News Archive

University of Galway also ranked in Top 50 for Sustainability   University of Galway has been named as one of the top Universities in Europe, according to the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024. The first Europe-wide rankings have placed University of Galway 98th in Europe out of 690 institutions across 42 locations. University of Galway was also ranked in the QS European ranking’s Top 50 for Sustainability, building on the announcement that the University was named number one university in Ireland, and in the world’s top 50, for progress towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings earlier this year. In May, the Government of Ireland designated University of Galway as a national SDG Champion, and this week the University is hosting its inaugural Sustainable Development Goals Week to increase awareness, engagement and action to help achieve the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. President of University of Galway Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “Being ranked in the top 100 universities in Europe in these inaugural QS rankings and number one for sustainability in Ireland in THE Impact Rankings is a tremendous endorsement of the people and culture of our university. It is a reflection of the continuous effort across our University to be a university for the public good, true to our values of respect, excellence, openness and sustainability. From this place and for this place, we are determined to further enhance our international reputation and reach, while serving our students and community. I want to thank our students and staff for their hard work and commitment, and our alumni for being such outstanding ambassadors.” More information on the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024 is available at www.topuniversities.com/europe-university-rankings.  Ends

New research has found that 40% of healthcare workers say they would worry, at least a little, about drawing blood from a person living with HIV. Findings from the report HIV-related Stigma in Healthcare Settings in Ireland found that one in five healthcare workers report using special measures they would not use with other patients. The research was led by Dr Elena Vaughan at the Health Promotion Research Centre in the University of Galway, in collaboration with HIV Ireland, with funding provided by the Irish Research Council. “A positive finding of the research is that healthcare workers do not hold negative attitudes towards people living with HIV,” said Dr Vaughan, speaking in advance of the launch. “However, a significant proportion still fear acquiring HIV through routine procedures, such as dressing wounds, and this appears to be driving stigmatising behaviours,” she said. “Where suspected exposure to HIV does occur, there is also post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which can prevent the virus from taking hold”, continued Ms Vaughan. “Efforts to better translate this knowledge to healthcare workers should help reduce healthcare worker anxieties and lessen stigmatising behaviours towards people living with HIV,” she added. The findings from the report were produced following a joint national survey and interviews with both healthcare workers and people living with HIV. More than 400 people took part in the research, including 298 healthcare workers and 89 people living with HIV from across Ireland. The survey, conducted in 2022, was the first of its kind to be carried out in Europe as the researchers sought to learn both from people living with HIV and those who provide them with healthcare. Of the 89 people living with HIV who took part in the survey, 24% reported having been told to come back later, made to wait, or put last in a queue when attending for appointments. More than half (54%) reported having avoided healthcare for worry about how they will be treated by healthcare workers. “The findings show how stigma experienced in healthcare settings can put people off engaging in vital care, which can have negative consequences for both individual and public health,” said Stephen O’Hare, Executive Director of HIV Ireland. “People living with HIV who are on successful courses of treatment, as the vast majority are in Ireland, are healthy and well, and have an undetectable viral load, meaning they cannot transmit the virus to others,” he added. Reflecting on Government’s own target of reducing HIV-related stigma in line with international goals, including the global Fast Track Cities initiative, Mr O’Hare added: “This report helps us identify areas where we can provide information and support to both healthcare workers and people living with HIV, so we can reduce HIV stigma in our healthcare system in line with our global commitments.” The report, which is available to download on the website of HIV Ireland, will be launched today by Ms Sinead Gibney, Chief Commissioner of Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission at its headquarters on Green Street, in Dublin.    

Cuirfidh Máirín Mhic Lochlainn, Ealaíontóir Cónaithe Scéalaíochta, tús leis an dara sraith de cheardlanna scéalaíochta in Ionad Léann na hÉireann, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe.    Tá na cúig ceardlanna saor in aisce agus beidh fáilte roimh chách. Beidh na ceardlanna ar siúl Dé Céadaoin ag 7pm, ag tosnú ar 27 Meán Fómhair, in Ionad Léann na hÉireann ar Bhóthar na Drioglainne, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe.   Ceapadh Máirín mar Ealaíontóir Cónaithe Scéalaíochta in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe i mí Eanáir 2023. Tá sí tiomanta chun ceird na scéalaíochta a fhorbairt agus cleachtadh aici ar cheardlanna scéalaíochta a stiúradh ar fud na hÉireann. Ba aoi speisialta í ag an bhFéile Idirnáisiúnta Scéalaíochta ar Oileán Chléire i mbliana.    Bhí an méid seo le rá ag an Ollamh Louis de Paor, Stiúrthóir Ionad Léann na hÉireann: “Tá Máirín i measc na n-ealaíontóirí is cumasaí dá bhfuil ag plé leis na healaíona béil in Éirinn. Is deis iontach é seo mar sin d’éinne a bhfuil suim acu sa scéalaíocht dúchais.”   Is iad Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Údarás na Gaeltachta, An Chomhairle Ealaíon, agus Ionad Léann na hÉireann, Ollscoil na Gaillimh, a mhaoiníonn an tionscnamh seo.   Tuilleadh eolais ó Samantha Williams ag 091 512428 nó samantha.williams@universityofgalway.ie.    Críoch

University of Galway’s Storyteller-in-residence Máirín Mhic Lochlainn will deliver the second series of story-telling workshops at the University.    The five workshops, which will be delivered through Irish, are free and open to the public and will run every Wednesday, beginning on September 27, at 7pm at the Centre for Irish Studies, 4 Distillery Road, University of Galway.     Máirín has won several awards for story-telling including Corn Neidí Frainc at the Oireachtas festival. Developing the craft of story-telling is a mission for Máirín and she has conducted workshops in story-telling throughout Ireland, Wales and Denmark. She was a special guest at this year’s Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival.    Professor Louis de Paor, Director of the Centre for Irish Studies at University of Galway, said: “Máirín is one of the most accomplished performers working in the vernacular arts tradition here in Ireland. This is a marvelous opportunity therefore for anyone interested in the Irish language storytelling tradition.”   This project is funded by Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Údarás na Gaeltachta and The Arts Council, in association with the Centre for Irish Studies at University of Galway.   Further information available from Samantha Williams at 091-492051 or samantha.williams@universityofgalway.ie.    Ends

Researchers have developed a new interactive game to explain to cancer patients how they can contribute to life-saving research.   The game brings the player or patient on a journey through the processes involved in donating samples, the recording and confidentiality of data and the types of research supported by the Cancer Biobank - an initiative of University of Galway and Saolta University Health Care Group, supported by the National Breast Cancer Research Institute.   The Cancer Biobank is located at University of Galway. It houses samples from patients which can be used in research to study how cancer develops and progresses and how cells respond to treatment.   The new Cancer Biobanking Game is designed as a fun, engaging and interactive way for people to better understand why the donation of samples is important.    Throughout the game, users will learn how the process works and how research using donated, or biobanked, samples may support improvements in healthcare, helping scientists to discover new and better treatments and ways of detecting diseases earlier.   Dr Nicola Miller, Co-Director Cancer Biobank and lecturer with University of Galway’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, said: “Despite improvements in survival, cancer remains a very common and complex disease, and participating in biobanking is a way to contribute to research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.    “Patients and members of the public who participate in biobanking trust that their samples are used in high quality research. Only through working together, sharing our expertise and communicating with patients can we provide this high-quality resource for essential research. We need - and want - patients, clinicians, and researchers to be informed, supported, and valued for their role in biobanking.    “The value is in the information that comes with the samples. How we communicate with patients and healthy donors can influence their understanding around informed consent to use their samples and clinical information. How we manage the information and donated samples with respect to data protection and research ethics is vital to ensuring high-quality, reproducible research. No one can do it alone – and no one should.   “Taking samples is a routine part of investigating and treating many diseases, including cancer and the biobanking game describes how they can be used for future research. All patient data is anonymised, and no data is used without the consent of the participant, including access hospital records and patient treatment plans.”    The Cancer Biobanking Game is complimented by several videos, available in English and Irish, which introduce the Cancer Biobank, explaining how samples and data are collected, stored and used in research and outlining consent and data protection.    For more information visit or to access the game visit https://www.universityofgalway.ie/biobank/   Ends   

University of Galway has been awarded funding for 29 postgraduate scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships under the Irish Research Council’s flagship Government of Ireland programmes. The successful projects were announced by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris T.D., as part of a €24.6m funding investment to support rising researchers and pioneering projects.  The IRC’s Government of Ireland scheme supports top early-career researchers who are based in Ireland’s higher education and research institutions.  The University of Galway projects, which included 19 scholarships and 10 fellowships, will conduct research on a wide range of topics, including: An investigation into technology-facilitated sexual violence and emergent violence against women The protection of irregular migrants in immediate return cases What factors impact on Irish post-primary teachers’ understandings of intercultural education? Risk factors and blood biomarkers for preclinical dementia Investigating chromosome segregation and fertility in Drosophila male germline Fingerprinting abrupt climate change in the West of Ireland Assessing the socio-cultural effects of noise from offshore windfarms on coastal soundscapes Biomaterial enhanced cellular brain repair for Parkinson's disease Professor Jim Livesey, Vice-President Research and Innovation at University of Galway, said: “I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to our postdoctoral and postgraduate researchers for their innovative projects. I have no doubt that our talented group of 29 postgraduate scholars and postdoctoral fellows will contribute greatly to critical societal needs through their multi-disciplinary research that will have a positive impact across all sectors of society.” Three of the projects awarded scholarships are made in collaboration with and funded by partner agencies including Environmental Protection Agency and Met Éireann. Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme awardees and projects from University of Galway include:  Audrey Walsh  - Women, Natural Sciences and Art in Nineteenth Century Ireland’s Botanical Heritage                                        Clara Bosch March - The protection of irregular migrants in immediate return cases: the judicial dialogue around Article 4 of Protocol No. 4 ECHR between the European Court of Human Rights, Spain and Italy  Federica Brescia - Gold(III)-glycoconjugates as antiviral agents against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2): from rational design to biological evaluations  Francesca McDonagh - Oral colonisation with pathobionts amongst patients with a diagnosis of treatment resistant schizophrenia.  Gregory Harris - What factors impact on Irish post-primary teachers’ understandings of intercultural education? Lorraine Hayman - Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence: A Multi-Site Case Study in Ireland of Emergent Violence Against Women  Maria Redmond - Investigation of the endocannabinoid system as a novel therapeutic target for anxiety, depression and impaired cognition associated with chronic wounds  Martin Mulligan - Risk factors and blood biomarkers for preclinical dementia Moman Khan – Generating the Haploid inducer line in perennial ryegrass using CRISPR/Cas9, targeting the MATL gene Nazanin Fereidouni - A systematic study on the structure-property relationships of multi-component pharmaceutical materials  Oliver Brockmann - Operationalising Critical Pedagogy in Irish and German Social Work Classrooms: An International Comparative Ethnographic Study Paris Weavers - Mechanisms of Senescence-Induced Somatic Cell Reprogramming Rachel Keegan - Investigating chromosome segregation and fertility in Drosophila male germline Saoirse Ryan - Biomaterial enhanced cellular brain repair for Parkinson's disease  Shauna Mulligan - Wartime Slavery and Race in the United States and Nazi Germany during the 1860s and 1940s: A Comparison of Robert Allston’s Chicora Wood Plantation in South Carolina (1861-1865) with Hans Aumeier’s Klooga Concentration Camp in Nazi Estonia (1941-1945) Sofiia Tretiak - Optimization the existing and developing novel techniques for the extraction and separation of the seaweed-derived polysaccharides and polyphenols Christopher Stewart, in collaboration with Met Éireann - Fingerprinting abrupt climate change in the West of Ireland: A high-resolution timeline of deglaciation and landscape evolution in West Mayo Eugene McKeown, in collaboration with Environmental Protection Agency - Assessing the socio-cultural effects of noise from offshore windfarms on coastal soundscapes Garreth Gibney, in collaboration with Environmental Protection Agency - Climate Change, Health Outcomes and Adaptation: A micro-econometric analysis of factors mediating the health impacts of extreme temperatures in a temperate climate and implications for health inequalities under various climate change scenarios.  Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme awardees and projects from University of Galway include:  Amir Abdo - Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species-shielding and carbon monoxide  generating microgels for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer Christian Schweizer - Dicuil – an Irish and Carolingian Universalist and his Intellectual Legacy (DICUIL) Christopher McCann - Ag seinm a rúnphort/Playing his secret tune: Music in the fiction of Máirtín Ó Cadhain Clíona de Bhailís - Exploring young people who use non-traditional communication opportunities to access supported decision making under the Assisted Decision Making Capacity Act 2015 Ilze Skujina - First in vitro comparison of time-dependant DNA damage response in short-lived Molossus molossus and long-lived Myotis myotis bat fibroblasts to ionizing radiation exposure and comparison to model organisms Lara Rodríguez Outeirino - Therapeutic modulation of miR-106b-5p in muscle stem cells in ageing and motor neuron disease Omnia Zayed - Glór: A Holistic Approach to Social Media Language Analysis Patrick Mahoney - Cowboys, Colonialism and Ceol Tíre: Consuming American Western Culture in Ireland since 1922 Shaima Magdaline - Modelling Shear Shock Waves in the Brain with Machine Learning Sogol Moradian - State-of-the-art early-warning flood prediction system for Ireland: design, implementation and computational modules For more information about the Irish Research Council, visit www.research.ie. 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University of Galway is next week hosting its first SDG Week to increase awareness, engagement and action to help achieve the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).   Organised by the University’s staff and students, SDG Week will run from September 18 to 23, as part of the wider European Sustainable Development Week, which this year, will be held from September 18 to October 8.   The inaugural SDG Week has been organised on the back of national and international recognition of the progress being made in the University in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals including being ranked 34th in the world and number one university in Ireland by the THE Impact Rankings for its efforts in progressing the SDGs. The University was also ranked 5th in the world for its progress on SDG 12: Sustainable Consumption and Production. Earlier this year, the Government of Ireland designated University of Galway as a national SDG Champion.   Events next week include a mix of student and staff-led events, from seminars to seed sowing, an environmental summit, poster presentations, workshops, a quiz night, a guided walk and a community recycling day.   As part of SDG week, the University are also launching a new SDG Trail for the campus to showcase, share and promote efforts made to develop the campus as a living lab for best practice in embedding the SDGs. By walking the trail, participants can learn about the 17 SDGs and gain insights into the scale and breadth of projects and initiatives taking place across the University that are progressing the SDGs. The SDG Trail demonstrates that action is needed at local, national and international level to achieve the SDGs.    SDG Week is an opportunity for the university to act as an advocate and promoter of the SDGs, to raise awareness internally among the community of over 20,000 students and staff, and to demonstrate by example that everyone can contribute to the UN SDGs.   University of Galway's Sustainability Officer Michelle O’Dowd Lohan said: “At University of Galway, we are critically aware of the leading role that universities can play in the achievement of the SDGs and our vision is to be a leader in the transition to a sustainable future. SDG Week is an opportunity to raise awareness of the SDGs and share our learnings and experiences with others so we can all make a difference by integrating them into our work and daily activities. The week belongs to everyone and is open to all, including students, staff and community partners.”   For more information on the range of events happening throughout the week visit www.universityofgalway.ie/sdgweek.   For more information on the SDG Trail visit www.universityofgalway.ie/sdgtrail.   Ends

University of Galway has been praised for the standards of cleanliness and upkeep of the campus as part of the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey. Carried out by An Taisce, the IBAL review takes place each year with spot checks across the country and towns and cities ranked for their appearance, the presence of litter and the impression created for visitors and tourists. The IBAL report scored University of Galway’s campus a Grade A, noting: “A beautiful environment which was not just excellent with regard to litter but lovingly tended and maintained. All aspects within the campus were in very good order eg picnic tables, bicycle parking, paving, planted areas etc. It was great to see the opportunity to recycle with recycling bins incorporated into regular litter bins. Clearly this is a very well-respected environment.” Galway City Council, Director Services, Patrick Greene, has written to the University to share the appreciation of the local authority for supporting the city to achieve an enhanced IBAL rating and positive publicity for the city as a location for business and leisure. President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “Our University community makes great effort to showcase our beautiful riverside, city campus and we are thrilled that these endeavours are recognised by IBAL, Galway City Council and An Taisce. One of our core values is openness and a key element of that is ensuring that our campus is welcoming and somewhere for people to visit and enjoy, whether they are students, visitors or tourists or those living and working in and around the city. University of Galway is well regarded as one of the most biodiverse university campuses and it is great credit to the teams of people who manage, maintain and tend to our environment that their efforts are marked in the IBAL survey and report. I would like to congratulate all the University staff, particularly those in our Buildings and Estates team, for their hard work and the pride they take in making our campus look and feel so welcoming.” Ends

CÚRAM, the SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices at University of Galway, in collaboration with the National Breast Cancer Research Institute, will mark World Cancer Research Day with a special screening of the documentary ‘The People There to Catch Us’.  The screening will take place on Sunday September 24 at the Town Hall Theatre, Galway at 4.30pm. ‘The People There to Catch Us’ tells the story of Tom Hope and Rachel O’Mahony, two cancer survivors who work alongside researchers at CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices at University of Galway and Precision Oncology Ireland (POI), to help improve the lives of others living with the disease. The documentary shines a light on the lived experience of cancer survivors, their contribution to research and the ongoing work of research centres like CÚRAM and Precision Oncology Ireland that will shape how cancer will be treated in the future. Speaking about the screening, Dr Róisín Dwyer, CÚRAM and POI Investigator, University of Galway, who features in the film, said: “I’m delighted that we are giving Galway audiences a chance to see this film, and to show them the research that is ongoing on their own doorstep. Our research is patient-focused and we are privileged to work so closely with patient advocates like Rachel who has contributed to our research at University of Galway over several years. This film is a celebration of the power of collaboration, highlighting that we can achieve so much more when we all work together.”   The documentary was produced by Ronan Cassidy of Carbonated Comet and directed by Luke Brabazon under CÚRAM’s Science on Screen public engagement programme.  The film features Dr Róisín Dwyer, CÚRAM and POI Investigator, University of Galway; Professor William Gallagher, POI Deputy Director, UCD Conway Institute and Co-Lead, All-Island Cancer Research Institute; and Professor Walter Kolch, POI Director, and Director of Systems Biology Ireland, UCD, all of whom are focused on personalised cancer research at Precision Oncology Ireland. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with film participants Dr Róisín Dwyer, patient advocates Tom Hope and Rachel O’Mahony, Consultant Breast Surgeon Professor Aoife Lowery, and the film’s director, Luke Brabazon. Claire Riordan, Public Engagement Manager with CÚRAM, said: “Screenings like this allow us to have important conversations about research outside of the lab with the people that will be affected by it. We want to provide opportunities for people to learn both about the research and the lived experience of the conditions that are highlighted in the film.” Patrick Casey, National Breast Cancer Institute Operations Manager, said: “National Breast Cancer Research Institute are thrilled to co-host the upcoming screening of ‘The People There to Catch Us’. We felt it important to be able to make the film freely accessible to the generous supporters and advocates of our charity. The documentary focuses on the real-life journey of cancer survivors, their valuable contributions to research, and the continuous efforts of research centres, and we believe this is a group opportunity for our stakeholders to come along and watch the film and partake in the interactive Q&A session. “The timing of this screening is no coincidence, as it takes place on World Cancer Research Day. This day serves as a global reminder of our shared responsibility to drive forward the frontiers and promote awareness of cancer research. This aligns with our vision to have a real and measurable impact on outcomes for breast cancer patients.” Admission is free but registration is required to secure a place at the event, https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-people-there-to-catch-us-a-screening-for-world-cancer-research-day-tickets-708819075937?aff=oddtdtcreator Ends

A University of Galway academic has called for new Irish and EU laws, and billion euro fines, to criminalise social media companies who fail to tackle cyber violence against women.   Associate Professor Tom Felle, Discipline of Journalism at University of Galway, addressed the Oireachtas Taskforce on Safe Participation in Political Life today (September 7), citing research findings and recommendations from University of Galway research into cyber violence against female politicians. The research highlights the rampant prevalence of cyber violence, its impact and urgent policy responses which are needed to ensure a safe and inclusive political landscape.   Cyber violence against women, particularly those in the political sphere, has become alarmingly pervasive, fuelled by the mainstream integration of social media. This abuse ranges from derogatory comments to threats of violence and rape, significantly impacting mental well-being, participation, and representation of women in Irish public life.   Associate Professor Felle said: “International research shows that the overwhelming majority of perpetrators are male, often utilising the relative anonymity of the online environment to engage in aggressive behaviour. The lack of consistent platform policies and enforcement mechanisms complicates addressing this issue effectively.”   The University of Galway research is based on qualitative interviews with 78 participants, including current and former members of the Oireachtas and local councillors across political parties.    The research found:   Approximately 96 per cent received abusive social media or electronic messages containing hate speech, foul language, and inappropriate comments. 73 per cent faced threats of physical violence, with 38 per cent subjected to threats of rape or sexual violence. 28 per cent reported being verbally abused in public, including disturbing incidents like faeces being thrown and threats of acid attacks One in five say they have considered quitting politics due to online harassment, highlighting the chilling effect of cyber violence   Associate Professor Felle added: “We need a comprehensive approach, including educational initiatives that emphasise digital literacy, critical thinking, and appropriate online behaviour. This should extend to schools and society to promote respectful online engagement. There is an urgent need to enforce existing laws to hold perpetrators accountable for online abuse and threats.   “At national and EU level legislators need to make social media platforms criminally responsible for allowing misogynistic content and threats to thrive – including hitting them in their pockets with billion euro fines. Clear and consistent policies against hate speech and harassment should be enforced.   “Failure to address cyber violence against women in politics could lead to a perpetuation of inequality and silencing of women's voices, undermining gender equality and democratic principles.”   For more information on the Oireachtas Taskforce please see https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/office-holders/ceann-comhairle/task-force-on-safe-participation-in-political-life/.    Ends 

University of Galway has heralded the achievements of students and alumna competing in the 2023 World Rowing Championships. The rowers have been taking to the water this week in Belgrade, Serbia as they chase medals and chart a path to the Paris Olympics in 2024. Brian Colsh has competed in the Men’s Quadruple; Fiona Murtagh and Aifric Keogh, alumna of the University, teamed up in the Women’s Pair; and Fionnán McQuillan-Tolan took to the water in the Men’s Four.  Deputy President and Registrar Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh said: “On behalf of our University community, I’d like to send a message of congratulations to all of our rowers competing in the World Championships and also as they set down a marker for the Olympics. Competing on the world stage is a truly remarkable achievement for any young athlete and our University is right behind them. We take great pride in celebrating the achievements of our students, as well as our staff, whether that’s in research breakthroughs, community engagement, volunteering, academic achievement and international competition. It is a great delight for us to herald such sporting achievements.”  Mike Heskin, Director of Sport at University of Galway, said: “Our rowers are fantastic ambassadors for University of Galway but also the sport of rowing and Ireland. We put huge effort into rowing at the University and making use of the Corrib in Galway, as well as the coaching and mentoring of the University’s High Performance Unit and our wider support staff. We are looking forward to a great academic year of competition and success for our students and we are thrilled to see so many of our students and alumna competing and challenging at the highest level in the sport of rowing. It is a great testament to their talent and dedication and the support they receive at the University.”  Racing commenced on September 3 and runs right through the week until Sunday September 10. The 2023 World Rowing Championships are the first opportunity for rowers to qualify Ireland for the 2024 Paris Olympics.  Ends 

Adam Harris, Founder and chief executive of Ireland’s national autism charity AsIAm, has today officially opened University of Galway’s new Multi-Sensory Room, designed to make the campus more inclusive and sensory-friendly. The Multi-Sensory Room was designed in consultation with students and specialist staff and in collaboration with an architect, and is equipped with interactive and integrated lighting, visual, vibroacoustic and sound effects that create an immersive and customisable sensory experience for students. The room is designed to be a safe space for students to self-regulate by adjusting their sensory environment. Users will be able to choose from a range of calming or stimulating, integrated lighting, sound and vibroacoustic arrangements, to suit their sensory needs, and unwind on comfortable furniture. Soft furnishings and sensory stress-relieving items complete the experience, enabling students to feel regulated and supporting their engagement in college life. Adam Harris said: “Autistic people, and other neurodivergent people, face barriers to accessing education which are often invisible to others but which prevent our community from enjoying the same chance. Some 3.38% of children in school today now have an Autism diagnosis and there is also a significant increase in the number of adults accessing assessment. It is so important that higher level education institutions are accessible for our community and that environmental barriers do not prevent students from thriving and contributing. AsIAm, Ireland’s National Autism Charity, is delighted to be working with HEIs across the country as part of our Autism Friendly HEI Award and we warmly congratulate the University of Galway on the launch of their sensory space - this investment will no doubt support more students to access the University, enrich the experience of those already enrolled and also act as an educational tool for all on campus in terms of understanding and accepting difference.” University of Galway Vice-President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Helen Maher, said:  “'Inclusivity is a priority for the University to create equal opportunities and conditions for all, and we are focused on assisting those most in need. This space is part of University of Galway’s wider efforts to accommodate and make the campus more accessible for students with additional needs.  “We need to ensure that our students experience at University of Galway is an enjoyable and positive one, and accessibility and student involvement were key considerations throughout the design of this space. Universities can be a crowded and noisy environment which can impact learning and work, especially for neurodiverse students, so the aim of the new Multi-Sensory Room is to provide a safe space where users can relax and stimulate their senses in a controlled manner.”  The opening of the multi-sensory room in the Arts Millennium Building forms part of University of Galway’s suite of indoor and outdoor initiates designed to provide sensory friendly spaces and to create a more inclusive campus. Previous initiatives on that theme include the Cubbie Sensory Hub, a multi-sensory, safe space for students and staff; the introduction of the JAM Card©, which allows people with communication challenges to discreetly and easily tell others they need 'Just A Minute'; outdoor study pods; sensory garden; relaxation room; and an initiative to map the accessibility of campus footpaths and building surrounds. Head of University of Galway’s Access Centre Imelda Byrne said: “The launch of the new multi-sensory room is another important step in University of Galway’s ongoing commitment to create an inclusive campus environment for our diverse student body. In the academic year 2022/23, there were over 1,600 students registered for support with the Access Centre’s disability support service. Inclusive spaces such as the new multi-sensory provide an important safe space for our neurodiverse students and ensure these supports are built into the very fabric of the University’s built environment.” Izzy Tiernan, Vice President/Welfare and Equality Officer, University of Galway Students’ Union, said: “The creation and opening of a new multi-sensory room in the Arts Millennium Building is sure to become a valuable asset for neurodivergent students, as well as the wider student body. In a world that is designed and built for neurotypical people, having safe, quiet and accessible spaces for students of different abilities is essential to creating an inclusive campus environment. As an autistic person myself, I am extremely excited to utilise the new space to take a few minutes out during the day to regulate my emotions, clear my mind and make life just that little bit easier.” The establishment of the multi-sensory room project was supported by the Higher Education Authority's Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) Strategic Project scheme (2021-2022) and the HEA PATH 4 Phase 1 funding scheme (2022-23).  Ends

Is é Adam Harris, bunaitheoir agus príomhfheidhmeannach AsIAm, arb é carthanas uathachais náisiúnta na hÉireann é, a d’oscail Seomra Ilchéadfach nua Ollscoil na Gaillimhe go hoifigiúil inniu, agus é de chuspóir ag an seomra nua go mbeidh an campas níos cuimsithí agus níos báúla dóibh siúd a bhfuil deacrachtaí acu le próiseáil chéadfach. Chuathas i gcomhairliúchán le mic léinn agus le sainchomhaltaí foirne le linn don Seomra Ilchéadfach a bheith á dhearadh, agus i gcomhar le hailtire, agus i measc an trealamh atá ann tá soilsiú idirghníomhach agus comhtháite, agus éifeachtaí físe, crithfhuaime agus fuaime. Fágann na gnéithe sin gur timpeallacht í ina gcuirtear eispéireas céadfach atá idir thumthach agus inoiriúnaithe ar fáil do mhic léinn.  Dearadh an seomra le bheith ina spás sábháilte féinrialála do mhic léinn ina mbeidh siad in ann a dtimpeallacht chéadfach a choigeartú. Beidh úsáideoirí in ann rogha a dhéanamh idir raon comhtháite soilse agus socruithe fuaime agus crithfhuaimíochta, idir shuaimhneach agus spreagúil. Beidh siad in ann freastal a dhéanamh ar an gcaoi sin ar a gcuid riachtanas céadfach féin agus a scíth a ligean ar throscán compordach. Tá feistis bhog agus míreanna céadfacha a thugann faoiseamh ó strus sa seomra chomh maith, rud a chuireann ar chumas na mac léinn iad féin a rialáil agus tacú lena rannpháirtíocht i saol an choláiste.   Bhí an méid seo le rá ag Adam Harris, Bunaitheoir agus Príomhfheidhmeannach AsIAm, carthanas náisiúnta uathachais na hÉireann:“Tá bacainní le sárú acu siúd a bhfuil uathachas orthu, agus ag daoine néar-éagsúla eile, agus iad ag iarraidh rochtain a fháil ar oideachas. Is minic nach bhfuil na deacrachtaí sin infheicthe do dhaoine eile ach cuireann siad bac ar ár bpobal na deiseanna céanna a thapú. Tá diagnóis an Uathachais faighte ag 3.38% de leanaí scoile an lae inniu agus méadú suntasach tagtha freisin ar líon na ndaoine fásta atá ag dul faoi mheasúnú. Tá sé chomh tábhachtach go mbeadh rochtain ag ár bpobal ar na hinstitiúidí ardoideachais agus nach gcuirfeadh bacainní comhshaoil srian ar mhic léinn ó bheith rathúil ná ó chion a dhéanamh do shaol na hinstitiúide. Tá an-áthas ar AsIAm, Carthanas Náisiúnta Uathachais na hÉireann, a bheith ag obair le hinstitiúidí ardoideachais ar fud na tíre mar chuid dár nGradam HEI do na hinstitiúidí sin atá báúil don uathachas. Déanaimid comhghairdeas ó chroí le hOllscoil na Gaillimhe as a spás céadfach a sheoladh - níl aon dabht ach go dtacóidh an infheistíocht seo le níos mó mic léinn rochtain a fháil ar an Ollscoil, go ndéanfaidh sí saibhriú ar eispéireas iad siúd atá cláraithe cheana féin agus go bhfeidhmeoidh sí chomh maith mar uirlis oideachais don champas trí chéile maidir le héagsúlacht a thuiscint, agus glacadh léi.” Dúirt Helen Maher, Leas-Uachtaráin Comhionannais, Éagsúlachta agus Cuimsithe Ollscoil na Gaillimhe:  “'Tosaíocht don Ollscoil is ea an chuimsitheacht le go mbeidh deiseanna agus riochtaí atá cothrom do chách, agus táimid dírithe ar chúnamh a thabhairt dóibh siúd is mó a dteastaíonn sé uathu. Gné amháin d’iarrachtaí Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ar bhonn níos leithne is ea an spás seo chun freastal ar mhic léinn a bhfuil riachtanais bhreise acu, agus an campas a dhéanamh níos inoiriúnaithe dóibh. “Ní mór dúinn a chinntiú go mbeidh eispéireas taitneamhach agus dearfach ag ár mic léinn anseo in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, agus féachadh go sonrach don inrochtaineacht agus do rannpháirtíocht mac léinn nuair a bhí an spás seo a dhearadh. Tá Ollscoileanna in ann a bheith ina dtimpeallachtaí plódaithe agus callánacha, rud atá in ann cur isteach ar chúrsaí foghlama agus oibre, go mór mór do mhic léinn néar-éagsúla. An aidhm atá ag an Seomra Ilchéadfach nua spás sábháilte a chur ar fáil do mhic léinn inar féidir leo a scíth a ligean agus a gcéadfaí a spreagadh ar bhealach rialaithe.” Áirítear oscailt an tseomra ilchéadfaigh in Áras Dán na Mílaoise leis an réimse tionscadal, idir faoi dhíon agus faoin aer, a dearadh chun spásanna a chur ar fáil dóibh siúd a bhfuil deacrachtaí acu le próiseáil chéadfach agus chun campas níos cuimsithí a chruthú.   I measc na tionscadail atá curtha i bhfeidhm cheana féin sa chomhthéacs sin, tá Spás Céadfach Cubbie, ar spás sábháilte ilchéadfach é do mhic léinn agus don fhoireann; tabhairt isteach an Chárta JAM© a ligeann dóibh siúd a bhfuil deacrachtaí cumarsáide acu insint do dhaoine eile go dteastaíonn nóiméad uathu; faighneoga staidéar lasmuigh; gairdín céadfach; seomra scíthe; agus togra ina ndearnadh inrochtaineacht cosán agus foirgneamh a mhapáil.   Seo mar a labhair Imelda Byrne, Ceann an Ionaid Rochtana in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Fágann seoladh an tseomra ilchéadfaigh nua go bhfuil céim thábhachtach eile tógtha ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus an tiomantas leanúnach atá déanta aici timpeallacht campais cuimsitheach a chruthú dá cuid mac léinn éagsúil á chomhlíonadh aici. Bhí breis agus 1,600 mac léinn cláraithe le haghaidh tacaíochta le seirbhís tacaíochta míchumais an Ionaid Rochtana sa bhliain acadúil 2022/23. Spás sábháilte tábhachtach is ea an seomra ilchéadfach nua dár mic léinn néar-éagsúla agus cinntíonn forbairtí cosúil leis seo go bhfuil na tacaíochtaí seo ina gcuid de thimpeallacht thógtha na hOllscoile.   Dúirt Izzy Tiernan, Leas-Uachtarán/Oifigeach Leasa agus Comhionannais, Comhaltas na Mac Léinn Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Is cinnte go mbainfidh mic léinn néar-éagsúla, agus mic léinn na hollscoile trí chéile, an-leas as an seomra ilchéadfach nua in Áras Dán na Mílaoise. Is minic nach leagtar suntas sa ghnáthshaol ar riachtanais iad siúd atá néar-éagsúil agus is den riachtanas é go mbeadh spásanna sábháilte, ciúine agus inrochtana ar fáil do mhic léinn a bhfuil cumais éagsúla acu má tá uainn timpeallacht campais cuimsitheach a chruthú. Is duine le huathachas mé féin agus atá mé ag súil go mór leas a bhaint as an spás nua agus sos beag a bheith agam i rith an lae le go mbeidh deis agam mo mhothúcháin a rialú agus m’intinn a shuaimhniú, rud a fhágfaidh go ndéanfar an chuid eile den lá níos éasca orm.”   Fuair tionscadal an tseomra ilchéadfach tacaíocht ó scéim Tionscadail Straitéisigh (2022-23) an Chiste do Mhic Léinn faoi Mhíchumas (FSD) de chuid an Údaráis um Ard-Oideachas agus ó scéim mhaoinithe Chéim 1 de PATH 4 an ÚAO.   Críoch

Two University of Galway academic researchers have secured prestigious grant awards from the European Research Council to pursue scientific research on evolution and breast cancer.  Dr Eoin McEvoy, an Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Dr James Gahan, who takes up an Associate Professorship in chromosome biology in 2024.  The scientists are among eight academics and researchers based in Ireland to be approved for an ERC Starting Grant 2023 and among 400 across Europe. ERC Starting Grants are awarded over a five year period.  These awards are part of the EU’s Horizon Europe programme and designed to support excellent Principal Investigators who have demonstrated the ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their research proposal and are at a stage in their career when they are starting their own independent research team or programme. Dr James Gahan is currently a Research fellow at the University of Oxford and based at the Michael Sars Centre at the University of Bergen in Norway as a visiting researcher. He takes up an Associate Professor role in the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences and Centre for Chromosome Biology at University of Galway in April 2024 when the ERC Starting Grant commences. Dr Gahan said: “My research focuses on the very earliest stages of animal evolution, namely how organisms went from being single celled to being composed of many different types of cells with different functions. To study this I work on choanoflagellates, which are small marine organisms, and the closest living relatives to animals. The ERC starting grant is a huge moment for my research and career and will allow me to build a team working on these questions with the resources to do truly excellent science.” Dr Eoin McEvoy is an Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering, whose research work under the ERC Starting Grant will focus on uncovering why tumour growth is sensitive to physical pressure and overcoming related drug resistance. Dr McEvoy said: “Breast cancer remains the second most common cause of cancer-related death in Irish women. This project will develop a new way to diagnose and treat cancer by analysing the physical forces that contribute to tumour growth and drug resistance. By creating computer models and analysing tissue from cancer patients, our team will develop a better understanding of how physical pressure can both prevent tumour progression and reduce drug efficacy. Ultimately, the project aims to create a personalised healthcare tool to predict cancer and treatment outcomes, leading to more effective patient-specific diagnosis and treatment.” Ends

University of Galway’s Professor Alma McCarthy has been recognised for her contribution to academia, research and leadership and honoured with the Fellowship of the Irish Academy of Management.  Professor McCarthy, Dean of the University’s J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, has been awarded the prestigious Fellowship at the Irish Academy of Management annual conference, held at the University, while Martin Shanahan, Partner and Head of Industry and Foreign Direct Investment at Grant Thornton, was bestowed with the distinguished TK Whitaker Award. Both Professor Alma McCarthy and Martin Shanahan were acknowledged during the IAM conference for their remarkable achievements and dedication to their respective fields and contributions which serve as inspiration to academics, professionals, and aspiring leaders across Ireland. Professor McCarthy said: "I am deeply honoured to receive the Fellowship of the Irish Academy of Management. The Irish Academy of Management is the leading professional association for management studies, research and education on the island of Ireland.  I look forward to continue supporting the work of the Academy, especially in supporting and mentoring early career academics and PhD students." Martin Shanahan said: “I am humbled by this recognition from the Irish Academy of Management, not least because the award carries the name of its first recipient TK Whitaker and to be considered in the same sphere as him and the roll call of exceptional nominees that have been awarded it over the years is a huge honour." Professor McCarthy is recognised for her impactful research, policy influence, and leadership within the Irish Academy of Management, as well as her commitment to fostering collaboration, academic rigor, and mentorship which has earned her high esteem from colleagues and students alike. Martin Shanahan is recognised as having an impressive background in leadership and policy development, policy development, and advocacy for diversity, including within government agencies, as the former head of IDA Ireland. His contributions to economic growth, employment and diversity in the workplace have been exceptional. His commitment to promoting inclusivity and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights underscores his dedication to building an open and diverse business culture in Ireland. The TK Whitaker Award recognises his significant contributions to economic development and employment, as well as his invaluable efforts in cultivating an inclusive work environment. Ends 

Two of the world’s leading surgeons will deliver the keynote addresses at University of Galway’s Sir Peter Freyer Memorial Lecture and Surgical Symposium, the largest Surgical Conference in Ireland.     The 48th Sir Peter Freyer Memorial Lecture and Surgical Symposium takes place today and tomorrow, September 1 and 2, where a special symposium will take place in honour of the late University of Galway alumnus and Professor Dermot Hehir, who passed away earlier this year.   Professor Hehir was an Adjunct Clinical Professor at University of Limerick School of Medicine, a former Consultant Surgeon of Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore and Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He qualified as a doctor at the University in 1976.   The annual two day Sir Peter Freyer Memorial Lecture and Surgical Symposium at University of Galway is named in memory of the Galway-born surgeon, Sir Peter Freyer, who performed the first successful surgical operation to remove an enlarged prostate in 1900.   Professor Alastair Thompson will deliver the Memorial Lecture entitled Future Proofing of Cancer Surgery on Friday evening. Professor Thompson is Professor and Chief, Section of Breast Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, USA, focusing on improving breast cancer surgical techniques, clinical trials and translational research.   Professor Laura Viani will deliver the State of the Art Lecture entitled Journey out of Silence on Saturday. Professor Viani is President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Consultant Otolaryngologist and Neuro-Otologist to Beaumont Hospital and Temple Street University Children’s Hospital. She established the Republic’s first and only cochlear implant programme in 1995, which has grown to become the National Hearing Implant and Research Centre.   The two-day symposium comprises of research and education sessions across the various surgical sub-specialties including a session on Adaptive Surgical Training for a Changing World to discuss the future training programmes and ambitions for surgery in Ireland and a session on clinical trials; keynote addresses; and a discussion forum around the future of surgical training in Ireland.     Professor of Surgery at University of Galway Michael Kerin said: “We are delighted to welcome Professor Thompson and Professor Viani to our University. Their work focuses on delivering high quality surgical care and achieving best outcomes for patients in the modern era, encompassing issues related to service provision, surgical training and support and gender equality in healthcare. Both lectures are the centre-points of a large programme containing some of the best surgical research from this country. This conference signals the start of the academic year and has been a mainstay of the National Academic Surgical Platform with input from a diverse group of consultants and trainees across all specialties in Irish surgery.”    For further information on the symposium visit www.freyer.ie.   

University of Galway led research project funded by the Health Research Board    A University of Galway researcher has secured funding from the Health Research Board (HRB) to advance blood pressure treatment using artificial intelligence.  The project led by Dr Conor Judge - An Artificial Intelligence approach to improving blood pressure treatment - is set to revolutionise the management and treatment of hypertension, a critical health issue affecting more than 1.4 billion people around the world. The funding of €700,000 has been awarded under the HRB’s Clinician Scientist Fellowships (CSF) 2023 scheme. The research project will run for four years and aims to address the significant care-gap in hypertension management, which currently requires people with the condition to visit their doctor frequently, thus posing a challenge to both the person with hypertension and the healthcare providers, by exploring the potential of artificial intelligence in enhancing treatment decisions. Initially, the project will analyse two extensive clinical trials on blood pressure treatment to train a computer program to make treatment decisions similar to clinical hypertension experts. Following this, safety features will be integrated into the AI program to ensure reliable recommendations, especially in unfamiliar medical scenarios. The project will carry out comprehensive surveys with both clinicians and people being treated for high blood pressure to gauge their perceptions of AI-driven treatment. The final step involves a thorough evaluation of the AI program's efficacy in recommending blood pressure treatments in a real world setting. Dr Conor Judge, a senior lecturer of applied clinical data analytics with University of Galway’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, and Consultant Nephrologist at Saolta University Health Care Group said: “Doctor capacity is a crucial factor that limits how well we can control high blood pressure, leading to a significant gap in managing this condition worldwide.”  “The overarching goal is to personalise hypertension management, thereby bridging the existing care-gap and significantly reducing the global burden of hypertension-related complications. The project's findings could potentially set a precedent for employing AI in managing other critical health conditions, marking a significant stride towards integrating AI in routine clinical practice.” The research will be supervised by Professor Martin O'Donnell, Dean of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and Professor of Neurovascular Medicine at University of Galway, and Consultant Geriatrician at Saolta University Health Care Group. Professor O’Donnell said: “Artificial Intelligence Clinical Decision Support Systems (AICDSS) for Hypertension holds considerable potential to improving hypertension management but require rigorous evaluation before assimilation into routine clinical practice. “This scheme is designed to fund health and social care practitioners who have completed their PhD and are engaged in clinical care delivery. The primary aim is to nurture these professionals into independent clinician researchers with a profound ambition to influence policy and practice through their research endeavours.” Ends  

Beidh comhdháil mhór idirnáisiúnta ar an tsláine acadúil agus taighde ar siúl an tseachtain seo in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe  i gcomhpháirtíocht leis an Líonra Náisiúnta do Shláine Acadúil (NAIN). An aidhm atá ag Comhdháil na hÉireann 2023 ar an tSláine Acadúil agus Taighde deis a thabhairt do mhic léinn, taighdeoirí, acadóirí agus dóibh siúd a oibríonn go gairmiúil san earnáil bualadh lena chéile chun foghlaim óna chéile, smaointe a roinnt, agus dul i mbun machnaimh i dteannta a chéile maidir leis na céimeanna praiticiúla atá riachtanach chun go gcothófar luach na sláine tuilleadh san earnáil ardoideachais. Reáchtálfar an chomhdháil in Óstán Galmont i gCathair na Gaillimhe ón gCéadaoin, an 4 Deireadh Fómhair go dtí Dé hAoine, an 6 Deireadh Fómhair 2023. Is féidir clárú, breathnú ar chlár na comhdhála, agus eolas breise a fháil anseo Seo a leanas roinnt de na téamaí a bheidh idir chaibidil ag an gcomhdháil: dúshláin a bhaineann leis an teicneolaíocht a aithint agus deiseanna tacú leis an tsláine acadúil agus taighde cosúil le ChatGPT, Google Translate, DALL-E, etc; athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar bhealaí chun déileáil le mí-iompar acadúil agus taighde - polasaithe agus cleachtais; agus comhpháirtíochtaí mac léinn a chruthú le go gcuirfí le cultúr sláine acadúil atá faoi stiúir mac léinn. I measc na bpríomhchainteoirí ag an gcomhdháil beidh saineolaithe idirnáisiúnta mór le rá i réimsí na Sláine Acadúla agus Taighde agus san áireamh beidh Elisabeth Bik (California, Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá), Sarah Elaine Eaton (Calgary, Ceanada), Lex Bouter (Amstardam, an Ísiltír), Phil Newton (Swansea, an Bhreatain Bheag), Serge Horbach (Aarhus, an Danmhairg), agus Ann Rogerson (Wollongong, an Astráil).  Tá sé mar aidhm ag an gcomhdháil freisin treoir agus tacaíocht phraiticiúil a chur ar fáil, naisc a dhéanamh idir na téamaí agus ár bpobail chleachtais a neartú tuilleadh. Bhí an méid seo le rá ag an Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí, an tOllamh Pól Ó Dochartaigh: “Is am tráthúil tús bliain acadúil nua chun machnamh a dhéanamh ar bhunphrionsabail an ardoideachais, agus ní mór don tsláine de gach cineál a bheith ina príomhluach d’ollscoileanna. An cúram atá orainn le chéile dul i ngleic leis na dúshláin atá á dtabhairt ag an intleacht shaorga don taighde, don teagasc agus don fhoghaim, agus is fóram thar a bheith feiliúnach an chomhdháil seo don phobal ollscoile teacht le chéile agus breithniú a dhéanamh ar ar féidir linn a dhéanamh chun na caighdeáin is airde sláine a chothabháil agus a chosaint sa chóras oideachais agus cáilíochtaí.” Seo mar a labhair an Dr Billy Kelly, Cathaoirleach an Líonra Náisiúnta do Shláine Acadúil:: “Tá áthas ar an Líonra Náisiúnta do Shláine Acadúil (NAIN) an chomhdháil seo a óstáil i gcomhar le hOllscoil na Gaillimhe. Tá dúshlán á thabhairt do chleachtais reatha teagaisc, foghlama agus measúnaithe i láthair na huaire mar thoradh ar dhul chun cinn na teicneolaíochta agus tá iarmhairtí suntasacha ag na dúshláin sin, idir iarbhír agus féideartha, don tsláine acadúil agus don tsláine taighde araon. Soláthrófar deis ag an gcomhdháil seo foghlaim ó cheannairí idirnáisiúnta agus náisiúnta sa spás seo, agus tabharfaidh na rannpháirtithe leo léargais phraiticiúla agus indéanta mar ábhar plé laistigh dá n-eagraíochtaí agus dá bpobail chleachtais féin.” Críoch

University of Galway is to host a major international conference on academic and research integrity this week, in partnership with the National Academic Integrity Network (NAIN). Academic & Research Integrity Conference Ireland 2023 sets out to offer students, researchers, academics and professional staff in the sector the opportunity to come together to learn from each other, share ideas and think collectively about what practical steps are needed to sustain the value of integrity at the heart of higher education. The conference will take place at the Galmont Hotel in Galway city from Wednesday October 4th to Friday October 6th 2023. Registration, conference programme and further details are available here Some of the themes to be featured at the conference include: identifying technology-related challenges and opportunities for supporting academic and research integrity such as ChatGPT, Google Translate, DALL-E, etc; reviewing approaches to academic and research misconduct - policies and practices; and creating student partnerships to enhance a culture of student-led academic integrity. Keynote speakers at the conference include prominent international experts in the fields of Academic and Research Integrity including: -      Elisabeth Bik, a science integrity volunteer and consultant who has worked at Stanford University and in industry. -      Sarah Elaine Eaton, Associate Professor in the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary, Canada and Honorary Associate Professor, Deakin University, Australia -      Lex Bouter, Professor Emeritus of Methodology and Integrity at the Department of Epidemiology and Data Science of the Amsterdam University Medical Centers and the Department of Philosophy of the Faculty of Humanities of the Vrije Universiteit -      Phil Newton, neuroscientist at the Swansea University Medical School -      Serge Horbach from the Danish Centre for Studies in Research and Research Policy, Aarhus University. -      Ann Rogerson, Associate Dean (Education) at the Faculty of Business and Law at University of Wollongong, Australia The conference also aims to offer practical guidance and support, and to make connections across the themes and further strengthen our communities of practice. Deputy President and Registrar, Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh, said: “The start of a new academic year is an opportune time to reflect on the core principles of higher education, and integrity, in all its forms, must be a leading value for universities. Together, we face the task of coming to grips with the challenges to research, teaching, and learning posed by generative artificial intelligence, and this conference provides a perfect venue for members of the university community to gather and to consider what we can do to maintain the highest standards of integrity in our education and qualifications.” Dr Billy Kelly, Chair of the National Academic Integrity Network, said: “The National Academic Integrity Network (NAIN) is pleased to co-host this conference with University of Galway. At the current time, advancements in technology challenge current teaching, learning and assessment practices and these challenges have significant actual and potential consequences for both academic and research integrity. The conference will be an opportunity to learn from international and national leaders in this space, with all participants taking away tangible and actionable insights to discuss within their own organisations and communities of practice.” Ends

New study from University of Galway alleviates concerns over metformin drug for mothers and babies   Clinical trial shows no difference in outcomes for women and their newborns   Researchers at University of Galway have taken a significant step forward in the management of gestational diabetes mellitus after a clinical trial involving pregnant women provided new hope for expectant mothers suffering the condition. The findings from the trial are being published in JAMA: the Journal of American Medical Association. (The paper is available on request).  Gestational diabetes is a global health issue affecting almost 3 million pregnant women worldwide every year. It is a condition characterised by elevated blood sugar levels during pregnancy, posing increased health risks for both mothers and their babies.  Professor Fidelma Dunne, Professor of Medicine at University of Galway and Consultant Endocrinologist at Saolta University Health Care Group, managed the EMERGE, randomised, placebo-controlled trial, funded by the Health Research Board, involving more than 500 pregnant women. It found:  Women assigned to metformin were 25% less likely to need insulin, and when insulin was necessary, it was started later in the pregnancy. Metformin is used routinely in the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes and has been widely available for over 60 years. Fasting and post-meal sugar values in the mother were significantly lower in the metformin exposed group at weeks 32 and 38.  Women receiving metformin gained less weight throughout the trial and maintained this weight difference at the 12-week post-delivery visit. Importantly, delivery occurred at the same mean gestational age (39.1 weeks) in both groups. There was no evidence of any increase in preterm birth (defined as birth before 37 weeks) among those who received metformin.  Infants born to mothers who received metformin weighed, on average, 113g less at birth, with significantly fewer infants classified as large at birth, or weighing over 4kg (8lbs 8ounces). While there was a slight reduction in infant length (0.7cm), there were no other significant differences in baby measurements.  There were slightly more babies who were small at birth but this did not reach statistical significance.  The study also revealed no differences in adverse neonatal outcomes, including the need for intensive care treatment for new-borns, respiratory support, jaundice, congenital anomalies, birth injuries or low sugar levels. Additionally there were no variations in rates of labour induction, caesarean delivery, maternal haemorrhage, infection or blood pressure issues during or after birth.  Professor Fidelma Dunne presented the results (on Tuesday October 3, 2023) at the 59th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Hamburg, Germany. Professor Dunne said: “While there is convincing evidence that improved sugar control is associated with improved pregnancy outcomes, there was uncertainty about the optimal management approach following a diagnosis of gestational diabetes. “In our pursuit of a safe and effective treatment option we explored an alternative approach – administering the drug metformin. A previous trial compared metformin to insulin and found it to be effective, yet concerns remained, especially regarding preterm birth and infant size.” To address concerns comprehensively, the team at University of Galway conducted a ground-breaking placebo-controlled-trial, filling a critical gap in the gestational diabetes treatment landscape.  535 pregnant women took part, with 268 receiving metformin and 267 a placebo. 98% of women remained in the trial until delivery, with 88% completing the 12-week post-delivery follow up assessment. Only 4.9% of women discontinued medication due to side effects, highlighting the safety of the interventions.  Professor Dunne said: “Traditionally, gestational diabetes has been managed initially through dietary advice and exercise, with insulin introduced if sugar levels remain sub-optimal. While effective in reducing poor pregnancy outcomes, insulin use is associated with challenges, including low sugars in both the mother and infant which may require neonatal intensive care, excess weight gain for mothers, and higher caesarean birth rates. “For mothers with gestational diabetes, they are also at greater risk of high blood pressure and preeclampsia. “Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes face their own set of risks, such as excessive weight at birth, birth injuries, respiratory difficulties and low sugar levels after delivery potentially requiring admission to neonatal intensive care. Gestational diabetes also increases the lifetime risk of diabetes for these mothers and their children. In addition mothers have an elevated lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, low and middle-income countries bear a significant burden of gestational diabetes cases.” Professor Dunne added: “The results from the EMERGE study are a significant step forward for women with gestational diabetes. Metformin has emerged as an effective alternative for managing gestational diabetes, offering new hope for expectant mothers and healthcare providers worldwide.” Ends

p align="center">NBCRI commits investment to further world-class research, including metastatic breast cancer, imaging, genetics and biomarkers   University of Galway has announced a new partnership with the National Breast Cancer Research Institute (NBCRI) with the charity committing a €2 million research investment fund over two years. The collaboration builds on a longstanding relationship between NBCRI and the University, which dates back to the 1990s and has involved support for numerous projects and developments in breast cancer research. One in 7 Irish women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and there are 3,507 breast cancer diagnoses every year - a figure which is set to continue to increase. Thanks to advances in research and healthcare, the survival rate of breast cancer patients has gone from 50% to 88% over the last 40 years. The NBCRI-University of Galway partnership runs until October 2025 and sees the charity committing almost €2 million for a variety of research activity and projects led by Professor Michael Kerin; Professor Aoife Lowery; Dr Róisín Dwyer; and Dr Nicola Miller.  They include: translational research related to metastatic breast cancer; genetics to predict risk and treatment response; and biomarker discovery development of the Cancer Biobank, housing tissue and blood samples crucial to research clinical research focused on cardio-oncology and how cancer therapy affects the heart; breast cancer imaging; and women’s health, including post treatment support and rehab Since its foundation in 1989, the NBCRI has strived to increase awareness, improve access to treatment and conduct internationally significant research into breast cancer. A significant part of that work has been in partnership with University of Galway. The new partnership provides an opportunity to expand this key relationship with increased investment in the breast cancer research programme as the charity and academia work together to achieve better outcomes for patients. President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “On behalf of the University of Galway community I would like to show a deep appreciation for both the longstanding relationship we have with the NBCRI but also the clear focus of supporting research for the public good - a strong ethos of our University. This partnership goes to the heart of our value of excellence and acts as a clear demonstration of the potential to make a difference in people’s lives, here in the west of Ireland, nationally and internationally.”  The fund will also enable research opportunities from undergraduate through to PhD and postdoctorate levels with projects focusing on trying to answer key questions in breast cancer research and treatment, including: How do cells communicate and how does cancer metastasise? How can we manipulate cells to find metastatic breast cancer cells and direct therapy to them? Can we detect new blood biomarkers for better diagnosis and to help predict response to treatment? Can we identify gene mutations to help predict who might develop breast cancer? How does cancer therapy affect the heart?  Microwave Breast Imaging - Is it a safe option and is it more sensitive than current mammography? Speaking about the partnership NBCRI Director of Research and Professor of Surgery at University of Galway, Professor Michael Kerin, said: “The advancement of research and healthcare for people diagnosed with cancer is remarkable. Day-in, day-out, we see patients and their loved ones in our clinics who reap the rewards. We need to increase the pace of those advancements in cancer treatment, care, quality of life and cures, by ensuring our patients can access a fit-for-purpose cancer centre that is underpinned by quality research, education and clinical trials.  “I would like to thank the NBCRI Board and its Chairperson, Caroline Loughnane, for their leadership and commitment to advancing breast cancer research to improve outcomes for patients. A commitment of this scale is testament to the value that the NBCRI charity places on research at the University of Galway and how it can be the catalyst for improvements in care and the lives of our patients and their families, as well as a lasting global impact on research.” Governed by a voluntary board, NBCRI is funded almost entirely by public donations from fundraising events held nationwide, which all help to keep the charity “in the pink” to fund research. The charity is one of the driving forces in the development of a major new cancer centre in the west of Ireland. Among many initiatives over the years of partnership with the University, NBCRI has supported major capital developments providing research and patient facilities for breast cancer research, including the Symptomatic Breast Unit and the Lambe Institute for Translational Research on the grounds of Galway University Hospital. In addition, NBCRI has been at the forefront of developing many of the key leaders in academic surgery and science including taking part in important national research initiatives such as Precision Oncology Ireland. The charity has also supported more than 40 full-time postgraduate places and more than 100 undergraduate medicine and science students as part of the University of Galway School of Medicine summer research programme. Ends

Ten-year strategic partnership to focus on expanding academic links, student engagement, local and global events and the creative sector in the west NUI Galway and Druid have agreed a 10-year strategic partnership building on the existing relationship between the University and the renowned theatre company.  NUI Galway will be Druid’s exclusive academic partner, with the company offering internship opportunities and working to strengthen and enhance the success of NUI Galway’s Creative Arts programmes. The University will host an exhibition to mark Druid’s 50th birthday and NUI Galway 180th anniversary in 2025.  Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, President of NUI Galway, said: ““Great things start at NUI Galway, and Druid is one of those. We have a great tradition here of the creative arts and this partnership with Druid renews this relationship and is very much embedded in our values. When you ask why a student from Boston, Berlin or Beijing would choose to study in Galway, one aspect is the unique opportunity they have to learn with our world class creative organisations, including Druid.” Druid is also committed to expanding its impact on the NUI Galway campus with bespoke on-site performances and conversations, the first of these was Druid Gregory, outdoors in the University’s Quadrangle in September 2020. Garry Hynes, founder and Artistic Director of Druid, said: “For the past 10 years, the Druid Academy at NUI Galway has been a tremendous source of pride and inspiration for us as a company, working with students as they embark on their careers in theatre.  “We are delighted to announce the next stage of this academic partnership, deepening the relationship between ourselves, the students and the wider academic community in NUI Galway, the place where Druid was founded in 1975.” Druid and NUI Galway will work together to devise strategies to further develop Galway’s international reputation and engage with and integrate diverse and new communities and cultures in the region.  There will also be a focus on the NUI Galway alumni, partly through Druid’s international productions, as well bringing renewed visual presence for the creative arts company on campus, engaging and inspiring students and staff. Druid will also help to create greater awareness of the NUI Galway undergraduate and postgraduate courses within the arts community, at home and abroad, through mutual enhancement of the Druid Academy, Druid Artist-in-Residence and the Druid Archive, which is held by the University. Professor Patrick Lonergan, Professor of Drama and Theatre Studies at NUI Galway, added: “Druid is not only an inspirational theatre company; it is also one of Galway's most successful and resilient businesses. Our students will learn from their example as they build their own creative arts enterprises, working in the west of Ireland, nationally, and internationally - just as Druid do.  “We've already achieved so much from working together: the next decade of cooperation promises to be hugely exciting.” To view Garry Hynes and Marie Mullen reflecting on the origins of the Druid Theatre visit https://youtu.be/S5NszCy59Mo.  For more information on the partnership visit https://youtu.be/KimKW14Rr2w or learn more about Drama at NUI Galway at https://www.nuigalway.ie/drama/. Ends

Leagfaidh an chomhpháirtíocht straitéiseach deich mbliana béim ar naisc acadúla agus rannpháirtíocht mac léinn a fhorbairt, ar imeachtaí áitiúla agus domhanda agus ar an earnáil chruthaitheach san iarthar Tá OÉ Gaillimh agus Druid tagtha ar chomhaontú maidir le comhpháirtíocht straitéiseach 10 mbliana a threiseoidh an caidreamh reatha idir an Ollscoil agus Druid, ar compántas drámaíochta é a bhfuil ardcháil air. Beidh OÉ Gaillimh ina chomhpháirtí acadúil eisiach ag Druid, agus tairgfidh an comhlacht deiseanna intéirneachta agus féachfaidh sé le cláir OÉ Gaillimh sna hEalaíona Cruthaitheacha a láidriú agus a fheabhsú. Eagróidh an Ollscoil taispeántas chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh in 2025 ar an leathchéad bliain ó tháinig Druid ar an bhfód mar aon le comóradh 180 bliain OÉ Gaillimh.   Deir an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh: “Is iomaí tionscadal iontach ar cuireadh tús leis in OÉ Gaillimh, agus áirítear Druid ar cheann acu sin. Tá traidisiún láidir ealaíon cruthaitheach anseo againn, agus déantar athnuachan ar an traidisiún sin leis an gcomhpháirtíocht seo le Druid atá ag teacht go mór lenár luachanna. Dá bhfiafrófá díot féin cén t-údar a bheadh ag mac léinn as Bostún, Beirlín nó Béising teacht go Gaillimh chun staidéar a dhéanamh, gné amháin is ea an deis uathúil atá ann a bheith i mbun foghlama lenár n-eagraíochtaí cruthaitheacha den chéad scoth, agus áirítear Druid ar cheann acu sin.” Tá rún ag Druid chomh maith an lorg a fhágann sé ar champas OÉ Gaillimh a mhéadú trí thaibhléirithe agus imagallaimh shaincheaptha a reáchtáil. Ba é Druid Gregory an chéad cheann acu sin, a cuireadh ar bun amuigh faoi aer i gCearnóg na hOllscoile i Meán Fómhair 2020. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Garry Hynes, bunaitheoir agus Stiúrthóir Ealaíne Druid: “Cúis bhróid agus inspreagtha dúinn mar chomhlacht le 10 mbliana anuas is ea Acadamh an Druid in OÉ Gaillimh, agus an obair atá ar siúl againn le mic léinn atá ag tabhairt faoina saol oibre in earnáil na hamharclannaíochta.  “Tá an-áthas orainn céad chéim eile na comhpháirtíochta acadúla seo a fhógairt, agus a bheith in ann cur leis an gcaidreamh atá againn leis na mic léinn agus an pobal acadúil níos leithne in OÉ Gaillimh, an áit ar bunaíodh Druid in 1975.” Oibreoidh Druid agus OÉ Gaillimh as lámha a chéile chun straitéisí a fhorbairt a chuirfidh le cáil idirnáisiúnta na Gaillimhe agus féachfaidh siad le caidreamh a chothú leis na pobail agus na cultúir éagsúla nua sa réigiún, agus iad a chomhtháthú.   Beifear ag díriú chomh maith ar alumni OÉ Gaillimh, rud a bhainfear amach i bpáirt trí léiriúcháin idirnáisiúnta Druid, agus déanfar athnuachan ar láithreacht súl an chomhlachta ealaíon cruthaitheach seo ar an gcampas chun go dtarraingeofar aird na mac léinn agus na foirne trí chéile, agus go dtabharfar inspioráid dóibh. Cabhróidh Druid chomh maith níos mó feasachta faoi chúrsaí fochéime agus iarchéime OÉ Gaillimh a mhúscailt laistigh den phobal ealaíon sa bhaile agus i gcéin trí fheabhas a chur i gcomhpháirt ar Acadamh an Druid, ar Scéim Ealaíontóir Cónaitheach Druid agus ar Chartlann Druid, atá i seilbh na hOllscoile. Chuir an tOllamh Patrick Lonergan, Ollamh le Léann na Drámaíochta agus na hAmharclannaíochta in OÉ Gaillimh, leis an méid thuas agus dúirt: “Ní hamháin gur compántas amharclannaíochta inspioráideach é Druid, ach is é ceann de na gnóthaí is rathúla agus is láidre i nGaillimh é chomh maith. Foghlaimeoidh ár mic léinn óna bhfuil bainte amach acu agus iad ag tabhairt faoina bhfiontair ealaíon cruthaitheach féin a chothú in iarthar na hÉireann, go náisiúnta agus go hidirnáisiúnta, díreach ar nós Druid.  Tá an oiread sin bainte amach againn cheana féin as bheith ag obair i gcomhar le chéile, agus tá an chosúlacht air cheana féin gur tréimhse an-spreagúil a bheidh sna deich mbliana romhainn.” Is féidir Garry Hynes agus Marie Mullen a fheiceál ag déanamh machnaimh ar bhunús Amharclann an Druid trí chuairt a thabhairt ag https://youtu.be/S5NszCy59Mo. Tá tuilleadh eolais ar chuairt na comhpháirtíochta le fáil ag https://youtu.be/KimKW14Rr2w, nó foghlaim níos mó faoi Dhrámaíocht ag OÉ Gaillimh ag https://www.nuigalway.ie/drama/. Críoch

A team of researchers at CÚRAM, the SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices at NUI Galway, have discovered a radically new approach to the treatment of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.  The study, published in Advanced Science, identified a groundbreaking therapeutic strategy for restoring the lining of the intestine of patients with the condition and other inflammatory bowel diseases.  The treatment could also help prevent further inflammation, which is how the disease progresses and worsens over time.  The NUI Galway CÚRAM researchers have designed a hyaluronan (HA) enema, which has shown significant potential in protecting against damage to the intestinal lining by decreasing inflammation and aiding in the maintenance of the health of the intestinal lining.  Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, or IBD, is characterised by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and effects over 3.2 million people in Europe.  Professor Abhay Pandit, Scientific Director of CÚRAM, said: ““The team strongly believes that the developed system can be delivered as an HA enema to act as a barrier-protecting system on the damaged colon barrier, reducing intestinal inflammation in the treatment of colonic inflammatory diseases.  “This will result in reduced inflammation and protection of the intestinal lining.”  The research represents a significant leap forward from the standard therapeutic interventions for colitis, which have focused mainly on maintaining remission levels, and do not address the root cause of the condition, especially damage to the intestinal lining and intestinal function. Dr Niranjan Kotla, conducted the principal research of the study at CÚRAM in collaboration with Dr Venkatakrishna R Jala, from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, James Graham Brown Cancer Centre, University of Louisville, in the US.   Dr Yury Rochev, co-lead on the publication added: "This research demonstrates the efficacy of a unique therapeutic strategy able to induce a positive effect on damaged colonic tissue. The reduction in inflammation will be of great benefit to patients and highlights the potential use of this treatment." Alongside the research into a specific therapeutic treatment for Crohn’s and colitis, CÚRAM researchers have also identified inflammation-specific targeted carriers for local drug delivery to inflammatory bowel disease.  The findings have been published in Biomaterials. The study looked at the highly challenging but potentially effective practice of delivering drugs directly to inflamed intestinal sites to treat inflammatory bowel disease, particularly Crohn's and ulcerative colitis.  The research team, led by Professor Abhay Pandit and Dr Yury Rochev in collaboration with Prof Larry Egan, Professor of Clinical Pharmacology at NUI Galway,  developed strong anionic charged inflammation targeted nanocarriers (IT-NCs) loaded with an immunosuppressant model drug.   “Our results suggest that IT-NCs have promising therapeutic potential as delivery carriers' in colitis management,” said Professor Pandit. This research was funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 - the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. The first study has been published in Advanced Science and is available here https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/advs.202103189 The second study has been published in Biomaterials and is available here, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142961222000035?via%3Dihub   Ends

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD has today announced Rural Voices, a new seminar series hosted by NUI Galway. The monthly sessions are being held to bring a renewed focus on rural issues at a national level. The seminars are planned as part of NUI Galway’s participation in the Higher Education and Research Network for Rural Development, established by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) as a commitment to Our Rural Future 2021-2025, Ireland’s new national rural development policy. Rural Voices is the first of its kind in Ireland. The events will feature research, projects and initiatives from academics and key rural stakeholders engaged in rural studies, including those in the Research Network for Rural Development. The first seminar takes place today Wednesday 26 January 2022.  It is open to the public, policy makers and key rural stakeholders, both nationally and internationally and can be accessed at https://bit.ly/3o1CIMa.   Launching the series, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, said: “This wonderful initiative provides a unique platform for Irish academics and rural stakeholders to put forward their projects and ideas as we work collectively to improve Rural Ireland.  “It is critically important that we all work together – government, academia and society – to address the major challenges and to seize the many opportunities ahead of us. “Rural Voices series is an exciting new opportunity for us to do just that. “Initiatives like these very much reflect and compliment the objectives of ‘Our Rural Future’ – the Government’s ambitious five year strategy which aims to transform Rural Ireland and provide more opportunities for our rural communities. “’Our Rural Future’ is already having a big impact the length and breadth of the country. Its objectives can only be further realised by initiatives like these.” President of NUI Galway Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh welcomed the focus on rural studies.  “NUI Galway is delighted to lead this Rural Seminar Series in collaboration with the Department of Rural and Community Development. The series will provide an excellent opportunity for higher Irish Education Institutes and Research Centres to connect, network and learn from each other and in doing so, further rural research and development,” Professor Ó hÓgartaigh said. “I often speak about NUI Galway’s four key values of respect, openness, sustainability and excellence – and being here for the public good – this Seminar Series demonstrates our respect for heritage and rural life and our wish to sustain excellence in community and rural development practice.” The Our Rural Futures Higher Education and Research Network consists of academics engaged in rural research and policy in 16 Higher Education Institutions and three research institutions across Ireland. Associate Professor Maura Farrell, School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies, Discipline of Geography at NUI Galway was appointed to the Network by the NUI Galway President, Professor Ó hÓgartaigh. As part of her contribution to the Network, Professor Farrell will host the Rural Voices series, alongside her Geography colleagues in the NUI Galway Rural Studies Centre and in conjunction with the Department of Rural and Community Development. Professor Farrell said: “Our aim in organising and hosting the monthly seminar series is firstly to provide a platform for Irish academics and key rural stakeholders to present their research or rural projects, but it also offers an opportunity to network with others engaged in a similar space, including academics and those with lived experience of rural issues. Initiating discussions around key rural issues is a small step on the road to finding solutions.” Dr Andrew Forde, Head of Rural Strategy and Social Enterprise at the Department of Rural and Community Development, is speaking at the opening session of this seminar series. Ends

NUI Galway Professor Pat Dolan has been appointed to a special panel to review children’s social care services in Northern Ireland.   Professor Dolan, Director of the Institute for Lifecourse and Society and UNESCO Chair at the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at NUI Galway, said a key part of the review will be listening to the voices of those with direct personal experience of the system.    Health Minister in the NI Executive Robin Swann MLA made the announcement, with the review to begin next month.   The panel will look at the support services for families, the care of children away from their families and how the services are currently structured, as well as looking at the support for staff. Professor Dolan said: “The creation of this panel enables an important gateway to hear the voice of the parents and young people with direct personal experience of social care services. It is intended that the review will lead to action in terms of better outcomes for service users and the professionals who work with and for them - where families views are not just heard but acted on”. Professor Ray Jones will be the independent lead reviewer assisted by an Advisory Panel, which includes Professor Dolan. The other members of the Advisory Panel are Her Honour Judge Patricia Smyth and Marie Roulston, OBE (former Director of Children’s services), along with young people and parents/carers with personal experience of children’s social care services.  The Children Order was introduced in Northern Ireland in 1995. It was designed to support and protect children to the highest extent possible. There are more children in care now than at any stage since the introduction of the Children Order and there has been a sharp increase since the start of the pandemic.  The review will engage throughout with parents; children and young people and with those working within and alongside children’s social care services. It is expected to run for 16 months. Young people, parents and carers are being independently recruited and supported by the Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC) and Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI). The review will also look at: - how families are supported to keep their children safe and well-cared for and enable them to stay together, and where this is not possible the provision of alternative care.   - how the current services are structured, managed and led.  - how front-line services are supported and developed to deliver the best possible outcomes for children, young people, families and parents who need their help and support. Ends 

Ten students at NUI Galway have been awarded scholarships at a virtual ceremony as part of the Johnson & Johnson Ireland Women in STEM2D (WiSTEM2D) Award Programme. This marks the inaugural year of the programme in NUI Galway. WiSTEM2D scholarship recipients will receive extensive industry mentoring and leadership training to help prepare them to pursue a career in STEM. WiSTEM2D refers to Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Manufacturing and Design. The WiSTEM2D programme underlines Johnson & Johnson’s commitment to developing and implementing high-impact strategies to support female students undertaking STEM2D degree courses at NUI Galway. The ten College of Science and Engineering students to be awarded the scholarships are: Ailíse Roche; Biomedical Science; Kilmurry, Co. Clare Aine Mitchell; General Science; Ballina, Co. Mayo Aisling Hanrahan; Biomedical Engineering; Liscannor Co. Clare Brenda Chanza; General Science; Swinford, Co. Mayo Karen Gillooly; Financial Maths and Economics; Williamstown, Co. Galway Luka Anna Mac Lochlainn; General Science; Moycullen, Co. Galway Rida Naseer; General Science; Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo Sabrina Kinga Szalaj; General Science; Gorey, Co. Wexford Shannon Hickey; General Science; Kilberry, Co. Kildare Thalyra Costa; Biomedical Engineering; Gort, Co. Galway Anna Rafferty, Johnson & Johnson WiSTEM2D University Lead and Director of Strategy, Johnson & Johnson Campus Ireland, said: “At Johnson & Johnson, we recognise that women are still under-represented in the STEM workforce in Ireland. Since 2016, Johnson & Johnson has supported nearly 300 female students across Ireland through the WiSTEM2D programme. We were delighted to extend our programme to include NUI Galway for this academic year, as we continue to work at building a diverse WiSTEM2D science community and developing a talent pipeline by nurturing and mentoring our future female STEM leaders. Over the last two years, we have worked very hard to ensure that the recipients of this award have not missed out on any opportunities despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.” Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, President of NUI Galway, said: “As the inaugural students to receive the Johnson & Johnson WiSTEM2D bursaries at NUI Galway, these students are changemakers, making history and shaping the future of our university. We are very proud of our 10 Johnson & Johnson WiSTEM2D scholarship students in the College of Science and Engineering.  “By openly embracing and respecting all the talents in our society, we embrace and respect excellence. We are confident that the Johnson & Johnson WiSTEM2D programme will empower our scholarship students to impact positively for the public good, for our society, our people and our planet.” NUI Galway PhD candidate, Aoibhín Sheedy is an alum of the Johnson & Johnson WiSTEM2D Award Programme, and founder of the NUI Galway WiSTEM Society. Speaking about the impact that the programme had on her career progression, Aoibhín said: “I took part in the WiSTEM2D Programme during my postgraduate studies at University College Cork. The programme enabled me to complete my master's thesis at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston. It also provided me with incredible opportunities, such as touring the Janssen Microbiome Institute and DePuy Synthes whilst in Boston. I am delighted that the female STEM students of NUI Galway now get the opportunity to take part in this programme. It has been one of the most defining elements of my career so far, and I know they will get as much from it as I have.” Currently, there are approximately 117,800 people across Ireland who are working in jobs that require STEM skills. However, the CSO reports that just 25% of these roles are performed by women, with just 5% in leadership roles. Whilst there has been a general upswing in the number of students choosing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects on their CAO applications, uptake among females remains low. Figures from a 2019 UCD Study reveals that over 40% of males list a STEM course versus just 19% of females. The virtual awards ceremony was also attended by Dr Anushree Dwivedi, Johnson & Johnson WiSTEM2D programme lead; Michael Gilvarry, General Manager, Cerenovus (Johnson & Johnson); Associate Professor, Mary Dempsey, Vice Dean, College of Science and Engineering, NUI Galway; families of the scholarship recipients; and student mentors. Recipients of the Johnson & Johnson WiSTEM2D Award scholarship were also presented with bespoke framed glass artwork created by Cork-based artist, Suzanne O’Sullivan. Ends

New Foundations initiative aims to deepen community and voluntary partnerships and supports North-South reconciliation Seven researchers at NUI Galway have secured funding as part of an initiative to support projects that will have a tangible impact on societal issues.  The awards have been made as part of the Irish Research Council’s New Foundations programme. They projects focus on NUI Galway partnerships which aim to deepen collaboration with community and voluntary organisations, global development, north-south reconciliation, our shared island and police-community relations They are:  Dr Conn Holohan will work with Galway Simon Community on immersive technology as a tool for advocacy and self-expression for people experiencing homelessness. Dr Elena Vaughan will partner with HIV Ireland in a stakeholder consultation and needs assessment to develop rights-based practice and policy guidelines to reduce HIV-related stigma in healthcare settings.  Dr Lindsay Reid will partner with Cúirt International Festival of Literature in her project - (Re)reading, (Re)writing, and (Re)shaping ‘The Classics’: Past, Present, and Future.  Dr Michaela Schrage-Frueh will partner with Age & Opportunity in the research project - Restorying Ageing: Older Women and Life Writing. Professor Patrick Lonergan will partner with Galway International Arts Festival on his research project - Diversity, Programming, and the International Arts Festival: Histories, Practices, and Policies.  Professor Jim Livesey was awarded funding for his research project - Citizens in Conflict: Early-Modern Political Theory and Contemporary Movements in Northern Ireland.  Dr Patricia Kennedy was awarded funding for her project - The Arts and New Digital Technologies for Peace Building and Reconciliation linked to Equality, Rights and Diversity.  Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris T.D., made the announcement, and said: “The community and voluntary sector plays a critical role in Irish life and will continue to do so. As these projects get underway, they support enhancement of the services this sector provides, while also providing excellent partnership opportunities for our researchers.”  Ends

More than 40 students and academics at NUI Galway have been honoured at the annual National University of Ireland awards.  NUI Galway awardees were commended for exceptional achievement in academic endeavour and span the wide range of learning at the University, from history, the Irish language and modern languages, to literature, medicine, education and engineering. Among the awardees were 28 from NUI Galway’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, including students honoured with the Dr Henry Hutchinson Stewart Medical Scholarships, one among the oldest awards to be offered by the National University of Ireland. President of NUI Galway Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “This clearly highlights the high calibre of students studying at NUI Galway. We respect their academic excellence. “I congratulate everyone on their achievements and I would also like to pay tribute to the teachers and educators and other support staff for their work with our students and in helping them to achieve such high standards.” Dr Patrick O’Leary, former Head of Chemistry at NUI Galway and began his term as Registrar of NUI this month, said: “The NUI Awards reward exceptional achievement in academic endeavour but also seek to resource some of our brightest minds to continue their academic careers. Today we make awards in a wide variety of areas and the work spans studies of the early medieval era to the NUI Dr H H Stewart Medical Scholarships and Prizes, highlighting the importance of medicine and healthcare during Covid-19.  Congratulations to all the awardees.” Full details on the NUI Galway students and academics honoured at a special awards ceremony hosted by the National University of Ireland are listed below:  Among those awarded First Prize were: Recipient Award Martin O’Donoghue Publication Prize in Irish History, joint award Monika Jurkiewicz NUI Travelling Doctoral Studentship in Latin American Literature Tammy Strickland NUI Travelling Doctoral Studentship in Neuroscience Ciara Shortiss NUI Travelling Doctoral Studentship Prize in Spinal Cord Injury Regeneration Jenny Dixon NUI Scholarship and Prize in Education, joint award Lauren McMahon Pierce Malone Scholarship in Engineering Colm Ó Flathúin Scoláireacht Chiste Theach an Ardmhéara sa Ghaeilge Adam Mac Donnacha Duais Chiste Theach an Ardmhéara sa Ghaeilge Keith Dowling French Government Medal and NUI Prize for Proficiency in French   First prize awardees from the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, included:  Dr Evan White Anaesthesia Rebekah Sartini General Practice Brianna Reilly Medical Microbiology Róisín Thornton Obstetrics and Gynaecology Dr Sinead McKenna Ophthalmology Rosie Waldron Paediatrics Adithi Gowda Physiology Thomas Butler Psychiatry Ellen Casey Public Health Dr Emma Callaghan Surgery Anu Mohandes Nair General Nursing Joseph Doherty Podiatric Medicine Elise Byrne Speech and Language Therapy   The following were awarded Second Prize, Third Prize or Commendation:  Professor Niall Ó Dochartaigh and Dr Eugene Costello both received Commendations in the Irish History category. NUI Galway was also successful in a number of Dr H H Stewart Literary Scholarships including Chloe Bright in English and Bláithín Breathnach in French, with Bláithín also receiving a Commendation in Italian. Chloe Kennedy was awarded 2nd prize in Spanish, and Amy Kennedy 3rd prize in German. In the Irish categories Muireann Ní Cheannabháin was presented with 2nd prize in the Duaiseanna an Dr T K Whitaker sa Ghaeilge, and Amy Cox was awarded 2nd prize in Scoláireacht Liteartha an Dr H H Stewart sa Ghaeilge Awardees from NUI Galway’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences also included:  Second prize: Shania Coutinho, Anatomy; Anmol Mahesh, Biochemistry, Dr Aoife Fitzpatrick, Clinical Radiology, Cian Buckley O’Sullivan, General Practice; Zachary Hanrasi, Pathology; Emily Grehan, Midwifery; and Heather Gallen, Podiatric Medicine. Third Prize: Caoileann Nic Dhonncha, Anatomy; Dr Sarah Eustace, Clinical Radiology; Dr Rionagh Lynch, Medicine; Dominic Butler, Paediatrics; Wei Yang Lim, Pathology; Amy Marian Collins, General Nursing; and Muibat Cole, Children’s Nursing. Commendation: Dr Rionagh Lynch, Surgery Ends

Tens of thousands of antigen test kits are being provided to students at NUI Galway alongside Project UniCoV as part of public health efforts to limit the spread of Covid-19.  From Monday 17 January, students will be able to collect packs at four locations across campus.  Professor Breda Smyth, Chief Investigator of Project UniCoV and HSE West Director of Public Health, urged students to avail of the kits as well as additional testing, by signing up to take part in Project UniCoV.   “Everyone attending campus needs to adhere to the basic public health measures in the first instance – including not coming to campus if you have symptoms and are supposed to be self-isolating or restricting movements. “Being able to offer free antigen test kits on campus at NUI Galway and giving students the opportunity to take part in Project UniCov demonstrates how we can take a layered approach to public safety and the welfare of students and staff.” Students can collect five tests at a time. They are being advised to test twice a week, three days apart. They are also being advised to self-isolate if they test positive or develop symptoms and to follow public health advice.  Students are also being encouraged to avail of the option for further free antigen and/or salvia PCR testing for 12 weeks in semester two. A special QR code is being made available to students to support the research.  NUI Galway students are also encouraged to get the vaccine booster, to continue to wear face coverings and sanitise hands.  The University saw high levels of compliance from students with public health guidelines during the academic year and we thank them for that.  The distribution of free antigen test kits is funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.  John Hannon, Director of Student Services at NUI Galway, said: “There was huge demand for free antigen testing from students in semester one and we know there will be huge demand again. The distribution of the free kits is one of many key steps we are taking as a university to help minimise the spread of Covid and keep our community as safe as possible.” Funded by Science Foundation Ireland, the Department of Further and Higher Education Research Innovation and Science, and the Health Service Executive, Project UniCoV aims to determine the feasibility of two rapid testing modalities - antigen testing and saliva PCR testing.  The research project is ongoing in four partner universities. To date, more than 27,700 rapid tests have been carried out, and about 3,300 students and employees have been tested bi-weekly. Further detail on unicov.org. Ends