Creating connections in Wales 2026
In collaboration with the Learned Society of Wales, this event will bring together experts from academia, industry and government to address scientific and technical opportunities and challenges in Wales.
The Royal Society is working in collaboration with the Learned Society of Wales to deliver Creating connections in Wales 2026 – a conference focusing on Welsh research and innovation. This event will bring together experts from academia, industry and government to address scientific and technical opportunities and challenges in Wales.
This event will feature workshops and roundtable discussions on diverse topics including policy, industry and education. This event will also feature a lunchtime address and various networking opportunities which will bring together delegates from across the conference.
The Learned Society of Wales is the national academy for arts and sciences
Our Fellowship brings together experts from across all academic fields and beyond. We use this collective knowledge to promote research, inspire learning, and provide independent policy advice.
To learn more about our work visit learnedsociety.wales/
Cymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru yw academi genedlaethol Cymru ar gyfer y celfyddydau a’r gwyddorau
Daw ein Cymrodoriaeth ag arbenigwyr at ei gilydd o bob maes academaidd a thu hwnt. Defnyddiwn yr wybodaeth gyfunol hon i hyrwyddo ymchwil, ysbrydoli dysg a darparu cyngor polisi annibynnol.
Darllenwch fwy am ein gwaith cymdeithasddysgedig.cymru/
Attending this event
- This event will be free to attend
- Please register to attend
- To request an invitation to an invitation-only session, please contact industry@royalsociety.org
Schedule
| 10:45-15:00 |
Practical science in the classroom: teacher workshop
The Royal Society invites primary and secondary science teachers, science leads, science technicians, and SLT to attend the Creating connections conference, with sessions focussing on providing support and solutions to carrying out practical science in the classroom. This session has been designed by The Royal Society Schools Engagement team and will introduce teachers to a range of Royal Society programmes, such as the flagship programme the Partnership Grants scheme, and its extensive free STEM resources for schools. We hope the day will serve as a networking opportunity for you to connect with educators across the region. Alongside presentations, group discussions and a workshop activity, the morning session will highlight The Royal Society's free teaching resources and opportunities for your school to access funding of up to £3000, and will feature a case study talk from a teacher and STEM partner who have participated in the Royal Society’s Partnership Grants scheme. After lunch, the session will bring together teachers and professionals working in universities, science centres, local museums, and community organisations. The conversation will shift to discussions centred on the essential skills and knowledge that you think researchers need to deliver effective schools engagement, public and community engagement. This will be a fantastic opportunity for discussion and feedback around engagement with schools in your area and how this could be mutually improved. Each school invited may bring up to two members of staff. If you are only able to attend the morning session and not the entire day, please contact education@royalsociety.org. This session is invitation-only. Please contact education@royalsociety.org if you have any questions. |
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| 10:45-15:00 |
Engagement, collaboration and community
We invite professionals working in public engagement and outreach across universities, science centres, local museums and community organisations to a dedicated workshop hosted by the Royal Society’s Public Engagement team. We hope this session will be an opportunity to create and strengthen local and national connections. We are keen to share Royal Society-funded opportunities for collaboration and want to better understand how the Society can support its funded researchers to engage in their local areas. In the morning, we’ll focus on exploring and deepening connections between engagement professionals, using resources and initiatives from the Royal Society to spark ideas and collaborative partnerships. After lunch, we will be joined by teachers attending parallel workshops and the conversation will shift to roundtable discussions centred on essential skills and knowledge that you think that researchers need to lead and deliver effective schools, public and community engagement. We look forward to a day of shared learning, inspiration, and building a stronger network of education and engagement professionals. This session is invitation-only. |
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| 11:15-12:15 |
Industry College presentations
Join us for a series of presentations highlighting some of the projects the Royal Society has funded through the Industry Fellowship, Short Industry Fellowship and Entrepreneur in Residence programme. The Royal Society Industry College network consists of current and former award holders of the Royal Society Industry Fellowship, Short Industry Fellowship and Entrepreneur in Residence schemes. All three schemes were established by the Society to help facilitate research translation and strengthen the links between industry and academia. This session is open to all. |
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| 12:20-12:25 |
Welcome address
Dame Julie Maxton DBEExecutive Director, The Royal Society
Dame Julie Maxton DBEExecutive Director, The Royal Society Dame Julie Maxton is the Executive Director of the Royal Society, the first woman in 350 years to hold the post. Before taking up her position at the Royal Society in 2011, Julie was Registrar at the University of Oxford, the first woman in 550 years in the role. She is an Honorary Fellow of University College Oxford, a Bencher of the Middle Temple and a Freeman of the Goldsmith’s Company. She is Chair of the Ada Lovelace Institute and of the Kalisher Trust. In the past she has also been on the Boards of the Alan Turing Institute, Blavatnik School of Government in Oxford, Haberdasher Aske’s School (Elstree), Engineering UK, Charities Aid Foundation, The Faraday Institute and Sense about Science. Originally trained as a barrister at the Middle Temple, Julie combined a career as a practising lawyer with that of an academic, holding a number of senior academic positions, including those of Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Academic and other recognition Julie has received include a CBE (2017), a DBE (2023), and Honorary Degrees from the Universities of Huddersfield, Warwick, Canterbury, Hull, Bristol and Brunel. She is the author of numerous articles concerned with trusts, equity, commercial and property law. 
Professor Hywel Thomas CBE FREng FRSPresident of the Learned Society of Wales
Professor Hywel Thomas CBE FREng FRSPresident of the Learned Society of Wales Professor Hywel Thomas is the third President of the Learned Society of Wales. Professor Thomas is the founder Director of the Geoenvironmental Research Centre (GRC) at Cardiff University, and a UNESCO Professor in the Development of a Sustainable Geoenvironment. He is a Distinguished Research Professor at Swansea University. He also leads FLEXIS, a £24 million project for energy systems research in Wales. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng), and a Member of Academia Europaea, the Academy of Europe. In 2017 he received a CBE for services to academic research and higher education. |
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| 12:30-12:50 |
Lunchtime address: Science and innovation in Wales
Professor Jas Pal Badyal FRSChief Scientific Adviser for Wales, Welsh Government Office for Science / Swyddfa Gwyddoniaeth Llywodraeth Cymru
Professor Jas Pal Badyal FRSChief Scientific Adviser for Wales, Welsh Government Office for Science / Swyddfa Gwyddoniaeth Llywodraeth Cymru Jas Pal Badyal was awarded BA (1985) and PhD (1988) degrees from Cambridge University; where he subsequently held a King’s College Fellowship and the Oppenheimer Fellowship. In 1989 he moved to Durham University to take up a lectureship and was promoted to Full Professor in 1996. He is internationally recognized for his pioneering research on the functionalization of solid surfaces and deposition of functional nanolayers. Jas Pal has invented a wide range of novel surfaces for technological and societal applications. These have been underpinned by the investigation of fundamental mechanisms and scale-up. Examples include: antibacterial, fog harvesting, catalysis, non-fouling, optochiral switches, filtration, biochips, super-repellency, and nano-actuation. Since 2023, Jas Pal has been the Chief Scientific Adviser for the Welsh Government. |
| 13:30-14:30 |
Science 2040: building a thriving R&I economy in Wales
Research and Innovation (R&I) are core to a thriving UK economy. Growth in the UK’s R&I-intensive sectors is underpinned by regional strengths and innovation clusters such as those in Wales. In 2040, what will a thriving R&I economy look like in Wales? To achieve this vision, what skills will be needed? How can we meet these skills demands? This session will bring together individuals from government, industry, academia and education to discuss these questions. These discussions will be crucial in shaping both the Royal Society’s vision for Science 2040 and policy around the skills required to ensure a thriving future R&I economy in Wales. This session is invitation-only. |
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| 13:30-15:00 |
Navigating publishing and grants at the Royal Society: a workshop
Are you an early career researcher, beginning to navigate publishing your work and submitting grants? This 1.5h workshop is brought to you by the Royal Society's journals and grants teams.
This session is open to all. |
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| 15:00-16:00 |
Funding for industry in Wales
This session will feature presentations from organisations that have been set up to provide specialist knowledge and capabilities, funders and regional support networks. Join to hear from the likes of Innovate UK, the Development Bank of Wales, the South Wales High Manufacturing Catapult, Qantx and more. This session is open to all and aimed at local SMEs and industry. |
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