Professor Williams met researchers from across the Colleges of Science, Medicine and Engineering during her day-long visit.  The research teams gave her an update on some of the latest research being carried out on campus.  Professor Williams herself is a leading researcher into Alzheimer's Disease.

‌Picture:  Professor Julie Williams, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Welsh Government, becomes the latest distinguished visitor to sign the wall in the Institute of Life Sciences, watched by Vice Chancellor Professor Richard B Davies.

Swansea University is closely involved with the Welsh Government’s Ser Cymru (“Welsh stars”) programme, which aims to attract world-class scientific researchers to Wales, especially in the fields of:

• Advanced engineering and materials
• Life sciences and health
• Low carbon, energy and environment

One recent example of Swansea’s involvement is the appointment of Professor James Durrant as a Ser Cymru Research Chair in Solar Energy Research. 

Professor Durrant will establish and lead a world-class, dedicated research facility at a new Solar Futures Laboratory (SFL) based within the EPSRC-funded SPECIFIC Innovation and Knowledge Centre at Baglan.  This will be a unique partnership between universities in Wales (led by Swansea) and Imperial College London.

As well as meeting researchers in a wide variety of scientific fields, Professor Williams also met with University Vice Chancellor Professor Richard B Davies and other members of the senior management team.  

Professor Richard B Davies, Swansea University Vice Chancellor, said:

“We were very pleased to welcome Professor Williams to the University, and to update her on some of the world-leading scientific research being carried out here at Swansea, in engineering, the natural sciences and medicine.  

The visit was very timely, as our new Bay campus, which is now taking shape, will provide a real boost for our research and for links with industry.  It shows that Swansea University is playing its part in ensuring that Wales is at the cutting edge of 21st century scientific research.” 

Picture:  (l-r) Professor Richard B Davies, Swansea University Vice Chancellor; Professor Julie Williams, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Welsh Government; Professor Keith Lloyd, Head of Swansea University College of Medicine; Professor Hilary Lappin-Scott, Swansea University Pro Vice Chancellor.