Recent News from 2022

Swansea University’s Egypt Centre has been shortlisted for the Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award, it was announced today. 

How terrorist groups use social media, and how this can be countered, is the focus of a major international conference in Swansea, which brings together researchers, practitioners and representatives from governments and major tech companies around the world.

Feeding a growing population while reducing the environmental impact is an urgent challenge, but a major international conference at Swansea University will help by bringing together experts in integrated pest management. They will discuss new approaches to managing insect pests which will cut reliance on harmful chemical insecticides.

Singleton Park is set to get a new stretch of lighting to help keep students and staff safe.

Swansea University's Professor Serena Margadonna has been named one of the UK's Top 50 Women in Engineering (WE50) by the Women's Engineering Society (WES).

Swansea University has launched a new five-year strategy outlining its ambitions and aspirations to continue its work of ensuring a prominent place for the Welsh language within the institution and the local community.

An analysis carried out by Swansea University Science for School Scheme (S4), a widening access STEM outreach programme established in 2012, has found that it is having a positive impact on young people from poorer areas by improving their career aspirations, and opinions on studying science at university.

Swansea University has won more than £2 million of funding to continue the drive forward the impact of its wide-ranging research and innovation.

A trainee schoolteacher, a Costa Short Story Prize finalist, and an author whose work has been broadcast on BBC Radio 4, are among the 12 authors shortlisted for the 2022 Rhys Davies Short Story Competition.

Swansea University will be Swansea City’s front of away shirt partner and will sponsor the club’s travel and training wear for the forthcoming 2022-23 season.

Technocamps has been awarded a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) STEM Inspiration Award for Outstanding Contribution to Widening Participation, Diversity and Inclusion in STEM.

The Swansea region could become a centre for natural products – from biopesticides to natural alternatives in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals – as funding has just been confirmed for a feasibility study into setting up a new hub to support research and businesses in this fast-growing sector.

The life and work of Ludwig Wittgenstein, the Austrian-British philosopher regarded by many as the greatest philosopher of the 20^th century, is to be celebrated with a series of events hosted by Swansea University in partnership with the Austrian Cultural Forum London and the Wittgenstein Initiative in June 2022.

The issues now facing visitor attractions around the world are explored in the latest edition of a book edited by a Swansea University tourism expert.

Swansea University hosted the launch of the Swansea Bay Healthy Travel Charter, signed by 11 leading organisations from across the region.

Swansea University is pleased to sponsor one of the main attractions at the Urdd National Eisteddfod, the GwyddonLe pavilion, again this year – offering a full week of entertaining educational activities for children and young people.

Swansea University has ranked within the top 200 in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2022.

A unique film project which brought together Swansea University students, staff and the community to showcase the beauty of Gower will be officially launched next month.

The breadth of Swansea University’s world-leading research was put in the spotlight at the Research and Innovation Awards 2022, with fourteen projects named as winners.

A Swansea University researcher is on the hunt for help to carry out a unique study into older Welsh speakers’ experience of care.

Swansea’s European links and research across the breadth of the institution will be strengthened when researchers working in Swansea and France meet in July, as part of a flourishing partnership with Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA).

Swansea University Employability Academy (SEA) has been nominated for five awards at the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) Awards for Excellence 2022.

With skin cancer rates rising, much of it preventable, a new research project is to explore the role of primary schools in Wales and assess the effectiveness of sun safety policies in protecting children. The results will help improve prevention of skin cancer in Wales and beyond.

New Carol Vorderman Maths Access Bursaries will enable nine students to be able to enter higher education at Swansea University with additional financial support.

Welsh researchers have found that health checks help improve survival for people with a learning disability, especially those with autism or Down’s syndrome.

A new research and innovation facility based at Swansea University has received a funding boost of nearly £2.5m to host a project that will trial innovative emission reduction strategies for the semiconductor industry to help the sector deliver on Net Zero ambitions.

American poet, novelist and essayist Patricia Lockwood has been awarded one of the world’s largest literary prizes for young writers – the Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize – for her debut novel, No One Is Talking About This (Bloomsbury Publishing). 

The publication of the Research Excellence Framework 2021 (REF2021) results today (12 May) shows that Swansea University has improved the proportion of its world-leading and internationally excellent research. In the 2021 assessment, 86% of the University’s overall research was rated as 4*, (world-leading) or 3* (internationally excellent) - up from 80% in the previous REF exercise in 2014.

Scientists at Swansea University, Biovici Ltd and the National Physical Laboratory have developed a method to detect viruses in very small volumes.

A Swansea University public health expert has been honoured by the prestigious Academy of Medical Sciences.

Seeing a larger number of species on urban coastlines - from marine animals to seaweed - is likely to improve the wellbeing of local people and visitors, new research from a team at Swansea University has revealed. The findings provide further evidence that biodiversity brings wide-ranging benefits.

Money can’t buy you love but it does make your profile more attractive when it comes to online dating. New research has revealed that level of education and income are particularly important, especially for men.

Queer short stories from Wales, the everyday voices of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the winning title of this year’s Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize are among the subjects set to delight audiences at the 35^th Hay Festival between 26 May - 5 June.

As many as four in 10 people in Wales who may have needed social care did not access its services during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new report.

Four midwives had special reason to celebrate this year’s International Day of the Midwife – it saw them being the first ever winners of a prestigious new honour.

Generations of surfers know there’s nothing like catching the perfect wave, but now new research has looked at just how beneficial the power of the sea can be.

Eight Swansea University academics are among the new entrants to the Learned Society of Wales’ Fellowship.

A chemistry PhD researcher has won two prizes at STEM for BRITAIN, a major scientific poster competition held at Parliament, which aims to give politicians “an insight into the outstanding research work being undertaken in UK universities by early-career researchers.”

The unique challenges facing health and wellbeing as we emerge from the pandemic into a new era have been highlighted in a new annual report launched today.

Hywel Dda University Health Board and Swansea University will work together to help improve the health and well-being of communities in the three counties under a new agreement.

Swansea researchers have developed a new method to stop a molecule from rotating using ultra-low energy, shedding new light on molecule-surface interactions.

Researchers will soon be able to reconstruct the climate of north-west Europe including the UK over the last 4500 years, and to date wooden buildings and objects more accurately, by analysing the chemistry of ancient oak trees, through a new Swansea-led project just selected for €3 million in European funding.

A Swansea University researcher’s pioneering work in the field of diabetes has helped earn her a major funding boost.

Menstrual cycle education in UK schools is inconsistent and inadequate, and teachers feel they lack time, confidence, and subject knowledge, according to new research led by Swansea University.

Swansea University has been shortlisted in the Outreach and Widening Participation Submission Award category of this year’s Whatuni Student Choice Awards.

Welsh food wholesaler Castell Howell and the new Swansea Arena will be the principal sponsors for Swansea University at this year’s Welsh Varsity returns.

Entrepreneurial students received a major boost for their business ideas at Swansea University’s annual Big Pitch Competition, sponsored by Santander Universities.

A new review by Swansea University, working with the University of Kent and non-profit organisation, Autistic UK, has found that breastfeeding support from midwives and health visitors is often not well suited to meet the needs of Autistic women.

Leading researchers within the Faculty of Science and Engineering are continuing a successful partnership with a leading rainforest research programme in Borneo following a new £330,000 research grant.

Swansea University and Aspire2Be have been recognised as highly commended at the National Undergraduate Employability Awards for their collaborative project, iBroadcast.

Swansea University has delivered its best-ever performance in a leading global university ranking by subject released today.

A research project aimed at bringing a truly circular economy one step closer, has received a £1.2 million research grant from the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC).

A Swansea University student has won £1,000 in a competition for his idea to create an online database for suppliers, manufacturers and dealerships in the automotive industry.

A Swansea University academic has won the Agronomy Best PhD Thesis Awards for his research to establish a new combination of methods for the earlier detection of plant disease in food crops, which could have global economic and environmental impact.

Swansea University is playing a key role in helping shape youngsters’ knowledge about migration at a unique new city exhibition.

The shortlist for one of the world’s largest literary prizes for young writers – the Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize – has been announced. From Sri Lanka to Trinidad, Texas, and Ireland via the Middle East, this year’s shortlist features a powerful, international collection of writers who are offering platforms for under-represented voices.

A novel and eco-friendly nano asphalt binder has been developed by researchers at Swansea University and the Technical University of Braunschweig.

Could the length of a person’s fingers provide a clue to how ill they might get after contracting Covid-19?

Swansea University has signed the Technician Commitment, joining more than half of UK universities and several research institutions in backing a pledge to support their technicians.

A Swansea geographer has recently returned from the Amazon with vital data on giant trees of over 80 metres, which she first helped discover in 2018. As a result of this work, the State government in Brazil has pledged to enact a Bill to protect them and their surroundings.

Swansea University showed its commitment to sustainability by going green to mark Global Recycling Day.

PhD students from Swansea University have been sharing their cutting-edge research into artificial intelligence with colleagues in America.

Two Swansea University researchers have won travel scholarships from the Worshipful Livery Company of Wales, which will allow them to further their research and share it with fellow experts.

At Swansea University, we join with universities and academic organisations around the world in condemning unequivocally the Russian state’s decision to invade Ukraine. 

HRH The Countess of Wessex, patron to The Scar Free Foundation, visited the world-leading facial reconstruction research programme based at Swansea University, meeting patients who could benefit from these ground-breaking studies.

Stronger links with Oman and Qatar were the subject of discussions during a visit by a senior Swansea University delegation to the Cultural Attaches’ offices for both countries in London.

Swansea University chemical engineers are finding new ways to capture and reuse carbon by turning it into useful products to help tackle the climate crisis.

Scientists at Swansea University have launched a major study to discover how everyday pollutants impact the development and health of fetuses and children.

A new Ofcom-commissioned study has revealed UK network news providers have enhanced their coverage of devolved topics, largely due to the pandemic.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson will be speaking about the challenges she has faced and how she has overcome them, following the International Women’s Day 2022’s theme #BreakTheBias.

New technology that could store heat for days or even months, helping the shift towards net zero, is the focus of a new project involving the Active Building Centre Research Programme, led by Swansea University, which has just been awarded funding of £146,000.

Thomas Spriggs, a PhD research student at Swansea University, is to present his physics research in Parliament, to a panel of expert judges and politicians, as one of the finalists in STEM for Britain 2022.

Swansea University has been named in the UK’s top 100 most inclusive employers for LGBTQ+ staff, for the sixth time in a row.

If you are looking to return to education or just want to see what it is like to study, Swansea University is offering a series of free sessions to give you first-hand experience.

Swansea University has been awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in recognition of its Materials Science and Engineering research that is leading a revolution in renewable energy technologies, particularly solar electricity and heat generation and storage. 

A new app has just been launched that puts the power to rate and help improve communities in the hands of young people.

UK Government Minister David TC Davies has visited the £132 million Swansea Bay City Deal Campuses project to see how the technology for Smart Garments has been developed and was used by athletes, including medal winners, in last year’s Tokyo Olympics.

Swansea University has launched a new digital resource pack for 9-11-year-olds which will help pupils learn about Swansea’s globally significant copper industry while developing their literacy, numeracy and digital competency skills.  

Young people were the hardest hit as the second Covid-19 lockdown took its toll on the mental health and wellbeing of the Welsh population, new research has revealed.

A Swansea University study is seeking participants to explore public attitudes to social care in Wales following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The UK is an ‘international outlier’ in its approach to protecting children from Covid, argue experts in The BMJ today.

Researchers from Swansea University and SAIL Databank are playing a key role in a multi-million pound international project to improve the safety of medicines given to mums-to-be and breastfeeding mothers. 

Professor Kelly Mackintosh from Swansea University's School of Sport and Exercise Sciences has been recognised as a world-leading expert in sedentary behaviour.

The international longlist for one of the world’s largest literary prizes for young writers – the Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize – has been announced. From Sri Lanka to Trinidad, Texas, and Ireland via the Middle East, this year’s longlist features a powerful, international collection of writers who are offering platforms for under-represented voices.

A new study by Swansea University and the RAF Benevolent Fund has been published, exploring wellbeing issues among serving RAF personnel, with a key focus on problem gambling, alcohol use and mental health.

Swansea University has announced the appointment of Niamh Lamond as Registrar and Chief Operating Officer, following a competitive external recruitment process. Niamh has been covering the role in an interim capacity since July 2021 and will now continue in post on a permanent basis.

An initiative involving Swansea University that has transformed how data can be used to provide insight into social and economic issues in Wales will continue, thanks to an investment of almost £17 million.

Swansea University’s commitment to promoting a circular economy has led to it winning international recognition.

In a unique study, researchers from Swansea University (UK) and the University of Cape Town in South Africa have used GPS collars to study the collective behaviour of a troop of baboons living on the outskirts of the City of Cape Town.

Following a two-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the date for the 2022 Welsh Varsity between Cardiff and Swansea Universities has been confirmed.

Policies to tackle COVID-19 are more likely to get broad public support if they are proposed by experts or bipartisan coalitions, rather than by politicians from only one party, a new study of seven countries involving a Swansea University academic has shown.

The importance of wellbeing and its role in health has been highlighted in a new paper by Swansea University academics.

Swansea University and Swansea Bay University Health Board have launched a new partnership with the Human Milk Foundation (HMF) that will see a donor milk bank hub in Wales for the first time.

A new spatial database of dams and other river obstructions built partially or fully across the world's largest rivers has been published.

Young people with a history of mental health and drink and drug issues are more likely to die than those with a mental illness or who use substances alone.

A public health expert recognised by the Queen says his honour is a reflection of just how highly the work of Swansea University’s SAIL Databank is regarded.

Secondary school children struggled to concentrate and engage with schoolwork in the move to online learning during lockdown, negatively affecting their confidence and wellbeing, according to a new study. 

A Swansea law expert has been awarded €1.5 million to examine how public perceptions of deepfakes – AI-manipulated images, videos or audio – affect trust in user-generated evidence of human rights violations.

Professor Tavi Murray, Professor of Glaciology in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Swansea University has been awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours list for services to Glaciology and Climate Change Research.