Thousands of second-level students from all over the country are set to attend NUI Galway's annual Open Day which will take place from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m., on Tuesday, 2 December, 2003. The event is an ideal opportunity for both second-level and mature students to get information on the academic programmes provided by the University. Academic staff from the University's fifty-two departments will be available at the exhibition stands to answer queries and provide detailed subject and course information. With seven Faculties and 13,800 students, NUI Galway is the first choice option for many students when completing their CAO forms. "Given the huge range of courses on offer, it is often confusing and difficult for Leaving Cert students to decide on the options best suited to them," according to Mary Coyle, NUI Galway's Schools Liaison Officer. "However, Open Day provides an ideal opportunity to discuss courses with academic staff and students at the various stands." On their arrival at NUI Galway on the 2 December, students are requested to come to the assembly point in the Quadrangle, where they will be given directions to introductory lectures and exhibition areas. Guided tours of the campus will be provided throughout the day. These will include visits to the Clinical Science Institute (Medical School), the Martin Ryan Institute, the Arts Millennium Building, Áras na Gaeilge and the Student Accommodation and Sports Facilities. There will also be laboratory demonstrations in the Departments of Physics and Chemistry. Students will have the opportunity to visit the Information Technology Labs. and the University Applied Languages Centre. NUI Galway is constantly improving facilities for its students and recently announced the injection of €80 million towards the development of a new Graduate Business School, a new Engineering Building and new Sports and Cultural facilities, all of which will be constructed over the next five years. Ends

Professor Noel Lowndes of NUI Galway's Department of Biochemistry has become a member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO). He is just one of three Irish-based scientists elected to the prestigious organisation which includes 36 Nobel Prize laureates among its members. Professor Lowndes, who has established an international reputation in cellular responses to DNA damage, leads Ireland s first Genome Stability Cluster at NUI Galway. His research team is studying how normal cells respond when the genetic material is damaged and how defects in these responses result in cancer. DNA damage is caused by diverse agents ranging from sunlight and cigarette smoke to ionising radiation from either natural sources or from nuclear power plants. Responding to the news of his appointment to EMBO, Professor Lowndes said, "This is a great honour for me personally but is also recognition of the recently established Genome Stability Cluster at NUI Galway. This cluster, a team of four distinct laboratories working on related aspects of the biological responses to DNA damage, is unique in Ireland and has exciting potential for our understanding of the underlying causes of cancer." Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, President of NUI Galway said the University was proud of the depth and strength of research being carried out across all disciplines. "The election of Professor Lowndes to EMBO is an endorsement of his ground-breaking research and its potential to alleviate suffering caused by cancer. He and his team of international scientists bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their work," he said. Professor Frank Gannon, Executive Director, EMBO said, "Election to EMBO is based on the votes of the EMBO members. It is an honour that is much sought after and the inclusion of Noel Lowndes in this elite group sends a very positive message about his research reputation and the growing recognition of the quality of science in Galway and Ireland." EMBO, established by leading scientists in 1964, promotes biosciences in Europe. The organization raised the standards in this area of science through the establishment of a specialist laboratory (EMBL), the provision of training through practical courses and workshops and by stimulating mobility through its Fellowship Programme. Today EMBO has 1200 elected members in 24 countries. Ends

English Version Fáiltíonn an Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, Uachtarán Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh roimh fhógra an Aire Éamon Ó Cúiv T.D., Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta inniu (Dé Luain, 3 Samhain), go bhfuil deontas €1 milliún thar trí bliana ar fáil don Ollscoil ar mhaithe le hAcadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge atá bunaithe ag an Ollscoil, a fhorbairt. Tá an tAcadamh á bhunú le cúrsaí trí mheán an Gaeilge a chur ar fáil ar an gcampus féin agus in ionaid eile taobh amuigh den champus. Is é Uachtarán na hOllscoile atá ainmnithe mar Reachtaire an Acadaimh faoi láthair agus tá Peadar Mac an Iomaire ainmnithe mar Phríomhfheidhmeannach an Acadaimh. Tá Oifig na Gaeilge Labhartha agus gníomhaíochtaí na nIonad Gaeltachta ag teacht faoi scáth an Acadaimh. Tá 40 post lánaimseartha san Acadamh faoi láthair agus beifear ag cur le líon na bpost sin de réir mar a bheidh cúrsaí nua léinn, cláir taighde agus gníomhaíochtaí comhairleoireachta an Acadaimh á bhforbairt. Tá 12 post fógraithe faoi scáth an Acadaimh agus cuid mhaith acu líonta. Fógrófar roinnt post eile sna míonna beaga seo romhainn. Táthar ag bunú Bord Stiúrtha agus Bord Acadúil ar an Acadamh faoi láthair. Ag glacadh buíochais leis an Aire, dúirt an Dr. Ó Muircheartaigh, "Is cúis áthais dom féin agus d'Údarás na hOllscoile go bhfuil tacaíocht láidir an Rialtais ag Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. Is slánchuid de Phlean Straitéiseach agus de Phlean Acadúil na hOllscoile áit shuntasach a thabhairt don Ghaeilge agus don léann trí Ghaeilge faoi scáth na hOllscoile." Tógadh céim eile sa treo sin ag cruinniú Údarás na hOllscoile ar an 16 Deireadh Fómhair 2003, trí threoir a thabhairt do bhainistíocht na hOllscoile campas eiseamláireach dhátheangach a bheith san Ollscoil. "Beidh an campas seo ina dhea-shampla d'ollscoileanna atá ag freastal ar phobail mionlaigh agus ar phobail mionteangacha ar fud na cruinne", a dúirt an Dr. O Muircheartaigh. Is cúis áthais don Uachtarán a fhógairt go bhfuil 73 duine ag freastal ar chúrsaí Ollscoile go hiomlán trí Ghaeilge i nGaeltacht Thír Chonaill den chéad uair i mbliana agus 53 duine in ionaid eile i gCúige Uladh. Tá cúrsaí faoi lán tseoil chomh maith ag an Ollscoil i gCarna agus ar an gCeathrú Rua. Creideann Údarás na hOllscoile go bhfuil na struchtúir á mbunú ag an Ollscoil anois a chuirfidh forbairt na hOllscolaíochta trí Ghaeilge ar bhonn sláintiúil agus gur forbairtí iad a bhfuil éileamh orthu ó phobal na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta. "Is éard atá sa ngníomhaíocht cheannródaíoch atá déanta ag an Ollscoil, feidhmiú an choincheap a bhí taobh thiar de bhunú Acht 1929 agus d'ainmniú Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh mar ollscoil a dhéanfadh cúram den Ollscolaíocht trí Gheilge", a dúirt an Dr. Ó Muircheartaigh. "Is gá Acht 1929 a leasú le go mbeidh an dea-obair cheannródaíoch atá á feidhmiú ag an Ollscoil anois in ann bláthú. Tá glactha ag Údarás na hOllscoile d'aonghuth leis an ngéarghá atá leis an leasú sin." Ends

Leathan Gaeilge Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, President of NUI Galway welcomed the announcement today (Monday 3 November), by Eamon Ó Cúiv, T.D., Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, of funding of €I million over three years, to support the special Academy being established by the University for teaching through Irish. The Academy, known as Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge is being set up by NUI Galway to develop University courses through the medium of Irish, both on campus at NUI Galway and at the University's centres in the Gaeltacht. The University Authority founded the Acadamh and has appointed President Ó Muircheartaigh as Rector (Reachtaire) and Mr. Peadar Mac an Iomaire, Director of the Office of Spoken Irish, as Chief Executive. The complete work of the Office of Spoken Irish and the activities of the University's three Gaeltacht Centres will now be taken over by an tAcadamh. This currently constitutes 40 full time posts but this number will be built on as academic courses, research programmes and the advisory services of an tAcadamh flourish over the coming years. Some 12 posts have already been advertised under the auspices of an tAcadamh and many of these positions have now been filled. More posts will be advertised over the coming months. Arrangements are currently being made to appoint an tAcadamh's Board of Directors and Academic Board. Thanking the Minister for Government support, President Ó Muircheartaigh said, "The Governing Authority and I are delighted with the support shown by Government for an tAcadamh. Securing the role of the Irish Language in third-level education is an intrinsic part of the University's Strategic and Academic Plans." Another important step was taken in the development of these policies earlier last month (October '03) when the University Authority provided guidelines for University management to develop an exemplary bilingual campus at NUI Galway. "This campus will be a role model for all universities serving minority communities and lesser-used language communities throughout the world," said Dr. Ó Muircheartaigh. Dr. Ó Muircheartaigh was also pleased to announce that 73 students are attending NUI Galway courses through the medium of Irish at the University's Centre, An Chrannóg, in the Donegal Gaeltacht for the first time this year. A further 53 students have enrolled on courses being run by An Chrannóg in other locations in Ulster. Courses are now well founded at the Gaeltacht centres in Connamara: Áras Shorcha Ni Ghuairim, Carna agus Áras Mháirtín Uí Chadhain, An Cheathrú Rua. The University Authorities believe that the structural developments currently being undertaken will secure the future for third level education through the medium of Irish. They are also strongly of the opinion that these developments are meeting the needs of the Irish speaking community, both within and outside the Gaeltacht. "These latest groundbreaking steps taken by the University are activating a concept which was laid down by the University Act of 1929. This Act named National University of Ireland, Galway as the third level Institute which would lead third level education through Irish," said Dr. Ó Muircheartaigh. "It is now necessary to amend this act in order to facilitate the growth and development of an tAcadamh. The University Authority has unanimously accepted the need for this amendment." Ends