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Festival offers a week of free films celebrating ageing The fourth ‘Reel Lives Film Festival’, organised by The Irish Centre for Social Gerontology at NUI Galway, is offering free lunchtime screenings of international films and documentaries celebrating ageing across the life-course from 18-22 May as part of the Bealtaine Festival. The lunchtime screenings are open to the public and will begin each day at 1pm in the auditorium of NUI Galway’s new Institute for Lifecourse and Society Building in Corrib Village, Upper Newcastle Road. This year the screenings will include: Nebraska; When Did You Last See Your Father?; Robot and Frank; My Afternoons With Margueritte; and My Old Lady. The festival opens with Nebraska, telling the story of an ageing father (Bruce Dern) on a road trip with his son from Montano to Nebraska to claim a million dollar sweepstakes prize. When Did You Last See Your Father? stars Colin Firth, Jim Broadbent, and a host of well-known faces. A restrained script and effortless acting show Firth watching his father (Broadbent) die, whilst reflecting on their troubled relationship across the lifecourse. Robot and Frank is set in the near future when household robots are the norm. The cantankerous Frank, an elderly divorcee, lives slothfully alone until his son forces the robot on him to improve his lifestyle. Their initial fractious relationship turns into genuine friendship once Frank, a former jewel thief, recruits robot into a life of crime. My Afternoons with Margueritte is a French movie with English sub-titles and stars Gerard Dépardieu. Dépardieu’s is an illiterate and lonely man who befriends an older and well-read woman, played by Gisele Casadesus. The festival closes with My Old Lady starring Maggie Smith, Kevin Kline and Kristin Scott-Thomas. Shot in Paris, the film is both funny and touching. Kline inherits a glamorous apartment in Paris, but also its resident ‘viager’ (Smith). Irish shorts being screened include: Bye Bye Now which focuses on the disappearance of rural telephone boxes; Jericho, a story revolving around a widower getting help from his childhood friend; Holding On, telling the story of how a man’s Alzheimer’s impacts on his family; and Sue Mills, about a West of Ireland eco-friendly woman and her Meitheal. On Thursday, 21 May, there will be a special screening of Pockets by Oughterard film student, Luke Morgan. Pockets featured at the Cannes Film Festival and is a five-minute film covering empty nest syndrome. Luke uses his own mother as the acting lead as she discusses how she feels when her son departs for college. In addition to free entry, audience members can enjoy complimentary refreshments and the chance to win a daily audience spot prize. There will also be a special pre-film choral performance by NUI Galway staff choir, Unitunes, on Thursday, 21 May at 1 pm, and a free guided walk of the Dangan area with Galway tour-guide Brendan Hynes on Friday, 22 May at 4 pm. Parking is available on campus to non-NUI Galway personnel within the pay and display areas of Dangan car park, or a free shuttle bus runs regularly between Dangan car park and the main campus. The venue has a 250-seater lecture room with a theatre-size screen, surround-sound, and wheelchair access. For further information contact event organiser Alison Herbert at 091 495461 or 087 2830757. Full details of the film programme are on www.icsg.ie. -Ends-

NUI Galway’s School of Business and Economics, together with Casla Home Care, has announced details of a free day-long seminar-based event for entrepreneurs at the University on Friday, 22 May. Sponsored by Casla Home Care, Bank of Ireland, Sharkey Consulting and Enterprise Ireland, the event focuses on persons across the broad spectrum of entrepreneurial activity. From those at the idea stage who want to learn more about how to develop further, to young start-ups seeking to grow and become sustainable, to well-established entrepreneurs trying to improve their businesses. The event will provide an opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship in a number of highly discursive and interactive sessions, as well as opportunities to network with key entrepreneurs and educators. Teams of educators and entrepreneurs will run sessions across areas such as sustainability, financing, growth, negotiation skills, talent acquisition, decision making, networking, and customer centricity. Some of the facilitators will include; Pádraig Ó Céidigh, Casla Home Care and Aer Arann; Barry O’Sullivan, AltoCloud and Dragons’ Den; James Murphy, Lifes2Good; James Cunningham, Connemara Food Ventures; and John O’Dea, Crosspon. The event will also include a sports panel with Gavin Duffy, Joe Connolly and Mike Geraghty who will deal with developing the individual. To register for the event, visit www.entrepreneurshipatwork.org. -Ends-

A free public lecture entitled ‘Take my advice, go to Mongan’s Hotel: Sport, Charity, and Tourism in Late-Victorian Connemara’ will be held in Galway city on Monday, 11 May at 7 pm. The lecture will be delivered by Dr Kevin James, Associate Professor of History at the University of Guelph, Ontario, and will take place in the Galway City Library in Augustine St, under the auspices of NUI Galway’s Moore Institute. Mongan's Hotel in Carna, Co. Galway, was an historic site of pilgrimage for the sporting tourist in the nineteenth century, and served as a social, commercial, and cultural hub of the district. In the 1890s, initiatives aimed at alleviating distress and developing the district's economy highlighted the important role of the hotel and its proprietor, Martin Mongan. He forged connections between the locality and organisations and markets farther afield – notably in Manchester. The evidence appears in the hotel's historic visitors' book. This public lecture will look at how Mongan’s provided a venue for tourism, a magnet for sports enthusiasts, and a site for charitable activity. Professor Daniel Carey, Director of the Moore Institute at NUI Galway, said: “Kevin James’s work has opened up new vistas on the history of travel to Co. Galway. Visitors’ books offer an intriguing glimpse into a lost world in the nineteenth century.” Dr Kevin James is author of Tourism, Land and Landscape in Ireland: The Commodification of Culture. In spring 2014, he held a Moore Institute Visiting Research Fellowship to support his research at the James Hardiman Library, NUI Galway. For more information contact : Dr John Cunningham, Department of History, NUI Galway at john.cunningham@nuigalway.ie or phone 091 493902. -Ends-  

CONSENSUS, in conjunction with NUI Galway, is hosting its second international conference on sustainable consumption from 21-22 May. This year the theme of the conference is ‘Sustainable Consumption Transformations: Implementation and Impacts’. This two-day conference will provide an international platform for both scholars and policymakers in the field of sustainable consumption to discuss and debate on-going research in this important area. The CONSENSUS conference is the only dedicated conference on the topic in Ireland and the 2015 programme will focus on implementation and impact of research on policy and action. Dr Mary Jo Lavelle, School of Geography and Archaeology at NUI Galway, is coordinating the event. Dr Lavelle said: “This conference will provide an international forum for the exchange of pioneering research in the field of sustainable consumption, as well as a platform to disseminate CONSENSUS research findings that will feed into national policy action and academic literature on behaviour change.” The conference programme comprises of a mix of presentations, panel discussions and lightning talks from policymakers, researchers and practitioners. Speakers and attendees will be drawn from Irish and international audiences, with Professor Martina Schäfer of Technische Universität, Berlin, providing the keynote address on Friday, 22 May. Paper presentations will include: Professor Audley Geus, Kingston University, London; Professor Magnus Bostrom, Örebro University, Sweden; Dr Stewart Barr, University of Exeter and Dr Ben Wooliscroft, University of Otago. The conference also features a joint plenary from Professor Philip Vergragt, Tellus Institute and Clark University, USA; Gemma Adams, Forum for the Future, London; Neil Coles, Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP); and Kathleen Stokes, NESTA. CONSENSUS (Consumption, Environment, and Sustainability) uses innovative social science and collaborative research methods to explore trends and solutions for sustainable household consumption in Ireland. Launched in 2009, the project involves researchers from NUI Galway and Trinity College Dublin. CONSENSUS is funded by the STRIVE (Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for the Environment) Programme which is administered by the Irish Environmental Protection Agency. The public lecture by Professor Martina Schäfer’s will take place at 6.15pm on Friday, 22 May in ENG-G018 in the University’s Engineering Building. The conference is supported by NUI Galway’s School of Geography and Archaeology and funded by the Environmental Protection Agency. For more information on the conference visit www.conference.ie. -Ends-

€6 million grant from the EU’s Horizon 2020 research funding programme A large-scale clinical trial using adult stem cells to treat knee osteoarthritis is expected to be underway across Europe by the end of 2015. Almost €6 million has been granted to the project ‘ADIPOA-2’ by the EU’s Horizon 2020 research funding programme. The project will include 18 partners from Ireland, France, the UK, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. The Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI) at the National University of Ireland Galway is coordinating the project. Osteoarthritis is an incurable and debilitating disease. It has been identified as the world’s eleventh highest contributor to disability and affects over 70 million Europeans. It causes severe and chronic pain, joint stiffness and loss of function. Currently there is no drug, medical intervention or therapy that alters the progression of osteoarthritis and many patients ultimately undergo total joint replacement surgery. In its first phase, completed in 2014, the EU consortium ADIPOA carried out a first-in-man Phase I safety study in 18 patients. Treatment involved a single injection of stem cells cultured from the patients’ own fatty tissue. The results of this were sufficiently encouraging to warrant a larger, multi-centre Phase 2b study to further test the effectiveness of the treatment. ADIPOA-2 will now build on the work of ADIPOA to deliver a randomised clinical trial across 10 hospitals in Europe involving 150 patients. The research will further assess the safety and efficacy of patient-derived stems cells in the treatment of advanced osteoarthritis of the knee. Another major element of ADIPOA-2 will involve the production of consistent batches of high-quality autologous (patient’s own) stem cells under GMP-compliant conditions. These cells will be produced in centres in France, Germany and Ireland. This multi-site approach will consolidate expertise in the preparation of clinically approved batches of stem cells across Europe in a ground-breaking cooperation between manufacturing centres. Professor Frank Barry, Scientific Director of the Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI) at the National University of Ireland Galway, is Coordinator of the ADIPOA-2 project. Professor Barry explains: “The results from ADIPOA’s first-in-man-trials were very encouraging and paved the way for another study to further test the safety and effectiveness on a wider scale. ADIPOA-2 is bringing together Europe’s leading scientific, clinical and technical expertise on this project. Professor Christian Jorgensen, Head of The Clinical Unit for Osteoarticular Diseases University Hospital Montpellier in France, who led the Phase 1 trial and is Clinical Sponsor of the new trial, said “Ambitious as it sounds, we are aiming to deliver an effective treatment for the debilitating and incurable condition of osteoarthritis within as little as five years. We have arrived at this point because of a great deal of work by many scientists, clinicians and stem cell experts who have made enormous contributions in understanding the therapeutic potential of stem cells.” -ends-

NUI Galway’s School of Nursing and Midwifery is running a free public talk on Elder Abuse.  The aim of this public talk is to bring greater recognition of abuse of older adults wherever they live, and to highlight the need for appropriate action. The talk takes place on Monday, 15 June from 3-5pm in Áras Moyola. This talk on elder abuse is the third event of the school’s Public Lecture Series, an innovative community outreach initiative which has previously focussed on Suicide Prevention and Ebola Awareness. The series aims to share knowledge and expertise on health matters with local communities. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is celebrated on 15 June each year to allow communities around the world to engage in activities to mark the day and raise public awareness of this issue. The talk is open to the public and free of charge. If there are any future topics you would like covered in NUI Galway’s School of Nursing and Midwifery Public lecture Series, please contact john.quinlivan@nuigalway.ie or mary.e.gannon@nuigalway.ie. -Ends-

CÚRAM, the Centre for Research in Medical Devices, has been awarded funding for the Chimera Art and Science Project. The NUI Galway0based project, will bring artists and scientists together to create a dialogue around the ethical and cultural issues of tissue engineering and medical devices. The Chimera project is funded by the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Discover Programme which aims to support and develop the STEM education and public engagement sector in Ireland. Two Artists-in-Residence, Joanna Hopkins and Siobhan McGibbon, will be given access to the laboratories of CÚRAM in order to create art works and describe their experiences on social media. In addition to the Artist-in-Residency programme, eleven Fine Art students from the Centre for Creative Arts and Media, Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) are participating in a student project. The artists’ and students’ work will culminate in an exhibition which will be exhibited during Medical Devices Week at the end of the year. The exhibition will take place alongside cutting-edge medical devices in the Biosciences Building at NUI Galway and in the foyers of key medical device companies. The Chimera project will allow fruitful collaboration and communication between the two disciplines of art and science. Chimera is the brainchild of the project curator Andrea Fitzpatrick and Professor Abhay Pandit, who is the Director of CÚRAM. “Art can act as a vital catalyst for experimental practice and help develop new ways to inspire and communicate across traditional boundaries,” explains Andrea Fitzpatrick. The programme will use a hands-on approach and offer a space for creative inquiry where artists will use the technologies and tools of science. By having the artists work in laboratories alongside scientists, professionals from both disciplines will be forced to think differently and find a common ground for communication. CÚRAM is a major new national research centre based at NUI Galway. The prime objective for CÚRAM will be to radically improve health outcomes for patients by developing innovative implantable medical devices to treat major unmet medical needs. CÚRAM is poised to design and create implantable ‘smart’ medical devices. Implants will be designed and manufactured to respond to the body’s environment and to deliver therapeutic agents, such as drugs, exactly where needed. For more information visit http://chimeraartandscience.com/ -ends-

‘Rails Girls’, a worldwide movement that aims to bridge the gender divide in technology and teach women how to code, is back to Galway for a third year edition. The free weekend workshop will let females of all ages into the world of building web applications and software services.   Funded by NUI Galway’s Insight Centre for Data Analytics' Outreach Programme, ‘Rails Girls’ will take place from 27-28 June at Insight in the Dangan IDA Business Park.   The organisers comprise of young female IT engineers and researchers involved in local third-level colleges, businesses, schools and volunteer digital makers’ clubs such as CoderDojo and 091Labs. The workshop will use 'Ruby on Rails', a powerful web application framework for the Ruby programming language. No prior knowledge of programming is required and is suitable for absolute beginners to computer coding.   Myriam Leggieri, PhD student with Insight at NUI Galway and founder of the Rails Girls Galway chapter, said: “There are stereotypes in our society that lead us to imagine programming as a boring, too complicated, isolated activity. We want to demonstrate that it can be a social, creative and fun job. The country desperately needs a generation of young coders of both sexes to help lay the foundations of a ‘Knowledge Economy’ and create the jobs for a sustainable future. But there is, in particular, a dire shortage of female IT developers in Ireland and across the world as well as in the professions of science, technology, engineering and maths professions generally. There is no reason why this should be the case except for lack of exposure to such environments. Events such as 'Rails Girls' directly address this issue and empower girls to take the first step in learning these in-demand skills and acquiring the tools to conquer one of the last great frontiers of science, namely the World Wide Web.”   The first event, launched by Linda Liukas and Karri Saarinen, was held in Helsinki in 2010 and is a worldwide phenomena.   Further information and application forms are available at www.railsgirls.com/galway. The closing date for applications is Sunday, 31 May. There are a limited amount of places available so early registration is recommended.   -Ends-

The Galway County Fleadh will be held in NUI Galway this weekend, from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 May after a 35 year absence from the city. The event sees the cream of the county’s traditional musicians visiting campus and competing to represent Galway at provincial level. With over 1,000 entries to the various competitions, the Fleadh Cheoil promises to bring energy and fun to the campus, and all are welcome to join in the festivities. Most competitions take place on the concourse in the heart of the campus. The most popular competitions will be held in lecture theatres, so there will be lots of room to hold the 3,000 spectators expected. The dancing competitions, the céilí bands and the grúpaí ceoil attract the largest followings and these will be held in the University’s Bailey Allen Hall. There is a particular interest in the Irish language competitions this year, and they will take place in Áras na Gaeilge, NUI Galway’s main location for Irish language education. The Fleadh Cheoil is organised this year in partnership between the Moycullen and Knocknacarra branches of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, and the opening night concert on Friday will see local talent from the branches and from schools in the area performing in the Bailey Allen Hall. The Fleadh Cheoil is a great opportunity for young and old to explore the University campus. According to Rúnaí na hOllscoile, Gearóid Ó Conluain, “We are delighted to partner with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in bringing the Galway County Fleadh to NUI Galway. The University is committed to opening up our campus to the wider community, and we are looking forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to campus to enjoy the best of traditional music from the county.” Competitions will be held on Saturday and Sunday, beginning in the morning at 10am and running until 6pm, and there will be lots of traditional music sessions dotted around campus over the weekend. All are welcome to come and enjoy the music, with admission to most events free-of-charge. Parking on campus will also be free over the weekend, and volunteers will be on hand to direct visitors to the competitions. For more information and for a programme of events and competitions, visit: www.galwayfleadh.ie ENDS Fáiltíonn OÉ Gaillimh roimh Fhleá na Gaillimhe ar ais sa chathair den chéad uair le 35 bliain Beidh Fleá Chontae na Gaillimhe ar siúl in OÉ Gaillimh an deireadh seachtaine seo, idir Dé hAoine, an 15 Bealtaine go dtí Dé Domhnaigh, an 17 Bealtaine agus é 35 bliain cheana ó bhí sé ar siúl sa chathair. Tabharfaidh na ceoltóirí traidisiúnta is fearr sa chontae aghaidh ar a chéile ar an gcampas agus iad san iomaíocht chun ionadaíocht a dhéanamh ar Ghaillimh i gcraobh an chúige. Beidh breis is 1,000 duine istigh ar na comórtais éagsúla. Beidh fuinneamh agus spraoi ar an gcampas dá bharr agus tá fáilte roimh chách. Beidh formhór na gcomórtas ar siúl ar an tslí dála, i gcroílár an champais. Beidh na comórtais is mó tóir ar siúl sna léachtlanna agus beidh siad in acmhainn an 3,000 duine a bhfuil súil leo a thógáil. Is iad na comórtais damhsa, na bannaí céilí agus na grúpaí ceoil is mó a mheallann daoine agus beidh siad seo ar siúl i Halla Bailey Allen san Ollscoil. Tá béim ar leith ar na comórtais Ghaeilge i mbliana, agus beidh siad sin ar siúl in Áras na Gaeilge, príomhionad oideachais trí Ghaeilge san Ollscoil.  Tá an Fhleá Cheoil á reáchtáil i mbliana ag craobhacha Mhaigh Cuilinn agus Chnoc na Cathrach de Chomhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, agus beidh ceolchoirm ar siúl oíche Dé hAoine ag ceoltóirí áitiúla as na craobhacha agus as scoileanna an cheantair i Halla Bailey Allen. Is deis iontach an Fhleá Cheoil do dhaoine óg agus aosta leis an gcampas a fheiceáil ar a gcompord. Deir Rúnaí na hOllscoile, Gearóid Ó Conluain, “Tá ríméad orainn dul i gcomhar le Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann chun Fleá an Chontae a reáchtáil in OÉ Gaillimh. Tá an Ollscoil diongbháilte ar an gcampas a oscailt do phobal níos leithne agus táimid ag súil le fáilte a chur roimh na mílte cuairteoir ar an gcampas chun scoth an cheoil thraidisiúnta a chloisteáil.” Beidh comórtais ar siúl Dé Sathairn agus Dé Domhnaigh, ag tosú ag 10am ar maidin go dtí 6pm tráthnóna, agus beidh neart seisiún ceoil ar fud an champais ar feadh na deireadh seachtaine. Tá fáilte roimh chách agus tá saorchead isteach chuig formhór na n-imeachtaí. Beidh an pháirceáil saor in aisce ar an gcampas chomh maith ag an deireadh seachtaine agus beidh oibrithe deonacha ar fáil chun cuairteoirí a threorú chuig na comórtais. Chun tuilleadh eolais agus clár imeachtaí a fháil téigh chuig: www.galwayfleadh.ie. CRÍOCH

Professional services firm EY, today, announced their partnership with BioInnovate Ireland; a medical device innovation training programme based in NUI Galway modelled on the prestigious Stanford Biodesign programme.  This partnership comes as EY continues to broaden their support of the indigenous Life Sciences sector and foster the next generation of digital health entrepreneurs. With industry, academic and government support, and access to leading academic researchers, clinicians and industry experts worldwide, the BioInnovate Ireland programme facilitates and trains multidisciplinary teams of experienced professionals in the process of matching unmet clinical needs to attractive market opportunities. EY Partner and Life Sciences Sector Lead, Aidan Meagher commented: “Technological breakthroughs are revolutionising the way healthcare is being delivered and, as the health marketplace rapidly changes and evolves to meet new demands, we are excited to partner with BioInnovate to support the next wave of entrepreneurs on the cutting edge of medical device innovation.” As partners, EY will offer their professional expertise to the early stage enterprises by delivering workshops on fundraising, taxation, valuation and business modelling.  EY will also provide access to their extensive entrepreneurial network through the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year programme to enable the BioInnovate fellows to share their experiences and discuss solutions to the challenges facing entrepreneurial businesses in the medical technology sector. BioInnovate Ireland Programme Director, Dr Mark Bruzzi said:  “BioInnovate offers a unique opportunity for innovators to work together in teams to identify and develop new innovations to make an impact on healthcare and the medical device industry. By partnering with EY, BioInnovate aims to build on the supports to enable early stage enterprise in the medical technology sector.” BioInnovate Ireland is currently recruiting applicants to the 2016 medical device innovation collaboration with the Mayo Clinic, USA - a global leading healthcare centre. Applicants who are interested in developing new medical technologies to enhance healthcare and that represent a strong market opportunity are encouraged to contact BioInnovate at info@bioinnovate.ie. Applications are sought from candidates with experience in medicine, engineering, technology and business that are interested in the medical technology sector.  Medical and surgical registrars or specialist registrars with an interest in innovation and improving patient care through technological advancements are also encouraged to apply for the Fellowship. Candidates are assessed for their leadership potential, interest in technology innovation, demonstrated potential for creativity and invention, and ability to work in a team. For more information see www.bioinnovate.ie. The BioInnovate programme is led by NUI Galway and collaborates with University College Cork, and other hospitals and Universities across the country.   In addition to EY, programme support comes from Enterprise Ireland, Irish Medical Devices Association (IMDA), Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Creganna Tactx Medical, Steripack, Aerogen and Zeus. -ENDS-

Students seeking to develop new skills or considering part-time study options are invited to attend one of the many information sessions taking place at NUI Galway during Adult Learning Week. The week-long event will run from11-15 May from 6.30pm -8.30pm each day in the Arts Millennium Building. Nuala McGuinn, Director of the Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development at NUI Galway, said: “The University offers a wide range of part-time, flexible courses suitable for those who require professional development opportunities to up-skill or enhance their career prospects. Adult Learning Week is an opportunity to discover the range of flexible, part-time courses that NUI Galway has to offer. Our sessions are informal so feel free to call in at any time and join our talks or meet a member of staff.” A different array of courses will be showcased each evening focusing on the themes of General Arts and Languages; Training and Teaching Skills; Community, Youth and Family; and Technology, Science and Business. Information sessions will be varied and will include talks from lecturers, presentations from past students giving an insight into their personal experiences, talks on the value of lifelong learning and an opportunity to meet with course lecturers. Four new blended-learning, part-time programmes will be announced during Adult Learning Week to include a blended learning BA in Humanities and Social Sciences, an intermediate level Diploma in Italian, a Diploma in Automation and Control and a Diploma in English Literature and Drama. A fully online Diploma in Archaeology will also be launched with course lectures and examinations taking place in a fully online environment. “Our students come from a variety of educational backgrounds, life experiences and ages, and are motivated to embark on a programme of study for personal development, career enhancement or other professional development reasons”, explains Nuala McGuinn. With over 40 part-time programmes to choose from, students will not be short of choice to meet the live-learn-work challenge. Courses are offered through classroom-based mode, online learning or through a blend of both, offering flexibility and support to prospective students. All are designed with flexibility enabling them to continue to work or actively seek employment. Interest in programmes in the Science and Technology area including specialisms in Medical Device Science, Lean & Quality Systems has grown over the past number of years as a direct result of industry requiring increased skills in these areas. Study options are available at Diploma, Degree and individual module level. Dr Anne Walsh, Programme Academic Coordinator, said: “Courses which have been offered in recent years are growing in demand, particularly in the area of Adult Learning and Education Studies. Enrolments for the Professional Diploma in Education (Further Education) which provides FE teachers with the professional knowledge and skills to carry out their teaching roles has been growing steadily since commencing in September 2013. The Certificate in Advanced Trainer Skills (Coaching and Mentoring) is also available and builds on trainer competencies by developing their coaching and mentoring skills and abilities – an example of another recent addition to the suite of programmes which is popular among adult learners.” A Postgraduate Diploma/Certificate in Practice Based Play Therapy is available in conjunction with the Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy (APAC). APAC are the national leaders in developing and providing training for students interested in becoming a certified play therapist. With it’s tutorial components delivered during July each year, this course is ideal for teachers and educators who wish to add therapeutic play skills to their existing teaching or psychology skills for working with children. Students can also chose to take individual modules from the suite of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit options and may be useful for learners who do not have the time to commit to a full programme of study or for those who require a module for the purposes of retraining or up-skilling.  Standalone modules are available in Innovation Management, Technology Management, Education and Training, Early Childhood Studies, Community Education and Software Engineering. To view the full list of the events taking place throughout Adult Learning Week and to register visit www.nuigalway.ie/livelearnwork. For more information contact the Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development at adultlearning@nuigalway.ie or 091 495241, or visit the Centre’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nuigalway.adulted. -Ends-

The ‘Pint of Science’ international Festival will take place in Galway from 18-19 May. During the Festival a fantastic line of up of scientists will engage the public with the latest in science research in an accessible format. ‘Pint of Science’ is the largest festival of science globally, running concurrently in multiple pubs across eight countries in 50 cities. More than 20 leading and developing scientists, mostly from NUI Galway and affiliated institutes and centres, will meet the general public to talk about the research advances in their field. Panel discussions will follow presentations from three to four researchers on each night. A wide variety of topics will cover recent progress in understanding human diseases, technologies to treat them, as well as the impact of technology on the future of our society and the role of water in our lives and in our future. Created in 2012 by a group of UK postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers, ‘Pint of Science’ is a non-profit organisation involving scientists on a voluntary basis. Internationally it takes place in the UK, USA, France, Spain, Germany, Italy and Australia. Established in 2013 by Seán Mac Fhearraigh, ‘Pint of Science Ireland’ is running for the second time in Dublin, and for the first time in Galway and Limerick. A detailed programme of ‘Pint of Science Galway’ covering the themes human body, technology and planet Earth is available at www.pintofscience.ie or follow ‘Pint of Science Galway’ on Facebook. Tickets are free and must be booked online to attend. -Ends-

NUI Galway will host the 51st Annual Irish Neurological Association (INA) Meeting from 28-29 Mayin the Bailey Allen Hall.The INA meeting is the largest annual clinical neuroscience meeting in Ireland. Clinical Neuroscience Departments in the Republic and Northern Ireland are invited to participate in this meeting. Dr Peter Calabresi, Professor of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Medical School Baltimore, will deliver the Callaghan Guest Lecture at the meeting, entitled ‘Mechanisms underlying disease progression in multiple sclerosis and strategies for tissue protection and repair’. Abstracts presented at the meeting will include:   Dr Layan Akijian and Professor Peter Kelly, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, who will present research on why patients with mini-strokes (TIAs) have a higher risk of recurrent stroke than those who have had a prior completed stroke.This study may have important public health educational implications. 　   Catherine Moran and Daniel Rawluk, Beaumont Hospital, will present results of a new Neurosurgical Treatment for a painful neurological condition called trigeminal neuralgia.   Dr Diana Olszewska and Professor Tim Lynch, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, will present results on the incidence of familial Parkinson’s disease in Ireland   Dr Stephanie Rutledge and Professor Niall Tubridy, St. Vincent’s University Hospital will present research measuring early mobility difficulties in patients with MS using electronic sensors, which may be useful in guiding treatment. Two presentations concern the impact of Smartphones on epilepsy; one presentation is a case report of epilepsy induced by texting, while the other presentation concerns the clinical usefulness of smartphone videotaping of seizures to assist with diagnosis. Dr Timothy Counihan, Consultant Neurologist with Galway University Hospitals, and Irish Neurological Association President 2015, said: "It is particularly fitting that the 51st meeting of the Irish Neurological Association will be taking place at NUI Galway. The University is home to the only stem cell manufacturing facility in Ireland and also the location of a state-of-the-art Clinical Research Facility. It is therefore a pleasure to welcome neuroscience colleagues from all over Ireland and elsewhere to share research ideas and improve the care of patients with neurological disorders." The Irish Institute of Clinical Neuroscience is an All-Ireland charity and limited company which aims to promote research and education in clinical neuroscience in Ireland. It organises academic meetings where teaching is carried out and where findings from neuroscience research are presented. It endorses and offers support for conducting research in neuroscience in Ireland. -Ends-

27,860 people in 40 countries were followed for five years People with the healthiest diets were 24 percent less likely to have cognitive decline People who eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, nuts, fish, moderate alcohol use - and not much red meat - may be less likely to experience declines in their memory and thinking skills. This is according to a new study published in the May 6, 2015, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. “The exciting thing about this study is that this benefit was found in people who were at high risk of cardiovascular problems and suggests that a healthy diet could be beneficial even for people who already have some health problems” said study author Dr Andrew Smyth of the HRB Clinical Research Facility Galway at the National University of Ireland Galway, and McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. For the study, 27,860 people in 40 countries were followed for an average of about five years. All participants were 55 or older and had diabetes or a history of heart disease, stroke or peripheral artery disease. People who had experienced a recent stroke, congestive heart failure and other serious conditions were not included in the study. Participants’ thinking and memory skills were tested at the start of the study, after two years and after about five years. Participants were asked at the beginning of the study how often they ate certain types of foods, including fruits and vegetables, nuts and soy proteins, whole grains, deep fried foods and drank alcohol, as well as the ratio of fish to meat and eggs in their diet. The study participants were followed until they experienced a heart attack, stroke, hospitalisation for congestive heart failure or death from cardiovascular disease or until the end of the study. The thinking and memory tests yielded total scores with a maximum of 30 points. Participants were considered to have declined in their skills if their score dropped by three or more points during the study. A total of 4,699 people had a decline in their thinking and memory skills. People with the healthiest diets were 24 percent less likely to have cognitive decline than people with the least healthy diets. Among the 5,687 people with the healthiest diet, 782, or about 14 percent, had cognitive decline, compared to 987, or about 18 percent, of the 5,459 people with the least healthy diets. The results were the same when researchers accounted for other factors that could affect the results, such as physical activity, high blood pressure and history of cancer. Dr Smyth is supported by the Health Research Board of Ireland and the study was supported by Boehringer Ingelheim.  Graham Love, Chief Executive at the Health Research Board, commented: “Findings like these show that health research has a central role to play in increasing our capacity to prevent illness in the first place.” -ends-

The Irish Centre for Human Rights at the School of Law, NUI Galway is now accepting delegates for its 2015 summer school on the International Criminal Court (ICC), which will be held from 15-19 June at NUI Galway. The ICC Summer School, offered by the Irish Centre for Human Rights, is widely acknowledged to be the premier programme of its kind, attracting participants from around the world. Leading specialists will deliver comprehensive lectures over the course of five days which will provide delegates with a detailed working knowledge of the establishment of the Court, its applicable law, its structures and operations. Lectures also speak to related issues in international criminal law, including universal jurisdiction, immunities and the role of the victims. This year’s summer school includes a special session on Palestine and the ICC involving the participation of the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland, Ambassador Ahmad Abdelrazek. Dr Shane Darcy, Lecturer with NUI Galway’s Irish Centre for Human Rights, said: “The International Criminal Court is the world’s first permanent court for the prosecution of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Despite some setbacks and obstacles, the Court is now fully functional and holding trials, and it provides an avenue for those seeking justice and accountability for serious human rights abuses.” During the ICC summer school, expert presentations will be delivered by: Professor William Schabas, Middlesex University and Chairman of the Irish Centre for Human Rights; Professor Don Ferencz, Visiting Professor, Middlesex University; Professor Ray Murphy, Irish Centre for Human Rights; Dr Shane Darcy, Irish Centre for Human Rights; Professor Kevin Jon Heller, School of Oriental and African Studies, London; John McManus, Department of Justice, Canada; Dr Mohamed El Zeidy, Pre-Trial Chamber II, ICC; Dr Rod Rastan, Office of the Prosecutor, ICC; Dr Fabricio Guariglia, Director of the Prosecution Division, ICC; Professor Megan Fairlie, Florida International University; Dr Nadia Bernaz, Middlesex University; Dr Mohamed Elewa Badar, Northumbria University; Dr Noelle Higgins, Maynooth University; Dr Kwadwo Appiagyei Atua, University of Ghana and University of Lincoln; and Salma Karmi-Ayyoub, Barrister, London. The registration fee is €450, which includes all course materials, all lunches and refreshments, a social activity, a closing dinner and a complimentary copy of William A. Schabas, Introduction to the International Criminal Court. The closing date for registrations is Saturday, 30 May. To register, visit www.conference.ie or email iccsummerschool@gmail.com for more information. -Ends-

The School of Psychology at NUI Galway, in association with the Psychological Society of Ireland’s Division of Health Psychology, will hold two major linked conference events on 8 and 9 June, 2015. The events will focus on the area of health psychology, which applies psychological theory, research, and practice to the promotion and maintenance of health and prevention of physical illness. In healthcare, there is a growing emphasis on changing behaviours such as smoking, diet and alcohol consumption to prevent and manage chronic illnesses. Health Psychology, with its focus on promotion of healthy behaviours and self-management of chronic illness, has much to contribute to improving health outcomes for all. Innovations in Health Psychology On 8 June, the School of Psychology will celebrate 21 years of health psychology at NUI Galway hosting an event entitled ‘Innovations in Health Psychology’. The event will have a mix of invited speakers, panel discussions and poster presentations. International invited speakers will share the experience of health psychology in other European countries, and leading health psychologists in Ireland will present their current work. The event aims to promote discussion and debate about key achievements and new directions for Health Psychology and takes place in the Aula Maxima at NUI Galway. According to Dr AnnMarie Groarke, Head of the School of Psychology: “Twenty-one years on, we have substantial expertise nationally. NUI Galway is a leading centre of training and research in health psychology. Indeed, there has been great interest in our ‘Innovations in Health Psychology’ event, and we hope that it will further raise the profile of health psychology in Ireland.” Chair of Innovations in Health Psychology, Dr Molly Byrne, NUI Galway said: ‘The event will provide a unique opportunity to bring together the health psychology community in Ireland and abroad, in combination with leading health service providers and policy makers in the areas of health service delivery and health promotion. We have pulled together a broad range of presentations to showcase existing initiatives. We hope that interactive panel discussions during the day will give attendees the opportunity to explore and debate the future role of health psychology in health-related practice, policy and research. We are particularly delighted that Dr Stephanie O’Keefe, HSE National Director of the Health and Wellbeing Division, will join us to discuss the role of health psychology in improving health outcomes in Ireland through the roll out of the Healthy Ireland programme.” Mhealth Conference On 9 June, the recently established Mhealth research group at the School of Psychology will demonstrate some of the practical applications of health psychology in this growing field. ‘Mhealth’ is a term used for the practice of medicine and health supported by mobile devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers and PDAs. M-health research encompasses a variety of topics, including increased access to healthcare and health-related information (particularly for hard-to-reach populations); improved ability to diagnose and track diseases; more timely and actionable public health information; and expanded access to ongoing medical education and training for health workers. NUI Galway’s Dr Jane Walsh is Chair of the Mhealth research group said, “This interdisciplinary event is the first of its kind in Ireland and will serve to showcase some of the cutting edge international research in the area of Mhealth. This conference is being organised with the Health and Wellbeing cluster of the Whitaker Research Institute.  The event will aim to promote the development of high quality multidisciplinary research networks through which NUI Galway can achieve the highest quality of scientific excellence working with international research leaders and all the various stakeholders from in healthcare and industry.” This event is supported by an Irish Research Council Government of Ireland ‘New Foundations’ Scheme award held by Dr Jane Walsh and PhD student Eimear Morrissey with additional support from the School of Psychology at NUI Galway, the Whitaker Institute and a Health Research Board Research Leaders award held by Dr Brian McGuire. The Arts Millennium Building at NUI Galway will be the venue for the event. Health Psychology Health psychology has grown steadily in Ireland over the past two decades, especially with the introduction of an MSc in Health Psychology at NUI Galway in 1994, by Professor Ruth Curtis. Many of the field’s current experts and leaders are graduates of this Masters programme; now working in diverse areas such as research, education, public policy and clinical health practice. Impact on Irish health and wellbeing‘Healthy Ireland’ is the recently published national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Ireland. Health psychology, which helps us understand how to promote behaviours such as exercise and healthy eating, is ideally placed to inform the delivery of the Healthy Ireland vision in the coming decade. ends

NUI Galway’s President, Dr Jim Browne, has heralded next week’s royal visit as an “an important milestone in this University’s proud 170 year-old history” NUI Galway is delighted to welcome Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to NUI Galway as part of their private visit to Ireland this coming week. The visit to the campus will take place on Tuesday, May 19, 2015. President of NUI Galway, Dr Jim Browne, stated: “It is with great pleasure we welcome Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to NUI Galway and the west of Ireland. Founded in 1845 as one of three Queen’s Colleges, this historic visit is an important milestone in this University’s proud 170 year-old history. We are honoured to host a reception at NUI Galway to celebrate this royal visit and we look forward to showcasing the University’s many and diverse achievements to the royal visitors. Ranked among the top 2% of universities in the world, our students, teachers, researchers and alumni have a well-respected reputation. The NUI Galway community constantly builds it network of relationships that span the globe and as an extension to this we very much look forward to extending a Céad Míle Fáilte to The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.” Preparations are underway at the University to showcase its heritage as well as its current impact on the world to Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. The Irish language and Celtic studies will be central to the showcase as will key research areas such as Biomedical Science and Engineering; Environment, Marine and Energy; Social Science and Policy; Informatics, Data Analytics, Physical and Computational Sciences; and Humanities in Context, including Digital Humanities. Highlights of the visit will include current students meeting with the royal guests and a special tree planting ceremony. Follow the event live! The University is delighted to announce that the public can follow the event live as a live stream will be available at www.nuigalway.ie/royalvisit Event commentary via Twitter will be available by following @nuigalway and other social media channels such as Facebook and Linkedin will update as the preparations for the royal visit continue. While it will be business as usual for the majority of staff and students, some restrictions will apply to the Quadrangle and nearby buildings on 18-19 May. The University is working with An Garda Síochána to ensure that the event runs as smoothly as possible. ENDS Cuirfidh OÉ Gaillimh fáilte roimh an gCuairt Ríoga ar an gCampas D'fhógair Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an Dr Jim Browne, cuairt ríoga na seachtaine seo chugainn mar “bhuaicphointe in oidhreacht 170 bliain na hOllscoile” Is mór an ríméad atá ar OÉ fáilte a chur roimh a Mórgachtaí Ríoga, Prionsa na Breataine Bige agus Bandiúc Chorn na Breataine chuig OÉ Gaillimh mar chuid de chuairt phríobháideach ar Éirinn an tseachtain seo chugainn. Tabharfaidh siad cuairt ar an gcampas Dé Máirt, an 19 Bealtaine 2015. Dúirt Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an Dr Jim Browne: “Is mór an t-údar ríméid dom fáilte a chur roimh na Mórgachtaí Ríoga, Prionsa na Breataine Bige agus Bandiúc Chorn na Breataine, chuig OÉ Gaillimh agus Iarthar na hÉireann. Bunaíodh an Ollscoil i 1845 mar cheann de thrí Choláiste na Banríona agus is ócáid an-stairiúil a bheas sa chuairt seo in oidhreacht 170 bliain na hOllscoile seo. Is mór an onóir fáiltiú a bheith againn don chuairt ríoga seo in OÉ Gaillimh agus beidh deis againn éachtaí éagsúla na hOllscoile a chur i láthair na gcuairteoirí ríoga ar an lá. Tá áit bainte amach ag an Ollscoil seo i measc an 2% is fearr sa domhan, agus tá dea-cháil ar ár mic léinn, ár dteagascóirí, ár dtaighdeoirí agus ár n-alumni. Bíonn pobal OÉ Gaillimh i gcónaí ag cur leis na naisc atá againn ar fud na cruinne agus ní haon iontas mar sin go bhfuilimid ag súil go mór le fáilte ó chroí a chur roimh Phrionsa na Breataine Bige agus Bandiúc Chorn na Breataine.” Tá ullmhúcháin ar bun san Ollscoil faoi láthair chun a hoidhreacht agus an lorg atá fágtha ag an Ollscoil ar an saol mór a léiriú do Phrionsa na Breataine Bige agus do Bhandiúc Chorn na Breataine. Beidh páirt mhór ag an nGaeilge agus ag an Léann Ceilteach sa chur i láthair seo chomh maith le réimsí móra taighde cosúil le hEolaíocht agus Innealtóireacht Bhithleighis; Comhshaol, Muir agus Fuinneamh; Eolaíochtaí Sóisialta agus Beartas; Ionformaitic, Anailísíocht Sonraí, Eolaíochtaí Fisiciúla & Ríomhaireachta; agus na Daonnachtaí i gComhthéacs, na Daonnachtaí Digiteacha san áireamh. I measc bhuaicphointí na cuairte beidh mic léinn ag casadh leis na cuairteoirí ríoga agus searmanas speisialta ag cur crainn. Lean an ócáid beo ar líne! Tá an-áthas ar an Ollscoil a fhógairt go bhféadfaidh an saol mór an ócáid a fheiceáil mar bheoshruth ag www.nuigalway.ie/royalvisit Beidh tráchtaireacht ar an ócáid ar Twitter ach @nuigalway a leanúint agus beidh na socruithe is deireanaí maidir leis an gcuairt ríoga le fáil ar mheáin shóisialta eile cosúil le Facebook agus Linkedin. Cé go bhfeidhmeoidh formhór na gcomhaltaí foirne agus na mac léinn mar is gnáth, beidh roinnt srianta i bhfeidhm ar an gCearnóg agus ar roinnt foirgneamh eile in aice láimhe an 18-19 Bealtaine. Tá an Ollscoil ag obair leis an nGarda Síochána chun a chinntiú nach mbeidh aon fhadhbanna ar an lá. CRÍOCH

The impact of the recession and austerity on older people is as diverse as the ageing population itself according to the authors of a newly published book on the topic. Ageing Through Austerity: Critical Perspectives from Ireland builds on nine years of research and social policy work at the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology, NUI Galway. Edited by Kieran Walsh, Gemma Carney and Áine Ní Léime of the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology, the book brings together knowledge and research on key issues affecting older people during the economic recession. These include: citizenship, social participation, work and pensions, ageing and supportive communities, dementia care, and social inclusion and exclusion. According to Professor Norah Keating, the Director of The Global Social Initiative on Ageing, International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics: “With impeccable timing, Walsh, Carney and Ní Léime capture the intersections of population ageing and global economic recessions, using Ireland as the exemplar of the impact of austerity on older people.” The book explores conflicting evidence in Ireland and in other jurisdictions about exactly how older people have faired during the economic recession and subsequent austerity programmes. The reality is that the magnitude of the impact of the recession and austerity on older people is as diverse as the ageing population itself. The reality is also, that while the economic recession and austerity programmes have introduced new problems for some older people, in particular areas of life, they have primarily intensified pre-existing and deeply entrenched issues and inequalities. Ageing Through Austerity interrogates whether or not the economic recession and austerity has in fact altered ageing experiences and the social policy landscape for older people in Ireland. It explores the linkages between the global, national and local levels that shape the experiences of ageing in a time of austerity. It also looks at the power of globalisation, and its various mechanisms, over national and community contexts. The economic recession has served to sharpen the focus of policy makers and governments on the implications of demographic ageing for under-resourced and struggling fiscal systems. This was certainly a part of the justification for why it was necessary that the social policy pressures characterising ageing societies are understood within the current economic conditions and perhaps more importantly the evolving circumstances of austerity. The book addresses a substantial gap in the international literature concerning the degree to which economic recessions and austerity impact on social policy issues for older people, and frames the development of related policy. It contains chapters from leading experts in Ireland, and contributions from international scholars Alan Walker (University of Sheffield) and Chris Phillipson (University of Manchester). According to Professor W. Andrew Achenbaum of the University of Houston: “By illuminating individual, regional and societal disparities, this book helps readers rethink the consequences of altered political economies and practices, such as recession, on aging and generations.” Ageing Through Austerity: Critical Perspectives from Ireland is published by Policy Press and more information is available at www.policypress.co.uk. It was launched at the recent International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics European Regional Meeting (IAGG-ER). -ends-

NUI Galway has announced that a patient attending University Hospital Galway is the first patient worldwide to start treatment in a clinical study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an investigational drug candidate for sufferers of acute myeloid leukemia. The announcement was made today and co-incided with International Clinical Trials Day. Adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. AML is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults, and it is estimated that there were over 18,000 new cases and over 10,000 deaths from the disease in 2014 world-wide. Unlike other cancers that start in an organ and spread to the bone marrow, AML is known for rapid growth of abnormal white blood cells that gather in the bone marrow and as a result, impede normal blood cell production. While leukemic cells move into the blood, the lack of normal blood cells can cause some of the symptoms of AML such as anaemia and increased risk of infections or excessive bleeding. Current treatment options for AML are chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation, both of which can destroy cancer cells but do not reduce the related side effects. The investigational drug candidate in the Phase 1/2 clinical study in Galway is being developed by US based company GlycoMimetics, who are exploring the clinical use of the drug candidate in blood cancers. The company announced last week that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug designation to GMI-1271 for treatment of AML. Professor Michael O’Dwyer, NUI Galway, Principal Investigator on the study, stated that: “Based on preclinical data and on a favourable safety profile in healthy volunteers, we believe that GMI-1271 has the potential to be an important new therapy for people with certain blood cancers. It seems that the therapeutic agent in this potential treatment can reverse resistance to chemotherapy which is caused by AML cells’ ability to bind to a receptor called E-selectin in the bone marrow.” NUI Galway’s key strategic research priorities include Cancer Research, Regenerative Medicine and Medical Devices. The University is due to open a new facility for patient-centered clinical research and first-in-man clinical trials, as well as translational research, in the coming months. Ends

Over €97 Million of funding won by researchers and companies in Horizon 2020 EU Programme for Research and Innovation NUI Galway has attracts the highest Horizon 2020 funding Ireland moved up one place to 8th position in the 2015 Innovation Union Scoreboard of 28 Member States published on 7 May 2015. Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation, Damien English TD welcomed the improved ranking and said: “This is the second year in a row in which Ireland’s ranking has improved, up from 9th in 2014 and 10th in 2013. In particular, I am pleased to see Ireland is ranked first on two specific dimensions: Innovators; and Economic Effects which shows that our strategy of accelerating the economic and societal returns on our public investment in research and innovation is paying off.” Ireland’s researchers and companies have been successful in winning €97 Million of funding in the first 9 months of Horizon 2020. Collaboration is at the heart of Horizon 2020 – between industry and academia and between countries. Among the Irish Universities, NUI Galway has had a noteworthy success rate, attracting the highest Horizon 2020 funding, with projects that exemplify the collaborative approach. One of their projects involves Irish SME Sports Surgery Clinic Dublin collaborating with the University on a large-scale clinical trial using adult stem cells to treat knee osteoarthritis. The project, which is co-ordinated by Professor Frank Barry of the Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI) at NUI Galway, has been funded to the value of almost €6 million and trials are expected to be underway across Europe by the end of 2015. In a separate multi-million euro clinical trial in the area of diabetic complications, led by Professor Tim O’Brien of REMEDI and CÚRAM at NUI Galway, Galway-based Orbsen Therapeutics, a spin-out from NUI Galway will play a key role in the project which will include partners in Northern Ireland and across Europe. In both projects Dublin-based SME Pintail Ltd will ensure effective collaboration between the partners and support the management and delivery of the funded projects. NUI Galway’s strong performance has ranged across many sectors, from the biosciences to the social sciences. Commenting on NUI Galway’s success, Professor Lokesh Joshi, Vice-President for Research commented:  ‘NUI Galway views EU collaboration and funding as a key priority to strengthen our research and its impact on society. The University is working with government agencies and the EU to actively encourage, enable and support researchers to participate in EU funding programmes. We are also focusing on mentoring and supporting our younger generation of researchers to participate in EU funding calls. Our success so far is the success of our researchers who are investing their time, energy and passion for research and innovation in a highly competitive process.’ Innovation Union Scoreboard “In June 2013 Government set a range of system level targets in the context of implementation of research prioritisation and one of those targets was to move to 8th place in the Innovation Union Scoreboard by 2017 – as a result of a range of policy measures targeting our investment at areas of greatest economic and societal return, encouraging greater collaboration between academia and industry and enhancing the commercialisation of research we have met our target ahead of schedule”, continued the Minister. ” Of the eight dimensions that make up the European Commission’s Innovation Union Scoreboard, Ireland is ranked first in two of them: Innovators; and Economic Effects. The Innovators dimension measures how innovative firms are, while the Economic Effects captures economic success stemming from innovation in terms of employment, revenue and exports. “The strengthening of our Innovation performance is bolstering our capacity to compete under HORIZON 2020 – the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation – and I am very pleased with the results for the first 9 months of the programme which show that we are on track to exceed our target for success in the first year.” Ireland has traditionally performed well in areas such as ICT and research fellowships and researcher mobility across all disciplines (Marie Curie Actions). In these areas, Ireland’s researchers have been awarded over €24 Million and €13 Million respectively. Ireland has also been very successful in the Agri-food (€11 Million) and Health (€10 Million) areas. Ireland’s success in competing for European Research Council (ERC) grants under Horizon 2020 has significantly exceeded our performance in previous programmes. The ERC’s prestigious grants support frontier research across all fields, on the basis of scientific excellence. The funding to ERC grantees in Horizon 2020 so far is over €19 Million. In welcoming the success to date, Minister of for Skills, Research and Innovation, Damien English TD said “I am confident that, based on the pipeline of activity, we will surpass our target of €100 Million for the first year of the Programme. I would like to congratulate the Higher Education Institutions which account for over 70% of the success to date. Irish companies account for almost 20% of Ireland’s success, with 62% of this going to SMEs”. Commenting on the industry engagement figures, Minister English added: “I would also like to commend industry and in particular Ireland’s innovative SMEs. The latest Innovation Union rankings demonstrate how innovative Ireland is at the level of the firm. There are many more opportunities which innovative firms, including SMEs, can exploit in Horizon 2020. I want to encourage more industry participation. Success brings not only financial rewards but also a chance to collaborate with the best and brightest in Europe. Enterprise Ireland’s Horizon 2020 industry experts are available to offer advice and support to companies on the Programme, its opportunities and how to apply”. Noting the progress to date, Enterprise Ireland Chief Executive Officer, Julie Sinnamon said: “Enterprise Ireland is proud to lead Ireland’s participation in Horizon 2020. The latest results from the EU Commission show that IrishSMEs continue to shine in Europe– we are particularly interested to see our high potential start-ups and established companies with disruptive technologies reaping the rewards of the new SME focussed programmes. These programmes offer new and different opportunities to those in previous framework programmes and are at a scale suited to real impact on company development” Dr Imelda Lambkin, National Director for Horizon 2020, Enterprise Ireland said: “The Irish approach is to provide hands on assistance to our Horizon 2020 applicants – this level of support, building on national research and innovation investments, is paying off. Ireland’s researchers and companies are responding and showing that they can compete with the best internationally.” ENDS

NUI Galway recently held the EXPLORE Celebration Showcase celebrating over 80 innovation projects. Launched by NUI Galway and the University’s Students’ Union in 2012, the EXPLORE project supports students and staff to work together to pilot new ideas. To date, EXPLORE, the first scheme of its kind in Irish higher education, has delivered over 80 new projects not only on campus, but also nationally and globally, with more than 500 participants. Professor Chris Curtin, Vice-President for Innovation and Performance, at NUI Galway said: “EXPLORE is part of a wider initiative at NUI Galway to foster an innovative, ideas culture where students and staff are encouraged to come up with ideas and run with them. It’s about building a network of campus innovators. EXPLORE gives students a real opportunity to transform ideas into practice. But, it also gives them an opportunity to work hands on with staff on an on-going basis. I think this is a really important part of the EXPLORE initiative since many students experience staff at a distance in lecture halls, or in seminars, or in tutorials.” The wider community benefits from EXPLORE as many projects are specifically developed to address societal needs, and the reach of EXPLORE projects already stretches into the thousands both on and off campus. Over 12,000 school children have directly engaged with EXPLORE, while digital teaching and study aids created by EXPLORE projects have had well in excess of 60,000 views. In comparison with traditional enterprise success and attrition rates, EXPLORE has an 85% project completion rate. EXPLORE projects have recently been showcased at the Apple iStore, Regent Street, London; and The World Teaching and Learning Conference. NUI Galway Students’ Union President Declan Higgins said: “The unique opportunity for students and lecturers to collaborate on these projects is invaluable. It invites both out from the oasis of their comfort zones to the realm of the uncertain – often times with excellent and inspiring results, and today is testament to this. -Ends-

President Dr Jim Browne will welcome the royal couple A commemorative oak tree will be planted The historic Quadrangle at NUI Galway will be the setting today for an elaborate showcase of heritage, culture, research and education. NUI Galway’s President, Dr Jim Browne, will welcome Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to the campus for the start of their visit to Galway, Clare and Sligo. The visitors will be greeted by Irish music and dance in the ‘Quad’, followed by an ‘NUI Galway Expo’ and reception. The Expo will provide the visitors with first-hand insights into the University’s heritage, the Irish language and Celtic studies, and the latest cutting-edge research. There will also be an opportunity to meet with students from Ireland and across the Commonwealth. Ahead of the visit, President of NUI Galway, Dr Jim Browne, stated: “It is with great pleasure we welcome Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to NUI Galway. There is huge resonance to this visit for the NUI Galway community because of the decision made in the 1840s to establish three Queen’s Colleges in Galway, Cork and Belfast. That decision – at the height of the Irish Famine – a time of real austerity – was transformative for our country – and especially our region. This is evident from the impact on society which our alumni, our academics, our students and our researchers have to this day.” Heritage Their Royal Highnesses will be shown memorabilia from the founding times of the University. NUI Galway’s prestigious history spans back 170 years to its foundation in 1845. Known then as Queen’s College Galway, the University was one of three Queen’s Colleges, the others located in Cork and Belfast. Items on show will include original architectural plans, pencil, ink and watercolour on canvas, of the Quadrangle, built in local limestone and modelled on Christ Church at the University of Oxford. They will also be shown the first roll-book, also known as ‘The Declaration Book’, dating from 1849, original leather binding with gilded inlay and insignia, contains the signed oath and declaration of the first Presidents, all academic staff and register all students who matriculated and enrolled as Queen’s College Galway from its first academic year of 1849-50. Initially, there were only 63 students enrolled at the College, which is now home to over 17,000 students. Irish Language and Celtic Studies A unique aspect of NUI Galway’s role as a University is its strategic commitment to the provision of University education through the medium of Irish and the University’s aim to serve the Gaeltacht and the Irish language community, and to create an exemplary bilingual campus. The guests will be given a presentation on the standard reference English-Irish dictionary. From the sixteenth to the nineteenth century, Irish writers claimed the ‘Crown of Ireland’ was theirs to bestow on their preferred candidate as the rightful king of the three kingdoms. For Irish language writers of the late medieval period, cultural allegiance was more significant than religious or political affiliation as a marker of Irish identity. The Royal Couple will be presented with an image from Breandán Ó Buachalla’s book The Crown of Ireland. Research Impact Situated on the edge of Europe, NUI Galway is a dynamic location for research and innovation. The University’s approach is to be collaborative, creative, interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial. NUI Galway partners with almost 3,000 research institutes worldwide to create global networks of expertise. The ‘Expo’ will showcase research across five broad areas, including: Applied Social Sciences and Public Policy; Biomedical Science and Engineering; Environment, Marine and Energy; Humanities in Context, including Digital Humanities; and Informatics, Data Analytics, Physical and Computational Sciences. Of particular interest to Their Royal Highnesses may be NUI Galway’s research in: Medical devices and regenerative medicine: Researchers at CÚRAM Centre for Medical Devices, will discuss novel devices for treating bone degeneration disease such as osteoporosis. CÚRAM researchers are creating nanoscale fibres from polymers and incorporating these into a mesh-like scaffold that mimics the natural bone matrix. Importantly, these scaffold materials can be utilised for the regeneration of large bone defects, which do not undergo spontaneous regeneration normally. Violence against Women and Girls: Their Royal Highnesses will also hear about a new research project in the University’s Global Women’s Studies Centre funded by the UK Department for International Development called What Works to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls. NUI Galway is leading the component of the programme which aims to understand the economic and social costs of such violence in three developing states: South Sudan and the commonwealth countries of Pakistan and Ghana. It is known that Violence against Women Girls (VAWG) has consequences for individuals and families; this project aims to deepen and extend our understanding of the impacts of VAWG by examining the economic costs that limit growth and development and the social costs that may contribute to social fragility and conflict. Abbey Theatre Archive: NUI Galway is working with the Abbey Theatre to digitise their entire archive in the largest such project in the world. In addition to the digitisation, the Insight Centre at NUI Galway is using advanced technologies to make this priceless resource accessible to as broad an audience as possible. This allows us to uncover previously unknown knowledge such as connections between specific actors and directors during the theatre’s history. Supporting youth: In work aligned to the Prince’s Trust programmes, the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at NUI Galway is developing a cadre of (nation based) community of youth as peer mentors/supporters. Commissioned by UN/UNESCO, the Centre will co-lead on a research project on the prevention of youth extremism through civic engagement.  One strand, (Marie Curie funded) will focus on understanding youth Multi-cultural and Disadvantaged (London and Dublin); Post-Conflict ( Belfast) and Rurally isolated (Galway). Their Royal Highnesses will have the opportunity to meet some Youth Researchers (trained by the UNESCO Centre) whom form a key aspect of the research programme. Marine and Energy Research: The Ryan Institute for Environmental, Marine and Energy Research contributes to some of the most important national and international, long-term, environmental, marine and energy research issues. The Ryan Institute's affiliated researchers are committed to knowledge sharing and collaboration across the sciences, engineering, social sciences and medicine. Specifically to be discussed will be marine renewable energy, earth observation for environmental change, marine zoology, deep-sea habitats and anaerobic digestion in agriculture. Tree planting ceremony NUI Galway is Ireland’s most biodiverse university, and over 100 specimen trees surround the historic Quadrangle, some as old as the building itself. Today, in a special ceremony, Their Royal Highnesses will plant a sessile oak beside the Quadrangle. The sessile oak has particularly special meaning as it connects Ireland, Wales and Cornwall. It is the official National Tree of Ireland, where it is known as the Irish oak or Dair ghaelach (‘Gaelic oak’). Also, it is the national tree of Wales and is considered the national tree of Cornwall, as reflected by its other common names, the Welsh oak and the Cornish Oak. Event commentary via Twitter will be available by following @nuigalway and other social media channels such as Facebook and Linkedin will update as the preparations for the royal visit continue. #royalvisitireland While it will be business as usual for the majority of staff and students, strict restrictions will apply to the Quadrangle and nearby buildings on 19 May. The University is working with An Garda Síochána to ensure that the event runs as smoothly as possible. ENDS   Cuirfear tús leis an gCuairt Ríoga ar OÉ Gaillimh le taispeántas oidhreachta agus taighde Cuirfidh an tUachtarán, an Dr Jim Browne, fáilte roimh an lánúin ríoga Cuirfear crann darach comórtha Is i gCearnóg stairiúil OÉ Gaillimh a dhéanfar taispeántas iontach d’oidhreacht, cultúr, taighde agus oideachas inniu. Cuirfidh Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an Dr Jim Browne, fáilte roimh na Mórgachtaí Ríoga Prionsa na Breataine Bige agus Bandiúc Chorn na Breataine chuig an gcampas chun tús a chur lena gcuairt ar Ghaillimh, ar an gClár agus ar Shligeach. Seinnfear ceol agus déanfar damhsa traidisiúnta na hÉireann do na cuairteoirí sa Chearnóg, agus ina dhiaidh sin beidh ‘Taispeántas OÉ Gaillimh’ mar aon le fáiltiú. Tabharfaidh an Taispeántas léargas pearsanta do na cuairteoirí ar oidhreacht na hOllscoile, ar an nGaeilge agus ar an Léann Ceilteach, agus ar an taighde ceannródaíoch is déanaí. Beidh deis ag an lánúin chomh maith casadh le mic léinn as Éirinn agus as an gComhlathas. Ag labhairt dó roimh an gcuairt, dúirt an Dr Jim Browne, Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh: “Is mór an t-údar ríméid dúinn fáilte a chur roimh na Mórgachtaí Ríoga Prionsa na Breataine Bige agus Bandiúc Chorn na Breataine chuig OÉ Gaillimh. Tá spéis ollmhór ag pobal OÉ Gaillimh sa chuairt seo mar gheall ar an gcinneadh a rinneadh sna 1840í trí Choláiste de chuid na Banríona a bhunú i nGaillimh, i gCorcaigh agus i mBéal Feirste. Bhí an cinneadh sin – i lár an Ghorta Mhóir, tráth a raibh déine i mbarr réime – athraitheach dár dtír – agus go háirithe dár réigiún. Tá sé seo soiléir ón tionchar atá ag ár alumni, acadóirí, mic léinn agus taighdeoirí ar an tsochaí fós sa lá atá inniu ann.” Oidhreacht Taispeánfar earraí cuimhneacháin do na Mórgachtaí Ríoga ón uair a bunaíodh an Ollscoil. Áiríonn oidhreacht shaibhir OÉ Gaillimh 170 bliain ag dul siar go dtí bliain a bunaithe i 1845. Tugadh Coláiste na Banríona, Gaillimh air agus bhí an Ollscoil ar cheann de thrí Choláiste na Banríona, bhí an péire eile i gCorcaigh agus i mBéal Feirste. I measc na n-earraí a bheidh ar taispeáint beidh bunphleananna ailtireachta i bpeann luaidhe, dúch agus uiscedhath ar chanbhás, den Chearnóg a tógadh le haolchloch áitiúil agus a múnlaíodh ar Ardeaglais Chríost in Ollscoil Oxford. Taispeánfar dóibh chomh maith an chéad leabhar rolla, ar a dtugtar ‘An Leabhar Clárúcháin’, a théann siar go dtí 1849, ar a bhfuil an bunchlúdach leathair le hinleagadh agus le hionchomhartha ór, ina bhfuil mionn agus dearbhú sínithe na Chéad Uachtaráin, gach comhalta foirne acadúil agus gach mac léinn a ghnóthaigh máithreánach agus a chláraigh i gColáiste na Banríona ón gcéad bhliain acadúil 1849-50. I dtús aimsire, ní raibh ach 63 mac léinn cláraithe sa Choláiste, áit a bhfuil os cionn 17,000 mac léinn anois. An Ghaeilge agus an Léann Ceilteach Gné uathúil de ról OÉ Gaillimh mar Ollscoil is ea a tiomantas straitéiseach d’oideachas Ollscoile trí mheán na Gaeilge a chur ar fáil agus aidhm na hOllscoile freastal ar an nGaeltacht agus ar phobal na Gaeilge, agus campas dátheangach eiseamláireach a chruthú. Déanfar cur i láthair do na haíonna ar an bhfoclóir caighdeánach tagartha Béarla-Gaeilge. Ón séú go dtí an naoú hAois déag, d’áitigh scríbhneoirí na hÉireann gur leo ‘Coróin na hÉireann’ le bronnadh ar an iarrthóir ab ansa leo mar rí dlisteanach na dtrí ríocht. Bhraith scríbhneoirí Gaeilge na tréimhse meánaoisí deiridh go raibh dílseacht chultúrtha níos suntasaí ná dílseacht reiligiúnach nó pholaitiúil mar léiriú ar an bhféiniúlacht Éireannach. Bronnfar íomhá ó leabhar Bhreandáin Uí Bhuachalla The Crown of Ireland ar an Lánúin Ríoga. Tionchar Taighde Lonnaithe ar imeall na hEorpa, is suíomh dinimiciúil é OÉ Gaillimh don taighde agus don nuálaíocht. Tá cur chuige na hOllscoile comhoibríoch, cruthaitheach, idirdhisciplíneach agus fiontraíoch. Tá OÉ Gaillimh i gcomhpháirtíocht le beagnach 3,000 institiúid taighde ar fud an domhain chun líonraí domhanda saineolais a chruthú. Beidh taighde as cúig réimse ghinearálta le feiceáil sa ‘Taispeántas’, lena n-áirítear: Eolaíochtaí Sóisialta Feidhmeacha agus Beartas Poiblí; Eolaíocht agus Innealtóireacht Bhithleighis; Comhshaol, Muir agus Fuinneamh; na Daonnachtaí i gComhthéacs, na Daonnachtaí Digiteacha san áireamh; agus Ionformaitic, Anailísíocht Sonraí, Eolaíochtaí Fisiciúla agus Ríomhaireachta. D’fhéadfadh suim faoi leith a bheith ag na Mórgachtaí Ríoga i dtaighde OÉ Gaillimh sna réimsí seo a leanas: Feistí leighis agus leigheas athghiniúnach: Pléifidh taighdeoirí ag CÚRAM, an tIonad Taighde d’Fheistí Leighis, feistí nua chun dul i ngleic le galar meathlúcháin cnámh cosúil le hoistéapóróis. Tá taighdeoirí CÚRAM ag cruthú snáithíní nanascála ó pholaiméirí agus á n-áireamh go scafall cosúil le mogall a dhéanann aithris ar mhaitrís na cnáimhe nádúrtha. Tá sé tábhachtach gur féidir na hábhair scafaill seo a úsáid chun máchailí móra cnámh a athghiniúint, nach dtarlaíonn uath-athghiniúint dóibh go nádúrtha. Foréigean in aghaidh Cailíní agus Ban Cloisfidh na Mórgachtaí Ríoga faoi thionscadal nua taighde Léann na mBan Domhanda atá maoinithe ag Department for International Development na Ríochta Aontaithe dar teideal What Works to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls. Tá OÉ Gaillimh i gceannas ar an gcuid sin den chlár atá ag iarraidh tuiscint a fháil ar chostais eacnamaíocha agus shóisialta an fhoréigin sna trí stát atá i mbéal forbartha: An tSúdáin Theas agus na tíortha comhlathais an Phacastáin agus Gána. Bíonn tionchar ag Foréigean in aghaidh Cailíní agus Ban (VAWG) ar dhaoine agus ar theaghlaigh; tá sé mar aidhm leis an tionscadal seo tuiscint níos fearr a fháil ar an tionchar a bhíonn ag an bhforéigean sin trí bhreathnú ar an gcostas eacnamaíoch a choscann fás agus forbairt agus an costas sóisialta a chuireann le leochaileacht shóisialta agus coimhlint. Cartlann Amharclann na Mainistreach Tá OÉ Gaillimh ag obair le hAmharclann na Mainistreach ar an tionscadal is mó dá leithéid riamh ar domhan chun a gcartlann a dhigitiú. Chomh maith leis an digitiú, tá Ionad Insight OÉ Gaillimh ag úsáid na dteicneolaíochtaí is deireanaí chun an acmhainn luachmhar seo a chur ar fáil don líon is mó lucht féachana agus is féidir. Tugann sé seo deis dúinn teacht ar eolas nach raibh ar fáil roimhe seo cosúil leis an gceangal idir aisteoirí agus léiritheoirí áirithe i rith shaolré na hamharclainne. Ag tacú leis an óige In obair a bhaineann le hIontaobhas an Phrionsa, tá Ionad Taighde Leanaí agus Teaghlach UNESCO in OÉ Gaillimh ag forbairt pobal caidre den óige mar mheantóirí/tacadóirí. Tá an tIonad coimisiúnaithe ag na NA/UNESCO, agus beidh an tIonad ag comhstiúradh an tionscadail taighde a dhíreoidh ar antoisceachas na hóige a chosc trí chomhpháirteachas poiblí.  Díreoidh sraith amháin, (atá maoinithe ag Marie Curie) ar thuiscint a fháil ar an óige ilchultúrtha agus faoi mhíbhuntáiste (Londain agus Baile Átha Cliath); iar-choinbhleacht (Béal Feirste) agus iargúlta faoin Tuath (Gaillimh). Beidh an deis ag na Mórgachtaí Ríoga casadh le cuid de na Taighdeoirí Óige seo (atá oilte ag Ionad UNESCO) ar cuid lárnach iad den chlár taighde. Taighde Mara agus Fuinnimh Cuireann Institiúid Uí Riain do Thaighde Comhshaoil, Muirí agus Fuinnimh na ceisteanna móra tábhachtacha taighde, go náisiúnta agus go hidirnáisiúnta de, go fadtéarmach, ó thaobh an chomhshaoil, na mara agus an fhuinnimh de. Tá taighdeoirí Institiúid Uí Riain ag iarraidh eolas a roinnt agus comhoibriú sna heolaíochtaí, san innealtóireacht, sna heolaíochtaí sóisialta agus sa leigheas. Déanfar plé ar fhuinneamh in-athnuaite na mara, grinniú an domhain don athrú comhshaoil, zó-eolaíocht na mara, gnáthóga domhainfharraige agus díleá anaeróbach sa talmhaíocht. Crann á chur Is í OÉ Gaillimh an ollscoil is bithéagsúla in Éirinn. Tá breis is 100 crann taispeántais timpeall ar an gCearnóg stairiúil agus tá cuid díobh chomh sean leis an bhfoirgneamh féin. Ag searmanas speisialta inniu, cuirfidh a Mórgachtaí Ríoga dair ghaelach in aice leis an gCearnóg. Tá brí ar leith leis an dair ghaelach mar go gceanglaíonn sí Éire, an Bhreatain Bheag agus Corn na Breataine le chéile. Is é crann oifigiúil Náisiúnta na hÉireann é, áit a dtugtar an Dair Ghaelach air. Is é crann náisiúnta na Breataine Bige é chomh maith agus breathnaítear air mar chrann náisiúnta Chorn na Breataine, agus tugtar an dair Bhreatnach agus an Dair Choirnise air chomh maith. Beidh tráchtaireacht ar an ócáid ar Twitter ach @nuigalway a leanúint agus beidh na socruithe is deireanaí maidir leis an gcuairt ríoga le fáil ar mheáin shóisialta eile cosúil le Facebook agus Linkedin. #royalvisitireland Cé go bhfeidhmeoidh formhór na gcomhaltaí foirne agus na mac léinn mar is gnáth, beidh roinnt srianta i bhfeidhm ar an gCearnóg agus ar roinnt foirgneamh eile in aice láimhe an 19 Bealtaine. Tá an Ollscoil ag obair leis an nGarda Síochána chun a chinntiú nach mbeidh aon fhadhbanna ar an lá. CRÍOCH