UWTSD Applied Computing Blog

Over the past few weeks, the School of Applied Computing has been inviting groups of girls from local schools to taster days aimed at inspiring them to consider a career in the fast-moving and exciting world of IT.

The programme of visits, organised by Dr Kapilan Radhakrishnan in association with EESW, has so far welcomed parties from Dwr-y-Felin, Birchgrove, Llandovery College and Bishop Gore. Gowerton and Penyrheol Schools are due to visit within the next few weeks.

A typical visit day kicks off with a brief introduction to careers in computing by Professor Ian Wells, followed by a talk from Dr Carlene Campbell about why ICT needs more women. Inspired by this, the school parties then get the chance to try some hands-on activities.

Ably aided by SoAC’s PhD students and ambassadors, the school parties are divided into smaller groups which rotate around a selection of educational and fun-packed practical workshops. These include RoboWar, where the girls learn how to construct Lego robots and programme them to complete a given task, Maze Runner, PC Building and – perhaps the favourite – a Virtual Reality experience using Oculus Rift headsets.

The day ends with a round-up talk and distribution of goody bags. The girls have thoroughly enjoyed their days and feedback from the schools involved has been overwhelmingly positive, with teachers eager to arrange more workshop sessions and visits in future.

Interested? Contact Dr Kapilan Radhakrishan at kapilan.radhakrishnan@uwtsd.ac.uk for further information.

The School of Applied Computing is delighted to report that Dr Carlene Campbell has been made a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy at the recent meeting of its Recognition Panel.

Dr Campbell joined UWTSD in 2013 as Lecturer in Computer Networks. Her main interests are Computer Networks, Wireless Networks and Security, and she is currently supervising several full-time PhD, Masters and undergraduate students.

Hailing originally from the Caribbean, Dr Campbell took her undergraduate degree at the University of Technology, Jamaica, before coming to the UK for her Masters. She studied for a doctorate at Middlesex University, following which she lectured at Brunel and Coventry Universities.

Actively engaged in research, she has written a number of top-ranked journal papers and is Research Co-ordinator for SoAC’s Computer Networks and Communications Research Group.   As well as editing and reviewing a number of scientific and professional journals, Dr Campbell is also a CISCO Certified Academy Instructor (CCAI) with technical expertise in Computer Networks and Communications.

Dr Carlene Campbell

Anticipation is building in the School of Applied Computing in advance of this year’s Degree Show.  The Exhibition Boards produced by our final-years summarising their projects are being prepared today ready to be taken down to TechHub for Thursday evening’s event.

The Degree Show, a highlight in the School’s calendar, provides an opportunity for the students to showcase all their hard work and discuss it with the public.  It’s also a forum for local employers looking for computing graduates with their skills to meet our students and talk to them about their projects.

As always, you’ll find an impressive range of innovative and exciting projects on show this year.

Open to all and free entry, the Degree Show’s doors open at 5pm this Thursday, 26th May, at the new TechHub venue on Swansea High Street.  The entrance to TechHub is situated opposite Volcano Theatre (the Iceland Building).  See you there!

And yes … there will be pizza!

Following their first biodiversity lunchtime walk in January, the School of Applied Computing’s Green Impact Team have arranged another one for Tuesday 17^th May 2016. Do join us! We’re meeting at 1.10 pm at Reception.

Mount Pleasant forms the eastern fringe of Mayhill – as well as providing a great opportunity to stretch your legs and admire the stunning views across the bay, Mayhill is surprisingly full of history. “People don’t realise just how much is there!” says lecturer Sue Maw, a former Mayhill resident. Here’s her run-down on what you can find just a stone’s throw from the campus …

Mayhill was originally open countryside, which was divided into a patchwork of hedged fields following the 1762 Enclosure Act – in places, old banks and walls can still be seen. Just off Creidiol Road lies the old Washing Pond. Fed by springs, it was used in the Middle Ages for washing laundry, later becoming the source of water for Swansea’s Victorian Workhouse. Although the pond has silted up in recent years, it’s currently being renovated by local volunteers.

Further along is an old burial ground, established in the mid-1700s for Swansea’s then-sizeable Jewish community. It was located outside the city limits on a hillside facing towards Jerusalem in accordance with tradition. Out of use by the 1960s, it’s recently been restored and is an important are for wildlife.

In more recent times, Mayhill became the location for the first social housing estate in Britain – Mayhill Garden City. The first six council homes ever built can still be seen at numbers 2 to 12 Islwyn Road.