A Connected Wales
The Learned Society of Wales’ Early Career Researcher Network held the 2024 Colloquium at Bangor University on the 18th June 2024. The Colloquium brought together researchers from across Wales and a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds for an exciting day of networking and knowledge exchange.
The annual Colloquium is the focal point of our Network, established to strengthen the research culture in Wales and support future generations of researchers to grow their research talent. The programme of activities, which included training, networking and practical experience, was co-developed with our Advisory Group for Researcher Development and a committee of research ambassadors from across the Welsh universities. We chose the theme ‘A Connected Wales’ for the Colloquium to reflect our commitment to building a cohesive and interdisciplinary research network in Wales and to connect researchers with policy and practice.
Olivia Harrison, Chief Executive of the Learned Society of Wales commented that the Colloquium theme demonstrates a “commitment to collaboration, which is central to making Wales a great place to do research” and that the Colloquium gives researchers “the chance to showcase their work at an event designed for them, and just as importantly, shaped by them.”
Programme Highlights
The Colloquium is a platform for researchers to showcase their work, build connections with fellow researchers from across Wales and receive tailored training on topics of importance such as grant-writing, research methods and research impact.
Highlights from the Colloquium 2024 programme included:
- Professor Enlli Thomas’ (FLSW) keynote speech titled ‘Survive and thrive: the steps to research success’
- Researcher-led workshops (run by Network members Dr Menna Brown, Dr Felicity Healey-Benson, and Dr Tegan Brierley-Sollis).
- Flash-talks presented by researchers on how their research can improve understanding of the goals of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. Sessions included ‘A More Equal Wales’, ‘A Prosperous Wales’, ‘A Healthier Wales’ and ‘A Resilient Wales’.
- Research posters showcasing the important and diverse research work being carried out in Wales.
- Exhibition stands from Coleg Cymraeg, Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) and The British Academy Early Career Researcher Network.
- A panel discussion on writing successful grant applications, chaired by Professor Martina Feilzer FLSW (Bangor University). Panellists included: Professor Shelagh Malham (Bangor University), Professor Simon Hands FLSW (Liverpool University), Dominic Parkes (Swansea University), Dr Christie Smith (Bangor University), Dr Fiona Dakin (Learned Society of Wales, previously UKRI) and Shreya Choudhury (British Academy).
Research Poster Competition
The Colloquium hosted a poster competition, sponsored by the British Academy Early Career Researchers Network. The posters were judged by Professor Raluca Radulescu FLSW (Bangor University), Professor Yueng-Djern Lenn FLSW (Bangor University), and Isis Menteth-Wheelwright (British Academy).
The winning posters were:
- Dr Giulia Bovolenta, Bangor University, ‘How do we use memory when learning a foreign language?’
- Dr Lucy Perry, Swansea University, ‘Exploring Perceptions of Air Pollution in Wales: A Pilot Survey Study’
- Ellis Evan Jones, Cardiff University, ‘Discovering New Treatments for Neurological Diseases Using Biophysical and Crystallographic Methods’
Acknowledgements
The Learned Society of Wales would like to thank everyone who helped to make the Colloquium a success; including Bangor University and staff, the Colloquium Committee and Advisory group members, and everyone who attended the event and presented during the day.
If you have any questions about the ECR Colloquium or if you are interested in being part of our Colloquium Committee for 2025, please email us at researcherdevelopment@lsw.wales.ac.uk.
