Highly Acclaimed Research Grant for Coleg Scholarship Holder

A PhD student at Bangor University, who is also a Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol research scholar, has won a highly acclaimed research grant worth €5,000 from the European Hydration Institute (EHI).

Julian Owen,  a student at the University’s School of Sport Health & Exercise Sciences Bangor University, is currently researching the subject of Human Physiology.

The EHI was established with the aim of developing understanding and sharing information on matters relating to human hydration and the effects of hydration on health, welfare and performance. It was announced this week that Julian Owen was one of just eight individuals across Europe who have succeeded in securing a research grant in this subject area.

The title of Julian’s project is “Hypertonic and isotonic dehydration effects on hydration marker utility and human performance”. 

He said: “I’m delighted to have been successful in securing this grant and I’m looking forward to starting the work. It’s very exciting for me to have the opportunity to contribute towards developing the work of the EHI and I very much hope that my own research will make a significant contribution. The EHI’s work is very important in trying to increase our understanding of issues relating to human hydration. It is undoubtedly a very broad subject and it’s a great opportunity for me to work alongside other academics from countries such as Holland, Portugal and Poland, who have also been successful. This grant is obviously a great honour for me and I would like to thank Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and Bangor University for their support.”

Dr Dylan Phillips is Staff Development Manager for Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. He added: “Securing an EHI grant is no small feat, and as such, it is quite an honour for the Coleg that a holder of its research scholarships scheme has succeeded in doing so. The Coleg awarded this scholarship to Bangor University in 2010, and this recognition by the EHI clearly shows that Welsh medium academics such as Julian can compete with other researchers on an international level. We are very pleased with Julian’s success and look forward to seeing the fruits of his labour. Julian’s achievement will most definitely boost other Welsh medium academics and students who study their subjects through the medium of Welsh.”

As part of the research scholarships scheme, Julian also contributes towards teaching undergraduate students at Bangor University. He currently hosts Welsh medium seminars and tutorials for degree course students in the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences. By the time his five year funding from Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol comes to an end, he will have also created brand new Welsh medium modules in the subject area of human physiology, based on his research.

The research scholarships scheme has a central role in Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol’s strategy to create a new wave of young academics who teach through the medium of Welsh, and to increase the provision available for students to study in Welsh.

Publication date: 22 March 2012