Diamond in the Land of Dragons

Welsh scientific talent makes up a substantial portion of Diamond’s user base, with over 170 scientists affiliated with institutions based in Wales. Recently, a Welsh television company, S4C Dibendraw, aired a documentary about Diamond and its impact on Welsh scientists and science. Keen to further highlight this productive relationship with our neighbours to the West, Diamond staff recently travelled to Wales to take part in the country’s most popular festival, the National Eisteddfod, an event that has been described as Wales’ cultural Olympics.

 

The Eisteddfod is held annually in the first week of August, changing its location between North, South and Mid Wales each year and attracting in the region of 160,000 visitors over a period of 8 days. The modern day National Eisteddfod goes back to the latter part of the eighteenth century, but the full history of the Eisteddfod can be traced back to bardic competitions held by Lord Rhys in Cardigan Castle in 1176. For participants in the festival, the week-long event is the culmination of months of preparation and local competitions to find choirs, actors, dancers, poets and artists to perform at the festival. But one of the most popular attractions on the ‘Maes’ (event field) is the ‘Pabell Gwyddoniaeth’ (Science Tent).