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WelshCrucible<br />
CrwsiblCymru<br />
Developing future research leaders for Wales<br />
A Review of Welsh Crucible 2011
A Review of Welsh Crucible 2011<br />
A Review of Welsh Crucible 2011<br />
‘HEFCW is delighted<br />
to support this<br />
innovative and<br />
important initiative.<br />
Welsh Crucible is<br />
performing a valuable<br />
role in promoting a<br />
culture of crossdisciplinary<br />
and<br />
cross-institutional<br />
working among early to mid career<br />
researchers in Wales, which is increasingly<br />
essential for high quality research<br />
performance. We have been very<br />
encouraged by Welsh Crucible’s<br />
achievements to date, and by the obvious<br />
enthusiasm of the participants, and we look<br />
forward to its continued success.’<br />
Dr David Blaney<br />
Chief Executive, Higher Education Funding<br />
Council for Wales<br />
Welsh Crucible was developed from the ‘Crucible’ programme devised by the<br />
National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts'<br />
01
A Review of Welsh Crucible 2011<br />
‘Welsh Crucible<br />
provides a unique<br />
career enhancing<br />
programme for early<br />
career researchers<br />
across Wales. Unlike<br />
more traditional<br />
courses, the ultimate<br />
success of the<br />
programme will be<br />
measured by the<br />
number of innovative<br />
collaborations and<br />
partnerships, many of<br />
which are already<br />
beginning to emerge<br />
between researcher.’<br />
Professor Peter<br />
Halligan<br />
Academic Lead,<br />
Welsh Crucible and<br />
Dean Interdisciplinary<br />
Studies at Cardiff<br />
University<br />
02<br />
What is Welsh Crucible?<br />
Welsh Crucible is a programme of<br />
personal, professional and leadership<br />
development for the future research<br />
leaders of Wales. Funded by the St David’s<br />
Day Group 1 of research universities and the<br />
Higher Education Funding Council for<br />
Wales, Welsh Crucible offers the<br />
opportunity for all researchers in Wales to<br />
explore how they can work across<br />
institutional and disciplinary boundaries to<br />
tackle the research challenges that Wales<br />
currently faces. Welsh Crucible aims to<br />
build a network of talented researchers<br />
who are committed to supporting the<br />
development of research-inspired<br />
collaborative innovation.<br />
Enhancing the original 2007 ‘Crucible’<br />
programme developed by the National<br />
Endowment for Science, Technology and the<br />
Arts, Welsh Crucible has helped participants<br />
to discover:<br />
• how researchers in other disciplines are<br />
tackling similar issues;<br />
• how they can transfer their knowledge to<br />
the public sphere and make an impact;<br />
• the skills and attitudes likely to make their<br />
research more innovative and engaging;<br />
• how thinking creatively and openly can<br />
make a difference to their own work and<br />
career development.<br />
Why is Welsh Crucible<br />
Important?<br />
One of the key ambitions of the Welsh<br />
Government is to build a strong and dynamic<br />
science base that supports the economic and<br />
national development of Wales, including<br />
improving the health and well-being of the<br />
Welsh population. The role of universities in<br />
Wales remains pivotal, being one of the few<br />
indigenous engines of research and innovation<br />
of any significant scale. The Welsh Crucible<br />
programme demonstrates the St David’s Day<br />
Group’s commitment to the development of a<br />
dynamic research economy for Wales through<br />
research-inspired innovation and crossinstitutional<br />
collaboration. As such, it aligns<br />
with the research strategies of partner<br />
institutions and, crucially, provides evidence<br />
of the commitment to building research<br />
capacity in Wales.<br />
Vivienne Parry<br />
Science Writer and Broadcaster,<br />
Welsh Crucible Facilitator<br />
Welsh Crucible:<br />
2011’s Participants<br />
‘Sparky, engaging and<br />
clearly going places<br />
was my first<br />
impression of those on<br />
the Welsh Crucible<br />
programme. It made<br />
for an exhilarating<br />
couple of days.’<br />
Each Welsh Crucible programme brings<br />
together thirty researchers from different<br />
disciplines and organisations across Wales.<br />
These researchers are at an early to mid<br />
point in their research careers. Demand for<br />
places is high, with the programme receiving<br />
80 applications for 30 places in its launch<br />
year.<br />
2011’s successful applicants came from the<br />
Universities of Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff,<br />
Glamorgan, Swansea and Cedar, an NHS<br />
evaluation centre. All were selected on the<br />
basis of their excellence in research and<br />
interest in interdisciplinary research.<br />
Successful applicants also demonstrated a<br />
commitment to thinking collaboratively about<br />
the impact of their work and to<br />
communicating their research beyond the<br />
academy.<br />
The research interests of the first Welsh<br />
Crucible cohort were wide ranging, although<br />
each of them worked in an area that is aligned<br />
with the Welsh Government’s research priority<br />
areas. The group’s interests within these<br />
thematic areas are many and varied:<br />
1 The St David’s Day Group is made up of Aberystwyth University, Bangor University, Cardiff University, the University of<br />
Glamorgan and Swansea University
A Review of Welsh Crucible 2011<br />
Research Interests of the 2011 Welsh Crucible Participants<br />
What Makes the Welsh<br />
Crucible Programme<br />
Special?<br />
Welsh Crucible comprises three two-day<br />
residential events called ‘Labs’. The Labs<br />
combine skills enhancement, lectures, group<br />
exercises, and self-discovery. They are all<br />
designed to introduce participants to new<br />
ways of thinking and working, with the aim of<br />
creating long-term changes in attitude and<br />
working practice, as well as encouraging<br />
practical collaborations between<br />
participants. Overall, the Labs are about<br />
creating an environment conducive to the<br />
development of innovative individuals,<br />
allowing them to cultivate their ideas,<br />
particularly in collaboration with others and<br />
across disciplines. They are also about<br />
developing a network of peers within the<br />
research community to fuel potential<br />
interdisciplinary working, to learn about<br />
different areas of research, and to encourage<br />
personal and career development. A key<br />
differentiator from other development<br />
programmes is the inclusion of “space”<br />
between Labs. This allows participants to<br />
return to their research environment to reflect<br />
on what they’ve learned, and apply their new<br />
ideas or style of working, while they are still<br />
on the programme. As well as allowing time<br />
for these crucial changes to become<br />
embedded in day-to-day activity, meeting<br />
three times over an extended period also<br />
encourages the development of more<br />
enduring and normalised relationships<br />
between participants and facilitates the<br />
formation of a longer-term network.<br />
‘Welsh Crucible<br />
has an important<br />
role in providing<br />
support for<br />
research at Welsh<br />
universities,<br />
demonstrating the<br />
commitment of<br />
institutions within<br />
the St David’s Day<br />
Group to research-inspired collaborative<br />
innovation. It provides an invaluable<br />
opportunity for researchers to meet and<br />
engage with each other, learning more<br />
about how they can make a real impact on<br />
the well-being of Wales. It helps us to<br />
develop the research leaders of tomorrow.’<br />
Professor Ian Cluckie<br />
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Science and<br />
Engineering)<br />
Swansea University<br />
‘It was really<br />
inspirational to be<br />
involved in the Welsh<br />
Crucible programme<br />
and to be amongst<br />
such dedicated and<br />
passionate people.<br />
Reading a selection<br />
of their biogs seemed<br />
like reading the future<br />
'Who's who' of<br />
movers and shakers<br />
in Wales.’<br />
Wendy Sadler<br />
Director, science<br />
made simple<br />
‘By leading us through<br />
a range of tasks and<br />
exposing us to<br />
different methods of<br />
working through the<br />
various guest lectures,<br />
the group of initial<br />
strangers was brought<br />
together and a<br />
number of awesome<br />
ideas started to<br />
develop. By the end<br />
of the three sessions,<br />
both new friendships<br />
and many new<br />
collaborations had<br />
been established,<br />
which are still ongoing.’<br />
Dr Anna Croft<br />
Bangor University<br />
(Chemistry)<br />
03
A Review of Welsh Crucible 2011<br />
‘Whilst most<br />
Universities offer<br />
comprehensive<br />
support and<br />
development<br />
opportunities for their<br />
researchers, Welsh<br />
Crucible has provided<br />
researchers with the<br />
chance to meet with<br />
peers from different<br />
disciplines and from<br />
different institutions.<br />
Their horizons have<br />
been broadened and<br />
the networks they<br />
have formed provide<br />
a sustainable and<br />
tangible benefit from<br />
their participation.’<br />
Professor Clive<br />
Mulholland<br />
Deputy Vice-<br />
Chancellor University<br />
of Glamorgan<br />
‘The experience that I<br />
gained during the first<br />
Welsh Crucible has<br />
helped me to enhance<br />
my CV, enabling me to<br />
secure further funding,<br />
such as The Philip<br />
Leverhulme Prize, in<br />
new areas of<br />
interdisciplinary<br />
research.’<br />
Dr Antonio Gil<br />
Swansea University<br />
(Engineering)<br />
04<br />
Welsh Crucible Labs 2011<br />
The first Lab, which<br />
focused on ‘looking<br />
outwards’, was<br />
facilitated by<br />
Vivienne Parry, the<br />
science writer and<br />
broadcaster. It<br />
covered topics such<br />
as public<br />
engagement, media<br />
engagement and<br />
engaging with policy and policy makers.<br />
Speakers included the Chief Scientific<br />
Adviser for Wales and the Business<br />
Development Editor for Media Wales.<br />
A month after this first event the thirty Welsh<br />
Crucible participants were reunited for the<br />
second Lab. This event focused on<br />
collaboration and building research<br />
networks, with the group working together to<br />
examine the grand challenges currently<br />
faced by researchers in Wales, as well as<br />
looking at different ways of popularising<br />
academic research.<br />
At the final Lab, one month later, participants<br />
explored ways of improving their creativity<br />
and enterprise skills and met with<br />
entrepreneurs based in Wales. They were<br />
also encouraged to develop the<br />
interdisciplinary research ideas that started<br />
to emerge at the first two Labs.<br />
Formal participant feedback about the Labs<br />
has been overwhelmingly positive. Of the<br />
73% who responded to the post-programme<br />
feedback questionnaire, all considered that<br />
the structure of the programme was<br />
good/very good and agreed/strongly agreed<br />
that the programme had both facilitated the<br />
development of relationships between<br />
participants and provided them with a new<br />
perspective on their work.<br />
Participants Summarise their Experience of Welsh Crucible 2011
A Review of Welsh Crucible 2011<br />
Welsh Crucible:<br />
Making a Difference<br />
1. Changing Attitudes<br />
Welsh Crucible encourages researchers to<br />
think more creatively about their research<br />
and their careers, and is designed to foster<br />
collaboration across traditional disciplinary<br />
boundaries.<br />
An independent study of the outcomes of<br />
Welsh Crucible on participants’ perceptions<br />
showed that overall, the 2011 cohort showed<br />
a marked improvement across a wide range<br />
of measures of skills and attitudes related to<br />
collaboration and innovation. 72% of<br />
participants showed overall improvements<br />
and positive improvements in terms of their<br />
perceptions of their own skills, behaviours<br />
and aptitudes in these areas. The report’s<br />
authors commented:<br />
‘Indeed, when compared with the benchmarks<br />
set by NESTA’s Crucible 2009, Welsh Crucible<br />
2011 seems to have been more effective in<br />
terms of creating improvements for<br />
participants.’<br />
Professor Cathy Pharoah & Dr Robin Pharoah;<br />
‘Welsh Crucible 2011: CREST Evaluation<br />
Scores’<br />
2. Building Interdisciplinary Networks<br />
One of the tangible outcomes of the<br />
2011/2012 programmes is the formation of a<br />
cross-institutional, multi-disciplinary network<br />
of 60 outward-looking researchers. This<br />
network has expertise in a wide range of<br />
areas, connections to the Welsh media and<br />
Welsh Government, and a strong<br />
commitment to interdisciplinary innovation.<br />
The Welsh Crucible programme helps create<br />
a strong sense of shared identity amongst<br />
participants. This shared identity is built<br />
upon participants’ experience of taking part<br />
in something which is intensive, exciting and<br />
potentially risky. This sense of being part of<br />
a group readily translates into an<br />
interdisciplinary network that has an<br />
“afterlife“ beyond the formal Lab<br />
programmes. Much of this activity takes the<br />
form of electronic communication, with the<br />
researchers discussing practicalities,<br />
projects and ideas over email and in an<br />
online workspace, as well as through social<br />
media such as Twitter and Facebook. Some<br />
of the collaborative projects that have<br />
developed between participants are a direct<br />
result of networking outside of the Labs.<br />
3. Forging Productive Collaborations<br />
Exciting research collaborations have already<br />
begun to emerge from the Welsh Crucible<br />
network, including:<br />
The Role of the St David’s Day Group of<br />
Universities in the Future of Community<br />
and Regional Regeneration in Wales<br />
Dr Rhys Pullin, Cardiff University; Dr Martin<br />
O'Neill, Cardiff University; Dr Hannah Dee,<br />
Aberystwyth University; Dr Anna Croft,<br />
Bangor University; Dr Martina Lahmann,<br />
Bangor University<br />
This initiative brought together<br />
representatives from engineering, computer<br />
science, chemistry and social science from<br />
the Universities of Bangor, Aberystwyth<br />
and Cardiff, to explore how the university<br />
might take a more proactive role in various<br />
social and economic regeneration<br />
initiatives, such as Communities First. Two<br />
seminars were organised, one in the north,<br />
in Bangor, and the other in the south, in<br />
Cardiff. Representatives from community<br />
groups, government organisations and the<br />
universities worked together at these proactive<br />
workshops to explore innovative<br />
approaches to developing university<br />
community engagement. The workshops<br />
were well attended and the feedback was<br />
very positive.<br />
This research has shown that there is a<br />
need to develop the discourse between the<br />
university sector and outside agencies so<br />
that the Higher Education sector can fully<br />
contribute to on-going development and<br />
regeneration in Wales. Furthermore, the<br />
project found that Welsh universities need<br />
more clearly identified access-points to<br />
support community and industry, and that<br />
research programmes could have a greater<br />
focus on impact in the community.<br />
‘Thanks to the<br />
Crucible I’ve spoken<br />
in depth to<br />
researchers working<br />
in areas I’d never<br />
even considered<br />
before, which has in<br />
itself changed the<br />
way I look at my own<br />
work. I’m also more<br />
aware of the social<br />
and political context<br />
of research, and I’ve<br />
got a lot more<br />
confidence when it<br />
comes to “going for<br />
it”. I think a lot of the<br />
best work happens<br />
on the boundaries<br />
between traditional<br />
disciplines, and the<br />
Crucible helps to<br />
develop an<br />
understanding of the<br />
many ways we can<br />
work on these<br />
disciplinary<br />
interfaces.’<br />
Dr Hannah Dee<br />
Aberystwyth<br />
University<br />
(Computer Science)<br />
05
A Review of Welsh Crucible 2011<br />
‘I gained a great deal<br />
from hearing different<br />
perspectives on<br />
academic research,<br />
planning, and<br />
leadership. And I<br />
learned a thing or two<br />
from the excellent<br />
speakers in relation to<br />
research and the<br />
media, gaining access<br />
to policymakers, and<br />
how to lead<br />
collaborative research<br />
projects professionally<br />
and fruitfully.’<br />
Dr Martin Willis<br />
University of Glamorgan<br />
(English Literature)<br />
‘The Welsh Crucible<br />
does what it says on<br />
the tin. It is certainly a<br />
place characterised by<br />
the confluence of<br />
powerful intellectual,<br />
social, economic and<br />
political forces. The<br />
crucible provides<br />
unique networking<br />
forum to share ideas<br />
and grow success,<br />
raising the bar for the<br />
research community<br />
within Wales.’<br />
Professor Martin Jones<br />
PVC Research,<br />
Enterprise and<br />
Engagement<br />
Aberystwyth University<br />
06<br />
Digital Dieters:<br />
an “App” for Activity levels<br />
Dr Martin O’Neill, Cardiff University; Dr<br />
Parisa Eslambolchilar, Swansea University;<br />
Mr Gerald Powell, 3Gs Development Trust,<br />
Merthyr Tydfil<br />
This research brought together a social<br />
scientist and a computer scientist with the<br />
aim of exploring how a “smart” phone<br />
application (app) could be used to<br />
encourage people from an area with above<br />
average levels of obesity to increase their<br />
levels of exercise. The initiative provided an<br />
environment where participants would both<br />
have the social support of friends and<br />
mentors to adopt a healthier lifestyle, as one<br />
would associate with groups like “Weight<br />
Watchers”, but also where the “app” could<br />
be used both to monitor activity levels and<br />
improve group cohesion and interaction.<br />
The group was provided with “smart” phones<br />
which contained the app. At the end of the<br />
research, people indicated that they felt that<br />
the whole initiative was a great success, with<br />
some reporting weight loss of up to 28lb over<br />
a twelve week period. Although the group<br />
reported that the app did not satisfy all of<br />
their requirements and asked if it could be<br />
“tweaked”, they used the technology<br />
provided to identify and obtain other apps to<br />
augment what was provided. The group has<br />
requested that the research team continues<br />
to work with them to develop further<br />
initiatives aimed at improving their life-styles.<br />
The success of this initiative will be used to<br />
support additional research which seeks to<br />
use mobile technology for both data<br />
gathering in social research and also to<br />
support initiatives to address the “digital<br />
divide”.<br />
Developing the Sustainable Laboratory –<br />
Waste<br />
Dr Paul Brennan, Cardiff University; Dr<br />
Adam Charlton, Bangor University; Dr<br />
Leanne Cullen-Unsworth, Cardiff<br />
University; Dr Clive Gregory, Cardiff<br />
University; Dr Michael Harbottle, Cardiff<br />
University; Dr Elaine Jensen, Aberystwyth<br />
University; Dr Yingli Wang, Cardiff<br />
University; Dr Lorraine Whitmarsh, Cardiff<br />
University<br />
Laboratories in Wales generate a lot of<br />
waste. The project team estimates that a<br />
department of 50 people generates in<br />
excess of ten tonnes of waste each year.<br />
This is either incinerated or ends up as<br />
landfill. Whilst packaging is often recycled,<br />
the majority of items used in the laboratory<br />
are not. This project was initiated to<br />
investigate ways in which this dynamic can<br />
be changed.<br />
The key conclusions of the project are:<br />
• High level leadership is required. This<br />
could be achieved and promoted by<br />
making sustainability a key<br />
performance indicator for senior<br />
management and devolving waste and<br />
energy budgets.<br />
• Replacing polystyrene weigh boats<br />
with a plant based material is possible<br />
but requires a cost/environment<br />
benefit analysis and feasibility study.<br />
• Laboratory staff are probably more<br />
committed to recycling than their<br />
institutions as a whole. Increased<br />
awareness of potential pathways of<br />
recycled products could promote<br />
participation. Providing more facilities<br />
and training would improve recycling.<br />
• Waste from laboratories can be<br />
recycled, although safety issues need<br />
to be understood. Furthermore, waste<br />
from laboratories should be regarded<br />
as a valuable asset, especially high<br />
grade recyclable plastic that is wasted<br />
through incineration.
A Review of Welsh Crucible 2011<br />
Exploring the Concept of a ‘Floating’<br />
Market: the Link Between Diet, Health<br />
and Health Inequalities<br />
Dr Yingli Wang, Cardiff University; Dr<br />
Martin O'Neill, Cardiff University<br />
This project brought together a business<br />
analyst and a social scientist to explore if<br />
new ways of shopping could be developed<br />
to improve access to healthier food in poor<br />
communities, which they referred to as<br />
“floating markets”. The research was<br />
conducted in three very different<br />
communities in South Wales, one rural; one<br />
post-industrial; and one inner-city multiethnic<br />
area. The research found that rather<br />
than simply being about getting access to<br />
provisions that, particularly in poor<br />
communities, people looked to the<br />
shopping experience to provide social<br />
interaction; choice/price; ease of delivery.<br />
The research found that where and how<br />
people shopped is a key part of social<br />
identity and that if any public health<br />
interventions failed to address the social<br />
needs that are provided through the<br />
shopping experience they will not be<br />
accepted.<br />
Development of a New Sustainable<br />
Elastomeric Energy Harvester for Marine<br />
Environments<br />
Dr Antonio Gil, Swansea University; Dr<br />
Rhys Pullin, Cardiff University; Dr Lijie Li,<br />
Swansea University; Dr Raoul van Loon,<br />
Swansea University; Dr Simon Neill,<br />
Bangor University; Dr Jan Geert Hiddink,<br />
Bangor University<br />
The development of new sustainable and<br />
renewable energy extraction technology is<br />
not a desire, but a must, in this rapidly<br />
evolving world that is increasingly<br />
governed by climate change<br />
considerations. Over the last decade,<br />
important developments in energy<br />
harvesting technology have been<br />
accomplished as a result of the advent of<br />
wireless sensor technology and actuators<br />
for moving mechanical systems. The main<br />
principle underpinning this technology is<br />
the efficient transformation of mechanical<br />
deformation, induced by vibration or<br />
external loading, into electrical energy for<br />
power scavenging applications. The main<br />
aim of this research project is the<br />
development of a realistic feasibility study<br />
for a new elastomeric energy harvester<br />
which will be designed, analysed,<br />
optimised and tested for a marine<br />
environment. It is expected that the new<br />
design could result in the emergence of a<br />
new device for power scavenging<br />
applications which could be patented in<br />
the medium-long term once an in-depth<br />
research study has been carried out, as<br />
part of a follow-up research project.<br />
Simulating the impacts of climate<br />
change on the coastal zone: putting the<br />
end-user in the driving seat<br />
Dr Simon Neill, Bangor University; Dr Ian<br />
Grimstead, Cardiff University<br />
The aim of this project was to develop an<br />
iPad application which will enable nonexperts<br />
to understand the consequences<br />
of climate change in the coastal zone. This<br />
was achieved through the interaction of the<br />
user with model datasets generated by<br />
state-of-the-art oceanographic models run<br />
on high performance computers. The app<br />
can handle a wide range of model variables<br />
and data formats, covering both ocean<br />
basin and coastal scales, and temporal<br />
datasets. Although the app is not yet fully<br />
ready for release, continuity of the project<br />
has already been secured through HPC<br />
Wales / Fujitsu and EPSRC funding. During<br />
the next phase of development, the source<br />
code of the app will be shared with other<br />
interested environmental modellers,<br />
increasing the impact of the study. The<br />
long term goal of such research is to allow<br />
policy makers to fully interact with and run<br />
their own model simulations, a goal which<br />
we accept may be many years away.<br />
‘It has been<br />
enormously helpful to<br />
build links with<br />
researchers in<br />
academia, as many<br />
of our interests are<br />
complementary.<br />
Welsh Crucible<br />
helped me to<br />
broaden my network.<br />
I would definitely<br />
recommend it to<br />
anyone working in<br />
research outside of<br />
the higher education<br />
sector. Prior to<br />
participating in the<br />
programme I thought<br />
of myself as a<br />
Medical Physicist<br />
who did a bit of<br />
research; above all,<br />
Welsh Crucible has<br />
made me think of<br />
myself as a<br />
researcher.’<br />
Dr Grace Carolan-<br />
Rees<br />
Director, Cedar<br />
(Medical Physics)<br />
07
A Review of Welsh Crucible 2011<br />
‘The 2011 Welsh<br />
Crucible team<br />
brought together a<br />
diverse group of<br />
minds from across<br />
Wales to develop<br />
team working skills<br />
and help create new<br />
cross-disciplinary<br />
relationships, to fuel<br />
innovation. The<br />
participants have<br />
pulled together to<br />
produce some<br />
superbly creative<br />
work, which looks to<br />
tackle real issues in<br />
our society and<br />
environment with the<br />
kind of novel ideas<br />
that come from<br />
collaborative left-brain<br />
& right-brain thinking.’<br />
Dr Dan Palmer<br />
Chief Science Officer<br />
Q Chip<br />
08<br />
Towards the Next Generation Devices<br />
for Real-time Monitoring and Drug<br />
Delivery in the Gastro-intestinal System<br />
Dr Raoul van Loon, Swansea University;<br />
Dr Lijie Li, Swansea University; Dr Parisa<br />
Eslambolchilar, Swansea University; Dr<br />
Antonio J. Gil, Swansea University; Dr<br />
Grace Carolan-Rees, Cedar; Proessor<br />
John Williams Singleton Hospital and<br />
Swansea University<br />
The human digestive system, and in<br />
particular the small intestine, is relatively<br />
inaccessible to being probed with diagnostic<br />
sensors. As a result, the knowledge of the<br />
causes, diagnosis and treatment of disorders<br />
like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or Crohn’s<br />
disease is restricted. Current practice shows<br />
that measurements of temperature and<br />
acidity in the digestive system can be good<br />
markers to identify complications like ulcers<br />
or inflammations and companies are<br />
developing so-called “smart pills”, which are<br />
wireless capsules that will travel through the<br />
intestinal system and take measurements on<br />
the way. This work aims to take the “smart<br />
pill” idea to another level by adding pressure<br />
measurements to the mix by combining<br />
state-of-the-art knowledge in<br />
nanotechnology, computational modelling<br />
and portable devices.<br />
Hence, the objective of this research is to<br />
design a technical framework for the<br />
development of a smart pill sensor that can<br />
analyse the physiological function of the<br />
digestive system in more detail. Crucially,<br />
the pills will be made smarter by performing<br />
the analysis of mechanical signals with the<br />
help of cutting-edge mathematical models.<br />
These models will allow for a physics-based<br />
analysis of measurement data, which<br />
should lead to a better understanding of the<br />
physiology and enhanced diagnostics. This<br />
new modelling approach will be embedded<br />
within a newly designed piece of software<br />
on a portable device (e.g. iPad), which has<br />
instant communication with the sensors in<br />
the smart pill. Instant transmission of data<br />
will allow for real-time monitoring of the<br />
patient (e.g. at home) or even real-time<br />
intervention (e.g. local drug delivery).<br />
It is envisaged that a patient takes a<br />
capsule containing multiple sensors, which<br />
will travel through the entire digestive<br />
system. Depending on the disease, the<br />
sensors will be designed to detect<br />
temperature, acidity, pressure, motion,<br />
blood, specific proteins or chemical<br />
markers. These sensors will send data to<br />
the portable device, which will be filtered<br />
and analysed based on state-of-the-art<br />
computer models. Finally, while the sensor<br />
is still inside, the results are displayed on a<br />
graphical interface that is easy to interpret<br />
for both clinician and patient.<br />
My GENE Code: Public Engagement in<br />
Molecular Biology<br />
Dr Tatiana Tatrinova, Univeristy of<br />
Glamorgan; Dr Eric Tippmann, Cardiff<br />
University; Dr Yingli Wang, Cardiff<br />
University; Dr Natasha de Vere, National<br />
Botanic Garden of Wales<br />
This project is designed to engage<br />
widespread interest in everything “generelated”<br />
through the development of a<br />
resource that combines science,<br />
entertainment and public outreach.<br />
4. Public Engagement<br />
Welsh Crucible provides a high profile vehicle<br />
for publicising and demonstrating to the<br />
public the contribution that Welsh research<br />
makes. Between July 2011 and March 2012<br />
this unique programme featured 30 articles<br />
as part of a Western Mail series that<br />
showcased the exciting research being done<br />
in St David’s Day Group universities and<br />
beyond to make Wales a healthier, safer and<br />
stronger economy. By highlighting the range<br />
and diversity of the work being done across<br />
Wales, Welsh Crucible has also<br />
demonstrated the higher education sector’s<br />
responsiveness and commitment to the<br />
Welsh Government priorities outlined in For<br />
Our Future and the more recent science<br />
strategy (Science for Wales).
A Review of Welsh Crucible 2011<br />
‘Brilliant<br />
researchers are<br />
not necessarily<br />
brilliant<br />
communicators<br />
but it is vitally<br />
important that<br />
their often groundbreaking<br />
research<br />
reaches as wide<br />
an audience as possible and at a level that<br />
most people can understand.<br />
For that reason we have been delighted to<br />
be involved over the past two years in the<br />
Western Mail's Welsh Crucible Series, a<br />
unique collaboration between Welsh media<br />
and scientists to show how work that<br />
researchers do affects the people of<br />
Wales.’<br />
Simon Farrington,<br />
Editor, Wales on Sunday & Business<br />
Development Editor<br />
Welsh Crucible:<br />
Beyond 2011<br />
Welsh Crucible 2012<br />
The Welsh Crucible programme ran for the<br />
second time in 2012. This programme built<br />
on the successes of 2011, and brought<br />
together a group of talented and ambitious<br />
researchers from an even wider range of<br />
disciplines from the St David’s Day Group of<br />
universities, as well as Tata Steel and<br />
Barnardo’s.<br />
Participants have already started working<br />
together on a number of exciting<br />
interdisciplinary research proposals. The<br />
2012 cohort will also be contributing to the<br />
Western Mail’s second thirty-week Welsh<br />
Crucible series.<br />
Welsh Crucible 2013-14<br />
The St David’s Day Group and HEFCW have<br />
committed to funding two further Welsh<br />
Crucible programmes in 2013 and 2014. In<br />
2013, for the first time, the programme will<br />
be opened up to researchers working in any<br />
Welsh higher education institution, and not<br />
just those working at one of the St David’s<br />
Day universities. This means that Welsh<br />
Crucible will be open to anybody doing<br />
excellent research in Wales and allows us to<br />
develop the Welsh Crucible network even<br />
further.<br />
We are also exploring ways of bringing<br />
together the network of Welsh Crucible<br />
alumni for further development opportunities.<br />
These plans include a European research<br />
visit in Summer 2013 to explore how to<br />
increase Wales’s share of European research<br />
funding.<br />
‘The Welsh Crucible is<br />
an exciting<br />
development<br />
programme that<br />
complements the<br />
Welsh Government’s<br />
Science for Wales<br />
Strategy and Sêr<br />
Cymru Programme.<br />
The Crucible seeks to<br />
further enhance the quality of Welsh research<br />
activity by supporting and developing the high<br />
quality researchers that are already part of the<br />
Welsh research community. The programme<br />
recognizes that there is already a considerable<br />
baseline of talented researchers in Wales and<br />
that by supporting them through training and<br />
development we can help them fulfil their<br />
potential to become the world leading<br />
researchers. Creating such a strong<br />
foundation of researchers in Wales will<br />
contribute significantly to the emergence of<br />
Wales as a major force in globally important<br />
research.’<br />
Professor David Shepherd<br />
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and<br />
Enterprise)<br />
‘Welsh Crucible was<br />
designed to identify<br />
some of our brightest<br />
early- to mid-career<br />
researchers and fast<br />
track them through a<br />
range of learning<br />
experiences to help<br />
them to become<br />
excellent,<br />
interdisciplinary<br />
research leaders. We<br />
have been delighted<br />
by the response to<br />
the programme from<br />
scholars in Wales,<br />
and by the support<br />
provided by the<br />
Higher Education<br />
Funding Council for<br />
Wales and the St<br />
David's Day<br />
universities in Wales.<br />
Making the most of<br />
the knowledge, skills<br />
and expertise we<br />
have will help us to<br />
meet the challenges<br />
we face in Wales and<br />
beyond.’<br />
Professor Teresa<br />
Rees<br />
Associate Director,<br />
Wales, Leadership<br />
Foundation for Higher<br />
Education<br />
09
A Review of Welsh Crucible 2011<br />
10
A Review of Welsh Crucible 2011<br />
11
A Review of Welsh Crucible 2011<br />
12
A Review of Welsh Crucible 2011<br />
13
A Review of Welsh Crucible 2011<br />
14<br />
Welsh Crucible<br />
Developing future research leaders for Wales
WelshCrucible<br />
CrwsiblCymru<br />
Yn Datblygu Arweinwyr Ymchwil y Dyfodol i Gymru<br />
Adolygiad o Crwsibl Cymru 2011
Adolygiad o Crwsibl Cymru 2011<br />
Adolygiad o Crwsibl Cymru 2011<br />
‘Mae CCAUC yn<br />
falch iawn o gefnogi’r<br />
fenter arloesol a<br />
phwysig hon. Mae<br />
Crwsibl Cymru yn<br />
chwarae rhan<br />
werthfawr yn y<br />
gwaith o hyrwyddo<br />
diwylliant<br />
amlddisgyblaethol ac<br />
amlsefydliadol ymysg ymchwilwyr yng<br />
Nghymru sydd ar gamau cynharaf eu gwaith,<br />
rhywbeth sy’n gynyddol hanfodol ar gyfer<br />
perfformiad ymchwil o ansawdd uchel.<br />
Rydym wedi cael ein calonogi’n fawr gan<br />
gyflawniadau Crwsibl Cymru hyd yn hyn, a<br />
chan frwdfrydedd amlwg y cyfranogwyr, ac<br />
edrychwn ymlaen at ei lwyddiant parhaus.’<br />
Dr David Blaney<br />
Prif Weithredwr, Cyngor Cyllido Addysg Uwch<br />
Cymru<br />
Mae rhaglen Crwsibl Cymru wedi ei seilio ar raglen ‘Crwsibl’ y Gwaddol<br />
Cenedlaethol ar Gyfer Gwyddoniaeth, Technoleg a’r Celfyddydau<br />
01
Adolygiad o Crwsibl Cymru 2011<br />
‘Mae Crwsibl Cymru<br />
yn darparu rhaglen<br />
unigol sy’n gwella<br />
gyrfaoedd ar gyfer<br />
ymchwilwyr sydd yng<br />
nghyfnod cynnar eu<br />
gyrfaoedd ar draws<br />
Cymru. Yn wahanol i<br />
gyrsiau traddodiadol,<br />
caiff llwyddiant y<br />
rhaglen yn y pen<br />
draw ei fesur gan y<br />
nifer o<br />
gydweithrediadau a<br />
phartneriaethau, y<br />
mae llawer ohonynt<br />
yn dechrau dod i’r<br />
amlwg rhwng<br />
ymchwilwyr.’<br />
Yr Athro Peter<br />
Halligan<br />
Arweinydd<br />
Academaidd, Crwsibl<br />
Cymru a Deon<br />
Astudiaethau<br />
Rhyngddisgyblaethol<br />
ym Mhrifysgol<br />
Caerdydd.<br />
02<br />
Beth yw Crwsibl Cymru?<br />
Mae Crwsibl Cymru yn rhaglen datblygu<br />
personol, proffesiynol ac arweinyddiaeth ar<br />
gyfer arweinwyr ymchwil Cymru yn y<br />
dyfodol. Wedi’i ariannu gan y Grŵp Dydd<br />
Gŵyl Dewi 1 o brifysgolion ymchwil a<br />
Chyngor Cyllido Addysg Uwch Cymru, mae<br />
Crwsibl Cymru’n cynnig cyfle i bob<br />
ymchwilydd yng Nghymru archwilio sut y<br />
gallant weithio ar draws ffiniau sefydliadol a<br />
disgyblaethol er mwyn mynd i’r afael â’r<br />
heriau o ran ymchwil y mae Cymru’n eu<br />
hwynebu ar hyn o bryd. Nod Crwsibl<br />
Cymru yw adeiladu rhwydwaith o<br />
ymchwilwyr talentog sydd wedi’u<br />
hymrwymo i gefnogi datblygiad arloesedd<br />
cydweithredol a ysbrydolir gan ymchwil.<br />
Wrth wella’r rhaglen ‘Crwsibl’ 2007 wreiddiol<br />
a ddatblygwyd gan Y Gwaddol Cenedlaethol<br />
ar gyfer Gwyddoniaeth, Technoleg a'r<br />
Celfyddydau, mae Crwsibl Cymru wedi helpu<br />
cyfranogwyr i ddarganfod:<br />
• sut mae ymchwilwyr mewn<br />
disgyblaethau eraill yn mynd i’r afael â<br />
materion tebyg ;<br />
• sut y gallant drosglwyddo eu gwybodaeth<br />
i’r cylch cyhoeddus a chael effaith;<br />
• y sgiliau a’r agweddau sy’n debygol o<br />
wneud eu hymchwil yn fwy arloesol a<br />
deniadol;<br />
• sut y gall meddwl yn greadigol ac yn<br />
agored wneud gwahaniaeth i’w gwaith<br />
eu hunain ac i ddatblygiad eu gyrfaoedd.<br />
Pam mae Crwsibl<br />
Cymru’n bwysig?<br />
Un o brif uchelgeisiau Llywodraeth Cymru yw<br />
adeiladu sylfaen gwyddoniaeth gadarn a<br />
dynamig sy’n cynnal datblygiad economaidd a<br />
chenedlaethol Cymru, gan gynnwys iechyd a<br />
lles poblogaeth Cymru. Mae rôl y prifysgolion<br />
yng Nghymru yn ganolog o hyd, gan mai un<br />
o’r ychydig o gyfryngau cynhenid ymchwil ac<br />
arloesedd ar unrhyw raddfa sylweddol ydynt.<br />
Mae’r rhaglen Crwsibl Cymru yn dangos<br />
ymrwymiad Grŵp Dydd Gŵyl Dewi i ddatblygu<br />
economi ymchwil ddynamig i Gymru drwy<br />
arloesedd a ysbrydolir gan ymchwil a<br />
chydweithredu traws-sefydliadol. Yn hynny o<br />
beth, mae’n unol â strategaethau ymchwil<br />
sefydliadau partner ac, yn hanfodol, mae’n<br />
darparu tystiolaeth o’r ymrwymiad i adeiladu<br />
gallu ymchwil yng Nghymru.<br />
‘Yn fywiog, yn<br />
frwdfrydig, ac yn<br />
amlwg yn sicr o<br />
lwyddo oedd fy argraff<br />
gyntaf o’r rhai ar<br />
raglen Crwsibl Cymru.<br />
Cefais ychydig o<br />
ddiwrnodau cyffrous.’<br />
Vivienne Parry<br />
Ysgrifennwr a Darlledwr ar Wyddoniaeth,<br />
Hwylusydd Crwsibl Cymru<br />
Crwsibl Cymru:<br />
Cyfranogwyr 2011<br />
Mae pob rhaglen Crwsibl Cymru yn dod â<br />
deg ar hugain o ymchwilwyr o wahanol<br />
ddisgyblaethau a sefydliadau ledled Cymru<br />
ynghyd. Mae’r ymchwilwyr mewn cyfnod<br />
cynnar neu yng nghanol eu gyrfaoedd<br />
ymchwil. Mae galw am leoedd yn uchel, a<br />
derbyniodd y rhaglen 80 cais am 30 lle ym<br />
mlwyddyn ei lansiad.<br />
Daeth ymgeiswyr llwyddiannus 2011 o<br />
Brifysgolion Aberystwyth, Bangor, Caerdydd,<br />
Morgannwg, Abertawe a Cedar, canolfan<br />
werthuso’r GIG. Cafodd pob un eu dewis ar<br />
sail eu rhagoriaeth o ran ymchwil a’u<br />
diddordeb mewn ymchwil ryngddisgyblaethol.<br />
Hefyd dangosodd yr ymgeiswyr llwyddiannus<br />
ymrwymiad i feddwl mewn ffordd<br />
gydweithredol am effaith eu gwaith ac i<br />
gyfathrebu eu hymchwil y tu hwnt i’r academi.<br />
Roedd diddordebau ymchwil carfan gyntaf<br />
Crwsibl Cymru yn eang, er bod pob un<br />
ohonynt yn gweithio mewn maes sydd wedi’i<br />
alinio i feysydd blaenoriaeth ymchwil<br />
Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae diddordebau’r<br />
grŵp o fewn y meysydd thematig hyn yn<br />
lluosog ac yn amrywiol:<br />
1 Mae Grŵp Dydd Gŵyl Dewi yn cynnwys Prifysgol Aberystwyth, Prifysgol Bangor, Prifysgol Caerdydd, Prifysgol Morgannwg<br />
a Phrifysgol Abertawe.
Adolygiad o Crwsibl Cymru 2011<br />
Diddordebau Ymchwil Cyfranogwyr Crwsibl Cymru 2011<br />
Beth sy’n gwneud<br />
Rhaglen Crwsibl Cymru yn<br />
Arbennig?<br />
Mae Crwsibl Cymru yn cynnwys tri<br />
digwyddiad preswyl deuddydd o’r enw<br />
‘Labordai’. Mae’r Labordai yn cyfuno gwella<br />
sgiliau, darlithoedd, ymarferion grŵp, a<br />
hunanddarganfod. Maent oll wedi’u cynllunio<br />
i gyflwyno ffyrdd newydd o feddwl a gweithio<br />
i gyfranogwyr, gyda’r nod o greu newidiadau<br />
tymor hir o ran agwedd ac arfer gwaith, yn<br />
ogystal ag annog cydweithio ymarferol rhwng<br />
cyfranogwyr. Yn gyffredinol, mae’r Labordai<br />
ynglŷn â chreu amgylchedd sy’n ffafriol i<br />
ddatblygu unigolion arloesol, gan ganiatáu<br />
iddynt feithrin eu syniadau, yn enwedig<br />
mewn cydweithrediad ag eraill ac ar draws<br />
disgyblaethau. Maent hefyd ynglŷn â<br />
datblygu rhwydwaith o gymheiriaid o fewn y<br />
gymuned ymchwil er mwyn cynnal gweithio<br />
cydweithredol, dysgu am feysydd ymchwil<br />
gwahanol, ac annog datblygiad personol a<br />
gyrfaol. Mae cynnwys amser rhwng y<br />
Labordai yn wahaniaethwr allweddol o<br />
raglenni datblygu eraill. Mae hyn yn caniatáu<br />
i gyfranogwyr ddychwelyd i’w hamgylchedd<br />
ymchwil er mwyn myfyrio ar yr hyn a<br />
ddysgwyd, a chymhwyso eu syniadau neu<br />
ddull gweithio newydd, tra eu bod ar y<br />
rhaglen o hyd. Yn ogystal â chaniatáu amser<br />
i’r newidiadau hanfodol hyn gael eu<br />
hymgorffori mewn gweithgarwch o ddydd i<br />
ddydd, mae cyfarfod tair gwaith dros gyfnod<br />
estynedig hefyd yn annog datblygiad<br />
perthnasoedd mwy parhaus a normal rhwng<br />
y cyfranogwyr ac mae’n hwyluso ffurfio<br />
rhwydwaith tymor hirach.<br />
‘Mae gan Crwsibl<br />
Cymru rôl bwysig<br />
i’w chwarae wrth<br />
ddarparu<br />
cefnogaeth ar<br />
gyfer ymchwil ym<br />
mhrifysgolion<br />
Cymru, gan<br />
ddangos<br />
ymrwymiad<br />
sefydliadau o fewn y Grŵp Dydd Gŵyl<br />
Dewi i arloesedd cydweithredol a<br />
ysbrydolir gan ymchwil. Mae’n cynnig cyfle<br />
amhrisiadwy i ymchwilwyr gyfarfod ac<br />
ymgysylltu â’i gilydd, gan ddysgu rhagor<br />
am sut y gallant gael effaith wirioneddol ar<br />
les Cymru. Mae’n ein helpu i ddatblygu<br />
arweinwyr ymchwil y dyfodol.’<br />
Yr Athro Ian Cluckie<br />
Dirprwy Is-ganghellor (Gwyddoniaeth a<br />
Pheirianneg)<br />
Prifysgol Abertawe<br />
‘Roedd yn wirioneddol<br />
ysbrydoledig i gymryd<br />
rhan yn rhaglen<br />
Crwsibl Cymru ac i fod<br />
yng nghwmni pobl<br />
mor ymroddedig ac<br />
angerddol. Roedd<br />
darllen detholiad o’u<br />
bywgraffiadau yn<br />
ymddangos fel darllen<br />
'Who's who' y dyfodol<br />
am hoelion wyth<br />
Cymru.’<br />
Wendy Sadler<br />
Cyfarwyddwr,<br />
science made simple<br />
‘Drwy ein harwain<br />
drwy ystod o dasgau<br />
a dangos dulliau<br />
gwahanol o weithio i<br />
ni drwy ddarlithoedd<br />
amrywiol ein<br />
gwesteion,<br />
daethpwyd â’r grŵp<br />
o ddieithriaid ar y<br />
dechrau ynghyd, a<br />
dechreuodd nifer o<br />
syniadau gwych<br />
ddatblygu. Erbyn<br />
diwedd y tair sesiwn<br />
cafodd cyfeillgarwch<br />
a llawer o<br />
berthnasoedd<br />
cydweithio newydd<br />
eu sefydlu, sy’n<br />
gyfredol o hyd.’<br />
Dr Anna Croft<br />
Prifysgol Bangor<br />
(Cemeg)<br />
03
Adolygiad o Crwsibl Cymru 2011<br />
‘Er bod rhan fwyaf y<br />
Prifysgolion yn cynnig<br />
cymorth a chyfleoedd<br />
cynhwysfawr ar gyfer<br />
datblygu i’w<br />
hymchwilwyr, mae<br />
Crwsibl Cymru wedi<br />
rhoi cyfle i ymchwilwyr<br />
gyfarfod â<br />
chymheiriaid o<br />
ddisgyblaethau<br />
gwahanol ac o<br />
sefydliadau gwahanol.<br />
Cafodd eu gorwelion<br />
eu hehangu ac mae’r<br />
rhwydweithiau maent<br />
wedi’u ffurfio yn<br />
darparu budd<br />
cynaliadwy a<br />
diriaethol o’u<br />
cyfranogiad.’<br />
Yr Athro Clive<br />
Mulholland<br />
Dirprwy Is-ganghellor<br />
Prifysgol Morgannwg<br />
‘Mae’r profiad a gefais<br />
yn ystod y Crwsibl<br />
Cymru cyntaf wedi fy<br />
helpu i wella fy CV,<br />
gan fy ngalluogi i gael<br />
rhagor o gyllid, megis<br />
Gwobr Philip<br />
Leverhulme, mewn<br />
meysydd newydd<br />
ymchwil<br />
ryngddisgyblaethol.’<br />
Dr Antonio Gil<br />
Prifysgol Abertawe<br />
(Peirianneg)<br />
04<br />
Labordai Crwsibl Cymru<br />
2011<br />
Cafodd y Labordy<br />
cyntaf, a oedd yn<br />
canolbwyntio ar<br />
‘edrych allan’, ei<br />
hwyluso gan Vivienne<br />
Parry, yr ysgrifennwr<br />
a’r darlledwr ar<br />
wyddoniaeth. Roedd<br />
yn ymwneud â<br />
phynciau megis<br />
ymgysylltu â’r<br />
cyhoedd, ymgysylltu â’r cyfryngau ac<br />
ymgysylltu â pholisïau a’r rhai sy’n eu gwneud.<br />
Roedd siaradwyr yn cynnwys Prif Gynghorydd<br />
Gwyddonol Cymru a Golygydd Datblygu<br />
Busnes Cyfryngau Cymru.<br />
Fis ar ôl y digwyddiad cyntaf hwn, cafodd y<br />
deg ar hugain o gyfranogwyr Crwsibl Cymru<br />
eu haduno ar gyfer yr ail Labordy. Roedd y<br />
digwyddiad hwn yn canolbwyntio ar<br />
gydweithio ac adeiladu rhwydweithiau<br />
ymchwil, a bu’r grŵp yn gweithio gyda’i<br />
gilydd i archwilio’r heriau mawr a wynebir ar<br />
hyn o bryd gan ymchwilwyr yng Nghymru, yn<br />
ogystal ag edrych ar ffyrdd gwahanol o<br />
boblogeiddio ymchwil academaidd.<br />
Cyfranogwyr yn Crynhoi eu Profiad o Crwsibl Cymru 2011<br />
Yn y Labordy terfynol fis ar ôl hynny<br />
archwiliodd y cyfranogwyr ffyrdd o wella eu<br />
creadigrwydd a’u sgiliau mentergarwch a<br />
gwnaethant gyfarfod ag entrepreneuriaid sy’n<br />
gweithio yng Nghymru. Hefyd cawsant eu<br />
hannog i ddatblygu’r syniadau ymchwil<br />
rhyngddisgyblaethol a ddechreuodd ddod i’r<br />
amlwg yn y ddau Labordy cyntaf.<br />
Mae adborth ffurfiol gan y cyfranogwyr wedi<br />
bod yn hynod o gadarnhaol. O’r 73% a<br />
ymatebodd i’r holiadur adborth ar ôl y<br />
rhaglen – roedd pawb yn ystyried bod<br />
strwythur y rhaglen yn dda/yn dda iawn, a<br />
gwnaethant gytuno/gytuno’n gryf bod y<br />
rhaglen wedi hwyluso datblygiad<br />
perthnasoedd rhwng cyfranogwyr ac wedi<br />
darparu persbectif newydd ar eu gwaith
Adolygiad o Crwsibl Cymru 2011<br />
Crwsibl Cymru:<br />
Gwneud Gwahaniaeth<br />
1. Agweddau’n Newid<br />
Mae Crwsibl Cymru yn annog ymchwilwyr i<br />
feddwl yn fwy creadigol am eu hymchwil a’u<br />
gyrfaoedd, ac fe’i cynlluniwyd i feithrin<br />
cydweithio ar draws ffiniau disgyblaethol<br />
traddodiadol.<br />
Dangosodd astudiaeth annibynnol o<br />
ganlyniadau Crwsibl Cymru ar ganfyddiadau<br />
cyfranogwyr, yn gyffredinol, bod carfan 2011<br />
wedi dangos gwelliant amlwg ar draws ystod<br />
eang o fesuriadau sgiliau ac agweddau<br />
mewn perthynas â chydweithio ac arloesedd.<br />
Dangosodd 72% o’r cyfranogwyr welliannau<br />
cyffredinol a gwelliannau cadarnhaol yn<br />
nhermau eu canfyddiadau o’u sgiliau eu<br />
hunain, eu hymddygiad a’u cymwysterau yn<br />
y meysydd hyn. Gwnaeth awduron yr<br />
adroddiad y sylwadau canlynol:<br />
‘Yn wir, wrth gymharu â’r meincnodau a<br />
osodwyd gan Crwsibl NESTA yn 2009, mae’n<br />
ymddangos y bu Crwsibl Cymru 2011 yn fwy<br />
effeithiol o ran creu gwelliannau ar gyfer<br />
cyfranogwyr.’<br />
Yr Athro Cathy Pharoah a Dr Robin Pharoah;<br />
‘Crwsibl Cymru 2011: Sgorau Gwerthuso<br />
CREST’<br />
2. Adeiladu Rhwydweithiau<br />
Rhyngddisgyblaethol<br />
Un o ganlyniadau diriaethol rhaglenni<br />
2011/2012 yw ffurfio rhwydwaith trawssefydliadol,<br />
amlddisgyblaethol o 60 o<br />
ymchwilwyr sy’n edrych tuag allan. Mae gan<br />
y rhwydwaith hwn arbenigedd mewn ystod<br />
eang o feysydd, cysylltiadau â chyfryngau<br />
Cymru a Llywodraeth Cymru, ac ymrwymiad<br />
cryf i arloesedd rhyngddisgyblaethol.<br />
Mae rhaglen Crwsibl Cymru yn helpu i greu<br />
ymdeimlad cryf o hunaniaeth a rennir ymhlith<br />
y cyfranogwyr. Adeiladir yr hunaniaeth hon a<br />
rennir ar brofiad y cyfranogwyr o gymryd<br />
rhan mewn rhywbeth sy’n ddwys, yn gyffrous<br />
ac, o bosibl, yn dod â risg. Mae’r ymdeimlad<br />
hwn o fod yn rhan o grŵp yn trosi’n rhwydd i<br />
rwydwaith rhyngddisgyblaethol sydd â<br />
“bywyd” y tu hwnt i’r rhaglenni Labordy<br />
ffurfiol. Mae llawer o’r gweithgarwch hwn ar<br />
ffurf cyfathrebu electronig, gyda’r<br />
ymchwilwyr yn trafod pethau ymarferol,<br />
prosiectau a syniadau drwy negeseuon ebost<br />
ac mewn gweithle ar-lein, yn ogystal â<br />
thrwy gyfryngau cymdeithasol megis Twitter<br />
a Facebook. Mae rhai o’r prosiectau<br />
cydweithredol sydd wedi datblygu rhwng y<br />
cyfranogwyr yn ganlyniad uniongyrchol o<br />
rwydweithio y tu allan i’r Labordai.<br />
3. Creu Cydweithrediadau Cynhyrchiol<br />
Mae cydweithrediadau ymchwil cyffrous<br />
eisoes wedi dechrau dod i’r amlwg o<br />
rwydwaith Crwsibl Cymru, gan gynnwys:<br />
Rôl Grŵp Prifysgolion Dydd Gŵyl Dewi<br />
yn Nyfodol Adfywio Cymunedol a<br />
Rhanbarthol yng Nghymru<br />
Dr Rhys Pullin, Prifysgol Caerdydd; Dr<br />
Martin O'Neill, Prifysgol Caerdydd; Dr<br />
Hannah Dee, Prifysgol Aberystwyth; Dr<br />
Anna Croft, Prifysgol Bangor; Dr Martina<br />
Lahmann, Prifysgol Bangor<br />
Daeth y fenter hon â chynrychiolwyr<br />
ynghyd o feysydd peirianneg, cyfrifiadureg,<br />
cemeg a’r gwyddorau cymdeithasol o<br />
Brifysgolion Bangor, Aberystwyth a<br />
Chaerdydd er mwyn archwilio sut y gallai’r<br />
brifysgol gymryd rôl fwy rhagweithiol mewn<br />
amrywiaeth o fentrau adfywio cymdeithasol<br />
ac economaidd megis Cymunedau yn<br />
Gyntaf. Trefnwyd dau seminar, un yn y<br />
gogledd, ym Mangor, ac un yn y de, yng<br />
Nghaerdydd. Bu cynrychiolwyr o grwpiau<br />
cymunedol, sefydliadau’r llywodraeth a’r<br />
prifysgolion yn gweithio gyda’i gilydd yn y<br />
gweithdai rhagweithiol hyn i archwilio<br />
ymagweddau arloesol at ddatblygu<br />
ymgysylltiad y brifysgol a’r gymuned.<br />
Mynychodd llawer y gweithdai ac roedd yr<br />
adborth yn gadarnhaol iawn.<br />
Mae’r ymchwil hon wedi dangos bod angen<br />
datblygu’r sgwrs rhwng sector y brifysgol<br />
ac asiantaethau allanol fel y gall y sector<br />
Addysg Uwch gyfrannu’n llawn i ddatblygu<br />
ac adfywio cyfredol yng Nghymru. At hyn,<br />
gwelodd y prosiect fod ar brifysgolion<br />
Cymru angen pwyntiau mynediad er mwyn<br />
cefnogi’r gymuned a diwydiant, ac y gallai<br />
rhaglenni ymchwil fod yn canolbwyntio’n<br />
fwy ar effeithiau yn y gymuned.<br />
‘Diolch i’r Crwsibl,<br />
rwyf wedi siarad yn<br />
fanwl ag ymchwilwyr<br />
sy’n gweithio mewn<br />
meysydd nad<br />
oeddwn hyd yn oed<br />
wedi’u hystyried o’r<br />
blaen, sydd ynddo’i<br />
hun wedi newid y<br />
ffordd rwyf yn edrych<br />
ar fy ngwaith fy hun.<br />
Rwyf hefyd yn fwy<br />
ymwybodol o gyddestun<br />
cymdeithasol<br />
a gwleidyddol<br />
ymchwil, ac mae<br />
gennyf lawer mwy o<br />
hyder o ran “mynd<br />
amdani”. Rwyf yn<br />
credu bod llawer o’r<br />
gwaith gorau yn<br />
digwydd ar y ffiniau<br />
rhwng disgyblaethau<br />
traddodiadol, ac<br />
mae’r Crwsibl yn<br />
helpu i ddatblygu<br />
dealltwriaeth o’r llu o<br />
ffyrdd y gallwn<br />
weithio ar y<br />
rhyngwynebau<br />
disgyblaethol hyn.’<br />
Dr Hannah Dee<br />
Prifysgol Aberystwyth<br />
(Cyfrifiadureg)<br />
05
Adolygiad o Crwsibl Cymru 2011<br />
‘Cefais lawer o fudd o<br />
glywed y safbwyntiau<br />
gwahanol ar ymchwil<br />
academaidd, cynllunio<br />
ac arweinyddiaeth. A<br />
dysgais dipyn o’r<br />
siaradwyr rhagorol<br />
mewn perthynas ag<br />
ymchwil a’r cyfryngau,<br />
cael mynediad at y rhai<br />
sy’n gwneud polisïau, a<br />
sut i arwain prosiectau<br />
ymchwil cydweithredol<br />
yn broffesiynol ac yn<br />
fuddiol.’<br />
Dr Martin Willis<br />
Prifysgol Morgannwg<br />
(Llenyddiaeth Saesneg)<br />
‘Mae Crwsibl Cymru yn<br />
gwneud yr hyn mae'n<br />
dweud ei fod yn ei<br />
wneud. Yn sicr mae’n<br />
lle a nodweddir gan<br />
gydlifiad grymoedd<br />
deallusol, cymdeithasol,<br />
economaidd a<br />
gwleidyddol pwerus.<br />
Mae’r crwsibl yn<br />
darparu fforwm<br />
rhwydweithio unigol er<br />
mwyn rhannu syniadau<br />
a thyfu llwyddiant, gan<br />
godi nod y gymuned<br />
ymchwil yng Nghymru.’<br />
Yr Athro Martin Jones<br />
Dirprwy Is-ganghellor<br />
Ymchwil, Menter ac<br />
Ymgysylltiad<br />
Prifysgol Aberystwyth<br />
06<br />
Digital Dieters; “App” ar gyfer Lefelau<br />
Gweithgarwch<br />
Dr Martin O’Neill, Prifysgol Caerdydd; Dr<br />
Parisa Eslambolchilar, Prifysgol Abertawe;<br />
Mr Gerald Powell, Ymddiriedolaeth<br />
Ddatblygu 3G, Merthyr Tudful<br />
Daeth yr ymchwil hon â gwyddonydd<br />
cymdeithasol a gwyddonydd cyfrifiadurol<br />
ynghyd gyda’r nod o archwilio sut y gellid<br />
defnyddio app ar ffôn “call” i annog pobl<br />
mewn ardal sydd â lefelau gordewdra sy’n<br />
uwch na’r cyfartaledd i gynyddu eu lefelau<br />
o ymarfer corff. Darparodd y fenter<br />
amgylchedd lle byddai’r cyfranogwyr yn<br />
cael cymorth cymdeithasol ffrindiau a<br />
mentoriaid i fabwysiadu ffordd o fyw<br />
iachach, fel y byddai rhywun yn disgwyl<br />
gyda grwpiau megis “Weight Watchers”,<br />
ond hefyd lle y gellid defnyddio’r “app” i<br />
fonitro lefelau gweithgarwch a gwella<br />
cydlyniad a rhyngweithio'r grŵp.<br />
Darparwyd ffonau “call” a oedd yn<br />
cynnwys yr app i’r grŵp. Ar ddiwedd yr<br />
ymchwil, nododd pobl eu bod yn teimlo<br />
bod y fenter gyfan yn llwyddiant mawr, a<br />
dywedodd rhai eu bod wedi colli hyd at 28<br />
pwys dros gyfnod o ddeuddeg wythnos.<br />
Er bod y grŵp yn adrodd nad oedd yr app<br />
yn bodloni eu holl ofynion a gofynnon nhw<br />
a fyddai’n bosibl ei addasu, gwnaethant<br />
ddefnyddio’r dechnoleg i adnabod a chael<br />
apps eraill er mwyn ychwanegu at yr hyn a<br />
ddarparwyd. Mae’r grŵp wedi gofyn bod y<br />
tîm ymchwil yn parhau i weithio gyda nhw<br />
er mwyn datblygu rhagor o fentrau gyda’r<br />
nod o wella eu ffyrdd o fyw.<br />
Caiff llwyddiant y fenter hon ei ddefnyddio i<br />
gynnal ymchwil ychwanegol sy’n anelu at<br />
ddefnyddio technoleg symudol ar gyfer<br />
casglu data mewn ymchwil gymdeithasol a<br />
hefyd i gynnal mentrau er mwyn mynd i’r<br />
afael â’r “hollt ddigidol”.<br />
Datblygu’r Labordy Cynaliadwy –<br />
Gwastraff<br />
Dr Paul Brennan, Prifysgol Caerdydd; Dr<br />
Adam Charlton, Prifysgol Bangor; Dr<br />
Leanne Cullen-Unsworth, Prifysgol<br />
Caerdydd; Dr Clive Gregory, Prifysgol<br />
Caerdydd; Dr Michael Harbottle, Prifysgol<br />
Caerdydd; Dr Elaine Jensen, Prifysgol<br />
Aberystwyth; Dr Yingli Wang, Prifysgol<br />
Caerdydd; Dr Lorraine Whitmarsh, Prifysgol<br />
Caerdydd<br />
Mae Labordai yng Nghymru yn cynhyrchu<br />
llawer o wastraff. Mae tîm y prosiect yn<br />
amcangyfrif bod adran o 50 o bobl yn<br />
cynhyrchu mwy na deg tunnell o wastraff<br />
bob blwyddyn. Caiff hyn ei losgi neu<br />
mae’n mynd i safle tirlenwi. Er bod<br />
pecynnau’n cael eu hailgylchu yn aml, nid<br />
felly yn achos mwyafrif yr eitemau a<br />
ddefnyddir mewn labordy. Cychwynnwyd y<br />
prosiect hwn er mwyn ymchwilio i ffyrdd y<br />
gellir newid y dynamig hwn.<br />
Casgliadau allweddol y prosiect yw:<br />
• Mae angen arweinyddiaeth lefel uchel.<br />
Gellid cyflawni hyn a’i hyrwyddo drwy<br />
wneud cynaliadwy’n ddangosydd<br />
perfformiad allweddol ar gyfer uwchreolwyr<br />
a datganoli cyllidebau<br />
gwastraff ac ynni.<br />
• Mae defnyddio cychod pwysau a<br />
wnaed o ddeunydd wedi’i seilio ar<br />
blanhigion yn lle polystyren yn bosibl<br />
ond mae gofyn am ddadansoddiad ac<br />
astudiaeth dichonolrwydd ar<br />
gost/buddion i’r amgylchedd.<br />
• Fwy na thebyg mae staff labordai<br />
wedi’u hymrwymo’n fwy i ailgylchu nag<br />
yw eu sefydliadau yn eu cyfanrwydd.<br />
Gallai mwy o ymwybyddiaeth o ran<br />
llwybrau posibl ar gyfer cynhyrchion<br />
wedi’u hailgylchu hyrwyddo<br />
cyfranogiad. Byddai darparu rhagor o<br />
gyfleusterau a hyfforddiant yn gwella<br />
ailgylchu.<br />
• Gellir ailgylchu gwastraff o labordai, er<br />
bod angen deall materion diogelwch.<br />
At hyn, dylid ystyried gwastraff o<br />
labordai yn ased gwerthfawr, yn<br />
enwedig plastig ailgylchadwy graddfa<br />
uchel a gaiff ei wastraffu drwy ei losgi.
Adolygiad o Crwsibl Cymru 2011<br />
Archwilio Cysyniad ‘Marchnad<br />
“Hwylus”’: y Cysylltiad Rhwng Deiet,<br />
Iechyd ac Anghydraddoldebau Iechyd<br />
Dr Yingli Wang, Prifysgol Caerdydd; Dr<br />
Martin O'Neill, Prifysgol Caerdydd<br />
Daeth y prosiect hwn â dadansoddwr<br />
busnes a gwyddonydd cymdeithasol<br />
ynghyd i ymchwilio a ellid datblygu ffyrdd<br />
newydd o siopa er mwyn gwella mynediad<br />
at fwyd iachach mewn cymunedau tlawd, y<br />
cyfeiriwyd atynt ganddyn nhw fel<br />
“marchnadoedd hwylus”. Cynhaliwyd yr<br />
ymchwil mewn tair cymuned wahanol iawn<br />
yn ne Cymru, un wledig; un ôlddiwydiannol;<br />
ac un ardal canol dinas amlethnig.<br />
Canfu’r ymchwil fod pobl yn<br />
dibynnu ar brofiad siopa i ddarparu<br />
rhyngweithio cymdeithasol; dewis/pris;<br />
rhwyddineb dosbarthu, yn hytrach na chael<br />
mynediad at nwyddau yn unig, yn enwedig<br />
mewn cymunedau tlawd.<br />
Canfu’r ymchwil fod ble a sut mae pobl yn<br />
siopa yn rhan allweddol o hunaniaeth<br />
gymdeithasol a phe byddai unrhyw<br />
ymyriadau iechyd cyhoeddus yn methu<br />
mynd i’r afael â’r anghenion cymdeithasol a<br />
ddarperir drwy’r profiad siopa, ni chânt eu<br />
derbyn.<br />
Datblygu Dull Newydd o ‘Fedi’ Ynni<br />
Elastomerig Cynaliadwy ar gyfer<br />
Amgylcheddau Morol<br />
Dr Antonio Gil, Prifysgol Abertawe; Dr Rhys<br />
Pullin, Prifysgol Caerdydd; Dr Lijie Li,<br />
Prifysgol Abertawe; Dr Raoul van Loon,<br />
Prifysgol Abertawe; Dr Simon Neill,<br />
Prifysgol Bangor; Dr Jan Geert Hiddink,<br />
Prifysgol Bangor<br />
Nid yw datblygiad technoleg newydd ar<br />
gyfer echdynnu ynni adnewyddadwy a<br />
chynaliadwy yn ddymuniad, mae’n<br />
hanfodol, yn y byd hwn sy’n esblygu’n<br />
gyflym ac sy’n cael ei lywodraethu’n<br />
fwyfwy gan ystyriaethau newid yn yr<br />
hinsawdd. Dros y degawd diwethaf, cafodd<br />
datblygiadau pwysig o ran technoleg medi<br />
ynni eu cyflawni o ganlyniad i ddyfodiad<br />
technoleg synwyryddion diwifr a<br />
chychwynwyr ar gyfer symud systemau<br />
mecanyddol. Y brif egwyddor sy’n<br />
tanategu’r dechnoleg hon yw trawsffurfio<br />
anffurfiad mecanyddol yn effeithlon, wedi’i<br />
beri gan ddirgryniad neu lwytho allanol, i<br />
ynni trydanol ar gyfer cymwysiadau<br />
chwilota am bŵer. Prif nod y prosiect<br />
ymchwil hwn yw datblygu astudiaeth<br />
dichonolrwydd realistig ar gyfer dull<br />
newydd o fedi ynni elastomerig a gaiff ei<br />
gynllunio, ei ddadansoddi, ei optimeiddio<br />
a’i brofi at gyfer amgylchedd morol.<br />
Disgwylir y gallai’r cynllun newydd arwain<br />
at ddyfais newydd ar gyfer cymwysiadau<br />
chwilota am bŵer yn dod i’r amlwg y gellid<br />
ei batentu yn y tymor canolig i hir pan fydd<br />
astudiaeth ymchwil wedi’i chynnal, fel rhan<br />
o brosiect ymchwil dilynol.<br />
Efelychu Effeithiau Newid yn yr<br />
Hinsawdd ar y Parth Arfordirol: yn Rhoi<br />
Rheolaeth i’r Defnyddiwr Olaf<br />
Dr Simon Neill, Prifysgol Bangor; Dr Ian<br />
Grimstead, Prifysgol Caerdydd<br />
Nod y prosiect hwn oedd datblygu<br />
cymhwysiad iPad a fydd yn galluogi’r rhai<br />
nad ydynt yn arbenigwyr i ddeall<br />
dylanwadau newid yn yr hinsawdd yn y<br />
parth arfordirol. Cafodd hyn ei gyflawni<br />
drwy ryngweithio’r defnyddiwr gyda setiau<br />
data model a gynhyrchwyd gan fodelau<br />
cefnforol o’r radd flaenaf sy’n rhedeg ar<br />
gyfrifiaduron perfformiad uchel. Gall yr app<br />
drin ystod eang o newidynnau model a<br />
fformatau data, sy’n ymwneud â<br />
graddfeydd basn y cefnfor ac arfordirol, a<br />
setiau data tymhorol. Er nad yw’r app yn<br />
hollol barod i’w ryddhau, cafodd parhad y<br />
prosiect ei sicrhau eisoes drwy gyllid HPC<br />
Cymru / Fujitsu ac EPSRC. Yn ystod cyfnod<br />
nesaf y datblygiad, caiff cod ffynhonnell yr<br />
app ei rannu gyda modelwyr amgylcheddol<br />
eraill sydd â diddordeb, gan gynyddu effaith<br />
yr astudiaeth. Y nod yn y tymor hir ar gyfer<br />
ymchwil o’r fath yw caniatáu i’r rhai sy’n<br />
gwneud polisïau ryngweithio yn llawn a<br />
chynnal eu hefelychiadau model eu hunain,<br />
nod rydym yn cydnabod a all fod<br />
blynyddoedd lawer i ffwrdd.<br />
‘Mae wedi bod yn<br />
hynod o ddefnyddiol i<br />
adeiladu cysylltiadau<br />
gydag ymchwilwyr yn<br />
y byd academaidd,<br />
oherwydd bod llawer<br />
o’n diddordebau’n<br />
ategu ei gilydd.<br />
Gwnaeth Crwsibl<br />
Cymru fy helpu i<br />
ehangu fy<br />
rhwydwaith. Byddwn<br />
yn bendant yn ei<br />
argymell i unrhyw un<br />
sy’n gweithio ym<br />
maes ymchwil y tu<br />
allan i’r sector<br />
addysg uwch. Cyn<br />
cymryd rhan yn y<br />
rhaglen roeddwn yn<br />
meddwl amdanaf fy<br />
hun fel Ffisegydd<br />
Meddygol a oedd yn<br />
gwneud ychydig o<br />
ymchwil; yn bennaf<br />
oll, mae Crwsibl<br />
Cymru wedi peri i mi<br />
feddwl amdanaf fy<br />
hun fel ymchwilydd.’<br />
Dr Grace Carolan-<br />
Rees<br />
Cyfarwyddwr Cedar<br />
(Ffiseg Meddygol)<br />
07
Adolygiad o Crwsibl Cymru 2011<br />
‘Daeth y tîm Crwsibl<br />
Cymru 2011 â grŵp<br />
amrywiol o feddyliau<br />
ynghyd o ledled<br />
Cymru er mwyn<br />
datblygu sgiliau<br />
gweithio mewn tîm ac<br />
i helpu creu<br />
perthnasoedd trawsddisgyblaethol<br />
newydd, er mwyn<br />
ysgogi arloesedd.<br />
Mae’r cyfranogwyr<br />
wedi gweithio gyda’i<br />
gilydd i gynhyrchu<br />
gwaith sy’n arbennig<br />
o greadigol, sydd â’r<br />
nod o fynd i’r afael â<br />
materion go iawn yn<br />
ein cymdeithas a’n<br />
hamgylchedd gyda’r<br />
math o syniadau<br />
newydd sy’n deillio o<br />
feddwl cydweithredol<br />
ochr chwith yr<br />
ymennydd ac ochr<br />
dde’r ymennydd.’<br />
Dr Dan Palmer<br />
Prif Swyddog<br />
Gwyddoniaeth<br />
Q Chip<br />
08<br />
Tuag at Ddyfeisiadau’r Genhedlaeth<br />
Nesaf ar gyfer Monitro a Dosbarthu<br />
Cyffuriau mewn Amser Real yn y System<br />
Gastroberfeddol<br />
Dr Raoul van Loon, Prifysgol Abertawe; Dr<br />
Lijie Li, Prifysgol Abertawe; Dr Parisa<br />
Eslambolchilar, Prifysgol Abertawe; Dr<br />
Antonio J. Gil, Prifysgol Abertawe; Dr<br />
Grace Carolan-Rees, Cedar; Proessor<br />
John Williams, Ysbyty Singletonl a<br />
Phrifysgol Abertawe<br />
I raddau helaeth, nid oes modd defnyddio<br />
synwyryddion diagnostig i archwilio system<br />
dreulio’r corff, yn enwedig felly’r coluddyn<br />
bychan. Oherwydd hynny, prin yw’r<br />
wybodaeth am achosion, diagnosis a<br />
thriniaeth anhwylderau fel y syndrom<br />
coluddyn llidus (IBS) neu afiechyd Crohn.<br />
Mae arferion cyfredol yn dangos bod<br />
mesur tymheredd ac asidrwydd yn y<br />
system dreulio yn ffordd dda o nodi<br />
cymhlethdodau fel wlserau neu lidau ac<br />
mae cwmnïau’n datblygu’r hyn a elwir yn<br />
‘bils clyfar’. Capsiwlau diwifr yw’r rhain<br />
sy’n symud trwy’r system goluddol ac yn<br />
mesur ar hyd eu taith. Nod y gwaith hwn<br />
yw datblygu syniad y ‘pils clyfar’ ymhellach<br />
drwy ychwanegu mesuriadau pwysedd yn<br />
ogystal drwy gyfuno gwybodaeth gyfoes<br />
ym meysydd nanotechnoleg, modelau<br />
cyfrifiannu a dyfeisiau cludadwy.<br />
Felly, diben yr ymchwil hwn yw dylunio<br />
fframwaith technegol i ddatblygu<br />
synhwyrydd pilsen glyfar sy’n gallu<br />
dadansoddi swyddogaeth ffisiolegol y<br />
system dreulio’n fanylach. Yn anad dim,<br />
bydd y pils yn gallu gwneud rhagor drwy<br />
ddadansoddi arwyddion mecanyddol gyda<br />
chymorth modelau mathemategol o’r radd<br />
flaenaf. Gyda’r modelau hyn, bydd modd<br />
cynnal dadansoddiadau ar sail ffiseg o ddata<br />
mesuriadau a dylai hynny arwain at gael<br />
gwell dealltwriaeth o’r ffisioleg a gwell<br />
diagnosteg. Caiff y dull newydd hwn o fodelu<br />
ei ymgorffori mewn meddalwedd newydd<br />
sbon ar ddyfais cludadwy (e.e. iPad), sy’n<br />
gallu cyfathrebu ar unwaith â synwyryddion<br />
yn y bilsen glyfar. Drwy drosglwyddo data ar<br />
unwaith, bydd modd monitro’r claf yn y fan<br />
a’r lle (e.e. gartref) neu hyd yn oed ymyrryd<br />
yn y fan a’r lle (e.e. rhoi cyffur yn lleol).<br />
Rhagwelir y bydd claf yn cymryd capsiwl<br />
sy’n cynnwys nifer o synwyryddion fydd yn<br />
symud trwy’r system dreulio gyfan. Gan<br />
ddibynnu ar yr afiechyd dan sylw, bydd y<br />
synwyryddion wedi’u dylunio i ganfod<br />
nodwyr tymheredd, asidrwydd, pwysedd,<br />
symudiad, gwaed neu gemegau. Bydd y<br />
synwyryddion hyn yn anfon data i’r ddyfais<br />
gludadwy lle caiff ei hidlo a’i ddadansoddi<br />
ar sail modelau cyfrifiadur modern. Yn olaf,<br />
pan fydd y synhwyrydd yn parhau i fod y tu<br />
mewn i’r corff, caiff y canlyniadau eu<br />
harddangos ar ryngwyneb graffeg y gall<br />
clinigwyr a chleifion eu dehongli’n rhwydd.<br />
Fy Nghod GENYNNAU: Ymgysylltiad<br />
Cyhoeddus â Bioleg Folecwlar<br />
Dr Tatiana Tatarinova, Prifysgol<br />
Morgannwg; Dr Eric Tippmann, Prifysgol<br />
Caerdydd; Dr Yingli Wang, Prifysgol<br />
Caerdydd; Dr Natasha de Vere, Gardd<br />
Fotaneg Genedlaethol Cymru<br />
Gynlluniwyd y prosiect hwn i ennyn<br />
diddordeb eang mewn popeth sy’n<br />
gysylltiedig â genynnau drwy ddatblygu<br />
adnodd sy’n cyfuno gwyddoniaeth,<br />
adloniant ac allgymorth cyhoeddus.<br />
4. Ymgysylltu â’r Cyhoedd<br />
Mae Crwsibl Cymru yn darparu modd proffil<br />
uchel ar gyfer cyhoeddi a dangos i’r cyhoedd<br />
y cyfraniad mae ymchwil yng Nghymru yn ei<br />
wneud. Rhwng mis Gorffennaf 2011 a mis<br />
Mawrth 2012 dangosodd y rhaglen unigryw<br />
hon 30 o erthyglau fel rhan o gyfres y Western<br />
Mail a ddangosodd yr ymchwil gyffrous a<br />
wneir mewn prifysgolion Grŵp Dydd Gŵyl<br />
Dewi a’r tu hwnt er mwyn gwneud Cymru’n<br />
economi iachach, fwy diogel a chryfach,<br />
(gweler tudalennau 10 – 13 yn y fersiwn<br />
Saesneg). Drwy amlygu ystod ac amrywiaeth<br />
y gwaith sy’n cael ei wneud ledled Cymru,<br />
mae Crwsibl Cymru hefyd wedi dangos<br />
ymatebolrwydd ac ymrwymiad y sector<br />
addysg uwch i flaenoriaethau Llywodraeth<br />
Cymru a amlinellwyd yn Er mwyn ein Dyfodol<br />
a’r strategaeth wyddoniaeth ddiweddarach<br />
(Gwyddoniaeth i Gymru).
Adolygiad o Crwsibl Cymru 2011<br />
‘Nid yw ymchwilwyr<br />
gwych o<br />
angenrheidrwydd yn<br />
gyfathrebwyr gwych,<br />
ond mae’n hanfodol<br />
bwysig bod eu<br />
hymchwil, sy’n aml yn<br />
arloesol, yn cyrraedd<br />
cynulleidfa mor eang â<br />
phosibl, ac ar lefel y<br />
gall y mwyafrif o bobl ei deall.<br />
Am y rheswm hwnnw, rydym wedi bod yn falch<br />
iawn bod yn rhan o Gyfres Crwsibl Cymru The<br />
Western Mail dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf,<br />
sef cydweithrediad unigryw rhwng y cyfryngau<br />
a gwyddonwyr yng Nghymru i ddangos sut<br />
mae gwaith a gyflawnir gan wyddonwyr yn<br />
effeithio ar bobl Cymru.’<br />
Simon Farrington,<br />
Golygydd, Wales on Sunday a Golygydd<br />
Datblygu Busnes<br />
Crwsibl Cymru:<br />
y tu hwnt i 2011<br />
Crwsibl Cymru 2012<br />
Cynhaliwyd rhaglen Crwsibl Cymru am yr ail<br />
dro yn 2012. Adeiladodd y rhaglen hon ar<br />
lwyddiannau 2011, a thynnodd ynghyd grŵp<br />
o ymchwilwyr talentog ac uchelgeisiol o<br />
ystod o ddisgyblaethau ehangach fyth o’r<br />
Grŵp Dydd Gŵyl Dewi o brifysgolion, yn<br />
ogystal â Tata Steel a Barnardo’s.<br />
Mae cyfranogwyr eisoes wedi dechrau<br />
gweithio gyda’i gilydd ar nifer o gynigion<br />
ymchwil rhyngddisgyblaethol. Bydd carfan<br />
2012 hefyd yn cyfrannu at ail gyfres deg<br />
wythnos ar hugain Crwsibl Cymru y Western<br />
Mail.<br />
Welsh Crucible 2013-14<br />
Mae Grŵp Dydd Gŵyl Dewi a CCAUC wedi<br />
ymrwymo i gyllido dwy raglen Crwsibl Cymru<br />
arall yn 2013 a 2014. Yn 2013, am y tro<br />
cyntaf, caiff y rhaglen ei hestyn i ymchwilwyr<br />
sy’n gweithio yn unrhyw sefydliad addysg<br />
uwch yng Nghymru, ac nid y rhai sy’n<br />
gweithio yn un o’r prifysgolion Dydd Gŵyl<br />
Dewi yn unig. Mae hyn yn golygu y bydd<br />
Crwsibl Cymru yn agored i unrhyw un sy’n<br />
gwneud ymchwil ragorol yng Nghymru ac<br />
mae’n caniatáu i ni ddatblygu rhwydwaith<br />
Crwsibl Cymru yn fwy fyth.<br />
Rydym hefyd yn archwilio ffyrdd o ddod â<br />
rhwydwaith alumni Crwsibl Cymru ynghyd ar<br />
gyfer rhagor o gyfleoedd datblygu. Mae’r<br />
cynlluniau hyn yn cynnwys ymweliad<br />
ymchwil Ewropeaidd yn Haf 2013 er mwyn<br />
archwilio sut i gynyddu cyfran Cymru o gyllid<br />
ymchwil Ewrop.<br />
‘Mae Crwsibl Cymru<br />
yn rhaglen ddatblygu<br />
gyffrous sy’n ategu<br />
Strategaeth<br />
Gwyddoniaeth i<br />
Gymru a Rhaglen Sêr<br />
Cymru Llywodraeth<br />
Cymru.<br />
Nod y Crwsibl yw<br />
gwella ymhellach<br />
ansawdd gweithgarwch ymchwil yng Nghymru<br />
drwy gefnogi a datblygu’r ymchwilwyr o<br />
ansawdd uchel sydd eisoes yn rhan o<br />
gymuned ymchwil Cymru. Mae’r rhaglen yn<br />
cydnabod bod eisoes waelodlin sylweddol o<br />
ymchwilwyr talentog yng Nghymru a thrwy eu<br />
cefnogi drwy hyfforddiant a datblygiad gallwn<br />
eu helpu i wireddu eu potensial i fod yn<br />
ymchwilwyr o safon fyd-eang. Bydd creu<br />
sylfaen mor gryf o ymchwilwyr yng Nghymru yn<br />
cyfrannu’n sylweddol at Gymru’n dod i’r amlwg<br />
fel grym pwysig o ran ymchwil sy’n bwysig yn<br />
fyd-eang.’<br />
Yr Athro David Shepherd<br />
Dirprwy Is-ganghellor (Ymchwil a Menter)<br />
‘Cynlluniwyd Crwsibl<br />
Cymru er mwyn<br />
adnabod rhai o’n<br />
hymchwilwyr mwyaf<br />
disglair sydd mewn<br />
cyfnod cynnar neu<br />
hanner ffordd trwy eu<br />
gyrfaoedd a’u rhoi ar<br />
gwrs carlam trwy<br />
ystod o brofiadau<br />
dysgu er mwyn ei<br />
helpu i ddod yn<br />
arweinwyr ymchwil<br />
rhyngddisgyblaethol<br />
rhagorol. Cawsom<br />
ein boddhau drwy<br />
weld yr ymateb i’r<br />
rhaglen gan<br />
ysgolheigion yng<br />
Nghymru, a’r<br />
gefnogaeth a<br />
ddarparwyd gan<br />
Gyngor Cyllido<br />
Addysg Uwch Cymru<br />
a’r prifysgolion Dydd<br />
Gŵyl Dewi yng<br />
Nghymru. Bydd<br />
manteisio i’r eithaf ar<br />
y wybodaeth, sgiliau<br />
a’r arbenigedd sydd<br />
gennym yn ein helpu i<br />
gwrdd â’r heriau a<br />
wynebwn yng<br />
Nghymru a’r tu hwnt.’<br />
Yr Athro Teresa Rees<br />
Cyfarwyddwr Cyswllt,<br />
Cymru, Y Sefydliad<br />
Arweinyddiaeth ar<br />
gyfer Addysg Uwch<br />
09
Adolygiad o Crwsibl Cymru 2011<br />
10<br />
Crwsibl Cymru<br />
Yn Datblygu Arweinwyr Ymchwil y Dyfodol i Gymru