Science and the Senedd/Gwyddoniaeth a’r Senedd

MSci in Geographical Sciences from University of Bristol, 2005
PhD (2008) and postdoctoral training (2008-2014) in glaciology and engineering at the University of Bristol
Lecturer (2014-2018) and Senior Lecturer (2018-present) at School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University.
My research is concerned with the impact of glacier melting on downstream ecosystems, and in the development of new technologies to measure it. I focus on biogeochemical processes, from the microorganisms that live on the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, to the interactions of meltwater with rocks beneath the ice. You can read about one of our inventions for tracking meltwater here:

Professor Halligan gained qualifications in psychology, philosophy and education at University College Dublin. In 1985, he moved from Ireland to work at a specialist NHS neuro-rehabilitation Centre in Oxford as a research psychologist while also pursuing a PhD in neuropsychology. In 1987, he joined the Neuropsychology Unit at the Department of Clinical Neurology in Oxford University and in 1997 following a MRC Senior Research Fellowship award, joined the Department of Experimental Psychology in Oxford.
In 2000, he moved to Cardiff’s School of Psychology as a Distinguished Research Professor and in 2003, he played a central role in establishing Cardiff University’s Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), becoming the founding Director.
From 2010-2014, he was Chair and Academic lead of the Welsh Crucible, the all -Wales staff leadership programme for early career researchers. In 2012, he joined Universities Wales as Head of Strategic Futures as part of a 2 year secondment.
In March 2018, he moved from the role of Chief Executive at the Learned Society of Wales to become the third Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales, working in the Welsh Government.
Prof Halligan is a research psychologist and neuroscientist by background. He has worked in neuropsychology, neuropsychiatry and neuro-rehabilitation and has published over 200 papers including papers in Nature, BMJ, Lancet, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, Trends in Cognitive Science and also edited 10 books.

Sandra Esteves is a Professor in Bioprocess Technology for Resource Recovery (Energy and Materials) and is the Director for Wales Centre of Excellence for Anaerobic Digestion based at the University of South Wales. She has over 20 years’ experience in biotechnology research, development and full scale industrial deployment. Sandra has directed over £10M of R&D projects funded by the EU, Innovate UK, BEIS, Welsh Government and Research Councils and the private sector. Sandra is a co-chair of the European Biogas Association' Scientific Advisory Council and has collaborated with over 200 companies. Sandra’s areas of work relate to microbial conversions of wastes into energy, chemicals and materials.

Tom Rippeth is the Professor of Physical Oceanography at Bangor University's School of Ocean Sciences, one of the largest University centres of marine science in Europe. His research focuses measuring ocean turbulence with the aim of improving our understanding of how the ocean works. In this presentation he will focus on research carried out in Bangor over the past 15 years which has revealed the growing influence of Atlantic water in melting Arctic Sea ice and the potential impacts of the declining sea ice on Wales weather. 

Janet has been the Welsh Conservative MS for Aberconwy since 2011, and is currently the Shadow Minister for Climate Change. 

Janet previously represented the Welsh Conservative group as Shadow Minister for Local Government from 2012 – 2018, and then as the Shadow Minister for Social Care, Children, Young People, and Older People. During the fifth Senedd, she was delighted to have been elected as the former Chair of the Senedd's Petitions Committee. Since 2020, Janet has sat on the Senedd's Climate Change, Energy & Rural Affairs Committee.

Janet has previously represented the Craig-Y-Don ward on Llandudno Town Council, and Conwy County Borough Council. At the Local Authority, she sat as the Cabinet Member with overall responsibility for Community Safety, and held the roles of Chair of the Principal Scrutiny Committee and Leader of the Welsh Conservative Group. Janet is proud to be a former Mayor of Llandudno, a position held by both her parents before her.

Politically, Janet’s key focuses are ensuring more investment in health and social services – particularly for the elderly and those suffering with mental health illnesses; reducing regulation and red tape for farmers; ensuring the full rollout of superfast broadband to rural areas; and reducing waste in Government at all levels. As a keen business woman and entrepreneur, Janet has founded a number of successful local businesses. She is supportive of new start-ups and established SMEs, and initiated the Cross-Party Group on Small Shops during the Fourth Assembly.

Janet is passionate about animals and marine conservation and she is a keen sailor. Janet is married to Gareth Saunders, they live in Llandudno and have two children together – Adam and Hannah.

Paul Lewis is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). As COO, Paul provides leadership to cross-organisational operations in accordance with our strategy, budget and business plans to ensure that organisational goals and objectives are met. Paul leads our international STM journals, books and data publishing business with supporting technology and, sales & marketing teams as well as overseeing our global operations. Paul has a wider organisational leadership role, developing RSC strategy and capabilities as well as representing the RSC in the UK and internationally. A qualified teacher with an MBA, he has substantial senior leadership experience in the educational assessment, adult training and, STM sectors with specialist government-to-government consulting and, international operating expertise. Paul is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts and, Institute of Leadership & Management in the UK. He was born and lives in Cardiff.

A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and former member of the Senedd, Eluned leads the IoP’s strategy and activities within Wales.

Before joining the IoP, Eluned was the first Director of the Unite Foundation, a young educational charity working with care-experienced and estranged students across the UK, and has more than 20 years’ experience in working in schools and public engagement for organisations such as Techniquest, National Youth Arts Wales and Cardiff University.  

Eluned is particularly interested in how policy development in Wales can help to create a diverse and supportive STEM ecosystem for the future, encourage research and development to boost the economy and engage citizens in meaningful conversations about how science impacts on their lives.

In addition to her work with the IoP, Eluned is a Trustee of the National Botanic Garden of Wales an Infrastructure Commissioner for Wales and Chair of the Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services.

Jane Dodds MS is leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and represent the Mid and West Wales region in the Senedd. Jane was first elected as Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats in 2017. As an MS Jane sits as a member of the Equality and Social Justice Committee. Before her election to the Senedd she was a Child Protection Social Worker for 27 years.