‘A Volatile Nile: 6,000 Years of Environmental Change in Northern Sudan’

Aberystwyth University alumnus and Professor of Physical Geography at Manchester University, Professor Jamie Woodward returns to his alma matter this week to deliver the latest Department of Geography and Earth Science Centenary lecture.

Professor Woodward, who graduated in Geography from Aberystwyth University in 1986, will lecture on ‘A Volatile Nile: 6,000 Years of Environmental Change in Northern Sudan’.

Open to all, the lecture takes place in A6 in the Llandinam Building on the Penglais campus at 6pm on Wednesday 23 May 2018.

Professor Paul Brewer, Head of the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences said: “It is always a pleasure to welcome back to Aberystwyth alumni who have made a significant contribution in the field of Geography and Earth Sciences, particularly as we celebrate our centenary. In a world challenged daily by the consequences of environmental change, understanding how changes to the environment over thousands of years have affected the cradle of humanity will be both fascinating and pertinent to the world we live in today.”

Professor Woodward is ageomorphologist with particular interests in the nature and impacts of environmental change in the Mediterranean region and the Nile basin.

He is currently working on two projects in the Nile Valley of Northern Sudan with archaeologists from the British Museum exploring the relationship between human activity and environmental change over the last 10,000 years.

The work, funded by the Australian Research Council and the Leverhulme Trust, also sees him collaborate with colleagues at Aberystwyth University and the universities of Adelaide, Durham, Bergen and Manchester.

Professor Woodward is Editor of Geoarchaeology: An International Journalsince 2007, and in 2016 published The Ice Age: A Very Short Introductionwith Oxford University Press.

Links:
Department of Geography and Earth Sciences
https://www.aber.ac.uk/cy/dges/

Professor Jamie Woodward
https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/jamie.woodward.html

Geography and Earth Sciences Centenary Lecture series
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/dges/about/centenary/events/centenarylectureseries/

Carmarthenshire Council environmental health officers will be out and about in the county raising awareness of excessive dog barking as part of Noise Action Week (running through to May 26).

Excessive dog barking is the number one noise complaint dealt with by Carmarthenshire County Council’s environmental health team.

Officers will be visiting attractions popular with dog owners to raise awareness of the issue and handing out leaflets about what can be done to help minimise dog barking.

This week officers will be at:
Parc y Bocs Farm Shop, Kidwelly, Thursday, May 24 from 2pm-4pm
Llansteffan Beach, Friday, May 25, from 9am to 11am.

Executive board member responsible for public protection, Cllr Philip Hughes, said: “Excessive dog barking is our number one noise complaint, in terms of volume, so as part of Noise Action Week our officers will be out raising awareness amongst dog walkers and owners of the problems excessive dog barking can cause.”

The council has a team of officers, who have recognised specialist qualifications in the field of acoustics and noise control, who deal with around 900 noise complaints every year.

Make a complaint about excessive dog barking –

https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/home/council-services/environmental-health/noise-complaints/#

Age Cymru, the national charity for older people in Wales, has appointed Victoria Lloyd as its new chief executive. 

Victoria, who lives in Monmouthshire with her husband and two children, was previously director of policy and programmes at the charity before taking up the role of interim chief executive for the last six months.

Speaking about her appointment, Victoria said: “I feel privileged to be able to take on this role.  Age Cymru is a fantastic organisation and I’m looking forward to continuing to work with the talented and committed team of staff, trustees and volunteers here as we work to drive positive change for older people in Wales.

“There have been big leaps forward for older people in the last twenty years, but there is a huge amount to do to overcome the ageism that continues to permeate our society and to ensure that older people have the income, care and support they need in later life.”

Welcoming Victoria’s appointment, the charity’s chair of trustees, Keith Jones, said: “With an ageing population in Wales there are many challenges and opportunities facing older people so I am delighted that we have someone with Victoria’s skills, experiences and expertise at the helm.

Victoria is well respected by civil servants and older people’s representatives throughout Wales and so I very much look forward to working with her to help deliver an age friendly Wales.

This summer and for the third year running, Aberystwyth University will be sponsoring Maes B, Wales’ premier Welsh language music festival which takes place in Cardiff Bay from 8-11 August.

With less than three months to go before the National Eisteddfod in Cardiff this year, organisers have announced the line-ups for Maes B and several bands have close links with Aberystwyth University.

As the details were announced, Dr Rhodri Llwyd Morgan, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Welsh Language and Culture and External Engagement at Aberystwyth University, said: “This is undoubtedly the biggest annual event of the Welsh music scene and Aberystwyth University is delighted to lend its support as main sponsor. Maes B provides a showcase for the scene’s top musical talent and it is fitting for us as a University to support an event which gives thousands of young people in Wales the opportunity to enjoy the very best of contemporary Welsh artists.”

Organiser Guto Brychan, said: “It’s great to announce the line-ups for Maes B, and we are delighted that the festival will be held in Cardiff Bay, close to all the other Eisteddfod activities.

“We’ve got strong and varied line-ups this year, combining some of the biggest names in the scene with newer artists like Los Blancos, Cadno and Serol Serol, creating evenings which will appeal to fans of all the different genres of music in the scene at the moment.

“Maes B is a very important stage for the Welsh scene, and is a chance for the audience to hear new and alternative bands on the same line-up as more famous names. This can only be a healthy thing for the scene.

It’s fair to say that every band and artist gigging in Wales has dreamed of headlining Saturday night at Maes B during their careers.

This year sees Yr Eira take the coveted slot. Lead singer and Aberystwyth University alumnus Lewys Wyn, said: “It’s good to be able to announce that we’ll be closing Saturday night at the 2018 Eisteddfod.

“Over the past few years, this slot has grown to be one of the most – if not the most memorable – night in the Welsh calendar, so it’s an honour to be headlining this year.  We’re not going to break any records like Yws Gwynedd did last year but I’m sure there’ll be a few exciting surprised this year, so bring your grandmother, grandfather and hamster, as this will be a party to remember!”

2018 Maes B Line-ups:
Wednesday 8 August: Band Pres Llareggub, Y Cledrau, Cadno, Gwilym
Thursday 9 August: Yr Ods, HMS Morris, Omaloma, Serol Serol
Friday 10 August: Y Reu, Mellt, Chroma, Los Blancos
Saturday 11 August: Yr Eira, Cpt Smith, Adwaith, Brwydr y Bandiau Winners

Maes B is also working on a new project in collaboration with Clwb Ifor Bach, organising workshops aimed at 16-25 year old women interested in music. The Merched yn Neud Miwsig sessions are held in Clwb Ifor Bach and Galeri during June.  Go to the location websites to book your place.

The Eisteddfod has already announced that the main act on the open air stage on Friday evening is Diffiniad, and details of all music line-ups will be published soon.

Maes B operates and enforces a strict Challenge 25 policy, and valid ID must be shown.  Details on acceptable forms of ID can be found on the Validate UK website, and these include a current full or provisional driving licence (with photo), current valid passport (no photocopies) or a Proof of Age Standards Scheme card (with PASS hologram).

Maes B tickets go on sale at 10:00 on Tuesday 29 May.  Go to www.maesb.com  for more information or ring 0845 4090 800.  Early bird tickets available until 30 June.  For more information on the Eisteddfod, go to www.eisteddfod.wales.

Photo: Aberystwyth University is a keen supporter of the Welsh music scene as sponsor of Maes B and Gowbrau’r Selar

Link:
Maes B
http://maesb.com/

An Aberystwyth University glaciologist has been recognised for his excellence in Antarctic and Southern Ocean research, and outstanding service to the international Antarctic community.

Professor Michael Hambrey, Emeritus Professor of Glaciology at the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, has been awarded the prestigious 2108 SCAR (Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research) Medal for Excellence in Antarctic Research.

A former Director of the internationally recognised Centre for Glaciology at Aberystwyth University, Professor Hambrey is a two-time winner of the Polar Medal (1989 and 2012).

His contribution to Antarctic research has also been recognised with the naming of ‘Hambrey Cliffs’ on James Ross Island in his honour in 2006.

Commenting on the award, Professor Hambrey said: “I am delighted and honoured to receive the 2018 SCAR Medal for Excellence in Antarctic Research. I have been fortunate to investigate modern glaciers in many parts of the world, and be able to use the knowledge gained to interpret older glacial sequences in Antarctica and elsewhere. This work could not have been undertaken without the wonderful collaboration I have had from colleagues around the world, notably the Antarctic community, with whom it has been a pleasure to work. I thank them for their contribution, and the SCAR Executive Committee in making this award.”

First awarded in 2006, the Medal for Excellence in Antarctic Research is awarded by The International Council for Science’ Scientific Committee on Antarctic Researchin recognition of sustained contributions to research over a career.

The award recognises Professor Hambrey’s ‘distinctive insights into the field of glaciology and of particular note the application of our understanding of modern glacial processes to interpreting ancient glacial sequences’.

His work has been acknowledged as ‘often the first thorough analysis in a particular sector, but if not, invariably ground-breaking’.

Selection for the SCAR Medal is based on a person’s outstanding contributions to knowledge and the impact of their work on understanding the Antarctic region, the linkages between Antarctica and the Earth system, and/or observations of and from Antarctica.

The medal will be awarded to Professor Hambrey at the XXXV SCAR Meeting, during the Polar2018 Conference Dinner in Davos on 21 June 2018.

Professor Hambrey joins a distinguished group of recipients of the SCAR Medal including Robert Dunbar (2016), Steven L. Chown (2014), John Priscu (2012), John Turner (2010), Angelika Brandt (2008) and Paul Mayewski (2006).

Photo: As well as the SCAR Medal, Professor Michael Hambrey has been awarded two Polar Medals and a ridge of cliffs in Antarctica have been named in his honour.

Links:
The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
https://www.scar.org/

SCAR Medal
https://www.scar.org/awards/medals/overview/

Professor Michael Hambrey
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/dges/staff-profiles/listing/profile/mjh/

Department of Geography and Earth Sciences
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/dges/

Centre for Glaciology, Aberystwyth University
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/dges/research/centre-glaciology/

Today, at Wales’ National team open training session in Wrexham, The Football Association of Wales announced their partnership with Welsh Hearts, The Heart Charity for Wales.

The long-term aim of the partnership is to deliver lifesaving defibrillators, equipment and training to all football clubs in Wales.

To kick off the partnership, the National team have donated their match fees to fund the first six defibrillators, one for every area association in Wales.

Wrexham based Llangollen Football Club were present at the training session to be the first recipients of the FAW and Welsh Hearts defibrillator fitted at their ground.

Harry Wilson, who grew up in Corwen just outside Llangollen, presented the club with their defibrillator alongside captain Ashley Williams and manager Ryan Giggs.

Football clubs and training facilities across Wales are often the hub of communities, used by many different teams and community groups. However, many of these integral community spaces currently do not have defibrillators installed.

This unique partnership between The FAW and Welsh Hearts aims to change that and ensure that in the future every player and spectator in every football club in Wales, no matter how big or small, will have access to a lifesaving defibrillator.

Football Association of Wales Medical Services Manager & Lead Physiotherapist, Sean Connelly added:

“At The Football Association of Wales, we recognize the importance of investing in the health and wellbeing of our footballers and the wider community groups using football facilities across the country.”

“With this partnership we will work together to fundraise to aid Welsh Hearts with the amazing work they do for heart health in Wales and together we hope that this equipment will minimise the terrible instances from sudden cardiac arrests that have occurred in football grounds across Wales”.

Sharon Owen, the Director of Welsh Hearts says:

“This initiative is a perfect match to the ambitious work of Welsh Hearts in communities throughout Wales. We believe the impact on lives will be far-reaching, as no one should die in Wales due to a lack of a public access defibrillator in the event of an emergency. They should be available everywhere. I am excited to work with the FAW as they are at the heart of communities in Wales.”

To join the Football Association of Wales and Wales’ leading Heart Charity help safeguard our footballers and spectators across the country you can donate via the JustGiving site: https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/welshhearts/faw

To apply for a defibrillator: http://welshhearts.org/online-defibrillator-application-form/

Photocall from today’s event:

Notes:

• Welsh Hearts, established by Sharon Owen, are the leading heart charity in Wales for placing defibrillators in communities and delivering CPR and defibrillator training in Wales.
• Cardiovascular disease accounts for a third of all deaths in Wales, where the death rate is higher than in the majority of countries in Western Europe.
• Research shows that over 90% of sudden cardiac arrests in young athletes happen either during or immediately after exercise and those with an inherited heart condition can be up to three times as likely to suffer a sudden cardiac arrest if they participate in intensive or strenuous exercise.
• A defibrillator is an automatic device that can be used by the public to shock the heart back into a normal rhythm during cardiac arrest.
• For every minute without CPR and defibrillation, a person’s chance of survival decreases by around 10 per cent.
• By performing CPR and using a defibrillator until an ambulance arrives, you can help double the victim’s chance of survival.
• Welsh Hearts aim to provide public-access defibrillators and free defibrillator and CPR training for the Welsh public in close partnership with strategic partners.