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| February 2001 Cover Stories | February 2001 Features | Current Issue | Back Issues |
'Anois le teacht an Earraigh, tá an lá ag dul chun síneadh…' So said the poet, Raifteirí and indeed the lengthening days, the appearance of daffodils and snowdrops and the early morning birdsong, all help to put a little spring in our step at this time of year! Múscailt 01, NUI, Galway's first Spring Festival, which takes place on February 18-23, certainly provides a programme guaranteed to blow away the cobwebs of winter! You will find highlights listed on page one, while a full programme of events is available at Áras Fáilte. The new Údarás na hOllscoile (Governing Authority) also commenced its four-year term of office on the first day of Spring! The representatives from the various electoral panels are featured on page eight. Congratulations to all and we wish them every success during their term! Sincere thanks as usual, to all those who submitted items for publication. The range of items included in this Spring edition, from research projects to book launches and conferences to refurbished buildings, demonstrates the dynamic activity of campus life! Enjoy the read! Máire Mhic Uidhir, | TOP | New appointments to the Office of the Dean of Research The Office of the Dean of Research recently made two new appointments. Dr. Maura Hiney has been appointed Administrative Officer, while Professor Ger Hurley takes over the post of Dean of Research from Professor Tom Boylan, who established the office in 1998. The office facilitates the development of research activities so that NUI, Galway will remain a leading research University both nationally and internationally. Professor Hurley established the Power Electronics Research Centre in 1992, one of four PAT centres located on campus. A sabbatical year in 1997/98, as Visiting Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.), gave him the opportunity to observe at first hand one of the world's most famous technological institutes. While there he taught a graduate course in power electronics.
Dr. Hiney has worked as a research microbiologist with the National Diagnostics Centre and the Department of Microbiology, NUI, Galway. Since 1994, she has managed the Fish Disease Group. Her expertise in the development and validation of genetic and immunological disease diagnostic methods has gained her international recognition and she has acted as advisor to the FAO, OIE, US Federal Fish Health Service, Asian aquaculture network (NACA) and as a research fellow with the OECD. The Office of the Dean of Research, which also includes Ms. Mary Lyons, would like to acknowledge the enormous contribution to the advancement of research in NUI, Galway, made by Professor Tom Boylan, who retired from the post in December 2000. Pictured, Dr. Maura Hiney and Professor Ger Hurley | TOP | The Irish Centre for Human Rights has firmly established itself as a dynamic force in the short time since it was established in 1999. Led by its Director, Professor William Schabas, the Centre regularly hosts seminars, research meetings and public lectures on the many diverse issues associated with the promotion of human rights. A major new study written by Professor William Schabas, was launched in November by Mary Lawlor, director of the Amnesty International Irish Section. Genocide in International Law, published by Cambridge University Press, has already been widely used by the international criminal tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, as they grapple with the many interpretative difficulties involved in the crime of genocide.
Professor Schabas was awarded the Medal of the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law, in Johannesburg, before Christmas. He was a keynote speaker there at an international conference, which was opened by former South African President, Dr. Nelson Mandela. Pictured, Dr. Nelson Mandela and Professor William Schabas | TOP | In 1984, an Ciste Charthanachta was established to help local charities and is run by a College-wide representative committee. Staff of the University have been very generous in monthly contributions to the Ciste over the years. Funds from an Ciste Charthanachta (presently in the order of £10,000 annually) are distributed each year before Christmas and local beneficiaries include St. Vincent de Paul, Galway Simon Community, Galway Hospice, COPE, Galway Rape Crisis Centre, Galway Samaritans, Aids Help West, and the Galway Travelling Community. Suggestions of other local charities which might benefit from an Ciste, are welcome.
Additional and new staff members of the University who wish to contribute to an Ciste Charthanachta can do so by writing to the Salaries/Wages Section, giving authorisation to deduct a contribution to an Ciste to be lodged to Account No. 73079282 at the Bank of Ireland, University Branch. Pictured Mairead Watters, Treasurer (right) presenting a cheque to Matt O'Flaherty, President of St. Vincent de Paul. Also pictured is Catherine Lyons, Ciste member. | TOP | NUI, Galway's first children's Christmas party, held in Áras na Mac Léinn was a great success! Face painters, hair braiders, a bouncing castle, a magician and a creative art block, ensured an activity-packed afternoon.
Top: Santa with Kitty O'Sullivan and Louise O'Broin. Bottom: The President, Dr. Ó Muircheartaigh with Dr. Angela Savage and her daughter, Li Lu.
| TOP | New publication on Diagnostics Pictured are from left, Marie Reddan, Librarian; Dr. Jim Ryan, Director, BioResearch Ireland; Professor Jim Gosling and Professor Ruth Curtis, Vice-President for Development and External Affairs.
A new textbook entitled Immunoassays: A Practical Approach, published by Oxford University Press and edited by Professor Jim Gosling, Department of Biochemistry, NUI Galway, was presented to the James Hardiman Library in January. The book has many chapters authored or co-authored by staff from the National Diagnostic Centre, including Dr. Marian Kane, Mr Tony Forde, Mr Peter O'Fegan and Dr. Wajdi Abdul-Ahad. NUI, Galway and the NDC have been leaders in the development and application of immunoassays for the last 25 years. | TOP | Poland honours NUI, Galway Lecturer Dr. Oliver Ryan, a lecturer in the Department of Education, NUI, Galway was awarded "The Knights Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland", in December. The award is in recognition of the outstanding contribution made by Dr. Ryan to education in Poland, through training and exchange programmes with NUI, Galway. Dr. Ryan has already been awarded the Marie Curie Medal (1993) by the University of Lublin; the Medal of Honour (1994) by the University of Silesia; and the Medal of Distinction (1997) by AMU University.
Pictured: The Polish Ambassador, Janusz Skolimonwski (left) presents the award to Dr. Oliver Ryan. | TOP | University staff came together at a reception in November to mark the retirement of Dr. Patrick Fottrell as President of NUI, Galway. His close friend, Dr. Kieran McCarthy, recalled the outstanding research record of Dr. Fottrell and the great affection and admiration his colleagues had for him. The President, Dr. Ó Muircheartaigh paid tribute to Dr. Fottrell's enormous contribution to the development of the University and his success in implementing the Strategic Plan, including the comprehensive capital building programme. Dr. Ó Muircheartaigh made a presentation to Dr. Fottrell on behalf of staff.
Pictured from left, the President, Dr. Ó Muircheartaigh, Mrs. Esther Fottrell, Dr. Patrick Fottrell and Conor Fottrell. | TOP | Information and Communication Technologies in the Gaeltacht The Department of Management and the Department of Accountancy and Finance at NUI, Galway were commissioned by Milaois na Gaeltachta, to carry out an assessment of the readiness of the Gaeltacht for Information and Communication Technologies. The preliminary report, recently presented to Minister Mary O'Rourke, provides wide-ranging and comprehensive recommendations for the Gaeltacht in the areas of ICT and physical infrastructure, education, business, community and the public sector.
Pictured at the launch of the Preliminary Report 'Information and Communication Technologies in the Gaeltacht', to Minister Mary O'Rourke at Government Buildings in Dublin are, from left, Dr. Martin Fahy, Department of Accountancy and Finance; Breeda Burke, Department of Management; James Cunningham, Department of Management; Mary O'Rourke, T.D., Minister for Public Enterprise; and Mike Moroney, Department of Management. | TOP | Dr. Anne Byrne (Department of Political Science and Sociology), has been appointed Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Arts. Dr. Byrne's research interests concern identity issues, feminist pedagogies and methodologies, and issues of social inclusion/exclusion. She is currently a member of the board of the Women's Studies Centre and has previously participated in a number of college committees including the Access Committee and the Quality Committee, in addition to being Arts Faculty First Year Advisor for a number of years. | TOP | New equipment award for Department of Pharmacology Researchers from the Department of Pharmacology, NUI, Galway were recently awarded £50,000 for the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment by the Health Research Board. The award was made following a competitive, peer-reviewed application process made by Drs. Andrew Harkin, Thomas Connor and John Kelly. The funds will enable the purchase of a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system that will allow minute quantities of neurotransmitters from nerve cells in the brain to be measured. The coupling of this system with an in vivo brain microdialysis sampling technique allows the monitoring of neurotransmitter release in a time-course fashion. Such a procedure will have a profound impact on a variety of ongoing research areas within the department, including the neurobiological basis of psychiatric disease and the mechanism of action of psychotropic drugs including drugs of abuse. This new equipment will complement a number of recent initiatives to develop world-class research at NUI, Galway, including the HEA-funded Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, in which the department is an active participant. | TOP | Historic University building gets facelift Pictured from left: Joe McKenna, Director of Development; the President Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh and Pádraig Kenny, Chairman, Galway University Foundation
The purpose of Galway University Foundation, which has just launched its first Annual Report, is to advance the strategic priorities and academic objectives of NUI, Galway. Under the direction of an international independent Board, the Foundation's primary function is to generate financial support for the University's programmes and activities. The Annual Report shows the Foundation's success in attracting funding - more than £7 million was secured in the year ending 30th June 2000. "We are very pleased with the results to date", says Joe McKenna, Director of Development. "However, as the University is about to commence the second phase of capital development, the work of the Foundation will be intensified in the coming months to support that development." | TOP | Áis nua Ollscoile do Phobal na Gaeltachta D'Oscail Éamon Ó Cuív, T.D. Aire Stáit sa Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gaeltachta agus Oileán, Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim i gCarna i Mí na Samhna. Reachtáltar réimse leathan cúrsaí oiliúna agus forbartha san ionad nua Ollscoile seo, mar an Dioplóma trí Ghaeilge, Clár Access, Cúrsaí Oiliúna 5-8 mí sa Ghaeilge agus i dTeicneolaíocht na Faisnéise agus Cúrsaí Oíche.
Sa phictiúr tá Peadar Mac an Iomaire, Stiúrthóir na Gaeilge Labhartha, OÉ, Gaillimh agus Éamon Ó Cuív, T.D. Aire Stáit sa Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gaeltachta agus Oileán. | TOP | Costs of caring for Dementia sufferers There are just over 30,000 people with dementia living in Ireland. About three quarters of these live at home in the community and are cared for mainly by family and friends. "By the year 2011 we will have over 5,000 more people with dementia than we have now and numbers will increase significantly in the decades to follow", says Dr. O'Shea, Department of Economics, NUI, Galway and author of a major study entitled, The Cost of Caring for People with Dementia and Other Cognitive Impairments. The study, funded by the National Council on Aging and Older People, was launched by Dr. Tom Moffatt, T.D., Minister for State at the Department of Health and Children, at a conference organised by Dr. O'Shea, in Galway in November.
Pictured are, Dr. Tom Moffat, T.D. (left) and Dr. Eamon O'Shea. | TOP | IT DEPARTMENT SECURES OVER £1/2m RESEARCH FUNDING Two of the IT Department's research groups were recently successful in the competitive Informatics Research Programme run by Enterprise Ireland. The Enterprise Computing Research Group (ECRG) secured over £430,000 for research in the modelling, design and development of distributed supply chain systems. The Scientific Computing Group received £100,000 for an extension of ongoing work in medical imaging. The funding is mainly intended to cover staffing costs for full-time research assistants and graduate students. This comes at an ideal time, as space has become available in the new IT Building to house the expanded groups. The Department has also recently published the second edition of its academic research journal, which will now become an annual publication. | TOP | Léacht Bhliantúil Bhord na Gaeilge Thug Póilín Ní Chiaráin, Iriseoir agus Comhfhreagraí Polaitiúil, Léacht Bhliantúil Bhord na Gaeilge, i Mí Eanáir Ba é teideal na léachta ná: "Tuaisceart Éireann - faoi bhratacha agus faoi bhláth?" Céimí de chuid de hOllscoile seo is ea Póilín, a bhfuil cáil bainte amach aici ag tuairiscíocht ar chúrsaí pholaitíochta le RTÉ agus leis an BBC.
Sa phictiúr tá Póilín Ní Chiaráin le Peadar Mac an Iomaire, Stiúrthóir na Gaeilge Labhartha. | TOP | NUI, Galway has outshone all other universities by winning six postdoctoral scholarships, funded by the Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences. The awards, worth £20,000 each annually, were won in an internationally refereed competition.
Pictured are the recipients, from left, Stefan Bergh (Archaeology), Kathryn Laing (English), Deana Rankin (English), Conor McCarthy (English), Diarmuid Clifford (Gaeilge). Absent from photograph is Anne Mulhall (English), who is currently on a library visit to Oxford. | TOP | International Chemistry Conference takes place in Galway The annual conference of the Inorganic Reaction Mechanisms Group, took place in Galway in January. Hosted by the Department of Chemistry at NUI, Galway and organised by Professor Michael Hynes, more than 16 countries were represented at the conference, including Canada, the United States, Pakistan and several EU countries.
Pictured are from left, Professor Michael Davies, Anglia Polytech University, Cambridge; Professor Michael Hynes, Department of Chemistry, NUI, Galway; the President, Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh; and Professor Richard Henderson, University of Newcastle. | TOP | AIB link-up with NUI, Galway in major expansion of Business Innovation Centre
Welcoming the announcement, Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh said that the University has always integrated research and teaching with local economic development needs. "The new companies will provide quality jobs and investment in the region", he said, adding that "the business promoters will benefit greatly from their proximity to the University and from the support offered by AIB and Enterprise Ireland".
Gary Kennedy, Financial Director, AIB Group stated: "It is our strategic intent to both support, and get increasingly involved with, early stage businesses in the high technology sectors, particularly in the entrepreneurial and supportive environment being developed at NUI, Galway". The University has a distinguished track record in business start-ups since the original IDA-supported Centre was built in 1984. Over the past 15 years, 28 companies have located in the Centre employing approximately 320 people. Currently, more than £11.5 million of funded research is carried out annually in NUI, Galway. Pictured: the President, Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh and Gary Kennedy, Financial Director, AIB Group. | TOP | Unique initiative with Polish College established An agreement signed between NUI, Galway and Wroclaw University of Technology (WUT) Poland, was signed in December. The agreement provides for six NUI, Galway undergraduate students (mainly from the Faculty of Engineering) to go to Poland for their Professional Experience Programme. Four Polish postgraduate students will come to Galway to undertake Masters or Doctoral studies in the Faculties of Science or Engineering. The distinctive element of the agreement is the support of Bank Zachodni, WBK, AIB Group, Wroclaw. The total cost of the initiative is estimated to be £130,000, with Bank Zachodni providing £38,000 over a three-year period and NUI, Galway supplying the remainder.
Pictured at a reception to mark the signing of the agreement are from left, Professor Ruth Curtis, Vice-President for Development and External Affairs; Mr. Noel Murphy, Senior Manager, AIB, Galway; and Professor Andrezj Radosz, Wroclaw University of Technology. | TOP | Reviewing Nazism through Literature
The President, Dr. Ó Muircheartaigh launched a new book in January, by Professor Eoin Bourke, Department of German. Entitled The Austrian Anschluss in History and Literature, the book covers the occupation of Austria by Hitler in 1938 and the ensuing persecution of the Jews and other minorities, quoting copiously from eye-witness accounts and literary representations of the facts. This book, a major contribution to Cultural Studies, is published by Galway based Arlen House. | TOP | The new Údarás na hOllscoile (University Governing Authority), commenced its four-year term of office on 1 February, 2001. Membership of the Údarás is drawn from a number of electoral panels, which are featured here. In addition two elected officers of Comhaltas na Mac Léinn/Students' Union and one postgraduate student are included in the Údarás. Nominees of external organisations, local authorities, NUI nominees and nominees of the Minister of Education and Science, bring the number on Údarás na hOllscoile to thirty eight.
Elected from permanent or full-time academic staff (other than Professors or Associate Professors), L-R: Dr. Anthony Grehan, Dr. Kathryn Moore, Dr. Mark McCarthy and Dr. Pat Morgan. (Inset) Dr. Jane Conroy.
Elected to represent the Graduates from left: Mr. M.P.J. Curran, Professor Hubert McDermott, Professor Ruth Curtis and Professor Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh,
Employees, other than academic staff, elected, from left: Ms. Catherine Lyons, Mr. Dermot McGrath and Ms. Mary Greaney.
Professors and Associate Professors elected by same, from left: Professor Kevin Barry, An tOllamh Máirín Ní Dhonnchadha and Professor James Houghton. (Inset) Professor Catherine O'Brien and Professor Jim Ward. | TOP | | February 2001 Cover Stories | February 2001 Features | Current Issue | Back Issues | Ollscéala is published by the Press and Information Office Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh. Tel. 091-750418 Fax: 091-750521 E-mail: m.mhicuidhir@nuigalway.ie |
AIB and National University of Ireland, Galway have established the 'AIB University Business Innovation Centre'. This new campus-based facility, which will open later this year, will provide 7,500 sq. ft. of quality, affordable and flexible accommodation for up to 26 new business start-ups. The centre will incorporate a Euro 2m (IR£1.6m) extension to the existing 8 units, which were built in 1984. Funding for the project will come from AIB, Enterprise Ireland and NUI, Galway.
