University of Galway, Galway City Council and PorterShed have come together to host the 2024 Galway City Climathon. The one-day event is designed to allow attendees and experts to share and develop innovative ideas and actions and solutions to tackle local, urban challenges in Galway city. The 2024 Galway City Climathon takes place on Friday October 25th in the Emily Anderson Concert Hall, Quadrangle, from 9am to 4pm.             Frances Fahy, Director of University of Galway’s Ryan Institute, said: “For the ninth year in a row, the Ryan Institute, home to environmental research at University of Galway, is hosting the Climathon for Galway City. We are delighted to be inviting innovators, entrepreneurs, students and interested people from all sectors and communities across Galway city to join us on campus once again for this event. “This year our one-day event is a partnership involving Galway City Council, the University’s Sustainability Office and our long-term Climathon partners, the PorterShed. We are looking forward to hearing the many innovative and climate-positive ideas that emerge from the day to tackle local urban challenges in Galway City.”             Damien Redington, Climate Action Coordinator at Galway City Council, said: “Events like Climathon are vital in harnessing the creativity and innovation of our community. By bringing together bright minds from various sectors, Climathon empowers us to develop local solutions that can have a global impact. Galway is committed to being a leader in sustainability, and this event plays a key role in driving forward our climate action plan goals. I encourage everyone to participate and contribute to shaping a greener, more resilient future.” Initiated by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology Climate Knowledge Innovation Community (EIT Climate-KIC) Climathon is a global 24-hour climate change event which will take place simultaneously in major cities and this year the event aligns with Urban October and World Cities Day, global initiatives that highlight the critical role cities play in climate action. Galway City Climathon is part of an ongoing collaboration between University of Galway and Galway City Council, to inspire action and innovation in tackling local and global climate challenges. For more information or to register for Climathon 2024 visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/galway-city-climathon-2024-tickets-1029878713957  Ends

University of Galway sets ambitious agenda of research excellence for public      Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan T.D. has today officially launched the new Institute for Health Discovery and Innovation at University of Galway.    The new research institute brings together more than 200 researchers and academics at the University to pioneer the understanding of disease, and solutions for healthcare.    The Institute’s strategic combination of expertise will facilitate sustained, research-led development at University of Galway, further positioning the Greater Galway region as the centre of Ireland’s global medtech hub and a significant contributor to economic growth and regional development.     The Institute for Health Discovery and Innovation will leverage the University’s expertise in biomedical science and engineering and combine it with our research strength in the field of medicine.     It will operate in close collaboration with the University’s Institute for Clinical Trials, which was launched in 2023, as well as CÚRAM, the Research Ireland-Taighde Éireann funded centre for medical devices, and BioInnovate, the fellowship programme under the Enterprise Ireland Innovators’ Initiative.    Minister O’Donovan said: “I am delighted to be here today to officially launch the new Institute for Health Discovery and Innovation at University of Galway. This groundbreaking initiative brings together over 200 researchers and academics to drive forward our understanding of disease and develop innovative healthcare solutions.    “The Institute’s strategic collaboration of expertise will not only advance research-led development at the University, but also strengthen our position as a global hub for medtech innovation.”    Professor Peter McHugh, Interim President of University of Galway, said: “Excellence in research has been the bedrock of teaching and learning at University of Galway since its foundation in the 1840s. The establishment of the Institute for Health Discovery and Innovation, alongside the recently established Institute for Clinical Trials marks a new level of ambition in our strategic approach to research.    “We welcome Minister O’Donovan to officially mark the beginning of this new journey as we create the environment to enable the translation of fundamental scientific research into potentially life-changing treatments and interventions that directly benefit society - fulfilling our mission to be here for public good.”    The Institute for Health Discovery and Innovation is led by Interim Director Professor Ted Vaughan. Its work will encompass the breadth of biomedical science and engineering research, including fundamental science and discovery, in areas such as cancer biology, cell and chromosome biology; biomedical engineering and medical technologies; regenerative medicine; neuroscience; diagnostics; and advanced therapeutics.     The new university research capacity will enhance the harnessing of scientific breakthroughs for the benefit of clinical trials and healthcare, by accelerating the provision of potentially disruptive and cutting-edge therapies and medical solutions, and how they are applied in the treatment of disease.    Ends 

Researchers at University of Galway are inviting the public to participate in a new cross-border Citizen Science survey and record sightings of red foxes in cities. The survey is particularly focused on the largest cities, both north and south - Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Derry and Waterford. Researchers aim to source as much valuable data as possible for conservation planning for the red fox and to find solutions for potential human-wildlife conflicts. Dr Colin Lawton of University of Galway’s School of Natural Sciences said: “These Citizen Science projects are a brilliant opportunity for us to tap into the wealth of knowledge and information that Irish people have about wildlife in their area. We would love to hear about any sighting or encounter with a fox, whether it is a regular garden visitor, or a chance meeting late at night!” In recent years, urban areas have become increasingly important to Ireland’s wildlife as animals move into expanding cities in search of food and shelter. Red foxes in particular have proved very adaptable and can successfully live out their lives in an urban environment. They are opportunistic animals that are known to thrive in built up areas due to the availability of food sources, such as discarded food, insects and fruit. They also hunt other urban animals such as rats, mice, and pigeons. Being nocturnal, they scavenge at night and seek daytime refuge in gardens, parks, and abandoned buildings.             Project Officer Jodie O’Regan said: “The ecology of urban foxes can often be very different from their rural counterparts, as the proximity of people and relative abundance of food causes them to change their behaviour, but they are the same species. Every record that we get in a citizen science project of this nature will make a difference in understanding urban fox distribution and behaviour and can shed light on the needs of the animals and the potential of cities to provide for them.” Members of the public can record their sightings using the Urban Fox Survey page, hosted by the National Biodiversity Data Centre https://biodiversityireland.ie/surveys/urban-fox-survey/ And if a fox frequently visits your property, please email urbanfoxsurvey@gmail.com. More information can be found on the survey on Facebook (@Urban Fox Survey), Instagram (@urbanfoxsurvey) and Twitter (@UrbanFoxSurvey). Ends