Sheol an tOllamh Ger Hurley, Leas-Uachtarán, OÉ Gaillimh, dara Seimineár Idirnáisiúnta John McGahern aréir (Déardaoin, 24 Iúil), in Óstán Bush, Cora Droma Rúisc, Co. Liatroma. Reáchtáiltear Seimineár Idirnáisiúnta agus Scoil Samhraidh John McGahern gach bliain i gCo. Liatroma chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar obair agus saothar liteartha an údáir cháiliúil seo. Is é an tOllamh Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, Roinn na Staire, OÉ Gaillimh, a thug an óráid 'John McGahern's Irelands' ag an seoladh. Dúirt an tOllamh Ó Tuathaigh: "Is as a chumas mar scríbhneoir, scríbhneoir ficsean próis den chuid is mó, a thugtar aitheantas do John McGahern, agus mairfidh sé inár gcuimhne mar scríbhneoir den chéad scoth. In ainneoin dáiríreacht a dhílseachta dá ghairm, tá léargas agus crític iontach ar phríomhfhórsaí leanúnachais agus athrú i sochaí na hÉireann le fáil freisin i gcorpas iomlán McGahern (go háirithe sochaí tuaithe an Iarthair) idir na 1940idí agus blianta tosaigh an chéid seo". Sheol Kevin Reynolds ó RTÉ an chéad imleabhar de John McGahern Yearbook ag Seimineár 2008 freisin. I measc na scríbhneoirí a bhfuil saothar dá gcuid le fáil san imleabhar bliantúil seo atá faoi chlúdach crua, tiomsaithe agus curtha in eagar ag an Dr John Kenny, Roinn an Bhéarla, OÉ Gaillimh, tá Séamus Heaney, Declan Kiberd, Joseph O'Connor, agus Belinda McKeon. Dúirt an tOllamh Ger Hurley, Leas-Uachtarán um Thionscnaimh Straitéiseacha agus Gnóthaí Seachtracha, OÉ Gaillimh: "Tá clú agus cáil ar Scoil Samhraidh John McGahern – scoil samhraidh a bhíonn ar siúl in OÉ Gaillimh. Le breis is 25 bliain anuas, go dtí gur cailleadh é gan choinne, chuir John go mór le cláir éagsúla acadúla san Ollscoil, ach bhí spéis ar leith aige sa Scoil Samhraidh sa Léann Éireannach agus ceardlanna Scríbhneoireacht Chruthaitheach. Tá an-áthas anois ar OÉ Gaillimh, comhoibriú arís i mbliana le Comhairle Contae Liatroma, agus Oifig Ealaíon na Comhairle sin, chun an Seimineár agus an Scoil Samhraidh a eagrú anseo i Liatroim in onóir éachtaí ealaíona agus liteartha John McGahern". I measc na gcainteoirí a bheidh i láthair ag an Seimineár Idirnáisiúnta beidh: An tOllamh Christopher Murray, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath; Gerardo Gambolini, file agus aistritheoir ón Airgintín; agus David Malcolm, Ollscoil Gdansk, An Pholainn. Beidh plé painéil agus léamha ar siúl i rith an chláir freisin. Le cois an tSeimineáir i mbliana, tá Scoil Samhraidh Idirnáisiúnta – seachtain dianstaidéir ar shaothar John McGahern agus comhthéacsanna na hoibre sin – eagraithe ag OÉ Gaillimh. Áireofar an clár samhraidh seo mar chuid den 25ú Scoil Samhraidh Idirnáisiúnta sa Léann Éireannach in OÉ Gaillimh. Mar chomóradh ar an 25ú Scoil Samhraidh Idirnáisiúnta sa Léann Éireannach (1984-2008), bronnfaidh OÉ Gaillimh Céad Eagrán na Stát Aontaithe de chuimhní cinn John McGahern, All Will Be Well ar gach mac léinn a fhreastalaíonn ar Scoil Samhraidh 2008. Is féidir sceideal mionsonraithe den Seimineár a íoslódáil ó www.nuigalway.ie/iss/ CRÍOCH

NUI Galway PhD student Ruairi Nestor, from Ballyglass, Co. Mayo, has won a prestigious international award at a conference in Lausanne, Switzerland. Ruairi received the Libersky Prize for the best research paper by a student at the 2008 SPHERIC International Workshop, for his work in the field of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). CFD is a set of techniques for accurate computer simulations of the flow of gases and liquids. The technology is central in the design of systems from airliners to medical devices. Ruairi's work is the latest stage in a project by a team of NUI Galway researchers who are developing new CFD methods with the potential to simulate ever more complex systems. The research is carried out in the Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering and the National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, and involves development of mathematical methods which are then built into new software. Ruairi, a graduate of Mechanical Engineering at NUI Galway, has already achieved success in his academic ventures by securing an Embark Postgraduate Research Scholarship. Operated by the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET), the scholarship is designed for researchers in the sciences, engineering or technology at either Masters or Doctorate level. Dr Nathan Quinlan, Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, NUI Galway, commented: "The IRCSET scholarships and other such schemes make this kind of research possible in Ireland. There are opportunities for a whole new generation of engineers and scientists to excel in research". Renewable energy and medical implant technology are among the sectors where advanced CFD methods are needed. According to Ruairi, "The techniques we are developing have the potential to improve the design of flow devices such as artificial heart valves or wave energy converters. It is a great honour to receive an award for my work at international level". Dr Nathan Quinlan, Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, NUI Galway, commented, "This award is a great achievement by Ruairi and the team, and it also highlights the international quality of engineering research going on at NUI Galway. Computational techniques like the one we're working on are going to be crucial for the creation of new technology in key industries". The paper presented by Ruairi in Switzerland, "Moving Boundary Problems in the Finite Volume Particle Method", was co-authored by fellow PhD student Mihai Basa and their supervisor, NUI Galway's Dr Nathan Quinlan. -ends-

NUI Galway academic Dr. Liam Leonard has said the success of civil society groups and social movements in the Lisbon Treaty referendum bodes well for the Irish environment. According to Dr. Leonard, the effectiveness of the No Campaign's 'motley crew' has illustrated the relationship between activism and power. Dr. Leonard was speaking as his new book, which studies activists and the environmental movement in Ireland, was published online. The book, 'The Environmental Movement in Ireland' has been co-written by Michael O' Kane of Australia's Monash University. In the spirit of activism and information sharing, the book is available free to download to members of the public. This is the third book in the Ecopolitics Series, and studies activists in Ireland between the 1997 and 2007 general elections. The relationship between activism and research is explored through a series of case studies, interviews and articles. According to Dr. Leonard, who works with NUI Galway's Social Sciences Research Centre: "The success of civil society groups and social movements in the Lisbon Treaty referendum has increased our focus on the relationship between activism and power. This book provides an account of political events from an activist's perspective, thereby creating further understandings of the motivations of those in society who are so often on outside of the mainstream, but who have influenced events both nationally and throughout Europe in recent political campaigns." Activists with the Irish Green Party in working class areas of Dublin provide the focus for Irish-Australian anthropologist Michael O'Kane's in depth study on the 1997 election campaign. This is followed by a series of articles Liam Leonard, an Irish-American political sociologist, based on his work as a researcher and journalist in Galway between 1999 and 2008. The book is available to download for free at http://www.ecopoliticsonline.com/ -ends-

RDJ Glynn Solicitors have announced that they will be funding a new scholarship in NUI Galway. The scholarship, which is worth €7,500, will be awarded to one postgraduate student on the new LL.M. in Law, Technology and Governance at the University. This scholarship will be awarded on academic merit, in a competition open to all candidates offered a place on the first intake of the new LL.M. in Law, Technology and Governance in NUI Galway. It is tenable for a period of one year of full-time study and will be paid monthly over the academic session. A limited number of places remain on the LL.M. for the coming academic year, and applications close on Friday, 1 August 2008. Padraic Brennan, who heads the Galway office of RDJ Glynn, said, "RDJ Glynn has strong links with the University. Most of our solicitors and trainees and several members of our support staff received their third level education there, and we are delighted to encourage postgraduate study of commercial law in the important area of Technology and Governance by sponsoring this scholarship." The Dean of the Law Faculty, Donncha O'Connell, said, "It is vital that university Law Schools establish meaningful connections with the world of legal practice. Our graduates from a variety of programmes are now placed in the top echelons of practice in Ireland and abroad. This award is an ideal way of marking ties between 'town and gown' and the Faculty of Law is extremely grateful to RDJ Glynn for its initiative in sponsoring this scholarship." Programme co-ordinator for the LL.M. in Law, Technology and Governance, Rónán Kennedy, said, "We are very happy to have the support of one of Ireland's leading law firms for our newest and most innovative programme and look forward to continuing to work with RDJ Glynn over the coming years." The recent merger between Ronan Daly Jermyn and William B Glynn Solicitors, a long-established and successful practice, has led to the establishment of a new commercial practice in Galway city, RDJ Glynn. Led by Padraic Brennan, RDJ Glynn offers specialist legal advice to clients in Galway in areas such as corporate and commercial law, commercial property, litigation and dispute resolution, employment law and taxation. Further information on the NUI Galway Law School's post-graduate programmes, including application information, is available at http://www.nuigalway.ie/law/postgrad/. -ends-

Thirty local primary school children will return to campus today for the second week of the annual Access Summer Camp. For a fortnight every July, fifth class children from Scoil Bhríde, Shantalla, Holy Trinity and St Michael's Mervue, are given a flavour of life at University. The children are introduced to a wide range of subjects, from Computers to Chemistry, and get to try out new sporting activities. The camp is organised by Ashla Ward of the Access Office, in partnership with university departments and research institutes, and in conjunction with the sports centre at Áras na Mac Léinn. Further support comes from NUI Galway students and researchers who volunteer their time to demonstrate subjects and chaperone the children around campus. Ashla Ward says: "This fortnight is all about showing the children the possibilities that third-level education can offer. By giving them a flavour of exciting subjects in a child-friendly format, we are hoping to instil an interest in further education. While the Access Office organises the camp, we do so only with the ongoing support of staff and students across campus, who put their time and energy into the fortnight. During the summer camp, science is explored through workshops and experiments, introducing topics such as chemical reactions, genetics and forensics. To illustrate the workings of the human body, the Physiology Department monitors the children's hearts, take their pulses and checks their lung capacity. According to Ashla Ward, "The hands-on aspect of the science programmes brings the sciences to life for the children. Apart from being huge fun, the workshops have a positive effect on the children's perception of science as a subject to consider studying in the future". NUI Galway's Digital Enterprise Research Institute, uses the child friendly web site Yahooligans! to introduce the group to the Internet. Other sessions include a hands-on workshop in calligraphy from the Moore Institute for Research in the Humanities and Social Studies, and a lesson on collecting and classifying insects from the Environmental Change Institute. Using invisible lasers, the National Centre for Laser Applications show children their names being burned into a piece of wood, which then becomes a memento of the class. Italian was introduced through learning foods and drinks and how to greet a person – Ciao! In a packed schedule, Drama, Art, Music, Hip-hop and storytelling are also included. -ends-