Issue 38 - June 2020 University supporting the NHS Like many individuals and businesses in the area, the University has 2 AberSU Staff and been playing its part to support the NHS during the Covid-19 crisis. Student Awards Departments including IBERS, Geography As well as providing much needed protection, 4 Planting trees with and Estates, Facilities and Residences have the 3D printed headbands are also Ecosia donated personal protective equipment (PPE) environmentally friendly as they are made for use by frontline workers at Bronglais from PLA, a type of plastic which is both General Hospital, including almost 13,500 biodegradable and recyclable. 10 Support for home pairs of gloves, 1,000 disposable aprons and working As well as producing and donating personal hand sanitiser. protective equipment, the University has been Meanwhile staff from the Faculty of Business making facilities and services available to the 12 In addition to the and Physical Sciences and other colleagues, Hywel Dda University Health Board. day job along with a pupil from Ysgol Penglais School, have joined a UK movement amongst the 3D During April, NHS staff (including 300 printing community to produce protective returning NHS staff) attended training 14 My Research headgear for frontline health workers. The sessions at our Medrus conference facilities. face shields protect the face against larger Meanwhile conferencing accommodation fluid particles and act as a barrier to stop in The Bunkhouse on Penglais Campus was hand-to-face contact. opened up to house keyworkers from the NHS and other emergency service workers. Using both University-owned 3D printers and their own personal printers, the group have A number of Aberystwyth University staff also responded to a request from the Health Board is published by the been able to produce over 300 shields which Communications & Public Affairs Team, have been distributed to key workers including for volunteers willing to undertake a range of Aberystwyth University. care homes, the intensive care unit and roles at Bronglais Hospital should their help be Tel: 01970 622578 E-mail: [email protected] veterinary centres. required. AberSU Staff and Student Academics honoured by Welsh Awards 2020 Academy The Department of Psychology won the coveted Five Aberystwyth University academics title of Department of the Year at the Aberystwyth are among the new entrants to the Students’ Union Staff and Student Awards 2020, for an Learned Society of Wales’ Fellowship. unprecedented second consecutive year. The new Fellows from Aberystwyth University are: Now in their ninth year, the annual awards celebrate the exceptional contributions of staff, students, academic representatives and departments at the University. • Professor Glyn Hewinson, Sêr Cymru II STAR Chair & Director of the Centre Organised by Aberystwyth Students Union (AberSU) with the support of the of Excellence for Bovine Tuberculosis University, due to Covid-19, this year’s awards were announced live on the AberSU • Professor Emyr Lewis, Professor of website and on social media channels on Thursday 30 April 2020. Law and Head of the Department of Chloe Wilkinson-Silk, AberSU Academic Affairs Officer for 2019-20 said: “I am Law and Criminology extremely grateful that despite all the difficulties right now, we have still had this • Professor Ryszard Piotrowicz, opportunity to come together and recognise and celebrate the best of the best Professor of Law, Aberystwyth within our institution. It is a testament to the strong family community here at University; Adjunct Professor of Law, Aberystwyth University - we may be apart, but we are still together. University of South Australia; First Vice-President of GRETA, the Council “We received an amazing 265 nominations for this year’s awards, many of which of Europe’s Group of Experts on were extremely personal and heartfelt. Congratulations to all the nominees and Action against Trafficking in Human winners, who are a vital part of what makes Aberystwyth University the incredible Beings learning community that it is.” • Professor David Rabey, Professor Aberystwyth University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor: Learning Teaching and Student of Theatre & Theatre Practice, Experience, Professor Tim Woods said: “In these times of lockdown it is a shame Department of Theatre, Film & not to have been able to get together to celebrate this years’ awards, but I would Television Studies like to thank AberSU for all the effort they put into the ‘virtual’ event. Working • Professor Reyer Zwiggelaar, Head through the nominations for the AberSU Staff and Student Awards along with the of the Graduate School, Faculty Students’ Union Officers has become one of the highlights of my year. This year’s Associate Dean of Research & warm tributes referred to staff members’ dedication, commitment, involvement, Professor of the Department of innovation, humour and wit. Congratulations to all of the staff and students who Computer Science were nominated and to the winners of this year’s awards.” They join 38 other new Fellows, all The winners of the AberSU Staff and Students Awards 2020 are: of whom share a link with Wales, its universities or intellectual life and are Academic Representative of the Year Student Volunteer of the Year drawn from all specialisms. Kate Warren – Physics Daphne Pacey - Department of History and Welsh History Professor Elizabeth Treasure, Vice- Creative Teaching Chancellor of Aberystwyth University Dr Gillian McFadyen - Department of Support/Service Staff Member of the said: “It is a pleasure to learn that a International Politics Year further five Aberystwyth academics have Siân Jones - Information Services Welsh Language Champion been elected Fellows of the Learned Iwan Davies - Department of Student Mentor of the Year Society of Wales. This honour is well- Geography and Earth Sciences Rezija Madara Fridrihsone - School of deserved recognition of our colleagues’ Art prominence within their respective Next Step Award academic disciplines and their valuable Annabel Latham - School of Education Supervisor of the Year contributions to the academic life of Dr Tom Holt - Department of Personal Tutor of the Year Wales.” Geography and Earth Sciences Dr Bill Perkins - Department of The Society’s Fellowship now numbers Geography and Earth Sciences Lecturer of the Year 562. Their combined expertise allows Dr Peadar Ó Muircheartaigh - Postgraduate Teacher of the Year the Society to strengthen its contribution Department of Welsh and Celtic Panna Karlinger - School of Education to Welsh public life, through its Studies (Tutor for Department of Mathematics) contributions to government policy Department of the Year development, public lectures and Student Staff Member of the Year Psychology seminars and its expanding Wales Khai Jackson - Department of Studies programme. Psychology 2 The Vice-Chancellor’s Column You don’t need me to tell you that we are and call centre. We have been housing keyworkers in the living through very strange times. Out of Bunkhouse, and MedRus has been used for training NHS staff. There is also the possibility that Ysgol Penweddig will be the window, the trees are full of leaves and rehoused to Penglais Campus if the decision is taken for pupils the summer flowers are beginning to bloom, to return to school this academic year. just like any other June. And yet, in every As an institution significant attention has now turned to the next other way, our lives are very different to academic year, and at the beginning of June we announced our how they were. intention to bring students back to campus in September. The work of our scenario planning working groups has been crucial Although a small number of colleagues continue to carry out to this decision, and their input will be key as we continue to business critical roles on our strangely deserted campuses, the make preparations for September. Again, staff contributions majority of us are now working from home, with the numerous remain vital to this work also – whether you have had input into challenges that brings. Many colleagues are juggling the a working group’s considerations or submitted innovative and care of children and elderly relatives along with day-to-day creative ideas via the process we opened for all staff - I am so work responsibilities; others may be dealing with feelings of grateful for your contributions. I look forward to keeping you loneliness and isolation that have come with lockdown. updated with developments as this work continues to shape how With all this in mind, first and foremost I want to offer my Aberystwyth University operates in the 2020/21 academic year. heartfelt thanks to you all for the remarkable way that you have It is more important than ever that we look after our own health adapted so willingly and quickly to new ways of working at this and wellbeing at this time. I would encourage staff to visit the challenging time. new Home Working & Wellbeing Hub (www.aber.ac.uk/en/ Our academic staff and colleagues from Information Services staff/home-working-hub) where you will find tips and advice on faced the considerable challenge of moving all of our teaching working from home including technical aspects, looking after online, and did so with speed and efficiency. Academic your physical and mental health, home learning opportunities, registry staff rigorously worked through the implications of research guidance and much more. You will also find lots of changes to examinations and assessments for our students. information and support on pages 10 and 11. Thank you to the Colleagues from Information Services staffed the busy staff that put these resources together. coronavirus helpline, answering the many and varied queries from staff, students and parents as the Covid-19 outbreak If you are worried about your mental health at this challenging and its implications unfolded. Colleagues from across the time, please speak to your line manager in the first instance. University fed into a webpage of Frequently Asked Questions Advice is also available from Mind and through our Employee being maintained on the Coronavirus webpage by the Assistance Programme.