On the 15th of June, I attended the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol’s 10th Scientific Conference, held at Aberystwyth University. The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol was established in 2011 to ensure Welsh-medium provision and opportunities across the post-compulsory education sector in Wales. I’ve been a member of the Coleg since joining its Research Skills Training Programme, for masters’ level students and above, which is a combination of specialist-led workshops and opportunities to practise disseminating and discussing research. The Scientific Conference is held to provide opportunities for Welsh-speaking researchers to come together to present and discuss their work.
As an engineer, I was interested in one of this year’s talks by Fergus Elliot, from the Electronic Engineering department at Bangor University, which discussed the potential for the use of wireless sensors within industrial processes, such as Single Point Diamond Turning (SPDT), to improve systems for monitoring machine condition, product quality, and technician safety. I was also keen to listen to Dr Iwan Palmer, from Cardiff University’s Pharmacology department, who spoke on his outreach work interpreting microplastic materials investigations in classroom settings. He demonstrated how an imaging experiment, originally conducted in the laboratory using Raman spectroscopy, could be adapted to convey almost as much information using light microscopes, which were more suitable for a primary school classroom setting. There were also talks on Industrial Chemistry, Environmental Science, and the Life Sciences.
The day came to a close with a panel discussion session, led by Elin Rhys (Telesgop), Dr Ifan Jâms (National Research Network for Low Carbon Energy and the Environment), and Siân Stacey (Summit to Sea), considering the role of scientists and engineers within the Climate Crisis.
I’m very grateful to the Coleg for the opportunities created for Welsh speakers in education and research, and to M2A for their support. During the final session, one of the main messages of the conference was highlighted: through coming together to discuss and exchange scientific ideas at an interdisciplinary level, it shows that it is possible to discuss any subject through the medium of Welsh, and this undoubtedly includes the STEM subjects. Welsh may be the language of heaven, but it is certainly the language of the laboratory too!
Ar 15fed Mehefin, mynychais y 10fed Cynhadledd Wyddonol y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, a gynhaliwyd ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth. Sefydliwyd y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol yn 2011 fel modd i sicrhau darpariaeth a chyfleoedd cyfrwng Cymraeg ar draws y sector addysg ôl-orfodol yng Nghymru. Rydw i wedi bod yn aelod o’r Coleg ers ymuno â’r Rhaglen Hyfforddiant Sgiliau Ymchwil, ar gyfer myfyrwyr lefel meistr ac uwch, sy’n gyfuniad o weithdai dan arweiniad arbenigwyr a chyfleoedd i ymarfer trafod a lledaenu ymchwil. Cynhelir y Gynhadledd Wyddonol i roi cyfle ymchwilwyr Cymraeg eu hiaith dod at ei gilydd er mwyn cyflwyno a thrafod eu gwaith.
Fel peiriannydd, roedd cyflwyniad eleni gan Fergus Elliot, o adran peirianneg electronig Prifysgol Bangor, o ddiddordeb mawr i mi. Trafododd ei waith yn archwilio potensial synhwyro diwifr ar gyfer prosesau diwydiannol, megis Troi Un Pwynt Diemwnt (SPDT), er mwyn gwella systemau ar gyfer monitro cyflwr peiriannau, ansawdd cynnyrch, a diogelwch technegwyr. Roeddwn hefyd wrth fy modd yn gwrando ar gyflwyniad Dr Iwan Palmer, o adran Ffarmacoleg Prifysgol Caerdydd, a siaradodd am ei waith allgymorth yn dehongli archwiliadau deunyddiau microplastig yng nghyd-destun y dosbarth. Dangosodd sut oedd yn bosib addasu arbrawf, a gyflawnwyd yn wreiddiol yn y labordy gan ddefnyddio sbectrosgopeg Raman, i gyfleu bron â chymaint o wybodaeth gan ddefnyddio meicroscopau golau sy’n addas ar gyfer dosbarth yr ysgol gynradd. Hefyd, clywyd cyflwyniadau yn y meysydd Cemeg Diwydiannol, Gwyddor Amgylcheddol, a’r Gwyddorau Bywyd.
Daeth y diwrnod i ben ar ôl sesiwn panel trafodaeth dan arweiniad Elin Rhys (Telesgop), Dr Ifan Jâms (Rhwydwaith Ymchwil Cenedlaethol i Ynni Carbon Isel a’r Amgylchedd), a Siân Stacey (Mynydd i’r Môr) gan ystyried rôl gwyddonwyr a pheirianwyr o fewn yr Argyfwng Hinsawdd.
Rydw i’n ddiolchgar iawn i’r Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol am y cyfleoedd y mae wedi eu creu i siaradwyr Cymraeg yn y byd addysg ac ymchwil, ac i M2A am ei gefnogaeth. Yn ystod sesiwn olaf y diwrnod, amlygwyd un o brif negeseuon y gynhadledd: trwy ddod at ein gilydd i drafod a chyfnewid syniadau gwyddonol ar lefel amlddisgyblaethol, medrwn dangos bod yn gwbl bosibl trin a thrafod unrhyw bwnc trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, ac nad yw’r pynciau STEM y lleiaf o rain. Efallai bod Cymraeg yw iaith y nefoedd, ond iaith y labordy yw hi hefyd!
