Cu @ Swansea 2012: Heritage and Regeneration is a free one-day workshop which forms part of the Economic and Social Research Council’s Festival of Social Science, 2012.

The workshop, led by Professor Huw Bowen ofSwanseaUniversity’sCollegeofArtsand Humanities, will explore the ways in which academic research into history and heritage can shape the development of regeneration projects.  Speakers will focus in particular on the Cu @ Swansea project, led by the University and the City andCountyofSwansea.  They will provide updates on plans to breathe life into the derelict site of the former Hafod and Morfa Copper works in theLowerSwanseaValley. There will also be plenty of opportunities for those in attendance to offer their own ideas and thoughts on the future direction of the project.

Professor Bowen said ‘This Social Science Festival event provides us with a great opportunity to discuss the development of a unique industrial heritage project.  It will show how social science research can have a very real impact on everyday lives.  We are developing an exciting project, and a key element is engagement with the community as well as a wide range of partners and volunteers.  So we very much hope that the workshop will provide a good opportunity for people to come along and help us with the task of shaping the future of one of the most important industrial heritage sites in theUK.’

The Festival of Social Science is run by the Economic and Social Research Council and takes place from 3-10 November 2012. With events from some of the country's leading social scientists, the Festival celebrates the very best of British social science research and how it influences our social, economic and political lives - both now and in the future. This year’s Festival of Social Science has over 180 creative and exciting events across the UKto encourage businesses, charities, government agencies, schools and college students to discuss, discover and debate topical social science issues. Press releases detailing some of the varied events and a full list of the programme are available at the Festival website. You can now follow updates from the Festival on twitter using #esrcfestival.

For further information contact Huw Bowen (h.v.bowen@swansea.ac.uk; Tel. 01792 602350)