Edward Lhuyd annual lecture

The 2025 Edward Lhuyd Annual Lecture of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and the Learned Society of Wales was delivered by Professor Jane Aaron at Pontio, Bangor, on 18 November 2025. As well as analysing literature concerned with the relationship between people and the environment, ecocriticism has a political aim: to deepen our historical understanding of the causes of the current environmental crisis and to strengthen our resolve to resist those who seek to dismiss it. This lecture considers the poetic work of some nineteenth-century Welsh writers whose lives were transformed by the industrial revolution, and ask whether their response to the loss of greenery carries a message for us today. Jane Aaron is Emerita Professor in the School of Humanities at the University of South Wales and author of Pur fel y Dur: Y Gymraes yn Llên Menywod y Bedwaredd Ganrif ar Bymtheg, which won the Ellis Griffith Memorial Prize in 1999; Nineteenth-Century Women’s Writing in Wales, which won the Roland Mathias Prize in 2009; the volume Welsh Gothic (2013); and her biography Cranogwen, which won the Wales Book of the Year Award in the Creative Non-Fiction category in 2024.

The Edward Lhuyd Annual Lecture of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and the Learned Society of Wales 2024 was delivered by Professor Paul O'Leary at the National Library, Aberystwyth, on 27 November 2024. Why do leading politicians refer to history so often? And what kind of history appeals to them? This lecture shows that politicians mold history for the purposes of the present and weave mythologies in order to legitimize their views today. The intention of the lecture is to examine these mythologies in an attempt to show how they affect our political culture and the discussion of history in the public arena. It is shown how politicians have produced mythologies for devolved Wales in an attempt to create a version of the past that suits the new way of governing the country - a new parliament, a new history. Paul O'Leary is Professor Emeritus at Aberystwyth University and is a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales. He was Sir John Williams Professor of Welsh History at Aberystwyth. Among his books are: Ffrainc a Chymru, 1830–1880: Dehongliadau Ffrengig o Genedl Ddi-wladwriaeth (Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, 2015); Claiming the Streets: Processions and Urban Culture in South Wales, c.1830–1880 (2012); and Immigration and Integration: the Irish in Wales, 1798–1922 (2000). With Beth Jenkins and Stephanie Ward he edited the book Gender in Modern Welsh History: Perspectives on Masculinity and Femininity in Wales from 1750 to 2000 (2023).  

Lecture title: Everyone's challenge to create a sustainable future: see the pattern and invest for the long term 'Her pawb i greu dyfodol cynaliadwy: gweld y patrwm a buddsoddi ar gyfer y tymor hir' The Edward Lhuyd Annual Lecture organised by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and the Learned Society of Wales 2023 presented by Dr Carol Bell. This was a live event that was conducted through the medium of Welsh. Dr Carol Bell is a member of the Society, and is a former Managing Director of the Global Oil & Gas Group at the Chase Manhattan Bank (1997 to 1999) and, previously, head of the European Equity Department at JP Morgan in London. She has an MA in Natural Sciences (Biochemistry) from the University of Cambridge, a BA in Earth Sciences (Geology) from the Open University and an MA and a PhD from the Institute of Archaeology, UCL.  In Wales, she is a member of several boards, including the Innovation Advisory Council of Wales, Cyfarthfa Foundation, and Football Association of Wales. She recently retired from the boards of the Development Bank of Wales, Museum Wales, and the Wales Millennium Centre. She is also on the council of Research England, and the boards of the National Physical Laboratory and Museum of London Archaeology as well as three international public companies. 

Ynni, Gwaith a Chymhlethdod: Saith Chwyldro Hanesyddol' - Darlith Flynyddol Edward Lhuyd y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol a Chymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru 2017. Traddodwyd gan yr Athro Emeritws R. Gareth Wyn Jones ar nos Iau 9 Tachwedd 2017 yn Pontio, Bangor. Yn y ddarlith hon, dehonglir hanes bywyd ar ein planed dros 4.5 biliwn blwyddyn ei bodolaeth. Dadleuir bod modd adnabod chwe chwyldro ynni ffurfiannol yn hanes ein planed. Drwy ffrwyno ffynhonnell newydd o ynni, daw'r potensial i wneud gwaith ychwanegol, sy'n arwain at gymhlethdod materol ac at gymhlethdod cymdeithasol cynyddol. Beth yw'r patrymau yn y chwe chwyldro? Beth yw eu goblygiadau ar gyfer y seithfed chwyldro, sydd ar ein gwarthaf ni heddiw?

Heneiddio a Gofal: Ein Cyfrifoldeb a'n Braint' – Darlith Flynyddol Edward Lhuyd y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol a Chymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru 2015.Traddodwyd gan yr Athro Mari Lloyd-Williams ar nos Fercher 4 Tachwedd 2015 yn y Drwm, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru, Aberystwyth.

Yr Athro Siwan Davies yn traddodi Darlith Flynyddol Edward Lhuyd y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol a Chymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru.Traddodwyd y ddarlith ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe nos Fercher 12 Tachwedd 2014.

Darlith Flynyddol Edward Lhuyd y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol a Chymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru 2013 gan yr Athro Brynley F. Roberts. Gallwch weld fideo o'r ddarlith drwy glicio