Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

The UK’s leading computing conference dedicated to encouraging more female students to enter the world of computing and IT will celebrate its 10th anniversary at Aberystwyth University in April 2017. The BCSWomen Lovelace Colloquium is the brainchild of Dr Hannah Dee, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Computer Science at Aberystwyth University. This year’s conference takes place on Wednesday 12 April, with events planned for the previous evening and the following day. Named after the mathematician Ada, Countess of Lovelace, who is known as the world’s first computer programmer, the one-day conference brings together women students, senior women in technology and employers. This year’s conference keynote address will be given by Dr Sue Black OBE, founder of BCSWomen and founder and CEO of TechMums, a social enterprise that provides technical training for mothers in deprived areas. Other confirmed speakers include Milka Horozova from Google and Carrie Anne Philbin, Director of E...

Two pupils from Ysgol Gyfun Dyffryn Tâf are helping to prove the old saying ‘you’re never too old to learn’ having joined forces with clients at a Sheltered Housing complex in Whitland to help them improve their computer skills. The project is being supported by the Cryfhau Cymunedau (Strengthening Communities) project, part of RDP Sir Gâr’s  Innovative Hubs scheme*, which works with rural communities in Carmarthenshire supporting them to make a real difference within their locality. The aim of the project is to identify and support community mentors to lead groups and individuals to achieve positive change where they live. Cryfhau Cymunedau’s project officer David Saywell, Vivienne Morris (former Mayoress of Whitland) and Val Wood Gaiger from Learn with Grandma established a group to develop a number of activities in Whitland, one of which was the IT sessions. Mark Ford, Deputy Headmaster of Ysgol Gyfun Dyffryn Tâf, arranged for Ben Howarth and Ben Bubb to visit St Davids Ave...