Monday, 12 February 2024

Deloitte empowering students at J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics as future leaders by celebrating academic excellence, mentorship and sharing professional expertise University of Galway and Deloitte Ireland have today unveiled a new five-year strategic partnership, which sees Deloitte commit €550,000 to create opportunities for students to benefit from the company’s professional expertise, leadership and future career opportunities. The partnership builds on the longstanding ties between Deloitte and J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics at the University, which dates back to the establishment of the BComm (Global Experience) degree. It also cements Deloitte’s commitment to supporting education and academic excellence in the Connacht region. In this new partnership, Deloitte will celebrate academic excellence across Bachelor of Commerce programmes by supporting Global Scholars, who study abroad as part of their degree, and by providing tailored mentorship and travel bursaries. A scholarship is also being created, led by Deloitte employees, which is designed to empower students in their learning and career development, while a bespoke Deloitte business challenge and internship programme is also being established. The partnership will see a dedicated collaboration hub within the BizHub at J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, which is designed to foster creativity and innovation, encourage collaboration and promote excellence in teamwork. Commenting on the partnership, Harry Goddard, CEO, Deloitte Ireland, said: "Investing in tomorrow’s leaders is critical for us at Deloitte. This partnership will develop the talent required to address the complex challenges faced by industries and institutions across the world. It will help to empower and prepare our future leaders for the future world of work.” Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, President of University of Galway, said: “One of our core values at University of Galway is excellence and the partnership that we are announcing with Deloitte today speaks to that. It is a shining example of leadership in action, where those who have gone before our students are creating more opportunities for them to excel and achieve.” Professor Alma McCarthy, Dean of the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, said: “This Deloitte partnership centrally aligns with both our School mission, to make a transformative impact for our students, and our core values of openness and excellence. The new multi-dimensional partnership provides our students with excellent real-world learning experiences, scholarships and supports for international study which will set our students apart.” Sinead Gogan, Chief Human Resources Officer at Deloitte Ireland, said: ‘’As the largest professional services firm globally, we understand the importance of growth through international experience and early access to the work environment alongside academic learning. Our collaboration will offer high performing University of Galway students an exceptional opportunity to connect with leading Deloitte professionals and alumni.’’ Ends

Monday, 12 February 2024

Is cúis mhór áthais é d’Ionad Léann na hÉireann, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, a fhógairt go bhfuil Mairéad Ní Fhlatharta as Baile an tSléibhe sa Spidéal ceaptha mar Amhránaí Cónaitheach Sean-nóis san ollscoil i mbliana.    Tá Mairéad ag gabháil don amhránaíocht ó thosnaigh sí ag freastal ar ranganna sean-nóis sa Ghaelacadamh agus í seacht mbliana d’aois. I measc na múinteoirí a roinn a gcuid eolais léi go flaithiúil, bhí Pat Phádraic Tom Ó Conghaile agus Peatsaí Ó Ceannabháin nach maireann. Chomh maith leis an oiliúint a fuair sí uathusan, tá anáil Sheosaimh Uí Éanaí agus Dharach Uí Chatháin le clos i nguth Mhairéide agus í ag amhrán. Ina dteannta san, luann sí féin an rian a d’fhág Dara Bán agus Caitlín Maude uirthi as a hóige.   Bhí an méid seo le rá ag Mairéad: “Bíonn mé faoi dhraíocht ag na hamhráin sean-nóis, idir fhoinn agus fhocail. Is fada liom go mbeidh deis agam saibhreas filíochta na nGael, chomh maith leis an ghrá agus na téamaí éagsúla eile as amhráin na ndaoine a roinnt go fial le linn mo sheal mar amhránaí cónaitheach ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe.”   Agus an ceapachán á fhógairt aici, deir an Dr Méabh Ní Fhuartháin: “Is gné fíorthábhachtach den obair atá ar siúl againn anseo an nasc beo atá againn leis an traidisiún amhránaíochta agus gnéithe eile den gcultúr dúchais béil i nGaeltacht Chonamara. Bhí sé de phribhléid againn cuid de na hamhránaithe ba chumasaí ar fad a bheith ag obair láimh ar láimh linn ó bunaíodh an scéim seo 20 bliain ó shin agus níl aon amhras orm ná go gcuirfidh Mairéad Ní Fhlatharta leis an oidhreacht shaibhir sin.”   Beidh sraith ceardlann á múineadh ag Mairéad san Ollscoil san Earrach agus arís sa bhFómhar. Cuirfear tús leis na ceardlanna i seomra seimineáir an Ionaid ar Bhóthar na Drioglainne ar an 28 Feabhra ag 6pm. Tá na ceardlanna saor in aisce agus beidh fáilte roimh chách.    Is iad Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Údarás na Gaeltachta, An Chomhairle Ealaíon agus Ionad Léann na hÉireannaigh, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, a mhaoiníonn an tionscnamh seo.    Tuilleadh eolais ó Samantha Williams ag 091 492051 nó  samantha.williams@universityofgalway.ie   Críoch

Monday, 12 February 2024

University of Galway’s Centre for Irish Studies has announced the appointment of Mairéad Ní Fhlatharta from Baile an tSléibhe, An Spidéal, as Sean-Nós Singer-in-Residence for 2024.    Mairéad has been singing since she began attending classes at An Gaelacadamh at the age of seven. Amongst the teachers who shared their deep knowledge of the tradition with her, she mentions the formative influence of the late Pat Phádraic Tom Ó Conghaile and Peatsaí Ó Ceannabháin. With their encouragement, she has also incorporated elements of the singing of Seosamh Ó hÉanaí and Darach Ó Catháin into her own distinctive style, and mentions Dara Bán and Caitlín Maude as seminal influences on her approach to sean-nós songs.   Mairéad said: “I am spellbound by both the words and the music of the sean-nós songs and I can’t wait to share the richness of Irish language poetry as well as the love and other themes from the Gaeltacht tradition during my time as Singer-in-Residence at the University of Galway.”   Announcing the appointment, Dr Méabh Ní Fhuartháin, Head of Irish Studies at the University of Galway, said: “The living link with the sean-nós song tradition and other aspects of the vernacular arts of the Conamara Gaeltacht are a key element of the work we do here. We have had the privilege of working with some of the finest exponents of the Gaeltacht arts since this scheme was established 20 years ago and I have no doubt that Mairéad Ní Fhlatharta will make a significant contribution to that distinguished tradition.”   Mairéad will deliver a series of workshops at University of Galway beginning on Wednesday February 28 at 6pm.  The workshops are free and open to the public.      This project is funded by Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Údarás na Gaeltachta and An Chomhairle Ealaíon in association with the Centre for Irish Studies at University of Galway.   For further information, contact Samantha Williams by phone at 091 492051 or by email at samantha.williams@universityofgalway.ie.   Ends

Friday, 9 February 2024

University of Galway has secured €814,000 under a special funding programme to improve access to higher education and learning for people with intellectual disability. The award was announced by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris T.D. at an event with the Higher Education Authority in Dublin. The funding will enable the University to put in place a new programme for students with intellectual disability called Cumas - a Foundational Certificate in Learning and Community. The aim of the programme is to provide students with a third level learning experience which will develop their knowledge, social engagement and employment prospects. Speaking about the funding, Minister Harris said: “Today, we are making a change. Today we are opening doors and opportunities so that these learners can take their place among our college communities. These courses have been designed with the learner at heart. When given the opportunity, students with an intellectual disability can thrive. Access to higher education can lead to employment. It can transform the lives of students and their families as well as society as a whole.” Imelda Byrne, Head of the Access Centre at University of Galway, said: “This is a very inspiring time for University of Galway. We in the Access Centre are really thrilled to be allocated funding from the Higher Education Authority to pilot Cumas. This funding will enable the University to develop a high-quality, well-resourced programme for people with intellectual disabilities, people that have been traditionally excluded from Higher Education. Our University is signalling a commitment to the principle that Higher Education is and should be accessible to all.” The funding is being provided over three years under phase 2 of PATH 4 of the National Access Plan, which highlights the need to improve and increase representation in higher education for students with a disability, including students with autism and those with an intellectual disability. It builds on support from the HEA for the University’s multi-sensory room, which was opened last September, as part of efforts to make the Galway city campus more inclusive and sensory friendly. The project was supported by the HEA’s Fund for Students with Disabilities and HEA PATH 4 Phase 1. University of Galway students on Cumas will take part in social activities and academic classes with students without intellectual disabilities, as well as participating in classes with other students with intellectual disabilities. The programme will provide students with work experience through placement opportunities.  While the primary aims of the programme caters to the students and their needs, it is also envisioned that the University of Galway community and the wider community will benefit by developing a greater understanding and appreciation of the potential of people with intellectual disabilities. Ends 

Friday, 9 February 2024

University of Galway plays host to the prestigious Electric Ireland Third Level Camogie Championship Finals this weekend, as the senior team seeks to end a six-year wait to win the Purcell Cup.   The finals take place at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan, Co Mayo, with 11 fixtures to be played across four grades, including in the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome.   University of Galway’s senior Camogie team last won the Purcell Cup in 2018 and this year take on Mary Immaculate in the semi-final on Saturday February 10th at 3pm.    Some 23 of the 29 players on the senior panel come from Galway clubs and the remainder from Kilkenny, Clare and Derry. The side is captained jointly by current senior Galway goalkeeper Fiona Ryan and 2022 All Ireland winner Tiffanie Fitzgerald (Kilkenny).    The junior team compete in the Uí Mhaolagáin Cup Final on Saturday at 6pm.      University of Galway President Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “I would like to extend a warm welcome to the students, coaches, volunteers and supporters who are travelling from all over the country to the 2024 Ashbourne, Purcell, Meachair, Uí Mhaolaghain and Aisling Murphy  festival of camogie. I would also like to wish University of Galway players and coaches every success this weekend. It is a great privilege for us to host the competitions for the first time since 2018 and it is an even greater privilege for us to be able to invite all the teams to compete in such first-rate facilities. Our partnership with Connacht GAA is going from strength to strength and we hope all those involved in this prestigious sporting event get great enjoyment from playing at such a quality venue, including the University of Galway Connacht GA Air Dome.”   Speaking ahead of the finals weekend, club chairperson Muireann O’Reilly said: “We are delighted to be hosting the Electric Ireland Third Level Camogie Championship Finals weekend and to welcome all teams. As one of the oldest clubs on campus University of Galway Camogie Club has a long tradition and we are honoured and privileged to carry on that tradition. We are delighted to have two teams in action and we would like to thank Connacht GAA for their assistance in hosting the event. I would also like to thank our club sponsors, Aerogen, for coming on board this year and supporting us in our efforts on and off the field.”      Acting Director of Sport at the University of Galway, Feargal O’Callaghan, said: “University of Galway Camogie Club has put in a tremendous effort over the last couple of years and we are hoping for some good results here this weekend with a view to taking camogie in the University to the next level.  We’re delighted to be playing in the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome and we thank Connacht GAA for the use of their fantastic facilities. I would like to wish all teams competing this weekend the best of luck. I would like to thank all our players for the dedication they have shown, our coaching and management team for all the hard work they have put into preparing the girls this season and finally a thank you to our sponsors Aerogen for their valuable support.”     For all info see www.camogie.ie and stay tuned for updates by following @Camogie_OG, @ElectricIreland and through using #FirstClassRivals.   Ends

Thursday, 8 February 2024

A University of Galway delegation has taken part in a national fact-finding mission as part of Ireland’s proposal for membership of CERN – the European Organization for Nuclear Research, where physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe.    Professor James Livesey, University of Galway’s Vice-President for Research and Innovation, and Dr Aaron Golden, Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation, at the University’s College of Science & Engineering, visited the world's largest particle physics laboratory as part of an Irish delegation.   An intergovernmental organisation based in Geneva near the border between Switzerland and France, CERN has 23 member states. Almost 3000 people are employed on the huge campus which every year plays hosts about 12,000 people from scientific institutions from more than 70 countries.   CERN currently operates the most powerful particle accelerator in the world, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), where proton beams moving at a fraction of the speed of light are smashed together, recreating, for an instant, explosions of energy that have only ever occurred at the origin of the universe, unlocking the fundamental constituents of matter. Vast experiments sweep up the blizzard of fragments, and painstakingly identify new physics - in the form of new types of matter.    Work at CERN has resulted in no less than 5 Nobel prizes to date, most recently for the discovery of the Higgs Boson in 2012.    Professor James Livesey, Vice-President for Research and Innovation, said: "This visit really emphasised to us all on the delegation the incredible value to University of Galway that Irish membership of CERN would bring, across so many levels. It is difficult to identify any other scientific facility in Europe that is such a source of wonder and inspiration and CERN's outreach mission is second to none. The creativity in physics and mathematics essential to understanding the most fundamental science possible using the LHC is mirrored in the creativity needed by the engineering and technical teams to build and operate these astonishing 'discovery machines'. Having Galway in the community of practice around CERN would make us members of one of the most creative and innovative groups in the world.”   The Irish delegation took part in a day-long visit to CERN, including tours of several of the currently operating particle and nuclear physics experiments on the campus, along with presentations and Q&A sessions with CERN personnel, highlighting the breadth of activities to which membership would give access to.   Beyond its core mission of pushing the frontier of fundamental physics, CERN is heavily involved in the application of technology transfer to areas as diverse as algorithm development, network and computational infrastructure, materials science and medical physics.    CERN operates a unique access programme for members, that provides funding for undergraduates, postgraduates and researchers to visit and work on site in areas that cover the full spectrum of its activities, with the graduate engineering training programmes being widely considered one of the best in Europe.    Dr Aaron Golden, Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation, College of Science & Engineering said: "It was eye-opening to find out directly CERN's medtech innovation activities, from novel radiotherapeutics to medical device development to tumour biology modelling, and their support of member state colleagues in these areas. The University of Galway is uniquely placed to engage with such access, particularly with the recent opening of UHG's Saolta Radiation Oncology Centre."   CERN will be sending a delegation to visit Ireland in April of this year to assess Ireland's application for membership.    Ends

Wednesday, 7 February 2024

BioInnovate Ireland, the specialist medical device and health technology innovation programme at University of Galway, has launched its latest search for future healthcare innovators. The programme, which is formally affiliated to Stanford BioDesign and co-funded by the University and Enterprise Ireland, is hosting a special online event for anyone interested on Thursday February 8th from 7pm-8pm.  Anyone interested can register on Eventbrite by following a link to the webinar on www.bioinnovate.ie Dr Sinéad Walsh, Director of Operations at BioInnovate Ireland, explained the purpose of the event: “BioInnovate Ireland is committed to cultivating the next generation of healthcare leaders and entrepreneurs. Each year we welcome applications to the programme from diverse backgrounds, including clinical - all healthcare professionals; technical - engineers, scientists, data analysts, designers;  commercial - business, MBA graduates, marketing leaders; and other highly motivated individuals interested in healthcare innovation.  “The information evening is the perfect opportunity to explore the programme, hear from distinguished alumni and current fellows, and find out about the transformative impact the programme has had. To date, we have trained 148 Fellows and their work with us has led to 33 new start-up companies that have created new technologies which have benefitted more than 4,000 patients and raised more than €250million in private and public funding.” Marina Donohoe, Head of Research and Innovation, Enterprise Ireland, said: “Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting the development of Irish-owned companies on their journey to achieving greater scale and to become global leaders in their field. Pioneering Irish innovators are playing a transformative role in the delivery of healthcare solutions around the world.  "In particular, BioInnovate Ireland is an important part of the ecosystem which fosters the development of these companies, and we would encourage interested innovators to engage with this event to learn more about how this programme can support your career ambition and provide an ideal platform to an exciting new start-up journey.  "Enterprise Ireland is proud to support BioInnovate, through the Innovators Initiative ‘Pioneering Smart Futures’ education and training programme, which is funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Northern and Western Regional Programme (2021-2027).” Professor Martin O’Halloran is the Executive Director of BioInnovate Ireland, outlined the programme structure: “The BioInnovate programme is affiliated with Stanford BioDesign and has three key stages - identify, invent and implement. It guides multidisciplinary teams through a full cycle of innovation, from identifying need, to designing and prototyping viable solutions, as well as securing funding.”  BioInnovate Alumna Camille O’Malley is Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer of XTremedy Medical, said: “The BioInnovate programme is a unique opportunity to explore the medtech entrepreneurship space. It offers candidates the chance to break into new career spaces and grow an expert network with the local and global medtech space. Alumni to date have gone on to found some of Ireland’s highest potential start-ups,  develop breakthrough innovations for patients, lead venture capital teams and beyond.” The BioInnovate fellowship is a fully funded 10-month programme supported by Enterprise Ireland. It offers fellows with a tax-free monthly stipend of €3,800 and covers programme fees. BioInnovate Ireland is supported under the Innovators’ Initiative Programme co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-2027. Ends

Tuesday, 6 February 2024

Preparatory works have begun today on the site of the new Library and Learning Commons for University of Galway.   The landmark development at the heart of the campus will offer a new, high-tech space for students, for research and for staff, with a focus on enabling learning that is more collaborative, more technology-enhanced and more creative, as well as providing access to books and information.   Enabling works are taking place on the riverside site off Distillery Road ahead of the demolition of buildings and sheds and site clearance in the coming weeks.   President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “Today marks a momentous day in the history of the development of the University of Galway campus. Libraries are central to the life of any university, in the heart of our city and community. It is more than 50 years since the University Library was built. Now we look ahead with anticipation and excitement at what will be a state-of-the-art facility – true to our values of openness, excellence, respect, sustainability - and a focal point for research, teaching and learning for the benefit of our students, researchers and staff for decades to come.   ”The highest standards of planning and engagement have been central to the Library and Learning Commons project and as we mark the early stages of the site-works I want again to express the enormous debt of gratitude which we owe to the colleagues who are leading and driving it and all those inside and outside of our university community who are supporting the development. Exciting times ahead.”   Monica Crump, Interim University Librarian, said: “This week is truly a milestone for our entire university community as we journey towards a new Library and Learning Commons.  This flagship building will sit at the heart of our University linking the North and South campuses and it will be a place for all members of our community to come together, to collaborate, to learn and to create. It is exciting for staff and students and we have no doubt that the progress in the coming weeks and months will capture the imagination as such a key riverside site will be transformed.”   University of Galway’s current Library was constructed in 1973 and sits at the heart of the Hardiman Building in the centre of the South Campus. The most recent major redevelopment in the Library took place in 1999. Planning permission for the Library and Learning Commons was confirmed in summer 2023 for the riverside site off Distillery Road, next to the University’s Sports Centre. It will be an exciting new, sustainable, modern, iconic building - home to a library of the future.    The building was designed by RKD Architects. It will range in height from four to six storeys with study space, including quiet, individual and collaborative areas; a makerspace and scholarship centre enabling digital creativity; the Library’s book and journal collections, many of which will be stored in a Bookbot or high-density, automated storage system; spaces for exhibitions, events and teaching; a welcome zone enabling community engagement; a helpdesk; and spaces for student wellbeing including low-sensory study spaces, a café and relaxation and outdoor spaces. Ends 

Wednesday, 13 March 2024

Two University of Galway researchers have received funding through Science Foundation Ireland’s Public Service Fellowship programme Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris T.D. announced funding for a total 14 research awards representing a total grant funding in excess of €1.25 million. The novel programme offers academic researchers the unique opportunity to be temporarily seconded to Government departments and agencies and work on specific collaborative research projects. The fellowships help to foster innovation and provide an evidence base for policy, through close collaboration and engagement within the public sector and academic research community. Dr Kristin Anderson, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, will be on secondment with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland on the project ‘The application of behavioural science to influence food safety compliance’, which aims to utilise behavioural science to provide insight in focus areas such as the food hygiene rating scheme, food safety culture, and regulatory enforcement. Heike Vornhagen, Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, received a Fellowship award for her project ‘Dashboard Design for HSE Quality Improvement Reports.’ The Fellowship will enable her to work with the Health Service Executive for two years and focuses on developing visualisations and data dashboards to support decision-making. Making the announcement, Minister Harris, said: “I am delighted that this funding through the SFI Public Service Fellowship Programme spans 11 Government departments and agencies. Research plays a significant role in helping Government and Public Sector address national and global challenges, including climate change, health and well-being, food security, transport and digital transformation. “This targeted immersion and integration of research expertise in our public service represents a win-win partnership for participating researchers and government entities alike, and fully aligns with departmental efforts to strengthen connectivity between the sectors.” Professor Jim Livesey, Vice-President for Research and Innovation at University of Galway, said: “Congratulations to Kristin and Heike on being awarded SFI Public Service Fellowship funding. The Fellowship programme allows the awardees and industry to benefit from each other’s invaluable knowledge and expertise, and enhance collaboration of the research community with public bodies.” Ends

Tuesday, 12 March 2024

University of Galway has announced a new MBA Scholarship in honour of the late entrepreneur Colm Feeney.  The scholarship was launched at a special event on campus attended by family, friends and the business community, which also paid tribute to Mr Feeney’s memory and legacy in the west of Ireland. The Colm Feeney MBA Scholarship will support high-calibre applicants to join the MBA programme at the University’s J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics. As part of this annual scholarship, the scholars will have the opportunity of dedicated one-to-one mentorship throughout their studies from a leader in business.  Colm Feeney established SSL Logistics, now Rhenus Logistics, in Galway in 2000, which has grown to a leading business with 125 employees.  Mr Feeney also dedicated time and energy to helping other small business owners in Galway through mentorship, and it is in this spirit of giving back to the regional business community that his wife, Rosaleen and the Feeney family have established this new MBA scholarship in partnership with University of Galway. One aim of the Colm Feeney MBA Scholarship is to help small businesses and social organisations grow and thrive, and with that applicants working in organisations with fewer than 100 employees will be given priority. The Feeney family said: “As a family, we wish to honour Colm's legacy in a way that represents his positive energy, his ability to instill confidence and self-belief in others and his willingness to share his knowledge. The extent of his reach continues to inspire us. We feel this particular MBA Scholarship reflects these qualities and will provide excellent opportunities for the successful candidates.” Professor Kate Kenny, MBA Programme Director at J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics stated: “The generosity of the Feeney family to support MBA students in small businesses, community and voluntary sector organisation is very welcome. The spirit of the Colm Feeney scholarship ties in with our mission at the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics: an explicit focus on business for the public good.” Ends

Monday, 11 March 2024

Professor Fidelma Dunne becomes the first Irish person to receive Norbert Freinkel Award from American Diabetes Association   Leading diabetes researcher and Acting Director of the Institute for Clinical Trials at University of Galway, Professor Fidelma Dunne, has been recognised by the largest global diabetes research and educational organisation in the world, the American Diabetes Association. Professor Dunne is being honoured for outstanding scientific achievement in the understanding and treatment of diabetes and pregnancy and lifelong dedication to advancing both clinical practice and clinical research in the field. Professor Dunne said: “I am deeply honoured to receive the Norbert Freinkel Award from the American Diabetes Association. This recognition is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the research team at the University of Galway and the Institute for Clinical Trials and the broader Irish diabetes and endocrinology clinical and research community. “It reflects not only my own dedication to advancing knowledge and treatment in the critical intersection of diabetes and pregnancy, but also the patients involved in the trial who place their trust in our team and our clinical research.” Professor Dunne is Professor of Medicine at University of Galway and Consultant Endocrinologist at Saolta University Health Care Group and becomes the first Irish person to be recognised with the Norbert Freinkel Award from the American Diabetes Association. The award recognises the value and impact of Professor Dunne’s research into gestational diabetes and healthcare for pregnant women and mothers, as well as a lifetime of contributions, both clinical and research, to the field of diabetes and pregnancy. This work culminated in the EMERGE trial published in JAMA: the Journal of American Medical Association, in 2023, which has alleviated concerns over metformin drug use for mothers with diabetes and their babies. President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “Professor Fidelma Dunne’s ground-breaking work in the field of diabetes and pregnancy positions her work here in Galway in an international setting and has significantly contributed to the global understanding of this complex condition. Her leadership and achievements reflect the excellence and commitment to research and clinical advancement at University of Galway.” As part of the award, Professor Dunne will deliver the Award Lecture at the American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions in Florida in June. Ends

Monday, 11 March 2024

UNESCO Chair in Child and Family Studies Professor Pat Dolan honoured with Maria Grzegorzewska University Medal   University of Galway Professor Pat Dolan is to be awarded the Medal of the Maria Grzegorzewska University in Warsaw for life-long achievements in the field of children’s rights. The honour is being bestowed as part of celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the UNESCO Janusz Korczak Chair at the university – named in memory of the Polish-Jewish paediatrician, educator, author and children’s rights advocate who is believed to have perished in a Nazi death camp with almost 200 children from his orphanage. Professor Dolan was awarded the UNESCO Chair in Children, Youth and Civic Engagement in 2008. As co-founder, with Professor John Canavan, of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre in 2007, and former Director of the Institute for Lifecourse and Society, Professor Dolan’s extensive body of work is highly relevant to the lived lives of children, youth and families in particular those experiencing social exclusion, adversity and mental health challenges. He has pioneered youth research by placing young people at the heart of his work and also by promoting a fresh outlook on the importance of empathy in education.  For more than 10 years, Professor Dolan has worked with Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy, who has won this year’s Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the eponymous father of the atomic bomb in the movie Oppenheimer. Professor Dolan and Cillian Murphy work together thanks to a shared interest in the role of empathy and social and emotional learning in building young people’s capacity to foster social connectedness. In 2022, Cillian Murphy and Professor Dolan co-edited IONBHÁ: The Empathy Book For Ireland in association with Gillian Browne of University of Galway and Mark Brennan, Pennsylvania State University in the US. The publication featured a range of well-known figures and people from all walks of life sharing their personal reflections on empathy. University of Galway President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “Professor Pat Dolan has made a strong and sustained contribution to children’s rights through his work as UNESCO Chair in Children, Youth and Civic Engagement and his associated work in teaching and research over a long career. He has pioneered new approaches to research, and new attitudes towards working with and for young people. He epitomises the spirit of our outlook at University of Galway, where we are committed to being here for our students and to serve the public good. The focus of Professor Dolan’s work and his track record of teaching, research and engagement, in addition to his support for other UNESCO Chairs around the world, is testament to a life-long commitment to the well-being of children and young people. I am delighted to see that he is being recognised with such a poignant honour from the Maria Grzegorzewska University.” Cillian Murphy, Patron of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at University of Galway, said: “I have spoken about the role empathy can play and it being the most important tool an actor can have. It is thanks to my association with the UNESCO centre at University of Galway that I can see the fundamental value of affording all young people the opportunity to learn the place and value of empathy.”  Professor Anna Odrowaz-Coates, Chairholder of the UNESCO Janusz Korczak Chair and Vice-rector at the Maria Grzegorzewska University, said: “Professor Pat Dolan has an impressive track record of researching and promoting empathy in education. His work has a significant impact on promoting human rights in practice and on the well-being of children, youths and entire communities. We are delighted to be able to recognise his work as we mark the 20th anniversary of our own University’s UNESCO Chair which is named after the inspirational Janusz Korczak.” Professor Dolan will be formally honoured with the Medal of the Maria Grzegorzewska University at a special ceremony in June. The event will take place alongside the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre’s international conference, Promoting Equality through Family Support, on June 13th and 14th.      Ends

Friday, 8 March 2024

US-based historian Kerby A. Miller’s donated collection made available to the public    University of Galway has launched Imirce, a digital repository of thousands of Irish emigrant letters and memoirs dating from the late 1600s through to the mid-20th century.    Featuring correspondence and other documents sent from North America, the collection offers an unparalleled insight into the personal reflections and lives of people as they wrote home to family and friends in Ireland.     The Imirce project has enabled the creation of an online, publicly accessible archive of the Kerby A. Miller Collection - a unique record of personal correspondence from the Irish diaspora in the US.   The archive includes approximately 7,000 letters, running to more than 150,000 documents, along with other important historical papers. It was collected over five decades of research by Kerby A. Miller, Emeritus Professor of History at University of Missouri and Honorary Professor of History at University of Galway, who donated the material to the University of Galway Library.    The letters and documents provide valuable insights into universal themes and individual perspectives influenced by class, religion, gender and political circumstances. The collection is especially rich in the post-famine period from 1850-1950.     Following the creation of the digital repository, University of Galway Library is actively seeking contributions of other emigrant letters, in particular those written in Irish in North America, and letters and memoirs produced in any language by emigrants from the Gaeltacht.     Details about how to contribute to the collection are available at Imirce.universityofgalway.ie    Samples and messages from letters, in the words as they written in the original author’s hand, are being shared as part of the launch:   “We have too many loved ones in the Cemetery here to leave them … We have been here a long time - and it is home to us now.” - Jane Crowe, writing to her brother in Roscommon in 1959.    “... old people are very little thought of in this country, not even There own families have any regard for them when they become played out from age and my own is no Exception as I could not get 1 penny from any of mine but what I can earn myself...” - ditch-digger Patrick McKeown, writing home in 1904.    “Ah Nora, It makes my very heart break when I think right of home … oh Nora I hate to think of it because I do be that homesick and lonely.” - Galway women writing home in 1921.    “I do not care any thing at all about gone home.” “I was born in old Ireland but I am quite happy sometimes I never think I was in old Ireland at all. I never (even) think of it ... for I do not entend ever to see it.” - Thomas McCann, writing in October 1894.     The Imirce digital repository was developed by an interdisciplinary team, led by Professor Daniel Carey (School of English, Media and Creative Arts), Cillian Joy (University of Galway Library) and Professor Breandán Mac Suibhne (Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge), with the archival work managed by Digital Archivist Marie-Louise Rouget.    Professor Breandán Mac Suibhne, Director of the Acadamh and historian at University of Galway, said: “Letter-writing was long the primary means of communication between Irish emigrants to North America and family and friends at home. The Imirce database allows researchers - amateur and professional - to access an extraordinary collection of emigrant letters and memoirs assembled over half a century by historian Kerby A. Miller and it provides a repository in which people can share copies of letters in their possession. Imirce is at once an important resource for scholars and a potent connection, across time, between the descendants of emigrants to North America and the people and places around Ireland that their forebears left behind."    Daniel Carey, Professor of English at University of Galway, said: “As an Irish American whose relations left Ireland for America during the Famine, I find this collection a profound record of the experience of emigrants, recorded in their own voices. The challenges of settling in a new country come to life in these letters, through reflections on ordinary events and major upheavals. We see how they kept their relationships going across great distances and reported home on how they were faring in New York, Boston, Philadelphia and so many cities and towns across the continent.”    Cillian Joy, Head of Open and Digital Research, University of Galway Library, said: “This is an exciting moment for the University of Galway Library as we launch this important digital resource to the public. In the spirit of open access, we invite scholars of Irish and North American history and members of the public alike to explore the material and the stories they tell.”    The University has released an initial tranche of material from the Imirce project, with more letters and memoirs to be published over the rest of the year.    The Imirce digital repository project was supported with funding from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the University of Galway Strategic Fund.    The Kerby A. Miller Collection  Professor Miller donated his vast research collection related to Irish emigration to North America and Irish diaspora identities to the University of Galway Library in 2021.     From the early 1970s, when researching his landmark Emigrants and Exiles: Ireland and the Irish Exodus to North America (Oxford, 1985), Miller transcribed writings by emigrants from Ireland to North America held in libraries and archives. Furthermore, looking beyond those repositories, he placed notices in Irish national and local newspapers asking people to send him treasured correspondence, which he and research assistants then copied, transcribed and returned.     Following the publication of Emigrants and Exiles, Miller continued to collect such material. The result is a vast collection of transcripts of the writings of craftsmen, especially weavers and spinners, miners, domestic servants, farmers, and canal, railroad, mill and construction workers.     The collection also includes transcripts of correspondence collected by historian Arnold Schrier when working on his Ireland and the American Migration, 1850–1900 (Minneapolis, 1958).     Ends 

Wednesday, 6 March 2024

Tá Gradaim Aitheantais Speisialta Gaeilge bronnta ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ar dhaltaí ar éirigh leo pas le gradam a bhaint amach i scrúduithe ardleibhéil Gaeilge na Sraithe Sóisearaí.   D’fhreastail thart ar 140 dalta ó 40 scoil i nDún na nGall, Co. an Chláir, Co. Mhaigh Eo, Co. Liatroma, Co. Shligigh, Co. Ros Comáin agus Co. na Gaillimhe ar ócáid speisialta a reáchtáladh san Ollscoil chun aitheantas a thabhairt do na héachtaí atá bainte amach acu agus iad a cheiliúradh. Áirítear na daltaí i measc an 3.1% de dhaltaí ar fud na tíre ar éirigh leo pas le gradam a bhaint amach sa pháipéar ardleibhéil T2 Gaeilge go náisiúnta, nó an 4% de na daltaí a bhain pas le gradam amach sa pháipéar ardleibhéil T1 Gaeilge sa tSraith Shóisearach in 2023 trí scór idir 90% agus 100% a bhaint amach. Chuir Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh Pól Ó Dochartaigh fáilte chroíúil roimh na daltaí agus a dteaghlaigh chuig an gcampas, agus rinne sé comhghairdeas leis na príomhoidí agus leis na múinteoirí, agus é ag tabhairt aitheantais dóibh as an dea-obair atá ar bun acu féin sna scoileanna. “Mar chuid dár dtiomantas campas dátheangach a chothú agus don ról ceannaireachta atá againn san ardoideachas agus i dtaighde na Gaeilge a chur chun cinn, tá an-áthas orainn na gradaim seo a bhronnadh anseo inniu. Tugann na gradaim seo aitheantas do dhaltaí a bhfuil éachtaí déanta acu agus pas le gradam bainte amach acu i scrúduithe na Sraithe Sóisearaí. Den dara bliain as a chéile, déanaimid ceiliúradh ar na sár-éachtaí sin, agus muid ag cur béim ar thábhacht na Gaeilge ní hamháin in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ach freisin i réimse an oideachais trí chéile agus i measc na bpobal atá tiomanta don Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn mar theanga bheo bhríomhar.”   Aithnítear an tábhacht a bhaineann lena chinntiú go mbeidh pobail bhisiúla Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht agus taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht i gcéad straitéis Ghaeilge na hOllscoile, Straitéis na Gaeilge 2021-2025, a seoladh i mí Iúil 2021.   Tugadh aitheantas do na pobail sin ag an ócáid seo den chéad uair in 2023 agus arís in 2024 agus an Ollscoil ag déanamh cúraim don ról a chuir sí roimpi sa Straitéis, ó thaobh ceannasaíocht a thabhairt don ardoideachas i nGaeilge agus meas a léiriú ar lucht labhartha na Gaeilge. Críoch 

Wednesday, 6 March 2024

Students who achieved a distinction in their higher level Irish Junior Cycle examination have been presented with a Special Irish Recognition Award from University of Galway.  Some 140 students from 40 schools in Donegal, Clare, Mayo, Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon and Galway attended a special event at the University to recognise and celebrate their achievements. The students are among the 3.1% of students across the country who achieved a distinction in the higher level T2 Irish paper, or the 4% of students who achieved a distinction in the higher level T1 paper in the 2023 Junior Cycle examinations by scoring between 90% and 100%. University of Galway Deputy President and Registrar, Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh, welcomed the students and their families to campus and congratulated the teachers and principals while recognising the hard work being done in the schools. “As part of our commitment to fostering and nurturing a bilingual campus environment and advancing our leadership role in higher education and research in the Irish language we are thrilled to present these awards. These accolades honour students who have excelled and achieved distinction in their Junior Cycle examinations. For the second consecutive year, we celebrate their outstanding accomplishments, underscoring the significance of the Irish language not only within University of Galway but also in the broader educational landscape and among communities dedicated to promoting Irish as a vibrant, living language.”   The importance of thriving Irish-speaking communities in the Gaeltacht and beyond is recognised in the University’s first Irish language strategy, A Strategy for the Irish Language 2021-2025, which was launched in July 2021.  The communities were recognised at the inaugural event in 2023 and again in 2024 this year with the University fulfilling its role in leading higher education in the Irish language and showing Irish speakers respect, as is set out in the Strategy. Ends 

Tuesday, 5 March 2024

An international team of astronomers has shed new light on the fascinating and complex process of planet formation.   Using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT) in Chile, researchers captured stunning images of more than 80 young stars and discs of dust and gas where planets are forming.     The data has been published today in three papers in Astronomy & Astrophysics.   The research represents one of the largest surveys ever of planet-forming discs, providing astronomers with a wealth of data and a treasure trove of imagery and unique insights to help unpick the mysteries of planet formation in different regions of our galaxy.   Dr Christian Ginski, lecturer at the University of Galway and lead author of one of three new papers published, said: "This is really a shift in our field of study. We’ve gone from the intense study of individual star systems to this huge overview of entire star-forming regions.   “We know there is a very diverse population of planets out there. Now we know there is a very diverse population of planetary nurseries. Our images help us to try and connect these two, and this will eventually tell us how different kinds of planets are forming. Once we know that we can begin to figure out how often we get something like our own solar system that has the conditions for life to emerge.”    The team studied 86 stars across three different star-forming regions of the Milky Way galaxy: Taurus and Chamaeleon I, both around 600 light-years from Earth, and Orion, a gas-rich cloud about 1,300 light-years from us that is known to be the birthplace of several stars more massive than our Sun.   The collection of new images showcases the extraordinary diversity of planet-forming discs in just three, relatively small, regions of our galaxy.    Dr Ginski describes the imagery captured: “We could call these planetary nurseries - huge discs of gas and dust surrounding young stars. And in terms of the universe, these are in our backyard, as they are only 600-1,300 light years away. Our own Galaxy, the Milky Way, is roughly 80 times as extended. Some of these discs show huge spiral arms, presumably driven by the intricate ballet of orbiting planets.”   The observations were gathered by a large international team, with scientists from more than 10 countries.    To date more than 5,000 planets have been discovered orbiting stars other than our Sun, often within systems markedly different from our own solar system. To understand where and how this diversity arises, astronomers must observe the dust- and gas-rich discs that envelop young stars - the very cradles of planet formation. These are best found in huge gas clouds where the stars themselves are forming.   Dr Ginski added: “We are looking at these young birth places of planets because we want to understand why we are finding so many planetary systems around distant stars that are extremely diverse in their architecture and, mostly, very different from our solar system. To find that answer we turn to the earliest phase of planet formation.”    The international research team was able to glean several key insights from the imagery and dataset.   In Orion they found that stars in groups of two or more were less likely to have large planet-forming discs. This is a significant result given that, unlike our Sun, most stars in our galaxy have companions.    As well as this, some of the discs in this region have an asymmetric appearance, suggesting the possibility of massive planets embedded within them, which could be causing the discs to warp and become misaligned.   Across all three star forming regions some imagery shows beautiful structures. Others appear smooth. Others are still interacting with the surrounding birth-cloud of their central star.    In terms of the extraordinary diversity of the planet-formation, some of them are very extended - more than 100 times the distance between the Earth and Sun. In relative terms, some are tiny - maybe 20-30 times the distance between the Earth and Sun, which would be roughly be the orbit of Neptune, the outermost planet in our solar system.   While planet-forming discs can extend for distances hundreds of times greater than the distance between Earth and the Sun, their location several hundreds of light-years from us makes them appear as tiny pinpricks in the night sky.    To observe the discs, the team employed the sophisticated Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch instrument (SPHERE) mounted on ESO’s VLT.   SPHERE’s state-of-the-art extreme adaptive optics system corrects for the turbulent effects of Earth’s atmosphere, yielding crisp images of the discs. This meant the team were able to image discs around stars with masses as low as half the mass of the Sun, which are typically too faint for most other instruments available today.   Additional data for the survey were obtained using the VLT’s X-shooter instrument, which allowed astronomers to determine how young and how massive the stars are.    The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), in which ESO is a partner, on the other hand, helped the team understand more about the amount of dust surrounding some of the stars.   Dr Ginski added: “The extreme technological advancement in telescopes and instruments over the last decade was really a key factor allowing us to carry out this research. It is amazing that Irish astronomers, as members of ESO, have access to some of the largest telescopes on Earth.”    As technology advances, the team hopes to delve even deeper into the heart of planet-forming systems. The large 39-metre mirror of ESO’s forthcoming Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), for example, will enable the team to study the innermost regions around young stars, where rocky planets like our own might be forming. The University of Galway is directly contributing to the instrumentation of what will be the biggest telescope on the planet, allowing our astronomers privileged access once it is completed.    Dr Ginski added: “Once we have the ELT, we will revisit some of the most remarkable systems we have now found in our studies and peer into the regions where future habitable planets will be forming. This will bring us one step closer to understand how life emerges in the Universe.”   Ends  

Monday, 4 March 2024

University of Galway is inviting prospective students, parents, guidance counsellors and teachers to campus for the upcoming spring undergraduate open day. The open day, which takes place on Saturday, March 9, from 9am to 3pm, is a perfect opportunity for Leaving Certificate, Fifth Year and Transition Year students to gain valuable insights into the courses to study and the future careers that await them after graduation. With special interactive events, the open day offers hands-on experiences of some of the most innovative teaching and learning facilities.  The University offers more than 60 internationally recognised undergraduate degree courses in areas such as Medicine, Nursing, Health Sciences, Arts, Science, Engineering, Business, Law and Hotel Management, and more than nine out of 10 of courses offer students a work placement and/or study abroad opportunity, ensuring graduates are workplace ready, and much sought after by employers at home and abroad.  The open day is spread across five exhibition zones and the schedule includes a large programme of talks with more than 60 course, subject, career and student support talks on offer.  A special feature of this open day will be exclusive access to some of the University’s most innovative teaching and learning facilities and hands-on experiences including: Future medical students and their parents will not want to miss the interactive tour of new world-class healthcare simulation facilities located in the Clinical Science Institute Building. The tour commences at 9:45am and the meeting point is outside the Red Zone. Registration is required at Stand 2 in the Red Zone in advance. The School of Law’s Moot Court will be open to visitors with five tours taking place on the day. The Moot Court is designed to replicate the experience of a real court hearing for our students. Places can be booked at the Law Stand in the Orange Zone on the day. The College of Science and Engineering are offering interactive zones for future students to explore pathways and courses from 9am to 3pm in the Green Zone (Engineering) and Purple Zone (Science and Computer Science). Visitors interested in physics can tour the physics laboratory teaching facilities at 12pm or 2pm. Places can be booked from 10am at the Physics Stand in the Purple Zone. Visitors are invited to join a Drama Masterclass, a practical drama workshop that gives a taste of the University’s degree in Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies. Places for the masterclass can be booked on the day at the Drama stand in the Orange Zone. There will also be two guided tours of the O’Donoghue Centre at 11:30am and 2pm. The meeting point is in the foyer of the O’Donoghue Centre in the blue zone. For a full campus experience, join one of our three guided campus tours. They leave from inside the Quadrangle building. Tours last approximately 1 hour and are hosted by our Student Ambassadors. The open day schedule includes a series of information that will help students and parents prepare for college life with talks on Student Life, Sport, and Study Abroad.  The Access Centre will host sessions on alternative pathways, mature student supports and the QQI/FETAC/PLC entry route.  Parents are invited to attend a Parents’ Talk taking place on at 11:30am with advice and guidance on how parents can support the progression to third level.   Sarah Geraghty, Director of Student Recruitment and Outreach, highlighted the importance of providing students with opportunities to explore the campus and think about their future studies: “The aim of our open day is to give students a taste of college life and hopefully a sense of great possibility for their future university studies. University of Galway is ranked in the top 2% of universities globally and in the top 100 in Europe, in addition to being ranked 34th in the world and number one university in Ireland by the THE Impact Rankings for its efforts in progressing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Our lecturers, staff and students are looking forward to meeting future students to help them navigate their way through the many diverse and exciting study and career pathways that await them.”  Advance registration is required, with further information and the full programme available at www.universityofgalway.ie/opendays, or by emailing opendays@universityofgalway.ie.  Ends

Tuesday, 31 January 2023

SMARTSHAPE consortium, led from University of Galway, will develop a disruptive technology sensor  The European Union has awarded a European consortium €4.4million for the SMARTSHAPE project to focus on developing an implantable medical device for continuous blood pressure monitoring. Hypertension is the leading global contributor to premature death, accounting for more than 9 million deaths a year. Elevated blood pressure is a chronic lifetime risk factor that can lead to serious cardiovascular events if undiagnosed or poorly controlled. Many high-risk patients require long-term monitoring to tailor drug treatments and improve healthcare outcomes, but there is no clinically accepted method of continuous beat-to-beat blood pressure monitoring that patients can use outside of the hospital setting.  The SMARTSHAPE consortium is led by Professor William Wijns, a Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) funded Research Professor in Interventional Cardiology at University of Galway’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. According to Professor Wijns: “The best innovations start with a clinical need. Patients who require monitoring are better off in their own homes rather than in a hospital setting. There is a huge market opportunity for a medical-grade, user-friendly, and minimally invasive solution for continuous blood pressure monitoring.” Professor Wijns is also a Funded Investigator at CÚRAM, the SFI research centre for medical devices based at University of Galway which focuses on developing biomedical implants, therapeutic and diagnostic devices that address the needs of patients living with chronic illness. Dr Atif Shahzad, joint director of the Smart Sensors Lab at the University of Galway and a research fellow at the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research at the University of Birmingham, said: “Our SMARTSHAPE consortium has developed an IP-protected technologically disruptive sensor for continuous pressure measurement. There are challenges related to biocompatibility, longevity, and delivery to the target tissue, and these need to be overcome to deliver the sensor to the market.”  Dr Shahzad added: “This project will address these challenges by formulating an innovative biomaterial: a novel temperature-dependent shape memory polymer (SMP). SMPs will enable the development of a microsensor that can be curled up, introduced into the body through a minimally invasive procedure, and ‘opened up’ when placed at body temperature to take a predefined shape.” The consortium of eight partner institutions is led by the University of Galway and includes partners across Ireland, the UK, Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic, consisting of two academic partners, two multinationals, one ISO-certified company, two SMEs and a patient collaboration company. Kevin Michels-Kim, chief executive of Merakoi, which facilitates patient collaboration in research. He said: “We are committed to putting the patient at the centre of SMARTSHAPE, allowing us to create novel solutions that truly meet the needs of patients. Merakoi will play a crucial role in the SMARTSHAPE consortium by integrating the patient voice across the product lifecycle. Our ability to harness deep patient understanding from the start enables the consortium to develop patient-beneficial solutions that maximise the adoption and impact of innovative technologies and devices.” Dr Sandra Ganly, Senior Research Fellow in Cardiovascular Risk Factor Research, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, at the University of Galway, said: “Blood pressure monitoring will represent the first SMARTSHAPE application. However, the potential of this sensing solution goes significantly beyond BP monitoring. Continuous physiological pressure monitoring can provide key information for early diagnosis, patient-specific treatment, and preventive healthcare in a wide range of healthcare indications. This will significantly broaden the potential and open avenues for other products and research innovation.” Ends

Tuesday, 31 January 2023

Johnson & Johnson announced today its prestigious Women in STEM2D (WiSTEM2D) Undergraduate Award recipients from University of Galway. The Award recognises outstanding female students in STEM2D disciplines: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Manufacturing and Design. Each recipient will receive a student award, industry mentoring and leadership training, along with the opportunity to attend careers workshops, visit Johnson & Johnson sites and participate in WiSTEM2D events designed to support them with pursuing future STEM careers. The Johnson & Johnson WiSTEM2D programme fuels the development of the female STEM2D talent pipeline by awarding and sponsoring girls and women at critical points in their educational experience and their careers, in STEM disciplines. The Undergraduate programme was first introduced at University of Limerick in 2016. Since then, it has expanded to include University College Cork in 2018, University of Galway in 2021, and Munster Technological University in 2022, supporting more than 400 female students over the last 6 years. The University of Galway students selected to receive the scholarships are: Emer Nic Roibín; Bachelor of Science; Belfast; Co. Antrim Gemma O'Brien Hehir; Biomedical Engineering; Galway Laura Burke; Biomedical Engineering, Moycullen; Galway Laura Quinn; Bachelor of Arts (Mathematical Studies and Information Technology); Renmore, Galway Mairéad Rowland; Biomedical Science; Rossport, Ballina, Co. Mayo Niamh Corcoran; Biomedical Engineering; Leacarrow, Co. Roscommon Rebeccca Norris; Bachelor of Science; Athlone, Co. Westmeath Sarah Daves; Marine Science; Austin, Texas; USA Sophie Spellissy; Computer Science and Information Technology; Ennis, Co. Clare Syakira Amani Khairul Nazri; Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology); Waterford City Michael Gilvarry, General Manager at Cerenovus said:“I would like to congratulate the students who have been chosen as recipients of the WiSTEM2D award. I am sure that they will enjoy the benefits that the programme has them to offer in supporting career development, including visits to our facilities, and the opportunity to engage with a mentor. Johnson & Johnson recognises the importance of supporting women early in their careers, to aid the development of female STEM leaders for the future. We believe in the power of diversity and inclusion to drive innovation and progress. That's why we are committed to supporting women in STEM, and providing them with the resources, opportunities, and support they need to succeed and thrive in their careers. Programmes like WiSTEM2D help allow us to partner with academic institutions to develop high-impact strategies, which can inspire and support the STEM workforce of the future.” University of Galway President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “We are delighted to strengthen our partnerships with industry and especially with Johnson & Johnson through initiatives such as the WiSTEM2D programme. We can achieve more together as the Irish term Meitheal suggests - describing how neighbours would come together to achieve a mutually better harvest. As access to tertiary education expands, we recognise that support for underrepresented students while they are part of our community is critical. Industry support for our underrepresented students in STEM can act as a catalyst to level the playing field, which is increasingly important against the backdrop of growing diversity in Ireland and the need to recognise and design for intersectionality in education. “The industry mentorship, provided as part of the programme, is a significant boon to our female student scientists, mathematicians and engineers and it is an essential ingredient, which energises them to address the world’s most pressing challenges, as framed by the UN Sustainable Development Goals and to innovate for our society, our people and our planet. We care about our students and their ambitions and we are guided by our values of openness, excellence, sustainability and respect in our role in shaping our students as the leaders of the future.” The awards ceremony was held in Áras Na Mac Léinn, University of Galway, and was also attended by Anna Rafferty, Director of Strategy, Johnson & Johnson Campus Ireland; Anna Lisa Smullin, Senior R&D Engineer and WiSTEM2D Lead at CERENOVUS; and Cara Feely, Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist at CERENOVUS. Recipients of the Johnson & Johnson WiSTEM2D Award scholarship were also presented with bespoke framed glass artwork created by Fermoy-based artist, Suzanne O’Sullivan. Ends

Monday, 30 January 2023

University of Galway’s student innovation hub, IdeasLab, has officially launched their Empathy Lab, a physical and virtual learning environment in the heart of campus.      The University of Galway Empathy Lab is the first of its kind in Europe and combines the science of human behaviour with the art of human centred design with Boston Scientific the inaugural enterprise partner.   It has been developed as part of the University’s Designing Futures project, which is funded under the Government’s Human Capital Initiative.   The University of Galway Empathy Lab will enable University of Galway students who want to come up with solutions to specific problems to understand the feelings and experiences of those affected.   Students will use new technologies including simulation suits; infant simulators; haptic gloves; scent masks.   Speaking about the Empathy Lab launch Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, President of University of Galway, said: “Respect is a core value of the University and the pathway to respect is paved with empathy and knowledge. Through the University of Galway Empathy Lab, we will work with our partners to further embed empathy as a core attribute that students can develop and practice - supporting and shaping our innovations, placing the lived experience and our society at the heart of what we create with and for others.”   Empathy is the common denominator at the heart of all great collaboration, invention and innovation - it is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference.   The University of Galway Empathy Lab will offer consideration of the deeper layers of the human experience, using technology and human simulation to capture the essence of our real, messy, human selves. It will focus on the how of empathy and developing empathic individuals and teams. Scholars describe empathy as a muscle; as such, it should be capable of growth and regeneration. Following this logic, the lab will use a variety of empathy training approaches to train and further develop students’ appreciation of empathy.   Martin Hynes and Richard Crawford of Boston Scientific are the inaugural enterprise partners who will work alongside students in 2023. Students and their mentors will experience multiple scenarios and simulations to create better ways to innovate with customers and patients in the area of endoscopy procedures.    Dr Natalie Walsh, Director of Entrepreneurial Development and co-lead of the Public Patient Involvement Ignite network in University of Galway, said: “The University of Galway Empathy Lab will take a multidimensional approach to experiences so that we better understand what people are feeling and how innovation can develop to respond to the needs and wants of our society. We will bring technology and people together to give our students unique insights and experiences that can shape future innovations and respond to our society’s most pressing needs.”   University of Galway will also launch a new Empathy in Action module which brings together expertise from across the campus and reflects the many voices and perspectives of empathy and create action oriented and empathetic future leaders and innovators. Empathy Lab and the new immersive learning environment is being supported through a funding award through the Bodyswaps & Meta's Immersive Soft Skills Education Grant. University of Galway’s IdeasLab was one of 100 educational institutions worldwide to be supported and will receive two Meta Quest 2 headsets and three months free access to Bodyswaps VR learning programs.  Dr Walsh added: “This will have a significant impact on soft skills for both students and staff. Building soft skills amongst students will allow higher education institutions around the world to level the playing field and boost opportunities for their students in the competitive global market.” According data from Bodyswaps, after using this kind of technology as part of their learning experience, 87% of learners report a significant improvement in their self-awareness and knowledge of how to improve their skills and 85% of learners report a significant improvement in their confidence to apply the simulated soft skills in real situations. Ends 

Monday, 30 January 2023

University of Galway’s postgraduate open evening takes place on campus, on Tuesday February 7, 2023, from 4.30pm-7.30pm, in the Bailey Allen Hall, Áras na Mac Léinn. With more than 200 postgraduate courses on offer across a range of subjects including Humanities, Business, Law, Engineering, Science and Computer Science, Nursing, and Medicine and Health Sciences, the postgraduate event is a key event for those who want to broaden their skills-set, define their areas of expertise, increase their specialist knowledge and ultimately improve their job prospects. The informal networking event will showcase the suite of full-time and part-time postgraduate programmes available, including taught and research masters, as well as doctoral research options. Flexible, online, and blended learning options are also on offer. Academic staff will be available to meet prospective students to discuss study opportunities, entry requirements and career paths and postgraduate support staff will be on hand to discuss applications, admissions, scholarships and fees. The ‘Postgraduate Funding and Scholarships’ talk will present a range of schemes designed to make postgraduate study more affordable.  As part of University of Galway’s strategic focus on recognising excellence and success, EU students with first class honours in their undergraduate degree are eligible to apply for a €1,500 scholarship towards their taught master’s degree at the University. Emily Atkinson, graduate of the MSc in Consumer Psychology, who was awarded a scholarship said: “The postgraduate scholarship is a fantastic opportunity that rewards and incentivises the hard work it takes to achieve first class honours. The scholarship allowed me prioritise finding the right postgraduate course for me, and to focus on my studies during my masters.”  Valerie Leahy, Postgraduate Recruitment Officer, University of Galway, said: “We especially encourage visitors considering a return to university studies to attend our Postgraduate Open Day. Almost half of those applying to our postgraduate courses are not recent graduates, they are returning to study or upskill for their current job. “The value of a postgraduate qualification is proven in terms of improving employability and career progression, increasing lifetime earnings, learning invaluable transferable skills that employers value, and many of our courses also offer opportunities for placement and internships.” Booking in advance for the event is recommended and is available at www.universityofgalway.ie/postgraduate-open-day.  Ends

Monday, 30 January 2023

Beidh oíche oscailte iarchéime Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ar siúl ar an gcampas Dé Máirt, an 7 Feabhra 2023 ó 4.30pm-7.30pm i Halla Bailey Allen, Áras na Mac Léinn. Beidh níos mó ná 200 cúrsa iarchéime á dtairiscint ag oíche oscailte Ollscoil na Gaillimhe idir na Daonnachtaí, Gnó, Dlí, Innealtóireacht, Eolaíocht agus Ríomheolaíocht, Altranas, agus Leigheas agus na hEolaíochtaí Sláinte. Is imeacht tábhachtach é seo dóibh siúd ar mian leo a scileanna a leathnú, a réimsí saineolais a bheachtú, a saineolas a mhéadú agus a ndeiseanna fostaíochta a fheabhsú ar deireadh thiar. Beidh eolas le fáil faoi chláir iarchéime lánaimseartha agus pháirtaimseartha atá á dtairiscint san Ollscoil, lena n-áirítear máistreachtaí múinte agus taighde, agus roghanna taighde dochtúireachta. Tá roghanna foghlama solúbtha, ar líne agus cumaisc ar fáil freisin. Beidh cuid den fhoireann acadúil ar fáil chun bualadh le mic léinn ionchasacha chun deiseanna staidéir, riachtanais iontrála agus cosáin gairme a phlé agus beidh cuid den fhoireann tacaíochta iarchéime ar fáil chun iarratais, iontrálacha, scoláireachtaí agus táillí a phlé. Cuirfidh an chaint ‘Scoláireachtaí agus Maoiniú Iarchéime’ i láthair raon scéimeanna atá ann chun cuidiú le staidéar iarchéime a dhéanamh níos réasúnta. Mar chuid den fhócas straitéiseach atá ar bhunchéim ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe maidir le haitheantas a thabhairt d’fheabhas agus do rathúlacht, tá mic léinn de chuid an AE a bhfuil céadonóracha bainte amach acu ina mbunchéim i dteideal iarratas a dhéanamh ar scoláireacht €1,500 i dtreo a gcúrsa máistreachta múinte san Ollscoil. Dúirt Emily Atkinson, céimí de chuid an MSc in Consumer Psychology agus ar bronnadh scoláireacht uirthi, an méid seo a leanas: “Is deis iontach í an scoláireacht iarchéime a spreagann agus a thugann luach saothair don obair chrua a bhaineann le céadonóracha a bhaint amach. Thug an scoláireacht deis dom díriú ar an gcúrsa iarchéime ceart a aimsiú dom féin, agus díriú ar mo chuid staidéir le linn mo mháistreachta.” Dúirt Valerie Leahy, Oifigeach Earcaíochta Iarchéime, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Molaimid go háirithe do chuairteoirí atá ag smaoineamh ar fhilleadh ar staidéar ollscoile freastal ar ár Lá Oscailte Iarchéime. I gcás beagnach leath díobh siúd a chuireann isteach ar ár gcúrsaí iarchéime níl siad díreach tar éis céim a bhaint amach, tá siad ag filleadh ar an staidéar nó ag tabhairt faoi bhreisoiliúint dá bpost reatha. “Tá luach cáilíochta iarchéime cruthaithe i dtéarmaí infhostaitheachta agus dul chun cinn gairme a fheabhsú, tuilleamh saoil a mhéadú, scileanna inaistrithe luachmhara a fhoghlaim a bhfuil meas ag fostóirí orthu, agus cuireann go leor dár gcúrsaí deiseanna socrúcháin agus intéirneachtaí ar fáil freisin.” Moltar áit a chur in áirithe roimh ré agus is féidir é sin a dhéanamh ag www.universityofgalway.ie/postgraduate-open-day. Críoch

Wednesday, 25 January 2023

Sheol Méara Chathair na Gaillimhe, an Comhairleoir Clodagh Higgins, dhá thionscnamh nua de chuid Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus Gaillimh le Gaeilge ag preasócáid a bhí ar siúl in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe le déanaí chun úsáid na Gaeilge labhartha a mhéadú i gcathair na Gaillimhe. Is príomhbhearta iad an dá thionscnamh seo atá leagtha amach sa Phlean Teanga do Chathair na Gaillimhe agus a bhfuil ról lárnach acu chun stádas mar ‘Baile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta’ a bhaint amach do Ghaillimh.   Faoi Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, sainmhínítear Bailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta mar na bailte sin atá suite i Limistéir Pleanála Teanga Ghaeltachta nó in aice leo. Tá Gaillimh le Gaeilge ag comhoibriú le Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe, le hOllscoil na Gaillimhe agus le páirtithe leasmhara tábhachtacha eile chun an próiseas a bhaineann leis an bPlean Teanga a chur i bhfeidhm sa chathair a éascú. Is é cuspóir Phlean Teanga Chathair na Gaillimhe, de réir pholasaí an Rialtais, cur le húsáid agus eolas cumarsáide na Gaeilge mar theanga pobail i gCathair na Gaillimhe ar bhonn incriminteach. Moltar sa phlean áis ar líne a fhorbairt a thabharfadh eolas faoi sheirbhísí Gaeilge na cathrach mar aon le suaitheantais chun cainteoirí Gaeilge a aithint. Is éard a dúirt Méara Chathair na Gaillimhe, an Comhairleoir Clodagh Higgins agus í ag labhairt ag an ócáid: “Tháinig an smaoineamh chun cinn arís i bPlean Teanga Chathair na Gaillimhe do shuaitheantas mar mholadh agus mar bhealach do Ghaeilgeoirí aithne a chur ar a chéile.  Cuirfidh na suaitheantais nua atá deartha ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, le húsáid na Gaeilge agus beidh an Ghaeilge níos feiceálaí. Tuigim go leathnófar an tionscnamh seo amach go cathair na Gaillimhe freisin agus measaim gur an-smaoineamh é sin. Tá lúcháir orm ‘An tEolaire - Seirbhís i nGaeilge’, cruthaithe ag Gaillimh le Gaeilge, a sheoladh inniu freisin. Is liosta cuimsitheach é seo de na gnólachtaí agus de na heagraíochtaí sa chathair atá in ann ‘seirbhís i nGaeilge’ a chur ar fáil – acmhainn úsáideach do dhuine ar bith ar mian leo a ngnó a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge. Cuirfidh An tEolaire eolas ar fáil freisin maidir le himeachtaí Gaeilge atá ar tí tarlú sa chathair. ” Dúirt Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí na hOllscoile, an tOllamh Pól Ó Dochartaigh, go mbeifí in ann: “Freastal níos fearr agus níos leithne a dhéanamh ar phobal Gaeilge na hOllscoile’ mar go léireodh na suaitheantais ‘a mhéad daoine atá ag obair ar fud na hOllscoile a bhfuil ar a gcumas agus atá sásta seirbhísí a chur ar fáil i nGaeilge.  Léiríonn an taithí idirnáisiúnta nach leor seirbhísí dátheangacha a chur ar fáil lena chinntiú go mbainfear leas astu.  Ní mór iad a phoibliú agus deimhniú go bhfuil siad ar aon chaighdeán leis na seirbhísí atá ar fáil i mBéarla ionas go mbeidh daoine ar a gcompord á n-éileamh agus sin é go díreach atá uainn anseo san Ollscoil.”  Léirigh sé a shástacht faoin gcomhoibriú leanúnach idir an Ollscoil agus Gaillimh le Gaeilge freisin agus é ag tagairt don ról atá ag an Ollscoil i bhfeidhmiú Phlean Teanga Chathair na Gaillimhe. Is céim eile chun cinn é an tionscnamh nua seo ó thaobh Straitéis Gaeilge na hOllscoile chomh maith.  I measc na mbeart eile atá bainte amach ó seoladh Straitéis na Gaeilge 2021-2025 áirítear ceapachán Oifigeach Gaeilge na hOllscoile agus athsheoladh ar an Scéim Cónaitheachta Gaeilge. Den chéad uair riamh bronnadh scoláireachtaí ar an 16 mac léinn atá ag cur fúthu i dTeach na Gaeilge i mbliana.   Labhair Cathaoirleach Ghaillimh le Gaeilge, Bernadette Mullarkey, ag an ócáid freisin agus dúirt sí an méid seo a leanas: “Is céim thar a bheith nádúrtha agus tábhachtach é seoladh an dá thionscnamh seo inniu chun úsáid na Gaeilge a mhéadú i gCathair Dhátheangach na hÉireann. Tá lúcháir orainn a bheith ag obair i gcomhar le hOllscoil na Gaillimhe ar an tionscnamh seo agus tá muid ag tnúth go mór le bheith ag obair as lámh a chéile ar chomhfhiontair straitéiseacha fhéideartha eile amach anseo. “Tá an stádas chun ‘Baile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta’ a bhaint amach ar cheann de na príomhchuspóirí atá leagtha amach ag Gaillimh le Gaeilge sa straitéis nua do na trí bliana atá amach romhainn. Mholfainn d’aon duine atá in ann seirbhís i nGaeilge a chur ar fáil, é sin a chur in iúl do ‘chuile dhuine’ trí chlárú le Gaillimh le Gaeilge inniu. Tá sé chomh tábhachtach céanna go mbaineann gach Gaeilgeoir leas as an tseirbhís atá curtha ar fáil i nGaeilge agus go leanfadh siad ag cruthú éileamh ar a leithéid de sheirbhísí amach anseo.” Chuir sí in iúl go raibh  64 gnó agus eagraíocht liostáilte san Eolaire agus go raibh 96 duine cláraithe ann faoi láthair ó réimsí leathan earnálacha sa chathair. Ghabh  sí buíochas  le gach duine a chláraigh san Eolaire agus le príomhmhaointheoirí Ghaillimh le Gaeilge, An Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Galtachta, Spóirt agus Meán a thug deontas aonuaire chun an tEolaire a fhorbairt. Má sholáthraíonn do ghnó/d’eagraíocht seirbhís i nGaeilge i gcathair na Gaillimhe agus más mian leat a bheith cláraithe ar an liosta, is féidir leat teagmháil a dhéanamh le Gaillimh le Gaeilge ag eolas@gleg.ie nó cuir glaoch ar 091 568876. Is féidir leat cuairt a thabhairt ar - https://gleg.ie/claraigh-linn/ agus foirm ghearr a chomhlánaú chun clárú san Eolaire. Críoch

Wednesday, 25 January 2023

The Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr. Clodagh Higgins launched two new initiatives by University of Galway and Gaillimh le Gaeilge to increase the use of spoken Irish in Galway city at a press event in University of Galway recently. Both initiatives are key measures outlined in the Irish Language Plan for Galway City which have an instrumental role to play in achieving the status of ‘Gaeltacht Service Town’ for Galway. Under the Gaeltacht Act 2012, Gaeltacht Service Towns are defined as those towns situated in or adjacent to Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas. Gaillimh le Gaeilge is collaborating with Galway City Council, University of Galway and other key stakeholders to facilitate the process of implementing the Irish Language Plan in the city. The objective of the plan, in line with Government policy, is to increase on an incremental basis, the communicative use and knowledge of Irish in Galway city as a community language.  The plan includes the creation of a local directory, along with badges, to identify those who can speak Irish. Speaking at the event, the Mayor of the City of Galway Cllr. Clodagh Higgins said: “The idea of a badge came up again in Galway City’s Irish Language Plan as a suggestion, as a way for Irish speakers to get to know each other. The brooch pins which University of Galway have designed will contribute to the visibility and use of Irish and I understand that the initiative will also be extended to Galway city, which I believe is a great idea. I’m also delighted to launch ‘An tEolaire - Seirbhís i nGaeilge’  created by Gaillimh le Gaeilge. This is a comprehensive list of businesses and organizations in the city who can provide a ‘seirbhís i nGaeilge'– a useful  resource to anyone who wishes to conduct their business as Gaeilge. An tEolaire will also include information regarding upcoming Irish language events in the city. ” University of Galway’s Deputy President and Registrar, Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh, said: “This latest initiative will ensure that we can improve and broaden Irish language services for the Irish speaking University community as the new brooch pins will ensure that the large amount of staff members across the University who are providing services in Irish are easily identifiable.  It is evident from international experience that making bilingual services available does not ensure that they will be acquired. The services must be publicised and must be of equal standard to the English services so as to ensure that people are at ease requesting and availing of the services and that is exactly what we are striving for here. ” He also commended the ongoing collaboration between the University and Gaillimh le Gaeilge and spoke of the University’s role in the implementation of the Galway City Irish Language Plan. This new initiative is also significant in terms of the University’s Irish Language Strategy.  The appointment of the Irish Language Officer and the relaunching of the Irish Language Residential Scheme are among the other achievements which have been reached since the Strategy for the Irish Language 2021-2025 was launched.  For the first time ever, the sixteen Irish speaking students residing in Teach na Gaeilge were also awarded special scholarships this year. Chair of Gaillimh le Gaeilge Bernadette Mullarkey spoke at the event and said: “Launching these two initiatives today is a very natural and important step to increase the use and the position of the Irish language in Ireland’s Bilingual City. We are delighted to be working in collaboration with University of Galway on this initiative and we look forward to many other bilingual collaborations in the future. Gaining the status as a ‘Baile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta’ is one of Gaillimh le Gaeilge’s main objectives outlined in our new strategy for the next 3 years. I would encourage anyone who can provide a service as Gaeilge to let ‘everyone’ know about it by signing up with Gaillimh le Gaeilge today. It is also equally important that all Irish speakers avail of the Irish language service provided and continue to create a demand for such services into the future.” If your business / organisation provides a service in Irish in Galway city and you wish to be listed, you can contact Gaillimh le Gaeilge on eolas@gleg.ie or on 091 568876. You can also visit - https://gleg.ie/claraigh-linn/ and fill in the short online form to register for the Eolaire.  Ends

Tuesday, 24 January 2023

Is cúis mhór áthais é d’Ionad Léann na hÉireann, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, a fhógairt go bhfuil Máirín Mhic Lochlainn ceaptha mar Ealaíontóir Cónaithe Scéalaíochta i mbliana.  Is as Ros an Mhíl ó dhúchas í Máirín agus tá sí ag cur fuithí in Indreabhán. Luann Máirín a hathair, Beartla Ó Maoileoin mar an chéad scéalaí a chuala sí agus tionchar a chuid léirithe drámatúla, a bhí uirthí.  Tá roinnt gradam scéalaíochta buaite ag Máirín, ina measc Corn Neidí Frainc ag Féile an Oireachtais. Tá Máirín tiomanta chun ceird na scéalaíochta a fhorbairt agus tá ceardlanna scéalaíochta á stiúradh aici ar fud na hÉireann, na Breataine Bige agus na Danmhairge. Cuimsíonn a stór scéalaíochta na Scéalta Fiannaíochta agus tá an-áthas uirthi an deis seo a fháil le forbairt cheird na scéalaíochta a chur chun cinn. Chuir an tOllamh Louis de Paor, Stiúrthóir Ionad Léann na hÉireann fáilte mhór roimh an gceapachán: “Deis iontach is ea é seo dúinne chun ealaín na scéalaíochta béil a aithint agus cumas neamhchoitianta Mháirín sa réimse sin den gcultúr dúchais a cheiliúradh. Táimid ag súil go mór le bheith ag obair ina teannta as seo go ceann bliana.”  Beidh sraith ceardlann cúig seachtaine á múineadh ag Máirín san Ollscoil san Earrach agus arís san Fhómhar. Beidh béim ar leith ar na Scéalta Fiannaíochta aici san Earrach.  Tá na cúig ceardlanna san Earrach saor in aisce agus beidh fáilte roimh chách. Beidh na ceardlanna ar siúl gach Déardaoin ag 7pm, ag tosnú ar an 2 Feabhra, san Ionad Léinn na hÉireann, 4 Bóthar na Drioglainne, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Is iad Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Údarás na Gaeltachta, An Chomhairle Ealaíon agus Ionad Léann na hÉireann, OÉ Gaillimh, a mhaoiníonn an tionscnamh seo.  Tuilleadh eolais ó Samantha Williams ag 091 492051 nó samantha.williams@universityofgalway.ie Críoch

Tuesday, 24 January 2023

University of Galway’s Centre for Irish Studies has announced the appointment of Máirín Mhic Lochlainn as Storyteller-in-Residence for this year.  Living in Indreabhán, Co. Galway, but originally from Rós a Mhíl, Máirín cites her father, Beartla Ó Maoileoin as the first storyteller that she heard and his dramatic renditions have had a long standing influence on her. Máirín has won several awards for story-telling including Corn Neidí Frainc at the Oireachtas festival. Developing the craft of story-telling is a mission for Máirín and she has conducted workshops in story-telling throughout Ireland, Wales and Denmark. Her story-telling repertoire includes the Scéalta Fiannaíochta and she is delighted at this opportunity to further the development of the craft of story-telling.  Professor Louis de Paor, Director of the Centre for Irish Studies welcomed the appointment: “This is a great opportunity for us to recognise the art of oral storytelling and to celebrate Máirín's particular ability in this area of our native culture. We are really looking forward to working with her for the next year.”  Máirín will teach a series of five workshops the University in early 2023 and a second series in the autumn. The spring workshops will focus in particular on the Scéalta Fiannaíochta.  The five spring workshops, which will be delivered through Irish, are free and open to the public and will run every Thursday, beginning Thursday 2 February, at 7pm at the Centre for Irish Studies, 4 Distillery Road, University of Galway.   This project is funded by Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Údarás na Gaeltachta and the Arts Council, in association with the Centre for Irish Studies at University of Galway. Further information contact Samantha Williams at 091 492051 or samantha.williams@universityofgalway.ie. Ends

Monday, 23 January 2023

The global study, involving 5,869 patients from ICUs across 50 countries, recommends a systematic approach to reduce the duration of ventilation to improve risk of death A new study from University of Galway has found high death rates in weaning intensive care patients from ventilation.  During this clinical study, carried out in 50 countries, 35% of patients who required ventilation for longer than two days could not be successfully weaned from invasive mechanical ventilation.  The WEAN SAFE study is the first global study to describe the weaning process in detail, characterising different approaches used by physicians in regard to weaning for mechanical ventilation, and the impact of delayed and failed weaning from ventilation, in patients requiring at least two days of invasive ventilation.  The study was funded by the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine and by the European Respiratory Society, and performed by a consortium of investigators from 481 ICUs across 50 countries.  The research was published recently in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.  Weaning in the context of invasive ventilation for ICU patients is the process of decreasing the degree of ventilator support and allowing the patient to take on a greater proportion of their ventilation independent of machinery - for example spontaneous breathing trials or a gradual reduction in machinery support.  A patient is successfully weaned from invasive ventilation when the invasive ventilator support is completely removed.  The study found that successful weaning of patients from invasive mechanical ventilation represents a crucial step in the recovery process following severe respiratory failure. Many of the serious complications of mechanical ventilation are directly related to the duration of ventilation.  Professor John Laffey, Professor of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine at University of Galway’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, and Consultant in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine at Galway University Hospitals, explained: “Where the process of weaning becomes prolonged, the risk of dying and of increased length of stay in intensive care and hospital increases substantially. In terms of longer term outcomes, older age and the duration of ventilation are the strongest predictors of survival and quality of life at one year following critical illness.” Professor Laffey added: “Despite the importance of the weaning process, this area is not well studied. Our research on this clinical practice is the largest study to date to offer data relating weaning practices to outcomes from invasive mechanical ventilation in a global cohort of patients at risk for prolonged weaning and/or weaning failure.” It was found that of the patients enrolled in the study: :: 30% died in the ICU, while 38% died in hospital. Of patients who did not successfully wean from ventilation, 78% died in the ICU. :: Of patients who entered the weaning process, 65% had a short wean (≤1 day), 10% had intermediate (2-6 days) weaning, 10% had a prolonged (≥ 7 days) weaning duration, while 16% ultimately failed (i.e., died, were transferred or still invasively ventilated at day 90).  :: Higher sedation levels were independently associated with delays in initiating weaning from the ventilator. Higher sedation levels and a delay in initiating ventilator separation were potentially modifiable factors independently associated with weaning failure. Researchers involved in the  global study said its findings can help shape clinical approaches relating to weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation. They also noted that future studies to develop strategies to reduce weaning delays, and optimize patient sedation levels, should improve survival in patients weaning from ventilation. Ends 

Monday, 23 January 2023

Researchers conducted the first study of its kind in Ireland, investigating the background level of exposure to the herbicide  About one quarter of those tested found to have low levels of exposure of the chemical glyphosate Scientists at University of Galway investigating exposure to glyphosate in families have detected low level traces of the controversial herbicide in a quarter of people tested. The IMAGE research project ran from 2019 to 2020 and is the first of its kind to investigate levels of background exposure to glyphosate among Irish households. Led by Exposure Science researchers at University of Galway, in collaboration with the Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine in Bochum, Germany and the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt-UBA), the study tested urine samples collected from farm and non-farm families for the presence of glyphosate and its main human metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA). Dr Alison Connolly, exposure scientist who conducted the research while at University of Galway, said: "This study produced important results on human exposures to a chemical of public concern and is particularly timely with the European Commission currently re-evaluating glyphosate.  “Though the quantifiable levels were low, it is essential to understand how chemical exposures can occur among different groups, particularly vulnerable people such as children. This information is necessary for conducting robust regulatory risk assessments, managing exposure levels, and fully understanding their effect on human health. This study also demonstrated how beneficial human biomonitoring is for evaluating chemical exposures.”  Dr Marie Coggins, Senior Lecturer in Exposure Science at University of Galway, said: “The glyphosate exposure data published in the IMAGE study is relevant as the European Commission evaluate their renewal assessment for this controversial pesticide.  “Although the exposure data reported is low compared to the current acceptable daily intake value set by EFSA, our risk assessment could change following the publication of EFSAs renewal assessment in early 2023. Furthermore, the data suggests that occupational users may have a slightly higher exposure than background levels, which could and should be reduced further by substitution with less harmful methods, careful chemical handling practices and the use of exposure controls such as personal protective equipment.” - Why was the study carried out?  The research was carried out as a European project on Human Biomonitoring, the HBM4EU project, has identified a number of priority substances, including both glyphosate and AMPA, for which further information on human exposure is required to better understand the risk to human health. HBM4EU called for more research, such as the University of Galway’s IMAGE study, to characterise population exposures to chemicals such as pesticides.  - What does the study show?  A total of 68 families took part – 14 of whom were living on farms, with one of those family members spraying glyphosate-based pesticide. The study analysed tests from 226 people along with detailed dietary and lifestyle questionnaire.  Glyphosate was detectable in 26% of samples. AMPA was detectable in 59% of samples.  The daily intakes for participants were back-calculated from urinary glyphosate concentrations and compared to the acceptable daily intake. Calculated intakes were equivalent to 3% or less of the EFSA acceptable level. There was no statistical difference between farm and non-farm families' exposures, though higher concentrations were detected among some fathers living on farms, likely because they sprayed glyphosate-based pesticide products the day before sampling.  Researchers said the higher detection frequency for AMPA may be due to dietary exposure, i.e. from residues on foods and water.  They also found maximum exposures to glyphosate are low compared to the current acceptable daily intake set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) without presenting an appreciable health risk.  - What next? The global scientific community has still not reached a consensus on the potential carcinogenic health effects of glyphosate. However, EFSA currently concludes that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans and the results of this study are interpreted using the current EFSA acceptable daily intake. This study will enhance Europe's understanding of glyphosate exposures among different demographic groups and contribute to scientific knowledge on exposures required for regulatory risk assessments, currently under re-evaluation by the European Commission with results due in 2023.  Glyphosate Glyphosate is the active ingredient in over 750 products, including Roundup®. More of this herbicide is used around the world than any other, to combat weeds, as a pre-harvest drying treatment on certain food crops, in home gardens and in parks, public spaces, lawns, gardens and roadsides.  There has been much controversy over the potential adverse health effects of this commonly used pesticide.  Dietary exposure to pesticides can occur through ingestion of residues (i.e. glyphosate) on fruit, vegetables, grains and contaminated water or via skin contact or inhalation exposure during home use of glyphosate-based pesticide products. The debates significantly increased when the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as “Group 2A – probably carcinogenic to humans” in 2015.  The European Chemical Agency’s (ECHA) Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) have classified glyphosate as causing serious eye damage and being toxic to aquatic life. It has stated that it is not justified to classify glyphosate as a carcinogen. Glyphosate is currently approved for use in the EU, an approval which is under review by the European Commission. The final EFSA conclusion is expected in July 2023.  Ends

Monday, 23 January 2023

University of Galway and the Mary Robinson Centre will host the first Mary Robinson Climate Conference this summer. The event takes place on July 6th and 7th, 2023, in Ballina, Co Mayo. Mary Robinson said: “This situation must not lead us to despair, rather it should propel us into action.”  Dr Gordon Bromley, Lecturer in Physical Geography & Climate at University of Galway, said: “Climate change is the greatest socio-economic force of the 21st Century, creating uncertainty and threatening to undermine basic societal foundations. As we stand at this critical juncture – seeking to prevent, mitigate, and adapt to global warming – the time is ripe and the need is clear to chart our awareness into truly new waters and to use our collective knowledge to better plan for the future.” In the spirit of this view, the Mary Robinson Climate Conference will bring together voices from all sectors of academia and society to share climate-related research and discuss pathways for a sustainable future in an inclusive multidisciplinary forum. The schedule will feature presentations, discussions, roundtables, and workshops related to the impact of climate change on the physical, social, cultural, political, health, and economic environments of our planet and ways to address it. The call for session proposals is now open. Suggestions are invited from a wide spectrum of disciplines.  For more information, please visit the conference website. Ends

Friday, 20 January 2023

Digital microbe database unlocks patient response to treatment for diseases such as Parkinson’s and colorectal cancer Researchers at University of Galway associated with APC Microbiome Ireland, a world-leading SFI Research Centre, have created a resource of over 7,000 digital microbes – enabling computer simulations of how drug treatments work and how patients may respond. The resource is a milestone in scientific understanding of human response to medical treatment as it offers the opportunity for computer simulations and predictions of differences in metabolism between individuals, including for diseases such as inflammatory bowel, Parkinson’s and colorectal cancer. The database  - called AGORA2 - builds on the expertise developed in the creation of first resource of digital microbes known as AGORA1. AGORA2 encompasses 7,203 digital microbes, created based on experimental knowledge from scientific publications, with a particular focus on drug metabolism.  The resource has been built by a team of scientists at University of Galway’s Molecular Systems Physiology group, led by APC Microbiome Ireland principal investigator Professor Ines Thiele. The team’s research aims to advance precision medicine by using computational modelling.  Professor Thiele explained: “AGORA2 is a milestone towards personalised, predictive computer simulations enabling the analysis of person-microbiome-drug interactions for precision medicine applications. “Humans are hosting a myriad of microbes. Just like us, these microbes eat and interact with their environment. Considering that we are all unique, each of us hosting an individual microbiome our metabolism is also expected to vary between individuals.  “The insight provided by the database of digital microbes presents a healthcare opportunity to harness individual differences in metabolism to provide personalised, improved treatments in ‘precision medicine’, compared to a currently more general ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. “Besides our food, our individual microbiomes also metabolise the medicines we take. The same drug may therefore manifest diverse effects in disparate people because of the differences in metabolism performed by the different microbiomes.” Using the digital microbe resource AGORA2, computer simulations have shown that drug metabolism varies significantly between individuals, as driven by their own microbiomes.  Uniquely, the AGORA2-based computer simulations enabled the identification of microbes and metabolic processes for individual drugs correlated with observations in a clinical setting.  The research was published today in Nature Biotechnology.  The team at University of Galway demonstrated that AGORA2 enables personalised, strain-resolved modelling by predicting the drug conversion potential of the gut microbiomes from 616 colorectal cancer patients and controls, which greatly varied between individuals and correlated with age, sex, body mass index and disease stages. This means that the team can create digital representations and predictions specific to the divergent microbes. Professor Thiele added: “Knowledge of our individual microbiomes and their drug metabolising capabilities represents a precision medicine opportunity to tailor drug treatments to an individual to maximise health benefit while minimising side effects. “By using AGORA2 in computer simulations our team have showed that the resulting metabolic predictions enabled superior performance compared to what was possible to date.” Professor Paul Ross, Director of APC Microbiome Ireland, said: “This research is a perfect illustration of the power of computational approaches to enhance our understanding of the role of microbes in health and disease – significantly this digital platform will be a fantastic resource that could lead to the development of novel personalised therapeutic approaches which take the microbiome into account.”  This work was led by University of Galway and completed as part of a collaboration between many international institutions, including the Argonne National Laboratory, the University of Lorraine, and University Medicine Greifswald. Ends