Are you a postgraduate researcher (PGR), or recently graduated PGR, in Wales working on topics relevant to climate change?

Do you want to show off your research to the public on a national stage?

Given the fantastic response, the submission deadline has been extended to 23:59, September 7^th, 2021!

The Low Carbon Energy and Environment Research Network Wales would like to offer you the opportunity to be part of our new video series: Small Nation, Big Ideas: Welsh science tackling climate change! Our aim is to highlight the excellent researchers based in Wales, and their contributions to addressing one of the biggest challenges facing society. The series of short films will showcase cutting-edge research being carried out in Wales. Additionally, there will be lots of opportunities for researchers working on climate-change related topics to talk to the media in the run-up to COP26, so this video series is chance to for us to put a spotlight on engaging and enthusiastic speakers. The videos will be promoted on our website, social media channels, and have the chance to become part of the Wales Climate Week exhibit, reaching a large audience of fellow researchers, policy makers and the public.

Competition entries will be judged by an expert panel, including Professor Mike Bruford from Cardiff University and Professor Julia Patricia Gordon Jones from Bangor University. There will be a £100 cash prize for 1^st place and a £50 cash prize for 2^nd place.  

You can find an example of a finished video here:

If you have a submission that you would like to be considered for the video series, please get in touch. We can work with you to produce an engaging and informative short film. We will do the video editing, adding images, logos and music where needed. What we will need from you:

• Video of you describing your research – entries must be no longer than 90 seconds, and shorter 60 second or less videos are also welcome. Please use language suitable for a public audience and focus on how the research can ultimately contribute to tackling or adapting to climate change. Please film your entry in portrait (vertical) and make sure that the video is as high quality as possible. Please also make sure that you are being lit from the front rather than behind. For best audio quality, use a well-placed microphone if you have one, or if you are filming on a smartphone, make sure that you are not too far away from the phone. Videos in the field or lab are very welcome, but please consider sound quality.
• Additional high-resolution photographs/infographics or video clips of your experiments, field set up, code or simulations, interviews with the public or whatever your research involves.  
• High-resolution logos and any acknowledgements.

We’re very interested in receiving submissions in Welsh or English (or both!)
Mae gennym ddiddordeb mawr mewn derbyn cyflwyniadau yn Gymraeg neu Saesneg (neu’r ddau!)

Once complete, will give you a MP4 of your final video to use in any way you like.

Please get in touch at nrnlcee@bangor.ac.uk to discuss your idea. We ask that you provide a link to your materials using your chosen cloud-based storage service. Note: The submission deadline for your content has been extended to 23:59, Tuesday 7^th September 2021. Entries must be from early career researchers, including those completing their masters, PhD, or those who are within 2 years since completing their PhD.

We are the Low Carbon Energy and Environment Research Network Wales. Our mission is to support Wales’ world-leading research in low carbon energy, nature-based solutions to environmental challenges, the bioeconomy, and sustainable food production. We aim to enhance and build on the excellent research capability in Wales, and to increase competitive funding secured in Wales. Our vision is of world-leading research strength, contributing innovation internationally and economic strength domestically. 

Did you know researchers in the UK can bid into the €95.5 billion Horizon Europe funding programme? Did you know there is unique training, bid development and funding support for researchers in Wales from @WelshGovernment?

The Horizon Europe Research and Innovation funding program was launched in February 2021 and the work programmes have just been published. Horizon Europe is supported with €95.5 billion EU funding plus matched funding from Associate Countries. It the successor to Horizon 2020 which delivered over €147 million to Wales. The UK is recognised as an Associate (subject to final confirmation) and researchers in the UK are confirmed to be eligible to participate.

In this interactive webinar you’ll get to learn about the upcoming funding calls linked to low carbon energy and environment topics, as well as the specific support available to researchers based in Wales.

Agenda: 60-minute webinar

• The Welsh Government Horizon Europe Engagement Team will introduce the support they provide through training, funding and bid development, as well as giving an overview of how Horizon Europe is structured, where to find information, and the draft calls that are coming up in the next 18 months.
• Prof. Carlos Garcia de Leaniz of Swansea University will give an overview of how he and his colleagues were successful in forming a consortium and winning €6m for their Horizon2020 project AMBER.
• The Low Carbon Energy and Environment Research Network Wales will discuss how they are working to serve and support researchers in Wales through networking, advocacy and lobbying.
• There will then be a 20-minute question and answer session with the experts where you can get answers to all your queries.

Register on Eventbrite:

With the end of Wales’ access to EU structural funds fast approaching, and the need to boost the economic recovery in the wake of the pandemic, investment in Welsh research has never been more important than it is now.

Universities play a vital role in developing a high-skilled workforce and providing the innovation to drive economic growth. Welsh Universities generate about £5bn a year, almost 50,000 jobs, and are important catalysts for regional development.

It is with this in mind that the Sêr Cymru Research Networks (Life Sciences, Advanced Engineering, and Low Carbon Energy and Environment) have come together to publish a joint briefing on the need for investment into the Welsh research landscape.

Today provided the networks an opportunity to discuss the briefing with Chief Scientific Advisor for Wales, Professor Peter Halligan, in a first step toward laying out a vision for the future of networking and research in Wales.

You can find the full briefing below, as well as on our resources page along with our other major policy related documents.

Briefing: The case for investment in Welsh research

Following on from Prof Julia P G Jones’ presentation at the Policy Forum for Wales event on the 14th of May, we are now excited to share the recording of Julia’s panel introduction:

Network director, Professor Jones, will be presenting at the Policy Forum for Wales event on Friday 14th of March.

Westminster Forum Projects (WFP) has its origins in the UK national Parliament, but its work now extends to policy decided in UK devolved Parliaments and Assemblies, the Oireachtas, and the European Commission and Parliament.

WFP currently offers 16 influential, impartial and cross-party forums, including the Policy Forum for Wales. The forums organise senior-level conferences on a wide range of public policy areas.

Prof Jones is due to speak at the upcoming forum conference, titled Next steps for R&D in Wales – funding, developing collaboration between Welsh HEIs, raising the international profile, and contributing to economic recovery.

This conference will examine next steps for R&D and international research partnerships in Wales.

Areas for discussion include:

• funding – including securing an equitable share for Wales of the UK government’s increased investment in R&D
• collaboration – improving joint working between universities in Wales, including in knowledge exchange as well as bids for research projects and funding
• place – ensuring that the benefits of Welsh R&D address regional and local priorities, as well as improving links between researchers, policymakers, businesses and research funders
• research skills and infrastructure – developing understanding, the evidence base, and strategies for building up assets to underpin a vibrant and effective Welsh R&D system
• COVID-19 – harnessing R&D for post-pandemic economic and social recovery in Wales
• Welsh R&D on the world stage – how visibility in the international research landscape can be grown, and next steps for international partnerships

The discussion is bringing together stakeholders with key policy officials who are due to attend from the Welsh Government; Senedd Cymru; Cadw; the IPO; the FSA; BEIS; Defra; and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory; as well as parliamentary pass-holders from the Plaid Cymru Westminster Group.

Julia’s ttttalk is titled ‘The central role of R&D in delivering a green recovery’, and will be taking a look at how research can underpin the economic recovery in Wales.

Keynote speakes include Professor Graeme Reid – Chair, Science and Research Policy, University College London and Author, Review of Government Funded Research and Innovation in Wales – and Professor Julie Lydon – Vice-Chancellor, University of South Wales and Chair, Universities Wales.

You can purchase tickets to the event and get more details at event website below:

https://www.policyforumforwales.co.uk/conference/Next-steps-for-Research-and-Development-in-Wales-2021

The network has put forward a case for showcasing leading science from across the Welsh research institutions on a global stage. You can now download the full document.

March has been off to a busy start for the network.

We would like to welcome the new network manager, Rhys Bowley, who has joined the team this month. Rhys comes from a background in product and project management, working as both part of and partner to academic research projects in engineering for most of his career.

The first output of this new phase for the network has been to submit an Expression of Interest outlining what the network would like to exhibit at the COP26 conference in Glasgow, November 2021. We want to extend our thanks for all the amazing contributions that went into the proposal, which resulted in a compelling portfolio of excellent research from across Wales. You can view and download the full document in Welsh and English using the button below.

The Sêr Cymru Low Carbon Energy and Environment Research Network Wales is back under way once more, with new funding and a new ambition.

Exciting work is underway to carry the network forward into a new phase!

The original network ran from 2013 to 2019, helping researchers leverage over £33 million of competitive funding for Welsh institutions. The network is starting up again with a new scope under the leadership of Prof Julia P. G. Jones. The second phase is being supported by Sêr Cymru II, which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, through the Welsh Government.

In a recent press release Professor Jones said “I am delighted to be leading this vitally important research network which is tackling some of the most important challenges faced by our planet. The work done during the first phase shows how world-leading environmental science here in Wales is, and I’m looking forward to working closely with partner universities, the Welsh Government and other stakeholders in taking the network forward.”

You can read the full press release here.

Starting up today on March 1st 2021, is an excellent time to turn our attention to the major events coming up in year. With only a few days between the network restarting and the deadline for submissions, the first action of this new phase will be to submit an Expression of Interest outlining what the network would like to exhibit at the COP26 conference in Glasgow, November 2021. Deadlines for EOIs are March 5th, with responses due in May.