Mindful Way

The Mindful Way at NUI Galway

In October 2015, NUI Galway stated its intention to become a Mindful University through supporting an initiative known as The Mindful Way at NUI Galway.  An initial conference and a subsequent series of monthly Mindfulness Meditation Classes led by Tibetan Monk, Thubten Gelong, got The Mindful Way at NUI Galway off to a great start in academic year 2015/16.  Over 650 students, staff and members of the local community attended these events. 

A blueprint for creating a Mindful University does not currently exist, just the conviction and passion of those who believe this is a worthy endeavour.  In Semester 1 of academic year 2016/17, a group of people who have been practicing meditation for many years, has come together to work on how to proceed towards achieving this worthy intention.  The group represents the NUI Galway community including administrators, students, academic teaching staff, academic researchers and the community. 

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Mindful Journeys

A Symposium on Mindfulness in Higher Education

Wednesday 21 June

Aras Moyola (MY243), NUI Galway

 Register Here 

 Associate Professor  Craig Hassed

Associate Professor Craig Hassed works at the Department of General Practice and is coordinator of mindfulness programs at Monash University. His teaching, research and clinical interests include mindfulness-based stress management, mind-body medicine, meditation, health promotion, integrative medicine and medical ethics. Craig is regularly invited to speak and run courses in Australia and overseas in health, professional and educational contexts. Craig was the founding president of the Australian Teachers of Meditation Association and is a regular media commentator. He also featured in the documentary, The Connection, and wrote the companion e-book, “The Mindfulness Manual” and co-authored with Richard Chambers the free online Mindfulness course in collaboration with Monash University and FutureLearn.

 Craig writes regularly for medical journals and has published twelve books;

• “New Frontiers in Medicine” (Volumes 1 and 2)
• “Know Thyself” on mindfulness-based stress management
• “The Essence of Health” on the lifestyle approach to health and chronic illness
• A textbook co-authored with Kerryn Phelps, “General Practice: the integrative approach”
• A book written with Stephen McKenzie, “Mindfulness for Life”
• A book written with Richard Chambers, “Mindful Learning” on the role of mindfulness in education
• "Playing the genetic hand life dealt you" on epigenetics
• "The Mindful Home", written with Deirdre Hassed
• A book written with Patricia Dobkin, “Mindful Medical Practitioners” on the role of mindfulness in medical education
• “Illuminating Wisdom”, a book of calligraphic art written with Deirdre Hassed

Dr. Paul O' Connor

Paul O’Connor started as a Lecturer in Primary Care in January 2013 after coming to NUI Galway as a Research Methodologist in July 2010.  He is also an Associate Director of the Whitaker Institute. His research is concerned with improving human performance and safety in high risk work environments. He has carried out research in a wide range of high risk industries (e.g. civil aviation, nuclear power generation, offshore oil production), and the military (e.g. aviation, special forces). More recently Paul has been carrying out research in healthcare with the aim of improving patient safety and quality of care through addressing the human factors that contribute to poor performance. He is leading a project to develop an wiki-based database of social science research tools called the Measurement Instrument Database for the Social Sciences (MIDSS; more information is at www.midss.org).

He was awarded a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Aberdeen in 2002, M.Sc. in Research Methods in Psychology from the University of Strathclyde, Scotland in 1997, and B.Sc. (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland in 1996. His research is concerned with human performance in high risk work domains with a focus on patient safety, human factors and human error.  Prior to coming to NUIG served as an Assistant Professor in the Operations Research Department at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, Instructor in aviation psychology and human factors at the Navy/Marine Corps School of Aviation Safety, Pensacola, Florida, Research Psychologist and Experimental Diver at the Navy Experimental Diving Unit, Panama City, Florida, and Research Assistant at Aberdeen University. He has authored more than 80 publications, including two books (Safety at the Sharp End, and Human Performance Enhancements in High-risk Environments). He is a chartered member of the British Psychological Society and member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. He is a reviewer for a number of other healthcare, human factors and safety journals.

 Dr Sarah Brennan

 Sarah works as a lecturer in NUI Galway’s Donegal Medical Academy, as a GP and is a mother of five boys.  Arising from experience of mindfulness, the Mindful Way @ NUI Galway and interest in pastoral care for medical students, Sarah has been involved in the conception, development and delivery of the Special Skills Module in Mindfulness during academic year 2016/17. This has led to her becoming a member of the NUI Galway Mindful Way Initiative and facilitating a weekly shared mindfulness practice in the Donegal Medical Academy. The academy is in the process of developing a mindful space at Letterkenny University Hospital.

 Due to personal experiences, Sarah has developed an interest in pregnancy and birthing practices that cultivate breastfeeding and oxytocin production leading to optimised dyad wellbeing and infant neurodevelopment.  Sarah is a member of the Donegal Breastfeeding Forum since 2014 and was involved in preparing a HSE Excellence Awards submission “Donegal Breastfeeding Forum, from need to action”. She has widely presented research exploring infant feeding experiences of African mothers living in Ireland. 

Dr Eva Flynn

 Dr. Eva Flynn graduated in Medicine from University College Dublin in 2004. She commenced a four year general practice training programme with the Western Regional GP Training Programme. Following this training she was awarded Membership of the Irish College of General Practitioners (MICGP) in 2011. During her training in general practice she has also been awarded the Diploma in Child Health (DCH), the Diploma in Obstetrics and Women’s Health (DOWH), the Diploma in Women’s Health from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (DRCOG), the Diploma in Practical Dermatology (DPD), Long Acting Reversible Contraception Instructor Certification (LARC Instructor) and the Family Planning Certificate (FPC). She started to work as a GP assistant in Mainstreet Clinic, Loughrea, Co. Galway in 2011. In 2012 she commenced work in clinical education with the Discipline of General Practice at NUIG.

 Dr. Eva Flynn now works a GP in Mainstreet Clinic, Loughrea, Co. Galway and a lecturer in General Practice in the School of Medicine at the National University of Ireland, Galway. She teaches communication and clinical skills and acts as module lead for Communication Skills for first year medial students and also teaches in general practice for fourth year medical students. She has completed a Higher Diploma in Clinical teaching in 2014, graduating with honours. In particular she has an interest in continuous professional development in general practice and have become the Course Director for Clinical Primary Care Modules at the Discipline of General Practice at NUIG.  Dr. Flynn is also a member of the Women’s Health Group in the ICGP and teaches regularly with this group.

From her interests in student well-being, she has with her colleague from the Discipline of General Practice, Dr. Sarah Brennan, created and delivered the Special Study Module on Mindfulness to fourth year medical students in the School of Medicine at NUIG.  She is a member of the Mindful Way @ NUI Galway initiative, and delivers a regular shared mindfulness practice on campus. 

Dr Easkey Britton

Post-doctoral research fellow at the Whitaker Institute and member of the research cluster for Social Innovation, Participation and Policy (SIPP), Dr. Easkey Britton co-leads the interdisciplinary NEAR-Health work package on nature-based solutions: a framework to use coastal blue and green space to restore health and wellbeing.  Britton also holds an honorary visiting research fellowship in Sport and Leisure Studies at the University of Waikato. A marine social scientist with a PhD in Environment and Society from University of Ulster, Easkey is channeling her passion for surfing and the sea into social change.

Her parents taught her to surf when she was four years old and her life has revolved around the ocean ever since. Co-founder of the non-profit Waves of Freedom which uses the power of surfing as a creative medium for social good in places like Iran and co-organised the world's first Surf for Social Good Summit  in 2015. A recent graduate from THNK’s School of Creative Leadership,  Easkey’s work is deeply influenced by the ocean and the lessons learned pioneering women’s big-wave surfing at spots like Mullaghmore, Co.Sligo, which led her to be invited to give an inspiring TEDx talk in 2013: Just Add Surf

Professor Ivor Browne

Born in Dublin, after his initial studies at the Royal College of surgeons, Ivor Browne worked in Oxford, London, Harvard and Dublin and went on to become Professor of Psychiatry at University College, Dublin and Chief Psychiatrist of the Eastern Health Board. His opposition to orthodox psychiatry made him a vital and controversial figure in Irish public life up until his retirement in the mid-90s.

He conceived and was director of the Irish Foundation for Human Development. This set up the first Community Association in Ireland in Ballyfermot, one of the early large housing estates in Dublin. His books include ‘Music and Madness’ and ‘The Writings of Ivor Browne’ both published by Cork University Press.

Tomás Hardiman

Tomás is a graduate of NUI Galway and Dublin City University. In the early 1980s he worked for a time in Toronto, where he began a professional career in the theatre as General Manager of Mercury Theatre Company. Following his return to Ireland he was appointed Marketing/Publicity Director of The Abbey Theatre where he worked from 1985 to 1993. Tomás subsequently returned to Galway where he runs his own communications and independent film production company, Parzival Productions.  From October 2002 to November 2007 he was Managing Director of Galway Arts Centre and the Cúirt International Festival of Literature.

In 2013 he completed a three-year training programme to become a teacher of the Alexander Technique. He produced eight short films and documentaries between 1998 and 2003 and Meetings with Ivor in 2017. A new film, The Meeting, written and directed by Alan Gilsenan, is in pre-production.

Professor Pat Dolan

Prof. Dolan is joint founder and Director of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre and an Academic Director of the M.A. in Family Support Studies. He also contributes to the wider undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes of the School of Political Science and Sociology as well as supervising Ph.D. candidates and Masters Dissertations in Family Support, Social Work and Community Development. Professor Pat Dolan holds the prestigious UNESCO Chair in Children, Youth and Civic Engagement, the first to be awarded in the Republic of Ireland. The UNESCO Chair delivers a comprehensive programme of work towards the objective of promoting civic engagement and leadership skills among children and youth. The programme is built around core strands of research, teaching, policy and good practice and is underpinned by a range of national and international collaborations.

Prof. Dolan has worked with and for families as a practitioner, service manager, and academic for over 20 years. He has completed an extensive body of research on family issues including longitudinal research on adolescents, their perceived mental health, resilience and social support networks and has published in a wide range of academic publications. His major research interests are Civic Engagement in Children and Youth, Family Support, Reflective Practice and Service Development, Youth Mentoring Models, Adolescents Resilience and Social Networks. Prof. Dolan has also an extensive policy experience and was recently a member of a Government Task Force advising on the necessary transition programme for the new Child and Family Support Agency.

Ann Walsh 

Ann lectures Marketing at NUI Galway.  As Programme Director for the award-winning MSc Marketing Practice she works closely with recent graduates as they transition to the workplace.  Witnessing first-hand the mental-health challenges graduates experience, particularly anxiety and depression, she incorporates Mindful practice into the MSc Marketing Practice programme.  Innovations include awarding credit for assignments based on diet, exercise, rest, meditation, reflective practice, listening and sharing as key elements of building the emotional intelligence and resilience necessary for a successful career in Marketing and Sales.  With the introduction of a new module, “Mindful Leadership in Marketing & Sales” and playing a key role in Mindful Way @ NUI Galway, Ann is committed to creating a culture of Mindfulness at NUI Galway.   

Mindful Weekend with Plum Village Monastics:  Friday 5 to Sunday 7 May  

Mindful Way @ NUI Galway is delighted to once again welcome monastics from Plum Village back on campus for a weekend of Mindfulness in association with Mindfulness Ireland.  Exploring the practice of Mindfulness, a number of free events will take place.  They are all open to the public.

The Mindfulness sessions will be presented by Teacher Br Phap Lai, and his colleagues from Plum Village in Bordeaux. Br. Phap Lai is a Senior Dharma Teacher within the Plum Village Mindfulness tradition and lives his daily life practicing mindfulness with his community and leading mindfulness retreats around the world.

• Friday 5 May from 6:00pm to 8.15pm
• Saturday 6 May from 6:00pm to 8.15pm
• Saturday 6 May from 2:00pm to 4:00pm “Wake Up Ireland”, an exciting new addition to the programme of events this year, inviting young people between the age of 18 and 35 years to attend a separate event.  Please see more information about Wake Up Ireland at the following link: http://www.wkupireland.org/ 
• Sunday 7 May:  A day long retreat from 11am to 4.30pm. Participants for the Sunday retreat are invited to share a mindful vegan lunch with the Monastics and those wishing to attend the Sunday day of Mindfulness and the lunch are asked to register here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/day-of-mindfulness-practice-with-plum-village-monastics-tickets-34065283179    

VENUE:  All of the sessions will take place in lecture hall MY243 in “Aras Moyola”, also known as the Nursing School at NUI Galway.  This lovely new lecture hall is located just inside the entrance of the building (opposite the entrance to the Engineering building), so it is very easy to find.  Aras Moyola is located just inside the entrance to the University on Upper Newcastle Road (opposite the entrance to Moyola Park), as outlined in the map: http://www.nuigalway.ie/media/Aras-Moyola-map.pdf

PARKING:  You are free to park in any of these parking spaces (both staff, students and Pay & Display spaces), free of charge and without fear of clamping anytime on Saturday and Sunday, and AFTER 5:45pm on Friday evening.  Please see details of all the parking facilities at NUI Galway in the following map http://www.nuigalway.ie/media/buildingsoffice/files/services/parking/M12122_050916_Parking_CampusMapWEB.pdf.  Please note Aras Moyola is No. 20 on the map.  

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For Academic Year 2016/17, the group’s intention is to

1. Practice Mindful Meditation

Shared Mindful Way Meditation Practice
Mindful Meditation Practice takes place in Room AC201 on the concourse each week on:

• Tuesdays  08:00-09:00 from January 17, 2017
• Wednesdays 13:00-14:00 from January 11, 2017
• Thursdays  17:15-18:00 from January 19, 2017

This Mindful Meditation Practice is a shared practice, organised by a group of people on campus who have been practicing meditation for years.  The group represents NUI Galway administrators, students, lecturers, researchers and the community. 

This practice is suitable for everyone interested in practicing meditation from beginners to experienced practitioners.All are welcome including staff, students, alumni, members of the local community and guests to campus.  There is no charge to participate.

2. Gather Feedback

An online survey will be conducted in mid-September, to gather feedback and ideas from those who have attended The Mindful Way at NUI Galway Mindfulness Meditation sessions with Tibetan Monk, Gelong Thubten.

3. Create Mindful Spaces

Work is underway to explore ways in which our mature gardens and beautiful riverside campus can facilitate and encourage daily Mindful practice.

4. Initiate Mindful Teaching

The School of Medicine will be delivering ‘Resilience’, the first Mindfulness-based module to be delivered on campus to Fourth Year medical students.

The School of Business, Public Policy & Law will continue to integrate Mindfulness meditation and teaching into the MBA and MSc Marketing Practice programmes. 

5. Develop Mindfulness-related Academic Research

A foundation already exists within NUI Galway on Mindfulness-related research. Increased interest in this research field from academics across all colleges, and funding opportunities, will be further explored.

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Queries to mindfulway@nuigalway.ie

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Applications and Benefits of Mindfulness

There are many proven benefits of applying mindfulness to our lifestyles - across work, life, research and learning. The growing body of academic research into the field suggests that mindfulness can improve productivity and benefit organisations large and small.

Read an interview with Vice-President for Research, Professor Lokesh Joshi in The Irish Times:

"NUI Galway embarks on a mindful adventure", 20 October 2015.

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Academic Research into Mindfulness

Click for some > Suggested Reading

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Mindfulness in Education

Click below to discover more Educational Institutions engaging with Mindfulness

Oxford University
Oxford Mindfulness Centre

UMass Medical School (Amherst)
Centre for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society

Stanford School of Medicine
Centre for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education

Berkeley University of California
Greater Good Science Centre, Greater Good in Action. Science-based Practices for a Meaningful Life

Exeter University
Mindfulness Clinical Education Development and Research

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Mindful Way Conference

Click for details of the programme and speakers from our > Mindful Way Conference, 2015