Science for Wales 2017 Science for Wales 2017

Cover: False-colour representation of a Gravitational Wave pattern from binary rotating masses. Credit: Numerical – relativistic Simulation: S. Ossokine, A. Buonanno (Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics). Scientific Visualization: W. Benger (Airborne Hydro Mapping GmbH). The Gravitational Physics Group at Cardiff University helped in the first detection of Gravitational Waves – at 9:51am GMT on 14 September 2015.

Print ISBN 978-1-78859-764-7 Digital ISBN 978-1-78859-762-3 © Crown copyright 2017 WG33146 Science for Wales 2017

Index

Ministerial Foreword Ken Skates AM, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport ii

Introduction Professor Julie Williams, Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales 1

Executive summary 3

Chapter 1 How Science benefits alesW 8

Chapter 2 The rationale for developing our strategic approach 12

Chapter 3 Building on research strengths and increasing capacity 18

Chapter 4 Strengths, emerging strengths and impact in research 40

Chapter 5 Women in science in Wales 58

Chapter 6 Engaging the next generation 64

Chapter 7 Science across the Welsh Government 74

Chapter 8 Conclusions, way forward and recommendations 78

Annex 1 NSA 2015 programmes in detail 83

Annex 2 Welsh Strategic Awards for Capital Equipment 86

Annex 3 Research Income of Higher Education Institutions in Wales 2015-16 87

Annex 4 List of acronyms 89

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Ministerial Foreword

The First Minister launched Science for Wales has been added, in light of this research, to – the Welsh Government’s guiding document increase capacity further through bringing for growing science and research for Wales’ in many excellent earlier career researchers. economic and social benefit, back in March This phase is just getting going in 2017. 2012. We have reported on the considerable The report points up areas where we need and pleasing progress made each year since. continued effort and where gaps still remain in building up science capacity, so we can This 2017 report now takes stock of overall remove our deficit completely. progress made toward the goals it set out. Showcasing some exceptional awards made, Equally important has been the response to it looks at impact so far and at delivery the calls in Science for Wales for a modern, through the Sêr Cymru programme across engaging curriculum and robust and relevant Wales, which continues into 2018 and science qualifications. Since 2012, we have beyond. I have been pleased to see both seen a wholesale review of our curriculum considerable accomplishment and grant arrangements, and work is now underway capture. I note also that the programme has with a network of Pioneer Schools to develop attracted considerable interest and praise a specific ‘Areas of Learning and Experience’ from beyond Wales. The ‘Star’ researchers in science and technology and in maths and recruited through it and the coordinated numeracy. We also have new GCSE and research networks established by our A-level qualifications in all the STEM subjects universities, have already brought many coming on-stream, some of which reported millions of additional grant income to Wales. for the first time this summer. This is crucial to address our future skill needs, particularly Scientific research makes an invaluable as we meet the challenges emerging from contribution to the Welsh economy, with BrExit – for Wales and for the wider UK. The our Universities bringing nearly half of all Welsh Government is wholly committed expenditure on research and development to enabling people to develop the skills into Wales. Over four fifths of published they need to get the jobs they want. That research outputs come from them. encompasses our future STEM skill needs, Universities are significant economic actors including the higher-level skills which can in their own communities and represent over lead to stimulating and well paid work in £400 million of export earnings, through research and in technical businesses and research earnings and overseas students. industries. Wales benefits from growth and Whilst we rightly celebrate these strengths in prosperity in the Welsh economy and such Wales’ universities, the report cautions about businesses play a key part in making and a continuing lack of research capacity. Several keeping us competitive and collaborative in targeted pieces of research, published after a challenging time for the UK as a whole. Science for Wales, quantified and detailed Innovative products, processes and services our shortfall of academic researchers. This and developments from cutting-edge shortfall has resulted in Wales, with some research all provide opportunities both to excellent, indeed, world-leading academics, preserve and expand existing markets and to still not winning the proportionate share of move out to find new ones in a post-BrExit competitively-awarded research funding that world. it should. The Sêr Cymru programme had started to address this and a second phase ii Science for Wales 2017

The National Science Academy (NSA) gaps in provision. We face challenging times has, throughout the period of Science for and so alignment to the Welsh Government’s Wales, played an invaluable role funding Programme for Government and the new programmes across Wales to engage and Prosperity for All strategy which underpins enthuse our children and young people it, is crucial. Several areas of science activity about the fun, challenge and interesting provide good examples of the collaborative, potential careers which studying STEM cross portfolio way we need everyone to subjects can bring. They are working on an adopt to allow delivery with diminishing exciting expansion of this mission, as this resources. It looks forward to take account report goes to publication. of the challenges posed by BrExit and the importance of making and maintaining Also covered are efforts to address a long- international collaboration in research and standing and damaging loss of STEM talent. in technology. Forthcoming influences for Girls and women are not pursuing the study the science and research landscape in Wales of many science subjects and then suffer are considered. These include implications shortfalls in recruitment, retention and from proposals in Professor Ellen Hazelkorn’s promotion in science-related research and 2016 Post-compulsory education review hi-tech. businesses. A Welsh Government and Professor Graeme Reid’s (University commissioned independent report on this College, London) on-going work to identify issue: Talented Women for a Successful current research and innovation strengths, Wales made 33 recommendations. All have outlining how they can be developed to been accepted by the Welsh Government increase engagement and economic growth, and a Ministerially-chaired Board has now supporting business, communities and been set up, consisting of appropriate Government effectively. We are determined Ministers and prominent and influential to see highly effective engagement between external representatives, to oversee progress universities, industry and the NHS and social on these recommendations. care to drive economic growth through Our outgoing Chief Scientific Adviser for applied research and innovation. I look Wales, Professor Julie Williams, was a catalyst forward to working with the new Chief for getting the ‘Talented Women..’ report Scientific Adviser for Wales from 2018 on commissioned and published. To her, we owe these important issues, with such potential also the additional multi-million elements of to help our economy to thrive. Sêr Cymru, developed to bring in additional excellent stars and earlier career researchers, building on current strengths and developing new ones. She also oversaw a review of the NSA’s strategy for investment, which brought more focus for its limited funding, to address issues of particular concern. I would like to thank her for all her contributions. The report concludes by evaluating our strategic approach, taking into account Ken Skates AM the impacts of the intervention we have Cabinet Secretary for undertaken, benefits delivered and identified Economy and Transport

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Introduction

Science for Wales has been a guiding teams in new areas identified as being document for over five years now. So, as of strategic importance to Wales. I come to the end of my term as Chief We have recruited over 190 Research Scientific Adviser for Wales, I felt it would Fellows and PhDs through Sêr Cymru, be useful to not only take stock of the including 4 Re-capturing Talent Fellows, pleasing progress we have made but also to to build on our current research strengths. point to areas where we need to continue We have also attracted 7 Rising stars our current efforts and look to the future. and 11 Star Research chairs with their Economically, Wales is increasingly reliant on teams to Wales, supporting strategically ingenuity and a knowledge-based economy. important areas, including compound Excellence in research, in both discovery semi-conductors (CS); nuclear and green and applied science will be an important energy; life sciences and climate change. component of future economic success. Equally pleasing have been the developments Wales would also benefit from a more in the world of education, where the calls in co-ordinated pathway between research, Science for Wales for a modern, engaging innovation and industry/commerce. We are curriculum and robust and relevant science a small nation, where our agility could be of qualifications have been addressed. A major advantage in achieving our full potential. transformation of the wider curriculum, We are fortunate that scientific research which includes specific ‘Areas of learning in Wales has been shown to punch above and experience’ in science and technology its weight on many occasions. It makes a and in maths and numeracy is now bedding genuine impact on the global stage. We in. New GCSEs and A-Levels are now being point to some great exemplars of world- taught. Plans to bring greater professional leading research right here – including support and training to our teachers are our Sêr Cymru Research chairs and their also underway through National Networks teams. We should be proud of that but still of Excellence in pedagogy for both Maths remain determined to continue to build on and now for Science. Through chairing an strengths, boosting successful teams and internal Welsh Government group, I have building new ones in areas of research of had oversight of these developments as they benefit to Wales and the wider world. relate to science, technology and maths. I have also overseen the National Science Our original Sêr Cymru programme, is now Academy, which is playing an invaluable nearing its planned end date in 2018. The role by funding programmes across Wales researchers recruited through it and the to enthuse our children and young people networks that coordinate research across about the fun, challenge and interesting Wales established by the investment made, potential careers which studying STEMM have brought in the region of £67.1 million (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths in additional grant income to Wales. The and Medicine) subjects can bring. Some latest phase of Sêr Cymru is still at an £2.7 million grant funding over several years, early stage but already has brought in a currently backs 20 excellent programmes number of talented researchers, earlier (detailed in Annex 1). Approaching 200,000 in their careers, to support and augment pupils will benefit as well as nearly 3000 existing strengths and to start to develop teachers. We are currently working up an

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exciting EU funding application to allow invaluable advice and guidance over the further engagement work, aiming at a years. I am grateful to the two leaders of substantial increase in the number of children my support team of officials – Chris Hale in Wales taking triple science GCSE. and Robert Hoyle. Thanks also to Delyth Morgan, Richard Rossington, Tracey Welland, Talented Women for a Successful Wales Russell Williams and the rest of my team. was the output of an expert group, warmly accepted by the Welsh Government. I had established it to suggest remedies to the worrying loss of talent from girls and women not pursuing the study of science subjects and then not being recruited, retained and promoted in science-related research. Professor Julie It is also heartening to recognise that William CBE FMedSci Wales’ research has considerable impact FLSW both here and globally. Indeed, researchers Former Chief Scientific based in Wales outperformed many Adviser for Wales of their UK counterparts in the last September 2013 to Research Excellence Framework (REF) September 2017 assessment. I look forward to watching this develop further in the future. As Chief Scientific Adviser, I have been greatly involved in developing these exciting and necessary programmes. I have also had input into science-related advice on a range of topics, on subjects as varied as zoonotic diseases; zero-energy buildings and climate change. Still, in all aspects of my work in this role, I have welcomed the support and collaboration of people inside and outside Government, without whom such progress would not have been achieved. Finally, I would like to extend my thanks to two important groups of people who have given great help to me and to the Welsh Government through my time as Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales. The Sêr Cymru Independent Evaluation Panel, chaired by Dr Wendy Ewart has been a key factor in advancing the Sêr Cymru fellowships, Rising stars and recent Star Research chairs. The Science Advisory Council for Wales, chaired by Professor Robin Williams has provided

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Executive summary

Science for Wales has been a guiding The original Sêr Cymru programme is now document across the Welsh Government nearing its planned end date, in 2018. The for over five years. This report takes stock researchers recruited through it and the of the progress made towards the goals networks that coordinate research across originally set out, while showcasing some Wales, established by the investment, of the exceptional awards that have been have brought some £67.1 million so far in made and looking at the impact of the additional grant income to Wales. We have Sêr Cymru Programme in Wales thus far. attracted 11 Research chairs and their teams: It is important to consider the valuable • Professor Yves Barde, Sêr Cymru Research contribution to the Welsh economy; health Chair in Life Sciences and Health at Cardiff care; life-style and public policy that is University, continues work on the biology being made. Welsh universities bring in of his celebrated discovery, brain-derived nearly half of all expenditure on research neurotrophic factor (BDNF) – essential to and development in Wales. They are brain function. He has much interest and responsible for 84 per cent of all Wales’ collaboration with the bioscience industry. published research outputs. Including • Professor Andrew Barron is at Swansea Welsh hospitals in this calculation, the University, developing Energy Safety figure increases to 92 per cent, with 8 per Research Institute (ESRI). As Sêr Cymru cent coming from the commercial sector. Research Chair in Low Carbon, Energy In terms of economic impact, the higher and Environment, his interests are in education sector’s international revenue of nanotechnology applied to fundamental £218 million, together with the estimated problems in energy research, Professor £195 million off-campus expenditure of Barron’s research has many industrial international students, represents a total collaborators. of £413 million of export earnings. • Professor James Durrant, Sêr Cymru The Sêr Cymru programme has two main Research Chair in Solar Energy at strands of activity: i.) securing truly world- Swansea University is leading ‘Sêr class academics as Sêr Cymru Research Solar’. With £7 million in funding, this chairs/‘Stars’, Rising stars and Research is establishing a research cluster focused Fellows based within Wales; and ii.) on the development of low cost, large establishing National Research Networks area photovoltaic technologies. Based at (NRNs) to bring together academic teams SPECIFIC, with collaborations including his across institutions working in three broad team at Imperial College London, the aim ‘grand challenge areas’. These areas is a solar energy research centre delivering were identified both for their strength in world-leading scientific research, growing academic departments in Wales and for a new printed solar manufacturing their potential for commercial exploitation industry. of research outcomes by businesses in • Professor Diana Huffaker, Sêr Cymru and for Wales. Both strands of activity Research Chair in Advanced Materials aim to build around current strengths and Devices at Cardiff University who and develop new research capacity. has also assumed the role as Director of Cardiff University’s Institute for Compound Semiconductors (ICS). Her arrival in

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Cardiff has been a crucial component (to lead the Biology programme) who in the development of the Compound has extensive pharmaceutical company Semiconductor Catapult Centre, which experience and outstanding success in is to receive £50 million of UK funding. drug discovery in academia. ICS will feed research outputs to the • Professor Peter Ghazal, internationally- Compound Semiconductor Centre (CSC), respected Systems Immunologist, is a profit-making joint commercialisation coming to Cardiff University from his venture between Cardiff University and present base in Edinburgh. He is a IQE. This will all go to developing Europe’s leader in multidisciplinary translational fifth specialist semiconductor cluster in research, for example, linking engineering South Wales – the first in compound with genomics. He has impressive semiconductors. commercialisation credentials. • Professor Paul Meredith has been at • Professor Richard Lucas is an Swansea University since May 2017, internationally renowned researcher with continuing his ground-breaking work on expertise in quantifying and understanding sustainable advanced materials, chiefly for the response of terrestrial ecosystems energy applications. He brings his great and environments to change, including international experience in academic and that associated with climatic variation, industrial research, innovation and start-up through integration of remote sensing companies in both Australia and the USA. data from various sources. He will take up • Professor Bill Lee and another world the Aberystwyth University Chair in Earth leading nuclear scientist are to move to Observation. Bangor University to establish a world • The Fellowship elements of Sêr Cymru leading capability in Nuclear Engineering are still at a relatively early stage but the there, arising from to the Wylfa Newydd potential can be clearly identified, with development in Anglesey – Bangor a number of talented researchers being University Energy Institute. Professor supported and more under consideration. Lee has made seminal contributions in We have three ‘Rising stars’ coming many aspects of ceramics, including into post, all at Swansea University – Dr recently developing novel waste forms for Sudhagar Pitchaimuthu working on difficult radionuclide-containing wastes photcatalysts and coatings; Dr Spyridon and advanced ceramic fuels for next Theofilopoulos, working on aspects of the generation fission reactors. metabolism which may affect Parkinson’s • The Cardiff University Translational Drug Disease and Dr Ardalan Armin researching Discovery Centre will see University of next generation semiconductors. A Sussex’s successful Drug Discovery Centre further four, one female and three transform Wales’s ability to translate male, have been approved by the panel fundamental discoveries in disease and their applications are progressing. processes into new drugs. Leading this We have around 100 fellows in post in will be Medicinal chemist Professor research universities and having offers Simon Ward, an international expert made to them. Among these there is one with extensive senior experience at Glaxo Recapturing Talent Fellow in post and a SmithKline and Professor John Atack further three, two female and one male,

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having offers considered. Sêr Cymru has Maths and Medicine) can bring. First set up also created and invested in three National in 2010 to promote the take up of STEM Research Networks (NRNs) in broad ‘grand at all levels, via STEM enrichment and challenge’ areas’ where Wales has a engagement activities. It is still the Welsh clear strength or strengths. Engineering Government’s main vehicle for encouraging Research Network Wales (The NRN for participation through these activities. To Advanced Engineering and Materials) and date, it has delivered over 1,000 STEM the Low Carbon, Energy and Environment enrichment activities to over 132,000 school NRN. The third, the Life Sciences Research pupils. Following a strategic review, the NSA Network Wales (LSRNW) supports world- STEM Enrichment Strategic Plan 2015-18 class science within Wales. Just some of was published. This reduced the number of the outputs are the development of new programmes supported but sharpened focus therapeutic treatments, which tackle on needs. NSA is now particularly aimed at issues such as wound healing and anti- children aged between 7-14 and at reaching scarring treatments. LSRNW has brought under-represented groups, especially girls in in £7.6 million of research funding into some science subjects. An innovative phase Wales. is currently being developed, to further Equally important has been the response to encourage interest and take up of STEMM the calls in Science for Wales for a modern, studies among 11-14 year olds across Wales. engaging curriculum and robust and relevant Tackling a long-standing concern over the science qualifications. A major transformation loss of talent to Wales, from girls and women of the wider curriculum, which now includes not pursuing the study of science subjects, specific ‘Areas of learning and experience’, has been a focus since 2014, together both in science and technology and in maths with the lack of recruitment, retention and and numeracy, is now bedding in. Through promotion of women in science-related the Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales’ research and industry. Through our efforts, involvement, as chair of an internal Welsh we have facilitated the establishment of Government group, there has been oversight an expert group, who produced the report of these, as they relate to science, technology Talented Women for a Successful Wales. and maths. It is critical we are proactive Its 33 recommendations, set out wide- in taking steps now, to address the future ranging actions for many areas, to address skill needs, particularly the higher skills in this issue. All recommendations have been science, as we look to address the challenges accepted by the Welsh Government. The emerging from Brexit, not just for Wales but Minister for Skills and Science has convened the UK as a whole. a Board, made up of other Ministers and The National Science Academy or NSA is with prominent external representatives, a further feature of the work falling under to oversee progress on delivery of the Science for Wales. It has been playing an recommendations. invaluable role by funding programmes We round out the report with a brief across Wales to enthuse our children and overview of the methods used within the young people about the fun, challenge and Welsh Government to supply the best advice, interesting potential careers which studying on policy for science and on particular STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, science-related issues, including the Science

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Advisory Council for Wales. This distinguished weaknesses, we must plan for the future. and knowledgeable group greatly assist the This includes building on the proactive Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales in providing efforts to work in collaboration with policy advice to our Ministers and Cabinet. teams across the Welsh Government, as well as with external partners – both academic There is significant effort within the Welsh and industry representatives. Science has a Government to work across portfolios, fundamental role to play in supporting the pooling knowledge and expertise to help step-changes needed. It does this by creating develop and support strategic initiatives. a better and healthier environment; by Life Sciences provides a good example of helping to realise benefits to human health in this practice, through the formation of the respect to preventative Medicine, diagnosis Expert Committee on Life Sciences and and treatment and by furthering economic Health. This has senior representation at and commercial opportunities. Strengthening official level, allowing for coordination of collaboration, in Wales, in the UK and activity, giving consideration to Ministerial across the world our scientists must foster priorities. It supports Ministers through advice partnerships in research and its application, and evidence, to aid formation of policy and to take Wales forward, prosperously and decisions. sustainably. Going forward, it is essential we take account of the impacts of the interventions undertaken so far. Many of these are strategic investments, based on research excellence and commercial potential, such as those in precision medicine, thermo-hydraulic nuclear and compound semi-conductors. We need to take in the benefits delivered, any remaining gaps identified and the continued alignment to Wales’ current Programme for Government, Taking Wales Forward. It is also critical to consider the challenges posed by Brexit; to identify opportunities within the Hazelkorn Review and to consider recommendations resulting from the work being undertaken by Professor Graeme Reid of UCL. He has been commissioned by Ministers to identify current research and innovation strengths in Wales and to outline how these strengths can be developed, to enable them to continue to support business, communities and Government effectively in the future. While we can learn a lot from reflecting on accomplishments since 2012 and better understand both our strengths and

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7 Credit: Cardiff University. Science for Wales 2017

Chapter 1 – How science benefits Wales

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Science already plays an important part scientific and technical research to the UK in many aspects of our lives and has the Economy. Universities which receive public potential to transform the economy, health research funding create additional research in and social care and the natural environment the private sector, better enabling businesses of Wales. Excellent science and research to take up and commercialise the findings of also builds the international reputation and more public-sector research, which benefits standing of our nation. the overall economy of the UK – a virtuous circle. Wales is no longer reliant on coal-mining or large scale manufacturing to support its Successful universities also tend to receive economy, so more than ever we must build larger allocations of Quality Related on our ideas and ingenuity for a knowledge Research (QR) Funding that they can use to based economy. Excellence in research, fund essential core research infrastructure balanced across both discovery and applied including salaries, equipment and match research, is an important component of funding for other awards. Such Higher future economic success. We would benefit Education Institutions (HEIs) win more from a more co-ordinated pathway between competitively awarded research funding from research, innovation and industry/commerce. the research councils and tend then to bring We are a small nation: we can’t succeed at in more research income from charitable, everything and, therefore, we need strategic business and other external sources. The focus and agility to achieve our full potential. report by Haskel and colleagues also showed that public and private research expenditure In 2008, the Medical Research Council, is complementary. They are not substitutes Wellcome Trust and Academy of Medical for each other in the drive to enhance the Science’s came together to produce the UK’s productivity. report Medical Research: What’s It Worth?1 This established that a one pound increase It is often overlooked that simply building in public spending on biomedical and health a successful research group produces research will increase private pharmaceutical significant regional economic benefit in its industry R&D (Research & Development) own right. The funding of research is one spending by £2.20 to £5.10 in the UK. The of the most competitive and robust areas UK economy then earns respectively a return of activity undertaken in any walk of life. equivalent to an extra £1.10 to £2.50 per Each research funding grant is assessed annum of GDP after this. This gives a social independently by experts in their respective rate of return from the total investment fields. Funds successfully won support high (public and private) resulting from that initial quality jobs, equipment and accommodation, one pound of public or charitable investment which further supports the broader local of 30 per cent, in perpetuity. economy. For example, in 2013, the 220 academic researchers at the School of Then in 2014, The Economic Significance Medicine at Cardiff University produced 500 of the UK Science Base (Haskel, Hughes & research posts from their success at winning Bascavusoglu-Moreau2) further supported competitive research funding in the region these points. It showed the importance of

1 https://www.mrc.ac.uk/publications/browse/medical-research-whats-it-worth/ 2 http://www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/resource/UKScienceBase.html

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of £220 million3. This is replicated in other In the year 2011–12, universities in Wales departments and Universities across Wales had a total combined impact of £3.6 billion. creating and sustaining thousands of jobs Their total combined impact on FTE jobs was each year. 39,000. Welsh universities, together with Welsh universities bring in nearly half of all their students, generated Welsh GVA of over expenditure on research and development in £1.9 billion, equivalent to 4 per cent of total Wales and are responsible for 84 per cent of 2011 Welsh GVA. We can note how Wales all Wales’ published research outputs. If we performs well in UK terms when it comes include Welsh hospitals in this calculation, to research income compared to research the figure increases to 92 per cent with 8 per outputs, efficiency and impact (see chapter cent coming from the commercial sector. 2 below). In terms of economic impact, the higher STEM jobs are well paid, too. An Office education sector’s international revenue of for National Statistics article on graduate £218 million, together with the estimated earnings, from 20137, showed that the £195 million off-campus expenditure of average gross annual salaries for graduates international students, represents a total in science, technology, engineering and of £413 million of export earnings4. This is mathematics or STEM subjects are markedly clearly a very important contribution to the higher than for most other subjects. We Welsh economy. expect this higher employability and higher One example of this comes from a recent salary to continue, as the UK economy report from Cardiff University5. This moves towards having more science and institution as a whole, together with the technology-related businesses. Science expenditure of its international students jobs are beneficial to Wales in their own and students from the rest of the UK, right – they tend to be higher paid and generated 13,355 jobs in Wales. This was relatively sustainable and long-term. STEMM equivalent to nearly 1 per cent of all 2013 graduates pay more tax, because they earn Welsh employment (Total Welsh Workplace 20 per cent more on average (Institute of employment in 2013 stood at 1,350,800). Education, 2011) and around 20 per cent of The University generated £518 million of the UK workforce is employed in science and Wales GVA (direct plus secondary). The total engineering roles. This was approximately combined impact on Wales GVA of the 5.8 million people in 2011. University and its students came to £696 Analysis in 2014, by the then UK Department million. This was equivalent to 1.34 per cent of Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS)8 of all 2013 Wales GVA. (Total Wales GVA in demonstrated that growth in innovative 2013 was £52.07 billion (StatsWales, 20146).

3 http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/university-medical-research-adds-220m- 2493749?service=responsive 4 http://www.uniswales.ac.uk/wp/media/2013-June-The-Economic-Impact-of-Higher-Education-in-Wales1.pdf 5 https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/108179/Economic-Impact-of-Cardiff-University-February-2015. pdf 6 https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue 7 https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/articles/ graduatesintheuklabourmarket/2013-11-19 8 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/293635/bis-14-p188-innovation-report- 2014-revised.pdf

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firms across the UK starts with the hiring of Such ambitions remain as the background to more STEM graduates, followed by increased and rationale for ongoing and future actions R&D spending, resulting in new products to and programme elements. market and higher sales growth. Wales, as

with other parts of the UK, needs its share of 1.28 million new science, engineering and technology professionals and technicians needed by 2020. Failure to meet this could cost the UK £27 billion a year9. The vision of what we needed to achieve, as set out by the Welsh Government in 2012 was for a strong and dynamic science base, essential for the economic welfare and national development of Wales. Several successful examples of scientific strengths were referenced but also pointed out was a clear need for more steps to co-ordinate and boost such activity. The wish was not only to make Wales’ science and engineering strengths work to bring prestige to and interest in Wales, but also to bring more tangible benefits. These could include: • economic growth; • investment in people, jobs and companies; • a better standard of living and health for all our citizens – prosperity for all; • helping to increase inward investment into the country; • Wales playing a full role in the world beyond its border; • bringing more young people into STEM study and related careers; • world-leading contributions in important areas such as environmental sustainability, climate change, energy, food and water security, medical, physical and biological research and high-level technology and digital development.

9 http://engineeringforgrowth.org.uk/skills-and-diversity/

11 Group of Sêr Cymru 2 Fellows. Science for Wales 2017 Credit: Welsh Government.

Chapter 2 – The rationale for developing our strategic approach

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Professor John Harries, our Chief Scientific more competitive, while retaining a focus Adviser for Wales from 2010 to early on Wales’ existing strengths in academia, 2013, was responsible for working up business and industry. the document adopted by the Welsh In 2013, Professor Julie Williams was Government as its first comprehensive policy appointed to the role of Chief Scientific for science and research. This was launched Adviser for Wales. The publication of the in March 2012 by the First Minister for Research Excellence Framework or REF Wales. Professor Harries had noted that, for followed in 2014. This started to give more several decades, Wales had not succeeded in accurate and up to date data on excellence gaining its proportionate percentage of the in many research areas. Table 1 below gives UK Research Council and other competitively- examples of Welsh Universities research awarded funding by comparison with groups ranked in the top 10 in the UK for its UK population share (4.9 per cent). It their REF unit of assessments (UoA)10: had improved a little from the 1990s but remained at about the 3.3 per cent level. Welsh Universities also received strong scores Science for Wales pointed to building blocks in the new ‘research impact’ measures as in place but declared that improvement shown in Tables 2 and 3 below and discussed was required across a range of areas. more fully in chapter 4, confirming the Investment in the science base in Wales was contribution that the Welsh HE sector makes needed to make it stronger, so that it was to the economy, society and culture of Wales.

10 http://www.ref.ac.uk/panels/unitsofassessment/ Table 1: Scientific Research Excellence as measured in REF 2014 – UK Ranking: Cardiff University 6th, Swansea University 26th.

UK Category University Ranking 1 Civil & Construction Engineering Cardiff Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, 2 Swansea Nursing & Pharmacy 2 Psychology, Psychiatry & Neuroscience Cardiff 3 Sociology Cardiff Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, 4= Cardiff Nursing & Pharmacy 5= Education Cardiff 6 Physics Cardiff 7= General Engineering Cardiff 7= Sports & Exercise Sciences, Leisure & Tourism Cardiff Met. & Bangor 8 Clinical Medicine Cardiff 8 Earth Systems & Environmental Sciences Swansea 9 Chemistry Cardiff

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Table 2: Comparison of Welsh HEI impact 0.59), efficiency (most efficient part of assessments compared with the UK. the UK in converting Gross (Domestic) Expenditure on R&D (GERD) into publications, 4* 3* 2* 1* u/c Impact as well as in impact. Specifically, we have % % % % % the highest level of start-ups and spin-offs at Wales 49 37 10 3 1 0.319 per unit GERD with the highest level of UK 44 40 13 2 1 IP disclosures.

In 2013, a report prepared by Elsevier for Importantly, as we face future challenges, Higher Education Wales (now known as Welsh researchers collaborate internationally University Wales), the Higher Education more frequently than those in other Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) and the UK constituents. They have the highest Welsh Government11 considered the Welsh percentage of collaborations with academics research base when compared to the other from outside their region of any part of the UK constituent countries (Scotland, England UK, at 60 per cent. and Northern Ireland) and research countries From all this it becomes clear that the issue of comparable size (Belgium, Denmark, in Wales was not one of quality but of Finland, Ireland, Norway and New Zealand). research capacity. This was first noted by It tracked investment in and performance of, Professor Robin Williams who suggested the Welsh research system in an international that Wales had an issue with a low number setting, combining a variety of indicators to of researchers applying to the more highly- present a multifaceted view of the Welsh funded research councils, such as the comparative performance in research as Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPSRC) well as the trends that may affect its future and Medical (MRC) Research Councils. position. The report12 found that Wales has More extensive research by Professor Peter 0.14 per cent of the world’s researchers Halligan and Dr Louise Bright, The Case for but managed to produce twice as many Growing STEMM Research Capacity in Wales publications as expected (0.3 per cent). It (February 2015, Leadership Foundation for produced five times the number top 1 per Higher Education13) then set out the extent cent highest cited articles (0.7 per cent) and of the problem. It brought confirmation six times the number of all references to from other evidence that our universities had journal publications with patents at 0.85 per not secured their expected percentage of cent. competitively-awarded research funding for Wales’ research results in a field-weighted some years. Halligan and Bright, however, citation impact (FWCI) was 58 per cent, explained that it was not a consequence of above the world average. Our researchers any lack of quality but rather, because of a also punch well above their weight in terms long-standing shortfall of 646 researchers of research income when compared to – 621 of them in science, technology, research outputs (Wales 0.65, UK average engineering, maths ands medicine (STEMM) subjects. 646 equates to the 4.3 per cent

11 https://www.elsevier.com/research-intelligence/resource-library/international-comparative-performance-of-the-welsh- research-base-2013 12 http://www.uniswales.ac.uk/wp/media/2013-June-The-Economic-Impact-of-Higher-Education-in-Wales1.pdf 13 https://www.lfhe.ac.uk/en/research-resources/research-hub/2015-research/the-case-for-growing-stemm-research-capacity- in-wales.cfm?utm_source=research&utm_campaign=halligan

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-0.5 per cent below population (4.8 per cent) in Table 4 below. 621 then represents 96 per cent of the 646 total. Table 3: Impact in Wales: UK ranking in REF research impact terms by unit of assessment 49 per cent rated 4*; 86 per cent 3 or 4* (above UK average).

Research Impact Category University/ies Ranking 1 Psychology, psychiatry & neuroscience Swansea joint 1st 1 Civil & construction engineering Cardiff 1st 1 General engineering Cardiff joint 1st 1 Architecture, built environment & planning Cardiff joint 1st 2 Allied health professions Cardiff 2 Sociology Cardiff 2 Modern languages and linguistics Bangor 4 Chemistry Cardiff joint 4th 5 Physics Cardiff 5 Sport & exercise science, Leisure & tourism Swansea 6 Psychology, psychiatry & neuroscience Cardiff Aberystwyth/Bangor 6 Agriculture, veterinary & food science joint submission Cardiff Met./Bangor 6 Sport & exercise sciences, leisure & tourism joint submission 7 Clinical medicine Cardiff 7 General engineering Swansea 8 Biological sciences Cardiff Geography, environmental studies & 8 Swansea archaeology 9 Biological sciences Bangor joint 9th Geography, environmental studies & 9 Aberystwyth archaeology 9 Education Cardiff

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Table 4: Number of staff (FTEs – R and T&R) as a proportion of total in UK HEIs and country population, 2012/13 (‘Table 7’ in Halligan & Bright).

UK nation pop % of UK RC income Researcher % of UK R&T UK nation % (est mid- 2012/13 (HEFCW method (FTE) and R staff 2012)/disparity using HESA data) England 103,518 83.1% (84%) -0.9 79.9% Scotland 13,386 10.7% (8.3%) +2.4 15.7% Northern 2,326 1.9% (2.9% ) -1.0 1.3% Ireland Wales 5,399 4.3% (4.8%) -0.5 3.0% UK 124,629 100% (100%) (~100%)

Table 5: Capacity shortfall in Welsh HEIs related to research council performance, 2012/13 Bold text below indicates the large STEMM resourced councils (‘Table 9’ in Halligan & Bright).

Wales % 2012/13 Wales BIS 2012/13 Total UK % UK research Subject/ of UK RC staff deficit funding allocation council disciplines income (FTEs) (Dec 2010) AHRC 4.3% 3.6% BBSRC Biosciences 4.9% -0.59 (62) 13.9% Electric and -1.9 (65) computer engineering EPSRC 2.6% 29.1% Mechanical -2.2 (78) engineering Maths -2.4% (75) ESRC 3.6% 5.9% MRC Medical 2.0% -1.29 (242) 21.2% NERC 4.9% 11.5% STFC (Core and Physics 2.7% -2.1 (84) 9.7% Cross facility)

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They found large deficits in clinical medicine; biosciences; physics; electrical and computer engineering; mechanical, aero and production engineering and maths. These fields are exactly those that tend to gain funding from the high-spending MRC and EPSRC. Thus the full Sêr Cymru Programme emerged. Its aims are to build upon current research strengths and to extend the research base at a high level, focussing on excellence. Sêr Cymru Star Research chairs, Rising stars, Fellows, and National Research Networks build on our current research strengths and Sêr Cymru stars extend our research themes in strategic areas including compound semi- conductors, green energy and nuclear power, nanotechnologies, precision agriculture, drug discovery and animal and human diseases. As well as supporting research excellence, Sêr Cymru has acted strategically, for example, in both the areas of compound semi-conductors and nuclear energy, Welsh industry had the established strengths or planned developments. Sêr Cymru investments in research support these areas in a complementary manner. Indeed, the dual strengths of industry and research supported success in obtaining the first catapult to be established in Wales – the Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult.

17 Credit: Cardiff University. Science for Wales 2017

Chapter 3 – Building on research strengths and increasing capacity

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The Sêr Cymru programme was developed it and the networks that coordinate research to build on current research strengths and across Wales, established by the investment, to bring new research capacity to Wales have brought many millions of additional to achieve our full potential and is funded grant income to Wales. Through this report by an overall £100 million investment by we point to some great examples of world- the Welsh Government with the Higher leading research in Wales. Sêr Cymru has Education Funding Council for Wales’ also created and invested in three National £11.2 million all of which is match funded by Research Networks (NRNs) in broad ‘grand the Welsh Higher Education Institutions. We challenge’ areas’ where Wales has a clear are delighted that, with business and higher strength or strengths. Engineering Research education partners, we won one of the Network Wales (The NRN for Advanced largest grants from the EU’s Horizon 2020 Engineering and Materials) and the Low Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND scheme at Carbon, Energy and Environment NRN The some €9. 5 million. This grows significantly third, the Life Sciences Research Network to close to €24.1 million with match- Wales (LSRNW) supports world-class science funding. Welsh Government-led partners within Wales. Just some of the outputs also secured £23 million ERDF funding are the development of new therapeutic from WEFO Structural Funds for the other treatments, which tackle issues such as elements of Sêr Cymru introduced from 2015 wound healing and anti-scarring treatments. (£39 million, with match funding). LSRNW has brought in £7.6 million of research funding into Wales. Since inception in late 2013, we are pleased to say that the early Sêr Cymru programme To date, the latest element of Sêr Cymru is producing significant results for Wales. has made around 120 offers. These include Combined, the NRNs and Star Research 92 fellowships, 7 Rising stars, 4 Recapturing chairs have brought £67.1 million (as at June talent fellowships and the 7 Star Research 2017) of competitive research funding into chairs featured above. The value of the Wales. The programme has also supported awards is in the region of £40 million. The the appointments of some 161 Post- awards are distributed amongst Cardiff doctoral researchers and 159 PhD/EngD University (40 awards) Swansea University students in Wales. Their research outputs (37), Aberystwyth University (12), Bangor have demonstrated Welsh excellence on the University (9) and University of South Wales international scientific stage and they have (2). The topics of research cover Life Sciences proved able to address problems and policy and Health; Advanced engineering and issues close to home, by inputting expert materials; Low Carbon and the Environment advice and evidence. Examples include work as well as ICT and the Digital economy and by Swansea University researchers relevant many of the projects are interdisciplinary in to disease in the cockle fisheries in the Burry nature. Inlet in Carmarthenshire; research advice Sêr Cymru is not planned as a short-term about tidal lagoons; de-carbonisation and TB solution, despite some quick wins. It can take in cattle, amongst others. a decade to build and fine-tune a successful The original programme Sêr Cymru, research team, so it is crucial that both comprising NRNs and four Star Research we and our partners in higher education chairs is now nearing its planned end date, maintain our effort. in 2018. The researchers recruited through 19 Science for Wales 2017

The following pages aim to highlight some of partner in a successful bid for £1.2 million the successes so far. of Welsh Government Health and Care Research Wales funding. So far, he is directly Sêr Cymru Research chairs / ‘Stars’ responsible for £711,117 of research income The Sêr Cymru Programme has attracted brought into Wales. He was elected as a 11 world renowned scientists from around Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 2017. the globe to set up their research groups in Wales. Those awards made early on in the Professor James Durrant, as Sêr Cymru programme are now quite well established. Research Chair in Advanced Materials and Materials at Swansea University, is leading Professor Yves Barde, the first appointment, ‘Sêr Cymru Solar’. With £7 million funding he has had a long and distinguished this is establishing a research cluster focused academic career in Switzerland and moved on the development of low cost, large from the Biozentrum at the University of area photovoltaic technologies. Based at Basel to assume the Sêr Cymru Research SPECIFIC, with strong external collaborations Chair in September 2013. Since his including the solar research program at appointment to his Sêr Cymru Research Imperial College London, it is co-directed by Chair in Life Sciences and Health at Cardiff Professor Dave Worsley and Professor Jenny University he has rapidly assembled a Nelson. The overall aim of the Sêr Solar team talented team including 2 lecturers, who is to create a solar energy research centre both were awarded Wellcome Trust Seed to deliver world leading scientific research awards. Last year, post-doctoral fellow and to support the growth of a new printed Hayley Dingsdale, previously at Duke solar manufacturing industry. In the 2017 University, was awarded one of the first elections, he too was made a Fellow of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND Fellowship Royal Society. and also joined the Barde group. Meanwhile strong links have been developed with the pharmaceutical as well as biotechnology industry, including Novartis, Zebra Biologics and Boehringer Ingelheim with deals of £350,000 to help funding projects of common interest. All relate to the biology of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and reflect the growing interest for this growth factor, previously discovered and characterized by Yves Barde and his colleagues. BDNF is known to be essential for brain function. In addition to understanding Pictures 1 & 2: Professor Yves Barde, Cardiff BDNF’s role in various conditions including University and Professor James Durrant, neurodegeneration, the Barde group is also Swansea University & Imperial College, exploring the potential of using BDNF as a London. biomarker. This follows their recent discovery that in human cells of the hematopoietic system express the gene according to a pattern similar to neurons. He was a key

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Picture 3: International attendees at the Professor Diana Huffaker, since her autumn International Conference on Hybrid and 2015 arrival as Sêr Cymru Research Chair in Organic Photovoltaics 2016 (HOPV) listen Advanced Materials and Devices at Cardiff to Dr Trystan Watson of SPECIFIC. University, has been setting up her laboratory and recruiting a very strong team. Wales, The research outputs have been significant, like Professor Huffaker, is particularly strong totalling 58 journal papers and 76 conference in compound semiconductors – through papers. Professor Durrant has assembled a research at the Universities, particularly team with 6 Post-doctoral researchers and Cardiff University but also by the presence of 40 PhD and EngD students. He has secured a Wales-based world-leading company in the for Wales around £23.5 million (£14.8 million growth of high specification semiconductor EPSRC as the major contributor), with a layers – IQE plc in St. Mellons, Cardiff. further £16 million under consideration in competitive research income. As the research develops, a number of new staff have been added to the senior members of the Sêr Solar project as Sêr Cymru Fellowships. Also, three leading Photovoltaics (PV) academics are moving to Swansea. Professor Stuart Irvine is an expert in CdTe PV (Cadmium telluride), Professor Paul Meredith on device physics (from Australia –the fifth Sêr Cymru Research Chair – see below) and Professor Peter Holliman (synthetic chemistry). The start of a new Chemistry Department in Swansea Picture 4: Professor Diana Huffaker, is exciting and will also extend the potential Cardiff University. for both staff career development and interdisciplinary research.

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Picture 5: Professor Diana Huffaker and her and IQE designed to commercialise research research team. into products, processes and services for CS and the developing CS Catapult centre Professor Huffaker has also assumed the role to aid product development and economic as Director of Cardiff University’s Institute generation. These developments have for Compound Semiconductors (ICS) and their challenges and real outputs will take made substantial progress towards creating a some time to materialise. All of this goes world-class semiconductor research and user towards building Europe’s fifth specialist facility. This focuses on both fundamental semiconductor cluster in South Wales – the science and device development, building first leading on compound semiconductors. on pre-existing Cardiff University strengths in optoelectronics, semiconductor devices Professor Huffaker has brought into Wales and materials. Working in collaboration some £13.6 million of research income so with IQE, this laboratory will explore novel far. She has appointed a strong team of growth methods and material combinations researchers that have already demonstrated – translational research not as conveniently the ability to attract further research funding, undertaken in industry. Professor Huffaker’s with three members of the team awarded Sêr arrival in Cardiff is a crucial component Cymru Fellowships. for the development of the Compound Professor Andrew Barron is established as Semiconductor Catapult Centre. This was Sêr Cymru Research Chair in Low Carbon, announced by Innovate UK in January 2016 Energy and Environment at Swansea – with £50 million funding over several University. He and his team are in the new years and led from Wales. The ICS will feed Swansea Bay Science and Innovation Campus the outputs of research to the Compound research facilities, working on energy systems Semiconductor Centre (CSC), a profit-making resilience. joint venture between Cardiff University

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His interest in nanotechnology applied to beginning or about to begin establishing fundamental problems in energy research their research activity in Wales: has him working presently to increase the Professor Paul Meredith was the fifth Sêr efficiency and safety of unconventional- Cymru Research Chair but the first supported gas exploration and extraction, facilitating through the newer Sêr Cymru elements, a large-scale international collaboration started in 2015. He will continue his world- on hydrophobic materials. He leads the renowned research through an award developing Energy Safety Research Institute entitled ‘Science and Engineering Research: (ESRI). ESRI is concentrating University Sustainable Advanced Materials program expertise in such energy fields as petroleum application’ in Swansea University, that and chemical processing, particularly in started in May 2017. Professor Meredith terms of computational science (rock fracture has significant international experience in modelling and ‘fracking’) and corrosion, academic and industrial research, innovation with a unique focus on the safety issues and start-up companies in both Australia and around development and expansion of the USA and a strong track record in policy existing energy processes, as well as the engagement in science and the energy sector. safe deployment and integration of new He will be a real asset to Wales and to our ‘green energy’ technologies. Professor growing strength in energy-related research. Barron’s research has long attracted partners in industry and academia and the Institute is supported by industry sponsors, such as BP. ESRI agreements have been signed with Universiti Brunei Darussalam and Universiti Malaysia Pahang. It is a constituent member of the Global Energy Safety Institute (founded in Houston, Texas in 2011) as well as being a sister Institute of the Energy and Environmental Systems Institute at Rice University, Houston and an associate of the National Corrosion Research Centre at Texas A&M (supported by BP in North America). Pictures 6 & 7: Professor Andrew Barron, Other research areas include marine energy, Swansea University and Professor Paul nuclear, tidal, crisis management and more Meredith, Swansea University. novel areas such as PV and nanotechnolog. Bangor University Energy Institute To date, Professor Barron has recruited 24 Postdoctoral and PhD researchers, including Through an application to the Sêr Cymru several Sêr Cymru fellows and the first programme, Bangor University is to establish Sêr Cymru Recapturing talent fellow, Dr a world leading capability in Nuclear Ewa Kazimierska. He has also brought Engineering, which establishes north Wales £6.63 million research income into Wales. as a global centre, delivering international partnerships and opportunity from a rich mix The second phase of funding of Star of existing and new talent. Their Sêr Cymru Research chairs has enabled the support funding will support the appointment of two of the following researchers, who are just Research Professors:

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Professor Bill Lee is currently an Imperial community and act as the epicentre of a College London Professor, in the broad based (regional and national) centre Department of Materials and Centre for for drug discovery. Nuclear Engineering. He has made seminal The two Research Professors involved in contributions across a broad range of this research, who moved from industry ceramics with impact over a range of to academia around.4 years ago, are commercial sectors including in metals exceptionally well placed to deliver on this manufacture (development of in situ vision: refractories for corrosion protection), in communication (development of microwave Professor Simon Ward is an acknowledged dielectric and other electroceramics), in glass/ international expert in Medicinal Chemistry ceramic manufacture including in improved who has had extensive senior experience understanding of clays, clay-based ceramics at Glaxo SmithKline, including leading the and whitewares and, recently, in the energy Medicinal Chemistry programmes in the UK sector (specifically nuclear where he has at Harlow and Stevenage, during which time developed novel wasteforms for difficult he played a key role in bringing a number of radionuclide-containing wastes and advanced drug therapies to the clinic. ceramic fuels for next generation fission reactors including accident tolerant fuels Professor John Atack has extensive under development). experience in industry and outstanding success in drug discovery in an academic setting. He has held a number of senior scientific and management positions whist at Merck Sharp & Dohme and Janssen in the UK, USA and Europe and is now, with Professor Ward, a Director of the Sussex Drug Discovery Centre where he leads the Biology programme.

Picture 8: Professor Bill Lee, coming to Bangor University. Cardiff University Translational Drug Discovery Centre This investment will make possible the relocation of the highly successful University of Sussex Drug Discovery Centre to Cardiff and will transform Wales’s ability to translate fundamental discoveries in disease processes into new drugs. The Centre will unlock significant translational potential across Picture 9: Professors Simon Ward & John the breadth of Wales’s biomedical research Atack, coming to Cardiff University.

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Cardiff University Chair in System techniques for retrieving information on the Medicine state and dynamnics of terrestrial vegetation Professor Peter Ghazal is an internationally and his current research is focusing on better respected Systems Immunologist from the understanding of the impacts of human- University of Edinburgh who leads a major induced and natural change on a diversity of research programme in viral infection and ecosystems. His research is also establishing neonatal sepsis, with both basic cellular and how time-series of optical and radar translational arms, funded by RCUK, EU and remote sensing data can be used to restore Wellcome Trust. He has been at the forefront previously lost or degraded ecosystems for of multidisciplinary translational research for the benefit of biodiversity conservation and several years, establishing a vibrant inter- carbon preservation and sequestration. He and multi-disciplinary Centre that directly will be retuning to Aberytwyth from research linked engineering with genomics. Professor in Australia, at the University of New South Ghazal has also led IP generation, forming Wales. three start-up companies at the interface of National Research Networks engineering and biology, attracting many tens of millions of private inward investment, generating over 100 jobs in the private sector.

The Low Carbon, Energy and Environment Research Network Wales (LCEE) includes researchers from the Universities of Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, South Wales Pictures 10 & 11: Professor Peter Ghazel, and Swansea, as well as the Centre for coming to Cardiff University and Professor Ecology and Hydrology in Bangor (CEH – Richard Lucas, Aberystwyth University. funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, NERC), the British Geological Survey Aberystwyth University Chair in and the Met. Office. Four themes are being Earth Observation used to organise their research effort: Professor Richard Lucas is an internationally renowned researcher with expertise in 1. Sustainable intensification of agriculture quantifying and understanding the response and aquaculture (to improve food of terrestrial ecosystems and environments security within environmental and spatial to change, including that associated with constraints, while maintaining other climatic variation, through integration of ecosystem services. remote sensing data from various sources. 2. Low carbon energy pathways – Professor Lucas has developed a range of looking at the boundaries of viability,

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spatial-specificity, socio-economic and by the NRN-LCEE includes the Resilcoast environmental impacts of low carbon Research Cluster which studies the role energy pathways from biomass, waste and resilience of highly dynamic salt marsh streams, wind and marine technology in systems in providing societal benefits such as an interdisciplinary context. flood protection, recreational space, grazing land and habitats for wildlife. 3. Developing the bio economy through social, economic and technological The scientists from Cardiff, Bangor, Swansea, modelling. Plymouth, CEH, Natural Resources Wales and the Royal Netherlands Institute for 4. The impacts and mitigation of climate Sea Research are using historical data, change and human activity. field experiments and in-depth reviews of These overlap with a number of research shoreline management policy to identify clusters: Aqua Wales; Cleaner Cows; Climate- key factors influencing the distribution of Smart Grass Geo-Carb Cymru Multi-Land; salt marshes. Their work will be used by Plants and Architecture, Quotient. The LCEE coastal managers to maximise the use of salt link below explains these in more detail. marshes in protecting coastlines and other benefits to society.

Picture 13: Resilcoast PhD student Mollie Duggan-Edwards (Bangor University) during field work in the marsh. Credit: Mollie Duggan-Edwards. Picture 12: Resilcoast PhD student Davide de For more information about the NRN LCEE, Battisti (Swansea University) during field work please visit the website: http://www.nrn-lcee. in the marsh. Credit: Jordi Pagès. ac.uk. Since its inception the LCEE NRN, which is directed by Professor David Thomas, a Marine biologist at Bangor University, has now recruited 24 Post-Doctoral researchers and 12 PhD students across Wales and brought in £4.457 million in research income. An example of the research work undertaken

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The LSRNW has brought in £7.6 million in research income into Wales.

The Life Sciences Research Network Wales (LSRNW) supports world class science within Wales to develop new therapeutic treatments in areas of unmet medical and veterinary need. This network, under its present Directors, Dr Andrea Brancale (Scientific) and Professor John Chester (Clinical), bring together academics at Cardiff, Swansea, Aberystwyth and Bangor Universities and aims to develop further long term research Picture 15: Left to right: Dr Robert Steadman capacity within the Life Sciences. (Wales Kidney Research Unit, Cardiff University); Jordanna Dally, Dr Ryan Moseley (School of Dentistry, Cardiff University) Credit: Cardiff University. LSRNW funding has also contributed significantly to the development of work at Cardiff University’s School of Dentistry, which is evaluating the anti-scarring properties and the underlying mechanisms of action of natural compounds (epoxy- tiglianes),occurring within seeds of the Fontain’s Blushwood Tree, indigenous to the Queensland Tropical Rainforest, Australia. This Network PhD studentship has resulted in the filing of several patents and a further Picture 14: Dr Tracey Martin, Cancer 2 years postdoctoral funding (£252,000) Metastasis Platform, Cardiff University, from the Australian industrial partner, talking to the then Health Minister, Mark Qbiotics Ltd. to extend this work further. Drakeford. Credit: Cardiff University. The ultimate aim is to develop epoxy- tigliane compounds as novel pharmaceutical The Network has launched 13 competitive therapies against abnormal wound healing funding calls for PhD studentships, and excessive scarring in skin and other postdoctoral and platform technology tissues. Chronic wounds and excessive projects and awarded a total of 125 projects. scarring (fibrosis) in skin are both major

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causes of patient morbidity. These pose it covers. Outcomes are along similar lines significant social, economic and clinical to the other networks, namely an increased challenges to healthcare services worldwide, number of objectively world-class researchers compounded by current acceptance that delivered by strategic collaborations, greater existing therapies are largely unsatisfactory success in competitive grant capture, with in treating these conditions. This work aims more extensive close working with industry. to develop epoxy-tiglianes as novel chronic They encompass three broad research areas: wound and dermal fibrosis therapies, thereby • materials and innovative manufacturing addressing the inadequacies associated with processes; current treatments. • novel modelling techniques; Platform technology grant funding has enabled academics from across Wales to • advanced sensors and devices. access free expertise and equipment at other Together, these broadly cover identified Welsh Higher Education Institutions. These strategic research themes which line up with platforms have proved to be highly successful potential funding from EPSRC and EU on and have led to a significant increase in the their priorities. Their research can be applied number of pan-Wales proposals submitted, across several industrial sectors. leading to a some £542,000 in leveraged research funding. They have also secured The Network supports 62 projects across over 100 new collaborations with academia Wales in which 42 postgraduate students and industry, both within the UK and and over 100 researchers work in close co- internationally. A selection of these platforms operation with 71 industrial partners. have demonstrated real commercial viability. Business options for their sustainability in supporting drug discovery activities from academia and the private sector are currently being explored.

Engineering Research Network Wales is the title under which the Advanced Engineering Picture 16: Energy research on photo- and Materials (AdEM) Network operates. voltaic cells, sodium-based battery storage It aims to be a transformative alliance to and nanocomposite electrical conductors is enhance fundamental and applied research working towards sustainable, low-carbon across Wales, for the broad areas of research power. Credit: ERNW.

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AdEM has generated £10.1 million of cutting-edge work to the public through research into Wales. It is developing science fairs, schools programmes and at the engineering and technology solutions to National Eisteddfod. ensure a secure, prosperous and healthy All three NRNs are now well-established. The future for people in Wales. Medical devices majority of their funding (which runs through and sensors programmes are developing to 2018) has been deployed to their research diagnostic tests capable of detecting disease programmes. Collectively, even though at the molecular level. Energy research on their programmes are only somewhat over photo-voltaic cells, sodium-based battery halfway through, the networks have brought storage and nanocomposite electrical approximately £22.6 million of competitively- conductors is working towards sustainable, won research grant funding into Wales. low-carbon power. To help create jobs and increase economic activity AdEM are working Sêr Cymru rising stars and fellows closely with our nation’s leading commercial In a novel approach and working with the enterprises to build the world-leading Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO), manufacturing base in CS technologies, we are also able to support further strands referred to above in relation to Professor of research activity within the programme. Huffaker. These technologies sit at the heart Again working with higher education and of our data-driven world, underpinning the business, the Welsh Government applied to internet, mobile phones and smart devices. WEFO for European Regional Development Fund or ERDF Structural Funds support. This, with required match-funding, provides for the rest of the latest elements of Sêr Cymru – the fellowship programmes. WEFO described this grant of some £23 million as a ‘backbone’ project for them. Match- funding from the employing university, Welsh Government and HEFCW provides around £39 million. This synergistic use of separate European funding sources (Horizon 2020 and European Regional Development Fund) has brought praise from the European Commission, for its innovative approach. It enables us to offer the following:

Picture 17: Research on medical devices ê Sêr Cymru Rising Star Fellowships and sensors programmes are developing are prestigious and highly competitive diagnostic tests capable of detecting disease positions, to attract the very best ‘rising at the molecular level. Credit: ERNW. stars’ of academic research – the next generation of research leaders. These are The AdEM network also acts as an advocate five-year fellowship packages, each funded and promoter for Engineering in Wales, at £0.2 million per year. To date, 7 Rising Star organising a distinguished lecturer series, fellowships have been offered – featured training future generations of engineers below. and technologists and presenting their

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Figure 1: Analysis of Sêr Cymru Early career researchers, by area of activity & interdisciplinarity.

ê Sêr Cymru COFUND Research ê Sêr Cymru ERDF Fellowships are Fellowships are aimed at candidates of truly intended to provide parallel support to the exceptional quality. They are typically some COFUND fellowships scheme. They are open three to five years on from their PhD. There to excellent researchers with 3 – 5 years is no national or geographical constraint, postdoctoral experience but do not have the provided they come from outside the UK to transnational mobility criterion required for work in Wales. Funding is for three years. COFUND. Fellows who apply for these 3 year A final total of some 90 of such fellowships positions can be from anywhere in the world, is projected. To date, in the region of including the UK. To date, in the region of 64 COFUND fellowships have been offered. 40 ERDF supported fellowships have been offered.We feature some of these two types We noted above how this was the largest of Fellowships below. grant yet made from this fund at around €9.5 million (up to €24.1 million with match ê Recapturing Research Talent is a funding). strand designed to provide support for up to

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12 researchers returning to work following Rising stars a career break. The aim is to start to address Dr. Sudhagar Pitchaimuthu has worked in the ‘brain-drain’ of researchers, many of Hanyang University, South Korea and then at them women, who take such career breaks, University of Jaume I, Spain, before moving for childcare or otherwise. They often then to the Photocatalytic Research Center, find it hard to break back into active research Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Japan. careers. We need that talent. To date, one Coming to Swansea University he will now Recapturing talent fellow is in post and be leading the Multifunctional photocatalyst another three such fellowships are being and coating research group. Their work is offered – featured more fully below. associated closely with SPECIFIC research Three of these four fellows are female. Their centre in Swansea’s College of Engineering. research work will be in energy materials; He is pioneering novel nanostructured sustaining bee populations by winter feed to multifunctional materials and coatings. increase resistance to infections; computer Dr Spyridon Theofilopoulos worked as a analysis and handling of big data and X-Ray postdoctoral scientist in the Biomedical tomography for testing and imaging in Research Foundation, Athens and lectured in manufacturing. the School of Medicine at the University of Thessaly, Greece. From 2007 he joined the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm in Molecular Neurobiology. His award is to join Swansea University to work on cholesterol metabolites in dopamine neuron development and their role in Parkinson’s disease diagnosis and therapy. He will bring novel expertise and collaborations to the University, which has had no Parkinson’s Disease researcher before. Dr Ardalan Armin was awarded a Sêr Cymru II Rising Star fellowship for work on next-generation semiconductors for photodetectors and optoelectronics’. Moving from the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, he brings to Swansea University an outstanding track record of scientific and industrial research, with many top peer-reviewed journal articles. He is highly cited. Dr Armin works in optics, organic optoelectronics, and the physics of organohalide perovskites. He has focused on electro-optical and transport physics, seeking new concepts and improved performance Pictures 18, 19 & 20: Dr. Sudhagar from devices such as solar cells and Pitchaimuthu, Dr Spyridon Theofilopoulos photodetectors. He has an excellent track and Dr Ardalan Armin. record in industrial research / production and commercialisation. 31 Science for Wales 2017

A further four Rising stars have been Society (WES) selected these from more than recommended for support by the Sêr Cymru 500 nominations. Independent Evaluation Panel and are now Dr Karen Cameron, Aberystwyth University likely to be offered a fellowship in the near is a glacial microbial ecologist. Her COFUND future. One woman and three men, they fellowship, considers how microbiota on have extremely strong track records in the surfaces of glaciers contribute towards research and will lead studies around a novel surface ice darkening. This leads to enhanced socio-ecological interdisciplinary approach glacial melt, an event which contributes to freshwater resource for infrastructure towards sea level rise, threatening the management and conservation; the sensory resources, lifestyles and lives of humanity basis of fish movement; how the brain worldwide. encodes spatial memory for the better understanding of dementias and photonics and lasers for semiconductor applications.

Pictures 23 & 24: Dr Rachel Paterson, Cardiff University and Dr Shirin Alexander, Swansea University. Pictures 21 & 22: Dr Catrin Williams, Cardiff University and Dr Karen Cameron, Dr Rachel Paterson, Cardiff University is an Aberystwyth University. ecological parasitologist, investigating how Sêr Cymru Fellows the environment shapes interactions between parasites and their hosts. She has led research Dr Catrin Williams, Cardiff University is a in New Zealand, Argentina and Norway. multidisciplinary researcher. Her Fellowship Her current research assesses the combined spans the STEM subjects, and aims to address effects of climate change and anthropogenic a fundamental biophysical question: how stress on fish-parasite dynamics. This research do electromagnetic fields interact with will increase understanding of multiple biological systems? Ubiquitous microwave- stressor impacts on freshwater ecosystems, based technologies are widespread but not through study of the Arctic Charr (declining thoroughly understood at the biological in Welsh freshwater habitats), and improve molecular. She will study bioluminescent environmental management policies by bacteria, breast cancer and cardiac stem enhanced prediction of environmental cells. Dr Williams was recently named in the change impacts. UK’s Top 50 Women in Engineering under 35 years old. This list, compiled by The Daily Dr Shirin Alexander, Swansea University Telegraph with the Women’s Engineering received her PhD in physical chemistry from

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Bristol University. Her principal research Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), interest is in colloids, surface chemistry, Bangor University and the Multi-land project materials, and polymers. Postdoctoral work of the Welsh National Research Network for at Bristol in the Surfactant Research group Low Carbon Energy and Environment (NRN- developing a range of Low Surface Energy LCEE). He will base this research on Panama. Materials or LSEMs. She is now researching Dr Darrick Evensen, Cardiff University is material chemistry – combining LSEMs with an environmental social-psychologist, metal oxide nanoparticles. This will produce researching public perceptions of and novel green (fluorine-free) superhydrophobic reactions to controversial energy and (waterproof) surfaces. Applications for these environment issues. Previous research include protective and anti-fouling coatings; was on shale gas and hydraulic fracturing environmental and biomedical applications. (fracking) in the United States and Canada. Many current superhydrophobic materials This Fellowship allows for an in-depth contain toxins. examination of: (1) what the Welsh public know and feel about unconventional gas development, via fracking (2) how and why they believe this would affect them, if it were to occur and (3) such views, contextualised alongside perspectives on the future of energy production and consumption. Stakeholder interaction, interviews and public surveys in Wales and comparator nations with a similar history of extractive development will enable the research. He plans to explore particularly how previous Pictures 25 & 26: Dr Lars Markesteijn, experience with resource extraction in Bangor University and Dr Darrick Evensen, Wales affects views about future energy Cardiff University. development. Sêr Cymru Recapturing Talent Fellows Dr Lars Markesteijn, Bangor University, fascinated by biodiversity, has chiefly worked Dr Ewa Kazimierska, mentioned above on biologically complex tropical forest as being part of Professor Barron’s team ecosystems. His special interest is density- at Swansea University, is the first Fellow dependent mortality and negative density appointed under this ‘Recapturing Talent’ dependence, as mediated by plant natural strand. She is an electrochemist, interested enemies and how it affects regeneration of in materials science and engineering. Her tropical plants. He looks too at physiological research focuses on energy applications – plant responses to limiting resources, using electrochemistry as a tool for creating resource competition and tolerance to the energy materials of the future. She is environmental change. This COFUND working towards development of the next fellowship looks at ‘Plant-soil feedbacks; generation of electrical power transmission unearthing the mechanisms of successional materials. After a seven-year career break, tree species turnover in tropical forest’. she will be investigating approaches for It is an ongoing collaboration with the the integration of carbon materials in

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metals aiming to develop ultraconductive encompassed by STEMM (STEM with copper-carbon nanotube composites. Medicine added) – a single piece or and/ Electrochemical; spectroscopic and imaging or many smaller pieces. The total request techniques will be instrumental in achieving for funding was to be between £50, 000 this goal, including materials design; and half a million pounds. 42 applications preparation, and testing. This research is were reviewed by our then newly-appointed of strategic importance for Wales since Independent Evaluation Panel (see below) ultraconductive wires have the potential and the successful proposals are listed at to revolutionise power transmission and Annex 2. distribution with significant energy savings.

Picture 28: Professor Julie Williams, Julie Picture 27: Dr Ewa Kazimierska. James AM and Professor Paul Meredith with Credit: Dr Kazimierska. some of the first group of earlier career fellows appointed through Sêr Cymru. A further three applicants for such fellows Credit: Welsh Government. have been recommended by the Sêr Cymru Independent Evaluation Panel for funding. Researchers supported through Sêr Cymru Offers are likely to be made soon. Two come from prestigious institutions in the US, female and one male, their research looks at such as Harvard, MIT, CalTech, University of algorithms for manipulating ‘big data’; work California, Irvine, Duke University Medical around improving the health and survival of Centre, UC Davis Centre for Neuroscience; in bees and X-Ray imaging for manufacturing Europe (e.g. École Normale Supérieure and uses. University of Montpellier, France; University of Bern, Switzerland; Universität Bremen, There is one additional and different element, Germany) and further afield, including The which accompanied these fellowship University of Queensland, Australia and the schemes: Universities of Beijing and Shenzhen, China. ê Welsh strategic awards for capital The distribution of applicants is represented equipment directly funded by £1.7 million in the map at Figure 2. from the Welsh Government. In April 2015, On Monday 27 February 2017, the Minister universities in Wales were invited to bid for for Skills and Science hosted a Sêr Cymru capital funding, providing a coherent plan celebration event, in the Millennium Centre. for use of the equipment for use in research The initial round of fellows were welcomed in any part of the academic disciplines and the considerable achievements secured

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by the wider Sêr Cymru scheme were The huge range of high quality research celebrated, before an invited audience, being undertaken was showcased. including senior academics and Welsh Videos of the event can be found at: Assembly Members. English no subtitles https://www.dropbox.com/s/ jdqfre6pscgl91h/S per centC3%AAr%20 Cymru%20V3%20English.mp4?dl=0 English subtitles https://www.dropbox.com/s/ d1xtpa0i2vqz7lm/S%C3%AAr%20 Cymru%20ENG%20V3%20Subtitled. mp4?dl=0

Picture 29: Julie James AM meeting early career researchers at a Sêr Cymru event in February 2017.

Figure 2: Location of successful Sêr Cymru applicants at time of proposal submission.

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Table 6: Comparison – gaps identified Halligan & Bright 2014, with researchers appointed through Sêr Cymru elements 2015+.

Gaps in Number appointed Percentage of researchers through rounds 1, 2 Destination Department identified gap identified and 3 of Sêr Cymru filled (%) in 2014 Fellowships element 242 Clinical Medicine*† 14 5.8 84 Physics 8 9.5 Mechanical, Aeronautical and 78 37 47.4 Production Engineering† 76 Maths 6 7.9 Electrical And Computer 65 7 10.8 Engineering 62 Biosciences 18 29.0 0 Chemistry 5 Earth and Ocean Science/ 0 19 Geography * includes pharmacy and psychology † includes 2 Star Research chairs in 1 package Governance for Sêr Cymru’s more recent a small group – the Responsible Research and elements ensures effective scrutiny of bids Innovation (RRI) Oversight Group. Members to choose the best, in terms of research must have experience of sitting on ethical excellence. An Independent Evaluation Panel review panels and/or expertise in equality (IEP) operates like the research board of a UK and diversity issues. They will oversee the Research Council, with equivalent checks and management of these matters, receiving safeguards. Scientific decisions are made on annual reports on the way RRI has been excellence, decided from peer review and IEP addressed at both programme and individual consideration. Recruited through an open fellowship level. Appointment is in train and transparent competition, with robust now, again through an open and transparent arrangements for any conflict of interest, the competition. IEP is chaired by Dr. Wendy Ewart MBE, an independent Biomedicine Consultant and former Deputy CEO of the Medical Research Council. Their recommendations are passed for agreement by a Programme Beneficiary Board, chaired by Professor Julie Williams, as Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales. This is made up of senior representatives from universities in Wales (Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research or equivalent), with HEFCW and other funding representation. Finally, there is

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Independent Evaluation Panel Members At this point it is important to acknowledge the valuable input from the Science Advisory Council for Wales (SACW), the distinguished advisory body to the CSAW, which helps shape, review and monitor science policy in Wales. Now chaired by Professor Robin Williams, former Vice-chancellor of Swansea University, they meet twice a year. The Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales is most grateful for their counsel and would like to thank them all. Science Advisory Council for Wales 1. Professor Robin Williams CBE Former Vice Chancellor, Swansea University, CHAIR of SACW Picture 30: Left to right: Professor David Toll, Durham University, Civil Engineering; 2. Mr Kevin Bygate Professor Nigel John University of Chester, Director Business Development and CEO, Computer Science; Professor Xiao Yun SPECIFIC Xu, Imperial College, London, Biofluid 3. Professor Laurence Eaves CBE Mechanics; Andris Bankovskis, Independent Professor of Physics, University of Nottingham Energy Consultant: Dr Wendy Ewart MBE, Independent Consultant in Biomedicine, 4. Professor Bridget Emmett (Chair); Professor Nigel Brown OBE, Emeritus Head of Bangor Site, Professor Edinburgh University, Molecular Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Microbiology; Professor Marlene Sinclair, University of Ulster, Midwifery Research; 5. Dr Wendy Ewart MBE Professor Rob Beynon, University of Liverpool, Chair Independent Evaluation Panel, Biochemistry; Professor Graham Davies, Sêr Cymru Emeritus Professor UNSW, Australia, Micro- 6. Professor Chris Gaskell CBE electric mechanical systems; Professor Sir Former Vice Chancellor, John Enderby, Emeritus Professor University Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester of Bristol, Physicist. Not pictured here – Professor Peter McGuffin, Emeritus Professor 7. Professor Peter Halligan KCL, Psychiatrist and geneticist; Professor Chief Executive, Alan Palmer, Entrepreneur and Visiting The Learned Society of Wales Professor (UCL & Reading University), 8. Professor Tim Jones Neurodegenerative Disorders; Professor Provost & Vice-Principal, Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive University of Birmingham Scotlandís Rural College (SRUC), Edinburgh; Professor Christina Victor, Brunel University, 9. Dr David Owen OBE Public Health. Chair of Advisory Board, Wales Life Science Bridging Fund

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1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16

10. Professor Ole Petersen CBE 13. Professor Richard Davies MRC Professor of Bioscience, Vice Chancellor, Swansea University Cardiff University 14. Professor John Hughes 11. Professor Dame Jean Thomas DBE Vice Chancellor, Bangor University Professor Emeritus of Macromolecular 15. Professor Chris Thomas Biochemistry, Cambridge University Pro Vice Chancellor, Aberystwyth University 12. Professor Christine Williams OBE 16. Professor Colin Riordan Professor of Human Nutrition Animal Dairy & Vice Chancellor, Cardiff University Food Chain Sciences, University of Reading

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39 Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) Ozone Exposure Science for Wales 2017 Solardomes. Credit: Low Carbon Energy and Environment NRN.

Chapter 4 – Strengths, emerging strengths and research impact

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At the end of 2016, the Chief Scientific were 1.3 and 1.4 billion light-years away). Adviser for Wales sought to gather It gives crucial new information about how information on the present and potential black holes form and interact. future research landscape in Wales by inviting comments and opinions from the Higher Education sector and by visiting the institutions herself. The following cases are not intended to be an exhaustive list but an illustration of selected research strengths and emerging areas. Discovery or basic research Whilst the vast majority of the research featured here has clear applications, it should be remembered that there is an important place for work that is simply driven by curiosity. There are many examples of such work, over time, producing disruptive technologies and widely applied practical solutions to real-world problems. • We featured, in a past Annual Report on Science for Wales, the important role played by researchers in the Gravitational Physics Group at Cardiff University in the first ever detection of gravitational waves in September 2015. They formed part of an alliance of some 950 scientists, from universities all over the world, who make Picture 31: Dr Emily Shephard of Swansea up the LIGO Scientific Collaboration or University, working with Andean Condors. LSC. Now they have again helped in what Credit: Dr Shepherd/Swansea University. is only the third occurrence of gravitational waves detected. The detection was made • The Swansea Laboratory for Animal on January 4, 2017 This latest observation Movement (SLAM) researches animal confirms the existence of a pair of giant movement in its broadest sense, using black holes with masses 20 and 30 times individual-based approaches to examine the mass of our Sun. Once merged, the role of the environment in structuring the resulting black hole had a mass of the properties of animal movements around 49 times that of our Sun and lost and distributions. SLAM specializes in the energy equivalent of 2 solar mass to obtaining data using novel technologies gravitational waves – detected at two which allows access information from LIGO detectors in the USA. The recent particularly intractable species. One of detection is also the farthest yet, with the these projects studies Andean condors, black holes being some 3 billion light-years which are among the heaviest flying birds. away from Earth (the first two detections As a consequence, they are limited in

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their ability to use powered flight. Instead which has been constructed on site at they cover hundreds of kilometres using Swansea University’s Bay Campus. The updraughts. The SLAM project examines Active Classroom is powered by the sun the extent to which they are limited by the and has been constructed using the latest availability of rising air, using ‘Daily Diary’ generate, store and release technologies, loggers to reconstruct their flight paths in developed by SPECIFIC and partners. fine detail and quantify when and where they fly and how much it costs them in energy. Dr Emily Shepherd has won a highly competitive European Research Council (ERC) grant for this work. Energy & Climate Change • Based in Swansea University, SPECIFIC (Sustainable Product Engineering Centre for Innovative Functional Industrial Coatings) aims to address the challenge of low carbon electricity and heat by enabling buildings to generate, store and release their own energy, in one system, using only the energy from the sun. SPECIFIC is an innovative, academic and industrial Picture 32: The Active Classroom consortium, led by Swansea University demonstrator Credit: SPECIFIC. with BASF; NSG Pilkington; Tata Steel and • Wrexham Glynd ˆwr is developing an in line Cardiff University, as strategic partners system for spraying thin film photovoltaics, to share expertise in functional coatings; which could have the potential to energy storage; technology scale-up; complement other initiatives in this area. business development and commercial know-how. • Related to this, Cardiff University’s School of Architecture has developed the SOLCER • Its research teams work on the next house. The SOLCER House is capable of generation of solar technologies, exporting more energy to the national improving performance and enabling electricity grid than it uses, in an attempt manufacture at scale and its building- to meet tough new targets for zero integration team is already building carbon housing. The SOLCER House’s full-scale demonstrators using existing unique design combines, for the first technologies to prove the innovative time, renewable energy supply, thermal concept works and to test it thoroughly. and electrical energy storage and reduced • SPECIFIC has a long term vision to energy demand; to create an energy transform the world of energy and positive house. The house is situated on construction that will enable the wider the site of Cenin Renewables Ltd. in Pyle, adoption of low carbon buildings with near Bridgend. thousands of jobs and enhanced value in the construction supply chain. Its flagship demonstrator is the Active Classroom,

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• The University of South Wales’ (USW) impressive Sustainable Energy Research Centre (SERC) brings together leaders from biology, engineering, chemistry and physics, united in a single academic team combining their resources and skills in order to meet the energy security and environmental challenges of the new millennium. SERC undertakes research with strong industrial focus in a number of areas, including anaerobic digestion; analytical technology; bioelectrochemical Picture 33: The SOLCER house demonstrator systems; bio-hydrogen and bio-methane Credit: Cardiff University School of production; hydrogen energy; hydrogen Architecture. vehicles and re-fuelling; biopolymer • Cardiff University’s Energy Systems production; modelling and control; nano- Research Institute already has access to a materials and waste water treatment. number of energy systems demonstrators • SERC has set up a collaboration with and large scale facilities to undertake Riversimple and the engineering firm systems and infrastructure R&D. These Presreg, to develop a ’hydrogen container include the SOLCER House as mentioned manifold and regulators’ for use on cars above, the RCUK Power Systems simulator, of the future. This will allow components the National Grid Centre and the Gas to be manufactured in the UK rather than Turbine Research Centre. being imported, helping to create a local • In addition, it has recently launched the supply chain for fuel-cell powertrains. In European funded FLEXIS project with addition the University’s Hydrogen Centre in partners at Swansea University, University Baglan Bay will be used to re-fuel two new of South Wales, Aberystwyth University hydrogen powered vehicles, belonging to and Bangor University. The FLEXIS project Mid and West Wales Fire Service. will focus on developing flexible energy • Related research in USW includes: systems, which is an urgent priority in development of electrolytic hydrogen energy generation and supply. ‘Flexibility’ systems to achieve grid- scale electricity refers to the ability to modify generation storage to perform balancing functions; and/or consumption patterns. It will make Hydrogen to Heat – high temperature a significant economic impact through electrolysis to capture waste heat and supporting and developing internationally optimise water-splitting efficiency; novel renowned research in this area and more materials for the production and storage specifically through new technologies of renewable hydrogen; dynamics of and new jobs that will follow. All of the electricity system balancing via hydrogen research to be performed will focus on capture and injection to the natural gas and be applied at a Welsh ‘place based’ grid and amplification and purification of demonstrator. This demonstrator is to be hydrogen, from industrial waste streams in the Port Talbot area, based at the Tata (especially steel and semi-conductor steel works. industries).

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• Aberystwyth’s Earth Observation that grow into minute versions of organs. Laboratory focusses on advancing the They display the three-dimensional use and integration of ground, airborne characteristics and physiology of real and space-borne remote sensing data organs, offering unique possibilities for better understanding the direct and for medical research, focused on drug indirect impacts of anthropogenically- discovery and personalised medicine. induced and natural climate change on Linked to this, Cardiff-based life sciences ecosystems and environments. Its research company Cellesce is continuing to is worldwide and covers a diversity of develop its organoid research (started environments from tropical rainforests and by employees of Bath and Cardiff mangroves to high-altitude glaciers. Universities), thanks to a recent six-figure • It is noteworthy that Wales has more funding round led by Finance Wales. steep water-capture areas which could • Bangor University’s School of Chemistry is be exploited for hydro energy schemes, undertaking interdisciplinary research to as well as an extensive coastline, with develop natural and synthetic polymers for areas well-suited to further tidal energy pharmaceutical health care – drugs and programmes. wound healing applications. Increasing the Precision medicine efficiency and decreasing the side effects of cancer drugs is also being looked • Bangor University is home to the Bangor at. For example, providing intense local North West Cancer Research Institute. concentrations of drugs, i.e. targeted drug Members of the Institute use a range delivery. Impressive research is also taking of model systems and state of the art place surrounding sensors for cancer that technologies to research various aspects detect and isolate stem cells in real time. of carcinogenesis; cancer diagnostics and treatment. One of its aims is to translate • Cardiff University School of Pharmacy’s research findings into the clinic, to basic through to clinical research approach improve the treatment of cancer patients. is helping to develop new and improved For this purpose, Bangor is increasingly therapies and diagnostics toward health collaborating with clinicians in Wales and and welfare benefits. They are doing this in Liverpool. by using computer-aided drug design and the development of molecular modelling • Cardiff University undertakes significant software and anti-cancer drug design in cancer research with strengths in the a variety of tumour types (e.g. breast, fields of tumour and environment; drug pancreatic, gynaecological, prostate) with discovery; development and delivery; strategies including nucleotide prodrugs personalised cancer genetics; clinical trials (‘Protides’); anti-tubulin agents; enyzme and drug/radiotherapy combinations. inhibitors (e.g. CYP450s, oestrone Cancer Stem cells are also being sulphatase); inhibitors to peroxisome investigated in Cardiff by researchers in proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs); the European Cancer Stem Cell Research apoptosis modifiers; inhibitors of Protein- Institute and the Life Sciences and Health Protein interactions; E3 ubiquitin ligases. NRN, using organoid models. Organoids are derived from stem cells and grown • Future opportunities with particular in a laboratory. They are clusters of cells reference to Industrial Strategy Challenge

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Fund lie around a unifying cancer research • Cardiff University has an integrated strategy for Wales, including the CUICR environment for neuroscience and mental Centre and optimal alignment with health research which makes Wales a NHS, proton beam therapy, the Drug global player in this area with the potential Development Unit, Genomics for Precision to integrate this research closely with Medicine and emerging themes around industry and translational applications. brain tumour imaging, prevention and The MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric early diagnosis. Genetics and Genomics (MRC CNGG) • Cardiff University’s Systems Immunity in Cardiff brings together world-leading Research Institute provides an researchers to investigate the major internationally competitive research causes of mental health problems. environment that fosters mentorship and Established in 2009, they are Wales’ first encourages interdisciplinary collaboration MRC Centre and the largest psychiatric between academia and industry. Its genetics group in the UK. They use clinical, research provides a holistic view of genomic, statistical and bioinformatic chronic disease progression, the control of expertise to tackle the challenges posed infection and mechanisms that determine by psychiatric, neurodevelopmental an effective immune response. Its current and neurodegenerative disorders, with priority areas are: Immuno psychiatry, the aim of informing better diagnosis understanding the immune, inflammatory and treatment for the future. Cardiff and infectious places in brain disease; has been a leading group in identifying Infection, stopping infection becoming over 150 genes which affect people’s sepsis; and Systems inflammation, using susceptibility to developing disorders such mathematical modelling for patient as schizophrenia; depression; Alzheimer’s diagnosis for chronic and multiple organ and Parkinson’s disease. Further research inflammation. is also taking place on drug delivery to specific structures of the brain for example • Inked to infection, antimicrobial resistance in tackling Huntington’s disease. (AMR) and this is one of the greatest health threats to humans and animals. • The recently established Dementia Academics in Wales have had a long Research Institute at Cardiff University association with investigating AMR and is designed to address the significant examples from Cardiff University range health challenge posed by rising cases of from the creation of novel anti-biofilm Dementia in the UK and further afield. As chemistries on the surfaces of biomaterials one of six UK centres, the research centre to generate colonisation resistant materials in Wales will focus on taking forward their through to studying the genetics of genetic findings to understand disease resistance. The establishment of the Welsh mechanisms and design new treatments. It Antimicrobial Resistance Programme will form an integral part of the UK. run by Public Health Wales that aims to minimise mortality and morbidity and maintain efficacy of antimicrobial agents has also been a significant step made by Welsh Government.

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dementia and creative arts and dementia. IBERS at Aberystwyth University is using its expertise to undertake research into sustainable daffodil-derived galanthamine production in the uplands to help develop more cost effective, plant-based sources for a drug for treating Alzheimer’s disease. • Swansea University Medical School’s research includes the antenatal determinants of immune function and early life programming of disease and looking of new ways to tackle arrhythmia by refining, re-appropriating and re-purposing existing drugs. It has Picture 34: Brain scan image of a patient strong links with industry and has space with Alzheimerís disease. © Alzheimer’s for companies within the school. An Disease Education and Referral Center, a example of a success of this kind is the service of the National Institute on Aging. development of a low cost heart pump • Cardiff University also has CUBRIC, which through a spin out company, CALON. is a world class brain imaging facility with state-of-the art methods development and extensive facilities for clinical imaging and trials. Housing a combination of neuroimaging equipment unique within Picture 35: Calon Cardio’s company logo. Europe, CUBRIC continues to further its Credit: Calon Cardio. world-leading research, which has already • Research in Cardiff Metropolitan established Cardiff University as one of the University is enabling the prediction of UK’s top three Universities for Psychology, injury in competitive sport and how stress Psychiatry and Neuroscience. responses may play a part in this, as well • Cardiff Metropolitan University has related as investigating the impact of concussion research on cell replacement related to on subsequent injury risk. In parallel, Huntington’s disease and is working Bangor undertakes research on the with Cardiff University on aspects of psychology of elite performance; health this research, along with a partner in and wellbeing and the impact of extreme the EU. A further project investigates environments on humans. Sports scientists the development of sensory textiles for at Swansea University are looking at the people with dementia to comfort, soothe, effect of force on human performance engage and stimulate people in late stage and the rate at which one type of energy of the disease. Bangor University is home is converted into another is an area of to the Dementia Services Development research. Centre where research themes include • Related research is also being carried out wellbeing in later life; living with at Bangor University on health problems dementia; psychosocial interventions in around overconsumption. This can include

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addiction; gambling; food; and internet practice in international negotiations, behaviours. They are looking at how regarding the licensing of genetic risk factors get turned into symptoms. resources and benefit- sharing with In contrast, Swansea University research originating countries. The Miscanthus is looking at infant nutrition and the breeding programme at IBERS delivers psychology of breastfeeding, alongside both to UK and international efforts to promoting breastfeeding to improve infant provide sustainable, renewable bioenergy health. through the production of varieties with • Cardiff University is developing a Social high net energy yields per hectare that are Science Research Park (SPARK). The aim cheap to establish, harvest and process. there is to develop innovative solutions to • IBERS is also undertaking research societal problems through collaborative into maximising carbon capture and research activity. New opportunities drainage, mapping bioinformatics lie around place-based industrial and with geoinformatics and biorefining. innovation policies and new ways of Furthermore, research here is looking working and bringing together social at improved soil health to increase the and computer science with data-rich resilience of grasslands to ensure a government and public services, for sustainable future for grassland agriculture example. and combat climate change. It is also Food and water looking at enhancing coastal defences to encourage marine biodiversity and • Over 75 per cent of the biomass we use in developing high sugar grasses (HSG) the UK is imported. UK-grown bioenergy for improved livestock production and crops would shorten supply chains, assist greenhouse gas mitigation and working with balance of trade payments for energy with industry to bring new varieties to and help the rural economy. The research market. team at Aberystwyth University’s Institute for Biological, Environmental and Rural • Another aspect of IBERS research is Sciences (IBERS) is working with industrial focussed towards developing new varieties partner Terravesta Assured Energy Crops of oats. These have healthier properties to develop optimised and profitable home- and are better adapted to environmental grown bioenergy crops. With the future and climate change. These are developing of upland farming facing considerable new pearl millet varieties with health challenges, biomass development on benefits, which can still grow in difficult a large scale may become a viable conditions and produce sufficient yields. option. IBERS is developing planting Alongside this they are researching and agronomy systems for Miscanthus particular biomarkers, to move towards a (Asian Elephant Grass) seeds, working on personalised approach to treating patients harvesting and processing technologies. with chronic conditions impacted by diet, The aim is to maximise quantity and including sarcopenia, frailty and chronic quality of the harvested material, breeding kidney disease. new Miscanthus hybrids that are optimised for UK and European climate and soil types. They are also demonstrating best

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is called STARS. Funded work has come from China around agricultural nitrogen use and there is potential to provide further technical advice to countries like China on environmental management issues, as well as policy advice internally to Wales. • Interesting work on sensor technology for bee tracking is taking place in Bangor University. Bumblebees and honey bees, along with butterflies, moths and hoverflies perform much of the pollination that is essential for us to grow food. Through an interdisciplinary collaboration, tiny transmitters are being developed to monitor bee movements and help Picture 36: Harvesting an experimental increase our knowledge of where and how Oat variety Credit: IBERS at Aberystwyth bees move and die outside the hive in a University. variety of landscapes, providing critical information in evaluating the impact of • IBERS research teams are also using their modern agricultural techniques. expertise in the microbial system of the rumen to identify new antimicrobial compounds and working with biotech companies to test their effectiveness and in future bring them to market. • BEACON+, funded by ERDF, is a partnership between Aberystwyth, Bangor and Swansea Universities, working in the field of conversion of biomass into bio-based products. BEACON+ helps Welsh businesses develop new ways of converting feed stocks, such as rye grass, oats and Miscanthus, amongst others and waste streams into products which have applications in the pharmaceutical, fine chemicals, fuel and cosmetic industries. It is anticipated that some of the novel technologies developed by Bangor Picture 37: Bumblebee. Dohduhdah/ University researchers will be launched on Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain. the market jointly with BEACON+. • Working with Swansea and Aberystwyth • Bangor University also runs the national University, Bangor leads the EU-funded training programme for soil science, which SEACAMS project. This can provide

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technical expertise on marine industry • Its emerging research areas include water relevant areas, including geological for people and ecosystems solutions, resources and technology; marine physics; developing DNA tools for bio-monitoring coastal zone management; environmental and developing digital tools for a green quality assessment; sustainable resource economy. This research is applicable in an development; catchments; marine industrial context where companies are ecosystems and design engineering. affected by water quality or quantity. • Exploring the biochemical ecology of New technologies the land/marine interface is an area of • The use of biomolecules in industrial emerging research importance. Several processes is a rapidly expanding area. A Welsh universities and the NERC-funded recent report to the UK Government from Centre for Ecology and Hydrology or the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation CEH site in Bangor could play a major and Growth Team estimated that the role in this area measuring and modelling global market for industrial biotechnology the movement of carbon; organic and could range between £150 billion to inorganic pollutants; human pathogens; £360 billion by 2025, with a share for antimicrobials organisms, their effects on the UK market of between £4 billion issues such as water quality or shellfish to £12 billion. Bangor University has harvesting. Growing a sustainable fishing recently acquired world-leading expertise industry is also a focus at Bangor’s Centre in developing novel enzymes. Future for Applied Marine Sciences (CAMS), research will explore extremophiles, to which aims to increase the impact of identify; isolate and exploit enzymes for marine research. CAMS links academic industrial processes and to fabricate chips research to real-world applications. for mass screening of enzymes This will • The work here will also help us understand be taken through to industrial application, more about tidal lagoons, where we can particularly targeted at bio-technology optimise their efficiency, while protecting industries. Bacteria that survive in the the environment and marine wild life. This world’s harshest conditions produce is work that holds significant potential for enzymes that could be perfect for use Wales and beyond. The impact of marine in industrial processes, thanks to their developments is also being studied. Again ability to withstand high temperatures, this will be of national and potentially high pressure and high salt environments. international, significance. Bangor works Enzymes are used for synthesis of fine with companies in Wales, the UK and chemicals, for biodegradable biopolymers internationally on marine related research. and new materials. They are used in washing detergents, food and feed, • Cardiff University’s Water Research ‘green’ herbicides; biofuels and drugs. Institute is looking at grand challenges The ‘white biotechnology’, i.e. the for water, including integrated catchment utilisation of living microorganisms and management; addressing global change their enzymes for new added value or bulk risks and smart and safe waters, using an products, with lower energy consumption interdisciplinary approach and integration and/or higher biodegradability and lower with stakeholders. waste generation. Indeed these ideas complement the established strengths

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Wales has in chemical catalysis research at using spider silk in the development of Cardiff University, described next. ‘superlenses’ to increase the magnification • Catalysis enables chemical reactions to of microscopes, which has great potential go faster, with better selectivity and at for commercial exploitation. This is the first a lower energy cost resulting in cleaner, time that a naturally-occurring biological more economical and more sustainable material has been used as a superlens. processes. These attributes put catalysis These lenses could be used for seeing and at the heart of most industrial and viewing previously ‘invisible’ structures, biological processes. Cardiff University is including engineered nano-structures improving the understanding of catalysis, and biological micro-structures as well as, developing new catalytic processes potentially, native germs and viruses. with industry and promoting the use of • Bangor University also hosts research catalysis as a sustainable 21st Century into the design and fabrication of nano- technology through its Catalysis Institute. photonic and nano-optomechanical Most recently, an international group of chips for light generation, routing and scientists led by researchers at the Institute detection where applications include has unlocked the secret of a gold-based optical communications, chemical sensing, catalyst that is used in the manufacturing navigational sensing and self driving cars. of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), the world’s • Swansea University’s current research third-most widely used plastic. The Cardiff interests include additive manufacturing, University team found that gold offers an specifically powder-bed Additive Layer alternative to the environmentally harmful Manufacturing, using equipment and toxic mercury catalyst traditionally manufactured by Renishaw which allows used in industry. This has now been virtual design, testing and optimisation of commercialised by leading chemicals components. Research is also taking place company Johnson Matthey and is currently into alloy selection and development for in production at a purpose-built reactor in materials such as bulk metallic glasses, Shanghai, China. lead-free solders and thermoelectric • Other industrial challenges that the materials. Institute is involved in include selective • Further activities in Swansea with a strong oxidisation, biorenewables, Catalytic industrial focus include those in the area Routes to Intermediates for Sustainable of materials testing and understanding Processes (CRISP) and photocatalysis. why materials fail. The university has a The Cardiff Catalysis Institute works globally unique test facility that enables with a number of internationally leading work on a number of areas, including and recognised partners in fields such corrosions fatigue assessment; developing as the automotive, fuel and chemical testing standards; shaft alloy development; manufacturing industries and have helped gear steel development; and landing gear develop and refine a range of processes corrosion resistance. In this the University through combinations of conventional and is working with organisations such as Rolls innovative methods. Royce; Cambridge University; Airbus and • At Bangor University, recent research has McLaren Racing. led to the world leading breakthrough of

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• At Wrexham Glynd ˆwr University, experts step in the process and the production of are working on the rapid manufacturing the new bio-products. These products will of composites, critical for the next have a high market value, with positive generation of aircraft and in developing impacts on the environment, economy and microwave technology, as an alternative employment. to conventional autoclave technology. • At Wrexham Glynd ˆwr, research and Researchers have been using microwaves development of remotely operated to cure composites for some years but vehicles into nuclear environments have yet to develop robust processes including electrical optimisation of aerials that could be used by industry to make and antennae and algorithms; interfaces geometrically complex parts, as opposed for computers; network algorithms; to flat panels. routing and optimising digital interfaces • Swansea’s Advanced Imaging of Materials is all taking place. Researchers at Glynd ˆwr Facility (AIM) and Research Group is a have also carried out world-class research £10 million facility supported by EPSRC, in developing mirrors for the European Welsh Government, WEFO and over 20 Extra Large telescope. international companies. It undertakes • Aberystwyth University has a strong advanced imaging, microscopy; 3-D x-ray robotics group with research taking place imaging and imaging to understand the into biologically inspired robotics and nano properties of materials. It works control; space robotics; visual navigation; across biosciences; earth sciences; space mapping; field robotics and the only science; medicine; archaeology; materials humanoid robot in the UK. science and engineering. AIM has collaborators across the UK and across the Future areas of activity in new material in world, including at Cambridge, Berkeley Wales could include self-healing structures; and Auckland Universities and the applications of quantum, terahertz and University of Houston. CS techniques to areas of growth around advanced materials. These could include • Swansea’s College of Science is condensed materials, including magnetic undertaking cutting edge research into materials; functional inorganic materials; Sustainable Advanced Materials. The three graphene and carbon nano-technology proposed activity areas are: Materials and materials for energy applications, which Device Physics; Optoelectronics Device would in turn include photonic and polymeric Scaling; and Bioelectronics. materials. • The University of South Wales’ Sustainable Smart data Energy Research Centre or SERC is looking at ways of turning waste such as sewage • Swansea University has developed the SAIL and food waste into biodegradable database which supports a large scale data packaging for consumer goods. USW infrastructure to support research. This will be developing ways of producing provides a platform to answer questions hydrogen and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) about public health and medicine and from food waste and sludge from urban society more generally. SAIL harvests data wastewater. The VFAs that are produced from all corners of Welsh public life. It will provide the feedstock for the next holds around 20 billion data recordings on the Welsh population and has supported

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over £250 million of research studies. performance of smart clinical trials in the Organisations from around the world future. have sought the advice of the University in • The Fovolab in Cardiff Metropolitan developing their own databases. The data University employs innovative methods has significant potential to support future from art and science to investigate the research studies. Cardiff Data Innovation nature of visual perception and how it can Research Institute is a new research be utilised to construct novel software. institute that will foster collaborations to For hundreds of years culture has relied develop solutions to data analysis and on the principles of linear perspective to data management problems and initiate represent the visual world but this fails to research in data science. The institute will capture key aspects of visual experience. focus on three key research areas: Alternative methods of depicting – computational social science – focused visual space, many of which have been on social media analytics due to the developed by artists, are more accurate. recent availability of ‘big social data’ There are many potential innovative from platforms such as Twitter, Facebook commercial applications for this new and Foursquare; approach to visualising space, including medical imaging; simulation and training; – biological and medical science, where defence rescue; aviation; photography and there is a wide variety of uses and cinematography. applications – including extraction of information from data sets, without compromising privacy and confidentiality; interpreting large data sets into reliable and understandable mathematical models; genome mapping; MRI scanning; drug trialling; maintaining public health records and modelling protein structures; – computational science and engineering – focused on finding solutions to problems which include the analysis and reduction of data sets to help produce efficient manufacturing; sustainable and climate friendly development; providing secure manufacturing environments; preventing digital and intellectual property crime. Picture 38: Cardiff Met. University’s Fovolab • With its excellent relationship with its NHS, demonstration Credit: Cardiff Metropolitan Wales is well-placed to bring together University. extensive health; genomic; educational and social media data to provide an unprecedented platform for research on diseases; treatment response and to

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Social Sciences 4 per cent of the UK total and these case • Professor Nick Pigeon at Cardiff studies were the evidence used to provide University’s School of Psychology is at the the key findings of the report. forefront on work to study how people react to to energy technologies, climate change risks, and new technologies associated with these. This work is vital if we are to ensure the maximum take-up of these new technologies for domestic, transport and business uses. • Since 2008, the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data & Methods (WISERD), a collaboration between the Universities of Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, South Wales and Swansea, has grown the quantity of quality social Figure 3: ‘Figure 8’ reproduced from science research in Wales, particularly Impacts of academic research from Welsh through externally-funded research Universities (2014) by Kirstie Hewlett & Saba projects, with many projects being Hinrichs-Krapels, of Kings College, London, collaborative both between WISERD commissioned the Learned Society of Wales. institutions and across disciplines and Credit: the authors. research areas Their social science research infrastructure has strengthened the The reputation of Wales as a small, clever evidence base for policy development, in country was backed up by this publication areas as diverse as policing, education and and the practical benefits of the research housing. carried out here were demonstrated. Some of Research Impact the publications key findings included: In June 2017, a new study14 by the Policy • The impact of Welsh research showed Institute at King’s College London, revealed considerable interdisciplinarity. For how research undertaken at Wales’s example, case studies from 20 out of a universities produces profound changes and possible 36 disciplinary areas contributed benefits, both regionally and internationally, to the topic ‘Informing government policy’ despite its being a small country with and 12 different research disciplines to relatively few higher education institutions. ‘Business and industry’. This report was commissioned as an • Local beneficiaries of research in Wales independent review by the Learned Society included SMEs, policymakers, the third of Wales to capture evidence to better sector, education and creative industries. understand, promote and communicate the contribution made by academic research • Researchers in Wales employed a wide originating from Wales’s universities. In REF range of activities to translate the impact 2014, Wales submitted 273 case studies, from their research, from disseminating

14 Impacts of academic research from Welsh Universities (2014) by Kirstie Hewlett & Saba Hinrichs-Krapels of Kings College, London, for the Learned Society of Wales

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research findings to non-academic – New varieties of rice for 5 million audiences; to developing a product or households – improve livelihoods of service; through to offering training or millions of people in India and Nepal; changing Government policy. – New form of Maize GM-6 – brings • The King’s report showed there was a £55 million benefits to hundreds of relatively even distribution of case studies thousands of farmers in India; from universities in Wales submitted across the four main REF disciplinary panels – Novel types of Oat – improved grain (Life Sciences; Engineering and Physical composition and changed retail and Sciences; Social Sciences and Arts and consumers habit for the benefit of Humanities) but the list below highlights human and animal health; the breadth, depth and reach of Welsh – Space age camera technology – used for research achieving impact in a measurable precision agriculture; way in STEMM related areas: – 3D printing reconstructive surgery – – A new evidence-based treatment improving lives and reducing cost to the guidelines for the diagnosis and NHS and tax payers; treatment of acquired haemophilia A or AHA; – New DNA forensic tools – improving fisheries management and reducing – Colorectal cancer – identification of wildlife crime; the first recessive gene – MUTYH – to improve the management of familial – Reforming school food – influencing disease; international food policies; – Prostate Cancer – new drug in clinical – Improving data security – working with trials and a new standard of care; Hewlett Packard to mitigate data security risks; – Breast Cancer Surgery – improved biopsy and training improved standard of care; – Flood hydrodynamics predictions – modelling flooding hazards and water – Breast feeding – rates improved by quality; evidence based guidelines; – High level nuclear waste disposal – – Reducing antibiotic prescriptions – to engineering the solutions; help contain increase in antimicrobial resistance; – Practical wave form engineering – reshaping current communications; – Most powerful antiviral agent against shingles – new drug developed; – Most effective school based smoking prevention programme – introduced – Better dialysis – better outcomes for in national strategy documents and patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis; recommended by NICE; – Improving life care in Down’s syndrome – – Ultra precision computer controlled bettering eye care and learning potential; polishing and metrology – contributed to the ESO European Extremely Large Telescope project;

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– Antimatter: from Hollywood to CERN about building those emerging or niche – improving the understanding of areas that require extra investment to antimatter in children and the wider reach their potential. It will be important to population; continue that support going forward. For example, the Life sciences sector in Wales – Computations aerodynamic design – is home to more than 360 companies, with bringing significant economic benefit to £2 billion turnover and more than 11,000 the aerospace industry; employees. Companies with expertise in – Materials Characterisation – designing medical technology; regenerative medicine; efficient and safe Rolls Royce Gas turbine diagnostics; pharmaceutical services; engines. wound healing; e-health and neuroscience are based here. Even though Wales had Conclusions reduced capacity in its research workforce, Science and research activities are important nevertheless it achieved higher than UK to delivery of elements of the Welsh average for impact case studies submitted to Government’s Taking Wales Forward REF 2014. programme for government. The ‘Prosperity for All’ element is seeking well-paid, Figure 4 Opposite: ‘Table 5’ reproduced stimulating work for people in Wales. Our from Impacts of academic research from work to support science and research in our Welsh Universities (2014) by Kirstie Hewlett Universities and other research centres across & Saba Hinrichs-Krapels of Kings College, Wales and to boost capacity will deliver just London, commissioned the Learned Society such posts. There are relatively well-paid of Wales. (Number of case studies submitted research positions, with a raft of supportive to REF 2014 by HEIs in Wales. The disciplines posts around them, as well as service- with the relatively greatest submissions providing jobs, related to the wider operation within each panel have been highlighted of universities. Wales’ universities are in bold.) Credit: the authors. important economic actors in their own right. Excellence in our universities; their help to business and the ready supply of technically- skilled staff are significant factors influencing inward investment decisions by technology companies too. The presence of strong and proactive universities has been an important factor in City Deals, such as that for Swansea Bay and the Cardiff Capital Region. In the preceding chapters, our investment in areas of research with particular significance to Wales, such as compound semiconductors; nuclear power and drug discovery, clearly shows the benefits of supporting and enhancing areas of strength, such as those in the above list. The strategy has not just been about increasing support but also

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No. Case Panel Unit of Assessment % Total Studies 1 Clinical Medicine 7 2.56% 2 Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care 3 1.10% 3 Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy 21 7.69% A 4 Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience 17 6.23% 5 Biological Sciences 5 1.83% 6 Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science 10 3.66% 7 Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences 9 3.30% 8 Chemistry 4 1.47% 9 Physics 8 2.93% 10 Mathematical Sciences 9 3.30% B 11 Computer Science and Informatics 14 5.13% 12 Aeronautical, Mechanical, Chemical and Manufacturing Engineering 0 0.00% 13 Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials 4 1.47% 14 Civil and Construction Engineering 2 0.73% 15 General Engineering 16 5.86% 16 Architecture, Built Environment and Planning 6 2.20% 17 Geography, Environmental Studies and Archaeology 13 4.76% 18 Economics and Econometrics 0 0.00% 19 Business and Management Studies 21 7.69% 20 Law 11 4.03% C 21 Politics and International Studies 8 2.93% 22 Social Work and Social Policy 4 1.47% 23 Sociology 4 1.47% 24 Anthropology and Development Studies 0 0.00% 25 Education 3 1.10% 26 Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism 9 3.30% 27 Area Studies 0 0.00% 28 Modern Languages and Linguistics 15 5.49% 29 English Language and Literature 12 4.40% 30 History 11 4.03% 31 Classics 2 0.73% D 32 Philosophy 2 0.73% 33 Theology and Religious Studies 1 0.37% 34 Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory 5 1.83% 35 Music, Drama, Dance and Performing Arts 11 4.03% Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information 36 6 2.20% Management 273 100%

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Figure 5: ‘Figure 6a’ reproduced from Impacts of academic research from Welsh Universities (2014) by Kirstie Hewlett & Saba Hinrichs-Krapels, of Kings College, London, commissioned the Learned Society of Wales. Credit: ‘Soapbox’ Agency for the authors.

57 Credit: Cardiff University. Science for Wales 2017

Chapter 5 – Women in Science in Wales

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STEM skills are now crucially important. action to champion women’s progress in In a world dominated by technology and STEM education and careers in Wales. increased automation we need to have She started by commissioning an these skills to compete in and engage with independent group of experts to examine a fast-moving global economy. Shortage of the problem and make recommendations to STEM skills in Wales, the UK and globally, improve things. The group was co-chaired means we need more people to study STEM by Professor Karen Holford (now Deputy subjects, follow technical apprenticeships and Vice-Chancellor at Cardiff University) and take up what are well-paid and interesting Professor Hilary Lappin-Scott (Senior Pro Vice- jobs. Given that we know girls outperform Chancellor, Swansea University). Reporting boys across most GCSE subjects, especially in March 2016 they put forward 33 wide- so in STEM subjects, it makes no sense that ranging recommendations this their report to more boys overall go on to study STEM the Welsh Government, Talented Women for subjects after school than girls – shown in a Successful Wales, to: Figure 6. Consequently, only one in five STEM jobs in the UK are filled by women • make the study of STEM subjects relevant (2016 figures from WISE Campaign). Latest and rewarding for girls; figures for Wales show that the proportion • recruit more women into STEM; of women working in key sectors – including construction, life sciences or ICT, is lower • retain women in the STEM workforce; than 10 years ago. • encourage women into leadership roles in their chosen career. The recommendations are addressed to bodies in both the private and public sector in Wales. For example, in education, teachers and leaders in education are recommended to ensure teaching of science is improved by training of ‘out of field’ secondary science teachers and giving all primary teachers exposure to key STEM principles so they can teach with more confidence about STEM basics. Apprentices should be mentored where they are in a gender Figure 6: The STEM Education Pipelines atypical sector or occupation. Businesses are Credit: WISE Campaign (November 2016). in need of further advice on equality and Companies in Wales simply cannot afford diversity and, specifically on how to attract, not to use the skills and talent of our whole retain and support women in the STEM population. STEM-related professions being workforce. They should follow best practice among the higher paying ones, a significant in retaining female staff after career breaks. reason for the male-female pay divide is There are six recommendations addressed STEM graduates earning £250,000 more to our universities – both as employers than the average over their lifetime and of female staff and as actors in STEM being mostly male. This troubling position engagement activities to schools and the led Professor Julie Williams, as CSAW, to take wider community. Pleasingly, all universities

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in Wales (including the Open University in WISE – the UK campaign for gender balance Wales) have formally welcomed and accepted in science, technology and engineering the recommendations too and are working to responded enthusiastically to the report’s take them forward. publication. They organised, with partners from business, academia and the Welsh Of the 33 recommendations, only two are Government, the ‘WISE Celebration of made directly for the Welsh Government. Talented Women in Wales’ event. This highly One concerning the wider provision of successful gathering in The Senedd of the high-quality childcare, now sees the Welsh National Assembly for Wales, on Monday Government moving towards making the 13 March 2017, started to tackle the lack of most generous child-care offer across the women in STEM in Wales. Sponsored by Julie UK. 30 hours a week for 48 weeks for many James, Minister for Skills and Science, it was working parents of three and four year-olds attended by WISE’s patron HRH The Princess across Wales will help keep more women Royal. in science careers. The other is more wide- ranging ‘The Welsh Government should make the achievement of improved gender balance, in STEM subjects and STEM- related training, a theme in appropriate educational policies and programmes for: teacher training; curriculum reform; careers advice; apprenticeships; Further education funding; Higher education funding, where these concern the delivery of STEM subjects.’ The steps already being taken to implement this are set out in the next chapter on STEM education and engagement. Picture 39: The Deputy Lord Mayor of The Welsh Government, in January 2017, Cardiff, Councillor Georgina Phillips; accepted all the recommendations in the Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for South report, subject only to minor changes. To Glamorgan, Mrs. Morfudd Meredith; The help make the recommendations a reality, Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales, Professor Julie James, as Minister for Skills and Julie Williams; Welsh Government Minister Science, has now established a Ministerial for Skills and Science, Julie James and HRH ‘Women in STEM’ Board, which she chaired The Princess Royal on the front row of the at its first meeting in mid-September ‘WISE Celebration of Talented Women in 2017. Membership is made up both of Wales’ event in the Senedd, Cardiff. Pledges Ministers with policy interests in developing from audience members are held up, in the recommendations and a number of support of women in STEM. Credit WISE senior representatives from stakeholder Campaig. organisations who have experience of The Minister said: promoting this vital agenda. There is also a corresponding official-level working group, “This event, marking International Women’s which has already begun to meet. Day, is a call to action to accelerate gender parity in our scientific, technology and

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engineering workforce in Wales. All the Chair of WISE, shared her inspiring personal arguments point to the benefits a more story – of going from being an “ordinary balanced workforce will bring; increasing girl from Swansea” to her present role as a productivity and making the work Director with Microsoft: “Women are a huge environment a better, more equal place. It is untapped talent pool and my ambition is to 2017; we shouldn’t need to be having these ensure that girls and young women have the discussions. The unfortunate reality is that information and support to play a full and with only a small proportion of the STEM equal part in contributing to their and our workforce being female, we urgently need country’s prosperity and success”. to take action to address the imbalance.” At the event, over 250 attendees took a pledge of commitment to action, to make a difference in their respective sectors and organisations. The event received extensive media coverage, trending on Twitter, at hashtag #STEMWales. WISE’s Chief Executive, Helen Wollaston, said it was a “tribute to the National Assembly for Wales for being the first of the UK Parliaments to host an event for the WISE campaign”. Steady progress is being made, with strands of Welsh Government work already underway to help improve the gender balance in STEM education and careers in Wales. In June 2017 the Chief Executives of Chwarae Teg, WISE and senior academics at Cardiff University, many of whom were Picture 40: Professor Julie Williams chairs involved in the drafting of the report, a panel discussion with industry leaders, on came together to consider how they might the business benefits of gender balanced best work to complement the Welsh teams at the WISE Celebration of Talented Government’s Women in STEM programme. Women in Wales’ event. The panel featured This group has begun to consider how to Helen Wollaston, Chief Executive of WISE; create a delivery programme supporting La-Chun Lindsay, Managing Director of GE educators and employers to recruit, retain Aviation Wales; Sharon James, Global Head and progress women in STEM in Wales. They of R&D for Reckitt Benckiser; Helen Samuels, will be working closely with the Women in Engineering Director at Network Rail; Chris STEM Board, to help take their contribution Jones, Chief Executive of Welsh Water. forward. Credit: WISE Campaign. Large engineering companies in Wales 50 school girls from eight secondary schools (Airbus, Ford and Raytheon) backed by our in Wales attended, where they were able Advanced Materials and Manufacturing to meet The Princess Royal and hear from Sector Team, run successful schemes to young female role models working in STEM encourage girls to consider careers in fields about their work. Trudy Norris-Grey, engineering. Airbus, an active WISE member,

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is funded by Welsh Government to run an all- girls Industrial Cadets scheme. Their scheme involves over 70 female students aged 12- 14. They work in small teams to tackle a three-month industrial challenge, under the mentorship of Airbus female role models. Our National Science Academy (NSA) funds STEM outreach activities across Wales for children, their parents and teachers and, as a priority, funds activities to enthuse girls about STEM. NSA funds ‘Girls into STEM’ and the ‘Formula One in Schools Challenge’ to design, build and test a miniature Formula One car with this in mind. Chapter 6 has more detail on the NSA’s activities. An innovative approach, taken by the Sêr Cymru Low Carbon, Energy and Environment National Research Network (featured above) is their Returning Fellowship Scheme. This facilitates a return to research from maternity/ paternity/ adoption/ health-related or caring leave, with bursaries up to £20,000 to allow this. The Fellow agrees to produce a minimum of one peer reviewed publication and a minimum of one research bid over £250,000 as a Principal Investigator (PI) to RCUK or EU funding sources, before 30 June 2018. LCEE’s approach reflects the similar key strand of the Sêr Cymru programme. Recapturing Talent fellowships, also aiming to address the loss of research talent through career breaks, which make it hard to resume a research career. Through our Sêr Cymru programme to allow those who have moved out of a research career a chance to rebuild a track record of research and publication, to restart their life in science research. Such awards are frequently made after a break for childcare and we expect most awards to be made to female applicants. The aim is to fund twelve such fellowships.

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63 Credit: for Welsh Government. Science for Wales 2017

Chapter 6 – Engaging the next generation

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STEM education and training Since its March 2016 publication, ‘Science, Science for Wales did not make detailed calls Technology, Engineering and Mathematics on the education system for science subjects (STEM) in Education and Training: A delivery in Wales. In outline, Science for Wales plan for Wales’ has been directing our actions called for a position where ‘our curricula to promote science learning in schools. It for STEM subjects are in the vanguard sets out a range of current and proposed of modern, challenging curricula for the initiatives, to enhance our young people’s students of Wales’ and for respected and experience of STEM study. robust qualifications. It sought to address The importance of increasing the number of a decline in take-up of science subjects at girls in STEM is highlighted throughout the GCSE. The numbers of candidates taking plan, implementing in large part the chief these GCSE subjects has, in fact, increased in recommendation to Welsh Government on recent years. Too many schools in Wales were STEM education in Talented Women for a directing children into BTEC Science study. Successful Wales. The Welsh Government’s This qualification (and taking a single subject Education Directorate is prioritising girls’ Science GCSE) effectively closed off the progression in maths, physics and computing possibility of more advanced science study. In where numbers have been particularly low. 2015 the Welsh Government announced that (For many years the average number of girls soon BTEC qualifications, while not forbidden following Physics Advanced Level has been (as there may be some children for whom stubbornly low, at around 20 per cent). they remain appropriate), would not count The Directorate has made gender balance towards school performance metrics, so that in STEM education a condition of grant working with students to take the single funding. More is needed to understand the subject (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), double issues affecting girls’ progression in STEM award Science and (only if truly appropriate) and how practice in schools can have a single award GCSE, was to be encouraged. positive impact. This is being addressed as Already we are seeing the transition from part of the wider programme of education BTEC entries towards our new suite of reform. science GCSEs, which will be awarded for the first time next year.

Picture 41: The First Minister discusses their Picture 42: Girls from Llangatock School project with pupils from Brynteg School at building the Institute of Civil Engineers scale the 2017 Big Bang Fair South Wales. Credit: suspension bridge at the 2017 Big Bang Fair Colorfoto for Engineering Education Scheme South Wales. Credit Colorfoto for EESW/ Wales (EESW)/STEM Cymru. STEM Cymru.

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The STEM in education plan sets out the part in life and work (iii.) ethical, informed rationale for what it is undertaking. It citizens of Wales and the world (iv.) healthy, explains how it will show progress – using confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling key indicators. It then details the actions to lives as valued members of society. deliver increased uptake and development STEM skills and knowledge are vital of STEM skills, through evolution of teaching components in much of this. Curriculum and learning. This is often through the major design from early years, to the end of curriculum and qualifications reforms already compulsory education and into sixth- in train, making them comparable with the form, further education college and higher best in the UK and beyond. It also propounds education, will allow for STEM related a revised strategic approach to supporting subjects and the scientific method which curriculum enrichment activity. To develop underpins them to be taught consistently and teachers’ and support staff’s skills and incrementally, building towards the aim of knowledge, there is a new national approach using STEM skills and research to contribute to professional learning encompassing the to a prosperous Wales. We have a range of education workforce, and providing access to evidence that STEM qualifications and skills, fit-for-purpose bilingual teaching resources. especially at a higher level, can lead to well- The plan notes that these structural changes paid and stimulating work roles. In any event, are being put in place but their efficacy will we all need an understanding of scientific be limited, unless and until there is also a issues, at a more basic level, to allow us notable shift in the perception of STEM. We to make informed decisions in everyday have to see a shake up and challenge to life where science plays an increasing often deep-rooted societal stereotypes. There part from digital technologies through to are actions seeking to do these things. personalised medical treatments. We want The rationale for the plan, besides the 2012 to see STEM-qualified students going on to call in Science for Wales, arose from Qualified sustainable careers in technology industries for Life: an education improvement plan. and in research in Wales. Welsh Government Its statement ‘learners in Wales will enjoy commitments for more and better jobs and teaching and learning that inspires them growth, requiring a highly skilled workforce, to succeed, in an education community were set out in the Policy Statement on Skills that works cooperatively and aspires to be and in the subsequent Skills Implementation great, where the potential of every child Plan. We are developing a skills system for and young person is actively developed.’ Wales to support this and our wider economy set the standard for subsequent actions. in a sustainable way. This includes the higher- A Curriculum for Wales, a curriculum for level skills required by most STEM related life followed. It showed how we intended industries. to bring Professor Graham Donaldson’s recommendations set out in his Successful Futures report to fruition. It includes the four purposes for the curriculum in Wales to ensure all children and young people develop as: (i.) ambitious, capable learners, ready to learn throughout their lives (ii.) enterprising, creative contributors, ready to play a full

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A key related development was the launch in June of the Welsh Government’s Cracking the Code Plan, setting out the approach to enhancing the network of code clubs in Wales. The Plan is supported by £1.3m over 4 years and sets out how we will work with the Regional Education Consortia, colleges, universities, business, industry and the third sector to expand code clubs in Wales. Professor Julie Williams chaired an internal group, the ‘STEM in Education Group’. Picture 43: Science stand from Ysgol Glan-y- This is a vehicle for collaboration and Mor School, Burry Port. Mrs Sue Quirk from information-sharing with Education, the school won the 2016 Joan Sjøvoll STEM Economy and infrastructure and Science Leadership Award – recognising her vision officials, on curriculum; qualifications; and dedication in driving forward the STEM teacher professional development; careers; agenda in the school. Credit Colorfoto for schools marketing and the NSA. Meeting EESW/STEM Cymru. quarterly. It has formal oversight of the STEM in Education Delivery Plan. A network of Pioneer Schools are now working on the content and structure of the new curriculum to ensure it is developed effectively. This includes areas of Learning Experience (AoLES) for Science and Technology and for Mathematics and Numeracy which are the focus of our concerns. A parallel development, which is also affecting STEM subject teaching, is the Digital Competence Framework (DCF). As an integral part of the new curriculum, Digital Competence will, in line with Literacy and Numeracy, be a cross-cutting responsibility, to be developed across the curriculum. The DCF was fast-tracked for introduction in September 2016 and provides a range of Picture 44: Pupils from Cynffig School with classroom task ideas for teachers. It is being their project at the 2017 Big Bang Fair South supported through a curriculum mapping Wales. Credit Colorfoto for EESW/STEM tool, helping schools to track how the DCF Cymru. is being delivered; and a self-assessment More recently, our investment in new tool, which enables teachers to assess their National Networks for Excellence in skills and confidence in delivering elements Mathematics and then in Science and of the DCF and to identify their professional Technology will enhance support for teachers learning needs.

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to develop their skills in maths and numeracy inclusive teaching methods, alongside girls, in and science and technology respectively those schools accessing specific enrichment and improve the way pupils experience activity, encouraging their progression to the subjects in the classroom. Schools can A-level physics. This is an approach proven to achieve these aims through work with work. We also fund Technocamps, to deliver scientific and technological departments computer coding workshops to pupils and of universities, with our four education teachers, including specific workshops to consortia, further education and other engage and motivate girls. stakeholders – to learn from the best practice A cause for concern and reason behind available. They are drawing together cutting- some of our actions to improve science edge knowledge for teaching practice for all and numeracy teaching and learning arose of compulsory education and through to 18 from results by Wales-based pupils in PISA. years, while coordinating the development The Programme for International Students and delivery of recognised teacher Assessment is a survey of educational professional development. The networks achievement run by the Organisation for should improve pupils’ experience and enable Economic Co-operation and Development schools to work together to develop courses, (OECD) since 2000. It assesses the knowledge teaching resources and class-based research. and skills of fifteen-year olds in participating schools, by testing competence to address real life challenges in reading, mathematics and science every three years. PISA does not aim to test mastery of curriculum subjects but is more about understanding of technique and problem solving. Each three-yearly round features one of the three subject areas. In 2012 it was mathematical literacy and in 2015 scientific literacy.

Picture 45: A first group of Physics teachers from Wales visiting CERN, near Geneva in February 2015. Credit: for Welsh Government. As was said above, there is strong interest in and rationale for promoting the study of STEM subjects by girls in subjects, where take up has historically been low such as Physics and Computer Science. For example, a 2015 Institute of Physics Stimulating Physics Picture 46: Pupils from Ysgol Gyfun Network programme was expanded up from Gymraeg with their project at the 2017 Big 12 to 48 schools across Wales. This trained Bang Fair South Wales. Credit Colorfoto for secondary school physics teachers in gender- EESW/STEM Cymru.

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PISA 2015 results in Science, released in STEM outreach or informal learning activities, 2016, point to an emerging pattern. It through giving grants for activities targeting appears that our deficit is most likely caused children, young people, teachers, parents and wholly by those that score at the highest guardians, to engage and increase the future levels (PISA level 4 and above) not achieving workforce of scientists and engineers. their full potential. This seems to be true for all three measurement themes: reading, maths and science. In future, we should focus more on challenging the more able children in our education system to achieve their full potential, while stretching those who are gaining passes at GCSE to achieve higher.

Picture 47: Members of winning Team Falcon Force from Lllanrug School run their Formula 1 in Schools car. Credit: Colorfoto for EESW/STEM Cymru. The NSA works chiefly through a Table 7: Percentage of Students at each PISA competitively-awarded grant scheme, proficiency level in Science, UK, 2015. selecting a portfolio of projects against clear criteria. Most applications have received National Science Academy (NSA) expert external review. Since 2012, over STEM engagement sits alongside and the course of two successive Autumn supports our reform of formal education. The grant rounds (2012 and 2013) the NSA NSA operates under the CSAW, within the had awarded more than £4.4 million grant Minister for Skills and Science portfolio. It funding to over 50 projects. This has enabled was first set up in present form during 2010, delivery of a range of over 1,000 STEM predating the Science for Wales strategy, enrichment activities. This has resulted in with the aim of promoting the take-up the delivery STEM enrichment activities. of Science, Technology, Engineering and They have, between them, attracted over Maths (STEM) subjects at all levels, via STEM 132,000 school pupils. This funding has enrichment activities. It remains the Welsh also facilitated Continuous Professional Government’s main vehicle for encouraging Development (CPD) for over 1,300 teachers. participation in Science, technology, Other notable achievements from this engineering and maths (STEM) study and funding is NSA support for professional careers. The Welsh Government has long learning (communicating research) to over been keen that children, their parents, 57 researchers, coupled with a 100 per guardians and carers should experience cent subsidy. This resulted in delivery and what science is all about, so they can make awarding of over 4,500 British Science informed decisions on the subjects that Association CREST Awards to pupils across children will study. It operates by supporting Wales. This result means that a higher

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percentage of students in Wales have been the point of delivery. The programmes cover awarded a CREST Award, compared with a range of engagement methods. All are other parts of the UK. Over the course of stimulating and enthuse children, exposing these rounds, NSA managed to achieve a them to the fascinating world of science, reduction in the unit cost of its interventions hoping to induce further enquiry and study. from £20.33 to £13.78. Further cost NSA officials are members of a UK-wide reductions, as a result of economies of scale, National Public Engagement Forum for STEM. are expected over the course of the 2015- This exists to foster closer collaboration 18 grant programme, provided quality is not between STEM-related organisations, compromised. in setting a consistent UK-wide agenda The Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales for STEM enrichment across the sector. requested a strategic review, before the Additional benefits expected from the Forum next grant round and in July 2015 the NSA are better evidence to support advocacy, published The National Science Academy development of a more systematic evaluation STEM enrichment Strategic Plan 2015-18. This approach, prioritising topics and identifying set out refined priorities and informed the gaps. grant call launched at that time, for funding NSA also has a remit to encourage through to 2018. Designed to deliver as much communication and best practice among as possible with the Welsh Government’s the STEM engagement community in limited funding, the priorities are: Wales. Its resources do not allow for a • supporting projects which target children great deal of activity but to facilitate this aged 7-14 and their parents/guardians; NSA has organised two well-received • supporting projects that seek to break workshop events, bringing a wide range of down barriers to studying STEM subjects, organisations together to share experience especially subjects where girls are and hear about best practice in March underrepresented; and 2014 and September 2016. They intend to continue these at intervals, since the STEM • providing long-term stability for engagement community has shown that it programmes seen to be performing well. values them. As a result, NSA has now reduced the The Formula 1 in Schools programme (F1 in number of programmes supported but Schools) has run across the UK and abroad sharpened their focus, while maintaining for some years now. Open to teams of 11- investment. Nine proposals satisfied 19 year olds from all secondary schools in independent expert assessment and were Wales and facilitated by EESW with funding given grant funding of some £873,000. In assistance from NSA and the EU ESF. Wales addition, a previous identified group of nine saw a major success in the 2016 competition projects from the earlier rounds, all of which The Welsh winning team, Team ‘Tachyon’ had demonstrated clear added value, were made up of four girls in Year 9 at Denbigh funded with £1.38 million, on to a maximum High School – Amy Martin, Holly Roberts, 3 year delivery period. This £2.2 million total Katie Rowlands Williams and Jessica Briody- of NSA grant funding has enabled a range Hughes, won through to the international of targeted STEM enrichment outreach final in Singapore They won four of the activities. Most are pan Wales and free at six awards, at their North Wales heats in a

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closely-fought and high-profile competition Many influencing factors such as parents, They were an unusually young team to win teachers and the media that can potentially and are a real inspiration to other pupils inspire students to engage with STEM across Wales. building upon provisional existing high performing subjects delivery models. Since 2012, including the 2015 Grant awards with the two rounds above, there has more than £4.4 million has been invested, which has funded nearly 70 projects, delivering over 1,000 STEM enrichment activities, experienced or to be experienced by over 132,000 students/participants, as well as CPD events for over 1,300 teachers. Over and Picture 48: F1 in Schools winners 2016 – above this NSA funding enabled professional Team Tachyon from Denbigh High School. learning (communicating research) to over 57 Credit: Colorfoto for EESW/STEM Cymru. researchers, including 41 female researchers. Pleasingly, the next year another all-girl F1 in NSA is now planning for a step-change Schools team from Wales also won thorough. in its support, with a bid to the European Team ‘Falcon Force’ from Ysgol Brynrefail Structural Fund (ESF), which has the Welsh School, Llanrug – Eleanor Edwards-Jones, European Funding Office working title of ‘Tri Anna Whiteside Thomas, Beca Jones, Jess Sci Cymru’. Pritchard, Tesni Smith and Elin Worth, will go on to compete in the World Finals. A bid under Priority Axis 3: Youth Employment and Attainment (for 11-19 The NSA is not a ‘quick fix’ and operates years) is being prepared, with the specific within a cumulative context, requiring objective of increasing the take up of and realistic expectations taking into account attainment levels in STEM subjects among both the challenges associated with STEM 11-14 year olds – the age at which children enrichment and resources available to the decide what they will go on to study. Key NSA. aspects of the project bid are: • Encouraging STEM take-up, through more pupils at the current Key Stage 4 undertaking (and achieving) STEM qualifications – allowing progression to further academic and vocational study in STEM. • Operation within the West, North Wales and Valleys areas. • A total Operation cost of £7.5 million. Picture 49: F1 in Schools winners 2017 – • NSA match funding contribution Team Falcon Force from Llanrug School. of £2.25 million, with ESF input of Credit: Colorfoto for EESW/STEM Cymru. £5.25 million.

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• A delivery model that is collaborative and strategically developed, led by the NSA, working with Cardiff, Swansea, Aberystwyth and Bangor Universities and the Institute of Physics in delivering a strategic targeted programme of intensive STEM enrichment activities. • The operation will target cohorts of 11- 14 year old pupils, sourced from up to 30 schools, engaging up to 3,000 pupils using a basket of measures to identify the schools – e.g. low participation rates. • STEM enrichment activities will include interactive ‘hands-on’ experiments; STEM related inquiry based activities; roadshows; STEM related career awareness, including addressing gender stereotyping and bias in STEM subjects/careers; demonstrations; virtual reality shows and more. • The operation aims to increase ‘Science Capital’ – encouraging the consideration and value of STEM – affording life enhancing opportunities including STEM related careers.

Picture 50: The highly popular BEP (Bridgend Engine Plant) Ford Saturday Club’s 2016 students and instructors with the Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales, Professor Julie Williams. The Welsh Government is to sponsor the club for three years. Credit: Ford Saturday Club.

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Spotlight on 10 2 ST EM Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths 7

What is STEM? Exciting job Can you see yourself designing a wind turbine or building the next Airbus; developing opportunitie s new drugs or a high performance textile; or maybe, filming the next Doctor Who? Geneticists, Environmental Scientists, Chemists, Engineers, Nurses, Skilled Technicians, Marine Biologists, Why study STEM? Textile Technologists, Doctors, Accountants, Designers, Skilled Construction Trades, 1 in 5 new jobs in the UK by 2022, will be STEM jobs. STEM Teachers, Therapists, Computer programmers By 2022 Wales needs . . .

25,000 What can I earn? Nurses 11,000 IT & Telecommunication Salaries vary depending Professionals on experience and location. £

20,000 8,000 Some examples: Health Engineers Professionals Chartered Accountant £45 - 62k Doctor £28 - 101k 19,000 4,500 Systems Developer £24 - 46k Accountants Scientists & Finance Roles Marine Biologist £22 - 47k Nuclear Engineer £22 - 42k 17,000 4,300 Qualified Teacher £22 - 37k Construction Science & Building Roles & Engineering Technicians Wind Farm Technician £19 - 33k Nursing £18 - 47k Source: Working futures 2012-2022 Graphic Designer £18 - 35k Animal Technologist £15 - 28k Fastest growing STEM jobs of the future Vehicle Mechanic £15 - 27k

Doctors, Opticians 34% Scientists 20% & Dentists Do I need Welsh Paramedics, medical Engineering % % language skills? & Dental technicians 32 Professionals 18

IT & Telecommunication Nurses & Midwives % % 25 Professionals 16 High demand for Welsh skills

Construction Media Media Professionals % 25 & Building Trades 7% Creative Industries Finance Health & Social Care Therapists 24% 1% administration roles Finance Accountants % £ & Finance Managers 22 Source: Working futures 2012-2022 Low demand for Welsh skills

Advanced Materials Wales needs STEM skills at all levels. Interested? & Manufacturing Life Sciences Engineering Search for High tech & global industries courses Find out more on about STEM on careerswales.com Speak to your careerswales www.careerswales.com Search for Teacher about .com 0800 028 4844 how you can have apprenticeships on a Career in [email protected] STEM careerswales.com

/careerswales

@JobsCW

This poster is also available in Welsh @careerswales

Figure 7: A Spotlight on STEM poster on careers and earnings for schools from the Focus on Science Campaign, which ended in 2017. Credit: Welsh Government.

73 Japanese Larch Disease (Phyophthora Ramorum) Science for Wales 2017 in a Forest near Neath. Credit: Natural Resources Wales.

Chapter 7 – Science across Government

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The wide remit of the Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales means that the CSAW and her supporting team already work across a broader range of both Welsh Government and non-devolved policy areas than many others. As such, they can immediately make a valuable contribution to supporting the Taking Wales Forward agenda. The Welsh Government is looking to work differently and far more collaboratively, to deliver the Picture 51: Professor Julie Williams, CSAW, policies and programmes which make up visits the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire. Taking Wales Forward. The principles set out in the Well Being of Future Generations Act Our Sêr Cymru programme with its world- 2015 already demand more cohesive and class Research chairs; pan-Wales coordinating collaborative work. The aim, supportive of research networks and fellowships for ‘Prosperity for All’, in the Prosperous and able researchers is building strengths in Secure pillar, of supporting the delivery of areas of existing excellence and developing better jobs and creating an environment to emerging strengths. This in turn increases help people to take up opportunities is at research capacity in our universities, helping the heart of most work the CSAW team do, them to win more competitively-awarded although the boosting of research capacity funding and bring this and other funding also plays a strong part under ‘Ambitious and into Wales. The approach was developed Learning’. from evidence of the clear need to expand capacity. A significant element of the Chief Scientific Adviser’s Division (CSAD), the research here addresses issues in the field of team supporting the CSAW’s, work has put low carbon, energy and the environment, programmes in place to promote a proactive developing knowledge for Wales’ emerging and collaborative approach to help exploit green economy and helping find ways to opportunities across portfolios and reduce the harmful emissions generated in Departments. This is done through using all Wales. Delivery of more and better jobs is available expertise, inside and outside the assisted by this programme and associated Welsh Government. Our approach helps activity, presenting Wales as a place where remove barriers and takes a step change science, research and technical innovation approach to producing solutions to meet are supported and done well. We are actively Welsh needs, now and in the future. Ensuring encouraging and promoting opportunities that all are aware of each others actions and for taking research by some of these leading programmes, means that synergies are academics through to the market and are identified and exploited and duplication and working with Welsh Government innovation, wasted effort eliminated. This is in line with sectoral and regional teams to take this the approach under the four strands forward. underpinning delivery of the Welsh Government’s Taking Wales Forward Since 2013 the Chief Scientific Adviser for programme – United and Connected; Healthy Wales has been chairing an oversight and and Active; Learning and Ambitious and discussion group focused on education in Prosperous and Secure. STEM subjects. Although she oversees the

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NSA, with its support for STEM engagement Adviser for Wales engagement with the UK beyond the formal curriculum, the other Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA); matters which the group oversees are wholly with research council and Innovate UK leads within Education or Skills Departments. is important to Wales. Meetings of fellow Representatives of support teams for Chief Scientific Advisers – both from UK technical industrial sectors (Advanced Departments and Agencies and with those manufacturing and materials; Life Sciences from other devolved administrations are and ICT) as well as of careers and skills, very useful for gathering intelligence and schools curriculum and qualifications all sharing experience of common problems and attend. The group receives reports on opportunities. progress in the STEM in Education Delivery Consideration is being given, as part the Plan, for which Education staff have lead of the Welsh Government’s Wylfa Newydd responsibility for delivery, while the CSAW’s Nuclear Programme, on creating a UK team are located within the Economy area of National Research facility in North Wales as the Welsh Government. a major legacy activity of the Programme. In similar terms, Ministers recently required Discussions are being held between closer collaboration and cooperation WG officials and the UK Government’s between the different areas of the Welsh Department of Business, Energy and Government who engage with and support Industrial Strategy on a potential joint life sciences and health activity. The CSAW collaboration on funding which, if successful, has established, with all senior colleagues should lead to a major UK nuclear research with interests in this field, a coordinating facility being sited on Anglesey. group: the Expert Committee on Life Sciences Staff from the Chief Scientific Adviser’s and Health (ExCoLSH). Colleagues from team, with North Wales regional and Health Technology and Innovation, the Energy sector officials are working with the Life Sciences Sector team, Health and Care UK BEIS Department. Based on the new Research Wales and NHS Wales, as well as Wylfd Newydd nuclear power station on Business Innovation and Chief Scientific Anglesey, they are developing innovative Adviser’s Division (CSAD) staff regularly nuclear research facilities, planning for a attend. cluster of expertise over the next 20 years. Following the acceptance of ABWR (Advanced Boiling Water Reactor) recommendations in the Talented Women for technology, to be used for Wylfa Newydd, is A Successful Wales report, Julie James has attracting UK-wide interest in a research and established a Women in STEM Group, which testing facility for this and related nuclear she will chair. The Chief Scientific Adviser’s technologies. Bangor University are applying Division provides the secretariat for this group to establish such a thermal hydraulics as well as leading the supporting internal research centre. Much Energy policy is non- officials’ group. devolved, so the UK BEIS Department leads on tendering, working with the present The link with science advice and advisers Innovate UK. Senior staff from the Chief at a UK level is of considerable value and Scientific Adviser’s Division are actively importance. Most of the money available for involved in review and decision activities for scientific and other research is distributed the Digital Reactor Design theme (including on a UK-wide basis. The Chief Scientific

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a thermal hydraulics component). Feasibility studies will follow. We said earlier that to build research strength and help our knowledge economy, aiding Wales’ wider prosperity, Innovation and Chief Scientific Adviser’s officials have worked to attract to Wales the lead centre for a UK-wide Catapult for Compound Semiconductors. Professor Huffaker’s appointment to a post in Wales under the Sêr Cymru programme is a critical factor in our securing this prestigious centre to work with industry on the latest developments in CS technologies. The CSAD has undertaken a study of the research capacity that can be mobilised in support of the steel industry in Wales. We continue looking at ways to support at Port Talbot and other plants in South Wales, through research to promote new products and processes. Science advice to allow Ministers and officials access to the latest and best scientific data and research, on a given topic, is a vital part of the Chief Scientific Adviser’s role. Established mechanisms exist for areas such as public health and animal health and environmental matters, with in-house expertise in Government and within Natural Resources Wales. This and other fields require access sometimes to more developmental research. The Chief Scientific Adviser’s team have helped look into disease in Cockle beds; GM crop science and a number of other fields, as required. Use is made of expertise among our academic community, particularly those associated with Welsh Government programmes, such as Sêr Cymru. The CSAW regularly meets other scientific leads (such as the Chief Veterinary Officer and Chief Medical Officer) bilaterally and through a Senior Science Strategy Group, meetings at intervals.

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Prosperity for All: the national strategy

Taking Wales Forward

A globally responsible A prosperous Wales Wales

A Wales of vibrant culture A resilient and thriving Wales Welsh Language

A Wales of cohesive A healthier communities Wales

A more equal Wales

Chapter 8 – Conclusions, Way Forward and Recommendations

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Sêr Cymru is making a strong contribution arrangements for an effective international to building research capacity in Wales, system for collaborative research. The although there clearly remains more to be European Union has a pan-EU research done. The investment of Sêr Cymru funding funding stream through the European to date has made a considerable difference Research Council as well as the Horizon but it cannot solve the problem completely 2020 funding targeting collaboration and We need to continue to build further on cooperation between researchers across strengths and bring in more through Sêr Europe and beyond. There is no such fund Cymru. Pleasingly, even though Wales had that provides similar coverage between reduced capacity in its research workforce, other nations. We must maintain, as far as nevertheless it achieved higher than the UK possible, our relationship with European average for impact case studies submitted collaborations, as well as striving to continue to REF 2014. In tandem with supporting the access to the EU funding that Wales’ scientific excellence, we should continue researchers currently benefit greatly from. supporting better connections between There are bi-lateral funds to allow work research and innovation – building the between nations. One such is the Discovery knowledge economy and striving to exploit International Awards (DIA), first introduced and develop new products, processes in 2010 by the Australian Research Council and services in Wales stemming from our (ARC), which is a single body (akin to research teams. Our strong showing in the the coming UKRI). ARC provide this for REF impact measure is encouraging for for Chief Investigators and overseas making more such effective connections. Partner Investigators, aiming to enhance Supporting the wider ambition for greater opportunities for collaboration among prosperity for Wales, strategic investments researchers, research teams and/or research have been facilitated the securing of the centres in Australia and overseas to build Compound Semiconductors Catapult centre Australia’s international research capability. for Wales, the cutting-edge work going There are similar possibilities, to a greater on in SPECIFIC to scale-up and roll out the or lesser degree, with countries such as ‘buildings as power stations’ concept and the Japan, Canada, the USA or Brazil. There work starting on Thermal Hydraulic research have been efforts to support collaborative infrastructure in North Wales. activity but these have focused on particular We have seen a number of new challenges themes or challenges, where a multi-national arise since the publication of Science for approach was felt to be useful. The G8 Wales, which we need to respond to. Brexit Research Councils Initiative on Multilateral is clearly a huge unknown. We do know, Research Funding was a 2010 effort by however, that it will be important to nurture Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Russia and existing collaborations and to seek more, the USA with the UK to address identified with academics and technology businesses broad areas such as Exascale computing to across Wales and the wider UK, across address global issues; material efficiency Europe and into the wider world, in such for sustainable manufacturing; freshwater places as the USA, India, China, Australia. security and coastal vulnerability. The Future support for research across the world coordinated funding however, only lasted will need a global response and Wales until a call in 2012. The UK has a ‘Newton must consider how to engage in making Fund’ which is classed as official development

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assistance, allocated under Section 1 of and should ensure that we make timely the International Development Act 2002. applications for any and all calls coming out Newton Fund activities must show they are from ISCF where we can exploit these. We aiming to contribute to a reduction in poverty must support our research and innovation and aim to further sustainable development activities working together and that they or improve the welfare of the population of facilitate collaboration to bring research Newton Fund-eligible countries. outputs into the commercial world. It is vital, however, that we continue to support Based on these examples and several excellence in both blue sky or discovery others, though, it is clear that there is research as well as in applied research. no encompassing system of any size for collaborative activity with non-EU countries. We should be pro-active in seeking and Where there is funding it is constrained and securing funding from a wide range of time limited, so it lacks the flexibility needed sources to support the aims of Science for to ensure the right researchers work together Wales so that they continue to support on challenges of common concern. Given the Welsh Government’s current ambitions that 60 per cent of Wales research activity for prosperity and for learning, set out in involves collaboration beyond our borders, Taking Wales Forward and in the national so this agenda is absolutely crucial to our strategy which is to help deliver the Welsh interests. Government’s programme for government. We pointed out in the preceding chapter This strategy calls for more collaboration the importance of existing links with science from staff within the Welsh Government advice and with science and other research to maximise delivery against a background funding mechanisms at a UK level. The of constrained resources and some major effectiveness of such links has now never external challenges. Activities to achieve been more important. The structure of UK this are already underway. For example, research funding is changing to the new the formation of the Expert Committee on UK Research and Innovation, subsuming all Life Sciences and Health (ExCoLSH) brings the seven research councils and Innovate senior officials from several areas of Welsh UK. Funding for research in Wales will be Government, who all have involvement with dependent on this body and it is vital that the world of life sciences together to share communication channels are robust so we information and coordinate activity so what may contribute the Welsh perspective and we do is more effective and more efficient. support opportunity for all. We are fortunate to have access to We now have the implementation of flexible networks, drawn from Sêr Cymru recommendations from the Hazelkorn review researchers and beyond, including a database of oversight of post-compulsory education in of some 1000 researchers across Wales Wales and the role of HEFCW and will have on the Expertise Wales pages on www. the forthcoming Reid review on research [email protected] which can be and innovation take into account. We need asked for help and input to challenges and to make the most of the large amounts of problems in the scientific and technical UK funding, coming through the Industrial sphere, whenever they present themselves. It Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF). We now is important to continue to engage with the know what Wales strengths are in research wider community of Chief Scientific Advisers

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and other science advice and collaboration mechanisms across the UK to provide good and timely advice, that is both balanced and well-evidenced, for Ministers and Officials developing and implementing the Welsh Government’s plans and policies. As we have shown, the work to make the most of women’s talents in the broad world of STEM and work is progressing well, although it is early days at present. In STEM in Education activities, we are working to develop the new curriculum and qualification arrangements, so we are in a period of consolidation. We do need to take further steps to improve our PISA Science and Maths scores, especially the element of the cadre taking the tests who should be achieving the top-scores but are not doing so well in Wales, as elsewhere. We have, under the National Science Academy, an exciting and innovative new programme being developed and put forward for funding. This stands to help a significant number of pupils across Wales into the study of STEM subjects and, we hope, on into STEM-related careers, to benefit our economy and society more widely.

81 Credit: Credit Cardiff University. Science for Wales 2017

Annexes

82 Science for Wales 2017 9/4/15 – 31/3/18 9/4/15 – 31/3/18 9/4/15 – 31/3/18 9/4/15 – 31/3/17 9/4/15 – 31/3/18 9/4/15 – 31/3/18 9/4/15 – 31/3/18 9/4/15 – 31/3/18 1/9/15 – 28/2/17 Start / end dates Brief description of project / activity Brief description of project Further developing their GCSE revision app., to establish a smartphone/tablet app. to aid Year 11 GCSE app., to establish a smartphone/tablet app. aid Year Further developing their GCSE revision Establish Wales. bilingually throughout Physics) revision Biology, Science (Chemistry, Additional and Triple new and 12 students. Produce AS Physics and Chemistry to support enthuse Year AS Biology, 2016. for the GCSE courses to bring in line with new syllabus from updated resources across reach gathering partners and broadening for Wales, Develop 2 new tailor – made CREST resources To maintain & particularly in supporting ‘Qualified for Life’ & ‘Curriculum Cymraig’. the STEM sector, students. for Welsh the accessibility to CREST Awards improve by developing enquiry based activities that utilise the Robotic telescope, children aims to inspire Project more will continue to provide The project funded project. due to the success of previously development, professional more Provide opportunities for pupils to pursue their own scientific interests. support and advice to schools on science teaching learning. Lab in a Lorry is mobile science laboratory that takes hands-on physics expriments to secondary schools. is to enable students aged 11-14 the opportunity experience science as it The aim of the project know. the outcome is already demonstrations where done as opposed to simply repeating really supporting pupils studying chemistry at university, the number of Welsh Purpose of funding is to increase Wales SIAS will expand across teachers in inspiring their pupils to follow a science based career. workshops bringing spectroscopy science centre Glyndincluding Swansea University and Techniquest ˆwr Day event held at Also development of a Spectroscopy of Wrexham. areas unreached to previously Aberstwyth University. the following activities: Invention – Innovation motivation and inspirations of pupils through increase To opportunities Live Science shows. Provide Science Workshops, competition, IP Challenge, CREST Award for individuals within the STEM community to develop public engagement skills, becoming positive role models (STEM Ambassadors) and support STEM clubs. will AstroCymru in Wales. STEM activity and coordination will continue to contribute towards The project in Careers and workshops. Engage the general public with STEM. Promote deliver 3D shows, lectures and 3D Develop new STEM educational resources and technology. research STEM by highlighting current shows. training of free programme – is a structured Technoteach 2 elements to this project: are There the newly focussed around on a 6 week, 20 hr training programmes opportunities in which teachers enrol programme Computing – is a primary school outreach – emerging Computer Curriculum. Playground and their teachers. focusing on teaching children delivering full day in – school Workshops 4 strands: attainment levels in STEM subjects amongst 11 – 19 year olds through aims to increase Project to Engineering (i2E) and EESW 6th Form Activity. Girls into STEM (GIS), F1 in Schools, Introduction – – – – EESW – National – Royal Society – Science Made – Cardiff University – Cardiff – Institute of Physics Project and organisation Project GCSE & AS Science Revision Bangor University for all CREST for Wales, British Science Association 2.0: Universe in the Classroom for Wales Robotic Telescope and innovation in the primary classroom Lab in a Lorry Cymru 2015- 2017 Sustainable expansion of in a Suitcase Spectroscopy (SIAS) in Wales of Chemistry STEM Activities Eisteddfod of Wales Astrocymru Simple Play-ground Technocamps: Computing, Technoteach Swansea University EESW 2015- 2017 Annex 1: National Science Academy grant awards 2015 Annex 1: National Science Academy grant awards

83 Science for Wales 2017 1/1/16 – 31/3/18 1/1/16 – 31/3/18 1/1/16 – 31/3/18 1/1/16 – 31/3/18 1/1/16 – 31/3/18 1/1/16 – 28/2/18 1/1/16 – 31/3/18 1/10/15 – 31/3/17 Start / end dates Brief description of project / activity Brief description of project books. It targets present Key Stage 2 & 3 pupils. Pre-show resources allow resources Key Stage 2 & 3 pupils. Pre-show books. It targets present Total Funding for the above continuing programmes = £1,362,307 Funding for the above continuing programmes Total The project aims to develop a suite of activities which will have specific links of Wales and the world of aims to develop a suite of activities which will have specific links The project curricular day or as a a cross a transition day, work for KS2 and KS3 pupils that could be used as a project, club resource. Key Stage 2 & 3 pupils. Enrichment activities held in schools, libraries and community venues for present ‘e-learning platform’ (Lesson plans; curriculum on the CIC’s available free are resources All project STEM games and other videos; multimedia learning resources; hand-outs; programmes; resources; teaching and learning resources. Key Stage 2 to 3 transition – challenging to enthuse and engage students in STEM at present Workshops workshop schools with different They aim to provide – particularly on gender. engineering stereotypes LEGO and K’nex, computer control options to support their Schemes of Learning – such as CSI/forensics, energy and maths workshops. renewable Cowell’s based on Cressida An innovative and interactive 50-60 minute STEM with Literacy roadshow, Dragon Your How to Train storytelling and a journal allowing through creativity students and enhance classroom teachers to prepare science situations. students to describe being engaged in real Key Stage 2, featuring six a 50-minute live show written for present ‘Who wants to be a superhero?’ gender Wales. It addresses models (five of them women), working in various jobs young STEM role levels. in girls (and boys) at upper-primary-school stereotypes 9-11 in Neath. Year four feeder schools of Cymer Afan Comprehensive Summer Camps for pupils from their transitions to A-Level and Higher Education, with 12 summer schools address taster days and Year training in practical principles bioscience; computer science; geosciences; maths and physics. They of STEM, with participation in hands-on science of the economic and cultural roles also foster awareness activities. Gopher Science Labs (GSL) use simple hands-on science activities to facilitate learning by primary aged and to ease pupils’ transition secondary education. Building on the success of GSL for Wales children will develop in 2014, this project events for primary schools and twilight teacher training courses delivered the development of an online training module project Through further support for schools in Wales. development, the opportunity to access continuing professional all teachers in Wales aims to offer developing confidence in the science behind activities and supply participants with new to try out in their schools. Key Stage 2 to present delivers STEM activities to support students as they move from This project in particular the GwE lead schools for science. North Wales, Stage 3. They will be for schools across Activities include Lab Skills Days at TG for upper Key piloted by TG and well received. Activities were Stage 2 students, with lab. safety training and simple scientific tests using laboratory equipment. There and equipment for learning sessions for primary school teachers with support resources professional are use in school following a Lab. Skills Day. – (TG) – Royal – College – G2G – See Science – Science2Life – Science Made Simple Project and organisation Project Science Enrichment Experience All sySTEMs go Communications Community Co. (CIC) Interest Raising Aspiration: Inspiring the next generation of STEM STEMworks your Science of How to Train Dragons Science & Engineering models in – role Superheroes STEM S4: Swansea University Science for Schools of Science, Swansea University Online Continual Professional Development (CPD) for Gopher Science Labs Society of Biology GlyndTechniquest ˆwr

84 Science for Wales 2017 1/1/16 – 31/3/18 1/1/16 – 31/3/18 Start / end dates Brief description of project / activity Brief description of project Overall NSA funding total = £2,220,379 Total funding for the above new programmes = £858,072 funding for the above new programmes Total Enthusing secondary students in STEM activities through engagement in real astrophysics experiments – astrophysics engagement in real Enthusing secondary students in STEM activities through space), using detectors hosted in schools. measuring cosmic rays (high-energy particles travelling through successful QuarkNet STEM programme. Wales – building on Birmingham University’s A first in opportunity all target pupils form STEM clubs for girls, taster workshops and a residential Saturday allowing participants to engage in is progressive, Key Stage 2 to 4. The programme present to help them build ‘science capital’ through multiple STEM engagements with both FE and HE providers multiple intensive engagements. Project and organisation Project School of Physics & University Cardiff Astronomy, Reaching Wales South West Wider Partnership

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Annex 2: Welsh strategic awards for • Cardiff University, School of Biosciences capital equipment Automated Fish Rearing Units. (Professor After assessment, these proposals were Jo Cable) funded: • Cardiff University MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics (CNGG) HiSeq 400 sequencing system supported by Biomek robot allowing sequencing of whole genomes more than 36 times faster at more than 2.5 times reduction in cost. (Professor Sir Michael Owen) • Cardiff University, Cardiff Catalysis Institute X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for surface analysis. (Professor Graham Hutchings) • Swansea University, College of Engineering Prototyping and lifetime testing of low cost, durable solar cells made by printing and coating. (Professor James Durrant) • Cardiff University The Wales Gene Park Genomic Big Data Hub – one petabyte optimised for storage and processing of human genomic data. (Professor Julian Sampson) • Cardiff University MRC CNGG MassARRAY system: nucleic acid detection and quantification platform. (Dr Rebecca Sims) • Cardiff University, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute A set of miniature microscopes to image neuronal ensembles in rodent models of neuropsychiatric disorders. (Dr Riccardo Brambilla) • Cardiff University, Systems Immunity Research Institute Imagestream: high resolution microscope embedded in a fluidic system suitable for the analysis of suspended cells. (Professors Philip Taylor, Paul Morgan and Valerie O’Donnell) • Swansea University, College of Medicine Equipment to build depth and breadth in cell analysis capabilities. (Professor Cathy Thornton)

86 Science for Wales 2017 0 0 3 1 0 2 0 0 0 % 1.2 2.6 3.3 0.8 2.6 Other 0 0 0 0 0 Sources 13 £K 1.6 0.5 813 80.4 17.4 1,416 1,033 3,275 1,092 35,091 162,010 201,468 1 0 2 3 4 1 1 0 0 % 2.1 4.1 2.5 2.0 3.8 0 75 29 41 Sources £K Non-EU 2.0 9.1 1.0 115 453 817 88.0 4,349 5,879 2,847 26,678 258,674 294,078 7 0 % 30 13 13 29 11 16 31 9.9 9.2 9.4 11.1 10.7 0 £K 3.3 1.6 186 616 382 83.5 11.6 EU Sources 1,783 3,743 3,175 6,308 11,694 27,887 97,367 13,270 702,051 840,575 7 6 3 3 0 4 9 8 0 % 3.6 4.6 3.9 3.3 4.5 0 0 99 £K & Public 2.9 1.3 424 859 339 84.0 11.8 Commerce 1,711 4,602 2,071 4,659 10,105 41,224 UK Industry, UK Industry, Corporations 293,117 349,105 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 % 0.7 1.3 3.9 0.6 1.6 0 0 0 0 0 0 93 £K 1.6 0.7 UK Central 857 834 32.9 Expenditure 1,130 2,057 81,969 41,540 126,423 Credits for R&D Government Tax Government Tax 0 % 15 22 23 15 20 33 17 10 21.0 11.9 11.3 23.9 12.4 Bodies 0 94 £K 6.1 3.5 895 202 78.0 12.4 UK Central 4,402 4,996 1,329 33,612 13,539 59,069 33,174 Government 755,181 119,767 967,731 3 6 8 3 6 4 % 13 10 11 9.1 9.5 15.2 13.4 14.7 Bodies 50 41 £K 2.2 1.2 589 856 233 133 UK-based 84.3 12.3 Charitable 1,469 1,880 20,281 25,532 13,424 967,903 141,603 1,148,462 6 9 6 % 37 17 23 30 15 65 25.2 24.8 27.2 19.0 25.0 3.6 61 Councils £K 1.4 Research 380 225 181 599 80.3 14.7 4,330 10,885 36,539 17,605 70,805 26,746 287,658 1,572,968 1,958,177

% 29 25 32 27 50 25 30 18 21 27.1 24.5 25.2 31.5 24.8 Funding £K 3.9 2.3 Research 322 226 193 Recurrent 80.1 13.7 1,697 7,426 7,843 1,186 42,665 14,688 76,246 44,502 266,376 1,557,933 1,945,057 £K 3.6 1.8 648 927 81.1 13.5 Total Total 5,856 3,969 1,223 29,138 24,772 58,034 Income 156,288 280,855 141,111 Research 6,351,806 1,057,304 7,831,076 ^ wr Institutions WALES Of South Univ. Wales Aberystwyth Univ. Bangor Univ. Univ. Cardiff St David UW Trinity, Swansea Univ. Met. Cardiff Glynd Wrexham U. Centre U. of Wales for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies TOTALS WALES as % of UK Wales ENGLAND England as % of UK SCOTLAND Scotland as % of UK N. IRELAND Nrn.Ireland as % of UK U.K TOTAL Annex 3: Research Income of Higher Education Institutions in Wales 2015-16 Income of Higher Education Institutions in Wales Annex 3: Research funding). HEFCE, HEFCW research recurrent except for Institutions of Higher Education 2015/16 (for all figures HESA Resources Sources: Funding consists of QR and Research funding only). Notes: Recurrent research 2015/16 (for recurrent Grant Circulars, and SFC Recurrent when needs to be exercised January 2015. Caution therefore from introduced were PGR (or equivalent). New Financial Reporting Standards rounding. subject to with those for earlier years. All figures comparing 2015/16 figures

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Annex 4: List of acronyms ABWR Advanced Boiling Water Reactor AdM The Advanced Engineering & Materials NRN (branded as Engineering Research Network Wales) AIM Advanced Imaging of Materials Facility (at Swansea University) AMR Anti-microbial Resistance BDNF Brain-derived neurotropic factor, generally known by its acronym BEP Ford Motor Company’s Bridgend Engine Plant – supporting Ford Saturday Club BIHMR Bangor Institute of Health & Medical Research BIS the former UK Department for Business, Innovation & Skills BP British Petroleum, a company now trading under these initials BrExit ‘British Exit’ portmanteau – the United Kingdom leaving the European Union BTEC Business Technology Education Council – a qualifications provider CAMS The Centre for Applied Marine Sciences (at Bangor University) CEH The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology – NERC-funded centres – one in Bangor CERN from Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire – the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (very widely known by the acronym) CPD Continuing Professional Development CREST from Creativity in Engineering, Science & Technology CS Compound Semiconductors CSC Compound Semiconductor Centre (a Cardiff University & IQE Plc joint venture) CSAD Chief Scientific Adviser’s DIvision CSAW Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales CUBRIC Cardiff University Brain Research DCF Digital Competence Framework DNA Deoxyribonucleic Acid (complex chemical transmitting genetic information) EESW Engineering Education Scheme Wales EPSRC Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council ERC European Research Council ERDF European Regional Development Fund (WEFO administered) ESF European Social Fund (WEFO administered) ESRI Energy Safety Research Institute (at Swansea University) EU European Union FRS Fellow of the Royal Society FTE Full time equivalent (used for calculating job numbers) FWCI Field-weighted Citation Index

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GCSA UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser GCSE General Certificate of Secondary Education GDP Gross Domestic Product GERD Gross (Domestic) Expenditure on R&D GM Genetically Modified GVA Gross Value Added HCRW Health & Care Research Wales HEFCW Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (known widely by its acronym) HEI(s) Higher Education Institution(s) HESA Higher Education Statistical Agency IBERS Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (at Aberystwyth University) ICS Institute for Compound Semiconductors (at Cardiff University) ICT Information & Communication Technology IEP Independent Evaluation Panel IP Intellectual Property LCEE The Low Carbon Energy & Environment NRN LSRNW The Life Sciences Research Network Wales – a NRN MoU Memorandum of Understanding MRC Medical Research Council NERC The Natural Environment Research Council NHS National Health Service NICE The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence NRN(s) National Research Network(s) NSA National Science Academy OECD The Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development PDRA(s) Post-Doctoral Research Associate PGR Post Graduate Research PhD Doctor of Philosophy – a postgraduate research degree PI Principal Investigator – the leader of a team of researchers PISA Programme for International Student Assessment PV Photovoltaic & Photovoltaics QR Quality Research R&D Research & development REF Research Excellence Framework (2014) RCUK Research Councils UK

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RRI Responsible Research & Innovation SACW Science Advisory Council for Wales SERC Sustainable Energy Research Centre (at the University of South Wales) SLAM Swansea Laboratory for Animal Movement (at Swansea University) SMEs Small & Medium Enterprises STEM Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics STEMM Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine Texas A&M Once Texas Agricultural & Mechanical College – US University, known thus UCLA University of California, Los Angeles (known widely by its acronym) UoA Unit of Assessment – an area of Research put into the REF VFAs Volatile Fatty Acids WEFO Wales European Funding Office WISE Originally for Women into Science and Engineering, now branded as the ‘WISE Campaign’

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