The Governing Authority (Údarás na hOllscoile) of National University of Ireland, Galway has today (15 February 2008) announced the appointment of Professor Jim Browne (55) as the incoming President of the University. Currently Registrar and Deputy-President at NUI Galway, Professor Browne's appointment will come into effect on 6 March 2008. Professor Browne will be the twelfth President of the University and his term will be for ten years. Commenting, the Chairman of the Selection Board appointed by the Governing Authority, Dr Noel Dorr, said; "Professor Browne is a distinguished academic with very wide international contacts and experience of other Universities in Europe, the US, Asia and Latin America. He has a personal record of research and an understanding of the importance of promoting it in the University. He combines this with a strong commitment to upholding the traditional values of the University across all of the sciences and the humanities and to developing and enhancing its primary role as an educational institution. In his present post as Registrar and Deputy-President he has been deeply involved in necessary and important changes to the structure and functioning of the University which have been achieved on a basis of participation, to the benefit of both staff and students. It is widely recognised that, in this and other ways, he has made a major contribution to the progress and the success of NUI Galway over the past seven years". Concluding, he said: "The post of University President in Ireland today is one of very particular responsibility. It calls for leadership of a high order in shaping the development of the University over the decade ahead. In particular it calls for a capacity to respond creatively and sensitively to regional and national needs while respecting and upholding the traditional educational function of the University as such. It is for these reasons that the Selection Board tasked by the Governing Authority to select a new President, unanimously recommended the appointment of Professor Jim Browne. We wish him the very best in what will be a challenging and rewarding role." Dr Dorr also paid tribute to Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh for his tremendous achievements during his successful tenure as President of NUI Galway since 2000. Professor Browne, a native of Athlone, Co Westmeath, and an engineering graduate of NUI Galway, is a former Dean of Engineering (1996 - 2001) and, for the past seven years, Registrar and Deputy-President of the University. He has a record of achievement in academic leadership, strategic planning and change management within NUI Galway. Professor Browne has published over 200 academic papers and 15 books. He was awarded the degree DSc by the University of Manchester for published work in 1990, is a member of the Royal Irish Academy and the Irish Academy of Engineering. Professor Browne's leadership roles include: member of the editorial board of a number of international research journals; member of Irish Universities Quality Board since 2004; senior Vice-President of Engineers Ireland; Member of the Senate of the National University of Ireland since 2001; member of the Health and Social Care Professionals Council; member of the Board of CAO; Member of the EPSRC Review Group on Engineering Research Centres in the UK; member of the Board of the Galway University Foundation since 2001; and Member of the Board of Music for Galway. Professor Browne also has considerable experience of working with overseas Universities, public and private bodies. Professor Browne is married to Maeve; they have four children. The appointment was made following an extensive national and international search, with professional assistance through a Search Committee. The selection process was conducted by a distinguished Selection Board. Both bodies were chaired in a non-voting capacity by Dr Noel Dorr, Cathaoirleach of Údarás na hOllscoile. The examination in Irish was conducted by a Bord Gaeilge. All three bodies had significant external as well as internal membership. -ends-

Inniu (15 Feabhra 2008) d'ainmnigh Údarás na hOllscoile Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh an tOllamh Jim Browne (55) mar Uachtarán nua na hOllscoile. I láthair na huaire tá an tOllamh Browne ag feidhmiú mar Mheabhránaí agus Uachtarán Ionaid in OÉ Gaillimh agus cuirfidh sé tús lena phost nua mar Uachtarán an 6 Márta 2008. Is é an tOllamh Browne an dara hUachtarán déag atá ceaptha san Ollscoil agus mairfidh a théarma oifige deich mbliana. Dúirt an Dr Noel Dorr, Cathaoirleach an Bhoird Roghnúcháin a cheap Údarás na hOllscoile go bhfuil "cáil bainte amach ag an Ollamh Browne mar scoláire mór le rá, tá teagmhálacha aige ar fud na cruinne agus tá taithí aige ar Ollscoileanna eile san Eoraip, sna Stáit Aontaithe, san Áise agus Meiriceá Laidineach. Tá go leor taighde déanta aige féin agus tuigeann sé an tábhacht a bhaineann le tacú le taighde san Ollscoil. Lena chois seo, tá sé mar aidhm aige luachanna traidisiúnta na hOllscoile a chaomhnú i réimse na n-eolaíochtaí agus na ndaonnachtaí agus príomhról na hOllscoile mar institiúid oideachais a fhorbairt agus a fheabhsú. Le linn dó a bheith ag obair mar Mheabhránaí agus Uachtarán Ionaid bhí dlúthbhaint aige leis na hathruithe riachtanacha agus tábhachtacha atá le déanamh ar struchtúr agus ar fheidhmiú na hOllscoile; athruithe atá curtha i bhfeidhm trí rannpháirtíocht, agus athruithe a théann chun tairbhe comhaltaí foirne agus mic léinn araon. Is léir go bhfuil an-obair déanta aige maidir le cur chun cinn agus rath OÉ Gaillimh a chinntiú le seacht mbliana anuas". Mar fhocal scoir, dúirt sé: "Baineann freagracht ar leith le post mar Uachtarán Ollscoile in Éirinn sa lá atá inniu ann. Is post é a éilíonn ceannaireacht chun an Ollscoil a fhorbairt sna deich mbliana amach romhainn. Tá gá le freagairt chruthaitheach agus íogaireach do riachtanais réigiúnacha agus náisiúnta agus ag an am céanna meas a léiriú ar fheidhm thraidisiúnta oideachais na hOllscoile agus an fheidhm sin a choimeád. Bunaithe ar na cúiseanna seo, bhí an Bord Roghnúcháin a d'ainmnigh Údarás na hOllscoile chun Uachtarán nua a roghnú, ar aon fhocal maidir leis an Ollamh Jim Browne a ainmniú don phost mar Uachtarán. Guímid gach rath air sa phost dúshlánach, suimiúil seo." Chomh maith leis sin, ghabh an Dr Dorr buíochas ó chroí leis an Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh as an obair iontach atá curtha i gcrích aige ó ceapadh mar Uachtarán ar OÉ Gaillimh é sa bhliain 2000. Fear de bhunadh Bhaile Átha Luain, Co. na hIarmhí é an tOllamh Browne. Rinne sé céim innealtóireachta in OÉ Gaillimh, ceapadh é mar Dhéan Innealtóireachta (1996 – 2001) agus le seacht mbliana anuas tá sé ag obair mar Mheabhránaí agus Uachtarán Ionaid in OÉ Gaillimh. Tá an-chuid bainte amach aige ó thaobh ceannaireacht acadúil, pleanáil straitéiseach agus bainistíocht athruithe laistigh de OÉ Gaillimh. Tá os cionn 200 páipéar acadúil agus 15 leabhar foilsithe ag an Ollamh Browne. Sa bhliain 1990 bhronn Ollscoil Mhanchain céim DSc air as an obair a bhí foilsithe aige. Is comhalta é d'Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann agus the Irish Academy of Engineering. Seo a leanas cuid de róil cheannaireachta an Ollaimh Browne: Comhalta de bhord eagarthóireachta roinnt irisí taighde idirnáisiúnta; comhalta de Bhord Feabhais Ollscoileanna na hÉireann ó 2004; Leas-Uachtarán Sinsearach ar Engineers Ireland; Comhalta de Sheanad Ollscoil na hÉireann ó 2001; comhalta de Chomhairle Lucht Gairme Sláinte agus Cúram Sóisialta; comhalta de Bhord an CAO; Comhalta de Ghrúpa Athbhreithnithe an EPSRC ar Ionaid Taighde Innealtóireachta sa Ríocht Aontaithe; comhalta de Bhord Fhondúireacht Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ó 2001; agus Comhalta de Bhord Music for Galway. Tá an-taithí ag an Ollamh Browne ar a bheith ag obair le comhlachtaí poiblí agus príobháideacha agus le hOllscoileanna thar sáile. Tá an tOllamh Browne pósta le Maeve; agus tá ceathrar clainne acu. Ní dhearnadh an ceapachán go raibh cuardach maith náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta déanta, le cúnamh gairmiúil ó Choiste Cuardaigh. Bhí Bord Roghnúcháin i gceannas ar an bpróiseas roghnúcháin. Bhí an Dr Noel Dorr, Cathaoirleach Údarás na hOllscoile, ina chathaoirleach ar an dá bhord sin. Bord na Gaeilge a reáchtáil an scrúdú Gaeilge. Bhí comhaltaí inmheánacha agus comhaltaí seachtracha ar na trí ghrúpa.

John O'Shea, the CEO of GOAL, will deliver a public seminar at NUI Galway on Thursday, 21 February, from 1-2pm. The high-profile campaigner will offer personal and professional reflections on 'The Tragedy That Is the Third World' and the work of GOAL in terms of crisis reduction. The event is being hosted by the University's Community Knowledge Initiative in partnership with the student-led GOAL Society. From its first year of operation in 1977, when it spent €12,000 on a street children's project in Calcutta, GOAL has grown to spend over €400 million implementing relief and development programmes in 50 countries in the past 30 years. Student Peter Mannion, who heads up the GOAL Society at NUI Galway, said, "With over 200 members, our student society is very active in terms of fundraising to support GOAL. We are thrilled to have John visiting us here on campus and look forward to hearing his point of view, as he has been on the front-line in terms of responding to major natural and man-made disasters for over thirty years." John O'Shea's visit is part of a long-running Keynote Seminar Series devised by the Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI) at NUI Galway to address pertinent civic issues. According to Lorraine McIlrath, who coordinates CKI, "We have had some fascinating seminars in the past, with the likes of Dr. Garrett FitzGerald and Michael D. Higgins T.D., which help generate debate among about our society and civic responsibilities. This event will be a great opportunity to hear some of John's personal insights regarding the sometimes controversial arena of international relief and development." This free, public event takes place in the Siobhán McKenna Theatre, Arts Millennium Building, from 1-2pm. To attend, please contact Mary Bernard at the CKI Office by e-mail mary.bernard@nuigalway.ie or by phone 091 493823. -ends-

NUI Galway was successful in securing two of the new Science Foundation Ireland Engineering Professorship and Lectureship posts announced recently by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin, T.D. Both posts are in the biomedical engineering discipline and the new lecturers will be hired by the College of Engineering and Informatics later this year. The new staff will be integrated into the research activities of the National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science (NCBES) at the University and will also support the programme within the Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI). An interesting feature of this Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) scheme is the significant involvement of the private sector which is providing 20% co-funding. Professor Padraic O Donoghue, Dean of the College of Engineering and Informatics at NUI Galway, is delighted with the University's success in this highly competitive proposal call, "Both positions will greatly assist NUI Galway in its goal of generating highly trained and qualified graduates, and in generating world class research, in biomedical engineering in a manner that will be directly relevant to industry. The new lecturers will be appointed following an extensive international search to attract and identify the best available candidates." One of the positions is a lectureship in functional biomaterials. This position will underpin the recently established Network of Excellence in Functional Biomaterials at the University – a strategic research cluster that has also been funded by SFI under the leadership of Professor Abhay Pandit. The lectureship is in partnership with the Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association (DEBRA-Ireland). DEBRA is engaged in identifying and funding specific research projects likely to lead to a cure and successful treatments for epidermolysis bullosa (EB). The second position is a lectureship in the area of biomechanics and will be associated with the research programme under the direction of Professor Peter McHugh. This position will focus on the combination of core engineering mechanics analysis and design skills with a knowledge of human biology, and the application of these skills in the biomedical science and engineering arena. Strongly supported by the medical technologies sector, the post is part sponsored by Medtronic CardioVascular, Galway, and Stryker Instruments, Cork, whose operations in Ireland are in the cardiovascular and orthopaedic areas, respectively. The SFI Professorship and Lectureship programme will run for a further three years and it is planned to create a total of 35 new posts over the lifetime of the scheme. The SFI funding covers the first five years for the posts and at that time they will be integrated into the regular university system. -ends-

On Wednesday, 20 February, the Environmental Change Institute at NUI Galway will host an exciting two-man show 'Foresight or Frivolity? Flann O'Brien and the Science of The Third Policeman'. In this free, public event, DCU's Professor Dermot Diamond and performer Fergus Cronin, will take a number of excerpts from The Third Policeman, and illustrate the links between the writings and the science that influences Flann O'Brien's writing. In his writings, and particularly in The Third Policeman, Flann O'Brien took scientific principles, extrapolated them to fantastic proportions, and set the outcomes in a bizarre context that is at once both logical and illogical. Written in 1940, but not published until after the author's death in 1967, the story follows the trail of a murderer-on-the-run through an Irish countryside that is not as we know it. In this setting, the narrator is continually challenged by scientific processes that we normally take for granted such as the relationship between light and time, the Conservation of Energy, and perhaps most famously, the Molecule Theory. Dr. Dónal Leech, of NUI Galway's School of Chemistry and Environmental Change Institute, says, "Look forward to an amusing and thrilling exploration of the fantastic scientific principles and applications devised by the comic genius of Flann O'Brien. His hilarious description of how molecular theory contributes to the production of part-Garda, part-bicycle (and vice-versa), and other amazing, though increasingly realistic visions of science (such as the production of needle-points so sharp to be invisible to the naked eye, now commonplace in nanoscience and technology), will be on show at this spectacle." The event is certain to be as entertaining as it is informative, having delighted audiences at the 2005 Kilkenny Arts Festival. It is free and is open to all, and will begin at 8pm in the Orbsen Building's Seminar Room, with light refreshments from 7.30pm. For more information contact: sarah.knight@nuigalway.ie. -ends-