News Archive

University of Galway has announced its annual information evening for adult learners, with scores of opportunities for professionals, the unemployed and those returning to work to take short courses and longer-term studies. The Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development hosts the annual event on campus on Thursday June 20, 2024, from 5.30-7.30pm, in the Human Biology Building. The part-time courses for 2024/25 include fully-funded Springboard+ and Human Capital Initiative courses for the unemployed and returners, and 90% funding for those in work but seeking to upskill. New this year are micro-credentials courses with special subsidies worth 50-80% of fees for courses addressing skills in key priority areas, including renewable energy, sustainability, construction and planning, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, ICT, and electronic engineering. This event creates an opportunity for would-be students to meet representatives from our part-time courses, including in the area of Business and Management, Science and Technology, Languages, Arts and Humanities, Community Education, and pre-university courses.             Nuala McGuinn, Director at the Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development at University of Galway, said: “We have created flexible learning pathways from micro-credential to masters for learners seeking a short, accredited module or a longer-term course. This event allows would-be students to meet representatives from our part-time courses to learn more about the benefits of newly funded and flexible learning opportunities, while also getting a chance to hear from our graduates and students on how to maintain a healthy work-life-study balance.” Over the course of the evening prospective students will have an opportunity to join talks exploring part-time courses and micro-credentials, understanding NFQ Levels, and grasping the Recognition of Prior Learning process and how it can support eligibility for study. Students will get expert tips from our Multimedia Content Developer on online learning and the Career Development team will share advice and resources to support you in your next step. Springboard+ approved courses for 2024/25 available here and our current list of micro-credentials can be found here. Student support services will also be on hand on the night to answer any queries learners may have as they decide on course options. For further information on this event and to register for this event visit universityofgalway.ie/adultlearning/info_eve  Ends

 Researchers at University of Galway have created digital babies to better understand infants’ health in their critical first 180 days of life. The team created 360 advanced computer models that simulate the unique metabolic processes of each baby. The digital babies are the first sex-specific computational whole-body models representing newborn and infant metabolism with 26 organs, six cell types, and more than 80,000 metabolic reactions. Real-life data from 10,000 newborns, including sex, birth weight and metabolite concentrations, enabled the creation and validation of the models, which can be personalised - enabling scientists to investigate an individual infant’s metabolism for precision medicine applications. The work was conducted by a team of scientists at University of Galway’s Digital Metabolic Twin Centre and Heidelberg University, led by APC Microbiome Ireland principal investigator Professor Ines Thiele. The team’s research aims to advance precision medicine using computational modelling. They describe the computational modelling of babies as seminal, as it enhances understanding of infant metabolism and creates opportunities to improve the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions during the early days of a baby’s life, such as inherited metabolic diseases. Lead author Elaine Zaunseder, Heidelberg University, said: “Babies are not just small adults - they have unique metabolic features that allow them to develop and grow up healthy. For instance, babies need more energy for regulating body temperature due to, for example, their high surface-area-to-mass ratio, but they cannot shiver in the first six months of life, so metabolic processes must ensure the infant keeps warm. “Therefore, an essential part of this research work was to identify these metabolic processes and translate them into mathematical concepts that could be applied in the computational model. We captured metabolism in an organ-specific manner, which offers the unique opportunity to model organ-specific energy demands that are very different in infants compared to adults. “As nutrition is the fuel for metabolism, we can use breast milk data from real newborns in our models to simulate the associated metabolism throughout the baby’s entire body, including various organs. Based on their nutrition, we simulated the development of digital babies over six months and showed that they will grow at the same rate as real-world infants.” Professor Ines Thiele, study lead on the project, said: “New-born screening programmes are crucial for detecting metabolic diseases early on, enhancing infant survival rates and health outcomes. However, the variability observed in how these diseases manifest in babies underscores the urgent need for personalised approaches to disease management. “Our models allow researchers to investigate the metabolism of healthy infants as well as infants suffering from inherited metabolic diseases, including those investigated in newborn screening. When simulating the metabolism of infants with a disease, the models showed we can predict known biomarkers for these diseases. Furthermore, the models accurately predicted metabolic responses to various treatment strategies, showcasing their potential in clinical settings.” Elaine Zaunseder added: “This work is a first step towards establishing digital metabolic twins for infants, providing a detailed view of their metabolic processes. Such digital twins have the potential to revolutionise paediatric healthcare by enabling tailored disease management for each infant's unique metabolic needs.” The research was published this week in Cell Metabolism This work was led by University of Galway and completed as part of a collaboration with Heidelberg University, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany. Ends

University of Galway has announced the renewal of a special partnership with the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) to provide two full MBA Scholarships to prospective students.  The scholarships are open to professional and senior executive members of the Gaelic Players Association who meet the minimum application requirements for the MBA at J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics. GPA chief executive Tom Parsons said: “The two fully funded MBA scholarships provide a massive opportunity to the recipients. They have the potential to be transformational in their professional lives and help the GPA to stay true to our motto of ‘You See Players. We See People’. The development of our members away from the playing pitch is our priority, as it allows them to plan for their futures once their inter-county career comes to an end, be that by choice or by necessity. So, on behalf of players, it’s important for me to thank University of Galway for their ongoing support.”    GPA-MBA Scholar 2021 and former Galway Hurler, David Collins said: “It is critical for GAA players throughout Ireland to plan for life after sport. Completing my MBA has not only equipped me with valuable skills but also ignited my passion for leadership. I am extremely grateful to the GPA and University of Galway.”      Professor Kate Kenny, University of Galway MBA Programme Director said: “These scholarships provide transformative opportunities for GPA members. By investing in education, athletes gain valuable skills, knowledge and networks that can propel them into successful careers and prepare them for life after sport.”    The University of Galway-GPA scholarships for the MBA equip GPA members - both current and former players - with the knowledge, creativity and leadership skills needed to gain a competitive edge in the fast-evolving world of leadership and business. The MBA learning environment also offers unique opportunities to engage in active learning with programme participants and experts from leading enterprises, operating at regional, national and international level.    The scholarship recipients will join a network of MBA scholars that have gone on to excel in careers in sectors such as MedTech, Fintech, ICT, Financial Services, Healthcare, Sports Leadership, Defence Forces, Public Service, Third Sector and the European Commission.    For queries on GPA Scholarships, contact GPA’s Education Manager Brian Howard at brian.howard@gaelicplayers.com or visit universityofgalway.ie/mba.     Ends 

Tá sé fógartha ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe go bhfuil saoráid teagaisc oscailte ar an gcampas, Seomra Galway John, atá ainmnithe in ómós don Taistealaí Éireannach iomráiteach John Ward, a rugadh agus a tógadh i gCathair na Gaillimhe. Rugadh ‘Galway John’ ar Lána an Uisce ar an mBóthar Mór, Gaillimh, an 18 Meitheamh 1913. Chreid sé go láidir i luach an oideachais. I gcomhairle le gaolta, d’oibrigh Jason Sherlock, arbh é Galway John a shin-seanathair agus alumnus de chuid Ollscoil na Gaillimhe i gcomhpháirt le foireann na hollscoile ar an tionscadal chun an seomra a ainmniú i ndiaidh Galway John.             Dúirt Jason Sherlock an méid seo a leanas: “Bhí aithne ar Galway John as a phearsantacht thaitneamhach. Bhí an-ómós ag an bpobal lonnaithe do John i gcónaí agus mheas siad gur nasc láidir a bhí ann idir na Taistealaithe agus an pobal lonnaithe. Sa lá atá inniu ann, tá an t-oideachas ríthábhachtach chun difríochtaí a chéile a thuiscint agus mar is eol do go leor Mincéirí, tá sé deacair dul chun cinn a dhéanamh in áit nach mothaíonn tú go bhfuil aon ghnó agat ann. Tá súil againn go léir, tríd an seomra ranga seo a ainmniú i ndiaidh Galway John agus scéal na Mincéirí a insint go n-aireoidh Taistealaithe na hÉireann go bhfuil áit acu ar an gcampas.”             Dúirt Uachtarán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh: “Tá tábhacht ar leith ag baint le Seomra Galway John mar is tráth stairiúil é seo i saol na hOllscoile. Den chéad uair riamh, tá seomra ranga buan á thiomnú againn in ómós do Thaistealaí Éireannach, ag tabhairt aitheantas do shaothar saibhir cultúrtha agus teacht aniar Thaistealaithe na hÉireann. Nuair a bhí mé ag fás aníos, shiúil mé tríd an gcampas amhail is dá mba liom féin é. Ba mhaith liom go mbraithfeadh gach duine mar an gcéanna, go bhfuil an Ollscoil seo mar dhlúthchuid dá saol. Tá an tionscnamh seo ag teacht leis an tiomantas sin chun cuimsiú, éagsúlacht agus tuiscint a chothú inár dtimpeallacht acadúil, áit a bhfuil fáilte roimh chách.” Mar Thaistealaí Éireannach, champáil John in go leor áiteanna ar champas na hOllscoile agus gar dó, in aice le hArd-Eaglais na Gaillimhe agus Ascaill na Naoscach ina measc, chomh maith le háiteanna eile sa chathair ar nós Loch an tSáile. Tá cuid d’fhoirgnimh na hOllscoile tógtha ar thailte ina mbíodh Taistealaithe na hÉireann ag cur fúthu. Bhí an-aithne ar Galway John agus ar a bhean Bridget Ward, nó Big Biddy Ward, ar fud iarthar na hÉireann as a macántacht agus a gcuid oibre crua, agus bhí Mícheál D agus Dolores Keane i measc an iliomad cairde a bhí acu. Thaistil siad ar fud na tíre mar lánúin, ag obair agus ag saothrú a gcuid ag dul go hiondúil ó Ghaillimh, Baile Átha an Rí, Creachmhaoil, an Gort, Luimneach, Cill Airne, Mórchuaird Chiarraí, Inis, Cill Rois, an Leithinse, Dúlainn, Baile Uí Bheacháin, Cinn Mhara, Cill Cholgáin agus ar ais arís. Bhí a n-iníon Anne Sherlock ina ball de Mincéir Misle, ceann de na chéad eagraíochtaí náisiúnta a bhunaigh Mincéirí ar son na Mincéirí. Bhí cúpla ceird ag Galway John idir a bheith ina ghabha stáin agus ina ghlantóir simléir. Bhí Caintis – teanga Thaistealaithe na hÉireann – Gaeilge agus Béarla ar a thoil aige. Seanchaí den scoth ba ea John, agus bhí an-chur amach aige ar fhinscéalta agus ar bhéaloideas na hÉireann, agus d’inseodh sé scéalta agus chanadh sé amhráin faoin saol ar an mbóthar. Nuair a bhásaigh Galway John an 7 Eanáir 1981, d’fhreastail na mílte ar a shochraid in Ard-Eaglais na Gaillimhe. D’fhoilsigh go leor nuachtán tuairiscí ar Aifreann na Sochraide, áit ar fhreastail gach cineál duine idir Mhincéirí, an pobal lonnaithe, cheannairí gnó agus cathartha agus ionadaithe poiblí. Críoch

University of Galway has announced the dedication of a teaching facility on campus as the Galway John Room, named after well-known Irish Traveller John Ward, who was born and raised in Galway city.     ‘Galway John’ was born on Water Lane, Bohermore, Galway, on June 18th, 1913. He was a firm believer in the value of education.     In consultation with relatives, Jason Sherlock, a great grandson of Galway John and alumnus of University of Galway, has worked with staff at the University on the project for the dedication of the Galway John Room.    Jason Sherlock said: “Galway John was known for his likeable persona. The settled community has always held John in high regard and seen him as a strong link between the Irish Traveller and Irish settled. In this current era, education is crucial to understanding each other’s differences and as many Mincéirs know, it is hard to progress in a place where you do not feel that you belong. We all hope that by naming this classroom after Galway John and telling the Mincéir story that it will empower Irish Travellers to build their sense of belonging on campus.”    University of Galway President Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “The Galway John Room holds particular significance as it marks a historic moment for our University. For the first time, we are dedicating a permanent classroom in honour of an Irish Traveller, recognising the rich cultural contributions and resilience of our Irish Traveller people. When I was growing up, I walked through our campus as if it was my own. I want everybody to feel the same, that our University is part of the furniture of their lives. This initiative is consistent with that commitment to fostering inclusivity, diversity, and understanding within our academic environment, where everyone belongs here.”    As an Irish Traveller, John camped in many spots on or near the University campus, including beside Galway Cathedral and Snipe Avenue, as well as other parts of the city such as Lough Atalia, with some of the University’s buildings now standing on places where Irish Travellers would have lived.     Galway John and his wife Bridget Ward, known as Big Biddy Ward, were Galway characters and were well known across the west of Ireland for their honesty and hard work, with Bridget, in particular, counting the likes of President Michael D Higgins and singer Dolores Keane among their circle of friends and associates.     As a couple they travelled throughout the country working and making a living, with a typical route being Galway, Athenry, Craughwell, Gort, Limerick, Killarney, the ring of Kerry, Ennis, Kilrush, Lahinch, Doolin, Ballyvaughan, Kinvara, Kilcolgan, and back. Their daughter Anne Sherlock was a member of Mincéir Misle, one of the first national organisations set up by Mincéirs, for Mincéirs.    Galway John was as a man of many trades, including being a tinsmith and a chimney sweep. He was a fluent speaker of Cant - Irish Traveller language, An Ghaeilge and English. John was a great storyteller and knew Ireland's ancient fables and stories, and would tell tales and sing songs about life on the road.    When Galway John died on January 7th, 1981, thousands attended his funeral in Galway Cathedral. Numerous newspapers published reports of the Requiem Mass, which was attended by all walks of life including Mincéirs, members of the wider settled community, business and civic leaders and public representatives.    Ends 

A research team led by University of Galway is investigating whether climate change is reducing the impact that some of tiniest organisms in the oceans have on CO2 levels in the atmosphere.    The researchers spent several weeks at sea on board the Marine Institute’s Celtic Explorer in the Labrador Sea between Canada and Greenland, to record levels of phytoplankton.  The expedition team are assessing the role of these tiny plants in carbon absorption from the atmosphere in the context of the threat from climate change on the seas from freshwater and meltwater in the Arctic regions.   Water samples and atmospheric measurements gathered by the researchers will help to assess how phytoplankton living on the sunlit ocean surface absorbs CO2 and nutrients, and in turn produces organic carbon, some of which sinks into the deep ocean, locking in the greenhouse gas for centuries.  The outstanding question is to quantify how much carbon is exported to the deep ocean.   This process of carbon transfer is known as the Biological Carbon Pump (BCP) and it plays a critical role in global climate regulation.   Professor Brian Ward, Professor of Oceanography at University of Galway, said: “The interplay between the physics and biology of phytoplankton and their role in the carbon cycle, and how climate change is affecting this, is not well understood. Our current ability to predict changes in the Biological Carbon Pump in the face of ongoing and future climate change is weak at best.”   The research expedition was funded by the Marine Institute, and led by Professor Brian Ward, School of Natural Sciences, University of Galway and involved researchers from Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada and the Ocean Frontier Institute; Memorial University Newfoundland; and the Science Foundation Ireland research centre for applied geosciences - iCRAG.   The Labrador Sea in the North Atlantic is home to the largest sustained phytoplankton bloom annually, but it is believed that rapid changes are occurring in this region, and there are very few assessments of the Biological Carbon Pump. Current estimates suggest that the BCP removes 5-12 gigatonnes of carbon from the atmosphere per year, roughly equal to anthropogenic CO2 emissions - the environmental change caused or influenced by people, either directly or indirectly.   The research project - Biological Carbon Export in the Labrador Sea (BELAS) – used a 10m mast on the bow of the Marine Institute research vessel Celtic Explorer to directly measure how much CO2 is being transferred from the atmosphere to the ocean.    Preliminary analysis indicates that an enormous flux of CO2 transfer occurred during the research expedition, driven by the abundance of phytoplankton photosynthesising in the surface waters.    The University of Galway team also measured the turbulence in the ocean down to 100m with their unique profiling instrument, as turbulence is a critical process for controlling phytoplankton behaviour, which is just gaining recognition within the international community. This places UGAL at the cutting edge of the interaction between ocean physics and biology.    The Canadian scientists involved in the research project took water samples during the two week expedition, with the aim that their analysis will bridge the knowledge gap over the role of phytoplantkon in the carbon cycle.   Professor Ward said: “Building on the successful international research expedition in 2022, our aim is to assess the functioning of the biological carbon pump in the Labrador Sea and improve our understanding of the mechanisms behind it so that we can make better predictions about its impact in the face of climate change.   “By transferring carbon into the deeper ocean, the BCP effectively removes CO2 from the atmosphere for centuries, slowing global warming. However, there is mounting evidence that climate warming is affecting the BCP, especially in higher latitudes, via increasing freshwater inputs, altered nutrient dynamics, and declines in phytoplankton growth.”    This research is very timely given the deepening interest in carbon dioxide removal (CDR), where one of the controversial methods proposed is to “fertilise” the ocean to stimulate phytoplankton with the aim of removing CO2 from the atmosphere. CDR is rapidly gaining momentum and several companies are already deploying methods to remove CO2 from the atmosphere.     According to Professor Ward: “There remains fundamental research to be carried out before we can scale up the removal of CO2 using the proposed fertilisation methods. There is no doubt the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere needs to be reduced by the end of this century, but CDR methods are unlikely to offset anthropogenic CO2 emissions, which is where the main focus needs to be.”    Ends   

 University of Galway has shared a message of congratulations and good luck to alumni on Team Ireland ahead of the Paris Olympics. Olympic medallists Aifric Keogh and Fiona Murtagh are to compete on the water in the Women’s Pair, with the heats commencing on July 28th. They will be supported at the Games by Heather Boyle, Head of Communications and Athletes Commission Support at the Olympic Federation of Ireland, an alumna of the University. Dean of Students Professor Ciara Meehan said: ”On behalf of the University of Galway community, I wish Aifric and Fiona every success, along with all the other rowers and athletes on Team Ireland. Everyone in the country, never mind the University, will be cheering them on. We know they have done it on the biggest of stages before and we hope that they can take another step or two up the podium in Paris.” Des Ryan, Director of Sport and Physical Wellbeing at University of Galway, said: “Our rowers are fantastic ambassadors for University of Galway, but also for the sport and for the country. We put huge effort into rowing at the University, in particular the coaching and mentoring of students who come through the University’s High Performance Unit. It is a great sense of pride for us to see our students go on to reach the Olympics, and we will be supporting them every step of the way.” Feargal O’Callaghan, High Performance Sports Lead, University of Galway, said: “All of us are 100% behind both Aifric and Fiona for the Olympics. They are among the world’s sporting elite and their success and achievements in representing Ireland are a testament to the talent and dedication that we saw first-hand here in the University.”  Aifric Keogh, from Furbo, Co Galway, and Fiona Murtagh, from Moycullen, Co Galway, have Olympic bronze medals to their names, having made history in Tokyo as one of Ireland’s first female rowers to make it to the podium as part of the Women’s Four. Aifric Keogh holds BSc from the University and regularly competes under the alumni club Gráinne Mhaol, having first learned to row while at Coláiste Iognáid before rowing on the University team.  Fiona Murtagh holds an MBA and competes under our University rowing club, having taken up the sport at Galway Rowing Club. Both rowers have competed at the World Championships and paired for the first time in 2023, narrowly missing out on a podium finish with a fourth place in Belgrade. They have made the podium in all three of this season’s World Cup regattas. Heather Boyle has represented Ireland in rowing and worked with Cycling Ireland for several years, before contributing to the media teams for the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Ends

First edition of James Joyce’s Ulysses and an edition illustrated and signed by Matisse among collection owned by founder of Galway Advertiser     A literary collection owned by the late entrepreneur, local historian and supporter of the arts, Ronnie O’Gorman, has been donated to University of Galway.  The bequest was finalised by Ronnie O'Gorman, the founder and publisher of the Galway Advertiser, before he died in May 2024. It will reside in the University's Library as part of its Special Collections.    The carefully curated collection features many rare and significant works of Irish literature, representing his deep appreciation of Irish writing, the history of publishing in the country and his lifelong passion for the collection and promotion of Irish literature and art.   The works also span three generations of the O’Gorman family and many of the volumes reflect the family’s long interest in the history of Galway, about which Ronnie wrote extensively.    The collection was presented at a special event at University of Galway Library earlier in the year, attended by Ronnie O’Gorman and family, as well as friends and associates.    It includes a first edition of James Joyce’s Ulysses; one of 250 signed copies of a New York Limited Editions Club first edition Ulysses, with illustrations by the French artist Henri Matisse, signed by both the artist and Joyce; and The Aran Islands, by John Millington Synge, with 12 hand-coloured illustrations by Jack B. Yeats, which was described by the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography as "the great prose manifesto of the Irish literary revival".   As well as more rare and beautiful volumes collected by Ronnie O’Gorman, his father Frank and also his grandfather Philip, who worked as Library Clerk in the University of Galway Library in the late 19th century, the collection also includes two 19th Century Walter Osborne paintings - Galway Fowl Market and Galway Fish Market.   Ben O’Gorman, son of Ronnie O’Gorman, said: “Our family is delighted that we were able to keep the collection together and for it to be donated to the University - somewhere that really appreciates it. Ronnie took such joy in curating his collection, it was in many ways his life’s work, so to be able to keep it in one place, for the future, for others to enjoy, is a great legacy.”     President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “The O’Gorman Collection is a tremendous gift to the University community and it is particularly poignant that the collection will reside in our Library where Ronnie O’Gorman’s grandfather Philip worked. Ronnie O’Gorman was a man of huge insight, huge foresight, in establishing the Advertiser and the sense of community that developed for Galway. As we celebrate the donation of such a beautiful gift, I also remember and cherish the day that we had with Ronnie on campus early in 2024, a day that had generosity, community, atmosphere - all of those things that characterised Ronnie O’Gorman.”     University of Galway Librarian Monica Crump said: “The O’Gorman collection represents the very best of Irish literature and culture. It was started by Philip O’Gorman, a former Library Clerk here in the Library, continued by his son Frank and then his grandson Dr Ronnie O’Gorman. We are grateful to all three generations of the O’Gorman family for their commitment to collecting these wonderful works and looking after them so well in the intervening years. And we are immensely grateful to Ronnie and the O’Gorman family for entrusting us with these volumes. We are committed to continuing the good work of the O’Gormans, of preserving them, keeping them safe, and making them available for students and researchers into the future.”    Catriona Cannon, Head of Heritage Collections and Digitisation at University of Galway Library, said: “Ronnie was a long-time friend of the Library and tireless champion of art and culture in the West of Ireland. He was always a welcome sight in our reading room, his combination of knowledge, passion and generosity of spirit was utterly unique and a joy to encounter. This legacy will ensure the continuity of Ronnie’s lifelong commitment to preserving and promoting Ireland’s literary culture - it is a gift to the city he loved and it will inspire and educate students and staff of the University and our researchers for generations to come.”    Ends

New research has revealed that peat soils which are vital for locking away greenhouse gases are much more abundant than previously thought. Data analysed by researchers now suggests that these soils cover 13% more of Ireland’s land mass than previous maps would have shown. The new map includes areas of shallow peat soils, which, crucially also contain large stocks of soil carbon. The maps are useful in land use planning - with peat soils being critical in absorbing greenhouse gases and helping to meet some of Ireland’s most pressing environmental challenges. As recommended by the United Nations Global Peatlands Initiative, the research team from University of Galway, Trinity College Dublin and Queen’s University Belfast, included these shallow peat soils in the new peat map of Ireland. In doing so, they adopted a broader definition of peat soils by including soil material containing 8.6% of organic matter or more that has accumulated to at least 10 cm. The research has been published in the journal Geoderma and can be read here. Dr Terry Morley, University of Galway, one of the co-authors of the research article, said: “Peat soils are important because they help the country meet national and international targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and also play a major role in regulating stream flow, water quality, or providing habitat for ecologically sensitive species.”   Dr Louis Gilet, Trinity College Dublin and lead author, said: “Our technique involves continually updating these peat soil maps as new data become available, and this new IPSM can now be used confidently and contribute to a more precise identification of the location of peat soils across Ireland.   “The IPSM can thus help to accurately implement regulations concerning carbon-rich soils and climate change mitigation, while informing management decisions related to other key sustainability issues such as land use planning, biodiversity management or water regulation.”  Historically, interest in peat soils primarily focused on economic productivity, via extraction, or conversion to agriculture or forestry, but in recent years there has been a growing appreciation of their role in regulating environmental processes as well as providing recreational, educational, scientific and cultural value. Dr Raymond Flynn, Queen’s University Belfast, is also co-author of the research article, and he said: “This map changes our approach to mapping peat soils from the traditional approach concerned with agronomy to one where we can now more reliably focus on the role of peat and peat soils in environmental processes.”  Dr John Connolly, Trinity College Dublin, geographer and one of the Global Peatlands Assessment authors, added: “Peatlands hold a significant percentage of Ireland’s total soil organic carbon stock, but they have been severely degraded over the past 200 years due to land use change and associated human activity, resulting in increased emissions from both deep and shallow peat. As a result, accurate identification, mapping and management of peat soils is essential for programmes that aim to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and to improve biodiversity in the Irish landscape.”  This research is part of the RePEAT project, which is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Ends

University of Galway academics Dr Kathy Reilly and Dr Conn Holohan have been awarded ENLIGHT Impact awards for their research endeavours. The awards were bestowed at a special event at the University of the Basque Country in Bilbao, where the academics were recognised for their impactful projects, highlighting the significant positive change their research brings to society. University of Galway secured two out of the six awards: Dr Kathy Reilly was awarded under the Climate Change category for her work with young people and empowerment to tackle policy. The research involved than 2,000 young people, including those in 11 post-primary schools, in the creation of research tools and educational toolkits, boosting their knowledge and confidence in climate issues. Entitled CCC-CATAPULT: Challenging the Climate Crisis: Children’s Agency to Tackle Policy Underpinned by Learning for Transformation, the work has fed into the development of Climate Action and Sustainable Development Curriculum for schools. Dr Conn Holohan was awarded under the Culture & Creativity theme for his Immersive Empathy project on homelessness. The project involved the production of a new virtual reality film Lost & Found which captures the experience of homelessness from the perspective of those who have lived it. The production adopted a 360-degree style of filming to show the viewer a fully immersive world that can be experienced by wearing a virtual reality headset. It was co-created out of the University’s Centre for Creative Technologies, in collaboration with clients from with Galway Simon Community, enabling people who have experienced homelessness to share their stories but also to enhance their lives through greater engagement in work, education, and volunteering. Three of the six people who took part have gone on to study at the University while the film has effectively fostered empathy and positive attitudes towards the homeless. Professor Becky Whay, University of Galway’s Vice President International and University of Galway Director within the ENLIGHT Alliance, said: “These ENLIGHT Impact awards represent thoroughly deserved recognition from across the ENLIGHT University Alliance for both Conn Holohan’s and Kathy Reilly’s research and the longstanding impact it will have on society. Their success is an inspiration for our research community and is a great example of how impact can be achieved.” The ENLIGHT Impact Award is given annually as part of the ENLIGHT European University Alliance, of which University of Galway is a partner, along with nine other universities across Europe. The awards recognise and give visibility to research endeavours that are exemplars in planning for and achieving impact.  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. ENLIGHT aims to collaboratively transform higher education, addressing societal challenges and promoting equitable quality of life, sustainability and external engagement with the communities of the partner universities. Ends

University of Galway has been named as one of the top universities in Europe, according to the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2025. For the second year in a row, the Europe-wide rankings have placed University of Galway 98th out of almost 700 institutions in more than 40 locations. President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “Being ranked in the top 100 universities in Europe two years in a row, as well as being recognised as number one in Ireland and among the best in the world for sustainability, is a tremendous endorsement of our community of teaching, learning and research and the culture of the people who work at our university. “I would like to thank everyone across our University who continues to make the effort to be a university for the public good, true to our values of respect, excellence, openness and sustainability. We are a place of learning and research, that goes without saying. We are distinctive by being more than that. Our university community is built around our people whether you are a student, a member of staff, an academic, a researcher, a technician or among the many who keep our operations running every day of the year. We have made great strides in recent years to be more outward looking, creating a space and carving a place for our university and our work, from this place, at an international level. I wish everyone continued success on that journey.   “We are also delighted to see three Irish universities in the top 100 in Europe – with University of Galway alongside Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin. This is testament to the capacity of the academic and research community to achieve, despite challenges the sector faces in terms of funding.”   The QS World University Rankings: Europe 2025 recognition also builds on the reputation that University of Galway has earned in recent years for progress on sustainability, having retained the position in Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings as the number one university in Ireland; top 5 in the EU; and in the world’s top 50, for progress towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).   More information on the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024 is available at https://www.topuniversities.com/europe-university-rankings Ends

A University of Galway professor whose research focuses on the biology of stem cells has been elected a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), Europe’s leading academy across the life sciences. Professor Uri Frank, who is based in the University’s Centre for Chromosome Biology, secured the membership in recognition of his research over the past 20 years. Professor Frank joins two other colleagues from the research centre who have been elected members of EMBO - Professor Brian McStay and Professor Noel Lowndes.             Speaking about his election, Professor Frank said: "I am delighted to join the international EMBO community, whose members perform basic, curiosity-driven research across the life sciences, contributing essential knowledge for future applications." Professor Frank's research addresses fundamental questions in the biology of stem cells, focusing on the role of these cells in development and regeneration. His team has established the jellyfish-related animal Hydractinia as a laboratory model organism for this purpose. These highly regenerative animals are unusual as they do not succumb to age-related deterioration, nor do they develop cancer. It is thought that understanding how Hydractinia's stem cells act in mediating these traits will provide insight into how stem cells function in other animals, including those of humans. Research in Professor Frank’s lab has been funded by Wellcome Trust, Science Foundation Ireland, the US National Science Foundation, the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), and by Human Frontiers Science Program. After completing his PhD at the University of Amsterdam, Professor Frank went on to train as a postdoctoral scientist at the National Institute of Oceanography in Israel, and continued for two additional postdoc periods, in Jena and Heidelberg in Germany, before joining University of Galway in 2005.             EMBO Director Fiona Watt said: “The new EMBO Members and Associate Members have made immense contributions to fundamental life science research, and, in many cases, their work has paved the way for innovations that have improved lives and livelihoods around the world. As EMBO marks its 60th anniversary, we celebrate the pivotal roles played by the EMBO Membership in strengthening international life science research and contributing to the EMBO Programmes and activities. I send my warmest congratulations to all those elected.” EMBO Members guide the execution of the EMBO Programmes and activities, for example by evaluating funding applications, serving on EMBO Council and committees, and contributing to initiatives such as training, policy, outreach and mentorship. New members are nominated and elected by the existing EMBO Membership. Ends

University of Galway has announced the appointment of leading environmental geographer Professor Frances Fahy as the new Director of the Ryan Institute. A Fulbright Scholar, Frances Fahy was previously Head of Geography at the University and is the past President of the Geographical Society of Ireland.   Professor Fahy currently leads several international research teams on sustainable consumption and energy citizenship research. President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Fahy, an accomplished researcher in her field and an exemplary colleague, to lead the Ryan Institute at the University, building on the work of Professor Charles Spillane. University of Galway is ranked #1 in Ireland, top 5 in the EU and among the Top 50 in the world by the THE for our impact in support of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. This work carries a particular resonance in Galway, given our location and the Ryan Institute is a fulcrum of this work.  We look forward to a deepening of the interdisciplinary research that happens at the institute thanks to our academics and the postdoctoral fellows, PhD students and research assistants and the stories of their impact on the world.” Professor Frances Fahy, Director of the Ryan Institute, said: “It is a great privilege to lead the largest research institute at University of Galway, supporting all our colleagues from the natural and social sciences who pursue cutting edge interdisciplinary research that provides knowledge for transformations to environmental, social and economic sustainability for people and our planet." Professor Frances Fahy Bio Frances is a leading environmental geographer and has more than 100 publications to her name, including four books (Methods of Sustainability Research in the Social Sciences published by Sage, 2013, Challenging Consumption Routledge, 2014, Energy Demand Challenges in Europe Palgrave 2019 and Energy Citizenship across Europe, Palgrave Macmillan forthcoming in 2024). Professor Fahy has coordinated more than 20 funded research projects and obtained competitive research funding, totalling more than €36 million, including from Horizon Europe, H2020, JPI-Climate, Interreg, the Marine Institute, National Economic and Social Council and the Environmental Protection Agency.  She has supervised 10 PhD students to completion, 11 Postdoctoral Research Fellows and Master’s students, many of whom have gone on to hold key roles in policy and academia. Professor Fahy has also won numerous awards for her research and academic life, including the President’s Award for Research Excellence (2017); Societal Impact (2017); Teaching Excellence (Team Award 2020); and the Irish Research Council’s National Ally Award for Mentoring and Supervision (2023).  Professor Fahy joined University of Galway as a postdoctoral research fellow in 2005 and lives with her family in Corcullen. Ends

A PhD student whose research is developing a tool to score AI for trustworthiness has won University of Galway’s Threesis challenge showcasing the best research communications. Twelve postgraduates took part in the Threesis Grand Finale, sharing the story of their research in just three minutes, using just three slides, in front of three judges and a voting audience. Originally from Moate, Co Westmeath, Louise McCormack secured the top prize for her presentation - Scoring AI for Ethical Trustworthiness. She outlined how her research is helping to shape a future where AI is both powerful and ethical. Through her PhD, Louise McCormack is conducting research to develop a tool to score AI for trustworthiness in line with the Seven Ethical Principles for Trustworthy AI developed by the European Commission’s High-Level Expert Group on AI. She is supported in her research by ADAPT, the Science Foundation Ireland Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content Technology. Professor Jim Livesey, Vice-President Research and Innovation at University of Galway, said: “Threesis is one of the highlights of the year for our research community as it provides a snapshot of the ground-breaking research underway by our postgraduate research students. Our 12 finalists were outstanding in their ability to condense their complex and specialised research into just three minutes for a public audience. My congratulations to the winners and finalists, and also to the 80 students who participated in training and heats, and the many colleagues across campus who support this programme.” Threesis is fast-paced research communications competition, with presentations covering a range of topics including saffron farming, solar-hydrogen, bioprinting, contemporary horror and improving road safety. Second place went to PhD student Anastasija (Ana) Walsh, from Dublin, with her talk: ‘Extracellular Vesicles: Tiny but Mighty Messengers Suppressing Anti-Tumour Immunity’. Her research, at the University’s Lambe Institute for Translational Research, is funded by the Irish Cancer Society and focuses on extracellular vesicles - the tiny particles produced by all types of cells which help them communicate and influence each other. Her talk centred on how they may influence the field of cancer research. The audience vote and third place went to Sofiia Tretiak, PhD student based in the University’s Ryan Institute, with her talk on ‘Seaweed Super Solution: Using Ocean Power for Human and Planet Health’. Her research is funded by the European Commission, Cybercolloids Ltd and the Irish Research Council. It explores novel techniques to extract commercially valuable seaweed compounds useful for food, agriculture, medical and pharmaceutical industries. Ruth Hynes, Innovation and Engagement Officer at the University’s Research & Innovation Office and Threesis Programme Director, said: “Ultimately, we aim to maximize the societal benefits and impact of research at the University. Achieving this often requires our researchers to engage across disciplines, collaborate beyond traditional boundaries, and connect with a range of stakeholders. Effective communication skills are essential for researchers to succeed in these areas. The goal therefore of Threesis is to empower our postgraduate research students to make their research accessible and understandable." The Threesis Grand Finale is the culmination of training sessions and competition heats in which 80 postgraduate students took part, before being whittled down to a final shortlist of 12. The judges were John Crumlish, chief executive of Galway International Arts Festival, Sinéad Beacom, Head of the Researcher Development Centre at University of Galway, and Victoria Ward, the previous Threesis winner – with the university’s Dr Jessamyn Fairfield as MC. The Threesis competition was initiated at University of Galway in 2012 and is open to all research students and postdoctoral researchers at the University.   Videos of the winning presentations are available at www.universityofgalway.ie/threesis Ends

Tá ceapachán an Ollaimh Peter McHugh mar Uachtarán Eatramhach deimhnithe ag Údarás na hOllscoile in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Tagann an deimhniú sna sála ar fhógra an 26 Meitheamh a thug le fios go raibh an cinneadh glactha ag an Ollamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh éirí as mar Uachtarán. Tá an tOllamh McHugh ag feidhmiú mar Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí faoi láthair agus rachaidh sé i mbun ról an Uachtaráin Eatramhaigh i Meán Fómhair 2024. Dúirt Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Cathaoirleach Údarás na hOllscoile: “Thar ceann Údarás na hOllscoile, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh cheapachán an Ollaimh Peter McHugh mar Uachtarán Eatramhach agus guím gach rath air sa ról sin. Beidh an tOllamh McHugh i gceannas ar an Ollscoil ag am ina mbeidh an iomaí dúshlán roimh an earnáil, ach tá seasamh láidir againn chomh maith agus muid ag díriú ar an todhchaí.”             Dúirt an tOllamh McHugh: “Is mór an onóir domsa a bheith ceaptha mar Uachtarán Eatramhach ar Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le baill Údarás na hOllscoile as a dtacaíocht. Ba mhaith liom freisin buíochas a ghabháil leis an Uachtarán atá ag dul as oifig, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, as an tsárobair atá déanta aige, as a thiomantas do luachanna na hOllscoile mar atá meas, oscailteacht, barr feabhais agus inbhuanaitheacht le sé bliana anuas, agus as lámh a bheith aige in institiúid den scoth a dhéanamh d’Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. "Táim ag súil go mór le forbairt a dhéanamh ar an iliomad éachtaí de chuid na hOllscoile. Beidh mé ag díriú ar an gcáil idirnáisiúnta atá orainn as barr feabhais sa teagasc, san fhoghlaim, sa taighde agus sa nuálaíocht a neartú agus a fhorbairt, ar ár ndícheall a dhéanamh chun an t-eispéireas mac léinn is fearr a bhaint amach, agus ar an bhfoireann a chumasú le héachtaí a bhaint amach.” Thosaigh an tOllamh McHugh ag obair san Ollscoil in 1991 agus ceapadh é mar chéad Ollamh Bunaithe le hInnealtóireacht Bhithleighis in 2007. Tá tréimhsí caite aige roimhe seo mar Dhéan ar Choláiste na hInnealtóireachta agus na hIonformaitice, mar Cheann Scoile na hInnealtóireachta agus na hIonformaitice, agus mar Cheann Scoile na hInnealtóireachta. Faoina stiúir mar Cheann Scoile, d’fhorbair Scoil na hInnealtóireachta a plean gnímh don chomhionannas inscne, agus de bharr na réamhoibre seo, bhain an scoil Gradam Airgid Athena SWAN amach in 2022, arb í an chéad Scoil Innealtóireachta in Éirinn ar éirigh léi an t-aitheantas sin a bhaint amach. Ghlac an tOllamh McHugh le ról an Uachtaráin Ionaid agus Meabhránaí i mBealtaine 2024. Tá aitheantas idirnáisiúnta tuillte aige mar cheannaire taighde san innealtóireacht bhithleighis agus cuid mhór taighde déanta aige ar bhunfhorbairtí agus ar fheidhmeanna modhanna ríomhaireachtúla agus turgnamhacha sa bhithmheicnic, i meicnic fíochán agus in ionchlannáin agus feistí leighis. Bhí sé ina cheannródaí i bhforbairt na hinnealtóireachta bithleighis in Éirinn agus go hidirnáisiúnta, agus ba é Stiúrthóir bunaidh an Ionaid Taighde Bithmheicnice (BioMEC) in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe é. Tá lear mór dámhachtainí bronnta ar an Ollamh McHugh, agus san áireamh orthu sin tá ballraíocht in Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann (2011), Bonn Airgid Acadamh Ríoga an Leighis in Éirinn – an Rannóg Bithinnealtóireachta (2011), Ainmní an Uachtaráin do Chomhaltacht Innealtóirí na hÉireann (2009), Comhaltacht Acadamh Innealtóireachta na hÉireann (2019) agus Comhaltacht Alexander von Humboldt (1995). Tá tréimhsí caite aige chomh maith i róil oifigigh in Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann, arb é an ról is déanaí a bhí aige Rúnaí ar Pholasaí agus Caidrimh Idirnáisiúnta, áit a raibh sé ina ionadaí Éireannach do roinnt eagraíochtaí acadúla idirnáisiúnta, lena n-áirítear Comhairle Chomhairleach Eolaíochta Acadaimh na hEorpa (EASAC). Críoch

University of Galway’s Governing Authority - Údarás na hOllscoile has confirmed the appointment of Professor Peter McHugh as Interim President. The confirmation follows the announcement on June 26th that Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh had taken the decision to step down as President. Professor McHugh is currently serving as Deputy President and Registrar and will take up the role of Interim President in September 2024. Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Chair of the University’s Governing Authority, said: “On behalf of the University of Galway Governing Authority, I would like to welcome Professor Peter McHugh’s appointment as Interim President and wish him every success in the role. Professor McHugh will be leading the University at a time which is not without sectoral challenges, but while we are positioned strongly for the future.”             Professor McHugh said: “I am very honoured to be appointed Interim President of University of Galway and I wish to thank members of Údarás na hOllscoile for their support. I also want to thank the outgoing President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, for his outstanding work, his commitment to the University’s values of respect, openness, excellence and sustainability over the past six years, and for helping to make University of Galway the world-class institution it is today. “I am very much looking forward to building on the University’s many achievements. My focus will be on strengthening and building upon our international reputation for excellence in teaching, learning, research and innovation, on striving for the very best student experience, and on empowering our staff to achieve.” Professor McHugh joined the University in 1991 and was appointed as the first Established Professor of Biomedical Engineering in 2007. He has previously served as Dean of College of Engineering and Informatics, Head of School of Engineering and Informatics, and Head of School of Engineering. Under his leadership as Head of School, the School of Engineering developed its gender equality action plan, and building on this groundwork, the school went on to achieve the Athena SWAN Silver Award in 2022, the first School of Engineering in Ireland to achieve the recognition. Professor McHugh took up the role of Deputy President and Registrar in May 2024. He is an internationally recognised research leader in biomedical engineering and his research is focused on fundamental developments and applications of computational and experimental methods in biomechanics, tissue mechanics and medical implants and devices. He has been a pioneer in the development of biomedical engineering in Ireland and internationally, and he was the founding Director of the Biomechanics Research Centre (BioMEC) at University of Galway. Professor McHugh has received numerous awards, including membership of the Royal Irish Academy (2011), the Silver Medal of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland - Section of Bioengineering (2011), the Presidential Nominee Fellowship of Engineers Ireland (2009), Fellowship of the Irish Academy of Engineering (2019), and the Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (1995). He has also served in officer roles in the Royal Irish Academy, most recently as Secretary for Policy and International Relations where he was the Irish representative to several international academy organisations, including the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC). Ends

University of Galway has heralded the achievement of student golfer Liam Nolan who has secured his place to play as an amateur in The Open. Liam Nolan has just completed his final year in Biomedical Engineering and is a University of Galway Sport Scholar, supported by the High Performance Unit. He will play in The Open at Royal Troon - one of the sport’s majors - from July 18, lining up against some of the world’s best golfers after securing qualification by finishing 5-under at Dundonald Links in Scotland. University of Galway Dean of Students, Professor Ciara Meehan, said: “On behalf of our University community, I’d like to send a message of congratulations and wish Liam Nolan the very best for The Open. Our University takes great delight and a deep sense of pride in celebrating the achievements of our students, as well as our staff, whether that’s in sporting success or studies, their research, their community or volunteering work or competing, as Liam is, at the top of their game on a world stage. We look forward to Liam being an inspiration for many more sporting achievements at the University in the year ahead.” Liam Nolan said: “I’m thrilled to have a golf game which is strong enough to book a place at The Open in Troon. I am looking forward to being on the course, to enjoying the whole experience of the major and to competing with some of the best golfers in the world. To be one of only a handful of amateurs to get a chance to compete in one of golf’s majors is an achievement in itself, and I am so looking forward to teeing it up.”  Des Ryan, Director of Sport and Physical Wellbeing at University of Galway, said: “Liam Nolan is a great role model and an ambassador for University of Galway, for Galway Golf Club and Ireland. We are delighted to see his hard work pay off and we are delighted to have been able to support Liam through the University’s High-Performance Unit led by Feargal O’Callaghan. We all wish him every success and every bit of luck that’s needed on the famous links. His sporting and academic achievements will inspire many other dual aspirational sports people to achieve great things and many others to participate in sport.” Liam Nolan is a Galway native and his home club is Galway Golf Club. He won the South American Amateur Open in January 2023 and in May of that year he went on to win the Brabazon Trophy. He was selected to play for Great Britain and Ireland against the US in the Walker Cup in September 2023 – a pinnacle of the sport for amateur players. He has also represented Ireland in the European Team Championships and Home Internationals.  Ends

€1.4m Government funding to progress pioneering collaboration for ‘Methane Abatement in Grazing Systems - MAGS’  Projects focus on innovations for feed, manure and slurry and targeted breeding programme  Studies build on research which shows potential for significant methane reduction for beef and dairy farming  Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for research and development, Martin Heydon T.D., and Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland, Andrew Muir MLA, have announced funding of €1.4million for University of Galway to lead a research consortium to pioneer greenhouse gas reduction solutions for agriculture.  Teagasc, the Northern Ireland-based Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation will work with scientists at the University to expand testing and evaluation of a combination of cutting-edge technologies and farming innovations to lower methane emissions from cattle and sheep.  The research-based project, Methane Abatement in Grazing Systems (MAGS) focuses on evaluating solutions for feed, breeding and manure management.   It aims to apply the most effective feed additives, while improving their formulation for long-lasting effects, in combination with novel genomic breeding and manure management. Scientific analysis will identify the best combinations of strategies which can be delivered on farms in Northern Ireland and in the Republic, through the Teagasc Signpost programme.   Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for research and development, Martin Heydon T.D., said: “The €1.4m committed to the MAGS project (Methane Abatement in Grazing Systems) by my Department, along with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, is an indication of our ambition and commitment to reduce methane emissions from agriculture. This project builds on the success of previously DAFM-funded projects in this area, such as ‘MethAbate’ and ‘GreenBreed’.   “The MAGS project will focus on further developing technologies, including methane inhibitors and breeding strategies, for application in beef and dairy pasture-based systems to mitigate animal and manure methane.  “Ireland has committed to reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030. Research investment into novel methane reduction technologies through projects like MAGS is a central part of achieving these targets. An important aspect of the project is research collaboration, and I am pleased that the project coordinator, Dr Sinéad Waters, has brought together scientific partners from across the Island of Ireland to concentrate ideas, expertise and knowledge in a way that accelerates progress in these novel technologies.”  Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland, Andrew Muir MLA, welcoming the funding, said: “I am pleased that my Department is co-funding this research project with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, bringing together leading scientists from across the Island of Ireland to address, through cutting-edge science, greenhouse gas emissions from grazing livestock systems. Collaborative research funding of this nature is key in helping to underpin the future sustainability of dairy, beef and sheep systems, through the provision of evidence and new innovations to contribute to the required reductions of net greenhouse gas emissions in Northern Ireland by at least 48% by 2030 under the Climate Change Act.”      Agriculture contributes about 37% of Irish greenhouse gas emissions. Government has committed to reducing these farming related emissions by 25% by 2030, including a recommended 10% reduction in agri-methane.  Methane accounts for about 70% of emissions associated with agriculture, predominantly from methane produced in the gut of the animal as feed ferments in the rumen, while methane from manure and slurry are the third largest contributor to emissions from farms.  Methane Abatement in Grazing Systems  MAGS is an all-island initiative, with funding of €1.437m through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s 2023 Research Stimulus Fund.   The project will develop, apply and validate a range of the most promising novel technologies, including breeding strategies, feed and manure additives to mitigate methane in beef and dairy farming.   Beef cattle in Teagasc Grange, Co Meath and Holstein Friesian dairy cows in AFBI, Hillsborough, Northern Ireland will be used to evaluate novel slow-release feed additives in combination with microbiome assisted genomic breeding values on animal performance, health and enteric methane emissions, while the effect of manure and slurry additives at farm-scale will also be monitored.  Feed  Various slow-release formats of an oxidising methane inhibitor, commercially known as RumenGlas and developed by Glasport Bio, will be evaluated, both on its own and in combination with a range of other promising feed additives for beef and dairy cattle. A trial in Teagasc Grange demonstrated that a pelleted format of the inhibitor reduced methane by 28% with no negative effects observed on animal performance or health.   Manure  The efficacy of a slurry additive, GasAbate, produced by GlasPort Bio, will be tested at farm-scale, with the aim of creating a blueprint for widespread agri-sector roll out.  Methane losses from stored manures account for c. 10% of Irish agricultural GHG emissions. No effective, widely implementable and commercially available mitigation solutions currently exist. But research has shown the GasAbate additive reduces methane losses from stored slurries by more than 80%.   Breeding  In conjunction with the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, the MAGS project will develop and validate a selection and breeding programme for beef and dairy cattle that emit less methane which is produced from the gut during grazing.  Research by the project partners has already shown that some beef cattle can emit up to 30% less methane, for the same level of performance.   While the critical role that the rumen microbial community plays in methane emissions is acknowledged, the integration of microbiome data to improve genomic selection breeding of animals emitting lower methane emissions has not yet been applied in Ireland or internationally.    Dr Sinéad Waters, MAGS Project Lead and Lecturer in host microbiome interactions in the Environment at University of Galway, said: “Agriculture is Ireland’s oldest and largest indigenous industry but now faces major challenges in meeting the 2030 targets of a 25% reduction for farming-related greenhouse gas emissions. Strategies to mitigate methane emissions related to cattle and sheep need to be rapidly developed and implemented on farm to comply with these targets. With research partners and colleagues, and the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine our aim is to develop and deliver important solutions for the agri-food-industry to reduce methane from pasture-based farms. We have brought together a unique team of excellent scientists and industry partners whose collaboration can support the Irish agri-food sector and align with international initiatives such as the EU Methane Strategy and Global Methane Pledge.”  Professor Vincent O'Flaherty, Established Professor of Microbiology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, said: “Significant progress has been made in the development of real-world solutions to reduce Irish agricultural greenhouse gas emissions through DAFM-funded research. GasAbate slurry additive technology to reduce GHG emissions by more than 80% is now available for on-farm demonstration and the next phase of work through the MAGS project will provide additional evidence to support widespread adoption. Ireland’s pasture system provides unique challenges for the development of effective methane supressing feed additives, but the results from our work to date have been very encouraging, with greatly reduced enteric emissions demonstrated in beef cattle fed with commercially produced diets containing novel additives. The MAGS project will develop and refine slow-release feed additive formats that, in combination with advances in breeding strategies, can provide critical support to Ireland in meeting its agricultural GHG targets.”  Professor David Kenny, Head of Animal and Bioscience Research at Teagasc said: “We are excited to be involved in this hugely novel and multidisciplinary research project. The holistic combination of state-of-the-art genetic and dietary based methane mitigation strategies together with the focus on development of practical solutions for pasture-based beef and dairy production systems, bodes well for successful implementation of new technologies emanating from the project.”   Ends 

New Blood Pressure recommendations produced by international expert panel, including Professor Bill McEvoy, University of Galway Guidelines recommend intensified BP targets and a new category of Elevated Blood Pressure to better identify people at risk of heart attack and stroke  The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has today released updated guidelines on the management of elevated blood pressure and hypertension to better identify people at risk of heart attack and stroke. The new guidelines include a new category of Elevated Blood Pressure, more ambitious and intensive treatment targets, and, for the first time, recommendations on the use of renal denervation to treat various forms of hypertension. The guidelines have been produced by an international panel of experts, including co-chairpersons, Professor Bill McEvoy of University of Galway, and Professor Rhian Touyz of McGill University, Canada. This is the first time that an Irish academic has led a major European clinical practice guideline on the treatment of elevated blood pressure and hypertension, which has potential implications for more than 700 million Europeans. Professor McEvoy is also first author on the principal results paper for the INTERASPIRE research study which is being published in the European Heart Journal and coincides with the ESC Congress in London today, Friday August 30th, the world’s largest gathering of cardiovascular professionals. In the INTERASPIRE global study, 61% of participants with heart disease did not have their blood pressure controlled. Professor McEvoy’s dual roles as co-Chair of the ESC Guidelines and co-principal investigator on INTERASPIRE are closely connected. His work in the creation of the guidelines establishes evidence-based care standards, while his leadership in INTERASPIRE provides real-world data on blood pressure management in coronary disease patients worldwide and his work on this study bridges the gap between ideal clinical practices and actual global outcomes. Key takeaways from the updated ESC guidelines on hypertension: A new systolic blood pressure (BP) treatment target range of 120-129 mmHg for most patients receiving BP lowering medication. By placing the emphasis on an intensive treatment target as the first step in managing most patients, and only opting out of this target in select circumstances or when treatment is not tolerated by the patient, these 2024 guidelines represent a paradigm shift from previous European guidelines. The guidelines also provide pragmatic recommendations to pursue a BP that is ‘as low as reasonably achievable’ in patients who are unable to tolerate or who opt out of the intensive treatment target. The definition of hypertension remains BP ≥140/90 mmHg, however, the guidelines introduce a new category of 'Elevated Blood Pressure' which is defined as a BP 120-139/70-89 mmHg. More patients at risk of heart attack and stroke will be identified by the new category. The new 'Elevated Blood Pressure' category is introduced to facilitate consideration of more intensive blood pressure treatment targets among people at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The updated guidelines introduce recommendations for new lifestyle options to help lower BP, such as new guidance on exercise and potassium supplementation. For the first time the ESC Hypertension Guidelines provide recommendations of the use of renal denervation to treat hypertension. Elevated blood pressure and hypertension are by far the most common and important risk factors for heart attack and stroke (otherwise known as cardiovascular disease). As many as 45% of European adults have hypertension. The new 2024 ESC Guidelines are designed to get more patients to an evidence-based blood pressure treatment target and to increase the eligibility for blood pressure lowering medications to match the best current evidence from clinical trials. They also provide numerous pragmatic recommendations to avoid patients becoming symptomatic from overtreatment. Professor McEvoy, Professor of Preventive Cardiology at University of Galway and Medical and Research Director of NIPC, said: “The new category of Elevated Blood Pressure recognises that people do not go from normal BP to hypertensive overnight. “It is in most cases a steady gradient of change, and different subgroups of patients - for example those at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease such as people living with diabetes - could benefit from more intensive treatment before their blood pressure reaches the traditional threshold of hypertension.” Professor Rhian Touyz of McGill University, Canada, said: “The risks associated with increased blood pressure, start at systolic blood pressure levels even below 120 mmHg.” In another major change, the 2024 ESC Guidelines introduce a new systolic BP treatment target range of 120-129 mmHg for most patients receiving BP-lowering medication, with the important proviso that the new target requires that treatment is well tolerated. The 2024 ESC Guidelines also provide pragmatic recommendations on a systolic BP target 'as low as reasonably achievable' (known as the ALARA principle) in frail and older people and in those not tolerating the primary treatment target of 120-129 mmHg. The guidelines focus more on ‘frailty’ of individuals rather than chronological age. Professor McEvoy said: “This change is driven by new trial evidence confirming that more intensive BP treatment targets reduce CVD outcomes across a broad spectrum of eligible patients.” This new systolic BP treatment target of 120-129 represents a paradigm shift from prior European guidelines, including the 2018 ESC/ESH Hypertension guidelines, the 2021 ESC Prevention Guidelines, and the 2023 ESH Hypertension guidelines. Specifically, whereas prior guidelines generally recommended patients be treated to a BP <140/90 mmHg in the first instance and only thereafter be considered for treatment to <130/80 mmHg (a 2-step approach) the new 2024 guidelines recommend that most patients be treated to a systolic BP of 120-129 mmHg in the first instance (those who cannot tolerate this target can have it relaxed). In part to accommodate this new more intensive systolic blood pressure treatment target range, the 2024 ESC Guidelines provide stronger recommendations than prior guidelines for the use of out-of-office blood pressure measurements (including ambulatory BP monitors and validated home BP monitors). The 2024 Guidelines also, for the first time, make recommendations on the use of renal denervation for treatment of hypertension. Due to lack of evidence regarding cardiovascular outcomes benefit, the guidelines do not recommend this medical procedure as first line treatment, and nor is it recommended for patients with highly impaired renal function, (eGFR <40 mL/min/1.73 m2) or secondary causes of hypertension. On renal denervation, the guidelines say: “To reduce BP, and if performed at a medium-to-high volume centre, catheter-based renal denervation may be considered for patients with resistant hypertension who have BP that is uncontrolled despite a three BP-lowering drug combination (including a thiazide or thiazide-like diuretic), and who express a preference to undergo renal denervation after a shared risk-benefit discussion and multidisciplinary assessment.” Professor Touyz explained: “These evidence-based recommendations provide guidance for clinicians and their patients on the use of this important new technology. However, it must be stressed that this procedure needs to be undertaken in a centre where there is expertise and experience.” The ESC Guidelines also update dietary advice on sodium and potassium intake and further emphasise the importance of life-style modifications for patients in a range of different circumstances and stages of CVD and chronic kidney disease. The Guidelines also highlight the importance of sex and gender differences in hypertension and integrate this throughout the document, rather than as a separate section, as in most other guidelines.  The full study in the European Heart Journal is available here. Ends

WHO report reveals high rates of unprotected sex among teenagers across Europe, with significant implications for health and safety   : A report from the WHO Regional Office for Europe reveals condom use among sexually active adolescents has declined significantly since 2014, with rates of unprotected sex worryingly high. This is putting young people at significant risk of sexually transmitted infections and contributing to unplanned pregnancies with often damaging consequences. The new data were published as part of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, which surveyed over 242,000 15-year-olds across 42 countries and regions in the period 2014 to 2022. Key findings: The good news is that in the Republic of Ireland, the proportion of 15-year-olds who report having had sexual intercourse is only 10% for both girls and boys, lower than the international average (20% of boys and 15% of girls). Girls in Ireland were also more likely than their peers internationally to report contraceptive use.              Dr András Költő, University of Galway researcher and the lead author of the report, said: “Regarding condoms, we see the same trend among youth in Ireland as in the international sample. Over each survey cycle we see less and less adolescents report they or their partner used a condom at last intercourse; in 2010, more than three quarters of young people reported condom use, whereas in 2022, less than half of youth reported condom use.” University of Galway researchers who conducted the study in Ireland warn that unprotected sexual intercourse can have far-reaching consequences for young people, including unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and an increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The high prevalence of unprotected sex indicates significant gaps in age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education, including sexual health education, and access to contraceptive methods. Worrying decline in condom use Compared to 2014 levels, the new data show a significant decline in the number of adolescents reporting condom use during last sexual intercourse. From the data, it is clear that the decrease in condom use is pervasive, spanning multiple countries and regions, with some experiencing more dramatic reductions than others. The report underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to address these concerning trends and promote safer sexual practices among young people within the wider context of equipping them with the foundation they need for optimal health and well-being. Findings from the report related to Europe and Ireland: Decline in condom use: The proportion of sexually active adolescents who used a condom at last intercourse fell from 70% to 61% among boys and 63% to 57% among girls between 2014 and 2022. In Ireland, only 50% of boys and 49% of girls reported condom use in 2022. Contraceptive pill use: The report indicates that contraceptive pill use during last sexual intercourse has remained relatively stable between 2014 and 2022, with 26% of girls and 25% of boys reporting that they or their partners used the contraceptive pill at their last sexual intercourse. Compared to the international average, girls in Ireland were more likely to report contraceptive use (41%); while boys were somewhat less likely to state that (21%). High rates of unprotected sex: Almost a third of adolescents (30%) reported using neither a condom nor the contraceptive pill at last intercourse, a figure that has barely changed since 2018. In Ireland, 35% of girls and 38% of boys had no protection at last sex. The findings underscore the importance of providing comprehensive sexual health education and resources for young people. Éabha, a 16-year-old from Ireland, said: "As teenagers, having access to accurate information about sexual health is vital. We need education that covers everything from consent to contraception, so we can make informed decisions and protect ourselves."             Dr Költő said: “It is a great news that girls rank highly in international comparison regarding contraceptive pill use at last sexual intercourse. We were delighted to learn that the Free Contraception Scheme was recently extended to 17-year-old girls. “This action, however, needs to be coupled with a reform of relationships and sexuality education. “Comprehensive sexuality education is key to closing these gaps and empowering all young people to make informed decisions about sex as they transition from adolescence to adulthood. Sex education must go beyond just providing information. Young people need safe spaces to discuss issues like consent, intimate relationships, gender identity and sexual orientation. Governments, health and education authorities, and civil society organisations as well as parents and teachers should help them develop crucial life skills including transparent, non-judgmental communication and decision-making. We are looking forward to reading the report of National Council for Curriculum and Assessment on the planned reform of Relationships and Sexuality Education in Ireland.” Call to action for policymakers and educators The WHO Regional Office for Europe calls upon policymakers, educators, and healthcare providers to prioritise adolescent sexual health by: Investing in comprehensive sexuality education: Implement and fund evidence-based sexuality education programs in schools that cover a wide range of topics, including contraception, STIs, consent, healthy relationships, gender equality, and LGBTQIA+ issues. In this, the International Technical Guidelines on Sexuality Education (ITGSE), produced by a consortium of United Nations agencies and partners, are key. Enhancing access to youth-friendly sexual health services: Ensure that adolescents everywhere have access to confidential, non-judgmental, and affordable sexual health services that meet their specific needs and preferences. Promoting open dialogue: Encourage open and honest conversations about sexual health within families, schools, and communities to reduce stigma and increase awareness. Training educators: Provide specialised training for teachers and healthcare providers to deliver effective and inclusive sex education. Such resources should be made available in both school and out-of-school settings. Conducting further research: Investigate the underlying reasons for the decline in condom use and the variations in sexual health behaviours across different populations to inform targeted interventions. This includes analysing messages and other content adolescents are exposed to across social media and online platforms, given their reach and impact all the more. Ends

University of Galway has issued offers to 3,753 prospective students for the 2024/25 academic year.   Following Round One of the Central Applications Office (CAO) process, President of University of Galway Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh and Deputy President and Registrar Professor Peter McHugh acknowledge the effort and achievement of the Leaving Certificate class of 2024, the vast majority of whom were sitting state exams for the first time.   Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, President of University of Galway, said: “Comhghairdeas to the Leaving Cert class of 2024 as they embark on the next stage of their studies. They have displayed good judgment in choosing University of Galway. They can be assured that this and their experiences to date will stand them in good stead as the next adventure begins at University of Galway.” University of Galway Deputy President and Registrar Professor Peter McHugh said: “Each and every student who has navigated the post-primary years and the Leaving Cert deserves a huge welcome from University of Galway, particularly those who endured the impact of the pandemic in their schooldays, and they can be assured of an unrivalled student experience at the University. “Our admissions and registration team at the University of Galway is once again doing stellar work to facilitate such huge numbers of students who have applied to join us. In that context, we also welcome the Government commitment to begin to address the issue of inflated grades in the Leaving Cert.” On the back of a fourth year in a row of significant demand for places in third level education, University of Galway is offering 3,753 places for first year undergraduate students.  The following are some of the key trends following the issuing of Round One offers in the CAO process: Cut-off levels for points for University of Galway degrees showed mixed movement with almost a third of courses increasing points or remaining steady.  Some 40% of the University’s degree programmes are between the 500-600 points range.   An increase of 41 points for Arts (Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies) reflecting a significant increase in demand and University of Galway’s continued reputation as an international centre for the creative arts, as well as the value of our strategic education partnerships with Galway International Arts Festival and Druid.  Some of University of Galway’s programmes that offer extensive Erasmus opportunities saw an increase in points; BA Global Languages, BComm International (Spanish) and BSc Biotechnology.  All Engineering and Law programmes continue to cut-off at 500 CAO points or above.  Flagship programmes for University of Galway which continue to attract strong demand are Biomedical Engineering, with points increasing to 578 (up 30), and Biomedical Science, at 577 (up 10 points).  Medicine remains random allocation at 728 points.  The number of places available for students seeking to study Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy degrees are up by almost 50% - that is an additional 30 places across the two programmes, which follows a Government announcement of increased funding in these areas.  Five out of eight Commerce programmes require more than 500 points.   Ends

Céimeanna Oinigh ón Ollscoil le bronnadh ar sé dhuine dhéag in 2024   Cuireann Ollscoil na Gaillimhe fáilte ar ais chuig an gcampas roimh 1,800 céimí, a muintir, agus a gcairde, le haghaidh shearmanais Bhronnta an Fhómhair. Beidh na searmanais ar siúl ó inniu go dtí Dé Máirt, an 27 Lúnasa, agus beidh céimithe a rinne staidéar sna ceithre choláiste éagsúla de chuid na hOllscoile ina measc. Dúirt an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, Uachtarán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Údar mór bróid dom i gcónaí é ár gcuid mac léinn a fheiceáil ag ceiliúradh a n-éachtaí acadúla lena muintir agus lena gcairde, agus ag tabhairt aitheantais don díograis agus don dúthracht a chaith siad le linn a dtréimhse staidéir anseo. “Beidh iarracht den bhrón ag baint le searmanais Bhronnta an Fhómhair domsa i mbliana, mar is iad na searmanais dheireanacha dom mar Uachtarán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Ba mhór an onóir dom páir a bhronnadh ar mhic léinn agus a bheith páirteach in ócáidí ceiliúrtha na mílte céimí. Is pribhléid í chomh maith a bheith in ann aitheantas a thabhairt d’éachtaí na ndaoine a mbronntar céimeanna oinigh orthu agus iad a cheiliúradh – 16 dhámhachtain dá leithéid a bhronnfar san iomlán in 2024.  “Thar ceann na hOllscoile, ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas ó chroí a dhéanamh lenár mic léinn go léir, leo siúd a bhfuil céim bainte amach acu agus leo siúd ar a mbronnfar céimeanna oinigh. Gabhaim buíochas leo uile as bheith páirteach i bpobal Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, agus guím gach rath orthu amach anseo, go gairmiúil agus go pearsanta.” Tá Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ag tabhairt aitheantais do shár-éachtaí 16 dhuine le linn na bliana 2024 trí Chéimeanna Oinigh a bhronnadh orthu. I measc na ndaoine a bheidh á gceiliúradh sna laethanta amach romhainn le linn shearmanais Bhronnta an Fhómhair, tá: Gerry Kilcommins, iarLeas-Uachtarán Oibríochtaí Domhanda le Medtronic – Dochtúir le hInnealtóireacht Danny McCoy, príomhoifigeach feidhmiúcháin Ibec – Dochtúir le hEolaíocht Eacnamaíochta Mary Bennett, iar-úinéir shiopa mór le rá na Gaillimhe The Treasure Chest agus duine de bhunaitheoirí Chumann Gnó Chathair na Gaillimhe agus Líonra Ban Gnó agus Gairmiúil na Gaillimhe – Dochtúir le hEolaíocht Eacnamaíochta John Davoren, feirmeoir, comhstiúrthóir ar Scoil Allamuigh Seandálaíochta Chathair Chonaill agus úinéir Ionad Cuairteoirí Dhún Chathair Chonaill – Dochtúir le hEolaíocht An tOllamh Jerome Sheahan, staitisteoir/matamaiticeoir ar scor as Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – Dochtúir le hEolaíocht Bronnfar Céimeanna Oinigh ar aon dhuine dhéag eile ag searmanais Bhronnta an Gheimhridh a bheidh ar siúl ar an gcampas i mí na Samhna: Rachael Blackmore MBE, marcach Rásaíochta Seilge Náisiúnta – Dochtúir le Dlíthe Tony Connelly, iriseoir agus údar, agus Eagarthóir Nuacht na hEorpa le RTÉ News – Dochtúir le Litríocht Marina Fiddler agus Tara Nic Dhiarmada, bunaitheoirí MADRA – Mutts Anonymous Dog Rescue and Adoption – Dochtúir le Dlíthe Keith Finnegan, craoltóir agus iarláithreoir an chláir Galway Talks ar Galway Bay FM – Dochtúir le Litríocht Martin Griffiths, Fo-Ard-Rúnaí na Náisiún Aontaithe le haghaidh Gnóthaí Daonnúla agus Comhordaitheoir na Fóirithinte Éigeandála – Dochtúir le Dlíthe Dolores Keane – amhránaí tíre Éireannach den stíl traidisiúnta a bhfuil cáil idirnáisiúnta uirthi – Dochtúir le Ceol An Dr Éanna Ní Lamhna, luibheolaí agus feithideolaí, láithreoir agus craoltóir – Dochtúir le hEolaíocht Owen Reidy, Ard-Rúnaí Chomhdháil na gCeardchumann (ICTU) – Dochtúir le Dlíthe An tOllamh Paul Yock agus an Dr Joshua Makower, bunaitheoirí Stanford Biodesign a thug tacaíocht do bhunú BioInnovate Ireland – Dochtúir le hEolaíocht    Tá tuilleadh eolais faoi sceideal na searmanas bronnta le fáil ar https://www.universityofgalway.ie/conferring/. Críoch

Sixteen people to receive Honorary Degrees from University during 2024 University of Galway this week welcomes more than 1,800 graduates, along with their families and friends, back to campus for Autumn Conferring ceremonies. The celebrations take place from today, until Tuesday August 27th and include graduates who studied at all of the University’s four colleges.   Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, University of Galway President, said: “I am always filled with great pride seeing our students celebrating their academic achievements with family and friends, bringing recognition of all their hard work and commitment over their years of study. “This year, the Autumn Conferring ceremonies are especially poignant for me as they are my last as President of University of Galway. It has been a great honour to present students with their parchments and to be part of the celebrations of thousands of graduates. It is also a great privilege to be able to celebrate and recognise the achievements of those who we award honorary degrees – in total during 2024 there will be 16 such awards.  “On behalf of our University, I want to offer each my heartiest congratulations to all our students, to all those who have graduated and to all those who receive honorary awards. I thank them all for being part of the community of University of Galway and I wish them all the very best for the future, in their careers and their personal lives.” Over the course of 2024 University of Galway is recognising the extraordinary achievements of 16 people by awarding them Honorary Degrees. Those being honoured during the Autumn Conferring in the coming days include: Gerry Kilcommins, former Vice President Global Operations at Medtronic - Doctor of Engineering Danny McCoy, chief executive officer of Ibec - Doctor of Economic Science Mary Bennett, former owner of iconic Galway retail outlet The Treasure Chest and founding member of the Galway City Business Association and the Galway Business and Professional Women's Network - Doctor of Economic Science John Davoren, farmer, co-director of Caherconnell Archaeology Field School, and owner of Caherconnell Fort Visitors Centre - Doctor of Science Professor Jerome Sheahan, retired statistician/mathematician at University of Galway - Doctor of Science A further eleven people are to being awarded Honorary Degrees during Winter Conferring, which take places on campus in November: Rachael Blackmore MBE, National Hunt jockey - Doctor of Laws Tony Connelly, journalist and author, and Europe Editor for RTÉ News - Doctor of Literature Marina Fiddler and Tara Nic Dhiarmada, founders of MADRA – Mutts Anonymous Dog Rescue and Adoption - Doctor of Laws Keith Finnegan, broadcaster and former presenter of Galway Talks on Galway Bay FM - Doctor of Literature Martin Griffiths, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator - Doctor of Laws Dolores Keane – internationally-renowned, traditional Irish folk singer - Doctor of Music Dr Éanna Ní Lamhna, botanist and entomologist, presenter and broadcaster - Doctor of Science Owen Reidy, General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) - Doctor of Laws Professor Paul Yock and Dr Joshua Makower, founders of Stanford Biodesign and supporters of establishment of BioInnovate Ireland - Doctor of Science For more information on the conferring schedules visit https://www.universityofgalway.ie/conferring/. Ends

Researchers at University of Galway are working with indigenous peoples deep in the Colombian Amazon to document their story - building on the legacy of Roger Casement. The projects are led by a team from the University’s Huston School of Film and Digital Media and the Discipline of Geography, and continue the work of the executed Irish rebel who initially earned fame as a diplomat in the British government after he documented exploitation, atrocious cruelty and genocide of indigenous people by the British registered Peruvian Amazon Company. For the past four years, Indigenous rights lawyer and University of Galway researcher Dr Brendan Tobin, supported by EU Marie Sklodowska Curie research funding, has been working on a documentary with the Bora, Muinane, Okaina and Uitoto peoples in the Predio Putumayo, Colombia’s largest indigenous reserve. Video cameras have been donated to the people in the area by the University to support them in recording their story. The focus of the documentary is to ensure the indigenous peoples take part in the telling of their own story, while also being trained in film production, editing and post-production. Dr Brendan Tobin said: “In 1912 Roger Casement exposed the ‘extermination’ of Amazonian indigenous peoples of the Putumayo, during the rubber boom. A century on, the peoples of the region are seeking to bring their story to the world. If this helps prevent a future genocide of their peoples, or other indigenous peoples, it will, they say, give a death of dignity to the victims of the rubber era. The unquiet spirits can then rest in peace, and the living can achieve self-determination over their ancestral lands." In August 2023, a dedicated film centre opened in La Chorrera by the Irish Ambassador to Colombia, Fiona Nic Dhonnacha. The Ambassador was visiting the communities as representative of the Government of Ireland to celebrate the resilience of the Bora, Muinane, Okaina and Uitoto peoples and to mark our historic connections on the anniversary of Roger Casement’s death.               Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin T.D. said: “I welcome the efforts by University of Galway to support the Bora, Muinane, Okaina, and Uitoto communities of the Predio Putumayo to map their territories. This will help to support their capacity for self-governance, as well as their efforts to restore the historical memory of their ancestors, whose exploitation Roger Casement helped to bring to global attention, something I was very interested to hear about on my recent trip to Colombia in January. “The Irish Government recognises that the communities also play a critical role in the protection and sustainability of this Amazon region, and the mapping of their territory will support this work into the future. We look forward to participating in COP16 on biodiversity in Colombia in October, where we will have an opportunity to discuss these and other topics of importance under the theme ‘Peace with Nature’.”  Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, University of Galway President, said: “At University of Galway, we pride ourselves on our values of respect, excellence, openness and sustainability, and the indigenous peoples in the Predio Putumayo deserve our respect, not just in telling their story and the stories of those who died during the rubber boom, but also as custodians for the Amazon ecosystem and its biodiversity, which they have lived in harmony with for centuries. The knowledge, sustainable use and protection of the forests by indigenous communities is one of the main reasons the Amazon still exists. Here we know displacement and dispossession: we are privileged to be in a position to support the Predio Putumayo communities to document their ancestral history and assist them to zone their territories to protect their cultures and prioritise environmental protection for future generations.” The Bora, Muinane, Okaina and Uitoto peoples in the Predio Putumayo are also seeking support for the urgent task of the mapping of their traditional territories to secure their land rights and self-determination. A research project is due to begin in 2025 with the support of the Discipline of Geography at University of Galway for the peoples to be trained to use GIS and GPS technologies to map their lands. Pádraic Mac Donnacha, a Master’s in Coastal and Marine Environments student with the Discipline of Geography, University of Galway, travelled with Dr Tobin to the region to initiate the project. Mr Mac Donnacha said: “Our primary objective is to provide the equipment and training to empower Indigenous communities in Predio Putumayo to carry out their own, independent mapping, using state-of-the-art GIS technologies. This effort is crucial for safeguarding their rights to lands, the protection of their forests and cultural heritage.” The indigenous mapping project also has the support of the Columbian Ministry of Culture and the National Institute for Amazonian Studies. Ends

In celebration of the nationwide release of MRS ROBINSON in cinemas on August 23rd, the University of Galway, in collaboration with Light House Cinema, Pálás and BREAK OUT PICTURES, is proud to present an exclusive exhibition: “From the Desk of…Mrs. Robinson.” This special exhibition, hosted at the Light House  and Pálás Cinemas, offers the public a rare glimpse into the remarkable archive of Mary Robinson, one of Ireland's most influential and respected figures. Earlier this year, Mary Robinson—former President of Ireland and a pioneering advocate for human rights—marked her 80th birthday. To honour this milestone, the University of Galway, custodian of Robinson’s extensive archive, has curated a selection of materials that both inspired and feature in the documentary MRS ROBINSON. The exhibition showcases a rich collection of materials spanning over six decades of Robinson's distinguished career. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore reproductions of documents and artifacts from her time as a barrister, legislator, senator, and professor, as well as her tenure as President of Ireland. The archive also includes materials from her global roles, including UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes and Climate Change, Chair of The Elders, and founder of Realizing Rights and the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice. Curated by Niamh Ní Charra, project archivist at the University of Galway, this mini-exhibition brings to life the profound impact of Robinson’s work and her ongoing legacy in the fight for justice and equality. MRS ROBINSON—directed by Aoife Kelleher and produced by Cormac Hargaden and Trisha Canning for Loosehorse—delivers Mary Robinson’s story in her own words for the first time. The documentary chronicles her tireless battles for justice over more than 50 years, from the streets to the courts, the ballot box, and the corridors of power. The film will open nationwide on August 23rd, offering audiences an intimate look at Robinson’s extraordinary life and contributions. Mary Robinson first gained widespread attention as a reforming constitutional lawyer and senator, before creating a political earthquake by winning the Irish Presidential election in 1990. As UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, she cemented her legacy by challenging human rights abuses globally. Today, she continues to wield influence as Chair of The Elders—a group of global leaders founded by Nelson Mandela—and as a leading voice in climate justice through Project Dandelion, a women-led initiative addressing climate change. The exhibition is open to the public at Light House Cinema from August 16th to September 1st  and Pálás cinema  from 21st of August to September 4th. Mrs. Robinson is set for general release across Ireland on August 23rd. For more information, please contact:nell@breakoutpictures.com

Professor Rebecca Braun, Executive Dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies at University of Galway, has been appointed to the inaugural board of Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland. The appointment was confirmed by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan T.D., with Professor Braun to serve a four year-term. Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland is Ireland’s new competitive research and innovation funding agency and was formally established on August 1, 2024. The new agency amalgamates the activities and functions of the Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland and is central to realising the ambitions of Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy.             Announcing the establishment of the agency, Minister O’Donovan said: “This new agency will be a vital support in building the successful future of research and innovation in Ireland, engaging national challenges like the green and digital transitions, and boosting our international standing as research innovators in emerging fields and opportunities ahead.”             Speaking of the opportunity to support research enhancement in Ireland, Professor Braun said: “Quite simply: excellent, innovative ideas are at the core of Higher Education’s mission, and facilitating the best way for them to thrive will ensure the health of everything else. It’s a huge honour to be asked to help shape the direction and operations of this new agency.” Professor Rebecca Braun joined University of Galway to take up the position of Executive Dean in 2021. A recognised international leader in her core disciplines of Modern Languages and Literary Studies, Professor Braun has gained extensive experience assessing the strategic development and delivery of national research and innovation systems, having served as an interdisciplinary research advisor to both the UK Research Excellence Framework and Germany’s ‘Universities of Excellence’ national funding schemes. Professor Braun has also provided over 100 expert peer reviews to publishers and other academic bodies around the world. With a commitment to both conceptual and applied research and a strong track record in collaborating with partners across multiple sectors, she has consistently prioritised providing mentorship and other forms of practical support to help further the careers of researchers at all stages and disciplinary backgrounds.             University of Galway President Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “I am delighted that Professor Braun will be contributing to the leadership of Ireland’s investment in research at this important juncture. This appointment further enhances University of Galway’s contribution to the public good through an inclusive investment in research which recognises and supports excellence and impact wherever it resides. I wish Professor Braun every success in this role.” Ends

European InerReg-funded project in three countries to test the potential to reduce injury risk for nurses, therapists and carers A European research project has been launched to assess the potential for exoskeleton supports to benefit nurses, carers and allied healthcare workers such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists. The study is funded by the EU’s InterReg North-West Europe with academics and clinicians in Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands taking part. The Musculoskeletal Disorder Care project (MSD-CARE) aims to improve the working conditions of healthcare staff, to reduce the risk of disorders and injury and to support nursing staff and other healthcare workers in their daily work through the application of exoseketons. The researchers are also seeking to identify the facilitating factors and barriers to the use of exoskeletons in healthcare settings and offer practical solutions. Health and safety studies have highlighted that the risk of musculoskeletal disorders is 1.6 times higher for healthcare staff than those working in other sectors. Professor Georgina Gethin, Professor in Nursing and Midwifery at University of Galway, said: “Nurses involved in direct patient care are subject to physically demanding tasks and suffer a higher rate of musculoskeletal problems than other healthcare workers. This can have significant impact not only on their health but also on their ability to stay in their chosen profession. Any intervention that can help to highlight the issue of musculoskeletal disorders and find solutions to their prevention are a welcome development. In principle they could be a great asset it is important to know just how practical they would be in a busy work environment and how acceptable they would be to workers. We look forward to delivering on this for nurses and other healthcare workers.” The study is being led by the University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HAWK), Lower Saxony, Germany, in partnership with University of Galway and Roessingh Research and Development in the Netherlands. The project is under the direction of Professor Dr Shiney Franz of the Göttingen Health Campus, a cooperation between HAWK and the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG). Professor Franz said: “Involving exoskeletons in healthcare has high potential benefits for both patients and professionals. Our assumption is that wearing exoskeletons during activities such as mobilization or transfer of patients could improve the working conditions of care professionals and enhance patient safety. In this project, we aim to identify the working conditions in nursing that enable the integration of exoskeletons into the existing workflow taking in account the care plan and goals.”   Funding of more than €657,000 has been provided to the research partnership under Interreg North-West Europe. A new exoskeleton research laboratory at the Göttingen Health Campus (GCG) is being used, where carers can test their daily work and routines with and without an exoskeleton, under the guidance of researchers. State-of-the-art analysis tools will be used, such as electromyography and respiratory gas analysis to determine the effects of exoskeletons on muscle activity and breathing. Focus groups will also be held in Ireland and in the Netherlands to identify barriers and facilitators of the use of exoskeletons for the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders. Ends

 University of Galway today announced the recipients of Honorary Degrees at the 2024 Autumn Conferring ceremonies. The Honorary Degree recipients will join over 1,800 graduands, at events running from Thursday August 22nd to Tuesday August 27th, 2024. The five individuals the University will bestow with Honorary Degrees are: Gerry Kilcommins (Doctor of Engineering), former Vice President Global Operations at Medtronic. Danny McCoy (Doctor of Economic Science), Chief Executive Officer of Ibec. Mary Bennett (Doctor of Economic Science), former owner of iconic Galway retail outlet The Treasure Chest and founding member of the Galway City Business Association and the Galway Business and Professional Women's Network. John Davoren (Doctor of Science), farmer, Co-Director of Caherconnell Archaeology Field School, and owner of Caherconnell Fort Visitors Centre. Professor Jerome Sheahan (Doctor of Science), Retired statistician/mathematician at University of Galway. University of Galway President Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “Our honorary degree ceremonies are an opportunity to recognise people whose values and contribution are exemplars of why we are here as a university community and our own values and impact, in and for the world. Universities are more than what we do: we are animated communities, exemplars of our value to society and our values in society. On behalf of our University communities, I congratulate all of those being honoured for the distinguished contributions to Galway, Ireland and society and I look forward to our university coming together to honour them, and our graduates.” The full schedule for the autumn 2024 conferring ceremonies is available at https://www.universityofgalway.ie/conferring/guide/autumn-conferring/ Ends

 D’fhógair Ollscoil na Gaillimhe inniu na daoine a mbeidh Céimeanna Oinigh á mbronnadh orthu ag Searmanais Bronnta Céime an Fhómhair 2024. Beidh na Céimithe Oinigh seo i gcomhluadar sa bhreis is 1,800 réamhchéimí ag searmanais a bheidh ar siúl ón Déardaoin, an 22 Lúnasa go dtí Dé Máirt, an 27 Lúnasa 2024. Is iad an cúigear a mbronnfar Céimeanna Oinigh orthu: Gerry Kilcommins (Dochtúir le hInnealtóireacht), IarLeas-Uachtarán Oibríochtaí Domhanda, Danny McCoy (Dochtúir le hEolaíocht Eacnamaíochta), Príomhfheidhmeannach Ibec. Mary Bennett (Dochtúir le hEolaíocht Eacnamaíochta), iar-úinéir shiopa mór le rá na Gaillimhe The Treasure Chest agus duine de bhunaitheoirí Chumann Gnó Chathair na Gaillimhe agus de Líonra Ban Gnó agus Gairmiúil na Gaillimhe. John Davoren (Dochtúir le hEolaíocht), Comhstiúrthóir ar Scoil Allamuigh Seandálaíochta Chathair Chonaill agus úinéir Ionad Cuairteoirí Dhún Chathair Chonaill. An tOllamh Jerome Sheahan (Dochtúir le hEolaíocht), Staitisteoir/matamaticeoir ar scor as Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Dúirt Uachtarán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh: “Is deis iad na searmanais seo chun aitheantas a thabhairt do dhaoine a bhfuil a luachanna agus a gcion ina ndea-shampla dúinn mar phobal ollscoile, agus atá ina n-eiseamláirí dár luachanna agus dár dtionchar ar an domhan agus ar son an domhain. Tá níos mó i gceist le hollscoileanna ná an méid a ndéanaimid: is pobail bhríomhara sinn, eiseamláirí dár luach don tsochaí agus dár luachanna sa tsochaí. Thar ceann ár bpobal Ollscoile, tréaslaím leo siúd go léir a dtugaimid ómós dóibh as an gcion thar na bearta atá déanta acu do Ghaillimh, d’Éirinn agus don phobal agus táim ag súil le teacht le chéile mar phobal ollscoile chun ómós a thabhairt dóibh, agus dár gcéimithe.” Tá sceideal iomlán shearmanais bhronnta an fhómhair 2024 le fáil ag https://www.universityofgalway.ie/conferring/guide/autumn-conferring/ Críoch

Researchers at University of Galway have developed a new, portable technology for on-the-spot testing of water quality to detect one of the most dangerous types of bacteria. Ireland regularly reports the highest crude incidence rates of the pathogen Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli - STEC for short - in Europe over the recent years. The bacteria produces the harmful Shiga toxin, which, if ingested by humans, can cause severe stomach illnesses and, in some cases, life-threatening complications especially in children under 5 years, older people and immunocompromised individuals. A work led by Dr Zina Alfahl, lecturer in bacteriology in the University’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, and Dr Louise O’Connor, senior research fellow with the University’s College of Science and Engineering, developed a technology for rapid, sensitive and accurate testing of STEC in water sources, including rivers, lakes and wells. The results have been published in the journal, Microbiology.             Dr Alfahl said: “Our technology is a significant advancement in on-site water testing. It is portable, straightforward and safe to use. It is accurate, highly sensitive and the results are delivered quickly, on-site. “We are hoping that Environmental Health Officers and groundwater schemes in Ireland could use the technology on-site allowing for more frequent testing especially in or after extreme weather, periods of intense rainfall, because it is those conditions which lead to water supplies being contaminated.” Dr O’Connor said: “This technology could be a crucial intervention in helping to prevent outbreaks of infection in families and communities using wells, private water supplies and groundwater schemes. “Immediate results can help public health officers and water management authorities make informed decisions to protect public health. This rapid response capability is crucial for preventing the spread of waterborne diseases and ensuring the safety of drinking water." STEC is normally found in the intestines of healthy animals like cows and sheep, which carry it without getting sick. The bacteria spreads to people through contact with animal waste, or by eating or drinking contaminated food or water. A small sample of water can be tested on-site using isothermal amplification technology which can identify the genetic markers of STEC bacteria, and related E. coli.  The results are delivered in about 40minutes through a reading on screen. Traditional lab testing of samples can take days for results to be returned. The research, funded by Environment Protection Agency through the DERIVE project, tested samples from various water sources, including groundwater wells, rivers, a turlough and a farm drain on the Corrib catchment in Galway. Of the samples tested 61% were positive for the presence of this dangerous pathogen. Dr Alfahl said: “Our testing is sensitive enough to identify as low as two cells of the STEC bacteria. The gold standard for testing is culture in a lab, but this can take days and often weeks, and on occasion can return a false negative result – just because the culture does not grow in the lab does not always mean the bacteria has not been present in the water. Our test removes the necessity for samples to go to a lab. It offers on-the-spot results and is of huge benefit to the people using the water as a first-step in identifying a contamination and a potential health risk.” Dr O’Connor said: “This new testing method is particularly important for areas that rely on private groundwater wells, which can be more prone to contamination. In Ireland, a significant portion of the population depends on these for their drinking water - about 720,000 people, or one in every 5 households, but quality has been an issue as regulation is less stringent on these sources and testing is less frequent.” Ends