October

University of Galway has celebrated the achievements of more than 2,400 graduates during its autumn conferring ceremonies. Graduates, including 48 who qualified with a PhD, from across the University’s four Colleges were conferred with postgraduate and undergraduate degrees in a series of ceremonies on campus, joining the ranks of over 131,000 University of Galway alumni worldwide. The celebrations took place on campus from October 15th to 21st.             Professor David Burn, President of University of Galway, said: “Conferring week is one of the highlights of the University calendar, a time to recognise the hard work, dedication, and excellence of our students, and the commitment of our staff who have supported them along the way. We are very proud of our graduates as they embark on the next stage of their journey.” Ends

University of Galway has today launched a new research partnership with multinational engineering company Trane Technologies. The three-year collaboration on the development of sustainable technologies for advanced manufacturing processes is co-funded by I-Form, Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Trane Technologies. Trane Technologies is a global leader in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry sector with more than 40 sites worldwide, including its manufacturing subsidiary Thermo King in Galway. It has been a pioneer in the sector for more than 40 years. The research aims to enhance advanced manufacturing processes for systems used in buildings, homes and transportation, with a focus on sustainable and innovative technologies while increasing productivity and reducing environmental impact. President of University of Galway, Professor David Burn, said: “At University of Galway we have a proud and unique heritage in the field of engineering. Our research partnership with Trane is the essence of that, as we empower our academics, students and collaborators to pioneer an agenda of innovation, sustainability and learning.” Max Javaheri, Vice President, Advanced Manufacturing for Trane Technologies, said: “For over 45 years, Thermo King in Galway has been a cornerstone of manufacturing excellence and innovation. This public-private collaboration between Trane Technologies, the University of Galway, and I-Form will build upon that legacy and will focus on developing advanced, innovative, and sustainable production methods that will immensely impact our factories globally. This partnership will create meaningful impact by advancing clean manufacturing technologies and nurturing local talent. Together, we will transform the future of manufacturing and reinforce Galway’s position as a hub for innovation and advanced engineering.”   The research to be conducted as part of the partnership is to be led by Dr Noel Harrison, Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering, and Pádraig Conneely, Lecturer in Automation and Lean Manufacturing, both of whom are based in the School of Engineering at University of Galway.   Professor Laoise McNamara, Head of the School of Engineering at University of Galway, said:  “This partnership will combine cutting-edge academic research with a real-world engineering application, allowing University of Galway to collaborate with Trane Technologies' subject matter experts and automation engineers, as well as creating new learning opportunities for our researchers and students.”   Professor Denis Dowling, Centre Director, I-Form - Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Manufacturing, said: “This three-year collaboration exemplifies I-Form’s mission to drive the transformation of advanced manufacturing in Ireland through sustainable, high-impact research partnerships. By co-funding projects like this, we are helping to shape a more innovative and resilient manufacturing ecosystem for the future.” One of the aims of the research project is to enable sustainable, fast and reduced-cost development of new products and processes and digitalised manufacturing, by replacing time-consuming, physical experimentation with advanced, predictive modelling. The partnership will focus on advancing automation in brazing (the process of joining metal by melting an intermediary filler metal) and leak detection processes. It aims to develop a fundamental understanding of the material and process phenomena involved in automated induction and hydrogen brazing, leading to the industrial integration of optimised scalable brazing processes. As a world-class leader in fostering industry collaboration, University of Galway researcher and students will work with Thermo King R&D teams and other staff to develop advanced manufacturing solutions that will be deployed across Trane Technologies’ global network. The research project team will design, develop and validate robotic and automated systems for brazing operations; build proof-of-concept prototypes and test beds to demonstrate system capabilities; conduct industrial trials and validate system performance in a production-representative environment; and develop robotic system programmes and virtual simulations of process and tooling using in-house robotic systems. Ends

Research funded by Wellcome to explore disabled people’s experiences and develop guidance for law and policy Researchers at University of Galway are to work with young people with disabilities to develop guidance on how care and support systems can be reformed to fully realise human rights. Dr Clíona de Bhailís, a post-doctoral researcher at the University’s Centre for Disability Law and Policy, has been awarded a Wellcome Early-Career Grant of more than €700,000 to conduct the study. The research team will work alongside young people with disabilities aged 18–24 to interview other disabled people across Ireland to gather their lived experiences of care and support. The findings will be analysed to produce evidence-based guidance on how law, policy and systems can be reformed to realise disabled people’s human rights. Dr de Bhailís said: “The project comes at a critical moment in Ireland, with legislative developments, a referendum on family and care, and the impacts of COVID-19 reigniting public discussions on care. Despite this attention, young disabled people have often been marginalised in these debates. By placing them at the heart of the research process, the project aims to challenge assumptions about vulnerability and dependency while informing policy and practice.” Many disabled people require access to a range of care and support to live independently, including personal and intimate care, healthcare assistance, supported decision-making, and help navigating community services. Historically, the concept of care has been controversial within the disabled people’s movement, often seen as reinforcing dependency and ignoring that disabled people also care for and support others. Under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, disabled people have a right to live in the community with choices equal to others, including choosing the types of care and support that meet their needs. The project, entitled GenCare: Intergenerational Explorations of Care and Support for Disabled People in Ireland, will run for four years is designed to put young people at the forefront of shaping change in Ireland. Dr de Bhailís added: “The project will take an innovative approach by establishing a collective of young disabled co-researchers who will be involved in every stage of the research. They will gather data from disabled people across Ireland, documenting their experiences of care and support, and come up with ideas for reform. Our goal is to make sure disabled people are at the heart of any future reforms while ensuring we continue to learn from past experiences.” Ends

Researchers at the University of Galway have revealed the results of a world-first study into how bowel cancer shuts down the immune system, and how this can be reversed to improve treatment. The findings have been published in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC). The research team showed how structural stromal cells switch off the immune system and how the body’s own killer cells can be switched back on, opening up the opportunity for a completely new approach to optimising immunotherapy for patients. Colorectal cancer – commonly referred to as bowel cancer – is one of the world’s most common cancers and the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Diagnoses in people under 50 have been climbing in recent decades, with recent global analysis showing these early-onset cases have almost doubled since 1990. In Ireland, the disease affects more than 2,500 people a year. Professor Aideen Ryan, Professor in Tumour Immunology at University of Galway's College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, said: “While immunotherapy has revolutionised care in cancers such as melanoma and lung cancer, it has shown very limited benefit in bowel cancer, leaving patients with advanced disease with few treatment options and poor survival outcomes.” The breakthrough research discovery is the first to demonstrate that tumour stromal cells – the structural cells that support cancer growth – are directly reprogramming the immune system. They do this by switching off, or hijacking, two of our body’s most important tumour-fighting cells – the natural killers (NK) and macrophages – rendering them unable to attack the cancer. Professor Ryan said: “The interaction between the cancer, our body’s healthy cells and our defence mechanism is a complex one, but our research shows that the cancer is essentially creating an immune brake – it is blocking the body’s natural response and fight mechanism.” What has been discovered in relation to how the cancer interacts with the human body? Tumour stromal cells are the structural cells which allow the cancer to grow. They are coated in sugars called sialoglycans. These interact with receptors on the body’s immune cells called Siglecs. This interaction causes the body’s natural defence response to be switched off and unresponsive when immunotherapy is used, and therefore unable to attack the cancer. The research identified a specific enzyme that drives this process of ‘switching off’, as it produces the Siglec-binding sugars on stromal cells. When the researchers blocked this pathway using drugs called sialidases, they could show that the body’s most important tumour-fighting cells – the natural killers (NK) and macrophages – reactivated. It showed that the tumours shrank and the spread of cancer, known as metastasis, was prevented.      The multidisciplinary research was conducted in collaboration with colorectal surgeons and pathologists at Galway University Hospital, led by Professor Aisling Hogan and Professor Sean Hynes; as well as experts in colorectal cancer – Dr Philip Dunne, Queen’s University Belfast and experts in targeting sialoglycans at Palleon Pharmaceuticals, MA, USA, who have developed sialidase drugs that disrupt the sialoglycan-Siglec interaction. Professor Ryan added: “Our research is a clear breakthrough in our understanding of bowel cancer and how immunotherapy could be more successful. This world-first finding shows that some of the bowel cancer cells are not just passive bystanders, they are actively reprogramming the body’s immune cells, preventing them from doing their job. We have uncovered an entirely new checkpoint and by focusing on it we can reactivate the immune system and improve our body’s innate ability to fight the disease, and even target metastasis.” Michael O'Dwyer, Professor of Medicine and Scientific Director of University of Galway Cancer Centre, said: “The work of Professor Ryan and her research team highlights an important interplay between cells within a tumour, facilitating disease progression and metastasis. This is an excellent example of impactful, innovative research with strong industry engagement currently being undertaken within the University of Galway Cancer Centre.” Jim Broderick, M.D., Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Palleon Pharmaceuticals, said: “The sialoglycan-Siglec axis of immunosuppression in cancer was underappreciated until very recently. Targeting sialoglycan biology offers great potential for developing new therapies for diseases characterized by immune dysfunction, including cancer and autoimmunity. The discoveries from Professor Ryan’s lab bring new hope to patients battling colorectal cancer and other malignancies that have proven resistant to existing immunotherapies.” Professor Ryan’s pioneering cancer research is featured in the Breakthrough Cancer Research exhibition, Cancer Revolution: Science, Innovation and Hope, which is on display in Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre until Friday October 31st. It includes striking microscopy images of stromal cells interacting with tumours and a 3D tumour model, helping to visualise how these cells shut down the immune system in bowel cancer. The display explains how Professor Ryan’s team discovered that stromal cells act as an “immune brake” and how targeting this brake could finally allow immunotherapy to work for patients with colorectal cancer. The full paper is available online at the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer: URL: https://jitc.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/jitc-2025-012491 Ends

University of Galway and Atlantic Technological University have renewed a partnership for the provision of teacher education. Both universities re-committed to the Western Institute of Studies in Education (WISE) as the Centre of Excellence of Initial Teacher Education in the West and North-West region.  The partnership builds on the historic collaboration between Atlantic Technological University and University of Galway to strengthen teacher education in the region, including the development and delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, research and broader educational initiatives. WISE collectively serves 1200 Initial Teacher Education (ITE) students in both undergraduate B.Ed and postgraduate Professional Master of Education programmes. President of Atlantic Technological University, Dr Orla Flynn, said: “Our purpose in ATU is to enhance the quality of life in our region, through excellent education and research, working collaboratively with partners like the University of Galway. The renewal of this MOU is a strong signal of our collective commitment to supporting the educational needs of young people in our region, and no doubt we will see further innovative initiatives together with the University of Galway in the years ahead.” Professor David Burn, President of University of Galway, said: “The EU classifies the north-west of Ireland as a ‘lagging’ region. The University has to be part of changing that, with partnership being central to our approach. We greatly value this reinvigorated partnership with Atlantic Technological University which will significantly contribute to improving outcomes in the region, through initial teacher education and related initiatives.” The renewed partnership was confirmed with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding by University of Galway and Atlantic Technological University. The signing recognises the autonomy of each institution as a recognised ITE provider to develop programmes in their respective areas and ensuring the region’s needs are met. The Western Institute of Studies in Education (WISE) is underpinned by a shared commitment to academic and educational cooperation. It is considered a key vehicle through which the Atlantic Technological University and University of Galway will continue to contribute to growth in the region. The teacher education partnership is in line with recommendations of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly and the European Commission, including to address rising regional socio-economic inequalities through the provision of a skilled workforce, support research and innovation, the encouragement of partnerships and collaborations, and a focus on efficiencies and productivity. Ends

Researchers set out recommendations for public sector organisations to help inform men on menopause at work New research has revealed that male colleagues and managers know little about menopause in the workplace. The study – Menopause in the workplace – was carried out by academics in University of Galway and University College Cork and included surveys of more than 1,600 workers across seven public sector organisations in Ireland. The findings have been released to mark World Menopause Day on Saturday, 18 October 2025. The research was carried out to explore men’s attitudes to and knowledge of menopause at work; the attitudes of other workers who are not experiencing menopause; and the impact of menopause on work outcomes for women – while also identifying interventions to support women. A series of recommendations have been set out alongside the survey findings: Given that almost 80% of CEOs and 70% of C-suite executives in Ireland are male, bespoke menopause training and information should be provided to male board members, senior executives, managers and colleagues. To encourage male colleagues to be menopause allies, organisations should offer information sessions and anonymous Q&A formats, so that men are equipped to support women in their menopause journey. Nearly 1 in 10 women leave their jobs due to menopause symptom severity, therefore menopause at work represents a whole of organisation issue and should be discussed as part of a broader conversation about employee wellbeing, productivity and retention. Dr Maeve O’Sullivan, College of Business Public Policy and Law, University of Galway, said: "The survey findings offer a snapshot of experiences, which in turn is drving these recommendations. One of the key findings is the low level of input from men. So, not only can we see a low level of men who are informed, there is also a low level of engagement with this issue. Workplace leadership has a responsibility to address this, for the benefit of both women and men.” The research team analysed responses to an online survey from 1,600 people, including 1403 women and 240 men. Some of the key findings were: One-third of men (37%) feel they are not well informed about menopause, while 3% felt very informed. Almost half of women (43%) feel a little informed. Four out of five men (80%) don't know if their company has a menopause policy, compared with three in four women (75%). No men, who are line managers and whose direct reports have spoken to them about menopause, feel very equipped to discuss the subject and offer support. One in eight men (13%) believe that menopause is only spoken about between female colleagues, compared with almost one-third of females (32%). 7% of men believe that menopause is a 'taboo' subject, compared with 9% of females. Almost two-thirds of men (61%) felt that organisations should adjust the physical work environment for those going through menopause. This compares with more than three in four women (76%). Approximately one in six men (16%) believe that organisations should not adjust the physical work environment for those going through menopause. This compares with one in 10 women (10%). 87% of women and 78% of men felt that organisations should provide training for line managers and supervisors on how to support women going through menopause. Some 75% of men who responded said that organisations should offer support to women going through menopause, compared with 84% of women. While 62% of women have discussed their menopause with their co-workers, only 1 in 8 (12%) have spoken to their manager about it, underlining a lack of trust or fear among these women.   Dr O’Sullivan added: “Many organisational decision-makers are male, despite this, little is known about menopause in the workplace. It’s not simply a gender or age issue but can impact the entire organisation. “Our study's findings show that more than three-quarters of line managers surveyed do not feel at all equipped to support their female direct reports. This highlights the urgent need to inform and equip men at all levels in the organisation to support women in their menopause journey. Menopause is not simply a female issue. “This is an organisational issue in the context of senior leadership tending to be more male than female. What sort of message are we sending out and how are we equipping our organisation leaders to support employees going through menopause?” Dr Elaine O'Brien, University College Cork said: "Despite menopause being widely discussed in society, there is very little focus on its impact on work and vice versa. Our Menopause in the workplace study finds that while some male colleagues are aware of this issue, much more information and education is needed to support menopausal women in work.” Ends  

University of Galway has appointed Professor Karena Yan as Dean of the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics.    Professor Yan joins the University from Durham University Business School, where she served as Professor and Associate Dean, leading the Doctor of Business Administration programmes.    Commenting on her appointment, Professor Yan said: “I am honoured to be joining the University of Galway and to steward the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics in service of our students, industry and communities in Ireland and beyond. Galway’s spirit is extraordinary – creative, welcoming, and outward-looking. Together we will grow our research power and visibility, deliver transformative education, and enrich the student experience in a thriving, globally connected community.”   Professor Yan succeeds Professor Jonathan Levie, who has served as an Interim Dean since January 2025.   Executive Dean of the College of Business, Public Policy and Law, Professor Alma McCarthy, said: “We are delighted that Professor Yan is joining University of Galway to lead J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics. Professor Yan brings extensive experience to the role having led significant international developments and partnerships in previous business school leadership roles. We are also grateful to Professor Jonathan Levie for his remarkable leadership and the depth of insight he brought to his role as Interim Dean throughout this transition.”   Professor Yan has extensive experience in research and academic leadership. Her research has been published in leading journals including Research Policy and Organization Studies and has been supported by major funding bodies such as the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Charles Wilson fund. At Durham University, she also served as Co-director of the Centre for Innovation and Technology Management and Chair of the Board of Examiners for the MSc Marketing programme.   She has advised the UK All Party Parliament Group’s report on the Metaverse and Web 3.0, and has been featured in The Economist, The Sunday Times and the BBC.  In addition to her role as School Dean, Professor Yan will serve as Established Professor of Innovation and Strategic Management, contributing to the School’s teaching and research initiatives.  Ends

A new international study led by University of Galway has found that entering menopause at an earlier age is associated with an increased risk of dementia. The research also showed that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after menopause appears to be associated with a reduced risk of dementia. The findings have been published today in the Journal for Alzheimer’s Disease. The research team from University of Galway and Boston University carried out the study with 1,329 cognitively healthy women from The Framingham Heart Study - the world’s longest running longitudinal cohort study - to analyse the association between reproductive factors and markers of brain aging. It found: Entering menopause at an earlier age is associated with an increased risk of dementia. HRT after menopause appears to be associated with a reduced risk of dementia. Greater exposure to estrogen over the reproductive lifespan was associated with enhanced cognitive performance and larger brain volumes. Having more children, higher blood oestrogen levels and being older at the time of menopause were also associated with better cognitive test performance, specifically better visuospatial skills - the ability to perceive, analyse and mentally manipulate visual and spatial information. Professor Emer McGrath, lead author and Associate Professor in Medicine, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, University of Galway, and Consultant Neurologist, Galway University Hospital, said: “Our study explored the association between reproductive and hormonal factors across a woman’s lifespan and risk of brain aging. We looked at neurocognitive and neuroimaging markers from MRI brain scans, as well as cognitive test performance, including tests of memory, reasoning skills and visuospatial skills. We also looked at the future risk of dementia in relation to these reproductive factors. “We found that entering menopause at an earlier age appears to be associated with an increased risk of dementia, while post-menopause hormone replacement therapy appears to be associated with a lower risk of dementia. Although our results suggest positive cognitive benefits of greater lifetime estrogen exposure, they do require further validation.” Women have a higher risk of dementia compared to men, with women accounting for almost two thirds of those living with Alzheimer’s disease. The research involved women from the Framingham Heart Study and investigated the age at the time of a woman’s first period; the age at onset of menopause; the duration of a woman’s reproductive lifespan; levels of oestrogen in the blood; and whether a woman used post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy or not. These factors were then related to performance on neurocognitive testing, signs of brain shrinkage on MRI scans and a woman’s future risk of developing dementia. Professor Emer McGrath said: “When we explored signs of brain ageing on MRI brain scans, we also found that having more children was associated with larger brain volumes, including in the areas we tend to see shrinkage in Alzheimer’s disease.” Despite its public health importance, our understanding of an association with sex related differences in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias significantly lags behind that in the cardiovascular field. While longer life expectancy in women may explain some of the higher risk in women, factors including reproductive health and hormonal levels in women may play an important role. The Framingham Heart Study is the longest running longitudinal cohort study worldwide. It started in 1948 with the recruitment of 5,200 adults from the town of Framingham in Massachusetts, Boston with approximately 15% of the participants of Irish ancestry. In 1971, the study recruited the children of the original Framingham cohort, along with their spouses, to form the Framingham Offspring cohort. This group was included in this study. Read the full study in the journal here: https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13872877251372430 Ends

University of Galway is to host Ireland’s new supercomputer, following a collaboration agreement by the Government and the European Commission. The national high-performance computing system – CASPIr – will be operated by the University’s Irish Centre for High-End Computing (ICHEC), providing the research and innovation community across Ireland and Europe with significantly enhanced capacity to address challenges and opportunities in science and society such as climate, environment, health, AI and big data. CASPIr will be co-funded by the Department for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) as part of a five-year collaboration agreement. Professor David Burn, President of University of Galway, said: “The collaboration agreement for the new supercomputer CASPIr heralds a new era of research capability for Europe, and Ireland’s research community, and places University of Galway and our Irish Centre for High-End Computing at the helm of data driven study. I would like to thank Minister Lawless and his team in the Department for pursuing this investment and working with University of Galway to secure it. We can now look forward to the research community reaping the rewards of this next generation of supercomputing and data driven research as it drives University of Galway’s strategic focus on transformative data and AI to support interdisciplinary research addressing global challenges.” CASPIr follows on from the supercomputer Kay, which was commissioned in 2018. It is one of 31 supercomputers in Europe which are funded under the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking. It is planned to be in service in 2027. CASPIr takes its name from Computational Analysis and Simulation Platform for Ireland. ICHEC is hosted at University of Galway and funded by the Department of Further and Higher, Education, Research, Innovation and Science. It is Ireland's national centre for high-performance computing, providing e-infrastructure, services and expertise to the academic research community, industry and the public sector. Its high-performance computing services are made available to researchers based on a peer review process by an independent panel of scientists. Professor Lokesh Joshi, Vice-President Research and Innovation at University of Galway, said: “Leveraging supercomputing capabilities across the research and innovation domain is essential to realising solutions to pressing global issues and accelerating research impact. Today’s announcement will fuel and support the development of existing and new collaborative partnerships – regionally, nationally, and internationally.” Four key research themes have been identified as areas of focus for CASPir following go-live, including environment and climate; genomics; nano-materials; mobility. JC Desplat, Irish Centre for High-End Computing at University of Galway, said: “The signature of this Agreement with EuroHPC represents an important milestone for Ireland. It paves the way to the procurement of CASPIr, one of a new generation of supercomputers designed to execute sophisticated computer models known as ‘digital twins’, with broad domains of applications ranging from health and life sciences, to the search for new materials, mitigating the impact of climate change and improving mobility within our cities.” Dr Michael Nolan, Chair of the ICHEC Science Council which supports Ireland’s research community to access supercomputing, said: “CASPIr will enable the Irish research community to take leading roles in research consortia, international research programmes and attract industry investment that is built on the ability to integrate computational methods into R&D, alongside helping to deliver on government ambition.” Dr Sarah Guerin, Chair of the ICHEC Users Council and Associate Professor in Sustainable Energy Harvesting at University of Limerick, said: "This infrastructure will allow computational researchers to realise the full potential of our homegrown expertise and take on real global challenges. I am excited for people around Ireland to benefit from, among many others, the technological, economical and meteorological outputs that this will facilitate in universities and industry." For further information on the European Commission’s announcement on Ireland’s national supercomputer visit https://www.eurohpc-ju.europa.eu/way-open-building-eurohpc-world-class-supercomputer-ireland-2025-10-13_en Ends

Invasive succulent that smothers native plants shows extended flowering in new territories, where it can dominate coastlines     That vibrant carpet of pink and yellow flowers blanketing Mediterranean cliffs might look beautiful in holiday photos on a social media feed. But scientists have discovered these same Instagram snapshots are revealing how one of the world's most destructive coastal plants is taking over new environments by extending its flowering season and threatening native biodiversity.   An international team of researchers analysed more than 1,700 photographs from social media and citizen science platforms to track Carpobrotus species - commonly known as ice plants or sour fig – across South Africa, Argentina, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain and the US.   These fleshy evergeen succulent plants are native to South Africa but now smother coastal ecosystems from California to the Mediterranean and transform ecosystems.   A single Carpobrotus plant can cover up to 50m², suffocating everything beneath it. They change soil chemistry and monopolise pollinators with their showy flowers, disrupting local ecosystems.   The findings have been published in Ecological Solutions and Evidence.   They are the result of a global study conducted by University of Galway, Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, Experimental Station of Arid Zones in Spain, Charles University in the Czech Republic, Macquarie University in Sydney, Stellenbosch University in South Africa, and Penn State University.               Dr Susan Canavan, lead author and Honorary Researcher with the College of Science and Engineering at University of Galway, said: "We realised thousands of people were unknowingly documenting these invasions in the background of their beach selfies and cliff-top sunset photos. This gave us observers across the globe, from California's Big Sur to New Zealand's coastlines to Portugal's tourist beaches.”   For the research team, California's tourist hotspots provided nearly three times more usable photos than other regions, while remote locations in South Africa and the Azores relied entirely on dedicated naturalist platforms like iNaturalist.   The team discovered that the Carpobrotus populations flower longer than native ones, potentially producing more seeds and increasing their spread. In their native South Africa, the plants show a short, concentrated flowering peak but in invaded regions, they bloom across extended periods. This reproductive advantage may help to explain their invasive success.   They also found that local environmental conditions override genetic differences in determining flowering timing. The plants adapt to bloom during the local spring season, such as October in New Zealand and May-June in California and Europe, rather than maintaining the flowering patterns from their native range.   For coastal managers battling these invaders, the findings offer practical guidance - by revealing peak flowering times in the invaded regions, the research will help them to time removal efforts to prevent seed production.               Dr Canavan added: "Tourist destinations were goldmines of data. Every scenic overlook with Carpobrotus had hundreds of Instagram posts. But this also showed us the bias in social media data. Remote invaded areas remain invisible without citizen scientists actively documenting them. “The study also demonstrates how the digital age is transforming ecological research. What began as vacation photos and nature observations has become a powerful tool for tracking biological invasions.”               Dr Ana Novoa, co-author and project lead from the Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, said: "These plants are notoriously difficult to control because they spread both by seed and by fragments. Even a small piece can regrow into a new colony. Knowing exactly when they flower in each region means we can strike when they're most vulnerable, before they produce the thousands of seeds that ensure next subsequent invasions."   The full study, published in Ecological Solutions and Evidence, is available at https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.70122.   Ends

Two student-led projects at University of Galway have won top prizes for sustainability and diversity and inclusion as part of the ENLIGHT European University Alliance.     The awards were announced at this year’s ENLIGHT Teaching and Learning Conference in recognition of outstanding initiatives led by students that demonstrate impact, innovation, and alignment with ENLIGHT’s core pillars.    University of Galway is one of 10 research-intensive universities in the ENLIGHT European university alliance which was formed in 2020 with a shared aim to transform the way global challenges are addressed and to empower students, teachers and researchers to deal with complex sustainability issues.    Speaking about the recognition, Alex Metcalfe, Interim Vice President International at University of Galway, said: “We are immensely proud of our students for leading projects that not only embody the values of ENLIGHT but also drive real change on campus and beyond. Winning both awards in such highly competitive categories is testament to the creativity, commitment, and leadership of our students in shaping a more sustainable, inclusive future.”    In the Sustainability category, Adam Mullins of University of Galway Students’ Union was awarded first place for SPÉIR - SU Pantry - Students’ Union. The initiative is a system where food, which is surplus, in damaged packaging, end of line or near sell by or use dates, is collected through FoodCloud. It is then distributed to students at the University instead of being dumped.    The initiative was nominated by the University’s Sustainability Office. The judges commended its measurable impact in tackling food waste, connecting sustainability with wider societal issues and its strong potential to be replicated in other universities and cities.     In the Diversity and Inclusion category, Galway’s Active* Champions project was awarded first place. Judges highlighted the project’s peer-education approach and its impressive impact in addressing key challenges around inclusion and awareness, emphasising that “we can never have enough initiatives that highlight these issues.”     The award was accepted by postgraduate student María José Hun on behalf of a dedicated team of Active* Champions who are a network of student peer educators and leaders for initiatives on ending sexual violence and harassment, consent, sexual health and well-being, and active bystander skills. The Active* Champions initiative is led by the Office of the VP Equality Diversity and Inclusion.     The juries, comprised of sustainability and inclusion professionals from all ENLIGHT partners, praised all ten nominees across both categories, noting the closeness of the competition and the exceptional standard of entries.    ENLIGHT includes University of Galway; Comenius University, Bratislava (Slovakia); University of Groningen (Netherlands); University of Bern (Switzerland); University of Bordeaux (France); Ghent University (Belgium); University of Tartu (Estonia); University of Gottingen (Germany); University of the Basque Country (Spain); and Uppsala University (Sweden).    The project is supported by the Government and the European Commission. The aim is for the alliance to develop as a platform for the creation of a new type of European university campus where students and staff have increased opportunities for international study, training, teaching, research and sharing of services.    Ends    

Project to support patient care supported by Government’s Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund  A consortium led by University of Galway spin-out Fortis Medical Devices has secured a €2.1 million government grant to accelerate the development of breakthrough stroke rehabilitation technology. The funding will accelerate the development of cueStim-Stroke - a new wearable device for patients affected by post-stroke gait irregularities, a major unmet clinical need. The consortium is led by University of Galway spin-out, Fortis Medical Devices, based in Spiddal and a client company of Údarás na Gaeltachta, along with RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Smart Electronics, Shannon. The €2.1m grant was awarded through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment’s Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF). The project will directly address a pressing healthcare challenge, with nearly 20 million stroke patients worldwide affected by long-term gait impairments, despite rehabilitation. Stroke-related treatment and care costs are projected to reach €86 billion a year in the EU by 2040, underscoring the urgent need for transformative technologies. The consortium will also create a connected health ecosystem to support home-based rehabilitation, providing clinicians with real-time data on gait performance, patient progress, and adherence, enabling continuous improvement in patient outcomes through data-driven insights. Thomas Gutierrez, Chief Executive, Fortis Medical Devices, said: “Our mission is to significantly improve the quality of life for stroke survivors. With this DTIF award, we can accelerate the development of cueStim-Stroke to bring real-world solutions to patients and clinicians.” Professor Lokesh Joshi, University of Galway Vice-President of Research and Innovation, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Fortis Medical and a great example of a successful University of Galway research-led spinout from the University ecosystem that will deliver disruptive ground-breaking technology for post-stroke gait rehabilitation, which will make a major impact for patients.” Tomás Ó Síocháin, Chief Executive, Údarás na Gaeltachta, said: "We are extremely proud of this achievement by Fortis Medical Devices, a client company of Údarás na Gaeltachta. This is an excellent example of the innovation and entrepreneurship taking place in the Gaeltacht. This DTIF grant demonstrates the potential of Gaeltacht companies to develop groundbreaking technologies with global impact, while creating employment and economic growth in our communities."   Professor Suzanne McDonough, Head of RCSI’s School of Physiotherapy, said: “RCSI is delighted to be a key contributor to this important collaboration. cueStim-Stroke brings together world-leading expertise that has the potential to improve the quality of life of the 20 million people globally who are currently living with post-stroke gait impairments.” Shane Adams, Managing Director of Smart Electronics, said: “Smart Electronics is delighted to partner with Fortis Medical Devices and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences on this innovative project.” Fortis Medical Devices was established as a neuroscience and cardiovascular spin-out from University of Galway in April 2024, with Gearóid Ó Laighin retiring as Established Professor of Electronic Engineering and taking on the role of Chief Scientific Officer in the new company. Fortis brings world-leading expertise in wearable rehabilitation technologies and plans to extend its patented platform stimulator technologies to other chronic illnesses. The cueStim-Stroke product will complement Fortis’ Parkinson’s disease Freezing of Gait reduction technology, which is currently in late-stage development, and which has been designated a Breakthrough Device by the FDA in the United States. As a University of Galway spin-out, Fortis has licensed a suite of patents from the University and is planning to apply this patent portfolio in the treatment of a range of chronic conditions, in addition to post-stroke gait impairments and Freezing of Gait in Parkinson’s disease. RCSI will contribute its expertise in stroke medicine, patient management, and rehabilitation, while Smart Electronics Ltd will leverage its advanced capabilities in manufacturing wearable devices and managing global supply chains. Ends

A new initiative aimed at equipping children with coding and AI skills has been launched at Trinity Primary School in Tuam, Co. Galway. This pilot initiative seeks to prepare students, in DEIS schools particularly, to engage with and shape an increasingly computing and AI-powered world, while addressing a significant gap in Ireland's computing education system. The pilot study, led by the School of Education at University of Galway and proudly supported by Google.org, will engage 80 schools and up to 2,000 primary pupils over the next two years. Despite being enthusiastic, many teachers are not equipped with the resources, time or depth of knowledge needed to teach coding and AI effectively. This new project aims to tackle this issue by offering upskilling opportunities to teachers in primary schools, with workshops demonstrating how to integrate computing and AI with other subjects in the curriculum, enhancing lessons with AI and understanding AI concepts. For example, the pupils will then learn how to code robots to draw patterns and shapes and use AI to write music and songs.               Professor Cornelia Connolly of the School of Education at University of Galway said: "To grow our digital economy, Ireland needs an advanced workforce ready to take advantage of the opportunities digital transformation brings. Supporting our teachers and embedding these competencies within formal education is the way to do that. Current and future generations need to be able to navigate misinformation and other AI related challenges, and they also need to be able to take the opportunities which will be provided to those who can become skilful developers and operators of AI. This pilot is part of a nationwide computing education project with Trinity College Dublin and University of Limerick.” This pilot project will initially focus on DEIS and rural schools in the West of Ireland, with plans to expand nationwide as the project scales. Ends

A national campaign has been launched to equip people with the skills and confidence to respond appropriately if a friend discloses sexual violence or harassment. The “Start Here” campaign is being led by University of Galway’s Active* Consent, Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ - formerly Union of Students in Ireland), Galway Rape Crisis Centre, and Education and Training Boards Ireland.   Resources include physical and electronic versions of tips on disclosure, a series of short videos that work through the tips, and open access to Active* Consent’s 45-minute eLearning module Sexual Violence and Harassment: How to Support Yourself and your Peers.    Originally developed in 2021 as a response to the Active* Consent and AMLÉ national Sexual Experiences Survey 2020, the initiative addresses the findings that 79% of college students who disclosed sexual misconduct first spoke to a close friend.   In 2022, the Higher Education Authority’s Survey of Student Experiences of Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish Higher Education found that this figure was 85%, highlighting the vital role that peers have to support survivors.    Over the next six weeks, Start Here will offer:  Basic dos and don’ts of receiving a disclosure  Key information on support services and how to access them nationally  Current research statistics on college students’ experiences of sexual violence and harassment  Open access to Active* Consent’s self-guided 45-minute eLearning module Sexual Violence and Harassment: How to Support Yourself and your Peers   Ongoing interactive content diving deeper into all of this information in detail through quizzes, videos and other forms of direct engagement                Professor Pádraig MacNeela, Head of the School of Psychology at University of Galway and Active* Consent Programme Lead, said: “Active* Consent are delighted to be partnering with AMLÉ, Galway Rape Crisis Centre and our new partner Education and Training Boards Ireland for the 2025 Start Here campaign. When the Start Here campaign first launched in 2021, we knew from research that 79% of students would disclose a non-consensual sexual experience to a close friend. In more recent research from the HEA reported in 2022, this has risen to 85%. This shows the importance of people having access to ways of managing disclosures in a trauma-informed manner with some simple dos and don’ts, with the main objective to be confident in signposting to relevant services.”               Cathy Connolly, Executive Director, Galway Rape Crisis Centre said: “The Galway Rape Crisis Centre has been an integral part of the Start Here campaign since its inception in 2021. We are proud of the collaboration between Active* Consent, AMLÉ and now Education and Training Boards Ireland for this campaign. A strong motivator for us to be involved is that frontline and counselling experience is important in keeping the training Galway Rape Crisis Centre provides current and relevant, as it reflects the changing experiences of survivors of abuse and rape. The collaboration with the Active* Consent team, AMLÉ and Education and Training Boards Ireland has deepened as we continue to together work to improve disclosure response and outcomes for these survivors.”  Emma Monahan, Vice President for Welfare AMLÉ, said: “Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ) is proud to partner with Active* Consent on the Start Here campaign. The campaign first launched in 2021 in response to a study run by our organisation in 2020 which revealed that 79% of college students who experienced sexual misconduct first disclosed it to a friend. We hope that this campaign can continue to give young people the skills to listen, empathise and support their friends who have experiences sexual misconduct. This campaign has the potential to make a significant impact on creating a supportive environment for survivors of sexual violence, assault and harassment. Active* Consent has been an amazing resource both to students' unions and young people over the years and we are delighted to maintain our partnership and to continue working closely together."   Joseph Collins, Direct of Further Education and Training with Education and Training Boards Ireland, said: “Key to Active* Consent’s mission is doing the research and then creating tools and experiences that build knowledge and engagement for students and staff regarding consent, sexual violence, and harassment. Start Here meets this aim by taking an intimidating topic for many and translating it into concrete steps that both staff and learners can make use of in the real world. Education and Training Boards Ireland is honoured to support such an impactful campaign.”   Sinéad Morgan, Director, Further Education and Training with Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB), said: “The main objective of this campaign is to provide learners with practical knowledge and understanding of how to support someone who discloses to them. This campaign has the potential to make a significant impact on creating a supportive environment for survivors of sexual violence, assault, and harassment.”  Active* Consent is funded by Lifes2Good Foundation, Rethink Ireland, University of Galway, Government of Ireland and the Higher Education Authority.  To track the campaign on social media, follow Active* Consent on: Facebook; Instagram; TikTok, and Bluesky: @activeconsent and use the hashtags: #StartHere #ActiveConsent #ImListening #WhatWouldYouSay.   To view the Start Here el-earning module see: https://www.consenthub.ie/wp-content/uploads/eLearning-Module-Sexual-Violence-and-Harassment-How-to-Support-Yourself-and-Your-Peers/ and to access the campaign website visit: https://www.consenthub.ie/start-here/ For more information about the Start Here campaign or to get in touch with Active* Consent, email activeconsent@universityofgalway.ie. Ends 

Study shows what really makes someone a superhero is selflessly working for the greater good - whether you’re Superman or a frontline healthcare worker Researchers have finally answered one of pop culture’s most enduring questions: do all superheroes wear capes? The answer, according to the team from University of Galway, University of Florida, and University of Arkansas, is a resounding no.  In a study of the top 25 highest-grossing superhero movies, the research team meticulously reviewed 97 major characters that included Superman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, the Avengers, Iron Man 3, Marvel and Aquaman.  It found that the characters capes do not make them a superhero. What transforms them into one is a good heart. The single strongest predictor of superhero status was having an altruistic mission, where nearly every superhero (98%) demonstrated a commitment to helping others.  The study has been published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science.  The authors, superhero film enthusiasts, carried out their analysis after hours, outside of their day jobs, independently watching all 25 movies over two months.  The team had a preselected list of possible superhero attributes, including whether the hero is human or alien, their intelligence, whether they have an alter ego (think Clark Kent) and, of course, altruism and a cape. They also examined villains, who sometimes enjoy capes, but are absent from altruism.  Dr Derek O’Keeffe, senior author of the study and Professor in Medicine at University of Galway, said: “Capes may look dramatic, but it’s altruism that truly defines a superhero. Our analysis shows that what really makes someone a hero is selflessly working for the greater good - whether you’re Superman or a frontline healthcare worker.”  The study’s light-hearted design had serious undertones. During the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors, nurses, teachers, and first responders were frequently described as “superheroes without capes”. This research offers empirical support that cultural sentiment: altruism, not superpowers or costumes, is the hallmark of heroism.  The researchers also cautioned that while the superhero narrative can be inspiring, it can also place unrealistic expectations on real-life professionals and contribute to burnout.  Dr Naykky Singh Ospina, lead author and Associate Professor in the College of Medicine, University of Florida, said: “Meaningful work gives people purpose, but even heroes need rest. Our findings highlight both the uplifting and the challenging sides of the ‘healthcare hero’ label.”  Lest anyone thinks this scientific study is no more authentic than Captain America’s “vibranium” shield, the analysis is very real, right down to its citations, design and statistical analysis. The researchers’ purpose is to use it to teach medical trainees and others how studies are built, but in a translatable and accessible way.  Using a scientific approach and rigorous methodology, the team set research protocols, decided what traits to look for in superheroes, calculated sample size and did all the things scientists do to examine and test a question.  So, the next time you see a cape fluttering on the big screen, remember: true heroism is less about the outfit - and more about the mission.  Read the full study here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-025-04080-6 and here: file:///C:/Users/0116056s/Downloads/s11845-025-04080-6%20(2).pdf  Ends      

Ócáid náisiúnta dhá lá bithgheilleagar gorm mar cheiliúradh ar dul chun cinn suntasach agus cruth a chur ar straitéis geilleagar ghorm na hÉireann Tá comóradh in ómós 50 bliain d’Ionad Taighde Charna á seoladh ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe in éineacht leis an ócáid, Todhchaí Ghorm. Beidh nuálaíocht, ceardlanna agus líonrú ar chlár na n-imeachtaí don ócáid, a reáchtálfar thar dhá lá ar an 7 Deireadh Fómhair agus an 8 Deireadh Fómhair. Tabharfar leathchéad bhliain de thaighde mara agus pleanáil straitéiseach do thodhchaí bhithgheilleagair mara na hÉireann le chéile ag an ócáid.   Tabharfaidh Todhchaí Ghorm fiontraithe mara, taighdeoirí, iascairí, daoine sa phobal agus lucht déanta polasaithe le chéile ar mhaithe le dul i bhfeidhm straitéise. Osclóidh an tOllamh Frances Fahy, stiúrthóir Institiúid Uí Riain in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an comóradh, a thagann ag an am céanna le pleananna forbartha do Lárionad Nuálaíochta Mara na hÉireann ag an gCrompán, Conamara. Chomhlíonfaí an fhorbairt bheartaithe, le tacaíocht Fhiontraíocht Éireann, príomhaidhm den chomhpháirtíocht idir Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus Údarás na Gaeltachta. Dúirt Máire Ní Éinniú, Ceannasaí Nua na Mara: “Ní fhéadfaimis am níos fearr a roghnú. Tá 50 bliain de bharr feabhais taighde mara á gceiliúradh againn agus muid inár gceannródaithe ar thodhchaí gheilleagar mara na hÉireann. Is léiriú foirfe í an Lárionad Nuálaíochta agus Forbartha Mara ar seo, áit a dtagann taighde eolaíochta na blianta caite leis an nuálaíocht fiontraíochta amach romhainn. Cruthófar deiseanna a athróidh ár bpobail cois farraige agus cuirfear Éire chun cinn go hidirnáisiúnta mar cheannródaí sa gheilleagar gorm. Beidh tionchar díreach á imirt ag na ceardlanna Todhchaí Ghorm ar fhorbairt náisiúnta polasaithe.” Dúirt an tOllamh Frances Fahy, Stiúrthóir Institiúid Uí Riain in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Le leathchéad bliain anois, tá Carna chun tosaigh ó thaobh taighde mara. Leis an gcomhoibriú seo le Nua na Mara, áit a dtagann áiseanna nuálaíochta mara le chéile le buntaighde leanúnach, cruthófar éiceachóras ar leith ag an suíomh i gCarna. Le chéile, tá foinse nua á dtógáil againn a cheanglaíonn taighde acadúil le nuálaíocht tráchtála. Cinnteoidh sé seo go mbeidh fíor bhuntáistí eacnamaíochta agus sóisialta ag muintir na Gaeltachta agus ag geilleagar gorm na hÉireann. Leag Tomás Ó Síocháin, Príomhfheidhmeannach Údarás na Gaeltachta, béim ar an tionchar réigiúnach: “Is léiriú í Lárionad Taighde Carna ar ár gcur chuige straitéiseach ar son forbairt inbhuanaithe sa Ghaeltacht. Cruthóidh an lárionad deiseanna oibre ar ard chaighdeán, fad agus aitheantas á thabhairt, agus tógáil á dhéanamh, ar bhunachar eolais oidhreacht cultúrtha na Gaeltachta. Cuirfidh sé an réigiún chun tosaigh mar cheartlár domhanda don nuálaíocht mara.” Ó bunaíodh é in 1974, tá Stáisiúin Taighde Carna tar éis obair ríthábhachtach a dhéanamh i dtreo forbairt eolaíochta mara na hÉireann, tacaíocht a thabhairt do na céadta taighdeoirí, taighde ceannródaíoch a léiriú, agus cuir go mór le geilleagar mara €1.4 billiúin na hÉireann. Tógfaidh an Lárionad Nuálaíochta agus Forbartha Mara nua ar an mbunús seo, ag déanamh ionadaíocht ar fhorbairt uaillmhianach Pháirc na Mara i gCill Chiaráin. Tá tacaíocht curtha ar fáil don fhorbairt seo ó eagraíochtaí éagsúla ina áirítear BIM, Fiontraíocht Éireann, Foras na Mara, an Roinn Aeráide, Fuinnimh agus Comhshaoil, Teagasc, Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta an Atlantaigh agus Laurentic Forum. Is féidir clárú don ócáid Todhchaí Ghorm ag https://lnkd.in/et6MWpb5 Lá 1 (7 Deireadh Fómhair): •          Cuir i láthair taighde úrnua ar nuálaíocht feamainne agus bith-theicneolaíocht mara •          Ceardlanna Praiticiúla le coistí maoinithe ina áirítear Údarás na Gaeltachta, BIM, Hatch Blue, agus Restore Ventures. •          Léargas idirnáisiúnta ó hAmbasáid Cheanada •          Ceiliúradh 50 bliain le fáiltiú líonraithe Lá 2 (8 Deireadh Fómhair): •Seisiúin pleanála straitéise idirghníomhach ina gcuirfidh rannpháirtithe le straitéis bithgheilleagar gorm na hÉireann • Turas treoraithe feamainne ag cur acmhainní mara áitiúla chun solais Críoch

University of Galway has been awarded Green Campus status for the third time by An Taisce, for its ongoing commitment to embed sustainability. The accreditation was celebrated at a special ceremony on campus with the raising of the Green Flag, a symbol of the quality of the campus and a focus on environmental and sustainability issues. Professor Becky Whay, Deputy President and Registrar of University of Galway, said: “Sustainability is a core value of our University, reinforced in our new Strategic Plan 2025-2030. We are very proud to have the most biodiverse university campus in Ireland, a Stars Gold Rating, an Excellence in Sustainability Award, and to be the first university in Ireland to become an SDG Ambassador. “The Green Campus programme is very important to us. Having first raised the flag in 2019, it is a hugely important recognition of the quality of our campus and our commitment to the environment and sustainability. A huge credit goes to all of our students and staff who make a difference on a daily basis, to our Community University Sustainability Partnership members which helps to drive our ambitions, and our community partners who contributed to this fantastic achievement.” The award coincided with SDG Week which ran from the 20th–27th September, with University of Galway hosting a week-long series of events as a national SDG Ambassador - dedicated to increasing awareness, engagement and action to help achieve the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Highlight activities included a Sustainability-themed Parkrun with over 200 runners, a Community Climate Assembly, the raising of the third Green Flag and a guided walk along the University’s Biodiversity Trail. The Green Flag is awarded by An Taisce and the International Foundation of Environmental Education and it recognises the promotion of best practice in sustainability across six themes which include energy, waste, travel, biodiversity, water and green laboratories. Through learning and research activities, and as a signatory to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Accord, University of Galway is committed to a transition towards a more sustainable future. The University is ranked number one in Ireland and third in the EU in the THE Impact rankings which measure achievements based around the UN SDGs. Valentina Stampa, Green-Campus programme officer at An Tasice, said: “The green flag for University of Galway is renewed by An Taisce – the National Trust for Ireland on behalf of the international Foundation for Environmental Education. University of Galway has proudly renewed its Green Flag for the third time, marking a milestone in their sustainability journey and leadership in embedding the Sustainable Development Goals across the campus. Their commitment to sustainability is contagious and they are setting a powerful example for institutions nationwide.” An Taisce’s Green-Campus Programme is an international environmental education and award scheme that promotes long-term, whole college action for the environment that empowers both students and staff to create a more balanced campus community and to reduce environmental impacts and associated costs. Ends

Two-day national marine bioeconomy event celebrates historic milestone while shaping Ireland's blue economy strategy University of Galway has launched a 50th anniversary celebration of Carna Research Station with the Todhchaí Ghorm - Blue Future event. Two-days of innovation, workshops and networking are being held on October 7th and 8th, combining five decades of marine research excellence with strategic planning for Ireland's marine bioeconomy future. Todhchaí Ghorm - Blue Future brings together marine entrepreneurs, researchers, fishers, community members and policymakers to shape strategy. The anniversary celebration, to be opened by Professor Frances Fahy, Director of the Ryan Institute at University of Galway, is also being held as plans progress to develop Ireland's Marine Innovation and Development Centre at Crumpán, Connemara. The planned development is being supported by Enterprise Ireland and will fulfil a key objective of the strategic partnership between University of Galway and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Máire Ní Éinniú, Head of Nua na Mara, said: "The timing couldn't be better. We're honouring 50 years of marine research excellence while actively pioneering the future of Ireland's ocean economy. The Marine Innovation and Development Centre represents this bridge perfectly, where decades of scientific discovery meet tomorrow's entrepreneurial innovation, creating opportunities that will transform our coastal communities and establish Ireland as a global leader in the blue bioeconomy. The Todhchaí Ghorm- Blue Future workshops will directly contribute to national policy development.” Professor Frances Fahy, Director of the Ryan Institute at University of Galway, said: "Carna has been at the forefront of marine research for half a century. This collaboration with Nua na Mara, where cutting-edge marine innovation facilities will complement our ongoing fundamental research, creates a unique ecosystem at the Carna site. Together, we're building a powerhouse that bridges academic research with commercial innovation, ensuring real economic and social benefits for the Gaeltacht community and Ireland's blue economy." Tomás Ó Síocháin, CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta, emphasised the regional impact: "The transformation of Carna Research Station exemplifies our strategic approach to sustainable development in the Gaeltacht. This facility will create high-quality employment opportunities while acknowledging and building on the deep knowledge within the cultural heritage of the Gaeltacht and positioning the region as a global hub for marine innovation." Since its establishment in 1974, Carna Research Station has been instrumental in advancing Ireland's marine sciences, supporting hundreds of researchers, producing ground-breaking research, and contributing significantly to Ireland's €1.4 billion marine economy. The planned new Marine Innovation and Development Centre will build on this foundation, representing a cornerstone in the ambitious development of Páirc na Mara in Cill Chiaráin. The development is supported by multiple organisations including BIM, Enterprise Ireland, the Marine Institute, and the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, Teagasc, Atlantic Technological University, Laurentic Forum. Registration for the Todhchaí Ghorm - Blue Future event is open at https://lnkd.in/et6MWpb5 Day 1 (October 7th): Cutting-edge research presentations on seaweed innovation and marine biotechnology Practical workshops with funding bodies including Údarás na Gaeltachta, BIM, Hatch Blue, and Restore Ventures International perspectives from the Canadian Embassy 50th Anniversary celebration with networking reception Day 2 (October 8th): • Interactive strategic planning sessions where participants directly contribute to Ireland's Blue Bioeconomy Strategy • Guided seaweed tour showcasing local marine resources Ends