Penglais From Practice to - Professor Mary King - Aberystwyth University

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Penglais From Practice to - Professor Mary King - Aberystwyth University
Interview with
From Practice to           Professor
Penglais                     Mary
                              King

   Hateful the man who loves not the
          country that nurtured him
Penglais From Practice to - Professor Mary King - Aberystwyth University
29                                                                                                                                                                                Contents
                                                                                                                     Moc Lewis
       brings together over 50,000
                                                                                                                     Welsh Culture Officer & UMCA President                               2     University News
alumni around the world with news
from Aber, our latest research and key                                                                               This year is quite different from the usual, but there is real       4     Creating a Centre of Excellence
developments across the campus.                                                                                      excitement as Pantycelyn re-opens its doors and continues                  for Bovine TB
                                                                                                                     to be a focal point for Aber’s Welsh culture. As part of the         6     Fundraising expedition to
Make sure you’re getting the most                                                                                    drive to reopen the Hall I was struck by the importance of                 North America, 1890
out of this alumni network – see ‘Stay                                                                               our alumni community and the invaluable contribution
connected’ section below.                                                                                                                                                                 8     Old College
                                                                                                                     that Pantycelyn has had over the decades. It’s now our
                                                                                                                     turn to write the next chapter. My aim is to try to engage           10    Old Students’ Association (OSA)
The Old College, medieval seals,
                                                                                                                     UMCA with the wider University and to develop an active              12    From Practice to Penglais
alumni volunteering, our new School
                                                                                                                     and vibrant Welsh language community. UMCA is here to                14    Interview – Professor Mary King
of Veterinary Science and lots more are

                                           Welcome
                                                                                                                     protect the rights and interests of Welsh-speaking students
packed into this latest edition.                                                                                                                                                          18    Giving to Aber
                                                                                                                     and we will continue to do so by sitting on various councils
We hope you enjoy reading Prom, as                                                                                   and boards within the University. We are                             20    New Impressions through
always. If you have any comments                                                                                     looking forward with enthusiasm to the                                     Medieval Seals
please get in touch.                      Dealing with the implications of a global pandemic was not on my           exciting Old College development and to                              22    What’s new on campus
                                          radar when I wrote my welcome message for the last edition of    .         contributing to its Project Board. It is a
Dylan Jones                               However, here at Aber we have faced the challenges head-on, and            unique resource to increase Aberystwyth
Alumni Engagement and Individual          our staff and students have adapted incredibly well to new ways of         University’s presence in the heart of the
Giving Manager                            working and learning.                                                      town, and is a golden opportunity
dej20@aber.ac.uk
                                                                                                                     for everyone, whether students or
                                          There is much to celebrate in this edition of Prom, not least the news     residents in the area, to immerse
                                          that Aberystwyth is the best UK university for teaching quality and        themselves in learning, culture
                                          student experience according to The Times / The Sunday Times Good          and creativity. It will be a huge
Stay Connected

                                                                                                                                                                                               14
                                          University Guide 2021 – this on top of another great performance in        boost to the local community
     @aber_alumni                         the National Student Survey 2021. I do hope that all our news and          as well as Wales and beyond.
     Aberystwyth Alumni |                 stimulating articles brings you further cheer as well as pride in the
     Cyn-fyfyrwyr Aber                    continued success of your University.

     +44 (0) 1970 62 1568                 I am grateful to all alumni and friends who have supported us in so
     alumni@aber.ac.uk                    many ways. On p.2, we launch the exciting news of a major European         Nate Pidcock
     aber.ac.uk/alumni                    Opportunities Fund providing grants for student placements in EU/EEA       Students’ Union President
                                          countries in support of our strategic objectives for student mobility.     It’s been exciting to welcome students back on to campus in

                                                                                                                                                                                                             20
                                          I am deeply grateful to William for donating a total of £525,000 to        what will be a quite different academic year. In my role I’ll be
Remember to keep your contact             establish the Fund. In launching the Fund with William in 2021, we         making sure the student voice is heard across the University
details and preferences updated, visit    will also pay tribute to the major impact of Aberystwyth alumni in the     and the several committees I sit on. I’ll be looking to improve
alumni.aber.ac.uk                         EU and Europe. These include Honorary Fellow Hywel Ceri Jones,             all aspects of student life. One of my main aims is to work                   29 | The Magazine of
                                          often referred to as the ‘Father of the Erasmus programme’, Gwyn           with the University to support students who are struggling                         Aberystwyth University
                                          Morgan, EU Ambassador to Israel and South East Asia and Honorary           with their mental health. This is a national agenda that needs
                                          Fellow Aneurin (Nye) Hughes, who sadly died in 2020 following a            our attention, made even more important following the
Privacy Policy                                                                                                                                                                            Published by: Aberystwyth University
                                          distinguished career in the EU, including as EU Ambassador to Norway       isolation that has partnered COVID. Having benefitted from
Our privacy statement gives additional    and Australia. Nye will be greatly missed by alumni friends around                                                                              Designed by: The Design Studio,
                                                                                                                     alumni funded projects myself, I recognise the importance
information on the data we hold on        the world and would, I am sure, have been heartened by the news                                                                                              Aberystwyth University
                                                                                                                     and impact that support has on the lives of students and I
you, how it is collected and processed,   of the Fund.                                                                               look forward to further developing the support       Printed by:    McLays
what we do with that data, and your
                                                                                                                                        of our amazing global community of 60,000         Cover:         Seal of Sibyl de Bonville
rights under GDPR. You can read the       Finally, thank you to all those who responded to the alumni survey and
                                                                                                                                        alumni. We’re excited by the Old College
new privacy statement in full here        for all the ongoing feedback we get from our alumni. As we approach
                                                                                                                                       project and want to play our part. It will bring
www.aber.ac.uk/en/development/            our 150th birthday year in 2022/23, there will be many opportunities for
                                                                                                                                       much need facilities for our students in           The views expressed in         are those of
data-protection                           you to re-join us here or meet us at an event elsewhere in the world,
                                                                                                                                       the town, creating a new hub of energy and         individual authors and do not represent the
                                          so do keep in touch. In the meantime, enjoy this edition of PROM.                                                                               University other than where stated. Although
                                                                                                                                          events, bringing together students and the
                                                                                                                                             community to support and celebrate           every effort has been made to ensure the
                                          Professor Elizabeth Treasure                                                                                                                    accuracy and reliability of material published,
                                          Vice-Chancellor                                                                                     each other.
                                                                                                                                                                                          the publishers accept no liability for claims
                                                                                                                                                                                          made by contributors.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1
Penglais From Practice to - Professor Mary King - Aberystwyth University
NEWS
    Awards and Accolades
                                                   Aberystwyth’s Old College redevelopment                                                                                Major research projects awarded funding                              University offers free
    Best UK university for teaching quality
    and student experience                         fundraising wins global award                                                                                          from European Regional Development                                   online training on
               Aberystwyth is the best             Aberystwyth University staff have won a prestigious global                                                             Fund                                                                 domestic abuse during
                                                   award for the first phase of their fundraising appeal to
               university in the UK for
                                                                                                                                                                          Two major research projects                                          COVID-19
               teaching quality and student        redevelop the Old College.
               experience, according to the
                                                                                                                                                                          by Aberystwyth University
                                                   The relatively new Development and Alumni Relations team at                                                                                                                                 A research project in the Department
               The Times / The Sunday Times                                                                                                                               and University College Cork
                                                   the University have succeeded in raising £12.3 million towards                                                                                                                              of Law & Criminology has been
               Good University Guide 2021,                                                                                                                                have been awarded funding
                                                   the costs of redeveloping the iconic seaside building in the                                                                                                                                offering free online training to
               as the University continues to                                                                                                                             by the European Regional
               climb the league tables.            town as a major cultural and creative centre for students, the                                                                                                                              frontline practitioners across the
                                                                                                                                                                          Development Fund as part of
                                                   community and visitors. That fundraising helped to trigger a                                                                                                                                United Kingdom dealing with cases
               Aberystwyth is ranked 1st in the                                                                                                                           the INTERREG Ireland-Wales
                                                   further £7 million from the Welsh Government and EU funding.                                                                                                                                of domestic abuse among older
               UK for Student Experience and                                                                                                                              programme.
               for Teaching Quality, up from
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               people during the current coronavirus
                                                   The fundraising efforts have now received world-wide                                                                   The ECHOES project will
               2nd last year. Aberystwyth has                                                                                                                                                                                                  lockdown.
                                                   recognition from the Council for Advancement and Support                                                               explore the effects of climate
               now been the top university in                                                                                                                                                                                                  Based at the Centre for Age, Gender
                                                   of Education (CASE) with a Circle of Excellence Award.                                                                 change on the habitats of two
               Wales for student satisfaction                                                                                                                                                                                                  and Social Justice, the Dewis Choice
               for five years in a row, and is     The Old College project competed with 2,752 entries from                                                               species of coastal bird in Wales and Ireland.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               project has been delivering face-to-
               now the top in the UK.              27 countries. Explaining their decision, the judges said the                                                           The 3.5 year study will look at how the habitats of the curlew       face training on domestic violence
                                                   Aberystwyth team had delivered: “Impressive results for a                                                              and the Greenland white-fronted goose might be affected by
    Aberystwyth celebrates another great                                                                                                                                                                                                       and abuse in later life to almost 6,000
                                                   new team in a short amount of time.”                                                                                   changes in the climate and what mitigative practices can be put
    performance in the NSS                                                                                                                                                                                                                     practitioners from the statutory and
               Aberystwyth is one of the UK’s      Louise Jagger, Director of the Development and Alumni                                                                  in place by land and site managers.                                  the third sector for the past five years.
               top universities for student        Relations Office at Aberystwyth University said: “Winning this                                                         The second project, entitled Brainwaves (Bilateral Regional          Demand for the training increased
               satisfaction, according to the      prestigious award is a wonderful boost to our fundraising                                                              Accord between Ireland and Wales for Agricultural Valorisation
               latest National Student Survey
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               earlier this year following widespread
                                                   as we launch the next phase of our appeal towards the                                                                  and Environmental Sustainability), will investigate how slurry and
               (NSS) which was published in                                                                                                                                                                                                    concern that the regulations on
                                                   total project costs of £27.6 million. This is all to achieve our                                                       wastewater from the dairy industry could be used to produce
               July 2020.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      staying at home and self-isolating
                                                   vision of opening a transformed Old College for the benefit                                                            a high-energy, low-cost and environmentally-friendly feed for        could lead to an increase in cases
               Aberystwyth is the best             of students, community and visitors as a major highlight                                                               livestock.
               university in Wales, and of all
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               of domestic abuse, particularly
                                                   of our 150th anniversary celebrations in 2023. The award
               the universities featured in The                                                                                                                           The project aims to use farm waste to grow duckweed - a fast-        amongst older adults and vulnerable
                                                   recognises the collective talent and ambition of our staff,
               Times / Sunday Times Good                                                                                                                                  growing plant biomass which can then be used as a protein            groups.
                                                   our donors and supporters, including alumni around the
               University Guide 2020, is one of                                                                                                                           source for feeding livestock.                                        Sarah Wydall, who leads the Dewis
               the top 5 universities in the UK    world, our community and charitable trusts and foundations.”
                                                                                                                                                                          If successful, the project will enhance the competitiveness of the   Choice project at Aberystwyth
               for overall student satisfaction.
                                                                                                                                                                          beef and dairy industry in Wales and Ireland by generating an        University, said: “The coronavirus
               With overall student                                                                                                                                       economically valuable feed as well as reducing farmers’ reliance     outbreak presents considerable
               satisfaction at 90%,                                                                                                                                       on importing protein-rich feed such as soy.                          challenges to the health and wellbeing
               Aberystwyth University              Philanthropist creates new European
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               of the nation as a whole. However,
               outperformed the UK figure of
               83% by 7 percentage points.
                                                   Opportunities Fund for students                                                                                                                                                             for older people experiencing abuse
                                                   Thanks to the philanthropic support of William Parker (History                                                                                                                              by intimate partners or adult family
    Gold and silver for Aberystwyth at                                                                                                                                                                                                         members, the current lockdown can
                                                   1981), the University will launch a new European Opportunities
    Whatuni student choice awards 2020                                                                                                                                                                                                         significantly increase the risk of harm.
                                                   Fund in 2021. The £525,000 Fund will provide grants of up to
               Aberystwyth University was                                                                                                                                                                                                      By offering online training and copies
                                                   £3,000 for undergraduate and Taught Masters students to fund
               awarded gold and silver in                                                                                                                                                                                                      of our practitioner guidance, we will
               three of the main accolades         the costs of short study, work or volunteering
                                                                                                                      Photo: Liz Cutting, British Trust for Ornithology

                                                   placements in an EU or EEA country.                                                                                                                                                         be able to equip frontline staff with
               in the 2020 Whatuni Student
               Choice Awards.                                                                                                                                                                                                                  the resources to provide the best
                                                   William said “The Fund will enable students
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               possible response.”
               Aberystwyth scooped gold in         to continue to benefit from European
               the Postgraduate category for a     experiences post-Brexit, to make key                                                                                                                                                        Dewis Choice – Transforming the
               third consecutive year. It also     lifetime professional or social friendships and                                                                                                                                             Response to Domestic abuse in later
               came top in the International       networks and help strengthen cross cultural                                                                                                                                                 life is funded by the UK Portfolio
               category, after two years in
                                                   links. I am delighted to be in a position to                                                                                                                                                fund and Comic Relief, and is the
               second place. Aberystwyth                                                                                                                                                                                                       first dedicated service to older people
               also picked up a silver award       reward the University for the 3 years I spent
                                                   studying which provided a springboard for my                                                                                                                                                experiencing domestic abuse, harm
               in the University of the Year
               category, which encompasses         subsequent working career”.                                                                                                                                                                 and neglect.
               reviews from every aspect of
               the student experience.
2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3
Penglais From Practice to - Professor Mary King - Aberystwyth University
FEATURE
                                                                                                                                                                                                    Bovine Tuberculosis
    Creating a Centre of Excellence                                                                                               the sometimes conflicting views of different stakeholders
                                                                                                                                  and pressure groups.                                              Key Facts

     for Bovine Tuberculosis (CBTB)
                                                                                                                                  M. bovis can also infect humans and its global eradication has    Bovine tuberculosis
                                                                                                                                  recently become the focus of a ‘One Health’ initiative led by     is caused by
                                                                                                                                  the World Health Organisation (WHO), the OIE, the Food and        the bacterium

     for Wales
                                                                                                                                  Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the      Mycobacterium bovis.
                                                                                                                                  International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (the    It is closely related
                                                                                                                                  Union) where medical and veterinary organisations work together   to Mycobacterium tuberculosis which
                                                                                                                                  to control diseases that infect both animals and humans.          causes human tuberculosis.

                                                                                                                                  Prof Glyn Hewinson has over 30 years of experience in bTB
                                                                                                                                  research. Previously he was the Chief Scientist for the Animal
                                                                                                                                  and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and led the bTB Research
                         by Professor Glyn                                                                                        at the Agency for over 20 years. He is one of three named
                         Hewinson FLSW                                                                                            OIE experts in bTB and was recently one of a small team of        The bacterium can also infect and cause
                                                                                                                                  experts who reviewed England’s 25 year bTB control strategy       disease in badgers, deer, goats, pigs and
     Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is the                                                                                             for the UK Government. His team includes two professors           camelids (llamas and alpacas), as well as
                                                                                                                                  of Veterinary Immunology, Prof Martin Vordermeier and Prof        many other mammals.
     most pressing animal health issue
                                                                                                                                  Bernardo Villarreal-Ramos who, between them, have over
     for Wales today. The economic                                                                                                fifty years’ experience in developing vaccines and diagnostic     A combination of milk pasteurisation and
     and emotional cost of bTB to rural                                                                                           tests for bTB. They are joined by a new Lecturer in Innate        other control methods have reduced the
                                                                                                                                  Immunology, Dr Amanda Gibson who joins Aberystwyth                number of human cases of TB caused by
     communities can be devastating                                                                                                                                                                 M. bovis in the UK from 50,000 in the
                                                                                                                                  from the Royal Veterinary College and further academic
     and each year it costs Welsh                                                                                                 appointments will take place over the coming year.                1930s to around 30 cases a year today.
     Government and industry over
                                                                                                                                  The CBTB has already launched two annual events: a bTB                                 In 2016, WHO
     £30 million pounds.                                                                                                          discussion session at the Royal Welsh Show, where it was                               estimated that
                                                  AberTB conference - Professor Elizabeth Treasure, Vice-Chancellor : Professor
                                                                                                                                  standing room only at the first event in 2019, and AberTB an                           globally there were
                                                  Glyn Hewinson : Professor Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Officer Wales
                                                   and Abi Reader MBE - current Chair of the NFU Cymru milk board and Dairy       annual conference that brings everyone interested in bTB                               14,700 new human
                                                                            Ambassador of the Year                                control together from the fields of animal health, veterinary                          cases of TB acquired

     I
                                                                                                                                  science, research, government and agriculture, to learn from                           from animals and
       n an important initiative for Aberystwyth University     Development Fund and has created 12 Sêr Cymru Chairs              each other about the latest advances in bTB control.                                   1,200 deaths due to
       and for Wales, Professor Glyn Hewinson FLSW, a           at Welsh Universities.                                                                                                                                   the disease.
       world expert in bTB, was appointed through the                                                                             The establishment of the CBTB is part of a number of
       Sêr Cymru II programme, to establish a Centre of         The vision of this project is to provide expert                   initiatives at Aberystwyth University to strengthen Veterinary              At the end of June 2020,
     Excellence for Bovine Tuberculosis in Wales.               independent advice to Welsh Government on the                     Science in Wales. Aberystwyth is the first and only university              there were 596 herds in
                                                                control of bTB, increase capacity for livestock research          in Wales to open a School of Veterinary Science. In                         Wales that were not officially
     The Sêr Cymru II programme accelerates the                 including immunology, veterinary bacteriology,                    collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), both                 TB free due to a bovine TB
     development of academic research expertise in Wales. It    genomics and molecular epidemiology in Wales and                  Aberystwyth School of Veterinary Science and the RVC                        incident.
     is funded by Welsh Government, the Higher Education        work with the best national and international research            will deliver and welcome the first cohort of students on
     Funding Council for Wales, participating Welsh Higher      groups and institutes such as the World Organisation              the BVSc Veterinary Science degree from September 2021,           In the 12 months to June
     Education institutions and the European Regional           for Animal Health (OIE). Knowledge generated from                 part funded by generous donations from alumni. The new            2020, 10,823 cattle were
                                                                this programme will support Welsh Government and                  Head of the Aberystwyth School of Veterinary Science, Prof        slaughtered in Wales due

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 23
                                                                                                                                  Darrell Abernethy, has over 17 years of experience in bTB         to bovine TB control.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               ,8
                                                                industry to reduce the costs of bTB control through

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             10
                                                                improved, targeted disease control strategies.                    research and led a team of epidemiologists in Northern Ireland
                                                                                                                                  advising government agencies on bTB control strategies. In
                                                                Bovine tuberculosis is found throughout the world and             other exciting developments, work is soon to be completed
                                                                is a deadly disease of cattle. Controversial measures to          on a new £4.2m state of the art veterinary hub (VetHub1) to
                                                                control bTB are often front-page news not least because           drive forward research to protect both animal and human           The UK has the highest level of bovine
                                                                of the role that one of the iconic mammals of the British         health. Led by Aberystwyth University and backed with a £3m       TB in Europe and it has been estimated
                                                                countryside, the European badger, plays in spreading              grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)          that if the situation is left unchecked it
                                                                the disease. As a result, many of the decisions that need         through the Welsh Government, VetHub1 will provide fully          would cost UK taxpayers £1 billion over
                                                                to be made about bTB control have to take into account            equipped, high-specification laboratories and office spaces.      the next ten years.
4                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5
Penglais From Practice to - Professor Mary King - Aberystwyth University
FEATURE

    ‘Hateful the man who
     loves not the country that
           nurtured him’
                      by Dr Calista Williams

     The University College of Wales, Aberystwyth’s        and entirely destroyed the Library. At the time of the
                                                           fire, the College had only been open for 13 years and
     fundraising expedition to North America, 1890.
                                                           was already struggling financially; the devastation

     O
                                                           caused by the fire placed the College in an extremely
             n the 9th July 1885 newspapers from across    precarious position. Nevertheless, an event that could
             Wales and beyond reported on a ‘Great Fire    have marked the end of this fledgling institution,
             at Aberystwyth College’ that had devastated   instead, triggered a wave of support that reached
             the Northern Wing of the seafront building    far beyond Aberystwyth. The newspaper Y Drych,
                                                           circulated amongst the Welsh speakers of the United
                                                           States, printed the College Principal’s patriotic call to                                                    Library under construction
                                                           arms: ‘[t]he college has at length had its baptism of
                                                           fire. It will arise from its ashes with a new life. Wales
                                                           will never now let it die.’                                 Edwards’ first stop on his tour was New York. A reception    other states gave less, such as Wisconsin, there was a
                                                                                                                       was held in his honour by the St David’s Society,            high level of engagement with the fundraising campaign,
                                                           Thomas Charles Edwards became the Principal of
                                                                                                                       presided over by Judge Noah Davies. Edwards lost no          with 227 people giving $205, just under a dollar each.
                                                           the College at its founding in 1872. Following the fire
                                                                                                                       time in mentioning the great debt of the college and
                                                           of 1885, he played a key role in fundraising for the                                                                     On his return to Wales, Edwards reported that ‘many
                                                                                                                       many of the Welshmen in attendance immediately
                                                           rebuilding of the College. In order to raise money for                                                                   opportunities were offered me to bring the claims of the
                                                                                                                       pledged donations publicly at the dinner, including
                                                           the new Library, Edwards planned a personal tour of                                                                      College under the notice of Welshmen there who still
                                                                                                                       Noah Davies who pledged $900.
                                                           North America to take place during the summer of 1890.                                                                   cherish love for “yr hen wlad”. The new Library officially
                                                           He chose to focus on the Library for his fundraising        When Edwards visited in 1890 there were just over            opened in 1892 and the event was attended by over 300
                                                           campaign because he thought it would appeal to the          100,000 Welsh in America, mainly in the states of            people. At the opening Lord Aberdare said that ‘the gift
                                                           Welsh Americans as, in Edwards’ words, they would           Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin. Welsh migrants             by the Welshmen of America was a mark of sympathy
                                                           want ‘to furnish the new Library with complete fittings     arriving in America tended to join family and friends        with the personal influence of Principal Edwards, and
                                                           in a style equal to the very handsome equipments of the     in established communities in urban-industrial areas         an indication of American generosity towards the cause
                                                           best American Colleges.’ Also, the cost of the library’s    such as Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Pittsburgh. The           of education…That room and its gifts from America
                                                           fixtures was estimated to be £1,000 ($5,000), which         Calvinistic Methodist chapel culture was central to          showed that blood was much thicker than water.’
                                                           Edwards deemed to be an achievable financial target.        these communities, which was ideal for Edwards,
                                                           Importantly, the Library was a space where a public         himself an ordained preacher, as he was able to address
                                                                                                                                                                                       Dr Calista Williams is the Lifelong Learning
                                                           inscription could be placed to commemorate those            large chapel congregations, without having to organise
                                                                                                                                                                                       Coordinator for Humanities and Science at
                                                           who contributed to the building fund. Edwards made          specific events.                                                Aberystwyth University. Her PhD was part of an
                                                           sure to tell North American donors about this planned                                                                       innovative collaboration with The National Library
                                                                                                                       Edwards raised approximately $4,530 of which three-
                                                           inscription, which would read:                                                                                              of Wales entitled The National Library of Wales and
                                                                                                                       quarters came from the states of Pennsylvania, New
                                                                                                                                                                                       national identity, 1870-1916. She is also a Lifelong
                                                           ‘Dodrefnwyd y Llyfrgell hon gan Gymry cenedlgarol yn        York and California, where the average donation was             Learning tutor and freelance genealogist. From
                                                           yr Unol Daleithau ac yn Canada 1890’ and included the       just under $12. In these areas some gave substantial            October 2020, Calista’s history and genealogy courses
                                                           proverb “Cas gwr na charo y wlad a’i maco” (This library    amounts, such as David Edwards from Plymouth,                   will be available to study online. Find out more here:
                                                           was furnished by the patriotic Welshmen of the United       Pennsylvania who gave $125. David Edwards was born in           www.aber.ac.uk/en/lifelong-learning/courses
                                                           States and Canada, 1890. Hateful the man who loves          Glamorganshire in 1825 and was president of Kingston            Email: caw52@aber.ac.uk
                                                           not the country that nurtured him.)                         Coal and director of Wilkes-Barre hospital. Although
                       Library plaque

6                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7
Penglais From Practice to - Professor Mary King - Aberystwyth University
NEW LIFE FOR OLD COLLEGE
                                                                                                                                     Be part of our vision and support the Old College 2020/23 Appeal

    New Life for Old College:                                                                                                        We have already raised £1.1 million of our £3 million
                                                                                                                                     Appeal target, thanks to early and generous donations
                                                                                                                                     from over a thousand alumni and friends around the
                                                                                                                                                                                                tax payer. Details of what your gifts would fund and
                                                                                                                                                                                                how they can be recognised at Old College can be
                                                                                                                                                                                                found at www.aber.ac.uk/en/oldcollege/old-college/

           Appeal update                                                                                                             world, and support from the Old Students’ Association.
                                                                                                                                     With your continued help, we are confident that we can
                                                                                                                                     achieve our target and make our vision a reality for our
                                                                                                                                                                                                donor-recognition

                                                                                                                                                                                                You can donate by returning the enclosed Appeal form
                                                                                                                                     students and staff and for all those who care so much      or by donating online at www.aber.ac.uk/appeal. Please
                          by Louise Jagger                                                                                           about the University and town.                             contact us on 01970 62 1568 to discuss a donation,
                          Director, Development and Alumni Relations                                                                                                                            donor recognition and for ideas on how your reunion
                                                                                                                                     The Old College Appeal will remain an urgent               group or networks could ‘crowdfund’ a donation and be

     O
                                                                                                                                     fundraising priority for my team and our Students Union.   permanently celebrated in Old College. We would also be
                                                                                                                                     We will be inviting alumni and friends to join together    grateful for any further ideas on Trusts we could approach.
                ur plans for the £27.6 million
                                                               Examples of donor
                                                                                                                                     and to donate whatever they can to our campaigns over
                transformation of Old College
                                                                                                                                     the next three years. All gifts will make a difference     Thank you in advance for your support.
                have continued at a pace since
                our last update in Prom on the              recognition opportunities                                                and we can help increase them by 25% if you are a UK       Louise
     launch of our 2020/23 delivery phase.
     I am pleased to report that the project
     remains on track. Old College will throw
     open its doors to students, community
                                                                        The Library | £1,000 +
                                                                                                                          50mm
     and visitors in spring 2023 as part of                                                                              Standard
     our 150th anniversary year celebrations,                                                                               size
                                                                       Dummy ‘Acoustic’ books on upper level
     heralding an exciting new chapter for the
     University and town.
     Our vision has become even more
     important and relevant in these
     challenging and uncertain times since
     March 2020. A transformed Old College
     will deliver much needed resources for our
     students, the University and our town and
     help strengthen the University’s reputation
     in an increasingly competitive and global                  Books positioned at plinth level and between 1.9M to 3.4M
     Higher Education sector.                                 1038No. Books on lower level if ‘standard size’ at 50mm width.

     You can read about the vital importance
     of the project to our resilience in the                 Named Seating | £2,000 – £5,000
     passionate Appeal letter from our two
                                                         Sponsor
     Student Union Presidents enclosed with
                                                         example
     your Prom magazine.                                    1

                                                                                                                                         We continue to work and refine activity plans with a wide range of groups through the Construction
     Under the leadership of Project Manager,            Sponsor
                                                         example                                                                         phase including: Academic departments, Students Union, Youth Board, our local community and our
     Jim O’ Rourke, staff and teams of external
                                                            2                                                                            project partners National Museum Wales, Hay Festival and National Library of Wales.
     specialists are working hard to pull                                                    £5,000 UK’s first Centre for Dialogue
     together the many moving parts of the                                                                                               Key project milestones
     project to ensure building works start in
     June 2021.                                                                                                                             •   September 2020 – Mather and Co appointed to develop the exhibitions across six galleries
                                                                                                                                            •   October 2020 – completely empty the building of furniture, art works and archives
     Our design plans have been commended
     for their innovation in delivering                                                                                                     •   December 2020 – complete construction designs and Listed Building Consent application
     creative spaces and solutions whilst                £2,000 Laboratory of Curiosities          £3,000 ‘Y Sgrin’ Cinema                  •   June 2021 – construction work to start on site
     preserving all that is so special about the                                                                                            •   April 2022 – appoint Old College Director and other staff
     building. You can see the latest design                                    Please visit
                                                      www.aber.ac.uk/en/oldcollege/old-college/donor-recognition                            •   January 2023 – final fit out to open in Spring 2023
     images on key spaces on our website
     www.aber.ac.uk/oldcollege                            for the full range of donor recognition opportunities

8                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             9
Penglais From Practice to - Professor Mary King - Aberystwyth University
VOLUNTEER                                                                                                                                                                                                                         OSA

     Alumni Volunteering                                                    Community Projects                               Alumni Survey
                                                                                                                                                        Old Students’ Association
                                                                            People’s Voices in a People’s War:               Thank you to all our
       Whatever stage you’re at in your career, volunteering                Aberystwyth 1939-1945 is a new community         alumni that gave their
                                                                                                                             time to complete the                                                   to support its projects and activities.
       is a fantastic way to give back to your University.                  project led by the Department of History
                                                                                                                             survey, your feedback
                                                                            and Welsh History and funded by the              is so important to help                                                And it offers opportunities for me to
       We’re incredibly grateful to over 300 Aber alumni around             National Lottery Heritage Fund. It brings        guide future activities.                                               demonstrate my gratitude for the skills
       the world who volunteered during 2019-20. You help us to             together the University, National Library                                                                               and confidence studying here gave
       enhance the student experience, improve career prospects, offer      of Wales, Ceredigion Archives, Ceredigion                                                      by Gwenda Sippings       me, by mentoring current students,

                                                                                                                                                        I
       industry insights, and provide valuable advice and guidance to       Museum, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, local                                                         OSA President 2018-21    making regular donations and being an
       the University and our departments.                                  schools, performance and heritage groups,                                                                               informal and enthusiastic ambassador
                                                                                                                                                           n these past months, like many of
       As volunteers, you continue to inspire, guide and advise the         and residents, to bring alive the experience                                                                            for the University. The OSA is over
                                                                                                                                                           you, I’ve had time forced upon me to
       next generation of Aber graduates.                                   of being at war 80 years ago.                    Over 1,400 of you                                                      125 years old now, and Covid has
                                                                                                                                                           do things I might not otherwise have
                                                                                                                             completed the survey                                                   encouraged members globally to
       Contact us at alumni@aber.ac.uk to learn more about                  The project will tell the story of Aberystwyth                                 prioritised. Like looking back through
                                                                            in WWII through performances, exhibitions        Just under 90% of                                                      keep in touch with each other, and
       volunteering opportunities.                                                                                                                      memories of my time as a student in
                                                                            and special events. An online blog will          you felt a connection                                                  even to maintain programmes of
                                                                                                                                                        Aberystwyth, long before I became
                                                                            provide a forum for community research           towards Aberystwyth                                                    events online. It’s the indomitable
                                                                                                                             University and 97%         a full time resident here again after
                                                                                                                                                                                                    Aber Spirit at work in a crisis. The OSA
      Student Mentoring                                                     by project volunteers given training in
                                                                                                                             felt informed of           retirement. In papers in cupboards, in
                                                                                                                                                                                                    was formed to support the University
                                                                            local archives to pursue their own stories       our activities and         photo albums and online I’ve found
      In 1961 alumnus Peter Hancock was awarded a scholarship               of the war.                                                                                                             through financial difficulties in its early
                                                                                                                             developments.              items to prompt memories of studies
      that enabled him to successfully complete his Geology degree                                                                                                                                  days, to ensure that its work and what
                                                                            If you would like to participate, or have        Your most preferred        and socialising. I fell in love with Aber
      and set him on course for a successful global academic and                                                                                                                                    we now call Old College survived.
                                                                            memories or stories of the war and its           news topics are            as a student, and benefitted hugely
      business career. In recognition of the help he received as a                                                                                                                                  Today’s exciting plans for revitalising
                                                                            impact on the town or university, please         updates                    from what I learnt here to prepare
      student, Peter and his partner and fellow Aber graduate Pat                                                                                                                                   Old College include meeting spaces
                                                                            contact Project Lead Dr Siân Nicholas            from                       me for my career in Librarianship
      Pollard gave more than £500,000 to the University in 2015 to                                                           your old                                                               for old students, and we are pleased
                                                                            shn@aber.ac.uk                                                              and Education (which later turned
      establish ‘The Peter Hancock Scholarship Fund’.                                                                        Academic                                                               to be able once again to contribute
                                                                                                                                                        into an excellent combination for
      In addition to the financial support scholars are afforded                                                                                                                                    significant funding towards this from
                                                                                                                                                        Knowledge Management), and for life
                                                                                                                                                                                                    the OSA and from our individual
      tailored mentoring programme. Canada based alumnus Doug            International Support                                                          in a range of different organisations in
                                                                                                                                                                                                    members.
      Pollard is one of the 16 volunteer mentors to date.                                                                    Department, latest         different sectors. I joined the OSA as
                                                                         Aber alumni live in over 150 countries worldwide
      “Sixty years after entering Aber, I was invited to mentor a        representing a truly global community. We are       Research and               a Life Member when I graduated, and         We know that you’ll always be an
      student. It proved to be a worthwhile assignment. Feeling our                                                          Innovation projects        enjoyed receiving updates at my home        Aberystwyth Alumnus and be kept up
                                                                         grateful to our network of International Alumni
      way into the relationship both mentee and I discovered mutual                                                          and the History of         in London on what the Association
                                                                         Representatives who have helped to raise the        the University and                                                     to date with news directly from the
      interests. He did well and is currently working on his PhD         profile of the University to support our goals                                 was doing, and how Aberystwyth was          University’s own active Development
                                                                                                                             memories.
      at the University of Hong Kong on one of the world’s critical      for international recruitment and partnerships.                                faring. Only several years later did I      and Alumni Relations Office, and that
      problems, clean water supply. We continue to stay in touch,        We also appreciate the support of international                                start to get actively involved with the     you’ll always enjoy being in contact
      and I am glad that I was able to encourage his personal and        alumni who volunteer their help in planning                                    Annual Reunion and events of the            with fellow students who became your
      professional development through the sharing of knowledge          and promoting our alumni events abroad with                                    London Branch, and realised how             friends. But joining the OSA as a Life
      and expertise.”                                                    particular thanks to the Alumni Club of Malaysia                               strong the Aber Spirit is, and always       Member means you’ve made a small
                                                                         for their volunteer support over many decades.                                 has been, all over the world, and how       extra commitment to keep in touch
                                                                                                                                                        it didn’t matter when you were in Aber,     with the University and its alumni, and
                                                                                                                             76% are interested in
                                                                                                                             returning to Aber for a    where you were from, or what you            given yourself a strong voice to work
      Career eMentoring                                         mentored by our alumni wherever they are in the              reunion/celebration        studied. You were sure to find people
                                                                                                                                                        you could relate to and network with
                                                                                                                                                                                                    with others to support the University
                                                                world. Your advice, guidance and much-needed                                                                                        and its future. It can also introduce
      A big thank you to our alumni who have signed up to                                                                    93% were likely to         for business or social events, even if
                                                                encouragement for students and graduates whose               attend an alumni event                                                 you to local people with the Aber
      the eMentoring scheme, it continues to grow with 114      placements or job offers have been withdrawn has                                        you hadn’t met while students.
                                                                                                                             of some sort either                                                    Spirit globally in OSA Branches. Life
      new e-mentors in 2020 alone.                              been incredibly important.                                   virtually or in person                                                 Membership is available online. We
      We are still keen to broaden the sectors, organisations                                                                                           For me, membership of the OSA
                                                                If you think you could mentor our students, you can          43% of you would like                                                  hope you will stay safe, and we look
      and people represented on the scheme; especially in                                                                                               gives me that chance to share my
                                                                get more information on eMentoring and on how to             to get involved with                                                   forward to welcoming you to our
      areas of the Sciences, Creative Arts, Healthcare and                                                                                              memories and love for Aberystwyth
                                                                sign up in the link below.                                   volunteering of some                                                   Association.
      the Public sector.                                                                                                                                with former students and staff around
                                                                                                                             sort
                                                                                                                                                        the world. It enables me to keep in         www.aber.ac.uk/en/development/osa
      eMentoring has been a valuable service during the         www.aber.ac.uk/en/sscs/careers/building-network/
                                                                                                                                                        touch with the University as it faces
      impact of the global pandemic. Mentees can be             ementoring
                                                                                                                                                        modern challenges and do what I can         www.osaaber.org

10                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                11
Penglais From Practice to - Professor Mary King - Aberystwyth University
FEATURE

     From Practice to Penglais
                                                                                                                                which tackles the abuse of older people and the Veterans’
                                                                                                                                Legal Project. Both have attracted substantial funds and
                                                                                                                                have the potential to transform the way in which society
                                                                                                                                engages with particularly vulnerable and marginalised
                                                                                                                                people. Another source of pride is the impact which
                                                                                                                                research in Aber has had and continues to have both in
                                                                                                                                Wales and worldwide. For instance, a prime mover in the
                         by Professor Emyr Lewis                                                                                crucial shift in international law towards requiring states
                         Head of Department of Law
                                                                                                                                to protect vulnerable people against the scourge that
                         & Criminology
                                                                                                                                is human trafficking is our very own Professor Ryszard        University College Wales and University
                                                                                                                                Piotrowicz. Ryszard steps down this year from being Vice      College London Law Society during the evacuation 1940
                                                                                                                                President of the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts
                                                                                                                                on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, after an       done in city centres can be done remotely, and this shift
                                                                                                                                8-year stint.                                                 offers exciting possibilities for Aberystwyth students.
                                                                                                                                Aberystwyth’s geographical position is of course both         I have been fortunate to benefit from the individual and
                                                                                                                                a blessing and a challenge. As I hardly need explain to       collective wisdom of the Department’s emeriti. John
                                                                                                                                alumni, it offers the chance to live and study in a safe      Williams, Chris Harding, Anne Sherlock, Alan Clarke,
                                                                                                                                and beautiful place, far from the madding crowd, at a         and of course the inspirational and evergreen Richard
                                                                                                                                University which is at once cosmopolitan and rooted in        Ireland have all been generous with their time and advice.
                                                                                                                                Welshness. On the other hand, it is far from, and not         Next year, the Department will celebrate its 120th
                                                                                                                                well connected to, the major centres of economic and          anniversary.
                                                                                                                                government activity and (consequently) employment.
                                                                                                                                                                                              As part of the celebrations, Chris Harding, Richard
                                                                                                                                This has offered a particular challenge, namely securing
                                                                                                                                                                                              Ireland and John Williams, are writing a history of the
                                                                                                                                opportunities for students to experience practical and
                                                                                                                                                                                              Department to be published by the University of Wales
                                                                                                                                clinical work during term time. Rising to the challenge,
                                                                                                                                                                                              Press. John describes it as follows:
                                                                                                                                we have built relationships with local employers
                                                                                                                                where students effectively work in-house as part of an        “The monograph traces the development of the
                                                                                                                                inspirational employability module, popular with both         Department and more broadly legal education in
                                                                                                                                students and employers. Students can also do pro bono         Wales since the time of Professors T. A. Levi and Jethro
                                                                                                                                work through the Family Law clinic, part-funded by            Brown, the two founding professors. It discusses how the
                                                                                                                                Alumni and run by the law firm of Emma Williams (an           Department has responded to the many changes imposed
                                                     Law Department 1910/1911                                                                                                                 by professional bodies, the University, and higher

      I
                                                                                                                                alumna) and through the Veterans’ Legal clinic. Looking
                                                                                                                                to the future, I want the Department to strengthen and        education policy. In 1901, Aber was one of the few law
         t is now just over a year since I left the practice       development and personal well-being of students. This        extend the practical experience which students can get,       schools in the United Kingdom and the only one in Wales.
         of law to become Head of Department of Law                has of course always been a feature of Aberystwyth,          and I am pleased that the University has backed this          Today Aber is one of many and since 2004 it has included
         and Criminology at Aberystwyth. Factors outside           and it was good to see it persisting in a department         ambition by funding a new post to take this forward. It is    Criminology. Some people expressed doubts about a
         anyone’s control (not least the global pandemic)          which had perhaps tended to hide its light under a           now clearer than before that much work conventionally         law school in Aberystwyth as it has no ‘legal hinterland’.
      have made it occasionally quite a complex and                bushel in recent times. The proof of the pudding is in                                                                     These include Leo Abse MP who attacked the Department
      turbulent experience – a baptism of fire as one              the eating: Aberystwyth law teaching achieved a 98%                                                                        in a Parliamentary debate in the 1960s. Despite such
      colleague put it - but it has overwhelmingly been a          overall satisfaction score in this year’s National Student                                                                 petty distractions, the Department has produced many
      stimulating and enjoyable experience, working with           Survey. This is not achieved by accident, and speaks                                                                       distinguished lawyers, politicians and academics along
      a team of top-quality scholars and teachers. Another         to quality of our teaching in both English and Welsh.                                                                      with a significant number of graduates entering other
      very positive aspect was the enthusiastic support            In Welsh-medium teaching, we are recognised as a                                                                           professions and public service in the United Kingdom
      of alumni at events in Cardiff, London and the Hay           national centre for both Law and Criminology.                                                                              and far beyond. The study of law has evolved. Besides
      Festival. It is good to know that the Department has         The vision of those who founded the Department was to                                                                      the traditional areas of law, the range of subjects now
      so many friends. Unfortunately, the global lockdown          prepare people for work in the legal profession by giving                                                                  offered include many involving a different approach to
      made it impossible to attend events in Malaysia, where       them a thorough grounding in academic aspects of the                                                                       legal study picking up some of Levi’s views on the role
      the Department has a long and significant history.           law. The Department continues to live up to that vision,                                                                   of a university law school.”
      The continued support of alumni and distinguished                                                                             Sarah Wydall, Principal        Dr Ola Olusanya, Senior
                                                                   but of course also does much more. International                Investigator of the Dewis     Lecturer at the Department   To celebrate this milestone John, Richard and Chris are
      Honorary fellows from Malaysia, both to the University       law, for example, remains central to the Department’s          Choice project based in the    of Law and Criminology and   also curating a collection and exhibition of photographs
      and to the department, is deeply appreciated.                teaching and research; growth in criminology has               Centre for Age, Gender and     founder of the Aberystwyth   and other memorabilia, which promises to be a worthy
                                                                                                                                 Social Justice at Aberystwyth      University Family Legal
      The first thing that struck me even before I started         brought new perspectives, and the Department is the          University’s Department of Law               Clinic.
                                                                                                                                                                                              record of the proud tradition of the study of Law and
      was the staff’s clear shared focus on the academic           home of significant research projects Dewis Choice,                 and Criminology.                                       Criminology at Aber.

12                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         13
Penglais From Practice to - Professor Mary King - Aberystwyth University
ALUMNI INTERVIEW

     Professor Mary King
       Mary Elizabeth King studied for her Ph.D in the International Politics department of                               “When a Senior at Ohio Wesleyan University, I was           been lavished on military options – and yet non-violent
                                                                                                                          happily invited to go on a trip to the Deep South to        action has brought about phenomenal results for the
       Aberystwyth University and was conferred as a Fellow of the University in 2011. A graduate of
                                                                                                                          meet Civil Rights leaders – and others such as leading      human race; its track record throughout human history
       Ohio Wesleyan University, she worked extensively in the civil rights movement and served in                        journalists at the ‘Atlanta Constitution’. I also met       is remarkable. Even so, this use of social power has
       senior U.S. Government posts during the Carter administration. She retains strong links with                       peers who were working for the Student Nonviolent           had only a ‘shadow existence’ in academia. Thousands
                                                                                                                          Coordinating Committee (SNCC) – which would become          of nonviolent struggles have never been studied or
       Aberystwyth, and InterPol in particular, having delivered public lectures and led seminars                         the most audacious and creative of all the Civil Rights     documented.”
       with students. Among other roles, she is currently Professor of Peace and Conflict studies at                      organisations. That’s where I needed to be. Two senior
                                                                                                                          advisors invited me to join them in running human           “What I found in Interpol was a group of people
       the University for Peace, a U.N. affiliate.
                                                                                                                          relations workshops involving Southern black and            including professors Mike Foley and James Piscatori

      I
                                                                                                                          white students, who were meeting interracially for the      who understood that, yes, there was an alternative
          t was late morning in Virginia, teatime in      “Growing up in a Methodist parsonage, I was socialised          first time in the South, on the topic of how academic       technique that shows up throughout history. They
          Aberystwyth. Professor Mary King managed to     from early childhood to be concerned about social               freedom was compromised by segregation. Looking             grasped that waves of anti-colonialism were based
          find time between competing meetings to talk    justice. On any playground you will find very young             back, I realise how little I had to offer.”                 on powers with which Gandhi had been testing and
          to me by video about her life, career and her   children saying ‘That’s not fair!’ - with a sense of fairness                                                               experimenting with for decades. They had the broad
       connection to Aberystwyth. I quickly discovered    like the air we breathe. I have had great satisfaction          Having worked on SNCC staff for four years, decades of      contours and seemed pleased to have me able to argue
       just how deep her association with social change   from working to dismantle inequities and injustices             work for the federal government and as an international     for the fact that there is an alternative use of power
       issues has been.                                   all my adult life.”                                             consultant followed, while Mary tried to find a suitable    that involves no political violence and is found going
                                                                                                                          roost for studying decided to study for a Ph.D. She chose   back to ancient times.”
                                                                                                                          Aberystwyth’s International Politics department. How
                                                                                                                          did this come about?                                        Professor King clearly believes that non-violent struggle
                                                                                                                                                                                      has an expanding, critical role. “The Environmental and
                                                                                                                          “I was friends with Geoffrey Kemp, now at the Center for    Women’s Movements benefited directly, and almost
                                                                                                                          the National Interest in Washington. When he learned        immediately, by appropriating insights from the U.S.
                                                                                                                          that my husband and I had a farm in Wales, and that         Civil Rights Movement. These two areas gained the most
                                                                                                                          President and Mrs Carter had visited us there, he told      by adapting and perfecting elements of what Gandhi
                                                                                                                          me about Aberystwyth and the Interpol department.           called an ‘operative technique’. Climate change and
                                                                                                                          He had not studied there, but it seemed that everyone       women’s rights remain major issues for the future of
                                                                                                                          he knew had studied in that department. I became            the planet; we have got to take seriously the scientific
                                                                                                                          intrigued and looked into it, because I’d been unable       advice about climate change – and we have got to find
                                                                                                                          to find any university in the United States willing to      ways of benefiting from the talents of women, who
                                                                                                                          address the history, theory, and practice of the field      have historically always rebuilt societies after wars.
                                                                                                                          of strategic nonviolent action.”                            Their experiences lead them to be attuned to finding
                                                                                                                                                                                      ways of organising that don’t rely on visibility, money or
                                                                                                                          The farm near Tregaron had been purchased with              weaponry – they are extremely effective at the kind of
                                                                                                                          her husband Peter G. Bourne at the end of the Carter        social organising that has been producing democratic
                                                                                                                          administration, in which both he and Mary had served        transitions since the late 18th century.”
                                                                                                                          in senior positions. She had worldwide oversight for the
       Interviewed by                                                                                                     Peace Corps and similar national domestic programs.         After 100 years of studying war and peace, what
       John Gilbey
                                                                                                                          “We visited Wales often and would stay at the farms         should be the future direction of the International
       (gilbey@bcs.org.uk)
                                                                                                                          of cousins in summer and at Christmas. An uncle of          Politics department? “Interpol has a unique history –
          @John_Gilbey                                                                                                    Peter’s provided lambs to what is now our farm and one      its interdisciplinary character is extremely productive
                                                                                                                          day rang us in Washington to let us know the owner          and relevant for this time. Because we cannot think
                                                                                                                          wanted to sell. We bought the 120-acre farm.” Mary has      and function on narrow disciplinary bases - we’ve got
                                                                                                                          written all her books there.                                to be eclectic and derive from many literatures and
                                                                                                                                                                                      bodies of experience.”
                                                                                                                          “I wanted to work on the technique of nonviolent
                                                                                                                          struggle – which has been severely under-studied            John Gilbey is a writer and photographer based in west
                                                                                                                          and under-theorised in the Academy. Resources have          Wales. He Tweets as @John_Gilbey

14                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 15
Penglais From Practice to - Professor Mary King - Aberystwyth University
ALUMNI                                                                                                                                                                                                     InvEnterPrize 2020
                                                                                                                                                                                                                Seaweed-based bioplastic

     Alumni Profiles
                                                                                                                                                   Azryn Azhari Arshad                                          business wins student
                                                                                                                                                   Azryn Azhari Arshad graduated in 2016 with a BSc in          enterprise competition
                                                                                                                                                   Psychology and was the first Malaysian student in the        An eco-business using Welsh seaweed to
                                                                                                                                                   Psychology department. She currently manages the South       create bioplastic, is the winner of this year’s
     Aberystwyth alumni are constantly achieving great things, both professionally and personally.                                                 East Asia Strategic Partnership department for Karex – the   Aberystwyth University student enterprise
                                                                                                                                                   world’s largest condom maker.                                competition, InvEnterPrize.
     Working for a range of organisations, across a range of different sectors in a wide variety of                                                “My job requires an on-the-go tactical approach and I        PlantSea is the brainchild of two
     roles all over the word, our graduates are really making an impact and transforming their                                                     lead the Corporate Social Responsibility for Karex which     Aberystwyth University PhD students, Alex
     lives and those of others.                                                                                                                    has allowed me to apply my academic learnings at Aber        Newnes and Gianmarco Sanfratello, and
                                                                                                                                                   into different circumstances when managing different         Aberystwyth alumna Rhiannon Rees.
     To feature on our graduate profile page contact us at alumni@aber.ac.uk
                                                                                                                                                   countries – including Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                The company plans to use seaweed and
                                                                                                                                                   many more.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                other plant-based materials to create
                                                                                                                                                                                                                bioplastic, which will then be used to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                develop environmentally friendly toiletry
                                                                               Sam Griffiths                                                                                                                    sets for the hotel and hospitality industry.

                                                                               Sam Griffiths graduated in 2014
                                                                               with BSc International Politics and
                                                                               Intelligence Studies. Now, a Senior
                                                                               Promoter at Cuffe & Taylor, part of
                                                                               Live Nation, the world’s largest live
                                                                               entertainment company. He is one
                                                                               of the youngest promoters in the
                                                                               business, he produces theatrical
                                                                               productions and promotes music                                                                                                   In addition to the £10,000 main prize, PlantSea
                                                                               concerts for international best-                                                                                                 was also awarded free office accommodation
                                                                               selling artists, as well as working with                                                                                         for a year on Aberystwyth Innovation and
                                                                               global television and film companies                                                                                             Enterprise Campus (AberInnovation), a prize
                                                                               to create live content from their                                                                                                which was presented to the best competition
                                                                               international hit titles. “Aber gave                                Denitsa Dineva                                               entry from the bio-sciences, life sciences and
                                                                               me the opportunity to meet a huge                                                                                                agriculture sectors.
                                                                               variety of people and learn so much                                 Dr Denitsa Dineva studied a BSc Business and Management
                                                                                                                                                   degree at Aberystwyth Business School, followed by           A separate prize of £3,000 donated by
                                                                               from my specific course of study,
                                                                                                                                                   a specialist Master’s degree in Marketing. Denitsa then      Engineers in Business, and open to students
                                                                               which has massively helped me in
                                                                                                                                                                                                                or student teams from Computer Science,
            Alexandra Dodds                                                    my professional development.”                                       worked in Consumer Finance at Lloyds Banking Group
                                                                                                                                                                                                                Maths and Physics, was awarded to Mwnci
                                                                                                                                                   before she decided to return to Aberystwyth University to
            Alexandra Dodds studied Marine and Freshwater Biology,                                                                                 do an internally funded PhD degree on the topic “Conflict    Data Management (www.mwnci.uk), the
            graduating in 2013. Since then she has worked in a wide                                                                                management in online consumption                             business idea of Rob Barry, who recently
            variety of remote locations both within the UK and around                                                                              communities” from which she graduated                        graduated with an MSc in DataScience.
            the world. Through her work she has been privileged to                                                                                 in May 2019. Denitsa has since remained                      Held annually, the InvEnterPrize competition
            live in some amazing places from the New Forest to the                                                                                 in Wales and currently works as a                            is sponsored by contributions from the
            most northerly isles of Scotland and from the Caribbean                                                                                Lecturer in Marketing at Cardiff                             alumni AberFund, and organised by the
            to the Falkland Islands. Currently she works for the British                                                                           University. This is what she had to                          University’s Careers Service. InvEnterPrize
            Antarctic Survey on Bird Island specialising in albatross                                                                              say about studying at Aberystwyth                            provides an opportunity for entrepreneurial
            research.                                                                                                                              University: “Aberystwyth University                          Aberystwyth students to develop and pitch a
            “Studying and living in Aberystwyth enabled me to                                                                                      provides a very friendly, but also                           business idea or social enterprise concept to
                                                                                                                          Photo: Alan Mehdizadeh

            develop my interest and knowledge in this field and                                                                                    academically rigorous environment,                           a panel of distinguished University alumni.
            give me the foundations I needed, whether that was                                                                                     which encouraged me to                                       Aberystwyth University is hugely grateful
            from reading research papers or carrying out practical                                                                                 constantly seek opportunities                                to the alumni judges: Donald Davies, Nigel
            conservation work along the beautiful Ceredigion                                                                                       for development and                                          Davies, David Sargen, Jane Clayton, Huw
            coastline.”                                                                                                                            progression.”                                                Morgan, Kerry Diamond, Peter Gradwell
                                                                                                                                                                                                                and Rhian Hayward, CEO, AberInnovation.

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GIVING
                                                                                                                           Your impact 2019-20
     Giving to Aberystwyth University                                                                                        Taking-action in response                             Legacies boost Postgraduate community

      in 2019-2020                                                                Our community of donors
                                                                                                                             to Covid
                                                                                                                             Your generosity towards Student Support
                                                                                                                             made vital Hardship and Wellbeing funds
                                                                                                                                                                                   Two recent legacies have helped secure vital funds for
                                                                                                                                                                                   postgraduate research.
                                                                                                                                                                                   A legacy of £395,000 from Margaret Wooloff, alumna

                            D
                                                                                                                             immediately available for students during             (French, 1942) has created the Margaret Wooloff PhD
                                                                                     You gave                                the pandemic. Over 158 hardship grants                Scholarship with the first three awards announced for the

                                                                                       £646,150
                                      uring such a difficult year, you have                                                                                                        2020-21 academic year; Bronwen Lowri, Andrea Jones
                                      come together as a community of                                                        were awarded between February and
                                                                                                                             June. The funds also allowed staff to plan            and Catrin Parsons.
                                      alumni and supporters to make a
                                                                                                                                                                                   Professor Ieuan Gwynedd Jones, former head of the
                                      life-changing, positive impact on                     during 2019-20                   projects in advance of the new academic
                                                                                                                                                                                   Department of Welsh History and Fellow of Aberystwyth
                            the lives of our students and the University.                                                    year for maximum impact.
                                                                                                                                                                                   University – his £10,000 legacy will provide grants and
                                                                                                                             Nick Dimonaco, a postgraduate student at              support to numerous PhD students undertaking research in
       Hayley Goddard       You’re giving all students at Aber, regardless                                                   IBERS, received a special bursary for his
       Individual Giving    of their start in life, a chance to succeed                                                                                                            Welsh History.
       Officer                                                                                                               Covid related research.
                            and thrive at University and in society. You
                            contribute to research and innovation that                                                       “Nick received a Bursary from the OSA                Life-changing opportunities
                            addresses local and global challenges. Your                                                      (Cardiff Branch) in his first year in Aber,
                            early support has helped unlock significant                                                                                                                                        Your donations to the Aber Fund
                                                                                                                             and went on to be awarded First Class
                            funds for the Old College appeal, a vital                                                                                                                                          gave IBERS student, Chloe Collins
                                                                                                                             Honours in Computer Science. In parallel
                            project to transform the iconic and much-                                                                                                                                          Farrell, a work placement bursary
                                                                                                                             with pursuing a PhD, he joined a team                                             to take on her dream role at
     Your giving            loved building ahead of our 150th anniversary
                                                                                                                             researching means of tracking variations                                          Chester Zoo as part of an unpaid
                            in 2022/23.
     in 2019-20                                                                                                              in the Covid genome; we were delighted to                                         internship. Gaining new skills and
                                                                                             Median regular
     Across our three
                            There is no denying that your donations
                                                                                             monthly gift
                                                                                                                 £12.50      award a Rhiannon Powell Science Research                                          an opportunity to explore a career
                            remain crucial across our priorities. Thank                                                      Bursary and a further bursary from                                                in the zoo sector, her internship
     fundraising
                            you for recognising the importance of giving                                                     the OSA in the summer, to help support                                            would not have been possible
     priorities:
                            to Aberystwyth University; a special place                       Median single                   him while he acts as lead author for the                                          without your support.
                            that shapes the world on a local, national,                      gift donation
                                                                                                                 £62.50
      £341,604              and global scale.
                                                                                                                             resulting research paper.”
                                                                                                                                                                                    More stories of your impact can be found at
                                                                                                                             Kay Powell, Alumna and OSA Cardiff
                                                                                                                             Branch member                                          www.aber.ac.uk/your-impact
                            Thank you to all our donors who are listed
                            on the Annual Donors List: www.aber.ac.uk/                       Individual
                                                                                                                   1,079                                                           Supporting the University
                            thankyou                                                         donors
                                                                                                                                                                                   Your support is vital for Aber’s continuing success
                              £293,471        bringing total income to
                                              £1million of our £3million target              From
                                                                                                                                                                                   and hugely appreciated by our students and staff.
                                                                                             Trusts and       £876,318                                                             All your gifts, together, make a huge impact on current, and
                                                                                             Foundations                                                                           future students across our three priority areas:

                                                                                                                                                                                   Student Support (The Aber Fund)
                                                                                  You have funded                                                                                  The Old College Appeal
                                                                                  34 student projects                                                                              Research and Academic Developments

                                                      £13,249
                                                                                  Both new and existing projects across    New Veterinary Education Centre                         You can make a difference by donating a single or regular gift:
                                                                                  campus that would not have been
                                                                                  possible without your help.              Thank you to everyone who donated to the                • Online at www.aber.ac.uk/give
                                                                                                                           Endowment Fund Appeal, established in 1997 for          • Post through a donation form
                                                                                                                           the University’s 125th anniversary. Your support
                                                                                  Supporting                                                                                       • For international supporters, you can give in conjunction
                                                                                                                           will specifically fund £500,000 of the capital costs
                                                                                  over 1,900 students                      of a new Veterinary Education Centre on our
                                                                                                                                                                                     with our partners: SWIFT system or British Schools and
                                                                                                                                                                                     Universities Foundation (BSUF).
          Student Support       The Old College           Research and            To alleviate hardship; support health    Penglais campus, as part of the new Aberystwyth
           (AberFund)           Appeal                    Academic                and wellbeing; and enhance the           School of Veterinary Science. Launched in Spring
                                                          Developments
                                                                                                                                                                                   For further details and to discuss a donation or legacy,
                                                                                  number of opportunities open to all      2020, the school is the first in Wales and will         please contact us at the Development and Alumni Relations
                                                                                  students.                                welcome our first students in 2021.                     team on        01970 621568 or        alumni@aber.ac.uk
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