Glamorgan News

The Transit of Venus: public lecture

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:29:50 +0100

DIARY MARKER

DATE: Thursday 31 May 2012 at 7.30pm

EVENT: The Transit of Venus: public lecture

Martin Griffiths, Senior Lecturer in Astronomy will outline the history of transits of Venus, their importance, and will present advice on how to observe the transit safely.

The phenomenon will not repeat for another 105 years: the next time a transit of Venus happens will be in 2117! The Transit this year (2012) is only the second to occur this century, the last being in 2004.

Martin Griffith’s public lecture detailing the Transit of Venus will take place in room GT 7119 in the Aneurin Bevan building on the University of Glamorgan’s Glyntaff Campus at 7.30pm on Thursday 31 May 2012.

The University will also be arranging an observing session to watch this event. It will take place on 6 June 2012 from 4am at the car park at the top of Bwlch y Clawdd mountain on the A4061 between Nantymoel in the Ogmore Valley and Treorchy in the Rhondda Valley as this elevation will provide a perfect north east horizon to observe the rising Sun. This is an open session and all are welcome to come along and view this fantastic phenomenon.

For more information on the transit visit the news pages.

Glamorgan fashion student shortlisted in international competition

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:48:51 +0100

A University of Glamorgan fashion student has become one of only four from the UK selected to take part in a prestigious international competition.

Mia Gebauerova successfully passed the first round of the Arts of Fashion Competition 2012 thanks to sketches and technical specifications she submitted to the judging panel.

Mia, 21 is originally from the Czech Republic, and is currently in the first year of the BA (Hons) Fashion Design course at the University’s Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries.

This year there were 330 applicants for the competition from 107 Fashion Schools and Universities from 35 different countries, with only 4 students from the UK making the shortlist. Mia is the only UK student outside of a London fashion school to have secured a place in the final.

The winning designs will be selected at the Arts of Fashion Symposium in San Francisco this October.

The winners of the contest will receive scholarships to the Arts of Fashion 4-week summer masterclass at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in the Louvre, Paris. They will also have the opportunity to take part in internships with international fashion houses in Paris, New Delhi and San Francisco.

“I am very pleased to have a place in such a small, exclusive group of UK students” said Mia. “It is a brilliant opportunity to show my designs world-wide, and a place on one of the internships would be great for my CV.”

Mia’s concepts for the competition are partially inspired by trees and wood. “My father restores antique furniture and I have been always been fascinated with the quality of wood grain and the beautiful patterns it contains” explains Mia. “My collection references the patterns created by growth rings. I have used them to circulate, twist and envelop the body.”

Tracy Pritchard, Head of the University’s Division of Fashion and Retail Design, is impressed that Mia is already making her mark in the world of fashion so early in her career. “Mia is only just coming to the end of her first year on the fashion design course and already she’s receiving recognition for her talents in a competition of international significance” said Tracy. “Regardless of whether or not Mia’s designs are selected in the final later this year, I am very excited to see what the future has in store for her.”

See some of Mia’s sketches below.

Glamorgan University astronomers boost ESA’s asteroid hunt

Wed, 23 May 2012 12:29:36 +0100

A partnership with the University of Glamorgan’s Faulkes Telescope Project (FTP) promises to boost the European Space Agency’s research, while helping school students to discover potentially dangerous space rocks.

The European Space Agency’s Space Situational Awareness programme is keeping watch over space hazards, including disruptive space weather, debris objects in Earth’s orbit and asteroids that pass close enough to cause concern. The asteroids – known as ‘near-Earth objects’, or NEOs, since they cross Earth’s orbit – are a particular problem.

Attempts to survey and catalogue hazardous asteroids face a number of difficulties. The asteroids are often jet black or at least very dark, they can approach rather too close before anyone sees them, and they are often spotted only once and then disappear before the discovery can be confirmed.

Astronomers at Glamorgan will be using the Faulkes Telescopes in Hawaii and Australia to help detect and track NEOs, with school students and amateur astronomers assisting the research efforts. FTP and ESA are turning to students and amateurs to ‘crowdsource’ observations as part of Europe’s contribution to the global asteroid hunt.

“The link up with the European Space Agency (ESA) is recognition of the great work that our users are doing in supporting real scientific research programmes” says Dr Paul Roche, Director of the Faulkes Telescope Project and Head of Astronomy at the University of Glamorgan. “We will be enabling school students to work alongside ESA space scientists, assisting them in their studies of the potential threat from space debris near the Earth’s orbit”.

Scientists at ESA are looking forward to the chance to share their research with a wider audience. “The wider astronomy community offers a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm, and they have the time and patience to verify new sightings; this helps tremendously,” says Dr Detlef Koschny, Head of NEO activity at ESA’s SSA programme office. “In return, we share observing time at ESA’s own Optical Ground Station in Tenerife and provide advice, support and professional validation. We’ll assist them in any way we can.”

The Faulkes Telescope Project runs both educational and research programmes and has a strong record in public education and science outreach, both in the UK and internationally. Last summer, 18-year old Cardiff school student Hannah Blyth discovered over 20 asteroids in a month-long pilot study to test the feasibility of this work.

Business leaders share skills for success

Wed, 23 May 2012 11:03:22 +0100

Five, free, workshops are on offer throughout June and July for the Welsh business community.

Businesses in the South Wales Valleys have a unique chance to share the skills and lessons of inspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders.

The workshops will provide a taste of the knowledge and skills on offer through the Elevate Cymru programme – covering leadership, management and high-performance working topics – essential to everyday business life.

Elevate Cymru is part of the Work Based Learning programme, funded by the EU’s Convergence European Social Fund, through the Welsh Government. This is a pioneering project that offers funding to private sector companies for skills development via the sort of courses your business demands for success.

The two-hour, taster workshops have attracted a number of forward-thinking speakers who will share their experience in the area of sales; marketing, social media, public relations; human resources and networking.

Delegates will also learn how Elevate Cymru’ funded support can make a difference to their organisation. From provision of a programme of short, university-accredited courses; through to a bespoke training programme, tailored and delivered to teams at the business premises.

Elevate Cymru Heads of the Valleys Network programme manager, David Colebourne comments, “The timing of the Elevate Cymru programme couldn’t be more fitting as the economy continues to struggle and budgets for staff development come under pressure. This can be a real threat to company performance as research has shown that effective leadership and management development improves organisational performance by up to 23 per cent.”

For private sector companies based in the Convergence areas of Wales, or employees either living or working in the Convergence areas, then support provided by the programme is either fully or part-funded.

Training cuts a risk to business

Mr Colebourne continues, “Business success rests with the ability to attract the right team; and develop their skills to meet critical challenges like cutting costs, cultivate innovation and maximise new opportunities. This is where Elevate Cymru can help.”

“The Elevate Cymru programme has already attracted a number of ambitious Valleys-based companies wishing to be ahead of their game. They’ve benefited from tailored face-to-face support to help identify the skills obstacles to growth and develop training programmes absolutely right for their business. In the process, they will address crucial business challenges as staff undertake assignments relevant to their organisation.”

For details of the taster events which include networking opportunities with peers to spark ideas and discuss new business opportunities visit http://fbs.glam.ac.uk/campaign/elevate-cymru/

ELEVATE CYMRU – HEADS OF THE VALLEYS NETWORK – FREE TASTER WORKSHOPS

29 May 2012 – Greenmeadow Community Farm, Cwmbran
13 June 2012 – Orbit Business Centre, Merthyr (8 – 10 am)
28 June 2012 – Tredomen Innovation Centre, Caerphilly (8.30 – 10.30am)
4 July 2012 – ViTCC Centre, Blaenau Gwent (4 – 6pm)
10 July 2012 – ESIS Conference Centre, Nantgarw (8 -10am).

Editors Notes:

The Elevate Cymru project is part of the Work Based Learning programme, funded by the European Social Fund, through the Welsh Government. It aims to

Enhance Welsh educational standards within the Convergence area of Wales (West Wales and the Valleys)
Enhancing access to Higher Education for those in private sector employment
Provide bite-sized learning for those in private sector employment

The Elevate Cymru ‘Heads of the Valleys Network’ – a partnership of University of Wales, Newport; University of Glamorgan and Universities Heads of the Valleys – supports businesses located in the convergence area counties of Merthyr, Ebbw Vale, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Caerphilly and Torfaen (the latter three jointly with Elevate Cymru SE Wales Network).

All courses are accredited by University of Glamorgan/University of Wales Newport and can contribute to further qualifications.

For more information visit: http://www.elevatecymru.co.uk/

Glamorgan students commissioned to produce artwork for new hospital

Tue, 22 May 2012 15:27:52 +0100

Second year BA Art Practice students at the University of Glamorgan have been commissioned to produce artworks for Cynon Valley’s newest hospital.

18 students opted to pitch for the commission within their professional studies live project module, a part of their degree. They worked to a specific brief given to them by Cwm Taf Health Board to produce the artworks, which were a combination of paintings, drawings, photographs, prints, computer generated images and textiles.

Keith Powell from Cwm Taf Health Board said: “We commissioned students to produce artworks for waiting areas and ward day rooms for the adult and elderly patients who will be staying in Ysbyty Cwm Cynon. We are extremely pleased with the students’ efforts and the range of the work produced. We hope that patients and staff will enjoy these artworks based on the theme bringing the outside in.”

Participating student Gill Powell, whose work was selected by staff at the hospital said: “I really enjoyed the hospital project and the chance to work on a live project outside of the University. It gave me an invaluable insight into how to do commissioned art work for public spaces; the planning, preparation and presentation of work. The staff and everyone at Cynon Valley hospital made me feel very welcome and appreciative of the work I had done and I hope they enjoy the chosen pieces for years to come.”

Artist and University of Glamorgan lecturer Heather Parnell said: “this has been a great experience for the students, it gives a taster of how professional artists can use their art skills to enhance public spaces and the professional skills needed to present and complete artworks to a brief. This is one of six art projects at Ysbwty Cwm Cynon, it’s been a fantastic opportunity for students to participate.”