Díreoidh an MA nua ar chruthú ábhar digiteach agus ar rialachas spóirt Is féidir le mic léinn staidéar a dhéanamh go dátheangach i mBéarla agus i nGaeilge Tá clár nua Máistreachta san Iriseoireacht agus Cumarsáid Spóirt seolta ag OÉ Gaillimh. Tá an clár dírithe ar chéimithe a bhfuil spéis acu gairm bheatha a bhaint amach san iriseoireacht spóirt, chomh maith leis an réimse ghinearálta a bhaineann le cumarsáid spóirt, mar shampla cruthú ábhar digiteach, anailís sonraí agus comhairliúchán straitéiseach.  Gné ar leith den chlár nua is ea go mbeidh béim láidir ar rialachas, riarachán agus bainistíocht spóirt – gné atá riachtanach do chéimithe atá ag iarraidh a bheith ina ngairmithe spóirt i gComhlachtaí Rialaithe Náisiúnta. Beidh OÉ Gaillimh ag obair le príomhpháirtithe leasmhara lena n-áirítear na meáin náisiúnta, eagraíochtaí spóirt agus Comhlachtaí Rialaithe Náisiúnta chun gnéithe tábhachtacha oiliúna a chur ar fáil. Beidh roinnt iriseoirí spóirt mór le rá ag teagasc ar an gclár, orthu sin tá: Keith Duggan, Príomh-Scríbhneoir Spóirt de chuid The Irish Times agus buaiteoir ‘Iriseoir Spóirt na Bliana’ faoi dhó Mike Finnerty, Eagarthóir Spóirt le Mayo News agus láithreoir Sky Sports Cliona Foley, Iriseoir spóirt Liam Horan, Iriseoir spóirt Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill, láithreoir Rugbaí Beo ar TG4 Cuirfear deiseanna intéirneachta ar fáil do mhic léinn an chláir seo in eagraíochtaí meán agus i gComhlachtaí Rialaithe Náisiúnta. Bhí an méid a leanas le rá ag Comh-Stiúrthóir an Chláir agus údar Gaelic Games on Film agus Sport and Film, an Dr Seán Crosson: “Tá an-áthas orainn an clár ceannródaíoch seo a sheoladh, clár a chuireann le cultúr taighde fadbhunaithe atá dírithe ar spórt in OÉ Gaillimh, obair bhaill de Ghrúpa Taighde Spóirt agus Aclaíochta na hOllscoile san áireamh. Mar chuid den chlár freisin beidh peirspictíochtaí taighde nua agus nuálacha le fáil ó bhaill den Ghrúpa taighde seo, ar a bhfuil lucht acadúil sa leigheas, síceolaíocht, gnó, eolaíocht pholaitiúil, socheolaíocht, agus lucht acadúil ar fud réimse na ndán agus na ndaonnachtaí. Tabharfaidh na peirspictíochtaí seo tuiscint níos fearr do mhic léinn ar na mórcheisteanna i gcúrsaí spórt sa lá atá inniu ann, rud a chuirfidh ábhar saibhir ar fáil dóibh dá dtionscadail iriseoireachta.” Dúirt an Dr Crosson: “Le hionchur ón gcraoltóir cumasach agus iomráiteach Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill, den chéad uair in Éirinn beimid ag forbairt modúil san Iriseoireacht Spóirt trí mheán na Gaeilge mar pháirt den chúrsa.” Ag labhairt dó ag seoladh an MA nua san Iriseoireacht agus Cumarsáid Spóirt, dúirt Tom Felle, Ceann na hIriseoireachta agus Cumarsáide in OÉ Gaillimh: “Is tionscal ar fiú na milliúin euro é tionscal an Spóirt in Éirinn agus tá sé ag éirí níos gairmiúla. Tá éileamh mór ar ghairmithe cruthaitheacha a bhfuil an-spéis acu sa spórt a bheith ag obair i róil mar chruthaitheoirí ábhair, i rialachas, i gcumarsáid straitéiseach, agus san iriseoireacht. Creidimid go bhfuil an clár seo an-oiriúnach chun oiliúint a chur ar ghlúin nua de chéimithe, céimithe ar mian leo fostaíocht fhiúntach a bhaint amach ina rogha gairm bheatha.” Tá traidisiún fada ag OÉ Gaillimh ag cur oiliúint sna meáin chun cinn, agus tá an-tóir ar na cláir atá againn sna Meáin Dhomhanda, san Iriseoireacht agus sna tionscail chruthaitheacha. Tá infheistíocht os cionn €400,000 déanta ag OÉ Gaillimh in áiseanna craolacháin nua lena n-áirítear seomra nuachta digití agus stiúideo raidió in 2019 mar aon le stiúideo teilifíse nua-aimseartha 4K ar an gcampas i mí Eanáir 2020. Tá tuilleadh eolais faoin gclár, nósanna imeachta maidir le hiarratas a dhéanamh san áireamh, le fáil ar www.nuigalway.ie/journalism -Críoch-

NUI Galway is calling all wanna-be-engineers to participate in a free full day family event ‘Engineering Our Future: Family Fun Day’, which will take place on Saturday, 29th February 2020 from 10am–4pm in the Alice Perry Engineering Building at NUI Galway.  The Family Fun Day is part of the Engineers Week 2020, which celebrates engineering across Ireland. The Family Fun Day will provide plenty of science and engineering shows, movie screenings, workshops and hands-on activities that will inspire young (and older) people. Families can watch ‘Dream Big: Engineering Our World’ and ‘John Phillip Holland: Submarine Inventor’ on the day. ‘Dream Big: Engineering Our World’, which is narrated by Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges, celebrates the human creativity behind engineering marvels big and small from the Great Wall of China and the world’s tallest buildings to underwater robots, solar cars and smart, sustainable cities, and show how engineers push the limits of innovation in unexpected and amazing ways. ‘John Phillip Holland: Submarine Inventor’ delves into the life of a revolutionary Irish engineer, who was behind the first fully functioning modern submarine. Young and older attendees can engage with the ‘It's all Done with Mirrors' show by Dr Ken Farquhar, which blends magic tricks, illusions and stunts with extraordinary science and engineering. Trapped doors, mirrors or camera effects? Everyone can have their own theory. Whatever you discover and more may be revealed! Quirky stunts and illusions performed.  Science discovered. Engineering explored. In parallel, ‘Using physics to engineer a better future’ by Anyone4Science explores the physics behind forces, electricity, flight and energy through a range of experiments. Children can even examine the physics behind ice-cream by making their own ice-cream with the team! Families are encouraged to come and build their own wind turbine, investigate the ‘magic’ of cleaning water, explore the vast range of chemicals used in our daily lives (which typically end up going down our drain and into our environment!), have a closer look at the animal kingdom of ‘Leg to legless’, interact with CoderDojo Ninjas to learn about programming, test if they are stronger than a superhero, explore the GEEC: Galway Energy Efficient Car, relax at the free LEGO play area or learn about our rich engineering heritage. These and many other activities showing the world of civil, environmental, mechanical, biomedical and electronic engineering, and information technology will be available on the day. For the first time this year, there will be a sensory room available for our youngest engineers and all those who would like some timeout in peace and quiet. According to Professor Peter Mc Hugh, Head of School of Engineering at NUI Galway: “Engineering is in every aspect of our lives; it allows us to live, communicate, travel, work, play, stay safe and healthy. By taking maths and science from the lab engineers dream of, invent, design and build things that change the reality and future of all human beings.” Speaking about the Family Fun Day, Dr Jamie Goggins from the School of Engineering at NUI Galway and the MaREI Centre said: “Children are natural engineers. They love to design and build things, using whatever they can get their hands on. With knowledge, innovation and creativity engineers change the reality and future of all human beings. Join us for the Engineering Our Future: Family Fun Day and explore Engineering through exciting and fun hands-on activities and shows, as well as meeting with practicing engineers to better learn about the world around us, understand the role of Engineering in our lives and its impact on our future.” All details about the Family Fun Day are available at www.nuigalway.ie/engineersweek and bookings of free tickets can also be made through the website. Tickets can be booked in advance for some shows, but it will also be possible to attend shows without pre-booking on a first-come-first-served basis on the day. For further information on ‘Engineering Our Future: Family Fun Day’ contact Jamie Goggins jamie.goggins@nuigalway.ie, Magdalena Hajdukiewicz magdalena.hajdukiewicz@nuigalway.ie or William Finnegan william.finnegan@nuigalway.ie -Ends-

Owen Ward, an Irish Traveller who is a Professional Master of Education student at NUI Galway, has been elected by postgraduate students onto the University’s Údarás na hOllscoile (Governing Body of the University). This is the first time that an Irish Traveller has been elected onto a University Governing Body in Ireland. Údarás na hOllscoile, is the University's governing authority and is responsible for managing all the affairs of the University. It is chaired by The Hon Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, with members including President of NUI Galway Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, Registrar and Deputy-President Pól Ó Dochartaigh, representatives the University staff, Ministerial nominees, Student Union and local authority representatives. Speaking about his appointment to the Governing Body Owen Ward said: “As an Irish Traveller who has overcome many barriers, this successful outcome demonstrates how open and respectful NUI Galway has become. This reflects the values of the current strategic plan at NUI Galway. I plan to bring a proactive postgraduate voice to this forum and to represent the diversity of issues that affect postgraduates on campus.” Owen became an early school leaver at 16 years old and never sat the Junior Certificate or Leaving Certificate. Instead, he returned to education on an Access programme at NUI Galway, where he successfully completed the programme, secured his place in university and graduated with an Honour’s degree. He is the first in his family to go to University. At present he is in the final months of completing a Professional Master of Education. He also mentors’ students from disadvantaged backgrounds at NUI Galway to be successful within higher education. Last summer Owen was elected on the University Societies Coordinating Group the Cultural and Social Representative. Within the role he aims to work hard to ensure an enhanced positive student experience for all students within the cultural and social constituency including international students, students with disabilities, LGBT+ and ethnic minorities. Additionally, he was a co-founder of the Mincéirs Whiden Society with fellow Traveller students at NUI Galway and the Galway Traveller Movement. The first Traveller student society in higher education in Ireland. ‘Mincéir Whiden’ means ‘Travellers Talking’ in the Cant language, which is spoken by the Irish Travelling community. He has worked alongside the Student’s Union, senior university staff and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to ensure a stronger student voice and better outcomes for all students particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Owen is also the coordinator of NUI Galway Schools of Sanctuary programme. The NUI Galway Schools of Sanctuary programme is an outreach component of the National University of Ireland Galway University of Sanctuary initiative and NUI Galway Access Centre. Schools of Sanctuary promote the welcoming of refugees, asylum seekers, Irish Travellers and other migrants into educational communities in meaningful ways. While highlighting pathways into higher education. Also, he sits on the University of Sanctuary steering committee which introduced University of Sanctuary Scholarships Programme for International Protection Applicants, refugees, vulnerable migrants and Irish Travellers. NUI Galway is the first Third level institute in Ireland to offer scholarships to members of the travelling community. The Hon Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, Chair of Údarás na hOllscoile, said: I would like to welcome Owen to Údarás na hOllscoile and it is great to have him join. I am delighted to see NUI Galway lead the way in this area and NUI Galway have a proud tradition of welcoming members of the Travelling community as students. It is great to see Owen take on such a senior leadership role within the University. I look forward to having the benefits of his experience and insights on Údarás na hOllscoile.” -Ends-