Gwynedd Student Scoops Bangor University Computer Science Expo Prize

Deiniol Owen from Caernarfon who has won an award from Gwynedd Council at Bangor University’s Careers Expo event ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A final year student studying Computer Information Systems at Bangor University has won the Gwynedd Council sponsored Llwyddo’n Lleol award for his dissertation work. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Local student, Deiniol Owen from Caernarfon received the Llwyddo’n Lleol Award for developing single player gaming software with Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the Poster and Careers Expo 2016. The event, held at Bangor University’s School of Computer Science gave students the opportunity to showcase their final year work and to network with prospective local employers within the industry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Deiniol is particularly interested in the development of multi-platform video games which has led him to the topic of his final year dissertation ahead of graduation this summer. He said: “I’m developing single player gaming software with believable AI with the aim of seeing if I can convince people that they are playing a multiplayer game against other players.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dr Dave Perkins, lecturer at the School of Computer Science said: “The School of Computer Science at Bangor University has had a long history of working with local technology firms and the Expo is one of the ways that we can continue to strengthen these relationships and build new ones. This year’s Expo was a great success and has already resulted in at least three students being invited for interviews for potential hi-tech positions. The posters presented were of a very high standard which is testimony to our students’ efforts, so big congratulations to them. Next year we hope that it will be bigger and better again.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The award was sponsored by Gwynedd Council’s High Value Jobs Scheme, which is working with employers and education providers in the area to ensure that Gwynedd is in a strong position to offer high-quality, long term employment opportunities, with a particular emphasis on specific growth sectors, including the digital and creative industries. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nia Bowden, Gwynedd Council High Value Jobs Scheme Manager added: “I’d like to congratulate Deiniol on his work and for winning the award and wish him well for the future. We’re very pleased as a Council to have been able to sponsor the Llwyddo’n Lleol Award as we work closely with local education providers and employers to showcase the wealth of opportunities Gwynedd has to offer within the IT sector. The Expo was a great opportunity for students and industry experts to network, and we were very pleased to have taken part.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​