Monday, 9 July 2018

Following the recent increase in lion’s mane jellyfish sightings and stings experienced by swimmers across parts of Ireland, jellyfish research experts from the Ryan Institute at NUI Galway and UCC have issued the following information. If you are stung, the Irish Water Safety authority recommends that you rinse the affected area copiously with seawater and apply a cold pack. You must seek medical attention at the nearest emergency department if you are  Research published by NUI Galway in the international journal Toxins in 2017 showed that the best first aid treatment for a lion’s mane sting is to rinse with vinegar (or the commercial product Sting No More® spray) to remove tentacles, and then immerse in 45°C (113°F) hot water (or apply a heat pack) for 40 minutes. Dr Doyle will meet with the Beaumont Poison Centre at Beamount Hospital Dublin to discuss these findings in the next few weeks. The lion’s mane jellyfish is a large jellyfish (up to 1 metre bell diameter) with thousands of long tentacles located beneath the bell. In Irish and UK waters, lion’s mane jellyfish can be encountered from June until late September. It is one of the least abundant jellyfish in Irish and UK waters, typically occurring as single individuals rather than in blooms or aggregations. Despite being one of the least abundant jellyfish, relatively high densities of large lion’s mane jellyfish have been recorded close to high population areas in recent weeks, and therefore stings have been a recurrent concern. Five people have now been hospitalised after being stung. Jasmine Headlam, PhD and Fullbright Researcher from the Ryan Institute at NUI Galway, says: “We often see lion’s mane jellyfish on the east coast, where the water is cooler, around hotspots like the Forty Foot diving area in Dun Laoghaire and popular beaches like Bettystown, Co. Meath and Clogherhead, Co. Louth. In the last few weeks we’ve had reports of large adult lion’s mane from the west coast in places like Salthill, Kinvara, Carna and Oranmore in Galway as well as Newquay in Clare and even Cork harbour. We urge sea swimmers and coastal visitors to report any sightings with photographs if possible to the National Biodiversity Data Centre website and the Big Jellyfish Hunt Facebook page. “Lion’s mane stings, though not generally considered fatal, can cause a lot of pain. Stings from large lion’s mane can be particularly dangerous, as the thousands of thin tentacles can each extend to several meters long. Initially, a sting may result in itching or localised pain that may radiate to other areas of the body, potentially progressing to severe pain within 20 minutes or more. In some cases, stings can result in Irukandji-like syndrome. This syndrome, named after a type of box jellyfish, can involve symptoms including back pain, nausea, abdominal cramps, sweating and hypertension.” Dr Tom Doyle, zoology lecturer at UCC’s school of biological, earth and environmental sciences, added: “Lion’s mane are spreading geographically, with sightings in the Celtic Sea and Atlantic waters in recent weeks. It is not correct to say this is the first time they have been spotted on the west coast, as we had reports for the last two years, but they are particularly large and mature. The typical jellyfish lives in the water column for six to eight months, having been released as a juvenile in December, but we believe these jellyfish may have over-wintered and may be on their second season.” Jasmine Headlam will travel to Hawaii in 2019, as a Fulbright Marine-Institute awardee, to investigate the venom of the lion’s mane jellyfish in state of the art facilities with Dr Yanagihara at University of Hawaii at Manoa. -Ends-

Monday, 9 July 2018

NUI Galway-based medical device spin-out company, Loci Orthopaedics have announced today the closing of a €2.75 million seed round investment to commercialise a new orthopaedic joint implant for a common but crippling joint condition. Loci Orthopaedics is an independent leader in the development of a potentially life-changing, ergonomic, and clinically evidence-based solution to address the increasing unmet clinical need for thumb base joint arthritis. The company is developing the InDx Implant to meet this need and access a market estimated at over €550 million per annum. Arthritis of the thumb base joint causes significant functional impairment of the hand. Those with this condition are either restricted in, or often lose the ability to perform, everyday tasks such as using a mobile phone, turning keys in a door, and even writing due to increasingly severe pain. This unmet clinical need was identified by the co-founders of the company, Dr Brendan Boland a clinician, and Mr Gerry Clarke a medical device industry veteran with over 40 years medical device experience, while they were Fellows on the BioInnovate Ireland Programme, which is co-funded by Enterprise Ireland. During this programme, Brendan and Gerry were based in UCC and undertook several hundred hours of clinical monitoring in Cork University hospitals to identify hundreds of unmet clinical needs, from which the surgical management of thumb base joint arthritis stood out as a particularly significant unmet need with a large affected patient population. Enterprise Ireland funded the development work at NUI Galway through a Commercialisation Fund programme. The Commercialisation Fund programme is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under Ireland’s European Union Structural and Investment Funds Programme 2014-2020. 5% of the population suffer severe thumb base arthritis. This equates to over 40 million people in the US and EU with significant symptoms. This condition is most common in those aged over 65. As the population of the US and EU ages, the number affected by this debilitating condition is set to increase dramatically in the next 15 years. There are more than 200,000 surgical procedures carried out each year in the EU and the US combined for severe thumb base arthritis. Due to the lack of a reliable and clinically satisfactory solution, there is a wide gap between symptomatic patients and patients currently progressing to surgery, demonstrating the substantial growth potential for new therapy solutions. The total current total addressable surgical market for thumb base arthritis procedures in the US and EU is estimated at over $600 million per annum. This market size is set to increase further due to several concurrent market growth drivers, such as an aging population, an increase in those most affected, and a lack of tolerance of poor hand function. This funding will provide financing for 24 months and will be used to advance product development in preparation for clinical trials, initiation of US commercialisation, initiation of EU regulatory approval, clinical follow-up and regulatory approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dr Brendan Boland, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Loci Orthopaedics, said: “Securing this seed round funding will put Loci Orthopaedics firmly on track to achieve the short and medium-term goals required towards getting this product to market to relieve the daily suffering of many patients.” Mr Gerry Clarke, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Loci Orthopaedics, said: “Thumb base arthritis has a huge impact on the quality of life, and on the independence of patients as they age. Can you imagine having pain on simple day to day tasks such as turning keys in a door, opening a jar, or using your phone? This is the prospect faced by millions of people who are restricted in their daily activities and enjoyment of life. It is these patients we want to help, by bringing the first evidence-based implant design to market for this common but disabling condition.” The Loci Orthopaedics team have been working with three of the world’s leading hand surgeons and have used their most cutting-edge research as the basis for the implant design. These surgeons based in Stanford University, Brown University and KU Leuven in Belgium are key-opinion leaders in this area of orthopaedic medicine. The InDx Implant is the only implant that can fully mimic the natural but complex motions of the thumb joint as it provides two points of rotation that can move both concurrently and independently of each other while enabling the joint to move in all six degrees of freedom. The device is also easier to insert and less invasive than any currently available surgical treatment option for this condition. As a result, the InDx Implant will provide excellent clinical outcomes and decrease the risk of surgical and clinical complications. The device offers an exciting new, patient-sensitive treatment option to patients and surgeons and has been designed in conjunction with three of the world’s leading hand surgeons ensuring all end-user requirements are met. Alan Hobbs, Enterprise Ireland High Potential Start-Up Manager, commented: “Enterprise Ireland is delighted to support Loci Orthopaedics, a High Potential Start-Up driving innovation in medcare. Loci are a great example of a market led innovative company addressing unmet medical needs and a substantial market opportunity. We congratulate them and look forward to continue working with them to achieve their global ambitions.” David Murphy, Director of the Technology Transfer Office in NUI Galway, said: “The founders have strong Intellectual Property and have amassed a world class team around them. We are confident that this combination will enable them to progress quickly in this next phase of their journey. We congratulate Loci Orthopaedics on reaching this important milestone.”  Dr Faisal Sharif, Director of BioInnovate Ireland in NUI Galway, said: “We are delighted to see Loci Orthopaedics close a €2.75 million seed round investment. This funding will enable them to commercialise their InDx Implant device that will considerably improve patients’ lives. This is a significant step in getting this device to those who need it. The mission of BioInnovate Ireland is to grow the indigenous Medtech sector through dedicated training in medical device innovation. BioInnovate Ireland supports fellows to identify unmet needs in different clinical areas through a dedicated fellowship programme which is co-funded by Enterprise Ireland. The success of Loci Orthopaedics signifies the importance of identifying such unmet clinical needs.” Preliminary research indicates that this device design may also have clinical indications in other small joints of the hands and feet, as well as other joints with complex biomechanics such as the shoulder and elbow. The €2.75 million funding is provided by a combination of institutions comprising of: the investment arm of KU Leuven University in Belgium, which was recently ranked by Forbes as Europe’s most innovative university, Enterprise Ireland and the Western Development Commission. These institutions are complemented by some MedTech industry veterans. For more information about Loci Orthopaedics, visit: www.lociorthopaedics.com -Ends-

Tuesday, 3 July 2018

Bridging the gap between medicine and science through teaching future medics and facilitating cutting-edge research Minister for Health, Mr Simon Harris TD will today (Monday, 2 July) officially open NUI Galway’s €34 million Human Biology Building, bringing together the existing disciplines of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology & Therapeutics at the University. The building will be home to undergraduate and post-graduate teaching and will carry out cutting-edge research by academics from throughout the campus in the areas of Science and Medicine, and Engineering. The Human Biology Building, funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and NUI Galway will create a platform for discovery, development and delivery. It will also build on the output of NUI Galway’s cluster of world-leading biomedical research groups in areas such as regenerative medicine and stem cell research, cancer biology (particularly breast and prostate cancer) biomechanics and biomaterials. Speaking at the opening, Minister for Health, Mr Simon Harris TD, said: “I’m delighted to officially open this building and its facilities, which will extend the capacity for and delivery of biomedical research at NUI Galway. NUI Galway researchers are tackling some of the most pressing issues of our times and the opening of this new building will, I hope, help to strengthen the university’s deserved international reputation as being amongst the very best in the provision of research-led education.” Teaching The Human Biology building has been designed and developed as a joint teaching and research facility to provide these long established disciplines of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology & Therapeutics, a platform to deliver: core pre-clinical teaching to Medical and allied Health Science students core teaching to Science, Biomedical Science and Engineering students provide a purpose-designed venue for discipline-specific training at undergraduate and postgraduate level and enhance learning and teaching within a research-led environment There is currently teaching to over 200 medical undergraduates in the building along with transformative clinical teaching also taking place in state-of-the art laboratories. There are an additional 100 final year Science undergraduate students studying the three disciplines of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology & Therapeutics along with postgraduate students on taught masters programmes from areas of Science and Medicine. Research The building will house academics from various research groups on campus such as CÚRAM, REMEDI, School of Psychology, and Galway Neuroscience Centre. There are also PhD students working in the three disciplines of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology and Therapeutics through research funded by the Irish Research Council (IRC), Health Research Board (HRB), Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and industry partners. The opening of the Human Biology Building sees the completion of a capital projects programme undertaken by the University some decades ago, which was enabled by a combination of philanthropy and State support, while funding from the European Investment Bank, in its first ever loan to the University, assisted in the completion of this new building. In recent years the University has opened a new Engineering building, a new Biomedical Sciences building, and a unique clinical and translational research facility. Taken together these three facilities along with the new human biology building complete an ecosystem of education, research, innovation and healthcare in the West of Ireland.   NUI Galway President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “We are delighted to mark the opening of our new Human Biology Building, which will transform the learning environment for our health science students.  By having access to the best facilities, our students will be supported to realise their potential and make a real impact in their chosen field. Investment in education is vital for our regional development and continued funding is imperative so that our new buildings can be great places to learn, teach and research in. Our students compete with the best of the world and so must we.” The Building The Human Biology Building is a five-storey state-of-the-art building with a gross floor area of 8,200m².  It is strategically located in the University’s south campus with close proximity to University Hospital Galway. The building has been developed on a previously developed site on which stood the former National Diagnostics Laboratory building. It was designed by award-winning architects, Scott Tallon Walker Architects, in conjunction with international design firm, Building Design Partnership, while BAM Building Ltd. was the contractor. Professor Timothy O’Brien, Dean of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at NUI Galway, said: ‘The Human Biology Building will provide the next generation of scientists, doctors and healthcare professionals with a world class learning environment and will also provide our academics and researchers with state of the art facilities to further the teaching and research mission of the University. The structure of the building is state of the art, will greatly facilitate enhanced interactions between staff and students, and will provide superior technical and operational capabilities that underpin a research and innovation intensive environment.”   ENDS Seolann an tAire Sláinte an tÁras Bitheolaíochta Daonna in OÉ Gaillimh Ag líonadh na bearna idir an leigheas agus an eolaíocht trí liachleachtóirí na todhchaí a theagasc agus taighde ceannródaíoch a éascú Bitheolaíochta Daonna €34 milliún OÉ Gaillimh inniu (Dé Luain, 2 Iúil), ina dtabharfar le chéile disciplíní na hAnatamaíochta, na Fiseolaíochta  agus na Cógaseolaíochta & Teiripe san Ollscoil. Tabharfar faoi theagasc fochéime agus iarchéime san áras agus déanfaidh acadóirí atá ag obair ar an gcampas trí chéile taighde ceannródaíoch ann i réimse na hEolaíochta agus an Leighis, agus na hInnealtóireachta. Éascófar ardán d’fhionnachtain, forbairt agus seachadadh san Áras Bitheolaíochta Daonna, atá maoinithe ag an Údarás um Ard-Oideachas (HEA). Cuirfidh sé freisin leis an aschur ó na grúpaí taighde bithleighis is fearr ar domhan, a bhfuil braisle díobh in OÉ Gaillimh, i réimsí cosúil le leigheas athghiniúnach agus taighde gascheall, bitheolaíocht ailse (go háirithe ailse bhrollaigh agus phróstataigh), bithmheicnic agus bithábhair. Ag caint dó ag an oscailt, bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Aire Sláinte, Simon Harris: “Tá an-áthas orm an t-áras seo agus a áiseanna a oscailt. Cuirfidh sé le cumas OÉ Gaillimh taighde bithleighis a dhéanamh agus a thabhairt chun críche. Tá taighdeoirí in OÉ Gaillimh ag dul i ngleic le roinnt de na saincheisteanna is tábhachtaí lenár linn agus tá súil agam, le hoscailt an árais nua seo, go láidreofar cáil idirnáisiúnta na hOllscoile mar áit ina bhfuil oideachas taighdebhunaithe ar ardchaighdeán á chur ar fáil.” Teagasc Dearadh agus forbraíodh an tÁras Bitheolaíochta Daonna mar áis taighde agus teagaisc araon chun go gcuirfear ardán ar fáil do dhisciplíní fadbhunaithe na hAnatamaíochta, na Fiseolaíochta  agus na Cógaseolaíochta & Teiripe chun na nithe seo a leanas a chur i gcrích: teagasc croíláir réamhchliniciúil a sholáthar do mhic léinn Leighis agus mic léinn Eolaíochtaí Sláinte gaolmhara teagasc croíláir a sholáthar do mhic léinn Eolaíochta, Eolaíochta Bithleighis agus Innealtóireachta ionad atá tógtha go speisialta a chur ar fáil d’oiliúint atá sonrach don disciplín ag leibhéal fochéime agus iarchéime agus cur le foghlaim agus teagasc laistigh de thimpeallacht atá á treorú ag taighde Tá breis agus 200 fochéimí leighis á dteagasc faoi láthair san fhoirgneamh, agus tá teagasc cliniciúil bunathraitheach ar siúl sna saotharlanna nua-aoiseacha. Anuas air sin, tá 100 mac léinn fochéime Eolaíochta sa bhliain deiridh i mbun staidéir ar thrí dhisicplín na hAnatamaíochta, na Fiseolaíochta  agus na Cógaseolaíochta & Teiripe in éineacht le mic léinn iarchéime ar chláir mháistreachta mhúinte i réimse na hEolaíochta agus an Leighis. Taighde Beidh acadóirí ó ghrúpaí taighde éagsúla ar an gcampas lonnaithe san fhoirgneamh, leithéidí CÚRAM, REMEDI, Scoil na Síceolaíochta, agus Ionad Néareolaíochta na Gaillimhe. Tá mic léinn PhD ann freisin i mbun taighde i dtrí dhisicplín na hAnatamaíochta, na Fiseolaíochta  agus na Cógaseolaíochta & Teiripe, ar taighde é atá á mhaoiniú ag Comhairle Taighde na hÉireann (IRC), an Bord Taighde Sláinte (HRB), Fondúireacht Eolaíochta Éireann (SFI) agus ag comhpháirtithe tionscail. Tá clabhsúr curtha ar chlár tionscadal caipitil na hOllscoile le hoscailt an Árais Bitheolaíochta Daonna, ar clár é ar tugadh faoi os cionn scór bliain ó shin agus ar tacaíodh leis trí dhaonchairdeas agus tacaíocht Stáit. Chabhraigh maoiniú ón mBanc Eorpach Infheistíochta, i bhfoirm a chéad iasachta riamh don Ollscoil, chun an foirgneamh nua seo a chríochnú. Le blianta beaga anuas, tá áras Innealtóireachta nua oscailte ag an Ollscoil, chomh maith le háras nua do na hEolaíochtaí Bithleighis, agus áis uathúil do thaighde aistritheach agus cliniciúil. Nuair a chuirtear le chéile na trí shaoráid seo in éineacht leis an áras bitheolaíochta daonna nua, tá mórchóras iomlán againn don oideachas, taighde, nuálaíocht agus cúram sláinte in Iarthar na hÉireann.   Seo mar a labhair Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh: “Tá an-áthas orainn ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar oscailt an Árais Bitheolaíochta Daonna nua. Fágfaidh sé go n-athrófar ó bhonn an timpeallacht foghlama dár mic léinn eolaíochta sláinte.  Agus teacht ag ár mic léinn ar na háiseanna is fearr dá bhfuil ar fáil, cabhrófar leo barr a gcumais a bhaint amach agus tionchar ceart a bheith acu sa réimse a roghnaíonn siad. Tá infheistíocht san oideachas ríthábhachtach dár bhforbairt réigiúnach agus is den riachtanas é go leanfar leis an maoiniú ionas gur ionaid den scoth a bheidh inár n-árais don fhoghlaim, don teagasc agus don taighde. Ní mór dár mic léinn dul in iomaíocht le scoth na mac léinn ar fud an domhain, agus is amhlaidh dúinne." An Foirgneamh Foirgneamh cúig stór úrscothach atá san Áras Bitheolaíochta Daonna, agus tá oll-achar urláir 8,200m² ann.  Tá suíomh straitéiseach aige i gcampas theas na hOllscoile, agus tá Ospidéal na hOllscoile, Gaillimh in aice láimhe. Tógadh an foirgneamh ar shuíomh a raibh forbairt déanta cheana air agus is ann a bhí an Diagnóslann Náisiúnta, mar a bhí, roimhe sin. Is iad na hailtirí, Scott Tallon Walker Architects, a bhfuil go leor duaiseanna bainte acu, a rinne an dearadh ar an bhfoirgneamh i gcomhpháirt leis an ngnólacht deartha idirnáisiúnta, Building Design Partnership, agus is é BAM Building Ltd. a bhí ina chonraitheoir. Dúirt an tOllamh Timothy O’Brien, Déan Choláiste an Leighis, an Altranais agus na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte in OÉ Gaillimh: Cuirfear timpeallacht foghlama den scoth ar fáil san Áras Bitheolaíochta Daonna don chéad ghlúin eile eolaithe, dochtúirí agus gairmithe cúraim sláinte. Bainfidh acadóirí agus taighdeoirí leas freisin as na háiseanna úrscothacha, rud a chuirfidh le misean teagaisc agus taighde na hOllscoile. Tá struchtúr an fhoirgnimh go hiomlán nua-aoiseach agus cuirfidh sé go mór leis an gcaidreamh idir an fhoireann agus na mic léinn. Tá deiseanna teicniúla agus oibriúcháin ar ardchaighdeán ar fáil ann chomh maith a thacóidh le timpeallacht dhian taighde agus nuálaíochta.   CRÍOCH

Wednesday, 4 July 2018

New film will focus on research into removed blood clots that can lead to stroke, which is currently underway at NUI Galway and the first study of its kind in the world CÚRAM, the Science Foundation Ireland Centre for Research in Medical Devices based at NUI Galway and Galway Film Centre are delighted to announce A Tiny Spark as the recipient of the 2018 Science on Screen scheme. The selected film, A Tiny Spark, to be directed by Niamh Heery and produced by Caroline Kealy of Swansong Films, will examine the effect of stroke on people’s lives and will specifically look at research into clots. This year’s Science on Screen applicants were invited to submit ideas for a documentary that engages with research into cardiovascular illnesses and stroke, currently underway at CÚRAM. A Tiny Spark will focus on research, being led by Dr Karen Doyle from the Discipline of Physiology at NUI Galway, which involves analysis of removed blood clots to see what information they may yield. This is the first study of its kind in the world and is an international collaborative study between NUI Galway, hospital partners in Beaumont Hospital and throughout Europe and the Mayo Clinic in the US. Contributors to the documentary will include individuals who have had a stroke, as well as the scientists and clinicians who work in the stroke area in Galway and Dublin. Filming will take place in Dublin, Limerick and Galway throughout July 2018. The Swansong Films team has an adventurous plan to 3-D animate the brain highlighting the functions that the various parts serve such as the Amygdala, which is the emotional part of the brain and is responsible for affection. They will also use this method to highlight the journey of blood clots and their potential for destruction. Professor Abhay Pandit, Scientific Director of CÚRAM at NUI Galway, said “This year’s film will focus on stroke and clot research which is yet another area which will have a significant impact on audiences all over the country. These stories, narrated through our Science on Screen documentaries, show the real challenges that people face when living with chronic illness but also how we are trying to address them here at CÚRAM, to improve quality of life for all.” Galway Film Centre Manager, Alan Duggan, said: “The Science on Screen commission scheme shows the real human side of the application of science. We are delighted to continue working with CÚRAM on this scheme and we will be supporting Niamh, Caroline and the filmmaking team in bringing A Tiny Spark to the screen this year.” The Science on Screen scheme has been running since 2016 and has awarded €35,000 each to three documentaries on topics such as Parkinson’s disease (Feats of Modest Valour), tendon injury (Mending Legends) and diabetes (Bittersweet: The Rise of Diabetes). The films have reached audiences of over 0.5 million and have received accolades at festivals internationally. The 2017 Science on Screen film, Bittersweet: the Rise of Diabetes, directed by Hugh Rodgers and produced by Anna Rodgers and Zlata Filipovic of Invisible Thread films will be screened at the Galway Film Fleadh on Wednesday, 11 July at 11am in the Town Hall Theatre.   A Tiny Spark will premiere in Galway in November 2018. Video of Dr Karen Doyle speaking about her stroke research: https://youtu.be/vXZjRI6dfqM -Ends-

Wednesday, 4 July 2018

NUI Galway staff and students promoting Irish through sports Gaeil na Gaillimhe, an Irish language GAA Club based in Galway City which promotes the use of the Irish through sport, will hold a community event, ‘Team Together/Foireann le chéile’, on Saturday, 14 July. Team Together/Foireann le chéile, organised by NUI Galway students and staff members, aims to invite new and existing members of the community to join and promote cultural and community inclusion through engagement with sport. The club currently has one Senior Mens’ and Ladies’ Gaelic football teams. They will also run an Irish language Cúl Camp for younger players, aged 5-13 years, from 16-20 July. Áine Gallagher, Manager of the ladies’ team, said: “Gaeil na Gaillimhe adds something unique to the sporting culture in Galway. It provides a supportive space for people who may have never played sport before, to begin playing now. We also encourage our members to hear and speak the Irish language in a fun and friendly way. Previous experience of football or Irish is absolutely not necessary. Our club is open to everyone.” In order to further advance the ethos of the club, Gaeil na Gaillimhe has partnered with ‘Walk the Talk’, a community organisation which aims to promote inclusion of people living in Direct Provision through engagement in physical activity. This collaboration will host ‘Team Together’ on 14th July 2018. ‘Team Together’ is an event which invites all members of the community to join, whether you have just moved to Ireland, have never played sport before or never even knew there was an Irish language. The event will comprise of an introduction to the basic rules of Gaelic football and a fun Gaelic Football Blitz competition. It aims to encourage and celebrate community integration and cultural diversity within the GAA community. Refreshments from One World Tapestry catering company will be available after the event in Áras na nGael on Dominick Street. Garrett Mullan, Executive Director of Show Racism the Red Card, commented: “Gael na Gaillimhe are one of a number of clubs taking part in the Club Welcome programme of Show Racism the Red Card.  The programme is designed to support the integration of refugees within sport. We are delighted with the initiative of Gael na Gaillimhe in organising an open day at their club inviting people who have come to Ireland to try our sports.  The club has reached out to residents in direct provision accommodation and others who are refugees to include them in their activities.  The open day will be an opportunity for people who have never tried Gaelic games before to try the basics.  Who knows, they may even enjoy it and continue to play.” Áine Teahan, an NUI Galway PhD Researcher and member of the Ladies Gael na Gaillimhe, said: “I feel really lucky to be a part of such a welcoming and supportive team. I think this event will be a great opportunity to open up Gaeil na Gaillimhe to the wider community and give people from many different backgrounds the chance to play football and learn cúpla focal!” The event is free and catered to people aged 16 and over. However, parents with younger children are also welcome and can learn about Gaeil na Gaillimhe’s upcoming Irish language GAA Summer Camp for young people. The Team Together Event will take place in the Claddagh Football Pitch from 3-5pm with refreshments served in Arás na nGael at 6pm on Saturday, 14 July. To register or for more information please contact us at teamtogethertoday@gmail.com The event is supported by The Club Welcome programme of Show Racism the Red Card. -Ends-

Tuesday, 3 July 2018

Over 30 second level students recently attended this year’s annual Computer Science and Information Technology Summer School in NUI Galway, where they were treated to a host of guest lectures and workshop activities across a range of themes. One of the many highlights throughout the Summer School involved the recurring theme of Artificial Intelligence and how it is directly contributing to our daily lives across a range of applications. Students were shown how NUI Galway students are leading the way in developing the next generation of AI related applications which can transform how we interact with technology. The benefits of training as a programmer, and software development professional is clearly one of the most crucial career paths open to the next generation as we require more and more expertise in in so many aspects of society.    Academic Coordinator Dr Enda Howley, said: “The annual event was another major success, with a wide range of schools in the region in attendance from Counties Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim, Louth and Carlow. We always look forward to the opportunity of welcoming second level students onto the campus and giving them a sense of university life alongside the huge potential of studying Computer Science. The job opportunities are limitless and industry employers simply cannot get enough software developers at the moment. Young people see this as a career that offers huge opportunities to achieve the ultimate work life balance, with endless opportunities to control the trajectory of your career around your own circumstances. The enthusiasm and energy of these mostly Transition Year students is almost infectious and we are already looking forward to our 2019 Summer School.” A large number of prizes were distributed throughout the day for a range of fun and interactive activities. The Summer School was organised by staff and students in the Discipline of Information Technology which included Dr Enda Howley, Tina Earls, Karl Mason, Rachael Shaw and Fionnuala O’Malley. NUI Galway’s Dr Josephine Griffith and Dr Des Chambers hosted an interactive Q&A session on applying to university via the CAO and options for studying Computer Science and Information Technology at NUI Galway. -Ends-

Tuesday, 3 July 2018

Three NUI Galway students receive student sustainability leadership awards Three NUI Galway Students were awarded Student Sustainability Leadership Awards as part of the University’s drive to advance student participation in sustainability efforts on campus. The awards were made across three project themes areas namely Energy, Water and Nature and Ecosystems.  Award recipients include Róisín Doherty, from Westport Co. Mayo, who is studying with the College of Science; and Enda Gilgarriff from Headford, Co. Galway, and Séan Harkin from Lifford, Co. Donegal who are students with the College of Engineering and Informatics. The students will share the €10,000 prize and undertake summer internships with the NUI Galway Community and University Sustainability Project team (CUSP) to gain experience in sustainability related research application, networking, and communication with experts in the field. The NUI Galway Student Sustainability Awards Programme is part of the NUI Galway Sustainability Strategy 2017-2020. The Strategy sets out a vision of establishing NUI Galway as a top-class, green, smart and healthy campus. The Strategy was developed by the Community and University Sustainability Project Team (CUSP) following a campus-wide inclusive and holistic engagement process. Speaking at the announcement of the Awards, Michelle O’Dowd Lohan, Sustainability Engagement Associate at NUI Galway, said: “CUSP recognises the key role that students will play in establishing a sustainable university as key drivers and developers of change. We are keen to develop student leaders that are dedicated and enthusiastic about developing a more sustainable campus and community and student input is crucial to support the implementation of Strategy targets and objectives.” The awards programme is funded by NUI Galway Student Union through the Student Project Fund.  -Ends-

Tuesday, 3 July 2018

Five tips from NUI Galway academic on how to improve our decision-making Dr Christopher Dwyer from the School of Psychology at NUI Galway has published the book, Critical Thinking: Conceptual Perspectives and Practical Guidelines, which gives a unique and distinctive insight into how to improve our decision-making and a new way of looking at critical thinking in the 21st century. Over the past 20 years, we have seen the emergence of a new knowledge economy in light of the online information explosion. While Critical Thinking is often highlighted to students, researchers and academics, it is relevant to everyone. Dr Christopher Dwyer from the School of Psychology at NUI Galway, said: “We are faced with more information than ever before, making critical thinking an essential skill in our daily lives as well as our professional lives. In the case of social media, we need the ability to apply critical thinking because of the constant bombardment of both accurate and inaccurate information out there, not only the information we look at and engage with, but also the information we share.” Dr Dwyer recommends five things to consider when applying critical thinking in day-to-day situations: Save your critical thinking and cognitive energy for things that matter; things you care about. Do your critical thinking in the morning in order to avoid the cognitive load and fatigue experienced from the thousands of decisions made in a day; make sure to complete the work that ‘matters most’ in the morning. Take a ‘reflective step back’ and think about the argument or problem a little bit longer. It is vital to take your time in developing or inferring a solution or conclusion. Play Devil’s Advocate. Our intuition is always going to tell us what it thinks we should do. In the context of critical thinking, a good way of learning to overcome this bias and ‘auto-pilot processing’ of our gut feeling is through playing Devil’s Advocate and by truly considering alternatives. Leave emotion at the door. If we want to be able to think critically, we must remove our emotions from our thinking. The book is designed for anyone who cares about Critical Thinking and has three fundamental purposes: to provide a general history of critical thinking conceptualisation aimed at teachers and researchers; to act as a practical guide for students (which is included as a module in current courses at NUI Galway), as well as anyone who wants to improve their ability to think critically; and to act as a guide for educators on how best to teach critical thinking. Dwyer's book, Critical Thinking is available at Cambridge University Press and Amazon at: https://bit.ly/2KsGlsE To read Dr Christopher Dwyer’s blog on Critical Thinking, visit: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/experts/christopher-dwyer-phd -Ends-

Wednesday, 6 June 2018

Is é Uachtarán na hÉireann, Micheál D. Ó hUigínn a thabharfaidh an príomhaitheasc ag siompóisiam faoi Chonradh na Gaeilge agus an Athbheochan a reáchtálfar in OÉ Gaillimh Dé hAoine, an 15 Meitheamh. Is é an siompóisiam lae, ‘125 Bliain ag Fás – An Athbheochan agus Conradh na Gaeilge’, príomhócáid na hOllscoile le haghaidh Bhliain na Gaeilge atá ag ceiliúradh 125 bliain ó bunaíodh an Conradh. Ceiliúradh atá san ócáid seo chomh maith ar an gcinneadh a rinne Conradh na Gaeilge in 2017 a chartlann a chur i dtaisce in OÉ Gaillimh. Le déanaí ceapadh cartlannaí chun an chartlann a chatalógú agus le digitiú a dhéanamh ar chuid den ábhar. Dúirt an Dr John Walsh, Léachtóir Sinsearach le Gaeilge agus fear eagair an tsiompóisiam: “Ag an ócáid seo, léifear páipéir ar réimse téamaí taighde a bhfuil baint acu le 125 bliain den Athbheochan. Labhróidh taighdeoirí agus pearsana poiblí iomráiteacha eile faoin téama seo agus tarraingeoidh siad aird ar na deiseanna iontacha taighde a eascraíonn as cartlann an Chonartha.” “Acmhainn ríluachmhar teagaisc agus taighde atá i gcartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge agus cuireann sí go mór leis na bailiúcháin thábhachtacha Ghaeilge atá ag an Ollscoil cheana”, a dúirt Leabharlannaí Shéamais Uí Argadáin, John Cox. Ag labhairt faoin siompóisiam seo, dúirt Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh: "Tá an Ghaeilge uathúil agus thar a bheith tábhachtach do mhisean agus d’éiteas OÉ Gaillimh, dár n-oidhreacht agus dár gceantar máguaird.  Trí chartlann Chonradh na Gaeilge a choinneáil faoi iontaobhas anseo do scoláirí agus do phobal na hÉireann, beidh an Ollscoil seo ina caomhnóir ar chuid thábhachtach de stair ár dteanga.  Táimid bródúil é seo a dhéanamh agus táimid ag tnúth leis na peirspictíochtaí nua a chuirfidh an chartlann ar fáil do léann idirnáisiúnta.  Is cuid thábhachtach de Bhliain na Gaeilge é an siompóisiam, bliain atá ag déanamh ceiliúradh ar 125 bliain ó bunaíodh Conradh na Gaeilge, agus cuirfidh sé ar chumas scoláirí agus lucht déanta polasaí teanga a machnamh a dhéanamh ar fhorbairt na teanga le céad bliain anuas agus iad ag breathnú san am céanna ar thodhchaí na Gaeilge. " Beidh na cainteoirí eile seo páirteach sa siompóisiam chomh maith: Alan Esslemont, Ard-Stiúrthóir TG4 An Dr Máire Harris ó Roinn na Staire, OÉ Gaillimh An tOllamh Regina Uí Chollatáin, COBÁC Cuan Ó Seireadáin, Conradh na Gaeilge An Dr Hugh Rowland, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh An Dr John Walsh, Roinn na Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh An tOllamh Tadhg Ó hIfearnáin, Roinn na Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh Dúirt an Dr Niall Comer, Uachtarán Chonradh na Gaeilge: “Tá ríméad orainn i gConradh na Gaeilge go bhfuil ár gcartlann á cur i dtaisce go buan in Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh. Creideann muid go dtiocfaidh deiseanna rialta chun cinn le hábhar na cartlainne a úsáid agus táimid ag súil leis an gcéad deis sin ag an siompóisiam lae a bheidh á reáchtáil ag an Ollscoil agus ag an gConradh ar an 15 Meitheamh.”  -Críoch-

Thursday, 28 June 2018

Fulbright Irish Awardees 2018-2019 to conduct research and teach in the USA in areas of place-based learning, poisonous jellyfish and the Irish language Three NUI Galway reseachers were presented with Fulbright Irish Awards for 2018-2019. An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade,Simon Coveney TD, and Chargé d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Ireland, Mr Reece Smyth, announced the 37 Fulbright Irish Awardees who were recently presented with their awards at a Ceremony in the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence, Phoenix Park. Students, academics and professionals from 13 Higher Education Institutions in Ireland and Europe will go to 33 leading US institutions to study and collaborate with experts in their fields. This year’s Fulbright recipients are from diverse disciplines spanning science, languages, technology, medicine, literature and the arts. The three NUI Galway Fulbright Awardees are: Jasmine Headlam, a PhD candidate at the School of Natural Sciences in NUI Galway. Her research focuses on harmful jellyfish species such as the mauve stinger and the lion’s mane jellyfish, which are known to negatively impact coastal industries such as causing large fish mortalities in the salmon aquaculture industry. Jasmine’s PhD research is funded under the EU’s Horizon 2020 Climate Change and European aquatic RESources (CERES) project, which is examining how climate change will influence Europe’s most important fish and shellfish resources. As a Fulbright Marine-Institute awardee, Ms Headlam will be mentored in state of the art techniques to investigate the structural and functional characteristics of cnidae (microscopic stinging capsules on the tentacles of jellyfish) and the composition of venom by Fulbright Specialist, Dr Angel Yanagihara, Director of the Pacific Cnidaria Research Laboratory, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Sally McHugh, a PhD candidate at NUI Galway. She received her BA in Archaeology and IT and her MA in Digital Media from NUI Galway. Her current research explores how creative and constructionist computing can be designed and deployed to enhance children’s learning with their local cultural heritage in formal and informal learning environments. As a Fulbright-Creative Ireland Museum Fellow to The Exploratorium: The Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception in San Francisco, Sally will conduct a place-based learning project within the Museum’s Fisher Bay Observatory. Her place-based learning project, ‘A Sense of Place’, carried out with San Francisco youth will focus on their engagement with the ‘local’, encompassing both cultural and natural heritage. Rita Donnellan completed a BA in Modern Irish and English an M.A and a Dióploma Iarchéime san Oideachas at NUI Galway. Since graduating Rita has worked as a secondary school teacher and escapes to the Connemara Gaeltacht every summer to work with Irish Colleges. As a Fulbright FLTA, she will teach the Irish language and take courses at Davidson College, North Carolina. Congratulating the awardees, Professor Lokesh Joshi, Vice President for Research at NUI Galway, said: “Since the 1950s, the Fulbright Programme has strengthened collaborations and exchange between Ireland and the US. This year’s NUI Galway Fulbright Awardees are to be congratulated for being selected onto this prestigious programme. All three individuals demonstrate the innovative thinking and collaborative approach which is one of our strengths here in Galway. We are proud to have them represent our university in this way, and I wish them every success in the US.” An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney TD, said: “I am delighted to extend my warmest congratulations to the 37 Irish Fulbright Awardees for 2018– 2019. People are at the heart of the extraordinary relationship between Ireland and the United States, and the Fulbright Commission has an unrivalled record in selecting the very best people as Fulbrighters. This year’s Awardees will have the exciting opportunity to study, work, and experience life in the U.S., to forge new relationships, and to represent the best of contemporary Ireland to the United States. I wish this year’s Awardees every success for their time in the United States.” Chargé d’affaires Reece Smyth, U.S. Embassy, said: “I warmly congratulate the 2018-2019 cohort of Irish Awardees. The Fulbright Awards are highly competitive, globally recognised, and associated with excellence and prestige. We are proud to have such bright minds embarking on educational and cultural exchanges to the United States, and we look forward to seeing the fruits of their studies and research when they return to Ireland.” The next round of applications for Fulbright Irish Awards will open on 31 August 2018, interested applicants should visit www.fulbright.ie for more information.  -Ends-

Friday, 29 June 2018

Report on Ireland’s marine ecosystem service values ‘Valuing Ireland’s Blue Ecosystem Services’ The Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Damien English TD, and Minister for Natural Resources, Community Affairs, and Digital Development Seán Kyne, this morning launched the latest report, Valuing Ireland’s Marine Ecosystem Services by NUI Galway’s Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit (SEMRU), at the 5th Annual Ocean Wealth Conference, as part of Ireland’s national maritime festival ‘SeaFest’. To date, SEMRU has produced bi-annual reports on the direct economic value of Ireland’s ocean economy, valued at €1.8 billion or approximately 1% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017. This new research however, focuses on the ecosystem service benefits that society receives from Ireland’s marine environment. Marine ecosystem services are provided by the processes, functions and structure of the marine environment that directly or indirectly contribute to societal welfare, health and economic activities. These services are vital to ensuring blue growth in the ocean economy. Factoring marine ecosystem service values into ocean economy account frameworks may help to ensure a sustainable ‘blue economy’ for Ireland by making sure that growth in the ocean economy does not exceed the carrying capacity of the marine environment. While the value of some of these goods such as fish and aquaculture are somewhat easier to measure, the value of many other benefits such as carbon sequestration, waste assimilation and marine related recreation are often not captured by a price in any established markets. However, without incorporating these values into marine planning processes, these benefits may be ignored or underestimated leading perhaps to suboptimal decision making. The Marine Institute welcomed publication of the report on Ireland’s marine ecosystem service benefits with Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO, Marine Institute, commenting: “This assessment of Ireland’s marine ecosystem services and their value is an important step in incorporating ecosystem services into policy and decision making related to Ireland’s marine and coastal zones.” Summary of Economic Contribution of marine ecosystem services: The provisioning marine ecosystem services of fisheries and aquaculture is estimated to be worth €473 million per annum to all fleets and producers operating in Irish waters. Seaweed harvesting is valued at €4 million and aquaculture at €150 million. The regulating and maintenance ecosystem services of carbon sequestration are valued at €815 million per annum, waste assimilation services €317 million and coastal defence services of €11.5 million. The cultural ecosystem services of scientific and educational services are valued at €11.5 million, and the added value per annum to housing stock of being at the coast (aesthetic services) is valued at €68 million. On an annual basis, recreational services provided by the marine ecosystems are estimated to have an economic value of €1.7 billion. Even though not all of the ecosystem services provided by the marine environment can be monetarized the report indicates that the value of those that can is substantial. Dr Stephen Hynes, Director of SEMRU in the Whitaker Institute at NUI Galway, said: “Blue growth is about fostering development in marine economic activities in such a manner that the long term ability of the marine environment to continue to provide ecosystem service benefits is not compromised. This is exactly what Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth: An Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland is aimed at achieving.  Knowing what those benefits are and what they are worth is vital for deciding on the best use of our marine resources and to ensure blue growth for our ocean economy far into the future.” Until recently, very little information was available in relation to the value of the many services provided by the marine environment; services such as carbon sequestration, waste assimilation, coastal defence, aesthetic services and recreational opportunities that are provided by our marine ecosystems have by and large gone unvalued. Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth: An Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland highlights as a key action the need for further research into generating “economic values of marine biodiversity and ecosystem services to ensure best practice planning and management of the ocean resource”. This report is a first step at filling this research gap. Commenting on the significance of the report, Dr Micheál Ó Cinnéide, Director of the Office of Communications and Corporate Services at the Environmental Protection Agency, said: “This latest report from the two Galway based research clusters in NUI Galway and GMIT adds greatly to our understanding of the value of our Marine province. Anybody who was able to see the marvellous RTE documentary on Ireland’s Deep Atlantic in 2018 and who follows the pioneering work of researchers in the Marine Institute, Galway and Cork can appreciate that we are unlocking the treasures of our offshore world. As this report shows, the true value has to include the natural capital, economic potential, cultural and spiritual values. The EPA and the Irish Forum on Natural Capital looks forward to a wider national debate on safeguarding this priceless marine ecosystem for future generations.” The Valuing Ireland’s Marine Ecosystem Services report is based upon research supported by the Irish Environment Protection Agency under Grant Award No. 2014-NC-MS-1 and on previous research conducted under the Marine Institute Beaufort Award. The full report is available to download online at: www.nuigalway.ie/semru/publications.html   The technical version of the report is available at: http://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/research/water/Research_Report_239.pdf   -Ends-

Thursday, 28 June 2018

To celebrate the first ever International LGBT+ STEM Day, members from the LGBT+ Network in NUI Galway will host a number of events on campus on Thursday, 5 July, to demonstrate its commitment to supporting its staff and students who are members of the LGBT+ community and who significantly contribute to the University’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) disciplines. Chris Noone, Co-chair of LGBT+ Staff Network and lecturer in the School of Psychology at NUI Galway, said: “The NUI Galway LGBT+ Staff Network is committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for staff of all sexual identities and genders at the University and to advocate for and raise awareness of LGBT+ issues. It is well documented that staff and students within the STEM disciplines face added difficulty in being out compared to those in other disciplines and we are proud to support International LGBT+ STEM Day and House of STEM, an Irish-based network dedicated to connecting and supporting LGBT+ scientists in Ireland. “NUI Galway is home to many members of the LGBT+ community who contribute to our teaching and research in STEM disciplines. Our students go on to contribute to STEM research and industry and are valued members of the LGBT+ community in Ireland. For example, NUI Galway graduate, Shaun O’Boyle founded House of STEM and is spearheading the development of International LGBT+ STEM Day.” LGBT+ Staff Network members who will talk about their work at NUI Galway include: Dr David McNamara, Co-chair of LGBT+ Staff Network and lecturer in Earth and Ocean Sciences, NUI Galway. Talk title - An Energetic Geologist David is a structural geologist whose research mainly focuses on energy and mineral resources with the aim of assisting in their sustainable and environmental extraction to work towards decarbonisation of our society. He recently returned to Ireland after seven years researching energy in New Zealand.  Social Media handle @mcnamadd - Twitter, Facebook Cameron Keighron, LGBT+ Network Steering Committee member and Masters student in Regenerative Medicine, NUI Galway. Talk title - The perspective of an early stage researcher Having completed his undergraduate studies in Biotechnology at NUI Galway, Cameron is currently studying for his Masters in Regenerative Medicine at the University and hopes to build his research career from there. He has been involved in a few research projects at NUI Galway over the last number of years, most notable the D1 Now study, which aims to improve health outcomes for young adults with Type 1 Diabetes. He is a member of the LGBT+ Staff network steering group and the Vice Chairperson of AMACH! LGBT. Social media handle – Twitter: @CameronKeighron and Instagram: @Queertransboy The LGBT+ Staff Network will also host talks by those working in the Galway STEM industry and in STEM research abroad: Aoife Fitzgibbon-O’Riordan and Elizabeth Flanagan, Co-founders of Togán Labs Talk title: Queering entrepreneurship: starting up in a toxic startup world.  Togán Labs is a boutique open source software development and consulting firm specialising in the Internet of Things. It was set up in Cork by Aoife and Elizabeth in 2016.  Social Media handle: @ToganLabs Steve Muir, EA Games Talk title - Diversity and Inclusion at EA Steve is a Gaymer who moved to Galway from Glasgow in 2011 to work in the gaming industry. Social media handle - Twitter: @ScottishSteveo Dr Stefaan W. Verbruggen, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellow at Queen Mary University of London. Talk title: A window on the womb: how strong is a baby's kick? Dr Stefaan W. Verbruggen is currently based in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University, New York where his research focuses on the mechanobiology of cancer, and how it metastasises to bone from other areas of the body. Prior to his fellowship, Dr Verbruggen conducted his PhD research in the Biomechanics Research Centre at NUI Galway, followed by postdoctoral research in the Developmental Biomechanics Lab at Imperial College London. Social Media handle: @docbruggsbunny Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, President of NUI Galway will open LGBT+ STEM Day in the Alice Perry Engineering Building at 1pm on Thursday, 5 July and events will take place directly afterwards. For more details about LGBT+ STEM Day, visit: https://lgbtstem.eventbrite.ie For more information about the Office for Equality and Diversity at NUI Galway, visit: http://www.nuigalway.ie/equality/ -Ends-

Thursday, 28 June 2018

NUI Galway has published its latest figures on Ireland’s Ocean Economy that shows in 2017 the direct economic value of the ocean economy was €1.97 billion representing a 22% increase on 2015 NUI Galway’s Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit (SEMRU) has released its latest update on Ireland’s Ocean Economy as part of their ongoing process of collection and analysis of marine socio-economic data in Ireland. This work has involved revising the previous 2015 estimates with the latest released data for that year from the Central Statistics Office, fisheries and aquaculture data from Bord Iascaigh Mhara, shipping and cruise information from the Irish Maritime Development Office as well as SEMRU’s own survey data with 2017 estimates. The updated figures indicate that in 2017, the direct economic value of Ireland’s ocean economy was an estimated €1.97 billion or approximately 1% of gross domestic product (GDP), which represents a 21% increase on 2015 figures. The 2017 estimates also suggest that our ‘blue economy’ continues to grow at a faster pace than the general economy. Dr Stephen Hynes, Director of SEMRU from the Whitaker Institute for Innovation and Societal Change at NUI Galway, says: “The latest figures indicate that Ireland’s ocean economy continues to see substantial growth across both established and emerging marine industries. While 2016 saw a large increase in activity in the oil and gas industry on the back of the Corrib gas project coming on line, more recent growth in 2017 is being driven by strong performances in the aquaculture, sea fisheries, shipping and marine tourism industries, as well as continued growth in the emerging ocean industries.” Summary for 2017 The ocean economy had a turnover of €5.49 billion in 2017. The indirect economic value in 2017 amounted to €1.75 billion, with a total direct and indirect gross value added (GVA) value of €3.71 billion, which represents 1.85% of GDP. The ocean economy provided employment to over 32,500 individuals, full-time equivalents in 2017.  Established Marine Industries had a turnover of €5.1 billion and provided employment to 30,000 full-time equivalents in 2017, representing 92% of the total turnover and 93% of total employment in Ireland’s ocean economy in 2017. Oil and gas exploration and production, marine aquaculture and tourism and leisure in marine and coastal areas, all experienced a significant increase in activity, with turnover, GVA and employment increasing across the sector in the 2015-2017 period. In line with an estimated increase in tourism activity generally in Ireland it is assumed that the tourism in marine and coastal areas increased by 6.7%. The shipping and maritime transport sector also exhibited increases, as seen by the 6% increase year on year in the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO)’s i-ship index in 2017. The i-ship index is used by the IMDO to gauge the health of the Irish maritime industry. Emerging Marine Industries had a turnover of €398 million and provided employment to over 2,000 full-time equivalents representing 8% of the turnover and 7% of employment in Ireland’s ocean economy in 2017. The emerging industries include advanced marine technology products and services, maritime commerce, marine biotechnology and bioproducts and marine renewable energy. Commenting on the latest figures, Professor Alan Ahearne, Director of the Whitaker Institute at NUI Galway, said: “It’s clear from this latest evidence that the Ocean Economy has made a significant contribution to Ireland’s overall economic recovery. Marine industries have delivered new jobs and extra income to every corner of the country. With our vast ocean resources, technological knowledge and innovation talent, there is huge potential for further sustainable growth in Ireland’s Blue Economy.” Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth – An Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland, published in July 2012, outlines a number of specific targets which seek to expand Ireland’s ocean economy. One of those targets aims to double its value to 2.4% of GDP by 2030. This 2.4% figure was based on a total estimate (both direct and indirect Gross Value Added) in 2007 for the Irish Ocean economy that amounted to 1.2% of GDP at that time. The latest marine industry statistics from SEMRU indicate that the total direct and indirect value of the Irish ocean economy is €3.71 billion which represents 1.85% of GDP in 2017. For more information on the latest figures please visit: http://www.nuigalway.ie/semru/documents/oceaneconomy2017_update.pdf For more information on SEMRU, please visit www.nuigalway.ie/semru/ -Ends-

Monday, 11 June 2018

Archive tells story of Ireland’s most significant rural community development movement of the twentieth century NUI Galway is opening to scholars and the public the archive of Muintir na Tíre (People of the Land), Ireland’s most significant rural community development movement of the twentieth century. The archive, donated to the University in 2016, is a major resource for understanding the development of rural Ireland in the last century and is now catalogued, selectively digitised and available for use. Professor Maurice Manning, Chancellor of the National University of Ireland, opened the archive during a two-day conference at NUI Galway on rural Ireland in the twentieth century. Muintir na Tíre, was founded as a rural renewal movement in 1931. Its extensive archive, contains an abundance of material relating to social and economic conditions in rural Ireland, Irish rural civil society, the involvement of the Catholic clergy in local community organising, and rural civil society/state relationships over a period spanning more than 80 years. The collection consists of the administrative records of the headquarters of Muintir na Tíre, based in Tipperary Town, as well as records of some of the leading figures within the movement including Canon John Hayes, Archbishop Thomas Morris, Tomás Roseingrave, Jim Quigley and Pat Doyle. Coverage includes rural electrification, the parish plans of the 1950s, and a variety of national and European community development schemes from the 1970s onwards, most notably the Community Alert scheme. There are around 400 archival boxes of material in the collection. Dr Caitriona Clear, Department of History, observes that “The Muintir na Tire archive tells of a hidden twentieth-century Ireland of community effort and enterprise, of men and women coming together to try to improve the lives of the many, rather than the few.   We are accustomed to seeing the history of early-twentieth-century Ireland as a narrative of failure, stagnation and repression. The story of Muintir and its members testifies to energy, optimism and sheer hard work over decades of difficulty.” Over many years NUI Galway, in its teaching and research, has developed an internationally recognised specialist expertise in rural and community development. In addition, the more recent developments in Health Studies and Family Studies have witnessed fresh attention being paid to issues of social inclusion and intergenerational relationships in rural society. The Muintir na Tíre archive will significantly complement the University Library’s existing extensive collections relating to landed estates and social and economic conditions in rural Ireland. In tandem with collections at NUI Galway such as the John McGahern and Thomas Kilroy papers it will facilitate a better understanding of both the representation of Irish rural life in Irish fiction and of the social, cultural and political conditions in which Irish writers have functioned in the post-independence period. Researchers from outside the University will make extensive use of the archive. The catalogue of the archive is accessible at https://tinyurl.com/yaf8l2fs and two of Muintir na Tíre’s journals, The Landmark and Rural Ireland, have been digitised and published online at https://tinyurl.com/ya8d2vt6. John Cox, University Librarian, commented: “The archive of Muintir na Tíre is a great addition to our collections on rural Ireland. I have been particularly struck by the huge interest in it across a range of disciplines expressed by researchers at NUI Galway and other institutions in and beyond Ireland. It will be a valuable resource for teaching as much as research and our students will get great benefit from this generous donation by Muintir na Tíre.” ENDS                      Cartlann Mhuintir na Tíre Bronnta ar OÉ Gaillimh Tá scéal na gluaiseachta forbartha pobail tuaithe is tábhachtaí san fhichiú haois le fáil sa chartlann Tá OÉ Gaillimh ag cur chartlann Mhuintir na Tíre, an ghluaiseacht forbartha pobail tuaithe ba thábhachtaí in Éirinn san fhichiú haois, ar fáil do lucht léinn agus don phobal. Is áis thábhachtach an chartlann seo, a bronnadh ar an Ollscoil in 2016, a chuideoidh linn tuiscint a fháil ar fhorbairt na tuaithe in Éirinn sa chéad seo caite. Tá catalógú déanta ar an gcartlann agus tá digitiú déanta ar chuid di. Tá fáil uirthi anois. Sheol an tOllamh Maurice Manning, Seansailéir Ollscoil na hÉireann, an chartlann ag comhdháil dhá lá in OÉ Gaillimh faoin saol faoin tuath in Éirinn. Bunaíodh Muintir na Tíre mar ghluaiseacht athnuachana tuaithe in 1931. Ina gcartlann fhairsing tá flúirse ábhair a bhaineann le cúinsí sóisialta agus eacnamaíocha shaol na tuaithe in Éirinn, sochaí shibhialta na tuaithe in Éirinn, an bhaint a bhí ag an gcléir Chaitliceach le himeachtaí pobail áitiúla, agus an caidreamh idir sochaí shibhialta na tuaithe agus an stát ar feadh níos mó ná 80 bliain. Is éard atá sa bhailiúchán ná taifid riaracháin cheanncheathrú Mhuintir na Tíre, atá lonnaithe i mBaile Thiobraid Árann, chomh maith le taifid a bhaineann le cuid de na daoine mór le rá sa ghluaiseacht, an Canúnach John Hayes, an tArdeaspag Thomas Morris, Tomás Roseingrave, Jim Quigley agus Pat Doyle san áireamh. I measc na n-ábhar a luaitear ann tá leictriú na tuaithe, pleananna paróiste na 1950í, agus scéimeanna forbartha tuaithe náisiúnta agus Eorpacha éagsúla ó na 1970í i leith, an scéim Pobal ar Aire go háirithe. Tá thart ar 400 bosca cartlainne den ábhar sa bhailiúchán. Bhí an méid seo le rá ag an Dr Caitríona Clear, Roinn na Staire  “Insíonn cartlann Mhuintir na Tíre dúinn faoi Éire cheilte an fhichiú haois, faoi iarrachtaí agus fiontair phobail a bhí ar bun, faoi fhir agus mná ag teacht le chéile ag iarraidh saol an phobail trí chéile seachas saol an bheagáin a fheabhsú.   Nuair a thráchtar ar stair an luathfhichiú haois in Éirinn is gnáth go labhraítear ar theip, ar mharbhántacht agus ar chos ar bolg. Ach is scéal faoi fhuinneamh, dóchas agus obair chrua a bhí ar siúl ar feadh na scórtha bliain drochshaoil é scéal Mhuintir na Tíre agus a cuid ball.” De thoradh an teagaisc agus an taighde atá ar siúl san Ollscoil le blianta fada, tá saineolas ag OÉ Gaillimh i bhforbairt tuaithe agus phobail agus aitheantas idirnáisiúnta aici dá bharr. Chomh maith leis sin, i bhfianaise a bhfuil tarlaithe le gairid i Léann na Sláinte agus Léann an Teaghlaigh, tá aird á tabhairt athuair ar cheisteanna a bhaineann le cuimsiú sóisialta agus caidrimh idir ghlúine éagsúla i bpobail tuaithe. Cuirfidh cartlann Mhuintir na Tíre go mór leis na bailiúcháin fhairsinge atá ag Leabharlann na hOllscoile cheana féin, a bhaineann le háitribh talún agus le cúinsí sóisialta agus eacnamaíocha sa saol faoin tuath in Éirinn. Díreach mar a dhéanann bailiúcháin eile in OÉ Gaillimh ar nós pháipéir John McGahern agus Thomas Kilroy cuirfidh an chartlann seo ar chumas daoine tuiscint níos fearr a fháil ar an léiriú a thugtar ar an saol faoin tuath in Éirinn i bhficsean na hÉireann agus ar na cúinsí sóisialta, cultúrtha agus polaitíochta inar fheidhmigh scríbhneoirí Éireannacha sa tréimhse i ndiaidh don tír neamhspleáchas a bhaint amach. Bainfidh taighdeoirí lasmuigh den Ollscoil an-leas as an gcartlann. Tá teacht ar an gcartlann ag https://tinyurl.com/yaf8l2fs agus tá digitiú déanta ar dhá iriseán de chuid Mhuintir na Tíre, The Landmark agus Rural Ireland, agus tá siad foilsithe ar líne ag https://tinyurl.com/ya8d2vt6. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag John Cox, Leabharlannaí na hOllscoile: “Cuireann cartlann Mhuintir na Tíre go mór leis na bailiúcháin atá againn a bhaineann le saol na tuaithe in Éirinn. Chuir sé an-iontas orm an spéis mhór atá á cur ag taighdeoirí ó dhisciplíní éagsúla in OÉ Gaillimh agus as institiúidí eile in Éirinn agus níos faide ó bhaile inti. Is áis luachmhar a bheidh inti don teagasc agus don taighde araon agus bainfidh ár gcuid mac léinn an-tairbhe as an mbronntanas flaithiúil seo ó Mhuintir na Tíre.” CRÍOCH

Wednesday, 27 June 2018

The New York Festivals International Radio Awards 2018 have awarded Bronze in their Music Category to The Banshee and The Tiger, a programme to which NUI Galway research fellow, Dr Deirdre Ní Chonghaile contributed some of her original research. The Banshee and The Tiger was broadcast in January 2018 on RTÉ Lyric FM as part of The Lyric Feature series of music-related documentaries. The programme considers the life and work of ground-breaking American composer Henry Cowell (1897-1965), focusing on his connections with Ireland and his compositions which were influenced by his Irish heritage and by Irish music and folklore. The documentary is presented by US pianist Guy Livingston, who has performed Cowell’s work internationally and has previously broadcast about Cowell on Australian and Dutch radio, and is jointly produced by Guy and Irish producer Claire Cunningham of Rockfinch Productions, with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. Dr Ní Chonghaile is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Irish/Celtic Studies with the Moore Institute at NUI Galway, working on the archival collections of Reverand Daniel J. Murphy and Professor Tomás Ó Máille. In the documentary, she speaks about another element of her research: the work of Henry Cowell and his wife, the American ethnomusicologist and music collector Sidney Robertson Cowell (1903-1995). Dr Ní Chonghaile also helped the programme makers to access rare recordings of Aran Islanders made in 1934 and 1955 now held in the New York Public Library and in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, which feature in the documentary along with many recordings of Cowell's avant-garde compositions. This is not the first time that NUI Galway has featured at the New York Festivals Radio Awards. In 2014, PhD candidate in Irish Studies Thérèse McIntyre scooped gold in the Educational category for her Herosongs, an eight part documentary series made with Athena Media for RTÉ Radio One. To hear the RTÉ Lyric FM programme visit https://bit.ly/2K9V8bs. For more information on the New York Festivals International Radio Awards visit http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/worldsbestradio/2018/pieces-mobile.php?iid=533888&pid=1&d=m -Ends-

Tuesday, 26 June 2018

The Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI) at NUI Galway and Celtic Advance Life Science Innovation Network will host a ‘Cell and Gene Therapy Industry Forum’ on Thursday, 28 June from 8am-4pm at Hotel Meyrick. The emerging fields of cell and gene therapy are considered by many to be the next revolution in medicine, promising unprecedented and previously unimaginable treatments for major life-altering conditions and degenerative diseases. There are few areas in biomedical research which have attracted so much attention in recent years and been surrounded by so much expectation and promise. Recent approvals in stromal cell therapy, immunotherapy and CAR T treatments indicate that the potential is being realised. However, serious challenges remain in addressing manufacturing efficiency, cost reduction, clinical trials and delivery to patients. Speaking about the event, Professor Frank Barry, Scientific Director at REMEDI, NUI Galway, said: “Cell and gene therapy are really providing new options in terms of patient care and Ireland is taking a position at the centre of this effort. This industry forum will include multinational companies, research leaders, SMEs and innovators and will be an opportunity for all participants to learn about recent developments, challenges and strategies for manufacturing”. Leaders in industry and science will speak about recent advances in research and development. Companies presenting at the event will include global leaders in cell technology, Takeda Europe and GE Healthcare, ReNeuron, the UK’s leading stem cell research company, and Irish SMEs Avectas, a cell engineering technology company and biotechnology developer, Valitacell. Speakers will include Professor Frank Barry, REMEDI, NUI Galway, Robin Ali, University College London, John Sinden, ReNeuron, Maria del Pilar Redondo, Takeda and Andrew Finnerty, Centre for Cell Manufacturing Ireland, NUI Galway. The event is sponsored by Celtic Advance Life Science Innovation Network (CALIN). The network is an Ireland Wales 2014-2020 programme part funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government. The event is free and open to the public. To register, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cell-and-gene-therapy-industry-forum-tickets-47053678820 -Ends-

Monday, 25 June 2018

Twelve female scientists will take to their soap boxes and bring science to the streets of Galway as part of NUI Galway’s second annual, Soapbox Science Galway. The event will take place from 11am-2pm at the Spanish Arch, Galway on Saturday, 7 July and is free and open to the public. The scientists will be sharing their work in technology, science, medicine and engineering with the public and this year NUI Galway has joined forces with colleagues from GMIT and UCC to showcase research talent across the western seaboard. This year’s talks will cover a diverse range of topics ranging from: microbial brains; how computers read fairy tales; octopuses and their ancient relatives; what kelp does for its community; and microplastics in the oceans. Each scientist will speak numerous times on their soapbox throughout the event as Soapbox Science Galway challenges perceptions of what a scientist is by celebrating the diversity of women in science. Soapbox Science Galway is organised by Dr Jessamyn Fairfield and Dr Dara Stanley from NUI Galway. Jessamyn is a nanoscientist and lecturer in the School of Physics and CÚRAM, and a comedian who runs monthly Bright Club research/comedy events across Ireland. Jessamyn’s research is focused on building electronics like the brain. Dara is a scientist interested in ecology and biodiversity, and in particular in plants and the insects that pollinate them. She is a lecturer in Botany and Plant Science in the Ryan Institute. Speaking about the event, Dr Dara Stanley from NUI Galway, said: “Soapbox Science is unusual in that it brings science directly to the streets. This means that anyone going about their daily business may meet a scientist, perhaps even for the first time.” Dr Jessamyn Fairfield, from NUI Galway, said: “We’re excited to highlight some of the amazing women working in science and engineering from all around the west of Ireland and beyond.” Soapbox Science 2018 Speakers and their discussion topics: Alice Selby, School of Physics, NUI Galway – ‘Human-Machine memory’ (@A_Selby_Phys) Cécile Robin, Insight Centre for Data Analytics, NUI Galway – ‘How do computers read fairytales?’ (@RobinCecile) Morag Taite, Zoology, NUI Galway – ‘Octopuses and their ancient relatives’ (@moragtaite) Ms Eimear O’Hara, College of Engineering and Informatics, NUI Galway ‘Mechanical Engineering: Not Just Boys and Cars’ (@Eimear_Ohara) Dr Kathryn Schoenrock, Botany and Plant Science, NUI Galway - ‘Kelp me! What does kelp do for its community?’ (@katesrock) La Daana Kanhai, Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, GMIT – ‘Microplastics in the oceans: Why the fuss?’ (@LaDaanaKanhai) Dr Claire Conway, College of Engineering and Informatics, NUI Galway – ‘Engineering a virtual beating heart: testing medical implants using computer simulation’ (@claireconwayphd) Dr Jean O’Dwyer, UCC – ‘What lies beneath? Assessing groundwater quality in Ireland’ (@DrJeanODwyer ) Dr Karen Molloy, School of Geography and Archaeology, NUI Galway – ‘Fossil pollen – nature’s own time machine!’ Ms Dibyangana Dana Bhattacharyya, NUI Galway - ‘Battling evolution: Our DNA and its role in Breast Cancer’ (@dana_dibyangana), Alison Connolly, NUI Galway – ‘When you use pesticides at work, do you absorb the chemical into your body?’ (@AliConnolly18) Laura Cutugno, NUI Galway – ‘The brains of microbes!’ (@LauraCutugno) This is the second year Soapbox Science has come to Galway, which was founded in the UK seven years ago. The event builds on the Galway tradition of public discourse from soapboxes, this time with a scientific twist, bringing the general public and scientists together, while also highlighting the work of our great female scientists in Ireland in a fun and friendly way. It also aims to highlight the continued need for a skilled science and engineering workforce, where the scientific community needs to continue to attract the best talent in an open and inclusive way. Hear more about what our Soapbox Science Galway scientists will talk about, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NXN88pSFbw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ka6DUFC9Ew https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJFrTOOzK2o For more information, visit: http://soapboxscience.org/soapbox-science-2018-galway/ -Ends-

Wednesday, 20 June 2018

NUI Galway’s School of Education has received funding from Google’s Educator Grants programme for Professional Development in the area of computational thinking for pre-service and in-service teachers.  In ensuring young people have the opportunity to learn Computer Science, NUI Galway aims to prepare and support teachers with pedagogical content knowledge to teach with confidence and competence. NUI Galway currently offers a BA Mathematics and Education (BME) concurrent teacher education degree programme, which is now over ten years in existence. As well as secondary teachers recognised by the Teaching Council, graduates of the BME are fully qualified mathematicians. This project aims to provide professional development and support to in-service and pre-service teachers in Computer Science education, who will recognise the value of and remain committed to continued professional development throughout their careers. Dr Cornelia Connolly, School of Education, NUI Galway, said: “NUI Galway is proud to be one of only three education institutes in Ireland (out of a total of thirty-two across sixteen countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa) that were awarded a grant to provide professional development for Computer Science educators. NUI Galway is also currently developing an undergraduate Computer Science teacher education degree.” Claire Conneely, Computer Science Education Programme Manager at Google Ireland, said: “Congratulations to NUI Galway on their award of a 2018 Google Educator Grant. It’s a very exciting time for computing education in Ireland, with the new Leaving Certificate Computer Science subject commencing in 40 schools this September and the possibility of Coding being introduced to the primary curriculum. This funding will enable NUI Galway to make an important contribution to teacher professional development and we look forward to seeing how they will advance Computer Science education in Ireland.”  -Ends-

Tuesday, 19 June 2018

Study will focus on service utilisation for both the carer and the person with dementia and will investigate the type of supports required and valued in the period following a diagnosis The Centre for Economic and Social Research on Dementia at NUI Galway are leading the first ever study in Ireland looking at supports and services available for people with dementia and their families following a recent diagnosis. The study aims to recruit informal carers, often family members, who are providing regular care and support to a loved one diagnosed with dementia in 2017 or 2018. Carers may feel uncertain following the diagnosis of a loved one with dementia. The study is focused on identifying the most important services and supports at different stages of the illness. The results of the study will inform policy in relation to the supports and services that need to be in place to help carers and people with a recent diagnosis of dementia to deal with uncertainty and plan for future care needs. The aim of the study is to inform practice and policy regarding services and supports required by carers and people with dementia in the period following a dementia diagnosis and how these needs change over time. The primary focus is on post-diagnostic supports for people with dementia and their principal caregiver. The person receiving care must have received a diagnosis of dementia, or probable dementia, since January 2017. Dr Patricia Carney, a Health Economist at the Centre for Economic and Social Research at NUI Galway who is leading the study, said: “New investment in dementia care must reflect the preferences and needs of both the person with dementia and their informal carer. Carers require more tangible and practical supports to allow them do the job that most love doing. The consequences of not supporting them will be significant for people with dementia and for society. This study has the capacity and potential to improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers’ in Ireland, especially in the time following diagnosis.” There are an estimated 60,000 people in Ireland providing unpaid care to a family member or friend with dementia living in the community. Approximately 7,200 new cases of dementia arise each year in Ireland, although it is not known how many of these receive a diagnosis or at what stage. An estimated 55,000 people live with dementia in Ireland and the majority of these people are living at home in the community. Professor Eamon O’Shea, Director of the Centre for Economic and Social Research on Dementia at NUI Galway, said: “Carers play a crucial role in looking after people with dementia and we need to know much more about their needs and preferences for different kinds of services and supports.” If you provide regular support or care to a person recently diagnosed with dementia and want to participate in the study or find out more, please email DemCarer@nuigalway.ie.  To participate in the study visit: www.nuigalway.ie/dementiacare/

Tuesday, 19 June 2018

NUI Galway recently held a graduation ceremony entitled ‘Follow Your Dream’ for 40 local school children aged between 10 and 12 with guest speaker Connacht Rugby’s sporting legend, Eric Elwood. Three DEIS in Galway City, Scoil Bhríde in Shantalla, Holy Trinity Girl’s School, and St. Michael’s Boy’s Primary School in Mervue, received their graduation certificates from their involvement in Uni 4 U programme. NUI Galway’s Uni 4 U is a primary schools initiative aimed at increasing participation, diversity and equality of opportunity in third level education. Under the supervision of Dr Mary Surlis, and co-ordinated by Mark Dooley, this programme is funded, delivered, and designed by the Access Centre in NUI Galway since 2005. University staff and students from a wide range of disciplines teach, mentor and support the students during their time on campus. Students from fourth, fifth and sixth class are selected by their teachers to participate on this programme over a three year period. During their participation in Uni 4 U students are exposed to, and immersed in University life, spending six weeks on campus during term. Sixth class students also participate in a specifically designed Easter camp, and fifth class pupils attend Summer camps, engaging students in university taster modules, discussion led classes and a range of fun interactive activities all based on campus. The focus of the programme is to engage the students in a positive and fully interactive exposure to life on campus. Uni 4 U aims to promote the value of education, and to develop the pupil’s interpersonal, academic, and confidence skills. It also endeavours to expose both students and parents to opportunities offered by education, demystifying third level education and enabling families to envision a future in third level education. Since 2010, 290 pupils have completed the three year programme and since 2005 approximately 740 pupils have participated on the programme, whilst, annually over 120 pupils take part on the programme. Dr Mary Surlis, Uni 4 U Programme Director at NUI Galway, said: “The success of the ‘Uni 4 U’ programme is due to the commitment of the schools involved in this initiative, and in particular, the principals, Frank Keane, Brendan O’Dwyer and Peter Woods, and the school co-ordinators, Orla Doyle and Adrian Carey. Each school is responsible for the selection process of their students and in doing so they have helped to create a cohort of fully engaged and motivated students. It is envisaged that the Uni 4 U programme will be made accessible to more primary schools in the future, as the central aim of creating educational opportunity, and creating a level playing field, continues to be the core objective of this programme and the mission of this University.” Eric Elwood of Connacht Ruby encouraged the students saying: “If you strongly believe in something you should go for it, anything worth having in life is worth fighting for.” -Ends-

Tuesday, 19 June 2018

NUI Galway’s School of Education recently hosted the 14th Annual Conference of the International Society for Design and Development in Education (ISDDE). The ISDDE is one of the preeminent international research communities for educational technology and design, and for researchers and practitioners interested in the design, development and evaluation of educational resources, learning environments, curricular materials and technologies, particularly in the STEM areas. The International Society for Design and Development in Education  was formed to provide a coherent professional community for educational designers internationally, and to help augment the impact of design-based research on educational practice. The conference theme this year was that of ‘Culture and Educational Design’, reflecting the importance of the broader social, cultural and physical environs in the participatory and principled design of educational innovations and technologies. The conference maintained the traditional highly participatory and working focus of previous ISDDE conferences, with delegates collaborating on salient design questions and topics across five key strands: Designing Assessment; Designing Professional Learning; Designing Instructional Materials; Designing for Diverse Learners; and Designing for Learning with Technology. Organised and chaired by Dr Tony Hall, Dr Cornelia Connolly, Dr Eílis Flanagan and Jim Lenaghan of the School of Education, the four-day conference hosted delegates from across the globe, including the US, Australia and Europe. The conference this year featured keynote lectures from: Professor Sarah Moore, University of Limerick; Dr John Breslin, NUI Galway; Professor Merrilyn Goos, University of Limerick; Dr Anna Walshe, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment; Professor Zalman Usiskin, University of Chicago; Dr Michael Hogan, NUI Galway; Professor Akihiko Takahashi, DePaul University Chicago; and Professor Kaye Stacey, University of Melbourne. During this year’s conference, two NUI Galway staff members were elected Fellows of the Society, Dr Eílis Flanagan and Dr Cornelia Connolly. Dr Flanagan is a post-doctoral researcher in the School of Education in English and Mathematics education, and Dr Connolly is a lecturer in the School of Education and joint programme Director of the BA Mathematics and Education. A short video of highlights of the conference can be found on the School of Education’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvqY3zUGSko&feature=youtu.be. -Ends-

Monday, 18 June 2018

NUI Galway has announced that applications are now open for 20 places on a new Masters in AgInnovation (Agricultural Innovation) course. The one-year distance education entrepreneurship development programme aims to fill the gap in entrepreneurship/intrapreneurship skills for people working in the agricultural technology and agricultural ecosystem in Ireland. The new course is targeted towards employees working in key ecosystem stakeholder companies including micro, small, medium and large agricultural technology and agricultural companies, and farmers. The primary aspects of the programme include agricultural needs finding, design thinking for the agricultural sector and disciplined entrepreneurship skills development. Particular consideration is given to helping course participants’ address: Challenges around commercialising innovations (ideas and technologies). Business constraints and guidelines (margins, compound annual growth rate, lifetime value and cost of customer acquisition). Other difficulties related to getting new agricultural products to sizeable markets. The one-year programme is delivered through a distance education model which provides the learner with flexibility in choosing when and where they wish to study, and allowing them to continue to engage in their day-to-day activities within the agricultural domain. For industry employees, 10% of the fees will be paid by their employer. Dr Paul Flynn, TechInnovate Programme Manager at NUI Galway, says: “The aim of this course is to teach people how to identify areas for innovation specifically within the agricultural domain, and to create innovation-driven enterprises or new business units within an existing company. This Masters in AgInnovation aims to support the emerging agricultural start-up innovation pipeline in the years ahead.” The arrival of US agricultural-focused venture capital firms in Ireland is recognition of the potential for innovation in the agricultural technology domain. Ireland’s Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) has committed €20 million to an investment fund managed by Californian venture capital firm Finistere Ventures, targeted at making Ireland the ‘AgTech Island’. Missouri-based venture capital firm The Yield Lab opened one of the first Irish-based Agricultural Technology Accelerators in Galway in 2017, further recognising the requirement for a structured approach to scaling innovation-driven responses to validated agricultural needs. According to Dr John Breslin, TechInnovate Director at NUI Galway: “This is a timely initiative because there needs to be more agricultural technology innovators in companies and start-ups who can avail of the early stage supports, and then scale up to avail of the bigger funds. 2018 is the year to accelerate the agricultural innovation ecosystem in Ireland.” The AgInnovation course is supported by Springboard+ and funding recently announced by John Halligan TD, Minister of State at the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Education and Skills. To apply, please go to http://springboardcourses.ie/details/6275 -Ends-

Monday, 18 June 2018

Students interested in studying at NUI Galway are invited to the CAO Change of Mind Clinic on campus on Monday, 25 June. Parents and guardians are also welcome to attend the event, which runs from 12-3pm in the Aula Maxima in the Quadrangle. The CAO Change of Mind facility closes at 5.15pm on Sunday, 1 July, and the clinic aims to assist with the CAO decision making process. Representatives from all of NUI Galway’s colleges will be available to answer any questions students may have in relation to the course, academic content, admissions and more. There will also be representatives from the Accommodation Office, Access and Disability Services, Admissions, Sports and Fees who will all be there to support students in their transition from secondary school to third level education at NUI Galway. Sarah Geraghty, Student Recruitment and Outreach Manager at NUI Galway, said: “The Change of Mind Clinic at NUI Galway is designed to answer the last minute queries of students and parents and provide advice and reassurance on course choice and entry routes. In our experience, the best way to prepare for unexpectedly low or high Leaving Certificate results is to have a Plan B and a Plan C fully researched. Our clinic on the 25th of June is a great opportunity for students and parents to get ready for the results in August, and more importantly, to get ready for college life in September.” To find out more about the CAO Change of Mind Clinic, contact NUI Galway's Schools Liaison Officer, Caroline Duggan on 087 239 1219 or caroline.duggan@nuigalway.ie. -Ends-

Monday, 18 June 2018

Funding will be used to advance product development in preparation for follow-up funding and US commercialisation of the device and to progress to first in human trials in 2020 NUI Galway-based medical device company, AuriGen Medical has received €2.5 million in the latest round of Horizon 2020 SME Instrument funding, which receives applications from all over Europe. Ranking number one out of 1,280 applications across all sectors, the company specialises in the treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) patients and is developing the first cardiac implant to treat both the stroke and heart failure risk associated with this condition. The company was established by Tony O’Halloran and Dr John Thompson who met through NUI Galway’s BioInnovate Ireland Programme with Enterprise Ireland funding the development work at the University through a Commercialisation Fund programme. The Commercialisation Fund programme is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under Ireland’s European Union Structural and Investment Funds Programme 2014-2020. Dr Thompson, a former intensive care physician together with Mr O’Halloran, a highly experienced medical device engineer, formed AuriGen Medical after meeting in 2015 when both were selected by the BioInnovate Ireland Programme at NUI Galway. During this time, they invented the novel device solution to address a large unmet clinical need that they observed. Persistent atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat, affects around 10 million patients across Europe and is associated with direct healthcare costs in the billions of euros each year with patients describing each palpitation as a constant reminder of their own mortality, fearing that the next heart beat could signal a catastrophic stroke. Over 70% of atrial fibrillation patients have persistent or longstanding disease however, the current treatment options including medications, cardioversion and ablation (a keyhole procedure carried out to scar or destroy tissue in the heart that is allowing incorrect electrical signals to cause an abnormal heart rhythm) only address the minority of patients with intermittent disease. AuriGen Medical believe that once approved their medical device could help the majority of patients become free from atrial fibrillation. This funding will be used to advance product development in preparation for first in human trials in 2020. The company will initially target the 200,000 persistent atrial fibrillation patients per year who are having repeat ablations due to reoccurrence after a first failed ablation procedure. With the costs of repeat ablations estimated at over $50,000 AuriGen’s device aims to deliver significant cost savings to healthcare providers.    The AuriGen device is a single shot left atrial appendage implant with additional ablation and sensor technology for fast, simple and permanent electro-mechanical isolation of the Left atrial appendage, a pouch located in the upper chamber of the heart. The AuriGen technology utilises single-use sensors and software algorithms to give doctors a real-time feedback on the quality of the ablation. By making it easier for doctors to tell if they have permanently electrically isolated, AuriGen believes it can increase success rates while shortening procedure times and open the procedure to even more physicians. The technology is based on significant clinical data underpinning the benefits of electrical isolation of the left atrial appendage in persistent atrial fibrillation. AuriGen Medical will compete in both the electrophysiology and structural heart markets, aiming to meet unmet clinical needs for both atrial fibrillation and stroke prevention. Dr John Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of AuriGen Medical, said: “Ranking first in the Horizon 2020 SME instrument is an incredible endorsement of AuriGen Medical’s technology, market opportunity and the company’s management team.” Tony O’Halloran, Chief Technology Officer of AuriGen Medical, said: “Our pre-clinical trials have been very encouraging and the feedback from cardiologists is extremely positive. We are delighted to announce this investment, which will help us make a number of key hire’s, further advance our product development and once approved make a positive impact on the lives of millions of atrial fibrillation patients across the world.” Sean Burke, Horizon 2020 National Contact Point, Enterprise Ireland, said: “The SME Instrument phase 2 funding is complementary to Enterprise Ireland’s supports which facilitate innovation as a driver of business growth and job creation. Our support of close-to-market projects gives companies a head start with fast access to funding and business innovation support. In the latest call results, 64 projects were funded within a budget of €110 million and AuriGen Medical was ranked first amongst these. Enterprise Ireland congratulates AuriGen on its success in acquiring this funding and will work with the company to support its introduction of this innovation to market.” David Murphy, Director of the Technology Transfer Office in NUI Galway, said: “Having supported the development and management of this technology since the team came up with the original concept, we wholeheartedly congratulate Tony and John on securing this investment and wish them well in the next phase of their growth.” Dr Faisal Sharif, Director of BioInnovate Ireland in NUI Galway, said: “We are delighted to see AuriGen Medical funded for €2.5 million through H2020 SME Instrument. The funding will allow Aurigen Medical to further develop the technology and plan clinical strategy with ‘First in Man’ clinical trials for patients with persisent atrial fibrillation. The mission of BioInnovate Ireland is to grow the indigenous Medtech sector through dedicated training in medical device innovation. The fellowship programme, co-funded by Enterprise Ireland is instrumental in identifying such patients with limited treatment options.” The Horizon 2020 National Support Network is led by Enterprise Ireland on behalf of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. For more information about AuriGen Medical, visit: http://aurigenmedical.com/ -Ends-

Tuesday, 12 June 2018

NUI Galway, in collaboration with 14 software industry partners, is offering a limited number of free places on its award winning, innovative Higher Diploma in Software Design and Development Programme – Industry Stream. This programme was recently awarded the accolade of being Postgraduate Programme of the Year in Information Technology by GradIreland. 90% of Higher Diploma in Software Design and Development graduates have secured immediate employment in software development roles. Many of the graduates are employed with some of Ireland’s leading software companies. NUI Galway has designed this one year conversion programme in conjunction with 14 leading IT employers which enables graduates to reskill for employment in the software development area. Student fees for the course are funded by the Higher Education Authority given the strategic importance of developing skills in this area. Successful applicants will therefore, pay no fees. The overall goal of this postgraduate conversion programme is to strategically increase the supply of skilled graduates to meet the needs of Ireland’s high-growth software industry. It will provide graduates with a fast track, focused computing qualification, and presents them with an opportunity to obtain valuable industry work experience. Applicants are paired with an industry partner from the start of the programme and are then trained in key technologies for that employer’s needs, so they are then able to maximise the impact of a paid industry internship towards the end of the programme. The Higher Diploma in Software Design and Development builds on the existing strengths of collaborative academic-industry interaction in the Galway region, and will provide graduates with a solid foundation in key areas of software design, a choice of software architecture specialisations in either .NET or Java Enterprise. The final aspect of the course involves a guaranteed three-month paid internship to gain industry experience, and as a result provides the opportunity to kick-start your career as a software developer. Each student on the course will have their training content determined by their associated industry partner. On completion of the course, these students will have transformed their employability in the current economy, with a range of great options opening up to them for further progression either in industry or via more specialisation through a masters.  The industry partners include Avaya, IBM, Cisco, INSIGHT, Storm Technologies, Aspect Software, The Marine Institute, and Schneider Electric, among others. Dr Enda Barrett, Course Director, said: “We are delighted to again offer free places on this unique programme due to funding from the Higher Education Authority and their Springboard initiative. This is a super opportunity for highly motivated analytical graduates particularly from cognate disciplines such as engineering, maths, business and science. We have had huge success with graduates from these areas due to their natural problem solving capacity. By investing just one year of their time in further education, and, through placement experience with our Industry partners; they will have an excellent prospect for recruitment as software developers in Ireland’s high tech ICT sector. This sector is experiencing rapid expansion at the moment, and there is a growing skills shortage for ICT graduate roles that these students are ideally suited to fill. The highly intensive programme is designed for those with little or no knowledge of software development, but we are particularly keen to receive applications from those who have had some exposure to coding and feel that this is something they potentially have a flare for. People with technical or strong numerical backgrounds often perform best in these types of programmes and we strongly encourage applicants who have strong logical reasoning or maths skills. This could be a strong maths result from their leaving cert or from certain modules in their undergraduate degree. This isn’t essential, but often indicates a strong problem solving and logical skillset. Since this programme is funded under the ICT Skills segment of Springboard, there are no limitations regarding the applicant’s current employment or social welfare status.” He added: “The career prospects for our graduates are extremely strong and demand is dramatically outstripping supply. The programme is highly respected among many of Irelands leading software companies many of whom specifically want to recruit graduates who have come through our unique programme. Many of our graduates are receiving multiple job offers before they even complete the programme. Our recognition as Postgraduate Programme of the Year in Information Technology has propelled both the programme and our graduates to the front of the list for many recruiters and we are delighted with the feedback and positivity we have been receiving from our past graduates and their employers alike.” The programme is open to those who have a level 8 degree or alternatively those with a level 7 degree with some relevant industry work experience. Those currently completing their studies or who are currently in some form of employment are also eligible to apply. NUI Galway is now processing applications and those interested can make their application through www.springboardcourses.ie. Significant interest in this free course is expected and early application is advisable as applications will be processed and interviews held on a rolling basis. Deadline for final applications is June 30th. For further information contact the Programme Director, Dr Enda Barrett at Enda.Barrett@nuigalway.ie. -Ends-

Wednesday, 13 June 2018

Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa, the newly-appointed Ugandan judge at the International Criminal Court will deliver a public lecture during this year’s annual Summer School. Organised by NUI Galway’s Irish Centre for Human Rights since 2000, the world-renowned International Criminal Court (ICC) Summer School will take place on campus from 18-22 June. Judge Bossa will deliver a public lecture on Monday, 18 June at 6pm entitled ‘Africa and the International Criminal Court: Challenges and Prospects’. This public lecture is held in association with the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to mark the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The International Criminal Court seated in The Hague is the world’s principal court for the prosecution of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression. In keeping with the theme of Judge Bossa’s lecture, this year’s ICC Summer School will include a special session on Africa and the International Criminal Court convened in association with the Institute for Security Studies of South Africa. Invited experts at the special session will examine the at times fraught relationship between the International Criminal Court and African countries where the Court has focused the most of its attention to date.   Dr Shane Darcy of the Irish Centre for Human Rights said: “We are honoured to welcome Judge Bossa to NUI Galway. We look forward to hearing Judge Bossa and our other participating experts address how the International Criminal Court can contribute to the pursuit of justice in Africa and address the charge that it is unfairly targetting African countries and individuals.” For further information on the Summer School visit http://www.conference.ie/Conferences/index.asp?Conference=551 or contact Dr Shane Darcy at shane.darcy@nuigalway.ie or 091 493947. -Ends-

Wednesday, 13 June 2018

NUI Galway has announced new partnerships with a multitude of new universities worldwide as part of the new Bachelor of Commerce (Global Experience) programme at J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics. NUI Galway now partners with over 60 universities across the globe across all their business programmes, and are committed to providing students with a global education. Numbers on the Global Experience programme have increased significantly, and it is expected that 135 students will partake on a study abroad during the forthcoming academic year. Some of the new partner universities include:Aichi Shukutoku University, Nagakute-City, Japan Kobe University, Japan Pusan National University, Korea Nanjin University of AA, China Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada University of Manitoba, Canada Susquehanna University, Pennsylvania, USA University of Redlands, California, USA Karlstad University, Sweden University of Antwerp, Belgium University of Florence, Italy Students complete modules from all different areas of business in the first two years of the degree. In year three, students undertake a work placement and/or study abroad. In final year, students specialise in one of the following nine streams: Accounting and Performance Measurement; Economics and Public Policy; Management of Human Resources; Marketing Management; Digital Business and Analytics; Finance; Business Law; Enterprise or International Business. “This degree offers the unique opportunity of a work placement and a study abroad in the same year, while still delivering a broad business degree combined with a business specialism in final year. This programme is designed to prepare students for the challenges of working in today’s global business environment”, explained Programme Director, Dr Gerard Turley. Dr Ann Torres, Vice-Dean of Internationalisation at NUI Galway, said: “In order to flourish future business graduates will need to adapt to an ever more global work environment. Global business requires globally confident and culturally aware graduates. The Bachelor of Commerce (Global Experience) course responds to the needs of employers and will produce highly sought after graduates in all areas of business.” Deloitte has also partnered with NUI Galway on this globally focused course, and will provide funding over five years to support students while studying abroad, Insight Days at Deloitte offices, Internships, and Career Mentoring Opportunities will also be provided. Students will also be recognised as ‘Deloitte Global Scholars’ -Ends-

Wednesday, 13 June 2018

NUI Galway, in collaboration with the 30% Club, are offering two scholarships targeted at high potential women in two part-time Masters courses, the Executive MBA and the MSc in Technology Management. Irish businesses compare badly when it comes to female representation at board level, with an average of only 12.5% women compared to 23% in the US. Women accounted for less than 12% of plc board appointments in Ireland last year, according to research carried out by the 30% Club in Ireland. The 30% Club is a collaborative business-led effort which aims to have 30% female representation in senior management and on boards by 2020. One of the mechanisms being employed to improve gender balance on senior boards is through partnering with universities to support women undertaking postgraduate business and technology courses. “As well as seeing 30 per cent of women on boards, we are also focused on growing the pipeline of women in management,” says Carol Andrews, Managing Director, BNY Mellon and Ireland Chair of the 30% Club. “Executive education is a powerful tool in building a career.” Last year Galway businesswoman Sandra Divilly fought off tough competition to win the 30% Club Scholarship for the NUI Galway Executive MBA programme. Ms Divilly said: “I am greatly honoured to be chosen to receive the 30% Club Scholarship for an Executive MBA at NUI Galway. The 30% Club is an inspiring initiative to address global gender imbalance issues in organisations. I commend NUI Galway for joining the list of successful universities across the world that support and drive the 30% Club goals. Having graduated from NUI Galway in 1996 with a degree in Industrial Engineering and Information Systems, I have since enjoyed a varied and challenging career in private industry and as a self-employed businesswoman. I am very grateful to NUI Galway and the 30% Club for providing me with this exciting opportunity to undertake the Executive MBA.” To watch a video of Sandra remarking on what the 30% Club Scholarship has meant to her and how it is helping her achieve her career goals visit https://youtu.be/lWTs0X_i5-o For more information on the 30% Club scholarship application process, or to submit an application contact Mairead McKeon, MBA Programme Administrator at mairead.mckeon@nuigalway.ie, or Dr Niamh Nolan, Flexible Programmes Development Officer for Adult Learning & Professional Development at niamh.nolan@nuigalway.ie. -Ends-

Tuesday, 12 June 2018

Pupils from Primary Schools in Co. Kerry, Co. Westmeath and Co. Galway were the first, second and joint third place winners of the recent 2018 Schools Teaching Awareness of Randomised Trials (START) Competition, which took place at NUI Galway. The triumphant young scientists were presented with their winning trophies from BT Young Scientist winner 2018, Simon Meehan from Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig, Co. Cork and BT Young Scientist runner-up winners 2018 Darragh Twomey, Neil O’Leary and Andrew Heffernan from Colaiste Treasa, Kanturk, Co. Cork. The START competition, now in its third year, is run annually by the Health Research Board - Trials Methodology Research Network (HRB-TMRN) based at NUI Galway. The programme is designed to increase young children’s understanding and awareness of randomised clinical trials and educate pupils about why we need randomised trials to improve healthcare nationally and globally. St. Joseph’s National School, Kinvara, Co. Galway won first place for their randomised clinical trial, The effect of fidgeting on concentration. The pupils noticed that some students fidget a lot when listening. They investigated the effect this had on their concentration by comparing concentration scores between the control groups who sat with their arms crossed, and the test group, who had blu-tack to fidget with, whilst listening to their teacher. Somewhat surprisingly, results suggest that fidgeting is good for concentration…as long as it’s silent! Glinsk National School, Castlerea, Co Galway won second place for their randomised clinical trial, Do extra educational maths games improve test results? The pupils investigated whether extra educational maths improve test results. They found that playing a maths game did in fact improve maths scores, in both addition and subtraction, for the most part. Due to the quality of the entries, the judges were unable to pick a stand-alone third place winner and a joint third place was announced. Pupils from St. Michael’s National School, Castlepollard, Co. Westmeath won joint third place for their randomised clinical trial, Can ten minutes of daily exercise increase students’ fitness? They evaluated if ten minutes of daily exercise increased the pupils’ fitness and found a slight effect but not enough to be conclusive about this result. Pupils from Meentogues National School, Headford, Killarney, Co Kerry also won joint third place for their randomised clinical trial, How much can teachers influence us? The pupils investigated how much teachers influence pupils and found that having a teacher in the room does indeed influence a pupil’s choice. Professor Devane, Director of the HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network at NUI Galway, said: “The START competition shows that with the support of their teachers, children can not only engage in research, they can also do it to a really high standard. Every day children, like adults, are exposed to health claims. Many people, including health care professionals, lack the knowledge and skills needed to access and assess the reliability of information underpinning these. We believe that the START project helps empower children to think critically about health claims and make better informed choices. The Schools and parents of these children and teachers should be very proud indeed.” Sarah Chapman, Knowledge Broker at Cochrane UK based in Oxford, added: “I was privileged to be one of the judges for the START competition this year, and was so impressed by what these pupils achieved. Not only have they shown that they can choose a research question and then design and run a trial to answer it, they have also presented their work with such clarity and creativity that many ‘real life’ trialists could learn from them.” The Schools Teaching Awareness of Randomised Trials (START) Competition, is an initiative of the NUI Galway-based Health Research Board – Trials Methodology Research Network, to celebrate International Clinical Trials Day, and the anniversary of the first clinical trial which was carried out in 1747 in the British Navy. For more details about the START Competition, visit: https://www.hrb-tmrn.ie/public-engagement/start-competition/ -Ends-

Tuesday, 12 June 2018

NUI Galway today (12 June) conferred degrees on over 290 students. Among that number, over 30 were conferred with doctoral degrees. The largest cohort of students to graduate was 176 future doctors who received their Honours Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, and Bachelor of Obstetrics (MB, BCh, BAO) degree. Among this outstanding group of medical students, Esther Macken from Galway City received 5 out of 14 Final Medical Medals for her outstanding academic performance. Every year, NUI Galway awards the Final Medical Medals to the student who receives the highest mark in each subject area. Speaking at the ceremony, President of NUI Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “On behalf of NUI Galway, I congratulate each of today’s graduates. We in NUI Galway are determined that this University will play its full part in developing graduates who will make a real difference in the world and for the world, and will shape the future needs of our society.” International students were well represented at the ceremony, with the University welcoming graduates from, among other countries, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Brazil, who along with students from across Ireland received Diplomas, Degrees, Masters, and PhDs. -Ends- A gCéimeanna Bronnta ar bhreis is 290 Mac Léinn ag Searmanas Bronnta an tSamhraidh in OÉ Gaillimh Inniu (12 Meitheamh) bhronn OÉ Gaillimh céimeanna ar bhreis is 290 mac léinn. Ina measc siúd, bhí 30 duine ar bronnadh céimeanna dochtúireachta orthu. Grúpa de 176 ábhar dochtúra an grúpa ba mhó díobh a bhain Baitsiléir Onóracha sa Leigheas, Baitsiléir Onóracha sa Mháinliacht agus Baitsiléir Onóracha sa Chnáimhseachas (MB, BCh, BAO) amach. Sa ghrúpa de mhic léinn leighis eisceachtúla sin bhí Esther Macken as an Daingean i nGaillimh. Bronnadh 5 Bhonn as 14 Bhonn don Bhliain Deiridh Leighis uirthi as a fheabhas a d’éirigh léi go hacadúil. Gach bliain, bronnann OÉ Gaillimh Boinn don Bhliain Deiridh Leighis ar an mac léinn is airde marcanna i ngach ábhar. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, ag an searmanas: “Thar ceann OÉ Gaillimh, tréaslaím le gach duine agaibh. Táimidne in OÉ Gaillimh diongbháilte de go ndéanfaidh an Ollscoil seo a cion féin le céimithe a oiliúint a fhágfaidh a lorg ar an domhan trí chéile, agus a bheidh ábalta freastal ar riachtanais ár sochaí amach anseo.” Bhí neart mac léinn idirnáisiúnta ag an searmanas, agus chuir an Ollscoil fáilte chroíúil roimh na céimithe sin ón Malaeisia, Singeapór, an Astráil agus an Bhrasaíl, i measc tíortha eile, mar aon le mic léinn as gach cearn den tír seo ar bronnadh Dioplómaí, Céimeanna, Máistreachtaí, agus PhDanna orthu. -Críoch-