yn benderfynol o ddal ati gyda’u hastudiaethau, a daethant yn ôl i gwblhau eu trydedd flwyddyn. Mae’r ddwy newydd raddio â 2:1 uchel gan rannu’r un cyfanswm marciau’n union. Llongyfarchiadau i’r ddwy!

Cymerodd y myfyriwr PhD ffiseg Steven Armstrong Jones a’r Cynorthwyydd Ymchwil Ôl-Ddoethurol Dan Maxwell ran yn Arddangosfa Wyddoniaeth Haf y Gymdeithas Frenhinol ‘Antimatter Matters’.  

Mae’r arddangosfa’n ymdrin â chwestiynau mwyaf dyrys gwyddoniaeth – pam rydym yn byw mewn Bydysawd a ffurfiwyd o fater, yn hytrach na Bydysawd heb unrhyw fater o gwbl?

Tybir bod ymddygiad gwrthfater, sef cymar prin i fater normal, a chanddo wefr wrthwynebol, yn allweddol i ddeall y cwestiwn hwn – ond mae natur gwrthfater yn ddirgelwch. Bydd gwyddonwyr yn defnyddio data o’r arbrawf ALPHA ac LHCb yn CERN i astudio gwrthronynnau a gwrthatomau er mwyn dysgu mwy amdano.

Gwobr 'Quantum Advisory' am y cyfraniad mwyaf gwreiddiol at Fathemateg

Alissa Alicherova Kamilova, sy’n hanu o Fwlgaria ond sy’n fwy diweddar yn byw ym Mecsico, yw derbynnydd cyntaf Gwobr ‘Quantum Advisory’ am y cyfraniad mwyaf gwreiddiol at Fathemateg. Rhoddwyd y wobr o £1000 gan Quantum Advisory, Caerdydd, yr Actiwariaid ac Ymgynghorwyr ar Fuddiannau Gweithwyr. Llongyfarchiadau Alissa!

Myfyrwyr Daearyddiaeth yn ymweld a Vancouver

Gwobr I'r Gymdeithas Ffiseg

Bu Vancouver unwaith eto’n gyrchfan i gyrsiau maes ail flwyddyn Daearyddiaeth ym mis Mawrth a dechrau Ebrill eleni, gyda mwy o fyfyrwyr nag erioed. Cafodd 48 o fyfyrwyr astudio agweddau ar ddaearyddiaeth ffisegol a dynol Vancouver a de-orllewin British Columbia, yng nghwmni Kevin Rees, Geraint Owen, Kath Ficken, Suzanne Bevan a Hilary Carberry, gyda chefnogaeth yng Nghanada gan Arolwg Daearegol Canada, cwmnïau ffilm ac atyniadau twristaidd lleol, a daearyddwyr o Brifysgol British Columbia.

Yn nghinio blynyddol Gwobrwyon Academi Cyflogadwyedd Abertawe (SEA), enillodd y Gymdeithas Ffiseg wobr am ei phartneriaeth â’r Adran Ffiseg wrth drefnu prynhawn cyflogadwyedd Ffiseg. Diolch i waith y Gymdeithas yn trefnu a hysbysebu’r digwyddiad, cafwyd un o’r digwyddiadau cyflogadwyedd mwyaf llwyddiannus hyd yma i ganolbwyntio ar Ffiseg, gyda thros gant o fyfyrwyr yn bresennol.

Cafodd y Gymdeithas Ffiseg gydnabyddiaeth hefyd yng Ngwobrau Blynyddol Undeb y Myfyrwyr lle dyfarnwyd ‘canmoliaeth uchel’ iddi fel y gymdeithas a oedd wedi gwella fwyaf.

Gwahodd arbenigwr peillio weithdy

Adam Powell yw cynrychiolydd pwnc y flwyddyn!

Cyhoeddi papur myfyriwr graddedig yn y Biowyddorau

Gwahoddwyd y myfyriwr PhD Biowyddorau, Andrew Lucas, i weithdy goleuo, yn un o nifer gyfyngedig o arbenigwyr ar beillio. Rhoddwyd sylw i’r gweithdy ar newyddion lleol BBC Midlands ond fe’i trafodwyd hefyd ar raglen BBC Radio 4, Farming Today.

Mae Adam, myfyriwr ffiseg ail flwyddyn, wedi cael canmoliaeth am ei waith fel cynrychiolydd myfyrwyr. Yn ogystal â’r gwaith hwnnw, bu Adam yn Llywydd y Gymdeithas Ffiseg a bydd yn parhau yn y rôl honno’r flwyddyn nesaf gyda thîm newydd ymroddgar. Da iawn ti Adam!

Derbyniwyd adolygiad llenyddiaeth trydedd flwyddyn ein myfyriwr gradd diweddar yn y Biowyddorau, Chris Dowle, i’w gyhoeddi yn ‘Bioscience Horizons’, cylchgrawn dan ofal Gwasg Prifysgol Rhydychen. Llongyfarchiadau mawr Chris!

Llwyddiant I fyfyriwr Ffiseg y flwyddyn olaf!

Llongyfarchiadau i Sri Potturi, myfyriwr BSc ar ei flwyddyn olaf, a lwyddodd i ennill gwobrau aur a phlatinwm yng Nghynllun HEAR Cyflogadwyedd Abertawe. Go dda, Sri!

YMGYSYLLTIAD CYMUNEDOL A GWEITHGAREDDAU ALLGYMORTH

Gweithgareddau ymgysylltu a'r gymuned ac ymestyn allan

Gwyddoniaeth ar Y Sul yn Llwyddiant!

Gwyl Geoparc 2016

Mae hyd at filiwn o BBC micro:bits wedi’u dosbarthu’n rhad ac am ddim i bob myfyriwr blwyddyn 7 yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Cafodd y ddyfais, sy’n rhan o brosiect ‘Make It Digital’ y BBC, ei harddangos mewn lansiad ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe drwy ei phrosiect Technocamps.

Cafodd athrawon o dde Cymru gyfan weld sut y gellir cyflwyno’r cyfrifiadur llaw i’r ystafell ddosbarth i roi profiad ymarferol, ymgysylltiol a phleserus i ddisgyblion blwyddyn 7 i’w cychwyn ar eu taith godio.

Cyfrifiadur codiadwy y gellir ei gario yn eich poced yw’r BBC micro:bit (yn y darlun) sy’n caniatáu i bobl ifanc fod yn greadigol gyda thechnoleg, faint bynnag o brofiad sydd ganddynt, gyda’r nod o helpu i ddatblygu to newydd o arloeswyr digidol.

Aeth y Coleg Gwyddoniaeth â’i ymchwil allan i’r gymuned i gynnal gweithgareddau gwyddoniaeth gyda theuluoedd fel rhan o’i ddigwyddiad Gwyddoniaeth ar y Sul ar gyfer Wythnos Wyddoniaeth Prydain. Cynigiwyd amrywiaeth o weithgareddau hwyliog yn Amgueddfa Genedlaethol y Glannau, gan gynnwys addasu anifeiliaid, arbrawf y misglod mawr, roboteg a bywydeg môr.

Cafodd disgyblion ysgolion cynradd Abertawe daith o gwmpas llong ymchwil y Brifysgol, RV Noctiluca, lle cawsant archwilio’r amrywiaeth o greaduriaid sy’n byw yn nyfroedd Bae Abertawe.

Roedd Gŵyl Geoparc 2016 yn bythefnos o deithiau cerdded a sgyrsiau ddiwedd Mai a dechrau Mehefin, a gynhaliwyd yng Ngeoparc y Fforest Fawr, sy’n aelod o’r rhwydwaith Geoparciau Byd-eang a ddynodwyd yn ddiweddar gan UNESCO.

Arweiniodd Geraint Owen (Daearyddiaeth) ddwy daith gerdded i archwilio tirweddau calchfaen ger Ystradfellte ac olion y chwareli calchfaen yn y Mynydd Du, a rhoddodd sgwrs yng Nghanolfan y Mynydd Du ym Mrynaman ar ‘Graig yr Oesoedd: daeareg a thirwedd yng Ngeoparc y Fforest Fawr’.

Daeth niferoedd da i’r digwyddiadau, yn hen ac ifanc, yn bobl leol ac ymwelwyr, a manteisiodd y teithiau cerdded yn arbennig ar dywydd bendigedig.

Myfyrwyr yn dathlu menywod mewn Mathemateg

Y Coleg Gwyddoniaeth yn cynnal digwyddiadu'r gymdeithas ddaearyddol

Cynhaliodd Rhaglen Gymorth Mathemateg Bellach Cymru a’r Coleg Gwyddoniaeth gynhadledd gyffrous ar 15 Mawrth 2016 ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe dan y teitl ‘Dathlu Menywod mewn Mathemateg’.

Trefnwyd y digwyddiad fel rhan o Wythnos Wyddoniaeth Prydain, a chanolbwyntiodd ar ddathlu menywod a wnaeth gyfraniad sylweddol i Fathemateg, Gwyddoniaeth a Pheirianneg.

Dangosodd y gynhadledd enghreifftiau cyfoes a hanesyddol o fenywod a gymerodd gamau breision mewn maes sy’n aml yn cael ei weld yn un lle mae dynion yn tra-arglwyddiaethu.

Mae’r Coleg yn ddiweddar wedi cynnal nifer o ddigwyddiadau Cymdeithas Ddaearyddol Abertawe a’r Cylch, sy’n rhan o sefydliad cenedlaethol o athrawon daearyddiaeth.

Ym mis Rhagfyr rhoddodd Geraint Owen (Daearyddiaeth) sgwrs yn y brifysgol i ddisgyblion TGAU a lefel A ar ymateb cymdeithas i fyw gyda pheryglon naturiol. 

Yn Ebrill cynhaliwyd y Cwis Worldwise blynyddol yn Adeilad Wallace, a enillwyd gan Ysgol Maesydderwen a fydd yn mynd ymlaen nawr i gystadleuaeth genedlaethol.

Ym mis Mai mynychodd 15 o athrawon ddigwyddiad Datblygiad Proffesiynol Parhaus i gael hyfforddiant mewn  adnoddau mapio ar-lein sy’n addas ar gyfer amrediad o gyfnodau allweddol, wedi’i gyflwyno gan gynrychiolydd o’r Arolwg Ordnans. Yn olaf, ddechrau Mehefin, cynhaliodd cynrychiolydd pwnc CBAC Nicky King brynhawn rhwydweithio a rhannu adnoddau gan ganolbwyntio ar newidiadau i gwricwlwm CBAC. Mynychwyd y digwyddiad gan 12 o athrawon, nifer ohonynt wedi graddio mewn Daearyddiaeth ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe.

Technoteach: Gwobrwyo llwyddiant athrawon Cyfrifiadureg

Rhian Meara yn yr Eisteddfod

Myfyrwyr yn cael gweithdy cyn ymweliad CERN yn Abertawe

Mae 13 o athrawon o dde Cymru wedi ffurfio’r criw cyntaf o ddysgwyr i ennill Tystysgrif Lefel 3 y Fframwaith Cymwysterau a Chredydau mewn Cyfrifiadureg i Athrawon fel rhan o raglen Datblygiad Proffesiynol Parhaus un flwyddyn Technoteach ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe.

Mae’r hyfforddiant yn rhan o raglen lwyddiannus y Brifysgol, Technocamps, ac fe’i hariannwyd gan yr Academi Wyddoniaeth Genedlaethol drwy Lywodraeth Cymru i gynyddu sgiliau athrawon er mwyn sicrhau eu bod yn hyderus a chymwys i gyflwyno’r cwricwlwm cyfrifiadureg, yn ogystal ag ategu cyflwyniad y Fframwaith Cymhwysedd Digidol.

Cafodd Dr Rhian Meara o’r Adran Ddaearyddiaeth ei holi gan S4C ynglŷn â dysgu plant i ganu’r gân “Hei Mistar Urdd” yn Iaith Arwyddion Prydain yn ystod yr Eisteddfod.

Holwyd Rhian hefyd gan raglen Taro’r Post ar Radio Cymru i drafod Deddf BSL yr Alban (yma , 23 eiliad i mewn), ochr yn ochr â Chomisiynydd Plant Cymru.

Holwyd Dr Aled Isaac o’r Adran Ffiseg gan S4C hefyd o leiaf un waith yn y GwyddonLe.

Daeth disgyblion o Ysgol Uwchradd Cyfarthfa i’r gweithdy ym mis Mawrth i baratoi ar gyfer eu taith unwaith-mewn-oes i CERN.

Cafodd y plant gymryd rhan mewn darlithoedd ac arddangosiadau ymarferol o egwyddorion sylfaenol ffiseg ronynnol gan ddarlithwyr Ffiseg Abertawe fel y gallent fanteisio i’r eithaf ar eu profiad anhygoel yn CERN – cyfle unwaith mewn oes!

Crafu'r wyneb ym Mhontarddulais

Rhoddodd Geraint Owen (Daearyddiaeth) sgwrs yn gynharach yn y flwyddyn yn Llyfrgell Gyhoeddus Pontarddulais ar Grafu’r Wyneb: daeareg a thirwedd ym Mhontarddulais.  Dyma roi’r cefndir daearegol i gyfres o daflenni’n esbonio ac yn dehongli daeareg a thirwedd ar hyd lwybrau cerdded byr yn ardaloedd gwledig Abertawe, sef canlyniad prosiect a wnaed gyda Siwan Davies (Daearyddiaeth) ac a ariannwyd trwy Gynllun Busnes Datblygu Gwledig Dinas a Sir Abertawe gan Lywodraeth y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol a Chronfa Amaethyddol Ewrop ar gyfer Datblygu Gwledig. 

Yn gynnar ym mis Mehefin arweiniodd Geraint griw brwdfrydig o drigolion Pontarddulais ar un o’r teithiau, gan edrych ar greigiau oedd yn dal glo a thystiolaeth o fwyngloddio am lo yng Nghefn Drum, i’r gogledd o Bontarddulais. Bu’r digwyddiad yn llwyddiannus, gan ysgogi dealltwriaeth o sefyllfa ddaearegol Pontarddulais o fewn Maes Glo’r De. Canfuwyd ffosiliau planhigion gwych ymysg y rwbel o hen bwll glo Graig Merthyr ac aeth y cyfranogwyr adref yn frwd dros archwilio mwy o’r wlad o safbwynt daearegol.

YMCHWIL YN Y NEWYDDION

Cydweithio ar EarthChar I sicrhau'r cynnyrch bio-olosg achrededig cyntaf ar farchnad y deyrnas unedig

Microbau man, man yn peiriannu eu hamgylchedd en hunain

Cynhesu'r cefnfor: prif achos enciliad rhewlifoedd penrhyn yr Antarctig

Ymunodd ymchwilwyr o Brifysgol Abertawe â Commons Vision Ltd i lansio EarthChar, cynnyrch bio-olosg achrededig cyntaf y Deyrnas Unedig, yn nigwyddiad diweddar Abertawe Carbon Isel, a gynhaliwyd gan Brosiect Down to Earth.

Dywedodd yr Athro Alayne Street-Perrott, un o arweinwyr Tîm Ymchwil Bio-olosg Prifysgol Abertawe yn y Coleg Gwyddoniaeth: “Dangosodd ein hymchwil, a gyhoeddwyd yn Nature Communications yn 2010, y gallai cynhyrchu a datblygu bio-olosg cynaliadwy gyfrannu’n sylweddol at arafu cynhesu byd-eang.

“Mae ein tîm wedi gweithio’n galed iawn ar y cyd â Commons Vision i ddangos gwerth ymarferol y gwaith, a hoffem longyfarch y cwmni ar y gamp aruthrol hon.”

Microbau planctonig mân, mân yw Cocolithofforidau, sy’n drifftio gyda cherrynt y cefnfor. Er eu bod yn fach iawn, mae eu presenoldeb trwy gydol amser daearegol yn amlwg ledled y byd ar ffurf dyddodion calchfaen helaeth, gan gynnwys clogwyni gwyn Dofr. Mae ymchwil newydd wedi canfod bod yr organebau bychain hyn wrthi'n biobeiriannu eu hamgylchedd uniongyrchol er mwyn gwella’u twf.

Cyhoeddwyd yr ymchwil yn y Proceedings of the Royal Society B gan grŵp o wyddonwyr, dan arweiniad yr Athro Kevin Flynn o Goleg Gwyddoniaeth Prifysgol Abertawe, gyda chydweithwyr o Labordy Môr Plymouth a Chymdeithas Bioleg y Môr.

Mae astudiaeth newydd wedi canfod am y tro cyntaf mai cynhesu’r cefnfor yw prif achos enciliad rhewlifoedd ar Benrhyn yr Antarctig. Y Penrhyn yw un o’r cyfranwyr mwyaf ar hyn o bryd at y codiad yn lefel y môr a bydd y darganfyddiad newydd hwn yn galluogi ymchwilwyr i ragweld yn well faint o rew a gollir o’r ardal hon.

Meddai Dr Alison Cook, a arweiniodd y gwaith ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe:  “Mae gwyddonwyr yn gwybod bod cynhesu’r cefnfor yn effeithio ar rewlifoedd mawr mewn rhannau eraill o’r cyfandir, ond roeddent wedi meddwl mai tymereddau atmosfferig oedd prif achos pob newid i rewlifoedd ar y Penrhyn. Gwyddom bellach nad felly y mae hi.”

Ethol yr Athro Faron Moller yn Gymrawd Cymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru

Dyfarnu Cymrodoriaeth Ymchwil Leverhulme I'r Athro Stefan Doerr

Mae’r Athro Faron Moller o’r Adran Gyfrifiadureg yn un o bedwar o academyddion Prifysgol Abertawe sydd wedi’u hethol yn Gymrodorion Cymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru.

Cydnabyddiaeth gyhoeddus o ragoriaeth academaidd yw cael eich ethol yn Gymrawd, a cheir cystadleuaeth frwd i ymuno â Chymrodoriaeth y Gymdeithas. Etholir Cymrodyr yn dilyn archwiliad trylwyr o’u cyflawniadau yn eu meysydd perthnasol. Bydd Cymrodyr yn cynorthwyo gwaith y Gymdeithas drwy wasanaethu ar ei hamrywiol bwyllgorau a gweithgorau a thrwy ein cynrychioli yn genedlaethol ac yn rhyngwladol. 

Yn ystod y gymrodoriaeth 12 mis bwysig hon, bydd yr Athro Doerr o’r Adran Ddaearyddiaeth yn canolbwyntio ar ganfod a lleihau’r risg o halogi’r cyflenwad dŵr yn sgil tanau gwyllt yn y Deyrnas Unedig, Gogledd America ac Awstralia.

Mae cronfeydd cyflenwi dŵr yn aml wedi’u lleoli mewn ardaloedd uwchdirol lle mae tanau’n dueddol o ymledu a gall y lludw erydol iawn a ffurfir yn ystod tân fod yn fygythiad difrifol i ansawdd dŵr. Mae’r tanau diweddar o gwmpas Fort McMurray yng Nghanada, er enghraifft, erbyn hyn yn fygythiad difrifol i unig gyflenwad dŵr y ddinas.

Babwns cyfrwys yn canfod man gwan yn y strategaeth I'w rheoli

Yr Athro Siwan Davies yn cyflwyno cyfres newydd ar newid hinsawdd

Cystadleuaeth Ymchwil Fel Celf 2016

Mae gwyddonwyr o Brifysgol Abertawe’n rhan o dîm rhyngwladol sydd wedi dangos sut mae babŵns cyfrwys sy’n byw ar gyrion Cape Town, De Affrica, weithiau'n gallu ochrgamu'r strategaethau rheoli a roddwyd ar waith i’w hatal rhag cynnal cyrchoedd i’r amgylchedd trefol.

Dechreuodd y gyfres ddogfen Her yr Hinsawdd, gan gwmni cynhyrchu Telesgop, ar S4C nos Iau 5 Gorffennaf. Mae’r gyfres yn dilyn taith bersonol yr Athro Siwan Davies i ddarganfod beth sy’n digwydd mewn gwirionedd i hinsawdd ein planed.

Roedd dwy ymgais o Adran y Biowyddorau ymysg enillwyr cystadleuaeth Ymchwil fel Celf eleni.

Cyfansoddiad o ddarluniau maes o fabŵns yn dangos y gwahaniaethau bychain rhwng unigolion yw ‘O anhysbysrwydd i bersonoliaeth’ gan Gaelle Fehlmann. Roedd yn un o bum cynnig buddugol a chafodd y wobr am “Gysylltu â byd natur”.

Roedd portread Ruth Callaway o greaduriaid byw Bae Abertawe, ‘Mondrian yn cwrdd â bioamrywiaeth y môr’ ymhlith naw ymgais a ddaeth yn agos i’r

Camau newydd I reoli afiechydon mewn dwr yn lleihau tlodi

Mae Prifysgol Abertawe wedi llwyddo i ddenu dros £2m o gyllid, fel rhan o gonsortiwm o naw sefydliad ymchwil a phrifysgol yn yr India, y Deyrnas Unedig a Bangladesh, i leddfu tlodi o fewn cymunedau ffermio tlawd ym Mangladesh a’r India trwy reoli’r perygl o afiechydon mewn pysgod a chramenogion.

Prosiect ymchwil newydd I geisio adfer cysylltedd afonydd

Gwyddonwyr yn darganfod y rheswm y tu ol I ddigwyddiad eithafol suddiant cylchredau carbon byd-eang

Mae Prifysgol Abertawe’n arwain AMBER (Adaptive Management of Barriers in European Rivers), prosiect ymchwil amlddisgyblaeth gwerth 6.2 miliwn Ewro a fydd yn creu’r Atlas cynhwysfawr cyntaf o rwystrau afonydd ar draws Ewrop ac yn arfer rheolaeth addasol ar rwystrau er mwyn ailgysylltu afonydd Ewrop.

Meddai’r Athro Carlos Garcia de Leaniz, Cyfarwyddwr y Ganolfan Ymchwil Dyfrol Cynaliadwy, “Mae angen brys am atebion i reoli rhwystrau’n well ar draws Ewrop gan fod llawer o afonydd yn mynd yn fwyfwy tameidiog oherwydd gweithgareddau tynnu dŵr ynghyd â newid hinsawdd.”

Mae Dr Natascha Kljun o’r Coleg Gwyddoniaeth yn un o gyd-awduron adroddiad a gyhoeddwyd ar Nature.com sy’n enwi’r digwyddiad sydd wedi achosi newid tyngedfennol yng nghylchredau dŵr a charbon y byd.

Eglurodd Dr Kljun: “Yn 2011, cafwyd un o’r digwyddiadau mwyaf eithriadol yng nghylchredau dŵr a charbon y byd: cafwyd cwymp o 5mm yn lefelau’r cefnforoedd, gan wrthdroi tuedd gynyddol hirdymor, ac wrth i lystyfiant lyncu carbon achoswyd suddfan carbon tir enfawr yn fyd-eang.

“Wrth gydweithio gyda thîm o Awstralia (Prifysgol Technoleg Sydney a Phrifysgol Flinders, Adelaide) gwelsom sut y gyrrwyd y digwyddiad hwn gan arosodiad prin tair system amgylchedd cefnforol: Osgiliad El Niño-Deheuol yn y Cefnfor Tawel trofannol; deupol Cefnfor yr India yn y cefnfor trofannol hwnnw; a’r modd anwlar deheuol yng Nghefnfor y De.”

Ymchwil newydd yn datgelu camdybiaethau ynghylch tueddiadau ac effeithiau tanau gwyllt

Gallai ymchwil newydd I ddulliau bio-reoli helpu rheoleiddio ymlediad zika

Rhewlifegwyr o abertawae'n cyfrannu at ddarganfyddiad yn yr Antarctig

Mae dadansoddiad newydd o ddata byd-eang ynghylch tanau gwyllt, a gyhoeddwyd gan y Gymdeithas Frenhinol, yn datgelu camdybiaethau mawr ynghylch tanau gwyllt a’u heffeithiau cymdeithasol ac economaidd.

Gwnaeth yr Athro Stefan Doerr a Dr Cristina Santin o’r Coleg Gwyddoniaeth ddadansoddiad manwl o ddata byd-eang a rhanbarthol ar amlder tanau, eu difrifoldeb a’u heffaith ar gymdeithas. 

Casgliad yr ymchwilwyr oedd: “Nid yw’r data sydd ar gael hyd yma’n ategu cynnydd cyffredinol yn yr arwynebedd a losgwyd nac yn nifrifoldeb y tanau yn sawl rhan o’r byd. Yn wir, ceir tystiolaeth gynyddol fod llai o dân yn gyffredinol yn y dirwedd heddiw nag a fu ganrifoedd yn ôl, er bod angen archwilio maint y lleihad hwn yn fwy manwl.”

Mae ymchwil newydd a gyhoeddwyd gan academyddion y Coleg Gwyddoniaeth wedi datgelu dull effeithiol newydd o reoli biolegol, sef blastosborau ffwngaidd a allai helpu i reoleiddio ymlediad amrywiaeth o glefydau fel y dwymyn felen, deng, Chikungunya ac, yn fwy diweddar, Zika, drwy ladd y mosgitos sy’n eu trosglwyddo. 

Mae ymchwilwyr o Adran y Biowyddorau, Prifysgol Daleithiol Gogledd Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, a  Phrifysgol Adnan Menderes, Twrci, wedi canfod bod blastosborau’r ffwng Metarhizium brunneum, sy'n bathogenaidd i bryfed, yn effeithiol wrth ladd larfau'r mosgito Aedes aegypti, a gellid eu defnyddio i reoli nifer a lledaeniad y math hwn o fosgito.

Mae tîm ymchwil rhyngwladol dan arweiniad academyddion o Brifysgolion Aberystwyth ac Abertawe wedi cyhoeddi darn sylweddol o ymchwil sy’n bwrw goleuni newydd ar un o’n ffenomenau naturiol mwyaf. Ystyriwyd yn aml fod ffurfiant sgafelli iâ yn cynnig tystiolaeth bwysig ynghylch sut mae ein hinsawdd wedi datblygu a sut y bydd yn datblygu. Ond tan yn ddiweddar bu’n hynod o anodd casglu data gwerthfawr oherwydd tirweddau gerwin y sgafelli iâ eu hunain.

Trefnodd y tîm o ymchwilwyr, llawer ohonynt o’r prifysgolion Cymreig, daith drilio i un o’r sgafelli iâ mwyaf yn yr Antarctica, sef Larsen C. Gan weithio gyda chefnogaeth gyflenwol Arolwg Antarctig Prydain, llwyddasant i sefydlu gorsaf ar y sgafell a chyflawni’r gwaith sy’n darparu gwybodaeth am ymateb sgafelli iâ wrth i’r hinsawdd gynhesu, gwybodaeth sy’n hanfodol i ymchwil y presennol a’r dyfodol.

Hafau diflas yn gysylltiedig a newidiadau ar hap yn llwybr stormydd yr iwerydd

Mae ymchwil a arweiniwyd gan academyddion o’r Coleg Gwyddoniaeth yn dangos y gellir cysylltu tymereddau haf Ewrop â newidiadau ar hap yn safle’r llwybr stormydd sy’n croesi’r Iwerydd. 

Tra bod tymereddau cyfartalog Ewrop, ar y cyfan, yn codi a gostwng mewn ymateb i ffactorau hinsoddol megis nwyon tŷ gwydr, y mae ffactor arall sy’n effeithio’n gryf ar hinsawdd hafau  Ewrop – sef safle llwybr stormydd yr Iwerydd, sy’n amrywio ar hap ac a allai arwain at gymysgedd o hafau oer a gwlyb neu gynnes a sych yn y dyfodol, nad oes unrhyw fodd i ni eu rhagweld.

Biohaenau microalgaidd I liniaru gollyngiadau asid o fwyngloddiau

Mae Steve Skill o Adran y Biowyddorau wedi ennill cystadleuaeth trwy Brydain i ddarganfod ateb cynaliadwy i broblem llygredd asid o fwyngloddiau.

Datblygodd Steve dechnoleg y gellir ei hehangu, sy’n rhad, goddefol a chynaliadwy, i ddatrys problem llygredd asid o fwyngloddiau trwy ddefnyddio consortia microbaidd fel biohaenau microalgaidd. Gellir defnyddio’r system mewn lleoliadau anghysbell lle ceir mwyngloddiau neu domenni gwastraff heb fod angen adeiladwaith peirianneg sifil na gwasanaethau cyhoeddus.

DATBLYGIADAU ADDYSGU

Gwobr dysgu rhagorol I staff y Coleg Gwyddoniaeth

Llongyfarchiadau i Dr Geraint Owen, Adran Ddaearyddiaeth, Dr Neal Harman, Adran Gyfrifiadureg, a Dr Sean Walton, hefyd o’r Adran Gyfrifiadureg, ar ennill Gwobrau eleni am Ragoriaeth mewn Dysgu.

Dyfernir y gwobrau bob blwyddyn i aelodau staff sydd wedi gwneud cyfraniad arbennig i brofiad dysgu’r myfyrwyr. 

NEWYDDION A DIGWYDDIADAU ERAILL

Lansio canolfan ymchwil newydd ar gyfer Biomathemateg

Yr Athro Marcus Doel yn traddodi darlith allweddol

Yr Athro Tim Hollowood yn ennill gwobr am y papur gorau

Mae Prifysgol Abertawe wedi lansio’i phrosiect ymchwil diweddaraf – y Ganolfan Biomathemateg.

Mae’r Ganolfan, a leolir yn y Coleg Gwyddoniaeth, yn darparu ffocws traws-gymunedol, rhyngddisgyblaethol i arbenigwyr o bob rhan o’r Coleg Gwyddoniaeth a thu hwnt sydd â diddordebau yn y berthynas rhwng mathemateg a bywydeg neu feddygaeth. Ei nod yw meithrin cydweithio fydd o ddiddordeb i’r naill ochr a’r llall, gan arwain at ddatblygiadau newydd yn y ddau faes.

Llun: Graff 2D o ddwysedd tebygol lleoliadau anifeiliaid.

Traddododd yr Athro Marcus Doel (Daearyddiaeth Ddynol) ddarlith allweddol dan y teitl ‘Strange Cities: For a Desiring-Revolution Whilst Stirring Still’ i’r symposiwm ‘Spaces of Desire; Remembrance and Civic Power’ a gynhaliwyd gan yr Ysgol Ddaearyddiaeth a Chynllunio ac Ysgol Bensaernïaeth Cymru ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd ar 30 Mehefin i 1 Gorffennaf, 2016.

Bob blwyddyn, bydd Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical yn dyfarnu Gwobr Papur Gorau i ddathlu a chymeradwyo papurau sydd wedi’u hysgrifennu’n dda ac sy’n gwneud cyfraniad arwyddocaol i’w maes.

Eleni, dyfarnwyd Gwobr Papur Gorau JPhysA i’r Athro Tim Hollowood (Prifysgol Abertawe), J Luis Miramontes (Universidad de Santiago de Compostela) a David M Schmidtt (gwaith a gwblhawyd tra ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe) am eu herthygl: ‘An integrable deformation of the AdS5 × S5 superstring’.

Gwyl Wyddoniaeth Prydain 2016

Ym mis Medi 2016, cynhelir un o ddigwyddiadau pwysicaf y Deyrnas Unedig ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe. Gŵyl Wyddoniaeth Prydain yw’r digwyddiad cenedlaethol hynaf yn Ewrop sy’n cysylltu pobl â gwyddonwyr, peirianwyr, technolegwyr a gwyddonwyr cymdeithasol. Cynhaliwyd yr Ŵyl gyntaf ym 1831 (fel cyfarfod cyntaf, yna cyfarfod blynyddol, Cymdeithas Hyrwyddo Gwyddoniaeth Prydain), ac mae wedi bod yn llwyfan i sawl ennyd eiconig mewn hanes, megis y drafodaeth enwog rhwng Thomas Huxley ac Esgob Rhydychen ar ddamcaniaeth ddadleuol Darwin ynghylch esblygiad ym 1860. Dyma’r fan hefyd lle bathwyd y gair ‘scientist’, ym 1834. Mae’r cyfarfod blynyddol wedi’i gynnal yn Abertawe bedair gwaith o'r blaen: 1848, 1880, 1971, a 1990, ond 2016 fydd y tro cyntaf i Gymru gynnal yr Ŵyl ar ei ffurf bresennol.

Mathemateg yn Abertawe'n dringo'r tabl!

Yn ogystal â chael ei gwerthfawrogi o fewn y Brifysgol, mae statws yr Adran Fathemateg yn y gymuned ryngwladol wedi’i gadarnhau gyda’r cyhoeddiad diweddar fod Mathemateg Abertawe unwaith eto wedi sicrhau marc 5 seren, a lle yn y 350 uchaf, yn Nhablau Prifysgolion Byd hynod ddethol QS fesul pwnc am 2015.  Mae’r tablau’n rhestru pynciau penodol mewn Prifysgolion ledled y byd gan roi sgôr terfynol ar sail enw da academaidd, enw da fel cyflogwr ac effaith gwaith ymchwil.

Mae’r gamp hon yn cydnabod enw rhyngwladol rhagorol yr Adran Fathemateg ym maes ymchwil, a’r gofal manwl y mae ein darlithwyr yn ei roi i fyfyrwyr a’u profiad dysgu.

Gosodwyd Adran Fathemateg Abertawe yn 25 adran uchaf QS yn y Deyrnas Unedig hefyd.

Ffisegwyr gronynnau'n trefnu dwy gynhadledd haf

Ysfa Fapio'r Cyfryngau

Dr Alla Silkina yn siarad mewn gweithdy gwymoneg

Yr haf yma, mae aelodau’r grŵp theori ffiseg ronynnau wedi helpu trefnu dwy gynhadledd ryngwladol fawr a gynhaliwyd yn y Deyrnas Unedig.

Cychwynnodd Symposiwm Rhyngwladol rhif 34 ar Theori Maes Dellt (Lattice 2016) ym Mhrifysgol Southampton ar 24 Gorffennaf ac fe’i cyd-drefnwyd gan Biagio Lucini (Mathemateg) a Gert Aarts (Ffiseg).

Yn syth wedyn, cynhaliwyd y 14eg gweithdy rhyngwladol ar QCD mewn Amodau Eithafol (XQCD 2016) ym Mhrifysgol Plymouth. Cyd-drefnwyd y cyfarfod hwn, a fynychwyd gan dros 70 o bobl, gan Simon Hands (Ffiseg), a gwasanaethodd Gert ar y Pwyllgor Cynghori Rhyngwladol.

Cymerodd yr Athrawon David Clarke a Marcus Doel (Daeryddiaeth Ddynol) ran yn y symposiwm rhyngwladol ar ‘Ysfa Fapio’r Cyfryngau’ a gynhaliwyd ym Mhrifysgol Johannes Gutenberg, Mainz, yr Almaen ym Mehefin. Daeth y symposiwm â 30 ysgolhaig o bedwar ban byd ynghyd i drafod y berthynas anesmwyth rhwng cartograffeg, technolegau geo-ofodol, a chyfryngau lleoli ar y naill law, a ffurfiau cyfryngau newydd a thraddodiadol megis cyfryngau cymdeithasol, apiau ffôn, teledu, ffilm a cherddoriaeth ar y llaw arall.

Cyflwynodd Dr Alla Silkina sgwrs lwyddiannus dan y pennawd “Novel production-process technologies for a range of high value pigments from microalgae” yng Ngweithdy Gwymoneg Gymhwysol Phyconet. Cynhaliwyd y gweithdy yng Nghyfarfod Gwanwyn 2016 Protistology-UK rhwng 6-8 Ebrill 2016 ym Mhrifysgol Bournemouth yn Swydd Dorset.

Ysgoloriaethau Mathemateg ar gael o fis medi 2017

Gwahodd Dr Richard Smith I siarad yn Bogota

Bwriada’r Adran Fathemateg gynnig ysgoloriaethau Mathemateg gwerth hyd at gyfanswm o £3000 i fyfyrwyr sy’n dechrau eu cyrsiau prifysgol ym mis Medi 2017. Dyfernir y gwobrau ar sail arholiad cystadleuol dwy awr a hanner i’w sefyll yn ystod gwanwyn 2017. Os hoffech sefyll yr arholiad, nodwch Abertawe’n un o’ch dewisiadau ar eich ffurflen UCAS. Cyhoeddir manylion yr arholiad ysgoloriaeth yma.

Ym mis Mawrth 2016, safodd 32 o fyfyrwyr yr arholiad ysgoloriaeth ar gyfer 2016/2017 a gwnaed pum cynnig.

Gwahoddwyd Dr Richard Smith o’r Adran Ddaearyddiaeth i siarad mewn cynhadledd ym Mogota. Cyflwynodd ei ymchwil diweddaraf, “Datod rheolaeth yn yr economi byd-eang” ym Mhrifysgol Genedlaethol Colombia ar 12 Ebrill.

Hyb Ymchwil Gwyddoniaeth

Yn unol â thwf sylweddol y Brifysgol yn y blynyddoedd diweddar, mae adrannau o fewn y Brifysgol wedi mynd trwy broses ailstrwythuro i sicrhau gweithredu cyson ar draws y ddau gampws. Fel rhan o’r ailstrwythuro, sefydlwyd pedwar Hỳb Ymchwil newydd yn haf 2015 (Hỳb Celfyddydau, Dyniaethau a’r Gyfraith, Hỳb y Bae, Hỳb Gwyddor Bywyd, Hỳb Gwyddoniaeth).  

Mae lleoliad yr Hỳb Gwyddoniaeth ar lefel y Coleg, i ateb anghenion y Coleg Gwyddoniaeth. Yno ceir staff gwasanaethau proffesiynol gwybodus gan REIS, PSPU a Chyllid (Caffael) gyda llwyth o wybodaeth a phrofiad o gydweithio â rhanddeiliaid allanol megis partneriaid busnes a noddwyr ymchwil.

Cartref newydd I'r Adran Fathemateg

O fis Medi 2018, bydd Mathemateg yn symud i’r Ffowndri Gyfrifiadurol, adeilad pwrpasol o’r radd flaenaf un yng Nghampws Bae Prifysgol Abertawe a fydd yn cynnig amgylchedd delfrydol ar gyfer datblygiad a llwyddiant proffesiynol ymchwilwyr a myfyrwyr fel ei gilydd. Bydd yn gartref i gymuned ffyniannus o fyfyrwyr mathemategol a chyfrifiadurol eu bryd a fydd yn siapio dyfodol ein cymdeithas.

Mae symud Mathemateg i Gampws y Bae’n cadarnhau lle canolog yr Adran yn strategaeth Prifysgol Abertawe ar gyfer dod yn un o 200 Prifysgol gorau’r byd. Mathemateg oedd un o’r adrannau academaidd cyntaf i’w sefydlu yn y Brifysgol, bron gan mlynedd yn ôl, ac mae’n dal i fod yn un o’r pwysicaf. 

Gan y bydd mor agos at yr adrannau Cyfrifiadureg, Peirianneg a’r Ysgol Reoli, bydd yn cynnig cyfleon newydd a chyffrous i ddatblygu’r cyfeiriadau hyn ochr yn ochr â’r cryfderau a atgyfnerthir.

Sefydlu fferm wymon yn Noc Penfro

Anrhydeddu Athro Daeryddiaeth trwy rifyn arbennig o gylchgrawn

Gwahodd Dr Richard Unsworth I siarad yng nghynhadledd morwellt genedlaethol yr India

Fis Ebrill yma sefydlwyd fferm wymon newydd sbon yn Noc Penfro gan fiolegwyr môr o Brifysgol Abertawe.

Mae’r cyfleuster newydd hwn yn rhan o’r prosiect MacroBioCrude a ariennir gan yr EPSRC (Prifysgol Durham yn arwain; Prifysgol Abertawe PI: Pr. Kevin J. Flynn; Rheolaeth Prosiect Prifysgol Abertawe: Fleuriane Fernandes). Bydd y strwythur lein hir ddwbl 100 metr o hyd yn cynnal proses amaethu gwymon am y blynyddoedd canlynol a chaiff y biomas a feithrinir ei ddefnyddio’n bennaf ar gyfer ymchwil i brosesau silweirio, dull cadwraeth i ddeunydd organig.

Anrhydeddwyd yr Athro Alayne Street-Perrott gan gyn-fyfyrwyr a chydweithwyr cyfredol trwy gyhoeddi rhifyn arbennig o’r Journal of Quaternary Science.

Teitl y rhifyn yw ‘Quaternary palaeoenvironmental proxies and processes – papers in honour of Professor Alayne Street-Perrott’.

Gwahoddwyd Dr Richard Unsworth o Adran y Biowyddorau i roi sgwrs yn Delhi Newydd y mis yma i Gynhadledd Morwellt Genedlaethol gyntaf yr India.

Siaradodd am y modd y mae dolydd morwellt yn cefnogi diogelwch bwyd cymunedol a lleddfu tlodi trwy ranbarth yr Indo-Pasiffig.

I gael rhagor o fanylion ar unrhyw eitem a adroddwyd uchod, cysylltwch â’r aelod o staff dan sylw, neu anfonwch
e-bost at   Nicola Jones