June 2007

Pictured at the Honorary Conferring on Friday 29 June, 2007(L to R): Chief Justice Pius Langa; Enya; Bill Walsh; Niall FitzGerald, KBE; Dr Jane O Leary and Nicholas Carolan Honorary Doctorates conferred on Bill Walsh, Jane O'Leary, Chief Justice Pius Langa, Nicholas Carolan, Niall Fitzgerald, KBE and Eithne Ní Bhraonáin (Enya) Six outstanding individuals from the worlds of business, philanthropy, justice, music and the arts were conferred with honorary degrees from National University of Ireland, Galway on Friday 29 June, 2007. The conferring marks remarkable achievements and distinctive contributions both nationally and internationally by individuals who have excelled in their fields. The ceremony follows last week's honorary conferring of world renowned folklorist Tom Munnelly. Commenting, Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, President of NUI Galway said, "It is a great pleasure to welcome such a distinguished group of graduands to NUI Galway to bestow on them the highest honour that the university can confer. This year with the worlds of the arts, justice, business and philanthropy represented by graduands from South Africa, Ireland, Britain and the United States, I believe that we have a wonderfully eclectic, diverse and particularly talented group of honorees." Bill Walsh (Degree of Doctor of Laws) is the Founder and Chairman of Sequoia Associates, a private investment firm, established in 1982. He is married and has six children. A quiet, steadfast philanthropist, Walsh is a long-time member of the American Ireland Fund and received its Distinguished Leadership Award in 1997. Walsh, his wife, and six children together endowed The William D. Walsh Family Library at Fordham University, and dedicated the Lumbard Classroom in Hauser Hall at Harvard Law School. In addition, Walsh established the Lumbard Fellowship to fund summer interns from Harvard Law School and Columbia and Fordham Law Schools to work in the U.S. Attorney's Office. Jane O'Leary (Degree of Doctor of Music) was born in Hartford, Connecticut, Jane has been resident in Ireland since 1972. A founding member of Aosdána, Jane has composed over 70 works, which have been widely performed and broadcast. In 1976 Jane established the contemporary music ensemble Concorde to promote and perform new music on a regular basis. She lives in Galway where she is a founder and current chairperson of Music for Galway, founded in 1981. Jane has served on the Board of the National Concert Hall, the Arts Council, and the Cultural Relations Committee of the Department of Foreign Affairs. She was chair of the Contemporary Music Centre during a period of significant development for the centre. She has been Composer in Residence at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and currently teaches composition at DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama. Chief Justice Pius Langa (Degree of Doctor of Laws) is an inspirational jurist who is the first African Chief Justice of South Africa. He rose from humble beginnings as a worker in a shirt factory, to a court interpreter and messenger; subsequently a prosecutor and magistrate and a Judge of the Constitutional Court. Chief Justice Langa has always been involved in attempts to improve the quality of life of his fellow South Africans. He continues to assist civic organisations, townships residents association and youth and recreational groups. In an extremely competitive profession, his rise from humble beginnings in apartheid in South Africa to the Chief Justice of a free South Africa is truly remarkable and bears testimony to a courageous and indefatigable personality. Nicholas Carolan (Degree of Doctor of Literature) has achieved a national feat in the last twenty years in the establishment of the Irish Traditional Music Archive. It holds and preserves there the largest multi-media collection in existence of Irish traditional music materials: over 28,000 sound recordings, 18,000 books and serials, 10,000 images, and a mass of other materials. It also holds the largest body of information about the music, organised on unique computer catalogues: over half a million content items in all. He is best known to the public for his long-running archival television series, Come West along the Road on RTÉ and Siar an Bóthar on TG4, and for his extensive public lecturing. He has also published a profusion of books and scholarly articles on the subject of Irish traditional music. This year 2007 will be the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Archive, an appropriate time to honour Nicholas Carolan s service to the nation. Niall FitzGerald, KBE (Degree of Doctor of Laws) became the Chairman of Reuters in October 2004, having spent over thirty years with Unilever in a variety of commercial and financial jobs in several countries. During his Unilever career, he worked and lived in Ireland, the Netherlands, South Africa, the USA and the UK. Niall FitzGerald joined the Board of Reuters as a non-executive director in 2003 and became Chairman in 2004. Niall FitzGerald was awarded an honorary Knight Commander of the British Empire in 2002, and holds a number of Honorary Doctorates from American, British and Irish universities. Eithne Ní Bhraonáin-Enya (Degree of Doctor of Music) was born in Gaoth Dobhair and educated in Milford, County Donegal, Enya was born into a musical family. In 1980 she was asked to join the family group Clannad at the request of Nicky Ryan, Clannad's Manager at that time. After leaving Clannad in 1982 she commenced her musical collaboration with the producer and lyricist team of Nicky and Roma Ryan. Enya has become Ireland's best-selling solo artist in the history of the State and ranks alongside the most successful female artists in the world. She was the world s biggest selling female artist of 2001 and 2002. To date Enya has sold over seventy million albums worldwide. The honorary conferring will take place in the presence of the Chancellor of the National University of Ireland and former Taoiseach, Dr. Garret FitzGerald ENDS

Ag bronnadh na gCeimeanna Oinigh inniú ag OÉ Gaillimh (ó chlé): an tArd-Bhreitheamh Pius Langa; Enya; Bill Walsh; Niall FitzGerald, KBE; Dr Jane O Leary agus Nicholas Carolan Céimeanna Dochtúireachta bronnta ar Bill Walsh, Jane O'Leary, An tArd-Bhreitheamh Pius Langa, Nicholas Carolan, Niall Fitzgerald, KBE agus Eithne Ní Bhraonáin (Enya) Fuair seisear den scoth ó shaol an ghnó, an daonchairdis, an cheartais, an cheol agus na n-ealaíon céimeanna oinigh ó Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh inniu, Dé hAoine, an 29 Meitheamh 2007. Léiríonn an bronnadh na héachtaí agus an obair náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta atá bainte amach ag na daoine seo sna réimsí lena mbaineann siad. Bronnadh céim oinigh an tseachtain seo caite ar an mbéaloideasaí Tom Munnelly, a bhfuil cáil dhomhanda air. Dúirt an Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, "Is mór an onóir dom fáilte a chur roimh an ngrúpa ar leith réamhchéimithe seo chuig OÉ Gaillimh agus an onóir is mó is féidir leis an Ollscoil a thabhairt dóibh á bronnadh orthu inniu. I mbliana agus réamhchéimithe ón Afraic Theas, as Éirinn, as an mBreatain agus as na Stáit Aontaithe ag déanamh ionadaíochta ar na healaíona, an ceartas, an gnó agus an daonchairdeas, is eicléictiúil, ilghnéitheach agus ildánach an grúpa céimithe atá againn." Is é Bill Walsh (Céim Dhochtúireachta sa Dlí) a bhunaigh agus atá mar Chathaoirleach ar Sequoia Associates, gnólacht príobháideach infheistíochta, a bunaíodh i 1982. Tá sé pósta agus tá seisear clainne air. Daonchara ciúin seasmhach é Walsh atá in bhall le blianta fada den American Ireland Fund agus a fuair an Gradam Ceannaireachta uathu i 1997. Mhaoinigh Walsh, a bhean chéile, agus a seisear clainne an William D. Walsh Family Library in Ollscoil Fordham, agus ba iad a thiomnaigh an Lumbard Classroom in Hauser Hall ag Scoil Dlí Harvard. Chomh maith leis sin, bhunaigh Walsh Ánracht Lumbard chun intéirnigh a mhaoiniú i rith an tsamhraidh ó Scoil Dlí Harvard agus as Scoileanna Dlí Columbia agus Fordham chun go mbeidís in ann oibriú in Oifig an Ard-Aighne sna Stáit Aontaithe. Rugadh Jane O'Leary (Céim Dhochtúireachta sa Cheol) in Hartford, Connecticut, agus tá sí ina cónaí in Éirinn ó 1972. Duine de lucht bunaithe Aosdána í Jane a bhfuil breis agus 70 saothar cumtha aici, saothar a sheinntear agus a chraoltar go mion minic. I 1976, bhunaigh Jane an ensemble comhaimseartha ceoil, Concorde, chun ceol nua a chur chun cinn agus a sheinm go rialta. Tá sí ina cónaí i nGaillimh áit ar bhunaigh sí Music for Galway i 1981 agus is í atá ina cathaoirleach air faoi láthair. Bhí Jane ar Bhord an Cheolárais Náisiúnta, na Comhairle Ealaíon, agus ar Choiste um Chaidreamh Cultúir na Roinne Gnóthaí Eachtracha. Bhí sí in Cathaoirleach ar an Contemporary Music Centre agus an t-ionad sin á fhorbairt go mór ag an am. Bhí sí ina Cumadóir Cónaitheach le hAcadamh Ríoga Cheol na hÉireann agus faoi láthair tá cumadóireacht á teagasc aici san Ardscoil Cheoil agus Drámaíochta in Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Cliath. Is dlí-eolaí den scoth an tArd-Bhreitheamh Pius Langa (Céim Dhochtúireachta sa Dlí). Ba é an chéad Ard-Bhreitheamh Afracach ar an Afraic Theas. Thosaigh sé ag obair i monarcha léinte ar dtús. Ansin fuair sé post mar theachtaire agus mar theangaire cúirte; ansin mar ionchúisitheoir. D'oibrigh sé ansin mar ghiúistís agus mar Bhreitheamh ar an gCúirt Bhunreachtúil. Tá a shaol caite ag an Ard-Bhreitheamh Langa ag iarraidh caighdeán maireachtála na ndaoine san Afraic Theas a fheabhsú. Cabhraíonn sé i gcónaí le heagraíochtaí saoránachta, cumann cónaitheoirí bailte agus grúpaí óige agus caitheamh aimsire. Is gairm fhíoriomaíoch í seo, agus léiríonn an dul chun cinn a rinne sé i gcinedheighilt san Afraic Theas go hArd-Bhreitheamh san Afraic Theas shaor, chomh misniúil agus chomh dosháraithe is atá an fear seo. Tá éacht náisiúnta bainte amach ag Nicholas Carolan (Céim Dhochtúireachta sa Litríocht) le scór bliain anuas le bunú Chartlann Cheol Traidisiúnta na hÉireann. Is ann atá an bailiúchán ilmheán is mó de cheol traidisiúnta na hÉireann: Breis is 28,000 fuaimthaifead, 18,000 leabhar agus sraitheanna, 10,000 íomhá, agus go leor ábhar eile. Is ann is mó atá eolas le fáil faoin gceol freisin – curtha in ord ar chatalóga áirithe ríomhaire: breis is leathmhilliún acu ar fad. Is fearr aithne air mar gheall ar an sraithchlár cartlainne atá ar RTÉ le fada, Come West along the Road agus Siar an Bóthar ar TG4, agus mar gheall ar a chuid léachtaí poiblí. Tá neart leabhar agus alt scolártha foilsithe aige faoi cheol traidisiúnta na hÉireann. Beidh sé 20 bliain i mbliana ó bunaíodh an Chartlann, am feiliúnach chun onóir a thabhairt do sheirbhís Nicholas Carolan don tír. Rinneadh Cathaoirleach ar Reuters de Niall FitzGerald, KBE (Céim Dhochtúireachta sa Dlí) i nDeireadh Fómhair 2004, tar éis tríocha bliain a bheith caite aige le Unilever i bpoist éagsúla tráchtála agus airgeadais i dtíortha éagsúla. Agus é ag obair le Unilever, bhí sé ina chónaí in Éirinn, san Ísiltír, san Afraic Theas, i Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá agus sa Ríocht Aontaithe. Rinneadh ball de Bhord Reuters de Niall FitzGerald mar stiúrthóir neamhfheidhmiúcháin in 2003 agus rinneadh Cathaoirleach de in 2004. Rinneadh Ceannasaí Oinigh Ridireachta d'Impireacht na Breataine as Niall FitzGerald in 2002, agus tá céimeanna oinigh Dochtúireachta faighte aige ó ollscoileanna i Meiriceá, sa Bhreatain agus in Éirinn. Rugadh Eithne Ní Bhraonáin-Enya (Céim Dhochtúireachta sa Cheol) i nGaoth Dobhair agus fuair sí a cuid oideachais i Milford, Contae Dhún na nGall. Bhí an teaghlach an-cheolmhar agus i 1980 d'iarr Nicky Ryan uirthi, Bainisteoir Chlannad ag an am, páirt a ghlacadh i gClannad – grúpa an teaghlaigh. I ndiaidh di Clannad a fhágáil i 1982 thosaigh sí ag ceol trí chomhoibriú leis an léiritheoir Nicky Ryan agus leis an liriceoir Roma Ryan. Is í Enya an t-amhránaí ban is mó éilimh sa tír seo agus tá sí ar dhuine de na hamhránaithe ban is cáiliúla ar domhan. Ba í an t-amhránaí ban ba mhó éilimh in 2001 agus 2002. Go dtí seo, tá breis is seachtó milliún albam díolta aici ar fud an domhain. I láthair ag an searmanas bronnta beidh Seansailéir Ollscoil na hÉireann agus an tIar-Thaoiseach, an Dr Garret FitzGerald. CRÍOCH

Access to Success: the Student Experience from Pre-entry to Employment (with particular focus on students from under-represented groups) The European Access Network (EAN) in collaboration with the Access Programme Office at NUI Galway is having its 16th EAN Annual Conference from 27 - 29 June 2007. The conference will look at the student experience throughout the student life cycle, with particular focus on students from under-represented groups. The NUI Galway Access Programme promotes initiatives that encourage greater participation in university amongst under-represented groups (under presentation can be for reason of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, nationality, low-socio economic status, vocational training, geographic location or earlier educational disadvantage). According to Imelda Byrne, Access Officer, "The numbers of students progressing from our target groups to higher education has increased over the past 10 years. This conference hopes to examine in particular factors that will affect, influence or shape the experience and future employment potentials; it will also consider the role of the career services as an interface for student – university – employer to facilitate a three way dialogue on employability. Increasingly, higher education institutions are recognising the need to stimulate university – industry links and are working with local communities in order to develop the knowledge based economy." Mr. Michael Kelly, Chair of the Higher Education Authority will deliver the opening address. Mr. Chris Coughlan, Adjunct Professor at the University and e-Business Services Manager, Hewlett Packard, Galway is a guest speaker and will discuss the Role of Career Guidance in Supporting Students' Personal and Professional development. Past conferences have been very successful and were attended by high level policy makers, academics, practitioners and researchers who came to share international examples of innovative strategies and good practices. The EAN and NUI Galway are confident that this year's event will be equally successful with over 200 delegates expected. Keynote speakers include: Bahram Bekhradnia, Director, Higher Education Policy Institute, UK Ibrahim Bokharouss, ECHO, the Netherlands Michael M Crow, President, Arizona State University, USA Margaret Dane, Chief Executive, AGCAS, UK Michel Feutrie, President, EUCEN, France Annika Persson Ponten, Ministry of Education, Sweden Jaana Puukka, Analyst, OECD The EAN is the only independent, non-profit making, European organisation – but with an active international membership – which promotes equity and access to education and training for disadvantaged and under-represented groups. Over the past 15 years the EAN has through research, publications and conferences, successfully informed and stimulated access policy, raised awareness to the social and equity dimensions of higher education, facilitated pedagogic development, and disseminated research findings and examples of good practice. ENDS

NUI Galway Biomedical Engineering student Michael Dunning has been named Siemens Innovative Engineer of the Year 2007 at a ceremony in Dublin. This prestigious award, now in its 9th year, is presented annually by Siemens and Engineers Ireland to a final year engineering student who has developed an innovative technology or product that is commercially viable. Michael, from Athlone, Co. Westmeath won the award for his final year research project, A Self-Expanding Nano-Fibrous Biodegradable Stent, which developed a stent to treat urethral strictures. Stents are small medical devices designed to be inserted into a vessel or passageway to keep it open. Professor Padraic O Donoghue, Dean of Engineering at NUI Galway, said: "I would like to congratulate Michael on his tremendous achievement in winning the prestigious Siemens Prize. This is the top award nationally for engineering graduates and there is always very keen competition for it. His success is further evidence of the high quality of the engineering programmes at NUI Galway and our strength within Biomedical Engineering. I also acknowledge the contributions of his lecturers and in particular those of his advisor, Professor Abhay Pandit." Michael received a specially commissioned trophy along with a cheque for €2,000. A further prize of €1,250 will be awarded should he decide to continue with post-graduate studies in engineering at an accredited University or Institute of Technology. Speaking after receiving the award, Michael said: "I am delighted to have won the prize, which is a wonderful accolade to have on my CV. There was some very strong competition in the final, including another student from my course, which is a great reflection on the department and is justified because of the great researchers and lecturers doing interesting and innovative research." The award is open to final year engineering students of Engineers Ireland accredited engineering degree courses from Universities and Institutes of Technology, north and south of the border. Each the year competition receives applications from 14 participating Universities and ITs who nominate two student projects each for the award. The Siemens Innovative Engineer of the Year Award encourages young engineering students to be innovative in their work and to think about the practical and commercial applications of their research. For further information on the award logon to: www.engineersireland.ie ENDS

The Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway will proudly host a special visit by Justice Pius Langa, Chief Justice of South Africa, who will deliver a seminar entitled: A Review of the Work of the South African Constitutional Court: the Retrospect and Prospect on Saturday, 30 June, 2007. Last year, South Africa celebrated the 10th anniversary of the signing of its constitution. Thus, the visit by Chief Justice Langa is both timely and opportune. The constitution, signed into law by the country's first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, at Sharpeville, on 10 December 1996, has been widely regarded as the most progressive in the world. The protection of human rights along with the promotion of equality, diversity and social justice are among the aspirations embodied in the constitution, which was negotiated in the acute awareness of the country's history of injustice and oppression. Pius Nkonzo Langa was appointed a Judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa in October 1994 and became Deputy President of that Court in August 1997. He was appointed Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa in November 2001 and assumed the position of Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa on 1 June 2005. During Chief Justice Langa's early practice as an advocate of the Supreme Court of South Africa, political trials predominated, and his practice reflected the struggle against apartheid. His clientele included the underprivileged, civic bodies, trade unions and people charged under apartheid security legislation. He was also a founder member of the Release Mandela Committee (Natal) and served in the committees formed to accelerate and prepare for the release of political prisoners. Justice Langa has participated in numerous conferences abroad and delivered papers and lectures on a variety of law and human rights-related topics. He has participated in the work of constitutional review commissions in Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Tanzania. Langa assisted in the formation of and is the current chairman of the Southern African Judges Commission, a forum for Chief Justices of SADC and other jurisdictions in other Southern African jurisdictions. The Commission's focus is, among other things, the promotion and protection of the independence of the judiciary and the promotion and development of a culture of human rights in the Southern African region. According to Deputy Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights, Dr Vinodh Jaichand, the visit by Chief Justice Langa is the highlight of a very full academic year a the Centre. "This will be an opportunity to hear first-hand how the Constitutional Court's internationally acclaimed decisions have affected the lives of the millions affected by the notorious practice of apartheid. In its landmark decisions on the legal protection of the right to health care and housing, for example, the South African Constitutional Court has clearly illustrated the vital role that courts can play in the protection of socio-economic rights." Justice Pius Langa is among six outstanding individuals from the worlds of business, philanthropy, justice, music and the arts to be conferred with honorary degrees from National University of Ireland, Galway on Friday 29 June, 2007. The seminar will commence at 10 am at the Irish Centre for Human Rights and all are welcome. ENDS

The Grainne Mhaol Club, in conjunction with NUI Galway Alumni Association, is pleased to invite all NUI Galway graduates to an afternoon & evening of rowing and entertainment at Henley Royal Regatta, (Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire) on Saturday, 7 July, 2007. The guest of honour will be Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, President of NUI Galway. Henley Royal Regatta is undoubtedly the best known rowing regatta in the world and holds a unique place in the respect and affection of all oarsmen. Henley also offers a fantastic social occasion, and is a highlight of the English summer social circuit. NUI Galway has a legacy of participating in, and often winning, events at Henley. In 2003, the Rowing Club won the Visitor's Fours event at Henley Royal Regatta, beating both "Boat Race" crews from Oxford and Cambridge along the way, and repeated this by winning the same event in 2005. An earlier generation of oarsmen, competing as UCG Rowing Club tasted victory in the Thames Cup in 1987 and in the Britannia Challenge Cup in 1990. The 20th Anniversary of the club's first Henley win will be marked by the 1987 crew rowing over the course during the break in racing on Saturday at this year's event. In addition to the row-past by the 1987 crew, the present generation of NUI Galway athletes will also be racing on Saturday. The Club is planning to send two extremely strong and experienced crews to complete this year; and it is expected that at least one of them will still be in the competition at semi-final stage. "If you ever were to attend Henley this would be the year to do it" declared Eamonn Hegarty, Alumni Association Board member and event organiser. The Regatta Enclosure will be the venue for the NUI Galway graduate get-together at 2:00pm. After an afternoon at the regatta, alumni will be welcomed to a barbeque hosted by the Alumni Association Board at 8:00pm. Transport will be provided for guests from Henley Town Centre to the barbeque venue, ("The Maltsters Arms" in Rotherfield Greys), and afterwards, back to Henley in time for the last train to London. For further details of the regatta timetable, dress code, barbeque venue, etc., please visit www.grainnemhaol.com, or e-mail us at mailgrainnemhaol.com ENDS

World-renowned folklorist, Mr Tom Munnelly received the honorary degree of Doctor of Literature from NUI Galway in recognition of his lifetime of service to the collection and publication of folksong and folklore in Ireland. Mr Munnelly was honoured at the University's summer conferring ceremony on Tuesday, 19 June, 2007. Tom Munnelly is widely recognised as one of the world s foremost collectors of traditional Irish songs in the English language, with over 20,000 songs collected to date. A native of Dublin, Mr Munnelly is an archivist/collector with the Delargy Centre for Irish Folklore in UCD, and since moving to West Clare in 1978 he has collected over 4,000 Songs from local traditional singers. He has also recorded songs, music and folklore in most other counties in Ireland. Dr Pádraig Ó Héalaí, a former lecturer in Irish at NUI Galway said: "Tom Munnelly has made an immense contribution to the future of Irish folkore studies by producing an index of all the English-language oral poetry contained in vols 1 to 2000 of the National Folklore Archive's manuscripts, some 18,000 items in all, and by developing a classificatory system for this material based on internationally accepted models. "Formidable as Tom's feats as an archivist may be, his achievement as a collector of oral tradition is truly awesome. He has recorded well over 1,000 hours of song and lore and has been responsible for the most comprehensive collection of traditional songs in English ever compiled by any one individual in Ireland. It constitutes a very substantial enrichment of the National Folklore Collection and it significantly expands the database available to future scholars in this field." Mr Munnelly was a founder member of the Folk Music Society of Ireland/Cumannn Ceoil Tíre Éireann, has acted as Chair of the Irish Traditional Music Archive/Taisce Ceol Dúchais and of Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy and has served the Arts Council of Ireland in a number of different roles. His close association with these bodies and his founding role in other local historical and folk music societies, folklore schools and singing festivals highlight his contribution to Irish cultural life. The Conferral ceremony at NUI Galway will also include the posthumous award of the PhD degree to Mr John Mulqueen of Tourmakeady, Co. Mayo and a native of Kilrush, Co. Clare. John, a graduate of UCD and Iowa, was a former Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering, an employee of An Foras Talúntais and Teagasc and an international authority on soils, and died in 2006. The award will be accepted by his family. Almost 200 students from across the Faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences, Engineering, Commerce, Science, Law and Arts will also receive their degrees and diplomas at the ceremony. ENDS

With only days remaining for Leaving Cert students to re-evaluate their CAO choices and submit their change of mind forms, NUI Galway would like to make students aware of some of the new courses in Engineering and Science being offered from September 2007. Students interested in pursuing a career in science can consider the new Physics with Medical Physics programme, listed as GY316 on the CAO form. The course is a response to the considerable demand for qualified medical physicists in Ireland, and will combine essential core physics modules with medical physics, chemistry, mathematical science, biology and anatomy. Graduates from the programme will be well qualified to proceed to professional medical physics training at Masters Degree level. There are also exciting career opportunities in the medical device and health care industry and in the health and safety sector. Prof. Tom Glynn, Head of the Physics Department, NUI Galway, said: "Graduates of this course will receive an education in physics, instrumentation, and computational techniques - with a strong emphasis on the medical applications. As well as pursuing a further career in medical physics, graduates will also have employment options in research, industry, teaching, energy and environment and in many other areas" Graduates from this programme can seek employment in the wide range of careers open to regular physics graduates but will also have a strong foundation in medical physics and will be well qualified to proceed to professional medical physics training at Masters Degree level. A Project and Construction Management degree, (GY410), will equip students with knowledge and an understanding of project management, particularly in the construction sector, is being offered as a four-year programme. The degree will enable students to embrace the challenges of modernisation, innovation and change in tomorrow's knowledge-based economy. Professor Padraic O'Donoghue, Dean of Engineering at NUI Galway said: "This new degree will equip students with a knowledge and understanding of project management, particularly in the construction sector, and enable them to embrace the challenges of modernisation, innovation and change in tomorrow's knowledge based economy." ENDS

Michael Dunning and Louise Murphy, both students of Biomedical Engineering at NUI Galway, have been selected as finalists to compete in the Siemens Innovative Engineer of the Year Award 2007, which takes place on Thursday 21st June at the headquarters of Engineers Ireland in Dublin. This prestigious award, now in its 9th year, is presented annually by Siemens and Engineers Ireland to a final year engineering student who has developed an innovative technology or product that is commercially viable. Michael, from Athlone, Co. Westmeath was short-listed for the award based on his research project entitled "A Self-Expanding Nano-Fibrous Biodegradable Stent." The goal of his project was to develop a stent, which will treat urethral strictures. Stents are small medical devices designed to be inserted into a vessel or passageway to keep it open. Louise, from Naas, Co. Kildare was short-listed for the award based on her research project entitled "Crimp Technology Assessment of Bare Metal Stents." The goal of her project was to analyse the performance of stents used during angioplasty. Angioplasty is a commonly undertaken procedure, in which an obstructed blood vessel is mechanically widened. Stents are tiny medical devices inserted into the artery to clear blockages caused by coronary heart disease. Ireland manufactures 80% of the world's coronary stents in Galway. Professor Sean McNamara, Head, Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, said: "The Department is very proud of the accomplishments of Michael and Louise in reaching the final round of the Siemens award, with projects based on technologies of interest to the biomedical engineering industry based in the Galway region. I am sure that both have benefited greatly from this experience and a win would be a bonus" Michael and Louise are two of six finalists to be short-listed for the award. The winner will receive a specially commissioned trophy along with a cheque for €2,000. A further prize of €1,250 will be awarded to the winner should he or she decide to continue with post-graduate studies in engineering at an accredited University or IT. The award is open to final year engineering students of Engineers Ireland accredited engineering degree courses from Universities and Institutes of Technology, north and south of the border. Each the year competition receives applications from 14 participating Universities and ITs who nominate two student projects each for the award. The Siemens Innovative Engineer of the Year Award encourages young engineering students to be innovative in their work and to think about the practical and commercial applications of their research. For further information on the award logon to: www.engineersireland.ie ENDS

Tá Céim Dhochtúireachta Oinigh sa Litríocht le bronnadh ag OÉ Gaillimh ar an mbealoideasaí aitheanta, an tUasal Tom Munnelly mar chomhartha aitheantais ar na blianta fada dá shaol atá caite aige ag bailiú agus ag foilsiú idir amhráin tíre agus béaloideas in Éirinn. Bronnfar an chéim oinigh ar an Uasal Munnelly ag searmanas bronnta an tsamhraidh anseo san Ollscoil Dé Máirt, an 19 Meitheamh 2007. Tá aithne ar Tom Munnelly mar dhuine de na príomhbhailitheoirí d'amhráin Bhéarla thraidisiúnta na hÉireann ar fud na cruinne; tá breis is 20,000 amhrán bailithe aige go dtí seo. Is de bhunadh Bhaile Átha Cliath é an tUasal Munnelly agus tá sé ag obair mar chartlannaí/bailitheoir i Lárionad Uí Dhuilearga do Bhéaloideas na hÉireann sa Choláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath. Sa bhliain 1978 bhog sé go hIarthar Chontae an Chláir agus ó shin i leith tá os cionn 4,000 amhrán bailithe aige ó amhránaithe traidisiúnta ón gceantar. Lena chois sin, tá amhráin, ceol agus béaloideas bailithe aige i bhformhór de chontaetha na hÉireann. Seo a leanas a bhí le rá ag an Dr Pádraig Ó Héalaí, iar-Léachtóir le Gaeilge in OÉ Gaillimh: "Is cinnte gur áis iontach a bheidh sa mhéid oibre atá déanta ag Tom Munnelly do dhaoine a bheidh i mbun staidéir ar bhéaloideas na hÉireann amach anseo. Thiomsaigh sé innéacs den fhilíocht bhéil Bhéarla ar fad atá le fáil in Imleabhar 1 go 2000 de lámhscríbhinní Chartlann Bhéaloideas Éireann, thart ar 18,000 mír ar fad, mar aon le córas aicmiúcháin a fhorbairt don ábhar seo bunaithe ar mhúnlaí a nglactar leo go hidirnáisiúnta. "Cé gur chruthaigh Tom go hiontach mar chartlannaí, is cinnte go bhfuil obair éachtach déanta aige mar bhailitheoir den traidisiún béil. Tá breis is 1,000 uair an chloig d amhráin agus seanchas bailithe aige agus níl bailiúchán chomh cuimsitheach d'amhráin thraidisiúnta Bhéarla curtha le chéile ag aon duine amháin riamh in Éirinn agus atá ag Tom. Cuireann an méid seo ar fad go mór leis an mBailiúchán Náisiúnta Béaloidis agus cuireann sé go mór leis an mbunachar sonraí a bheidh ar fáil amach anseo do scoláirí sa réimse seo." Tá an tUasal Munnelly ar dhuine de bhunaitheoirí Chumann Cheol Tíre Éireann, d'oibrigh sé mar Chathaoirleach ar Thaisce Cheol Dúchais Éireann agus ar Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy agus is iomaí ról a bhí aige ar an gComhairle Ealaíon. Is léir ón mbaint a bhí aige leis na comhlachtaí seo mar aon leis an ról a bhí aige i gcumainn stairiúla agus ceol tíre áitiúla, scoileanna béaloidis agus féilte amhránaíochta a bhunú, go bhfuil an t-uafás oibre déanta aige le cur le saol cultúrtha na hÉireann. I mí na Bealtaine 2007, bronnadh Festschrift, 'Dear Far-voiced Veteran' (curtha in eagar ag an Dr Anne Clune) ar Tom. Bailiúchán aistí scríofa ag 28 údarás idirnáisiúnta faoi cheol agus amhrán na hÉireann atá ann chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar a bhfuil bainte amach aige. Ag an Searmanas Bronnta in OÉ Gaillimh bronnfar Céim Dhochtúireachta Iarbháis ar theaghlach an Uasail John Mulqueen, fear de bhunadh Chill Rois, Co. an Chláir, ach a bhí ag cur faoi i dTuar Mhic Éadaigh, Co. Mhaigh Eo. Céimí de chuid an Choláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath agus Iowa ba ea John, mar aon le Léachtóir Cúnta i Roinn na hInnealtóireachta Sibhialta, fostaí san Fhoras Talúntais agus Teagasc agus saineolaí idirnáisiúnta ar ithreacha. Cailleadh John in 2006. Bronnfar céimeanna agus dioplómaí ar thart ar 200 mac léinn ó Dhámh an Leighis agus na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte, Dámh na hInnealtóireachta, Dámh na Tráchtála, Dámh na hEolaíochta, Dámh an Dlí agus Dámh na nDán ag an searmanas. CRÍOCH

NUI Galway will host a major international conference on 'Settler Colonialism' from 27 – 30 June. Organized in association with the University's MA in Culture and Colonialism and with the support of the Centre for Irish Studies, this is the fifth Galway conference on colonialism. With delegates arriving from Canada to Cuba, and New Zealand to Zimbabwe, the conference is being held in conjunction with the Society for Irish Latin American Studies and will feature an impressive international line-up of scholars and activists. Dr. Lionel Pilkington, Course Director, MA in Culture and Colonialism at NUI Galway said: "Settler colonisers come to stay. They seek to replace native peoples or—or, at least, displace them from—their land. Characteristically, the outcome is a conflictual coexistence through which indigenous and invasive societies historically transform one another. Dr. Pilkington added: "Topics to be addressed, such as indigenous rights, resistance, settler identity, land, and genocide, show the importance of settler colonialism as an historical legacy and as an ongoing political and cultural phenomenon" The conference is particularly proud to be able to announce the participation of one of the world s most distinguished postcolonial theorists, Dr Robert Young, the Julius Silver Professor of English and Comparative Literature at New York University. Professor Young will deliver a paper entitled Anti-Colonial Colonialism which will address the Fenian invasion of Canada. He will also perform the official opening of the conference on Wednesday evening (June 27). Among other speakers at the conference are: Chief Ron Ignace of the Shuswap Nation from British Columbia; Wayne Atkinson, a member of the Yorta Yorta and the Dja Dja Wurrong people of central and northeastern Victoria; activist, feminist, and member of the Hawai'ian royal family, Haunani-Kay Trask; and Professor Saree Makdisi, Palestinian activist and literary scholar. There will be a special focus on Palestine, with a roundtable discussion dedicated to highlighting the current situation. Participants include Raymond Deane, former Chairman of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Lorenzo Veracini, author of Israel and Settler Society (2006). Two of the plenary lectures, to be given by Saree Makdisi and Patrick Wolfe, will also discuss aspects of the Palestinian situation. ENDS Further conference details are available from Lionel Pilkington, English Department, NUI Galway Tel: 091 493078

A novel exhibition, "Laughter is the Only Medicine: a comment on the ills of our medical healthcare system" comes to NUI Galway's Art Gallery for a three week run from Wednesday, 20 June to Sunday 8 July 2007. Brigit Beemster, a ceramic sculptor based in Sligo brings her 10 piece exhibition which looks at the pitfalls encountered in what she describes as "a two tier medical health system". The pieces span a period from a GP's visit to three variations of heaven. Professor Pat Finnegan, Professor Emeritus and Chairman of the Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust will open the exhibition at the Art Gallery, in the Quadrangle at 6.00pm on Wednesday, 20 June 2007. NUI Galway Arts Officer Fionnuala Gallagher says; "Brigit Beemster s ceramic sculptures are the best kept secret in Ireland. She captures the weight, relaxation, expressions and foibles of these human bodies with an understanding that is comically tender. You will laugh at your own failings." Explaining the inspiration for her creations, Ms Beemster says: "An essential ingredient of my work is a sense of humour, because it is the best communicator and equaliser, it puts things in perspective and laughing is a crucial part of life. "Over the past few years I have chosen a theme for my work for the year. So far, I've done art history and science, history and mythology. This year it is all about the healthcare system. I learn and read all about my subject and base my work on this knowledge." NUI Galway Art Gallery hosts a variety of visually stimulating exhibitions throughout the year. It promotes emerging Galway and national artists as well as touring exhibitions from international embassies, cultural organisations and educational institutions. The exhibition is free and open to the public from 10.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday and 12pm to 4pm, Saturday and Sunday. ENDS

L-R: Mr Fergus Finlay, Chief Executive of the children's charity Barnardos and Dr. Pat Dolan, Director of the Child & Family Research Centre, NUI Galway Above: Mr. Brian Keenan addressing the Conference at NUI Galway. Building resilience in children, families and communities is the focus of a conference at NUI Galway that will see international experts from the fields of Child Care, Social Work, Psychology and Sociology address the need to ensure families are resilient to stress and tragedy. The conference is hosted by the Child and Family Research Centre, from Thursday 14 June to Friday 15 June. Over 300 delegates are due to attend the conference where special guest speaker Mr Brian Keenan will reflect on how he used coping skills learned in his childhood, to cope with captivity and social isolation during the four and a half years in which he was held hostage in Beirut in the 1980s. Mr. Fergus Finlay, Chief Executive of the children's charity Barnardos, who will deliver the opening address, said: "Every childhood lasts a lifetime, and a childhood of poverty can leave scars that never fade away. This is made all the more real in that one in nine Irish children live in the type of poverty that means going without adequate food and proper clothing". Other key speakers include Dr Robert Chaskin, Associate Professor at the School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago; Professor Sheila Green, Director of the Children's Research Centre, Trinity College Dublin and Professor Jean E Rhodes, Professor of Psychology, University of Massachusetts. "Professionals need to be more proactive in ensuring families are resilient to stress and tragedy according to Dr Pat Dolan, Director of the Child and Family Research Centre, NUI Galway. "Apart from the need for more preventive services in communities, many children and their families need to be better equipped with the necessary skills to be able to 'bounce back' from tragedy or on-going stress. Furthermore, better use can be made of families' own capacity to overcome difficulties with professionals' support. It is somewhat ironic that although rightfully much emphasis is now placed on the protection of children who experience adversity and are in crisis, far less attention is given to the need to equip their families to cope at the earlier stages in their problems or in their aftermath." Delegates from a range of social care backgrounds are due to attend the conference at the Child and Family Research Centre, Áras Moyola, NUI Galway. The Child and Family Research Centre (CFRC) is a partnership between the Health Service Executive and the National University of Ireland Galway. Based at the Department of Political Science and Sociology, NUI Galway, the Centre is in receipt of significant support from The Atlantic Philanthropies Ireland towards its future development. The vision of the CFRC is to improve outcomes for children and their families, and advance practice and policy in Ireland and internationally, through research, evaluation and service development. ENDS For further information please contact: Dr. Pat Dolan, Director, Child & Family Research Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway. Tel: 091-492930 or 087-2342649.

NUI Galway this year has the honour of hosting the Irish National and University Library Staff (INULS) conference for the first time since 1996. INULS commenced in 1965 and is a landmark event in the annual calendar of academic and national library staff in Ireland, north and south. The conference affords an opportunity for staff to catch up on key developments in the library and information world, to share experience and to reconnect in an enjoyable social ambience. Marie Reddan, Librarian, NUI Galway, observes; "INULS is unique in attracting such a mix of library staff to its conference. NUI Galway Library staff have a genuine curiosity in developments in other libraries but can take great pride in embracing huge change both socially and technologically and not least seeing a doubling of student numbers since INULS was last hosted in Galway." The theme of this year's conference is Collaborating and Competing. Libraries have a strong tradition of collaboration but competition is an increasing factor and the boundaries between the two are often fuzzy as universities strive with each other to attract the best students and researchers. Speakers will address a range of issues including: Collaboration and competition between universities Relationships between libraries and departments within the same institution The impact of global forces like Google and the social networking movement Professor Jim Browne, Registrar and Deputy President at NUI Galway notes; "Irish Universities must work together to develop a network of collaborating Universities each of which aspires to, and achieves, excellence in particular, and complementary areas that respond to the social, cultural and economic needs of its hinterland." "A university cannot effectively meet the needs of its various stakeholders unless it operates at the level of excellence. If, for instance, NUI Galway is to support the further development of the medical-devices industry or the marine sector in Ireland, it must create and sustain excellent research and teaching programmes in these areas. Anything less is a disservice to an industry that competes in a global market." The increasingly online environment in which libraries now supply their services, and the extent to which collaborative initiatives like IReL (the Irish Research e-Library) deliver a common pool of resources, highlights a need for distinctiveness too in support of institutional competitiveness. But competition for libraries and universities comes not only from each other, as services like Google promise instant gratification to information searchers. Libraries need to identify themselves clearly and to maximise partnerships with the rest of the university in delivering an enhanced learning experience. Delegates will have opportunities to engage fully with these topics through presentations and workshops, a sponsors exhibition, and a very active and social programme. A first for INULS this year will be the publication of some of the conference papers in the journal Library Management. ENDS

The Applied Optics Group at NUI Galway will host an International Workshop on Adaptive Optics for Industry and Medicine from 12-15 June 2007, where international speakers will focus on the latest developments and technologies in adaptive optics for industry and medicine. The conference will provide scientists and engineers, from both industry and academia, with opportunities to explore recent developments, current practices and future trends in adaptive optics and related fields. Professor Chris Dainty, SFI Professor of Applied Physics and Applied Optics said, "The fact that this meeting is the largest in this series of international workshops, together with the strong industrial presence, demonstrates the high regard for NUI Galway in the field of Adaptive Optics." The workshop is the sixth in a series that has seen previous conferences held in: Shatura, Russia (1997); Durham, UK (1999); Albuquerque, USA (2001); Munster, Germany (2003) and Beijing, China (2005). This year's programme of events will include the following speakers: Bruno Berge (Variopic SA): Liquid lens technology for miniature imaging systems Martin Booth (Oxford University): Wavefront sensorless adaptive optics for imaging and microscopy Joshua Fernandez (University of Murcia): Adaptive optics for the human eye Guoqiang Li (University of Arizona): Liquid crystal lenses for correction of presbyopia Masakazu Ogasawara (Pioneer Corporation): The application of liquid crystal aberration compensator for optical disc systems Workshop subjects will include: wavefront sensing; wavefront correction devices; MEMS mirrors; liquid crystal SLMs; new technologies for correctors; control systems and strategies; complete adaptive optics systems; image sharpening; varifocus and other novel lens technologies; applications of adaptive optics; microscopy, lasers, communications, vision science; and a special session on recent commercial products. The workshop is organised by the Applied Optics Group in the Department of Experimental Physics at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Sponsors for the event include: Adaptive Eyecare Ltd. (UK); Andor Technology plc (N.Ireland); Bausch & Lomb Ireland; Boston Micromachines Corp. (U.S.); CILAS (France), Fraunhofer IPMS (Germany); Hamamatsu Photonics UK Ltd., HOLOEYE Photonics AG (Germany); Imagine Eyes (France), Imagine Optic (France), Iris AO Inc. (U.S.); Night-N Ltd. (Russia); Flexible Optical B.V. – OKO Technologies (The Netherlands); Optos (Scotland); PHASICS S.A. (France); SciMeasure Inc. (U.S.); European Optical Society (EOS); Optical Society of America (OSA); IDA Ireland; Science Foundation Ireland (SFI); Enterprise Ireland; and Fáilte Ireland - Ends –

A new book that offers an original and powerful contribution to debates about the civic purpose of higher education will be launched by the Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI) at NUI Galway tomorrow (Tuesday, 12 June). 'Higher Education and Civic Engagement: International Perspectives' suggests that universities can best realise their civic mission by making it central to their policy and practice. Edited by Lorraine McIlrath and Iain Mac Labhrainn, of the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) at NUI Galway the book moves from conceptual considerations of citizenship, to institutional concerns, offering insights from academics, community members and students experiencing civic engagement initiatives within institutions of higher education. Iain Mac Labhrainn, Director of CELT, of which CKI is a part, said; "The articles in this book raise some very pertinent issues in the relationship between higher education institutions and civil society. This is also particularly topical in Ireland with, for example, the recent work of the Active Citizenship Taskforce and continuing debate about the role of universities in the knowledge economy." The collection of diverse articles relating to the civic purpose of higher education includes contributions from senior and internationally recognised experts in the field such as: Professor Ron Barnett (University of London); Professor Richard Taylor (University of Cambridge); Michael Edwards (Ford Foundation); Professor Andrew Furco University of California, Berkeley); Professor Edward Zlotkowski (Campus Compact, US); Nan Kari from the Jane Adams School for Democracy, Minnesota; and contributors from across the island of Ireland. Reviewing the volume, Professor John Annette, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK, commented; "This book is a major contribution to the international study of higher education, civic engagement and also service learning. It offers some insightful and powerful analyses of conceptual issues, the institutionalising of civic engagement and the pedagogy and professional practice of service learning in higher education." 'Higher Education and Civic Engagement – International Perspectives' emanates from the 3rd Teaching and Learning Conference held in NUI Galway in 2005, and is published by Ashgate Publishing, as part of the CKI's research and knowledge sharing dimensions. To order copies please visit www.ashgate.com The Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI) is a project at NUI Galway that promotes partnership with communities and aims to reinvigorate the civic mission of higher education in Ireland. -ends-