Tag Archives: White Rock

British Science Festival 2016 in Swansea …

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British Science Festival 2016

Last night the British Science Association (BSA) made the exciting announcement Swansea University will host the next British Science Festival, from 6th – 9th September 2016.

The annual four-day festival is Europe’s longest-standing national event connecting people with scientists, engineers, technologists and social scientists, and we are delighted the BSA has chosen Swansea to hold this vibrant celebration of science, technology, and engineering.

Swansea University is driving knowledge economy growth and hosting this iconic festival will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the power of science to deliver social and economic transformation.

The British Science Festival 2016 will focus on an audience of non-specialist adults with a broad interest in science, delivering 100 events specially curated by the BSA in partnership with the University.

World-leading academics from Swansea, as well as other institutions and organisations across the UK, will present, discuss, and debate cutting-edge science – across the scientific spectrum including technology, engineering, and social sciences – at a range of different events, from talks to performances.

A Fringe festival for families and community audiences will also take place on the weekend of 10th – 11th September 2016, coordinated by the University, the BSA, and local partners across the city.

We are thrilled the BSA has recognised Swansea’s phenomenal success in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014), as well as our ambition to make even greater strides in the future through our new science and innovation Bay Campus development, which opens in under two weeks.

We look forward to welcoming the British Science Festival to Swansea in 2016, which will again shine the international spotlight on our world-leading research.

For more information, please visit the BSA website.

 

Digital Past 2016 …

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Digital Past 2016

New technologies in heritage, interpretation and outreach.

10th–11th February, 2016

St George’s Hotel, Llandudno

Digital Past is a two day conference which showcases innovative digital technologies for data capture, interpretation and dissemination of heritage sites and artefacts. Running for the eighth year, Digital Past 2016 will be held in the elegant St George’s Hotel in the Victorian resort of Llandudno. The event will offer a combination of papers, seminars and hands-on workshops and demonstrations to investigate the latest technical survey and interpretation techniques and their practical application in heritage interpretation, education and conservation.

Call for contributions.

We are seeking submissions from those working on innovative projects on the themes outlined below in a research or operational capacity, who can contribute to this forward looking conference. Contributions can be made through formal presentations, seminars or workshops, or more informally through the ‘unconference’ session or a show stand. Please find details of the various formats below.

Themes:

The two main themes for this year’s conference are Digital Survey: An Integrated Approach (topics including, but not limited to, BIM, GIS, digital archiving, Big Data, utilising the Cloud, intellectual property, digital publication) and Digital Heritage Tourism (topics including, but not limited to, digital storytelling, gaming, engaging children, heritage tourism and regeneration, sustainability, heritage tourism platforms, Digital Tourism: Is it working?)

Papers:

20 minute papers presented in a conventional arrangement of presentation and PowerPoint format. Each session will consist of 4 such papers, with a 10 minute question and discussion period at the end of each session. Due to the tightly packed schedule, a strict adherence to time will be followed.

Seminar sessions:

45 minute seminars designed to promote discussion of a particular issue or topic. Each seminar will be led by two or three speakers on one of the themes above, providing 5 minute presentations with 30 minutes general discussion from the floor.

Workshops:

To be held on the morning of the 11th February. Workshops should offer practical, hands-on demonstrations or training in a particular aspect of digital technology with heritage applications. Workshops may be either a single session of 90 minutes or two of 40 minutes.

To make a submission for any of the above, please send a short outline (100-150 words) of your proposed presentation/seminar discussion/workshop to susan.fielding@rcahmw.gov.uk together with details of your name and organisation.

Unconference Session:

A series of 15 minute sessions which can be booked by any delegate attending on a first-come, first-served basis.  Booking will be available from 9.30am on the first day of the conference only. These sessions will allow for presentation on any project, research or issue relating to the use of digital technology in heritage. Presentations may be pre-prepared using PowerPoint, or purely in response to other discussions/issues raised during the event.

Stands:

A limited number of Exhibition or Poster stands will be available for a two-day booking. Larger stands are available at a cost of £215 or a Poster stand at a cost of £165 and include the cost of one conference registration (prices are not subject to VAT). Booking will be available via EventBrite when conference registration is opened.

Deadline for Submissions

The deadline for the submission of papers, seminars and workshops is Friday, 2nd October 2015. Decisions will be made after consideration of the merits of the individual submissions and their fit into the overall programme, and applicants notified by Friday, 16th October 2015.

Free registration for the event will be extended to those presenting a paper, seminar or workshop. Please note that while we are happy to have submissions which include more than one speaker, we can only offer one free registration per submission. We regret that no further expenses can be offered.

For overseas applicants, presentation of papers via live-web streaming may be considered.

For further information or any questions please contact Susan Fielding at susan.fielding@rcahmw.gov.uk or on 01970 621219

www.digitalpast2016.blogspot.co.uk

#digitalpast2016

We look forward to welcoming you to Digital Past in 2016.

PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS MESSAGE TO ANY COLLEAGUES YOU FEEL MAY BE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING. APOLOGIES FOR CROSS-POSTING

The Digital Past Team

RISW History Day, 26 September …

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John Ashley will give a talk on White Rock at the History Day to be held on Saturday 26 September in Swansea Museum. The event is held in conjunction with the Historical Association’s Swansea Branch. Details of a very full day, including the launch of the latest Minerva, at the RISW web site.

 

Local & Family History Fair 2015 …

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The Local & Family History Fair 2015 will be held for the fifth year at the National Waterfront Museum on Saturday 10 October. Formerly Local History . . . Live!, the event has been expanded to reflect the varied interests of participants and visitors.

All organisations with an interest in local or family history (indeed any kind of history!) are welcome to exhibit at this free event. Watch out over the next couple of months for news of additional attractions.

Participation and entry is free. Enquiries and bookings to info@friendsofwhiterock.org.uk, 0770 9900 788.

The Local & Family History Fair 2015 is organised by the Swansea Branch of the Historical Association.

John Ashley, Chair

www.haswansea.org.uk

www.facebook.com/pages/The-Historical-Association-Swansea-Branch/150985911663644

HA trip to St Fagan’s and Llantwit Major, 22 August …

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Places are still available on this trip on Saturday 22 August. Only £10 for members and £12 for non-members to have a full day out including transport and entry fees!

Enjoy a behind the scenes tour of St Teilo’s Church at St Fagan’s with a senior curator, and a guided tour of St Illtud’s Church at Llantwit Major. There will be plenty of free time at both venues to explore.

Full details at HA Trip Saturday AUGUST 22nd

 

Hafod-Morfa litter pick and weed, 9 July …

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Dear Hafod-Morfa Volunteers

The Hafod-Morfa Copperworks site needs a bit of weeding and litter clearing so I am proposing an evening session of litter picking and weeding session on 9th July between 4.30pm and 7pm. You might like to come for the whole thing, call in later, or head off earlier, according to your schedules.

Phil Davies from Keep Wales Tidy will provide gloves, some tools and litter pickers and will arrange for litter to be disposed of once again.

If you can make it, please let me know. I think we need a critical mass of half dozen people to make it worthwhile. If we don’t get it, I’ll propose another date.

Many thanks as ever for your support and best wishes,

Stuart Griffin

Hafod Copperworks Development Project
College of Arts and Humanities
Swansea University
Singleton Park
Swansea
SA2 8PP

01792 602617

Follow the Cu @ Swansea copper project at www.hafodmorfacopperworks.com

Find us on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Hafod-Morfa-Copperworks/381169952010109

See photos of the project on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/97373278@N07/sets/

Working Days Monday 9-5, Wednesday 9-5, Friday 9-12.30.

 

The Day the BAAS Came to Swansea: 1848 and All That, Swansea University 2 July …

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British Society for the History of Science Annual Conference 2015

Plenary Public Lecture

Professor Iwan Morus,  Department of History & Welsh History, Aberystwyth University

The Day the BAAS Came to Swansea: 1848 and All That

In August 1848 the British Association for the Advancement of Science held its annual meeting in Swansea – the first time the association had met in Wales. The previous two decades had been ones of enormous political and economic turmoil in Wales as towns like Swansea expanded and industrialized, and new elites came to dominate the local and national stage. When the BAAS came to Swansea, they came to a town in transition. In this lecture I want to look at that meeting from a number of perspectives, exploring what it meant to different people. 1848, of course, was a year of revolutions and almost revolutions across Europe. Did the BAAS’s visit to a provincial Welsh town mark some sort of revolution too?

Faraday Lecture Theatre, Faraday Building, Swansea University
Thursday 2 July 2015
5.00 pm – 6.30 pm

All Welcome!

Enquiries:  a.j.mosley@swansea.ac.uk

SMART NATURE Conference, 30 June …

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There are just two weeks to go before the SMART NATURE: Beacons to Bay Conference taking place at the Liberty Stadium on Tuesday 30th June. Over sixty people from a wide range of sectors have already booked but there are still some places available so if you haven’t already registered, please do so soon as places are limited. Attached is the provisional agenda for the event which gives you a flavour of what to expect.

The aims of the conference are to inform you about new approaches to managing the natural environment in Wales; to inspire you with positive examples of a more integrated approach; and to involve you by gathering your views and ideas about improving the local environment along the Tawe Corridor and across Swansea Bay.

This event is being organised by Swansea Environmental Forum and Natural Resources Wales as part of the Tawe Trial, which is exploring new approaches to managing our natural resources. Bookings can be made online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/P3FJR7Z  and the event is free of charge.

If you are involved in activities related to the environment, planning, regeneration, land management, community development, outdoor recreation, tourism, sustainability, education, health, etc. – this will be of interest to you.

Please feel free to forward this email to colleagues that you believe may also be interested in attending.

Best wishes

Philip McDonnell
Smart Nature Project
Swansea Environmental Forum

01792 898423 / 07531 431356

swanseapmd@aol.com

 

Plans to place river at heart of Swansea life

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http://www.swansea.gov.uk/article/17341/Plans-to-place-river-at-heart-of-Swansea-life

A THRIVING River Tawe that links a bustling Swansea city centre with a regenerated Hafod Morfa Copperworks site is envisaged in future.

Hafod Morfa Copperworks (Conceptual)

A vision document that’s now been released for the former copperworks site on the riverside includes the potential for a series of pontoons and landing stations along the river that would help accommodate boat trips for residents and visitors from the Maritime Quarter to the area of the Liberty Stadium.

Other developments include on-going Morfa Distributor Road works between the stadium and New Cut Road in a bid to boost nearby businesses, relieve traffic congestion in the Hafod area and open up riverside sites for regeneration.

Swansea Council and Swansea University are behind the regeneration of the Hafod Morfa Copperworks site. The vision document for the site’s future also includes proposals for a restaurant, an urban square, a living history laboratory and the restoration of historic features.

It’s thought the introduction of pontoons and landing stations along the river could help accommodate a local community rowing club as well.

The council is also researching potential uses for a plot of land close to the Maritime Quarter’s Sailbridge as it looks to market the site to developers in future.

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “We’ve already kick-started the regeneration of the city centre and waterfront with the marketing of the St David’s and Civic Centre sites, but we also recognise the importance of the River Tawe. The river has played a key role in Swansea’s development over the centuries but there’s a real opportunity to make it a focal point of Swansea life once again in years to come. We’re committed to preserving and celebrating as much of Swansea’s heritage as possible, which is why consultation we carried out on the city centre’s future earlier this year also included a focus on how we go about making best use of the river.

“Our recent 15-year agreement to work alongside experts at Swansea University to further regenerate the Hafod Morfa Copperworks site shows how seriously we’re taking our commitment. Our vision for the site isn’t just about conserving buildings of historic value – it’s also about making the most of the riverside by potentially introducing facilities like pontoons, landing stations, boat trips, housing, water-based activities and a restaurant. We’re looking to accelerate works on the Morfa Distributor Road to help bring about this riverside regeneration, tackle congestion in Hafod and benefit businesses in the area.

“These on-going works and plans will build on the success of Swansea Marina, the development of the University of Wales Trinity St David’s SA1 campus and the popularity of ventures like the Swansea Community Boat to re-enforce the river corridor as a key resource for transport, living, recreation and leisure. More railings could also be introduced along the river corridor in future if experts consider the scale of regeneration, activity and visitor numbers warrants it.”

New railings, trees, seating, bins, and public lighting have already been recently installed on the pedestrian and cycle path between the Tawe river bridges and Swansea Yacht Club.

Swansea Marina also again won prestigious blue flag status last month in recognition of its water quality, management and safety. Nearly all original railings at the marina have now been replaced with inwardly curving, stainless steel railings at quayside locations where people change direction or where there’s a high pedestrian footfall.

Subject to funding, other new facilities being proposed for the Hafod Morfa Copperworks site include a pedestrian bridge that links to the White Rock site, a new visitor centre, conference facilities and incubation units for start-up businesses.

With the support of Welsh Government, Cadw and European funds, progress on site has already included clearing vegetation, stabilising buildings at risk, improving access for visitors, community archaeology fieldwork, new pathways, an audio visual trail and new information panels.