Cyn Fyfyriwr Lefel A yn Ennill Gwobr Arian ym Maes Ffiseg

Mae Laura Hanks, a astudiodd gyrsiau Lefel A Ffiseg, Mathemateg, Cemeg a Bioleg ar gampws y coleg ym Mangor, bellach yn gweithio fel ymchwilydd ôl-ddoethuriaeth mewn Ffiseg, ym Mhrifysgol Caerhirfryn.

⁠Cyflwynodd Laura ei hymchwil, yn dwyn y teitl “Sensing at Your Fingertips: A Path to Spectrally Selective Infrared Detectors for You and Your Environment”, yn y digwyddiad Seneddol a gynhaliwyd yn ystod mis Mawrth. ⁠

Mae ‘STEM for Britain’ yn gystadleuaeth ‘poster gwyddonol’ fawr, ac yn arddangosfa, sydd wedi’i chynnal yn y Senedd ers 1997, ac sy’n cael ei threfnu gan y Pwyllgor Seneddol a Gwyddonol. Nod y digwyddiad yw codi proffil ymchwilwyr cyfnod cynnar y DU yn San Steffan, drwy ymgysylltu aelodau o ddau Dŷ’r Senedd â’r ymchwil gwyddoniaeth, peirianneg a mathemateg cyfredol sy’n cael ei wneud yn y DU.

Yn dilyn ei chyfnod yn y coleg, llwyddodd Laura i gael lle ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd i astudio Ffiseg gyda Gradd Meistr integredig. Symudodd ymlaen wedyn i astudio PhD ym Mhrifysgol Caerhirfryn, lle mae bellach yn gweithio fel Uwch Gydymaith Ymchwil.

Mae gwaith Laura yn cynnwys monitro gwahanol fetrigau iechyd, megis glwcos yn y gwaed, a allai alluogi pobl i fonitro eu hiechyd eu hunain gartref.

Dywedodd Bethan Lloyd Owen-Hughes, Rheolwr Maes Rhaglen Safon Uwch yng Ngholeg Menai:

“Rydyn ni’n hynod falch o lwyddiant Laura, mae hi’n fodel rôl wych i’n myfyrwyr gwyddoniaeth presennol sy’n gobeithio mynd ymlaen i wneud pethau tebyg ar ôl eu cyfnod yn y coleg!”

“Mae’r buddsoddiad gwerth miliynau diweddar yn ein campysau yn sicrhau bod ein pobl ifanc yn cael eu haddysgu yn defnyddio labordai o safon diwydiant – gan eu paratoi ar gyfer gyrfa STEM lwyddiannus”

Ychwanegodd,

“Hoffwn ddymuno pob llwyddiant i Laura wrth iddi barhau i wneud ymchwil mewn maes o ffiseg sydd mor ddylanwadol. Rydyn ni yng Ngholeg Menai yn edrych ymlaen at glywed beth fydd ganddi ar y gweill nesaf.”

Dywedodd Laura:

“Roedd y digwyddiad yn y Senedd yn gyfle gwych i gamu allan o’r hyn sydd fel arfer yn swigen gymdeithasol fach o bobl sy’n gwybod yn union beth rydych chi’n ei wneud, a thrafod eich ymchwil mewn cyd-destun llawer ehangach. Roedd yn brofiad unigryw."

“Cefais fy ysbrydoli'n fawr gan fy narlithydd cemeg a ffiseg yn ystod fy amser yng Ngholeg Menai. Roedd yn wych am egluro pob math o gysyniadau, a byddai’n eu hymarfer a’u harddangos nes eu bod yn ail natur i ni.”

“Mae fy ymchwil presennol yn canolbwyntio’n bennaf ar ddylunio a datblygu synwyryddion isgoch ar gyfer amrywiaeth o ddefnydd. Gellir defnyddio synwyryddion isgoch i; didoli plastigion i'w hailgylchu, monitro methan a charbon deuocsid yn ogystal â mesur glwcos yn y gwaed heb dorri'r croen. Rydyn ni'n gobeithio am fyd lle mae pob un o'r synwyryddion hyn wedi'u cynnwys mewn ffôn neu oriawr glyfar, ac ar gael i bawb. Gall synwyryddion isgoch gael eu defnyddio mewn sawl ffordd a allai gael effaith gymdeithasol, ond mae angen mwy o bobl arnom i'n helpu i ymchwilio!”

Laura Hanks, who studied A Levels in Physics, Maths, Chemistry and Biology at the college’s Bangor campus, now works as a postdoctoral researcher in Physics, at Lancaster University.

Laura presented her research, titled “Sensing at Your Fingertips: A Path to Spectrally Selective Infrared Detectors for You and Your Environment”, at the Parliamentary event held during March.

‘STEM for Britain’ is a major scientific poster competition and exhibition which has been held in Parliament since 1997, and is organised by the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee. The event aims to raise the profile of the UK’s early-stage researchers at Westminster by engaging members of both Houses of Parliament with current science, engineering and mathematics research being undertaken in the UK.

Following her time at college, Laura was successful in gaining a place to study Physics with an integrated Master’s Degree at Cardiff University. She then moved on to study a PhD at Lancaster University, where she now works as a Senior Research Associate.

Laura’s work involves smart monitoring of various health metrics such as blood glucose, which could enable people to monitor their own health at home.

Bethan Lloyd Owen-Hughes, Programme Area Manager for A Levels at Coleg Menai, said,

“We’re immensely proud of Laura’s success, she’s a fantastic role model for our current science students who hope to go on to do similar things after their time at college!”

“The recent multi-million investment in our campuses ensure that our young people are taught using industry-standard laboratories - preparing them for a successful STEM career”

She added,

“I’d like to wish Laura all the best as she continues to carry out research in such an impactful area of physics. We at Coleg Menai look forward to hearing what she does next.”

Laura said,

“The event at Parliament was a fantastic opportunity to step out of what is usually a very focused social bubble of people who know exactly what you do and discuss your research in a much broader context. It was a very unique experience.”

“My chemistry and physics lecturer during my time at Coleg Menai inspired me a lot. He was fantastic at explaining all sorts of concepts, and would practise and demonstrate them until they were second nature to us”

“My current research is primarily focused on designing and developing infrared detectors for a variety of applications. Infrared detectors can be used to; sort plastics for recycling, monitor methane and carbon dioxide as well as non-invasively measure blood glucose. We are imagining a world where each of these sensors are built into a smart phone or watch, available to everyone. Infrared detectors are full of possible societally impactful applications, we just need more people to help us research!”

Laura Hanks, who studied A Levels in Physics, Maths, Chemistry and Biology at the college’s Bangor campus, now works as a postdoctoral researcher in Physics, at Lancaster University.

Laura presented her research, titled “Sensing at Your Fingertips: A Path to Spectrally Selective Infrared Detectors for You and Your Environment”, at the Parliamentary event held during March.

‘STEM for Britain’ is a major scientific poster competition and exhibition which has been held in Parliament since 1997, and is organised by the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee. The event aims to raise the profile of the UK’s early-stage researchers at Westminster by engaging members of both Houses of Parliament with current science, engineering and mathematics research being undertaken in the UK.

Following her time at college, Laura was successful in gaining a place to study Physics with an integrated Master’s Degree at Cardiff University. She then moved on to study a PhD at Lancaster University, where she now works as a Senior Research Associate.

Laura’s work involves smart monitoring of various health metrics such as blood glucose, which could enable people to monitor their own health at home.

Bethan Lloyd Owen-Hughes, Programme Area Manager for A Levels at Coleg Menai, said,

“We’re immensely proud of Laura’s success, she’s a fantastic role model for our current science students who hope to go on to do similar things after their time at college!”

“The recent multi-million investment in our campuses ensure that our young people are taught using industry-standard laboratories - preparing them for a successful STEM career”

She added,

“I’d like to wish Laura all the best as she continues to carry out research in such an impactful area of physics. We at Coleg Menai look forward to hearing what she does next.”

Laura said,

“The event at Parliament was a fantastic opportunity to step out of what is usually a very focused social bubble of people who know exactly what you do and discuss your research in a much broader context. It was a very unique experience.”

“My chemistry and physics lecturer during my time at Coleg Menai inspired me a lot. He was fantastic at explaining all sorts of concepts, and would practise and demonstrate them until they were second nature to us”

“My current research is primarily focused on designing and developing infrared detectors for a variety of applications. Infrared detectors can be used to; sort plastics for recycling, monitor methane and carbon dioxide as well as non-invasively measure blood glucose. We are imagining a world where each of these sensors are built into a smart phone or watch, available to everyone. Infrared detectors are full of possible societally impactful applications, we just need more people to help us research!”