Education

Degree could get you to Mars

Published

7 years ago

April 1, 2019

AN OPPORTUNITY to work on the 2020 European Space Agency (ESA) / Roscosmos mission to Mars has taken an Aberystwyth University student a step closer to a career in the space industry.

Ariel Ladegaard from Bergen in Norway has just returned from the Atacama Desert in Chile where he has been taking part in an ESA field trial of a test rover, as scientists prepare to go in search of life on the red planet.

As an undergraduate student on the Space Science and Robotics degree programme at Aberystwyth, Ariel was invited by computer science lecturer Dr Helen Miles to look at how images sent back from Mars could be corrected to reflect the planet’s true colours.

Dr Miles and fellow space scientist Dr Matt Gunn at Aberystwyth University have been working on PanCam, the mission’s panoramic camera system.

Tasked with capturing stereo and 3D images of the Martian terrain, work on PanCam is led by the Mullard Space Science Laboratory at University College London.

At Aberystwyth, Dr Gunn and his team have developed a hardware emulator for PanCam and a unique colour swatch inspired by the stained glass windows of medieval churches to ensure it accurately captures colours on the sun-blanched planet.

Images taken during the mission will be studied by geologists as they look for minerals that might indicate the presence of water and the building blocks of life.

For his final year undergraduate project in 2018, Ariel was set the challenge of developing a prototype software package that could compensate for imperfections in the mission’s camera, and the wear and tear of working in Mars’ hostile environment.

“Driving around on Mars is challenging and time-consuming, so you want to be certain that you’re going in the right direction. Images taken from a distance will be analysed to look for possible sites where the rover can use its ground penetrating radar and drill, so they need to be as accurate as possible.

“Once back on Earth the images will be processed by a radiometric correction pipeline which automatically adjusts them based on our knowledge of how the images were taken and how the camera responds to light in various conditions.”

Ariel’s undergraduate project focused on developing a proof of concept framework for the correction pipeline and drew on work done on the ground software for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

Now a PhD student at Aberystwyth, Ariel is working on the next phase and developing the algorithms that go into correcting the images.

Ariel said: “Aberystwyth has been great. It is everything I could have hoped for from an education in terms of how quickly I have been able to get involved in something meaningful to me, a real project. My goal is to work in robotic space exploration, a niche industry that can be difficult to enter but Aberystwyth has certainly opened the door for me.”

Speaking of his work on ExoMars, Ariel added: “It has been very nice to see just how open people in the ExoMars community have been to new actors coming in with questions and their own ideas and views on things. At first, I was a bit overwhelmed by the mission itself as it has been going on for a long time. There’s quite a barrier to entry for new people in understanding just how everything fits together, not just on a technical level, but also on the social and political levels. The more I have delved into that, however, the more I’m confident I have something to offer to the project.”

As well as developing image processing software, Ariel has been involved with ExoFiT, ESA’s Airbus-led field trials using an ExoMars-like prototype rover in Spain and Chile.

Working near the Paranal Observatory high up in the Atacama Desert in February 2019, he was part of the team testing the mission’s procedures and approaches to gathering science.

It was also an opportunity to put the image processing pipeline to the test, with pictures sent back to the UK for correction.

Ariel added: “Aberystwyth’s involvement with ExoMars revolves around calibration of the mission’s camera system and correction of images – understanding how the cameras work and how we can process and interpret the images. It was good to be able to put some of the work we have been doing in Aber to the test in Chile and gather valuable test data.”

Before taking up his studies at Aberystwyth, Ariel was a student at the Norwegian Centre for Space-related Education near Andenes in northern Norway.

He worked for seven years in the television and film industry before returning to higher education as a mature student on the BSc Space Science and Robotics degree at Aberystwyth University’s Department of Computer Science.

Education

Second west Wales school placed in lockdown within days

Published

16 hours ago

February 6, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Precautionary measures activated at Ysgol Brynteg after morning disturbance outside gates

CARMARTHENSHIRE pupils were kept inside classrooms after a precautionary lockdown was triggered at Ysgol Brynteg on Friday morning (Feb 6), marking the second west Wales secondary school to enter lockdown in the same week.

Police were called shortly after 9:00am following reports of a verbal altercation outside the school grounds.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police attended and the Llanelli school activated its safeguarding procedures while the situation was assessed.

No weapons were reported, no injuries have been confirmed and there have been no arrests at this stage. The incident is understood to have involved a dispute outside the site rather than inside the school itself.

Pupils remained indoors under staff supervision while officers made checks. Once police were satisfied there was no ongoing risk, the lockdown was lifted and lessons continued as normal.

A spokesperson said the measure was purely precautionary.

The incident comes just days after armed officers were deployed to Milford Haven School following a serious assault on a teacher, prompting a temporary closure and widespread concern among parents.

While the circumstances in Llanelli were far less severe, the two events occurring so close together have heightened anxiety among families across west Wales.

Schools routinely use lockdown procedures when there is any uncertainty or potential threat nearby, even if the risk later proves minimal. The approach is designed to err on the side of caution and protect pupils while emergency services investigate.

Parents were informed that Brynteg was safe and operating normally once the situation had been resolved.

There is currently no indication that pupils inside the school were directly involved in the disturbance.

The Herald understands enquiries are ongoing.

Both incidents underline how quickly everyday school days can be disrupted, and how safeguarding responses are increasingly becoming part of standard practice across Welsh schools.

Anyone with information about the Llanelli incident is asked to contact police.

Crime

Teacher discharged as Milford School to reopen Monday after serious assault

Published

18 hours ago

February 6, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Deputy head praises ‘calm and professional’ staff and pupils during lockdown

A TEACHER injured in a serious incident at Milford Haven Comprehensive School has been discharged from hospital as the school confirmed it will reopen on Monday with extra support in place.

A 15-year-old boy remains in police custody on suspicion of attempted murder following the alleged assault at around 3:20pm on Thursday (Feb 5).

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police were called to the school after reports that a pupil had assaulted a member of staff while brandishing a weapon. The site was placed into immediate lockdown, with all pupils later sent home safely.

In a fresh statement issued late on Friday afternoon, school leaders and the council thanked staff, pupils and emergency services for their response.

Deputy headteacher Daryl John said: “On behalf of the school staff and governors, I would like to thank and praise all of the staff and the small number of pupils who remained on site. They all conducted themselves with professionalism and were calm throughout.

“We are extremely grateful to the emergency services for their rapid and effective response. Our heartfelt best wishes go out to our colleague, and we look forward to their full and speedy recovery.”

Jon Harvey, leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, said he was pleased the school would reopen next week.

He added: “If there are any pupils who have been affected by the incident and require additional support, please ask teachers or staff who will be able to help with well-being provision.

“Lockdowns such as that implemented on Thursday afternoon are routinely rehearsed by schools so that on the very rare occasions where they are needed, everyone knows what to do.

“As a Local Authority we will of course continue to support Milford Haven School in whatever way possible following this awful incident.”

Earlier, the council and Hywel Dda University Health Board confirmed specialist support would be available for staff and learners, and advised anyone needing urgent mental health help to call NHS 111 and press option two.

Local MP Henry Tufnell and teaching unions including NASUWT and National Education Union have also expressed concern and support for the school community.

Parents described the town as subdued, with one telling The Herald it felt “like a lockdown morning” with no children walking to school.

Police enquiries are ongoing.

Crime

Teacher discharged as police step back from Milford Haven school after assault

Published

2 days ago

February 5, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Teenager remains in custody as school closes and patrols increased to reassure community

POLICE have confirmed they are no longer stationed at Milford Haven School after a teacher was assaulted by a pupil on Thursday afternoon (Feb 5), as the injured member of staff has now been discharged from hospital.

In a joint statement issued by Dyfed-Powys Police, Pembrokeshire County Council and Hywel Dda University Health Board, Superintendent Chris Neve said swift action had been taken to protect pupils and staff.

He said: “Police are no longer in attendance at Milford Haven Comprehensive School, following a report of the assault of a teacher at approx. 3.20pm this afternoon.

“I would like to reassure parents, and the wider community, that swift action was taken to both safeguard pupils and teachers, and to trace the suspect as soon as this report was received.

“The teacher has now been discharged from hospital and is being supported by specialist officers. All pupils at the location were safe, and all returned home unharmed. A 15-year-old boy has been arrested and remains in police custody as enquiries continue.

“You will see a higher than usual police presence in the area over the coming days – these will be dedicated patrols to provide further reassurance.”

The injured teacher was earlier taken to hospital by road ambulance.

An immediate lockdown was put in place at the school while emergency services responded. Most pupils had already left for the day, but those still on site were secured inside classrooms and offices as a precaution.

School closed on Friday

Council leader Cllr Jon Harvey said the school would be closed to pupils on Friday to allow support and safety measures to continue.

He said: “We would like to thank staff and pupils at Milford Haven School for implementing a swift and effective lockdown in response to this incident.

“While the school will be closed to pupils tomorrow, if there are any learners who require additional support they are welcome to attend and there will also be support for staff on site.

“We’d like to reassure learners and parents, along with the wider community, that all measures to ensure safety are being taken.”

The health board added that anyone needing urgent mental health support can call NHS 111 and press option 2 for 24-hour assistance.

National spotlight

The incident has drawn national media attention.

BBC News broadcast live from the school gates during its Ten O’Clock News bulletin, while ITV News and several national titles also covered developments.

Journalists from a number of UK outlets, including The Sun, contacted The Herald as events unfolded, with several Welsh and national publishers using photographs first taken by Herald reporters.

Residents said the scale of coverage was unprecedented for the normally quiet port town.

Police enquiries are continuing.

Photo caption:

Police outside Milford Haven School following Thursday’s incident (Pics: Herald).