University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Research

47% of UWTSD’s research is world leading or internationally excellent, with the remainder internationally or nationally recognised. Swansea Lampeter Carmarthen

www.uwtsd.ac.uk University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Research Contents Introduction Research at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David - by Professor Mike Phillips, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Research, Innovation, Enterprise and Commercialisation

Research at the University of Wales Learning (WIBL) we are changing the way experts to create, design and improve Trinity Saint David always involves some we train and educate within the workplace, products in the Power & Water portfolio. 4 22 form of innovation and some form of providing innovative and bespoke training Trees, shipwrecks and foreign Transforming early enterprise. The University is home to for organisations, including police forces, Many of the University’s world leading lands- all in a day’s work years education many excellent researchers and their local government and major companies. Faculty of Art and Design academics expertise in discipline areas is due to have been supported through research love of subject. The new knowledge they The Wales Institute Physical Literacy (WIPL) grants from AHRC, Leverhulme Trust, 6 24 generate is transformed into improved is developing new knowledge and changing British Council, Wellcome Trust, the Arts Uncovering the secrets of Islam and the internet teaching and knowledge transfer, with our the way we engage society with the Council Wales and Wales Arts International. healthcare in the ancient world students benefiting from world leading wellbeing agenda. From school children to A multidisciplinary approach enabled and internationally excellent research. the elderly, WIPL engages people in physical a successful collaborative R&D project Indeed, results of the 2014 Research activities tailored to their circumstances, between the University’s Centre for 8 26 Excellence Framework (REF) showed thereby enhancing the life and wellbeing Applied Glass Arts Research and HOS Soils and sediments informing Coastal zone monitoring that 47% of UWTSD’s research was world of all. With a major article in ‘The Times’ on Civils Ltd, a specialist civil engineering archaeological knowledge leading or internationally excellent, with WIPL’s high intensity interval training for formwork contractor. the remainder internationally or nationally veteran athletes, it provides yet another recognised. This research expertise example of how research at UWTSD is World leading Archaeology research 10 28 informs student learning and enhances changing the way we think. includes the discovery of the oldest Cetaceans, sharks and seabirds Interpreting current their University experience. footprints outside Africa and a Bronze migration issues With regards to health care and service Age year old red deer skull. University By utilising our expertise and working in delivery, our multidisciplinary approach archaeologists are leading excavations in 12 partnership with companies, we are able has enabled a health offer that integrates Qatar and maritime archaeology projects in 30 to commercialise our applied research and expertise from across the University to the Caribbean and Iberian Peninsula, while High intensity interval training Non-destructive testing generate additional income sources for the improve health and wellbeing, especially more local projects include the Newport (HIIT) has positive impact on University. We continuously look for new for rural communities where UWTSD is Ship and Strata Florida. older people’s fitness and innovative ways to develop and transfer uniquely placed to deliver such initiatives. our knowledge, educational expertise Health research initiatives include assisted Research expertise in Classics, Archaeology, 14 32 and research. This is highlighted by the technologies where in collaboration with Environmental Studies, Geography, Ecotherapy and virtual Cerebra Innovation Centre University working with S4C to relocate organisations such as Cerebra, we produce Engineering, Art and Design, the Welsh reality counselling the television channel’s headquarters, one off solutions to improve the lives language, Celtic Studies, and Theology the television channel to our Carmarthen of brain injured children. Therefore, by and Religious Studies, is focused on campus and the Construction Industry integrating our centres of excellence, issues important to society. Added to 16 34 Training Board (CITB) investing and the University along with its partners, this, sustainability is at the heart of the cognitive effects Creative entrepreneurial collocating on our new Swansea Waterfront offers innovative research and the University’s research, knowledge of bilingualism development Innovation Quarter. commercial opportunities. transfer and commercial activities. The University’s award winning Institute of Our interdisciplinary research expertise Working with industry underpins much Sustainable Practice, Innovation and 18 36 is being used to produce new ways of of UWTSD’s applied research in all Resource Effectiveness (INSPIRE) and the Winds, waves, currents and Reveling the secrets delivering education and training to meet Faculties. University expertise in applied Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) sea-level changes of Qatar’s past twenty-first century needs. Our special areas computing has led to colocation with NHS Act 2015 will inform future research and of teaching have commercial value and we Wales Informatics in our new Swansea commercialisation directions. exploit these by working with companies, Waterfront Innovation Quarter to provide 20 38 government and third sector organisations. mutually beneficial training, research and In conclusion, within this University, When art meets medicine Contacts and useful websites The University’s International Institute of commercial opportunities. Similarly, joint everybody is important. We don’t Creative Entrepreneurial Development research and commercial work with STENOR necessarily look at a mass market, we look at (IICED) is leading the development of Environmental will lead to improved individuals. We are now looking at how we enterprise education. Research carried aggregate testing and recycling, while can take the next step. Our interdisciplinary out by IICED is being used by the UN, EC, engineering expertise in Non Destructive approach leads to enterprise and OECD, UK government, HEA and QAA, while Testing (NDT) has led to research innovation, a new way of doing things, the funded research led to the development collaborations with Oceaneering, Silverwing UWTSD way. of an enterprise education curriculum that and The Welding Institute (TWI). The Power has been adopted by both primary and & Water Institute of Applied Research, the secondary education sectors in Macedonia. first of its kind in the UK, brings together With the Wales Institute of Work based students, researchers and commercial

2 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 3 University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Research Trees, Shipwrecks and Foreign lands – all in a day’s work!

Europe, Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Isle the RBRP team believes it has discovered cultural heritage, and our knowledge of the of Wight, Borth, Newport, Cornwall, South a coherent and potentially historically use of resources for shipbuilding. The project America …the list reads like a holiday significant 17th century Dutch wreck, studies the ships that helped map the world brochure but in fact, these are just some of possibly the Huis de Kruiningen. as we know it, and the forests that made the places that Professor Nigel Nayling has those ships. travelled to research trees and shipwrecks “My key interests are in underwater across the world. archaeology, looking at ancient shipwrecks, Nigel is a training coordinator for this partly because of my expertise in looking at project and will supervise the programme of “Trees are wondrous creatures; they contain tree ring data. Over the last decade or so I’ve Reconstruction Timber in Spanish-Atlantic within them a witness to past years over not been involved in diving on shipwrecks that Shipbuilding. The main objective of the only decades but centuries. Taking a slice other archaeologists have found. I recover project is to increase the background and sample from a tree reveals annual tree rings, samples from the shipwrecks so that we can experience of trainees in different research every year a tree adds on another ring, the date when the timber was cut down and locate areas, and to develop their transferable width of that ring relates to how happy the tree where it came from. skills for future careers in academia or the was that year. If it was a bad year- cold and private sector. very dry- then it would be a narrow ring; if it “For an archaeologist, these are immensely was lovely and warm with plenty of rain it puts important questions for when they find a There are currently two Marie Curie fellows on a wide ring. This is common to all trees of shipwreck, where and when was it built, so researching full time at UWTSD Lampeter the same species, growing in the same climatic dendrochronology is a very useful technique. with a third joining the team soon. There zone. This means that if I took a sample from We applied this method to the work in Trinidad are 9 out of 14 Marie Curie fellows taking a tree and I didn’t know what it was at all, and Tobago on the island of Tobago where the their secondments at UWTSD for the I could compare its tree ring pattern with a 1677 battle resulted on Dutch and French ships ForSEAdiscovery training programme. tree ring pattern from a known tree, a tree sinking. It will also be used on Trinidad where that has been dated with a known location. I we are about to go looking for a group of 4 “Marie Curie projects are European funded would be able to cross reference the unknown Spanish ships that a Spanish Admiral research projects which are designed sample, for example an unknown sample from sank on purpose when he saw the British to develop post graduate researching. a shipwreck, with a known reference, and arriving in 1797 when Tobago became a This is achieved by undertaking a big discover when and where the timber from a British possession.” piece of multidisciplinary research. The shipwreck is from. ForSEAdiscovery project is a 4 year project , it “My research also takes me to Bermuda, acquired its name because it looks at forests “We can also look at the chemistry within the working on a ship called the HMS Warwick and the sea during what we call the Age of tree, we can look at the individual isotopes which sank in 1619 having delivered the Discovery. What we’re looking at is how the within carbon and oxygen in individual rings. Governor for Bermuda, it was due to then great Iberian empires of Spain and Portugal, By looking at periods where we know what the sail on to the Virginia Coast but it sank in a which developed during the sixteenth to climate was doing, where we have records over hurricane. The shipwreck was excavated over the eighteenth century, were the big fleets the last couple of hundred years, by using tree several years and I was asked to go out and associated with these maritime empires built, rings we can then reconstruct what the climate set up a tree-ring dating laboratory. We took how did they supply all the relevant timbers was doing over hundreds and even thousands lots of samples and proved that the ship was they needed to make the increasing numbers of years ago. This in immensely important British, made from British trees that fell in 1617. of ships.” when trying to understand the big questions Professor Nigel Nayling, Chair in Archaeology at about climate change, and our impact on it.” “Another project will begin in Bermuda this With his work taking him all over the world, UWTSD Lampeter, has had a keen interest in the year which will study vessels involved in the diving in locations ranging from the murky One of the many projects Nigel is part of is early colonisation of the Caribbean and the waters of the English Channel to the crystal field of Archaeology since he was a teenager. As the Rockley Bay Research Project (RBRP),that eastern coast of America. Ships dating back blue waters of Bermuda, diving with the likes a Nautical Archaeologist, his specialised area is aims to scientifically recover, evaluate, to the early seventeenth century and late of the Spanish Ambassador, and working on catalogue and complete conservation of sixteenth century, including the Sea Venture historically significant shipwrecks, it’s fair to dendrochronological archaeology, a scientific method of 17th century shipwrecks associated with the which was the inspiration for Shakespeare’s say Nigel’s job is envied by many. The next dating based on the analysis of patterns of tree rings. Franco-Dutch naval battle of 1677 which play The Tempest.” generation of Nautical Archaeologists will Dendrochronology can date the time at which tree rings took place in Rockley Bay, Scarborough have the opportunity to begin their careers Harbour, Tobago. Scarborough Harbour Nigel is also part of a multidisciplinary at UWTSD Lampeter under the direction of were formed to the exact calendar year and sometimes potentially holds one of the world’s most research training program called Nigel as the University launches the UK’s first even the season. Nigel has spent years applying this important sources of material concerning ForSEAdiscovery, a Marie-Curie ITN project BA Nautical Archaeology Undergraduate 17th century seafaring, ships and maritime which is an attempt to improve the Degree with Nigel as Programme Director. method to shipwrecks all over the world to determine culture. Based on the material observed, understanding of our historical past, our their age and origin.

4 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 5 University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Research Uncovering the

secrets of healthcare “There are lessons to be learned from looking at how people in the past managed without a health service like the NHS, how they maintained their health and wellbeing in the ancient world under very difficult circumstances.”

How did people maintain their health eighteenth and nineteenth century skincare “There has been a big increase in the use and wellbeing in antiquity? How did remedies looked back to ancient practices and of prostheses since the start of the War on people cope with the loss of a limb made use of them, or used them in marketing Terror and the invasions of Afghanistan and before a modern healthcare service? Can strategies. We’ll be looking at ancient figures Iraq. With huge developments in battlefield contemporary skin conditions be treated like Cleopatra and Nefertiti and how these medicine, soldiers are now surviving the loss of with ancient remedies? How have the figures were used to market products. not just one limb, but potentially three. Again, Egyptian queens Nefertiti and Cleopatra it’s interesting to learn how people in antiquity been used to market modern day “Ancient literature will be studied to find the dealt with the loss of limbs, they didn’t have skincare remedies? actual recipes that were recorded, we’ll also be modern surgery or any of the rehabilitation looking at the ancient archaeological remains programmes we have today, they had to look These are just some of the questions that Dr of these remedies. We will be looking to see if after themselves.” Jane Draycott, Classics lecturer at UWTSD any of these ancient remedies could be utilized Lampeter, is attempting to answer. today to help contemporary skin conditions. With the possibility of discovering new Hopefully, we will rediscover some useful approaches to maintaining health and With funding from the AHRC Science in remedies and be able to develop wellbeing, new attitudes with regard to Culture Initiative, Dr Draycott, along with those further.” prostheses along with rediscovering ancient Dr Thibaut Deviese, a Biochemist form skincare regimes, the lessons are there to the University of Oxford and Dr Szu Shen This project also involves looking at be learned from our ancestors. With Dr Wong, a Pharmacist form the University of collections from the Boots Archive and the Draycott’s research a new discovery may be Nottingham, is also working on a project Royal Pharmaceutical Society Library and just around the corner. investigating ancient skincare remedies. Museum. There will be an exhibition open to the public at the end of the project that She says: “There is certainly an increase will take place at the Royal Pharmaceutical in interest in health and wellbeing; people Society Museum. are interested in eating well and exercising. With contemporary pressures on the NHS for In a separate project, Dr Draycott is also example, people are being encouraged to looking at the use of prosthetics in ancient Dr Jane Draycott researches the history and archaeology of medicine take better care of themselves. I think there Greece and Rome, in Graeco-Roman antiquity. She teaches modules relating to Roman are lessons to be learned from looking at how people in the past managed without a health “With regard to prostheses, in the history and culture, the history of health and wellbeing as well as the service like the NHS, how they maintained contemporary world, a prosthesis is an history and archaeology of medicine. She is currently researching their health and wellbeing under very artificial device that replaces a missing body Roman domestic medical practice by looking at the diet, exercise difficult circumstances.” part, generally designed and assembled according to the individual’s appearance and and medical treatment of ordinary people and how they maintained “The project will research the way that functional needs, with a view to being both as their own health and wellbeing without the knowledge and aid of natural ingredient like plants and minerals unobtrusive and as useful as possible. modern health practices and pharmaceuticals. were utilized in antiquity. It will look at how

6 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 7 University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Research Soils and sediments - the big story of humans in their landscape

affected the landscape and how that in known humans in northern Europe. The turn may have affected the humans that footprint surface was exposed at low tide Geoarchaeology is were there. The project involves drilling as heavy seas removed the beach sands to a multi-disciplinary the seabed in order to locate some of the reveal a series of elongated hollows cut into submerged landscapes that are present compacted silts. approach which uses beneath the sea. the techniques of The surface was recorded using Martin is also working in Jersey, on a site photogrammetry, a technique that can geography, geology that spans the last quarter of a million stitch together digital photographs to create and other sciences years with the focus of attention being a a permanent record and 3D images of the Neanderthal cave site called La Cotte de surface. It was the analysis of these images to examine topics St Brelade, which was occupied for at least that confirmed that the elongated hollows 200,000 years. The aim of the project is were indeed ancient human footprints, which inform to understand the site within the perhaps of five individuals. archaeological broader landscape of Jersey and north western France. “The importance of the footprints discovery knowledge. is twofold. These are the oldest recorded “One of the things about the time period I’m footprints outside of Africa. We can assume dealing with - and I’m interested in the last 1 that perhaps they were Homoerectus but million years - is that behind human activity we don’t have any skeletal remains for Dr Martin Bates and evolution, is a climate story. The cycle of these people. We know that the footprints uses methods that the last 100,000 years, of warm to cold and were made by a number of individuals, this back to warm again, can be read from the is the sort of information we rarely get in records geotechnical different geological deposits we find in places archaeology. We can see that they moved information, which A Bronze Age boat, red deer antlers “This is a far more exciting date than we The remains have now become part of like ‘La Cotte de St Brelade, Jersey. around this landscape, they stopped and is the information a dated between 1200 and 1000 BC, the were expecting, I had thought that it would another UWTSD project, entitled Layers in milled around and then moved on again. This lost landscapes of the Norfolk Coastline be in excess of 4000, or even 6000, years old the Landscape. This project is funded by the “It’s important for us as archaeologists to see brings an immediacy to the presence of people construction company and the oldest human footprints outside but this is considerably younger than any Independent Social Research Foundation what the climate cycle was doing and link from the past that we don’t get from any other needs to build a bridges of Africa; these are just a few of the of us anticipated. What this date tells us is and brings together science, humanities and the presence and absence of humans and the archaeological evidence. The footprints are archaeological discoveries that Dr Martin that dryland persisted in this place at least the arts in response to thousands of years’ different types of humans to the climate cycle. the actual imprints of people that were there, and roads in order to Bates has been a part of. until the Bronze Age, which means that the worth of flooding in Cardigan Bay with the creating a link between ourselves and the past. know where to build, flooding here was therefore more recent antlers being a central part of this new story. “So it’s as important for us to know what It’s a far more powerful link than just seeing where to avoid and Dr Martin Bates, a geoarchaeologist than previously thought. The antlers have the climate was doing as it is to know when fragments of stone tools. based at UWTSD Lampeter has a research therefore totally changed our understanding Martin’s other projects and discoveries humans were there, what tools they were where archaeology focus in soils and sediments from of what happened to this landscape in include a wide range of archaeological finds. using and when they were using them. This “It also gives us a scientific perspective of may be buried. archaeological sites. the past.” all links in to a big story of humans in their human behaviour- a snap shot of what may By combining this In the early 90’s Martin worked on a project landscapes and their environment, moving have been going on during that time. Here’s Recently, the Royal Commission in The sands and silts in which the antlers that was re-routing the A20 into the centre around and doing things differently at a group of children to adolescence who are geotechnical method Aberystwyth alerted Martin, who has been were found have also been subject to initial of Dover. As part of that project 20 boreholes different times.” moving around the landscape, there aren’t any with geophysical survey conducting research work in Borth for many examination and it is now clear that the were drilled which allowed the team to big footprints, we don’t think that there were and taking samples years, to a set of magnificent red deer antlers environment in which they were found create a model of what was beneath the Martin is also involved in exploring the lost any adult males there. It gives an indication that had been spotted on the beach at was one of saltmarsh and tidal channels. ground. One particular area was identified as landscapes of the Norfolk coastline. With of a group’s daily, weekly or monthly cycle, from boreholes in the Borth. The find came from a large channel However, one of the issues that still puzzles a peat deposit, likely to be of late pre-historic an ongoing project, the aim is to research something that big adults were not doing. It ground, models of the cut through the well-known fossil forest the team is how and why the deer died. date. When the team dug they discovered the earliest human occupation of Britain. helps us to understand a snapshot of human preserved. Martin has had confirmation of not only the peat, but a large Bronze Age Along with a team of scientists from the behaviour and where there is one set of deposits and sediments the first radiocarbon date from the remains “Human activity in the Bronze Age is well boat, which is now on display in Dover. British Museum, Natural History Museum, footprints there is almost certainly going to beneath the ground can of the skull attached to the antlers. The attested to in the surrounding area and Queen Mary University of London and be more.” be produced, whether deer is now known to have lived and died human footprints in the peat, alongside With a whole range of research projects Liverpool John Moores University, Martin somewhere between 1200 and 1000 BC - the burnt stone, indicate activity in the local currently ongoing, Martin’s research includes discovered a series of footprints left by they are three, five or middle part of the Bronze Age. vicinity. There are no tell-tale marks on the work in Orkney, Scotland, where he is early humans in ancient estuary muds over thirty meters beneath remains to suggest the animal had been trying to understand how the islands have 800,000 years ago at the Happisburgh site the ground’s surface. hunted though, or even perished in a rutt, so changed after the last glacial period. He is in Norfolk. The footprints, discovered in it will probably continue to be a mystery.” researching how changes to the climate May 2013, are direct evidence of the earliest

8 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 9 University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Research Cetaceans, sharks and seabirds

By the age of 28, Rhian Jenkins had sailed “Harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena are “The Bristol Channel region’s physical around the world in a yacht race and had protected under the Habitats and Species environment is a suitable source for the developed a keen interest in cetaceans and Directive (92/43/EEC) and listed as a priority generation of marine renewable energy, and sharks. One of her roles on the boat was species in the City and County of Swansea’s the world’s first tidal lagoon will be sited in as an Ocean Vigil Officer for the Marine Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). Increased Swansea Bay. A 10 year dataset was collected, Conservation Society, collecting both coastal pressures demand better governance, analysed and compared against the qualifying observational and meteorological data. On this study adopted a dimensional analysis to criteria for a Special Area of Conservation returning to the UK this data was collated produce a local management framework for (SAC). Results revealed that a resident and compared to baselines for 51 species harbour porpoise populations. population of porpoise existed and density of cetacean, shark and seabird. The values of 0.58 hp km2 were comparable with changes in distributional data established “Having established basic behavioural other UK regions. While an insignificant calf proved to be a catalyst for not only her dynamics and identified critical habitats, adult ratio of 1:13 was recorded, breeding and undergraduate dissertation but several a coastal zone use model was developed. nursery areas were identified. conference papers and presentations. This highlighted porpoise and coastal user interaction from a species perspective. “Analysis highlighted a number of hotspots of “There are many scientists who disregard Evidence was determined from observations porpoise activity, suggesting that these areas opportunistic wildlife records, opting to only and published research, and an are critical habitats, particularly for feeding consider standardised transect or constant Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) was and foraging. Such information will enable effort methodologies. When trying to collect undertaken. An estimation of consequence future marine renewable energy developers to information on a marine mammal that probability was determined and revealed that select the most appropriate sites. It is argued spends up to 90% of its time underwater and continued coastal use, without mitigation, that existing SAC qualifying criteria prevents Dr Rhian Jenkins is a marine conservation scientist based at offshore, there is little available data to work is likely to have significant local impacts on recognition of critical habitats for the harbour UWTSD Swansea, with a particular interest in marine mammals. with. However, when you spend 11 months porpoise populations.” porpoise and a case is made for an eastward on board a yacht that is circumnavigating the extension of a proposed harbour SAC to include She is a University Reader and currently Head of the School of globe, there are times when it is possible to spot Leading on from this a collaborative project Swansea Bay and the south Gower coast. Architecture, Built & Natural Environments. wildlife and record positional data. This data is with Swansea, Bangor, Aberystwyth, valuable as there are few who get the chance to and Cardiff Universities, together with “My research demonstrates that cetacean data venture so deep into the Southern Ocean. Pembrokeshire College, (the LCRI group), is sparse and even though this study has filled Rhian’s background and principal interest is the natural recognised the cetacean work as an important knowledge gaps, there is still a need environment with a biological focus. Having spent her childhood “Concurrently, there was much concern in the essential component in the assessment and for further research. This research would enable and student days around fishing and sailing boats, the marine UK about the paucity of available marine data development process of marine renewables. both developers and planners to adequately and the relevance of this data in environmental and appropriately consider future marine environment was always a magnet to Rhian. The experience of impact assessments. If you can’t measure it, Several local renewable energy projects renewable energy projects. being airlifted to the Falklands, bringing Rhian into close contact you can’t manage it. From a local perspective, such as offshore windfarms had stalled as with Magellan penguins and a close encounter with a Great White with emerging renewable energy projects in a result of local concerns and insufficient “As a marine scientist it is important to see shark off Cape Town cemented that interest. the pipeline and a developing marine tourism scrutiny of the ecological baseline. As the application of your work. There was a time industry, it was impossible to measure or record Principal Investigator, Rhian was tasked with when spotting and recording a dolphin was any associated development impacts without co-ordinating further porpoise research, seen as a nice but unimportant activity. Today a baseline of biological data against which to resulting in a reaffirmed baseline of that information is keenly sought after by measure change. cetacean population trends for Swansea Bay developers so that their planning application is and Gower. not stalled by failure to establish what wildlife “Back in 2002, there were very few reliable are present and whether they are resident or records of cetacean populations around “The UK Government was recently criticised seasonal visitors. South Wales, much of the focus having been for failing to fulfil its obligations under the further west towards Pembrokeshire. This was Habitats Directive in respect of designating “Both the PhD work and LCRI project work have therefore the justification needed for a focused protected areas for Harbour Porpoise led to consultation activities with Swansea study around Swansea, which eventually Phocoena phocoena. At the centre of Bay Tidal Lagoon and we are about to submit became my PhD.” the discussion lay the stringent nature of a response to the Welsh Government on their the qualifying criteria for site selection. consultation on proposed special areas of Rhian’s PhD established distributional and Concurrently, there is a growing support conservation for harbour porpoise and special behavioural data for Harbour Porpoise for marine renewable energy technologies; protection areas for seabirds.” Phocoena phocoena populations around however the planning process is often Swansea and Gower. hampered by inadequate marine data to enable appropriate siting or mitigation against potential ecological impacts.

10 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 11 University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Research High intensity interval training (HIIT) has positive impact on older people’s fitness

The traditional guideline for older people “The second group comprised of athletes The staggering results of this research has – and the recommendation of both the who had trained throughout their lives attracted significant attention across the NHS and the American College of Sports and who were still training intensively and globe and has thus far had numerous peer Medicine (ACSM) - is that over 50s partake competing in a range of sports. These reviewed publications and presentations on in 150 minutes of low to moderate Masters athletes continued to train in their aspects of muscle power, recovery, quality of intensity training per week yet Peter usual way for the first six weeks of the study.” life and motivation to exercise, peak power; Herbert’s research has found that there is body composition and testosterone levels. an alternative way of training that can offer Having monitored and measured the significant benefits for older people. participants, Peter then set about working If anyone is interested in taking part in high with both groups on a programme of High intensity training, it’s vital that you talk to A highly experienced physiologist and a Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) over a your GP before starting. former Strength and Conditioning coach period of six weeks. with the Scarlets and the Wales national rugby team, Dr Peter Herbert has a wealth of Participants would train once every 5 knowledge and experience of working with days doing 6 x 30s sprints on the bike sportspeople of all ages from a wide range interspersed by 3 minute recovery periods. of disciplines. Peter is also an extremely Each session lasted 18 minutes, comprising successful cyclist, recently winning a bronze of 3 minutes of high intensity work and 15 medal at the World Masters Track Cycling minutes of recovery. Over a period of 6 Championship in the 500m sprint at 70 years weeks, this meant that each participant was of age. exercising for 27 minutes.

Having trained intensively throughout his Between each session, the men could take career, by the time Peter reached his mid-50s part in some low intensity exercise such as he realised that his fitness levels weren’t walking but were stopped from exercising at increasing, even though he was training higher levels. harder than ever. Peter also realised that it was taking longer for him to recover after “The results at the end of the research period each session so decided to change the were overwhelming,” says Peter. “The HIIT way he trained, doing fewer sessions of training caused significant increases in the higher intensity. oxygen capacity (VO2max) of the Masters athletes – all of whom were previously Noticing an improvement in his fitness exercising at high intensity at least 3 times levels, strength and performance, Peter a week. decided to look scientifically at the changes he’d made to his own training regime by “There were also increases in leg power, undertaking a study that would help us a positive effect not only for the masters understand whether older males could athletes but also for the more sedentary as Research by Dr Peter Herbert, tolerate high intensity training. this improved strength and power could be beneficial in later life helping with everyday a physiologist from the “In a unique study that started in 2012, we tasks such as climbing stairs, getting up, looked at two groups of male participants lifting and carrying. University of Wales Trinity Saint with very different fitness levels, all aged between 56 and 74,” says Peter. “Participants also experienced fat David, has proved that shorter, loss, increase in muscle size, improved “The first group was sedentary and hadn’t performance as well as greater general harder training sessions exercised for thirty years so we firstly asked health benefits. Testosterone levels of followed by longer recovery them partake in moderate training for six the participants increased resulting in yet weeks, following the NHS’s guideline of another health benefit by reducing the need periods can have positive 150 minutes per week. This improved their for hormone supplements,” adds Peter. overall fitness and prepared them to take results on an older person’s part in the study. fitness levels.

12 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 13 University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Research Ecotherapy and virtual reality counselling

Dr Ceri Phelps, Head of School at UWTSD School Ceri’s research area is broadly in psychological of Psychology, specialises in health psychology interventions, particularly in the area of cancer, and is registered by the health professions psycho-oncology and psychosocial genetics. council as a practicing psychologist. Her research focuses on identifying ways to help people cope with worry, anxiety or distress as a consequence of illness or health threats.

Dr Ceri Phelps was part of a team of about their experiences. We discovered that “We’re currently doing some work with a academics from UWTSD’s School of the ladies had found it a very therapeutic local dementia support organisation in Psychology who conducted research intervention that was easy to engage with. the Swansea area. We’re interested to see exploring whether the known benefits of They talked about how the garden bowl if this ecotherapy approach is something nature-based activities can be replicated was a source of positivity and how it gave that individuals suffering from dementia or in a low-cost, low-impact way. them hope. carers of loved ones with dementia would benefit from as a coping mechanism.” The research project, funded by cancer “They enjoyed looking after the bowl, charity Tenovus Cancer Care, looked at the tending to the flowers and watering the By pooling the different expertise in the psychological benefits of an ecotherapy plants on a daily basis. They also spoke School of Psychology ycology at UWTSD, based intervention. It involved working about how the bowl and flowers almost Ceri, in collaboration with Dr Paul Hutchings, with colleagues from UWTSD counselling reflected their own cancer journey. One Senior lecturer and Programme director programmes (Carol Hughes) and a local lady talked about how she woke up one at UWTSD’s School of Psychology, has also horticulturalist (Mrs Julie Bowen) morning and saw the flowers in the bowl been involved with exploring the potential were wilting, this reflected how she was acceptability of a virtual reality counselling Ecotherapy refers to the practice of feeling in herself that day, she then watered world for young people affected by cancer. encouraging individuals to engage in the plants and saw them get brighter, and With the help of a group of school children nature-based activities as a therapeutic from that she felt brighter and more positive and UWTSD students, the project team method in order to gain physical and in herself. which included games development psychological benefits. These benefits are experts at the School of Applied Computing well documented, however, active outdoor “This project is an example of a cost at UWTSD created an avatar based virtual activities are not always possible for people effective intervention. In the context of reality world. who are undergoing treatment for cancer or NHS service provision, it is very difficult to who are recovering from surgery. give people individualised psychological, “It was an incredible project and we learned psycho-social support. We found that a huge amount about the technical side Ceri said: “Our aim was to find out whether it people want something that is easy to and about working with young people. We was possible to bring the benefits of nature implement, doesn’t cost much, and can be wanted to see if it’s possible to recreate indoors, in the form of an indoor garden used with their own volition, where they some of nature’s benefits through virtual bowl, as many cancer patients can’t take have control over it how often and in what reality, or whether there is actually part in outdoor nature-based activities due ways they can make use of it” something special about being out in to treatment or surgery.” physical nature, being able to touch real “We know that people with cancer can plants and living things. The pilot phase of During the study, seven women with a continue to struggle through the cancer the project suggested that what we created breast cancer diagnosis were encouraged journey for many years past diagnosis. This could be a very beneficial mechanism.” to cultivate and care for their own indoor project showed a way that people could garden bowl for a period of three months. make use of an intervention to help them “We are currently looking for funding They were also asked to record their daily cope with worries or distress at any point to take this forward and evaluate the experience of nurturing the bowl in a in that journey. There’s a huge amount of psychological impact of online counselling diary and to capture significant moments evidence that tells us that engagement through avatars. We’d like to discover if in photographs. with nature, as a patient, really does have online counselling can be as therapeutic physical as well as psychological benefits. as a face to face intervention, and whether “This was a very small project but produced This is a project that allows us to offer these this approach is more acceptable for young some quite fascinating results. The ladies benefits to people who would otherwise people who are perhaps more reluctant to came together in a focus group 3 months struggle to have those benefits. engage in traditional counselling.” after beginning the project and spoke

14 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 15 University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Research The Cognitive Effects of Bilingualism

Dr Hywel Glyn Lewis is programme director of the MA in Bilingualism and Multilingualism at UWTSD. His role in bilingualism stems from his years spent as a teacher when he engaged in research specifically about bilingualism in Wales. Hywel’s research area looks at to what extent bilingualism does in fact promote cognitive benefits in pupils.

By Dr Hywel Glyn Lewis: The desire to assimilate minorities both (having a positive effect on third language As my main area of interest in educational linguistically and culturally with the political acquisition) as well as in attentional control. research, therefore, I strongly maintain International research provides irrefutable ideology of a dominant majority and the that evidence of the cognitive benefits of evidence of the cognitive benefits of tendency to associate indigenous languages In response to later research, rather than bilingualism requires far wider publicity in educating children bilingually, yet, in with social and economic ‘backwardness’ seeing languages as existing as totally order to bring about change in both public Wales, bilingual education continues to be led, inevitably, to associating the use of separate entities in the brain, the current perception and educational practices, a controversial issue. My research interests two languages, and bilingualism itself, concept of bilingual cognitive processing including the adoption of effective models of lie not only in those cognitive advantages with a range of cognitive deficiencies, presents the co-existence of two languages bilingual teaching. themselves, but also in political ideologies predominantly based on the belief that as being attached and emanating from the which underpin policy-making. the greater one’s competence in a second same central processing system so that, language, the lesser one’s proficiency in since both are interactive, concepts and An international perspective the first. Whereas such misguided beliefs skills acquired in one are transferred to the can be seen, retrospectively, to be rooted other and are processed in either language. As manifestations of minority-group identity, in misconceptions of how language is Such enhanced executive processes are also thousands of languages world-wide have generated and an erroneous concept of the alleged to persist into adulthood and protect historically faced political opposition from processing of two languages in the human against the negative cognitive impacts oppressive regimes in the wake of both brain, they were also propagated by early of any decline in memory due to ageing. European and British colonisation. However, research into the relationship between Recent research suggests the possibility whereas the latter has been commonly bilingualism and cognition carried out in that, compared to monolinguals, the onset perceived as an ‘external’ process of annexing the USA between the 1890s and 1920s of dementia in bilinguals can be delayed by countries abroad, the Anglicisation of Britain’s comparing immigrants with monoglot four years, which has obvious implications in indigenous peoples (the Celtic nations of English Americans. Early research in Wales both health and economic terms for policy- Wales, Scotland and Ireland) by the Anglo- also contributed to this misconception. planners in public welfare. Saxons has been described as a process of Although subsequent revaluation revealed ‘internal colonisation’. glaring methodological deficiencies, Further international research has nevertheless, it continued to have a enabled academics to establish additional Often perpetrated in the guise of altruism substantial adverse influence on public theories regarding the cognitive effects of and a desire to eradicate native, tribal attitudes for some time. bilingualism, including the fact that the level ‘backwardness’ considered not to be in of linguistic proficiency reached in each keeping with ‘higher’ forms of civilization, A new era language may be a crucial contributory such political intervention could often be factor, both languages needing to be more morally and self-righteously justified as However, in 1962, ground-breaking research or less equal This raises fundamental issues improving the lot of the materially less carried out by Peal & Lambert in French- concerning (a) the models of linguistic and fortunate and providing economic and immersion schools in Montreal heralded curricular instruction currently adopted material prosperity, with scant attention the dawn of a new period of investigation which can ensure such cognitive benefits and given to any cultural and linguistic into the cognitive effects of bilingualism, (b) the method of second language teaching ramifications. Language, therefore, being one marking a watershed in the history of currently experienced by the majority of of the ultimate manifestations of a ‘civilised’ research in this field and pointing to a range pupils in Wales. To achieve such proficiency, society, played a crucial element in an of positive cognitive advantages. These each language needs to be adopted as a assimilative linguistic and cultural process in included greater mental flexibility, the ability medium of curricular instruction across all which the adoption of the majority language to think more abstractly and independently subjects and not merely as an individual was considered economically advantageous of words, and a positive transfer between subject within the overall curriculum. to the oppressed. a bilingual’s two languages facilitating the Immersion methodology and Content development of verbal IQ. Further research and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), has shown that bilinguals have cognitive for example, ensure high levels of second advantages over monolinguals in relation language proficiency equivalent to that of to more specific aspects than general IQ native speakers. superiority, particularly cognitive flexibility and an increase in metalinguistic awareness

16 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 17 University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Research Winds, waves, currents and sea-level changes

Mike Phillips is Pro-Vice Chancellor of Research, Innovation, Enterprise and Commercialisation at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Mike is a professor of Coastal Geomorphology which is the study of the morphological development and evolution of the coast as it acts under the influence of winds, waves, currents, and sea-level changes. Mike is part of the UN Climate Oceans and Security Working Group and a TrusteeDirector of the Coastal Education Research Foundation in the US where his expertise is highly valued to advise and interpret coastal climate and storm scenarios.

Here, Mike talks about the work, erosion. Two equally weighted economic Tidal Lagoon Power (TLP) has received tides centuries in advance. With a series “There is another level of ‘no active “We will look at temporal data to see how research and projects that he has been drivers, construction and tourism, had planning permission to develop the world’s of Tidal Lagoons around the coastline we intervention’, but this doesn’t mean sticking the shoreline has changed over time and we involved with: conflicting interests; the construction first tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay. It is set to can maximise output from the lagoons your head in the sand and not doing will conduct seasonal surveys over a couple industry wanted the sand and the tourism be the first in a series of lagoons, the second generating electricity more hours in the day. anything, it means that you observe and of years. We will then understand how the “My first degree was in Civil Engineering industry didn’t want the sand to be taken. one being planned for Cardiff. Mike and It is clean energy and will bring a brand new wait to make a decision when you have beach has behaved and responded to sea and I was employed by the Atomic Energy the Coastal and Marine Research Group international industry to Wales. more evidence. level change and storms. We will analyse the Authority and Associated British Ports “One of the problems of coastal studies at UWTSD are responsible for the coastal decisions and make interpretations which amongst others. I was working on coastal is that you can’t make a decision quickly. monitoring surrounding Swansea Bay The Coastal and Marine Research Group is “The latest shoreline management plans will be made available to Gwynedd County projects whilst becoming a Chartered It took me from 2001 when I did my first Tidal Lagoon. also analysing shoreline data for Fairbourne, proposed that managed retreat be adopted Council and possibly Welsh Government.” Engineer. When I joined the University, I survey to 2007 to collect that data that a coastal community in North Wales that for Fairbourne and this was broadcast in a obtained a Master’s degree in Environmental provided the evidence for me to show that “When we construct on the shoreline and comprises approximately 400 homes. BBC programme entitled ‘Week In, Week Management and a PhD in Coastal Marine Aggregate Dredging was not the build into the sea, it has an impact. UWTSD Out’. The programme was the first time Geomorphology. Skills obtained from these cause of erosion in Port Eynon Bay. has been commissioned by TLP to monitor The Fairbourne community is at risk due the people of Fairbourne heard about the disciplines enabled me to advance in the the Swansea Bay shoreline from Sker Point to shoreline management decisions that consequences of the managed retreat and field of coastal research. “I had previously shown that extensive to the Mumbles. We assessed the shoreline have been taken. High level management no active intervention policies. erosion of Penarth beach had been caused using data from 1998 and have already strategy options are either to advance the “The coastal zone is under threat from by a unique change in wind direction and published results in the academic press. line by extending the shoreline, building a “Immediately after the programme was rising sea levels and increased storm coastal processes. Again this had been We are carrying out twice yearly surveys buffer to protect the asset or holding the broadcast there were problems for the intensities. Consequently, those who live on blamed on dredging and the construction and collecting sediment samples to assess line, generally by use of seawalls. There is a people of Fairbourne because they could no the coast are at risk and therefore, my field of the nearby Cardiff Bay Barrage. In this processes and shoreline change without need to continuously maintain both of these longer sell their houses, mortgage values of research is of scientific and socio- instance, it was eight years after the events the lagoon. We will continue monitoring options and it costs money. In some cases had reduced and therefore their assets or economic importance. before the cause was determined. When during “construction and post construction. a managed retreat option is put forward lifelong savings were under threat. similar events have not happened in living Consequently, we will be able to assess any where you relocate further inland from “I proved that Marine Aggregate Dredging memory, people think back with rose changes and make suggestions to mitigate the shoreline because you cannot afford to “This has highlighted a problem that was not responsible for beach erosion coloured spectacles. My job is to disentangle any effects. keep maintaining. although high level strategies are in on Gower. Most of the sand used for people’s perceptions, and to do this you place, there are no clear implementation construction in South Wales comes from need evidence.” “The importance of the tidal lagoon cannot “These options present a balance between strategies. Consequently, the Coastal marine sources and there was a belief that be understated. It’s a secure energy supply cost benefit, that is, the costs of the defence and Marine Research Group is analysing dredging from the sandbanks caused beach because we can predict astronomical against the value of assets being protected. shoreline data for Fairbourne.

18 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 19 University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Research When Art meets Medicine

During the past twelve months, Professor Sue Williams, a lecturer at UWTSD’s Swansea College of Art, has been working on a project bringing the artistic and medical worlds together with the aim of lifting the taboo of talking about sexual dysfunction.

The result has been THROB, a series of conversations, exhibitions and performances that have combined painting and drawing installation, music, poetry and performance.

At the heart of the unique art-meets- political figureheads and patients to bring has since had many opportunities to exhibit science encounter, THROB, is the to the fore new thinking and ways of and lecture on her work across the globe, partnership between the multi-award communicating about this crucial subject.” including in Africa, China, New York and winning artist and erectile dysfunction Amsterdam. At present she is exhibiting at specialist and cardiologist Dr Nick Ossei- As well as being a prolific practising visual the Fernando Pradilla Gallery in Madrid and Gerning who brings his expert knowledge artist, Sue is also a senior lecturer at UWTSD Gold + Beton in Cologne. and the shared experience of his patients and teaches Fine Art at the University’s to the ground-breaking initiative. Swansea College of Art. A number of Sue’s works are included in public collections, including the Wales “From Mick Jagger’s ‘lack of satisfaction’ “I love seeing students develop and grow Assembly Government building; National to Shakespeare’s tragic Othello who can’t as unique individuals. I introduce them Museum & Galleries of Wales; consummate his marriage to Desdemona, to the type of work that influences me Contemporary Arts Society as well as a artists have long explored the subject of and encourage them to look for their own number of municipal galleries. sexual vulnerability,” Sue said. inspiration. I also believe in collaboration and urge the students to work together on “Through exploring issues related to erectile projects and to respond to each other’s work dysfunction I want to gain knowledge in different ways. of the emotional impact of sexual and family relationships, and how both “Throughout the degree course, I also build males and females are made vulnerable the students’ confidence by making them through the lack of open conversation and stand up for their own practice. I try and communications about this difficult subject,” make them think about new or different she adds. aspects of their work and to question what they’re doing. The students all work Dr Ossei-Gerning said, “It is my passion closely together and are greatly supported as a clinician to raise the profile of by the fantastic teaching staff, including Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and to create internationally renowned artist Professor Tim a better understanding of the trauma Davies who represented Wales at the Venice that this problem can cause to many as a Biennale. Amongst the other staff are artists harbinger of heart disease, as well as its Craig Wood, Catrin Webster, Sarah Tombs devastating effects upon men and women’s’ and Marilyn Allen.” relationships. ED continues to be a taboo subject, leaving many to suffer in silence. Sue herself is a huge influence on the My vision for this collaboration with Sue is Welsh arts scene and internationally. In that it is a perfect opportunity to team up 2006, she was the only artist in the UK to be with artists, scientists, medical professionals, selected for the Artes Mundi Art Prize and

20 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 21 University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Research Transforming Early Years Education Dr Jane Waters, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Education and Communities and Chair of the Early Years Special Interest Group, discusses her field of work and why it is currently a transformative time for Early Years Education.

By Dr Jane Waters: relationship with, and behave intentionally ‘share best practice’ across the sector. It is towards, individual children, offering important that ‘sharing’ is undertaken in a The experiences and opportunities that opportunities for talking and thinking manner that ensures adults working with young children are offered at home, in together in a sustained manner. In a major young children understand why practice their communities and through early years effectiveness study into early education is effective, and also understand how it education and care have a significant (2003-2015) it was found that children, who is effective, for what, and for whom. Any impact on their future life chances. The had experienced early education in settings notion that early years education and early years, then, is an important arena that routinely included opportunities for care is straightforward or can be similarly for policy and practice development and interactions in which adults extended their enacted across different contexts should be research, especially in Wales, where there thinking through talk, were found to have resisted. The research evidence simply does is persistent and long standing inequality improved outcomes at age 16. However, in not support this view; rather, there needs in outcomes associated with socio- general such interactions are uncommon to be an acknowledgment of the complex economic circumstance. in UK early years settings. In two recent challenge inherent in seeking to support evaluations of the implementation and individual children’s development through My engagement with research into young impact of the Welsh Foundation Phase, intentional pedagogic practice that is based children’s learning has developed from my such experiences were similarly found to be on a relationship with, and knowledge of, doctoral work that considered adult-child uncommon. It was also found that across the child. interaction in the early years in outdoor and Wales, Foundation Phase provision was indoor environments associated with school. inconsistent and that significant workforce The Early Years Special Interest Group (EYSIG) Since completion of the thesis in 2011, I development was needed. at UWTSD is currently exploring the value have worked more broadly to consider the of a particular professional learning tool in ways in which outdoor play and learning Critically, the adult working in a play-based conjunction with Swansea local authority. can benefit young children’s development, early years environment is well placed to The tool has been devised by those leading and also to consider, critically, the role of extend children’s thought by engaging research, nationally and internationally, into the adult professional in supporting young in open-ended and exploratory talk effective early years education and provides children’s learning in the early years of based on children’s interests and current a means by which provision can be reviewed education, care and schooling in Wales. My understandings. Professional learning for and evaluated, and targeted improvements research activity in the coming year relates those working in the early years sector is planned for. The tool includes a particular to the latter agenda and how we can make currently mixed and highly dependent focus on the quality of interactions between best use of research-based evidence to upon the kind of setting in which staff adults and children in early years settings. inform pedagogic practice for those working work. Young children may be provided Members of the EYSIG will be working with with children from aged 3 to 7 in Wales. for in settings that are school-based, local a number of early years settings over the authority maintained, or sit in the private coming 6 months to consider whether and In this article I outline the critical role of and voluntary sectors. The workforce is how the tool may support the national the adult in young children’s learning. This variably experienced and qualified, some agenda for the provision of excellence across relates closely to work I have undertaken as adults having minimal qualifications and the early years sector in Wales. part of a Welsh Government task and finish some, usually those leading school-based group seeking to take forward professional classes, holding qualified teacher status. The New Opportunity to Lead educational “In a major effectiveness study learning for those working in early years The challenge inherent in the Welsh pledges demonstrate a number of education and care. The task and finish Government’s ambition to establish a 10- commitments made by UWTSD relating into early education (2003-2015) group was established as part of the Welsh year early years workforce development plan to initial teacher education and teachers’ Government’s review of early years provision is significant indeed, and recommendations professional learning which includes it was found that children, who in response to recent evaluations of the from the task and finish groups are soon to the launch of Yr Athrofa - the institute had experienced early education flagship early years play-based curriculum, be considered by the Minister. of education and the Wales Education the Foundation Phase framework for 3-7 Commission. The institution’s close work in settings that routinely included year olds in Wales. The focus on early years provision in with schools, local authorities and the national policy provides opportunities regional consortia will develop new and opportunities for interactions in There is a robust and well evidenced to work with early years staff to consider innovative ways of best preparing students research base that indicates the value, what high quality provision in early years to become teachers to meet the challenges which adults extended their thinking for children’s longer term outcomes, of settings ‘looks like’ across various Welsh inherent in taking forward the Foundation early years provision that is punctuated contexts. In line with national Welsh policy Phase in Wales. Anyone interested in joining through talk, were found to have by interactions with adults who have a and practice, there are, of course, plans to the EYSIG is encouraged to make contact. improved outcomes at age 16.”

22 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 23 University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Research Islam and the internet Dr Gary R. Bunt, Reader in Islamic Studies, has for the past 20 years researched issues to do with Islam and the internet. Gary’s research focuses on Muslim representation, religious authority and the way in which the internet, social media and the web have had an impact on Muslim society in the context of majorities and minorities.

Here Dr Bunt discusses his research work.

“You can’t write about contemporary students’ work. They would come to class of it. There was so much information Islam without talking about the internet. with sources but without any information coming through the internet during the Everything we do is linked to the World about where the source had come from. uprising. The challenge was to capture the Wide Web or to a mobile phone. There is With regard to the issues associated with information before it disappeared. no separation, it’s embedded and the link Muslims in the UK, I realised that there was is only going to increase. Twenty years a lot going on that was under represented. “Censorship from internet providers, for ago someone would make a statement, All of the electronic media was having a big example, meant that the information somebody else would write it down and impact on issues to do with Muslim identity. didn’t stay online for long. Documents then somebody else would put it on and manuals produced by organisations the internet. This has now transformed “At the beginning of my research I had would upload to a site, when you returned to a much more streamline process, an to work out a methodology because the to the site two hours later the content was embedded system, and people are much work hadn’t really been done before. Many often gone. You have a very small window more aware of the potential available to people thought it was a strange thing to of opportunity to capture data. Al-Qaeda them. This is important in terms of the do and there was a lot of scepticism about pages have a habit of vanishing; they get changes to do with the way in which whether you could research the internet in around this by sending a link to the new some platforms use the internet to terms of religion. In my first book I charted web address that directs you to the explain who they are and what they do out the internet, Islam, and how it works. I latest site. to international audiences. looked at religious authority and militaristic interpretations. This work was well received “I will be publishing a book next year, “The internet has brought in a lot of new but it was just a starting point. Since then a continuity of my last book ‘iMuslims’ ‘religious authorities’, people who have I’ve continued to work on how we interpret published in 2009. A lot has happened presented themselves as scholars - rightly this data which is now a relentless stream. It since then in relation to the internet and or wrongly - and - challenge the traditional is now a multi-lingual, multi context, multi- Islam. How social media is now used to frameworks of religious challenged media world, whereas when I started it was project an image of religious authority authority. Since 2000 a lot of things have just a browser. and has an impact on Muslims in lots of happened that you wouldn’t have expected different contexts.” - internet hacking, cracking and encryption “When it comes to censorship, people and the way these have been used for always find a way around it. So the idea of Gary R. Bunt is the author of several religious causes. The development in the shutting sites down for security reasons publications in this subject area, including: last 10 years has been due in part to a means that the information will just go generation of digital natives, people who underground and get encrypted. The iMuslims: Rewiring the House of Islam (2009) don’t need to be told what a mobile phone people setting up the sites and pushing is or how to use a computer. The internet for them out only provide what they want you Islam in the Digital Age: E-jihad, them is a natural place for putting together to see. Al-Qaeda and so called ‘Islamic State’ Online Fatwas and Cyber Islamic information and pushing their own provide information on how to encrypt files Environments (2003) religious perspectives. to ensure that anything an individual posts is done without providing an identity. Virtually Islamic: Computer-Mediated “Of course, this doesn’t apply to everybody, Communication and Cyber Islamic there are a lot of places in the world where “The use of social media was key to the Environments (2000) you can’t access or use the internet. Many ‘Arab Spring’ and is an example of people people’s use of the internet for religious finding a way around censorship. I watched purposes is only a small or non-existent part what was going on from the very start of what they use the internet for. and began to observe and record the issues. Although social media formed a “I began researching this area in the really part of the uprising, it doesn’t present the early phases of the World Wide Web. My whole picture; I think it’s wrong to call it a interest was sparked in part because sources ‘Facebook Revolution’. But social media did form the internet began trickling in to my form a sub text and people took advantage

24 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 25 University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Research

Dr Tony Thomas’s major research interests coastal zone and coastal monitoring. I also sweep zone), and a statistical methodology include shoreline morphological responses took a great interest during the Sea Empress based upon 95 and 99 percentile changes to variations in teleconnection patterns, disaster in 1996, a tanker that went to was established to assess whether the Coastal Zone wind and wave conditions including sea ground in Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire Tidal Lagoon would change the coastal level rise. His contribution to academic and shed 70,000 tonnes of crude oil. My processes either during construction or post literature sees a significant number in involvement in the clear up of beaches construction. The results of our research the top quartile ranked journals in at Tenby, Manorbier, Lystep and Caldey may used to inform the design of other Monitoring engineering, geosciences, environmental Island, included various specialist clean-up proposed Tidal Lagoons around the world, science and geography. techniques and logistics of labour, plant and which is a very exciting prospect. oil transportation.” Extensive civil engineering expertise “Based on the original data research, we enabled Tony to integrate mathematical Tony has been working on the Swansea found that each beach reacted differently analyses of waves, tides and currents Bay Tidal Lagoon project and heading the to the way waves approached them. alongside geographical dimensions, research into what effect the Lagoon with We found that the harbours and the river including infrastructure. Industry experience have on the coastal area of Swansea Bay. inputs acted as surrogate headlands and enabled Tony to keep abreast with modern restricted longshore drift over that period of technological developments in survey “We devised a monitoring programme for time. This was all based on sub aerial zones, Dr Tony Thomas is a Senior Research Associate at UWTSD and is instrumentation as well as keeping a firm Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon, developed from which is an area of the beach which people a respected member of the Coastal and Marine Research Group grasp of the basic principles behind many historical data that can be used to monitor tend to sit on so they notice the changes within the University. surveying techniques such as DGPS and potential for changes in costal processes when they do occur. Initial results suggest morphological and wave analysis during construction and post construction that the proposed Swansea Bay Tidal software programmes. of the Lagoon. This is very important, Lagoon, located between sediment Tony has over 40 years’ experience of construction, civil and not only for the Tidal Lagoon in Swansea cells and surrogate headlands, would coastal engineering project management. He has participated in Tony said: “My interest in coastal zone but for the Tidal Lagoons that have been have little negative effect on sub aerial and managed more than 30 projects with a total value exceeding monitoring started from a very young age. proposed all over the UK. We have been coastal processes. I’ve lived in Tenby on the Pembrokeshire commissioned by the Swansea Bay Tidal £40 million. He attained a BSc (Hons), MSc and PhD in Coastal coast all my life. I was always interested in Lagoon to carry out the coastal monitoring “Working within coastal zone monitoring Morphodynamics. Tony has developed extensive knowledge of the reasons why the sediment moved away works including geomorphological has never been more exciting, projects like shoreline change in response to physical processes and the wider from the shoreline during winter and then assessments of the dune systems around Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon and issues such implications of climate impacts. all of a sudden came back in the summer Swansea Bay. as climate change, sea level rise and the when the visitors arrived- almost as if it was increase of coastal and marine conservation timed. The simple analogy for what happens “Historic beach profile data for the period makes my line of work very exciting and is that erosion takes place during the between 1998 and 2013, supplied by the constantly developing.” course of winter storms, and then during Swansea and Carmarthen Bay Coastal the summer months a slow sediment input Engineering group, was used in the takes place. Seeing the beaches in Tenby development of the monitoring regime. The transform from summer to winter was the maximum and minimum temporal change beginning of my interest in variations in the for each profile was calculated (the profile

The Coastal and Marine Research Group aims to offer national and international research leadership and collaboration, set new research agendas, and offer significant methodological innovation. The Research Group’s themes consist of coastal and marine processes, climate change and sea level rise, cultural use and coastal and marine conservation and management.

26 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 27 University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Research Interpreting current migration issues

Dr Paul Hutchings, senior Lecturer in the School Paul’s main research area is in social cognition, of Psychology at UWTSD, is an experimental studying how people think about others and social psychologist and a chartered psychologist how they interact. His research is based around with the British Psychological Society. people’s attitudes and beliefs, with his key interest focusing on people’s prejudices, the way that people discriminate against other people and their attitudes towards issues such as migration.

Currently, Dr Paul Hutchings is researching through asking them specific questions “Some of our research produces surprising how people are interpreting the current and giving them computerised tasks which results. On the whole, people behave in a migration issues. are designed to tap into their unconscious way that we expect them to, but sometimes attitudes, which can be very difficult for people do something we weren’t expecting. Paul said: “This research brings with it a people to even be aware of themselves. We When this happens it almost provides the number of different attitudes, some of these employ a variety of methods in order to next research question. We look at a finding can include having a negative attitude be able to understand the psyche of and say ‘that’s really odd, why have they towards outgroups, but some can also be people and how they are responding to done that?’ and we then follow that path about people’s fears and worries about these issues. to try and understand and explain it. We’re what will happen to their own in-groups building upon a rich history of studies into and the people within their societies. “One of the big issues with this type prejudice but we’re constantly moving Tapping in to people’s conscious and of research is that it needs to be very those boundaries forward, and that’s a really subconscious attitudes, allows us to explore responsive to what is happening in the exciting part of it.” the way people feel and also the types of world. Whilst we’re building on established information that they take in. theories and following a certain pattern of research, the world out there is constantly “If you look at the media, there are a changing. The 2015 Paris attacks are a prime plethora of stories on migration issues in example of this. We needed to be able to our society which range from positive to respond very quickly in order to be able to negative. Migration is a huge issue in society explore people’s reaction to the event. at the moment, on all sorts of levels. Having That’s what makes this area of research such an understanding of this, but importantly, a challenge. having a scientific understanding and being able to inform people without all of the “Our studies along with a host of others rhetoric, is hugely important in order to inform us that prejudice isn’t a simple thing inform the greater debate, particularly when of being prejudiced or not prejudiced, there it comes to the politics of the situation. are a number of different elements within that which make up different prejudice “We use a lot of experimental methods in types. Some people are prejudiced towards our research. We try to control variables certain groups and some people are by putting people in to the lab so that protectionist about their own group rather we can explore their subconscious and than anti other groups. Our research allows their conscious attitudes. This is done us to explore this in far more detail.

28 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 29 University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Research Non Destructive Testing

Expert in the field of Non Destructive Testing (NDT), Dr Peter Charlton, is a senior research fellow at UWTSD Swansea. He has over 25 years’ experience and is responsible for industrial engagement for NDT and commercial activity.

He is PhD supervisor for advanced applied ultrasonic imaging research and MSc NDT programme director, teaching every subject from electromagnetics to statistics.

The technology and applications of NDT “The main applications of NDT include “The main areas of research that we undertake are wide-ranging and constantly evolving. looking at things like oil storage tanks, which at UWTSD involve developing advanced Major fields of application include the are very large structures primarily made ultrasonic imaging algorithms to provide aerospace industry, oil, gas and energy out of mild steel, we use electromagnetic high resolution images which impacts on the generation, chemical industries, space methods to inspect the surface area of quality of the inspections undertaken. Another technology, rail transport, shipping and the tank from the outside. We also look at area that we’re involved in is developing manufacturing. Other applications are methods for inspecting storage tank floors, advanced magnetic techniques aimed mainly constantly emerging and there are strong this is particularly important to protect the at the petro chemical industries. All of this links with medical technology. environment. Other applications like the research is undertaken with UWTSD’s aerospace industry, where new materials are industrial partners. So, what exactly is NDT and how is it used? being introduced, provides new challenges for Peter explains: developing new inspection methods. “All of our teaching at undergraduate and “During my student days in the 80s I studied postgraduate levels along with our research “NDT is a means of evaluating materials, Microelectronics and Computer Systems is extremely industrially relevant. We provide structures or components without causing Engineering and went on a student placement internships for our graduates so that they harm. It’s analogous to the medical imaging with Silverwing Ltd who wanted to look at can spend time with our industrial partners field, but its use is in industrial application. some research and development. I developed as well as providing industrially sponsored We’re all familiar with medical ultrasound and inspection software for inspecting power plant PhD research. The NDT industry involves every radiography, what NDT does is apply those sort heat exchangers. We developed the world’s branch of engineering and impinges on our of techniques to inspect industrial components first commercially available magnetic flux daily lives in more ways than you can think of. and structures. Our main application areas leakage corrosion mapping system for oil The industry is full of different kinds of people are in the petro-chemical area generation and storage tanks.” and that’s part of its uniqueness.” aerospace industries. “I worked for Silverwing Ltd while I completed “NDT is an important industrial sector in the my degree and then they sponsored my PhD. South Wales region. We have three prime During the mid-90s I set up my own company, companies that operate out of the Swansea ‘Inspections Solutions Cymru Ltd’ which area, TWI Wales in Port Talbot, Oceaneering specialised in the development of bespoke who operate out of Swansea and are the ultrasonic imaging equipment, aimed mainly largest offshore inspection service provider at the power generation, petro chemical and in the world and we also have an advanced aerospace industries.” Peter then sold the equipment development and manufacturer in Intellectual property to Silverwing Ltd in 2009. Silverwing Ltd.”

30 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 31 University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Research

A Tandem Surfboard with a supportive bucket seat was designed for a young boy called Cai who has quadriplegic cerebral Cerebra palsy. The designs were created by CIC in collaboration with Surfability UK, Roger Cooper Surfboards, Surf Tonic Therapy and Innovation Walking on Water Surf School. Ross said: “We rose to the challenge when it came to designing the surfboard. Presenting Centre the surfboard to Cai and seeing him in his element in the waves was priceless. The surfboard was 12ft long and almost 3ft wide with a seat on it for Cai and space for somebody to stand behind and paddle for him. Recent news coverage has detailed Cerebra Innovation Centre (CIC) is a interaction and inclusion with peers and family. less piece of kit to carry. When we present our professional level surfing and brought it to an collaborative venture between UWTSD CIC’s products include the Scoot Seat, a products to the children it’s a fantastic feeling international audience. The sport continues to and charity Cerebra. trolley-like design that allows the child to sit to know that your design will make such a grow at a very fast pace, and it’s fantastic to be and propel himself or herself around by using difference to that child and the family’s life.” a part of being part of widening the access to Founded in 2001, Cerebra is a unique national their hands or feet. The Mini Wheel Chair surfing for disabled children.” charity that strives to improve the lives of enables a young child to play and interact The CIC team don’t only design the essential children with brain-related neurological with people and objects at home and at day to day product. They also design and conditions, through research, education and school. The Goto Seat provides support for create products that allow children to fulfil direct, ongoing support. children when they are in a sitting position, their dreams of taking part in sporting CIC, along with the help of BSI (British for example at a table or in a supermarket activities that they otherwise would not be Standards Institution) also took the Since its inception CIC has made a trolley. The Oxygem was designed to enable able to. challenge to help a young boy with tremendous difference to the lives of many children who are Oxygen Cylinder dependent autism and a unique head shape to fulfil children with neurological conditions across to wheel their oxygen behind them in the CIC continues to design and develop his dream of horse riding. the UK. The unique strategic vision for CIC style of a ‘trunkie’ suitcase. products that allow children to be included means that the Centre is able to respond to in activities and daily living. Their careful 16 year-old Tommy-Lee from Brighton individual requests for help and can make Dr Ross Head, Product Design Manager at attention to the aesthetics of the product wanted to go horse riding with his friends small numbers of bespoke products that CIC said: “The simple factor of independence ensures that the child not only fits in, but in but his unique head shape prevented him focus heavily on individual requirements and makes a tremendous difference to these some cases becomes the object of envy of from wearing a riding helmet. Without inclusion into society. children’s lives. Being able to move and sit the playground. a riding helmet he was not allowed to without help allows them to interact with their participate for safety reasons. Many of the products designed and friends without having to be accompanied by manufactured by the small team of designers an adult, allowing them to experience a more CIC created a made to fit helmet tor and engineers at CIC serve as daily living aids. ‘normal’ childhood. We are really proud of the Tommy-Lee who can now join his They include products to enable mobility The Oxygem design; it means that the child can classmates during riding lessons. around the home and school, products walk ahead of his/her parents and keep up with to enhance and enable play and enable friends, it also means that parents have one “We knew that the basic principle of a helmet is quite simple but the journey to get to a safe and useable helmet was quite complex. The basic method has been to use a 3D Poppy Jones and her dad Rob, from Abergavenny, took part in the digital scanner to scan in Tommy Lee’s head CIC granted a young girl who has Cerebral Cardiff Triathlon together, thanks to the CIC team. Ten year old Poppy shape, the software helps to stitch the head Palsy her very own Christmas wish. Eight has cerebral palsy and Rob took her around the course using custom form together so a perfectly accurate model year-old Enna Thea Kul-Want from London made equipment specially designed by the team. Ten year old Poppy is achieved. Then we used this data in our has Athetoid Cerebral Palsy and can’t wear was born with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and chronic lung disease. computer aided design software to draw the conventional ice skates, therefore she She can’t sit, stand, roll or support herself and life is a daily challenge for head shape. The helmet was styled around couldn’t join her friends on the Ice Rink in her. But having a life-limiting condition doesn’t stop Poppy having fun. this shape, and then the cavity was removed Winter Wonderland. Poppy is a determined character with a great sense of humour. Her sense leaving the exact shape for Tommy Lee’s head. of adventure knows no bounds. She is a real thrill seeker and adrenaline This model was sent to a manufacturer to But last Christmas, thanks to the team at CIC, junkie and has a true competitive spirit. machine the exact shapes from the correct Enna Thea went ice skating with her family density of expanded polystyrene.” and friends for the very first time. Dr Ross Head, said: “It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to be a part of this challenge. It is incredibly humbling to be around someone like Poppy- she is The team designed and created an original bright, bubbly, smiles all the time, she doesn’t complain about her situation, she product styled on Santa’s sleigh that allowed just gets on and makes the best of every situation. When we met with Rob he Enna Thea’s mother to skate behind and push was very emotional at the level of support and enthusiasm we showed towards her around the ice rink. them. But it is the same for us, to be able to help them achieve this impressive task really will be a moment to remember”.

32 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 33 University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Research Creative Entrepreneurial Development

The work of UWTSD’s International Entrepreneurship Education, as well as his better use of the skills that are available; Amongst many of his Institute for Creative Entrepreneurial active contribution to the Expert workshop equip people with the new skills that are Development (IICED), led by its Director, that kicked off the project in Seville in March needed - to help them find quality jobs and achievements Professor Professor Andy Penaluna, has played an 2015 and by iteratively providing feedback improve their life chances. integral part in the launch of the EU’s on JRC IPTS research outputs. Andy Penaluna, has won Sense of Initiative and Entrepreneurship The EntreComp framework proposes a Competence (EntreComp) framework. JRC IPTS has said it would be pleased with shared definition of entrepreneurship a Queen’s Award for follow-up support from UWTSD’s IICED on as a competence, with the aim to raise The past 18 months has seen a group of the further development of the European consensus among all stakeholders and Enterprise Promotion experts working hard on the project to Entrepreneurship Competence framework. to establish a bridge between the worlds and has been named deliver the definitive guidance document of education and work. Developed for European Citizens and Educators for Professor Penaluna, who led on advising through a mixed-methods approach, the among the Maserati Top entrepreneurial education at all levels. the creativity, innovation and opportunity EntreComp framework is set to become a recognition sections of the initiative said: reference de facto for any initiative aiming 100 Entrepreneurs. UWTSD contribution included providing “After 10 years of discussion, some of which to foster entrepreneurial capacity of assistance in embedding entrepreneurship culminated in Strasbourg, where UWTSD’s European citizens. education throughout the primary and Enterprise Manager Kathryn Penaluna, secondary curriculum in the Republic of presented alongside the Commissioner for It consists of 3 interrelated and Macedonia. The initiative saw Elin McCallum Employment, a framework for the entire EU interconnected competence areas: and Catherine Brentnall of IICED providing has been agreed. ‘Ideas and opportunities’, ‘Resources’ and assistance to 2,500 teacher as well as the ‘Into action’. Each of the areas is made development of a handbook for teachers, “It is a significant milestone and one that up of 5 competences, which, together, “How to teach entrepreneurship”. This aims to better enable citizens to assess constitute the building blocks of is believed to be the first of its kind in the relevance of learning offers. Here at entrepreneurship as a competence. The the world. UWTSD, we are proud to have been a part framework develops the 15 competences of it. It supports many of our creativity and along an 8-level progression model and Professor Andy Penaluna said: “Our link innovation learning proposals and as a proposes a comprehensive list of 442 with Macedonia started in 2011 during my major partner in the development of this learning outcomes. The framework can tenure as Chair of Enterprise Educators UK, guidance, UWTSD is well placed to respond be used as a basis for the development of a UK education network who support and to the challenges these new approaches curricula and learning activities fostering develop enterprise education. I was invited will bring. When you get down to it, our entrepreneurship as a competence. to the country to support its aim of setting message is really quite simple, we want to Also, it can be used for the definition of up its own enterprise educators network. develop imaginative people who not only parameters to assess learners’ and citizens’ This was so successful that President Gjorge dream a future, they can work out the best entrepreneurial competences. Ivanov of the Republic of Macedonia, ways to make it happen.” invited me to return to the country and “This is the cutting edge of education that speak to its businesses about employability. The development of the entrepreneurial aims to develop learners who are creative, It was clear that there needed to be a capacity of European citizens and innovative and can seize opportunities to policy for entrepreneurship education organisations is one of the key policy change things for the better”, said Professor and the Macedonian government agreed. objectives for the EU and Member Penaluna. “Skills like these can help The President then asked UWTSD to help States. Ten years ago, the European entrepreneurial people to make change, develop the policy with the European Commission identified Sense of Initiative whether it be social and environmental or Training Foundation in Turin, and the and Entrepreneurship as one of the 8 key business related. They’ve often been taken project progressed from there.” competences necessary for a knowledge- for granted in education, but now we have based society. guidance that makes explicit what’s needed The framework has been established across Europe and beyond. UWTSD’s by the European Commission’s Joint Entrecomp was launched as part of the IICED work has been central to these Research Centre - Institute of Prospective New Skills Agenda for Europe, which has developments and we are proud of what we Technological Studies (JRC IPTS). Dr Yves identified a number of actions to ensure have been able to contribute to this game Punie, project leader at JRC IPTS greatly that the right training, the right skills and changing guidance.” valued Andy’s information exchange the right support is available to people in on their approach to Enterprise and the European Union. It will aim at making

34 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 35 University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Research Revealing the Secrets of Qatar’s Past

Archaeological experts from the UWTSD “So far two sites have unearthed a rich history In 2014 an interactive exhibition took place are helping the Gulf State of Qatar to reveal of the State. The excavation of a site called at Virginia Commonwealth University Gallery the secrets of its long past through a major Ras ‘Ushairiq uncovered a large settlement in Qatar, involving UWTSD and the Qatar international project. called Rubayaqa which revealed several Museums Authority QMA. Called ‘Lines in the large courtyard homes, a mosque and two Sand’ it explored Qatar’s rich and complete The Wales Qatar Archaeological Project cemeteries. Finds from the site were as history using interactive media designed to was set up by UWTSD Lampeter-based diverse as iron cannon balls to wooden chess create new ways to view, use and engage archaeologist Dr Andrew Petersen who’s pieces and large quantities of ceramics. with the State’s past. This exhibition was research interests include the Ottoman later the subject of papers presented by Dr period archaeology of Arabia. “A second site called Ruwayda has revealed Petersen (UWTSD) and Diane Derr (Virginia the remains of a town which was dominated Commonwealth University) at The Alliance for Dr Petersen travelled to Qatar in 2008, a visit by a large fortress. It includes a Mosque the Arts in Research Universities (A2RU) held which by chance coincided with a decision by complex, workshops and warehouses and a at Iowa State University in November 2014. the Qatar Museum Authority (QMA) to begin tomb. Other finds, such as ceramics, indicate a comprehensive series of archaeological long-distance trade with nations such as Significant developments during 2015 investigations targeting Islamic period sites. China, southeast Asia, Oman, Iran and India.” include Austin Hill (UWTSD Hon Research This was the catalyst for the creation of the Fellow) presenting a paper “ Drones for Public Wales Qatar Archaeological Project. Analysis of the sites has been further Good” at ARC 15 a major research conference enhanced following the award of a Qatar in Qatar focussing on the applications of Britain has a strong relationship with Qatar National Research Fund Grant. This gave the technology to major world problems . Results dating from the mid-nineteenth century Project an opportunity to use an Unmanned of the UWTSD Aerial Survey in Qatar were extending through the decades of Ottoman Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to carry out survey also presented at the Society for American Empire rule, which lasted from 1872 until the work. It allows 3D terrain models to be Archaeologists in San Francisco in April 2015. outbreak of the First World War in 1915. generated and is able to support the creation In the autumn of 2015 aerial survey work of high-resolution maps of the sites under was extended to include many of the coastal Following the Ottomans, Sheikh Abdulla investigation. Through the use of on-board sites of northern Qatar and the project was bin Jassim Al-Thani become Qatar’s ruler. sensing systems, such as near Infra-Red, selected to represent successful outcomes of He signed a treaty with Britain agreeing not thermal and various other techniques, the Qatar National Research Funding at a special to dispose of land without British consent UAV has the potential to identify sub presentation in Doha in November 2015. and, in turn, Britain guaranteed to protect -surface remains. The archaeological site of Ruwayda was also Qatar from outside aggression. During the featured in an advert for a documentary mid-twentieth century increasing oil revenue The relationship between Wales and Qatar film which was broadcast worldwide by Al- made Qatar a prosperous land and it has strengthened in recent years. Starting Jazeera in November 2015. declared its independence as the State of in 2009, gas from Qatar was imported to Qatar in 1971. the UK via the LNG terminal at South Hook near Milford Have. Building on this link Dr Petersen said: “On a tour of the South Hook, in collaboration with UWTSD, archaeological sites in northern Qatar, organised and sponsored an archaeology I was immediately struck by the density conference, ‘Nations of the Sea’, which of the occupation along the coast brought together archaeologists from the and saw the potential of a targeted two nations who are investigating common excavation programme. themes in coastal archaeology.

36 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 37 University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Research Contacts

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Useful websites

www.uwtsd.ac.uk/research w3.cerebra.org.uk physicalliteracy.cymru

38 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 39 www.uwtsd.ac.uk