WELCOME Dear alumni and friends, 2020 has been an extraordinary year for us all. The onset of a global pandemic, the impact of which continues to be felt across the world and across so many aspects of our lives, has transformed the ways in which we live and work together. We, like so many institutions, have relied greatly upon the strength of our connections as we adjust to our new, more virtual world. During our centenary year, it has been helpful to draw upon our one hundred year history of resilience in the face of adversity. In spite of the challenges, I am incredibly proud of our Swansea University community and of our response to the events of 2020. Our position as a leading research institution has enabled us to support national and international responses to Covid-19, from researching new medical approaches, to providing evidence and insights to inform policy and address the effects of the virus upon our society. I am equally proud of our brilliant network of alumni and supporters, who have so generously provided both their financial and moral support for our University’s work, a snapshot of which I am pleased to be able to share with you here. It has been inspiring to see the many ways in which people have come together to respond positively and with purpose, both at an individual and a collective level. Your donations and support are a key part of those efforts, funding work which would otherwise not have been possible and helping to ensure that our most vulnerable students are supported through the Student Hardship Fund.
Alongside our Covid-19 focused activity, our University researchers and staff have continued to focus on the longer-term grand challenges of our time. Over the last year, donations from alumni and friends have supported many projects which are addressing some of the world’s most complex problems, such as biodiversity loss, climate change, and improving race relations. Some of these excellent projects are also featured here. Finally, I would like to give our sincere thanks to all of our volunteers. These donations of time have been invaluable, especially to our students and young alumni, many of whom have benefited greatly from this support during a challenging period. I hope, for example, that you are as inspired as I am by the testimonial from our class of 1982 alumnus and volunteer, Sandeep. Thank you again for your fantastic support, which has been so vital to us this year. We hope to be able to see many of you again soon and in the meantime, I hope that you and your families stay safe and well.
Professor Paul Boyle Vice-Chancellor
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