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

Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir leaders have been talking about their pride at performing in front of USA Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The Llanelli choristers were picked to perform at the closing event for Mrs Clinton’s visit to Swansea University. Mrs Clinton was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws in recognition of her commitment to promoting the rights of families and children around the world. Côr Meibion Llanelli secretary Fred Elias said: “We knew about Mrs Clinton’s visit a couple of months ago, but it was all hush-hush for security reasons. “But we sort of put two and to together when we were asked to rehearse The Star Spangled Banner, the American anthem we were already very familiar with from our tours to North Amercia. “Then, when Mrs Clinton’s visit was officially announced, we had to go through stringent security protocols, including getting our own special photographic ID tags for the occasion. “Most of the events for Mrs Cli...

Latest news from Swansea Bay Business Club -  May Lunch with Professor Iwan Davies Join us for lunch on Friday 15th May, where we will be joined by Professor Iwan Davies from Swansea University. Professor Davies is the Pro-Vice Chancellor leading on the University's Internationalisation Strategy and also on the development and delivery of Swansea University's new £450m Science and Innovation Campus. His in-depth knowledge and vision for the future of Swansea will make for a very interesting lunch for the business community of Swansea Bay. Taking place at Liberty Stadium, Swansea the event includes a two-course lunch followed by tea and coffee. The event will start at 12.15. Tickets cost £25 per member (£27.50 per non-member). On-site parking is free of charge. For more information or to book, click here . Upcoming Events June Lunch with Ann Widdecombe. 26th June 2015. Click here for more information or to book. July Lunch with Colin Owens, Oil4Wales 17th...

Members of Llanelli Rotary Club will be learning more about the Basque Country region of Spain at their weekly meeting at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli, on Wednesday night (April 22), The guest speaker will be Dr Claire H. Firth, from the Centre for Migration Policy Research (CMPR) at Swansea University. Dr Claire Firth was a Senior lecturer in English, American and Canadian Literature at the University of Deusto, Bilbao, in the Basque Country. She was also a Visiting Scholar at the Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women at Brown University in Rhode Island for six years. She retired from teaching in 2011, but is currently an Honorary Research Associate at the University of Swansea where she is continuing to do research in literature, migration and exile. She is currently working on a book, Landscapes of exile, dislocation and loss, which reflects her interest in the way dislocated people often lose touch with the landscape. Many migrants or people in exil...

Professor John Gammon has been appointed to the post of Independent Member (University) for a period of three years with Hywel Dda University Health Board. Professor Gammon is currently the Deputy Head of the College of Human and Health Sciences at Swansea University, with the specific responsibility for managing strategic developments in relation to engagement, innovation and collaboration with key stakeholders. His research and teaching relates to Healthcare Management, Governance, HR and Infection Prevention and Control. He has significant experience in higher education, now at University Executive level and has had previous public Board experience, with more recent executive experience in a commercial context. He has considerable experience in working to influence and develop healthcare education and health policy with national and international health governments, and working with international healthcare companies advising on medical devices and associated healthcare produ...

A prestigious European Commission RegioStars Award 2014 has been won by the BEACON Biorefining Centre of Excellence, an innovative Welsh research partnership dedicated to developing industrial products from plants to reduce reliance on fossil-based resources such as coal and gas. BEACON is a Welsh Government EU funded collaboration between Aberystwyth, Bangor and Swansea universities. The BEACON team received their award at a glittering awards ceremony in Brussels. Researchers at BEACON work with industry, including small and medium sized enterprises, to develop renewable materials, fuels and chemicals as well as modified and new environmental and economically sustainable processes. Led by Aberystwyth University’s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), BEACON was one of 4 projects to be shortlisted in the “Sustainable growth: Green growth and jobs through Bio-economy” category. The other three were Ecoponto em casa from Portugal, ORGANEXT from Belgium, Ge...

High hopes for LoCooker as launch date looms for device - Business News - Business - WalesOnline A Llanelli-based company is about to launch an energy- efficient electric cooking appliance set to revolutionise the catering industry. Clyne Energy, a company set up by Ken Board, emeritus professor at Swansea University’s school of engineering, and his son Alun secured funding to develop commercial prototypes of its LoCooker appliance which will start production later this year. The LoCooker is designed for the growing sous vide market, a technique that involves cooking food in a vacuum sealed bag placed in a water bath at below boiling point but has applications beyond in general cooking. Clyne Energy has been successful in obtaining a significant investment having secured research and development funding from the Welsh Government as well as investment from private investors.

BBC News - Swansea University puts up toilet instruction posters Posters have gone up around a university campus instructing students on how to use the toilet properly. Swansea University says it has produced them to help address cultural differences. The posters include images showing students what they should and should not do. Some students have called them ridiculous but others say they are a good idea to help keep the toilets clean and hygienic.