Warm congratulations to Professor Alan Shore FLSW on winning the Science and Technology Medal of Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Llŷn ac Eifionydd, 2023. The medal is given in recognition and celebration of an individual’s contribution to the field of science and technology through the Welsh language.  Alan is a versatile person, with Wales and the Welsh language an integral part of his activities.  Originally a mathematician, he later applied his talents to developments in electronic engineering.  Alan’s contribution to the field of science and technology through the Welsh language is exceptional, and over an extended period of time.  He has extended engineering to the younger generations and to society in general, he has encouraged and facilitated, and has shown how natural it is to deal with the field through the Welsh language.

Alan is from Tredegar Newydd, Cwm Rhymni.  He was educated at Ysgol Lewis Pengam and then studied Mathematics at Jesus College, Oxford University.  He returned to Wales for postgraduate studies, and during this time in Cardiff he began to learn the Welsh language.

He was appointed to academic positions at the universities of Liverpool and Bath, but continued to live in Wales and contribute to Welsh language activities.  In 1995 the opportunity came to return to work in Wales when he was appointed Professor of Electronic Engineering at Bangor University, where he led and developed his work on Photonics and Optoelectronics.  There is no doubt that Alan is an outstanding mathematician and engineer who has published, presented and facilitated research extensively and world-wide.  However, in addition to this, and specifically to the occasion of the medal, he has made exceptional contributions to the development of Engineering in Wales and through the Welsh language.  This is an area that has not traditionally been prominent in the Welsh language, and the first step is to nurture and encourage scientists in Wales to lay a foundation to develop the field in Welsh.  The theme of promoting and encouraging his colleagues and the younger generation is constantly seen in his contributions.

His contributions are numerous, and include to the Photonics Academy of Wales, the National Eisteddfod and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.  He is an active and prominent Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales ensuring the place of the Welsh language in its activities; he is on the Council of the Society and has served as the General Secretary.  He organises the annual Learned Society’s lecture at the National Eisteddfod, with the lecture being a science lecture every other year.

The Medal was presented to Alan on behalf of the Eisteddfod by Professor Andrew Evans FLSW, Aberystwyth University in a ceremony held in the Sfferen at the Science and Technology Village of the Eisteddfod and then on the main stage of the Eisteddfod and skilfully compered by Elin Rhys FLSW, Telesgop.  The Eisteddfod was represented in the Sfferen by Liz Saville Roberts MP, President of the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Llŷn ac Eifionydd and on the main stage by Ashok Ahir, President of Llys yr Eisteddfod.  In the village Dr Bryn Hughes Parry gave an introduction on behalf of the local Science and Technology committee of the Eisteddfod, Professor Eleri Pryse FLSW, Aberystwyth University presented a tribute in celebration of Alan’s exceptional contribution to engineering through the Welsh language, Professor Trystan Watson, Swansea University gave the background to creating the medal, and musical items were performed by Ysgol Glan y Môr, Pwllheli with Mr Iwan Wyn Williams accompanying and by Gwen Elin, Elin Angharad and Non Gwenllian.  Alan responded and acknowledged the excellent work of Tanya Jones, the Eisteddfod’s Science and Technology co-ordinator.  On the main stage the poet Guto Dafydd presented his poem to congratulate Alan on winning the medal.